Efficient indoor lightingMarch favoritesNot so mournful

PLUS

M A R C H 2 0 1 5

Pennsylvania’s French connection

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M A R C H 2 0 1 5 • P E N N L I N E S 3

Visit with us at Penn LinesOnline, located at:www.prea.com/Content/pennlines.asp. Penn Lines Onlineprovides an email link to PennLines editorial staff, informationon advertising rates, and anarchive of past issues.

Vol. 50 • No. 3Peter A. Fitzgerald

ED ITOR

Katherine HacklemanSENIOR EDITOR/WRITER

James DulleyJanette Hess

Barbara MartinMarcus Schneck

CONTR IBUT ING COLUMNISTS

W. Douglas ShirkLAYOUT & DESIGN

Vonnie KlossADVERT ISING & C IRCULAT ION

Michelle M. SmithMEDIA & MARKET ING SPECIALIST

Penn Lines (USPS 929-700), the newsmagazineof Pennsylvania’s electric cooperatives, is pub-lished monthly by the Pennsylvania Rural Elec-tric Association, 212 Locust Street, P.O. Box1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266. Penn Lineshelps 166,000 households of co-op consumer-members understand issues that affect theelectric cooperative program, their local co-ops, and their quality of life. Electric co-opsare not-for-profit, consumer-owned, locallydirected, and taxpaying electric utilities. PennLines is not responsible for unsolicited manu-scripts. The opinions expressed in Penn Linesdo not necessarily reflect those of the editors,the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, orlocal electric distribution cooperatives.

Subscriptions: Electric co-op members, $5.42per year through their local electric distributioncooperative. Preferred Periodicals postage paidat Harrisburg, PA 17107 and additional mail ingoffices. POSTMASTER: Send address changeswith mailing label to Penn Lines, 212 LocustStreet, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266.

Advertising: Display ad deadline is six weeksprior to month of issue. Ad rates upon request.Acceptance of advertising by Penn Lines doesnot imply endorsement of the product or serv-ices by the publisher or any electric cooper-ative. If you encounter a problem with anyproduct or service advertised in Penn Lines,please contact: Advertising, Penn Lines, P.O.Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Penn Linesreserves the right to refuse any advertising.

Board officers and staff, Pennsylvania RuralElectric Association: Chairman, Leroy Walls;Vice Chair man, Tim Burkett; Secretary, BarbaraMiller; Treas urer, Rick Shope; President &CEO, Frank M. Betley

© 2015 Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association.All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or inpart without written permission is prohibited.

4 K EEP ING CURRENTNews items from across the Commonwealth

6 ENERGY MATTERSEfficiency upgrades that make sense

8 F EATURESeeking AzilumPennsylvania’s French connection

14 T IME L INESYour newsmagazine through the years

14A COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONInformation and advice from your localelectric cooperative

18 POWER PLANTSMaking my list and checking it twice

21 SMART C I RCU I TSEfficient indoor lighting for your home

22 C LASS I F I EDS

24 COUNTRY K I TCHENMarch favorites

25 OUTDOOR ADVENTURESNot so mournful

26 PUNCH L INESThoughts from Earl Pitts–Uhmerikun!Earl contemplates ways to die

27 RURAL REFLECT IONSIs it spring yet?

24

MARCH

8

25

27ON THE COVERFrom the Marie AntoinetteScenic Overlook on Route 6 inBradford County, visitors cansee the entire 1,600-acre siteoriginally planned in the late1700s as French Azilum, asettlement for French refugeesfleeing their country’s revolution.Photo by Kathy Hackleman

4 P E N N L I N E S • M A R C H 2 0 1 5

k Milroy Farms, 1724 River Road, Salis-bury, Pa.

k Paul Bunyan’s Maple Syrup, 793 Geb-hart Road, Rockwood, Pa.

k Hillegas Sugar Camp, 538 DividingRidge Road, Fairhope, Pa.

k Arnold’s Sugar Camp, 3861 WaterlevelRoad, Rockwood, Pa.

k Lemmon Bros. Farms Sugar Camp,242 Lemmon Road, Markleton, Pa.For more information about the Som-

erset County Maple Producers Associa-tion, check online at www.somerset-countymaple.org.

Private Forest Landowner Conference set

The Center for Private Forests atPenn State University, along with anumber of partners, has scheduled thesecond Pennsylvania Private ForestLandowner Conference to provide pri-vate woodland owners in Pennsylvaniawith resources that will help them carefor their lands.

The conference is scheduled for 8 a.m.

Somerset County celebratestaste of maple

Somerset County maple producersare hosting a “Maple Weekend Taste &Tour” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 14and 15. The event will include free toursand samples of maple products. Mapleproducts will be available for purchase.

The Somerset Historical Center, 10649Somerset Pike, Somerset, Pa., will be openwith maple exhibits and displays markingthe history of Somerset County maple sug-aring. Demonstrations will include tapping,collecting, boiling and making maple sugarproducts, along with costumed re-enact-ments of historical maple sugaring scenes,crafts, and special activities for kids.

Tour sites locations include: k Baer Bros. Maple Camp, 234 Sugar

Cake Road, Somerset, Pa.k Walnutdale Maple Farms, 287 Wal-

nutdale Lane, Boswell, Pa.k Buffalo Creek Sugar Camp, 584 Cross-

road School Road, Garrett, Pa.k Holler-Hills Maple, 185 Faidley Road,

Markleton, Pa.

KEEPINGcurrent

k Emerick’s Pure Maple Products, 180Ridge Road, Hyndman, Pa.

k Sechler Sugar Shack, 7758 KingwoodRoad, Confluence, Pa.

(continues on page 16)

POPULAR PAIR: The Pennsylvania Game Commission is providing a live video stream from this bald eaglenest at Codorus State Park in York County with the hope that watchers will get to observe the pair ofeagles raise a family this spring. A similar live stream of an eagle’s nest near Pittsburgh last year drewnearly 3 million viewers from around the world. To view the eagle cam, go to the Pennsylvania GameCommission’s website, www.pgc.state.pa.us, and click on the eagle cam icon near the top of the page.

Penn Lines approaches 50In 2016, Penn Lines will be observing its 50th anniversary. To celebrate the occa-

sion, we plan to take a look back at the past half-century of your cooperative magazine— and we need your help.

We’d like to hear from you about Penn Lines. Please share your thoughts about themagazine, what it’s meant to you over the years, and what you’d like to see for thenext 50 years. We invite your comments, memories of past favorite articles or photo-graphs, or any suggestions you may have.

Please send your thoughts and suggestions by email to editor@prea.com or by mailto Penn Lines Editor, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266.

THROUGH THE YEARS: Penn Lines cover designs have evolved over the past five decades.

PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION

1013⁄16

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103⁄4107⁄8

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101⁄2

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81⁄4

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01_B_I_V = Live Area: 7 x 10, 7x10 Magazine Master, 1 Page, Installment, Vertical updated 11/2011

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6 P E N N L I N E S • M A R C H 2 0 1 5

B y B r i a n S l o b o d a

ture that uses a dimmer, as not all dim-mers will work with LED bulbs. Thereare also flickering issues with poorlymade LEDs.

Heating and air conditioningThe Energy Information Agency

estimates that heating and air condi-tioning account for 22 percent of a typi-cal home’s annual electric bill. Optionssuch as an air-source heat pump or aground-source heat pump can be 20 to45 percent more efficient than the exist-ing heating or cooling system in theaverage home. However, the upfrontcost is often a barrier to adoption.

Simple solutions such as changingair filters at least every three monthswill increase air flow to rooms, increasethe life of the HVAC unit’s motor andimprove the air quality of the home.Sealing and insulating ductwork can becompleted in a weekend and result inenergy savings of up to 20 percent.

By locating and correcting air leaks,you can lessen the amount of work thatheating and cooling systems need to do.To locate leaks, walk through yourhome on a cold day and feel for draftsaround exterior doors and windows,electric outlets and entrance points forTV and telephone cables. In basements,target dryer vents, gas lines or any placewith an opening in the wall. To fixleaks, apply caulk, spray foam orweather stripping to these areas.

Simple acts, such as cooking out-doors on a hot summer day and keep-ing curtains closed to keep out summersun, will keep the interior of the homecooler and reduce the amount of timeair conditioning units need to operate.

Appliances and electronicsThe appliances and gadgets that

make life easier are also the largestusers of electricity in our homes. Whenbuying a new appliance, look for theEnergy Star label. This simple act can

Efficiencyupgrades thatmake sense

As the research and development arm of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, CRN pursues innovative solutions that hel

electric cooperatives deliver safe, reliable, and aordable power to their consumer-members.

result in 10 to 15 percent more in energyconsumption savings. Some states haveadopted Energy Star holidays where thesales tax is waived on the purchase ofqualifying Energy Star-rated appli-ances.

More simple household tips to boostenergy efficiency include:k Cleaning lint traps on dryers and not

over-drying clothes will save energyand extend the life of your clothes.

k Replacing worn refrigerator gasketdoors will stop cool air from leakingfrom the refrigerator.

k Clean refrigerator coils and keeprefrigerators away from heat-generat-ing appliances such as an oven.Home electronics, such as comput-

ers, TVs, DVD players and other mod-ern devices, consume power even whenturned off. This phenomenon is calledparasitic load, and sometimes thesedevices are referred to by the moreplayful term, “energy vampire.” Accord-ing to a study conducted by theLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,the average home loses 8 percent of itsmonthly energy consumption to theseenergy vampires. A full 75 percent ofthe power used to run home electronicsis consumed when those appliances areturned off, according to the U.S. Depart-ment of Energy. Cutting off power byusing a power strip or a smart strip isthe best way to stop this senseless lossof energy.

The best energy efficiency improve-ments are often the easiest. Turninglights off when leaving a room, sealingwindows and doors, and cleaningrefrigerator coils isn’t as much fun asbuying a shiny new appliance. But thesesimple jobs are proven ways to saveenergy and increase comfort.lBrian Sloboda is a program manager

specializing in energy efficiency for theCooperative Research Network, a service ofthe Arlington, Va.-based National RuralElectric Cooperative Association.

WHEN IT comes to energy efficiency,there are two ways to measure improve-ments. The first is the payback period.This is the amount of time that theimprovement will pay for itself.

The second is comfort. Improve-ments can often increase the comfortlevel of a home. This is not easy tomeasure, but it is one of the drivingforces behind home weatherizationefforts. There are several areas of thehome that can be improved easily, without breaking your budget.

LightingIn recent months, the price of LED

lamps for residential consumers hassteadily declined — 60-watt (W) LEDlamps can be purchased at many bigbox retailers for $10 or less. LEDs cansave 60 percent or more when com-pared to incandescent bulbs — and lastfor several years.

It should be noted that care shouldbe taken when selecting a bulb for a fix-

ENERGYmatters

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8 P E N N L I N E S • M A R C H 2 0 1 5

community planners mapped out anentire community on about 300 acres,complete with a two-acre market square,a gridiron pattern of broad streets and413 residential lots. The remaining landwas set aside as farmland.“Most of the early shops and resi-

dences were fairly crude compared towhat the aristocrats were used to, but theresidences were impressive for the area,as most had porches and windows, andwere decorated inside with wallpaper,”Lambert says. “But, the most interestingof all was ‘La Grande Maison,’ a two-story, 84-foot-by-60-foot building thatmany of the residents believed wouldeventually be the home of MarieAntoinette, the queen of France.”That was not to be, however, as the

queen, the widow of King Louis XVI, wasexecuted in the fall of 1793 — around thesame time the first exiles arrived atFrench Azilum. Because news traveledslowly in those days, many of the commu-nity’s residents, unaware of the execution,continued to believe Marie Antoinettewould join them in Pennsylvania.“We don’t have any documents that

prove (Marie Antoinette) was actuallycoming to live here, but we do know thatmany of her loyal subjects who lived atFrench Azilum believed she was coming,and they even began construction of ahome for her,” Lambert adds.

Au revoirMany of the French who relocated to

Pennsylvania became homesick, andwithin a decade or so, when the politicalupheaval in France had died down andthe settlers were granted amnesty, theyreturned to their homeland. Others movedon to Charleston, S.C., Savannah, Ga., orNew Orleans, La., where other French res-idents had settled. Only a few remained innorthern Pennsylvania, and FrenchAzilum eventually began to fall into ruin. Today, with the exception of a number

of underground foundations, nothing

ONE OF the first — if not the first —planned communities in Pennsylvanianow exists only in historical documentsand artifacts. The Marie Antoinette ScenicOverlook along Route 6 between Wysoxand Wyalusing in Bradford County pro-vides a breathtaking bird’s-eye view of anoxbow bend in the Susquehanna River,1,600 acres of farmland and a few farm-houses. What can’t be seen from the over-look is the community that “could havebeen” — the city of French Azilum. “To accommodate refugees fleeing

from the French Revolution, a smallgroup of Pennsylvanians who were sym-pathetic to the plight of the exiles, and afew other French citizens who fled SantoDomingo (now Haiti) to escape uprisingsrelated to the revolution, formed a landcompany and bought 1,600 acres to

establish a community that would be aplace of refuge,” explains Danielle Lam-bert, site manager for French Azilum,now a state-owned, 22-acre historical site.Originally named Asylum in reference

to a place of refuge for French exiles, itwas later changed to French Azilum.Some historians believe the change wasmade to avoid the negative connotationassociated with early-day institutionsknown as “mental asylums.”Expecting a large influx of French citi-

zens — many of them exiled aristocrats —

remains of the more than 50 buildingsconstructed at the site in the late 1790s.The majority of the original 1,600-acresite is now privately owned with most ofit in farmland, although some natural gaswells have been drilled in recent years. Several newer buildings remain on

the 22-acre plot now occupied by theFrench Azilum Historic Site at 469Queens Road, Towanda, Pa. The site,owned by the Commonwealth and man-aged by French Azilum, Inc., a non-profitcorporation founded in 1954, is being dis-cussed as one of several state-owned sitesthat will be transferred to their privatemanagement corporations within thenext year or so. When that takes place,the ownership of the site will transfer tothe local corporation, but few otherchanges are expected, Lambert reports.The major structure onsite, known as

the LaPorte House, was completed in

B y K a t h y H a c k l e m a nS e n i o r E d i t o r / Wr i t e r

Pennsylvania’s French connection

Seeking Azilum

ORIGINAL DISHES: These dishes, now on display atthe LaPorte House at French Azilum, are originalto the community that was settled by Frenchrefugees in the late 1700s.

1836 by John LaPorte, son of an originalFrench settler, Bartholomew LaPorte.Now functioning as the site museum, theLaPorte House features items that dateback to the 1790s through the early 20thcentury. A millstonejust outside the houseis believed to be theoriginal one used at theFrench Azilum grist-mill. Displays includedishes and a fireboxbrought from Francewhen the settlersarrived, John LaPorte’sbed, which he is said tohave slept in whileseated, and a doll wear-ing a costume madefrom a dress originallyworn by John LaPorte’smother. One bedroom,

named the Charles Homet Room after theking’s steward who escaped from Franceto settle in French Azilum, holds itemsdonated by the Homet family. The houseitself is impressive — a two-and-one-half-

story French Colonialwith pine woodworkstippled to resemblebird’s-eye maple. Itswindows have wavy,blown-glass panesbelieved to have beenshipped from Philadel-phia and glazed withwhite lead.Other buildings

include the WellesCabin, an authentic1780s cabin donated bymembers of the Wellesfamily of Wyalusing toFrench Azilum in 1962;

a wine cellar from the original village(items recovered during the excavation ofthe cellar are displayed in the cabin); a gar-den where herbs common to the era of thesettlers are grown; a blacksmith shop (theoriginal LaPorte carriage house) whereantique farm tools are displayed; thewagon house, constructed of beamsbelieved to have been recovered from LaGrande Maison when it was dismantled,which now holds spinning and weavingdisplays and other artifacts; and a gazebobuilt in 1992 in memory of Martha Her-

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 • P E N N L I N E S 9

NOT ACCORDING TO PLAN: Instead of a plannedcommunity, the 1,600-acre site designed as a set-tlement for refugees fleeing the FrenchRevolution now is dotted with private farms andnatural gas well sites, along with the 22-acre his-toric site — all that is left of French Azilum. Theinset, above, shows the original plan for the com-munity. The photo at left is a historic markeroverlooking the site.

PENNlines

mann, curator of French Azilum from 1966through 1985. A research library is avail-able; it is open to the public when a staffmember is available.

Preserving historyIt was the site’s emphasis on history

and historical gardening that led Margaret“Marny” Gerhart, a member of Wysox-based Claverack Rural Electric Coopera-tive (REC), to volunteer at French Azilumwhen she moved to Bradford County in2002. Eventually, Gerhart, a former his-tory teacher, joined the organization’sboard, where she continues to serve.“As (board members), we act as support

for the major events,” she reports. “I have

STONE WALL WORKSHOP: Men work to restore thestone wall at French Azilum under the direction ofPennsylvania stone wall artisan Ken Ely. About 100feet of stone wall is restored each fall at theannual workshop.

Writer Joanna Higgins made her first visit to French Azilumon a raw November day a few years back. A resident of NewYork who also has a home in Susquehanna County that isserved by Claverack REC, Higgins says that spur-of-the-momentvisit to the site on an oxbow bend along the Susquehanna Riverin Bradford County is what led her to write the novel, “Waitingfor the Queen.”

“I felt the isolation,” she recalls. “It was overcast, cold andwindy, and I began to imagine these French aristocrats arrivingby boat, in the mist, coming from court life and mansions oftheir own in the early 1790s, realizing this is where they wouldbe living. I was struck by the emotional response they wouldhave had to this place. I imagined a young French girl comingand meeting an American girl here on the site. That was theseed of the story — a simple idea that developed over time.”

The combination of the remoteness of the site, the weatherand the silence — except for the wind — is what drew Higginsinto the drama that would become her novel.

“I could see it immediately,” she says. “The site became astage and I could almost see the people in the clothing of theperiod. … I came back later the next spring, and that visit alsoworked itself into the novel, but I don’t know that I would havefelt the spark to write the story if that was the first time I vis-ited the site. It’s a beautiful spot in the summer.”

Once the idea for “Waiting for the Queen” struck Higgins, shewent to the Bradford County Library and Historical Society,where she found what she describes as a treasure trove of infor-mation about French Azilum, including writings by residents’descendants, as well as history of the area during the 1790s.

“It was fascinating to use historical facts such as the presence, atFrench Azilum, of plantation owners and their slaves and residentswho were local craftsmen and carpenters and weave these elementstogether,” Higgins says. “It gave the book more emotional depth.”

While trying to be as historically accurate as possible within a

broad framework, Higgins says she took some liberties with thestory. Her version is told through the eyes of two teenagers whobecome friends against all odds: Eugenie de La Roque, whoescaped the French Revolution with her family, whose goal wasto reach the Pennsylvania community set up as a refuge for thearistocrats fleeing their French mansions, and Hannah Kimbrell,a young Quaker girl whose job it is to prepare the settlement forthe French arrivals and thenhelp serve them.

“Each draft became morecomplex and more involved,”she says. “I saw it as a youngpeople’s story initially, but itgrew to become somethingthat adults enjoy as well.”

Higgins, a former Englishliterature teacher who holds adoctorate from the State Uni-versity of New York (SUNY) atBinghamton, N.Y., began writingshort stories, which were com-piled into a book, “The Impor-tance of High Places,” in the1980s. She published her firstnovel, “A Soldier’s Book,”based on the story of a CivilWar prisoner of war, in 1998. Itwas followed by “Dead Center,”a fictionalized account of amurder and subsequent trial that took place near her Pennsylva-nia home, and “The Anarchist,” a fictionalized account based onhistorical documents pertaining to the assassination of PresidentWilliam McKinley in 1901. “The Fire,” a love story about two sur-vivors of a 1908 Michigan wildfire, has recently been submittedfor publication, and she’s hard at work on a World War I storywith the working title, “Eclipse.”

“Waiting for the Queen” is published by Milkweed Editions, whichalso published Higgins’ first book of short stories. She has workedwith another publisher on her other novels, and just recentlysold the foreign rights of “The Anarchist” to a Turkish publisher.

MAKING HISTORY: Author JoannaHiggins describes her book aboutFrench Azilum, “Waiting for theQueen,” as she sits in the gazebo atthe Bradford County historic site.Higgins is a member of ClaverackRural Electric Cooperative.

10 P E N N L I N E S • M A R C H 2 0 1 5

B y K a t h y H a c k l e m a n

‘Waiting for the Queen’

done special programming on ‘candles as alight source’ and ‘tea as a beverage ofchoice for 18th-century residents,’ wornperiod clothing, written press releases.Really, anything that needs to be done.”

“French Azilum is a valuable historicsite,” Gerhart adds. “Getting there issomewhat difficult, but it’s a lovely driveon paved roads surrounded by openfields. When you arrive, you have a truesense of history. Some of the families whohave links to French Azilum have madedonations and gifted us items over theyears. This is certainly history thatshould be preserved.”From her historical research of French

Azilum, Gerhart has developed a specialaffinity for one former resident who set-tled there after her husband’s death.“I refer to (Anne Maria Jeanne Sophie

Augustine Berey de Sibert) as my favoriteresident of the settlement,” Gerhart

Novel brings French Azilum to life

reports. “She came with apparently somedegree of wealth because she was one ofthe largest property owners. There is doc-umentation on site of where she had herplot of land. She had about eight acres oforchards, a spring house and a gardenhouse, along with her residence. She wasquite the woman of her time.”

Susquehanna storiesWhile Gerhart arrived at her volunteer

efforts from the historical perspective,French Azilum, Inc. board member

and established campsites with picnictables and fire rings in an effort toencourage people to travel to the site byriver, just as the early French settlers did.“French Azilum is a camping site,” Buck

says. “The Susquehanna is a NationalRecreation Trail and a National HistoricTrail. There’s a fair amount of camperswho are paddling the river and want aplace to stay overnight, and the pavilionand restrooms are available to them.”Buck and his wife, Melody, offer edu-

cational tips about the site to visitorswhen they rent kayaks and canoes. Theyalso lead sojourns to the site locatedabout 10 miles upriver from Sugar Run.“This area is one of the prettiest sec-

tions of the Susquehanna,” he says. “Theriver meanders back and forth. It’s abeautiful spot, and it’s easy for people to

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 • P E N N L I N E S 11

David Buck became affiliated with theorganization due to his interest in theSusquehanna River. The owner of End-less Mountain Outfitters near Sugar Run,Pa., and also a member of ClaverackREC, Buck originally mapped the riveraround the French Azilum site for theEndless Mountains Heritage Regionabout a decade ago. That work piqued hisinterest in the site itself and he joined theboard a few years later.Since then, he has organized the addi-

tion of a river access at French Azilum,

NEW HOME: The LaPorte House, located atFrench Azilum, is the home of John LaPorte,son of Bartholomew LaPorte, an original FrenchAzilum settler. Now the site’s museum, the ele-gant interior décor reflects the French influ-ence. Several outbuildings from the LaPorte eraalso are open during the spring, summer andfall when the site is open to the public.

RESTORATION: Danielle Lambert is the site man-ager for French Azilum. The log cabin in the back-ground is an authentic 1780s cabin donated bymembers of the Welles family of Wyalusing toFrench Azilum in 1962. Visitors can see artifacts inthe building, where a DVD explains to visitors whatthey will see while touring the historic site.

12 P E N N L I N E S • M A R C H 2 0 1 5

PENNlines

get on and off the river there. There’seven an active eagles’ nest at the site.”One of the Bucks’ sojourns is high-

lighted in an upcoming documentary. Thefilm, part of a Bucknell University projectcalled “Stories of the Susquehanna Val-ley,” was filmed onsite at French Azilumand the historic Joseph Priestly House inNorthumberland, Pa. Alfred Siewers, associate professor of

English and affiliate faculty member inenvironmental studies at the private liberalarts college in Lewisburg, is coordinatingthe documentary, which is expected to becompleted later this summer.“The 20-minute documentary deals

with the residents of French Azilum inrelationship to Joseph Priestly,” Siewersexplains. “All of them came to seek a newlife in America with plans to form a bettersociety than the one they had left. Both

had a bit of a utopian aspect. Priestlyhoped to attract progressive intellectualsto live in community with him and hisfamily, while French Azilum folks werefleeing due to the French Revolution.”While they had their similarities, the

two communities had very different viewsof the French Revolution — the French set-tlers opposed it, while Priestly supported it. “It was interesting to us as we were

thinking about the documentary processand the cultural history of the river thattwo communities on opposite sides of theFrench Revolution would end up beingneighbors,” Siewers adds. “Both wereattracted to the Susquehanna River Val-ley because it was a blank slate wherethey could create a new society, and nei-ther came to full fruition as the commu-nities their founders had envisioned.”French Azilum, which is open in the

spring through fall, has seasonal hours. Inaddition to its public hours, the site also isavailable for rent for events. Special eventsscheduled in 2015 include: Family FunDay, Northeastern Primitive Rendezvousand Heritage Day. In addition, a periodclothing display, “What Antiques! What

Folly — Fashions of the Fury,” coordi-nated by Lynn Symborski, a historicseamstress, is planned for the 2015 season. For information about French Azilum,

check online at www.frenchazilum.comor call 570-265-3376. For informationabout scheduled showings of the docu-mentary, check online later this spring atwww.susquehannastories.org.l

DRESS WITH A HISTORY: This doll wears an outfitmade from fabric from a dress worn by ElizabethLaPorte, an original French Azilum settler andmother of John LaPorte, who built what is nowcalled the LaPorte House. The doll’s dress is believedto have been constructed in the mid-1800s.

SUSQUEHANNA RIVER WATER TRAIL: Frenchrefugees fleeing their country’s revolution in thelate 1700s arrived at French Azilum by boat on theSusquehanna River. “Standing Stone,” left, marksthe northwest boundary of French Azilum. The firstknown written description of the unusual rock isfrom 1779.

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TIMElines Y o u r N e w s m a g a z i n e T h r o u g h t h e Y e a r s

1985 Design and construction continue on ahydroelectric plant at Raystown Dam in HuntingdonCounty, which is scheduled to be available for com-mercial operation in 1988.

1995 Due to the decline in Pennsylvania’s wildpheasant population, the Pennsylvania GameCommission is in the second year of a program toaid the ringneck’s comeback.

2005 About 21,000 cooperative members inPennsylvania live “at the end of the line” — a testa-ment to the rural electrification mission of providingelectricity to anyone.

SAFETY— on the job and off — is an essential part of the everyday livesof everyone associated with a rural electric cooperative. In the early 1970s,Pennsylvania cooperatives began approaching the issue of safety with thesame business-like attitude that is applied to other aspects of their serviceto cooperative members.

Safety to an employee means a better working environment. But hav-ing a good safety record also helps a cooperative keep operating costsdown (the cost of insurance and other expenses incurred due to lost-timeaccidents affect every member).

Forty years ago, the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association (PREA)appointed a Job Training & Safety (JT&S) Committee to set up a coordi-nated approach to the issue of employee safety, and suggested that eachcooperative adopt a written policy on safety. Cooperative employees wereencouraged to become involved in the safety program through the forma-tion of an employee safety committee acting in an advisory capacity tolocal cooperative managers.

As part of the early 1970s focus on safety, PREA’s JT&S personneldesigned and built a high-voltage safety display duplicating some of thecooperative’s rural lines and equipment to be used for safety demonstra-tions. Designed to be shown to people who work near high-voltage lines,such as first-responders and contractors, the demand for the demonstra-tion was so great that it was made available to other community groups.

Today, JT&S staff members continue to provide ongoing employeetraining in an effort to eliminate injuries to both employees and membersof the public from any potential electrical contact.

1975

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PFBC officials report thatresearchers use eDNA analysis to checkfor early detection of the carp as thefindings indicate the presence of geneticmaterial such as scales, excrement ormucous. The eDNA, however, does notprovide physical proof of the presenceof live Asian carp, and no Asian carp,

alive or dead, have been reported inPennsylvania’s portion of the OhioRiver.

Asian carp is an invasive species thatposes a serious threat because of theirvoracious appetite and ability to quicklyreproduce, according to the PFBCreport. Once in a waterway, they devourmuch of the microscopic algae and ani-mals that other species rely on for food.This disrupts the aquatic ecosystem andcan harm local economies that rely onrevenue generated from sport fishingand boating.

State officials are urging anglers andboaters to help slow the spread of theAsian carp by thoroughly cleaning theirgear and boats before entering newwaters. Information on possible sightingsof Asian carp is available at the PFBCwebsite, http://fishandboat.com/ais-reporting.htm. Additional information onhow to identify the Asian carp is avail-able at http://asiancarp.us.l

to 7 p.m. March 20 and 7:30 a.m. to 4p.m. March 21 at the Blair County Con-vention Center in Altoona, Pa. Registra-tion is required and there is a fee to par-ticipate.

The conference will include nearly100 educational seminars, general ses-sions and opportunities to network withforest stewardship services andresources providers. Field tours also areavailable. Topics will include such itemsas: resources for landowners, monarchdecline and conservation methods, man-aging your forest for biodiversity, pro-cessing your own lumber, managingyour pond/lake, firewood cutting, forestpests, financing your woodland pur-chase, and trail cameras.

To register online, go to http://ecosys-tems.psu/edu/private-forest-conferenceor call 877-778-2937.

Pennsylvania cities recognizedThe online blog, “Talent Tribune,”

has named seven Pennsylvania cities toits “Top 10” list of “Best Places for SmallBusiness in the Northeast.” Scoring wasdone by measuring net small businessgrowth, net small business employeegrowth, and percentages of businessesin the community that are small busi-nesses, and then creating a weightedoverall score.

Cities listed are:1. Auburn, N.Y.2. Ithaca, N.Y.3. Lock Haven, Pa.4. St. Marys, Pa.5. Meadville, Pa.6. Sayre, Pa.7. Lewisburg, Pa.8. Huntingdon, Pa.9. Pottsville, Pa10. Hudson, N.Y.

Women becoming more visible on family farms

The U.S. Department of AgricultureCensus of Agriculture statistics showthe average U.S. farmer is a white manin his late 50s. However, those statisticsdon’t tell the whole story of who is farm-ing these days.

In 2012 (the most recent year interms of data available), there were 3.2 million farmers operating 2.1 millionfarms — a decrease of 4.3 percent of thenumber of farmers between 2007 and2012. Forty-four percent of all farmsreported having two operators and 7 percent reported having three or moreoperators involved in day-to-day decision making.

The primary operator ison average older, more likelyto be male, more likely toconsider farming their pri-mary occupation, and morelikely to have been on theircurrent farm for 10 years ormore.

Fourteen percent of pri-mary farm operators arefemale (a total that hastripled in the past fourdecades), but 67 percent ofsecond operators are womenand 39 percent of third oper-ators are women. Womenrepresent 30 percent of alloperators.

According to the census,some areas of the UnitedStates have higher concentra-tions of women farmers than otherareas, including New England, Arizona,Oregon and Washington.

The report also showed 75 percent ofthe country’s 2.1 million farms sold lessthan $50,000 in agricultural products in2012 (57 percent had sales of less than$10,000). For 1.5 million farm house-holds, less than 25 percent of householdincome came from their farm. In 2012, 61 percent of farm operators worked offthe farm at least some days, and 40 per-cent worked off the farm for 200 ormore days annually.

State confirms presence of Asian carp eDNA in Ohio River

The Pennsylvania Fish and BoatCommission (PFBC) has confirmedenvironmental DNA (eDNA) from theinvasive Asian carp has been found inwater samples collected from the OhioRiver in 2014. In 2013, eDNA from theAsian carp was also found in the Penn-sylvania section of the river.

ASIAN CARP: These are three of the seven species of Asian carpthat have been reported as invasive species in the U.S. Officials sayeDNA from both the silver and bighead carp has been found inPennsylvania waters.

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k Never operate the generator near combustible materials

k Never plug your generator directly into your home outlet as this presents an electrocution risk to utility workers and neighbors served by the same utilitytransformer – have a qualified electrician install a power transfer switch instead

k Never operate a generator under wet conditions or touch it with wet hands (put iton a level, dry surface under an open, canopy-like structure)

k Never overload the generator or connected appliances and components can bedamaged

k Never cut corners when it comes to safety

THE STANDARD high-wattage incan-descent bulb technology (the traditional60- or 100-watt bulbs) no longer meetsthe current energy efficiency standards.Also, the bulb life is very short whencompared to newer-technology stan-dards, so the overall cost of using theolder bulbs is high.

The wattage of a lightbulb refers tohow much electricity it consumes, nothow much light it produces. The amountof light is measured in units calledlumens. A 60-watt incandescent light-bulb produces about 800 lumens of lightand a 100-watt bulb about 1,600 lumens.

Today, your primary choices of bulbsare halogen, CFLs (compact fluorescentlights) and LEDs (light-emitting diodes),which I listed in the order of increasingefficiency. For many home applications,LEDs are the best choice even thoughthey cost more initially.

Halogen bulbs are basically incandes-cent bulbs with halogen gas around thefilament to improve efficiency enough tomeet efficiency standards. CFLs are muchmore efficient, using only about 25 per-cent as much electricity as incandescentbulbs to produce the same amount oflight — and they last 10 times longer.

Today’s CFLs have improved whencompared to the original versions.Instant-start models are available, andsome are dimmable using a standarddimmer wall switch.

CFLs can produce true full-spectrum(simulates natural sunlight) light qualityand can be purchased with warm white,cool white and daylight color temperatures.

LEDs are the newest and most effi-cient light source available and provide

Have a question for Jim? Send inquiriesto JAMES DULLEY , Penn Lines, 6906Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244 orvisit www.dulley.com.

Efficient indoor lightingfor your home

an excellent payback. A 12-watt LEDproduces as much light as a 60-wattincandescent bulb. The LED bulbshould also last a minimum of 20,000hours. Most of them are dimmable,work well at cold temperatures andreach full brightness immediately.

LEDs gradually get dimmer over time.When a LED is rated for 20,000 hours,its output will stay above 70 percent of itsoriginal brightness for that time.

If you have been using incandescentbulbs, you are probably accustomed to ayellowish light quality. This is called the“color temperature” of a bulb. Incandes-cent bulbs are in the 2,700-degree Kelvin(K) range. The whiter “daylight” LEDs andCFLs are in the 4,000- to 5,000-degree Krange. Most people grow accustomed tothe whiter light and prefer it. CRI (colorrendering index) is another quality of thelightbulb to consider. A higher CRI makesobjects in a room look more like theywould look under natural sunlight. A CRIabove 80 is considered adequate forhomes, but 90 or above makes everythinglook better and doesn’t cost much more.

There are four general types of lightinguses — ambient, accent, decorative andtask. Ambient lighting is for general illu-

mination with comfortable brightness.Accent lighting can create a mood in theroom or highlight areas or objects. Deco-rative lighting is when the light itself is theobject, such as a chandelier. Task lightingis for reading or doing a specific activity.

The goal for lighting efficiency is touse as little lighting as needed. Whereyou do not have a wall switch, such aswith a table lamp, install a three-waysocket and use a new three-way LED.Add a four-bulb lighting kit to a ceilingfan with a switch to allow you to switchon fewer than all four lights.

Remember to turn off lights when youleave a room. A rule of thumb for CFLs isto switch them off if you plan to be out ofthe room for 15 minutes or more. Switch-ing them on and off more often willshorten their life. Contrary to popularbelief, with the new electronic ballasts,“switching” does not use a large amount ofcurrent each time they’re switched on.l

SMARTcircuits b y J a m e s D u l l e y

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 • P E N N L I N E S 21

22 P E N N L I N E S • M A R C H 2 0 1 5

PENNLINESclassified

ISSUE MONTH: AD DEADLINE:

CLASSIFIED AD SUBMISSION/RATES: Please use the form below or submit a separate sheet with required information.

Electric co-op members: $20 per month for 30 words or less, plus 50¢ for each additional word.

Non-members: $70 per month for 30 words or less, plus $1.50 for each additional word.

Ad in all CAPITAL letters: Add 20 percent to total cost. Please print my ad in all CAPITAL letters.

PLACE AD IN THE MONTHS OF: . WORD COUNT: .

I am an electric co-op member. Attached is my Penn Lines mailing label.

Enclosed is payment in the amount of $ .

I am a non-member. Address is noted or attached at right.

Enclosed is payment in the amount of $ .

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 Additional words; attach separate sheet if needed.

FREE Headings (Select One): Around the House Business Opportunities Employment Opportunities Gift and Craft Ideas Livestock and Pets Miscellaneous Motor Vehicles and Boats Nursery and Garden Real Estate Recipes and Food Tools and Equipment Vacations and Campsites Wanted to Buy

SPECIAL HEADING: . SPECIAL HEADING FEE: $5 for co-op members, $10 for non-members. Applies even if heading is already appearing in Penn Lines. Insertion of classified ad serves as proof of publication; no proofs supplied. SEND FORM TO: Penn Lines Classifieds, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Please make CHECK/MONEY ORDER payable to: PREA/Penn Lines.

Penn Lines classified advertisements reach nearly 166,000 rural Pennsylvania households! Please note ads must be received by the due date to be included in the requested issue month. Ads received beyond the due date will run in the next available issue. Written notice of changes and cancella-tions must be received 30 days prior to the issue month. Classified ads will not be accepted by phone, fax or email. For more information please contact Vonnie Kloss at 717 233-5704.

Name/Address or Mailing Label Here:

May 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . March 19

June 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . April 20

July 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 19

AROUND THE HOUSE

SPECIAL OFFER — BOTH COOKBOOKS FOR $12. “CountryCooking” — $5, including postage. “Recipes Remembered” —$7, including postage. Both of these cookbooks are acollection of recipes from men and women of the electric co-ops of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Payable to: PennsylvaniaRural Electric Association, P. O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA17108. Write Attention: Cookbooks.

BUILDING SUPPLIES

STEEL ROOFING AND SIDING. Over 25 years in business.Several profiles - cut to length. 29 and 26 gauge best qualityresidential roofing – 40-year warranty. Also, seconds, heavygauges, accessories, etc. Installation available. Located -northwestern Pennsylvania. 814-398-4052.

BUY FACTORY SECONDS of insulation, 4 x 8 sheets, foil back.1/2-inch to 4-inch thick, 6.5 R value per inch of thickness. Alsometal roofing. 814-267-5723 or 814-442-6032.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

NEED RETIREMENT INCOME – Work an hour a day for yourfuture. Make whatever you are willing to earn in residualincome. Work from home with no limits. 570-368-3221.

WORK FROM HOME with one of America’s fastest growingwholesale catalogs of naturally-derived nutritional supplements,household products and latest scientific health and wellnessinformation. Unlimited earnings potential. 703-975-6481.

TIRED of the Rat Race? Want to own your business? Low cost,high-end leadership company has open positions! 814-603-0231.

CHURCH LIFT SYSTEMS

Make your church, business or home wheelchair accessible.We offer platform lifting systems, stair lifts, porch lifts andramps. References. Free estimates. Get Up & Go Mobility Inc.724-746-0992 or 814-926-3622.

COMPOSTING TOILET

SUN-MAR DELUXE composting toilet, low watt, electricevaporation system, 12V exhaust fan. Other extras. Very goodcondition. $750, OBO. Ryot, PA. Call or text 724-331-6106.

CONSULTING FORESTRY SERVICES

NOLL’S FORESTRY SERVICES, INC. performs Timber Marketing,Timber Appraisals, Forest Management Planning, and ForestImprovement Work. FREE Timber Land Recommendations. 30years experience. Call 814-472-8560.

CENTRE FOREST RESOURCES. Maximizing present and futuretimber values. Forest Management Services, Managing TimberTaxation, Timber Sales, Quality Deer Management. FREETimber Consultation. College educated, professional, ethical814-867-7052.

CRANE SERVICE

NEED A LIFT? Crane service for all your lifting needs.Experienced, fully insured, Owner-Operated and OSHACertified. Precision Crane LLC, Linesville, PA 814-282-9133.

FENCING

FREE Fence Guide/Catalog – High-tensile fence, horse fence,rotational grazing, twine, wire, electric netting – cattle, deer,garden, poultry. Kencove Farm Fence Supplies 800-536-2683.www.kencove.com.

FINANCIAL FREEDOM

FAILED MAKING MONEY From Home? You won’t now! Fail ProofSystem! Call for information, computer needed. 800-637-1396.

FREEDOM RV RENTALS

VALLEY RURAL MEMBERS save 10 percent on all one week orlonger RV and camper rentals. 866-876-Rent (7368).www.Freedomrentals.com.

GIFT AND CRAFT IDEAS

SPECIAL OFFER — BOTH COOKBOOKS FOR $12. “CountryCooking” — $5, including postage. “Recipes Remembered” —$7, including postage. Both of these cookbooks are acollection of recipes from men and women of the electric co-ops of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Payable to: PennsylvaniaRural Electric Association, P. O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA17108. Write Attention: Cookbooks.

GUNS-MISCELLANEOUS

PONSNESS-WARREN RELOADERS (2) – 12 gauge, duomatic 375and sizeomatic 800B, with manuals. Also approximately 30bags AA wads and hundreds of empty casings. Make offer.Phone: 724-626-8049.

HAPPY CHILD BIG SMILES

Buy directly from the source. Use this special buyer’sdiscount code CP18712 with your first purchase and receive a free gift, special offers, coupons and promotions.www.myfamouscharacters.com.

HEALTH AND NUTRITION

Tired of all those medicines ⎯ Still not feeling better? Do youwant to feel better, have more energy, better digestion, lessjoint stiffness, healthier heart/circulation and cholesterollevels? Find out how to empower your own immune system ⎯start 1-26 today! It’s safe, affordable, and it works. Call 800-557-8477: ID#528390. 90-day money back on first time ordersor call me 724-454-5586. www.mylegacyforlife.net/believeit.

HEALTH INSURANCE

DO YOU HAVE THE BLUES regarding your Health Insurance?We cater to rural America's health insurance needs. For moreinformation, call 800-628-7804 (PA). Call us regardingMedicare supplements, too.

Toll Free 1-888-875-8233F a x : 9 4 0 - 4 8 4 - 6 7 4 6 e m a i l : info@rhinobldg.com

W e b s i t e : h t t p : / / w w w . R H I N O B L D G . C O M

25 Year Warranty on Roof & Walls;Prices F.O.B. Mfg. Plants; Seal Stamped Blue Prints; Easy Bolt Together Design.

Farm Industrial Commercial

VISITOUR

WEBSITE

PRICES INCLUDE COLOR SIDES & GALVALUME ROOF

VISITOUR

WEBSITE

(Local codes may affect prices)

Arena Special (roof & frame)

x x

x x x x x x x x

x x

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 • P E N N L I N E S 23

HUNTING

CUSTOM HAND MADE to order or in-stock wooden turkey callsof various woods and sizes. 814-267-5489 leave message forPrecision Unlimited Inc., Berlin, PA.

INFRARED SAUNAS

Removes toxins, burns calories, relieves joint pain, relaxesmuscles, increases flexibility, strengthens immune system.Many more HEALTH BENEFITS with infrared radiant heatsaunas. Economical to operate. Barron’s Furniture, Somerset,PA. 814-443-3115.

LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT

HARRINGTONS EQUIPMENT COMPANY, 475 Orchard Rd.,Fairfield, PA 17320. 717-642-6001 or 410-756-2506. Lawn & Garden equipment, Sales – Service – Parts.www.HarringtonsEquipment.com.

BCS 9 HP TRACTOR, 20” rear-tine tiller, 30” brush hog, 40”sickle bar. Very good condition. Entire package $2,495 OBO.Implements priced on request. Quick-hitch hookup. Ryot, PA.Call, text 724-331-6106.

LIVESTOCK AND PETS

PEMBROKE WELSH CORGI Puppies — AKC, adorable, intelligent,highly trainable. Excellent family choice. Reputable licensedbreeder guaranteed “Last breed you’ll ever own.” 814-587-3449.

LOG CABIN RESTORATIONS

VILLAGE RESTORATIONS & CONSULTING specializes in 17th and18th century log, stone and timber structures. We dismantle,move, re-erect, restore, construct and consult all over thecountry. Period building materials available. Chestnut boards,hardware, etc. Thirty years experience, fully insured. Call 814-696-1379. www.villagerestorations.com.

MISCELLANEOUS

BECOME AN ORDAINED MINISTER — Correspondence Study.The harvest truly is great, the laborers are few, Luke 10:2.Free information. Ministers for Christ Outreach, 7558 WestThunderbird Rd., Ste. 1 - #114, Peoria, Arizona 85381.www.ordination.org.

MOTORCYCLE-SNOWMOBILE INSURANCE

For the best INSURANCE RATES call R & R InsuranceAssociates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 800-442-6832 (PA).

PENNSYLVANIA HUNTING LAND WANTED

Earn thousands on your land by leasing the hunting rights. Freeevaluation and info packet. Liability coverage included. Theexperts at Base Camp Leasing have been bringing landownersand hunters together since 1999. Call: 866-309-1507. Email:info@basecampleasing.com. www.BaseCampLeasing.com.

PENNSYLVANIA WHITETAIL HUNTING

CYPHER TROPHY WHITETAIL – 1300 continuous acre huntingpreserve. Affordable whitetail hunting. Mature bucks scorefrom 150 to 200+. Trophy fee on any buck is $4,200.Excellent lodging and accommodations. 814-448-4917.www.cyphertrophywhitetail.com.

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE for sale. 85 acres wooded, septic tested. Perfectfor hunting, secluded getaway or permanent home. BedfordCounty PA. $245,000. Call Rick 814-635-4020.

CAMMAL, LYCOMING COUNTY – Immaculate 3 bedroom homeadjacent to the Pine Creek Rail Trail. Large rear deck, levelyard. $140,000 or will consider offers. For pictures andinformation, email lisa.a.linn@gmail.com.

SOUTHERN HUNTINGDON COUNTY 5BR, 2BA, 4000 sq. ft.stone house, stone fireplaces, 13 wooded acres, small guestcottage, move in condition, low taxes, new roof, boiler, watersoftener. $239,000. 717-372-9724.

PENNLINESclassified

&3, 4, 5 & 6 night cruises on the magnificent and historic

Quebec City, Ottawa, Kingston Departures

Reach nearly 166,000 ruralPennsylvania households!

Advertise in Penn Lines. Formore information, please visit

our website atwww.prea.com/Content/

pennlines.aspor call 717.233.5704

CasCade 5000Floating POND FOUNTAIN!

AeratorNow Available Factory Direct!

MSRP ($1100) You Pay $698.95!

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Call 7days/week! (608) 254-2735

Complete with light & timer, 100 ft power cord, 1yr warranty!

Pre-Assembled - Installs in Minutes! ecnagelE

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RECIPES AND FOOD

SPECIAL OFFER — BOTH COOKBOOKS FOR $12. “CountryCooking” — $5, including postage. “Recipes Remembered” —$7, including postage. Both of these cookbooks are acollection of recipes from men and women of the electric co-ops of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Payable to: PennsylvaniaRural Electric Association, P. O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA17108. Write Attention: Cookbooks.

SAWMILLS

USED PORTABLE Sawmills and COMMERCIAL SawmillEquipment! Buy/Sell. Call Sawmill Exchange 800-459-2148.USA and Canada. www.sawmillexchange.com.

SHAKLEE

FREE SAMPLE Shaklee’s Energy Tea. Combination red, green andwhite teas that are natural, delicious, refreshing, safe. For sampleor more information on tea or other Shaklee Nutrition/WeightLoss Products: 800-403-3381 or www.sbarton.myshaklee.com.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

FOR SALE – 28 inch Craftsman snowblower with snow cab.$300. Call 814-372-4693.

TRACTOR PARTS – REPAIR/RESTORATION

ARTHURS TRACTORS, specializing in vintage Ford tractors, 30-years experience, online parts catalog/prices, Indiana, PA 15701.Contact us at 877-254-FORD (3673) or www.arthurstractors.com.

VACATIONS AND CAMPSITES

BEAUTIFUL LAKE ERIE COTTAGE – Enjoy swimming, fishing andsunsets at their finest. Sleeps eight, 20 miles west of Erie.Available May to November. Call 814-333-9669. Visit ourwebsite at www.curleycottage.com.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida condo rental. Two bedrooms,two baths, pool. 200 yards from beach. $500 weekly, $1,800monthly. NA January – February. Call 814-635-4020.

PENN OAKS CAMPGROUND has 3 spaces available for 2015season. Close to Cook Forest and Alleg. Natl. Forest. Woodedwith all utilities. Cable and internet available. 814-744-8458.

LAKE RAYSTOWN VACATION HOUSE RENTAL. Sleeps 11, fourbedrooms, dining table/12, central A/C, 2 satellite TVs, 2flbaths, 2 hfbaths, linens/towels, large recreation room. Boatparking, close to boat launch. Minimum two nights. 814-931-6562. www.laurelwoodsretreat.com.

WANTED TO BUY

CARBIDE – Paying cash/lb. – Some examples of items thathave carbide pieces at their tips for cutting or drilling are:coal mining machinery – roof bits – road bits – gas/oil/waterwell drill bits – machining inserts as well as many others. Wewill pick up your materials containing carbide pieces. We willextract the carbide item from the part in which it is held inmost cases. 814-395-0415.

See what a difference it makes…

CLASSIFIEDS

COUNTRYkitchen b y J a n e t t e H e s s

SLOW-COOKED CORNED BEEF BRISKET

1 3- to 4-pound flat-cut corned beef brisket

1 tablespoon grainy brown mustard

1 tablespoon brown sugar

3/4 cup pineapple juiceCorned beef spices, if included with brisket

Place brisket, fat side up, in large slow cooker. Deeply score “fat cap”

with sharp knife. Mix together mustard and brown sugar; spread over

brisket. Pour pineapple juice around sides of brisket. Cover and cook on

low for 10 to 12 hours, or until meat easily pulls apart with fork. Do not

rush process. Transfer brisket to cutting board and, when cool enough to

handle, remove and discard all visible fat and connective tissue. Thinly

slice across grain. Place on serving dish and drizzle with glaze.

GLAZE FOR CORNED BEEF1 tablespoon pan juices1/4 cup pineapple juice2 tablespoons cider vinegar

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon dry mustard

Whisk together all ingredients and bring to boil in small saucepan. Cook

until reduced to approximately 1/4 cup liquid.

CORNED BEEF POTATO SALAD2 pounds russet potatoes (approximately4 potatoes, depending on size)

2 strips bacon, dicedApproximately 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 medium onion, chopped1 tablespoon flour1/3 cup cider vinegar2/3 cup water1 1/2 tablespoons sugar1 teaspoon salt1 generous tablespoon grainy brown mustard1 cup shredded and chopped corned beef Freshly ground pepper

Wash potatoes, place in large pan and cover with water. Boil until tender,approximately 25 minutes. Drain. Set aside to cool. In medium skillet, slow-ly fry diced bacon until crisp. Remove bacon from pan and set aside. Meas-ure bacon fat and add enough vegetable oil to total 2 tablespoons. Heatfat and oil in skillet; add onions. Cook over medium-low to medium heatuntil softened, about 10 minutes. Stir in flour. Add vinegar and water. Cookand stir until bubbly and thickened. Add sugar, salt, mustard and bacon.Peel potatoes and cut into 1/2- to 3/4-inch cubes. Combine with sauce andcorned beef. Season with generous amount of freshly ground pepper.Serve warm. Makes 8 generous servings.

March favoritesLIKE CLOCKWORK,March brings supermarket sales oncabbage and corned beef. Whether or not you plan to observeSt. Patrick’s Day with green clothing and beverages, you canalways experiment with new ways to prepare the traditionalholiday favorites.

Few foods are tastier than lean, perfectly tender cornedbeef, but sometimes that result is difficult to achieve. Whilepackage instructions usually offer a stove-top method forcooking corned beef, the slow cooker method is easier andmore dependable. For best results, always start with a uni-formly flat cut of beef with exterior fat, not interior fat.

This month’s recipe for Braised Cabbage elevates mundanecabbage to a savory, gourmet treat. It is an excellent side dishfor corned beef, as well as roasted pork or smoked sausage.Corned Beef Potato Salad offers an interesting take on Hot

German Potato Salad. It might just become anew favorite, if, in fact, you even have any left-over corned beef to add to it! lA trained journalist, JANETTE HESS focuses her writing on interesting

people and interesting foods. She is a Master Food Volunteer with her

local extension service and enjoys collecting, testing and sharing recipes.

BRAISED CABBAGE1/2 head cabbage 1 tablespoon butter1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil1/2 teaspoon garlic salt1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram1/4 teaspoon dried basil2 slices raw bacon1/2 cup white wine (or equivalent amount ofchicken broth)1/2 cup chicken broth2 tablespoons sour cream or reduced-fat sour creamCut cabbage into 4 wedges and slice off center core. Melt butter in oven-safe skillet or pan. Add enough olive oil to completely coat bottom of pan.Over medium-high heat, brown cabbage wedges on both sides, cookingapproximately 3 minutes per side. Remove from heat. Cut bacon strips inhalf and drape 1/2 slice over each wedge of cabbage. Sprinkle all season-ings over wedges. Pour liquids into bottom of pan. Cover and transfer panto 350-degree oven. Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until cabbage is soft.Remove from oven and discard bacon. To make sauce, stir sour creaminto pan drippings. Spoon sauce over cabbage. Makes 4 servings. Recipeeasily may be doubled.

24 P E N N L I N E S • M A R C H 2 0 1 5

OUTDOORadventures b y M a r c u s S c h n e c k

ANY DAY now I’ll spot it, myfirst courting pair of mourn-ing cloak butterflies of spring.They’ll flutter about and circleone another, relishing eachspot of sunlit warmth theyencounter.

More reliable harbingers ofspring than any flock ofrobins or northward-bound Vof geese, mourning cloakshibernate in their adult formand then emerge in late win-ter to mate and lay eggs.

Often, there will bepatches of snow on theground below the mourningcloaks, that coarse, granularsnow that skiers refer to ascorn snow or spring snow.The top layer melts in thelight and heat of day, and thenrefreezes overnight, produc-ing a very slick, if spotty, coat-ing of snow.

The mourning cloaks are a

welcome sight every year,even more so at the end awinter like we’ve seen thisyear in my neck of the woods.Sure, they’re big, beautifulbutterflies, with wingspans ofas much as four inches andthose rows of iridescent bluespots along the edges of theirwings. But, it’s really thatwhole end-of-winter thingthat earns the insects a specialplace in my estimation.

Soon after emerging, mat-ing will occur and the femalewill lay eggs circling twigs ofhost plants, including aspen,birch, elm, hackberry andwillow. The caterpillars thathatch will live communally ina single web, twitching con-vulsively when threatened inwhat appears to be a preda-tor-avoidance mechanism.

They will pupate and thenext generation of adults will

emerge in June or July. They’llfeed on tree sap, rotting fruitand nectar, and then spend acouple months in a dormantstate. In fall they’ll re-emerge,feed to build reserves ofenergy and then go intohibernation until the follow-ing late winter.

Soon after the mourningcloaks have done their thingin late winter or early spring,some of the first cabbagewhites will begin flutteringover the lawn. They’re everybit as reliable a gauge of theapproaching spring as themorning cloak, but they’re anon-native, invasive speciesand that cuts into the grandeurof the whole thing.l

MARCUS SCHNECK isis outdoor and naturewriter at PennLive.com,the website of The Har-risburg, Pa., Patriot-News. He also writes fora range of magazinesand websites, and has

written more than two dozen books. For moreof his writing, visit www.marcusschneck.com.

Not somournful

WAITING FOR A SIGN: The first sea-sonal sighting of a mourning cloakbutterfly is a sign spring is sure tofollow.

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 • P E N N L I N E S 25

26 P E N N L I N E S • M A R C H 2 0 1 5

Thoughts from Earl Pitts,UHMERIKUN!

PUNCHlines

Social commentary from Earl Pitts —— a.k.a.GARY BUR BANK , a nation ally syndicatedradio per son ality —— can be heard on thefollowing radio stations that cover electriccooperative service territories in Pennsylvania:WANB-FM 103.1 Pittsburgh; WARM-AM 590Wilkes-Barre/Scran ton; WIOO-AM 1000 Carlisle;WEEO-AM 1480 Shippensburg; WMTZ-FM 96.5Johnstown; WQBR-FM 99.9/92.7 McElhattan;WLMI-FM 103.9 Kane; and WVNW-FM 96.7 Burnham-Lewistown. You can also find him atEarlpittsamerican.com.

Earl contemplatesways to die

Nic Wallenda guy on television and hewas walkin’ across the Grand Canyon ona tightrope. But they told everybody thatthis guy was a trained professional andwe should not attempt that at home.

Thank you for the heads-up, Discov-ery Channel, but as it happens, I wasn’tgonna try that anyway. I have beenknown to fall over walkin’ on the floor.Besides, you got to have some kind ofmonkey toes or spider legs to grab onthat wire. I have not been blessed.

Have you seen that commercial wherethere’s a couple in a tent, and the camerapulls back a little bit, and you can see thatthe tent is hanging from the side of a3,000-foot-tall cliff. Yeah, they’re campin’in mid-air. I am not going to do that nei-ther. I ain’t that scared of heights, but Ihave been known to sleep-walk.

Have you seen that commercial wherethis woman is climbing up some rocks?And then she hoists herself up and she’sstanding on a tiny little ledge about thesize of a bathroom scale 5,000 feet in theair? I’m gonna pass on that, too. Shoot, Iget a little dizzy just watchin’ the com-mercials.

Basically, they show us people doingall sorts of stupid things, and then tell usnot to be stupid, too. And how? By cele-brating the stupid people.

Wake up, America! Worry about theidiots, the drunks and the dare-devils.Don’t worry about me; I have grown cau-tious in my later years. If it looks like Icould die doing something, there’s a goodchance you don’t have to warn me not todo it.

I think most of you know by now thatI got two major pet peeves in this world.The first being people who put clothes ondogs. And the second one is when peoplecall other people “lucky” when those peo-ple are obviously not lucky.

You know, like when some poor idiotaccidentally shoots a nail through theirbrain with a nail-gun and survives, and

the doctors say, “He was lucky.” Really? How does shooting a 4-inch

nail through your skull qualify you aslucky? Stupid, I get. Butter-fingers? Prob-ably. But NOT lucky.

Well, now I found another pet peeve.When people die doing a sport or anadventure, and the widder goes, “Well,Buddy died doing what he loved.”

Lady, I got a hunch he was clutchinghis chest and fighting for air.

Lemme ask you something. Is that theway you want to go? Doing somethingyou love? That sounds like a cruel joke tome. The Almighty is up there watchingyou work your behind to the bone. He’swatching your family ride your back likea circus pony. He’s watching you struggleto make ends meet and keep the wolfaway from the door. Then you slip onsome bowling shoes, and He punchesyour ticket.

So if it’s OK with God, here’s a list oftimes I do not want to go. That wouldinclude when I’m bowlin’, fishin’, huntin’,drinkin’, watchin’ NASCAR, watchin’football, hangin’ at the Duck Inn orcampin’.

Now, I would not mind kickin’ thebucket at work, standin’ in line at theDMV, visitin’ at one of my old lady’s fam-ily reunions or takin’ in a high schoolband concert.

Then at my funeral, my better half,Pearl, could tell visitors, “Well, at leastEarl died doing what he hated.”

And they could look down on me inthe coffin and think, “Earl, you lucky sonof a pup.”

Wake Up, America! I don’t want to diedoing what I love. I would rather havemy wife telling people, “Earl died atwork, but the nice thing is that the com-pany paid for the whole eight hours.”

I’m Earl Pitts, Uhmerikun. Check outmy YouTube channel Earl Pitts — byEarl Pitts. Like me on Facebook. Andyou can catch my new blog at earl-pittsamerican.com. l

A while back, I was working onmy reverse bucket list. That’s a list ofthings I DON’T want to do before I die.Like, if I die having never played Unoagain, I will die a happy man.

And now I just keep comin’ up withstuff I don’t want to do. Not sure whatthat says about me, but here goes. There’sall that stuff professional drivers onclosed courses do on TV commercials ortrained professional stunt-people do thatthey keep warning us not to try at home.

Like I remember one time I seen that

John KulbatskyUnited EC

RURALreflections

Margie MartinNorthwestern REC

Sarah LenkerAdams EC

Linda SchielREA Energy

Is it spring yet?MARCH IS an interesting month — its days can becold and snowy, or warm and sunny. Either can be thebackdrop for great photos, so it’s time for all of youamateur photographers to get out there and startshooting some new photos for the 2015 Rural Reflec-tions contest. Entries in all categories — artistic, land-scape, human subject and animal subject — are needed.Winning photos will receive a $75 prize and honorablementions in each category will receive a $25 prize.

To be eligible for the 2015 contest prizes, send yourphotos (no digital files, please) to: Penn Lines Photos,P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg PA 17108-1266. On the backof each photo, include your name, address, phonenumber and the name of the electric cooperative thatserves your home, business or seasonal residence.

Our publication deadlines require that we workahead, so send your seasonal photos in early. We needsummer photos before mid-May; fall photos beforemid-July and winter photos before mid-September(keep your spring photos to enter in the 2016 contest).Photos that don’t reflect a season may be sent at anytime. Please note: 2015 photos will be returned inearly 2016 if you include a self-addressed, self-stamped envelope.l

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