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Serving Mifflin County and the surrounding area.
The Valley A free newspaper dedicated to agriculture, self-reliance, frugal living, and modern homesteading. Tomorrow’s Media - A Day Early Volume 6, No. 7
The Valley, July 2015
Complimentary
Celebrating 125 years at Huntingdon County Fair By Polly Smith County Fair Writer About a dozen members of the Captain Jack FFA chapter are eligible to show livestock in two fairs in August. The Mifflin County Youth Fair is set for Aug. 2-8 and the Huntingdon County Fair runs Aug. 9-15. This is a plus for these FFA members who are affiliated with the FFA chapter at Mount Union Area High School. Last year, as well as some other years, the two fairs ran the same week so young exhibitors had to choose the arena for their livestock projects. “This is a great opportunity for the kids,” said Tammy Fisher, FFA chapter advisor, even though it makes for her and the exhibitors a long two weeks in August. The Mount Union Area School District comprises sections of both Huntingdon County and adjacent Mifflin County. “There are 10-12 kids who are eligible to exhibit livestock at both fairs,” Fisher said. “They will have a mix of species, mostly dairy and sheep.” Fisher has 60 members in the chapter in her second year as advisor. She has been associated with the MUAHS chapter for nine years as a para educator and was a 4-H leader in Mifflin County for 15 years. She is keeping in touch with the members who plan to enter exhibits at the two fairs, including spending time with them at a recent three-day FFA event at
Penn State. the number one industry next to Fisher said. Fisher is particularly proud tourism. The livestock youth showmanof member Danielle Varner who “It is not only educational, it ship and weight class shows start was recently crowned Pennsylvais hands on. They learn just how Sunday with rabbits and wether nia Ayrshire Queen. Varner also far the ag industry reaches. It is and dairy goats and continue competed in a national contest set so much more than they realize,” Monday with dairy cows, Tuesday in Huntingdon with market swine County prior and lambs and to the printing Wednesday with of this publicamarket steers and tion. Varner is dairy beef. Visitors the daughter are welcome to take of Dean and in the shows or visit Donna Varner the livestock barns of the Shirleysfor close views of burg area. She the farm animals. showed the Horses are housed supreme cow, in an area of their an Ayrshire, at own and riding the Huntingdon and showmanship County Fair in competitions (all 2012 and 2013, open classes) are and reserve held from Sunday supreme cow at through Thursday. the 2014 HCF. Friday is re“We have served for the 4-H three from our and FFA Junior chapter running Livestock Sale, for fair queen starting at 9 a.m. this year,” This all-day sale is Fisher said. an opportunity to She believes purchase top quality the agriculture market stock and to science curricusupport the efforts lum and FFA of the young exhibiprogram in the tors. schools are an Something new has been added this important part year: judging open of education The look of intensity on Adria Russell’s face is not unusual during the kids’ beef in the Large in PennsylTractor Pedal Pull Saturday afternoon at the Huntingdon County Fair. Each year, the event draws more contestants who pedal the weighted junior tracArena, beginning vania where at noon Saturday, agriculture is tors to the finish line to earn prizes.
Veritas vos Liberabit
Aug. 15.The Central Pennsylvania Championship Holstein Show begins at 6 p.m. Saturday. This is a longstanding feature of the fair’s last day. Area youth and adults join in the premiums competition, also, bringing their prized fruits, vegetables, hays and grains, baked and preserved goods, crafts and needlework projects, wines, woodworking and all forms of art to be displayed and judged. Happy Anniversary! “Harvest the Fun” is the statewide theme for the 109 county and community fairs and festivals in 62 counties. This year’s Huntingdon County Fair is a special one for the agricultural association which sponsors it. It marks the 125th time the fair has been held in the county since 1831. The fair was not an annual event in its early years, having been interrupted by wars and organizational issues. Nowadays, next to the Pennsylvania Farm Show, held in January, the Huntingdon County Fair is touted as the largest agricultural exposition in the state. Local residents have enjoyed the Huntingdon County Fair at the 69-acre site along Fairgrounds Road in Smithfield Township, about two miles south of Huntingdon Borough, since 1922. There were two years during World War II it was not held due to gasoline and other rationing. Before the
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The Valley, July 2015
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Editor’s Corner Wayne Stottlar Just this past week I was still basking in the glow of having just spent six days in NH during the Lupine Festival in the White Mountains. Then I realized that this month was a shorter than normal turnaround for The Valley and I was behind the eight ball. POOF! All that recharging and relaxation quickly was replaced with, “we gotta get going on this issue!” Such is the life of anyone who has to meet deadlines I suppose, and I am not complaining, we had a wonderful time up north. While you were having a hot humid time of it early in the month of June, we were enjoying 40 degree nights and 70 degree days. It was glorious! It was also very short, normally we like 10 days or so, but this one had to be quick and I had several “have to do”
items on the list. A long time friend, employer and partner, Jim Waldron, had passed away in February, and it being NH and February, if you get called home then, you usually have to wait for burial until the ground thaws. I missed the actual burial, but was feeling an urgency to go pay my respects to my longtime friend. Just the week before his passing, he and I were on the phone making plans for my return—you never know, live life like it may be your last day, because it could be. We also rode by our property to make sure everything was ok, and it was, although I was somewhat dismayed to see that the road we had put in a few years ago was starting to grow in with woody type weeds and small saplings. Plus, during one of the winter
storms a couple trees had come down in the road as well. Since we were on a schedule, we decided that we will have to go back up in the fall to brush hog the road and burn the brush and wood that has fallen. I know it will be tough being there during foliage season, but hey, someone has to do it, right? We did get to spend part of a day in Sugar Hill, NH at the annual Lupine Festival. We wrote about it a couple years back here in The Valley—it is a great time, everyone should go at least once. Since we were already a good ways up into the White Mountains, we took the afternoon to deliver several bundles of The Valley up to Lancaster, NH for our friends at the Free State Project, who had their annual Porcupine Freedom Festival or “PorcFest,” this past week. The reports coming back from the event tell of a great time by all. Next year I want to make sure we attend. One of my highlights for the trip was spending an entire day with the Stealth Diggers out in Siscatchiwah, NH. About ten of us met at the shack early in the morning and then made the several mile trek out into the forests to old colonial cellar hole foundations. We detected,
and found colonial period relics and coins, swapped stories and techniques, shot guns and blew stuff up, all the normal good fun had by boys. I got back to Lynn at base camp around midnight and dropped off to sleep with a huge smile on my face. Charlie and the boys up there work very closely with their local Historical Society cataloging and displaying their finds for all to see. That is my plan for here as well. I have received several phone calls about the ad below and hope some finds make their way to local town museums. Being summer, many of our regular writers may take a month
Contact Info
Editor/Publisher Wayne Stottlar Graphic Artist/ Co-Publisher Lynn Persing Associate Editor Colleen Swetland The Valley PO Box 41 Yeagertown, PA 17099 (717) 363-1550 E-mail: thevalleynewspaper@gmail.com Web: www.thevalleynewspaper.com ©The Valley. All Rights Reserved.
“Fair & Balanced” means Spin gets Equal Time
or two off. Don’t be alarmed if your favorite writer isn’t here during the summer. Most have lives that have to be lived outside of writing, besides, trust me, we have loads of submitted material that only gets in when there is space, so we are grateful to have the space to share with you some of the other fascinating stories we get to see here, but don’t have room to pass on. So, the writers get a break and time to do their recharging, and you get to read from other authors you might not get to hear otherwise, win/win! Many of you are probably
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The Valley, July 2015
Back Talk by Dr. Joseph Kauffman
A Change of Scenery
There are two best times to start chiropractic care. The first is at birth. The first traumatic experience babies encounter is the birthing process. The womb is such a nice, cozy and safe place to be. But, like they say, all good things must come to an end. Whether the birthing process is done naturally or via Caesarian, the baby goes through a significant trauma. As soon as the head crowns and continues to be pushed through, the obstetrician torques the head and twists the head and shoulders, and pulls the rest of the baby out by forcefully yanking on the head. The pressure exerted on the head is severe enough to knock the baby’s tiny little neck bones out of place. If the same pressure and torque was done to an adult, the neck would be fractured. If the baby is born using a Caesarian method, the obstetrician removes the baby by cutting the abdominal cavity of the mother open and extricating the baby as quickly as possible by grabbing the first part of the baby they can, and pulling them out by the part they grab, which many times is the head. So, in either case, most of the times, the baby’s head is torqued and twisted and an enormous amount of pressure is placed on the infant’s neck. These forces have a great possibility of misaligning the baby’s neck vertebrae—usually the first vertebra, called the Atlas because it bears the weight of the skull. The purpose of the spine is threefold. The most important function of the spine is to protect the spinal cord, which is the connection between the brain and the body. The second function of the spine is what makes it different from the skull, which is designed to protect the brain. That function is to bend, twist, and move, which is achieved due to the spine being comprised of individual bones stacked on top of one another and separated by discs for cushion and shock absorption. How many bones make up the spine? There are 26 letters of the alphabet and 26 bones in the spine: 7 in the neck or cervical area, 12 in the middle back or thoracic area, 5
in the lower back or lumbar area, and the sacrum and coccyx (also known as the tailbone). The last function is to simply hold us erect. Every nerve in the body from the tips of the fingers to the tips of the toes to the top of the head can be traced back to the spinal cord, because they all are connected to the brain. In order to get to the spinal cord, the nerves can be traced to enter the cord by traveling between the vertebrae. As long as the connection between the cord and the nerves is clear of interference, the body can usually function at close to 100%. But, if there is a vertebra that gets knocked out of place, it will put pressure on the nerve and cause interference at that area and cause an interruption in the flow of nerve fibers connecting the brain to the body and the body to the brain. If you were to look inside a nerve coming off the spinal cord, you would see hundreds of nerve fibers inside each nerve. Out of those hundreds of nerve fibers, only 10% of them detect feelings, whether they are a feeling of pleasure or pain. The other 90% are for the functions inside the body. Functions of what? Functions of muscles, skin, organs and blood vessels. The function of muscles are to contract and relax to move bones via tendons. The function of blood vessels is to constrict or dilate to circulate blood. The function of the skin is to protect sense, perspire or shiver, and grow hair. The function of each organ depends on what the organ is. Ultimately, all of these structures are controlled by the brain by way of the spinal cord and the nerves. Therefore, judging your overall health by how you feel is a very poor choice and concept. Feeling fine can be very misleading. People who feel fine die all the time. If you wait until you don’t feel fine, you have waited too long. The first signs of a heart issue are usually pain in the left arm/shoulder, tightness in the chest, upper back pain, indigestion, and jaw pain. By the time these symptoms occur, the likelihood is that you are probably having, or have already had, a heart attack. Waiting for symp-
toms or until you don’t “feel” fine is waiting too long. Almost every muscle in the body attaches to a tendon, which then attaches to a bone. So, when muscles get tight, they pull on the tendons, which then in turn pull on the bones. Between the skin on the back and the spine, there are 5 layers of muscle. So, when the back muscles get tight, the vertebrae can become misaligned. When the vertebrae misalign, they pinch on the nerves exiting between them from the spinal cord. This is called a subluxation and this is the only job the chiropractor has—to find them in your spine and fix them. That’s it. Our job is not to treat your pains: lower back pain, neck pain, middle back pain, rib pain, jaw pain, headaches, arm or leg pain or any other ache or pain. Our job is to locate and correct vertebral subluxations. Period. If you want treated for any ache or pain, you need to see the medical doctor and they will treat your symptoms. The job of the chiropractor is to fix the cause of the problem if the cause is from the subluxations. The force and trauma of going through the birthing process is the first time each person can get subluxated. This experience has a tremendous impact on the baby AND the mother. There is no ergonomically-correct way to push a 6-9 pound or more baby out of her pelvis or ripped out of her belly without causing severe problems. That’s why the FIRST best time to see the chiropractor is at birth. The other best time is NOW. I’ve heard every excuse there is. “I’ve had surgery. I have rods. I don’t believe in chiropractic. I feel fine. I don’t have any aches or pains. I’m too busy.” The list goes on and on. Chiropractic is not a religion or cult. You don’t need to believe in it or not. I don’t care if you do or don’t. But, I do care that you understand it. There is no time in life when having a subluxation is a good thing. You have a 90% chance of not knowing you have a subluxation due to not “feeling” it. I can check above and below the rods and the area where surgery was performed. The only time it is too late to get adjusted is when you are 6 feet under the ground. Then, it is too late. Stress is the main culprit of sublux-
The Truth Has No Agenda
ations. Stress can be physical, as in childbirth, auto accidents, yard work, and falls. Also, many occupations can cause a tremendous amount of physical stress such as construction work, driving truck, farming, lifting people, working at the computer. Stress can also be due to emotional and mental issues such as family, marriage, raising children, paying bills, dealing with people, anxiety, depression, grief, guilt, anger to name a few. And, lastly, stress can be due to chemical sources such as junk food, alcohol, dehydration, smoking, medication, vaccinations, and flu shots. A little stress is fine. But, every day we are bombarded with all three types all the time. How many days each week are you stressed? Seven? How many days each month? It depends on how many days are in each given month. The answer is always daily. Stress can tighten back muscles which can then pull on the vertebrae and BAM, there’s your subluxation causing an interference between the body and the brain and you have a whopping 90% chance of have a decrease in function to the muscles, skin, blood vessel or organ to which that particular nerve goes, and only a 10% chance of having accompanying pain with it. So, we are encouraging EVERYBODY to get checked NOW to see if you
have a subluxation. Do not focus on pain you may or may not get. Everyone should get checked weekly to see if their spine is in alignment due to all of the stress we face every day. There is neither a reason nor excuse good enough to not get checked. Our office is focusing on making this kind of non-therapeutic (meaning not focusing on pain) chiropractic care easy to obtain and affordable for everyone. The time is now. We have an office in Lewistown at 247 East Third Street at the corner of Valley Street and East Third Street. And, as of July 7th, our Belleville office is moving to the Reedsville area behind the Woolen Mill at 44 Woolen Mill Lane. We will be in the Reedsville office on Tuesdays and Thursdays and able to serve the Dairyland area, Milroy, Reedsville, and Belleville locations. Call NOW to schedule an appointment to be checked to see if you have subluxations. Our numbers are 717-248-2506 or 717-935-2027 or email me at drjosephkauffman@comcast.net if you have any questions or would like an appointment. We have plans available to make weekly visits affordable and convenient without using insurance. a Dr. Joseph Kauffman Kauffman Chiropractic Clinic
The Valley, July 2015
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Help Clean Up the Juniata River! Keep PA Beautiful of Huntingdon, Juniata, and Perry Counties & Mifflin County Cleanways will be Hosting a Four-County Wide, Month-Long River Cleanup Initiative throughout the month of August. Join us at one or more of the events, and help to clean up our beautiful river! Aug 1st– Mifflin County Aug 8th– Perry County
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Aug 8th– Juniata County Aug 23rd– Huntingdon County
d at e d i v Pro h c n Lu ent! v E h Eac
Free Tshir ts for All V olunt eers!
Contacts by County For Location and Time Specifics: Huntingdon: Celina Seftas- cseftas@gmail.com or (814) 627– 1626 x 114 Juniata: Teddi Stark– teddi-stark@juniataccd.org or (717) 436-8953 x 123 Mifflin: Pam Sechrist- pammiff@verizon.net or (717) 899-6701 Perry: Sally Tengeres- stengeres@perryco.org or (717) 582-8988
“Fair & Balanced” means Spin gets Equal Time
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The Valley, July 2015
A Gentleman’s Agreement In 1947, a movie called Gentleman’s Agreement won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Based on the book of the same name, it featured the superb acting of Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and John Garfield. The screenplay was written by Moss Hart, it was directed by Elia Kazan and was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. In other words, it was a home run in terms of quality in the movie industry at that time. But ironically, given that it won an Oscar, Gentleman’s Agreement was a movie that hardly anyone wanted to be made. It took the bloody-minded determination of producer Zanuck, and the moral courage of every other person eventually involved, to bring Laura Z. Hobson’s book to the silver screen. Why, you ask? Gentleman’s Agreement is a story about anti-Semitism, about bigotry against those of the Jewish faith. It was one of the first films to directly tackle such a topic head on. And almost seventy years later, it is still relevant and thought provoking and proves the point that some truths are timeless. Here’s the story in a nut shell. A bright, young writer is given an assignment by his new boss to write about anti-Semitism, a topic that no one wants to touch. After casting about for an angle that works, the journalist hits the nail
on the head. He tells everyone that he is Jewish. What happens next is a study in black and white of how easily the ugly under belly of human nature can be made to seem okay; everyone knows “how things are,” everyone knows their place, just accept it and don’t make waves, an unspoken, but understood, “gentleman’s agreement” that breeds intolerance and the dehumanizing bias of “separate but equal” among non-Jews and Jews alike. By the end of the movie, the point that is eventually made with utter clarity that it is not just the intolerant bigots who are at fault. The ignorance and fear make them what they are, that supports their calm acceptance of the “gentleman’s agreement” as the status quo that keeps them on top of the heap, and is easy to pinpoint as something that needs to change if society is to advance to something more human and just. And it brings into question those who despise the bigotry, but leave it go unchallenged. Those who say, ‘Well, it’s an awfully big problem, how can I make a difference?’ or who think to themselves, ‘I know this is completely wrong, but I don’t want to make anyone angry.’ What the movie brings out in the end – and here’s the reason we’re discussing an old movie that most of you have probably
never heard of — is that you don’t have to move mountains or overthrow the government to change things for the better. Yes, there are moments in history where the great sacrifices are made, but most movement forward is made up of small steps that we all take in our everyday lives. Small steps that add up. Those small steps are the choices we make and what we choose to speak out about. And yes, sometimes we have to run the risk of making a bit of a scene, but maybe not as often as you’d think. By now you probably know where I’m going with this. Weeks ago, while shopping in a store that carries agricultural products, it was hard to miss the shelves filled with organic seeds and plants just a few aisles away from shelves filled with containers of big name herbicides and insecticides. I later mentioned this to a fellow grower who follows sustainable practices quite successfully. Their response stopped me in my tracks. “Well, you’ve got to give people a choice.” The reason this comment gave me pause is that it struck me how glibly we say things like this. Sure, having a choice can be a good thing. But synthetic chemicals that persist in the environment, vaporize and effect changes in our health and contribute to the existence of companies that exhibit behavior that is far from ethical? This is a choice that we want to support? Now before you point a finger, I’m not preaching from any moral high ground, but I am asking legitimate questions that a lot of people are asking, and that I ask myself with increasing frequency. And I’m as guilty as
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the next person when it comes to avoiding confrontation. I just looked at those shelves and shook my head as I walked away. But it seems like the time is coming when the direction our culture is going makes picking the occasional battle seem like a moral imperative. Yes, I know that store is just a store, that the people who work there can’t be held accountable, that the people who buy those products to spray on the bugs and weeds probably don’t have the slightest idea what they are really doing and that we can’t go around haranguing people just because we disagree with their choices. That’s just not polite. But what if their choices are contributing to the collective deg-
radation of our environment and the collective health of ourselves and future generations? What if some of their “small steps,” when they add up, lead to a world where more and more children are born already desperately ill; where the increasing chance of dementia is the sword of Damocles hanging over our heads as we age, where billboards at the side of the road advertise specialist treatment so that you can do something as simple a take a breath of air? Oh, wait, we’re already there. So what now? What if we keep silent, going along with the unspoken, but understood, “gentleman’s agreement?” Well, look at it this way.
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The Valley, July 2015
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Encouragement from the Book of Revelation
The Truth About Hospice
by Pastor J. C. Reese If you have never read these articles before and the title caught your eye because like every other person out there you need a little boost, a little hope, a little light at the end of your dreary tunnel called this life then read on. Help is on the way my friend! The world is headed towards a revamping in a great way and when the event comes we look at next in our series it will start in earnest for it’s the Second Coming of Jesus! In Revelation 19 we see three blessings that help is on the way. The first is the ushering in of God’s correction in verses 11-13 as John sees heaven opened and Jesus coming to earth on a white horse. But its not like His first coming as the baby in a manger. This is in “righteousness He does judge and make war.” Now I know there are those that believe all war is wrong, but obviously Christ does not agree for He is called here “Faithful and True”. There are times there is a need to confront and battle against evil. The disciples themselves in Jesus’ day carried weapons for selfdefense as Peter lopped off the ear of Malchus when they came to arrest Jesus and though the Lord urged Peter to put away his sword He did permit weapons and here He is ready to do battle. Here when Jesus pierces through the skies to return to earth the seven year tribulation period has come to a close and soon the millennial reign of Christ shall begin but what we see is God is meting out justice swift and sure to cleanse the world of those unwilling to do right and usher in a wonderful era of peace and joy. The depiction in verses 1213 makes it clear this is Jesus for John sums up His description as “the Word of God”, a term used of Him earlier in John’s gospel! His piercing, flaming eyes & many crowns speak of His judgment and authority and at His coming all the ills of this world will start to be righted. Sometimes we wonder why God permits such atrocities now but we look at things from our limited scope. God gives space for evildoers to repent but one day that grace will end and God will rectify all wrongs. Second, Jesus’ return will utilize
Nothing to Fear
God’s children in verses 14-15 as the armies of heaven (those of us who have asked Jesus to forgive our sinfulness and for Him to be our Savior) will come to earth with Him for this great battle and event. Imagine the sight of this vast army from heaven advancing against Satan’s followers then to vanquish evil in this world! How encouraging that YOU can be a part of the beginning of the end to evil as we know it now. When you feel helpless now, here you will be anything but that ! This battle will be so swift, so convincing Satan won’t even realize what hit him for as Christ spoke creation into existence He will also speak here and the wicked will fall: “out of His mouth goes a sharp sword that with it He should smite the nations. . .” Last, we see the undoing of the enemy (as if the previous verses weren’t enough of an undoing) in verses 16-21! Again, John is sure to tip us off that this great General is Jesus for he calls Him “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” These verses detail the resounding defeat of the Anti-Christ and his minions. And where last month we looked at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, here we see a second ‘supper’, the ‘supper of the great God’! No enemies of God will escape this due judgment. So the next time you wonder why some politician seems to get away with corruption, think again, they won’t in the end. “All” is a key word in verse 18 pointing to the FACT that God’s judgment is thorough. And this is especially so as the ring leaders are then thrown into the lake of fire to be eternally judged: “And the Beast was taken. . . and the False Prophet. . .these both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.” Yes, even now there are those who ridicule our God and His Word, who twist the meaning of our First Amendment to eradicate the Lord from the public square and keep believers from taking an active part in politics or speaking out for what is right. But a time is coming soon when these enemies will face what is right and Who is right and help will be on the way. Have you truly accepted Him? Be on the winning team! a
By: Kathy Baker, Vice President of Hospice and Palliative Care for Home Nursing Agency For families considering care options for a loved one whose health is declining, hospice is a scary word. Kathy Baker, vice president of hospice and palliative care for Home Nursing Agency, sheds some light on hospice care and how it can benefit patients and families. Does enrolling in hospice shorten someone’s life? People think that when someone goes on hospice, they are going to die right away. The truth is that hospice does not affect life span by hastening death or prolonging life. Hospice care focuses on comfort and quality of life to help the patient make the most of
every moment by managing his or her symptoms. It would be much scarier facing that time of life without the support and experience of the hospice team. It seems hospice is for only the last few days of life. Is this true? Hospice care is for anyone with a medical prognosis of six months or less, and the sooner a patient enrolls, the more benefit he or she can get from hospice. Often our families share that they wish they would have known about hospice sooner. By enrolling earlier, the patient and family get to know the hospice team, and we get to know them. Then as the patient is approaching those last few days of life, the patient and family are more comfortable, and we can provide better care that meets their needs and expectations.
LIbrary Lines Your Mifflin County Library
I’m an archeolibrarianologist, I dig good books, all year long, but especially in the summer. As a child, I participated in the Summer Reading Program at my local public library. In those prehistoric days, we HAD to read books of a certain length, in a particular genre, and give a ‘report’ to the library staff member when we returned the book to the library. There were certainly no prizes for reading and the knowledge gained were considered the reward. At the end of the summer, if you followed all the rules there was a certificate of completion. The times have changed; and in my humble opinion, for the better. Child/teen development research shows that youngsters and teens who read during the time when school is not is session maintain, and even increase, their vocabulary and retention skills more that children who do not read during this time. Pleasure reading, enjoying books with topics of interest to them, ensures that students don’t become “dumber in the summer.” Statista, a worldwide statistical collection firm, reports that 53% of vaca-
tioners read during their leisure time. So, adults too are reading and learning while enjoying the ‘down-time’ from work. Public libraries throughout the nation have programs throughout the summer to encourage reading. In the tri-county area, the theme for children and teens is “Every Hero Has a Story.” Everyone who reads IS a superhero in our book! Here in Mifflin County, we have an adult Summer Reading Program with a western theme – “Reading Round-up.” Read for fun! Keep track of the books (or minutes) spent enjoying a good story or learning about what interests you. Visit the library. Get great prizes. Pick up a calendar of events and participate in a variety of programs. Share a good book with a friend and relish this season. Reading is a joy and to swing in a hammock on a lazy summer day reading a good book just goes with summer. (anonymous) Molly Kinney is the Director at the Mifflin County Library and she LOVES summer weather and reading. a
“Fair & Balanced” means Spin gets Equal Time
What does hospice do? Hospice provides care and support for patients with limited days, and it helps to make those days comfortable with the best quality of life possible. Here are some examples of hospice care in action: · Nurses observe and assess for uncomfortable symptoms and collaborate with the patient, family and physician to develop a plan of care to treat those symptoms. · Nurses educate the family about what to expect in the dying process. · Social workers assist the patient with coping and emotional needs, as well as assist in bridging gaps among family members. · Spiritual counselors walk the patient through closure and sense of purpose in life. · Home health aides assist with personal care, like bathing and dressing. · Volunteers offer companionship and support for the patient and caregivers. Does hospice take care of the patient only? The hospice team provide holistic care, which accounts for the whole family. We help the family learn how to take care of the patient, teach them about the dying process, share information for the patient and family to make informed decisions on goals of care and help family members communicate about the care of their loved one. We also provide bereavement services to follow family members for up to 13 months after their loved one passes through visits from volunteers, monthly mailings, grief support groups in the community, notecards and phone calls, depending on the family’s wishes. Do hospice patients have to change doctors? No, a patient can keep his own primary care physician. Our team works with the patient’s physician and our medical directors who are board-certified in hospice and palliative care to treat the patient with the best plan of care
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The Valley, July 2015 “wholesale” whatever they buy, and pay expensive insured freight to do so. Fifth, if you enjoy buying just a few investment coins each week or two, and no longer have a local dealer, your cost per item will sky-rocket, and your workload, to make such purchases, will likely deter you from even wanting to
Dave Wilson
Coins, Precious Metal and a Little of this and That
continue. With Democrats and Republicans so far apart on most of the 2015-2016 budget issues, it will likely take them all summer, perhaps longer, to come to a solution (if they even can) to Pennsylvania’s financial shortages. We do
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Sales Tax on Coins and Bullion! A business changer and killer Perhaps many of you have heard about Pennsylvania’s new Governor’s proposals to substantially increase both this state’s personal income tax (by 20%) and its sales tax by 10%. He is also proposing to add “many” new categories of products and services to the sales tax line-up. One of those new inclusions, if the budget is passed as presented, will be sales tax on coins, and Gold and Silver bullion products. At present, since September 6, 2006, coins and precious metals have enjoyed tax-exempt status, and Pennsylvania dealers have been able to successfully compete with Internet and out-of-state dealers who do not have to charge such taxes. Prior to 2006, coin dealers in this state were frozen out of the precious metals markets, as nobody, repeat nobody, would pay 6% sales tax on larger Gold and Silver bullion purchases. Today, Gold and Silver bullion sales are the only bright spots in most dealer’s product line. So what happens if this tax
exemption is lost? Well, if you don’t like collector or investor coins, or Gold and Silver bullion, then, for you, very little will change. (Many of their other sales tax additions will hurt you and everyone else, but we are speaking strictly about metals here.) If you are a coin and/or Gold/ Silver enthusiast, lots of things will happen, and none of them are good. First, and probably in short order, most of Pennsylvania’s coin operations will simply disappear, or, perhaps linger a bit, then call it quits. 95% of most dealer’s annual gross sales take place in the bullion markets. 95%! (The state will reap almost nothing, but they will succeed in destroying an entire industry. The ANA has already informed Philadelphia that it’s annual (HUGE) convention, scheduled for August, 2018 will be moved if such sales tax legislation is passed. Many other conventions will also be eliminated, hurting the economies of many, already cash-strapped cities.
Secondly, if you do want to buy Gold and Silver, you will be forced to do so either on the Internet, or, from out-of-state dealers. In both cases, your privacy will be completely compromised, and your ability to buy for cash will be eliminated. That “some” of these (non-local) firms are of questionable reputation is also something that must be considered. Third, any purchases you make from Internet or out-of-state dealers will now cost you plenty for insured, postage charges, and you will have to send them your money first, then wait (sometimes) weeks for delivery. Also, many times, you end up not receiving what you specifically ordered, necessitating even more postage and time to return this merchandise. Fourth, when you sell your coins to any remaining local dealers, they will be forced to offer you less, as they will have lost their (hard earned) client base due to sales taxes that must be charged. They will have to
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The Valley, July 2015
The Furminator July Greetings! As I write this, we are just coming off a Saturday of soaking rain. Every once in a while (especially on the weekends when I must be inside proofreading the paper and designing advertisements) I am ok with a nice steady rain. I enjoyed listening to the droning sound of the droplets hitting the roof, the windows and bouncing off the metal air conditioners that protrude from our windows. The temperatures dropped as well, which made it nice to open the windows and feel a cool breeze wafting through the house (until a bit later in the day when I actually had to put on my socks to get warm!) June sure has been a humid and soggy month. Let’s hope for a little less moisture in July! I wrote last month about a new product we were giving a try in the fenced area we recently installed for our dogs. It is called the Doggie Dooley and acts as a septic system for dog poo. Well, I’m happy to say that it is performing as advertised and we’re very pleased with it so far. If you are tired of shoveling your waste into a bucket or bagging it, I would recommend the Doggie Dooley. The only downside is having to look inside when you drop the new waste inside (yucko!). This month, we are going to try out another new doggie product recommended by a friend. It’s called the Furminator. It’s a
de-shedding tool that you can use to get loose hair from your dog’s coat so it doesn’t find it’s way all over your house. Our friend told us that since she’s been using it on her furry friends, she’s collecting about 80-90% less dog hair when she vacuums her house. Wow! That’s a lot less hair floating around on furniture and carpets! Since we now have two dogs that seem to shed a bit more than our last Weimie, we think this might be a good investment. They make Furmintors for short- medium- or long-haired dogs, so if you decide to try one, be sure to get the right one for the type of coat on your dog. They also make them for cats! On Chewy.com or Amazon. com you can see that the reviews are very positive with 4.5- to 5-star ratings and many, many reviewers. A 5-star review doesn’t mean much to me if there are just a few reviewers. It appears that they even make an adapter that allows you to attach it to your vacuum hose so that the hair you loosen gets sucked right away and doesn’t end up as a mess on your floor. Here’s the standard disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with Amazon, Chewy, or Furminator. I’m just merely telling you about a product that a friend has recommended to us and
we think might keep our house a little tidier. Try at your own risk, or if you’d rather wait until next month, I will let you know what I think of it after I’ve used it myself on Elwood and Murphy (I have a sneaky suspicion that they are going to love it too!) As Wayne mentioned in his Editorial, we took a much needed break from “life” in early June to go to NH and relax. And relaxing it was! We always enjoy going up there to see Wayne’s family and
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our friends. We also enjoy just driving around the countryside and stopping by lakeside beaches to soak in the tranquility and fresh air. I love New England for the old architecture, the many old country general stores, and the lack of humidity most of the time! I also like the fact that as long as you stay out of the cities, there aren’t many cars (and almost no big trucks) on the roads. Even on the back roads in PA it seems like there is always someone on your
bumper trying to “push” you to go faster, or someone ahead of you that you WISH would go faster. In NH, you can drive for miles and only see a few cars and rarely do you have the situations I mentioned above. If you are looking for a getaway in the fall, I would highly recommend a trip to NH to enjoy the foliage and everything else there is to do up there.
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Although Aromatherapy has been around for centuries: recently there has been an increased interest. More and more people are trending towards natural alternatives for a multitude of things. Essential Oils can be used for cosmetics, their mood changing abilities, cooking, medicinal properties, cleaning, or keeping the spiders at bay! At Shade Mountain Naturals, we use Essential Oils in the making of our all natural skin care line: and most recently in our new line of Essential Oil diffuser jewelry! I received my Certification in the use of Essential Oils about 15 years ago. Feeling the need to “brush up”: I decided to take another Certification course. I am taking this course along side my niece: Stephanie. We at Shade Mountain are very passionate about educating and not just selling at the office: so we are inviting you to join us on this learning adventure! We will share what we have learned for the next few months. We invite you to visit us at Shade Mountain Naturals to discuss this topic further or just chat and sniff with us! Today we will just discuss three basics: What is an Essential Oil? Why do plants produce Essential Oils? and What is Aroma-
therapy? What is an Essential Oil? Essential oils are a fragrant fluid distilled from flowers, shrubs, leaves, trees, roots, and seeds. Because they are necessary for the life of the plant, these substances are called “essential” and carry the life-blood, intelligence, and vibrational energy that enables them to sustain their own life—and help the people who use them. Essential Oils are constantly changing their chemical composition, helping the plant to adapt to its ever-changing internal and external environment. This is one of the reasons Essential Oils are able to help us fight infections and keep up our immune system (more on this another time!). Why does a plant produce Essential Oils? Recent scientific research has shown that plants produce essential oils for a variety of purposes including: To attract pollinators Insects have been pollinating flowers for a very long time! Insects, like humans, are attracted to specific plants for one of three
possible reasons: its aroma, its color, or its physical structure. Scent appears to be more of an attractant than color or physical structure. To play a role in allelopathy, a type of plant-to-plant competition Allelopathy occurs when a plant releases chemicals to prevent competing plants from growing within its area. An example is in southern California, home to the dominant shrubs Salvia leucophylla (sage bush) and Artemisia californica (a type of sage). Both species release their Essential oils, eucalyptol and camphor, into the surrounding area, which effectively prevents other plant species from growing around them. To help the plant defend against insects and other animals Plants, like other living things, need to protect themselves from various types of predators. Plants use their Essential Oils to deter insects and other animals from approaching them. An example of this is: insects are very rarely found on peppermint plants and the presence of linalol in the peel of citrus fruits deters the Caribbean fruit fly. The Douglas fir tree releases a complex mixture of oils from their needles to de-
fend against the spruce budworm. Even more fascinating is that the Douglas fir trees will vary the composition and production of its essential oils each year therefore decreasing the ability of the budworm to develop immunity. Hmmm, interesting—more on this next time! To protect the plant with their antifungal and antibacterial nature. Essential Oils are released by some plants and trees, such as evergreens, to act as antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial agents against a wide range of organisms that may threaten the survival of the plants. Essential oil compounds found in plants such as feverfew, yarrow, and blessed thistle, have been found to play a strong antimicrobial role. What is aromatherapy? Aromatherapy is a type of alternative medicine that uses essential oils and other aromatic plant compounds, which are aimed at improving a person’s health or mood. Many consider this type of treatment as unscientific and wishful thinking - however, scientific evidence of its effectiveness is growing. The essential oils used in aromatherapy have a different composition compared to other herbal products
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because the distillation used in aromatherapy recovers the lighter phytomolecules. The truth regarding the healing properties of essential oils has long been neglected and misunderstood by most in Western society. While some Aromatherapists in the US still consider essential oils only for the support of the psyche, studies continue to uphold the antibacterial and antiviral effects of essential oils. True Medical and Clinical Aromatherapists
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The Valley, July 2015
PACleanways of Mifflin County Keep PA Beautiful
Sunday Hunting Hunters may or may not get their wish. It all depends on how you as an outdoorsman look at it and what your opinion is. I myself can see both sides. If Sunday hunting was passed, I wouldn’t mind. VSO is closed on Sundays so that would give me another day to get out in the woods, relax, look at awesome scenery, maybe take a nap or two, and have a chance to fill a deer tag. Certainly though, people have voiced their opinions about Sunday hunting. To some, Sunday hunting would take away the chance for nonhunters to be able to hike and enjoy the outdoors. My answer to this is that it would only be 6, maybe 7, days a year. Also, they make orange vests that hikers could wear when they are on their hike, because State Game Lands are open to everyone. Problem solved. People also mention that they should only implement Sunday hunting on State land and let the private landowners have the opportunity to post their land for “NO SUNDAY HUNTING.” Well, don’t we already have that here in Belleville, PA where there is no Sunday fishing? I think that would be a great idea, letting it up to the land owner. Most farmers wouldn’t mind Sunday hunting—in my opinion they want everything harvested anyway because of crop damage. At least the farmers I know do. I put a post on my Facebook page about Sunday hunting and asked what people’s thoughts were about it. Reading all the posts, I feel most people want Sunday hunting to come to PA. Lets face it, we’re one of the last states that do not allow it. There are currently 11 states (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia) that have such restrictions or prohibitions that date back to “blue
laws” enacted in the 1700s. Isn’t it strange that most states that do not allow Sunday hunting are from the eastern part of the US. I’ve attached an article below from the local Channel 21 News website, written by Michael Gorsenger. I found it interesting, so I thought I would share. Check my Valley Sports and Outdoors page out on Facebook and let me know what your thoughts on this topic. https://www.facebook.com/valleysportsnoutdoor Updated: By: Michael Gorsegner -- And on the seventh day they hunted, or at least, that is the push by some local legislators and sportsmen. A proposed bill would legalize hunting on Sundays in Pennsylvania. Blue-laws forbidding hunting on Sundays in Pennsylvania date back to the 1700’s and William Penn. If a group of lawmakers get their way at the Capitol, guns could be firing on Sundays, bringing more hunters and cash into the local economy. Eddie Megonnel from York County snagged a deer on opening day of rifle season. If several Pennsylvania legislators got their way, Megonnel and hundreds of thousands of hunters would be able to shoot on Sundays as well. The idea is to lift the blue-laws, expanding the opportunities for hunters by giving them more weekend options to hunt while pumping more cash into the local economy. In fact, the National Shooting Sports Foundation estimates Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania would mean a $765 million boost to the local economy. In year’s past, proposed legislation to legalize Sunday hunting has relied on the Pennsylvania Game Commission to regulate the seasons and the timing. But not everyone is on board. Opposition to the change believe Sundays should remain a time where nonhunters can get into the woods
This year’s Juniata River Cleanups for 2015 Four County Cleanup dates are as follows: PACleanWays of Mifflin County/ KPB (Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful) will be on August 1st in Granville Township, same area as last year. Keep Juniata County Beautiful and Keep Perry County Beautiful will both hold theirs on August 8th in each county. Keep Huntingdon County Beautiful will hold theirs on August 23rd. Each county will be posting details on the event section on the Keep PA Beautiful on-line website at www.keeppennsylvaniabeautiful.org—some areas are still working out the details so be patient. All four counties are looking for volunteers who want to see a cleaner river. The river is a great recreation area for boating swimming, fishing, etc. for many individuals and families. PACleanWays of Pennsylvania/KPB annual Tire Challenge will be held on September 19th at the Lewistown Borough Refuse Yard once again this year, from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. As mentioned last month, here’s the third part of the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Illegal Dumping in Pennsylvania: A Decade of Discovery Executive Summary Raising Awareness, Recommendations for Enforcement The implementations of a statewide multimedia education campaign on proper waste management and the establishment and enjoy the outdoors without fear. Some farming organizations, like the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, have been against the change in the past. Hunting on Sundays has been divisive in the past. In fact, a federal judge ruled last June that banning hunting on Sundays did not violate anyone’s second amendment rights. The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed by a non-profit group called the Hunters United for Sunday Hunting against the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Representatives Frank Farina, D-Lackawana County, and Robert Godshall, RMontgomery County, are pushing the bill Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. at the Capitol. How this bill is written will probably be key to its possible passage. New Jersey allowed hunting on Sundays in 2009, but limited what seasons and which weapons to get it done. a
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of an environmental law training program for enforcement officers and justices would raise awareness of the issue. On the physical level, installing barriers and crime scene tape at dumpsites would further emphasize the criminal nature of the activity. Expanding the use of surveillance cameras at illegal dump sites throughout the state, as well as establishing a consistent fine structure that significantly outweighs the avoided cost of disposal, would serve as the primary methods of enforcement. Recommendations for prosecution include revoking transporter licenses, forfeiture of equipment, requiring community service for certain violations, and dedicating penalties to a cleanup fund. Establishing a Joint Code Enforcement Officer Program to support local governments, building an Expert Witness Bureau, creating an “Environmental Law Court Day” or dedicating a District Justice would serve to expedite cases. Finally, there is a recommendation to amend the Covered Device Recycling Act (CDRA) to require scrap dealers to report on receipt of certain components from covered devices, and improve and simplify other elements of implementation. Future Benefits • Honest citizens and business owners whose monthly collection rates have been made artificially high to subsidize those who ig-
nore the law could finally realize a price break. • Without the added cost of illegal dumping, local governments could put public works budgets to better uses such as improving local infrastructure. • Resources could be dedicated to enhancing parks and recreational services instead of removing illegally dumped tires, furniture, appliances and construction debris. • By eliminating the contamination from illegally dumped trash, local drop-off collection programs could be more sustainable. A decade has been devoted to discovering the intricacies of what motivates illegal dumping practices. The added conveniences and affordable disposal outlets recommended in the study should eradicate any excuse for improper disposal. We encourage stakeholders at all levels to use the findings and recommendations of this report as a catalyst to launch a statewide campaign to Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. *Statewide Illegal Dump Survey Program (2005-2013), Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and MSW Consultants. This Report funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Richard King Mellon Foundation. Pam Sechrist Affiliate Coordinator a
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“Almost New” Home in Blossom Hill! by Kim Rickert What is better than owning a brand new home? Owning an almost new home and not having to go through the construction process! Seriously, new construction can be very stressful and is not for the faint of heart. Many decisions must be made and sometimes buyers are overwhelmed with deciding on carpet, cabinets, door knobs, and light fixtures. In addition, a buyer may not have the luxury of waiting
four to six months (minimum) to build a new home; they have an immediate need for a home. This new listing in the very popular Blossom Hill community located in Lewistown is convenient to schools, hospital and routes 322 and 522. The home was built in 2012 and is a two story Bellwoode model. A two story home with 1961 square feet above grade, the home also has a full (unfinished) basement and at-
tached two car garage. Situated on a corner lot, it has plenty of yard space for a deck or patio in the rear. The Bellwoode has a three bedroom floor plan that features a large master bedroom with walkin closet and master bath on second floor. The master bath has a jetted tub and shower combination. You will have many options for furniture layout in the 15 ’5” X 15’ carpeted bedroom. The two additional bedrooms include generous closets and are adjacent to a full bathroom with tub/ shower combination. The first floor has a spacious feeling thanks to the open floor plan featuring a family room, country kitchen and sunroom. The high breakfast bar between kitchen and sunroom is a great place for quick snacks or to set up refreshments for your housewarming party! A catheA corner lot gives this “almost new” home a large expansive area to put your finishing dral ceiling, large touches on.
windows and a sliding patio door bring plenty of natural light into the sunroom. The kitchen area has plenty of room to add an island if desired and includes a pantry. Easy access to the powder room and laundry room from the kitchen, plus entrance from the garage make your daily chores easier. A study lies to the right of the oak hardwood foyer and provides a separate office or playroom. The home includes an unfinished basement with egress window. As all of the homes built at Blossom Hill, this beauty is
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heated and cooled with natural gas, and the has a natural gas water heater and gas range. Built to be energy efficient, the utility costs in this home will be surprisingly low! A home owners association exists at Blossom Hill to help keep your home value high by maintaining common areas and ensuring that all homes and yards look well groomed. The HOA fee also covers trash removal. Ask anyone who lives in Blossom Hill and you will hear how they love the convenience and the benefits of living in a planned community. This home is waiting for your visit! Call Kim or any of the agents at Stone Arch Real Estate to schedule a tour soon! a
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The Valley, July 2015
I gained 50 pounds ...and love it! www.families4kids.org 800-568-6449
foster parent or adopt...you’ll love it too! The Truth Has No Agenda
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Sara’s Dairy Journey by Sara Lucas
Utterly Courageous
JULY 2015 Mifflin County History Trivia ‘Eat fried mouse or mouse pie…” - Rural Remedies for Common Conditions Along the Pennsylvania frontier during pioneer days, the availability of professional medical assistance was non-existent. In fact, the state of medical practices in the late 18th and 19th centuries might make a patient’s recovery a chancy affair, given a doctor’s penchant for bleeding and purging in those early times. Folk medicine and herbal remedies afforded a course of treatment for rural residents in remote areas, being as common as hunting for food would be among those early pioneers. German immigrants brought tried and true remedies with them from the Old Country, many recipes passed down from generation to generation by wordof-mouth. This month’s Mifflin County trivia questions come courtesy of the 1941 Popular Home Remedies and Superstitions of the Pennsylvania Germans by A. Monroe Aurand, Jr. Ammon Monroe Aurand, Sr. and son established Aurand Press around 1923, and published the collection in nearby Middleburg, Snyder
County, PA. A. Monroe Aurand Jr. (1895-1956) has relatives still residing in Snyder and Mifflin counties. 1. Get a chicken, nice or otherwise, kill it without shedding blood; boil it, feathers and all. Make a soup out of it. A bowl or two of this recipe was expected to cure what condition? [a] headache [b] chest cold [c] constipation [d] drunkenness 2. Eat fried mouse or mouse pie OR burn a mouse to ashes and secretly place the ashes in coffee, tea or any other drink OR have the afflicted person “make water” on a freshly covered grave -- What were these remedies expected to cure? [a] bed-wetting [b] hiccups [c] nosebleed [d] piles 3. For the afflicted person, take a pinch of soil from a garden cross path and put it in his or her coffee OR if a woman, sew salt and bread into her petticoats or if a man, sew salt into a seam of his clothing. What was being cured here? [a] baldness [b] sneezing [c] homesickness [d] wart 4. The afflicted person should
carry any of the following: three potatoes, eye-tooth of a pig, triangular bone of a ham, a ring made from a horseshoe nail, a coffin nail, or a horse chestnut OR put glass door knobs under the bed posts. What was being cured? [a] hives [b] kidney disease [c] a sprain [d] rheumatism 5. The use of animal dung and human or animal urine figures heavily in many Pennsylvania German cures or superstitions. All the following are suggested therapies, except ONE. Select the impostor. [a] Freckles may be taken away with sheep dung tea. [b] Washing a child’s face with urine of its own manufacture is said to make it handsome. [c] Inhale deeply of hog dung that is steamed to clear a head cold. [d] A plaster of warm cow dung will draw an infection. [e] Snuffling one’s own urine at night will clear a stuffed head. ANSWERS: 1.C 2.A 3.C 4.D 5.A SOURCES: Popular Home Remedies and Superstitions of the Pennsylvania Germans by A. Monroe Aurand, Jr., Middleburg, PA 1941. a
Nephrology Services Now Offered at Mount Nittany Health Mifflin County To continue to improve access to healthcare for residents of Mifflin County, Fahima Nasreen, MD, nephrology, Mount Nittany Physician Group, is now seeing patients at Mount Nittany Health – Mifflin County. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Nasreen in Mifflin County, located at 96 Kish Road in Reedsville, call toll free 855.689.7391. Appointments with Dr. Nasreen can also be made at Mount Nittany Physician Group Nephrology in State College,
located at Mount Nittany Health – Park Avenue, 1850 East Park Avenue, Suite 201, by calling 814.689.3140. For more information on nephrology services offered at Mount Nittany Physician Group, visit mountnittany.org/physiciangroup. Mount Nittany Health, a health system located in State College, Pa., consists of Mount Nittany Medical Center, a 260-bed acute care facility, and Mount Nit-
tany Physician Group, a staff of more than 130 providers who offer primary and specialty care services at a growing number of offices throughout Central Pennsylvania. In addition to providing high-quality care, Mount Nittany Health strives to improve the health and wellness of its community through education programs, events and health screenings. Visit mountnittany. org to learn more about Mount Nittany Health’s mission to make people healthier. a
There are two major celebrations this month. That’s right! Independence Day on the 4th and National Cow Appreciation Day on the 15th! Between these two dates, I’m sure you and many others will be attending multiple cookouts, luncheons, and picnics. Along the way you will be exchanging plenty of thank yous with the brave men and women who protect and serve our country all over the world. But don’t forget to thank the cows too! Pennsylvania is a top dairy producing state, and without the help of those lovely ladies, it would not be this way. These ladies help provide our families a nutritious and safe product. Here’s where we should give the farmers, and their family some credit too. Farmers all over the state wake up at the crack of dawn to milk these ladies, so they deserve a thank you as well if happened to see them at any of your gatherings you attend this month. With such a hectic summer schedule of eating irregular meals, and not necessarily paying attention to your diet, make sure that you get your 3 daily servings of dairy. I would like to share with you a favorite summer, picnic recipe of mine.
Fruit Pizza Sugar cookie recipe: 2 ¾ cup of flour 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup of softened BUTTER 1 egg 1 ½ vanilla extract Mix Frosting: *1 package of CREAM CHEESE *2 cups of whip cream *1 teaspoon of vanilla extract Mix *This recipe is entirely optional. I have also used low fat vanilla yogurt as a substitute for the above. Toppings for pizza: Fruit of your choice such as; strawberries blueberries, blackberries, kiwi Directions: • -Bake the cookie dough for about 8 mins at 350° or until golden brown. • -while your cookie is baking this gives you the perfect opportunity to cut up your fruit • -Once baked let it cool down,once cooled down you can place your frosting on and sprinkle your fruit evenly. • -refrigerate for at least 30 mins and serve a
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legal in Pennsacola, FL to back into your driveway? What? How can someone tell you how you can park in your own driveway? What’s happening in America? Wake up! America was founded because we were being over taxed and oppressed by England. Our founders wanted America to be free — free of heavy taxes and monarchy—but we’ve come full circle now haven’t we? Our new governor wants to raise sales and income tax in Pennsylvania. The people can only carry so much before they will revolt, and I fear we are getting closer to it every day. We are moving so far away from a free republic. If I wanted to live under dictatorship, communism, or a socialist regime, I’d move to another country. There are a great many people living in America today who have no appreciation for freedom and liberty. a
I usually try to stay away from political issues, but is everyone paying attention to nonsense going on? For instance, why is their talk of stripping the confederate flag from Gettysburg where it portrays a significant part of our history? I can understand how it divides us when flown at a southern state capitol as we should no longer be fighting the battle of the north vs. the south (and yes, I’m well aware that there are some who still think we should be at war), but at Gettysburg? Isn’t that what Gettysburg was all about....a battle between the Union and the Confederate States? The flag is part of the history of that bloody battle. Are we looking to erase history now? Just the other day Wayne told me that it is now il-
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The Valley, July 2015
The Pennsylvania Mid State Trail is known as the “Wildest Footpath in Pennsylvania.” Stretching from the Mason-Dixon Line at Maryland to the New York State Line, the Mid State Trail follows the ridge tops as it makes its way through central Pennsylvania. The Big Valley Vista is one of many fine vistas found along the Mid State Trail. Located in Bald Eagle State Forest, this vista looks out over the southern expanses of the Bald Eagle and Rothrock State Forest, across the Laurel Run Reservoir, and into the valley beyond. If you want to take in the spectacular views form this vista you don’t need to hike the entire Mid State Trail. This outing is a short hike on some side trails near the Seven Mountains road side rest that allows to enjoyment of this view with less than a mile of hiking. Ascending the Seven Mountains, heading west on US route 322, you will see a road side rest on your right as you reach the top of the climb. This road side rest is located between the Milroy exit and Poe Valley State Park exit at the top of the mountain. Pull into the road side rest and park here for the hike. If you are coming from the west, you will need to continue on US322 east, down the mountain, and then exit at the Milroy exit. Get back on US route 322 and follow it to the top of the mountain. This hike starts on the Nature Trail at the Seven Mountains Road Side Rest. It then follows a
connecting trail to the Mid State Trail. A short climb up the mountain takes you to the Big Valley Vista. A little bit further past the vista on the MST has you meeting up with another side trail that takes you back to the road side rest and completes the loop. From the road side rest, follow the lower part of the Nature Trail loop. At about a quarter of a mile into the hike, the trail makes a sharp left and crosses the remnants of the Lewistown and Bellefonte Turnpike. Shortly after the crossing you will come upon the intersection of the blue-blazed side trail and the Nature Trail. Turn right here and start a gradual ascent up the flank of the ridge. At 0.5 miles the blue-blazed side trail ends at its intersection with the orange-blazed Mid State Trail. Turn left here and start to climb the ridge in earnest. After a little more than a tenth of a mile of hiking, you will reach the top of the ridge, with the Big Valley Vista access trail to your right. Turn here to enjoy the views from the Big Valley Vista. After enjoying the vista, retrace your steps and turn right back onto the Mid State Trail. The Mid State Trail follows the ridge top, with an occasional dip down on the north side of the ridge. At a bit past one mile you will come across the intersection with the blue-blazed connecting trail. This trail takes you back to the road side rest. Turn left here and start your descent down off the ridge. In 0.4 miles you will find
yourself back at the start of your hike. This short circuit hike is a great way to spend an hour or two on a nice sunny afternoon. The views from the Big Valley vista are amazing. This hike is highly recommend to anyone that finds themselves with a few hours to spend while they are driving over the Seven Mountains. You won’t be disappointed by this hike or the view. a
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Be the Captain of Your Own Ship “In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt Have you caught yourself thinking “I can’t,” in relation to changing key areas of your life? Or do you ever hear yourself complaining about a truly negative situation and placing blame on another person? When we adopt the attitude of a victim, we’re pretending to be defeated, not considering our own choices or using our own power to change our situation. Taking a victim stance can sound like: • “My wife gives me the silent treatment for days. I can’t get her to understand how toxic that is. I wish she’d treat me better.” • “My boss is a crazy person and I can’t deal with him. I feel trapped.”
• “I’m so tired of my husband’s drinking. He should know better.” • “My father still bullies me after all these years and I can’t stop him.” It’s sad that living in the same circumstances for years has a way of blinding people to options. A bad situation can become so “set in stone” that it can feel utterly inescapable and unchangeable. Very rarely is a situation both unchangeable and inescapable. Most of the time it is neither – if we allow ourselves to think outside the box for options. Next time you complain that you’re in a bad situation, that there’s nothing you can do – what if you were to pause? Take a mental step back? Slow yourself down and RETHINK? I believe there are almost always alternatives to staying stuck, hoping the situation or person will change. It’s true, we don’t have the power to change someone or
“make” someone do something s/he doesn’t want to do. We can’t stop a person from being silent, quiet someone who’s yelling, make a person stay who wants to leave, or leave when they want to stay. But you are not “trapped.” You can’t control them. You can, however, take control of yourself. Too many settle for unhappy situations because we think we have no choices. We do. Though the choices may be hard, they do exist. Speaking up to a raging boss, setting limits on an explosive child, or giving a cheating spouse an ultimatum can seem scary. But we can do it. Fear can stop us from taking meaningful control of our lives. Instead of letting fear stop you, how about using it as an impetus to take those heartfelt steps you know you must take? What if, when you feel fear, you slow down and ask yourself what you’re really afraid of – then proceed with the steps you know you must take? What if you stopped putting your life on hold? How would it feel to be the captain of your own ship? Here’s a challenge: Pay attention to where you may be acting the victim in your life or relationship. Vow to stop playing the victim, stop thinking about what others are or aren’t doing. Instead,
decide what options you have in order to take control of your life. Don’t wait and hope someone else will make your life happy. Your happiness is up to you. a
Sales Tax on coins and Bullion from page 7 hope they will realize that placing Sales Tax on Gold and Silver bullion will do NOTHING to help the State’s money troubles—but will most assuredly put a goodly number of tax-paying citizens out of work! a
Veritas vos liberabit
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The Valley, July 2015
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The Valley, July 2015
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The Valley, July 2015
There is more than one way to read a book
Joanne Wills-Kline Contentment Quest
The Possibilities
Every day is loaded with possibilities. Everything we say and do is “pregnant” with possibilities… every thought even has oodles of possibilities just waiting to burst forth into the material world. Even adversity is loaded with possibilities although we may not recognize the possibilities as we are in the midst of moving through adversity. Michael Hyatt (author, motivational speaker, and thought leader), suggests asking this question the next time we face adversity: “What does this make possible?” In other words, what does the adversity present at a root level. How can you grow/ change rather than sink/shrivel because the adversity presented itself. What would be cleared from your path in life because the adversity took place? It is very difficult to consider “the possibilities” in the midst of trial and tribulation…but it is possible if we “choose” to train ourselves to think as such. It is a process…one of practice and repeated mindfulness to train
ourselves to ask the question “What does this make possible?” as we are sitting in the middle of hard times or a crisis. But, if you put forth the effort to try to envision the possibilities within the adversity, your life will be forever changed and you will grow tremendously. Growth occurs when we are open to receive change presented by the adversity, and when we desire to grow ourselves because the change occurred. Adversity IS pregnant with possibility; BUT we only recognize the possibility when we approach adversity with an open mind and an open heart. I have said it a million times before: “Surround yourself with positive people.” It is extremely important to do so in the midst of adversity IF you wish to be open to see the possibilities presented in light of the adversity. Otherwise, the banter and pessimism from people who are geared toward negativity will be like a heavy mud that prohibits you from moving forward and above
A Gentleman’s Agreement from page 5
a chemical that, decades later, is still found in the environment and in us? Do we tell them that statistical evidence shows that the steep increase in diabetes, heart disease, dementia, etc. match the steep increase in the use of pesticides and genetically modified organisms? Do we tell them that, in order to “control” the weeds that have developed resistance to increasing amounts of applied herbicides, the Environmental Protection Agency has approved the addition of 2-4d, the active ingredient in Agent Orange, to the mix; Agent Orange that was used as a defoliant in the Vietnam War, often sprayed on our troops who, decades later, are suffering from symptoms that can be directly linked to the spray? Do we tell them that now this chemical soup is going to be sprayed on our food? And, by the way—in this particular instance—what exactly is the E.P.A. protecting us from —a chance for good health? How can the good folks who work for these organizations even do their jobs when the powers that be keep
What if Rosa Parks had never refused to sit at the back of the bus? What if one quarter of the population of the American Colonies hadn’t dragged the other three-quarters of the population along on one of the most amazing experiments in social change ever? What if Upton Sinclair hadn’t written “The Jungle,” a book that prompted investigations that led to pure food laws? What if the people living around Love Canal hadn’t fought “a big chemical company” to prove that the company was dumping the toxic waste that was killing them? What do we do the next time we are asked why we don’t use synthetic chemicals when we farm? Do we give them a sanitized, politically correct answer that is meant not to offend or scare or confuse them? Or do we tell them about the decades long battle to ban DDT,
the adverse situation easily. Begin to surround yourself with positive quotes from great thought leaders. Surround yourself with articles and books geared toward living a life filled with gratitude and positivity. Doing so will lay a foundation to root open-mindedness and potential for personal growth. If we can train ourselves to approach adversity with open palms rather than clenched fists, then we afford ourselves the opportunity to receive personal growth because the hardship was presented. We all have faced adversity in our lives, and adversity will show up on our doorstep of life sometime in the future…it is inevitable. But, the way we respond to the adversity can make all the difference – a difference in our future and our personal development in life. So the next time adversity comes knocking, will you pose the question Michael Hyatt suggests? Or, will you approach adversity with the conditioned gut reaction of “Oh No! What now?” For me, I’m going to institute Michael Hyatt’s question: “What does this make possible?!?” a undermining them by making decisions like this? So here’s the dilemma. How do we avoid becoming the person who allows wrongs to go unchallenged? How far can we go, what do we say and to whom? Well, we know that there are never any easy answers to these questions and we know that we have to take it all one step at a time. But we surely do have to keep taking those steps. And though we may not want to make a fuss, we can’t do it too quietly either. Maybe we need to be more up front about our choices as organic growers, letting people know that the “gentlemen’s agreement” in American agriculture is as dangerously harmful and un-American as any other bigotry. Maybe, if we let enough people hear the facts, those basically good people who have been swept along, farmer and non-farmer alike, will wake up and take steps together before it’s too late. It can’t hurt to try. a
The Truth Has No Agenda
by Marsha Shilling Technology Services Coordinator Mifflin County Library
book, all you need is an AAA battery and a pair of headphones or earbuds. Some of the playaways in the children’s room come with books to read along with the narrator. You can even listen to the
Many people enjoy to feel of a hardback book in their hands. They like to turn the pages and feel the weight of the book as they enjoy the story unfolding before them. But there are so many ways to read a book today. Along with the hardback book, there are paperbacks and downloadable (electronic) e-books. The lighter paperbacks are more transportable and many people enjoy taking along paperbacks while on vacation or just to keep one or two in your car (just in-case). Audiobooks are very versatile, and can be listened to while doing other tasks, such as driving. E-books are great for travel or that visit to the doctor’s office. How else could playaway in the car by using an you fit so many books in your FM Transmitter. You plug the FM pocket? And you can check out a Transmitter into you power or book without leaving your house. lighter port in your car and match If you like to read while you up the radio station on your car are on the move, try an audiowith the transmitter, plug in the book. Audio books come in a few playaway and you can listen to it forms, too. You can listen to a through your car speakers. book on CD while you are driving All of these types of books to work or to make that long trip are available at the Mifflin County seem much shorter. There are Library in Lewistown as well downloadable e-audiobooks you as our Kish Branch located in can download to your smartphone, Belleville. Both locations have hardback, paperback, audio CDs and playaways. You can even borrow an FM transmitter if you want to give it a try. Electronic books are E-Readers are a very popular way to keep up on your reading. available through our website. So, on your next visit to mp3 player, tablet or computer. the library, check out the other And there are playaways, a digital ways to read your book. a device that is dedicated to one
Next Issue of The Valley: August 5th
The Valley, July 2015
20
of opinions and activities that exists among participants. Mission Partner
PorcFest XII starts on ongoing as of this writing. Organizers Kristin Weitzel and Matt Philips, together with an amazing team of lead coordinators, have put together a spectacular 12th annual PorcFest. On top of the incredible “How-will-I-possibly-pick?” schedule, attendees will be impressed by the new upgrades and improvements, including shower trucks and a mesh network. Old favorites like the Liberty Ladies of New Hampshire’s One Pot Cook-Off return (sorry, it’s sold out!), and new events, like Artsy Fartsy debut, where you can sign up to present your best poetry, short story, stand up, or song. Also launching is the Porc Buddy program where new movers will be partnered with mentors to help make the move and transition to New Hampshire as smooth as possible. Learn more below. Both of New Hampshire’s leading newspapers covered PorcFest this week, with the Union Leader interviewing Crosby Peck, the owner of Roger’s Campground, and the Concord Monitor, interviewing an early mover,
who says for him, “PorcFest is a laboratory.” Didn’t make it to PorcFest? Save the date for Liberty Forum, which will once again take place at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester, February 18-21, 2016. Soon after PorcFest, comes Freedom Fest. This year, we will have a big contingent in Vegas, and board members will participate in a panel discussion: “Free State Project: Bringing Freedom Lovers Together; How We Change the World.” Tickets to Freedom Fest are still available. Buy yours today. The air in New Hampshire is electric with liberty activism! On top of thousands of people
flocking to PorcFest, the presidential primaries are hotting up, and there is no better place than New Hampshire for easy access to candidates. Just another reason why YOU should pledge and move. The sooner, the better! Yours in peace and liberty, Carla Gericke FSP President What Is The Free State Project? The Free State Project is an effort to recruit 20,000 liberty-loving people to move to New Hampshire. We are looking for neighborly, productive, tolerant folks from all walks of life, of all ages, creeds, and colors who agree to the political philosophy expressed in our Statement of Intent, that government exists at most to protect people’s rights, and should neither provide for people nor punish them for activities that interfere with no one else. SIGN UP TODAY! freestateproject.org The work of creating and sustaining such a society in New Hampshire is the job of residents, including project participants, not the Free State Project itself. The FSP does not endorse any specific changes to government or strategies to achieve them. The FSP does not take positions on issues, candidates, legislation, places to move within New Hampshire, tactics or methods of action. The one stipulation
the FSP does make is that people who promote violence, racial hatred, or bigotry are not welcome. Reporting by the FSP on participant activity or NH events on the website, in the newsletter, or in any other place does not represent support or endorsement and may not portray the diversity
Free Talk Live is talk radio you can control. Broadcasts are live every day from 7-10pm EST! You can listen at https://www.freetalklive.com/listen/live and call in at
1.855.450.FREE or via Skype at LRN.FM. Ready to Move? Find a Porc Buddy! As we ramp up to Trigger the Move, and as more and more new movers arrive weekly, we are introducing a new movers mentoring program called “Porc Buddy,” spearheaded by Gloria Leustek working with FSP administrator Chris Lopez. This program will partner new movers with mentors in specific geographic regions to learn
Continued on page 22
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The Valley, July 2015
Modern Energy and Alternative Heating with Curt Bierly
Solar Hot Water Systems You walk outside on a sunny day and you can feel the warmth of the sun. You own a vehicle with black seats and you sit on them on a sunny day and they are warm, even hot, you walk on a blacktop road on a sunny day with no shoes on and it is HOT. Wouldn’t it make sense to capture that heat, store it and use it to heat your home and/or Domestic Hot Water (DHW, i.e. hot water to wash dishes, take a shower, wash your face, etc). What is absolutely great about a Solar Hot Water System is that after you make that initial investment, you are not charged for the amount of sunshine you use! No yearly increases in cost, no government intervention, no taxes to pay. The
sunshine is FREE! In fact, in addition to sunshine being free, currently the Federal Government will allow you a 30% tax credit on the cost to install a Solar Hot Water System, currently good until December 31, 2016. In addition to all of those advantages, Solar Hot Water is “Green,” it’s renewable, and it leaves no “Carbon Foot Print”—the sun doesn’t need to be delivered with a truck, we don’t need to purchase it from “across the pond” or deal with drilling or hydrofracking for natural gas. The question is, “do these systems work?” For now we’ll limit our discussion to Solar DHW. Our company has installed numerous solar hot water systems
to heat DHW. One of the systems we installed locally was for a young couple with two small children. They recently reported to me they usually turn off their backup electric hot water heater in May and don’t turn it on again until November. In the winter months the solar hot water system continues to preheat the DHW to their electric hot water heater, but during periods of time with little sunshine, some backup is required. Most residential systems require two or three flat panel solar collectors and one 80 gallon solar tank. Currently we are working on a system to heat the DHW for a Community Center and are using ten flat panel solar collectors. The solar storage tank will hold 400 gallons of water and will be shipped to us in a flat crate for assembly on site. The inside of the tank is lined with the same rubber as used on roofs, is heavily insulated and has an aluminum skin. The system will be backed up with a “tankless” propane water heater. We also installed a Solar DHW system for the YWCA in Williamsport. There, we used 16 flat panels and a 640 gallon solar tank. For a veterinary
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clinic in Selinsgrove, we redid an evacuated tube system. Ok let’s take a $12,000 residential DHW solar system cost for easy numbers. The Federal Tax Credit would be $3600 ($12,000 x 30% = $3600). Out of pocket cost would be $8400.00. In Central Pennsylvania, the sun supplies an estimated 80% of the DHW needs for a family of four. Assume you are paying $60/month
to heat your DHW. The yearly savings would be $576. ($60 x 12 x 80% = $576). Assuming no change in the monthly cost to heat your DHW, in 14 to 15 years you would save the money you invested in the system. That is a 6.8% return on investment. The Federal Government can change their mind at any time. 2015 is a good time to “make the move”. You’ll never regret it. Curt Bierly is president of the bierly group incorporated of which Stanley C. Bierly is a division. He graduated from Penn State with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and is a member of the Penn College HVAC Advisory Board. You can contact him at cbierly@bierlygroup.com. a
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Call 1-877-643-4327 The Truth Has No Agenda
The Valley, July 2015
22
Plain Talk
Solar Explained by S. Yoder Hello to all readers of The Valley from Honey Creek Road where the busy road closed on all of us, which means we’re a little out of the way at this point. Hopefully it will reopen soon so that Reedsville is 4 miles closer. Even with the road closed, we are just a little farther than it used to be, and still have the same service. Let’s see what is new! It is the new “Evolution Series” inverter/charger, nicknamed EVO Series. It is the first like it that Samlex has manufactured. Price and quality are comparable to most expensive brands and it really has many more features than the competition. Use the EVO Series for camping, cabins, remote power, off-grid solar,
cally. The EVO inverter/charger can accept power from the grid, a generator, or solar charge controller to charge a bank of batteries— all of which can be connected at the same time. The unit will automatically switch between power sources as they become available, ensuring that the batteries are charged and AC loads are powered at once. The EVOs are available in 4 sizes ranging from 12 - 24 volt. • • • •
2200 watt 12 volt DC 2200 watt 24 volt DC 3000 watt 12 volt DC 4000 watt 24 volt DC
Power like at home, but wherever you need it. So be sure
eters: current inverter activity, battery charging activity, equalization and faults. Use the remote to program parameters and view performance; this is not just another “cheapy” inverter. It’s a real machine weighing just a bit under 60 pounds. It has an external charge controller port rated at 50 amps as well as many, many more features such as temperature controlled cooling fans for less noise. We believe the EVO will eventually be the leading inverter brand! The current price on the EVO 2200 watt is $1339 for 12 or 24 volt, which is .609 cents per watt versus the competitors list of $2059 for 2000 watt, or 1.0295 per watt. The EVO looks pretty good doesn’t it? We think so! Don’t forget, we are having an “Open House” on July 13 - 18, and on the 18th we will hold our “Customer Appreciation Day!” Don’t forget to write down the dates! Also remember there is a slight detour to take if Honey Creek Road isn’t open all the way
Hillside Orchard News and Comments by Iddo M. Hostetler Hello to all The Valley readers from Hillside Orchard, where berries we pick and clocks do tick, where the people don’t want to be sick or have to walk with a stick, where cherries are a treat and we work in the sun’s heat, where peaches are to eat, plums we do reap and apples are to keep, where the people sleep at night so they can wake up bright to do what’s right in the morning light, with all their might. May was on the dry side and June seems to be making up for it. The old saying is plant corn in the dust and the cribs will bust. However, the wet and humid conditions we are having are very favorable for brown rot in cherries that are ripening. Time will have to tell how we fare till the crop is over. Cherries are expensive to buy and I am starting to see some of the reasons behind it. In 2014 the crop froze, this year we are losing part of them to cracking and brown rot. Tie this to tricky pollination in some years, and
you will have nothing less then a undependable cropper. It takes the good years to make up for the lean years. We have been doing some experimenting with our apples, seeing what we can get away with and what not, as far as sprays. It turned out that the European Apple Sawfly (EAS) gave us the most trouble. It is an exotic pest that was in this country for about six decades, but wasn’t widespread until 1995. I am starting to believe that they are most or part of the reason that you can hardly find any wild apples anymore that are not gnawed or wormy. Even just 25 years ago, I remember going to granddad’s old orchard and picking decent apples that were not sprayed, but that seems to be a thing of the past unless you have some sort of a pest control program. Wishing everyone a prosperous and happy summer. Auf Weidersehen a
Free State Project from page 20
where to shop and where to go for various services, such as auto repair, hospitals, hairdressers, etc. Whatever the need, the mentor is there to help! As new movers get acclimated, we hope they will “pay-it-forward” by becoming a mentor for someone else down the line. More details about this new program will be available at PorcFest. Interested in becoming a mentor? Let us know at PorcBuddy@FreeStateProject.org. a
Samlex’s EVO inverter/charger is THE choice for a complete off-grid power solution
commercial vehicles, marine and back-up power. If it is a Samlex Inverter, it has many, many more uses. If you need reliable AC power in the same wave or better than your utility power, this unit also incorporates a 70 amp auto transfer switch. What does an inverter/charger do? What are its primary functions? First of all, it has the ability to charge batteries and second to invert battery current into usable AC power as a main power source, or if the grid goes down. It also transfers loads automati-
to stop in and check out a real live unit or log on to SamlexAmerica. com to check it out. Also be sure to check its simple wiring diagrams. The EVO unit is actually three units in one which is: 1. Pure Sine Inverter 2. Battery Charger 3. Automatic transfer switch It’s all three in one unit with optional remote control and removable SD card for data logging. The EVO remote is free for now, but at a later point it will be optional with an extra charge. The EVO has many param-
through yet. Customer Appreciation Day is a great time to see one of the many systems we have to offer, or talk to us about a custom built design to meet your specific needs. Check out our specials during Open House. We hope to see you soon. Thank you, Steven Yoder 1731 Honey Creek Road Reedsville PA 17084 717-667-0330 a
more about their towns and surrounding areas. Mentors will help new movers with the transition of moving to a new home, and help make them feel comfortable and welcome in their new state. Depending on the region, new movers can expect help with things like Town Hall info for voting, vehicle registration, etc. They can also get suggestions about
“Fair & Balanced” means Spin gets Equal Time
The Valley, July 2015
The Truth Has No Agenda
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The Valley, July 2015
24 Huntingdon County Fair from front page former Benson tract was purchased by the Huntingdon County Agricultural Association in 1923, the fair was held inside and outside Huntingdon Borough and near Alexandria. To celebrate this special year, a program is set for 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, at the Midway Stage. Former Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, Sam Hayes Jr., will be the master of ceremonies. Current Secretary of Agriculture, Russell Redding, has accepted an invitation to attend. The approximately one-hour program will conclude with “anniversary” music by local musician Chris Woodward and the serving of cupcakes to the audience. The public can also enjoy photo exhibits in Neary Hall during fair week and an old-fashioned Saturday night square dance – just like the former days when the dances officially ended the week.
Come to the Fair
The seven-day fair has a menu of things to see, do and consume. There is a variety of food found mainly at carnival-atmosphere events – cotton candy, grilled hot sausage sandwiches, funnel cakes, fresh-cut fries and monkey bread. Halls and outdoor spaces will
be filled with exhibits and vendors’ wares. It is an opportunity to see the newest and latest in products, all in one location. The gate admission price of $5 per person includes a musical show at the Midway Stage Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings and Saturday afternoon and a fair queen pageant with musical entertainment Sunday evening; a kickoff musical by entertainers Dan and Galla and a vesper program later Sunday evening and a local Talent Show Wednesday evening, again hosted by Dan and Galla. This year’s Friday night program will feature Tommy Cash, country music singer and youngest brother of the late “Man in Black,” Johnny Cash. The gate admission also grants the visitor to spend as much time as he or she likes at the Farm Museum, top-rated in Pennsylvania. This huge collection, which grows by numerous objects every year, is housed in two buildings, with space around the outside for antique tractors and farm machinery. Some of these home, farm and garden treasures are one of a kind. A
Danielle Varner was recently named the Pennsylvania Ayrshire Queen. She is a graduate of Mount Union Area High School and a member of Captain Jack FFA. She lives on a dairy farm with her parents, Dean and Donna Varner of the Shirleysburg area. She exhibited supreme dairy cows and reserve supreme in the past three years at the Huntingdon County Fair.
group of volunteers maintains the inventory and buildings, starting full speed in the spring in preparation for visitors on Thursdays throughout the spring and summer and from early morning until late at night during fair week. Wednesday is Senior Citizens Day. All adults 65 or older are admitted free of charge to the grounds. There are activities from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for the seniors at the Midway Stage. Starting at 1:30 p.m., drivers steer the antique tractors and other vehicles in a parade around the grounds, showing off the reds, greens and oranges of days gone by. For some, no fair is complete without amusement rides and games. The Benner family of Penn Valley Shows LLC takes great care to provide a safe and fun time for all ages and to come up with something new each year to bring to the county fair. Friday is Kids’ Day, with ride specials. Tickets at $10 and $12, respectively, go quickly for the Monday and Saturday nights’ demolition derbies in the grandstand. They may be purchased at the office ahead of the fair. The smash and crash events begin at 7 p.m. Tickets for the 7 p.m. Thursday truck and tractor pull are $6 per person and the cost for the Friday evening truck pull (same time) is $8 a person. They can also be
“Fair & Balanced” means Spin gets Equal Time
purchased ahead of or the night of the event. Admission is free to the grandstand for the mini tractor pulls in the grandstand at 7 p.m. Tuesday and the antique tractor pull at 6 p.m. Wednesday. There is a fun time in store during the pedal tractor pull for kids at the Ginther Barn at 1 p.m. Saturday. Things to Know Parking is free and gate admission for adults is $5, children 12 and under, free. Visit the fair’s website at www. huntingdoncountyfair.com or Facebook and Twitter for an updated schedule or comments. There are amenities at the fairgrounds, such as an ATM, on-site medical personnel and a QR Code on display to be read electronically with the right personal tool to view each day’s entertainment schedule. Volunteers will answer questions on the phone weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout July and during fair week at the fair office by calling 643-4452. The email address is huntfair@ verizon.net. For everyone’s safety, no dogs are permitted on the fairgrounds. This year’s daily sponsors are JLG Industries, Monday; The Daily News, Wednesday; and Michael F. Dilliard Auction Company, Friday. a
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The Valley, July 2015
SimplyHealth Coupon! More Alternatives to Better Health
There are many “ natural “ things we can do and give to our bodies to allow them to heal. Our bodies are wise and want to operate at 100%. Sometimes we just need to tune into a few things to allow that to happen. > At Simply Health, besides our 3 Himalayan Salt rooms that are so beneficial for any issue starting with inflammation ( which is just about everything!), we also suggest and offer alkaline water at $1.00 a gallon. Why would you want to drink alkaline water? Our bodies pH is very important, but seldom talked about. It’s very simple to test. Purchase pH test strips and test your saliva and urine in the morning and evening. Unfortunately, too many of us are too acidic, and that sets us up for health challenges. Personally for myself, I believe it was the leading factor in my osteoporosis. I was doing everything I thought I “ should” be doing. I am a walker, lifted weights, ate a pretty organic diet, and took calcium. But I went from being osteopenia to full blown osteoporosis. When I finally discovered that being too acidic was not allowing my body to absorb the nutrients from my food or the supplements I may be taking, I changed the water I drank to alkaline water and balanced my bodies pH factor. Our bodies are about 75% water so it’s easier to balance our pH with water than with food. But of course, a balance of both needs to be taken into consideration. It’s very difficult to raise your pH by eating alkaline foods and taking supplements if you’re still drinking acidic water. Your body can heal itself if your saliva pH is between 7.1 and 7.5. The easiest way to do that is by drinking alkaline antioxidant water. It helps to provide the environment your body needs to heal itself. Ionized water is not only alkaline, but it is also high in antioxidants and micro clustered. The high antioxidants will neutralize free radicals that cause disease and premature aging. Micro clustering means the water is clustered together in fewer molecules, making it much easier for your body to absorb.
The water can hydrate your cells and flush out acidic waste. Micro clustered water is 6 times more hydrating than regular water. Because of what we are eating, drinking, and breathing, combined with stress, people today are dehydrated and too acidic. Alkaline antioxidant water helps fight: dehydration, fatigue, colitis, infections, back pain, sinus problems, toxic buildup, irregular bowel problems, high cholesterol, blood sugar problems, and much more. Alkaline antioxidant water is high in alkalinity to help eliminate illness, high in antioxidants to help destroy free radicals, and micro- clustered to help hydrate your cells. Drinking this water is one of the simplest and most basic things you can do to improve your health. Dr. Otto Warberg won the Nobel Prize in 1931 for providing that diseases can’t survive in an alkaline, well - oxygenated environment. He discovered that cancer cannot live in an alkaline body, that was reason enough for me to start drinking the water ! If you don’t wish so carry the water home regularly, we also sell a quality unit that will create this water in your home. Visit our website at: simplyhealth- calm.com for more information on this and other services that we offer. Also, check out our affordable monthly Spa Packages. If you haven’t tried one of our therapeutic salt rooms, call us for an appointment today. 814-954-7731. The pollen has caused many to have higher challenges with allergies and sinus problems this summer. A session in the salt room gives relief often in just one session! But remember the benefits are cumulative. Use the attached coupon to come and visit for only $10.00. Enjoy this beautiful summer in optimum health! Hope to see you soon!
Save $5.00 and enjoy a 45 Minute Salt Room Session for just $10.00 with this Coupon! 100 Stine Drive Lewistown, PA 17044
717-248-6400
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The Valley, July 2015
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Local Author Receives National Recognition from the 9th Annual 2015 National Indie Excellence® Book Awards! The 9th Annual 2015 National Indie Excellence® Awards recognized The Reindeer Gift: A Fun, Easy Christmas Tradition by Elizabeth Passo in the category of Holiday as a winner in this year’s competition. This prestigious National book award, based in Los Angeles is open to all English language books in print from small, medium, university, self and inde-
pendently publishers. Winners and finalists are de-
termined based on overall excellence of presentation in addition to the writing. The Reindeer Gift: A Fun, Easy Christmas Tradition has gorgeous, oil painted illustrations and innovative, interactive website www.reindeergift.com. Santa’s reindeer are getting in on the gift giving fun! Families can read all about each reindeer’s unique personality and start rooting for the one they want their
Elizabeth Passo, author of The Reindeer Gift
100 Stine Drive Lewistown, PA 17044
717-248-6400
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Tami Slick
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reindeer gift from. Each year after the gifts are opened, add to your family, holiday fun by going to the www.reindeergift.com to find out which reindeer hid your special present. The National Indie Excellence Awards exists to help establish independent publishing as a strong and proud facet of the publishing industry. Recognizing authors that put their heart and soul into their work, the NIEA is proud to be a champion of selfpublishers and small and independent presses that go the extra mile to produce books of excellence in every aspect. Awarded since 2007, the NIEA competition is judged by independent experts from all aspects of the indie book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, book cover designers and
3BR, 2 Full Baths, Family Room with Fireplace, 1st Fl Laundry, Sunroom, Hardwood Floors. Gourmet Kitchen Built in 2013, Natural Gas Heat and Central AC, 2-car Garage, Large patio and Open Fl Plan
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professional copywriters. “We are proud to announce the winners and finalists whose books truly embody the excellence that this award was created to celebrate, and we salute you all for your fine work,” said NIEA Award sponsor, Ellen Reid, President & CEO. a
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The Valley, July 2015
Mail Pouch Books by Carleen B. Grossman This month I have provided more “regional” books for you. One non-fiction book covers information about sustainability throughout our country as described by an excellent Maryland author; and a novel explores a topic that was reported on during April 2015 within the YELLOWSTONE PARK area! And, the final non-fiction book covers an unusual history of Alaska! SAVING THE PLACES WE LOVE By Ned Tillman Copyright 2014 251 pages After reading Saving The Places We Love (a non fiction book), you will feel like you went on a walk in the woods with the author. From the opening chapter where the author deals with the loss of a place he loved as a child, to captivating stories about special places on this planet, this book is delightful to read. It invites the reader to take simple, practical actions towards restoration and balance. Sidebar short stories are
throughout the book, which add gems that made this a truly enjoyable read. There are no villains in this book; no faceless corporations exploiting our common inheritance. The often political problems are replaced by calm and positive outlooks on the realistic actions individuals and businesses can take to move toward sustainability. Follow the author to some of the country’s most beautiful places, learn what threatens them,
Ed’s Railroading News by Ed Forsythe
After many years of sitting idol in the Virginia Museum of Transportation, the Norfolk Western J-Class steam engine number 611 has been returned to excursion service thanks to the Norfolk Southern Railroad and many others who have given support in many different ways. When this engine was taken out of service, it was properly conditioned so that if it was ever returned to service it would not take as much restoration work as many other engines have taken over the years. That said, it still took an
extreme amount of work and dollars to get this great engine back on the rails again. More than 1.5 million dollars was raised through donations and fund raisers that were held. The dreams of the Virginia Museum of Transportation and thousands of railfans everywhere have come true with
and discover what each of us can do about it. We all know the threats—climate change, fossil fuels, fracking, chemicals, stormwater runoff, ocean dumping, industrial agriculture, and waste disposal, which are all discussed in this book.
This novel starts with an eruption in the south of Wyoming. The choice of such an exotic eruption, which may even contain diamonds (!), already shows that the author is very familiar with his subject. The story’s hero and later also an old prospector and some geophysicists, have some clues as to the significance of the event. And so the story evolves into a race of geological forces versus the people! The book contains a lot of geological jargon, but this makes it rather authentic. There is a glossary because one of the authors is an experienced geologist yet presents the story in a lively and authentic way.
GOOD TIME GIRLS By Lael Morgan Copyright 1998 351 pages Good Time Girls traces the history of Alaskan and Yukon prostitution from the 1890s when a Fairbanks minister proposed a red light district to relieve violence in an outpost that was dominated by men, gold and boredom. The book covers times up until the 1950s, when new federal laws made solicitation illegal. The book is a blend of journalism and footnoted history tucked among 90 vintage photographs and it helps explain Alaska’s social fabric in a fascinating manner! a
Essential Oils from page 10
• The exact chemical components of all Essential Oils is still not known. Rose Essential Oil, for example, has some unknown chemical components, which is one of the reasons why it is so difficult to ‘copy’ the exact aroma of rose in synthetic form • In some cases, one plant may provide multiple oils such as the Orange tree. From its leaves and twigs, the oil of Petitgrain is extracted, from the rind of its fruit comes Sweet Orange Essential Oil and its flower blossoms produce Neroli, a rich floral essence. Amazingly, all three Essential Oils, though they come from the same plant, are all unique with differences in odor and therapeutic properties. • Essential Oils do not feel oily and will evaporate: as they are volatile oils
YELLOWSTONE FAREWELL By Wayne M. Sutherland & Judy M. Sutherland Copyright 2003 332 pages You might already know from recent news reports that a super-volcano dominates the famous Yellowstone park! A shallow subsurface magma chamber has long been known. But now a second, much larger reservoir of partially molten rock has been discovered by researchers. There’s enough magma inside, they say, to fill the Grand Canyon more than 11 times. this great engine running again. The Norfolk Western 611 engine was originally placed into service on May 29, 1950, having been built in the Roanoke, Virginia Norfolk Western shops, and it was returned to service on May 30th of this year. There’s more information about this fantastic event to be found at: norfolksouthernengine611 and through videos on YouTube and Facebook. Take some time to enjoy some of them. Some are from years ago and some are of the beginning of her new life pulling about a dozen passenger cars filled with excited rail fans. Hopefully, this beauty will visit our area with a trip around the Horseshoe Curve. I’d really love doing that ride again behind another great engine. Until that day comes, Happy Railroading, Ed a
The Truth Has No Agenda
around the globe are saying, “The most effective use of essential oils for health is the combating of infectious illness.” There are many applications to reap the benefits including: aerial diffusing, direct breathing, and topical applications (more detail next month). We at Shade Mountain recently stocked up on a very unique way to breathe your favorite Essential Oil directly AND make a fashion statement—diffusing jewelry! We have necklaces and bracelets from three different companies each with its own unique style: pewter, surgical grade stainless steel and hand-blown glass varieties! Come on in and we will show you how they work! Choose your favorite Essential Oil—we have over 75 to choose from and your first fill is FREE. When you are done with that scent: you may change Essential Oils! Perfect! Fun Essential Oil facts: • There are only 21 plant families which produce Essential Oils (hundreds exist!) • Only 1% of the entire plant population produces Essential Oils
Next month: Multiple ways of using Essential Oils with the “how tos” and extraction methods Chat with you next month: or… come see us at Shade Mountain Naturals in Lewistown. www.shade-mountain.com 717-248-8847 a
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The Valley, July 2015
us pulling weeds kept you out of devilment, so I guess that’s one way to look at it. I should definitely have some nice vegetables to show in the Mifflin County Youth Fair Open Show this year. I hope you are by Rebecca Harrop all thinking about what you can enter also. I’m sure you have something you made or grew In the East End we have been has also made our garden really this year that you can enter. I’m getting lots of rain in June. The grow. We still have a few plants expecting lots of fresh vegetables, crops are really growing. The we’re trying to get in, but hopefruits and flowers this year. The corn fields are beautiful. The fully we’ll get a couple dry days way the gardens are looking there hay fields are coming back really soon so we can get that done. Of should be lots of vegetables to can nice after the last cutting. If we course, the weeds are growing and jellies, jams, and preserves to keep getting rain like this, the first too! Gram Harrop used to tell make. If you’re fields cut will be not a gardener, ready to cut again we still have before we finish an exhibit class the last fields. It you can enter can be hard to get your handmade the hay dry when items. You it keeps raining evcan enter your ery other day. The favorite pies, wheat is ripening cakes, or other and the oat fields homemade baked are starting to goods. If crafthead. It will soon ing is your thing, be time to harvest we’ve got that the wheat. I hope too. Paintings, the rain slacks photography, off enough so we jewelry, knitting, can get the wheat or crocheted harvested without items—most it sprouting. If any craft item it does sprout, it can be entered. will only be good If you make for feed wheat, useful items like not milling wheat. clothing, quilts, Farmers get paid or even rugs, more for milling you can enter wheat, so of course those as well. that’s what we Last years quilt squares have been made into a quilt to be auctioned at the You farmers can want. Benefit Auction. enter samples of The rain
Life in the East End
your grains, hay and crops. We always have quite a few fresh corn stalk entries. I think there is a little friendly rivalry going on in the corn stalk entries. I like to listen to the conversation around that area. There is always debate about whether the bigger stalks, the more mature ears, or the best root system should place highest. If you like to make scarecrows, you can enter one. If you don’t want to enter a whole quilt, you
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can enter just a few quilt squares. Check our rules for the guidelines on the quilt squares. Those become the property of the Open Show and will be made into a quilt that is auctioned off at the Benefit Auction next year. There are a number of opportunities to enter items in the Open Show and I hope everyone will consider doing so. I do need to add that any
Continued on page 30
The Valley, July 2015
The Truth Has No Agenda
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The Valley, July 2015
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Invading Weeds? Get Goats!
The idea of raising meat goats was sparked in 2009 when Katrina Shawver and her husband, Paul were riding motorcycle in Missouri. A conversation with another motorcycle couple intrigued me as I learned that the United States imports a lot of goat meat to supply the ethnic market. Once back home, I investigated and found one market owner saying “the United States goes through 10,000 goats a week.” With a Loht (my maiden name) family farm and some land being overgrown with brush, Katrina along with two of her sisters and a nephew decided to begin A Loht o’ Goats Farm, LLC. Take note, the name said fast sounds like “a load of goats” or even with an often mispronounced last name, it sounds like “a lot of goats.” Time was given to reading books, talking to people, networking with neighbors and completing online goat courses. In 2010, we fenced in a couple of acres and bought several Boer goats and the supplies we needed. My sister, Belinda Wagner, and I traveled on weekends to care for the goats while our nephew, Jonathan Wray, and his mother, Bonalea Wray, were responsible for the daily care. Despite our “excellent” knowledge base, we quickly learned that experience is the best teacher. A couple of acres of lush swaying grass was not appealing to the goats, especially when they could walk through the high tensile fencing to eat newly growing soybeans. It has been said that a goat’s main goal in life is to find a way out of a fence. We had a couple more acres enclosed using woven fence. The learning continued over the next year as we lost most of our goats to parasites. The hoof care was non-stop since it was one of the wettest summers in our area and poor hooves also created illnesses. A few replacement does were purchased and some kids survived to keep our herd in place. But, we continued to lose goats. Improvements were desperately needed, so in 2011, I attended a goat boot camp spon-
sored by the Oklahoma State University Extension. We continued to struggle. In 2012, we invested in a new goat breed, Kiko. With Kiko, some learning continued, but overall, we had less parasite problems, hoof issues and Kiko’s had better mothering instinct. We also read an excellent book, Raising Meat Goats in a Commercial Operation, by Greg Christianson that shared the same philosophy as we desired. Although we have “backyard goats” by his standards, we have less work and worry while much more enjoyment. A small level of success has finally come, since last year we sold all of our baby kids and this year we’ve sold half of them. I moved back home beside the family farm enabling me to help with the daily care of the goats. Over the years, I often thought of renting goats to eat brush. Driving along any road, I frequently say “the goats would love to eat that!” In the past year, I read about a couple of people in Pittsburgh and Hummelstown who rent goats. After moving the goats through the fence rows, between fields and helping to clear a neighbor’s hillside, we decided to try. Despite the old myth that goats eat everything, they don’t and can’t. They seem to know what they can eat and at what stage of plant development they can eat it. Goats do love many growths that we don’t care for: brush, invasive vines, briars and even poison ivy. The goats eat and naturally fertilize the soil without using harsh chemicals. The goat fertilizer or droppings are usually broken down in a week or two. The plant life grows back but it’s smaller and more contained. Within our hollow, I believe that the underbrush was gone in three years. Now, we’ve decided to expand our business to renting our goats. If you have an area that really needs to be cleared, consider renting a few goats for a few days or a week. Go green, dispose of nuisance brush, fertilize the ground naturally and let the goats bring a smile to your face. For a free estimate, call Katrina at 717543-5854. a
Life in the East End from page 28
their independence from Great Britain. On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 until the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence.” As I was researching the history of Independence Day I was thinking about what our founding fathers were deliberating when they drew up the Declaration of Independence and specifically the Bill of Rights. Those men were very smart men. I don’t buy this crap some today say that we are living in different times so those documents aren’t relevant today or that it needs to be changed. We’ve allowed too many of our freedoms to be slowly but surely legislated away. I just hate hearing the phrases “there should be a law against that” or “they should have to do whatever.” Why?? If you live by common courtesy and respect for others you do not need a bunch of laws telling you how to live. So while your celebrating with fireworks and cookouts or however you celebrate, remember the founding fathers and all they endured and gave up to build this nation. From the East End, Happy Independence Day!
The Truth About Hospice from page 6
item you enter can be donated to possible. the Benefit Auction also. Those items along with the other items What about and Gift Certificates donated by “hospice medications?” area businesses and individuals will be auctioned the last night Medications are ordered by of the Youth Fair, Sat. August 8th physicians based on each patient’s starting at 6:00 pm. Last year’s unique symptoms, conditions and quilt squares entered in the quilt needs. The goal of all medications square contest have been made and hospice care is to add to the into a beautiful quilt and will be patient’s quality of life by controlauctioned also at that time. Last ling symptoms so that whatever year’s theme for the squares was days of life the patient has left are cloverleaf, so the quilt has a lot of as good as they can be. green coloring. I think it is really nice. For a complete listing of the How do I know if my loved categories available to enter items one is eligible? in the Mifflin County Youth Fair Open Show, check our Facebook Our team includes expert page or call the Mifflin County nurses who can provide a oneExtension Office for a book with time assessment at no charge to all the Fair Info. determine whether your loved one The Mifflin County Youth is eligible for hospice care. If he Fair Open Show Committee is out or she is appropriate for hospice, and about collecting donations care can begin immediately. Call for the Benefit Auction I already us toll-free at 1-800-445-6262 mentioned. The auction proceeds to set up an assessment, or learn raised are divided between the more by visiting our website at Fair Committee and the Open www.homenursingagency.com. Show. Fair Committee’s goes to a the general running of the Fair and Open Show’s goes to operate the Open Show including prize monies and supplies. Without the proceeds from the Benefit Auction the Fair wouldn’t be able to offer the opportunities we have available. Independence Day is here, the day we celebrate the birth of our nation. Most people just think it’s the Fourth of July. But what does that mean? Here is the “official” meaning of the 4th of July, Independence Day. “July 4th has been a federal holiday in • Reliable Propane & Heating Oil Delivery the United States • Budget Payment Plan since 1941, but Call today the tradition of Into learn about our • 24/7 Emergency Service dependence Day NEw CustOmER • Heating Equipment Service Plans celebrations goes sPECiAls! back to the 18th • Safety Trained Professionals century and the • Over 80 Years Experience American Revolution (1775-83). In June 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies then fighting in Our Business is Customer Satisfaction the revolutionary struggle weighed 717-248-5476 • 1-800-PROPANE (776-7263) a resolution that would declare
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The Valley, July 2015
Editors corner from page 2 aware of my penchant for symbols and symbolism often proclaiming intent right in plain sight for those awake enough and curious enough to find out what these symbols mean. I often use symbolism of one kind or another to decide what to place on the front cover above our header. A lot of times the symbolism is obscure and only a handful of folks get it and mention it. Other months it is abundantly clear, it is just something I like to do. This month is no different, with Independence Day right around the corner, I decided to use a flag most important to that period. It is the blue field with 13 white stars. This was George Washington’s headquarters flag— his battle flag. Even though it was very fitting for this flag to be placed
there for I admire the man greatly, I really wanted to place the battle flag of the Army of Tennesee and the battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia, the Confederate flag, the flag that has recently been labeled rascist. In a shameful rush to see who can be most politically correct, folks that know better have been falling all over themselves to be seen as the progressive darling. This flag is neither rascist nor does it represent slavery. It represented a section of the population that believed in our country’s Constitution and the ability of states to handle their own affairs without interference from Washington. Slavery was an abomination, but it WAS NOT the reason this country had a War of Northern Aggression. If you believe that, whoever told you so was lying, try reading the history for yourself. a
The Truth Has No Agenda
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“Fair & Balanced” means Spin gets Equal Time