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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. Take a Break From the Mainstream Madness Volume 9, No. 2
The Valley, February 2018
Complimentary
Love at First Bite
Taste of the Valley
While sitting in Freshman Seminar my 9th grade year of high school, I never would have thought that something that was talked about then would ever really come true. Our homework was to bring in an object that represented what we wanted to do when we graduated. I don’t even remember what I brought in, but one of my friends brought in some bagels. She didn’t know what she wanted to do with them, but enjoyed making them. I then leaned over and said, “We should start a coffee shop!” And that was really as far as that thought went, until several years later. After I graduated in 2010, I decided to go into the REACH program, which is a short-term missions program associated with Rosedale Mennonite Mission.
Yes, we make lattes!
but their response was, “Why before. But they believed in me I spent three months of trainand I kept that thought in the back don’t you start it yourself?” Me? ing in Columbus, Ohio and then of my mind. By myself? I had no experience six months in the Middle East. I starting a business, and had not had an amazing experience and In 2012, I went back out to even ever worked in a restaurant learned so much. During those Columbus and worked on staff at nine months, I the Rosedale Inalso spent some ternational Centime in many ter where I had different coffee previously done shops, which my training for brought back the REACH. While idea of starting there, I met one in Big ValPaul Kurtz who ley. is the owner When I reof Hemisphere turned in June, I Coffee Roastmet up with one ers (and who is of my mentors now my coffee and shared with supplier). I her my dream talked to him about my crazy of opening a dream, and coffee shop. he was very She expressed encouraging similar interests and thought I and we started should pursue looking into it a it! little more. After some research and many Through lots of prayers, she prayer and talkrealized it might ing with family be a little too and friends, I much for her to decided that do at her current when my term stage of life. Afon staff was ter that, I talked over, I would to my parents, come back to feeling a little Big Valley and With really good food and a cheery atmosphere, the girls of Taste of the Valley disappointed, open a coffee give away smiles for free!
Veritas vos Liberabit
shop! When I returned home in December, I went head-first into starting the shop—working on a menu, figuring out a floor plan, getting permits, finding contractors, hiring employees, buying equipment and so on and so forth. It was a crazy couple of months, but finally on May 28th 2013, Taste of the Valley was officially open! There were many tears shed and many sleepless nights, but my dream had come true. I had no idea what it would look like five years down the road. But here we are, coming up on our five year anniversary. The response from the public has been overwhelming! We are so blessed to be here and we hope to continue to serve and be a mission right here in Big Valley! ~Denise Peachey a
Come join us for breakfast!
The Valley, February 2018
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Editor’s Corner Wayne Stottlar It is with great sadness that I have to start this month Editor’s Corner. We at The Valley have lost another great friend. Edward Forsythe, the author of our “Ed’s Model Railroading News” passed away in January after a courageous battle with cancer. Ed was one of the first writers who agreed to a regular spot in our paper and he will be sorely missed. Always quick with a good word of encouragement for all, Ed was just an all-around good guy and I am thankful for knowing him. Rest in Peace my friend. We were so delighted at the response to the addition of some more new writers to our stable. There were an overwhelming amount of compliments about KrisAnne Hall appearing as a guest writer last month, KrisAnne has provided us with an endless amount of material dealing with
Liberty and our Constitution. So rest easy, KrisAnne’s “In Defense of Liberty” will now be a regular column each month. Check out her Liberty University if you really want to gain a firm grasp on our Constitution and what it means. Between her and Dave Molek, The Valley readers should be the most informed readers anywhere about “things that matter.” Knowing you loyal readers are more in tune with what is going on in our government, you are probably aware that we have just had a major Constitutional crisis, even while there are all kinds of spin masters out there trying to tell you what to think. So let’s examine what you may have heard and then apply some common sense. First we were told that the memo was classified and we
couldn’t see it because it would expose agency secrets and methods. That turned out to be an outright lie. What on Earth could they have been talking about? It appears to me that the FBI never expected to be questioned about this. It seemed curious to me how many of the media fell all over themselves to marginalize the revelation that their Federal Law Enforcement had been weaponized—the media were once again complicit in confusing the public while protecting the government, and this was all brought to you by the corrupt Democratic Party. We have arrived at a place that we have never been at before and it is more than a little dangerous. I do not see any way possible this genie gets put back in the bottle. Our supposed top law enforcement agency is more than corrupt— they are criminal and many need to go to jail or worse. Can you ever trust the media again? Make a point of remembering how they were reporting the story in the days leading up to the release of the memo. How many inaccuracies can you list? Rest assured most of those are outright lies intended to confuse you. America has changed, and not for the better. Perhaps it is also time to think about how much accountability we are going to require of these agencies, or if recent
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Contact Info Editor/Publisher Wayne Stottlar Graphic Artist/ Co-Publisher Lynn Persing The Valley PO Box 41 Yeagertown, PA 17099 (717) 363-1550 E-mail: thevalleynewspaper@gmail.com Web: www.thevalleynewspaper.com ©The Valley. All Rights Reserved.
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The Valley, February 2018
of which had never been seen before. In February 1907, a college publication proclaimed: “No college in Philips Ultrasound, Inc. has the following job the world posopportunity available in Reedsville, PA: sesses a more Strategic Buyer (QZ-PA) ideal environment for the development of the Truest College Life Develop, maintain and execute commodity and the Loyalist College Spirit, strategies for the assigned supplier and we have them both.” portfolio. Position may require travel to A great example of this various, unanticipated locations. Travel incredible spirit is exemplified required approximately 80% of the time. by the very active role students Submit resume by mail to: played in the planning, design and funding of the Hetzel Union Philips People Services/Legal-BB, 3000 Building (HUB). OverwhelmMinuteman Road, MS 1203, ing student demand and a comAndover, MA 01810. mittee including student leaders Must reference job title and job code (QZ-PA). convinced the administration to move forward with the project, which was funded entirely vironment, a culture, a character just as the founding of Pennsylby the students. The drive and and a spirit that goes far beyond vania, and thus our country, was determination of the students to “knowledge” that can be tested. A the result of a radical idea, a great satisfy their own needs led to the culture that the students them“Holy Experiment” by William building. And, I might add, it was selves create by their extensive Penn. And how truly fitting it is on-time, as well, since the first involvement in extracurricular that our nation’s first great Land official function was on Feb. 22, activities and out-of-classroom Grant university, the “people’s 1955 -- the 100th anniversary of learning experiences. And due to institutions” as the Morrill Act Penn State and the second year as the vision of its founders, Penn of 1862 referred to them, was a university (finally designated as State was the first in the nation to founded on the same day that our such in November 1953). do exactly that, to lead the way. great first president was born. With this student achieveWhat became known as “the Penn And now you can answer that ment, the founders’ vision had State Way.” trivia question, “What do George been realized. As Dr. Novak de The founding of Penn State Washington and Penn State have scribed it on page 56, “the foundwas based on a radical new idea, in common?” a ers’ vision was that there should come to birth in the Nittany Valley a great educational experiment, a new spirit and a whole new type of community.” Or, as Erwin Runkle, the , inc. first Penn State histoYOur mEtal rOOfiNg & rian, wrote long ago, the sidiNg suPPlY cENtEr object of the Land Grant idea “was Roll Forming Metal Roofing not to secure & siding in smooth & textured resources... but rather snap-loc standing seam in smooth to build a & textured new type of citizenship.” The stOcKiNg: essence of trims & accessories the story is that the real Soffit that matches purpose of the univerall colors & cut to size sity is to not lumber only educate on the classliding door accessories sics and the scientific Windows • Doors and practical applications 31 iNdustrial rOad insulation of such, but also to m-f 6 a.m. tO 4:30 P.m. create an en-
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Feb. 22 is an important day in history for a number of reasons -- some obvious, some subtle and some yet to be revealed. Yes, it is George Washington’s birthday (1732). It was also a magically patriotic day in 1980 that brought the Miracle on Ice, when a young group of amateur hockey players beat the formidable Soviets, undoubtedly the world’s best team at the time, at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y. But closer to home, it is also Penn State’s birthday, now known as Founders’ Day. On Feb. 22, 1855, the Farmers’ High School was founded -- in the middle of nowhere, but with a grand vision. So how did the great institution of the Pennsylvania State University come to prominence from such humble beginnings? The same way that Pennsylvania was established, from whose humble beginnings arose the mighty United States of America: One person and a vision. In the latter case, it was William Penn’s “Holy Experiment” which began when he landed on our eastern shore in 1682 and established Philadelphia, the “City of Brotherly Love” and later established a forebearer for the U.S. Constitution with the Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges in 1701, a form of government that lasted until 1776. As Pennsylvanians, we should never forget the significance of our state in the founding of this great country. We truly were the Keystone of the Republic. Likewise, there is an incredible story behind the founding of Penn State that, like all things, begins with the seed of an idea. I cannot do justice to articulate this in this short space, but I can include some insights from the thought-provoking and very inspiring short book Is Penn State a Real University? by Penn State alumnus and former trustee, Dr. Ben Novak. It all began with an annual report by A.L. Russell, the state’s Superintendent of Common Schools, in 1851. He proposed an agricultural college “devoted wholly to real and inevitably profitable knowledge.” While hard to fathom this today, this was a revolutionary concept at the time. First, a little understanding. “Higher education” at that time
consisted of only classical studies, a legacy and remnant of our European ties and under the exclusive domain of the likes of Yale, Harvard, Princeton, etc. But the hardworking, bootstrapping, pioneering spirit of the new republic demanded something more. And, like hundreds of other firsts in our great state, leave it to Pennsylvanians to envision a better way. “This was a new idea of education quite beyond the classical idea of a University,” Novak wrote. “It did not eliminate the elegant and classical studies, but was intended to add to them and infuse them with the new principles and impetus of the scientific and the practical.” “He was proposing an entirely new approach to education which he believed would someday eclipse the greatest of the classical Universities. His vision for the future Penn State was grand from the very first moment of its conception.” “Russell’s dream, vision, and enthusiasm caught on.” An idea whose time had come that quickly inspired others to action with the Agricultural Society recommending in 1853 the founding of a new school, and Gov. William Pollock and the state legislature making it official on Feb. 22 two years later. “Penn State was founded to do something with the idea of a university which no one else had ever done before,” Novak explains. “The vision of the founders was an idea meant to deepen and broaden the idea of a [classical] University… Penn State’s new idea of what it means to be a real university has guided her destiny ever since and continues to this day to challenge it and to prod it to greatness.” But something even more special evolved over time. When young men and women are brought together with a common vision, and given the opportunity to be free, without bureaucratic restraint, an explosion of creativity and empowerment manifests itself —much like our young America proved to the entire world. Nothing but bare hands and natural resources to start, and look what we built. Thus, a culture of engagement and responsibility emerged over the next century, the likes
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The Valley, February 2018
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Winter Musings It’s a beautiful, snowy Sunday afternoon here today, and I’m grateful that I was able to just sit by the warm woodstove this morning while enjoying my coffee and listening to the sweet sound of a happy Weimarner knawling on his peanut butterfilled bone. At that moment, life was good. But, it hasn’t been a very happy start to the new year for me by any means. In mid-January my family learned that my Aunt had advanced cancer and the outlook was very grim—days to a few weeks to live. It came as a complete shock with no prior warning signs and the grief settled into my heart, as well as that of my family’s, as she lived out her final days at home surrounded by her loved ones. I continue to struggle with how fast it happened and in coming to grips with the fact that you just never know what God’s plan is for your life— one day you can be enjoying life to the fullest and then gone from
this Earth much sooner than ever anticipated. This is my second Aunt who was taken much too early from the terrible disease that is cancer and it makes me angry and frustrated that we can’t find the cause and cure. Another friend’s fate was weighing heavily on my mind in January as well—that of one of our writers and our neighbor a few doors down, JoAnn Wills Kline. About a month or so ago JoAnn was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor and her surgery was scheduled for January 30. I’ve been worrying about JoAnn, specifically her ability to come through surgery ok and the long road of recovery ahead for her. Yes, the tumor was benign and JoAnn and all of us are thankful for that, but it’s still brain surgery—a very serious and scary thing. JoAnn’s surgery went well and yesterday I was so relieved to see a post from her on Facebook that she is starting her road to recovery! That was a VERY welcome message to see. Please keep JoAnn in your thoughts and prayers throughout
the next several months—she can use all the support she can get. My parents bought Wayne a safflower bird feeder from Honey Creek Bill & Beak for his birthday in January and we’ve been spending time at the kitchen window watching all the cardinals, chickadees, junkos etc. make good use of it. Winter is a great time to provide feed for the birds and also while the bears are slumbering so you don’t have to worry about feeder destruction. Murphy and Elwood (our dogs) think it’s their job to chase the birds at the feeder away as they run into their dog
yard—they are bird dogs after all! We also have a thistle and a suet feeder and we’ve been watching several different kinds of woodpeckers (Downy, Hairy, RedBellied) attack the suet. We’ve had a pileated pecker in our yard several times working on a rotten stump. They are VERY cool to watch in action, especially when you are up close! And on other bird news, Wayne spotted a bald eagle fly through our yard on Saturday heading toward the creek behind our house. Wayne ran outside with his cell phone and captured
Our 2017– 2018 Season
Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra THE
Yaniv Attar, Music Director
Sunday, February 18, 3:00 pm
“The Best of Beethoven” With Jessica Choe, pianist Beethoven- Egmont Overture - Piano Concerto No. 2 - Symphony No. 4 Adult tickets $36, $39, $45 child/student $8 with ID Tickets sold through The State Theatre’s ticket office. www.TheStateTheatre.org 814-272-0606 All seats are reserved! Concert Sponsor:
Arthur J. Curtze Guest Artist Sponsors: David and Ruth Klementik
119 S. Fraser St., Suite D, State College, PA 16801
814-234-8313 CentreOrchestra.org
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this picture of it perched in a tree above the creek. Not the best picture (cell phones don’t do well with distance), but you can still see him there if you look closely. a
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The Valley, February 2018
Heritage Turkey Production Research It’s Profitable But More Difficult by Jeff Mulhollem
Story courtesy Penn State Public information To meet increasing consumer demand for heritage-breed turkeys to be the centerpiece of holiday and other meals, researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences are studying methods producers can use to raise the historical birds. Having more in common with wild turkeys that roam fields and forests than birds currently sold in grocery stores, heritage turkeys — in the relatively few retail outlets where they can be found — sell for about four times the cost of the broad-breasted white turkeys commonly found in store freezers. The average store-bought turkey costs about $1 per pound, while heritage turkeys run between $4 and $6 per pound. These birds proportionally have much smaller breasts, darker leg meat and are generally gamier in flavor than broad-
breasted whites raised on large, modern poultry farms. Heritage birds are also typically older than faster-growing, broad-breasted
birds at the age of processing — 26 to 28 weeks compared to 14 to 18 weeks — which can result in a more textured or flavorful meat. Heritage does not mean organic, all-natural or free-range, though a true heritage bird may be all of those things, noted Paul Patterson, professor of poultry science, whose research group is studying alternative production methods. “Heritage,” he explained, refers to specific breeds of turkeys raised in the United States prior to the 1950s, when the poultry industry began the cross breeding that resulted in the broad-breasted white turkeys most people eat today. The heritage breeds include the Standard Bronze, Bourbon Red, Narragansett, Jersey Buff, Slate, Black Spanish, White HolArianna Ferguson, a Penn State Millenland, Royal Palm, White Midget, nium Scholar majoring in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, conducted research to and Beltsville Small White. Heritage birds differ from determine whether heritage turkeys would broad-breasted whites in a numeat natural foodstuffs and their impact on ber of ways: They are lighter in growth performance and carcass yield. weight, leaner, with less musImage: Penn State
The Truth Has No Agenda
cling, and dark or colored feathers. Broad-breasted turkeys have been bred to grow so big that they have trouble reproducing on their own and therefore, they must be artificially inseminated. “Heritage birds, which are more athletic, can perch, fly and reproduce naturally, but are more expensive to raise,” Patterson said. “However, because the market for them is growing and consumers are willing to pay so much more for them, there is considerable interest in producing more. As we have looked into this market, I am shocked at the
prices people are getting for these heritage birds.” But the more naturally raised heritage turkeys desired by consumers are not produced the way broad-breasted whites are in commercial poultry operations, and Patterson’s research group is experimenting with novel production methods to raise the birds. Findings from the first phase of the project, incorporating natural feedstuffs into heritage turkeys’ diet, will be presented at the International Poultry Science Forum in
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The Valley, February 2018
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My Percyving Eye by Percy R. Wilson, Jr. Evangelist, The Church of Christ at Milroy
Love Your Spouse God’s Way We live in a time when the fabric of society seems as if it is torn at the seams. There are many stated reasons for the decay in our morals and conduct. One of these is that the family as God would have it to be, is almost non-existent in this country. One reason for the breakdown of the family is that spouses do not love one another as they are commanded to by God. The Bible speaks frequently about love. The Greek word in the New Testament that is most often translated to love in our English translations is the word “agapē.” This word has been
defined by lexicographers as an “intellectual love” or a “benevolent love.” The best definition of the term is found by the inspired apostle Paul: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4–7, NIV)
One thing to note about this
love, it is a love all are to have for one another, and especially for those who are married to one another. This love is in control of its emotions. It shows kindness with endurance, not jealous, not arrogant and it is not loud and obnoxious. This love requires that one behave appropriately. This love does not do things that will hurt, or shame others. It does not call attention to the shortcomings of others in a public setting. It will not keep a record of past wrongs. No one wants to be reminded of “what you did to me” on January
About Faith
One cold winter day when I was still a boy in my teens, we had a four-legged visitor who came to seek food and shelter in our stable. It was a small, black mule that we had never seen before. A stall and food were provided for him. He made himself right at home, going out and in with the rest of our livestock when they were let out to water. On the second Sunday of his prolonged visit, with still no “lost mule” alerts, I decided that the mule could help me with an idea that was developing in my mind. Several years earlier a neighbor had given me the running gear of an old one-horse sleigh. We had not been able to use it because our horses were too broad to fit between the shafts. It turned out that the mule fit perfectly. So I rigged up a harness, tied an old car seat on the sleigh, and started off for
a sleigh ride. The mule seemed almost anxious to get some exercise and even managed to break into a trot as we started up the lane. We drove about 1/2 mile to the neighbor’s house to show him that his gift was being used. He seemed as pleased and excited as I was. We had just started the return trip when the mule stopped and refused to go any further despite my threats and promises of a warm stable at the end of our ride. It was still snowing and beginning to get dark when I saw my father walking up the road toward us to see if I was having a problem. He suggested that perhaps it was a religious mule and did not like to work on Sunday. Then he took the mule’s bridle and led him home without delay or hesitation. The owner of the mule came for him the next day and offered to pay for the food and shelter that
definition of love that it is not just emotional, but it is intellectual as well. It is a love of mind and heart. It is a love that has emphasis on other rather than self. It is a love that requires work and dedication on the part of the one who says, “I love you!” It requires total commitment. February 14 is Valentine’s Day, a day where people will say “I love you,” accompanied by a box of candy or some other gift. Why not state to the one you are married to, “I love you,” and then practice the concept of Biblical love to the one you love. It takes two totally dedicated people to make a marriage work. If both practice Biblical love, with the hard work it involves, there will be fewer divorces, broken homes, and happier children. It is a large and necessary step to reversing the decay in our society. This Valentine’s Day, and every day, commit to loving your spouse God’s way. Percy R. Wilson, Jr. Evangelist, The Church of Christ at Milroy preacherpercy@comcast.net 717-667-7346 My Percyving Eye a
Progress at the Embassy
by Rev. Robert Zorn, Visitation Minister, Lewistown Presbyterian Church
Sleigh Ride
14, 1998, or “how you hurt me” on July 24, 2005. Love forgets and accepts apologies from another. Thus love does not easily become angered and retaliate against another. This love has the right attitude toward the truth and righteousness. It rejoices with the truth and good things about others and is willing to share them. It does not point out the faults that one partner has and then repeat them to their friends. Love seeks truth, and builds upon that truth in a way that will encourage and edify one’s partner for life. This love makes every effort to overcome all obstacles. Love demands that one bear all things or protect the one who is loved. It also demands a trust or belief in the one who is loved. But love goes even further, it always hopes for the best in all circumstances. Love will hold up courageously even when injured or wounded. This type of love is vital for a good marriage. Paul went on to state an important principle after defining love. In verse 8 of 1 Corinthians, chapter 13 he said, “Love never fails.” People may fail, and they may fail us, but love never fails. It is obvious from the Biblical
by pat Lawson
had been provided. I think Daddy chuckled a little as he declined the payment, saying that the mule had earned his keep by working. That was the only sleigh ride that I ever had in my entire life. The sleigh was hoisted back up onto the rafters of the barn and remains there still as far as I know. That experience, so many years ago, has provided me with valuable lessons which have served me well in my life and ministry. Some things may be accomplished by exerting our influence upon others; it is far better to lead by demonstration and example. “Keep me quiet, Master, patient day by day, When I would go faster, teach me Thy delay.” William Adams Brown (18651943)
Come one, come all! It’s time to think Spring and get ready for the annual Embassy Fair at Kish Park in Burnham. This year the dates are Thursday, April 19th thru Saturday, April 28th. The hours and ride ticket prices will be announced at a later date. Bartlebaugh Amusements will again provide the rides and midway. In addition, there will be a variety of vendors, demonstrations and so much more including the always popular live entertainment. And, don’t forget the yummy food. Sponsors, vendors, and volunteers are needed for the fair and details and forms can be found on the Embassy’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/embassyltwn or our web-site: www.embassyth-
Robert L. Zorn Minister of Visitation a
www.thevalleynewspaper.com
eatre.org. We thank you for your support so we can bring back the Embassy to its original grandeur and splendor. As always, donations are crucial to our progress, so please consider making a contribution today. Donations to The Embassy Theatre are tax deductible and can be mailed to: The Embassy Theatre, c/o 114 2nd Ave Burnham, PA 17009. Please make your check payable to: The Friends of The Embassy Theatre. Thank you in advance for your role in helping make downtown Lewistown a destination again. See you at the fair! www.embassytheatre.org; www.facebook.com/embassyltwn A Memory with a Future, a Future Full of Memories! a
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The Valley, February 2018
Dave Wilson
(1). A weak dollar policy will signal to other countries that their export business is now under direct attack, and serious trade and currency wars are bound to flare up just about everywhere. The pseudo (fake) friends that we made happy by gutting our manufacturing base for their benefit will now solidly turn against us.
Coins, Precious Metal and a Little of this and That
SAY GOODBYE TO OUR “STRONG DOLLAR” POLICY The United States has had a strong dollar policy for a very long time. With comments made by US Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin, on Wednesday, January 24th, that policy would appear to be heading for the scrap heap. With the value of the US dollar (compared to other world currencies) steadily dropping for the past several months, Mr. Mnuchin’s comments set off the biggest one day drop in the greenback that currency markets have seen for years. Mr. Mnuchin commented that he “welcomes” a weakening of the US currency, and that such a drop in value is good for the United States. Actually, in some ways it is. Conversely, in many ways it is not. The Trump administration
has very plainly signaled its desire to rebuild America’s manufacturing strength. A strong US Dollar makes products made in America very expensive, and therefore, very difficult to sell. Every country on the planet wants a weaker currency than everyone else, as it makes their exports more attractive to buyers from other countries. For the past 15 to20 years, Washington DC has had a “USA 2nd” attitude, and the loss of our manufacturing base has been a direct result. In order to reverse our continuing huge monthly trade deficits, a seriously weaker US currency is, perhaps, the most important part of any equation that would make that scenario a reality. Mnuchin’s late January
statement was likely not made by accident. It is highly unlikely that a US Treasury Secretary would be simple-minded enough to make comments like that without the complete and total approval of his boss (the President). To be certain, the US is now pushing for a much weaker currency. In some ways that is a good thing, but in many other ways it is definitely not. Here are two big reasons why.
The Truth Has No Agenda
(2). A weak dollar will create dangerously high inflation. Imports into the US will now be more expensive, which means that literally 80 to 85% of everything we buy will cost more, and in many cases, lots more. “Cheap Imports” that allowed the US to enjoy a much higher standard of living for decades, will now be the reason for a severe lowering of those standards. Generations of Americans have enjoyed a life of “plenty” due to a strong national currency. When that advantage
is withdrawn, life in America is in for a dramatic change. A most unpleasant change for everyone. A “cheaper” dollar is good for US trade, but the benefits of a less valuable currency take years to materialize, if in fact, our trading partners don’t counter this new directive with similar devaluations, often referred to as a “race to debase.” The negative aspects of a cheaper currency, however, will be felt almost immediately. High inflation, more cheaply made products, and an inability to even find many, formerly imported, products that will no longer be available if we try to pay for them with our cheaper dollars. Make no mistake. The majority of Americans are about to experience a financial holocaust that very few of them ever expected. a
The Valley, February 2018
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Doldrums “Winter should not be considered as only negation and destruction. It is a secret and inward working of powers, which in spring will burst into visible activity.” ~Henry James Slack Many people look forward to the gathering of family and friends and the festivities and fellowship that come in with the Holidays. Everyone is cooking, creating, planning, cleaning, shopping, wrapping, eating, drinking, etc...keeping busy, laser-focused, and short-sighted, framing out the next few weeks in great specifics. And after the cold and calm, the dullness and stillness are a wel-
comed reprieve. And after that? The festive atmosphere fades into memory, the mile-markers of the impending spring are too distant for even the most diligent of early planners. For those of us in the lands of four seasons, the latter half of winter is fairly universally loathed. The doldrums. Especially cruel is nature when the light is rationed, the last of fall’s color drains from landscapes, the wind whips, the temperatures plunge into negatives, the white snow quickly grays, the birds migrate, and woodland animals hibernate or at best, make their presence scarce. It is the ideal backdrop in which to wallow in despair, disil-
lusionment, regret, guilt, idleness, and all-encompassing generic melancholia. Ironically, if we indulge those feelings in tempered moderation, it may be easier to pass through both the external and internal doldrums unscathed and optimistic. And much like the vegetation that turns itself inward into the soil and stores energy for the spring, we too have much to gain by taking the dead of winter as not a literal “dead time,” but rather a time for metaphorical rebirth. It is true, even for the hardest working and most chore-driven among us, there’s very little to be done, at least in the physical and traditional sense. But, we can focus on all that is neglected during the planting, growing, gardening, canning, birthing, building, and hunting
seasons. We can fine-tune philosophy, re-evaluate goals, begin strength training for the increased endurance and expenditure required for upcoming extended daylight hours, detoxify from too many holiday indulgences, delve into novels and non-fiction to feed and fuel our passions, and create things for the sake of creation, which is an entirely different category than creation out of necessity. The possibilities are vast, but daunting still, as it seems our motivation is stripped to the bone during this time. While motivation favors the sun, warmth, and growth of the more palatable seasons, the stillness of frozen streams, the quieting, snowy, insulated and naked
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forests present a beauty all their own. The patterns of snowflakes, the fractures and bubbles found in the refreezes of waterways, the contrast of the spindly and skeletal white birch in the sea of straight brown and gray trunks, are all just as fleeting as the greenery. In summary, winter is a time for reflection, and while it forces with a strong hand, there is little doubt, and little credit given, to the fact that it is also the hidden hand in many springtime achievements. And let us not forget: “What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” - John Steinbeck a
The Valley, February 2018
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Understanding the Constitution
to the executive branch through delegation. Separation of powers is enforced by our Constitution’s scheme of enumerated powers. Congress essentially, in my opinion, considers itself unconstrained by our Constitution’s enumeration of its limited powers. Our Constitution did not create a federal government with general power, such as those of the states. States may legislate in nearly every area, except those foreclosed by federal exclusivity and the natural, Godgiven rights of the people. The purpose of this limitation is the protection of individual liberty. Every law and act of Congress must fall within some enumerated power or else it is illegitimate. Congress has lost sight of this imperative. “We the People” need to hold their feet to the fire and make Congress take time to identify the constitutional authority to enact every single law. We need to hold all three branches accountable, even if this means one election at a time. Although our current President has made some progress in the constitutional conservative issues, there is still much work to do. a
by David Molek
Separation Of Powers Remarkable positive things have been happening that you don’t hear in the main stream media (CNN, NBC, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, NYT, PBS, AP and the like). President Trump is doing what he campaigned on and promised to do (rare for any political office holder). He stands for most conservative principles. Originalism is enjoying a bit of a comeback in constitutional law. We wish we could welcome a complete return. It had dominated from our founding until the New Deal era. In other words, our Constitution was interpreted according to the meaning that was fixed at the time it was enacted until Progressives changed it. Our Constitution establishes a limited government, separates powers at the federal level and between the federal government and the states, and protects individual rights. It is a structure where “We the People” remain the pivotal decision makers. You would not have realized that under the Obama administration. This separation of powers, which is
the chief constitutional basis of our politics, was under severe pressure from the institutions and practices of administrative, unelected bureaucrats. You will notice we refer often to limited government. Our Constitution declares that the Congress, or legislative branch, may exercise only those legislative powers “herein granted” (Article I, Section 1). That the power assigned to each branch must remain with that branch and may be expressed only by that branch is central to the theory. Judging from conduct in recent years, the branches of our federal government seem to be suffering from an identity crisis. Nothing could be further removed from the reverence for our Constitution written and recommended by the Founders regarding separation of powers than the tone adopted by the chief architect of the administrative state, Woodrow Wilson. Wilson, and leading Progressive politicians and presidents, rejected this separation of powers. Until the
New Deal era, the administrative state did not regulate the business and personal affairs of most Americans. Beginning in the 1930’s and continuing until today, the federal Leviathan has become a powerful and intrusive feature in our country. That was particularly true during the eight years of the Obama administration as federal agencies took it upon themselves to govern almost every aspect of modern life. The legislative branch acts beyond the limited powers granted to Congress in Article I. The judicial branch has seen fit to create “constitutional rights” not actually in our Constitution. Separation of powers is a principle that President Trump appears to be embracing once again according to the original principles in our Constitution. It isn’t just enough for President Trump to rescind or cancel Obama’s Executive Orders. The worst legacy of the Obama administration may be disdain for our Constitution’s separation of
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powers. It rewrote laws, disregarding its constitutional duty to faithfully execute them. Remember that separation of powers provides that the legislative branch creates the laws; the executive branch carries out and enforces the laws; and the judicial branch interprets the laws. No branch is to perform the duties of another. Nor was any branch given the power to disburse its responsibility to the other branches. Unfortunately, we can point out some areas that require President Trump’s attention. The EPA performs all 3 duties we listed. It creates laws or rules, enforces them and renders judgment. The power that is held by the EPA is how tyranny fosters. Our current court system is supposed to interpret our Constitution and laws of the land. But we have judges on all levels who feel it’s their duty to pontificate their personal opinions and to induce sweeping change. Congress continues to outsource its duties
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Aloe Vera: So Many Benefits
Have you ever realized that the one ingredient that makes up 70 to 80% in almost all crèmes is water! Yep: Just water! When we formulated our crème recipes at Shade Mountain, I did not want our crèmes to be predominately water. Water adds no therapeutic value to our recipes. Also, when water and oil are emulsified there is a great need for a preservative. Preservatives in most cases are not our friends, but neither are those nasty bacteria that grow in water based crèmes: and that is a whole other article. So, what to use? There had to be a liquid that we could use that added value. Well, I found an ingredient that not only adds great benefits, but creates a crème that is super creamy without the need for any nasty preservative. That ingredient is Aloe Vera Juice! As it turns out: Aloe Vera has some amazing benefits, both if taken orally and when used topically. Let’s take a look at the benefits of this plump, spike leafed succulent. Aloe vera contains 75 potentially active constituents: vitamins, enzymes, minerals, sugars, lignin, saponins, salicylic acids and amino acids! I am going to cover a few of the ones I feel are pertinent to topical application. • Vitamins: those contained within the Aloe plant (A, C
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and E) are powerful antioxidants which neutralize free radicals and help you keep that youthful complexion. Enzymes: contains 8 enzymes. One of those: Bradykinase, helps to reduce excessive inflammation when used topically. Minerals: calcium, chromium, copper, selenium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium and zinc are all present and essential for optimal functions. A few are antioxidants. Fatty acids: Aloe possesses 4 which act as an antiinflammatory, antiseptic and analgesic. One of the reasons Aloe is great for burns: the analgesic (pain killing effect) Hormones: contains two hormones: Auxin and Gibberellins. These two hormones provide wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce skin inflammation. Giberellin in aloe vera acts as a growth hormone stimulating the growth of new cells. It allows the skin to heal quickly and naturally with minimal scarring. Amino Acids: contains salicylic acid which possesses anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties (great for acne)! The amino acids also
soften hardened skin cells and zinc acts as an astringent to tighten pores. • Lignin: an inert substance, when included in topical preparations, enhances penetrative effect of the other ingredients into the skin. Another great reason Aloe is the perfect base for Shade Mountain’s cremes: to enhande penetration of our other amazing ingredients! • Saponins: the soapy substances that form about 3% of the gel and have cleansing and antiseptic properties. • Mucopolysaccharides: help in binding moisture into the skin. This makes aloe super moisturizing and anti-aging! Aloe’s moisturizing effects have also been studied in treatment of dry skin associated with occupational exposure where Aloe Vera gel gloves improved the skin integrity, decreases appearance of fine wrinkles and decreases erythema (redness of the skin, mostly
in patches). Aloe is most commonly used as a topical treatment for cuts, burns and other wounds – and with good reason. A review of four experimental studies found that Aloe Vera may reduce the healing time of first or second degree burns by almost nine days, when compared to the control groups. These incredible results may be explained by the fact that Aloe speeds up skin cell reproduction by as much as eight times and penetrates the epidermis (the outer layer of skin) four times faster than water! Need a reason to buy an aloe plant for your home? As I studied this plant’s great benefits, I learned one thing I want to share that is not related to using Aloe topically. This easy-to-grow, sun-loving succulent helps clear formaldehyde and benzene from the air! These toxic chemicals can be a byproduct of chemical-based cleaners, paints and more. In an effort to clean the air in space stations, NASA researched and compiled a list of air-filtering plants. Aloe is one of those plants! For more information on this and a complete list of other house plants, do a search on NASA Clean Air Study or visit: https://
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en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_ Clean_Air_Study. We use 100% Organic Aloe Vera juice as a base for all of our crèmes at Shade Mountain. Our crèmes will last a very long time considering there is NO water. We encourage you to come in and try any of our cremes. Mention our ad and story and receive 25% off one jar! Consider what is in your crèmes! Read your labels. Are you paying for mostly water that adds no therapeutic value? Thank you for reading and thank you for your support. Please come visit us on Jack’s Creek Road in Lewistown, or now at The Barn in Lemont (next door to Happy Valley Brewery). We love visitors at Shade Mountain and we LOVE to chat about natural skni care and essential oils. So if you have questions—bring them in! If you are interested in learning more, we teach classes at both locations. Join us on Facebook to view our schedule and sign up, or give us a call at 717-248-8847. ~Tamela a
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The Valley, February 2018
R. O. F. F.
Rescue Our Furry Friends by Patricia Lawson
Valentine’s Day is this month and you know what we love? We love all the support we have from our community. We want to send out a special thank you to the local businesses who have collection cans displayed so the public can make donations to ROFF. In Mifflin County: Ron’s Fruit Market, Honey Creek Inn, Big Valley Beverage, Fisher Thompson, East Gate, Burnham Hardware, Pleasant View Veterinary Clinic & The Logan House. In Juniata County: Juniata Veterinary, Chelsea’s Dog Grooming, Bargain Barn, Juniata Dental Center, Juniata Lumber, Impressions Printing, Carquest, Fisher Auto Parts and The Times Newspaper. Now, before we show you this month’s cuteness we want to broadcast an event that you won’t want to miss. What? Bingo; Where?: Burnham Lions Club; When?: Sunday, February 18th-doors open at noon. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the
“I’m Bandit. I guess one of the reasons I am called Bandit is that I will surely steal your heart. The humans who are taking care of me until I’m adopted say that I’m really sweet and so easy to have around. You see I’m already house broken and crate trained plus I have all my shots. I’m a 3 year old Jack Russel lad and I just love the dogs and cats that are in my current home, So come on over to visit me so you can see for yourself what a great addition I would be to your family.”
“Gee, I don’t even have a name yet. Any suggestions? I’m a little boy who’s only about 4 months old. I’m litter trained and in good health except that I had an untreated eye infection so now I am blind in one eye. I will be neutered when I ‘m 6 months old and that’s when I will be ready to fill your heart and home with love and affection. Won’t you please find a place in your heart for me?”
door. There will be 20 games-15 cash games and 5 vendor games including LulaRoe, Paparazzi, Fox Pro & Younique, plus raffles, 50/50 and rip tickets. The concession stand will also be open, so come hungry! And now for the cuteness… Meet Bandit and a kitten! For more information and additional photos of all of animals up for adoption just go to our web-site www.roffrescue.com or call 1-877-933-ROFF (7633). As always, your donations are crucial to our mission. The vet bills plus daily care for all our rescues are astronomical so your contributions would be greatly appreciated. Donations can be made via PayPal or checks made payable to ROFF may be mailed to: 133 North Walnut Street, Burnham, PA 17009. Thank you! Until they all have homes… www.roffrescue.com; rescueourfurryfriends@yahoo. com; 1-877-933-ROFF (7633)
Home at the Grange by Patricia L. Bird Have You Ever Been Part of A Grange Fundraiser? Happy New Year and Happy Valentine’s Day. I can’t believe that Christmas is over, we are in a new year and that February is upon us. When looking for something special to do with your love, check to see if there are any Grange fundraiser dinners being held. If you have been reading my columns, you should now know that members in all Centre County Granges are very generous with their time and funds. They are continually supporting appeals, donating to other organizations and working alongside others to help them accomplish their projects. However, have you ever wondered about the needs of those Granges and their properties? I am asking you to think about how many community service organizations keep functioning. Well, like so many others, they have their bills to pay too. Centre County Granges were fortunate that one of their own members, whose profession is a lawyer, was able to get most of the county Grange halls exempt from paying property taxes. This allows them to use their funds for not only donations, but also to pay their expenses to keep functioning
and paying for the upkeep of their halls. Many of the Grange halls in Centre County are very old and like most older properties, they need lots of tender loving care. Currently, you will find some doing work, such as replacing windows, pointing brick walls, replacing curtains and doors, replacing old flooring that is slowing rotting away, installing new heat systems, and replacing water and restroom systems for public use. So, what I am asking is if you see a Grange having a public dinner, selling chances, or looking for donations, to please consider donating by buying tickets. You will find that Grange food is some of the best in the county. Another project that Centre County Granges will be part of is hosting the 2019 PA State Grange Session. To do this, it takes lots of funding, time and commitment. The last time Centre County participated as a host was in 2013 when the session was held in State College at the Ramada. By being the host Grange, it brings approximately 400 people to the county. These people in turn help the economy. I will admit that donations will be asked for and many fundraisers will be held again
throughout the next year. Please consider helping if and when asked. In 2013, we were asked to raise approximately $20,000. We were fortunate enough to do so, but also kept expenses to a minimum while still having a great session. When it was over we actually donated all the remaining funds to charity. We gave to local food banks, monies went back to Granges so they could in turn donate it, and we also returned a Lion Country Visitor Grant, which we had been awarded so they could give the money to another organization which needed funding. So in finishing, my point is as Grange helps the community, the community is needed to sometimes help the local Granges. Usually, Grange fundraisers consist of dinners, bingo, renting their halls for special occasions and the main fundraiser for Centre County Pomona Grange #13 is selling the chances for the beautiful quilt given away during the Grange Encampment and Fair. So for a good cheap meal or just a dollar for a chance to win, think about helping the Grange and its members to help the communities that we live in. a
Notice Thank you for the business over the years. Honey Creek Greenhouse will no longer be in business. Our son and his wife will take over the business at Church Lane Greenhouse. So this means Church Lane Greenhouse will be under new ownership starting with the 2018 season. We will be helping them along at the Greenhouse and they are hoping to have the same quality plants and reasonable pricing that we had at Honey Creek Greenhouse. Hope to see you there! Thank you again, Johnathan & Esther Hostetler The Truth Has No Agenda
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Spruce up Your Space! by Kim Rickert Is the winter weather making you itchy to start a home redecorating project? Before you plan to tear out a wall and move the kitchen island, consider this: the easiest way to improve your home on a budget is a new coat of paint! Typically, the paint and supplies needed to redecorate a room cost less than $100. A gallon of paint will cover about 400 square feet of living space with two full coats. Can you think of another project that delivers such a remarkable transformation to your home’s look and feel for so little money? Choose the Right Color The biggest struggle for homeowners preparing to paint is “what color do I choose?” The nice thing is that if you are just not sure, you can purchase samples of paint and try swatches on the surface to see what it will look like in the room. Every year new color options are introduced cued by current design trends. Regardless of the trends, your colors should reflect your family’s tastes and personalities. You could start by keeping in mind the room’s purpose. For example, a relaxing green or blue hue suits a bedroom or a bath; a deep red can add sophistication to a room that is intended for entertaining. Furthermore, light shades can make a small space seem larger, while darker colors can be used to create a warmer feeling in a large room. Keep in mind the furnishings in the room also; bold designs
on fabric or curtains would work better with a subdued look on the walls to keep from being too distracting or busy. If the big pieces in the room are neutral colors, consider punching up the color on the walls by bringing out a color that is used in accessories or artwork.
clean using a degreaser, repairing or sanding surfaces, protecting floors, furnishings and fixtures will make the end result much more pleasing. Don’t rush to get paint on the wall before doing these steps! Use a primer if needed. Some
special undercoatings help to cover dark paint or smooth out rough surfaces. Fortunately, novices can find detailed “how-to” instructions on YouTube or check out the website of a home improvement store for directions. If you decide to hire a professional, make sure you check the credentials and referrals of the painter. Ask about the exact products to be used and any specific requests for prepping. Are there extra charges for high walls and ceilings? Will furniture need to be moved by the homeowner, or does the contractor do that for you?
All About Finishes Paint comes in different finishes, so be sure to do your homework before choosing your paint. Here is a quick guide : Flat : Matte finishes are good for concealing flaws but more difficult to maintain. This kind of paint works best for old walls or low-traffic areas. Satin or Eggshell : Versatile and attractive, this finish is great for walls in high traffic areas and family spaces because they are easier to wipe clean. Semi-gloss : This finish has a visible shine and durable finish; suitable for trim, woodwork, and high-moisture areas in the bath or kitchen. Gloss : The shiniest finish and sometimes used to draw attention to doors, mantels and other special architectural features. DIY? If you are planning to do it yourself, spend some time planning by making a list of the appropriate products and supplies for your project. The most important step is to focus on prep work that will make the overall job and clean-up much easier. Wiping
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Planning To Sell Soon? If selling your home is in your near future? Don’t feel the need to neutralize a nicely staged interior if you already have custom paint colors that coordinate with your furnishings. However, if your home’s decor is dated or the walls are in rough condition, it’s best to create a blank canvas for potential buyers by applying a popular neutral shade such as white, cream or beige. It’s amazing what a nice, fresh coat of paint will do for a house! Happy painting! a
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The Valley, February 2018
Around Town With Carole
by Carole Lokan Moore
Jack of all Trades, Master of None The Business Owner
We’ve come a long way, and gone past the “Point of No return,” here in America. We began as self-sufficient Mom and Pop grocery stores (like the Olsens on Little House on the Prairie—my favorite TV show) or the family owned Butcher shop, where the kids and wife, all worked the store, and lived behind or above the business. This service was great for small communities all over America, in that the busi-
ness owner purchased from long distances away, the necessities of life, and provided them on display in his establishment in the center of town. The butcher didn’t raise the meat, but procured it from the farmer, dressed it, prepped it for sale,and by doing this, allowed city dwellers the convenience and delight of having “fresh” meat on their daily tables. Shoot forward in time and see big business burst forth, corpora-
tions, in the steel industry, the oil and coal industries, even the cattle industry, which became “set apart,” from the norms of the past to produce a society of “Have’s and “Have Nots,” with corporations loosing sight of the “little guy.” The strip malls, like Cherry Hill and Moorestown in our East Coast state of NJ, were able to make purchases in such quantity that the River towns of Beverly, Palmyra, and Riverside were all literally “put out of business” as the shoppers found larger choice/variety at the “Big Box Stores” like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, etc. Little by little, the “Mom and Pop” hardware stores knuckled under to pressure until at the end of their 25 years in business, it was not feasible for the next generation to make a living in the same field as their parents and grandparents. The family business, per se, was a vanishing breed. My mother always remarked in a negative way, “Jack of all trades, master of none” to me when I hopped from place to place in my early years of employment. I always wanted a challenge, so when I mastered the job in half the time of my predecessor, I moved on to learn from another company. Her husband, my Dad, started with Radio Corporation of America, nicknamed for most of us who remember R.C.A. on our televisions and our records. Dad told us kids he had been with the company so long that he started by “feeding the dog” (Little Nipper was RCA’s mascot). Dad retired with a lump sum in lieu of the pension that every one who worked 40 years with a company got, because he was diagnosed with leukemia... probably from hazardous work with materials in the early space program. The point I make is that Mom had a husband who went to work each day for the same compa-
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ny—a guaranteed job with a pension at the end of the row. Mom didn’t realize that every “job” I took, was a stepping stone, a learning tool to prepare me for handling “everything I needed” in the future; my small business. The qords “Jack of all....” still rings in my ears, as I prove myself to all around me by being an “Over Achiever.” Unions came along, and truly, they were needed to break the strong hold of some business owners who considered the employee a “commodity” who could be worked beyond reasonable hours and for less than livable standards. Yes the union was needed 100 years ago, but I’m not sure if the need is still there today. Being a Substitute Teacher for over 40 years every day, getting $50 per day pay (less
taxes it was $37.50), I was in the classroom, behind the desk, and witnessed a large element of “incompetent” educators who literally read their newspaper in class while they drank their coffee and gave the kids “work sheets” to keep them quiet. These low production employees were protected by their unions and many times the kids in the classroom suffered. So, I think, maybe, that Unions don’t need to take your hundreds of dollars a year membership fee, to do what was “needed” a
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OUR YESTERYEARS Mifflin County Historical Society “Would you believe, it started over an insect.” The Grasshopper War - Life and Times before European Settlement When the first settlers came to that part of Mifflin County that would later form Juniata County, the Indians in that area were amenable to these early European visitors. The Native People told the settlers about a famous battleground near Licking Creek, at the mouth of Tuscarora Creek. The Indians said that long ago there were two Indian Villages nearby. They were on opposite sides of the creek from each other: a village of Delaware people on one side and a village of Tuscaroras on the other. These groups lived in harmony, according to History of Port Royal and Vicinity and Sesqui-Centennial Celebration 1812 - 1962. The oral tradition of the area suggests these Native People shared the same hunting ground, seated themselves around the same fires, smoked the common pipe of peace, and danced the same green corn dance together beneath the pale rays of the harvest moon. These mutually peaceful relations may have endured for years, except for a trivial incident that sparked fierce conflict. One day, as the story goes, the children were playing nearby the creek. They found a grasshopper. Children from both villages wanted the grasshopper. They began to argue over the insect. Soon their mothers came and they began to argue too. Finally, the men got involved and the argument turned into a battle. Hundreds of men, women and children died in the battle. The settlers thought that this was an interesting story, but they didn’t believe it. Some years later the farmers were plowing their fields on the spot where the Indians said the war had happened. They began to plow up many relics. The arrowheads, spear points, clubs, and bones
showed signs of a fierce battle. It seems that a big battle had happened because people failed to agree over a little grasshopper. Reverend H. C. Shindle wrote in the Port Royal Times about the conflict in July 1876. Shindle termed the clash as “…the bloody contest that remained in history as the Grasshopper War. The legend is that women of several different tribes gathered together for friendly, social reasons and while so engaged, the children amused themselves trying to catch fish. Bait was scarce, so when one of the children succeeded in catching a grasshopper, it aroused the curiosity of the other children, and envy among some, who began a squabble over ownership of the innocent insect. This waxed so warm that the mothers took part, eventually escalating to involve the warriors. The resulting bloody and disastrous war was the final result.” Rev. Shindle concluded: “The traditions all agree as to the cause and character of the fierce conflict, but they do not agree as to the locality.” Artist and author Patrick Reynolds produced a column in the 1980s on this topic in his popular Pennsylvania Profiles series. The Grasshopper War is also included in the textbook, Mifflin County Yesterday and Today, an extensive history written in 19911993 by local educators, as part of the fourth grade Social Studies curriculum in the Mifflin County
School District. The Grasshopper War folktale, which has been described as a distinctively American Indian story, holds modern interest for a number of reasons. Dr. John Witthoft wrote in The Journal of American Folklore in 1953 that it remains the only Indian folktale that has become part of the oral tradition of the European settler community. Dr. Witthoft notes that the story has not only survived its American Indian originators, but it is known today to non-Indians through European settlers who first heard the tale then passed it down to their descendants. An interesting aspect of the tale is that several locations have also been suggested as “the” site of the conflict. One Grasshopper War story was placed in the Wyoming Valley near WilkesBarre, another in Greene County, while another is told in Durham Township in northeastern Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In 1870, folklorist John Ruth recorded an account from that area; his journals are now held in the archives of the Bucks County Historical Society in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. The Bucks County story goes like this: The Shawnees occupied the west bank of the Delaware River, and the Lenape the east bank. For a number of years they lived in peace with each other, and the Shawnees became a powerful people. A very trifling incident finally involved the two tribes in a war. Some of the Shawnee women wandering over to the
MCHS Photo – The story of Native People is presented in an Interactive exhibit, with a scale model of a wigwam, at McCoy House Museum, 17 N Main Street, Lewistown. Open every Tuesday, 11-2, May through September.
east side of the river, met a party of women and children of the Lenape. One of the children found a large grasshopper, which a mother snatched from the child’s hand and gave to her own child. This led to a war which resulted in the defeat of the Shawnees, who fled to the wilderness of the Susquehanna. The final battle of this war was fought in the vicinity of Holland Station, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. A European settler is said to have witnessed the battle from the Pennsylvania side. Broken spear-points, arrows heads, and stone axes are still found in the vicinity. In 1870, according to John Ruth’s journal, the old settlers in the area told Ruth that their immediate ancestors often repeated the story of the “great Indian battle” and further, that the bones of the Indians were piled along fence rows of plowed fields as late as the year 1800. Dr. Witthoft explains that the Grasshopper War folktale is best known in the vicinity of Mexico, Juniata County, where he heard the tale from several local people as late as the 1940s. He relates that an area near Academia was where an Indian Mound of great size was located, reputedly the site of the ancient battle. The folklorist wrote: Octogenarians living nearby informed the writer that they conversed with original settlers concerning the mound, and it was as high as a hunter’s cabin (15 feet), and its base when they first saw it, covered an eighth of an
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acre. Other old folks described it as having been twelve feet high and 100 feet in diameter, with an oval base. Over the years, farmers leveled the mound, spreading the soil over the fields. Students from the Academy frequented it for teeth and other relics. Quite a number of stone axes and flint arrow points, pipes and other relics were exhumed. It was believed by old citizens of the Mexico area that this mound was the result of some terrible battle between two hostile tribes, who thus disposed of their dead. Was there a real war over a grasshopper? It’s questionable. “In northern Indian culture,” asserts Dr. Witthoft, “the story may be explained as a morality tale…in simplest form, fighting among ourselves is a serious threat to the survival of the group. And as such, remains a cautionary tale.” Among European settler culture, the Grasshopper War story helped rationalize why the Indians left an area prior to or during the frontier period, and also helped explain, although incorrectly, the presence of known archeological sites in an area of settlement to these new residents from Europe. Whatever the explanation, when you see a grasshopper this summer, recall the folktale of The Grasshopper War, an interesting remnant from the Juniata Valley’s colonial period.
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The Valley, February 2018
Bridget’s Story
Some of us change the world in ways that make breaking news and some of us change the world in quiet, yet amazing, ways every day. Bridget represents a million special souls that have devoted their lives to helping others in ways that we would never know about because they would never think to bring attention to themselves. Bridget grew up in Green Sea, SC. Although it sounds like a place for a picturesque childhood to play out, hers was not the perfect story. Bridget’s father struggled with drug and alcohol addictions throughout his life. And if we have never experienced that reality, we can only imagine the pain that inflicts on the whole family. Pain that would eventually cause her mother and younger sister to leave in search of peace and healing. Bridget, at the young age 18, made a very tough decision to stay by her father’s side. This could not have been an easy decision, but she felt it was the right one. She knew he needed someone. Bridget worked three jobs to put herself through college. Working hard to earn an academic scholarship and a stipend for playing the piano for vocal classes, she conquered college, but not without hardship. She originally wanted to be a physical therapist, but failed her first biology class, so then decided maybe law school was a better option and a way to do some good. Law school proved to be too expensive and after changing her mind five times, she found a good fit and decided to become an English teacher. It’s good to remember we don’t always find the right thing on the first try and that only means there is something better. After five long years of hard work and determination, Bridget graduated from college! All the while her father was declining
way works for them. Seeing kids deal with the aftermath of a bad home life or struggle with anxiety and depression or showing up in her office because they were having a panic attack, sharing their thoughts of suicide or other destructive behaviors is the hard side. But seeing them graduate college and go on to become special education teachers or biologists makes her job so worth it. Bridget desires to help kids understand that tough times don’t last, instead they can build character and make a person stronger. She reminds them that yes, sometimes
and the all the jobs she had to maintain throughout college were not only used for herself, but to pay household bills and even property taxes for her father. By far, it was one of the hardest times in Bridget’s life, but her relationship with Christ and her church family is what got her through it all. Those years are when Bridget began to learn a lot about herself and her desire to help others. After college, Bridget became an English teacher to low functioning students, those with both learning and behavioral disorders. She worked at a school down south for two years with the intention of trying to help those kids on a personal level. Working in a school made up mostly of minority students, she began to see that kids cannot learn unless their basic needs were met. Being limited in what she could do to help, she tried to just listen as they shared their problems, but her heart was broken, and her passion to do more was growing stronger. After moving to Lewistown and seeing the same things with the students she taught here, she knew she wanted to do more. Her husband was the one that suggested Bridget become a school counselor because of her desire to be in a position where she could possibly have more of an impact on young people’s lives. After making the choice to change career directions, she applied at Penn State and was accepted. For four years she taught full-time, took 1-2 classes in the evenings and waited tables on the weekends to make up for the money spent on grad school! Because of working two jobs, what would normally be two years to finish grad school, took four. She graduated in 2010 and secured a job at Mifflin County High School. Bridget finds the most rewarding part of her job is watching kids find success in whatever
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life just stinks, but just like hers did, theirs can get better too! Bridget is truly making a difference every day by counsel-
ing, supporting and encouraging our next generation of teach-
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The Valley, February 2018
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The Valley, February 2018
The Truth Has No Agenda
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Have You Seen My Sled?
The Valley, February 2018
Phantom Kats by Tim Wagner
Long ago, vintage snowmobiles were the thing to do in the winter. I bet your father or grandfather use to have one, just to trail ride or field ride, for family fun or to race. It all started for me in the 1970s. I was a young farm boy and on the farm we had a old Skidoo single lunger—it was great fun! Then one day I went to a snowmobile race being held at my local sportsman’s club; man did they MOVE! There was one that always stuck out in my mind. That was a 1971 Arctic Cat King-Kat, both three cylinder and four cylinder snowmobile. There was both 650cc, 800cc Hirth and the 800 Kawasaki 4 cylinder King-Kat. One day, I thought to myself, I am going to find one of them running or not. When I was a teenager in the early to mid 1980s, my dad would go to farm consignment sales and my brothers and I would go along. One sale we went to had a 650 King-Kat and an 800 triple KingKat. I was so excited; I wanted them so bad. I asked my dad to
A 3 cylinder King-Kat 800
buy them for me and he said “NO, you guys will get hurt on them.” So that was the end of that. Years later when I had made my own money, I began to put ads in the papers looking for them. A
then said, “I’ve got two of them, but they belong to my brother so you will have to ask him if they are for sale. He told me they used to race up at the old airstrip in State College. They had bought the sleds at the Artic Cat/Harley Davidson dealership at Newton Hamilton. The motor eventually blew up on the snowmobile and the dealer at the time found a whole sled to replace the motor, so that is how they ended up with two KingKats—one was used for parts. Over the years a person tends
said, “I know where there are two of those King-Kats sitting in a barn for the last 30 years or so. My friend finished paying for his food and looked for the young
man, but he was gone. That clue ignited this lifelong desire to look for them once again. If anyone can help me find them, it would be much appreciated! a
The monstrous 4 cylinder 800 King-Kat.
farmer guy answered one of the ads and asked me, “why are you looking for these King-Kat snowmobiles?” The only answer I had for him was that they are a cool machine and I just wanted one. He
to forget stuff or put it on the back burner as they say. One day a friend of mine said to me, “Hey, do you still play around with snowmobiles?” I said “Yes, what do you have?” He said he was at Rossman’s Salvage Yard and helped this old guy unload his truck. He had a 4-cylinder Arctic Cat on the back he was junking along with some other stuff. I asked right away, “Did you get it?” His reply was that he didn’t know if I still played with them or not. So I went over to Rossman’s to ask about the 4-cylinder Arctic Cat and was told it was just sold three days before, so I missed out again on that one. Later, another friend of mine was at Peachey’s Restaurant. He was wearing a t-shirt that had pictures of the different King-Kats on it. He was paying his bill when a young man came up to him and
Mobile Veterans Outreach Vans Deliver Information on Benefits, Services Across Pennsylvania Vans Available for 2018 Community Events
The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) may be headquartered in Lebanon County, but its ability to reach the state’s nearly 820,000 veterans and their families extends to all corners of the commonwealth thanks to its two Mobile Veterans Outreach Vans. “Our goal is to provide personalized assistance where our veterans live and to assist them with services, benefits and programs they might be eligible for,” said Maj. Gen. Tony Carrelli, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the DMVA. “You will see our outreach vans at shopping centers, sporting events, county fairs, parades, festivals, and other events in communities throughout Pennsylvania.” Staffed with accredited veteran service officers, each wheelchair-accessible van is a
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convenient resource to learn about a wide range of federal, state and county benefits available to qualified veterans and their families. Such benefits might include connected disability compensation, pensions, VA health care benefits, burial benefits, education benefits, vocational rehabilitation, active service bonuses, state long-term care facilities, and much more. In 2017, the vans traveled to 159 events across the state and DMVA staff interacted with nearly 2,900 veterans. DMVA’s outreach staff coordinates each event with county directors of veterans affairs, veteran service organizations and local and state officials to maximize publicity and attendance. To request a van for a community event and to find out where the vans will be, visit DMVA’s webpage on Mobile Veterans Outreach Vans. a
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The Valley, February 2018
Snowy winter greetings from Nittany Valley! Are we ever blessed or even thankful enough for our warm homes, food that we eat, and the many different outfits that we have hanging in our closets? What about our health, or do we just live day-by-day and think nothing of it? Then as soon as the sun quits shining or it rains, we grumble about the weather. Have you ever thought what kind of day we would have if we got up each morning and said “Thank you Lord for the great night’s sleep,” even if it was only a few hours? Did you ever ask yourself, with God’s help today I want to help someone in need,
may it be a kind word, a flower, a meal, or a phone message saying we are thinking about them? Or what about asking them how they are, and then being quiet and truly listen! When I think of truly listening, I think of what blind people have to do; they listen, they feel. When we feel with our hearts and ears instead of going by what we see, wow what a total difference it is. So next time you see something and are about to go talk to your neighbor, remember to listen first, then feel within your heart. It will make a total change for all of us and our neighbors, friends, family, co-workers, churches and the list goes on. And that brings
Heritage Turkey Production from page 5
pounds at 18 weeks. ating the feed intake and perfor The research yielded some mance of heritage-breed turkeys interesting information, said have been done. Ferguson, a Penn State Millen The next phase of the Penn nium Scholar who is required to State research will involve raising conduct research as part of her heritage birds in a silvopasture undergraduate scholarship. system where they will be able “The birds really liked the fly to forage and eat natural feedlarvae, blueberries, hickory nuts stuffs as they find them outdoors, and Chinese chestnuts,” said Ferinstead of predominantly commerguson. “It was obvious they precial turkey feed in a pen trial. ferred some of the natural foods Perhaps the oldest agroforwe gave them and others not so estry system used in the temperate much, to the point they barely ate regions of the world, silvopastosome. Juneberries, for example, ral systems are characterized by they didn’t like — the turkeys integrating trees with forage and tended to play with the hazelnuts livestock production. The apinstead of eating proach might be them,” she added. ideal for raising “Our data suggests heritage turkeys that the growth of in Pennsylvania heritage turkeys and the Northeast can depend on the where smaller palatability of the agricultural operanatural feedstuffs.” tions abound. The trial Patterson will evaluating natural work with a cofeedstuffs for their operator who will impact on growth provide the land performance and to set up the next carcass yield is just phase of the study, the first phase in and they will plant “Heritage” refers to specific evaluating produc- breeds of turkeys raised in the forages, berry tion methods for United States prior to the 1950s, bushes and nut when the poultry industry began trees in the spring heritage turkeys, the cross breeding that resulted in to prepare the site according to the broad-breasted white turkeys for future flocks of Patterson, who most people eat today. pointed out that birds. few studies evalu- Image: Ruth Caron / Unsplash “I think there
Atlanta today (Jan. 29) by Arianna Ferguson, a sophomore majoring in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. Her research focused on the performance of the “Artisan Gold,” a French bird with Black Spanish heritage in a trial with 12 pens of turkeys, each holding six birds. Six pens were given commercial feed. The other six pens were fed commercial feed plus 15 percent natural feedstuffs. The feed mix was designed to encourage the birds to consume the natural feedstuffs, such as insects, mushrooms, forages, berries and nuts. To determine their feed conversion, the heirloom birds were weighed weekly and their feed intake measured. Early in the study the birds consuming natural foods seemed to be eating a little more than the control group and weighed slightly more. However, by the time the turkeys were processed at the Penn State Poultry Education and Research Center in December, the birds that consumed natural feedstuffs weighed essentially the same as turkeys in the control group that ate only commercial poultry feed. Hens weighed 11.84 pounds at 16 weeks and toms weighed 19.13
me to the story of a young 14 year old that had that disease called glaucoma. How many of you are familiar with that disease? It is a group of diseases that affect the optic nerve that can lead to irreversible vision loss. It is usually, but not always, associated with elevated fluid pressure within the eye. All forms of glaucoma can cause damage to the optic nerve and lead to vision loss, even blindness, if left untreated. More than two million Americans have been diagnosed with glaucoma and as many as two million more could have it and not yet know. It is the second leading cause of blindness and is expected to become more prevalent in years to
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come due to the growing population of older adults. Those at greater risk are people over the age of 60, people of African ancestry, and people with diabetes, high blood pressure, severe myopia (nearsightedness), or a family history of glaucoma. Smokers also have an elevated risk, as do those who have sustained eye injuries or who have used steroids for an extended period of time. So back to the 14 year old, his eye pressures were up in the 20s, like 22 for one eye and 25 for the eye, when he started on this product called Anti-Glycation Extreme, A.G.E. I can’t say for sure how long he was on the product when his eyes turned blood red! The Parents were a little worried but they kept on until it cleared up and then they turned whiter than they ever were, even as a baby. When he went to his eye doctor, they were amazed, shocked, surprised and thrilled as his numbers had dropped to 15 and 17. Never in this doctor’s years of working with glaucoma have they ever seen someone’s eye pressure drop, but rather always increase. Wow, can you imagine how these parents felt, just knowing their son may have the ability of being
able to see after all for the rest of his life?! And we just praise God and thank Him for letting us be a part of a such an amazing product and team. As we continue to change the lives of all our loved ones, one family at a time! So if you want to learn or become educated on these products, why are they made this way, how do they work and why, does Tom have such a passion to watch families take back their life, when they thought all else is lost? Tom, himself, will be in Manheim, PA on March 9 and 10 at the Spooky Nook Complex, 75 Champ Blvd., Manheim PA 17545. Come learn with the best, get to pick his brain as of why a person who has all the money he needs, come to the Keystone State (State of Independence) to teach and educate us on how to live better or even chose the best. Come one, come all! Tickets are only $35 and you 2 guest tickets for free! So you can take more friends and family with you as you learn. Remember you will want to bring a tablet and a pen as you will want to take lots of notes! a
are a lot of places this approach could work,” Patterson said. “It’s a system designed for a high-value market and could be scaled up or down to fit a farmer’s preferences.” But such a setting may prove to be daunting for the turkeys, Patterson said. “I think they will be challenged in a wild setting because the birds really preferred the commercial feed. They are going to have to be motivated to seek out and consume these other feedstuffs.” Also involved in the Production of Heritage Turkeys With Na-
tive, Natural Feedstuffs research were Lisa Kitto and Erica Rogers, graduate students in Animal Science; Stephanie Bieber and Heather Sciubba, undergraduates in animal science; Christine Ruffin, an undergraduate in veterinary and biomedical sciences; and Tracey Coulter, with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the American Chestnut Foundation, which provided the natural feedstuffs, supported this work. a
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The Valley, February 2018
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The General Welfare Clause It’s Not About Money Article 1 section 8 clause 1 of the Constitution reads: “The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States…” From this clause, many have construed the “general Welfare” statement to grant practically unlimited power to Congress to collect and spend the tax payers’ money on whatever cause Congress may invent for the “good” of the government or the people. Is that what the designers of our Constitution intended when they penned those words “general Welfare?” James Madison, the Father of the Constitution and 4th President suggests that the meaning of the “general Welfare” clause is the exact opposite. According to the father of the Constitution the powers delegated to the central government “are few and defined and those that remain in the States are numerous and indefinite.” Federalist #45. Madison also explained that those powers are “reserved to external objects” of “war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce.” He also stated that the central government’s power to tax is intended to be limited to those powers. Federalist #45 Madison clarified the meaning of this often abused “clause” in 1792 during the Cod Fishery Bill debate. Specifically, that the General Welfare clause is not a delegated power of its own but a description of the purpose of the limited and enumerated powers described in Federalist 45. The General Welfare clause, he explains, was added to describe the purpose of the limited powers being delegated to the central government, for example, so the central government could use those
authorizes Congress to do whatever they think fit, provided it be for the general welfare, of which they are to judge, and money can be applied to it, Congress must have power to create and support a judiciary establishment, with a jurisdiction extending to all cases favorable, in their opinion, to the general welfare, in the same manner as they have power to pass laws, and apply money providing in any other way for the general welfare….
If Congress can employ money indefinitely to the general welfare, and are the sole and supreme judges of the general welfare, they may take the care of religion into their Own hands; they may appoint teachers in every state, county, and parish, and pay them out of their public treasury; they may take into their own hands the education of children, establishing in like manner schools throughout the Union; they may assume the provision for the poor; they may undertake the regulation of all roads other than post-roads; in short, every thing, from the highest object of state legislation down to the most minute object of police, would be thrown under the power of Congress; for every object I have mentioned would admit of the application of money, and might be called, if Congress pleased, provisions for the general welfare.” James Madison, On The Cod Fishery Bill, Granting Bounties, 1792
powers for the “general Welfare” of the union, rather than for the benefit of one State over the other. This debate make it crystal clear, that this is not a blanket power to “do anything you can think of” to promote the so-called general welfare. It is in fact a limitation to direct that the power be wielded equitably. In this debate Madison warns of the consequences of interpreting this clause as a general boilerplate power, rather than a description of the intent that the limited powers be used to the Characteristic Rehabilitation Nursing general Hospital Home benefit of Frequent visits Required Not required the entire by an attending union. He physician* says if the Multidisciplinary Required Not required general team approach welfare clause RN oversight and 24 hours/day At least 8 availability consecutive takes is erhours/day roneously given such Nursing hours per Between 5 and Between 2.5 patient per day 7.5 hours and 4 hours a broad meaning Specialty nursing Yes Not required then we training, rehabiliwill have tation expertise a govt that Physical, occupa3 hours/day, No minimum is far more tional and/or 5 days/week expansive (minimum) speech therapy level of service than what the Con*The hospital provides access to independent physicians. stitution authorizes:
It is relevant to note in this discussion that Madison is remarking that it would be an unconstitutional expansion of power for the central government to involve itself in areas such as education, roads, social welfare, and law enforcement. He is speaking to his colleagues in extremes to show his point that interpreting the clauses in this way would result in an unlimited central government, a notion that would have been highly offensive to the men involved in this debate. And had they not been convinced that the central govt was barred by the Constitution form intruding into these areas, they would have never ratified the Constitution. So according to the Father of the Constitution, the General Welfare clause does not give power or permission for federal involvement in the internal affairs of the States. And to the contrary, once we see the adoption an er-
Continued on page 22
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The Valley, February 2018
Modern Energy and Alternative Heating with Curt Bierly Were You Ready for the 2018 “Cold Snap”?
It is a cold winter night as I write this column. The temperature outside is in the low teens and the wind is blowing. Burr!! We’ve seen a few nights plummet to near zero so far this year and I know other areas had even lower temperatures. Our technicians have responded to numerous out of heat calls this winter. Many of these customers had no backup heat and really hadn’t given it a lot of thought. We can all remember when oil was in short supply. Then there is always the possibility of trees falling on the power lines because of a wet snow that is too heavy for the branches, and as a result you lose electrical power. I can remember years
ago many trees fell on the power lines passing thru the Millheim Narrows and it was a week or so until power was restored in part of Brush Valley. If you haven’t thought about it already, you need to consider now an alternative for heating your home in case of an emergency. What you choose will depend on how much you want to budget toward a solution. If your primary heat is oil or gas, the solution can be as simple as a few electric space heaters that you can place at strategic locations throughout your home. You don’t need anything expensive. We usually hand out milk-house heaters for our customers’ use in an emergency. The units have two heat selec-
tions, a small fan and a knob to set the temperature. Purchase the ones that have a tip-over shutoff switch in case you bump into it and it upsets. Remember all electric heaters are 100% efficient. For every 1000 watts of electrical power you put into the heater, your receive 3412 btu’s of heat – so – it isn’t necessary to purchase one that has a lot of bells and whistles or promises more then 100% efficiency. If you want to budget more money toward the project, purchase something that heats without using electricity or consider a small generator to operate your oil or gas furnace, or go with a whole house back-up generator that uses propane or natural gas. You can purchase non-electric units that burn wood, coal, gas or oil. Pellet stoves are popular, but they use electricity, so you would need a generator. Some units require more “tending” than others. The gas and oil stoves need no tending and require very little annual maintenance. Coal requires less “tending” than wood. Consider selecting a fuel other than what your central system uses in case a shortage arises. There are some really good looking units out there for your living room, family room or recreation room, or some generic ones for
The Truth Has No Agenda
21 your basement. I can remember recently a customer woke me out of a deep sleep at 4am in the morning to report his gas furnace was down. It was above freezing and we open daily at 8am. Once I got my senses together, A basic “Milk House” heater is inexpensive and will I told the suffice for most emergencies. customer spective. It will give you peace to call our of mind during those cold winter business at 8am and they will nights when the temperature dips schedule a service call. I later into the low single digits and the discovered that this customer had wind is a howling. electric baseboard, which could have easily been utilized to keep Curt Bierly is president of the bithe house up to temperature until erly group incorporated of which we arrived. Apparently he didn’t Stanley C. Bierly is a division. realize he had backup heat. He is chair of the Penn College What ever you choose, make HVAC Advisory Board. You can it a priority to become more contact him at 814-349-3000 or independent from a heating percbierly@bierlygroup.com.
The Valley, February 2018
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In Defense of Liberty, KrisAnne Hall from page 20 roneously expansive interpretation of the general Welfare clause, and see federal involvement in our schools, local governments, roads, and every minute affair of our lives, we will know we have a absurdly out of control federal government. As Madison himself said,
e-Books
Let’s talk a little bit about eBooks. Whether you spell it eBooks, e-books, or eAudio, I love eBooks! According to author Penelope Lively, “It seems to me that anyone whose library consists of a Kindle lying on a table is some sort of bloodless nerd.” Okay, so, yeah, I’m a nerd. I always have my smartphone with me, therefore, with the Kindle and Overdrive apps and (unlimited data), I also always have a book with me and the library in my pocket! I can search the Mifflin County Library’s digital library for a book at any time, day or night, and in my jammies! But very few non-librarian people understand the issues surrounding eBooks and libraries. I think I’ve written about it before, but it’s been awhile and nothing much has changed since. You might be thinking, What is she talking about? Let me explain. You can log onto Amazon and purchase the Kindle version of James Patterson’s newest title Home Sweet Murder for $9.99 and read it as many times as you want. MCL (who partners with the Central PA Library District, which includes Juniata County Library, Centre County Libraries, and Clearfield County Libraries) pays $69.99 for the same title and a limited number of circulations. That is, once Home Sweet Murder is checked out 25 to 35 times, then the title disappears and we have to purchase the title all over again. Why is that? Well, the book business is a business. Libraries believe in the freedom to read, but authors and publishers want to make money. Sometimes the relationship is described as adversarial. Publishers sell the license to the eBook to libraries, where publishers sell the individual the book (let’s face it, you can’t lend your eCopy of Home Sweet Murder to your friend). Recently, Penguin Random House
changed their policy, now offering a license that is perpetual with no limits on the number of circulations or time period. Yay! Unfortunately, popular authors like James Patterson aren’t published through Penguin Random House. Additionally, having a license means that only one library reader can check out that one eBook at a time. Causing a longer wait until it’s your turn to check out the book. For example, I’m a huge Louise Penny fan. I want to read her newest title Glass Houses. I’m number 17 and there are 2 copies, with an average of 14 days per check out. I’ll be on hold for the eBook until March. So why bother? Most people like the feel of a real book anyway, right? I agree but in 2017, MCL library patrons checked out 86,169 books and of those, 14,633 were eBooks and eAudiobooks. In 2016, 12,600 eBooks were checked out and as more and more people get smartphones and tablets, this number will increase. And libraries have to keep up with the times. Young Adult author Shandy L. Kurth says, “What’s cheaper than a gallon of gas? An ebook. Save a dollar, stay home and read!” You can save more than that if you use the digital library and MCL has staff who are trained and waiting to help you figure out all of the apps and steps you’ll need to download an eBook from the collection. eBooks are also a great way for new authors to get started. Amazon as well as Barnes and Noble have many free eBooks from undiscovered authors available. Some are better than others, I grant you, but give them a try! Just remember, “Life without a Kindle is like life without a library nearby.” ~Franz S. McLaren, author of Home Lost. Written by Susan Miriello, Assistant Library Director a
“I venture to declare it as my opinion, that, were the power of Congress to be established in the latitude contended for, it would subvert the very foundations, and transmute the very nature of the limited government established by the people of America; and what inferences might be drawn, or what consequences ensue, from such a step, it is incumbent on us all to consider.”
Editor’s Corner from page 2
Because we have turned Constitutional interpretation over to the musings of those in power, we have allowed those entrusted with the preservation of the Constitution to “transmute” into something other than a Constitutional Republic. In an arrogance magnified by ignorance, the political elite have decided that the wisdom sown into our founding documents and expressed in the profuse writings of its framers does not need to be consulted. The fact is, this wisdom is tied to over 700 years of lessons in history and 5 foundational Liberty Charters, not to mention the political philosophers and writers that the designers of our Constitution diligently consulted. The question is, where is such negligence leading us? What kind of government are we allowing? Into what have we been transmuted? And as James Madison
asked “What consequences might ensue?”
vote for President Trump, but I sure am in favor of almost everything he has done so far; the fact that it is causing a meltdown in Hollywood and in liberal circles makes it just that much sweeter. But seeing those Republicans like McCain, Graham, and others tossed aside like the garbage they are, has made it worth it. In my opinion, what John McCain did in delivering the fake dossier to the FBI reeks of high level involve-
ment, and he should pay. This goes for a large majority in our government, but would be a just place to start. I can do without the 1920s perception on cannabis, and the acceleration of prosecution for victimless crimes, but that is another story; let’s clean up this huge mess now, Jeff Sessions and Mike Pompeo can be dealt with later, carry on Mr. President! a
About KrisAnne Hall KrisAnne Hall is an attorney and former prosecutor, fired after teaching the Constitution to TEA Party groups – she would not sacrifice liberty for a paycheck. She is a disabled veteran of the US Army, a Russian linguist, a mother, a pastor’s wife and a patriot. She now travels the country and teaches the Constitution and the history that gave us our founding documents. KrisAnne Hall does not just teach the Constitution, she lays the foundations that show how reliable and relevant our founding documents are today. She presents the “genealogy” of the Constitution – the 700 year history and five foundational documents that are the very roots of American Liberty. a
revelations require a more drastic approach like their dismantling. If these agencies are not going to be accountable to the people, there is more danger in their existence than not. I am happy that President Trump decided to stop the secrecy and let the people read the information and then make their own decisions about their veracity. It is the Constitutional way to handle this situation. I am hoping for even more transparency and the firing of many, many government employees who don’t posses the integrity to separate ideology from righteousness. Actually, I am in favor of much more severe punishment for what they have done. There is a possibility the Republic • Reliable Propane & Heating Oil Delivery never recovers from • Budget Payment Plan this. But let’s get on Call today with the firings—it to learn about our • 24/7 Emergency Service will save us a lot of NEw CustOmER • Heating Equipment Service Plans money. If we could sPECiAls! just bring the gov• Safety Trained Professionals ernments involve• Over 80 Years Experience ment in our lives and it’s size back to where it was in the ‘90s, we would be in very good shape. Those were good Our Business is Customer Satisfaction times the ‘90s—the 1790s!! 717-248-5476 • 1-800-PROPANE (776-7263) Most of you know that I did not
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The Valley, February 2018
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The Valley, February 2018
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Permaculture and Socialism
I tried for weeks to figure out what to write about this month, but it didn’t come easily this time. Part of it is that we’re currently much more focused on homeschool than harvest, so it takes a bit of time to get the permaculture wheels turning in my head. Part of it is that I’ve had a few new commitments added to my schedule, leaving me a little harried and unfocused. But another, perhaps deeper reason, is that I’m disappointed in the permaculture community as a whole. While I’m sure it’s no surprise to anyone that there are parts of permaculture I don’t really buy into, I have been particularly disillusioned with a few public statements that some notable
permaculturists have recently made. And while there may have been a time in my youth when I’d happily have dreaded my hair and bought into the ill-conceived notion that socialism would save us all, I’m older now and marginally wiser. Admitting this much would likely get me burned on a black locust stake in the permaculture community. * Is there social activism and political ideology tied up in the permaculture community? Yes. There is. At least to some people. In my opinion, it’s unnecessary. It frustrates me because any time politics get tied to any scientific studies, facts get muddied, claims go without investigation, and the public opinion becomes
widely recognized as truth whether or not there is evidence to support it. On the other hand, people from the other side of the aisle rally against the original idea, despite the potentially good core idea. It seems that most people would much rather simply be told what to think rather than dig in and do the thinking themselves. It’s much easier to choose an attractive side rather than to look at individual issues. Currently, there is a big push in the permaculture community for people to support socialist groups. They claim it goes along with the “care of people” concept, as if there have been no capitalists in the history of our nation who have cared for people. According
to at least one well-known person in the permaculture field, you aren’t really doing permaculture unless you support the destruction of our current political system! What happens when you don’t buy that? What happens you’re the type of person to demand proof that something works before you invest? Well… let’s just say if I were one of those famous men or women making a living in permaculture, I’d be out of luck. (We won’t even get into the irony there.) So, today I dreaded sitting down to write an article about this movement that has suddenly exhausted me. As I stared out my window, I tried to remember why I loved the concept of permaculture to begin with. What I saw were some bushy perennial arugula and dried asparagus fronds which most people would
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have cut down in September. They were all covered in snow and icicles and oddly beautiful to me. See, I have been taking “The Messy Garden Pledge” since before there was a messy garden pledge to take. I had to smile a little at what I imagine passersby must be thinking: There lives the worst gardener in history! I know, though, that those dried clumps likely are providing some much needed cover for overwintering critters. I know that the seed heads I refused to cut down had fed a few little birds on their way south. Maybe more importantly, I know that I’m setting the bar of lawn maintenance so low, there’s a chance someone will feel less pressured to spray every single clover and dandelion the moment it pops up next spring! Then I thought of how few critters we saw when we moved into our home- back when it was all dead grass with a single, unruly arborvitae. Granted, there are more screams of horror now when I’m confronted with grass spiders in my knitting basket, but there are also more squeals of laughter as my daughters make fun of me for it. Those frozen stalks of dead vegetation reminded me of the
Continued on page 28
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The Valley, February 2018
Katrina Bliss Huntingdon County Dairy Princess The transition to a New Year often brings many changes. For some, it simply means the turn of a calendar page. For others, however, it brings a move, perhaps a new vehicle, or often, a change in career. When discussing careers, one must not overlook the often-underappreciated job that America’s dairy producers perform and its impact on the nation’s workforce and economy. The dairy industry provides over 900,000 jobs for America. From insurance agents, to accountants, and milk truck drivers, there are countless posi-
tions that dairying provides. In Pennsylvania alone, the dairy industry provides over 60,000 careers. The most commonly thought of is the dairy farmer, whose task it is to provide proper nutrition and comfort to the cows. Their job description may include anything from nurturing a newborn calf to creating a manure management plan—a vital part of managing an environmentally friendly dairy. The dairy farmer of today encompasses a variety of skills, using knowledge from a diverse cluster of disciplines. By noon
ciplines into their daily lives, there must also be other workers performing jobs that impact the dairy industry as well. Bankers, loan officers, and accountants are all crucial to the financial stability of the farm. Mechanics and milk truck operators are critical as well. Nutritionists, veterinarians, and hoof trimmers are all important for the well-being of the herd. In speaking with local dairy farmers, the feeling of pride and respect for the lifestyle they enjoy is evident. It is only through the
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Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra to Perform
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“The Best of Beethoven”
lasting
In State College
Music Director Yaniv Attar will conduct the second season concert of the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra entitled “The Best of Beethoven” on Sunday, February 18th at 3 pm at the State Theatre in State College. The concert will feature Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, Piano Concerto No. 2, and Symphony No. 4. Guest artist Jessica Choe will join the orchestra as soloist for the piano concerto. Ms. Choe is resident pianist with the Seattle Symphony, and has won numerous awards in the US including the Beethoven Society of America Piano Competition, the Baldwin Competition, the Henbest Piano Competition, the BartokKabelevsky International Piano Competition and the Steinway Society Piano Competition. In 2003, Jessica Choe Jessica made her European debut at Fondation Bemberg in Toulouse, France, and her New York recital debut at Carnegie Hall, both under the
auspices of La Gesse Foundation. Jessica has performed solo recitals in France, Italy, Switzerland, San Marino in such halls as Teatro Concordia, I Tatti, and Salle Frank Martin. As an avid chamber musician, she has performed with members of Kennedy Center Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Seattle Symphony. The Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra is Central Pennsylvania’s all-professional chamber orchestra founded in 1991. Based in State College, the orchestra performs both rare and wellknown music by the greatest composers from the Baroque period to the present day. More information may be found on the orchestra’s website at www.centreorchestra. org. Tickets may be purchased at the State Theatre box office by calling 814-272-0606 or online at www.thestatetheatre.org. All seats are reserved. a
work of countless individuals completing such varying tasks, that the industry can continue its cycle. Every nine cows produce one Pennsylvania job. That means that for every family-owned dairy farm, with the average 98-head herd, around ten jobs are created! The local dairy farms across Huntingdon County run by our neighbors, friends, and family, significantly impact the workforce and economy across the Commonwealth. a
partnership in care.”
– Dr. Jean Reams
Mount Nittany Physician Group welcomes Dr. Reams to its team of family medicine providers in Mifflin County.
Your life. Our team.
Schedule an appointment by calling toll-free at 855.259.0027, or request an appointment online at MyMountNittanyHealth.com. Learn more about our team of family medicine providers at mountnittany.org/physician-group.
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Milk & Moos
on Tuesday, a dairy producer will often have been an agriculturalist, chemist, nurse, and biologist. They will have incorporated skills of marketing, finance, teaching, and nutrition, to name a few. They are entrepreneurs, ecologists, critical thinkers, and innovators. While dairy producers are busy incorporating these dis-
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On January 2nd, the Board of Supervisors met for the first time in 2018. Our newly elected Supervisor, Keri Miller, introduced Resolution R-18-02. I went into the office earlier that day to see this resolution because it was not posted on the website with the agenda. R-18-02 is a 4-page policy created by Supervisor Miller. Here are a few excerpts, with emphasis added: “No recordings shall be allowed unless the person seeking to record a public meeting notifies the Township Secretary of his or her intent to record said meeting prior to the meeting by signing in on an appropriate SIGN IN SHEET.” “The Board of Supervisors may impose additional rules or limitations on any recording, as it deems necessary or appropriate to preserve the orderly operation and decorum of the meeting.” “Any recording made of any Open Meeting shall not supersede or replace the minutes of said meeting as the official record of the meeting.”
“The board of Supervisors shall ORDER the immediate termination of any recording which is being conducted in a manner disruptive to the meeting, or which distracts, disturbs, or is OFFENSIVE to members of the public body, witnesses, or the audience.” “If the Board of Supervisors conducts any open meeting at which a witness is required to testify before the Board, and the witness refuses to testify on the grounds that he or she may not be compelled to testify if any portion of his or her testimony is to be broadcast or televised or if notion pictures are to be take on the witness while he or she is testifying, the Board of Supervisors shall PROHIBIT such recording during the testimony of the witness.” “The Board of Supervisors may take WHATEVER ACTION IT DEEMS APPROPRIATE against any person violating the terms of this Policy, including INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. All attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by the Township in enforcing this Policy shall be paid by the VIOLATOR.”
“ARGUMENTS between parties or THE PUBLIC are prohibited.” “Individual or group outbursts, COMMENTS, SARCASM, insults, or intentional disruptions WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.” “Violation of ANY of the aforementioned rules may result in the Board of Supervisors requesting you to leave the meeting. The presiding officer of the meeting can request an individual to leave the meeting when they do not observe the rules of reasonable decorum.” With two votes on the table, Supervisor Stover asked for this resolution to be tabled. It will be revisited at the next meeting on FEBRUARY 8TH. The timing of this resolution is interesting, considering a school teacher was physically removed from a public meeting recently. Is this what we need in Gregg township? It is also interesting that a sign-in sheet was already created and in place for the January meeting. How can this be, when the resolution hadn’t even been brought up in a public meeting yet? In related news, former Roadmaster Laron Horner was appointed SEO in the predictable 2-1 vote. Later in the month, a township bridge was suddenly closed down after a failed inspec-
tion. It may be 2-3 years until the bridge is replaced, according to a statement by Supervisor Miller. Is government transparency and public participation a burden to our public servants? Do you think bridges are more important than
recreation? Voice your opinion at township meetings, and visit greggtownshipunofficial.org for updates. a
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The Valley, February 2018 Copyright November 2017 222 pages
Mail Pouch Books by Carleen B. Grossman ANONYMOUS SOURCES By Mary Louise Kelly Copyright Hardback 2013, Paperback 2016 352 pages The use of anonymous sources has long been a controversial issue in journalism. Many editors frown upon using anonymous sources, for the obvious reason that they are less credible than sources who speak on the record. But anyone who has worked in the news business knows that in some situations, anonymous sources may be the only way of obtaining important information. This is especially true of investigative stories in which sources may have little to gain and much to lose by speaking publicly to a reporter. This background information will give you insight as to why the novel is entitled ANONYMOUS SOURCES. The novel is based on the author’s own experience as a reporter; and in the story she paints a picture of her own techniques for getting printable quotes. This story is a mystery and the story follows a chase of characters from Washington D.C.
“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” 2015’s “The Force Awakens” breathed new life into the “Star Wars” saga. For years the franchise had slowly been undone by ill-received prequels, retouchings, and add-ons that made the once-great property look like a money-grubbing joke. “The Force Awakens” restored heart to the series, balance to the Force, if you will. Fans were excited about the new direction of the franchise and wondered where it would take them next. “Next” might not actually be the right word since last year we got the glorified space-filler “Rogue One,” but the direct follow-up to “The Force Awakens” has arrived in the form of “The Last Jedi.”
To Cambridge, Massachusetts to Oxford, England. The unfolding events of this thriller will leave you breathless as you question ‘did he jump or was he pushed?,’ ‘just who is a spy?,’ and is there danger of nuclear terrorism within the U.S.?’ With the current state of world politics, the hatred of America around the world, and the terrorist activity everywhere, it’s easy to imagine something like this happening. Also, the idea that a highly-placed government official could be bribed to commit treason is not very farfetched, given the overall greed and immortality of the Washington
political machine. A photo of a book jacket is attached for you to view; be aware that there are different book jackets for this book depending on the type of book, hardback, paperback, kindle or audio. The author of this book has spent two decades traveling the world as a reporter. Her assignments have taken her from the Khyber Pass to mosques in Hamburg, to smoke-filled bars in Belfast, and to the deserts of Iraq. She has been an intelligence correspondent who has reported on wars, terrorism and the rising nuclear powers. She was educated at Harvard University and at Cambridge University in England. She teaches journalism and national security at Georgetown University. Her experience at these schools and her background in journalism and national security were all incorporated into this thriller. THE STORY OF ARTHUR TRULUV By Elizabeth Berg
The film once again sees a mix of new characters and old. Strong-willed junk salvager Rey (Daisy Ridley) trains to be a Jedi warrior under last surviving member Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). High-ranking villain Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) has to rebuild his reputation after coming out worse for wear in a lightsaber battle with the untrained Rey. The war between the evil First Order and heroic Resistance intensifies, as the First Order now has the ability to track Resistance ships through hyperspace. General Leia (the late Carrie Fisher) is incapacitated in an attack and the seemingly incompetent Vice Admiral Holdo (Laura Dern) is put in charge. Hotshot pilot Poe leads an uprising on Holdo’s ship, while
former Stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) teams up with a starryeyed maintenance worker (Kelly Marie Tran) to lead a sabotage mission on an enemy ship. Like the MCU and other cinematic “universes,” the world of “Star Wars” is getting a bit too crowded. I barely have time to mention droids C-3PO, R2-D2 and BB-8. Nor can I give much space to Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) of the First Order or his underlings, the bumbling General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson), and masked commander Phasma (Gwendoline Christie). I can’t even think of a way to categorize Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), underworld figure Maz Kanata (Lupita Nyong’o), or untrustworthy hacker DJ (Benicio Del
The Truth Has No Agenda
Note: With Valentine’s Day this month, this new book is absolutely a perfect read! This is a delightful little book filled with empathy and appreciation for the characters. The characters are so unique and vivid. But it isn’t just strong characterizations that make this a great book, the plot races along, pulling you with it so that it is painful to put the book down. It is sentimental, but it is a worthy sentimental not a cheap tear-jerker. It is a story about life, its stages and seasons. It is profoundly insightful about what really constitutes family. It is a charming and heartwarming tale that celebrates life and attests to its infinite possibilities. The book’s main character is an 85 year old man whose beloved wife has passed away some months prior; he goes to visit her in the cemetery each day as he deals with his grief. He meets a misfit teen one day near the grave--she is frequently cutting out of school and comes to the cemetery for peace from her own life-problems. These two unlikely characters strike-up a friendship! The old man is dubbed “Truluv” by the teen because of his true love for is wife. The girl’s own need for love and acceptance is obvious to the old man. As the old man becomes friends with the girl, he Toro), but I can’t ignore them either. Oh, and a former Jedi leader returns to advise Luke in the form of weirdly-constructed sentences. As if all those characters weren’t enough, there are new creatures and aliens at every turn. I could enjoy them more if I wasn’t so sure they were just created to sell toys. I’m sorry, but there’s a gratuitousness to these characters that I can’t ignore. For example, the marketing department has heavily pushed a creature called the Porg, a sort of big-eyed space gerbil. It’s disgustingly cute, but I can’t think of a single thing it does to contribute to the story. Its only job is to sit around and look pretty, and other creatures are even more useless. They’ll just slink around in front of the camera for a few seconds so the toy-hawkers can say that they were technically in the movie. “The Force Awakens” perfected the marketable character with BB-8, who was as fun as it was important. As cuddly as it is, The Porg fails to recapture that magic. The Porg’s inferiority to BB-8 is the perfect symbol for “The Last Jedi” and its place in
begins to look on the bright side of life as he builds a new life for himself, the teen and his 83 year old neighbor lady. Through a series of events, coupled with the common thread of loneliness, these three characters end up sharing their varied life experiences with humor and unconditional love and creating, for this unusual trio, an escape from the emptiness and isolation they have all been experiencing and giving each a second chance at happiness and fulfillment. What a gem this short-butloaded novel is! The charming story evokes just about every emotion - sadness, humor, pathos, joy - and causes the reader to laugh and cry. It is extremely uplifting and is a story that adult readers of all ages will enjoy. a
the “Star Wars” universe. “The Force Awakens” simply served the franchise better. This film tries its hardest to catch up, but falls short. There are a handful of memorable moments, like Rey’s Jedi training, a Luke/Kylo confrontation, two lightsaber battles, and the death of at least one major character (not Leia though; I will say that if you’re looking for closure to the character due to Fisher’s death, you won’t find it here). I probably wouldn’t be so hard on the film if I didn’t have such high standards for “Star Wars,” but “The Last Jedi” will probably be the biggest film of the year, and with that in mind, I have to say I expected more. Grade: C “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence. Its running time is 152 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@ nyu.edu. a
The Valley, February 2018
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the event as well, as if they had something to hide, perhaps they wanted to hide this from farmers. My family’s farm ships our milk to Land O’ Lakes. Finding out this information makes me furious. I see all the hard work my dad, uncles, brother and myself by Rebecca Harrop put into this farm, just as every Recently I read the editorial and I’m assuming this is the group farmer does. Knowing that the in the Farmshine from January that organized the event and chose President of Land O’ Lakes would 19. It was about the GENYOUth the speaker. The first person on go ahead with this makes me Gala held December 6 in New the list was Dairy Management think that he doesn’t really care York City. You might be wonInc. CEO Thomas Gallagher. A about the farmers who, if it wasn’t dering, “what is GENYOUth?” little further down the list was for them, he would not have a job. GENYOUth is the organization Land O’ Lakes President & CEO Mr. Policinski needs to resign! that runs the Fuel Up to Play He clearly does not care about 60 program, most dairy farmthe farmers. I encourage ers have heard of this and every Land O’ Lakes member know a little bit about what to call not just your Delegates, they do. Fuel Up to Play 60 is but even people in higher partnered with the NFL. It is positions and demand answers supposed to encourage kids to about this and question the eat healthy and exercise. The position and judgement of the dairy promotion organizations man who is at the top Land O’ have dumped tons of money Lakes. into this program, and in my Last month I went ice opinion, are wasting farmer’s fishing for the first time with hard earned money and it’s my brother. I had so much clearly not working because fun! I never realized how milk consumption is down. popular ice fishing is in our Back to the Gala, the speaker area. My brother has been for this event was former trying to get me to go with President Bill Clinton…a him for 2 years and I kept known vegan…just let that putting him off because I sink in for a minute. I’m sure don’t really like the cold. He almost everyone has heard has an ice fishing hut and a of the outrageous amounts of little portable propane heater money the Clintons are paid to Success on the ice, I had a lot of fun, and the fish that he uses, so we stayed speak at events. So who paid were cooperative! really warm. I’ve gone a for him to speak at the Gala? couple times now and had a Dairy promotion dollars! As I Chris Policinski. Two people who great time. I’m definitely looking forward to going again. was reading the article of course, are supposed to working for the Later this month I will be I started to get a little mad, as I’m best interest of farmers helped degoing to Reno, Nevada for the Nasure most dairy farmers did also. cide that it would be a good idea tional Young Farmers & Ranchers I decided to do a little research. I to spend who knows how much conference. I’m so excited to get looked up GENYOUth and they money, a lot of it coming from the opportunity to go and meet conveniently had a tab to click on struggling farmers, for a speaker. other farmers from around the that directed me to the page all I don’t care who the speaker was, country and learn more about proabout the Gala. One of the first they should not spend outrageous moting agriculture. Next month things I saw was the list of sponamounts of money for a speaker. I’ll be sure to let you know about sors, some of them were dairy With the reputation that Mr. Clinthe experience. That’s all for this companies like Land O’ Lakes, ton has, they got him to speak at month. a Fairlife, Schrieber and many an event for an organization that more. As I looked further, I found is supposed to be all about youth! a list of the Gala Host Committee, They didn’t allow any media at
Life in the East End
Permaculture and Socialism from page 24 good in the permaculture movement—the little family of rabbits that steal from my garden in spring, the praying mantis drawing my oldest daughter keeps in her journal, and the bees. There are good ideas in permaculture like using what you have, creating habitat, and getting creative with design. Those are the reasons why I still love permaculture as a concept. Sometimes I just need to take a step back from the whole “permaculture community” to focus on my own little community.
Dairy - Good - Truth by Gretchen Little
This January, I had the honor of representing the Dairy Industry as the Pennsylvania Alternate Dairy Princess at the 102nd Pennsylvania Farm Show. Having only attended Farm Show once in the past, I was unsure what it would be like to spend eight days there along with the rest of the State Royalty team. I can say for sure… it was an experience I will never forget and it went too fast! With an estimated half-million plus visitors, I can’t think of any other place where the Dairy Industry has a chance to touch more consumers! The days were packed with things to do, things to see, and most importantly, things to EAT! So much to SEE…The Farm Show began with the traditional, and much anticipated, unveiling of the butter sculpture. This years theme was ‘Strength in Our Diversity,’ depicting the diverse careers and roles that are needed to support the dairy industry. The sculpture, sponsored by American Dairy Association North East (ADANE), was carved from a half-ton of butter and was an amazing sight!
So, I’ll keep doing what I’ve been doing: reading, studying, and evaluating when there is truth to claims and when there is not. And I’ll keep gardening. And I’ll keep being a little bit messy, quite weird, and wholly unconcerned with whether people happen to ‘get’ me. Just please, don’t ask me to support socialism. I like to back concepts that are proven to work. *Black locust trees grow quickly and have dense wood. They’re all the rage in permaculture—perfect slow burning fuel for traitors like me. a
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So much to DO... Visit the Calving Corner which allowed attendees to witness the miracle of birth that dairy farmers seldom take for granted. They were able to see firsthand how the farmers and veterinarians ensure that the cows and calves are safe and comfortable, during and after the deliveries. And, so much to EAT...From the legendary PA Dairymen’s milkshakes, traditional ice cream cones and grilled cheese, to the deep fried mozzarella cubes, the DAIRY choices were abundant and I am not embarrassed to say I tried them all! It seems many others did too, as it is estimated that over 18,000 gallons of milk were used for milkshakes, approximately 4,100 ice cream cones were sold, and over three tons of mozzarella was used in making the deep fried cheese cubes. After all was said and done at the Farm Show, my sash may have been dusty and my crown a little crooked, but I have never felt more proud to be a Dairy Princess and a dairy farmer’s daughter. a
The Valley, February 2018
The Truth Has No Agenda
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The Valley, February 2018
30 Around Town with Carole from page 13 century ago. We’ve come full circle now, and have learned that you can’t count on that pension, as the steel mills were closed in favor of foreign product, when the auto industry, which was very highly unionized, crashed, and sent many to the unemployment line. There was no promise of “pensions” for the future of retirement because companies like Western Electric and Bell Telephone went down the tubes either by their own “hand” or by the devices of the federal government who couldn’t be happy with excellent phone services/ The government had to “divest,” calling them a monopoly, and thus splitting them into a myriad of smaller, inefficient companies who have a strangle hold on our telephones even today. If there was a depression, we all had to “tighten our belts,” and when the corporate world cut by “attrition” the oldest, higher-salaried members who were near to retirement, it was a disaster. You could keep two “new employees” for the price of a life-long dedicated servant, with knowledge of all aspects, so at the age of late fifty something, you were suddenly unemployed, like my friend Steve. He knew no one would hire a man so close to retirement, so I told him to take the severance pay and open his own company in his home (no overhead) and use all his military experience and early computer technology he had at his fingertips (literally and figuratively) to become a computer “help” company for those of us who turn on the computer and when it doesn’t respond, panic. Steve finished out his life’s work, as an independent business owner, not depending on any corporation, and since he had been with his old company for at least 10 years he was vested and did get a portion of a pension to sustain him. Many of the people we knew to be small business owners were those like ourselves who had someone with a foot in the corporate world (a pension at the end of the career) and the other spouse owning, creating, maintaining a small business as well. This provided the benefit for all concerned, i.e. the future secured with pension of sorts and the income from day to day working with confidence and pride, at owning your own business. The pride of thinking of a “business,” creating a niche in the world, then performing a service or a product to fill that need and standing up tall and straight, to say, “I’m an
independent business owner.” There are no “financial bonuses” like in the corporate world, but the perks are simple and practical. When you own your own business, it is up to you how many hours you work to sustain your goal. I personally work 90 hours a week at the age of 70 because I love going to my Organic Green Café and working there to make a terrific bowl of soup on a frigid morning or a healthy mushroom quiche from my girls out back in spring when the “eggs are abundant.” And when the grandkids say, “I have a tournament, a hockey game, etc.,” the independent business owner has the right to turn the shingle to “Closed” and leave a sign on the window....”Grandkids won’t be little for long....I’m at their game.....see you tomorrow.” You couldn’t do that with corporate, cause one link in the chain can cause the system to crash, so your kids grow up in spite of you, always wondering “where was Dad when I played that game and my goal caused the crowd to roar.” Dad missed it and maybe Mom did too, but the business owner knows his priorities and uses time wisely. The downfall of small business is when the “show is over,” and it’s time to retire, you really don’t get a “pension.” Well, if you were smart, you purchased your place of business and I guess you could say “selling the building” now at a “200% increase in value” (if you were lucky), might be considered a perk for the future. But should you have only “rented,” then the money you received in the till every day was your pension your health care and your retirement all in one and if you didn’t save wisely, you might end up an “Individual Business Owner, who became a “Bag Lady,” down the line. Owning your own business takes time, effort, and planning for the future... they call it the “Exit,” and I don’t mean “the undertaker,” I mean the “retirement with dignity.” It takes a lot of planning. I know one small business who had a husband working in the pension system and the wife running the local pizza shop (renting the space). She hired many of the children she had fostered over their life to work in the store, and thusly, always had an abundance of “willing workers” to be paid cash or under the table, which is totally legal cause they were family members. Now at the end of her 60s, husband gone, but still a small pension from the county, her son who has spent his entire life running the business, will have
a rude awakening when mother (who has the business deed in her name) passes away. He’ll be in his late 50s, no pension, no building to sell, a house mortgage and family to provide for, who won’t be going to college and a bleak future in retirement. Many small business owners never retire and that will probably be me. Mary, the owner of our Liquor Store who swept the front steps and walkway each morning of her life, kept that store open until suddenly she didn’t. Upon her demise, the business was sold to a foreigner. The new owner never even picks up the trash let alone lift a broom to the stoop. Mary’s daughter and son got the sale of the building but in depressed value it really wasn’t enough to retire on so at the age of 50 plus, how do you look for another job? It’s hard, if not impossible. Fortunately, those of us who realize the value of “Hometown Mom and Pop Stores,” make a concerted effort to go to Palmyra, another river town, and use the last hardware store on the Delaware for a 60 mile radius, Schwerings. It’s the pride of the town and used by all to get their screens installed when the dog tears it up to get after the squirrel he sees outside. Schwerings provides all kinds of hardware, cuts glass, recommends plumbers or electricians, or in my case I needed a wrought iron man to repair the railings that a tenant had destroyed upon vacating my rental unit. I am not sure if Schwerings is three generations, but know for sure two generations and for about a year I’ve been trying to get the “relative” to come on my live television show “Around Town With Carole,” to promote the business. Unfotunately, as I can truly understand, if you have to shut down your one man or two man business to go to a half hour live television show, you are actually losing business. The offer still stands anytime the Schwering Family has time to come on the television show. Their store front sports an old-fashioned peddlers carriage and a concrete horse, to replicate the image of the traditional traveling salesman on the river towns along the Delaware in southern New Jersey. Our Lady Governor (the only one to beat a sitting governor and the first woman governor here in NJ’s 200 year history), Christine Whitman, knew that the quaint river towns of NJ had more to offer. Christie set up a sequence of actions that promote our state even now as she is long retired. Her “Motto” was “THE OTHER
SHORE AND MORE,” which didn’t mean the icean where we have plenty of prosperity in the season, but meant the small rivertowns of South Jersey, and thusly she demolished many of the drug infested, dilapidated homes along the Camden waterfront and welcomed the Aquarium, Sony Music Center, Campbell’s Soup Baseball Field, Children’s Garden, etc. along with the wonderfully new and modern transportation system which enabled all of us to go safely and quickly into the city and jump off at the fabulous Rutgers Campus in the historic community. Brick side walks, century old homes and campus buildings of a superior quality and yes, places for Mom and Pop businesses to open. The first one I went into was the Soup Factory, where the best darn white clam chowder was made and served to all the workers of the city in a restored RCA factory building, where coincidentally my father started his career for RCA some 50 years prior. So what I’m saying is an old adage....’WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND,” and thusly the world of Corporate America cannot be trusted for fear of either Government intervention or Ponzi scandals. No one has security in their employment like they did fifty years ago unless they work for themselves. Setting up a business of your own gives you “control” and if you tread wisely, you can get a “return on your money” if you own the building, which is kind of like a pension. Look at the small town atmosphere at places like Peddlers Village and the antique stores of
New Hope where people flock every weekend, even in winter, to sit at little boutique tables heated by propane lamps just to sit by the canals of the past and shop in mini stores of specialty cheeses or homemade beer (my grandmom made it in the bathtub during prohibition as “hops” were part of her Germanic Culture.) Mini breweries and native vineyards are all the rage and many take bus trips to taste the delicious Verizano wines of South Jersey and the likes of many states throughout this wonderful country. Yes, America is great and if you have the same entrepeneureal spirit that our forefather’s had, you too can stand straight and tall and push out your chest to say you too are a business owner, one who is up nights late doing inventory and even earlier to put on the coffee at daybreak. But most importantly, you can fall into bed after a twelve hour day, that nobody pays you for and sleep like a log knowing you have the right to be proud of your efforts, to put a roof over the heads of your kids, food in their bellies, and a spirit of “adventure” in their hearts, as you perpetuate the self-sufficiency of the American Dream. Come along with me and take the first step. Do the dream, and you’ll never have a sleepless night....you’ll be too damn tired to dream....hahahahaha...
Good News: Bridget from page 15
education stop them from pushing forward and making a difference in the world. People that don’t let their childhood struggles define them, but rise above them to be better than what they went through. We can all be inspired and encouraged that one more person is making a difference in not just one young person’s life but in too many lives to count. a
ers, spiritual leaders, doctors, nurses, psychologists, parents and entrepreneurs. The world is truly a better place because of people like Bridget. People that don’t take no for an answer. People that do not let the tremendous hurdles that stand between them and an
Our Yesteryears with Forest Fisher from page 14 NEXT MONTH: Each day, thousands of travelers drive through the Reedsville Narrows on U.S. 322, in Mifflin County’s Brown Township, unaware they pass beneath the visage of a giant stone bird. Known locally as Bird Rock,
Carole Lokan Moore, Television Personality/Host/writer “Around Town With Carole”, (both the TV show and ByLine) “www.TheValleyNewspaper” a
the massive monolith teetering on the edge of a rocky out-cropping, has guarded this break in Jack’s Mountain for eons and is the object of some interesting local lore. In March, The Legend of Bird Rock. HISTORY IS OUR STORY PASS IT ON! a
Daylight Savings Time Begins March 11th
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The Valley, February 2018 •
College, Pa Boxer’s Café, Huntingdon, Pa
Brisco’s Coffee House in Burnham is offering a free taste test of the Kombucha, so make sure you try before you buy.
Local entrepreneurs Loren and Jean Kauffman, owners of Wild Water Kombucha, have introduced the rapidly spreading Kombucha craze to Mifflin County. Customers are coming out in droves to buy this locally made elixir. Made in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, Loren and Jean have been making Kombucha for the past five years, coming up with an incredible and tasty recipe for all to enjoy. The fact that Mifflin County now has its own manufacturer of Kombucha, sourcing local ingredients, makes it more intriguing to try. The kombucha craze is rapidly spreading throughout the world. More and more bottles of this popular fizzy substance are popping up in grocery stores in all variations of flavors and colors. But what is it really? And why should we drink it? Here is everything you need to know about kombucha, from its ancient history to the magic it performs in your body. First of all, what is Kombucha? It is essentially a living health drink made by fermenting tea and sugar with the kombucha culture. The origin of kombucha is unknown, but there are multiple theories. One being that it was invented in the Qin Dynasty (220 BC) for the emperor Qinshi Huangdi. The Chinese are notorious for their knowledge and practice of brewing longevity elixirs—the tea was called “Tea of Immortality.” The named shifted to “Stomach Treasurer” (which seems to match the studies done
on how fermented drinks and food are hugely beneficial for maintaining a healthy gut flora.) The Chemistry We all love to drink kombucha, and the process of making it isn’t very complicated or difficult. But what really happens inside our kombucha jug when we leave all the ingredients to sit? So first we must understand what goes into making kombucha. It is brewed sweetened tea with what’s called a scoby floating on the surface of the tea. SCOBY stands for Symbiotic Colony Of Bacteria and Yeast. The yeast living in the scoby ferments the sugar and this process is what makes the alcohol, then the alcohol is used by the bacteria to turn it into vinegar. There is usually only under 0.5 present alcohol and vinegar in the kombucha. The longer you leave the kombucha to ferment the less sugar will be left in your final product. There are many different kinds of bacteria in the scoby and the bacteria can vary a lot depending on the climate, geography and local bacteria. In some cases, scientist have even found antibiotic bacteria living in the mushroom. There have also been toxic bacteria discovered. It is good to be cautious when you make the kombucha to not let any unwanted particles contaminate the fermentation process. For the Body Kombucha is a well-known probiotic. It also aids the digestive process by fighting harmful yeast
overgrowth, which helps create mental and mood stability. Having a good gut health also helps to fight depression and anxiety, as well as aid weight loss and increase your energy. Kombucha contains Glucosamines, which prevent and help to treat all forms of arthritis. Glucosamines increases synovial hyaluronic acids, which is known to sooth arthritis pain, prevents cartilage fracture and enables the connective tissue to bind and remain flexible. This super drink also has detoxification abilities thanks to the thousands of enzymes and bacteria that help it cleanse the liver. Last of all, kombucha contains something called Glucaric acid that helps to prevent cancer. When buying Wild Water Kombucha, return your clean, empty bottle to the site of purchase or to a store who carries Wild Water Kombucha and in return, Loren and Jean Kauffman donate .30 for EACH bottle returned! Where do the donations go? They decided to split it between several charities: The Ronald McDonald House, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, and a charity that enables people to get a small, self sustaining business started. Wild Water Kombucha can be purchased at these locations: • Brisco’s Coffee House and Dp Gifts, 309 South Logan Blvd. Burnham • Sowers Harvest Café, State College, Pa • Homans General Store, Spring Mills, Pa • Standing
The Truth Has No Agenda
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Stone Coffee Company, Huntingdon, Pa East End Coffee Company, 18 East Market St. Lewistown, Pa Peight’s Country Store, Belleville, Pa Van Wert Country Store, Mifflintown, Pa Nature’s Pantry, State
Cool fact — During the Chernobyl meltdown of the 1980’s, Doctors and scientists noticed a group of people seemingly resistant to the effects, many of whom were elderly women. When traced back, the common thread turned out to be that they all consumed Kombucha regularly, this caused them to be less receptive to the effects of radiation. a
Gut health in a bottle, all you have to do is drink!
The Valley, February 2018
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