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Serving Mifflin County and the surrounding area.
The Valley A free newspaper dedicated to agriculture, self-reliance, frugal living, and modern homesteading. Take a Break From the Mainstream Madness Volume 9, No. 5
There are still many of our readers who remember those Friday and Saturday evenings in the ‘50s and ‘60s – the guys would jump into whatever car they could get, the hot rods they had worked on all winter, an old jalopy they could barely afford or keep running, and even the dull, plain family car if they could get Pop to part with the keys. They would head to the town center to cruise downtown and hope to meet chicks. Of course, the gals headed to town hoping to meet guys. There was the drive-in restaurant – grab a malt and a burger then head back out to cruise some more. Yes, the cops had their hands full – usually nothing serious, but a lot of vehicles, some doing burn-outs, some stopped talking with chicks and probably blocking traffic. The streets and intersections were getting congested. People complained – remember Tubby’s Drive-In from Hollywood Knights? Town Father’s agreed, and the cruising was no more. A little over 30 years ago a small group of car guys from Bellefonte went to the Borough Council with a plan. They asked if they might resurrect the Friday night cruising, but in a more organized fashion. The council liked the plan, gave their blessing and the Historic Bellefonte Cruise
Complimentary
The Valley, May 2018
began on Father’s Day weekend, 1988. Segue to 2018, it’s the 30th anniversary of that historic event in Bellefonte’s history. So, what’s this all about? CRUISING!!! Just like back in the day. The focal point is “The Diamond” in front of the Centre County Courthouse. The streets in downtown Belle-
fonte are shutdown at 5:59 PM and then at 6:00 PM, the streets are open for cruising! The cruise goes both east and west around downtown Bellefonte for the next hour and a half. Last year it poured rain all through the Cruise, but the diehards were out Cruising-in-therain. There were even specta-
Photo courtesy Bill Pantle
tors wearing rain-gear, sitting in their lawn chairs along the curbs watching the Cruisers. Once again, the streets are shut down, this time, at 7:30 PM.and the crowd gathers in front of the bandstand set up in front of the Veteran’s Memorial. The American Graffiti Band strikes up for a traditional Sock Hop. Dig
out your old poodle skirt, dust off your white sport coat, find a pink carnation and come on out and rock and roll until 11:00 PM. Last year the rains stopped as the band started, and a rainbow arced down right in the middle of Allegheny Street up by Reservoir Hill. An omen of good things?? At the Sock Hop you’ll see some spry seniors out there doing the same jitterbug steps they did when they were going steady in high school – there will some 20’s and 30’s swing dancing and youngsters just dancing any way they can. This dancing will surely work up an appetite. So, visit the food court in the parking lot behind the Bellefonte “Y”. The food court will be open the entire time of the Cruise – Friday and Saturday. There are plenty of choices of really super food. There will also be a Market Place. On Friday afternoon, vendors will be setting up on the lawn between the War Memorial (behind the stage) and the Courthouse steps. Thirty vendors are expected to set up their tents and display their wares. They will be open all day Saturday until the awards ceremony at 5:00 PM. Note: Local shops and restaurants will also be open.
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Veritas vos Liberabit
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Editor’s Corner Wayne Stottlar Spring sure did take it’s good ‘ol time getting here—our plantings are feeling it too. We are at least two weeks behind last season for blooms. The lagging weather, however, has allowed me time to get everything spring calls for completed on time; the first season in about 20 years accomplishing that. Still though, I would have liked for some warmer weather earlier before I ran out of wood to heat the house. Oh well, as I am writing this, I looked at the long range and it looks like by the time you are reading this, it should be shorts and sandals weather. Being someone who enjoys winter too, I am always excited at the prospect of less clothing, no shoes, and having my hands in the dirt. The one thing that hasn’t waited is the grass—mowing has commenced. I shot a picture of the completed job and sent it to my friend in NH.
He couldn’t believe it, he still had snow on the ground. We had originally planned to be up there in the middle of April; so glad we moved that back to June. We are extremely happy this month to welcome back long time writer and a fixture at The Valley, JoAnn Wills-Kline after she underwent brain surgery for a benign tumor. JoAnn should be an inspiration to everyone after a series of health speed bumps over the last few years, this being probably the most serious, JoAnn approaches problems with a positive outlook and a determination to overcome, and she has! I was quite shocked to see her May column show up in The Valley e-mail. She had told me she would be back, and I believed her, but so soon floored me—what a strong woman. Prayers have been answered, and we are glad she is back.
On the national front, the fight to disarm us is still raging. If you are pro-second amendment, you need to step up now. These uneducated children at these protests are pawns of agenda-driven groups. They are being used by these groups because they are ignorant of our rights as citizens. These kids do not understand that we are born with these rights, they do NOT come from government; therefore, government does not have the authority to take them away. It is as simple as that. Although these kids have their eyes on their goal, I know they have not stopped to think what will happen if they ever succeed in intimidating lawmakers to attempt to “infringe” on our God-given rights. There may be a temporary celebration in these ignorant circles, until the Civil War starts. There are enough people who still believe in our rights and The Constitution, that bloodshed will quickly follow. Our founders would have started shooting 20 years ago. I am not sure our Republic can survive another Civil War, but this is what will happen if the gun grabbers continue. They think they have numbers on their side and they try to manipulate polls to prove it, but I remind them, less than 30% of the colonist population destroyed the largest army in the world at the time, over the same issue. You
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Contact Info Editor/Publisher Wayne Stottlar Graphic Artist/ Co-Publisher Lynn Persing The Valley PO Box 41 Yeagertown, PA 17099 (717) 363-1550 E-mail: thevalleynewspaper@gmail.com Web: www.thevalleynewspaper.com ©The Valley. All Rights Reserved.
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The Valley, May 2018
Rodeo Serenade to be Featured at Central Pennsylvania Summer Festivals Rodeo Serenade, a Central Pennsylvania-based band, is introducing new audiences to the timeless music of Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Carl Perkins, and Bob Wills, and they have created a renaissance of interest in Saturday night dances in Central Pennsylvania. The five-piece group, with lead and rhythm guitar, bass, drums, and vocals, plays rockabilly, Texas swing, and honky tonk music from the 1950s to mid-1960s. This summer the band is scheduled to play throughout Central Pennsylvania at the Sentimental Journey Fly-In (Lock Haven) the Central PA Festival of the Arts (State College), the Kettle Creek Music Festival (Cross Fork) and the Grange Fair and Encampment (Centre Hall). The only group playing this kind of music in the region, Rodeo Serenade formed in early 2017 after its members met through Nittany Theatre at the Barn’s Summer 2016 production of ‘All Shook Up,’ a modern take on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, set to the music of Elvis Pres-
ley. Members Kristi Branstetter (lead vocals), Susan Burlingame (vocals/rhythm guitar), Steve Branstetter (lead guitar), Kyle Haust (percussion), and Philip Burlingame (vocals/bass) discovered their mutual love for American Roots Music. They work hard to be true to the musical essence of each song while creating a sound that is unique and fresh. Lead singer Kristi Branstetter, who hails from Texas, also played the role of Patsy Cline in Nittany Theatre’s production of ‘Always... Patsy Cline.’ Her spot-on vocals are reminiscent of decades past; she brings the band’s music to life in an authentic way. Though Rodeo Serenade experimented with other types of music, they settled on the roots music that led to much of today’s country and rock and roll—songs from Bob Wills, Patsy Cline, Lefty Frizzell, Hank Williams, Willie Nelson and other honkytonk and western swing greats. They added rockabilly—early Elvis, Carl Perkins, Wanda Jackson, Chuck Berry, and others—to
round out their dance offerings. Their music recalls a simpler time , inc. before the advent of YOur mEtal rOOfiNg & social media sidiNg suPPlY cENtEr when people came together in dance Roll Forming Metal Roofing halls, honky tonks, and & siding in smooth & textured road houses snap-loc standing seam in smooth to catch up on the latest & textured news and kick up a stOcKiNg: little fun on the dance trims & accessories floor with good friends Soffit that matches and famall colors & cut to size ily. Wherever Rodeo lumber Serenade plays, the sliding door accessories same vibe Windows • Doors happens: 20-some31 iNdustrial rOad insulation thing hipsters share m-f 6 a.m. tO 4:30 P.m. the dance floor with 70-someis having a blast playing for the will also be featured at the Senthings in cowboy hats doing the Saturday Night Dance Party the timental Journey Fly-In in Lock Texas two-step. third Friday of each month from Haven on June 19th, the Kettle Rodeo Serenade has become 9-11 pm at Happy Valley BrewCreek Festival on August 11th, a popular Central PA dance band, ing Company in Lemont, and they and the Centre Hall Grange Fair performing for private parties, will be making their debut at the on Friday, August 24th for two “First Friday” events in downtown Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts shows at 4 pm and 6 pm on the State College, festivals, fairs, and this summer on July 12th at 5 pm other venues in the area. The band Continued on page 9 on the Allen Street Stage. They
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Despite the rain and snow this spring, we have managed to do four cleanups, one illegal dump and three roadside cleanups. We actually have picked up 99 bags of trash and 40 tires, and all but 20 bags were roadside trash in six miles of road. A few of us also went out with Lisa Savitts and her 4-H Lambs Club and they picked up 45 bags of trash in two miles of road. I don’t understand the mentality of people that can’t take their trash home with them, or put it in a trash can when they stop to get gas. Most convenience stores and gas stations have trash cans they can easily throw into when they have to get out to pump their gas. I was impressed with the young lady Aubrey Goss from the
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Milroy area that challenged everyone to do the First annual Earth Day Challenge to pick up trash on April 20 through the 22. If we had more caring people like her, our roadsides would be clear of trash. I would also like to thank our Penndot workers and Township road crews who go out to pick up the trash and haul it in for disposal. If you haven’t done a cleanup along your road, there is still time to do one until the end of May for the Great American Cleanup of PA. Register your event on the www.keeppabeautiful.org (KPB) website to get free cleanup supplies sponsored by the Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association at your Penndot office while supplies last.
Don’t have time this spring? Then join KPB in the fall during the International Coastal cleanup. A lot of this is what people discard over during summer picnics. During high water times our streams and rivers take the trash floating down through to the ocean. Plastic beverage bottles in the sun and salt water become brittle and break into smaller pieces, which can harm fish and sea creatures. Opt for tap water or fountain drinks in a reusable bottle. Breakdown time is 450 years. Those plastic rings that hold cans and bottles together for easier carrying can be dangerous when thrown in the water where the fish can get caught in them. Thanks to all the people who have already done a cleanup. Consider a road adoption and keep it cleaned up all year long. It takes everyone to fight the litter and make Mifflin County clean and green again. Pam Sechrist Affiliate Coordinator a
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Spring Musings Phew, not much space to write this month, but that’s ok. It’s been a tough new year so far. My Aunt passed away in February and my last surviving grandparent, my Grandma, passed away on April 22. She was 96. I’ve had enough sadness for a little while, so I was thankful to see most of my tulips in full bloom today. Happiness comes in all forms, but when I see my daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths in bloom each spring, I smile and enjoy them immensely. I secured a little treasure of my Grandma’s to remind me of her every day when I walk in my door. I remember this “hen on a nest” dish sitting in her house and I always thought it was cute. Ok,
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not only was it cute, but there was often candy in there. I can’t quite remember, but this dish may have also been at my great grandmother’s home above Grassmere Park, PA, which we visited often when I was younger. I know that she had some green and red glass hen dishes (also containing candy— are you seeing a pattern here?), but I can’t quite recall if I first saw the white one at my great grandmother’s house before it appeared at my Grandma’s. It doesn’t really matter, I like it just the same. I hope you all are remaining healthy this year. The norovirus (aka “the throwup bug”) has been raging through some of my coworker’s families. Ugggh, I’m trying my best not to get that thing, because I know how miserable it is. But, as you and I both know, you can’t see those nasty little viruses and it could strike at
any time despite how many times you wash your hands. That virus is highly contagious and so if you and I luck out and not get it this year, we should consider ourselves very fortunate. I’m still looking for people to help with a roadway cleanup (mentioned in my last article). If you are interested, contact thevalleynewspaper@gmail.com. a
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To Feed, Or Not To Feed It’s surprising how many folks come into the shop, walk right past 23 varieties and 10 tons of seed to ask “Is it ok to feed the birds year round?” Putting the obvious business model aside, let’s go over why it’s not only ok, but beneficial for our little feathered friends. Birds are warm blooded, and like mammals, the smaller they are, the higher their metabolism. One of your feeder regulars, the Black-capped Chickadee, has a heart rate of 480 beats per minute. That’s 8 beats per second. With a regular body temperature of 104-108 degrees, and weighing in at about 3 paper clips, they need a lot of fuel every day, all day. Their rapid digestion will leave a full stomach empty in 30 minutes. During a cold winter, birds have just enough fat reserve to make through one night. They need to spend about 85% of their daylight hours looking for enough food to make it through the next night. That Chickadee needs to eat about a third of its body weight each day. But even with a feeder full of good stuff, birds only get about 20% of their daily intake from your offering. The rest
comes from foraging for seeds, insects, and berries. The exception to this would be after a good snow storm. Then they’ll be in your yard most of the day. In early spring, almost all of those bugs, seeds, and berries are gone, with a new supply not due in for weeks. Add hungry, returning migrants to the winter regulars and this is the toughest time of year for a bird to find food. Your feeder is a big help. Then comes nesting and breeding season. Finding a site and building a nest is hard, strenuous work and very time consuming. Add to that, producing and laying eggs, incubating for two weeks, then feeding the young ones constantly for another two weeks. A nearby feeder can really help the parents grab a quick bite when needed. Next comes molting season, when birds shed and replace their feathers. This requires tremendous amounts of energy. A lot of birds have difficulty flying about now. Mallards can’t fly at all when molting, so we always have some eating off the ground under the feeders until they can fly again. Lastly, as fall approaches,
birds try to bulk up as much as they can in preparation for migration. That means food, food, food, eat, eat, eat. There is no easy time in a bird’s life, just different degrees of stress. I didn’t even mention how much energy they spend just trying to avoid being eaten themselves. Putting a feeder out year round won’t make them dependent, lazy, or less likely to migrate. But it might just A wide variety of bird seed at fantastic prices is awaiting your arrival. help them come full circle back to Honey ies of seed, and all types of feedout when Creek Bill & Beak’s earlier ers, for all types of birds. Hope to they need it most, no matter what shameless plug for their 23 varietsee you over the summer. a the season. And now we’ve
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My Percyving Eye by Percy R. Wilson, Jr. Evangelist, The Church of Christ at Milroy
Honoring Our Mothers The second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day. Many this time of year will send flowers or a card to their mother. Others will take their mother out for a nice meal, or buy a special gift. While it is good to show our mothers’ that we appreciate them on their day, we should be mindful that our mothers’ should always be honored and respected. In writing to the church at Ephesus, the inspired apostle Paul wrote “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” (Ephesians 6:1, NKJV) God expects children to obey their parents. Younger children are to do what their mothers tell them to do. However, as we
become older, it is not just mere obedience, but we are to honor and respect our mother’s, Paul continues in Ephesians “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise:” (Ephesians 6:2, NKJV) This command of Paul’s is a quotation of the fourth of the Ten Commandments which God gave Moses to teach to the nation of Israel, (Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16). Honor is more than just obeying our mothers; it is respecting them because they are our mothers. Our mothers spent time with us as youngsters, teaching us numerous things, reading stories to us, caring for us and nursing
us when we were ill. They often made great sacrifices for us so that we could have better lives. Thus honor is due to them every day not just on Mother’s Day. There are various ways that we may show our mother’s that we honor them. One is when we listen to or follow their instructions. Solomon wrote, “My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother;” (Proverbs 1:8, NKJV) Solomon wrote that one who does not listen to his mother is a foolish man who despises his mother. “A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.” (Proverbs 15:20,
Rebuilding America’s Rural Infrastructure By Curt Coccodrilli
Pennsylvania State Director for USDA Rural Development Some people remember when many rural households didn’t have electricity or running water. Although those days are long gone for most, there’s still lots of room for improvement. In fact, our American infrastructure used to be the envy of the world, but now it’s in disrepair. This is why President Trump has made it a priority to rebuild America’s infrastructure. He proposes to devote $50 billion, which is 25 percent of new federal money, to improving infrastructure in rural America. This is an unprecedented commitment. His proposal will stimulate at least $1.5 trillion in infrastructure investments over the next decade. As Congress takes up the President’s infrastructure proposal, I am delighted to share with you some great news right now. Included in the FY 2018 budget bill that Congress just passed and President Trump signed in March is a robust investment of $600 million in rural broadband. These funds will serve as a “down payment” on the President’s full,
comprehensive infrastructure funding proposal that will be further deliberated over the coming months. USDA will use these new rural broadband funds to administer a new program that will begin to meet the Administration’s goals of bringing reliable and affordable broadband e-Connectivity to America’s rural towns, cities and tribal areas. Today, 80 percent of the 24 million American households that do not have 21st century high-speed internet are in rural areas, according to the Federal Communications Commission. That is unacceptable. America can do better for our rural citizens and for rural production sites that need e-Connectivity to continue to supply the nation and the world with food, fiber, minerals and manufactured products. As we set up the new program, USDA will work diligently to ensure that the broadband e-Connectivity projects provide the most “bang for the buck” and improve access for as many rural American homes, businesses,
farms, schools and health care centers as possible. Every day, I see firsthand the tremendous difference USDA has made over the decades by investing in rural infrastructure. Here in Pennsylvania, for example, USDA helped North Coventry Township in Chester County with a Community Facilities (CF) loan of $2,968,000 to fund the construction of a public works building and a salt shed in 2017. Now, the roughly 8,000 residents of North Coventry can rely on safer roads, bridges, and public spaces thanks to Rural Development’s commitment to improving infrastructure. More recently, USDA helped the Borough of Beaver Meadows in Carbon County with a CF loan and grant combination of $245,400 and $43,000 respectively to re-construct 950 feet of roadway in the borough. Not only will the roads in the borough become safer, but base drains will also be installed along the curbs to prevent flooding and pooling. These investments are the result of strong partnerships that
NKJV) Another way we can honor our mother’s is to provide and care for them when they can no longer do so for themselves. Jesus said part of honoring our parents is to look out for them when they are advanced in years, (Mark 7:10-13). This may require a sacrifice, of our finances, time, or other personal resources. Failure to do so is not honoring our mothers. Paul simply stated, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8, NKJV) And in regard to mothers who are widows, note Paul’s words to adult children: “But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.” (1 Timothy 5:4, NKJV) It is the responsibility of adult children to take care of aged mothers and fathers. Often this can be done in the home of the parent, or if needed the home of one of the children. I am aware that some physical and medical needs are such that some people USDA has formed over the years with local business and civic leaders. In addition to providing infrastructure financing, USDA is addressing statutory changes, regulatory relief and cultural shifts to help improve the way the Federal government serves its citizens. This approach is consistent with the Secretary’s priorities: Infrastructure, Partnerships and Innovation. All three are needed to rebuild this great nation. During the next few weeks and months – and throughout my term – I will be meeting with business owners, developers, elected officials and rural residents to learn about your infrastructure needs and concerns.
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do need to be maintained in a professional care facility. If that is the case one should not feel guilty about placing a parent there, but one should visit often and let the parent know that they are still loved, cared for and a part of the family and the life of their children. In our culture many today are refusing to honor their parents. Those who are not respecting and caring for aged parents should consider the following from God’s word. “There is a generation that curses its father, And does not bless its mother. There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness.” (Proverbs 30:11–12, NKJV) Let us honor our mothers, and not be a generation that curses its parents and is living in filthiness! Make an effort to honor your mother on Mother’s Day, and on the other 364 days in the year. Percy R. Wilson, Jr. Evangelist, The Church of Christ at Milroy preacherpercy@comcast.net 717-667-7346 My Percyving Eye a
I want to hear from you about what’s working – and what we can do better. Here’s how you can help: Please contact me or our team of specialists in Harrisburg at 717237-2299 to let us know of your community’s infrastructure needs. Together, we can ensure that USDA investments in rural infrastructure will create jobs, expand economic opportunities and help ensure that rural communities continue to be great places to live, work, start a business and raise a family. It’s an honor to serve you. Curt Coccodrilli State Director for USDA Rural Development a
Family Hospice, Part of UPMC Home Nursing Agency, Offers Free Grief Support Group in Lewistown Family Hospice and Palliative Care, Part of UPMC Home Nursing Agency (HNA), is offering a free Grief Support Group on the third Tuesday of each month from April to December. The group will meet from 11 a.m. to noon at Home Nursing Agency’s Mifflin County office, 129 South Main St., Suite T, Lewistown. Facilitated by Family Hospice Social Worker Mark McLaren, this support group is free and open to all members of the community grieving the loss of a loved one. Grief can be very difficult and painful at times, so those grieving are invited to come and share their thoughts, express their feelings and discuss how to work through the grieving process. For more information, please contact McLaren at 1-800-445-6262.
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The Valley, May 2018
Dave Wilson
Coins, Precious Metal and a Little of this and That
The Walls Are Closing In Who (at least over the age of 50) can forget the classic (very first) Star Wars movie where all the characters had inadvertently jumped into the Death Star’s stinky, junky Garbage bin, inhabited by a slimy, creepy (snakelike) creature that was trying it’s best to make Luke Skywalker his next meal? Everyone was worried, until, that is, the monster beat a hasty retreat, just before the container walls began to close, intending to crush the garbage,
and anything else that might be there as well. We are faced with an eerily similar situation right now in world financial markets. We are all stranded in a monetary system where our “currency,” and the currencies of every other nation on earth, are comprised of good-faith “paper” (Debt) instruments, that are backed by nothing more than the alleged “full faith and credit” of the issuing Government. Confidence in a country’s
Fiat currency is everything, and every country will take whatever steps are necessary to protect that im-
age. For example, Gold and Silver prices have been maniacally crushed to levels far lower than their true values, as allowing them to seek real (and fair) value would unquestionably make the “Dollar” look weak and worthless. That cannot be allowed, so prices continue to be smashed down any time any type of rally begins. It is hugely unfair to metal’s investors, but in the end (which we feel will be very soon) the manipulation
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will be impossible to continue, and prices will blast off to scary high levels. Meanwhile, the walls are closing in on the world’s fiat currencies, and those with the most to lose have begun to protect their worldly fortunes. Countries, especially China, Russia, India and Japan have been buying Gold (and Silver) in massive amounts. While China admits to owning a mere 4,000 tons of Gold (the USA “says” it has 8,500 tons) it is widely believed that they are lying (big surprise), and their Gold holdings are closer to 25,000 tons (and likely much more). Russia, too, will not fully disclose it’s true Gold holdings, but market analysts think they are sand-bagging just as much as the Chinese. World Central Banks have also been accumulating big physical Gold holdings, and so too,
have thousands of the wealthiest investors on the planet. These people all see, just exactly where this is heading, and fast. Gold and Silver have been real, tangible “money” for 10,000+ years. Crypto-currencies, Federal Reserve Notes and valueless collectibles “may” hold some “worth” at present, but when the garbage bin walls start to close, they will not be good enough to help you buy your way to safety. Gold and Silver are certainly not the answer to every problem that is quickly coming our way. However, those with no real tangible wealth are in for a far larger rude-awakening than those who have chosen to follow history and protect themselves and their families with historic, and respected real money. a
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Making the Most of Microbes Tiny Soil Organisms Provide Big Soil Health Benefits by Mike Amaranthus Ph.D., Larry Simpson & Jeff Lowenfels Article reprinted with permission of Acres USA. Reprinted from October 2012 • Vol. 42, No. 10 Here’s a shocker: The next big thing in agriculture might not be big at all. According to biologists a single tablespoon of healthy farm soil may contain up to a billion assorted microbes, a mile or more of fungal filaments plus scores of various macrofauna creatures such as nematodes and arthropods. What do crop plants think of all these “little bugs” near their roots? They love ’em! Most plants convert 40 percent or more of their energy produced by photosynthesis into root exudates that actually feed and stimulate soil microbes (See Figure 1). In return, the numerous activities of these tiny soil organisms help keep the plant world running. Natural ecosystems have teemed with soil microbes for millions of years yet they remain productive and healthy despite the fact that no one irrigates, fertilizes or applies pesticides to these areas.
Natural ecosystems utilize a simple and elegant system to maintain soil fertility. Plants fuel the process by providing carbohydrates (sugars), the major food source for these various microbes. The sun energizes the plants, which feed the microbes that then fertilize the soil and promote plant growth. This neverending cycle employs billions of tiny organisms to do the “heavy lifting” such as decomposing organic matter, promoting soil health, improving soil structure and storing, gathering and processing nutrients and water from the surrounding soil for plant use. This ensures that soil fertility and optimum plant-growing conditions are continued year after year. Of the incredible plethora of microorganisms contained in healthy soil, most are very shortlived so that they function as tiny time-release fertilizer units. Just 1,000 square feet of root zone in healthy soil can
contain about 70 pounds of dead microorganisms, which represents nearly 7 pounds of nitrogen, 3½ pounds of phosphate, 1.4 pounds of calcium oxide, 1.4 pounds of magnesium oxide, and .28 pounds of sulfate. Obviously, the continuous release from the remains of these tiny creatures can go a long way toward improving crop production. As world populations continue to grow and global food demands surge, a realization and shift toward sustainable and biological farming methods is
underway. In recent years, worldwide fertilizer and other agricultural chemical costs have increased dramatically and savvy growers are starting to look for alternative ways to extend inputs and support crops. One of the most important things they are finding is that these tiny soil creatures deliver very big results — enhanced nutrient release, elevated nutrient uptake, improved moisture efficiencies, augmented soil tilth — these are just some of the many benefits of a living soil. By increasing yields and/or reducing costs, these “small things” offer natural and powerful solutions to some of farmers’ most persistent
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and vexing challenges. In this article we will explore this interesting and under-appreciated aspect of plant growth and food production. FERTILIZER FROM THIN AIR For decades farmers have added specialized Rhizobia bacteria to the seeds of legume crops such as soybeans, field beans, peas and alfalfa that capture atmospheric nitrogen for their crops in root nodules. Scientists have researched the activities of these fertility-enhancing microbes in detail. These bacteria have the unique ability to convert nitrogen gas from the air into proteins in a process called nitrogen fixation. Eventually, these proteins biodegrade, adding essential available nitrogen fertilizers to the soil. Rhizobia and Frankia bacteria are important types of symbiotic nitrogen fixers. They can produce a lot of plant-useable nitrogen and can also be used in conjunction with cover crops. The nitrogen-producing root nodules are filled with these organisms that capture nitrogen from the air and trade it to the legume plant for some of the sugars it produces. The pinkish color of the nodules comes from a compound similar to hemoglobin found in
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The Valley, May 2018 Rodeo Serenade from page 3 Southside Stage. “Rodeo Serenade is an authentically cool band. They are
“Bob Wills grew up in the small town of Turkey, Texas, yet his music has endured,” added Burlingame. “As the popularity of Rodeo Serenade rises, I think
inspiring a renaissance in the State College dancing scene for the 25 and older crowd,” said Greg Somers, co-owner of the Happy Valley Brewing Company. “There’s something about our music that resonates even with young people who’ve never heard it before,” said bassist Philip Burlingame. “I’ve loved this music for years, but I had no idea it would strike such a chord with so many age groups. Who would think that Texas swing would find yet another enthusiastic audience in Central Pennsylvania?”
about what a great musical legacy Bob Wills has given to the American music scene. And younger audiences are also really connecting to the authentic, meaningful lyrics of the honky tonk tunes we play.” Harlan Howard, who wrote hits for Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash, said all you need to write a great song is “three chords and the truth.” That’s exactly what Rodeo Serenade aims to deliver. To learn more about Rodeo Serenade, visit their website at www.rodeoserenade.com. a
Editor’s Corner from page 2 have been warned. As more and more evidence mounts pointing to criminal activity by the Obama administration, the FBI and the Clinton Foundation, I see no reason to continue this farce. There is enough evidence of wrong-doing to convict, why are they waiting so long to take action? Our forefathers probably would have used the gallows long ago. There are many in the media just as guilty, but that is a lot of rope. a
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Celiac Disease, Gluten and Skin Care You have all most likely heard the saying “your skin is your largest organ.” True. It plays a vital role in protecting your body from harm: against toxins, bacteria, viruses, UV light and general trauma. It can also be an indication that something is amiss in your body; or of something that is brewing under the surface. When our skin becomes dry, irritated, itchy, red, inflamed, etc., we most likely head for the moisturizing crème, a salve or some other skin care product. This may be all you need…or not. What you may not realize is that no amount of creams or soap can mask issues
like long term dehydration, an unhealthy diet, excessive alcohol consumption, chronic poor sleep, food sensitivities, allergies or autoimmunity. That is what we are talking about today, autoimmunity— YAY! Actually, one autoimmune disorder in particular: Celiac Disease. Celiac Disease is where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage of the small intestine. People with Celiac Disease must cut out all gluten from their diet. Even one molecule can trigger a bad reaction such as diarrhea, fatigue, cramps, bloating, irritability and skin problems. A protein usually found in foods made with wheat, barley and rye, Gluten can also be found in medicines, toothpastes, vitamins and many other things. It is even found in skin care products! YEP: there it is—skin care products! You were probably wondering why I was writing about something other than skin care or essential oils! So, the question for those who have Celiac Disease is this: Does applying skin care products containing gluten cause their skin problems? OR: Is the Celiac Disease causing the skin problems from the inside (autoimmune disorder) out (skin problems).
Let’s take a look at both! #1: Is applying skin care products that contain gluten causing skin problems? Skin care products may contain gluten as they sometimes use oils or extracts derived from wheat, barley, or rye. So, let’s say someone with Celiac Disease uses a lotion and develops a rash, this person reads the label and discovers that the lotion contained AMPIsostearoyl, another name for hydrolyzed wheat protein. Naturally, this person would assume that the ingredient was absorbed through the skin, causing the reaction. After researching I would argue this is not the case. Here is why. For a substance to penetrate skin, it needs to be less than 500 daltons in size (a dalton is a unit of mass used to express atomic and molecular weights). Since the gluten protein molecule is approximately 631 daltons, it is too large to penetrate the skin. Hmmm, if gluten cannot pass through the skin, then the bad reaction can’t come from
the product…can it? Actually yes! This could happen one of two ways: if the lotion was applied and then the person licked their fingers or touched food and ate it, then the ingredient could be digested. Or, if the lotion is applied over a wound, then the ingredient gets into the blood. Remember, in very sensitive cases: it takes only a molecule or even a very tiny amount of gluten to cause a bad reaction. So the conclusion I have reached from the research I did is this: a person would have to be extremely sensitive to gluten for a skin care product to be the cause of a bad reaction. And, it would have to have been ingested or entered in through an open wound. The International Dermal Institute agrees with the Celiac Society and the many scientists that contend topical application is not an issue unless a product is used on the lips or in the mouth (think lip conditioners, lipstick, toothpaste or mouthwash). Here is an interesting fact I learned from The Dermal Institute while researching. The U.S. FDA has set preliminary thresholds for
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skin care companies to label a gluten-free claim of less than 20 ppm of gluten. (This is more due to “analytical limitations” than anything else.) For someone with severe sensitivity, 20 ppm of gluten would still be enough to cause a bad reaction! #2: Is the Celiac Disease causing skin problems from the inside (autoimmune disorder) to the outside (skin problems). Celiac Disease limits what foods you can eat and can thus impair your nutritional intake. In able for your skin to be healthy it depends on your body getting good nutrition. Multiple studies have shown that people with celiac disease often lack many essential nutrients and minerals which are critical for healthy skin. Those who are gluten intolerant or with Celiac Disease statisti-
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The Valley, May 2018
R. O. F. F.
Rescue Our Furry Friends by Patricia Lawson
You don’t want to miss out on this fun event on Friday, May 18th. It’s a Quarter Auction at The Burnham Lion’s Club. Doors open at 6pm and the auction begins at 7pm. Paddles are only $5 and there will be over 30 baskets available. There will also be a concession stand available. All proceeds go to ROFF Rescue so come on out and support a great cause and enjoy an entertaining evening. For more information or questions call: 1-877-933-7633. Now last month we featured two doggies, so it’s only fair that we feature two felines this month. First let’s meet “Blackie.”
“Gee, I wonder how I got my name. Can you see me? I look like a piece of coal at midnight. My caretakers aren’t really sure how old I am, but they think around 3 years old. I am neutered and have been tested negative for FIV feluke. I just love attention and I would really enjoy being a part of your home. Please visit me for some playtime, and you’ll see just how ‘purr-fect’ I would be for you.”
And here’s Drew...
“Hi everyone! I am a 3 year old lad looking for someone to take me onto their lap and pet me. I have been tested negative for FIV feluke too and I am also neutered. Yes, ROFF takes good care of us here at our ‘Catery’ in Reedsville. Wouldn’t you like to have me as part of your family? I sure could use a bit more attention and lovin’, so stop by soon.”
Here’s another date you want to be sure to put on your calendar. It’s Saturday, July 14th. It’s the ROFF Rescue Annual Rabies Clinic at City Hook & Ladder #14 at 317 Valley Street in Lewistown. The hours are 10am to 12pm. If you are interested in adopting “Blackie,” “Drew” or another adorable cat or dog, please fill out our on-line application via our website of www.roffrescue.com or call 1-877-933-ROFF (7633). We understand that not everyone can adopt a pet so would you please consider making a donation to ROFF? Checks may be made out to ROFF and mailed to: ROFF, 133 North Walnut Street, Burnham, PA 17009. Thank you so much. Until they all have homes… www.roffrescue.com; rescueourfurryfriends@yahoo. com
The Stewardship Group Now a Senior Partner Agency with Grange Insurance It has been a distinct pleasure of mine to work in Big Valley since 1991, and to have lived here since January 1, 2015. I sincerely appreciate the hard working, down to earth folks who populate this valley, as well as all of our Central Pennsylvania region. Since incepting The Stewardship Group in 2000, we’ve had the pleasant opportunity to work with many of you regarding your insurance planning, assisting with the responsible overseeing and protection of those things worth caring for and preserving. To accomplish our mission, we have partnered with various insurance companies to provide coverage to help you meet your needs. Grange Insurance is a key company we rely on to help us provide protection on behalf of our clients. They are a good company with great people. In early April, Grange Insurance recognized The Stewardship Group, Inc. as a leader in the insurance industry and awarded it Grange’s Senior Partner designation. Each year, Grange honors a select group of its independent agency partners by recognizing them with the title of Senior Partner. These agencies are part of a top-tier division of Grange agency partners that have excelled in key areas of business, including customer service and overall agency performance. Out of nearly 4,000 indepen-
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dent agencies, The Stewardship Group is one of just 142 agencies to receive this year’s award. “Grange counts on agencies like The Stewardship Group to serve as trusted advisors and provide excellent service to Grange policyholders,” said John Ammendola, Grange Insurance president and CEO. “With its strong commitment to the customer and exceptional performance record, The Stewardship Group is a great example of what it means to be a true partner and worthy of this recognition.” Grange Insurance sells exclusively through independent insurance agents. These men and women are not only dedicated to supporting the communities in which they live and work, but they also offer guidance to help individuals, families and businesses select the right coverage for their lifestyle and unique needs. At The Stewardship Group, we are honored to be among the top 3% of Grange Agencies, and to be selected for this recognition. Each of us here want to thank our many clients for allowing us to work with you, which has made this recognition possible. Thankyou! We extend an invitation to those of you who are not already a client and part of our Stewardship community to check us out. I believe you’ll like what you’ll find here. Whether you’re look-
ing to responsibly protect your business, home, auto, income, or lifestyle, we can expertly assist you from a holistic perspective. We are located at 4417 E. Main Street, Belleville, and serve customers throughout Central PA and beyond. For more information, please call 717-935-5858 or visit www.TheStewardshipGroup.org. About Grange Grange Insurance, with $2 billion in assets and more than $1 billion in annual revenue, is an insurance provider founded in 1935 and based in Columbus, Ohio. Through its network of independent agents, Grange offers auto, home, life and business insurance protection. The company and its affiliates serve policyholders in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. For more information, visit grangeinsurance.com. Founder and President of The Stewardship Group in Belleville, Mr. Ostrowski earned his Master of Science Degree in Financial Services from The American College in Bryn Mawr, Pa in 2007. His articles ponder various contemporary topics evaluating them from a political, economic and scriptural point of view. a
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Home at the Grange by Patricia L. Bird
Many Candidates Attend 2018 Pomona Grange Legislative Banquet April Showers Bring May Flowers – While this may be true, this year’s April Fools Day also brought along snow and freezing temperatures to the month along with the planning and holding of the Centre County Pomona Grange #13 Legislative Banquet. Each year, the Centre County Pomona Grange holds a Legislative Banquet to introduce candidates to not only Grange members, but also to the general public. This year’s banquet was truly an exciting event. Over one hundred people responded to the invitation to attend and almost all of them attended the dinner held on April 7, 2018. This year once again, I served on the committee and was able to do most of the “grunt” work. You might wonder why I said I did it. Well, during the middle of February I accidently took a fall and thought, ok that wasn’t so bad. Well, lo and behold, after walking on my “bad” leg I learned that it was actually broken and I wore a beautiful hot pink cast for seven weeks. It wouldn’t have been so bad except it was my right leg and so I couldn’t drive. So, since I was so bored, I poured a lot of time into making this banquet special. I researched and re-researched (since they changed the voting districts) every possible candidate that might be running for something that had to do with Centre County. Letters were sent, emails were answered along with
many questions, tickets were sent when possible and acceptances were received. I made sure that there were special favors for the table, special centerpieces and door prizes, registrations were completely listed and nametags printed. Once I could drive, I finished working with the rest of the committee to make sure everything was in place. Over one hundred people sent in reservations and ninety-five actually attended and enjoyed the delicious ham and turkey dinner with all the trimmings that was made and served by the members of New Hope Lutheran Church in Spring Mills, PA. This year we were also fortunate enough to have two beautifully decorated cakes donated. A chocolate one decorated as an American flag and a white cake decorated with the Grange Emblem. They were made by Billie Novosel; (she is my daughter) of Howard. I have received many comments that not only were the cakes beautiful, but they were really tasty too! The evening started off with a Milk Punch and Cheese and Crackers reception hosted by the Centre County Dairy Promotion Committee and the 2017 Centre County/ PA State 1st Alternate Dairy Princess Gretchen Little and her mother Karen of Bellefonte, PA. They offered several kinds of cheese and crackers and also glasses of the official Pennsylvania State Dairy Princess Maui
Milk Punch. Centre County Pomona Grange #13 Master Ashley Furman welcomed everyone to the event. She then introduced the special guests for the evening which were Gretchen, Megan Royer, the Centre County Encampment and Fair Queen and the speaker and his wife, Wayne and Debbie Campbell. Wayne is the Pennsylvania State Grange Master/President and Debbie serves as the Pennsylvania State Grange Secretary. Ashley then introduced the Centre County Pomona Grange Chaplain Ben Haagen who gave the convocation. After enjoying the delicious dinner, Master Furman asked each attendee to stand and give their name and to tell everyone if they were a Grange member and where, an elected official, a candidate or a guest. It was amazing to realize that there were actually many more guests and Grangers this year than politicians. She then introduced Megan who was the first speaker. Megan is a 2017 graduate of State College Area High School and was crowned on August 16, 2017 in front of a large crowd at the Centre County Grange Park in Centre Hall. She is the daughter of Karen and Robert Royer of Warriors Mark, PA. Megan talked about a few things that happened on the way to her being crowned fair queen. She talked about being asked during her interview with the judges what color would describe your fair and why. She immediately answered yellow and then realized
by the looks of their faces that she wasn’t anywhere near what they expected to hear so she continued to explain why she stated yellow. She told them that when she thinks of yellow she thinks of her Great Grandma Charlotte Albright. As a fourth generation fairgoer, she stays where not only her mother and grandmother stay, but also where her Great Grandma slept in the past. Yellow also makes her think of the fair during which her Pap Randall Albright’s birthday would fall. So to finish the explanation she informed the judge the following “Ma’am, if I had to pick a color that represents what describes my Fair, it would definitely be yellow, because my fair wouldn’t be what it is if it weren’t for my Great Grandparents. Megan also told everyone about what the fair means to her, what she has learned since being crowned and that as much as she has always loved the fair she has fallen more in love with it during the past year. Dairy Princess Gretchen Little spoke next. She talked about how hard life is for everyone in the farming industry and not just dairy farmers. Gretchen lives on a first generation dairy farm with her parents and brother, and how it has made her the person she is today. She went on to talk about how consumers need to continue to help the farmers by purchasing the good rich dairy products that are out there. She reminded everyone that almond and soy milk are not milk. Milk comes from a mammal and not a bean or nut. She went on to talk about the many different promotions she has accomplished since
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Master Wayne Cambell speaking
being crowned in June. She will continue to hold the crown at the local level until June 1 and the state level until September during the PA State Dairy Princess Pageant. If I could quote Gretchen, it would be this: “Dairy Farmers are some of the hardest working individuals in society who get paid the smallest amount of funds to live on for all their effort.” The last speaker was the Pennsylvania State Grange Master/President, Wayne Campbell. Wayne was the PA State Grange Overseer when the then PA State Grange Master Elizabeth Downey decided to step down. As per Grange protocol, Wayne stepped into the position of Master and was installed by National Grange Master Betsey Huber and was elected to the position at the PA State Grange Session in October. Wayne, a lifetime Grange member, and his wife Debbie were dairy farmers in their early years of marriage. He went on to farm equipment and automotive repair before becoming a transit driver. He has served in many positions throughout his life in Junior,
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The Valley, May 2018
Around Town With Carole
by Carole Lokan Moore
Memorial Day Parade
When the boys came home from World War II, like my father, they began finding the more important things in life, (e.g. a wife, a family and a home.) But their patriotism did not dwindle as the memories of battle receded in the distance past. In every town, city, and boro, there arose “organizations” like the American Legion for military who never left the States, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled Vets, etc. Towns “gave” buildings and a place for these vets to gather. Their purpose was to commemorate their vigilance during war times and to find a place to recognize those guys (and many times women) who left their homes to go across the vast pond, to fight for freedom for those who they would never meet. Many of the soldiers were too busy raising that family, and didn’t join these service organizations, like my Dad with two kids and a third, fourth, and fifth on the way. Others had the time, and began the culmination of deeds to do a service for the community around them. One of the ways they did this was by organizing the Memorial Day Parade. In our town, two brothers, Mope and Sherman Stevenson, picked up the gauntlet for decades, and contacted the band masters, the marching bands, the float makers, the high school music teachers, the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, and many more of the “Flag Waiving” organizations in every community throughout these United States. For decades, our township of Edgewater Park and Beverly, provided “shared funding” through the city and township budget to provide the money needed to pay the musicians. When the Stevenson Family Farm sold in the late 1950s to a developer for “Presidential Estates,” Marine Sherman Stevenson moved his family to a Delaware Farm, and became active in the Farm Bureau. Steve’s brother, Mope lived locally in Burlington, so he took over the running of the parade with the help of all the other veterans who had the time. Veterans presenting a parade was common every where in the U.S.
Meetings about the parade plans were held in American Legion, VFW Post, and DAV around the country as Memorial Day came in to focus. Letters had to be written and copied, stamps and envelopes licked, and the invitation sent out in the mail. Then “the wait.” By mid April, returned applications came back with the “availability list,” for those who could attend the parade on the last Monday in May. Our Parade ending inside the National Cemetery is at 1pm, but the next town down, Delanco, holds their parade at 9am on the same Monday. Many bands committed to two different parades in one day....one morning....one afternoon, so by time the day was over, they were really tired with weary feet, but a love in their heart for America....they wouldn’t miss it for the world—plus the money was good for any musician who was able. Able in deed, The Riverside String Band, who has been performing every May and sometimes also in July, were a welcome tune to our ears. The banjos and other string and brass instruments bellowed out as they marched. I know first hand, as I was the Girl Scout carrying the flag behind them in nearly 40 parades over decades. My Marine Corp Detachment always led the parades, because as Uncle Steve said, The Marines are always first into the battle. I guess the fact that General Washington had Marines a year before the country was born, also gives them the lead position. After the war, there were many surplus vehicles, so it was not unusual to see “track vehicles” (tracks removed as not to damage the parade route). Military Transport Vehicles and everything from the lowly “Jeep” (general purpose vehicle) that I drive today, to half tracks, and heavy cargo carriers, all cleaned up and wearing their finest “drab green paint,” for all to know they were “Army” and proud of it. One year we followed the “half track” with our family all driving their Jeep Wranglers, not quite the CJ7 Jeep used in war times, but still impressive in our red, white, blue, and black
(for the MIAs). In the window of a half dozen Wranglers, we had posted the name of all the battles that the “Jeep” participated in and there were a ton of them We put small American Flags everywhere we could find a place that tape would not mar the finish. When Mope died in the March of one year, the American Legion Commander, Al Volpe, came to me and said: “We’re shocked, we didn’t know Mope was that sick and the parade is in two months.” With vigor, my husband Bill and I picked up the gauntlet and began organizing the parade, mailing the applications, etc. We pulled together a really good parade that was almost a couple hours long to pass one location and ending services in the cemetery. My old babysitter Pam worked at my side, as I knew with two businesses I was too busy to continue doing the parade like Uncle Steven and Uncle Mope did for 40 years. Eventually the township put Pam on the payroll to run the parade for a few years. That was the year, we did fundraisers and got $10,000 to do fireworks at the Delaware River. Some folks thought it was disrespectful to have fireworks on the day you were to Remember the war dead, but that was because they didn’t know the history. After WWII was over, the boys came home to the docks here in town, and were greeted with a gigantic fireworks display. Replicating this display was to honor those who fought and those who did not come home. As with every community in America, the trees grew and the “start location” of the parade had to be altered. If your flat bed trailer, which acted as a float, could not have its decorations over 2-3’, it was because tree branches were too low from the many lovely sycamore trees that lined our original
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parade starting point on Franklin Avenue at the back entrance to the National Cemetery. One year we started at the vacant parking lot of Modells at the corner of Rt 130, but it added nearly a mile to the route, and the “oldsters” just couldn’t do it. Even now, the dregs of the Riverside String Band, now in their 80’s and 90’s ride on a flat bed cause their legs just can’t do the walk. Even the big city parades have to alter their route every now and then, for many different reasons, trees being one. Some time after the year 2000, the parade route was shortened again, to begin at a small Cross Street, along side of the Beverly National Cemetery. The ending festivities of the parade end at the entrance to that cemetery. The side street, was perfect for lining up without causing difficulty for people to traverse around the town. It worked well, and for the foreseeable past, the parade started at the back of the National Cemetery, which is at the corner where my Organic Green Café is located for over a decade. My yard is filled with well wishers who want to see the parade first as it traverses west on Cooper Street, stopping at the Memorial
Field (Dedicated by my Husband with the “Passing the Torch of Freedom,” bonfire a decade ago). Then it passes the Memorial in front of the Beverly Library and into the long stretch to stop at the Delaware River. In the year we ran the parade, my husband Bill was picked up at another dock by the Coast Guard cutter and sat off the foot of Cooper Street. At the designated time, he laid the red, white and blue, wreath in the water to remember all the sailors lost at sea. It was definitely a goose bumpy event. Many towns across America where water is accessible recreate this launching, but manpower and vessels are not always available. We were lucky to have contacts who scheduled the Coast Guard Boat to be available for this wreath laying. Now it is impossible to get any vessel, with so many of our men and vessels being deployed. Every town has its Memorial Day tradition. Some people set up their chairs the night before to make sure they get a good spot at the curb. Nobody bothers the chairs and even if you’re not sitting in it at the start of the parade, your chair saves your spot so
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“Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.” The Jails - Incarceration in Mifflin County Located on the Northwest corner of Wayne and W. Market streets, we pass this building, on the left, as we travel toward Monument Square. Today the brick structure is known as the Mifflin County Correctional Facility, but the site was the location of Mifflin County’s first courthouse and jail. The site has a long history… The location was the scene of a riot, the escape by one of Pennsylvania’s most notorious highway men, Mifflin County’s first balloon ascension, and the site of Mifflin County’s only execution. This month, the jails of Mifflin County. Let’s begin the story just before 1789. That’s the year Mifflin County was formed, carved from parts of Cumberland County by an official act of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, during the opening months of George Washington’s first term as President. The place that would become Lewistown, was just a gathering of pioneer cabins in the 1750’s. Earlier, the Shawnee village of Ohesson was nearby at the junction of Kishacoquillas Creek and the Juniata River. Old Town was another designation, in those the early days, for the settlement. For the first months of the county’s existence after 1789, all necessary judicial proceedings were held in the home of Arthur Buchanan, a log house located where the Lewistown hotel building is today. The Buchanan family, including Arthur’s father, Arthur, and mother, Dorcas Buchanan, were some of Mifflin County’s earliest pioneer settlers. The family held title to a large tract of land that would become Lewistown, but lost that property in 1787 due to
financial troubles. The land was held in trust by the High Sheriff of Cumberland County until it was later sold. Then in 1790, Samuel Edmiston purchased Buchanan’s 300 acres at sheriff’s sale. This purchase encompassed ground around the junction of Kishacoquillas Creek and the Juniata River. The official deed for the new town dated 1791 laid out the seat of justice for the said county of Mifflin on land of Samuel Edmiston, lying on the north side of the river Juniata, and situated on high ground at the Junction of said river with the Kishacoquillas Creek. The Trustees appointed by Pennsylvania’s Thomas Mifflin designated this location as the county seat. The town of Lewistown was laid out, lots sold and public buildings erected. A quarter of an acre was set aside for a meeting house and a buryingground. It seems that Samuel Edmiston had a friend in the legislature, William Lewis, a prominent Quaker lawyer and judge from Philadelphia. Lewis is the namesake of the new town. Assemblyman Lewis supported the establishment of the county seat at Lewistown. The 1887 History of the Juniata Valley recalls: Much
dissatisfaction was expressed by residents in the lower part of the county at the location of the county seat. Mifflintown, located below the Long Narrow’s in what would
become Juniata County, had been proposed as the county seat, but politics intervened. Residents from that part of the county petitioned the legislature for removal of the county seat to a more convenient location. By 1805, when it was realized the county seat would not be moved, the Juniata Valley states: …agitation was begun for a new county, to be called Juniata, and which did not cease until that county was erected in 1831. When the General Assembly passed the act forming Mifflin County on September 19, 1789, construction of two separate public facilities, a jail and a courthouse, were required. The Act stated, “build and erect a Court-house and Prison, suitable and convenient for the Publik, on the Publick and such other squares as shall be reserved for that purpose…” Lot No. 86, on Market Street was designated for the jail in the layout of the town. Today, we know that location as 103 W Market Street, the northwest corner of N. Wayne and W. Market. Ever conscious of the public’s dollar, the Scots-Irish founding fathers of Mifflin County opted for a duel-purpose structure, a combination jail and courthouse. A two story log building was constructed using the timber that grew on the spot. The ground floor held the jail, while the courtroom was designated on the second floor, accessed by an outside staircase. This was the county’s first courthouse and first jail. In less than a year, it was also the scene of what became known as the Lewistown Riot of 1791. A dispute arose among citizens living below the Long Narrows in what would become Juniata County, and a newly appointed county judge about to take his seat in the new courthouse in Lewistown. Judge Samuel Bryson was at the center of the controversy. Earlier in his career he had refused
the appointment of duly elected officers to the local militia in the southern parts of the county. When it became known that Bryson was about to be elevated to the new position of Mifflin County judge, those aggrieved over the militia appointments, many of whom fought in the Revolutionary War, armed themselves and stormed up through the Narrows with a mob of sympathizers. They surrounded the log courthouse in Lewistown, and were determined to prevent the seating of the newly appointed Judge Bryson. Only after being talked down by the States Attorney from Harrisburg, present for the swearing in of the new court, was the riot defused. In 1795, a 15 by 20 foot addition was added to the jail, that included iron gratings and heavy-duty wrought iron fittings. It might be said that with civilization, came more laws to enforce, and more space was needed for the law breakers. Records show the addition to the log jail was 75 pounds, a year’s salary in many professions of the era. One bill related to the jail presented to the County Commissioners, also in 1795, was in the amount of 2 pounds 5 shillings. The blacksmith charged the County for making “two footlocks and a chain and one yoke for the neck” for a convict from Mifflin County being transported to the prison in Philadelphia. It soon became apparent that the log courthouse and jail was woefully small for a grow-
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ing county, not only for prisoners on the first floor, but for court proceedings on the second floor. Records had to be kept, court sessions held, and in the early days, the courtroom served as a public space for Sunday church services and other civic gatherings. Space was at such a premium, that rooms were rented around town for judicial purposes throughout most of the 1790s. A new, two-story brick courthouse would eventually be built in 1797 and opened in 1798. That structure was erected squarely in the middle of the public green, where Monument Square is today. The location of the Mifflin County Jail would remain at the corner of Wayne and West Market streets. The old log structure was dismantled in 1802-03 and replaced with a building made from local mountain stone. A courtyard enclosed a portion of the jail, and cells were built on the first floor. This stone jail remained until the 1850s. It was from this stone jail that the notorious Highway man and robber, David Lewis, escaped in 1820. In that era, Lewis was known as the Robin Hood of Pennsylvania, said to have robbed the rich to give to the poor. In reality, he was a counterfeiter and rogue who swindled for his own benefit. Lewis was captured by a posse out of Cumberland County and brought to the Mifflin County Jail to be sequestered until he could be moved south to Carlisle.
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The Valley, May 2018 times it’s subtle and we will miss it if we don’t take time to stay in the moment. Those stormy times really do make us truly appreciate the sunny times even more. I recently read a quote that said, “Not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear your path.” And there is truth to that. There is a scripture that reminds us of the same idea, Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
Spring Snow This spring has been more like winter than winter itself. This time of year always brings both feelings of agitation and anticipation. We are so excited to see new life and new growth and beautiful things all around us, and yet we keep waking up to dreary, cold, rainy days, or even worse, snow! I always get very impatient with mother nature at this time of year and just want to be rid of the cold gray days. But sometimes nature teaches us things and we can learn beautiful lessons through seasonal changes. Because everything is connected, God can speak to us in so many ways and I feel like nature has always been a great teacher. Life is full of seasons that are always changing, and sometimes, like winter trying to turn into spring, we feel stuck in a season that is dreary and gray.
But somedays as I look out my windows at yet another heavy gray sky dumping yet another “spring snow” onto the mountains and fields, the beauty of it is striking. Even though it isn’t really what I want to see, it is still beautiful! Life can be that way so often, what we want to be happening in our lives may not be happening, but what is happening may still be just as beautiful and fulfilling if we just have the proper perspective. It seems no matter what season of life we are in, we are tempted to be pining for the last one or rushing in the next one. We are happier and more content if we can look around and take in all the beauty of the season we are in, stormy dark days, and bright sunny ones too. They all hold a certain beauty, but some-
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Storms or sunny days, good times or bad, it’s all being worked into something that in the end will be good for us. Making us stronger and teaching us to be content no matter what our situation in life is! And as far as actual spring is concerned, we can only hope it
decides to show up before summer arrives. a
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The Valley, May 2018
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The Valley, May 2018
18 Historic Bellefonte Cruise from front page Saturday morning the street barricades come down and the cars, trucks and motorcycles start rolling into downtown for the professionally judged car show. Registration ends at noon. Forms can be downloaded from the Cruise website: www.bellefontecruise.org. Registration forms can be mailed in – the cost for pre-
cal merchants. Once again, Douty-Chalfa, Automotive Sales and Service will be having a raffle of a late-model car. It’s FREE. You can sign up during the sock hop and all-day Saturday until the drawing at 3:00 PM. You must be present to win. The award ceremonies start promptly at 5:00 PM. Plaques are presented first to the sponsors who make the Cruise possible, and then to first, second and third
The sock hop is always a big hit with young and old alike. Photo courtesy Bill Pantle
Photo courtesy Bill Pantle
registration is $10.00 while day of event registration is $15.00. Also, we make up goodie bags. These are given to the participants who preregister. We anticipate 400 to 500 vehicles on display. There will be balloons and
place winners in all the car, truck and motorcycle classes. Finally, trophies are presented to Best In Show car/truck and motorcycle. And then the streets are once again opened for an hour-long Cruise. Free parking is at the Belle-
Top and Bottom photos courtesy Bill Pantle
Photo courtesy Bill Pantle
face painting for the kids, Rama Lama will be wandering through the crowd singing their acapella doo-wop songs from the 50s and 60s. The Beach Party Boys from Canada will entertain from the Stage starting at 12:00 – be ready for some more fantastic rock and roll. Nashville Country and Western Stat Dave Keller will be performing on Stage #2 next to the Post Office. Troy Breon will serving as a DJ throughout the day. The gang from WOWY, “The Real Deal” Bob Steel, RoniLyn, and Grant Armstrong will be on the stage passing out all sorts of goodies from sponsors and lo-
fonte High School. A shuttle service from the school parking lot to and from the Cruise area will be available. There will be handicap parking in the cruise area with a golf-cart shuttle to the diamond area. Any profits from the Cruise go right back to the community via things like our scholarship fund, metal benches seen around town, etc. Once again, it’s going to be a super weekend – come on out and join the fun. a
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The Valley, May 2018
Joanne Wills-Kline “Contentment Quest”
A Mind Renewed
On January 30th I had an eight hour surgery to remove a large benign brain tumor called a vestibular schwannoma. An MRI in mid-December displayed the large tumor. My family doctor pushed for the MRI, after minor symptoms that I was experiencing became progressively worse. Seeing the brain tumor on the MRI image results was somewhat a relief to me because I just knew in my gut something was wrong as my symptoms of balance, vision, and hearing disturbances continued to deteriorate. The tumor was so large the only method of removal was a craniotomy. Brain surgery is no simple matter. There are tons of complications that can happen, some very serious, so the thought of brain surgery was a very sobering matter. Total recovery could take up to one year. In the weeks preceding surgery, there was a lot of prep on my part for the benefit of my family in case I didn’t fare well through the ordeal. End of life matters needed to be considered, clear, and drawn up legally. Financial obligations needed to be taken care of and prepped for the future as there was no guarantee as to how life would look like for me post-surgery. Letters needed
to be written and distributed to my dear family members to tell them how much I loved them, and to let them know all the things I might not get a chance to say in person. There were sunsets to be savored, and daily routines to be treated as sacred for the gift of the ordinary. The Christmas and New Year holidays came and went. My only News Year’s resolution was to be deeply thankful for each day leading up to surgery. Surgery day came, and I felt completely confident in my team of medical professionals. Recovery has been hard in the immediate post-op and in the days and weeks to follow. This experience has taught me so very much. In the beginning of my post-op journey, I was unable to swallow, to feel the left side of my face, or to use fine motor skills. My speech was affected and I had double vision making it hard to navigate throughout my day. Occupational, Physical, and Speech therapies have significantly helped in the weeks post-surgery. Now, I can swallow and eat a regular diet rather than pureed. I realized on a very deep level what a true gift it was to use our bodies effortlessly daily. I had an in-patient therapist, by
the name of Jack, who often said “Slow is strong.” I learned that slow and mindful was the best way and the only way to complete a task – whether it be a therapy or an everyday, ordinary task. I thought I was a mindful individual prior to surgery. But, through this experience, I have learned that I was able to unlock much deeper levels of mindfulness if I just slowed down even more – “Slow is strong” thank you Jack! I learned patience on a much deeper level throughout this experience. I had to be patient with myself to relearn to swallow and eat – first pureed foods then a regular diet. I had to be patient to learn to walk on my own with a cane and without a person assist. I also had to be patient with myself as I processed life postsurgery, my new normal, and all the emotions of my journey. The brain surgery and recovery journey has given me an opportunity to renew my mind by allowing me to reflect on the functions that we often take for granted. Thankfully, I was able to view them for the sacred gifts they are, and see my brain surgery journey as a gift to develop into an even deeper and more mindful individual. a
Home at the Grange from page 12 Subordinate, Pomona and State Grange levels and has served on the State Grange Agricultural Committee. He has been married to his wife Debbie for more than forty years. Together they have three children and several grandchildren. Wayne spoke about the Grange’s initiatives for the community. First, the need for Broadband and the need to get it to everyone in the world. He asked how are our children supposed to be able to learn if they use computers or iPads in their work and have no internet to make them work? He also went on to talk about the need for broadband to enable people to speak with doctors and nurses using Telemedicine. He continued with the opioid crisis and how the Grange has vowed to work towards stopping it. He spoke also on nutrient management and protecting our watersheds, Sunday hunting, and lastly, the State Budget. He also had brochures to hand out to
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Grange members about some of the new and exciting benefits and perks that are available to members. All candidates, representatives and elected officials were given the opportunity to reintroduce themselves and give a short speech about their platform. There were candidates for several districts represented for several positions. We were privileged enough to have in attendance the following people: Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans Court, Christine Millinder; Recorder of Deeds, Joe Davidson; Rich Fornicola, County Treasurer; Centre County Commissioners, Michael Pipe, Steve Dershem and Mark Higgins; Sheriff Bryan Sampsel; Centre County Prothonotary, Debra Immel; Centre County Judge, Brian Marshall; Steve Miller, outgoing Chairman of the Centre County GOP; and Michael Hanna, Sr., retiring PA State Representative in the 76th Legislative District. Also attending were many candidates which included incumbents Kerry Benninghoff, candidate for the 171st Legislative District; Brandy Reiter representing Senator Jake Corman, candidate for 34th District of the PA Congress; Marcie Assetta, Campaign Director for 5th Congressional District GOP candidate and incumbent, Glenn “GT” Thompson; Jay Young, representing Erin McCracken, Democratic candidate for the 171st. District of the PA House of Representatives; Joann TostiVasey who is a candidate for the Democratic Committee; Carver Murphy, Campaign Manager for Ezra Nanes, Democratic candidate for the 34th District of the PA Senate; Wade Jodun, Democratic candidate for the 15th Congres-
sional District; Judy Hershel, Democratic candidate for the 12th District of the US Congress; Michael Hanna, Jr. who is running for the position held currently by his father in the 76th District of the PA House of Representatives; Marc Friendenberg, candidate for the 12th Congressional District; Kris Eng, candidate for the Chair of the Centre County GOP; and Susan Boser, Democratic candidate for the 15th Congressional District. As a Pomona Grange Officer, I am proud to say that ten out of eleven subordinate Granges were in attendance and all eleven Granges along with several politicians who were gracious enough to donate door prizes for the raffle. This banquet is one way the Grange in Centre County tries to connect with the community leaders and politicans. Again this year I will reiterate that it is not a fundraiser, but a “Community Service Project.” All those who attended were given a chance to win one of the door prizes. We are in the process of setting up a date for next year, which will be either the first or second Saturday in April. Please pencil this in on your calendar so you might be able to attend. The Legislative committee is made up of four wonder fund “young” ladies who work very hard to make this dinner special every year. They are Ashley Furman, Ruth Luse, Melanie Melius and myself, and I am very proud to say that they are great friends who are always there to help when needed. They kept the activities going smoothly, while I worked the front desk. So in hindsight, it was a great, knowledgeable evening enjoyed by everyone. a
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The Second Amendment and Slavery
In an TMZ interview with Larry King recently it was said that the 2nd amendment was created by “Southern senators so they could ward off slaves uprising.” Yes there was slavery in the colonies and it was not confined to the South. Yes there were pro-slavery states pressuring convention delegates. However, not everyone was pro-slavery and the right to bear arms was not something foisted upon the nation by those who wanted to continue the abominable trade. The oversimplification in the Larry King interview of this complex history presents a sad distortion and denies many honorable and brave people of color their proper station in history. It doesn’t take extensive research to discover that the very first man to give his life in our battle for independence was a freed slave by the name of Crispus Attucks. Crispus Attucks not only gave his life so we could be free, but was one of the most honored patriots of this time. The Bos-
ton Globe reported that Attucks’ funeral was the most attended funeral in the history of Boston. This armed, freed slave fought for our freedom. American history also reveals battalions of freed slaves that fought for our independence. Peter Salem was one such hero. As a freed slave, Salem is credited with having killed Major Pitcairn, resulting in the American victory over the British troops in the very famous battle of Bunker Hill. Salem would receive many
living with a captain of the British Navy as a slave companion of the captain’s son. Forten was told he would have comfort and provision like he had never known in America, if he would only agree to stop fighting and return to his life as a slave in Britain. Forten, as a young man, responded: “I have been taken prisoner for the liberties of my country, and never will prove a traitor to her interest!” He ended up spending seven months in a British prisonship for his devotion to freedom and liberty. This armed, free black man, fought for our freedom. Let us not forget Prince Whipple, the freed black man who fought along side General George Washington and is seen in the very famous painting of Washington crossing the frozen Delaware River. These are but just a few examples of the many armed freed slaves who fought for the new America. Several of our States had a provision that gave permanent freedom to all slaves wanting to fight for Liberty and independence. This history means
there are some free men who gave their only free breath so America could be free and Americans do not even know their names. I could write extensively of the reams of documented conversations in which the American founders held the right to bear arms out to be an essential right to protect a nation from government tyranny and oppression, not a means to subjugate slaves. In fact, the man known as the Father of the Bill of Rights, George Mason from the southern colony of Virginia, notably created the Fairfax
honors for this feat, even the praise of General George Washington. This armed, freed slave fought for our freedom. Americans should learn of the Bucks of America, Ned Hector, and of George Middleton, a free black man and colonel in a Massachusetts Militia. Middleton was a hero among those who fought in Resolves of July 1774 which British oppression of the Ameriour war for independence. Upon declared that slavery should be can colonists. He was taken his retirement from duty, in 1796, captive and given the option of Continued on page 22 Middleton started the “African Benevolent Society,” a charitable organization to care for the needs of the widows and orphans of those black soldiers who fought in our war for Liberty. All those armed, freed slaves, fought for our Liberty. Mr. James Forten, the son of free blacks, at 14 years old, heard the public reading of the DeclaHealthSouth Nittany Valley is proud to offer inpatient and outpatient programs for patients with Parkinson’s ration of disease. These comprehensive programs allow the therapist and patient to create personalized goals Indepenfor all levels of fitness and disease severity. For more information, call 814 359-5630. dence in the streets A Higher Level of Care® of Philadelphia. Forten then joined 550 West College Avenue • Pleasant Gap, PA 16823 • 814 359-5630 the Navy NittanyValleyRehab.com to fight against the
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The Valley, May 2018
Modern Energy and Alternative Heating with Curt Bierly Spring Maintenance and Next Winter Planning Well, I am hopeful that we can consider winter officially over! Spring took a long time to arrive. The temperatures listed on our electric bill indicated April was 8 degrees colder that last April. As less heat is required to keep your home or business in the comfort zone, it’s time to schedule needed service and maintenance to ready the heating system for next winter. If the plan is to upgrade the furnace, boiler or the distribution system, now is the time to consider options before the fall rush. What fuel will you use, what equipment is available, how can the distribution system be improved, what money will be budgeted for the project, and is financing needed? Schedule a meeting with a HVAC or alterna-
tive energy heating professional (call us if you like) and let them know what your thinking. There are lots of options out there. They’ll provide choices that will fit your life style and budget. If you have a ducted warm air system with air conditioning or a ductless AC/HP unit, it’s time to clean or replace the filters so the equipment will operate efficiently during those hot summer days. Filters need to be cleaned or replaced in the spring before the air conditioning season and in the fall before the heating season. It is simple to do and very important to obtain the highest efficiency and the maximum life of the equipment. If you are using one of the newer wall thermostats, it can be programmed to provide a reminder every spring and fall to
clean or change the filters. If you have an electronic filter, when washing them, always be careful of the ionizing wires in the electronic filter cell as they are very brittle. Be sure to allow time for the filters to dry completely before reinstalling them in the filter housing and turning on the power! To continue to operate at maximum efficiency and reliability, an oil burning boiler or furnace needs to be cleaned every year in the spring if turned off for the summer months or in the fall if used during the summer months to heat domestic hot water (boiler). If you own a gas stove, turn off the pilot light, remove the glass and clean. It is usually just dusty. A clean burning natural or propane burning gas furnace or boiler, in general, requires no yearly cleaning maintenance. If you burn coal, it is very important to service the unit in the spring immediately after it is shut down for the summer season. Coal produces a small amount of noncombustible fly ash when it’s burning. If fly ash is mixed with water (humid air or rain) it produces hydrochloric and sulfuric acid which will eat thru black steel smoke pipe by
the next heating season and cause wear and tear on the cast iron coal burning equipment. If you have a coal stoker boiler that heats domestic hot water all summer, it’s ok to wait till the fall to shut it down to clean because as long as there is heat in the unit, degradation will be reduced. In addition, if the coal burning unit is vented into an insulated stainless steel all fuel chimney, a brush will be needed to clean it, and then install a cap on the top so rain water can’t enter. It is imperative that the coal stove, smoke pipe and SS chimney be cleaned shortly after the unit is shut down. Sweep out the ashes, clean the glass, disconnect the smoke pipe and brush it out. A wood and pellet stove is a different story because rain water or humid air won’t affect the life of the chimney, smoke pipe or
stove. Before next heating season remove all ash from the stove, clean the glass, brush the smoke pipe and chimney. If you burn pellets watch for those low summer prices so you can stock up for next year. If you burn wood beyond sweeping/cleaning the stove, smoke pipe and flu, this is the time to cut and split wood so it is seasoned by fall We wish you the best summer ever! a Curt Bierly is president of the bierly group incorporated of which Stanley C. Bierly is a division. He graduated from Penn State with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and is the chair of the Penn College HVAC Advisory Board. You can contact him at cbierly@bierlygroup.com
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In Good Standing Recently, I was invited to represent the Mifflin County Library at local elementary schools’ kindergarten registrations. At these registrations I presented families with the opportunity to sign up and become library card holders. As I signed families up for their new library cards, I explained the responsibilities of holding a library card. For instance, to maintain good standing with the library, one must be a responsible borrower of materials. This means that if you borrow materials from the library, you are responsible for the care of items while they are in your possession, as well as ensuring that you will return the items on time. Now, if damage occurs to library items while they are in your possession, you may need to pay the library to have them replaced. Also, if you do not return materials on time, a fine will be incurred which you will need to pay. While I spoke with families about maintaining good status with the library, I began to think
about my own status with the library. Yes, I am an employee of the library and yes, I do have good status with the library, but I am here to tell you that I am not immune to fines from the library. I too have had to pay for items damaged while in my care and items that have been returned late. I share this information with you because I want you to know I understand what it is like to have fines. Let me tell you a story about the first time I received a fine for an item damaged while in my possession. Prior to my employment at the library, I had checked out an audio book for an upcoming drive to visit friends. During my journey, I listened to the first CD and became engrossed in the story, loving every minute. Soon, it was time to continue onto disk two of the book. I ejected the first disk from my vehicles CD player and inserted disk two. The story continued on to the cliffhanger, and at that point, it needed to be changed again to the final disk of
Soil Microbes from page 8
it is converted to an inorganic form or leached away. Without these processes, nitrogen, the most important plant nutrient, would be rapidly depleted from soils, thereby diminishing both plant growth and crop yields. PHOSPHATE MINERS Another critical nutrient needed in abundance is phosphate. While most soils contain significant amounts of phosphate, most of this is present in forms of insoluble rock phosphate Plants cannot absorb minerals unless they are dissolved in water. Therefore, rock phosphate, which is insoluble, is unavailable and useless to plants. Fortunately, numerous bacteria and fungi can convert insoluble phosphate into water-soluble forms that plants can use. In the presence of these phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria and fungi, the phosphate reserves present in otherwise insoluble phosphate rocks become much
animal red blood cells. The use of Rhizobia in growing legume crops and producing soil nitrogen is a well-established practice and can be a great way to grow your own nitrogen if you have the right kind of climate and crop. Azotobacters and Azospirillum are other types of nitrogenfixing bacteria that are “freeliving” and produce soil nitrogen without entering into a symbiotic plant relationship such as a root nodule. Much research is underway to enhance the practical role of Azotobacter and Azospirrillum in crop production. Other types of bacteria specialize in decomposing dead plant and animal proteins, releasing even more nitrogen compounds. There are still other organisms such as mycorrhizal fungi that have the unique ability to uptake nitrogen in an organic form before
the book. I pushed eject on the CD player and nothing happened. I tried again, still nothing. Ugh, the frustration! Not only can I not get the disk ejected, but I cannot hear the end of the story. When I returned home from my journey, I contacted my local garage and explain that I have a disk stuck in the CD player. Unfortunately, I learned that there is no way to get the disk out without removing the whole stereo system. At this point I headed to the library to explain what had happened and to take care of the fee to replace the audiobook that was damaged while in my care. I took care of this fine then because it was important to me to maintain good standing with the library, but it was also important to me to know that others can now have the opportunity to check out the materials that I had damaged. My paying for the materials damaged in my care meant that the library could replace the audio book so others could borrow it for their enjoyment as well. It was then, and still is now, important for me to be in good standing with the library. So when fines are incurred, I pay them because the library is important to me and I know that the library is important to others as well. Please remember to take care of your fines and materials so others can also enjoy them as well.
The Second Amendment and Slavery from page 20 done away with. This matched the strong sentiments he expressed in an essay in 1773: “That slow poison…is daily contaminating the minds and morals or our people. Every gentleman here is born a petty tyrant. Practiced in acts of despotism and cruelty, we become callous to the dictates of humanity, and all the finer feelings of the soul. Taught to regard a part of our own species in the most abject and contemptible degree below us, we lose that idea of dignity of man which the hand of nature has implanted in us for great and useful purposes.” One cannot look at the strong abolitionist sentiment in many of the founders’ writings and accept such a simple broad-brush of history as put forth by Larry King and others like him. Many in our founding, both black and white, fought against the evils of slavery. Many fought for it. Eventually, good triumphed over evil. To trot out racial division every time we want to win an argument, not only dishonors all of those who sowed seeds and spilled blood to move us closer to liberty for all, it threatens to grow an irrational hatred that serves the best
interests of no-one. We need a renewed vigor for truth in history in America. We need to learn about the Liberty we possess that so many before us fought to secure. We cannot preserve our freedoms while denying the history that won them. Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat its mistakes. Liberty First University has courses particularly aimed to educate on this history and the principles that drove the creation of our Constitutional Republic. Please visit www.LibertyFirstUniversity.com and review the following courses to better educate yourself against these errors of history: • Slavery and the American Founders • Forgotten Founders • The Right to Keep and Bear Arms: The Second Amendment a
Submitted by: Kelly Rodenbaugh Youth Services Manager Mifflin County Library a more accessible to plant roots. Researchers are working to develop mixtures of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and fungi for farm use. Certain types of non- symbiotic bacteria (Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum, Bacillus subtilis Bacillus circulans, Pseudomonas striata) can free up insoluble phosphorus and either make it directly available to plants or put it into the “diffusion” stream in which nutrient ions (including P)
Continued on page 25
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Pennsylvania’s Forest Regions and Permaculture
We talk a lot about the differences between forest farming and permaculture. In many ways, the delineation isn’t completely clear, but in both practices, farmers and gardeners strive to increase the number of perennial species in our plots. To do this, you have to have an understanding of native and beneficial species which thrive in our area throughout each landscape succession. For the next series of articles, I’ll be highlighting some of the keystone species. First, I am not a purist when it comes to native cultivars. I do believe there is a place for purity and the “native only” landscaping techniques. I also believe that when a native will perform equally to an introduced or cultivated species, we are better served planting the native. Like most gardeners, I’m steadfastly opposed to planting any non-native with the potential to become
invasive. Finally, as most of you readers will guess, I’m not really into ornamentals for the sake of beauty. We have this bizarre obsession in the US with exotic plant species for purely ornamental value. Those things being said, a “native only” landscape attitude falls squarely into the realm of ecological landscaping rather than permaculture. Can permaculture be done with only natives? Sure! But, I would argue that it would possibly be violating our goal of more output for less input. Remember that in permaculture we are mimicking the natural world, not necessarily re-wilding. Also remember that permaculture zones will establish what part of your landscape you will re-wild and which parts you’ll be halting in the ecological succession of your choice for optimal production. Permaculture strives to have a
completely wild area in our plots, but how large that is and what it looks like on your plot will vary. (This is one area where we can identify the difference between a permaculture plot and a forest farm or agroforestry. Agroforestry, while integrating different species, does not typically use zoning.) For this reason, “native only” landscaping could potentially be used completely or not at all in the permaculture setting. You get to make those choices based on your own personal values. In this series, I’ll be putting an emphasis on natives but also acknowledging that in some instances, a cultivar or hybrid might be your best choice. So, let’s establish what our natural forest would be that we would like to mimic and what some of the keystone species are. Let me start by saying I don’t work in forestry. I’ve been a bit
hesitant to write about trees in this area for fear that I’d have about ten of my forestry friends calling me to tell me how crazy I am. As with all the sciences involved in permaculture, though, it’s important to have at least a vague understanding of how things work in the natural world so that we can pull the concepts we need for our benefit. So, a special thanks to our good friend at Markley Tree Care who has advised me on what I’m writing today. As a PA transplant, I had to learn a thing or two about the forests here. We have a few different maps that show the predominant species in the past and currently. The first I like to study
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is one by an ecologist Dr. Emma Lucy Braun. She was a pioneer in forest ecology and published her most famous book Deciduous Forests of Eastern North America in 1950. This is where we see the famous map of forest regions which includes the Oak-Chestnut forest that would have been what most of The Valley Newspaper’s readers would have seen a century ago. What’s interesting about this map is that when it was published, the American Chestnut blight
Continued on page 31
The Valley, May 2018 Soil Microbes from page 22 flow through the soil toward roots. Similarly, certain fungi (Penicillium sp, Aspergillus sp) also free up phosphorus. They act indirectly on insoluble phosphorus by producing organic acids as they go about their business. These acids break the chemical bonds that tie up phosphorus, releasing some for plants. SCAVENGING TRACE MINERALS Some bacteria and fungi can efficiently remove or “sequester” from soils other important minerals that plants require such as iron, zinc, magnesium, copper and manganese. While bacteria and fungi are busy “gathering” these minerals for themselves, the process also makes them available to nearby plants. These organisms excrete special enzymes that unlock the chemical bonds that tightly bind these valuable micronutients in soil particles. Needless to say, the presence of such talented bacteria and fungi in the root zone is a significant benefit to plants. KEYSTONE SPECIES While the fertility-enhancing activities of soil bacteria are very impressive, the wealth of benefits provided to plants by mycorrhizal fungi is keystone to a healthy soil. Pronounced “Mike-O-Ri-Zal,” these fungi form a close partnership with plant roots. The plant makes sugar and shares it with the fungi. In exchange, the fungi provide water and minerals to the plant. The mycorrhizal fungi grow through the soil as fine hair-like strands called hyphae, which are similar in appearance to spider webs. These strands form a network of canals that absorb water and minerals from the soil and then transport them back to the plant root. Mycorrhizal fungi are unique because they cannot feed themselves. In order to survive and grow, the strands of mycorrhizal fungi must first enter the living root tissue of a plant. Once inside the root, the fungus is allowed to absorb sugar and other compounds from the plant. The mycorrhizal fungus uses this food to build an elaborate network of absorbing strands that reach out into the soil. This network of fungal strands act effectively as ultrathin, absorbent roots. Water and minerals absorbed by this fungal network are delivered to the plant roots which is the “home base” for the fungus. Amply supplied with much-needed water and minerals, the plant grows vigorously, producing more sugar, which it
continues to share with its fungal partner. Both the fungus and the plant benefit from this partnership, called a “symbiosis.” This plant-fungal symbiosis is so successful that the vast majority of the world’s terrestrial plants, over 90 percent, form a mycorrhizal relationship in their natural habitats. In fact, the fossil record shows that mycorrhizal fungi were present some 460 million years ago, around the time when plants first began to colonize dry land. Today, it is common for many farmers to use mycorrhizal fungi to increase a crops’ utilization of soil nutrients and water. These “little” things work to make a big difference in crop production in the dark, microscopic confines of a healthy soil. The individual mycorrhizal filaments, or hyphae, are approximately 1/25th the diameter of a human hair and can grow up to 18-24 inches in length (See Figure 6). These strands originate from within the root cells of the host plant, spreading and branching into the surrounding soil, greatly increasing the surface area of the root system. The most widespread type of mycorrhizal relationships are known as arbuscular mycorrhizae (also commonly referred to as “AM,” “VAM“ or “endo mycorrhizae.”). Most agricultural crops are naturally disposed to achieve optimum growth and vigor by forming this fungal relationship. Agricultural soils often contain abundant nutrients, but the availability of these nutrients to the crop is sometimes limited. Research confirms that mycorrhizae are especially important in mobilizing phosphorus, nitrogen, zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese and other tightly bound soil nutrients. The hyphae produce enzymes that can release these nutrients from their recalcitrant chemical bonds and then transport them in soluble forms back to the crop roots. The crop plant’s uptake and utilization of fertilizers thus becomes far more efficient, often leading to significant savings in fertilizer and irrigation costs. PRECIOUS RESOURCE Water has become a highly precious resource. There are some places on earth where a barrel of water costs more than a barrel of oil. No one understands better than farmers that agriculture’s need for fresh water is not always in sync with nature’s propensity to provide it. We often see abundant, verdant vegetation in natural ecosystems without the benefit of irrigation. How do natural areas provide for such luxuriant
plant growth without irrigation? One key factor is the extensive network of mycorrhizal threads attached to plant roots that thoroughly scour the soil for water. Like a sponge, they absorb water during moist periods then retain and slowly release it to the plant during periods of drought. Plant systems in natural areas generally achieve levels of drought tolerance far exceeding those found in agriculture partly due to the enormous web of mycorrhizal hyphae and specialized storage cells which protect the plant communities from extreme soil moisture deficits. Mycorrhizal filaments are so thin that they can penetrate into the tiniest of soil openings to access microscopic sources of water that are unavailable to the much thicker roots. Research confirms the importance of the mycorrhizal relationship for efficient water use and drought protection among a wide array of important crop species (See Figure 6). The declining availability of water and its ever-increasing cost are formidable issues facing today’s farmer and mycorrhizal fungi can be a powerful tool to enhance wateruse efficiencies. NOT HOME ALONE Roots and mycorrhizal fungi produce a variety of organic compounds which fuel the activities of the other little things in the soil. Healthy soil hosts a whole complex of microscopic lifeforms engaged in living, dining, reproducing, working, building, moving, policing, fighting, and dying; all these activities help the crop plants that feed them. The microbes excrete an array of important and beneficial exudates which include amino acids, organic acids, carbohydrates, enzymes, growth regulator compounds and others. Soil life such as bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa, earthworms, and beneficial nematodes feed on and utilize
The Truth Has No Agenda
25 these exudates. To show their appreciation for all these goodies, these tiny, beneficial soil organisms help the plants in BIG ways as noted earlier in this article. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) such as Pseudomonas Root system of inoculated corn plant (left) and fluorescens are good ex- non-inoculated corn plant. amples of a whole host array of chemical pesticides. Howof bacteria that aid in the synthesis of nutrients, promote ever, scientists now recognize that bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi are root growth and thus contribute to key components to optimum plant plant nutrition. PGPR are known root efficiency and that plant roots to directly and indirectly enhance plant growth by a variety of mech- in natural habitats are actually just one component in a complex anisms: fixation of atmospheric “rhizosphere” of made up of many nitrogen that is transferred to the soil organisms. plant; production of chemicals Certain modern agricultural that chelate iron making it availpractices, including some common able to the plant root; solubilizamanagement methods, are known tion of nutrient minerals such as phosphorus and synthesis of root-enhancing compounds. Further studies of PGPR are underway and will help increase our understanding of the role these organisms play in crop production. DOES MY FARM Comparison of mycorrhizal inoculated soyALREADY HAVE beans left and non inoculated soybeans right. BENEFICIAL SOIL ORGANISMS? to suppress the biological activ Since World War II, agronity in soils. Populations of soil omy technology has focused microbes are lost when the land primarily on the development of is cleared and turned over during chemical and mechanical aptillage. Soil fumigation, fungicide proaches to improving crop plant use, cultivation, compaction, soil performance. Nutrient needs have erosion and periods of fallow are been addressed using synthetic all factors that can adversely affertilizers; weed suppression acfect populations of beneficial soil complished by herbicides and sophisticated mechanized tillage and organisms. a plant diseases controlled using an
The Valley, May 2018
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The battle for access to public records is ongoing, and the opposing army seems to be growing. I’ve been trying to gain access to Sewer Authority meeting minutes since February. The Penns Valley Area School District has denied access to Facebook comments regarding the district’s recent land purchase. A neighboring municipality seems to feel I
need a babysitter when I inspect their records. Constables all over the state have recently learned they are subject to the Right-toKnow Law (Grove vs. Constable Weiser, OOR Dkt. 2018-0457). Some of them are fighting to try to keep their activities private. In a recent Right-to-Know response from Gregg Township, some emails I requested
The above letter shows that persons in positions of authority will often lie to protect the staus quo.
were withheld as “protected by attorney-client privilege” or constituting “pre-decisional deliberations.” I already have several of the “denied” emails in my possession, obtained through Right-toKnow requests to other agencies. Last month a woman made a public comment at the Board of Supervisors meeting, criticizing my request because I did not ask for emails from the Supervisor who does not work in the office. I know exactly what I’m looking for. You’ll all know soon enough. In related news, Constable Grove has signed his third Resolution, a “Proclamation of Transparency.” It is posted on his website, where he has promised to establish a library of public records. It is super interesting to me that so many public servants work so hard to keep their employers (the rest of us) from knowing what they are up to. Why the secrecy? I am encouraged to see some public servants (you know who you are) fighting just as hard to crack open
The above letter shows that when authority lies, there are options at your disposal, maybe Mr. Quinn should be more interested in following the law than bullying citizens.
the vaults and let the light shine in. If you are one of those people, I want you to know that you are appreciated. Stayed tuned for more local
www.thevalleynewspaper.com
government shenanigans! I am working on a few projects that should be eye-opening.a
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The Valley, May 2018
Mail Pouch Books by Carleen B. Grossman THE LEISURE SEEKER By Michael Zadoorian 288 pages (Hardcover) Copyright 2009 This novel will give you the wisdom, humorous and bittersweet insights, of people who have lived a full life and who are now near the end of their lives due to cancer and Alzheimer’s. This, however, is not some depressing book filled with nothing but complaints about aging and sadness about the good old days being gone and illness. It is funny. Things happen! The story moves along and, like any good book, you keep wanting to get back to it to see what will happen
“A Quiet Place”
I really liked “Don’t Breathe,” the horror movie from 2016 with the blind antagonist and potential victims who had to be careful to not make a sound. That movie had interesting characters, a unique setting, and some great scares. “A Quiet Place” keeps the silence, but forgoes the other elements. The film takes place in a postapocalyptic world where a family struggles to stay alive amidst an invasion by blind creatures who want to eat everything they hear. It’s a rural area, but three local creatures can turn the family into an instant banquet if one of
next. The beauty of this story is the normality of it. The characters are plain people who are interesting just because we can identify with their lives. Their choice is actually to continue to be as normal as
them makes a sound that gives away their location. While the credits assign names to the family members, you’ll just know them as the father (John Krasinski, who directed and co-wrote the film), the mother (Emily Blunt, Krasinski’s real-life wife), the daughter (Millicent Simmonds), and the son (Noah Jupe). There’s another, younger son (Cade Woodward), but he decides to put batteries into a noisemaking toy and is picked off quickly. The other characters take turns blaming themselves for his death, but he had so little common sense that it’s hard to imagine he would have lasted much longer anyway. Not that the other characters make great decisions either. Fifteen months into the invasion, the mother is expecting a baby. Way to go Mom and Dad, you’re bringing a child into this bleak world with no discernable quality of life and an excellent chance that its crying will get it killed. The father spends his days soundproofing the family compound, trying unsuccessfully to radio for help, and researching the creatures and how to evade or defeat them. His research is pretty pathetic, it includes a dry-erase board with the word “Weakness?” on it. This tells the audience that he’s trying to find a weakness, but why did he need to write it down? Would
they can be---to not be crammed into all of these last minute definitions of “patient who is a cancer sufferer” or “old person with dementia gone wild.” Instead, as a reader, you will get in the RV with them and take a vacation! And, best of all, at the end of the day, you love these people. The book redeems my faith in the ability of hitting a life experience head on and living what time you have left right between the eyes. The husband and wife team in this book, both in their eighties and both with their end of life illnesses after being married for more than fifty years --- the wife has decided to end her cancer treatments and she decides that they need one more adventure, one more chance to be alive be-
fore they die, so she packs up the RV (a Leisure Seeker) and they head from Michigan to California. Their goal is to drive Route 66, remember their lives, and end up at Disneyland, the happiest place on earth. The husband still remembers how to drive and the wife navigates, as long as her difficult periods can be contained by pain medication. The adventures they have [often laugh out loud funny] are amazing; these two “down-ontheir-luck geezers” take on what most would be too terrified to do. With humor and a lot of gusto, this dynamic duo take on the ride of their lives. The life lessons that this couple will teach you along the way are treasures! If you are a younger person, you will wish that when you are their age, that you will have the courage to have this kind of an adventure in your life!
The book engages you as it takes you on a road trip across the old Route 66 of the United States. The characters in this book are well developed and you will be able to understand their frustration and the limitations that age has on them. It is full of beautiful writing and I am not sure a movie can do it justice but, I am on hold for a Netflix’s version of this new movie (Starring Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland) and I look forward to soon evaluating it for myself! Photos of the book jacket and the new movie jacket are attached for you.a
he have forgotten to try to find a weakness otherwise? The film has been eager to advertise its gimmick of containing almost no dialogue, so how does it fare in that department? Completely average. The family communicates using sign language, which they knew even before the invasion because the daughter is deaf. They have that going for them, but they’re otherwise not as good at concealing sounds as the movie wants us to think they are. If the aliens really are that good at picking up on sounds, they’d see right through (uh, hear right through?) cheat tactics like the family walking everywhere barefoot and distracting them with substitute sounds. I know that this is a movie that wants to draw us into its “tense atmosphere,” but having to stay quiet to avoid detection is nothing new for the horror or action genre. This movie just has more of those scenes than usual. That doesn’t make the film groundbreaking, it just means that there’s not a lot of variety to its scares. I know a lot of critics have fallen for “A Quiet Place.” My last check of the Rotten Tomatoes review site saw the film with a 97% Fresh rating. I must confess that I have no idea what so many people see in this film. To me, this is a movie about halfwitted people outwitting dimwitted creatures. The creatures, by the way, have absolutely no personality and I couldn’t take them seriously as antagonists after a few temporary foilings from the family. The family members thankfully have
a pretty good chemistry with each other, but it’s not enough to make me think that they shouldn’t get eaten as a family. The film relies on tiresome silent tension and cheap jump scares, the most effective of which is a fake-out. The real “Quiet Place” should be any theater showing this movie. Yes, you’re supposed to refrain from
making noise during most movies shown in theaters, but you know what I mean. Grade: C“A Quiet Place” is rated PG-13 for terror and some bloody images. Its running time is 90 minutes.
The Truth Has No Agenda
Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@ nyu.edu. a
Homegrown Tastes Better. Plant a Garden.
The Valley, May 2018
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Life in the East End by Rebecca Harrop I think Spring has finally arrived. The lawns are getting greener by the day, the buds on the trees seem to finally be greening up. The goldfinches have finally turned their bright yellow and if you watch the cattle, they seem to feel it. We’re finally able to enjoy all the beautiful spring bulbs blooming. The tulips and daffodils are so beautiful. The forsythia is out and I’m looking forward to the lilacs blooming as well. A lot of the local gardeners have been out working the last couple of weeks. I know everything is later than normal this year. Our asparagus has just started poking through the ground, and even our rhubarb is taking its time coming up this year. I just hope this does not mean it will be a cool summer. I am hoping to get some things planted soon. Since our garden stays wet so long, it takes a little time to get dried out after all the rain we’ve had. I am not complaining though because you know later this summer we will be looking for rain. As the weather warms up, you will be seeing more farm equipment on the local roadways. Since the cooler weather has held planting up, once the weather finally breaks, farmers will be hard at it putting in long hours trying to make up time. I usually make
sure I remind folks to be careful when you meet or get behind farm equipment. We try not to inconvenience anyone, but we have to travel between fields and farms. Please, before you attempt to pass on either side, make sure the roadway ahead is clear, leave plenty of room before you pull back in front, make sure which way we are turning, and leave enough room between our equipment and your vehicle. Mifflin County Farm Bureau had its annual Rural Road Safety Day on April 14th. A Nationwide Insurance representative spoke to those attending about how we as farmers can be safe on the highways, including making sure we have proper lighting and that our equipment is in good repair. We do our best to be good road users. I hear and read comments from people who complain about farmers “hogging the road.” It really upsets me because I can’t tell you how many times my brother and uncles have had impatient people pass or try to pass them when they’re in a tractor and when it’s clearly unsafe. They have people impatiently honking at them and a few other things. If you are in that much
of a hurry, why not try leaving a little earlier. Just remember if you have eaten today or you are wearing clothes, you have a farmer to thank for that. Our Mifflin County Farm Bureau YF&R group had a booth at Kid Connection this year. We had the Sheep Board for kids to get their picture taken in and some information on different kinds of sheep. We also had a fact sheet on Pennsylvania Agriculture. It’s May and that means Mother’s Day is coming up soon. Our mothers do so much for us and we often take a lot of it for granted, so everyone do something extra special for your mom this year. It doesn’t have to be something elaborate. If your
mom likes flowers, go pick her some of the beautiful wild flowers that bloom this time of year. My dad always picks my Mom those purple flowers along our fields. Gram Harrop always called them sweet rocket. They are really very pretty and Mom loves them because they are purple—her favorite color. If you don’t have time to pick flowers, there are several local greenhouses that have some nice flowers and plants. Of course ,we are fortunate to have a couple really nice florist shops in Mifflin County too so you have lots of options for flowers. The main thing is remember your Mom on her special day. Happy Mother’s Day to every Mom out there.a
Celiac Disease, Gluten and Skin Care from page 10 cally suffer more with eczema and psoriasis. Case studies have shown that when on a strict diet, most show improvement. What’s more, the inflammatory response and frequent hormonal fluctuations that are side effects of celiac disease can also result in hair loss, rough or itchy skin and brittle nails. Another reason for itchy, blistering and irritated skin could be Dermatitis herpetiformis, or Duhring’s disease. This is a rare disease triggered by ingesting gluten, but not by skin contact with gluten-containing foods and products. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 15 to 25 percent of people with celiac disease have DH. It causes an itchy, blistering, and painful rash that can affect any part of the skin, but most often occurs on the elbows, knees, or buttocks. Many times this is misdiagnosed as eczema. Symptoms normally resolve with a strict, gluten-free diet. SO, in the end, I personally conclude that it is far more likely to suffer skin issues from the Celiac disease working from the ‘inside out’. I was prompted to write this article because of the customers coming in asking if Shade Mountain’s products are gluten free. I wanted to be able to give a very definite, educated answer. So to the books I went. Not only did I do my research through online resources that I felt were reliable such as The Centre for Celiac Research, MayoClinic, Dermal Institute and The Celiac Disease Foundation, but I got some personal experiences and knowledge. I asked for help through our
www.thevalleynewspaper.com
Facebook page and got 15 people who answered a short questionnaire for me! Kudos to all who did this for me. Most of those told me that they use gluten free skin care products. The interesting thing to me was that most of them also stated they never had a reaction from using non gluten free products! This just tells me that the reaction/sickness can be so severe that you will not want to take any risk at all and that includes using gluten on your skin! Shade Mountain does use hydrolyzed oats in our crèmes. I
understand this can be a contamination issue. It is listed as gluten free with our supplier. That is the only ingredient we use that would put up a red flag from the research I did. My recommendation, to be 100% sure you are not getting gluten in your product, is to make your own! Really, we give classes on how to do this! Give us a call. Thank you for reading and thank you for your support. Please come visit us on Jack’s Creek Road in Lewistown, or now at The Barn in Lemont (next door to Happy Valley Brewery). We love visitors at Shade Mountain and we LOVE to chat, so if you have questions, bring them in! If you are interested in learning more about natural skin care or essential oils, we teach classes and do make & takes! Join us on Facebook to view our schedule and sign up, or give us a call at 717-248-8847. ~Tamela a
The Valley, May 2018
The Truth Has No Agenda
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The Valley, May 2018
30 Memorial Day Parade from page 13
when you get there you can jump into it. Some communities have “town centers” which make it nice to have the parade go around the “square” with the park and benches and tables in the middle. Ours is a township and although we have three main streets coming off the highway into our community, there is no business district, or center of commerce, but a few small strip shopping centers with a couple stores that take its place. But on Memorial Day, the red, white and blue color mingles well with the green of the Girl Scout uniforms, the blue of the Daisy & Boy Scout uniforms, the blue and white of City High School’s award winning Band master, and the array of colored flat bed trucks borrowed for the day’s event. No town has the “market” on Memorial Day parades, although our Beverly Memorial Day parade claims to be the oldest and longest. Even in rain storms, it never disappoints the patriots at hand. It always ends up inside the Beverly National Cemetery, the soldier’s cemetery, as my WWI Navy grandfather called it. There are seats for about 90 on stone benches staring north to the Rostrum, built during the Depression by WPA. The Rostrum works as a stage as each organization “presents their wreath.” The trumpeter’s Taps echo over the many bleached tomb stones. In our town and many others, there was a time when each grave got a small American Flag, put there with the help of scouts and veterans. It was replaced in 1976 by a new tradition called The Avenue of the Flags. Our own twin daughters were part of the 100 students to raise the first hundred flags of their ancestors....they were called “casket flags,” and many folks donated the poles, so that from Memorial Day through the Fourth of July a slight breeze would stand the flags in perfect order inside the Beverly National Cemetery. Blustery May and June weather bent many a flag pole, but some are still left, including my grandfather’s flag, my father’s flag, and my uncle’s flag. How proud we were to have our daughters among the crowd to salute the first flags of the new tradition. Living next to a cemetery is creepy by some standards, but for us, living at the back end that was originally part of our farm here at Whitebriar, is quite patriotic. During the Vietnam era, our farm (previous owners) had 17 original acres from King George of
England, only to be condemned under eminent domain for the graves of soldiers of modern wars to extend the cemetery. We have the remaining three acres as our home. Peaceful and quiet most days except for an occasional rooster crow or goat bleating, the cemetery comes alive on Memorial Day when bus loads of American Legion and VFW, etc. come from Center City Philadelphia to salute their war dead with trumpets and live fire. So if you’re looking at a new home and find one near a cemetery, don’t cower and pass it up. Cemeteries are good neighbors, full of history, especially “soldier cemeteries” where you know the spirit of those patriots live on in the white washed stone that identifies their graves. The memories we proclaim while we watch the Memorial Day Parade that festoons down every street in America, is the place to be on the last Monday in May.. Teach your children the reason for the parade and why you stand when the American Flag passes your chair. Tell them why the guys with the funny “pin filled” hats remove them and place them over their hearts. They are remembering their comrades who did not have the luck to come home after the battle. An old adage: “Know your history or be doomed to repeat it.” No longer taught in school, patriotism must be learned from your parents, grandparents, and that uncle who jumped on D-Day, but was killed by friendly fire walking his post just six days later in St. Mere Eglise France, like mine. It’s not just a parade. It’s not just a party. It’s not just a time to eat more than you should. It’s Memorial Day, originally Decoration Day....to decorate the graves and remember those who fought and died to give you the freedoms you have as an American. God Bless America and the men and women who organize and march n the parades to bring a time of reflection to those who fought our wars. Make this year the beginning of your family’s new tradition....go to a Memorial Day parade every year...be patriotic, then go eat the hot dogs and burgers, but remember to talk about all the “uncle Herbs” in your life, like in mine.
Carole Lokan Moore, Television personality “Camp with Mrs. Whitebriar.” Television Host: “Around Town With Carole” www.RVNTV.Tv (TV show & By Line Same Name) www.TheValleyNewspaper www.whitebriarbedandbreakfast.com 609871-9555. e mail: whitebriarbb@hotmail. com. Comments always welcome. Phone cell 609-433-7979 OrganicGreenCafe Edgewater Park, NJ 08010. a
Our Yesteryears from page 14
On the night that he was captured he managed to pull a pistol from the belt of one of the guards. During the struggle he pressed the pistol against the chest of Mifflin County Sheriff Wilson, pulled the trigger, but the flintlock misfired, saving the Sheriff’s life. Lewis struggled free and escaped into the darkness, eventually making his way over the Seven Mountains, and meeting a confederate on the Centre County side. The posse pursued and eventually cornered Lewis northeast of Bellefonte. Shots were exchanged during the confrontation, Lewis’s partner was killed outright. Lewis was wounded, brought back to the Centre County jail where he died of gangrene days later. The Mifflin County jail courtyard behind the old stone prison, was the scene of happier events, too. The first balloon ascension in Mifflin County history occurred there in 1843. Lewistown Borough’s gasworks was located beside the jail, so a ready supply of methane coal gas was used for the balloon ascension. The most famous aeronaut in the United States, John Wise of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, rode his balloon into the atmosphere, as thousands gathered on the town streets by the jail and on the ridge above Lewistown to witness the event. By the 1850’s, the old stone jail was considered obsolete. A new imposing brick prison with a central tower and castle-like walls, was constructed in 1856. The county prison included modern cells by the standards of those pre-Civil War days, housing prisoners on two floors. A large enclosed courtyard on three sides of the structure allowed for prisoners to exercise. This jail served the county for almost 145 years. The jail courtyard was the scene of the only execution in Mifflin County’s history. Frank Lee was accused of killing his partner in 1908. Following a lengthy trial, a conviction of first degree murder was reached, a death sentence handed down, appeals that led to a stay of eviction and then a court-ordered retrial. Frank Lee was again convicted and sentenced to death for a second time. Lee was hung in the jail courtyard in 1911 on gallows borrowed from Dauphin County. The 1856 jail was torn down and replaced by the present Mifflin County Correctional Facility. Construction on the current county prison was completed in two phases beginning in 1999 - 2000. The first prisoners were moved into this new structure on
December 26, 2000. Phase 2 was completed in October 2001. This second phase included administrative offices, the Magisterial District Judge’s office, a public lobby, visiting area, food services, a medical department and multipurpose room, plus the inmates’ library. The county’s jails have been located on this site since the George Washington administration. The next time you drive along West Market Street toward the Square, and pass the Mifflin County Correctional Facility, remember, it is a setting that can trace the entire history of Mifflin
County from its founding to the present, all in one location. NEXT MONTH: It is known to history as the Lewistown Riot. Angry citizens felt aggrieved by political decisions. They marched over 10 miles, joined along the way by gathering sympathizers. The mob arrived at the county courthouse to demand justice. Weapons were drawn, maiming and violence threatened. How was the tinderbox extinguished? In June, The Lewistown Riot of 1791. HISTORY IS OUR STORY PASS IT ON! a
Birds and Bees, Flowers and Trees Central Pa Native Plant Festival May 5, 2018 10 am – 3 pm Boal Mansion, Boalsburg, PA Looking for a great way to celebrate spring? Come to the 2018 Central Pennsylvania Native Plant Festival and Sale, Saturday, May 5, at the Boal Mansion in Boalsburg. This is our first year at this location and we are excited to partner with the Boal Mansion. We have added vendors and will have over 350 varieties of native plants for sale, as well as educational walks and presentations. Plenty of parking–and local food concession. If you’re new to native plants you might be wondering, “What’s all the buzz about?” Often native plants are easier to grow and less susceptible to challenging local conditions than non-native plants. Easier can mean less watering, less fertilizing, fewer pests and weeds (so less pesticide and herbicide use!) and—when you trade a spot of grass for a native ground cover—less mowing and leaf-blowing. All in all, natives can be less demanding of resources—Mother Earth’s and yours! Native plants are essential links in the life cycle of many insects, birds, and other animals. The more native plants in your yard, neighborhood, and community, the healthier your ecosystem, and the more likely you will attract birds and wildlife to your yard. 2018 is the year of the bird, and the best way to protect our wild birds is to give them a habitat full of native plants, starting with your own yard or garden. Our featured plant this year is Wild Columbine. This dainty plant produces red trumpet-like flowers in spring and can continue to bloom sporadically throughout the summer. It can tolerate partial shade or full sun and most types of soil. Beloved by hummingbirds, large bees, and hawk moths, it serves nectar to those with long enough tongues to reach into the dramatic spurs. Its foliage remains attractive and it self-seeds freely. This is just one of many native plants that can be incorporated easily into the home landscape. So, come discover a native plant your yard can’t live without. If you’re not sure where to start, visit information booths to get ideas on gardening for birds, planting a pollinator garden, or just learn about native plants in general. Take a guided walk with our experts to learn what plants are best to attract pollinators and which ones attract birds. Take in a presentation on shade gardening with native plants. Learn to identify native plants and invasive plants on a guided hike. Buy some bird-friendly coffee. Simply sit in the shade, enjoying a snack—or a meal—from a local organic food vendor. If you are short on time, contact our vendors and pre-order your plants – they’ll be ready for you to pick up and go! Plant sale hours are 10 am – 3 pm, with no sales before 10 so that the vendors can get set up. Whether you are an avid native plant aficionado, or a novice – this is an event you don’t want to miss. Visit PaNativePlantSociety.org for details, including the schedule, vendor list, and plant list.
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The Valley, May 2018
THANK YOU .... and YOU Choose
First, I would like to thank Wayne for creating The Valley and keeping it to the great paper it is and distributing it as far as it goes! Do you realize the importance of buying locally and supporting the businesses that are featured and advertise in this paper? Could you sometimes find things cheaper or go on line and order from an Amazon or other on-line business? When you buy local:
1. More of your money will be kept in the local economy. For every $100 spent locally $68 will stay in the community. When you buy from a National chain, only $43 stays in the community. Ever try to get a donation for your local fundraiser from a National chain? 2. Locally owned businesses pick the items and products they sell based on what they
Pennsylvania’s Forest Regions and Permaculture from page 24
map’s predictions are wrong. Maybe it’s right. I like studying it either way because it’s interesting to consider. (…But I am a unique mix of plant dork and map dork, so maybe this is a Jenny-specific quirk.) Most permaculturists will tell you that a good rule of thumb is to plant a 50/50 mix of what species are currently thriving in our area and what species are expected to thrive in our area in 15-20 years. I’m not completely sold on that idea because I think it will become a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy, but that’s the going permaculture advice—take it or leave it. Know, though, that I will be including a couple of species that aren’t necessarily common in our biogeographical region, too, based on these predictions. For the next few months, we’ll be looking at some of these species of trees or shrubs that are useful in a permaculture landscape, the spots they can fill, and strengths or weaknesses the species might have. In the meantime- because you guys all know how much I love my permaculture library—some useful resources are:
would have already wiped out the majority of that tree from this forest region. A second map I find interesting is the Projected Changes in Forest Types by the United States Global Change Research Group. This map shows the forecasted keystone species for any given area in the U.S. based on all factors of environmental change. Their predictions are that the vast region from Vermont to south of West Virginia will eventually shift away from having any maple, beech, or birch to almost entirely oak and hickory in the next 50 years or so. A large part of their predictions are based on a predicted model of climate change, but there were other factors considered, too. Now, I know a lot of people doubt climate change. That’s fine if you’re not sure you buy into that. What we do know is that our forests have changed in the past two centuries and I’m certain they will continue to change. People have impact on what we interact with. We interact with our environment. Whether forests change because of clearing for farming and development, because we introduce new species of pests or invasive species, or because of the controversial climate change, it will change. Since permaculture attempts to create robust landscapes that can handle those changes, we need to anticipate what they might be. Maybe this
know you like, want, and need. 3. Many times a business is also offering a service, which you could not get on line. 4. Local business owners know you, and you know them. They are your friends and neighbors. They have a vested interest in knowing your needs.....they are passionate about what they do and offer. They are generally
Edible Forest Gardens by Dave Jacke and Eric Toensmeier; Farming the Woods by Ken Mudge and Steve Gabriel; and Designing Gardens with Flora of the American East by Carolyn Summers Until next time! a
The Truth Has No Agenda
experts in their products and services. Use their knowledge. You also help create jobs for the community when you buy local. 5. Shopping locally is the best way to show pride in your city and help protect the businesses that make our communities unique. No one likes to see a community where the shop fronts are all empty! Too many of our stores are closing, even big chains are being effected by on-line purchasing. Do we want a sterile community with no stores, no services being offered? YOU DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Every time you choose to not support your local small business, to maybe save a dollar or two, you are shaping your future community. As a country, we’ve already seen major changes in the last years. Hard to find anyone to pump your gas
anymore, or find an independent service man to repair your car or appliances.....on the day they break down! You do have a choice. Local business owners also have a choice. They are risking a LOT to create their businesses and offer you their services. Often times their whole livelihood is invested in their business. Please choose to help support your local small business and invest wisely in your community. We at the Health Spa are happy to be part of this local community. We appreciate your business and your trust in our services and products. We know you have choices sometimes in our products that we offer, so we are grateful when you support us. Always hoping to improve health the natural way! a
The Valley, May 2018
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