Issuu

AUGUST 2015

Home-grown

talent Pennsylvania artisans with global reach

PLUS Slaw season A heavy burden Roofing impacts AC costs

AUGUST Vol. 50 • No. 8 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

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

Electric grid connects us all

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

W. Douglas Shirk

KEEPING CURRENT News items from across the Commonwealth

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

Home-grown talent

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

Pennsylvania artisans with global reach 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

‘Tis the season for slaw 17

POWER PLANTS

Tempting vines 18

OUT D OOR A DV ENT UR ES

It’s a heavy burden, this fascination for things to lug my burden 19

SMART CIRCUITS

Roofing materials impact AC costs 20

CLASSIFIEDS

PUNCH LINES

Thoughts from Earl Pitts– Uhmerikun! 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.

Eat up: Earl has some thoughts about food

RURAL REFLECTIONS

Summertime fun 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.

Paul Staniszewski, a United Electric Cooperative member from Troutville, sells photos of flowers and elk through international photo services, as well as local galleries. Photo by Paul Staniszewski

AUGUST 2015 • PENN

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ENERGYmatters Electric grid connects us all By Justin LaBerge

THE ENERGY industry is in the middle of an unprecedented period of transition. As this energy revolution unfolds, a modern, interconnected and reliable electric grid has never been more important. In April, Elon Musk, the charismatic billionaire CEO of Tesla, introduced a new lithium ion battery called the PowerWall. In typical fashion for this brash tech entrepreneur, Musk paints a rosy picture of a future where homeowners disconnect from the power grid and meet all their power needs through a combination of rooftop solar and battery storage. It’s exciting to imagine a future where renewable energy systems will allow us to generate and store electricity in a reliable and cost-effective way. Though there are many working hard to realize that goal — including electric cooperatives — it is still a long way from reality. Unlike gasoline or propane, electricity is a form of energy that is difficult to store in large quantities. Batteries can hold enough energy to power small devices for moderate amounts of time, but current battery technology cannot practically and economically store enough energy to power larger items. We don’t know when the cost, size, quality and reliability of battery storage will improve to the point that it becomes a viable option to help meet our energy needs. If/when that happens, it has the potential to transform countless aspects of our lives, from our smartphones to our cars to our electric system. The lack of a viable option for largescale energy storage creates another challenge for power companies. Electricity supply and demand must always be perfectly matched. If you’re a farmer, imagine what your 4

PENN

LINES • AUGUST 2015

job would be like if you couldn’t store your product — not even for a short period of time until a truck could come to pick it up. Then imagine that the demand for your product never stops and varies wildly throughout the day, but you always had to produce the exact right amount with no shortages or overages. That’s what electric cooperatives do every day to keep the lights on. To meet this challenge, power companies rely on a complex and interconnected electric grid to deliver power to homes and businesses across America the instant that it’s needed. These same challenges exist for people who want to generate electricity at their homes or businesses through technologies such as solar panels, small wind turbines and manure digesters that produce methane. It’s unlikely that the amount of available sunshine, wind or manure is always perfectly matched to your immediate energy needs. Sometimes the sun is shining brightly when nobody is home, but most people still want electricity after the sun goes down. That’s where the electric grid comes into play. By staying connected to the electric grid, your home is part of a larger system. You can usually feed extra energy

back into it when you don’t need it, but more importantly, the grid is there to make sure you always have enough power when you need it. In addition, the interconnected nature of the grid means that when there’s a problem with a generator on the system — whether that’s a homeowner’s rooftop solar array or a large power plant supplying energy to hundreds of thousands — there are plenty of other generation resources available to step in and quickly meet the need. In some ways, the electric grid is the ultimate example of a cooperative. Every power company, from electric co-ops to investor-owned utilities to governmentrun systems, must work together across state lines to ensure there is always enough energy to power our lives. Electric cooperatives are leaders in the renewable energy revolution. Three of the top four solar utilities in America are electric cooperatives. The vast majority of wind turbines in this country are built in rural areas served by cooperatives. In fact, America’s electric cooperatives support an entire team of researchers who work on issues related to renewable energy, power reliability and future technology. Great leaders always look to the future but remain grounded in practical reality. Great leaders look out for everybody they serve and strive to ensure their actions will serve the greater good. These are the same qualities that make electric cooperatives special. Though our nation’s energy future is uncertain, there’s no doubt that America’s electric cooperatives are helping to write it — and doing so with our members’ best interests driving every action we take. l Justin LaBerge writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-forprofit electric cooperatives.

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KEEPINGcurrent

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 a sign that tells where you are. 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 you holding your oldest magazine with the publication date (or front cover) visible. Please note with your submission the month and year of the magazine you have. The reader who submits a photo of themselves holding 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.

‘Walk 93’ to support trails at national memorial The Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial and Leadership Somerset County are holding an inaugural memorial walk on Sept. 26 at the national memorial in Somerset County. Proceeds raised from Walk 93 will fund the construction and maintenance of trails at the Flight 93 National Memorial. Participants can see the memorial’s new Visitor Center from 7 to 9 a.m., and at 9 a.m., begin to walk the 2.28-mile Allee Walkway, Wetlands Bridge and Western Overlook Trail. The walk is non-competitive. It is meant to encourage reflection about the events of Sept. 11, 2001, and create awareness about the 40 passengers and crew members of Flight 93. For more information about the registration fee or to register online, go to www.Flight93Friends.org/programsevents. Individuals and businesses that wish to support Walk 93 can donate to the Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial, the official 501c(3) nonprofit partner of the memorial.

Drought watch lifted July 10 The Pennsylvania Department of Envi6

PENN

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ronmental Protection (DEP) on July 10 lifted the drought watch that had been in effect for 37 of the state’s counties. Twenty-seven counties were listed in the drought watch — the lowest of three drought stages calling for a voluntary reduction of 5 percent of non-essential water use — in March 2015, and 10 counties were added in June. “We have seen an increase in rainfall in many parts of the state that has restored groundwater levels and streamflow,” DEP Secretary John Quigley said in the release announcing the lifting of the watch. “While conditions have improved, I would encourage all Pennsylvanians to continue to consider their water use and conserve whenever possible.” DEP officials noted the reason the counties remained on drought watch for so long was because droughts reflect longterm trends that are evaluated based on 90-day averages of four measures: soil moisture, surface water (water that collects on the surface of the ground in rivers, creeks, etc.), groundwater (water that is available through wells or springs), and precipitation. The main reason for the recent drought warning was the decline in groundwater levels. State officials also noted that the rapid,

heavy rainfall experienced in a number of areas in Pennsylvania this year did not make a positive impact on groundwater because the rainfall hit the ground at a rate that did not allow for soil absorption. Hard rainfall that runs off into surface water sources does not replenish the groundwater.

Record number of eagle nests reported in Pennsylvania The mid-year annual survey of bald eagle nests in Pennsylvania shows a record 277 nests have been documented, with nesting eagles present in at least 58 of the state’s 67 counties. That’s up from 254 nests documented during the midyear survey in 2014, which also was a record. The Pennsylvania Game Commission began its bald eagle reintroduction program in 1983, when only three nests were recorded in the state. Pennsylvania Game Commission officials urge all residents to report eagle nests that were used this year, even if they were reported in a previous year. Eagle nests can be reported to the Pennsylvania Game Commission through its public comments email address: pgccomments@pa.gov (write Eagle Nest Information in the subject field), or they can be called in to any regional Pennsylvania Game Commission office or the state office in Harrisburg. HAL KORBER/PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION

Enter the latest Penn Lines anniversary contest

The annual mid-year survey shows a record number of bald eagle nests in the state.

EAGLE NUMBERS UP:

Pennsylvania Game Commission officials also reported that nearly 1.4 million people viewed their Eagle Cam online this year. The peek into the lives of the bald eagle family at Codorus State Park was a coordinated effort by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, HDOnTap, Comcast Business, Friends of Codorus State Park and others.

Travel website names Gettysburg No. 1 TripAdvisor, a world-wide travel website, recently named Gettysburg No. 1 in the top U.S. “Historical Family Vacation Spots You Can Afford.” Philadelphia was named No. 3. In addition to the obvious charm and historical impact of Gettysburg, the website noted that the nearby Adams County countryside is filled with wineries, farms, outdoor recreational activities and beautiful terrain. Other top destinations included Charlestown, S.C.; San Antonio; Washington, D.C.; Boston; Williamsburg, Va.; Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming; and Richmond, Va.

Penn State powers down during test During a recent test of electric load reduction capability, Penn State University’s main campus reduced its electricity consumption by 31 percent by powering down as many pumps, fans, compressors and lights as possible. University employees and students also were encouraged to shut down lights and office equipment during the test. University officials noted this test demonstrated the university’s capability to reduce its electric use during a regional power emergency. While the test simulated emergency conditions where it would be necessary to reduce its electric load, university officials say they are constantly looking for ways to improve campus energy efficiency to reduce overall electric use. They also reported more than half of Penn State University’s $2.7 billion capital plan is being directed to retrofitting and renovating infrastructure, and a specific investment of $60 million has been dedicated to energy savings programs over the next five years. l

Reach nearly 166,000 rural Pennsylvania households! Advertise in Penn Lines. For more information, please visit our website at www.prea.com/Content/pennlines.asp or call 717.233.5704 #4178

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PENN

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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

Home-grown

talent

Pennsylvania artisans with global reach

hile everyone’s opinion of art differs at least slightly, a simple definition is “something that is created through creative skill and imagination.” Throughout Pennsylvania, there are artists who use everything from traditional tools of the trade — such as oils and pastels — to more modern equipment — digital cameras and image-editing software, as well as everything in between. Many artists create only for their own enjoyment, or perhaps that of PENNSYLVANIA ART: Photographer Paul Staniszewski, Troutville, is known family and friends, but there are also worldwide for his photographs of elk, left, and flowers. Inset photo by David Pennsylvanians whose works are on Anderson display throughout the United States and beyond. Paul Staniszewski is no youngster — he retired several years ago — and he is relatively new to art; however, his photographs have spread across the globe.

AUGUST 2015 • PENN

LINES

PHOTO BY PAUL STANISZEWSKI

PENNlines

Paul Staniszewski, a United Electric Cooperative member, began taking flower photos six years ago after becoming interested in macro photography. He has since expanded his field of interest to elk photos. TULIPS IN BLOOM:

Staniszewski, a member of DuBois-based United Electric Cooperative, and his partner, Aldeen, relocated to Pennsylvania from New Jersey after they both retired. He is originally from the Pittsburgh area, and she grew up near DuBois, although they met in New Jersey, where both were teaching. She says Staniszewski has always had an eye for design and the ability to visualize the harmony in objects. He does have a degree in industrial arts education, which included a number of design courses, but he bought his first camera only six years ago.

Happenstance His interest in photography began by pure happenstance. A few years ago, a college student knocked on the door of the couple’s home located in a wooded area near Troutville, asking permission to collect insect specimens from the adjacent East 10

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Branch of the Mahoning Creek. They agreed. As the student gathered her specimens, Staniszewski assisted her by using her camera to photograph the insects. He was instantly smitten by the world of macro photography (where small items are produced larger than life-size). He purchased the same kind of camera, and because the couple had so many plants around their house, he spent hours taking close-ups of both wild and cultivated flowers. When he went to pick up his first film — yes, he was using film back then, although he uses a digital camera now — he was called into the manager’s office and accused of passing off a professional’s work as his own. “They said, ‘No one around here takes photos like that,’” Staniszewski recalls. It wasn’t long until he was selling his photographs at art shows and then at the Winkler Gallery and Art Education Center in DuBois. When the Elk Country Visitor Center near Benezette was preparing to open in 2010, area artists were invited to participate in a process that would end with three of them being chosen to sell their artwork at the center. Staniszewski’s flowers earned him one of those spots. His photos sold well, but it wasn’t long before he decided to turn his attention away from flowers. “I thought, ‘People are coming here to see elk; I should be photographing elk,’” he recalls. So he undertook an in-depth study of both wildlife photography and elk, figuring if he was going to photograph the 1,000pound beasts, he needed to understand them. While it is certainly not suggested as a way for visitors to photograph elk at Benezette, Staniszewski has walked among them on such a regular basis that he doesn’t fear

them, and they tolerate him. “I have been close enough to some of the elk that I have actually touched them,” he says. What he has in return: thousands of photos of elk going about their daily lives. Bulls bugling. Cows grazing. Calves nursing. He also has built up quite a reputation as an elk photographer. He sells what he terms a “substantial” number of photos — both elk and flowers — to the more than 400,000 people from across the world who now visit the center each year. He offers various sizes of matted and framed prints and frameable elk and flower note cards at the center and other area galleries, and also online at www.floralphoto.us. He has won numerous contests and has been selected to have his photos printed in a number of state and national publications, but his widest exposure has come through his connection with Shutterstock and Flickr. Through those online photo services, Staniszewski has sold photos to many overseas publications, so there’s a good chance that no matter where you see an elk photo, it could be a Staniszewski photo. No one is more surprised at that than Staniszewski himself. “I don’t know a lot about photography,” he says. “I can’t believe how this has evolved.”

Growth industry Staniszewski isn’t the only Pennsylvania artist to find himself in a second artistic career that only tangentially relates to the first. For years, Ben Bear operated a produce farm near Mechanicsburg, selling to local farm markets. Twenty years ago, he began planting a hard-shelled gourd he had seen in New England, thinking he could sell them along with pumpkins as fall decorations. Bear, who made cabinets during the farm’s off-season, began using

his woodworking tools on the hard-shelled gourds, and soon realized he had the makings of a new career on his hands. Fast-forward to today — Bear, a member of Gettysburg-based Adams Electric Cooperative, owns the largest gourd-crafting business in the United States, producing $32,000 worth of decorated gourds per week. His company’s decorated gourds are sold at retail outlets in 49 states and Canada, and worldwide through the Meadowbrooke Gourds’ website at www.mbgourds.com. Meadowbrooke Gourds is one of Adams Electric Cooperative’s Co-op Connections business partners that offers a 20 percent discount off the purchase of one gourd for cooperative members who have a Co-op Connections Card. Darren Hartsock, wholesale sales manager, began working for Bear 22 years ago, when he was in the eighth grade, back when Bear was still focused on produce. “Ben reached out to local schools looking for strawberry pickers,” Hartsock says. “We would ride our bikes into work and we got paid 35 cents a quart. He promoted the fastest of the strawberry pickers to his summer crew, and we picked sweet corn and blueberries. In the fall, we picked pumpkins. Back then it was called Meadowbrooke Produce.” “The farm crew evolved into the gourd workers,” Hartsock says. “We would come in after school and make parts, like han-

dles for baskets, pipes and snowmen hats. As time went on, gourds became the most important thing. Our production area was a tractor trailer bed and we used the old greenhouses as areas to paint gourds. As the business grew, there was more and more work. We eventually got out of the produce business and moved here (125 Potato Road, Carlisle).” Meadowbrooke Gourds now has 20 full-time employees. Bear focuses on farming 200 acres, planting nearly 50 acres each year in gourds. He rotates crops so gourds are grown on the same plot every four years. Most of his employees work in production, although some farm or work in the company’s retail store, which is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Employees work year-around to produce enough decorated gourds to sell during the mostpopular season (August through December). Meadowbrooke Gourds typically grows two types of hard-shelled gourds: Martin gourds (pear-shaped) and bottle gourds (snowman-shaped). Gourds are started from seed in company greenhouses in early May. When they are 3 to 4 inches tall, they are moved outside to harden with exposure to sun, wind and rain. By June 1, they are in the ground. The ones that survive through the growing season unfazed by groundhog attacks or inclement weather continue to grow until the first frost. Bear depends on high-school-

FRUIT AS ART:

Meadowbrooke Gourds produces $32,000 worth of decorated gourds per week. Owner Ben Bear, a member of Adams Electric Cooperative, offers the artwork for sale at his retail shop at 125 Potato Road, Carlisle; retail shops in 49 states and in Canada, and worldwide through the internet. The gourds are finished by a crew of about 20 employees, including Logan Dennison, above.

ers to pick the gourds and line them up in rows, where they will remain for the winter. In early spring, crews pick up the gourds — usually 400,000 to 500,000 of them each year. The gourds are sensitive to sunlight and need to be covered by summer, but since they are dried, they can be stored for several years before the next step. As needed, employees gather the gourds and throw them into a high-pressure gourd-washing machine that removes their outer skin. The clean gourds are thoroughly dried to prevent mold problems. Employees then evaluate each gourd and assign it to the crafting room, where it will be AUGUST 2015 • PENN

LINES

PENNlines carved with tools or decorated with woodburning equipment, or the finishing room, where it is painted. When completed, the pieces are sprayed with polyacrylic to ensure a long-lasting finish. The gourds are then boxed and stored until they are shipped to their final destination, or they are sold through Meadowbrooke Gourds’ own retail shop. Raw (unfinished) gourds are also available so hobbyists can finish their own if they wish. Although the company’s major focus has been on selling wholesale to outlets across the U.S., internet sales make up the fastestgrowing segment of the business. “We have found a nice niche

and now we are able to tell our story over social media,” Hartsock says. “Back when we began, we were cash-and-carry. Store owners would come to trade shows and buy on the spot. That sparked the buzz about us. Shop owners would sell out of the gourds quickly, and that kind of news spreads. At first, we did momand-pop craft shops. Then we expanded into gift shops and craft catalogues. We are on the cusp of a pretty big explosion now, and we are gearing up to utilize social media in a big way.” Hartsock says it’s impossible to estimate how many gourds have been sold, but he says it’s a sure bet there are millions and millions

of them. Although some people keep their gourds on display yeararound, many are seasonal decorations. Storing the seasonal decorations isn’t a problem, he says, as long as they are kept in a dry location and are wrapped in paper so they don’t rub against anything.

Artistic path

FROM SULLIVAN COUNTY TO THE NILE:

PHOTO BY DONNA CURRY

Dan Curry, a Sullivan County Rural Electric Cooperative member, holds a small print of the painting of his rural Dushore home that was selected for exhibit in Cairo, Egypt, right. Below, Curry works on a plein air (open air) painting along the Nile River while in Egypt for the opening of the art exhibit featuring his work.

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LINES • AUGUST 2015

Although both Staniszewski and Bear turned to art as a second career, not every artist follows that path. It didn’t take Dan Curry, a member of Forksville-based Sullivan County Rural Electric Cooperative, long to pinpoint his career goal. A native of Missouri, he volunteered to join the U.S. Army in 1970. While stationed in Philadelphia, he had two life-changing experiences: he began taking a few art classes in his free time and he met his wife, Donna. “After I left the Army, I used the GI Bill to get an education,” Curry explains. “My wife was the inspirational force behind my application to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.” Because his wife’s extended family was from the Dushore area, the couple decided to settle there after he finished college. “I had an interest in building my own house in a rural location,” he says. “I wanted to do organic gardening and develop a self-reliant pattern of living. I thought I would live off the land and pursue art.” Then Curry smiles, adding, “There weren’t that many art jobs, so I worked doing whatever I could. Plumbing, cooking, factory work. I didn’t like it, but I did it.” In 1982, he saw an advertisement for a security job at Red Rock Job Corps in Dushore. During Curry’s interview, the questioner asked if he would be interested in teaching art to the disadvantaged students in the program. (continues on page 21)

WE KEEP THEM UP HERE FOR A REASON.

STAY CLEAR OF DOWNED POWER LINES. 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

1975 WHEN COAL was king in western Pennsylvania, the thriving coal company town of Adrian in Jefferson County was undisputed queen. With 1,000 men employed in the mines and coke ovens, a steady stream of prime coal and coke flowed to the steel mills of Pittsburgh. As was typical in the late 19th century, when a promising new coal mine was opened, the company that owned the mine (in the case of Adrian, the Rochester and Pittsburgh Coal and Iron Co.) also built and owned the town. That means the whole town, including streets, houses, stores and meeting places; everything but the church. The company store was the center of the social and business affairs of Adrian back then. The residents prospered, and Adrian grew to include 250 dwellings with most of the larger homes housing two families. The end of Adrian came suddenly. In 1941, when America was gearing up for war production, the coal ran out. The mine was closed and many of the men marched off to war. Others found jobs in nearby communities. The entire town was sold to the Kovalchick Salvage Company of Sykesville, which rented some of the homes to residents. Gradually people began to drift away and in 1974, the Kovalchick Salvage Company offered to sell the entire town. The remaining residents formed the Adrian Housing Corp. and purchased the homes, with public land and buildings being under the control of the local housing authority. United Electric Cooperative provided power for the community once the mines closed. l

1985 Nationwide, electric cooperatives study the possibility of providing television service to their members because cable companies aren’t providing options for rural residents. 14

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1995 Rural advocates contend that rural America

2005 In the days before electric cooperatives

is being left out in the cold as telecommunications giants place networks exclusively into affluent urban and suburban areas.

brought power and light to the countryside, a clever invention — the Icyball — provided a mechanical means of refrigeration.

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COUNTRYkitchen

by Janette He ss

‘Tis the season for slaw DON’T let this summer slip by without first experimenting with several varieties of that perennial picnic favorite, coleslaw. The word “coleslaw” comes from the Dutch term for “cabbage salad.” Typically, coleslaw is dressed with mayonnaise or a vinaigrette. Asian Coleslaw is an updated version of the old stand-by salad that includes a bag of ramen noodles. In that recipe, the noodles are crumbled into the salad while the packet of highsodium seasonings goes straight into the dressing. If you think you’ll miss noodles in your updated salad, go ahead and toss some in. Just be sure to discard the seasoning packet, because the recipe is much better without it. Marinated Coleslaw offers an interesting take on a cabbage-based salad. The hot vinaigrette cooks the cabbage everso-slightly before it heads to the refrigerator. Zesty Coleslaw is the most traditional of this month’s recipes, but a bit of lemon takes it from “ordinary” to “extraordinary.” l

ASIAN COLESLAW 2 tablespoons sesame seeds 1 cup slivered almonds 16 ounces broccoli slaw mix 1 large carrot, grated 1 bell pepper, diced 2 to 3 green onions, with tops, thinly sliced 1/3 cup canola or vegetable oil 2 tablespoons rice vinegar 2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce 3 to 4 drops Asian hot chili sauce

Scatter sesame seeds and almonds in heated, non-stick skillet. Stir constantly until seeds and almonds are lightly browned. Set aside to cool. Combine vegetables in large salad bowl. In separate dish, whisk together oil, vinegar, sugar, soy sauce and chili sauce. Pour over vegetables. Chill. Just before serving, stir in sesame seeds and almonds. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

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.

ZESTY COLESLAW 1 16-ounce package coleslaw mix OR 16 ounces shredded green cabbage 1 cup regular or reduced-calorie mayonnaise 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons sugar 2 teaspoons prepared Dijon mustard 1 1/2 teaspoons salt-free lemon pepper 1/2 teaspoon celery seed 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon zest

together all Place coleslaw mix in salad bowl. In separate dish, whisk g to coleslaw dressin of cup 3/4 y imatel approx Add ients. remaining ingred least 1 hour. at for g dressin ing mix; toss to coat. Chill coleslaw and remain dressing, ing remain add and w colesla of tency consis check Before serving, if needed. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

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MARINATED COLESLAW 1 16-ounce package coleslaw mix OR 16 ounces shredded green cabb age 8 ounces shredded red cabbage 1/2 cup diced red onion 1 bell pepper, finely chopped 2 large carrots, peeled and grated 1 4-ounce jar diced pimientos, drai ned 1/3 cup canola or other vegetabl e oil 1/3 cup tarragon-flavored vinegar 1/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon dry (ground) mustard 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon celery seed 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground blac k pepper Combine vegetables in large salad bowl; set aside. Combine oil, vinegar, sugar, mustard, salt, celery seed and pepper in saucepan. Bring to a boil and continue boiling for 1 minute. Pour hot marinade over vegetables. Toss to combine. Chill. Makes 14 to 16 servings.

POWERplants

Tempting vines I ONCE planted a rampant perennial vine to climb up a wire trellis attached to the house. Desperate for fast coverage, I naively selected an absolute thug of a vine. It scrambled to the second story that first summer and shaded the house, yes. But it over-performed, becoming a heavy, billowing mass of stem and foliage. It threatened to snap the support wires, loosen the gutter, block the sidewalk, and barricade the entry door. Its massive roots filled the foundation bed, stunting my flowers. Once fall frost killed the foliage and stems, cutting it down was a huge chore. After conceding to the deserved “I told you so” from my better half, I grubbed it out. It grew back. Repeatedly. Long story short, when it comes to planting vines, be thoughtful. I respect vines. I have observed trumpet vines devour massive established hedges and topple fences, wisteria so heavy it collapsed the corner of a garage, and 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

Virginia creeper destroy wooden window frames. A gardener’s blind optimism (see above) or neglected maintenance, or choosing the wrong vine for the location will soon relegate a healthy vine to weed status. Planting a perennial or woody vine can be a waiting game, too. The old saying: “First year it sleeps, second year it creeps, third year it leaps!” describes the typical establishment process. Which vines would I recommend? For the faint of heart, I suggest the annual sweet pea. This sweet vine is planted very early in the spring — before the last frost — and expires promptly when the weather turns hot. Another option might be a tropical vine that stays small in our climate and grows as an annual, perhaps a blackeyed Susan or asarina. Or a container-grown vine such as jasmine to summer outside and then overwinter indoors. One of my favorite vines is clematis. Learn the mature size and pruning cycle for the specific clematis you plant and all will be well going forward. Some need an early spring hard prune, some a trim after blooming, some take selective snips, some rebloom, some don’t. If edible gardening is your thing, consider grape vines, hardy kiwi vines, passionflowers or perhaps an indeterminate tomato. If a wisteria or flowering trumpet vine or akebia is your

true heart’s desire, train and prune it regularly for life and provide massively strong supports. In the right place, glorious! These can do well trained on a pole or post surrounded by mowed lawn. If you are of the nostalgic bent or love blue, then try oldfashioned morning glories, planted where you will see their flowers in the morning because they close up every afternoon. This annual selfseeds prolifically. Also consider its cousin, the moonflower vine. This heat-and-sun lover may not bloom until August and its white flowers don’t open until late afternoon, but the fragrance is phenomenal. You might do a traditional climbing rose such as Kiftsgate, a dramatic giant capable of scaling trees. Or the favorite Zephirine Drouhin: better behaved, thornless and

If you opt for wisteria, provide strong support or it will overtake its backdrop.

CLIMBING WISTERIA:

scented. Not technically vines, but they do reach heights. When selecting a vine, be aware that some climb by twining around a support, others catch hold with curly, spring-like tendrils. Neglected vines can strangle neighboring plants and are tedious to untangle, so routine maintenance is a must. Vines that use sticky pads or hairy rootlets (think Virginia creeper and English ivy) to “glue” themselves onto supports can climb bare walls unassisted, but are problematic to remove. Word to the wise, that insane vine I planted? Beguilingly named silverlace, fleeceflower, Polygonum aubertii, or sometimes Fallopia baldschuanica. Just say no! l

AUGUST 2015 • PENN

LINES

OUTDOORadventures

by Marcus Schneck

It’s a heavy burden, this fascination for things to lug my burden

HELLO. My name is Marcus

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

and I am a packaholic. Backpacks, daypacks, beltpacks, fanny packs, shoulder packs, briefcases, camera packs, laptop packs — at least three deep in every category. And don’t get me started on fishing vests, creel packs and shooting bags. If a kid in the Boy Scout troop doesn’t have a needed pack for an outing, I have him covered. Of course, that means my supply might go down to only two packs in that particular category. I probably will need to hit the next pack department I spot. That’s OK with me. The pack vendors at nearly every outdoor show usually have a few new wrinkles to offer, as do the pack displays at the outdoor stores. And, online

LINES • AUGUST 2015

and catalog sales seem virtually unlimited in their choices. I think it’s something about the partitions and the pockets. There always seems to be some new configuration that just might satisfy my transport needs a bit better than this pack or that pack I already own. The exterior pockets on the backpack will hold a few more gadgets, for which I also have an addiction, in more readily accessible spots. The divisions inside the brief case will better sort the array of gear I need to lug along to do my highly mobile job. I’ve gotten my addiction under control in recent years. However, the world of tactical operations has brought incredible advances to what’s

ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN: It seems as if every sport and activity has a specialized pack dedicated to it. Here, a hiker has easy, outside-the-pack access to his water bottle and map.

available in packs: ballistic fabric that cuts down on daily wear and tear; advanced Velcro that allows for changeable partitions and moving pockets to make one pack serve many purposes; impenetrable padding of incredibly light weight. You probably share a bit of this fascination with packs. I may have rubbed elbows with you at a pack vendor’s booth at an outdoor show. That was me with the shoulder pack that I carry to all show-type events; well, one of the shoulder packs that I carry to shows. l

SMARTcircuits

by James Dulley

Roofing materials impact AC costs FROM THE standpoint of a long life and keeping your home cooler, a black asphalt shingle roof is probably the worst option you can choose when replacing a roof. The dark color absorbs much of the sun’s heat, which not only makes your home hotter and drives up your air-conditioning costs, but hastens the degradation of the shingle material itself. A black shingle can easily reach 150 degrees Fahrenheit in the hot sun. If you have ever tried to lift a square (100 square feet) of shingles, you know how heavy they are. When this thermal mass gets hot, it stores the heat and radiates it down into your home well into the evening. Even if you have adequate insulation on the attic floor, the radiant heat from the hot roof easily passes through to room ceilings. Standard thermal insulation, such as batts and blown-in fiberglass or rock wool and cellulose, is most effective for blocking conductive heat transfer, but less so for radiant heat from a hot roof. The two most common roofing materials for homes are shingles and metal. White shingles can be fairly energy efficient and effective for reflecting much of the sun’s heat. Keep in mind, it takes very little color tint before shingles start to absorb heat, so white is the most efficient option. Metal roofing can cost twice as much as shingles, but many types have lifetime warranties, and they can reflect the majority of the sun’s heat. Aluminum and steel are the two most common and reasonably priced materials. Copper is attractive and durable, but it is quite expensive. I installed an aluminum simulated shake roof on my own home five years ago. My roof consists of 1x2-foot interlocking panels with a special heat-reflecting

paint coating. The panels are made of recycled aluminum from soda pop cans and are formed to look like cedar shakes. Aluminum is a particularly efficient roofing material because the underside surface of the roofing panels is bare. With a low emissivity rating, it does not allow the heat from the hot metal to pass through to the roofing lumber and insulation below. When selecting an aluminum roof, it is important that its contour provides an air gap over the sheathing for its low-emissivity properties to be effective. A simulated clay tile aluminum roof is also effective with the many air gaps under it. The only drawback to an aluminum metal roof is you must be careful walking on it and stepping on the high shake’s edges so it is not damaged. During winter, snow sometimes slides off in large sheets and crushes shrubs and blocks the garage door. Snow stops can be glued to the roof to stop this, but they may also catch leaves and debris from nearby trees. Painted steel roofs are also available in many colors and simulated contours. The steel is treated with many layers of corro-

sion-resistant coatings so rust is not a problem. Steel roofs with an aluminumalloy coating are particularly durable. Steel is very strong, so there are fewer problems with walking on it. Since your old shingles are likely cracked with curled edges, they would have to be torn off before new shingles are installed. Most metal roofs, because of their rigidity, can be installed over existing shingles no matter what their condition. Whether you choose white shingles or a metal roof with heat-reflecting paint, also consider installing an attic ridge vent. When replacing a roof, adding a ridge vent is a minor additional expense. Make sure the soffit vents are not blocked by attic insulation. Even with the metal roof, adequate attic ventilation is needed for both summer and winter energy efficiency. l Have a question for Jim? Send inquiries to JAMES DULLEY , Penn Lines, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.

AUGUST 2015 • PENN

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.

October 2015 . . . . . . . August 19 November 2015. . . . . . . Sept. 18 December 2015 . . . . October 19

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

Additional words; attach separate sheet if needed.

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.

NOLL’S FORESTRY SERVICES, INC. performs Timber Marketing, Timber Appraisals, Forest Management Planning, and Forest Improvement Work. FREE Timber Land Recommendations. 30 years experience. Call 814-472-8560.

BUILDING SUPPLIES STEEL ROOFING AND SIDING. Over 25 years in business. Several profiles — cut to length. 29 and 26 gauge best quality residential roofing — 40-year warranty. Also, seconds, heavy gauges, accessories, etc. Installation available. Located northwestern Pennsylvania. 814-398-4052. FACTORY SECONDS of insulation, 4 x 8 sheets, foil back. RValue 6.5 per inch. Great for pole buildings, garages, etc. Also prime grade A foil bubble wrap insulation. 814-442-6032. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES TIRED of the Rat Race? Want to own your business? Low cost, high-end leadership company has open positions! 814-6030231. EARN RESIDUAL INCOME on monthly sales for the rest of your life! Free mentoring. Entrepreneurs who enjoy marketing and want to build a six figure income contact Catalogbus@aol.com.

CENTRE FOREST RESOURCES. Forest Management Services, Wildlife Habitat Management, Timber Sales, Appraisals. College educated, professional, ethical foresters working for you. FREE Timber Consultation. 814-571-7130. CRANE SERVICE NEED A LIFT? Crane service for all your lifting needs. Experienced, fully insured, Owner-Operated and OSHA Certified. Precision Crane LLC, Linesville, PA 814-282-9133. ELECTRIC MOTORS FARM, COMMERICAL, INDUSTRIAL, NEW AND USED MOTOR SALES. Complete repair facility with over 30 years experience. Most sizes in stock. Emergency repair available. Ludwig Electric LLC. 814-948-4471. FENCING HYDRAULIC POST DRIVER FOR RENT. Easy hookup and transportation. Safe, simple operation. Convenient, costeffective alternative for setting wood posts by hand. $200 for first day, $175/additional day. 1-800-KENCOVE.

CHURCH LIFT SYSTEMS

FINANCIAL FREEDOM

Make your church, business or home wheelchair accessible. We offer platform lifting systems, stair lifts, porch lifts and ramps. References. Free estimates. Get Up & Go Mobility Inc. 724-746-0992 or 814-926-3622.

EXECUTIVE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE WEALTH. ARE YOU READY FOR FINANCIAL FREEDOM? JIM VARGO 314-614-6039. WWW.BLESSEDARETHERICH.COM

PENN

LINES • AUGUST 2015

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.

PENNLINESclassified HOME-GROWN talent

INFRARED SAUNAS

SAWMILLS

Removes toxins, burns calories, relieves joint pain, relaxes muscles, increases flexibility, strengthens immune system. Many more HEALTH BENEFITS with infrared radiant heat saunas. Economical to operate. Barron’s Furniture, Somerset, PA. 814-443-3115.

USED PORTABLE Sawmills and COMMERCIAL Sawmill equipment! Buy/Sell. Call Sawmill Exchange 800-459-2148. USA and Canada. www.sawmillexchange.com.

LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT

FREE SAMPLE Shaklee’s Energy Tea. Combination red, green and white teas that are natural, delicious, refreshing, safe. For sample or more information on tea or other Shaklee Nutrition/Weight Loss Products: 800-403-3381 or www.sbarton.myshaklee.com.

HARRINGTONS EQUIPMENT COMPANY, 475 Orchard Rd., Fairfield, PA 17320. 717-642-6001 or 410-756-2506. Lawn & Garden equipment, Sales — Service — Parts. www.HarringtonsEquipment.com.

SHAKLEE

SOLAR GENERATOR LEGAL SERVICES GAS LEASE or PIPELINE EASEMENT review: $199.00. Experienced oil and gas attorneys. All Pennsylvania counties. Further representation and negotiation available at an hourly rate. Gas rights litigation. 717-238-0434. Joshua@reedpalaw.com.

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

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.” 814-5873449. BLUETICK COONHOUND PUPS. U.K.C. Registered. Excellent hunters or loyal loving companions. $250. Also my boy has a litter of A.K.C. Beagle pups. $250 each. We hunt what we sell. 724-463-7485.

FOR SALE — NEW GASOLINE GENERATOR 6500. Peak 5500 running watts. Four 120V outlets. One 240V, 30 amp outlet. Has no flat wheel kit. $400. Call 814-839-4679. TRACTOR PARTS — REPAIR/RESTORATION ARTHURS TRACTORS, specializing in vintage Ford tractors, 30years experience, online parts catalog/prices, Indiana, PA 15701. Contact us at 877-254-FORD (3673) or www.arthurstractors.com.

LOG CABIN RESTORATIONS

VACATIONS AND CAMPSITES

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.

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.

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. VINTAGE WOODEN BARN FOR SALE — Large barn with stone foundation. 80 years old. Two story - 45’ by 65’. Nanty Glo, PA. Make offer. 814-659-4014. 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). MOTOR VEHICLES AND BOATS 1971 SUZUKI T350 — 11,750 miles. All original equipment. Good condition. Bargain at $1,995. Plus antique Simplicity lawn tractor 725. Runs. Needs restoring. $250. Phone 570-673-5341. PENNSYLVANIA HUNTING LAND WANTED OUR HUNTERS WILL PAY TOP $$$ to hunt your land. Call for a free base camp leasing info packet and quote. 866-309-1507. www.BaseCampLeasing.com 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.

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. Wilderness cabin for rent on a thousand acres of private land with views of elk, deer, turkey and great fishing on creek behind cabin and hiking on the north slope of the largest flat top mountain in the world — THE GRAND MESA. Rent is $500 per week. Call Alan. 970-487-3321. ALLEGHENY FRONT LOG CABIN RENTAL. New, fully furnished, linens, kitchenware provided. Three bedrooms, one and 1/2 bath. Great room, million dollar view. Bedford Co. 814-7544512. www.alleghenyfrontexperience.com. CAMP ON TWO PLUS ACRES — Water, electric near Soldier, PA. Sleeps four plus. Near State Game Lands 244. Call 330-6085123. FOR RENT — SEASONAL 2 or 3 bedroom cabins in Sugar Run, PA by day or week on Susquehanna River near kayaking/canoeing launch/rental. Kitchen, bathroom. Call 570833-0337.

(continued from page 12) He taught there for 30 years. It has ended up that Curry is just as well-known internationally for his work with those students as he is as an artist. Both he and his students were invited in 2001 to display their art at the United Nations in New York City in an exhibit entitled “Breaking the Walls of Bias, Prejudice and Stigma.” The U.N. display was coordinated by Marietta Dantonio Madson, chair of the art department at Cheyney University. Later, both Dantonio Madson and Curry were among art teachers who were invited to compete with other U.S. artists and educators to be featured at an international art exhibit at the Cairo Opera House in Egypt in 2006. Both were selected, and among the works Curry displayed in Cairo was a painting of his rural home in Sullivan County, Curry primarily works in watercolors and pastels. His main subject is landscapes, many of which have won awards, and he has also done portraits of both people and pets. He prefers plein air (in the open air) painting, but he also paints in his studio using photographs as inspiration. He sells original paintings and prints through area galleries, as well as a gallery in Ocracoke, N.C., where many of his landscape paintings are based. His paintings and prints are also available through www.dan-curry.com. That site also has information posted about upcoming painting workshops. He doesn’t plan to ever stop teaching; he sees it as his mission to spread to others the joy that painting brings to him. l

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Thoughts from Earl Pitts, UHMERIKUN! Eat up: Earl has some thoughts about food

As you all know, there is nothing I hate more than a self-important, hoity-toity Yuppie pin-head. I mean — after communists, politicians and soccer. To my way of thinkin’, your Lexus-driving Yuppies have ruined most of America. And as a sub-category of your American Yuppie — there is nothin’ I hate more

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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than your “Yuppie Foodie.” These are your twisted idiots that took eatin’ and turned it into some kind of stupid culinary adventure. What the heck? You know who they are, too. They’re the ones on TV chopping fresh vegetables on a cutting board. Oh, that’s so precious. I say if the good Lord had meant for us to eat fresh vegetables, He would not have created the freezer. Or the can. Anyways, I was raggin’ on these bonehead foodies on the Food Channel last night with the Meeker boys when Dub Meeker goes, “Hang on, Earl. This is a case of you callin’ the kettle black because, and I don’t know if you realize this, but you are a Redneck Foodie, son.” And I go, “You’re nuts.” Dub says, “Really? Didn’t you spend a half hour last night discussing the difference between Rice-a-Roni and Pasta-Roni? You were saying how if it’s browned right, Rice-a-Roni has a delightful crunch you just can’t get with Pasta-Roni. Earl, that’s a Redneck Foodie, right there.” And Dub doesn’t quit there. He says, “How many years have we argued hash browns or home fries? And who has a mental list of acceptable barbecue joints? Who has their own sauce at the wing place?” And then he goes, “Have you ever noticed when you’re eating potato chips, you drink light beer? But when you switch to Cheetos, you change to regular beer?” I says, “I do? It just goes together better that way.” He goes, “OK, Iron Chef Earl, whatever you say.” Wake up, America! Holy cow — apparently I’m just as bad as them Yuppie Foodies. I came up with five different fried blow-ney recipes over the years, and I don’t even have a network television show.

You know what ain’t natural? It’s this all-natural kick food companies are on. All these companies makin’ packaged

food or fast food, they’re all getting rid of artificial colors, dyes, flavors and preservatives. Kraft is doing it with their mac and cheese. Subway is doing it with their samiches. Everybody is doing it. It’s the “thing” right now. You know, pin-head, Yuppie-trendy stuff. The companies say that’s what their customers want — all natural food — nothing artificial. Well, I would submit to you companies that the majority of your customers don’t know what they’re talkin’ about. And just for the record, you didn’t ask me so I’m gonna tell you now. I like artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. Here’s my thinking — it’s all those artificial preservatives that have extended our life spans. Do you know who ate totally natural? The cavemen. And how long did an average caveman live? Maybe 22 years if he was lucky. Yeah boy, I want to go back to that diet. You know how long people are living now? There is people out there right now who are 110 years old. And this is with Twinkies, Doritos, and Kraft Velveeta and shells. That can’t be a coincidence. Heck, if you load up on artificial preservatives, you can’t help but preserve yourself a little bit, too. I’m not sure what these idiot companies are thinking. Like them nimrods at General Mills says they are taking artificial colors and flavors out of their cereals, starting with Trix. You know what you get if you take all the artificial colors and flavors out of a box of Trix? A box. Boy, that sounds delicious. And all-natural. Wake up, America. Them companies say they don’t want no ingredients listed on the side of their box you can’t pronounce. So instead, they’ll give us something inside the box that we can’t eat. Sounds like a smart trade-off, right? 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 Summertime fun WHETHER you choose to spend the “dog days” of summer inside in the air conditioning or outside enjoying the heat, remember to take a minute to snap some photos of your favorite people and activities for the Rural Reflections contest. 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 winter photos before mid-September. (Hint: keep your spring, summer and fall 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, stamped envelope. l

Stephanie Leverknight Somerset REC

Donna Kitcko Warren EC

Rob Douglas Northwestern REC Amber Weaver REA Energy

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