Penn Lines April 2010

APRIL 2010

On the

right track From historical excursions to modern-day commuter routes, Pennsylvania trains continue to connect people, places

APRIL Vol. 45 • No. 4 Peter A. Fitzgerald

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS/EDITOR

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KEEPING CURRENT

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TIME LINES

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E N E R G Y M AT T E R S

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F E AT U R E

Katherine Hackleman

News items from across the Commonwealth

ASSOCIATE EDITOR/WRITER

James Dulley Janette Hess Barbara Martin Marcus Schneck

CONTRIBUTING COLUMNISTS

W. Douglas Shirk LAYOUT & DESIGN

Vonnie Kloss

ADVERTISING & CIRCULATION

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.

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 © 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.

Your newsmagazine through the years

Gadgets, gizmos, and entertaining energy drains

On the right track From historical excursions to modern-day commuter routes, Pennsylvania trains continue to connect people, places

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CO N N ECT I O N

Information and advice from your local electric co-op

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POWER PLANTS

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COUNTRY KITCHEN

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

Wise to the ways of flowers

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Hello, Sunshine!

Road work Weekend chore endures in fond memories of Dad

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CLASSIFIEDS

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SMART CIRCUITS

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PUNCH LINES

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Avoid air leaks with efficient recessed lighting designs Thoughts from Earl Pitts– Uhmerikun!

Earl loses it, and doesn’t know where to find it

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RURAL REFLECTIONS

The season of growth O N T H E COV E R Visitors to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg can view this E6 Atlantic No. 460, the sole known survivor of a fleet of 82 Pennsylvania Railroad E6 Atlantic class locomotives. The museum recently received a $50,000 matching grant to restore the locomotive built in 1914. Photo by Kathy Hackleman APRIL 2010 • PENN

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KEEPINGcurrent Pennsylvania highway deaths decline to record low in 2009 Fewer people died on Pennsylvania highways in 2009 than in any year since the state began keeping fatality records in 1928.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), 1,256 people died in accidents in 2009, a 14.4 percent decline from 2008. The previous low mark was 1,328 in 1944, during the era when fuel was rationed.

PennDOT officials note they cannot say for sure what caused 2009’s decline in traffic fatalities, but they noted they believe it is a combination of drivers traveling fewer miles due to the recession and the cumulative effect of safety programs being offered through PennDOT, local and state police departments, and schools. Official miles driven for 2009 are not yet available.

In addition to the drop in fatalities, preliminary numbers also show a decrease in the number of deaths attributed to alcohol, aggressive driving, and drivers or passengers not using seat belts. Unrestrained deaths dropped from 567 in 2008 to 451 in 2009, alcoholrelated deaths went from 531 to 442, and deaths in which aggressive driving was a factor dipped from 141 to 130.

However, the number of fatalities in crashes involving drivers age 65 and older increased from 259 in 2008 to 276 in 2009.

In January 2010, Pennsylvania’s highway safety laws were rated poorly by the nonprofit group Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, which said the state 4

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had enacted only 6.5 of 15 measures it recommended involving mandates for use of seat belts, motorcycle helmets, child booster seats, texting, cell phone use, and drunk driving.

EPA launches study to see if ‘fracking’ could harm groundwater The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a two-year, $1.9 million study to determine the safety of groundwater supplies from hydraulic fracturing, the oil and gas production technique known as “fracking,” in the Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania.

According to the EPA’s Office of Research and Development, the study will be conducted through a transparent, peer-reviewed process with significant stakeholder input.

In the fracking process, water and chemicals are injected into wells under high pressure to break up the rock to unlock natural gas or oil. This process, in combination with relatively new, horizontal-drilling technology, has transformed sites in the Marcellus Shale area that would have been uneconomical to pursue into lucrative sites.

However, environmentalists fear that

READERrequest

the fracking process could contaminate groundwater.

Oil and gas industry officials responded by saying they have used the fracking process on hundreds of thousands of wells for decades without causing problems for aquifers. The EPA study is being welcomed by spokesmen from both sides.

“Our industry is confident that an objective evaluation of hydraulic fracturing will reach the same conclusion as other studies: that it is a safe and well-regulated process that is essential to the development of natural gas,” the Marcellus Shale Coalition, an industry group, said.

Environmentalists with Earthjustice also welcomed the study, saying, “Without a federal floor to protect drinking water in states without sufficient regulations, we could end up jeopardizing water supplies for millions of people.” l

Do you remember when ‘the lights came on?’

To mark the 75th anniversary of rural electrification in the United States, we want to hear your stories about what you remember of the time when “the lights came on.” If you or a family member have a recollection of when electricity first came to your residence or farm, please let us know. You can write to us at Penn Lines, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266 or send an email to editor@prea.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

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 IS THERE A home power plant in your future? That question was asked in the April 2000 Penn Lines feature. The answer was, “Thanks to fuel cells, one just may be — once the bugs get worked out and prices come down.”

Fuel cells are not new — they were invented by Sir William Grove in 1839. In 1959, Allis-Chalmers even demonstrated a 20-horsepower fuel cell tractor.

Like batteries, fuel cells make electricity by combining hydrogen ions, drawn from a hydrocarbon fuel source, with oxygen atoms. But while batteries provide the two internally — the reason they must be periodically recharged — fuel cells use a supply of these ingredients from outside the system, allowing power to be produced as long as the supply lasts.

In 2000, fuel cells were used mostly in military and space applications.

However, some people were predicting the units would be commercially available at a price that residential customers would pay by 2005, and Time magazine ranked fuel cells as one of the “Top 10 inventions that could transform society.”

While manufacturers have been working to create an efficient, affordable home power plant, such a unit still isn’t available 10 years later. This technology, however, is back in the news as Bloom Energy, a Sunnyvale, Calif., fuel cell company on Feb. 24, 2010, announced development of a “power plant in a box” called a “Bloom Box.” Despite a lot of hype, the product must still face traditional fuel-cell hurdles of cost and reliability.

No timetable has been announced for when the unit is expected to be available to the public.

1970 Tunkhannock resident Percy Phillips, a member of Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative, displays trout from the Sugar Hollow Trout Hatchery.

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1980 Penn Lines considers warnings given at

1990 To ready a balloon for flight, cold air is

the NRECA Annual Meeting that power production and distribution costs will continue to rise, bringing rate increases.

blown into the balloon to inflate it, then propane burners are used to heat the air to provide enough lift to get the balloon off the ground.

ENERGYmatters Gadgets, gizmos, and entertaining energy drains Even with advances in energy efficiency, consumers continue using more energy

By Megan McKoy

ODDS ARE your home has a big-screen television, a satellite or cable box, a DVD or Blu-ray player — maybe two or three.

Add to that an Xbox, Wii, PlayStation, or other video game console, and your entertainment center’s ready to go.

Indeed, most of us depend on a large number of electronic gadgets these days — and not just for entertainment. Personal computers, stereos, alarm clocks, coffee makers, battery chargers, cell phones, microwaves … the list goes on and on.

Most of the electricity used in the average home goes toward heating and air conditioning, water heating, and lighting, all of which are significantly more energy efficient than even just a decade ago. Yet our demand for new electronic devices means we continue to consume more electricity every year — a whopping 15.6 percent rise since 2000.

Younger American consumers spend more time playing games, listening to music, and watching TV on cell phones than talking on them, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

“Despite anticipated improvements in energy efficiency, any energy savings are likely to be overshadowed by rising demand for technology,” cautions Nobuo Tanaka, executive director for the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA), an autonomous intergovernmental organization that acts as a 8

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policy advisor to member countries.

Tanaka estimates by 2030 consumer electronic use will climb threefold— equivalent to the combined residential electricity consumption of the United States and Japan.

However, there are ways to avoid the coming energy pile-up. For example, cell phones are now extremely energy efficient because of consumer demand for longer battery life.

“Many mobile devices are already far more efficient in their use of power than other products that run solely off of a main electricity supply,” explains Tanaka.

“Because extending the battery life of a mobile device is a selling point, manufacturers placed an emphasis on designing products that require very little power.

This shows us what can be achieved.”

If consumers demand that manufacturers reach the same level of efficiency with other electronics like gaming consoles, televisions and even alarm clocks, IEA believes energy use in this sector could be cut in half.

Oddly enough, many electronic devices draw power while waiting to be used. Very likely, your big-screen TV, DVD player and stereo burn kilowatthours even when turned off. According to IEA, this standby (or vampire) load accounts for more than 5 percent of residential electricity demand.

Although the amount of standby power used by individual appliances may be small — often between 0.5 watts and 10 watts — a typical home may have 20 appliances on standby at any given time. For the last decade, IEA has encouraged appliance manufacturers around the globe to cut this wasted power to no more than 1 watt. The Energy Star program takes this measurement into account when certifying many appliances.

Computers and monitors were the first products to receive an energy efficiency rating from Energy Star, a program launched in 1992 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy

Although appliances have become more efficient, American consumers are adding more electronic devices in their homes. As a result, overall energy use rises every year.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers

Electronic devices at home are entertaining but also drain energy, even when turned off. Home energy use rises with each new gaming console, television, digital video recorder (DVR), stereo receiver and other electronic device, accounting for up to 15 percent of the average monthly electric bill. Source: NRECA

(DOE). Since then, more than 60 categories have been added, from dishwashers and windows to DVD players.

Energy Star-rated products deliver the same or better performance as comparable models while using less energy.

Although actual energy savings depend on what’s being replaced, new Energy Star appliances save significantly more energy. For example, switching out a clothes washer made before 2000 with a 2010 Energy Star model could save a consumer up to $135 per year on his/her electric bill. Replacing a refrigerator made before 1993 could save up to $65 annually. However, 44 percent of refrigerators that could be retired and recycled are converted into a second fridge, given away, or sold — keeping inefficient technology in American homes.

In the wake of Energy Star’s success (more than 2 billion Energy Star-rated products have been purchased), the DOE has been pushing for more items to meet efficiency standards. In January 2010, manufacturers sent energy use data on more than 600,000 residential appliances in 15 product categories to the DOE. Further, in March 2010, the EPA and DOE announced a plan to expand the testing of Energy Star-qualified products. The process involves testing six of the most common product types: freezers, refrigerator-freezers, clothes washers, dishwashers, water heaters and room air conditioners. These product

types account for at least 25 percent of a typical homeowner’s energy bill. The EPA and DOE are also developing an expanded system that will require all products seeking the Energy Star label to be tested in approved labs, and require manufacturers to participate in

an ongoing verification testing program that will ensure continued compliance.

“The Department of Energy’s newly enhanced enforcement efforts are improving the quality of energy efficiency information available to the American consumer,” reports DOE General Counsel Scott Blake Harris. “Moving forward, we’ll aggressively pursue all manufacturers who fail to comply with these certification requirements or whose products violate the country’s energy efficiency standards.” l Source: International Energy Agency, Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, U.S. Department of Energy, 2010 Kaiser Family Foundation Study Megan McKoy writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-forprofit electric cooperatives. Frank Gallant also contributed to this article.

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On the right track From historical excursions to modern-day commuter routes, Pennsylvania trains continue to connect people, places

by Kathy Hackleman A s s o c i a t e E d i t o r / Wr i t e r

TRAINS REPRESENT a big part of American history, and much of that history has tracks running right through the Commonwealth. Evoking a variety of life experiences — from hobos “ridin’ the rails” during the Great Depression to families traveling in railcars on holiday — trains have always meant different things to different people. Today, they still do.

And those tracks are still filled with peo-

ple on their way to work, delivering goods and services, or taking a pleasant journey into the past — with Pennsylvania trains making the connection.

History markers

Gettysburg served as an important junction in our nation’s history, and its railroad station bore witness to some timeless events. Back in the summer of 1863, as the historic Battle of Gettysburg raged in the surrounding countryside, the station depot served as a hospital.

“Thousands of people traveled by rail to Gettysburg to aid the nearly 21,000 wounded left behind by both armies,” notes Tina Grim, executive administrator for the Pennsylvania Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and the program manager for the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College.

According to the booklet, “The Gettysburg Railroad Station,” authored by historian Gerald Bennett, “They also came to find their loved ones — both living and dead.

The platform was filled with caskets, waiting to be used. A steady stream of nearly 15,000 soldiers departed from this station, their gateway to escape the horror of Gettysburg and the promise of liferestoring care.”

After the fighting was over, the Gettysburg Railroad LINCOLN IN GETTYSBURG: Tina Grim, executive administrator was in the national Station for the Pennsylvania Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission spotlight again as thousands and the program manager for the Civil War Institute at of spectators — and President Gettysburg College, stands amid the interpretive displays at Abraham Lincoln — arrived the Gettysburg Railroad Station.

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TIOGA CENTRAL PROVIDES SCENIC LOOK: Passengers on the Tioga Central Railway get the opportunity to view the scenery and wildlife of north-central Pennsylvania from a unique perspective aboard a variety of excursion trains.

by railcar for the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery. On Nov. 19, 1863, after delivering the dedication speech, which would become known as the “Gettysburg Address,” Lincoln departed from the station.

As the years went by, the use of rail service declined and eventually was discontinued. The depot sat empty for several years until the Pennsylvania Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, the National Trust for Historic Gettysburg and the Gettysburg Festival joined forces to lease the building. It reopened to the public as a museum in 2007, and an effort is under way for the National Park Service to acquire the building.

Information panels and artifacts currently interpret the history of the station for visitors.

According to Grim, who is a member of Gettysburg-based Adams Electric Cooperative, more than 25,000 visitors

road Days, Polar Express Parties, and Barons and Builders summer day camps for children, along with gallery exhibits.

In Hamburg, the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum pays tribute to Pennsylvania’s most famous railroad — the Reading Railroad, familiar worldwide to hundreds of millions of “Monopoly” fans.

The museum, which opened in 2008 with the goal of preserving the history of the railroad, is continuing to expand and is currently open only on weekends. It features vintage railroad cars and locomotives, photographs, documents and artifacts from the railroad, along with an operating scaled layout replicating sections of the Reading line.

Excursions into the past

from around the world have visited the site since it reopened.

Changing a nation The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg offers an even broader view of history. Administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the museum houses more than 100 historic locomotives and vintage railroad cars, along with an interactive education center and a large crosssection of railroad artifacts that tell the story of how railroads provided a transportation and delivery system that spanned the United States.

“The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is rated a ‘gem,’ or a must-see attraction, by AAA,” reports Charles Fox, museum director. “Here at the museum, visitors can explore Steinman Station, an early 20th-century passenger depot, take the throttle in an authentic Norfolk Southern freight locomotive cab, sit in an engineer’s seat or climb aboard a caboose.”

The museum includes a research library and archives where scholars can access thousands of historic volumes

and hundreds of thousands of photographs and materials dealing with railroads. It also has a restoration shop where visitors can watch preservation efforts via closed-circuit television.

The museum also provides special events like Trains and Troops, the Garden Railways Tour, Pennsylvania Rail-

For people who are more interested in an active train experience, Pennsylvania has a number of excursion railroads with regular runs and seasonal events.

As it happens, one of the most popular excursion railroads — and the oldest, operating short-line railroad in the United States — is located near the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.

Chartered in 1832, Strasburg Rail Road served as a way to haul passengers and freight from Lancaster County to Philadelphia, where connections could be made to any major city. Today, the line operates as a family attraction and boasts museum-quality, turn-of-the-cen-

HEADED FOR PARADISE: Staff members of the Strasburg Rail Road prepare to board an excursion train headed

from the Strasburg train station on a nine-mile trip to Paradise through the Amish farms of Lancaster County.

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PENNlines tury steam locomotives, freight cars, dining cars, private cars, and one of the world’s largest fleets of historic wooden passenger cars.

Passengers are treated to an unobstructed view of the Lancaster County farmland as they travel the 9-mile, 45minute roundtrip to Paradise, and they often get a first-hand view of Amish farmers working in their fields. Onboard narrators describe the history of the railroad and the area.

“Strasburg Rail Road is rich with history and boasts one of the most scenic views Lancaster County has to offer,” notes Linn Moedinger, president of Strasburg Rail Road. “The Strasburg Rail Road caters to families and couples, as well as train enthusiasts. Throughout the year, we have a number of special events geared toward children, including rides with Peter Cottontail, Day Out With Thomas and Santa’s Paradise Express. And our Wine and Cheese Train is a big draw for adults looking to unwind along the rails.”

Visitors also are invited to ride the

President Abraham Lincoln arrived by train at the Gettysburg Railroad Station in 1863 on his way to deliver what became known as the “Gettysburg Address.” The historic building, which holds interpretive displays and artifacts from the Civil War era, is open to the public.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN WAS HERE:

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CHECK OUT THESE FAVORITE STOPS:

Historic Gettysburg Railroad Station, Gettysburg 717/337-8233 www.palincoln.org Reading Railroad Heritage Museum, Hamburg 610/562-5513 www.readingrailroad.org Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Strasburg 717/687-8628 www.rrmuseumpa.org Strasburg Rail Road, Strasburg 717/687-7522 www.strasburgrailroad.com Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad, Titusville 814/676-1733 www.octrr.org Tioga Central Railroad, Wellsboro 570/724-0990 www.tiogacentral.com

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miniature Cagney steam train at the station and take a behind-the-scenes tour of the mechanical shop where steam engines are built and restored.

The Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad (OCTR) combines a look at the history of the oil-rich region of northwestern Pennsylvania and the sightseeing excitement of a short-line railroad for a family-friendly, 27-mile-long ride that begins at Perry Street Station in Titusville.

According to Betty Squire, vice president for marketing and membership for the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism, the train parallels — and five times crosses — Oil Creek as

it heads south from Titusville. A stop at the Drake Well Museum shows passengers the oil well drilled by Edwin L. Drake that launched the modern-day petroleum industry 150 years ago.

The OCTR train then meanders through the valley of Oil Creek State Park, where remnants of old pipelines and oil equipment are still visible.

“Interpretive tour guides and tapes describe the history of the valley, focusing on the 1859 to 1860 oil boom era through today’s regeneration of the valley,” reports Squire, a former member of Cambridge Springs-based Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative.

featuring ice cream, fireworks, trick-ortreating and fall foliage, a monthly Happy Hour Express for adults, and the Santa Express (the train stops at Santa’s Village where the jolly fellow in the red suit boards the train).

On down the line

FASCINATED BY TRAINS: Phil Tate,

above, a 39-year-veteran line serviceman at Adams Electric Cooperative, worked part time from 1977 to 1995 for the short-line excursion railroad, left, that operated out of Gettysburg.

OCTR boasts the only operating railway post office car in the United States.

The mail car that was first used in the early 1900s can take mail on any day the train operates, including Sundays, and has its own cancellation stamp, “Oil Creek Railway Historical Society, Oil City, Pa.” OCTR also offers riders the unique option of bicycling or canoeing part of the route with transportation available for the bicycles and canoes on the remaining part of the route.

In addition, the OCTR also has specialty runs, beginning with a Peter Cottontail Express in the spring, fall murder mystery and foliage tours, and ending with Santa Train Excursions. The regular season runs from June through October.

In north-central Pennsylvania, Tioga Central Railroad provides 24-mile excursion rides from Wellsboro north to Hammond Lake in Ives Run State Park. It operates on weekends from May through October, with a seasonal Santa Express.

Highlights of the Tioga Central Railroad trip include the opportunity to see many different types of scenery, including wetlands, marsh areas, mountains and lakes, and wildlife from deer and bear to blue herons and eagles.

According to Mike Keefe, sales manager, passengers have a variety of choices when booking a ride. There is the most common choice, the Lakeshore Express, as well as dinner rides on the Broadway Limited (meals correlate to the season), seasonal rides

For thousands of Pennsylvania commuters today, trains are still the way to go. Amtrak’s Keystone Corridor — between Harrisburg and Philadelphia (and on to New York City) — is one of the most popular commuter routes in the northeast. More than a dozen trains travel each way between Harrisburg and Philadelphia Monday through Friday, with eight per day on weekends. The Keystone is Amtrak’s fifth-busiest route, carrying 1.2 million passengers in 2009.

Cross-country travelers can climb aboard at Amtrak stations spread across Pennsylvania, and head out to any of Amtrak’s 500 destinations in 46 states.

Connections can be made in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to travel to anywhere Amtrak’s rails go. Recently

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PENNlines approved grants will fund high-speed service improvements between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, as well as a planning study for extension of the service to Pittsburgh.

Back in Gettysburg, Phil Tate, a 39-yearveteran line serviceman with Adams Electric Cooperative, fondly recalls his railroad days. Tate spent many of his weekends between 1977 and 1995 working part time, first as a fireman and later as an engineer, for the short-line excursion railroad that used to run between Gettysburg and Biglerville, with occasional longer runs to Mount Holly Springs. Only freight is now transported on that line.

Tate was 4 years old when railroads sparked his interest, and he still maintains a lifetime collection of railroad memorabilia that includes a lantern once owned by his grandfather. Tate, who also spent his days off while he was in the

TRAIN RIDE FOCUSES ON HISTORY OF OIL: Passengers on the Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad take the opportunity

to stop at the Drake Well Museum in Titusville to see the well that launched the modern petroleum industry.

military working as a railroad fireman, explains that his attraction to the equipment — especially the powerful steam locomotives — is nearly equaled with his fascination for the people he met.

“People would come from all over the world to see the Gettysburg Battlefield, and then decide to ride on the Gettys-

burg train,” Tate reports. “Their stories were so interesting.”

Tate says it’s highly possible that someday he’ll be back in his engineer’s uniform. In the meantime, he sometimes rides the rails as a passenger, clicking over tracks that run through our national memory. l

miles in 46 states. For many riders, reaching one of Amtrak’s 500 destinations is the main goal, while others are simply along for the ride and the scenery.

Michael Gleason owns and edits TrainTraveling.com, which offers a wealth of information about excursion trains and Amtrak. He also sees good reasons to take to the rails.

“Some people will go anywhere just to ride a train,” he says. “Some people have never liked flying, and some feel flying is just getting worse and worse.

There are destinations that you can get to faster on a train, by the time you wait at the airport, get your luggage and make your way into the city.”

Planes allow you to cross the conti-

nent in a matter of hours, but if your trip isn’t that far or you aren’t in a hurry, taking a train could be a good alternative and a focal point for your next vacation. Here are some things to consider:

Enjoy the journey Trains can provide your vacation transportation or be the focal point of your trip

By Chelsey Simpson In the less-populous regions of America, west of the Eastern seaboard, train travel occupies a place in many people’s hearts — but not in their daily lives. Passenger trains are the stuff of folk songs, Western legends and bandit tales; cars and planes are the way we get around.

When it comes to vacation planning, however, trains shouldn’t be overlooked. They can be a cheaper, faster and less-stressful way to get from point A to point B, but most train enthusiasts will tell you it’s the journey in between that really matters.

WHY TRAINS?

“I think every reason you would be going down the interstate highway is a reason you would be riding Amtrak,” says Marc Magliari, a media-relations manager for Amtrak. “In a lot of places and a lot of ways, we make more sense than driving.” He notes that some people ride the trains because it’s cheaper; but others are traveling upscale.

Amtrak, the nation’s primary passenger-rail provider, operates 21,000 route 14

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TIME

When you weigh the duration of a train journey against a comparable flight, make sure you consider how early you will have to arrive at the airport, as well as its location. While you don’t want to invite the kind of cinematic drama that comes with arriving at the last minute and running to catch your train, it also isn’t necessary to arrive more than 30 minutes early for Amtrak service in most situations.

(continues on page 17)

POWERplants

by Barbara Martin

Wise to the ways of flowers

BY SPRING, we gardeners are pathetically eager for flowers. In our enthusiasm for anything floral, we’ll fill our gardens with fleeting bloomers such as pansies and primroses. Come July, we’ll wish we had made wiser choices.

There is a semi-secret rule of thumb with flowers: there are “cool season” performers (such as violas, pansies and primroses) and then there are “main season” annuals (such as marigolds). The latter may begin blooming a bit later, but they thrive on heat and continue blooming until killed by fall frost. Cool season flowers, lovely but heat-sensitive, poop out as soon as summer arrives.

Flowers are also categorized as annuals and perennials. Annuals grow, bloom and die in one season. Perennials are longer-lived plants, typically three to five years or longer; these die back during winter but survive to re-grow each spring.

Our most familiar annual flowers are marigolds and 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.

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sunflowers. These are easy to grow in a sunny garden. Plant the seeds in the ground per package directions, and flowers appear in summer.

Many kinds of annuals are sold as transplants. Transplants have an advantage over seeds: quicker blooms.

Some gardeners enjoy raising their own transplants by starting seeds. If you need hundreds of plants every year, this option might be more economical. You also have broader plant choices through multiple seed catalogs. On the other hand, it takes daily tending for up to 16 weeks — and skill — to raise healthy seedlings.

Back at the plant store, you will find “premium” annuals including geraniums, fancy coleus, ornamental peppers and so on. These command a higher price due to longer lead times and specialized care.

A well-stocked plant nursery also sells perennial flower plants in assorted size pots with prices to match.

Each kind of perennial has a distinct bloom period, typically a few short weeks. For a season-long perennial display, you must orchestrate the assorted blooming sequences and coordinate across their colors, heights and growing needs. Needless to say, all of this “special this,” “special that” nonsense can be a challenge. This is why many flower gardeners opt for dependable annuals as the season-long backbone with perennials for highlights.

Many old-fashioned, nonhybrid perennials will selfseed in the garden, or you can

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sow the seed indoors or outdoors. You can develop a seed strain by saving seed from your best open-pollinated plants. Some perennial seeds require a chilling period before they will germinate, and some will only germinate at certain soil temperatures, so starting them can be finicky.

Many perennials are customarily propagated vegetatively, either by division (literally cutting the plant into sections, each section consisting of a piece of root and corresponding stem) or tip cutting (a process whereby a simple piece of stem grows roots and becomes a stand-alone plant) or exponentially by tissue culture in a laboratory. Notably, many recent introductions from extensive commercial breeding programs are protected by patent and propagation is prohibited.

Labeling flowers perennial,

Decide what kind of flowers you want in your garden, and then make a longterm plan that will make your garden dreams come true.

BRING ON THE BLOOMS:

annual, hardy or whatever brings up gray areas. Some flowers are potentially perennial, but are usually sold as annuals (fall mums) or tend to be biennial (hollyhocks and foxgloves) or are just totally confusing (rhizomes, bulbs, tubers and offsets), or how about exasperating (think how in botany-speak, our “annual” geranium is a Pelargonium and Geranium is the name for the hardy garden perennial called cranesbill). And, while we’re at it, are roses flowers or bushes?

By any name and in every way, shape, form and type, right now we desperately crave our flowers. Bring on the pansies and primroses! l

ENJOY THE JOURNEY (continued from page 14) Amtrak is an especially good alternative for flights with an in-air time of one hour or less, which means train travel might be a real time-saver if you plan to visit multiple cities within a region. For example, New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., are all served by frequent rail service, and trips between each city take only two to four hours.

MONEY

Traveling on Amtrak doesn’t always come out cheaper than driving or flying, and there are often far fewer scheduling options. The real bargain aspect of rail travel is that long-haul trips can serve as your transportation, entertainment and lodging all in one. If you decided to drive the same route, you would have to figure in gas prices and hotel stays, the view might not be as scenic, and you would have to do the driving.

Sleeping cars are an especially good deal for couples and families, because Amtrak charges by the room for sleepers, not by the person. And speaking of families, traveling Amtrak with kids can be another dime saver: Children through the age of 15 receive half-price fare.

If traveling light is not your style, you will be comforted to know that Amtrak allows as many as three checked and two carry-on bags on some of its routes, and three additional pieces can be checked for just $10 each. Unusual items, like ski equipment and bicycles, can also be checked on many trains without an extra charge. Food and even alcohol are also allowed as carry-ons.

helps new travelers visualize their experience with helpful information about stations and services, and offers a virtual tour of each sleeping-cabin option.

Information about deals and discounts is also available at Amtrak.com. Military personnel, veterans and AAA members are just a few of the groups eligible for discounts. Booking well in advance of your trip is a good way to snag the best fares.

TrainTraveling.com has information about Amtrak, excursion trains and regional commuter trains. You can browse routes by region or state, and each listing includes a short description and a link for more information.

If you’re taking a longer trip, research public transportation options in your destination city or make plans to rent a car.

Amtrak recommends Washington, D.C., New York City, Orlando, Seattle, Boston, Chicago, Portland and San Diego as the cities with the most attractions easily accessed by foot.

Or instead of one big destination, chart a path that includes several stops.

Start in Chicago and stop in Memphis, Tenn., for some barbeque and Elvis; head

on to Jackson, Miss., for culture and civil rights history; then stay a few days in New Orleans before heading back. Don’t overlook the value of small towns, like Dodge City, Kan., which has a lot of Wild West history, and Ardmore, Okla., where you’ll find a toy and action-figure museum that kids of all sizes will love.

Be aware, however, that there isn’t regular service in many smaller communities, and you might have to get on or off the train at inconvenient times in some places. The westbound train into Dodge City, for example, arrives just before 6 a.m., and the eastbound train rolls in after midnight.

Traveling by rail certainly isn’t for everyone. But that could also be said of traveling in general. Long train trips are full of quiet moments when the soft hum and sway of the cars is the only thing of interest. But if you don’t mind getting lost in scenery and you have a companion or two worth keeping, climb aboard, settle in, and enjoy the journey. l Chelsey Simpson has traveled by train in seven countries. When not riding the rails, she edits Oklahoma Living magazine.

THE INTANGIBLES

Trains are an experience. Many Amtrak routes offer a real departure from the billboard-lined interstate, charting a course instead through the backyards, small towns and wild spaces of America.

Comfort is another plus of train travel.

“Our coach seating is comparable to most airline’s first class, and our business seating exceeds that,” Magliari says.

Food and restroom breaks, and general leg stretching, are also easier and more entertaining on a train than in an airplane or car.

TIPS

When it comes to planning a trip, Amtrak.com and TrainTraveling.com are both great resources. Amtrak offers an interactive route atlas and a space to order free planning publications. The site APRIL 2010 • PENN

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COUNTRYkitchen

by Janette He ss

Hello, Sunshine!

WHEN COOKS are looking for recipes to brighten their days as well as their tables, carrots stand out as a perfect main ingredient. The cheeriest of all root vegetables, carrots lend themselves to savory side dishes, nutty quick breads and satisfying desserts.

Oven-roasted carrots are a great addition to any meal, especially when paired with cauliflower. This side dish relies on mustard and dill to amp up the flavor. The recipe for Carrot Pecan Bread proves the versatility of carrots.

Obviously, there’s no need to avoid quick breads when zucchini and pumpkin are out of season! Available yearround, carrots are an excellent source of Vitamin A, which is known to support eye health.

Carrots are a natural for cakes, too. Exquisitely moist Sunny Carrot Cake skips the expected spices and nuts, allowing the pure color and flavor of the carrots to shine through. The citrusy frosting adds the perfect touch of sweetness and light.

This month’s carrot-packed recipes might just have you and your family reaching for your sunglasses! l

WER OTS AND CAULIFLO RR CA ED ST OA -R OVEN s 5 medium-sized carrot er ow lifl 1 head cau 3 tablespoons olive oil stard 1/2 teaspoon dried mu weed 1/2 teaspoon dried dill soning sea ree t-f sal on 1 teaspo t 1/2 teaspoon coarse sal

Trim cauliflower into 1/4-inch thick ovals. ally gon dia cut and s rot Peel car Combine olive oil and all cut large florets in half. etables and seal and divide into florets; o a zip-lock bag. Add veg and sprinkle int r Pou t. sal ept exc s inch pan seasoning e vegetables in a 9- x 13bag; shake to coat. Arrang 0 degrees for 25 minutes, or until vegetaat 40 with coarse salt. Roast bles are tender.

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.

CARROT PEC AN BREAD

OT CAKE SUNNY CARR 2 cups flour 2 cups sugar g powder 2 teaspoons bakin lt sa on po 1 teas 4 eggs 1 cup vegetable oil tract la ex 2 teaspoons vanil ated carrots gr w, ra ps cu 2 1/2

well. extract and beat gs, oil and vanilla n. eg pa d Ad ke s. ca t nt ee die sh re by 13-inch Mix dry ing ick into a prepared 9hp ad ot re to Sp a til ts. un rro or ca s Add nute ees for 30 to 35 mi mes out clean. When cool, Bake at 350 degr co ke ca e th is of er nt ce Frosting. Note: Th inserted into the Orange Buttercream e a pan with a lip to of er lay in th a frost with sure to us nerous cake, so be recipe makes a ge en. ov avoid a spill in the EAM FROSTING: ORANGE BUTTERCR r ga su 3 cups powdered ned fte so r, tte 1/3 cup bu juice ge an or n oo sp ble 1 ta lk mi ns oo 2 tablesp la extract 1/2 teaspoon vanil ge an or e Zest of on at until smooth.

Add liquids and be r. ga su ed er wd po Blend butter and Stir in orange zest.

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1 cup cooked, pu reed carrots 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted 2 eggs 1 tablespoon milk 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon bakin g soda 1/2 teaspoon ba king powder 1/4 teaspoon sa lt 1 teaspoon grou nd cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon all spice 1/4 cup chopped pecans

In a large bowl, th or milk. In a separa oughly combine carrots, sugar, bu te bowl, combine tter, eggs and dry ingredients. ents to the carro Add dry ingredit mixture and be at ter into a prepar ed loaf pan. Com well. Stir in pecans. Spoon batbine the topping sprinkle over the ingredients and ba or until a toothp tter. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 ick inserted into to 65 minutes, the ce clean. Remove fro m pan and cool on nter of the loaf comes out loaf begins to br own too rapidly du a rack. Note: If the top of the ring baking, cove piece of aluminu r loosely with a m foil.

TOPPING: 2 tablespoons br own sugar 2 tablespoons ch opped pecans 1/4 teaspoon grou nd cinnamon

OUTDOORadventures

Road work Weekend chore endures in fond memories of Dad IT FELT like maybe we had left a tiny mark on the landscape.

Ashes from the old coalburning furnace in the basement of my boyhood home were still down there, on the bottom of the broad mud puddle across the haul road along the top of Broad Mountain.

Some of those ashes likely had come to that spot in some of the hundreds of ash cans my father and I had hauled with the old Chevy short-bed pick-up and dumped there decades earlier.

How I hated that nearweekly chore! Every weekend, except during the worst of winter when access to the dirt road was blocked by snow, we lugged those huge cans of ashes out of the basement and into the back of the pick-up.

Then we drove the 20 miles or so up onto the mountain and back along the old track, until we found a likely pothole that could use some filling.

That road was used mostly by coal-hauling and timberhauling trucks, but every 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

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by Marcus Schneck

Monday after Thanksgiving it also became a highway for local deer hunters wanting to drive “back in” to deer stands that had been “in the family” for years. Our stands were some of the most remote. We rose well before sunrise to make the long drive to the very end of that old road — to within a few feet of the spot where the road had been erased by a landslide — and then hike up over the remainder of the mountainside to the familiar, weather-worn pine tree that marked our spot.

To a lesser extent, that road was our route to turkey, grouse and squirrel hunting, when the local populations of those species seemed to warrant our time there. And, sometimes we drove that road to abandoned strip mines for plinking with our .22s or to the head of some familiar trail for a Sunday afternoon hike.

My father felt a certain ownership in that road, which we referred to as “going back of Lincoln.” Although every bit of it crossed lands owned by large coal-mining companies or the receiverships left in the wake of defunct companies, my father saw it as our route to some of the limited leisure time he allowed himself. He also hoped to maintain the usability of the road for our pick-up by keeping the mud holes from getting too deep for us to pass.

How I now wish to have better enjoyed those times with my late father! I didn’t feel that same ownership. The ashes were a weekly chore, eating into time I could otherwise be enjoying with my

LINES • APRIL 2010

young friends, riding bikes, playing war or some similar, more critical task to a kid’s way of thinking. I didn’t place nearly a high enough value on the one-on-one time I was being awarded from a hard, workingman’s schedule. Only in later years have I realized the knowledge I picked up from our discussions as we drove that old, dirt road.

I suppose the environmental impact of what we did with those cans upon cans of coal ashes can be questioned today.

Proponents of ash as environmental fill on wastelands left in the wake of coal mining might say we were ahead of our time. Opponents could note that those ashes likely carried heavy metals and maybe even a bit of radioactivity. Gardening experts seem to recommend against the application of coal ashes in the garden because they carry very limited nutrients.

Some of the best outdoor experiences are found at the end of a country road.

COUNTRY ROADS:

For my part, while at the time it may have seemed like I was helping to haul tons of ashes up onto the mountain, I doubt that anything in what was really a very small amount of ashes had a significant impact on an already heavily disturbed landscape.

And, because some of those ashes are still there, I claim a small amount of ownership for that old road’s continued usability.

My moves to other parts of the state, where I discovered new outdoor haunts, have eliminated the need to return to “back of Lincoln” on any sort of regular schedule. However, it might be time for my son to have a look at some of those ashes in the bottom of those mud puddles. l

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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 and Food Tools and Equipment Vacations and Campsites Wanted to Buy. 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.

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AROUND THE HOUSE

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

“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.

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 800497-9793.

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.

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.

SALES AND SERVICE — Specializing in above average running antique pocket watches. Call for free watch list. All include six-month guarantee. World-wide mail order watch repair since 1971. Coyote Ricotta. PA 814-342-3709, 9:30-5.

REMOVAL and EXCLUSION of bats, their unhealthy droppings, also removal of squirrels, snakes, groundhogs and most nuisance animals. Licensed and insured. Prompt and courteous service. Darrin Fillman 717-436-9391.

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.

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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.

Start your own business. Home/Internet based. MIA BELLA’S CANDLES & GIFTS. The best candles on the market – wonderful income potential! Enter to win a free candle – visit www.naturesbest.scent-team.com.

Gettysburg Pond View Farm Bed and Breakfast SCRAPBOOKING WITH FRIENDS. A great weekend get-away.

877-888-1957. Gettysburgpondviewfarm@yahoo.com.

CHARTER BOAT FISHING CHARTERS of six people or less. Fish the Delaware Bay or Atlantic Ocean from Lewes, Delaware for sea bass, drum, flounder, stripers, tuna, taug, sharks, etc. Questions, rates, available dates call 302-645-2431 or 717-872-5406.

CHURCH LIFT SYSTEMS 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. 724-348-7414 or 814-926-3622.

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.

CLASSIFIED AD DEADLINE DEADLINE

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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.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES RECESSION PROOF BUSINESS — Our top appraisers earn over $100,000/year appraising livestock and equipment.

Agricultural background required. Classroom or Home Study courses available. 800-488-7570. www.amagappraisers.com.

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

GIFT AND CRAFT IDEAS “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. TURKEY HUNTERS — Build your own box or slate. Kits, $21 including S&H. Also finished calls, box or slate, $29. To order call Joe Spicer 410-734-6628. Trace Creek Calls.

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.

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.

PENNLINESclassified 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.

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.

Abnormal neighbors? The tree planting specialists at ZEKE WILSON’S Landscaping and Nursery can help with installation of privacy screens, commercial buffers, wind breaks, entrances, etc. Beautiful evergreens to meet every budget. 724-388-9897.

OUTDOOR WOOD FURNACE HAWKEN ENERGY Outdoor Wood Furnace. 20-Year Warranty.

Total Heating Solution — Home, Business, Hot Water, Workshops, Pools, Greenhouse. Time Tested — Proven Furnace Design. Financing Available. Contact: Natcher Drilling, Inc. 814472-6636.

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.

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.

1949 8N FORD TRACTOR — Very good condition, 3-point hitch, 7-foot blade, front bucket, operation manuals, chains, new tires. $3,400. 814-643-3746.

LIVESTOCK AND PETS

REAL ESTATE

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.

RAYSTOWN LAKE — $375,000, 35 acres, build-ready, mountaintop vista, close to boat launch. Call 814-599-0790.

GOWELL VERTICAL Milling Machine Bridgeport type 8 x 24 inch, colletts, light, vice, $850. Three OBI punch presses 1060 ton. Small horizontal mill, others. 814-224-4962.

HUNTING PARADISE! 81 Acres includes: 30 tillable acres, 51 wooded acres, a 16 x 24 hunting cabin, frontage on two roads and adjoins hundreds of gameland acres. Lease income, OGM rights and gorgeous view included. Canadohta Lake area, Crawford County. $249,900. Call 814-881-2751.

1949 FARMALL H. Phone 814-938-4719.

GYPSY VANNER YEARLING FILLY $9,000. Black blagdon.

Approximate 15.1 hands at maturity. Very calm. Great temperament. Jennerstown area. 814-629-5652 daytime.

Email aprilt@floodcity.net.

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.

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).

NEED TO KNOW Where is it? Who does it? 37-page Family Communications Workbook helps organize critical information for families in case of accident, extended illness or death. $25 plus $5 S&H. Fundraising rates and group presentation speakers available.

Contact Fleischer Mayer Enterprises at 814-839-4227. Email: FME15901@AOL.COM. NURSERY AND GARDEN TREE-SHRUB SEEDLINGS — Wholesale Prices. Beautify Property. Make Money Growing Christmas Trees, Ornamentals, Nut Trees, Timber. Plants for Landscaping. Windbreaks, Noise Barriers, Wildlife Food-Cover. Easy Instructions Guaranteed.

FREE Color Catalog. Carino Nurseries, P. O. Box 538PL, Indiana, PA 15701. 800-223-7075. www.carinonurseries.com.

ARBORVITAES — 3-4’ - $18. Quantity discounts available. W. W. Nurseries, Stable Road between Clymer and Indiana. Also over 370 varieties of Rhododendrons and Azaleas. 724-349-5653. www.wwnurseries.com.

HUNTINGDON COUNTY GETAWAY — Twenty minutes State College, Huntingdon, minutes to Whipples Dam State Park, Greenwood Furnace, Lake Perez – Hunting, fishing, swimming, boating – 50’ Trailer, kitchen, dining room, bedrooms, bath, living room, enclosed porch, fully furnished, well, septic, one acre (wooded). Call 814-944-4482.

MONTROSE — 40 ACRES + HOME – “Negotiable Gas Lease,” three bedroom, three baths, eat-in kitchen, dining room, 2 1/2 car garage w/ two-story loft above, full ceiling height for extra rooms, huge basement, deck, family room, sun room, 58’ storage building. $399,000. Call 973-579-1636.

GENTLEMAN’S FARM — 64 acres, 20 minutes from State College and Huntingdon. 3,200 square foot home with two barns, 60 acres of fencing, two streams, great views, borders Rothrock State Forest. $675,000. 814-667-3666.

FOR SALE: Cabin in Casselman, PA close to Seven Springs along Casselman River. Three rooms, furnished. Contact Blair Hogan, phone 301-829-2007.

INDIAN LAKE – SOMERSET CO., 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. jwhart2@verizon.net.

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 Sawmill 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.

TRACTOR 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.

TROUT STOCKING STOCK YOUR POND OR STREAM — Our specialty — Kids’ Fishing Derbies. Pickup or Delivered. Brook, Rainbow, Palominos. Call for Price List. Tunkhannock, PA 570-836-3100. Livingston Manor, NY 845-439-4947.

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, $2,000 (April-May). Call 716-536-0104.

Great entertainment. Dancing nightly.

BUNKYS CAMPGROUND and Cabin Rentals located on Juniata River. New cabins and RV hook-ups. Kayaking, canoeing, tubing adventures. Excellent fishing, hunting all year. Contact Larry 814-539-6982 or www.bunkyscampground.com.

BEAUTIFUL LAKE ERIE COTTAGE — Enjoy swimming, fishing and sunsets at their finest. Sleeps eight, 20 miles west of Erie.

Available May to November. Call 814-333-9669. Visit our website at www.curleycottage.com.

CAMP TIONESTA, PA — Very good shape 14’ x 70’ trailer on large lot borders National Forest, near snow mobile trail, good fishing, lots of recreation, well and phone. Call 814-823-4238 or 814-796-3316.

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.

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SMARTcircuits

by James Dulley

Avoid air leaks with efficient recessed lighting designs RECESSED LIGHTS have been popular for decades, and remain the lighting fixture of choice for overhead lighting. As with any other product in the home, some recessed light fixtures are more energy efficient than others. Efficient options can use 80 percent less electricity than inefficient versions, which provide the same amount of light output with practically the same appearance.

Recessed light fixtures are unique because they penetrate and are mounted in the ceiling of a room. From an energy conservation standpoint, this is not an issue when installed in the first-floor ceiling of a two-story house. However, if fixtures are installed in the second-story ceiling or the first-floor ceiling of a one-story house, a hole is created between a conditioned living area and the open, unconditioned attic area.

Without an efficient design and proper installation, a recessed lighting fixture allows conditioned air to leak out of the house. This is particularly true during winter when the warmer air inside a home naturally rises to the ceiling. This not only wastes energy, but may create a chilly draft in rooms where cold outdoor air leaks indoors.

There are new, energy-efficient recessed light fixture designs that meet Energy Star standards. All of these fixtures use fluorescent light sources instead of inefficient incandescent bulbs. This fact alone reduces electricity consumption by 75 percent. The inside surface of the new fixtures is also more reflective than older inefficient versions. Better reflectivity reduces the amount of light trapped and dissipated inside a fixture before ever getting into a room.

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For fixtures in ceilings where indoor air leakage seems likely, select a new airtight design with a sealed canister. The sealed, airtight, recessed fixture canister, when installed properly, forms an airtight seal between the ceiling and the fixture. These types of fixtures are most often used in ceilings beneath an unconditioned attic, but they are also effective for unheated basement ceilings, minimizing drafts between floors.

As a safety note, if you already have recessed lighting fixtures in your home, do not go up into the attic and wrap them with insulation to try to save energy.

Wrapping older fixtures with insulation can hold in too much heat, particularly when standard incandescent bulbs are used. These fixtures are not designed to be airtight and the excess heat buildup can become a electrical or fire hazard.

If a recessed light fixture will be installed in a ceiling under an insulated attic floor, select an insulation contactrated (IC) design. These fixtures are designed to touch insulation without overheating the fixture. When installing new non-IC fixtures, the insulation must be kept away from the canister. This insulation void increases heat loss from the room below even if the installation is airtight.

When installing recessed light fixtures yourself, first determine your lighting goals.

To brighten an entire room, downlighting can be quite effective. In a normal-height

ceiling, a four-foot spacing of recessed light fixtures provides an even lighting pattern at floor level. Typical six-inch-diameter, fluorescent, fixed, vertical fixtures work well for downlighting. If you’d like to dim some of the lights, consider installing a second circuit and dimmer switch with incandescent bulbs in those fixtures.

For task lighting, a single, fixed, vertical fixture directly over the work area seems effective. Wall-wash recessed lighting can be used to accent a painting or other wall hangings. An eyeball recessed light is best for this application because the light path can be adjusted. For a sloped cathedral ceiling, install an angular recessed fixture — preferably an IC model since it will be in contact with ceiling insulation.

It’s not difficult to install recessed light fixtures by yourself. For an attractive, efficient installation, cut the mounting holes the exact size recommended by the manufacturer. This makes it much easier to create a good seal between the fixture and the ceiling. Before drilling and cutting holes, make sure your fixture layout clears all the floor joists. 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 loses it, and doesn’t know where to find it

I heard an interestin’ thing on the radio a few months ago. It was “National Clean Off Your Desk Day” an’ they had a statistic claimin’ your average person spends 150 hours a year lookin’ for items he can’t find.

If that’s the case, I’m way above average. I spent 150 hours lookin’ for stuff I couldn’t find last week! Indeed, many times over the years I’ve torn up the house lookin’ for stuff for two or three hours at a pop. An’ that doesn’t mean I find it. Usually, I just forget what I was lookin’ for.

Now, I don’t lose things. I always remember to put stuff where I will remember where it is when I want it again. But then I forget where I remembered to put it so I would remember where it was when I wanted it.

Now, if your wife is like mine, she’ll know where everything is — but that doesn’t mean she’s tellin.’ She wants to humiliate you a bit first, like “Why didn’t you put it where it belongs, Earl? Why don’t you put things away where you’ll remember where you put ‘em, Earl?”

A couple a’ years ago, Pearl finally got tired a’ me huntin’ for stuff all the time. So she got organized an’ made me a master list a’ where the bills go, the tax papers, pencils an’ paper, envelopes, paper clips, address book, glue, staples, etc. Yeah, you guessed it. I lost the master list.

Wake up, America! I know I put it somewhere where I would remember where I put it.

The other day my wife, Pearl, told

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.

me I was takin’ her to some fancy-pants diner where they serve brunch. Brunch?

Do I look like somebody that eats brunch?

Brunch is eatin’ breakfast an’ lunch at the same time. Any right-minded American eats different food at different times a’ the day. It’s the way the Good Lord created us.

First, you have breakfast food — basically anythin’ in the doughnut, cereal, bacon an’ egg family. Then there’s your lunch food — burgers, blow-knee, an’ most a’ the stuff outta your vendin’ machines.

An’ finally there’s supper food — meat an’

potatoes (an’ crescent rolls if you wanna stop at the store on the way home) if you’re a real honest-to-goodness red-blooded patriotic citizen a’ the good ol U.S. a’ A. I don’t make up these rules, ladies an’ gentlemen! It’s the natural order a’ things.

An’ let’s face it, for most a’ us our stomach has been trained. If you start mixin’ your meals together, you might just explode!

Wake up, America! Anytime you can order a doughnut with a side a’ fries, somethin’ is messed up. What’s next, “Dunch?” That don’t even sound appetizin.’ Sure, some truck stops will fry you up a steak with your eggs at breakfast.

But those are professional eaters. The rest a’ us should just follow what Mother Nature has set forth.

Have you heard ‘bout this scientifical garbage that says mid-life crises are a myth. Yeah, some four-eyed geek lab rat says they don’t actually happen, that folks in their 40s an’ 50s are happier, healthier an’ more content than young people.

Now, I would like to rebut this fallacy.

First off, if it’s really true, it stinks! I was lookin’ forward to my mid-life crisis.

That’s the one time in your whole adult life where people expect you to act stupid.

Now, it’s not the only time you’ll act stupid, but it’s the only time people expect it.

I figgered folks would look at me sportin’ a ponytail, wearin’ an earring, toolin’ around town in a new Corvette with a 22-year-old blonde co-ed, an’ fishin’ in a fancy bass boat an’ say, “Earl’s goin’ through a mid-life crisis.” Then they’d shake their heads an’ add, “It’ll pass.”

See, from the time you get your first job an’ have your first kid until the day they lay you in the ground, life is hard work. Your mid-life crisis is kinda’ like recess — a couple years off from reality.

You need that.

Wake up, America! Hey, I’m definitely goin’ middle-age crazy at some point, an’ I don’t care if I’ve got to reinvent it. I’ve made it this far in life — I deserve it.

I’m Earl Pitts, Uhmerikan. l APRIL 2010 • PENN

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RURALreflections The season of growth SOMETIMES it’s difficult to believe that spring will ever arrive, but April always brings warmer days with more sunshine, and nothing says spring like blooming flowers, budding trees, the birth of baby animals and growing children.

And, not only is it time to get out and enjoy the season, it’s time to get your camera out and take some photos to send to the “Rural Reflections” contest. At the end of the year, five lucky winners will receive a $75 prize.

Categories include: artistic, landscape, people, animal and editor’s choice.

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.)

Remember, our publication deadlines require that we work ahead, so send your seasonal photos in early.

We need summer photos before mid-April; fall photos before mid-July and winter photos before mid-September. Please note: photos postmarked after Jan. 1, 2010, will not be returned unless a self-addressed, selfstamped envelope is included. l

Lana Bosco Claverack REC

Jan Grim Bedford REC

Kim Templin Northwestern REC

Linda Previte REA Energy

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