Ruralite
April 2025 • Volume 72, No. 4
CEO Michael Shepard
SENIOR VP OF CONTENT Leon Espinoza
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Chasity Anderson, CCC
DEPUTY EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Noble Sprayberry
SENIOR EDITOR Jennifer Paton, CCC
ASSISTANT EDITORS Victoria Hampton, CCC; David Herder, CCC; Sable Riley, CCC
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Valeri Saldanha Rosa, Nina Todea
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCTION SR. MANAGER
Elizabeth Beatty
SENIOR PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR
Alyssa McDougle
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Connecting Through Action
Flipping through our April edition, I’m struck by the sheer amount of “doing” happening in our communities.
Our Easter Sunday dinner feature isn’t just about food—it’s a practical approach to creating a memorable meal without unnecessary fuss. These recipes are straightforward and delicious, which is why they deserve a spot on your table this month.
The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, now marking its 50th anniversary, demonstrates how practical skills can transform into community events with a real economic impact. What began as a teaching necessity has evolved into an annual celebration that brings $1.7 million to a smalltown’s economy. That’s not just tradition. That’s impressive community development.
Speaking of action, our “Beyond Barriers” feature highlights organizations tackling accessibility head-on. These aren’t just feel-good stories—they’re examples of problem-solving at its finest. When faced with the challenge of making outdoor recreation accessible, groups like Oregon Adaptive Sports and David’s Chair didn’t just talk about inclusion—they engineered solutions with tangible results. As David’s Chair
Founder Steve Furst puts it, they “fumbled through” and figured it out.
Even Dave LaBelle’s piece on rainbow photography offers practical advice: Keep your camera ready as storms clear, use interesting foregrounds and be prepared to capture fleeting moments.
What ties these stories together is action— people identifying gaps and taking steps to address them. From Jean Wells opening a quilt shop because her students lacked materials to Bill Greenwood developing accessible water entry points after hearing about someone struggling, our communities are full of doers.
As you read this month’s issue, I hope you are inspired not just to appreciate these stories but to look around your own community. Where are the gaps you might help fill? What practical skills could you share? Sometimes, the most meaningful contributions start with acknowledging we can do better and then asking, “What’s a solution?”
Do you know any stories of “doing” you think should be showcased on the pages of Ruralite? I’d love to learn more. Reach me at editor@pioneer.coop.
Until next time, Chasity Anderson Editorial Director
For supplemental and interactive content, search @Ruralite on your favorite social media sites.
A Big Show in a Small Town
The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show marks 50 years Up Close, Page 10
Beyond Barriers
Innovative organizations make the great outdoors accessible to all Spotlight, Page 12
Easter Sunday Dinner Menu
In The Kitchen, Page 16
Plugged In 6 Reader Exchange 18
Picture Hunt 22 Before You Go 30 Utility Pages: 4-5, 8, 25, 28-29, 32
Don’t Miss OPALCO’s Annual Member Festival
Member appreciation event celebrates local power
Get ready for the most electrifying event of the year—the Orcas Power & Light Cooperative annual Member Festival. Mark your calendars for Friday, April 25, when San Juan County Fairgrounds is transformed into a hub of fun, freebies and festivities for the whole family. The festivities are from 3-6 p.m.
From swag giveaways to an electric vehicle show and informational booths, there’s something for everyone at this co-op member appreciation event.
The barbecue is fired up with hot dogs and hamburgers. OPALCO’s linecrew
hosts safety demos and games, showing how it keeps our community powered up and safe. Youngsters can get their own lineworker hard hat, touch a truck and play in a bouncy house.
Get up close and personal with the latest in EV technology, including the newest models from mainland EV dealers. Test drive an electric bike, and check out the latest in home electric tools. Home efficiency experts showcase ductless heat pumps and heat pump water heaters.
Take time to meet the board. Co-op leadership is on hand to answer questions
ABOVE: Co-op members gather at Orcas Power & Light Cooperative’s 2024 annual Member Festival. BOTTOM: The OPALCO crew is on hand at the festival to give bucket truck rides to members. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SATYA CURCIO PHOTOGRAPHY
about local renewable energy and all things OPALCO. Co-op members can learn more from engineering staff about the electrical grid.
Feeling lucky? Don’t miss out on our incredible raffle, where you could walk away with fantastic, valuable and useful electric prizes that will leave you buzzing with excitement. Prizes include electric lawn tools, shop vacuums, cordless vacuums, kitchen tools and coolers. Stop by the welcome booth under OPALCO’s
covered front entry to get your bag of goodies and a schedule of events for the day.
Each year, the annual member festival rotates to other islands. If you are planning to come over from other islands and need a shuttle ride from—and back to—the ferry, email communications@opalco.com.
So come one, come all, and join us for a day packed with fun, thrills and plenty of sparks at the OPALCO annual Member Festival. It’s an event you won’t want to miss.
Business Meeting
The business portion of the annual meeting is at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, April 24, on Zoom. Board election results are announced and the minutes from 2024 approved. Register for the annual business meeting at opalco.com/event/opalcoannual-business-meeting. n
ABOVE: Children enjoy an electrifying amount of fun on the inflatable slide.
RIGHT: A young member tries her hand at using lineworker equipment, including a hot stick.
Meter technician Matthew Helms leads a transformer demonstration at the 2024 festival.
Making the Grade
What does it take to become a lineworker?
By Jen Calhoun
Taylor Hammack was wiring houses for a living around the time Hurricane Michael made landfall along the Florida Panhandle in 2018. The Category 5 hurricane flattened homes and businesses, destroyed infrastructure and left at least one town along the Gulf Coast in ruins.
The ordeal sparked something in Taylor as he drove to work one day.
“It was about three or four days after Michael hit, and I saw all these line crews on the side of the road getting the power back up,” he says. “Just seeing them do that after something catastrophic had happened—I thought, ‘That’s what I want to do.’ To me, it was a way to help people when they’re in need.”
Soon after, Taylor was hired as an apprentice lineworker at Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative, which put him through a four-year training program with Tennessee Valley Public Power Association. Today, Taylor is a journeyman lineworker.
Lineworkers install, maintain and repair power lines and
equipment on utility poles and underground electrical systems. It’s a tough but rewarding trade that usually requires three to four years of training to achieve rank as a fully qualified journey-level lineworker. A few other qualities are important, too, say lineworkers across the country.
Still on the Line
Since the first electric wire was strung, lineworkers have held an important role in modern America. When disaster strikes, they’re the ones who get the lights back on. They work along city streets, farmlands and wilderness.
The job can be difficult and sometimes dangerous, but the rewards are excellent, says Nick Hagen, a journeyman lineworker at Northern Lights Inc. in Idaho.
“I like the appreciation the community gives us, especially after we get the power back on after three days, four days or even 10 days,” he says. “It’s a fulfilling job.”
Extra high-voltage crews repair power lines from a barge. PHOTO COURTESY OF FLORIDA KEYS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Nick remembers pulling up near a house to repair power lines one Christmas Eve.
“They had been out of power for days,” he says. “Once I finished, I remember seeing their Christmas lights come back on. I thought that was pretty cool.”
The pay is good, too, he says. Nick was making ends meet as a valet at a hotel when he first learned about the trade. He wanted a better life for his family, and linework fit the bill. It also gave him a chance at retirement.
“Getting a good job with a retirement where you could actually enjoy your life after work? Nobody had ever really talked about that to me,” he says.
While compensation and benefits vary for lineworkers depending on location, experience and other factors, the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median pay in 2023 was $85,420 per year, or $41.07 per hour. However, those figures represent the middle of the pay range, and they don’t take into account overtime hours and additional jobs helping other utilities in the aftermath of storms—all of which can result in additional income.
How to Do It
Joining the trade means learning various—and oftentimes difficult—technical skill sets in and out of the classroom, all while maintaining a certain level of physical fitness, says David Bogue, a journeyman lineworker with Florida Keys Electric Cooperative.
Not only do lineworkers need to know how electrical systems work, they’re also required to learn numerous safety techniques. In addition, lineworkers climb utility poles wearing heavy toolbelts in all kinds of weather. The job requires working days and nights, depending on schedules and needs.
“Everybody’s story is a little bit different. Everyone gets into the trade in their own way.”
–EVAN PETERS, LINEWORKER AT BENTON REA IN WASHINGTON
“I would say becoming a journeyman is an attainable goal, but it’s a hard goal,” David says. “But, as someone once told me, I could throw a dart at a map and go get a job there. Also, the skills I’ve learned are not going to be replaced with AI anytime soon.”
Lineworkers can get their start by attending training schools, taking community college courses or working at a local utility in other capacities, such as a groundworker. Rudy Vega, a journeyman lineworker at FKEC, got his start doing right-of-way work with the cooperative 23 years ago.
“I had been working in a tree group there just under two years when the opportunity came up to be an apprentice lineman,” Rudy says. “They approached me and asked me if I was interested, and I said, ‘Definitely. I’ll give it my best.’”
Evan Peters, a lineworker at Washington’s Benton Rural Electric Association, was fighting wildfires when he first learned about the trade from a group of lineworkers.
When he expressed an interest in the job, one of the men suggested he attend a lineworker school. After graduating, he took a job at Benton REA.
“I like that it’s something new every day,” Evan says. “I like that I get to work outside with my hands, especially at a local utility. It can be really fulfilling.”
When it comes to joining up, however, Evan suggests those interested ask around before they jump in headfirst.
“I would tell them to reach out to local linemen,” he says. “Ask them how they did it. Everybody’s story is a little bit different. Everyone gets into the trade in their own way.” n
Want to Be a Lineworker?
Must-haves:
X Be 18 years of age.
X Hold a high school diploma or GED.
X Maintain a valid driver’s license.
X Able to work at heights and lift heavy equipment.
Getting started?
Every lineworker has a story about how they got started, and there are many pathways to taking the job. Here are a few ways to make it happen:
X Join an apprenticeship program at a local utility.
X Enroll in a lineworker school or training program.
X Start at a utility as a groundworker or other job.
Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative journeyman lineworker Taylor Hammack produces an electrical arc during an electric safety demonstration at Southport Elementary School. PHOTO COURTESY OF GULF COAST ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Letter From the OPALCO Board to Our Co-op Members
The Orcas Power & Light Cooperative Board of Directors is writing to our community members and urging everyone to engage in our collective energy future. We’re proud to be part of OPALCO, which has been deeply embedded in our community since 1937. Powering more than 20 islands is a complex and expensive operation.
This year, our main concern is how to continue to provide reliable power to our membership. The sustainability and resilience of our community depends on OPALCO building local, renewable energy projects. The regional power supply is shrinking while electricity demand is increasing dramatically. Microgrids with battery storage can secure power to key services on the main islands.
OPALCO is working with San Juan County to obtain land use certainty so we can site, design, plan, permit and build renewable energy projects in a reasonable amount of time. OPALCO is committed to protecting the environmentally sensitive jewels of the San Juan Islands, including areas designated as conservation and natural, and the areas protected by the Land Bank and Preservation Trust.
Of the 175,000 acres in San Juan County, OPALCO needs 0.5% of the land in San Juan County (875 acres) for siting renewable generation to satisfy our estimated 30% growth in electricity use over the next 10 years or so.
See the graphic above.
Building permit safeguards will remain in place, including going through the State Environmental Policy Act process that analyzes impacts including critical areas like wetlands, grading and clearing, air quality, ground water, floodplain, discharge of waste, runoff, invasive species, compensation plan alignment, light, historical and cultural, endangered species, glare, preservation, storm water planning and more, depending on site specifications.
We have heard from our members that
we need to embrace conservation, efficiency and rooftop solar. OPALCO agrees. However, there is no single option for solving these big power reliability issues. OPALCO is a longtime supporter of energy conservation and promotes energy savings in various ways. Energy load is still increasing, even with our successful conservation efforts. Per state laws, OPALCO is not able to legally cap energy use.
OPALCO strongly encourages those whose rooftops are suitable for solar panels to install them, but this alone is not going to meet the projected load growth for San Juan County. Rooftop solar can only supply about 5% of our projected local energy needs, assuming we can put solar on every available roof. Agri-solar can improve local agriculture by reducing evaporation of valuable water and providing financial benefits to the farmer. No matter how you slice it, we need to build more utility-scale renewable energy projects to meet our future energy needs.
Please help us let San Juan County Council know you support our energy reliability plan, which includes:
• Knowing all renewable generation projects will proceed through the building permitting process, provide a land use designation of “yes” on the utility land use tables for renewable generation and battery storage infrastructure except for conservation and natural land use areas.
• Capping the total number of acres of land available for renewable generation projects at 0.5% of San Juan County land through 2035. This number can be reviewed from time to time.
• Adjusting the language in the comprehensive plan’s utility element to provide for essential public facilities designations for power and internet infrastructure.
Time is of the essence. We can’t wait until our energy situation is dire to act.
Thank you to all our co-op members for stepping up and staying engaged. We are proud to represent you and OPALCO at this important time in our cooperative. n
Email communications@opalco.com to let the co-op know if you would like your name included on a list of supporters to share with the San Juan County Council.
A Big Show
The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show marks 50 years in a Small Town
Great ideas, those that stand the test of time, often arise from necessity. Such was certainly true for Jean Wells, who moved to Central Oregon in the ’70s to teach home economics, only to discover her students didn’t have access to the necessary materials.
Jean opened The Stitchin’ Post quilt shop in downtown Sisters to address this need, but took the opportunity a step further. She displayed about a dozen of her family’s quilts in the shop to showcase the centuries-old tradition of creating textile art.
Her students and local businesses loved the idea, which evolved into a quilt show that grew every year. This year, the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show celebrates its 50th anniversary. It’s considered to be the world’s largest outdoor quilt show—although organizers admit that’s a tough claim to prove. Around 1,000 quilts will be on display throughout the town July 12 as part of a show that includes children’s activities and special events.
“It’s organically grown over the years,” says Dawn Boyd, executive director of the nonprofit that runs the show.
The event attracts 10,000 visitors to the town of 3,000 residents. Even more remarkable is the tiny staff that produces the show. Dawn has help from a part-time staff member and a group of volunteers ranging from a few people throughout the year to about 300 on show day. The annual economic impact the quilt show has on Sisters is estimated at $1.7 million.
“It’s so much fun, and you meet so many people from everywhere,” Dawn says.
What the Show Entails
Hundreds of quilts—items from Jean’s personal collection and those belonging to quilting teachers and students worldwide— are installed early in the morning throughout downtown Sisters. Admission to view these masterpieces is free.
“They’re all over town, like three blocks by seven blocks,” Dawn says. “There’s also a city park we take over.”
Local firefighters get in on the act, hanging quilts on the side of The Stitchin’ Post building. Visitors and residents love to watch the proceedings.
Handmade pieces are displayed at the Teachers Pavilion during the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.
PHOTO BY SPENCER GILES
Innovative organizations make the great outdoors accessible to all Beyond Barriers
By Ginger Meurer
Extending recreation and athletic opportunities to people of all abilities is the mission of adaptive sports and other organizations throughout the West. Accessible beaches, parks, trails, waterways and adaptive equipment allow participation for people who might otherwise be unable to enjoy these experiences. Here’s a small sampling of these inclusive efforts.
Oregon Adaptive Sports
Oregon Adaptive Sports offers professional outdoor experiences supported by more than 350 volunteers and 30 certified instructors, catering to participants of all ages and abilities. It also provides access to state-of-the-art adaptive equipment.
“We have a fleet of sit-skis, adaptive mountain bikes and adaptive cycles,” says Executive Director Pat Addabbo.
He says Oregon is an ideal setting for outdoor activities.
“It’s a great place to come test out different types of equipment and to enjoy the hundreds of miles of trails that we have access to here. It’s a just a great place to get out and ride a bike.”
Oregon Adaptive Sports taps adaptable transportation to make sure athletes can easily reach activity sites. Affordability is at the heart of all the nonprofit’s offerings.
“We have a robust scholarship program,” Pat says. “We never turn
Families explore Oregon’s beaches using tank-like track chairs provided by David’s Chair. At top, adventurers enjoy Harris Beach in Brookings during a 2023 spring break excursion. Below, a family takes in the sights at Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City, Oregon, also in 2023. PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID'S CHAIR
wheel herself to the sand, throw herself out on the ground and crawl to the river’s edge.
“I said, ‘Well, we’ve got to do better than that,’” says Parks and Recreation Director Bill Greenwood.
He worked with an engineer and the Post Fallsbased Idaho Disability Action Center to develop an accessible swim entry point on the beach at Atlas Mill Park. Resembling a boat launch, the ramp allows wheelchair users to roll themselves into the water, secure their chairs and swim off on a flotation device. The same location also features an accessible kayak launch, dog park and picnic area.
For more information on the Idaho Disability Action Center, go to dacnw.org. Details on Atlas Mill Park are at cdaid.org/5883.
Edging Up to Water
Along the Oregon coast, communities offer accessible kayak launches and mobility mats known as Mobi-Mats—portable, durable pathways laid out seasonally to facilitate beach access. Some municipalities also loan out Mobi-Chairs, floating beach wheelchairs.
Lincoln City provides beach wheelchairs on a firstcome, first-served basis year-round. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the city rolls out mobility mats at multiple beach access points. To reserve a chair, go to explorelincolncity.com/wheelchair.
Visitors to San Diego will find accessible mats at Moonlight Beach and beach wheelchairs at Newport Beach.
Go to traveloregon.com/things-to-do/trip-ideas-accessible-travel for accessible travel ideas in Oregon. In San Diego, find details at sandiego.org.
Grand Canyon Exploration
The Grand Canyon’s South Rim offers barrier-free experiences. Departing daily from Williams, Arizona, the Grand Canyon Railway's trains feature accessible seating in coach and first class. The South Rim also offers several wheelchair-accessible viewpoints, paved scenic trails like the Rim Trail and shuttle buses equipped with lifts.
Learn more at thetrain.com/the-train and grandcanyontrust.org/ hikes/cpe-grand-canyon-rim-trail.
David’s Chair
When David Hartrick was diagnosed with ALS, the Oregon outdoorsman was determined to seize the time he had left. But how do you hunt, hike or fish when you can’t leave the pavement? The answer was an all-terrain track chair, essentially a one-person tank. Facing a $20,000 price tag that his insurance company wasn’t willing to cover, David turned to his buddy, Steve Furst.
“It was stumble and bumble and find our way,” Steve says.
“We raised money for the one chair, and we had some leftover, so we bought a youth chair, also.”
Steve credits David with the plan to share the chairs.
“It goes back to his insight and his vision,” Steve says. “He talked about giving the chair to somebody else. ‘You give it to somebody, and one person gets in the chair a few times a year, maybe. But, hey, what if we come up with a plan so anybody can use the chair?’ And then we just fumbled through the nonprofit stuff and put it together.”
On Jan. 11, 2018—only 11 months after his diagnosis—David died, leaving behind a growing legacy. With Steve as CEO, David’s Chair now manages 23 track chairs and three golf chairs available for free to people with mobility challenges.
Partner organizations and volunteers manage the chairs at fixed locations like beaches, golf courses and trails. Most of the chairs are at Oregon beaches, but reservable chairs are also available in the California Redwoods, at the Rosewood Nature Study Area in Reno and Ten Mile Ranch in Texas. Tow ’N Go chairs also allow users to enjoy independent outdoor adventures.
Steve sees familiar names come through the reservation system that serves just under 1,000 people annually.
“There’s about three or four that regularly will go up and down the coast enjoying it, and that’s awesome,” he says.
Learn more about the nonprofit or reserve chairs at davidschair.org.
Adventures Without Limits
All abilities and ages are served by the Oregon-based adaptive and inclusive outfitter Adventures Without Limits. The organization hosts private groups and community trips, and, in winter, it leads snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trips.
Participants with ambulatory challenges participate on sit-skis. Spring through fall, there are more outdoor activities.
“We raft, kayak, canoe, paddleboard, hike and camp—a little bit of rock climbing, as well,” Director of Outreach and Development Jennifer Wilde says.
Using adaptive equipment, patience and sometimes a bit of foam, duct tape and creativity, the organization ensures outdoor recreation is available to all.
“We want to share all these beautiful spaces and activities in Oregon with everyone and believe that nature should be accessible for everyone,” Jennifer says. “We’re always excited to connect new folks to the outdoors and come up with creative solutions to meet their individual needs to make it accessible for them in whatever way that means.”
“They can go hunting, camping, fishing, wherever they want to go for seven days at a time,” Steve says.
Additional Resources
Many organizations provide information on accessible locations and activities.
Visit Idaho offers an online accessibility tool packed with resources. Go to visitidaho.org/ things-to-do/accessible-activities for firsthand accounts of locations from Craters of the Moon National Monument to Shoshone Falls to College of Southern Idaho’s Centennial Observatory.
“We’ve realized that while we can make the outdoors more accommodating, it’s challenging for visitors to enjoy if we don’t provide the needed information when they are planning their trip,” says Andrea Rayburn, a Visit Idaho tourism specialist.
In addition to destination information, Visit Idaho highlights organizations working to help, like People Need People, a group that brings
Learn more at awloutdoors.org. n
in volunteers to help trail explorers by pulling and pushing them in all-terrain wheeled chairs through the hills. There’s also Boise Adaptive Snowsport Education, a 100% volunteer-staffed program offering adaptive ski lessons. Western Adaptive Veteran Education Snowsports provides adaptive equipment, ski and snowboard instruction, and therapeutic experiences for veterans.
Disabled Hikers, a Carlsborg, Washingtonbased nonprofit, offers resources, events and group hikes. Its website, disabledhikers.com, is packed with detailed trail guides to accessible destinations like Rialto Beach in Olympic National Park, Big Creek Nature Trail near Hoodsport, Washington, and entire regions like the guide to the Boise, Idaho, area.
Access California’s website, accessca.org,
is packed with detailed guides to accessible trails, parks, gardens, lodging and resources for adaptive equipment.
Folks looking for accessible lodging, transportation or location booking information internationally should visit accessiblego.com. Wheel the World also helps with bookings and lists accessible group tours, activities and equipment rentals.
The Administration for Community Living maintains a list of centers for independent living on its website, acl.gov. These organizations, found in every state, provide accessibility tools. One example is Ability 360. With Arizona offices in Phoenix, Gilbert, Pima County, Glendale and Pinal-Gila County, Ability 360 is a home for accessible sports, fitness and lifestyle transition education.
Sit-skis make Mount Bachelor accessible during an early-morning run at Turns & Berms.
PHOTO COURTESY OF OREGON ADAPTIVE SPORTS
Simple Roasted Asparagus
2 pounds fresh asparagus
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Heat oven to 400 F.
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 lemons, cut in wedges
If the stalks of the asparagus are thick, peel the bottom half of each. Lay them in a single layer on a sheet pan spread with aluminum foil. Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with pepper and salt.
Roast until tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and return to the oven for another minute. Serve with lemon wedges.
Duchess Potatoes
2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
Salt
1/4 cup heavy cream
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3 large egg yolks
Place potatoes in a medium to large pot, and cover with a few inches of cold water. Add a few teaspoons of salt to the water. Bring to a simmer. Cook until the potatoes are forktender, about 20 to 25 minutes.
While the potatoes are boiling, melt 2 tablespoons of butter, and set aside. You will use this butter to coat the potatoes right before they go into the oven. Heat the oven to 425 F.
When the potatoes are cooked, drain in a colander. Put the potatoes back in the pot, and set over low heat. Allow them to release steam for a minute or two.
Add 2 tablespoons of butter, and mash the potatoes until the butter has been incorporated. Add the nutmeg, black pepper and heavy cream. Continue mashing the potatoes. Once everything is incorporated, add salt to taste. Add the egg yolks. Continue to mash until the mixture is smooth. Do not over-mash, or your potatoes will end up with a gluey consistency.
Put the mashed potatoes in a piping bag with a large star point. Pipe the potatoes onto a cookie sheet. Brush the swirled edges with melted butter so they brown nicely in the oven.
Bake until nicely browned, about 20 minutes. Serve hot from the oven.
Spinach Pomegranate Salad
Salad
10-ounce bag baby spinach leaves, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup walnut pieces
1/2 cup crumbled feta
Vinaigrette
1/4 cup aged balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 to 3 tablespoons honey
1/4 medium red onion, sliced thin
1/4 cup alfalfa sprouts
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 clove garlic, minced
Salt and pepper
Combine all vinaigrette ingredients. Shake well.
Place spinach in a salad bowl. Top with walnuts, feta, red onion, alfalfa sprouts and pomegranate seeds. Drizzle with vinaigrette.
Pistachio Pudding Cake Cake
1 package yellow cake mix
3.4-ounce package instant pistachio pudding mix
Icing
3.4-ounce package instant pistachio pudding mix
1 cup cold heavy whipping cream
3/4 cup cold whole milk
Heat oven to 350 F.
4 large eggs 1 cup club soda 1/2 cup canola oil
2 teaspoons confectioners’ sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts for garnish
In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, soda and oil. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes.
Pour into a greased and floured 10-inch fluted tube pan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the frosting, beat the pudding mix, cream, milk, and confectioners’ sugar on high in a large bowl until stiff peaks form. Frost cake. Sprinkle with walnuts. Refrigerate until serving.
See giant geologic formations rise from the ground in Utah at
Canyonlands National Park
What Is It?
Thousands of years of geological history stacked atop each other are visible to all at Canyonlands National Park in Utah. The state’s largest national park at more than 330,000 acres, Canyonlands has four sections: Island in the Sky, Needles, The Maze and The Rivers. Split by the Green and Colorado rivers, all four sections are separate, and travel between them is difficult.
How It Formed
Much of the rock in Canyonlands National Park was once under water, carried in by rivers and tributaries. Over millions of years, movements in the Earth’s crust have raised the rock to more than 5,000 feet above sea level. The Green and Colorado rivers eroded the exposed rock, creating deep canyons.
Island in the Sky
With cliffs rising 1,000 feet above its surroundings, Island in the Sky is a tall mesa and the easiest part of Canyonlands to visit. The 34-mileround-trip scenic drive up the mesa has many beautiful viewpoints. Popular hikes for the whole family include the .6-mile hike to the Mesa Arch. In summer, rangers sometimes host nighttime stargazing events on the island.
The Needles
Striped sandstone spires rise out of the ground in the Needles district (pictured), which makes up the southeast corner of the park. The district is great for longer hikes, with more than 60 miles of interconnected trails. The Cave Spring Trail is popular for families, while the roughly 11-mile Chesler Park Loop is a popular, albeit strenuous, hike.
More Information
Directions into each district can be difficult, and satellite navigation can be misleading. The National Park Service suggests following a physical map. As with many national parks, Canyonlands requires a pass. To start planning your trip, visit www.nps. gov/cany or call 435-719-2313.
ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY KRZYSZTOF WIKTOR
Ever in Awe
Story and photo by Dave LaBelle
As a small child, I was spellbound by giant rainbows stretching across the valley near our home. The magnificent bands of glistening colors felt so close I could almost touch them, bathe in them. Believing there was a pot of gold buried where each end of the rainbow touched the earth, my siblings and I sometimes raced barefoot across the fields hoping to find the treasure before the magical bow disappeared.
I’m not sure at what age I outgrew the legend of hidden treasure. Perhaps it was the same time I began questioning the Easter Bunny?
Sadly, as I grew older and wiser, the awe I once had for those fading, magical colors also disappeared. As a teenager, rainbows no longer held the same allure.
But then, not long after my mother disappeared in floodwaters and our home was washed away by endless days and nights of torrential rains, I was reading in the book of Genesis how God set a bow in the sky after the great flood as a sign the Earth would never again be destroyed by water. As you can imagine, the story stirred my heart, and I have never viewed a rainbow the same since. And soon that mystery—that childhood wonder—even returned.
I believe rainbows will forever capture our imagination.
Whether you believe the Bible story or are simply touched by those colorful, curved ribbons of light stretching across the sky or magically appearing in the mist above a lake or river, there is something beautifully comforting and hopeful about seeing a rainbow appear.
Photographer, author and lecturer Dave LaBelle has captured special moments for more than half a century, sharing photo tips and life perspectives with readers. For more of his writings, visit davidlabelle.com and his blog at bridgesandangels.wordpress.com.
NIKON D810 70mm lens ISO: 125 f/5 at 1/640
Including an interesting foreground creates scale, depth and dimension. A vibrant rainbow can be the star of your photograph or an unexpected accent to complement an already colorful scene, such as pitcher Max Steffens, of Epworth, Iowa, competing in a semipro baseball tournament.
Reader Challenge
Keep your camera close and be ready as storms clear and rains cease. Often after a rainy day, clouds part before a sunset, and a rainbow alone can be a breathtaking sight.
Email your best image (just one, please) with caption information, including an explanation of how it affects you, to gph@pioneer.coop. We may share submissions on our website and social media channels.
You may think you know what“priceless” means—usually, it just means “astronomically expensive.” But not at Stauer. Priceless means FREE.
Stauer is smashing luxury norms with our FREE 77-Carat Durango Howlite Necklace. at’s right—zero dollars.* is genuine howlite piece, valued at $299, is yours for FREE—just cover $24.95 for shipping and processing. Plus, we’ll send a $25 Discount Coupon, making shipping Better an Free! No tricks, no obligation—though resisting our luxury deals won’t be easy.
Why give away jewelry? Because once you see Stauer’s rare gemstones and vintage-inspired watches, we know you’ll fall in love. If not, keep your FREE necklace—no hard feelings.
Howlite, discovered in Nova Scotia, has been a gemologist’s secret, often compared to turquoise. Our Durango Collection channels classic Southwest jewelry, featuring blue-green beauty in oxidized silver settings. Get nearly 160 carats for just $79!
is deal won’t last—we only have 2,500 left. Call now to claim your FREE necklace and experience a new kind of priceless luxury!
Jewelry Speci cations:
• Enhanced howlite.
• Oxidized silver finish.
• Necklace: 23" + 2", lobster clasp.
• Earrings: 3" drop, French wire.
• Bracelet: 7", elastic.
Durango Collection— Call In Only
A. Necklace (77 ctw) $299 FREE* + S&P Save $299
B. Earrings (23 ctw) $199 $49* +
*Special price only for customers using the offer code.
Best Breads Cookbook
This 8½-by-11-inch indexed cookbook features yeast breads, quick breads, scones and specialty breads for $10 (includes postage).
TO ORDER BY MAIL:
Submit payment with cookbook title, your name, address and number of cookbooks wanted to:
Ruralite Cookbooks
P.O. Box 1306
North Plains, OR 97133
TO PAY BY PHONE:
Call 503-357-2105 for credit card payments with Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.
TO ORDER ONLINE: Visit www.ruralite.com.
Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.
With more than 200 recipes, this cookbook from our 2007 contest offers options for potlucks, family reunions or picnics. As a bonus, additional pages feature previously unpublished barbecue recipes from a 2006 contest. The 8½-by-11-inch indexed book is $10 (includes postage).
Recipes submitted by Readers for the March 2007 Contest
TO ORDER BY MAIL:
Submit payment with cookbook title, your name, address and number of cookbooks wanted to:
Ruralite Cookbooks
P.O. Box 1306
North Plains, OR 97133
TO PAY BY PHONE: Call 503-357-2105 for credit card payments with Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.
TO ORDER ONLINE: Visit www.ruralite.com.
Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.
Why Local, Renewable Generation? Why Local, Renewable Generation?
Increase in Demand Increase in Demand Regional Energy Supply at Capacity Regional Energy Supply at Capacity
• More customer demand for carbon free resources to power cleaner, more efficient electric options like EVs and heat pumps
• WA State mandates to get rid of fossil fuels from our energy sources
• Increase in energy intensive data centers
Each year we delay the Bailer Hill Microgrid: DELAY ALERT!
4 million LBS OF CO2 is emitted into the environment
• Regional hydro system maxed out - no new hydro
• Renewable energy projects are delayed or cancelled due to public pushback & permitting challenges
• At least 30 GW of new renewable energy supply will be needed to meet the rapidly growing demand
• The Northwest has only been able to build out 1 GW over the last 8-year period. The amount of new power solutions to keep our grid reliable is staggering.
• Rolling blackouts and market price shocks will increase until supply can meet demand
HOW CAN WE PREPARE? HOW CAN WE PREPARE?
DID YOU KNOW?
Rooftop solar alone won’t meet our future energy needs. Rooftop solar in our county, when maxed out and with increased demand, will only supply about 5% of our local energy needs. We need utility scale projects like the Decatur Microgrid and the proposed Bailer Hill Microgrid.
It’s important for us to explore innovative projects like the 2MW tidal generation project OPALCO is doing feasibility studies on right now.
We NEED your support to get these projects permitted and installed!
The US must cut emissions by 50% by 2030 to reverse the global climate catastrophe
MARKETPLACE
Agriculture
4x5 round bales, Meadow foxtail orchard grass. 4x4 Timothy, small square. 208-4354637 or 208-435-4002; nas@cpcinternet.com. 1225
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 43 years in business. www.btlliners.com. 541-447-0712. 0425
Antiques and Collectibles
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. 0925
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. 0625
WC Collectibles. We buy comic books! Local to Inland Northwest. Willing to travel. WCCollectiblesCheney@gmail.com; 509-496-1835. 0525
Automotive
1976 GMC half-ton pickup sitting for 20-plus years. Body good, runs when parked. Interior needs rehab. Reno, NV. $4.5K. Dale, 775-742-2989. 0425
Wanted: running board for 1928-29. AA express truck. 69 ¾” x 9 ½” with Ford script in middle. Allen Piquet, 541-571-4506; Piquetat1967@gmail.com. 0425
Health forces sale. Two-for-one: 1971 Ranchero and 1974 race car. Ranchero needs work; race car for parts. $1.75K. garyvavzycki@gmail.com. 0425
Books, Magazines, Videos
“The Bunny Book; What Would You Name a Book about Bunnies and God?” Bunnies learn about matches, separation, bullying, fear, death, God and more. 626-482-4955. 0425
Business Opportunities
Urgently needed: company that can raise up a foundation in Fairbanks, AK area. My house is sinking. John, alaskamoose@yahoo.com and 812-896-9951; or leave a voice message at 812-967-3220. 0425
Quick, Affordable: How to Place an Ad
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): June issue—April 30, 2025.
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.
Call 503-357-2105 to pay by credit card.
Advertisements are accepted in good faith. Pioneer Utility Resources is not liable for interactions between buyers and sellers.
Turnkey cafe, pizza, bakery in the picturesque town of Cedarville, CA. Newly renovated, fully equipped commercial kitchen, cozy dining and bar room, potential mini brew pub. Priced for quick sale, $225K. Shelia, 530-569-0529. 0425
Community Events
Eastern Oregon University student art exhibit, plus work by artist Genevieve Gaudreau Thompson. April 4-26. Art Center East in La Grande, OR. artcentereast.org. 0425
Equipment/Tools
Farmi JL 300 logging winch, small woodlands, $1K. 13 push-pull control cables, $50 each. 60 16-inch nylatron and steel sheaves, 1/2-inch rope, $50 each. 4-ft. tow-behinds, Land Pride mower, $800. Kubota rototiller, near new, $1.5K. Ted, 458-910-3727. 0625
Free Items
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. tbsmads@yahoo.com; 888-211-1715. 0625AR
Help Wanted
The Wheat Land Communities’ Fair in Ritzville, WA, is seeking a reliable and responsible summer groundskeeper/camp host. Responsibilities include mowing, watering, general maintenance, overseeing the campground and other duties as needed. Would ideally be on-site May through midSeptember. Full hook up provided. Contact Dan at skamaniadan@gmail.com or mail a letter of interest to, P.O. Box 14, Ritzville, WA 99169. 0425
Miscellaneous
Foster parents needed to care for teen youth in Wasco and Hood River counties. Agency provides on-call support, training, $2.1K/youth monthly reimbursement, 2 days off/month. Fosterinfo@nextdoorinc.org; 541-308-2207. 0625
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. To order: twofisherstuna.com or 206-799-1082. 0525
2024 ANNUAL REPORT
Note: Numbers are
132,000
11,751
$164,200
1,277
15,956 $3M feasibility grant awarded by DOE for tidal generation pilot project
www.opalco.com/switchitup
$291,000
Moment of Reprieve
On a hot July day, Wren Zielinski took her turkey, Mr. T, to the Linn County Fair in Albany, Oregon. Wren raised the turkey from a tiny 1-day-old poult in the spring until he was a full-grown tom ready for the summer fair.
As the two enjoyed the cool breeze from nearby fans, Wren’s mom, Katie, took a photo of them.
“I’m not sure what she was thinking at that moment or what Mr. T was thinking either, but they seemed so content,” Katie says. To submit your photo, email a JPEG file to photos@pioneer. coop. Include “Before You Go” in the subject line. Please share a bit about what inspired you to make your photo. n
DO MORE WITH DR® POWER
Make Your Driveway Like New with a DR® Power Grader
• Fill in potholes and smooth out washboards
• Loosen and redistribute existing material
• Tow with your ATV, UTV, or tractor
and Clear Out
Chippers Help You Clean
• Chip and shred with power to spare
• Annihilate thick branches and reduce yard waste
• Easy to move easy to use—large wheels and easy towing
• Built USA tough
While waiting in a pen, Wren Zielinski and her turkey, Mr. T, cool off in front of fans at the Linn County Fair. PHOTO BY KATIE ZIELINSKI
Your member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative utility. Providing energy services to San Juan County since 1937.
Eastsound Office
183 Mount Baker Road
Eastsound, WA 98245-9413
Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday Harbor Office
1034 Guard St.
Friday Harbor, WA 98250-9240
Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lopez Crew Station
4232 Center Road
Lopez Island, WA 98261-8098
No regular office hours
360-376-3500
General Manager Foster Hildreth
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Vince Dauciunas, District 1
Vice President
Jerry Whitfield, District 4
Secretary/Treasurer
Tom Osterman, District 3
Mark Madsen, District 1
Chuks Onwuneme, District 2
Wendy Hiester, District 2
Brian Silverstein, District 3
Board meetings are the third Thursday of each month, unless otherwise indicated on our website. Board materials are posted on the website the Monday before the meeting.
www.opalco.com
Message from the OPALCO General Manager
Hi, Co-op Members!
2024 was a great year for Orcas Power & Light Cooperative. Our excellent team worked hard to keep our community safe and powered up and the internet connected. As always, we were active stewards for our pristine, natural environment and are actively planning for our energy future. Check out the annual report on Pages 28-29 for some of our high-level accomplishments.
Sustainability now and into the future is on the top of our minds here at OPALCO. Climate change causes us to rethink how to deliver power to the membership. Carbon reduction mandates and increased demand for electricity increase the likelihood of blackouts.
Our next few years are going to be critical for the next generation of islanders. We need to plan and act now to ensure future co-op members have reliable 24/7 power. It’s time for an all-hands-on-deck approach to our future power supply. OPALCO is focused on the projects that provide the most bang for our buck, which include community- and utilityscale solar projects paired with battery storage. We encourage members to install rooftop solar and battery storage where applicable and to support other possible renewable options, such as tidal and wind generation.
With hotter and drier summers in San Juan County, OPALCO is concerned about wildfires. We take wildfire mitigation seriously. Support our right-of-way clearing program and let us know if you see trees too close to power lines.
We can’t do this without you, our members. Please get engaged, learn more and support the work OPALCO is doing. I love talking about this subject with our members, so stop by the annual Member Festival from 3-6 p.m. Friday, April 25, at the San Juan County Fairground, invite us to your meetings, or give me a call. Together, we can do this.
Here are some ways you can support OPALCO:
• Support utility-scale renewable generation projects in San Juan County.
• Use our Switch It Up program to install a solar/battery project on your rooftop or other impervious surface.
• Understand there are trade-offs for every solution needed to keep our community sustainable and powered. There isn’t an easy answer, so reach out to us if you have questions.
• Let San Juan County know these energy issues are critical to the sustainability of our community and should be reflected in the comprehensive plan updates and public comments.
Thank you for being engaged and for your continued support.
General Manager Foster Hildreth
P.S. Pepper asked me to remind you to vote in our board of directors election. If you are an energy assist member, April is the time to renew your energy assist credit at opalco.com/energyassist.