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4 CEO’s messageDirector and Bylaws Elections

5 Energy Management

7 National Rural Electric Cooperative AssociationLost Pocket Knife Holds Lesson for Electric Co-ops

12 76th Annual MeetingSSVEC’s 76th annual meeting is scheduled for Thursday evening, April 24, at Benson High School gymnasium.

13 Official Notice of Annual MeetingRegistration to establish a quorum will begin at 6 p.m.The purpose of the annual meeting of members is to consider and act on reports of business that may come before the membership.

14 - In the KitchenLocal cooks share recipesOatmeal Macaroons, Irish Oatmeal, Bacon and Cheddar Souffle.

15 - Calendar of EventsEvents Calendar for SSVEC’s service area

MAIN OFFICE 350 N. HaskellWillcox, AZ 85643(520) 384-2221www.ssvec.org

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERCreden W. Huber

BOARD OF DIRECTORSKathy Thatcher, PresidentLes Thompson, Vice PresidentHarold L. Hinkley, SecretaryDan Barrera, TreasurerCurtis NolanSandra HuntingtonPat EnglishJoe FurnoDon KyteDavid LunaEdward MolinaGene Manring

LOCAL OFFICE PHONE NUMBERSBenson: (520) 586-2238Bowie: (520) 847-6000Cascabel: (520) 212-6001Elfrida: (520) 642-3475Patagonia: (520) 394-2051San Simon: (520) 845-6000Sierra Vista: (520) 458-4691Sunsites/Pearce: (520) 826-6000Sunizona: (520) 824-6000

Wireless Internet help desk 24/7: (877) 877-6861

After-hours, weekend and holiday outage number: (800) 422-3275

ON THE COVERA retired 2002 Chevy Blazer fleet vehicle will be the grand prize in April’s 76th annual Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative Members Meeting. Standing next to the vehicle are SSVEC Director for Benson, Dan Barrera and SSVEC Lead Customer Service Representative for Benson, Lisa Tomerlin.Photo by Mark Levy, Herald/Review

Touchstone Energy® The power of human connections

IN THIS ISSUE

GARDEN GROWERS8 Community plots offeropportunity to plant, reap what you sow

4

The second of coop-erative principle is “demo-cratic member control.” In April SSVEC mem-bers will put that

principle into practice as many will be voting for an individual to serve as director on the cooperative board, and all members will be voting on SSVEC bylaws changes.

DIRECTOR ELECTIONS AND COMBINING DISTRICTS

There are four districts that will be choosing a director in this 2014 election cycle. Based on bylaws provisions an elec-tion is held if the position is contested. If there is only one nominee, he/she will be deemed elected and no elec-tion will be held.

This year presents a change in the cooperative’s districts. In 2008 the membership ap-proved a bylaws change allowing the Board of Directors to downsize the Board from 13 directors to nine directors. In 2010 per the member approved bylaws changes, the Board approved a resolution consolidating less populous districts to reduce, through a long-range process, the number of director dis-tricts and (directors) to nine. Currently there are 12 direc-tors and with this election that number will drop to 10. One director district has already been consolidated into other districts in Sierra Vista.

With this year’s elections four districts will be con-

solidated into two districts to reduce the Board size to 10 directors. This is the situation in two director elections this year. That means that SSVEC members in Patagonia, Sonoita, Huachuca City, St. David and surround-ing areas will be electing a director. And members in the Cochise, Dragoon, Pearce-Sunsites, Kansas Settlement, Elfrida, McNeal, Double Adobe and surrounding areas also will be electing a direc-tor.

Two other elections do not involve consolidation: one of the central Sierra Vista districts and the other Stew-art District (north of Willcox) including Cascabel.

Members in these districts holding elections will receive ballots by mail, not later than April 2.

The completed ballot must be received by 9 a.m. on April 23 to be counted by a committee of co-op members from districts not holding elections this year

BYLAWS ELECTIONSAll members will have the

opportunity to vote for a se-ries of revisions in the coopera-tive’s bylaws.

Among the revisions are grammatical changes and basic “cleanup” of existing language with some minor changes for clarification. There is also new language to specifically state that membership lists, including names and addresses, are con-fidential; to allow for electronic voting at some future date; and to enumerate qualifications and duties to become a candidate to run for the board of directors.

Members will receive a copy of the bylaws revisions and a ballot by mail not later than April 2.

The Board of Directors unan-imously recommends these changes to the entire member-ship. We ask for your support of these changes. If you have any questions about the changes, please let us know.

Completed bylaws ballots must be received by 9 a.m. on April 23 to be counted.

Director and Bylaws Elections coming up

CREDEN W. HUBER

SSVEC Bylaws provide for an annual meeting of the members during the second quarter of the year (during the month of April, May or June). The location of the meeting rotates among Sierra Vista, Benson and Willcox.

• SSVEC directors are elected by members of their geographic districts and serve three-year terms.

• Currently there are 12 individuals who serve on the SSVEC Board of Directors.

• SSVEC’s board of directors has regular monthly meetings on the Wednesday following the third Monday of the month. The meetings are open to the public and a “call to members” is provided on the agenda. The approved minutes from every board meeting are available at all cooperative offices.

• Announcements of location, date and time of these meetings can be found on the monthly bill insert and on SSVEC’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/SSVECAZ.

• Married couples hold a joint membership, which means there is one vote per household for director elections (held by mail) or for matters that may be presented to the entire membership at a membership meeting.

• In addition, patronage capital (sometimes called capital credits) accrues under the membership jointly held by a husband and wife.

SSVEC CO-OP FACTS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S MESSAGE

Information about SSVEC’s Annual Meeting, Directors. Monthly Meetings and

Cooperative Membership

SSVEC Directors sworn in at the cooperative’s 75th annual meeting, from left, Dan Barrera, David Luna, Sandra Huntington and Don Kyte.

COURTESY PHOTO

5

ENERGY MANAGEMENT

BY DAVID BANESUNWATTS PROGRAM MANAGER

SHOULD I BUY OR LEASE A SYSTEM? It depends on your personal finan-

cial position. PV systems are eligible to receive both federal and state tax credits so your individual tax situ-ation is something to discuss with your tax advisor. SSVEC has also offered a solar PV incentive since 2005 and will offer an incentive for the foreseeable future. The incentive available today is 25 cents per DC watt with a maximum incentive of $2,500 for residential systems. If you buy the system you take advantage of the tax credits and utility incentives but bear the cost of the system up front.

Leasing a system is an option with some installers. This can be set up as a single payment lease or a monthly lease depending on which works best for your budget. If you consider the leasing be sure to read the lease care-fully as some contain provisions that may distort your savings. The first provision to look out for is the an-nual escalation amount. Some leases contain a 3 percent per year increase in your monthly payment. Salesmen say this is because utility rates go up an average of 3 percent per year. This may be the national average when considering “for profit” electric utilities, but SSVEC is a not-for-profit member-owned utility and histori-cally our rate increases are less than 1 percent per year. A lease with a 3 percent annual increase may save

you money the first few years but not after that.

The Chief Executive Officer of a large solar leasing company was quoted as saying, “After paying the monthly leasing fee, the customer saves between five to ten dollars per month.” So another way to look at a monthly lease is, you now have two electric bills -- one from the solar company and one from SSVEC. Yes, a leasing company can lower your SSVEC bill but that same company will charge you to do so.

We also have had some realtors tell us that homes with leased systems can add a hurdle to selling the home. In at least one case the new buyer did not meet the credit standards for the leasing company, and the seller had to either cancel the sale or pay off the remaining balance of the lease. Some leases also may require you to add the PV system to your home-owner’s policy which may increase your insurance cost. Read the lease agreement carefully and ask your insurance agent before you commit to a lease.

Not all leases are bad deals. If you don’t need or can’t use the tax cred-its, a single payment lease lets the leasing company leverage those sav-ings and lower the cost of the single payment lease. But this also requires that you have a fairly large amount of cash available to make the one-time lease payment.

NET METERINGNet Metering allows PV owners to

use the electrical grid “like a battery” without having to buy and maintain a battery. This Net Metering discussion relates specifically to SSVEC and our members.

SSVEC tracks the energy flow to and from your home with a special meter. It has two registers to record energy flow instead of the normal one register. The DE register records the energy that flows from SSVEC to your home (SSVEC DElivered this power). The RE register records the energy that flows from your home to SSVEC (SSVEC REceived this pow-er). The SSVEC meter does not see or record energy that your PV system produced and your home consumes in real time. The meter only sees the shortfall or excess kilowatt-hours (kWh) needed.

On your bill we show what we delivered on one line and charge the retail kWh rate for this energy. On a separate line further down the bill we show the excess kWh and we give you full retail credit up to the amount of kWh we delivered in the billing month (Net kWh). If you had more excess kWh than we delivered we “hold” these kWh in a “bank” for you to use later in the year. If you had less excess energy than we delivered and you had kWh in “the bank” we would draw these kWh out to bring your bill to the Net kWh.

Once per year (you choose Septem-ber or March) the net Meter regula-tions require that we “true up” the net metered account. All year long we have passed kWh between us at full

retail price. In the “true up month” after we Net the kWh, if there are any kWh left in the “bank” we then purchase those kWh at the avoided cost. The avoided cost is calculated each June based on the prior 12 months of energy purchases and sent to the Arizona Corporation Commis-sion for its review and approval to use as of September each year.

So, based on these rules BIGGER IS NOT BETTER when it comes to determining the size of your system. On average (after applying the tax and incentives to the cost) the prepaid cost per kWh for a PV system is around 10 cents per kWh. SSVEC avoided cost has been less than 4 cents for the last four years. Economically it is better to size your system to 99 percent than 101 percent of your annual needs.

SO NOW WHAT DO I DO?First, take your time. There is no

such thing as a “one-time offer.” Do not be pressured into making a deci-sion without having enough time to consider all the topics mentioned in the article. Ask for references and then call them and get their opinions. People may not be able to tell you who to use but they will always tell you who NOT to use.

SSVEC is here to help. You own us, our job is to help you keep your energy bill as low as possible and if PV can do that for you, we are right there with you. Our goal is to provide you with information to help you make the best decision for you.

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BY STEVEN JOHNSON, ELECTRIC CO-OP TODAY STAFF WRITER

here’s a lesson for electric cooperatives in a pocket knife that has been sitting at the bottom of Roosevelt Lake in Arizona for

40 years.The gleaming, razor-sharp

knife had been passed down from a grandfather to the father of NRECA Board President Curtis Nolan. On a fishing trip when he was 10, Nolan took the knife from his dad to cut through a hopeless tangle of fishing line, and knocked it in the water.

At the time, Nolan said he failed to appreciate and cherish the past the knife represented. Co-ops must not make the same mistake, he said.

“I didn’t understand handing things down and taking care of things,” Nolan said March 4 in his president’s address to the 72nd NRECA Annual Meeting. “But we must remember where we came from.”

In Nolan’s home area in south-east Arizona, organizers went up and down rutted roads for two years just to get 266 would-be co-op members to sign on to the rural electrification effort at $5 a pop.

“People did things for others,” he said. “We cannot forget that.”

But Nolan said co-ops can’t be mired in the past, reveling in the way they transformed the qual-ity of life in rural America. They need to honor and protect their

legacy, but be prepared for the future, he said.

For example, Nolan asked, what will happen to co-ops when members produce large amounts of their own power, through solar panels or some other technology?

“Do we want to be the ones who provide electricity for our members in the future?” he said. “Even though it will be differ-ent for every co-op, let’s add to our board agenda, to remember where we came from, decide where we are going and how

we’re going to get there so we can serve our membership for the next 75 years.”

Nolan noted most board mem-bers meet perhaps for four hours a month, or 48 hours a year, to deal with co-op issues.

That limited time underscores the need to keep in constant con-tact with members, understand their needs and prepare for the future.

“We have 48 hours to make a difference for families. Don’t you dare drop the knife,” he said.

Lost Pocket Knife Holds Lesson for Electric Co-ops NATIONAL RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION

T

JIM DONAHUE, • GRAND CANYON STATE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION

NRECA President Curtis Nolan addresses more than 8,500 cooperative leaders on March 4 at the second general session of the organization’s 2014 Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tenn.

About Curtis NolanCurtis Nolan has served on the Board of Directors for Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative since 1993. He has previously served as President of the Board. He has served on the Board of Directors for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association representing Arizona for the past 12 years. Currently he serves as President of that board.

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 private, not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.

Curtis moved to the Willcox area in 1982 and was a farmer and apple grower for more than 20 years. He now is a general contractor building and remodeling homes in Cochise and Graham counties and is president of Nolan Builders.

Curtis and his wife, Julie, have seven children and 13 grandchildren.

8 9

BY ADAM CURTISHERALD/REVIEW

reparing to measure space for five new beds recently, Rebecca Hillebrand mar-veled at how far the Sierra Vista community garden has come.

“What a difference two years make,” Hillebrand said.

In that time, the garden has truly tak-en root, growing from its first bed to the 17 present at 300 E. Wilcox Drive. With the addition of six more raised beds and five in-ground beds, the garden will have about 28 plots for community members to use by the end of May.

“It feels really good, it’s exciting to see that it’s actually coming to be,” Hil-lebrand said.

Aside from the plots, there are a ramada, a shed with a lending library

inside and a fledgling herb garden for everyone to share. It’s not just about the physical additions either. Once a month expert gardeners come share their knowledge at “Learning in the Garden” events that help make the community garden a resource for anyone interested in growing their own food, whether it’s on site or at home.

“I wanted to do it because I think food security is important and the only way you’re going to have food security is to encourage people to start taking charge of their own food,” Hillebrand said. “That includes being here to learn how to grow, whether they grow at home or here.”

She’s especially excited that some youth groups are getting involved. With the addition of some local 4-H members, all age groups, from teenagers on up,

COMMUNITY GARDENS COMMUNITY GARDENS

MARK LEVY • HERALD/REVIEW

COMMUNITY PLOTS OFFER OPPORTUNITY TO PLANT, REAP WHAT YOU SOW

GARDENgrowers

P

SEE GARDEN PAGE 10DeForest Lewis receives assistance from his grandson, Geran Kolasinski, 11, while marking new garden plots.

MARK LEVY • HERALD/REVIEWCeci Lewis hammers markers in for new raised garden beds.

Residents plan garden for Willcox

AINSLEE S. WITTIGARIZONA RANGE NEWS

The community of Willcox is trying to get down and dirty!

A community garden is in the planning stages, and Willcox resident Larry Snyder is instrumental in trying to get the idea to become reality.

Alan Baker, director of the Willcox Chamber of Com-merce and Agriculture, said, “Larry came to me and approached me about a community garden to give some-thing to the seniors, veterans, students and others to get involved with. Anyone can be involved, but the intergen-erational thing is great, and it's also great for those living in apartments who don't have a place for a garden.”

Planning meetings are occurring behind the scenes, with hopes of planting a community garden on Arizona Avenue and Fremont, where the old water well was years ago.

“We have approached the city, and it looks like the City could be on board with that,” Baker said.

Snyder, 74, said he managed Fisher Nursery in Willcox for two years, but has had “55 years of experience in nurs-eries and greenhouses – I started at age 9!”

Baker said he “has had a career managing nurseries in California and in Willcox, and I think his motivation is to contribute something he knows about to the community.”

Snyder said wants to start a community garden for several reasons.

Connie Dunham, who heads up the Willcox Veterans Support Group, told him a community garden would be excellent for disabled veterans in the area.

He also believes there “is a big movement afoot to return to small farming,” which has been hurt by the economy in recent years.

“We are going to give veterans, schools, senior citizens and anyone else interested, an opportunity, a place to work, to meet other people, exchange ideas and benefit the city – all at once.

Willcox High School agriculture teacher /FFA advisor Moiria White is also involved, and said, “We are coming up with plans and looking at the layout” with hopes of get-ting it approved and started soon.

Willcox resident John Cropper is also helping by build-ing a website for the garden, Baker said.

“It's pretty close to reality. We were told by the city ad-ministrator that we could go ahead and start, and we just need to get it opened up. We'll have to hurry to get the land ready for planting in the spring.”

If you are interested, contact Snyder at 520-384-6417, or Baker at 520-384-2272.

SEE WILLCOX PAGE 10

10

COMMUNITY GARDENS

have started

using space

at the community

garden.The com-

munity aspect is precisely why Valerie Notting-ham decided to

start a plot.

SPACE, SUN AND GOOD EARTH“I’m an asker, not a reader,”

Nottingham said.Sharing a raised garden bed

with Sierra Vista City Council Member Henrietta “Hank” Huis-king, Nottingham likes to learn by doing and enjoys working next to experienced gardeners.

“Just to see what they’re grow-ing and get ideas,” she said.

Nottingham thinks the garden is coming along beautifully, in no small part to Hillebrand’s leadership and the dedication of expert gardeners such as DeFor-est Lewis.

A Cochise County Master Gardener, Lewis has given up his own plot but still enjoys lending a hand when he can. It’s actually part of his mission as a master gardener, a title he’s had for more than 20 years.

“We are obligated, as we receive our training, to take it to the citizens,” Lewis said. “So we are here as a resource, from the University of Arizona to the citizens of the county.”

He truly enjoys volunteering his time at the community garden.

“We have space, we have sun and we have good earth,” Lewis said. He’s assisting one gardener with learning how to grow healthy food to put on the table back home, which is a top prior-ity for Lewis.

“If we can grow good food without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, then

we’re doing everybody a favor,” he said.

While Lewis got to work with his wife and two grandchil-

dren, who helped measure space for new beds, Lynda Young and her 28-year-old daughter Nicole Terry wandered by to get some ideas to use at home.

Young said she’s known about the garden ever since Hillebrand started holding meetings to ex-plore the idea at the Sierra Vista Food Co-op, because Young used to serve on the co-op’s board.

“The fact she’s getting five more beds is exciting because that means there’s a growing interest. I think, as more people want to become in charge of their health, this is a big part of it, growing your own food,” Young said.

ROOM TO GROWHillebrand has checked off a

lot of her goals over the first two years at the community garden but she keeps adding more.

She’s ordered a picnic table with benches from the 4-H in Douglas, which builds and sells them to raise money, and is ap-plying for a rainwater harvest-ing grant to use water gathered from the roof of the ramada and shed.

“As it grows I think it’s becom-ing more and more enjoyable to just be here,” Hillebrand said.

Even after all the new beds are complete, there’s still plenty of room on the south end of the lot to expand. But the limits of the parcel are not the limits of the garden.

“We’re getting ready to get more people to come garden with us. We always want more,” Hillebrand said. “We’ve got space and we’ve got plans. Once we’re filled here, I’ll find us another space.

“There will always be places to find,” she said.

HOW TO START A PLOTThe large beds can be rented

for $15 a month and the towers are available for $10 a month.

The fees pay for insurance, water and a port-a-potty. Com-post and straw are generally provided.

Hillebrand has said she never wants finances to get in the way of someone coming to garden, so there are opportunities for people in need to get their fees covered.

For more information contact Rebecca Hillebrand at svcom-garden@gmail.com or go to www.svcommunitygardens.com.

GARDEN FROM PAGE 8

MARK LEVY • HERALD/REVIEWLynda Young, center, and daughter Nicole Terry, left, talk with Rebecca Hillebrand, Sierra Vista community garden founder, about the monthly community garden workshop offered. Young is interested in learning about raised bed gardens, which she would like to plant at her home.

Compiled from www.svcommunitygardens.com

SSVV CCOOMMMMMMUNNITYYY GGGARRRDDEENNSSUPCOMING EVENTS

March 29 · noon to 1 p.m. Planning a Summer Garden. Jan Groth, Instructor, Master Gardener

April 26 · 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Edible Plants: Harvesting and Use. Mimi Kamp.

May 31 · 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Children’s Reading in the Gardens. Lisa Locke, local author.

June 28 · 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Native Agriculture, Methods and Produce. Speaker TBD.

July 26 · 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Mesquite Bean Harvesting. Rebecca Hillebrand.

August 23 · 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Companion Planting. Speaker TBD.

September 27 · 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Planning Your Winter Garden; Yes, You CAN! Speaker TBD.

October 25 · noon to 1 p.m. Water Use in the Garden. Cado Daily, WaterWise.

November 22 · noon to 1 p.m. Container Gardening. Rosemarie Burke.

GREENHOUSE IN THE WORKS AT WHSAlso in the works is a greenhouse facility for

the Willcox FFA at Willcox High School.Amy Sanborn, WHS ag teacher and FFA ad-

visor, said a greenhouse would greatly increase the ag program’s plant science curriculum, not to mention produce “vegetables which could be used for the cafeteria or farmers market.”

The Willcox FFA has had an outdoor raised garden for at least six years – started by WHS alum Amanda Webb and added to by alum and now teacher at WHS, Paul Collins, Sanborn said. “We are currently preparing the beds so we can plant summer veggies,” she added.

But White said, “We want to expand our program. With just the garden, we're limited in plant growth. By the time the plants are grow-ing, school's out. With a greenhouse, we can grow all year long.”

“We'll also learn about hydroponics and nu-trients,” and how greenhouses work. “My high school (Round Valley) had a greenhouse and we learned a lot from that.”

At this point, the school district is getting bids for the greenhouse and hopes to get it ordered soon.

“Stephen Klump said he'd help with the con-struction, and we are looking for community help for the installation,” Sanborn said. “We are excited and hope to have it up and running by August when school starts.”

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SSVEC’s 76th annual meeting is scheduled for Thursday eve-ning, April 24, at Benson High School gymnasium.

One lucky co-op member in attendence will win the grand prize:

a 2002 Chevy Blazer retired from the cooperative’s vehicle fleet.

INFORMATION FOR MEMBERSThe meeting will focus on

information and highlights of significant events from the past

year.SSVEC President Kathy

Thatcher and Chief Ex-ecutive Officer Cre-

den W. Huber will present reports. Re-

sults of this year’s bylaws

election and director elec-

tions also will be

announced.Refreshments and registration

gifts will be available to all regis-tered members.

Registration to establish a quo-rum will begin at 6 p.m. and the business meeting starts at 7 p.m.

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONSMagician Scott Davis will

perform highlights of his show, “Making Accidents Disappear,” prior to the business meeting. Davis incorporates magic and safety lessons in a program designed for students and magic lovers of all ages! He has pre-sented programs to several area elementary schools over the past

few years. SSVEC is bringing Davis back to southeast Arizona this spring for shows at local schools.

The business meeting also will include an announcement of the winners of the 2014 SSVEC Foundation scholarships. In all, 30 area high school seniors will each receive $1,500 scholarship awards.

DRAWINGSIn addition to the vehicle draw-

ing, the meeting will conclude with 20 drawings for $50 billing credits and other smaller prizes. Members must be registered and present in order to win.

SULPHUR SPRINGS

MARK LEVY • HERALD/REVIEWA retired 2002 Chevy Blazer fleet vehicle will be the grand prize in April’s 76th annual Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative Members Meeting. Sitting in the vehicle is SSVEC Lead Customer Service Representative for Benson, Lisa Tomerlin, and standing is SSVEC Director for Benson, Dan Barrera.

MARK LEVY HERALD/REVIEW

Co-op’s Annual Meeting is Thursday, April 24, in Benson

13

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SULPHUR SPRINGS

The 76th annual meeting of Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc. will take place at Benson High School Gymnasium 107 W. Seventh St., Benson, Ariz., on April 24, 2014 at 7 p.m.

Registration to establish a quorum will begin at 6 p.m.

The purpose of the annual meeting of members is to consider and act on reports of business that may come before the membership.

OFFICIAL NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

1. Call to order

2. Report on quorum

3. Reading of the annual meeting notice and proof of its mailing

4. Reading of unapproved minutes of last year’s meeting and action thereon

5. Report of director election results and presentation of directors and directors-elect

6. Report of bylaws election results

7. Report of officers

8. Adjournment

TO ACCOMPLISH THESE OBJECTIVES, THE FOLLOWING AGENDA IS ANNOUNCED:

14

IN THE KITCHEN

LOCAL COOKS SHARE RECIPES

Ellen Ackerman - Sierra VistaThe oatmeal macaroons recipe was given to me in 1968 while I was living in California, by a friend who said, “these cookies ship well.” Since my husband, Jim, was with the military in Vietnam, I needed goodies to survive the distance. These cookies may ship well; they never survive in the cookie jar at home very long!

OATMEAL MACAROONSMakes three dozen large cookies1 cup butter softened1 cup brown sugar1 cup white sugar1 tablespoon real vanilla2 eggs 2 1/2 cup whole wheat fl our1/2 teaspoon soda1/2 teaspoon salt1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

3 cups rolled oats quick or old fashioned1 cup chopped nutsMix butter and sugar, vanilla and eggs. Add fl our, soda, salt, cinnamon to egg mixture. Stir in oats and nuts. Drop by teaspoon on greased cookie sheet. Bake 350 12-15 minutes, my oven 325 for 10-12 minutes. Optional, stir in 11.5 package of chocolate chips.

Don’t forget breakfast this Patty’s Day. Saint Patrick’s Day is a beloved holiday regardless of a person’s ethnic background. Whether you or your ancestors hail from the Emerald Isle or not, everyone is Irish come Saint Patrick’s Day, when celebrations that off er music, food and beverages combine to make for a festive event.

While it’s easy to think of after-hours revelry on Saint Patrick’s Day, you can begin celebrating Irish heritage at the breakfast table. Irish breakfast is served at many Irish pubs across the globe, but those who want to try something new can whip up the following recipe for “Irish Oatmeal, Bacon and Cheddar Souffl e,” courtesy of internationally renowned Chef Michael Foley and Irishcentral.com.

IRISH OATMEAL, BACON AND CHEDDAR SOUFFLEServes 4 to 64 tablespoons unsalted butter1 tablespoon all-purpose fl our1 cup milk3/4 cup quick cook Irish oatmeal1/2 cup grated Irish cheddar cheese1/3 cup low-fat cream cheese1/2 cup chopped crisply fried bacon4 large egg yolks, beaten1 tablespoon chopped fresh fl at leaf parsley1 teaspoon prepared mustard1/4 teaspoon salt to taste

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepperFreshly ground black pepper, to taste4 large egg whites, stiffl y beatenUsing 2 tablespoons butter, generously grease an 8-inch souffl e dish. Dust with fl our and set aside.Place milk and remaining butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and heat until al-most boiling. Slowly stir in oatmeal. Cook, stirring constantly, for about 4 minutes or until thick.Remove from heat and beat in the cheeses. When well combined, stir in bacon, then egg yolks, pars-ley, mustard, salt, and cayenne and black pepper.Fold beaten egg whites in thirds into the souffl e mix, taking care not to defl ate the egg whites. When well incorporated but not overly mixed, spoon into prepared souffl e dish.Place in cold oven. Turn heat on to 350 F and bake, undisturbed, for about 40 minutes, or until center is still slightly soft but souffl e has risen and set.Serve immediately.

Want to share a favorite recipe with our readers? Email your favorite recipes to

recipes@svherald.com

h f i i i h

15

April 5, 2014

April 11 - 13 April 12 April 17-192014 Tombstone Rose Festival | Tombstone, ArizonaCelebrate spring and the 129th blooming of the world famous Tombstone Rose Tree with a parade and festival. The Rose Parade starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Activities include the traditional crowning of the Rose Queen and Court under the Rose Tree, pancake breakfast, street music and dance, lunch box auction, pony rides, performances in the historic Tombstone Courthouse and Schieffelin Hall.For festival information and parade entry forms email Rose_Festival@msn.com, go to www.tombstonechamber.com or call the Rose Tree Museum at (520) 457-3326.

Tombstone Vigilettes Charity Variety Show | Tombstone, ArizonaThis year, in honor of the 25th anniversary of the variety show, the theme will be “Silver Ladies” and the group is bringing back some of its oldies but goodies. The show will be in Schieffelin Hall and starts at 7 p.m. Requested donation for admission is $5; children under 7 are free. All proceeds from admissions go to those in need in the town of Tombstone.

Dinner Theater and Murder Mystery Auditions | Sierra Vista, Arizona“Theater on the Move” will be performing an original murder mystery: “Sierra Sam and the Tomb of Gloom, or….Have You Seen My Mummy!” at the Windemere Hotel and Conference Center over Father’s Day weekend (June 13-15). If you are interested in being a part of the production the group could use your time, talents and donations. For more information send email to: thomaskelley8@q.com. You can also call Tommy Kelley at 378-7037. Actors are needed, and help with costumes, props, music, singing, dancing, lighting, sound, sets, and help with programs, fliers, tickets and website. Auditions for this production will be at 6 p.m. at the Windemere Hotel and Conference Center.

April 26

May 3 - 4 May 10 May 16 - 1799th Annual Sonoita Horse RacesSonoita, ArizonaOne of the most historic race meets of the past century, the Sonoita Horse Races, takes place this year on Kentucky Derby/Cinco de Mayo weekend. Save the dates, and support great horse racing in our beautiful southern Arizona town.Wager on the Kentucky Derby and enjoy two days of live quarter horse and thoroughbred racing. Gates open at 10 a.m. and post time is 1 p.m.For more information, call (520) 455-5553 or check out www.sonoitafairgrounds.com

9th Annual Elfrida May Festival | Elfrida, Arizona Once again there will be a Fine Art Show featuring artists from all over. The 4th Annual Car Show will be in the park and Powers from the Past will have lots of the old machines to check out. Local restaurants will be ready with great food and drinks. Wagon rides will transport folks from one end of town to the other. Come out and check out events from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact Ms. Liz at (520) 507-0319.Sierra Vista Community Chorus Spring Concert | Sierra Vista, ArizonaTickets for this “flight” will be $10 in advance and $11 at the door. Children 12 years and under will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult. You’ll “take off” at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:15 p.m.) at the Buena Performing Arts Center. Tickets will be sold beginning April 14 at the Oscar Yrun Community Center and from chorus members. “Blue Moon,” “Keep Your Sunny Side Up,” “It’s Only a Paper Moon” and many more songs to send you in orbit. See you thereElk’s Wine and Arts Festival | Sierra Vista, ArizonaThe Elks Lodge #2065 (1 Elks Lane, Sierra Vista) will host its Wine and Arts Festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on both days. There will be 15 to 20 local Arizona wineries and a myriad of arts and crafts vendors from local areas as well as Phoenix participating in this year’s event. The event is open to all Elks and guests throughout Arizona and the region. Entrance to the event is free.A wine-tasting fee will include wine-tasting tickets and a souvenir glass. The proceeds for the event will go to one of our veterans, children’s hospital and youth charity programs.There will be two bands playing each day during the event. Also available will be German cake and coffee, authentic European wine festival cuisine entrees, and even beer for the beer lovers. Wineries and vendors who need more information or want to reserve a booth can call Larry Singer at (520) 508-6878 for more information.

Care for the Horses Huge Garage Sale | Sierra Vista, ArizonaFurniture, appliances, household supplies, saddle and tack (English and Western). The event will be between Ramsey and Highway 90 and begins at 8 a.m.Care for the Horses is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization whose mission is to help provide assistance to owners of horses so that no horse shall be subject to neglect or abuse because help was not available.For more information, call (520) 458-7193.

Festival@msncom gotowww

CALENDAR OF EVENTSThe deadline for the May issue of Currents

featuring events for the months of June and July is April 10.

Email information to wcrane@ssvec.com.

Sierra Vista Woman’s Club, Inc. | Sierra Vista, Arizona The Sierra Vista Woman’s Club will have its 37th Fundraising Fashion Show at 11 a.m. at the Thunder Mountain Activity Center on Fort Huachuca. Fashions will be provided by Bati’Mamselle Boutique, Dillard’s, Judy Wear Clothing Collections, Marshall’s, Pan Terra Gallery and Spur Western Wear. Tickets are $25 and proceeds go to scholarships in nursing, music, and technology, engineering, and math. In addition, funds are distributed to local organizations that have a similar mission to the club. Tickets can be purchased from club members or at Dillard’s, Sierra Vista Chamber of Commerce and Spur Western Wear. For more information, call (520) 803-6869.High Desert Crafters | Sierra Vista, ArizonaThe High Desert Crafters will host their 15th annual spring craft fair from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will again be at the Windemere Hotel and Conference Center, S. Hwy. 92. The fair also features a bake sale by the Golden K Kiwanis Club. All proceeds from the bake sale go toward the club’s children’s projects in Sierra Vista (Forgach House, Magic Hands Knitting and Crochet Club, Comfort Dolls, Swaddling Blankets, Terrific Kids and Bringing Up Grades). Many fine crafters will be there with many new ideas for that special gift. A free drawing will be held each half hour; you must be present to win.Friends of the Benson Library | Benson, ArizonaFriends of the Benson Library is hosting its third annual Dessert Night Fundraiser from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Benson Community Center (formerly the Senior Center) at 705 W. Union Street. All funds raised go toward the group’s educational scholarships given to exceptional students in the Benson Public Library service area. Admission at the door is $6 and includes the choice of three desserts, beverages, and a door prize ticket. Tickets can be purchased for a silent raffle at the event -- $5 for six tickets. To donate to the silent raffle, please call Friends of the Benson Library at (520) 686-0286 or email bensonfriends@gmail.com.

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Brown Canyon Ranch Open House | Sierra Vista, ArizonaEvents to take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. include guided walks around the ranch property; presentation of historical and fun facts about the ranch and families who lived there; demonstrations of adobe brick-making, quilting, painting, woodcarving, and pottery; games and plastic calf-roping for kids; cowboy songs (Steve Conroy singing); firefighters with a shiny fire engine and a special guest appearance by Smokey Bear.Admission is free and refreshments will be available. Pets must be on a leash. Directions: Take Highway 92 south from Sierra Vista; turn right (west) onto Ramsey Canyon Road. Drive 2.1 miles to the hiking trail head (just past Calle Metate), turn right, keep right on the dirt road for eight-tenths of a mile to the Brown Canyon Ranch parking lot. (There will be signs for the Open House on Highway 92 and Ramsey Canyon Road.)

March for Mental HealthSierra Vista, ArizonaNational Alliance on Mental Illness Southeastern Arizona will have its third annual March for Mental Health starting at 7 a.m. at Apache Middle School, 3305 E. Fry Blvd. This event covers a 5k route.The march is a fundraising event to support free mental health programs, provided to individuals and their families in our community.

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May 17Lovell/Hug/Padia Memorial Golf TournamentBenson, ArizonaThe Knights of Columbus Council 7521 proudly announces that the 8th Annual Marie Lovell/Barbara Hug/ Paul Padia Memorial Golf Tournament will take place at the San Pedro Golf Course. Fee of $45 includes cart, play and lunch. There will also be a raffle, 50/50, $10,000 hole-in-one shot and much more.The proceeds of the tournament benefit the University of Arizona Cancer Research Center, The John Lodzinski Scholarship Fund and a small amount will be used for other charitable activities. Contact Mike at golf_BensonKnights@yahoo.com or Rick Valencia at (520) 586-7398 for more information.

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