Thevalley july2017online

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Serving Mifflin County and the surrounding area.

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

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The Valley, July 2017

MCSD IS OMITTING THE TRUTH

by Samuel Prescott

The Mifflin County School District has decided to take it upon itself to violate state law and mail out an Immunization Letter that is not entirely truthful. Teachers educate students that omitting the truth is the same as a lie. In this letter, the school district is notifying parents:

“Beginning the 2017-2018 school year, the Pennsylvania Department of Health is changing school immunization regulations.

These regulations are intended to ensure that children attending school in the Commonwealth are adequately protected against potential outbreak of vaccine preventable diseases.

These new requirements include:

• All students grades K through 12 will be required to have four (4) doses of Polio. The final dose in the series should be administered on or after the 4th birthday and at least six months after the previous dose. Students over the age of 18 are exempt.

• Students in Grade 7 will be required to have a Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) (if five years has expired since the last Tdap) and an MCV (meningococcal).

• Students in Grade 12 will be required to have a second MCV. If 1st dose of MCV was given at 16 years of age or older, only one (1) dose is required.

• Students entering Kinder-

garten will be required to have all state required immunizations on file prior to starting school.

This information was provided at Kindergarten registration.

A list of all required immunizations can be viewed on the Mifflin County School District Website.

Documentation of all requirements must be provided to your

child’s school nurse. If your child does not have all the doses listed above, the child must provide a “medical certificate” that is completed by your child’s healthcare provider. The medical certificate must be on file with the school within the first five (5) days of the start of school year, or your child will be excluded per Pennsylvania state law. This date will be Sep-

Oversight? Or intentional Omission?

Veritas vos Liberabit

tember 1, 2017. If documentation of all required immunizations as noted above for 2017-2018 school year have not been received or a medical certificate is not on file, your child will not be permitted to attend school, and any days missed for this will be considered an illegal absence.

If you have any questions regarding these new changes, please

contact your child’s nurse.” http://mcsdk12.org/pdf/20162017/Skyward%20Immunization%20Letter.pdf

This letter does illustrate a new requirement being pushed by the State. However, MCSD has conveniently left one HUGE part out of the letter that is included in the new changes taking place. The part left out is that Pennsylvania is STILL a state in which the three exemptions to vaccination are: Medical, Religious, and Philosophical. That has not changed.

Yet, when you read the letter, you’re led to believe that if your child does not have a medical exemption, your child must be vaccinated or they cannot attend public school.

Per the Pennsylvania Department of Health on their website: “The only exemptions to the school laws for immunizations are: • Medical reasons; • Religious beliefs; or • Philosophical/strong moral or ethical conviction.

If your child is exempt from immunizations, he or she may be removed from school during an outbreak.”

http://www.health.pa.gov/ My%20Health/Immunizations/ School/Pages/default.aspx#.

WVMAJdxJnIU

Omission of the truth is a lie. a

The Valley, July 2017

2

Editor’s Corner Wayne Stottlar

Ahhh, fresh back from a week in NH, batteries are re-charged and ready for the next couple months of work, then up again before it gets too cold. Fall is awe-

some in New England, we love being there at that time. This time we will be showing off our future home state to Lynn’s parents.

They are well-traveled south and west, but haven’t traveled to New England much recently. It should be fun to show them around, I still get satisfaction from showing Lynn some little treasure from home. Jackson Falls for instance, since showing her this spot a few years ago, we have both agreed it is one of our favorite spots on the planet. If warm enough, we always make a trip there for a day to lounge in the falls, and this past trip was no exception. Neither was the fact that one day was spent hacking and whacking along our road to keep nature from reclaiming our road until we can be using it every day. It gets harder and harder to come home each time now.

While we were gone, something really awesome happened here at home. Hostetler’s Naturals out on Stage Road in Milroy became Certified Organic! They have been

Officially Certified Organic!

working years toward this goal, and although have always grown organically, they are now official!

Between Hostetler’s Naturals, and our own back yard, is provided the "WALK" in to Walker & Waker Equipment II biggest majority of for ALL your lawn, garden and landscape equipment needs! our fruits and vegetables. I am happy to see a family that We have trailer, used equipment and rentals too! works so hard getting a little reward for all their work.

Also, just down the lane from Hostetler’s Naturals there will be a new Amish Store (don’t tell anyone, but a lot of us English buy there too because of the quality and the

The Falls in Jackson NH are one of our favorite places to nap away on a hot afternoon, letting the cool mountain water refresh you.

Continued on page 26

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

All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.

3

The Valley, July 2017

Back Talk

by Dr. Joseph Kauffman

Gold Nugget

Every now and then I stumble upon a gold nugget that summarizes my feeling better than I do it myself. There is not much else to add to what I am posting below.

The only thing that I will add is that it’s important that you keep in mind that the person who wrote this is a medical doctor on her own website:

“I am a conventionally educated medical doctor who was a participant in the conventional hospital system from 1989 until 2011. After leaving the hospital in good standing, of my own volition in 2011, I have been furthering my research, lecturing in various parts of the world, writing books, and conducting my own private practice in Maine and Virginia. I hold current American Board of Internal Medicine certifications in internal medicine and nephrology.

After my experiences in the hospital system and thoroughly examining both sides of the vaccination debate, it is clear that the issue is not ‘settled long ago, and laid to rest’ as most of the medical profession says it is.

The history of vaccination is more complicated than most people understand. The anti-vaccine movement is hundreds of years old. It heated up in the 1800s, when parents in the UK became fed up with watching their healthy infants and children become ill or die shortly after the smallpox vaccinations or get sick from smallpox anyway. Parents and doctors, who refused smallpox vaccines, risked losing their homes, their furniture and their livelihoods if Judges found against them.

The smallpox vaccines were made from pus scraped off of diseased cows’ belly sores, contaminated with disease matter from a variety of animals and in some cases, humans. The smallpox vaccine history is probably not what you think it is.

Doctors and those administering vaccines are supposed to obtain “informed consent” before vaccinating. Informed consent is not possible because parents are not given all the information they would require in order to understand the most important issues.

I do not consider it my place to tell anyone whether to vacci-

nate or not. I never tell people to NOT vaccinate.

It is my place to understand as much as I can about vaccines and give people a more complete understanding from which to make their choices. This has not been the stance of the public health services. In fact, there is ample documentation that the priority was quite the opposite, and actually to quell “any possible doubts, whether well founded or not” regarding vaccines.

The following document is the American 1984 DHHS federal register, which listed final rules pertaining to the polio vaccination campaigns in USA after three decades of controversy.

That priority has placed many lives in jeopardy as major problems with vaccination were and are overlooked by vaccine policy makers.

There are many problems with the science that underpins vaccine information. I’ve yet to meet a pediatrician who understands both sides of the debate enough to give fully informed consent. Infant immunity has been misunderstood by immunologists, as the immunology literature admits to. Only recently have some important questions been answered about why infant immune systems don’t function like adult ones. There is good reason for the tolerance that an infant has, and the answer is not to interrupt the program with aluminum and vaccines to ramp it up. That is now known to have long term consequences.

There is a paucity of studies comparing never vaccinated children, with partially or fully vaccinated children. In terms of safety studies, a major issue is that most vaccine studies use another vaccine as the control placebo, or use the background substance of the vaccine. There is only one recent study (Cowling 2012) where a true saline placebo was used, rather than another vaccine or the carrier fluid containing everything except the main antigen.

That study showed no difference in influenza viral infection between groups but astonishingly it revealed a 5-6 times higher rate of non-influenza viral infections

in the vaccinated. most naturally immune mothers. org/2012/07/05/herd-immunityIt is no small

The above exemplifies but the-flawed-science-and-failureswonder more true one of the many potential conof-mass-vaccination-suzanneplacebos are not sequences we face as a result of humphries-md-3/ ). used in vaccine vaccination for measles and the

Doctors repeat the advice, research. other childhood illnesses such as “We have to vaccinate them while In this article, rubella. they are young so the ‘take rate’ “Neonatal out Medical schools do not is high.” A case-in-point is an arcomes after influenza immunizaeducate about the contents, ticle for which I was interviewed tion during pregnancy: a randomdangers, effectiveness or neceswhere one of Maine’s supposed ized controlled trial,” we see a sity of vaccines. Most medical top experts is giving misleadclear example of how false placedoctors are fearful of the natural ing advice. In the article titled, bos are regularly used. Needless childhood illnesses because they “Bangor Metro: ‘A Shot to The to say, giving untested vaccines, don’t have any idea how to safely Heart’,” he says: which can often be unknowingly assist patients through them; and

Concerns about how much a contaminated, and with unproven- the limited mainstream treatment young child’s immune system can effectiveness, vaccination is a options I learned, often caused the handle at one time have prompted “medical experiment,” and in my diseases to be worse than they had some parents to stagger vaccinaopinion, violates the core printo be. Yet surprisingly, I discovtions. But Fanburg points out that ciples of the Nuremberg Code ered other methods which work there is no medical data to support (informed and unambiguous conextremely well, but were never the practice, adding that it’s actusent). Most vaccines have never presented as part of my medical ally more beneficial to vaccinate undergone carcinogenicity testing education. infants, rather than wait until they for example, and likewise are

In a short article, “Tapping are older. “Children have a better rarely studied in pregnant women, the Immune System’s Secrets” ‘take’ of vaccines in their first two which results in people taking (http://sm.stanford.edu/archive/ years of life,” he says. “There is vaccines, either by a proclaimed stanmed/2011summer/article7. a higher rate of immunogenic“emergency”; by a “public health” html), the limitations of immunolity, which is the child’s ability to order from the WHO; or by ogy are plainly spelled out. The produce antibodies to the vaccine threat of loss of rights over one’s public is repeatedly misinformed, antigen. children or of imprisonment; or by under informed, or frightened in

This vaccine expert seems to threat of being abandoned by the order to maintain participation in lack understanding as to how an medical professionals supposedly vaccination. All sorts of tactics infant’s immune system develproviding care. are used. One of the most popular ops and why. If he understood,

“Informed consent” is devoid is to say that everyone should get he would pause for some time, of all meaning when people are vaccinated in order to protect the before making such a dogmatic tricked into taking vaccines by the unvaccinated. This is commonly statement. use of misleading or frightening known as “herd immunity.” Here

A baby’s immune system “information.” is an article I wrote on the subject.

Continued on page 16

Parents must learn the ways ((http://www.vaccinationcouncil. to take care of their children when they get the common childhood illnesses, whether they vaccinate or not, since vaccinated children can still get the diseases they were vaccinated against.

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The Truth Has No Agenda

The Valley, July 2017

4

1000 Steps

I stepped (pun intended) outside my comfort zone this month and did something I would never have done without a little motivation from a friend—1000 Steps in Huntington. 1000 Steps is a hike through the woods up 1043 manplaced, but natural stone steps culminating in a scenic overlook.

I almost bailed on the friend who convinced me to go as I woke up that morning with a headache that made me a little nauseous. But I pushed through it and wasn’t feeling too terrible by the time I had to leave to meet her. About half way into the hike I realized that my headache was completely gone—nothing like gasping for air to make you forget the pain in your head!

We didn’t pick the best day to do the hike as the humidity was so high you could have cut it with a knife.

My friend also brought along a friend of hers, and both of them were in much better shape than me (despite them being older—my friend, 12 years older I might add!).

They were both so very accommodating to my snail’s pace though and stopped and rested often to let me catch up.

20 steps in, I knew I was in trouble, but their kind encouragement kept me plugging forward. At 500 steps, I felt good

at having accomplished almost halfway, and a small part of my pysche said “You made it halfway, be proud and turn around now before you need resuscitation!”

But I didn’t. We kept going and made it to the top. I couldn’t believe how many people were coming down as we were heading up and also how many people were behind us or passing us (ok, really just passing ME). This is a popular attraction! A few people were almost running up the steps—in that heat! I watched them in amazement and said “You

do this every day, right?” with the hope they’d say “yes” so I could feel a little better about myself.

And actually, those who were running did in fact

say they did it often, so that made me feel a little better.

We learned from a few regulars that after you reach what you think is the end, there are a few more steps and then you take even more steps (maybe 40) just before you get to an old stone building.

You end up above and behind the building, and then follow the trail to a gradual grade (which also seemed pretty tough after climbing 1043 steps!) that leads to an

All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.

even more scenic overlook. From there, you can see the Juniata River and the town of Mapleton.

I’m glad I did this hike, but if I did it again, I’d definitely do it on a day with much less humidity—like none! I’m not itching to do it again any time very soon though as I need at least a few months to forget the pain of the climb and how wobbly my knees felt once I reached the bottom. a

5

The Valley, July 2017

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doing First Friday events and will feature a different local artist each month. So be sure to check out their Facebook page or stop in to A Place of Community and Connection see what artist will be featured that month. The featured artist

by Sarah Hurlburt will be at the First Friday event for you to meet. Throughout the

I recently sat down with the ing methods to bring the coffee will find quality over quantity at month you can continue to enjoy owners of East End Coffee Co. connoisseur a variety of tastes and East End Coffee. Co. Tea lovers and purchase the artist’s work to get to know them a little better experiences. East End offers drip are not neglected either. Come from the “gallery” wall. Be sure and would like to introduce all coffee, pour over and the delicious and try Spirit’s loose-leaf tea for a to check out these First Friday of you to this great young couple cold brew-on nitro! Plus, several delicious high-quality cup of tea. events and enjoy some culture, and their new adventure. other amazing coffee specialties

Ryan and Lillah will also be live music,

Ryan and Lillah had a vision make their and amazand a passion. A vision for a place coffee ing coffee. in Lewistown for people to come menu They will and sit awhile. A place for busiworth be open ness meetings to happen, a place checking late for the to brew up new ideas and a place out.

First Friday for friends to just share laughs

Every events as and great conversation. A place of coffee shop well! The community and connection. serves its next event

Ryan’s love for coffee began purpose will be at 7 years old and has turned into and each Friday, July a passion for finding the best one has 7. beans and the smoothest roasts. its own You Thanks to Ryan’s passion for vibe. The can also delicious coffee, East End Coffee atmosphere look forCo. offers light to medium roasts at East End ward to the with a bit of a lighter, brighter is trendy, addition of third wave style of coffee. “Third clean, and fresh, coldwave coffee is a movement to simple. pressed produce high-quality coffee, and Their menu juices comconsider coffee as an artisanal reflects ing soon. foodstuff, like wine, rather than a this clean, You commodity.” (Wikipedia) It also minimalist Owners Ryan and Lillah in front of East End Coffee pursuing a dream may be focuses on using different brewstyle. You wondering

East End Coffee Co.

The Truth Has No Agenda

about what you can eat with your delicious cup of coffee—not to worry, they carry Lenka homemade granola bars from York county and baked goods from “The Cookie Jar” in McVeytown!

Fridays will be extra special with gourmet cupcakes from “Icing on the Cake” bakery in McClure.

Another fun thing to look for will be the unique and exciting things for purchase from local artisans, they currently have Story Supply Co Notebooks with more treasures to come. East End uses coffee beans from Little Amps Coffee Roasters in Harrisburg and does have beans available for purchase so you can enjoy the smooth taste at home as well!

East End Coffee Co. is located on 18 East Market Street in Lewistown and Ryan and Lillah are looking forward to meeting you and brewing you a fantastic cup of coffee. They are open Monday-Thursday 7-4, Friday 7-6, and Saturday 8-12.

Stop in and sit awhile, let life slow down a few minutes, take a deep breath and smell those wonderful beans. Let’s continue to support our local business owners so that we might build stronger communities and keep our small towns alive! a

The Valley, July 2017

6

About Faith

by Rev. Robert Zorn, Visitation Minister, Lewistown Presbyterian Church

Whew, a Close one!

One hot summer a few years ago I had decided to exit from our log house out here in Treater Valley to get some tools from another building.. When I had walked a few steps from our back door, I was startled by an unusual buzzing sound; which I reckoned must be the song of a cicada (locust) in one of our trees. I looked up into the tree trunks and branches, but saw nothing of the insect that I suspected of making the noise.

The sound continued with several second intervals. No movement that I made seemed to change the sound, which could best be described as a soft buzz. When I looked down to take my next step, I made a frightening discovery.

I saw an approximately five foot long black timber rattlesnake. (it grows longer with each telling of this story). The snake probably slithered down from the mountain to search for the cooler clime of the creek below our house.

It had coiled itself into a neatly arranged striking position and continued to sound its ominous warning.

I called to Carol to inform her

of my unfortunate (or fortuitous) discovery. We began a discussion as to what to do about our unwelcome visitor. Meanwhile, the snake seemed to pose no immediate threat to either us or our domestic animals, But still we wished for it to be elsewhere. To our benefit, we were fortunate to have Mr. Harry Nale, a Pennsylvania State registered herpetologist, living less than one half mile from our address. He did not answer our frantic phone call, so we knew that we would have to deal with the situation ourselves.

Armed with a long handled shovel and a tall garbage container I approached the deadly land mine of a snake amid Carol’s humanitarian plea: “Don’t kill it, unless you have to.”

The rattler, who probably tired of hearing the discussion of its potential imminent demise, cooperated by slipping into the garbage can which was quickly and firmly capped. We summoned our nearest neighbor, at that time, Tim Davis who transported the critter further up the valley where he released it unharmed. We

fervently hoped that it did not have a homing instinct.

Later reflection upon the incident brought to our minds the tendency that we have to exaggerate our troubles and to diminish our good fortune.

For a few minutes that evening I was completely occupied with the vision of the snake. I forgot about our safe and snug little house, our fruit trees, and our flower and vegetable garden.

This one small creature of God’s creation, which innocently strayed into our presence made me forget the twin fawn that sometime bed down nearby, and an occasional flock of wild turkeys that have been seen in the area. So we complain about the heat and humidity and the erratic weather, and forget the sweet corn, peaches, and tomatoes.

Yes, it may be a long hot summer, but all in all we have much for which to be thankful.

We have a God who loves us, churches that are diligent about Christ’s mission, and the fellowship of caring congregations.

The long lasting essence of our encounter with the rattlesnake is described very well in this poem

by Emily Dickenson.

THE SNAKE: A narrow fellow in the grass occasionally rides; You may have met him,---did you not, His notice sudden is.

But never met this fellow, Attended or alone, Without a tighter breathing, And zero at the bone. a

Ed’s Railroading News

by Ed Forsythe

I want to start this story with a message to all. If you think about following my advice to someday go ride a train or a trolley, ‘’DO IT.’’ Please don’t put it off until you get the time as someday may never get here for you. Do it now and anything else that you have been wanting to do.

And now just why I started with the previous paragraph. As you read in my last month’s article, we never know just when we may not get to do all that we plan on doing. Mario, Rose, Cathy and I had many plans for this summer together, but some of them just won’t happen since he moved on to Heaven in May. Also, this may be my last article, or at least my last one for a while. In April I was diagnosed with a bone marrow cancer, MDS or Myelodysplastic Syndrome, that will lay me up in

Hershey Hospital for a few weeks or so once the stem cell treatment starts. For now, I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone who reads my articles and lets me know just what they think of them. I have always enjoyed hearing responses from my readers and have really enjoyed writing for this paper. My train shop will stay open as much as possible with the help of friends and I will try to write if and when I can, but the track I’m heading down is very scary for me and I don’t know just what God has in store for me at the end of the tunnel ahead. So just do it, go ride a trolley or train and take me with you in spirit.

Happy Railroading to all and I’ll see you at the station.

Ed.....P.S. Please keep Cathy and I in your prayers. Thank you! a

The Sojourning Steward from page 5

throw them into the fire and then harvest the wheat.” This we are told is a parable for the end of the age. The tares represent the wicked. I am told that tares look similar to wheat, however, unlike wheat, which represents the righteous, and bends over (or bows in humility) when it is fully mature, tares remain straight and tall (defiant and proud) when they mature.

This makes them easy to pick and harvest, grabbing the tares above the heads of wheat and removing them to be burned. The wheat is then harvested in an honorable and good fashion. We are truly pushing into the end of the age as the tares are truly defiant and “in your face” these days. Is it any wonder then that we are witnessing this type of behavior? I think not. The ultimate challenge for us is to be who we are called to be and to stand firm as this world melts down around us. To that end, may you have strength, fortitude, gumption, and wisdom to navigate accordingly in this day and age.

noticed how utterly unhinged our society has become? Free speech is all but dead. It’s only allowed in most circles so long as the speech spoken is agreed with by the hearer, otherwise it’s typically classified as hate speech and often shouted down or possibly worse.

We cannot have normal discourse any longer. Conservative congressmen are being shot. Since the election of Trump, the left has shown its true self. They will not stand to see this land return to its heritage. It’s ok to discuss assassinating Trump, but don’t dare apply the same rhetoric to one of their anointed ones! It is such a double standard.

Take heart my friends, we’ve been told this would happen. Evil will wax greater and greater until the end. Consider the parable Messiah told of the wheat and the tares: In summary, a man sows good seed in his field. While he sleeps, his enemy comes and sows bad seed. Once the field begins to yield its crop, the man’s servants come to him and ask; “didn’t you plant wheat? Why are tares growing up amidst the wheat? Shall we tear out the tares?” To which the landowner replies, “an enemy of mine has done this. Do not rip out the tares, because in so doing you will also tear out wheat. Let them both grow together and at the harvest remove the tares first,

All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.

Founder and President of The Stewardship Group in Belleville, Mr. Ostrowski earned his Master of Science Degree in Financial Services from The American College in Bryn Mawr, Pa in 2007.

His articles ponder various contemporary topics evaluating them from a political, economic and scriptural point of view. a

7

The Valley, July 2017

Dave Wilson

Coins, Precious Metal and a Little of this and That

Crypto-Currency The Real Deal, or Just Another Ponzi Scheme?

Every so often, market analysts are forced to take a position on new financial products in the industry. This is my attempt to “cut-to-the-chase” on CRYPTOCURRENCY that has many investors on fire with questions, and a desire to “Get In” before it is too late.

Yes, this subject is certainly something that I may simply be too much of a layman to understand. Bitcoin, Ripple, Ethereum and all the other forms of blockchain technology are sweeping up investor enthusiasm, much like the first hamburgers and hot dogs,

fresh off the grill at the Memorial Day picnic. Everybody wants in, but almost nobody has a clue what they are actually buying.

Sound like a disaster waiting to happen? It definitely does to me.

While I don’t like to think of myself as “that old geezer that simply refuses to accept change in any form,” there probably is some truth in that unattractive assessment.

Since all the cryptocurrencies (and, they are not actually currency) are based upon the same principle, we will just refer to them as “Cryptos.”

So, just exactly what are Cryptos?

In short, really, seriously, they are, Nothing.

They have been referred to (by several analysts) as “a digital illusion of wealth”. A definition I most heartily agree with.

To me, the Cryptos are noth-

The Truth Has No Agenda

ing more than the super Ponzi scheme they appear to be. All these “units” are worth only what someone else will pay you for them. If new money is rushing into Cryptos, their value will probably rise. The very second that new money dries up, you can bet that prices will plummet.

Cryptos are exactly the same “FIAT” (backed by nothing) product as the folding cash you spend every day. Again, they have no real value, other than what someone else will pay you for them.

One of my favorite market observers said this about Cryptos,

“When somebody gets something for nothing, then somebody else will get nothing for something.”

Think about that, and you will see through all the excitement and fanfare presently enveloping the “Fast Buck” investment community.

I have little doubt that those first on the Crypto scene made money, even some serious money!

Continued on page 11

The Valley, July 2017

8

Summer “Everything good, everything magical, happens between the months of June and August.”

—Jenny Han

When you look back on the most memorable days of your youth, when did most of them occur? Summer no doubt, barring, perhaps, Christmas, which is really the only thing that gets children through the cabin fever and doldrums of cold climate winters. Why is this? The ability to be outdoors most days? The added sunlight that lingers until long after dinner? The lack of schooling?

The unpredictability? The travels?

New friends?

There is little doubt that all of these components add up to paint the big picture. Though, I’ll go out on a limb and say the defining brush stroke is the unpredictability. It’s what adds the spark to what could still be reasonably mundane.

Personally, I think unpredictability is underrated. We often use it as a negative indicator. “I wouldn’t date her, she’s just too unpredictabile.” “I had to give up on the dog, he was unpredictable.”

“The path of the storm is wildly unpredictable.” We associate the concept with chaos, when they are far from synonomous. There is a big difference between reck-

less indifference and inaction and being willing to let your mood or the weather dictate a day’s activity. It’s the difference between saying, “I’m not going to clean the house this week” vs. “I might clean on Monday, or I might wait until Wednesday.” It’s not about putting off the things that need to be done, it’s about choosing to do those things when they will create the least friction with the things we want to do. And summer is the season in which even the stuffiest of suits can partake in the elements of chance, choice, and happenstance.

It’s in summer that even adults get at least a few days to just be. The deadlines are put on hold, the office phone number set to block, the laptop in its bag on

the chair at home, dinner left to the take out establishment, and emails left unread (mine’s currently at 396 unread and I’m quite unscathed by the notifications).

It’s the time to stay up later, sleep in longer, have a little more fun with a little less guilt, while kicking off those tired routines along with our shoes.

Here on the homestead, while we aren’t unacquainted with the unpredictable, the summer awards us even more possibilities for the unexpected. Thus far, our greatest unscripted happening was the surprise batch of nine baby chicks from the cervices of the goat barn.

A hen was diligently stashing and sitting on a nest of eggs on the wrong side of the barn. This must have been going on for quite awhile, unbeknownst to us. We went out at dusk to feed and lock up the goats for the night and ran into a squawking hen, riled kids, and nine just-hatched chirping balls of feathery fluff. The look on my daughter’s face was priceless, one I couldn’t replicate if I tried.

In that face, of wonder, disbelief, and instantaneous euphoria, I saw summarized all that is good in this world, all the things at our disposal to be discovered. If only we open ourselves up to a perpetual state of summer. A state in which we allow for the unpredictable

All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.

Annika with our newly discovered chicks; her expression of discovery and joy told me we are on the right track.

while maintaining just enough order to avoid the descent into chaos.

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”

—John Lubbock a

9

The Valley, July 2017

The Groom on Horseback

We arrived at the farm for the big event and, once parked, entered the barn where the reception was to be held so as to deposit our gift onto the designated table.

There was excitement in the air! It was palpable, you could feel it. We then joined the other guests at the outdoor seating area, where, in eager anticipation, we awaited the arrival of the bridal party. Soon, the musicians began to play, and one by one the ladies came forward as is custom, then, finally, the bride made her way into our midst escorted by her father. Everything seemed good except no groom or groomsmen were present to receive the ladies unto themselves. What were we to make of this?

As this realization was passing amongst the guests, the congregational shepherd spoke to the issue. He noted that we were missing some very important individuals who were key to this wedding, namely the groom and his men! Nodding in agreement we then heard him share how a month previously the bride and groom betrothed themselves to each other. After which the groom left to prepare a place for his bride while she made herself ready for their wedding day. They chose to not see each other at all for the next month and communicated only through written letters which he (the shepherd) could vouch for since he and the bride work together. He noted how the Bride was love-sick and longed to be with her husband. She read his letters to her over and over again.

We were informed that the groom would be arriving, we just didn’t know exactly when, and we were invited to come forward and wait with the bride and her maids, joining the fellowship up front while praise music played.

As we moved forward, we had full view of the expansive corn field before us. As the ladies and now guests excitedly talked with each other, all eyes kept scanning the horizon where the corn field disappeared over a knoll, perhaps a full half mile out, a lone tree standing sentinel on the knoll.

After some time, movement

was detected coming up from the other side of the knoll…flags… furling in the wind…billowing to and fro. Six of them in various colors appeared and then the men advancing them appeared also and were dressed for a wedding! A cheer went up from the guests as these men became visible and the bride and her ladies moved from beneath the decorated trellis under which several were standing and into the corn field. All of us were straining to determine which of the men was the groom. The men and flags moved in formation from our left to right and then turned toward us forming two flanks advancing in our direction.

Suddenly, a lone horseman appeared cresting the knoll from the same direction the men appeared. He advanced at a steady pace and eventually caught up with the advancing column of groomsmen and split their flank.

Their pace quickened and the horseman moved forward on his steed bringing him to a canter.

The groomsmen ran alongside attempting to keep up, but to no avail. As the groom advanced upon us, the bride and her party suddenly girded up their gowns and broke into a run toward the men and the groom on horseback.

As the gap closed, the groom halted his horse, dismounted, and finished the journey toward his bride in quick pace on foot as she finished her journey, as the bride, a moment later, throwing herself into his arms to be embraced for a very long moment. Together, hand-in-hand, they finished their betrothal walking toward the trellis, until unable to contain himself, the groom swept his beloved off her feet and carried her the final several yards to the appointed place where their nuptials were about to take place.

The air of excitement was now at a crescendo. Fully engaged, we sought with eager anticipation to hear the words “I do”! As we witnessed the bride and groom covenant with each other, the greater mystery of marriage was revealed to us as their congregational shepherd laid forth an explanation of what we had just witnessed.

From a spiritual perspective, the shepherd taught, there is a Groom in the Holy writ of scripture. He is none other than the Messiah of Israel who is currently betrothed to a bride who has been selected by the Father. This bride consists of the called-out ones that have responded to His still small voice throughout the ages and are part of His Kingdom.

The Bride Groom, who once walked among us, he has left to prepare a place for His bride and will return at a time unknown. He is prophesied to return along with

The Truth Has No Agenda

those who have gone before us and will gather those of us who remain from the four corners of the Earth, after which there will be a wedding celebration as the Groom and His bride covenant with each other and then will remain together forever in the place He has prepared, the new Jerusalem, spoken of in Revelation.

The question is, how does one become part of this event and this Kingdom? The answer is also embedded in the Holy writ, and, in short, consists of recognizing the Messiah as your eternal King and Groom, submitting your will to Him (which includes coming clean on the things you’ve done that don’t fit with His methodology), and follow His way and

right rulings, as noted in the text.

It’s simple so as to seriously befuddle those who profess to be wise. The Groom would like you to read the love letters He’s written to you, which make up the Holy Writ, the Bible, yourself and allow His words to penetrate your heart. You don’t need men to interpret it for you, seek Him and He will bring revelation to His word. And as you do, you’ll find yourself becoming love sick for Him and earnestly desiring His return.

Here’s to feasting with you at a wedding soon!

The Tares and the Wheat In other matters; have you

Continued on page 6

The Valley, July 2017

10

Sea to Shining Sea

“God shed His grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea!”

Hello! I hope everyone is enjoying their summer in this amazing country we live in!

My husband and I recently took a trip to Colorado Springs to visit our daughter and son-in-law. The beauty of that part of the country is breathtaking and it’s no surprise that it inspired the song America The Beautiful! The song was based on a poem written by the professor, poet, and writer, Katharine Lee Bates, during an 1893 trip to Colorado Springs. When she got to the top of Pike’s Peak, the view was so beautiful that it inspired her so.

As you know, I like to research and use various skin

care ingredients in my business and for my personal use. Also, each month at Shade Mountain Naturals, we send out subscription boxes in which all of the products are created with a different ingredient. This box is called purp-ess box and this month we used sea vegetables. Sea vegetables (AKA seaweed) are low-calorie, detoxifying foods that are naturally salty, immensely satisfying, and packed with health benefits for your thyroid and whole body.

They are amazing when used in skin care products! Their natural anti-inflammatory compounds help with acne, rosacea, rashes, and wounds. Their claim to fame is that they are great detoxifiers that draw out excess fluid and waste. They also contain phytonutrients (nutrient compounds

produced by plants), elevate blood flow, and bring a healthy glow to the face. Their emulsifying properties will leave your skin feeling smooth and silky! You can make your own amazing mask with seaweed very easily! All you do is get the seaweed in whole pieces. Soak in water for about 5 minutes. Place on your face and go relax for about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove to reveal silky smooth skin! If you can’t find the whole pieces, then you can take the flakes or even powder, mix it with water to form a paste, apply, rest, and remove.

Sea vegetables are not classified as a plant because they have no root system. Instead, they have a network of tiny anchor-type extensions that are called holdfasts. These holdfasts hold the sea vegetable fast to a rock or a stable object on the ocean floor. Unlike a plant that receives nutrients from the roots, the sea veggies get their

nutrients directly from the sea water that it flows freely in.

Sea vegetables can flow freely in the water and thrive as long as it is held fast with its holdfast to a stable object. Without this stable object, it would eventually wash up to shore, wither, and die in the heat of the sun.

We too need our holdfast: Jesus Christ. Without us keeping a holdfast on Him, we would eventually be caught up, not in waves like the seaweed, but in the ways of the world.

We will be caught up in sin, wither, and our souls would suffer. When we keep a holdfast on Jesus, we can be free to be the person He intended us to be.

You are FREE! Free in Christ, free from the bondage of sin, free to be the person God intended you to be!

This Independence day: Celebrate!

Celebrate this amazing country we live in.

Celebrate the freedom we have to worship.

Celebrate your freedom in Christ!

All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.

As always, I would like to thank you for reading my articles and personally invite you into Shade Mountain Naturals. We are a small, family-owned business who LOVES visitors! We create all our products on site, FRESH! We make soaps, crèmes, lip balms, bath bombs and hair and facial products, to name a few. We are super excited about our new organic Essential Oil line! Smells are unlimited and encouraged!

We will even give you a free sample.

Our hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9-4, Thursdays and Fridays 9-6 and Saturdays 10-2.

We are located at 45 Serenity Lane (off Jack’s Creek Road) in Lewistown, PA. Also, visit our newest location: The Barn at Lemont. You can also check us out online at www.shade-mountain.com. Hope to see you soon!

- Tamela a

11

The Valley, July 2017

R. O. F. F.

Rescue Our Furry Friends

by Patricia Lawson

The definition “dog days of summer” is: the hot, sultry period of summer between early July and early September. And so it begins, so be sure your pets are safe and cool this summer.

• Keep them inside or provide ample shade • Make sure they have plenty of fresh, cold water • Limit their exercise to the early morning or evening hours.

Speaking of July on Saturday, July 8th the Rabies Clinic will be at the City Hook and Ladder from 10am until noon. The attending vet will be Pleasant View Vet Clinic. Please call 1-877933-ROFF (7633) for prices and additional information.

Now let’s meet Leigha and Buck.

“Hi I’m Leigha and I did have a home to call my own, but my owner moved and couldn’t take me with her. Oh how I miss her, but I am thankful that ROFF will care for me as I wait for my next home. I’m only 2 years old, have green eyes and I love attention!

I’m very healthy, spayed and littler trained, plus I get along great with my other feline roommates.

Won’t you please find a place in your heart and home for me?”

Crypto-Currency from page 7 I also have little doubt that the “Johnny-come-lately” crowd will end up in the proverbial slaughtering pen.

Personally, I remain convinced that 10,000 years of history is tough to ignore. Gold and Silver have always been a real store of wealth. They will continue in that capacity,

Right now, cryptos are the brightest stars in the sky, until they eventually burn out. When enough people lose enough money, chasing that fast buck dream, the party will be over, probably

“Howdy! I’m Buck and my first 9 months have not been pleasant.

You see, my humans brought me to their home when I was a pup and they kept me in a crate in the basement! That’s no way to live so I’m so happy that ROFF came to my rescue so I can enjoy freedom. I’m a boxer/American bulldog mix, I have all my shots, I’m housebroken, crate-trained and I just love little humans and dogs and cats too. Please visit me for a meet and greet to see first hand how adorable I am.”

If you are unable to adopt please consider a donation to ROFF. Checks may be mailed to: ROFF, 133 North Walnut Street, Burnham, PA 17009. Thank you so much!

Until they all have homes…

www.roffrescue.com; rescueourfurryfriends@yahoo.com; 1-877-933-ROFF (7633) a

for good! The end will also come when Governments have had enough of Cryptos negatively influencing the perceived value of the official currency that they champion! The stage is already being set to accuse cryptocurrency owners of being terrorists and money launderers. You know what happens next!

One final observation. If the US Government decides to create it’s own crypto cash, you can probably imagine just how tolerant they will be of anything that tries to compete with their version! a

Home at the Grange

by Patricia L. Bird

The Loss of a Grange

As I write this I am saddened to learn that Centre County has lost one of it’s Granges. Howard Grange #297 relinquished its charter on March 31, 2017. Due to loss of membership, the remaining members felt that it was the right thing to do and the right time to do it. Some of its current members hope to join remaining Granges in the county.

On July 7, 1874, twenty-four citizens from Boggs and Howard Townships met at the Pletcher’s Schoolhouse in Howard Township for an organizational meeting of Howard Grange #297. Leonard Rhone, a member of Progress Grange #96 who was serving as a State Deputy for the Pennsylvania State Grange, officiated over the installation of the officers. The first Master of Howard Grange was James Antes. On January 1, 1875, they officially received their Charter and for the next 79 years the meetings were held in a rented hall. On May 25, 1939, Juvenile Grange #255 was chartered with 19 members. Sadly, it has since been disbanded.

Members of Howard Grange purchased the former Sheffield Milk Plant in Howard in September 1954 and began renovations to make it into their new home.

After a few years of hard work and many many fundraisers, the members celebrated with an official mortgage-burning ceremony on February 12, 1957.

Owning their Grange Hall didn’t last very long. In 1965, the federal government took possession of the property as part of the

Blanchard Dam project, which today is known as the Foster Sayers Dam and Bald Eagle State Park.

The last meeting held in their hall was on November 9, 1965 with Howard Grange hosting the Centre County Pomona Grange #13.

From there, the members moved their meetings into the IOOF Hall which was above the Howard Post Office and they continued to meet there until 1974.

The members then moved to the Howard Fire Hall where they met until March 31, 2017.

Members met on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm. On July 9, 1974, they celebrated their 100th Anniversary at the Marion Grange Hall with 41 members attending. Marion Grange served the meal for their banquet. This July, Howard Grange would have celebrated being chartered for one hundred forty-two years (142). Their members served in positions on the Centre County Grange Encampment and Fair and Centre County Pomona Grange #13.

Right up until the end they continued to participate in local activities and make donations to various community organizations.

The end of Howard Grange will indeed be sadly felt by all Grange members throughout Centre County.

Howard Grange #297 will be part of a long list of Granges that have closed and relinquished their charters in Centre County.

Many people (myself included) didn’t even know that many of the following list of Granges ever

Roy Brubaker from page 13

family, where the traditions of sustainable agriculture will live on.

Roy and Hope had only recently begun investing more time in planning for their own retirement, a primary goal of which was to catch up on the many friendships they had established over their many years of service.

Following their 50th anniversary, Roy and Hope traveled abroad to visit dear friends internationally and also began spending more time visiting with family.

The earth is a better place and we are all better people for Roy’s love and stewardship.

Roy is survived by his wife, Hope (Anita) Brubaker (Beidler);

veins of this entire farming community.”

Through the years, Roy and Hope have been recognized with numerous awards for leadership and service in the areas of agricultural innovation and conservation by these and other organizations, including being early cooperators with the Juniata County Conservation District. In 1998, daughter Angela established the farm’s Community Supported Agriculture program, which diversified the farm in a manner that supported its long-term viability. In 2012, the farm began its transition to Roy’s daughter, Debra, and her

The Truth Has No Agenda

existed. The 2nd Grange formed in Centre County was Benner #107 which is dormant. The others are Washinton #157. which merged with Baileyville #1991, Spring Mills #158 (which is now Penns Valley #158), Provident #217, Centre #254, Excelsior #283, Fairview #296, Walker #345 (now Walker #2007), Zion #757, Oak Grove #761, Leonard #779, Goodwill #1050, Miles #1051, Madison #1053, Romola #1192, Moshannon #1271, Port Matilda #1284 (was dormant for several years but was reorganized in 1934), Penn State #1707, which has re-organized several times and received its new charter again last year, Rebersburg #1919, Pine Glenn #1981, and E. Penns Valley #2000, which merged with Spring Mills to become Penns Valley.

Today there are currently 11 Granges in Centre County along with Penn State that are active.

It is sad to realize that since the inception of Grange in Centre County there have been about twenty Granges that have disappeared. This is something that members of the Centre County Pomona Grange #13 are working hard to stop. If you would like to join a Grange, contact either Centre County Pomona # 13 Master Ashley Furman at 814-360-2265 or Secretary Suzanne Davidson at 814-355-7734 or me, Patty Bird, at 814-359-2851. Anyone of us will gladly talk to you and guide you to the nearest Grange for you to join. a daughter, Angela Brubaker; son, Roy Dale Brubaker and spouse, Julie Hurst with granddaughters, Frances and Riley; daughter, Phoebe Brubaker; and daughter, Debra Brubaker and spouse, Hannah Smith-Brubaker, with grandchildren, Chandler and Owen. He is also survived by sisters Doris Martin; Naomi Brubaker; Thelma Diem with spouse, Merle; and Arlene Gehman; brother, Dale Brubaker, and spouse, Pat; several brothers and sisters-in-law, including life-long friend, Luke Beidler.

Roy was preceded in death by sisters Miriam Kauffman and Anna Brubaker. a

The Valley, July 2017

12

Serene Surroundings in South Hills

by Kim Rickert

Imagine waking up each morning, walking out of the French doors in your living room to a wisteria covered pergola area for your morning coffee and newspaper. You look out over a lush 2 acre yard filled with perennials that are blooming, and enjoy the peacefulness. It feels like you are on a country lane, but you are actually just a few minutes from downtown Lewistown! This beautiful home on Hillside Lane offers this feeling, and many more amenities.

The 3288 sq ft ranch home is situated on a 2.19 acre lot on the South end of town, within walking distance to the Lewistown Elementary and Lewistown Middle Schools. Built in1954, the house has additions that give it a sprawling feeling which includes four bedrooms and three full baths. The home could actually accommodate a mother-in-law suite if desired, with it’s separate entrance, bathroom, kitchenette

and garage.

A welcoming foyer opens into a large living room and dining room area is enhanced with lots of windows, French doors to the patio and a brick fireplace.

Many built-in cabinets and shelves allow many places for displaying your treasured items.

The adjacent kitchen is sleek and streamlined with white cabinetry, Corian countertops and Pergo flooring, while the breakfast room offers a light and airy feel and plenty of room to spread out in a more casual setting.

Walk a few more steps to the Family Room, which can double as a in-law suite. An open feeling in this room invites everyone to hang out and French doors open to the back yard with another door leading to the 14 x 20 screened porch, making outdoor celebrations easy! This area has it’s own kitchenette, office, full bathroom with walk-in shower and tile floors and a laundry room.

Entrance from a separate garage allows for privacy on this wing of the house. The opposite wing of the house has four generous sized bedrooms, including a master bedroom with master bath. The master bathroom is crisp and clean looking with white cabinetry, quartz counter tops and tile floors. An additional full bath includes a jetted tub, quartz counter, tile floor and tub surround. Three additional bedrooms are carpeted, and one includes built in cabinetry for storage and display.

So far, this house sounds huge, right? Well...there is more!

In the lower level there is a large rec room with a wood-burning fireplace, bar, and full bathroom.

An extra bedroom is located in the lower level, as well as a weightroom that could be used for a variety of purposes. In addition to the finished basement, the home includes three car garage spaces, one of them separate from the others. Storage is not a problem here, since the garage, basement and walk-up attic offer more than enough space to stash your holiday decorations and garden equipment! The home also has a built-in security system, smoke detectors and replacement windows.

Breakfast Room

Family Room above and Pergola covered back patio.

If you are looking for a large home with lots of possibilities, this is one you will want to see! Call our office to schedule a showing with Deb, or any of our professionals soon! a

All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.

13

The Valley, July 2017

A Hole in the Sustainable Agriculture & Mennonite Communities

JUNE 20, MIFFLINTOWN, PA: Roy Lester Brubaker, 75, of Mifflintown, died June 16 in a farming related accident at his family’s farm in Cuba Mills, cutting short a life of love and service. Son of an early organic farming innovator, Roy spent his childhood establishing deep affections for and commitment to the earth and its inhabitants. An educator, missionary, pastor, and organic farmer, himself, Roy was one of eight children born into the family of Roy M and Elva Brubaker (Auker) of McAlisterville.

Roy developed a wide range of practical skills and a lifelong love of learning, laughter, and community-building through the joint influences of his family and the friends and fellowship that surrounded him as a young boy growing up in Juniata County.

Roy’s parents were members of Lost Creek Mennonite Church and Roy and Hope were most recently members of University Mennonite in State College, where they have many loving friends.

In 1959, at the age of eigh-

teen, Roy left the farm to become a teacher in a one room Mennonite School in Adams County.

From 1962-1965, he taught Grade 6 at the larger Paradise Mennonite School in Hagerstown, MD. It was there that he met his close lifelong friend and confidant, Luke Beidler. It was through his friendship with Luke that Roy met his wife, and Luke’s sister, Anita Hope Beidler. Roy and Hope were married on September 10, 1966. Roy completed his Bachelor of Arts in Education at Eastern Mennonite College (now Eastern Mennonite University) in Harrisonburg, VA

in 1967.

In June of 1967, the newly married couple accepted a missionary assignment to Somalia with the Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities. Roy

and Hope served as educators and community builders in Somalia until 1974. In that year, with the assistance of Roy’s sister Naomi,

The Truth Has No Agenda

the family established the beginnings of Village Acres Farm, in Cuba Mills, Pennsylvania. In 1976, Roy and Hope returned to East Africa to serve another five-year term in Nairobi, Kenya.

In Kenya, their work centered on building inter-faith relationships between Muslims and Christians in one of Nairobi’s poorest communities and a home to many Somali immigrants. Roy and Hope were blessed to bring four children into the world while on mission in Africa, the oldest two of whom will be forever shaped by the experience of coming of age in Africa.

In 1982, Roy and Hope returned to Pennsylvania to continue to grow their organic vegetable and berry farm.

Roy also accepted a pastoral assignment at Lost Creek Mennonite Church where he served as minister from 1983-1993. Roy also served as

the school administrator at what would become Juniata Mennonite (formerly Delaware Mennonite) from 1985-1991, guiding the school in curriculum development, expanding its student base, and overseeing the building of a new school.

From 1993 to the present, Roy’s considerable energy was poured into Village Acres Farm.

Beyond providing a place of sanctuary and learning for his own children, the farm has provided an educational work environment for aspiring young farmers who continued to find Roy a committed mentor and friend long after they left the farm, many of whom have gone on to farm for themselves.

Roy was heavily involved in the formation of the Tuscarora Organic Growers Cooperative (TOG), as well as one of the nation’s first organic certification organizations, Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO). Roye was also was an early member and supporter of the Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) where, over the years, he has celebrated rich and enduring friendships in the sustainable agriculture community. In response to Roy’s passing, a younger farmer in the PASA community offered, “Roy’s love and work runs through the

Continued on page 11

The Valley, July 2017

14

WHISKEY IN LOCAL HISTORY JULY 2017

In the early years of Mifflin County, making alcohol distilled from locally grown grains was as common as boiling apple butter in the Fall or butchering hogs for hams, sausage and bacon.

The Tax Lists of 1774 for Armagh and Derry townships, in what would become Mifflin County, included: 4 grist mills, 2 saw mills, 1 tannery and 10 distilleries.

In that era, there was little or no moral or religious sentiment against consumption of alcohol or whiskey. In truth, alcohol was consumed in America since the first Pilgrim set foot on Plymouth Rock. The Puritan clergyman Increase Mather declared in 1674 that drink is in itself a good creature and to be received thankfully, but abuse of drink is from Satan… the wine is from God, but the drunkard is from the Devil…

Strong community social structures generally curbed immoderation.

A copper still, or access to one, was considered essential by farmers, because whiskey was an important barter medium before coins or paper money were commonly available.

In addition to its role in bartering for goods, whiskey was used exclusively in the early years as an antiseptic and for anesthetic purposes. In many cases it was the only “medicine” available to the early settlers.

In correspondence with Bill Samuels, Jr., Emeritus President of Maker’s Mark Distillery in Latrobe, Kentucky, he explained his family arrived from Berks Co. into what was Cumberland County in the mid 1735s. The family later settled in what became Mifflin County. According

to Mr. Samuels, it was here on the banks of the Juniata River that whiskey made from corn mash was first distilled. After the Revolution, Samuels brought his family to Kentucky and began distilling whisky—a practice he was well familiar with from his days in early Mifflin County.

In 1777, the newly formed United States of America adopted the Stars and Stripes as the Continental Congress flag, and George Washington was concerned that his troops didn’t have enough liquor. The father of our country really knew how to look after his children, it appears, as he actually suggested that public distilleries be constructed throughout the states citing that, “The benefits arising from the moderate use of strong liquor have been experienced in all armies and are not to be disputed.”

Washington had erected stills at Mount Vernon in the 1770s in order to produce rum, and a little later on, his Scottish plantation manager is said to have been the man who persuaded him to plant rye with a mind to producing whiskey. And Washington did, indeed, make whiskey. During the year before his death in 1799, it has been estimated that he earned a considerable profit from his distillery.

And perhaps locally, our farmers took heed to Washington’s suggestion about distilleries.

By 1780, the Tax Assessments for what became Mifflin County shows that in eight short years the number of distilleries jumped from 10 in 1772 to 24 in 1780.

The whiskey from the middle colonies eventually became known as Pennsylvania or Maryland whiskey, named for its various locations, not the grain used to make it. Farmer-distillers made a more than adequate living by raising livestock, growing grain,

Next Issue of The Valley: August 2nd

and making rye whiskey that they could trade to fulfill their other needs.

By 1790, George Washington had been inaugurated after the long years of the Revolutionary War. Up until this point, cultural and agricultural needs had dictated the production of Pennsylvania’s whiskey. But in 1791, President Washington approved an excise tax on liquor to pay for the Revolution. Taxes were around 7¢ to 11¢ per gallon, dependent on proof. This new tax had a dramatic effect on Pennsylvania farmers.

The farmer-distillers of the time didn’t have ready cash.

They might have been making a decent living, but many, indeed most transactions at that time, were conducted by barter. The concept is simple…you travel into the village center on market day with a few quarts of whiskey, trade one to the local seamstress in return for a new dress for the wife, another to the fisherman in his market stall who supplied you with dinner for the next few days, and if the landlord is passing by, maybe you can persuade him to take a gallon of your finest whiskey in lieu of a few month’s rent. The scene and the amounts are hypothetical, but it gives a rough idea of why the farmers had empty pockets.

The Pennsylvania whiskey makers decided to revolt. At one point in 1791, a mob of over 5,000 men advanced on Pittsburgh, threatening to burn down the whole city. The mob was talked down by city officials.

But resistance to the whiskey tax continued until 1794, when President Washington, for the first time ever, enforced federal law in the United States. And since around 13,000 men turned out to do battle, Washington’s authority was firmly established.

Not all farmers had stills, since stills were very expensive pieces of copper equipment, but farmers would bring their grain to the distiller and have it made into whiskey. The supplier would receive a percentage of the whiskey, the distiller keeping the rest for his trouble, but no hard cash was changing hands. An 1888 recount of Mifflin County history

notes that Judge William Brown, namesake of Brown’s Mills, later Reedsville, possessed a lumber mill, grist mill and a distillery in the vicinity of the old Reedsville mill on Tea Creek as early as the 1770s.

By the 1800s, distilleries were set up where farmers could sell their grain to be fermented. At one time there were over a dozen distilleries in Mifflin County that performed this service. The production of whiskey not only gave farmers a market for their grain, but also a boost to local gristmills, which ground the grain as part of the process.

An example of just such an arrangement was once located at Locke Mills in Armagh Township. The first mill was built in 1816, but burned in 1841 and was rebuilt in 1858. By the Civil War, the location was already associated with the Locke family. The gristmill, a large two-story brick building ground the grain, the distillery on the property made the whiskey and the tailings, and the spent mash went to feed livestock.

The entire operation gave rise to a little community of homes for the mill workers and families, and is believed to have also included a bank operated by Mr. Locke, thus the village, Locke’s Bank.

With the coming of the canal in 1829 and especially the railroad in 1849, marketing of raw grain became more profitable for farmers, so whiskey production declined. It is estimated by historians that Americans consumed as much as 6 gallons of alcohol per person in the late 18th and

All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.

early 19th centuries. The election of 1840, the famous Tippecanoe and Tyler Too election that swept President William Henry Harrison into office, used alcohol as a campaign tool. A large jug of hard cider appeared as Harrison’s favorite drink in advertising and helped him win the common man’s vote.

But the whiskey barter system collapsed by the Civil War, and a growing sympathy for prohibition moved across the land.

In Mifflin County, a majority of voters supported Prohibition Candidates by the late 1800’s and into early 1900s. The Women’s Christian Temperance Movement also was a strong political influence in the county. Most townships voted DRY as the 18th Amendment to the Constitution neared passage in 1919. This was another step in moving whiskey from the still to the State Store.

During Prohibition from 1920 to 1933, news items in Mifflin County newspapers reflected the reality of the banning of alcohol. From the Sentinel dated Jan 10, 1924, headlines blared: 229 PINTS OF HOOTCH TO BE POURED IN SEWER - DESTROYED BY COURT ORDER. Mifflin County’s district attorney placed the illegal alcohol, called wet goods by the newspaper, behind locked doors prior to its being smashed and left to run down the gutter into the storm sewer.

It’s hard to imagine a time when whiskey was a commodity fit for bartering, and a cause of a

Continued on page 19

15

The Valley, July 2017

Dairy - Good - Truth

by Gretchen Little

I’m looking forward to spending this year as the Centre County Dairy Princess, and I am excited to help bridge the gap between farmers and consumers.

Consumers want to know what they are feeding their families and are becoming increasingly conscientious of where their food comes from and how it is produced.

Growing up on a dairy farm has allowed me to see this first-hand and understand that this is of the utmost importance to the farmer as well!

Consumers in Pennsylvania don’t have to look too hard to find a dairy farm to see where milk is produced since there are 6,650 dairy farms located in Pennsylvania, representing 15.9% of all the farms in the United States. Of the dairy farms that are located in Pennsylvania, the average herd size is about 80 cows and 99% are family-owned. Many of the farms have and will continue to be passed down from generation to generation. My farm is a first generation dairy farm that be-

gan when my parents bought their first herd 13 years ago.

Currently, we are milking 47 cows. We try to do our part in educating consumers by hosting kindergarten farm tours. Also, since our farm is located near a park on a quiet country road, many families enjoy walks by our farm to admire the fields, barns, and animals and will stop to ask questions or talk when they see someone outside work-

Brisco’s Coffee House from page 31

fee the same way today. Stop by Brisco’s coffee house at 309 South Logan Blvd in Burnham, right next to Vince’s Pizza and 4 Star Jewelry and see all the many coffee and non-coffee drinks available. Also now available are soups and sandwiches, live music, game night, all in a 5500 square foot space.

Find us on Facebook at briscoscoffeeBecca Boyer using the latest technology in making espresso. house. a

coffee you may be taken aback, it is bold, yet without even a hint of residue.

At Brisco’s Coffee house in Burnham, we have many different coffees from all over the world with many unique flavor profiles.

It is a bit more expensive, but the full rich flavor makes it worth every penny.

Brisco’s has already won over many converts to the pour-over method and our customers will never look at cof-

Managing Barista Rachael Spotts making a pour over

The Truth Has No Agenda

ing. This gives us the opportunity to tell them about the hard work and care that is put into our animals and farm in general. Farmers work 365 days a year and are usually busy from dusk until dawn (and occasionally all hours of the night). They work these long hours to make sure their animals are well taken care of. This includes ensuring the animals have adequate housing, clean water, enough food, veterinary services when needed, and many other things. Keeping the animal safe, healthy, and happy is the farmers #1 priority. At my farm, my dad ensures that the cows are milked twice a day. He spends the time

between milkings doing other barn chores such as cleaning up after and bedding and feeding the cows. The cows rely on us to take care of them and this is something we take very seriously. The better we take care of the animals, the better the product we get in return.

For family-owned dairy farms, caring for our animals isn’t just a job...it is our home, our lifestyle, and future for our families. We care about the animals and keeping them healthy and comfortable since the milk they produce isn’t just something we sell to make a living, it’s what is used to feed our own families. a

The Valley, July 2017

16 Golden Nugget, Dr. Joseph Kauffman from page 3 produces only very small amounts of IL-1B and TNF-alpha. There was a time when experts thought that this was simply a DEFECT in all newborn humans. In 2004, a study by Chelvarajan suggested that if vaccine manufacturers added various immune system kickers into vaccines, this would solve the problem and fix these perfectly normal children’s immune systems, which are so often described in terms of “defective,” or “inadequate,” when they are completely age appropriate, with characteristics shared by all land mammals.

Subunit vaccines like HepB, Strep Pneumo, Hib and Meningococcal have potent “adjuvants” – such as aluminum. Without them, the baby’s immune system sits there and does nothing. An adjuvant creates a red-alert situation forcing the infant’s innate immune system to respond in the opposite manner to the way it should function in the first year of life. Pro-vaccine immunologists see nothing wrong with this.

However, by 2007, Chelvarajan was seeing things differently, and stated in the last paragraph, that whereas in the past, they had considered this a “defect,” they now considered it: an important developmental program when he said:

This anti-inflammatory phenotype may be beneficial to the neonate at a time when tissue growth and remodeling events are taking place at a rapid pace… thus the inability of the neonate to respond to infection with encapsulated bacteria may be the risk the organism takes for successful development.

In order to adjust to the world appropriately, an “anti-inflammatory phenotype” is critical to an infant. Breast milk acts as a stand-in innate immune system, which protects the baby from toxin-mediated and other diseases, by supplying anti-inflammatory substances in the milk along with other immune particles which prevent bacteria and viruses from adhering, or kills them outright.

This protects the baby, acting as “in loco” defense, while the infant immune system is being programmed to know self from non-self. This same pattern of development is seen in laboratories where they study non-human mammals, and is ubiquitous across mammals, showing that the anti-inflammatory phenotype is crucial to successful survival both short and long term.

A more recent article by

Elahi in 2013, showed that infant immune cells have full functional capacity, but are clamped down for a higher purpose while learning what is self, what is a healthy commensal micro-organism, and what should later be attacked.

During this period of ‘clamping’ which is approximately 2 human years (extrapolated from animal studies), the infant is well compensated by the mother’s human milk, which continues the educational process and kills unwanted organisms. What then, could be the effect of vaccines, which interfere with the quiescent state of the infant’s immune system master plan, adding large amounts of aluminum—do?

With breastmilk support, an infant immune system develops appropriately and systematically – in its own due time, according to the genetic program placed in the baby from the day the child was conceived. What is that master plan? To enable the infant to safely transition into immunological independence with the minimum level of inflammation possible.

Can that system be derailed? Yes it can. What can derail the neonatal immune system? Anything which triggers an inflammatory response in the mother while she is pregnant and in the baby by the use of a vaccination.

Ironically the medical research is very clear about one thing. It’s not the “infection” per se that causes the problem. It’s the activation of the immune system. How do they know it’s not just the infection? Because stress, toxins and other non-infectious antigens can trigger the immune system cascade, in very similar ways to infection.

If it is important for successful development of a baby to allow the RISK of infection by NOT allowing two key parts of the primary infection defense to “fire,” what’s the OTHER risk you might take, if you force an immune system to do something it’s not supposed to do? A vaccine by definition causes repeated, chronic inflammation at set time intervals. Vaccines are designed to create peripheral inflammation, and vaccine adjuvants and antigens can cause brain inflammation, create allergies, and autoimmunity – resulting in constant inflammation all around the body.

For some children, vaccines can also cause mitochondria to stop working properly.

So, you might now be thinking…if a baby’s default position is to NOT respond to toxin-mediated bacterial diseases, what chance does a baby have to survive in this world? If you would like to learn

more about neonatal immunity, read this 3 part blog series, and take note of the medical articles used: Infant immune system development: http://www.beyondconformity.org.nz/BlogRetrieve.as px?PostID=72027&A=SearchRes ult&SearchID=2547944&ObjectI D=72027&ObjectType=55.

Pro-vaccine doctors sometimes cite “peer reviewed literature” to supposedly prove their point, yet a closer look at their own literature often proves otherwise – as does a closer look at the sick population of vaccinated children they look after.

Furthermore, a close look at medical text books down the decades reveals a very interesting trend. In the 1920s and 30s, doctors were often quite relaxed over diseases that today are presented as more deadly than the plague.

Many grandparents today are completely bemused at the way the medical profession describes infections which were to most of them, straightforward holidays off school.

This is not stating that there were never serious consequences.

There sometimes were. However, today, most parents erroneously believe that every child will die from diseases that most grandparents found were nuisance value only.

The medical system now considers measles more dangerous than the plague, and the most dangerous disease known to man.

Yet there is no need to be afraid of measles, because well-nourished children who get adequate vitamin A have an unremarkable course to recovery. Boredom might be their biggest whine.

I have discovered that whooping cough isn’t something to be scared of either. In the days when my only tool was an antibiotic, whooping cough occasionally caused me considerable concern, but not today. I’ve watched many parents all over the world treat whooping cough very simply by using high doses of vitamin C and occasionally homeopathy. They see rapid improvement and no serious complications. But you will not read about these cases in “peer reviewed literature,” and your doctor doesn’t know about them, because sick children are the only ones counted in the morbidity statistics. Healthy children, who uneventfully recover, are not seen by the medical system, and therefore, are not counted.

The serious consequences from most childhood diseases comes from just a few things; infant formula, cow’s milk, common medical drugs, especially antibiotics, malnutrition, and

vaccines, as well and a lack of knowledge about simple methods of home nursing.

All of these barriers to recovery are completely avoidable in

vaccine is an example of this.

A very noteworthy study was published in 2013, looking at baboons, which are susceptible and manifest whooping cough

the USA and many other countries and that is WHY we see so many healthy children who were never vaccinated, when we take the time to look.

See how mortality for the common illnesses had declined significantly long before the vaccines were created.

Here are a few common misconceptions about NOT vaccinating:

You are putting other people at risk by not vaccinating. At risk for what? Chicken pox? Ask your grandmother if she knew anyone who died from measles. Different diseases have different degrees of severity in different age groups. The misconception that “if you don’t vaccinate, you place others at risk” is based on an assumption that vaccinated people do not get the disease they were vaccinated for. Did you know that a controlled study published in BMJ in school age children showed that of all the whooping cough that was diagnosed, over 86% of the children were fully vaccinated and up to date for the whooping cough vaccine? There are similar studies showing that mumps and measles breakouts often affect the vaccinated. People who are vaccinated can have their immune systems altered in a manner that leads to susceptibility to other infectious diseases, and can also leave them vulnerable to the disease they were vaccinated for due to a phenomenon called “original antigenic sin.” What is “original antigenic sin?” This is where an injected vaccine antigen programs the body to react in a manner that is incomplete, and different to the natural response to infection.

When the vaccinated contact that disease again, they are unable to mount an effective response to the pathogen because vital first steps are missing. The whooping cough

like humans do. In the study by Warfel, baboons who were either vaccinated or not vaccinated were later exposed to pertussis bacteria, something that cannot be done experimentally in humans (due to ethical considerations), but which yields very important data.

Expectedly, the baboons that had never been infected got the cough and remained colonized with bacteria for a maximum of 38 days.

Baboons that were previously vaccinated and immune vaccinestyle, became colonized upon later exposure for a longer time than the naïve baboons; 42 days.

However unvaccinated baboons that recovered naturally and were later exposed to the bacteria did not become colonized at all – zero days.

So, who is providing better herd immunity in the face of bacterial exposure? Vaccinated individuals who presume they are immune, yet remain asymptomatically colonized for 42 days spreading bacteria? Unvaccinated kids who get infected and remain colonized for 38 days? Or the naturally convalesced who are not able to be colonized and therefore do not spread bacteria at all upon re-exposure? Better still: natural convalescence makes for decades longer, solid immunity than vaccination.

Many vaccine enthusiasts like to invoke the term “herd immunity” to make the argument that the non-vaccinated pose a risk to the vaccinated. But the concept of herd immunity has no relevance to the vaccinated as it was coined in reference to natural immunity in populations and what level the least epidemics occurred. There is no evidence whatsoever that having an 85% or 95% vaccination rate protects from outbreaks. This theory has been disproved time

All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.

Continued on page 17

17

The Valley, July 2017

Revamped Duo

Described as daring, sexy, and innovative, this vivacious husband and wife violin duo fuses pop, jazz, classical, rock, folk, and even hip hop styles in a way entirely their own. They create concert experiences with artistically profound and impossibly complex arrangements, electronic and altered instruments, vibrant color coordination, theatrics, and signature stunts- all done with mind-boggling precision- to awe and inspire audiences around the world. Through extended techniques of their own invention, these two performers become the stride pianists of the string world, evoking the sonic landscapes of large ensembles of diverse instrumentation to wow audiences of all ages. Integration with livestreaming and social media places viewers in the center of the action, while a touch of humor and their personable interactions round out every unforgettable show.

They have performed in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Washington D.C., Maryland, and abroad in Austria and Greece. Revamped is currently based out of Central Pennsylvania and is available for performances in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., New York City and surrounding areas.

MARK MINNICH

Mark Minnich holds a B.M. in Violin Performance from Bowling Green State University, as well as an M.M. in Violin Performance and an M.A. in Music Theory and History from Penn State. Mark has performed in the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, Poland, China, Greece, and Tanzania, and has played as soloist with the Toledo Youth Orchestra, the Toledo International Youth Orchestra, the Firelands Symphony, and the Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra. An enthusiast

Golden Nugget, Dr. Joseph Kauffman from page 16 and again in highly vaccinated populations.

The non-vaccinated spread disease. Actually it is the opposite. Live vaccines are known to spread to close contacts. Here is one recent example: “Live vaccines can spread disease” (http:// www.sciencedirect.com/science/ article/pii/S0264410X11015428)

of diverse musical styles, he has participated in jazz combos, Latin rock bands, new music ensembles, string quartets, and fiddle camps, as well as with the Mannheim Steamroller orchestra, the world tour of Chicago: The Musical, and Grammy award winning pianist Billie Childs. Mark performs as concertmaster with the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra and maintains a full studio; he currently holds positions teaching violin, viola, chamber ensembles, and group classes at the State College Suzuki Program and the Grier School.

SALLY WILLIAMS MINNICH Sally Williams Minnich is an avid freelance performer, music educator, arranger, and composer.

She has appeared as a soloist at the Electronic Music Midwest Festival, the Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra, and the Altoona Symphony. She is a founding member of the internationally-known violin duo, Revamped, and has invented extended techniques for the violin. Williams Minnich is also the first violinist and founding member of the Allegria String Quartet which most notably performed with Grammy Awardwinning artist Billie Childs.

Williams Minnich studied as a preparatory student at the Cleveland Institute of Music and holds bachelor’s degrees in violin performance/music composition and a master’s degree in violin performance from Bowling Green State University. She also holds a master’s degree in music education from Pennsylvania State University. She has had the privilege of studying with violin pedagogues David Russell, Vasile Beluska, and James Lyon. She is currently serving as the Director of the State College Suzuki Program and on faculty in the music department at the Grier School. a

We also know that in pertussis (whooping cough), those who are vaccinated are more likely, due to original antigenic sin, to be carriers of the bacteria longer than the non-vaccinated, even when asymptomatic. In his article published in Clinical Infectious Disease in 2004, Dr. James Cherry pointed out those adults, re-vaccinated against pertussis, don’t develop any antibacterial activity whatsoever. He went

on to explain why. The current vaccines contain a few antigens, which create “original antigenic sin,” whereby the immune response to the vaccine is abnormal.

That first-learned response then becomes the default position the immune system takes, on future booster shots. So in the case of the whooping cough vaccines, there are key protein virulence factors

The Truth Has No Agenda

which have not been included in the vaccines including ACT, TCF, TCT, as well as BrkA and DNT.

Because the first three are not included, the default immune response does not prevent colonization, and furthermore, Cherry stated that the “original antigenic sin” results in the vaccinated being unable to clear the bacteria from their lungs. The

non-vaccinated have immunity to all the front line virulence factors and very quickly clear the bacteria on re-exposure.

Mothers, who have been vaccinated, may develop surrogate markers that can be measured in a laboratory, but these do not guarantee efficient immune responses after exposure to the

Continued on page 30

The Valley, July 2017

18

By: rick stehr

In Our Own Words...

7 ways to improve farm profitability

W

e are in a different economic time and we need to start looking at areas where dairy farmers can save money. I often see too many people cutting costs in areas that are going to hurt them long term, such as cutting back on the quality of starter or heifer feeds or not following a dry cow program. Do not cut costs in areas that will effect your future of a healthy and successful milking herd.

I often get asked the question- “can you just make my feed cheaper?” Sometimes there are ways to work on price, but its not always the answer. Lets look at 7 areas that have the most financial impact on your farm: 1.

Make quality forages. I can not emphasize this enough! This is the biggest financial factor.

Quality forages makes more milk and lowers your purchased feed costs.

2.

Herd reproduction. Reproduction is the secret to production. Review your DHI report with your consultants to see areas that may need improvement. A goal should be 175 days in milk or less.

3.

Know what additives are in your feed. Additives are beneficial but they can also be costly. Do you know why you have certain additives in your feed? It’s important to talk to your consultant to find out what additives are a fit for your specific needs. Are there any additives that can be removed or replaced to save money?

It’s your feed and you need to ask these questions, so you know what you are paying for.

4.

Protect yourself against mold!

It’s cheaper to prevent than it is to treat. Are your silos in good shape? Are all your Ag-Bags hole free and sealed tightly? Are all forage storage units in

good shape and sealed properly to ensure mold and toxins don’t become an issue? The costs of using a toxin binder is sometimes necessary if you have compromised silages and grains, but it’s costing you on average .10-.20 cents per day.

5. Take advantage of maximum discounts!

Routinely check your bins and get feed orders in on time. Take advantage of early order discounts, know quantity discounts that your mill offers, and order enough feed for 1 month if possible. If you can prepay feed, do so. Also take advantage of payment terms or discounts for paying early or paying cash.

6. Grow enough forages on your farm to feed your animals. This may involve double cropping and growing small grain forages. This will help improve tonnage per acre of forages.

7. Make quality milk! Review your milk quality tests and take action. Are you collecting all your premiums?

Is there anything you can do differently to increase your milk checks? Is high SCC costing you money? Even small changes such as checking milking equipment, reviewing pre/post dip procedures, and providing a clean dry environment would help lower SCC and increase your milk check.

It’s important to remember that we can still make money during these economic times and it still pays to make milk! Sometimes pinching pennies can lose dollars in the end.

Know where you are saving money and what it’s actually costing you.

All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.

19

The Valley, July 2017

Savvy Cents & Sensibility

Our Yesteryears from page 14

by JoAnn Wills-Kline MBA

July’s Jubilee of Savings

As the temperatures heat up in July so do the savings on some items. Midsummer is the best time to purchase the following items: 1. Indoor furniture and home decor – Showrooms usually receive new stock in August, making July the month that retailers take an “everything must go” attitude. Expect to see deep discounts mid to end of July.

2. Outdoor furniture – July is the month to see 30% to 60% off of backyard items and sporting goods. July is the most financially savvy month to update your outdoor gear and comfort pieces.

3. Air conditioners – July is the best month to receive the best deals. If your old A/C is on its last breath, replace it in July for savings that beat June and August by about 25%.

4. Patriotic items – Do you like to display patriotic items in/out of your home? Do you like the patriotic tableware for summer picnics? If yes, purchase in July!

Picnic items themed in the patriotic red/white/blue can be slashed by 50% or more after the 4th of July so stock up. Home décor, indoor and outdoor, could see sav-

ings as much as 60%.

5. Swimwear – July has notoriously been the month that begins the downward slide on swimwear costs. Some online retailers may offer deals at 80% off. So, if you are vacationing in late summer, scoop up swimwear in July.

6. Sports gear – Baseball and golf enthusiasts will likely see sales of 30% - 60% off in July making it a great time to “swing” for that club or bat they’ve been wanting.

7. Tools – July is a great month to purchase any kind of tools from simple garden shovels to power tools. If you have been considering a purchase of a new tool, July is the best month for savings.

8. Paint – Who wants to paint in the heat of midsummer? July is the best month to purchase indoor/ outdoor paints and supplies. Retailers often offer savings 0f 30% - 70%. Take advantage of the sales, and then paint in the cooler weather of fall.

9. School supplies – July is the first month school supplies are offered at a discount. If you are looking for a particularly popular item, look in July before deeper discounts and popular back-to-

school sales begin in August.

Normally, July can bring savings of about 20% versus the deeper discounts of August at 40% or more. But, that special lunchbox and backpack may be too popular to stick around on the retailers’ shelves in August.

10. Summer apparel – July is a great month to buy summer apparel. It’s not too late in the season to get your money’s worth of your purchases this year – enjoy she shorts, sundresses, and sandals now. Expect to see savings of 50% or more. The later in the summer, the better the discounts; however, the wearable mileage this season will be diminishing as the cooler days of fall are just around the corner.

Enjoy saving cash on the above items in July, and afterwards remember to refresh and rejuvenate yourself!

Bob at the Movies from page 27

and partial nudity. Its running time is 110 minutes.

Dark Universe and the DC and Marvel Universes is that Batman, Iron Man, Superman, and Captain America are guaranteed to draw audiences even if they’re in a bad movie. The Universal monsters aren’t going to be afforded the same luxury. People aren’t going to get excited for yet another vampire, werewolf, or evil lab creation movie unless Universal can convince them that these movies are actually good. This movie is a perfect example of what they shouldn’t do: rely on the monster to sell tickets and let the movie around it be an afterthought (put it on Cruise Control, if you will).

“The Mummy” could cause the Dark Universe to unravel in a real hurry.

“The Fate of the Furious”

“The Fate of the Furious” to put it right back on the level it was before. Maybe even a little lower.

Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) is on his honeymoon with wife Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) when he’s recruited for a black ops mission by his old-enemy-turnedfriend Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson).

He gathers his family, which also includes Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Ludacris), and Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel). The family pulls off a heist with relative smoothness, but then Dom does the unthinkable and turns on his family. He puts the deadly device du jour in the hands of cyberterrorist Cipher (Charlize Theron), who has another member of his family in danger. He works for her now, and stealing the device was just the first job of many.

It’s up to the rest of the family to stop Cipher without knowing why Dom is standing in their way.

They get help from old friend Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell) and his young protégé (Scott Eastwood), who I have to assume is Mr. No-

One and a Half Stars out of Five.

“The Mummy” is rated PG-13 for violence, action and scary images, and for some suggestive content

For over a decade, you knew exactly what you were getting with a “Fast & Furious” movie.

You went to see one of these movies, you got fast cars, gratuitous shots of women, dumb one-liners, ruminations on family during the slow parts, and completely implausible action sequences. The movies were fun if you were in the right mood and grating if you weren’t, but they never aspired to be anything more.

Then things changed with “Furious 7” in 2015. Star Paul Walker died unexpectedly in a car crash, and although he had already filmed most of his scenes, the film needed to be handled with the utmost care and sensitivity.

And it delivered perfectly. The final moments of that film were so beautiful that they took the franchise to a level never before thought possible. Now comes

References: https://www.thepennyhoarder. com/smart-money/what-to-buyin-july/ https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/ shopping/what-to-buy-skip-july http://tiphero.com/7-best-thingsto-buy-in-july/ a

The Truth Has No Agenda

Rebellion just west of us. Places like Still House Hollow recall that long gone time, all part of Mifflin County’s colorful history.

NEXT MONTH: Look across a pastoral Big Valley scene toward the mountain, near Apple House Road not far from Belleville. It is difficult now to imagine that beyond the tangle of woods and brush along the fence rows, one of the area’s most popular destinations once thrived.

Next month, let’s board the KV Railroad and take a trip to Gibboney Park.

If you would like to learn more about Mifflin County’s inter-

body’s son because unconditional love is the only reason I can think of for Mr. Nobody putting up with the unlikeable little dunce. That team still isn’t big enough, so they have to call in Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), sworn enemy of the family. Like Hobbs, he goes from an enemy to a friend in the course of this movie. It’s hard to buy that he’s earning a place in the family considering he killed one of its members a few movies back. On the other hand, we get to root for Jason Statham!

That brings me to the action sequences. Dom drag-races a junker car backwards while on fire (the car, not him). Hobbs and Shaw fight off prison guards and inmates to get their hands on each other. The family has to contend with a zombie attack, my personal favorite. Shaw dispatches some henchmen on an airplane.

And there’s a pursuit through the Russian tundra where there’s no shortage of bad guys to absorb every weapon that hasn’t been used yet (I thought the entire convoy got blown up like five times, but they keep coming back for more punishment).

“The Fate of the Furious” has exactly what you’d expect in terms of comedy and action from a “Fast & Furious” movie, but it

esting local history, plan a visit to the 1841 McCoy House Museum, 17 N. Main Street, Lewistown, PA. The museum is the birthplace of Maj. Gen. Frank Ross McCoy, soldier and diplomat, who served nine US Presidents. The museum houses McCoy Memorial Collection, set period rooms from the Victorian age, American Indian Exhibit with a life-sized wigwam, artifacts from the French and Indian War to the Afghan War in the Military Room and so much more.

Open every Tuesday from 11 AM – 2PM just stop in or call the Mifflin County Historical Society Office at 717-242-1022 to arrange a visit at other times. a HISTORY IS OUR STORY – PASS IT ON!

also has flaws in character motivation and development, which I’m sorry to say is also what one would expect from a boneheaded action movie. Shaw is forgiven too easily, the Eastwood character is accepted too easily, Dom uncharacteristically lets Cipher yank him around for too long, the movie doesn’t know what it wants to do with the family outside of Dom, and everyone was so happy to get Theron as the villain that they forgot to give her anything interesting to say or do. Add to that an unwise follow-up line about the Walker character that undermines the final scene of both this movie and the last one, and you’ve got a disappointing “Fast & Furious” movie. I expected so much more after “Furious 7.”

Two Stars out of Five.

“The Fate of the Furious” is playing at Hershey Cocoaplex and Flagship Cinemas in Palmyra. The film is rated PG-13 for prolonged sequences of action and destruction, suggestive content, and language. Its running time is 136 minutes.

Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@ nyu.edu. a

The Valley, July 2017

20

Higher Tick Populations or not, Take Precautions Against Lyme Disease

by Chuck Gill

Story courtesy of Penn State Public Information

Recent media reports have suggested that tick populations in Pennsylvania may be particularly high this year, leading to an increased risk of Lyme disease in the state.

Although it is unclear whether the number of ticks actually is higher this spring— and if so, why — it nonetheless always is a good idea to take precautions to avoid ticks and the diseases they can transmit, according to entomologists in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

“Some people believe a perceived increase in ticks can be blamed on a mild winter, an early spring, certain precipitation patterns, or a large crop of acorns that leads to an overabundance of mice that host ticks,” said Steven Jacobs, senior extension associate in entomology. “However, some of these theories have little scientific basis, and most scientists agree that nature is too complex to attribute a rise or fall in the tick population to any one factor.”

Joyce Sakamoto, a research associate in entomology who studies tick biology, said the impression that tick populations are higher this spring may have come from the fact that ticks emerged earlier than usual from winter dormancy.

“The number of ticks I’m finding in Centre County is comparable to previous years,” she said. “But I did start seeing active adult ticks earlier than usual — in February — both this year and last year.”

Sakamoto noted that between 40 and 60 percent of the ticks she tests carry the Lyme disease pathogen, though that doesn’t necessarily mean all of them are capable of transmitting the illness, she explained.

Whether there’s been a spike in ticks this year or not, there’s no question about the long-term trend. “Fifteen or 20 years ago, the ticks that carry Lyme disease were rare in many Pennsylvania counties, but unfortunately that has changed,” Jacobs said. “Today, they are found in all counties in the state.”

Sakamoto added that public awareness of ticks also has increased with growth and development in Pennsylvania. “We keep

expanding into habitats where ticks are found,” she said. “And as that continues, we need to change our behavior to avoid them.”

Even though ticks can transmit a variety of pathogens, it’s no secret why Lyme disease gets the most attention — Pennsylvania leads the nation in the number of confirmed cases.

Lyme disease can cause a variety of symptoms, including a bull’s-eye-like rash, fever, stiff neck, muscle aches and headaches. Left untreated, victims can suffer facial palsy, arthritis

and even paralysis. It normally is treated with antibiotics, but if not caught early, recovery can be slow and difficult.

The primary vector of the Lyme disease bacterium is the blacklegged tick — often called the “deer tick.” Adult ticks can be active from fall through spring if temperatures remain above 28 F. Ticks in the nymphal (immature) stages are active in May, June and July.

Nymphs will attach to mice, chipmunks, birds and other small

Continued on page 28

The nymphal stage of the blacklegged tick -- shown here on a person’s hand -- is so small that it easily could go undetected until it has already transmitted Lyme disease.

Image: Joyce Sakamoto

Remain Independent SAFER AND STRONGER Are you or a loved one concerned about remaining independent at home after experiencing problems with mobility and performing daily activities?

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All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.

21

The Valley, July 2017

Modern Energy and Alternative Heating with Curt Bierly Fuels to Heat your Home, Church or Business

To save operating cost, do you plan to replace or supplement your current heating system before Winter 2017/2018? What fuel will you choose to power the new system? There are numerous possibilities including heating/ fuel oil, natural gas, electricity, propane, coal, wood, solar and wood pellets.

When replacing a Hot Water or Steam Central Heating System to save operating cost, many of our customers are switching from fuel oil (Oil) to natural gas (Nat Gas) or propane. If they have an oil hot water boiler they might choose a high efficiency (95%) Nat Gas or propane hot water condensing boiler. Although hot water heat is tough to beat for

comfort during those cold winter months, it has the disadvantages of not providing air conditioning (AC) in the summer; therefore, another option is to keep the present oil system as a backup and install a ducted or ductless heat pump/air conditioning system to help lower the heating cost in the winter and provide AC during those hot summer months. This is a very good option if you have an oil steam boiler as the efficiency of a replacement oil steam unit will only be in the 80% to 85% range, and unless you go to the expense of converting the steam system to hot water you will continue to incur the inherent inefficiencies of steam heat.

Two examples come to mind

both being churches. Church #1 had two large hot water boilers one powered by oil and one powered by natural gas. We replaced the two large boilers with four high efficiency (95%) condensing Nat Gas boilers. The payoff was an impressive 5 to 7 years.

Church #2 has an oil steam boiler and an oil hot water boiler. Their primary focus was air conditioning, but they also wanted to save money on their annual oil bill.

Their answer was the installation of ductless heat pumps. Their payoff will be longer but they didn’t have the financial resources available to convert the steam system to hot water and to replace the oil units with high efficiency propane condensing boilers (Nat Gas was not available).

For a complete replacement of a warm air central heating system, to save operating cost, many of our customers are switching from oil to natural gas, propane or electric. Since a warm air system supports both heating and cooling there are more solutions and they are simpler and less costly. If you are not interested in AC, your oil furnace is older and you want to save operating costs, you can replace the oil furnace (80% to 85% efficiency) with a Nat Gas or propane furnace (95% efficiency).

If you currently have only an oil

furnace (no AC) and the unit is in good condition, you can choose to keep the oil furnace as a backup and add a heat pump which will save lots of oil and provide AC in the summer. It is important to note this option will not give you the highest heat pump efficiencies because the oil furnace will most likely not have a variable speed blower. If you want to eliminate the oil unit you can replace it with a heat pump with a variable speed air handler and an electric, Nat Gas or propane backup. Lots of good stuff out there to save you lots of money on operating costs!!

Another plus for natural gas or propane versus #2 heating oil is the reduced cost of maintenance.

If you have a warm air oil furnace or a hot water oil boiler, you need to have it serviced yearly. Gas units don’t require yearly service.

We suggest every 5 years.

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

Trane XV 95 Furnace

Engineering and is the chair of the Penn College HVAC Advisory Board. You can contact him at 814-349-3000 or cbierly@bierlygroup.com. a

1130 W. 4TH ST., LEWISTOWN, PA

The Truth Has No Agenda

The Valley, July 2017

22

The Mifflin County Library Serving the community for 175 years, check it out!

What is the best thing about the library? Well, that depends on who you are. Do you need to use a computer to check your e-mail or read the Lewistown Sentinel for that one article? How about checking out a couple magazines to pass time while waiting for an appointment? What about finding that book that everyone is talking about or read a favorite book from your childhood? Do you have bored children who need something to do? What if you need the answer to a burning question?

The best thing about the library depends on your need at that moment, so check it out.

Both Lewistown and Kish branches of the Mifflin County Library have public computers with printing options. These computers have internet access, Microsoft Office, LibreOffice, and ports for flash drives. Maybe you just need access for the day to type a document or check your mail. Did you have to rethink your budget and your internet had to go? Perhaps you have a family member visiting from out of town and you don’t have a computer for them to use. Come to the library and check it out.

Speaking of cutting expenses, did you make the unfortunate decision to give up your Sentinel subscription? We get the daily paper here along with the Centre Daily Times. Sometimes you may have to wait until another patron has finished, but that gives you the opportunity to see what else we have. When was the last time you read People magazine or Readers Digest? We have over 65 different magazine titles to choose from. Come to the library and check it out.

Every now and then, there is that one book that everyone is talking about. You see it on the talk shows or read about it in the paper. Where are you going to find it? You guessed it, the library.

Are your kids old enough to read that one book that changed your

life as a child, or maybe it was a book that you read so many times the book fell apart. Get to the library and check it out.

Wow, do we have activities for kids to do! Not only do we have a room full of books, but we have STEM activities, such as magna-blocks, connective blocks, and many more available every day for free play. The Summer Reading Program has begun, so everybody can receive prizes just for reading, children have designated prizes and teens and adults receive entries for available prizes. Every Saturday, the LEGOs are out all day for anyone to use their imagination to build something great and we will even put the creation on display. Not to mention all the great additional programs the Children’s Department runs during the summer. Not only that, we have some amazing programs for adults as well. So come in and check it out.

How about that burning question? You just have to know the answer or it has been driving you mad trying to remember that answer. Well you could try to find it yourself or you can get the right one. To quote Neil Gaiman, “Google can bring you back 100,000 answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one.”

So if you want to get the right answer, make your way to the library and check it out.

So now to answer that question, “What is the best thing about the library?” Now we know that answer is really…EVERYTHING. There is only one thing to do now. Head to the library and check it out.

Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life.

–Sidney Sheldon

Respectfully submitted by Marsha Shilling a

Annual Clean-ups Scheduled

This year’s PACleanWays of Mifflin County (PACW) River Cleanup date will be from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm on August 5th.

It will be held at the Lewistown boat ramp near Victory Park.

Volunteers will be cleaning the area of river between Lowes and the Lewistown Borough boat ramp. Anyone with boats will be meeting at Bylers Campground at 7:30 am so that they can be in the water by 8:00 am. Volunteers are also needed to pull the tires and trash from the boats and also to load them into a dumpster or a waiting tractor trailer to be taken and properly disposed of. RSVP to Pam Sechrist at 717-8996701 or contact me by email at pammiff@verizon.net. Gloves, drinks, t-shirts and lunch will be provided. Kayakers, canoers, boaters, and anyone who loves the river are welcome. Please be sure to wear old sneakers or shoes for safety reasons in the water.

Keep Huntingdon County Beautiful will be holding their cleanup on Sunday, August 27 9 am-4 pm, meeting at the Petersburg Fire Hall for the shuttle.

They will be cleaning about a six-mile section, starting at the Little Juniata River and proceeding down river to the Warriors Ridge Dam (Petersburg Dam).

Free shuttle, lunch, t-shirts, and ice cream will be provided. RSVP To Stacia-Fe Gillen: srgillen@ gmail.com or call (814) 627-1626.

Motorized boaters needed and kayakers and canoers are also welcome.

Keep Perry County Beautiful will be holding their cleanup on Wednesday, August 2nd. Volunteers will meet at the Greenwood Boat Access/Pitman’s Campground site between 8:30-9:00 am. If you have your own boat, you are welcome to bring it. We can provide a shuttle for you. For those that don’t, we will have six canoes on loan from West Perry High School to use. Please remember to wear close-toed shoes for safety purposes. KPCB will be providing work gloves as well, but you may bring your own if you like. KPCB will be providing

lunch, but please come prepared with a water bottle of your own to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Contact Kristi Smith at ksmith@ perryco.org before July 28th if you plan to attend.

I do not have Juniata County’s information at this time; they are still working on it. You can go on line to www.keeppabeautiful. org to find their information.

PACW of Mifflin County did their first river cleanup in August 2009 in McVeytown at the area where Musser Run enters into the Juniata River. 111 tires and an old metal bath tub were pulled out of the river. There were 22 volunteers working 4 hours equaling $1,660.50 of in-kind volunteer wages for 4 hours. We then went to Jacks Creek and worked five Saturdays to clear up an area that had a little over 2100 tires. Between the two sites, we disposed of five tractor trailer loads of tires.

In 2012, we had three groups cleaning up. PACW did the area around Victory Park and across the river to the bridge and all along the boat ramp area. Granville Fire Company did the area near the Granville Boat Ramp.

The Bryan Pollock camp did from the Beacon Lodge Blind Camp to the Newton Hamilton Boat Ramp. In all, nearly 15 miles of river were cleaned that day. There were 122 tires collected, 38 bags of trash, 4 appliances, and 25 lbs of construction and demolition waste. There were 36 volunteers working a total of 222 hours and equaling $5,055.28 of in-kind donations.

In 2013, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin and Perry County affiliates of KEEP PA Beautiful started a four county initiative the month of August to do a cleanup in each county. Since 2013, the four counties have held organized events to remove and properly dispose or recycle trash and discarded tires from the bed and banks of the Juniata River in these four counties.

These events have been supported by local volunteers and businesses and partially paid for by grants secured and administered by the Mifflin County Conservation Dis-

All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.

trict from the Foundation for PA Watersheds and the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies.

The response of the local communities and the results of the cleanups have been nothing short of outstanding.

The results for 2013-14 were as follows: Eight events held in four counties with 264 volunteers contributing 1,364 hours; 32.3 tons of trash removed, including 1,227 discarded tires; and 9.5 miles of river cleaned up. A total of $30,838 of in-kind match and services from local volunteers, businesses, and organizations was contributed towards the project.

The 2015-16 Juniata River Clean-up combined totals from seven events over the two year period were as follows: 242 volunteers contributing 1,212 volunteer hours, 33.33 tons of trash removed and properly disposed or recycled from the bed and banks of 17.41 miles of the river, including 1,221 discarded tires, and total project costs of $42,496.71, which included $33,496.71 of in-kind and cash donations.

We would like to extend our thanks to Dan Dunmire and Justin Kozak of the Mifflin County Conservation District for the support they have provided securing grant money for this project. We could not have done it otherwise.

Also, we would like to thank all the volunteers and business for their support in Mifflin County.

The businesses include: Impress Design, Downtown OIP, Kish Valley Farms, Granville River Rescue Fire Company, City Hook and Ladder River Rescue Fire Company, MCIDC, Steve Byler and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Greensburg.

Upcoming events for PACW of Mifflin County: • July 11th monthly meeting at Downtown OIP at 12 noon.

All four counties will be there.

• September 16th Annual Tire Recycle at the Lewistown Borough Refuse Yard on Washington Avenue 8:00 am to 12:00 pm.

Pam Sechrist, Affiliate Coordinator

23

The Valley, July 2017

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The Truth Has No Agenda

The Valley, July 2017

24

Is Permaculture Ugly?

A question that frequently gets asked about permaculture landscapes is some version of “Are they always ugly?” Putting aside the entire “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” concept, this isn’t easy to answer. Are they ugly? Maybe a better question is: What is your goal?

If you are someone who prefers form over function and you crave a lawn similar to your neighbors, you might find many permaculture landscapes unattractive. On the other hand, people who value productivity and purpose tend to overlook some of the shaggy edges that can be associated with permaculture.

This isn’t to say that all permaculture gardens are overgrown messes of weeds, though. Alhough I’ve seen many that are, it isn’t advisable. That is just as much for

aesthetics as it is for productivity, too.

I mentioned in the observing soils article that the landscapes in our temperate climate are always working towards the old-growth forest phase of ecological succession. On one end, there is disturbed, bare ground. On the other is the dense old-growth forest. Depending on what stage of the process you are, different species of plants will thrive.

If you are stopping it right after the bare ground phase, you will have weedy annuals and some perennials which stabilize the soil and allow the next phase of plant species to come in and take over.

Whenever we garden or farm, we are essentially fighting an ongoing battle to keep our landscape in a particular succession phase. It’s like we are hitting the pause but-

ton on the habitat cycle.

What does this mean for aesthetics? Well, permaculture gardens and traditional gardens are typically “paused” in different stages of ecological succession.

For example, while many traditional gardens fight continuously to keep bare soil in their veggie patches, permaculturists look at the ongoing battle and recognize that exposed soil is an empty niche. One thing we know about ecology is that where there is an empty niche, something will come to fill it. Rather than fighting encroaching lawn from our garden rows, we will fill that niche with a beneficial ground cover or at the very least, deep mulch which will feed our soil.

Remember when I said there are different degrees of permaculture and different levels of implementation? Well, there should be even within most permaculture

landscapes, too. A good design uses permaculture zones to determine where important features of the landscape should be located and just how wild a particular area should be. And yes, wild and semi-wild areas are encouragedif there is the space- to create habitat. On small plots of land and in neighborhoods where aesthetics are important, a zone 4 (semiwild) or zone 5 (wild) might not be possible.

It has been my experience that when people ask if permaculture is “ugly,” they have usually seen landscapes with either one of two scenarios happening. The first is a landscape where the permaculturist is attempting a zone 4 or 5 but the succession has not yet gotten past the first few years. This is called re-wilding, and to be honest, it is ugly to me, too, at least until it gets into some later succession stages. It has a

All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.

great benefit to local ecosystems, though, and so it’s worth it when possible.

The second scenario is usually when an inexperienced permaculturist attempts to use a ground cover as their living mulch without realizing that even living mulches need weeded to keep things tidy and keep biodiversity intact. In time, these plots usually are completely overtaken by perennial grasses, most of which are not native to our area.

There are, of course, plenty of people who think they are practicing permaculture just by embracing weeds and not mowing their lawns. (I’m pretty sure some of my neighbors might wonder if that’s us sometimes, too.) However, those landscapes aren’t really permaculture. They are not being thoughtfully designed and if left too long, their intended plants will eventually be choked out, meaning they will no longer be obtaining a yield and biodiversity will suffer- all principles of permaculture design. I think we can all agree that a plot full of noxious weeds isn’t pretty.

So, are permaculture landscapes ugly? I suppose the jury’s still out on that one, but I do know they can be productive, and that’s all that matters to me. a

25

The Valley, July 2017

Spectacular Grilling!

Greetings of Love sent from Nittany Valley.

Such an awesome cool morning as we hurry and scurry around trying to get our last things done.

We have church services here and you all know it has to be spic and span, all-a-shining, ha!

I was in the process of making the snitz pies for church when I thought of this letter.

Anyway, I guess I will write about our friend from Missouri.

They adopted two little boys as the mom was a drug user and now they are 6 and 7 years old.

Suddenly they were working with ADD, ADHD and Hyper active boys. They took them to a specialist and she wanted to put them on anti depressants! The parents were not ready to see the boys on medication that young.

They were praying for a solution and the mom picked up a

newsletter type of magazine from the Amish and Mennonites. Here was an ad of Brain Vitality, Body Shield, and Fucoydon that was helping children with ADD and ADHD. Wow, God is so amazing with his timing! They called another friend and said we need help with the boys, what shall we do? She helped them with placing an order of those products.

It has been two weeks now that they have been using it and the mom said they have noticed a difference in the 7 year old. He was always very negative about everything and so one evening at the dinner table he just looks at mom and dad, then says, “I just want you to know that I love you mom and dad!” Wow, what a tear jerker for the parents.

To some people that might not be really anything. But to the families that have children that

struggle, they know what it feels like. To see a ray of hope and sunshine in a child’s eye is very special.

If you do have a child that struggles, please look at what they are doing.

Brain Vitality 2 a day Body Shield 1 a day Fucoydon morning and evening 1 oz. ezrapeachey.mysisel.com (814)-933-7012

With these products families lives have been changed with hope, love, and joy!

God Bless, see you all in August.

Anna Peachey a

The Truth Has No Agenda

Himalayan salt blocks are the boldest new idea in cooking since the matchstick! The non-stick pan, the induction range, and sous-vide immersion circulatory are certainly amazing examples of modern cooking technology.

But in the grand scheme of things, they are merely improvements in convenience, efficiency, and technique. From the first stone griddle to pans sculpted from clay to skillets hammered from copper, virtually every technology for cooking ever invented is predicated on the belief that food is separate from the vessel that cooks it. Salt blocks are an imaginative leap into a bold, bright, world where the things we cook and the things we cook them on, dance gracefully together.

Salt blocks can cook, cure, cool, freeze, carmelize, brown, and show off food while making it more digestible and flavorful. The salts in a Himalayan salt block react

differently with food depending on the moisture, fat, sugar, starch, and protein content of the food, the temperature of the salt, and the length of time the food is in contact with the salt.

Himalayan salt can range in color from perfectly clear to mellow amber- yellow to meaty red and to silver blue. The colors are allopathic, meaning they come from various trace minerals trapped in the salt crystal

Continued on page 30

The Valley, July 2017

26

Folks, there is serious Hanky Panky to report on this month, and it’s not just in Gregg Township!

You may have heard that police dashcam is a public record now in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled on this issue on June 20th, more than three years after my initial request for dashcam footage. Yes, that is my case. Our lawmakers have been working hard on a bill that will overturn this ruling. By the time you read this newspaper, it might be too late. This bill (SB 560) exempts police video from the Right-to-Know Law, forcing citizens to appeal denials in court on their own dime, rather than appeal to the Office of Open Records. The OOR makes the agency prove why records are exempt from disclosure. This action by our lawmakers proves they want to keep us from obtaining these records.

Meanwhile in Gregg Township… Casey Grove went to the Court of Common Pleas on June 15th seeking enforcement of a court order the township did not

comply with. Gregg Township was given 30 days to turn over audio recordings Casey requested in October. We knew they had destroyed the controversial recording of the October 20th meeting right after they increased property taxes by 40%. We were sure they did so after the Right-to-Know request was put in for the recordings, but could not prove it until now.

At the hearing, Gregg Township’s Solicitor asked for seven days to submit additional documents. In one of the documents the Township submitted, the Secretary attests, “when I received Mr. Grove’s requests, two recordings of the supervisors’ meetings were in my possession”...”a special meeting on codification issues held on October 17, 2016, and a regular meeting held on October 20, 2016.” Both of those recordings are gone now. It is a proven fact that Gregg Township destroyed multiple public records after a legal request and during an appeal.

The Roadmaster who recently

quit is now making money off of the township as a contractor.

He submitted a quote for a floor replacement and won the job.

His quote was one of only two quotes they obtained, and his was submitted second. That makes it seem like he had inside information, and the quote accepted by the township supports that theory. Part of his quote includes work subcontracted from another company. I confirmed this with Supervisor/Building Manager/ Assistant Secretary Doug Bierly by phone. The really weird thing is, the subcontractor’s quote was sent to Doug Bierly - not the old Roadmaster who won the bid.

The quotes were presented to the board at the last meeting by the Old Gregg School Advisory Board President, who is also running for Supervisor. When Supervisor Charles Stover asked why they did not have more than two quotes, she said they weren’t legally required to get more quotes.

Speaking of legal requirements, take a look at Section 1103(g) of the Ethics Act: “No former public official or public employee shall represent a person, with promised or actual compensation, on any matter before the governmental body with which he has been associated for one year after he leaves that body.”

The latest news is that the big music festival planned in Gregg Township has been cancelled.

The Supervisors recently passed an Amusement Tax, counting on money from the festival to fund upcoming road projects.

Will there have to be a third tax increase this year? You could call the Supervisors and ask, but

the Secretary took their phone numbers off the township website in April. Thankfully, we have our own website: www.greggtownshipunofficial.org

The next Board of Supervisors Meeting is at 6:30 on Thursday, July 13th at the Old Gregg School. “Be there or be square!” a

Editor’s Corner from page 2

who used to write for us, was the guy who got fed up with technology and destroyed his computer and shot his TV? He was a pretty popular guy amongst the Amish.

Well as luck would have it, the settlement that they are starting is only 10 miles from Rick’s homestead. He has already made plans for helping his new friends and neighbahs, as they say in Maine.

Last message I got from him said he was headed over to meet Issac, the first of the new movers. Enjoy Rick!

I hope everyone took some time on Independence Day to reflect on the sacrifices that our forefathers made so that this great experiment could take hold and form our great country. The people that make the engine run are those who work, especially our advertisers, who keep this paper published, think of them first when you need a service or item.

Let them know you appreciate their efforts to keep us going. a

price. Formerly Green Lane Store operated by Eli Hostetler, Jesse and Rachel Hostetler purchased the store back a couple months ago, as Eli is headed to Maine in the very near future. So now when you are coming to shop at the Farm Store for produce at Moses’ Hostetler’s Naturals, you will be also able to stock up on bulk food, supplements, soap and more at the new Store on Stage Road. Although sad to see some of my Amish friends leaving the area, I know they will be close by when I get back to NH. Eli and son John have been busy clearing land and getting ready for more families to join them. This group will be the first White Toppers up in New England, as I believe the other settlements in Maine and Vermont are Black Toppers and Gray Toppers. I know another guy that is happy about them moving to Maine—remember “No Manors Homestead”? My friend Rick

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The Valley, July 2017

Mail Pouch Books

by Carleen B. Grossman FLIGHT OF DREAMS

By Ariel Lawhon Copyright 2016 336 pages Hardcover

This is a well researched and well written historical fiction about the last flight, in 1937, of the Hindenburg [a large German passenger carrying rigid airship often called dirigibles or zeppelins]. The story as told by the author uses her own beliefs about what could have happened to

“The Mummy” is the first official entry in the “Dark Universe,” a franchise where Universal aims to revive its classic movie monsters and have them mingle. Think of it as a variation on the Marvel and DC Extended

cause it to explode while attempting to land at Lakehurst, New Jersey. The author’s note at the end of the book explains some of what is fact, what is embellished, and also provides several websites used for sources in writing the book. She has an intriguing style of writing and a believable theory about why the zeppelin exploded.

Her story is told through various short chapters based on the lives of certain “actual” passengers and crew members—those of a stewardess, a navigator, a cabin boy, a journalist and a mysterious American. Their story is told in a gripping, charming, romantic and very believable manner.

You will journey on this trans-Atlantic adventure and become familiar with some of the characters as they interact with one another. You will find yourself becoming very fond of the characters as you follow them into disaster and you will even briefly look into some of the survivors lives as they continue their journeys afterward.

I learned much from this

Universes. I have to wonder if The Mummy as a character is the best entry point for this series.

Isn’t The Mummy kind of low-tier for this big of a role? Probably the only reason we’re getting The Mummy instead of power players like Dracula or Frankenstein’s Monster is that “Dracula Untold” and “Victor Frankenstein” flopped so badly. “The Mummy” is going to flop too, all the more devastating to Universal now that it “counts.”

Tom Cruise stars as Nick Morton, a scavenger who steals ancient artifacts and sells them on the black market. The role was probably pitched to Cruise as Indiana Jones with Hans Solo’s values. He and his partner Chris Vail (Jake Johnson) follow a map stolen from scientist Jenny Halsey (Annabelle Wallis) to Iraq, where they find the tomb of mummified

story—facts such as these were woven into the novel: • The physical layout of the Hindenburg air ship • Only 36 of the 97 passengers and crew on board died • The Nazis were very much part of the Hindenburg operations and even had their swastika painted on the fin tails of the air ship • Zeppelins were highly functional engineering marvels at that time

I was totally along for this ride! The character development added to the realism of the story, and at the end of the book I wanted to stay with the surviving characters as their stories continued. a

princess Ahmanet (Sofia Boutella). Just their luck, Ahmanet was the most evil princess in all of ancient Egypt, she was mummified and hidden for good reason, and now that she’s been freed she can unleash her evil upon the world.

You can probably guess what the story is going to entail. Nick is cursed. Vail is enslaved and forced to do Ahmanet’s bidding. Everybody chases after magical artifacts that can break the curse. Nick and Jenny become romantically attached. All the hocus pocus is confusing and we’re disinterested by the time we get to the finale, where there’s loads of bad CGI. Oh, and there’s a detour involving a doctor (Russell Crowe) who is partially a monster himself. The non-monster part of him wants to kill Nick for good reasons, the monster wants to merely maim Nick for no good reason. So…

The Truth Has No Agenda

human nature is a rich dichotomy?

Action-wise, the only memorable sequences are a plane crash that plays with gravity, some fun kills on zombie minions, and a mean punch from Ahmanet (she’s evil, but the audience will still be cheering for the Girl Power).

The humor is mostly terrible; this movie’s idea of comedy is Nick engaging in some clearly-rehearsed verbal hustling and a man running into a ladies’ restroom.

I laughed maybe once or twice at characters frozen in shock at unbelievable situations.

As for the performances, Cruise and Crowe are fun in some of their crazier moments, but this isn’t exactly a career high for either of them. I’m told I’m sup-

posed to dislike Annabelle Wallis for being stiff, but I thought she was fine in her stock role. Sofia Boutella gets to do little more than snarl, sometimes maliciously, sometimes amorously. This is a shame because I think she could have a major presence if the role was better-written. Then there’s Jake Johnson. His might be the single most annoying performance of 2017. Everything out of his mouth is whiny, pessimistic, or unproductive. I’ve never been happier to see a “good” character get shot three times in a movie, and never more displeased with a resurrection.

The difference between the

Continued on page 19

The Valley, July 2017

28

Life in the East End

by Rebecca Harrop

As I am writing this article we are receiving some much needed rain. After last year’s dry summer, we need it. However, I can do without the humidity. I love summer weather, but when the humidity gets high, it is so sticky in the barn. The Robotic barn isn’t so bad because it has those huge ceiling fans. They keep the air moving, which goes a long way to helping cool it, at least a little.

The field corn is sure benefitting from the humidity. It is really growing now. The humidity makes it a little harder to dry hay and when it’s time to combine the wheat, it can be a little tricky.

I sure hope we have a good crop year this year. The last couple of years haven’t been that great for our area so we are looking for a better year.

Our garden is doing pretty well now. Mom planted some sweet potatoes early, but we had a couple heavy frosts so we lost them. She was going to get more plants, but we couldn’t find anymore, so no sweet potatoes this year. I don’t like them anyway so I don’t mind. We were also trying to decide what to do about onions.

We always plant them, but there is a fly that lays eggs in the soil and little worms hatch out and crawl behind the leaf sheath and enter the bulb, and feed on the roots, stem, and developing bulb.

We’ve heard several people had to replant onions. Mom Googled it and for anyone who may be having a problem, here is what she found. The article did say it is more of a problem in eastern counties, but it is also showing up closer to us.

“The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture says the Allium Leafminer— a tiny fly whose larvae infect leeks, onions, garlic, chives, shallots and green onions — was first discovered in December on an organic farm in Lancaster County and has since been identified on two farms in Lehigh County. Adult leafminers resemble tiny gray or black flies with a distinctive yellow or orange patch on the top and front and yellow on the side of the abdomen. The eggs are white and slightly curved. The larvae are white, cream or yellowish and up to 8 millimeters long. The adults appear around March. The

females lay eggs on the base of stems, and emerging larvae mine downwards, feeding on the bulbs.

Damage caused by feeding and mining results in softening of the plant parts and increased susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections. The leaves of infected plants appear wavy, curled and distorted with a row of white dots.

Experts recommend covering onion, chives and garlic plants in February, before the emergence of adults, and keeping the plants covered during spring emergence to minimize crop exposure. Delaying planting until late May for fall allium crops, such as leeks, may also reduce infestation rates.”

We decided to wait until the middle of June to plant the onions and see if we can avoid the pest.

Other than that, the garden is looking good. Of course the weed battle is ongoing. I got my dahlias and lilies planted. The dahlias are really growing. I’m excited to see if the new dahlias (different colors) do as well as the ones I already have. I’m hoping I have some ready in time to show in the Open Show at the Mifflin County Youth Fair.

To all you gardeners out there, I hope you all will consider entering some of your vegetables and flowers in the Open Show.

The Open Show is a great opportunity to showcase your best garden offerings and win some prizes. You can enter baked and canned goods, crafts, needlework, photos, antiques, and many other items.

There are opportunities for our farmers to enter their hay and grains and beekeepers to enter honey and wax items. Wool and evergreens can be entered as well.

You can get information on what can be entered by visiting our Facebook page, Mifflin County Youth Fair and Open Show, or emailing openshowmifflinco@ gmail.com.

The Open Show is solely supported by the Benefit Auction held the Saturday of Fair which is Aug. 12th at 6:00 pm this year. The proceeds from the Benefit Auction are split between the Open Show and Fair Board to provide the Fair opportunities to both 4-H, FFA, and the general public. Please come out and support the Benefit Auction. If you want to make a donation to the Auction you can

do that also by contacting an Open Show committee person or by emailing the above email address.

We are especially excited for this year’s Fair because we are initiating a “Friend of Fair” and “Jr. Fair Person” award this year.

The awards will be presented during the Opening Program Aug. 7th at 6:00 pm. I hope you will come out and join our Opening Program festivities. I will have the schedule ready for you next month.

That’s all from the East End for now! a

Ticks and Lyme Disease from page 20

animals. Adults typically attach to white-tailed deer or other large mammals. While awaiting a suitable host, the ticks usually are found on leaf litter or low branches in brushy, wooded areas.

“The larval and nymphal stages of the tick are no bigger than a pinhead,” Jacobs said.

“Adult ticks are slightly larger.

Research in the eastern United States has shown that ticks most often transmit Lyme disease to humans during the nymphal stages.

Blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, often carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

Image: Penn State

That’s probably because nymphs are so small they go unnoticed on a person’s body, meaning they typically have more time to feed and transmit the infection before they are detected.”

Jacobs recommends avoiding tick-infested areas such as woods with a high deer population, especially in May, June and July when the nymphs are active. And he urges those who do go afield

All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.

to take the following precautions when they are going to be in brushy areas: — Wear light-colored clothing so that ticks can be spotted more easily.

— Spray insect repellent containing DEET on clothes and on exposed skin other than the face, or

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The Valley, July 2017

The Truth Has No Agenda

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The Valley, July 2017

30 Golden Nugget, Dr. Joseph Kauffman from page 17

natural disease, because their first “learned response” was incorrect.

Furthermore, they are still not sure “what” the surrogate marker actually is for pertussis.

There is similar information on measles, the other disease that has been portrayed by the media as a danger to the population due to non-vaccinated children. But this information is not accurate, nor is measles a dangerous disease in people who have sufficient vitamin A. Damien pointed out that the vaccinated are 5-8 times more susceptible to asymptomatic infection than the non-vaccinated.

How then, are the non-vaccinated solely responsible for the recent outbreaks in measles?

Many vaccines are said to be “attenuated” or modified-live and supposedly do not infect, but over the decades we have seen how those attenuated viruses mutate once they are in a human and can spread more virulent disease than what is being vaccinated for.

The oral polio vaccine in Nigeria today is a case in point. But this can happen with any attenuated viral vaccine.

The original Salk polio vac-

cines were supposed to be killed vaccines and yet they infected thousands of people, the household contacts and the community, killing and paralyzing over 200 people. This figure is thought to be a gross underestimate of the damage done.

It is not uncommon to see a child recently vaccinated for chicken pox who develops shingles or chicken pox. We see this often enough. I’ve also seen shingles vaccine (which has 14 times the amount of virus as the chickenpox vaccine) provoke shingles in an elderly woman days after the vaccine was given. And strange enough, it sent all the doctors taking care of her reading to see if shingles vaccines can cause shingles, because doctors know almost nothing about vaccines.

Here are things to consider when you hear of an outbreak of an infectious disease: “How many of the affected were fully vaccinated and how many people died or were hospitalized? Were the cases verified with laboratory tests or are the reports based on community doctor reports?”

Another question to bear in mind is, “Were the people hospitalized because the disease was really serious, or because the

Ticks and Lyme Disease from page 28 treat clothes — especially pants, socks and shoes — with permethrin, which kills ticks on contact.

— Thoroughly examine yourself for ticks when returning from the woods.

“Be especially vigilant near perimeter areas of tick habitat, such as the edge of woods and along paths and trails,” Sakamoto said. “Ticks can sense carbon dioxide, heat, vibration and chemical cues left by other ticks, and there’s evidence that they may be more concentrated in areas where they’re more likely to encounter potential hosts.”

Also, know the signs of Lyme disease and see your doctor if symptoms develop, Jacobs said.

“If a tick is found attached to a person, it should be removed by

Cave Echoes from page 25 matrix; iron, magnesium, copper, potassium, and dozens for others.

Himalayan salt blocks have very little porosity, and because they have virtually no residual moisture, they can safely be heated or chilled.

This being summer and grilling time, a Himalayan salt block might be the best thing. Salt

Image: Joyce Sakamoto

carefully grasping the tick with tweezers as close to the skin as possible and pulling straight back blocks may not be the most hightech piece of equipment in your kitchen, but they can transform food unlike anything else!

These and many other AUTHENTIC salt lamps are available at Simply Health Salt Spa. Check our website at www. simplyhealth-calm.com for all of our many services and July spa specials. Want to schedule a “Spa

family didn’t know how to deal with it, and responded to a medical professional hard-wired to believe everyone with that disease can die?” In other words, “Was the admission to hospital really necessary?”

Deaths from these terrible diseases that once plagued humanity will return to pre-vaccine levels, if we do not keep up the vaccines. We can see from the above graph that the mortality of these diseases was drastically declining prior to vaccination. But in addition, you might want to know the more rational explanation for deadly disease decline in modern times. It’s not vaccination. It has been shown to be hygiene in this article: ‘What is the evidence for a causal link between hygiene and infections?’

The authors offer the epidemiological evidence between hygiene practices and infections.

Here is something else you may not have been informed of:

All the reduction even for TB in USA was achieved BEFORE any vaccines of any sort were offered, and most of the reductions for all diseases, were achieved before antibiotics became commercially available in about 1950 as with a slow, steady force.

Avoid crushing the tick’s body.”

He said a tick can be identified by placing it in a small vial filled with rubbing alcohol and taking it to a county office of Penn State Extension.

To learn more about blacklegged ticks and Lyme disease, visit the Penn State Entomology Department’s website. a

well. So what did that? It wasn’t vaccines. Yet all the countries that used the BCG vaccine as front line “protection” saw an identical decline to the one which we saw in the USA using no TB vaccine.

If you compare graphs for death decline in diphtheria and scarlet fever, they are almost identical. Yet there never was a widely used vaccine for scarlet fever. Scarlet fever and its resulting complication, rheumatic fever – has clearly been shown in the medical literature, to be nutritionally driven. This is why if you do find someone who says they had scarlet fever, it is primarily in more impoverished, war-torn, hungry and poverty stricken countries. In developed countries where rheumatic fever is an issue, it’s primarily seen in the less educated groups, whose nutritional understanding is limited, or their access to good food is limited.

Yet under-educated people in stable social environments, without much money, who understand and follow effective nutritional pathways, will be on the scale of low susceptibility because it really is the nutrition and well-being, which counts. It just so happens that low education, homelessness and low money often co-exist.

The reason it’s a significant problem in the less educated, less nourished groups where poverty is rampant, is because poor nutrition, historically correlated with higher rheumatic fever. All of us carry Strep A regularly, but the wellfed amongst us don’t get scarlet fever, let alone its complication, rheumatic fever.

This point is well studied enough to lay aside any concern over whether or not correlation implies causation.

Historically, in the case of infectious diseases, good nutrition has been and still is a major preventive factor, which has led to enormous declines of morbidity and mortality from most infectious diseases.

Suzanne Humphries, MD contact: drsuzannehumphries@ gmail.com Website: DrSuzanne.net

I strongly encourage you to check out her website and study this for yourself.

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

“And I keep on fighting for the things I want Though I know that when you’re dead you can’t But I’d rather be a free man in my grave Than living as a puppet or a slave” Jimmy Cliff

Party”? Give us a call at 814-9547731

Wishing you a healthy spectacular summer! Don’t forget 45 minutes in a Himalayan salt room is great for all those summer allergies and achy muscles from possible overwork.

See you soon!

Ref: Salt Block Cooking by

Mark Bitterman a

All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.

31

The Valley, July 2017

Coffee aficionados often have to make a choice between easy but disdained drip coffee and the rewarding fuss of French press.

Get ahead of the coffee snob curve by checking out pour-over coffee, a Japanese method that’s gaining ground among caffeine fiends.

The first thing to know about Japanese-style pour-over coffee is that it’s not a weekend morning, heat-and-go method. It requires a special kind of kettle, a certain kind of carafe, good beans, and the patience to watch as small amounts of water work their way through the grounds. But the results, it is said, are very distinct.

The narrow spout produces a thin, precise stream, and the handle brings your hand into a naturally balanced position —instead of flooding the filter and letting it drip, you deliver a measured amount of water over a period of several minutes. It might

sound precious or tedious, but the control is enthralling. It’s like picking up a drafting pen after only writing with Magic Markers. More importantly, the coffee tastes different. The flavors can be distinctive and bright, even sweet.

A “bean” is really the fermented seed of a cherrylike shrub, and if coffee is roasted carefully and brewed correctly, you can taste the flower and the fruit.

The hand-pour method, on the other hand, allows you to control the speed of the pour (making it slower), giving the water more time to come in contact with the grounds and, therefore, making a richer and more flavorful brew.

Pour-over converts claim that each cup truly tastes different and starting to experiment with this method will allow you to truly learn about nuances in flavor. Last year in The New York Times, writer Oliver Strand mentioned that pour-over coffee is “so clean,

so round and fruity, that you can fully taste all those complex layers of flavor that are supposed to be lurking in the best single-origin and micro-lot beans.”

A year ago no one really cared about pour-over coffee.

Sure, a few baristas were talking about it, and maybe if you were really lucky you knew of an obscure espresso bar that actually served it to order. But most coffee shops just didn’t care about it – probably because it wasn’t as feasible a way of selling mass quantities of coffee inexpensively.

Fair enough.

Now things are different, now more and more cafés are jumping on the bandwagon, setting up a full-scale pour-over coffee bar with a well-trained barista happily pouring water into little hour glass funnels all day long.

The pour over coffee method is arguably the ‘cleanest’ and ‘purest’ way to make and drink coffee.

A sample of what the beginning of a pour-over looks like, it’s the first stage called the bloom.

The Truth Has No Agenda

From left to right: Becca Boyer and Managing Barista Rachel Spotts

There is no residue left in the cup, because the water is not dripped and is not fully immersed. 200 degree Fahrenheit water is poured into the cone, stirred briefly, and

moments later the finished product has entirely drained into the mug.

The first time you try pour-over

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The Valley, July 2017

All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.