2024
The Feather River Land Trust’s new Nature Center will showcase the area’s beauty and significance Page 4
It was a warm summer afternoon and my wife and I were mingling with the best of them. The occasion was a 1920s-themed party, and everyone was dressed to the nines. Parked on the manse’s circular driveway was a beautiful classic convertible. It was here that I got the idea for our new 1920s Retrograde Watch.
Never ones to miss an opportunity, we carefully steadied our glasses of bubbly and climbed into the car’s long front seat. Among the many opulent features on display was a series of dashboard dials that accentuated the car’s lavish aura. One of those dials inspired our 1920s Retrograde Watch, a genuinely unique timepiece that marries timeless style with modern technology.
With its remarkable retrograde hour and minute indicators, sunburst guilloche face and precision movement, this design is truly one of a kind. What does retrograde mean? Instead of displaying the hands rotating on an axis like most watches, the hands sweep in a semicircle, then return to their starting point and begin all over again.
Retrograde watches by the big brands can set you back thousands; one recent offering from a big French fashion house is selling for more than $150,000! But because we’ve designed the 1920s Retrograde Watch in-house, we can offer it to you for just $99!
This watch is so wildly popular with our customers that we’re actually concerned about running out; we only have 937 729 left for this ad!
Watch Specifications:
• Precision movement
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• Water-resistant to 5 ATM
• Brown genuine leather band
• Fits wrists up to 8"
1920s Retrograde Watch
$399 $99* + S&P Save $300
*Special price only for customers using the offer code.
“An elegant and exciting timepiece that every collector will love.”
— George omas, internationally renowned watch expert
“[A] unique and beautiful timepiece.”
— Carlos C., Los Banos, CA
July 2024 • Volume 72, No. 7
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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The heart and heat of summer are here.
Gardens are flourishing, and farmers markets are bursting with fresh produce. Outdoor activities are at their peak. I hope you have found ways to enjoy summer while staying cool.
If travel is part of your summer plans, you are not alone. July is one of the busiest travel months of the year, and if you love to include your pets on your vacations, you must read our story on Page 10 about pet-friendly adventures. We offer suggestions and resources to make your time on the road with your pets safe and fun.
Our Spotlight feature, beginning on Page 12, focuses on Amanda McGahen, who likes to travel fast in small circles. Amanda competes on a roller derby team in Walla Walla, Washington. Her sisterhood of athletes has been part of her healing after the death of two children. Part of her journey includes leading the group’s Care
Committee, which celebrates milestones and supports teammates in need. She is paying forward to help others.
Milkweed Update: For those following along, my latest effort to grow milkweed was shortlived and ended tragically. If you will remember, I first attempted to grow plants from seeds. Attempt No. 2 was a 6-inch store-bought start. After only a few days, something stripped all the leaves from my milkweed, and it died. I’ll try again, though—I’m stubborn. I’m going to look for a larger, more established plant. I may also put netting over the milkweed to protect it. Wish me luck.
Sincerely,
Mike Teegarden Editorial Director
Map out trips with furry friends Up Close, Page 10
Roller derby family provides structure and support Spotlight, Page 12
By Emily Compton
Founded by local residents in 2000, the Feather River Land Trust has grown in lands conserved for public benefit and the programs and events it offers to the community.
Starting with a small circle of volunteers, the Feather River Land Trust has grown into a nationally accredited land trust—1,100 members strong. The land trust has worked with communityminded landowners to protect more than 70,000 acres of ecologically and culturally important lands throughout the Feather River Watershed for fresh water, wildlife, working ranches, outdoor classrooms, scenic open space and beloved places.
The critical headwaters and habitat the trust protects are home to thousands of wildlife and plant species in the Sierra Nevada’s largest watershed, the Feather River Watershed—a source of drinking water for 27 million people throughout California.
The Land Trust’s Sierra Valley Preserve is more than 2,500 acres at the headwaters of the Middle Fork of the Feather River. Visitors can enjoy some of the most incredible birding in the state, nearly 3 miles of interpretive trails and views of Sierra Valley.
The Land Trust’s latest project is a new Nature Center and headquarters located on its Sierra Valley Preserve, created in collaboration with the Northern Sierra Partnership and The Nature Conservancy.
The Nature Center opens in the fall and will provide a hub for nature-based recreation and learning, where visitors and locals alike can experience the wonders of Sierra Valley’s beauty, cultural richness, and biodiversity.
An exhibit at the center will highlight the Maidu and Washoe people.
A mural, painted by artist Sally Dannels, will depict
the ecology of Sierra Valley, along with the flora and fauna of the unique and biodiverse region.
There is also a large screen above the exhibit area that will play video of Sierra Valley through the seasons. There will be informational and interactive exhibits showcasing what it means to have healthy watersheds, forests and meadows.
The Nature Center and Preserve will host field trips for local and regional schools starting in the fall with a menu of California and Nevada state standards aligned curriculum from which educators can choose.
The Land Trust is adding new trails to the Sierra Valley Preserve, and one of them will be a new
trailhead off the Nature Center.
The Headwaters Trail will lead to the headwaters of the Middle Fork Feather River and will also have an interpretive area with information about the heritage of the Maidu and Washoe people, as well as their lived cultural practices of today. Additionally, there will also be a new birding blind at the east entrance.
The trails of the preserve are open from sunup to sundown.
Designers of the Nature Center kept sustainability and efficiency in mind while designing the buildings. They designed the building using green building strategies while creating a design aesthetic to complement the natural and historic landscape of Sierra Valley and its iconic barns.
Most of the Nature Center’s energy comes from an on-site solar array and the local community solar project.
The building is insulated with green technology, straw-bale insulation, and is heated and cooled with energy-efficient technologies. Designers worked with the California Straw Building Association on the insulation of the building, and— with the help of FRLT’s volunteers—they insulated the walls of the center with effective and sustainable technology.
On one side of the new facilities is a stewardship workshop that uses passive
heating through a trombe wall. The dark material absorbs the sun’s heat in a hollow chamber and slowly exchanges the air inside the shop.
A shade structure nearby, built with the help of volunteers, is weaved with local willows.
The preserve’s event center can host up to 100 people. Large doors open onto a patio with views of Sierra Valley. These large, windowed doors also have a coating that helps prevent birds from flying into them.
The grand opening of the Nature Center is 9 a.m. Sunday, September 8, and is open to the public.
Attendees will experience the exhibits and event center, sit on the patio outside of the Nature Center to take in the expansive views and can participate in activities such as nature journaling, viewing a local art exhibit, hiking on the new trails, fun family activities and bird watching with binoculars.
This summer and beyond, the Feather River Land Trust will host events at the Nature Center, including:
• John Muir Laws Nature Journaling Workshop on August 17.
• Ongoing community “Supper and Speaker” series.
• Birding tours.
• Art and music.
• Yoga and wellness.
• Conservation and stewardship activities.
• Indigenous cultural events.
• Children and family events.
The Nature Center is also a trailhead for the Art & Ag Trail on September 21.
To stay up to date on FRLT events, sign up for the newsletter at frlt.org/enews.
The Sierra Valley Preserve and Nature Center is made possible by the Feather River Land Trust, the Northern Sierra Partnership, the Nature Conservancy and many generous supporters. n
The Nature Center is located at the northwest corner on County Road A-23. For more information about the Feather River Land Trust and the Nature Preserve, visit www.frlt.org, email info@frlt.org or call 530-283-5758.
Virtual power plants may be the keys to meeting the country’s
By Dan Catchpole
Smart thermostats, rooftop solar, battery systems, electric vehicles and other distributed energy resources are turning homes, shops, factories and other facilities into virtual power plants.
A virtual power plant bundles distributed energy resources— individual energy-generating and -stabilizing devices spread across the grid—and operates them as a single entity. For example, if thousands of homes in a utility’s service territory have rooftop solar panels, the utility can connect them to a digital platform that manages them as if they were one big solar plant sprawled across acres.
Thanks to recent technological advances and years of experimentation, virtual power plants are poised to become a major part of America’s power grid.
There are 30-60 gigawatts of VPPs already running in the country, according to a United States Department of Energy report released in September 2023. By 2030, VPPs could provide 90-180 GW, or as much as 20% of America’s projected electricity demand, the report says.
The key ingredients—private investment, public support, market demand and technological advances—appear to be aligning to make that achievable.
Rocky Mountain Power, which serves areas of Idaho, Utah
and Wyoming, has had no problem signing up customers for its Wattsmart battery program, which lets the utility use battery systems in homes and businesses as a VPP.
Thousands have enrolled since the program launched in 2020, and the company has several hundred more applications in the queue, says Bill Comeau, Rocky Mountain Power’s vice president of customer experience and innovation.
“The growth is much faster than we expected,” Bill says.
The company pays participants a few thousand dollars up front plus a small amount per year depending on the size of their batteries, which often are connected to solar panels on the customers’ homes or buildings.
The batteries typically charge during the middle of the day when solar power is generating more electricity than Rocky Mountain Power needs. The utility then uses that energy in the evening, when energy demand increases as people get home from work, start a load of laundry and turn on air conditioning or heat.
By storing energy from midday to be used when demand is higher, Rocky Mountain Power does not have to build more generation or buy power from the market when it is most expensive. The utility also uses Wattsmart batteries for frequency response, which means balancing energy demand and supply on its system from one second to the next.
All of that is done from the utility’s control room. Customers in the program do not have to do anything, Bill says.
That seamlessness and nimble control is one of the technological advances putting VPPs at a tipping point.
Puget Sound Energy in Washington worked with software provider AutoGrid to launch its first VPP that already has tens of thousands of customers participating as of late last year. The company used the program seven times this past winter to get through peak-demand events.
“What we’re trying to do is this idea of energy orchestration, where we’re working with and for our customers to make sure that we’re maximizing the potential that all these connected devices will bring,” says Aaron August, PSE senior vice president, chief customer and transformation officer.
The utility, which serves more than 1 million electric service consumers, expects to have 30 megawatts of battery capacity by the end of the year and at least 86 MW by the end of 2025.
The utility is focused on adding battery storage to the VPP but Aaron says the vision is to use energy-efficiency practices, distributed energy resources and battery storage systems. The utility also plans to use vehicle-to-grid storage, which enables energy to be pulled back to the power grid from an electric vehicle battery. The utility encourages its consumers to lower or shift their electricity use during daily peak times when energy use is highest and power is most expensive.
“Each one of those assets ... it’s like a musical instrument,” Aaron says. “If you keep adding instruments together, you can
create this orchestra.”
In the San Francisco Bay area, MCE is assembling its own orchestra in Richmond, California. The electric service provider expects to unveil the first house this summer in its inaugural VPP program, which will start with 100 homes and larger commercial and industrial sites, MCE Chief Operating Officer Vicken Kasarjian says.
The program overhauls abandoned homes and sells them at a discount to low-income, first-time homebuyers. The VPP will harness an array of clean-energy technologies in the refurbished homes, including energy storage, smart thermostats, rooftop solar, heat pump water and space heating, and electric vehicle charging.
Participants agree to connect their smart appliances to the grid. MCE will bundle the devices and operate them based on market signals, which, according to MCE, will increase grid reliability, cut consumers’ power bills and reduce emissions.
Other communities have contacted MCE about the program, and it is looking to expand, Vicken says.
VPPs could play a critical role in transforming the energy grid, but that is not a foregone outcome,
Bill says.
“There are a lot of opportunities but a lot of work that needs to be done to get these working on the grid,” he says. n
In our community, we’re better together. We weather storms together, both literally and figuratively. We build lasting relationships together. We work together, play together, and grow together.
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You can always rely on us, just as we always rely on each other.
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By Kathy Denes
Summer typically means travel, whether it’s scenic road trips or flights to vacation destinations. More than ever before, beloved pets are tagging along for the ride.
If you want to take your four-legged companion on your next vacation, here are some pet-friendly resources to make the most of your trip.
Conde Naste Traveler has an online list of nationwide hotels and Airbnbs it deems best for accommodating pets, especially dogs.
Meanwhile, on travelandleisure.com, search “pets” and you’ll unleash a wealth of helpful articles. Even financial companies are weighing in. NerdWallet compiled a list of Best Hotels for Pets in 2024, based on factors such as fees and amenities, and rated air travel options, topped by Alaska Airlines. If you don’t want to do the research yourself, there are travel agencies that specialize in taking care of the details for you. Also, hotels, resorts, parks and campgrounds usually post their pet policies, fees and amenities, as do airlines, trains and even cruise lines that allow furry passengers. Many websites are focused entirely on pet-friendly travel. Just browse by city, state or destination at resources such as:
• bringfido.com.
• petswelcome.com.
• tripswithpets.com.
Expert Advice
“Before deciding to bring your pet along on a trip, you need to ask yourself whether or not it’s in your pet’s best interest to do so,” says Dr. Rena Carlson, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
What’s a fun adventure for you might be an overwhelming experience for your dog.
“If you choose to include your pet, a pre-trip veterinary visit is a good idea to make sure your pet is healthy and up to date on vaccinations and microchip registration, and to obtain a health certificate, which is required by law if you’re traveling to a different state with your pet,” Rena says.
Your veterinarian can also provide vital information about the risk of parasites and other diseases that your pet may be exposed to at your destination, as well as possible preventive steps or treatments.
“Make sure to plan for their comfort in transit, whether by land or air, with regular breaks and by choosing the least stressful travel options,” Rena says. “Confirm in advance that your destinations are pet-friendly, and try to maintain your pet’s routine as much as possible to help them feel secure. Your careful planning can ensure a safe and enjoyable trip for everyone involved.” n
Whether you plan to explore the rugged coast or hike trails through vast mountain forests, the Pacific Northwest offers plenty of options for bringing your pet along. State departments of tourism have resources for trip planning, and many pet owners post blogs sharing their own experiences. Here are a few insights:
X From the riverfront and downtown areas of Spokane, Washington, to the base of Schweitzer Mountain in Sandpoint, Idaho, the Ruby Hospitality family of hotels welcomes dogs—limit of two per room and registration required—for a daily fee of $25 each. The Ruby River Hotel location in Spokane has a dog park, and Spokane River Centennial State Park Trail is nearby. The hotel is also just a 10-minute walk from BARK, A Rescue Pub, where your pet can join in for food and refreshments. The pub partners with the local humane society to help rescue dogs and cats find new families, so you may leave there with more than just a full stomach.
X Less than an hour away, the largest state park in Washington, Mount Spokane, welcomes leashed pets at campsites and on most of its more than 100 miles of trails. As with all state recreation lands, vehicle entry requires the Discover Pass, costing $10 per day or $30 a year. AllTrails reviewers say the most pet-friendly hikes are the challenging 12.6-mile trail to the top of Spokane Mountain and Tripps Knob and Linder Ridge Loop, along with moderate Day Mountain and Mount Kit Carson trails, Shadow Mountain Loop and Trail 121/Trail 122 Loop.
X Alaska, large enough to cover 20% of the continental U.S., has immense vacation potential, but the vast wildness that draws visitors also requires travelers with pets to take extra care. Veterinary health certificates must be shown on entering the state, and most Alaska destinations and activities require that dogs be kept on a short leash—no longer than 6 feet, or 9 feet in a state park.
X The Oregon Coast is doggy heaven, with a vast amount of room for running and sniffing. Lots of shops are pet-friendly, and some even offer water dishes near their entrances. Many restaurants have outdoor dining areas where pets are welcome. A number of hotels that allow pets, just ask about their policy when you make your reservation.
By Vicki Hillhouse
Amanda McGahen’s roller derby journey started in 2023 in a parked car. The night of an open-house-style recruitment meeting for the Walla Walla Sweets Rollergirls, the 42-year-old drove from just across the state line in Milton-Freewater, Oregon, then debated whether to get out from behind the wheel.
“I actually sat in the parking lot and thought, ‘Am I going to go to this all by myself, not knowing anybody?’” she says.
It wasn’t the roller-skating that worried her. As a child in Lebanon, Oregon, she spent weekends at the skating rink, racing girls a couple of years older than her around the wooden floor.
“I skated every chance I could get, and I was fast,” she says. “I felt like I was flying. I felt invincible. I loved skating.”
She wanted that again, and the enticement of a contact sport intrigued her even more.
“I’ve always been interested in sports— boxing, martial arts,” she says. “I like anything that can challenge me, that pushes me harder.”
She’d started home workouts with lunges, squats and cardio.
But there was one condition to joining as she summoned the nerve to enter the orientation with a room full of strangers that night: “I don’t think I can make practices if we have them on Sundays,” Amanda told one of the cocaptains at the end of the session. “Every other practice day works for my schedule but Sundays. My husband has work, and I won’t leave my children with anyone else.”
Like many parents who seek out a new hobby or activity, she looked forward to the dedicated time to focus on herself. But she carried into the space a loss from 11 years before, shaping every decision she makes around the care of her children.
Amanda “Camanda” McGahen joined roller derby in 2023. The sport has had such an impact on her that she commemorated it with a tattoo of a skate and her number on her foot.
her way through the pack
the black-and-white
Roller derby is contested by two 15-skater teams. There are two 30-minute periods. Each period includes multiple “jams,” which can last up to 2 minutes or end before that when the lead jammer calls it off.
Teams field one jammer and four blockers per jam. Jammers must navigate through the blockers. The first jammer to pass all skaters in the pack legally is called the “lead jammer.” This happens on the first pass. In subsequent passes, jammers earn 1 point for each opposing player they pass legally. Both jammers can score once they’ve made it through the pack.
Blockers work to prevent the jammers from passing by using their hips, rears and shoulders. Skaters may not block to the back of another skater, or trip or elbow them. Illegal actions are penalized with 30 seconds in the penalty box. During that time, the team plays short.
“They were 13½ months old when it happened,” she says of her twin girls, Kylie and Kalise.
Amanda and her husband, Darren, were living in Las Vegas at the time. She had night school and worked the graveyard shift. She left them with a family member. On the twins’ first night away from home, Amanda got the worst call of her life. Kylie had rolled off a bed in her sleep and onto a pile of pillows, lodged between the bed and a wall. She suffocated.
The scene at the hospital was like something from a movie—the frantic pace of doctors, police interviews, she says.
“Walking out of the hospital with only one daughter when you’re supposed to have two—coming home to all these memories and knowing you don’t have one of your kids with you—it was the worst pain imaginable,” she says.
The couple lumbered through the pits of grief with an older son, Evan, single twin, Kalise, and support from their community of loved ones. A happy addition came a couple of years later with
the birth of daughter Aubrey. Eventually, they left the difficult memories of Nevada and returned to Oregon.
In December 2020, they moved to Milton-Freewater. Five months later, Evan died on his 22nd birthday.
“That first year in Milton-Freewater, I had just gone through survival mode,” Amanda says.
Unknowingly, she had more in common than she imagined with other recruits that January evening. On some level, they all were looking at derby to bring something new to their lives, whether it be friendships, intensity or a daring opportunity to do something out of the box. Among them, Amanda found her people: 40-somethings, mothers, competitors and even those who had faced similar losses.
With its fast-paced, eight-wheeled action, focus on empowerment, inclusivity, fun personas and spirited competition, roller derby draws people of every size and background. Many come to the sport in search of something—a
new challenge, a community, a bold disruption—some having no skating experience when they start.
Walla Walla’s roller derby team shot up from the derby revival energy of the early 2000s. The grassroots movement of flat-track derby made skater-operated leagues more accessible in remote areas with no rinks. Started in September 2009, Walla Walla’s amateur team of recreational skaters competes against other Northwest teams. It is fed with new skaters making the roller derby discovery for themselves.
Practices are twice a week, infusing skating skills, endurance training, strategy and game play.
One year after joining, Amanda—“The Camanda”—is on the verge of her first competitive season.
“At the beginning, it was hard,” she says. “I felt like I could do a lot of the things, but there was a lot I had to do more precisely. Now, it’s just getting out of my own head. The rules are all making sense. The more we get out there, the more I understand.”
Practices have become sacred time for her.
“I’m disappointed when I miss,” she says. “There are times when I don’t want to go. Maybe I slept like crap the night before or my body hurts. But I’m always glad that I went. When it gets to the end of the night, I don’t want to leave.”
She’s also excited about her new role as secretary of the nonprofit league’s board and head of its Care Committee. The committee helps as the heart of the team, celebrating skater birthdays and stepping in to organize help for those in need.
“I’m really excited about it,” Amanda says. “When we lost Kylie, friends set up a meal train. We didn’t have to cook for almost two months. I’m hoping I can bring something to the team through the committee. That’s where my heart is. I always want to pay it forward.” n
The sport of roller derby got its start in 1935 when Chicago-based promoter Leo Seltzer first introduced it as an endurance race—capitalizing on the popularity of marathon activities of the era as well as the nation’s love of roller skating. The first Transcontinental Roller Derby pitted 25 couples in a simulated cross-country race on a banked wooden track.
Leo joined with sports reporter Damon Runyon two years later and built a more competitive framework for roller derby. It had physical contact, speed, teams and a new era of drama. As a touring act, it drew throngs of adoring fans. But it truly became a craze in late 1948 when it was first broadcast on television.
Within a few years, consumer fervor for the touring professional sport began fluctuating. In 1958, Leo’s son, Jerry Seltzer, took the reins and renewed derby’s exposure to the masses. He reportedly sent in tapes of the San Francisco Bay Bombers to the local news, which delightfully received it. Eventually, this practice grew so that derby staff members drove game tapes to stations, hitting markets throughout the country, and ultimately creating an early version of syndication.
Venues, including Madison Square Garden, had sell-out crowds, and more than 100 networks broadcast the events every week. By 1973, however, the sport disappeared. Some reports point to the economic recession and the oil crisis as having harmed the operation’s travel, as well as budgets for entertainment.
This marked a 30-year hiatus for the sport.
In 2001, resurgence came from Austin, Texas, along with a new way to operate. The Texas Rollergirls launched the modern-day framework that includes a DIY approach to the sport. With a a flat track that can be laid more easily and affordably with tape, tracks can be available anywhere space is large enough. Ownership changed, too. Rather than one company operating teams, modern derby leagues are financed and operated by the people who skate in them, as well as a community of volunteers—officials, medics, photographers and announcers.
The creation of a governing body came in 2004 with the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, followed three years later by the Men’s Roller Derby Association. WFTDA sets international standards for rankings, rules and competitions, as well as guidance and resources for the sport.
WFTDA has 435 member leagues spanning six continents, but the sport has even more nonmember leagues that may use WFTDA rules as guidance and compete without rankings on a recreational level.
Orzo Salad With Shrimp and Lemon Dressing
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon zest
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
11/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup uncooked orzo
8 ounces fresh asparagus, trimmed and diagonally sliced into 1-inch pieces
4 ounces fresh sugar snap peas, trimmed
1 cup fresh or frozen English peas, thawed if frozen
12 ounces medium raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh chives
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Whisk together oil, zest, juice, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside. Prepare orzo according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain. Transfer orzo to a bowl. Cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes.
While orzo cooks, bring a large saucepan of water to boil over high heat. Add asparagus and sugar snap peas to boiling water. Cook until bright green and tender-crisp, about 2 minutes. Add English peas. Stir until softened, about 30 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, transfer vegetables to an ice bath, reserving boiling water in saucepan. Add shrimp to boiling water. Cook until opaque, about 3 minutes. Drain. Transfer shrimp to ice bath with vegetables. Let stand until chilled, about 3 minutes. Drain. Toss together shrimp-vegetable mixture with orzo, and drizzle with dressing. Add chives and parsley. Toss to combine. Serve at room temperature or chilled.
Salad
1/4 cup slivered almonds
6 to 8 cups mixed butter
lettuce
3 small ripe peaches, sliced
Dressing
11/2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup canned corn, drained
4 ounces soft goat cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Fresh ground black pepper
Place the almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat. Heat, shaking the pan and stirring often with a wooden spoon, until the nuts are fragrant and golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove immediately from the heat and transfer to a plate.
To make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, olive oil, kosher salt and several grinds of fresh ground black pepper until thick and emulsified.
To serve, top the greens with almonds, peaches, red onion, corn and goat cheese. Drizzle with dressing. Serve immediately.
Dressing
1 ripe avocado, pitted and peeled
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Salad
2 heads romaine lettuce, chopped
15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
11/2 cups grape tomatoes, cut in half
1 orange bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
1/2 jalapeno, seeded and coarsely chopped
1 clove garlic, coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
4 green onions, sliced
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and cubed
1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips or strips
To make the dressing, add the avocado, red wine vinegar, lime juice, cilantro, jalapeno, garlic, salt and pepper to a food processor. Blend or pulse until almost smooth. There should still be bits of cilantro. Add the oil. Blend until incorporated.
To make the salad, add the lettuce, black beans, tomatoes, bell pepper, corn, cheese, green onions, cilantro, avocado and tortilla chips to a large bowl. Drizzle with the dressing, and toss to combine. Serve immediately.
24 ounces baby red potatoes, scrubbed and halved
10 cups water
1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
4 thick-cut bacon slices, chopped
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
11/2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
11/2 teaspoons fresh dill
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon grated garlic
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 ounces mild cheddar cheese, shredded
Place potatoes, water and 1 tablespoon salt in a large pot. Cover pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Uncover pot and reduce heat to medium-high to maintain a moderate boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are fork-tender, about 12 minutes. Drain potatoes. Cool for 20 minutes.
While potatoes boil, cook bacon in a nonstick skillet over medium, stirring often until crisp, about 9 minutes. Remove from heat. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside until ready to use.
In a medium bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, chives, parsley, dill, lemon juice, garlic, black pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Add sour cream mixture, bacon and cheese to cooled potatoes in bowl. Toss to combine. Serve immediately, or cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours.
1 cucumber, unpeeled, seeded and sliced 1/4-inch thick
1 red bell pepper, large-diced
1 yellow bell pepper, large-diced
1 green bell pepper, large-diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 red onion, sliced in half-rounds
1/2 pound feta cheese, 1/2-inch diced
1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil
Place the cucumber, peppers, tomatoes and red onion in a large bowl.
To make the vinaigrette, whisk together the garlic, oregano, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Still whisking, slowly add the olive oil to make an emulsion. Pour the vinaigrette over the vegetables. Add the feta and olives. Toss lightly. Set aside for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend. Serve at room temperature.
I have 10 handmade porcelain and cloth dolls ready to dress along with many patterns. They are various sizes and include Tom Sawyer and Chief Crazy Horse. I will donate if shipping is paid.
Janet Dixon P.O. Box 969 Priest River, ID 83856 Jkdixon14@gmail.com
Would you be willing to part with a Christmas hanky that is tucked away just waiting for a home? Be sure it will receive tender care as it becomes part of a Christmas Tree project. Thank you.
Kathy Heitkemper
1302 Hermits Way The Dalles, OR 97058 jandktd@gmail.com
I have scads of stamps. Most canceled and some are collectors. I’ll send them to you with the postage paid.
Judith Sather 65067 Webster Road La Grande, OR 97850
Please help us celebrate our dear mother’s birthday as she turns 90 in a couple of months. She is a social butterfly who sees the best in everyone she meets and dearly loves old-fashioned snail mail. Birthday wishes would mean so much to her. Thank you. Send cards to Kay Elmes, 25363 Arnold Lane, Elmira, OR 97437.
Mary A. Minyard Elmira, Oregon
My dad will turn 90 this month. He would thoroughly enjoy receiving birthday cards celebrating his milestone birthday. Thank you for your consideration. Please send cards to Michael Martell, 17501 Killdeer Drive #399, Bend, OR 97707.
Donna Poirier Sweet Home, OR
My sweet father is turning 100 years old this month. His career was in helping those who were disabled on the job find retraining for a new vocation. He has always enjoyed seeing those he has helped succeed. I would love to inundate him with birthday wishes from readers all over the country. Please send birthday cards to Rulon Ogden, 8131 Beaver Lake Drive, San Diego, CA 92119. Thank you so much.
Pam Anderson
West Richland, Washington
I have met a very nice lady through the Elks as we play poker together once a week in Springfied, Oregon. She doesn’t miss many nights and she really enjoys playing. Her name is Elsie Bergold and she will be 105 years old at the end of July. Please send her cards to my address and they will be delivered at our weekly poker party, and what a surprise it will be. Elsie Bergold, C/O Martha Curl, 81851 River Drive, Creswell, OR 97426.
Martha Curl Creswell, Oregon
To the lady from Fort Rock/Christmas Valley area who was interested in the Palomino painting that hung at La Pine Law. I have the painting. Please let me know if you’re still interested. Thank you.
M. Van Dyke
P.O. Box 1049 La Pine, OR 97739
Avid carp angler seeks Asian, European and American carp cooking recipes. Also interested in recipes for bait concoctions: paste/dough baits, boilies, particle baits, etc.
D. A. Blanco
P.O. Box 8805 Moscow, ID 83843
What a nice surprise to receive so many cards, notes and little gifts in the mail from thoughtful readers. I enjoyed every one of them. Thank you for making my 90th birthday in November so special. Also, thank you to all the veterans for your service to our country.
Jean Bartholomew Oakland, Oregon
Have a safe Fourth of July!
Send your request (no attachments) 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 firstcome, first-served 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 (pricing applies).
When submitting a milestone request, please send it at least two months before the milestone. Phone numbers are not published. Email addresses are if they are part of the ad, but you must include a postal address.
Requests must include the name and address of the electric utility that provides your magazine.
Try the world’s most tender steaks, extra-aged 28+ days to perfection. Discover premium quality beef that’s grain-finished for exquisite flavor.
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Omaha Steaks Burgers (4 oz.)
Gourmet Jumbo Franks (3 oz.) 4 Individual Scalloped Potatoes (3.8 oz.)
Caramel Apple Tartlets (4 oz.)
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FREE Air-Chilled Boneless Chicken Breasts (4 oz.)
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See ice reshape the landcape in Alaska at
See the scouring power of nature, the deep greens of forest and the clear blue of glacier ice come together at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in Southeastern Alaska. Glacier Bay encompasses 3.3 million acres of fjord, coastline and forest.
Glacier Bay lets visitors see many different environments close together. Mountains and freezing glaciers show harsh, majestic environments and demonstrate how the glaciers can reshape a landscape. Forests grow nearby and are great for hiking. The waters are home to sea otters, porpoises and whales.
When visiting on land, head to Bartlett Cove and the visitor center. The Forest Trail is an easy path that leads to a beach. Consider looking into a tour to explore the bay’s water by boat. Glacier Bay Lodge runs a tour with a a park ranger naturalist on board.
Glacier Bay sits at the collision point of the North American and Pacific crustal plates, which has led to the formation of the bay’s tall, coastal mountains. The summits foster and form glaciers, which in turn carve a rugged landscape. Retreating glaciers have left room for a young temperate rainforest to grow.
The Glacier Bay visitor center is open daily from May to September. To start planning your trip, call 907-6972230 or go online to www.nps.gov/glba.
The answer: Although tremendous strides have been made in
those cost reductions have not been passed on
If
By Dave LaBelle
As a school-age child, I could hardly wait for the last day of school and the beginning of summer vacation, where freedom, sunshine, time with my dogs, fishing in the creeks, baseball games, watermelons, swimming pools and working with my grandfather on his fishing boat awaited.
As an adult, those carefree summer memories still bring me joy and serve me faithfully in storytelling, whether with words or photographs. In fact, beginning writers, unsure what to write about, are often encouraged to start with their childhood, a treasure chest rich with stories.
While childhood memories are a good source of inspiration for activities, making photographs that capture the essence of summer requires thought.
“Don’t just show me what something looks like,”
Renowned author, photographer and lecturer
Dave LaBelle has captured special moments for more than half a century. For more of his writings, visit davidlabelle.com and bridgesandangels.wordpress.com.
I often admonished my photojournalism students.
“Show me what it feels like.”
That was a common theme in all of my classes, and it remains sound advice for anybody using photography to communicate. If you want to reach people with your photographs, aim high. Those images connect us and make us smile or remember.
Consider what is in the frame when you press the shutter. Being patient and watching for storytelling moments is critical. The act of fishing might not be nearly
as storytelling as the reaction of the angler once the fish is caught.
Conversely, an overall scene of a fisherman in a beautiful stream might best evoke the serenity of the moment. Sometimes the liberal use of negative space—that which is not occupied by people or objects—helps humble us and wrap us in wonder.
Finally, consider the angle from which you photograph. A child’s perspective is different than an adult’s, and subtly helps take us back to those long, carefree summer days. n
See if you can make a photograph that captures the joy or the essence of summer. Reach into your memory bank and consider what you loved most about summers. Chances are the places and activities that brought you joy in the past—lakes, campgrounds, fishing villages or swimming pools—will lead you to where you find the best pictures today.
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.
By Walt Amacher, Oregon—Tillamook PUD
It is time to share your favorite photos for a chance to appear in our 2025 Ruralite calendar.
Up to 13 winners will be selected and receive $100. Photos must be submitted by July 15, 2024.
The contest is open to recipients of Ruralite and Currents magazines. Each person may only submit up to two photos. Each photo submission must include:
• Photographer’s name, address and electric utility.
• A short description of what is shown.
• Photographer’s email address and phone number.
• Digital JPEG photos only. Photos must be horizontal or landscape format and at least 300 dpi at 11 inches wide by 9 inches tall. Vertical photos and files larger than 30 megabytes will not be accepted. Send submissions to calendar@ruralite.org. Put “2025 Calendar Photo Contest” in the subject line.
• Use the highest resolution setting on your digital camera.
• Photograph beautiful places and wildlife.
• Capture scenes full of vivid color.
• Reflect the seasons.
• Focus on the beauty of your geography.
• Make us feel something (awe, joy).
Visit ruralite.com/2025contest for more information and an FAQ about entering the contest.
Think about the things you loved to do that are dif cult today — going for a walk or just sitting comfortably while reading a book. And remember the last time you got a great night’s sleep? As we get older, health issues or even everyday aches, pains and stress can prevent us from enjoying life.
So what’s keeping you from having a better quality of life? Check all the conditions that apply to you.
Then read on to learn how a Safe Step Walk-In Tub can help.
A Safe Step Walk-In Tub lets you indulge in a warm, relaxing bath that can help relieve life’s aches, pains and worries.
It’s got everything you should look for in a walk-in tub:
• Heated Seat – Providing soothing warmth from start to nish.
• MicroSoothe® Air Therapy System –helps oxygenate and soften skin while offering therapeutic bene ts.
• Pain-relieving therapy – Hydro massage jets target sore muscles and joints.
• Safety features – Low step-in, grab bars and more can help you bathe safely and maintain your independence.
• Free Shower Package – shower while seated or standing.
Continued from Page 32
a one-week supply of drinking water and nonperishable food; and a cooler for storing frequently used foods. Food spoils more quickly if the refrigerator door is opened. Keep these items on hand to make an outage more tolerable: a manual can opener, an alternative cooking source, and a deck of cards, board games and books.
If someone in your home depends on electric-powered, lifesustaining equipment, plan for backup power.
If you install a generator to connect to your home’s electrical system, make sure it is done to code using an automated system such as a Generac switch or a manual double-pull, double-throw switch that separates your house from the grid. Failure to do so could cause injury or fire, leading to potentially massive liability on your part and disconnection from the grid, if discovered.
For more information on generators, talk to a licensed electrician. PSREC offers a $500 rebate for the purchase of a generator to its members on its medical necessity list. To receive a generator rebate form, call 530-832-4261 ext. 6032.
July 4th
Loyalton July 4th Celebration. Craft Fair Bazaar, Parade, BBQ. Both the SVCC Country Fair Bazaar meet and ggreet,and the parade starts at 10 a.m. For more information, visit www.sierracountychamber.com.
Music In the Meadow Free Concert. Sierra Pines Resort Meadow. Sierra City. BBQ and live music to support the local fire department and historical society. 5 pm to 7 p.m. Visit www.sierracountychamber.com for more information.
Downieville 4th of July Parade, Street Races & Tug-of-War. Main Street in Downieville. Events go from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information visit www.sierracountychamber.com.
Chester 4th of July Fun Run. 9 a.m. The one-mile run/walk will start on the Collins Pine lawn and proceed down Chester’s historic Main Street to the finish at the Bidwell House. For more information, visit www.yourarpd.org.
Chester 4th of July Parade. 11 am. Downtown Chester. 4th Of July Fireworks Over Lake Almanor. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. Parade registration is available online at www. eventprite.com.
July 4th – 7th
Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane or charcoal-burning device inside a home or garage. Place the unit away from doors, windows and vents to prevent exposure to carbon monoxide.
Install surge protectors on any sensitive electronics and appliances. Be sure to buy surge protectors that have a warranty for your connected load.
PSREC sends outage information via text, email and social media. Follow PSREC on Facebook and Twitter for outage notifications. To sign up for text and/or email notifications, log in to SmartHub to set your notification preferences. You can report outages and view the latest outage information on PSREC’s outage map through the SmartHub app.
If you have questions, you can reach me at 530-832-4261 ext. 6076 or by email at bmarshall@psrec.coop.
Sincerely,
Bob Marshall General Manager
High Sierra Music Festival. Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds. 204 Fairground Rd., Quincy. Primus and Ziggy Marley will head this four-day music festival, along with many more! Visit www.highsierramusic.com for more information.
July 5th – 7th
Independence Day Celebration in Graeagle. Events include cornhole tournament, day in the park festivities, fireworks show Saturday, Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast, and parade on Sunday.
Visit Graeagle.com for more details.
July 9th
Lost Sierra Food Project: Farm stand. The Farm stand is open every Tuesday night 5 to 7 p.m. at Rugged Roots Farm in Quincy, CA. For more information, visit www. lostsierrafoodproject.org.
July 10th
Big Boy Celebration. Visit Union Pacific’s Big Boy 4014 at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum. Portola. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information, visit www.wplives.org.
July 17th – 21st
Lassen County Fair. Featuring performances by country music stars Josh Turner, Lonestar, and Jared Hovis, the CCPRA Rodeo, a demolition
derby, the Miss Lassen County Pageant, a parade, and so much more.
Tickets and information can be found at www. lassencountyfair.org.
July 20th & July 21st
Gold Discovery Days. Plumas Eureka State Park. Johnsville. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pancake Breakfast on Sunday from 8 to 11 a.m.
Visit www.plumas-eureka.org for details.
July 20th & July 21st
Graeagle Arts and Crafts Fair. Numerous booths featuring quality, handmade crafts and fine art by the exhibitors. Live music, food and beverages at the nearby specialty booths. Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For additional information call 775-825-3679.
July 25th – 28th
Plumas-Sierra County Fair. Live music livestock shows, carnival, parade, Pee Wee Stampede for the kids and much more for several days of fun.
Visit www.plumas-sierracountyfair.net.
August 30 – September 1
Plumas Homegrown Americana Festival. PlumasSierra County Fairgrounds.
Visit www.plumasamericana.com
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
4x5 round bales, meadow foxtail orchard grass. 4x4 timothy, small square. 208-435-4637 or 208-435-4002; nas@cpcinternet.com. 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. 0924
WC Collectibles. We buy comic books! Local to the Inland Northwest, willing to travel. WCCollectiblesCheney@gmail.com; 509-496-1835. 0724
Rare 1960 Chevy pickup 4x4. Shortbed. Not running now. Text or call 661-713-3377. Leave message. 0724
Idaho author Tova R. Cladouhos offers children’s books on Amazon or by email at tovarae@gmail.com. These books are perfect for elementary-aged children; factual stories based on friendship, affection, protection and farm animal adventures. Tova loves barns, pastures, dogs, cats, sheep and ponds. Her books include, “The Nine Lives of Milo the Cat,” “Saving Lily,” “Little Molly” and “Little Molly’s Secret.” 0724
Book restoration. Bibles, cookbooks, cherished family heirlooms. Beautiful work. We give renewed life, more durable than original, to last for generations. 775-537-7066; salacanstudio@gmail.com. 0724AR
Business Opportunities
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. $275K. 0924
Community Events
Exhibits “My Heart” by artist Brenna Kimbro and Arboreality: Poetry Broadsides curated by Nick Neely. Art Center East in La Grande, OR. artcentereast.org. 0724
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): September issue—August 1, 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.
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.
1 set Hitachi-Deere 12-131/2 ton and CAT 215 tracks. 44 links/roll. 24” HD BERCO shoes. New surplus from closure of Tacoma store. FOB, my ranch, Eugene. Ted Brown, 541-556-0517. 0724
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. 0824AR
Help Wanted
The Cape Blanco Heritage Society needs volunteers at the Cape Blanco Lighthouse Greeting Center and Hughes House for summer 2024. Background checks are required. Free RV hookups are available to volunteers. heritage32@frontier.com; 541-332-0521. 0824
Hobbies, Gifts, Games
Selling United States postage stamp collection. Mint plate blocks and sheets dating back to the 1940s. Photo available. Bob, 541-786-6195 or brown.donna50@gmail.com. 1024
Media
Watch Channel 25 (Southern NV)—on the go— for free on your TV, phone, tablet, computer or ROKU. Visit www.kpvm.tv and stream live today. 775-727-9400. 0924
Miscellaneous
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. 1224
Granite cemetery markers at affordable prices. Will ship to most places. For more info: www.highdesertmemorials.com; Joe, highdesertmemorials@gmail.com or 541-815-8906. 0824
German shepherd puppies and one male shar-pei puppy left for adoption. 907-803-1005; myakdogs@gmail.com; Akceuropeangermansherpherd.com. 0724
Border collies are the world’s smartest dog breed. Purebred puppies for therapy or service dogs, sports, herding or family companions. Excellent dispositions. Longhaired, various colors. Vet check, first vaccine and deworming. Raised in our home. $800. 541-979-5759; danita@centurylink.net. 0824
Border collie/McNab puppies. The best dog you will ever have. Males and females, $450 each. Colton, OR. 503-314-0145. 0724
Idaho Shag (Border collie x Airedale). The best dog you will ever have. Farm/ranch dog. Males and females. $450 each. Colton, OR. 971-804-1706. 0724
AKC-registered Airedales. Fort Sage Kennels, Patricia Sharp, P.O. Box 246, Doyle, CA 96109; 530-827-2271. 0924
Plants, Garden Supplies
Cactus for sale. Cold/winter hardy. Good for landscaping. Sunnyside/Mabton, WA, area. Local pickup only. marybarthlow@gmail.com; 509-391-5546. 0724
Real Estate
Christmas Valley, OR. 40 acres with perimeter fence. 36x36 metal building, two carports, 370-ft. deep water well, storage container on chase. Taking only serious offers. 541-536-5776. 0724
Let me help you buy or sell ranch, farm and recreation property in Oregon. Fourthgeneration Oregonian, prior ranch owner. For sale: central OR, 2-acre parcel. $624K. John Gill, 541-480-9161; johngill@landandwildlife.com. Land And Wildlife brokerage. 0724
117 acres in central OR; very private. No neighbors. Cabin, mostly fenced. Great recreation opportunities. For more info, 541-548-6284. 0724
9.87 acres in Willard, WA. All harvestable timber. 100 ft. from Little White Salmon River. 17 miles north of Hood River, OR. $650K. 509-538-2187. 0824
Beautiful setting on 1.58 acres. Mountain views, 4x4, finished basement, large fenced yard, garage. $449.9K. Duke Warner Realty, 541-987-2363; ddwr@ortelco.net. 0724
$179.9K-fully loaded, remote, AK property for sale. Log cabin, fully equipped with all living amenities, SeaArk river boat (less than 200 hrs), 5 acres, chain saw sawmill, tractor, DR mower, tool shed full of everything you will need and much more. River and trail access. Half-hour boat ride up river from Nenana, AK, boat dock. Outside borough, so no property taxes. Only serious buyers. 907-388-7080.
Comfortable 2 bd, 1 ba, 1,200 sqft. Eagle, AK, home, on Yukon River. 4 lots. 2 cabins. $175K, OBO. Ann, 907-251-9094. Gary, 907-505-8263. See listing on Land.com. 0724
Buying or selling in Brookings, OR? Call Pat Piper at Century 21 Agate Realty first. Experience. Empathy. Education. Exceptional. 541-251-2152; patpiperbroker@gmail.com.
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.
Farm for sale. Large house, shop and barn near Goldendale, WA. With 5, 10 or 25 pasture acres. 25 includes Little Klickitat River. David, 541-580-2060. 0724
Summer getaway. 2 bd, 1 ba on lot located in Mountain City, NV. Needs work. $40K. Call 775-304-2398. 0724
15 off-grid acres. At 8,400-ft., near Fort Garland, CO. Great view of CO’s 4th highest peak. On Person’s Road in Sangre de Cristo Ranches. Pinon trees, year-round access. $52.9K. 541-729-0374. 0924
Recreational Rentals
Wavecatcher: oceanfront cottage. Central Oregon Coast. Summer $175/night mid-May to mid-Oct.; $140/night mid-Oct. to mid-May. (plus cleaning/tax). 3 bd, w/double beds. Pets welcome. Wavecatcherbeachrentals.com. Reservations: 541-740-2846. 0724AR
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. 0824
Recreational Vehicle
Sunseeker 24 on Mercedes Sprinter classic. 57K miles. 50% tires. Good condition. 8-ft, slide out. $53.9K. FOB. Eugene or Bend. 541-556-0517. 0724
Are you a business that provides sustainable transportation options for your employees? Get recognition and free technical assistance through the Electric Vehicle Adoption Leadership certification. To find out more, visit www.evalcertification.org. 0724
Dawn Till Dusk Masonry. Brick, block, stone and pavers. Small jobs and repairs welcome. Check out our website at dawntillduskconstructionmasonry.com. 541-388-7605; 541-410-6945. License #245760 bonded and insured. La Pine, OR. 0824
We all want delicious, fresh, nourishing food to feed our families. We’ve got pastured pork corn/soy/GMO free. Delivery to your door or drop sites. Order at rural-roots-ranch.com or text Christy at 541-589-4674. 1224
Timeshare victims? Call TimeShareBeGone, 800-214-4460. We will get your timeshare legally canceled. A+ BBB, 5-star reviews, 16 years experience. 100% money-back guarantee. 1024
Looking for: ’62-’67 Corvette, ’64-’65 GTO, ’62 Chev. 409. Prefer manual transmission, no tribute cars, as close to stock as possible. Willing to pay up for great car. No junk or projects. 503-799-3835. Text with pictures or call. 0724
Wanted: Old 501 Levi’s. Jeans, jackets with capital “E” on the red tag. Also, Carhartts with red heart. Good prices. Text photos to 208-255-8030. 0724
Wanted: 1967-72 Buick Skylark, GS, Stage 1, GSX. Cars, parts or leads. Or any ’60s or ’70s vehicles. Email billybibbett@hotmail.com. 0824
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. 0724
Need parts for a 1998 Yamaha Grizzly 600 ATV or a nonworking for parts. Matsmaps@hotmail.com; 503-290-6755. 0724
Wanted: Early Corvette ’58-’62, any condition. Call or text Randy, 503-544-3807. 0824
Notice is hereby given that the 2024 regular annual meeting of the membership of Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative will be held on Thursday, September 5, 2024, for the purpose of taking appropriate action on the following matters:
1. Reports of officers and managers
2. Report of the Nominating Committee
3. Election of directors to Districts 1, 3 and 4
Full meeting details will be provided in the August issue of Ruralite Magazine. For more information, call 530-832-6032.
As the summer begins, and concern for wildfires grows, PSREC continues to enhance its historic preventative program, including vegetation management and proactive equipment maintenance that considers wildfire risk.
Although wildfires have many causes, from lightning to an unattended campfire spark, electric utilities are doing their part to help keep communities safe.
Each year, we trim thousands of trees and clear vegetation. As an added precaution, we are shredding and mulching the underbrush beneath power lines in high density areas.
In mountain areas we reconfigure protective equipment to shut down power lines on the first sign of an electrical fault. The line won’t be re-energized until it is inspected and manually reset.
On portions of overhead power lines, we install current-limiting fuses, which are filled with sand, to help isolate faults and eliminate arcing resulting from fault conditions.
In recent years, we have expanded our tree trimming program throughout our service
territory and while we clear vegetation in the rights-of-way, please take precautions to protect yourself and your property.
To reduce the risk, consider the fire resistance of your home, the topography of your property and the nature of the vegetation close by.
Maintain defensible space around your home, business or property. This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and it helps protect your home from catching fire—either from direct flame contact or radiant heat. Defensible space is also important for the protection of the firefighters defending your home.
Get ready for wildfire season by downloading the CAL FIRE Wildfire Preparedness App at www.readyforwildfire. org/Ready-for-Wildfire-App/.
Together, we can reduce the impact of wildfire on our community and cooperative. Stay up to date on outage communications from PSREC:
PSREC will post outage information on our website, psrec.coop, social media (Facebook and Twitter), and via text message.
To sign up for text message notifications, login to SmartHub from www.psrec.coop or the SmartHub app and set your notification preferences. If you need assistance signing up for notifications, please call us at 800-555-2207.
Like utilities throughout the West, PSREC has continued and expanded efforts to address wildfire concerns as we experience longer dry spells, temperature extremes and summer skies filled with smoke.
The readership area of this magazine is vast and beautiful, containing everything from mountains to deserts and lakes to oceans. Some of you have views from your homes that rival the views of national parks.
From time to time, we will share some of the excellent reader photos in this space. If we use your photo here, we will send you your choice of a $25 gift card to REI or Amazon.
To submit your high-resolution 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
Ray DeBaun says that he and his wife like to look for rainbows after rainstorms in Mitchell, Oregon. They found this one in their front yard.
PHOTO BY RAY DEBAUN
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73233 State Route 70
Portola, CA 96122
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President Fred Nelson, Clio fnelson@psrec.coop
Vice President
Dave Roberti, Sierra Valley droberti@psrec.coop
Secretary/Treasurer
David Hansen, Doyle dhansen@psrec.coop
Larry Price, Quincy lprice@psrec.coop
Richard Short, Graeagle dshort@psrec.coop
Tom Hammond, Herlong thammond@psrec.coop
Nancy Miller, Litchfield nmiller@psrec.coop
Manager
Robert (Bob) Marshall bmarshall@psrec.coop
Our subsidiary, Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications offers a variety of high-quality internet solutions.
To learn more, please visit www.pst.coop or call 800-221-3474.
For information about any of our products, please call 800-555-2207 or visit our website at www.psrec.coop.
CA-39
Dear Members:
The annual meeting is Thursday, September 5 at the Sierra Valley Grange Hall. The August issue of Ruralite will have meeting details and voting materials for the director election, as well as information on how to watch the meeting live on YouTube. Be sure to look for that information.
Up for election are District 1 (Quincy and Sloat areas), District 3 (Blairsden, Clio and Portola areas) and District 4 (Calpine, Sierraville, Loyalton and Beckwourth areas).
If you are interested in running for the Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative board of directors and live in one of those districts, contact me as soon as possible. The deadline for nominations by petition is July 22.
If you are unsure of your district, visit www. psrec.coop to view the map or call the office at 530-832-4261. A copy of the PSREC director qualifications and nomination procedures is available online.
Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications is pleased to announce it has received three California PUC Federal Funding Account grants totaling $16.7 million dollars. The projects already approved are to convert the coax system to fiber-optic and expand service in PlumasPines, Graeagle, Whitehawk, Portola, Delleker and East Quincy.
In addition, the CPUC staff has recommended more than $42 million in additional grants that must be approved by the CPUC. These grants include coverage for LaPorte Road/ Greenhorn, A-15 to Valley Ranch (companion to the additional federal grant received for this area), Mohawk Vista/C-Road, Loyalton/Loyalton Pines/Sierra Brooks, Calpine/Sattley/Yuba Pass, Doyle/Herlong. The full California Public
Utilities Commission is scheduled to vote July 11 on the staff recommendations.
PST’s Low-Income Program was expanded by the board of directors due to the ending of the Affordable Connectivity Program. The PST Low-Income Program discount is now $25 per month. For more information and to see if you qualify, visit www.pst.coop or call 530-832-4261.
PST’s service offers unlimited data use. If you haven’t already contacted us to sign up for service or to be added to our interest list, call us at 530-832-4261 or visit www.pst.coop.
As previously shared, we will discuss rates at the annual meeting and in member rate meetings in October. While wholesale power costs have moderated, transmission costs from PG&E and the CAISO have increased, along with the costs of mitigating wildfire risk. We are proud of the job we do in maintaining our rights-of-way, but the costs of maintenance continue to climb. Our goal is to minimize rate increases where possible, and the staff’s recommendation at this time is to keep the rates charged to the members flat for now. Currently, staff is recommending no changes in the fixed charge and incorporating the WPCA per kWh rate into the standard kWh rate.
Preparing for power outages can help make the best of a bad situation. Equip your home with a power outage kit that includes a flashlight; battery-powered lamp or lantern and extra batteries; candles and matches; a batterypowered radio with extra batteries; easily accessible emergency phone numbers for your utility, doctor, fire and police; a telephone connected directly to the phone jack (cordless phones need electricity to operate);
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