‘Easy’ eatingTurtle crossingsHome construction

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J U N E 2 0 1 5

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J U N E 2 0 1 5 • P E N N L I N E S 3

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

Vol. 50 • No. 6Peter A. Fitzgerald

ED ITOR

Katherine HacklemanSENIOR EDITOR/WRITER

James DulleyJanette Hess

Barbara MartinMarcus Schneck

CONTR IBUT ING COLUMNISTS

W. Douglas ShirkLAYOUT & DESIGN

Vonnie KlossADVERT ISING & C IRCULAT ION

Michelle M. SmithMEDIA & MARKET ING SPECIALIST

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

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

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

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

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

4 K EEP ING CURRENTNews items from across the Commonwealth

6 ENERGY MATTERSA few facts about ceiling fans

8 F EATUREDrive timePennsylvania Turnpike turns 75

12A COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONInformation and advice from your localelectric cooperative

14 T IME L INESYour newsmagazine through the years

16 COUNTRY K I TCHEN‘Easy’ eating

17 POWER PLANTSJune follies

18 OUTDOOR ADVENTURESWhy did the turtle cross the road?

19 SMART C I RCU I TSEfficient, strong homeconstruction methods

20 C LASS I F I EDS

22 PUNCH L INESThoughts from Earl Pitts–Uhmerikun!Earl pays it backwards at restaurant afteranother’s good deed

23 RURAL REFLECT IONSSpring fever

16

JUNE

8

18

23

ON THE COVERThe Pennsylvania TurnpikeCommission is marking the75th anniversary of theopening of the road billed asAmerica’s first superhighway.The turnpike opened tomotorists in October 1940.Photo by the PennsylvaniaTurnpike Commission

4 P E N N L I N E S • J U N E 2 0 1 5

Pennsylvania tops list of stateswith snow-covered roadsOf the 23 states responding to an

American Association of State Highwayand Transportation Officials survey ask-ing how much money they spent keepingthe highways clear and safe during thepast winter, Pennsylvania ranked No. 1. Together, the states estimated they

spent a combined $1.1 billion on person-nel and materials during the winter of2014-2015, with the Pennsylvania Depart-ment of Transportation (PennDOT)reporting it spent $272 million. PennDOTofficials report the state put down 1.5 million tons of salt and anti-skidmaterial, using 2.5 million personnelhours. The state had budgeted $203 mil-lion for winter maintenance.PennDOT maintains approximately

40,000 miles of roadways. State officialsreport they expect to resurface about5,000 miles of state roads this summer.

Risk of Lyme disease spreadsacross PennsylvaniaFor the first time since the Pennsyl-

vania Department of EnvironmentalProtection has been monitoring thepresence of blacklegged (deer) ticks inthe state, the blacklegged tick, the pri-mary carrier of Lyme disease, has been

KEEPINGcurrent

observed in all 67 of thecounties in the state.Findings recently pub-

lished in the Journal of MedicalEntomology show that whilethe blacklegged tick has beenobserved in western Pennsyl-vania, the rate of reportedLyme disease there remainslower than in the rest of thestate. Lyme disease, caused by the

bite of an infected tick, can trig-ger fever, fatigue, headache,muscle aches and joint pain.Early diagnosis and treatment of Lyme dis-ease may prevent later, more serious, com-plications.Pennsylvania has reported the most

cases of Lyme disease in the nation foreach of the past five years.

2015 designated ‘Year of thePennsylvania Barn’In recognition of the importance of

the state’s agriculture heritage, the Penn-sylvania House of Representativespassed a resolution designating 2015 asthe “Year of the ‘Pennsylvania Barn’” andcalled for an inventory of the distinctivestructures within the Commonwealth.The resolution also encourages efforts to

PENNSYLVANIA BARN: This barn in Berks County shows the char-acteristic forebay, banked construction and gable roof of thebarn style known as a “Pennsylvania barn.”

PENNSYLVANIA HISTORICAL & MUSEUM COMMISSION

honor and preserve Pennsylvania barns.The Pennsylvania barn is a distinct

architectural form, and serves as the heartand soul of many Pennsylvania farms andthe communities of which they are a part,and define the agricultural character ofrural landscapes across the state. Pennsyl-vania barns — banked barns with one ormore walls overshooting their foundation(also known as a forebay) that nearlyalways have gable roofs — were com-monly built between 1820 and 1900.

State plans limited river otter season The Pennsylvania Board of Game

Commissioners has approved a limitedtrapping season for river otters, but onlyin the northeastern corner of the state.For the first time since 1952, trappers willbe permitted to harvest river otters. Theseason is Feb. 21-23, 2016, in only WildlifeManagement Units 3C and 3D, and thecommission has retained the option toextend the season by five additional days.Trappers must have special permits

to take an otter during the season. Ottertrapping regulations are similar to thosefor beavers, and tagging requirementsare identical to the requirements for tag-ging bobcats and fishers.More information about trapping

otters is available on the commission’swebsite at www.pgc.state.pa.us.l

Enter the Penn Lines ‘50 for 50’ essay contestPenn Lines will be observing its 50th anniversary in 2016, and

we want you to be a part of the celebration. In recognition of themagazine’s 50 years, we are holding a “50 for 50” essay contest.Enter for your chance to win one of three $50 gift cards by sub-mitting an essay in one of the following three categories:

1. What is your earliest memory of Penn Lines?2. How does Penn Lines help you as a cooperative member?3. What does Penn Lines mean to rural Pennsylvania?As part of our anniversary celebration, we plan to reprint some

of the essays in the 2016 issues of Penn Lines. All submissions will be eligible to winone of three $50 gift cards.Entries should be between 100 and 250 words long. Please email your entries to

editor@prea.com, or mail them to Penn Lines Editor, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA17108-1266. Include your name, address, telephone number, email (if available), and thecooperative that serves your residence or business.

6 P E N N L I N E S • J U N E 2 0 1 5

B y B r e t C u r r y

fan at the speed of your liking and sim-ply raise the set point of the thermostat3 to 5 degrees. Do keep in mind, yourcomfort is a personal choice, so the rec-ommended fan speed and thermostatsettings are not set in stone. A frequent question asked about ceil-

ing fans is: “Which direction should thepaddle blades spin during the summermonths?” The answer is that your fanneeds to spin counterclockwise in orderto push the airflow downward. Theopposite, or clockwise, applies for thewinter. However, some people do notenjoy air movement from a ceiling fanduring the heating season.There is a downside to using ceiling

fans. They can rack up unnecessaryadditional kilowatt-hours when no one isaround to enjoy the breeze. Many home-owners have the idea they are somehowhelping to cool the interior even whilethey are away from the home. Left onand unattended, ceiling fans are just

A few facts about ceiling fans

spinning up your electric bill.Furthermore, an invisible culprit

emitted from ceiling fans is unwantedheat gain generated from the spinningmotor. Remember, the last thing wewant in our homes during the summeris additional heat. Unnecessary heatgain makes our air conditioner workharder to keep our homes cool. Ceiling fan motors generate tempera-

tures that can reach near 130 degrees.While this operating temperature is nor-mal and safe, it does add heat to yourdwelling. A simple flip of the switch orpulling the chain into the off positionwhen you are away or not occupying theroom is a cool summer energy tip.Be sure to visit www.smartenergy

tips.org or Facebook www.facebook.com/SmartEnergyTips.org for dozens ofenergy-savings ideas.l

Bret Curry is the residential energymanager for Arkansas Electric CooperativeCorporation.

CEILING FANS have been helpingAmericans beat the heat for more than100 years. Philip Diehl, a contemporaryof Thomas Edison, is credited withbeing the inventor of the electricallypowered ceiling fan in 1882. Diehl used the electric motor he engi-

neered for the Singer sewing machine,added two paddle blades and the rest ishistory. The fans caught on fast, andDiehl didn’t stop there. He improved hisdesign by adding a light kit. By World War I, most ceiling fans

were revving up with four paddle bladesrather than two.An important reminder about ceiling

fans is they do not provide refrigeratedcooling like an air conditioner. Instead,they simply move air in proximity to thefan. This movement of air from theelectromechanical device is called con-vective cooling. The movement of air isno different than folding a piece of paperand fanning your face. A few months ago, Mother Nature

was dishing out lots of convective cool-ing. You may recall the weathermen cau-tioning us about frigid wind-chill fac-tors. Whether produced by wind, ceilingfans or a piece of paper, air movingacross our skin will evaporate the mois-ture produced by our bodies, whichmakes us feel cooler.Research shows that more than 75

percent of all homes in the United Stateshave ceiling fans. When used correctly,they can help lower summer coolingcosts and make the air near the fan feelcooler than it actually is. Using ceiling fans in conjunction

with your air conditioner creates awind-chill effect inside your home. Theenergy-saving idea is to run your ceiling

ENERGYmatters

BE SMART: Ceiling fans are a great way to keep cool during the summer months, but leaving them on whileyou’re away can run up your electric bill. This infrared imagery shows heat given off by a ceiling fan motor.

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8 P E N N L I N E S • J U N E 2 0 1 5

MORNING ON THE TURNPIKE: The earlymorning mist obscures some of thetrees along the Pennsylvania Turnpikein Bedford County.

DrivetimePennsylvania Turnpike turns 75B y B i l l Wa r n e rP e n n L i n e s C o n t r i b u t o r

J U N E 2 0 1 5 • P E N N L I N E S 9

F or 75 years, the Pennsylvania Turnpike has been many things to

many people — a getaway route for vacationing families, a

shortcut for commuters going to and from work, a major east-

west artery for truck drivers, and the gateway to Pennsylvania.

It’s even been immortalized in song as Billy Joel proclaimed “Home can

be the Pennsylvania Turnpike” in a track on his popular 1973 album, “Piano

Man.” And in the late 1970s, country composer/singer Vaughn Horton paid

tribute to the roadway with his “Pennsylvania Turnpike, I Love You.”

PENNlines

This year, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission marksthe 75th anniversary of what was billed as America’s first super-highway. The first portion of the turnpike opened to motoristson Oct. 1, 1940. “The turnpike actually established the national standard for

superhighway design and construction more than 16 years beforethe first U.S. interstate highway,” says Renee Colborn, managerof media and public relations for the Pennsylvania TurnpikeCommission. “It was the granddaddy of the interstates, themodel upon which other limited-access highways were built.”

MemoriesWe’ve all traveled the turnpike and accumulated certain mem-

ories. Maybe you have a favorite spot to view the fall foliage.Maybe you’ve traveled a stretch of the turnpike for decades andnoticed the aging of a landmark, like an advertisement on theside of a barn. For folks in eastern Pennsylvania, the turnpikemay trigger childhood memories of trips to the Jersey Shore. Or,if you grew up in western Pennsylvania, your turnpike destina-tion may have been a ski resort in the Laurel Highlands.Keeping these memories in mind, the commission is celebrat-

ing the anniversary with several events, including a historyvideo, a website countdown, a coffee-table book, an antique carshow and the big event later this year at the State Museum inHarrisburg: a transportation display featuring an original turn-pike toll booth from the Irwin Interchange, and other turnpikeartifacts.“The South Midway Service Plaza located a mile past the

Bedford Interchange heading eastbound is a great place to seesome turnpike memorabilia that used to be sold in the plazaslong ago,” Colborn says. “There is a big display case filled withinteresting pieces that show how the turnpike has evolvedthrough the years.” Throughout its history, the cross-state road has also been a

major employer: hundreds of people work every day to maintainthe roadway, collect tolls, serve customers at rest areas and per-form a number of other tasks.

The ‘roadies’Nobody knows the turnpike better than the maintenance

workers who are on the roadway daily, and that includes twoelectric cooperative members. Steve Price, 62, a member of ValleyRural Electric Cooperative, retired as a road foreman in 2012.Russell Hillegas, 56, a member of Somerset Rural Electric Coop-erative, is the foreman at Somerset’s maintenance shed.Price, who lives in Three Springs, Huntingdon County, with

his wife, Bonnie, worked for the turnpike one month shy of 30years. His crew at Burnt Cabins maintenance shed was responsi-ble for a 32-mile stretch of the turnpike from milepost 168.4 nearSideling Hill to milepost 201.3, the Blue Mountain Interchange. Itis a busy stretch that includes an east-west service plaza, threeinterchanges and three tunnels: Blue Mountain, Kittatinny andTuscarora.Price worked his way through the ranks, starting in 1982 as

Tunnel Maintainer 1, followed by Equipment Operator 1, ERWClerk, Assistant Foreman and, finally, Foreman of the Burnt Cab-

10 P E N N L I N E S • J U N E 2 0 1 5

A LOOK BACK: A photographer records history near Everett, Pa., during theturnpike’s first months of operation in 1940, top. Other historic photosinclude: construction of an overpass in Bedford County in 1939, middle left;construction of the Tuscarora tunnel on the Huntingdon/Franklin county linein 1940, middle right; the Midway Hotel and Restaurant in Bedford County,bottom left; and the Allegheny Mountain tunnel in Somerset County, right.

PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE PHOTO

PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE PHOTO

PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE PHOTO

ins maintenance shed in District 2 in 2000.“I started at the bottom and came up,” Price says. “The over-

all environment, it was a good place to work,” he says. “I workedwith a lot of good people. You met all kinds of people. ... You sawthe world go past out there. You saw sights out there that theaverage person doesn’t get to see.”Hillegas, who lives near Berlin, Somerset County, with his

wife, Jeanne, was promoted to foreman in January. A turnpikeemployee for 33 years, he hopes to retire in two years. Russelland Jeanne are the parents of two sons, Brandon and Kyle.“It’s been a good career,” Hillegas says. “I wouldn’t do any-

thing differently. Every day is different. You have something dif-ferent every day. You get to see a lot of people.”Hillegas’ crew is responsible for a 23-mile stretch from mile-

post 100 to the Allegheny Tunnel in Somerset County. Much ofthe area is very rural and very scenic.“There’s a couple nice spots (for viewing) in that area,” Hille-

gas says. “When you come off the Laurel Mountains, it flattensout pretty good and you can see Somerset.”

Winter weatherBoth Hillegas and Price say the toughest thing about their job

is dealing with winter weather. But they quickly add that nobodydeals with it better than the Pennsylvania Turnpike.“They were very proactive,” Price notes. “That’s one great

thing about the turnpike: they were proactive. When it comes toa storm, don’t wait for the storm to call your people out there.Have them out there waiting for the storm. When it hits, they’reon the road ready to go.”While local roads — and even interstates — can become

impassable during a snowstorm, the turnpike has built a reputa-tion for always being open. “The world goes to the turnpike to get through,” Price says

flatly. “You try (to keep the turnpike open); we do the best we can.”“The turnpike has a wet-road policy,” Hillegas says. “They

don’t want any snow on the road at all. We put a lot of salt down.They want a wet road. It’s not unusual to have 12 trucks out therein that 23-mile stretch during a storm. We’ll get extra traffic dur-ing a storm because people know the roadway will be passable.”Price says another challenge was wildly erratic weather pat-

terns in his district caused by the Blue Mountains, Laurel High-lands and the valleys in between. He even joked that there’s onlytwo seasons there: one beautiful, one harsh.“Somerset, that’s a different world out there,” he deadpans.

“Fourth of July and Christmas, that’s it.”Turning serious, Price says, “You could have almost three dif-

ferent weather patterns at the same time: below Blue MountainTunnel and down through to Newville; when you start gettingcloser to Tuscarora, you could start coming into some snow, andthen you hit a westerly storm going up to Sideling Hill bypassand they could be plowing. It was the geographical area.”

The tunnelsTurnpike foremen are responsible for assessing what work

needs to be done on the turnpike and assigning crews to do it.You may be surprised to learn that the turnpike’s famous tun-

J U N E 2 0 1 5 • P E N N L I N E S 11

PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE PHOTO

PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE PHOTO

PENNlines

nels take up a lot of their time.“The tunnels require maintenance, and

that was a very big, time-consuming thingfor us, as far as setting the sign patternsand having the manpower, because prettymuch when you were doing that, you did-n’t have time for anything else,” Pricesays.Hillegas explains that large fans at

both ends of a tunnel push fresh airinside, where it is dispersed through ceil-ing vents. Air quality is constantlychecked by carbon-monoxide monitors.The turnpike employs separate tunnelcrews that deal with electrical and techni-cal issues. Maintenance crews, like theones guided by Price and Hillegas, helpthe tunnel crews with other issues, suchas cleaning, replacing ceiling tiles andpatching potholes.“The big thing with the tunnels was

washing the tunnels,” Price says. “Youwent through and cleaned the drains.There’s a tunnel crew in the district — twoor three guys. We assist the tunnel crewwith the operations. About every two

years, we would re-lamp thetunnels. The lightbulbs wouldburn out.”There are five tunnels on the

turnpike: Allegheny Mountain,Tuscarora, Kittatinny and BlueMountain on the original east-west roadway, and Lehigh Val-ley on the Northeast Extension.

HistoryThe turnpike that opened to motorists

at midnight on Oct. 1, 1940, was a far cryfrom today’s turnpike. The original toll road was 160 miles

between Irwin, Westmoreland County,and Carlisle, Cumberland County. Thefour-lane roadway had a concrete surface,divided by a narrow, grass median strip.In later years, the grass median wasreplaced by a concrete barrier forincreased safety.The 160-mile stretch was built on a

railroad bed. Industrial barons in the 19thcentury had started an east-west railroadthat included seven tunnels, but that proj-

ect was abandoned in the 1880s.Some 50-plus years later, it was cars

and trucks — not trains — using theroute.“It actually was the first east-to-west

superhighway,” Hillegas says. “The origi-nal part of it followed the old South PennRailroad. A lot of the right-of-way (theturnpike commission) obtained was fromthe South Penn Railroad that was neverfinished.”In 1950, a decade after the turnpike

opened, a major expansion was com-pleted, linking Carlisle to Valley Forge,

SCENES FROM RURAL PENNSYLVANIA: Country scenes, likesheep grazing and an Amish buggy in the foreground, contrastwith the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the background.

While it’s not obvious to the person behind the wheel, a drivertraveling across the state via the Pennsylvania Turnpike will passthrough five electric cooperative service territories. Electric linesaren’t all that obvious along the turnpike, but electricity is.Without electricity, the toll booths at turnpike entrances and

exits wouldn’t operate, and signs couldn’t warn drivers of roadconstruction and accidents, or tout the advantages of specifichotels at upcoming exits. It would take turnpike maintenance

crews longer to do their jobs, and road-weary travelers wouldmiss their hot chicken strips and cold ice cream, not to mentiona number of other services at turnpike service plazas.Heading east, drivers first run into cooperative service territo-

ries at the western edge of Somerset County. Somerset CountyRural Electric Cooperative (REC) has 12 primary overhead linesthat cross the turnpike, and serves five turnpike accounts, includ-ing a communications tower, salt shed, weather condition notifica-tion signs and emergency access gates. Somerset REC alsoserves several individual highway signs along the turnpike.In neighboring Bedford County, Bedford REC provides service

to the Breezewood exit toll booths, as well as both Midway Plazarestaurants and the turnpike commission’s maintenance buildingat the foot of Allegheny Mountain. New Enterprise REC provideselectricity to the turnpike’s Sideling Hill Plaza, along with anearby tower site. Further east, Valley REC has multiple service points related

to the turnpike, including a three-phase overhead line thatserves a turnpike maintenance building near the tunnel in Hunt-ingdon County, as well as multiple single-phase lines for signs.Adams EC provides electricity in Franklin and Cumberland

counties for turnpike weather alert signs and a turnpike radiotower on Clark’s Knob. In addition, the cooperative operatesunder an agreement that allows cooperative trucks to passunderneath the turnpike to access and service a small numberof its accounts near the Blue Ridge Tunnel on the opposite(north) side from where most of its members are located.Adams EC is in the process of upgrading its three lines thatcross the turnpike, an effort that requires the turnpike and statepolice to provide a rolling roadblock to stop turnpike traffic for afew minutes while the new wire is pulled across the traffic lanes.

Lighting the wayCooperatives help power Pennsylvania Turnpike

12 P E N N L I N E S • J U N E 2 0 1 5

SOMERSET CREWS AT WORK: Line personnel from Somerset Rural ElectricCooperative replace line across the Pennsylvania Turnpike – a job that requiresturnpike personnel and state police to form a rolling roadblock to stop traffic.

(continues on page 15)

PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE PHOTO

SOMERSET RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE PHOTO

REPLACE, NEVER REPAIR DAMAGED EXTENSION CORDS.Helping members use electricity safely, that’s the power of your co-op membership.

Learn more from the experts themselves at TogetherWeSave.com.

14 P E N N L I N E S • J U N E 2 0 1 5

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

1975 Participants in the annual National RuralElectric Cooperative Association Youth Tour visitmany national memorials during their stay inWashington, D.C.

1985 More than 300 Pennsylvanians benefit fromtraining received through the Pennsylvania PublicAffairs Leadership Program funded by W. K.Kellogg.

2005 The Pennsylvania State Police ClandestineLab team collects, documents and tests chemicalsseized during a raid of a methamphetamine-pro-ducing lab.

YOUR COOPERATIVE works hard to provide your home or businesswith reliable service, constantly replacing worn or outdated componentslike poles and wire. But the key to reducing outages is right-of-waymaintenance (controlling vegetation near power lines), and that’s a con-stant battle for electric cooperatives in Pennsylvania where the rurallandscape can be as challenging as it is beautiful. You know that water and electricity don’t mix. But neither do trees

and electricity. Nearly all weather conditions that cause outages are wors-ened by the proximity of trees. Even a light breeze can snap limbs or sim-ply push branches into the wires. Limbs touching lines are the biggestsingle cause of outages.Controlling foliage is expensive, and the denser the vegetation, the

more it costs. The techniques used to control vegetation growth vary withlocation. Some areas are only accessible by linemen on foot. And treesplanted near homes pose their own problems because both the trimmingand the cleanup require more precision than is necessary in the middle ofthe woods. In addition to trimming, many cooperatives also spray to con-trol vegetation.The long-range goal of any right-of-way maintenance effort is to

reduce outages (and costs) by encouraging native, low-growing plantspecies under power lines. In the wild, this is accomplished by the selec-tive removal or treatment of woody plants that could grow into wires. Inresidential settings, the same goal is achieved by replacing taller treeswith similar varieties that have a shorter height at maturity.

1995

northwest of Philadelphia. Soon after-ward, links were completed from Irwin tothe Ohio line, and from Valley Forge to theDelaware River and New Jersey. By then360 miles long, the roadway crossed theentire state. The Northeast Extension,linking Montgomery County with Scran-ton to the north, was finished in 1957. Itcovers 110 miles.

Turnpike planners predicted 1.3 mil-lion vehicles would use the turnpike eachyear, but early actual use was muchhigher: 2.4 million vehicles as sometimesas many as 10,000 vehicles per day wererecorded.

As more people than anticipated usedthe turnpike, major bot-tlenecks began occurringat the tunnels, whichhad just two lanes. Threeoriginal tunnels — Lau-rel Hill, Ray’s Hill andSideling Hill — wereclosed and replaced by

bypasses through the mountains. At theremaining tunnels, new tubes were exca-vated and two additional lanes of trafficwere added. All of the work was com-pleted by the late 1960s. (The abandonedtunnels remain, although they are notopen to the public. Local gossip, alongwith multiple internet sites, claim theLaurel Hill Tunnel is currently beingused by Chip Ganassi Racing for aerody-namic testing for high-speed race cars,although the racing giant has not con-firmed this.)

Other improvements to the turnpikethrough the years have included newfacilities at service plazas, a shift from sit-down restaurants to fast food, and, ofcourse, E-ZPass, which has enabled thou-sands of motorists using a plastictransponder to zip through interchangesinstead of stopping and paying a toll incash.

“You have to go with the times,” Pricenotes. “You used to have Howard John-son’s, sit-down, get-waited-on style ofrestaurants. Now, everything is quick ...quick food. People get on (the turnpike)and want to go from Point A to Point B,and they want to get there. They don’twant to sit an hour in a restaurant.” l

Drive time(continued from page 12)

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

‘Easy’ eating“SUMMERTIME, and the livin’ is easy,” composer GeorgeGershwin observed some 80 years ago. Fast-forward to sum-mertime 2015, pull some shrimp out of the freezer, and use thismonth’s recipes to confirm that “summertime eatin’” can beeasy, too. Shrimp in their fresh or frozen forms are readilyavailable year-round, but they seem like warm-weather foodwhen they’re not breaded and deep-fried.Utilizing pre-cooked cocktail shrimp, Marinated Shrimp is

an easy dish to assemble. Offer it as an appetizer at your nextbackyard gathering, or discard the lemon slices and serve theshrimp, onions, peppers, capers, and dressing over a bed ofgarden-fresh greens. Add some sliced avocado and a sprin-kling of feta cheese, and salad never tasted so good!Shrimp Creole is not quite as easy to make, but it is excep-

tionally “easy” to eat. Packed with shrimp and seasonal vegeta-bles, this classic dish is delicious as well as elegant. If needed, thebase may be cooked a day or two in advance and then stored inthe refrigerator. It also freezes well. For serving, simply heat the

base to boiling and add raw shrimp as detailed inthe recipe. What could be easier on your summerschedule than a fabulous make-ahead dish? lA trained journalist, JANETTE HESS focuses her writing on interesting

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

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

SHRIMP CREOLE2 pounds shell-on frozen raw shrimp, mediumor large size

1/2 cup vegetable oil1/2 cup flour1 large onion, chopped1 large bell pepper (red or green),seeded and chopped

1 1/2 cups chopped celery2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced2 cups fresh, peeled, chopped tomato1 6-ounce can tomato paste3 1/2 cups chicken broth3 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley OR 1 tablespoon dried parsley2 bay leaves1 teaspoon Creole seasoning*1/2 teaspoon dried thyme1/4 teaspoon black pepperSeveral dashes of hot pepper sauce, plus more for serving8 to 10 servings steamed rice

Thaw shrimp according to package instructions. Peel, de-vein and removetails. Refrigerate while preparing base. To make base, heat oil in heavy souppot or Dutch oven. Add flour. Reduce heat to medium low. Cook and stir forapproximately 15 minutes, or until mixture is a rich caramel color. Adjustheat as needed to keep mixture from browning too slowly or too quickly.Add onion, bell pepper and celery. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.Add garlic and continue cooking and stirring an additional 5 minutes. Addchopped tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth and all seasonings. Simmeron very low heat for 35 to 40 minutes. Just before serving, remove bayleaves. Bring mixture to boil and add raw shrimp. Cook just until shrimp areopaque. Remove from heat and add several dashes of hot pepper sauce.Serve over steamed rice. Makes 8 to 10 generous servings.*If Creole seasoning is not available, substitute several dashes of Worces-tershire sauce.

MARINATED SHRIMP

2 pounds frozen jumbo shrimp

(pre-cooked, peeled and de-veined

with tails intact)1 white onion, peeled and thinly sliced

2 medium lemons, thinly sliced

1/2 cup sliced, drained “pepperoncini” deli-style peppers

1/4 cup drained capers1 cup Italian dressing1 tablespoon prepared horseradish

1/2 teaspoon celery seed

Thaw shrimp in refrigerator according to package instructions. (This may

take overnight.) Pat shrimp dry. Place single layer of shrimp in bottom of

9- by 13-inch dish. Cover with half of onions, lemon slices, peppers and

capers. Repeat layer. In separate bowl, whisk together dressing, horserad-

ish and celery seed. Pour dressing over shrimp. Refrigerate 8 to 10 hours,

stirring once after 4 to 5 hours. Makes 8 servings.

16 P E N N L I N E S • J U N E 2 0 1 5

JUNE IS the month for rosegardens, verdant lawns and thegentle breezes of early summer.It’s one of my favorite months.The rush of spring planting iscompleted, the beds are weededand bare earth freshlymulched. Everything seemsright in the garden.I love to sit in my favorite

lawn chair and survey “theestate” growing up all aroundme. This is my time to enjoythe results of my hard work.My eyes feast on the tidy veg-etable patch, the herb garden,and all the perennials andannual flowers. I know theseare relatively ephemeral in thelandscape, but their lightnessand bright colors, the profu-sion of flowers and butterflies,make me happy.I enjoy monitoring the

development of trees andshrubs planted with greatanticipation and nurtured overthe years — carefully selectedfor space and growing condi-tions, mature size and shape,fall color, and general appeal.Now they are beginning to pro-vide the desired shade andshelter, a pleasant sense ofenclosure, and a carefully

sculpted view. The woodyplants can seem like an invest-ment for sure, in money, laborand time, but they are also avote of confidence for the future.It’s fun to imagine who

might enjoy sitting under “my”lovingly planted shade tree in20 or 40 years. It’s a bit of amindbender to imagine someunknown future person enjoy-ing the Victorian-era favoritesI’ve planted now, but I am cer-tain people in any century willlove lilacs and roses and appletrees, tall evergreens and majes-tic oaks just as much as we do.Trees and shrubs are long-

lived, but sometimes mythoughts run to making a big-ger impact than a pretty land-scape layout. What else could Ido, something with lasting sig-nificance? Something unique,that only I could imagine? Iadmit my dreams are inspiredin part by the eccentric Englishgardening tradition of buildingwhat would be known as a“folly” — a small, but elaborateand permanent, structure cre-ated purely for amusement andvisual effect, and withoutregard to cost or practicality.I am fond of the well-

designed pergola, in part for theregal sound of its name and forthe shade it casts on a hot sum-mer afternoon and the silhou-ette it casts against the dullestof winter skies. I definitelyappreciate a properly con-structed stone “ruin” completewith ferns and architecturalfragments, partly for its roman-tic spookiness on a darkevening and partly for the sheeraudacity of its conceit. A gleam-

ing shrine constructed withbold pillars supporting a domeand sited on the distant shoreof a man-made lake is a stellarexample of folly-dom, especiallywhen placed atop a small riseand of a scale to make the lakeseem larger than it is.The best historic folly mod-

els reflect a single-mindeddetermination on the part oftheir instigators. They exude asense of theatricality in theirdesign, plus a certain ironicnod to grandeur, and generallydevoured hideously largebudgets.My personal follies are more

modest. Mine run more to oddsculptures and fountains inhidden niches and the upcom-ing installation of a spiralingstep stone pathway to nowherein particular. I have yet to erectsomething “permanent”

enough to last for centuries,perhaps because I would notexpect my family to continueliving on this property for gen-erations to come. Or am I lack-ing in vision — or determina-tion — or eccentricity?Where does your mind take

you when you sit outside on aperfect June afternoon and sur-vey the world around you? Forsome reason, my mind oftenruns to follies. What wouldyour folly be? This type ofdelightful gardening diversion,requiring only mild mentaleffort and perhaps some light-hearted, bantering discussion,is what June days are made for,my gardening friend.l

J U N E 2 0 1 5 • P E N N L I N E S 17

POWERplants

BARBARA MARTIN ,who says she began gar-dening as a hobby “toomany years ago tocount,” currently worksfor the National Garden-

ing Association as a horticulturist. A formermember of Gettysburg-based Adams Elect -ric Cooperative, her articles appear in mag-azines and on the internet.

b y B a r b a r a M a r t i n

June follies

SUMMERTIME DIVERSION: Juneafternoons are perfect for consider-ing what kind of June folly youwould like to create.

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

THE SNAPPING turtlelurched to the side, arched upon its hind legs and lived upto its name by snapping atmy fingers on the sides of itsshell.While I’ve lost count of

the number of turtles —snapping and other species— that I’ve helped on theirway across and off roadways,I do know that not one ofthem has ever shown theslightest bit of gratitude.And, that matters more

when it’s an ungrateful snap-ping turtle being saved fromoncoming traffic than whenit’s a box turtle or a woodturtle.Gratitude or not, saving

something that might be 50or 100 years old from acrushing death under thewheels of a car or truckseems a worthwhile invest-ment of a few minutes. Thatseems even more so in earlysummer, when the turtlebeing rescued is likely an egg-filled female en route to a

nesting spot, where she willdeposit 20 to 60 eggs, withthe outside chance that 1 per-cent of her hatchlings willreach maturity.Some female snapping

turtles will travel as much assix miles from their year-round home in a pond orlake to their nesting site.You probably see a flat-

tened turtle or two in yourtravels every spring and sum-mer, and you’ve likely drivenpast several others withoutreally noticing.Maybe you have some

sense of the huge number ofturtles — and snakes and frogsand toads and salamanders —that meet a premature deathon our highways. However,the full scope of the problemlikely escapes most of us.In an experiment in

Florida, a silt fence waserected to prevent turtlesfrom finding their way onto ahighway that was known as aturtle killer, and nearly 5,000turtles were kept off the high-way in just a few weeks.Although it wasn’t turtles,

several years ago some of thestaff at Hawk MountainSanctuary in Berks Countycollected all the salamanders,toads and frogs they foundsmashed on the mountainroadway through the sanctu-ary during the spring matingmigration. They quickly filleda gallon jar.Saving turtles from high-

ways is a simple procedure.Pull off the road in a safespot. Watch for oncomingtraffic. Never pick a turtle up

by the tail, which can injurethe animal under the strainof its own weight. And,always move the turtle in the

direction it was traveling andas close as possible to thespot where it seemed to havebeen aiming itself.l

MARCUS SCHNECK isthe outdoor writer forThe (Harrisburg) Patriot-News and its website,PennLive.com. He alsowrites for many outdoorpublications and is theauthor of more than

two dozen books. Keep abreast of his adven-tures and writings at www.marcusschneck.com.

Why did theturtle crossthe road?

WORTH SAVING: Columnist Marcus Schneck saves another ungrateful turtle froma traffic-related early death.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

18 P E N N L I N E S • J U N E 2 0 1 5

J U N E 2 0 1 5 • P E N N L I N E S 19

THERE ARE several relatively newhome construction methods that aremuch stronger and more efficient thantypical insulated, wood framing built tocode. Some of these methods use morethan double the insulation value of typi-cal framed walls and can even withstandhurricane- and tornado-force winds.If you decide on a wood-framed

house, use staggered, double-stud wallson 24-inch centers. This method not onlyprovides double the insulation value, butby staggering the wall studs, it mini-mizes thermal bridges (direct non-insu-lated heat flow paths from indoors tooutdoors through the studs). For a wood-framed home, install rigid

foam wall sheathing on the exterior sothat all of the lumber’s thermal mass isinside of the insulation envelope. Thiscan be covered with any type of exteriorfinish. Use a relatively square or circularshape to minimize the exterior wall androof area. With similar insulation levels,a wall that is twice as big as another willlose about twice as much heat. Generally,square and circular-shaped homes resistthe forces of storm winds best.The “stay-in-place” home construction

method uses concrete and rigid foaminsulation; this method is efficient andstrengthens the home. The insulationforms, which hold the wet concrete, arenot removed, and they provide the insu-lation and substrate surface for installingthe interior and exterior wall coverings.Wall insulation values are as high as R-40when this method is used.A similar method uses hollow foam

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

Efficient,strong homeconstructionmethods

blocks made to fit your plans. The blocksare designed so there is an open cavitythroughout the inside. Concrete ispumped into the openings at the top of thewalls and flows throughout the blocks,creating a strong, efficient structure.SIP (structural insulated panel) sys-

tems are a subset of standard foam insu-lated panels, which have a thick foamcore sandwiched between two rigidsheets of various materials. Standardpanels are often used for exterior wallsto enclose post and beam-framed andsteel-framed homes for some of the high-est insulation levels possible.The rigid sheets in SIP panels are

unique because they are made of ori-ented strand board, which creates astrong, highly insulated panel. The panelis self-supporting. Once the panels areattached to the foundation and are con-nected, the SIP panels support them-selves, the floors, ceiling, and roof.Steel-framed construction is an excel-

lent construction method if strength isthe goal. Also, it does not burn or changeshape over time as lumber does, andeach steel piece is nearly identical.Although steel is not a good insulator,

its strength allows for thinner studs and

wider spacing. This leaves more room foradditional insulation in the walls andfewer thermal bridges. Efficient straw bale homes date back

more than a century in the United States.When placed on its side, each three-string bale is about 23 inches wide. Whenpacked to a normal density, it producesan insulation value greater than R-50.The bales are stacked and bolted to a con-crete foundation with vertical threadedrods. When completed, other than thickopenings at windows and doors, theylook like any conventional framed house.Although they may look unusual, a geo-

desic dome design makes for an efficientand strong home. The most efficient mod-els are made with thick foam panels. Con-crete is sprayed over the exterior, coveringthe panels and filling the gaps betweenpanels for strength. Another plus — thespherical exterior allows high winds toflow smoothly over it without damage.l

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

20 P E N N L I N E S • J U N E 2 0 1 5

PENNLINESclassified

ISSUE MONTH: AD DEADLINE:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enclosed is payment in the amount of $ .

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

Enclosed is payment in the amount of $ .

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 Additional words; attach separate sheet if needed.

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

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

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

Name/Address or Mailing Label Here:

August 2015 . . . . . . . . . June 19

September 2015 . . . . . . July 20

October 2015 . . . . . . . August 19

AROUND THE HOUSE

SPECIAL OFFER — BOTH COOKBOOKS FOR $12. “CountryCooking” — $5, including postage. “Recipes Remembered” —$7, including postage. Both of these cookbooks are a collectionof recipes from men and women of the electric co-ops ofPennsylvania and New Jersey. Payable to: Pennsylvania RuralElectric Association, P. O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. WriteAttention: Cookbooks.

CARPENTER BEES BE GONE!!! Stops boring. No chemicals. Beesenter - can’t get out. Easily dispose of dead bees. Trappedbees are visible. Traps dozens of bees. Hang in problem areas.Treated wood construction. Mounting hardware included. $25.Buy 4 – free shipping. Information/order: 814-333-1225. Email:gburch54@windstream.net.

ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR

HIGH COUNTRY Arts and Crafts Fair. S. B. Elliott State Park.Vendors, food, entertainment. 1/2 mile off I-80, Exit 111 (old 18).10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on July 12. More info. 814-765-5667.

BUILDING SUPPLIES

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

FACTORY SECONDS of insulation, 4 x 8 sheets, foil back. R-Value 6.5 per inch. Great for pole buildings, garages, etc. Alsoprime grade A foil bubble wrap insulation. 814-442-6032.

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

CHURCH LIFT SYSTEMS

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

CONSULTING FORESTRY SERVICES

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

CENTRE FOREST RESOURCES. Forest and Wildlife ManagementServices, Timber Sales and Appraisals. FREE TimberConsultation. College educated, professional, ethical. 814-571-7130.

CRANE SERVICE

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

FENCING

HYDRAULIC POST DRIVER FOR RENT. Easy hookup andtransportation. Safe, simple operation. Convenient, cost-effective alternative for setting wood posts by hand. $200 forfirst day, $175/additional day. 1-800-KENCOVE.

FINANCIAL FREEDOM

EXECUTIVE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE WEALTH. ARE YOU READYFOR FINANCIAL FREEDOM? JIM VARGO 314-614-6039.WWW.BLESSEDARETHERICH.COM

GIFT AND CRAFT IDEAS

SPECIAL OFFER — BOTH COOKBOOKS FOR $12. “CountryCooking” — $5, including postage. “Recipes Remembered” —$7, including postage. Both of these cookbooks are a collectionof recipes from men and women of the electric co-ops ofPennsylvania and New Jersey. Payable to: Pennsylvania RuralElectric Association, P. O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. WriteAttention: Cookbooks.

HEALTH AND NUTRITION

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

HEALTH INSURANCE

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

HUNTING

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

INFRARED SAUNAS

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

CLOSINGTHE BLINDSHELPED ME

ENJOY A MOVIE.

When the A/C is on, I keep the sun out. It’s nothing huge, but it’s worth the

effort. It’s also worth two tickets to a summer blockbuster. Find outwhat you can do at

TogetherWeSave.com.

TOGETHERWESAVE.COMUnited We StandJ U N E 2 0 1 5 • P E N N L I N E S 21

LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT

HARRINGTONS EQUIPMENT COMPANY, 475 Orchard Rd., Fairfield, PA17320. 717-642-6001 or 410-756-2506. Lawn & Garden equipment,Sales – Service – Parts. www.HarringtonsEquipment.com.

LIVESTOCK AND PETS

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

LOG CABIN RESTORATIONS

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

MISCELLANEOUS

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

MOTOR VEHICLES AND BOATS

1941 FORD CONVERTIBLE — 2 door flathead V8 deluxe restoredbut not driven for several years until 2012. Newville, PA. 717-776-3489.

MOTOR VEHICLES — 2007 Hyosung Aquila V-Twin 250 Cruiser,1100 miles. Stored inside. Inspected 9-15. Bags and windshield.Asking $1,700 OBO. Cash only. 814-425-2318.

1956 FORD T-BIRD — Red with white convertible top, 312 motor,V-8 engine. Fordomatic drive. Runs great. New Castle, PA.Serious inquires only. To make offer call 724-658-4287.

MOTORCYCLE-SNOWMOBILE INSURANCE

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

PENNSYLVANIA HUNTING LAND WANTED

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

QUILTING SERVICES

LONGARM QUILTING SERVICE AVAILABLE! Reasonable rates forbasic meander or looping. More complex designs also available.By mail or local drop-off/pickup. Contact Dogstar Quilts. 814-398-9369 or visit website at www.dogstarquilts.com.

REAL ESTATE

NORTH CENTRAL POTTER COUNTY. 32.5 acres. All wooded land– level ground. Deeded R/W to property. Allegheny River beginson property. Excellent 4-wheeler, snowmobile and hunting.Surveyed boundary. Electric available. On lot sewage approved.$81,250. 814-274-0644.

44 ACRES – LOCATION INDIANA COUNTY. Abundant watersupply, timber, gas well, minerals, pond. Four bedroom houseneeds repair, metal barn. For information call 814-952-1575 or540-450-8422.

4 BEDROOM, 3 BATH HOME WITH ATTACHED GARAGE on 32acres. Pole barn and pond. Halfway between Erie and Meadville.Will show to loan-qualified parties only. 814-350-0404.

JUNIATA COUNTY, East Waterford, PA house/cabin on 326.63acres, 25 tillable, clean and green, detached garage, one acrepond, approximately one mile road frontage. $975,000. 717-773-6103.

PENNLINESclassified

RECIPES AND FOOD

SPECIAL OFFER — BOTH COOKBOOKS FOR $12. “CountryCooking” — $5, including postage. “Recipes Remembered” —$7, including postage. Both of these cookbooks are a collectionof recipes from men and women of the electric co-ops ofPennsylvania and New Jersey. Payable to: Pennsylvania RuralElectric Association, P. O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108. WriteAttention: Cookbooks.

SAWMILLS

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

SHAKLEE

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

TRACTOR PARTS – REPAIR/RESTORATION

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

VACATIONS AND CAMPSITES

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

FOR SALE – Camping membership to Gettysburg ResortsCampground plus coast to coast membership. 717-369-0584.

BEAUTIFUL CABIN ON 2 ACRES. Well, electric, propane heat.Trees to sell near Titusville on Selkirk Road. Maintained bytownship. Call Claire. 814-825-7652.

RAYSTOWN VACATION HOUSE RENTAL. Sleeps 11, 4 bedrooms,large dining table, central A/C, 2 flbaths, 2 hfbaths, linens/towelsprovided, boat parking, near boat launch. $230/night. Call 814-931-6562. Visit www.laurelwoodsretreat.com.

STATE-LEASED CAMP FOR SALE. Rothrock Forest, Pennsylvania.Beautiful secluded area. Ideal for hunters or family get away.20 minutes to State College. Leave message. 814-506-7758.

SUMMER COTTAGE – 4 bedrooms, large deck facing Yough Lake.Some newer windows, 2 new entry doors, new well pump.Portable heating only. Boat dock included and transferable. 184Braddocks Run Rd., Addison, PA. $99,500 or best offer. Call814-242-5403.

WANTED TO BUY

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

22 P E N N L I N E S • J U N E 2 0 1 5

Thoughts from Earl Pitts,UHMERIKUN!

PUNCHlines

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

Earl pays it backwardsat restaurant afteranother’s good deed

Let me tell you something that hap-pened to me last night — something thatrestored my faith in America. Somethingthat reminded me this is the greatest coun-try in the history of the universe, filledwith the greatest people on the planet.All that — and it happened at the Mac-

Donald’s.See, we was driving through the pick-

up window to get supper. You know howyou keep hearing about how Mac-Don-ald’s sales are down and the company is

suffering. Let me tell you something — itain’t the Pitts family’s fault.Anyway — we roll up to the pay win-

dow and the woman says, “Did you getthe two Big Mac meals, two large choco-late shakes and two apple pies?” I says, “Yes, ma’am,” and she goes,

“That’s paid for.”I say, “Come again?” and she says, “That

car in front of you paid for your meal.”I go, “Why the heck did they do that?”

and she says, “They said they wanted todo something nice for somebody.”So I asked my better half, Pearl, if she

noticed who was in front of us. She didnot. I was thinking maybe it was some-body we knew, but the more I thoughtabout it, I realized nobody we knowwould buy our Mac-Donald’s meals.And then I remembered hearing some-

thing. This is a thing. This is like paying itforwards, except people are paying it back-wards at the Mac-Donald’s. People juststart paying for the food of the peoplebehind them. It’s crazy. It starts a chain ofgoodwill and brotherhood. I heard wheresome of these pay-it-backwards chains canlast for hundreds of cars and whole days.So I go, “Well, maybe I can buy supper

for the people behind us.” And the woman goes, “That’s totally

up to you sir, but you don’t have to.”And I says, “Naw, I had the good for-

tune of a complete stranger buying mymeal. The least I can do is pay it back-wards. But do me a favor — look behindmy truck. Is it America’s lovable Duggersfamily from the show ‘38 and LosingCount’ in the vehicle behind me?”She goes, “Ahhh, no, but it does look

like four people who really like to eat.”Oh.Wake up, America! Earl Pitts paid it

backwards last night. Well, not completely.But the people behind us did get $5 offtheir supper. It was their lucky day, too.

This ishow crazy this world is getting.I heard somewhere — I don’t remember

the pacifics — but a mama and daddy gotarrested on account of their kids were out-side playing. I am not making that up.Now, the problem was the kids were atthe park down the street. About a quartermile down the road. And some nosy, pain-in-the-rear neighbor turned the parents inon account of their kids were “unsuper-vised.” And they got charged with childendangerment. I just wanna say, don’t that beat all?

Everybody complains our kids are gettingfat on account of they sit in front of theirstupid screens every waking minute ofevery waking day. Kids got to get out andplay. “Play 60,” says the NFL in their cam-paign to get kids actively playing for 60minutes a day. So here’s a couple of par-ents who actually get their kids outsideplaying, and the police get involved. In my mind, they don’t need to be

arrested. They need to get a medal. Is itthe parents’ fault an NFL player was notavailable to play with their kids? I don’tthink so. You know, when we were kids, we

didn’t play 60. We played 24/7. And Idon’t remember no adult supervision. Iremember we used to ride our bikes allover creation. We used to bike to LittleLeague practice. We used to bike to theDippy Whip for ice cream cones. Howour parents ever stayed out of jail, I haveno idea.Today, if your kid goes a quarter-mile

down the street to the swing-sets, youknow what they call ‘em? “Free-range”children. And you know what they callthe parents? Inmates 4521 and 3764.Wake up, America! So this is Uncle

Earl telling all you little tikes out there, getinside and play video games until yourmuscles get all squishy and useless. Orelse your parents might be doing time. Wecan’t have that. I’m Earl Pitts, Uhmerikun. Check out

my YouTube channel Earl Pitts — byEarl Pitts. Like me on Facebook. Readmy blog at earlpittsamerican.com.l

RURALreflections

James KohlerBedford REC

Joseph StarkTri-County REC

Spring feverTHE PRESENCE of growing things — human and ani-mal babies, grass and trees — not to mention thunder-storms, just seems to say, “Spring is here.” Next up aresummer, fall and then winter. Please send your favoriteseasonal photos featuring the people, animals and land-scapes of Pennsylvania to Rural Reflections to share withall of the Penn Lines readers.This year, five amateur photographers will be named

winners of our $75 prize in the categories of: most artis-tic, best landscape, best human subject, best animal sub-ject and editor’s choice. Runners-up in each category willreceive a $25 prize.To be eligible for the 2015 contest prizes, send your

photos (no digital files, please) to: Penn Lines Photos, P.O.Box 1266, Harrisburg PA 17108-1266. On the back of eachphoto, include your name, address, phone number andthe name of your electric cooperative. (The best way toinclude this information is by affixing an address label tothe back of the photo.)Remember, our publication deadlines require that we

work ahead, so send your seasonal photos in early. Weneed fall photos before mid-July and winter photosbefore mid-September. (Hint: keep your spring and sum-mer photos to enter in the 2016 contest). Photos thatdon’t reflect a season may be sent at any time. Pleasenote: photos will be returned if you include a self-addressed, self-stamped envelope.l

J U N E 2 0 1 5 • P E N N L I N E S 23

Richard KnightWarren EC

Karin EllerREA Energy