October 2012 - PREA - The Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association

Transcription

OCTOBER 2012
Political
spotlight
Supporting cooperative
candidates
PLUS
Tapping a trend
Here’s to beer
Cooler electric bills
Eat, grow, transform
OCTOBER
Vol. 47 • No. 10
Peter A. Fitzgerald
EDITOR
4
14
FIRST WORD
Come prepared to vote
Katherine Hackleman
S E N I OR E D I T O R / W R I T E R
James Dulley
Janette Hess
Barbara Martin
Marcus Schneck
6
F E AT U R E
Political spotlight
Supporting cooperative candidates
C ON T R I B U T I N G C O L U M N I S TS
W. Douglas Shirk
L AYOU T & DESI GN
10
F E AT U R E
Cooperative scholars
Vonnie Kloss
A D V E R T I S I N G & CI R C U L A T I O N
Winners of statewide electric cooperative
scholarships announced
Michelle M. Smith
M E D I A & M A R K E T I N G S P E CI A L I S T
Penn Lines (USPS 929-700), the newsmagazine
of Pennsylvania’s electric cooperatives, is published monthly by the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, 212 Locust Street, P.O. Box
1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266. Penn Lines
helps 165,800 households of co-op consumermembers understand issues that affect the
electric cooperative program, their local coops, and their quality of life. Electric co-ops
are not-for-profit, consumer-owned, locally
directed, and taxpaying electric utilities. Penn
Lines is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. The opinions expressed in Penn Lines
do not necessarily reflect those of the editors,
the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, or
local electric distribution cooperatives.
Subscriptions: Electric co-op members, $5.42
per year through their local electric distribution cooperative. Preferred Periodicals postage
paid at Harrisburg, PA 17107 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes
with mailing label to Penn Lines, 212 Locust
Street, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266.
Advertising: Display ad deadline is six weeks
prior to month of issue. Ad rates upon request.
Acceptance of advertising by Penn Lines does
not imply endorsement of the product or services by the publisher or any electric cooperative. If you encounter a problem with any
product or service advertised in Penn Lines,
please contact: Advertising, Penn Lines, P.O.
Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Penn Lines
reserves the right to refuse any advertising.
12
KEEPING CURRENT
22
News items from across the Commonwealth
14
F E AT U R E
Tapping a trend
Pennsylvania’s craft brewers bring ‘local
flavor’ to beer industry
16A C O O P E R AT I V E
CO N N ECT I O N
Information and advice from your local
electric cooperative
18
TIME LINES
Your newsmagazine through the years
20
E N E R G Y M AT T E R S
Stay charged
22
COUNTRY KITCHEN
28
Here’s to beer
24
SMART CIRCUITS
Cool breeze, cooler electric bills
Ceiling fans, when used properly, can help
lower electricity use
25
POWER PLANTS
Happenin’ & hoppin’ place
26
CLASSIFIEDS
Board officers and staff, Pennsylvania Rural
Electric Association: Chairman, S. Eugene
Herritt; Vice Chairman, Kevin Barrett; Secretary, Lanny Rodgers; Treasurer, Leroy Walls;
President & CEO, Frank M. Betley
28
O U T D O O R A DV E N T U R ES
© 2012 Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in
part without written permission is prohibited.
29
Visit with us at Penn Lines
Online, located at:
www.prea.com/Content/
pennlines.asp. Penn Lines Online
provides an email link to Penn
Lines editorial staff, information
on advertising rates,
contributor’s guidelines, and an
archive of past issues.
Eat, grow, eat, grow, transform
30
29
RURAL REFLECTIONS
Final call for 2012 photos
ON THE
COV E R
PUNCH LINES
Rural electric
cooperatives take an
active role in the
political process
through endorsements
by the Action
Committee for Rural
Electrification (ACRE).
Thoughts from Earl Pitts–
Uhmerikun!
A convenience store is the only miracle a man
really needs
OCTOBER 2012 • PENN
LINES
3
FIRSTword
By Peter A. Fitzgerald
Come
prepared
to vote
Voter ID requirement
comes to Pennsylvania
ELECTIONS ARE nothing
new to Pennsylvania’s electric cooperative members.
After all, democratic member control is a core cooperative principle, and cooperative members have a long
history of exercising their
right to vote. That is nothing
new.
But with another presidential election nearly upon
us, there is something new
for voters in Pennsylvania.
Starting this Nov. 6, you
must bring valid photo identification with you to the
polling booth.
This year, Pennsylvania
has joined a growing number
of states that have enacted
voter ID laws. According to
the National Council of State
Legislatures, more than
30 states have some form of
voter ID law, and the trend
has gained momentum in
recent years.
In 2011, voter ID legislation was introduced in 34
states, consisting mainly of
proposals for new laws in
states that did not already
require ID, and proposals to
strengthen existing laws to
require photo ID at the polls.
In fact, only three states
(Oregon, Vermont and
Wyoming) without a voter
ID law on the books didn’t
take up the legislation for
consideration in 2011.
That trend continued in
2012, with legislation introduced in 32 states, including
new voter ID proposals in 14
states, proposals to strengthen
existing voter ID laws in 10
PETER FITZGERALD
Editor, Penn Lines
4
LINES • OCTOBER 2012
PENN
states, and bills in 10 states to
amend existing laws, many of
them new voter ID laws
passed in 2011.
Voter ID law is a hot-button issue in many states, with
a number of court challenges
to the legislation. Opponents
claim the laws disenfranchise
certain would-be voters, particularly those without the
means to secure proper identification easily. Voter ID supporters argue the laws ensure
voting integrity by deterring
voter fraud.
Pennsylvania’s voter ID
law has also been the subject
of controversy ever since it
was passed in March 2012.
Though later upheld by the
Commonwealth Court of
Pennsylvania, the decision
was appealed to the state
Supreme Court. In September, the Supreme Court
returned the case to the
Commonwealth Court to
determine whether the new
law disenfranchises any voters, and if ID cards can easily be obtained.
Despite these court challenges, it looks like some form
of identification will eventually be required of Pennsylvania voters, especially given
recent trends. As the courts
iron out the details, it pays to
be aware of what the new law
requires of voters.
While some states do not
call for a photo form of identification, Pennsylvania is
among the 17 states with a
requirement that the ID presented at the polls must
show a photo of the voter.
According to the law as it
currently stands, voters
must show “an acceptable
photo ID” on Election Day.
Acceptable IDs include a
Pennsylvania driver’s
license; Pennsylvania state,
county or municipal government employee ID; military
ID; U.S. passport; Pennsylvania university or college
ID; or Pennsylvania health
care facility-issued ID.
Those without one of
these IDs may obtain a
Pennsylvania Department of
State photo ID card free of
charge from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Proof of identification, including a Social
Security card and other documentation, is required. Provisional ballots will also be
available for those unable to
obtain a photo ID by Nov. 6.
Voting is a right exercised
with great pride among
cooperative members. It’s
how members take part in
the decisions of the cooperative — decisions that help
shape the course of their
organizations. Decisions that
build better communities
and improve lives in rural
areas. No matter what
changes come to voting in
Pennsylvania, cooperative
voters are sure to be among
those prepared to make their
vote count.
For more information on
Pennsylvania’s new voter ID
law, including ways to
obtain an acceptable ID for
voting purposes, visit
www.votespa.com. l
Political spotlight
Supporting cooperative candidates
The Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE) —
the political action arm of electric cooperatives — endorses the
following 10 congressional and 51 legislative candidates to represent electric cooperative service areas in Pennsylvania and
New Jersey. The recommendations are based on the candidates’ support for and voting record regarding rural electrification and their stance on various rural and consumer concerns, in accordance with ACRE bylaws.
By voting for these men and women on Nov. 6, you will
help ensure your local electric cooperative has a voice before
Congress and the state legislature.
In the following list, incumbents endorsed or actions taken
on seats held by incumbents are listed in boldface. Actions
taken on open seats are indicated in bold italics. Electric
cooperatives represented are noted after each state House,
Senate or congressional district.
U.S. Senate (Pa.)
U.S. Senate (N.J.)
No endorsement
Bob Menendez (D)
U.S. House of Rep. (N.J.)
Scott Garrett (R)
5th District
(Sussex REC)
U.S. House of Representatives (Pa.)
Mike Kelly (R)
Mark Critz (D)
Glenn
Thompson (R)
Thomas
Marino (R)
5th District
(Central EC, Northwestern REC, REA
Energy, Tri-County
REC, United EC, Valley
REC, Warren EC)
10th District
(Claverack REC,
Sullivan County REC,
Tri-County REC)
Scott Perry (R)
Bill Shuster (R)
4th District
(Adams EC)
9th District
(Adams EC, Bedford
REC, New Enterprise
REC, REA Energy,
Somerset REC,
United EC, Valley REC)
Lou
Barletta (R)
Tim
Murphy (R)
11th District
(Adams EC, Claverack REC)
18th District
(Somerset REC)
3rd District
(Central EC, Northwestern REC, REA
Energy, United EC,
Warren EC)
12th District
(REA Energy, Somerset REC)
Pennsylvania State Senate
No
Endorsement
Gene Yaw (R)
Pat Vance (R)
15th District
(Adams EC)
23rd District
(Claverack REC,
Tri-County REC)
31st District
(Adams EC)
Scott
Hutchinson (R)
Joe
Scarnati III (R)
Richard
Alloway (R)
21st District
(Central EC, Northwestern REC, United
EC, Warren EC)
25th District
(REA Energy, TriCounty REC, United
EC, Warren EC)
33rd District
(Adams EC, Valley
REC)
Paid for by the Action Committee for Rural Electrification.
6
PENN
John
Wozniak (D)
35th District
(REA Energy, Somerset REC, Tri-County
REC, United EC)
Kim Ward (R)
39th District
(REA Energy)
Pennsylvania State Senate, cont.
Don White (R)
41st District
(Central EC, REA
Energy, United EC)
No
Endorsement
49th District
(Northwestern REC)
Pennsylvania State House of Representatives
No
Endorsement
3rd District
(Northwestern REC)
Brian Ellis (R)
11th District
(Central EC)
Curt
Sonney (R)
Daryl
Metcalfe (R)
4th District
(Northwestern REC,
Warren EC)
12th District
(Central EC)
No
Endorsement
Michele
Brooks (R)
5th District
(Northwestern REC)
17th District
(Northwestern REC)
Brad Roae (R)
Frank
Dermody (D)
6th District
(Northwestern REC)
33rd District
(Central EC)
Joseph
Petrarca (D)
Kathy Rapp (R)
55th District
(REA Energy)
65th District
(Central EC, Northwestern REC, United
EC, Warren EC)
Mike Reese (R)
Sam Smith (R)
59th District
(Somerset REC)
66th District
(REA Energy,
United EC)
Jeff Pyle (R)
Martin
Causer (R)
60th District
(Central EC, REA
Energy)
67th District
(Tri-County REC)
Dave Reed (R)
Matt Baker (R)
62nd District
(REA Energy)
68th District
(Claverack REC,
Tri-County REC)
Carl Metzgar (R)
Richard
Stevenson (R)
Keith
Gillespie (R)
Donna
Oberlander (R)
8th District
(Central EC)
47th District
(Adams EC)
63rd District
(Central EC, REA
Energy, United EC)
Jaret
Gibbons (D)
Tim
Mahoney (D)
R. Lee
James (R)
Bryan
Barbin (D)
10th District
(Central EC)
51st District
(Somerset REC)
64th District
(Central EC, Northwestern REC)
71st District
(REA Energy)
69th District
(Bedford REC,
Somerset REC)
LINES
7
Pennsylvania State House, cont.
Frank
Burns (D)
No
Endorsement
Rob
Kauffman (R)
Sandra
Major (R)
72nd District
(REA Energy, Somerset REC)
79th District
(Valley REC)
89th District
(Adams EC)
111th District
(Claverack REC)
Gary
Haluska (D)
Jerry
Stern (R)
Dan Moul (R)
Karen
Boback (R)
73rd District
(REA Energy,
United EC)
80th District
(Bedford REC,
New Enterprise
REC, REA Energy,
Valley REC)
No
Endorsement
Mike Fleck (R)
81st District
(New Enterprise
REC, Valley REC)
74th District
(REA Energy,
United EC)
Matt
Gabler (R)
C. Adam
Harris (R)
75th District
(United EC)
82nd District
(Valley REC)
Mike Hanna
(D)
Garth
Everett (R)
76th District
(Tri-County REC,
United EC)
84th District
(Sullivan County REC,
Tri-County REC)
Dick Hess (R)
Mark
Keller (R)
78th District
(Bedford REC, New
Enterprise REC,
Valley REC)
86th District
(Adams EC,
Valley REC)
91st District
(Adams EC)
117th District
(Claverack REC)
No
Endorsement
Kerry
Benninghoff (R)
92nd District
(Adams EC)
171st District
(Valley REC)
Ron Miller (R)
Will Tallman (R)
93rd District
(Adams EC)
193rd District
(Adams EC)
Stan Saylor (R)
Seth Grove (R)
94th District
(Adams EC)
196th District
(Adams EC)
Tina Pickett (R)
Stephen
Bloom (R)
110th District
(Claverack REC,
Tri-County REC)
199th District
(Adams EC)
Paid for by the Action Committee for Rural Electrification.
Remember to vote on Election Day
November 6
8
PENN
PREA announces scholarship winners
Pennsylvania Rural Electric
Association Scholarship in
Memory of William F. Matson
Ten Pennsylvania Rural Electric
Association Scholarships in Memory of
William F. Matson were recently
awarded to outstanding students whose
homes are served by rural electric
cooperatives.
The recipients of the scholarships
this year are: Branson Allen, Adams
EC; Tanner Bulkley, Claverack REC;
Sydney Crago, Northwestern REC; Erin
Dean Swank, Claverack REC; Tyler
Fisher, Bedford REC; Torrie Garner,
Valley REC; Meighan Henry, Northwestern REC; Dana McCurdy, Central
EC; Karlee Moyer, Claverack REC; and
Stephanie Wilusz, Somerset REC.
Branson Allen, son
of Stan and Cathy
Allen, Shippensburg, is
a 2012 graduate of
Shippensburg Area
High School, where he
was a three-sport athBranson Allen
lete and an honors student. He graduated
with eight varsity letters and ranked in
the top 5 percent of his class. Branson
was a member of National Honor Society, Internet Safety Alliance, Environmental Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He has volunteered at a
local food bank and hospital, and as a
student representative on the Shippensburg Area School Board. Branson has
won the following awards: football and
wrestling All-Conference nominations,
multiple Public Opinion “Athlete of the
Week” designations, Shippensburg
Rotary Club Student of the Month, and
the title “Biggest Heart” as voted on by
his classmates. Branson is attending
Lock Haven University, Lock Haven,
majoring in health science. He is planning to become a physician assistant.
He is a member of Adams EC.
Tanner Bulkley, a
member of Claverack
REC, is a 2012 graduate
of Troy Area High
School, where he graduated in the top 10 percent of his class and
served as a class officer.
Tanner Bulkley
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PENN
Tanner is a certified EMT and a lifeguard. He is a student at Misericordia
University, Dallas, where he is enrolled
in the newly created physician assistant
program and is a member of the university’s first football team. Tanner is the
son of Mark and Faith Bulkley,
Granville Summit.
Sydney Crago, a
member of Northwestern REC, is the daughter of Lisa and David
Crago, Townville. A
graduate of Maplewood
High School in Guys
Sydney Crago
Mills, she participated
in a wide variety of
activities including concert band,
marching band, show choir, French
Club, National Honor Society, Tiger
Paw Productions and Hi-Q Team. She
is a member of the Little Cooley Coolettes 4-H Club and recently wrote and
directed her first play at the Meadville
Community Theatre. She is majoring in
English at Baldwin Wallace University,
Berea, Ohio.
Erin Dean Swank,
the daughter of
Michelle and Phillip
Swank, Edinger Hill, is
a 2012 graduate of
Wyalusing High
School, where she
Erin Dean Swank graduated in the top
10 percent of her class
as a member of National Honor Society.
A member of Claverack REC, she participated in the 2011 Youth Tour in Washington, D.C., where she was selected as
Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Youth Tour
Student to represent the state on the
National Rural Electric Cooperative
Association’s Youth Leadership Council.
She also attended the Hugh O’Brian
Youth Leadership Seminar, the National
Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine
and the Daniel Fox Youth Scholars Institute at Lebanon Valley College. She is
attending King’s College, Wilkes-Barre,
majoring in physician assistant studies
with minors in neuroscience and Spanish. She also is playing on the college’s
volleyball and lacrosse teams.
Tyler Fisher graduated as the valedictorian of the Class of 2012 at Bedford
High School. The son of
Jim and Debbie Fisher,
Bedford, Tyler was a
member of National
Honor Society and
president of the Technology Student AssociTyler Fisher
ation. He also was a
member of the high
school’s marching and concert bands in
the percussion section. He was inducted
into the Bedford County Regional Education Foundation Scholastic Hall of
Fame in May 2011, and became an Eagle
Scout in March 2011. He is attending
Penn State University, where he is
majoring in engineering. He is a member of Bedford REC.
Torrie Garner, a
resident of James Creek
and the daughter of
Charles and Jill Garner,
graduated as the valedictorian of her class at
Huntingdon Area High
Torrie Garner
School, where she
received the President’s
Award for Educational Excellence. She
was a member of National Honor Society, Prom Committee and Key Club. She
also played on the girls’ varsity volleyball team and was honored as FirstTeam All-Conference and First-Team
All-District 6AA selections, as well as
League Most Valuable Player. During
the off-season, she participated in club
volleyball, weightlifting and dance. She
competed twice at the state level of
National History Day competition,
advancing to national competition once.
She is active in the community, volunteering with several organizations. She
is attending Susquehanna University,
Selinsgrove, where she is majoring in
biology with a minor in health care
studies, and playing volleyball. She
plans to become an optometrist. She is a
member of Valley REC.
Meighan Henry, a
2012 graduate of
Saegertown Junior-Senior High School, is the
daughter of Eric Henry
and Angela Crawford,
and the stepdaughter of
Milan Crawford,
Meighan Henry
Saegertown. In high school, she was a
member of National Honor Society,
Allegheny Arts Immersion and Envirothon. She was senior class treasurer,
Key Club editor, Campus Club treasurer,
French Club president and History Club
secretary. She has been involved in Girl
Scouts, Campus Life and numerous soccer programs. She is a certified emergency
medical technician and lifeguard, and is
an active volunteer for the Saegertown
and Hayfield fire departments. She is
attending Penn State University, where
she is enrolled in the school of nursing.
She is a member of Northwestern REC.
Dana McCurdy,
daughter of Brian and
Kathryn McCurdy, Butler, graduated with honors from Butler Area
High School, where she
received varsity letters in
Dana McCurdy
soccer and rifle team and
was the rifle team captain. She also received letters as a member
of National Honor Society and orchestra,
where she was concert mistress. She participated in track and field, and played in
the pit orchestra for school musicals. The
line leader for the Butler Strolling Strings,
she also belongs to two 4-H clubs. She volunteers at multiple community service
activities. She is attending Washington
State University, Pullman, Wash., in the
honors program, where she is majoring in
pre-veterinary animal sciences. She is a
member of Central EC.
Karlee Moyer,
daughter of Wendy and
Miller Moyer, Canton, is
a student at the Eberly
College of Science at
Pennsylvania State University. A graduate of
Canton Area JuniorKarlee Moyer
Senior High School, she
participated in chorus, band and football
cheerleading. She was the treasurer of
National Honor Society and a member of
Students Against Destructive Decisions.
An academic and athletic letter winner,
she was a volunteer with the American
Red Cross Blood Drive and Canton Giving Tree. She is the recipient of multiple
community and school awards. She is a
member of Claverack REC.
Stephanie Wilusz,
who graduated as valedictorian of her class at
Windber Area High
School, is attending
Schreyer Honors College at Pennsylvania
Stephanie Wilusz State University where
she is pursuing a concurrent major in philosophy, and biochemistry and molecular biology. The
daughter of Darlene and Ernest Wilusz,
Windber, she is a member of Somerset
REC. She plans to attend graduate
school to obtain a doctorate in biochemistry and work as a medical research scientist. In high school, she was treasurer
of the National Honor Society, and a
member of Student Council, Senior
Class Council, Students Against
Destructive Decisions, Spanish Club and
concert band. She also served as Student
Rotarian for the Conemaugh Township
Rotary Club and was a member of the
Somerset County Band. Honors
included Language Departmental
Award, Advanced Biology Subject
Award and Spanish IV Subject Award.
She has been a dance student for 14
years and regularly volunteers with Best
of Friends, a therapeutic horseback riding program, Relay for Life and Windber Medical Center.
PREA Scholarships are awarded
each year to students from rural electric
cooperative service areas in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Selection is based
on academic excellence, cooperative
membership, community involvement
and need. The scholarship program is
named for William F. Matson, who
served for 22 years as president of
PREA and Allegheny until his death in
June 1986. More than 425 students
applied for scholarships this year.
Jody Loudenslager
Memorial Scholarship
Two former Rural Electric Youth
Tour participants have been named Jody
Loudenslager Memorial Scholarship
recipients. They are Lindsey Harrison,
Adams EC, and Ben Kopchick, REA
Energy Cooperative.
Lindsey Harrison, daughter of Tim
and Yvette Harrison, Hanover, is a senior
at Cedar Crest College,
Allentown. A graduate
of Littlestown High
School, she is majoring
in nursing. After graduation in 2013, she plans
to work at a large teachLindsey Harrison ing hospital on a pediatric unit. Eventually,
her plans include more education so she
can become a nurse practitioner. In college, she has played field hockey and has
been active in the following programs:
Cedar Crest Ambassador, Overnight
Hostess, Student Nurses Association and
Cedar Crest Christian Fellowship. She
has received multiple honors in sports
and academics, including induction into
Chi Alpha Sigma (athletic honor society)
and Delphi (academic honor society). She
works as a certified nursing assistant at
Hanover Hall Rehabilitation and Nursing
Center. She is also active in community
projects and mission trips. She is a member of Adams EC.
Benjamin Kopchick,
the son of Patrick and
Harriet Kopchick,
Clarksburg, graduated as
the valedictorian in the
Class of 2009 at Saltsburg High School, where
he participated in track
Benjamin
Kopchick
and field and basketball
for Saltsburg High
School and cross country for Blairsville
High School. He also was a member of
National Honor Society, Science Olympiad
and Quiz Bowl. He is a senior at Washington & Jefferson College, Washington,
majoring in physics and minoring in
mathematics. He is a member of Sigma Pi
Sigma (physics honor society) as well as
Alpha Lambda Delta (freshmen honor
society). He also runs on the cross country
and track and field teams. He plans to
attend graduate school to earn his doctorate in medical physics or physics. He is a
member of REA Energy Cooperative.
The Loudenslager Scholarship was
created by the PREA Board of Directors
in memory of Jody Loudenslager, a 17year-old Youth Tour alumna who died
on July 17, 1996, when TWA Flight 800
exploded shortly after takeoff from New
York City. l
LINES
11
KEEPINGcurrent
Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar spoke
at the 11th anniversary observance of
the Sept. 11, 2001, airliner crash in rural
Somerset County. The Flight 93
National Memorial was dedicated last
year on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that also brought down
the World Trade Center in New York
City and hit the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
The United flight that crashed near
Shanksville was the fourth and final
plane to crash that day. It was hijacked
on its way from Newark, N.J., to San
Francisco. Investigators have said the
plane was headed for Washington, D.C.
The ceremony included the reading
aloud of the names of 40 passengers
and crew members at 10:03 a.m. —
when the plane crashed after passengers and crew fought to take control of
the aircraft.
The ceremony capped a four-day
schedule that included a “Learning Center Without Walls,” presentations from
the perspective of people connected to
the crash. Speakers included panelists
who explored how children experienced
the terrorist attacks, and how art
allowed the children to express their
feelings; journalists who wrote and
broadcast the first stories about the
crash; FBI agents who were on the scene
shortly after the crash; and people who
were in the U.S. Capitol, the intended
target, on the day of the crash.
Construction at the memorial is
ongoing. Construction on the visitor
center will begin next spring with its
completion anticipated in 2014. The final
phase will include a learning center and
tower at the entrance. The tower will
have 40 wind chimes, one for each of the
passengers and crew members.
Park officials report more than
200,000 visitors are expected at the
12
PENN
PHOTO BY CHUCK WAGNER
Biden, Salazar speak at Flight 93
Memorial observance
REMEMBERING 2001: Vice President Joe Biden speaks on Sept. 11, 2012, at the Flight 93 National
Memorial in Somerset County. Listening to his remarks are, from left, Secretary of the Interior Ken
Salazar, Patrick White, president of the Families of Flight 93, and Jeff Reinbold, superintendent of
Western Pennsylvania Parks.
memorial this year.
The national memorial is located 20
miles northeast of Somerset at 6424 Lincoln Highway (U.S. Route 30) in Stoystown. It is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (last
entry at 6:30 p.m.) from April 1 through
the second Sunday in October; from the
second Monday in October to March 31, it
is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry at
4:30 p.m.). There is no admission fee. For
more information, visit www.nps.gov/flni.
National Park Service considers
change at Gettysburg
The National Park Service (NPS) has
been gathering public comment regarding
its proposal to demolish the Gettysburg
Cyclorama building on North Cemetery
Ridge in the Gettysburg National Military
Park.
The plan is part of a NPS project to
rehabilitate North Cemetery Ridge to its
historic 1863-era appearance. The project
also would include returning monuments
to their historic locations, rebuilding commemorative pedestrian pathways and
rebuilding historic fences.
The NPS was ordered by a U.S. District Court to undertake a site-specific
analysis before demolition of the Cyclorama building, which is eligible for the
National Register of Historic Places. The
process of gathering public comments is
part of that analysis. Once the analysis is
complete, three alternatives will be considered. Alternative A involves no action
(mothballing the building), Alternative B
involves the demolition and removal of
the building (the alternative preferred by
the NPS), and Alternative C involves relocation of the Cyclorama Building outside
of the park by a non-NPS entity.
Park grounds are open daily from
6 a.m. to 10 p.m. April 1 through Oct. 31,
and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 1 through March
31. The museum and visitor center is open
daily with the exception of Thanksgiving
Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day.
Its operating hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
April 1 through Oct. 31, and 8 a.m. to
5 p.m. Nov. 1 through March 31.
(continues on page 21)
PENNlines
Tapping a trend
Pennsylvania’s craft brewers bring ‘local flavor’ to beer industry
By K at h y H ac k l e m a n
S e n i o r E d i t o r / Wr i t e r
IT’S OCTOBER, and for beer drinkers
Farm fresh approach
everywhere, that means parties with an
Oktoberfest theme. For Pennsylvania’s
craft brewers — creative entrepreneurs
who brew beer as a labor of love as well
as a business — it means gearing up for
one of their busiest seasons.
Paul Gatza, director of the Brewers
Association, a national organization based
in Boulder, Colo., reports that in 2011,
Pennsylvania was No. 2 in the volume of
beer produced by craft (small, traditional)
brewers, second only to California.
According to Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board records, at the end of 2011 there
were 102 licensed breweries in the state,
with an additional 15 added by the end of
August 2012.
Siblings Dustin and Devin Kelly are
the general managers and co-owners of
one of Pennsylvania’s newest beer ventures — Timber Creek Tap & Table at
11191 Highline Drive in Meadville — along
with Dustin and Devin’s father, Ed Kelly,
and Jeff Boswell. The brewery and restaurant, located in Cambridge Springs-based
Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative
territory, opened in May.
Although the brewery is new to the
Kellys, they have been operating another
restaurant, Creekside Bar & Grille in
Cochranton, since 2005. Only in their
mid-20s, the brother-and-sister pair
learned the value of hard work and the
taste of good food from their parents, Ed
and Julie.
“We have both always had an interest
in restaurants,” Dustin Kelly explains.
“We both worked in restaurants while we
were growing up and in high school. We
were raised on a produce farm where we
raised strawberries, sweet corn and tomatoes. We worked as children and developed an ethic of hard work, thanks to our
parents. But we also developed an understanding of food and what goes into quality food and drink. … We use the freshest
and finest quality ingredients that we can
find. We like to explore new possibilities
and create new and exciting items, both in
our food and our beer.”
Once they decided to expand to
Meadville, they decided to add a brewery
to the business mix.
“We have always had a passion for and
an interest in craft beer, but it wasn’t until
we had the idea for the new restaurant
that we really started to explore the idea
of opening a brewery,” Kelly recalls. “We
found some local, young men who really
had an understanding of this market, so
we got them some more schooling and
training, and with their initiative, they
have come a long way.”
Their brewmaster is Jake Vorisek and
his assistant is John Mangine. The
founders of the Meadville Homebrew
Club, Vorisek and Mangine have been
friends for years. Under the direction of the
Kellys, the brewers use the best ingredients
and brew in state-of-the-art equipment.
The two men hone their craft in full
Josh Hoke, head brewer at
Liquid Hero Brewery in York, prepares to brew
another batch.
BEHIND THE SCENES:
14
PENN
view of crowds at the restaurant’s adjacent tap room. Kelly explains that at first,
they planned to have a glass wall separating the brewing quarters from the taproom, but because of space limitations,
the glass wall became a glass floor. Now,
customers can stand on the glass floor
and look straight down into the basement
brew room.
Timber Creek Tap & Table offers a
lineup that includes a light beer, a German lager, an India Pale Ale (IPA) and a
Black Bear Porter, as well as seasonal flavors. On tap now is an Oktoberfest beer,
which will be followed by a limited batch
of pumpkin ale and later, a Christmas ale.
The restaurant offers a wide variety of
food featuring as many local ingredients
as possible, including local Black Angus
beef. It is open seven days at week at
11 a.m. Closing time is 10 p.m. Monday
through Saturday and 9 p.m. Sundays.
The taproom opens every day at 4 p.m.
The bar is usually open an hour after the
restaurant closes.
Hopping to it
The Liquid Hero Brewery in York,
where Gettysburg-based Adams Electric
Cooperative has a district office, is just a
few months older than the Kellys’ venture. This month, as the three owners —
Matt DePrato, Christian Quinlivan and
Josh Hoke — brew a pumpkin ale for
their Oktoberfest special, they will be celebrating one year in operation in their
current downtown location at 50 East
North Street in York.
Liquid Hero Brewery started in 2008
as a tiny homebrew operation out of a
garage, but it has grown to a full-fledged
POUR ME ANOTHER ONE: Cody Kelly, shift manager
at Timber Creek Tap & Table, draws a pint for a
customer at the Meadville location.
microbrewery producing between 10 and
15 barrels a week (a barrel is approximately 31 gallons). They sell onsite, as well
as wholesale to 14 local bars and restaurants. They make ales from IPAs to stouts
and porters and everything in between.
Beer, DePrato reports, has only four
main ingredients — barley, hops (the
flower of the plant Humulus lupulus used
for flavor), water and yeast.
“To make beer, first you take the barley
and crush it,” he says. “You fill the mash
tun (a vessel used in the mashing process)
with warm water and dump the crushed
grain into it, and let it steep like tea for
roughly an hour. During that time, it is
breaking down the starches into sugars.
Then you transfer the liquid, which is
called wort, into a new kettle and start
boiling it. We are really just concentrating
the liquid and the flavors. We add the
hops, which counterbalances the liquid so
it’s not as sweet. The more hops you add,
the more bitter the final product will be.”
After boiling the ingredients for about
an hour, the mixture is cooled to room temperature as quickly as possible, and then
put into fermenters, where yeast is added.
“It’s up to nature at that point,”
DePrato says. “The
yeast eats up the
sugar and converts
it to CO2 and alcohol. That’s where
you get the alcohol
content. It ferments
for about a month.
Then we put it into
kegs and add carbonation. It sits for
two weeks and
then it’s ready to
go.”
In addition to all
their ales, Liquid Hero Brewery also
offers seasonal beers, with pumpkin on
tap now.
Although all three of the brewery’s
founders can talk knowledgably about the
art of brewing beer, that wasn’t always the
case.
“During the summer of 2008, we were
all three sitting around watching the ‘History Channel’ and drinking beer,” DePrato
recalls. “They were doing a program on
the history of brewing. None of us knew
anything about brewing beer. We only
knew we liked drinking it. We all thought
UNUSUAL FLOOR: Customers at Timber Creek Tap
& Table, Meadville, can watch their beer being
brewed through the floor inset.
we could do that. So we just started fantasizing about opening a brewery. We even
came up with the name the Liquid Hero
Brewery. We hadn’t even brewed a single
batch of beer, but we already had the name
for our new brewery.”
First, they began brewing at home in
five-gallon batches. When that went well,
they expanded to 10-gallon batches, then 15.
Now they are making 150 gallons at a time.
LINES
15
PENNlines
Meanwhile, all three of the brewery’s
founders still hold full-time jobs: DePrato
as an investment counselor, Quinlivan as
a sales manager for a manufacturing company and Hoke as a painter at a local car
dealership. They brew beer and sell it
evenings and weekends.
“We love this,” DePrato notes. “This is
our entertainment now, but we plan eventually for this business to be full-time for
all of us.”
Hoke, the head brewer, agrees.
“My favorite part is being able to be
expressive and creative, and try different
things,” he says. “It’s really neat to be here
and interact with people when they taste a
beer you have brewed and see how much
they appreciate the taste of it. ... The
recipes we use were converted from when
we were homebrewing into big batches. …
I am comfortable enough with brewing
now that I know I won’t make a bad
batch. Some may be better than others,
but none will be bad.”
Quinlivan enjoys all parts of the brewing business, beginning with the milling
of the grain, but his favorite part is interacting with the customers. Well, that and
drinking the beer.
“We knew after we made the first
batch at home that this was something we
could be really good at,” Quinlivan notes.
“Right away, we said, ‘Yeah, we can do
this.’”
Keystone craft
The Meadville and York breweries are
riding the wave of breweries opening
across Pennsylvania, notes Fran O’Brien
with the Pennsylvania Beer Alliance.
“Pennsylvania has enjoyed an explo16
PENN
“You will see the variety,
how it changes weekly or
IT’S WORK, BUT IT’S FUN: Matt DePrato, Liquid
monthly, and you will see how
Hero Brewery, left, cleans up in preparation for
locally procured ingredients
brewing another batch of beer, while Christian
can make a huge difference in
Quinlivan, above, keeps the beer flowing to custhe product that you enjoy,” he
tomers. At right, the brewing equipment at
says.
Timber Creek Tap & Table, is state-of-the-art.
Pennsylvania’s growth in
sion of new craft breweries,
the craft beer industry is mirrored in the
microbreweries (smaller brew- Pacific Northwest, Colorado and Great
eries) and even to the point of
Lakes areas, according to Gatza.
what is called nano breweries
“Overall, Americans are very inter(even smaller),” O’Brien
ested in food and beverage items with lots
remarks. “There’s lots of interof flavor,” he notes. “Think about what
est in craft beers, new styles and new
options we had for coffee or bread 25
combinations. Craft brewers can pay
years ago. Coffee came ground in cans in a
more attention to individual details
supermarket; bread came in wheat or
because they are brewing in smaller
white, and you’d be lucky to find a rye or
quantities.”
pumpernickel. Now there are coffee shops
Perhaps due to the whole “buy local,
selling coffee for $4 a cup on several corbuy quality” trend, O’Brien said craft
ners of most towns. Artisanal bakeries
breweries have taken on a life of their own now exist in most communities. Brewin Pennsylvania in recent years. Dating
eries, taprooms and restaurants are part
back to the early 1800s when what is now
of that same idea of coming together at a
Yuengling beer first was brewed, Pennsyl- local business for food, beverage and convanians have always had an appreciation
versation.”
for smaller-scale breweries.
Beer drinkers, he says, are in various
“Yuengling, while it’s large, is still a
stages of evolution and more and more
small brewery when you look at the size
are tasting interesting beers and learning
of global brewers,” O’Brien noted. “But
about beer styles. Beer wholesalers and
it has inspired a lot of people in Pennretailers are also doing their part, he adds,
sylvania and that’s part of what has pro- listening to customers and finding room
moted the beer culture here. … With the
for craft-brewed beer on shelves and at
smaller breweries, you have smaller
taps.
inputs, so you can experiment. You can
Gatza expects the craft brewery busisay, ‘Let’s try this.’ If it’s really horrible
ness will continue to grow as long as beer
or you don’t like it, you haven’t lost a lot
drinkers continue to support it.
of money. These experiments lead to
“Within the craft brewing community,
new ideas.”
the investment in capacity shows that
O’Brien says that anyone who has
most feel that craft-brewed beer sales are
never gone to a microbrewery should go
on their way to at least 10 percent of the
because they will never look at beer in the beer market, and many are thinking craft
same way again.
sales can go much higher,” he adds. l
YOU’D BE SURPRISED HOW
MUCH MONEY CAN SQUEEZE
THROUGH A CRAWLSPACE.
I kno w I was. But once I in su la t e d t h e cra w lspac e under my hous e,
m y b u d g et becam e mu ch mo re co mf o rt ab le. Ab out $ 1 5 5 a year mor e
c o m f o r t able. W ha t can yo u d o? F in d ou t h o w the lit t le c hanges add
u p a t To getherW eSa ve. co m.
TOG
T O G E T HE
HERW
R W E S AV E ..C
C OM
OM
TIMElines
Yo u r N e w s m a g a z i n e T h r o u g h t h e Y e a r s
1992
THE COOPERATIVE commitment to political action is just as strong
today as it has ever been. The Action Committee for Rural Electrification
(ACRE), which was started in 1966, has been a constant voice for rural
electric cooperatives in the political arena.
Organized to ensure that legislators at both state and federal levels
understand the issues affecting rural electric cooperative consumers,
ACRE seeks out candidates who are willing to go the extra mile to preserve the rural quality of life. As a bipartisan organization, ACRE bases
its endorsements on the voting record of candidates, their outstanding
service to our rural areas, and their overall understanding of cooperative
values.
Beginning in 1980, and every two years since, the ACRE Management
Committee, which is made up of cooperative representatives from across
the state, has been making endorsements of federal and state legislators.
Endorsements are made every election year for those running for U.S.
Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Pennsylvania Senate and Pennsylvania House of Representatives. ACRE does not endorse in races for the
president of the United States, governor, statewide row offices or judicial
seats.
From 2000 to 2010, the ACRE Management Committee has marked a
96 percent success rate on endorsed candidates that were elected to office.
Please take a look at pages 6-8 of this issue to see the endorsements
made by the ACRE Management Committee for the 2012 general election.
1972 President Richard Nixon and Sen. George
1982 October is Co-op Month — a month set aside
2002 Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidates state
McGovern speak out on the issues facing rural
Americans as the presidential election draws
nearer.
for cooperative members, directors and employees
to reflect upon the importance of a special kind of
business in their lives and the life of this nation.
Attorney General Mike Fisher (R) and former
Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell (D) describe the rural
policies they would like to pursue if they are elected.
18
PENN
Stay charged
Battery backup systems viable
alternatives to emergency
generators
B y D o u g l a s Da n l e y
Cooperative Research Network
HOME BATTERY energy storage systems are a convenient alternative or
supplement for emergency generators.
But consumers should be careful and
consult their local electric cooperative
before buying one.
In their simplest form, battery
energy storage systems are larger versions of uninterruptible power supplies
sold to back up home computers.
Because of the expense to power an
entire household during an outage —
especially one that has a heat pump or
central air conditioning — a home battery energy storage system usually connects to an isolated “subpanel.” The
subpanel, in turn, allows power from
the batteries to flow to identified critical
loads, such as refrigerators, well pumps,
home security systems, computers, and
televisions.
When the power goes out, battery
energy storage systems automatically
provide generation for appliances connected to the subpanel as long as stored
energy lasts. Battery sets have the
advantage of being quiet and extremely
reliable, but they typically boast sufficient capacity only for a few hours of
load and carry a hefty price tag — up to
10 times the cost of an emergency generator.
When considering battery energy
storage as a supplement or replacement
for a generator, it’s important to select
equipment that meets appropriate
20
PENN
Underwriters Laboratories
(UL) standards, and to have
the systems installed and
inspected by a licensed electrician. Like emergency generators that run off gasoline,
diesel fuel or natural gas,
adequate ventilation remains
important because even
“sealed” batteries can give off
harmful gases if something
goes wrong with the charging process.
With the popularity of
residential solar panels and
small wind turbines increasing, some companies are
combining these “backyard”
renewable power systems
with interactive battery storage setups. During an outage,
the solar array or wind turbine can be used to extend
the life of the batteries.
If you are considering a
battery energy storage unit
for use during outages, or if
you have a renewable energy
system you’d like to integrate
with battery backup, be sure
to contact your electric cooperative before investing to
ensure that the system is
approved and will be hooked
up correctly. In many cases,
you will need to enter into an
interconnection agreement
with your co-op before the
device can be put in. l
Douglas Danley is a technical liaison and consultant specializing in renewable energy
for the Cooperative Research
Network (CRN), a service of the
Arlington, Va.-based National
Rural Electric Cooperative
Association.
SUNVERGE ENERGY
ENERGYmatters
BATTERY INTEGRATED SYSTENM: Homeowners can integrate a battery storage unit into their renewable energy systems and other
power sources for backup power during an outage.
KEEPINGcurrent
(continued from page 12)
For more information about the park,
go to www.nps.gov/gett.
Happy anniversary
“Research Matters,” a blog about
events at Penn State University, notes that
2012 is a milestone year in the university’s
history: 150 years ago, the Farmers’ High
School — the name under which the university was incorporated in 1855 —
became the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania (changed to Pennsylvania State
College in 1874 and finally, The Pennsylvania State University in 1953).
The blog further notes that the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania awarded
the nation’s first baccalaureate degree in
scientific agriculture in 1861. Two years
later, it was designated as the Commonwealth’s only land-grant college, which it
still remains.
Conservation tax credits available
Pennsylvania farmers can now apply
for a portion of $7 million in tax credits to
purchase on-farm conservation equipment or install facilities meeting best management practice standards through the
Resource Enhancement and Protection
program.
The tax incentive program is for agricultural producers who provide private
support to reduce erosion and sedimentation that impacts Pennsylvania’s watersheds. The program, administered by the
Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission, helps producers with the purchase of conservation equipment and
materials to help protect the environment.
Producers with proposed or completed
projects can submit applications immediately. The projects are considered on a
first-come, first-served basis. Farmers can
receive tax credits of up to $150,000 per
agricultural operation for 50 or 75 percent
of the total project cost. The most common projects approved are for no-till
planting equipment, materials for waste
storage facilities, manure management
plans and protecting heavy animal use
areas like barnyards.
For information regarding qualifications
for the program and applications, check
online at www.pda.state.pa.us/REAP
under “Forms” or call 717/787-8821. l
LINES
21
COUNTRYkitchen
by Janette He ss
Here’s to beer
ONCE upon a time, before anyone knew of the existence
of microbes, beer was a beverage of choice. Early
drinkers observed that water made them ill while beer
did not. Unbeknownst to them, the heat of the brewing
process killed the virulent microbes sometimes present
in the water supply. Quite literally, those early beers —
which had a very low alcohol content — were lifesavers.
These days, we enjoy a variety of non-contaminated
beverage options. For many Pennsylvanians, one current
favorite is the tasty, small-batch beers brewed in a growing number of local and regional craft breweries.
Additionally, beer drinkers and non-beer drinkers
alike can enjoy cooking with beer. The following recipes
were tested with “malty” beers, as opposed to “hoppy,”
or more bitter, beers. Take your experimentation a bit
further by braising brats or a corned beef brisket in beer.
Delicious! l
CHEESE SOUP WITH BEER AND BACON
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons finely diced onion
2 tablespoons finely diced carrot
2 tablespoons finely diced celery
3 tablespoons flour
3 cups milk
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated
4 slices bacon, fried crisp and crumbled
3/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 cup (4 ounces) beer at room temperature (may substi
tute chicken
stock, if desired)
Melt butter in soup pot; add diced vegetables. Sauté vegeta
bles in butter
until soft, approximately 10 minutes. Stir in flour. Add milk.
Cook and stir
over medium to medium-high heat until mixture is thicken
ed, approximately 15 minutes. Remove from heat and quickly whisk
in grated cheese.
Add crumbled bacon and seasoned salt. Return to low heat
and whisk in
beer; heat thoroughly but do not boil. Serve with crusty
bread. Makes 6
servings.
A trained journalist, JANETTE HESS focuses her writing on interesting people and
interesting foods. She is a Master Food Volunteer with her local extension service and
enjoys collecting, testing and sharing recipes.
HERBED BEER BISCUITS
TRADITIONAL BEER BREA
D
3 cups self-rising flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) beer at room
temperature
6 tablespoons melted butter, divid
ed
Pour 1 to 2 tablespoons melted butt
er
into loaf pan; tilt to coat. In medium
bowl, combine self-rising flour and
sugar. Add beer and stir gently to
create soft dough. Transfer to loaf
pan. Pour remaining butter over
top of dough. Bake at 350 degrees
for 50 to 60 minutes, or until top
of loaf is browned. Loosen edges
with sharp knife and invert onto
cooling rack.
22
PENN
mix (for biscuits and
2 cups plus 1 tablespoon baking
pancakes)
or extra-sharp
2 ounces finely grated sharp
cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried dill
1 teaspoon dried chives
ture
2/3 cup beer at room tempera
ded
divi
ter,
but
ted
4 tablespoons mel
der
pow
lic
Gar
es. Add
mix, grated cheese, dill and chiv
and pat
In medium bowl, combine baking
ace
surf
red
flou
onto
gh forms. Turn
13-inch
beer and stir just until soft dou
by
9of
are biscuits. Coat bottom
into 6-inch square. Cut into 9 squ melted butter. Carefully transfer bisoons
glass baking dish with 2 tablesp
l biscuits are
rees for 8 to 10 minutes, or unti
deg
450
at
e
Bak
.
pan
into
s
cuit
ng 2 tableaini
rem
with
tops
h
oven and brus
nicely browned. Remove from
hot.
with garlic powder. Serve
spoons melted butter. Sprinkle
SMARTcircuits
by James Dulley
Cool breeze, cooler
electric bills
Ceiling fans, when used
properly, can help lower
electricity use
CEILING FANS can cut your electric
bills year-round. But before you run out
and buy a few, it’s important to understand how they save energy. If you
install a ceiling fan and don’t adjust your
thermostat settings accordingly, you may
be more comfortable, but it actually
increases your summertime electric
bills.
The important thing to remember is
that the fan itself does not cool air or
things — fans cool people, so they
should be turned off when the room is
empty.
During summer, ceiling fans cool the
skin by creating a downward breeze,
which should make you feel comfortable
enough to turn up the air conditioner a
few degrees. Look at the pitch of the
blades to determine which rotation
direction makes the air blow downward.
Setting the thermostat higher saves
much more electricity than the ceiling
fan consumes.
In general, during summer, run the
ceiling fan on medium or high speed to
create the cooling effect.
During winter, flip the small switch
on the side of the ceiling fan housing to
reverse the blade rotation. Run the fan
on low speed so it creates a gentle
upward breeze (away from people in the
room), which will force the warm air —
which naturally rises — back down
where it’s needed. Then, you can set
your furnace a few degrees lower and
save energy there, too.
Some new ceiling fans also have a
built-in electric heater with a hand-held
24
PENN
remote thermostat/control. It functions
the same way as a standard ceiling fan
during summer. During winter, it automatically reverses rotation when it is
switched to the heating mode. The
heater allows you to take advantage of
zone heating.
The size of a ceiling fan is rated by
the diameter of the blades. This is more
important during summer when you
want to feel the breeze on your skin. A
common sizing rule of thumb is to use a
36-inch fan for rooms up to 150 square
feet, a 48-inch fan for up to 300 square
feet, and a 52-inch fan for up to 450 square
feet. For larger rooms, use two fans
spaced about one-quarter of the way in
from opposing walls.
Price is often a good indication of the
quality of a ceiling fan. Better ceiling
fans typically have a greater pitch (twist)
on the blades. This requires a more
powerful motor, but it moves more air at
a lower rotation speed. Lower speed
results in less sound and less chance of
annoying wobble. Some motors use
more copper wire in the windings, up to
several miles’ worth, so they have a
higher price.
A hand-held remote control is a convenient feature included with both inexpensive and pricier models. Natural
wood blades are attractive, but inexpensive ones made of synthetic materials are
generally well balanced. A rubbermounted hub reduces noise and vibration. Even the best ceiling fans may
require you to attach small balancing
weights to stop wobble at high speed. l
Have a question for Jim? Send inquiries
to JAMES DULLEY , Penn Lines, 6906
Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244 or
visit www.dulley.com.
POWERplants
by Barbara Martin
Happenin’ &
hoppin’
place
CALL ME naive, but I’ve
always thought we gardeners
grow fruits and veggies for
solid nutritional reasons, and
because it’s satisfying to feed
our families, friends and communities, and also because
gardening is a great hobby
that dovetails with home canning and preserving. However, there is another timetested reason. Besides being a
rich source of vitamins, minerals and healthy fiber, and all
the goodness of fresh flavor,
your fruit crop can also yield,
for lack of a better word,
“likker!” Meaning alcoholic
beverages, primarily in the
forms of wine and beer.
This gives us (me) a whole
new view of the scope of a gardener’s full potential contribution to society. Beyond putting
food on the table, some gardeners also apply a basic
knowledge of chemistry and a
few pieces of specialized
equipment, along with some
elbow grease and, oh yes,
some patience, to yield a more
BARBARA MARTIN ,
who says she began gardening as a hobby “too
many years ago to
count,” currently works
for the National Gardening Association as a horticulturist. A former
member of Gettysburg-based Adams Electric Cooperative, her articles appear in magazines and on the internet.
“potent” product than freezer
bags full of green beans and
colorful jars of jams and jellies.
Historically, people commonly fermented and preserved their own wines,
beers, mead (from honey) and
assorted other alcoholic
drinks at home. This skill is a
natural to revive today
through our current enthusiasm for local, alternative and
sustainable living. It may just
be time to dust off those old
copies of Mother Earth News
magazine for recipes and
practical how-to instructions
— or do careful research on
the internet. Either way, I suspect we’ll probably see more
experimentation and innovation happening in the arena
of homebrewing and simple
winemaking.
Off the top of my head, I
can think of home-made
wines, brandies and liqueurs
flavored with wild-crafted or
home-grown ingredients
including: elderberry and
dandelion; apple, peach, plum
and cherry; flowers including
roses (hips, petals) and violets
and assorted herbs; and
grapes, too.
Let’s consider a favorite
home-grown fruit, the apple.
We typically associate apples
with non-alcoholic cider and
apple juice. Yet apples can be
made into wine, and their
historically significant use
would be in alcoholic or
“hard” cider.
In the wild-crafting sphere,
many alcoholic beers can be
made from collected roots and
barks: think root beer, birch
beer, and sarsaparilla for
example. A beverage can be
made out of maple sap as well,
with end-of-the-season maple
syrup used for making an
alcoholic maple beer.
Modern beer is usually flavored with farm-grown hops.
Not technically a fruit, hops
(Humulus lupulus) is a crop
home gardeners could grow
as long as there is enough
space for the brawny vines to
climb, clamber, and sprawl,
and a reliable method of drying the harvest quickly.
Brewers use dried hop
“flowers” (technically strobiles)
as the source of a bitter flavoring agent, plus grain, yeast and
other ingredients in beer. Specialty and microbrewers, along
with small-scale home brewers, blend a variety of different
and surprising flavors by
tweaking recipes.
Home winemaking is
another finicky process open
to fine tuning. Fruit is the
main flavoring ingredient;
then you might add an acid
HOP TO IT: Hops are used as one of
the main ingredients in making beer.
such as citrus juice and/or
sugar and/or yeast so fermentation will occur and to
enhance the flavor. Mix well,
allow fermentation, clarify it,
then bottle and age it to perfection.
Chemistry and the palate,
as well as the variety and
quality of the fruit, combine
to determine the specific
recipe, procedures and the
timing. Some might go so far
as to term this home liquor
production process an art.
Quite honestly, I have no
idea where the “revunooers”
stand on home-made booze,
but if you find the idea of
homebrewing and home winemaking using home-grown
ingredients compelling, do
some research and get to
work.
If you succeed in making a
drinkable batch, remember to
toast the gardener who made
it all possible. Cheers! l
LINES
25
PENNLINESclassified
ISSUE MONTH:
AD DEADLINE:
Penn Lines classified advertisements reach more than 165,800 rural Pennsylvania households!
December 2012 . . . . October 19
Please note ads must be received by the due date to be included in the requested issue month. Ads
January 2013. . . . November 16
received beyond the due date will run in the next available issue. Written notice of changes and
cancellations must be received 30 days prior to the issue month. Classified ads will not be accepted
February 2013 . . . December 14
by phone, fax or email. For more information please contact Vonnie Kloss at 717/233-5704.
CLASSIFIED AD SUBMISSION/RATES: Please use the form below or submit a separate sheet with required information.
Electric co-op members: $20 per month for 30 words or less, plus 50¢ for each additional word.
Non-members:
$70 per month for 30 words or less, plus $1.50 for each additional word.
Ad in all CAPITAL letters: Add 20 percent to total cost. Please print my ad in all CAPITAL letters.
PLACE AD IN THE MONTHS OF:
.
WORD COUNT:
I am an electric co-op member. Attached is my Penn Lines mailing label. Name/Address or Mailing Label Here:
Enclosed is payment in the amount of $
.
I am a non-member. Address is noted or attached at right.
Enclosed is payment in the amount of $
.
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.
Additional words; attach separate sheet if needed.
FREE Headings (Select One): Around the House
Business Opportunities
Employment Opportunities Gift and Craft Ideas
Livestock and Pets
Miscellaneous
Motor Vehicles and Boats Nursery and Garden
Real Estate
Recipes and Food
Tools and Equipment
Vacations and Campsites Wanted to Buy
SPECIAL HEADING:
. SPECIAL HEADING FEE: $5 for co-op members, $10 for non-members. Applies
even if heading is already appearing in Penn Lines. Insertion of classified ad serves as proof of publication; no proofs supplied. SEND FORM
TO: Penn Lines Classifieds, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Please make CHECK/MONEY ORDER payable to: PREA/Penn Lines.
AROUND THE HOUSE
CONSULTING FORESTRY SERVICES
HANDCRAFTED FURNITURE
“COUNTRY COOKING,” Volume 2 — $8, including postage.
“RECIPES REMEMBERED,” Volume 3 — $12, including postage.
Both of these cookbooks are a collection of recipes from men
and women of the electric co-ops of Pennsylvania and New
Jersey. Payable to: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, P. O.
Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Write Attention: Cookbooks.
Volume 1 of “Country Cooking” is SOLD OUT. *HOLIDAY SPECIAL
— BOTH COOKBOOKS FOR $15.*
NOLL’S FORESTRY SERVICES, INC. performs Timber Marketing,
Timber Appraisals, Forest Management Planning, and Forest
Improvement Work. FREE Timber Land Recommendations. 30
years experience. Call 814-472-8560.
COUNTRY CRAFTED bentwood oak/hickory rockers. Swings,
gliders, double rockers, coffee/end tables, bar stools, kitchen
sets, cedar log outdoor furniture, log bedrooms, SPECIAL queen
log bed, $599. 814-733-9116. www.zimmermanenterprise.com.
CLOCK REPAIR: If you have an antique grandfather clock,
mantel clock or old pocket watch that needs restored, we can
fix any timepiece. Macks Clock Repair: 814-421-7992.
BUILDING SUPPLIES
STEEL ROOFING AND SIDING. Corrugated sheets (cut to length).
Our best residential roofing $2.25/lineal foot. Also seconds,
heavy gauges, odd lots, etc. Located in northwestern
Pennsylvania. 814-398-4052.
FACTORY SECONDS of insulation, 4 x 8 sheets, foil back. Also
reflective foil bubble wrap. 814-442-6032.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
PIANO TUNING PAYS — Learn at home with American School of
Piano Tuning home-study course in piano tuning and repair.
Tools included. Diploma granted. Call for free brochure 800497-9793.
CENTRE FOREST RESOURCES. Maximizing present and future
timber values, Forest Management Services, Managing Timber
Taxation, Timber Sales, Quality Deer Management. FREE Timber
Consultation. College educated, professional, ethical. 814-8677052.
FENCING
Building a fence? Find hydraulic post drivers, high-tensile wire,
electric fence, electric netting, rotational grazing supplies, tools
and more from Kencove Farm Fence Supplies. FREE Fence
Guide/Catalog – Call 800-536-2683! www.kencove.com.
GIFT AND CRAFT IDEAS
CHURCH LIFT SYSTEMS
GRASS FED BEEF
Make your church, business or home wheelchair accessible. We
offer platform lifting systems, stair lifts, porch lifts and ramps.
References. Free estimates. Get Up & Go Mobility Inc. 724-7460992 or 814-926-3622.
100% GRASS FED BEEF. Our holistic management produces the
highest quality meat. Animals graze on a natural diet, are never
fed grain, growth hormones, antibiotics or pesticides.
McCormick Farm, LLC 814-472-7259.
26
PENN
HARDWARE/LUMBER RETAIL
LEE’S Hardware — CRESSON 814-886-2377. Plumbing, electrical,
hardware, paint, tools, wood pellets. PATTON 814-674-5122.
Lumber, roofing, plywood, windows, doors, shale, sand, blocks,
delivery, boom lift trucks, estimates. Full service hometown
stores.
HEALTH AND NUTRITION
Tired of all those medicines — Still not feeling better? Do you
want to feel better, have more energy, better digestion, less
joint stiffness, healthier heart/circulation and cholesterol
levels? Find out how to empower your own immune system —
start I-26 today! It’s safe, affordable, and it works. Call 800-5578477: ID#528390. 90-day money back on first time orders or
call me 724-454-5586. www.mylegacyforlife.net/believeit.
HEALTH INSURANCE
DO YOU HAVE THE BLUES regarding your Health Insurance? We
cater to rural America's health insurance needs. For more
information, call 800-628-7804 (PA). Call us regarding Medicare
supplements, too.
INFRARED SAUNAS
Removes toxins, burns calories, relieves joint pain, relaxes
muscles, increases flexibility, strengthens immune system.
Many more HEALTH BENEFITS with infrared radiant heat saunas.
Economical to operate. Barron’s Furniture, Somerset, PA. 814443-3115.
PENNLINESclassified
I-TEC POWERING MISSIONS
Think GLOBAL, Give LOCAL. For more information on
volunteering or donating call 570-433-0777. Stop by at 23
Green Hollow Road, Montoursville, PA 17754 or visit at
www.itec.org.
FLORIDA Retirement/Vacation — 2006 manufactured home.
Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, two-car detached garage,
concrete driveway. 1/8 mile from Suwannee River, 15 miles to
Gulf. Landscaped, almost new condition. 610-681-4088. $79,900.
LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT
1296 SF office, warehouse, mfg. space for lease adjoining 960
sf bonus area available. Also rent one or both. Huntingdon area.
Details call 903-842-3936.
HARRINGTONS EQUIPMENT COMPANY, 475 Orchard Rd.,
Fairfield, PA 17320. 717-642-6001 or 410-756-2506.
Lawn & Garden equipment, Sales — Service — Parts.
www.HarringtonsEquipment.com
RECREATIONAL Log Cabin for sale — four years old, Raystown
area, 12 miles from Snyder’s Run. 2.1 acres, pavilion, 12 x 16
shed. $172,000 negotiable. Call for details 717-930-0764; 717602-0950.
LEGAL SERVICES
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION: Injured and want to know your
rights? Call us at 877-291-9675 for FREE advice or visit our
website for your FREE book at www.workinjuryinpa.com.
LIVESTOCK AND PETS
PEMBROKE WELSH CORGI Puppies — AKC, adorable, intelligent,
highly trainable. Excellent family choice. Reputable licensed
breeder guaranteed “Last breed you’ll ever own.” 814-5873449.
LLAMAS – closeout sale – bred females, females with crias, male
and female weanlings. All registered. 23 years experience. 814735-4736 or 941-587-8986.
LOG CABIN RESTORATIONS
VILLAGE RESTORATIONS & CONSULTING specializes in 17th and
18th century log, stone and timber structures. We dismantle,
move, re-erect, restore, construct and consult all over the
country. Period building materials available. Chestnut boards,
hardware, etc. Thirty years experience, fully insured. Call 814696-1379. www.villagerestorations.com.
MISCELLANEOUS
BECOME AN ORDAINED MINISTER, Correspondence study. The
harvest truly is great, the laborers are few, Luke 10:2. Free info.
Ministers for Christ Outreach, 6630 West Cactus #B107-767,
Glendale, AZ 85304. www.ordination.org.
WANTED: LIVE BALD FACED HORNETS. Free removal –
Huntingdon County and State College area. Insects used for
potential life-saving allergy shots. Can not have been sprayed
with insecticide. Andy 814-667-2136.
INVESTMENT PROPERTY — Huntingdon Industrial Park. 3+ acres,
multiple tenant building for sale. 80% occupied. Positive cash
flow. Some owner financing available. Listed below appraised
price. 903-842-3936.
RECIPES AND FOOD
SHAKLEE
FREE SAMPLE Shaklee’s Energy Tea. Combination red, green and
white teas that are natural, delicious, refreshing, safe. For sample
or more information on tea or other Shaklee Nutrition/Weight
Loss Products: 800-403-3381 or www.sbarton.myshaklee.com.
TAXI COMPANY FOR SALE
For the best INSURANCE RATES call R & R Insurance Associates
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 800-442-6832 (PA).
SETTLEMENT POST & BEAM BUILDING COMPANY uses timehonored mortise, tenon and peg construction paired with
modern engineering standards. Master Craftsman and owner,
Greg Sickler, brings over two decades of timber-framing
experience to helping you create your dream. We use highquality timbers harvested from sustainable forests for all of our
projects. Visit our model home, located on Historic Route 6,
Sylvania, in North Central Pennsylvania. For more information
phone 570-297-0164 or go to www.settlementpostandbeam.com
or contact us at cggksick@epix.net.
RAYSTOWN LAKE FUN
REAL ESTATE
HUNTINGDON/CASSVILLE — Two bedroom, bath, kitchen, living
room, dining room, laundry, screened porch, shed. 20 minutes
to lake, close to game lands, state park. Use as home or
vacation home. Furnishings convey. $45,000. 800-610-3663.
www.raystownrealty.com.
FARM LAND for local grass fed beef grazing operation. Holistic
approach and active grazing plan proven to enhance soil,
wildlife, and land quality. Cambria and surrounding counties.
McCormick Farm LLC. 814-472-7259.
USED PORTABLE Sawmills and COMMERCIAL Sawmill Equipment!
Buy/Sell. Call Sawmill Exchange 800-459-2148. USA and Canada.
www.sawmillexchange.com.
TIMBER FRAME HOMES
SEVEN POINTS MARINA offers houseboat vacations, daily boat
rentals plus weekend public sightseeing cruises. Beautiful fall
foliage, great time to fish! Operating until October 21st. Contact
us at 814-658-3074 or tours@7pointsmarina.com.
WANTED TO LEASE
SAWMILLS
MOTORCYCLE-SNOWMOBILE INSURANCE
MOTOR VEHICLES AND BOATS
WANTED TO BUY
LARD WANTED. Clean, rendered from pigs. Willing to supply own
containers. Paying Cash, Will Travel. Call 814-224-1297 or email
lyneak@yahoo.com.
RECREATIONAL PROPERTY CARE
SAVE TIME & MONEY SHOPPING ONLINE! Shopping Sherlock
application finds the best deals instantly – savings up to 70%!
Free-Safe-Secure. For info on available distributorships email
Theresa at Shopping_Sherlock@stny.rr.com. View demo and get
your free app right now at www.ShoppingSherlock.com/tapNsave.
1915 OLD TOWN Wood Canoe stored indoors. Photos upon
request. Natural wood interior, red Old Town paint exterior. Very
good condition. Price $1,000. Call 814-696-2785.
DAYTONA BEACH Condo on the river, five minutes from beach.
Third floor, two bedrooms, two baths. Beautiful view. Threemonth minimum rental. Discounts for more months. Call Belkis
at 954-629-6966. Email btooz@aol.com.
I CAN HELP you care for or locate the rural property that you
enjoy but you may not have the time to develop or maintain.
814-795-7115.
TURNKEY BUSINESS for sale in the Sayre/Athens/Towanda
Pennsylvania area. Operational for over 50 years! Growing with
increase in population due to the Marcellus Shale Industry.
Comes with 6 vehicles that are equipped with DriveCam
cameras and installed GPS systems, two-way radios with FCC
License, Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission License and
more. Selling to operate another business! Serious business
buyers only may contact us at 570-882-9130 and leave a
message.
RV REFRIGERATORS/Propane Repaired/Rebuilt. Leaks can be
fixed. Used refrigerators and parts. Call for prices at up to 1/2
of new. 570-435-2210.
VACATIONS AND CAMPSITES
House rental at Lake Raystown. Sleeps 11, fireplace, four
bedrooms, dining table for 12, central A/C, two Satellite TVs, two
full baths, two half baths, linens/towels provided, large
recreation room, large parking area, one mile from lake
(Snyders Run). Minimum two nights. Call 814-931-6562. Visit
www.laurelwoodsretreat.com.
Farms are part
of our electric
cooperative.
TRACTOR PARTS – REPAIR/RESTORATION
ARTHURS TRACTORS, specializing in vintage Ford tractors, 30years experience, on-line parts catalog/prices, shipped via UPS.
Contact us at 877-254-FORD (3673) or www.arthurstractors.com.
TREE TRIMMING/REMOVAL
TOM’S TREE SERVICE – Tree Trimming/Removal – Storm Cleanup – Stump Grinding – Land Clearing – Bucket Truck and Chipper
– Fully Insured – Free Estimates – Call 24/7 – 814-448-3052 –
814-627-0550 – 26 Years Experience.
LINES
27
Eat, grow,
eat, grow,
transform
OBSERVERS at Hawk
Mountain Sanctuary on the
Berks-Schuylkill county line
counted 2,806 monarch butterflies on a Monday in early
September, a one-day record
for the site, which usually
concentrates on the hawk
migration.
Although no one was
really counting at these other
spots, on the same day, valleys on both sides of the
mountain, and in some other
spots in Pennsylvania, also
were playing host to strong
numbers of the migrating
insect.
That was quite a bit of
converted milkweed moving
through the state.
The winged adult butterflies are nectar drinkers, but
the caterpillars that transformed into them a few
weeks earlier ate milkweed,
and nothing else. Each one
eats a lot of milkweed in the
nearly three weeks from egg
to adult.
As a monarch caterpillar
MARCUS SCHNECK is
outdoor editor for The
(Harrisburg, Pa.) PatriotNews and a contributor
to many outdoor publications and websites,
and author of more
than two dozen books..
A guide to his writing and photography
appears at www.marcusschneck.com.
28
PENN
by Marcus Schneck
moves from tiny hatchling,
barely large enough to be
seen with the unaided eye, to
an end-stage caterpillar of
two inches or so, it will eat
enough milkweed leaves to
gain about 2,700 times its
original weight.
According to some
observers, a large caterpillar
can munch its way through
an entire leaf in four minutes
and about 18 inches worth of
milkweed plant from egg to
chrysalis. A large milkweed
plant can support three or
four caterpillars.
The caterpillar of the
monarch has just one function: to eat to grow. It does
that nearly round-the-clock
from the time it emerges from
its egg, pausing briefly just
four or five times to shed its
old skin to allow for more
growth.
Each chomp is laced with
cardiac glycoside poisons
from the milkweed, which
gives the monarch caterpillar,
and later the winged butterfly, the poisonous quality that
deters most natural predators. (The bright coloring of
the insect advertises that toxicity to birds and other wouldbe predators.)
When the caterpillar has
grown about as much as it can
— about 2 inches — it finds a
sheltered spot, often away
from the milkweed plant it
had been eating, and attaches
itself with a silky mat to some
overhanging structure. There
it hangs, upside down in the
shape of a “J,” for a day or so,
as it sheds its skin again.
PHOTO BY MARCUS SCHNECK
OUTDOORadventures
It moves from the caterpillar stage into the chrysalis, or
pupal, stage. An inch-long casing is exposed as the last shedding slips away, and within an
hour, that casing hardens into
a shimmering, jade-green, protective shell, marked with a
rim of golden spots.
Inside the chrysalis, over
the next two weeks or so, the
pupa transforms into the
adult butterfly. At the conclusion of that transformation,
the shell splits open and out
crawls the butterfly, although
it’s hardly recognizable as
RESTING MONARCH: A monarch
butterfly rests on a butterfly bush.
such. The wings are shriveled, crumpled, wet facsimiles of themselves for the next
hour or so, until the insect
has pumped a blood-like substance known as hemolymph
through them.
The hemolymph expands
the wings into their orangeand-black glory, structures
capable of carrying monarch
butterflies over heights like
Hawk Mountain on a migration of thousands of miles. l
RURALreflections
Final call for 2012 photos
IT’S hard to believe it’s October already, but it is. And that
means all amateur photographers need to take one last look
at their photos and send them in soon because the 2012
Rural Reflections contest requires entries to be postmarked
by Oct. 31 in order to qualify for this year’s competition.
Members of a rural electric cooperative in Pennsylvania
have a chance to win a $75 prize in one of our five contest
categories: most artistic, best landscape, best human subject,
best animal and editor’s choice. Entries received after the
Oct. 31 deadline will be entered into the 2013 contest.
Winning 2012 photos, chosen by an independent panel of
judges, will be printed in the January and February issues of
Penn Lines.
To be eligible for the contest, amateur photographers are
asked to send photos (no digital files, please) to Penn Lines
Photos, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg PA 17108-1266. On the
back of each photo, include your name, address, phone number and the name of the electric cooperative that serves your
home, business or seasonal residence. (The best way to
include that information is by affixing an address label to the
back of the photo. Please do not use ink gel or roller pens to
write on the photo as they bleed onto other photos.)
Please note: photos will not be returned unless a selfaddressed, self-stamped envelope is included. l
Luke Mackey
Valley REC
Erin Graves
Tri-County REC
Michele Dibert
Bedford REC
Sandy Roof
Claverack REC
LINES
29
PUNCHlines
Thoughts from
Earl Pitts,
UHMERIKUN!
A convenience store is
the only miracle a man
really needs
Social commentary from Earl Pitts —— a.k.a.
GARY BUR BANK , a nationally syndicated
radio personality —— can be heard on the
following radio stations that cover electric
cooperative service territories in Pennsylvania:
WANB-FM 103.1 Pittsburgh; WARM-AM 590
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton; WIOO-AM 1000 Carlisle;
WEEO-AM 1480 Shippensburg; WMTZ-FM 96.5
Johnstown; WQBR-FM 99.9/92.7 McElhattan;
WLMI-FM 103.9 Kane; and WVNW-FM 96.7
Burnham-Lewistown.
30
PENN
I had to laugh the other day when
I heard this story ‘bout a New York City
grocery store that said they opened the
world’s first “man aisle.” They got one
aisle in their store there loaded up with
everything a man shops for. Beer, ice,
bacon, chips, barbecue sauce — all on the
same aisle. They said on account’a men
don’t like to wander up an’ down aisles
when they shop.
Yeah, that’s cute. But stupid. Stupid
on account’a we already got a whole man
store. It’s called a convenience store.
You know how a handyman wears a
tool belt? A convenience store is like that
— they only have stuff you might need in
a hurry.
Like, let’s say you just finished winnin’ a atomic-hot wing-eatin’ contest with
your buddies. An’ you need some Alkyseltzer — fast. But you just need a pouch
with two tablets. You ain’t gonna find
that at the Costco.
I remember I had a headache one
time so I went into a convenience store
an’ bought a pack a’ two Tylenol. That’s
where they got the name — convenient.
Where else but at a convenience store
can you find a can a’ motor oil, a
Twinkie, an air freshner, a Baby Ruth
bar, stencils and a scratch-off lott’ry
ticket — all within the space of 10 feet?
They got beer in the cooler, smokes
behind the counter, an’ the lott’ry
machine just waitin’ fer your numbers.
Hot coffee an’ fresh donuts in the
mornin’. A variety of dried meats for
your afternoon snack, an’ a six pack a’
Blue Ribbon on the way home. Fact is —
if there was only men in the world, all
we’d need is convenience stores. It’s your
liquor store, your auto parts store, your
smoke shop an’ 24 hour diner — all
rolled into one.
Wake up, America. Convenience store
workers are the miracle workers of America today. Us men salute every one of you.
An’ give us 30 bucks on pump five.
What do women complain about
most? Us men don’t help out around the
house, right? An’ what do they complain
about second most? When we help out
around the house. How are you gonna
win that?
I’ll tell you what — my wife, Pearl,
has been ridin’ me like a Triple Crown
jockey the last month, askin’ me how
come I don’t help out around the house?
How come she’s got to do all the housework? It’s like a broken record.
So she went somewheres with the
neighbor-lady, Naomi, last weekend. So I
thought I would shut her up. So I put a
load a clothes in the washin’ machine.
She gets home an’ looks in the machine.
You’d a thunk I put baby kittens in there.
She started screamin,’ “What did you
do?”
I go, “I was helpin’ out around the
house. I put the clothes in the washer for
you.”
She goes, “Did you think to empty the
pockets?”
Oh boy.
She goes, “The bottom of that washer
looks like an old CoinStar machine.”
I go, “I’ll tell you what. Any money
you find in there, you can keep.”
Her response was, “Thanks, Earl. If I
find your red felt tip pen, can I keep that,
too?”
Uh oh. Apparently there is a process
to warshin’ clothes. It is much more
detailed than I would have suspected.
I go, “That’s what I get for tryin’ to
help out? Here you are tired an’ all wore
out, so I’m pitchin’ in, tryin’ to show
some support. Do I get a thank you? No
sir. I even put the chicken in the oven so
you wouldn’t have to come home an’
cook.”
She goes, “Earl, did you take the
chicken out of the plastic wrapper?”
Man, I knew it didn’t smell like her
chicken.
Wake up, America. It just don’t seem
fair. When you finally pitch in an’ help,
then they get all picky about it. Like I
said — you just can’t win.
I’m Earl Pitts, Uhmerikun. l

October 2012 - PREA - The Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association

Transcription

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