The Valley - May 2013

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Serving Mifflin County and the surrounding area.

The Valley A free newspaper dedicated to agriculture, self-reliance, frugal living, and modern homesteading.

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The Valley, May 2013

Mountain Minstrelsy Performs Pre-Release Concert at The Campus Theater

On a beautiful afternoon in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania with blue skies, bright sunshine and our first real hint of spring, you would think people would be outside enjoying the weather. Oh to be sure some did, but those with an appreciation for music, local history, and incredible talent were able to witness history having life breathed into it for two hours as Mountain Minstrelsy transported the listener back to the 1800s lumber and hunting camps that brought life to this region.

We are a land settled by immigrants who brought their music and stories with them from the old country. Upon arriving on the American landscape, their music took on a life of its own and became its own unique sound.

Call it whatever you want, “Folk,” “Mountain Music,” “American Rural,” or just plain “Hillbilly,” the fact is, as once told to me by band member Kai Shafft, “Like it or not, these are your roots, this is where you came from, it is familiar to your soul.”

He of course was right, but this project is so much more than playing music from the 1800s.

Until Dave Bielanko was given this old book (Mountain Minstrelsy of Pennsylvania) back in the winter of 2011, the songs found within its pages didn’t exist anywhere else but between the covers of this largely forgotten book.

The words of the songs inspired Bielanko the same way they must have to the original author, William Shoemaker, who used a place called “Restless Oaks” in McElhattan as his headquarters, while he traveled the mountain

region collecting these songs. The thought of breathing life back into history, or being a co-writer on some of these songs with people who passed on a hundred years ago, appealed to Bielanko. So, after gathering a collection of local musicians, The Mountain Minstrelsy Project was born.

In most of the rest of the music world, this would have been rushed into the studio, digital editing stealing the soul of the music in the process, and another work would be on the racks. This isn’t the way Dave Bielanko and Christine Smith operate—you might say they are “old school,” just like their music. They do not use digital recording devices, they use a 40 year old reel-to-reel tape machine! Dave says when the button is pushed to start the very expensive tape, the tension and focus of the whole group becomes

something tangible in the finished product— a testament to truth not found with modern digital recording where a mistake can easily be fixed electronically, producing a mediocre facsimile of music.

One thing is certain while watching the band perform—they are having fun and realize the historical significance of this work, as well as the heavy responsibility of honoring the original inhabitants of this land who forged a path for us to follow.

Just flipping the book open and playing the music was not an option for Mountain Minstrelsy as the book was composed mostly of lyrics with only little bits and pieces of music. To create a true

rendering of the songwriter’s words, and breathe some life into them, Mountain Minstrelsy traveled around the areas where the music came from talking to some of the oldest inhabitants of the area who still had the stories that had been passed down from the period alive in their memories.

Over the course of the last two years, accompanied by massive research of period music, an

Mountain Minstrelsy plays to a full house at The Campus Theater in Lewisburg PA on April 20th in a pre-release concert promoting their upcoming album “Mountain Minstrelsy” due out this fall. The long awaited project completion is the collaboration of Marah “core members” Christine Smith and David Bielanko (center) along with local musicians Gus Tritsche (fiddle,banjo), Jimmy James Baughman (stand-up base), Kai Shafft (guitar, banjo), and Chris Rattie (drums, guitar). Mountain Minstrelsy is the fusion of art, time and place, history and all about how things used to be better.

Lighting Brush Fires in People’s Minds

album has come to life and ghosts from the past are once again dancing to familiar music. Mountain Minstrelsy continues to perform in advance of the album release, and after listening to a few songs, it will become glaringly obvious to the listener that these are the right people for this project; it was as if the book was written 100 years ago to give Dave and the rest of the group something to do from 2011-2013. It is something that will also live on and reach into the next century when someone finds a copy of the album and it speaks to them. As was explained to us by the group of faculty from Bucknell University and Kirk French from Penn State University, “Music goes beyond art, especially this kind of music.

It becomes a marker of time and place in history, a snapshot in the historical timeline of a people or area. These songs are about us and these Central Pennsylvania mountains, in times past,” when as Dave puts it, “stuff was better.”

The musical performance included Bucknell faculty members Duane Griffin, Katie Faull, Ben Continued on page 28

The Valley, May 2013

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Editor’s Corner Wayne Stottlar Yes! Now this is more like it! I freely admit, I am a fan of winter, but for many reasons this last winter season was one of the most miserable in my experience.

Growers using high tunnels and greenhouses all mentioned the lack of sunlight this past winter as well as a constant cold wind.

Now I don’t know about you, but I NEED sunlight, without it, I am cranky, moody and totally uninspired to do the things that need to be done, which is a 180 degree departure from my normal, regimented, OCD controlled being, who is much happier. Bring on the SUN! For someone from the “great white north” you would think I could handle winter without a care, usually I can, but this past one was different.

Several writers are involved in the many duties of the homestead life and needed a break this month, but no problem, we have a library of reader-submitted stories and other tid-bits we found interesting enough to pass on to you.

The weather has also awakened the desire to go “dirt fishin’,” otherwise known as metal detecting, which coincidently is nothing like is portrayed by those two jackwagons on TV. I have made many nice finds and not once did I hang upside down in a tree or yell and carry on after a nice find, just the opposite in fact. I try to

detect UNDER the radar. It is a pastime that I enjoy and one that really re-charges my batteries to get some real work finished.

If you are detecting properly, you are using several senses at once and it requires you to shut everything else going on in your head off and focus on what you are doing. That seems to help me from going into meltdown from the hectic pace at the paper. One of the hardest parts of the hobby after learning the language of your machine, is obtaining permission for places to hunt. Once you have detected all of the local parks, your own yard, and a few of the neighbor’s yards, you are always searching for property to detect.

I have been to several properties and houses where we have made some awesome finds, relics that for one reason or another are a valuable connection to the past for the property owner. I pretty much am just interested in finding old coins, some for the historic significance, others because they are 90% silver. The historic coins are displayed and all of the silver is going into a stash for the grand kids. So if you have a house built during the 1950s or earlier, (the older the better), or a piece of property that once had a structure on it, and wouldn’t mind finding out what is in the ground, give me a call. I always offer to split old

coins with the property owner if they are interested in them, and relics found stay with the property as well if the owner wants them.

There is no permanent damage to lawns or garden beds, and after the next rain, you would not even know I had been there. Give me a call here at the paper if you have a piece of property as described and are agreeable to having it detected. You never know what we might uncover. Lynn just got me permission at a childhood friend’s house in Connecticut, built in 1713! A Colonial Farm—can’t wait to see what is hiding there, hopefully something significant enough for a story.

Is anyone else completely sick and tired of the way news reporting on TV has become a total theatrical production? The bombings in Boston were indeed a tragedy, but a solid week of 24/7 coverage is actually nauseating and de-sensitizing. A lot of people become so enthralled in the story that other important aspects of their life get put on hold to partake in the latest news story production. While this was taking place, a bill was moved to take away your freedom on the internet even more. Whenever there is a crisis, those criminals in Wash-

ington use it to their advantage to seize more of our liberties, for the “safety” of the general population. I am not sure about you, but what took place in Boston in the aftermath of the bombing was criminal. Warrantless searches, people told to “shelter in place,” what the heck is that all about?

One thing it did prove is that “authorities” can pretty much round up a city in very little time if the right “crisis” is employed.

And how about those spiffy assault tanks and armored personnel carriers that the “authorities” were able to muster in record time. The incredible thing is that most folks, like sheep, did as they were told, believed the many corrected stories fed to them by the 24/7 news cycle, and then as if on cue, lined the streets cheering the “heros” who were able to take down a 19 year old kid, with 1,000/1 odds in their favor. And then the chanting, USA!, USA!, USA!. Like so many blinded deer in the headlights, these people start chanting and herd mentality quickly takes over and renders otherwise productive people, clueless and pathetically simple. There is little more embarrassing to me than to see a herd of people start chanting about an outcome they had little to with, but now that the danger is passed, come out to say, “We were there, we cared,” like people talking about their favorite sports team as ‘ “we,” “our,” or “my” vicariously claiming some kind of involvement. What is wrong with people? As tragic as this was, back in the age when the country was great, this would have been a five minute news story on the national news segment of our

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Contact Info Editor/Publisher Wayne Stottlar Graphic Artist/Co-Publisher Lynn Persing Associate Editor Colleen Swetland The Valley PO Box 41 Yeagertown, PA 17099 (717) 363-1550 E-mail: thevalleynewspaper@gmail.com Web: www.thevalleynewspaper.com ©The Valley. All Rights Reserved.

nightly news. Now people are told, how they should feel about what happened, what to do to show you care, and what to say when talking with others about a particular incident. Also we learn what the killers had for lunch before the bombing, and how someone sitting in a cafe in east podunk feels about it. ENOUGH! If you want to take just a baby step toward regaining your liberty and independence, TURN OFF THE TV FOR A WHILE! Don’t allow yourself to be manipulated into a certain way of thinking.

People are generally good to each other if left to their own devices, tv takes away people’s ability to interact with others in a meaningful way. Want to know where problems come from? Try living around people who have lost the ability to interact. a

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The Valley, May 2013

We must reject the idea that every time a law is broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions. Doesn’t it make you wonder why society never holds government responsible for the laws they create?

Recently, it has been open season on the 2nd Amendment.

The debate over gun control is, at its core, not about guns – it’s about control. It is a war between those who value independence, freedom and individual liberty and those who value community coercion and dependence upon our government. Conservatives believe, as the Founding Fathers did, that government is best that governs least, has limited and definite powers, and, above all things, protects the individual rights of its citizens. Our conservative embrace of firearms and the 2nd Amendment is a product of the culture and ideas that support those values. Ultimately, taking away firearms from us – lawabiding citizens- strips us of our independence and capacity for self-defense.

Our President is and has been a gun control advocate since his community organizing days. The evidence is clear. He endorsed a total ban on the manufacture, sale

and possession of handguns and opposed right-to-carry laws. He pushes all kinds of gun and ammunition control measures “under the radar” at every opportunity. In short, he is ignoring our constitutional rights.

A little legal history is appropriate at this point. In 2008, the SCOTUS rediscovered the 2nd Amendment. In the Heller case, the court held that the Washington DC gun ban on all functional firearms in the home was unconstitutional. In 2010, the Court decided the McDonald case and held that the 2nd Amendment protects a fundamental, individual right to keep and bear arms for self-defense nationwide. The 2nd Amendment is fully applicable to all states and Chicago cannot ban handguns.

In the McDonald case, which may very well be the most important 2nd Amendment case in history, the Court decided that the right of the people to keep and bear arms cannot be infringed by the states. The opinion holds that the right to keep and bear arms is among the most fundamental rights necessary to our country’s system of ordered liberty and is deeply rooted in our history and tradition.

The key principle is that both Heller and McDonald corroborated that the right to bear arms

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is “fundamental”, that is, implicit in the concept of ordered liberty.

Consequently, our Constitution establishes a presumption of individual liberty. That means that our federal government bears a heavy burden to justify any regulations that would compromise that right.

We have all read and heard about proposed gun control restrictions. Banning high capacity magazines will have little, if any, practical effect. It is quite easy to load a second or third magazine in a matter of seconds Re-enacting the so-called assault weapons ban (My AR is a defense or sporting weapon. In fact, it is my modern musket) has been suggested.

Empirical evidence denies any increase in gun crime between 1994 and 2004 during the prior ban.

Universal background checks is where the left is headed. With well over 300 million privatelyowned firearms in the US now, imagine the job that would be.

More importantly, the federal government would then have a registration list detailing every owner and every firearm. What legitimate purpose would there be for such a list? After the federal government said ammunition controls are not feasible, what did they do? DHS and other non-military agencies bought between 1.6 and 2 billion (with a B) rounds.

Guns in the hands of honest

citizens save lives and property.

Gun control laws adversely affect only law-abiding citizens. Look at the statistics. More people are killed by hammers, knives ,drunk drivers and medical malpractice each than with so-called assault weapons. My calculation is that you are 600 time more likely to die using Obamacare than with an AR-15.

Guns actually save lives.

Most defensive uses of weapons do not actually involve pulling the trigger. We do recognize the painful reality that, regardless of what is done or not done about gun-control laws, there will be innocent people killed by guns (and hammers, knives and drunk drivers). The fact is that gun control laws make crime a safer endeavor for the criminal when victims are unarmed. Our government should not respond because some deranged “wingnut” shoots people. There is no solution to evil. It does not mean a law has to be passed to fill some perceived gap in our system when a heinous crime is committed. The mainstream media makes these criminals “famous”. They should stop making them martyrs. Stay within our Constitution’s parameters that guarantee our liberty.

Why do many of these crimes occur in gun-free or school zones?

The 2nd Amendment protects our individual right to possess a firearm in our home for self defense. That 2nd Amendment is applicable to every state and includes an individual right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation. Pennsylvania further has the castle doctrine.

The progressive agenda is pushing further regulation of firearms. We need to resist and convince our elected representatives to resist.

We have seen Senator Casey’s letter changing his position to further gun control measures.

I believe that these freedoms are our freedoms, given

by God and only acknowledged as such and guaranteed by our Constitution. The Founders were unambiguous. Gun laws never prevent crimes. Gun laws allow our Congress to feel good about themselves and to suggest to their anti-gun constituents that they were doing “something”. Beware

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of the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty with its international law basis, loss of sovereignty and pervasive language.

One of our greatest threats in all these issues is apathy.

There are far too many selfish people who do not care and will not pull away from their reality TV, politically correct, clueless stupor and get out of their chairs to stand up for their rights. Soon the federal government will get to taking away some right they do care about. Apathy is our federal government’s best friend.

For me, I appreciate and cherish the 2nd Amendment and our PA Constitution Article I, Section 21. Our state Constitution states quite succinctly, “The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state shall not be questioned”. That is even clearer than our 2nd Amendment. These guarantee my ability to assume personal responsibility for my own and my family’s safety through self defense. Why should I be denied that same right when President Obama signed the Former Presidents Protection Act on January 10, 2013 guaranteeing him lifetime secret service armed guards at taxpayer expense?

Conservatives know that the ultimate guarantee against evil and tyranny is individual empowerment and the ability to defend oneself, through force if necessary. As conservatives, we fundamentally reject the belief that government can or even should ensure our safety and well-being. Someone once said that a government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take away from you everything you have. Gun ownership is about self-reliance and independence.

Remember when those qualities abounded? Modern day liberals value community over the individual; material equality over individual achievement and competition; and security over self-government.

Criminals don’t register firearms. Gun laws never prevent crimes. More guns equal less crime. The defensive use of guns is seldom discussed in the mainstream media. We know there is evil in the world but we accept responsibility for protecting ourselves and our loved ones.

We want to be part of deterrence of evil and crime. The more lawabiding citizens that are armed, or who might possibly be armed in the eyes of criminals, the safer we will be. a

The Valley, May 2013

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Urban Survival Post-SHTF

Is it possible to survive and thrive in a worst-case economic collapse/Stuff-Hitting-The-Fan scenario in an urban setting? What are some of the situations that you would face in an urban setting?

Do you sit tight or bug-out in a worst-case scenario? Let’s take a look at a few considerations and possible situations that you could be faced with.

While I expect most of you who have read my past articles to have the basic minimum of supplies on hand: food, water, shelter, etc.; there are specific areas of preparation to consider when facing an urban collapse scenario.

Now this scenario could come to fruition due to many factors including, but not limited to: social

upheaval, wide-spread food/gas shortages, terrorist attacks, and/ or a major catastrophic natural disaster like Hurricane Katrina.

1. Sanitation.

In a grid-down situation or even during a prolonged interruption in utility services, things could get real unpleasant, real fast. No running water due to non-working electrical pumps equates to no working toilets. Third world countries are a prime example of how things could become: open sewage pits, contaminated water sources, and rampant disease.

Several ways to be ready for such a situation are as follows: Water stored primarily for flushing toilets, a five-gallon

bucket fitted with a toilet seat and lined with plastic bags creates an improvised porta-potty. A composting toilet often used in off-grid camps is another option.

Another problem urbanites will face Post-SHTF will be the disposal of trash. It’s a safe bet that your regular garbage pick-up will cease and mountains of trash, rotting food, and disposables will quickly accumulate; most services that we are dependent on will disappear. For this reason, I suggest adding supplies such as rubber gloves, dust filter masks, and heavy duty garbage bags. (As a side-note, one subject I will not discuss is death. It’s estimated that in a grid-down collapse scenario millions will die in the first 3 months from various means. It’s a grim topic but something to keep in mind.)

2. Hygiene.

Methods for obtaining and purifying water should be included in your preparations.

All open sources of water should be considered contaminated and treated as such. An ample supply of waterless soaps, hand sanitizer, and personal hygiene products should be kept on-hand.

3. Privacy.

I could write an entire column on nosey neighbors, but that’s probably better left for another day.

An urban setting makes it very difficult to make proper preparations and to do

so discreetly.

Opsec (OPeration SECurity) is imperative.

4. Security.

Having the means to protect yourself, your family, and your property should be a high priority. And yes, this is where having that evil-looking semi-automatic rifle with a highcapacity magazine could mean the difference between life and death. Just read accounts from the LA riots after the Rodney King verdict back in the early ‘90’s.

Store owners were able to defend their property and their lives from roving bands of looters with such rifles. Daily you can read about the frequency of armed home invasions and these will substantially increase and become more violent in a collapse scenario.

Remember desperate people will do desperate things in desperate times. No one will be able to pull a 24/7 security detail and individually guard against looters and gangs. Teaming up with others will be vital.

Your ability to fortify your home is also limited, trust me my neighbors would FREAK OUT if I were to construct field fortifications and deploy concertina wire along my property perimeter! But don’t worry, there are many ways to secure your home internally and I’m considering an article on some of these methods in the near future.

“There is just a thin veneer of civilization on our society.

What is underneath is not pretty, and it doesn’t take much to peel away that veneer. You take your

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average urbanite or suburbanite and get him excessively cold, wet, tired, hungry and/or thirsty and take away his television, beer, drugs, and other pacifiers, and you will soon see the savage within.

It is like peeling the skin of an onion—remove a couple of layers and it gets very smelly.”-James Wesley Rawles (Survival Blog) 5. Sustainability.

With limited space for a garden or livestock, your ability to “grow your own” becomes difficult.

Storage space is also limited and hinders your ability to properly store essential supplies. This is also where your bartering skills will come into play; your ability to barter or trade for those needed supplies could, once again, be the difference between life and death. Having a laminated map of the surrounding area and knowing where natural resources are located and having the ability to secure those resources and to do so safely should be a priority.

Plain and simple, you will need others just as much as others will need you; a network of like-minded folks is essential.

Will it be possible to survive in an urban setting post-collapse or other worst-case scenario? I think so, but not without many, many challenges. A major city is one place I do not want to get caught in should the stuff ever hit the fan. If relocating is not an option and your ability to properly prepare for such an event is limited, I think you should consider finding a secondary location to store supplies and find several routes to and from this location.

Create a plan now and when the first signs of trouble appear, put that plan into action. a

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The Valley, May 2013 off we’ll ALL be.

Knowledge, well applied, is power.

But it sometimes seems that we have become a culture that simply “accepts” what it’s given with little or no thought to question the choices, so called, that we are “given” in the stores where we shop. Even worse, there seems to be a trend where many people feel they aren’t qualified to question what we are given to eat. It’s a sad day when folks have moved away from the real world so far that they feel that they can’t make reasoned choices on their own when it comes to a basic need like food.

I’ll often ask the people who wander into my booth at market if they have any questions. It surprises me how often folks will look a bit uncomfortable, shake their heads no and walk off silently. A few have even told me that they are uncomfortable asking anything because they feel that they’re being – are you ready for this – impolite! Oh dear me. There’s something wrong with this picture!

Needless to say, if a vendor is proud of their products (and if they weren’t they would hardly out there selling, now would they) then they should be more than ready to talk about them.

So, here are a few tips for those of you who want to do more than pull bright packages off of a shelf to read the labels, but who may be a bit shy about how to go about it.

Tip #1 Ask questions! A lot of

A Little Food For Thought

It’s May. It’s warming up, trees are leafing out, flowers are blooming, the time for planting all manner of good things is at hand. Added up, this all means that it will soon be – FARMER’S MARKET TIME!!

We Mifflin Countians are fortunate in that we have a number of farmer’s markets to choose from – not to mention numerous road side stands that pop up as the weather warms and the crops start to ripen.

So take advantage of one of the greatest benefits of living in a rural area; get out of the grocery stores, into the un-air conditioned air, buy fresh foods in season and meet the people who raise and produce that food!

Make no mistake, that last bit – meeting the people who raise and produce your food – is high on the list of why local, seasonal foods are the safest, most nutritious, sure fire way of getting fed – and fed well – for every person on our sweet little planet. Small, local market economies are to the benefit of the WHOLE human race and they work best not just because they spread out and reduce the risks (which they do better than any other system), but also because they put people together one on one, which is where responsibility and accountability truly belong.

Farmer’s markets tend to be friendly places because the vendors and the customers are acting out an age old ritual of directly exchanging currency for product; in this case centered around that most important - and one of the most pleasurable - of human necessities – food.

But it’s also about the exchange of information and here’s

where direct sale markets will always be one up on the average* grocery chain store *(there are a few that are trying to improve, credit must be given). If the customer has a question about the product they want to buy, they can ask it of the person who actually grew the cabbage or the person who raised the chicken that laid the egg or the person who raised and milked the goat from whose milk the cheese was made. Wow! Talk about food sovereignty!

Except for the meat and produce departments where you can sometimes get a person to answer some of your questions, you can’t just pick up most items in a grocery store, look someone in the eye and ask, “Why exactly did you put the high fructose corn syrup, ethoxylated monoglycerides and azodicarbonamide in this loaf of bread? And what is that stuff anyway?”

You can. However, catch the eye of the vendor at the farmer’s market and ask, “What ingredients do you use to make your bread?” and they can answer you because they actually made the bread.

Schucks, they’ll probably give you a minilecture on the “Wonderful and Delicious Chemistry of Yeast Breads” in the process!

You see, most of us who sell at farmer’s markets (and I’m proud to say that I am one) are more than willing to explain what it takes to get our products to you - the eating public. From personal experience – and I’ve noticed this in other vendors, as well – we enjoy explaining what we do and how we do it and why, because the more information the consumer has to make an informed choice – not just at one market, but in other situations as well - the better

questions if you have them - but, please, not when there’s a line, just out of courtesy for the other customers. And don’t be shy, speak up. Far from being impolite, asking questions is a compliment to the person and is your right as a consumer looking for information. This is your chance to really find out about the food that you eat and feed to your families and friends. Food isn’t just fuel; it’s what keeps us healthy, what binds us together socially and culturally and is something that should give a great deal of enjoyment. So we want to get the best tasting, most nutritious and freshest food that we can and we can’t do that if we don’t ask questions.

Tip #2 When listening to the answers, remember to accept that people can do the same things in different ways. Don’t expect all of the produce vendors, or all of the bakers, (or whatever else they may be selling) at a market to use the same techniques of to have the same philosophies about what they do. But, how ever they answer you, they definitely should answer your question clearly so you understand WHY they do WHAT they do and HOW they do it.

One thing to be on the look

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out for is the “Headline Answer”.

Our culture has become way too accustomed to hearing, and accepting as fact, catchy phrases (that’s the headline part) that are supposed to condense broad subjects into a few easily digested sentences. Your questions should get factual answers that inform and clarify. Expect real answers.

Tip #3 While this may seem to be part of Tip #1, it’s a special case which many folks simply wouldn’t think to ask, and since it’s personal that whole impolite thing may rear its head. But here goes.

It’s okay to ask any vendor if they eat what they produce. It’s more that okay. Personally, if I wouldn’t eat it I wouldn’t sell it and I can’t think of a single vendor that I know personally who does not feel this way as well.

But also don’t be surprised to find personal taste enter the arena.

Example: okra. I’ve always grown okra for my family, but I don’t like it myself. I now also grow a bit extra to sell at market and have it taste tested by those family members who do like it. We don’t all like everything.

Tip # 4 There occasionally

Continued on page 14

The Valley, May 2013

6

Thots on...Genesis

A Bible Study for the Lay Christian

by Lydia

In 2 Timothy 3.16, Paul tells us, “Every inspired scripture has its use for teaching the truth and refuting error, or for reformation of manners and discipline in right living…” [NEB*] *Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are quoted from the New International Version.

Genesis 21.1-2 [NEB] The LORD showed favor to Sarah as he had promised, and made good what he had said about her.

She conceived and bore a son to Abraham for his old age, at the time which God had appointed.

“At the time which God had appointed” is the phrase at the heart of this passage.

Years had passed since Abraham and Sarah first received the promise of a child. They’d grown tired of waiting on God to act and had taken matters into their own hands, and so Abraham had fathered a son, Ishmael, by Hagar, his wife’s slave.

But now the time which God had appointed had arrived and

Sarah, in her old age, gave birth to Isaac, the child of promise.

God has a plan, and God has a timeline for that plan. And, very often, God’s timeline does not coincide with our notion of when things should happen. “With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” [2 Peter 3.8] Yet, like Abraham and Sarah, we tend to forget that and want to hurry God along. If God doesn’t fulfill his promises to us within the time frame we have set for him, we try to do it ourselves—and usually foul things up royally in the process.

Has God promised you a job, yet all doors are closed? Has he promised you a spouse, but everyone you meet is inappropriate? Has God promised healing, but you are still sick? Don’t doubt God! Don’t become impatient and forge ahead on your own!

Don’t abandon hope and settle for something less than what God promised you! Have faith in the

Lord’s promise and rest assured that he will bring it to pass at the time which God has appointed— and not one moment before.

“Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him” [Genesis 21.5] and it happened at the time which God had appointed. How many of us, had we been promised a son, would have been running to fertility clinics long before that or knocking on the door of an adoption agency, having abandoned all hope of bearing a child naturally?

When Isaac was 8 days old, Abraham circumcised him in obedience to God. Later, when the child was weaned, a feast was given to celebrate. It was at that celebration that Sarah saw Ishmael making fun of Isaac and, in her anger, she demanded that Abraham “get rid of that slave woman and her son, for [her] son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.” [Genesis 21.10]

When their plan to help God came to fruition and Hagar bore a son, both Abraham and Sarah were happy. Now, however, as so often happens when we insist on having our own way, the result

OBSERVATIONS . . . of an OLD MAN Wisdom in troubled times -

was making them both miserable—Sarah, because she saw the constant competition between the two boys, and Abraham, because Sarah’s jealousy was disrupting the peace of his household. Yet he was reluctant to accede to his wife’s demands and send his own son away.

God reassured Abraham and told him to listen to his wife, because it was through Isaac that Abraham’s descendants would come. And so Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away, and once again, an angel found Hagar weeping in the desert. He admonished her, “Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”

[Genesis 21.18]

Today’s Arab nations honor Abraham and Ishmael as their patriarchs. However, they have allowed themselves to be deceived by the false prophet, Mohammed, and even now are falling under a great spiritual delusion. God kept his promise to make of Ishmael a great nation, but his descendants have wandered far from the God of Abraham.

Notice that after the angel spoke to her, we read, “Then God opened her eyes and she saw a

well of water.” [Genesis 21.19] The well had been there the whole time, but in her despair, Hagar was unable to see it. When she’d used all the water in the waterskin, Hagar had placed her child under a bush and left him there to die, even though there was a well nearby. How often we despair, until the Lord opens our spiritual eyes so that we are able to see the evidence of His love and provision for us!

“God was with the boy as he grew up” in the wilderness of Paran, which is the Sinai peninsula. When he reached marriageable age, his mother found a wife for him in Egypt” [Genesis 21.20-21], from her own people, from those who worshipped idols, rather than seek a wife from Abraham’s household. And so we see the divergence of the counterfeit line from the godly line, which becomes critical as we near the end of this age.

It is important that we wait upon the Lord and expect His blessing in the time that God has appointed. a

“I am a real Christian – that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ.”

--Thomas Jefferson

“Times such as ours have always bred defeatism and despair.

But there remain, nonetheless, some few among us who believe man has within him the capacity to meet and overcome even the greatest challenges of this time. If we want to avoid defeat, we must wish to know the truth and be courageous enough to act upon it. If we get to know the truth and have the courage, we need not despair.” – Albert Einstein “ “This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.” Emerson Finally, brothers: Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise; think about these things.

Philippians 4:8 Peter J. Moses

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The Valley, May 2013

Adventures on Our Nourishing Journey

by Sue Burns

Do You Have Traditional Taste?

“Traditions, traditions. Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as... as... as a fiddler on the roof! “ Tevye – (from Fiddler on the Roof)

ences with kids and cats, but their final resting time had come.

I am happy to report that this befuddling shopping tale ends on a happy note. The knowledgeable salesperson was more than willing

Hearing me expel a lengthy to show me some “traditional” and audible sigh, the perplexed couches and sure enough, I did furniture salesperson asked if I like some of them. Who knew? have “traditional taste.” He had Apparently I have “traditional been observing me weave though taste.”

Victorian, Contemporary and

As I was driving home from Modern décor in their showrooms this revealing enlightment, I got to for the better part of a half hour, thinking about the words “tradiyet I was not finding anything that tion” and “traditional.” I rememstruck my fancy. bered the line from the play, Fid “I’m not sure” I replied. And dler on the Roof, when the main I wasn’t. To be honest, I didn’t character Tevye expresses his know what “traditional furniture” remorse and fear at what might looked like. What I did know happen to his faith, his culture, his is that, in general, I am NOT a family and his future if his chershopper (ask any of my friends). ished customs and beliefs would I was getting more confused and not be passed down from his frustrated with each passing mingeneration onto the next. Tradition ute. These unsettling emotions would be gone. This presented seem to pop up almost every time a very shaky and concerning I set out on a decision-making concept. He laments that without shopping trip, which is why I tradition our lives would be as shaky as a Fiddler on the Roof. I am NOT a shopper. But the fact have a similar shaky feeling when remained; our 30 year old couch I contemplate and question what and love seat desperately needed is happening to our traditional to be replaced. Granted, they got foods. Obviously I don’t know a facelift about 15 years ago with some new upholstery and have too much about traditional furnicontinued to survive many experi- ture, but I do have a deep respect for traditional foods. Let me tell you a little bit about them and why I believe it is important that we pass them down to the next generation.

In addition, I am excited to share with you information about a traditional beverage I recently started “brewing” in my home. If I can do it, you can too!

I will explain the quick and easy steps.

Kombucha Tea made at home replaces soda for a healthier But first I will drink.

get a little more specific about these heirloom foods. (My very favorite website to get recipes and inspiration about traditional foods is www.traditional-foods.com.)

What are traditional foods?

In the simplest explanation, according to www.nourishedkitchen.com, traditional foods focus on four basic principles: 1) avoidance of modern, refined foods; 2) inclusion of unrefined, whole and natural foods; 3) respecting the importance of nutrient-density in our food and 4) preparing and eating foods in the same manner that nourished our ancestors and kept them well. In essence, if your great-great-great-great-great-great grandmother wouldn’t recognize it, don’t put it in your mouth.

Specifically these foods include: • Pastured, grass-fed and free range meats. This is meat from a cow, goat, and lamb as well as wild meats like deer, moose, elk, etc. and poultry.

Also included are organ meats from any of these animals, which were highly prized by traditional cultures.

• Fish that are wild, and preferably from less polluted waters (like Pacific/Alaskan salmon, for example). Cod liver oil is also a historicallyvalued natural food supplement and an important source of nutrients.

• Eggs from pastured hens.

• Raw (unpasteurized, unhomogenized) dairy products from cows and goats that are

• • •

•

• •

•

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grass-fed (not grainfed). This especially includes cultured dairy products like yogurt, kefir, crème fraiche or sour cream, and cheeses.

• Whole grains that are soaked, sprouted or made using sourdough fermentation methods.

Organic or ecologically grown vegetables and fruits.

Bone broths made from the bones of the above-mentioned animals and fish.

Lacto-fermented vegetable and fruit condiments, such as sauerkraut, chutneys, pickles, various dressings and sauces, etc. Also, fermented beverages, such as kombucha, water kefir, beet kvass and others.

Fats such as butter, beef tallow and other grass fed animal fats, unrefined coconut oil, palm oil, and extra virgin olive oil.

Raw nuts and seeds, ideally they have been soaked for improved digestion.

Wholesome sweeteners like raw honey, maple syrup, dried fruits, and small amounts of unrefined sugars like Sucanat or Rapadura.

Unrefined sea salt, which is full of minerals. Also, fresh or dried herbs and spices.

What do you think? Do most of them sound familiar or foreign?

If you are like me, up until about a dozen years ago, none of these foods were on my plate. Instead of having traditional tastes, I relied on the modern style of food choice and preparation. These included fast foods, convenience foods, processed foods and fake foods all wrapped up in ready to go, easy to make, yummy to eat packages. All my friends and their families had modern taste too and every grocery store in the land catered to our very hip palates.

Yet, when I finally started to put together the powerful equation that our food quality and choices have much to do with our overall health, my modern ways began to wane. Ever so slowly, bit by bit, I began to develop traditional tastes. A valuable resource that got me started was Sally Fallon’s classic book, Nourishing Traditions: A Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition. Within her book Ms. Fallon briefly speaks of the work of Dr. Weston A. Price whom she describes as the first modern (1930’s) researcher to take a careful look at the health and eating habits of isolated traditional societies. She states that “stud-

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The Valley, May 2013

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The Art Of Upcycling

Last month I wrote to you all about a fence that we were going to erect here at Three Suns Farm.

The fence we are building is going to be made of pallets. Pallets are free, and they are objects that normally would be thrown out or dismantled and burned. Creative recycling as we like to call it, or “Upcycling.” As time goes on this spring, and money is tight, we are finding the art of repurposing

other things we already have on hand a lot of fun. We are turning junk that is sitting in storage into useful tools around the homestead.

Just as an example, we found an old patio umbrella in the barn that had its cover ripped and the main pole broken. It really should have gone to the dump two years ago. It had gotten shoved into the back corner of the loft gathering

dust and taking up space.

As I was planting my early spring- An old patio umbrella with the fabric removed makes time a great pea trellis! snap peas, I wanted to add another space dedicated to them but was lacking a trellis. By taking the old ripped cover off of the frame and burying what was left of the pole into the soil, I had an instant trellis for my plants. No fuss and one less thing to go to the dump. It’s even kind of pretty because the finial at the top is still in tact.

Another quick fix my husband came up with would probably cause car enthusiasts to shudder. The other day he turned on the outside faucets so that I could have my water returned out by the vegetable garden. Last year we looped the length of hoses over a fence pole but found that to be a pain. I really needed a hose reel out there but the ones we found were either too expensive or they were cheaply made and would probably last only a season. He went back to the barn and started digging. A while later he came out with the steering wheel of a 1966 Mustang that he had held onto. Of course we hadn’t had our Mustang for a good 20 years or so, but again it was something he didn’t want to throw out. He took a few good stainless screws and attached the steering wheel to the fence post and it was an instant place to hang the hose. We are considering using an old tire rim as another hose reel on the far side of the house.

I’ve always tried to use one thing as another in the house, but usually it was just a repurpose of one thing to be used as something

else.

For example I have used an old mahogany Bicycle wheel pot rack! double dresser in my dining room as a sideboard. For another serving surface I took the mirror off of an old vanity and it now is a place to put desserts when we have company. To me, these are just basic and simple. Upcycling I think takes a lot more imagination.

Pouring over the online images of upcycling projects that other people have come up have produced some amazing ideas!

Someone painted old boiler drains pastel colors and mounted them on their wall as coat hooks. Another person posted that they used pretty old colored mason jars as

An electrical wire reel upcycled to a chair.

replacement shades for their drop pendant lighting fixtures. There are photos of amazing outdoor chairs that people have made from giant cable reels. One creative individual used an unused bicycle rim hanging from the ceiling as a pot rack.

The more I see, the more I want to do. I am kind of itching to make a trip to the dump to go and see what I can find. I can just see my husband’s face as he might try and explain a new project at the house…my wife, the dump picker, did this! I’ll wear it as a badge of honor. a

Old Mason Jars and a piece of barnboard becomes a unique pendent chandelier.

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The Valley, May 2013

Our Ad Rates are the Best Value anywhere. Call us and see what we can do for you! 717-363-1550

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The Valley, May 2013

10

Equine Joint Supplements

Spring has sprung, and it is time to enjoy being back in the saddle. As you pull your old riding buddy out of the stall, do his joints go “snap, crackle, pop? Is he moving slower and stiffer than usual? Do you notice your performance horse becoming more hesitant to perform? Then you might ask the question, “Does my horse need a joint supplement?”

First you must recognize if your horse is having a problem in a joint area. Signs of lameness include stiffness, shortened stride, and uneven gaits. These signs can be seen in a horse’s reluctance to pick up a certain lead at the canter, or when a horse is turning.

Most common areas affected in joint lameness are hocks, fetlocks, pasterns or knee. Equine joint problems can range from minor stiffness or soreness to degenerative diseases. Long-term inflammation in the joints can be caused from every day wear and tear, to trauma, improper hoof care, age

or even poor conformation. More than 50% of lameness problems are related to osteoarthritis (also called Degenerative Joint Disease) which is progressive, permanent degeneration of the articular cartilage.

Methods of prevention of joint problems or maintenance to avoid them can include injections from steroids to other products such as Adequan or Legend. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) include aspirin, or bute. Newer alternative therapies include acupuncture, chiropractic, massage or magnetic therapy.

Corrective shoeing by a knowledgeable farrier can also often help with horses that are showing signs of joint disease.

Many times oral joint supplements can help if your senior horse is becoming stiffer in his joints. However choosing an equine joint supplement can be overwhelming. There are so many to choose from. The simplest

product to start with would be just using MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane). MSM is a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory. In horses, it lessens lameness, arthritis, pain, OCD, chronic back problems, synovitis, and puffy hocks, and promotes rapid hoof growth and shiny hair. Recommended minimum dosage of MSM is 6000mg.

Other products to consider in joint supplements are Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulfate and Hylauronic Acid (HA). Glucosamine is one of the most popular and well-studied ingredients in joint supplements. Glucosamine is effective in relieving pain, sometimes in as short a time as 10 to 14 days. Studies have shown that it can slow cartilage breakdown and may encourage healing. An effective dose is 6,000 to 10,000 mg/day. The 10,000 mg dose is usually needed for horses that have a heavy workload. This higher level is also recommended during the first week or two of any horse’s treatment. This is known as the “loading” period, which helps speed up results by getting a larger amount of substance in the

horse’s body.

Hyaluronic acid is particularly Chondroitin sulfate is a good for controlling pain, heat, major structural component of and swelling. Hyaluronic acid is cartilage, bone, and tough con- shown to provide both lubrication nective tissues. Many people and shock absorption. Hyaluronic find that with their horses they acid is found in gels as well as get better results from comin a variety of powdered supplebinations of glucosamine and ments. The addition of just a small chondroitin, as opposed to the amount, even as little as 20mg of use of either substance alone. hyaluronic acid to a glucosamine Many equine joint suppleand chondroitin combination ments now combine these two product may make a difference ingredients (among other things). for some horses. If your horse has Glucosamine and chondroitin are the basis of most joint supplement programs.

If you are confused Team Sorting at Rocky Ridge Ranch. Many of the events we enjoy about doing with our horses create wear and tear on their joints. Findwhere ing an effective joint supplement and/or therapy program is key to to start prolonging the use and enjoyment we get with our horses. in choosing a supplement, for best not responded as well to glucosresults, start with a joint suppleamine and chondroitin as you had ment that contains these two hoped, this would be the next best products. alternative to add.

Hyaluronic acid first appeared Continued on page 11 as an injectable drug in the 1970s.

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The Valley, May 2013

LIbrary Lines Your Mifflin County Library

Spring is here and it is time to plant those beautiful gardens.

The Valley provides the wonderful soil and Mifflin County Library provides the excellent gardening books. We have everything from growing roses, herbs, perennials, annuals and vegetables, to deer resistant gardening and landscaping. It is amazing how many gardening books we have collected through the years. Several of the ladies at the Lewistown Library designed a beautiful gardening display and picked out some of our gardening books for you to enjoy. We are also hosting the Juniata Valley Master Gardeners plant sale on May 4th from 8AM until 12noon in the parking lot of the Lewistown Library. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to come in buy a plant, check out our gardening books and enjoy the spring weather. And, don’t forget to support our Branch Libraries!

Maybe this fine weather has inspired you to do some work around the house. Guess what?

We have books on building, electrical repair, stonework, design, and books on how to fix just about everything around the house! We even have books on how to design a house, build a shed, add a new room or just decorate the one you have. Speaking of decorating… I cannot begin to describe the books we have on decorating: everything

from painting, sewing accessories, room arrangement, and fun ideas for kid’s rooms to feng-shui and houseplants. Plus we also have lots of books on arts and crafts.

If you want to start the Season off right, then dust off your grill and come in and look at our many cookbooks on grilling. We have cookbooks ranging from wildlife cooking for the hunters, to vegetarian cookbooks, and everything in between, sugar-free, dairy-free, fat-free, gluten-free, etc., and good old fashion country cookbooks.

The library has everything to help you get started on your spring gardening, yard and home projects. The best part is, our books are free to anyone with a library card, and library cards are free to all new patrons. So please drop by your local library and get ready for spring!

Equine Joint Supplements from page 10

very little change in their movement.

Often the most effective joint supplement is found by trial and error; unfortunately this comes at a disadvantage to our pocket book. I usually suggest starting with straight MSM for a horse with mild lameness and then trying a supplement that contains the highest doses of several of the above ingredients. Check ratings for products to see how they work for other people. Every day new research is developing new formulas to find what works the best for the most horses. Joint supplements or therapy are well worth the cost to prolong the maximum performance of your horse regardless of whether his performance might be as a barrel horse, a jumper, or even a trail horse. a

Many other ingredients such as herbs like Devil’s Claw and Yucca have also been found to help older horses with joint stiffness.

If you have already tried several different supplements, you’ve probably found that some horse joint supplements work better than others in helping your horse to be more comfortable and move more freely. Equine joint supplements are not tightly regulated; therefore, you will find that the quality of the ingredients varies. Another reason is that some supplements may not contain what they claim to contain, or may not have effective dosages of ingredients. Also, individual horses with similar conditions may respond differently to the same products and doses. Some may show great improvement, while others show

Thank you!

Betsy Tomasik Technical Services Librarian Mifflin County Library “Everything you need for a better future and success has already been written. And guess what?

All you have to do is go to the library.” Quote, by Henri Frederic Amiel.

Do You Have Traditional Taste from page 7

grateful. I am paying her kindness forward by teaching you too.

ies too numerous to count have confirmed Dr. Price’s observations that the so-called civilized (modern) diet, particularly the Western diet of refined carbohydrates, and damaged fats and oils, spoils our God-given genetic inheritance of physical perfections and vibrant health.”

It seems ironic to me that, as a nation, we are so fixated on diet and nutrition, yet are seemingly eating more poorly that any generation that has preceded us.

Could it be that a return to the old ways of eating, the ways of our great great grandparents will open the doors for new health? For the most part, I think so. I have seen the traditional transformation first hand in my family and with clients. The first step on this path of the past is creating a continual awareness of our food quality and preparation methods. It helps to begin by switching out just one modern food for a more traditional one. When in doubt, ask yourself if God created the food in question or was it ‘man”ufactured by man. Over the years I have taken steps to embrace grass fed meats, raw dairy, free range eggs, and soaked grains. Recently I felt the time had come for me to move further along. The next traditional frontier I wanted to explore was that of fermented foods and beverages. Enter my new acquaintance, Liz Lightfoot, and her amazing homemade kombucha!

Have you heard of it? I had not until about 6 years ago when my daughter brought a mason jar home from college bubbling with a golden “fermented “beverage.

You can imagine my thoughts!

She had acquired this homemade kombucha brew from a “friend of a friend” who was making gallons of it. I did a little research before risking that first sip. But it was not long before I was hooked, on both the information I was gathering and the taste. Since my daughter did not always have a direct line to her supplier, I started buying “store bought” Kombucha at Wegmans, and at various health food stores. Although I really liked it, I only allowed myself a bottle every now and then because it was rather expensive and not that convenient to obtain. Until now, that is.

Several months ago, my path crossed with Liz. I suspect that with her enthusiasm and knowledge she will soon become a famous food fermentor! Liz taught me how to make kombucha at home and I will be forever

What is Kombucha and why would I want to drink this traditional beverage?

Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage. Don’t let the word “fermented “scare you. Remember that the most popular and important beverages in the world are fermented. To name a few; coffee, beer, wine, hard liquor, vinegar, and dairy beverages like kefir are all fermented. Fermentation is a traditional food process that transforms the specific food.

Grapes are transformed into wine, grain into beer, apples into cider, rice into sake and plain old tea into kombucha! Desired qualities occur in the process such as the increase in acidity, alcohol, or additional flavors. In every case, the actions of good bacteria and or yeast are required. Fermentation is a type of pre-digestion that takes place when naturally present bacteria and yeast begin breaking down the sugars and starches in the food. This process forms lactic acid and sometimes alcohol, which stops the growth of “bad’ bacteria. According to Alex Lewin, author of Real Food Fermentation, there is evidence of fermented alcoholic beverages dating back 10,000 years. Talk about a traditional food!

Since kombucha is not as universal as wine or beer, its history is not as well understood. It contains very little alcohol so it is considered a nonalcoholic beverage. Although there are large pockets of dedicated kombucha lovers, overall there is not a huge global following according to Lewin, thus there has not been as much formal research done into its biochemistry. Go to www. happyherbalist.com for a detailed chemical breakdown if you are curious. What is known is that it contains a variety of good bacteria, healthy yeasts and enzymes, just like other fermented foods, and recent research suggests that the gluconic acid in kombucha may be an effective liver tonic, helping the liver eliminate waste (including waste from chemotherapy). Civilizations have been drinking kombucha for hundreds of years and give testimony to its ability to detoxify the liver and offer digestive and immune support.

How to brew Kombucha at home – (Keep in mind, these directions are very simplified. Send me an email or call if you want more information. Although I am hooked on this stuff, I am a rookie so I can put you in touch with Liz

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or you can go to www.kombuchacamp.com, www.getkombucha. com or www.culturesforhealt.com for tons of useful tips.)

Kombucha Tea Recipe 1-Gallon Scale up or down depending on the size of your vessel Supplies

The Kombucha “mother” – also called the SCOBY which is an acronym for “symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast.” The SCOBY is both the by-product of kombucha fermentation and the medium on which the bacteria and yeast live. The SCOBY is sometimes called a “mushroom” which is an inaccurate name. Although, I think it does look like a big giant mushroom. To get started making Kombucha you will need to find a healthy SCOBY and some kombucha liquid. These can be bought over the internet, but Liz will share hers and I am proud to say, I now have a new SCOBY baby at my house that I would gladly give away for adoption. The new SCOBY’s grow from their “mother” during the fermentation process. Liz has a SCOBY hotel that houses lots of SCOBYs .

• 1 cup sugar- Don’t panic about the amount of sugar. It is necessary to feed the SCOBY. Most of it is metabolized in the fermentation process and is converted into acids. I use organic cane sugar. You can get this locally. Do not substitute with any artificial sugars. Your SCOBY will be very unhappy and starve.

• 4-6 tea bags or loose leaf tea, 1 bag of tea = 1 tsp- Plain organic black or green tea is best. Do not use herbal flavored teas.

• 1 cup starter liquid from a previous batch. You can get this from the internet or from a kombucha brewing friend.

• Purified/bottled water- I use filtered water. You want to avoid chlorinated water. If you don’t use bottled or filtered water, boil tap water for 10-15 minutes and most of the chlorine will evaporate.

• Tea kettle- Not really necessary. I just boil my water in a stainless steel pot and add the tea and sugar.

• Brewing vessel- Should be glass, no plastic or metal.

I got a gallon sized jar at a local discount store. This is the container in which you will pour your sweetened tea, add the SCOBY and the cup of starter kombucha from a

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The Valley, May 2013

12

Life without the sense of smell—DOES It stink?

“Uggghhh, skunk!” I’ve heard that exclamation often in my forty-, I mean, thirty-six years of riding along back country roads.

While I’ve heard it often, I’ve never actually smelled it. No kidding. You might say I have a messed-up sense of smell, or perhaps, since I can’t smell an apparently really stinky skunk, you might say I have no sense of smell at all. You might also be glancing up there at my picture and thinking “a snoz of that size and it can’t smell??!—baloney!!” Hey, it makes no scents (pun intended) to me either, but I will say that I can smell some things, but not others.

For instance, I can smell food cooking when I enter the house after work (thanks to Wayne, the gourmet chef), but I probably couldn’t tell you what was cooking. I can smell some essential

oils and minty scents, but I can’t smell anything from a live flower, not even a hyacinth if I put my nose right on it. Nope, nothing.

Now before you go labeling me as a wackadoodle, consider the benefits. Can’t smell skunk, or the neighborhood farmer spreading manure. Can’t smell that guy or gal in the gym who forgot to use deodorant. Can’t smell that woman who wears too much perfume.

Can’t smell that diesel truck who is spewing fumes ahead of me.

Can’t smell wet dog. Can’t smell the stinky fish someone cooked for lunch in the microwave at work (I did this once—boy did I get in trouble). Awesome!

Now consider the downsides to this smelly situation. Can’t smell something burning on the stove until the room fills with smoke. Can’t smell my own

stench if I’ve forgotten to put on deodorant (talk about paranoia).

Can’t tell if milk is spoiled. Can’t smell the trash when it stinks and needs to go out.

Can’t smell food to tell if I’m going to like it (you’d think I’d be skinnier.) Bottom line, I can’t really enjoy some of life’s best known scents... coffee, new car leather, Wisteria, etc.

Yea, yea, I know. I can see a doctor about this and possibly get it fixed. But who knows if it can

be fixed? Do I want to go through what it might take to fix it?

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The Valley, May 2013

Understanding the Constitution

by David Molek

Misunderstood Federalism

There is perhaps no more misunderstood principle associated with American government and our Constitution than federalism.

Also, too many of our elected officials and policymakers think that respecting constitutional limits is not practical in today’s world.

Federalism should not be confused with Federalists, federal government or states’ rights. By dividing authority between two levels of government, federalism recognizes legitimate national power at the same time it provides an added check on the expansion or centralization of the national government and protects a sphere of state government. Our Constitution provides that the federal government was to exercise only limited, delegated powers with the remainder being reserved to the states or the people. Powers delegated to the federal government

are few and defined. In Federalist 45, James Madison wrote “Those which are to remain in the state governments are numerous and indefinite”. That’s the way our Constitution is written. The character-forming institutions, our family, the school and the church, form the mores and cultivate the virtues required for self-government. Although that’s what our Founders intended, federalism has not worked that way in recent years.

Federalism is about the nature of the relationship between the federal government and the states.

It speaks to the concept of limited federal government and the preservation of individual liberty.

Federalism, as it was intended, and as it is now, is nearly unrecognizable. It needs rejuvenation against this gradual, and recently more-increasing, accumulation of

authority by the federal government.

The Founders clearly defined what they intended the role of the federal and state governments should be. In Federalist 45, Madison wrote,“ the powers delegated to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the state government are numerous and definite.

The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation and foreign commerce, with which last the power of taxation will, for the next part, be connected. The powers reserved to the several states will extend to all objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs,concerns the lives, liberties and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement and prosperity of the states”.

The idea of federalism is woven throughout our Constitution.

State sovereignty mattered and should be protected. Many of the predictions of the Anti-Federalists have come to pass. The federal government has evolved to exceed many times over the powers enumerated in our Constitution. Over time, state sovereignty has dwindled.

The progressive movement embraced a very active national government that engages in social policy and seeks to correct their perceived ills of government and society. It rejects the notion of limited government of enumerated powers as inadequate to the needs of the

times. Their argument is that our Constitution needs to be understood within the context of the times and its meaning needs to be adapted to changes in circumstances. Look at Wilson, the New Deal, the Great Society and similar programs.

Our Founders never spoke of a “living” Constitution, but instead a permanent one. Words had meaning and they chose their words carefully to express exactly what our Constitution was intended to provide. They saw a need to seek to temper what may be temporary popularity with adherence to permanent principles.

They understood the distinction between popular impulse or entitlement and the long term public interest. The doctrine of a “living” Constitution is the product of a misguided view of our Framers’ understanding and has created the modern administrative state.

Now, our federal government’s reach extends to every state and every citizen. The 16th Amendment creating a national income tax and the 17th Amendment establishing direct election of the US Senate had a tremendous, negative impact on federalism. Now, Congress is a totally popularly-elected national institution, elected directly by the people. It changed the purpose and the character of the Senate, which was designed to represent the interests of each state.

Senators were chosen to represent states as political entities and state

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interests. Popular interests were not their concern. The Senate now serves the same interest as the House. The 16th Amendment creates a vast financial interest of the federal government over state governments. Now, with taxing and spending, the federal government implements national programs and priorities and has transformed the states largely into administrative arms of the federal government. Some states have recently recognized this and are fighting back.

The powers of our states, once thought sovereign, have been undermined by a seemingly all-powerful federal government that appears to have virtually unlimited authority. Our Bill of Rights, designed to protect both state governments and individual rights from national action, has been transformed into a vehicle to create new rights while simultaneously limiting state action.

Today, it is commonplace for people to look to the federal government for relief from the most ordinary of concerns, support for the most basic kinds of endeavors and vindication for the most elementary of damages. People have become clients of the federal government as opposed to masters of it. They feel entitled. They have become dependent upon government rather than government being dependent upon them.

The federal government seems to just keep on growing.

The Obama administration is relentless. It grinds out public policy on every conceivable issue spending our nation’s wealth in record amounts. Federalism was designed to keep the federal government in its place. With federalism diminishing, our nation is at serious risk. We need to restore

Continued on page 22

The Valley, May 2013

14 Poor Will’s Valley Almanack from page 19 POLPRE

AINCHWAS

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WEROLB

LITREL OHE

HOVELS

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YREPRAS

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A Little Food For Thought from page 5 may be a question that we choose not to answer. Seeing as how we aren’t doctors, we aren’t going to give answers to specific health questions. While we all know that fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy products are healthy, we obviously can’t give advice on what to eat to lower cholesterol or grow back hair. Do you see my drift, here? So, if you ask a question that we feel is out of our area of expertise, we may not answer – but we will more than likely also tell you why we won’t answer. (But we just might be able to direct you to a place where you can figure out the answer on your own.)

So ask those questions, and we’ll do the best we can to answer them, and let’s all enjoy the market season because we sure are lucky to have it as good as we do!

Here’s a list of some of our local markets:

ROPPEB

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ROKF

Listen to Bill Felker’s weekly “Poor Will’s Almanack” on podcast any time at www.wyso. org. And Bill’s website, www. poorwillsalmanack.com, contains weekly updates and a sizable bank of information about nature. His organization of weather patterns and phenology (what happens when in nature) offers a unique structure for understanding the repeating rhythms of the year.

Bill lives in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

He has two daughters, Jeni, who is a psychologist in Portland, Oregon, and Neysa, a photographer in Spoleto, Italy. a

Rec Park Farmer’s MarketHeld every Tuesday (May through October) from 3 -7pm at Rec Park in Lewistown, PA. Tri-Valley Farmer’s Market – June through October on Thursday & Saturday mornings in the South Mall area in downtown Lewistown, PA Golden Mile Farmer’s Market – July through October on Tuesday and Friday. 10am – 2pm held at the Derry Township Community Park in Lewistown, PA Bellville Sale & Livestock Auction - held every Wednesday – All year (unless a holiday) at 26 Sale Barn Lane, Belleville, PA 7am – 3pm. Baked goods, produce, quilts, antiques, livestock & wares.

Here’s a really good book that you may want to consider reading, In fact it’s a really good recommendation for clearing up a lot of misconceptions that are floating around about the stuff that some of us call food!

In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan a

An American Holocaust Is Coming from page 32

like Obama gaining power and outlawing guns!

by the government itself, and it will be waged on U.S. soil, using drone assassinations, nationwide gun confiscation, FEMA camps and of course a declaration of Martial Law to justify it all. The end game is a complete takeover of America by socialist/communist/fascist forces and the outright abolition of liberties and firearms in the hands of citizens. America is scheduled for termination, and people like Obama have been placed in power precisely because he can fool enough people for a sufficient amount of time to get this plan underway without popular resistance.

Obama is seductive and hypnotic, so his followers will think he’s helping America while he’s actually destroying it by design.

Drones are terminators in the sky, controlled by one man -- a tyrant who sits in the Oval Office and respects no boundaries of either the Constitution or federal law.

He makes laws up as he goes along, betraying his oath of office and violating the very tenants of justice upon which this country was founded. Obama is a traitor to America and a danger to us all.

For the sake of America’s future, he must be impeached, thrown out of office and replaced with a President who actually upholds the Constitution and respects the laws of the land. a

phone communications. Lastly, Stop being so naive – this is Obama is already placing drones happening NOW! in the skies over America. His

If you think any of this seems chief puppet, Attorney General outlandish, you aren’t paying atEric Holder has ruled that not tention. The 16-page drone assasonly are the drones legal, but that sination memo has already been Obama also has the legal right to published. The NDAA is federal use them to shoot Americans on law. The DHS memos are real.

American soil.

All of us who question govern When you put this all ment, who own firearms, and who together into one package, it’s believe in the Bill of Rights have obvious that the stage is set for already been named terrorists.

Barack Hussein Obama to use The stage is being set to wage an force in a hostile takeover of the all-out war with the American United States. All he has to do people. That’s the reason DHS has is declare a state of emergency purchased 1.6 billion rounds of (most likely prompted by a forced ammo. It’s the reason DHS is buyeconomic collapse). This will ing 7,000 full-auto assault rifles. allow him to control all forms of All these weapons and ammo communication. Both military and are for exclusive use inside the DHS trained personnel will then United States of America, on U.S. start rounding up everyone that soil. This is why thousands of has or still opposes Obama and bulletproof roadside checkpoints detain them under the National have been purchased by DHS. It’s Defense Authorization Act. Those why steel cable dividers are being that resist will be faced with lethal installed on highways, so that you force from the drones and/or the can’t turn around when approachheavily armed military and DHS ing a TSA checkpoint. This is why troops. Anyone resisting will be talk of shooting gun owners is shot, since he has been given the openly tolerated and even encourlegal authority to do so. If Obama aged in the mainstream media and fears a threat from another nation, on social networks. he would not be slashing military

We are witnessing a full-on spending, cutting our nuclear ramping up toward total war with arsenal down to a third of what it the American people. This war was and he wouldn’t have NOAA will be caused (false-flagged) stockpiling millions of weapons and ammunition.

Everything Obama has being doing and putting in place is pointed inside the US, not outside.

We are his target, not Iran, Syria, China, North Korea or al-Qaeda. If you don’t believe this will happen prior to the 2016 election, then please explain to me the • Reliable Propane & Heating Oil Delivery purpose of all these things that • Budget Payment Plan Call today have been strateto learn about our • 24/7 Emergency Service gically placed at this time. Also, I NEw CustOmER • Heating Equipment Service Plans suggest you do a sPECiAls! • Safety Trained Professionals little studying of history in nations • Over 80 Years Experience like Germany, Russia, China and other socialist nations. They all thought it could Our Business is Customer Satisfaction never happen to them and it did and it all started 717-248-5476 • 1-800-PROPANE (776-7263) with a tyrant just

Expect More from Your Fuel Supplier!

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15

The Valley, May 2013

Our Environment Our Culture In Bloom: Upcoming Projects- Rec Park Farmers Market, PA Partners in the Arts

by Sam Price

Spring has sprung and we have some exciting opportunities on the horizon from both our Environmental and Cultural programs.

Rec Park Farmers MarketLewistown

In 2012, Community Partnerships RC&D was proud to partner with PA Women in Agriculture and local farmers to start the Rec Park Farmers Market in Lewistown. With approximately 250 people at the grand opening and close to that number each week, the market was a success as market-goers enjoyed direct access to fresh food. A series of (free) cookshops with expert speakers were packed each week and new faces appeared at the market each week. This year, the cookshops will return in June while live music and a guest vendor will be on hand each week.

This is a chance for you to come out and experience community at its finest and get the freshest food you can possibly buy.

Opening Day for the 2013

Rec Park Farmers Market is Tuesday, May 28, 2013. The Market will be open every Tuesday from May 28 to the Fall from 3-7 p.m.

2013 Cookshop Schedule (sign-up information will be available at market): June 25 Berry Benefits July 2 The Great American Cookout July 9 Vegetarian Meal Planning July 16 Kale - The Queen of Greens July 23 Herb Garden Gourmet July 30 Focus on the Family Dinner August 6 Celebrating Tomatoes August 13 Fermenting Foods for the Health of It August 20 Healthy Lunchtime Favorites for Kids August 27 Crockpot Cookery Farmers Markets Fast Facts:

You’ll eat well. Since the items were locally grown and picked, they often taste fresher.

You’ll also have access to seasonal produce, offering you a wide variety of healthy eats.

You’ll help the Earth. Food at farmers markets hasn’t been transported very far at all. Therefore, there are fewer amounts of carbon emissions from delivery trucks and less gasoline used during travel.

You’ll support local business.

Buying from neighborhood farmers helps keep them in business, improving your local economy.

You’ll get fresh air. You can get exercise and Vitamin D as you shop.

PA Partners in the Arts Program

Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder and Union Counties (If you live outside this area, but are still in PA, you’re eligible for funding from a different local partner: http://pacouncilonthearts.org/ pa_partners_contact.cfm)

Attention: Artists, Musicians, Festival organizers, communityminded individuals, etc.

We have another exciting opportunity coming up through the PA Partners in the Arts program.

As your local partner in the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA) program, Community Partnerships RC&D administers the program locally in Juniata,

Mifflin, Montour,Northumberland, Perry, Snyder and Union Counties. This funding opportunity provides grants to eligible organizations or individuals to conduct community arts projects. Local examples of past-funded projects include the Logan Guards mural, RiverFEST, Mifflin-Juniata Arts Festival, Big Tree Music festival, etc.

PPA Project Stream applications are due June 28, 2013.

Guidelines will be available in May. We’ll be holding two regional workshops: May 20, 6:30 p.m.- Lewisburg Public Library May 30, 6:30 p.m.- Juniata County Library * An online workshop will also be made available in mid-May. If you have any questions about the application process, please call (717) 248-4901 or email Community Partnerships RC&D at cpartnerships@cpartnerships.com.

We hope you’ll consider applying to make your community a better place to live through the arts.

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Arts Fast Facts:

Students who study art are 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement and 3 times more likely to be awarded for school attendance.

Researchers find that sustained learning in music and theatre correlates strongly with higher achievement in both math and reading.

In a study of a high-poverty schools in Chicago, the schools that were participating in the Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE) made huge strides in closing the gap between high- and low-income students’ academic achievement.

Multiple studies have concluded that curricular and extracurricular art studies and activities help keep high-risk dropout students stay in school.

New brain research shows that not only does music improve skills in math and reading, but it promotes creativity, social development, personality adjustment, and self-worth. a

The Valley, May 2013

16

“Brace”yourself for Show Season

By now you should have picked out your market goats and lambs for the upcoming show season. Now the hard part begins!

If you plan to attend any local jackpot shows or fairs, you should start preparing and practicing proper showmanship and fitting techniques to make your animal stand out in the ring. An animal that may not be the best structurally may be placed higher in the class because it is being properly shown to the judge. Showmanship is an extremely important part in showing livestock.

Halter breaking any animal is important for both in and out of the show ring. When I started

4-H back in 2000, I hardly worked with my dairy goats and expected them to walk and behave in front of the judge. Wishful thinking!

Animals have a mind of their own, and without repetition, they forget things just like humans do.

After school/work, or in your free time, get your market animals out and take them for a nice walk.

These get both you and the animal in shape, as well as teaching the animal that it’s okay to walk with a halter on.

Market lambs and goats are very similar when it comes to showing and fitting. In the show ring today, judges look for animals that can brace and

stand out from the rest. Properly bracing a market lamb or goat can really make you stand out in the ring. For the readers that have never heard of bracing, my description of bracing is of a body builder flexing their muscles. In a sense, this is what you want your goat or lamb to do when the judge handles and evaluates your animal. The judge is looking at muscle definition, and the more you can make that muscle stand out, the easier the judge will be able to evaluate its potential.

You cannot successfully teach any animal to brace overnight.

It takes time and patience. Right after I would get my lambs and

A properly braced market goat

goats, I would start to teach them how to brace. Before you start bracing your lamb, proper feet and leg placement is important. They should be square all around, and their top line should be straight.

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The neck of the lamb or goat should be vertical. To brace your lamb or goat, the handler will stand in front of the animal, and

Continued on page 25

17

The Valley, May 2013

If They Can Take It, Do You Really Own It?

Who is not aware of the banking fiasco in Cyprus? As part of their EU bailout, bank deposits are being levied with a tax. After much protesting, it appears that only accounts with more than 100,000 Euros will be tapped.

Around the world Central Banks are devaluing their currencies and clandestinely stealing buying power and value from their compatriots.

In Pennsylvania last year a three judge panel decreed that a son pay his mother’s nursing home bill. The son did not receive any financial gifts or transfer of assets from her. Still he was made responsible to pay $92,000 on her behalf. It’s this topic I’d like to explore a bit more

deeply in this article.

I go on record; there is nothing more honorable than assisting one’s own family when a need arises. That benevolence, however, should spring from the heart and not be dictated by governmental authority.

In May of 2012, in Allentown, a panel of three state-court appellate judges ruled that an Allentown nursing home could collect an unpaid bill of $92,943 from the son of a patient who previously received care at the home.

The kicker is, the court imposed a major financial liability on an adult child in the absence of fault on his part in creating the debt.

The judges’ decision centers on what are known as “filial sup-

port” laws. Filial is defined as pertaining to a son or a daughter; it’s having the relation of a child to a parent. These laws provide that spouses are required to financially support one another and parents must legally support their minor children. Makes sense so far, however, Pennsylvania’s domestic relations code expands this legal obligation to include that spouses, children and parents are now financially responsible for the needs of an indigent family member. It sort of flows up, down and across. It appears that whoever has the money gets to pay regardless of the situation. Additionally, there’s no limitation that the child be a minor to potentially obligate parents for the indigent child’s expenses and as we’ve seen children can be obligated to pay on behalf of parents. This is truly a terrifying development.

Are there ways to protect yourself from this travesty?

Certainly every individual and household is different and depend-

ing on your personal financial situation, a consultation with a financial planner as well as an attorney may be advisable. If you are attempting to protect yourself from exposure to a destitute child, perhaps holding property in trust may afford some protection. If, on the other hand, you are attempting to protect your children from the high cost of nursing care for yourself or protect yourself from the high cost of your parents’ care, it’s important to understand how the “system” works in order to properly plan.

I don’t understand why in the Allentown case application was not made to Medicaid on behalf of the elderly mother. Typically nursing homes assist in navigating and applying for benefits under this program. Medicaid is a Federal program designed to pay medical expenses on behalf of individuals who lack the means to pay for their own care. It’s my understanding that the mother involved in the Allentown case would have qualified under Medicaid.

A quick look at Medicaid rules reveals that both income and assets are examined to determine eligibility. Once in a nursing home, all personal income is required to be used toward one’s nursing expenses. You can carve

out the following as needed: $45 per month as a personal needs allowance, any incurred medical expenses not paid for by insurance (or a third party), any additional monthly amount required to support a needy spouse or family member at your personal residence, and home maintenance expenses for your personal residence for up to six months if your physician certifies that you will probably return home after your period of rehabilitation.

In the case of a married couple who are living together, the income and resources of one spouse will be “deemed” available to the other spouse in determining a spouse’s eligibility. When one spouse is institutionalized, however, the at-home spouse (referred to as the “community spouse”) will be entitled to keep or acquire a certain amount of income and resources. The following items are exempt from being used on behalf of the institutionalized spouse: principle residence, half of all assets owned by the couple not to exceed $115,920 nor less than $23,184 (for 2013), one vehicle (make it a good one!), monthly income allowance up to $1,839, household goods & personal effects (including jewelry),

Continued on page 30

MEAT. WILSON’S MEATS AND GROCERIES

Fresh Meats, Full Line of Groceries, and Produce

Open 7 Days! 7am - 9pm

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A hometown grocer you can trust.

The Valley, May 2013

18

POOR WILL’S VALLEY ALMANACK for May of 2013

by Bill Felker

Like love, spring can depend on the slightest movement, the faintest scent, a glimpse of what might happen, an oblique suggestion of fulfilment. And so the sight of one tulip or the first robin fledgling can create sudden spring, spring-at-first-sight.

Spring can also grow and accumulate year after year like long, true love until each corner of its nature and each crevice of its devices are part of us. bf The Sun On May 21, the sun enters Gemini and lies within just a small fraction of its summer solstice position.

The Planets Saturn continues in Virgo, overhead south of Arcturus in the middle of the night. Venus once again becomes the bright evening star beginning on May 7, when it moves into Taurus. It will keep its dominance during the evening throughout the remainder of the year.

The Stars

Throughout the evenings of May, the Big Dipper overhead tells about the bloom of daisies and rhododendrons and chives and wild raspberries. Castor and Pollux setting in the west pull the last of the dogwood and redbud petals from the trees. Rising Vega and Cygnus in the east foretell sweet corn and tomatoes, warm from the sun.

The Shooting Stars

The Eta Aquarids are active on May 5 and 6. Find them after midnight in Aquarius above the southeastern horizon. The dark moon should favor meteor viewing, and the early morning of

May 5 should produce the most meteors.

The S.A.D. Stress Index

May brings an end to seasonal affective disorders for the majority of people in the Northern Hemisphere. By the fifth month, the summer-like day’s length, the gentle weather, and the falling odds for cloudy conditions brings the Index into the harmless 20s and teens.

MAY - WEEK 1 THE FIRST WEEK OF LATE SPRING Lunar Phase and Lore The Apple Blossom Moon enters its final quarter on May 2 at 6:14 a.m. darkening the night throughout the period. Rising near midnight and setting in the middle of the day, this moon moves overhead (its most favorable position for catching fish and feeding babies) in the morning.

The moon’s position in Capricorn (April 29 – May 1) and in Pisces (May 3 – 5) will be superb for planting root crops directly in the garden, for setting out new roses, shrubs and trees. The approach of the May 2 and 7 cold fronts should will lower the barometric pressure and increase temptations to dieters and bass.

Weather Trends Cool fronts are due to reach Pennsylvania on or about May 2, 7, 12, 15, 21, 24, and 29. New moon on May 9 and full moon on May 24 could contribute to unseasonable cold and to unstable meteorological conditions. Tornadoes, floods or prolonged periods of soggy pasture are most likely to occur within the following windows: May 3 – 12 and May 17 – 24.

Approximate chances for freezing temperatures after the following dates at lower Valley locations: May l: 50 percent; May 10: 25 percent; May 15: 15 percent; May 31: 5 percent

MAY - WEEK 2 THE SECOND WEEK OF LATE SPRING Lunar Phase and Lore The Apple Blossom Moon becomes the new Mock Orange Moon on May 9 at 7:29 p.m.

And as apple blossoms disappear, the full force of late spring envelops the land, bringing the most fragrant time of year with the flowers of Japanese honeysuckles, peonies, iris and mock orange. Rising in the morning and setting in the evening, this new moon comes overhead at midday, making the hours around noon the most favorable lunar hours for fishing and feeding friends and livestock. As the May 12 cold front approaches, angling should be most productive. Ideal lunar planting conditions occur under Taurus (May 8 – 10) and Cancer (May 13 – 15).

Weather Trends Normal temperatures continue to rise at the rate of one degree every three days this month. Average highs move from the upper 60s on the first of May to the upper 70s by the beginning of June. Lows climb from the middle 40s to the middle 50s. The distribution of high temperatures this month normally includes five days in the 80s, fifteen days in the 70s, seven days in the 60s, and four days in the 50s. The warmest May days, those with the best chance (40 percent or better chance) for a day above 80 degrees are the 11th through the 14th, the 16th, the 20th through the 22nd, the 25th, and the 31st.

MAY - WEEK 3 THE THIRD WEEK OF LATE SPRING Lunar Phase and Lore The new Mock Orange Moon waxes throughout the week, entering its second quarter at 11:35 p.m. on May 17. Rising in the middle of the day and setting in

the middle of the night, this moon is overhead in the late afternoon or evening. Lunar influence increases as the moon moves above this part of Earth, increasing the likelihood that fish could bite more toward sundown, especially as cool fronts of May 15 and 21 approach. Dieters, of course, may find that pie is especially tempting with the moon above them and the barometer dropping. Lunar planting (for flowers and for vegetables that will produce their fruit above the ground) is unexcelled this week under Cancer (May 13 – 15) and then next week under Scorpio (May 22 – 24).

Weather Trends The May 15 cool front and the next two are often followed by the “Strawberry Rains,” the wettest time of May in Pennsylvania.

May 15 is a good target date for having fields planted in order to avoid a serious delay in seeding.

Spring rains and humidity can also increase the risk of internal parasites and foot problems in livestock, but the Chances for frost are extremely low after this front arrives. The days surrounding the May 20 cool front are some of the most turbulent of May, often marked by rain, tornadoes and high winds.

MAY - WEEK 4 THE TRANSITION TIME TO EARLY SUMMER Lunar Phase and Lore The Mock Orange Moon waxes throughout the week, becoming completely full at 11:25 p.m. on May 24. Rising in the afternoon or evening, and setting before dawn, this moon is overhead in the middle of the night. Angling by the moon should be most productive at midnight or (at the second best lunar time) at noon, especially as the barometer falls in advance of the May 24 and 29 cool fronts.

Dieters, of course, might plan to skip pie at lunch and at 12:00 a.m.

Full moon on Friday is expected

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to contribute to higher-thanaverage problems for health care and public service employees over the long weekend. Lunar planting, however, should be superb under Scorpio (May 22 – 24) and Capricorn (May 26 – 28) There will be a penumbral (partial) eclipse of the moon on May 25, visible throughout the Americas, except in the Northwest. Watch for it between 11:00 p.m. (EST) and midnight.

Weather Trends High temperatures are usually above 60 degrees this week, with the chances for 70s or better rising to 70 percent, a ten percent increase over last week’s chances.

Cold afternoons in the 50s occur rarely, but if they do appear, it is typically on the 21st and 24th.

After May 17, the chances for rain grow from an average of 30 percent to near 50 percent through June 3. Although not every day of this two-week period brings “Strawberry Rains,” the frequency of showers is typically higher than in early May or middle June.

A DAYBOOK FOR MAY May 1: At this time, explore the possibility of marketing to consumers who are celebrating the graduation of a child from high school or college. Lambs and kids born in late winter and spring may be suitable for this market.

May 2: The first Sunday of May this year brings a “twofer” – Greek Orthodox Easter and Cinco de Mayo! In addition to the demands of the Orthodox market, lambs and kids may be in demand for the Hispanic market around this date. A 20 - 35 pound live weight milk-fed animal is favored.

The number of Hispanics currently exceeds 30 million in the United States.

May 3: Soil temperatures average in the high 50s by today. The oats crop is typically all sown, and

19

The Valley, May 2013 three-fourths of the seeds have emerged. Winter wheat is often more than two feet high. Most of the tobacco beds have sprouted.

May 4: When daisies flower by the wayside and white mulberries and mountain maples bloom, then daddy longlegs hunt in the undergrowth and darners by the water’s edge. And when lamb’s ear, tea roses, pink spirea or privets are blooming, then frost is likely to stay away until autumn May 5: Today is Greek Orthodox Easter: Like Roman Easter, Orthodox Easter animals should also be milk fed. They can be a little bit bigger (between 40 and 60 pounds) than those used at Roman Easter, though, and should be nice and fat. This year, Orthodox Easter came a full five weeks after Roman Easter. Next year, both Roman and Orthodox Easter occur on the same day, April 20.

May 6: When lilac flowers fade, hawthorn lace bugs and hawthorn leafminers emerge in the hawthorns. Pine needle scale eggs, cooley spruce gall adelgid and Eastern spruce gall adelgid eggs hatch, too.

May 7: When mock orange reaches full flower, black vine weevils and greater peach tree borers appear. Then come the rhododendron borers and the dogwood borers!

May 8: The oats crop is often 85 percent sprouted by today. Sweet rocket starts to blossom by the roadsides. Poppies are open in the garden. Most dandelions have now gone to seed. Have your roadside stand stocked with fruit treats for Mother’s Day. May 9: The corn is usually half planted, with about a fourth of the crop emerged. A fifth of the soybeans have been seeded, just as the first bluejays and cardinals leave the nest.

May 10: Pollen from flowering trees usually peaks about May 10, but trees continue to be the major source of pollen in the air until grass pollen replaces it in the third week of the month. Estimated Pollen Count on a scale of 0 - 700 grains per cubic meter: May 10: 500; May 15: 300; May 31: 100 May 11: Today often marks the center of pepper, cantaloupe, and cucumber planting along the 40th Parallel. Migrant workers move north to help with setting plants.

In the wood lots, eastern tent cat-

erpillars are defoliating the cherry trees. Azalea mites appear on azaleas, cankerworms on elms and maples, lace bugs on the mountain ash.

May 12: Today is Mother’s Day: Strawberries, fresh vegetables, along with chicken, young kid or lamb, help to create tempting menus for folks considering a home-made Mother’s Day dinner.

May 13: When multiflora roses come into flower, then the bronze birch borer emerges and oystershell scale eggs hatch. And when American holly blooms (about the same time as the multiflora roses), then potato leafhoppers will be hopping in the potatoes.

May 14: Red and white clover flower in the pasture. Meadow goat’s beard nods by the path.

Flea season begins for dogs, cats and livestock.

May 15: When apple blossoms fall, then rare, medicinal golden seal is blooming in the woods.

And when mayflies swarm by the water, spitbugs will be making their spittle shelters in the parsnips, and the first cut of hay will be underway.

May 16: Almost all the nation’s corn has now been planted in drier years. Half of the soybean and half the sugar beet crops are in the ground, and two-thirds of the potatoes. Commercial sunflower planting time begins as the chances for a light freeze plummet.

May 18: When chives bloom in the garden, then crappie fishing peaks in the shallows. And when flower clusters of the sweet-gum tree fall, then the first strawberry could be red.

May 19: By this time of year, slugs are usually roaming the garden. Flies are bothering the livestock. Bean leaf beetles are common in the fields. Alfalfa weevil and leafhopper infestations become more troublesome.

May 20: When the first brown “June” bug appears at porch lights, then young fireflies glow in the night grass. And when the last locust flowers fall to the ground, then mulberries will be ripening.

In the wetlands, wild iris will be in bloom.

May 21: Processing tomato transplanting is about half done as poison hemlock blooms by the roadsides. Common yarrow flowers, a sign that flies will catch the

most bluegills.

May 22: Half the winter wheat crop is typically headed by this time, just as pickle planting is complete and the earliest squash harvest gets underway.

May 23: When Canadian thistles start to bud, frost usually stays away from peppers, cantaloupes and cucumbers. But armyworms and corn borers wander in the fields.

May 24: Flies are bothering the cattle and heat sometimes stresses poultry and livestock.

May 25: When cottonwood cotton floats in the wind, then deer will be giving birth and pollen from grasses will be reaching its early peak. Panicled dogwood will be budding, and grackles will be feeding their pesky young.

May 26: When nettles are waist high, then cutworms roam the garden.

May 27: Today is Memorial Day. Have your poultry, chevon and lamb at local markets for Memorial Day cookouts and picnics.

May 28: Pickle planting is completed throughout the Midwest and Middle Atlantic region by now, and farmers are harvesting zucchini. The earliest corn is six to twelve inches tall, soybeans three to four. Blueberries are setting fruit in the Northeast. In many gardens, squash bugs and Japanese beetles are out in force.

May 29: Spring pasture now reaches its brightest green of the year, and haying moves towards the Canadian border from the South at the rate of about one hundred miles a week, will be taking place almost everywhere in the United States by the middle of June.

May 30: Bright green six-spotted tiger beetles race along the deer paths of the woods. Grasshoppers come to the fields. Northern Spring Field Crickets, the first crickets of the year to sing, are singing. Baby robins are out of the nest. Reckless adolescent groundhogs wander the roadsides.

Almanack Classics Yum-Yum

By Leona Babcock, McClure, Ohio A friend of ours had a very dear friend who was having friends in for dinner. She decided to make and bake tuna casserole

for them, and she took the casserole after it was baked and placed it on the table to cool. She left to run her errands, but forgot to let out her cat.

When she came home, there sat the cat on the table eating out of the casserole. But there was no time to make another one, so she trimmed the places off where the cat had been, and served it at her dinner that evening. The guests all had a great time and left for home.

After they were gone, the woman put things in order and took some paper out to the burnbarrel. But what did she see: there lay the cat dead as a doorknob by the barrel!

She was very upset, as she thought the tuna casserole had poisoned the cat. She decided, after much thought, to call her friends and tell them what she had found, after which they all went to the hospital and had their stomachs pumped.

The next morning, a neighbour (one who had not come over to dinner the night before) knocked at the woman’s door and said, “I didn’t want to bother you last night as you had company, but I ran over your cat and didn’t know what to do with it, so I put it beside the burn barrel.”

What a relief! But I do not know if her friends ever returned for a dinner invitation again. And this is a true story!

WINNER OF THE MARCH AND APRIL SCKRAMBLERS A prize of $5.00 was promised to the 1st and 5th person to correctly unscramble all the words in the March and April Valley Sckramblers. Only one person solved the March puzzle: Samantha Peachey of McVeytown, PA., and she now has an extra $5.00. But not a single entry was received for the April Sckrambler. So find your April issue and get to work!

POMOHSA SHAMPOO WENIS SINEW TSTEUA STATUE IOUSX SIOUX EWST STEW NSAFU SNAFU HHEWGROU ROUGHHEW ORED REDO HRUNE NEHRU OISDM MISDO WEN NEW BOLCSK BLOCKS LOCCSK CLOCKS XOPWOC COWPOX OOONBCDKS BOONDOCKS CODS DOCS CKOSRC CROCKS NTILFSKCOL FLINTLOCKS OAXBTH HATBOX FXO FOX DEALHOCKS HEADLOCKS

THE VALLEY “SCKRAMBLER” FOR MAY If you are the 1st or the 5th person to respond with the correct answers, you’ll receive a $5.00 prize. There should by no typos in this puzzle, but if you do find one, you may skip the word without penalty. There should be no typos in this puzzle, and no typo prize will be awarded. If you ANSWERS TO THE MARCH happen to find a typo, however, SCKRAMBLER you may simply skip that word WEP without penalty. Send your entries by postcard only to Poor Will’s PEW UECSRE Valley Almanack at P.O. Box 431, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387.

RESCUE EPSW The unscrambled words and the names of the winners will appear SPEW VERIEW an upcoming issue of The Valley Newspaper.

REVIEW OMO MOO AWS OHOP POOH NERPRU WIEVERP

PREVIEW ARPSHRENE GTRWEOU

OUTGREW SREASH OUSLGH Continued on page 14 SLOUGH

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The Valley, May 2013

20

Fifty Years Ago From the pages of The Sentinel (Lewistown, PA), founded in 1903: May 1963

Area high schools host Public Health clinics to administer the Sabin oral poliomyelitis vaccine aimed at halting a potential epidemic of the disease. Lines of children and adults wait to receive a sugar in a paper cup, slightly tinted with the liquid vaccine.

Over 32,000 received the Type I dose this month.

Residents noted pre-summer heat of 92 degrees on May 11, but the temperature plunged 42 points to 50 degrees in just a few hours.

In local sports, George Rheam of Lewistown, Lynn Updegrove and Jon Zimmerman of Kish enter state finals with second place finishes in District Six track meet; Mifflin County softball

league opens the season; Lewistown diamond men win playoff opener from Perry Joint HS, 11-0, as Roger Logan strikes out 18; Denny Rodgers of Chief Logan enters the state golf finals.

One Hundred Years Ago From the pages of the Democrat & Sentinel (Lewistown, PA), founded in 1832: May 1913

A party of 31 “long distance hikers” invaded the Naginey caves, Milroy, and paid a visit to the “White Sulfur Springs” on the McDowell farm. Twenty-one of the hikers hailed from Burnham, being pupils of the Freedom School, while the remaining ten students joined the party at Reedsville. Chaperons were Principal W.P. Weiss of Burnham Schools and Miss Hester Betz, Reedsville School. The group travelled by

rail to Naginey station, where the footwork began. They walked the caves from end to end; had “flashlight” photos made of the group.

The muddy explorers squeezed out of the cave’s narrow entrance, then toured the Naginey quarry; stopped for a short basket lunch; marched to Milroy and a tour of Thompson Hosiery Mill and then to the White Sulfur Springs on the farm. The return took them to Logan’s Spring for a brief stop, ending in time to catch the 5:15 trolley at Reedsville station back to Burnham.

paper, having gone a trouting, the junior editor has endeavored to present the latest and most reliable news in this issue.”

Church bells rang out in the early hours one Monday morning greeting soldiers from the 131st Regiment discharged after serving their nine-month enlistments. They arrived on the 5 a.m. train, and were met by local fire companies with their hose carts and engines. The men were escorted to the Square and welcoming speeches echoed from the courthouse steps. The Gazette commented, “A few who had lost loved ones on the battlefield looked on with heavy hearts.”

Tension ran high in the area.

Returning soldiers of the 125th Regiment destroyed the Monitor (Huntingdon, PA), an anti-administration newspaper in Huntingdon County. The editor reported that the editor of the Huntingdon Globe (Huntingdon, PA) had five editors of the Monitor arrested for threatening to destroy his newspaper.

Civil War Echoes – One Hundred Fifty Years Ago From the pages of the Lewistown Gazette (Lewistown, PA), founded in 1811 May 1863

The newspaper announced: “The senior editor of this news-

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The Logan Guards - The Civil War’s First Defenders from Mifflin County, Pennsylvania by author Forest K. Fisher tells the story of this Mifflin County militia company. $17.75 plus PA Sales Tax and $3 S&H - Available at these locations: Mifflin County Historical Society, 1 W. Market Street, Lewistown, PA 17044 or - Purchase with PayPal, visit our web site at www.mccoyhouse. com, click on STORE - Also the JVACC Gift Shop, Historic Courthouse, Lewistown, PA. For more information: Call MCHS Office at 717-242-1022 or info@mifflincountyhistoricalsociety.org a

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The Valley, May 2013

Modern Energy and Alternative Heating with Curt Bierly

Spring Maintenance

Well, I do believe that we can consider winter officially over.

And what a beautiful spring it has been. The grass is very green and the mountains are shedding their bleak appearance as the leaves begin to appear. Spring flowers are blooming. Nature is giving us a reward for sticking out the long, cold winter.

At home the wood I cut weekly is lasting longer as we burn it only in the evenings. This is definitely Heat Pump weather – so – we use that during the day when we’re both at work. I purchased two tons of coal last fall to burn in my Saey Coal Stove during the winter months and it is “all gone” so I shut that down last week. Yes, I miss the nice warm garage, but I wouldn’t want to invest in and store a large portion of coal at this time of year. In

addition, a coal stove is difficult to turn down low so there are days it would be too warm. The Saey coal stove is there for us in the winter months when to heat with most anything else would cost a lot more money. Time to look forward to spring and summer activities, but first I need to take care of my heating equipment so it will take care of us next winter.

The coal stove is the most important. Coal produces a small amount of flyash when it’s burning. The two tons of coal I burned last winter will probably leave a quart of flyash in my smoke pipe and chimney. If you mix flyash with water (humid air or rain) it produces hydrochloric and sulfuric acid which will eat thru black steel smoke pipe by next heating season and cause wear and tear on the coal stove. In addition,

my chimney is constructed with insulated stainless steel pipe. That will need to be brushed out and the top capped off so no rain water can enter. It is imperative that the coal stove, smoke pipe and chimney be cleaned shortly after it is shut down. I will sweep the ashes, clean the glass, disconnect the smoke pipe and brush it out. I always store the smoke pipe in a warm dry location (attic) till the fall.

The wood and pellet stove is a different story because rain water or humid air won’t affect the life of the chimney, smoke pipe or stove. I sweep the stove out and clean the glass for the summer but usually put off cleaning the smoke pipe and chimney until next fall when I’m once again motivated to get the system up and running.

If you burn wood, this is the time to cut and split the wood so it is seasoned by fall. If you burn pellets, watch for those low summer

Be sure to clean your heating unit each spring with care, so it will be ready to care for you next winter!

prices so you can stock up on pellets for next year.

If you own a gas stove, you need to remove the glass and clean it. It is usually just dusty.

Other than that, there isn’t any other maintenance required other then to turn off the pilot light.

If you have a Heat Pump, it’s time to clean the filters for summer. This is very important if you want your Heat Pump/Air Conditioner to operate efficiently.

We have an electronic air filter.

To clean that we remove the four internal filters and wash them in our dishwasher. I am always very careful of the ionizing wires in

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the electronic filter cell as they are very brittle. We are sure to allow the filters to dry completely before reinstalling them in the filter housing and turning on the power!

We wish you the best summer ever! a Curt Bierly is president of the bierly group incorporated of which Stanley C. Bierly is a division. He graduated from Penn State with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and is the chair of the Penn College HVAC Advisory Board. You can contact him at cbierly@bierlygroup.com

The Valley, May 2013

22 Misunderstood Federalism from page 13 federalism to have any chance at returning to our constitutional first principles. Otherwise, we will be guided by public opinion of people dependent upon government.

Do You Have Traditional Taste from page 11

previous batch. cloth cover- I simply use a dish cloth/tea towel • rubber band Steps 1. Boil 4 cups of water in a stainless steel pan.

2. Add tea bags or the loose tea into the pan or you can pour the boiling water into your brewing vessel and then add the tea. Just make sure the glass of the brewing vessel is strong enough to accommodate boiling water. If you are not sure, put a metal spoon in the vessel to aid in preventing the glass from cracking.

3. Add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Cover during the steeping time.

4. Steep for 10-15 minutes, then remove tea bags or strain if using loose tea.

5. If brewing in the stainless steel pan, pour tea into the glass fermenting vessel. Fill the vessel most of the way with purified cool water, leaving just 1-2 inches from the top for breathing room, the addition of the SCOBY and the one cup of starter liquid.

Make sure the liquid is cool.

If not, allow to sit. Tea that is too hot will kill the SCOBY 6. When the tea is cooled to room temperature, add the SCOBY and starter liquid.

7. Cover with a clean cloth and secure with the rubber band.

8. Set in a warm location out of direct sunlight (unless vessel is opaque).

9. Do not disturb for 7 days. I have been allowing my vessel to sit for about 10 days since my house is cool but in the summer months I may reduce that time.

•

After 7 days, or when you are ready to taste your kombucha, gently insert a straw or teaspoon beneath the SCOBY and take a sip. If too tart, then reduce your brewing cycle next time. If too sweet, allow to brew for a few more days. Continue to taste every day or so until you reach your optimum flavor preference. Your

To restore fiscal sanity, we should return power to the states and bring government closer to the people. We need to discipline federal government, not help it grow. a

own kombucha tea recipe may vary.

Decant & flavor (optional).

Decant into glass jars. Remember, do not use plastic or metal.

Sometimes I put a piece of ginger in the jars and allow them to sit on my counter for 2-3 days for a second brew. Burp them everyday by opening their lids to allow for the build up of gases to escape. Store in the refrigerator.

Remember to reserve one cup of the kombucha and the SCOBY for your next batch. Share your extra SCOBYs with your family and friends.

Drink as desired! Start off with 4-8oz on an empty stomach in the morning, then with meals to help with digestion or as your body tells you it would like some more! Drink plenty of water as it is a natural detoxifier and you want to flush the newly released toxins out.

The kombucha SCOBY.

I know it sounds complicated, but trust me, this is very simple.

Kombucha is super healthy alternative to drinking soda!

I encourage you to begin developing “traditional tastes.”

Your body, your future generations, and maybe even your furniture salesperson will thank you!

Cheers!

Sue is a holistic nutrition consultant and holistic health educator.

Her office is located at 54 Chestnut Street in Lewistown. To learn more about her business go to www.mynourishingjourney.com She can be reached by email at sue@mynourishingjourney.com or give her a call at 242- 3132.

Resources: www.keeperofthehome.org and www.kombuchacamp.com a

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The Valley, May 2013

Mail Pouch Books

by Carleen B. Grossman

Sunday, May 12, 2013 is the special day in which we honor our mothers! Through a mother, a child perceives the world and the people around him/her. A mother is responsible for teaching moral values and the real meaning of life. Thus, for the celebration of the Mothers in our lives, I have chosen books that will honor these special women in our lives!

MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS

By Rae Meadows Copyright 2011

This historical novel is an intriguing tale of three women connected by motherhood. Alternating chapters provide an interesting

story of how these three women are connected--as a great grandmother, her daughter and the great grand daughter--each lives their individual lives during different time frames.

By the end of the book, the time frames all connect and answer some profound questions for the reader. From the orphan train experiences of the great grandmother, the reader will segue into more modern times with a dying mother, of 72 years of age, and her married daughter who has her own child and marriage to deal with in her own way.

The book becomes suspenseful about midway through it because in modern day times the great grand daughter discovered the mysteries that her own mother

and the great grandmother kept secret for years. The strength of this book lies in its depiction of the orphan train as seen through the eyes of one 11 year old girl.

It is a perfect book to read for the month which celebrates the Mothers of this world because of its thought provoking concepts about just what constitutes motherhood!

There is an excellent, brief author’s note that tells about the orphan trains of our nation during the mid-nineteenth century.

MOM’S BOOK OF LISTS has oodles of lists especially for moms! It will quickly provide answers about lives with the family and basic concerns of a mother’s daily life. There are checklists for Mom and even a best-of-everything lists for the family; you will learn about how to get ketchup stains out of clothing, what supplies are needed for the medicine cabinet, how to stock your panty... even how to set up a rainy-day family activity box! This beautifully designed and illustrated book will make a practical gift for all mothers.

A CELEBRATION OF MOTHERHOOD

By Fiona Hunter Copyright 2013

This book will be hot off the press in May 2013! It will be a perfect gift for Mothers and chil-

MOM’S BOOK OF LISTS: 100 Practical Lists for Raising Your Kids Alice Wong Copyright 2011

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dren of any age who appreciate their mothers. Works of art are brought together with wonderful selections of verses to celebrate Motherhood. This will be a Mother’s keepsake book!

WHAT IS MOTHER’S DAY?

By Claire Schumacher Copyright 2006

This charming children’s book that children and their family members can read together is perfect for celebrating Mother’s special day! The age range for use with this book is 3-6 years of age, but it is a fun book for any family! It is a flap book in which the readers look under flaps to see how Little Mouse and her Daddy prepare a perfect surprise for Mommy’s special day! a

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The Valley, May 2013

The Pen and Thread Custom Calligraphy and Weaving

Mary Anna Chenoweth Proprietor

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

717-248-6079 131 West Market Street Lewistown, Pennsylvania

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25

The Valley, May 2013 Brace yourself for Market Season from page 16 stick either their right or left thigh into the shoulder and push back.

An unbraced market goat

Using the right or left thigh will depend on what side the judge is on when you’re in the class (You always want the animal closest to the judge so that they are looking at the full view of the animal, not the person showing it.). The animal will push against you, resulting in the brace. If it’s the first time you have ever tried bracing a lamb or goat, you will feel it the next day!

When the animal is properly bracing against you, you will feel off-balance and the next day, your legs will be sore.

The best way to start teaching your goats and lambs to

brace is by taking them to a hill or slope. Stand at the top of the hill or slope and brace the animal. The animal will resist because they won’t want to “fall” down the hill.

Another way to teach an animal to brace is by having a small ledge that has a drop (clipping stands work great for this). The lamb or goat might drop its back end off of the ledge and after that happens, it will be afraid to step off again. If the animal repeatedly tries to fall off, you can place water underneath as well. Just like humans, most animals don’t want their feet dangling and would like to remain on solid ground. If they fall, they will usually resist.

The more you work with your market projects, the more reward and success you will receive in the show ring! Winners aren’t made overnight. Time and patience is key in training an animal things that wouldn’t otherwise be natural to them. The more you put into it, the higher reward you will get! a

A properly braced market lamb

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The Valley, May 2013

26

Savvy Cents & Sensibility

by JoAnn Wills-Kline MBA

Unexpected Healthcare Costs, Enough to Make You Sick

The topic of healthcare can ruffle a lot of feathers. Emotions and opinions often get stirred up when conversations turn to healthcare costs and coverage. I usually opt to steer clear of involvement in such conversations; however, a recent healthcare scare prompted me to speak out on the topic. I am a hard-working, well educated American woman…and I am uninsured. I have never had the good fortune of receiving employer health benefits within the thirty-three year period of my life that I have worked. At one time I was insured. I purchased my own healthcare benefits – a very large expense. Eventually, my health insurance premiums increased

beyond what was financially manageable for me, and I joined the ranks of the un-insured. My case in point: sometimes you can work hard all your life, be exceptionally frugal, make all the “right” choices, live mindfully, and an unexpected healthcare concern can leave you teetering financially.

You can plan to off-set such risks, but sometimes the unexpected happens – period!

On a day in March the unexpected happened to me. I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. I had been living life under the assumption that I was healthy, and all the while something unseen had been transpiring inside my body – something that could

have caused my death. I was shocked, scared, and rather confused when I received the diagnosis – it rocked my life. After the initial shock wore off, I contemplated how blessed I was that the cancer was caught at an early stage. Thankfully a very skilled surgeon removed the malignancy and my pathology reports came back clean – resulting in a clean bill of health. Frequent re-check examinations are required to keep watch for a re-occurrence. The experience made me wonder how many other people in our readership may have experienced a serious healthcare concern while un-insured. I learned a lot as I navigated the experience, and I chose to share what I learned in hopes of helping others. What I learned and my suggestions: 1. If you encounter healthcare expenses that create a financial hardship, reach out to see if you may qualify for charity care programs or reduced repayment.

2. If your income is too high to qualify, request a feasible payment plan.

A.“Feasible” is a broad word and in this case it means doing your part honestly to repay the debt as quickly as conceivably and honestly possible.

B. Keep in mind that you may

need to set up several repayment plans because often you are billed from several parties such as a hospital/doctors office, pathology, and any adjunct services.

3. Get super serious about eliminating any and all expenses that are non-essential

A. Eliminate personal “perks” such as random purchases, as every dollar adds up.

I. Yes, expect life to get boring and the budget to get uncomfortable – deal with it like a responsible adult.

1. It is super important to get through the healthcare financial crisis with the least bit of long-term financial damage.

4. Delinquent medical bills DO show up on credit reports, and can affect your credit worthiness for several years.

A. Choosing not to heed this particular advice can cost you BIG TIME through high interest rates, low credit scores, and credit denials.

I. In a nutshell, cross-off that dream home mortgage and/or new vehicle because you won’t be able to get the loan.

5. Possibly consider a consolidation of existing debt if you are credit worthy.

A. A consolidation might

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produce a lower interest rate than what you might currently be paying.

6. You will find out who TRULY cares.

A. Talk is cheap but actions speak loud and clear. Medical concerns are frightening; therefore ,you really need support and real concern

B. Hardships and emergencies have a way of opening our eyes to what is “truth.”

I. Sometimes the people you thought cared – really don’t.

1. In the words of Maya Angelo, “When people show themselves to you, believe them…”

7. A serious medical concern is a “life-changer.”

A. View it as a chance to re-evaluate what’s working/not working in your life.

I. Then muster the courage to set about making the changes you want to see.

8. Ponder that the health concern may prove to be the “brief timeout” necessary to check your life compass.

A. Recognize that it could hold a blessing in disguise – a “blesson” which is a blessing in the lesson. a

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The Valley, May 2013

Grosze Thal Nachbaren

(Big Valley Neighbors)

by Jeptha I. Yoder

Ein Grusz in dem Namen unsers Herren Jesu Christi.

Vell es ist mol wärmer, den es eine lange zeit war. Wir sind ganz fleisich am Löwenzahn Krautern ernten und essen.

O ich sehn in mein letzter Breif eppes wegen der Vierzeht meinem Geburtstag sein. Des iss net recht und amden mein eigner Irrthum gewesen. Es soll der Vier und Zwanzigst März sein.

Am Vier und Zwanzigst März waren wir in der Gemein ans Jesse J. Hostetlers fürs letzt mol an ihr Sciefergrund Heimat.

Von McClur waren Iddo M. Hostetlers und Familie. Von andere gegenden waren Isaak R. Hostetlers, Johannes Is und Mose Ss, beide Yodern, und Familien; Jeptha, Jacob, Fräney, und Dorothy (Emanuel J.), Uria, Fräney, Thomas, und Ketura (Joel M.), und witwee (Jeptha H.) Lydia R., alle Yodern.

Mose C. Yoders und Familie waren hier abends. Ost Lang Leen Gemein war ans Johannes I. Hostetlers. Unkel Christs waren ans Noah D. Hostetlers fürs abendessen.

Rufus M. Yoders und Familie

von Neve York waren bei ihre Eltern, die Christ M. Zugen Sr. über die wochend.

Am Ein und Dreisigst März (Oster-Sonntag), gingen Jesse Js und Mose Rs und Familien, beide Hostetlern, in die Kirchengasse Gemein ans Joel M. Yoders.

West Lang Leen war ans Mose J. Hostetlers Jr. Johannes M. Hostetlers waren hier furs mittagessen. Rebecca M. Hostetler (Jesse S.) war hier abends. Manasse J. Yoders waren ans Unckel Christ M. Yoders fürs mittag essen. Unkel Jesse S. Hostetlers waren ein wenig beim C. C. Zug.

Der Neun und Zwanzigst (Charfreitag) waren Christ G. Yoders ans Unkel Christ Ms fürs Abendessen.

Am Oster-Montag, der Erst Aprill, waren Jonathan N. Hostetlers bei meine Eltern und Schwester Elisabeth fürs Mittagessen. Sie waren auch beim C. C. Zug und Rudy S. Hostetlers.

Ich war in McClur, ans Amos J. Hostetlers furs mittag-essen.

Andere dort waren Jesse Ss und Tochtern. Wir waren auch ein wenig ans Christ R. Zugen. Ihre Besuch fürs mittag waren (ihre

Töchtern), Manasse Ns und Noah Is, und Familien, beide Yodern.

Vom Grosze Thal waren Sam R. Hostetlers und Familie; Von Penns Thal waren Samuel Speichers Sr. und Jüngster und Manasse Hostetlers. Die Eli S. Zug Familie war auch in McClur auf besuch über die wochend.

Ben Y. Hostetler und Sohn tobias’ waren in der gegend, von Penns Thal. Es ist noch mehr wanderers und besuches angegangen. Ganz zu viel davon alles zu schreiben.

Am Siebent Aprill waren wir in der Gemein ans Eli S. Hostetlers. Von Kirchengasse waren Daniel Y. Hostetlers. Auch dort waren der Eli seine Schwestern, die Eli J. Hostetlers und Familie von McClur; und Barbara von Homer Stadt, welche war dort des gröszte theil der wache.

Ost Lang Leen Gemein war ans Johannes I. Yoders.

Der Vierzeht Aprill war Kirchen-gasse Gemein ans Solomon C. Hostetlers Jr. West Lang Leen ans Thomas S. Yoders. Eli S. Hostetlers und Familie waren ans Mose R. Hostetlers furs mittagessen, und ans Unkel Christs und hier nachmittages.

Christian greetings! Now is the time to indulge in dandelion greens! Everyone is sick with the flu. Let’s get rid of it! Spring is here. Peepers and frogs started singing once it was April.

Cousin Jess J. Hostetler just came home Tuesday, April 16 from Geisinger Hospital, Danville, where open heart surgery was done to repair an apparent heart defect involving the valves.

He was transferred after being in State College for three days earlier.

Jesse and Rachel and three children moved into their new house on Stage road on March 26.

More movings that week were John Z. Yoders from his Dads’ (Hosea J.) residence to her brother Stephen Y. Hostetlers near Barefoot Road. Stephen plans to build near Cedar Grove Lane. Michael Us plan to move (from Treaster Valley) into where Johns vacated.

Also, the Moses N. Hostetler family moved to Hammondsport area of New York.

On the dry afternoon of Wed., April 10, firefighters took care of a fire in the pines near the pond at Esh’s Orchard, first noticed by passers by.

Several weeks earlier on a Thursday (March 28) fire claimed the Wert home on Orchard Drive.

Our local weekly correspondent writer sums up in her last paragraph (in a recent writing)

what I have in mind-- “The public library in Milroy has been closed.

Will the Post Office be next?”

Even subscribing to the local weekly paper helps support the Postal Service. I remember that as a child I always figured that someday even smaller villages, such as Siglerville, would continue growing and eventually have a Post Office. Is that still down the road? Ha!

New arrival is a son Rufus to Sam A. and Martha E. Hostetler, joining one sister.

Grands are widow (Korie N.) nancy L. Hostetler.

A daughter Naomi M. on April 12 joining two brothers and one sister, to Noah M. and Emma N. Zook.

Grands are Rufus J. and Mary N. Hostetler.

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Grands to both are Christ M. Sr. and Barbara A. (Yoder) Zook.

Wednesday the 17th was a funeral in McClure of (less than a year old) a young child of Jacob and Barbara Yoder. The family has our sympathy.

God’s Blessings Wished (Gottes Segen Gewinscht), Jeptha I. Yoder a

The Valley, May 2013

28

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Mountain Minstrelsy continued from front page

Lewistown woman uses difficult journey to help others as a Home Nursing Agency Hospice volunteer: Learn about how you can help

“If someone needs your help, everything else can wait,” advises Carolyn Leacy, 55, of Lewistown.

“Whatever it is will still be there, but that person may not be.”

Leacy learned this lesson during the difficult journey of losing her husband to cancer seven years ago. Years later, she walked a similar path as her boyfriend found out that he, too, had cancer, and ended up passing away.

“I felt used,” she admits. “It didn’t hit me until I was at the funeral...we’re supposed to be used.

I realized that I was in his life to help him. God has a plan.”

Leacy took her realization of that plan to the next step when she became a Home Nursing Agency Hospice volunteer. Her unique perspective and experiences allow her to empathize with those facing life-limiting illnesses and their family members.

Depending on the needs of those in her community, Leacy

makes visits to Hospice patients, provides relief to their family members and offers support to grieving family members through visits, phone calls or notes.

“You wouldn’t think two hours of your time would be much, but it means the world to them,” she shares. “There is nothing more important than time because we can’t get it back. I believe we have to use it to help others.”

Could you open your heart to people in your community who are facing a life-limiting illness or grieving the loss of a loved one?

Could you be a Hospice volunteer?

Home Nursing Agency is hosting an Open House for community members to learn about volunteer opportunities at the Agency’s Lewistown office, 129 S. Main St., Suite T, on May 21 from 2 – 4 p.m. and 5 – 7 p.m.

Enjoy light refreshments

while learning how you can help those in your community who need it most. There is no commitment to volunteer by attending the Open House. You are invited to learn about the many volunteer opportunities, including visits and support like Leacy offers, or office work to help with clerical duties.

You can make a profound difference in the lives others by sharing your time.

“It is very rewarding,” Leacy says. “To help others, you really just need to care.”

As part of the Home Nursing Agency team, volunteers receive mileage reimbursement, free flu shots and some other benefits.

For more information about volunteering or the Open House, please contact Hospice Volunteer Coordinator Catherine Zimmerman at 1-800-445-6262, ext.

2657 or email czimmerman@ homenursingagency.com. a

Marsh and Alf Siewers who provided brief overviews and discussions about the places, people and landscapes in which these songs were originally sung.

The show was supported by the Place Studies Initiative, the Bucknell Environmental Center, and the Bucknell University Department of Comparative Humanities.

Look to their Facebook or Web page (just type Mountain

thevalleynewspaper@gmail.com

Minstrelsy of PA into any search engine) for information on upcoming shows. With the weather warming, it is time for outdoor shows and Mountain Minstrelsy is sure to be performing someplace nearby. Wherever that may be, it will be worth the drive to relive history and be greatly entertained at the same time! a

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The Valley, May 2013

Dairy Princess Memories

by Amanda Fisher Mifflin County Dairy Princess 2012-2013

Hi, I’m Amanda Fisher the Mifflin County Dairy Princess, however not for long. My yearlong rein is going to come to an end this month. I have had a great year and will be sad to see it come to an end, but on the other hand I will be glad to let another young girl promote our wonderful industry. Like I said before, I have had a wonderful year promoting the dairy industry in Mifflin County and have met some great people through these promotions.

I enjoyed every single one of my promotions that I have done this year, but some of them stand out more in my mind than others; mostly the ones where I got to talk to children. I loved talking to kids about what they knew about the dairy industry and seeing the look on their faces when I taught them something new. Some of these promotions would be when I went to the McVeytown Preschool, when I visited the Lewistown Head Start, and of course, when

I was a part of the Third Grade Ag tour. I loved having the opportunity to teach young children about the importance of dairy in their diets and teaching them the nine essential nutrients found in dairy products. If they are taught at a young age, they will be able to make healthy decisions earlier in life. Another promotion I enjoyed was the McClure Bean Soup. This was a fun promotion, but the reason I liked it so much was because that’s the promotion that I first worked with the Juniata Dairy Princess. She and I became great friends starting then and still are great friends. I have made so many friends through dairy promotion, friends who I will always keep in touch with. That’s probably why I liked going to Seminar and State Pageant so much; I got to spend time with all of my Dairy Princess friends. I have made a lot of memories this past year that I will always remember. I hope that I have served Mifflin County

the best that I could and I will truly miss serving you. These recipes are some of my favorite dairy recipes, maybe they will be your new favorites too!

Cheesy Manicotti • • • • • • • • • • •

Nonstick cooking spray 1 (8 ounce) package manicotti 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese 3 cups shredded mozzarella 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning 2 large eggs Pinch of salt Pinch of black pepper 1 jar of cheese flavored pasta sauce 1 cup shredded provolone

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray a 13-in. X 9-in. baking dish

with nonstick cooking spray.

Cook the manicotti according to package directions; drain and set aside.

In a large bowl, stir together the ricotta, ½ cup of the mozzarella, spinach, Italian seasoning, eggs, salt and pepper. Place the mixture into a large zip-top bag, cut one of the corners off and squeeze the cheese mixture into the manicotti. Pour half of the pasta sauce into the prepared baking dish. Place the stuffed manicotti over the sauce.

Pour the remaining sauce of the manicotti. Top with the remaining mozzarella and the provolone.

Bake until hot and bubbly, 35 to 40 minutes.

Lemon Blueberry Crumb Bars • • • • • •

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1/2cup butter 1pkg. (2-layer size) yellow cake mix 2 eggs, divided 2pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILA DELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened 1/2cup sugar 1Tbsp. zest and 3 Tbsp. juice

•

from 1 lemon 2-1/2cups fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line 13 X 9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides. Microwave butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 to 1-1/2 min. or until melted. Add cake mix and 1 egg; beat with mixer until well blended. Press 2/3 of the mixture onto bottom of prepared pan. Beat cream cheese and sugar with mixer until well blended. Add remaining egg, zest and juice; mix well. Pour over crust; top with berries. Pinch small pieces of the remaining cake mix mixture between your fingers; press lightly into cream cheese layer. Bake 55 min. to 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.

Use foil handles to lift dessert from pan before cutting into bars.

Keep refrigerated. a

The Valley, May 2013

30

Home-Grown!

A Homeschooler’s Perspective

By Mary Eck

Elementary Overload

Is your K-6 student overwhelmed by the rigors of grammar, the complexity of scientific concepts or the humdrum of recalling historical people, dates and events? If so, he or she is in “good and plenty” company.

Apparently, in the wake of the last several decades’ worth of problematic SATs performance and collectively substandard achievement testing across the grade and socioeconomic spectrums, the educratic “powers that be” reckoned that the key to turning things around must lie in starting kids younger, and hitting the books harder. The result, in my opinion, is a national primary student population frazzled to its core because of being given too much too soon.

The younger grades should not be focusing on intense grammar lessons that go beyond basic parts of speech and punctuation.

Learning how to conjugate umpteen different tenses of a verb has no place in a fourth grader’s life.

That’s like telling someone that there is a mountain two hundred miles ahead that she needs to trek over on foot, so she needs to exit the vehicle she is driving NOW and lug her forty-pound survival backpack all the way there on foot, “‘cause she’s gonna need it…” Absurd, right? Sure it is, because it’s way too soon and she’s not ready yet for that kind of a load.

Instead, elementary students should be encouraged to write—a lot—without the weight of impending criticism for spelling or sentence construction mistakes. A six- or nine-year old will promptly become a reluctant writer if writing is all about rules. But, give him free reign to dazzle you with his imagination and passion, and a one-page assignment will often swell to two or more. And the child who reads and is read to often will effortlessly absorb an amazing degree of writing savvy because he is unwittingly exposed to it while otherwise occupied with the thrilling drama or adventure jumping off the pages.

As a twelve- or fourteen-year old, then, he is much more ca-

pable of understanding the reasoning behind grammar rules and, thus, more agreeable to putting the effort into adhering to them.

A few years’ maturity lessens the struggle of digesting the content significantly because of years of exposure to quality composition via reading, and both competence and confidence are achieved more swiftly in the art of writing.

Science and history are the two other subjects that usually overload the elementary student.

The classical spiral approach— where topics are introduced at a young age and then repeatedly covered at successive grade levels in increasing detail appropriate to the student’s comprehension maturity—seems to have been largely cast aside in favor of an elementary bombardment approach that is, honestly, ridiculous. Second-graders have no use or context for formal lessons about World War II and its consequences. And third-graders cannot possibly grasp the elusive concept of the invisible world of molecules. Ludicrous!

But, encourage those same smart youngsters to engage history as part of a biography and historical/fiction reading program, and sample science in a hands-on enrichment approach that excites and inspires them, and they will become animated and enthusiastic sponges by the time middle school arrives and academic performance becomes that much more critical.

High school curricula is, by design, more intense and more demanding, and the average student is typically flabbergasted by the study time required to just keep up in many core subjects, let alone excelling in them. College professors routinely lament the lack of preparation and competence of incoming freshmen to deliver on basic tasks like simple compositions, reading assignments and computational exercises that should be innate at that level. This is so because we spend too much time trying to cover so much territory in the younger years, when that time should be 90% focused on the “three Rs,” of reading, (w) riting and ‘rithmatic.

What exactly IS the end game of elementary school? To deluge kids with oodles of information, or to teach them the fundamental tricks of the trade, so to speak, of how to be a good student… which is, essentially, their “job” for the next dozen years, at the very least? The successful high school—and postsecondary—student is successful not because he or she has been inundated with vast amounts of material from across the subject spectrum, but because her competence in reading, writing and mathematics allows her the intellectual freedom to focus on analyzing a literary plot, evaluating the significance of an historic event, or grappling with computational physics.

Each year, countless high school students surrender their vocational dreams of becoming scientists, engineers, doctors, etc. because they feel defeated by the academic rigors they were not adequately prepared for. Developing that core triad skillset is the single best tactic for countering that tragic trend, and should absolutely be the consuming drive behind curricula in the elementary and middle grades.

Just remember, the curriculum you choose is just a tool; do not be a slave to it. In other words, don’t just approach teaching your young’uns with the goal of just “filling” their amazing minds with too much of the educrats’ rubberstamped content. Instead, make it more about teaching the powerful discipline of “using” their minds.

And strive to teach it so well that, come high school, your role is expendable. There can be no higher complement! a

If They Can Take It, Do You Really Own It from page 17 irrevocable burial funds and assets used in a trade or business.

It is extremely important to note that any asset transferred for less than its market value within five years of entering a facility will trigger a period of Medicaid ineligibility based on the gift amount divided by the average cost for a private pay patient in the commonwealth at the time of application. For example: a $100,000 home given to children on June 1, 2010, followed by admission to a nursing home on February 1, 2013 would make the resident ineligible for Medicaid for 362 days. ($100,000 divided by $276.40 (the Commonwealth private pay amount) = 362 days of ineligibility). If there are enough additional assets to get you past this five year window and period of ineligibility, then you’re in good shape. The key is to not allow a gap to form between private pay and public payments. Most nursing homes are versed in navigating this maze, but, be your own advocate!

In light of the above, I’d like to direct our attention to some possible solutions that can help protect your nest egg and possibly even enhance your estate.

First, start to plan early.

Have the tough discussions with mom and dad and or your children. Seek out professionals in this field such as Elder Law Attorneys, Financial and Estate Planners, Medical and Nursing Home personnel who are versed in these areas and who can help you navigate this mine field. Adding an in-law apartment to your residence may be a reasonable option to assist your folks in their senior years. Finally, consider acquiring Long Term Care Insurance.

Long Term Care Insurance pays in the event an insured individual cannot perform two of the six activities of daily living which are; eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, ambulating (walking around) and incontinence. The policy also begins paying if you are cognitively impaired. These policies have many options available for your personal customization which allows you to tailor a plan that suits your specific needs.

Pennsylvania now has Long Term Care Partnership plans available.

Previously available in only four other states, these plans are a cooperative approach to insurance providing both private and public protection. The amount of insurance you purchase under these

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plans protects an equal amount of personal assets from exposure to Medicaid if you should exhaust your insurance policy benefits. In the end however, if you don’t use it, you lose it, as all your insurance premiums paid throughout the years are non-refundable.

A recent innovation in delivering Long Term Care (LTC) Insurance has seen the development of utilizing a Life Insurance chassis with a LTC rider. This allows the insured to use a percent of the death benefit such as 2% per month toward nursing and at home expenses for Long Term Care. With this option, if the insured does not use the policy for long term care, or uses only a portion of it, whatever remains of the death benefit flows through to the designated beneficiaries upon the insured’s passing. As you can see with this option, if you don’t use it, you don’t lose it. Additionally you can choose to pay these policies off early and still maintain protection to a later age.

Given this country’s current financial condition and the stresses on federal, state and local governments, any expansion of public programs providing help with long term care expenses appears highly unlikely. Assessing your personal situation and planning accordingly is your family’s best alternative.

C. Mark Ostrowski is Founder & President of The Stewardship Group, Inc. in Belleville.

He earned his Master of Science in Financial Services from the American College in Bryn Mawr, PA in 2007. For more information regarding the above topic, for assistance with planning or to schedule Mr. Ostrowski to speak to your social or civic group, contact him at MOSTROWSKI@ THESTEWARDSHIPGROUP. ORG Stewardship is the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving. The Stewardship Group uses a values based approach rooted in faith to help clients better protect and prosper the people and organizations that matter most to them.

For more information see: Are You on the Hook for Mom’s Nursing-Home Bill? By Kelly Greene, WSJ 6-22-2012, a limited number of reprints of this article are available at our office in Belleville. a

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The Valley, May 2013

Return

by Sarah Hurlburt

“Oh Israel,”(or could it say America?) says the Lord, “If you wanted to return to me you could.

You could throw away your detestable idols and stray no more.

Then when you swear by my name, saying as surely as the Lord lives, you could do so with Truth, Justice and Righteousness. Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world, and all the people would come and praise my name. (Sounds like America in its beginning stages.) This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem (and America?): Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns. Oh people of Judah and Jerusalem (and America), surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the Lord, or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins (scripture taken from Jeremiah 4:1-4)

Since scriptures like this one seem to do nothing to wake up Americans, I am afraid to think what will. I recently read a book called “The Harbinger” by Jonathan Cahn. In the book Jonathan reveals a lot of things about America that I never knew; things that I really think will shock and amaze people when they read it. The Harbinger is a must read for every American. I am asking everyone who reads this to order a copy on Amazon, pick up a copy at your local bookstore, or download it on your Kindle or Nook.

You need to read it. And when you are done with it, share it with others as well.

It’s not just another best seller; it is unlike any book that I have ever read. It is written as a fictional story in which there is a prophet who gives these ancientlooking seals to a man. In turn this man, who is to be a message

bearer, has to unlock mysteries and each seal represents a mystery or event. However, in real life there was no prophet who actually visited Jonathan Cahn and gave him seals. He just has a relationship with God and studies his Bible. So it might be tricky as you read it, because the characters are fictional, but the events and the Scripture are factual. The things you will read about the founding of America are real; the events surrounding 9/11 are real, what happened to ancient Israel based on the scripture from Isaiah chapter 9 is all real, and if you don’t believe me or the author, check them out for yourself!

America is on a downward spiral; it doesn’t matter how much we wish it was not, it is! I hope many people will read this book and take some time to really think through what it implies. There is also a video available for those who don’t have time or who don’t like to read. The video is called “The Isaiah 9:10 Judgment: A Biblical Prophecy Decoded by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn.” It is so worth checking out! It’s not crazy, weird, and outlandish prophecy, it’s about real life events that have happened and are happening and can be

linked to things and patterns in the past. We cannot continue to ignore the signs and warnings of a Na-

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tion turning from God. I pray that more people will wipe the dust from their Bibles and do some soul searching of their own. God is a God of judgment, yes, but would we want Him to be otherwise, accepting evil as if it were no threat to us? God is a God of judgment because He is a God of love. He cannot tolerate evil forever and He will not. But what is so incredible to me about God and what I have learned through His Word, is that He is a God of mercy and His desire is NOT to allow judgment to fall on America, but for us to RETURN to Him! a

The Valley, May 2013

32

Guest Editorial

by A Sad American

An American Holocaust Is Coming

If the current situation in America wasn’t so tragic and sad it would be funny listening to people trying to explain what is happening and what to do about it.

Many of the people who are now warning Americans about what’s happening blame it all on Obama.

Some of them go back further and blame it on the policies started by George Bush. Some go back even further and blame it on the “New Deal” policies of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

I recently came across a 1934 newspaper cartoon from the Chicago Tribune, which tried to warn Americans that Communists were working even then to destroy the country from within, through a gradual implementation of economic socialism. In the cartoon, there is a sign that is being painted that reads: “Plan of Action for U. S. Spend, spend, spend. Under the guise of recovery, bust [bankrupt] the government, blame the capitalists for the failure, junk the Constitution and declare a dictatorship”

Again, this warning was published back in 1934—long before children had been brainwashed in our public school system to accept socialism and communism. The unpleasant reality is that for centuries, Americans have been warned about the subtle and steady encroachment of Communism in our nation but the majority of people haven’t seemed to care and they didn’t try to do anything about it. Even now, when the government is passing all kinds of laws to curtail or completely remove the freedom of Americans to bear arms, many people seem oblivious to the danger they are in. Below is a recent chart showing that there is broad public support for many upcoming gun proposals. Notice the 80 percent of Americans approve of stopping people with mental illnesses from purchasing guns and over half the population (67%) support a Federal Data Base that tracks all gun sales. Senator Feinstein said that basically all returning veterans are mentally ill. Already, the average American can be officially labeled as “mentally ill” for a wide range of conditions, many of which have nothing to do with mental illness,

is reversed. The majority of the people have become immoral and they hate righteousness. God took great care when He rose up this country. He gave us everything we needed to remain a free and blessed people. But instead, we threw it away. We became proud and began to think America was invincible because of its political system, instead of its morality.

The fact is, it was the Christian morality of America, and it’s acknowledgment of God as its creator and protector, which made America great. That’s why the first and central attack of Communists has been on the morality of the nation’s people. Communists knew that it was morality that made this nation great and unbeatable. But we have not just rejected Biblical morality, we despise it.

So God has judged us by making us blind and deaf spiritually.

Oh yes, judgment is on its way. The question is exactly what kind of judgment? Will America be nuked and completely destroyed? Will it be invaded and conquered by another people?

Will it simply collapse and become another Communist police state?

Regardless of what kind of judgment comes, multitudes of Americans are going to die. If the nation finishes its transformation into a Communist country, hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) of conservatives and patriots will be butchered and tens of thousands During times of crisis, public opinion sometimes swings wildly will be from is normal average, it is during times like this that our interned as including not trusting the Federal Government.

Also, it’s a small step from tracking all gun sales to forcing gun owners to register their guns and it’s an even smaller step from gun registration to gun confiscation. Yet the majority of Americans seem oblivious to the incremental destruction of our civil liberties, not just when it comes to owning guns, but in virtually every aspect of our lives.

The United States is fast becoming a Police State and the average American seems oblivious to what’s happening. The question is: have the majority of Americans simply been distracted by the pleasures and luxuries of the “good life” all these years; or have they been spiritually blinded so that they cannot see what’s happening? It’s not just a wicked and Communist government that’s the problem. Americans themselves have become wicked. At the beginning of the nation, the vast majority of the population were Christians, or at least identified themselves with the morality of Christianity. Today the situation

liberties are most in danger.

political prisoners.

PIECES OF THE PUZZLE: So now it all becomes clear: 1) The NDAA legalized the federal government arresting, detaining and torturing American citizens if they were classified as “terrorists.”

2) The DOJ drone-killing memo legalized the President murdering anyone he names by simply claiming they might be associated with “terrorists.”

3) The DHS announces that anyone who isn’t an absolutely Big Government boot-licker and Obama worshipper IS A TERRORIST.

And there you have it: The full circle of justification to use military drone strikes against U.S. citizens on U.S. soil. Simply call them terrorists, and the rest of the legal framework backs you up. I repeat: All that is necessary to justify the murder of American citizens without trial is labeling them “terrorists” even with no evidence to support such a claim. The drone killings require no evidence.

They only require the signature of one man. I’ve been told by a number of people that it would be impossible for any person to stage a military or hostile takeover of the United States. Ten years ago, I would have agreed with them, but not now. In the past year, President Obama has taken a number of actions that when added together clearly indicates his plans for a military or hostile takeover of the United States. And for the first time in my life, I not only believe it could happen, but I am firmly convinced it’s going to happen before the year 2016.

To begin with, Obama has been tailoring the US military to his personal agenda. He is filling the military ranks with those who will now follow him to any extreme because he is their champion (e.g. gay and lesbian soldiers).

He has all but shackled chaplains from preaching Christianity to the troops, who by the way, aren’t even allowed to have Bibles in some areas in the Middle East or any other semblance of Christianity. For the military, he has been tailoring his top military leaders by asking if they are willing to shoot Americans. Those that answer yes, are put in key posi-

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tions while those that answer no are basically seeing the end of their military careers. Next, the Department of Homeland Security has been stockpiling millions of weapons and billions of rounds ammunition. The federal government even has NOAA stockpiling weapons and ammunition and let me tell you, they aren’t going to be using it to predict the weather.

This is unprecedented in American history and has no purpose or basis other than the use against the American people. The massive push for gun control has only one purpose and that is to disarm the American people. There are more guns in private ownership than there are people in the US. That would make a hostile takeover more difficult, costly and time consuming. However, the stockpiles of weapons and ammunition are just for that purpose, because Obama knows that there are a lot of Americans who will not give up their guns so easily. Attorney General Eric Holder has already warned gun owners to cower like smokers.

One of the problems with the guns in the hands of people is that the government doesn’t know where they all are. That’s why they are pushing for complete gun registration and background checks for everyone who owns a firearm, regardless of any grandfather clauses. Under Obamacare, they are pushing doctors and medical staffers to gather information on their patients as to whether or not they own a gun. Under the National Defense Authorization Act, the federal government has the legal right to indefinitely detain anyone they deem to be dangerous to the country. They do not have to produce any evidence, they do not have to obtain a warrant, and they do not have to give you the right to an attorney.

All Obama or Eric Holder have to do is say you are a threat and that could be the last anyone sees of you for who knows how long.

Obama has also issued an executive order that gives him absolute power and control over all means of communication for any reason including an emergency. The executive order includes all television, radio, cable, internet and cell

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The Valley, May 2013

Back Talk

by Dr. Joseph Kauffman

Good Night

Imagine your child’s first night away from home, sleeping at either a friend’s house or a relative’s house. With all of the different things that you worry about possibly going wrong, imagine the dismay of your child if he/she suffers from a common childhood ailment, enuresis. What is enuresis? Good question. The medical profession likes to give terms to common problems to sound superior to normal people.

Why use such a complex, vague name for something that can be named for what it really is? Why do you think? To either make themselves sound intelligent or for you to think that you are ignorant, or both. Enuresis is simply bedwetting. Bedwetting doesn’t sound as sophisticated as enuresis, does it? But, how many people know what enuresis is without using the internet to look it up?

Anyway, back to bedwetting.

Many children who are pottytrained suffer from bedwetting,

and they have to wear pull-ups at night at home and are too afraid to spend the night away from home due to the embarrassment of wetting the bed. While this is normal for younger children, once the child is potty trained, wetting the bed is not normal and they should be checked out to see what is going on. Typically, the medical profession is limited to the normal advice, such as not drinking liquids right before bed and making sure the bladder is emptied before going to sleep and trying different medications. One of the best ways to help your child is to have them checked by your chiropractor. What controls the bladder and the sphincter muscles in the urinary system? The same thing that controls everything in the body, which is the brain.

How is the brain connected to the urinary system? Through the spinal cord and the nerves that come from the lower back. When there is interference between the

brain and the urinary system due to the vertebrae being misaligned and pinching the nerves, chiropractic is the best way to alleviate the pinched nerve and allow this area to function properly and enable your child to sleep the whole night without an accident. I knew how this works, but it was good to see a non-chiropractic article actually promote chiropractic as one of the best ways to help this condition. The article comes from “Good Nites” the diaper company.

Check it out:

“You’ve probably heard of chiropractors, but you may associate them with adults who have back problems or spinal issues.

But recent studies have shown that chiropractic, the fastest-growing and second-largest primary health care profession in the United States, according to the International Chiropractic Association, could help some children manage bedwetting. In fact, results from a study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological

Therapeutics found that one-quarter of the 171 children in the study treated with chiropractic had a 50 percent reduction of wet nights.

Amy*, mother to a 9-year-old son who wet the bed nearly every night of his young life, decided to take her son to a chiropractor after trying a multitude of coping solutions. ‘We’ve only had a handful of dry nights in his life,’ she says.

‘We’ve tried various things, including biofeedback at a urologist, which helped a bit. One night out with the girls, someone mentioned going to a chiropractor. After my son’s third chiropractic visit, he had a dry night.’

Just like Amy, many parents are opting for an alternative, noninvasive and drug-free approach to managing bedwetting.

How It Works

According to Dr. ShaRhae A. Matousek of Matousek Chiropractic in Eden Prairie, Minn., chiropractic can help the nerves that control the organs of the urinary system function better.

Dr. Matousek says, ‘Since your nerves affect every cell of your body, they influence organs such as the bladder. When a chiropractor restores normal motion in the spine, the nerves are able to function properly. Taking the stress away from the nerves allows the

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organs to function optimally.’

Should Your Child Visit a Chiropractor?

For Amy, frustrated after trying a variety of coping solutions, the choice to pursue alternative therapy comes as no surprise to specialists who practice pediatric and family wellness chiropractic.

But seeking bedwetting treatment from a chiropractor can not only come as a last-ditch effort like Amy, but also as a second opinion outside of the family doctor or pediatrician.

In her experience, Karen* of Michigan has found that her chiropractor incorporates a more personal understanding of her son’s condition into the practice.

‘Our 11-year-old son is still wetting enough to soak the GoodNites® [Underpants], usually four or five nights out of seven.

Nothing seems to work,’ she says.

‘Our doctor doesn’t seem to be concerned at all, but our chiropractor, who tried adjustments to alleviate the problem, seems to be very concerned. We feel stuck in between.’

Amy says, ‘My son went to the chiropractor two to three times a week for about two and a half months. After his third visit he

Continued on page 47

The Valley, May 2013

34

Joanne Wills-Kline Contentment Quest

Lessons From Ira

I consider myself to be a lifelong learner. I have been a “student” in many classrooms over the years, and I have also been the “teacher” in a few of those same classrooms. I have had the opportunity to learn from many different teachers, and professors, from various schools of thought and areas of study. One of the best teachers I ever had, recently passed on from this life – his name was Ira.

Ira taught me a lot about life, gratitude, living in the moment, celebrating unique attributes, and about unconditional love. Ira seemed to “understand” much about the “human condition,” which was uncanny because Ira was a feline. To most, he appeared to be “just a cat,” but to Rick and I he was much, much more. Ira’s lifetime was short – not quite four years – and in that brief span of time he battled many health problems. Ira left this Earth before I was ready to leave

his classroom. I’m hoping that some of his lessons will live on and that we humans can learn to open our eyes, minds, and hearts to “see” all the proverbial teachers that enter our lives – and be grateful for their lessons. I chose to share five of the many lessons Ira taught me.

1. Be friendly – even if it’s not reciprocated. Ira was a love bug and wanted to befriend everybody – even those who wanted nothing to do with him. Ira taught me to be friendly… even if “friendly” isn’t reciprocated... yet exit from unfriendly situations quickly to find a quiet and comfortable space.

2. Love them – even if they don’t like you. Lessons #1 and #2 are intertwined. Ira offered “kitty love” to everybody. There wasn’t a mean bone in his body. But, if Ira sensed someone didn’t like him he didn’t react defensively – he just didn’t react. Ira chose to vacate the situation. He took his

“kitty love” to those who appreciated it.

3. A) You are who you are – other’s opinions of us do not change who we are.

B) We long for other’s approval – we change to fit people’s wants and needs. Our human condition seems to keep us craving other’s approval which often leaves us in a state of dis-satisfaction because it pulls us away from our own authenticity. The lesson: live life responsibly – be friendly, love others who may not like you, be authentic, and offer no apologies for not changing to fit the needs/ wants of others.

4. Live to the fullest in every moment. Ira taught me about living in the moment. He taught me that the world will continue to spin fast and nearly out of control, but that it’s our choice whether we hang on for the wild ride, or step off and slow down. Ira taught me that a ten minute “cat nap” has the power to refuel my weary body, mind and spirit; looking out a window can change my perspec-

Progress At The Embassy

by Patricia Lawson

Thank you for supporting The Embassy Theatre by coming out to The Embassy Fair!

May brings us another event to announce-The Mifflin-Juniata Arts Festival! It will take place downtown Lewistown on Friday,

Box Office of The Embassy Theatre

May 17th & Saturday, May 18th.

Look for more details on our website, www.embassytheatre.org or our Facebook page.

Last month we talked about the other movie houses in Lewistown and that The Embassy Theatre was the place to go for “date night.”

Can you imagine what a spectacle The Embassy Theatre must have been at the time? The marquee, copied from a city theatre, was unlike any other in a small town, boasting over 1,000 lights that were animated in spectacular sunbursts and chase lights. It was said to have been the most elaborate marquee between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

The box office was octagonal and constructed of walnut by a company specializing in box offices

(the name of the manufacture has not yet been discovered). The box office incorporated Egyptian architectural elements. Cast-on winged lions (the Egyptian god Isis) and shields adorned the top.

The front glass contains a speaker hole with screen and an opening at bottom for exchange of money and tickets. The shelf of the front is made of rose marble with a coin cup ground into the top surface.

Let’s take a look at more of the interior highlights. The layout of the building is typical of the period, and consists of four principal components: the foyer (entrance hall) and inner lobby, the mezzanine, the auditorium and balcony, and the orchestra pit and stage.

The inside was basically classical, ornamental, yet conservatively so. The Foyer was trimmed in walnut. The walls were of Rose Travelle marble imported from France, vividly colored,

tive; and feeling the sunshine on my face can improve my outlook.

Ira taught me to live in gratitude for the “little things”…ah, the little things, which are really the “big things.”

5. Live simply – value experiences more than materialism. It didn’t take much to please Ira. Treats were his favorite… the rattle of the treat bag could stir him quickly from a deep slumber, and place him front and center in the kitchen staring at the treat bag anticipating a yummy morsel. Ira was on top of the world in a plain old cardboard box. He didn’t need a kitty condo. In fact, he freely chose the box over the kitty condo. He was content with a few favorite toys. He didn’t desire to

covet all the kitty toys. Ira taught me to appreciate what I have, adapt in place, and value experiences over material goods.

One of the biggest lessons Ira taught me was that our best “life teachers” may exist outside of the traditional classroom – perhaps outside of the human species. Ira was one of several kitties that we have, but our house is noticeably emptier without him. There is a big palpable void, in our home and in our hearts. We are grateful for the time we had with Ira, and for the memories that we will cherish.

Rest in peace my dear Ira… thank you for the love and the lessons. a

tured an elaborate balcony. There ornamental plasterwork adorned are three rows of seats at the front the vaulted ceiling, which was of the balcony. This area is known accented by crystal chandeliers. as the loge, and historically it cost Full mirrored doors accented the end walls. The floor was terrazzo a dime extra to sit in this area. (mosaic looking) in black and

The June article will feature green. the first “talkie” movie, when

The auditorium was also on August 15, 1936, “Becky trimmed in walnut, and contained Sharp,” the first all-color movie, four ceiling domes, several arches, was shown in Lewistown at the red plush velvet seats and Spanish Embassy. So stay tuned!

Moroccan leather, and niches containing Greek statuary. The decor Happy Mother’s Day From was shades of cream gray with The Friends Of The Embassy tints of red and yellow. Plaster Theatre! rosettes were in green, dragon red, and gold. The carpeting was the www.embassytheatre.org finest Brussels carpet, deep red A Memory with a Future, a Future highlighted with gold flowers and Full of Memories! a diamonds.

Behind the last row of seats was a standing rail, topped with glass. This was a novel feature that prevented sounds and cold blasts of air from bothering the patrons inside. The rail was constructed in walnut, with fluted posts and finials (architectural decorations) supporting the glass.

The balcony of The Embassy Theatre

This theatre fea-

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35

The Valley, May 2013

Life in the East End

by Rebecca Harrop

It’s getting pretty busy in the East End right now. We’ve been spreading fertilizer to get ready to plant crops, Dad’s been doing some spraying for weeds. Uncle Bob’s emptying the slurrystore.

Uncle Dave cleaned the young cattle pens. Seems like we never get done spreading manure. Ben mowed the corn stalks so Bob could bale them to use for bedding. I don’t really care much for corn stalk bedding because it’s dusty and I have issues with dust.

It doesn’t like me. I sneeze my head off.

I think I’m feeding about 40 calves right now. I remember when I thought 10 was a lot. But that’s good because they are the future milk cows. We raise the bull calves also for steers and occasionally a couple stock bulls.

So we have cattle in all different age groups.

I see the local Little League teams are starting up their spring

our farm equipment through Siglerville for the next couple of months. On game nights, Siglerville gets really busy. The Siglerville Store does a big business all the time, but especially then.

Another sign of spring is fishing season! My brother Ernie always takes my sister and me fishing. Fishing is a fun activity for everyone no matter what your age. I bought a license this year so I could do some more fishing.

I’ve caught two trout and 1 sucker so far. I threw the sucker back. It was pretty big, but Ernie said they are nasty because they are like scavengers. Ernie caught quite a few trout so far. He does a lot of fishing. He gets enough so he can have all of us to his house for a fish fry. We always enjoy doing that.

It’s also Primary election time. We will be voting for several county positions as well as some township positions. I

Valley writer Rebecca Harrop showing off a beautiful trout. A girl that can farm, hunt and catch fish has to be a good catch. I bet I know what Rebecca was eating for dinner this night!

activities. It’s good to see the kids practicing and playing. We just need to be careful moving

encourage everyone to get to know where the candidates stand on the issues so you can make

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informed decisions. The Mifflin County Farm Bureau is holding their spring Measure the Candidates night May 1st at the Mifflin County High School. It is a great opportunity to ask the candidates questions and hear from them.

I will be there and hope to see many of you there as well.

Dad’s been getting the garden ready so I should soon be able to do some planting. We started some plants in the kitchen and they are getting pretty big. I need to get them outside soon.

I’ve also been helping Ernie remodel two of the rooms in his house. We mudded the walls, painted, put in new doors, and stained trim for the windows and baseboards. He put up a border with deer on it. I like doing that kind of work.

Last month I talked about being careful on the roads because of farm equipment and I just want to remind you that applies for the next few months. Farmers will be very busy with field work until November so keep an eye out for farmers traveling back and forth to our fields.

As the weather is warming up I’m getting anxious to start the picnic season. Last year we went to Bear Gap for a couple all-day picnics. We started in the morning cooking breakfast, then lunch and finally cooking supper. We hiked

around the area there. We took games to play. It was just a lot of fun. Mom’s family used to do a lot of that when she was young so she really likes it. Picnics are a good way for families to have fun together. If you are looking for a

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fun family activity this summer, I suggest taking the family on an all-day picnic. Take some fishing poles along and maybe you will catch your supper.

That’s all from the East End for this month. a

It's the Ragtime Festival's 5th Anniversary!

Adam Swanson

Frederick Hodges

Ann Gibson

Bryan Wright

Central Pennsylvania Ragtime Festival June 21-23, 2013 :: Orbisonia/Rockhill Furnace, Pa.

THREE CONCERTS! PIANO! VOCALS! AND MORE! Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 PLUS A GALA ANNIVERSARY DINNER! with Ragtime, Dancing, and Evening Trolley Rides with Music Saturday evening at 6 p.m.

Ragtime After Hours Meet our performers Friday evening Mel Kauffman Workshop Saturday morning, with Andrew Green Tickets: $25 each for concerts | $50 for the gala | $115 for a festival pass For reservations: David Brightbill | Box 272, Orbisonia, Pa. 17243 | (814) 447-3984

Check rockhillragtime.com for info and new hotel discounts!

New performer! Russell Wilson of the U.S. Marine Band Ride the streetcars of the Rockhill Trolley Museum!

The Valley, May 2013

36

Hi all! How’s all the goingson down they-ah in PA? Me? Itching to fire up the greenhouse wood stove and have at it.

Seems that every year that goes by, the winter cold creeps deeper into my bones. And I’m not see-through by any means.

And don’t get me started on Global Warming. I’ve shoveled global warming all winter long, some days it was downright unpleasant at -35. Like to meet Al Bore just once and ask him one question, just to make him stutter: ‘Can you prove to me that we aren’t still warming up from the last ice age?’

I’ve offered to go to my daughter’s school and debate the issue in front of everyone. Still waiting for them to get back to me on that one. I’m sure they are all busy dumbing down our future using

the No Child Left Behind Act.

So, let’s talk about something I can actually do something about.

Gardening. Usually we put our gardens to bed every fall. We only managed to get about half done before a deep freeze smacked us upside the noggin’ last November.

Because I only use pelleted poop, it’s all good. Most will be fine from just the worm castings and last year’s grass clipping mulch tilled in this spring.

I’m a HUGE fan of wormies.

I wrote an article about them, once upon a time. Last year I added char and chicken bedding to just one garden, planted sweet taters and mulched with grass clippings. Best crop we’ve ever had here. Not sure if it was the char, the bedding, both, or just dumb luck. There were lumps of

coal and hundreds and hundreds lot of time picking greens for 15 of wormies all through the root meat rabbits last summer. This system when we were digging. time I’m planting a strip garden 4’

I don’t test soil. I don’t think x 80’ of dandelions. By far their I need to. We try to mimic nature favorite, they would ALWAYS eat as closely as possible. Most of that first. We have some clover our amendments are added to the topsoil, just as in nature, by using mulches. Combine that with wormies and crop rotation, we do alright.

I specialize in growing rocks.

If Pet Rocks ever come back into vogue, I’m Our Sweet Taters were the best crop we ever had last year, all set.

We spent a probably do the same thing this year.

Garden Fair & Plant Sale Penn State Extension Centre

County Master Gardener’s 3rd annual Plant Sale and Garden Fair

When: Saturday, May 18, 2013, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Where: Ag Progress Days Site, 2710 W. Pine Grove Rd, PA Furnace, PA [Google Map] Directions: Take West College Avenue to the traffic light in Pine Grove Mills. Continue on Rt. 45 for 5 miles. Use Entrance J. This year’s 3rd Annual Garden Fair and Plant Sale will be the premier home gardening event in Centre County and the surrounding region featuring over 6,000 plants and vegetables, 30 invited vendors, talks on topical gardening related subjects, demonstrations and exhibits, compost workshop, good food and a special exhibit on gardening history and free tours at the Pasto Ag Museum.

The Plant Sale will feature thousands of potted plants including perennials, annuals, herbs, houseplants, vegetables, noteworthy plants, pollinator and native plants, and others. There will also be a silent auction, garden-related resale items, and food and beverages for sale.

Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your gardening questions and help you with your shopping too. thevalleynewspaper@gmail.com

and alfalfa as well, with lots of grass and hay. We dried all of the above in the greenhouse and re-used grain bags to store it all in. Yes, time consuming. But we have plenty of time, and I’d much rather secure my feed for my food source than watch Oprah, or even The Price Is Right. I do miss Jeopardy!, however. Is there a J! Channel, I wonder? “Alec, can I have ‘Eighteenth century step stools for a thousand,’ please?”

That was pre-milk crate, too.

Always loved the stamp on milk crates. “Misuse liable to prosecution.” Seriously? In a country where almost every single Gubmint ‘Elected Official’ is guilty of treason for breaking the oaths they swore to, be just my luck to get busted standing on a milk crate.

“FREEZE!” I can see it, happening. While their busting you for daring to ingest what you want, into your own body, they could seize those 3 or 4 milk crates you bought full of old records at a lawn sale for 5 bucks.

Obumba can create a civilian police force to right these terrible wrongs being committed to society with them. They’d be called something like: C.R.A.T.E....Cops Really Are Taking Everything.

I’ll just claim it was Crate Use Under Duress. CRUD. I like that. a

37

The Valley, May 2013

Ozone masks plant’s volatiles, plant-eating insects confused

By A’ndrea Messer

Penn State Public Information, University Park, PA— Increases in ground-level ozone, especially in rural areas, may interfere not only with predator insects finding host plants, but also with pollinators finding flowers, according to researchers from Penn State and the University of Virginia.

“Ozone pollution has great potential to perniciously alter key interactions between plants and animals,” the researchers said in a recent issue of Environmental Research Letters.

The animal tested in this case was the striped cucumber beetle, a predator of cucurbits -- cucumber, squash, pumpkin and melons.

These insects dine on the plants from the moment they emerge from the ground and when fruit forms, they eat that as well.

“Insects detect odor with olfactory receptors located on their antennae,” said Jose D. Fuentes, professor of meteorology, Penn State. “These receptors sense plant-emitted volatile organic compounds in very small amounts -- as low as six molecules hitting an antenna.”

However, ozone, which is a very reactive substance, degrades the volatile organic compounds when they mix to the point where they no longer stimulate the olfactory system.

Fuentes, working with John

A Striped Cucumber Beetle

Image: Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service

Zenker, Penn State undergraduate in meteorology, and T’ai H. Roulston, research associate professor and curator, Blandy Experimental Farm, University of Virginia, tested the beetles in an enclosed Y-tube apparatus so that the insect could choose which branch to take. Researchers collected the insects from pumpkin

and squash plants. They tested the insects using buffalo gourd plants, a naturally growing wild gourd that likes semiarid areas.

Separate air streams flowed into the two branches of the Ytube. Choices of air in each tube were ambient filtered air, ambient filtered air plus up to 120 parts per million ozone, ambient filtered air

plus volatile organic compounds, or air plus up to 120 parts per billion ozone and volatile organic compounds from the plant. To obtain this mix, or only ozone or volatile organic compounds, that branch flowed either to a plant chamber or ozone generator or both.

The researchers tested the

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insects with all ambient air, with ambient air and ozone, with ambient air and volatile organic compounds, and with ambient air and a mix of ozone and volatile organic compounds. When presented with an ambient air or volatile organic compound airstream, the beetles chose the volatile organic compound tube 80 percent of the time.

“However, as the ozone levels increased, they chose the path to the flower less frequently,” said Fuentes. “By the time the mix contained 80 parts per billion ozone, the beetles showed no preference for either tube.”

The researchers also tested the beetles with volatile organic compounds and a mix of volatile organic compounds and ozone.

At low ozone levels, the insects showed no preference, but as ozone levels increased, the insects increasingly preferred the ozonefree path. At 80 parts per billion, the beetles chose the volatile organic compounds without ozone significantly more often than the ozonized mixture.

While one might think that higher ozone levels in the lower atmosphere would improve crops because predator insects would be unable to find their hosts, the additional ozone would also interfere with mutualistic insect plant responses such as pollination.

The National Science Foundation supported this research. a

The Valley, May 2013

38

Ed’s Railroading News

by Ed Forsythe

HEY, did you ever play in a railroad gondola car full of bullets? What kind of question is THAT? I wonder just how many people could actually say yes to that question. My friend did, way back during WWI when he was just a young lad. One day, my friend tells me, while playing near the Mifflin train station in Juniata County there was a gondola full of bullets sitting along the tracks just begging for kids to jump in and play around, so he did. He

um weekend operations will soon be underway and again, as far as we know, it will be without the East Broad Top Railroad running.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the Rockhill Trolley Museum running trolleys. Just imagine, did anyone think fifty years ago when there was just that, and so very few members that ran the first trolley, that they’d now have over twenty running trolleys and several others in their car barns?

This summer the members hope

The restoration nearing completion in 1962

tells me that it was like swimming in metal water. Now don’t become alarmed, as stated, this was way back during World War I, and it was just the bullets, not the whole shell with gun powder and all. He figured they were on their way to be loaded into shells and shipped overseas. Can you imagine bullets being shipped this way today?

Someone would just go nuts. He has some really neat stories to tell of his times growing up playing along the tracks and as an adult working on the railroad. I sure hope he continues with his stories.

The Rockhill Trolley Muse-

to be again running their first trolley, old #311. It has been offline for many years due to another restoration project taking its place in the repair shop. The members have begun some very extensive repairs and restorations on #311 and are trying their best to have it ready for its anniversary on July 6th. Imagine if you will, this trolley was the first to come to Rockhill with many high hopes of the members and many other thoughts from some, along the lines of “those guys are just wasting time and money.” Well, it finally came to pass that old #311

The first trolley as it looked when being delivered to the museum for restoration in 1960

had a few YARDS of track to run on, so with a generator and extension cord wired into the trolley pole, the trolley made its maiden voyage down the short track and back. This event of running the trolley made the Rockhill Trolley Museum the first trolley museum in Pennsylvania to run a trolley, thus making it the oldest operating trolley museum in Pennsylvania.

From a few yards of running track to the three mile round trip, the museum has indeed come a long way.

The museum is open weekends beginning May 26th with the first ride at 11:00 am and the last ride leaving at 4:15 pm for the three mile ride out through Blacklog Narrows. Each ticket that you purchase is good for all day riding, so come on out early and ride several trolleys to experience what it was like to ride trolleys back before everyone had their own vehicles. There are also several special events throughout the summer and fall seasons, such as: Ice Cream Nights, Ragtime Music Weekend, 50th Anniversary Weekend, Scout Day, Homecoming Weekend, Pumpkin Patch, Polar Bear Weekend, and many more.

The museum has trolleys from Johnstown, York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Portugal and

Brazil along with many others.

Some of these trolleys date back to the 1890’s. As you ride the trolleys, stops are made and many interesting historical details of the trolleys and the Rockhill area are given out. Questions and new members are also always welcome. Much more information is available at...rockhilltrolley.org, so check it out and make plans to join us at the Rockhill Trolley Museum just 45 minutes from Lewistown, South on Route 522, to the town of Orbisonia. Turn right at the traffic light and drive across the Blacklog Creek to a great trip back in time aboard a trolley. Hope to see you all there sometime. For those who want a really neat experience, check out the “Run A Trolley” program where you can learn how a motorman operated trolleys and they actually run a trolley. Really neat having hands on fun.

I’m sure I’ll be talking more about the museum as the year progresses and all the fun going on along with other events like the Ragtime Weekend in Rockhill and Orbisonia on June 21, 22 & 23. Check out this event at www. rockhillragtime.com/ artists.htm.

Happy Railroading, Ed a

The First Trolley being run at the museum.

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The Valley, May 2013

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foster parent or adopt...you’ll love it too!

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The Valley, May 2013

40

Know Your Options: Inpatient to Outpatient Stroke Rehabilitation

A stroke, also known as cerebrovascular accident (CVA), occurs when the brain blood flow is blocked or when an artery in the brain ruptures. Every 40 seconds, someone has a stroke. Every 4 minutes, someone dies from a stroke. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in the U.S. Comprehensive rehabilitation is essential in recovering from a stroke.

HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital is an acute, inpatient rehabilitation hospital with three outpatient clinics. The continuum of care that we provide supports patients from inpatient to outpatient therapy, helping them to achieve their goals, even after discharge. “Our outpatient therapies are backed by the resources of an acute rehabilitation hospital that’s ranked in the top 10 percent of rehabilitation hospitals nationwide,” explains Tracy Everhart, Outpatient Therapy manager. “Patients who choose therapy at our outpatient clinics have access to the hospital’s inpatient resources, including pharmacy, psychology, dietary and respiratory therapy.”

HealthSouth has earned the Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification for its Stroke Rehabilitation Program, the gold seal of approval in healthcare.

HealthSouth’s outpatient clinics provide specialized treatment programs for stroke, including personalized patient care, coordinated by experienced therapists in physical, occupational and speech therapy. Patients also benefit from advanced technology and patient/ family education.

When Stroke Affects Driving

Stroke can affect driving abilities. The best way to know if someone is safe to drive is to have a fair and accurate driving assessment. DriveABLE is an unbiased and objective evaluation that fairly and accurately determines when driving has declined to an unsafe level. This cognitive assessment tool takes place in our outpatient therapy clinics (Pleasant Gap and Mifflintown). The test includes a computer touch screen system with advanced software to highly predict actual on-road driving

performance. Physicians may prescribe the DriveABLE assessment for patients who may not be safe to drive, or for those who want to know if it’s safe to resume driving.

Speech Therapy

Speech therapy is an integral part of stroke rehabilitation, and HealthSouth uses many tools and technological advances in therapy.

Speech, language, cognition, and swallowing may be impacted by a stroke. “Speech therapy is not only about how the person talks but includes reading, writing, language use, thinking and reasoning skills, and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing),” explains Caroline Salva-Romero, speech-language pathology manager at HealthSouth.

The Interactive Metronome (IM) is a brain-based therapeutic assessment and training program that improves attention, concentration, motor planning and sequencing. Improvements in those areas result in stronger motor control and coordination, enhanced balance and gait, and improved language and cognition. SalvaRomero adds, “Every patient that has used the IM has evidenced improvement; it’s one of the best tools in my therapy kit.” The IM works by providing a structured, goal-oriented program that challenges the patient to synchronize a range of body exercises and/ or cognitive tasks to a precise computer-generated beat. IM’s game-like features engage the patient with auditory and visual guidance and provide real-time feedback while encouraging the patient to improve scores.

Difficulty Swallowing

Since 2006, HealthSouth Nittany Valley has offered VitalStim therapy for dysphagia (i.e., difficulty swallowing). It is estimated that 50-75 percent of stroke survivors experience dysphagia.

VitalStim provides non-invasive, surface electrical stimulation of the muscles of the throat to improve the swallow. Research has confirmed that the addition of VitalStim enhances outcomes when paired with conventional swallow therapy. a

May is Stroke Awareness Month.

HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital’s stroke rehabilitation program has earned the Gold Seal of Approval and received Disease-Specific Care Certification from the Joint Commission. For more information about inpatient or outpatient stroke rehabilitation, call HealthSouth at (814) 359-3421, or visit www.nittanyvalleyrehab.com. a

Three Decades of Getting Patients Back Home

Ask for Nittany Valley’s Stroke Rehabilitation Program.

550 wesT colleGe ave.

PleasanT GaP, Pa 16823 814 359-3421 • NittanyValleyRehab.com

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The Valley, May 2013

Notes Lewistown Hospital Hosts Education Event for Healthcare Professionals The Lewistown Hospital Intensive-Coronary Unit will host a oneday, 7 contact hours approved, Critical Care Seminar on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, at Lewistown Country Club from 7:00 am to 4:30 pm. This is an opportunity for Intensive Care, Telemetry, Med-Surg and Emergency staff to update their knowledge and clinical skills. Topics will provide evidence-based information to enhance practice in healthcare delivery.

This activity has been approved for 7 PSNA contact hours. Lewistown Healthcare Foundation is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the PA State of Nurses Association an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Registration is $25.00 for nursing students, $50 for Lewistown Hospital employees, and $85.00 for all others. Registration fee includes breakfast, exhibits and lunch. Deadline to register is April 30, 2013.

For more information or to register, call 717-242-7642 or email sard@ lewistownhospital.org. a

Lewistown Hospital Awarded Accreditation from the Joint Commission

Lewistown Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in hospitals. The accreditation award recognizes Lewistown Hospital’s dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission’s stateof-the-art standards.

Lewistown Hospital underwent a rigorous unannounced on-site survey in December 2012. A team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated the Hospital for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management.

“In achieving Joint Commission accreditation, Lewistown Hospital has demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for its patients,” says Mark Pelletier, R.N., M.S., executive director, Hospital Programs, Accreditation and Certification Services, The Joint Commission. “Accreditation is a voluntary process and I commend Lewistown Hospital for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate its standard of care and instill confidence in the community it serves.”

“With Joint Commission accreditation, we are making a significant investment in quality on a day-to-day basis from the top down. Joint Commission accreditation provides us a framework to take our organization to the next level and helps create a culture of excellence,” says Kay Hamilton, President/CEO, Lewistown Hospital. “Achieving Joint Commission accreditation, for our organization, is a major step toward maintaining excellence and continually improving the care we provide.”

The Joint Commission’s hospital standards address important functions relating to the care of patients and the management of hospitals.

The standards are developed in consultation with health care experts, providers, measurement experts and patients.

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 20,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 10,600 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,600 other health care organizations that provide long term care, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also certifies more than 2,400 disease-specific care programs such as stroke, heart failure, joint replacement and stroke rehabilitation, and 400 health care staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org. a

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How one Mifflin County resident has made the most popular gift in the world even more special handmade mulberry paper and her them to the handmade paper.

A greeting card is the most own unique designs were born. popular gift in the world. EveryEach card is carefully thought out where, almost around all the cor Most of the paper Shotzdown to having a unique mesners in the world, people gift each berger uses is handmade. Types sage inside. Cards by Connie other with greeting cards.

Greeting cards are the most simple, but also the most effective way of expressing your feelings to your loved ones. Greeting cards can help you express things which you find difficult to put into words.

Dutch Pantry Gifts has found another great local talent that has made the experience of giving a greeting card even more special. Connie Shotzberger of Yeagertown has been perfecting the art of handmade greeting cards over the past two years raising the standards far beyond the big corporation Connie has cards for almost any occasion, their uniqueness will show the recipient card makers. In the summer that you cared enough to find something very special for them. of 2011, Connie decided to take a class on embroidering cards at Hoover’s Bernina in of paper she uses includes silk, Shotzberger are available at Dutch Mifflinburg just for something kozo, mulberry, jute and banana.

Pantry Gifts, Milroy, Pa., which to do. She was just learning the Shotzberger says these handmade is next to Dollar General and basics of sewing on card stock papers have fibers, leaves, flower Subway. You can call to inquire with very simple designs, but petals and other things mixed at 717-667-0310. soon Connie saw the great possiinto them giving her cards a very

Connie has a great selection bilities in this process and started different and unique style. Every of cards ranging from birthday to to experiment. Shotzberger says card Shotzberger designs is careMother’s Day and everything in she started to re-digitize denser fully thought out and designed on between. a designs and friends had given her the computer, then she stitches

None of these greeting cards will be thrown in the trash when the occasion is over; these will be treasured keepsakes to remember the time.

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The Valley, May 2013

42

The Politics of Art

Oh, the politics of art! I mean, art should be involved with the culture of the times, and so politics comes with the territory, but it’s strange the assumptions people sometimes make.

For example, I recently got into an on-line discussion with several people that got pretty heated along political lines, and the person who started the thread, a friend of mine with whom I’d probably agree on lots of things, said, “Well, that’s what I’d expect from an Obama supporter”.

“Actually, I’m not an Obama supporter, as I can find plenty I don’t like about our leaders on both sides of the political divide”,

I replied, or something to that effect.

“Then why did you have a six by four foot portrait of Obama in your gallery?”

I explained that the portrait was part of a big multi-artist show a couple of months ago and, that while it probably did say something about the political leanings of the artist who painted it (Michael Pilato), we included it in the show on its merits as a very well done piece of art as well as the artistic reputation of the artist. Besides, it’s a portrait of the current president of the United States, and he holds that position whether you like his politics or

not. Hanging it in the gallery was hardly a bold political statement.

It could just as well have been a portrait of the Pope or Margaret Thatcher. What I found interesting was the assumption that simply showing it automatically meant political solidarity with it.

Art venues, whether galleries or museums for visual art or performance spaces for music or theater should, in fact, try hard to avoid becoming one-sided political platforms. Artists and their creations are one of the most important ways a society explores ideas and possible solutions. Sometimes artists are out on the fringe where very few will agree or even understand, but other times their statements have considerable impact and become a part of the moving tides of public opinion and political decisions. Attempts to manipulate the arts or artists for political gain (Adolph Hitler is a well-known example) are a dangerous thing.

A very different side of this that you see a lot today is when groups give a platform to their most famous supporters, usually performance artists like musicians or actors. The result for the artist is often more loss of fans than gain. Besides, we really have to ask ourselves, “ Does Charlton Heston really know more about gun rights than the average American?” or “Was Ben Afleck an expert on why

we should give Obama a second term?” These endorsements, banking on someone’s fame helping to gather votes or support, have little to do with artists exploring issues through their work. Songs like Neil Young’s “Ohio” or Lee Greenwood’s “Proud to Be an American”, are more what I’m talking about. As the public who takes in these artistic expressions, I think we should be mature enough to respectfully disagree when necessary without “blacklisting” that artist in our minds just because they have a different political world view. They are filling an important role in our society whether we agree with them or not.

The next big event in Millheim will be our first ever Millheim Mayfly Festival, Friday and Saturday, June 7 and 8. This festival will have lots of music around town, including buskers (street musicians), as well as activities for children

and educational opportunities.

We’re still putting together the details, but you can keep up with the latest on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ MillheimMayflyFestival?fref=ts and our Millheim Business Community website at http:// millheimpa.com/ . If you are a musician and would like to play on the street for pocket change in your open instrument case, get in touch or just show up!

The Green Drake will be hosting our first Green Drake Plein Air Paint-out, with up to 25 artists painting the valley and the town that Thursday through Saturday, with visitors invited to observe them as they work.

The Paint-out will culminate in a show/sale Saturday afternoon.

The special May/June show, “Wild and Scenic Pennsylvania”, will also still be up, with lots of wildlife and unspoiled landscape art. a

The piece of art that hangs in the art gallery is hardly a political statement, but rather a recognition of a well done piece of art by a well known and respected artist.

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The Valley, May 2013

Balancing Rabbits And School Work

Many rabbit owners out there are full-time students, and we all know it can become difficult to keep our rabbits and school work balanced. Sometimes homework is not completed, or the rabbits do not get cared for as well as they could be. This month in Splitting Hares, we will address these issues, and give you some tips and tricks to keep your life in order.

With our busy lives, rabbits can get pushed to the back burner, or brought to the front, and school work be neglected. As much as we try to balance our responsibilities, it can become difficult. The first key to successfully balancing life is to make and follow a schedule.

Block out time for homework, extra-curricular activities, rabbits and other responsibilities. If you just can’t fit everything in, you may have to decide what is most important to you. One of my long-time rabbit breeder friends said to me, “Make rabbits a priority. It’s easy to get sidetracked with work, school assignments or extra curricular activities.

Sometimes you have to just schedule a block of time to sit down and focus on the rabbit tasks that need to be completed.

It doesn’t always happen on its own. You have to be deliberate and consistent in making time for it. Also, keep a schedule. There

Doing homework with the bunny!

are certain things that HAVE to be done. It’s easy to get sidetracked by cuddling babies, assembling toys or “extras.” If you have two hours to spend with the rabbits, make a quick mental checklist.

Once the necessary chores are done, extra time can be spent playing with them.”

Timing is also important. If you are a morning person, get up early, and feed the rabbits first thing in the morning. Or if you are not so much a morning bird, feed them as soon as you get home. You have been sitting in a building for the past 6 hours, get some fresh air! But as soon as you are done feeding, start on your homework. Always make sure that your responsibilities are all completed before you go off to hang out with your friends. Feed all your animals, and finish all your homework, before you do fun stuff. Remember, your friends can wait, but your animals depend on you to survive! Georgia Peach Rabbitry says that “it’s a lot of work. I’m in college full time, in a great relationship of 2 years, work part time, run my rabbitry of 30 holes, and help my dad with the laundromat that he got into after he was let go from IBM. It can be overwhelming sometimes, but if you learn to manage and balance, you’ll do fine. Be an early riser!

I take 8am classes so I can make the most out of my day.

Nobody is going to take care of my rabbits, so I have to do it all myself.

When I feel like my social life isn’t doing too good, I invite

friends over for a cook out and play date with baby bunnies. When school ends I can pick up riding again. There will always be a give and take” Studying with your rabbits is a good way to spend time with them, while getting your work done! Try “teaching” your rabbits whatever it is you have to learn! They are great listeners and love to learn. Teaching others is a studying method that many teachers encourage their students to try. Also try doing your homework outside with your bunnies. Set up an outdoor pen for them, and you can sit in it with them, and work. Just be sure you actually work, and you don’t just play with the bunnies. Try to use rabbits as a break when doing homework. Instead of coming home and just going right out to your critters, do a set amount of time of work, then a set amount of time playing with your rabbits.

Maybe do you math homework, then groom two rabbits, then do English, and make some bunny toys.

Most importantly, have fun! We do not own rabbits just to add to our busy schedules!

If something is overwhelming you, just step back, and take a break. If you just take a short break, and then come back to the issue later, you will be able to think clearer about what you need to do to fix the problem.

Don’t let things stress you out.

Bunnies are great stress relievers, as they will just sit on your lap and let you pet them.

Baby bunnies make especially great stress relievers! a

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2013 Partners in the Arts Workshops

funding is available to bring your ideas for community Arts projects to life Brought to you by Community Partnerships RC&D www.cpartnerships.com

Public Workshops: Learn how to apply for arts funding Monday, May 20, 6:30 p.m.- Lewisburg Public Library Thursday, May 30, 6:30 p.m.- Juniata County Library

* An e-workshop will also be available in Mid-May

Call 717.248.4901 to reserve a free spot for a workshop or for more info.

Community Partnerships RC&D prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status.

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44

R. O. F. F.

The Udder Truth

by He ather Wasson

Rescue Our Furry Friends by Patricia Lawson

Pennsylvania Alternate Dair y Princess and Centre Count y Dair y Princess

Wow! It is hard to believe that this is the last article I will have the opportunity to write for all of you. My year as Centre County Dairy Princess is coming to an end. I would like to thank all of you for taking the time to read my article each month over the past year. As you know, I am an advocate for every dairy farmer in the state of Pennsylvania. They are hardworking and dedicated individuals that often go unnoticed. I hope in the past year I have been able to show you how the dairy farmer cares for their animals, the environment, and your community.

The dairy farmer’s commitment to providing high quality milk is a never-ending promise.

As you continue to consume dairy products, I hope you remember how much work went into each glass of milk or each scoop of ice cream. Once again, I encourage saluting the dairy farmers of Pennsylvania.

There are three young ladies vying for the title of Centre County Dairy Princess this year on May 18th. One of these three will be chosen to represent the dairy industry that I am so passionate about. I hope you all will support her as much as you have me in the coming year. I hope you enjoy these final recipes I have to offer for you to try. ENJOY!!

Baked Ziti 1 pound dry ziti pasta 1 onion, chopped 1 pound lean ground beef 2 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce 6 ounces provolone cheese, sliced 1 1/2 cups sour cream 6 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta, and cook until al dente,

about 8 minutes; drain. In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef over medium heat.

Add spaghetti sauce, and simmer 15 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish.

Layer as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, Provolone cheese, sour cream, 1/2 sauce mixture, remaining ziti, mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce mixture. Top with grated Parmesan cheese. Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheeses are melted. a

raiser – Pictures with the Easter

Most people are aware Bunny! Check it out! Can you of ROFF – Rescue Our Furry Friends. Are you? Well, if not, the see him?

ROFF organization was estab There are over a dozen cats lished in 2004 in Mifflin County and numerous dogs that are up for

by Diane Adair and Cindy Mcadoption at this time. These adorClellan. ROFF has placed over able “furry friends” can be seen 456 dogs and over 250 cats to and an application can be obtained date. Can you imagine? on our web-site: www.roff.cc.

And, not all the “friends”

Be sure to stop by Big Valley are actually furry. Birds are also Beverage in Reedsville. While rescued; however, no birds are you’re there, not only can you buy available for adoption at this time. your favorite beverage, you can There is purchase an ador“Hippie Pet of the Month able “furry Bead Cat friend,” Collars” a white for only bunny, $2.50 or Jack Frost, make a who needs donation a forever to support home at the rescue. this time.

Please He is about like us on one year Faceold, is litbook and ter trained, consider and is volunteerbeing ing for this fostered important with cats, cause. who he Check absolutely loves. Jack even had out the next Valley Newspaper for his picture taken at a recent fundthe next pet of the month! a

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45

The Valley, May 2013

Dave Wilson

Coins, Precious Metal and a Little of this and That

Coin Collectors An Endangered Species

Much like the Black Rhino, Leatherback Turtle, Bengal Tiger and Asian Elephant, COIN COLLECTORS are on the fast track to complete extinction. I’m talking about real, serious and dedicated numismatists, whose primary love and/or hobby is collecting US and world coins. Yes, they do still exist, but in dwindling numbers and generally among the older members of our society.

The real birth of coin collecting, when MILLIONS of children and adults became active participants, probably dates back to the very early 1950’s. Cash registers, piggy banks, dresser drawers, and, of course, local financial institutions were FULL of beautiful, varied and valuable coins of many different designs and denominations. Finding super rarities (1909-S-VDB and 1914-D cents, 1932-D and S quarters, and 1916-D Mercury Dimes) was mostly just a kid’s dream, but many semi-rare (and still valuable) coins COULD be found in pocket change. Surprising to many, women were more actively involved in collecting coins than even men. They rarely discussed their private collecting activities, but in retrospect, they were far

more active. Still, it was a KID thing and probably a good 30-to40% of the 8-year-old+ crowd were enthusiastic participants.

Hobby stores sold thousands of collection folders, reference books and coin collecting supplies. In fact, for years (perhaps decades) selling products to active coin collectors was a mainstay of their business. (I can still remember visiting Grabbes Hobby shop on Valley Street in Lewistown at least twice a week and that was when I was ten years old, motoring around on my trusty bicycle.)

Fast forward to 1988 when 4-STAR first opened its door, having remodeled a small, one room garage in a home on North Main Street in Lewistown. At that time when collections were brought to us for appraisal and purchase, the Gold and Silver Bullion market was soft, but the collector market was still reasonably active. If we bought semi-key coins (more valuable than the normal coins in the set, but much less expensive than the high priced rare dates) we could find homes for them locally and quickly. Rare coin prices were high and moving higher as the young boys of the 1940’s and 50’s had grown up, were making adult

wages and could now afford that prized collection that eluded them in their younger days. In fact, the higher the grade and price, the more quickly the coin would sell.

The $1,000+ price tag for that uncirculated 1909-S-VDB Lincoln Cent was now within reach, where the $110 price for the same coin (in 1960) was nothing more, to most young collectors, than a wonderful fantasy. While collector coins were selling, the profit margins on these coins were tiny.

There were numerous buyers and offers had to be strong if you were to find interesting inventory for the business. At the same time, silver rounds and bars, 90% silver coins, numismatic gold and older silver dollars were mostly out-of-favor and difficult to sell, even at pathetically low profit margins. It was definitely a fun and exciting time. but making ends meet was a terrific challenge, even with a very low expense structure.

As they say, that was THEN and this is NOW. The coin business has made nearly a 180-degree change. What was valuable and selling in the late 80’s is, today, stagnant and difficult to move. The items mostly glossed over in earlier years, are now the most desirable and, unquestionably, the biggest sellers. Collector coins, especially better dates (at higher prices) are piling up in the showcases, while bullion silver and gold products are in short supply and sell with little dealer effort.

While coin price books and magazines still list high prices for collector coins, marketplace reality suggests otherwise. 1921 Peace Silver Dollars “list” (on

the dealer price sheet) for $100 in just “good” condition. Yet, we are “asking” just $65 for coins with this date that are graded even higher and STILL can’t find interested buyers. This makes “buying” coins from current sellers MOST difficult. Many bring in their collections with hopes of receiving high prices. It is only when we show them the prices on similar coins in our showcase that they finally understand marketability. In many instances, we have so many of certain coins, that we simply can’t make offers on more of the same dates. This is especially hard for sellers to understand. The old “Supply and Demand” theory still reigns supreme in normal markets.

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At present, literally 95% of the coin business is investor (not collector) related. In our opinion, the collector market will continue to languish, then nearly die out all together as the collector base erodes even further. (Today’s horrible economy is certainly no help to collectors of anything.) The prized, wealth preserving, gold and silver end of the business will continue strong until such time as product dries up and/or new (expected) government regulations (purposely) squeeze the dealer community to death. a

The Valley, May 2013

46

Uhring’s Hearing & Balance Opens Lewistown Location

Visit Uhring’s Hearing and Balance Center a personalized Audiology facility, with an office location near you. Uhring’s Hearing and Balance Center will go above and beyond your expectations with a friendly staff that works hard to improve your ability to hear.

They offer services in:

• Hearing evaluations for adults, children, and infants.

• Hearing aid evaluations, fittings, and repairs.

If you believe that you may be experiencing a hearing loss, make an appointment.

The staff at Uhring’s will evaluate your hearing for tones and speech stimuli in both quiet and noisy environments. Hearing loss, if left untreated, may cause auditory deprivation. Someone who has hearing loss or impairment may be able to hear speech, but not always understand it.

They:

• Frequently ask others to repeat what they’ve already said.

• Often turn your ear toward a sound to better hear.

• Understand better when they look directly at people.

• Have ringing in their ears.

• Have more trouble hearing in noisy environments.

• Can hear but not understand conversations.

We are always happy to see you.“People who experience hearing loss shouldn’t hesitate to see us for a hearing test,” explains Jim Uhring, marketing director. “Elise North Uhring, Doctor of Audiology, is one of the best in the area.

She truly listens to the patients and helps them create solutions that fit their wants, needs, and lifestyle.” Keep in mind that Uhring’s offers a two week riskfree trial on all hearing aids. They want you to be satisfied with your product and are confident that you will be, however if you’re not, you can return the product within 30 days without so much as a restocking fee. With a goal to help you achieve the very best quality hearing and vestibular health care possible, you can be sure to receive caring and responsive consultations with certified and

licensed audiologists at all times.

Elise Uhring Au.D., has been an audiologist for over 20 years.

She is board certified by the American Academy of Audiology.

She maintains the highest level of knowledge and familiarization with hearing loss, new hearing aid technology, auditory processing and balance disorders. Our staff attends state and national conventions and receives continuing education credits.

Dr. Uhring is familiar with the most up-to-date treatments and technology available. You can always count on service with kindness and a smile at Uhring’s, which is conveniently located in three locations: --6678 Towne Center Blvd. in the Walmart Plaza, Huntingdon, PA --On the 2nd Floor of 611 University Drive, in State College, PA. --Or at our newest office location which opened April 17, 2013 located at 1130 West 4th Street, Suite #2, Lewistown, PA.

Call us today Toll Free 1-877 643-4327 to make an appointment, at an office located near you. a

Does it stink continued from page 12 I’m forty-, umm, I mean thirtysix and I’ve survived this long.

What’s the point now? You might say I don’t know what I’m missing, but I might say you don’t know what you’re missing (life without stinky odors!)

Now, before I get too carried away, I told you that I can smell some things. However, I really don’t know how well I can smell those things since I have no way to know what certain things should smell like. I actually can smell coffee (and I love it), but it’s not a strong scent for me.

I once was slightly nauseated and as I climbed the stairs with my cup of coffee (yes, I had to have it), I caught the strongest scent of coffee I had ever known. Wow, it was incredible.

Except for the queasiness of my stomach, I thought I had died

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and gone to heaven. Is that what coffee smells like all the time to someone with a normal sense of smell? Lucky ducks. I can smell fresh cut grass (ahhh it’s so wonderful!), but maybe it’s much more aromatic to someone else.

Through the years I’ve met a few other people with a limited sense of smell like mine. They seem to be just dealing with it as well.

So, the next time you are lounging on the couch with your cute lil’ pooch snoozing near you and he “lets one slip,” it’s quite alright if you think about how nice it would be to be me at that moment. Nope, can’t smell those either! a

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The Valley, May 2013

Let’s Get Something Clear

If you are now brewing up homemade concoctions you may have found that they smell good, they taste good, and the carbonation they contain is very refreshing. But they do not look like beer you purchase from the store or your local pub. You know, that clear finish seen in a lager or the uncloudy appearance in a brown ale—how do you get your beer to look like those. The first thing you need to know is that many of those beers are commercially filtered which is an expensive endeavor. So as a homebrewer, that is out of the equation, but there are some things you can do to remedy this situation.

Generally speaking, what little particulate matter remains suspended in your brew doesn’t initially affect the taste or aroma

of your beer in an adverse way.

But it is no secret that if something looks tasty to eat or drink, that person will enjoy it more.

Whether you want a clear beer for competition or personal preference, learning how to clarify your beer is a must.

The first thing to understand is that there are a ton of things floating around in your brew. A mixture of proteins from the boil, starches that were not converted during the mash, oils from the hops, and yeast that is multiplying in the wort; all of these are floating around in your fermenter.

Your first friend in the pursuit of a clear beer is gravity. Letting your beer have ample time in the primary is the best thing to clarify your homebrew. I recommend at least two weeks. Most of the time

Good Night from page 33

alike, Amy says that treatments such as pediatric chiropractic can provide hope. ‘I just want to make others aware of this option to help their children,’ she says. ‘My son was usually soaked by morning. He still is usually damp, but nowhere near how it used to be.’

* While bedwetting is a perfectly normal part of growing up, we have chosen to change the names of individuals in our articles to protect their privacy.

Remember, according to the National Kidney Foundation, as many as five to seven million kids over age 5 in the United States wet the bed.

had a dry night, and a few other nights sporadically after that … we were told that one of his nerves from his bladder was being blocked and that adjustments would help. I believe they did.’

What to Expect

‘The length of time that one would need to see a chiropractor varies on the degree of ‘correctness’ that his or her spine needs,’ says Amy. ‘For my son, the treatments lasted five minutes two to three times a week. This did not totally solve his problem, but I believe it improved his wetting.’

However, after going to the chiropractor for two and a half months, Amy decided to stop the treatments after her son was not totally dry. ‘We, of course, were very hopeful that the chiropractor would have a permanent fix,’ she says, though she strongly believes the treatments did help lessen the frequency of the bedwetting.

Although bedwetting can be stressful for kids and parents

http://www.goodnites.com/ bedwetting-education/articles/theright-adjustment-bedwetting-andchiropractic.aspx

I have treated a few young patients that have this problem.

The beauty of chiropractic is that when the spine is in proper alignment, the nervous system and therefore the body has the ability to function at 100%. Chiroprac-

the airlock has stopped moving after 3 to 5 days, but do not be fooled, there’s still a lot of chemistry taking place in that bucket.

Let it settle, it will make a great finished product.

However if you really want to attempt to clear up a beer, it’s time to whip out the big guns, clarifying agents. These are organic or mineral compounds that aid in attracting the negatively charged proteins and yeast making them heavier and thus allowing them to settle to the bottom of your fermenter.

First up is bentonite, a mineral—well, exactly it is a type of clay. Just a tid bit of useless knowledge, bentonite is sometimes used to line manure storage ponds in dairy operations to prevent them from causing seepage into ground water. Bentonite is commonly used as a clarifying agent for wine making, but it works well with beer also. Just mix the material with water and add to the secondary fermenter a week before bottling.

tors correct the spine, the body takes care of the rest. This is the Power that God gave us, the innate healing capability. Here is a quote from one of our patients: “My son, Drake, who is five was having very frequent accidents overnight and after reading why and things to do, we had tried different things. The one thing we tried that worked best was taking him to a chiropractor. The first time he went his back was out of alignment, but then he was dry for 4 days. We were lucky to have two nights dry before visiting Dr. Kauffman. We went back after the next bed wetting accident and now we may have one accident a week. Drake is so proud of himself and we are proud of him too. We plan to go back to see Dr. Kauffman in hopes that we can completely eliminate the bed wetting. We are firm believers that taking a more natural route verses medicines is best. Thank you so much!!!” Mindy Goss

While chiropractic might not totally cure the problem, it has been proven to help children

The second clarifying agent is gelatin. Gelatin is derived from collagen in pork and cattle. Gelatin works best when you rehydrate it; pour it into a cool beer after you move it into the secondary fermenter. Use 1 teaspoon per 5 gallon batch of brew. Just dissolve the gelatin in 1 cup of cool water over a low flame but do not let it boil. Then add the mixture to the fermenter.

This next one is a strange one, Isinglass. Isinglass is a substance obtained from the swim bladders of sturgeons. Isinglass, also known as white finings, attracts negatively charged proteins and yeast causing them to settle to the bottom of the fermenter. Use in the same portions as gelatin and at the same time. This sounds like a crazy clarifying agent, but it works very well.

The last one is my preferred choice, Irish Moss. In fact, it’s not a moss at all, but seaweed. It is sometimes referred to as carrageen or copper finings. This organic material is a kettle-coagulant meaning it is tossed into the boiling kettle. Doing this causes a lot of the protein to adhere together and settle to the bottom.

I just add a pinch (half a teaspoon) for a 5 gallon batch of wort 15 minutes before the boil is done.

There is something about a clear, crisp-looking, clear beer on a hot summer’s day. I do not add Irish Moss to any beer that is

with this problem without the consumption of medications. So, if your child suffers from bedwetting, try chiropractic first. Adjusting children is done so more gently than adjusting adults due to the lack of muscle tightness.

Chiropractic is safe and effective.

If you have any questions about bedwetting or chiropractic or any other health-related topic, please feel free to contact me.

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darker than a brown ale, it’s not worth my time. With a darker beer just let it settle and pour it slow. I also do not use any clarifying agents for wheat beers or Belgium Ales as in my opinion, they should be cloudy. So if you want a clear looking product, try working with a clarifying agent and let them do all the hard work while you reap the benefits. Until next month, I hope all the lagers you make are clear enough to read the newspaper through and taste just as crisp. a

The Power that made the body, heals the body. It happens no other way.

Dr. Joseph Kauffman Kauffman-Hummel Chiropractic Clinic drjosephkauffman@comcast.net a

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