MOUNTAIN PARKS ELECTRIC, INC.

coloradocountrylife.coop 7AUGUST 2015

J[Primary Lines]

Joe Pandy retired as general manager of Mountain Parks Electric after 10 years of service. He started his employment in September 2004. Pandy is relocating to Michigan later this sum-mer to join his family who moved to Michigan two years ago so that his sons could attend parochial school. During Pan-dy’s tenure he oversaw the reconstruction of the Granby business office after it was damaged by Marvin Heemeyer, the acquisi-tion of the El Monte Motel property and construction of a new warehouse and store yard facility. He successfully negotiated the sale of all of MPEI’s substations high-voltage equipment to Tri-State Generation and

Transmission.Tom Sifers was selected

to replace Pandy as the general manager of MPEI. Sifers was employed by MPEI the past 18 years, most recently as the as-sistant general manager and manager of finance and office services. Prior

to coming to MPEI, he was employed by a rural electric cooperative in Missouri. Sifers is actively involved in the com-munity, serving on the East Grand Board of Education, and representing Region 7 of the Colorado Association of School Boards. He manages the MPEI Education Trust and Charitable Trust and is a mem-ber of the SilverCreek Water and Sanita-

tion Board of Directors. He is also a past member/president of the Granby Rotary Club and Granby Chamber of Commerce.

“I strongly believe in the Seven Coopera-tive Principles that govern a cooperative, member-owned business,” Sifers said. “MPEI and our employees are actively involved in our service area and communities we serve. MPEI is a unique business in that any margins earned are allocated and subse-quently refunded as patronage capital to the member-owners.”

MPEI was organized in 1946 to bring electric power to a rural area that didn’t have electric service, and today MPEI serves almost 20,000 member-owners in Grand, Jackson, Larimer, Summit and Routt coun-ties.

MPEI General Manager Retires

Tom Sifers, MPEI General Manager

Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month

Periodically inspect your dryer vent to ensure it is not blocked. This will save energy and may prevent a fire. Manufacturers recommend using a rigid venting material — not plastic vents that may collapse and cause blockages.

Source: energy.gov

Ensure your children are protected from the electrical service con-nection to your home. Keep ladders or long poles stowed away from youngsters who might be tempted to use them to reach the wires connected to your house. If you added a room addition or deck, make sure the service connection remains well out of reach. Contact Mountain Parks Electric if you are unsure the distance is safe.

Out of the Reach of Children

coloradocountrylife.coop4 AUGUST 20158

[Primary Lines]

AAs a little girl growing up in Brooklyn, New York, one of my fondest memories was going to Henry’s Butcher Shop with my mother to get freshly ground beef, sausage and a variety of other meats and cheeses. Oddly enough, the butcher shop was a friendly, welcoming place — maybe because Henry would give us a wiener dog for sitting so quietly while Mom shopped. I can still remember the smell of sawdust on the floor as you opened the front door. This same feeling comes over me as I enter the doors to North Park Big Game Processing.

North Park Big Game Processing own-ers Chad and Chrissy Carlstrom and Nick Cornelison brought back that old butcher atmosphere to North Park and the Walden community. Just recently mov-ing their business to Walden’s main street next door to Family Dollar, the Carlstroms and Cornelison hope to be the center for processing wild game throughout the hunting seasons. In addition, the butcher shop carries steaks, sausage and other meat varieties for local retail sales.

Now you may wonder what brings young people back to their small home-town community. Chad’s family is the fifth generation in North Park, and Nick’s family is the seventh generation. Talk about roots — these families are deeply rooted. The Cornelisons, it’s told, were one of the first settlers in North Park.

Chrissy explains, “Nick and Chad grew up in North Park and have been friends since they were very young and were roommates throughout college. All of us come from entrepreneur backgrounds. Nick owned his own construction busi-ness. Chad and I owned our own finan-cial services business. Having hunted in North Park their whole lives, the guys always knew there was a need for a wild game processing business since a licensed facility did not exist in North Park. Both Nick and Chad grew up knowing how to process the meat from their own hunts, having learned from other family members over the years.”

This young trio came from similar backgrounds. Chad and Nick’s parents

were from ranching backgrounds. Chrissy’s grandparents were hardworking farmers raising 12 children. Chrissy’s business sense stems from the days when she was only 12 and working part time in her mom’s pizza restaurant. That continued through her college years. Chrissy credits her mom and dad with teaching her how to run a small business, skills that she continues to use in the business today. “Those backgrounds have contributed immensely to our ef-forts today as business owners in North Park, and we are all grateful for the roots we came from,” she said.

Recently, relatives of Chrissy chronicled their German-Russian heritage and wrote: “It is with extreme gratitude that our par-ents, grandparents and great-grandparents went through immense hardships to make better lives for us. In doing so, they handed down qualities we cherish today: strong and honest work ethics, the appreciation and expertise of farming and gardening, the desire to take care of what we have, the love of community, the preservation and joy of old-world recipes and the resilience and mindset to overcome adversity.” These sentiments are bred in the hearts of Chad, Chrissy and Nick — it’s what coming back to your roots is truly about. (Linda Tucker – Kremmling – Acct. #800493100)

There’s Big Game in North Park and Even Bigger Roots!BY ROSEMARY KNERR

Outside signage

Steaks, ground beef and ground sausage

Nick, Chrissy & Chad

coloradocountrylife.coop 9AUGUST 2015

[Primary Lines]

YOU COULD WIN $5!If you find your name in this issue, contact Mountain Parks Electric to receive a $5 credit on your power bill. Winners must contact MPEI within one month of the date of issue.

To learn more about the Carlstrom and Cornelison families, Hazel Gresham’s book on North Park families is available at the North Park Pioneer Museum in Walden. It is a treasured history well worth reading. And be sure to stop by North Park Big Game Processing next to Family Dollar — it’s the old-fashioned butcher with a new and fresh look. You won’t be disappointed! Find it at 420 Main Street in Walden, or call 970-723-8333 or email npbiggame@gmail.com.

FCollege Dorm Room Essential: SafetyFurnishing a college dorm room comes with a lot of options for personalization, from bedding and décor to kitchen supplies and electronics. One essential for the college residence is safety.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, U.S. fire departments responded to an annual average of 3,810 struc-ture fires in college housing between 2007 and 2011, causing an average of two deaths, 30 fire injuries and $9.4 million in direct property damage.

Safe Electricity offers the following safety tips for college students to help reduce the risk of electrical fires in their student housing:

• Only purchase and use electrical products tested for safety. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration pub-lishes a list of approved testing laboratories. Some common approved safety labels include UL, CSA and MET.

• Avoid overloading extension cords, power strips or outlets.• Use power strips with an "over-current" protector that will

shut off power automatically if too much current is being drawn.

• If use of an appliance frequently causes power to trip off, or if its power cord or the outlet feels hot, the appliance should be disconnected immediately and the condition reported to the landlord or campus housing staff.

• Never tack or nail an electrical cord to any surface or run cords across traffic paths or under rugs where they can be trampled or damaged.

• Use the correct wattage lightbulbs for lamps and fixtures. If no indication is on the product, do not use a bulb with more than 60 watts. Use cooler, compact fluorescent lamps.

• Keep all electrical appliances and cords safely away from bed-ding, curtains, papers and other flammable material.

• Make sure outlets around sinks are equipped with ground fault circuit interrupters before use. If they are not, contact the resident assistant, camping housing staff or landlord.

• Unplug small appliances when not in use and all electronics when away for extended periods.

• Always use microwave-safe containers. Metal and aluminum foil can damage the microwave or start a fire. If the microwave is dam-aged in any way, do not use it.

• Smoke detectors should never be disabled, and fire alarms should never be ignored or taken casually as a drill. Every time a fire alarm sounds, residents should calmly and quickly fol-low practiced procedures and immediately exit the building. (Brian Lambert – Littleton – Acct. # 100179707)

For more electrical safety information, visit SafeElectricity.org

Refrigeration with retail meats

coloradocountrylife.coop4 AUGUST 201510

[Primary Lines]

[In Our Neighborhood]GRANBYAugust 1— 11th annual Middle Park Wild West classic car, truck and motorcycle show. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mountain Parks Electric’s parking lot in Granby. Proceeds will benefit Mountain Family Center. Vote for your favorite classic vehicle and enjoy a barbecue lunch and silent auction. Bring a canned food item for donation to MFC. Trophies and prizes. Vehicle registration is $25. (Judson Connelly — Littleton, Acct. #1019820)

August 22 — Sermon on the “Mount” with Dr. Lew Sterrett speaking on Lessons for Life and Leadership from 5-8 p.m. at the Flying Heels Arena in Granby. Dinner at 5 and there will be music by Dave & Whitney. Have fun and be personally encouraged as you watch horses make changes in their own thinking that parallel your life. Free hotdogs while supplies last. Concession stand also on site.Granby Chamber of Commerce 970-887-2311.GRAND LAKEAugust 1-2 — Arts & Crafts Fair, Town Park, Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. August 8 — Geology of the Western Slope at Rocky Mountain National Park. Come and see some of the oldest rocks in Colorado. Interpretation of nature and history of rocks. A topic of investigation will be the volcanic activity that occurred at Never Summer Range. Adults: $75. Contact the Rocky Mountain Conservancy field office at 970-586-3262.August 24 — Vintage Time Travelers Model T Club displays Model T’s at the corner of Lake Avenue and Vine Street (Cottage Court Campsite). Call 970-627-8324 (Grand Lake Historical Society).August — Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre shows. For dates, show times and ticket information, call 970-627-3421Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce 970-627-3402KREMMLINGAugust 1-9 — 99th Middle Park Fair and Rodeo. Enjoy family fun and entertainment with dog, 4H and horse shows; livestock judging; CPRA Rodeo; live entertainment; barbecue; food contests; and games for children. August 15 — Demolition Derby starts at 7 p.m. Come and watch cars and trucks get smashed and enjoy concessions and fireworks. There will be a $25,000 added purse guarantee. The 2015 rules and regulations are on the Kremmling Chamber website at www.kremmlingchamber.com. Kremmling Chamber of Commerce 970-724-3472NORTH PARK/WALDENAugust 15 — Arts & Crafts in Hanson Park in Walden. Enjoy a potluck picnic at 4 p.m. and hot air balloon glow at dusk with free Disney movie at dusk. Vendors need to call A.K. at 970-819-7374 or contact alwaysbusygrannie@centurylink.net or Rachel at 970-819-7544 or contact north014@centurytel.net. North Park Chamber of Commerce 970-723-4600WINTER PARK/FRASER VALLEYAugust 8-9 — Fraser Valley Lions Club Pancake Breakfast, all you can eat. 7:30-11 a.m. Adults are $7; youth 4-12 $4; children under 5 are free. Visit the Winter Park Craft Fair on Main Street and Highway 40.August 8-9 — Winter Park Craft Fair, Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Main Street, Winter Park. For more information, call 970-531-3170.August 15 — Riverstock V starts at noon till 8 p.m. at Crooked Creek Eatery in Fraser. Enjoy an all-day concert tribute to the Fraser River in conjunction with the “Save the River” campaign raising awareness about water diversion projects and efforts to protect the Fraser River. Entry is $10 and includes two drinks. Event is sponsored by the Colorado Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited. For more information, call 970-531-5825 or email cmcopy01@hotmail.com.August 15-16 — High Altitude Flamethrower’s Chili Cookoff, Village at Winter Park, Saturday, 12-6 p.m., Sunday, 12-4 p.m., free admission. Taste tickets are available for purchase. 970-726-1564 or email wpinfo@winterparkresort.comAugust 28-29 — Alpenglow zipline tour at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, 7-10 p.m., $99 per person, reservations: 970-726-8231. Meet at the Activities Center 6:30 p.m. www.playwinterpark.com or 970-726-4221. (Kevin Dann – Englewood – Acct. #12098302)Winter Park Chamber of Commerce 970-887-0776

THE BILLING CORNER

To Serve You Better...Mountain Parks Electric, Inc. does its best to keep updated information on member’s accounts. If you change your phone number, mailing or email address, please let know.

Our phone numbers: 970-887-3378 877-887-3378 (Toll Free) 303-377-2525 (Denver Line) 970-887-3996 (Fax)You can also email us at: customerservice@MPEI.com

Should you move away from our service territory, don’t forget about capital credit refund checks. Continue to keep in touch with your current mailing address so we will be able to send them to you.

Dave Houston and his team of workers accept a rebate check for Devil’s Thumb Ranch in the amount of $2,347 for changing existing lighting to LED lighting replacements.

Devil’s Thumb Rebate Check

Power at the Fourth of July parade in Granby with MPEI employees, Amy Rosier of Tri-State Generation and Transmission and friends.

POWER’S FOURTH OF JULY

LINDSAY MCCANN, READ AUDITOR AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE