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Serving Mifflin County and the surrounding area.
The Valley
Solar Solution
A free newspaper dedicated to agriculture, self-reliance, frugal living, and modern homesteading. Tomorrow’s Media - A Day Early
Volume 7, No. 7
The Valley, July 2016
Complimentary
For Old Gregg School Community Center
Old Gregg School Community Center’s Solar DHW Project by Curt Bierly
The Old Gregg School Community Center is located in Spring Mills, Pa and is a model to consider if you have an abandoned school building in your community and a bunch of community minded people that want to utilize it for the betterment of the community. Headed by the Gregg Township Supervisors and numerous committees, it has proven to be a financial success by not placing any burden on the local taxpayer for any associated building costs, yet providing a recreational facility for all to use for a very reasonable membership fee. Most of the “classrooms” are rented to individuals or organizations and that lease money is used to pay the bills and make improvements. They have utilized this success and a grant from the West Penn Sustainability Energy Fund to finance the latest improvement, which is the installation of a Domestic Hot Water (DHW) Solar System. It all started with the tenants not being satisfied with the time required to have hot water at the sink when they wanted to wash their hands or do dishes in the kitchen or take a shower after a
workout in the weight room or gymnasium. The first job was to install a DHW recirculation system like you would find in a Holiday Inn — i.e. instant hot water at the faucet. This was completed in the Summer of 2012
using a Navien High Efficiency Propane Fired Condensing Water Heater and an Alfa Laval Stainless Steel Heat Exchanger (see picture on page 21). Next, they wanted to consider a Hot Water Solar System
to reduce the amount of propane usage. An application was filed with Joel Morrison who directs the distribution of money from the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund. They received approval for the grant in early 2015
After the decision was made not to put the panels on the roof due to being able to replace the rubber fabric easily in the future, a plan was made to utilize the south wall as an anchor point for the platform. After engineers were brought in, a workable remedy presented itself.
Veritas vos Liberabit
and the system was completed in the fall of 2015. Ten Viessmann Solar Hot Water Panels were installed on the south wall of the gymnasium to capture the sun’s solar heat (see picture #2). The supervisors didn’t want them installed on the roof as it would make a rubber roof replacement more difficult so - although it cost more, it was decided to attach it to the south wall. A structural engineer was retained to work with the contractor to design a mounting system that could withstand the local wind and snow load. This was solved by installing “kickers” inside the gymnasium from the bottom of the panels to the steel beam holding the roof (see picture on page 21, right side). Next, a 410 gallon insulated hot water tank was installed in a room directly below the solar panels (see picture on page 21, middle). This tank was needed to store hot water heated by the sun, but not needed immediately. Two Alfa Laval Stainless Steel Heat Exchangers were used to transfer heat from the solar fluid to the tank water and from the tank water to the recirculation loop. A solar controller decides when to turn on the circulator pumps. The solar fluid temperature from the
Continued on page 21
The Valley, July 2016
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Editor’s Corner Wayne Stottlar History was made in a big way on June 23rd 2016. The United Kingdom declared its independence and grabbed back its sovereignty as a country with borders. I was delighted to be online that evening talking excitedly with friends in England. Reports were all over the place, and although every single friend I have over there favored leaving the EU, we were all trying to temper our excitement as it became more and more apparent that Brexit would succeed. Then about 11:26 pm, folks still awake in England (yes, this is a huge deal) started wildly celebrating announcing that Sky News was declaring the “Leave” side victorious. I couldn’t have been happier for my British friends. We talked for a while soaking up the excitement and watching people who were out of their minds with glee. Upon turn-
ing in, I decided to turn on the TV and see if anything was being reported in the U.S. I believe my mouth hit the floor at what I heard. The reporting was predicting economic doom and gloom, the world was going to end, and the 70+% of those voting were stupid. The reporting was horrible, but I still went to sleep with a smile and happiness in my heart for my British friends. The next morning I first talked to my partying friends in the UK, then turned on the TV to hear what the U.S. government controlled media had to say. Same deal, they were all dumbfounded—“how could this have happened?” Then it hit me, every single person or entity bashing this vote were either globalists or Socialists. This vote was nothing short of complete repudiation of Socialism and centralized, author-
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itarian, collectivists. Once again, a smile crossed my face, good people are starting to stand up. Finally, people are getting tired of being lied to by the government, the media, our elites, and their enforcers. Obama even tried to threaten the British people into voting “Remain.” Rightly so, the British were angry over this and I am sure our President sticking his nose where it didn’t belong was at least partially was responsible for the defeat of “Remain.” This is only the beginning. There are rumors of France, The Netherlands, Italy and others leaving as well, I hope they do. But make no mistake, this vote called Socialism out, and then punched it in the mouth. Good for you Free Britons! While this rise of “The People” is taking place, perhaps we here in the U.S. can throw off a very heavy shackle on our freedom. It is time for the Untied States to leave the United Nations and boot them as far off of our soil as II possible. The UN represents the same kind of un-elected authoritarian rule that Britain just threw out, by leaving the EU. The UN is a completely corrupt and anti-United States entity that we actually pay for the biggest part of its budget. In case you are unaware, the UN is constantly trying to shred our Consti-
Continued on page 16
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.
“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
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The Valley, July 2016
Back Talk by Dr. Joseph Kauffman
The Zeal of the Zika Just when you thought shrunken heads were only found at “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” museums, we now have the Zika! You know the disease spread by mosquitos much like the way malaria is spread, but in the Caribbean region. The story is that the Zika was causing babies in Brazil to be born with shrunken heads last October. They said that everybody who plans to travel to the Caribbean region or anywhere in the southern hemisphere should be aware of the Zika and may want to reconsider their plans. Seriously. I, of course, was skeptical. What’s this? Is this the new Ebola or Swine Flu? Remember the hysteria? Watch out….Ebola is coming. Better get your vaccine! Apparently, I’m not the only skeptic. People with better resources than me are on top of it: “10 shocking reasons why Zika virus fear is another fraudulent medical hoax and vaccine industry funding scam” Friday, June 03, 2016 by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger (NaturalNews) Think the Zika virus is responsible for all the cases of microcephaly in South America? Think again: There is no reliable scientific evidence linking the two. The developmental deformities are actually caused by exposure to toxic insecticide and larvicide chemicals, not Zika virus. But because Zika virus fear fits a convenient funding narrative for chemical giants and vaccine manufacturers, it is being played up by the corrupt, criminally-run CDC and the Obama administration to funnel billions of dollars into the hands of vaccine corporations while ignoring the real causes of microcephaly. Here are the top 10 reasons why the Zika virus fear mongering is a total scam: #1) The microcephaly cases (shrunken heads) in Brazil were caused by larvicide chemicals, not by Zika A group of doctors from South America are now saying the brain deformations the world
is witnessing are caused by the mass fumigation of low-income Brazilian people with a chemical larvicide, not by mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus. From the doctors at Red Universitaria de Ambiente y Salud (the Red University of Environment and Health): A dramatic increase of congenital malformations, especially microcephaly in newborns, was detected and quickly linked to the Zika virus by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. However, they fail to recognise that in the area where most sick persons live, a chemical larvicide producing malformations in mosquitoes has been applied for 18 months, and that this poison (pyroproxyfen) is applied by the State on drinking water used by the affected population. #2) Even according to the CDC, which is aggressively pushing false Zika fear, nearly all Zika infections are harmless, symptomless and require no hospitalization whatsoever From the CDC’s Zika page: Most people infected with Zika virus won’t even know they have the disease because they won’t have symptoms... The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika. For this reason, many people might not realize they have been infected. Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections. In other words, Zika infections are no big deal, and nearly everyone self-immunizes against Zika even after they have been infected. So much for the urgent fear for a new vaccine, eh? #3) The CDC fabricated the science linking Zika to microcephaly By the way, the CDC is totally fabricating its claim that all cases of microcephaly are caused by Zika virus. This proclamation by the CDC was based on complete fiction, just like everything else the CDC claims about Bird Flu, Swine Flu and even the number of people who die from influenza each year (the CDC
claims 35,000, but it’s a completely fabricated number). Remember, the CDC is a criminal organization tied to the financial interests of Big Pharma. It funds researchers like Poul Thorsen who had to flee the country and is now a fugitive from justice. Like all the other fraudsters at the CDC, he worked on vaccine “research” too. From this Natural News report: CDC researcher Poul Thorsen, who famously headed up the “Denmark Study” that many claim disproved any link between autism and vaccines, has been indicted in Atlanta by a federal grand jury on charges of wire fraud, money laundering and defrauding research institutions of grant money. Poul Thorson is a scientist who formerly worked for the CDC, and over the last several years, he oversaw millions of dollars in grant money that was used to conduct research to “prove” that vaccines have no link to autism. Dr. Thorson’s research papers include the famous “Danish Study” entitled Thimerosal and the occurrence of autism: negative ecological evidence from Danish population-based data. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pubmed/12949291) #4) Zika virus fear was just used by Congress to remove bans on other toxic pesticide chemicals that cause cancer and Alzheimer’s disease From this Natural News article: The House of Representatives voted Tuesday to loosen already weak pesticide regulations in a purported effort to combat the spread of the Zika virus. The latest version of the bill is called the Zika Control Act. They argue it will remove important protections instated by the Clean Water Act. If the legislation becomes law, pesticide applicators will be allowed to dump pesticides into bodies of water without a permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. They will not have to report the contamination, either. Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.) said that adding more pesticides to water would threaten pregnant women –
The Truth Has No Agenda
the same group the GOP claims to be protecting from Zika. In other words, the Zika virus hype is a conspiracy to legalize the dumping of more toxic chemicals into the environment by powerful chemical companies. #5) Zika virus hype was also invoked by Obama to funnel another $1.8 billion to the vaccine industry, claiming anyone who opposed the funding ‘opposed pregnant women’ It always comes down to money, doesn’t it? All the Zika hype and fear is being used to take more money from taxpayers and funnel it into the pockets of vaccine/pharma corporations. From Natural News: President Obama proposed to Congress that a total of $1.8 billion be dedicated to fighting Zika. This massive investment may be nothing more than tilting at windmills... #6) Zika virus fear has been used as a weapon of control to terrorize the people of the Americas by violating their private property Governments in South America are invoking the Zika virus to nullify private property rights. This is totalitarianism via medical hoax! The latest act of political terrorism on the illusory world stage is yet another alleged disease epidemic – this time the “Zika Virus,” which officials are warning (just like they did with Ebola) might turn into a global pandemic. And the martial law pandemonium has already begun in Brazil, where government officials have now declared that they can “legally” break and enter into people’s homes and private property, if it’s suspected that Zika-harboring mosquitoes might be living there. Reuters is reporting that Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has given the official green light to “authorized health officials” to violate personal property rights in order to address the alleged threat, which has been dubbed an “imminent danger to public health.” As long as a property is either abandoned or the owners are not present, government officials can literally break in and enter people’s homes without warrant or just cause. #7) Zika is just the latest viral hoax floated by governments... remember the great Bird Flu hoax that sold billions in vaccines? Spreading fear about viruses is so effective that the governments and health “authorities” of the world roll out the same scam every few years... and people fall
for it every time! Remember the great Swine Flu hoax? Also from Natural News in 2010: The great swine flu hoax of 2009 is now falling apart at the seams as one country after another unloads hundreds of millions of doses of unused swine flu vaccines. No informed person wants the injection anymore, and the entire fear-based campaign to promote the vaccines has now been exposed as outright quackery and propaganda. Even doctors are now calling the pandemic a complete hoax. As reported on Fox News, Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg, a leading health authority in Europe, says that drug companies ‘organized a “campaign of panic” to put pressure on the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a pandemic. He believes it is ‘one of the greatest medicine scandals of the century,’ and he has called for an inquiry.’ #8) Zika virus fear is being used to justify the release of genetically modified mosquitoes into the wild Not only does Zika fear allow governments to funnel money to vaccine companies and legalize more chemical insecticides; it also justifies their release of genetically modified mosquitoes into the wild (with unknown future consequences). It’s all part of the total destruction of the ecosystem that has been systematically planned and carried out by the globalist governments of the world. What you’re NOT being told is that the epicenter of the Zika virus spread is precisely where GM mosquitoes were released last year. Via this Natural News article: Oxitec, a company that calls itself “... a pioneer in controlling insects that spread disease and damage crops,” unveiled its GM mosquito farm in Brazil in July 2012. Its goal was to reduce Dengue fever, a disease which is spread by the Aedes mosquitoes, which also spread the Zika virus. Then, in 2015, these GM mosquitoes were released into the wild in Brazil. In July that same year, the release was declared a success by the company, who noted that they’d been able to control the Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads dengue fever, chikungunya ... and the Zika virus. However, in October, people in the general area where the mosquitoes were released began to experience illnesses related to the Zika virus at alarmingly fast rates.
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The Valley, July 2016
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Only Anti - GMO Hippies Grow Organic Corn, Right?
Wrong by Chris Bennett Farm Journal
Story reprinted courtesy of Pennsylvania Farmers Union. www.PAFarmersUnion.org facebook.com/PAFarmersUnion twitter.com/PAFarmersUnion
Hippies and anti-GMO zealots grow organic crops. Right? Wrong. Timothy Gertson kicks up dirt off Texas’ Gulf Coast, southwest of Houston in Wharton County. He’s a young 31, but Gertson is an old-school farmer with no time for ideology and no wish to curb his options. Field decisions across his 2,000 acres at G5 Farms are dictated by dollars, and in 2016, he’s found a profit window in organic corn. Making the Big Switch to Organic As grain prices tank, necessity is the mother of organic acreage for many producers. USDA’s 2014 Organic Survey showed $3.3 billion in total value of crops sold, a big jump from 2008’s $2 billion. Corn for grain had the fourth highest 2014 sales of any organic crop ($155 million), following lettuce, apples and grapes. Gertson is tapping an organic vein that shows scant signs of wilting. In 2014, several of Gertson’s neighboring producers planted organic rice, and he watched a hungry market gobble the harvest. But rice drinks copious amounts of water as a necessary means
of weed control, and Gertson’s organic interest was trumped by moisture concerns. Flood the rice and hold the flood, when water is already stretched thin? By July 2015, anemic commodity prices pushed Gertson to action and he looked first toward organic grain sorghum. Grain sorghum is a constant in his crop roster and his preferred row crop due to low inputs. (G5 Farms typically has 200 to 1,000 acres of grain sorghum.) But a drab $7.50 per organic bushel was the best price around and not shiny enough to entice a jump. Next stop: organic corn. Sounding out an offer of $10.50 per bushel, Gertson was all in. Coyote Creek Mill in Elgin, Texas, offered to park trailers on the turnrow and all Gertson had to do was fill them. On March 4-5, 2016, Gertson broke open bags of untreated, plain yellow corn. He planted Blue River Hybrids 70A50 across 220 acres of a 2,000-acre rented block of pastureland. The acreage is not only his initial foray into organics, it’s also the first corn of any type he’s ever grown. Prior to planting, he visited with several growers who had experience with BRH 70A50 to get a feel for yield expectation. “The potential is there for 80 bu. per acre and 100 bu. per acre with perfect conditions. Right now, I can make money at 30 bu. per acre and that’s my starting goal,” Gertson says. “That’s low, but I’m not shooting for the sky. I just want to learn this year.”
More Worried About Wild Pigs Than GMO Drift Gertson is concerned about drift from his other crops, but his corn is well buffered on three sides by pasture, and is fronted by a 100’ canal. The other side of the water rubs against a 30’ turnrow with conventional rice paddies along its edge. Another concern already causing major problems is Texas’ wild pig plague. Fresh Anemic commodity prices pushed Timothy corn is a drug for wild pigs, a Gertson, Wharton County, Texas, toward constant worry at G5 Farms. organic corn in 2016. © G5 Farms
The day after Gertson planted, pigs came out of the bottoms and hit the field like surgeons, picking out seed and moving methodically down the rows. It was a bitter lesson and forced an 80-acre replant. Gertson traps, shoots at night with thermal equipment, and periodically hires a helicopter crew to hunt pigs – but they always come back in numbers. His organic corn is dryland and won’t fight at the water trough with 1,450 acres of conventional rice. By far, rice carries the least risk on Gertson’s operation. It’s the most expensive crop to grow, but returns are far more secure. “Many rice farmers I know are already growing organic grain. Row crop farmers can’t understand organics at first, but they understand money,” Gertson explains. “I made this decision purely based on profit and it makes sense for my farm.” The majority of Gertson’s acreage is blackland clay, a heavy and hard to work soil that sticks to boots and makes a farmer taller. It can be too soft and give way or toughen to a concrete pan, but the payoff can produce big yields. Gertson’s organic corn acreage sits on sandier blackland, a soil recipe he hopes will be ideal. Seed and fertilizer should
be top expenses, according to Gertson. Seed cost $45 per acre, and he applied 3 tons of chicken manure at $75 per acre. “If it’s a good crop, I’ll spray organically derived Bt at $7 to $8 per acre and I’ll have to spray several times. Again, this is a learning experience for me.” Ideally, Gertson would like to rotate organic corn with a cover crop or winter wheat combination. (Mowed down as mulch in the spring and no-tilled into the mat to fight off weeds.) G5 Farms has gained full organic certification, but Gertson says the application process was lengthy and he was consistently frustrated with open-ended questions. He turned in 80 pages of paperwork to the Texas Department of Agriculture including forms, maps, and FSA records. “No question; it was a headache. I had to fill it out by hand and it sure seems like an antiquated system. You can certify through private entities, but I want to know every detail I’m signing up for. I don’t want to be on the hook for something I didn’t read.” Organic as a MarketDriven Decision Betsy Rakola, USDA organic policy advisor, says the health of the organic crop industry bodes well for producers. “Certifiers continue to receive more applications and we’ve heard that interest is doubling in organic farm tours. The market for organic products is strong and can be two to three, or even four times higher than conventional wholesale prices.” The future of the overall organic industry is a million-dollar question, but organic livestock feed, Rakola emphasizes, shows particularly strong projections for
continued growth. “Companies are searching for organic feed to meet their demand, so imports are very robust. Livestock feed is a big and growing market. Folks are thinking anywhere from a 12% to 15% jump over the next three years in retail sales.” Fifty miles to the southeast of Gertson in Matagorda County, Richard Beyer, 38, has been growing organic crops for four years. On a 3,000 acre operation, he has 900 acres of organic corn, rice and soybeans. In 2012, Beyer broke organic ground with corn and chased the premium. “I had land available and I was watching the demand for organics going up. My decision was totally market driven. Stay profitable and diversify.” Beyer aims for 40 bu. per acre yields on corn, and 20 bu. per acre yields on soybeans. Echoing Gertson’s operation, seed and fertilizer are Beyer’s biggest organic expenses. He plants Blue River Hybrids and fertilizes with mushroom compost a few weeks prior to planting. “Four years back, some farmers were skeptical about what I was doing. Since then, skepticism has turned to curiosity. They see grain is relatively easy to market because there are a bunch of buyers out there.” As for Gertson, he plans on increasing organic production to take advantage of a market he doesn’t want to ignore. “Many of my farming friends thought I was crazy to plant organic corn, but when they heard the price, the understanding was immediate. This was a 100% business decision. Row crop farmers may not understand organics at first, but they understand money.” a
Gertson planted 220 acres of organic corn at $10.50 per bushel, picked up on the turnrow. Image: Chris Bennett
“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
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The Valley, July 2016
Two Loaves, Two Families, Two Commandments, One Admonition and a Whole Lot of Yeast!
This month our congregation, Lev Y’shua Messianic Congregation will start running a quarterly advertisement here in The Valley newspaper. We are blessed to meet in Big Valley over the warm summer months and to celebrate many of the Lord’s Feast days here. While one of our members was raised Jewish, our congregation is currently composed primarily of Believers who have come out of the church. It’s interesting to note that as the Messianic or Hebrew Roots movement has grown, there is no one person who can be looked to as the originator of this movement. Unable to point to the likes of a John Wesley, Martin Luther, Menno Simons, Jacob Ammon, or an Albert Simpson, the Hebrew Roots movement appears to have no one person formulating its origin. It is
“spontaneously” taking ahold of believer’s hearts and moving them toward observance of the Almighty’s Feasts and decrees, none of which were ever rescinded by Messiah. The Messiah referenced this type of spontaneous activity by His Spirit when he said; “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going;” (John 3:8a). In First Corinthians, Paul rails against divisions when he calls out the congregation there for quarrelling among themselves, when one is saying, “I am of Paul” and another, “I am of Apollos,” and still another, “I am of Cephas.” Paul demands to know “Has Messiah been divided?” (1 Corinthians). In our modern language, one would say “I am of
Martin Luther,” another says “I am of John Wesley,” and another “I am of Menno Simons.”. Yet in Messiah, there is no division. So what are we to make of the Messianic movement? Why a Messianic congregation in our midst? It is my firm belief that The Father is restoring all things as He said He would. He is restoring His feast cycle throughout the year, which is the Gospel acted out right before our very eyes! We recently celebrated the Feast of Shavuot or Weeks. Perhaps you will recognize it by its more familiar name of Pentecost. This feast holds central position in The Almighty’s feast cycle. As we progress from one feast to another and work our way through the yearly cycle, there are ultimately two eternal truths sustaining our journey; His Commands and His Spirit. Both of those are memorialized on this feast, the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai and the giving of The Spirit on
The Truth Has No Agenda
Mount Zion. These two events also capture the redemptive work of the Great God of Israel. At Sinai, 3000 of our forefathers perished due to their rebellion against The Almighty and in Jerusalem, 3000 were added to the congregation upon the giving of the Spirit. One of the Hebrew names for Shavuot is atzeret shel pesach or conclusion of Passover. At face value this seems like an oxymoron. How can a feast that calls for the preparation of two loaves of bread baked with yeast conclude a feast that calls for the complete removal of all yeast from our homes? That seems illogical. Yet here again, we see the redemptive work of our Great God. Yeast symbolizes sin. We are commanded to remove sin from our lives and to be Holy as our Elohim (God) is holy. At the beginning of the biblical year, we are commanded to start fresh and as a reminder to live a clean life in the coming year, we are com-
manded to have no yeast found within our borders. This ushers in the week of unleavened bread. As we observe Passover and understand that our Messiah is represented in the Passover lamb, one without blemish, we begin to see the view of our redemption come into focus. Then during the week of unleavened bread, we observe the feast of the wave sheath, or the day of First fruits. Here the view of our redemption becomes clearer as we see our sinless, unblemished Messiah, sacrificed, buried, and now resurrected! He ascends and presents Himself to the Father as the perfect offering and the first fruits of those redeemed from the dead (which is why He told Mary not to touch Him when she approached Him at the tomb). Our sinless Messiah is appropriately represented in this observance of First Fruits during the feast of unleavened bread. Now for the rest of the story and
Continued on page 11
The Valley, July 2016
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Hillside Orchard News and Comments
About Faith
by Rev. Robert Zorn, Visitation Minister, Lewistown Presbyterian Church Are You Smarter Than A Chipmunk? Three black and white ‘Tuxedo” cats allow Carol and myself to live with them in our log house out here in Treaster Valley. The cats belonged to our Amish neighbor. Eli, who agreed that we might adopt them since his cow had gone dry and cat food was scarce. So, mother cat, Delilah, and kittens, Noisey and Tippy, joined our family. Earlier this year, we had to leave the house for a short time and decided that we could leave the cats sleeping on the chair, the couch and our bed. When we returned home, nothing seemed amiss. However, we soon heard the loud CHIRP, of a chipmunk that Tippy had caught outside and had carried, live, into our bedroom where it was trying to hide. Every time Tippy would reach out a paw (or claw) toward the frightened little animal, it would emit a loud CHIRP! We knew that the critter would have to go, the sooner the better. Now our bedroom is only about 12’ x 12’ feet square, and it has within it: a bed, two dressers, a large trunk, a quilt rack, a wall-to-wall clothes closet, and numerous storage boxes under the bed. It should be no problem for two adults and three cats to evict the chipmunk from our room. Two hours later, we were not so sure.
I quickly threw a small rug in front of the bedroom door to keep our small visitor confined to the room. Then I opened the window thinking that the chipmunk would rather be outside again. I began to move the boxes from under the bed so that Tippy could chase the chipmunk out the window. As I moved each box, the little fellow found another hiding place. Tippy soon tired of our futile little efforts and she jumped out the window herself. It was time to call in reinforcements, so I went and picked up the twenty pound Noisey, who was, as usual, sleeping on the couch. I thought the ominous presence of a monster cat would frighten the chipmunk enough to make his exit through the still open window. By now, the little critter was running freely about the room as I punched and prodded with yardstick and broom handle. Each time it ran past Noisey, he would lift a friendly paw as if it was a new toy that he could play with. Finally he too lost interest, yawned, and returned to sleep on the couch. With rising frustration I returned to the bedroom, hoping that the chipmunk may have left of his own volition. I was almost ready to declare victory when the dreaded CHIRP was heard again. But I could not locate our quarry.
Ed’s Railroading News by Ed Forsythe
Well, summer is here and a good thing to do with family and friends is to take trolley and train rides back into history. Check out the following places for fun times: Rockhill Trolley Museum located just 45 minutes from downtown Lewistown, just off of Route 522. At Orbisonia, turn at the red light and travel less than a mile
and you’re at the museum on the left, just across the road from the East Broad Top Railroad. Always a great trip back into history. Find them at rockhilltrolley.org Middletown Hummelstown Railroad, 136 Brown Street, Middletown, Pa. Call 717 994 4435 or see, middletownhummelstownrailroad.com. Enjoy this 11 mile
by Iddo M. Hostetler
I looked under all of the furniture and moved the clothing in the closet. I even crawled on my back under the bed to see if our box springs might be the hiding place. All was to no avail. Then we remembered that Delilah had the most sensitive nose, and recruited her to sniff out the chipmunk. Success was ours at last! Delilah indicated that it was under the very-low-to-the-floor trunk. But she was not interested in continuing the quest and exited through the bedroom door. We were now on our own, without the help of our domestic detectives. Carol stationed herself at the door to prevent any escape, while I poked and prodded behind and under the dressers and the trunk. After an eternity “here he comes” and “ there he goes.” Carol rolled the small rug into a tunnel into which the chipmunk obligingly ran. By holding together the ends of the rolled carpet, we trapped the little fellow and freed him back into the woods. Thus Carol found the answer to our original question. To find a solution to some of life’s perplexing problems, we need to think smart. When threats, retaliation and violence fail, the offer of peace and security may be the better way. “Grievous words stir up anger. but a soft answer turns away wrath.” Proverbs 15: I a
ride on the Milk & Honey line. They provide rides now through October and have special events in December. So, check them out and enjoy. Another enjoyable train trip can be found in the little town of Jim Thorpe. The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railroad features a 16 mile train trip through the beautiful Lehigh Valley area running along the Lehigh River. Any time of year that this train runs is sure to be full of spectacular scenery. Get details for all that is available at lgsry.com. I’m sure there are many places
Hello to all of the readers of The Valley from Hillside Orchard, where the trees are growing, the people are mowing, the grain heads are bowing, and the thistle seeds are sowing when the wind is blowing! There was a mistake in the last month’s article, the word Maizey some how got changed to the C word, it was supposed to be hazy, lazy, Maizey dog days. Strawberries are over, there were a few cherries, but the birds seemed to be even more desperate for them than people were, so much so that they picked them before they were ripe! Apricots are scarce and plums are almost as rare as hen’s teeth, but peaches have so far weathered the weather, so that is still a lot to be thankful for. Since we started raising fruit, we were experimenting with how little chemicals we can get away with and still raise fruit that is acceptable by the consumers. One thing we have been using for a number of years is raw milk and whey. It appears somewhat helpful in controlling disease and to suppress insects, especially aphids. Perhaps what got us started was its availability, especially with its cost now at thirteen dollars, you can afford to use it for just about anything, except milk. There is, however, a reason for such low milk prices. Yes, part of it might be over-abundance, but I think the bigger problem is the nature by which it is produced and processed.
Number one, you can’t hardly buy anything but pasteurized milk in the stores. We are told it is done for our safety to kill bad bacteria. Really? Why would milk have that much bad stuff in it? There could be a number of reasons. Unclean equipment, and yes, improper and or unnatural feeds for the cows. So, we have milk with bad bacteria, then we kill it so it doesn’t harm us, but such milk really isn’t healthy. We now even have universities discovering it as well and they are recommending people only drink raw milk. Of course, this was quickly hushed. There is a reason that while regular milk prices are plummeting, organic milk keeps soaring. No, it isn’t all just hype and people misleading others. It is because people care about what they eat and how it is produced. People see and feel the benefits of eating real, whole, nutrient-dense foods. Back to milk in the orchard. No we didn’t do any test blocks to determine how effective it is versus no test block, however we were able to reduce the amount of chemicals we use the last couple of years by a considerable margin. So far this season we used nutrition sprays and sulphur and lime sulphur as our only fungicides. I better hurry and get this done before I become so busy doing nothing that I won’t have time to do anything. Wouldn’t that be boring? So Veil Aus leabe und Gottes ehre.a
that would have filled up this article, but I just wanted to list a few to remind folks just what is available in Pennsylvania for our enjoyment. One other is the old Kinsu Bridge State Park that at one time featured the Kinsu Bridge, once known as the 8th wonder of the world. Check out
this historic gem at “kinsu bridge state park’’ with more information at wikipedia “kinsu bridge.’’ Although the Knox and Kane Railroad no longer runs, it’s still a great state park to visit. Wherever you travel this year, Happy Railroading, Ed a
“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
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The Valley, July 2016 ounce. It is the thought of nearly every metal’s analyst that silver prices are set to make mind-boggling gains. Quite a number of market specialists have called silver, “the
Dave Wilson
Coins, Precious Metal and a Little of this and That
Get Ready for Severe Silver Shortages! The supply of physical SILVER has been of great concern to both business and industry for some time. With nearly two decades of intense price suppression by the major bullion banks, silver, for a long time, has been priced far below it’s actual mining costs. Also, since most silver is a byproduct of copper mining, with copper prices at or below a nearly 25 year low, mines have been shutting down and going off line. That, of course, puts extreme pressure on silver availability. In 2015, world production of silver came in at 887 million ounces, just slightly higher than in 2014. While that sounds like a lot, it simply is not. The annual (worldwide) usage of silver has exceeded annual production for nearly 15 years. Most above ground silver supply has now vanished, putting even more pressure on silver users. Along with recent (huge) investment demand, totaling almost one fourth of what is brought out of the ground each year, silver’s
other industrial and medical uses chew up the rest and more. Silver is used in hundreds of products, like batteries, dentistry, glass coatings, LED-chips, medicine, nuclear reactors, photography, RFIS chips, semi-conductors, touch screens, water purification, and soon, in a very big way, the solar industry. Silver has been dubbed as “the indispensable metal,” and, believe it or not, there is actually more “above” ground gold than there is silver. Silver is consumed, and very little is recyclable. On the other hand, every gram of gold that has ever been produced is still around somewhere. Gold can be used, but not consumed. China has said that by 2020, they want to generate 100 gigawatts of solar power. As it takes 2.8-million ounces of silver to generate just one gigawatt, there would be an-
other 280-million ounces of silver needed Just for that. Add in a rising, likely soon to be panic-driven need for “investment silver” and you can soon see just how much of the white metal will be needed, but not available. Two months ago, several large (industrial) end users of silver began private negotiations directly with miners in an effort to secure enough of the metal to allow their companies to continue uninterrupted operations. This is supreme, solid evidence that severe shortages are a big concern to those that must have this metal to survive. Silver has been smashed down to prices lower than $18 per
The Truth Has No Agenda
most undervalued asset on the planet, in history.” Quite likely, we will not have to wait very long to find out the accuracy of that statement. a
The Valley, July 2016
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Jury Nullification Objections Rebutted by Steve Silverman
Story Reprinted Courtesy of Flex Your Rights Flexyourrights.org A recent Chicago Tribune editorial targets a new fully informed jury bill introduced by the New Hampshire House of Representatives. The bill would strengthen the current state law passed in 2012 that allows lawyers “to inform the jury of its right to judge the facts and the application of the law in relation to the facts in controversy.” The editorial is noteworthy, because it deploys the most common legal establishment objections to jury nullification. Objection #1: Jury nullification was a tool of the Jim Crow South It begins by reminding readers of one of the most horrific examples of racial injustice in the Jim Crow South. In 1955, two white men went on trial in Mississippi for the murder of Emmett Till, a black 14-year-old from Chicago who
supposedly had been too friendly to a white woman. In the Jim Crow South, there was never much chance of conviction, and they were acquitted by a jury that deliberated for barely an hour. The two men, free of the danger of prosecution, later acknowledged their guilt. That case and many like it are worth keeping in mind in any consideration of the place of jury nullification in the criminal justice system. Let there be no mistake about it, racist juries routinely failed to deliver justice in the Jim Crow South. And jury injustice sometimes happens today when, for example, juries acquit police caught on video brutalizing defenseless citizens. So how can advocates reconcile the abuse of jury nullification with its noble history of delivering justice in the face of unjust laws? As Paul Butler, a Georgetown University law professor and former federal prosecutor suggests, “nullification is like any other democratic power; some people may try to misuse it, but that does
not mean it should be taken away from everyone else.” Moreover, according to legal scholar Clay Conrad, the jury is a convenient scapegoat for institutional injustices. After the trial is over, the jury doesn’t exist. Jurors return home and go back to work. So when police, prosecutors, judges, and even lawmakers are incompetent or malicious, they can blame the jury to divert attention from their failures. Objection #2: Jury nullification undermines rule of law Under existing New Hampshire law, lawyers are allowed to tell jurors about jury nullification as part of their defense strategy. Unfortunately, some judges are undercutting the law by issuing contradictory jury instructions. For example, during the trial of Rich Paul, a Keene man convicted last year for selling marijuana, Judge John C. Kissinger told the jury that they “must follow the law as I explain it.” Paul spent one year in jail. It’s notable that the Tribune
overlooks Judge Kissinger’s subversion of the rule of law while insisting that the new bill would “undermine rule of law.” Nevertheless, those who claim that jury nullification is a violation of rule of law are wrong. “Jury nullification is a part of our law,” according to Cato Institute legal scholar Tim Lynch. “It’s part of the checks and balances in our constitutional system. Just as pardon power is used by governors and the president, juries have the power to bring back acquittals.” Andrew Hamilton, in his famous 1735 defense of publisher John Peter Zenger who was on trial for seditious libel, implored the jury to ignore the judgement of the Crown’s hand-picked judges. I know, may it please Your Honor, the jury may do so. But I do likewise know that they may do otherwise. I know that they have the right beyond all dispute to determine both the law and the fact; and where they do not doubt of the law, they ought to do so. Leaving it to judgment of the court whether the words are libelous or not in effect renders juries useless (to say no worse) in many cases. The jury voted to acquit Zenger. This case, according to Conrad, “was the foundation of
“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
both our understanding of where a jury comes from and our understanding of freedom of the press. This is the history the founders knew. This was the background they had in mind when they wrote the 6th Amendment.” Objection #3: The Supreme Court struck down jury nullification The Tribune and other jury critics frequently cite the 1895 Supreme Court decision, Sparf v. U.S. The court ruled that judges were not required to tell jurors about jury nullification. The ruling didn’t say that jurors didn’t have the power to nullify. Nor did it say that judges couldn’t tell the jury about nullification; it simply said that they didn’t have to. This decision has led to the common practice by U.S. judges of penalizing criminal defense lawyers who try to present a nullification argument in front of the jury. Consequently, jury nullification is seen as a de facto power of juries. So unless you’re a citizen of New Hampshire, most jurors cannot rely on judges to inform them of this “secret” constitutional power. Objection #4: Jury nullification
Continued on page 14
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The Valley, July 2016 second arrowhead to come out of our backyard. A friend of his who is well-studied in old arrowheads tells us this is from the Archaic Period (8000 - 2000 BC). Wow!! Wayne also had success handpollinating his Paw-Paw trees this year, so it looks like we’ll have some of
This ‘n That Wayne and I certainly know how to dry up Central Pennsylvania—all we had to do was plant our garden! It seems like it did nothing but rain and shower for months; in fact, I was beginning to feel like a mushroom. A few weeks ago though, we finally had some time to sow seeds and get the tender little plants into the ground. Ever since there’s been minimal moisture. Maybe I should wash my car, that’s sure to bring on a nice big storm! Go ahead and laugh, but you all know it’s true. Nothing brings on the nasty weather like a clean car. We finally rescued our garden from the weeds this year. It’s been two years since Wayne decided to “let it go to the bees” and threw some bee-loving flower seeds in there and sat back to see what would happen. Well, I’ll tell you what happened—a few flowers, but mostly weeds—big, deeprooted weeds. It was like a crazy jungle! It took lots of work this year to finally get it back to bare dirt. We tried to plant it last year, but it was a bust as the weeds just took over everything. Wayne got smart this year and as soon as it was de-weeded (yes, I just made that word up), he rototilled it, and then covered the whole thing in black plastic and planting fabric. Clever guy he is, he used a little torch to burn small holes in the fabric where we put the plants and seeds. Now we’re all set for
those tasty fruits to enjoy later this summer. If you’ve never had one, they have a custard-like texture that’s a little bit like a banana, but they have a slight tropical taste to the fruit.
Paw-paws
fresh veggies again this year. As Wayne was rototilling, he found another arrowhead in the dirt (pictured above). This is the
The Truth Has No Agenda
Wrapping up, I have to share something funny I saw on Pinterest. You know how older people (like me) always say they had to walk three miles to school each way in snow a foot deep? Well here’s the modern version. “I
wonder what my kids are going to tell their kids... ‘It was so rough back in my day...I didn’t get a phone til 4th grade and sometimes the wi-fi didn’t work upstairs.’” Hope you get a chuckle out of it like I did. Enjoy the dog days of summer! a
The Valley, July 2016
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Storyteller by Centre County Dairy Princess
Halee Wasson
Natural Sunscreen
SUN OR NO SUN? We at Shade Mountain have been getting a lot of customers asking about sunscreens, so I figured that would be a great platform for my Valley article! There is a lot of information out there about sun exposure. You can find articles that say that too much sun exposure causes cancer, that not enough sun exposure causes vitamin D deficiency, or that the chemicals in sunscreen are detrimental to your health and even cause cancer. Despite the fact that sunscreen companies spend billions convincing us we need to slather ourselves up, the rates of melanoma – the most deadly form of skin cancer – have tripled over the past 35 years. Sun exposure is one of those areas where, I feel, you just have to take it in moderation and not over do it. That is my personal opinion, but of course, consult your doctor! I personally love the sun! I love the warmth of the sun and I like having some color. I feel some sun is good and it definitely is a mood booster! I
do not let myself burn and I try to limit my exposure. All that being said, we are going to talk about
some things to consider when choosing your sunscreen and there is even a recipe at the end of the article if you would like to make your own! IF YOU CHOOSE TO AVOID SUN: CHECK YOUR VITAMIN D LEVELS Sunshine causes the body to produce vitamin D, a critical function that sunscreen appears to inhibit. Vitamin D, technically a hormone, strengthens bones and
the immune system. About 25 percent of Americans have borderline low levels of vitamin D, and 8 percent have a serious deficiency. Considering this, lack of sun exposure may be a much bigger problem than too much exposure. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to many types of cancers including the most deadly types of breast cancer. Lack of Vitamin D has also been linked to problems during pregnancy including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, premature labor, and more. As a society, have we literally cut off our nose to spite our face when it comes to sun exposure? To avoid skin cancer, we’ve shunned the sun and the Vitamin D our bodies produce with sun exposure. But have we successfully avoided skin cancer? CHEMICAL VERSUS MINERAL ‘Mineral sunscreens’ are those that use the minerals zinc
Continued on page 20
July is a month of hot temperatures, cold pools and summer fun. Nothing tastes better on a hot summer day than a cold ice cream cone. Growing up in State College, I had numerous options of places to buy this delicious treat. However, I always found myself taking a short three mile drive down the road to Meyer Dairy. On any given day, you will see the line snaking out the door into the parking lot. This small, familyowned store is a favorite in the area to purchase dairy products for many reasons that I have highlighted below. Family-Owned: Meyer Dairy LLC is currently owned by Joseph C. Meyer Jr. and J. Dennis Meyer (son of J.C. Meyer Jr.). The first farm was purchased by W.C. Meyer back in 1887. In 1910, J.C. Meyer began to deliver milk to local community members by horse drawn wagon. The Meyer’s family continued deliverJoe and Denny Meyer ing milk in the area until 1947. Then in 1970, the family built a small store; which is located along South Atherton Street today, to market and sell their dairy products. The Meyer’s family has continued the tradition of providing dairy products to the local community for 106 years! The Quality: Since the business started 106 years ago, it was the Meyer family’s goal to provide a safe wholesome and nutritious product to their local community. “We always want our customers to be
“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
satisfied with our product because without them, the dairy industry would not exist,” J. Dennis Meyer stated. Currently at Meyer Dairy Farm, they milk 175+ cows to keep up with the demand for their products and customer satisfaction. The milk produced from the cows on their farm is transported from the farm to the store. At the store, the milk goes through many tests and processes to ensure it is safe for consumption, and then it is either bottled or made into ice cream. The View: Once you have purchased your ice cream, you are able to find seating inside or outside the store. Since it is summer time, you find most customers outside enjoying the beautiful weather and view. The view is one not many State College townies see every day. Just behind the store is a picturesque view of the Meyer’s farm. One can often see dairy cows grazing in the pasture, with a red barn in the distance. Many customers remark on how comfortable and content the cows are. You can truly tell that the Meyer’s family not only cares for their customers, but their cows too! If you find yourself venturing to Meyer Dairy for an ice cream cone after reading this, remember that the product you are purchasing is not only a refreshing, cold treat, but a product from a family tradition of caring for their cows and community. a
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The Valley, July 2016
R. O. F. F.
Rescue Our Furry Friends by Patricia Lawson
ROFF is bursting with dogs! 34 to be exact! We thank all of the foster homes, especially the homes with more than one dog for their love and support. Speaking of support, ROFF has some tasty fundraisers to present: • Schwan’s- Once again we are offering the Schwan’s fundraiser. Go to https://www.schwans-cares. com/c/27897 and use Campaign ID: 27897 so a percentage will go to our homeless fur babies. • N/S Sweeties Donuts- Six different kinds of donuts: White Cream Filled, Bavarian Cream Filler, Glazed, Peanut Butter Filled, Sour Cream (Cake) and Sugar Raised for only $6 for a half dozen. Order sheets can be found on our Facebook Page. Order sheets and money should be dropped off at ROFF Headquarters, 133 N. Walnut St. in Burnham by July 13. Donuts can be picked up at the same address on July 21. And be sure your pets are up to date on their Rabies Vaccines. ROFF’s Annual Rabies Clinic will be held at City Hook & Ladder on Valley Street in Lewistown on Saturday, July 9th from 10am to 12pm. Fees for canines: Rabies-$10*, DHPP-$20, Lyme-$25 & Bordetella-$15. Fees for felines: Rabies-$10*, FVRCP IV-$15 & Feline Leukemia-$20. The attending vet is Dr. Fry. *Proof of a 1 year Rabies certificate must be presented to obtain a
Kai
3 year rabies vaccine Also, please note: All pets
Rosie
must be on a leash or in a carrier for the own safety. Now let’s meet the dog and cat of the month! “And I’m Rosie! Unlike my name, my life hasn’t always been rosey and ta da…ROFF to the rescue once again. When I was a kitten I suffered some trauma to my left eye so that eye is missing, but I just look like I’m winking at you. I’m only about a year old and don’t let the superstition about black cats sway you. I am a super sweet girl with a lot of love to give. Stop by and I’ll show you.” We invite you to open up your hearts and home and rescue these and other precious future companions. Just go to our web site www.roffrescue.com and fill out an online application or call 1-877-933-ROFF (7633). Thank you! Until they all have homes… www.roffrescue.com; rescueourfurryfriends@yahoo.com; 1-877-933-ROFF (7633) a “Check out my summer ‘do’! Am I handsome or what? I’m a 7 years old Bichon Frise and my name is Kai. Like most of my roommates here at ROFF I am so thankful that ROFF saved me. You see I was at a puppy mill and ROFF came to my rescue and gave me all the necessary shots, washed and groomed me, gave me some lovin’ and taught me how to play. I haven’t met a lap I haven’t liked and those little kids are so much fun to romp with. Come on over and see how much enjoyment we can have together.”
Two Loaves, Two Families, Two Commandments from page 5
the conclusion of the matter. At this point we are “counting the days” as we are commanded to count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath (after the Sabbath that occurs during the week of unleavened bread); then we are to present a new grain offering to the Lord. We are to bring in from our dwelling places two loaves of bread for a wave offering, made of roughly 25 to 30 cups of fine flour, baked with leaven as first fruits to the Lord. They are then presented for a wave offering before the Lord. On this same day we are to have a holy convocation and do no laborious work. Scripture tells us this is a perpetual statute throughout our generations. So now we are commanded to bake bread with leaven. This is the only time leaven is allowed in an offering. Why now? Why for this feast, the concluding feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread? For starters, these are not small loaves. They are each the equivalent of at least eight normal-sized loaves of bread. As in anything our great God does, this is a pictorial representation of His redemptive work among His people. He promised Father Abraham innumerable descendants. As plenteous as the stars in the sky, the fish in the sea, and the grains of sand on the sea shore. These loaves represent His people. We are “yeasty,” yet redeemed by His great outstretched arm. And two loaves represent a number of truths. Represented here are His two families (Jeremiah 33:24), further identified as the House of Israel and the House of Judah in Jeremiah 31. Sinful, fallen, and rebellious people who have been redeemed and restored to the glory their Father desires for them, through the redemptive work of our spotless Lamb of God, Y’shua Messiah. This is the story of unleavened bread, First Fruits and Shavuot. The power of the Gospel illustrated for us. What a glorious story it is. These two loaves also serve as a summarization of the law and prophets as we read in Matthew 22, a lawyer asked Y’shua a question, testing Him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two com-
The Truth Has No Agenda
mandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” And it is upon this summarization that the greatest admonition, the greatest command, rests if you will. Love. Love for God and Love toward man. Because we are yeasty, living in a yeast borne environment, we, I, do not know how to love. Yet praise our great Elohim that He, through His Messiah, has shown us what it means to love. It is written: Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly (does not dishonor others); it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not keep a record of wrongs, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Only love will see us through and we seek to promote such a culture in the community we call Lev Y’shua (which translated from Hebrew means Heart of our Savior). Lev Y’shua Messianic Congregation meets most Saturdays beginning at 11 AM at the rear of the BelleAcres property in Belleville. If you see the signs out by the road on 655, know that we’re
here and feel free to join us. If you have access to a computer, please check our web site as we keep it current with the dates and times we meet. Allow our quarterly ad to remind you that you are always welcome to explore this walk with us. Shalom! One final thought; if you are reading this prior to the evening of Thursday July 7th, you may be interested in learning about diversifying out of the dollar and investing directly in Israel. We will be hosting Evan Liberman, of Wise Money Israel, who will be speaking here in Belleville. Evan lives in Binyamina, Israel and is registered with the Israel Securities Authority. He will be in the States early July and we are pleased to have him present locally. Please consider joining us. Call 717-935-5858 for more information.
Wildlife Notes from page 25
survive dispersal—moving from their place of birth—to reach the upland habitat essential to the completion of their development to reproductive maturity. We might wonder, does the female salamander know the essential hopelessness of her cause, as she heaves the slick barrel of her body, heavy with eggs, across the bitter March woodland? Does she suspect that perhaps not even one of her hundreds of offspring will make this journey after her? I think she is wiser than that. She is driven by the bright and incessant fire of life, which burns deeper than reason, a voice born of the soil and moss and trees. She knows a truth more profound than statistical projections, and you can see it in her wry smile. It is the hope which lies at the center of every living thing, an infinite cycle of death and rebirth, like the luminous ring of gold glinting subtly in the black eyes of the spotted salamander. For more information or questions please contact Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center at 814-863-2000. a
food and space, at the same time striving to grow as quickly as possible and complete metamorphosis before the ponds dry, leaving them stranded, helpless and, quite literally, breathless. Amphibians often attenuate their growth in order to complete metamorphosis while conditions are optimal. When the time comes to leave the relative safety of the ponds, and take up the terrestrial adult phase of life, the odds of survival become ever slimmer. A whole new host of predators and danger awaits the delicate young salamanders as they undertake this new chapter of their lives. Of the hundreds of egg masses laid in a single pond, each mass containing upwards of one hundred individual salamanders, perhaps some 13% will complete metamorphosis and emerge before the ponds dry, typically in early to mid-summer (amphibiaweb. org). Often, entire cohorts are lost when a pond dries early, temperatures rise suddenly, or there is an outbreak of disease. Of those few bold and sturdy animals, only a small number will actually
Founder and President of The Stewardship Group in Belleville, Mr. Ostrowski earned his Master of Science 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. He can be reached by visiting www.thesojourningsteward.com a
The Valley, July 2016
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WOODED PARADISE FOR NATURE ENTHUSIASTS by Kim Rickert Imagine living in a home surrounded by trees, beautiful wooded views from every angle and watching the wildlife from your window year round! That is the reality of living at 25 Lower Deere Run Road in Lewistown. Located off Ferguson Valley Road, this 10.69 acre wooded parcel features a two level home that incorporates the outdoors
inside the home. The main level features beautiful hickory flooring in the open living room/dining room area and two sliding doors leading to the deck brings the view into the room. The adjoining kitchen shows off custom pine cabinets, wainscoting backsplash and tile flooring, bringing more natural elements into the space. Two bedrooms are located on the
Peaceful, quiet seclusion await you at 25 Lower Deere Run Road
main level, one used as the master bedroom; and two additional bedrooms are on the lower level. The master bedroom has carpeting, while the second bedroom has hardwood floor and a beamed ceiling. Both bedrooms are serviced by a full bath with a tub/ shower combination. The lower level of the home has a spacious family room with stone fireplace and a woodburning insert. There is plenty of room for a cozy sofa by the fireplace, bookshelves or an office area on the other side, or a family game room. Again, sliding doors lead to a walk out patio and brings you to the fenced yard. You may see deer or turkey walking by anytime of the year! The lower level also includes two bedrooms, which can also be used as office or workout areas, and a recently renovated full bath with hickory flooring and full shower. An unfinished laundry room area is also on this level. The outdoor area of this property is just as inviting as the home itself. In addition to a two car attached garage, there is a picnic pavilion with electric for outdoor dining or parties. A wood shed and a workshop with electric offer more space for hobbies or
The living room/dining room area is large and wide open, a slider to an outside deck enhances the living space in warmer months
A cozy yet spacious Family Room features a fireplace
storage, and there is a sunny patch for gardening. Privacy is part of the package at this home, and you can walk through acres of woods without seeing other homes! If you are looking for a unique property that brings nature
“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
into your home, this is one you won’t want to miss! Call Katy Flood, or any of the Stone Arch agents to arrange your personal tour! a
The Valley, July 2016
I gained 50 pounds ...and love it! www.families4kids.org 800-568-6449
foster parent or adopt...you’ll love it too!
The Truth Has No Agenda
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The Valley, July 2016
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Jury Nullification Objections Rebutted from page 8
JULY 2016 Mifflin County Trivia The Great Depression Lewistown Sentinel headlines through the 1930s detail the Great Depression’s impact on the Mifflin County. One year after the October 1929 crash, 5,000 to 7,000 Mifflin County citizens were in need of financial assistance due to widespread unemployment. This approached 10 to 15 percent of the total county population. The County Poor Board’s capital fund was exhausted by the third quarter of 1930. National news told of closed businesses, factory closings and bank failures. Farm income fell some 50 percent. By 1932 approximately one out of every four Americans was unemployed. International trade plunged by half to two-thirds, as did personal income, tax revenue, prices and profits. Mifflin County felt the impact. To make matters worse, the county was in the throws of an extended drought. Weather bureau reports in the newspaper said less rain fell in 1929 than in any year since 1895 and it was the hottest since 1921. The Mifflin County Ministerial Association called for a daily time of prayer. The goal? - to spur county-wide spiritual revival in the face of the deepening industrial collapse. Underneath it all, Mifflin County was, in fact, alive and kicking despite the grave nature of the local, state and national economy. Newspapers told of the Depression, but also offered a diversion from the stark national news. The events in this edition of Our Yesterdays happened or were publicly acknowledged in the decade from
Life in the East End from page 28 building. This year that date is August 13th. Don Chesney is our auctioneer for that auction. Don and his team do a great job and he also makes this a fun event for all who come. Many thanks to Don, Robin, and Tyler. I really hope you all will find time to come out to the Mifflin
1930 to 1940. [Sources: MCHS newspaper Archives] 1. On June 25, 1930, Tom S. Johnson of Johnson’s Shoe Store, observed the 25th anniversary of something he achieved as a young man in 1905. It was a first in Pennsylvania history. What had Johnson done? [a] Created the first non-tangle shoe lace. [b] Became the youngest State Representative. [c] Set auto speed record between Lewistown and Harrisburg. [d] Parachuted from a hot air balloon. 2. The city fathers of Lewistown Borough gave the thumbs-up to a special ordinance on June 13, 1932 that affected everyone who lived or visited town. What was enacted? [a] gave pay raises to all borough employees [b] restricted parking on Market Street [c] shut off electricity to street lamps to save money [d] made all traffic one way 3. In 1933, what organization was formed that is still active in community affairs today? [a] Lewistown Hospital Auxiliary [b] Chamber of Commerce [c] Mifflin County Garden Club [d] Mifflin County Historical Society 4. What happened in Milroy, Armagh Township in 1935 and again in 1937 that brought in state authorities from Harrisburg? [a] The same state-owned bridge collapsed in the heart of town [b] Tornados destroyed property at County Youth Fair this year and see all the hard work of the 4-H and FFA youth, plus all the entries by your neighbors and friends in the Open Show. There is an Opening Ceremony on August 8th beginning at 6:00 pm as the “Official Kickoff” to the Fair. The Horse and Pony Club will be preforming during that. Some local dignitaries will also be participating. So come on out to the Fair and enjoy
Laurel Run State Park [c] The town high school caught fire [d] The Milroy Bank was robbed ANSWERS 1. [c] In 1905, Tom Johnson drove his one-cylinder Oldsmobile from Lewistown to Harrisburg, setting a speed record of 4 hours and 15 minutes! 2. [b] Two-hour parking ordinance for the town’s central street was enacted making it the first parking restriction in the history of Lewistown. 3. [c] Mifflin County Garden Club was organized with Mrs. Grace Arnold Shields as president. 4. [d] In 1935 four armed bandits bound cashier D. G. Meek and made off with $3,000. Two years later, three masked men absconded with $6,500 after trussing up assistant cashier Charles Ehrenfeld and director Taylor Reed. Wilson Civitts, a sixteen year old who just stopped in the bank to get some change, was also tied up before the robbers sped away. No one was caught in either case. At the time, Main Street in Milroy was also the main route to State College or south to Harrisburg. I spoke with the late Faith Harbeson McNitt some years ago, and she remembered the bank robberies. Her parents’ home was directly across the street from the Milroy Bank. Faith recalled the commotion the two events caused in the town, and that her mother kept her in the house for safety. a
is a power not a right The Tribune argues that “the power to nullify is not the same as the right to do so. Because of the power granted to juries and the nature of deliberations, they are free to acquit or convict for any reason they choose.” This power vs right debate is largely academic. But for what it’s worth, the second president of the United States John Adams agreed with Hamilton [and disagreed with the Tribune] when he wrote in 1771 that “it is not only [a juror’s] right, but his duty… to find the verdict according to his own best understanding, judgment, and conscience, though in direct opposition to the direction of the court.” Objection #5: Jury nullification violates the jury oath Law professor James Duane calls this “perhaps the most threadbare judicial objection to nullification arguments. This ominous-sounding charge has no logical substance, although it naturally carries much emotional appeal.” At the beginning of a criminal trial, jurors are typically asked to swear that they “will well and truly try and a true deliverance make between the United States and the defendant at the bar, and a true verdict render according to the evidence, so help [me] God.” Aside from being barely intelligible to most jurors, Duane notes, there’s no reason why a juror might not acquit based solely on “the evidence” if they believe the accused harmed no one or that a conviction would be unjust. As for what it means to make “a true deliverance,” nobody alive today knows for sure what that means.
the many different activities. A couple weeks ago my mom, dad and I tried the new restaurant in Burnham called Cora’s Creekside Tavern. The food was very good, we will definitely go there again. If your looking for a new restaurant experience, try out Cora’s Creekside Tavern. That’s all for this month! a
“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
Objection #6: Jury nullification can be wrongly used to convict the innocent Attempting to equate jury nullification with unlawful behavior, the Tribune posits that “no one would argue that juries should convict an innocent defendant merely because they resent the burdensome requirements placed on prosecutors.” This confusinglywritten concern for preserving defendants’ due process rights can, according to Tim Lynch, be addressed by properly-worded legislation. “We can set [the law] in such a way where the defense will be in control. It will be up to the defense to make a jury nullification argument to the jury. Or it’s up to the defense to ask for a jury nullification instruction from the judge. It’s a tactical decision, just like whether or not the defendant will testify or not in court. It’s totally up to the defense to exercise the option or not.” Objection #7: It’s not the jury’s role to disregard the law; work to change it instead The promotion of jury nullification rests on the assumption that 12 randomly chosen individuals are entitled to override the democratically expressed will of the citizenry. It’s true that there is considerable history in England and America of juries disregarding their instructions on principle. Before the Civil War, Northern juries sometimes refused to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act, preferring to forgive defendants who helped escaped slaves. Great point, Tribune! But what would you do if you were a Northern juror in 1855 deciding the guilt or innocence of an abolitionist accused of violating the
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The Valley, July 2016
Indian Steps
Located on the southern flank of Tussey Mountain, in Harry’s Valley, is a path that climbs the mountain face on a set of stone steps. Known as the Indian Steps, this section of trail is part of the Ironstone Loop, which is a spur trail of the Mid State Trail. Using a section of the Mid State Trail on top of the mountain, along with part of the Pennsylvania Furnace Road, a circuit hike of approximately 4 miles can be done. The trailhead for this hike is located along a dirt forest road known as Harry’s Valley Road. To reach Harry’s Valley Road from State College, you need to find route PA26. Take route PA26 south through the town of Pine Grove Mills, turning left and following the road over the mountain. After cresting Tussey Mountain, route PA26 descends and makes a sweeping left turn. At this bend in the road you’ll see a
dirt forest road on your right. This is Harry’s Valley Road. Follow Harry’s Valley Road for about 1.9 miles and keep an eye open on the right side of the road for the trail marker to Indian Steps. Just a short distance past the trail marker is a small parking area on the left. Park your car here as this is the start of the hike. Many have questioned if the Indian Steps were actually built by Indians. Henry Shoemaker, an author from the late 1800s, did quite a bit of research about lore and legends in Central Pennsylvania. In his book The Indian Steps, published in 1912, the author retells a story about a great Indian battle that took place in Spruce Creek Valley in 1635. The story says that the LenniLenape Indians, which ruled the lands south of the Tussey Mountain ridge, were preparing to attach the Susquehannock Indian
tribes of the north. In preparation for this battle, the Lenni-Lenape built the steps so they could quickly ascend the mountain for a surprise attack on the Susquehan-
The Truth Has No Agenda
nocks. Scouts notified the chief of the Susquehannocks and they were able to set up an ambush. After a short, fierce battle, the invading Lenni-Lenape force was
defeated. Whether these are the steps from this ill-fated invasion, or a later tribute built near the
Continued on page 19
The Valley, July 2016
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Seven Mountains Music Fest July 24th lovely and tranquil setting of the The Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra will be presenting their 7th winery. annual Seven Mountains Summer Music Fest on Sunday, July 24th, at 2 pm at the Seven Mountains Wine Cellars, 324 Decker Valley Rd., Spring Mills, PA. The event will feature a concert by the Curtin Street Chamber players, hors d’oeuvres, wine for purchase, and a silent auction with unique items to benefit the PCO. Tickets are $35 per person and they may be purchased online at www.centreorchestra.org or by calling the PCO office mornings at 814-234-8313. The concert will include works of Telemann, De Beriot, Monti, Malcolm Arnold, Jay Ungar, and The Curtain Street Chamber Players Leroy Anderson at the
The Curtin Street Chamber Players is a recently-formed ensemble of professional musicians based in Bellefonte, PA, with Susan Kroeker, flute; Barry Kroeker, oboe; Mark Weaver, clarinet; Kurt Kroeker, violin; Carly Andriaccio, bassoon; and Tricia Andriaccio, piano. In 2015, when Barry and Susan Kroeker moved from State College to Curtin Street in Bellefonte, they were excited to become involved in the musical life in their new town, forming the group with other local musicians. Each of their members are wellknown in Central Pennsylvania as performers in area orchestras, chamber groups, and as private music instructors. Although the ensemble specializes in classical music, they also enjoy performing some eclectic repertoire of audience-pleasing popular tunes. Since their formation less than one year ago, they have been featured performers at Sunday Afternoons at the Library, Bellefonte Victorian Christmas, and the Bellefonte Inter-Valley Chamber of Commerce events. They are pleased to be making their first appearance at the Seven Mountains Summer Music Fest to benefit the Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra. a
Editors Corner from page 2 tution and take away our sovereignty. That’s right, they as globalists despise our Constitution, all globalist do, they do not care for or believe in Individual Liberty. Dumping this anchor from around our necks would be a great benefit, just as Britain leaving the EU will do for them. I welcome back the time when country’s decide for their own citizens what their laws and regulations will be instead of some faceless central authority who cares not for your best interest, but rather making sure no one gets slighted, no matter how much money they have to steal from you to do it.
Take a step back in time along the highways and byways of Mifflin County, founded in 1789. Through historic photographs and commentary, the Mifflin County Historical Society presents a brief look at how the county has changed. Photographic images are paired to compare past with present. Contemporary photographs approximated the same site or location as seen in vintage views from Mifflin County’s past unique history. Narration highlights Based on the companion books, Mifflin County Then & Now and More Mifflin County Then & Now, published by the Mifflin County Historical Society, author Forest K. Fisher and photographer Nathaniel Thierwechter have teamed for this nostalgic look back to see a changing community through the camera’s lens, and to remember... Mifflin County - Then & Now. Bonus Audio Feature: “History is Our Story” - Listen to the exciting tale of the Logan Guards of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, first militia company to respond to President Lincoln’s call for volunteers in April 1861. In this two-part audio bonus feature, the early days of the Civil War, from a local perspective, are recalled by Mifflin County Historical Society author Forest K. Fisher.
“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
Locally, have you been to Cora’s Creekside Tavern yet? If not, you are missing out. We have been there twice already since they opened, and we have been VERY impressed! The restaurant has been tastefully re-decorated and it is beautiful inside, but the food is what will make Cora’s a very hard place to get a table once word travels. Generous portions, great prices and everything cooked to perfection. Extremely pleasant waitstaff, good service, what else is there to say? I can see this being a regular placement in the rotation, if we can get in. Cora’s is a great addition to Burnham, make sure you give them a try. a
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The Valley, July 2016 Jury Nullification Objections Rebutted from page 14 Fugitive Slave Act? More to the point, assume that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. (Heck, assume that the defendant confessed in court to helping Southern slaves escape to Canada!) The Tribune’s answer would be to convict the defendant, because “jurors who disagree with legislated prohibitions are morally entitled to work to change them. But they have no business putting their preferences above what democratic institutions have decided.” In other words, it’s more ethical to set aside your conscience to comply with an evil law (and work to change it later) than it is to nullify such a law if you have the power to do so. That’s simply ludicrous. Also, an ethical citizen can vote their conscience as a juror and work to change bad laws too. In addition, jury nullification critics tend to overstate their case by claiming that jury nullification “overrides the democratically expressed will of the citizenry.” Jury nullification does not repeal bad laws, rather it allows juries to show mercy for defendants if they believe the law is wrong or is simply being misapplied. As the Fugitive Slave Act, the
Volstead Act, the USA PATRIOT Act, and every other evil, absurd, or hysterical legislation has proven time and again — legislators are hardly infallible. Jury nullification is perhaps the most important vote that citizens can use to alert law makers when their work is flawed. It does not “override” democracy. It is part of our democracy. Objection #8: There’s no guarantee that jury nullification will suspend only bad laws This objection circles back to the initial objection that juries might use nullification to ignore the law and acquit defendants accused heinous crimes. When Paul Butler was a prosecutor in Washington, D.C., he observed that “there was rarely nullification in crimes with victims; jurors voted ‘not guilty’ in those cases because they had reasonable doubt about the government’s evidence, often because they didn’t believe the police.” This tendency among jury nullification critics to conflate reasonable doubt acquittals with nullification confuses the issue. It also sets juries against an impossible standard of perfection that we don’t expect from any other players in the criminal justice system. Are juries perfect? Of course not. But neither are the police
officers who have discretion to make arrests. And neither are the prosecutors who, according to Butler, have more power than judges, because they “have discretion over whether to charge a suspect, and for what offense.” Moreover, prosecutors “tend to throw the book at defendants, to compel them to plead guilty in return for less harsh sentences.” To the more than 3,200 U.S. prisoners serving life without parole for nonviolent offenses, the problem is certainly not that too many jurors are using their
The Truth Has No Agenda
discretion to nullify bad laws and malicious prosecutions. Far from it. Fortunately, New Hampshire law might soon show the Tribune
and other jury critics that they have nothing to fear by informing jurors of their right, power, and duty to nullify bad laws. a
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The Valley, July 2016
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The Valley, July 2016
Savvy Cents & Sensibility
Stay-Cation Ideas!
Indian Steps from page 15
by JoAnn Wills-Kline MBA
As we usher in the month of July, midsummer, and a popular vacation month, this is the perfect month to examine ideas for “Staycations.” With the rising costs of family vacations, I wanted to offer considerations for fun, lowercost alternatives. Over the recent years, many people have opted to stay at home, or close to home, during their summer vacation/ leave from work. So, I searched and found several great ideas. Hopefully one or more will resonate with you and your family’s needs. Enjoy! Forbes magazine (http:// www.forbes.com/sites/ steveodland/2012/05/31/16things-to-do-on-astaycation/#524ec22217ff) had several great suggestions on the website – check out all the suggestions. I picked the following great Staycation ideas: 1. Go to the beach or pool – pick a local state park (or several state parks) with a body of water and beach. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy a day trip. a. Lounge at a local commu- nity pool for the day b. Pick a low cost recreational amusement park i. Knoebels Grove was recently voted “Best Free Amusement Park” 2. Go to a movie or a show a. Visit your local theater or drive in 3. Take a little dinner cruise – Raystown Lake offers great dinner cruises for low cost 4. Take a hike – pick a trail depending on the family’s fitness level a. Take a nice nature walk – perhaps in a local park after a picnic and/or swim 5. Host a summer potluck barbeque a. Gather the neighbors or extended family, or both b. Host at a state park pavilion or in your own back yard. Living well Spending Less (http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2014/03/07/staycationideas/) included the following Staycation suggestions. Visit the website for a full list of 25 ideas: 1. Go Geocaching – check out the website below to learn more a. https://www.geocaching. com/guide/
2. Visit a local or nearby museum 3. Attend a sporting event – minor league baseball is a great alternative to major league 4. Go bowling 5. Camp in the backyard – why not picnic there too?! 6. Go paddle boarding or canoeing Real Simple (http://www. realsimple.com/work-life/lifestrategies/staycation) offered great ideas to plan a staycation and unwind within (or just outside of) your own four walls: 1. Put the world on hold a. Turn off the ringers on your phones, mute the answering machine, place an “out of office” message on your email, and skip the news 2. Do a “destination dinner” – like seafood: crabs, shrimp, lobster, etc 3. Have dinner delivered every night – make it a takeout week 4. Relax outside by candlelight a. Play a vacation soundtrack 5. Do a water game day – round up water squirt toys and play away! 6. Bring the spa to you a. Turn your bathroom into an aromatherapy spa b. Hire a massage thera- pist that makes house calls i. OR DIY your mas sage - http://www.real simple.com/ work-life/life-strategies/ staycation/stretch-your- muscles c. Take a yoga retreat in your living room – see above link d. Give yourself a foot mas- sage – see above link 7. Indulge – luxury hotel amenities at home a. Buy yourself a plush white cotton or terry robe b. Sleep on ultra-high thread count sheets – or even just pil- lowcases c. Practice a nightly turndown service i. have family members turndown blankets, smooth sheets, and place sweets on pillowcases This Old House suggests simple home projects, and multiple ideas to amplify your staycation. Visit the website for an extensive
list (http://www.thisoldhouse.com/ toh/photos/02060545000.html). My favorites are as follows: 1. Hang a hammock 2. Create a fire pit in the back yard 3. Cook outside 4. Invest in a fountain – a mini tabletop fountain or a large fountain water feature 5. Buy a comfy outdoor chair – or spruce up your current outdoor furniture to enjoy 6. Plant colorful foliage – or purchase a few lovely flower baskets for porch/patio 7. Pick a private reading spot outdoors and steal away for an hour or two, or three… 8. Create and use your porch as another “room” in the house Last, but not least, Huffington Post provided several wonderful suggestions (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hometalk/17-thingsyoull-need-for_b_7753758.html), and my favorites are as follows: 1. Fairy lights for ambience 2. An outdoor breakfast station 3. A constant supply of fresh flowers for a week – the hotel illusion 4. A beachy oasis corner – with plenty of reading material at hand 5. A clean, luxurious bed to nap as need be throughout the day a. Buy the best new bed linens you can afford – enjoy!!!! Pick the staycation ideas that resonate with you, or visit the websites for even more ideas. The important take away from this article is that you celebrate your midsummer days and nights in ways that make your heart sing. a
The Truth Has No Agenda
actual steps, we will never know. To start this hike, follow Harry’s Valley Road to the east from where you parked your car for about a hundred feet to where the Ironstone Trail crosses the road. Turn left here and begin the ascent up Tussey Mountain. At first you’ll find steps made of logs but before long you’ll come across a rock field and the Indian Steps. Follow these steps to within two hundred feet of the top of the ridge, climbing 600 feet in about 0.4 miles. At the top of the climb turn left at the junction with the Mid State Trail. For the next 1.3 miles, follow the trail across the ridge top. The trail does not venture far from the crest. At 1.7 miles you will come across the first view to the south, overlooking Harry’s Valley. Another 0.2 miles of hiking will bring you to a clearing where a fire tower once stood. You can still find remnants of the old fire tower here, including concrete footers, metal anchors, and pieces of cable. From here follow the remains of a grassy forest road, still
hiking on the Mid State Trail, to the intersection with PA Furnace Road at 2.2 miles. At this intersection, turn left on PA Furnace Road and in four hundred feet you’ll come across another vista to the south. Continue hiking down PA Furnace Road for another quarter mile where the PA Furnace Road switch-backs to the right. Continue straight on the Pump Station Trail. For the next mile, the hiking is easy on the old, grassy forest road. The trail gradually descends on the Pump Station Trail with a number of views to the right as you climb down the south side of Tussey Mountain. At 3.5 miles, the Pump Station Trail merges with the Harry’s Valley Road. At the junction with Harry’s Valley Road, bear left and hike the last half mile back to your car and the start of the hike. This circuit hike is 4 miles in length and can be done in about two and a half hours. When climbing up the Indian Steps, keep in mind the legend about the attacking Lenni-Lenape Indians and their impending battle in the valley beyond. a
The Valley, July 2016
20 Natural Sunscreen from page 10 oxide and/or titanium dioxide as their only active ingredients. Conversely ‘chemical sunscreens’ use only non-mineral, or chemical, active ingredients. Chemical sunscreens We should be concerned about the potential toxic effects of chemicals in sunscreens when they enter the body through our skin. Also, if you choose to use a chemical spray sunscreen: be very careful not to inhale the spray. Below are just a few ingredients commonly used in sunscreens that would be very wise to avoid. Oxybenzone is in about 65% of sunscreens sold in the US. It is a UV filter. The US Center for
Disease Control found that 97% of Americans have oxybenzone in their blood. Of all the ingredients I researched for this article, this seems to be the big bad wolf! This ingredient has been shown to disrupt normal hormone functions. As a photocarcinogen, it’s demonstrated an increase in the production of harmful free radicals and an ability to attack DNA cells; for this reason, it is believed to be a contributing factor in the recent rise of melanoma cases with sunscreen users. Some studies have shown it to behave similarly to the hormone estrogen, suggesting that it may cause breast cancer. It has also been linked to contact eczema. Health professionals are recommending that products containing this ingredient not be used on babies and kids.
Octinoxate, also called Octyl methoxycinnamate or (OMC), is also a UV filter and a penetration enhancer. It can be absorbed rapidly through skin. Octinoxate has been detected in human urine, blood and breast milk, which indicates that humans are systemically exposed to this compound. Octinoxate is an endocrine disruptor that mimics estrogen and can disrupt thyroid function. This ingredient should never be used by pregnant or nursing mothers or children. Octocrylene and Octisalate (or octyl salicylate) are UV absorbers and are linked to contact dermatitis. They may cause allergic skin reactions in sensitive individuals. Homosalate is a common sunscreen ingredient. Research indicates it is a weak hormone
disruptor, and sunlight breaks down the chemical into harmful byproducts. Retinyl palmitate: a form of vitamin A (also called retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinyl linoleate and retinol) is a sunscreen additive. Retinyl palmitate is an antioxidant that combats skin aging. But studies by federal government scientists indicate that it may trigger development of skin tumors and lesions when used on skin in the presence of sunlight. It is not as widely used as some ingredients: contained in only 16 percent of the products surveyed for 2016. Mineral sunscreens Since 2007, there has been a dramatic increase in the availability of mineral-only sunscreens,
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“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
doubling from 17 percent of products to 34 percent in 2016. I think consumers are becoming more conscious of what they are using on their skin and going more natural. Sunscreens using zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are stable in sunlight, offer a good balance between protection from the two types of ultraviolet radiation (UVA and UVB) and don’t often contain potentially harmful additives. The drawback to mineral sunscreens is that you have to use a lot of zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide to get an SPF 30. This makes these mineral sunscreens expensive and they do not go on clear: they stay a bit white, so not everyone likes it. I feel that peace of mind is worth the additional cost and a little whitening on the skin. Another drawback is that some zinc oxide and titanium dioxide-based sunscreens, in an effort to get rid of the whitening of the skin, contain nanoparticles. Nano or micronized zinc oxide has been treated to reduce the size of its particles, creating an ultrafine powder. When added to sunscreens it does not leave a white film on the skin. The problem with this is that studies show the particles are so small they can enter the body through the skin, causing potential health problems. Zinc Oxide Zinc oxide does occur in nature as the mineral zincite, but it is quite rare and commercially unavailable. Commercially used zinc oxide is manufactured using mined zinc, which is then purified via distillation into pharmaceutical grade zinc oxide. Zinc oxide is one of only 17 active ingredients currently approved by the FDA for use in sunscreens. Upon application, zinc oxide particles sit on the outermost layer of your skin, the stratum corneum, where they scatter, absorb, and reflect ultraviolet radiation, protecting your living skin below. Zinc oxide is unique among sunscreen ingredients in that it is truly a broad-spectrum blocker, protecting from UVA, UVB, and even UVC. Titanium dioxide Titanium dioxide is safe and effective for protection against UVB (and some UVA) rays, however, titanium dioxide should always be used in combination with zinc oxide to attain true broad spectrum protection.
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The Valley, July 2016 Solar Solution for Old Gregg School from front page
panels will peak at 250ºF on a sunny day. The amazing power of the sun! Recently, the Penns Valley
Conservation Association and Penns Valley Science teachers organized a trip by over 100 Penns Valley Area High School Students to view the Old Gregg School Solar System and learn about its
features. Other interested groups can contact Doug Bierly @ 814-4228218 to arrange a showing. Be sure it’s a sunny day! a
The Insulated Solar Tank and associated Controller / Circulators / Heat Exchangers.
Curt Bierly is president of the bierly group incorporated of which Stanley C. Bierly is a division. He is chair of the Penn College
Navien High Efficiency Gas Water Heater with Recirculation Loop
The Truth Has No Agenda
Structural “Kickers” designed to protect
HVAC Advisory Board. You the south gymnasium wall against snow can contact him at his business and wind load on the panels. in Millheim (814-349-3000, cbierly@bierlygroup.com).
The Valley, July 2016
22
LIbrary Lines Your Mifflin County Library
I’m just a summer kind of gal. I love the sun. I love the heat! I love the beach at Greenwood or Poe Valley State Parks. I love reading! This is my first summer not directly involved in kids’ reading for fun. And I miss it. Like one summer when our theme was outer space. Each week for story time, we did space stories; aliens, the planets, and being an astronaut. My stories were about the space shuttle and life on the International Space Station. When I asked the kids, “Who wants to be an astronaut?” all of them raised their little hands. We talked about how you have to do well in school and exercise and be strong in order to be an astronaut; all of them said they could do that. Then we pretended we were the astronaut. I had pictures of what the suit looks like, how being in the space shuttle was like being in a car and you had to wear a heavy-duty seat belt. The whole idea of “no oxygen” was hard to understand, but I think the older kids got it. And that is why you have to wear a helmet.
Next, I asked the question, “What do you do if you have to go to the bathroom?” Everyone just looked at me. So I got out my picture of the astronaut and stripped off his suit, the flame-retardant under suit, all the way down to his diaper! Yep. Astronauts have to wear a diaper like a baby because once you are strapped in and the rocket boosters launch, there is no way to go to the bathroom! Once the shuttle gets to the space station, there are bathrooms. But no gravity. You can take something like a shower but it’s more like a sponge bath. My next question was, “What if you have to poop?” Silence and big round eyes were my answer. Yeah, it is sort of like a vacuum and it sucks it out and seals it in a baggie. I even had a cartoon picture of the tube, as well as the toilet with the straps to keep you on it. You know, there is no gravity. One boy, about age nine, said disgustedly, “I don’t think I want to be an astronaut anymore, Miss Susan.” One other summer, years
The Zeal of the Zika from page 3
CAL SCAM: Spraying more chemicals will cause more deformed babies, resulting in an even greater cry for more vaccines and more chemical spraying... and the cycle repeats The most shocking realization in all this is that the mass spraying of chemicals, the release of GM mosquitoes, and the use of Zika vaccines will all spread Zika even faster. It’s the perfect medical scam! Zika is spread by the very things that we’re all told are trying to stop Zika, and as the problem gets worse, all the chemical spraying and vaccines get ramped up to insane levels, causing even more insane levels of Zika virus. It’s just like flu shots: They spread the flu, causing more influenza outbreaks, panicking more people into getting more flu shots. And the cycle repeats. It’s the greatest medical scam of all time: Make sure the treatments CAUSE the problem they claim to prevent! Why do you think chemotherapy causes cancer? Why do you think antidepressant drugs cause depression? Why do you think flu shots spread the flu?
nesses related to the Zika virus at alarmingly fast rates. #9) Zika fear is being used to justify spraying MORE of the very chemicals that are causing the shrunken heads in the first place, putting even more children at risk Now that Zika fear is being hypedup by the corrupt, scientifically illiterate mainstream media, most people just stand aside as governments throughout the Americas spray all sorts of toxic, deadly chemicals all over the place. Now the new mantra for chemical pollution is, “It’s for Zika!” and then everybody backs off. It’s almost like “playing the Zika card” to justify almost anything. Right now, the Obama administration could unleash a nuclear holocaust across America and claim, “The radiation is to stop Zika!” and everybody would just go along with it (because they’re totally obedient to false authority). #10) It’s the PERFECT MEDI-
and years ago, we made a giant papier-mâché dragon out of cardboard and newspapers. All of the children helped until our clothes were stiff with glue. Another year, our theme was cowboys and the Wild West. Whenever I said, “Howdy, partner,” you had to reply, “Howdy, Sheriff,” or else you got “arrested.” The children who responded received a free movie rental from the library (as we rent out movies for a small fee). Summer at the library is so much fun! Please join us today for all of the excitement. The adults will be having a 50 mile walking challenge. There will be book bingo. Serpents and Claws with Marty Bowen will visit the library. I hope he brings his tarantula! And there will be a matchbox car derby. Plus, you may have heard that the Lewistown Library has a mascot? A squirrel with no tale. He is so cute, he looks like a guinea pig. We see him in the garbage looking for chips, or maybe even coffee. So we decided to have a “name the squirrel” contest, as well as draw a picture, write a story, or take a photo. I’m a summer kinda gal. Hope to see you this summer. Susan Miriello Assistant Director Mifflin County Library a It’s all by design, folks. And Zika is just the latest chapter of this massive quack science scam being carried out as global medical theater to control the masses. You are all being played, Orwellian style, under the guise of “public health.” Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/054248_Zika_virus_ medical_hoax_vaccine_industry. html#ixzz4CRsgdSlG As always, my goal is to encourage you to think outside the box. Never simply accept what appears to be spoon-fed to you without questioning. Please research this twist for yourself. Don’t blindly accept my views or the cited article either. Look at what the media is spinning and trying to coax you via fear tactics and then delve into the topic on your own and seek out all different angles. Then, you can decide your stance and views based on your own educated research. Tell me your thoughts. Dr. Joseph Kauffman Kauffman-Hummel Chiropractic Clinic drjosephkauffman@comcast.net a
The Benefits and Comfort of Using Wood To Heat Your Home by Marlin Peachey
Using wood for heating and cooking has been done since the beginning of creation. This is a renewable and sustainable energy source. As trees grow they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When they die and decay or are burnt, they only release as much carbon as they absorbed. Therefore, the carbon footprint is neutral as opposed to fossil fuels. The new wood stoves that are being built today are designed with re-burn capabilities so that the smoke and particulate matter is drastically reduced from older models. This greatly reduces the emissions. In addition, the heat that is generated by burning the smoke is utilized by the homeowner rather than sending it up the chimney un-burnt. Wood is one of the most economical choices of energy especially in areas like Pennsylvania where 50% of our land area is forest. In this area, a cord of wood can generally be purchased for around $150. (Green wood should be cut and seasoned six months before burning.) In order for other sources of energy to compete with the price of wood, fuel oil would need to be $1.10 per gallon, propane - $.80 per gallon, natural gas $.90 per therm. Even with the recent drop in oil prices, wood is still the cheaper source; cutting
“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
your own firewood makes it even more cost effective! There are other benefits from burning wood. You can cook your food and heat your water with a properly equipped wood stove. The comforting warmth of a wood fire and the appeal of watching it burn are some other benefits. The ashes that are generated from wood burning are high in potash and good for the soil in moderation. The jobs that are generated by timber harvesting and firewood cutting are also good for Pennsylvania’s economy. With sustainable forest management, mature and dead trees are removed allowing the younger trees more sunlight and nutrients. With a little fresh air and exercise, you can enjoy a cozy home this winter with a relatively small outlay of cash! The best to you this heating season! Marlin Peachey a
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The Valley, July 2016
R.O.F.F. Rescues Dogs From South Korean Meat Farm By BUFFIE BOYER Story courtesy The Sentinel and BUFFIE BOYER Sentinel reporter bboyer@lewistownsentinel.com From dog meat farms in South Korea, to new lives as pets halfway around the world, seven dogs are on their way to a brighter future. In early May, Rescue Our Furry Friends, a local foster-based rescue group in Burnham, partnered with the Humane Society International to take in several dogs that were rescued from a dog meat farm in Wonju, South Korea. A total of 250 dogs and puppies were rescued at the farm and were flown to the United States and placed in Emergency Placement Shelters, including one in Madison, New Jersey. Several members of ROFF traveled to New Jersey in May to meet the dogs and evaluate each dog’s behavior before bringing the animals back to Burnham. Michelle Troup, of ROFF, said when they arrived, their liaison from the Humane Society had a list of dogs for them to meet. After assessing each dog to make sure that none of them had signs of aggressive behavior, six were chosen. Then the liaison happened to mention to ROFF about a dog named Isa, a Belgian Malinois mix, who Troup explained was very shy and skittish due to her not having any human interaction for two years. ROFF agreed to take Isa. Once the dogs arrived in Burnham, the foster families were introduced to the dogs and took them home with hopes of helping the dogs become adoptable. One of the first things on the agenda for the dogs, too, was having all of them spayed or neutered. All seven dogs have been fixed, have received their vaccinations and have been wormed. The only medical issue that arose was one dog had a skin infection, which has been treated. “If there were any major medical issues, we had to let the Humane Society know and they would help defer the costs,” Troup said. Troup said one of the main issues and biggest concerns with the dogs was working on their diet. In South Korea, the dogs were fed once a day and their water was dumped into the same bowl as
the food. Slowly, the dogs have learned to eat their food from one bowl and drink from another. The dogs were also very thin when they arrived and Troup said she started with multiple meals a day and has slowly increased the amount of food and decreased the amount of meals a day. ROFF also met with a dog trainer to learn tips to help get the dogs “out of their shell,” Troup said. Of the seven dogs, three dogs have been adopted and the rest are available for adoption. One of the success stories from this rescue effort, goes to Isa. Noted as the shyest and most skittish of the seven dogs, Isa has made great strides to becoming a loving and trusting pet. Troup signed on as Isa’s foster family and said for the first couple of days Isa would not come out of her crate and did not urinate or have any bowel movements those days as well. On the third day, with the help of Troup’s bulldog, Isa finally came out of her crate and went outside. Troup notes that if she didn’t have other dogs already, Isa wouldn’t be doing so well. “I never forced her to do any-
Isa. Photo courtesy Buffie Boyer
thing,” Troup said. “Only encouraged her.” As Troup took care of Isa, she often posted photos of her on Facebook to show Isa’s progress to friends. One of those friends was Bobby Griebel, of Reedsville. Griebel, a lifelong dog lover and owner, said when she saw 2-year-old Isa’s face in the photos she knew from the beginning she wanted to meet her. Already familiar with ROFF’s adoption procedures, having adopted a German shepherd from ROFF
before, Griebel contacted Troup. Troup invited Griebel to come to her house to meet Isa and after a few visits, Griebel said Isa was initially very timid toward her, but she eventually started to respond better each time. “She’s very sweet,” Griebel said. On June 11, Isa found her forever home and moved to Reedsville with her new family, which includes furry friends, Ellie, Sierra and Pup. Griebel said the first meeting went well with all of the dogs, with Pup and Sierra walking Isa all around the house and the fenced-in yard. Ellie, the alpha dog of the house, let Isa know who was boss, but ended up lying side-by-side with her one night. “Having other dogs is tremendous, it makes what I’m doing easy,” she said. After watching the dogs greet each other, Griebel said, “I thought this will be OK. I’ve had as many as five dogs at a time. I like multiple dog interaction.” Troup said Isa needs the companionship of other dogs and knew that Griebel’s home would be a good match for her. Isa, a German name meaning “strong-willed woman,” has finally found her own voice and is barking now. She is also starting to show some affection toward Griebel. “Last night for the first time she put her paws in my lap,” Griebel said. “She’s been nuzzling my hand when I stop petting her.” Griebel said she is mirroring what Troup did by letting Isa go at her own pace and feels she has adapted very well. Troup said Isa and the other dogs are not for everyone. ROFF is requiring a fenced-in yard for anyone interested in adopting the South Korean dogs. Normally, ROFF does not require a fence for most of their dogs. If ROFF is called upon in the future by the Humane Society International to take in more dogs that are being rescued from dog meat farms, Troup said the organization is willing to help if it has the availability of foster homes and resources to step up to the task. For more information, visit roffrescue.wordpress.com or call (877) 933-7633 or visit ROFF’s Facebook page. a
The Truth Has No Agenda
Images courtesy of R.O.F.F.
Meat Dogs Rescued By ROFF
Herb is an approximate 2-yearold Jindo/lab mix. He was the only male of the seven dogs. He loves to play in the baby pool his foster family set up in their backyard for him. Herb is looking for his forever home.
Maris is an approximate 2-yearold mastiff mix dog. She is being fostered with fellow Korean dog Herb. She is doing well with new experiences and loves to go for walks with her huge foster Great Dane brother.
Jene is an approximate 2-yearold lab/golden retriever mix. Although shy at first, she was definitely one of the more outgoing dogs. Jene has been adopted into a loving home.
Belle (now named Lulu), an approximate 2-year-old lab mix, is coming along. She is still shy around men, but makes up to women much easier. She loves to ride in a car and is slowly enjoying walks. She still does not know how to take treats from hands yet, and loves to be outside and cannot live without being with other animals.
Rayna is an approximate 11-month-old mastiff type and has excelled at becoming an Americanized dog. She currently lives with four other dogs, is crate-trained and walks nicely on a leash. She adores toys of all types and is quite fearless except around the resident parrot at her foster home. She loves people and adventures and treats of all types.
Liann is an approximate 2-yearold Jindo. She is a bit shy and skittish still of new situations and noises. She has a very sweet personality and loves attention. She is available for adoption.
The Valley, July 2016
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What is Permaculture? Hi Valley readers! Whenever I confide in someone that I am enrolled in a permaculture design certification program, I get the same question that I assume every permaculturist before me has gotten: “What is permaculture?” The shortest definition is the one coined by its co-founder Bill Mollison: permanent agriculture. In truth, if agriculture is to indeed be permanent, it needs to be capable of sustaining itself with little input from the farmer. This occurs by way of closed loop systems. Can you think of any closed loop systems? Of course you can. Nature is full of them! That is one big clue on how to implement permaculture, but let’s look at the other half of the ‘permanent
agriculture’ definition. For these systems to be considered agriculture, they must produce a yield. In fact, as someone who really likes to eat, I want to maximize those yields! So in this regard, natural systems might not be our best model. This brings us to my personal definition of permaculture. It is the multi-disciplinary approach to designing a landscape which mimics nature, but with an expectation of an output. Permaculture uses information such as topography, micro-climates, biodiversity, and sector analyses to construct a plan for sustainable agriculture. A good permaculture design will incorporate plans for soil regeneration, water catchment, recycling of wastes, and (my
favorite!) plenty of crops to eat. Typically, permaculture designs plan for multiple uses from each component within the system. For example, when choosing trees for your yard, you might choose an apple tree instead of an ornamental. When choosing composting options, you may decide to use black soldier fly larvae as they can double as chicken feed. Now, you might be wondering what a permaculture design looks like. That’s almost as difficult to answer as the first question! Because permaculture is adapted to each site and its end use, every site looks a little different. They can range from large scale agro-forestry operations to small urban plots. A site might utilize simple composting systems and edible landscaping or it might boast an impressively integrated aquaponics system in the midst of
a dense food forest. Each of these can be permaculture designs, but their scale and level of implementation are different. In addition, two of the twelve ‘Permaculture Principles’ is that we value slow, small solutions and we observe and interact with our site. What that means is permaculture design—at least good permaculture design—takes time. A site might look very similar to any other suburban lawn for several years (like mine). Over time, those months of observational planning and the implementation of slow, small solutions add up to big changes. As David Holmgren, the second co-founder of permaculture, said “Traditional agriculture was labor intensive, industrial agriculture is energy intensive, and permaculture-designed systems are information and design intensive.”
“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
Part of the reason I love permaculture is because it is a field in which there is always more to learn. I love the challenge of finding solutions to problems in landscapes. I enjoy searching for multiple uses for each design element. Most importantly, I wholeheartedly believe that landscapes can be both beautiful and productive! Hopefully, I’ve piqued your interest in permaculture. The next time you hear someone talk about their passion for the subject, I hope you can smile and say “Hey, I’ve heard of that!” Permaculture is only difficult to define until you begin to implement it. I’ll leave you with my husband’s definition of the term, which I suspect he gets entirely too much enjoyment out of teasing me with: “it’s just academic gardening.” a
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The Valley, July 2016
Something is emerging from the muck in the woods of Stone Valley, and all across the temperate forests of North America. From the green and muddy depths of forest bogs, where the tang of
Salamander Larva
mud and sharp smell of anoxic rot fill the air, a creature which prefers to move under cover of darkness, is taking its first explorative steps on land, and diffusing into the upland forests. Like the first
terrestrial vertebrate lurching from the murky oceans of the Paleozoic Era, newly metamorphosed spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) are crawling from the temporal wetlands that served as their nursery grounds. Their recently developed lungs and spindle-like legs allow them to make this incredible journey across the leaf-strewn forest floor, taking shelter under rotting logs and in the vast and intricate network of tunnels woven throughout the substrate. Here the young salamanders will remain, mostly unseen, feeding on invertebrates such as insects, worms and slugs, for upwards of five years, as they grow to maturity. This journey from vernal pool to the dry forest uplands began many weeks ago, as adult spotted salamanders traversed the damp and frigid March landscape, inextricably bound for the
The Truth Has No Agenda
temporary forest pools which form in early spring and dry as summer progresses, driven by the same age-old wish that brought their parents to these ponds so many years earlier, to cast their lot in a few handfuls of shining eggs. Frequently making this journey across ice and snow, spotted salamanders, measuring between 6 and 8 inches, gather by the hundreds, their glistening blue-black bodies scattered with a unique array of yellow and orange spots. The adult salamanders remain for just a few short weeks of frenetic breeding, the result of which can be quantified in the thousands of egg masses, clinging to rushes and fallen branches, left to develop in the mossy waters. This opportunistic breeding strategy takes advantage of a temporary habitat with high densities of food and relatively low densities of predators. Unlike the protectively-shelled eggs of reptiles and birds, the jelly-like eggs of amphibians must be laid in water to prevent desiccation and allow the delicate embryos to develop. Salamander larvae emerge from these eggs in a form wholly unlike that of their parents. Their charry bodies are generally fusiform, with a wide, paddle-like tailfin used to propel them through the shadowy ponds,
their delicate and filamentous gills billowing gently on either side of their angular jaws. Although the larvae are quite small—not much larger than a tic tac when they emerge—baby salamanders are voracious predators, cruising the dark forest waters for macroinvertebrates, small tadpoles and even other salamander larvae on which to feed. Despite the relative safety of the vernal pools—their annual drying prevents fish from occupying these habitats—temporal ponds remain a savage playground for the salamanders to come of age. Their quick flight reflex and cryptic coloration are the only defenses these youngsters possess against predators lurking in the muddy depths. The grasping and grotesque larva of dragonflies and damselflies, predaceous beetles and gluttonous tadpoles are only some of the threats that lie in wait for these juvenile amphibians. The darkly armored larvae of the dragonfly wait patiently, indistinguishable from the rotting leaf detritus lining the pool, ready to pounce on and devour any unwary prey. The ponds are also rife with spiders, leaches, mosquito larvae and countless other creatures, all scrambling to survive and grow, competing for resources such as
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The Valley, July 2016
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Sometimes Life is a Beach There is something about the beach that is mesmerizing. The lap of waves that has gone on
open view and meeting of water and sky are breathtaking subjects. On a recent trip to coastal South Carolina, I didn’t do any actual painting, but took a lot of photos to work from later back
uninterrupted since almost the beginning of time, the cries of shore birds and their passing shadows on the sand. The cool of morning and intense heat of the midday sun, as well the nearly constant ocean breeze, cycle around nearly every day of the long summer. For an A female loggerhead turtle on the beach to lay her eggs. The author playing ukulele on the beach artist, the
in the studio. A lot of these were on a “wild” beach on Edisto Island, south of Charleston. Here, the natural forces of erosion are allowed to eat away or build up beach as they are supposed to, without protective structures or sand replacement. It seems remarkable to see intact oak tree skeletons standing in the surf and palmetto trees growing right to the high tide mark, but here both line a long stretch of beach. I was lucky enough to witness a large loggerhead turtle, probBotany Bay Beach, Edisto Island, South Carolina. (photo by Linda Leitzel)
ably at least 300 pounds, slowly pull herself up the beach with her flippers looking for a safe place to lay her eggs. Hundreds use this beach each year,
with volunteers marking the nests for protection and then watching for the emerging little turtles later in the summer to help them safely make the trek to the water’s edge. I also couldn’t resist the temptation to take my ukulele out to the beach a couple of times. There is something about playing and singing Bob Marley tunes or Over the Rainbow, Iz-style, that fits in perfectly here, even if it’s only the birds and sea turtles listening! a
The Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra
P R E S E N T t h e 7 th A n n u a l
MUSIC FEST
Sunday, July 24, 2016
2 pm - Hors d’oeuvres served — 3 pm - Concert begins Featuring
Curtin Street Chamber Players performing a delightful mixture of light chamber music Wine is available for purchase by the glass or bottle.
Also included -- a silent auction to benefit PCO • Dinner for 2 with the Maestro • Special Gift Baskets • Ticket for local concerts • 2 Grape/wine themed aprons • 4 Tickets to Met Opera at State Theatre • Dinner for 2 at Whiskers • Spa Gift Certificate
• 2 Tickets to Philadelphia Orchestra • 2 one-hour massages • Round of Golf for 4 with cart • Minigolf and Go-cart rides • $40 certificate for Flowers ... plus many more
Tickets: $35 available online (Advanced registration requested by July 22nd)
CentreOrchestra.org or call 814.234.8313 Sponsored by:
Seven Mountains Wine Cellars, 324 Decker Valley Road, Spring Mills, PA
“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
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The Valley, July 2016 from 5 to 105 who enjoy a quick read in a great children’s picture book. There is a glossary of what the actual words in the Preamble of the Constitution mean.
Mail Pouch Books by Carleen B. Grossman Happy July to everyone! This month is known for... International Day of Friendship, Amelia Earhart Day, Parent’s Day, National Hot Dog Day, and of course, for Independence Day on July 4th! In honor of July 4th, I have chosen 3 patriotic children’s picture books to help families celebrate this July holiday while learning some important facts. These books are some of the classics in patriotic books for families to use together in honoring our country. Thus, parents and older siblings can help the younger ones look into some very serious words. Everyone can enjoy these books! The United States ABC’s: A Book About the People and Places of the United States By Holly Schroeder Copyright2004
In this simple picture book, you will explore the United States with fun info-tidbits. Travel through the Alphabet of American traditions such as automobiles, baseball, the constitution, the dollar, the eagle and farm life. Many of the illustrations have “fast facts” under the simple pictures. A fun way for the entire family to celebrate American traditions through exploration of people, geography, animals, plants, history and culture. We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States David Catrow Copyright 2005
How To Bake an American Pie Karma Wilson Copyright 2007
readers of all ages. This book is for kids, parents, and other grown-ups. Each two-page spread is a clever feast for the eyes. It is perfect for youngsters 8-12, but I recommend this book for readers
The text in this book is a poem about ideally what it is to be an American and what forms America. After a fractious campaign season, this book gives ideals that are attainable, if not always present. A clever rhyming book, it shows
how all the wonderful things in America can be put together to make a pie. The illustrations are a fun work of art. There are geographic ingredients such as fruited plains, fields/of amber grains, and purple mountain majesties, while other ingredients include meekness, might, courage, liberty, justice, freedom, dreams, forgiveness, and customs from faraway lands. These essentials are put into the pie, and the pie cooks in its cast-iron melting pot. a
The author/illustrator uses cartoon techniques to teach about the Preamble of the Constitution and his hilarious illustrations will delight
Home at the Grange by Patricia L. Bird Logan Grange #109 142 and Going Strong For the month of July I would like to introduce you to the members of Logan Grange #109. Logan Grange was chartered on February 13, 1874 and it is part of the Centre County Pomona Grange #13. It held its first meetings at the Logan Branch School House outside Pleasant Gap. The current hall is located at 122 N. Main Street and was built in 1931. Current membership of Logan Grange is approximately 155 members from throughout the country. Meetings are held usually on the 3rd Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Logan Grange’s history is steep in serving the community through various projects. Some of those are giving dictionaries to 3rd grades at the local elementary school, giving baby quilts to local hospitals, sponsoring an AARD Senior Driving Course, providing two senior scholarships to Bellefonte Area High School, donating to Centre County’s Pets Come First and Paws, A Women’s
Concern, local food banks, Operation Shoebox, and many more. This year Logan Grange undertook a very important community service project. Logan Grange was asked if it was up to the challenge of doing an unusual
community service project. Of course the answer was yes. After Master Dottie Houtz explained the project, a committee was established and, as they say, the rest is history. The project named “Return-
Centre County Pomona Grange members L-R: Kenna Kurtz, Denny McCloskey, Kris McCloskey, Ben Haagen, Dorothy Houtz, Dale Vonada, Melanie Melius, Merle Eyer, Patty Bird and Ashley Furman completed a community service project where they painted the outdoor furniture for the Centre Crest Nursing Home in Bellefonte.
The Truth Has No Agenda
Pomona Grange # 13 Chaplain Ben Haagen reads to a Centre Crest Nursing home resident during the Centre County Pomona Grange community service project.
ing Them to Loved Ones” was born. It included cleaning and restoring 20 glass framed chalk portrait drawings of Pennsylvania solders killed in 2003 and 2004 while serving in Iraq and surrounding countries; identifying them, and returning them to family members. As a Logan member, I managed to locate a website called Honor the Fallen that contained the actual portraits of service personnel who were killed in action during that time. Using that website and one that had copies of the drawings themselves enabled me to identify all 20 members. The next step of the project was more time intensive. Calling the preliminary telephone
numbers listed for families led to only contacting a few, so more research was needed. Using multiple resources such as Facebook, working with Gold Star Mothers, several American Legions and VFWs and Centre County Army contacts along with others at Fort Indiantown Gap, we were able to talk to a few more. Those contacts led to many more contacts and we were able to finally send the last portrait “home” at the end of May. Members felt that this was truly a meaningful project. After they were all sent, I again contacted each family to make sure
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Life in the East End by Rebecca Harrop This is a busy time of year in the East End. We’ve had hay to mow and bale and the wheat is about ready to harvest. The corn and soybeans are growing well. The milk prices still aren’t very good, so I encourage everyone to make sure you eat lots of dairy products. The Mifflin County Youth Fair Open Show Committee has been getting things ready for the fair. We’ve been collecting donations from local businesses for the benefit auction. Mom and I have been planning what we’re going to enter in the Open Show at the fair. We’ve been trying to keep our garden weed free this year, so we have lots of vegetables to choose from. So far so good. Mom actually pulled a radish the other night. She was so proud of that little radish. We do seem to have a critter helping himself to the plants. So far he has gotten over six tomato plants, about four peppers, and three sweet potato plants. Mom is not very happy. She threatened to get the shotgun out. All in all, the garden looks pretty good. This year the Open Show has added a new event. We will
be having an Antique Tractor Parade. All the exhibitors who enter an antique tractor will be able to participate in the parade. If anyone is interested in entering a tractor or anything else in the Open Show you can contact an Open Show member. There are many areas to enter your home grown items or items you have made since last years fair. You can enter your flowers, vegetables, or fruits from your fruit trees. Home canned items, jellies, and jams are always popular entries. Farmers can enter samples of their crops, such as corn, both growing and last fall’s harvested corn. You can also enter other small grains like barley, oats, wheat, and soybeans, even popcorn. If you raise sheep, you can enter the wool. And, our local honey producers can enter honey and wax products made from bees’ wax. There are lots of different arts and craft items that can be entered as well as sewing and photography items. Part of the sewing entries include quilting items. We encourage our ladies who quilt to enter quilt squares, which will be kept by the Open Show committee to be made into a quilt. That quilt will then be
auctioned off during the Benefit Auction the last night of the Fair. I strongly encourage all those wonderful bakers out there to bake your finest and enter those items. Hopefully you all know that Tuesday night of fair week ALL the baked goods are auctioned off at 6:00 pm during the Baked Goods Auction. John Rheam is our auctioneer for that. John always makes the auction a fun time for everyone. You can even enter homemade wreaths from pines or garlands. I hope you are getting the idea that you can enter almost anything in the Open Show part of the Mifflin County Youth Fair. Earlier in the article I mentioned the Benefit Auction the Mifflin County Open Show Committee puts together every year to make the Open Show possible and help fund the rest of the Fair as well. We have a lot of very nice items collected so far and more items are still coming in. I want to take a little space here to thank all our wonderful donors who make this auction possible. There are many fine local businesses and individuals who contribute monies or items to the Open Show. We cannot thank them enough. Without their support, we couldn’t make the Open Show and the Fair in general what it is. The Benefit Auction is held the last night of the Fair at 6:00 pm in the lower end of the Green
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Next Issue of The Valley: August 3rd “.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
The Valley, July 2016
The Truth Has No Agenda
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The Valley, July 2016
30 Natural Sunscreens from page 20 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATION In my research, I found this disturbing information! Between 6000 and 14,000 tons of sunscreen washes off swimmers, scuba divers, and snorkelers into coral reef environments each year! Even more sunscreen pollution can reach coastal areas via waste water discharges. Up to 10% of the world’s coral reefs may be threatened by certain chemicals found in most sunscreens. Four common sunscreen ingredients were shown to kill or bleach coral at extremely low concentrations (as low as one drop in 6.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools). Read your labels for: Oxybenzone, Butylparaben, Octinoxate or 4-methylbenzylidene camphor. There is no evidence that zinc oxide harms coral. It is a powdered mineral that will not dissolve in seawater and instead will eventually settle to the seafloor, like silt, and become buried in the sediment. Recipe for a DIY sunscreen Many of the ingredients in this recipe have a natural SPF, but since this is a natural recipe and
has not been tested by a regulatory organization, I can’t make any claims or even guesses as to the combined SPF. The individual ingredients that are naturally SPF are: • Almond Oil - SPF around 5 • Coconut Oil - SPF 4-6 • Zinc Oxide - SPF 2-20 de pending on how much used • Red Raspberry Seed Oil - SPF 25-50 • Carrot Seed Oil - SPF 35-40 • Shea Butter - SPF 4-6 Most DIY recipes that I have come across have around 15 to 20 SPF—more than enough protection for the average person. Homemade Sunscreen Ingredients ½ cup almond or olive oil ¼ cup coconut oil ¼ cup beeswax 2 Tablespoons Zinc: use a nonnano zinc oxide and use a mask when mixing 1 teaspoon Red Raspberry Seed Oil 1 teaspoon Carrot Seed Oil 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil 2 tablespoons Shea Butter Optional: Essential Oils, Vanilla Extract or other natural extracts to give some fragrance Homemade Sunscreen Instructions • Using a double boiler, heat all ingredients except the zinc oxide.
Stirring until all ingredients are melted. • When all ingredients are completely melted, add the zinc oxide, stir in well and pour into whatever glass jar or tin you will use for storage. • Stir a few times as it cools to make sure zinc oxide is incorporated. Use as you would regular sunscreen. Best if used within six months. Additional Notes • This sunscreen is somewhat, but not completely, waterproof and will need to be reapplied after sweating or swimming. • Make sure not to inhale the Zinc Oxide—use a mask if necessary! • Add more beeswax to make thicker sunscreen, less to make smooth sunscreen. • DO NOT use citrus essential oils in your sunscreen, as they may increase sensitivity to sunlight. • Store in a cool, dry place or in the fridge. Give your favorite lotion some SPF! Get a bottle of your favorite lotion (that doesn’t contain citrus oils!) Add a couple tablespoons of nonnano Zinc Oxide. Mix well.
Use as Sunscreen Easy Breezy!!! New to Shade Mountain starting very soon: MAKE & TAKES! And guess what our first one is: SUNSCREEN! Every month we will be offering a new product that you will come into Shade Mountain, use all our ingredients and equipment, make the product and take it home! We are committed to educating our customers about natural skin care and having fun while doing it! I am super excited to share what we have been blessed with. If you are interested in more information, give us a call at 717-248-8847. Also, as always: I would
Home At The Grange from page 27 they received the drawing. Not only did I receive many heartfelt thank you expressions, but the Grange received numerous cards and letters. On Mother’s Day, my daughter Ashley Furman and I presented a drawing to one of the local mothers. Amy Beaver said that she felt like she was receiving a special gift from her late son, Army Sgt. Dale Lloyd. There were many tears, hugs and lots of conversation while learning more about Lloyd of Watsontown, PA.
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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 company! We create all our products on site: FRESH!!! Soaps, crèmes, lip balms, bath bombs, facial products, and more. We will give you a free sample and, of course...smells are unlimited and encouraged! At last count, we had over 70 EOs for sale and we love to share information. Our hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9-4, Thursdays and Fridays 9-6 and every Saturday 10-2. We are located at 45 Serenity Lane (off Jack’s Creek Road) in Lewistown. Hope to see you soon! Tamela a The entire committee said that this was truly a moving project as they learned about each of the people featured in the drawings. They expressed that they would take on such a project again if asked. If you would like to learn more about this project or the fallen soldiers, go the website Honor the Fallen or contact Logan Grange Master Dorothy Houtz at 364-9350. Master Houtz would like to also invite anyone who would like to learn more about Logan Grange to call. Logan Grange is always happy to accept more members. a
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The Valley, July 2016
Why You Need To Support Small Businesses by Scott Keys
Small business is – quite frankly – big business. The Small Business Administration identified that there are more than 28.2 million businesses operating in the United States as of March 2014, with about 63% of new jobs being created from small businesses between 1993 and mid 2013. Of these 28.2 million businesses, most are “self-employed” – making up about 3/4 of the U.S.’s total businesses. Meanwhile, approximately half of small businesses survive five years or more, many of which make up your local coffee shops, favorite local boutiques, preferred chiropractor or local pet shop. When you consider how many small businesses surround you in your everyday lives, it is impressive to think about the amount of time, commitment and labor these hard working individuals contribute to make their businesses both come to life and stay alive. Yet, many Americans frequent chain stores without considering their local merchant or other small business options. Whether it’s filling a prescription at a local pharmacy vs. Walgreens or picking up eggs and milk at a local corner store vs. your nearest Walmart, small businesses are too often overlooked for all the wrong reasons. Customers assume that pricing will automatically be higher at a small business vs. a corporate owned store; as well as they dismiss the perks that many small businesses offer such as
customer care, inventory assortment and community support. However, did you know that many of these misconceptions about small businesses are just that… misconceptions? Here’s why: 1. Stores do not control pricing of most products. Vendors do. When you consider brand names like Under Armor, Melissa & Doug children’s products or Fossil, you have to also consider that the prices identified on them for sale are identified by the vendor – not the store. With some exceptions, stores primarily have no control over a product price, but rather are provided a MSRP (Manufactured Suggested Retail Price) that tells them the price the product should be sold at. Over time, if the product doesn’t sell or a store has a promotional event taking place, this price may be lowered. But generally speaking, vendors want their products sold at their suggested rate, therefore retailers are not encouraged to lower them unless it’s discussed in advance – such as stores like Nordstrom do for their famous Anniversary Sale. Many small merchants as well offer discounted items for special occasions – therefore not making this exclusive to big box stores. 2. Inventory is not always more easily available at big box stores. Smaller merchants have the same access to vendors as big box stores do, therefore if you need an item and it’s not available in their
store, it’s likely they can get in touch with the vendor right away and try to order it for you right away. Of course, there are always exceptions, but most small store owners are eager to go above and beyond in their customer service support and this is just one way they can do better for their customers. 3. Customer service is more personalized, hands-on and noteworthy from smaller businesses. Again, there are exceptions to every rule, but generally speaking you should expect that a smaller business will deliver stronger customer service. Their personal commitment to their business certainly helps in these efforts, but even from their collective team— no matter how small or large it is—typically stronger customer care is experienced. Among the reasons why is that they have a more hands-on role within the company, therefore building a stronger sense of care for the job they do. Additionally, smaller companies are more flexible in their customer support with a willingness to bend rules if necessary (such as alter a return policy) or deliver VIP treatment when least expected (such
The Truth Has No Agenda
as home delivery for a customer during a rain storm). While every business is different, what also makes customer care among small business more valuable is just that—being different. 4. Product diversity and options are often greater at small businesses vs. chain stores. Sure, a big box merchant may have a larger footprint in your local community, but that doesn’t mean they have more variety to offer you. When you walk into a chain store, you know exactly what you will find. However, when you walk into a local business, you are often surprised by the inventory options. This is to a customer’s advantage and is among the many reasons to frequent your local stores more often. And remember, just because a big box store is just that… bigger… doesn’t mean they have more to offer. The assortment of inventory at big box store is just deeper, not more diverse. 5. Local business owners are more likely to give back to your community. Beyond actual dollars being kept within your local community – which is significantly higher when dollars are spent at a local business vs. a corporate one – small business owners are also more likely to “do good” for
your community, as well. Small businesses deliver community character and economic advantages to the town they are positioned in, but also strengthen partnerships among neighbors, residents, other small business owners, community leaders and even schools by offering social and economic relationships. Many also support local causes, creating even more good within a community. Another interesting point to consider is that small businesses do not always stay small – such as Ben & Jerry’s or Ralph Lauren. Both began as just dreams filled with a tremendous amount of hard work, long days and tired nights. Today, they are among the most recognized brands in our country. Yet while most small business owners will not see this type of growth, their value to our economy and more specifically – your local economy – are just as important. There’s even a day to celebrate them - Small Business Saturday, which takes place the Saturday following Thanksgiving, anchored between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. On Small Business Saturday, any Saturday, or any other day in between, supporting small businesses deserves to be part of your everyday routine. a
The Valley, July 2016
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100 Stine Drive Lewistown, PA 17044 Conveniently located next to Route 322 717-248-6400 These are just some of our listings... Please visit our website to view all of our listings plus virtual tours www.StoneArchRealEstate.com
Hunting Lodge or Home New Lancaster Valley $495,000 4 BR, 2 Full Baths Abuts Bald Eagle State Forest 52 Acres with trout stream
New Price
94 Walnut Road Lewistown $329,900
Open House on July 10th
4 BR, 2.5 Baths
South Hills Development 1.13 Acres 2712 sq. ft.
140 Oak Ridge Road Lewistown $279,000 Beautiful 2 Story in South Hills 4 BR, 2.5 Baths, 3030 sq. ft. In Ground Pool, 2 car attached garage, 1.79 Acres
From 1:00 to 3:00
NEW
25 Lower Deere Run Lewistown $255,000
4 BR, 2 full Baths 10.69 Acres Beautiful ranch style Ferguson Valley
110 White Pine Lane McVeytown $249,900
4 BR, 2 Baths 3.29 Acres Beautiful family room with HW floors, cathedral ceilings and stone Fireplace
115 Shaw Avenue Lewistown $75,000 3 BR, 1.5 Baths Hard wood floors on main level Eat in Kitchen Gas fire place
New Price
Open House on July 10th from 1:00 –
320 Greenbriar Road Lewistown $164,900 Pleasant Acres West
3 BR, 2.5 Baths 1st Flr Laundry Large eat-in Kitchen
179 Cambridge Lane Blossom Hill $109,900
One level 2 BR Townhouse Built on Slab with patio Open floor plan Cathedral Ceilings
10 Strawberry Lane Lewistown $229,900 4 BR, 2.5 Baths South Hills Development 3000 sq. ft. of living space 1.55 Acres
See our OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND ad in the “Lewistown Sentinel” on July 8th. Several homes will be held open for you to tour on July 9th and 10th Kim Rickert REALTOR ® Broker/Owner ABR,GRI,CRS, SRES
Katy Flood REALTOR® ABR 717-437-0161
Tami Slick REATOR® ABR 717-250-2838
Teri Smith REALTOR® GRI, CRS 717-994-3908
Members of Mifflin-Juniata MLS and Centre County MLS “.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
Deb McCoy REATOR® 717-513-5277
Marie Miller REALTOR ® 717-437-3058