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J U LY 2 0 1 0

Learning

on the fly
Fly-fishing teaches environmental
awareness, appreciation for
natural resources

PLUS
Is it summer yet?
Declare your independence
Metal roofs

JULY
Vol. 45 • No. 7
Peter A. Fitzgerald
EDITOR/DIRECTOR OF
COMMUNICATIONS

4

FIRST WORD

6

KEEPING CURRENT

Katherine Hackleman
SENIOR EDITOR/WRITER

James Dulley
Janette Hess
Barbara Martin
Marcus Schneck

News items from across the Commonwealth

7

CONTRIBUTING COLUMNISTS

E N E R G Y M AT T E R S
A greener way to a green lawn

W. Douglas Shirk
LAYOUT & DESIGN

Vonnie Kloss

8

Penn Lines (USPS 929-700), the newsmagazine
of Pennsylvania’s electric cooperatives, is published monthly by the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, 212 Locust Street, P.O. Box
1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266. Penn Lines
helps 166,400 households of co-op consumermembers understand issues that affect the
electric cooperative program, their local coops, and their quality of life. Electric co-ops
are not-for-profit, consumer-owned, locally
directed, and taxpaying electric utilities. Penn
Lines is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. The opinions expressed in Penn Lines
do not necessarily reflect those of the editors,
the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, or
local electric distribution cooperatives.
Subscriptions: Electric co-op members, $5.42
per year through their local electric distribution cooperative. Preferred Periodicals postage
paid at Harrisburg, PA 17105 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes
with mailing label to Penn Lines, 212 Locust
Street, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266.
Advertising: Display ad deadline is six weeks
prior to month of issue. Ad rates upon request.
Acceptance of advertising by Penn Lines does
not imply endorsement of the product or services by the publisher or any electric cooperative. If you encounter a problem with any
product or service advertised in Penn Lines,
please contact: Advertising, Penn Lines, P.O.
Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Penn Lines
reserves the right to refuse any advertising.

© 2010 Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in
part without written permission is prohibited.

Visit with us at Penn Lines
Online, located at
http://www.prea.com/Content/
penn_lines_magazine.asp Penn
Lines Online provides an email
link to Penn Lines editorial staff,
information on advertising
rates, contributor’s guidelines,
and an archive of past issues.

8
16

Fly-fishing teaches environmental awareness,
appreciation for natural resources

12

TIME LINES
Your newsmagazine through the years

12A C O O P E R AT I V E

CO N N ECT I O N

Information and advice from your local
electric co-op

14

POWER PLANTS

Is it summer yet?
16

17

O U T D O O R A DV E N T U R ES

Sharing space with a snake
Five-foot-long black rat snake provides
entertainment, eats rodents

17

COUNTRY KITCHEN

Declare your independence
18

CLASSIFIEDS

20

SMART CIRCUITS

23

Metal roofs keep things cool,
and look good, too
22

Board officers and staff, Pennsylvania Rural
Electric Association: Chairman, Tim Burkett;
Vice Chairman, S. Eugene Herritt; Secretary,
Lanny Rodgers; Treasurer, Kevin Barrett;
President & CEO, Frank M. Betley

F E AT U R E

Learning on the fly

ADVERTISING & CIRCULATION

PUNCH LINES

Thoughts from Earl Pitts–
Uhmerikun!
Earl knows the difference between gardening,
farming

23

RURAL REFLECTIONS

The view from here
O N T H E COV E R
Bill Amspacher, a retired general
serviceman from Adams Electric
Cooperative, fishes for trout in
Pine Grove Furnace State Park.
Photo by Peter Fitzgerald

J U LY 2 0 1 0 • P E N N

LINES

3

FIRSTword

b y J o h n A r wa y

A fishing license
decrease?

Executive
Director Pennsylvania Fish &
Boat Commission

JOHN ARWAY

4

PENN

L I N E S • J U LY 2 0 1 0

IF THE TITLE of this article didn’t get
your attention, you must have thought it
was a misprint. No, it isn’t a mistake. In
fact, as I have promised, I am going to
tell you about some of my priorities as
the new director of the Pennsylvania
Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC). It has
become obvious to me that inflation is
catching up with the commission, much
like it catches up with all of us in our
personal lives.
The cost of personnel services, fish
feed for our hatchery programs, gasoline
for our vehicles, electricity due to deregulation, a looming pension plan deficit,
and all of the other costs of survival in
the 21st century continue to rise. Therefore, if we are expected to provide the
same level of service, we must find additional revenue or cut programs.
In my interview with our board of
commissioners for this position, I
explained the need to diversify our
funding portfolio much like we are personally advised to diversify our investment portfolio. It makes sound fiscal
sense not to put all of your eggs in one
basket, which makes one less vulnerable
to impact if something happens to your
funding.
In our agency’s case, we have always
depended upon fishing license sales and
boat registration fees and the federal
funds that go along with them to sustain our agency. These sources of revenue have always been the core funding
for our programs and the reason why
we have stayed an independent agency.
We don’t receive general fund (tax)
money contrary to the popular belief of
many. However, there are other ways to
fund our agency’s programs and that
involves acquiring alternative funding
revenue — something other than fees
from fishing licenses and boat registrations.
We need to get serious about looking

at other revenue sources and that’s
where I need your help. We know that
most anglers, boaters and conservationists are not part of organized groups that
we traditionally ask for help to support
our cause. We are getting close to pricing ourselves out of the market and continue to hear complaints about the rising
costs of licenses and registrations. For
many of us, the cost of a license or registration is a bargain. However, there are a
lot of us who don’t use our privileges
quite as often for a variety of reasons,
which is why our license sales drop
every time we raise license fees. Therefore, I suggest that we look at ways to
generate funds by other non-traditional
means.
Unfortunately, most of us are apathetic when we are happy with the way
things are going. It is good that anglers
and boaters are happy with our programs, which is a sign that we continue
to do good things for you. However, I am
concerned about the future, and you
should be, too. My staff and I are working on innovative funding ideas that will
support our agency programs, but all of
these options will require action by our
General Assembly. We are finishing a
revenue calculator that will project how
various amounts of funding from alternative revenue sources will carry us into
the future without the need to increase
fishing license or boat registration fees,
and possibly reduce them.
We need to start thinking outside
that proverbial box. The time for action
is now before it’s too late for our children, our grandchildren and us. It’s time
to support the idea of alternative revenues for the PFBC, and I am ready to
discuss my ideas with our legislators.
Together, we may be able to put together
a plan that will allow us to lower the
cost of your license. See you on the
water. l

KEEPINGcurrent
CREP program protects
environment, pays
landowners
MANY Pennsylvania residents living in
areas where non-forested streams — even
small, intermittent waterways — meander through their property are eligible to
participate in the Conservation Reserve
Enhancement Program (CREP).
At the same time they are elevating the
water quality of local streams (and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay) and benefitting wildlife through habitat development,
participants are earning an annual income.
CREP is a voluntary conservation
program that rewards landowners for
planting native trees and shrubs along
the edge of a non-forested stream in an
attempt to cut down on sediments, pesticides and nutrients in the water. It offers
up to 100 percent reimbursement for
installation and subsequent maintenance, plus it provides a one-time incentive payment followed by annual payments to the landowner. The program
also covers expenses for high-quality
fencing, crossing and watering systems
for livestock owners to keep livestock out
of waterways if they are needed.
CREP is a partnership of 16 federal,
state and private conservation organizations. CREP also has other options
besides buffers, such as planting native
grasses and establishing wildlife habitat,
but the Chesapeake Bay Foundation
works only with forested buffers. The
foundation has been working with
CREP’s stream buffer efforts since 2000.

Correction
Carolyn Stafford was incorrectly identified in a photo caption in the July issue
of Penn Lines in the article, “Pedaling
through Pennsylvania.” Carolyn and her
husband, Joe, members of Adams Electric Cooperative, are avid bicyclists.

6

PENN

L I N E S • J U LY 2 0 1 0

This farm in Bradford County is one of many in Pennsylvania taking part in the
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). CREP is a voluntary conservation program that
reimburses landowners for the costs associated with planting native trees and grasses near nonforested streams. Photo provided by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

GREEN PASTURES:

To date, roughly 24,000 acres of forested
buffers have been enrolled in the program. Of the $90 million that the program has brought to Pennsylvania so far,
about half is for project installation (creating jobs and tree nurseries) and half is
rental payments to landowners.
According to Dave Wise, the watershed restoration manager of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation based in Harrisburg, participants are not required to be
farmers. They simply must be landowners in a rural area who can use a little
extra spending money and are concerned about the environment.
“The Environmental Protection Agency
has estimated that every $1 spent to prevent
water pollution is worth $29 that would
otherwise be spent to clean up the water

after it is already polluted,” Wise reports.
Because clean water is so important,
CREP is well funded, Wise reports.
“CREP has lots of resources —
roughly $500 million — to be put toward
doing good things for the environment,”
he notes. “We need to make serious
progress toward meeting the goals we
have been mandated to meet in terms of
cleaning up the nation’s streams. Voluntary, profitable conservation through
CREP is far more attractive than some of
the alternatives we could be faced with if
EPA doesn’t see measurable results in
cleaning up the streams.”
To learn more about how to help the
environment while earning extra money
through CREP, call 800/941-CREP or
visit www.cbf.org/CREP. l

ENERGYmatters
A greener way
to a green lawn

ground-level ozone. Operating a gasoline-powered lawn
mower for one hour produces the same amount of
smog-forming hydrocarbons
By Brian Sl ob oda
as driving an average car
Cooperative Research Network
almost 200 miles, according
MOST summer weekends are filled
to the EPA.
with the sounds of splashing in swimWhat’s more, gas lawn
ming pools, kids riding on bicycles and
mowers are noisy.
the din of lawn mowers. Lawn mowers
Luckily for your lawn
and other gas-powered lawn equipment
(and neighbors), options do
roar to life in most neighborhoods to
GREENER MOWING: Reel mowers rely on time-tested technology
exist to help keep grass
to cut grass with little more than sharp blades and elbow grease.
keep yards looking pristine.
groomed while reducing air
However, these small engines emit a
and noise pollution.
surprisingly large amount of pollution.
lawn the mower can handle or the minA manual reel mower is a great
By some U.S. Environmental Protection
utes the mower will be able to run on a
option. These mowers have no engine,
Agency (EPA) estimates, engines used
single charge. Actual times will vary
no fuel, and use human power to operto maintain lawns and gardens account
ate. They have zero emissions and oper- depending on the age of the battery,
for 5 percent of total U.S. air pollution.
height of the grass, and how quickly the
ate with very little noise. These mowers
Although regulation of small engines
user can get the job done.
can last years with proper care. They
has not been a priority for the governIn recent years, the choice in cordare best-suited for smaller lawns.
ment, new rules will go into effect in the
less mowers has expanded, but cordless
Electric and battery-powered mownext year or two governing emissions
mowers continue to receive mixed
ers offer a clean alternative to the reel
from small engines.
reviews. Given the high cost of the
mower. Like gas mowers, electric and
The gasoline engines powering lawn
mowers, careful attention should be
battery-operated mowers have a motor
mowers and other yard equipment emit
that spins a blade, which cuts the blades paid to the brand and model being purcarbon monoxide, a colorless and odorchased. Online reviews of cordless
of grass. They are quiet, emit no direct
less gas that is toxic to humans. They
mowers are a helpful resource in pickpollutants, and can either be corded or
also emit hydrocarbons and nitrogen
ing the right one. Many retailers offer
cordless.
oxide that contribute to the formation of
Costs for a corded mower are similar customer reviews of products and these
should be viewed prior to purchasing.
to that of a gas-powered
Gas-powered lawn mowers can be
mower. They do have one
found on almost every street in Amervery limiting feature: they
ica. However, because of rising fuel
must be connected to the
costs and environmental concerns,
house via an extension cord.
more people are switching to humanCordless rechargeable
mowers are more convenient powered reel mowers or electric mowers. These alternatives are a reliable and
than their corded counterparts. Some cordless mowers attractive alternative to gas-powered
models. They pollute less, and perhaps
have a removable battery
most importantly, they won’t disturb
that can be charged inside
your neighbor’s summer nap. l
the home.
Brian Sloboda is a program manager
Rechargeable mowers are
specializing in energy efficiency for the
limited by the life of the batCooperative Research Network, a service of
tery pack. When shopping
the Arlington, Va.-based National Rural
QUIET ALTERNATIVE: Battery-powered mowers run on
for a cordless mower, look
rechargeable batteries.
for information on the size of Electric Cooperative Association.
J U LY 2 0 1 0 • P E N N

LINES

7

PENNlines

Learning
on the fly
Fly-fishing teaches environmental awareness,
appreciation for natural resources
By Peter Fitzgerald
Editor

FOR MANY fly-fishermen, a day in the
stream can be a lesson in nature, where
paying close attention to your surroundings can land you that prize trout.
The lessons come in many forms to
the observant angler. It may be an early
morning hatch of mayflies, tipping you to
what’s on the menu. Or that babble in the
brook, telling you the water level is low;
look for deeper pools to fish.
For Joe Humphreys, the lessons come
from a lifetime in the water, where he
developed not only fishing skills, but also
a great love for the natural environment.
“The stream was my classroom,” he

Bill Amspacher, retired Adams Electric
Cooperative general serviceman, works his line
onto his fly rod for a day in the stream.

HOOKED:

8

PENN

L I N E S • J U LY 2 0 1 0

says. “That’s where I developed a fly-fishing education. When I was old enough to
ride a bicycle, I’d ride out and fish.”
Pennsylvania’s babbling brooks could
probably tell a story or two about Joe
Humphreys. The legendary angler has
fished many of the Commonwealth’s
waters since he was a boy growing up in
Centre County in the 1930s.
“I caught my first trout on Spring
Creek,” he recalls. “It was an 8-inch trout
on a bamboo fly rod, which was what
everybody had in those days. Since then,
I’ve been hooked.”
Humphreys went on to capture the
Pennsylvania record brown trout, a 34inch monster he landed in 1977 that was
featured in a past issue of Penn Lines (see
inset, page 11). The record stood for several years until the Pennsylvania Fish and
Boat Commission (PFBC) changed the
record standard from length to weight.
Humphreys took that early love of the
sport and turned it into a lifelong career,
going on to teach fly-fishing for more
than four decades. In 1968, he introduced
fly-fishing to the physical education program at Bald Eagle Area High School in
Centre County. He then went on to teach
at Penn State University, and directed the
angling program there for close to 20
years, passing along his knowledge of fly
casting, fishing techniques and tactics to
generations of students.
While he learned some things from
fishing veterans like George Harvey, who
created the angling program at Penn
State, most of what he knows he picked
up on his own in and along Pennsylva-

LEARNING TO FLY: Fly-fishing guide Dave Cardellino,
a member of Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative,
demonstrates proper casting on Kettle Creek in
Potter County.

nia’s many trout streams.
“Fishing can be funny sometimes —
fishermen, too,” he notes. “Some don’t
want to share what they know and give
up their secrets.”
If fishing is Humphreys’ first love,
teaching is his second, and he doesn’t
mind sharing a secret or two. Though
retired now, Humphreys maintains a busy

That’s just what Bill Amspacher, a
retired general serviceman from Adams
Electric Cooperative, did one day when a
friend introduced him to the sport several
years ago: he just watched and learned.
While some people might be intimidated when they see the back-and-forth
motion of fly casting, Amspacher encourages people not to get too caught up in
the casting process.
“Casting is easy,” he says. “I can have
someone casting in five minutes. The easiest way is to watch someone who knows
how to do it. But I wouldn’t worry about
it so much. Besides, you can’t catch a fish
if your line’s in the air all the time.”
Another piece of advice Amspacher
offers: keep it simple. While it can be
easy to get caught up in all the fancy (and
expensive) equipment available for flyfishing, it’s best to start with the basics of
a rod and reel and some flies.
“In the end, you’re getting all geared

An angler works a fly off a recently landed
brown trout.

PRIZE:

schedule and continues to share his
knowledge through charity events, youth
programs or with people he meets along
the stream. A big part of his message has
always been care for our natural
resources.
“I enjoy seeing people learn,” he says.
“But it’s not just about techniques and
tactics. We need to stress the importance
of the environment.”
That lesson, Humphreys believes,
goes hand-in-hand with picking up a
fishing rod. After all, knowing a little
about the environment might help you

become a better fisherman.
“If I want to catch a fish,” he says, “I
should know something about the insect
population.”

Getting started
While he was mainly self-taught,
Humphreys says today people wishing to
learn fly-fishing have access to many
resources — including books, instructional videos, even professional guides.
For many beginners, the best way to
learn still is to tag along with someone
who knows the sport.

up to go after something that has the
brain the size of a peppercorn,”
Amspacher says with a laugh. “And most
of the time, the fish wins.”
Amspacher has a cabin in Pine Grove
Furnace State Park in Cumberland
County, with lots of trout fishing in the
area. It’s there he discovered the joys of
being in the stream.
“You just notice so many things when
you’re out there,” he explains. “For me,
it’s the catching, not the keeping.”
Amspacher has since passed along his
love for the sport to his son.
“It’s something we can do together,” he
says.
J U LY 2 0 1 0 • P E N N

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9

PENNlines
Cooperative spirit
Passing along the pastime of fishing
serves as the inspiration for the Yellow
Creek Coalition (YCC), a nonprofit
organization established to preserve a
stretch of the stream in Bedford County.
Concerned that the purchase of land
along the stream for a private fishing
club might prohibit fishing to the general
public, the coalition formed in 2005 to
ensure future generations in the area
would be able to enjoy the sport.
“I have fished the stream all my life,”
explains YCC President Fred Sherlock, a
member of New Enterprise Rural Electric
Cooperative. “I want to make sure my
grandkids have a place to fish. We want to
keep it open to the public.”
The coalition serves to protect a 1.25mile stretch of the stream that is designated as a fly-fishing only project. The
project was established in 1957 through
the efforts of then-state Fish Warden Bill
McIlnay. Working in cooperation with
local landowners, McIlnay helped secure
this portion of Yellow Creek to serve as a
catch-and-release area for fly-fishing.
That spirit of cooperation continues
today at the project, which is thriving,
thanks to the coalition. Formed by members of three local chapters of Trout Unlimited (an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation and
enhancement of streams, waterways and
trout resources), the coalition has worked

to improve the infrastructure at the site,
including adding a bridge, access roads
and a parking lot — all through volunteer
efforts. Today, the parking lot bears McIlnay’s name, and was developed from land
donated by his daughter and her husband.
Charles Whitman, McIlnay’s son-inlaw and a member of New Enterprise
Rural Electric Cooperative, says none of
this would be possible without the help
of volunteers.
“In 2009, we put the bridge in,” Whitman relates. “It took about 5,000 hours of
labor — all volunteer.”
Volunteers also help keep the creek
and feeder streams clear of trash and
debris. Yellow Creek is a well-known trout
stream that draws people from
outside the state. In addition to
keeping this stretch of the
stream open to the public, the
goal of the coalition is to conserve the natural resource and
preserve the water quality.
“Some of the old-timers
here say the stream is healthier today than it’s been in the
past,” Whitman relates. “They
say there’s more insect life for
the fish to eat.”
Over the years, the YCC
has raised about $60,000 for
its various efforts. Because it
doesn’t rely on any state or
government money, the coalition supports itself through
DEDICATION: The parking lot at the Yellow Creek fly-fishing project is dedicated to the memory of former Pennsylvania Fish
donations, raffles and various
Warden Bill McIlnay.
fundraising events. To help
10

PENN

L I N E S • J U LY 2 0 1 0

PRESERVATION: New Enterprise Rural Electric
members, from left, Charles Whitman and Fred
Sherlock, overlook a stretch of Yellow Creek in
Bedford County designated for fly-fishing only. The
two are members of the Yellow Creek Coalition,
which works to preserve this part of the stream.

maintain the fly-fishing project for people
to enjoy, the members always welcome
more support.
“This stream was open long before I
was here,” says Whitman. “It should stay
that way.”

Trout economics
Maintaining projects like this also
serves to enhance the state’s rural
economies, explains Randy Buchanan,
YCC vice president and Trout Unlimited/Mountain Laurel chapter president.
“In terms of bringing people to restaurants and hotels, a project like this does a
lot for the local economy,” he says. “People
come from all over to fish this stream.”
The story seems to be the same along
trout streams all across the Commonwealth. According to the American
Sportfishing Association, Pennsylvania,
at $1.8 billion annually, ranks fifth in the
nation in terms of fishing expenditure.
And that’s behind states with considerably more shoreline — Florida, Texas,
Minnesota, California and Michigan.
PFBC Executive Director John Arway
says the impact of fishing and fishingrelated activities is considerable, especially in rural parts of the state where
people go to enjoy these activities.
“Fishing and boating contribute signif-

icant revenues to local, regional, and
statewide economies, particularly in rural
areas,” Arway notes. “Over 870,000
anglers and 2.5 million boaters together
contribute nearly $3.4 billion to the Commonwealth’s economy every year. One of
the most popular activities is fly-fishing.
In fact, Pennsylvania has a national reputation as home to some of the best flyfishing streams in the country.”
Humphreys agrees, pointing out the
fact that the state has more trout streams
than any state in the nation.
“Think about this,” Humphreys says.
“Tourism is the second biggest industry
in Pennsylvania; fishing is tourism. People fly here, drive here, they need gas,
lodging, food, a tackle shop, equipment …
It is really fueling our economy.”
According to a 2007 Congressional
Sportmen’s Foundation report, fishing
also adds 23,000 jobs to the Commonwealth’s workforce.

Giving back
Organizations like Trout Unlimited,
which has 11,000 members in 51 chapters
across the Commonwealth, understand

Tri-County Rural Electric
Cooperative members Brenda and Dave Cardellino
welcome outdoor enthusiasts to Kettle Creek
Adventures, their lodge and bed & breakfast in
Potter County.

ADVENTURE:

Joe Humphreys, a legendary fly-fisherman
who has written books, taught fly-fishing at
Penn State University and hosted a fly fishing series on ESPN, was featured in the May
1983 edition of Penn Lines, giving his common-sense approach to the sport.
Included in the article was a photo of
Humphreys with a fish he caught in 1977. And not just any fish, but the speckled
monster he had been stalking for years — Pennsylvania’s record brown trout that
measured in at 34 inches long and 19 1/2 inches around.
For three summers, Humphreys had chased the huge trout, trying to ascertain
its feeding patterns while hoping no one else beat him to it.
He describes the record-breaking trout as “a railroad tie with spots” that he
had to pick up with both arms and throw up on the bank because his net wasn’t
big enough to capture it.

the importance of maintaining streams as
precious natural resources.
Dave Cardellino, Trout Unlimited/Kettle
Creek chapter president and member of
Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative, says
he got interested in Trout Unlimited
through his work with the Kettle Creek
Watershed Association in north-central
Pennsylvania.
“Trout Unlimited is an extension of
that because we share similar goals in
working to improve the fishing habitat
and enhance the area,” he explains. “I saw
a need for getting involved and wanted to
help out the community. I think it’s
important that we give back to the environment and not just take from it.”
Cardellino started coming to this area in
the early 1980s and fell in love with its natural beauty. Today, he and his wife, Brenda,
run Kettle Creek Adventures, a lodge and
bed & breakfast in Cross Fork, Potter
County. The lodge brings in all kinds of
outdoor enthusiasts, from hunters and
fishermen to golfers and canoeists.
Cardellino, who has a forestry degree,
says he heard the “call of the outdoors” at
an early age. An avid fisherman, he
brings that love of nature to his work as a
fly-fishing guide.
“A lot of fishing is trying to understand what the fish is thinking,” he
explains. “It comes from knowing where
they are and why they’re there. I like to
take everything in when I’m out on the
stream. For me, a successful day is just
being out in nature.”
Over the years, he’s come to know the
waters and the land well in his neck of
the woods — woods that have seen a lot
more traffic lately associated with natural

gas development of the Marcellus Shale
formation in Pennsylvania. That development has generated much concern
among residents who rely on the state’s
natural resources not only for their simple enjoyment but their livelihoods.
“It’s coming, we know,” Cardellino
says. “Trout Unlimited is very concerned
about the Marcellus Shale. We would like
to see any detriment to the ecology kept
to a minimum.”
Humphreys, who has seen development dry up many creek beds in his time,
finds Marcellus activity particularly worrisome.
“It could ruin things,” he says. “It’s
scary. That’s why we need to promote the
conservation of resources.”
Though well past retirement,
Humphreys continues to encourage people to fish for this very reason. It’s the one
lesson he hopes people will remember.
“The more people that partake in it,” he
explains, “the more people there are that
are aware of what we have — and what we
have to save and protect. Without clean
water, we don’t have a future.” l

For more
information:
PENNSYLVANIA FISH AND BOAT
COMMISSION

www.fish.state.pa.us
TROUT UNLIMITED

www.tu.org
YELLOW CREEK COALITION

www.mltu.org/yellowcreek.shtml
KETTLE CREEK ADVENTURES

www.pavisnet.com/kcadventures

J U LY 2 0 1 0 • P E N N

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11

TIMElines

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

2000
BY CUTTING down or eliminating commuting hassles, internet- and
interactive-based education encouraged many rural residents — especially adults — to “attend” college.
In the summer of 2000, Indiana University of Pennsylvania offered
11 online courses to students who lived too far from campus to commute.
The latest technology at the time allowed students to type messages to
each other on university-provided online chat rooms, post questions and
assignments to a virtual classroom, read lectures on screen, surf the web
to research papers and ask questions of their instructors via email.
Gary Miller, Penn State University’s associate vice president for distance education, reports the original distance learning environment — the
correspondence course — was developed by the university in 1892 with
rural students in mind.
College students weren’t the only ones who were benefiting from distance
education. Using two-way television, high school students in rural Pennsylvania participated in classes in advanced science, math, language, and history
that were previously unavailable at their own high schools because there
were too few students enrolled. Meanwhile, their elementary school counterparts began taking “field trips” to educational and historic spots throughout
the nation through distance learning — all without leaving their classrooms.
Today, distance learning is offered by most colleges and universities.
Penn State University offers hundreds of online courses that can lead to
more than 70 online degree and certificate programs. Students from all
over the world are tied to teachers through the latest 2010 technology.

1970 Swimming is just one of many activities
available at Laurel Hill State Park in Somerset
County. The recreational development is served
by Somerset Rural Electric Cooperative.
12

PENN

L I N E S • J U LY 2 0 1 0

1980 Meeting with President Jimmy Carter is
the highlight of the Youth Tour. Carter tells the
900 tour participants that his family was served
by a rural electric co-op in Georgia.

1990 The 2-year-old hydroelectric project at
Raystown adds safe, environmentally sound and
affordable energy production to the recreational
and flood control benefits of the lake.

POWERplants

by Barbara Martin

Is it summer
yet?
WE PLANT our vegetable
gardens with such anticipation and expectation. Our
taste buds are in high gear as
we seed the rows or gently
poke seeds into carefully
mounded hills of soil. We
weed, we water, we watch and
we wait.
Harvest dates are different
every gardening year. We can
use the “days to harvest”
number listed on the label as a
guide, sure, but ripening
depends on the growing season. Some plants grow best in
an extra warm summer, some
seem to thrive in a coolerthan-normal summer. Soil
temperature and moisture,
degree-days (a cumulative
heat measure) and sunny vs.
cloudy or rainy days will
affect the process. The microclimate for your garden will
influence plant growth, as will
your setout or seeding date.
So we gardeners learn to
apply those wonderfully inexact
rules of thumb, the subtle tips
and tests for gauging ripeness
and readiness and knowing
when the crop “is ready” to
pick. Experienced gardeners
BARBARA MARTIN ,
who says she began
gardening as a hobby
“too many years ago to
count,” currently works
for the National Gardening Association as a horticulturist. A former
member of Gettysburg-based Adams Electric Cooperative, her articles appear in magazines and on the internet.

14

PENN

have their own system of what
to watch for and how to tell
when to begin harvesting each
vegetable. Beginners will learn
this through trial and error.
Luckily, many vegetables can
be harvested for fresh eating
while still on the immature
side, including the thinnings
of carrots, beets and leafy
greens, pulled baby onions,
and even “new” potatoes. The
benefit: you enjoy them on the
table sooner and you stretch
their season.
You might notice that some
vegetable varieties seem to
ripen all at once while others
stretch their productivity over
a longer period. If you want to
make cucumbers into pickles
or tomatoes into paste, or
expect to can string beans, it is
best to grow a variety that
matures in a short window.
If you record your experiences in a garden journal, you
can track your observations
about ripening, yield quantity
and quality over time. This
data becomes an invaluable,
ongoing reference, like an
owner’s manual to your vegetable garden.
By now, the early season
vegetables including peas, red
radishes, cole crops, spinach
and lettuces are “gone by.”
What’s ready next?
Cucumbers and their relative, the zucchini, are fast
growers, so keep an eye on
them. You will notice cukes
and zukes begin developing
about 10 days after the first
bloom. Watch closely: these
seem to double in size
overnight. Both of these vegeta-

L I N E S • J U LY 2 0 1 0

bles will continue producing as
long as they are harvested
promptly, so keep picking. If
you dread the “baseball bat”
zucchini squash, keep in mind
that tiny zucchini are quite tender and delicious, so don’t hold
back! And yes, squash blossoms are edible, too.
Ripe green beans have
sized up but are still tender
and moist. Pick them before
the inner seeds bulge out and
the exterior hardens. Check
often once the plants begin to
flower because the beans elongate quickly.
Sweet corn is sweetest
when cooked within a few
minutes of picking, so don’t
waste time. When the silks
begin to turn brown and dry,
check for ripeness. Pierce a
kernel with your finger nail;
when the inner juice is milky,
it’s time. To preserve the
sweetness, keep the corn cool
between harvest and cooking.
Tomatoes! Ah, tomatoes!
These babies are ripe when a

ARE WE THERE YET: Like an impatient child on a car trip, anxious gardeners have a difficult time waiting
for their home-grown produce.

gentle “tug with a twist” separates the fruit from the vine.
Although we picture fully
vine-ripened tomatoes as red,
it depends on the specific variety. Ripe tomato colors range
from gold to orange-red to
deep red to nearly black!
Many homegrown
favorites — heirloom tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, melons and winter squash —
ripen in late summer, thus
requiring patience.
Gardeners who desire a
constant supply of produce to
show for our efforts know that
Swiss chard produces steadily
week in and week out. Snip
individual stems from the
outer edge of the plant, cutting
low to the ground and leaving
the center leaves to continue
growing. You’ll never come in
empty-handed. l

OUTDOORadventures

Sharing
space with a
snake
5-foot-long black rat snake
provides entertainment,
eats rodents
THE BLACK rat snake that
sometimes dens in our Boy
Scout troop’s cabin on the
mountain finally showed
itself when I was there. Others had spotted the reptile
several times before this, and
on one occasion even found a
shed skin on one of the cots
in the upstairs sleeping area.
It’s not a giant by rat
snake standards. Rather than
the maximum for the species,
which would measure in at
about 100 inches, “our” rat
snake is about 60 inches or
so. But, it’s a snake about 5
feet long and that tends to
catch your attention.
I didn’t spot the snake in
the close quarters of the
cabin, which I’m sure would
have lent a much deeper
sense of surprise to the experience. I met up with the
snake along one of the trails
near the cabin, in a passing
MARCUS SCHNECK ,

outdoors editor at The
Patriot-News (Harrisburg) and outdoor
blogger at
www.pennlive.com, is
the author of more
than two dozen outdoors books and a contributor to many state
and national publications. You can reach him
at mschneck@comcast.net

16

PENN

by Marcus Schneck

encounter that gave each of
us a good look at the other,
but left neither of us worse
off because of the experience.
It might have been on its
way back to the cabin. Adult
leaders in the troop have carried it away from the cabin
several times, only to have it
show up back in the building
weeks later. It’s one of the
milder-tempered rat snakes,
willing to put up with some
handling and not move to
defend itself.
Others of its species are
more prone to defensive
machinations that attempt to
present the image of a rattlesnake by vibrating their
tails in the leaves, raising
their heads as if preparing to
strike, striking and biting.
They also can release a foulsmelling musk.
Black rat snakes also are
highly skilled climbers,
which explains why the one
at the cabin has been spotted
sliding down the side of the
big, rock fireplace at the end
of the common room on the
first floor. And, that’s a
slightly creepy thought to
those of us who regularly
sleep in the cabin, on cots
easily reached from the floor
under beams that could easily provide crawl space for a
climbing serpent.
On the other hand — and
this is the consideration that
will trump all else — rat
snakes are great predators of
small rodents of all types.
That reptile without a doubt
is putting a dent in the local
rodent population. They also
eat other snakes, and put
those arboreal abilities to use
in finding and swallowing

L I N E S • J U LY 2 0 1 0

birds’ eggs, but those are
small offenses for any snake
that’s cutting down on the
number of tick-carrying
rodents. (There was a time
when I had a real phobia
about snakes, but ticks and
Lyme disease spirochetes
now hold the top spot among
my not-too-unrealistic fears.)
I doubt I’d feel the same
way about this situation if
the cabin-loving snake was a
copperhead or a rattlesnake.
Those reptiles also are good

A GOOD DEED: Snakes drastically cut
down on rodents living in the same
area.

mousers, but they have that
downside of poisonous
venom. We couldn’t have
one of those species frequenting the cabin. I guess
we’d just have to transport
the offending reptile farther
from the cabin, as killing
any snake in these days of
declining herp populations is
not an option. l

COUNTRYkitchen

by Janette He ss

Declare your independence
JULY IS the perfect month to declare your independence
from a hot kitchen, and strategic selection of recipes and
cooking methods will assure your success.
Once you’ve placed the ingredients for Tangy Pulled Pork
in your slow cooker, simply move it to the patio or garage.
Plug it into a convenient outlet and let the slow cooker do the
work while the great outdoors absorbs the extra heat. With
the recipe for Sweet and Sour Slaw, the not-so-secret, timesaving ingredient is a bag of prepared slaw mix.
Be sure to complete your summer meal with a cool, light
dessert. Cocoa Mousse fits the description. The heat required
to boil the water can be confined to a microwave oven. For a
finishing touch of flavor, garnish the mousse with shaved
chocolate or crushed cookies.
Oh, say, can you see how much time and energy you’ve
saved? l
A trained journalist, JANETTE HESS focuses her writing on interesting people and interesting
foods. She is a Master Food Volunteer with her local extension service and enjoys collecting,
testing and sharing recipes.

CREAMY SLAW
(green
1 16-ounce bag slaw mix
e)
red cabbag
6 tablespoons sugar
2/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cider vinegar
d
1/4 teaspoon celery see

cabbage, carrots and

sugar,
ving time, combine the
the chilled cabbage and
Thirty minutes before ser
h
wit
nd
Ble
en.
giv
er
ord
in
r
ega
vin
and
t
serving time.
cream, sal
to the refrigerator until
stir in celery seed. Return

D PORK
TANGY PULLE
butt pork roast
1 boneless Boston
)
ds
(4-5 poun
1/2 cup water
salt
1 teaspoon garlic
salt
y
ler
ce
on
po
as
1 te
e seasoning
fre
ltsa
1 teaspoon
uce
1 cup barbecue sa
1 cup salsa
with seasonings.
w cooker. Sprinkle to 9 hours. Transslo
a
in
r
te
wa
d
an
er, about 8
Place roast
e meat is very tend meat with a fork, removth
til
un
low
on
Cook
Shred
or cutting board.
meat to the
fer to a large pan
ings.) Return the
ipp
dr
d
an
fat
all
d
one hour
ar
isc
ok
(D
Co
.
.
fat
lsa
sa
all
ing
ue sauce and
ec
rb
ba
d
ad
s dry. Serve on
d
em
an
se
slow cooker
uce if the meat
sa
ue
ec
rb
ba
re
longer, adding mo
al sauce.
buns with addition

COCOA MOU
S

SE
2 teaspoons unfla
vored gelatin
2 tablespoons co
ld water
1/4 cup boiling wa
ter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
2 cups chilled wh
ippi
2 teaspoons vani ng cream
lla extract
OPTIONAL TOPP
INGS:
Shaved chocolat
e
Crushed chocolat
e sandwich cook
ies
Sprinkle gelatin on
cold water to softe
until the mixture
is clear. Cool sligh n. Add boiling water and stir
tly, but do not all
to set. In a cold
mixi
ow
ping cream and va ng bowl, combine sugar and coco the gelatin
a.
nilla extract and
beat until stiff. Fo Add whipmixture and blend
ld in the gelatin
well. Spoon into
indivi
ping, if desired. Ch
ill. Makes 8 serving dual cups and add a tops.

J U LY 2 0 1 0 • P E N N

LINES

17

PENNLINESclassified
HERE’S MY AD:
Yes, I want my message to go into more than 166,400
households in rural Pennsylvania. I have counted
_________ words in this ad. (FOR ADS IN ALL CAPITAL
LETTERS, ADD 20 PERCENT TO TOTAL COST.)

ATTACH ADDRESS LABEL HERE
(OR WRITE IN COMPLETE LABEL INFORMATION)

MONTH

am an electric co-op member. Attached is my Penn Lines mailing label from the front of this magazine.
❏ II enclose
$20 per month for 30 words or less, plus 50¢ for each additional word. The total payment
enclosed is $_________________________.
Please run my ad during the months of ______________________________________________________.
NOT a member of an electric cooperative. I enclose $70 per month for 30 words or less, plus $1.50
❏ Iforameach
additional word.
The total payment enclosed is $_____________________.
Please run my ad during the months of ______________________________________________________.
_______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________
1

2

_______________

3

7

8

_______________

9

14

15

20

21

25

26

11

27

12

17

18

_______________ _______________ _______________
22

_______________ _______________

6

_______________ _______________ _______________
16

_______________ _______________

19

_______________

5

_______________ _______________ _______________
10

_______________ _______________

13

_______________

4

_______________ _______________

23

24

_______________ _______________ _______________
28

29

30

Additional words: _____________________________________________________ (use separate sheet if needed)
NOTE: You must pay for special heading requests, even if the heading is currently appearing in Penn Lines.
Only the following qualify as free headings. Please check your selection:
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
Tools and Equipment
Vacations and Campsites
Wanted to Buy.
and Food
FOR SPECIAL HEADINGS NOT LISTED: Indicate special heading you would like, and add $5 for co-op members, $10 for non-members. Insertion of classified ad in Penn Lines serves as proof of publication; no proofs
are furnished.
SEND THIS FORM (or a sheet containing the above information) to Penn Lines Classifieds, P.O. Box 1266,
Harrisburg, PA 17108.
FOR INFORMATION ONLY Telephone: 717/233-5704. NO classified ads will be accepted by phone.
ATTN: Checks/money orders should be made payable to PREA/Penn Lines.

❏

❏

❏

❏

❏

❏

❏

AROUND THE HOUSE
“COUNTRY COOKING,” Volume 2 — $8, including postage.
“RECIPES REMEMBERED,” Volume 3 — $12, including postage.
Both of these cookbooks are a collection of recipes from men
and women of the electric co-ops of Pennsylvania and New
Jersey. Payable to: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association,
P. O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Write Attention:
Cookbooks. Volume 1 of “Country Cooking” is SOLD OUT.
OUTSIDE WOOD HEATER - $1,595. Forced air system. Rated
100K BTU. Heats up to 2,400 square feet. Houses, mobiles or
shops. Low-cost shipping. Easy install. 417-581-7755 Missouri.
www.heatbywood.com.

✉

CLASSIFIED AD
DEADLINE

❏
❏

❏

❏

❏
❏

ROOF KILLING YOU? Instant Renew Roof Coating (sm) saves
replacement cost — metal, rubber, flat. Hotels, schools,
factories, offices, trailers. Winter/summer don’t miss out, addon or new start. Business Mfg. Direct Aztec 573-489-9346.
YOLI — Check out the new health drink. Stop drinking all that
sugar and other bad stuff that is in all the so-called health
drinks. www.digger.goyoli.com.
OUTGOING? Looking for motivated individuals with a positive
attitude to become a Brand Partner for a health and wellness
company. Please send inquiry to: don@HelpYourHealth2.com.
CAMPGROUND

DEADLINE

September 2010. . . . . . . July 19
October 2010. . . . . . . August 18
November 2010. . . . . . . Sept. 17
All ads must be received by the
specified dates to be included in the
corresponding month’s issue. Ads
received beyond the deadline dates
will automatically be included in the
next available issue. Written notice
of changes or cancellations must be
received prior to the first of the
month preceding the month of issue.
For information about display rates,
continuous ads, or specialized
headings, contact Vonnie Kloss
at 717/233-5704, the Pennsylvania
Rural Electric Association.
CENTRE FOREST RESOURCES. Maximizing present and future
timber values, Forest Management Services, Managing
Timber Taxation, Timber Sales, Quality Deer Management.
FREE Timber Consultation. College educated, professional,
ethical. 814-867-7052.
CYCLONE FENCING
CYCLONE FENCE for sale — 7 feet high x 400 feet. One eightfoot gate, one four-foot gate. Must be dismantled by buyer.
Location – Beaumont. Call 570-760-1094 for inspection. Ask
for Sandy.
ELECTRICAL & PLUMBING
RESIDENTIAL PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL – Raystown Electric
LLC. New construction, remodeling, additions, storage barns,
garages. Also offering landscape and security lighting. Call
Cliff at 814-386-5520.
ENTERTAINMENT

CLOCK REPAIR: If you have an antique grandfather clock,
mantel clock or old pocket watch that needs restored, we can
fix any timepiece. Macks Clock Repair: 814-749-6116.

AUSTIN CAMPGROUND in beautiful Potter County, modern
family camping, full-service pet friendly cabin/RV rentals, see
the Pennsylvania Elk, Grand Canyon of PA, fishing, ATV, hiking.
800-878-0889 or www.austincampground.com.

10th Anniversary KETTLE CREEK Ambulance Music Festival,
Aug. 12-15, special band appearing Thursday night. Live music,
vendors, food, crafts, children’s games area. (Classic Cars
Saturday) Held at Quiet Oaks Campground, Cross Fork, PA.
Camping available. Visit www.kcmusicfest.com.

FREE FIREWOOD – Trees already felled. You cut and clean up.
814-838-4723.

CASH FOR GOLD

FENCING

Sell your unwanted GOLD and SILVER. Highest paid prices paid
in Central PA. Guaranteed! Licensed local dealer: Creekside
Antiques, 1031-35 Third Ave., (old Rt. 22) Duncansville, PA. 814695-7219 Get Cash.

FREE Fence Guide/Catalog – High-tensile fence, horse fence,
rotational grazing, twine, wire, electric netting – cattle, deer,
garden, poultry. Kencove Farm Fence Supplies: 800-5362683. www.kencove.com.

BUILDING SUPPLIES
STEEL ROOFING AND SIDING. Discount Prices. Corrugated
sheets (cut to length) 52¢ per square foot. Also seconds,
heavy gauges, odd lots, etc. Located in northwestern
Pennsylvania. 814-398-4052.
METAL BUILDINGS — 24 x 40 x 8, $9,900 installed. 30 x 40 x 8,
$11,900 installed. Includes one walk door and one garage door. All
sizes available. 800-464-3333. www.factorysteelbuildings.com.
FACTORY SECONDS of insulation, 4 x 8 sheets, foil back. Also
reflective foil bubble wrap. 814-442-6032.
WHITE PINE T&G Boards. 1 x 6 and 1 x 8 bead/V groove.
Some can be used for flooring. Price start 26¢ LF to 60¢ LF.
Call 717-870-9746. www.twoguyslumber.com.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
PIANO TUNING PAYS — Learn at home with American School of
Piano Tuning home-study course in piano tuning and repair. Tools
included. Diploma granted. Call for free brochure 800-497-9793.

18

PENN

L I N E S • J U LY 2 0 1 0

CHURCH LIFT SYSTEMS

GIFT AND CRAFT IDEAS

Make your church, business or home wheelchair accessible.
We offer platform lifting systems, stair lifts, porch lifts and
ramps. References. Free estimates. Get Up & Go Mobility Inc.
412-833-9371 or 814-926-3622.

“COUNTRY COOKING,” Volume 2 — $8, including postage.
“RECIPES REMEMBERED,” Volume 3 — $12, including postage.
Both of these cookbooks are a collection of recipes from men
and women of the electric co-ops of Pennsylvania and New
Jersey. Payable to: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association,
P. O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Write Attention:
Cookbooks. Volume 1 of “Country Cooking” is SOLD OUT.

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

HANDCRAFTED FURNITURE
COUNTRY CRAFTED bentwood oak/hickory rockers. Swings,
gliders, double rockers, coffee/end tables, bar stools, kitchen
sets, cedar log outdoor furniture, log bedrooms, SPECIAL queen
log bed, $599. 814-733-9116. www.zimmermanenterprise.com.

PENNLINESclassified
HEALTH AND NUTRITION
Tired of all those medicines — Still not feeling better? Do you
want to feel better, have more energy, better digestion, less
joint stiffness, healthier heart/circulation and cholesterol
levels? Find out how to empower your own immune system —
start IMMUNE-26 today! It’s safe, affordable, and it works. Call
800-557-8477: ID#528390. 90-day money back on first time
orders. When ordering from Web, use Option #3.
www.mylegacyforlife.net/believeit.
HERBALIFE NUTRITIONAL PRODUCTS – Call James at 717-4836510 or check the website,
www.herbalnutrition.net/members/JamesLewis.
HEALTH INSURANCE
DO YOU HAVE THE BLUES regarding your Health Insurance?
We cater to rural America's health insurance needs. For more
information, call 800-628-7804 (PA). Call us regarding
Medicare supplements, too.
HELP WANTED
We have appraisers earning over $80,000/year part time. If
you have an agricultural background, you may be qualified to
become a certified livestock or farm equipment appraiser.
Classroom or home study courses available. For information,
call the American Society of Agricultural Appraisers 800-4887570 or visit www.amagappraisers.com.
INFRARED SAUNAS
Removes toxins, burns calories, relieves joint pain, relaxes
muscles, increases flexibility, strengthens immune system.
Many more HEALTH BENEFITS with infrared radiant heat
saunas. Economical to operate. Barron’s Furniture, Somerset,
PA. 814-443-3115.
LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT
RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL – SALES – SERVICE – PARTS.
Compact Loaders & Attachments, Mowers, Chainsaws, Tillers,
etc. We sell BCS, Boxer, Dixon, Ferris, Hustler, Grasshopper,
Shindaiwa and more. HARRINGTON’S, Taneytown, MD. 410-7562506. www.harringtonsservicecenter.com.
LIVESTOCK AND PETS
GERMAN SHEPHERD puppies $900-$1,500. Young Adult $800
and Adult dogs $500 from imported blood lines. 814-967-2159.
Email:rick@petrusohaus.com Web: www.petrusohaus.com.
PEMBROKE WELSH CORGI Puppies — AKC, adorable, intelligent,
highly trainable. Excellent family choice. Reputable licensed
breeder guaranteed “Last breed you’ll ever own.” 814-5873449.
LLAMAS FOR SALE — Variety of colors and types of wool,
including suris. Whatever your need, we have that special
llama for you. Prices start at $250. Call 814-735-4736.
LOG CABIN RESTORATIONS
VILLAGE RESTORATIONS & CONSULTING specializes in 17th and
18th century log, stone and timber structures. We dismantle,
move, re-erect, restore, construct and consult all over the
country. Period building materials available. Chestnut boards,
hardware, etc. Thirty years experience, fully insured. Call 814696-1379. www.villagerestorations.com.
MAPLE SYRUP
STEVEN’S PURE Maple Syrup, Liberty, Pa. Plastic from 3.4
ounces to gallons. Glass containers for gifts and collectors.
Maple Sugar, Maple Cream, Maple Candy, Maple Bar-B-Que
Sauce, Maple Salad Dressing, and Gift Baskets for any
occasion made to order. Wholesale or retail prices. NEW
Number: 570-324-2014 or email: buymaple@epix.net.
MISCELLANEOUS
BECOME AN ORDAINED MINISTER, Correspondence study. The
harvest truly is great, the laborers are few, Luke 10:2. Free
info. Ministers for Christ Outreach, 7549 West Cactus Road,
#104-207, Peoria, AZ 85381. www.ordination.org.

BAT, BIRD, SQUIRREL droppings can be a health hazard. I can
safely dispose of the problem with my industrial vacuum
machine. I also remove bats and other nuisance animals.
Darrin Fillman 717-436-9391. Licensed and insured.
MOTORCYCLE-SNOWMOBILE INSURANCE
For the best INSURANCE RATES call R & R Insurance
Associates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 800-442-6832 (PA).
P2000 INSULATION SYSTEM
Out of 20,000 homes, Energy Star found this one to be the
most energy efficient home ever tested in PA, NJ, NY & DE.
Stops cold, heat, wind and moisture. Vapor barrier and
sheathing all in one. Residential - Commercial – Hobby - Shops
– Farms – Pole Buildings. Burkenhaus Distribution Center,
Thomasville, PA. 717-801-0013. JoeBurkeyp2000@comcast.net
or visit www.P2000insulation.com.
NURSERY AND GARDEN
FRESH, HOME-GROWN vegetables and herbs. Several varieties
of hot and sweet peppers, tomatoes, beans, peas, onions,
turnips. Parsnips, spinach, red beets, kohlrabi, cucumbers,
zucchini, cantaloupes, watermelons, pumpkins. For
availability, call Maria, 814-224-5368 or 814-312-5997.
PAINTING CONTRACTORS IN PA
LOG CABIN painting and staining, interior, exterior. One-stop
preventive maintenance. Victorian and historical homes and
structures are our specialties. Jardine’s Painting, Newville,
717 226-0629 or www.jardinespainting.com.
REAL ESTATE
RAYSTOWN LAKE — $375,000, 35 acres, build-ready,
mountaintop vista, close to boat launch. Call 814-599-0790.
CAMP FOR SALE near Cook Forest. Small but clean, sleeps six.
Near stocked trout stream, horse trails, ATV trails, surrounded
by Allegheny Forest. Has septic, carry-in water. $26,500. 440241-1562.
INDIAN LAKE — Somerset County, Pa. Two bedroom summer
cottage, 760 square feet with partial basement, completely
furnished. Includes 20-foot pontoon boat with boat dock.
$229,900. 717-737-6947 or email jwhart2@verizon.net.
TIDOUTE AREA — Warren County. Double-wide on block
foundation, 1 acre close to Allegheny River, gamelands. 3
bedrooms, 2 full baths, living room, kitchen, covered deck,
shed. $75,000. 814-825-3890 or 814-566-1656.
COOK FOREST Business and Property for sale. 46.7 acres.
Includes restaurant/lodge, campground, ten cabins, threebedroom house, maintenance barn, equipment, mobile home
and pond. Call 814-752-2361.
RECIPES AND FOOD
“COUNTRY COOKING,” Volume 2 — $8, including postage.
“RECIPES REMEMBERED,” Volume 3 — $12, including postage.
Both of these cookbooks are a collection of recipes from men
and women of the electric co-ops of Pennsylvania and New
Jersey. Payable to: Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, P.
O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Write Attention: Cookbooks.
Volume 1 of “Country Cooking” is SOLD OUT.
SAWMILLS
USED PORTABLE Sawmills and COMMERCIAL Saw-mill
Equipment! Buy/Sell. Call Sawmill Exchange 800-459-2148.
USA and Canada. www.sawmillexchange.com.
SHAKLEE
FREE SAMPLE Shaklee’s Energy Tea. Combination red, green
and white teas that are natural, delicious, refreshing, safe. For
sample or more information on tea or other Shaklee
Nutrition/Weight Loss Products: 800-403-3381 or
www.shaklee.net/sbarton.

TIMBER FRAME HOMES
SETTLEMENT POST & BEAM BUILDING COMPANY uses timehonored mortise, tenon and peg construction paired with
modern engineering standards. Master Craftsman and owner,
Greg Sickler, brings over two decades of timber-framing
experience to helping you create your dream. We use highquality timbers harvested from sustainable forests for all of our
projects. Visit our model home, located on Historic Route 6,
Sylvania, in North Central Pennsylvania. For more information
phone 570-297-0164 or go to www.settlementpostbeam.com or
contact us at cggksick@epix.net.
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
SHARPENING. Carbide saw blades, scissors, knives, wood
chisels and tools. Arius Eickert Certified to sharpen beauty
shears. Scissor sales and service. Call 814-267-5061 or see us
at www.theScissorGuy.net.
TRACTOR PARTS – REPAIR/RESTORATION
ARTHURS TRACTORS, specializing in vintage Ford tractors, 30years experience, on-line parts catalog/prices, shipped via UPS.
Contact us at 877-254-FORD (3673) or www.arthurstractors.com.
TREE TRIMMING/REMOVAL
TOM’S TREE SERVICE – Tree Trimming/Removal – Storm Cleanup – Stump Grinding – Land Clearing – Bucket Truck and
Chipper – Fully Insured – Free Estimates – Call 24/7 – 814-4483052 – 814-627-0550 – 26 Years Experience.
VACATIONS AND CAMPSITES
VACATION PROPERTY — For rent ocean front condo, Myrtle
Beach, SC. Excellent condition. Close to major attractions.
Booking for 2010. Please call 814-425-2425 or visit
www.oceanfrontmyrtlebcondo.com.
FLORIDA VILLAGES — Two bedroom, two bath, two bikes. Fully
furnished. One hour from Disney World. Rent two week
minimum or monthly, $1,400 (June to September). Call 716536-0104. Great entertainment. Dancing nightly.
COOK FOREST, SHILOH RESORT/MAMA DOE’S Restaurant —
Campground, cabins, rooms and suites, rent by day or week.
Two days free when you stay by the week. Reserve today, call
814-752-2361.
CLEAR CREEK PARK AREA — The cleanest place in the forest.
Five-star rated, open all year. Call 814-752-2972 for brochures
or visit www.northwoodscottagerental.com.
APARTMENT FOR RENT – Two bedroom apartment for rent by
the week, 1 1/2 blocks from the beach. Call 717-334-4388.
RAYSTOWN CAMPER RENTALS – Campers available for all
events. Delivery and set-up available within Lake Raystown.
For more information, call 814-386-1715 or email
hedgie17@yahoo.com or visit www.raystowncamperrental.com.
HUNTING CAMP in Clearfield County near Parker Dam in
Moshannon State Forest. 12 x 28. Excellent hunting and
fishing. Please call for more information and pictures, 724838-5367. $37,500.
WANTED TO BUY
WANTED TO BUY: Standing timber 20+ acres. Earn a little extra
cash this summer. For more information please call 301-7465552 or visit our website at www.redrockllc.com.
MEDICINAL ROOTS – Including blood root, skunk cabbage,
black cohosh, golden seal and others. For serious diggers, call
814-698-2206 or write “Roots” at 567 Bryant Hollow Road,
Coudersport, PA 16915.
WORK CLOTHES
GOOD CLEAN RENTAL-type work clothes, 6 pants & 6 shirts
to match, $44.95. Men’s jeans – 5 pairs, $25. Lined work
jackets, $10.95. Walt's Wholesale 800-233-1853 or
www.usedworkclothing.com.

J U LY 2 0 1 0 • P E N N

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19

SMARTcircuits

by James Dulley

Metal roofs keep
things cool, and
look good, too
MANY — but not all — metal roofs qualify
for the federal energy conservation tax
credit for 2010. Metal roofs save energy by
keeping your house cooler during the
summer, which can dramatically improve
comfort inside and reduce electric bills if
your home is air-conditioned. During the
winter, a metal roof has a negligible impact
on the energy efficiency of your house.
In general, in order to qualify for the
energy tax credit, the roof must meet
Energy Star qualification standards. For
roofing, this means the TSR (total solar
reflectivity) must be greater than 25 percent when new and 15 percent after three
years of aging. To be sure the roofing qualifies, ask for the specifications and a manufacturer’s certification statement (MCS). It
pays to be diligent these days: I recently
got quotes on a roof installation, and several roofers told me their asphalt shingles
qualified for the tax credit. In actuality
they did not qualify.
The amount of the tax credit is 30 percent of the material cost of the roof (not
installation expenses) up to a maximum of
$1,500. Use IRS form 5695 to apply for the
tax credit and save the payment receipt
and MCS in case of a tax audit.
For my own home project, I eventually
selected a Classic Metal Roofing Systems
aluminum roof. It is made from 98 percent
recycled aluminum, and the one-by-twofoot panels are formed to simulate a cedar
shake roof. It’s attractive and certainly
unique: many neighbors were stumped
trying to figure out exactly what it is.
To install the aluminum panel roof, a
special film underlayment was nailed
down with plastic clips and stainless steel
fasteners over the existing shingles (which
saved the expense of tearing off the old
shingles). Each aluminum panel interlocks
with the adjacent ones on all four sides.
20

PENN

L I N E S • J U LY 2 0 1 0

The top of each panel is held down by a
stainless steel nail through a hole in the
upper corner and an aluminum clip
attached midway across the top. It is
designed to withstand up to a 120-mileper-hour wind.
Although it is more expensive to install
than an asphalt shingle roof, my new
metal roof will never have to be replaced.
From a lifetime cost comparison, it is
cheaper than installing an asphalt roof
every 20 to 30 years. I also get a 3 percent
reduction on my homeowner’s insurance
because of reduced fire hazard.
Most metal roofs reflect more of the
sun’s heat than do asphalt shingles, particularly black shingles. My metal roof
has a TRS of 0.43 whereas a black
asphalt shingle roof has a TRS of only
0.05. This keeps the roofing materials
cooler so less heat is radiated down
through the ceilings to the living area.
Also, the underside of the aluminum
metal surface has lower “emissivity” (the
ability to emit heat) than shingles, so even
less heat radiates downward.
The final energy advantage is that the
Classic Metal Roofing aluminum panels are
relatively thin with the contour of shakes
formed into them. This contour creates an
air gap between most of the roofing and the

roof sheathing or shingles below it. This
gap allows some outdoor air to circulate up
under the metal roof panels to keep them
cooler. I sealed off my gable vents so outdoor air is now drawn in the soffit vents
and exhausted out the ridge vent.
One minor drawback to the aluminum
shake panels is they can dent if you indiscriminately walk on the high points of the
contour. This can be avoided by stepping
on the lower nailed area of the panels.
Contoured insulating foam pieces were
placed under areas of panels to provide
walkways on the roof to clean my skylight
and service the ridge vents.
Steel roofing is another option. Painted
standing seam or tile steel roofing is very
durable. Instead of trying to simulate some
type of standard roofing material, the
bright colors and unique appearance are
signatures of upscale homes. The finish
coating on aluminum and steel often uses
a Kynar-based paint with heat reflecting
additives in a multistep process. l
is a nationally syndicated energy management expert. You
can reach him at James Dulley, c/o Penn
Lines, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati,
OH 45244.

JAMES DULLEY

PUNCHlines

Thoughts from
Earl Pitts,
UHMERIKUN!
Earl knows the
difference between
gardening, farming

Social commentary from Earl Pitts —— a.k.a.
GARY BURBANK , a nationally syndicated
radio personality —— can be heard on the
following radio stations that cover electric
cooperative service territories in Pennsylvania:
WANB-FM 103.1 Pittsburgh; WARM-AM 590
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton; WIOO-AM 1000 Carlisle;
WEEO-AM 1480 Shippensburg; WMTZ-FM 96.5
Johnstown; WQBR-FM 99.9/92.7 McElhattan;
WLMI-FM 103.9 Kane; and WVNW-FM 96.7
Burnham-Lewistown.

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L I N E S • J U LY 2 0 1 0

This whole back-to-nature, save- OK, here’s the deal. Some rat-torthe-planet, eat-healthy, hug-a-squirrel
business we got out there now — it just
makes me laugh.
You know what I seen on the TV the
other night? It was for some garden
store somewhere. Only gardenin’ ain’t
called “gardenin’” no more. No sir. It’s
now called “backyard farmin’.” Ain’t
that cute?
Now, I can’t tell if this is ‘sposed to
make people who grow their own vegetables feel more important. Or is it
‘sposed to make real farmers feel stupid?
Yeah, I got news for you people.
What you’re doin’ in the backyard ain’t
farmin.’ An’ if I might make the call
here — the cut off would be if you used
a roto-tiller. ‘Cause that dude with 200
acres a’ corn, he didn’t use no stupid
roto-tiller on his field. No sir. Yeah, if
your biggest farm equipment is a rototiller, you ain’t no dang farmer.
An’ again, I hate to bust your bubble
out there. That ain’t your barn out there.
That’s a shed. Yeah, if you got your barn
from Wal-Mart, you ain’t no dang
farmer.
Here’s another thing. Real farmers
don’t grow their tomaters upside down.
You ever drove down along a wheat
field? Yeah, it’s right side up. You ever
pass a field a’ soy beans? Right side up.
The way God meant it to be. You grow
crops upside down, you ain’t no dang
farmer.
Oh, an’ by the way, if you tell your better half you’re goin’ out to work the lower
40, an’ you’re talkin’ about square feet an’
not acres, you ain’t no dang farmer.
An’ another thing, if your irrigation
system is a garden hose an’ a sprinkler,
you ain’t no dang farmer.
Wake up, America. It takes more
than a pair a’ Dickies and a friend
named Eb to make you a farmer. So
don’t go foolin’ yourself, cause you ain’t
foolin’ nobody else. You ain’t no dang
farmer.

turin’, toked-up science geek somewhere
done a study, an’ he says men lie more
than women. Yeah, he says men lie three
times a day. That’s over 1,000 lies a year.
Your average woman only makes two
lies a day — less than 800 in a year.
Obviously, women don’t gotta lie as
much as men. That’s because us men don’t
ask them if our jeans make us look fat.
Here’s the part I like. What’s the No. 1
lie a man tells? Accordin’ to this science
weasel, it’s about how much he drank.
An’ what’s the woman’s No. 1 lie? It’s
when they tell us, “There’s nothing
wrong. I’m fine.”
Yeah, any man will tell you them are
the three scariest words in the female
language. “There’s nothing wrong.”
Course women don’t say them words
like there ain’t nothin’ wrong. They don’t
go, “There’s nothing wrong.” Naw. They
shoot it out like a semi-automatic
weapon (fast and loud). “There’s nothing wrong!!!” Which in woman talk
means there’s somethin’ wrong.
That’s like the guy that takes the
piñata stick to the crotch. He buckles
over like he was shot by a sniper an’
goes (gasping), “I’m OK.” Yeah, it’s a little tough to believe.
Now for you new husbands out there,
lemme ‘splain somethin’ to you.
When you think your better half is
actin’ stupid, an’ you ask her what’s
wrong, that is essentially the same thing as
puttin’ a single bullet in a revolver an’ spinnin’ the cylinder. Yeah, cause five times
outta six, she’s gonna say, “there’s nothin’
wrong.” An’ you get to live another day.
An’ then there’s that one time she’s
gonna go off.
Wake up, America. There’s only one
way to keep your marriage together an’
yourself sane. When your better half is
agitated, kind a’ off a bit, kinda a spoilin’
for a fight, ignore her! Then she don’t hafta
lie, an’ you don’t hafta pretend to care.
I’m Earl Pitts, Uhmerikan. l

103⁄4

13

101⁄2

RURALreflections
The view from here
OUR VIEW of ordinary items sometimes is changed
when we change the perspective we are viewing the
items from, or the light we are viewing them in. Consider different perspectives, along with lighting and subjects, when you are taking photos for the “Rural Reflections” contest. At the end of the year, five lucky contest
winners will receive a $75 prize in the categories of: most
artistic, best landscape, best human subject, best animal
subject and editor’s choice.
To be eligible for the 2010 contest prizes, send your
snapshots (no digital files, please) to: Penn Lines Photos,
P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg PA 17108-1266. On the back of
each photo, include your name, address, phone number
and the name of the electric cooperative that serves your
home, business or seasonal residence. (The best way to
include this information is by affixing an address label
to the back of the photo. Please do not use ink gel or
roller pens to write on the photo as they bleed onto other photos.)
Remember, our publication deadlines require that we
work ahead, so send seasonal photos in early. We need
fall photos before mid-July and winter photos before
mid-September (save your spring and summer photos to
submit for the 2011 contest). Photos that are not seasonal
may be submitted at any time. Please note: photos postmarked after Jan. 1, 2010, will not be returned unless a
self-addressed, self-stamped envelope is included. l

Mary Thall
Northwestern REC

Sylvia Gray
Claverack REC

SPINE/GUTTER

Carrie Dinger
Tri-County REC

C. Lichtenberger
Adams EC

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