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The Valley A free newspaper dedicated to agriculture, self-reliance, frugal living, and modern homesteading. Tomorrow’s Media - A Day Early Volume 6, No. 3
Imagine being able to achieve a beautiful lawn without making your soil toxic. Seven years ago I was one of those people who at the sight of a dandelion, or patch of clover, or a few tufts of crabgrass convened a war meeting and rushed off to the store to buy whatever bottle or bag said that it would eradicate my problem. If a little was good, a touch extra was better. I had been following this game plan for decades and it seemed every year I had the same problem, or even better yet, a new problem that needed more chemicals to fix. I did kill the “weeds” that were the source of my frustration, and while I was at it, I killed all the beneficial microbes, earthworms and balance of the soil. I even managed to spend large sums of money on chemicals that I thought were helping, but in reality were dragging me deeper into the vicious cycle of trying to chemically manage my lawn and garden. Finally out of desperation at ever declining results, and ever increasing costs, I was enlightened by a few of my friends about organic practices. You see, for the most part, their philosophy was that a balance exists in soil usually, until we meddle in some way to achieve our preconceived ideal. When it was becoming hard to even grow decent tomatoes anymore, I sought help from a friend who had me write down what I was doing throughout the year. After I compiled a list of
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The Valley, March 2015
each step pertaining to my lawn and garden, he only had to look at it for a minute until saying. “You’ve killed your soil, it is all out of whack, don’t grow anything for a year and let it rest.” I was stunned, no garden? Surely there were some chemicals I could use to force it back into balance, nope, balance is achieved through natural processes. My mind had been opened to the fact that a lot of what I had learned, or rather had been indoctrinated with, was wrong. I also noticed a total lack of earthworms in my soil when digging holes to plant trees or sink posts for the garden. I didn’t see the surface of the grass teaming with nightcrawlers and worms during a warm summer rain as one might expect. The next smack upside the head came when I started keeping bees. Suddenly, my whole focus changed about chemicals. I was going to be eating this honey, and I wanted my bees to be healthy so that I wouldn’t have to be constantly replacing them like so many I had read about. All synthetic chemicals were officially banned from my yard, and I mentioned the bees and the harmful effects of chemicals to all of my neighbors hoping they would refrain from using anything that could hurt the
bees. Now whenever I saw a lawn care truck at someone’s house, I started thinking “poor sap probably doesn’t have any idea what chemicals are being laid down.” Then while having a conversation on Facebook, one of my friends from NH was shooting off pictures of his gorgeous lawn, all thanks to ChemLawn! I went into attack mode asking him if he knew what chemicals they were using and what it was doing to his soil. He seemed rather stunned,
and then a few more of his friends mentioned the whole chemical thing as being a problem. I looked out of curiosity to see if I could find an organic lawn service. NOTHING!
I had basically forgotten about finding an Organic Lawn Care service until my phone rang in the middle of the deep freeze back in the beginning of February. The caller identified himself as Job Swarey (yes Job, like in the Bible), and he said he wanted to advertise his new Organic Lawn Care Service in The Valley. I could not wait to talk to him and we made arrangements to meet up. BeeSafe Organic Lawn Care is a product made in Manchester NH. BeeSafe only uses products that are acceptable under the strictest organic standards. They never use human or animal waste in their products and a commitment to integrity is foremost at BeeSafe. A key to their approach is to stimulate the biological activity in your soil by introducing beneficial microbial species into the soil which allow the natural processes to take place that lead to healthy plants and balanced soil. BeeSafe has many hours in the lab that proves their active solutions stimulate the indigenous species of microbes 100 fold. BeeSafe combines this formula and their plant nutrition and bio-stimulants produce a beautiful lawn WITHOUT CHEMICALS. You might think that because BeeSafe is an organic process,
Lighting Brush Fires in People’s Minds
that you will have to put up with weeds and crabgrass—not so. BeeSafe will apply a liquid corn gluten and iron-based post emergent program, which will deal with weeds and crabgrass as good as any chemical control, and it’s safe for your soil, your family and your pets. It also does not hurt the good critters that work beneath the surface. Using Bee Safe Organic Lawn Care also decreases the occurrence of many diseases that are the side effect of chemical fertilizers that make the soil sterile. You will immediately see a decrease in these nuisance diseases by switching to the BeeSafe Organic program. BeeSafe can offer insect control that will handle grubs etc. without hurting beneficial earthworms and insects. Another consideration is that BeeSafe products can be applied near water courses with no ill affect to the water source. BeeSafe has no synthetic nitrogen or phosphorus, so it will not contribute to algae blooms. If you have always wanted to avoid potential human health issues, water pollution, soil depletion and damage to the ecosystem and still have a nice lawn, now you can. Call Job Swarey at Swarey’s TLC Yard Services, the area’s certified BeeSafe associate at 717899-7745 to find out more and get a quote. See ad on page 5. If you want a nice lawn, it is now possible without chemicals! a
The Valley, March 2015
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Editor’s Corner Wayne Stottlar I probably should start this another day as I am sitting here incredibly angry about the 21 Christians being beheaded by the sub-human Islamists that call themselves ISIS. And the name shouldn’t matter, they are all Muslim, and it’s just a game our president uses to keep everyone distracted instead of pressing him to take action. He won’t, plain and simple--whatever he does will amount to nothing, but will give this criminal administration an excuse. Have any of you really looked at Syria, the home base for these animals? They are bordered by Jordan to the south, which is an ally. Iraq to the east, where we already have troops and material. To their north is Turkey who do not want ISIS infiltrating their borders, and have the military to stop them. To the west is the
Mediterranean sea. What say we launch a ground war from Jordan and Iraq and push toward the sea killing every single male of fighting age on the way. By the time we reach the Mediterranean, the land will be cleansed. To line 21 people up and hack their heads off for no other reason than the fact that they are Christian, should be sending alarm bells off in your head. We are well into another Crusade, whether we think we are or not, they certainly have declared war on Christianity. I don’t want to hear the “not all Muslims are bad” excuse. The fact of the matter is, we have been targeted for extinction and if we are to survive, we had better take the offensive. If there are Muslims out there that have not renounced the actions of these Islamists, they are the enemy as well.
There has been a call worldwide for sleeper cells to activate and cause terror in our own country. The instances are numerous enough to define them as an active assault on our way of life. Instead of being fearful, be alert, be proactive, and eliminate any threat you see. Just because our president is a coward and trying to protect these filthy cowards out of some kind of connection to Islam, doesn’t mean you have to become a victim. You do not negotiate with sub-human animals, they are incapable of understanding that, they understand force, and we should use every ounce we have and eliminate every single living thing that participates or follows these cowards. They do NOT have a right to exist no matter what some pacifist hand wringer tells you. Ok, glad to have gotten my fuse lit for the next subject. Can our government be any more corrupt? The most feared agency in the land and one that yields way more power than was ever intended is sick. The IRS has cancer, it needs to be cut out, but they are handled with kid gloves. The past and current director have lied to Congress about almost everything. Lois Lerner continues to spit in the face of the American
taxpayer by refusing to answer questions and still accepting bonuses on work she isn’t doing, nor apparently ever did. Why hasn’t she been locked up? The only answer can be that those with the power to do so, are too corrupt themselves to act. That corruption runs rampant on both sides of the aisle. I don’t know about you, but I would like to see everyone refuse to pay their taxes until this mess is straightened out. This country belongs to the people, not those criminals in Washington. When they can allow an agency like the IRS to basically break the law and lie about it when questioned, it is decades past time for a dismantling. Remember the next time some slimy politician contacts you for your support
or vote, that their “hat in hand” gesture is just a show until they are elected, and then they will demand your servitude. Funny how the title “Public Servant” has been bastardized to mean ruler. It is time to recall the words of Thomas Jefferson, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inherent and inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of govern-
Continued on page 7
Contact Info Editor/Publisher Wayne Stottlar Graphic Artist/ Co-Publisher Lynn Persing Associate Editor Colleen Swetland The Valley PO Box 41 Yeagertown, PA 17099 (717) 363-1550
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The Valley, March 2015
Plain Talk
Hello to all Valley readers from Honey Creek, where February says goodbye and March is here. Whether you are ready or not, we are running into March! Inverters/chargers is a subject often left undiscussed. What are they? Just as the undiscussed name said, it is an all-in-one unit, inverter/charger/transfer switch. What is it capable of? It is an inverter in inverter mode and if you plug it in to your generator 2000 watt and up, it will automatically transfer the load to your generator, and in the mean time it will charge your battery bank. It has many options to charge batteries on limited current such as by amps, AC input or percentage of charge. Amps inverter/ chargers come in many configurations such as control from your smart phone or laptop or manually by the meter, or also called remote control, which is my option. They can transfer in 16 milliseconds, which means it will keep most any motor or computer system running without any flicker in the transfer. They are also available in modified sine or true sine. This is equivalent to or better than the utility power company supplied power to your house. What are
they used for? The possibilities are endless—you can install them on a truck or R.V. and they will maintain your battery overnight or through the day or through the year in maintenance mode. If your battery voltage falls below 12.7 volts in 12 volt or double for 24 volt (25.4), they will float the battery for four hours then again go to maintenance mode to keep from over charging your battery. When you are running low on electrolite, our inverter/chargers also feature volt point just to charge your battery at optional voltage. This is critical in welder systems to maximize life because your batteries are frequently discharged. As a welder, this feature is very important to me. Yes, you guessed it. I do have a battery powered wire welder and it does work great. It uses a Magnum model RD 1824 for charging and operating tools. So, how does it work? First of all I used four 6 volt batteries to power it. You can regulate your power 12 - 18 and 24 volt setting by moving the input cable. What you need is a wire feeder or used wire welder that can be converted to be battery powered. #1 is the size wire that regulates your heat. #2 is the size
tip such as tweco regular or tweco heavy duty, which will boost heat by almost 1 1/2 times—approximately 50 percent plus. Also, a draw back is required to eliminate burn back, which is wire burning back to the tip because of the high amount of current. I use my welder daily and have learned to love it and I do not think about switching to an AC transformer. If I would upgrade, I would use 2 volt cells to have 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 volt welding instead of 12, 18, and 24 volt, which work great for what I am doing. Also the 2 volt cell can be sized more accordingly to power requirements such as having less cables. This is not strictly a solar-powered welder, but can be, which is optional. Mine is powered for now by the RD18,24 inverter/charger and I have often thought about solar, but mine needs to be portable. I also hope to be able to save someone a few pieces of green paper. A few manufacturers sell a flux core wire welder that can be easily converted to battery power. Two 12 volt batteries would also work great to weld if portability is a concern. Also, you could weld off of a tractor system by making a few simple connections and removing the hot wire and ground wire to the tractor if it is 24 volt— you are now ready to weld. For steel, you need it and no matter how far you are out in the woods. But with flux core or any 110 powered wire feeder,
Commissioners Meeting Minutes from page 6
Court, Counseling, Drug Testing and officer’s salaries. The meeting also included approval of resignation and hiring of part time correctional officers. Lastly, Mr. Chris Wysocki, of Juniata Valley Behavioral and Development Services provided the Commissioner’s and public his quarterly report. According to Mr. Wysocki, the invoices are coming in normal and “things are going pretty well.” He explained that initially they thought there may be a shortfall from the state, but he has received word that this is not going to happen. He reported that Mifflin County currently is serving 251 in Intellectual Disability, 522 in mental health and 45 children are receiving Early Intervention services. Ms. Shari Bolling had asked how my children are in placement. Mr. Wysocki stated that they do not place children. He stated that the RTF (Residential Treatment Facilities) are funded by Health Choice monies and not his agency. When asked how many children are in the RTF placements, he stated that in the
Tri-County they have maybe only 3-4 children in RTF placements. When asked how many children in Mifflin County are placed in RTF’s, he did not know. Public Comment: Commissioner Sunderland had a discloser statement prior to allowing any public comment. Commissioner Sunderland stated that attacking us (Commissioners) will not be tolerated. He stated they, meaning the Commissioners do not bash the public and expects the same from the public. It was stated that Public Comment is in fact just that, public comment; however they, meaning the Commissioners feel that it is in the best interest of the county to allow questions and attempt to answer those questions. Redundancy will not be tolerated and they will move on to the next person. At this time the Public Comment time was opened. It was asked of the Commissioners when the Agenda is to be available to the public, stating that as of yesterday it was not available. Commissioner Riden stated that it would be available
Solar Explained by S. Yoder
of four owner counties of Centre County Youth Service Bureau. Centre County Youth Service Bureau houses juvenile offenders. Mr. Harpster, Chief Probation and Parole reports that Mifflin County does not get charged a daily per diem when a juvenile needs placed. It was reported that with other juvenile detention centers closing and out of county offenders being placed at Centre County Youth Service Bureau, it has decreased the quarterly amount that Mifflin County has to pay. The out of county placing agency pays a daily per diem which in return lowers Mifflin County’s portion. Mr. Harpster did note that there is always a bed available for Mifflin County juvenile offenders because Mifflin County is considered an owner county. Mr. Harpster also discussed the $260,000 federal grant which was approved. This is in the second year of the grant. The grant is used for the Juvenile Treatment
The Truth Has No Agenda
you need to simply clip on an inverter, most often 400 watt or less will do. I use only a 400 watt and it has never over-loaded, but it is not recommended. I have welded wet steel, but I would never have done that with an AC power welder because of electric shock. I only do this if I really need to, as I try to avoid it if at all possible. This welder can also be powered by a transformer or gas powered DC welder, which I have already done. We are very glad to have two of these out and running wellwith positive results with 1/2 inch steel and fully charged batteries and .35 wire. The voltage of four 6 volt golf carts should be around 21-2, 22-4. While welding, also remember some meters vary a few mill. volts. Another voltage regulator is the wire speed and most often faster will burn hotter. Remember to use fuses in your welder since batteries can be really hazardous as they can produce an unlimited amount of current, which is why they work so good for welding. More current is available if the wire draws for more, which is why penetration is so good. I have never seen a wire welder penetrate like my flux core does. Weld polarity is the same as any other Mig machine. Do not think this machine is complicated—it is as simple as a few cables, and most any human being can be a welder with good looking welds. Another power reducer can be a
chain attached to work, as this method will lose power by heat and reduce your heat at the nozzle by working your ground clamp up and down the chain as needed to reduce and increase power as needed. Very thin steel or sheet metal can be welded by using 18 volt, better yet, 12 volt. If your machine is capable of Mig Welding, you can weld anything that a mig is capable of, that means stainless etc. A solenoid can be installed to keep the tip cold during idle, which would be the same as a mig welder with a cold tip, which means no power is at the tip when not welding. Keep the battery far enough away to prevent an explosion. Batteries produce explosive gases while using and charging. Remember common sense—fuses are not supplied by the batteries, but must be by the user. This information is not instruction to be solely relied on, but rather to save you some green and hazards will NOT appear if the proper procedures are used. So have fun using the most efficient welding system around. We are NOT liable for any outcome except exceptional welds. Steven Yoder
Wednesday by noon. Ms. Bolling questioned the information that was relayed to the public approximately a year ago that the Agenda would be available to the public by Tuesdays at 4pm. Ms. Bolling stated that CCAP had informed her that the Agenda should be available to the public the Monday prior the meeting. When asked when the meeting agenda would be available again, she was given Wednesdays at noon, this turned into 2:30-3pm the day before the meeting. It was also added that there are exceptions and often the agenda can change the morning of the meeting due to having to meet certain deadlines. A gentleman in the public
addressed the Commissioners by saying, “it has come to my attention that the social media beats you guys up to the point of being liaise.” He also told the Commissioners that they do a good job and he supports the Commissioners. Another one of his friends wanted to thank the Commissioners for what they do for Armaugh Township and lastly another party stated that the Commissioners do “a tremendous job.” There were no more public comments and the meeting was ajourned. To end on a note to think about: “Do it from the heart or not at all” Jeanette Winterson. a
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6 a
“I hold it, that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.” -- Thomas Jefferson
The Valley, March 2015
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Who are these guys they call Stealth Diggers? If you never heard of them, you’re probably living under a rock. These guys are a gritty bunch who lives in the last bastion of freedom in New Hampshire. The group is a cross between Bevis and Butthead meets Mayfair. The day is centered on the group’s antics, posts and videos. The rest of the group’s followers add content such as pictures, posts, video, sarcasm, good hearted sentiments and fellowship. The takeaway from the group’s Facebook page and YouTube videos is Live Free or Die—it’s their motto. The group meets regularly at the Stealth Shack, a meeting place where all the magic happens behind the scenes. There are regular videos of the guys opening letters and packages of cigars, and other gifts and trying out new products and discussing topics in a group setting. The Stealth Shack holds all the members finds and has a huge round table where there is always a meeting of the minds. Alcohol, tobacco products and firearms are always present, so if you don’t like freedom, get the heck out and go watch MSNBC. The group has humble beginnings; it started when Digger
Charlie made his first episode of Stealth Diggers on YouTube in April 2014 and then started his Facebook group Stealth Diggers in March 2014. Just who makes up the Stealth Digger family? Thunder Chief, Faceless George (episode#4), Just Bob (episode#19.5), Jay Mo (episode#22) and the Patriarch well known as Keebler Keebler (episode27). All together there are 14 members of the Stealth Shack and those are Kurt Franz, newly named Beardon O’Diggerton, Shotgun Wayne Stottlar, Trooper Brian Bari, Justin Leavitt, Brian Bissonette, John O’Brien and Stealth Doctor John Mainiero. In essence all of us in the group are Stealth Diggers as Jay Mo says, “ Just because a member cannot get to the shack or out on a dig with us, doesn’t mean they’re not a Stealth Digger, it’s more of a state of mind than an appearance”. The members free float in from time to time and you may see new faces and names due to the fluid nature of the group. There was some friendly competition between Digger Charlie and Jay Mo at the beginning. Both were making You Tube videos and seeing who can hit the 500 mark first—this set
their friendship into motion and they found out that if they blend their super powers, they could reach more people as a team. What does this group have in common you may ask? Metal Detecting is the main theme of the group; they all love finding relics, coins, jewelry, and anything that’s buried in the woods. The group is also open to bottle digging, shooting guns, smoking big radiator hose cigars, talking on the radio, driving fast and seeking out the lost and hidden history in the backwoods of the great North East. The Motto Live Free or Die applies to the group’s standards, there are none, so check your political correctness at the door and respect your friends. Butt busing and fun is the way they roll, the short videos posted are a great way to get through the day, most members check in throughout the day. The member base is men and women from all walks of life; folks check in as far as Australia and as close as Florida. Topics of the day range from FFF (Favorite Find Friday), (HHH) Hump Day Hello where we post a video or a photo, and SSS (Stealthy Selfie Sundays) where you hide your face and post a video or photo in your best incognito. The best part of the Stealth Diggers is that there is NDD (No Damn Drama), which is a daily occurring theme. Taking pride in saying what we feel without being judged and letting it go is not frowned upon, sometimes debated, but never a sticking point. Some of the regular topics that are brought up are a culmination of folks starting a thread such as Samsqanch, as Digger Charlie says in his best New England accent. This mythical character of gigantic proportions has the uncanny likeness one of our own group members, with a striking resemblance to the creature. The topic is always trending with some theme and a google-eyed MEME of some guy saying some funny phrase. Then there is “s***
Continued on page 27
thing in return for the lush life we When we purchased the family farm five years ago, we had no were enjoying. So, we looked for idea what to expect. We loved the a need that we could meet. idea of homesteading and raising We noticed that the library or hardworking children in the great a church would host a worthwhile outdoors, but we quickly realized event, but very few people attendthat blood, sweat, and tears are ed. We noticed that sometimes all required to build anything beautiof the Soup and Yard Sales were ful, functional, and thriving. scheduled for the same weekend, That first summer, we planted limiting the number of people a personal garden that included who could enjoy them. We also no fewer than 78 tomato plants. noticed that many local businesses 78 tomato plants! That was a did not have an online presence or 780% increase from our previa source of online advertising that ous experience. We planted – in today’s day and age - would them from seed: it’s too easy to really help them to thrive. push a pinhead-sized seed into a These were needs we knew Dixie cup of soil. We were still we could meet! Ryan’s expertise enthused when we transported and profession is in technology, those 78 seedlings to our fertile while mine is in writing, so we put garden, and we celebrated when our heads together and decided to we tasted our first, sunkissed start a website. GoPennsValley. Beefsteak. It wasn’t long before com began as an effort to prothose plants started popping out so mote the many small businesses, many tomatoes that we filled the churches, and neighborhoods in wheelbarrow. (So much for the Penns Valley. We created a free cute little baskets I purchased at a Community Calendar, a Business flea market.) I spent hours in the Directory, and stories about local kitchen canning stewed tomatoes, people, businesses, and events. diced tomatoes, salsa, sauce, We created opportunities for inexpaste, and soup. We ate sliced pensive advertising so businesses tomatoes sprinkled with sea salt, and nonprofits can make the most we slathered bread with mayo of their advertising dollars by and made tomato sandwiches, we reaching hundreds of local famichunked them into salads, and lies every day. We’ve spent many gave away buckets-full to friends. evenings sitting side-by-side on the couch, laptop open, working In the midst of learning how to grow tomatoes and strawberries, how to butcher meat birds, and how to prune apple trees, our little family also began exploring the Valley. We became Gus and Huck Tritsch join us in The Grange Fair Parade regulars at (our website was originally called PennsValleyFamily.com) Centre Hall library, tried the delicious bacon on this project together. at Penns Valley Meat Market, One of our favorite aspects and learned about herbs from the of creating GoPennsValley.com Learning Garden at the American has been getting the word out and Legion in Millheim. We met many networking amongst the Valwonderful people and decided we Continued on page 19 wanted to offer the Valley some-
“Fair & Balanced” means Spin gets Equal Time
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The Valley, March 2015
The Benefits of Hair Analysis by Merry Matukonis A hair analysis (also called a trace mineral analysis) is a test that measures the mineral content of your hair, which reflects the mineral content of the body’s tissues. For example, if your hair analysis reveals an elevated calcium level two or three times normal, then the calcium level in your body will be elevated. If this is the case, a strong tendency exists for arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries due to calcium plaques.) If your calcium level is low, then a tendency exists for osteoporosis (demineralization of the bone), increased tendency to bone fractures, dental caries, periodontal disease, muscle cramps, etc. Hair analysis also reveals various mineral imbalances which can lead to metabolic dysfunctions before any symptoms show up. Mineral imbalances can contribute to many conditions, such as: • • • • • • • • • •
Depression Digestive Disturbance Skin Rashes Hypoglycemia Diabetes Emotional Problems Hyperactivity Headaches Allergies Hair loss Hypertension Anemia
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Arthritis Thyroid Disturbance Muscular-Skeletal Disorders Prostate Disorders Cardiovascular Disease Who needs a Hair Analysis?
Anyone would benefit who is found ill and no explanation can be found, or when the cause is known, but the therapy is not entirely effective. Hair analysis opens up a whole new view for solving your particular problem. Minerals are involved in almost all enzyme reactions in your body. Without enzyme activity, life ceases to exist. A trace mineral analysis is preventative as well as a useful screening tool. Even if you are not experiencing a severe problem, abnormal changes in body chemistry and nutritional deficiencies may result in early, subtle changes in the body, such as: • • • • •
White spots in fingernails – indicates a possible zinc deficiency. Longitudinal ridging in nails – indicates an iron deficiency. Brittle hair and nails – copper and calcium imbalance. Deep grooves across nails – calcium deficiency. Stretch marks – zinc deficiency
The Pen and Thread
• •
Lack of growth – zinc deficiency Mood swings – possible toxic metal accumulation such as lead, mercury, or cadmium.
The above indicators are early signs of metabolic disturbances and may lead to serious problems if left unchecked. There are many possible causes for mineral imbalances. Common Causes of a Mineral Imbalance •
•
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Improper diet – such as excessive consumption of refined carbohydrates and sugars, strict vegetarian diets or other exclusive diets. Taking vitamins and minerals which are not compatible with your current body chemistry. Medications. Birth control pills. Stress. Accumulation of toxic metals from the environment, job or hobby. Inheritance of mineral patterns genetically.
Hair analysis is an invaluable screening tool which allows a correct program of diet and supplementation to be designed for each individual’s specific needs. A trace mineral analysis provides a metabolic blueprint with the highest degree of applicable scientific accuracy. Contact Merry
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The Truth Has No Agenda
Matukonis at Optimal Wellness to schedule your hair analysis today. Be advised that the protocols I recommend are not intended as a treatment for any disease. I do not diagnose or treat disease. The supplements I use are intended to support normal physiological processes of the body. Call today to begin your path to Optimal Wellness. (814) 933-9149
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Did You Know? • • •
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Premenstrual headaches are often caused by too much copper in the system. Arthritis pain can be caused by lead, cadmium or mercury poisoning. Eating the wrong diet can contribute to conditions such as constipation, diverticulosis, and heart disease. Taking too much of any one vitamin or mineral can be harmful. Too much vitamin C can make an infection worse in some metabolic types. Hair analysis is the most efficient means of determining exactly what vitamins and minerals you do need. Adolescent acne can be caused by lead or copper poisoning as well as a zinc deficiency. Approximately 80% of our population lack the necessary enzymes and natural stomach acids to digest their food. Hyperactive children often have too much lead in their system. Obesity is frequently caused by chronic blood sugar problems. Mercury toxicity in the mother’s system can kill her
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unborn child. Magnesium supplements may prevent brain damage of alcoholics. The male prostate gland contains more zinc than any other organ in the body. Because of this, adequate zinc levels are important for male potency. Diuretics often prescribed for patients with high blood pressure and heart trouble can decrease your potassium supply. High blood pressure and strokes may be caused by too much salt. Many baby foods contain too much salt. High levels of copper and iron in the body tissue can cause migraine headaches and even schizophrenia. Adequate zinc intake helps regulate blood sugar levels. Lead toxicity is linked to multiple sclerosis. Zinc deficiency can retard bone development and produce malformed sex organs. Chromium, magnesium, manganese, and vitamin B6 deficiency are related to diabetes. Vitamin B2, folic acid, vitamin E, zinc and chromium are important for users of birth control pills. Magnesium deficiency is related to epilepsy, leukemia, heart disease and kidney disorders. As many as 250,000 women in the U.S. at any given time may be suffering from iron deficiency anemia. Beryllium, lead, cadmium, nickel, and arsenic poisoning can cause cancer. a
The Valley, March 2015
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Commissioners Meeting Review
Encouragement from the Book of Revelation by Pastor J. C. Reese If you have learned and been encouraged from this series on the Book of Revelation, I’d ask you to encourage me and email me at nitbapt@juno.com. I’d be glad to hear from you! Strap on your seatbelts now as we have some serious things to consider in Revelation 17, which is perhaps one of the most misunderstood chapters in the Bible. Why? It’s often interpreted as the destruction of ‘religious Babylon,’ but it actually depicts the rise of the Anti-Christ to world domination! The first character in this chapter is the Harlot. She’s the religious system that will be so pervasive in the tribulation period. As we look at “her” in this part of Revelation, we’re encouraged even now to beware of her seduction: “. . .I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sits upon many waters.” (vs. 1). We’re told specifically in vs. 15 that the term “waters” here refers to many people. And that she sits on them indicates her control over the world’s populace (except true believers then). As we hear of great atrocities in the Middle East now, it’s clear many have been duped by a religious system far from the gospel of Jesus Christ, so “she” is already busy. God is love and many today in the name of a god spew hate and demand compulsion to their religion or else death. God never forces us to follow Him and that’s obvious in the Holy Bible. But lest we think that “her” seduction is isolated to Arabic lunatics, “she” is also working her wiles to woo minds in the revered halls of academia in America. “She” attacks the foundation of the Bible with a so-called science that we all evolved from primordial scum rather than created ex nihilo (out of nothing) by the very Word spoken by the Almighty. If the very first phrase in the Scriptures comes into question and thus casts aspersions on the whole of the Word, then “she” will have succeeded in her spiritual seduction! Were today’s highly educated scientists there at the dawn of creation? No, but God was! I’ll take His Word for how the universe began, rather than the fleeting notions and faddish theories of men. I choose to believe “in the beginning God created” and there’s no room in the Hebrew language there to accommodate evolution,
period. Perhaps a little ‘closer to home’ you have fallen to this temptress by settling for a spirituality not governed by the Lord’s Word. but by your own whims. Do you typically live life for you or Him? Does the agenda you ascribe to daily only include Him when comfy for you or have you truly committed your life wholeheartedly to following His precious Word? Her love is cheap, His is the real deal and what a blessing if we can experience it! Verse two states that “the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” “She” is indeed a spiritual intoxicant that can only be resisted by truth! Her beliefs, philosophies, and anti-Christ ideas will lead many astray, and eternally so. Yet, thank God, He has left us the Truth in the Word of God. We can discern “her” lies and her seduction by knowing the Bible and so avoid falling into her lethal trap. How encouraging the Lord has left us His Word! Let me close with the wild description of her in verses 3-6 where we see her relationship with the ‘Beast’ (Anti-Christ). Typical of those who know not true love is these two. They will be using each other and it’s the Anti-Christ who will eventually rise to world rule by taking advantage of her religious system and then casting it out when he sees no more purpose for his devious ends. But lest we feel too sorry for ‘her’ John reminds us she will have become ‘drunken with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus’ (vs.6). Her religion KILLS just as (and I know this is not politically correct, oh well!) false ideas today tear at the very fabric of our society, but the pressure to keep quiet is immense in her system. Let me encourage you to look at these two and reject, even in small form, their brand of love. Don’t be a user, don’t engage in relationships for what you can get, but rather what you can contribute. Be a faithful servant in your church and love folks because God has first loved you! Join us each Sunday at 10:45 a.m. at the log cabin church just one mile west of Potters Mills at the corner or Rt.322 & Mountainback Rd. a
by Karen Cleck French For as long as I can remember there has only been one media source attending the Commissioner’s meetings. I have attended many meetings and then read the report given by that one source. It had been asked several times why only certain things are being printed and the answer was that they can print or not print what they want. I can assure you that my account of the meetings will be the meetings entirety. I am not going to be picking and choosing what gets printed. I hope that you enjoy the article and it would be really appreciated if more people would attend the Commissioner’s meetings. They are held every Thursday in the courthouse at 9am on the second floor. With the election of our local government officials approaching, it is important that the citizens become involved. The Commissioners hold two meetings per month - at 9am on the second and fourth Thursday. Workshop sessions are conducted on the first and third Thursdays of each month. I will not be writing on the workshop meetings due to them being approximately 5-10 minutes. Listen to all the candidates and incumbents, then make your choice! February 19, 2015 Mifflin County Commissioner’s Meeting:
To begin with for just a little fun, I wanted to say I thought I had gone to the wrong room in the Courthouse for this meeting. I got off the elevator and made the turn to enter the meeting room when I saw two Sheriff’s deputies, and at first I thought perhaps I was in the courtroom and then had to chuckle. Okay moving on to the account of the meeting. The meeting opened in the usual manner with silent prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. The approval of the previous meeting’s minutes; as well as the Approval of Bills, Treasurers Report and the Commissioner’s Reports. It was reported that there was no old business and the meeting proceeded with new business. First item on the agenda was the quarterly report from Chris Wysocki of Juniata Valley Behavioral and Development; however he was not there, so it moved on to a request of allocations of Marcellus Shale, which was approved. It stated that Mifflin County receives approximately $40,000 a year. Next on the agenda was an issue with Union Township tax bills and it was requested that the taxes are not collected at this time and no penalties be assessed. The taxes will be billed on supple-
mental billing on the next tax bill. There was verification that the tax payers never received their bills. At the time when asked if there were any questions, Ms. Shari Bolling asked what that meant and were the property owners new? Commissioner Sunderland replied and stated that they were not new property owners; however it was a new tax collector. Ms. Bolling asked if the property owners did not know they had to pay taxes. In reply, Commissioner Sunderland stated that he thought it was the right thing to do since they did not receive the bill and will be billed in the upcoming cycle as a supplemental billing. Ms. Bolling stated, “as long as it doesn’t affect the incoming money from taxes on the budget.” She was told that it would not affect that. The focus then was moved to an agreement with Centre County Youth Service Bureau for a sum of $40,234.25 per quarter ($160,937 a year). Mr. Todd Harpster and Commissioner Riden stated that Mifflin County is one
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OBSERVATIONS . . . of an OLD MAN
We are living in divisive times, challenged daily to discern. Do we understand issues, the views of others? Is our thinking Positive or Negative? POSITIVES Love Sharing Light Understand Compassion Joy Good Trust
vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs.
God is: Love, Caring, Sharing
NEGATIVES Hate Greed Darkness Ridicule Cruelty Sadness Evil Fear Evil is: Fear, Greed, Hate
Albert Einstein: “ Peace cannot be found or kept by Force. It can only be achieved by Understanding”
“Fair & Balanced” means Spin gets Equal Time
Peter J. Moses
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The Valley, March 2015 Editors Corner from page 2
Dave Wilson
ment becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem
Coins, Precious Metal and a Little of this and That
most likely to effect their safety and happiness.” Now with the government pushing through “Net Neutrality,” everything you hear from now on will be the sanitized government approved information--welcome to North Korea. I am afraid blood will have to spill to save the US. a
WHAT Not To Buy
And WHERE Not To Buy It!
For every legitimate (even semi-legitimate) advertisement for collector coins, Gold and Silver Bullion, and rare currency that are displayed in NON-coin-type publications, there are probably 100 ads that are either very misleading, or offer terrible deals that they make LOOK exciting and valuable! We have a favorite saying that we tell people who inquire about collecting and/or investing in coins. It goes like this: “Don’t ever, ever, ever, never, EVER buy ANYTHING over the telephone, off the radio, out of a magazine, and (most especially) from the television!” In our 35+ years in business, I can’t recall even ONE person who told us about a GOOD deal they received from ANY of those sources. On the other hand, we have spoken with (literally) THOUSANDS of nice people who were lured into buying special coins, sets and package selections that ended up being worth just a tiny fraction of their purchase price. Generally, many (profit-only
minded) companies make a fabulous living by taking common, not particularly valuable items, dressing them up to LOOK like great deals, then charge exorbitant prices, specifically designed to impress the beginning, less knowledgeable coin buyer. Fancy packages, Gold and Platinum “plated” coins (rarely with any precious metal content), painted or enameled coins, colorized currency, special investment groups (almost always loaded with common junk) and clad coins, commemorating some heart-wrenching event (Pearl Harbor, 9-11, etc.) advertised as being minted in “limited” quantities, that have a resale value of almost “0,” are pretty much par for the course. Dressed up (and usually cleaned or polished) wheat pennies, Indian cents, buffalo nickels and clad (non-silver) birth-year sets and bicentennial sets are just a few of the usual suspects that are frequently paraded about as being very valuable, and desirable “gifts that just about everyone
would LOVE to receive.” If you have little expectation of investment value, and purchase these items strictly for fun, then, by all means, buy what you want. Unfortunately, with about 98% of the people we talk to, they THINK they are making a sound, worthwhile investment in rare coins and currency. Sadly, when they bring in their gigantic box full of “stuff” for an evaluation, they quickly learn otherwise! Many times REALITY just isn’t any fun. A bag full of old, 90% Silver US dimes, quarters and halfdollars might not LOOK particularly exciting, but in the world of coin investments, they represent exceptional value. In the event of any type of unfortunate currency crisis, a few, polished and cleaned 1943 steel cents, housed in a colorful, fancy plastic case probably will NOT generate much interest, but a few real SILVER coins probably WILL get you that dozen eggs you’re bartering for! a
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Our 8th annual Liberty Forum is right around the corner! Will YOU be there? Purchase your tickets online before March 2nd, to spend quality time with Scott Horton, Patrick Byrne, Sheriff Mack, Nick Gillespie, Jeffrey Tucker, Ben Swann, and more. Basic Tickets will also be on sale at the door (access to talks only, no meals). Liberty Forum is a wonderful opportunity to meet the impressive individuals who have already been “Moved By Liberty.” Discover what these passionate people are working on, and get inspired and motivated to move yourself. In New Hampshire, liberty is a lifestyle. To give you a flavor, take a look at what has been going on during the past couple of weeks: An FSP (Free State Project) Ambassador team attended the International Students for Liberty conference in D.C., where they got 42 new signers. That’s FORTY-TWO—the answer to
life, the universe, and everything! Kudos to organizer Carla Mora, and the entire outreach team. With the legislature in session, movers involved with the NHLA are reviewing upcoming bills in order to determine their impact on liberty in New Hampshire. Activists have also been
testifying at committee meetings, including such important issues as police militarization, asset forfeiture, marijuana decriminalization and constitutional carry.
On the social side, there have been baby showers (so many Porcupets are being born in the Free State!), birthday parties, snowshoeing and skiing trips, move-in parties, Porc Family Connection meetups, a snowy BBQ or two, and much, much more. To get a sense of what Porcupines get up to, visit the community calendar. If you can’t make it to Liberty Forum, please save the date for PorcFest, which will take place June 21-28, 2015, at Rogers’ Campground in Lancaster, NH. Tickets to PorcFest will go on sale at Liberty Forum. If you want to book your campsite, hold your horses until then too—there’s room for us all! It is with sadness that we say goodbye to our newsletter editor, Elizabeth Edwards. Elizabeth, who is leaving to focus on her position as NH state representative, has been editing the newsletter since November 2013, and has done a spectacular job. I will miss our Tuesday tea-and-talk
meetings. With change, comes opportunity, and I am pleased to announce Kristine Boncer will be taking over this position. Kristine has already proven her volunteering chops, having worked as Special Guests Liaison on PorcFest XI and Liberty Forum 2014, and by providing administrative support to me since early 2013. Read her “We Made the Move” story, and please join me in welcoming Kristine to this key role. This is already an exciting year for the Free State Project, and it will only get better. We
“Fair & Balanced” means Spin gets Equal Time
hope to see many, many movers in 2015! Remember, we are concentrating together to peacefully, as individuals, reduce the size and scope of government, while promoting a purposeful life in New Hampshire fueled by more personal freedom and responsibility within a vibrant, thriving community. What are you waiting for? Join us! Yours in peace and liberty, Carla Gericke President, Free State Project a
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The Valley, March 2015
Maria V. Snyder - New York Times Best Selling Author As I sit here writing this month’s article, snow is gently falling outside providing a fresh blanket of white over everything that had become grey and dingy since our last storm. I love snow, I only wish we’d get more than just a few inches at a time (maybe I should duck from sharp objects being hurled my way). Everyone is ready for it to end, but the only thing I’m ready to be rid of is the frigid cold. The snow can keep falling as long as the temps stay above 25 degrees F. February’s single and negative digit temperatures provided some extra “fun” for Wayne. We had several days where our pipes froze and he had to fire up heaters to unthaw them. He just loves the challenges of an old house (insert sarcasm here!) I managed to kill a few things this February. My computer died, then the printer died, and I fried the microwave at work. In January our microwave at home died (but it was 29 years old so it had a good life). Here’s hoping March is a little less expensive, but Murphy does have to go to the vet for his shots and diagnosis of a lump on his back, so it’s not looking too promising. Let’s talk about something good that happened in February. I work at the Department of Meteorology at Penn State (no more flying objects please, I’m not a meteorologist, just a member of
the office staff). Last Thursday I received a message from an alumna of our department, Maria Snyder, who once worked in the air quality field, but discovered a new passion in writing. She is now a New York Times bestselling author and writes the most addicting novels. They are a little bit fantasy, romance, and edgeof-your seat action all rolled into one. Maria messaged me that she would be on campus for a pro-
help but wonder where she gets the inspiration and ideas for her novels. Some of them are a little bit dark and sinister and this does not strike me as Maria at all! I’m a person who really does not like to read at all, but ever since Maria gave me a book of hers for my birthday, the first in the Study series, Poison Study, I was hooked. The series continues with two more novels and then she starts a anew with the Glass Series, followed by the Healer Series.
If you are looking for a series of books to escape reality, these books will suck you right into their world and you’ll forget what’s going on around you! I am anxiously trying to finish the newspaper this month so I can start in on Maria’s new release, Shadow Study, which is a continuation of the Study Series (called the Soulfinder Series.) This will be my reward for finishing the newspaper before 11pm tonight!
Continued on page 11
Maria V. Snyder, New York Times best-selling author
spective student tour for her son and that she would be stopping by the department. Her latest book, Shadow Study, was just released a few days prior and I’d been waiting a year to get my hands on it. I told her how excited I was and she brought me a signed copy! Woo hoo! Maria is a down-to-earth, kind hearted person and I can’t
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The Valley, March 2015
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Saddle Up With The Shillings Although the best partner to saddle up with is, of course, our horse, it is nice to have a friend to ride with and even better if it is your sister. Brenna and Emily Shilling not only enjoy riding at home together, but they also like to see who is the fastest in competition. The Mifflin County teenagers compete in barrels, pole
bending, keyhole, 50 yard dash and a few other timed classes at horse shows around the area. Like many young girls, 17 year old Brenna has loved horses since she could crawl. Her aunt Jamie Fultz was influential in encouraging her to pursue her love of horses. Brenna started really riding about 5 years ago when she joined the Mifflin County 4-H Horse Club. She has had her horse Ice for two years. Ice is a 12 year old Perlino mare that came from Middleburg after her previous owner Although both Brenna and Emily Shilling are very competitive decided to pursue in running their horses, nothing comes between their special bond as sisters. Look for these girls competing at local events roping this year.
instead of gaming. Their best accomplishment so far has been making it to the State 4-H Horse Show their first year together, and keeping their pole bending run clean and consistent. Brenna’s sister, 15 year old Emily, has been riding for two years. She has had her horse Sapphire for a little over a year. Sapphire is a black 17 year old Morab mare. She came from a local sale barn. She had been brought in from a sale in Ohio, where she was possibly destined for slaughter. Sapphire did not seem to have any training in the gaming classes, but she clicked with Emily so well that they began to excel as a team in no time. They made it to the 2014 State 4-H Horse Show in pole bending and cutback class, placing 10th in cutback. Both horses seem to truly enjoy the competitiveness of the gaming events. Ice and Brenna love to run the poles. When Ice sees the poles being set up, her ears perk up and she gets excited. Although Sapphire came scarred up and untrusting, she has gained confidence with Emily and learn all the timed events easily in the year they have been together. You can see that each has a special bond with their horse and how they enjoy what they are doing when they are running. Despite their choices for the same events with their horses, the sisters are very different. Amazingly each horse seems to have a similar per-
sonality to that of their rider. Emily and Sapphire are both neat freaks. They will both go out of their way to avoid getting muddy. Just like Brenna’s room is always a mess, Ice’s stall is always dirty. Brenna says she is one of the dirtiest horses she has ever seen. She especially likes to roll in the manure every night Brenna and Ice pole bending before a show. thing. Brenna was the first to Being supportive of family be involved with horses and has is key with the Shillings. The been very helpful in teaching daughters of Brett and Tracy ShilEmily. Competing against each ling have always had the help of other makes them strive harder to their aunt Jamie and her boyfriend win. Sometimes they bet each Jeremey Yocum. From hauling other— for example whoever runs them to shows to cheering them fastest wins a milkshake. They on, they all make the competiare happy for each other regardtion among the girls a positive less of who places higher. They are always there for one another, to help each other get better. No matter what happens, they tell each other “good job.” One special moment was when both qualified for the 4-H District Horse Show. Emily placed first and Brenna was second. Both girls were excited to qualify but Brenna was particularly proud of how Emily and Sapphire ran that day and how much they had accomplished in one year. The girls feel that it can’t get any better than competing against and with Emily and Sapphire pole bending their sister. a
“Fair & Balanced” means Spin gets Equal Time
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The Valley, March 2015
A Moment In Time by Parents of Children with Severe Mental Health Issues
The Valley Newspaper will soon be highlighting a new column - “A Moment in Time” - to draw awareness to the plight that many families face dealing with children who have severe mental health disabilities. Research shows that one in 4 families will deal with severe mental health issues in their lifetime. For years, children and caregivers have long been blamed and stigmatized for their child’s disorders. Oftentimes the mental health disorder is misunderstood. Unfortunately, many families suffer through this hardship with very little help, support or respite. Respite refers to having a qualified individual/family available to care for the child so that the primary caregiver is able to have a much needed break from the daily routine of caring for a child with special needs. Today I would like to share information on Attachment Disorders (AD) and Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). Attachment Disorder (AD) is a rare but serious mental condition in which infants and young children do not seem to establish healthy bonds with their parents or caregivers. Children with AD may have passed through a foster care system, an orphanage and/or an adoption agency and this may result in their emotional needs not having been met. Because the child’s basic needs may
Maria V. Snyder continued from page 9 Now, if I’ve piqued your interest and you want to try Maria’s books, then you can find them at almost any online book retailer (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.) and for those eReader folks, you can get them from Apple iBook or Audible Audio Book—just look for Maria V. Snyder. I suggest that you start with the Study Series—Poison Study, Magic Study, and Fire Study and read them in progression. For more information about Maria and her books, visit her website: www.mariavsnyder.com. I really think I need to change the name of my column to “Random Ramblings” because that seems more appropriate to my writing these last few months. a
not have been well met, the child seemingly cannot give or receive affection. Often children with AD and RAD have anti-social personalities. They come across with a charming personality to outsiders, but are often very difficult for the caregivers. It has been said that some professionals refer to children with severe attachment disorders (AD) as having “Ted Bundy Disease.” Both treatment and diagnosis are difficult to determine, which causes stress upon the current caregivers. Parents that have the current role to care for children with AD issues may ask themselves “where can I get help? Is there help for us because we are a rural area? Why doesn’t anyone understand how difficult it is to deal with my child who doesn’t have empathy, remorse and compassion? I didn’t cause this, I am the current caregiver trying to help, but I feel judged! How can I get others to understand? I love my child, but hate the behaviors and I am AFRAID for my safety! Many times insurance companies refuse to pay for my long term intensive care.” These are familiar thoughts that many families have day in and day out. This new column will share local stories from caregivers on “the good, the bad and the ugly” as parents and caregivers continue to struggle in loving and caring for children with MH disabilities. a
It is Neither Wealth nor Splendor, but Tranquility and Occupation which give happiness Thomas Jefferson
PACleanways of Mifflin County Keep PA Beautiful Everyone wants to live, work, and play in a clean and green community, and it’s up to everyone to make it possible to improve the overall quality of life for us all. Join Pennsylvanians across the state – and Americans across the nation – for the Great American Cleanup. You can participate in the 2015 Great American Cleanup of PA by cleaning up litter and trash along our roadsides, streams, beaches, parks, forests, and neighborhoods. Additional events include holding recycling events for hard to dispose of items; creating or enhancing green areas by planting plants, bulbs, and trees; removing or planting over graffiti that devalues your neighborhood; and other activities that help beautify your community. During the Great American Cleanup of PA, which is March 1st to May 31st, registered events can get free cleanup supplies, such as bags, gloves, and vests donated by PennDot and Keep America Beautiful. Additionally, during the Pick it Up PA Days, which is from April 11 to May 4th and spon-
sored by Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association, and participating landfills, registered events have access to reduced or free disposal. You have to ask your local Solid Waste Authority or land fill to find out if they do provide free disposal during the Pick it up PA Days. Community and civic associations, schools and youth groups, families and friends, business employees, hunting and fishing clubs, conservation organizations, sports teams, and others can organize their members and participate in the Great American Cleanup of PA. Since the inception of this event in 2004, over 1,565,950 million volunteers have picked up 80,575,227 million pounds of litter and waste, 146,259 miles of roads, waterways, shorelines, and trails have been cleaned, and more than 136,300 trees, bulbs, and flowers have been planted. Volunteers also removed over 202.350 tires and 130,218 pounds of scrap metal. The Great American Cleanup of PA is sponsored by Keep
Progress At The Embassy by Patricia Lawson Embassy Fair Kicks off Busy Summer The Friends of the Embassy Theatre are planning a busy calendar of free events this summer. Kicking off the year is the 19th annual Embassy Fair at Kish Park on Tuesday, April 21, and running through Sunday, April 26. Bartlebaugh Amusements will again provide the rides and midway. In addition, a number of vendors of all types, free giveaways, demonstrations, pony rides, and other activities are being planned. Normal hours are 6 pm to 10 pm weeknights, 5 pm to 11 pm Friday, Saturday evening 6 pm to 11 pm, and Sunday 1 pm to 6 pm. As always, we will have the Kid Connection Matinee on Saturday, now opening at 1 pm, and running to 5 pm. Kid Karaoke will be held in the Scooter Pavilion. Specially priced armbands will be sold at the Embassy during Kid Connection. Rick Clark, event coordinator, has planned a full slate of entertainment. On opening night,
The Truth Has No Agenda
Tuesday, April 21, alternative rockers “Everything Sleeps” takes the stage. On Wednesday night, “The Bisket Boys” perform their “Amazing Experience” show. On Thursday evening, the ever popular acoustic act “Truth Seekers” opens for old school rockers “3MO!’ Tentatively appearing on Friday night will be Pittsburgh’s rising country star Michael Christopher and his band, featuring his new single “DNA.” On Saturday, local favorite Chris Ruble does double duty. First up, in the afternoon, audition rounds for the Juniata River Idol competition will be on the main stage. This is a change from previous years, where auditions were not held in front of an audience. The finals will be held at a new event in late June. In the evening, Chris will take the stage for his ever-popular show. And finally on Sunday, Port Royal’s own Darin Rex will open the finale show for Williamsport’s
America Beautiful. The national sponsors and partners provide substantial support in the Great American Cleanup program in a variety of ways, from funding and in-kind donations to employee volunteer participation. America’s leading companies and brands support the campaign. The national sponsors for the 2014 Great American Cleanup were The Dow Chemical Company, The Glad Products Company, Lowe’s, Phillips 66, Troy Built Lawn and Garden Equipment, and Waste Management. PACleanWays of Mifflin County is planning a cleanup on March 14th with a March 28th rain date. We are currently waiting on funding and are planning on doing some fund raisers. We will be posting them on the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website as soon as we finalize the spring cleanup plans. We also had our first four county River Cleanup meeting and I will give the dates for them next month. I know one will be at the end of July and the other three will be in August. Pam Sechrist Affiliate Coordinator a Chris Pick. Chris is an internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter who plays a variety of instruments in his show, which will be a mix of gospel, oldies, and a special treat! Chris was a part of the late Davey Jones’ Tour Machine, and will conclude his show with a tribute to “The Monkees.” Appearing with Chris will be local musician and singer Danny Lewis. Additional activities at the fair are in the planning stages, and will be announced as they are confirmed. As always, entertainers, hours, vendors, and activities are subject to change without notice. And watch for even more activities throughout the summer. As always, we thank you for your support to bring back the Embassy to its original grandeur and splendor. Sponsors, vendors, and volunteers are needed for the fair and other events. Details can be found on the Embassy’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ embassyltwn or by calling Rick at 912-401-1282. www.embassytheatre.org www.facebook.com/embassyltwn A Memory with a Future, a Future Full of Memories! a
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Mou ntain Views From Church Lane by Kim Rickert Of all the neighborhoods in Mifflin County, few can compete with the beautiful mountain views on Church Lane, Reedsville. The Amish farm fields behind the row of homes with the mountain beyond are enjoyed from most of the rooms in the 2500 square foot home at 290 Church Lane. The four season sunroom at the rear of the house offers a relaxing place to sit, dine and entertain with gorgeous views of the generous yard, gardens and the rural scenery. The Solar Shield sunroom has a quarry tile floor and warm wood tongue & groove ceiling. An updated kitchen and breakfast nook lies through the french doors, with stylish merlot cabinets built by Belleville
Cabinets, oak hardwood floors, a breakfast bar and stainless appliances. A large pantry gives the owner plenty of storage; an adjoining laundry room and half bath includes more convenient storage. For those who like a formal dining room, this house can accommodate! The freshly painted dining room is large enough for family meals on special occasions, and is easily accessed from the
kitchen. A bright and open family room that features a cozy propane fireplace, bay windows and laminate floors is a great place for gettogethers or to just chill out. Views through the bay window to the back yard reflect the changing light against the mountain. Another formal living room can easily serve as a home office space and is removed from the busier parts of the house. The second floor features four bedrooms and two baths. The master bedroom suite is a large room with his and her closets and a modern full bath with a jetted tub/shower combination and double sink vanity. The additional bedrooms are carpeted and freshly painted. The guest bathroom has a tile floor and tub/shower combination. The home is heated by an electric heat pump and has central air conditioning. Additional amenities include a central vac system, ceiling fans, and all stainless kitchen appliances.
Location is key with the busy lives of consumers, and this home is positioned just miles from State College with an easy drive on Route 322. Nearby Big Valley offers antique shopping, the Belleville Sale and many crafts and flea markets on Wednesdays. The two story home has great curb appeal all year round in both the front and back yards! A half-moon patio off the sunroom is surrounded with landscaping and is a great place to enjoy the scenery. This home is definitely going to
be on the radar of many buyers this spring, so don’t miss your chance to see it! Pre-qualified buyers may call Tami Slick for a tour (See ad below)! a
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The Valley, March 2015
Understanding the Constitution by David Molek
American’s Creed and our Declaration
My recent viewing of the History Channel’s 3-part series “Sons of Liberty” got me to thinking. By the way, I highly recommend the series. Our Declaration of Independence contains the clearest, most concise and most eloquent articulation of the American Creed. It is a timeless statement of inherent rights, the proper purposes of government and the limits on political authority. It holds that all people everywhere are endowed with a right to liberty. That liberty is a permanent aspect of human nature everywhere is central to understanding America’s first principles. The principles are familiar: individual freedom, individual responsibility, limited government, economic opportunity and strong national defense. The Founders laid down the
timeless and universal principles that were to define a new country. The truths proclaimed by the Declaration of Independence define us as a nation and bind us together as Americans. Natural human equality is the first axiom of the American creed. The second axiom of that creed is that human beings are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights”. We possess them by birth or nature. They are not granted by our Constitution or our government. The Declaration of Independence isn’t meant to displace the Bible or Aristotle’s Ethics as a guide to the good life. It does, however, acknowledge and point to the highest things – those reasons why it is so important to resist tyranny and oppression. Remember the references to
both the pursuit of happiness and happiness, the invocation of our “Creator”, “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God”, and the appeal to the “Supreme Judge of the World”. Politics is about creating the conditions that allow us to pursue the comprehensive human good. It is not about directly securing the comprehensive human good for each person or redistributing that good via government. The Declaration of Independence is a striking example of government promotion of a particular theology. It contains four distinct references to God. He is the author of “the laws of nature and of nature’s God”. He is the “Creator” who “endowed” us with our inalienable rights. He is the “Supreme Judge of the World” and He provides “the protection of Divine Providence”. This is an
area that teachers and former Constitutional Law Instructors (a/k/a BHO) seem to ignore; and courts consider this a violation of their misinterpretation of separation of church and state. The Great Seal of the United States is the most obvious example of the Founders’ conviction that the government should respect and even teach religion. The Seal was adopted in 1782 and reaffirmed by Congress many times afterwards. It is printed today on the dollar bill. The pyramid side of the Seal is a memorable representation of the theology of our Declaration of Independence. These days we have nearly forgotten the meaning of the Declaration’s words and its relevance to the proclamation of human equality. We are a free people who joined in society to live by the principles of Natural Law – principles that became the purpose
for our union, the cause for our independence, and the foundation for our government. These are the principles proclaimed with conviction in our Declaration of Independence. Remember that our Constitution does not grant us freedoms, it prohibits governments from taking them. Liberals and progressives think that we are granted our fundamental rights by the government and are more likely to see additional favors from the governments (which later become entitlements in their mind). If the government is the grantor of all good things, what is to stop someone from thinking up more good things that could and should be granted by our elected leaders? Sound like the last 6 years? In 1917, at the start of America’s involvement in World War I, an American’s Creed was developed. It was written by William Tyler Page and adopted by the United States House of Representatives in 1918. It goes like this: I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed, a democracy in a republic, a sovereign Nation of
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Dairy Connection by Kelly Beck
Centre Count y Dair y Princess
MARCH 2015 Mifflin County History Trivia County Native War of 1812 Hero In the early 1960s, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania published a pamphlet titled, “Pennsylvania the Keystone State.” One of the sections of the small publication has the heading, “Pennsylvania and the Preservation of the Union,” under which is this comment: Martial fever has never been wanting in Pennsylvania despite its Quaker tradition. When Great Britain threatened in 1812, Pennsylvania furnished men and supplies, and leadership to avert defeat. One of the greatest victories was won on Lake Erie in 1813 by Captain Oliver Hazard Perry, using a fleet built under great difficulties at Erie by Mifflin County’s Daniel Dobbins. Most local people have never heard of this county native or his pivotal influence at this crucial time in American history. Tradition says that Daniel Dobbins was born near Lewistown on July 5, 1775. When he left Mifflin County as a young man around 1795, he traveled by foot to northwest Pennsyl-
vania to become a sailor. In fact, Dobbins would go on to become a hero of the War of 1812 as builder of the United State’s Great Lakes squadron of ships including the USS Niagara. Erie County, Pennsylvania honors him for his accomplishments and his distinguished career as a ship captain. The questions come from his life. 1. Daniel Dobbins is remembered in Buffalo, New York for his contribution to establishing something about the city. What was Dobbins’ contribution? [a] He helped affirm the origin of the town’s name [b] founded the Buffalo Orphan’s Home [c] Christened the USS Buffalo [d] Started the city’s first bank. 2. Which of these is not true about Daniel Dobbins’s life? [a] Married a woman from central Pennsylvania [b] Never fought in the Battle of Lake Erie. [c] Resigned his Naval commission rather than go to sea. [d] His wife lived to be 100. 3. The Behrend College at Penn
State Erie honors Daniel Dobbins in what way? [a] Has a scholarship in his name. [b] Named a building for Dobbins [c] Has the Dobbins Maritime School [d] Their football team mascot 4. As an experienced and knowledgeable Great Lakes captain, Dobbins is credited with being the first lakes navigator to... [a] sail through all five lakes. [b] complete an underwater rescue. [c] successfully run a steamer on the lakes. [d] enter Green Bay, Wisconsin. ANSWERS: 1. A 2. D (She missed 100 by about 8 months) 3. B (Dobbins Hall, 1970) 4. A SOURCES: 1962 series of Sentinel articles by J.M. Stroup; Buffalo: Good Neighbors, Great Architecture, by Nancy Blumenstalk Mingus. Pub. by Arcadia Publishing 2003, pp. 9-11; History of the Great Lakes , Vol. 1 by J.B. Mansfield Chapter XXXIII; Papers of Daniel Dobbins, Buffalo New York Historical Society) a
Technology from the Edge of Space Transforming U.S. Agriculture Satellite Internet among advances that enhance farming and rural lifestyle Tough, unpredictable, dawnto-dusk work — this has defined the American farmer’s life for decades, and it’s not likely to change any time soon. What has changed – and changed dramatically – are the agricultural tools and technology. With this technology, many farmers are able to produce better yields with less waste, leading to improved profitability. Interestingly enough, what’s driving improvements in the farm fields is technology from the edge of space. Satellite technology, specifically GPS applications, are responsible for the growth in precision farming, which is being
used for everything from planning and field mapping to tractor auto-steering and planting to postharvest analysis. Satellite technology is also responsible for significant improvements in broadband communication on farms and in rural communities across the U.S. Historically, these areas have had limited service options, often relying on dial-up Internet, which establishes a connection through telephone lines. Early innovators in satellite Internet, such as WildBlue, recognized the potential for rural areas and began to offer the early generations of the service,
which was 30 times faster than dial up – sufficient in 2005, but slow by today’s standards. ViaSat, a company that had successfully developed satellite and digital communications for government and commercial markets, recognized the value in bringing high-speed Internet to under-served communities. In 2009, the company acquired WildBlue and began preparing for the launch of the world’s most powerful communications satellite, ViaSat-1. Following the successful launch of ViaSat-1 in late 2011, ViaSat introduced Exede high-
As March comes in like a lion, still chilly and snowy, it seems hard to get in exercise. But as the weather warms and the snow begins to melt, it is nice to take a walk and enjoy the changing seasons. Many other activities start to become common as well, from bike rides to hikes and everyone becomes more active. It is important that we do get this exercise because it is important to our health, as well as a healthy diet. These two recipes are great for picnics or hikes and are good for you as well.
Fruity Parfait ½ fruit of choice ½ greek yogurt ½ cup plain yogurt 1 tbs nuts or chocolate chips Mix all ingredients together and place in a spill proof container Cheese and Fruit Kabobs ¼ lb cheddar cheese ¼ lb grapes tooth picks or kabob sticks Cut cheese into cubes and then place on toothpicks or kabob sticks. Place in a Ziplok bag and they are ready to go! a
An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup H.L. Mencken speed Internet in early 2012. This new service offers breakthrough reach and speed, covering 80 percent of the U.S. population and virtually all areas east of the Mississippi River. Exede Internet provides download speeds of up to 12 Mbps – eight times faster than the original WildBlue service and at least twice as fast as typical DSL service in many areas. For farmers, ranchers and the agri-business community, Exede Internet has been a game changer, providing real-time access to email as well as web pages that can provide weather, market and commodities information, crop production information and general agricultural news. This high-speed connectivity is also critical for succession planning. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, family farms account for about 98 percent of all farms in the U.S. Many point out that farmers’ children are more likely to consider staying on – or returning to the farm – if technology is integrated into all aspects of their business and personal life. There’s also little doubt that
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the availability of high-speed Internet is central to prosperous rural communities. Younger families who want to get away from the urban fray as well as a growing number of retirees who prefer to relocate to quieter, picturesque rural areas, all want access to high-speed internet. Whatever the motivation for living a rural lifestyle, many will benefit from continued advances in satellite technology. If the past 10 years are any indication, the pace of change will only accelerate. ViaSat is already planning the launch of a new satellite in 2016, which is expected to provide higher levels of coverage and capacity, which translates to more bandwidth. And that will mean more productive farms and businesses, more connected families and more prosperous rural communities. Michael Buffington One-Stop Communications 126 Electric Avenue Lewistown, PA 17044 Ph: 717-248-4997 Fx: 717-248-3669 Email: mike@onestop.biz a
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The Valley, March 2015
Story courtesy Penn State Public information
lands. A faculty instructor in the College of Agricultural Sciences, Burkhart is also helping train state law enforcement, providing them with information on the plant’s biology and ecology, the ginseng industry and markets, and applicable state and federal codes and regulations. “There’s a really big knowledge gap in the law enforcement community as to how to respond when it comes to ginseng theft from private and public forestlands,” Burkhart said.
American ginseng is disappearing from the forests of Pennsylvania and Appalachia, and a Penn State plant scientist is working with landowners and law enforcement to try to reverse that trend. Wild American ginseng, native to the East and Midwest, is prized for its medicinal value and commands a premium price in Asia — as much as $1,000 a pound. Thefts and unsustainable harvesting of the forked, fleshy root have been on the rise since ginseng has been featured on two national reality television series, “Appalachian Outlaws” and “Smoky Mountain Thefts and unsustainable harvesting of ginseng are on the rise. Money.” Image: Eric Burkhart Eric Burkhart, plant science program Ginseng has been harvested in director at Penn State’s Shaver’s Appalachia and sold for export Creek Environmental Center, is since the 1700s. The unassuming working to encourage private root is protected by the CITES forestland owners to cultivate gin- (Convention on International seng. He was recently awarded a Trade in Endangered Species of grant by the Pennsylvania DepartWild Fauna and Flora), but gets ment of Conservation and Natural less attention from the public than Resources to continue his work animals on the list, such as the Afsurveying growers and setting up rican elephant or American black monitoring sites for the state’s bear. “If you’ve got something remaining wild ginseng on public warm and fuzzy people tend to get
much more concerned,” Burkhart said. Publicity from the reality
Ginseng conservation
Eric Burkhart, plant science program director at Penn State’s Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, hopes to encourage private forestland owners to cultivate ginseng on their lands using a sustainable cropping system. Burkhart is working with the state DCNR to track and manage ginseng, and also working with PA Certified Organic to develop a new “forest grown” labeling program for ginseng.
The Truth Has No Agenda
Ginseng has been harvested in Appalachia and sold for export since the 1700s. Image: Eric Burkhart
shows have put attention and pressure on the plant like never
before, Burkhart said. “There’s no doubt that what we have left is a fraction of what existed at one time due to the continuing impacts of habitat loss and wild harvesting.” “The time has come to transition from harvesting wild ginseng to cultivating ginseng on private forestlands, creating economic opportunities for landowners while taking the pressure off the remaining wild populations,” he said. a
The Valley, March 2015
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100 Stine Drive Lewistown, PA 17044
717-248-6400 x.12
Katy@StoneArchRealEstate.com
Unconditional Love
A Road To Self-Destruction
Unconditional love seems to be the heart’s Holy Grail – the one pure form of love we all strive for. It’s often equated with motherly love, because that seems to be the one relationship where it’s most easily attained. I hear people say that when we are in love, we “should” love unconditionally. There’s a belief that unconditional love is equal to selflessness. Serving others and putting their needs in front of our own is a measure of kindness and good character; in most world religions selflessness is glorified. The problems start if you care that others are not returning the favor, feeling you are a victim of your own kindness. Or if you choose to take care of yourself, you care if some label you selfish and self-absorbed. By constantly striving to satisfy others’ needs and expectations, the demands seem to grow. You might feel that you’ll never
be good enough – feeling empty, unhappy with the response to your kindness. In a romantic relationship, some feel they are loving unconditionally when actually they’re only infatuated. When you want to be with someone no matter what they say or do, you are not loving them unconditionally. You are actually out of touch with reality and your own feelings. You might be enchanted with the idea that this person is the best – even the only – suitable partner. When you feel that living without someone would be unbearable, more painful than staying with them, you may tolerate just about anything to stay. I believe that is not love. Real “grown-up love” is conditional: I love you because you treat me with respect. I love you because you love me back. I love you because you do your best not to hurt my feelings (and mostly
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succeed). I love you because you see me as I am and don’t try to change me. I love you because you are a great human being. If you find yourself “loving” your partner no matter what, I suggest you take a good, hard look at that person, your relationship, and, most importantly, yourself. There is no need to suffer for love. There is no need to tolerate feeling hurt and misunderstood on a daily basis. If you are experiencing a few occasional happy moments but drowning in a sea of arguments and heartache, I feel your relationship needs a makeover, or needs to end. I feel that unconditional love is a road to self-destruction. Every relationship will go through rough patches. Of course we’ll fight and sometimes feel small or misunderstood. But that should not be an everyday scenario. What if instead of trying to love someone unconditionally, you
learn to love yourself first? What if you recognized and implemented healthy boundaries? What would it be like if each of us truly respected ourselves? Would it be easier to choose partners who will love us back the same way? And what if the relationship changes over time and our conditions are no longer being met? Would it be easier to leave?
Would you feel less pressure staying in an unhappy relationship when you know in your heart you deserve better and that you wouldn’t be afraid of being on your own? I believe by choosing who we love with the right conditions, we get closer to true love – a love that can last. a
How to find Books for the “Mail Pouch Books” Column By Carleen B. Grossman I have received requests from readers of my MAIL POUCH BOOKS column wanting to know how to find the books that I reviewed for my column. Below, I have listed some tips for how to obtain the books I review. 1. Try your local library, either in person or by telephone; if you have access to a computer, try an online request. Remember, if your local branch does not have a book, you can request an inter-library loan for which all the libraries in the state will be searched to find the book you are requesting—that book will then be sent to your local branch for you to pick up. 2. If you wish to purchase the book, check a local bookstore first; they might also be able to order it for you if they do not have it in stock. Again, if you have a computer or have access to one (and remember
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most libraries do have computers for you to use!), do a Google search of the title of the book and you will find various places such as Barnes & Noble or Amazon, or other places such as E-Bay. By checking these places, you will be able to purchase a copy of the book and have it sent to your home. I hope these simple tips will assist you in your search for books that I review. Happy reading to all of you! a
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The Valley, March 2015
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The Valley, March 2015
R. O. F. F.
Joanne Wills-Kline Contentment Quest
The Practice Of Paying Attention I recently evaluated my progress towards reaching my personal goals chosen for 2015. As the first quarter of 2015 comes to a close, I reasoned, what better time to assess, redirect, or rework if necessary, my strategies for successfully reaching my 2015 personal goals? My main goal was to learn to truly “savor” my life… the everyday, the mundane, the simplicity. Two other important goals were to improve my deep listening skills and to heighten my awareness level. Since the New Year, I have surrounded myself with the books, writings, and teachings of many thought leaders as a guidepost and encouragement on the road to attaining my goals. As I have re-read the words of my favorite author “teachers,” through the process of conducting my self-evaluation, I have come to realize, that in addition to moving toward my goals, I am actually also learning the “practice of paying attention.” In fact, the practice of paying attention is not a bonus per se, of my deep intention to realize my goals. Rather, the practice of paying attention is actually the foundation to support my goal realization. Once I was able to wrap my brain around that tiny discovery, I held an even deeper value of the words I read. I have chosen to share with you, the readers, some of the written works that produced strong “Aha!” moments for me. Perhaps, through the act of paying attention, a string or two of those same words, may touch your life too. Take your time, savor the writings, if the words awaken something deep inside you – read them again… and again. Let the words feed your soul. In the words of Virginia Woolf: “It may just be that it’s hard to understand what a moment means, in the context of a life, while it’s happening. I can only note that the past is beautiful because one never realizes an emotion at the time. It expands later, and thus we don’t have complete
emotions about the present, only about the past.” Each time I read Virginia’s words, I gain a little better appreciation of her message. I have come to understand her words to mean that it is through the process of “reflection” that we can gain the impact of our doing/saying/ being in life…how we are emotionally tethered even though we don’t comprehend it at the time. Recently, in one of the Oprah newsletters I received via email, was a quote by Ann Taylor that read: “I’m beginning to think that maybe it’s not just how much you love someone. Maybe what matters is who you are when you’re with them.” Ann Taylor’s quote resonated with me. I interpreted her message to convey that people do influence us – good or bad. We can love someone to the moon and back. But, it is wise to ask ourselves ‘Who am I in their presence… am I alive and thriving… or am I empty and used up… am I growing or am I withering… whom do I want to be? Shauna Niequist, author of “Bread & Wine,” “Bittersweet,” and “Cold Tangerines,” recently posted in a blog post: “So this is my challenge for you: use your words. Use them today. For someone you love, someone you’re proud of, someone who needs to know they matter…and everyone needs to know they matter.” My take on Shauna’s message is short and simple – tell people how and why they matter to you. Emily P. Freeman, author, writer, blogger, recently wrote on her blog “Chatting at the Sky:” “When I go through life in survival mode for too long, I feel like I’m only half-human – forgetting appointments, forgetting to laugh, forgetting my name. I basically walk around with a list of todos scribbled on the back of a crumpled receipt in the bottom of my purse and a low-grade panic in the pit of my soul… Have you been there? The practice of pay-
Rescue Our Furry Friends by Patricia Lawson
ing attention serves as an anchor for the soul in a fast-moving world. Instead of waiting for the world to stop so we can catch up, we slow ourselves, look around, and name what we see.” Emily’s writing speaks to me for sure. As she states it is the “practice” of paying attention. Practice means to repeatedly perform an activity or skill until proficiency is attained. Michael Yankoski, author of the book “The Sacred Year” wrote: “There’s something beautiful and clarifying and terrifying all at once in being at the beginning . . . To be a beginner is to be full of hope-filled humility, to be overflowing with eager expectation that is simultaneously held in check by the obvious gap between your aspirations and current abilities. To be a beginner is to be pregnant with dreams but nascent with skill, and then to set about the work of cultivating the life of both.” Yankoski’s writings about beginnings sparked a realization for me. As we learn to pay attention on the deepest levels, we learn that there are many levels to pay attention to. The more we learn, the more ‘beginnings’ we encounter, as we cultivate our skills and ourselves. Dawn, author of the blog “It Just Dawned on Me,” posted on February 12, 2015: “The God who created winter, is preparing the world for spring.... sometimes we all need to be quiet and dormant for awhile and wait for the new beginnings.” Dawn’s words resonated with me. My evaluation of my goals and progress has been enlightening and reflective to say the least, and as Yankoski stated, “… and then to set about the work of cultivating…” The goals evaluation process has taught me that as I learn and improve my abilities, I must perpetually return to the beginning and cultivate my skills and my “self.” It is my hope that a few of the words within this article touched readers’ souls and encouraged readers to practice paying attention. And, if necessary, “…be quiet and dormant for awhile and wait for new beginnings.” a
The Truth Has No Agenda
Let’s begin with a special request from the President of ROFF: “OK all of you prior adopters, we would love to share some success stories of some of the babies that came in through rescue and how they are doing now. If you have adopted one of our babies that came in that were “special needs” like our Frankie with the quills, our burned Doxie, one of the St. Bernard mix pups that came in that were very skeletal, one of the birds that came in via a bird hoard, the cat Jackie with the eye issue, etc., we want to hear from you. Sadly, there are too many to name here, but we’d love to hear about them all. PLEASE email us an updated picture of them and a brief summary of how they are doing now. We would love to share before and after stories about them, but we will keep your name and basic information private. Email the update via the rescue email: rescueourfurryfriends@yahoo.com. Thank you all!” If you don’t have access to the internet, you can mail your story or drop it off at ROFF Headquarters: 133 North Walnut Street in Burnham 17009. You know spring is in the air when Easter Eggs are mentioned. Yes, it’s time to order your Asher
Eggs and help Rescue Our Furry Friends at the same time. Orders are due on March 24th and the delivery will be on April 2nd. Here are your yummy choices this year: Peanut Butter (Milk); Peanut Butter (White); Peanut Butter (Dark); Peanut Butter Meltaway (Milk); Coconut Cream (Milk) & Coconut Cream (Dark). There are 24 in a box and the cost is only $8.25 each. Email or call to order: rescueourfurryfriends@yahoo.com; 877-933-ROFF (7633) Also, mark your calendars: ROFF Rescue will be holding their popular Spring Cash Nite Party on the 28th of March at the Burnham Lions Club, 403 First Avenue in Burnham. The cost is only $35 a ticket and the doors open at 6 p.m. Can you help us out? We are looking for gift baskets and/or items to be donated for us to raffle off at this event. This is a great way to promote your business and help a great cause. Thank you in advance for your support!
Penns Valley from page 4
markets, fundraisers, craft fairs, concerts, football games, and spaghetti dinners to meet people, hear stories, and let them know that GoPennsValley.com is a place about them and for them. Most recently, we created a Penns Valley Bucket List—suggestions of places to visit, events to enjoy, food to eat, and shops to visit. We want locals and visitors alike to make the most of our beautiful Valley, enjoying all of its many treasures from sunkissed tomatoes and library books to Grange Fair traditions and Elk Creek Café’s live music. We hope that our work at GoPennsValley. com brings our community closer together, encourages wholesome past-times, and extends a hearty welcome to tourists and new residents. We hope you visit GoPennsValley.com today and make the most of our online opportunities… and we hope - most of all - that you enjoy your home! a
ley’s businesses and community members. We’ve used tactics that they certainly don’t use in the big city! For example, we printed posters and thumb-tacked them on every Community Bulletin Board from outside Snappy’s bathrooms to behind Pickle’s bread display in Spring Mills. We hosted a Hay Bale Smile Booth at the Centre Hall Library’s Annual Penny Carnival. We’ve had our hairs cut by almost every possible salon in the Valley, just so we could know who’s who. That’s not all! We purchased a billboard to hang on the side of a Homan Agritizing hay wagon. We hosed down our white farm truck and marched in the Grange Fair parade with fiddlers and hulahoopers shouting the glories of GoPennsValley.com. (We won our category two years in a row!) We brought one of our chickens to E & L Supplies for her “Picture with Santa.” We’ve attended farmer’s
Until they all have homes… rescueourfurryfriends@yahoo. com 1-877-933-ROFF (7633) www.roffrescue.com a
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“As to the species of exercise, I advise the gun. While this gives [only] moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun, therefore, be the constant companion to your walks.” -- Thomas Jefferson
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The Valley, March 2015
Modern Energy and Alternative Heating with Curt Bierly
Home Show Time Spring is just around the corner and this is the season for the local Home Shows. Builders Associations round up interested contractors and related industry members, rent a venue and produce a Home Show for all interested community members. If you have a project that you want to accomplish this year, a Home Show is a great opportunity to farther educate yourself relative to cost, current technologies and, in addition, it gives you the opportunity to meet the professionals that are available to assist you with the project and view their product offering. Free seminars are usually offered if you are interested. There is a nominal admission charge to enter the show, but it can save you lots of time and
money rounding up the facts. For example, if you are interested in moving from an oil furnace or boiler to a natural gas or propane unit to heat your house and/or your DHW (Domestic Hot Water), or you want to consider an Air to Air/Geo Heat Pump, I encourage you to meet with those people and ask the questions that are on your mind. If they are busy when you pass their booth and you don’t want to wait, consider stopping back or leave your cell number on the back of their business card (usually available in the booth), and have them call you when they have a moment. Once you have their attention, you can ask questions and/or sign up for a site visit and a quotation on your project. If you are interested in financing the
project, there will be representatives from banks to discuss your needs. We will be attending the State College Home and Garden Show again this year, which is scheduled for March 13, 14 and 15, 2015. Hours are Friday noon to 8pm, Saturday 10am to 8pm, and Sunday 10am to 4pm. It will be located at the Bryce Jordon Center on University Drive. There are numerous great seminars offered during the three day event. Check for additional information at www.centralpabuilders. com. I hope you can attend. We look forward to speaking to you! The Harrisburg Home Show is scheduled for March 19-22, 2015 The hours are Thurs, Fri, Sat 10am to 8pm, Sunday 10am to 6pm. It is held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Building in Harrisburg. Check for additional information at www.pahomeshow. com and click on “Visitors.” Although this is most likely too far to reach for a “local” professional to “do the work,” it is a good place to educate yourself on that project you want to accomplish. I know we always have a few people stop by our booth at the State College Home Show to discuss equipment they saw or seminars they attended at the Har-
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risburg Home Show. The Williamsport Home Show is scheduled for March 13, 14 and 15, 2015. The hours are Friday 3pm to 9pm, Saturday 10am to 8pm and Sunday 12pm to 4pm. It is held at the Lycoming College Recreation Center. Check for additional information at www.westbranchbuilders.org and click on “Home Show” (watch for it to pop up along the right hand border. They don’t offer any seminars; however, it is a full show with plenty of educational displays. As with the Harrisburg Show, this may be too far to reach for a “local” professional to “do the work;” however, it is a good
place to educate yourself on that project you want to accomplish. Home improvement projects, correctly done, reduce your energy costs, improve the value of your home, add to your quality of life and provide great personal satisfaction. Go talk to the professional people that can help make this possible. 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 president of the Penn College HVAC Advisory Board. You can contact him at cbierly@bierlygroup.com. a
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What to do When the Estate Falls to You by Barbara Harmon
There’s been a death in the family and that is hard enough, but now you are also faced with what to do with the stuff. Let’s face it, we are a nation of accumulators. And people can accumulate lots in a lifetime. I find that a lot of people in middle age are just beginning to realize how much stuff they have, when suddenly they also inherit their parent’s stuff and are overwhelmed with what to do. As an antique shop owner, I’m a nation of accumulation all to myself, so here’s a little advice: First and foremost: DON’T THROW ANYTHING AWAY! Yes, that was a shout. We had a good old estate in the Valley where a Dutch cupboard brought over $10,000. Before the couple’s items went to auction, the “helpers” tossed old dolls and who knows what on the burn pile because they didn’t seem to be of value. One auctioneer told me he often finds saleable items in the Dumpster. Moldy food can go in the Dumpster, everything else needs to be checked for value. Believe it or not, people will buy a lot of what you think is worthless. That includes old tins from the bathroom and kitchen, garage “junk,” snapshots and other photos, canning jars and crates, scrapbooks, diaries, and postcards, linens, vintage clothing and hats, toys of all ages, books, records, even ordinary dishes. Did you know, for example, that certain Pyrex is now highly collectible? Next, before you sell a thing, please settle it first with family members and the loved one’s directives. Does the family get to pick first? Do it before you call in the auctioneer or a dealer to buy items. Once you decide what’s to go, it’s time to determine priorities. Is it making money or getting rid of items? Would you rather give it all to a charity? Donating it is one option In any area, there are plenty of thrift shops and charities that are willing to take items, but you may have to pack it and deliver it to the shop. You will also need to check with each shop and see what they do not take. For example, some will not take encyclopedia sets, because they just don’t sell, or used mattresses or exercise
equipment. Give the shop a call before you load it up for donation. In our area, many people choose the option of sending items to auction. You can find a list of auctioneers in the phone book. Call and describe what you have. They will either say “no thanks” or come out and look at your items to see if you have enough for a sale. The auctioneer should explain his commission—many charge 25-30 percent, plus advertising costs. They will determine the auction date. An auctioneer will need about a month to get a sale organized and advertised. They will make a list of the higher value items you are consigning, which you can check after the sale to make sure you’ve been paid for everything. Do not expect to list every cup and saucer individually. At auctions, many smaller items as well as books, records, and linens are sold by the box full. If you haven’t been to an auction, go to one as part of selecting an auctioneer. You will be amazed at how high some things sell and how low others sell. Boxes of books, no matter how old, often end up in heaps that go for a dollar or two. Meanwhile, someone paid $200 for that ugly vase? If you do send it to auction, decide to look at the bottom line. It usually evens out in the end. Also, be sure to pick an auctioneer who advertises and pictures items on the internet, particularly Auctionzip.com, which can attract more buyers. Another option would be to sell it to an antiques dealer In my business, we call this a house call. The estate owner calls one dealer or several and asks them to look at things and make offers. Or, the seller can set the prices. Choosing this option, eliminates the uncertainty of an auction and you may get more money for your items because you are selling without a middleman. However, a dealer may only want the better pieces, so you still may be left with items that need to go to a thrift shop or yard sale. In more urban areas, people often choose to have an estate sale in the home, organized by a professional team, which does the work of preparing, advertising, and holding the sale, in exchange for a commission. These sales at-
tract lines of eager buyers who get up early and wait in lines despite cold and rain just to have first crack at whatever they may find inside. If you want it gone and gone now, and don’t care about price, you can call someone who advertises in the paper to clean out houses. I once lost a good house call, because the lady just wanted it all gone so she could sell the house. She gave away stuff I would have bought! If clearing out is your first priority, be sure to tell a dealer that. You may still get more money, but make it clear it’s an all or nothing proposal. Another option, is to sell it yourself at a yard sale, online, or a flea market. You need patience for this, but it can be fun and educational. It takes time to research items, time to list items on eBay, time to pack and ship, or time to set up a yard sale A caution: beware of becoming stuck. When there’s a lot of stuff, it’s hard to know where to begin, and that’s where an auctioneer or dealer can help. As a dealer I am glad to dig in and help sort the good from the bad. That is my expertise. Also, beware of fixating on eBay prices. Dealers get a lot of calls from people who saw something on The Roadshow or eBay and are convinced they have the same exact item. Usually you do not. Even if you do, you are not going to get from a dealer what an item sold for on eBay. If you want eBay prices, you are going to have to learn how to sell on eBay! Even there, alike items can go for $50 one week and $25 the next. Last but not least, don’t let your treasures sit where moth and rust do corruption and thieves break in and steal. Valuable items are worthless when they’ve been in the attic and basement too long and that’s where a lot of the good old stuff is stored. Ask around if you don’t know who to trust. Interview your auctioneers and dealers. Believe it or not, some dealers and auctioneers are ethical and trustworthy. Just like the American Pickers, we are in this business as much for the love of old junk, as we are to make a living. It is a pleasure to pass pieces of the past into someone’s future.
Continued on page 27
LIbrary Lines Your Mifflin County Library
By Kelly Rodenbaugh Youth Services Programmer Have you and your family been to Discovery Space Children’s Science Museum in State College? Did you know that the Mifflin County Library has a pass that is available for families to borrow that provides free admission to the museum? Did you also know that this pass can also be used at any participating ASTC museum for free admission? What this means is that the Discovery Space pass can be used at any science center in the world that does not fall within 90 miles of State College, PA. The following ASTC museums are excluded from free admission with the Discovery Space pass: • Whitaker Center—Harrisburg, PA • Watch and Clock Museum— Columbia, PA • North Museum of Natural History and Science—Lancaster, PA • Lancaster Science Factory— Lancaster, PA • Discovery Station at Hagerstown, Inc.—Hagerstown, MD Recently, my family traveled to Pittsburgh, PA where we were able to use the Discovery Space pass that I checked out of the library to give us free admission to the Carnegie Science Center
and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. We did have to pay parking at each museum, but we did not have to pay admission into either museum. When using the Discovery Space pass you will need to provide a form of ID with your address, i.e. your driver’s license. I also recommend having your library card as proof of ID to use the pass. My family and I had a great time at each museum and by using the library pass, we were able to save money as well. Even if you are not planning on taking a trip to a science center out of the area, I recommend a visit to Discovery Space. It is a great place to visit with lots of hands on activities for children, young and old. We have visited the museum several times and my children love it! So if you are looking to get out of the house with your family during these cold winter months, check out Discovery Space Children’s Science Museum. A pass is available for free to families wishing to visit the museum and it can also be used at many science centers around the world. For more information about Discovery Space, visit the museum online at www.mydiscoveryspace.org. The pass can be found in the DVD section in the Children’s Room at the Lewistown Library. a
Spring Ahead
Daylight Saving Time Begins March 8th American’s Creed and Declaration from page 13
many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice and humanity for which America patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes. I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies. The Founders knew that no piece of paper could ensure liberty. Only a people steeped in the principles that animated our Declaration of Independence could do that. The idea that political power ultimately rests with “We the People” and not with any President, monarch or parliament was truly revolutionary. In
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the home and around the kitchen table, parents need to teach their children what it means to be an American. Freedom is not guaranteed, though. As Ronald Reagan said, freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. So the duty of the people is to pass the torch of freedom to the next generation. Our big federal government invariably weakens and even impoverishes the people in body and spirit. People need to remain faithful to the first principles of liberty and equality, individual rights and limited government. The American memory needs to be refreshed. It is a struggle to preserve the ordered liberty bequeathed to us by the Founders. Our efforts are to inspire patriots who are informed. Do your part.
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The Valley, March 2015
Set Clocks Ahead One Hour on March 8th Daylight Saving Time Begins
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We are nestled in at the base of Shade Mountain in a quiet, tranquil location Three licensed Massage Therapists are available to provide treatments with products created fresh, with 100% natural ingredients next door by Shade Mountain Naturals! We beg you to come see what we have to offer and see for yourself what makes us like no other! Thursdays and Fridays 10 to 6 Also: the first Saturday of every month from 10 to 2
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The Valley, March 2015
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The Valley, March 2015
Vegetable Wines Part 1
I have not written in a while, but that does not mean I have not been busy experimenting. Winter affords me the opportunity to brew more often because you just can’t grow anything with all this white stuff lying around. We had a great harvest this last year working the new garden plot, thus I’m still eating and drinking from my basement. I got a little adventurous with some of the surplus. I brewed up a tomato wine, a potato wine, and a beet wine back in late summer of 2014, and recently I finished bottling them up to age in the basement. This gave me the opportunity to taste test them. I have to admit I was a little skeptical about these, but I have great news to report. They are not that bad and should mellow out more over the next few months. I think the beet wine is my favorite out of the bunch by tasting the leftovers during bottling. But I’m going to start off with the tomato wine this month and follow up with the beet and potato wine next month. We grew mainly slicing tomatoes this last summer and that is what you want to use for this recipe. You do not want to
use some store bought unflavored tomato for this wine. Look for the juiciest, reddest, and biggest tomatoes you can find in your garden or at the local farm market. This is a one gallon recipe. • 3 pounds of juicy tomatoes • 12 ounces of apple juice concentrate • 2 pounds of sugar • 1 campden tablet • 1 teaspoon pectic enzyme • ¼ teaspoon tannin Yeast starter: 1 packet of wine yeast, 1 teaspoon of yeast nutrient, and 1 ½ cups of orange juice 1. Mash the tomatoes in a stainless steel pot. Add 2 quarts of water and bring to a boil. Add the apple juice concentrate and sugar, and boil for five minutes. Transfer to a sterilized fermenting bucket, and add 1 quart of water. Pitch the campden tablet and let the mixture sit loosely covered for 24 hours. 2. In a glass jar, make the yeast starter culture by combining the wine yeast, OJ, pectic enzyme, and yeast nutrient. Make sure you sterilize the jar and lid. Shake the contents up and let it stand for 2 hours or until you see some
bubbling. Pitch into the bucket. 3. Add the tannin and seal the bucket adding the airlock. Let it ferment for one week then move it over into the secondary fermenter by siphoning over the liquid. Let the wine ferment for another 3 to 4 months. Bottle, cork, and cellar the wine. 4. Wait a few months before sampling. It should get more mellow with more age. I introduced a few new things in this recipe. Campden tablets are sulfite agents that kill off all wild bacteria and yeast. They are nice to have around when working with whole products like vegetables or fruit. Tannin provides “mouth feel” making
the product not so watery. Yeast nutrient is another product that is nice to have around. All it is is dried yeast exoskeletons. They provide nutrients for active yeast to propagate. They will come in handy when starting a culture or help get the fermentation process kicked into high gear. The wine will have a golden color because most of the color is in the pulp, not the juice. As far as taste, it is a dry wine with a slight earthy tomato after taste. It came out very clear (see picture). Overall, my wife likes it, so I will brew it up again. Until next time, May your wine flow freely and you
happiness be abundant. Also, if you see Old Man Winter around, tell him to get lost. a
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The Valley, March 2015
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In Praise of Seasonality On this cold but sunny morning I walked across our lower transitioning old meadow to the stream. The light fluff of snow from last night on top of ten inches of hardened old snow made it easy to see clear tracks, but not much is out moving in this frigid weather. The few rabbit tracks were in matter-of-fact lines from
Snow on goldenrod seedheads
point A to point B, rather than meandering about for a bite of this and a nip of that as they would be in milder weather. For those creatures living out there 24/7, this is “don’t goof off” weather. I remember this line, attributed to Suzuki Roshi in the forward of the early 1970’s eastern spirituality book , “Be Here Now”, by Ram Dass. It’s sort of a call to “be focused” and “pay attention”, rather than the idea of being a workaholic. Zero
degree weather makes it imperative for each animal to do exactly what is most suited to survival in those conditions, or suffer the consequences. For one, it is to remain in the motionless semiliving state of hibernation, for another it is just hanging tight in a warm cubbyhole and burning as little body fat as possible, or perhaps feeding on a stored cache of seeds. Yet another might actively hunt for prey, but in as efficient a manner as possible rather than taking long shots. Many of these same animals take things much easier during the times of year when temperatures are moderate and food is plentiful. The more intelligent ones, like dogs and cats, otters, ravens, and whales, even spend time in what is obviously play. This seasonality of lifestyle is probably something we should emulate more. We try to live our lives following virtually the same schedules year-round, wanting to buy the same foods in the grocery store, and sleep on the same schedule. And then we wonder why we feel lethargic and depressed in the shortening dark days of November, or so busting full of desire to run outside in the sun on the first warm day of early spring that we can hardly stay at our indoor tasks. We buy tasteless cardboard tomatoes at the supermarket in January instead of just savoring their rich juiciness fresh out of the August garden or farmer’s market and then living on the memory
Black-capped Chickadee
through the winter months. We try to keep roaring through life during the dark winter instead of taking more time to sleep, to read and hold soft, intimate conversations, to drink warm tea or cocoa by a fire. And in the glorious days of summer, we may rarely be outside soaking it in except to mow the lawn or get in the car to quickly disappear into another air-
conditioned destination. Perhaps living a life of seasonality would help cure a host of the ills of our modern culture. Side note: Chickadees are my favorite birds to watch this time of year. They are constantly in motion hunting for the next bit of something to eat, yet always seem to be thoroughly enjoying the process. I never seem to see them arguing with other birds over seeds at the feeder, but rather just moving out of the way and then back in so quickly that they barely miss a beat. I would like to be a chickadee. a The Raven on the Bust of Pallas, Acrylics on canvas, 24x30 inches. Giclee prints available.
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The Valley, March 2015
Mail Pouch Books by Carleen B. Grossman For the month of March, I dedicate my column to the women of this world. The books I have chosen are all written by women and show just how dynamic women are in their accomplishments. THREAD: A Needle Necessity Thread Reference Guide By Jane Evans & Liv Weiss Copyright 2013 This guide provides information for stitchers such as a list of threads ( In alphabetical order) the manufacturers, fiber content, color range (How many colors does it come in?), yardage, properties (What is it made from?), comparisons (What can I substitute for it?) and tips for working with the threads (What else do I need to know about this
thread—is it slippery?). You will also learn how to calculate thread yardage for needlepoint projects. In a handy 5.5” x 8.5” format, this is a great guide written by two very knowledgeable women! POLAR DREAMS By Helen Thayer Copyright 2002 Paperback 254 Pages The author of this book dealt with a true-life adventure of walking to the magnetic North Pole with a dog that Inuit tribesmen sold to her to help protect her from the polar bears along
Ed’s Railroading News by Ed Forsythe
On Thursday February 12th, Cathy & I went to the Roadhouse Restaurant in State College with her sister, Nancy, and our brotherin-law, Kurt, for my 64th birthday dinner. When we arrived, our waitress Elizabeth came over and greeted us with a very pleasant smile and using my name, wished me a very Happy Birthday. Later we found out that Nancy and Kurt had informed her about the evening being my birthday dinner and that I was involved with trains. After a great dinner and too much on my plate, I asked for a to go box. When Elizabeth brought the takeout container, I opened it an found that she had drawn a really neat train engine on tracks in the top of it. This was just the right ending to a great birthday. On Saturday, Cathy and I celebrated Valentine’s Day together with a nice evening at home. An-
other great day with the Mother of our sons and the love of my life. Thank you Cathy for everything. On Sunday the Mifflin County Model Railroad Club hosted a birthday party for a great train lovers 6th birthday. Ethan and his relatives, friends and parents had a really nice time watching the trains run, running the trains and operating several accessories along with cake & ice cream and other party events. Next came the Monday morning that has taxed Cathy and I’s faith quite a bit. At about 4:30 a.m. Cathy woke me up with the news that the furnace was not functioning and that it was down to 65 degrees in the house. Upon checking, I found that she was right and after doing everything I knew to do, which was next to nothing,
her journey....she named the dog Charlie [meet Charlie at this website---http://www.helenthayer. com/charlie.htm--and since this true-story adventure is also a love story between a dog and its owner, I highly suggest that you visit this site!]. This author, at age 50, begins a trek to the North Pole. These tales tell what she learned about herself and how she and Charlie bonded; they became mutually dependent on each other. Helen is a brilliant woman whose knowledge of nature and its fragility is outstanding! The book details her journey, with a day by day account and photographs of the obstacles she encountered, the bond she developed with her dog, and the mental and physical challenges she faced and overcame. You will travel with Helen and Charlie as they face many dangerous polar bears. She pulls her 160 pound sled and Charlie pulls his own small sled as they cross unsteady sea I contacted Snedeker Gas & Oil repair service. When he arrived, naturally it couldn’t be just a quick fix but eventually he got everything up and running again. We would like to say Thank You to him. Next, the real bomb hit us. At 10:00 a.m., I went to the train shop to open for the day and found out that we had been robbed of most of our inventory sometime during the night. So with all that goes into handling this challenge, we need to say that Ed’s Trains will be closed for quite a while, if not forever. We would like to say Thank You to all who have supported us over the years and to all of our friends who have jumped in to help us get through this. It’s been a fun run for us and we ask that you keep us in your prayers. Thank You & Happy Railroading, Ed & Cathy a
ice, white-out conditions and even as they overcome hunger and thirst during their last few days after a violent wind storm blows away most of their food and fuel. Helen’s observations aided in scientific studies, and enable her to share her stories with schools though her Adventure Classroom Program. This book is a page-turner....and it is a “riveting drama” that not often occurs in real life! WILD By Cheryl Strayed Copyright 2013 315 Pages This author is honest about her weaknesses as well as her strengths; she speaks for many women who have suffered similar stories. The theme of this book is
What to do when the estate falls to you from page 22 If I can’t buy it from you, I can try to buy it at the auction, but I certainly don’t want to see it go into the landfill! --Barbara Harmon owns Victory Antiques in Belleville. She opened the shop in 2002 after moving home from New Hampshire, where she had a shop of the same name in Portsmouth for several years. In addition to selling at her shop, she sells online and at outdoor markets. She attributes her love of old things to her late father, Jay Metzler, who was known to buy old junk at sales for $1 and restore it into family heirlooms. She can be reached at beharmon@embarqmail.com or (717) 348-1345. For more info, see Victory Antiques on Facebook. a
Next Issue of The Valley: April 1st The Truth Has No Agenda
that of personal confrontation in the face of insurmountable odds through hiking. When she began to hike, her life began to change; she forced all her previous concerns from her life. She persevered to the end of the trail and became a changed, more confident woman. Reading this book will make you feel like you have laced up your boots and gone hiking! You will travel with this woman as she hikes the Pacific Crest Trail through the Pacific Northwest states coping to overcome the death of her mother, a divorce and her own reckless past behavior. This is an emotional odyssey intertwined with the life of longdistance hiking! a
Stealth Diggers from page 4 storm,” what the heck is that? If you have to ask, then you probably live in the Deep South and never had to dig your butt out of a cold snowy winter pile of 3-4 foot of snow on a weekly basis. The newest and latest merchandise available is the Stealth Digger—Live Free or Die T-Shirt, which sells on eBay for about $15-$18 dollars; this is the group’s first officially licensed piece of clothing, which we hope is a start of a great wardrobe for the Stealthy Digger. The fan base is growing by leaps and bounds; you can join our group on Facebook under Stealth Diggers or like the videos on YouTube by looking under key word “Stealth Diggers.” This will be an ongoing monthly article and lots of good info will be added as we go, the topics will vary under the Stealth Digger section of this newspaper so stay tuned and thanks again for watching us on Facebook and YouTube. Yours Truly, The Stealth Doctor a
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Life in the East End by Rebecca Harrop Well, winter is still with us here in the East End. All this freezing weather has brought some problems for us at the barn. Some of the nights when it was really cold we had parts of the robots freeze so they wouldn’t work right and we had to put heaters on the robots. Our barn scrapers also froze so we couldn’t run them and we had to clean the aisles with the skidloader. The aisles can get a little slippy also, which makes the cows slip sometimes. I’m hoping the really cold weather is behind us now. I’m ready for spring, I’m not really a big fan of the cold. We also got about 40 new cows at the barn, and it had to be
the coldest weekend we’ve had that we moved them into the barn. So on top of the problems we had with things freezing, we also had to train the new cows. Moving cows to a new barn is a huge transition for the cows. Then you try training them to a new milking system; it’s a big job. The first three or four days were really hard. It was like when we trained our cows to the new robotic system. It takes lots of time and patience. A couple nights it was after 9 p.m. before we were done at the barn. The cows are starting to go in the milkers pretty good now. I’m really glad! Ernie and I took Emily & Ni-
Regardless what the weather, a farmer has his chores to do, every single day of the year.
cole sledding one day when I was babysitting. At first they weren’t too sure about it, but after a few minutes they really liked it. Emily liked it so much that she would cry when the sled wasn’t moving. It was kind of funny watching them try to walk around in the snow. Every time they would step in a footprint from someone, they would fall over. They really like going out and playing in the snow. I love taking them outside and watching them explore things. All kids should get outdoors to see the different plants and bugs and stuff. As long as they are dressed appropriately, they are fine. We have started to send out our letters for the Mifflin County Youth Fair Open Show donations again this year. We had another great auction last year and hope to again this year. We appreciate all of our donors and supporters. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be able to do as much as we do with the Open Show and the Fair in general. We have had a lot of positive feedback from our Opening Ceremony we did at last year’s fair. We plan to do something similar again this year. It probably won’t be as large a program this time because last year was our 60th year, so that was a special celebration. Of course, since we’ve been training the new cows, I’ve missed the Blue Rock Grocery Shoots. They go until the middle of March, so hopefully I will still be able to get out there and get some shooting done. I’ve noticed lately that the
buckets and hoses for collecting maple sap are being put out. My dad and brothers really like maple syrup. My brothers said they helped Gram Harrop collect sap from the big maple tree that used to be over on the home farm when they were little. They don’t remember too much about it, just that it took a lot of sap to make the syrup. We had to cut that tree down a few years ago because it had a big section in the center that
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was dead. The loggers are still back at the mountain cutting trees. The mountain is starting to look a little different now. They are starting on the steep part. I can’t imagine their equipment going up that steep road, but dad says they go right up. That’s all for this month. Spring is coming! a
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Talking Crocks and Jugs by Jack Troy Making useful objects from clay is one of mankind’s most ancient crafts; some scholars reckon the earliest surviving pottery is Japanese, around 20,000 years old, and was probably made by women, since men at that time were mostly hunting and gathering various kinds of food. Because pottery outlasts the people who make it, it provides us with information about how people in earlier times lived – how they cooked, stored food, worshipped, ate, drank and expressed themselves with clay – one of the most common and versatile substances on earth. We learn in Jeremiah 18 NKJV, that clay can be used to tell a story: when a potter makes a piece that is less than perfect, he or she can recycle it, using the same clay to make one of higher quality. Nearly every culture around the world has made pottery, and here in Pennsylvania, native peoples worked with clay, but their knowledge of firing wasn’t highly developed enough for their pottery to survive, although examples have been found in caves
and other places protected from the weather. Pennsylvania is rich in a variety of clays, as we can see from the many brick farmhouses in our area, most of which were constructed of bricks made nearby – usually within walking distance of the house itself. Also, suitable clays enabled potteries to thrive in hundreds of locations. For the most part, potters made practical containers for liquids such as molasses, cider, and vinegar, and crocks for dairy products, apple butter, and sauerkraut. The earliest examples were made of common red clay and were fired to about 1800-2100 degrees F. using powdered lead as a glaze. By the 1800s stoneware crocks were being made; their higher firing temperatures - 22002400 degrees F. - made them stronger than earthenware, and it was becoming known that leadglazed wares could cause lead poisoning when this dangerous metal was leached from the pottery by acids such as vinegar, used in pickling. Stoneware was mostly salt glazed – a process discovered
in the 1400s in Germany, in which common salt was thrown into the kiln at high temperatures, creating a clear, food-safe glaze. Of special interest were a group of Quaker potters in Chester County whose homes and shops were important stops on the Underground Railroad. Known as “Bluebird Potters,” these farmers made pottery in the winter months and fired their kilns in spring, when bluebirds were migrating north and nesting. Slaves often tried to escape northward at the same time of year, and Chester County’s southern border was part of the Mason-Dixon line, separating slave from free states. The Fugitive Slave Act, enacted in 1793, became part of the Constitution, and was in effect through 1864, when the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery was passed. For 71 years, the United States Constitution regarded slaves as the personal property of their owners. Quaker potters and other abolitionists risked imprisonment and heavy fines by helping slaves escape. It was the law of the land to return slaves to
The Kish Valley Historical Society Needs Your Help Many of our old photographs were destroyed in the barn fire last October. Our plan for next year’s historical calendar is to feature old homes of the Valley, but we need your help in providing photos and histories. Do you own an old home or home and farm in the Kishacoquillas Valley ( Airydale to Milroy) that was built prior to 1885? We would like to feature it in our calendar. All you need is a clear older photograph of your home and a brief history. Contact Pattie at 483-6596 or email your photo and history to her at pcruikshank@gmail.com. Thanks so very much for your help.
19th Century Salt-Glazed crock
their masters. Federal marshals received a bonus for each returned slave. If you harbored a runaway slave, you could be jailed for six months, nevertheless, according to Arthur James’ book, The Potters and Potteries of Chester County Pennsylvania, (Shiffer Publishing Co. Atglen, PA) potters such as Mahlon Brosius were typical of the Chester County trilogy – Quaker, Potter and Abolitionist. Some potters gave blacks their first wage-earning jobs, and were known to transport individuals or even small families of escaping slaves in wagons packed with pottery and straw, on their way to the homes of other
potters or “safe houses.” Many black people were headed to New England or Canada (where slavery was illegal) by way of Lancaster, Columbia, Harrisburg, and New York. When I see the jugs and crocks made in our state from this period of time, I think of their history, and wish they could speak. I wonder whether they may have accompanied future citizens on their way to freedom, packed in straw in a wagon headed north. One early earthenware planter made and signed by John Vickers, of Lionville, PA, is inscribed, Is this a Christian world? Are we a human race? And can man from his brother’s soul God’s imprint dare efface? Jack Troy Huntingdon a
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The Valley, March 2015
At Dutch Pantry Gifts we have always been on the lookout for new and unique items to bring to Mifflin County. We have spent the last two months making major renovations to make room for incredible new made-in-theU.S.A. products. One such line of products, Honey House Naturals,
is from a company out of Washington State. The story of Honey House Naturals began on a farm near Puget Sound, Washington. The “Queen Bee,” Ruth Willis, began keeping bees to enhance the fruit trees in her family’s backyard orchard. Soon, the bees were producing honey, which they sold at the local market, but Ruth felt that the natural bee products could be doing more. In an effort to
help a friend whose hands had become severely dry and cracked, Ruth created the very first Bee Bar, a concentrated lotion bar made of pure beeswax and healing emollients. After many years of success at local farmer’s markets, Ruth grew her family business into a worldwide specialty boutique. Now, the Bee Bar, along with Belly Bars, lotion creams, lip butter and honey blossom soap are sold in specialty shops across the United States, Canada and Britain; all of them still meeting the same high standards set by Ruth and her very first Bee Bar. “Natural, Nurturing, Unique” – This has been the motto of Honey House Naturals since their beginnings in 1994 and remains their core focus today. As a 100% woman owned company, they embrace the purest values of skin care: integrity, purity, rever-
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ence and health. As stewards of the environment, Honey House Naturals is committed to the conservation of natural resources and respect for our planet. Their products are made with wholesome ingredients either found in or derived from nature. Honey House Naturals uses only the very highest quality ingredients—no cheap fillers, always petroleum free and never tested on animals. Out of respect for our planet, they strive to employ reusable and recyclable materials in the packaging of their products. Dutch Pantry Gifts is very excited about carrying a wide selection of Honey House Naturals’ products, especially their signature item, the Bee Bar. As the Bee Bar is picked up
and warmed by the hands or skin, the essential oils and butters are released and can be gently massaged into the skin and absorbed like any lotion. Because the bar is made without water, it won’t dry out and it will last a long time even with daily use. It won’t come off on fabric or paper and you can wash your hands several times without having to reapply the lotion, because the beeswax seals in all of the emollients. For this reason, it is unprecedented as a soothing moisturizer for dry cracked or damaged skin. Also, look for the honey blossom soap, honey lip butter and Bee Fresh Shampoo and Conditioner. Dutch Pantry Gifts is located at 15 commerce drive, Milroy, Pa. 717-9538725. a
Happy Father’s Day!! The Valley, March 2015
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