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MOUNTAIN PARKS ELECTRIC, INC.

TTruth be told: If not for “Family Feud,” I may never have felt a scintilla of excitement about polling results. But for some reason when host Richard Dawson (yes, that’s how old I am) declared, “Our survey says,” I was all ears. A recent “top-five-answers-on-the-board” online survey question—one that polled Mountain Parks Electric members—equally captured my attention. It revealed that the Colorado Country Life (MPE’s monthly publica-tion) articles that you are most interested in reading are:

1. Energy efficiency, conservation and saving on your electric bill

2. Recipes3. Human interest articles4. Community service5. The general manager’s column

In response, we are making some changes that we think you will find informative and of greater interest and value. These new features include:

• Save $$$ on Your Electric Bill (formerly “The Billing Corner”) Want to become more energy efficient? We want to help you

even more going forward. [Kevin O’Connor, ACCT 1018654]

• Local Chef Spotlight A local chef (and there are many good ones) will provide read-

ers with a monthly cooking tip and share a recipe, which will be published on mpei.com.

• High-Altitude Gardening & Landscaping (summer feature) Need help growing things at elevation? Me, too. Local experts will offer their advice.

• High Country Outdoor Life (winter, spring and fall feature) Get local skiing and recreational tips.

More local human interest stories ...… featuring a couple of New York neighbors (in this issue) who didn’t become acquainted until crossing paths years later in Krem-mling. We also plan to feature a Q&A with community leaders and representatives of local businesses and organizations.

Now, I don’t take your ranking of my column as an insult. I am bigger than that. I pen my own

column rather than relying on “canned articles.” But to show that I harbor no

ill feelings, if you email me a digital picture of your dog (300 dpi JPEG im-age to tsifers@mpei.com), I will select one each month to publish in CCL or on mpei.com. I’ll start by sharing my pup’s photo — Gibbs, an Australian shepherd.

Tom Sifers

BY TOM SIFERS | GENERAL MANAGERFrom the GM’s Desk

Never leave a fire unattended, and make sure you completely extinguish the fire when you’re done. Drench the fire with water and stir the ashes until cold.

When burning yard waste, follow local ordinances. Avoid burning in windy conditions, and keep a shovel, water and fire retardant nearby to keep fires in check.

Never discard cigarettes, matches and smoking materials from moving vehicles, or anywhere on park grounds. Completely extinguish cigarettes before disposing of them.

Play it safe when using fueled lanterns, heaters and stoves. Lighting and heating devices should be cool before refueling. Keep flammable liquids and fuel away from appliances.

Source: National Geographic

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3 Ways to Save $$$ (and Stay Cool) on Your Electric Bill in AUGUST

Caulk windows & weather-strip doors Stopping air leaks keeps your home cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter and saves you money on heating and cooling costs.

Review your window covering strategy Block radiant heat from sunlight using blinds, drapes and shades (the more insulated, the better). When it’s hot inside and cool outside, open windows on the shadiest part of the house. If the bottom level of your house is warm, hot air will rise. Opening windows down-stairs helps cool the upstairs. Close windows once it becomes hot outside, and use window coverings to retain the coolness. [Lance Gutersohn, ACCT 200592800]

Air dry laundry Using a rack or a clothesline instead of an electric clothes dryer is a real cost savings opportunity, plus it keeps your home cooler. The average electric dryer uses approximately $12 of electricity a month.

Want another August energy-savings tip? Visit: www.mpei.com/august_2017_ccl_bonus_features.

BY LINDSAY MCCANN | ASSISTANT BILLING SUPERVISOR

NAME: Head Chef Erich Schildman

RESTAURANT: Historic Rapids Lodge & Restaurant, Grand Lake — www.rapidslodge.com. Open six days a week for lunch and supper (closed Tuesdays).

CULINARY In the biz since the age of 13; formerly cooked at the

CHOPS: Grand Lake Lodge; University of Illinois graduate.

SPECIALTY: Stocks and sauces.

Get Erich’s easy tomato, basil and garlic sauce recipe at:www.mpei.com/august_2017_ccl_bonus_features.

S P OT L I G H T

H I G H CO U N T RY H O M E & G A R D E N T I P

“Continue watering your garden in the fall until the first snow. It pays dividends next spring when your perennials bloom.”

Gardener Sherri poses with owner John Kovacs at the Cold Springs Greenhouse in Granby.

— John Kovacs, owner Cold Springs Greenhouse in Granby (since 1960) www.facebook.com/ColdSpringsGreenhouse

Open seven days a week until Labor Day

CO O K I N G T I P F O R M P E R E A D E R S

When refrigerating seafood before cooking, first rinse it with water, then set a Ziploc bag of ice on top of it to keep it colder. This keeps your seafood fresh.

coloradocountrylife.coop AUGUST 20178

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NNot for the Gore Range Artisans GroupBY ROB TAYLOR | MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS

Nearly half a century ago, the Genesee River divided Rochester, New York, adolescents Bill Janson and Jim White — one a future painter, the other passing the time by work-ing leather. Despite sharing upstate roots, the two grew up as complete strangers — not surprising really for a city of 300,000. They first shook hands in 2012, more than 1,600 miles to the west and south of Rochester, in, of all places, Kremmling, Colorado. There, not far from the mouth of the Blue River, a common interest united them: art and craftsmanship.

Today, Janson and White are full-fledged members of the Gore Range Artisans Group or GRAG, a cooperative comprised of members hailing from Grand and Sum-mit counties. The group’s wares range from stone jewelry to locally-inspired landscape paintings. Any one of GRAG’s artisans will tell you that they could not ask for a better site to create and showcase their work. When driving through Kremmling, you’d have to do more than blink to miss the wood-sided, neon window-framed gallery. It is situ-ated along U.S. Highway 40 (Main Street) and is bursting with color, luring visitors from as far away as New Zealand. Beyond the gallery door lies something even more inviting. “The most frequent comment we hear from visitors is that the quality and variety of our work surpasses everyone’s expectations,” said White, who is the GRAG president.

This is precisely what GRAG hoped for. The group’s formation resulted from a 2013 meeting at which Kremmling Town Manager Mark Campbell urged locals to organize the art culture. It was just one of several ideas discussed that day when attendees brain-stormed ways to revitalize the town. Wanting to aid in this endeavor, local resident Gary Bumgarner provided the storefront. Months later, the vision turned into a reality. GRAG opened its doors to the public in May 2014.

It’s a place where you can not only see the art, but meet the artists. “Each of us take turns working here in the gallery,” White said in a tone marked by pride. “And when we aren’t here, you’ll usually find some of us over there,” he added, pointing to the seven adjacent artist stores and studios, quaintly referred to as the “Village.” Collectively, the artisans — 18 in all (13 full members, five partial members) — have 300 years of artistic experience. One of those members, Rhea Gallagher, also teaches painting classes at the gallery on Thursday nights. Encouraging community participation in the arts is also part of GRAG’s mission.

Janson and White’s Rochester days are long gone now, though certainly not forgot-ten. “It’s never too late to chase dreams,” Janson said. “I first picked up a paintbrush 12 years ago. Now look at me. And thanks to GRAG, I finally met the kid on the other side of the Genesee River. I’m still not sure which one of us grew up on the wrong side, but I have my suspicions.”

See more GRAG art at: www.mpei.com/august_2017_ccl_bonus_features www.gorerangeartisans.com

Bill Janson painting from his Village studio/store.

GRAG’s storefront on U.S. Highway 40 (Main Street) in Kremmling.

Too Late to Dream?

KEEP CURIOUS KIDS SAFE Ensure your children are protected from the electrical service connection to your home. Keep ladders or long poles stowed and away from youngsters who might be tempted to use them to reach the wires connected to your house. If you added a room addition or deck, make sure the service connection remains well out of reach. Contact Mountain Parks Electric if you are unsure the distance is safe.

coloradocountrylife.coop 9AUGUST 2017

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FIND US ON THE WEBMountain Parks Electric, Inc. online at mpei.com

CONNECT WITH USfacebook.com/MountainParksElectrictwitter.com/MtnParksElec

Q&A with Hot Sulphur Springs Town Clerk Sandy WhiteWhat’s new in town?Hot Sulphur Springs was recently awarded two grants: a $153,000 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado for improvements to the Town Park and Pioneer Park, and a new playground from Kaboom! and the Colorado Health Foundation. This will be a com-munity-built playground, so HSS is seeking volunteers for September 9 to roll up their sleeves and pitch in. Food, drinks and music will be provided. RSVP today by calling 970-725-3933. What is something most people don’t know about HSS?HSS was Colorado’s first ski town. It hosted the first winter sports carnival in 1911. The Pioneer Village Museum in HSS houses an impressive collection of historical images of past winter sports carnivals. [Donald Schmid, ACCT 40268780] What do you like best about your job? The community. In HSS, people take time out of their lives to help their neighbors. This is a wonderful place. I am fortunate to get to play a small part in that.

Sandy White is a Colorado native, a Colo-rado State University graduate and has lived in Grand County since 1998.

What’s the biggest issue facing HSS? Find out: www.mpei.com/august_2017_ccl_bonus_features

Antique Display Open to the Public in Fraser

Captain Steve Waldorf displays a 1960s-style resuscitator.

IImagine yourself on “The $100,000 Pyramid” game show. I’m giving the clues. Ready? Go (the 60-second clock begins ticking): “A World War II-era fog nozzle,” I say, locking eyes with you. Your lips part in silence. You raise one eyebrow. “An Explosimeter,” I continue, with a fidget and a nod, pausing for a moment. “An extinguisher you can throw!” I try not to sound alarmed.

The answer: Equipment firefighters once used. But of course you knew that. Here’s something you may not know: You can see these antique items and more (including a 1930 American LaFrance fire truck) at the East Grand Fire District headquarters in Fraser. Stop by Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and check them out. And bring the kids. Want a sneak peek? Take the EGFD online antique equipment quiz at: www.mpei.com/august_2017_ccl_bonus_features

DID YOU KNOW? The first American cooperative was not an electric company (like MPE), but a fire insurance co-op founded by Benjamin Franklin.

BY ROB TAYLOR | MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS

AUGUST 201710 coloradocountrylife.coop