February 2010 Vol. 30, No. 3

Editor Gail Knudtson Design Editor Cindy Zuker Ad Assistant Jennifer Hansen Executive Editor Michael Buda Publisher 10 Michael Peters 6 12 Killing Energy Vampires Michigan Country Lines, USPS- Energy parasites are costing you hundreds of dollars a year. 591-710, is published monthly, Brian Sloboda except August and December, 10 with periodicals postage paid at Okemos, MI , and additional offices. It is the official publication of the Michigan Electric Coopera- Star-crossed tive Association, 2859 W. Jolly Rd., Is the Energy Star® rating a reliable guide to energy-efficient products? Yes—mostly, Okemos, MI 48864. but some products aren’t even rated. Megan McKoy Subscriptions are authorized 12 for members of Alger Delta, Cher- ryland, Cloverland, Great Lakes, HomeWorks Tri-County, Midwest Energy, Ontonagon, Presque Isle, Hooked and Thumb electric cooperatives by Producing locally-crafted works of art gives an economic boost to this isolated “Up their boards of directors. Subscrip- North” area. Linda Sirois tions are $6 per year. 14 Postmaster: send address changes to Country Lines, 2859 W. Jolly Rd., Okemos, MI 48864. columns departments Letters to the editor should be sent to the same address. Phone Comment Michael Peters Readers’ Pages 517-351-6322. E-mail: knudtson@ 9 ‘Facts’ take on a life of their own 6 New at the MPSC, Haiti, letters countrylines.com. Association officers are Brian Our Kids Lisa Doublestein Energy Wise Burns, PIE&G, chairman; Ken 16 Vive la différence 12 Coming clean on washers Swope, Midwest Energy, 1st vice chairman; Tony Anderson, Cher- Gardening Neil Moran Home Cooking ryland, 2nd vice chairman; Eric 20 Try something new in your garden 18 Frosting Baker, Wolverine Power, secretary- treasurer; and Steve Boeckman, Great Lakes Energy, past chair- House & Home James Dulley Wolverine Power* man. Michael Peters is president 22 Throwing money up the chimney 24 New gas-fired peaking plant and CEO. Unsolicited letters, photos and Ramblings Country Lines Marketplace manuscripts are welcome. Coun- 30 We hear you 26 Classifieds from readers try Lines, however, will not be responsible for their safe keeping or return. *Not in all editions The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorse- ment of the products or services Pages specific to your electric advertised. utility are: 1, 4-5, 8, 25, 28-29, 32 ourenergy.coop Display ad representatives: Michigan–Al Mateus Mi c h i g a n ’s El e c t r i c 877-649-5620 Co o p e r a t i v e s National–The Weiss Group countrylines.com 480-860-5394 cover National Country Market 512-441-5200 At Cross Village Rug Works, weaving apprentice Jamie Kornmeier demonstrates weaving that can incorporate washed wool (dyed or natural), which is used in its Change of Address: Please notify your electric cooperative. See natural state—right off the sheep’s back—and is a pleasure to touch. page 4 for contact information. Photo: Andree Serra – Elk Rapids – drephotography.com

February 2010 countrylines.com 3 Cherryland Electric Cooperative

This Time It’s Personal have always believed in the “commit- these kids with mentors who meet with BOARD OF DIRECTORS ment to community” philosophy that is them at school or out in the community. a founding principle for electric The interaction is as simple as Tom Van Pelt co-ops. being there to play a game of President IOver the years, I have been an soccer, help with homework, 386-5234 • [email protected] EMT, volunteer fireman, bas- answer a random question, or sit ketball referee, baseball coach, quietly over lunch. Terry Lautner chamber board member and These kids need adults they Senior Vice President 946-4623 • [email protected] happily given personal time and can count on who are willing to money to many, many other be a consistent, positive influ- Melinda Lautner worthy causes. A cooperative and ence to fill the void left by what- Secretary the communities it serves simply Tony Anderson ever gender is missing from their 947-2509 • [email protected] must be intertwined, otherwise General Manager daily life at home. I could fill the the cooperative is simply a utility. rest of the page with statistics Jack Pope I have never wanted to work for a utility, that show the positive outcomes achieved Treasurer 378-2451 • [email protected] and am proud to say that by my defini- by kids that are matched with mentors by tion, I have not. BBBS. The endings truly do change. Betty Maciejewski There are many great community causes For me, it’s not about the statistics— Director and organizations in the service territory it is simply reality, because I am one of 947-0463 • [email protected] served by Cherryland Electric Cooperative. those kids. I lost my father when I was As a cooperative and through individual 18 months old. I know what it takes to RICK DENEWETH employees beyond just me, Cherryland has change the ending without regular help Director a great record for casting a wide net of sup- because there was no organization like 929-4526 • [email protected] port across our region. BBBS where I grew up. John Olson Today, however, I am going to write Because I believe in BBBS, I have made Director about just one organization that I believe my story public in an attempt to help 938-1228 • [email protected] in very strongly. This organization is Big raise money for the organization. With Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern help from Wolverine Power Cooperative Michigan. If you go to the website (big- and Cherryland Electric, I have created a General Manager supnorth.com), you see that their mission website at marathon4kids.com that con- Tony Anderson is: “Helping children in need to reach tains my thoughts on how adults can help Co-op Editor their potential through professionally sup- kids who have lost a parent. I also have Nick Edson ported, one-to-one mentoring relation- a lifetime goal of running a marathon in ships with volunteers.” every state. The website contains a detailed OFFICE HOURS After having served on the board for account of my last 10 marathons. You will Monday-Friday 7 a.m.– 4 p.m. almost five years and in my second year as also find some stories about my growing a Big Brother at Blair Elementary, I like to up in South Dakota, my favorite co-op TELEPHONE NUMBERS supplement this mission statement with columns, and some poems I have written 231-486-9200 or 1-800-442-8616 (MI) a quote from Maria Robinson: “Nobody over the years. can go back and start a new beginning, but When you click your mouse on a story, ADDRESS P.O. Box 298, Grawn, MI 49637 website cherrylandelectric.com

PAY STATION anyone can start today and make a new it will take you to a log-in section where Cherryland Electric office ending.” you will be required to pay $26.20 (26.2 5930 U.S. 31 South, Grawn Making new endings is what Big Broth- miles in every marathon!). Your donation ers Big Sisters (BBBS) is all about. There will go directly into the bank account of are kids who, for reasons beyond their BBBS in Traverse City, which serves every control, are left to grow up in single parent county in your co-op’s service territory. homes. Big Brothers Big Sisters matches This small donation will give you access

4 Michigan Country Lines Your Co-op E–I–E–I–EO Energy Optimization Update

ou may recall details of the state’s new qualify for the program. Further, those hefty Energy Optimization program from kWh targets are spread over both our residen- Yearlier articles here in Country Lines. tial and commercial electric loads. The utility world refers to the program simply as “EO.” This program, beginning in 2009, First Year Review mandated that utilities shall offer incentives So how did we do for our first EO year? for energy improvements. To fund these Looking back, we feel pretty good. In total, incentives, consumers pay a monthly EO we exceeded our goal of 1,025,000 kilowatt hours. In addition to push- The state-mandated program to reduce energy ing over 7,000 CFL’s into use includes residential and commercial cost- the homes of our members,

we coordinated the removal Lewis H. © iStockphoto.com/David saving incentives. of over 140 old energy inef- ficient refrigerators from Even small energy saving steps can add up to savings for Cherryland members fee to the utility (line item “ST OF MICH the electrical grid. PA295 MANDATE” on Cherryland bills). In Cherryland also provided numerous free short, Cherryland must provide its members member classes on energy efficiency. Working converted their exit signage to LED fixtures. with incentives to use less of its product, and with the Northwest Michigan Community Lead Screws International replaced over you pay the tab. Action Agency, we initiated a low-income 100 inefficient metal halide lights with new If you enjoy playing board games, you residential program. By the end of this year, energy efficient fluorescents. And the Pantry would truly enjoy administering an EO pro- we expect to have met both the 2009 and Shelf, located in Grawn next to Cherryland gram. Like any popular board game there is 2010 goals. Electric, replaced old T12 fluorescents with a rule book which, in the case of EO, covers One particularly successful EO program energy efficient T8 fluorescents. defined annual savings targets, generic sav- was a two-day CFL giveaway held in Copem- ings values assigned to each energy efficiency ish and just outside of Kaleva. Members Residential Campaign improvement, and associated dollar incen- received a special invitation by mail to visit To kick off our 2010 residential EO cam- tives. For example, one standard compact locally with Cherryland representatives to paign, we will be including coupons and fluorescent lightbulb (CFL) counts for 44.1 learn about efficient lighting, grab a snack, rebate information in next month’s copy of kilowatt hours (kWh). and take home some free CFLs. We are plan- Country Lines. Be sure to check it out! Since So far so good—for every CFL Cherryland ning similar events for 2010. you are paying into the program, you might can get into the homes of our members we as well take advantage of some energy-saving can count 44.1 kWh towards our annual goal. Commercial Incentives opportunities. But when you consider that Cherryland’s On the commercial side, we helped Centre 2009 EO goal was 1,025,000 kWh and our ICE install new, high-bay fluorescent lights Kevin Cragg is member 2010 goal is 1,750,000 kWh, that’s a lot of over both skating rinks. Leelanau Fruit added services manager at Cherryland CFL bulbs! Fortunately, just about any fixture insulation over their huge deep-freeze unit. Electric Cooperative. or product that saves energy can potentially A few schools upgraded gym lighting and

It’s Personal continued return, and the best I could come up with thing. As a kid, if I could not do it, are my stories. You don’t have to be a run- obtain it or achieve it on my own, I con- to the website for 12 months. The dona- ner. You are simply invited to follow along vinced myself I didn’t need whatever “it” tion request is small because I know how and help some kids at the same time. If was at the time. As an adult, I know I tough the economy is and I prefer many you ever wondered what it takes to run a can’t sustain the Big Brothers Big Sisters small donors over just a few large ones. marathon, check out marathon4kids on program by myself. This should be a community effort at a Facebook or follow marathon4kids on I need your help and your annual dona- level that almost everyone in the commu- Twitter and leave the running to me. tion. Sit down, click a mouse, follow nity can afford. I am generally a private person. Grow- along, read a story, and help a kid change Rather than simply asking for money, I ing up with almost nothing made me an ending. It will be appreciated because, wanted to give each donor something in very reluctant to ask anybody for any- for me, this time it’s personal.

February 2010 countrylines.com 5 readers’ pages Greg White White was Named to MPSC previously asso- ciate director Gov. Jennifer Granholm has of the Institute appointed Greg White to the of Public Util- Michigan Public Service Com- ity Regula- mission (MPSC). White, of tory Research Grand Rapids, most recently and Education at MSU, and served as the MPSC legisla- chaired the National Asso- tive liaison and has been with ciation of Regulatory Utility the agency for 22 years. He is Commissioners subcommit- a graduate of Michigan State tee on nuclear issues and waste University and Grand Val- disposal. ley State University, where he An independent, White’s earned a master’s degree in term expires July 2, 2015. He public administration. replaces Steven Transeth. Teen Forum If you could change one thing about A International your school, what would it be, and why?

hoto – NRE C hoto This is my first year has their own set of cultures, P Myc Manon (left) and Bud Stanley of NRECA International inspect a at Superior Central so students of each different downed power line during their damage assessment in Port au-Prince. and I’m still learning race could teach everyone else a lot of new things about their culture. More racial Electric Co-ops Send International every day about the diversity would help all of us school. But one thing that I students in the long-run! Program Team to Haiti would certainly change is the In college and beyond, we will number of higher level science RECA International, “Providing safe, reliable meet and work with a wide vari- classes. Our school is quite small an arm of the National power will be vital to the mas- ety of races. It is going to be hard (40 kids in our senior class) and Rural Electric Coopera- sive assistance effort now for us to adjust to all the other N most of the higher level classes races around us because all we tive Association, in coordination underway in Haiti,” said Glenn we have to take online, which is with USAID and other interna- English, CEO of NRECA. have ever known is one race. often difficult without a teacher tional and local partners, sent a “NRECA’s International Foun- Sabrina Russell, Mendon handy. I’m planning on becom- four-person rapid-response team dation and our member coop- ing a chiropractor someday and Our technology. It to Haiti to assess the damage of eratives stand ready to help could use some higher level sci- seems like every day the electric power sector follow- with money, materials and ence classes for my senior year. there is an announce- ing that country’s catastrophic manpower.” Jared Ollis, Wetmore ment over the inter- earthquake. The response team appraised com saying that the The NRECA International the short-term measures If I could change server is down. It puts a damper Foundation has been pres- needed to repair critical seg- one thing about on my school day when that ent in Haiti since 1998. The ments of the electric power my school, I would silly announcement comes on. Foundation coordinated dona- system in Port-au-Prince, change the racial I think to myself, “What am I tions of money, material and and identified the emergency diversity because supposed to do on my free hour?” volunteer labor from the U.S. power requirements for hos- nearly all of the students and The technology at our school cooperative community to pitals, health centers, refugee staff are white. We have very seldom works, and when it does help Haitians in Pignon, a camps, and other public facili- few people of any other race. everyone is either on a computer small town in the north-central ties both in Port-au-Prince and We used to have a couple of or near one. I love how I can get region, establish the Coop- border towns along the Hai- Hispanic families, a couple of a great education in my small erative Electrique de Pignon tian-Dominican frontier. African American families, and town and know everyone in my (COOPELEP), the first elec- The team also coordinated an Indian family, but nearly all school. If the technology at our tric co-op in Haiti. the installation of emergency of these families have relocated to school was always in top-notch The NRECA Foundation is generators at the principal hos- other schools. If we had a variety condition then my school would contributing $50,000 to the pital in Port-au-Prince. of races in school, we could learn be amazing. initial Haiti earthquake relief All donations made through about other cultures. Each race Elena Smith, Howard City effort, and is spearheading a the International Foundation’s fundraising effort for addi- website (nrecafoundation.coop) Calling electric co-op sophomores and juniors! You could participate in this forum, attend a three-day camp, or even win a free trip to Washington, tional contributions from the will be restricted for the Foun- D.C., and see our government in action. Learn more about co-op sponsored greater NRECA membership. dation’s Haiti Relief Efforts. youth programs at countrylines.com, and click on “Youth.”

6 Michigan Country Lines Letters

we should have edited—is that $320 after 20 years. The “basic you’re Hillary and put it into the oil- or water-filled heaters savings account” would likely cattle futures. You might want adal store some of the heat and release be far, far less. to run your own number check

amian G it over a longer period of time, Even if the person continued on this one. making the area being heated to add $100 to the investment Dr. Willard Lyman, via email more comfortable by avoiding the every year for the 20 years,

D tockphoto.com/ on-and-off bursts of heat created the 6 percent annual growth The author responds: “Kudos © i S by straight resistance heaters— wouldn’t even get to $4,000. to some calculating readers. Wild Blueberry Hero the ones with glowing coils. The Please be more responsible The investment specialist As I read the article about the heavily-marketed infrared heat- with your math. quoted admitted the math in “Wild Blueberry Hero” in ers fall into this category. Again, Randall Keicher his example was a mistake. To the Jan/Feb. issue of Coun- they don’t heat your house for less; reach the promised $42,000, try Lines, everything that they’ll heat a room if you turn the Some numbers caught my a family would have to add Charles Day said about his heat way down in the rest of your eye ... a $100 investment in a about $1,000/year to the initial Hero sounded real familiar to house. –ed. savings account can become investment. The example was me. As I read further and saw $12,000 in 20 years? Surely intended as a lesson on the power the name of his hero, George LED Christmas Lights you jest. Please inform me of of investment with compounding Koskimaki, I about fell over. We have lots of LED Christ- such a savings account so that I interest. Instead it illustrates Mr. K. (as we use to call mas lights. Every year we have can invest in it, too. By my cal- how essential it is to teach kids him) was my biology teacher a string or two (two this year) culations, a $100 deposit at a financial literacy skills. With a at Roseville High School quit working. So, our experi- generous 3 percent interest rate strong foundation—and the help in Roseville. I graduated in ence is that they last a year or and a monthly compounding of online financial tools like those 1951. He was a wonderful two. So, let’s see: cost more, over 20 years becomes almost offered at mijumpstartcoalition. teacher, and I never heard of last shorter, cost less to run….. $200. Same with the stock org our kids won’t be misled by any student that felt any dif- hmmmm, not too sure they’re investment, unless, of course, others....well-meaning or not!” ferent. I attended a school worth the money or hassle. reunion about four years ago Bill Ross, Shelby and had the privilege of meet- Great ing and talking to him there. Will Miss Hough gift idea! 2-for-1 Book Sale! You were a Hero in many eyes, I received my January copy of Mr. K. Keep picking those MCL all the way down here in On Their Own Power The only book to tell the Michigan electric co-op blueberries, and God Bless. southern Texas and my heart story, from their birth in the 1930s. Filled with A former student, sank when I read “Farewell to first-hand testimonials and experiences of Joan (Gildenpfennig) Jaworski, Paradise.” How Mr. Hough the people who blazed the trail for electric Port Austin touched my love for Michi- co-ops. Written by Ray Kuhl, gan, and I will indeed miss former general manager of the Heater Efficiencies his column. The stories I have Michigan Electric Cooperative In the article on space heaters, about paradise, chipmunks, Association. author Sloboda points out that and the great outdoors don’t Both books View from the Top all electric heaters are 100 per- compare to his column, which only A collection of Jim Hough’s cent energy efficient. Yet earlier I look for every time I get my $ columns from the past 10 years in the article he writes that oil new issue. Thank you, for 6 Includes tax and shipping. in Michigan Country Lines. or water-filled heaters are more bringing Michigan to me, Mr. No substitutions. efficient. I’m confused. Can Hough­—1,500 miles away— Also order on countrylines.com/store someone clarify this, please? when I need it the most! Book Order Form Tom McDonald Christa Chisholm, Sugar Land, TX

Name (please print) A good question. All electric Investing Math heaters operate at 100 percent I was shocked to read the arti- Address efficiency, in that the heating cle by Linda Wacyk (“It’s Janu- elements produce one unit of ary. Got Bills?”) that claimed City/State/Zip heat for every unit of electricity. a $100 investment in a basic (This does not mean they cost savings account would grow Phone to $12,000 in 20 years and less to operate than other heaters, $ such as gas, wood or propane, that a 6 percent bond or stock Number of book sets: _____ X 6 = ______because the fuel for those heat- would grow that same $100 Credit card payment: ____ VISA ____ MasterCard ers may cost less than electricity to $42,000+. Her math is way when it comes to the amount of off—6 percent annual growth Account # heat they can produce.) What on an initial principal of $100 the writer means—and what would only grow to just over Name on Card Exp. Date Make checks payable and mail to: MECA February 2010 6 2859 W. Jolly Rd., Okemos, MI 48864 7 Cherryland Offers Scholarships The opportunity of a lifetime...

Adults: Cherryland Electric Cooperative ...to make new friends is offering a $500 Adult Education Scholar- ship to one of its members. and win a free trip to The scholarship goes toward covering Washington, D.C.! the cost of a course or courses taken in a calendar year. This scholarship will be awarded based on need, grades and community service, and is a one-time award. Members may request an application by emailing Nick Edson with their name and address to [email protected], calling him at 486-9222, or writing him at Cherryland, 5930 U.S.-31 South, Grawn, MI 49637. Applica- tions are due by Friday, April 2, 2010.

Students: High school seniors whose

parents or guardians currently receive Jr. Justice, C. © iStockphoto.com/Joseph monthly electric service from Cherryland and live in our service area may apply for a $2,400 college scholarship ($600 for each of four years). Selection is based on GPA, extracurricu- lar activities, community involvement and/ By attending Co-op Teen Days in April—a three-day event sponsored by or after school employment. A minimum your electric co-op—with students from across the state, you’ll learn about required GPA is 2.75 on a four-point sys- tem. To continue receiving the scholarship, electrical safety, energy efficiency, and a student must maintain a minimum college some valuable career information. You course load of 12 credits per term or semester Don't miss out! may then be chosen to represent your and receive a 2.5 GPA. Teen Days: April 28-30 co-op at the Rural Electric Youth Tour to Applications are due by Friday, April 2, Washington, D.C., in June, and along with 2010. Students may apply in three ways: Youth Tour: June 12-17 1,200 students from across the U.S., you’ll 1. Complete the form below; or, go on tours, see the sites, and even visit 2. Contact your high school guidance U.S. legislators and their staff members on Capitol Hill. counselor; or, 3. Contact Nick Edson, communications If you’re a 10th or 11th grade high school student who will be 16 or 17 coordinator at Cherryland Electric, as noted by June 2010, and your family receives their electric service from Cherryland in the adult scholarship section above. Electric, you are eligible to apply. For an application or more information, call or write: Amanda Olds, P.O. Box 298, Grawn, MI 49637; 231-486-9254; or email [email protected]. 2010 Student Scholarship Learn more about Michigan Electric Cooperative Teen Days and Youth Application Request Tour at countrylines.com, and click on “Youth.” Also visit youthtour.coop to see more videos and photos. Name______

Address______

City/State/Zip______

Home Phone______

Cherryland Account #______

Mail to: CEC Student Scholarship 5930 U.S.-31 South P.O. Box 298 Grawn, MI 49637 8 Michigan Country Lines comment Michael Peters

OurEnergy.coop ‘Facts’ Take on a Life of Their Own

ecently I received a forwarded email, The “facts” are that the ary through October 2009 the kind many of us get every day, weather report did not come was $.88 per kilowatt hour from a friend who read a story, pur- from Northern Michigan nor (kWh) generated. Larger solar ported to be true, about a weather was it reported in the Mar- installations (for example, a Rreport supposedly printed in the Marquette quette Mining Journal, and it 500-kilowatt flat roof mounted Mining Journal a few years ago. The weather does not appear that it ever system, not including back-up) report went as follows: was a real weather report. The are closer to $.20 per kWh in “report” can be traced back to sunny climates. However, in “Up here in the Northern part of Michigan an October 2005 snowstorm cloudy climates the same sys- we just recovered from a Historic event --- that hit the Dakotas, Montana tem would have a generation may I even say a “Weather Event” of “Bib- and Wyoming. A National Michael Peters is cost of about $.43 per kWh, lical Proportions” --- with a historic bliz- Weather Service report said president and CEO of according to industry sources zard of up to 44" inches of snow and winds the storm had been the earli- the Michigan Electric (solarbuzz.com/SolarPrices). Cooperative Electricity from conven- to 90 MPH that broke trees in half, knocked est on record to hit the area. Association. His email down utility poles, stranded hundreds of And, a request did in fact go address is mpeters@ tional sources is about 5 to 7 motorists in lethal snow banks, closed ALL to FEMA seeking assistance. countrylines.com. cents per kWh. roads, isolated scores of communities and cut As for hearty citizens plucking power to 10’s of thousands. And guess what; stranded motorists from their cars, I am Claim: “The number of net metering no one howled for the government. FEMA sure that did happen, although the bulk of customers in Michigan has doubled, which was not called on to send assistance. Our the digging fell to police, emergency work- demonstrates the high interest electric Mayor’s did not blame the President or any- ers and the National Guard, which were customers have in generating renewable one else. Our Governor did not blame anyone mobilized to help, as is often the case fol- electricity at home and selling back excess either. CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC did lowing serious weather events. As for the power to their electric utility. not visit - or even report on this category 5 pictures, it turns out they were from the Fact: Yes, the number of net metering snow storm. opening of the Trans Labrador Highway customers has doubled each year. In real No one looted. Nobody - I mean Nobody in Northeastern Canada and were going numbers, the state had fewer than 50 net demanded the government do something. around the internet in 2004. metering projects statewide in 2007 and Nope, we just melted the snow for water. Sent What this story does show me is that we are now up to about 250. Considering out caravans of SUV’s to pluck people out of often you have to take most every “story” there are approximately 4.5 million electric snow-engulfed cars. The truck drivers pulled with a grain of salt and work to separate customers statewide, I might question the people out of snow banks and didn’t ask for a the “facts” from the “truth.” For example, statement that this demonstrates a “high penny.” there was recently a report on the status of interest” among electric customers in pro- net metering (an incentive where owners ducing electricity at their homes and busi- The email story included amazing photos of small renewable energy systems get retail nesses with renewable energy. of snow drifts so high they towered over credit for at least part of the electricity they road crews working to clear the way. It generate) in Michigan. The report cited As with the story of the winter weather turns out that although some of the “facts” several conclusions that caused me to dig report, you sometimes have to look past in the email were true, the story was not. in a little deeper, and here’s what I found: the interesting parts and dig into the facts. It seems various versions of the story have Although the “facts” may be true, the con- been circulating on the internet for several Claim: Solar PV (photovoltaic energy) clusions drawn from those facts may not years. Like many of the forwarded emails is approaching price parity, in other words, be the whole story. we get, the mixing of some “facts” and a the cost of generating electricity by solar compelling story makes for good read- devices is becoming competitive with other ing, takes on a life of its own, and is often sources of electricity. changed to meet the readers’ or sender’s Fact: Actual data (teammidwest.com/ needs. I am sure if I lived in North Dakota documents/EconomicAnalysisJan-Oct. the “weather bulletin” would have been pdf) from Midwest Energy’s renewable printed in the Bismarck Tribune. energy park in Cassopolis shows that the cost of generation from their 4-kilowatt solar installation for the period Janu-

February 2010 countrylines.com 9 Energy Vampires Killingampires have frightened DVD players, DVRs, and cable or satellite people for generations. boxes also use energy when they’re off. The fangs, the wings, the The problem is significant. According to a immortality: it’s scary stuff. study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab- While that’s all legend—a oratory, the average home loses 8 percent of its subject for movies and Halloween cos- Energy parasites tumes—aV different breed of vampire could Common energy vampires include: be lurking in your home right now. These are costing you n TVs vampires don’t drink blood; they consume n hundreds of electricity. Stereos An “energy vampire,” also called a phantom n VCRs, DVD players, and DVRs dollars a year. or parasitic load, is any device that consumes n Cable/satellite boxes Brian Sloboda electricity when it’s turned “off.” These n Computers electronic devices provide the modern-day n Battery chargers conveniences we love, but they also waste energy and cost us money. monthly energy consumption to these energy Vampire loads can be found in almost vampires. A full 75 percent of the power used every room, but a favorite spot is the enter- to run home electronics is consumed when tainment center. When the TV is turned those appliances are turned off, according to off, it isn’t really off. It’s sitting there, the U.S. Department of Energy. Typical Power waiting patiently for someone to press According to the Arlington, VA-based the “on” button on the remote— National Rural Electric Cooperative Asso- Consumption and waiting uses energy. TVs ciation, the average electric co-op residen- also use energy to remember tial member consumes roughly 13,900 of Household channel line-ups, language kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year. If 8 percent Items in Watts preferences, and the of this power is consumed when electron- Standby time. VCRs, ics are turned off, the average home wastes Device On Mode Off 1,112 kilowatt hours annually. Assuming a cost of $0.10 per kWh, the average house- 40-inch LCD TV...... 200...... –...... 1-3 hold spends $111 per year to pay for these 42-inch Plasma TV...... 240-320...... –.....1-30 vampire loads. DVD player...... 13...... 10...... 2.3 The good news is that a sharp stake isn’t necessary to kill these vampires. To eliminate Stereo...... 123...... –.....23.4 the power consumption of an energy vampire, Xbox 360...... 173..... 168...... 2.2 Nintendo Wii...... 17...... 10...... 1 Power tool battery charger....33.7...... 4.2...... – Coffee maker...... 1,100...... 70...... 0.8

© iStockphoto.com © iStockphoto.com/Robert Payne 10 Michigan Country Lines simply unplug the device or plug it into a power strip and use the power strip’s switch to kill the electricity to everything plugged into it. Power strips work like an extension of the Tracking the wall outlet, and they cut all power to plugs completely when they are switched off. Of course, there’s always a catch. Some Electricity You Use devices use standby power to make life more at potato chips straight out of the approach to understanding electric con- convenient. If you unplug your TV or cable/ bag and they’ll be gone in no time. sumption, the in-home display may be satellite receiver box, what happens? When E Pour them into a bowl first and they worth exploring. You could use the knowl- plugged back in, the TV or set top box usu- disappear a little slower. edge that an in-house display provides to ally will have to run its initial setup program. The same goes for electricity. Learn- change the way you use electricity in your Depending on the particular device, it could ing to track how much electricity your home and save some money.” take up to 20 minutes for channels to be rec- home consumes remains a good way There’s also the old-fashioned way of ognized or for the user to reset preferences, to start managing electric use billed by tracking electricity use: reading your meter. which isn’t something most are willing to your electric co-op in kilowatt-hours As your home draws current from power do every day. (kWh). lines, your electricity meter keeps a But there are numerous devices in the Devices are appearing in stores steady record of every watt used. home that can be unplugged easily and that provide a constant, digital Many meters today are safely, or plugged into a power strip with- reading of how much electricity digital, replac- out causing any inconvenience. Computer your home or even individual ing the equipment, such as printers, scanners, desk- appliances are using. One type, older— top computers and broadband modems, can like the Kill A Watt™ meter, though still be “unplugged” without harm. Cell phone, fits between an electrical out- reliable— tool and other battery chargers should also let and an appliance to give design that be unplugged when not in use. Even though you an instant reading of uses spinning the charger is not charging anything, it is how much electricity the disks and dials. still drawing power. appliance draws. Digital ver- A new device called the “smart” strip is Another type connects sions make track- beginning to find its way onto store shelves. to your electricity meter ing energy use a Smart power strips allow you to plug devices and wirelessly relays breeze: jot down into a specially marked section of the strip so use information to a the number you see, they will still have power when turned off. small screen inside. and check it again in Other devices that can be turned off safely are Called an “in-home a month. The differ- plugged into the rest of the strip. This allows display,” the device ence between the two you to turn off parts of a home entertainment looks like a wire- represents the amount system, such as the stereo, DVD player, or less weather of electricity that has home theater audio system, without losing monitor and been used for that month, the ability to record programs to a DVR or can help make or a typical billing period. having to reprogram the TV every time you consumers Check it more frequently to want to watch a show. more aware get an idea of how you use For devices that cannot be turned off, con- of their electricity in a given week, or sumers should look for those with that are daily energy use. even day by day. Energy Star® certified or ask the salesperson Research conducted by To read an older model about the device’s standby power consump- the Cooperative Research Net- meter (with spinning dials), tion. There can be big differences in power work (CRN), the research arm of the write down the numbers as consumption between manufacturers, and National Rural Electric Cooperative shown on the small dials from left to right. sometimes even between models from the Association, shows that most consum- Some of the dials spin clockwise, some same manufacturer. ers who have an in-home display use counter-clockwise, but record each num- As in the movies, it is impossible to kill off less energy than those without one. ber closest to the dial hand. Once you have all of the energy vampires in your home—but And even after homeowners stop pay- the full reading it can be compared to later every one that’s vanquished will mean that ing attention to the devices, most still readings, as described above. much less of a bite out of your wallet. use 1 to 3 percent less energy than If you have any questions about reading before. your meter or learning more about how Brian Sloboda is a program manger specializing “The question of whether in-home much electricity your home uses, please in energy efficiency for the Cooperative Research displays catch on and become perma- contact your electric co-op. Network, which evaluates and applies technolo- nent fixtures in the American home is gies that help electric cooperatives control costs, still open,” explains Brian Sloboda, pro- Scott Gates writes on consumer and cooper- increase productivity, and enhance service to gram manager with CRN. “However, ative affairs for the National Rural Electric their consumers. for anyone wanting to take a proactive Cooperative Association.

February 2010 countrylines.com 11 Energy Wise

Coming Clean on Washers Wash clothes efficiently without getting caught in the spin cycle.

ashing machines perform a making a purchase. fairly simple function: get- An energy-efficient ting dirty clothes clean. washing machine can Yet prospective buyers can save the typical hom- Wbe overwhelmed with all of the different eowner around $50 models and “bells and whistles” available– a year, or $540-$600 top-loading, front-loading, high-efficiency over the life of the (HE), water-saver, steaming, and wrinkle appliance. Efficient removing, to name only a few. machines also save Energy-efficient washing machines, more than 5,000 gal- easily identified by the Energy Star® label, lons of water annu- are a priority for any cost-conscious con- ally. The energy and sumer’s list. Approximately 93 percent of water efficiencies of all American households have a clothes clothes washers are washer, adding up to 102 million clothes measured according washers across America. About 9 million to their modified energy factor (MEF) and needed to clean clothes. Front-loading washing machines are sold each year, and water factor (WF). These criteria generally models also squeeze more water out of efficient models account for slightly more limit Energy Star qualification to front- clothes by using spin speeds that are two than one-third of sales. loading and advanced top-loading models. to three times faster than conventional Energy Star-rated washing machines Front-loading clothes washers use a washers, reducing both drying time and cost slightly more than their less-efficient horizontal or tumble-axis basket to lift energy use. counterparts, anywhere from $400-1,500, and drop clothing into the water, instead Energy Star-qualified top-loading depending on other features selected. To of rubbing clothes around a central agi- models typically use spray valves to rinse get a handle on how much electricity a tator in a full tub. These units use less clothes, rather than a new tub of water. particular unit will draw, pay close atten- energy than conventional clothes wash- This method not only reduces the energy tion to the yellow energy guide before ers by reducing the amount of hot water required for water heating, but typically saves an average of 15 gallons of water per wash, compared with conventional clothes washers. Qualified top-loading models also boast sensors to monitor and adjust incoming water temperature. This keeps water hot enough to dissolve the detergent and pro- vide high-performance cleaning, but cool enough to save energy and minimize hot water damage to fabrics. One limitation of efficient top-loading washers is that many models do not offer a high-temperature standard wash option. By looking for the Energy Star logo and shopping at a store with knowledgeable staff, you should be able to leave with a new washing machine that will, over time, pay for itself.

Source: NRECA’s Cooperative Research Network

12 Michigan Country Lines Star-crossed Is the Energy Star rating a reliable guide to energy-efficient products? Yes–mostly, but some products aren’t even rated. Megan McKoy ots of Michiganders are cutting down administration in the Northwest—discovered on their energy use: improving a 76 percent of American households recognize home’s insulation, turning lights off, the Energy Star brand. Of these consumers, or exchanging traditional lightbulbs 73 percent purchased an Energy Star-labeled Lfor more efficient lighting options. So when product within the last year. consumers shop for new appliances it’s com- But not all products are rated by Energy mon to focus on finding a product with an Star. The program gauges the average energy Energy Star® rating. efficiency of different appliance technologies But how do appliances get this rating, and and evaluates whether there’s potential for why don’t all appliances have them? The increased efficiency—generally at least 25 answers may surprise you. percent higher than minimum standards. Computers and monitors were the first According to Energy Star, the most efficient products to receive an efficiency rating from electric resistance water heaters on the mar- Energy Star, a program launched in 1992 by ket have an Energy Factor of 0.95, about 5 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency percent more efficient than the minimum and U.S. Department of Energy. Since then, federal standard. Since there’s little room for more than 60 product categories have been improvement, Energy Star does not have a added, from dishwashers to windows and category for the product. DVD players. According to the program, “The technology doesn’t qualify for the Energy Star-rated products deliver the same Energy Star program—not because it’s not or better performance as comparable models efficient, but because it’s already as efficient while using less energy and saving money. as possible,” says Steve Koep, a regional man- “We’re recognizing the top performers ager for RHEEM/Marathon Water Heaters. when it comes to energy efficiency,” explains “When it comes to purchasing an electric Katharine Kaplan, Energy Star program man- water heater, consumers should consider ager. She notes the initiative works closely durability and energy factor [EF], a mandatory with folks in a wide variety of areas, includ- evaluation done on all water heaters regard- ing industry experts, governments, nonprofit less of fuel source. EF takes into account fuel organizations and utilities. “We agree on a use, standby energy loss, and insulation under fair way to test products. Manufacturers test simulated actual conditions.” products using that procedure, submit the Last October The New York Times revealed data to us, and we say, ‘These are the top some manufacturers of household appliances performers. This is how much energy you were testing products for Energy Star-certifi- can use to be considered a leader by Energy cation internally instead of using independent Star.’ Generally, that means you’re in the top laboratories. In response, Energy Star ramped 25 percent.” up oversight of product ratings and by the For example, qualified refrigerators must end of the year had revoked the Energy Star be at least 15 percent more efficient than the label for some refrigerators while raising the minimum federal standard. Energy Star-rated bar for the efficiency expected from TVs. TVs consume 3 watts or less when switched Energy Star remains a driving force not off, compared to a standard TV, which con- just in the United States, but in other coun- sumes almost 6 watts on average. By push- ties, such as Australia, Canada, Japan, New ing for the manufacture of more efficient Zealand, Taiwan, and the European Union. products, Energy Star estimates the rating Federal energy efficiency tax credits for appli- system saved businesses, organizations, and ances and home heating and air systems consumers $19 billion in 2008 alone. typically require qualifying products to be Consumers are taking advantage of the Energy Star-rated. program. A survey by the Consortium for If you’re in the market for an appliance and Energy Efficiency—a group including mem- have questions about which product might be bers like the quasi-governmental Tennessee best for you, feel free to contact your electric Valley Authority and Bonneville Power cooperative. To learn more about the Energy Administration, a federal power marketing Star program, visit energystar.gov.

February 2010 countrylines.com 13 Producing locally-crafted works of art gives an economic boost to this isolated “Up North” area. Linda Sirois

ibrantly-colored wool rugs cover the walls and floors inside the Cross Village Rug Works. The rug Vdesigns are an array of familiar northwoods flora and fauna: trout, squir- rels, blueberries and bears, as well as local landmarks and Native American themes. The Rug Works, a member of Great Lakes Energy Cooperative, is an exciting newcomer to the tiny community of Cross Village, nestled about 20 miles north of Harbor Springs, at the end of the scenic “Tunnel of Trees” drive on M-119. It’s housed in a unique log-and-stone building crafted by the builder of Legs Inn, a historic restaurant just across the street. “It kind of takes your breath away when you first walk in the door,” says Rug Works gallery manager, Ellen VanderZee. “It’s amazing, really.” The shop offers an array of woolen products, including rug wool and knitting yarns, warm shawls, felted wool goods, and woven and pictorial rugs. The vividly- dyed yarns, detailed original designs, and

Photos – Andree Serra, DrePhotography.net Serra, – Andree Photos weighty heft of these artworks demonstrate a high level of craftsmanship. “They’re really heirloom pieces,” explains Cheryl Reed, one of the Rug

14 Michigan Country Lines Cross Village Art Galleries Cross Village Rug Works Lakeshore Drive • 231-526-7849 crossvillagerugworks.com Winter: M-T-TH-FRI-SAT, 11–4 Summer (Memorial Day): Daily, 11–7 Three Pines Studio and Gallery 5959 W. Levering • 231-526-9447 threepinesstudio.com Summer (Memorial Day): Daily, 11–7 Cross Village Outpost 3 miles E. of Cross Village Handcrafts, including Ottawa quill boxes made from birchbark, Jasmine Petrie, wool dyer. sweetgrass and porcupine quills.

Works’ organizers. The pictorial rugs Reed continues. informal partnership with North Central are created by area artisans using punch- The Rug Works group is made up of Michigan College in Petoskey through needle tapestry with regionally harvested committed people with a larger vision. art instructor Shanna Robinson, who wool that is dyed and custom designed In 2007, at Reed’s kitchen table, she and developed classes in dyeing and weaving. on-site. MaryAnn VanLokeren became excited Several Rug Works members have enrolled Reed recites a list of yarn blends that by the possibilities of establishing a in Robinson’s fiber courses in order to take includes the spun wool of rare sheep cottage industry that would bring an those skills back to the workshop. breeds, such as the blue-faced Leicester, economic boost to Cross Village. They “People don’t realize how much this Lincoln long-wool, and Cotswold (direct incorporated as a nonprofit organization place is affecting the people up here in descendents of the flock brought over by and rely partially on donations to meet the village,” adds VanderZee. As an area Henry Ford to Greenfield Village in the their operating costs. Their goal is to native, she sees the ripple effect of Rug 1920s). These heirloom sheep varieties become self-sufficient within the next two Works’ activities. Besides the 25 people are nurtured locally by some of the Rug to three years. Reed points to the erratic actively working, she points to several Works’ members in order to propagate employment options of this rural area after local farms, the people who process the and preserve the unique qualities of their tourism quiets down each autumn. “We wool, and the many satisfied customers wool. “We want the yarn we use to have wanted to find something—a skill set— among those who are benefiting. Using a very high degree of strength and sheen,” that would be a real craft that they could quality materials, new skills and integrity, says Reed. “We want a luster, and jewel- work in their homes,” Reed says. To date, these dedicated rural residents are helping toned colors.” They mix in a medium Rug Works has trained over 20 people in themselves while producing truly regional grade, shorter-fibered wool from the sixth the rug-making craft. works of art. generation Matchett family sheep farm Ties to the local community are a crucial “When you see what an impact it [Rug near Charlevoix, to also give the rugs “a component of “our bigger mission of Works] has on the people around you...it’s resiliency; a ‘spring’ under your foot,” education,” says Reed. They’ve forged an inspiring, really,” says VanderZee.

Top, left: Ellen VanderZee, Cross Village Rug Works’ gallery director. Bottom, L-R: Sheep raised by Cheryl Reed, one of the Rug Works’ organizers, include Polly, Grace, Aspen (part Wensleydale) and Priscilla (Leicester Longwool cross), who help provide wool for the shop. A careful combination of the wool and vivid dyes produce unique textures, weights and colors. The three-trout and dragonfly rugs are originals by the Rug Works’ design team. A punch-needle tapestry rug made by Polly Hud- son, gallery human resources director, depicts Holy Childhood Catholic Church in Harbor Springs before it was remodeled. Punch-needle classes and kids’ workshops are offered to the public, and their designers can convert photos or other material into rug designs for custom orders. Several of the gallery’s designs are also inspired by regional Native American beading patterns. Photo – Linda Sirois Photo

February 2010 countrylines.com 15 OUR KIDS Lisa Doublestein

Vive la Différence French for “Long live the difference” (between the sexes).

y youngest daughter’s claim to study found that when their moms made fame is her vocabulary. She said a fearful face when they approached a toy, her own name at six months and 12-month-old boys went for it anyway, while now, at age two, she carries on girls slowed their path. Mactual conversations, like, with adjectives. Boys end up in the ER more for inju- Because my mother taught me to blush at ries, their gross motor skills take off during compliments, whenever someone praises preschool years, and they prefer watching Marta’s speaking skills I say something like, mechanical motion over human interaction. “Oh, you know little girls! They love to talk.” They’re also ahead of their female friends herissa Roebuck My friend Ellen, who has two boys the same when it comes to figuring out the laws of ages as my girls, grunts at this. “I don’t know,” motion (if they push a train through a tunnel, she says. “She’s really saying quite a bit.” it will pop out the other side, for example). Her boys, on the other hand, are dissecting While chromosomes are at work when our C © iStockphoto.com/ mechanical trains and developing complex babies learn to play early-on, our children sons help with the dishes or the preparation climbing systems to reach their cups or toys, are sweet and naughty, smart and challenged of food, because I know what that means and they understand the rules of every sport- entirely in their own ways, no matter their sex. to me as a wife when my husband helps me ing event known to man. What’s important for parents to remember out. I believe that we pass on our views to Research shows that our little ones are is that when we model behavior—good or these impressionable lives during the early following universal trends. As early as three bad—it’s imitated. years.” hours of age, girls excel at imitation—a pre- Jodie Withey, mom to two girls and two It’s a concept many parents take to heart. cursor to back-and-forth interaction. They’re boys in Harbor Springs, doesn’t mind letting Respect, compassion, confidence and kind- more attuned to the sound of human voices nurture give nature a little kick in the pants. ness aren’t found on a DNA code—they’re than boys, and start using gestures like point- “I believe I’m a better woman because I know taught at home. And whether a child is a ing or waving earlier. At 16 months, they how to run a lawn mower, fix a leaky pipe, tomboy or all boy, made of sugar and spice produce as many as 100 words, while the build a swing set, wire a light and check the or snips and snails, it’s all about how they average boy uses about 30. oil in the car,” she said, “so I do try to teach follow their passions in life that helps them Their brothers, on the other hand, express my daughters things that may fall into the become well-rounded adults. fear later than girls, and less often. One ‘male’ category. At the same time, I have my Speaking Out Common Myths About it plummets. Ten-year-old girls report feeling While parents may notice innate incli- Boys and Girls image-obsessed and depressed because they nations in their children, kids aren’t don’t look like the models and actresses they always pleased to see them play out n Boys bully more than girls see in the media. Between 20 and 40 percent later in life as stereotypes. Girls actually bully as much as or more than of 10-year-olds diet, and 73 percent of girls A group of Swedish sixth-graders boys. While physical assaults are more com- between the ages of eight and 10 dress and filed a complaint against Toys R Us mon among boys, girls bully using social talk like teenagers to “fit in.” over the company’s 2008 Christmas aggression. n Boys get in trouble more now than ever catalog, decrying the gender stereo- typing in the product photos. The n Boys are better at math, computers Justice Department statistics show that the and science group’s teacher told the local paper population of juvenile males in prison is only that filing the complaint came after In the U.S., girls perform as well as boys on half of its historic high. The number of high more than two years of the students’ standardized math tests. Girls are now taking school senior boys using illegal drugs has fallen work on gender roles. “When I see that calculus in high school at the same rate as by almost half compared with the 1980 rate, and only girls play with certain things, boys, and the percentage of U.S. doctorates the percentage of high school boys drinking then, as a guy, I don’t want it,” said in the mathematical sciences awarded to heavily is now the lowest on record. 13-year-old Hannes Psajd. women has climbed to 30 percent in the 21st n Girls are the only sensitive sex century, up from 5 percent in the 1950s. Not true, cry legions of parents. In fact, one mother’s face displayed a ‘stony expression,’ n Girls have low self-esteem researcher who studied babies during their first but the boys could not. More boys would get Research says that fourth grade is the peak few months of life found that a higher propor- easily distressed, they cried more, and were year for girls’ self-esteem, but in fifth grade tion of girls could calm themselves when their unable to calm themselves.

16 Michigan Country Lines February 2010 countrylines.com 17 Home Cooking

Vanilla Buttercream In a medium bowl, beat butter Fluff Frosting with mixer on medium speed until creamy. Beat in marsh- 2 sticks unsalted butter, mallow cream, blending well. softened Beat in powdered sugar and 1 7-7.25 oz. jar marshmallow vanilla. Increase speed and beat cream 3-4 minutes until fluffy. Makes 1 c. powdered sugar 3 cups frosting. Use immedi- 1 t. vanilla ately or chill for later use. Eileen Hughes, Dayton, OH

Lemon Meringue © iStockphoto.com/Pattie Calfy Frosting an electric mixer bowl above the water. Whisk the sugar, egg 3/4 c. sugar whites, water, cream of tartar 2 large egg whites and salt in the bowl by hand. 3 T. water Set the bowl above the boiling Frosting 1/2 t. cream of tartar water and beat with an electric The right frosting makes the cake! Find many more 1/8 t. fine salt hand mixer at medium-high 1 T. finely grated lemon zest speed until stiff peaks form, recipes at countrylines.com. 1 t. pure vanilla extract about 7 minutes. Remove from heat; beat in lemon zest Bring a few inches of water to and vanilla. Crème De Menthe Combine sugar, cocoa and boil in a saucepan that can hold Jennifer Hansen, Mason Frosting cream cheese in a large mixing bowl. Beat well until creamy, 1-lb. box powdered sugar adding a few drops of milk if Quick & Easy Whipped 3 heaping t. cocoa necessary to achieve spreading Cream Frosting an additional 3 minutes, scrap- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened consistency. Spread on cooled ing the bottom and sides of the milk cake. Beat whipping cream 8 oz. cream cheese, softened bowl, until mixture is smooth 1 c. whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Gently 8 oz. Cool Whip®, thawed and no sugar residue remains. 3 t. green Crème De Menthe stir in Crème De Menthe. 1/2 c. sugar Using a spatula, gently fold shaved chocolate Spread over frosted cake. Top 1/2 t. clear vanilla, coconut or in Cool Whip. Beat for 1-2 with shaved chocolate. Chill almond extract minutes on high, until mixture until ready to serve. is smooth and creamy. Use as Paula Brousseau, Bellaire Beat cream cheese and vanilla cake filling or frosting. Double in a deep bowl at low speed for recipe if you are filling and 30 seconds, then at high for frosting a cake. Refrigerate any Deluxe Chocolate Melt chocolate chips in a double 2 minutes. Continue beating leftover for up to a week. Frosting boiler over boiling water or in a while slowly adding sugar. Beat Karen Wormnest, Clarkston microwave. Stir until smooth; 2 c. chocolate chips set aside. In a large mixing bowl, 1 1/2 c. butter, softened cream butter and confectioners’ German Chocolate according to package direc- 3 c. confectioners’ sugar sugar, beating well. Add melted Torte Frosting tions; cool and remove from 4 t. vanilla chocolate and vanilla; beat until pan. In a mixing bowl, beat light and fluffy. Frosts a two- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened cream cheese, sugar, vanilla layer cake. 2/3 c. packed brown sugar and salt until fluffy. Fold in Janice Harvey, Charlevoix 1 t. vanilla extract whipped cream. Cut cake in 1 t. salt half, then cut each half into 2 c. whipping cream, whipped two horizontal layers, making Fast Frosting Gently combine thawed 2 T. crushed Heath® Bar four layers total. Place one layer whipped topping and gela- on a serving platter. Spread 8 oz. Cool Whip® tin until well mixed. Spread Line a 9x13-inch cake pan with 1/4 of the frosting; repeat 3 oz. pkg. any flavor gelatin on cooled cake. Try assorted with heavy duty foil, leaving until all layers are frosted. gelatin flavors with different extra foil on each side for easy Sprinkle crushed bar bits on cake flavors. Interesting and removal. Mix cake according top. Cover and refrigerate 8 delicious. to package directions. Pour hours or overnight. Karen Gamelin, Munising batter into foil lined pan. Bake Linda Geddes, Newaygo

18 Michigan Country Lines Never have to buy fuel — oil, gas, kerosene, wood — ever again! Quick Caramel Frosting Your Benefits with Hydro-Sil: n Zone controlled heating cost with Hydro-Sil n No service contracts. Lifetime warranty. 2/3 c. butter n Safe, complete peace of mind 1 c. brown sugar n Clean, no fumes, environmentally safe n U.L. listed Contact us 1/2 c. milk n No furnaces, ducts, or chimneys today for 1-lb. box powdered sugar n Preassembled — ready to use info and 1 t. vanilla n Portable (110V) or permanent (220V) FREE catalog! n Whole house heating or single room In a saucepan, melt butter. Add brown 220 VoLt approx. area Discount sugar and milk; heat to boiling, stirring Lifetime Warranty PermaNeNt to Heat S&H Price Qty. constantly; boil for 5 minutes. Cool 8’ 2000 w 250-300 sf $25 $319 mixture for 10 minutes. Blend in pow- Hydro-Sil is a high performance individual 6’ 1500 w 180-250 sf $25 $289 room heating system that allows you to control 5’ 1250 w 130-180 sf $25 $259 dered sugar, beating until smooth. Beat your home heating cost by replacing old 4’ 1000 w 100-130 sf $18 $239 in vanilla and then frost cake. and inefficient heating. It can replace or 3’ 750 w 75-100 sf $18 $189 Donna Schonveld, Schoolcraft supplement your electric heat, gas or oil 2’ 500 w 50-75 sf $18 $169 furnace and woodstoves. Thermostats – Call for options & exact heater needed. A one-time purchase that will last a lifetime: 110 VoLt PortabLeS S&H Discount Qty. inside the heater is a sealed copper chamber (thermostat included.) Price Cream Cheese and Orange filled with a harmless silicone fluid designed 5’ Hydro-Max 750-1500 w $25 $229 3’ 750 w – Silicone $18 $179 for heat retention qualities. The fluid is quickly Frosting Heavy-Duty 240v $25 $329 heated by a varying amount of micro-managed Total Amount 8 oz. cream cheese, softened proportional power. This exclusive technology greatly increases energy efficiencies. 1 stick butter, softened Name______4 c. confectioners’ sugar Check n MasterCard n Visa n Discover Address______1 1/2 T. orange juice City______St______1 orange, zested 1-800-627-9276 Zip______Phone______MasterCard, Visa or Discover Account Information: 3 drops yellow food coloring www.hydrosil.com Acct #______H3OF2 1 drop red food coloring Hydro-Sil, P.O. Box 662, Fort Mill, SC 29715 Expiration Date______

Cream cheese and butter together with an electric mixer until smooth. Beat in confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Beat in orange juice, zest and food coloring. Frosts tops of two 9-inch cake layers. Jenn Rekuz, Detroit

Cocoa Butter Frosting

1/2 c. butter or margarine, softened 1/2 c. cocoa powder 3 c. powdered sugar 3 t. vanilla 2-3 T. milk

Cream butter with cocoa. Add powdered sugar, vanilla and milk, one tablespoon at a time, beating until smooth. Joyce Tamminga, Jenison

Send in your recipes! If published, you’ll receive a free kitchen gadget. Send in: TUNA recipes by Feb. 10, morel mushroom recipes by March 10 and SAUCE recipes by April 10. Mail to: Country Lines Recipes, 2859 W. Jolly Rd., Okemos, MI 48864; or email [email protected].

February 2010 countrylines.com 19 gardening Neil Moran

Try Something New In Your Garden

rum roll, please! The 2010 gar- to his new catalog in response to the demand

den catalogs are in, and there from gardeners nationwide. tlee Burpee & Co. are more new vegetable varieties “It’s in response to people being interested Burpee’s Tye Dye Tomato to choose from than worms in a in the older varieties, especially taste,” says A Photo–W. Dgood batch of compost. Plant breeders have Meiner. These heirlooms were passed down been busy tinkering to come up with tastier through the generations much like a hope indoors about eight weeks before setting-out. tomatoes, bigger melons and more prolific chest, he adds, some which originated from She also gushes over Red Pearl, a 58-day grape cucumbers. companies that went out of business during tomato that’s a product of the company’s own For instance, check the Hales Best Canta- the Depression. An example is Long Island breeding program. The few seeds it produces loupe, offered by Farmer Seed and Nursery Improved Brussels Sprouts, which date back can be re-sown for next year’s crop. out of Faribault, MN. They say it’s “unsur- to the 1890s, need about 85 days to mature, One of my personal favorites is Stokes passed in flavor and size.” Gardeners in and cost just a little over $1 for 100 seeds. Seeds, an international company that caters central and lower Michigan should give this The popular Burpee seed company is to both commercial and home gardeners. 83-day variety a try and let me know how offering an interesting new tomato variety I’ve grown their seed for years in a commer- it works out. called Tye Dye. Recommended by a fellow cial greenhouse. Some of their notable new Then there are cucumbers that purportedly gardener, it is actually a hybrid that boasts offerings include Hickock, a “longer lasting” produce cukes all summer long. How can this “heirloom flavor” and should also be a con- dark green gourmet bean with good disease be? They do this by being parthenocarpic versation piece when it turns from green to resistance, and Golden Beet, a novelty bright (huh?). It simply means it doesn’t need pol- a bi-color gold-and-red. The 7-ounce fruits orange beet. linating, which results in more fruit (at least are nonacidic. Allow 78 days from seeding So, go ahead and try a few of these new I think that’s the theory). After combing the to a ripe, colorful, tasty tomato. veggie varieties—I promise you’ll be more catalogs, I found two varieties offered, both Have you ever been a little frustrated when excited than a leaf-hopper on a potato plant! from Jung’s Seeds and Plants: the Diamont your beans start like gangbusters and then just Happy Gardening. Hybrid pickler and a gourmet mini cuke quit? The result is more beans than you can from Germany called “Inik.” eat fresh. Burpee’s seems to have the answer Visit Neil’s website at neilmoran.com. For gardeners in the “mitt” and over the Big with their new Bush Beans Beananza. This Mac, where the season is a little shorter and dwarf French bean will produce twice as Farmer Seed and Nursery cooler, there are a few new varieties that catch long as your old bean fare if you keep them 507-334-1623 the eye. Jung’s Canesi hybrid winter squash picked. Come on, give it a try! farmerseed.com claims to be the “earliest butternut squash I asked Susan Anderson, the Johnny’s to date.” I’ve never had much luck growing Selected Seeds product manager in Maine, J. W. Jung Seed Company the butternuts in my Zone 4 garden, but this to help us northern gardeners with some new 800-297-3123 80-85 day variety may be worth a try. Some varieties for short-season zones. You know, jungseed.com season-extending ideas may be necessary to those areas in the state where you just seem get this to ripen here in the E.U.P., where we to run out of summer, leaving green tomatoes Johnny’s Selected Seeds only get about 65 good growing days. hanging on the vine. One new offering they 877-564-6697 “What’s old is new” is apparently the case are jumping up-and-down about is Sultan, a johnnyseeds.com among many purveyors of vegetable seeds. high-yielding, 7- to 8-inch seedless cucumber Heirloom seeds, which are generally those that requires only 56 days to mature. Pine Tree Garden Seeds that originate prior to WWII, are popping “Home gardeners will just love this one,” 207-926-3400 up in the new catalogs like radishes on a Anderson says enthusiastically. She suggests superseeds.com warm spring day. Gardeners are apparently waiting until the ground warms up to about shopping with their palettes as they long for 70 degrees before direct-seeding all cucum- Stokes Seeds the tastier fare of yesteryear, something that bers and other cucurbits. 800-396-9238 has been sacrificed in some newer varieties Other new Johnny’s varieties include Cher- stokeseeds.com that aim for size, color and ability to keep okee, a tomato that ripens green. Anderson longer at the expense of taste. says it’s one of her favorites because of its W. Atlee Burpee & Co. Pine Tree Garden Seed owner Richard “bold and acidic flavor.” It needs 72 days to 800-333-5808 Meiner has added many heirloom varieties mature and like all tomatoes, needs to start burpee.com

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Throwing Money Up The Chimney

t’s not your imagination. Though it may percent of the cost (including installation), hot, it loses density and naturally flows into seem contradictory, an open masonry up to a maximum of $1,500. To qualify, the the room through an upper vent. This pulls fireplace can actually cool your house and appliance must have an efficiency rating of 75 cooler air from the room in through a lower result in higher overall heating costs. The percent or greater. Check the specifications inlet to be heated. Ifireplace opening attracts heated indoor air because not all fireplaces or stoves are this If you want more heat output and better and then releases it through the chimney. The efficient—generally, they range from 70 to control of the flow of heated air, install a resulting vacuum draws cold outdoor blower kit. Each manufacturer offers air into your house through windows, its own specially designed kit to mount doors and gaps anywhere. You may on fireplaces. The better ones have feel comfortable by the fireplace, but thermostats and variable-speed controls your heat pump for the best comfort. A blower kit can or furnace runs Ready to get cozy by the usually be added by the homeowner like crazy trying fire? Not too fast—first learn after installing the fireplace. to keep the rest of For the greatest efficiency and least the house warm. to keep your energy dollars amount of drafts indoors, install an Although I do from floating up the chimney. outdoor combustion air kit with the not recommend fireplace. Make this decision before you using an open fireplace during cold install the fireplace because a duct has weather, if you really do like the ambi- to be attached to bring in the outdoor ance of a fire, close all the doors to that air. It is often run under the floor to the room, open a window and turn the front of the firebox. furnace thermostat down. You will still Airtight fireplace inserts are often the lose some heated air up the chimney most efficient design and provide the from the rest of the house, but hopefully longest burn-time and maximum heat most of the air is being drawn from the output from a load of firewood. They open window. The loss is not as severe are not as stylish as a fireplace, but pro- during mild weather because outdoor vide much better control over the heat air is not as cold. output and combustion air used. For air Every efficient wood-burning fire- ozy Heat quality considerations, select an Envi-

place or insert will have tight-sealing – K Photo ronmental Protection Agency (EPA) glass doors between the room and the The decorative airtight doors on this heat circulating certified model. Pellet and catalytic cord chimney to block the loss of already fireplace improve efficiency and reduce room air loss firewood models typically produce the heated room air. You may be able to up the chimney. least particulate matter. operate some fireplace models with the Despite great improvements in effi- glass doors open and just a screen covering 90 percent efficiency. Get a manufacturer’s ciency, keep in mind that some stoves and the opening, but do not burn it this way very statement certifying that the unit meets the fireplace options use electricity and may not long. When burned properly, the efficiency efficiency requirements. For details, check operate properly during an outage. The cost of a good fireplace can be higher than an energystar.gov/taxcredits. for efficient models can also be high, which old furnace. When buying or upgrading a fireplace makes qualifying for the federal tax credit Burning firewood to heat your home— you’re faced with several options. Initially that much more important. one of several forms of biomass heating— you must decide between a zero-clearance The following companies offer efficient may qualify for a federal tax credit. Biomass or masonry fireplace. If your old fireplace wood-burning fireplaces: Desa International, sources include cord firewood, wood pellets, is large, you may be able to fit a new unit 866-672-6040, desaint.com; Fuego Flame, corn, switch grass, peanut shells, and even inside. If you plan to install a fireplace some- 800-445-1867, fuegoflame.com; Jotul, 207- cherry pits, and can be burned in a variety where else, a zero-clearance model is easiest. 797-5912, jotul.com; Kozy Heat/Hussong, of heating appliances. Fireplaces, wood It often uses a double-walled design with 800-253-4904, kozyheat.com; and Lennox stoves and pellet stoves are most common. insulation so it can be safely placed against Hearth Products, 800-953-6669, lennox- I’ve even burned cherry pits in my wood wood wall studs. hearthproducts.com. pellet stove—they produce a lot of heat and A heating-circulating fireplace provides burn cleanly. the best efficiency and most heated air out- Have a question for Jim? Send inquiries to: The tax credit applies to any biomass heat- put. Many of these operate without a fan James Dulley, Michigan Country Lines, 6906 ing appliance placed in service during 2009 and rely on the natural flow of room air Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or and 2010. The credit is equivalent to 30 around a super-hot firebox. As the air gets visit dulley.com.

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Peaking Plant In Southeastern Michigan To Complement Wolverine’s Generating Fleet

olverine Power Cooperative experience and talents of our generation co-op members need air conditioning to is purchasing a 340-mega- employees,” said Dan DeCoeur, Wolver- stay comfortable,” DeCoeur said. “Our watt peaking power plant ine’s vice president of generation. “We also members set a new all-time peak record from FirstEnergy Genera- moved quickly to capitalize on an attrac- for January last month, so we’ll rely on the Wtion Corp. The plant, located in Sumpter tive business opportunity.” units during winter months, too.” Township near Belleville, MI, consists of Wolverine expects to finalize the FirstEnergy Generation, a subsidiary of four General Electric natural gas combus- Sumpter plant purchase during the first FirstEnergy Corp., constructed the plant tion turbine generators, each capable of quarter of 2010. Each of the plant’s units is in 2002 to serve existing customers in generating 85 megawatts. Wolverine will currently permitted to operate about 1,800 northwest Ohio and participate in what use the facility to meet the current and hours per year. was Michigan’s emerging electric choice future peaking needs of its members. “As we do with the five peaking plants marketplace at that time. FirstEnergy says “One reason this acquisition happened we currently own and operate, we’ll run the facility is no longer a good strategic fit so quickly is the plant’s good fit with the these generators on hot summer days when for them and their 4.5 million accounts in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Wolverine currently owns and operates Peaking Versus Base Load Power Plants… peaking plants in Tower, Gaylord, Hersey, How do the two differ? Vestaburg and Burnips. These five plants are capable of generating close to 200 Peaking plants are called on when electricity is needed quickly and for a brief period of time. These plants are typically fueled with natural gas and are generally more costly megawatts. to operate. “Our purchase of the Sumpter plant Base load plants operate around-the-clock, 365 days a year. The two primary types of does not change our ongoing efforts to base load power plants in the Midwest are coal and nuclear, providing nearly 85 percent build long-term, base load capacity near of the region’s electricity needs. Base load plants are built for scale and efficiency, and Rogers City,” DeCoeur said. “The simple thus provide low-cost, reliable electricity. fact remains that Wolverine has no base load supply beginning in 2012.”

The Sumpter peaking power plant, located near Belleville, consists of four units capable of generating 340 megawatts.

24 Cherryland Annual Meeting Set the Las Vegas 51s of the Pacific Coast League. Rohn is a three-time PCL Manager of the Year and was the manager Cherryland Electric Cooperative will hold its 72nd Annual of Fresno in the PCL the last three years. Meeting on Wed., June 16, at Wuerfel Park, home of the The 53-year-old Rohn has compiled a 15-year manage- Traverse City Beach Bums minor rial record of 1,021-1,014 while working for the Minnesota Save the date! league baseball team. Twins, Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants and now the Members who attend the Blue Jays. He is an Alpena native who played pro baseball June 16, 2010 meeting will receive a ticket to for the Chicago Cubs, Oakland and Texas. He lives in the Wuerfel Park the game and a voucher for a off-season with his wife Mindy in Traverse City. baseball dinner (hot dog, chips and a soft drink). “Switching the annual meeting to Wuerfel Park has been CEC Student Scholarship wildly popular with our members,” says General Manager Now Worth $4,000 Tony Anderson. “We used to attract between 300 and 400 Cherryland Electric Cooperative’s members when our meetings were at Cherryland. We had scholarship for a high school senior is 800 people attend at Wuerfel Park in 2008 and 1,700 in now worth $4,000. 2009. We’re looking to top 2,000 in attendance for the Since the inception of the scholarship 2010 annual meeting.” over 20 years ago, the amount was $600 Wuerfel Park is a Cherryland Electric member. a year for four years—$2,400. But with college costs escalating, Cherryland has increased the Cherryland Member Wins Third scholarship amount to $1,000 a year. NCAA National Championship Also, an adult scholarship is available for $500 for those who have graduated from high school and are Alisha Glass of Leland, whose mother Laurie and grandpar- taking college courses. ents Larry and Dee Glass are long-time Cherryland Electric The application deadline for both scholarships is Cooperative members, wound up her outstanding college Friday, April 2. More details can be found on page 8. volleyball career by being named a first-team All-American for the second straight year and helping Penn State capture a third straight NCAA national championship. Pay Your Electric Bill Online Penn State beat Texas in the national finals to extend its Want to save money and pay your Cherryland Electric consecutive match winning streak to 102—the second- Cooperative bill online? longest winning streak ever in Division I team sports. It’s easy to do. You can set up your accounts to get only Glass, who was also a unanimous All-Big Ten selection, an email bill—no more paper bills. was named to the all-tournament team. If you would like to do this, access your account on Glass still has one semester of school left. She’ll gradu- cherrylandelectric.com. It will prompt you immediately ate in May with a degree in kinesiology with a minor in after you sign in to make a decision on whether or not human development and family studies. you want the paper bill to continue; if you do, check the Then there’s the Olympics. Glass is hoping to do an box. If not, simply press “update.” internship in California this summer so she can train with Questions about the online payment can be answered the national team, something she and teammate Megan by calling 486-9200. Hodge did last summer, as well. After that, she’s thinking about playing professionally overseas. Space heaters can Cherryland Member Named Energy Tip help cut heating Las Vegas Baseball Manager costs, and here’s how: Turn the central thermo- Cherryland Electric Cooperative member Dan Rohn of stat down (as low as 50 degrees) and use the Traverse City has been named the Triple-A manager of the space heater in a closed, occupied room. Toronto Blue Jays. – Source: Alliance to Save Energy Rohn heads to spring training this month as manager of

Visit cherrylandelectric.com for more information about co-op services.

February 2010 countrylines.com 25 Country Lines Market

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES OAK SEMI-LOADS, 10 CORDS – 8-foot lengths delivered. coxx.com PIANO TUNING PAYS – Learn with Ameri- can Tuning School home-study course. REAL ESTATE Tools included. 800-497-9793. LAKE FRONT FOR SALE– 2 mobile homes FINANCIAL in Oakwood Resort on Campbell Lake near Hesperia. Purchase separately or together HOMEOWNERS 62 OR OLDER – With an 231-798-2712. FHA government insured “Reverse Mort- gage,” can borrow against the equity in SWEET DEAL, $85,000 – 3,000 sq. ft. their home with no monthly payments. building with 600 sq. ft. garage, St. Helen, Call James Harry, 231-972-8898. MI. Will consider land contract. Phone 906-644-0009. MISCELLANEOUS INSTANT RENEW ROOF COATING – Saves ONAWAY AREA LEASE – S.E. Cheboygan replacement metal, rubber, flat roofs. 573- County, 100 acres, Black River frontage. 489-9346. Lease now for turkey, bow and gun seasons. Pay taxes. 248-398-2426. 11 LOWELL DAVIS COUNTRY – Barn col- lectibles. Painted cold-cast porcelain, $45 FOR SALE, 150 FT. , WHITE RIVER – Front- each. $395 total. 517-263-2523. age. Lot #12, 1.05 acres, located in South Branch condominium in Hesperia, Michi- BECOME AN ORDAINED MINISTER – Cor- gan. All offers considered. 231-798-1291. respondence study. Founded in 1988. Free information. Ministers for Christ Outreach, 49 ORGANIC ACRES – 3 miles west, Traverse 7549 West Cactus Rd. #104-207, Peoria, AZ City, MI. M-72 frontage, 2 roads, house, farm 85381. ordination.org buildings. Appraised 2005, $730,000. Asking $600,000. 517-663-5013. SOON THE “MARK OF THE BEAST” – Will be enforced as church and state unite. Let VACATIONS the bible reveal. Free books/DVD’s. The LAKE HURON RENTAL – Three bedroom, Bible Says, POB 99, Lenoir City, TN 37771. 1 1/2-bath chalet on the shore. Fully fur- 888-211-1715 nished, boats for rent, close to De Tour and [email protected] Mackinac Island. Non-smoking, 4 people, $700 weekly. Book by April for $600. Call WHEAT, WHITE WINTER HARD – Barley 906-235-1652. and rye for home bakers and cooking or planting. Naturally grown in Michigan, WANTED bulk bag or pail, $1 per pound. Also clean BUYING OLD WOODEN DUCK – Goose, rye straw. 231-797-5468 or coxx.com fish, decoys. 248-877-0210. Reach over 250,000+ households! anytime. Country Lines OUTDOORS WANTED 55-61 CHEVROLET CAR – Call evenings after 6 p.m., 231-362-3267. Classified ad rates: SAWMILL FOR SALE – New, saws 36-inch s $3 per word ($30 min.), including ALL x 16-foot log. 231-288-0066. OurEnergy.coop – Join the 456,000 business, agent and broker ads American consumers who have asked their s $1.50 per word ($15 min.) for co-op OUTDOOR WOOD BOILER – Plans for sale, elected officials tough questions about our members running nonbusiness ads includes photos. 231-288-0066. energy future. Each initial, group of figures, phone number, abbreviation, e-mail address and website ad- dress counts as one word. Hyphenated and slashed words count as two or more words. Ads Scholarships Offered are subject to editor’s approval and editing. For Each year, the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association awards two member rate, attach your mailing label. To pay by credit card, include card number, exp. date, $1,000 scholarships to qualifying applicants. Individuals are chosen address related to the card and signature with based on their scholastic achievement and extracurricular involve- ad. M/C or VISA only, please indicate which. ment during their high school career. Send your printed or typed ad and check made payable to MECA (advance payment The applicant’s parent or guardian must be a member or employee of a Michigan required) by 15th of month prior to publication electric co-op, and the applicant must be planning to attend a Michigan college or to: Country Lines, 2859 W. Jolly Rd., Okemos, MI school full-time. 48864, or email [email protected]. Call Selection will be based on grade point average, character, leadership, academic 517-351-6322, Ext. 201, for more information. achievement, extracurricular and community activities, and essay response. No classifieds accepted by telephone. Applications are available at countrylines.com; click on “Youth,” email wolford@ Also, place order online at countrylines.com, or call 517-351-6322, ext. 205, to request an application by mail. countrylines.com, and ads will be Eligible applications must be postmarked by April 1, 2010. posted FOR NO EXTRA CHARGE (Until the next issue of the magazine is published.)

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Cold Weather, Warm Movies

e might not know (Tim Robbins) as the innocent gets it right. A classic. each other, but I’ll inmate is “The Man.” It’s also “Overboard”: This is what is called bet we have “friends” one of my favorite Morgan Free- a ‘B’ movie. Never a big hit, but always in common. man roles. This was a Stephen worth watching when it’s on TV. Goldie WI’m willing to bet that you King story. Hawn and Kurt Russell were never better. know either George Bailey, Forrest “The Green Mile”: Another “Forrest Gump”: This explains life Gump, Austin Powers or Andy Stephen King story. This one in the 1960s better than any documen- Dufresne. is brought to life by some fine tary ever did. Over the top? You bet. An They are movie characters, of Nick Edson acting from Michael Duncan entertaining story? Yes. It weaves its way course. But they come to life on Clarke, Tom Hanks and Co. through a fascinating decade. the big screen and we get to know them as Sounds like I have a thing for prisons, “It’s A Wonderful Life”: Go watch seemingly real people. so far. this at the State Theatre in Traverse City Movies are what I call “The Great “Almost Famous”: This is a must-see during the Christmas season. On the big Escape.” There are times when two hours about a rock ’n roll band and a young screen, you’ll notice little things you never spent in a movie theatre or in front of our journalist. You’ll be hooked right off the saw before in this movie. TV sets are just what the doctor called for, bat. Kate Hudson and Crew are fantastic. “GoodFellas”: A great Mafia movie. especially during these winter Lots of blood and guts. months when “Cabin Fever” Sometimes you just need sets in. to sit down and watch one Movies are one of the great of these. common denominators. “Blazing Saddles”: They cut across gender and One of Mel Brooks’ many generational barriers. classics. When I first saw Of course, there are what this movie in the theatre, we call standard “chick flicks” I spit out my popcorn and “macho movies” that because I was laughing so seem to separate the sexes. hard. But in listing my favorite “Toy Story” (all of 25 movies, I noticed a “chick them): Great writing and flick” or two on my list. great humor for children of That’s just the way it is. all ages. You can throw all My interests run a wide the Shrek movies into this range—I like music, sports, mix, too. comedy, fiction and docu- “Airplane”: So many mentaries. When I’m flip- cameo appearances, so ping around on TV, I’ll stop many great one-liners. at just about any war movie or western, “BIG”: This is the first of what I call Roger. but I also like musicals and good comedy. “Make Believe” movies that I like. Tom “The Godfather “(I and II): This is one So with that in mind, I’m going to Hanks should have gotten an Oscar for it. of those rare instances where the first God- throw out my “Top 25 Movie List,” sub- “Field of Dreams”: My family teases father was a classic and the sequel was just ject to ridicule and discussion. This is me because every time Ray Kinsella asks as good. such a subjective topic that you could list his dad to play a game of catch at the end “The Sound Of Music”: I know this a totally different Top 25 and get no argu- of the movie, I always choke up. might fall into the “chick flick” category, ments from me. “Hoosiers”: This movie reminds me so but Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer “The Shawshank Redemption”: One much of my dad coaching basketball in and the children in this movie sing the of my favorites. If I had to choose between small towns during the 1950s and ’60s. socks out of these classic songs. a couple of movies to watch endlessly, this “Groundhog Day”: Bill Murray lives “The Usual Suspects”: Kevin Spacey would be one of them. Andy Dufresne the same day over and over until he finally stars in this twisting, churning thriller.

28 Michigan Country Lines energy & safety

Mom’s Right: Avoid Hypothermia

look forward to having the opportunity to run errands with my mother. I call it I an opportunity because I look forward to spending time with this dear woman, who has put up with me and seven siblings for so many years. When the movie ends, you’ll hit the re- Every time we go out in this weather, my wind button so fast it will make your head mother bundles up, layer after layer. I try spin. to explain that the car is warmed up and is “Caddyshack”: Rodney Dangerfield probably warmer than the house. vs. Ted Knight in an absolute laugh-a- “Doesn’t matter, we have to get out in the thon. Bill Murray’s outrageous lines in this cold sometime,” she says. movie are still used on golf courses today. And, as usual, she’s right. “Star Wars”: The first Star Wars was She’s always teaching Cherryland’s safety a classic and the fun was getting a ticket director something about being safe. And if to the premiere so that you could say you you can’t learn from your mother, who can were there. you learn from? © iStockphoto.com/Dave Pilibosian “Harvey”: Jimmy Stewart was never So it got me to doing a little research about no signs of circulation, start CPR, if you are better. Harvey is his make-believe rabbit staying warm in the winter and avoiding trained and certified. friend who steals the movie. We rented hypothermia. p Insulate the victim by applying blankets this last winter and loved it. and extra dry clothing. “Titanic”: With all the pre-release What is hypothermia? p Keep the victim at rest. A horizontal hoopla, I didn’t think there was any way It’s when the body temperature falls and the position is best: This helps prevent shock this film could live up to the hype. It did. body loses heat faster than it produces heat. and makes it easier for the victim’s heart to Very moving, especially on the big screen. The condition is life-threatening. It does not maintain blood flow to the brain. This posi- “Austin Powers” (all of them): Mike require sub-zero temperatures, and can occur tion is especially important for victims taken Myers struck gold, quite literally, with the in unexpected places, such as in southern from the water. Austin Powers movies. These are laugh- states and on summer days. p The best warming method in mild out-loud flicks that I never get tired of. The signs of hypothermia vary from mild hypothermia cases is allowing the victim to “The Best Years of Our Lives”: A poi- to severe cases. Mild cases manifest themselves shiver inside dry insulation. Give the victim gnant look at life after World War II. An through shivering, slurred speech and a cool high-energy drinks if they are alert and able Academy Award winning movie that’s abdomen. to swallow. Sugary fluids provide energy to worth going back and seeing. Severe cases of hypothermia then occur sustain shivering. Do not give hot drinks. “Dances With Wolves”: This is best on when shivering has stopped, muscles are They taste good and may give a psychological the big screen, but it’s always intriguing to rigid and stiff, the skin is ice cold and looks boost, but they have no warming effect. Hot go back and see. Kevin Costner at his best. blue, and the victim is listless. drinks signal the brain to send more blood “A League Of Their Own”: I never to the skin, which leads to some heat loss. thought a movie with Madonna and How do you treat hypothermia? p Try to avoid using heated objects, such Rosie O’Donnell would make my list, but First aid and emergency care books usually as heating pads and packs. These objects Geena Davis and Lori Petty steal the show tell you what to do, but seldom explain why may stop the desirable effects of shivering, in this story which starts out about base- to do it. Here are treatment methods and the but hypothermic skin is very sensitive to ball but is really about the relationships reasons behind them. heat and is easily burned. When I am lucky between sisters. Since I have two sisters p Try to block the victim from the wind enough to spend time with my mom, you and two daughters, I have seen these rela- so less heat escapes. can bet I listen carefully, follow her advice tionships play themselves out in real life. p Be as gentle as possible; rough handling and bundle because, after all, it is northern Movies, after all, are a reflection of of a victim can cause heartbeat irregularities Michigan and sooner or later we real life. and death. In unresponsive victims, check all have to go out in the cold. Honorable Mentions: “Stand By Me,” breathing and circulation for 30 to 45 sec- “Raiders Of The Lost Ark,” “The Sting,” onds. Tim Keenan is Cherryland’s “Gods and Generals,” and “Jaws.” p If the victim isn’t breathing and shows safety supervisor.

February 2010 countrylines.com 29 ramblings Mike Buda We Hear You Your letters to Jim Hough and your responses to our survey spur us to excel.

hen Jim Hough first signed visitors, toilet paper would have been members. on to write the “Right at appropriate. The survey was conducted online in Home” column on this page But Jim’s columns weren’t fluff. We November, with a follow-up random in 1984, Michigan Country wanted him to write stories that would sample mail survey in December. It reveals WLines wasn’t yet a magazine. It was, more draw you into the magazine, to help cre- that over 90 percent of co-op members accurately, a tabloid—black ink on news- ate a community of electric co-op readers read the magazine regularly and that 63 print—which meant your hands would across the state and beyond. percent of you clip items from the maga- get mighty black from handling it. And, As proof, there are the many letters he’s zine. We’re pleased that attention is being boy, did we get complaints. Eventually, we received from well-wishing readers who paid, because your co-op counts on the changed to the format you’re holding now. just wanted to let Jim know how much magazine to keep you informed and get It’s easier to handle, carries color much they loved his column. you involved. better, and doesn’t make your hands look “We have enjoyed your articles in every A surprising majority of readers who like you’ve been playing with coal. That’s issue,” wrote one reader. participated in the survey expressed a the kind of positive change that comes “You don’t know me, but after reading desire to see Country Lines printed on from listening to you. your columns for a long time, I felt I had recycled paper. We are planning to do that Country Lines actually started 30 years to let you know how much I enjoyed your in April, after we use up our current paper ago this coming November. At the time, it writings,” wrote another. stock. was the youngest of 30-some publications “If it was not for your articles I probably across the country started by state electric wouldn’t even open the magazine,” wrote inally, I’ve got to get something off co-op associations to help electric co-ops still another, frankly. (Do you know that my chest. stay in touch with members. Some of studies show about half of the population We get calls almost daily from those magazines were in business 40 years starts reading magazines from the back?) readers who want to talk about before Michigan co-ops saw the light. The That so many of you would take time to Fsomething in ‘County Lines’. We do appre- goal of the magazines is to help members write a letter to Jim Hough wishing him ciate the calls. But, the name of this maga- keep up with what’s going on in the util- well after his farewell column in the Janu- zine is Michigan Country Lines. Notice the ity they own, which is actually one of the ary issue is testament to your connection ‘r’ between the ‘t’ and the ‘y’ in Country. golden rules of the cooperative form of to the magazine. We thank you, and we That ‘r’ is not silent and it’s always been business. promise that we will work hard to keep there, but for some people it seems invis- We know that if we were to fill these your trust. ible. It’s been bugging the staff here for pages with only information about trans- For those of you who fear they will miss decades, and I promised I’d mention it. So formers, substations, rates and generator Jim’s special connection with the U.P., I there it is. Honestly, I don’t care what you safety, we wouldn’t have many readers. want you to know that I and my teacher call it (Country Lanes is another favorite) And so we make room for other things wife, Barbara, were high school sweet- as long as you don’t stop reading—and that may interest you more, like gardening, hearts in Ironwood, and have a special calling. recipes and the great outdoors. And Jim fondness for pasties, Sayklly’s chocolates, Hough’s column on this back page. trout sreams, Marquette and Lake Supe- Thanks for joining us. The sad thing, of course, is that Jim has rior. The title of this new column reflects packed away his large-print typewriter, the approach I hope to take in writing upon which he created the warm-hearted about the people and places along co-op Mike Buda is the stories about his friends in his beloved U.P. lines, but it is also a tip of the hat to our founding editor of He delivered the columns to us on letter- now long-gone St. Ambrose High School, Country Lines and sized sheets of newsprint strung together whose sports teams went by the name of continues to work on the with tape into 6-foot long scrolls. He “Ramblers.” You can take a kid out of the magazine, as well as other writes that way because he is legally blind U.P., but you can’t take the Yooper out of activities of the Michigan and the large type allows him to read his the kid. Electric Cooperative own copy. Still, it often looked like we Association. He lives in were getting an over-sized roll of toilet ur latest survey shows that our Mason with Barbara. paper. And considering the columns he community of readers is as strong Their boys, Dan and Jon, wrote about Engadine’s outhouse races and as ever, but also that we have work have flown the coop. the toilet seat nailed to a tree announc- to do to keep your trust and build ing that his Paradise cabin was open for Oa stronger relationship with younger co-op Email Mike at [email protected]

30 Michigan Country Lines arborday.org

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$23,900 That’s how much Cherryland Cares gave to those in need at its December meeting. Those who received help from Cherryland members include:

Father Fred...... $5,000 Benzie Christian Neighbors..... $2,500 Freedom Builders...... $3,500 nw MI Action Agency...... $5,000 GT Dyslexia Assoc...... $1,700 love, Inc. of Manistee...... $1,000 united Way...... $1,000 Darkness To Light...... $900 [ GT Metro Fire...... $3,000 Almira Historical Society...... $300] Sign up today for Operation Roundup! What is Operation Roundup? It’s where we round your Cherryland Electric Cooperative bill up to the nearest dollar and donate the difference to our Cherryland Cares program. The volunteer Cherryland Cares board then distributes 100 percent of the money in the Cherryland coverage area to those in need.

I want to help by joining Operation Roundup. Please “round-up” my bill to Yes! the next highest dollar each month.

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To join, return this coupon to: Nick Edson Cherryland Electric Cooperative P.O. Box 298 Grawn, MI 49637 Or email Nick at [email protected], or call him Cherryland Electric Cooperative at 231-486-9222 or 800-442-8616, Ext. 222.