The Valley - November 2012

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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.

Tomorrow’s Media - A Day Early Volume 3, No. 11

Complimentary

The Valley, November 2012

St. John’s Holiday Gift Show to Benefit the Casey A. Marthouse Memorial Scholarship Fund

by Daphne Marthouse

The St. John’s Christian Daycare and Preschool (3597 W. Main Street, Belleville) will be hosting a Holiday Gift Show on Friday, November 23rd and Saturday, November 24th from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The Casey A. Marthouse Memorial Fund was created by my husband Jim and me, along with Rob French, Director of St. John’s Christian Daycare & Preschool. Rob was a great help in organizing the structure of the fund; along with Susan Keller, who helps with the dispersion of the donations. The Memorial Fund provides relief for families who are financially unqualified for state subsidies, but who are struggling to support the daycare costs for their children.

The Casey A. Marthouse Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 2009. It was set up just a few months after our youngest daughter, Casey, was killed in a tragic car accident, along with her friends, Michael Herbster and Devon Mattern. The date of her passing was November 29, 2008.

It was Thanksgiving weekend.

Casey was a happy person. She had accepted Jesus as her personal Savior at the age of four.

Her big sister Lindsey, who was eight at the time, had just come to understand the good news of Jesus forgiving her sins and eternal life.

Lindsey and Casey were always close siblings. Lindsey wanted to make sure that where she was going, Casey would be going too!

The decision that Casey made to

love Jesus was a constant influence on the remainder of her life. Her favorite Bible verse was Jeremiah 29:11. It states, “I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” A framed version of this verse hung on her bedroom wall.

Because of our faith in Christ, there has been a tremendous amount of healing and peace.

There is a future and a hope and Casey is part of it!

It was during her junior and senior years of high school that she began volunteering at St.

John’s Christian Daycare and Preschool. The definition of Casey’s name is brave. I’m thinking that it takes a certain amount of bravery to walk into a classroom filled with two and three year old toddlers.

Casey became the head toddler teacher at the Daycare after graduating from high school.

She loved children and they knew it. Children simply gravitated towards her. I often called her a “kid magnet” because they felt safe in her care.

It wasn’t hard to tell if Casey had a good day at the Daycare.

She would literally burst through the front door talking as loudly as she could. The stories of the day’s events were hysterically funny; especially with her still talking so loudly. She was an awesome story teller and, on more than one occasion, I would have to interrupt her in mid-sentence simply because I would be laughing so hard that I could no longer breathe or see.

Because of Casey’s desire for a better financial situation for herself, she applied and was accepted into the Practical Nursing Program at the Mifflin-Juniata

Casey and the kids.

Lighting Brush Fires in People’s Minds

Career and Technology Center in September 2008. Her hopes were to combine her nursing skills with helping children. Casey loved the hands-on clinical part of her training. Again, I experienced Casey’s loud talking, crazy stories, and being left blinded and breathless.

Because of her ability to fill her days with as much activity as possible, she managed to put an incredible amount of miles on her little red Jeep. Along with her studies and nursing classes, she continued to substitute at the Daycare, helped with the small children on Wednesday evenings at Locust Grove Mennonite Church, and worked a day or two on the weekends at the Country Village Restaurant.

She also managed to maintain close relationships with several groups of friends that covered three counties. One of her friendships actually offered her the opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic on a mission trip. During her time there, she helped to build a church and ministered to children. In addition, she also met an elderly woman who was desperately in need of a washing machine. Casey and her friends helped to raise enough money to purchase the washing machine. I remember the look on Casey’s face while she was telling me the story. I could see that she had come to the realization of how incredibly personal God’s love truly is.

Since the time of Casey’s death, the approaching month of

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Editor’s Corner

The Valley, November 2012

Wayne Stottlar

As we draw close to the elections, I look around and see that our country is in serious trouble and it has been for quite some time. I also realize that I no longer have faith that either of the two candidates have a desire to do what is needed to right the ship.

The problem as I see it is the two party system. As stated in our “Guest Editorial” this month, the two parties are the ones who have created this mess, so now do we really expect that either party will fix it? If you do, you are either still very young and idealistic, or you are a partisan who is not being truthful with yourself.

That leads to another question, how have we allowed it to get to this point? Well that answer is a little easier to figure out.

The fact is that we literally have NO CHOICE because of the way our system is now administered. You see, a candidate can say anything he wants on the campaign trail, (and most do) and never ever have to worry about any consequences after they are elected. A funny thing happens once the candidate becomes elected and takes office. This is true in ALL levels of government, local, state and federal. For once the electied “representative” takes office, the arrogant and self important attitude takes over. Said candidate no longer see himself or herself as a “SERVANT” as was

intended in our Constitution, but they rather think of themselves as RULERS. You common folk will exhibit the correct amount respect for this person who now thinks you are less important and if you do not, they have many avenues at their disposal to make sure you do.

The first thing that is done (by both parties) is to INSULATE themselves from YOU! Ever tried to get up close and personal with a candidate that didn’t share your view? These people will use law enforcement or private goons to make sure that you keep your distance and your mouth shut.

Maybe it is just me, but when an elected representative supposedly working for me pushes my buttons, I want to have the ability to get my hands on them and have them listen to me without a cop or goon trying to silence me or worse. The news media is just as bad. When they utter outright lies and falsehoods, how do you get it corrected? You don’t! They too are insulated from the public.

There is no truth per se in the media anymore, it is mostly agendadriven reporting to dismiss their opposition and prop their guy up.

They care not for the truth, their ends justify their means. What I wouldn’t give to be alone with Chris Matthews for 5 minutes or Shepard Smith who frequently adds his little snide remarks and

opinions to the news. Or better yet, arrogant, self-proclaimed tough guy Bill Oreily who I am sure has a person on staff to pick the splinters out of his backside from straddling the fence so as to appear fair. Come on Oreily, have a backbone for once instead of that ridiculous front you put up— take a stand on something!

When our founders set up our government they never intended for someone to run for office and then be insulated and protected for the rest of their days in government, to do as they wish while the public has no recourse. No, back in the early days, you gained office, served a term or two, and then went back to put your life back together. You did not make a career out of living off of the citizens. Back then, if you did things like what has happened in government over the last 60 years or so and returned home, your neighbors might be waiting for you with a length of rope or a bucket of tar. Yes, representatives were a lot more honest back then, because there were consequences to cheating people. Now our elected officials laugh in your face and tell you to sit down and shut up. And, they have an all-toowilling police state mentality law

enforcement to ensure that you Contact Info do. The system has been set up to take advantage of you and they Editor/Publisher use your own money to do it via Wayne Stottlar the extortion that are taxes.

Graphic Artist/Co-Publisher

One of our founders warned Lynn Persing against the dangers of political parties, the problems that would Associate Editor arise from it, and the sad probable Colleen Swetland result.

“The alternate domination of The Valley one faction over another, sharpPO Box 41 ened by the spirit of revenge Yeagertown, PA 17099 natural to party dissention, which (717) 363-1550 in different ages & countries has E-mail: perpetrated the most horrid enorthevalleynewspaper@gmail.com mities, is itself a frightful despotWeb: www.thevalleynewspaper.com ism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent des©The Valley. All Rights Reserved. potism. The disorders & miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security & repose in the absolute power of an Individual: and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own 505 CHIROPRACTIC, LLC elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty.” — Quality Healthcare Naturally George Washington, September 19, 1796 (717) 242-4476

With the country teetering on the verge 505 Electric Ave ● Lewistown of collapse, don’t you think it is time to educate Dr. Christie R. Gisewhite yourselves on the issues at hand? Don’t be swayed Dr. Heather A. Morgan by friends or the media, this is grown up stuff, you Formerly Gisewhite Chiropractic have to do the hard work Center of finding those answers with an open mind. a

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The Valley, November 2012 Natural Dyes from page 5 cally synthetic organic chemistry – had developed enough that the analysis of different substances could be undertaken. So it was that in 1856, William Perkins, an eighteen year old lab assistant at the Royal College of Chemistry in London, while investigating the possibility of creating synthetic quinine from coal tar derivatives rather than the bark of the cinchona tree, noticed that one of the substances he was working with was - you guessed it - a brilliant purple color!

In one of those classic “Aha!” moments, young Perkins dyed a bit of silk, had further testing done at a commercial dye house, and within a year set up in business making the first aniline dye – mauve, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Now chemists, particularly in Germany, were hot on the trail of synthetic replacements for nature’s dyes. Alizarin – from which reds were developed - was patented in 1869. Synthetic indigo – blues- was available commercially after 1897. In less than a century, in Europe and America, the processes of natural dyeing had, for all intents and purposes, disappeared under the march of progress.

Interesting as all of this may be, how does it relate to us folks who just want to spin, knit and/or weave up a few things and color some of them with natural dyes from local plants - either wild or from our gardens.

Well, to begin with, the disappearance of natural dyeing was not all that widespread. In rural parts of Europe and America many folks kept on using nature’s dyes as they had always done, often at the same time that they were trying out the new-fangled aniline dyes. In most of Asia, Africa, and Central and South America, traditional dyeing methods remained relatively intact and active (as they are to this day).

What chemical analysis revealed about natural dyes made the subject even more interesting rather than passé. With a few exceptions – like those purple making mollusks – we have a colorful inheritance to delve into when it comes to making and using our own dyes.

So, you need to embark on a bit of (self) education. Read.

Read, read, read, read, READ! If you’re fortunate enough to find someone who dyes their own fibers, pick their brain (and offer to help them). Organizations that teach the textile arts often include

classes on natural dyeing so take advantage of these as well. There are probably dozens of DVDs and web sites to check out if you are into that.

Now, when you’re roaming the forests, fields and neighborhoods you’ll really be walking in the footsteps of your ancestors.

Not only will you consider the plants you look at as beautiful in and of themselves, or as possible sources of food but also as potential pigments for the next skein of yarn that you spin.

You’ll learn that the various golden rods (Solidago spp.) gracing our fields each year will give you colors that range from pale greenish yellow to deepest gold. Poke berries, which most people see only as a messy insult from a pesky weed (Phytolacca americana), will show a different side when you understand that they can be fermented into lovely and permanent shades of red. The deep, rich browns of the black walnut (Juglans nigra), the fruity orange locked inside the wood of the osage orange tree (Maclura pomifera), and the rosy browns from the bark of the Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis, the state tree of Pennsylvania) will all be revealed as you delve into the richness of the colors that grow all around us.

Gardeners can augment these local sources with dozens of other dye plants. To list just a few: a permanent bed of madder (Rubia tinctorum) for reds; weld (Reseda luteola) for bright yellows, safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) for yellow AND red (the source of the phrase ‘red tape’ by the way); dye sunflower (Helianthus annuus), dye bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and dye corn (Zea mays) used by the Hopi for reds, purples and blues; and of course the indigo bearing plants for the true blues, true indigo (Indigofera spp.) which in our temperate climate requires special care, woad (Isatis tinctoria and illegal to grow in some places since it can be wildly invasive), and dyer’s knotweed (Polygonum tinctorium) are the three best blue dye sources.

And, since natural dyes can be mixed or overdyed to get different effects and colors, the only limit to your dyeing palette is the time you have available for experimenting!

Natural dyes are a fascinating craft to add to all the other aspects of “getting back to the land” that you may be exploring. But…..

Why is there always a ‘but’?

Don’t assume that the phrase ‘natural dyes’ always translates to ‘safe dyes’. Few plant dyes are

lasting (the term is ‘color fast’).

Black walnut and indigo blue are two plant based dyes that will color wool or linen or cotton and hold up fairly well to washing and sunlight. Most everything else needs the help of (and even the indigo and walnut are improved by) mordants (from the French mordre meaning ‘to bite’), substances used to enhance the colors and keep them on the fibers you are dyeing.

Of the six mordants commonly used in home dyeing, five are metallic salts that can be purchased ready to use, usually as some type of powder; they are aluminum (potassium aluminum sulfate) commonly called alum, tin (stannous chloride), iron (ferrous sulfate), copper (copper sulfate), and chrome (potassium dichromate).

The sixth – tartaric acid – is commonly known as cream of tartar and is used as a leaven in baking – non toxic as it comes; still, avoid sniffing it in.

BUT, of the first five, chrome, iron and copper can pose definite health risks especially when handled carelessly – particularly chrome. Dye books published in the last few decades are very clear on safe handling practices and deserve great credit for how they present the material. BUT, with a bit of experimenting, the colors available when these three mordants are used can be obtained using the others, so think twice (or twenty times) before considering the addition of chrome, iron or copper to your dyeing kit. And even though alum and tin are relatively safe to handle, be careful and learn to dispose of the spent dye baths correctly.

Remember, our safety and the safety of our environment is OUR responsibility. We need to educate ourselves and work carefully (which is basically true of everything we do BUT sometimes we need to say it out loud, just to remind ourselves).

Another ‘but’ to consider is that some plants that are recommended as dye sources may be toxic if ingested. Sometimes this is a case when older sources are quoted from times when anything that could make a color was tried - regardless. And nobody is going to go drinking their dye bath, right? BUT, since the incidence of allergic reaction is a possibility for some folks and since there are usually other sources for any color, why chance it? Always read more than one book, talk to as many people as possible and check out plants that you aren’t familiar with.

Fifty Years Ago November 1962 The Chief Logan School Board indicated it intended to fight the one county administrative unit, a state sanctioned plan to be administered by a one-county superintendent and county board, to be known as the Mifflin County School District. The Chief Logan board has been allotted 15 minutes before the Pennsylvania Department of Public Instruction review board, presumably to make their case against the onecounty plan.

Newel Ford, Inc. on South Main, Lewistown was offering a Thanksgiving Sale on all “A-1” used cars. A free 18-pound turkey with every car purchase! Some of the selections included: 1959 Ford Ranch Wagon, 4-door V8, standard transmission, “Tu-Tone” Blue and White. Was $1,495, NOW - $1,295; 1960 Valiant 200, 2-door wagon, One Owner, Fully Equipped. Was $1,595, NOW $1,495; and 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, 4-door Sedan, radio, heater, automatic transmission, red and white. Was $1,195, NOW - $995.

One Hundred Years ago November 1912 Diphtheria swept through Lewistown. All public schools were ordered closed, and homes with known illness quarantined until further notice. One patient, Miss Jane Cross, was a music teacher in Lewistown, and had mingled with almost all the town’s children as she traveled from school to school. The Daily Sentinel

Again, our safety is OUR responsibility, etc.

One last ‘but’… using lichens to dye fiber, particularly wool, is a fairly well known process in many cultures (Scotland springs to mind) and it is a very rich topic for study. BUT, even though it doesn’t take a lot of lichen to make a dye, they grow very slowly and have protected status in some areas. So, unless you have an abundance of them growing on a roof or building that needs to be scraped off,

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suggested that she came in contact with at least 1,500 school children, prompting the closure of schools.

Civil War Echoes November 1862 “Take notice – All Dutch that took oath not to bear arms in defense of their country is warned if they vote in this election their buildings shel be laid in ashes so I say take warning in time it be too late” Signed, “To Be Drafted I Am”

The Lewistown Gazette editor writes the above is an exact copy of one of the documents scattered on the roads in Menno Township the night preceding the fall election. “The author would make an excellent guerrilla for Jeff Davis unless he is a great coward as he is a blue light Tory skunk,” wrote the editor. (Note: “Blue light” was the 19th century term used to describe a Civil Warera pyrotechnic warning signal used at night by forces from both the North and South.)

S. Z. Sharp, principal of the Kishacoquillas Seminary. Advertised tuition for the winter session of 21 weeks was $55, including room and board, but “music, fuel and incidentals are extra.” “Day scholars $10 per day.”

Five mails arrived in Lewistown daily and five departed, according to the schedule in the Gazette. There were four passenger trains west and three east daily, with published schedules. a

reconsider gathering them to use since you can get the same colors from far more abundant and easily obtained sources.

Now, despite the preceding ‘buts’, I would encourage anyone with the time and inclination to add the craft of dyeing to their list of life skills. By using locally gathered or grown plants in a responsible manner, we can color our sustainable wardrobe and have fun (with family and friends, if

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The Valley, November 2012

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Roads Less Traveled

thoughts from the Bunker by jared kauffman

WTSHTF: Surviving and Thriving

When The Stuff Hits The Fan refers to any scenario that takes place causing a serious interruption in our daily lives.

These scenarios can include: Peak Oil, famine, martial law, widespread devastation from a natural disaster, or an economic collapse.

The scenario I want to focus on will be the latter. Now I’m not going to go into great detail on how close we are to a collapse of our dollar, or how the FED is printing money around the clock just to stay afloat. Whether or not our so-called leaders in DC want to admit it, we are inching closer and closer to the cliff. If you have been reading Dave Wilson’s or Mark Ostrowski’s columns recently you know what I’m taking about and they do a much better job of explaining things than I could. Life as we know it could get real uncomfortable, real soon.

In the next couple of issues

I’m going to focus on surviving the looming economic collapse and what items you should be stocking up on now to barter later, what skills you should be learning now to make a living later, and I will also take a look at how an underground economy, aka the black market, can and will work for you.

Now before we go any further I will put out a HUGE disclaimer. I am in no way, shape, or form advocating ANY illegal activity. All information presented in my column is, as they say, for educational purposes only. YOU accept full responsibility for your actions.

Ok, now that that is taken care of, I want to raise a few questions: If or when our dollar “collapses,” and loses most, if not all, of its buying power, what happens then? How do you pay for needed goods and services? What if all the little things you take for

granted are no longer available?

Have you made any preparations for obtaining the things that you absolutely CANNOT live without? Do you have any skills that could be used to make a living should you lose your job in an economic collapse?

Bartering is basically the trading of goods and/or services for other goods and/or services.

With the dollar losing its buying power more and more each day, you must have another way to obtain life’s needs. A few examples of items that could be useful for barter are: medical supplies, coffee, batteries, ammo, and “junk” silver coins.

Take some time this month to consider stocking up on items specifically for bartering purposes. The ability to obtain goods in a post-collapse economy could make all the difference and allow you to survive and thrive. a

Wow, notice anything about my column this month? You got it, I’m squeezed into a corner next to the guy with the tin foil hat (kidding Jared!). I guess I need to talk to the editor of this crazy paper and find out what I need to do to get back some decent space to write. Although, I’m fairly certain he’ll just tell me I need to write my article MUCH earlier before everyone else sends in their three page stories.

Ok, down to business. Little did Tin Foil Hat (a.k.a. Jared Kauffman, Thoughts from the Bunker) know when he was writing his article this month (because he wrote it early) that the whole state of Pennsylvania, as well as much of the east coast, would be faced with a natural disaster— Hurricane Sandy. As all of Jared’s articles suggest, this is when your preparedness skills are put to the test.

Now, if the masses had been following Jared’s advice for the last several months, they may be less apprehensive about what is to transpire over the next few days as

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the brunt of Hurricane Sandy bears down on us. As everyone rushed out to the grocery stores, the reality of our on-time inventory system became apparent.

Size “D” batteries for flashlights seemed to be the first thing to run out. I heard several people exclaiming that they couldn’t find them anywhere! Water was still available in mass supply as of today, but I’m guessing it will be gone by tomorrow. Julie Macconnell in Cape Cod mentioned that one of their local gas stations had run out of gas earlier today (Sunday). As we “weather this storm” please take note of the things that you could have done ahead of time or differently so that you would have been more prepared, less apprehensive, and less panicked. Although I know we’ll make it through this storm, it will not be without hardship. As bad as it might be, remember it is also a “test run” for the next crisis. Be safe everyone! a

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The Valley, November 2012

Looking out my Back Door Life on my Mifflin County Homestead

by Mary Anna Chenoweth

Beyond Sustainable Agriculture: What’s in Your Closet?

Part Five: A Brief Introduction to‘Natural’ Dyes

“Then they brought them into the temple of the Lord, and the high priest said: ‘Cast lots before me you who shall weave the gold, the white, the flax, the silk, the dark blue, the scarlet red, and the purple red.’ And the purple red and the scarlet red fell to Mary’s lot. And she took them and carried them home to her house.”

-Apocrypha - James Protevangelon

And so we come to the fifth, and final, installment of this years’ look inside our sustainable closets and the subject is COLOR! Surrounded from the very beginning by an amazing spectrum, human kind has always been fascinated with color and over thousands of years a great amount of thought, effort, time, innovation and monetary outlay have been devoted to brightening things up.

Nor was (nor is) all this

decorating just for pretty. Colors, and our reactions to them, are rooted in the deepest parts of our psyches. From the time we used clay, sap and berry juices to paint our own bodies, colors developed powerful and particular meanings within various cultures – white is the traditional color of mourning in many Asian countries while most Europeans still find black appropriate for their grief.

Green is frequently used by many followers of Islam because their prophet- Mohammed- is said to have favored it. Some shades of blue, so studies have found, have a calming effect on most people (blue-painted Celtic warriors aside) while red, the color of blood- the color of life, tends to draw attention like a magnet; from stop signals to flags used to identify our group allegiance to the coloring painted onto human lips, red is a call to action; the list could go on and on.

For obvious reasons, clothing – from expertly tanned animal skins to the finest silks - quickly became and has remained a focus of humanity’s color sense. Over the millennia, along side of all the other cultural skills that we were developing, we curious and inventive human beings slowly and patiently created the craft of dyeing. Each culture added its unique contribution to the overall picture as we quickly exploited anything – plant, animal or mineral- that would create an intense and lasting color.

The colors readily available from most plants fall into the yellowish-orangish-greenishbrownish range, are fairly easy to extract and were (and are) widely used among the worldwide dyeing community. But the blues and reds - available from far fewer sources - generally required several ingredients and/or lengthy, involved processes and were, therefore,

quite sought after. Those who could ferret out the secrets of blues and reds gained the respect of the community - and usually quite a bit of cold hard cash into the bargain.

The rarest and most coveted colors of all were the true purples.

So rare and coveted and expensive were the purples that just about the only people who wore them were royalty (both temporal and religious) and those with very, very, very deep pockets, and no wonder. The source of these purple dyes, whether from the coasts of the eastern Mediterranean, the coasts of Britain and Ireland or the coasts of Mexico and Central America, were several species of mollusks - sea snails – all of which posses a gland that secretes a grayish-yellow liquid which yields these desirable purples. Needless to say it took a lot of snails to make enough dye for commercial ventures – one

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estimate sets it at about 12,000 mollusks to produce not quite one half an ounce of dyestuff!

Yet the ancient Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon were centers for huge dye works devoted to all things purple, the profits from which helped to underpin Phoenician commercial dominance in the Mediterranean world for centuries. The Phoenicians were replaced by the Roman and then Byzantine Empires which kept up the production of purple products into the 1400’s, when the industry collapsed under the weight of political and cultural change, taking most of the finer points of sea snail dyeing with it.

Of course, the advent of the Industrial Revolution in the mid-1700’s ushered in a new era for just about everything, including the creation of colors. By the early 1800’s, chemistry – specifi-

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The Valley, November 2012

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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 17.1-2 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, ‘I am God Almighty.

Live always in my presence and be perfect, so that I may set my covenant between myself and you and multiply your descendants.’

[NEB]

It’s now 13 years after the birth of Ishmael, Abram is 99 years old, and he and Sarai are still awaiting the fulfillment of God’s promise. What do you think Abram has been doing all this time? Do you think he may have been learning to listen to God a little more closely and to obey Him more willingly?

Remember the spiritual law we talked about earlier: Blessing follows obedience. God appeared to Abram and, in effect, told him, ‘I really want to bless you and in order to do that, I need you to walk with me and be perfect.’ Do you think God was setting the bar too high?

Jesus told us, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” [Matthew 5.48] Was He being unreasonable?

God knows that we are mere mortals, incapable of perfection. Psalm 103.13-14 says, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear

him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.” I don’t know about you, but I take great comfort in those words. Our heavenly Father knows our weaknesses. He knows we are incapable of perfection in our own strength. However, as we give more of ourselves to the Lord and allow Him to fulfill His purpose in our life, He becomes our righteousness. 1 Corinthians 1.30 says, “It is because of him [God] that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”

After God commanded Abram to live in His presence and be perfect, He once again reminded him of the promise He’d made regarding his descendants. And then to seal the deal, God made a covenant with Abram: “No longer will you be called Abram [High Father]; your name will be Abraham [Father of a Multitude], for I have made you a father of many nations.” [Genesis 17.5] Notice that God did not say “I will” but “I HAVE ”. To God, it was a done deal, even though Abraham had not yet seen the fulfillment of that promise.

Hebrews 11.1 (NEB) says, “Faith…makes us certain of realities we do not see.” God was calling on Abraham to believe that the promise had already been fulfilled because, in God’s view, it had.

Remember what we said about the Creator existing outside time?

Romans 4.17 (NEB) says of God, He “summons things that are not yet in existence as if they already were.” If you can get a handle on that, it will make faith easier to

Celebrations!

by Pastor Pat Roller

Summer seems to have flown by with activities for children, wondering at the beauty of the world around us, and even some time for re-creating/vacations.

But, now we are heading rapidly into one of the busiest times of the year. Once Halloween passes, the rest of the year seems to just slide together with activities, parties and celebrations.

One event we would like for you to put on your calendars now is the Alternative Gift Fair on Sunday, December 2nd from 1:00-

4:00 PM. The East Kisacoquillas Presbyterian Church (located at the corner of Walnut and Church Streets, Reedsville) has hosted this event for the past three years.

It started out as a small event known primarily by members of the church, but has expanded into a community event attended by people as far away as Altoona.

One of the most difficult decisions for us is what to get people who have everything they need and are beginning to downsize their lives. The Alternative

grasp. Faith is simply being certain of realities we cannot yet see in the physical dimension, things that, as far as God is concerned, have already been done.

As to Abraham’s part of the covenant, God told him, “Every male among you shall be circumcised.”

[Genesis 17.10] This applied not only to Abraham but to all the men of his household. This act of obedience would set them apart to God.

Do you suppose Abraham might have thought he misheard God’s instructions? Wouldn’t God require some grand act, some great offering? But God’s command was very specific. We may not always understand God’s reasoning, but we are always expected to obey Him.

Notice that circumcision is not outwardly visible. God desires not an outwardly pious appearance but inward obedience. Isn’t it curious that even this small private act of obedience, this sign of the covenant, rankles the world.

Why else would liberals in California make such a determined, albeit unsuccessful, attempt to ban the rite of circumcision?

Then God told Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai [Mockery]; her name will be Sarah [Princess]. I will bless her and surely give you a son by her… she will be the mother of nations….”

[Genesis 17.15-16] What was Abraham’s reaction to this news?

He fell down laughing! God had waited until both Abraham and his wife were well past childbearing age so there would be no mistaking that the son born to them would be the child of promise and not just some happy accident.

After all this, Abraham still wasn’t quite sure the Lord would be able to pull it off, so he offered

God a backup plan: ‘You know, Lord, I’m already on top of this.

You could just bless Ishmael, instead!’

How dull-witted we can be! God offers us a blessing far greater than anything we can imagine, but instead of praising him for his goodness, we ask him, instead, to bless our poor, misguided attempts to help him!

God honored Abraham’s request—but then, so there would be no misunderstanding, He said, “…but your wife Sarah will bear

you a son, and you will call him Isaac [He Laughs]. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.” [Genesis 17.19] “On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and…every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him.” [Genesis 17.23] Abraham obeyed God and so an everlasting covenant was established between God and Abraham. Blessing follows obedience. a

Gift Fair provides an active and exciting way to honor our family and friends without accumulating more stuff that we may not want or need.

At the Alternative Gift Fair, 18 different area and international charities will set up displays for those who attend to learn about the outreach of these groups.

Rescue Our Furry Friends, Santa’s Bookbag, the Luminary Center, Habitat for Humanity, Smile Train and Heifer International are representative groups that join with displays. Participating charities have the opportunity to hand out information and talk with attendees about their work in the community. This event is a wonderful time to network with groups and

people who are working to better our community through one person, one family, one group at a time.

Those who attend the Alternative Gift Fair will have an opportunity to donate to the charities of their choice. You will receive a list of participants and can write one check for all of your donations. You will also receive a gift card to send to a person you have made the donation to honor.

In addition to the physical event, an order form will be available online at www.eastkish.org.

You can print the order form and mail in your donations. In return mail, you will receive cards to send to the persons who you wish to honor.

A light lunch will be available in the basement of the church.

The East Kishacoquillas Church is handicap accessible. Those needing ramps should enter through the Walnut Street doors and are welcome to use the elevator to reach the basement displays and lunch area. There are also entrances (with stairs) on the Church Street side of the building and at the back of the building from the parking lot.

We welcome all who would like to attend this event and invite you to bring your family and friends to see what is happening in our community. a

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7

The Valley, November 2012

Adventures on Our Nourishing Journey

by Sue Burns

Politically Correct Eating

Are We All Going Against The Grain?

Election time challenges us to examine our beliefs. Our vote serves as a powerful voice representing what we believe to be true about current events such as health care, the economy, foreign policy and our delicate freedoms.

Yes, beliefs abound.

Yet when I ask clients if they have specific food beliefs I often get a hesitant stare, followed by a response that goes something like this, “I don’t think so, but I am not sure what you mean.” Actu-

ally, it is a trick question. We all have forms of food beliefs. Dr. David Suzuki, award winning author and scientist, explains that beliefs are perceptual filters.

He says that all the information coming into our brain is filtered; some information is allowed in and other information is kept out.

The determining factors that act as gate keepers include our culture, socioeconomic status, our gender, heritage, religion, education and oh yes, even our politics. Okay, so we filter stuff all day long according to whom and where we are on this earth, but what does that have to do with our food choices?

Well, it just so happens that one of the most influential of all our filters in regards to our health are our food beliefs. Each of our daily food decisions are shaped by the cultural, social, economic and biological influences that mold our eating habits into a form of self-expression. From the finicky toddler, to the vegan, the “meat

and potatoes guy” and everyone in between, we all use food and our food habits to tell the world a little bit about ourselves. As a holistic nutrition consultant, I consider it a rare privilege to be invited into my client’s world of food. My role is not to judge, deprive or utter disdain. Instead I attempt to offer within the best of my ability, useful guidance, support and answers to tricky questions.

One such question has been cropping up quite frequently and

its inquiry is, I suspect, suggestive of an emerging cultural food belief. Many of my clients are asking “Should I eat gluten?”

Translated that means, “I am concerned that gluten might be bad for my health.” It seems that eating gluten-free is becoming “all the rage.” I find it difficult to digest that our nation is turning its back on our amber waves of grain.

What is going on?

Well, for starters, digestion difficulties are truly at the heart of the gluten matter (not the desire to lose weight). For reasons that have yet to be fully understood, (although our modern day wheat has been under the microscope), there are a growing number of people in the United States with Celiac Disease. In the 1950’s, 1 out of every 5,000 people were diagnosed. Today the ratio is 1 out of 133. It is predicted that these numbers will continue to rise. In order to stay healthy and nourished, this group must completely

avoid gluten. According to Kenneth Fine M.D. “Gluten sensitivity is the process by which the immune system reacts to (a protein called) gluten contained in wheat, barley, rye, and oats. The reaction begins in the intestine because that is where the inciting antigen, gluten, is present (from food).

When this immunologic reaction damages the finger-like surface projections, the villi, in the small intestine (a process called villous atrophy); it is called celiac disease (or sometimes celiac sprue or gluten-sensitive enteropathy). The clinical focus of gluten-induced disease has always been on the intestine because that is the only way the syndrome was recognized before screening tests were developed. The intestinal syndrome consists mainly of diarrhea, gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and fat in the stool, nutrient malabsorption, and even constipation. Although the small intestine is always the portal of the immune response to dietary gluten, it is not always affected in a way that results in villous atrophy.”

Dr. Fine goes on to explain that “Even though recent research has shown that celiac disease is much more common than previously suspected, affecting 1 in 100-200 Americans and Europeans, past and emerging evidence indicates that it accounts for only a small portion of the broader gluten sensitive clinical spectrum (often referred to as the “Tip of the Gluten Sensitive

Iceberg”). With better understanding of how gluten triggers immune and autoimmune reactions in the body under the control of various genes, and advancing techniques of detecting these reactions, it is becoming apparent that the majority of the gluten sensitive population (the submerged “mass of the iceberg”) do not manifest villous atrophy in its classic, complete form and therefore do not have celiac disease. In these non-celiac, gluten sensitive individuals, the brunt of the immune reaction either affects the function of the intestine, causing symptoms without structural damage, affects other tissues of the body (and virtually all tissues have been affected in different individuals), or both.”

While this condition is of grave concern to a percentage of our populace, it is wonderful that new research is emerging so that celiac suffers and gluten sensitive individuals are finally receiving hope and help.

Yet, I can’t help but wonder if our increased awareness about celiac disease is leading to increased anxiety about consuming grains in general. Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Will there be gluten free stuffing on every table?

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The Latest Trend?

Cynthia Lair, Culinary Director at Bastyr University says “It’s cool not to eat wheat. Avoiding gluten was cited as a top trend in 2009. The steep bell curve of this chart reflects that.” Note that when the Atkins diet (low carb) was in full swing, there was a dramatic increase in gluten sensitivity awareness.

Source: www.Cookusinterruptus. com via an article by Daniel Engber “Throwing out the Wheat.’

More and more people seem to be having shifts in their food beliefs as they express concern that gluten may be harming their health. Becoming tolerant to gluten intolerance seems to be political correct nutrition nowadays. Avoiding gluten has become the cure-all for what ever ails you. Headaches, skin problems, fatigue, weight gain—you name it, and going gluten free is the answer. Some of this awareness may be attributed to Dr. William Davis, a cardiologist and author of the bestseller Wheat Belly, which is subtitled “Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health.”

Not only does wheat make us fat, he says, it is addictive and

Continued on page 19

The Valley, November 2012

8

Julie Mac’s Wisdom from the Kitchen, Home, and Garden

by Julie MacConnell

What You Weren’t Taught About Thanksgiving “Our rural ancestors, with little blest, Patient of labour when the end was rest, Indulged the day that housed their annual grain, With feasts, and off’rings, and a thankful strain.”

--Alexander Pope

As you sit down at your family “groaning board” this Thanksgiving, I thought it might be fun to remember exactly what our ancestors ate for their historic meal. Of course today we are used to our modern traditions of turkey and stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.

Although some of those things might have been available during that time, the legendary feast was much simpler. According to the Smithsonian, there are only two surviving documents that referenced the meal. One was

from Edward Winslow, an English leader who attended. He wrote home to a friend back in England and wrote the following.

“Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others.”

William Bradford, the governor Winslow mentions, also

described the autumn of 1621, adding, “And besides waterfowl there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc. Besides, they A colonial woman in preparation for the feast had about a peck told me that they (the Indians a meal a week to of the time) used to laugh at the a person, or now since harvest, silly English because they often Indian corn to that proportion.” fed lobsters to their cattle. They

Other than that, you have had considered them inedible and to do some digging to find what worth nothing more than bovine exactly was plentiful during the feed. They were so plentiful then, early days of the Colony. Certhat when the tide went out in tainly turkey was available and the bay, lobsters would cover the probably cooked, but it was most shoreline and were easy picklikely not the centerpiece of the meal as it is today. They probably ings for the colonists. That story amazed me not only because I reate geese and ducks, and perhaps alized what they were missing out pigeon. They never stuffed the on, but also because that kind of birds with bread stuffing. It was bounty was theirs for the taking. usually a mix of vegetables or

Pumpkin pie, which is a stanuts such as peeled chestnuts. ple at Thanksgiving was not made

Many types of seafood the way it is today. The colonists were also enjoyed at the time. I did not have wheat flour or butter remember a visit to Plimoth Planto make pie crusts. Usually pumptation some years ago with my kins were stuffed with fruit, nuts, parents and children where one of sugar, if they had it and whatever the Wampanoag character actors spices were on hand and cooked whole. The family would then scoop out the mash and enjoy.

Cranberries wouldn’t be discovered by the English for another 50 years, so the idea of cranberry

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sauce to be served with meat was non-existent at the time.

When researching for this article, I found myself on the Plimoth Plantation website. Each year they host a Thanksgiving dinner, serving what authentic dishes they have been able to reproduce with today’s tastes. It is an interesting menu.

Bill of Fare Ciderkin Cheate Bread and Butter FIRST COURSE • A Sallet • Mussels Seeth’d with Parsley and Beer • A Dish of Turkey, Sauc’d • A Pottage of Cabbage, Leeks & Onions • A Sweet Pudding of Native Corn SECOND COURSE • Stewed Pompion • A Chine of Pork, Roast’d • Fricassee of Fish

Continued on page 11

The Valley, November 2012

How To Handle Volatility

By Judy L. Loy, ChFC®

Looking at your portfolio or retirement savings from one week to the next can bring either a feeling of euphoria or the decision to put off retirement for another year or two. The media is full of bad news about the global economy from the Eurozone crisis (17 nations with a single currency), to Spain defaulting on their debt, or the dreaded fiscal cliff in the U.S. What is the best way to handle this time in the market and how do you keep a long-term perspective?

First, consider how long you have until retirement. If you have ten or more years until you need income from your retirement portfolio, you might think twice about making changes in your investment strategy based on daily fluctuations. A DALBAR study, which used data from the Investment Company Institute, Standard & Poor’s and Barclays, showed a significant difference between “investor” returns and “investment” returns. The study indicated that investors who made emotional decisions based on the market tended to sell investments too low. In reality, putting additional money in the stock market when prices are down helps you buy more shares of quality holdings.

As Warren Buffett stated, “…

Try to be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.”

Here are some good tips to follow:

Invest on a monthly basis, regardless of market trends. This helps your investments average out over time; you’ll be able to buy more shares at a lower cost when the market is lower. By investing regularly, your bottom line should look better as you continue to invest, which can also alleviate some anxiety.

Work with an investment advisor. While it might seem wise to go it alone, paying for investment advice can actually pay off in the long run. A study done by Aon Hewitt and Financial Engines looked at the retirement returns of more than 425,000 investors from 2006 through 2010. The median-annual return of those who worked with an advisor was almost three percentage points higher than those investing on their own. That’s 3% extra compounding every year, too! This increase included the investment advisors fees, so it was a true gain of 3%. An investment advisor studies the markets every day and pays attention to your investments, keeping track of performance.

Think long-term. If you have been investing for a while, take a look back at where you started.

Your investments may be down this year, but where did you start five or ten years ago? Charting your investment trend can help you understand the long-term value of your investment strategy.

Don’t look at your investments every day during a volatile period. Quite frankly, it can drive you crazy. When a market is moving as quickly in different directions as this one is, letting your portfolio work over time can be the best method. This applies even if you are older. Inflation can wreak havoc on a senior citizen’s safe investments. Having some money invested to maintain your spending power is vital given the increasing cost of healthcare throughout your retirement years.

Finally, if you can’t live with the volatility, work through a risk tolerance study to see where you land. Your holdings may be too aggressive for your time frame or your peace of mind. Changing your portfolio to allow for a good night’s sleep may be in order. Just realize that risk (usually risk is interpreted as volatility) and return work in tandem. When times are good, you will be giving up the higher returns.

Judy Loy is a Registered Investment Advisor, ChFC®, and CEO, at Nestlerode & Loy Investment Advisors, State College, Pa. She can be reached at jloy@ nestledrode.com or 814-2386249. a

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The Valley, November 2012

10

The Horse Scoop

by Traci Hanna Yoder

Horse-Happiness It all began when we were little girls in grade school, doodling pictures of horses in our notebooks. Some of us just never outgrew that little girl writing the words “I love horses” over and over again. People often say they

horses versatile and to accomplish a variety of goals with them. I may only be winning a local buckle or trophy and not winning the World Show, but the time I spend with my horses is rewarding to me in many more ways. Beyond the awards there are the rewards of bonding, commitment and appreciation of a special friend. I strive for “horse-happiness” every day in my life. Those who know me well will truly believe that I still doodle pictures of horses, and I definitely do love my horses. a

2012 PA Timed Event Association 3D Barrel Champion. Winning the year-end buckle in this event was one of my goals for this year.

Photo by Jacks Mountain Photography.

Cave Echoes from page 36

One of my “doodles” of one of my current horses, “Crockett”

wish they had as much time to spend with their horses as I do.

Honestly, I wish I had more time to spend with my horses.As long as I am able, horses will be a priority in my life. I try to make my

“Time spent” and dedication to your horse will help you accomplish your goals.

Photo by Horsetography

Team Roping with Crockett at a PA Timed Event. We finished 4th at the Finals (with Dan Aurand Heading) and were in the Top 10 Heelers for the year. Photo by Horsetography.

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This salt has 84 minerals and elements that our body needs.

You receive this also when you are sitting in the cave or using one of the lamps. Now you are applying it to your food. Unlike our normal table salt which is just sodium chloride…which we don’t need, Himalayan salt can be of benefit to your body. We have it available in a grinder or just fine so that you can use it in your normal salt shakers.

Our exfoliating bars are great for skin, They help eczema, acne, psoriasis, and someone

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who just has dry skin, So many people have received amazing relief from this very inexpensive bar. Rubbing this on toe fungus is also a benefit as this salt is also antifungal.

A deodorant egg is a great idea. When using an anti-perspirant (which is what most people use), the first ingredient is usually aluminum and that is something we don’t need. It has been proven that aluminum accumulates in our body and it has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Remember that Himalayan salt is also anti-bacterial so even if you do sweat a little, there will not be a bad aroma.

We have different scented Himalayan soaps. Himalayan soaps help to nourish the skin as it again has the 84 properties of Himalayan salt.

Remember Himalayan salt is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral. Great for a healthy complexion!

Himalayan bath salts are a great way to unwind and help reduce pain in your body. We

have many people who have pain challenges from many complications and they find relief from the pain by soaking in the salts. Some people just purchase a bag and use it dry by placing it on an area of pain on their body. It’s amazing how it works wet or dry.

• A very popular gift certificate is for one for our Ion-Cleanse detoxing footbaths, a session for one of our yoga classes, or a personal massage in the cave.

• A final suggestion is one of our many gift sets we have made up and ready for you.

Or we will happily help you to create your own gift sets.

Please check out our web site for authentic Himalayan salt products and some of our amazing testimonials from our clients. www.simplyhealth-calm.com.

Please, remember to enjoy this preparation time for our blessed holiday and take time to reflect on the reason for this most wonderful birthday. Looking forward to sharing with you next month! Better yet….come see us in the cave! 717-248-2000 a

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The Valley, November 2012 Casey A. Marthouse Memorial Scholarship Fund from front page

November has been difficult for our family. November is a family month, filled with happy events.

Both our daughter Lindsey and her husband Greg celebrate birthdays, along with many in our extended family. It has been painful to be thankful at times.

A few hours before the crash, and Casey’s passing, we had eaten together as a family at a local restaurant. It was our 30th wedding anniversary. Lindsey, Greg and Casey were treating us to a celebration meal. Those last moments that we shared together as a family were filled with laughter, loving and eating too much!

It is because of the Holiday Gift Show that November is being transformed from a month of dread and sorrow, to that of anticipation and joy. I have been trusting that God would allow me to, once again, be able to embrace Thanksgiving weekend with a heart of gratefulness. I just didn’t expect that I would experience it through a fundraiser that helps others and honors the memory of Casey. God is amazing in the ways that He works things out.

One of my cherished scripture verses is Genesis 50:20. It reads,

“And as for you; you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”

The Holiday Gift Show will feature a variety of fine art and unique quality crafts; including amazing laser cut ornaments, one of a kind jewelry, leather goods and functional pottery. The show will also feature beautiful wood turned creations and stained glass wind chimes. The children at St. John’s Christian Daycare and Preschool have happily prepared a generous supply of suet-filled pinecone treats for the birds. These adorable mini feeders are strung with ribbon and make a great gift for wildlife enthusiasts. Also available are fresh pine wreaths and peanut butter jar bird feeders. To help with your holiday decorating needs, there will be Christmas floral designs, blooming narcissus centerpieces and old world paper cut ornaments.

The event will also showcase my husband Jim’s Wired Up miniature tree sculptures and an eclectic array of whimsical boxes and crayon art from our daughter, Lindsey.

Guests at the show can enjoy a selection of hot soups, including ham pot pie and chili. Hot sandwiches and a variety of baked

goods will also be available. For the discriminating sweet tooth, we will have individually packaged gourmet chocolates, holiday treats and caramelized popcorn.

Most of the volunteers and a few of the participating vendors are from Casey’s extended family.

It has been through their financial donations and tremendous support that the Holiday Gift Show has been made possible. Our entire family is looking forward to greeting the community in such a celebrative way.

If you care for more information about the event, please email sjcdaycare@embarqmail.com. If you are interested in making a donation, you can make checks payable to Casey A. Marthouse Memorial Scholarship Fund and mail to: St. John’s Christian Daycare and Preschool PO Box 5716 Belleville, PA 17004 a

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College from page 30 to hang out.”

According to Asonevich, “people go to college to earn degrees—not to just take classes.”

Embedded in their regional mission is the mantra, “Come to us and we can get you a quality, affordable degree.” PHCC doesn’t turn away anyone who has a GED, high school diploma, or even demonstrated academic achievement. Asonevich emphasized that 70 to 80 percent of community college students are first-generation college students, so it could be a real boost for our local economy and community.

The college anticipates that the Lewistown branch would offer associates degrees in areas such as general studies, business administration, criminal justice, nursing, and teacher education to name a few. Furthermore, PHCC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. For those unfamiliar with accreditation, it is “the impartial, third-party validation that an educational institution meets challenging, but achievable standards of quality, and provides a mechanism for continuous school improvement.” (1) To put this in context, Penn State also holds this accreditation. Accreditation also aids in the recognition and transfer of credits from one institution to another should students

What You Weren’t Taught About Thanksgiving from page 8 •

Cheesecake made with spice and dried fruit • A Charger of Holland Cheese & Fruit

All of these fares interested me so much that I began looking up the traditional recipes for each one. They aren’t hard to make, but may take a little time and researching in some of the ancient cookbooks that are available. I would suggest that if you try to replicate any of them, you should have on hand an Old English conversion chart. Or at least familiarize yourself with the terms of the day. No recipes of the time were measured out the way that they are now. Each one seemed to be based on a peck of this or a pinch of that. For example, I found this authentic recipe for Cider: To make Cider PERIOD: England, 17th century SOURCE: The Closet Of the Eminently Learned Sir Kenelme

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decide to pursue another degree or simply change institutions.

What other benefit is there to a community college in the Juniata Valley? Enter the ACE program. ACE stands for Accelerated College Education and is a program that makes it possible for students to take college-level courses while they are still in high school. An ambitious student could start as a freshman and complete an associates degree by the time they graduate from high school.

If you are a local community member with the means to provide start-up funding for this important initiative, please contact Walter Asonevich at Penn Highlands today!

For more information on Penn Highlands Community College visit: http://www.pennhighlands. edu/ (1) http://www.middlestates.org/ accreditation.php

Hanta Virus Caution from page 18 at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/.

“The disease is rare,” he added. “But it is important that people are aware of the potential when they clean out cabins or hunting camps.” a

Digby Kt. Opened, 1677 | CLASS: Authentic DESCRIPTION: A recipe for cider

Take a peck of Apples, and slice them, and boil them in a barrel of water, till the third part be wasted: then cool your water as you do for wort, and when it is cold you must pour the water upon three measures of grown Apples. Then draw forth the water at a tap three or four times a day, for three days together. Then press out the liquor, and run it up; when it hath done working, then stop it up close.

I think I must have read this three times, and had to do a half dozen searches before I even got the gist of this recipe. Yet despite that, I am really yearning to try making a dish or two that graced the table of our forefathers. I know that it would be an interesting item for discussion at the table, at the very least.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy your posset. a

The Valley, November 2012

12 Obamacare from page 37 more specialists, will refuse to treat Medicare patients. It will become very, very difficult to see a cardiologist, oncologist, gastroenterologist, or OB-GYN specialist if you are on Medicare unless you are willing to pay out of pocket or have the kind of health insurance coverage from a private source that would reimburse for their care. * More and more medical care will be turned over to nurses or physician assistants, and fewer people will ever get to see a doctor on Medicare. * Private health insurers will follow in the footsteps of the Medicare program and likely slash their fees as well. * Fewer students will enter medicine, and a major shortage of doctors will reduce the quality of medical care in America drastically.”

Source: http://dickmorris.rallycongress.com/5420/obamacaredeclares-war-on-doctors/

“Several surveys have revealed that doctors have a negative view of the law and its impact on the practice of medicine. Here are five ways ObamaCare will harm doctors: 1. Adds more patients to Med-

icaid. Beginning in 2014, ObamaCare dumps an additional 19.6 million Americans into Medicaid.

On average, Medicaid physician payments are only 56 percent of what private insurance pays.

Lower payment rates already discourage doctors from accepting Medicaid beneficiaries, which has led to access issues and hospital emergency room overcrowding.

As more patients enroll in this broken program, it will place even more financial strain on physicians who treat them. Doctors will be faced with the decision to either discontinue treating Medicaid patients or accept even more patients at the lower payment rate.

2. Leaves the flawed Medicare payment formula on the books.

Every year, doctor payments face the threat of deep cuts due to the Sustainable Growth Rate formula, which governs the growth of Medicare physician payments from year to year. But it’s well known that such drastic provider payment cuts would harm seniors’ access to care, and Congress has passed a last minute “doc fix” each year since 2003 to avoid this.

Still, an estimated payment reduction of 27 percent is scheduled to go into effect next year unless Congress passes another doc fix, which will cost an estimated

$208 billion. This problem faces doctors and Congress every year, and ObamaCare does nothing to solve it.

3. Creates a new board to further cut provider payments.

ObamaCare uses the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), a board of 15 unelected bureaucrats, to contain cost growth in Medicare by finding ways to cut spending to meet a new budget target. The board is limited in how it can achieve its goal, but one avenue definitely available is to further ratchet down provider payments. As IPAB cuts reimbursements, seniors will experience growing access problems as doctors discontinue seeing Medicare beneficiaries. If IPAB elects to limit seniors’ access to certain treatments and services—which is also within its abilities—patient choice and physician autonomy will also be sacrificed.

4. Exacerbates future physician shortage. America is projected to face a shortage of 91,500 doctors in 2020. Meanwhile, many surveys have concluded that American doctors have a negative view of ObamaCare and its impact on the medical field. One survey found that ObamaCare is motivating 43 percent of doctors to move up their retirement within the next

five years. This will intensify the already existing doctor shortage.

5. Destroys the doctor-patient relationship. Obama care’s massive amount of red tape and regulations will tear apart the doctorpatient relationship. Doctors will have to focus increasingly on government rules rather than the specific needs of their patients.

Heritage’s Bob Moffit warns that ObamaCare’s great expansion of government coverage will make physicians “increasingly dependent on unreliable government reimbursement for medical services.” In addition, ObamaCare links payment for providers to adherence to government measurements of care. A recent doctor survey found that 67 percent of doctors surveyed said ObamaCare would not improve the doctorpatient relationship.”

Source: http://blog.heritage. org/2012/06/22/top-five-reasonsobamacare-is-bad-for-doctors/

The changes that have gone into effect already are definitely positive. The two biggest changes are enabling adult children to remain on their parent’s insurance plan until they are 26 years of age and forbidding insurance companies to deny benefits based on pre-existing conditions. These are changes that should have

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been made many years ago. I do agree that something needs to be done regarding health insurance companies. What we have now is not working effectively at all.

Consumers pay high premiums and most of the time also have to pay a high deductible and/or a co-insurance. Medical doctors and facilities are forced to overcharge for their services in order to obtain reimbursement from the insurance companies. The way the system is now, we (employees, employers, corporations) pay the premiums and deductibles and co-payments and/or co-insurances, the doctors are not getting enough of the money while the majority of it goes to the insurance company.

It was very difficult finding facts on ObamaCare itself. If it is such a great deal, why is it so hard for the public to find specifics?

Why was it passed late at night without Congress’ approval? Why so shady? From what I can gather, the government will take the place of the insurance companies in the above situation. We pay the cost, either in premiums, taxes, or fines—the doctors certainly will not receive any increase in payment (when in fact, most specialists face a decrease in pay)—and the money goes to the

Continued on page 25

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The Valley, November 2012

Understanding the Constitution

by David Molek

Executive Orders

Although there is no constitutional provision that explicitly permits Executive Orders (E/O), there is a vague grant of executive power in Article II, Section 1. That provision states,“ The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America”. Further, there is a declaration in Article II, Section 3, stating that the President shall “take care that the laws be faithfully executed”. Many of us would argue that these two passages do not imply constitutional authority beyond routine administrative matters and internal operations of federal agencies.

An Executive Order is defined as a presidential policy directive that implements or interprets a federal statute, a constitutional provision or a treaty. U.S.

Presidents have issued E/Os since 1789, usually to help officers and agencies of the executive branch manage the operations within the federal government itself.

The numbers issued range from Presidents Adams, Madison and Monroe who issued one each to FDR who issued 3,522.

An E/O has the full force of law. Issuance is typically made pursuant to certain acts of Congress where there is specific delegation to the President of some degree of discretionary power.

Or, some Presidents take authority from a power supposedly granted directly to the Executive by our Constitution.

So, the 3 purposes that presidents typically use to issue E/Os are: operational management of the executive branch, operational

management of federal agencies, and to carry out statutory or constitutional presidential responsibilities. There are very few objections to presidential use of the E/O in these first two instances. Those are akin to a CEO giving directives to the company, which is the President’s responsibility. The objections come with the third instance.

30 days after publication in the Federal Register, an E/O becomes law. E/Os are controversial because they allow the President to make major decisions, even law, without the consent of Congress. This, of course, runs against the general logic of our Constitution that no one should have power to act unilaterally.

The E/O has become a critical tool in the Obama administration in presidential policy making.

Until the 1950’s, there were no rules or guidelines outlining what a President could or could not do through an E/O. However, the Supreme Court ruled in the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co case that E/O 10340 where President Harry Truman placed all steel mills under federal control was invalid because it attempted to make law, rather than clarify or act to further a law put forth by Congress or our Constitution.

Presidents have mostly, since this decision, been careful to cite which specific laws they are acting under when issuing new E/Os. That is, before the Obama administration.

If Congress does not like what the Executive branch

is doing, it has 2 main options.

First, it can rewrite or amend a previous law, or spell it out in greater detail how the Executive branch must act. Or, second, E/Os can be challenged in court, usually on the grounds that it deviates from Congressional intent or exceeds the President’s constitutional powers. It is obvious that a Senate led by Harry Reid will not challenge our President and the House has not pursed judicial remedies. Therefore, President Obama remains free to expand his power exponentially.

Some of us believe that our current President has exercised a runaway use of the E/O and has become a virtual dictator in some areas. He has made major policy decisions without any Congressional or judicial input. In some cases, he has gone contrary to Congressional wishes. Obama has issued 139 E/Os in 3 ¾ years. In many of those, he has effectively passed laws that our elected representatives have declined to pass.

That is not separation of powers, that’s the road to czardom.

Let me cite some examples of E/Os issued by President Obama.

There’s an E/O which provides an information czar who chairs a group that regulates international regulatory cooperation. In essence, this provides regulatory control of international business by our government. One E/O changed federal policies on immigration where Obama halted

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deportation of illegal aliens and portions of the Dream Act were ordered without being passed by Congress. One E/O ends the work aspect of our welfare to work program. Several E/Os appoint czars without Congressional approval.

One E/O provides immunity to Interpol from our Freedom of Information Act and our Constitution. One E/O provides federal oversight of domestic natural gas production and fracking.

One E/O (13603) dated March 16, 2012 causes me much concern. It is entitled National Defense Resources Preparedness. To make a 9-page story very short, it is a blueprint for a federal takeover of the economy that would dwarf the looming Obamacare takeover of the health insurance business. Specifically, Obama’s plan involves seizing control of all commodities, all forms of energy, all forms of civil transportation, all usable water from all sources, all health resources, and provides for forced labor (called military conscription), where federal officials would issue regulations to prioritize and allocate resources. It seems to me to describe a potentially totalitarian regime obsessed with control over everything. This comes from a President who lacks the trust of many Americans to lead us in crisis. There is nothing in this E/O about upholding our Constitution or protecting civil liberties.

So, by the stroke of a pen, an E/O becomes the law of the land. It is very easy to bypass an uncooperative Congress. It is like rule by decree. Since Obama’s command over the legislative process has reached a low point, he has struck out on his own and set vitally important public policies, and leaves it to Congress to try

Continued on page 14

The Valley, November 2012

14 Home Grown from page 30 regardless of whether or not the work warrants them? Those are certainly some valid gripes.

Now, consider that financial concerns are usually front and center for most homeschooling families as they struggle to balance the sacrifice of a potential paycheck (so that a parent can take on the instruction tasks) with purchasing the necessary curriculum components. It can be a painstaking process, deciding what we must buy, what we’d like to buy, and what needs to be scratched from the “wish list” until funds are available. I can’t tell you how many purchases I’ve longed for to enhance my children’s educational experience, but ultimately had to defer indefinitely because it just wasn’t financially feasible.

Add to that the anxiety of uncertainty and the time-intensive nature of homeschooling—actual instruction, correcting assignments, activity planning, progress reporting and evaluator preparation, and seeing that all state and diploma regulations are met, etc.—and that is a recipe for stress if ever you heard one!

Ed’s Model Railroading from page 38 60’s running. Last year was our first time trying this concept and it was a real success as those who attended were taken back in time to their childhood of seeing these trains running under family and friends’ Christmas trees. The Open House is FREE, but we will accept donations to assist with defraying the cost of keeping our little club financially sound.

The dates for all the shows are: November 29th and 30th from 5:00 to 9:00 pm, December 1st, 2nd, 8th, 15th and 29th, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. As a kids’ special on December 29th, we will be featuring Thomas and Friends trains running. With so many great train events scheduled, please come often and tell your friends about

Legislation from page 16 will save agriculture. Many people make opinions or assumptions on a situation simply because they don’t have prior knowledge of the situation. For example, if someone walked into a rabbitry at any given time throughout the day, very few of the rabbits would likely have food sitting in their dishes.

The point is, the grass is NOT necessarily greener. Like most things in life, there is a trade-off, and homeschoolers accept the stress and hassles that go with it because of the personal convictions that drive our decisions to choose this model of education, which can differ substantially between families and across the diverse homeschool community.

Likewise, parents of publicschooled students, as implied by their enrollment, agree to be bound by the school’s calendar and policies. But, in exchange for those concessions, the parents are not encumbered by the tedium of all that the education process entails. You save money, too. And… you are not ridiculed.

But it IS a choice you make.

You, like homeschooling and even private-school parents, are responsible for your children’s education. If you choose to delegate the task to another, that is your right, just as it is mine NOT to do so.

Hope I’ve touched a nerve, in the thought-provoking sense.

I really did try my best to get a mark in that starkly-empty “con” column as to homeschoolers “treading on” the public schoolers’ domain, for fairness’ sake and

all; but I got nothing! Who is the injured party? I say, no harm, no foul.

Again, I confess my naiveté in approaching the whole thing, and grant that I may be oblivious to a critical dynamic that is at work. But begrudging anyone their choice in something, when the begrudger him- or herself has freely chosen, is absurdity to the nth degree, and outright hypocrisy by a litmus test of any intellectual integrity.

Why the resistance to a tri-educational system? Whether public school, private school, or home school, may the best model for each individual student and family be supported and celebrated!

I now invite—no, plead with—other readers to share their thoughts via homegrownfeedback@gmail.com. Seriously, enlighten me; I really want to know why this is even an issue, let alone such a contentious one! a

us. As stated before, the shows are FREE. The annual budget for the club is in excess of $5000.00, so you can see why we sometimes need financial support during our Open House events. There will be raffle tickets available for some very nice prizes also. For further information you can contact me at 717 248 4862, or at ed@edstrainstore.com.

Just when you thought I must be done, here’s another really fun event in Mifflin County. It’s called “Shining Light Through the Darkness.” This fun time happens every night from 5:00 to 10:00 pm beginning December 8th through January 4th in the Derry Township Community Park right along Logan Blvd. The entire park is lit-up with all types of Christmas decorations. You can take a walking tour (for those

who have problems walking there are rides available) of the park to enjoy the holiday atmosphere.

There are free hot beverages and cookies, musical entertainment, several nights of carriage rides, a large winter village scene that’s all lit-up and yes, even a train layout to enjoy. This event is also FREE with donations being accepted. For those businesses or persons wanting to advertise on this layout, the cost is very low and it benefits the project of lighting up the park. For information you can contact me directly as stated above. I’ll be covering this event more in next month’s article. As you can see, there are always great things happening in Mifflin County. So, come on out, get involved and enjoy railroading in Mifflin County. ~ Happy Railroading, Ed a

With no prior knowledge of rabbits, someone could wrongly assume that the caretaker neglected to feed their animals. However, those who have knowledge of rabbits would understand that the rabbits are fed a specific ration of pellets once daily, usually in the evening hours when they are most naturally active. See how easily a simple misunderstanding could

cause problems?

Finally, be prepared. No one wants to have Animal Control come knocking on the door, but any animal owner or breeder could find themselves dealing with a complaint at some point in time. An online list of recommendations written by George J. Eigenhauser Jr., California attorney at law, can be found online

Back To The Hive

by Samuel Alexander

It is harvest time in the valley. The bees have been busy all spring and summer. They may have even stung a bare foot or two of people walking in the Dutch clover.

The agricultural crops and gardens have all been pollinated.

Hopefully everyone has increased yields of fruits and vegetables.

For the honeybees who did all that work, it is unfortunate they will not see the fruits of their labor. A honey worker bee lives only 42 days in the summer and then dies.

Life lesson from this is “we can plant the seed but might not see the harvest.”

One of my favorite parables

is found in Matthew 13 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed; some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because they had no root. Other seeds fell among the thorns, which grew and choked the plant. Still some fell on good soil, where it produced a crop – a hundred times more than was sown. He who has ears, let him hear.”

Just like the saying “Busy as a Bee” – Do not sit idle, spread the good news, and plant seeds; wherever they may fall.

THE HARVEST IS COMING! a

Executive Orders from page 13

this reveal a pattern? Absolutely.

After doing research on this and looking at history of prior Presidents, I moved from concern to fear.

I understand using an E/O for a President to direct executive branch agencies how to carry out their legislative mission, but not a declaration of policy turned into law while ignoring our Constitution. We need to cut the Presidency down to size. Hopefully, November 6 will be a change from the status quo. a

to overturn them. Of course, the Senate under Reid, will not make a move in opposition to Obama.

The House just doesn’t make the effort to challenge constitutionality or separation of powers issues.

Our Constitution is turned upside down.

So, where is the media in all this? Under this “We Can’t Wait” initiative, these E/Os looks more like imperial decrees than a presidential executive order. Does

Politically Correct Eating from page 19 about preparing gluten-free meals or to continue this gluten free/ against the grain dialog.

FYI- My Thanksgiving stuffing is not gluten-free. We use an old family recipe from my Grandfather Bair. I have gobbled it up every year since I was born, so I guess you can say it is “ingrained” in me!

Thanksgiving blessings to you and yours, Sue is a holistic nutrition consultant and holistic health at http://www.ckcscsc.org/animalcontrol.htm. The article focuses on dog owners, but is still relevant to any animal owner or breeder.

There is no reason to feel threatened or afraid of federal regulations regarding animal care.

After all, the USDA has these laws in place to maintain and encourage proper care of animals. What we do need to be sure

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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: http://www.celiac.com www.slate.com www.cookusinteruptus.com http:// www.wellnessletter.com/ucberkeley/feature/wheatophobia-willavoiding-wheat-really-improveyour-health/# a of is that our facilities comply with current regulations and that we stay up-to-date on proposed changes to current legislation. By caring for our animals properly and educating our legislators about our hobby, we can maintain the freedoms we currently have to raise animals and ensure that hobby breeding and showing will be enjoyed for years to come. a

15

The Valley, November 2012

Our Environment Our Culture Best Practices for Protecting Our Streams

by Jon Longenecker Chesapeke Bay Engineer

With so many streams winding their way down the mountains and through the valleys, we’re faced with a simple problem: how to get from one side to the other. At certain times of year and in certain situations this is not a problem. But when conditions are wrong, animals and equipment can cause significant damage to a stream. Cows love standing in the cool water on a hot day and it doesn’t take long before the banks begin to wear down.

Stabilized stream crossings have been gaining popularity in Mifflin County, and many farmers and landowners have been taking advantage of the public funding available through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides money to landowners to install stabilized crossings for a threefold purpose: improving water quality by reducing sediment, nutrient, organic, and inorganic loading of the stream, reducing stream bank and

streambed erosion, and providing access to the land on the other side.

Of course, to achieve the first two goals, grazing animals have to be keep out of the stream. This is easily accomplished with fencing. However, in many pastures, the stream is the source of drinking water for livestock, so it isn’t acceptable to simply exclude the animals from the stream. For this reason, gravity fed water troughs are often installed at the same time as the fence and crossing.

These troughs tap water out of the stream and pipe it underground to a concrete trough located at a stable area in the pasture. An overflow pipe inside the trough controls the level of water and returns the excess to the stream.

Since the water is constantly flowing through the trough, there is no chance for it to become stagnant.

Essentially the water is simply borrowed and relocated to a better location for livestock to drink.

The area around a water trough usually benefits from some sort

of stabilization. Gravel may be placed around the trough to prevent the heavy use of the area from creating a mud hole.

Depending on the type of soil, a layer of geotextile fabric should be installed under the gravel to keep the gravel from sinking into mud beneath it.

A typical stream crossing by the NRCS uses precast concrete “hog slats” placed side by side to create a stable surface below the water. These 8 foot long slats are dug into the stream bed so that the top of the walking surface is even with the natural streambed. Large stones are dug into the streambed above and below the slats to prevent water from getting under the slats. Even heavy concrete slats can be lifted and carried by fast moving water if simply set on the streambed, but the stone frame locks them in place. The slats extend up the banks of the stream to protect the approaches from washing out during high water.

The approaches to either side of the crossing must also be stabi-

This stabilized stream crossing provides animals with a place to cross while stream bank fencing reduces the negative impacts of livestock on streams.

lized to account for the concentrated traffic of animals and equipment. This can be accomplished by excavating approximately 6 inches of soil and replacing it with well-graded stone over geotextile fabric. Generally, the stabilized areas need only extend just beyond the stream bank fence.

With these simple, low-mainte-

Find us on The Valley Newspaper

WWT answers: 1. Metamorphosis 2. Sense of Smell 3. Monarch Butterfly

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nance measures, many streams have been protected from the harmful impact of livestock and are beginning to return to their natural state with increased biodiversity. Many more can be protected. The NRCS Field Office in Burnham is always available for technical assistance. a

The Valley, November 2012

16

Splitting Hares

by Julianne Cahill http://oakridgerabbitry.weebly.com

Legislation Your right to freely own, raise and sell animals in the United States is what drives the agricultural community. Everyone who reads this paper probably has or has had animals in the past. Many of us raise animals. But those freedoms may be changing and some of us may totally miss the memo—until federal penalties are enforced.

The Dollarhite case broke sometime last year and news spread fast among rabbit hobbyists. According to sources online, the Dollarhite family started raising rabbits commercially as a business project for their son.

What started with a traditional lemonade stand concept snowballed into thousands of dollars in fines issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. What went

wrong?

Though rabbits are not federally regulated as livestock, the Dollarhites unknowingly violated a law prohibiting the sale of more than $500 worth of pet rabbits within a one-year period. Note that this does not translate to $500 in profit. Even after grossing thousands in sales, the Dollarhites reportedly earned only a $200 profit. Cases like this are becoming more and more common- and not just to rabbit breeders.

The USDA requires that all businesses dealing with pet animals be licensed with the Animal and Plant Inspection Service. APHIS inspectors oversee licensed facilities to ensure that they stay in compliance with a set of minimum standards of care outlined in the Animal Welfare

Act, signed into law in 1966. This is where the Dollarhites unknowingly “hopped” into a sticky situation.

At this time, there are a number of exemptions that cover most hobby breeders. For example, those who raise rabbits solely for food or fiber are exempt from licensing. Sellers are also exempt if sales are made directly to the final buyer, as long as the buyer is not associated with a research facility, exhibition facility (circus, zoo, etc.), or other retailer. If the rabbits are sold to one of the above buyers, the seller is still exempt if sales gross less than $500.

Where do show breeders stand? That’s where things get sticky because the rabbits are not being raised solely for food/fiber purposes. Still, many of us fell under the direct sale exemption.

But last May, APHIS proposed revisions to that exemption. The change would require sellers to open their place of business so that buyers may physically enter and observe the animals prior to purchase. For hobby breeders, this new face-to-face clause would mean inviting complete strangers onto your property or into your

home. Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rats mice... anyone offering animals to the public for use as pets would be affected.

The change would also affect anyone who ships or transports animals for sale. In rabbits, it’s not uncommon for breeders to send sale rabbits to national conventions with a friend. If congress passed the revision, anyone who ships/sends rabbits “sight unseen” totaling more than $500 would need to obtain a USDA license.

This means regular, possibly unannounced visits to your rabbitry

by APHIS inspectors.

Obviously, such a revision to federal regulations could mean big changes for show and hobby animal breeders. Had it not come to public attention, the change could have been made without anyone realizing it until Animal Control came knocking. So what is being done or what can you do?

Educate yourself and educate others. The information I’ve provided to you is a simple explanation of a complex issue.

For now, no changes have been made to current regulation and, to my knowledge, APHIS has not presented its final proposal for approval. However, there are federal and state regulations currently in

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place that may apply to you if you sell rabbits as pets or for show.

Know what those laws are and adjust your business to comply with the legislation already in place.

Over the last few months, the American Rabbit Breeders Association has also been active in communications with the USDA, House of Representatives and Senate agriculture committees.

During a teleconference with the USDA, ARBA was ensured that proposed revisions to the AWA will not change regulations in relation to show rabbits or cavies.

But remember, current laws still apply. In order to ensure that our facilities remain in compliance with federal regulations, ARBA has compiled Recommended Care Guidelines for Rabbits and Cavies, adapted from the AWA standards of care. The document can be viewed at http://arba.net/ PDFs/ARBA_Care_Recommendations072012.pdf. Rabbit and cavy hobbyists are encouraged to develop a Standards of Care document detailing daily, weekly and monthly care and sales within your rabbitry.

Additionally, educate others.

I have always said, and will continue to say, that education is what

Continued on page 14

17

The Valley, November 2012

Sojourner Perspectives by Mark Ostrowski

Under The Chuppa in the Sukkah with a Ketubah

This past month my wife and I celebrated our thirtieth wedding anniversary. We chose to renew our vows to one another amongst family and friends while enjoying a yard party at our home. Our sukkah was up to celebrate the feast of Tabernacles. A sukkah is a three-sided, temporary structure with leafy branches spread across the top. We sit inside this structure to eat and fellowship for the eight day feast as instructed

by God in the Bible. We walk in the Hebraic roots of our faith which, as our congregational leader explains it, puts us right in between Christianity and Judaism.

We believe in salvation through the shed blood of Christ alone and we observe the feasts of the Lord, seventh day Sabbath and the dietary instructions as given to the children of Israel as a symbol of their fidelity to their God. This is

the same God who sent His son, Jesus Christ, who said He did not come to abolish the law and, therefore, we believe observance to His law is a critical component of our faith expression. Little did we know thirty years ago that we married during the most joyous season of the Biblical feast cycle!

So, with great anticipation, we planned our anniversary event.

Invitations mailed, caterer lined up (Harshbarger’s Sub & Malt from McVeytown, to whom we give a strong recommendation), and a twenty by forty foot tent erected with tables beneath to accommodate our guests. Our theme was “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine” from the Song of Songs.

The appointed time came and Joann and I aligned ourselves under the sukkah. Four men from our congregation spread out

my prayer shawl over us. The shawl in Hebrew is called a Tallit and, when used as a canopy, is referred to as a Chuppa (pronounced Hoopa). It represents the Almighty’s presence over and around His people. Seven benedictions, or prayers, were recited as blessing over us by our sons- and daughter-in-law, after which the Chuppa was laid across both of our shoulders. We shared a cup of wine followed by the crushing of the goblet under my foot. This act represents many things. One is the destruction of Jerusalem’s temple in 70 AD and the continued exile of the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel from their homeland. It also signifies that joy can turn to mourning in a moment’s notice (how this resonated with me, as I just lost my father the week before) and perhaps, for us, the idea that within the wedding celebration and feasting, we are to remember that marriage is a serious matter.

It is a lifetime commitment with one another, a covenant between them and before their God, and it must, by necessity, be approached with an attitude of soberness.

We recommitted ourselves to each other by reciting vows we had written separately, only to be shared for the first time at this moment. Interestingly, we both shared how thirty years ago

emony by placing new pinky rings upon each other to nestle beside our wedding bands. Our rings are inscribed in Hebrew “Ani L’dodi V’dodi Li”. I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.

Next the Ketubah was brought forth and read in the hearing of all present. The Ketubah is the wedding contract between the husband and wife. In He-

The author and his wife in the sukkah with their Messianic Rabbi

we couldn’t imagine a love and contentment as strong as we enjoy today. We affirmed each other’s attributes and recognized how we complete each other. We concluded the vow portion of the cer-

brew, ketubah means words and a contract contains words. Thus, this most sacred of all agreements between a husband and wife takes

Continued on page 22

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A hometown grocer you can trust.

The Valley, November 2012

18

Woods, Water and Wildlife Story courtesy Penn State Live

Precautions For Hantavirus Urged When Opening, Cleaning Hunting Camps From Penn State Public Information

As people head out to deer camps or cabins this fall, they may want to take some precautions to safeguard themselves against a potentially fatal virus that sickened nine and killed three in California’s Yosemite National Park this past summer, warned an expert in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

Hantavirus has killed several Pennsylvania residents over the years, said David Wolfgang, extension veterinarian and field studies director in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. And he emphasized that caution -- but not panic -- is warranted.

Hantavirus first was diagnosed in the United States in the Four Corners area shared by New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah in 1993, when several young adults

complained of acute respiratory distress and about half soon died.

Before this year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a total of 587 cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) were reported in the United States. Of these, 556 cases occurred following the initial identification of HPS in 1993, and 31 cases were identified retrospectively. About 36 percent of all reported cases have resulted in death.

HPS is a serious, acute lung disease that causes the lungs to fill with fluid, Wolfgang explained.

While there have been only a few cases reported in Pennsylvania more than a decade ago, it is wise to be careful when cleaning out hunting camps and cabins.

“Several species of wild rodents, such as the deer mouse and the white-footed mouse, have been

linked to the virus,” he said. “You could be at risk when opening or cleaning a hunting camp or cabin -- that may put you in contact with rodent droppings, urine or nesting materials.

“Because the virus enters the lungs through contaminated dust, you should avoid touching rodent droppings and actions that would raise dust.”

The Centers for Disease Control website lists recommendations for hantavirus prevention and control at http://www.cdc. gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/ noframes/prevent.htm.

“They are simple precautions that most of us already follow in cleaning our homes,” Wolfgang said.

The CDC advises taking the following steps: -- Exclude rodents from cabins and camps by blocking holes and filling cracks.

-- Wash all dishes and utensils with hot soapy water, and store food in rodent-proof containers.

-- Make sure bedding, pillows and sleeping bags are clean, and launder them prior to use if they might have been contaminated by rodents.

-- Air out buildings for at least 30 minutes before you start cleaning, and wear rubber gloves. Spray all materials or surfaces, wetting

thoroughly, where droppings and urine are suspected with a general purpose disinfectant. For large areas, use a 10 percent household laundry bleach solution (1-1/2 cups of bleach per gallon of water). Pick up the wet material with a damp towel, or gently sweep it into a The droppings and urine from several species dust pan. Following this, mop or wipe the of wild rodents, such as the deer mouse and the area with disinfectant. white-footed mouse, have been linked to the virus.

“Be especially with soap and warm water. careful with vacuum cleaners,”

“The symptoms of the disWolfgang said. “The dampened ease are nonspecific and include rodent droppings should be carefever, fatigue and muscle aches,” fully picked up as described and Wolfgang said. “Patients also may not picked up with a vacuum experience headaches, dizziness, cleaner, because this may aerochills and abdominal problems. solize the virus and put you at Symptoms may begin one to five greater risk.” weeks after exposure.”

Sleeping on the floor or near

In later stages -- four to 10 a wall that might have housed days later -- patients experience rodents is also a risk factor, Wolfgang cautioned. “Those areas coughing and shortness of breath, according to Wolfgang, who should be thoroughly cleaned noted, “If symptoms occur, check prior to sleeping with your face with your physician and mention close to potentially contaminated that you may have been exposed surfaces,” he said.

When finished cleaning, bury, to rodent contamination.”

For more information about burn or dispose of cleaning matethe hantavirus or prevention methrials in a proper manner. Disinfect your gloves before removing them, and then wash your hands Continued on page 11

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19

The Valley, November 2012 Politically Correct Eating from page 7 causes everything from heart disease, diabetes, and obesity to arthritis, osteoporosis, cognitive problems, and cataracts. In fact, it has caused “more harm than any foreign terrorist can inflict on us.”

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a single villain behind the chronic health problems plaguing us, and if all it took to reverse them was to stop eating wheat? “Well, don’t bet on it,” says Alessio Fasano, director for Celiac Research at the University of Maryland and a leading expert on the disease.

Almost half the people who come to his clinic have put themselves on a gluten-free diet before they have even been tested for celiac.

For every patient whose intestinal biopsy is positive, he says, nine or ten tests come back clean, but the patient still commits to going gluten-free. In all fairness, Fasano continues to explain that these people may be gluten sensitive.

A person’s reaction to gluten can be plotted along a sensitivity spectrum. To learn more about the latest research in early gluten sensitivity testing, please go to http://www.celiac.com/. If you have a family member with celiac disease, you should be tested even if you have no symptoms, since diagnosing and treating the disease can help prevent intestinal damage and serious complications. Many gastroenterologists initially advise a simple genetic test for predisposition to celiac disease. According to the publication, Berkley Wellness Alerts, Aug. 2012 edition, “Few people are properly diagnosed for gluten problems, however, according to a paper in the Annals of Internal Medicine earlier this year, many are undoubtedly going on highly restrictive diets unnecessarily.”

Now don’t get me wrong.

Gluten sensitivity is very real, yet experience has taught me that most of us feel better with fewer carbohydrates in our diet whether gluten is a culprit for us or not.

We especially feel better when we eliminate “dead” carbs like refined grains that are so ubiquitous in our modern day diets. But to be honest, I am still questioning whether going gluten free for the average populace is help or hype. Has this become the latest quick fix for a collection of symptoms, or are we all slowly becoming sensitized to gluten to the point we need to avoid it all together? For me, the debate continues as more information is revealed. Obviously we are all biochemically unique. No one-size-fits-all healing diet exists. I fully understand that gluten

is toxic for those diagnosed with celiac. However, before the grain is thrown out with the soaking water, take a look at these less restrictive suggestions: •

•

Eat more whole grains instead of refined grains Our SAD (Standard American Diet) way of eating is dependent upon white flour.

Toast for breakfast, a fast food sandwich for lunch, pasta for dinner. This is formula for chronic disease and weight gain. Yes, muffin tops come from eating too many muffins. Grains in their whole form are just that, they are whole. That means that all three parts of the grain are intact; the outer fibrous bran layer, the starch laden endosperm and the precious germ that holds valuable nutrients such as vitamin B complex, vitamin E and vitamin A. Grains in their natural forms have a lower glycemic index which is a fancy way of saying they are less likely to trigger an insulin response. The reason being, it takes longer for digestive enzymes to reach the starch inside whole grains which slows down the conversion of starch to sugar. Those who choose to go gluten-free but have not been diagnosed as gluten sensitive, are eating the same poor quality flour such as refined rice flour, potato starch and various gums used to mimic the texture of wheat and thus are not really improving their health for these products are low in fiber and high in calories. On the other hand, gluten-free whole grains are beneficial.

These include kasha, wild rice, brown rice and quinoa.

These are the grains I encourage everyone to eat, gluten free or not.

Could digestive benefits be a self fulfilling prophecy? According to David Engber as posted in Slate Magazine, “The health benefits of a gluten-free diet might also be a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy. It’s well-known that our digestive system adapts its secretions (rather quickly) to whatever we’re eating. A prolonged stint on the Atkins diet, for example, can make it harder to digest starchy foods. According to a 2006 study in Journal of the Pancreas, a colony of lab rats subsisting on low-carb, highfat food pellets ended up with less pancreatic α-amylase, an

enzyme that helps break down complex carbohydrates.

Now imagine that you’ve cut out gluten from your diet completely— that means no bread, no cereal, and no wheat whatsoever. Chances are you’ll have reduced your total intake of carbs, • Reliable Propane & Heating Oil Delivery and thus the amount of • Budget Payment Plan Call today α-amylase in to • 24/7 Emergency Service learn about our your gut. In NE w CustOmER other words, • Heating Equipment Service Plans the mere fact sPECiAls! • Safety Trained Professionals of being on a gluten-free • Over 80 Years Experience diet could make you more sensitive to grains and cereals— Our Business is Customer Satisfaction which would only reinforce 717-248-5476 • 1-800-PROPANE (776-7263) your conviction that you’re glutenintolerant. grains that are also gluten free • The Starch Solution: Eat the Slip up for even one meal, as an experiment. These include Foods You Love by John and you’ll pay the price with quinoa (pronounced keen-wa), McDougall M.D. indigestion. (Same goes for buckwheat, rice, corn, wild rice, • Whole Grains Every Day, people who don’t eat meat or Every Way by Lorna Sass dairy: A momentary lapse can millet, and teff. For more information on how to cook whole grains yield a nasty stomachache.)” go to http://www.eatingwell.

Something else I am ex• Lack of daily movement com/recipes_menus/collections/ perimenting with involves eating – When we sit all day our healthy_whole_grains_recipes sprouted bread (Ezekiel) and digestion is sluggish. Period.

2. Increase the amount of fruits soaking grains to remove the • Examine your overall diet and vegetables you eat each day. phytic acid that coats the whole - Calorie dense foods like They should be one half of the grain. While phytic acid protects refined breads and pasta can total volume of food. the grain, it serves as an anti nutribe difficult to digest even for ent for us by reducing mineral those of us who are not gluten 3. Move as vigorously as you can for 30 minutes every day. absorption. For more information sensitive. Throw in artificial 4. Support the “bugs” in your guton preparing flours and grains in sweeteners, medications, Consider eating probiotics instead this traditional manner checkout damaged vegetable oils and of taking them. To do that, eat http://nourishedkitchen.com/ and food additives and we have a fermented and cultured foods such http://www.traditional-foods. toxic soup sitting in our gut. as yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut. com/soaking-grains/. This site If you experience gas, bloathas great videos and really easy ing, and stomach distress, More Food For Thought techniques. step back and examine your

Remember, quality and quanlifestyle and overall diet Here are some great resources ity always matter no matter what before blaming your maladies that have given me valuable the food source. totally on gluten. insight into this ever expanding

Staying true to our fundatopic. Some of them have opposmental beliefs while keeping our

Now, after filtering through ing view points, which are why I minds open to new ideas can be the above mentioned suggestions, challenging whether the topic is if you still suspect eating wheat or like them. Perhaps they too will offer you support in your “food political or food related. More gluten is the cause of your physibelief digestion process.” questions than answers are usucal distress, try these four adally raised, but that is good for ditional steps before you declare • The Paleo Diet by Rob Wolf the learning then continues. Give that you are totally “gluten-free.”

• The No-Grain Diet by Joseph me a call or send an email if you Mercola M.D. would like more information 1. Eliminate all flour products• Why We Get Fat and What about preparing gluten-free meals This includes even whole grain We Can Do About It by Gary flour products. Switch to eatTaubes Continued on page 14 ing whole grains instead. If you want, you can choose whole

Expect More from Your Fuel Supplier!

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The Valley, November 2012

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Saturday Morning On The Farm

by Andrew Batdorf

On Saturday October 13, 2012 we held a farm tour on our organic farm, Hollow Brook Dairy, which is located in Mifflin County, McVeytown, PA. The farm is owned by Andrew and Saraetta Batdorf and children Timothy, Mary, Matthew and Emanuel Batdorf.

We started out the tour with irganic coffee and organic shoo fly cupcakes. Judging by the lack of leftovers, I would say, “people

LOVE Organic!”

We are a certified organic dairy farm. We ship our milk to Horizon Organic (I like Organic).

We also raise organic fruits, vegetables, and chickens on our farm.

We had several speakers at our event: Melissa Piper-Nelson from Community Partnerships RC&D talked about who they are and what they do for the local area at Community Partnerships

Pre-tour discussion was well attended, in fact it was standing room only

RC&D; Patty Neiner from PA WAGN, spoke about the Rec Park Farmer’s Market; Kevin Morgan from Community Patnerships RC&D talked about pollinator habitat; Mary Smith from NRCS, spoke about some of the conservation projects that we have completed on our farm; and Matthew Kelterborn from PCO talked about Organic Certification.

That all being said, let’s get to the fun part—walking around the farm. One of the things that I am passionate about on the farm is energy conservation, so we pointed out to those on the tour that we have 32 light bulbs in the barn, meaning you use a lot of electricity. A noticeable decrease in electric usage resulted when we installed compact fluorescent light bulbs (cfl) in those fixtures.

Next we toured the milkhouse and talked about our plate cooler, which helps to cool our milk with water. The warm water is used for the cows’ drinking water so there is no waste. Kevin Morgan talked about our need for more pollinator habits because of the loss of honey bees to colony collapse disorder. One out of every three

bites of our fruits and veggies are pollinated by bees. We then toured our high tunnel greenhouse where we grow some of the produce that we sell at the Rec Park Farmers’ Market. We also watched my sons run our in-line bale wrapper. I like equipment! Then we looked at our broiler chickens and talked about recycling. We have three chicken houses all made from recycled materials. I like recycling too!

We discussed different ways of doing things without chemicals, like using our banty chickens as insect predators. Our milk barn has about 30 banty chickens running throughout the barn eating fly larvae, and guess what? The bantys eat all of the fly larva leaving our barn virtu-

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ally fly free without the need for chemicals. THAT is win-win for everyone! We discussed runoff from farm barnyards and the damage it can do to streams and aquifers. Incidentally, all of ours goes into our manure storage to be used as fertilizer. We discussed cattle walkways to help eliminate erosion, stream bank fencing to keep the cattle out of the stream, and vegetation buffers for native wildlife. Next we passed a solar fencer. I like solar! Finally the group topped the hill and saw the dairy herd grazing in the pasture.

At the end of the tour we enjoyed Horizon Organic milk and cheese and other organic treats. It was a beautiful day, and everyone had fun and hopefully learned something. a

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The Valley, November 2012

Modern Energy and Alternative Heating with Curt Bierly Geothermal Heat Pump Tax Credit Remains Available

A Federal Tax Credit* of 30% of the installed cost (no cap) for the installation of an Electric Geothermal (Geo) Heat Pump System remains available until 12/31/16.

It is apparent the Feds are high on Geo, and by offering a substantial tax credit, are encouraging the consumer to purchase one. Why is that? Primarily because a Geo system will dramatically reduce your heating and cooling costs.

Ok you say, I’ve heard people talk about Geo systems, but how do they function, how efficient are they and how much do they cost?

To understand why a Geo Heat Pump System is super efficient, you need to first understand how a heat pump operates. As opposed to using electric resistance heaters (electric baseboard heat, electric ceiling cable heat, etc.), a heat pump uses a compressor much like that in your refrigerator, food freezer, or window air conditioner. You can understand the effect of this compressor system by feeling the heat your window air conditioner blows outside on a hot summer day. Yes it is cooling the inside of your house, but it is also

heating the outside space around your house. Ok, this winter take that window air conditioner, reverse it in the window, and let it blow the heat inside and the cool air outside.

In summary, a heat pump will cool your house in the summer and heat your house in the winter. The nice thing is you don’t need to physically “turn the unit around” in the winter to have it blow heat in your house. It’s done automatically with a “reversing valve.” The other advantage is when you are heating your house with the compressor system (Heat Pump) you are using about 1/3 of the energy that you would use to heat your house with electric baseboard or ceiling cable heat; thus, the unit is about 300% efficient. Amazing!

Most people are familiar with a Central “Air to Air” Heat Pump System. There is a condenser outside and a fan/coil unit inside. A ducted distribution System is connected to the inside unit to move the conditioned air to the rooms in your home. In the winter, an “Air to Air” system loses efficiency

“Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.” ~George Washington

as the outside air temperature decreases.

A Geothermal Heat Pump is a “Water to Air” system. In lieu of using outside air, it uses water circulating through piping buried in the earth which is the same temperature (usually 55 degrees F) below six feet regardless of the outside air temperature. Therefore, there is no loss of efficiency as the outside air drops in temperature; thus, a Geo system holds its efficiency even in cold temperatures. In addition, you can preheat your domestic hot water (DHW) with a Geo desuperheater.

There are two common ways to “bury” pipe in the ground for a closed loop Geo system. You can drill several vertical wells (235 feet deep) or dig a trench. Which method you choose depends on what area you have available on your property. You can also choose to use a “pump and dump” system where you pump water out of a well, run it through the Geo unit, and dump it down another well. There is some concern with the open system that the water may contain sulfur or may be

acidic or hard, which could compromise the integrity of the Geo Heat Exchanger.

So what does a Geo system cost? For a whole house system from scratch, $25,000 to $30,000; however, the 30% tax credit with no cap is a great incentive ($7500 to $9000). If you currently have a ducted distribution system and it is correctly designed the cost would be $10,000 to $15,000. *www.dsireusa.org – at the top center of the page click on “view federal incentives,” then near the bottom of the listed items under

Merry Millheim from page 29

the header “Personal Tax Credit,” click on “residential renewable energy tax credit.” Note that Geothermal Heat Pumps join solar and wind for the tax credit and that it is good till 12/1/16.

Curt Bierly is president of the bierly group incorporated of which Stanley C. Bierly (HVAC Contractor) is a division. He graduated from Penn State with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and is a member of the Penn College HVAC Advisory Board.

You can contact him at cbierly@ bierlygroup.com a

Strands and Holiday Manicures for children under 12 at Kim Wallace’s Beauty Salon (106 West Main Street) 11:00am-5:00pm- 2nd Annual Handmade Holday Market at the Bremen Town Ballroom (105 E. Main St) 1:00-3:00- Christmas Cookie Decorating at the IngleBean 2:00pm – Live Music- Green Drake Gallery 3:00-5:00pm- Santa’s WorkshopHosterman and Stover’s Hardware Store 8:00-10:00pm—Live music from Cabinet at Elk Creek Café + Aleworks

Special Deals and Hours Penns Valley Jewelers- ½ off all jewelry in stock for the month of December Millheim Small Engine- Storewide discounts Penns Valley Outfitters—Free samples and holiday floral arrangements from Long Lane Flower & Garden Aaronsburg Pottery (Plum Street in Aaronsburg) – Friday 3-7, Saturday 10-5, Sunday 1-5 The Valley Showcase- Sales on pine furniture and more.

IngleBean- Extended hours on Friday and Saturday evenings The Green Drake Gallery—Extended hours

Sunday, December 9 4:00-6:00pm- Live music from the Stray Birds at Elk Creek Café + Aleworks

Contact: Erin Condo McCracken ecovents@gmail.com 512/576-4831 a

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The Valley, November 2012

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Recipes-Crafts-Gifts With Debra Kulp

Pepperoni Spaghetti Bake Yield – 6 servings Non-stick cooking spray 1 ¼ c. baking mix ½ c. milk 2 cans (14.5 oz each) Spaghetti & Meatballs ¾ c. shredded mozzarella cheese, divided 1/3 c. sliced pepperoni 1 c. shredded Italian blend cheese 1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray 13” x 9” glass baking dish with cooking spray. Combine baking mix with milk in medium bowl; stir until soft dough forms.

2) Drop dough by spoonfuls on bottom of baking dish (will not completely cover bottom. Spoon 1 can Spaghetti & Meatballs over dough and sprinkle with ½ c. cheese. Top with remaining can of Spaghetti & Meatballs, remaining cheese and pepperoni.

3) Bake 20-25 min, or until dough is done in center and browned.

Southwestern Fried Perch Yield: 4 servings 1 envelope taco seasoning 1 lb lake perch filets 1 egg

Under The Chuppa in the Sukkah with a Ketubah from page 17 its name. In the Ketubah, we recognized the vows we made all those years ago and how we recommit ourselves to one another, our marriage and to God. We each signed the document along with our witnesses Marc & Amy Frigo from our congregation and our congregational leader and Messianic Rabbi, Dave Dombek.

Joann and I hold a marriage license from the state of Virginia where we were first pronounced husband and wife. We have not officially repudiated that license, however, our act of re-committal serves as notice that we remove our marriage from the authority of man and place it directly under the authority of The Almighty.

Knowing what we do today, we never would have applied for a marriage license in the first place.

This is a subject I’d like to address when we meet again next time. Today I’d like to conclude with some thoughts that have

½ c. yellow cornmeal 14/ c. all purpose flour 3 tbsp vegetable oil 1) Place taco seasoning in a big resealable bag. Add perch filets one at a time and shake to coat.

In a shallow bowl, lightly beat the egg. Combine cornmeal & flour in another shallow bowl. Dip filets in egg, then coat with cornmeal mixture. Place in a single layer on a plate, refrigerate for 15 minutes.

2) In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Fry filets for 2-3 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Canning Beets is a Healthy Choice

Did you know….Researchers have learned that beets and beet juice improve blood flow to the brain because they are high in nitrate which helps to open blood vessels. This keeps your mind sharp and can ward off dementia. It also reduces the amount of oxygen needed when exercising, which helps to prolong workouts.

Other nitrate-rich veggies are celery, cabbage, and spinach.

sustained our marriage throughout these many years and I do this in concert with my good wife.

We acknowledge that things do not always go easily, but we have worked at being very polite with one another, always saying please and thank you. We keep short accounts with each other, being quick to apologize when we realize we’ve wronged the other one. We have learned each other’s primary love language and strive to endear the other to our self through liberal use of it.

Most importantly we have centered ourselves on The Almighty God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob whose grace and love is sufficient to help us overcome our human tendencies of self-interest. The conclusion is: we’d both do it over again! a C. Mark Ostrowski is the Founder & President of The Stewardship Group in Belleville and can be reached at:mostrowski@ thestewardshipgroup.org

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The Valley, November 2012 with the warm sands of good will.

Everyone needs to read this little gem!

Mail Pouch Books

THE QUILTMAKER’S GIFT

By Jeff Brumbeau Copyright 2000

by Carleen B. Grossman During this month filled with festivities for Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, I have selected keepsake books that I hope will catch your interest to read or reread! These treasures will inspire you for living your life with appreciation.

DEWEY: The Small-Town Library Cat who Touched the World

By Vicki Myron Copyright 2008

This is a biography about a wonderful cat who was adopted by a small-town library: the book actually ends with a THANK YOU to Dewey the cat! Dewey’s special life began at the library

when he, as a tiny kitten, was pushed into THE RETURN BOOK SLOT of the library on the coldest night of the winter. This devoted cat touched the lives of hundreds of people during the 19 years he lived at the library. He seemed to know who wanted his attention for helping to lift a spirit or for cheering-up a bad mood.

And, he always knew when to show his appreciation. Such a caring, giving creature—and his story will pull at your heartstrings.

It is a delightful book about life, death, small town values and a sense of community!

THANK YOU: 101 Ways to

Practice Effortless Gratitude

By June Eding & Anna Krusinski Copyright 2010

Do you really know how to say Thank You and even more so to “show” your gratitude? These times when electronic devices dictate our lives, the Thank You card [via the U.S.Mail] is almost a thing of the past! This book will show you additional ways that you can express yourself in showing gratitude. Let your appreciation start as a grain of sand that grows into an entire desert filled

A “book of the Year” award winner, for “all ages,” this mystic tale celebrates the joy of giving!

In picture book format the story tells about a generous quiltmaker who sews the most beautiful quilts in the world and then gives them away. With her magic fingers and her quilting, she is able to teach others how to live life.

The mysterious story has clues threaded into it with a different quilt block pattern on each

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page. The front and back inside covers show and name each of the 39 quilt patterns hidden in a large illustration—see if you can find them! [This is a great book for the family to share after that delicious Thanksgiving dinner!]

THE LITTLE BOOK OF GRATITUDE QUOTES

By Kathleen Welton Copyright 2011

This book presents 365 favorite quotes on all topics of gratitude. Famous quotes will brighten your days…such as this quote by William A. Ward; “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” The various sections of the book are quite thought provoking.

The book was the Award Finalist in the Self-Help, USA “Best Books 2011.” a

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The Valley, November 2012

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The Valley, November 2012

Guest Editorial with John Silveira Senior Editor at Backwoods Home Magazine

Why I Vote Libertarian

The general elections are November 6th; before you scoot off to the polls to do your civic duty, I thought I’d give you a few of my thoughts on voting.

First, I’d like to dispense with a voting myth. It recently came up, again, at a barbeque. The conversation momentarily devolved to politics and the hostess said, “The only reason I vote is so I’ll have a right to complain.”

That’s the conventional wisdom, right? We’ve heard it for years. But it’s baloney.

In a nice way, I said to her, “I feel as though those who don’t vote have more right to complain than those who do.” That got her attention as well as that of a few others.

“After all,” I said, “of people who vote, I’d estimate 98% of them vote for Democrats or Republicans, and it’s the Democrats and Republicans who have been creating the problems that have been stacking up for the last 80 years. I don’t see how you have a right to complain about the problems, if you keep voting for the people who create the problems.

Just saying.”

No one said anything, so I added, “Congress currently has a dismal 10% approval rating, but an 80% reelection rating. What does that tell you? We elect

people to Congress, they create problems, we complain about the problems, then we reelect them.

Are we expecting change? People who don’t vote at all have more right to complain about the problems than the people who vote for them again and again.”

The subject changed, but I hoped my little insight might make a difference the next time anyone who listened to me that evening fills out a ballot.

Throwing Away My Vote

A few years ago a friend told me, “Voting Libertarian,” (which is what I do), “is just throwing your vote away.”

I thought about that for a second, then said, “I don’t want inflation, one war after another that kills young Americans, bailouts of Washington’s Wall Street cronies, an unsustainable Social Security system, huge wasteful bureaucracies, our freedoms taken away, or politicians who ignore the Constitution. Unfortunately, you do.”

He indignantly said, “No, I don’t.”

“Then why do you keep voting for them?” I asked. “It’s the Democrats and Republicans who are creating all these problems.

They’ve been doing it for decades,

and you keep voting for them. (He actually votes straight Republican.) Now you’re telling me I’m throwing away my vote because I vote for things I really want, but you’re not throwing yours away even though you’re voting for things you don’t want.. When did that start making sense to you?”

He didn’t reply. But I’ve noticed over the last few years he’s sounding more libertarian.

I’m Afraid Of The Democrats...

Last January, a nephew, who’s as libertarian as anyone I know, told me that over the years, he’s persuaded some two dozen guys to vote Libertarian. “But, every time I get in the voting booth, I just can’t bring myself to vote for them because I’m so afraid of the Democrats getting in.

At the last minute, I vote for the Republicans.”

I said, “Then you’re part of the problem.”

“What do you mean?”

“As long as the RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) who have a stranglehold on the party - and they’re creating as many problems in this country as the Democrats are - know you’ll vote for them, even though you don’t like them or what they’re doing, you’re giving them zero incentive

to change. You and a bunch of others who consider yourselves conservatives repeatedly tell them, with every election, you’ll vote for them, no matter what.”

He admitted he hadn’t thought about that and said this November, he’d vote his conscience. Maybe.

No Third Parties

The Republican hierarchy claims we shouldn’t try to start a third party (or vote Libertarian); we should work to change the party from inside. But they have already shown they will thwart change at every turn. The truth is, as long as we pursue the elusive chimera called “working from inside,” nothing is going to change. After decades of the party inching relentlessly left, the only thing that will stop them is to send them a clear message: “I’m voting Libertarian.” I’m crazy enough to believe if enough of us do it, and if they want us back badly enough, they’ll have to work to undo the changes they’ve made.

Actually, there are a few Republicans to whom I’ll give my support. One is Ron Paul, who was a contender for the Republican presidential nomination, but the special interest have done everything they can do to derail him including the apparent rig-

Obamacare from page 12 government. This plan has to be paid for by someone.

Those who cannot pay will not be footing the bill. So, who will? YOU will. I am against the government telling me what I HAVE to do. More government control is definitely not the answer. “Starting in 2014, virtually every legal resident of the U.S. will be required to carry health insurance or

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ging of some of the state primaries and caucuses. And there’s a local guy running for Congress, Art Robinson, who sounds like a Libertarian (there are never Democrats, anymore, who sound like Libertarians).

So this November I’ll vote for the Libertarians and one Republican, and I may even write in Ron Paul because I’d feel foolish voting for the guys who create the problems after all the complaining I’ve done about them.

Editors note, John Silveira comes to us courtesy of Dave Duffy and Backwoods Home Magazine.

Backwoods Home Magazine is the only magazine for those who seek self-reliance. The staff at Backwoods Home is top shelf and all people that we can learn from. For subscriptions call 1-800-835-2418 or go to www. backwoodshome.com

All of us here at The Valley say a hearty THANK YOU to our friends at Backwoods Home Magazine. a

face a tax penalty, with exemptions for financial hardship, religious objections and certain other circumstances.”

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/19/obamacarecbo-report_n_1898370.html

Am I being paranoid? Is this another case of “The sky is falling!”? I don’t know, but according to what I’ve read, the cost of this healthcare will definitely outweigh the benefit and we all have a big decision to make on November 6. Get out there and vote!

Dr. Joseph Kauffman Kauffman-Hummel Chiropractic Clinic drjosephkauffman@comcast.net a

The Valley, November 2012

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Savvy Cents & Sensibility

by JoAnn Wills-Kline MBA

This month the column will serve as a reference and resource guide to helping you make your Thanksgiving and overall holiday season simpler and less stressful. I have gathered a wealth of knowledge, and terrific ideas, and placed it all together – here in the column… enjoy! Here’s hoping your holiday will be an enjoyable and blessed time with those are near and dear to your heart.

Foyer or Entryway Ideas

Gratitude Jar & Light of Thanks – place a Mason jar, ginger jar, candy dish, etc. on a stand by your entryway. Provide pen and scraps of paper for people to record something they are grateful or thankful for on the paper and place it in the jar. Next, place a small candle (tea light or votive) in a saucer dish or decorative dish, surround the candle base with dried soybeans or dried corn for a

nice simple “light of thanks” next to the gratitude jar.

Decorating Ideas – Table, Home & Hearth

The Untrained Housewife – this site is great and encompasses a wealth of ideas for decorating on a shoestring budget. You will find how-to’s for nice simple Thanksgiving decorations. http:// www.untrainedhousewife.com My Home Ideas – fresh ideas for Thanksgiving through the New Year. The site covers setting a table; natural Thanksgiving style; creating a warm entryway for fall; DIY centerpieces; Easy edible centerpieces; hardware store centerpiece; 25 ways to deck the mantle.

The Meal

Thanksgiving Dinner on the Cheap – planning a holiday meal on a shoestring budget & a great cranberry sauce recipe!

http://busycooks.about.com/od/ thanksgiving/a/quickThanksgiving.com Cheap Healthy Food – 59 cheap healthy Thanksgiving recipes including spreads, sauces, veggies, potato squash & root veggies, stuffing & bread, desserts, and leftovers. http://cheaphealthygood.blogspot. com Thanksgiving Feasts on the Cheap – this site is a great all around reference. http://money.msn.com/familymoney/thanksgiving-feasts-onthe-cheap-weston.aspx.

Hostess Gifts

The sites list easy, frugal, lovely gifts that will certainly bring a smile to the hostess’s face.

Frugal Thanksgiving Hostess Gift Ideas http://www.ehow.com/ list_7427409_frugal-thanksgiving-hostess-gift-ideas.html

Money Saving Mom – homemade bread wrapped in a tea towel. http://moneysavingmom.

com/2012/08/frugal-hostess-gifthomemade-bread-wrapped-in-atea-towel.html.

And another great example of tea towel bread at http://simplymykitchen.com

Looking for “green” and sustainable hostess gift ideas? Look no farther… here’s a terrific site!

The living Green Solution – http:// thelivinggreensolution.com

Wise Bread – offers six wonderful hostess gift ideas for the holiday season. http://www.wisebread.com/sixhostess-gift-ideas-for-the-holidayseason

Relax after a long day of prep, cooking, and serving others.

Check out the pampering ideas below…

Pamper the Chef

The following sites offer easy, frugal scrubs and soaks.

Scrubs… http://thefrugalgirls.com http://frugalgranola.com http://tipnut.com/5-homemadefoot-soak-recipes/

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Tub Soak Recipes… http://www.crunchybetty.com/5relaxing-rejuvenating-bathrecipes-perfect-alternatives-tobubbles

And last but not least, I have included sites that boast good time saving tips. Who doesn’t benefit from saving time?!

Time Savers

Parenting Magazine - http:// www.parenting.com/article/20holiday-time-savers-21354768

Real Simple Magazine: 8 Holiday Timesavers – http://www. realsimple.com/holidays

Time Savers Around the Holidays – http://www.mommytracked.com/holiday-shortcuts

Use These “Green” Timesavers for the Holidays http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/ home/green-holiday-time-savers. htm

Five Tips for Saving Time over the Holidays http://lifehacker.com/5106583/ five-tips-for-saving-time-over-theholidays

Hoping the resources in this months column assist you in creating a “haven” for your loved ones to come home to this Thanksgiving holiday season!

Many blessings ~JoAnn a

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The Valley, November 2012

Grosze Thal Nachbaren (Big Valley Neighbors)

by Jeptha I. Yoder

Ein Grusz in Gottes Namen.

Es ist Spatjahr und mir hen Reifen gehabt. Mir sin am Mais erndten.

Eicheln, Walnusz, und andere Nüsze sin gefallen. Wir tun die Kürbis, und was noch mehr zu finden ist im Garten, ein-sammen.

Man kann noch bis in die Winterzeit, viele Kräutern finden.

Am Drei und Zwanzigst September waren wir in die Gemein ans Eli S. Zugen. Von McClur waren Ben R. Hostetlers. Lang Leen Ost war ans Noah D. Hostetlers.

Am Dreiszigst September war Kirchengasse Gemein ans Salomon C. Hostetlers Jr. West Lang Leen war ans Menno R. Hostetlers.

Der Siebent October war die Gemein hier. Von McClur waren Eli N. Yoders und Sohn Sam. Von Kirchengasse Theil waren die (Salomon) Mareily R. und die Uria Ss und Familie, alle Hostetlern.

Ost Lang Leen war ans Johannes I. Hostetlers.

Der Vierzeht war Kirchengasse Gemein bei die (Emanuel B.) Fräney N. Yoder. Lang Leen West war ans Eli E. Yoders.

Meine Eltern waren um besuch in die Lang Leen Gegend, ans

Mose S. Yoders fürs Mittag, ans Menno Rs nachmittages und und ans Johannes Js (beide Hostetlern) fürs abendessen. Mose R. Hostetlers und Familie waren auch ans Mose Ss und gingen zu die Witwee (Sam R.) Barbara H. Yoder, später. Isaak R. Hostetlers und Familie waren ans Eli Y. Hostetlers fürs abendessen.

Greetings in our Lord’s Name on a nice fall day. The twenty something degree frosty morning of Oct. 13 brought the growing season to an end—at least for some things. We can still find lots of garden goodies. We still have a few pineapple tomatoes, as these seemed to be the most blight-resistant. I am still keeping seeds out of the last tomatoes and peppers.

Saving your own seeds isn’t all that hard. A good guide is the book, “Seed to Seed” by Suzanne Ashworth. It is available from the following catalogs: Seed Savers Exchange 3094 North Winn Road, Decorah, Iowa 52101; Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, P.O. Box 460, Mineral, VA 23117.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Raymond

Yoder of Maryland, who was in a drowning accident, with the funeral being the weekend of the 7th. A load went from this area.

The local weekly had the obituary of Catherine (Cathy) Peachey. She was a daughter of our late neighbors, Glen A. and Elizabeth (Stover) Shank and was 61. Only one of the five Shank children survives, namely Mrs. James R. (Elaine) Neal, known as “Sis,” of Milroy.

Moses I. Hostetler (82) had a light stroke, not being to go about as before, but is not bedfast. Their address is 8100 East Back Mountain Road, Reedsville, PA 17084.

Ruthie Speicher (Noah Cs) had a checkup at the Morton Clinic. Her growth rate is not up to par, but is otherwise developing well. She walks a bit by herself, but mostly goes with someone on “walks.”

Making a call here on Oct. 9, were Don and Linda Mouck (driver) and David and Verna Mullet from the Crawford County area.

Joseph S. Yoder (Yoder’s Greenhouse) was nursing a sore leg (cellulitus) and taking it easy under Dr.’s orders. Latest reports were that there are less restrictions, but is still to take it easy.

Several Great-Uncles with upcoming birthdays are: Bishop Samuel Z. Yoder (Nov. 18, 1923) of 1135 Green Lane, Reedsville and Deacon Christ S. Yoder (Nov. 21, 1928) of 5198 East Back Mountain Road, Belleville, PA 17004. Both are widowers.

Our sympathies to the grieving. God’s Blessings wished to all, for a “Happy and Thankful” Thanksgiving.

Jeptha I. Yoder a

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The Valley, November 2012

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The Valley, November 2012

Join the Millheim Business Community from December 7 through December 9, for “Merry Millheim,” a weekend full of shopping, music, art, food and general merriment for local residents and visitors.

In its second annual holiday celebration, “Merry Millheim” returns with even more shopping, more live music, and more children’s activities than before.

“Merry Millheim” is an eventfilled weekend celebrating the renaissance of one of the most interesting small towns in Central Pennsylvania.

Kick off this holiday season in downtown Millheim!

Shop Locally, Buy Unique

Millheim is home to a diverse set of independent, local retail shops where you can find all the gifts on your Christmas list.

Be sure to visit Penns Valley Jewelers, Millheim Small Engine, Stanley C. Bierly, Good Scents, the Valley Showcase, and Aaronsburg Pottery. Many of these retailers will have extended hours and holiday sales during the Merry Millheim weekend.

Penns Valley Outfitters offers gifts for the whole family ranging from soups, sustainably made soaps, outdoor gear, and more.

For the Merry Millheim weekend, you will find free samples and

Merry Millheim Celebrates The Holiday Season holiday wreaths, centerpieces, and floral arrangements from Long Lane Flower and Garden.

The newly renovated Bremen Town Ballroom (formerly Brownie’s Tavern) hosts the 2nd Annual Handmade Holiday Market, featuring local and independent artisans specializing in jewelry, glass, paper, and wood arts that make unique gifts. DJ Max will be spinning holiday records and there will be crafts for kids.

Eat, Drink, & Be Merry

The IngleBean Coffee House and Elk Creek Café + Aleworks both provide excellent meals made with the finest local ingredients. The IngleBean Coffee House specializes in a variety of coffees and baked goods as well as sandwiches and soups. On Friday night, the IngleBean will have its 2nd Annual Jingle-Jam, a Christmas Carol sing (and play)a-long.

Next door, The Wine Shop will offer wine and cheese tastings on both Friday and Saturday where you can try Shade Moun-

tain Winery’s wide variety of wines.

Hark! Sing! Dance!

Live music and other holiday entertainment abounds this Merry Millheim!

On Friday December 7th, from 5-10pm, The Green Drake Gallery presents “The Pilatos - Art Runs Deep” a reception featuring the different artists in the Pilato family with live music from Cait Cuneo at 7pm. The Green Drake will also host live music on Saturday at 2pm.

On Friday, Dec. 7 at 7:30pm the UpTexas Chapel (Formerly St. John’s United Church of Christ) hosts the Little German Band playing Christmas favorites.

St. Luke’s Cultural Center presents a Christmas Variety Show of film, story telling and live music on Friday from 7:3010:30. Elk Creek Beer will be served.

And on Saturday evening December 8th, kick up your heals at Elk Creek Café + Aleworks to the band Cabinet at 8:00pm.

Wrapping up the Merry Millheim weekend is an afternoon concert by the Stray Birds at Elk Creek Café on Sunday December 9th at 4:00pm.

Bring the Whole Family to Play

Merry Millheim is full of hands-on activities for children of all ages.

Hosterman & Stover Hardware Store will have Santa’s Workshop on Saturday from 3-5pm and Kim Wallace’s Beauty Salon (106 West Main Street) will provide free glitter strands and holiday manicures to kids aged 12 and under on Saturday from 10am-12pm.

The Green Drake Gallery will have an Ornament Making station open to children and families throughout the weekend and the IngleBean Coffeehouse will have a puppet show on Saturday, followed by cookie decorating from 1-3pm.

There is plenty of parking for this weekend. Event and retail maps are available at any of the

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retail shops in Millheim.

Millheim is the place to be this holiday season, located in the heart of Penns Valley. Kick off your holiday season at this year’s Merry Millheim weekend with the whole family!

Complete Event & Special Sale Schedule Friday, December 7 5:00-9:00 pm—2nd Annual Handmade Holiday Market at the Bremen Town Ballroom (105 E. Main St) 5:00-10:00pm—“The Pilatos— Art Runs Deep” Reception at the Green Drake with live music from Cait Cuneo at 7pm (101-B W. Main St) 6:00-8:00pm—J-Ingle Jam (Christmas Carol Sing (and Play)a-Long) at the IngleBean Coffee House 7:30-9:00 pm—The Little German Band at the UpTexas Chapel (117 North St) 7:30-10:30- Christmas Variety Show- St. Luke’s Cultural CenterElk Creek Beer available Saturday, December 8 All day- Christmas Tree Ornament craft station- Green Drake Gallery 10:00am-12:00pm- Free Glitter

Continued on page 21

The Valley, November 2012

30

Home-Grown!

A Homeschooler’s Perspective

By Mary Eck

Jealous Much?

So, I have this friendly bone to pick with a dear (albeit, cynical) reader: Why on earth would the parents of public school children get all riled up if a homeschooled student chooses to attend a class or two at their school? I must say, at first, the answer was frustratingly elusive.

Am I being too simpleminded when I contend that homeschool families pay their annual tax bill just like all the other families in the district, and therefore have every right to partake of course offerings, as they choose?

What AM I missing?

Additionally, public schools receive federal funding based on student population—among other criteria—which means another student is another student, and a black-ink entry in the district’s all-important income vs. expense ledger. The “cost” of a homeschooler attending public school on a quasi-part-time basis is negligible, given that he or she is stepping into a machine that is already running, and taking up just a smidgen of precious space during the allotted class time. So, again, not a drawback for public schoolers; in fact, one might well argue for a checkmark in the old “pro” column on this point.

And socially-speaking, it seems to be a win-win for both sides. Homeschoolers across the board are stereotyped as a heathen, ill-mannered and sociallybackward species. But when homeschoolers venture into public school territory, they are exposed to some great kids they might otherwise not meet; they get exposure to and experience with handling peer situations maybe not so common to them; and they get to see and appreciate how “the other half lives,” so to speak. Likewise,

the public schoolers can enjoy getting to know the homeschooler, and come to see that, for as many ways as they are different, they are very much alike.

The embarrassingly ‘80s catchphrase, “Where’s the beef?” comes to mind…where, exactly, is it?

Honestly, the socialization question is one I’ve grown infinitely weary of. Without question, and to my utter dismay, there are homeschoolers who absolutely fit the unfortunate stereotype.

But, any fair-minded adult would admit that there are just as many public-school students who either cannot or will not answer a question with much more than a monosyllabic grunt, have no inclination to even pretend to be interested in conversing intelligently with an adult, and have a disturbingly minimal sense of respect when addressing one, let alone the sometimes vulgar behavior between teen peers of like or opposite gender.

Idle parenting and portable electronics have all but robbed our youth of what used to be communally-enforced social norms that showcased a fundamental respect for one another. But, as I’ve railed in columns past, it is a parenting issue, NOT a schooling one.

To me, the socialization-related scorn directed at homeschoolers has become the equivalent of willing ignorance or blatant dishonesty on the critic’s part, instead of genuine concern for homeschooled students. I mean, there is just as much—if not more—cause for concern for the emotional and physical well-being of public schoolers, considering the seemingly-incessant onslaught of bullying incidents (of which my son had the recent pleasure

Natural Dyes from page 3

tion, these two are just about the BEST and most PRACTICAL places to start: Indigo, Madder and Marigold

by Trudy Van Stralen This is the book that pulled me back into dyeing my own textiles.

A Weaver’s Garden by Rita Buchanan An ‘otta have’ for self sustainable folks.

you can rope them in) at the same time. Oh, and keep an eye out for future articles that will go into more detail on the ‘how to-s’ of dyeing specific colors and fibers.

In the meantime – START READING!

To begin your colorful educa-

of experiencing first-hand); the fact that public-school students need to creatively tear their lunch food somehow without the aid of butter knives (due to school policy banning them); and the prolific barrage of filthy language that we as a society have become alarmingly numb to, just to name a few.

And you’re concerned about my child because…? Maybe some of that worry would be better spent closer to home, because public school can lay no claim to having cornered the healthy socialization market. So, sorry.

Not buying it. It’s a disingenuous argument, at best.

Ready for my best guess at the underlying root of this silly antagonism between our two camps? Brace yourselves… I believe it comes down to good, old-fashioned jealousy. (I tried diligently to devise a less abrasive, more politically-correct term but, as you well-know by now… not my strong suit.)

Yes, the proverbial “grass is greener…” syndrome has successfully hijacked the rapport between homeschooling and public-school parents. Both sides have been duped into believing that the other is our adversary, and the animosity is inevitably fixed. But what if we tried to understand the other side, instead of lashing out instinctively? What could it hurt?

For example, are you jealous of homeschoolers’ autonomy, their ability to tailor a curriculum to a student’s interests and passions, and increased activity options that their über-flexible schedules allow? Do you feel threatened by a homeschooler potentially outperforming your student because they have the advantage of one-on-one instruction? And do you question the validity of a homeschooler’s report card, since mom or dad could easily assign good grades

Elk Creek Cafe & Aleworks Hosts the

Harry Smith Festival

Goodwill is being performed in Penn’s Valley on November 4th along with some incredible music from a bye-gone era.

Elk Creek Cafe & Aleworks will host Chicken Tractor Deluxe as the host band along with local central PA talent Mama Corn, Miss Melanie, Tyne & the Fast Line, Pete “Juke” Sheridan, and Earl Pickens along with special guest, The Wiyos from NYC, All this musical talent is part of the 5th Harry Smith Festival to benefit the Penn’s Valley Hope Fund.

Harry Smith, was an artist born in 1923 who also came to be known as a film maker, musicologist, painter, anthropologist, a linguist and a translator. He also assembled an “Anthology of American Folk Music” in 1952 that has become often regarded as the catalyst for the Folk Music revival of the 1950s and 60s. All of the songs are from the earliest era of recorded folk music from 1923 until the Depression ultimately halted folk music evolution.

Now in its fifth consecutive year, the Festival has featured bands playing music from the original anthology assembled by Smith. The Festival will follow the same routine this year as well. It is an opportunity to hear

Continued on page 14

Then to round things out with some NECESSARY, and very INTERESTING, history and chemistry, move onto: Indigo Textiles: Technique and History, and The Red Dyes: Cochineal, Madder and Murex Purple by Gosta Sandberg a

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the beginnings of folk music as it stepped out of people’s living rooms and kitchens onto a recording that jump-started our love affair with folk.

All of the bands are donating their time so as to benefit the Penn’s Valley Hope Fund, which is exactly how communities should operate. Neighbors helping neighbors—you actually know where the money is going.

Kai Schafft from Chicken Tractor Deluxe said, “This organization has done some remarkable things in the last few years for people who really need help, and from my perspective, it’s a privilege to be able to put efforts towards supporting them.” He explained all of the good done and how this festival is very important to him and the other bands. He also said is isn’t officially an annual event, but so far it has been, and he hopes it continues.

Come support a great cause on Saturday November 4th at The Elk Creek Cafe. The music begins around 2:00pm and goes, “until we are finished, probably around 6:00pm or so” Kai siad.

If you can’t make the show, find out more about the Penns Valley Hope Fund at http://pennsvalleyhopefund.com a

31

The Valley, November 2012

Thankful

the healing power

SALT of

by Sarah Hurlburt

There are a lot of things to complain about whether it be things in our personal lives, things in our community, things in our country, or things going on around the world. There will never be a shortage on bad things on this earth and sometimes it may even feel like there are more bad things than good, but it’s not true.

God is still God, Jesus is still offering salvation to every single person who wants it, and Heaven is still the end result for those who accept it! The things of this life pale in comparison to eternity, which is something that cannot be grasped by our human minds.

We cannot understand something that we have not yet experienced.

But even so, it’s something to get excited about. There is reason to rejoice.

I read a neat little saying, “Life’s not about waiting for the storms to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain”—and how true that is. As long as we are on this earth, there will be storms—no one is exempt from them, but it’s when we get up and start dancing, smiling and giving thanks that we see the rainbow.

Start looking for things to give

will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

(Revelation 21:3-4) John, in prison for his relationship with Jesus, is given the Revelation.

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by December 5th: (800) 232-1670 the end would and more Light refreshments be assured they What you will learn have hope of a • Why Himalayan salt is good for us bright and glori• What it heals and why • The value of salt accessories ous future.

Isaiah 65:17 says, “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, peace forever. We will at last be in things are here, the joy that awaits nor will they come to mind.” We the presence of God. us is more than enough to not only won’t remember the storms of

As we all prepare to stuff our- make us thankful one day a year, this life; the battles won’t even be selves with turkey and pumpkin but to make us thankful every day. as much as a bad dream for we pie, I pray that we will also re“Oh Give thanks to the Lord for will be awake, alive and well in member how much we have to be He is good, His steadfast love paradise enjoying perfect love and thankful for. No matter how bad endures forever.” Psalm 107:1 a

thanks for in everyday situations and you will be amazed at how much in any given day that we really do have to be thankful for.

So even if it seems like life is hard and you are facing too many trials to give thanks, remember to keep this life in perspective. Colossians 3:3-4 says this, “For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.” That’s all we need to know! Yes, storms will rage, but God provides his armor of protection if we will only put it on.

There is a glimmer of hope deep inside us that tells us there is something more and one day that will burst forth into radiant light when Christ returns. “No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him.

And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there; no need for lamps or sun, for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:3-5) “And I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, Look, God’s home is now among his people!

He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself

Susquehanna Life Magazine and Mt. Nittany Inn

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Sets its Sights on Lewistown

by Lynn Persing

College may not appeal to everyone, but Dr. Walter J. Asonevich, president of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (PHCC), is willing to gamble that if residents of our community were presented with an affordable, quality, higher-ed opportunity right in their backyard, they would take advantage of it.

With that in mind, he proposes opening a branch of The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College in downtown Lewistown. Market and feasibility studies indicate that a two-year community college that would serve the whole Juniata Valley region would be a worthwhile venture that would offer economic and community benefits.

Cambria County Area Com-

Dr. Walter J. Asonevich

munity College, as it was known when it was first established in 1994, was renamed in 2004 to The

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College to reflect its more regional footprint as it expanded.

PHCC, commonly known as Penn Highlands, now has branches in Richland, Ebensburg, Somerset, and Huntingdon. Huntington, its most recent branch, now has 50 full time students, a number they predict will continue to grow as the college’s presence becomes more established in the area.

Penn Highlands is currently the smallest community college in Pennsylvania, but Dr. Asonevich is setting an attainable goal—in five or six years, he’d like the school to be the second smallest community college in Pennsylvania.

Before it can serve the Juniata Valley; however, PHCC must

Penn Highlands Community College

secure start-up funding for faculty and staff, equipment, and renovations. The college proposes to use the space formerly occupied

by PA CareerLink so renovations would be minimal. Dr. Asonevich speculated that approximately $250,000 of start-up funding would be necessary in order to be operational for a fall 2013 incoming class. However, some of this

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start-up could be in the way of in-kind donations, such as no- or low-rent space. Included in the campus space would be a lounge where students can study and work on group projects, because according to Asonevich, “students need to feel like it’s their college and they will if they have a place

Continued on page 11

32

The Valley, November 2012

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33

The Valley, November 2012

Back Talk

by Dr. Joseph Kauffman

A Fork In The Road: A Look At Obamacare

This month’s column is sure to be a bit biased and one-sided, but open to be highly debated. I am timing this column on purpose as a goal to attempt to get people to think for themselves before it is too late. In a few days, one of the most important elections in the history of our country is going to take place. Whichever side you lean toward, be it right or left, democratic or republican, the result of this election is going to change our country forever. For the good? Or, for the bad? That remains to be seen, depending on the outcome. Like every presidential run, they both make promises that are rarely kept and we, the public, are fools for buying into the scams and lies. I am going to focus this column on covering some of the points as to what we may face if Obama gets re-elected and what the Affordable Care Act means to us. I prefer to call this act ObamaCare. Even Obama himself doesn’t mind the term because he states that he truly does care. I have heard some very bad things about this act and if what I hear is true, I will post my sources as I do on every column that I write. I do admit that I have not read the pages of the bill in their entirety. I don’t even think that Congress has done that either.

To start off with, I don’t agree with how this bill has gone through. To say it happened in a very shady way is an understatement. “The ObamaCare bill was written in secret. It was brought to the floors of the House and the Senate without committee hearings. The people that voted to pass the bill had not read it. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid bought the last few votes they needed with taxpayer money via backroom deals with names like ‘The Louisiana Purchase’, and ‘The Cornhusker Kickback’. Ignoring the sharp rebuke from voters contained in the election of Scott Brown to the Senate, the Democrats obtained final passage of ObamaCare via ‘reconciliation’, a process that was never intended for this kind of legislation. A 2700-page law is an affront to the very idea of self-government. The ObamaCare bill is something that no ordinary citizen could possibly read and understand. Passing laws that are incomprehensible to the

people who are supposed to live under them is a Progressive strategy for centralizing power in the hands of elites. ObamaCare has given us ‘government by waiver,’ under which people and organizations with ‘connections’ do not have to live under the same rules as everyone else. Most Americans do not have connections, and they know that they will be the losers under such a system. No matter what the Supreme Court says, ObamaCare is unconstitutional.

The Constitution was written specifically to limit the powers of the federal government. By ruling on ObamaCare the way it did, the Supreme Court has said that the power of the federal government is effectively unlimited. Congress can now force citizens to do anything it wants, simply by taxing them for not doing what it wants.” http:// www.forbes.com/ sites/louiswoodhill/2012/07/04/ so-that-freedommay-live-obamacare-must-die/

This next part was written by an actual physician, Dr. Tiffany Sizemore-Ruiz, who posts for CNN on their website.

“My opinion and views of the Healthcare Reform...some good, some bad..directly from the inside!

Advantages of ObamaCare (Purely from a medical standpoint..not budgeting) 1. Reduce healthcare costs by making services

available to the millions who currently can’t get insurance.

These people may use the ER as a primary care physician because they cannot get in to see a primary physician. (MY OPINION...this is going to continue to happen.

There are low-income clinics everywhere, and people do not use them. The ER is used for colds, cuts, scrapes, vomiting..you name

it. Not to mention the 2am STD check).

2. The Federal government will pay states to add more low income people to Medicaid. (This is good, although a lot of good docs don’t take Medicaid because it doesn’t pay anything..might as well be uninsured most of the time..AND there is a Medicaid “budget” so once that is up, forget it, no more money for doc when the patient needs to be seen, and since you are already the established doc, you cannot turn away the patient.)

3.The states will be required to set up insurance exchanges to make it easier to shop for private health insurance coverage.

4. Insurance companies can no

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longer deny children coverage for pre-existing conditions. (HUGE benefit of the bill.)

5. Insurance companies can no longer drop anyone from coverage once they get sick. (again, wonderful.)

6. Parents can put their children up to age 26 on their health insurance plans. (Great idea.)

ObamaCare Cons 1. The Federal government will force the 18 million of uninsured to go under Medicaid, while others must accept another government program. (Again, most doctors do not even take Medicaid because of the poor reimburse-

Continued on page 37

The Valley, November 2012

34

Joanne Wills-Kline Contentment Quest Chiaroscuro-Home

As an approach to year end, the column has focused on a term called “chiaroscuro,” which is Italian in origin and translates to mean light-dark. The term chiaroscuro is used to describe a way of drawing and painting with high contrast of light and shadow effects. Leonardo da Vinci was a master of light. He used light in different directions and angles to intensify his works of art. Da Vinci knew that high contrast provided beauty, depth, and dimension to art and to life.

October’s column focused on the high contrasts in our work life, and December’s column will focus on high contrast within our finances. This month, the focus is on “home.” In the months of November and December, we often open our homes to welcome extended family and friends. We celebrate and give thanks in the company of those who mean the most to us. This month we explore the many definitions of “home,” and reflect on what characteristics are important to create a “home.” We will examine and ponder a few hard questions about home – the living spaces in which we reside physically and in our hearts. Let’s move forward to search our hearts in reflection of the “home” or “welcome” that we offer to others – our fellow mankind.

First, tour your own home and property. Walk all around the outside of your home. Take notice of the little things – the things that make you smile and the things that make you roll your eyes. What can you do to remove or resolve the things that annoy or disturb you? Are the problems a simple fix? If so, resolve them ASAP. Does resolution require a helping hand from others, money

that is hard to come by, or simply time that is in short supply? If so, move forward in any way you can. Call for help, make a list of what the project may cost, get an estimate, and comb your schedule for a pocket of time. Maybe now is just not a good time to move forward for a variety of reasons; however, take a step in a forward motion – just a small step to set the intention. Above all else, take note of the things that make you smile and bring joy to your heart.

Concentrate on how those things provoke a sense of “welcome” to your property. What do you notice most about your doorways and entryways? Are they warm and welcoming? Do thoughts come to mind as to how you can easily improve the welcoming appeal of your doorways and entryways? If so, move forward with warming up the areas – work towards creating a haven to come home to – palpable at all entryways. Doing so, creates contrast in our days because coming home to a warm, welcoming space permits us to shake the dust from our feet of a bad day.

Next, move inside your home; slowly and deliberately, move from room to room taking note of all that occupies each room. Let your eyes fall upon all that brings joy to your heart and makes you smile in each room. Take note of the things that provoke a feeling of uneasiness or fatigue – know that such things inhibit you from experiencing greater joy in your living space.

Take action to remove any item that is an obstacle to your joy.

What is synonymous with “nesting” in your home? How do you make your home cozier during the late fall and winter months? At my home, “nesting” consists of

warm throws and handcrafted afghans within arms reach on chilly evenings; good “reads” stacked next to the recliner; favorite mugs cozied up next to boxes of tea; and mulled spices simmered on the stovetop.

Now, consider your Thanksgiving holiday traditions and modes of celebration. What are the special aspects of such celebrations? Do you enjoy a large festivity with family and/or friends or do you celebrate with a small, quaint gathering? What welcomes or ushers in the holiday for you? Is it the Macy’s parade, the turkey, or green bean casserole? Think about what spotlights the holiday for you – what about the day brings a smile to your face? Pledge to savor that which makes you smile. Pledge to take a brief moment to recognize it, give thanks for it, and savor the joy in your heart.

Maybe the Thanksgiving holiday will be about change this year. Perhaps you won’t be celebrating in the routine fashion of years gone by…that’s ok. Focus on what you can do to bring joy to your day. Perhaps this will be the year to begin a new tradition.

Think about ways that you could incorporate a new tradition into your Thanksgiving holiday or usher in the holiday season.

What is most important to you in your time of change?

Make it a priority to restore and rejuvenate yourself as you move through change and the holiday season.

Now let’s take a look at “who” you

will be sharing your holiday celebrations with. Are you fortunate enough to have all positive, happy people to grace your dinner table? Or, are you like thousands of others who have that one (or two) “bad egg” that shares your holiday table? It’s the person(s) who turns up their nose to everything; the one who throws critical javelins; the one who knows all of the buttons to push to rock your foundation.

How do you navigate their company without creating a wash-out of your own enjoyment? It’s very simple my friend…do not accept the challenge. Simply do not speak before thinking deeply, then once you collect your thoughts proceed with caution.

There is often plenty to do (such as clean up) after a holiday gathering so choose to help in the kitchen to stay occupied and unavailable for “hard conversations.”

Perhaps, gather a few people and take a walk to work off the overindulgence you enjoyed. Maybe it’s just really time to see things in a new light. From a neutral standpoint, try to picture where the “difficult” person is coming from…what’s their perspective?

Take a very deep breath, hold it for a moment or two, and exhale slowly before lashing out with a

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snarling response and thus engaging in, or volleying, their negativity.

Ultimately, the Thanksgiving holiday and November in general, ought to be about gratitude.

We really ought to come to the table hungry – body, mind, and spirit – and receive sustenance all the while counting our many, many blessings of life in the everyday. May your Thanksgiving holiday be full of bountiful blessings, scrumptious eats, and uplifting conversation. I leave you with thoughts from Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Every spirit builds itself a house; and beyond its house, a world; and beyond its world a heaven. Know then, that the world exists for you; build therefore your own world.” a

Labour to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.

--GEORGE WASHINGTON

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The Valley, November 2012

Life in the East End

by Rebecca Harrop

The leaves are really looking beautiful in the East End. I’m sure they are just as nice other places, but I’m partial to my end of the county. I heard some people saying that the hard frost we had has caused the leaves to not be as nice, but I think they look pretty good. I’ve been seeing a lot of the leaves this fall hunting with my brother Ernie. I really like walking through the woods or just sitting on a log listening.

It’s so peaceful and relaxing. It’s like a different world almost. You can hear squirrels and chipmunks chattering away while they are hopping and running around. The birds chirp and sing. Sometimes you can hear a turkey or a hawk.

Once in a while it is so quiet, I swear you can hear the leaves falling from the trees. Of course you almost always hear the crows squawking. They sure can make a racket. Then there are sounds I’m not sure what they are, but they all make a sort of music. When I’m in the woods where I live I like to sit and listen to the sounds from the farm. I guess it’s the way the land rolls or somethin, but when you are back at the mountain you can hear whoever is down at the house and barn talking just like they are right beside you. I like to hear my Dad and my uncles talking about what they are doing or going to do. It’s hard to explain, but there is a comfort listening to them. We’ve only been farming this farm since 1989, but I think all the farmers who have ever farmed here must have stood around discussing the farm and their lives, or talking as they worked. Anyone back along the mountain would be able to hear them. It probably sounds silly, but you could close your eyes and imagine it’s 50 or 100 years ago— especially on butcher day when there aren’t so many machinery sounds, it could be the same activity that would have occurred as far back as the farm existed. The sounds kids make outside playing tag or hide & seek would be the same or Moms calling everyone into a meal or checking where the kids are and getting an answer back. Although, my Dad likes to tease Mom that she yells louder than anyone and the neighbors will hear. Of course, Rachel and I know it would have to have been

Ernie and Ben she was yelling at, and not us. I guess it kind of connects you to the past and links you to the future also because even though the way we do things may change, we will still need to do them. The cows will still need fed and milked. The crops will still need planted and harvested. In other words, life will continue.

I got my first squirrel this year hunting with Ernie. I was so excited! Ernie took my picture and put it on Facebook. It’s funny, I’ve been hunting before, but I never got a squirrel. I’ve shot at them, but they are hard to hit. They usually just rolled and kept running. But this time I got it. Mom cooked it for me. It was alright. Ernie said he likes it better another way Mom cooks them than the way she cooked this one, so I will try to get another one so I can try it that way.

I’ve also been working at The Barnyard Cornmaze this year. I know the owners and they asked me if I would be interested in working there. Its been a great opportunity and I’ve had a lot of fun. I look forward to working there again in the future.

There are many activities coming up in November. Election day is November 6th so everyone who is registered needs to vote. If you aren’t registered you should get registered. Voting is one of our most precious freedoms. A lot of people sacrificed so we could have that freedom.

The Farm City Banquet is the same day. I like to attend that because it celebrates the benefits of both farm and city life. It is being held at Hartman Center. If you would like to attend, I think you can call the Extension Office or the Chamber Office. They can steer you in the right direction.

November 7th is the Extension Annual meeting and 4-H & Master Gardners Recognition Banquet. The annual Ice Festival will be at the end of the month. Bear season and Deer season will start later this month.

Of course, we also will celebrate Thanksgiving this month.

Besides the big meal we eat, it’s the time to look back at the year and give thanks for the blessings we received. For farmers we look at the crops we harvested and feel good about the full bins and mows

of hay or plan for how to manage if our crops didn’t do as well as we had hoped. This year for us, for the way it looked earlier, we did pretty good. The combine has a monitor in it that registers your yield as you go through a field and some parts of a field showed 40 bushel of corn per acre and another part would show 200. We didn’t start the soybeans yet so I’m not sure yet how they will do, but they look good. Either way it could have been a lot worse. Dad always tells us it’s not whether or not you have “bad luck or good luck” it’s how you handle it. It’s like the saying “when God closes a door he opens a window,” we just have to look for the window.

So this Thanksgiving remember all you have to be grateful for and if you have a closed door look for the window. Take a walk in the woods and listen for the all the sounds of fall and who knows maybe you’ll see the window while you are there. I want to extend my sympathies to the family of Cathy (Shank) Peachey. Cathy passed away a couple weeks ago. Cathy grew up on the Glenn Shank farm next to ours on the Back Mountain Road. Cathy babysat my Mom, her four sisters and brother when she was in high school. Imagine babysitting SIX kids from age 13 to twin toddlers. Cathy was also the school bus monitor. Mom told us about a time that some kids in Milroy were making fun of Bobby Wagner on the bus. Bobby was handicapped and Cathy made

them stop. She let them know in no uncertain terms she wouldn’t put up with that kind of behavior.

Cathy was a great lady and will be

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missed very much.

Happy Thanksgiving to all and Happy Hunting from the East End! a

The Valley, November 2012

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Cave Echoes

by Marge Delozier-Noss and Nikki Santangelo

Your Favorite Christmas Gift

As an adult, what was your favorite gift….the one you remember the most? Was it something you had asked for?

Was it something you received as a total surprise…something that perhaps someone really listened and heard what you might like or need? How special that makes us feel! For some of you that are early shoppers…or just making your list, let me make a few suggestions that may not only be liked and appreciated, but it could be also life altering!

I must admit, I still smile when I am telling someone new about the benefits of a Himalayan salt cave or the accessories of a cave (lamps etc.) and I witness the disbelief on their faces. Why is it hard to believe in this country that a “natural” practice or product will work? When did we stop believing in our bodies own power to heal itself and give our health over to prescriptive drugs and all

the side effects of that drug? We need to take personal responsibility for our health. That is the heart of wellness, and I believe the only real and lasting means of true health-care reform. We as individuals have the power…and with that power comes responsibility Wellness is the complete integration of body, mind, and spirit—the realization that everything we do, think, feel, and believe has an effect on our state of well-being. Wellness is a choice, but it is also a process, awareness that there is no end point, but that health and happiness are always possible. Wellness is not a “medical fix” but a way of living—a lifestyle sensitive and responsive to all dimensions of body, mind, and spirit; an approach to life we each design to achieve our highest potential for well-being now and forever. It’s not always easy either…which is why in this country so many choose to take

the easier way and take a pill to hopefully “fix” them.

Will one visit to the cave “fix” you? Probably not…which is why we have so many coming on a regular basis. Does one”pill” fix you…or does it take a whole prescription or more? When you visit the cave you sit on a nongravity chair for 45 minutes. Himalayan salt is anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and antifungal. Inflammation is the big one and something we ALL have.

Inflammation is at the root of ALL of our health problems. So when we sit in the cave we actually are allowing the inflammation to start to shrink in our bodies, thus allowing us to not only feel better, but to BE better. Check out our web-site for some of our amazing testimonials. www.simplyhealthcalm.com. A gift certificate to the cave would be a great introduction to some natural healing and also a great 45 minute experience for

some rest, relaxation, detoxing, and a step towards shrinking the inflammation in ones body.

A second gift suggestion is the Himalayan salt inhaler. This has been recommended by Dr. Oz on several of his shows and he claims it is on his list of “Top 50 Must Haves.” Himalayan salt crystals are positioned between the filters inside the refillable inhaler device. As you inhale through the mouthpiece, the moisture of the passing air absorbs microscopic salt particles which permeate through your respiratory system. The humidity in the air is sufficient to enrich the air with tiny salt particles when the air passes the salt crystals. Hence a micro-climate of curative salt caves has been created. Young children may also use the inhalers provided that they understand the concept of breathing in through the mouth and exhaling through the nose. Thus avoiding some-

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times the prescriptive inhalers and any side effects.

Dr. Oz feels that everyone should use an inhaler. Even if you have no respiratory challenges, by using an inhaler you keep the nasal passages and lungs well and less susceptible to someone walking by you with a cold or the flu. The inhaler will help to build the immune system and keep us well. A great preventative health tool.

A third suggestion is a salt lamp. A Himalayan salt lamp in your home is like taking a piece of the cave home with you.

The lamps have the same healing properties as the cave…in a smaller version. A lamp should be placed in the room that you are in the most (generally the bedroom), and it should be turned on and left on all the time. It also greatly improves sleeping and reduces snoring! Reducing snoring in the bedroom could sometimes be a priceless gift! Again, check out our website and read our testimonials, as to how a lamp in one childs bedroom stopped night time asthma attacks.

Other suggestions to help with your health are: • Himalayan edible table salt.

Continued on page 10

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The Valley, November 2012 Obamacare from page 33 ment.)

2. Each year, $125 million will go towards subsidizing school-based health centers and programs to reduce teen pregnancy, with no requirement to reduce abortions.

Parents won’t know what services their children will receive.

3. Half of those on Medicare Advantage will lose this coverage thanks to rate increases.

4. Health care costs will rise thanks to $47 billion in new taxes on drug companies and medical device makers. [THIS I have a problem with. Why in the world are we creating new, ingenious life-saving medical devices if no one can afford them? Why are we taxing these companies MORE? We should be taxing them less so they can offer more programs to the patients who would typically not be able to afford the medication or device. This is crazy. As it is, people with Medicaid are (a lot of times) not getting the best medication or study because Medicaid REJECTS the claim or denies the prescription! So, the

physicians’ hands are tied].

5. Nearly two-thirds of doctors are considering abandoning any kind of government-sponsored health care insurance, stating that regulations are too high and reimbursement too low. (Very true. I can almost guarantee that people would rather pay out of pocket and see a doctor that they are comfortable with rather than one that only their insurance will allow them to see.)

6. Small businesses, the drivers of new job growth, will be especially penalized by $52 billion in new taxes and new IRS reporting requirements. (So then the decent insurance that the small business would normally be able to offer their employees, they now cannot, and thus they will likely be stuck with some government insurance)

Overall, some pros and some cons. The main pro for me is the inability for an insurance company to reject a claim or patient based upon a pre-existing condition. However, based upon what I see on a daily basis, the frequent ER visits will likely not end, nor will the general cost of health-

care due to continuous litigations against physicians, forcing them to order multiple tests and imaging to ‘cover their butts.’ The increase in Medicaid will help a little, but honestly, I cannot see it making a big impact.”

Source: http://useconomy.about. com/od/healthcarereform/f/WhatIs-Obama-Care.htm Dr. Tiffany Sizemore-Ruiz http:// ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC809989

“The federal government is set to spend more than $1 trillion over the next decade to subsidize coverage and expand eligibility for Medicaid.

Meanwhile, the Flexible Spending Accounts that millions of Americans use to save money tax-free for medical expenses will be sliced under the law. FSAs often allow people to put aside up to $5,000 pre-tax; as of 2013, they were to face an annual limit of $2,500.

As of 2014, under the law, small firms with more than 50 full-time employees would have to provide coverage or face expensive fines.”

Dairy Princess Memories

by Amanda Fisher

Mifflin County Dairy Princess 2012-2013

Hi, I am Amanda Fisher the Mifflin County Dairy Princess. In September I was at the state dairy princess pageant and I did fairly well. I got an honorable mention on my radio spot and I got to meet even more of the girls I didn’t really get to know at seminar, so I was glad to make even more friends while I was there. I have also been busy with promotions and with harvesting on the way to its end. I am in love with this fall weather! I like the color of the leaves and the little bit of a chill to the air. When the leaves change colors it makes me think about Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving, in my mind, is when the families of family owned and operated farms, can sit down and celebrate the safe, bountiful harvest that has just taken place and prepare themselves for the winter ahead. So speaking of Thanksgiving, here are some fun, fall Thanksgiving recipes for you and your family to taste and try out.

Warm Apple Buttermilk Custard Pie Crust: 1/2 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie dough (such as Pillsbury) Cooking spray Streusel: 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/3 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 1/2 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into small pieces Filling: 5 cups sliced peeled Granny Smith apple (about 2 pounds) 1 cup granulated sugar, divided 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 large eggs 1 3/4 cups fat-free buttermilk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Preparation

Preheat oven to 325º.

To prepare crust, roll dough into a 14-inch circle; fit into a 9-inch deep dish pie plate coated with cooking spray. Fold edges under; flute. Place pie plate in refrigerator until ready to use.

To prepare streusel, lightly spoon 1/3 cup flour into a dry

measuring cup; level with a knife.

Combine 1/3 cup flour, brown sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in a medium bowl; cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Place streusel in refrigerator.

To prepare the filling, heat a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Add sliced apple, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon; cook 10 minutes or until the apple is tender, stirring mixture occasionally. Spoon the apple mixture into prepared crust.

Combine remaining 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, salt, and eggs, stirring with a whisk. Stir in buttermilk and vanilla. Pour over apple mixture.

Bake at 325º for 30 minutes.

Reduce oven temperature to 300º (do not remove pie from oven); sprinkle streusel over pie. Bake at 300º for 40 minutes or until set.

Let stand 1 hour before serving.

Pumpkin Ice Cream To make your own pumpkin

http://useconomy.about.com/od/ healthcarereform/a/ObamacareTaxes.htm

There are going to be loopholes. If you own a business with 60 full time employees and you are told that the government is going to require you to provide health insurance for those employees, what would you do?

How about taking 20 of those employees and make them part time? By cutting the hours of 20 employees down to 28 hours each week (since according to Congress full time is 30 hours per week), you will only have 40 full time employees. Nice loophole.

So, who suffers the most? The 20 employees with their hours reduced thanks to ObamaCare.

“The worst fears about ObamaCare are now being realized in a decision by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MPAC) established by the law to supervise $500 billion in Medicare cuts. MPAC, whose decisions have the force of law, has voted to impose drastic pay cuts on all doctors under Medicare and, by extension, under Medicaid (which puree, use 1 large or 2 medium Sugar Pie or other eating (not field) pumpkins. Cut out the stem and quarter the pumpkin lengthwise. In a preheated 400°F oven, bake the quarters, cut side down, in a shallow roasting pan with a little water in the bottom until tender, about 1 hour. Let cool, scrape out the seeds, cut the flesh from the peels, and force it through a medium-mesh sieve or the medium disk of a food mill.

Freeze any leftover puree for up to 2 months.

Ingredients: 1 cup fresh pumpkin puree or canned unsweetened pumpkin puree 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 cups heavy cream 3/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar 5 egg yolks 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp. ground ginger 1/4 tsp. salt Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg 1 Tbs. bourbon Directions:

In a bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree and vanilla. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or up to 8 hours.

In a heavy 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, combine 1 1/2 cups of the cream and 1/2 cup of the brown sugar. Cook until bubbles form around the edges of the pan, about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the egg yolks, cinnamon, gin-

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tends to follow suit). The cuts will effectively reduce the real pay for specialists by 50% over the next ten years — including a 25% reduction over the next three years — and cut general practitioners’ pay by one-third over ten years (and that assumes that inflation stays down at 3% a year).

MPAC has ruled that specialists must accept a 6% cut in their fees per year for each of the next three years followed by a seven year freeze in their fees without any adjustment for inflation. If inflation stays very low — at 3% per year — this cut amounts to an 18% cut in nominal pay and a 50% cut in real pay for specialists. General practitioners will face a ten year freeze on their pay, reducing their real compensation by one-third assuming ongoing low inflation. Higher inflation, of course, would make the cuts in real pay even more drastic.

The consequences of the MPAC decision will be immediate and drastic: * Many physicians, and many

Continued on page 12 ger, salt, nutmeg, the remaining 1/2 cup cream and the remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar. Whisk until smooth and the sugar begins to dissolve.

Remove the cream mixture from the heat. Gradually whisk about 1/2 cup of the hot cream mixture into the egg mixture until smooth. Pour the egg mixture back into the pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon and keeping the custard at a low simmer, until it is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon and leaves a clear trail when a finger is drawn through it, 4 to 6 minutes. Do not allow the custard to boil. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl.

Place the bowl in a larger bowl partially filled with ice water, stirring occasionally until cool. Whisk the pumpkin mixture into the custard. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing it directly on the surface of the custard to prevent a skin from forming.

Refrigerate until chilled, at least 3 hours or up to 24 hours.

Transfer the custard to an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Add the bourbon during the last minute of churning. Transfer the ice cream to a freezer-safe container. Cover and freeze until firm, at least 3 hours or up to 3 days, before serving, makes about 1 quart. a

The Valley, November 2012

38

Ed’s Railroading News

by Ed Forsythe

Once again here we are with another late article. Will someone please let me know just where has all the time gone? Thank you to all who asked about my Mother last month. She has come along quite well from the operation and hopefully she will be back to normal soon.

The fall season has arrived at Ed’s Train Repairs and Sales and things are beginning to pick-up in the train shop again. Lots of repairs are coming in with several being from out of state. North Carolina, New York, Michigan, California and other states are on the return addresses that repairs have arrived from. So, if your thinking about having something repaired before the Christmas holidays, please get them to me very soon.

A big Thank You to all who took the time to ride the trolleys at the Rockhill Trolley Museum last month for the Fall Spectacular.

We sure do thank you for all your support and hope you all enjoyed the riding and touring you got to do. For those who didn’t or couldn’t get to the museum for the event, there are many rides still to be enjoyed on November 23rd, 24th, 30th, and December 1st, 7th and 8th as the Polar Bear Express runs from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. These events are evening events as the valley is all lit-up for the holidays. So come on out and enjoy the beginning of the holiday season with a ride on the trolleys to get into the holiday spirit. Also on December 1st from 10 a.m. to 4:20 p.m., the Santa Trolley event will be held. This is when all children who ride get to meet with Santa Claus before returning back to the station. It’s really an enjoyable event, so why not just make a day of it and stay to ride the night trolley later?

Other fun events coming up are the Ice Festival in downtown

Lewistown on November 29th and 30th from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m.

The Ice Festival is in its 16th year in Lewistown and promises to be another fantastic display of carved ice. Come and watch the walls of ice being carved with chain saws and other tools. In the past, folks could even sit on the ice chairs, ponies, sleighs, etc. while taking the walking tour of the town.

Great photo opportunities! For those who also like to travel in old style, horse drawn carriage rides around town are available. There are many additional things to do at the festival throughout the evening also. In the old court house on the square, there is music to enjoy and wreaths that are entered in a contest to view. Out on the streets there are many other events being held ,such as free hot chocolate and cookies being handed out at several locations, childrens activities, choirs singing, a live nativity scene, plus many more happenings from our local churches, civic groups, etc. On Friday evening at 7:30 p.m., the annual Kiwanis Club Christmas parade will be held. For more information email: festivalofice@juniatarivervalley. org. I’d like to take this opportu-

Home Brew U

Adventures in Homebrewing

by Kevin Morgan

Arrr You Ready for a Captain Jack’s Brew?

Fifteen years ago, Wade Fisher walked into the homebrewing supply store in State College.

He was there to by some supplies for making homemade wine. He said that brewing farm wines had been something his family had done for ages. As he walked by the beer supply area he became intrigued. He had always enjoyed the taste of beer compared to wine. He started to ask some questions and we should be glad he did. Because after fifteen years of brewing his own beer he has decided to bless us with our very own local brewery, Drunk Monkey Brew Werks and their brew line Captain Jack’s.

When talking with Wade you can tell he is passionate about the beer he makes. Today it was growler fill up day and he was also asking patrons to sample five different versions of his winter ale. He talked about how the grain bill and spices in each batch were identical but each version had a different yeast strain. He wanted feedback and a name for

this holiday beer. I asked him what kind of beer he likes to brew and he replied, “Drinkable beer.”

Finding that happy medium of a unique beer and a beer that has appeal to the masses takes time and patience, not to mention extensive note taking, obvious characteristics Wade possesses.

I had brought my growlers with me today and began sampling the possible choices. He talked about his recently released stout.

He said that once he had some

Wade Fisher with his first carboy

left over cranberries from another brew and tossed them into a stout he was making and his Black Fin Stout recipe was born. I asked him if I could write about that story? Wade replied, “Recipes should be shared.” A brewer through and through; you have got to love it.

As people came to fill up growlers, the conversation began to morph on how he came up with the name for his label, Captain Jack’s. See, Wade is a third generation bee keeper and during the winter as a teenager his family had to winter with the bees in Florida. Wade stated that he grew up in Mount Union and when in Florida he wore a jacket inscribed with the local legends name, Captain Jack. The name stuck. If you look at the Captain Jack label

nity to say thank you to all those who help put together this great event. Thank you!

In conjunction with the Ice Festival is the annual Open House and fund raiser for the Mifflin County Model Railroad Club. The club is located at 3 West Monument Square in beautiful downtown Lewistown just two doors to the left of the old Mifflin County Court House. The club has a large “HO” model layout of the middle division of the Pennsy Railroad from Harrisburg to Altoona. This layout is about 45 by 60 feet with a two track mainline and many sidings and much scenery. Included in the layout is the Rockville Bridge and Susquehanna River, a cloud storm, downtown Lewistown and the old Chestnut Street yard, a replica of the Lewistown train station with yard and roundhouse, the Juniata River through the Lewistown Narrows, as well as much more to see. Also available is an “O” gauge layout with Lionel, MTH and other trains running. On December 15th you will be able to see Vintage trains from the 1920’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and

Continued on page 14 you will notice the tiki hut in the background and the bee perched on the mug that Jack is sipping from—both images that tell of Wade’s past and present. Wade went on to state that Captain Jack is a mixture of Captain Jack Sparrow from the movies and a Jimmy Buffet parrot head. It is nice to see that Wade incorporated some of his life experiences into the label. It adds to the drinking experience.

Toward the end of the afternoon, the conversation began to turn to the future of Drunk Monkey Brew Werks. Wade said he is looking forward to trying to make a brew from all local ingredients.

He went on to talk about trying to grow and malt his own grain.

I said I thought that was pretty difficult. Wade said that he was looking into getting some pointers from an expert in the field.

Wade continued to talk about growing hops on a nearby piece of property. I really like to hear this, because that is what I dream to accomplish as a homebrewer.

Wade ended this exchange with their motto, “Think globally, and act locally.” A brewer after my own heart.

Get out and support your newest brewery. You can find Captain Jack’s at the Waterfront Tavern, Cedar House, The Moose, and JP Edwards here in Lewistown. You could also grab

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a pint in Huntington at Memories and Johnny’s. Also, if you are on Facebook look up Drunk Monkey Brew Werks and like it.

You will get up to date information on sampling of their newest brews and when your growler can be filled up at their office at the Mifflin County Industrial Complex (located just across from the Waterfront Tavern).

I am hoping to do some other interviews with some other breweries in the region. If you are not going to brew it up yourself, the next best thing is purchasing beer from a local supplier. Next month I will be discussing hard cider. In parting, how about a little pirate humor? Why did the pirate go on vacation? He wanted a little ARRR and ARRR. a

The Valley, November 2012

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40

The Valley, November 2012

The Road to Faster Recovery CHOOSE

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The Valley, November 2012

Notes Lewistown Hospital Ensures Medication Safety

In light of the recent tragic news regarding the outbreak of fungal meningitis, the origin of which is suspected contaminated vials of methylprednisolone acetate suspension compounded by the New England Compounding Center, Lewistown Hospital confirmed today that the hospital pharmacy has never contracted with the New England Compounding Center in Massachusetts to provide compounded products for the hospital or the pain management center.

“Lewistown Hospital has not contracted with anyone for the compounding of sterile methylprednisolone acetate preservative free injection. This is the implicated agent responsible for the outbreak,” said Kay Hamilton, President and CEO of Lewistown Hospital. “We take our commitment to patient safety very seriously and have procedures in place to assure the highest quality of care possible.”

Lewistown Hospital goes through an extensive review of any prospective pharmaceutical product supplier. All current contracted suppliers for Lewistown Hospital are registered with the FDA, meet or exceed USP Chapter 797 standards, and meet cGMP requirements.

In addition, any product selected for use in a patient is thoroughly examined for any potential problems and defects prior to administration. “We take every measure to assure that patients are receiving a safe drug,” noted Richard Stomackin, Director of Pharmacy Services at the hospital.

For questions and more information, call (717) 242-7102.

Hospital Offers Celebrating a Time of Change Workshop Lewistown Hospital’s Family Health Associates (FHA) is offering a “Celebrating a Time of Change” workshop on November 8, 2012 at Lewistown Hospital from 5:30 – 7:30pm in Classroom 6. This workshop is designed especially for mothers and their adolescent daughters, ages 9 - 12 years. Registration fee is $10.00 for each mother/daughter pair.

The focus of the workshop is to assist mothers in educating their daughters on changes that occur at this time in their life. Informational booklets for mothers and daughters are given to reinforce information presented.

Space is limited. Pre-registration is required. Call (717) 242-7379 to register and for more information.

Philips Ultrasound Makes Donation to Lewistown Hospital

Employees at Philips Ultrasound in Reedsville recently collected items for pediatric patients and presented them to Lewistown Hospital’s 3B representative Kathy Eckley and mascot Lewie B. Healthy.

Progress At The Embassy

by Patricia Lawson

For those who aren’t familiar with The Embassy Theatre, it is located on South Main Street in downtown Lewistown. Check out the exterior of the building. In 2001, The Friends of the Embassy completed several restoration projects, which included the restoration of the box office, front facade, windows, and a thorough chemical cleaning of the masonry on the front of the theatre. In 1991, the marquee was in very bad shape and had sections that were in danger of falling. The greatest thing about the new marquee is the community involvement that went into it. Many businesses and individuals had a hand in its rebirth, donating time, materials, equipment, or providing these at a reduced cost. As a consequence, the price tag was much lower than expected. The Friends recreated the marquee for about $45,000. That may sound like a lot, until you consider that we received quotes from out-ofthe-area companies as high as a quarter of a million dollars. This refurbished marquee was dedicated at the 75th Anniversary of the Embassy in October 2002.

Let’s start with a bit of history. The Embassy Theatre was built

by Harold and Hyman Cohen in 1927, during the silent movie era, and was styled in the grand tradition of Broadway’s finest “picture palaces.” Billed as Lewistown’s “most luxurious and finest thea-

tre,” the inside was adorned with many amenities more typical of a city theatre than a small town theatre, and it was often referred to as the “Radio City Music Hall” of Central Pennsylvania.

Theatres in general hit a slump after World War II due to changing attitudes and television.

After decades of great achievement and allure, The Embassy was closed for good on November 4, 1981. For the next 10 years, the theatre stood empty, as Harold tried to sell it. Before he died in 1989, Harold said that it was his final wish to have the Embassy restored and returned to its proud spot in the community. There were a lot of interested speculators, but alas, no takers.

The Embassy Theatre was put on the auction block during the summer of 1991. It was then that a group of citizens formed The Friends of the Embassy Theatre. The property was purchased for $50,000, and the goal was to rescue and restore the structure to its original 1927 appearance.

If you haven’t seen the marquee lit up at night, you’re in for a treat! Be sure to stop by during the Festival Of Ice – November 29 & 30. On those days, rare tours of the interior will also be offered. Then, you’ll discover the monumental task ahead of us. The tours are complimentary; however, a donation would be greatly appreciated.

It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliance with any portion of the foreign world.

-- George Washington

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I am frequently asked, “Why did you become a friend of the theatre?” Well, it’s a great question, since I’m not from the area.

A few years ago, I drove past this “gem” in downtown Lewistown.

I was intrigued to discover more about this obscure secret, and after checking out the website: www.embassytheatre.org, I was hooked! Even Roy Rodgers, Dale Evans and Trigger were on its stage! If those walls could talk, what stories we would hear.

The most recent project at The Embassy is to procure a professional company to seal the exterior from the elements, and to be sure that the structure is safe and sound. After the completion of this, the interior will be the focus of repair and restoration.

I encourage you to visit our website and consider becoming a friend and joining us in making this dream come true.

Once restored, the Embassy will enlighten our younger generations to the opulence of the theatre and preserve a proud part of Mifflin County’s heritage.

Be sure to pick up future copies of “The Valley” to discover more about the history and the future of The Embassy Theatre.

And, stay tuned for more details on a rumored circus coming to town! a

The Valley, November 2012

42

POOR WILL’S VALLEY ALMANACK for November of 2012

Trench deep; dig in the rotting weeds; Slash down the thistle’s graybeard seeds; Then make the frost your servant; make His million fingers pry and break The clods by glittering midnight stealth Into the necessary tilth.

--Vita Sackville-West, “The Land” THE STARS Directly above you at 10:00 p.m., Perseus stands below the North Star. In front of Perseus, to the west, find Andromeda, and then the Great Square. East of Perseus is Capella, the brightest star of the Milky Way (except for Sirius in the far southeast), By midnight, the Pleiades and Taurus will be almost directly overhead, Orion fully visible behind them. Regulus, the brightest star of spring, will be just starting to rise along the eastern tree line.

THE SUN DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS AT 2:00 A.M. NOVEMBER 4. SET CLOCKS BACK ONE HOUR. On November 22, the sun enters the sign of Sagittarius and reaches within two degrees of solstice at the same time.

THE PLANETS In Virgo through November, Venus is still the morning star. Mars, in Sagittarius, disappears beneath the western horizon just after sunset. Jupiter in Taurus, leads Orion out of the east after dark, moving with that constellation across the sky throughout the night. In the second week of the month, Saturn appears in the east with Virgo several hours before dawn.

THE SHOOTING STARS The Leonids are the shooting stars of November. Watch for them in the east on after midnight on the

17th and 18th.

THE S.A.D. STRESS INDEX November is the first month since March that Index readings consistently indicate a high likelihood of seasonal affective disorders.

The effect of the upcoming social season (the approach of Thanksgiving and Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza) is combining with increasing chill in the weather, the growing cloud cover and the final end of the autumn foliage to create a completely different mindset in many people. No matter whether that mindset is positive or negative, it may be helpful to track its source as closely as possible: When did it begin? What are its roots? Is there a particular event in nature that triggers your reaction?

Key for Interpreting the S.A.D. Index: Clouds = Cloud Cover; Weather = Weather Conditions; Dayl = Hours of Daylight.

Totals of 75 - 65: Severe stress for those who suffer from seasonal affective disorders; 64 - 50: Moderate stress; 49 - 35: Light stress; 34 - 25: Occasional stress for those most susceptible to S.A.D.; 24 and below: Only people with extreme sensitivity to S.A.D. experience seasonal affective disorders below an Index reading of 24.

Day Clouds Weather Dayl Totals 1: 11 13 21 45 10: 13 17 23 53 20: 16 16 23 55 25: 18 17 23 58 30: 19 18 24 61 PEAK ACTIVITY TIMES FOR LIVESTOCK, FISH, GAME & DIETERS Fish, game, livestock and people tend to feed more and are more active as the barometer is falling one to three days before the weather systems that arrive near the following dates, dates on which cold fronts normally cross the Mississippi River: November 2, 6, 11, 16, 20, 24 & 28. Seek food and offer food at midday when the moon is new, in the

afternoon and evening when the moon is in its first quarter, at night when the moon is full and in its third quarter, in the morning when the moon is in its fourth quarter.

NOVEMBER - WEEK 1 THE FINAL WEEK OF MIDDLE FALL LUNAR PHASE AND LORE The Robin Migration Moon full on October 29 , rises in the evening and sets in the morning, moving overhead after midnight, making earliest morning the most favorable lunar time for angling and for scouting for game. Conditions become even more favorable as the cold fronts of October 30 and November 2 approach, pushing down the barometer and making all creatures (especially dieters) hungry. The moon in Taurus on October 29 - 31 and in Cancer on November 3 - 5 offers the best lunar conditions for seeding wheat and a green cover crop for the garden. Seasonal stress is expected to decline after full moon, so this week might offer fewer emotional challenges than last week.

WEATHER TRENDS The chances for warmth in the 70s drop to just five percent on November 4, and odds increase for cold throughout the week ahead. Highs just in the 30s or 40s are relatively rare during the final days of October, but by the 5th of November, they occur 25 percent of the time, and chances rise to over 40 percent by the 10th of the month.

The coolest days in this period are typically the 6th and the 7th, both of which have only about a 15 percent chance for warmth in the 60s. The 3rd ushers in the snow season for the central states, flurries or accumulation emerging into the realm of possibility, at least a ten percent possibility per day between that date and spring.

Chances for a thunderstorm ordinarily disappear until February in the lower Midwest, but all-day rains increase. The first ten days

of November are about twice as rainy as the final ten of October.

NOVEMBER - WEEK 2 THE FIRST WEEK OF EARLY FALL LUNAR PHASE AND LORE The Robin Migration Moon wanes throughout the period, entering its final quarter on November 6 at 7:36 p.m. and becoming the new Deer Mating Moon on the 13th at 5:08 p.m. By the time most bird migrations are complete, the rutting season for white-tailed deer begins, often lasting through the middle of December. One marker for the commencement of this season is the collapse of the high canopy; another is the close of aster season in the city and country.

The moon rises after midnight this week and sets in the afternoon, moving overhead, its best position for finding game and for fishing, in the morning hours. Lunar influence becomes especially potent as the cold fronts of November 6 and 11 approach, pushing down the barometer and bringing an increased chance for precipitation.

Late planting of grains and bedding plants for spring is favored under Cancer on November 3 -5 and in Scorpio on November 12 and 13.

WEATHER TRENDS Late Fall almost always arrives in the second week of November. It is a transition season during which the last leaves fall, skies darken, wind speed increases, hard frosts put and end to the year’s flower and vegetable cycles, harvest is completed on the farm, and final preparations for winter are made.

Late Fall’s high temperatures shift decidedly into the 40s, and lows average 32 or worse. Highpressure systems, accompanied by clouds and rain or snow, typically arrive around the 9th and the 14th.

The 9th is historically the wettest day of November’s second week.

The 11th and 12th are the sunniest, and the 13th is the driest. At least one partly cloudy afternoon

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in the 60s or 70s comes six years out of ten during this time of the year, but cold and precipitation are the norm. Heating degree days are now more than double those of October.

NOVEMBER - WEEK 3 THE SECOND WEEK OF LATE FALL LUNAR PHASE AND LORE The Deer Mating Moon, new on November 13 at 5:08 p.m., waxes throughout the week, entering its second quarter at 9:31 a.m. on November 20. Rising in the morning and setting in the late afternoon, this moon travels above you in the middle of the day, making midday the most propitious lunar time to fish and look for game during this week of the month. The moon’s influence is especially powerful as the cold fronts of November 16 and 20 lower the barometer and increase the likelihood of precipitation. The moon’s position in Scorpio on November 12 and 13 and in Capricorn on the 16th through the 18th offers excellent lunar conditions for planting spring bulbs, for setting in new trees and shrubs and for seeding bedding plants.

WEATHER TRENDS The 15th, 19th, and 20th are the days this week most likely to be mild with highs in the 60s.

The fifth cold front of the month comes through at the end of the period, however, and the 21st brings a slight possibility for a high only in the 20s. The 15th is the day most likely to bring precipitation, having a 60 percent chance for rain or snow. The 20th is also fairly damp, carrying a 50 percent chance. The 18th is usually the driest day of the week; it has only a 20 percent chance for showers or flurries.

NOVEMBER - WEEK 4 THE THIRD WEEK OF LATE FALL LUNAR PHASE AND LORE The Deer Mating Moon enters

43

The Valley, November 2012 its second quarter at 9:31 a.m. on November 20 and becomes completely full on November 28 at 9:46 a.m. Rising in the afternoon and setting after midnight, this moon moves overhead (its most influential position for hunting and fishing) in the evening. Lunar position is even more significant as the cold fronts of November 20 and 24 approach. The moon is relatively weak throughout the first part of the period, saving its most disruptive power for the week after Thanksgiving. Late planting of bulbs, trees, shrubs, grain and early seeding of bedding plants are especially favored under Pisces on November 20 - 22 and Taurus, November 25 - 28.

WEATHER TRENDS The fourth week of November, the third week of late fall, is the stark and windy week that marks the decline of average highs below 50 degrees and the end to any reasonable chance of a day above 70 throughout the lower Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states. Nights below zero even become possible.

The sixth cold front of the month, arriving around the 24th, often brings rain on the 23rd (there is a 50 percent chance of that). The seventh high-pressure system generally arrives on November 28, preceded by rain 70 percent of the time on the 27th—the wettest day in the month’s weather history. November 28, 29, and 30 have the best odds of the month for snow. And after the 25th, the percentage of cloudy days almost doubles over the average for the rest of November.

A DAYBOOK FOR NOVEMBER November 1: If strong storms occur this month, weather patterns suggest that they will happen during the following periods: November 2 - 5, 14 - 16 and November 21 - 27. New moon on November 13 and full moon on November 28 are likely to intensify the weather systems due around those dates. Full moon will also increase the likelihood of a late hurricane coming ashore along the East Coast or of a powerful, snow-bearing cold wave moving across the Plains. By the end of November, a killing frost can be expected well into Alabama.

November 2: The first front of November, due near this date, is one of the milder weather systems of the month, but it brings in the cloudiest time of the year.

November 3: Thin the woodlot and fencerows as the moon wanes, but leave plenty of shade for your animals. Early November

is an excellent time to plant extra shade around the farm and yard.

Only three weeks remain before Thanksgiving. Arrange for local markets to handle your livestock.

There is still enough time to advertise what you have in local papers.

November 4: This morning’s end of Daylight Savings Time could cause animals and family members (and maybe even you) to be out of sorts because of the change in feeding and eating schedule.

Seasonal affective disorders may be increasing in many people due to the change in sunset time that accompanies the end of Daylight Savings Time. Even though you are getting up when it is lighter outside, the sudden end to the day near suppertime can be pretty upsetting. And accidents often rise at the time of this change: Be extra careful of deer and other drivers throughout the weeks to come.

November 5: The November 6 cold front initiates the season of Late Autumn throughout North America, a changeable period that can introduce wintry conditions in the North and storms in the South.

The chances for snow or sleet to replace rain increase significantly during Late Autumn, and final preparations for the coldest time of year should be made.

November 6: The moon enters its final quarter today – its weakest position during the first half of November – favoring work with livestock, pets, friends and family.

The weak moon is also recommended for surgery and dental work on livestock and people.

November 7: This is the month to breed for April kids and lambs the ones to show at late August and early September shows, as well as for July cookouts, Jamaican Independence Day, Ramadan, Navadurgara and for Hanukkah.

November 8: Working with livestock may be less stressful to you and your animals if you take care of routine activities in the first half of the month before the more severe cold waves arrive.

November 9: The total disintegration of the foliage is one of the most dramatic changes in the whole year, and it comes on the heels of the end of Daylight Savings Time! This is also the period of the year that Christmas advertising intensifies in the media and some people begin to feel the pressures of the holiday season.

On the other hand, the absence of leaves makes looking for game quite a bit easier.

November 10: Many goat herders and shepherds place feeder animals in the feedlot this month in order to have them at desirable

market weight in Late Winter and Early Spring. And remember that Hanukkah comes in early December. Prepare suitable kids and lambs for these markets throughout the month.

November 11: Sun often follows the November 11 front and may provide some of the best days in the first half of the month for harvest. However, if a killing frost has not occurred yet in Pennsylvania, the mornings following this front may be the ones to put an end to tender plantings.

November 12: The average wind speed increases to its winter level throughout the year’s eleventh month, and it will remain relatively high until early May. Chances for a thunderstorm virtually disappear until February in the northern half of the nation. Bedding Plant Season for 2013 begins now: Put in your earliest flowers under lights with the power of the new moon.

November 13: Today is new moon day. Expect an increase in behavior problems with your animals, children, significant others, and parents. Crime often rises slightly at new and full moons, and hospital patients often have may be more uncomfortable and restless.

November 14: The upcoming Christmas market, while not as lucrative as the Easter market for goats and sheep, still offers opportunities to sell small milkfed lambs and kids. The Jewish feast of Hanukkah increases your options. If you do not already sell to the ethnic market, consider investigating how you can match your breeding schedule to the needs of the diverse population in your region.

November 15: Hormone levels in sheep and goats will have adjusted to the season, so keep the lights on to create 16- hour days through the late fall and winter months if you intend to breed in January or February.

November 16: The middle of November has a less-than-favorable history for storms; be ready for a late-season tropical disturbance in the Gulf or a surprise blizzard in the Plains.

November 17: If you have not already treated your flock and herd for mites and lice, check them as you make the final move from pasture to winter quarters.

November 18: As the weather worsens, separate your thinnest pregnant animals now and give them a little extra attention in order to improve their condition and reduce risk of abortion.

November 19: Use lower grade supplements for your livestock

in November, gradually increasing nutrient value and quantity throughout the winter. Save your best quality feed supplies for the colder months and the months closest to kidding and lambing time.

November 20: The fifth major high to cross the nation in November usually begins to complicate the holiday travel season, and the chances for deep snow increase throughout Pennsylvania. Like all the fronts of November and December, this one pushes the hardfreeze line well into the South.

In the Valley, this front could be considered the first major front of winter, and it often introduces raw, miserable weather throughout the Middle Atlantic region.

November 21: And don’t limit your nutritional planning to just your animals. Give yourself and your family the best “feed” as the weather becomes more demanding.

November 22: On this date, the sun reaches two degrees from its solstice position, and on the 30th, sunset has come to within just a few minutes of its earliest time from Oregon to Vermont.

November 23: Although the year’s latest sunrise, is still about half an hour away, most homesteading activities have now shifted to a winter schedule that will last until March.

November 24: Try to complete harvest of corn, soybeans and sugar beets before the arrival of Early Winter, which normally storms in with the second December front. Do your last mulching and weeding in the garden. The cold front due near this date is often a cruel one, and the waxing moon is likely to augment the effects of this weather system and the next.

November 25: Work gypsum into the soil where salt, used to melt winter’s ice, may damage plantings.

November 26: Average low temperatures fall below freezing throughout Pennsylvania, but as the final weather system of the month approaches, the 26th is sometimes one of the windiest and mildest days in late November.

November 27: Watch for disease to increase in your flocks and herds as the weather worsens.

November 28: Full moon today is likely to intensify the final cold front of November, making travel problematic throughout the country. And below-zero temperatures now become possible throughout western and central Pennyslvania.

November 29: Radical shifts of temperature associated with late November and early December

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high-pressure systems have been linked to sudden illness in humans and livestock. Watch the barometer: When it dips, below 30.00, try to take it easy, be extra good to yourself, your family and your animals.

November 30: Fertility in mammals, especially those that have had trouble conceiving earlier in the fall, tends to rise as early winter approaches. Their bodies may know that now will be the last best chance to produce offspring to be born in the year’s milder months.

ALMANACK LITERATURE A Big Surprise Another Entry in the Great Outhouse Story Contest Teresa Steinbrunner Fort Recovery, OH

In the 1930s, before electricity and indoor plumbing, Halloween was very different than it is now. All kinds of pranks occurred, and things appeared in the most unlikely places. Maybe a goat was tethered on a porch roof or a buggy put atop a shed. Any movable object might be found across the street, in another yard, on the ball field or cemetery. Those were tough times in the Depression years, and moving things was tolerated, but destruction of property was not, and if vandals were caught, they suffered unpleasant consequences.

In small towns, every home had a “necessary house” at the end of a worn path to the back edge of the yard, often next to an alley. And those structures were a tempting target for toilet tipping.

How frustrating for owners to find their outhouses lying with the fronts to the ground when they were really necessary!

After being a victim several times of that kind of tipping, one of our relatives decided to put a stop to it, or at least he was going to try.

So, as evening darkness set in on Halloween, the outhouse was moved a few feet forward. Then our relative sat unseen, where he could wait and listen, no matter how long it would be. About an hour later, he heard movements and snickering in the alley, then running footsteps.

What followed were very surprised yells and moans of disgust.

Their dirty trick had backfired on them. As they were likely wearing the only pair of shoes they owned, their fun was definitely over.

I don’t know if he learned who the boys were, but he had

Continued on page 45

The Valley, November 2012

44

The Udder Truth

by He ather Wasson Centre Count y Dair y Princess

November is a month I always look forward to. Three of my family members celebrate birthdays, and of course we celebrate Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a tradition looked forward to by many families. Everyone has the opportunity to share their thanks with family members and enjoy a delicious meal together.

Celebrating the harvest of the fall season was the reason for the first Thanksgiving, which was celebrated 391 years ago in 1621.

This continues to be one of the reasons, but has been joined by multiple others including fellowship and tradition.

As I noted, Thanksgiving is a tradition, and so is dairy farming.

The tradition of dairy farming

runs five generations deep into my heritage.

And I am not alone. 98% of all dairy farms in the United States are family owned and operated. Just like Thanksgiving, this tradition has come to mean even more as time has passed. The dairy industry’s roots allow it to continue to succeed today. Dairy farmers still have a great passion for their industry and strive to provide a safe nutritious product for the public.

As your families come together this holiday season, take time to give thanks to the dairy farmer who provides the ingredients to many of your favorite dishes. I have included a few of my family’s Thanksgiving recipes

Optimal Wellness

Why Can’t I Lose Weight?

by Merry Matukonis

You need to be healthy to lose weight, not lose weight to be healthy. Statistics vary but it has been said that over 75% of people in America are overweight. Did you know that a great part of your health depends on your liver especially weight loss and fatigue!

The liver helps to regulate thyroid

function. So, a dysfunctional liver can be involved in hypothyroidism, and later, weight gain that is difficult to lose until you cleanse your liver. A blood test will not tell you if your thyroid gland is hypo-functioning it will only give you information when the gland is broken and you need emergency

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a jellyroll pan (large cookie sheet with sides). In a mixing bowl, beat eggs on high for five minutes. Gradually add white sugar, pumpkin, and lemon juice.

Add flour, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, and ginger. Spread batter evenly in pan. Sprinkle pecans evenly on top, and press lightly into batter. Bake for 12 to 15 for you to try. I hope you enjoy! minutes, or until it springs back when touched. Loosen edges with Pumpkin Roll a knife. Turn out on two dishtow3 eggs els that have been sprinkled with 1 cup sugar powdered sugar. Roll up cake, and 2/3 cup pumpkin let cool for about 20 minutes.

1 tsp lemon juice

To Make Filling: Mix con¾ cup all-purpose flour fectioners’ sugar, vanilla, butter 2 tsp. ground Cinnamon or margarine, and cream cheese ½ tsp. salt together till smooth. Unroll 1 tsp. baking powder pumpkin cake when cool, and 1 tsp. ground ginger spread with filling. Reroll, and 1 cup chopped pecans push aside the dishtowel. Unroll 1 cup confectioners’ sugar long sheet of waxed paper. Put ½ tsp vanilla extract pumpkin roll on waxed paper.

4 TBSP butter Dust pumpkin roll with powdered 8 oz cream cheese sugar. Twist ends of waxed paper

like a piece of candy. Put pumpkin roll in refrigerator and chill overnight. Before slicing, dust with powdered sugar. Serve chilled.

Below is a recipe that is a great way to use your leftover Thanksgiving Turkey.

medicine.

Your thyroid gland may just need the help of more iodine in your diet. A 24 hr. urine collection test can tell you whether you need more iodine. Without sufficient iodine supply, the thyroid gland is

provided to keep track of food, exercise, and other information is provided. Four products from Standard Process are used daily. A highly nutritious shake, capsules to assist liver detox, gastrofiber to help the body rid itself of toxins, and a green food supplement to help nourish and heal the body. A re-entry phase is outlined where the omitted foods are added back into the diet one at a time. Food allergies are often identified. At the end of the three weeks an IonCleanse footbath is done. The IonCleanse purifies the body with little or no stress to the patient.

Healthy individuals can expect to feel lighter and a greater sense of well being.

Fat and mucus residues found in the water after bathing reflect the wastes that have left the body after the 30 minute session. This assists in the removal of more toxins and helps with better liver function.

From Dec.1 to Dec. 14, Optimal Wellness will be offering a 15% discount for the Purification System to help you jumpstart weight loss after the holidays. A free Post-Purification lecture will be held at Optimal Wellness on Wednesday January 31st from 6:30 to 7:30, and/or Saturday, February 2nd from 10:00 to 11:00.

The Post Purification helps you continue on your path toward a healthy lifestyle. Call Merry Matukonis today for information at 814-933-9149. Optimal Wellness is your source for long-term health solutions. a

100 Stine Drive Lewistown, PA 17044

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Replacement Windows, New Furnace in ‘08, New Roof in ‘98 2-Car Garage

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unable to make thyroid hormones in adequate amounts.

Are You Toxic?

Whether we like it or not and whether we realize it, toxins are everywhere. They are in the air, our workplace, our homes, food, water, metabolic waste, and can even be created by negative thoughts. Did you ever wonder what happens to all of these chemicals?

• our body removes some • we bury toxins in our body fat • deposit them in other body tissues (liver)

Wouldn’t you like to finally have more energy throughout the day? Take a moment to read these symptoms and see if you have some of the common toxicity indicators.

• Poor digestion, acid reflux • Poor sleep • Fatigue • Constipation, bloating, gas • Food cravings • Overweight • Skin conditions • Dark circles or puffiness under the eyes • High cholesterol • Joint pain • Fibromyalgia • Recurring headaches • Hormone imbalances, PMS • Mental fog

If you find yourself saying yes to some or all of these, then this purification and weight loss system is for you. This is a three week program with what specific foods outlined to eat and what not to eat. A journal for the client is

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Turkey Lasagna 8 oz cooked lasagna noodles 2 to 3 cups of chopped Turkey 2 cans Mushroom Soup 1 cup Sour Cream 1 cup grated Parmesan Cheese 1 cup Olives, optional 1 cup chopped onion 1 tsp. onion salt 2 cups American or Cheddar Cheese

Mix mushroom soup, sour cream, parmesan cheese, onion, olives and seasoning together.

Then in a 9x13” pan layer the following: 3 noodles, one-third portion turkey, one-third soup/ sour cream mixture, and then one-third of cheese. Continue for three layers. Bake at 350° for 40 to 45 minutes. Serves 6 to 8 a

45

The Valley, November 2012

Dave Wilson

Coins, Precious Metal and a Little of this and That

Silver Buy it NOW, You’re going to NEED it.

Fifteen years ago, when we would recommend that people buy silver and gold to help preserve their accumulated wealth, many people dismissed the idea as “a bit extreme” and “unnecessary.”

Ten years ago, more people were beginning to listen, but it was still “unfashionable” and many people were unwilling to place their investment capital in anything

that didn’t offer 100% safety (like CD’s, savings accounts, etc.)

Those that took a chance and DID buy precious metals at that point have been richly rewarded with nearly 500% gains. Not too shabby considering that those “safe” investments in the same 10 year time period returned “about” 35% (at best).

While past performance is NO GUARANTEE of future earnings, we are standing on an entirely different playing field than at ANY time ever before in history. The investment game has changed. Many times today, the question of “Where should I put my investment capital (money) to earn the best return,” has instead become what should I buy to preserve my money’s purchasing power”?

Certificates of Deposit, savings accounts, money market accounts and the like presently pay almost NOTHING.

We are “told” that inflation is in the neighborhood of 2-3%. If you have EYES, and know how to count to 100, then you certainly

know better. Most (non-government) financial analysts agree that REAL inflation is somewhere between 9 and 14%. So, if you earn 2% on that 1-Year CD, you are, in effect, LOSING almost 10% of the value of your savings EACH YEAR. Sadly, shortly inflation is poised to become MUCH worse making those “safe” investments even MORE damaging to your net worth.

So where does SILVER fit into all this? Allow us to give you OUR opinion. (In the store, we always preface any investment advice we give by suggesting that our “opinion” is worth exactly what we are charging them for it. Since we charge NOTHING, you can figure that one out for yourself.)

Silver, gold and rare (investment grade) coins have performed beautifully for the past ten (10) years. We think they will continue to do well, but we are MOST comfortable with recommending SILVER. There are several good reasons why.

to think that silver has a HUGE upside potential.

(2). When many new customers enter bullion markets, more people will be able to afford silver than gold. (You can spend, at present, $2.50 and walk out with one 90% Silver Dime. The cheapest gold coin we offer, will currently cost you $206.00.)

(3). Current “premiums” for silver coins are presently smaller than for their gold counterparts.

(4). In the event of a currency crisis, silver coins will be easier to “use” than much more expensive gold coins.

If you try buying a dozen eggs with a 1-oz. Gold Krugerrand, the egg seller might not have $51.50 face value in silver coins to give you change. (Naturally, he could offer you a few dozen chickens, two piglets, 84 pounds of silage, Bessy the milk cow and 500 ears of field corn instead.)

(5). Silver, as an important industrial metal, is consumed, used, depleted. Gold has a number of special uses too, but it is never consumed. Every ounce of gold that has ever been mined, since the beginning of time, is STILL IN EXISTENCE, somewhere. It is suggested that there is even more gold currently available above ground than there is silver.

Gold is wonderful, and we enthusiastically recommend it as a valued (necessary) hedge against what could be intense inflation ahead. But silver, again in our opinion, is even better. We have heard predictions about silver (currently, as we write this story, valued at about $33.50 an ounce) that call for a price of $100, $200, even $500 an ounce is in the not too distant future. Their arguments do have some validity, but we tend to reject these somewhat outlandish valuations in favor of much more realistic (to us) prices between $65 and $80 an ounce.

Those numbers are very believable and represent a better than 200% increase over current prices. If the U.S. dollar were to crash and lose its position as world reserve currency, then even those numbers would likely end up being much too conservative. (** While we are very positive about precious metals as excellent current investments, we always advise all of our customers that profits are not guaranteed and one could always lose money on ANY speculative investment.

Anyone who tells you otherwise should never be trusted.)

(1). The current silver-to-gold ratio is 52-to-1. Meaning that it takes 52 ounces of silver to equal the value of, just ONE ounce of gold. The old ratio was 16-to-1, and most current advisers suggest that even 32-to-1 would be a fair assessment. That means that either gold is overpriced, or, silver is terribly UNDER priced.

Since most bullion analysts have complained that the price of silver (and gold) have been “managed” (or manipulated) for decades, we tend

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Here are a few of the better silver products that we presently recommend.

• • • • • • •

1/10th, 1/4 and 1/2-Ounce Silver Medallions Pre-1965 US Silver Dimes, Quarters and Half-Dollars (1878-1935) US Morgan and Peace Silver Dollars (1965-1969) US 40% Silver Kennedy Half-Dollars 1-Ounce Silver Art Bars and Rounds (1986-2012) 1-Oz. ($1.00) US Silver Eagle coins 10-Ounce and 100-Ounce (Brand Name) Silver Bars a

Poor Will’s Valley Almanack from page 43 the last laugh. It must have been a good lesson because the next year, his outhouse was still upright the morning after Halloween.

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

46

The Valley, November 2012

thevalleynewspaper@gmail.com

The Valley, November 2012

www.thevalleynewspaper.com

47

The Valley, November 2012

48

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thevalleynewspaper@gmail.com

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