ALASKA VILLAGE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
MARCH 2024
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March 2024 • Volume 72, No. 3
CEO Michael Shepard
SENIOR VP OF CONTENT Leon Espinoza
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Mike Teegarden, CCC
DEPUTY EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Noble Sprayberry
SENIOR EDITOR Jennifer Paton, CCC
ASSISTANT EDITORS Chasity Anderson, CCC; Victoria Hampton, CCC, David Herder CCC
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Valeri Pearon, Nina Todea
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCTION SR. MANAGER
Elizabeth Beatty
PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR
Alyssa McDougle
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I don’t know about you, but I am itching to get outside and get my hands dirty. As soon as the soil in my flower beds stops feeling like overly thickened pudding, I’m ready to purge the winter blahs—and the weeds that have sprouted.
I have a few new flower beds that will get my attention first. One area is a clean slate just waiting for inspiration and the right plants to transform it.
I’m a lazy gardener, favoring native perennials that require little care while providing vibrant color year after year. Over time, I want to fill in the open spaces with low-creeping plants that reduce the need for weeding. I’m not there yet, but this month’s gardening story gave me great ideas on ways to reach my goals while saving money. I haven’t grown plants indoors from seeds since my days in elementary school, but I’m excited to give it a try again.
When the weather is too cold to work my flower beds, my family loves to play board games. We have an overflowing game closet. I was pretty excited when I ran across a company in Pahrump, Nevada, which helps game developers take their ideas to the finish line. You can read about it on Page 10. Maybe one of you will design the next must-have board game. As we continue celebrating Ruralite’s 70th year, please look at the Before You Go story on Page 30. From time to time this year, we will share nuggets from some of the first issues of Ruralite magazine. This month, we feature new product descriptions and household tips that ran in December 1954.
Sincerely,
Mike Teegarden Editorial Director
Innovator leads the way to a successful board game design business Up Close, Page 10
Signature here.
Per AVEC’s bylaws, the nomination of candidates for board seats is the responsibility of a nominating committee appointed by the AVEC Board of Directors. The committee was appointed in November 2023, and met twice via teleconference to complete its assignment. Three directors Phyllis Clough from Old Harbor, Helena Jones from Ambler, and Peter Demoski from Nulato are coming to the end of their terms in April 2024. They are all eligible for reelection. Four additional candidates submitted applications or petitions in accordance with AVEC’s bylaws. Elections are held by mail beginning in February. Every AVEC member will receive election material in the mail. Ballots need to be completed, signed, returned, and received in Anchorage no later than April 17, 2024 at 5 P.M., to be counted. Below are statements from the seven candidates asking to get
your vote. Each member gets to choose three candidates this year. Complete election information will be included with the ballots that will be mailed in late February.
Members of the nominating committee were selected from the list of village delegates. Serving this year were:
• Gerry Alexie, Mountain Village
• Annie Weyiouanna, Shishmaref
• Jack Endicott, Yakutat
• Darla Jemewouk, Elim
• Gabriel Wilson, Scammon Bay
• Arthur Redfox, Emmonak
The nominating committee, under the chairmanship of Gerry Alexie, has submitted the following candidates for your consideration:
Phyllis was initially voted to the board in 2003 and has served for all but three years since. She has often been and is currently serving as Secretary.
Phyllis’ Statement: “It has been an honor to serve and represent our unique and resilient rural communities. As a native of Old Harbor, my heart is firmly planted in our shared values and challenges. Throughout my tenure, I have witnessed the transformative power of stable electricity in improving our lives – from better healthcare and education to increased economic opportunities. My commitment has always been to ensure that our cooperative upholds its promise of reliability and progress, especially across our large and rugged landscape. In my role as delegate, I have focused on having a strong partnership between AVEC and our village governments, speaking up for important upgrades of our power systems, and representing the voices of our village residents. This is more than a job for me – it’s a passion driven by the love for my community and a deep sense of responsibility towards our future generations. I am hopeful about the possibilities in front of us. With your support, I am excited to continue this journey, ensuring tha’ the voices and needs of Old Harbor and all our villages are not just heard but acted upon with care and priority. I humbly ask for your vote, trusting in our shared vision for a brighter, more sustainable future for all our communities. With heartfelt gratitude and hope, Quyanna.”
Peter has been on the AVEC board for 12 years and has served as Treasurer for most of that time.
Peter’s Statement: “I want to serve on the AVEC Board of Directors because it is important to remember when AVEC began providing electricity in our villages and the challenges that were encountered. What is the relationship between AVEC and you, the shareholder? We all know the relationship and I’d like to reiterate it both for you older Directors and especially for you younger Directors. AVEC’s responsibility is to provide continuous electricity for us. Since the 1960’s, electricity has transformed the lives of every resident in every one of AVEC’s villages. Some communities are employing methods to reduce their electricity costs. Some are using wind towers, and some are using solar panels. These are proven methods to eventually decrease the electricity costs for individual households. AVEC needs to continue to install these cost saving measures in all our villages. Our costs for groceries and heating fuel are already way above what city dwellers pay. Let us encourage AVEC to pursue and install cost saving measures in all our villages.”
Martha became an AVEC member in September 2023 when AVEC welcomed Twin Hills to the family of communities served by AVEC.
Martha’s Statement: “Our village is new to AVEC and I would like to be a Board of Director. I am a lifelong rural villager and know village electrical needs. I am a team player, and I can be a reliable Board of Director for AVEC. Thank you for the opportunity and consideration.”
Helena has been a board director since 1982. She has acted as Secretary, Treasurer, and is currently Vice-Chair.
Helena’s Statement: “In 1982 I was elected as a village delegate from Ambler. That year at annual meeting I was elected to the board (only woman as a board member). That same year I was elected to Regional school board for Northwest Arctic. In 1982 there was about 30 plus AVEC villages. We have our annual meetings at our AVEC headquarters. Today the building is too small for 59 village delegates to have our annual meetings. In my 40 years of service, I’ve seen AVEC grow and improve. I am proud to say I helped build AVEC to a strong and positive co-op. AVEC ties the members together. Before AVEC older members know what its like to be without electricity (I am one of them). Our growth includes many improvements, a few are, wind and solar power projects, interties, reliable electricity, heat pumps, local hire, two barges. To me the biggest improvement we did was the two barges AVEC bought along with Vitus.
Our biggest loss was one of our long-standing board member Robert Beans, many years as chairman. May he Rest in Peace. Because of your support I am the longest sitting board member, also AVEC’s walking history. Hopefully, new Board members will stay and guide AVEC into the future with me. Although I serve 40 years as AVEC board member, I feel that my work and dedication to AVEC is not done yet. So I would appreciate your vote and support. Thank you, Helena Jones”
Candidate bios continue on page 8.
Women increasingly power electric utilities and each other
A generation ago, if a young woman expressed an interest in working in the energy industry, it’s possible her friends, family and even prospective supervisors would have steered her away. Keeping the lights on was traditionally seen as men’s work—aside from customer service or clerical roles, that is.
Yet today, women represent an increasing share of the electric cooperative workforce, and not just in traditional roles of the past. As you look around your public power utilities, you’ll find women in many roles—from lineworkers to engineers to
“When I came to work for Lassen in 2003, there were very few women in managerial or leadership roles in the industry,” says Theresa Phillips, public relations manager at Lassen Municipal Utility District. “We seemed to be working behind the scenes, with little recognition for our contributions.
“Fast forward to 2024, and the industry has embraced women in public power in every aspect.”
International Women’s Day is March 8. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate accomplishments of the many women transforming public power utilities and serving their local communities.
It’s hard to imagine a better career field for today’s young women who are interested in making their communities better places to live, work and play.
“The competition for talent and skill shortages has highlighted the need to expand recruitment strategies to get a more diverse range of candidates,” says Desiree Dunham, Workforce Programs manager for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
“The diverse experiences and perspectives of women contribute to more creative and effective problem-solving, which can be especially beneficial in navigating complex challenges and finding innovative solutions that cater to a broad range of consumer needs.”
NRECA reports that nearly 90 electric co-ops are headed by female CEOs. The association says the strengths women often bring to leadership—such as teamwork, problem-solving and communication—are important to the industry’s future.
Public power utilites across America are working to build
awareness among young women about the opportunities available to them. Some even host day camps for teens in which they get a behind-the-scenes look at what’s involved with delivering power.
Beyond the highly visible roles such as linework, participants learn how people in areas as diverse as information technology, finance and environmental compliance are vital to utility operations.
Students aren’t the only target of such efforts. Desiree points to the priority the industry places on supporting career development for women. Mentorship programs and networking opportunities create platforms through which women can connect and share their experiences.
“These positive shifts need to be continuously reinforced with targeted outreach efforts, career awareness campaigns and support systems to enhance the entry points and career progression for women,” Desiree says.
Theresa sees a strong impact in the annual Women in Public Power Conference, a learning conference that provides developmental opportunities for women in five critical areas of success: knowing yourself, creating connections, managing communications, building confidence and strengthening resilience. It’s a room full of women supporting other women—from customer service representatives to general managers.
Theresa encourages others in the industry to attend as it’s a chance to network among other women.
Conferences are just one place to feel this camaraderie. NRECA’s Women in Power mentoring program for the electric co-op community provides support and resources to guide and empower women in their careers.
“Thanks to their Women in Power mentoring program, I have been able to network with several women across the country involved in the energy industry,” Duncan Valley Electric Cooperative CEO Kassi Mortenson says.
“(Through) the Women in Power mentoring program, I was matched with Charise Swanson, CEO of the New Mexico statewide organization, NMREC,” Kassi says. “Call it fate, but it could not have worked out more perfect. We were able to meet in person as DVEC is an associate member of the New Mexico group, and (we) have since developed a very beneficial mentor/mentee relationship.”
Nearly 20% of the nation’s co-op workforce is nearing retirement age during the next five years, which opens new opportunities in leadership roles at electric utilities across the country. Public power utilities pride themselves on offering stable jobs with opportunities for growth.
“Cooperatives are often recognized as ‘best place to work’ employers in their communities, offering competitive benefits, caring cultures and support for families,” Desiree says.
Strengthening inclusion and diversity is a commitment of public power utilites. Within this, women often advocate for fostering an environment where skills and expertise are valued among individuals.
“More and more women are becoming involved in the energy industry as utility leadership, boards of directors, lineworkers, engineers, etc.,” Kassi says. “Now it’s just a matter of everyone else getting used to it. Women in the energy industry are here to stay.” n
Christina submitted a nomination form and a petition with ten AVEC member’s signatures supporting her candidacy.
Christina’s Statement: “I am currently living in Nome, Alaska. When I moved here over 50 years ago, I was employed by a local grocery and hardware store, then served as a radio station volunteer before marrying into Elim. My husband and I raised three children. After his death, I worked for the Bering Straits School District in the local school and later as a clerk at the City of Elim. I spent 7 years in Sitka supporting my teenage children while attending Mt. Edgecumbe High School. There I worked fulltime with the Sitka School District, then at MEHS as the Home School Coordinator until moving back to the Norton Sound area. Remarrying, my husband and I relocated to Nome where I worked at Nome Public Schools for 20 years as a Middle/High School administrative assistant. Over the years, I have had board experience for various organizations. I am presently serving as secretary of the Alaska Conference Board of the Covenant Church. I enjoy my family, sewing, and harvesting/preparing subsistence foods. Each summer brings our family back to Elim (my primary home for 25 years) to spend time at our fish camp and reconnect with extended family. Thank you – Christina.”
Michael was a candidate last year and submitted a nomination form again this year.
Michael’s Statement: “I am interested in being a Board Director. My name is Michael Peters, son of late Axenia and George Peters of Holy Cross where I was born and raised. My late partner Gloria A. Fitka (deceased) and I lived in Marshall for more than 30 years. I served on Deloycheet, Inc. (Holy Cross Village Corporation) as the Vice President and Land Committee. I am a retired certified crew boss and heavy equipment operator. I worked for Donlin Creek, Osborne Construction, Marshall Airport and for 12 years with honorable discharge with the Army National Guard Nulato AK Company. I also serve on the Marshall City Council and previously as the Vice Mayor, local school board president, chairman of the Yukon River Drainage Y-2 Marshall board member and Marshall school laborer. BLM shipping and sending manager, Tanana Fire Service. Live in the Village. Rural.”
Bryan was appointed to vacant seat on the AVEC board in 2019 and served to the end of the term. He is now seeking to be elected by the membership.
Bryan’s Statement: “I am interested to continue my advocacy for affordable and reliable electric energy for our electric company and its membership. I have been an AVEC, Inc., Board of Director in the recent past and I have met requirements offered to keep abreast of the everchanging environment for the electricity being served to diverse communities. We need to more than ever grow as a family due to the challenges we have been facing, i.e. keeping the Power Cost Equalization (PCE), state and federal government cuts, climate change, renovations of sites needing upgrades, keeping the reduced rates of energy costs down to affordable rates and improve quality of life.
I have been a 13 year village delegate from our membership in Savoonga, an annual community meeting chair, an alternate representative for our regional non-profits, board of director for our village corporation, as well as some other local and regional committees and commissions and a cochair for one of the committees. I am optimistic to support and help as best of my abilities representing the widest possible geographical distribution to each and every communities of AVEC, Inc. membership. Thank you very much for your continued support and confidence.”
by Chiara Profenna
Michael Spahitz’s Pahrump, Nevada, warehouse bursts with creative energy. The Board Game Design and Manufacturing headquarters sees plenty of imaginative and unique games within its walls.
Each year, novice and expert game designers bring their innovative ideas to Michael, where he pieces together the puzzle to produce a finished game.
Michael displays colorful custom board games on the headquarters’ showroom walls, highlighting only a fraction of the games he has helped create. Cardboard boxes house a diverse array of games, from trivia challenges to strategic games, stylized Monopoly boards and myriad other inventive concepts.
The game that started it all sits on the center shelf: Dogopoly (The Original Game of High Steaks & Bones).
Michael and his brother, Rob, grew up playing board games on rainy days in New York. One day, while the boys were playing Monopoly, their dog walked across the board.
“Normally, we were very particular about our games,” Rob says. “It’s like, ‘Don’t bother us while we’re playing.’ But we loved our dog so much … We just went over and hugged him, and somewhere right about then is when we got this inspiration of, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun if all of the Monopoly properties were named after dogs?’”
Not long after, Rob and Michael created the first iteration of Dogopoly by taping together sheets of paper and referencing a picture dictionary for dog breed names.
Their passion for board games followed them as they grew older, but they never forgot their first venture into game design.
“As we got older, we started creating our own games,” Michael says. “I
learned how to become a graphic artist and merged the two into offering a service for people online to come to me whether they need design services or just manufacturing services.”
Michael eventually established the design business on his own.
“What we offer is a service for others,” Michael says. “You have a game concept, and we take the concept and bring it to fruition, from the rough concept to a finished product, where we have it manufactured, and it can be sold in stores.”
Since 1997, the business has grown from offering only manufacturing services to including graphic design and selling game components on a separate website.
Michael has created hundreds of tabletop games, serving individuals and larger corporations from his warehouse in Pahrump. For about 15 years, the business
has operated out of this small town an hour outside of Las Vegas.
“When I moved to Pahrump, one of the pluses for us was the overhead,” Michael says. “We could actually have a building where we could do warehousing and order fulfillment.”
Looking through the rows of games Michael has helped create, it is apparent no two designs look alike. Vintage games are washed in sepia with old photographs on display while contemporary designs use eyecatching graphics and vibrant cartoon characters. According to Michael, he aims to keep singularity and longevity in mind when designing a game.
“One of the pluses of me being a game inventor and a graphic artist is that I’ve been through this,” Michael says. “When it comes to helping my customers, I can make a lot of suggestions and advise them on things they might want to consider.”
The global tabletop games market was estimated at $24.91 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $48.69 billion by 2028, according to market research company Arizton. Among the thousands of new games released yearly, Board Game Design and Manufacturing has contributed hundreds since its inception.
With hopes of eventually opening his own large-scale manufacturing building, Michael envisions expanding the company’s reach and impact. His business is a haven for emerging inventors.
As the CEO, owner, art director and webmaster, Michael prides himself on being able to offer services for anyone with a thoughtout concept. He advises aspiring game makers to play and test their games with as many people as possible and to choose a professional designer to create packaging that gives a great first impression.
“I enjoy doing this,” he says. “It’s a very rewarding job because one of the things that we’re doing is helping people to make their dreams come true.” n
Visit www.boardgamedesigns.com for more information on how to turn an idea into a board game.
By George Weigel
Plant prices have risen sharply the past two years. So have costs of insecticides, fertilizers, deer repellents, mulch, tools and other accessories gardeners use to keep their green investments alive. Even bagged dirt is no longer dirt-cheap.
What’s a gardener on a tight budget to do? Fortunately, this is one pastime that lends itself well to belt-tightening strategies. Let’s dig into specifics.
You could pay full price at prime planting time like most gardeners, or you could pay half or less with some bargainsniffing strategies. Start by looking for markdowns on overstocked, out-of-bloom or past-prime plants. These are often perfectly healthy, just not attractive enough to fetch top dollar.
Four top savers: Perennials relegated to a bargain rack after they have finished blooming for the season; annuals and vegetables that are still viable but unsold after the spring rush; trees and shrubs that are misshapen markdowns but fixable via pruning and patience; and tulips, daffodils and other spring-blooming bulbs that are often 50% off when unsold but still plantable by the end of October.
Get on your favorite garden center’s loyalty program. Many offer discounts, coupons, rewards and special sales to regular customers. While you’re at it, let local garden center managers know you’re interested in plants they want to clear out. You might get a call before plants go on the clearance rack—and maybe even year-end freebies.
Bargains are sometimes possible through mail-order and online vendors, but expect the plants to be small and bare root—shipped
with weight-saving packing material around the roots instead of soil. Coddle them in a pot for a year to maximize success.
Plant bargains also can be found from unconventional sources, including plant societies, master gardeners, libraries, public gardens, farmers markets, schools and garden clubs—all of which often hold plant sale fundraisers using divisions from members’ yards, locally started seedlings and discounted greenhouse transplants.
You might also encounter plants at yard sales. These sometimes can be bargain-priced, dig-your-own gold mines. Just be careful you’re not buying someone else’s overly aggressive varieties.
Landscape companies are another overlooked plant resource. Landscapers routinely dig up healthy plants during renovations, simply because they have outgrown the space or a new homeowner doesn’t like them. They may let you salvage the vegetation instead of dumping it.
Wherever you buy plants, opt for less expensive, smaller sizes. Given patience and good growing conditions, a quart-sized perennial will end up at the same mature size as a gallon-sized one but at a significantly lower starting price.
Leaning small especially saves on trees, which can double in
Gardening can give a second life to all sorts of household junk, er, “resources.” Here are several items that can be retooled:
• Old shoes, baskets, backpacks, pocketbooks. Just about any worn-out item that can hold soil can morph into a plant container. Just be sure it has drainage holes.
• Vinyl blinds, plastic detergent bottles. Cut in strips with a point at one end and use as plant labels. Use a marker or wax pencil for writing.
• Dishes, glassware, vases, ceramics. Old, one-off and even cracked pieces can be crafted into garden ornaments.
• Newspaper, junk mail, office paper. All can be shredded and added to the compost pile.
• Empty milk jugs. Wash and reuse as plant protectors over young vegetable garden plants on cold nights. Or use the cut-off bottoms as seed-starting containers.
• Plastic soda bottles. Cut a vertical slit and wrap the bottles around young trees, shrubs and vines to protect them against rodent chewing.
• Margarine tubs, yogurt cups, egg cartons. Poke holes in the bottom and use them as seed-starting containers.
LEFT: Save money on plants by dividing perennials and planting from seeds.
RIGHT: Add a little humor and variety to your garden by repurposing old household items as plant containers.
• Plastic wrap. After food-bowl duty, save a few sheets to drape over seedstarting trays. It traps moisture like a mini greenhouse.
• Spray bottles. Rinse them well and use them to mist seed trays or tip cuttings. Or use them for spraying animal repellents.
• Used sandpaper. Staple strips of it to the tops of raised-bed boards or other wooden-bed edging to repel slugs, which detest crawling over scratchy surfaces.
• Old mailbox. Relocate it to the garden, where it can become a repository for markers, labels, string and all those other little things you forget in the garage.
• Old broomstick, left-over PVC pipe. Make a watering wand for reaching hanging baskets and window boxes by using metal hose clamps to secure your garden hose to them.
Even cheaper than buying greenhouse transplants on sale or starting seeds inside is direct seeding them outside.
Direct seeding is simply tamping seeds into loosened, moistened garden soil at the right time of year. Similar to how nature does most of its planting, direct seeding can cut a flower budget down to pennies on the dollar.
Save your seeds each year instead of buying packets, and you can directly seed the following year at no cost. Seeds saved from heirloom or traditional open-pollinated plants work better than seeds from hybrid varieties, which often produce no or sterile seeds and variable offspring.
Many annual and perennial flowers start readily from seeds planted directly into the ground. Some of the easiest are marigolds, zinnias, cosmos, poppies, alyssum, cornflowers (bachelor’s buttons), larkspur, snapdragons, sweet peas, floss flowers (ageratum), flowering tobacco, gloriosa daisies, hollyhocks, nasturtiums, strawflowers and sunflowers.
Many vegetables also direct seed readily, including peas, lettuce, spinach, kale, beets, carrots, radishes, beans, cucumbers, squash, melons, okra and corn.
Three factors are key to success:
Timing. Some plants are sensitive to cold and shouldn’t be planted until the threat of frost is gone and the soil is sufficiently warm. Seed packets list the dates when it’s safe to plant different varieties.
Loose soil. The soil doesn’t need to be tilled or deeply dug, but seeds sprout much better when lightly tamped into the top quarter- to half-inch of soil loosened 4 to 6 inches deep. Tossing seeds on top of hard, compacted ground usually results in little to no germination.
Damp soil. The soil surface needs to be consistently damp until the seeds sprout. That might mean lightly watering once or twice daily on dry, sunny days.
Once seedlings are growing, the main job is thinning—if needed—and making sure weeds don’t out-compete the new seedlings.
Weeds and excess plants are easy to pull when they’re young. Better yet, snip them with scissors.
Be patient for sprouting to happen. While some seeds sprout in a matter of
Starting new plants from seeds yields way more plants to the dollar than transplants. Vegetables and annual flowers are fairly easy to start from seed inside in winter. Basic workshop lights with fluorescent tubes are sufficient for growing seedlings, which usually need only about six weeks of inside growth before being ready to plant outdoors.
Even less expensive is planting seeds directly in the ground outside, bypassing the need for such things as lights, pots and potting mix. See the sidebar for more on how to direct-seed plants.
A third plant budget-stretcher is mining your own plants for expansion. Most perennial flowers can be dug and divided into fist-sized pieces after several years of growth, giving you free plants to use elsewhere.
Clumps of spring bulbs can also be dug and divided after their foliage browns in spring. Some shrubs yield newbies if their suckers—roots that send up shoots—are dug and transplanted. Virginia sweetspire, summersweet, hydrangea, diervilla, kerria, lilac, bayberry, sweetshrub, sweetbox and forsythia are good sucker-transplant candidates.
Check with friends and neighbors to see if they would like to trade divisions, which can yield free new varieties for your yard. New shrubs, trees, roses and evergreens can be created by snipping 4- to 6-inch pieces off the tips of mother plants and sticking them into a moist potting mix. That induces roots to grow from the buried cut ends, giving you a new “baby” from the plant.
This works for many annual flowers and tropicals, too.
If you are spending too much on annual flowers, save money by converting space to perennials. Limit those $6 annuals to pots, hanging baskets and window boxes. Perennials cost more upfront and don’t bloom as long as annuals, but the payback is usually three years or less.
Some annuals, such as ageratum, celosia and cosmos, are good at self-seeding, meaning they come up on their own each spring from seeds dropped by last year’s flowers. This is a way to fill beds without any new expense and only limited work, e.g., removing seedlings you don’t want or transplanting self-sprouted seedlings where you do want them.
Save on your potted plant budget by starting with fewer plants each season. With patience, pots of fewer premiumpriced potted annuals fill in eventually and cost less than tightly packed ones.
Another pot option is scavenging the yard for perennial flowers you can dig and divide to use in pots. The best are those with colorful foliage that add interest beyond the few weeks they flower, such as coral bells, hostas, golden sedges, variegated liriopes and ferns. Return the perennials to the
ground in the fall to overwinter and mine again next year.
A third pot money-saver is using double-duty plants. Most so-called houseplants—crotons, palms, snake plants, peace lilies, rubber plants, etc.—are tropical or subtropical species that do perfectly fine outside in northerly summers and inside over winter.
Consider using plants you bought as houseplants in summer pots, dressed up with coordinated annuals. Conversely, instead of discarding tropicals bought for summer pots at the end of the season, convert them into houseplants over winter.
The fastest way to save on gardening products is to cut out things you—and your plants—don’t need.
Some possibilities: wound dressings for pruned trees (not necessary and sometimes counter-productive); leaf shine (a soft, damp cloth with diluted soap cleans dusty houseplant leaves); compost activator (a few shovelfuls of finished compost or soil adds decomposition microbes); antitranspirant/antidesiccant sprays (somewhat helpful in transplanting, but research shows little to no cold-weather protection); moisture-holding gels for potted plants (research shows little to no water-saving benefit); landscape fabric (inhibits soil oxygen and traps moisture in poorly drained beds, plus weeds grow on top if you mulch over it), and tree fertilizer spikes (trees usually get the nutrients they need from soil, decomposing mulch and/or fertilizer on the surrounding lawn).
Next is reducing the amounts you use of products such as fertilizer.
Plants take up only the nutrients they need. Adding more doesn’t make them grow bigger or better and is a waste of money, not to mention potentially polluting.
If plants are growing well, there’s usually no need to add anything. If they’re not, a soil test reveals if lack of nutrition is a culprit—along
with exactly which nutrients are needed and in what amounts.
Extension offices and many garden centers offer inexpensive DIY soil-test kits to help you spend fertilizer dollars wisely.
Bug and disease sprays are another potential cost-saver. Some gardeners routinely use pesticides “just in case,” both wasting money and potentially killing beneficial insects that would have controlled pest bugs naturally—and at no charge.
Most bugs and diseases target only specific plants, and much of the damage is temporary or cosmetic anyway. Consider products only when plants are under threat from intolerable or potentially fatal damage—and when there are no better alternatives.
Sometimes, free or less expensive alternatives are available for other garden products. For example, an index finger stuck a few inches into the soil can give an accurate read on soil moisture versus investing in a soil moisture meter.
Expensive potting mix can be stretched by mixing your own from bulk ingredients or by refreshing last year’s saved mix with half-new mix, assuming last year’s mix wasn’t bug- or disease-ridden.
Many municipalities collect leaves in fall and offer the resulting free or low-cost compost to residents the following year, saving on bagged or bulk purchases. Tree companies often are willing to drop loads of chipped tree branches in home driveways, saving themselves hauling/dumping fees.
Even costly hardscaping materials such as bricks, stone, patio furniture, garden ornaments and fencing are sometimes available free or heavily discounted from neighbors advertising them through local social media channels.
Lots of household waste is fair game for repurposing in the garden, including storage tubs that morph into flower containers, cut-off soda bottles that serve as plant protectors, and butter tubs that become seedling pots. See the sidebar on page 13 for 20 household rejects that can serve new life in the garden. n
Coffee Coffee Cake
Crumb topping
½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon instant coffee powder
4 tablespoons butter, melted
Heat oven to 350 F.
Spray a 9-by-9-inch pan, and line with parchment. Spray the parchment as well.
For the crumb topping: In a medium bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, coffee powder and salt. Add the melted butter. Mix until it forms crumbs that you can clump together in your hand.
For the cake: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking
Cake
1¾ cups cake flour
¾ teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
soda, cinnamon and salt. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the coffee and sour cream until smooth.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until each is well-combined. Add the vanilla. Beat until the mixture is light and fluffy. Starting and ending with the dry
½ cup strong-brewed coffee
1⁄3 cup sour cream
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 extra-large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
ingredients, alternate adding the flour mixture and the coffee mixture to the stand mixer. Mix well after each addition. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Top with crumb topping, spreading it evenly. Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Remove the cake from the oven. Cool for 20 to 30 minutes before cutting and serving.
1 pound ground sausage
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1 cup water
¼ cup brewed coffee
Salt and pepper, to taste
Brown sausage in a cast-iron skillet. Add flour, and brown. Add milk and water. Simmer for desired thickness. Stir coffee into the mixture. If it’s too thick, add more milk. Season with salt and pepper. Serve over your favorite biscuits.
4 slices bacon, chopped
1 sweet onion, chopped
¼ cup vinegar-based barbecue sauce
Heat the oven to 350 F.
28-ounce can baked beans
¼ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
¼ cup brewed coffee
Cook the chopped bacon in a pot over medium heat until browned, about 10 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon, reserving the bacon grease in the pan. Drain the bacon on paper towels.
Add the chopped onion to the pot with the bacon grease. Cook for 15 minutes over medium-low heat or until caramelized. Remove the pot from the heat. Add the bacon back to the pot, as well as the remaining ingredients. Mix. Pour the beans into a greased 8-by-8-inch baking dish. Bake for 2 hours. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Cupcakes
1 cup sugar
½ cup brewed coffee, cold
½ cup canola oil
2 extra-large eggs, room temperature
3 teaspoons cider vinegar
Frosting
3 tablespoons milk chocolate chips
3 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips
Heat oven to 350 F.
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1⁄3 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt
1⁄3 cup butter, softened
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons brewed coffee
½ cup chocolate sprinkles
In a large bowl, beat sugar, coffee, oil, eggs, vinegar and vanilla until well-blended. In a small bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Gradually beat into coffee mixture until blended.
Fill 12 paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.
To make frosting: In a large bowl, melt chips and butter in a microwave. Stir until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar and enough coffee to reach desired consistency. Pipe frosting onto cupcakes, and add sprinkles.
2 tablespoons coarse salt
2 tablespoons instant coffee
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons smoked paprika
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon crushed coriander
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon cayenne, more or less to taste
Add all ingredients to a medium-sized bowl. Mix well. Once mixed, it can be used immediately. Store leftovers in an airtight glass container.
S’mores
1 cup whole milk
3 extra-large eggs, room temperature
2⁄3 cup sugar
1⁄3 cup baking cocoa
2 tablespoons strong-brewed coffee
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Heat oven to 325 F.
2⁄3 cup graham cracker crumbs
1⁄3 cup sugar
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1.55-ounce milk chocolate candy bar, broken into 12 pieces
In a small saucepan, heat milk until bubbles form around sides of pan. Remove from heat. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, cocoa and coffee until blended but not foamy. Slowly whisk in hot milk.
Place six 4-ounce broiler-safe ramekins in a baking pan large enough to hold them without touching. Pour egg mixture into ramekins. Place pan on oven rack. Add hot water to pan to within ½ inch of the top of the ramekins.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Centers will still be soft. Remove ramekins from water bath immediately to a wire rack. Cool for 10 minutes. Refrigerate until cold.
In a small bowl, mix butter and cracker crumbs. Set aside. To caramelize topping with a kitchen torch, sprinkle custards evenly with sugar. Hold torch flame about 2 inches above custard surface. Rotate it slowly until sugar is evenly caramelized. Sprinkle custards with crumb mixture, and top with marshmallows. Using the torch, heat marshmallows until browned. Top with chocolate pieces. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 hour.
To caramelize topping in a broiler, place ramekins on a baking sheet. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Heat broiler. Sprinkle custards evenly with sugar. Broil 3 to 4 inches from heat for 3 to 5 minutes or until sugar is caramelized. Sprinkle custards with crumb mixture. Top with marshmallows. Broil for 30 to 45 seconds or until marshmallows are browned. Top with chocolate pieces. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 hour.
Does anyone have an Annie’s Attic booklet called “Chemo Caps & Wraps,” number 871044? Thank you in advance. I am willing to purchase.
Betty Mercado
1820 E. 10th St. The Dalles, OR 97058 bettym@centurylink.net
We are trying to locate my grandfather’s high school yearbook. He graduated in 1930 from The Dalles Oregon High School. If anyone has it and is willing to sell, please contact me. Thank you so much.
Kim Koester
220 Well St. Fairbanks, AK 99701 skmeb08@gmail.com
I have started a tablecloth using my odds and ends of number 10 crochet cotton. Sadly, I have reached the end of my colored cotton. I am asking members if they can send me their odds and ends of colored crochet cotton number 10. The brighter the colors, the better. I will pay for postage.
Patty Gassner
39981 Gisler Road Scio, OR 97374
My widowed mother turns 100 in March. She has lived in Delaware her whole life but traveled to many places in the United States and abroad—including France, her favorite country and ancestral home. She shared her travel stories with the elementary school students she taught for decades. She says she doesn’t want a birthday reception at her assisted living facility, as her dear friends are long gone. I know she would be surprised and delighted to receive greetings from afar to celebrate her milestone birthday. Send to Julia A. Coxe, 726 Loveville Road, Room A-40, Hockessin, DE 19707.
Donna C. McLean Redmond, Oregon
Thank you, readers. Your generosity in sending so many wonderful and lovely buttons has wowed me. I will be at work for months making “button flower” vases as fast as I can to give away. My button table is full, thanks to your kindness.
Shirley Lyons Veneta, Oregon
Thank you, Ruralite, for helping to make my 90th birthday so memorable. I received more than 350 cards from readers—from Alaska to Georgia. I wish I could personally thank each of you for your birthday wishes. It is amazing how many kind people took time to send greetings to a stranger. Thank you for your generosity, and yes, I had (at least one) margarita on my birthday. Thanks again.
Marian Kuchle Florence, Kentucky
A great big “thank you” to everyone who sent me a birthday card. From handmade or otherwise, I so appreciated each and every one of them. Not only did I enjoy reading all the wonderful comments, but I also got a lesson in geography. It truly was a very memorable 82nd birthday.
Ilse Pettey Baker City, Oregon
I would love to thank each and every one of you kind souls. The overwhelming response to my mother, Josephine’s, milestone was awesome. I helped her open and read each card. The personal messages, jokes and crafty gifts were so nice. My mother sends her love and thanks. She will be donating the cards to St. Jude’s and will keep the personally crafted ones for her scrapbook. I cannot thank you all enough. God bless.
Josephine Formica/Dawn Lund Rachel, Nevada
Have a safe St. Patrick’s Day!
Send your request—no attachments, please—to readerexchange@ruralite.org or mail to Reader Exchange, 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Suite 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Fill in the subject line with Reader Exchange. Acceptance, scheduling and editing are at the editor’s discretion. Single requests only, please. No duplicates.
Submissions are handled on a first-come, first-served basis and as space allows. We cannot honor every request. Please affirm you have authorization from all appropriate parties before submitting. By submitting, you indemnify Reader Exchange, Pioneer Utility Resources Inc., its officers, directors, employees, utility clients and insurers from all legal liability incurred by the publication of information.
We no longer accept pen pal requests. You may submit a pen pal request as a Marketplace ad. Marketplace pricing applies. When submitting a milestone request, please send it at least two months before the milestone. Phone numbers will not be published. Email addresses will be published if part of the ad, but you must include a postal address. Requests also must include the name and address of the electric utility that provides your magazine.
Deep in the Siskiyou Mountains that sit along the border between Oregon and California, Oregon Caves National Park and Preserves is home to lush forests and deep caves worn into the mountainside.
Known as the Marble Halls of Oregon, the caves were formed from the lack of marble. Starting more than a million years ago, slightly acidic rainwater seeped into the ground and began dissolving the marble. The caves formed as the marble washed away. In 1909, President William Howard Taft established Oregon Caves National Monument.
The monument has a few popular cave tours open seasonally—often late March through September. Tours fill quickly, so consider booking in advance. The discovery tour is 90 minutes and limited to 12 people. Be aware it is a natural cave and, therefore, difficult to traverse. Children must be at least 42 inches tall. The tour goes through long passages with ceilings as low as 45 inches, and there are more than 500 stair steps.
In 2014, 4,000 acres were designated as Oregon Caves National Preserve. The land had previously been part of a national forest. It encompasses the watershed that feeds the cave rivers and provides the park’s drinking water. The park and preserve are home to many hikes for those who prefer the wide outdoors to narrow caves.
Tours are offered Thursday through Monday during the season. The cost is $10 for those 16 and older, $7 for children and $5 for those with Interagency Senior or Access passes. Visit www.nps.gov/ orca to learn more about when the park is open and to determine if tours are right for you and your group. For more information, call 541-592-2100.
Found
Theirs sold at auction for $226,000. Ours is JUST $29! Curious? Read on!
To art nouveau jewelers at the turn of the last century, nothing was more beautiful than the dragonfly. In the dragonfly’s long body and outstretched wings, jewelers found the perfect setting for valuable stones. ese jewelers’ dragonfly designs have become timeless statements of style; a dragonfly pendant designed by French jeweler René Lalique recently sold at auction for $226,000. Inspired by his stunning artistry, we’ve crafted our Dragonfly Nouvelle Collection, an elegant jewelry set for JUST $29!
True artisanship in Austrian crystal and yellow gold. is necklace and earring set features gorgeous multicolored enamel paired with Austrian crystals and a yellow gold finish. Ask any jeweler and they’ll tell you it takes true artisanship to properly blend the blues and purples found in this enamel. While art nouveau dragonflies are hard to come by, we’re helping to repopulate their numbers with this artfully stylized depiction of some of nature’s smallest wonders!
pendant, get earrings FREE!
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Act fast! e first time we ran this jewelry in our catalog, it sold out in a matter of days. Get this collection now before this offer goes extinct!
Jewelry Speci cations:
• Enamel with Austrian crystal. Yellow gold finish
• Pendant: 1 ½" W x 1 ¼" H.
Chain: 18" + 2", lobster clasp. Earrings: 1 ¼" L, french wire
Nouvelle Collection
A. Necklace $199 $29* + S&P Save $170
B. Earrings $199 FREE with purchase of Dragonfly Nouvelle Necklace *Special price only for customers using the offer code.
By Dave LaBelle
Some people are fascinated with architecture or angels; I love trees.
A grand lone oak tree stands—as if on watch—at the side of a road not many miles from where I live. Each time passing it, I wondered its age and who planted it there. Finally, my curiosity got the best of me, and I had to know more.
I learned the man who planted it is gone. So are his
Renowned author,
children and his children’s children, but the old oak tree John Vorwald placed in the earth in 1895, as a marker for the northeast corner of the town that would become New Vienna, Iowa, still stands 128 years later. His great-grandson Kevin Vorwald still lives on the family property.
gifts, and may possess greater memory and intelligence than we imagine. Research has revealed that like people, trees can have elaborate, far-reaching root systems that allow them to talk to each other.
Just like us humans, trees are connected and often members of large families.
moments for more than half a century. For more of his writings, visit davidlabelle.com and bridgesandangels.wordpress.com.
Kevin’s great-grandfather was the first mayor of the town when he planted the tree. Though New Vienna was founded in 1843, it wasn’t incorporated until some 50 years later, long after Iowa became a state in 1846. Kevin says his great-great-grandfather married a girl whose father bought the land from the government when James Polk was president. Polk’s name is on the deed.
Trees are living, breathing
I am reminded of the late Shel Silverstein’s powerful book, “The Giving Tree,” about the relationship between a boy and an apple tree. Every tree is a giving tree. Just as I imagine how lacking a world without birds would be, I think how sad our walk on Earth would be without trees. I have often said that next to a good mother, God’s greatest creation is a tree.
Had I not chosen photojournalism, I might have become an arborist. n
Your challenge is to choose a tree that speaks to you—one that you admire and maybe even feel a connection to. Research its species and origin. Was it indigenous or a species brought to your area, transplanted from another state or even another country? Does the tree have a story? And then set out to make a photograph that captures how you feel about the tree. Consider the angle, composition, light and lens, even the time of day or night that best reveals how you see this magnificent creation.
Email your best image (just one, please) with caption information, including an explanation of how it affects you, to GPH@pur.coop. We may share submissions on our website and social media channels.
in the home and neighborhood you love with a Stiltz Homelift.
A Stiltz Homelift is a safe, attractive, & affordable alternative to stairlifts. It requires no special machine room, and no supporting walls.
A Stiltz Homelift can t just about anywhere in your house. It has a compact footprint, similar in size to a small armchair. A Stiltz Homelift plugs into a standard home electrical outlet, using less power than boiling a kettle.
Avoid the expense and distress of relocating, or the disruption of adapting your home for downstairs living. A Stiltz Homelift helps you live safely and independently in the home you love.
Some Stiltz customers need a Homelift immediately. But others want to “future-proof” their homes for when the stairs become a challenge.
Stiltz is a world leading Homelift manufacturer, so you’ll be in good hands. Your elevator will be installed and maintained by Stiltz trained professionals - who truly care about your freedom.
“I can’t imagine what we’d do without it. I wish we had installed our Stiltz Homelift several years ago!”
– Mr. James, Roanoke VA
By Michael Rovito
The snow may be deep and the weather still cold, but spring is in sight and so are the many summer projects waiting for Alaskans. Since warm weather in Alaska only lasts for a few months before the freeze comes back, there can be a sense of urgency to accomplish all the tasks on your summer to-do list.
But there’s a good reason to take a step back and handle an important aspect of pre-project planning. Buried beneath the ground around many homes in the state are electric, gas, telephone, cable and sewer lines, all of which can cause various levels of frustration—and high amounts of danger—if they are accidentally damaged.
Many electric utilities in the state bury some, if not all, of their electric distribution lines. Once the ground is put back and the dig marks vanish, it can be impossible to tell where an electric power line is buried. If a homeowner were to dig into the ground and strike a live power line, it could lead to significant injury or death, not to mention power outages for several homes.
For many areas of the state, there is a simple way to protect yourself against accidentally striking an underground line and it’s only a phone call away. The Alaska 811 Digline is a centralized, pre-excavation service that provides messaging between excavators and underground facility owners.
Founded in 1988, 811 helps the public, contractors, utilities, and other excavators notify the owners of underground facilities before dig activities are undertaken, according to information from 811. The service also coordinates each utility’s technician, who will come to your dig site with a tool to locate underground lines. Using colored spray paint, each technician makes markings on the ground—the colors corresponding to different types of underground facilities—so everyone is aware of the areas to avoid during excavation.
This service is free for the first locates on a project, and it’s important to pay attention to the time frames provide by 811. For more information on this service, visit www.811ak.com. The website provides a listing of communities where 811 services are available.
Not every community in Alaska has access to 811’s services. In those cases, it’s crucial to contact your local utilities before digging so they can advise you on where underground lines are located. Don’t forget to leave plenty of time between your request for locates and starting the project.
Striking a buried power line is extremely dangerous, and the risks cannot be overstated. Even if you feel confident that you know where the powerline is, that’s not enough for the safety of yourself and those around you.
Building that new fence, or expanding your deck is a good feeling of summer accomplishment, but it’s not worth taking unnecessary risks. There can be a lot of infrastructure right under our feet. Taking time to find out where everything is can mean the difference between life and death. n
Reinforced custom-sized pond liners (39 cents/sqft). Hay covers, greenhouse covers, any width and length. Truck tarps and more. High puncture and tear strength. Best price guaranteed. Celebrating 42 years in business. www.btlliners.com. 541-447-0712. 0424
305-gallon Norwesco water storage tank, $285. Clean, used. Excellent condition. Black poly 4 ft. tall by 4 ft. diameter, 59 lbs. Elko, NV. 775-275-0746. 0324
1993 Charmac horse trailer, $2.5K OBO. 3 Apache salt/pellet feeders, $2K each OBO. Aluminum pickup box, new, $150. Large recliner/incliner, like new, $400. 2-piece fireplace hearth, nice, $100. 541-893-6292. No late calls.
4x5 round bales, Meadow Foxtail Orchard Grass. 4x4 Timothy, small square. nas@cpcinternet.com; 208-435-4637 or 208-435-4002. 1224
Buying antiques and collectibles: advertising signs, porcelain signs, gas pumps, beer signs, antique toys, cast-iron coin banks, neon signs and more. Jason, 503-310-3321 or tjabaughman@yahoo.com. 0324
Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo blankets and rugs, baskets, beadwork, etc. Also, quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117 or send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com. 0524
WC Collectibles. We buy comic books! Local to the Inland Northwest, willing to travel. WCCollectiblesCheney@gmail.com; 509-496-1835. 0724
More “Montello Remembered” novels available. I’m also liquidating my NV history collection. Many rare and hard-to-find books now available. pruitt2010@frontier.com; 775-753-3254. 0324
Quaint hardware store in Maupin, OR, for sale. Inventory and interior store recently updated and refreshed. See ad on Bizbuysell.com or email Maupincountrystore@gmail.com. $309K.
Looking to purchase small business in Northern Idaho. Call or send information on any opportunities. Can do a quick purchase. 559-269-5554; mike@rouchbuilders.com. 0324
Ads 25 words or fewer are $35 a month. An extended ad of up to 35 words is $50 a month. Contact information is included in the word count. Phone numbers and emails count as one word.
Longer ads may be placed. Contact 503-357-2105 or info@pioneer.coop for pricing information.
Ads are for customers of member co-ops, public utility districts and municipals only. Subscribers and nonmembers may inquire about pricing at 503-357-2105 or info@pioneer.coop.
Ads must be direct and in first person, and are subject to approval and editing.
Closing deadlines (in our office): May issue—March 29, 2024.
If submitting ad by mail, send appropriate payment with your name, address, email, phone number and the name of the electric utility that provides your magazine to: Marketplace, P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133. Make check or money order payable to Ruralite.
We accept credit card payments for ads submitted by email. Send ad to info@pioneer.coop.
Advertisements are accepted in good faith. Pioneer Utility Resources is not liable for interactions between buyers and sellers.
8th annual Fiber Arts and Jewelry Exhibit at Art Center East in La Grande, OR. Feb. 2March 30, 2024. artcentereast.org. 0324
Annual Quilt and Needlework Show. April 5-6 in Pahrump, NV, at Bob Ruud Community Center. Presented by Shadow Mountain Quilters. Shadowmountainquilters.com. 0324
Free materials—church, government uniting, suppressing “religious liberty,” enforcing National Sunday Law. Be informed. Need mailing address only. TBS, P.O. Box 374, Ellijay, GA 30540. 888-211-1715; tbsmads@yahoo.com. 0424AR
Publisher for Kodiak Daily Mirror, a 5-day publication located in Kodiak, AK. Responsibilities include all aspects of efficiently operating a daily newspaper. The right candidate is expected to get involved in the community. If interested, contact Virginia Farmier, vfarmier@newsminer.com or 907-459-7511. 0324
Local commercial fisherman sells summer catch of preserved freshness by blast freezing at sea, gourmet canned tuna on internet. Sept.June. 100% guaranteed the best canned tuna you ever tasted. Original, jalapeno and garlic flavors available. Twofisherstuna.com. Call 206-799-1082 to place your order. 0324
Alaskan yellow cedar. Great for planter boxes, herb and flower beds, fencing or decks. Various sizes available. Pete, 541-206-0727. Lisa, 541-747-5025, ext. 21. 0624
Granite cemetery markers at affordable prices. Will ship to most places. Joe, 541-815-8906 or highdesertmemorials@gmail.com; and www.highdesertmemorials.com.
Looking for stud services for 2-year-old female borgi in late April-early May. Black-and-white borgi or miniature/small full-bred border collie preferred. Willing to pay a stud fee and travel if necessary. Suzi Smith, 775-233-7242 or suzicooksmith@outlook.com.
Mini-goldendoodle puppies. Excellent companion dogs. 3 males; ready for forever homes Feb. 14. 15-20 pounds full grown. Asking $1K OBO. solomonstephans@gmail.com or 541-332-7101. 0324
Real Estate
Lake front home Eagle Lake, CA. 3-bd, 2-ba, 2-car garage, fully furnished and stocked, move-in ready, docks, boat lift. $299K or trade? 775-771-5263 or bdl1962@gmail.com.
$600K interior Alaskan turnkey roadhouse and 2 dry cabins. Well-maintained on 5 acres with pond. 50 scenic miles south to Denali Park entrance. 907-460-9292. 0524
Let me help you buy or sell ranch, farm and recreation property in Oregon. Fourthgeneration Oregonian, ranch owner. For sale: Sisters, OR, 40 acres. $1.7M. John Gill, 541-480-9161 or johngill@landandwildlife.com. Land And Wildlife brokerage. 0324
23 acres east of Cottage Grove, OR. 8 acres flat pasture, 15 acres forested hillside. 2 cabins, well, tractor, shed, firefighting equipment. City water, electricity. Quiet, secluded, views. Photos on request. $450K. hannond@comcast.net. 0424
Canyon City home w/basement. 2-bd., 1-ba., fenced yard, circular driveway, garage w/ workshop. $240K. Duke Warner Realty, 541-987-2363 or ddwr@ortelco.net. 0324
Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area, Dallesport, WA. 1,608-sqft. mobile home for sale in park. $670 monthly rent. Excellent condition. Professional upgrades. Motivated seller. $109K. 503-396-1251. 0424
4 well-maintained 1,200-sqft. cedar homes with huge decks on year-round creek. 2.12 acres. Close to small town of Selma, OR. $875K. 541-597-2185. 0424
Off-grid homestead. Ideal for wind/solar power. NE Elko County, NV. Has equipment, quarters, shop. Year-round access. Water and power nearby. $35K. geopup58@gmail.com. 0324
Recreational Rentals
Wavecatcher: Oceanfront. Central Oregon coast. Summer $175/night mid-May to midOct.; $140/night mid-Oct. to mid-May. (plus cleaning/tax). Three rooms w/double beds. Pets welcome. Wavecatcherbeachrentals.com. Reservations: 541-740-2846. 0324AR
Bend country cabin. Very clean and fully furnished cabin on private ranch. Close to recreation areas. Very nice. $95/night. 541-382-3050; bendcountrycabins@gmail.com. 0424
Recreational Vehicle
Hook up a steelhead at The Hook Up RV Park in Ahsahka, ID. Daily or longer rents available. 208-391-2919; hookuprvpark@gmail.com. 0324
Dawn Till Dusk Masonry. Brick, block, stone and pavers. Small jobs and repairs welcome. Check out our website at dawntillduskconstructionmasonry.com. 541-388-7605 or 541-410-6945. License No. 245760, bonded and insured. 0324
Quarkdesign. A small business for small business. Web and print design, advertising, collateral, web video and audio. Personal websites also. $40 per hour. quarkdesign.com. 0324
Call Pahrump Lock and Safe for all your residential, commercial and safe services. 24-hour emergency service in Pahrump, NV. 702-379-8441; Jim@pahrumplockandsafe.com. 0624
Wanted: Small, working oven element for a 1967-ish flair, double wall oven. 15 inches long, including 3-prong plug-in, 10.5 inches wide. 541-256-0990. 0524
Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo blankets and rugs, baskets, beadwork, etc. Also, quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117 or send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com. 0524
Gold, silver, coins/currency, buy, sell. Collections wanted. Fair prices paid. 44 years in retail store. Baker City, OR. 800-556-2133; garrymclin@aol.com. 1024
Old carpenter tools, planes (wood/metal), levels, chisels, slicks, adzes, axes, hatchets, handsaws, old rulers, spoke shaves, wrenches, shipwright tools, old tool chests. 503-659-0009 or 971-666-0659. 0324
Need to buy one copy of “Morrow County History Book” in good condition, published in 1983. Hard cover, 9 inches by 11.5 inches, dark green color with gold agricultural design inset on front. Ione, OR. L8ucy5T@gmail.com; 541-422-7495. 0424
Wanted: early Corvette ’58-’62, any condition. Call/text Randy, 503-544-3807. 0824
By Lisa Scheerer
Congratulations to Mikaela Trowbridge’s sixth grade class at Gladys Jung Elementary School that won the regional prize and came fifth in the state out of 60 participating classrooms in the 2023 Power Pledge Challenge. This is an impressive performance from a firstyear participant in Bethel.
Most schools do not regularly teach or include energy generation and local production as an essential subject. With all the changes in population, climate, technology and advancements, energy is topic of discussion. Energy sources are covered in the news every day, along with their effects on the environment, stock market, protected regions and the world economy.
Through policy advocacy, workforce development and education, the Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) seeks to increase the development of renewable energy and energy-efficiency initiatives in Alaska. Three energy educators make up the educational team, and they work with 5,000–6,000 kids annually. Their largest annual outreach program, Power Pledge, was redesigned two years ago to be more project based. In addition, REAP Educators host teacher training, summer camps, engineering design challenges and several impromptu classroom presentations.
This energy challenge started in 2013 and reaches eight regions in the state—Anchorage, Mat-Su/Eagle River, Interior, Cordova, Kotzebue, Bering Strait, Lower Kuskokwim and Southeast. This program is supported and sponsored by several Alaskan utility cooperatives and partners, including Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC).
“This year was a nice rebound after a few down years since COVID,” REAP Educator Tyler Katzmar says. “Overall, the biggest challenge in classroom recruitment is the revolving door of teachers
in rural schools. We have teachers on the road system who have been participating for a decade. And while there are a few rural teachers signing up consistently, for the most part, we have to try to build new relationships every year.
The Power Pledge Challenge started in August and wrapped up on November 30, 2023, with 2,119 students participating statewide.
“We had an amazing year with almost double the number of students compared to last year,” REAP Education Director Colleen Fisk says. “Those are students from 29 different schools in eight regions across the state.”
Mikaela says her sixth grade class was the only participant at Gladys-Jung.
“I signed up for this because I like to offer my kids here whatever I can to make their learning fun and engaging,” Mikaela says. “Being in a remote area, it can be hard to know everything that is out there, and this offers kids hands-on learning, research and collaboration. I’m really glad I signed up because the kids had a really great time and learned beside me.”
Prior to 2020, classrooms would get the initial REAP visit, complete a pledge to reduce their energy use and enter into a random drawing to choose the winners. Starting in 2020, the program has provided an extensive list of tasks that classes can finish throughout the semester. The more points a class accrues, the better chance it has at winning. Additionally, as students complete pre- and post-competitive surveys, this will allow for a more accurate assessment of how energy literacy has changed. Nearly all of the students who have finished both surveys thus far have demonstrated improvements in their understanding, perspectives and practices about energy efficiency and conservation, according to REAP. Based on the total number of points obtained, seven regional and one state prize winners are
selected at the end of the semester.
Tyler was asked about some of the projects submitted by students and how they differ in age range from kindergarten to high school.
“Elementary classrooms score higher on average than middle and high school classrooms because they have more degrees of freedom with their schedule,” Tyler says. “The projects themselves are pretty levelized across age groups, but the research-oriented challenges definitely require more guidance from the elementary teachers. The Energy Saving PSA challenge is always a hit with the younger students since they love being creative and getting in front of the camera.”
Mikaela’s sixth grade class completed various assignments to earn the regional Power Pledge Challenge.
“I did the monthly challenges and lessons that were offered on the super teacher-friendly site,” Mikaela says. “Lessons were outlined so well and made it easy to complete, especially since they had a PowerPoint presentation already made.”
Mikaela says students had the most fun with the challenge in November.
“They had a blast taking old scholastic magazines, spelling tests and other assignments to create chains, trees and other fun decorations,” she says.
Student Cora Butte, 11, agreed.
“I learned that there are a ton of ways to save energy that I didn’t even think of before,” Cora says. “And my favorite project was making the holiday decorations with my friends out of our recycled papers.”
Cora was one of the students who traveled to Anchorage for the Alaska Science and Engineering Fair in April 2023 with Mikaela and other students. She and two other classmates received special recognition from the judges on their science project and tied for
the title of “Judges Choice on Research.” These fairs and programs are so important to our kids’ educations, encouraging innovative thinking, Mikaela says.
Another challenge the students enjoyed was in October when they researched different energy careers.
“I really liked the presenter that came and showed us how much energy all the different things in school use,” sixth grader Jena C. Boyscout says. “It was interesting that some of the stuff we use every day uses so much energy. And it was fun to test everything.”
On January 17, AVEC helped celebrate the winning classroom by throwing a pizza party. Lenny Welch, the AVEC Operations Manager in Bethel, took 16 students on a tour of the power plant.
“They asked a lot of good questions about fuel and how things work,” Lenny says. “They seemed to enjoy looking at all the equipment and switchgear.”
He joked that the highlight might have been their walk back from the power plant to the heat recovery module, because instead of walking on pavement, they walked along a small utilidor along the plant wall and really enjoyed that.
“I can’t believe all the stuff it takes to power the school,” student Amber Maxie says.
REAP’s Clean Energy Olympics (CEO), formerly the KidWind Challenge, starts its seventh year in 2024. This initiative focuses on the engineering design process through the lens of renewable energy. Student teams build model wind turbines and solar devices and test their performance at a state showcase event, either in person or virtually. There has been inspiring rural participation the past couple of years, and some rural teams have qualified to compete in the National KidWind Challenge, according to REAP. n For more information about Power Pledge, Clean Energy Olympics or other resources that REAP offers, visit alaskarenewableenergy.org.
As we continue celebrating 70 years publishing Ruralite magazine, let’s take a look back at a few snippets from a section of the publication called “For the Curious Ruralite” from the December 1954 edition. This was the first edition that carried the Northwest Ruralite masthead.
Low-Cost Water Purifier
A new water sterilizer for rural homes is moderately priced, says Elenite Products Inc. Ultra violet light kills the germs. The gadget is about the size of a table model TV set and sells for as little as $295 for the 100 gallon an hour size.
Apple
One apple stored in a sealed bag of spuds
will keep latter from sprouting, says Ohio State University Expert. Under such conditions, a ripe apple exudes ethylene gas which impedes sprouts.
Step Saver
Absent-minded drivers can now buy a buzzer designed to hook onto the gas gauge and the ignition under the dash. Buzzer buzzes when tank float drops to three-gallon level. “Gas-o-larm” is made by Talco Engineering Co. of Hamden, Conn. for $4.95.
New Fast Film
Eastman Kodak’s new “Tri-x” is supposed to be twice as fast as super double X. Said to cost no more.
43/4-inch Bacon
Wilson $ Co., meat packers are putting out short strip bacon cut to fit the frying pan. n
CHILD HUNGER CAN BE HARD TO RECOGNIZE. BECAUSE THE 1 IN 7 AMERICAN KIDS FACING IT CAN LOOK LIKE ANYONE. ESPECIALLY ME. I AM THE 13-YEAROLD BOY WHO GETS INTO FIGHTS AT SCHOOL, NOT BECAUSE I’M A BULLY, BUT BECAUSE I’M HUNGRY I AM THE 2-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO CRIES ALL NIGHT NOT BECAUSE I’M SICK, BUT BECAUSE I WENT TO BED WITHOUT ENOUGH TO EAT. I AM THE 9-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO HOPES A FRIEND INVITES ME TO A SLEEPOVER NOT FOR FUN, BUT JUST SO I CAN HAVE DINNER I AM THE 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO GOES FOR WALKS OVER LUNCH, SO MY FRIENDS WON’T KNOW I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO EAT. I WAS CREATED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FROM PHOTOS OF THE 11 MILLION KIDS STRUGGLING WITH HUNGER IN THIS COUNTRY. A FACE THAT CHALLENGES YOU TO SEE HUNGER IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT. I AM WHAT HUNGER LOOKS LIKE IN AMERICA LEARN MORE AT IAMHUNGERINAMERICA.ORG , ,
Board of Directors
Chair
Fred Sagoonick, Shaktoolik
Vice Chair
Helena Jones, Ambler
Secretary
Phyllis Clough, Old Harbor
Treasurer
Sandra Tall-Lake, Hooper Bay
Directors
Homer Hunter Jr., Scammon Bay
Frederick P. Beans, Mountain Village
Peter Demoski, Nulato board@avec.org
Communities Served
Alakanuk
Ambler
Andreafsky
Anvik
Bethel
Brevig Mission
Chevak
Eek
Ekwok
Elim
Emmonak
Gambell
Goodnews Bay
Grayling
Holy Cross
Hooper Bay
Huslia
Kaltag
Kasigluk
Kiana
Kivalina
Kobuk
Kotlik
Koyuk
Lower Kalskag
Marshall
Mekoryuk
Minto
Mt. Village
New Stuyahok
Nightmute Noatak Noorvik Nulato
Nunapitchuk Old Harbor
Oscarville Pilot Station
Pitkas Point
Quinhagak
Russian Mission
St. Mary’s
St. Michael
Savoonga
Scammon Bay
Selawik
Shageluk
Shaktoolik
Shishmaref
Shungnak
Stebbins
Teller
Togiak
Toksook Bay
Tununak Twin Hills
Upper Kalskag Yakutat
Wales
Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Inc.
4831 Eagle Street
Anchorage, AK 99503
907-561-1818
800-478-1818
www.avec.org
When I started working for AVEC in 1993 many cooperative members, who were in their fifties or older, remembered clearly what it was like to live in their communities without a central power plant; without electricity to light their homes or power their tools. In the late 1960s when AVEC was formed, isolated communities all over Alaska were looking for ways to develop reliable electricity. The biggest hurdle for most was finding the money needed to get things off the ground.
Even with community wide commitments to provide labor to build infrastructure, importing diesel generators, cables, and fuel tanks was a daunting expense. Most major building projects rely on borrowing money to pay upfront costs which can be paid back over time. Small Alaskan villages were not attractive to traditional money lenders. Traditional banks and even the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), a federal agency developed specifically to help rural electric cooperatives get the money they needed to build, thought the risk was too high.
It wasn’t until a group of dedicated individuals determined to bring electricity to their people built the framework to allow individual villages to group together and a commitment from a handful of communities to band together that the REA finally made a $5 million loan available to help launch Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, (AVEC). In 1969 AVEC started with four communities. Now with 58 member communities, AVEC continues to reinvest and reinvent the infrastructure used to provide safe reliable power.
The framework that allows communities from all over Alaska to work together in the business of providing power for their people is spelled out in AVEC’s bylaws. Those bylaws describe the representation of each community through electing a delegate to represent them at AVEC’s Annual Meeting and the election of a seven-member board of directors, each serving in the best interest of all communities in guiding the goals and direction of the cooperative.
The continuing commitment of each generation over more than 50 years has made AVEC a robust and vital part of each community it serves. AVEC is owned and governed by the members it serves.
AVEC Community Meetings to elect delegates for the 2024 Annual Meeting have just come to a close. Ballots are in the mail to every AVEC member to elect directors. This year members are choosing three members of the seven-member board. (Please take the time to complete and return election ballots when you receive them in the mail.)
The number of elders that remember the before-times, before electricity was a common commodity, has dwindled. But the dream they had of making electricity commonly available has become a reality through the perseverance of people working together to build a cooperative, your cooperative.
Until next time,
Bill Stamm