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The Valley, June 2016
Diving Deep Into Essential Oils by Tamela Hetrick Certified Aromatherapist Shade Mountain Naturals Dermal Absorption Rate and Administering Essential Oils Topically Being a Massage Therapist for the past 16 years, I have seen first-hand how the oils and crèmes I use are absorbed into my client’s skin. I have always had a deep interest about just how much Essential Oil is actually absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream. During my studies with AromaHut, I am interested more than ever about this, plus concerned about what considerations should be taken when creating an Essential Oil blend for a client and administering this blend topically. It is important to know how quickly and to what extent Essential Oils penetrate the skin and find their way into the bloodstream. It is also pertinent to understand the factors that aid or hinder dermal absorption. Dermal absorption is the transport of a chemical from the outer surface of the skin both into the skin and into the body. The question of absorption via the skin has been fairly mysterious and full of controversy for many years. Essential oils can and do affect the skin cells, but do they get into the body via lymph or bloodstream this way? Old
research showing lavender in the bloodstream within a half hour after diluted skin application did not factor out inhalation, which is the quickest and most effective way of getting an essential oil into the bloodstream. Let’s dive deeper! Skin’s anatomy First, we should revisit basic anatomy and the layers of the skin. The skin is the body’s
of the skin is the epidermis, which is comprised of 4 to 5 layers (depending on the location in the body). The epidermis is broken down in layers, superficial to deep: stratum Corneum, stratum Lucidum (palms and soles only), stratum Granulosum, stratum Spinosum, and stratum Basale. As cells mature, they progress from the stratum basale, out toward the stratum corneum. By the time
keratinized nature of the stratum corneum renders it a highly effective protective barrier, especially from transepidermal water loss. The innermost layer of the skin is called the dermis. It consists of connective tissue, nerve endings, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, and hair follicles. For the purposes of transdermal absorption, the dermis provides minimal interfer-
largest organ and is essentially a water resistant barrier about 3 mm thick. The outermost layer
they reach the stratum corneum, they have become anucleated and highly keratinized. The highly
ence. The most significant barrier of transdermal absorption is the epidermis. By the time a transder-
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mal agent has passed through the epidermis and reached the dermis, it has now gained easy access to blood vessels for systemic circulation. Skin’s permeability For many years, biologists believed that the skin formed an impassable barrier to the outside world. We now know that this is not the case and that many substances are dermally absorbed to some degree. This knowledge has come at a great expense. For example, in the 1970s hexachlorophene was used as an antiseptic in baby soaps and talcs, causing brain damage and even death in some babies after it penetrated their skin. In fact, chemicals have been detected in human breath following dermal exposure. Nonetheless, the skin is still an important protective barrier. It limits the rate at which potential harmful substances enter the body, as well as preventing the loss of body fluids. Since the cells of the stratum corneum are not living, they are incapable of registering a physiological response to toxic chemicals. Therefore, before an essential oil constituent can cause a toxic response in the skin or indeed anywhere else in the body, it must first cross the stratum corneum.
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The Valley, June 2016
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Editor’s Corner Wayne Stottlar Wow! What a difference a month makes. I am writing this on the second straight day of summer-like sunshine, 80+ degrees and busy, busy bees. This weird spring weather we’ve had messed up the norm for sure. Some farmers lost their cherries and plum crops, and yet others may find themselves replanting the seeds that went in too early and rotted in the ground. I was having a similar conversation a few nights ago with Sam Alexander (while we were still wondering if sustained warmth and sun would ever arrive) and he told me that some other beekeepers were worried that the early warmth started bud growth on the locust trees and that the bud had froze during this last cold spell. While true that in this part of Pennsylvania the locusts have usually flowered by May 15,
averages are just that, average. We both decided that we would start worrying after another week went by. That was Monday the 23rd, and now Wednesday the 25th, with abundant sunshine and heat, we have locust blossoms! It’s on! Fingers crossed the weather treats us nicely—if so, we should have a great couple of weeks. If any of you are still acting like moths to a flame over the presidential race, you have my sympathy. That production has gotten so ridiculous that it makes me chuckle. People on TV, who haven’t been right about any facet of this election so far, continue to act like prophets, predicting things that never come true and never apologizing for being wrong. And in some cases, outright lying to you knowingly. You know why they do it? Because you can’t get
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to them to adjust their attitude, they are insulated, and there is no price to pay for them being less than honest. If any of us were in Hillary Clinton’s shoes, we would already be incarcerated. There are more than enough facts for an indictment and conviction, but see any of our elected officials demanding justice? Neither have I, and they won’t either, because I suspect all of them occupying that cesspool in Washington are guilty of something, and they won’t hang one of their own, unless their throats are in danger. While I believe Clinton falls before the election, what does that leave us, the Socialist Bernie Sanders? Anyone know anything about Venezuela? They are socialist, and the country is in chaos, riots, marshal law, and NO FOOD! This is the predetermined end for socialism always. How many of their citizens end up being murdered by the government II is yet to be seen, THAT is Socialism! Now stop and think for a moment about the people who are supporting Bernie that you know. Their support of that kind of evil is an eye into their character. Socialists are intolerant, thugs—you can make up your own label for the people that support them—I label them ignorant. It appears I have my first problem with the new Mif-
flin County Commissioners. It seems that they have decided to hurt a segment of the population that can least afford it, those people that use the library. The Commissioners in their lack of wisdom, have decided to de-fund the public library by $15,000. I know times are tough, and I know that the commissioners are trying to hold taxes down, as they should. But taking $15,000 from an entity that has been struggling for years and provides such a wonderful service to the community is just plain brain dead. $15,000 is a drop in the bucket on some other budgets. If they are having a tough time deciding what to cut, I would be glad to help—bet I can find enough cuts to INCREASE their allotted
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
budget. Of course pet departments that expect to get whatever they want may not be happy, but Commissioners are supposed to make tough decisions. De-funding the Mifflin County Library wasn’t tough, it was cowardly. Fix the mistake Commissioners, I don’t need another cause at the moment, but the Library isn’t available for sacrifice—find somewhere else to cut. I know you can. With all of the weird wet and cold spring weather this last couple months, we are still behind on chores, the garden usually well on it’s way has yet to be planted, but I will get to it this coming weekend. Up in NH Memorial Day Weekend was the traditional safe time to start a garden, so I know I will still have a harvest. a
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The Valley, June 2016 Deep Into Essential Oils from front page Considerations when administering essential oils topically The aim of an Aromatherapist in administering essential oils is to elicit the maximum therapeutic benefits while keeping undesirable side effects to a minimum. One excellent way of administrating Essential Oils is topical applications. Essential Oils will absorb through the skin but there are other excellent benefits to consider. Consider the route of administration We have several choices of vehicles of administration when advising a client to use an essential oil topically. Massage can increase dermal absorption by 34 to 158%! This may be due to the stimulating effect of massage on blood flow. In addition, when a client massages oils onto the skin, the skins overall temperature will increase due to friction and this also will increase absorption. Also, the client will inhale and thus getting the essential oil into the lungs. Bath is another excellent way to administer essential oils. Hydration of the top layer, stratum corneum, such as occurs during a bath or shower, fosters essential oil absorption. The increase in temperature will benefit as well as inhalation. Moisturizing lotion (an emulsion of liquid and oil) and carrier oils. When the Aromatherapist creates a lotion, butter or massage oil, not only will the Essential Oil
80 than in those of 20 – 30 years of age.
absorb into the skin, the client will also inhale the Essential Oil as they apply the topical crème or oil, and they will receive the benefit of moisturizing the skin via the carrier oils. Consider what area of the body Medicinal products relying on skin absorption are frequently applied on areas of thinner epidermal layers, such as the axillary region. One might then assume that this would be true for essential oils, too. Some have suggested that fragrant molecules were more easily absorbed in openings in the skin, such as hair follicles and sweat glands. This gave rise to the idea that applying essential oils (often neat) to the feet, well known for their ability to sweat, was a potent way to deliver desired properties. More recently, researchers studying absorption methods have conducted an experiment to study dermal penetration via the feet. This study was not about essential oils, but sought to investigate an urban myth claiming people could become drunk by submerging their feet in vodka. The conclusion proved that this was false and alcohol was not detected in the blood when samples were taken every 30 minutes for a total of 180 minutes. One would assume the same would hold true for essential oils. The feet’s skin layers are so much thicker than anywhere else on the body that is makes it very difficult for anything to break through. An image for absorption rates for different areas of the body is provided.
Consider the skin’s “health” and age Care must be taken if a client has irritated or injured skin. Essential oils will be able to penetrate much quicker and at a higher percentage with compromised skin. For example in atopic dermatitis, the skin is likely to be broken so its function as a barrier to unfamiliar substances is compromised. This has obvious implications not only for the choice of an oil, but also the concentration for therapeutic effects and minimal toxicity. Damaged skin can often benefit from using Essential Oils. This form of treatment may not be strictly ‘aromatherapy,’ but it is closely allied. This is because the essential oils can have a direct pharmacological action on damaged tissues, as well as indirect beneficial effects on the mind if the aroma is perceived as pleasant. Infant skin is much thinner than adult skin. The skin of pre-term infants is approximately 2.5 times more permeable than adult skin and before 30 weeks gestation it is 100-1000 times more permeable! Children up to three months are at increased risk of skin damage from topically applied agents. In the elderly, there is an overall thinning of the epidermis resulting in skin being more permeable. Also, recovery from skin injury is approximately three times slower in people over
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Consider the EOs constituents Essential oils have a much smaller molecular weight than carrier oils and therefore pass through the skin quicker. When the molecular weight of an ingredient is under 500 Dalton (the standard measurement unit of atomic mass) then it is thought to be able to freely pass through the top layer of the skin, the stratum corneum. All essential oil constituents have molecular weights well under the 500 Dalton mark so they pass with relative ease. The thing is this: essential oil constituents, because they all have different molecular weights, will penetrate the stratum corneum at different speeds and percentages. In 1940 a researcher called Straehli did some fascinating tests on essential oils. He found that all the oils tested appeared in his subjects’ breath following absorption
through the skin. In other words, the essential oils penetrate into the skin, make it into the bloodstream, diffuse all around the body to various organs including the lungs and are then breathed out. Further studies reveal that constituents absorb at different percentages. The “whole” essential oil does not permeate the skin at once. Terpinene and terpineol have shown no absorption through the skin, linalool (found in some 200 oils, including Rosewood, basil, clary sage, geranium) is at 2.8 to 3.6%, geranial (ex: lemongrass, melissa, thyme, palmarosa) comes in as high as 7.3% and coumarin (found in cassia leaf, cassia bark and lavender absolute) is shown to be as high as 33%! This study, and others that have been undertaken since then, show that essential oil constituents certainly do make it into the bloodstream – and much further than that. Another important consideration of essential oil constituents is some also enhance dermal absorption of their own and that of other substances. Some, such as methyl salicylate, may do this in part by increasing local capillary blood flow. This could be a problem for someone who is
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The Valley, June 2016
Pine Tree Riot:
A History of Rebellion by Carla Gericke I have an odd relationship with the Town of Weare, a place of rebellion. Weare is where I was arrested--Where? Weare!--in 2010 for filming police officers during a routine traffic stop. I was charged with felony wiretapping, facing 7 years in prison. All charges against me were later dropped, but I, like Ebenezer Mudgett and his posse did centuries ago, decided to fight back. I sued the police department and the Town of Weare for violations of my constitutional rights, and in 2014 prevailed in a landmark 1st Amendment case in the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Today is the anniversary of Weare’s Pine Tree Riot of 1772, which took place 17 months before the Boston Tea Party and three years before “The Shot Heard Round the World.” You can read more of the history online, but the gist is the British Crown overreached by mandating that New Hampshire white pine trees of a certain size remained the property of the King of England. You see, England had a navy and these ships needed masts. England had also greatly deforested its lands by now, so, like good overlords, decided to steal stuff they needed to invade and kill and wage war from the colonialists who were trying to get away from it all. “In 1771 Governor John Wentworth was appointed a ‘Surveyor of the King’s Woods’ and he appointed deputies that traveled throughout the state, enforcing the law. They searched saw mills, marked any trees in the mill that should have been reserved for the king with a ‘broad arrow mark,’ confiscating them for sale with the proceeds going into the King’s treasury. Following the posting of an advertisement in the newspaper, if the matter was not settled, the offending saw mill owner and any others involved were arrested, often tried in court, and fined. A new settler, before he could build his cabin and clear his land, had to get a deputy to put
the broad arrow mark on all the king’s pine trees that were to be kept for masts, and then a royal license to cut the rest, for all which he had to pay a good sum.” The Weare settlers were having none of it, rightly thinking that trees grown and logged on their own properties should be dispersed of as the owners saw fit, to be used for their houses and churches, and to sell for profit. On April 13, 1772, twenty men with blackened faces entered the Surveyor of the King’s Woods hotel room where he was meeting with Ebenezer to arrange bail. They brought switches and beat the sheriff and his sidekick, driving them out of town to jokes and jeers. Eight Pine Tree “rioters” were eventually brought to court, charged with being rioters and disturbing the peace, and “making an assault upon the body of Benjamin Whiting, Esq. Sheriff, and that they beat, wounded and evilly mistreated him and other injuries did so that his life was despaired of.” They were also charged with going “against the peace of our Lord the King, his crown and dignity.” This last one sounds familiar to me, since I was also charged with “Obstructing Government Administration,” a catch-all misdemeanor like “Disobeying an Officer” (another charge I received that was later dropped). The court justices levied light fines against the “rioters” and set the men free, demonstrating that the judges, local boys, did not approve of the law any more than the men who logged the trees. “Seventeen months later, another group of men, their faces blackened and painted would dump tea into Boston Harbor. Had they perhaps heard of these courageous men of Weare, and followed their lead? Taxation without representation, the stamp act, the tax on molasses, the law that all exports should be sent to England and that England should furnish all
the imports, the attempt to govern by force and the quartering of troops on the people roused the colonists to armed resistance. The Shot Heard Round the World was sounded on April 19, 1775.”
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What can I say? New Hampshirites have a stroppy streak when it comes to freedom and private property. This is just one of hundreds of reasons why the “Live Free or Die” state was selected as the home of the Free State Project. I’m not the only one stirred by this revolutionary history. One of New Hampshire’s best local breweries is named Able Ebenezer, its origin and brand inspired by the Pine Tree Riot. - See more at: https://freestatepro-
ject.org/blogs/pine-tree-riot-history-rebellion#sthash.Eqmtabug. dpuf a
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The Valley, June 2016
Taxed By Taxation It was engaging to be involved in the tax preparation process this past season for the first time in over a dozen years. I had prepared taxes for H&R Block in the mid 90’s and, while there, met Roxie Gentzel who eventually came to work for The Stewardship Group as our company bookkeeper & staff accountant. Together, Roxie and I discussed her involvement with preparing taxes for our clients and somewhere in the 2002-03 time frame, The Stewardship Group began offering tax preparation services. While I can’t remember the exact year we began doing this, I do know that we completed a total of 35 returns that inaugural year. Our tax business has grown over ten times larger and keeps us very busy through April 15th and really year round as there are always tax issues our clients are dealing with. This is certainly the condition of the over-regulated, bureaucratically heavy society in which we live.
I had opportunity to meet with many of our clients when they picked up their returns and had the privilege of reviewing their forms with them to ensure accuracy, completeness, and max utilization of allowed deductions. Many times the conversation would turn to strategy and discussing ways to make the most of the tax code to minimize taxation. This is a good thing to do and one which has been held up by the courts. For instance, Judge Learned Hand in the case, Commissioner vs. Newman, in 1947 stated: “Over and over again, courts have said there is nothing sinister in so arranging one’s affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everybody does so, rich or poor; and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands: taxes are enforced exactions, not voluntary contributions.” You don’t hear that sentiment much any longer. It was Bill Clinton who said, “There’s
a lot of evidence you can sell people on tax increases if they think it’s an investment.” Taxes are not investments, but forced exactions! Don’t be fooled my friends. It breaks my heart to tell
a young industrious lady that all her efforts cleaning houses is now costing her roughly 17% of her income due to self-employment and personal income tax combined. Who’s better able to invest that money? The young woman who has used her hard earnings to go on mission trips to underprivileged countries or our over bloated government? I think you know the answer. From the taxfoundation. org website: America will spend more on taxes in 2016 than it will on food, clothing, and housing combined! The Foundation has coined a term: Tax Freedom Day. This is the day when, as a whole, we will have earned enough money to pay our total tax bill for the entire year. This takes into account Federal, State, and Local
“......taxes are enforced exactions, not voluntary contributions.”
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taxes. This year’s Tax Freedom Day fell on April 24th (114 days into the year), if we add Federal borrowing to this, the date moves to May 10th! Still feel like you’re living in the land of the free? This is why tax planning is now more important than ever. Can you shave a day or two off your labors for the government by proper planning? I suspect so. There is nothing wrong in doing that. While we are admonished by the Master Carpenter from Galilee to “Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s,” we would add, “and not one penny more!” (We think He would also agree with that). This same sentiment was expressed by Justice Louis D. Brandeis, US Supreme Court Justice, 1916-1939 when he stated:
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The Valley, June 2016
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Hillside Orchard News and Comments
About Faith
by Rev. Robert Zorn, Visitation Minister, Lewistown Presbyterian Church June is the month when we observe Father’s Day. It was one of the two days during the year when Daddy could pretend to “sleep in” and let us boys do the morning work. Barn work was usually considered chores – as opposed to field work. At our farm, barn work consisted of feeding the cows, pigs, horses, and chickens. There were also the cows to be milked and the stable cleaned. IT WAS THE SAME ROUTINE, MORNING AND EVENING, EVERY DAY. Daddy would usually arrive in time to give considerable help and apologize for “sleeping in.” However, there was one memorable summer afternoon when we boys were asked to take care of the evening chores by ourselves. A very frightening incident happened in our community. A little, four year old boy disappeared from his home and left no trace of where he had gone. The entire community mobilized to look for him. Every nook and cranny of the farm was searched to no avail. A Piper cub plane flew back and forth over the township. Volunteer firemen scanned the banks of a nearby creek and even probed the deeper pools. Still, there was no
sign of the boy. Abduction was suspected, but no message was received by the parents, not even a phone call. Our father had worked in the coal mines of the area, employed by the H. C. Frick Coal Company. Daddy remembered that there were abandoned coal mines not far from the little boy’s home. On
Digging Deep Into Essential Oils from page 3
skin and covered skin will stay warmer. • There have even been studies done that show skin is more permeable in the evening than in the morning! Also, deeply pigmented skin has superior barrier integrity and function compared to less pigmented skin.
taking prescription drugs through a dermal patch or applied to skin. Controlled dosage is important for safe and effective treatment, any enhancement from coincidental aromatherapy could have adverse effects. For example, eucalyptus oil and camphor enhanced nicotine absorption through drug patches. Other considerations • Increase in Temperature from the bath or even the friction from a massage will also increase absorption rates. • Covered skin will absorb Essential oils quicker than that of uncovered skin. This is due to the fact that Essential Oils will evaporate quicker on uncovered
that particular afternoon, he filled his carbide lamp, came to the stable to get the “calf rope” with which he could let himself down into the pit holes and climb back out again. He did not find the boy but became an instant celebrity in the village for risking life and limb to help out a neighbor. It was well after dark when he returned,
Dosage Safety limits have been set by Robert Tisserand, an expert in the field of essential oil safety and author of Essential Oil Safety. He states that the maximum percentage for essential oil applied topically is 5%. This is assuming the adult client has no contraindications and has healthy skin. This means dilute in a carrier oil or another vehicle to carry the essential oil. We must limit dermal dosing for Essential Oils that contain car-
by Iddo M. Hostetler
remarking that he was both glad and disappointed by his perilous search. The Piper cub pilot spots the little boy the next day, and the rural mail carrier picked him up and took him home, about a mile away. He seemed none the worse for his experience. He was well, clean, and very happy to be home. During the last weeks of the month of May we pause, too briefly to honor the military heroes of our land, with flags, speeches, parades, and special recognition in many of our churches. If we are honest, we must admit that we need heroes in our lives. As for my three sisters and three brothers and myself, there is no question as to who that would be. I am sure that each of you have equally inspiring stories in your experiences. But with further thought, it is just as important for us to be heroes to someone else. “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and loosing one of them, does not leave the ninetynine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?” Luke 15:4 a
cinogens (cancer causing), neurotoxic (destructive to nerve tissue), or phototoxic (skin irritation with sun exposure) constituents. For children and elderly, great caution is necessary and the dosage is much smaller than that of an adult. Essential Oils are extremely potent, wonderfully therapeutic gifts from nature, but misused they can cause much harm. Conclusion I have read and heard of way too many well-meaning people putting essential oils on their skin without any reservations—and even worse, advising others to do the same. I have always read from professional aromatherapy organizations to take careful consideration when using essential oils topically. It is my passion to educate myself and others in ef-
Hello to all of the readers of The Valley from Hillside Orchard, where sometimes the wind is blowing, the peaches are growing, the people are sowing, and soon it’s time for mowing—then comes the bowing to do the hoeing, so you see there is no time for crowing. June! Time sure does have a way of creeping by and probably before you know it will be over, as the saying goes. What is more rare than a day in June. Then we will be in the hazy, crazy, lazy dog days. When I told Wayne that I would be taking a break from writing, I was not planning to bail out for 6 months, but it seems like if you stop something, it’s hard to get started again. This spring sure was a good indicator that this thing called weather is unpredictable at its best. Most farmers keep an eye on the weather, especially so if you have an orchard. Most orchard people know that 60 degrees in March and 20 degrees in April can cause some rough sailing. So how do things look for 2016? For us, cherries and plums bottomed out. So if you want fective, yet safe essential oil use. When administering essential oils to a client you must consider obvious things such as: medications that the client might be on, the age of the client, is the client pregnant, epileptic, have allergies, and/or have low or high blood pressure? In addition, there are so many other things we should consider to make our treatments as effective as possible. These are things such as: how much surface area is to be treated, what vehicle is being used (crème, oil, gel), the health of the skin, the temperature and moisture content of the skin, will the skin be covered or washed soon after administering, what constituents are in the essential oils we are suggesting and are there any contraindications and even what area of the body are we administering to. These considerations can make treatments much more effective and reduce the amount of adverse reactions. REFERENCES: Rebecca Park Totilo (2015) Aromatherapy Certification Program
“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
them, you might have to do with shipped-in fruit. Peaches and apples look OK, so there is still a good chance for local fruit. While farming always has its risks, for fruit growers, the risk appears to be getting higher. According to a Michigan study, the fruit trees in that state bloom on average 10 days earlier than they did 75 years ago, while late frost events stayed about the same. Most people know that trying to raise peaches farther north than zone 5 is a gamble, but you may succeed some years. While most peaches won’t take cold below minus 15, apples are completely fine with even colder weather. However, contrary to most people’s thinking, after bud swell and growth begins in the spring, peaches will tolerate slightly more cold than apples or cherries can stand during that period of growth. By the time you read this, strawberries should be in full swing. Yum! I don’t know about you, but I am planning to buy local. The more a community supports each other, the less it will be affected by global events. a
Robert Tisserand, Rodney Young (2014) Essential Oil Safety. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Lorraine Dallmeier, Formula Botanica US National Library of Medicine http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ articles/PMC3243011/ Naturopathic Doctor News & Review: http://ndnr.com/mindbody/ dermal-absorption-of-essentialoils/ Maritn Watt, Aromatic Thymes, 1995, Volume 3, Number 2, 11-13 http://ndnr.com/mindbody/dermalabsorption-of-essential-oils Sylla Sheppard Hanger & Martin Watt: Cutaneous Absorption (or the lack of) of Essentail Oils http://www.aromamedical.org/ PDF/Skin%20absorption.pdf Massage Today: http://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article. php?id=14904 a
The Valley, June 2016
Dave Wilson
Coins, Precious Metal and a Little of this and That
The Game is Exposed Envision this scenario. There is a line (say, about 200 yards long) that is formed in front of the local Gold and Silver sales outlet. Everyone in that line is desperate to buy whatever precious metal they can find. Then, the store’s owner comes outside with a bullhorn, and announces that “Well, sorry folks, there just isn’t any Gold or Silver to be found anywhere.” But, there is some good news. If we ever do find any, their prices will be a lot cheaper than yesterday!? Now, it doesn’t take a Rhodes Scholar to figure out that there is just something wrong here. Diminishing supply. Huge demand. Prices dropping?? While that does sounds ridiculous, it is exactly what we have been experiencing in Gold and Silver sales for quite some time. Protectors of US Currency have always been aware that Gold and Silver (considered to be the only real money for thousands of years) are in direct competition with the dollar. Lower precious
metals prices make the Dollar look strong, while higher metal values make the Dollar look weak and vulnerable. As you can imagine, Dollar enthusiasts are always pleased when Gold and Silver prices drop. Many in the precious metal’s industry have said for years (actually, decades) that the prices of Gold and Silver have been artificially suppressed, and, smashed down at will, by the “paper” markets. (Where you don’t even have to own even one ounce of anything to trade whatever you may want, as long as you have the cash to back it up.) Several weeks ago, that alleged “Myth” became reality, as Deutsche Bank, a German global banking and Financial services giant, admitted that they, along with several other banks, have been active in manipulating the precious metals markets for decades. They named two other participating banks, then “suggested” that they would shortly be naming other banks as well.
Well surprise, surprise, all the “tinfoil-hat-wearing” conspiracy theorists have been correct all along. Presently, without question, Gold and Silver are experiencing intense demand. Every sovereign nation (that can afford it), every central bank, and literally millions of investors and big-money “Players” are buying every ounce they can lay their hands on. And that is the Achilles heel of the Gold and Silver manipulators. They must keep “physical” supplies of gold and silver in the market, or their game is over. When they can no longer supply the markets with metal, at the much suppressed levels that they have worked so hard to maintain, their reign of criminality will come to a swift end. At that point, even NASA will have trouble keeping up with the gigantic blastoff in prices that will send Gold, Silver and the other precious metals into the stratosphere. a
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The Valley, June 2016
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A Hobby Created An Internet Family
Anyone who is even remotely familiar with me, be it family, friend or relative, know that I metal detect in my free time, because they have all been asked if I might be able to detect their property. This hobby provides me with exactly what I need to recharge my batteries and feed my OCD (this is a great hobby for those afflicted), while getting me out in nature and exercising all at the same time. It is something I do mostly by myself unless I am with my Stealth Digger friends up in Siscatchiwah, NH. There it isn’t uncommon for a dozen or
even more friends to gather at a site and spread out through the woods. I have had several great digs with those friends, but probably 95% of my hunting is solo. A few years ago now, those same friends in NH put together a YouTube channel under the Stealth Digger name and because of that success (well over 6,000 subscribers tune in every Thursday for a new episode) they decided on a Facebook page for all of us to keep in contact day to day. That exploded too, and soon people from all over the country were meeting up and recording
their adventures as Stealth Diggers and sharing their times and finds with the group. Somewhere along the lines, gifts started being exchanged all over the country, mostly fancy expensive cigars, and items specific to certain locales—it was the first hint of the graciousness of the people involved. Every day people were receiving goodies—many times from people they had not even met other than their daily chats on the internet. Good deeds and acts of kindness became contagious on the Stealth Digger Facebook page. While all of this was going on we started gaining friends all over the world. Early on, Narice from Australia became a regular poster and we all nicknamed her “The Wizard,” what with Australia being called Oz and all that. That is another item of interest, in a hobby that many believe is male dominated, we sure do have a large number of female diggers and they can hold their own with any of the guys. Most people on the Facebook page, though not all, use an alias name, and after a time those names are used with such frequency that they become those folks’ real name for conversational purposes on the internet AND in real life. Everything in life seems to
follow a progression as you gain experience and knowledge. It is no different with this hobby. When I first started, just finding change was considered pretty cool, then soon after, the target became Roman coin, Hadrian Sestertius produced 117 - 138AD silver coins and jewelry. and Roby in Germany found Research was Roman artifacts and medieval undertaken to identify where battle artifacts including axes and those items might be found— crossbow tips. Those guys over parks and sports fields from the there are fantastic researchers as earlier 1900s were what I was well, as evidenced by one of our looking for. Then after getting a resident experts, who goes by the taste of Colonial era coins, relics and artifacts became the focus and name Gremlin Wood. It used to be people said “Google it,” when still are, because like it or not, our they needed information on anyhistory here as a country is not thing, now we just “Gremlin it.” all that old so we seem to run up We have found him more accurate against a wall finding anything and quicker than typing someearlier than the mid 1600s. thing into Google. It seems now, Well as those international even though we have folks from friends kept becoming friends Germany, Greece, Canada, and with others in the group and many other countries, we have we started seeing REALLY old artifacts and coins from the diggers all over Europe. Stefan Wild Continued on page 24
“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
The Valley, June 2016
SURPRISE! SURPRISE!
Big surprise this month. The printer just gave us last minute notice that the proof of this paper has to be uploaded to them before the Memorial Day Weekend this year. Yikes! So what we had planned to do all weekend, now has to be done in the next two days and ready to go by Friday morning—and I work elsewhere during the day, so....time is short! Of course, this also completely ruins my plans to watch Game 7 of the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning series
tomorrow night. Not cool! On the bright side, since the paper will be done before the holiday begins, I’ll actually get to enjoy the whole weekend this year and not just Memorial Day as in year’s past. Win! The only downside for all of you is that you might find a lot of typos in this issue (more than usual, that is) as I’m sure I won’t have time to do much proofreading. So, sit back, have a cocktail (or two) while you read and try not to be too critical this month!
VEGETABLE PLANTING COMPANION GUIDE
The Truth Has No Agenda
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The Valley, June 2016
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SOUTH HILLS A BEAUTIFUL WOODED NEIGHBORHOOD
by Kim Rickert You know what they say-the most important thing about a property is LOCATION LOCATION AND LOCATION! No matter what price range the buyer, what style of home they want, or whether a first time buyer or downsizing, the location of a property can make or break a deal. Why is this such an important consideration for buyers? There are several reasons but it mostly comes down to finding a home that is convenient or private, rural or city, with acreage or without whatever matches the preferences of the buyers. The location of a property cannot be changed, short of putting it on wheels and moving it! A home’s color can be changed, the house can be enlarged or updated and cosmetic changes are easy. But the location is what it is. This is why the neighborhood of South Hills is a popular place to live and always has been. The lots in this neighborhood are wooded and are each one acre or more in size. This neighborhood was begun back in the 1950’s by Dr. John R.W. Hunter Jr. who purchased land in the South End of Lewistown in Derry Township to build beautiful homes in a lovely setting, but with the convenience
needed for professionals who lived there. Known for many years by the nickname, “Pill Hill,” the area attracted many physicians who built homes here on the rolling hills amidst the woods. Today, South Hills is home to families of all professions, including yours truly, and still maintains the beautiful wooded setting that Dr. Hunter had envisioned. Currently there are several homes for sale in South Hills, three of which are listed by Stone Arch Real Estate agents. These homes vary in size and price range, but all are a great buy for the person looking for a home that is convenient as well as beautiful. Following is a brief description of each home.
warmed visually by the hardwood floors, and literally by the brick fireplace with wood burning insert. Adjacent to the kitchen is a formal dining room with the same hardwood flooring, recessed lights and huge windows, which allow the sun and the view into the Need a break from the heat? Take a dip in house. Step your own private in-ground pool at 140 Oak outside of the Ridge road. kitchen into 140 Oak Ridge Road a 15 x 26 screened This two story home has over porch that overlooks 3000 AG Sq Ft and is perched the backyard. This on a small rise on the 1.79 acre space includes a parcel. Surrounded by trees, the brick wall featuring colonial style home features a a wood fireplace lovely in-ground pool area that is and a gas barbeque! tucked away from the public view Imagine the picnics in a wooded section of the yard. This beautiful, yet very functional kitchen awaits new you could throw The pool has an all-season electric owners at 10 Strawberry Lane on this porch! The cover for safety and ease. The fenced yard can be home features four spacious bed10 Strawberry Lane accessed off the screened porch rooms and two and a half baths This 2236 AG Sq Ft multiwith no worry about the pets geton the second floor; the master level home was built in 1960 by a ting outside the area. The second bedroom has a bathroom with local doctor who enjoyed tennis; handmade cherry sink vanity and thus the 1.5 acre property includes level includes two large bedrooms with hardwood floors and a full double closets. The main floor a fenced tennis court! Step inside bath. A few steps down from the features a cozy family room with the front door and you can feel foyer leads to two additional bedwood burning fireplace and pocket the welcoming aura of rooms and another full bath. The doors. A formal dining room and this warm home. The living room with beautiful hardfocal point of the main lower level is a large storage area and partially finished rec room. wood floors offer more areas for floor is the Country Including the finished square foot- entertaining. The cheery kitchen Kitchen, with beautiage below grade, the home boasts includes Corian counters, pantry fully updated cherry over 3,700 square feet! and desk area plus a breakfast cabinets, pantry and
The welcoming front entrance of 10 Strawberry
Lane
nook. Take your coffee outside to the three-season sunroom to enjoy the view. A first floor laundry and two car garage make a convenient layout on the main floor. With plenty of room for a buyer to expand and lots of outdoor space, this home has a lot to offer!
island custom made by Big Valley Cabinets. The room includes a breakfast bar, island with cooktop, eat-in area and home office built-ins, and is
The peaceful and serene setting in front of 140 Oak Ridge road
“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
Continued on page 12
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The Valley, June 2016 Taxed by Taxation from page 5 “I live in Alexandria, Virginia. Near the Supreme Court chamber is a toll bridge across the Potomac. When in a rush, I pay the dollar toll and get home early. However, I usually drive outside the downtown section of the city and cross the Potomac on a free bridge. If I went over the toll bridge and through the barrier without paying the toll, I would be committing tax evasion. If, however, I drive the extra mile and drive
outside the city of Washington to the free bridge, I am using a legitimate logical and suitable method of tax avoidance. For my tax evasion, I should be punished. For my tax avoidance, I should be commended. The tragedy of life today is that so few people know that the free bridge even exists.” Each of us needs to learn what free bridges are available for us to use when it comes to our own personal tax situations. Certainly, taxation has become much more burdensome on us today than they were when these judges
Volunteers Needed Getting to and from medical treatments is one of the greatest concerns cancer patients face during their treatment. Volunteering to help someone in need can give an individual a great sense of satisfaction while impacting the life of another person. To ensure cancer patients get to their much-needed appointments, the American Cancer Society provides free rides through its Road to Recovery program. The society is looking for volunteer drivers in Mifflinburg and Juniata counties willing to give their time to help ensure patients get to their vital medical appointments. The American Cancer Society’s Greater Susquehanna Valley Volunteer Leadership Council (GSVVLC) works to help spread the word about the programs and services offered by the society, and to show the community how valuable and appreciated cancer society volunteers are. On behalf of the GSVVLC, I am inviting anyone interested in learning more about volunteering with the Road to Recovery program to contact the American Cancer Society. One cancer patient requiring radiation therapy may have up to 30 appointments over a six-week period. A patient receiving chemotherapy may have weekly appointments over a one-year period. Often, a patient is driven to hospitals or clinics by friends or relatives. Sometimes, even these patients need alternative transportation. The Road to Recovery can fill those gaps, and can provide rides to medical appointments for cancer patients who may not have a source of transportation. However, the program cannot function without dedicated volunteers willing to give their time to help someone in need. For information on the Road to Recovery program in Mifflin and Juniata counties, or on becoming a volunteer with the program, call 800-ACS-2345 or visit cancer.org. The GSVVLC consists of volunteers dedicated to the American Cancer Society’s mission and works throughout the year to promote the society’s efforts. For more information the VLC, contact me at kmertz5@yahoo.com or Jo Brindley at jo.brindley@ cancer.org.
were in office. Yet their admonitions ring down through the years to us today. Let me encourage you to seek the advice of a professional to discuss any personal situations that you have which may lend themselves to proper tax avoidance. Allow me to give you an example. The purchase of a personal residence can be very rewarding. In addition to providing you with a place to call your own, when you sell it, you do not pay tax on the profit you make up to $250,000 (single) $500,000 (married filing jointly) after living in it for two out of the previous five years. There are some minor restrictions on this allowance (which you can discuss with your tax professional), however, for the industrious young person or couple, finding a fixer upper that can be flipped in two to three years, then repeating the same process can allow for quite an accumulation of tax free capital. Worth looking into if that free bridge appeals to you. In addition, allow me to encourage you to make the 15th of every month a mini tax day where you pull together any documents you received during that month which will impact your tax return. It will make the year end process a lot easier on you as well as on your preparer. It’s been quite a few years since we ventured into the tax preparation business here at The Stewardship Group. Roxie Genzel has gone on to be with The LORD, and in her blessed memory with the same view of service as when it was first established, our tax department works hard to help our clients be better stewards of the assets with which they have been blessed. In closing, I want to thank each of you who has used our services over the past year. Tax, insurance, estate planning, IRA’s, precious metals, or charitable giving programs, regardless of how you utilize our services, we are very blessed because you do. It is with appreciation and hearts of gratitude that we acknowledge and thank you! Founder and President of The Stewardship Group in Belleville, Mr. Ostrowski earned his Master of Science in Financial Services from The American College in Bry 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 Truth Has No Agenda
R. O. F. F.
Rescue Our Furry Friends by Patricia Lawson
Don’t you just love the treasures that you can find at Yard Sales? Well, ROFF is having one on Saturday, June 4th at ROFF Headquarters: 133 N. Walnut Street in Burnham. Time is 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please stop by and help raise funds for ROFF and the newest additions to the rescue, “The Korean 7”. Who are “The Korean 7” you ask? Well, recently ROFF traveled to New Jersey to retrieve seven dogs. These were from approximately 200 dogs that were finally surrendered by an overseas dog meat trader who was on his way to a slaughterhouse! There is not enough room to post all seven of these precious animals, so please visit our Facebook page. There is one male and six females all around two years old and they will be available for adoption soon. I will give you a peek at Isa, a Korean Mastiff, who was very thin, but in just a few weeks had to be fitted for a larger harness. Isn’t she a beauty? The others are Herb, a Lab mix; Maris, a Mastiff mix; Jene, a Retriever mix; Liann, a Jindo mix; and Rayna & Belle, Korean Mastiffs. Having been stacked in small
crates for so long, they are all learning to just be dogs and enjoy toys and the human touch. Kudos to ROFF for this awesome rescue! Remember Bailey?
“Hi all! I’m Bailey the Beagle and I’m 5. Can you believe that I’m still without a “fur”ever home? I really miss a human companion to call my own. You see, my owner passed away and then I was tossed back and forth to be with relatives, but they really didn’t take care of me. So, by the time I was taken in by ROFF I was a bit chunky and my nails needed attention to say the least! Now I’m at a healthy weight, groomed and ready to go. Please stop by and visit me!” 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
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The Valley, June 2016
South Hills: Beautiful wooded neighborhood from page 10
is a formal dining room with laminate floors, 94 Walnut Road a formal den A two story home built in area and a 1987 by the current owners, is living room on a private road with only five with new homes on it, and has a very pricarpet and a vate feel to the 1.13 acre parcel. wall featurUpdated in 2010, the large eat-in ing built in kitchen has a large granite island cabinets and with built-in warming oven, tile a gas firebacksplash and granite counter place. The tops, beautiful glass-faced china focal point of cabinets and display areas along the first floor A three-season sunroom at 94 Walnut road expands your with a generous panty. The eat-in is the vaulted horizons area is spiced up with a stacked ing the koi pond and waterfall, ceilinged stone accent wall and a gas fireas well as a gas stove to keep the Florida room with laminate floor, place to warm the space. There space cozy in the winter. From windows all around overlookthe Florida room one can access the deck and patio. The second floor includes three bedrooms and two full baths; the Master suite has two walk-in closets, a dressing area and full bath. If all of the space is not enough for you, the basement of this home is also finished! The stacked stone accent wall flows down the steps to the large finished area which has been used as a home theater area, includes a small office or workout room and more storage. The owners replaced the heat pump last fall and the heating and cooling system runs with the most A beautiful front yard with tons of curb appeal can be yours at 94 Walnut efficiency available. road Interested in living in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Mifflin County? Call Stone Arch Real Estate and ask one of our agents to show you these homes, and you may end up living in your dream home! a
“.....shall NOT be infringed....� has but one meaning
The Valley, June 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, June 2016
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BLOCK PARTY!
JUNE 2015 Mifflin County History Trivia It Happened in Mifflin County Some Mifflin County firsts appeared in The Sentinel (Lewistown, PA), collected and condensed by reporter James E. “Jim” Canfield (1926-1982), City Editor. Canfield called the column in which these appeared “Off the Clipboard.” It was a favorite of Sentinel readers for many years. Jim told the stories many of us appreciate so much now. One was on a little known film actress, Jean Acker, who came from Mifflin County, went to Hollywood and became involved with none other that silent movie idol Rudolf Valentino. Jim was a film buff in his own right, collecting reels of old black and white movies from the 1930s and 1940s. He particularly enjoyed Abbott and Costello and W.C. Fields. Jim had a home movie theatre in his basement, complete with old movie theatre seats, a Wurlitzer jukebox and vintage posters on the walls. He would splice many of these vintage comedy films together and put on double features for
family and friends. He also would travel to schools, civic groups or church gatherings, bringing his reel-to-reel projector and case of movies. Jim would set up the film to be shown with commentary and background on the actors before showing the movie. He was years ahead of Turner Classic Movies! Here are some questions from Jim Canfield’s “Off the Clipboard” from the 1970s. 1. In what year were Lewistown’s streets laid out? [a] 1776 [b] 1790 [c] 1800 [d] 1805 2. In 1794, the first physician in Mifflin County came to town. What was the good doctor’s last name? [a] Hunter [b] Whitedeer [c] Stagg [d] Buck 3. In 1800, Samuel Sloane opened the first public house in the area. Name the first tavern. [a] the Black Bear [b] the Wild Goose [c] the White Horse [d] Peacock Major’s Inn 4. The same year the third courthouse was built on the Square,
Plain Talk
Solar Explained by S. Yoder Hello to all readers of The Valley newspaper. As always, when it rains, it makes the ground wet and when sun shines it does just the opposite. Such is the difference between off-grid solar and Domestic Hot Water Solar. One system makes power, the other saves power and your wallet from being robbed. Did you know that your hot water heater alone is about one third of your electric bill? And if your hot water system is oil or propane, it is even more costly. One of the reasons we chose the Sunpower domestic water heater is because of the round tube design. It makes no difference the angle of the sun with these round tubes as as long as it’s
not shaded, the same amount of sunlight is received by each tube. Another great feature of the Sunpower model is that there is no filth, no water and no anti-
1843, Lewistown installed six items for the public’s safety. What was installed? [a] street lamps [b] buckets of sand in the new courthouse [c] hitching rails [d] fire hydrants 5. In 1894, several deaths were visited upon the town. What happened that cause local concern? [a] malaria hit the town [b] small pox was spread by an infected tramp [c] five died in unrelated street accidents [d] lightening struck at a picnic 6. A curfew bell was to be sounded daily in Lewistown starting in March 1923. What was it intended to do? [a] get the cows off the streets [d] send juveniles home [c] have dogs tied or penned [d] have all automobiles parked on side streets
WSOV, the Sounds of the Valleys, a low-power FM community radio station for Penns Valley, is hosting a block party fundraiser on June 5th, between noon and 5:00 The party will be on both sides of Penn Street, at both St. Luke’s Cultural Center (117 Penn St.) and The Millheim Theatre (110 Penn Street), directly across the street. There’s parking available in the Fountain parking lot, and the Fire Hall commuter lot. There will be free entertainment and great local food, (pulled pork and sides as well as vegetarian options) for sale to benefit WSOV. A wide variety of our excellent local musicians will be performing live at St. Luke’s or outside if weather permits, and there will be assorted entertainment in the movie theatre and games for kids of all ages. Proceeds will help WSOV purchase its emergency broadcast system, necessary for going on the air. WSOV, 101.7 on the dial, is a project of the Penns Valley Conservation Association, and received its license to build in March of 2014. Since then we’ve been raising money, learning how to make programs and building our beautiful studios in St. Luke’s Cultural Center. Tours of the studio will be available. Check our Facebook page for schedule details, and our website, WSOV.org for samples of the programming you’ll hear once we’re on the air.
ANSWERS: 1.A 2.D 3.A 4.D 5.B 6.B a
freeze to contend with. If for any reason, one of the tubes got broken, the system would continue to hum along. Each tube is part of a modular system; you could replace the whole tube completely, or if the insides aren’t ruined, you could just replace the glass tube, which is roughly half the cost of a complete tube. The risks of a tube breakage is minimal with proper placement of the unit on a flat level surface. Reasons to buy the Sunpower Domestic Hot Water Heater #1 Saves you about 30% off of your current electric bill. #2 Minimal upfront investment and pays for itself in most cases in less than 3 years. #3 These units
come with an anode rod as to not corrode your tank. #4 Tank comes with the best warranty in the industry, 10 years. #5 Unlike others, ours have round tubes so always the same amount of sun exposure. #6 The option of having a tampering valve to extend your hot water supply #7 All units come with a temperature and pressure safety valve. #8 Sunpower has an optional pump station and controller
“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
#9 Tank models do not require circulators #10 Spa model can be flat mounted or on the supplied frame #11 Glass tubes don’t have water or any filth inside Special reduced delivery charge is still in effect, so act quickly, with units starting at $1,450, these will not last long. Many thanks to all of our readers, see ya all later! a
The Valley, June 2016
The Brushwood Trail and Lingle Valley
The Brush Ridge Trail and Lingle Valley Trail combine to make up this circuit hike. Located in Rothrock State Forest, the trailhead for this hike is easily accessible from State College or Lewistown. From State College, you access the trailhead via Bear Meadows Road. Once on Bear Meadows Road, follow it past the Tussey Mountain ski resort. It will turn from paved to dirt road at about 3.6 miles. Continue straight on Bear Meadows Road when you encounter the first intersection. You will pass through Bear Meadows, as well as climb up and then descend Thickhead Mountain. Once you reach the intersection of Bear Meadows Road and Stone Creek Road (Stone Creek Road is paved) at approximately 9.1 miles from route US322, turn left. Follow the paved road for 2.5 miles, passing Alan Seeger and continue on until you cross a gas pipeline clearing. Turn right just after you cross the pipeline clearing. This road is called Chestnut Spring Road. Follow Chestnut Spring Road for about 0.9 miles. The road will make a sweeping turn to the right and you will see room to park along the left side of the road at this turn. Park your car here as this is where Brush Ridge Trail crosses the road and it is the
trailhead for this hike. Coming from Lewistown or locations further south, you will need to follow US322 to the top of Seven Mountains, cross over to the east bound lanes, and begin the descent along Laurel Creek Reservoir. As you descend along the edge of Long Mountain, route US322 makes a somewhat sharp turn to your left. As you approach this turn you will see an emergency truck ramp on your right and just past that is Stone Creek Road. This road takes you back to Alan Seeger. You will need to turn onto this road and follow it for about 5.4 miles. Turn left just before you cross the pipeline clearing. As stated previously, drive for 0.9 miles and park your car to the left of the road to start this hike. The Brush Ridge Trail is blazed red and is fairly well maintained. Begin by following the trail to the left of the cabin and begin a gradual ascent out of the hollow. After three quarters of a mile you will come upon the intersection with another trail coming in from the right. This is the Chestnut Spring Trail and takes you south across Buck Ridge. Continue straight on the Brush Ridge Trail. The trail now begins a gradual descent as it heads towards Otter Gap. The ridge to the west of
Otter Gap is known as Buck Ridge and to the east of the gap it is known as Brush Ridge. To your left looms Slate Ridge with Stone Creek running in the valley on the other side. After 1.5 miles, you come upon the intersection with the Otter Gap Trail. You will begin to climb slowly as you continue on the Brush Ridge Trail. The undergrowth
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The Truth Has No Agenda
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Ed’s Railroading News by Ed Forsythe
Well you won’t find much about railroading in this article, but I’m sure you will enjoy this reading. Recently I had the pleasure to meet a great group of U.S. Army Blackhawk Hospital Helicopter crewman from “F” Company, 7-158 Air Ambulance group. These men were flying two new ‘’HH60M’’ Blackhawk helicopters from New Jersey to their base at Fort Carson, Colorado.
After leaving New Jersey, they refueled in Harrisburg and headed West but had to land at the Mifflin County Airport due to rain and foggy weather. After spending the night locally, they came to Bings Restaurant for breakfast and that is where I got to meet them. After thanking them for their service one of them asked if I was Ed from Ed’s Trains. Naturally I said yes and they said that they
had seen my advertising sign just off of Route 322 at the Burnham interchange and were wondering about coming to the shop to see what it was like and that started what turned out to be a really great day. It was indeed an honor to have Captain Travis Clark, CW4 Micheal Gerdin, CW3 Morgan Worthington, CW2 Jeremy Wilson, SSG Duane Osantowski and
SPC Alexander Bolia visit our little train shop and just watching them enjoy looking around and running the trains was fantastic. Soon after they arrived, three of my friends from the Northumberland County area arrived and joined in as all three are also Veterans. Bill and Jerry are Vietnam Veterans and Art is a 93 year old WWII Veteran. Just standing back listening to all the
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
guys sharing stories and asking questions was a lot of fun. Later that afternoon we all ended up at the airport and we all got quite a tour of the choppers and got to see some amazing equipment that is available for use when our servicemen and women need it. The group received several Valley Newspapers so they can read about our area on-line whenever they want and they also received a big pouch of homemade cookies from our neighbors Cathy & Woody Donaldson. The report I heard later was that the cookies were great and much appreciated. Thank you Cathy & Woody. Now, a big THANK YOU to all of the guys that were here, but also to all of our Veterans serving now and in the past. Hope you all enjoy the pictures and Happy Railroading, Ed & Cathy a
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Feel Better Lying Down Integrative care and wellness means helping yourself to get well or stay well with many options. Diet, exercise, and rest are all necessary for a balanced healthy body. Now there’s another option for staying well or helping the body to get back into balance and heal—Thermo-therapy. With the growing rate of cancer in this country, there is a relatively new treatment option called thermotherapy that focuses on the fact that cancer cells are heat-sensitive. It uses a machine called a thermotron to increase the local temperatures of various parts of the body. In addition, there is a thermotherapy that heats up the entire body’s temperature. Hot baths, far infrared ray thermotron and drug-induced fever treatments are various methods of thermotherapy. As a result, a medical device
was discovered called the “Biomat” that has been certified by the USFDA 5 as a medical device. It combines the thermo power of Amethyst and Tourmaline to naturally improve the therapeutic power. It is affordable and can be used everyday. There are no side effects and anyone can improve their autonomic nervous system by 100% and feel the difference starting from the day they use it. Because cancer cells favor low body temperatures, it is favorable for our body to increase its temperatures by 1 degree C in order to create a body that is able to effectively fight off cancer cells (From: Nobuhiro Yoshimizu, M.D., Ph.D. “ Thermotherapy in The New Century”) At Simply Health, we have two choices for using the Biomat. We have a full body mat that one can lay down on their back or
The Amethyst Biomat has been found to increase the benefits of your visit to the Salt Rooms
stomach. Many women are using it and laying on their stomach and helping with dense breast tissue and breast cancer. We also have three chair-size mats that can be used in combination with an Ion
The Truth Has No Agenda
Cleanse detoxing footbath or in a salt room. The Biomat has Infrared Rays that penetrates 6-8 inches into the innermost recesses of the body, stimulating healing and regenera-
tion of nerves and muscle tissue layers. The Biomat also produces negative ions, natures energizer, which delivers a molecular level
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Tanya's Massage Therapy Modalities: Ashiatsu Cupping Prenatal Deep Tissue Swedish Massage Foot Reflexology Raindrop Therapy Russian Clinical Massage How you treat your body today, is how it will serve you tomorrow! Call to schedule an appointment:
(814) 937-0375 www. tanyasmassagetherapy.com
Email: tanyamassage@live.com !!!!NEW LOCATION!!!! 129 Nolan Drive Lewistown, PA 17044 “.....shall NOT be infringed....� has but one meaning
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The Valley, June 2016 Caves Echoes from page 17
Joanne Wills-Kline “Contentment Quest”
The Old Locust Tree
An old locust tree stands on our property, midway up the fencerow, just a bit off the driveway’s edge. The locust is old, knotted and gnarly. When we purchased the property more than a decade ago, many people made suggestion to cut the tree down. They thought it was an eyesore. They suggested that we plant something fresh and new in its place. We decided to keep the old tree as we saw ‘’life” within the old tree… its life-story per say. The locust donned old scars and splits in its trunk. At one point in its long ago past, it was wrapped in wire to “hold” the fractures its trunk suffered. Over time the tree just absorbed the wire, in spots, and grew over it, thus enveloping the wire as part of its trunk. Square nails were pounded into its trunk and branches at one time long ago.
The nail heads still somewhat evident, especially in the bright sunshine. People had summarized the old locust as worthless and problematic. As we cleaned up and renovated our property over the years, we groomed and tended the old locust tree too. We planted a variety of beautiful perennials near its trunk base, and trimmed and tended its branches. We sought professional horticulture advice on its proper care, and found out the tree was likely well over one hundred years old. Gradually, and with the right amount of care – light, water, and time – it began re-growing, rebuilding, and reconstructing itself. We were filled with outrageous gladness to see the tree regaining balance and stability. Season by season, and year by year, we enjoyed the old
locust. In the spring, its branches welcomed songbirds and their nesting young. In the summer, it offered refreshingly cool dappled shade. In the fall, its branches were cloaked in gorgeous golden foliage. Even in the barren winter, it offered us a living sculpture to view from the kitchen window… often with a beautiful red cardinal singing from one of its branches. I’ve been reflecting on our old locust tree; realizing that it is metaphorically a symbol for our own lives. The winds and storms of life bend us and sometimes fracture our being. We are often left with scars and gnarls in place of beauty and flexibility. BUT, with the right amount of care and time, gradually, we can rebuild and restructure our damaged selves. We can find balance and growth again. In time, we can display our beauty – inside and out – again. In the past, I didn’t give myself the care I needed to be strong, protective, and well-balanced. An uncared for, unbalanced tree can fall in strong winds. A fallen tree can offer shade to no one. So like the locust tree, over the years, I’ve been rebuilding, reconstructing, and re-growing me. Over the recent years, I’ve started to grow back – different but better. Does the story of our locust tree metaphorically ring synonymous with you and your life? If so, grant yourself permission to thoughtfully and kindly prioritize re-growing, rebuilding, and reconstructing yourself – whatever that may mean for your personal circumstances. Work to achieve life-tailored balance and well-being. Become healthy and well-rooted just like the locust tree. a
massage. This accelerates and deepens all healing and cleansing processes. It balances pH by decreasing acidity and is considered the “Master Power Switch,” which activates the body’s entire cellular communication system making every body function work better! The BioMat improves the immune system, reduces stress and fatigue, eases joint pain and stiffness, removes toxins, improves sleep, balances pH, can strengthen the cardiovascular system, reduces inflammation, burns calories, and much more! At Simply Health we feel strongly about detoxing and wellness. Every service that we provide has some amount of detoxing and we feel a great advantage for boosting your immune system and allowing you to take a step toward more balanced health and wellness. Visit our website at SIMPLYHEALTH-CALM.COM for more details and services. Call us for an appointment at 814-954-7731. We look forward to being a part of your journey toward a healthy lifestyle! The following are our Spa Specials for June....enjoy and be well! BIOCLEANSE ~$49 • 5-10 minutes of our Whole Body Vibration to get your circulation moving, your lymphatics stimulated, and your muscles relaxed. • 30 minute Detox Footbath to pull toxins out of the body and identify where the body is releasing the toxins. This naturally stimulating and relaxing session is based on ionization of water and osmosis to draw toxins from the body. • Hot Butter Hand Treatment during the 30 minute detox footbath. This treatment begins with a salt scrub exfoliation on the hands to remove dead cells and open pores before the warm melted butters are drawn into the skin. The hands are then tucked into warm Himalayan salt mitts until butters are delivered deep into skin layers. • 30 minutes on the Amethyst Mini BioMat during the Detox Footbath. The deep penetrating Far Infrared rays and negative ions help reduce stress, tension and aches and pains and is capable of stimulating the cells of our Nervous and Musculoskeletal systems.
The Truth Has No Agenda
SUMMER SENSATION ~ $49 • 5-10 minutes of our Whole Body Vibration to get your circulation moving, your lymphatics stimulated, and your muscles relaxed. • 20-30 minute Far Infrared sauna. Our sauna has the ability to systemically eliminate internal chemical and heavy metal toxins, including mercury. The Infrared sauna burns 500-700 calories in a 30 minute session. It is also great for stress relief, improving cardiovascular conditioning, and enhancing your immune system. • 30 minutes on the Jade Infrared Massage Bed OR 30 minutes on the Amythest BioMat • Hot Butter Hand Treatment during the 30 minute Jade Infrared Massage or Amythest BioMat session. This treatment begins with a salt scrub exfoliation to remove dead cell and open pores before the warm melted butters are drawn into the skin. The hands are then tucked into warm Himalayan salt mitts until butters are delivered deep into skin layers. ALLERGY RELIEVER PLUS ~ $49 • 45 minutes in a Himalayan Salt Room in which negative ions are absorbed into the body by breathing the saturated air into the lungs. The salt is anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-fungal. You will be breathing air that is saturated with 84 minerals and trace elements. • 15 minutes on the Amythest BioMat. The deep penetrating Far Infrared rays and negative ions help reduce stress, tension and aches and pains and is capable of stimulating the cells of our Nervous and Musculoskeletal systems. • Medium salt lamp to take home and continue therapy in your home. Himalayan Salt Lamps produce negative ions naturally. These negative ions are known to help alleviate symptoms caused by allergies, sleep disorders, migraine headaches and depression. They also help to eliminate common indoor air pollutants such as dust, mildew, electromagnetic fields from TV’s, computers and other electronic devices. a
The Valley, June 2016
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Making a Comeback After Stroke: A Higher Dose of Rehabilitation Makes a Difference By Suzanne Irwin, M.A., Marketing Liaison, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital
John Zeleznick, 85, retired just a few years ago, after working as a self-employed barber for 60 years. He and his wife, Marjorie, have been married for 63 years. An avid golfer, he spent many years traveling with friends to different golf courses across Pennsylvania, and his regular golf outings were a highlight of his retirement. However, John’s golf game, and many other aspects of his life, recently changed when John suffered a stroke while at home with his wife. He was first treated at Mount Nittany Medical Center, followed by a helicopter transport to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. John’s stroke left him unable to walk. He also had difficulty with his speech and swallowing, and his right arm and hand suffered major limitations. “Dad’s life changed dramatically,” says his daughter, Linda Poorman. “He needed a high dose of rehabilitation to get strong and go home again.” When John was discharged from the hospital in Hershey, his next stop was inpatient rehabilitation at HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital. Poorman, who chaired Centre County’s 2015 American Heart & Stroke Walk, knows all about the importance of rehabilitation and staying active. She is a certified personal trainer and a certified health coach. “At Hershey, we asked for HealthSouth Nittany Valley,” Poorman explains. “We knew that an inpatient rehabilitation hospital provides more
in the American Heart Association journal Stroke. John spent two and half weeks as an inpatient at HealthSouth Nittany Valley, working with physical, occupational and speech therapy for three hours a day. He also had daily physician visits, and his progress was closely monitored by his case manager and his rehabilitation team, including nurses and therapists. When John was strong enough to go home, he had a smooth transition from the HealthSouth’s inpatient hospital to the Outpatient Clinic, which is part of the same location. “Dad reached his goal,
and walked out of HealthSouth,” Poorman says. “He was able to go home, transitioning from an inpatient to outpatient therapy visits, and he continues to improve.” When John is done with outpatient rehabilitation, Occupational Therapist Christy Vuchenich (left) Poorman plans to make sure that her explains the Bioness technology on John’s Zeleznick’s dad stays active. “I right arm to his daughter, Linda Poorman. Health-
therapy per day than other places, and that’s what dad needed. She adds, “When he started rehabilitation, he couldn’t walk; he was in a wheelchair. His main goal was walk out of HealthSouth.” The American Heart Association/ Continued on American Stroke Association page 22 recently developed guidelines for rehabilitation after a stroke. The guidelines strongly recommend that stroke patients be treated at an inpatient rehabilitation facility rather than a skilled nursing facility. The American Heart Association’s May 4, 2016 press release announcing the guidelines states, “If the hosThe Amputee Rehabilitation Program at pital suggests sending your loved one HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation to a skilled nursHospital offers a full continuum of inpatient and ing facility after a stroke, advocate outpatient care for its amputee patients. Our for the patient to experienced team of professionals provide: go to an in-patient rehabilitation facil• Pre- and post-prosthetic strengthening with a ity instead – unless focus on range of motion there is a good reason not to – such • Pre-prosthetic instruction and limb shaping as being medically • Prosthetic gait training unable to participate in rehab.” • Prosthetic limb maintenance This statement was • Psychological adjustment counseling made by Carolee J. Winstein, Ph. D., • Skin care instruction P.T., lead author of • Nutritional support the new scientific statement published
South’s Bioness H200 uses electrical stimulation to improve voluntary movement and hand/arm function in patients who have had a stroke, brain injury or spinal cord injury.
With You Every Step of the Way HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital’s Amputee Rehabilitation Program
For more information on how you can reach your fullest potential, call 814 359-3421.
A Higher Level of Care
®
550 West College Avenue Pleasant Gap, PA 16823 Occupational Therapist Christy Vuchenich does range of motion and stretching with stroke patient John Zeleznick, who lost some function of his right hand following a stroke. John transitioned from inpatient rehabilitation to outpatient therapy visits twice a week at the HealthSouth Clinic in Pleasant Gap.
NittanyValleyRehab.com
“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
©2015:HealthSouth Corporation:558074-03
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The Valley, June 2016
Modern Energy and Alternative Heating with Curt Bierly
AC or HP System? Noisy and only blow hot air, window air conditioning units or something cool and quiet!! Oh yes, it must be very efficient because the cost of electricity is rising – and - it would be nice if it did some heating in the winter. What’s available and what’s best for my house? What you should purchase depends on two important items. Your budget and your house. You can spend anywhere from $2800 installed for a single head very quiet Ductless Air Conditioner to $28,000 installed for a very quiet Ducted Central Heat Pump (HP) / Air Conditioning (AC) Geothermal system. There are many very good choices in between. When considering a system,
the house you live in helps to determine which system you should choose. If it is a simple ranchstyle house with an unfinished basement, a standard Ducted Air to Air Heat Pump system needs to be considered. The indoor unit is located as close to the center of the basement as possible and the main supply and return trunk will hang 10” below the basement ceiling joists, so it is best to have at least a 8’ basement ceiling height. Floor registers (usually 2-1/4” x 12”) are used to carry the conditioned air into each first floor room in the house. The outdoor unit needs to be located one foot from the outside wall of the house away from bedrooms if possible. The units today are quiet, but if
it is located near a first floor bedroom window, you will hear it at night when you’re trying to sleep. If your budget permits, you can include a few nice options like an electronic filter and a steam humidifier. If you have a standard two story home with an unfinished basement and you purchase a Heat Pump, the system is installed in the basement the same as the one story. To condition the upstairs bedrooms a supply and return duct is run through a chase to the attic and from there round ceiling registers (usually 6” diameter) branch out to carry the conditioned air into each room on the second floor. The chase can be installed in a first and second floor closet if one is above the other – or – it can be installed in an offset in the wall. I can remember an installation that we installed the supply trunk against the stairway ceiling; then boxed it in and finished it with dry wall. Every two story house is a little different. It may take a little creative thinking, but usually one can find a way to build a chase that will not “stick out like a sore thumb.” If the budget permits, you may want to install zoning since there will be a difference in temperature between the upstairs and downstairs. With
a zoning system you will be able to set the thermostat to the temperature you want on both floors. Because the attic is unconditioned space, it is very important that you cover the ducting in the attic with additional insulation. The flexible ducting that is usually used in the attic has an R8.4 rating. I would suggest that you rent a machine that blows cellulose or fiber glass insulation and cover the ducting with another 12” of insulation, which will bring the total insulation value to about R45. We’ll continue this discus-
sion for other types of homes in the next issue. Curt Bierly is president of the bierly group incorporated of which Stanley C. Bierly is a division. He graduated from Penn State with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and is the chair for the Penn College HVAC Advisory Board. You can contact him at cbierly@bierlygroup.com or call him at 814-349-3000. a
Uhring’s Hearing & Balance Elise N. Uhring, Au.D., Doctor of Audiology, Invites you to a Trial Risk Free for Two Weeks of a set of Digital Hearing Devices
Visit one of 4 Offices 132 Abigail Lane Port Matilda, 100 Oakwood Ave State College, r Huntingdon & Lewistown 1-877-643-4327
www.uhrings.com The Truth Has No Agenda
The Valley, June 2016
22
PACleanways of Mifflin County Keep PA Beautiful We have finished our spring cleanups for this year. Of the five road cleanups and the three illegal dumpsites on these roads, we cleaned up: • Miles of road - 8 • Tons of trash - 2.32 tons • Tires collected and recycled – 140 • Hardworking volunteers – 62 • Total Hours volunteered – 203 We also did two education events (1) Educating 169 people at Kid Connection with the Litter Board, teaching them how long litter lasts in the environment. (2) Educating nearly 100 people at the Elected Officials Banquet. Heidi Pedicone came in from Keep PA Beautiful to show the new camera system that townships can get to catch illegal dumpers. Individual townships can put in a grant at no cost to them to install them
in places where illegal dumping is happening throughout the county. I would like to welcome our newest volunteers this yearm the employees from Best Western Milroy and Smitty’s Bar and Grill Milroy. Since 1990 Statewide Statistics: • 121,040,107 pounds of trash
Making a comeback after a stroke from page 20
determine if someone is able to safely drive, says Occupational Therapist Christy Vuchenich. “Patients need a prescription for the assessment and the results are shared with their physician. It’s an extremely helpful tool in determining if patients can get back to, or if they should stop, driving.” Vuchenich describes stroke rehabilitation as a lifetime relationship. “John and his daughter understand that gains can be made at any time after a stroke,” she
have participated in dad’s therapy at HealthSouth and I have seen what he can do. I’m looking forward to keeping him active so that he continues to improve.” John is hopeful about golfing, and driving, again. When he’s ready, he’ll ask for HealthSouth’s DriveABLE assessment. “DriveABLE is a computer-based, objective assessment that helps doctors to
properly disposed 3,190,370 pounds of electronics recycled • 2,014,574 invaluable volunteers • 829,975 Tires Properly Disposed • 158,999 miles of road cleaned. Our next cleanup will be our Juniata River Cleanup on Saturday August 6, 2016 from 8 am to 12 pm in the area between Bylers campground and the old Viscoe building. We are still working out the final details at this time and will have them by next month. By then we will have all the information for the four counties. We are also working on our Annual Tire Challenge, which will take place on Saturday, September 17th. If you would like to see what we may be doing, go to www. keeppabeautiful.org and click on Mifflin County. •
Pam Sechrist Affiliate Coordinator a says. “While a patient who has had a stroke typically sees the most improvement in the first six months, a patient can make gains throughout their life.” She adds, “Whether John’s s goal is to improve his gait and balance, or get back to golf, we’ll be available to work with him.” HealthSouth Nittany Valley’s monthly stroke support groups are to the public and are held in Pleasant Gap and Lewistown. For more information about stroke rehabilitation and support, call (814) 359-3421 or visit www.NittanyValleyRehab.com. a
LIbrary Lines Your Mifflin County Library
Who Says Libraries Are Obsolete?
Walk into any library today and you will find an abundance of new books, technology, and services. Libraries still have so much to offer, even in this digital age. Libraries have become a 24/7 service with many online and digital offerings, an office away from home with public computers and wireless internet access available, a center of entertainment with many books, audiobooks, magazines, and movies to choose, and a quiet and safe place to study or meet up with friends. So, no libraries are NOT obsolete. Just a few statistics for you…In 2015 the Mifflin County Library checked out over 115,000 books between the Lewistown and Kish locations. Additionally, nearly 13,500 electronic books and audiobooks were downloaded. And over 12,000 internet sessions on the public access computers, totaling almost 8000 hours, were recorded. Plus, we have a knowledgeable staff answering numerous questions for patrons every day. The Mifflin County Library offers books in many forms. You can still get a book in paper form, but you can also get one on CD or an MP3 Playaway so you can listen to the book. With OverDrive, you can download an e-Book or e-Audiobook to any electronic device. Want to read a classic by Dickens? How about the new James Patterson? Maybe you really like biographies or history? The library has those and more. And if we don’t have that specific book you want to read, we can borrow it from another library for you.
But, the library is so much more than books. Where else can you walk into a building and use a computer or get wireless access when you cannot afford it yourself? The library provides public access computers and wifi at no charge. Additionally, there is access to over 60 different magazines and 5 newspapers. Patrons also have access to a printer/ copier for $0.25 per page and a fax machine for $1.00 a page. The Mifflin County Library and the Kish Branch Library both have book discussion groups. Children’s programs are abundant, including story times for babies, preschool and toddlers. Do your kids like to play with Lego’s? Check out Brick Mornings coming up in the summer. Speaking of summer, the Summer Reading Program starts soon. Read books and get prizes! Pick up a summer flyer for a schedule of all of the programs available for kids. Kids aren’t the only ones to get prizes, adults can also take part in a raffle to win prizes that were donated from area businesses. So no, libraries are definitely not obsolete. Everything I have mentioned and more are available at your local library. Libraries have something for everyone, so come see what we have for you. Albert Einstein said it best, “The only information you need to know is the location of your library.” Respectfully submitted, Marsha Shilling Technology Services Coordinator Mifflin County Library a
Stone Arch Real Estate Agents COMPLETE BUYER SALES STRATEGY COURSE FOR RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE
Katy Flood & Kim Rickert have just returned from Lancaster, PA where they completed a highly specialized course in residential real estate buyer sales strategies conducted by the Council of Residential Specialists of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. This course is one in a series of professional education sequences required to qualify for the coveted Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Designation. The growing importance of negotiation as well as sales strategies in today’s residential real estate market were addressed by the instructor in this course. The many and varied needs of the buyer, who is making what is probably the largest single purchase of a lifetime, is dealt with in this advanced course. The segments of the course included counseling techniques, understanding human behavior, and professional knowledge of the required steps in the real estate sales sequence. The Council of Residential Specialists Courses are presented throughout the U.S. in affiliation with the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, as part of its on-going program of promoting the professionalism of the residential sales associate.
“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
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The Valley, June 2016
Dr. John Mainiero
Wellness in Business Are you Busy? The question you should be asking yourself as business owner is, “are you consistent?” As a small business owner I get asked almost on a daily basis by other small business owners this same question. I thought long and hard about that question and it made me come up with some observations about what makes a business successful. Even in a slow economy and a depressed county with 3% sales tax, we do consistent on a daily basis and we’ve managed to stay in business for 21 years, built a new office and serve our community. I sat down as a mentor with many new doctors who have a starting and staying power problem with their practices. This philosophy can be applied to any business. These are the questions you need to ask yourself every day: —Do I believe in what I do or sell? —Do I know my product or services? How well do I explain what I have or do for my clients? —Do I walk around my property weekly and look from the road at the cleanliness and curb appeal of my business? Why because it matters. If you have
peeling or fading paint on your building, old shrubs that look dead or grass that is dead, folks have a pretty good idea that you’re really not interested in your business. Make sure you have nice shrubs, flowers, clean uncluttered entry and exists that have no old faded signs or stickers. Make sure your front sign is current and clean. An old sign can make folks just not notice you when driving or walking by your place. Make sure that your outside lighting is working and not dark during winter hours. Nothing scares folks more than a creepy parking area or a dark business that looks uninviting. —Do you sit in your business and ignore the obvious? You need to sit in your waiting area in every seat and take notes. You need to walk down every isle, hallway, bathroom, office space and front desk. How is your checkout counter, does it look like stuff is just piled up there? Why? Because it matters. If you see a dust bunny or cob webs and scraps of paper on the floor or in corners, dead flies on the window sills and faded signs from the sun and dust on surfaces, folks will surely say your place is filthy. —Do you look at yourself in a mirror often? Do you have soup tie? Do you have stains on your work clothes? I understand that
CBD oil – how does it help with Chronic pain? CBD is hemp oil manufactured from industrial hemp for its oils not the THC compound. The cannabis compound is the beneficial part of the oil, it is a sublingual, meaning it can be dropped under the tongue and used for its health benefits. Hemp products are legal in all 50 states and do not require a prescription. With the use of CBD oils there is no “HIGH” associated with its use. Anyone can use CBD oil. www.pubmed.gov has articles on its uses and benefits.
some jobs can get away with this, but if you do sales or services then you may want to rethink your image. —How are you employees? Do they answer the phone with an upbeat sound in their voice or just a “hello, can I help you?” You may want to listen to the way they answer the phones, this is your first line in generating new clients. How do they greet a new client or sale? Are they knowledgeable, do they ignore someone who walks in? Do they immediately say “good morning, how can I help you?” —How does your place smell? It matters. Do you have musty carpets or pets in your business? We use an essential oil diffuser and add some great scents in the air, but beware there are folks who are allergic and sensitive to those smells. We know a local dentist who increased his business 30% just by having a small counter top oven in the kitchen area. 3-4 times a day his staff baked fresh chocolate chip cookies and walked around a tray to the waiting area. Why? Because it covered the medicinal smell, made folks feel good and eased the stress of a dental procedure. The number one reason folks do not shop at WallyWorld is the rudeness and lack of professionalism of their employees. —Are your products good quality? Are you just trying to make a fast buck? Folks see what you stand behind. Folks also purchase 50% more when if asked , you know all about a product and have used that product personally. I make sure all my employees get under my care so they know what a service, treatment, product and any equipment we use feels like. The cost of your products/ services can also be a barrier to a consumer. I am not saying be the cut-rate service provider or product depot, but be fair to yourself. You are only worth what you think you are worth. Too high and you go broke, too low and you go broke. Just the right medium and you hit a home run. Marketing is good, but if you don’t tell the world about your products and services, then no one will tell others about you. Always ask the clients how they liked the product or services. Always have your front desk employees ask the same questions. You may get two different answers. Folks are reluctant to hurt your feelings and say it’s great while they tell your employees your products are horrible and overpriced.
Continued on page 30
The Truth Has No Agenda
Storyteller by Centre County Dairy Princess
Halee Wasson father to my father, and has cre Greetings from Centre County! My name is Halee Wasson; I ated a legacy for the past 94 years. am the newly crowned 2016-2017 Currently, we are milking 40 head Centre County Dairy Princess. of Holstein cattle, and crop farmJoining me this year on my court ing 600+ acres. Although we are as Junior Representatives are small scale, the impact we create Hailey Gummo, Justin Kurtz, is much larger. In fact, most dairy Bailey Little, Gretchen Little, farmers have been active members and Abbey Wolfe. We look forof their communities for many ward to traveling around Centre generations and create jobs that County and Pennsylvania sharhelp sustain the local economy ing our dairy story, as well as creating a rippling effect for every having the opportunities to hear dollar they contribute. other producers share theirs. In I have enjoyed growing up honor of the dairy farmers that my within the agriculture community, court and I cross paths with, this and hold a fondness for those column will provide a chance for associated. I have grown a neverus to become storytellers, to help ending passion towards this indusshare the story of the Pennsylvatry, which is why I plan to pursue nia dairy farmers. This year, we a career in the agriculture indusare paying tribute to these farmers try; to continue building and sharfor their hard work, dedication, ing this passion. I am currently and passion to a job that they do attending the Pennsylvania State selflessly, seven days a week. University, pursuing a Bachelor’s I’d like to invite you on this of Science Degree in Agricultural journey to help honor the Pennand Extension Education. After sylvania dairy farmers. Maybe graduating, I plan on becoming these farmers will be your parents, an educator whether it is inside or aunts or uncles, cousins, friends or outside of the classroom. Either neighbors. Join me every month of the options I would be happy to from now till May 2017, and experience and share my knowlread all about our adventures and edge and passion with. stories that we encounter. I hope you enjoyed learning Since I just started my reign about me, and are looking forward as dairy princess, the only story I to future articles about other dairy have to share is my own. Where farms that share the same passion I grew up, it was unlike many. as me. With June being National I grew up hearing, seeing, and Dairy Month, please take the time smelling rural Pennsylvania. to pay tribute to your local dairy Every day I can hear the cows farmers by saluting them with a mooing in the barnyard, see healthy and nutritious tall glass of acres of corn growing over the cold milk. a never ending hills, and smelling that pungent smell of a farm for miles. To some this might sound unappealing, but where I grew up, it made me who I am and taught me many valuable lessons I plan to use in the future. If you haven’t guessed it yet, I grew up on a dairy farm. My family’s farm is a fifth generation dairy farm. This tradition of excellence has been passed Centre County Dairy Princess for 2016-2017, Halee down from my great-great grand- Wasson.
24 Stealth Diggers from page 8
The Valley, June 2016
Just a week or so ago some of the British guys were showing found ourselves with a bunch of their finds from recent hunts, British friends and we couldn’t be which included several items happier. Gremlin is British as are that were Roman. I happened Jake, Phil, and Bruce. I don’t dare to mention that whenever I try to name them all, but these see those Roman artifacts I guys are very much regulars on get goosebumps thinking of the site. the history behind them. A One thing that all of us digfew days later I received a gers seem to have in common is package from the UK. When an insatiable love for history and I opened it I almost fell over! those items that tie us to it. As One of the UK Stealth Digmentioned, there seems to be a gers, Bruce Kennedy, took it progression that takes place, and upon himself to “cure my itch” after seeing our British brothers as he put it, and welcomed a showing us fields with homes couple of Italians into my life. from the 1100s on them and artiI could not believe my eyes! facts and coins sometimes 2,000 In the small protective case years old, there is no end to the were two Roman coins! One desire to be able to do that. very large, thick and heavy bronze coin, and a small dime-sized silver coin. The larger of the two coins is a Hadrian Sesterius, which was produced from My new “Top Mate” as they say in the UK. 117-138 AD!!! The Bruce Kennedy of The Weekend Wanderers. small silver coin, a little as the reality of it all sank a Denerius was in. I started thinking about who struck between 27BC -476AD. I was holding it was that held this coin and dropped it all that time ago. This in my hands two coins was a powerful feeling, I hope I that were between The Roman silver Denarius, produced from can achieve that feeling again. 1,500 and 2,000 years 27BC to 476AD Still I thought, who is this old. My hands shook Bruce character who would just
up and send off two coins like this to a complete stranger. And the Hadrian I found out later, is very rare and it was his only This is a picture of the Saxon coins as they were found one! This in this lead container which was buried 1,000 years ago, known by the coins inside Athelred II of Wessex and Cnut kind of generosity produced 978 to 1035. and grace is dug up a buried Saxon treasure. rarely seen in today’s world, let 5,200 silver Saxon pennies were alone on the internet. recovered in a mound on top of a It turns out Bruce is anridge in what he called a furrow other lover of history, and feels field, which I am guessing are not blessed to be in a place with unlike our farm fields here. The such outstanding potential, really amazing part of this whole and he likes to share. He has a story? I learned all of this about detecting club that call themhim AFTER he had decided to selves “The Weekend Wanderjust go ahead and send 2,000 year ers.” They dig as he described, old coins to a complete stranger. in the “home counties’ there in THAT generosity highlights what the UK. Quite an accomplished Stealth Diggers is. Kind, welcomgroup and they were witness to ing, caring and compassionate, a once in a lifetime experience just like the things that make a even for them over there. His club family, only a lot of us will never was on their “Christmas Club” dig meet—but it sure is nice having in December 2014. All were enthat many brothers and sisters. joying hot food such as soups and The groups motto is the same warm mulled wine when the call as the state it was founded in went up—a member of the club “Live Free or Die” a
“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
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The Valley, June 2016
Simulation modeling is cream of the crop for ag researchers by Rachel Garman Story courtesy Penn State Public information Growing up in Uruguay — a country with four cows per every person — Virginia Pravia was immersed in the agriculture industry at an early age. During summers and holidays, Pravia watched as her family raised cattle and sheep and grew such crops as sorghum, maize, wheat, barley and soybeans. It wasn’t long before Pravia developed a similar passion for living off the land and doing so in a sustainable way. Now, as a doctoral candidate in the College of Agricultural Sciences, Pravia is using software developed at Penn State to help protect Uruguay’s natural resources and ensure the country’s longstanding livelihood can continue for years to come. Working with the National Institute of Agricultural Research in Treinta y Tres, Uruguay, Pravia is using Cycles — a computational simulation model developed by researchers in Penn State’s Agroecosystems Modeling Laboratory — to study soil nutrients in
crop-pasture systems. According to Armen Kemanian, an associate professor of production systems and modeling and a lead developer of the software, Cycles enables farmers and researchers to predict and study changes affecting crops over time. “We create computer models that are used for applications at many levels — the farm level, the research level and the watershed level,” Kemanian said. “These models can simulate what happens on a farm in terms of production, the nutrients that are used, how much is harvested, how much is lost to the environment and the impact of climate.” Using the Cycles software, farmers can input current data (for example, soil nutrient levels) and see potential future outcomes with just the click of a button — the software’s algorithm does all the calculations. Since even the smallest crop management decisions could hold potentially devastating ramifications years in the future, these modeling tools could mean the
difference between a booming harvest and an infertile or eroded field. As one of the leaders of the project, Pravia has found these software tools invaluable when working in the fields of Uruguay. Using Cycles to simulate levels of carbon and nitrogen, Pravia is able to work with local farmers to develop management plans and ensure successful future harvests. “In agronomy, we have to integrate many things that are happening in the environment at the same time; for example, what’s happening with the plants, the soil and the climate,” Pravia said. “The modeling tools are very good at helping you visualize all the processes together.” After running the computational models in the field, Pravia securely uploads her data to Box at Penn State and the Lion-X system hosted by the Institute for CyberScience Advanced CyberInfrastructure. Using these cloudcomputing tools allows Pravia to collaborate with Kemanian and his team despite being separated by more than 5,000 miles. This focus on interdisciplinary and international collaboration is essential to the lab’s mission, as a variety of industries can benefit from the Cycles software. For example, John Wallace, a postdoctoral scholar studying
The Truth Has No Agenda
Image: Courtesy Virginia Pravia
plant science, says that one area of application for Cycles is the organic farming industry. Since organic farmers operate without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, smart and creative crop management decisions are essential to yielding a successful harvest. “What we’re able to do is simulate a lot of different strategies by adopting the Cycles model to organic practices,” Wallace said. “There’s potential for this to become a predictive tool but also a great learning tool. So while a farmer is planning his crop rotation, he can use these tools to think about how he might tweak his crop management plans.”
And while Cycles hasn’t gotten into the hands of Pennsylvania farmers yet, Wallace says the general response to the idea has been supportive. “We have an advisory board that includes some farmers in the organic community in Pennsylvania, and this past winter we pitched the idea to them in an open-ended discussion about the potential value and how they could see themselves using the tool,” Wallace said. “We’ve taken their input and are now moving forward with developing a beta tool for a more user-friendly experience.” In addition to assisting farm-
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get in touch at greendrakeart@ gmail.com. There are bound to be other jams to get involved in wherever you’re at, and it’s well worth the time! a
Music Jams For All!
If you play any kind of instrument, or just like to listen to informal music, you should sit in on some kind of music jam when you get a chance. These are small gatherings of people with an interest in a particular genre of music who get together in a living room, public space, or around a campfire to play together just for the joy of making music together and honing their skills. Most of the time listeners are welcome, as well. Here are two examples that occur most months at the Green Drake Gallery in Millheim. On second Mondays at 7:30 pm, we have a Jazz Jam, led by professional trombonist and composer Jay Vonada. Jay puts together a set list of songs each
month and emails them out to those planning to come, and also has the music ready in a computer application that can add any important missing parts, like drums if we don’t have a drummer, or a bass line if we’re missing that. Horns and other solo instruments take turns with improvisation and the guitar and bass carry the structure of the song and take their turns at solo improvs. The Jazz Jam is a real musical workout, as jazz music is often rather complex and improv requires feeling the music and thinking on the fly about where to go with the notes. At the other end of the complexity spectrum, we have an Old Time Music Jam on fourth Wednesdays at 7:30. This is often
a larger gathering, with 8 to 16 showing up, bearing all manner of string instruments from banjos and guitars to mandolins, fiddles, and dulcimers. Occasionally, we’ll have a bass player. Players take turns picking songs, usually well-known old fiddle tunes that most of the group already knows. Some people have basic music sheets, others play purely by ear. It’s a relaxed easy-going gathering, with a growler or two of beer from across the street to share and time for stories and laughter between songs. Both of our jams take a break for a couple of months in the summer as people get busy with outdoor activities, but pick back up in the fall. If you would like to be added to our e-mail reminder list, just
Bill Smedley, one of our Old Time Jam leaders. to the right and below a typical Jazz Jam under way at the Green Drake Art Gallery in Millheim. Jazz Jam on the second Monday of each month and “Old Time Music” Jams take place on the forth Wednesday of each month through the spring. Come join us!
“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
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The Valley, June 2016
Mail Pouch Books by Carleen B. Grossman I love to read books and prior to my retirement, while teaching at a college in Maryland, I wrote book reviews. I chose and copyrighted the title of MAIL POUCH BOOKS. I thought of these reviews as being tucked into a pouch and sent on their way....I actually was tucking them into an electronic “e-zine” and emailing
them! My first audience consisted of local library patrons/staff and my colleagues at school. As the years passed, my e-zine subscriptions grew. I still write the Mail Pouch Books “e-zine” now having about 100 subscribers! In addition, upon retiring to Pennsylvania in 2010, I contacted The Valley newspaper asking if
Pony Express Riders
Home at the Grange by Patricia L. Bird
What do you get when you get eleven Grange members all together under a balcony on a dreary Saturday morning? Well, if you know anything about the Grange, you know that means they are together to work on some type of community service project. That’s exactly what happened on Saturday, May 14, 2016. The balcony was really an outside covered entryway leading through
the Kline Way Garden at Centre Crest Nursing Home in Bellefonte and the project was painting all the heavy outdoor furniture with a protective coating. Eleven members of Centre County Pomona Grange #13 and representing four of the community Granges volunteered to not only paint the furniture, but also to read to several shut-in residents. Manned with the current
they would be interested in having a book reviewing column. Thus began my Mail Pouch Books column! As per the original Mail Pouch, it began... On April 3, 1860, the first rider with a mail pouch charged out of a stable in St. Joseph, Missouri. The Pony Express, as it was called, transported mail between Missouri and California. The rider changed horses at each station, taking only the mail pouch called a mochila (a Spanish word for pouch) with him. The employers stressed the importance of the pouch—stating that the horse and rider should perish before the mochila. The mochila was thrown over the saddle and
held in place by the weight of the rider sitting on it. Each corner had a cantina, or pocket. Mail was placed in these cantinas, which were padlocked for safety. The mochila could hold 20 pounds of mail along with the 20 pounds of material carried on the horse such as a water sack, a Bible, a horn for A relay station alerting the relay
station master to prepare the next horse, a revolver and a choice of a rifle or another revolver. a
day’s newspaper, members read the headlines and any stories that the residents requested and then just stayed to chat with them. Centre Crest is a skilled nursing facility that is dedicated to providing advanced medical care and services through inpatient services for those needing a short recovery time after a hospital stay, injury, sudden illness or those needing extended care related to chronic disease management. It is located on E. Howard Street in Bellefonte that affords residents easy access to historic downtown Bellefonte with its historic museums, Talleyrand Park, Governors Park, and many unique shops along with county government offices. Residents might enjoy special projects like the Grange provided or working with their full-time music therapist, enjoying special entertainment such as movies, taking ceramic classes, being part of the garden club or trying a new and different craft with their Craft Circle. They also participate in exercise in programs such as the “Morning Stretch” and “Move it or Lose it.” Once again in lieu of just giving monetary donations, Centre County Pomona Grange chose to
make Centre Crest its community service project for 2016. Actually finding a project that allowed us to do physical work is challenging in this day and age. Grangers working with our hearts and hands make all our accomplishments more meaningful. Of the eleven who helped that day, you would find them to be between the ages of late twenties to middle seventies. Age doesn’t matter if the desire to volunteer is there. All of the community granges have made numerous donations and performed many community service projects. They might be as small as giving donations to purchase FFA jackets or as
large as sending home photos of servicemen and women to their families. Grange is known for giving back to the community. If you have a project that doesn’t take lots of funding, but can be done with the use of hands and minds, contact your local Grange. They might be able to help. So if you are looking for a community service project to do, contact a local nursing home facility and see if they are in need of help to get special projects finished. You might just find something that fulfills your personal desire and organizational needs. a
The Truth Has No Agenda
The Mochila
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The Valley, June 2016
price has only dropped 4%. Kind of makes you wonder who is making the money on cheese, doesn’t it? Now imagine if you had such a drastic pay cut to your household, how would you make ends meet? How would you provide for your children? On top of that, by Rebecca Harrop farmers have to pay for the seed to plant crops to feed the cows Well, we’re still working on to a Fox News piece, the wholeand they buy supplement to add sale cheese price has dropped trying to get all of our planting to the feed for better milk produc45% since last year, but the retail done here in the East End. With tion. They also have the cost of all the rain it’s been hard to get maintenance for all of the planting and spraying done. the machinery. If you Although we shouldn’t complain have to replace the about the rain too much, we might tires on your vehicle be praying for some later in the you are probably talkyear. ing a couple hundred Many dairy farmers are havdollars. If a farmer has ing a hard time right now. Less to replace the tractor than two years ago the milk price tires it could run as was $24 per hundred pounds. This high as $10,000.00! was an all time high, and most The average cost of farmers would be very happy with a bag of seed corn $19 a hundred for milk. Dairy is about $300.00. In farmers are paid for their milk 1960 it was about by a hundred pounds. A gallon of $12.00 a bag. A bag milk is 8.6 pounds and there are of seed corn usually 11.63 gallons in a hundred pounds plants about 3 acres. of milk. So at $24 per hundred So just for the seed, pounds, the farmer made $2.06 it costs $100.00 an per gallon. Current prices are $14 acre to grow corn. per hundred, which is $1.12 per Think about that the gallon. At the store a gallon of next time you have to milk is $3.89, which isn’t much The twins, Emily and Nicole. We just love showing pay $4.00 for a little lower than when farmers were them the wonders of the farm, and they love helping pack of seeds for your getting a higher price. According where they can. garden. Farmers are hard working people who only want to work the land that in most cases has been in their families for years so they can someday pass it
Life in the East End
Continued on page 30
Next Issue of The Valley: July 6th “.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
The Valley, June 2016
The Truth Has No Agenda
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The Valley, June 2016
30 Central PAHikes from page 15 here can be very thick with mountain laurel, but the trail is usually well maintained. At 2.7 miles, the Brush Ridge Trail intersects with Indian Path. Turn right here and follow the Indian Path as it makes an easy descent down the southern face of Brush Ridge. As the trail approaches the bottom of Brush Ridge, the Indian Path comes to a fenced-in deer exclosure. Keep to the right and walk along this exclosure for the next 0.3 miles. At 3.5 miles, the Indian Path merges with Conklin Road and you follow this forest road for about one tenth of a mile as you cross over Lingle Creek. After crossing the creek, you will start to ascend Sand Hole Ridge, but soon turn right and follow a gated road past two camps and finally coming to the Otter Gap Camp after three tenths of a mile. The forest road ends here at the intersection of Otter Gap Trail and Lingle Valley Trail. Continue straight, follow-
ing Lingle Valley Trail alongside Lingle Creek. The trail crosses the creek and its tributaries four times, so be prepared to get wet if you hike here in the spring. Lingle Valley Trail proceeds to climb out of Lingle Valley at Little Kettle climbing to the top of Buck Ridge. This is the only steep climb on this hike, ascending 400 feet in about 0.5 miles. Lingle Valley Trail ends at its intersection with Chestnut Spring Trail at about 5.2 miles into the hike. You’ll follow Chestnut Spring Trail for a tenth of a mile. At this point, the Dutch Alvin Trail continues straight while the Chestnut Spring Trail turns to the right. Turn here and continue to follow the Chestnut Spring Trail across Buck Ridge. At a bit shy of 5.7 miles, the Chestnut Spring Trail comes to an end at the intersection with Brush Ridge Trail. Turn left and retrace your steps on Brush Ridge Trail for 0.7 miles back to the trailhead. This hike is 6.4 miles long and will take you approximately 4 hours to complete. a
The World is but a Canvas to Our Imagination Henry David Thoreau
Simulation modeling for Ag research from page 25 ers in crop management decisions, the Cycles software can also be used to study and predict agricultural variations due to climate change. “Before, you could guess and say, ‘The temperature will probably rise and it might be drier, so we may have less crop productivity,’” said Yuning Shi, a research associate in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management. “But with the models, not only can we quantify those climate changes, but we can figure out how to deal with them.” As one of the co-developers of the Cycles software, Shi is working with Felipe Montes — a research associate in cropping systems modeling — to couple Cycles with the Penn State Integrated Hydrologic Modeling System (PIHM), a software that simulates hydrology and nutrient transport in agricultural watersheds. By combining these tools, researchers have a more complete understanding of the challenges that could face natural resources in the years to come. According to Kemanian, these diverse applications of the Cycles software are part of a growing trend of integrating agriculture and information technology (IT) resources. “Students and young researchers will lead the forward movement of these tools, Kemanian said. “Because they understand the need to seamlessly connect science and practical applications through
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IT.” And as for Pravia, although she isn’t out tending the cattle and cultivating the land like her family, she’s sure to carry on the
centuries-old tradition of agricultural progress with a little help from technology. For more stories about IT at Penn State, visit news.it.psu.edu. a
Life in the East End from page 28
barn. They throw hay in to the heifers and run laps around the stalls. I babysit the girls a couple days a week. They love to be outside playing in the yard. The other day Emily was chasing the birds out of the yard. Ernie and I took them up the road a little bit so they could pet the neighbor’s horses; they really like to see the horses. We also saw airplanes pulling gliders and releasing them. The girls really liked watching all the planes, although Nicole didn’t like how loud they were when they went right over us. Please help out the Dairy Farmers by eating lots of dairy products, after all, you need at least three servings a day. All farmers work hard to provide the food you eat every day. a
Doctor John Mainiero from page 23
1) your phone number, 2) your address, and 3) your hours. Folks get twisted looking for those three when they are hidden on other links or pages. Most webpages tell more useless information than what is needed. Make sure there are no broken links and your designs are fresh and updated every 6-12 months. I hope this helps you when you’re in a rut and wonder why business is slow and your neighbor who does nothing you can visibly see is thriving. He/she is not doing anything, but being consistent. PS. If your business is having trouble, feel free to call me. I can give you some great ideas and boosts that work. (856) 691-5900 All the best, Dr. John Mainiero a
to their kids and provide a decent living for their family. Now we also have people outside of the agriculture community trying to tell us what practices we can and can not use on our farms. Many people ask why farmers keep on going—well, we love what we do. We don’t need to get rich, we just want to make a living. I can’t imagine doing anything else. My Mom has been bringing my nieces, Emily and Nicole to the barn on Thursdays when she babysits them. They really enjoy “helping” feed calves and petting them. They love chasing the cats trying to pet them too. It is so much fun watching them in the
That’s one way to find out how your being perceived and judged. Your staff is your lifeline. Do you waste money on ads that are old and outdated? Do you rotate ads in the newspapers and keep them fresh and updated? Do you ever hand out business cards? Why not? It’s important. Cards I gave out three years ago were kept until needed. Most folks put cards in their billfold or wallet and won’t throw them out. Make sure to always have a good supply of clean cards printed on good stock. Last but not least, by all means have a webpage that has three main things when it is first opened.
Stone Arch Real Estate Agents Attend Specialized Listing Course for Residential Real Estate Specialists
Stone Arch Real Estate Agents have completed a highly specialized course in the new skills involved in obtaining and servicing real estate listings, conducted by the COUNCIL OF RESIDENTIAL SPECIALISTS of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS.® The class was conducted in State College and is one of the required courses that must be taken by real estate agents and brokers in order to qualify for the coveted Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Designation. The course included techniques in seller counseling, pricing, various client servicing activities, marketing techniques, and other programs designed to close sales on residential properties. Today’s real estate market is more complex than ever before, and the listing process has become the key in the movement of residential properties. This course provided us with new input to enable us to serve both buyers and sellers of residences more effectively. Two agents; Kim Rickert & Teri Smith have already completed their CRS Designations. Tami Slick, Katy Flood, Deb McCoy, & Marie Miller have become members of the Council and are working towards their designations.
“.....shall NOT be infringed....” has but one meaning
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The Valley, June 2016
Makin’ Knit Happen! by Jenny Landis Goose Day may be months away but at least one organization is already making plans for the September holiday. The Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau is hosting the 2016 Goose Day Community Knitting Project that kicks off on June 18. The MifflinJuniata Arts Council is also supporting this project. “Our ultimate goal is to yarn bomb the Mifflin County Library,” explains Visitors Bureau project coordinator, Jenny Landis, “and we’d like as many people to participate as possible.” Yarn Bombing is a type of public street art that uses colorful displays of knitted or crocheted yarn instead of paint or chalk. The fabric is wrapped around items commonly found on public streets like parking meters, park benches and handrails. It’s a fun and temporary approach to representing these items in a new way. Landis acknowledges that it will take a lot of knit material to yarn bomb the library. “We had originally hoped to bomb just the railing at the back door,” says Landis, “but library director, Molly Kinney, embraced the idea so enthusiastically that I thought, what the heck, let’s try to bomb the whole place!” The first step the Visitors Bureau is taking to encourage as many people as possible to participate is to offer a series of free, learn how to knit classes. The first one will be held on June 18 at the Historic Courthouse in Lewistown. This is the same date as the 11th annual World Wide Knit in Public Day so this class
will be held outside on the steps of the Courthouse from 10am – noon. The rain location will be in the courtroom. Five other free workshops will be held in the next two months. Knitting instructors Staci Van Art and Beth Knepp will teach anyone that wants to learn how to knit. Participants will be provided with free knitting needles and yarn as long as they last. Registration is not required to attend but it is recommended to secure your free supplies. You do not have to attend one of the knitting classes to participate. “I’m hoping that this project will also draw the interest of experienced knitters,” offers Landis. “There are no limits as to colors, patterns or textures but the knitted material we’ll be requesting must be in certain sizes to make the installation easier.” The Visitors Bureau is requesting knitted or crocheted material in the following sizes: 14” x 43” and 6” x 5’ or less with shorter pieces recommended. Crocheted granny squares measuring 6” are also requested. Deadline to donate knit/crochet materials is Monday, Sept. 12. Drop off locations are at the Visitors Bureau office in the Historic Courthouse, Lewistown, Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm. And at Yoder’s Tees & More, Main St., Belleville, Monday-Saturday from 9am-5pm. Yarn bombing of the Mifflin County Library will start at 2pm on Sunday, Sept. 25. Volunteers are needed to wrap the donated material around trees, light poles, benches and more. No special
skills are needed to help with this part of the project but you must be able to use a yarn needle. The yarn bombing art installation will be on display until Sunday, Oct. 9 when it will be dismantled by more volunteers. The material that survives the elements for two weeks will be washed and reassembled into scarves and blankets that the Visitors Bureau will “sell” for donations to Shelter Services. There is some sewing skill needed for this part of the project and Landis is hoping to enlist local knitting and quilting groups to help assemble the items for sale. Interested groups should contact Landis. “This is the biggest Goose Day project the Visitors Bureau has hosted so far,” offers Landis, “and I really like the idea of teaching people a new skill that they can continue using long after this year’s Goose Day is over. Knitting and crocheting have been proven to reduce stress, improve mood and build confidence. If even just a few people discover a new, constructive hobby, I’ll consider the project a success.” Registration is not required to attend any of the classes or volunteer events, but it is recommended to secure your free knitting supplies. Contact Jenny Landis if you have questions. jlandis@juniatarivervalley.org,
The Truth Has No Agenda
717-248-6713. Free learn how to knit classes • June 18 – Historic Courthouse, Lewistown. 10amnoon. Instructor Staci VanArt. • June 29 – Brookmere Winery. 6-8pm. Instructor Beth Knepp. • July 16 – Marty’s Quilt Shop. 10am-noon. Instructor Susan Gecht. • July 26 – Elmcroft of Reedsville. 2-4pm. Instructor Beth Knepp. • Aug 18 – Sweet Frog, Burn-
•
• • •
ham. 6-8pm. Instructor Staci VanArt. Aug. 30 – Kish Branch, Mifflin County Library, Belleville. 6-8pm. Instructor Beth Knepp. Deadline to donate knit/crochet materials – Sept. 12. Yarn Bombing (installation) – Sept. 25 beginning at 2pm at the Mifflin County Library. Dismantling – Oct. 9 beginning at 2pm at the Mifflin County Library. a
The Valley, June 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
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94 Walnut Road Lewistown $349,500
4 BR, 2 Full Baths Abuts Bald Eagle State Forest 52 Acres with trout stream
448 Park Drive Ext Reedsville $270,000
4 BR, 2.5 Baths Edgewood Estates 2284 sq. ft. Family room with Fireplace
4 BR, 2.5 Baths South Hills Development 1.13 Acres 2712 sq. ft.
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
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
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104 Exeter Lane Lewistown $227,500
3 BR, 2 Bath Brand New Ranch Blossom Hill Open floorplan, Granite Countertops Gas Fireplace, Sun Room
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12 Winding Way Lewistown $160,000 4 BR, 2.5 Baths
1964 sq. ft. Additional rooms in basement 2 car attached garage
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
10 Strawberry Lane Lewistown $240,000 4 BR, 2.5 Baths South Hills Development 3000 sq. ft. of living space 1.55 Acres
Marie Miller REALTOR ® 717-437-3058