Cooperative Living March/April 2014 - 7

generally provided. Families should
request the fully shielded type, without
the drop or sag lens, to minimize light
pollution. Some co-ops also offer on/off
switches for dusk-to-dawn lights, and
if available, these should be requested
as well.
HISTORY MYSTERY
Each issue, we will publish
It is my hope that electric utilities
across the state will always install fully
shielded lights from now on in every
locality.
Laura Graham
Virginia Chapter Leader
International Darksky Association
Powhatan, Va.
SHAME ON YOU FOR
PUBLISHING LETTER
Shame on you for publishing a political
opinion letter in a co-op publication
( " Thoughts on Politics, Post-Election, "
January 2014 Cooperative Living).
This is not the proper forum for
such a piece.
I could write to say that the writer is
wrong and that the ACA will become
more popular as the many who haven't
had health care now do, including those
with pre-existing conditions and those
younger than 26 who can now stay on
their parents' policy. I could also offer
my thoughts on Ted Cruz and Ken
Cuccinelli (the only poster boys they
will become is for idiocy); but again,
this is not the forum for such ideas or
discussions and you should exercise
more editorial control.
Dr. Fredric Berg
Via Email
MEMBER FYI
Two Receive Statewide Honors
Nelson County native C.T. Bryant and
Hanover County's Carole Umbel were honored
Jan. 27 in Richmond by the Virginia,
Maryland & Delaware Association of
Electric Cooperatives.
Bryant, retired Central Virginia Electric
Cooperative (CVEC) operations manager
whose vision helped launch the annual
Gaff-n-Go Lineman's Rodeo more than a
decade ago, received the Association's 46th
Annual Unsung Virginian Award.
Carole Umbel, a member of
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC)
who lives in Western Hanover, received the
Association's Good Samaritan Award.
Bryant and Umbel were honored at an
awards luncheon during the Association's
winter meeting and annual Legislative Day
in Richmond. Larry Howdyshell, Shenandoah
Valley Electric Cooperative board
chairman who also serves as chairman of
the Association's Awards Committee, and
Jack Reasor, Association president and
CEO, conducted the program.
Bryant was praised as " a doer who
embraced a good idea and shepherded that
idea into reality with straightforward hard
work and the leadership to bring others
along. " Over 120 utility workers from nine
states participated in the 2013 Rodeo,
which promotes safety while testing line
March-April 2014/www.co-opliving.com
technicians' skills. Speaking on Bryant's
behalf were CVEC President and CEO Gary
E. Wood; John C. Lee, Jr., president and
CEO of Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative
and chairman of the Gaff-n-Go Lineman's
Rodeo Committee; and Maxie Rozelle, director
of safety & security at REC who chairs
the rodeo's working committee.
Umbel was cited as a tireless volunteer
and advocate for community improvement
who has led the philanthropic Western
Hanover Emergency
Action Team (WHEAT)
for more than 20 years.
She has also been a
driving force behind
numerous local service
organizations while
teaching and inspiring
others to lead. Heartfelt
tributes by fellow
REC members, the
Rev. Claudia Stallings
and Ericka " Rickie "
Smith, as well as REC
Vice President of
Customer Services
David Koogler, were
followed by a joyous
reunion with surprise
guests who included
friends and members
of Carole's extended
family. 
C.T. BRYANT
CAROLE UMBEL
5
a photo of some person, place
or thing (or a portion thereof)
of historical significance in
Virginia, and readers will be
invited to submit their best
guess as to the identity of the
photo. Send it in writing with
your name, address, and phone
number to HISTORY MYSTERY,
c/o Cooperative Liv ing, P.O. Box
2340, Glen Allen, VA 230582340;
or guess online at
www.co-opliving.com under
" Contests. " Deadline for entries
is March 20. All correct entries
will be put into a drawing and a
winner announced in the June
2014 issue. The winner will
re ceive a check for $25. 
 DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS?
The January 2014
HISTORY MYSTERY
was Cobb Island
Coast Guard
Station (right) on
the Eastern Shore, built in 1936 and
relocated to Oyster, Va., in 1998. Reader Jimmy Hall
(left) of Warrenton was our $25 winner.
Congratulations, Jimmy!
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living March/April 2014

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