[April 2012]
SUGAR BEET LEAGUES
[contents]
April 2012 [features] 14 Promoting Agriculture Co-ops support conference to teach teachers about ag
16 Sugar Beet Leagues
Early baseball rosters filled with
workers who loved the game
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[columns] 20 Behold a Vision Spectacular floral images fill pages of photo book
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22 Sweets on a Stick Fun, delicious cake pops add color, surprise to Easter
24 Outdoors
Learn techniques to lure nice spring
[departments]
fish to your hook
25 Energy Tips
4 Viewpoint
Electricity powers our lives; it’s a basic necessity around the globe
Light the night with do-it-
yourself lighting
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5 Letters 6 Calendar 7 Co-op News 12 NewsClips 29 Funny Stories 30 Discoveries
29 30
[cover]
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Baseball batter illustrated by Cathy Morrison from Livermore. COMMUNICATIONS STAFF: Mona Neeley, CCC, Publisher/Editor@303-455-4111; mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org Donna Wallin, Associate Editor; dwallin@coloradocountrylife.org • Amy Higgins, Administrative Assistant/Writer; ahiggins@coloradocountrylife.org ADVERTISING: Kris Wendtland@303-902-7276; NCM@800-626-1181
The official publication of the Colorado Rural Electric Association Volume 43, Number 04
OFFICERS: Bob Bledsoe [Tri-State] President; Bill Midcap [Fort Morgan] Vice President; Don Kaufman [Sangre de Cristo] Secretary; Jack Schneider [Poudre Valley] Treasurer; Kent Singer [CREA] Executive Director BOARD OF DIRECTORS: John Porter [Empire]; Don McClaskey [Grand Valley]; Jim Lueck [Highline]; Michael Glass [Holy Cross]; Dan Mills [K.C.]; Tom Compton [La Plata]; Stan Cazier [Mountain Parks]; B.D. Paddock [Mountain View]; Joseph Costa, Reg Rudolph [San Isabel]; Mike Rierson, [San Luis Valley]; Marcus Wilson, Kevin Ritter [San Miguel]; Mark Grasmick [Southeast]; Jim Jaeger, Ron Asche [United Power]; Bill Jordan [White River]; Stuart Travis [Y-W]; Charles Perry [Yampa Valley]; Basin Electric, CoBank, Moon Lake Electric, Wheatland Electric [Associate Members]
EDITORIAL: Denver Corporate Office, 5400 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216; Phone: 303-455-4111 • Email: MNeeley@coloradocountrylife.org • Website: coloradocountrylife.coop • Facebook: Colorado Country Life • Twitter: @COCountryLife Colorado Country Life (USPS 469-400/ISSN 1090-2503) is published monthly for $9/$15 per year by Colorado Rural Electric Association, 5400 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216. Periodical postage paid at Denver, Colorado. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Colorado Country Life, 5400 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216 Publication of an advertisement in Colorado Country Life does not imply endorsement by any Colorado rural electric cooperative or the Colorado Rural Electric Association. Editorial opinions published in Colorado Country Life magazine shall pertain to issues affecting rural electric cooperatives, rural communities and citizens. The opinion of CREA is not necessarily that of any particular cooperative or individual.
[viewpoint]
Electricity Powers Our Lives
Computer guru Bill Gates notes how energy is a basic necessity BY KENT SINGER || CREA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR || KSINGER@COLORADOREA.ORG
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When I recently heard Bill Gates tout cheap electricity as essential for improving the lives of poor people around the world, I was struck by how similar his opinion is to that of electric co-op leaders. Gates was speaking during the February 27-29 ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit in Washington, D.C. (This should not be confused with the Colorado Rural Electric Association’s Energy Innovations Summit held in the fall.) ARPA-E, the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy, was created to bring together scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs to do transformational research in the energy field and to bridge the gap between basic energy research and the commercial application of new technologies. As part of its mission, ARPA-E has sponsored its annual summit for the last three years. I did not attend the 2012 summit, but through the miracle of YouTube I was able to see and hear the keynote presentations. Among the many prominent speakers featured at the 2012 ARPA-E summit, the one I found most compelling was Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Gates was on a panel with Secretary of Energy Steven Chu that was moderated by John Podesta, President Bill Clinton’s former chief of staff. Of course, we all know about Bill Gates the Harvard dropout, software genius, business mogul and philanthropist. He also happens to be a savvy thinker when it comes to the world’s energy issues, and his comments at the summit were instructive not only for the East Coast think tank crowd, but also for Colorado electricity consumers. Perhaps the most important comment Gates made as part of the panel was his response to the moderator’s first question about why he was interested in energy issues. As you probably know, the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has been primarily concerned with public health issues in the developing world. But Gates made the point that the vast improvement in the human condition that has occurred over the last 200 to 300 years is due to what he called Kent Singer “energy intensification.” In other words, our standard of living has dramatically improved as the result of increased energy use. He pointed out that in order to improve the lives of the “poorest one billion” people in the world, “having cheap energy” is critical to things like transportation and lighting, which are essential to basic human dignity. Gates made it clear that access to energy is just as important as access to food and health care for those in the developing world. Gates also recognized that while many people would like to see a transformation in the way we produce energy, people “underestimate how far away we are” from wide deployment of renewable sources of power. According to Gates, it will take a lot longer to transform our power supply system than the revolution we have seen in the information technology industry in the last 20 years because the power systems that are in place today that provide consistent, reliable power are expensive and complex. He noted that if power from hydrocarbons is ruled out, “you have no baseload power.” It would take more than 100 times all the batteries ever produced to store the power from renewable sources that would be needed to replace power from fossil fuel-fired plants. To that end, Gates is one of the founders of TerraPower, a startup “Generation
4” nuclear power company that is exploring a new technology that would use nuclear power more efficiently and produce less waste. Gates views this new nuclear design as the way to provide baseload energy with no carbon output. Gates also pointed out that there is no single technology on the horizon that is likely to provide the silver bullet for energy storage. He predicted that more than 90 percent of startup companies developing new technologies to integrate more renewable resources into our power mix will fail. Many of the points made by Bill Gates at the ARPA-E conference are relevant to the Colorado electric co-op program. We are strong advocates for the key role that affordable electricity plays in our lives. Affordable power is not only critical to the developing world, but it is also a fundamental building block in our world as well. Electric co-ops also support continued research into new energy technologies, but we don’t have the luxury of waiting to see which technologies lead to affordable and reliable power. We have to rely on the tried and true for now because we have the obligation to provide reliable, uninterrupted power to you, our co-op member-owners. We applaud the entrepreneurial spirit that is necessary to find the “next big thing” in energy, but it is also refreshing to hear some of our points validated by one of the smartest guys in the room.
Executive Director
FOLLOW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KENT SINGER’S BLOG AT COLORADOREABLOG.WORDPRESS.COM ColoradoCountryLife.coop 4 April 2012
[letters] True Price of Electricity Regarding the Viewpoint article “Reliability Is Job One” (January ’12), it has taken the Environmental Protection Agency over 20 years to develop and refine its final regulations on airborne mercury. Mercury has been known as a serious health and environmental problem. What I am arguing is that it is time for all electric consumers to pay the true price for the electricity that is generated with fossil fuels. When these ignored costs are finally calculated and accounted for, they will show that such fuels are truly more expensive than renewable energy and more vigorous demand-side management. Steven Schechter Director Gunnison County Electric Association
More on Tesla I enjoyed the article on Nikola Tesla (February ’12). One comment: The picture of Tesla on page 17 was taken in 1895, when he was 39 years old, not in 1938. Gerald Palecki, Durango
Nikola Tesla — 1893
EDITOR’S NOTE: Our mistake. Tesla would have been 82 years old if the photo had been taken in 1938, as we printed. Additional research claims the photo was taken in 1893 when Tesla was 37. I am compelled to correct parts of your article on Tesla. You state that he oversaw General Electric’s Niagara Falls hydropower facility. However that facility was built by George Westinghouse (not GE). Also, you made it sound like he was the only one involved in the Telluride Gold King Mine’s first commercial AC power plant. Again, he was involved, but the plant was built by George Westinghouse. I worked for Westinghouse for 42 years, and when I worked for them we were periodically reminded of this history. Ray Baranowski, Durango
Send your letter to the editor by mail or email. You must include your name and address to be published. Letters may be edited. ColoradoCountryLife.coop April 2012 5
[calendar]
[April] April 11 Calhan Cancer Myths presentation St. Paul Lutheran Church 6-8 pm • 719-347-2662 April 12-21 Pueblo Southern Colorado Regional Quilt Show El Pueblo History Museum 719-583-0453 April 13 Denver Southeast Colorado Appreciation Day State Capitol 11 am • 719-384-6965 April 13-14 Grand Junction MOG Outdoor Fest Downtown Grand Junction mogoutdoorfest.com April 14 Bayfield Cowboy Luau Billy Goat Saloon 6 pm-12 am • 970-884-7137 April 14 Briggsdale Briggsdale Community Library Craft Fair 9 am-3 pm • 970-656-3529 April 14 Salida Spring Fling for Boys & Girls Clubs Salida Club 6:30-9 pm • 719-539-9500 April 14 Trinidad Bowling for Art fundraiser A.R. Mitchell Museum 7-10 pm • armitchell.us April 15 Grand Junction Paint Horse Show Mesa County Fairgrounds 8 am • 970-255-7100 April 18 Colorado Springs Pastry cooking class Garden of the Gods Gourmet 719-471-2799
ColoradoCountryLife.coop 6 April 2012
April 20-22 Durango Durango Bluegrass Meltdown Strater Hotel durangomeltdown.com
April 27 Ouray Colorado Children’s Chorale Wright Opera House 7-9 pm • ocpag.org
May 4 Granby Movie Matinee Granby Library 2 pm • 970-887-2149
April 20-22 Fort Collins Spring Contest Powwow and Indian Art Market CSU Moby Arena fortnet.org
April 28 Boulder Tulip Fairy and Elf Parade Pearl Street Mall 3 pm • boulderdowntown.com
May 5 Burlington “Richie Lee and the Fabulous 50s” show Burlington High School Auditorium 7:30 pm • 719-346-8918
April 20-21 Pueblo “Carmen & Bolero” ballet Sangre de Cristo Arts Center sangredecristoarts.org April 21 Durango Durango Public Library Book Sale Durango Public Library 9:30 am-4:30 pm 970-375-3380 April 21 Grand Junction “Spring Thing” dance and fundraiser Clarion Inn 7-10 pm • cecwecare.org April 22 Denver Free admission day Denver Botanic Gardens botanicgardens.org April 22 Durango Durango Children’s Chorale performance First United Methodist Church 2 pm • durangochoralsociety. org April 24-June 2 Durango “Textiles Today” exhibit Durango Arts Center durangoarts.org April 26-29 Fruita Fruita Fat Tire Festival Civic Center Park fruitamountainbike.com April 27-29 Karval Mountain Plover Festival Karval Community Building 719-892-0020
April 28 Cotopaxi Cotopaxi Lions Club Spaghetti Dinner Cotopaxi School 5-7 pm • 719-942-4177 April 28 Denver History Colorado Center opening History Colorado Center historycolorado.org April 28-29 Durango Home & Ranch Show La Plata County Fairgrounds durangohrs.com April 28 Grand Junction Mayfaire Festival Sherwood Park 10 am-1 pm rivercanyonschool.com April 29 Loveland “Classic Broadway” music production Rialto Theater Center 2-4 pm • www.ci.loveland. co.us
[May] May 3-6 Colorado Springs Arts & Crafts Guild Spring Show & Sale Black Forest Community Center bfacg.org May 4-5 Cortez Home & Garden Show Montezuma County Fairgrounds 970-565-1771
May 5-6 Craig Sombrero Horse Drive Maybell Park sombrero.com May 5 La Junta Cinco de Mayo celebration Downtown La Junta 11 am-5 pm • 719-384-8741 x 114 May 5 Poncha Springs Caddis Festival Conservation Dinner & Auction Chaffee County Fairgrounds 5 pm • collegiatepeaks anglerstu.org May 9-13 Cortez Birding Festival Throughout Mesa Verde Country utemountainmesaverde birdingfestival.com
SEND CALENDAR ITEMS TWO MONTHS IN ADVANCE TO: Calendar, Colorado Country Life, 5400 N. Washington St., Denver, CO 80216; fax to 303-4552807; or email calendar@ coloradocountrylife.org.
K.C. ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION
[Country News] [what’s inside] n Five Easy Ways to Save Energy n Heating and Cooling Tips n Welcome to K.C. Electric n Irrigation Meter Reading n The Country Kitchen n Claim Your Credit on Your Bill
HUGO OFFICE P.O. Box 8 Hugo, CO 80821-0008 STRATTON OFFICE P.O. Box 285 Stratton, CO 80836-0285 HUGO ADDRESS 422 Third Avenue Hugo, CO 80821 STRATTON ADDRESS 281 Main Street Stratton, CO 80836 719-743-2431 [Hugo] 719-348-5318 [Stratton] www.kcelectric.coop [web] BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kevin Penny [president] Robert Bledsoe [vice president] Terry Tagtmeyer [secretary/treasurer] Danny Mills [asst. secretary/treasurer] James Lewis [director] Jim Michal [director] Luanna Naugle [director] Dave Ritchey [director] Marvin Thaller [director] STAFF Tim Power [general manager] Chance Briscoe [office manager] Ben Orrell [member services specialist] Larry Shutte [operations manager] Paul Norris [line superintendent]
Oh, How We’ve Changed! BY DEE ANN BLEVINS || WORK ORDER CLERK
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When Tim Power, our general manager, asked me to put together an article highlighting some of the changes K.C. Electric has experienced over the years, I had a lot of ideas. Ultimately, I decided to talk about some specific changes and focus on how technology has changed the work we do at K.C. Electric. K.C. Electric has been around since 1946, and obviously the electric industry has gone through a few changes. In 1945, when K.C. Electric organizers were trying to convince potential members to sign up for affordable electric lights and power, many neighbors had to be convinced of the value and safety of their investment. Some of the old-timers thought the New Dealers would blow up the whole country. But Joe Carrigan, director of the K.C. Electric board from 1961 to 1981, wasn’t one of them. He believed electricity was his best hired man. For a long time, he was still amazed that he could push a button and the whole room would light up. The possibilities in the early days of electricity were life-changing. The 1960s was a decade of improving service. Recruiting new consumers had slowed, poles and lines were in place for the first time and federal reports and audits had been completed. K.C. Electric borrowed $342,000 from the Rural Electrification Administration to convert its 62-mile transmission line from single-pole to double-pole construction. This change was an opportunity to reduce outages. In 1962, K.C. Electric’s new business office and warehouse were constructed in Hugo. Appliance sales were offered to consumers as a service for the newly acquired electricity. Appliances were sold, delivered
and installed by K.C. Electric employees. (K.C. continued offering appliances until the 1970s.) K.C. Electric also loaned consumers money to convert their homes to electric heat. In 1982, K.C. Electric was computerized. That changed everything from inside out. There were no more manual calculations, no more typing up bills and reports. With continued improvements to the software and hardware, data could now be collected and stored digitally. There was still plenty of paper generated, but information was easier to access and to sort in more meaningful ways. These changes kept consumers happier, especially if their bills were accurate. Happy consumers made for happier K.C. Electric employees. K.C. Electric also tried its hand as a satellite television service provider in 1980s. This venture had limited success and was eventually discontinued after a couple of years. Sometimes changes don’t produce growth or aren’t widely beneficial, but the idea helped K.C. Electric better understand the needs of its members. The 1990s brought more change. K.C. Electric promoted solar power to provide power for stock wells. The cooperative was also extremely involved in energy efficiency and was recognized with a national award in 1992 for promoting energy efficiency and cost-effective renewable resources. (Troy Klassen, #1113450002) The past 10 years have seen the most change ever at K.C. Electric. As computers and cell phones became a way of life, K.C. Electric updated its internal procedures to take advantage of the technological advances offered by such devices. K.C. Electric expanded its web- continued on page 8 ColoradoCountryLife.coop April 2012 7
[Country News] Oh, How We’ve Changed! continued from page 7
site to include more useful information and tools for the members, such as online bill pay. In 2009, Kit Carson, Burlington, Stratton and Flagler were selected for funding for installation of 1.8-kilowatt wind generators as part of the Wind for Schools programs. Also in 2009, Luanna Naugle was elected to the board and became the second woman ever to serve on K.C. Electric’s board. As the world around us continues to change at a sometimes dizzying speed, K.C. Electric’s board and management continue to adapt. Employees are encouraged to embrace the change around them and brainstorm ways to become more efficient in their work. The latest example of this brainstorming was K.C. Electric’s updating of its metering system. The board and management came together to select a system that enables K.C. Electric to be much more efficient in meter readings, billing and outage management. This will pay huge benefits for all of K.C. Electric in the years ahead. (*WIN, Todd Messer, #606900002) The table below shows how K.C. Electric has grown over the past 50 years. It is amazing to see the scale of the growth. But even though technology advances, company slogans change, buildings are remodeled and employees and consumers may come and go, K.C. Electric’s principles remain firm and true. Providing its members with safe, reliable and affordable electric service has been, and will always be, job number one at K.C. Electric.
K.C. Electric Growth Chart
Five Easy Ways to Save Energy: 1. Turn off lights, computers, televisions and other electrical items when you aren’t using them. 2. Replace regular lightbulbs with energy-saving compact fluorescent lightbulbs. (Leonard Reynolds, #1111240005) 3. Don’t leave the refrigerator door open. When cold air escapes, the refrigerator must work harder, using a lot of electricity in the process. 4. Opt for a short shower instead of a long bath. 5. Plant a tree. Trees create shade around your house and help keep it cool.
SAFEGUARD WHILE IN THE YARD
Outdoor electric tools have safety features for a reason. Make sure that they are always in place before operating a tool. Invest in safety goggles, hearing protection, dust masks, gloves and other safety gear as recommended for each tool. A few dollars now are well worth a lifetime of the good sight and hearing that they are protecting. Wear appropriate shoes and clothes for the job. ColoradoCountryLife.coop 8 April 2012
[Country News]
Welcome to Those of You New to K.C. Electric BY BEN ORRELL MEMBER SERVICES SPECIALIST
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Most of my articles are about people. I love to do interviews and get to know our members and introduce them to all of the readers. Many of my articles have been about people who have been members of K.C. Electric for a long time. Those members know as much about K.C. Electric as most of us who work here. Occasionally, however, I meet someone who has only recently become a member, and I find that many new members do not know what a co-op is and why we even exist. This month’s article is directed at new members. For starters K.C. Electric is a not-forprofit co-op. This means that while the co-op must generate revenue, it only does so to provide enough to operate in an economically sound manner and cover the co-op’s expenses. That’s a major difference from investor-owned utilities, which create profits for shareholders who often do not live locally. Most electric cooperatives were founded in the mid to late 1930s because investorowned utilities refused to build lines out to rural areas. That same pioneering, innovative spirit that led to the electrification of rural America still drives us today. Our core mission is to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve by providing safe, reliable and affordable electricity, and by supporting our friends and neighbors. Every member of K.C. Electric is a part owner of the co-op. The co-op is governed by a board of directors elected by you. There are a total of nine directors, and three are up for election every year. You get to be involved in the process of picking who governs your co-op. Elections are finalized at the annual meeting each year in June, and you can vote by mail or vote at the actual meeting. Co-ops give back to the community in many ways. For instance, we give generously to local fire and ambulance services. We are extremely supportive of school programs and community activities. We are careful to give equally to each community so as not to leave anyone out. We do not take lightly our responsibility to
support our communities while being good stewards of co-op funds. We also want to help our members save energy and money. We offer a variety of products and services to aid our members, from convenient billing options to energy audits. Take a look at our website: www.kcelectric.coop. K.C. Electric Association, Inc., is a cooperative organized in 1946 to bring power to the eastern Colorado plains, including rural areas and towns in Kit Carson, Cheyenne and parts of Lincoln counties. The headquarters is located in Hugo and the operations center is in Stratton. The co-op has outpost facilities at Flagler and Cheyenne Wells. (Luanna White, #913400011) Our territory includes 171 miles of transmission lines, 2,603 miles of overhead distribution lines and 105 miles of underground distribution, which equals a total of 2,788 miles of active lines. We currently serve 6,235 meters. We are a vendor of services to residential, nondomestic, irrigation, small commercial, large commercial and street lighting. K.C. Electric Association, Inc., is a part of the Rural Utilities Service. The nation’s rural electric systems operate and maintain nearly half of our country’s power lines. The electricity we provide to you comes from Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. Tri-State is a wholesale
electric power supplier owned by the 44 electric cooperatives it serves. Tri-State generates and transmits electricity to its member systems throughout a 250,000square-mile service territory across Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming. Tri-State’s power is generated through a combination of owned baseload and peaking power plants that use coal and natural gas as their primary fuels, supplemented by purchased power, federal hydroelectricity allocations and renewable resource technologies including wind and solar. As a member of K.C. Electric, you are encouraged to attend the annual meeting to keep informed and to participate in the election of the board of directors. The annual meeting this year is at the Kit Carson High School on June 7. Registration is at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting begins at 7 p.m. Come learn about your co-op, and the co-op has lots of door prizes.
IRRIGATION METER READING Irrigation meters will be read on the following dates: April 2-3, May 1-2, May 31 and July 2.
ColoradoCountryLife.coop April 2012 9
[Country News] THE COUNTRY KITCHEN LAMB ROAST WITH HERBES DE PROVENCE CRUST Try something different for your Easter meal 6 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce 2 large garlic cloves, minced 1 ½ tablespoons herbes de Provence 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil 2 pound boneless lamb roast, trimmed of excess fat and tied Place the mustard, soy sauce, garlic and herbs in a food processor or blender. With machine running, gradually add the oil. Coat the entire surface of the roast with the mustard mixture. Cover carefully and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Place the lamb on a rack set on a tray in a preheated 400 degree oven. Immediately turn the heat down to 350 and roast 1 hour (medium rare) to 1 ¼ hours (medium). If using a meat thermometer, roast until it reads 140 degrees for medium rare or 150 degrees for medium. Do not overcook. Allow the lamb to rest 15 minutes on a heated platter before carving. Lian Emmerling, Hugo, CO
CLAIM YOUR CREDIT ON YOUR BILL Each month, K.C. Electric offers consumers a chance to earn a $10 credit on their next electric bills. If you recognize your 10-digit account number in this magazine, call 719-743-2431 and ask for your credit. It couldn’t be easier. In February Georgia Link of Flagler, Betty Jones of Hugo, Rusty Critchfield of Burlington and Todd Simms of Seibert called to claim their savings, and Richard Johnson of Kit Carson called to claim his prize. Get acquainted with your account number, read your Colorado Country Life magazine and pick up the phone. That’s all the energy you’ll need to claim your energy bucks. You must claim your credit during the month in which your name appears in the magazine (check the date on the front cover).
HORSERADISH DEVILED EGGS 6 hard-cooked eggs ¼ cup mayonnaise 1 to 2 Tbsp. prepared horseradish ½ tablespoon dill weed ¼ tablespoon. ground mustard 1/8 tablespoon salt Dash pepper Dash paprika
Cut eggs in half lengthwise. Remove yolks; set whites aside. In a bowl, mash the yolks. Add mayonnaise, horseradish, dill, mustard, salt and pepper; mix well. Pipe or spoon into egg whites. Sprinkle with paprika. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Makes 1 dozen. Debbie Conrads, Stratton, CO
Don’t get your electric bill caught in a spin cycle. When doing laundry, use cold water. If your dryer has a moisture meter, use it to prevent overdrying clothes — 50 minutes often works best for a full load. And remember to check your lint filter each time before you run a load so your dryer runs more efficiently and saves energy. Find more ways to save at TogetherWeSave.com. Source: Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives ColoradoCountryLife.coop 10 April 2012
TORNADO SAFETY TIPS n Tornadoes can arrive without a thunder-
storm, and funnel clouds can hide behind rain or clouds. If the sky turns grayishgreen, there’s large hail. If you hear a roar that sounds like a freight train, take cover. n Have a tornado plan and practice it with your family so everyone knows where to go immediately when a tornado is imminent. Also, have a meeting spot everyone is aware of in case you get separated by the storm. (Randy Humrich, #1103260002) n At home, the safest place is the interior part of a basement. If there is no basement, go to an inside room, without windows, on the lowest floor. This could be a center hallway, bathroom or closet. n If you are in your car, don’t try to outrun a tornado. Get to a safe structure as soon as possible. If that’s not possible, find a ditch or hollow and jump in, covering your head the best you can. n Keep a flashlight and weather radio with fresh batteries on hand.
ColoradoCountryLife.coop February 2012 11
[newsclips]
Former CREA Executive Director Honored for Service to Co-ops
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The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association has awarded Ray Clifton, former executive director of the Colorado Rural Electric Association, with its 2012 President’s Award. Clifton was honored for his nearly 50-year career dedicated to advancing rural electrification and the goals of rural electric cooperatives. Clifton retired from CREA in 2009 after more than 24 years at the helm of the Colorado Rural Electric Association. He began his career half a century before as a part-time employee in the mailroom at the Georgia Electric Member Corporation, the statewide trade association for Georgia’s electric cooperatives. Clifton held many of the top jobs at the Georgia statewide association before leaving for Denver in 1986. In Colorado he built the statewide association from four employees to an organization with 16 employees. Those employees provide services for Colorado’s electric co-ops that include communication assistance, safety and loss control training, education, a complete legislative
agenda and more. During his years of service, Clifton served on multiple committees and task forces at the state and national level. At CREA, Clifton took on numerous challenges on behalf of electric cooperatives including deregulation of electric distribution cooperatives, attacks by municipalities on the electric service territory of association members and other legislative initiatives Former CREA Exeutive Director Ray Clifton (right) accepts his service award from NRECA Board President Mike Guidry. that threatened co-ops on the state and federal levels. He also served as president of the national midst of turbulent political upheaval and Rural Electric Statewide Managers Asindustry changes. Clifton’s leadership and sociation. expertise has been essential to advancing “Throughout his 49-year career, Ray the goals of rural electric cooperatives Clifton showed his determination, and and has benefitted thousands of cooperait took those qualities to build a viable tive consumers,” said NRECA CEO Glenn statewide association in Colorado in the English.
MAGAZINE LOOKS BACK AT 60 YEARS OF PUBLISHING
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Colorado Country Life is getting ready to celebrate its 60th anniversary. Since 1952, our magazine has been bringing readers across the state interesting stories on people, places and events that make our great state unique. And it has been providing information on your local electric co-op, letting you know what is happening with your board of directors, what the co-op is offering its members and how legislation and regulations might be impacting your electric rates and service. For 60 years, we’ve been sending you information. Now we’d like to know how that information has affected you and how you’ve used the magazine. Tell us your story. Send it to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or info@coloradocountrylife.org.
ColoradoCountryLife.coop 12 April 2012
[newsclips]
COOPERATIVES KEEP ON GIVING
Public Utilities Commission Chairman Joshua Epel discusses the role of the PUC with electric co-op representatives during a meeting in the Old Supreme Court Chambers at the Colorado Capitol in February.
Annual Meeting Focuses on The Power of Co-ops
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It was a celebration of the cooperative form of business when representatives of Colorado’s electric co-ops gathered in late February for the Colorado Rural Electric Association annual meeting. Nearly 200 board members, managers and staff members met in Denver for four days of classes, speakers, roundtable discussions and visits with legislators. The event, which fell during the International Year of Cooperatives, emphasized the importance of cooperatives to their members and their communities. Following educational sessions Saturday and Sunday, the program opened with a visit by the co-op representatives to the state Capitol. Co-op members had an opportunity to meet with Public Utilities Chairman Joshua Epel and with Rep. Frank McNulty (R), speaker of the house. (Senate President Brandon Shaffer [D] was unavailable.) Following a panel discussion on renewable energy and the grid, the group heard from Attorney General John Suthers, Mark Detsky of the Independent Energy Association and CoBank Chief Banking Officer Mary McBride. A reception with legislators followed along with several business meetings the next day. During the CREA board meeting Bob Bledsoe of Hugo, who represents Tri-State Generation and Transmission, was elected president of the CREA board. Bill Midcap of Morgan County Rural Electric Association in Fort Morgan was elected vice president; Don Kaufman of Sangre de Cristo Electric Association in Buena Vista was elected secretary; and Jack Schneider of Poudre Valley REA in Fort Collins was elected treasurer.
Co-ops Use Social Media to Connect With Members
The bulk of Colorado electric cooperatives provide power to smaller communities throughout Colorado. Every year these cooperatives contribute to the youth in these communities in a variety of ways. One example is that Colorado electric cooperatives provide scholarships to high school graduates. In the past five years, Colorado’s electric co-ops gave nearly $1.5 million to students for scholarships. It is projected that more than $310,000 in scholarships will be given statewide in 2012.
Question for Readers: People love using their electricity, but they don’t like looking at the power poles that provide it. Simply burying the lines can cost up to 10 times as much as overhead power lines. How do we resolve this conflict? Send your thoughts to info@colorado countrylife.org.
The core of the communication program for Colorado’s electric co-ops is this magazine, Colorado Country Life. It comes to you each month full of interesting stories and important information from your local co-op. The magazine also maintains a website at coloradocountrylife.coop where you can read magazine stories and your co-op’s newsletter. You can also follow the magazine on Facebook at facebook.com/COCountryLife or on Twitter at twitter.com/COCountryLife. Looking for more electric industry news? Check out the Colorado Rural Electric Association’s website at crea.coop or follow the association on Facebook at facebook.com/ColoradoREA or Twitter at twitter.com/ ColoradoREA. From the CREA website, you can click through to your local co-op’s website for more local information. And several of the electric co-ops maintain Facebook and Twitter pages that you can access through their individual websites. ColoradoCountryLife.coop April 2012 13
Promoting Agriculture Culture
Teachers invited to National Agriculture in the Classroom conference in Colorado BY AMY HIGGINS || AHIGGINS@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG
Everyone who relies on stores to sell them food and fabric relies on agriculture as well, but there’s a chance they don’t know they do. Farmers and ranchers raise, cultivate, produce and sell everyday items that we all use on a regular basis; they, in fact, feed and clothe the world. That’s why it’s important that all of us learn more about agriculture. A great place to start is in the classroom, which is why Agriculture in the Classroom has been helping educate teachers about farmers and ranchers and the products they produce since 1981. Teachers from across the country will gather June 19-22 at the Embassy Suites in Loveland for the 2012 National AITC “Rendezvous in the Rockies.” Participants will learn and share ideas and resources. Attendees can then go back to their students and teach them what they learned. What’s happening? Agriculture is essential in sustaining our rural communities, therefore the residents of these areas are more likely to understand the importance of farming and ranching. However, city dwellers and urbanites transplanted in smaller communities might not realize just how many ways agriculture contributes to our society. According to the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado’s diverse agricultural and food industry generates economic activity to the tune of around $20 billion every year. Information shared at the NAITC conference will enlighten and educate people from all walks of life, regardless of where they call home. From soil to history, livestock to developing healthy food choices, workshop topics at the NAITC conference will offer something for educators of students of all ages. For example, kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers can learn ways to help their students better understand farming through projects and activities in a workshop called “Being a Friendly Farmer.” And in a workshop named “Chemistry, ColoradoCountryLife.coop 14 April 2012
Fertilizer and the Environment,” eighth- through 12th -grade teachers will get ideas on how to use chemistry concepts to teach fertilizer and environmental education through hands-on activities and real-life examples. Several other workshops will be offered, many of which will benefit educators of adult students as well. The “Rendezvous in the Rockies” itinerary also includes 11 Workshop-on-Wheels tours that focus on agricultural activities throughout the Loveland area. During these workshops participants can see firsthand how different agricultural entities operate. For example, participants will learn about the dairy and egg industries on the “Udderly Amazing Milk and Egg Tour” where they’ll visit Cozy Cow Dairy, Fritzler Corn Maze, Morning Fresh Farms and Bella Dairy. The “Veggies!” Workshop-on-Wheels tour will be another information-packed experience. On this outing attendees will visit Fagerbergers Farm, Petrocco Farms, Sakata Farms, and Berry Patch Farms where they will learn about produce farming while enjoying some of the freshest, most delectable fruits and vegetables grown in the Centennial State. Guests will also have the opportunity to sign up for pre-conference tours. One tour includes trips to the Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park and the allegedly haunted Stanley Hotel where Stephen King got the inspiration to write his award-winning novel The Shining. In another tour option, Poudre Wilderness Volunteers will teach participants how the Colorado wilderness is preserved after its resources are enjoyed. Guests will be taken to the Canyon Lakes to hike, identify flora and fauna and to learn about “leave no trace” principles. The “Work on a Farm or Ranch for a Day” tour is designated for teachers only. Teachers will see how farmers and ranchers operate their businesses while gaining insight on what these agricultural experts need to accomplish in the month of June to keep their businesses on track. “Rendezvous in the Rockies” will feature several speakers, scrumptious food and a silent auction. The conference will conclude with a “Beer & Barley Tour” where guests will visit the Anheuser-Busch research facility and brewery to sample and learn about the delicious beers made there. Attention to details Register for “Rendezvous in the Rockies” before April 16 and you will only pay $375 for full registration. The cost increases to $425 by May 14 and to $475 after May 14. If you are registered with the Colorado Foundation for Agriculture as a Colorado teacher, you could win a scholarship to attend the conference. Simply apply online and an application and instructions will be emailed directly to you. Educators, administrators, curriculum developers, guidance
counselors and other educational professionals will benefit greatly from this four-day conference, which has co-op power supplier Tri-State Generation and Transmission among its sponsors. With the variety of workshops and activities, the NAITC has ensured participants will enjoy learning more about U.S. agriculture. In turn, these ideas and concepts will be learned by students of all ages when they are applied to classroom curriculums. Cooperatives are longtime backers of agriculture and education, and the Colorado Rural Electric Association contributed to the Ag in the Classroom program in 2012. By blending education and agriculture, students can learn to understand the importance of agriculture and help find ways to make this important industry flourish. To register, reserve an exhibit space, apply for a scholarship or view a complete list of workshops and activities, visit regon line.com/2012NAITC or call 970-881-2902. See a complete schedule for the conference online at www. coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Living in Colorado, then Education. Scroll to the end of the story.
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It was June 1957 when Paul Villa of the semipro Greeley Grays hit the ball out of an unfenced field at Greeley’s Island Grove Park. The crowd cheered and then gasped as a speedy outfielder chased it into the traffic on 11th Avenue and was nearly hit, cars braking, drivers shouting, tires squealing. The visiting player wisely decided to surrender the ball to its fate on the street. Then he looked back and saw that Villa, who was quite a pitcher but not much of a runner, still hadn’t even reached first base. The fielder made another dash for the ball. He threw it hard back to a fielder, who relayed it to another, who threw it to yet another. Villa was at last wheezing in to home plate, his brother George waiting to congratulate him. The ball beat him in.
SUGAR
BEET
LEAGUES BY KRISTEN HANNUM
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Paul was out by a mile,” Leo Carbajal told Jody and Gabe Lopez, who included the story in their book, From Sugar to Diamonds: Spanish/Mexican Baseball, 1925-1969. Those years included the golden age of American semipro baseball, between the world wars, when nearly every town in Colorado either had its own team or dreamed of fielding a team. They played a game profoundly different from the major league extravaganzas that people watch from the comfort of their air-conditioned living rooms today. “Today it’s win at any cost,” Gabe Lopez says. “Then they played for the love of the game.” Perhaps so, but the Grays also wanted to win, and an important part of this story is that the Greeley Grays became the team to beat. A team was important to community selfimage. And if that was true for Anglo communities, it was doubly true for Colorado’s Spanish-speaking, sugar-beet-field laborers that the Lopezes write about.
Beet field beginnings
The Greeley Grays started as the Spanish Colony team in the summer of 1925, playing other ballclubs from Greeley and the surrounding towns. The players’ wives packed picnics and everyone turned out for those games. “Whenever there was a baseball game, there was no one to be found in the
colony,” Gabe Lopez’s uncle Frank Lopez told him. Frank Lopez was one of nine Lopez brothers who played on the Greeley Grays, including Gabe Lopez’s father, Gus Lopez. The Spanish Colony team was one of several that had come together around the 13 colonies established by Great Western Sugar, a powerhouse grower of the early 20th century. The company had first employed Germans from Russia and then Japanese-Americans, but by the 1920s, 10,000 of Great Western Sugar’s 12,000 workers were Hispanic. The company recruited Spanish-speaking workers from southern Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona and Mexico. Overcome by family needs back home, discrimination, and especially the lousy housing, those workers often quit their contracts before the season was over. Great Western Sugar bosses realized that decent, nearby housing would mean the farmers could retain their best workers rather than needing to chase them down every year. Great Western would offer low-cost sites and building materials to the most loyal and productive laborers. The first adobe colony was established in 1922 in Fort Morgan; there would soon be hundreds across the West. Greeley’s colony, 5 miles outside the city proper, was platted in 1924. Weld County colonies in Ault, Eaton, Gilcrest, Gill, Hudson, Johnstown, Kersey, Milliken, Wattenberg and, of course, Greeley, all fielded baseball teams, at first sponsored by Great Western Sugar. In Greeley they learned the rules from Dimas Salazar, who had played softball in Walsenburg and came to the Spanish Colony in Greeley in 1925. Another of Gabe Lopez’s uncles, Alvin Garcia, was an 11-year-old batboy for that first team. By 1930 he was a 16-year-old baseball player. Garcia is “the father of baseball for the Mexican-Americans,” according to Frank Carbajal, another player interviewed by the Lopezes. It’s Garcia’s signature that establishes the Rocky Mountain Semi-Pro League, a league popularly called the Sugar Beet League, with the National Semi-Pro Baseball Congress.
Love of the game
That’s how baseball, the national pastime, became one with the beet field colonies. It was stoop labor in the beet fields all day, working the dusty rows of the broad-leafed plants, then the relief of running flat out on a ball field in the evenings and on Sundays, the only day that the workers had free for recreation. Boys dreamed of playing for their team. It didn’t matter that the ball they were playing with was homemade, of string and socks around a hard rubber heart salvaged from a store-bought baseball long since ruined. Their fathers practiced with balls that weren’t much different. They hit with cracked or broken bats, nailed and taped back together; they caught with mitts so meager and worn that the players called them tacos. The earliest players made their own
Gus Lopez at bat in a 1937 Spanish Colony game. The Spanish Colony team reformed as the Greeley Grays in 1938. Gabe Lopez describes his father, Augustine “Gus” Lopez as the Babe Ruth of the Sugar Beet League. Photo courtesy of Robert Duran.
gloves of heavy canvas stuffed with rags. Like the other colony teams, they practiced on rocky land reclaimed from beet dumps. Home plate was a plywood square, and the bases were weighted sacks that the players would shove back in place after a slide. One of the old players, “Butter” Garcia, told Gabe Lopez that when he was junior high age in 1944, the Greeley junior high school’s team challenged the colony boys to a game and were routed. School in the colony ended at sixth grade, meaning the colony junior high-aged boys played baseball from morning to night. The next game was between the town’s high school team and the colony kids, who won again but by a more respectable 10 to 4. If it cost money, that spelled the end for a colony player, including those recruited to play for high school teams. So they dreamed instead of playing for their own Spanish Colony home team, which in 1938 took on a new name: the Greeley Grays. “As soon as a child from the sandlot team was old enough to be a Greeley Gray, he was a Gray,” write the Lopezes. “The Grays became a team to be reckoned with.”
Semipro baseball important
Larry Gerlach, former president of the Society for American Baseball Research, says that semipro baseball was an important chapter not just of baseball history, but also of American social history. “Entire towns would turn out for games — men, women, children of all ages,” he explains. “It wasn’t just a baseball game going on, but a community gathering.” Gerlach, whose ancestors were German immigrants from Russia who worked in sugar beet fields in western Nebraska, also played semipro baseball. “The leagues were terrific,” he says. “We traveled around to the various towns and met people and had a great time.” Although some of [continued on page 18] ColoradoCountryLife.coop April 2012 17
This sandlot team includes one of the Carbjal brothers men- Manuel Carbjal and young Lupe in 1949, with a tioned in the story. truckload of sugar beets ready to drive to the beet dump. [continued from page 17]
the semipro players were paid (the definition of semipro is that at least one of the team’s players is paid something), the vast majority played for fun. The semipro teams were especially popular in the Midwest and West, says Gerlach, who today teaches the history of American sports at the University of Utah. “A lot of the things that would go on in these communities would be very ethnocentric — the language, the food, the religion but baseball, that was American.” Baseball became a fourth pillar of the community. It was like a church picnic, a school fair or a family reunion every Sunday all summer long. Babies slept on blankets in the sun and grandparents lounged in the cars. Families cheered and honked car horns. Kids chased each other and sometimes sisters with husbands on opposing teams would yell abuse at their own brothers-in-law, all to be forgiven after the game when everyone shared a meal. The other Weld County teams included the Milliken Caballeros, whose left fielder Ralph Solano told the Lopezes, “The only rivalry was when we were playing the game, but after the game we were friends; eating together after the game was like having a picnic with the other teams.”
From energy to history
Most of the Sugar Beet League teams had rosters with several brothers playing. There were several Carbajals playing for the Grays, for instance, along with all the Lopezes. Gabe Lopez’s father, Gus Lopez, was a star hitter. After moving to Cheyenne, he loyally drove his family back to Colorado on Sundays to play with the team. “We used to run around the parked cars on top of the hill in the parking lot of Forbes Field,” Gabe Lopez writes in From Sugar to Diamonds. “We ran after foul balls in the bleachers; the older kids got to stand and wait behind the irrigation ditch for home runs that were hit. The wives would lie out on blankets on the wooden bleachers so as not to get splinters as they jumped up and yelled at a good play or home run.” An old photo of Gabe Lopez shows up in the book; a small, serious-looking boy who is wearing a baseball cap and staring intently toward the camera. It’s easy to imagine that boy writing this book about the family team 50 years later. He already knew some of the stories — for instance, that his father had returned home from the war in Germany on a Tuesday in 1945 and played ball that following Sunday. ColoradoCountryLife.coop 18 April 2012
Gus Lopez in 1937 or 1938 on the far right.
Good stories, to be sure.
But Gabe and Jody Lopez aren’t historians. How they came to write about the Sugar Beet League and become popular speakers with a traveling exhibit of approximately 185 artifacts, including uniforms, bats, balls and chalkers, has a dramatic history of its own. Gabe was a lead welder and journeyman fitter for Xcel Energy in Cheyenne, Wyoming, until 1995, when a terrible natural gas explosion at a nearby refinery left him disabled and in constant pain. The Lopezes’ children, Kimberly and Mario, worried about their dad. What could he do to fill his days? They urged him to research their family history. That good-intentioned request led to two books, the first one, White Gold, on the history of Greeley’s Spanish Colony, and the second, From Sugar to Diamonds, about baseball. “They’re an extraordinary couple,” says Peggy Ford, research coordinator for the city of Greeley History Museums. The exhibit’s displays and photos track the Sugar Beet League’s evolution over the decades. By the time Gus Lopez played his last year in 1959, family cars no longer served as stands for the fans. The teams played on well-maintained fields instead of rocky, reclaimed beet dumps and used store-bought equipment. And then came television. Gabe Lopez says there were other reasons for the end of the golden age of semipro and minor league baseball. “The interest in community baseball died,” he says. “The whole dynamic of the 1960s and the early 1970s was against it.” The Grays disbanded in 1969, but in 2005 something extraordinary happened. The Grays were reconstituted as part of the Colorado Collegiate Baseball League. Gil Carbajal, who played on the Greeley Grays from 1952 to 1967 and is a former trustee at the University of Northern Colorado, owns the team, keeping alive the tradition of one of Colorado’s most historic baseball teams. Kristen Hannum, a Colorado native, is a freelance writer and editor living in Denver. Editor’s Note: The Lopezes’ Greeley Grays exhibit, which will include a model of the Spanish Colony, can be seen at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley starting October 3 through November.
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[gardening]
Behold a Vision
Spectacular floral images fill photo book BY EVA ROSE MONTANE || WWW.xeriscapegardens.com
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Heart. Flowers. Technology. These three components constitute Boulder author Mark S. Johnson’s beautiful and instructive book, Botanical Dreaming: Using Photoshop, Your Camera, and Your Heart to Create Inspiring Images. This book is aptly named and is a joy to flip through. The flower photos reached right out of the pages and grabbed me; perhaps that is because he is a master at capturing the heart in his work, which he teaches the reader to do through his book. It is a unique combination of coffee table book and how-to manual. Inspiring quotes from well-known characters spanning the spectrum of life add to the richness of this text. Among the names I was familiar with were Eckhart Tolle, Albert Einstein, Wayne Dyer, Jane Goodall, Kahlil Gibran and Carlos Castaneda. A couple of my favorites, which I believe encapsulate the author’s intent, include, “Notice how present a flower is, how surrendered to life,” from Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now. And “Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think is necessary and then ask yourself one question. Does this path have a heart? If it does, it’s good. If it doesn’t, it’s of no use,” from Carlos Castaneda’s The Teachings of Don Juan. Part One: Entering a creative space In this section Johnson encourages his readers to cultivate creativity and offers suggestions on how to do just that, pointing out that everyone has creativity within themselves. He compares creativity with tending to a campfire, saying it’s just a matter of choosing to nurture it, tending to it and stoking it into something bigger, claiming its potential. It largely takes giving ourselves permission to take the time to be inspired, to play and to engage both the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
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Part Two: Being creative with your camera Composition, aperture, focus, tripods, lenses, lighting, backgrounds and flow are all topics of the middle chapter. In keeping with his aim, Johnson addresses the topic from a more linear, methodological approach, as well as from a creative, heart-based perspective so that everyone will be able to engage with what he has to teach about wielding this powerful tool. Part Three: Photoshop possibilities — being creative after you’ve clicked the shutter Johnson is also skilled at giving simple, step-by-step instructions so that his
students can be successful. As a visual person, I really like that he includes screen shots of what we will see on the computer so we know exactly what we should look for and click on. He takes out the guesswork and he shares a lot of great ideas and tricks for stunning visual effects. Visit Mark’s website at msjphotography.com. Now is the perfect time to read Botanical Dreaming since we will have many dazzling subjects with which to experiment in the seasons of floral splendor ahead. Whether or not you end up creating your own amazing works of art, I am quite sure you will find yourself inspired and delighted with this impressive publication.
Read more gardening advice at colorado countrylife.coop. Click on Living in Colorado and then Gardening.
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[recipes]
Sweets on a Stick
Add some pop to your treats this Easter BY MONA NEELEY || MNEELEY@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG EDITOR’S CAUTION Cakes pops are fun to make. It doesn’t matter what they look like — they taste wonderful. Getting them to look great is more difficult. During the process we learned not to be too critical of the outcome. So get creative and be warned that decorating has a steep learning curve.
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Sweeten this year’s egg hunt, Easter dinner or spring fling with delicious, colorful cake pops. These easyto-make, grabbable goodies on a stick add a couple of bites of sweet and a lot of fun to any gathering. While every classic cake pops recipe follows the same basic steps, there are a huge number of mixtures and tastes you can create. Some of our favorite cake pops have been devil’s food cake with chocolate frosting, chocolate cake with jalapeño jelly and spice cake with pumpkin butter. Once you have the basics down, get creative and make your own delicious cake pops to share.
Classic Cake Pops
•R emove from fridge and roll teaspoons of mixture into ball slightly larger than 1 inch in diameter.
24 medium pops
Cake mix Can of frosting Lollipop sticks Candy melts 2x15x4-inch Styrofoam
• P lace on cookie sheet and return to fridge for another 20 minutes. • Melt candy melts in small, microwave-safe bowl. Melted candy should be deep enough to more than cover the cake balls cooling in the fridge.
• Bake the cake and allow it to cool. GET CRAZY FOR CAKE POPS There are lots of books out there to help you learn more about how to make cake pops. Send your name, address and phone number to recipes@ coloradocountry life.org and we’ll enter your name in our drawing for one of two cake pop books: Crazy for Cake Pops by Molly Bakes and Wilton Pops! Sweets on a Stick.
• Cut away hard edges from the corner or sides of cake and crumble the rest of the cake into a large mixing bowl. (An easy way to crumble a cake is to cut out hand-sized pieces and rub them together until both pieces have crumbled into the bowl. Repeat until the entire cake is in crumbs.) • Combine the cake with just enough frosting to create a fudge-like texture. Cover the mixture with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
Cut out hand-sized pieces and rub together to crumble cake.
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• Remove the balls from the fridge. Take lollipop stick, coat about a half-inch of stick with melted candy, then push stick into cake ball. • Dip cake ball in melted candy, making sure candy reaches stick. (Do not “swish” cake ball in candy. Simply dip in and out.) Let excess candy drip off cake pop then either place cake pop, ball side down, on waxed paper or push stick into large 4-inch high piece of Styrofoam with cake pop in the air. Repeat.
Combine the crumbled cake and frosting to create a fudge-like texture.
Dip cake ball in melted candy, making sure candy reaches stick.
[recipes]
Suggested Cake Pop Flavors • Spice cake with pumpkin butter (available at farmers markets and nurseries) • Chocolate cake with jalapeño jelly (if the jelly makes it too hot, temper it with some cream cheese) • White cake mix with vanilla frosting, seedless raspberry jam (melted) and 2 tablespoons raspberry liqueur • Chocolate cake mix with canned dulce de leche Look for specific amounts and more variations on our website at www.colorado countrylife.coop.
Tips and Tricks for Making Cake Pops • Use as little frosting, cream cheese or jam as possible to hold cake crumbs together. It needs to be spread evenly throughout the crumbs but the mixture shouldn’t get soggy or sticky. • Cake pop mixture stores well, so you can prepare it one day and finish it later. • When melting candy for coating the cake pops, making it hotter won’t make it thinner. Candy melts work best at 100˚ F. • Melt candy melts 30 seconds at a time in the microwave oven. Remove from oven and stir each time until it reaches the desired consistency. • Vegetable shortening or vegetable oil is suggested for thinning melted candy melts, but this lead to little bubbles of oil on our cake pops. • After dipping a cake pop, don’t shake or tap it to get rid of excess candy coating. Hold it horizontally in your left hand and pat your left hand with your right hand.
For more cake pop recipes and tips, visit coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Recipes.
facebook.com/COCountryLife ColoradoCountryLife.coop April 2012 23
[outdoors]
This nice spring rainbow trout was taken from the Big Thompson River in Larimer County on a tiny midge pattern.
Nice Spring Fish
Learn techniques to lure the catch of the day BY DENNIS SMITH
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It’s April 1, a day that in many parts of the country is still considered “opening day” in angler speak, but Colorado fishermen and women have been prowling the banks of our trout streams all winter long, wherever open water allows. Some of them look like the Michelin Man in their swollen waders and poofy layers of insulation. But they’re catching fish — nice spring fish. Flows are seasonally low on the river near my home — about 20 cubic feet per second — and the darker reaches of the canyon are still icebound, but on those sections where the river is exposed to sun and wind, anglers are finding open water — and fish. Nice spring fish. They are browns mostly, but rainbows, too. They stage in deep wintering holes, clinging to the bottom until warming currents lure them into shallow riffles to feed on mayfly nymphs and midge larvae stirred by the afternoon sun. There’s no need to be on the water at the crack of dawn; the best fishing will be from late morning until late afternoon. Flies that imitate midge pupae, mayfly nymphs and caddis fly larvae are standard fare this time of year, with small being the operative word. And by small I mean really small, miniscule, in fact. Most effective sizes range from size 20 and 22 at the large end of the spectrum down to size 26 and 28 at the small end. While there are literally thousands of commercial midge patterns to choose from these days, they are all essentially variations of simple, thread-bodied
hooks in black, brown, red, green or olive with — or without — a bead head and wire or tinsel ribbing. A recent favorite, the Poison Blue Tung, is a small hook wrapped with electric blue wire behind a black tungsten bead and a pinch of synthetic fur at the thorax. Electric blue? Go figure. Just keep trying different flies until you find a size and color that work. That said, start with basic black and go from there. If finding the right fly seems problematic, getting it to the fish without alarming them is a whole other can of worms. Trout are agonizingly spooky in low, clear water and flush wildly at the least disturbance, so approach feeding riffles with utmost caution. Stay low, keep your shadow off the water, move slowly and keep your casting to a minimum; waving your fly rod around like a drunken symphony conductor may look good in the movies, but it does not impress the fish. Then there’s the matter of drift. Early spring trout are lethargic and will not move far for a meal, so you’ll practically have to put the flies in their mouths for them. More often than not, that becomes a matter of presenting your fly as close to the bottom as possible without hanging it up on a rock or other river detritus and drifting it precisely through the fish’s selected feeding lane. While all of this requires a bit of astute observation, concentration and finesse, it’s simpler than it sounds and once you get the hang of it, you’ll start catching fish — nice spring fish.
Miss an issue? Catch up at www.coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Outdoors. ColoradoCountryLife.coop 24 April 2012
[energy tips]
For 60 Years Colorado Country Life LIGHT THE NIGHT Do-it-yourself outdoor lighting Has Been Part of Your Life BY JAMES DULLEY The cost of living in 1952, the year Colorado Country Life published its first magazine: New house. . ..............................................................................$9,075 Average income.. ...................................................... $3,850 per year New car. . ................................................................................... $1,754 Average rent . . ............................................................................... $80 Tuition to Harvard University...................................$600 per year Movie ticket..................................................................................70¢ Gasoline. . .................................................................... 20¢ per gallon First-Class postage stamp................................................3¢ Since 1952 Colorado Country Life has been with you and your family. Through your local co-op, the magazine has offered recipes, gardening and entertaining stories hoping to make your life easier or more enjoyable. Tell us how we have affected your life through the years. We are gathering information for our anniversary issue in October. We look forward to serving you for a long time to come. Tell us your story. Send it to:
Colorado Country Life 5400 Washington St. Denver, CO 80216 info@coloradocountrylife.org
Download CREA’s NEW 2012 Legislative Directory app for your iPad or iPhone
Visit iTunes to download the app The Colorado Rural Electric Association has published its 2012 Legislative Directory. Paper copies are available for $1 each by calling 303-455-4111. You can also download the Legislative Directory as an app on your Apple device for $9.99. Have legislators’ names, phone numbers, email addresses, websites and more at your fingertips.
W
What types of low-voltage lights are best for deck and landscape lighting?
The newest, most energy-efficient low-voltage landscaping lighting uses superefficient LEDs instead of standard incandescent bulbs. This type of lighting technology is becoming more common even for standard indoor lamps. LEDs are still considerably more expensive than other lighting alternatives, but they use less than one-fifth as much electricity as equivalent incandescent bulbs. They also last at least 10 times longer. The light from LEDs is more directional, so multiple LEDs are often used inside one fixture for broader lighting patterns and brightness. The light quality from LEDs is extremely white and pleasing as well. Each low-voltage LED fixture may use as little as 1 watt of Add brilliant electricity compared dimension to to about 11 watts from your garden with lighting. a typical snap-in, wedge-base, low-voltage bulb. Some of the brighter fixtures, such as the lit posts known as bollards, use a 2-watt LED. The most difficult part of installing a low-voltage lighting system is making sure the transformer does not get overloaded. If you buy a prepackaged low-voltage lighting kit, it will include the proper size transformer for the number and types of lights. If you add more or assemble your own lighting kit, be careful not to exceed the transformer’s output maximum and never go above 300 watts. If a lighting layout requires more than 300 watts, do not connect two transformers together. Set up two separate wiring layouts to stay below 300 watts on each.
For more information on low-voltage outdoor lighting, visit coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Energy Tips .
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[marketplace]
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[classifieds] TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD Please type or print your ad on a separate paper. Indicate how many months you would like your ad to run and which month to start. There is a minimum of 12 words at $1.63 per word/month. Be sure to include your full name and address for our records. Check MUST accompany this order or call to pay by credit card. Send your ad to: mail: Colorado Country Life 5400 N. Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 phone: 303-902-7276 fax: 303-455-2807 email: classifieds@coloradocountrylife.org
ANTIQUES
ANTIQUES AT THE ABBEY — Sale and Show, May 5-6, Abbey in Canon City, 2951 E Hwy 50, Saturday 9-5, Sunday 10-4, Admission $3, no charge 14 and under. Glass grinder on duty for repairs to your chipped glass. Go on a treasure hunt seeking all things worth remembering plus so much more, from vintage clothing and jewelry to artwork, memorabilia, toys, furniture, retro, just to mention a few of the fabulous finds waiting for you. Info: Jo Peterson 719-5961022 (510-04-12) CHAIR CANING, hand caning, machine caning, fiber rush caning. Pueblo West, 719-547-0723. chaanita@q.com (858-04-13) FURNITURE RESTORATION. Quality craftsmanship since 1974. Bayfield, CO, www.antiqueresdurango.com 970-884-1937. Prompt service, guaranteed repairs. (988-04-12)
ANTLERS
ANTLER CHANDELIERS made only from REAL antlers. We are the manufacturer and we sell all of our products at wholesale prices; save as much as 60% from store prices. Many other antler products and mounts, including 5’ Moose Mount, 56” Elk Mount and giant Moose Paddles. Showroom open May 15 through October 15 in Granby, CO. 15 years at this location, over 900 satisfied customers! (970) 627-3053. (105-11-12)
BOOKS
IZZY AULD’s incredible e-Books. Download mysteries, intrigue, suspense, from Amazon or B&N, www.izzyauld.com (014-12-12)
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BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES (These opportunities have not been investigated by Colorado Country Life.)
AVON sells – you earn big. Build sales via internet or local. Flexible hours. $10 start up. ISR. 719-5500242. (133-05-12) BUSY, FULL SERVICE, AUTO REPAIR workshop in SW Colorado. No competition. Est. 35 yrs. Retiring owner may carry. Solid investment, dependable staff, 6 bays, paint booth, offices. 1-970563-4500. Please ask for Joyce. (942-05-12) INSTANT RENEW ROOF COATINGS (sm) independent contractors/dealers wanted. Commercial products restore brick, metal, & flat roofs. Saves replacement. 573-489-9346 (856-04-12) K-LAWN – LAWN FERTILIZING business opportunity. Part-time seasonal work. Be your own boss. NOT a franchise. It’s YOUR business! Training by turf professionals. Superior quality products. Protected territory. Low startup costs. www.k-lawn.com. 800-4459116 (914-04-12) LEGITIMATE WORK AT HOME opportunity. No sales, investment, risk. Training/website provided. Weekly/monthly income plus bonuses, benefits. Call Carrie 303579-4207, www.workathomeunit ed.com/ourabundance (932-06-12) LOTTERY – guaranteed income producing system. FREE BOOKLET. Call toll-free 24 hours a day. 1-877526-6957 ID#S4465. (911-07-12)
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
PIANO TUNING PAYS. Learn with American School home-study course. Tools included. Call for info. 800-497-9793. (158-01-13) ROOMY AND SPACIOUS in rooms and outside accommodations — this motel has 14 rooms, beauty shop (rented), studio apartment, lovely owners’s quarters. Good Business. Many repeat guests every month. Nearly everything has been updated or replaced. Call Betty 719-263-4773 or cell 719-2511554 (025-04-12) START YOUR OWN BUSINESS – home/internet. Simply the highest quality candles/beauty/ fundraising. Enter free drawing. www.naturesbest.scent-team.com (831-05-12)
CARS/TRUCKS/BOATS
50 SUBARUS! (1995-2011) Outbacks, Foresters, Imprezas, Tribecas & more! Great prices! One-year warranty! Dealer: www.MonumentMotors.com 719481-9900 (574-08-12)
CLOCK REPAIR & RESTORATION
DURANGO AREA. CLOCKS of all kinds repaired. Antique and modern. Clocks bought and sold. Call Robert 970-247-7729, bob.scott@ usa.net (109-05-12)
EDUCATION
GRIGGS MASTERY ACADEMY: 10 Courses – 10 Books – 10 Months. Innovative professional development. www.griggsachieve.com (994-04-12)
EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES
Commercial weed and fire spray equipment. 307-660-8563 or visit us at www.oldwyomingbrandcom pany.com (024-08-12)
FOR SALE
GRASSFED BISON MEAT for sale. Delicious and nutritious. Delivery available. Fourth, half, or whole. 720-256-3364 (029-07-12) HEAVY DUTY CATTLEPENS. Portable or permanent; 32x45 working pen w/16’ crowding tub, $3,325. Call Kenneth 580-876-3699, www.cccattleequipment.com (882-04-12)
FOR SALE
MUST SELL (Ltd.). Will deal. 24x36, 39x57, 60x100. 40-yr paint (steel bldgs). Pro-rated freight to site. Erection available. 866-609-4321 Source: 1OB (034-04-12)
FREE
FREE BOOKS/DVDS. Soon the “Mark of the Beast” will be enforced as Church and State unite! Let the Bible reveal. The Bible Says, POB 99, Lenoir City, TN 37771. thebiblesaystruth@yahoo. com 888-211-1715. (814-04-12) FREE SERMON: What is the world’s age? Does original sin exist? No! Does God love all? No! Is there reincarnation? No! Sacramentarian Christian Assembly, 2210 Main St, #304, Longmont, CO 80501-4946, 303-772-8825 (995-06-12) RECYCLE FOR FREE in Huerfano & Pueblo Counties. Appliances, vehicles, electronics, metal scrap, pipe & wire. FREE pickup. Schedule at 989-0439. (028-05-12)
HEALTH & BEAUTY
MARK. The season’s freshest new fragrance to the hottest runway trends, it’s all here at Mark. Kay Fisher, Sales Representative, 719-547-7808. www.mymarkstore. com/kayfisher. (033-05-12)
HELP WANTED
$400 WEEKLY ASSEMBLING PRODUCTS FROM HOME. For free information, send SASE: Home Assembly – CC, Box 450, New Britain, CT 06050-0450. EARN $75,000/yr PART TIME in the livestock or equipment appraisal business. Agricultural background required. Classroom or home study courses available. 800-4887570. www.amagappraisers.com (935-04-12)
HOBBIES & CRAFTS
AWARD WINNING LONG-ARM QUILTING — reasonable rates, quick turnaround. Karen Niemi, 303-470-9309, http://creative. stitching.home.comcast.net, creative.stitching@comcast.net (846-08-12) BOOKS, PATTERNS, CLASSES, knitting, felting, crocheting, weaving, spinning, natural dye extracts, Jacquard and Gaywool dyes. www. tablerockllamas.com Colorado Springs, 866-495-7747 (791-05-12)
MACHINERY & PARTS
SAWMILL EXCHANGE: North America’s largest source of used portable sawmills and commercial equipment for woodlot owners and sawmill operations. Over 800 listings. THE place to sell equipment. 800-459-2148 www.saw millexchange.com . (267-09-12)
MISCELLANEOUS
PUT YOUR OLD HOME MOVIES, slides or photos on DVD. 888-6099778 or www.transferguy.com. (465-12-12)
MUSIC
LEARN TO PLAY GUITAR from the convenience of your own home. Fast, fun, and guaranteed. www. LearnGuitarCentral.com. (106-12-12)
POULTRY/GAMEBIRDS
FREE – 5 EXOTIC CHICKS or 3 ducks with 100 frypan special @ $36.95 plus shipping. Also Cornish Cross, standard breeds, fancy chicks, ducks, geese, turkeys, bantams, guineas, pheasants, quail, supplies, video. FREE COLOR CATALOG 417-532-4581. Cackle Hatchery – PO Box 529, Lebanon, MO 65536. www.cacklehatchery. com. (876-07-12)
Chickens gone! Thank goodness.
We got together and placed an ad in CCL classifed section and we no longer have the chickens — they sold really fast. Call Kris at 303-902-7276.
[funny stories] REAL ESTATE
CHOICE VIEW, LOTS AND CABIN – Magnificent views above Blue Mesa Dam. Very unique subdivision only 37 miles from Montrose. Website at 1031FRS. com or call Realtor 970-240-0646. Owner financing possible with great terms to qualified buyers. 1031FRS, Inc. dba Fred R. Schneider. Owner/Agent on some properties. (031-04-12) GRAND JUNCTION HORSE FARM, 3130 A 1/2 Rd, 3550+ sq. ft. home on 14 acres. Newly remodeled, new central air, new boiler, new water heater, new roof, half brick ranch w/new vinyl siding. 5 bdrm, 3 1/2 bath, living room, dining room, large kitchen, large family room. New carpet/tile/wood floors. Full horse barn w/indoor stalls & outside runs. All steel fencing, arenas, loafing sheds on large pastures. Additional fencing around home & inground heated pool. RV building (50x28’), two large ponds, etc. Ginny 970-2609629, Terry 970-261-3001, Gtraudt@ edbozarth.com 3% to 6% to any REALTOR w/buyer (946-06-12) LAND WANTED — cash buyer looking to purchase 500-20,000 acres in Colorado. Will consider bailouts, foreclosures, joint ventures, condo/commercial projects. Will close quickly. Call Joe at Red Creek Land 719-543-6663. (648-04-12) ROCKY FORD 20 ACRE FARM, call 303-995-2005 or email dan@afinc. net for details. (027-09-12) TURN-KEY CATTLE/HORSE ranch. NM-Col. border, 5 miles to Navajo Lake. 110 acres, 80 shares water ponds, springs, home, barns, 505872-2141, dbenesch@earthlink.net (018-05-12)
REAL ESTATE
VACANT LAND – within city limits Cripple Creek, 18 R-2 zoned lots, great views, all utilities available. $155,000 Call 970-247-4113 (03007-12) WANTED: Property to lease for hunting, fishing. We can offer landowners numerous benefits. 303-460-0273 (029-07-12)
RELIGION
BECOME AN ORDAINED Minister by correspondence study. Founded in 1988. Free info. Ministers for Christ Outreach, PMB 767, 6630 W Cactus, B107, Glendale, AZ 85304. http://www.ordination.org (441-06-12)
TICKETS
NFR & PBR RODEO TICKETS – Las Vegas. All seating levels available. Call 1-888-NFR-rodeo (1-888637-7633) or www.NFR-Rodeo. com. *BBB Member; Since 1990. (912-11-12)
VACATION RENTAL
KAUAI VACATION RENTAL, 2bdr, full kitchen. Minutes from beaches. $600/wk. 808-245-6500; makanacrest.com; kauaiweddings. com. (756-05-12)
WANTED TO BUY
BACKPACKER WANTS to buy working older revolver, any caliber, 719-542-9905 (032-05-12) NAVAJO RUGS, old and recent, native baskets, pottery. Tribal Rugs, Salida. 719-539-5363, b_inaz@ hotmail.com (817-06-12) OLD COLORADO LIVESTOCK brand books prior to 1975. Call Wes 303-757-8553. (889-08-12)
WANTED TO BUY
OLD COWBOY STUFF–hats, boots, spurs, chaps, Indian rugs, baskets, etc. ANYTHING OLD! Mining & railroad memorabilia, ore carts! We buy whole estates. We’ll come to you! Call 970-759-3455 or 970-565-1256. (871-05-12) OLD GAS AND OIL items: Gas pumps, advertising signs, globes, etc. Pieces, parts, etc. considered. Also 1932-34 Ford cars and trucks, parts and pieces too. Any condition. Brandon, 719-250-5721. (519-11-12) OLD POCKET WATCHES – working or non-working and old repair material. Bob 719-859-4209 watchdoctor@hotmail.com. (870-06-12) OLDER JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE worth fixing, coin counter/ sorter, several glass 5-gallon water bottles, heavy duty hammer drill, 719-542-9905 (032-05-12) VINTAGE FISHING TACKLE. I buy rods, reels, lures, creels, etc. Call Gary at 970-222-2181 (960-06-12) WANT TO PURCHASE minerals and other oil/gas interests. Send details to: PO Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201. (402-02-13) WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE – ATV’s, UTV’s, motorcycles 719-404-3144. hillarone@comcast.net (015-04-12)
RODEO ROOTS to Modern-Day Cowboys is a fine, fun book about rodeo. Great gift! $20. Bulk order discounts. Call 303-455-4111 to order one today.
The nice thing about senility is you can hide your own Easter eggs. Loreta Dressel, Nathrop
Our 6-year-old son was asked where his grandma lived. With a no-nonsense expression, he answered,” She lives at the airport and when we want her, we just go get her. Then, when we’re done having her visit we take her back to the airport.” Anonymous
A thief, a teacher and a lawyer die and when they get to heaven they are stopped by an angel who says, “Sorry, heaven is getting crowded so you need to answer a question correctly before you can get in.” He looks at the teacher and asks, “What was the name of the famous ocean liner that sank after hitting an iceberg?” “That’s easy,” she says. “The Titanic.” Having answered the question correctly, the angel lets her into heaven. The angel turns to the thief and asks, “How many people died on that ship?” “That’s a tough one,” the thief answers. “But I saw the movie and it was 1,517.” The angel then moves aside to let the thief into heaven. Finally, the angel turns to face the lawyer and says, “Name them.” Michael Taylor, Fort Collins
Our 4-year-old grandson was sitting at the breakfast table eating while listening to his grandpa and me discussing something. He was hanging on to every word, taking it all in. Unexpectedly he looked at me and said seriously, “Grandma, you just know too much. Maybe you should start forgetting some things.” Grandma Wanda, Buena Vista
After a full day of fishing and not getting as much as a bite, a fisherman went back to shore, loaded up his boat and started for home. On the way he decided to stop at a fish market. “Throw me six of the biggest fish you have,” he said to the man behind the counter. “Throw them? Why?” the man asked. “I’m going to catch them,” the fisherman said. “ I may be a lousy fisherman, but I’m not a liar.” Taylor Hudnall, Fort Collins
Give them something to pick from — place your products in front of 189,000 subscribers. Call Kris to advertise in Classifieds: 303-902-7276
We pay $15 to each person who submits a funny story that’s printed in the magazine. At the end of the year, we draw one name from those submitting jokes and that person will receive $150. Send your 2012 stories to Colorado Country Life, 5400 N. Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email funnystories@ coloradocountrylife.org. ColoradoCountryLife.coop April 2012 29
[discoveries]
We’ve Got You Covered
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Pint-sized cowpokes will look adorable dressed in these diaper covers. Made of sturdy jeans fabric, these baby backside covers come in two styles: red horseshoe print for little cowboys and pink fabric with lace and ribbon for little cowgirls. They are available in two sizes: 3-6 months and 6-12 months. Price is $25 each. Visit littlejourneysworld.com to order online or to see a list of stores, or call 970-779-0382.
DOUBLE DUTY DIAPER BAGS
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Boulder-based Amy Michelle makes fashionable yet functional diaper bags that any parent would be pleased to tote. These bags are well-designed because they offer ample space for baby’s belongings, and they come with enough spacious compartments for mom’s keys, phone and wallet. But Amy Michelle bags aren’t just for moms — the Eco bag has a slick, black design and can be worn over the shoulder or as a backpack, which moms and dads alike can appreciate. All bags and clutches come with a concealed, washable changing pad. Amy Michelle bags cost between $55 and $135. A portion of all purchases goes to the Ronald McDonald House. Visit amy michelle.com to order online or to see a list of stores, or call 303-279-0690.
[Kickin’ Up Your Heels at Meals ]
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Dancing in the Kitchen: Songs That Celebrate the Joy of Food! was created to help kids understand that eating can be a delightful experience. Melanie Potock, a speech language therapist based in Boulder who specializes in feeding, and Joan Huntsberry Langford, a singer and songwriter, combined their expertise to create this CD, complete with 11 food-fun tracks. Get a free taste of each song and buy the CD ($13.95) or MP3 ($11) by visiting cdbaby. com/cd/jhlangdon.
ColoradoCountryLife.coop 30 April 2012
[Camps for Kids] Don’t put your kid’s summer camp plans on the back burner; sign up right away to ensure a slot. Several camps are offered throughout the Centennial State, including these exciting camps:
April 9-August 10 Camp Discovery at Durango Discovery Museum — Durango The Durango Discovery Museum has exciting camps for kids age 3 to 15. With themes such as Mad Science to MacGyverology and My Senses and Me, kids are sure to learn a lot and, most importantly, have fun. Ten sessions offered: April 9-13, May 28-31, June 11-15, June 18-22, June 25-29, July 9-13, July 16-20 (two camps available), July 23-27 and August 6-10. Price per session ranges from $175 to $250. Call 970-403-1742 or visit durangodiscovery.org/programs/camp-discovery/ summer. May 30-August 17 Summer Camp at Sunflower Farm — Longmont A variety of fun activities are in store for children ages 3 to 10 at these fun half-day camps which includes caring for farm animals, gardening, art, climbing, riding the pony and horse, sprinkler play and more. Eleven three-day sessions available: May 30-June 1, June 6-8, June 13-15, June 20-22, June 27-29, July 11-13, July 18-20, July 25-27, August 1-3, August 8-10 and August 15-17. Cost is $135 per session. Call 303-774-8001 or visit sunflowerfarminfo.com. June 4-August 3 Summer Horsemanship Camp at Parker Valley Farm at Swift Creek Equestrian Center — Elizabeth Children ages 6 to 15 will ride horses, learn how to properly take care of a horse, do arts and crafts and mingle with like-minded kids. Four five-day sessions available: June 4-8, June 25-29, July 9-13 and July 30-August 3. Price per session is $400. Call 303-8419884 or visit parkervalleyfarm.com/parkervalley/ summer-camp. June 25-29 Camp Jam Kidz at Performing Arts Center at Pinnacle Charter School — Denver Beginner to skilled rock star hopefuls will rehearse, record and play on stage in a real band. KidZ Camp, ages 7-10, $359. Camp Jam, ages 11-17, $499. Call 800513-0930 or visit campjam.com.