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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. Tomorrow’s Media - A Day Early Volume 8, No. 5
The Valley, May 2017
Complimentary
Brisco’s Coffee House & Dutch Pantry Gifts A Perfect Blend
by Jenny Landis
Coffee: four out of every five Americans start their day with at least one cup. A third of all of the tap water we drink has first been brewed into it. With so much passion for the black elixir, it’s no wonder that speciality coffee shops are a common sight in most towns. Now you can add Burnham to that list. Brisco’s Coffee Shop opened on Electric Avenue on April 10. The building also houses DP Gifts. Co-owners Brian Powers and Scott Keys started considering the idea of a coffee shop seven years ago after a fire at Dairyland temporarily closed their gourmet food business. “That disaster got us thinking about our next step and how we could build the small food and gift business we had started into something that could eventually support both of us,” explains Brian. Out of the ashes rose Dutch Pantry Gifts, a brick and mortar store located in Milroy. The store featured their line of gourmet foods, as well as home decor, jewelry and seasonal items. Thanks to Brian’s computer skills, online sales were also added, but the two knew that they could do more. Last year, after finding out that
Brian’s job at GE was moving to Texas, they realized that they had to make a decision. Their research into coffee started in earnest that summer and Scott recalls the process as being eye-opening. “The passion and knowledge these small coffee roasters bring to their products is really impressive, and it’s really exciting. We hope to share that enthusiasm and wonder of discovery with our customers, too,” explains Scott.
with coffee. Even subtle changes can alter the flavor of a cup in dramatically different ways. Choosing the beans is just the beginning. Roasting time, how the beans are ground, the temperature
of the water, and the amount of time the water is in contact with the grounds are just a few of the variables that play important parts in making your cup of Joe. Drip brewed coffee is the most common brewing system found in our local restaurants. Hot (not boiling) water is poured over a filter filled with coffee grounds. Contact time is controlled by gravity and the resulting drink is what’s called American coffee. Brisco’s drip The Process coffee will The be made popularity fresh every of today’s four hours coffee and will culture has feature three encouraged different a variety of kinds of new ways coffee every to brew and day. The things to do Co-Owner Brian Powers prepares yet another “perfect cup” for another happy customer house blend
Veritas vos Liberabit
for this season is a medium roast Nicaraguan Selva Negra. The other two choices are an organic medium roast Mexican Chiapas and an organic dark roast Sumatra. “We hope that even our basic black coffee customer will be interested in trying something new —maybe not every day, but once in a while,” suggests Brian. Even though it’s very popular, drip coffee is considered too weak to be used in the speciality coffee drinks made today. Instead, coffee shops use espresso machines to create a more robust beverage that can stand up to the steamed milk, sugar and other additives that are very popular these days. Here is a list of standard coffee shop beverages that are on Brisco’s daily menu: Espresso - The result of forcing, under pressure, a small amount of nearly boiling water through finely ground coffee beans. It’s generally thicker than coffee brewed in other ways and the flavors are very concentrated. Latte - A shot of espresso and steamed milk. Served hot or cold it’s common to add a syrup flavoring to this beverage. Cappuccino- A double shot of espresso blended with hot milk
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The Valley, May 2017
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Editor’s Corner Wayne Stottlar I love spring! May was always a month one had to bear in NH. It was sad that you couldn’t enjoy the outdoors during the reawakening of the woods, but, something else was waking up too, BLACK FLIES! No, not the annoying little black flies we have here that have a bad habit of flying directly into your eyeball, but rather squadrons of attackers looking for any sliver of bare skin in order to lightly land, make a cut, and then drill into the cut to get their blood meal. They also would inject an irritating anticoagulant into the wound to make the blood flow. This would cause a week or more of misery dealing with itch and likely infection. Now multiply this horror scene by perhaps 30 -40 bites all at the same time. If you are not covered head to foot, and venture into the woods in May, you will be feasted
upon. They are the most nasty insect I think I have ever encountered—so bad that they drive moose out of the woods and out onto the highway in an effort to escape them, and that’s where bad things happen. To be sure, some years are worse than others. I can remember Memorial Day cookouts when the kids were young and they would often be running around with lines of blood running down their necks. The flies loved the back of the head, and once bitten and injected, blood would flow for a time. Unlike mosquitoes and ticks, prevention methods were mostly useless. The only thing somewhat successful was massive doses of Vitamin B-1, which you had to remember to start long before the first bite— usually on tax day—then take it three times a day until your sweat and urine possessed the same odor
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as the vitamin. This gave you a fighting chance, but you would still get bit. The best course of action was to stay indoors for the three weeks or so that they made life miserable. Here in PA, we do not experience these problems and you can get out and enjoy the magic of spring. Yes, ticks can be a problem here, but Permethrin is your ticket to a tick-free outdoor season. Go to the woods, it is good for your soul! We enjoyed such a beautiful spring day on April 20th, 4:20 day. The local Libertarian party held a Cannabis Legalization rally at the intersection in Burnham. Most would have you believe that this idea is only talked about among the fringe, well someone has been lying again. I know that nationally, public opinion is the highest ever in support of Cannabis legalization, but this is Mifflin County and some would say the people here were still looking for their 1930s ideals. II I can tell you this, those folks are wrong, and I was blown away at the support. Yes, we did have about six people go by shaking their heads no or giving us the thumbs down, but they were hardly noticeable among the hundreds of those honking horns in support and giving us the thumbs up. This was across all demographics!
Continued on page 8
Contact Info Editor/Publisher Wayne Stottlar Graphic Artist/ Co-Publisher Lynn Persing The Valley PO Box 41 Yeagertown, PA 17099 (717) 363-1550 E-mail: thevalleynewspaper@gmail.com Web: www.thevalleynewspaper.com ©The Valley. All Rights Reserved.
All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.
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The Valley, May 2017
Announcement! Free Swiss Cheese at Greenlane Wholesale to customers, one per family from May 1st thru May 6th, or while supplies last only.
A Thank You to our customers from Greenlane Wholesale Eli & Betsy after 19 years of service.
Greenlane Wholesale 98 Dusty Lane Reedsville is now under NEW Ownership, but will continue to operate at the same location until further notice.
So stop by to pick up your Thank You from Eli & Betsy and get to meet the new owners Jesse & Rachel
Ed’s Railroading News by Ed Forsythe
Opening weekend already, Wow hard to believe. On May 27th & 28th, the Rockhill Trolley Museum will reopen for their 58th year at Rockhill Furnace and the 55th year of operating trolleys. Way back in the early 1960’s, a small group of trolley lovers had an idea about starting a trolley museum. This group started with nothing and about three years later they hooked-up an extension cord to the motors of the first trolley they had acquired and rebuilt and ran it for a very short distance. That small event makes the Rockhill Trolley Museum the oldest operating trolley museum in Pennsylvania. Fast forward to today, visitors will find more than twenty trolleys on the property with a very large work barn and two car barns that are over filled with trolleys and supplies. An addition to car barn number two is now in the plans as more and more indoor space is always needed to protect all the as-
sets. I’ve wondered just what the original members would think of all the additions and expansions that have taken place over the years. I hope they can look down from above and see just what their legacy has become. As stated, May 27th is opening day and it is also Members Day. Usually Members Day happens before the opening day, but this year the two events will fall on the same day, so if you’re interested in seeing and riding some of the equipment that visitors don’t usually get to see and ride, come on out and join the fun. Who knows, you may just get the desire to get involved in one of the greatest hobbies around. Much
more information can be found at www.rockhilltrolley. org. One of my favorite things to do at the museum is to drive the trolleys and there are ways for you to do just that. Ask about the “Run a Trolley” program where YOU take the controls for a really enjoyable experience. Remember, get your tickets early in the day as each ticket is good for riding all day long. No extra charge. The museum operates each weekend throughout the year from the end of May and continuing into December with many fantastic fun times for all. Check it out and come enjoy. As always, HAPPY RAILROADING, Ed a
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The Valley, May 2017
4
Local Events on Gardening and Healthy Eating The following information comes from the Centre Moves website, www.centremoves.org. I stumbled across this page while surfing for something else and wow, what a nice collection of information this website has! In addition to the plant sale advertised at the right, which is held here in Mifflin County, here are some other events involving gardening and healthy eating that are listed on the Centre Moves website. Gardener’s Open House Saturday, May 6 10:00 am-4:00 pm Tait Farm (179 Tait Rd, Centre Hall) Join us for our annual event that celebrates the gardening season. See what’s new and check out our incredible organic vegetable seedlings. For more information, click visit: http://www.
taitfarmfoods.com/blog/classesevents-shows/. Taproot Kitchen Open House Tuesday, May 9 5:00-7:00 pm The Meeting House on Atherton (318 S. Atherton St, State College) We are celebrating this year’s Centre Gives with a free Open House on Tuesday, May 9! Join us for mouth-watering appetizers made with love from locallysourced ingredients, gleaned and harvested by the Taproot Kitchen team. Meet and mingle with us, and learn more about what makes our culinary community so special. This event is for return visitors and newcomers alike - anyone with an appetite for community empowerment, sustainability, and, of course, delicious food. Bring a friend! For more information, visit: http:// www.taprootkitchen.org/events/ Centre Furnace Mansion Plant Celebration & Garden Sale Saturday, May 13
9:00 am-2:00 pm Centre Furnace Mansion (1001 E College Ave, State College) The Plant Celebration has become a spring tradition at the Centre Furnace Mansion and plays an important role in the fun and fundraising efforts of the Centre County Historical So-
ciety! The Plant Celebration & Garden Sale is one of CCHS’s largest fundraising events. Do your Spring garden shopping here, while supporting a local non-profit organization that helps people understand, experience, appreciate and preserve Centre
All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.
County’s cultural and natural heritage. For more information, visit: http://www.centrehistory.org/ event/plant-celebration-gardensale/?instance_id=5801.
continued on page 28
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The Valley, May 2017
Slab Foundation
of an atom. That is still EM radiation, but it has a completely different nature. Different devices have different strengths of radiation. All of our communication devices such as cellphones, cordless phones, Wi-Fi in computers, wireless keyboards all utilize antennas and small electronic chips called transmitters that create this constant flipping of current within the antenna to generate EM Radiation. Computers and stationary electronics such as calculators and watches don’t have special components to generate EM Radia-
ABB E Y A B LO SSOM HILL
As per the image above, you can see how the size of the wave changes its property from a radio wave that we can pick up with our radios and that travels through buildings, to microwaves that are short range and are used for short range communication, to infrared and visible light that can’t penetrate deeper than a few millimeters. The majority of our communication devices operate within microwave wave range. EM Radiation is produced by tiny particles called electrons that circle around each atom. When electricity flows through a wire,
Nevertheless, with a logical approach, we can zoom into a specific frequency range that can be potentially harmful. Radio waves have extremely long wavelengths and a single wave can span a whole row of houses. It passes through all objects reflecting off the stratosphere and the earth’s surface. On the other side of the microwave spectrum, we have IR radiation – Infrared. Infrared radiation is experienced by us as heat that we feel when a fire is burning or food is being cooked. It is not only harmless, but actually healing. Between IR and radio we have the microwave spectrum. Microwaves have the ability to pass through walls, induce heat in objects that have water in them, and have fairly short range, thus they require higher output power. Ironically, the spectrum with the largest number of question marks is used everywhere in the industry. From cellphones to Wi-Fi, 90% of all wireless devices operate within the microwave range. Even many motion detectors for home security systems use microwaves to detect motion by shooting a beam of radiation and listening back to see if its reflected pattern has changed. I can’t give you a concrete answer for this question, as research may have been intentionally or not, severely underfunded. I can, however, tell you that when I was working in an engineering facility building cellphone communication devices, we knew it was better not to come too close to transmitters and hardly any of the engineers held cellphones to their ear. The majority of engineers used headphones
that plugged into their phone in an effort to keep the antenna further away from their head. Cellphones radiate almost ¼ watts of power. This is enough to put a small resistor on fire. I am fairly sure it is enough energy to potentially damage some neuron connections within the brain. Out of all wireless devices I would say that our cellphones are potentially the most dangerous items, because their tiny antenna (the size of a few millimeters) must be strong enough to reach a cellphone tower that can be ten or so miles away. Wi-Fi and wireless keyboards operate in a very close proximity to receivers and the amount of radiation they output is nothing compared to cellphones. With introduction of the newest technology, we are now faced with new challenges. Now more than ever, the burden of making educated decision is on the buyer, not the seller. Ironically, the education system is failing to provide in-depth knowledge of devices and chemicals that we interact with while we embrace the newest technologies without doing a thorough investigation on short- or long-term health effects. I would recommend everyone spread the word that it is best to use a wired headset while you use your cellphones. This just might save you a neuron or two. a
“The greatest remedy for anger is delay.” ~Thomas Paine
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it creates a magnetic field – the same magnetic field as permanent magnets on your fridge. This wire that has the magnetic field due to electric flow, also has an electric field from one prong of positive to another that is negative. The electric field is commonly seen in nature in the form of static electricity. If we quickly flip polarity of electric flow from positive to negative to negative to positive this action causes electrons to quickly stop, change orientation and flow the other way. This rapid stop (deceleration) causes two fields to entangle together and fly out in a form of Electro-Magnetic wave (EM Radiation). All of the antennas ever designed operate on this one simple concept. We must remember that electromagnetic radiation does not stick around beside an object and accumulate there. It always flies out in all directions at the speed of light. So, if something has EM radiation it must always be powered. Unless, of course, it’s radioactive, but that spectrum of EM radiation is created by a chaos in the nucleus
QUICK
Many of you probably have heard that Electromagnetic Radiation is bad for the health. You might have also heard that all of our electronic devices emit this seemingly deadly radiation. The very first time I started studying about EM was in the third semester of my Electronic Engineering course at RCC Institute of Technology. In this article, I will do my best to give you condensed visual explanation of what EM radiation is, how it is created, what devices emit more of it, and in the last section of this article, we will talk about potential health effects. Let’s dive into the first layer of discussion – What is EM Radiation? Electromagnetic Radiation is an emission of energy that travels at the speed of light and consists of an electric field and a magnetic field that are entangled together and travel 90 degrees out of phase with each other. Visible light from burgundy red to ultraviolet is also electromagnetic radiation. In reality, it is just a small spectrum of the EM radiation.
DELIVERY
Electromagnetic Radiation Truth and Myths
tion, but because they are working on an electric current, they still do generate EM fields that are so tiny that they require extremely sensitive equipment in order to see what they radiate and at what frequency. Do humans radiate EM energy? Sure we do! A brain sends out a signal to your hand to close it. Many people know that signal travels though neurons, but not too many people know that that is an electric signal. Just like computers, we function on electricity. Within us we have special cells that are able to store up a charge and release it when needed, creating amazing network of highly complex electric exchanges. Moreover, we function on much smaller electric potentials than do our calculators and watches, so the EM field that we generate is extremely tiny and it requires special quiet rooms isolated from other EM fields for us to pick up and measure EM activity of a living creature. Again, this EM activity flies out into the universe at the speed of light every single moment of our existence. Finally, we have reached the very fun topic of “Health Effects of EM Radiation.” How dangerous is it to be exposed to this radiation? Well, the answer is not clear at all. Many studies have been started and ended abruptly for some unknown reason. Credible studies focus only on small spectrum of EM radiation (radio waves or microwaves), and only on certain specific frequencies. This is by no means representative of regular exposure to EM Radiation by the average human.
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The Valley, May 2017
6
The Roman Jew Series
About Faith
by Rev. Robert Zorn, Visitation Minister, Lewistown Presbyterian Church
Spring Grove
The middle of the month of May each year finds us traveling far from Treaster Valley to visit and decorate the graves of family members. All four cemeteries are located in the adjacent corners of Fayette, Washington, and Westmorland Counties in southwestern Pennsylvania. The cemetery in which my parents and grandparents are buried is on a little round hill. From the west side, the view is upon our family home. The east shows the little one room, brick schoolhouse where my first eight years of public education, and that of my brothers and sisters, took place. Farther east, down Jimtown Hill, and down a little stream, there stood another identical schoolhouse. It was known as the Spring Grove Hollow School. By the time I had entered first grade at Cochran School, the Spring Grove building had been abandoned. In due time, the local school board deeded it to a group of residents of the Hollow who established a Union Sunday School in the building. This was the place
where I was to “preach” my first sermon. Spring Grove Hollow once had many inhabitants. The men all worked in the local coal mines or in the yards of the beehive coke ovens, which lined the valley for more than a mile. When one of my former high school classmates, and Superintendent of the Spring Grove Sunday School, heard that I had entered Waynesburg College as a pre-ministerial student, he invited me to come and give an evening sermon. I readily accepted the invitation and began my homiletical offering entitled, “Jesus, The Light of the World.” Just getting to the school/ church was an adventure in itself. To get to the building, one would have to drive through the shallow stream and up a steep lane. Worshippers from Hulltown, Jackson Hill, and Jimtown mostly walked and crossed the stream on a bridge that consisted of two logs with boards nailed across them. Inside, the heat was provided by a
At Your Service by Sarah Hurlburt
We often hear or read the words, “at your service” or “happy to serve you” at places of business, but do we ever really think about them. Some people are naturally inclined to want to serve others and some people may not even give it a second thought. Either way, we should all think about it from time to time. Especially for those of us that claim to be followers of Jesus. In Mark 10:45 it says, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” If we want to be like Jesus, then we will need to live a life of service. Living a life of service can be a lot easier than we might think. Because not all acts of service
must be huge, obvious acts. In fact, most acts of service that really mean something to another person are very possibly the little things in life. Seeing someone is in need and simply asking how you can help is the best way to start serving others. Some acts of service may not be known to anyone but God because even the people we are “serving” may not always notice. Rather or not our job is a service job or a that of a CEO, we will be happier and more fulfilled if our focus is on serving not being served. Philippians 2:5-7 says, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count
by Chris Linton
potbelly stove. The pews were the school desks. Most of the men sat on benches near the stove where they could spit their tobacco juice into the coal bucket. Much to my surprise and chagrin, I found that the church was illuminated with six dim oil lamps. My carefully prepared notes were totally useless. But when the congregation sang, and the deacon prayed, and when the hands were clasped, the darkness was dispelled and a glow of sincerity broke forth, shedding light on all present. Instead of giving a sermon that night, I received one. I learned, and still believe, that Jesus, The Light, does not come only through stained glass windows or at the touch of an electric switch, but Jesus, The Light, appears when faithful people suffer hardship, overcome adversity, endure discomfort and still join in sincere worship.
This exercise in the study of Saul of Tarsus, the self proclaimed “Roman Jew,” has yielded many credible explanations for terms in the Bible that were unclear after attending Christian church for years. How do you understand an ancient person documented in vague and often ambiguous context? It seems one needs to distill the character down to the simplest form. It turns out much can be learned by names and places! In the third volume of this study, we explored what Jesus of Nazareth called himself, “the son of man.” This work will focus on the origins of Saul’s renaming to Paul, and of course, along the way we will elaborate on interesting historical tidbits found in the New Testament. Acts 13:1 says, “Now they were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teach-
“Antipas,” was considered a prophet or teacher? Luke 13:31 says, “Just at that time, some Pharisees approached, saying to him, ‘Go away, leave here, for Herod (Antipas) wants to kill you.’” “He said to them, ‘Go tell that fox, behold I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach my goal.’” Calling Herod Antipas a fox may be akin to calling him sly in modern American slang. Jesus was more likely calling him an unclean animal (refer to Leviticus 11), which would have been a considerable insult even for a “half” Jew like Antipas. There is little known of Jesus in his early years outside of friend and foe referring to him as “the Nazarean” and the brief reference in Mark 6:3 referring to him as a Tekton (woodworker or builder). I have read that the Romans used
ers: Barnabas and Simeon, who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene and Manaen, who was brought up with Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul.” A man brought up with Herod the Tetrarch, more often called
the word Tekton as slang, describing any uneducated peasant. Nazareth, was a small hamlet in the Galilee located very close (walking distance) to the regional
“In him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overscome it.” John 1: vs. 4 and 5 a
equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” If anyone had the right to be served it was Jesus, he was God! Yet he never once demanded to be served. Although Easter celebration is over, let’s not forget how God came to serve us. He dwelt among us and let humanity see him, touch him, laugh with him, and even cry with him. He showed us what it meant to serve each other and to truly love each other. He gave HIS human life to redeem ours! So whether or not you have a “service” job or you own the company, look for ways to serve those around you and see what happens as a result. The world always needs a little more kindness. “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” ~Pericles a
All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.
Continued on page 30
The Valley, May 2017
Dave Wilson
Coins, Precious Metal and a Little of this and That
Why Only 10% ?
Between 1990 and 2010, most investment advisers and stock brokers (who had clients that wanted to include physical gold and/or silver in their portfolio mix) told their customers that 5% would be the maximum they would recommend to be invested in precious metals. Naturally, some simply followed their industry’s lead, but many others touted the 5% max because, simply put, they really didn’t make any money managing gold and silver. They bought it, and it just SAT there. Stocks could be regularly bought and sold, with brokers earning a decent commission on both ends of each trade. (Many unscrupulous brokerage firms bought and sold client’s stocks at an excessive rate, called “churning,” in an effort to maximize their commissions from each client’s account). No, we are not suggesting that all stock brokers are portfolio manipulators. Most are fair and trustworthy. However, the practice of churning has been uncovered many times in the past, and still goes on today. With the huge debt bubble
that now looms over our entire financial system, many brokers and financial planners have raised their target for tangible assets, from 5% to 10%. (Their reasoning is that, in case of a substantial stock/bond meltdown, that a 10% (hard-money) position in gold and silver, would (quite possibly) be enough to offset any such market sell-off, no matter how severe! Personally, gold and silver enthusiasts believe that brokers and financial planners are VERY concerned about the future direction of stocks and bonds, and would, if they dared, recommend a much higher percentage be held in tangible products. They know, however, that the more their clients sink into precious metals, the less they (the brokers) have to work with to maintain their commission income levels. Many brokers and bond dealers have themselves taken much greater than 10% positions in tangible products, as they, like most other savvy people in the investment community, know just how likely a terrific upside burst is (at current gold/silver price levels) for all
precious metals, and, indeed, for the entire commodities sector in general! Many investors, who take an active role in their own financial affairs, have been asking a simple question. If their professional advisors are suggesting that a 10% position in precious metals would possibly be enough to save most of their “positions” if the other 90% disappeared, why shouldn’t
The Truth Has No Agenda
7 they increase their gold/silver multitudes of ultra-wealthy indiholdings to 20%, 30% and even viduals who are desperate to premore, so that they could end up serve their worldly holdings (and with substantial gains, instead of who have a fairly good idea about simply restoring their portfolios to where the worldwide economy is break-even! heading), would be something that perhaps “Mr. Average Investor” It is an excellent (and very should be giving more considervalid) question, especially conation. a sidering the real possibility of a looming currency devaluation. There have never, ever been more bubbles in worldwide financial assets, than there exists today! Gold and silver prices have been managed and manipulated (to unrealistically LOW levels) for decades. Allocating more of your investment capital to these coveted, historically valuable products, that have beFor some folks, this Monster Box of Silver come the darling of nearly could be enough to see them through an every country and central bank on the planet, along with economic collapse.
The Valley, May 2017
8 Editor’s Corner from page 2 The biggest shock being the number of seniors who by honking and displaying a thumbs up were showing their support. I expected the millennials to support, but the 60+ demographic was a real sign that the battle is won, the politicians just need to be made aware at the ballot box. With the overwhelming proof from study after study that Cannabis is a safe and often therapeutic endeavor, why do the politicians keep it illegal? From the early findings that Cannabis could
treat glaucoma and depression, to recent findings that cannabis kills cancer cells while having no effect on healthy cells, to the fact that states who have already legalized are seeing a 25% and higher decrease in opioid problems, why do the politicians keep it illegal? It has been proven that cannabis is NOT a gateway drug leading to other addictions, conversely, alcohol has been proven to be that gateway drug, but yet why is alcohol still legal and cannabis not? For someone truly wanting the answer it isn’t hard to see the real reason. The pharmaceutical
Mifflin County Libertarian activists rally for cannabis legalization
industry stands to lose billions if those not hooked on prescription pills by their government authorized drug dealers could instead self-medicate using a natural product that they could grow themselves. I mean, it is a nicer society we are trying to achieve right? Or is it we are trying to protect those industries that donate huge sums of money to politicians in order to keep them in power and voting for Big Pharma or the alcohol industry? We are constantly hearing about the devastating affects of the opioid epidemic that seems to be sweeping the entire nation, lives lost, sons and daughters leaving their families way too soon. In many cases cannabis may have prevented these losses, there are now facts in legal states that say yes. So, are those keeping this potential life saver illegal responsible for any more opioid deaths going forward? Because you know what, as hard as some try to say otherwise, NO ONE has ever overdosed on cannabis, I would also venture to say police don’t get called out for a cannabis smoker beating his wife, but care to compare that with alcohol? These are just the health issues that we know of, but think what may be found if we stop making nature illegal. This
Libertarian activists rally for cannabis, check out Libertarian Party of Mifflin County on Facebook.
has nothing to do with potential consumers, this is about the same thing that every other ignorant move our government makes is about, $$$$. The local Libertarian activ-
All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.
ist group is planning more sign waves and rallies going forward. If interested in joining in, check out their Facebook page at Libertarian Party of Mifflin County. a
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The Valley, May 2017
If you have an autoimmune condition, diet and exercise are sometimes challenging. So many things can work against you and sometimes even cause more inflammation. But what if you could achieve weight loss and dozens of other health benefits at the same time, without creating additional risks?! Health benefits like: lessening inflammation, decreasing joint pain, clearing up skin, brain fog, and even anxiety and depression can lift away so you can get some joy and fun back into your life. There are so many benefits to detoxing. When you lighten the load on your liver, kidneys, lymphatic system, colon, gall bladder, and even your skin, your entire body can operate at a higher and more efficient level. Your immune system can be strengthened. Sometimes asthma and allergy systems can be lessened or even eliminated. Many people notice an increase in energy and libido. Detoxing is also a great way to attack and lessen some of your addictions....to sugar, normal table salt, and other addictions. Joints feel better, you may have less pain and sometimes pain is even eliminated. The reason for this is because some of the inflammation is being reduced. One of the most sought after benefits of detoxing is weight loss. Our air, food and water have often become very toxic, so regular detoxing can be a great addition for a healthy lifestyle. At Simply Health we have three effective ways to detox. First is a 45 minute Himalayan salt spa experience to help reduce inflammation in the body. Himalayan Salt is rich in negative ions and minerals. These negative ions are necessary for a healthy body. During a salt room session, negative ions are absorbed into the body by breathing the saturated air into the lungs. The salt is
Detoxing Footbath Stations
anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-fungal. During your 45 minute session, you will relax in comfortable chairs, listen to soothing music, and breath air that is saturated with 84 minerals and trace elements. We have created a unique microclimate rich in minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, bromine, and iodine by importing over 11 tons of therapeutic salt from Pakistan and Poland. Second is an Ion Cleanse detoxing footbath. This 30 minute session is a great way to do a gentle full body cleanse. During a session, an electrical current passes through a set of plates in a module that is immersed in the water inside the footbath tub. The footbath water contains himalayan salt, so it has the mineral concentration of water from the ocean. While your feet are in the water, positive and negative ions are emitted. This re-energizes the body and the red blood cells. It eliminates toxins that are stored in fat, kidneys, liver, bowels, and skin. The footbath also triggers the body’s lymphatic system, which helps with continuing detoxification for up to 24 to 48 hours after a session. The Detox Footbath creates the same environment as a walk along the beach. Attaching itself to waste and removing from the body through osmosis. This is a relaxing and comfortable way for you to begin the healing process. In just one session you can begin seeing results! Third is our Far Infrared Detoxing Himalayan salt sauna. Far Infrared is a section of the natural band of light that is not visible to the human eye, but can be felt as heat. Unlike the high heat produced in traditional saunas, far infrared heat is able to penetrate the body to a depth of 1.5 to 2 inches. This stimulates the body’s cellular detoxification process
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more effectively than a traditional sauna. The body, incapable of metabolizing and excreting all toxins it is exposed to, often times stores toxins in fat to protect the body Our body’s tissues normally produce infrared energy, which is used by the body for a number of healing processes. By delivering penetrating warmth to the body, the far infrared sauna increases the body’s own infrared energy levels, encouraging a light rise in body temperature that boosts natural detoxification systems.
The Truth Has No Agenda
The far infrared technology has been used for more than forty years. The original use was for pain because far infrared promotes microcirculation, which provides more oxygen to the healing site while reducing acidic deposits. Although effective for pain, our primary use is for detoxification of heavy metals (including mercury) and chemicals. Since toxicity wreaks havoc on every system of the body, clearing it out will greatly enhance autism treatments, chiropractic adjustments, mas-
sage therapy, colon hydrotherapy, nutritional protocols, acupuncture, naturopathy, etc. Be sure to detox on a regular basis to keep the body healthy and balanced. Check out these services and others at www.simplyhealth-calm. com. Or call us today to schedule an appt 814-954-7731 As always, a step towards better health is always a step in the right direction! See you soon! Don’t forget....we have many gift ideas and gift certificates for Mother’s Day, graduations, and other May celebrations. See you soon! a
The Valley, May 2017
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days 9-4, Thursdays and Fridays 9-6 and Saturdays 10-2. We are located at 45 Serenity Lane (off Jack’s Creek Road) in Lewistown, PA. Also, visit our newest loca-
Bees, Honey And Sweetness!
Hello! Grab a cup tea, add a bit of honey and relax for a few minutes!
So, spring time is finally approaching I do believe! For us in the northeast, it seemed like spring was going to try to skip us. Warmer weather brings gorgeous flowers, fresh produce and BEES! Most of us are not a fan of bees, but you have to give them credit for creating one of the most delicious substances on earth. Not only is honey great for sweetening your tea, it also has some incredible properties that make it excellent for on your skin. Yep, that’s right: this month we will discuss honey! •
•
•
Honey is said to be a natural antiseptic because it absorbs the life-sustaining moisture out of bacterial cell walls. This makes it useful to include in healing salves and to use as a natural wound cover. Honey attracts the dirt from skin pores and dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. It, therefore, is said to be a natural skin cleanser and softener. Honey possesses natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which make it great for use in sensitive, combination, and acne prone skin types.
Honey is one of the few foods known to have an eternal shelf life when sealed in an air tight container. There are even reports of edible honey being found in several-thousand-year-old Egyptian tombs. Honey’s longevity can be explained by its chemical makeup: the substance is naturally acidic and low in moisture, making for an environment that
bacteria does not like! Bees also have a special enzyme in their stomachs that helps to break the nectar down into gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide, which acts to further prevent the growth of bacteria and other organisms in the honey. No wonder it is great at keeping the bacteria away from our skin! Just as honey has eternal shelf life, so can our words have an eternal effect on those we speak them to. Just as honey is sweet to tongue, so should our words be sweet when spoken. Proverbs 16:24 tells us: “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Words can sting the soul or sweeten the soul. Don’t be a bee and sting: instead use your words like honey and sweeten the soul. Sweet kind words will bring healing to someone who is hurting. I once read that we should try to see our words as little tiny silver boxes. Gifts given to whom we are speaking to that will brighten their day, sweeten their soul and heal their hurts.
balms, bath bombs and hair and facial products, to name a few. We also sell raw oils that I write about: like tamanu, jojoba, and carrot seed! Smells are unlimited and encouraged! We will even give you a free sample. Our hours are Tuesdays and Wednes-
Every time you see a bee, first of all: do it no harm and secondly: remember it’s lesson to you.
• • •
don’t sting bee kind speak sweetly
As always, I would like to thank you for reading my articles and personally invite you into Shade Mountain Naturals. We are a small, family-owned business who LOVES visitors! We create all our products on site, FRESH! We make soaps, crèmes, lip
All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.
tion: The Barn at Lemont. You can also check us out online at www. shade-mountain.com. Hope to see you soon! - Tamela a
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The Valley, May 2017
R. O. F. F.
Rescue Our Furry Friends by Patricia Lawson
Do you remember “Bruno,” the dog that was featured in the March article? Great news…he was adopted! FREE CATS: Now, we need your help. ROFF is looking to place over a dozen cats that would be perfect for an outdoor farm atmosphere. Of course, they are all spayed/neutered and up-to-date on their shots and they would be ideal to roam free without increasing the cat population and perhaps they will keep your rodents under control. Get out your calendars because ROFF is bursting with events: • Friday, May 19th- Basket Bazaar; At the Burnham Fire Dept.; Doors open at 6pm and the auction begins at 7pm; Paddles only $5; Over 30 baskets available; All proceeds go to ROFF Rescue • Saturday, June 17th - Yard Sale in Burnham at 133 North Walnut Street • Saturday, July 8th – Rabies Clinic; 10am until noon; At the City Hook and Ladder; Attending vet will be Pleasant View Vet Clinic • Saturday, September 23rd – Cash Nite Let’s meet the featured cat of the month. Look at those eyes! “Lea” is a sweetheart looking for some love.
Lea
Take a look at these two handsome guys. Meet “Buddy” and “Morgan” who are Cockatiels
looking for a forever home. Buddy is a 9 year old normal grey and Morgan is a 13 year old pied white. They come with a large stainless steel cage and everything in it. They were once hand tame, but over the last year plus, they have not been handled. We are confident that with some work, they can be super companions again. The adoption fee is only $125. Thank you in advance for all your support! Until they all have homes… www.roffrescue.com; rescueourfurryfriends@yahoo.com; 1-877-933-ROFF (7633) a
Libertarian Party Sees Growth and Opportunity
Following a year of growth and ballot successes, advocates of liberty from around the Commonwealth gathered in Harrisburg for a weekend of speakers and professional development. During their yearly convention held April 2nd at the Harrisburg Hilton, the members of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania selected a diverse and enthusiastic leadership team going into the 2017 election season. Drew Bingaman of Northumberland County was elected Chairman. Bingaman has served as the Chairman of the Susquehanna Valley Libertarian Party since 2013 and represented Pennsylvania as a delegate to the 2016 Libertarian Party National Convention. “In order to capitalize on the momentum of the 2016 presidential race, the LPPA needs to run candidates that offer a real alternative to the status quo” Bingaman said. “It is clear that Pennsylvania voters want change, and the LP offers a principled alternative that will have a positive effect on their lives.” Jessica Santiago of Allegheny County, William Sloan of Cumberland County, and Chris Bastone of Philadelphia were elected to the Western, Central, and Eastern Vice-Chairmanships respectively; Joseph Soloski of Centre County was elected Treasurer and Steven Brenize of Cumberland County was unanimously elected Secretary. “Our people are energized and motivated. The great dissatisfaction with the established parties also gives us a great opportunity to reach new young voters and independents who make up a large percentage of the voter base” Chris Bastone, an Air Force veteran and finance professional, offered. Jessica Santiago, a Regional Manager for a large non-profit and self-described “PTA mom,” said “People are looking for new political homes. People are feeling
The Truth Has No Agenda
divided, uncertain, and some are having serious buyer’s remorse. We can capitalize on this opportunity by reaching people from a place of reason, logic, and possibility. I believe we can do this at every level from the ground up.” Newly elected treasurer, and a CPA with over 30 years’ experience, Joe Soloski is looking forward to solidifying the LPPA’s financial footing. Soloski “would like to see the LPPA positioned to assist viable Libertarian candidates get elected to various offices. Financial strength and liquidity will allow us to do just that,” he continued “our personal liberty principles resonate with people in all walks of life. This is our best moment yet to continue to attract people to our Party of reason and common sense.” The new leadership team will be hitting the ground running with support and assistance from outside the Commonwealth. During the Pennsylvania Leaders Forum, a professional development conference hosted by Pennsylvanians for Liberty the day before the convention, members of the party heard from potential nominees for 2018 state-wide races. Also speaking was the Vice-Chairman of the Libertarian National Committee, Arvin Vorha. “The enthusiasm is off the charts” Vorha said. “People who want freedom are coming to us. And we are seeing that happening now not just at the national scene, but at the state level. We are seeing all these people who are saying ‘I have been a republican or democrat my whole life, but they aren’t giving me what I want’ which is more freedom.” Headlining the Pennsylvania Leaders Forum was Larry Sharpe, a 2016 candidate for the Libertarian Party Vice-Presidential nomination. Sharpe, a Marine Corp veteran, entrepreneur, and business consultant is touring the country to support party unity and growth. “Once the election was over
last year, we did well but a lot of people wanted more. So there was still a level of disappointment even though we had a good year,” Sharpe explained “I thought the answer was for me to run around the country... I am trying my best to keep that message going because too many people have decided that once 2016 was over, the next answer was 2020. And its not. It 2017, ‘18, ’19, then ’20. If we want a shot at victory in 2020, we have to build our momentum, our infrastructure in ’17, ’18, ’19. I am going to try my best to do that.” The Pennsylvania Leaders Forum was organized by Marc Bozzacco of Montgomery County and Steven Brenize. The pair were soundly cheered during the convention for their successful event; Brenize was elected secretary in the lone unanimous vote of the day. “The excitement of the membership from the 2016 Johnson campaign and around the platform of the party is a springboard for growth. I encourage all Pennsylvania residents upset with the two party system to join us as we run Libertarian candidates in 2017 and beyond” offered Brenize, a former member of the Shippensburg Borough Council and an infectious optimist, is ready to take the LPPA one step further, but recognizes the challenges that lie ahead. “We will hit the ground running. but we have to be real, we are the trying to climb Mt Everest” Brenize said, “what we did today was book the plane ticket to Nepal... but people do reach the summit every year.” The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania is the third largest political party in the Commonwealth and advocates for less government, more freedom. For more information please visit LPPA. org or for media inquiries please email Steven Brenize at Secretary@LPPA.org or Drew Bingaman at Chair@LPPA.org a
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New Home, Better Living by Kim Rickert There are so many factors that go into a home buying decision that it can make your head spin, especially if you’re in a competitive market where time is of the essence. The desire to purchase a property may cause you to look past factors that could detract from your enjoyment of the home and cause some regrets down the road. That’s why when you’re weighing your options, quality of life should always be the top priority.
pare meals and throw big parties and your guests won’t have any trouble finding parking. But a big home also means more cleaning and maintenance—more lawn to mow, more bathrooms to scrub, and more things that will break and need to be fixed. Before you dive into an alluring big home, consider your tolerance and enthusiasm for the upkeep. For some, a smaller home or a professionallymaintained condo are better options.
Location is Part of Lifestyle Buyers often focus on “musthaves” that can be added through renovation, but will downplay factors that are impossible to change. For example, if you work and spend much of your free time in the heart of a busy city, a house in the suburbs may mean more space for the same price, but it could also mean long commutes and a major hit to your nightlife. A centrally-located condo might be a better option. On the other hand, if you’re a weekend warrior who looks forward to skiing, hiking, and mountain biking trips, living outside the city may be perfect—you’re that much closer to the trails when you wake up on Saturday morning. It’s a cliché, but it’s still stands true—location, location, location.
Reconsider These Choices When You’re Designing Your Kitchen The kitchen is one area of the home that sees the most wear and tear. All the water, heat, and food spills add up quickly, so it’s important to focus on quality and lasting appeal when you’re choosing materials for a kitchen remodel. Here are a few things you should avoid:
Big Homes Aren’t for Everyone If you love entertaining friends and family, a big house makes perfect sense. You’ll have all the space you need to pre-
Cheap Laminate Countertops: The bottom rung of laminate is extremely susceptible to wear and tear. It can melt if you forget to place a hot pad under a pan that’s fresh out of the oven and the edges can chip off from repeated exposure to moisture and heat. Flat Paint: A flat or matte finish is great in rooms with lower traffic, but it’s a bad idea in the kitchen where the walls are regularly exposed to splatters and spills. You need paint that can withstand an occasional heavy scrubbing, so opt for gloss or semi-gloss
finishes. Trendy Backsplash: If you watch any home remodeling show, you’ll certainly see kitchens with expensive, elaborate backsplash designs and materials. Those trends can be pricey to pursue and can look dated in a hurry. Subway tile is a cheaper, classic option that you’ll never regret, plus you’ll have more room in your budget to purchase quality materials to be used elsewhere. Cheap Flooring: Just like the countertops, your kitchen floor needs to be strong enough to take some abuse. Cheap flooring easily scuffs and peels (especially from moisture). Quality flooring is worth the investment. Five Bathroom Trends for 2017 Staying on top of the latest trends in home decor isn’t for everyone, but even for traditionalists, it can be fun to incorporate some new ideas. Here are five bathroom decor trends that are appearing in 2017. 1. Geometric Patterns: Many homeowners are selecting bold patterns in geometric shapes, like chevrons, triangles, or hexagons.
These patterns can add intrigue and continuity to your tile or shower curtain. 2. Plants: Even the best-designed bathrooms can benefit from some small plants. If you have a windowless bathroom, there are some low-light options that can survive with little maintenance. 3. Dark Colors: This can be tricky to achieve, but it comes with a big pay off. While traditional bathrooms are often painted with brighter whites and greys, opting for darker colors can make a bathroom seem more luxurious and relaxing. Imagine sinking into a deep bath with dim lighting— that might convey the appeal of a darker palette.
All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.
4. Brass Hardware: Trends often come back around, and this year, brass fixtures of the ‘70s are popular once again. 5. Minimalism: The massive master bathroom is still great, but there’s also some appeal in smaller bathroom designs. Minimalism allows for smaller spaces to feel more intimate, but still airy and open a
“The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark.” ~Thomas Paine
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The Valley, May 2017
Home at the Grange by Patricia L. Bird Centre County Pomona Grange #13 Holds Annual Legislative Banquet Spring has finally sprung. We are enjoying the colorful flowers, rain showers and warmer temperatures. These are all sure signs of spring. However, did you start to see all those other signs in the yards springing up. Yes, it is a sure sign that election day is on the way. Each year the Centre County Pomona Grange #13, hosts an annual Legislative Banquet. This year was no exception. The banquet titlted “Meet the Candidates” was held on “April Fools Day” and I served on the Legislative Committee. Please enjoy my article about “Meet the Candidates” night. Grange members, candidates, politicians and community members all enjoyed a wonderful meal on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at the Centre County Pomona Grange #13 Legislative banquet held at New Hope Lutheran Church in Spring Mills, PA. Approximately seventy
people enjoyed a wonderful ham and turkey meal with all the trimmings, cooked by the members of New Hope Lutheran Church. The
evening began with a Milk Punch and Cheese Reception hosted by the Pennsylvania State/Centre County Dairy Princess Halee
Wasson of State College and the Centre County Dairy Princess and Promotion Committee. Halee along with her sister LaTrisha Hough, who was representing the Dairy Promotion Committee, offered several kinds of cheese and crackers to sample along with the official Pennsylvania Dairy Princess punch. Centre County Pomona Grange Master Ashley Furman welcomed everyone attending and introduced Grange Member Merle Eyer of Baileyville Grange who
Special guests at the Centre County Pomona Grange #13 banquet are: L-R Vince Phillips, PA State Grange Legislative Director, Ashley Furman, Pomona Grange Master, Emma Spackman, Centre Co. Grange Fair Queen and Halee Wasson, PA State Dairy Princess.
The Truth Has No Agenda
gave the invocation. Attending as special guests were Emma Spackman, the 2016 Centre County Grange Fair Queen; Halee, the Pennsylvania State Dairy Princess and a member of Victor Grange #159; and Vince Phillips, the Pennsylvania State Grange Legislative Director. Speaking first was Emma. Emma informed everyone about the many things she has accomplished so far as the fair queen. She worked diligently doing all the chores given to her during the fair like handing out ribbons, judging contests, introducing the entertainment and being one of the Master of Ceremonies of the Baby King and Queen Contest. Since the end of the fair, she has attended many meetings where she talked about the fair and also has attended many special festivals, Christmas events and will be talking to classes in the local schools. In January, she represented the Grange Fair at the Pennsylvania Association of County Fairs Queen Contest. She stated, “I am very proud that I was chosen one of the top five contestants. I am truly excited to represent the Centre County Grange Encampment and Fair.” Emma is a high school junior who
Continued on page 30
The Valley, May 2017
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The Harrowing Reburial of Rev. James Nourse By Forest K. Fisher, Mifflin County Historical Society Each day, thousands of travelers drive through the Reedsville Narrows on U.S. 322, in Mifflin County’s Brown Township, unaware they pass beneath the visage of a giant stone bird. Known locally as Bird Rock, the massive monolith teetering on the edge of a rocky out-cropping, has guarded this break in Jack’s Mountain for eons and is the object of an interesting local legend. First, some background to set the scene before I present the story. A TRADITIONAL STORY This geological formation shaped like a perching bird has been the subject of countless photographs over the years snapped by casual hikers, young adults and their parents, the destination of a Sunday afternoon walk. A postcard dating from about 1905 shows a colorized Bird Rock with people posing at its base. A 1925 historical souvenir book published by the Lewistown Sentinel has a photograph of Bird Rock that includes a climber resting a hand on the great stone image. The caption reads: Bird Rock - High on the side of Jack’s Mountain over Mann’s Narrows near Reedsville… peculiar formation resembling a bird. Mecca of Mountain Climbers reached by a steep winding trail from the William Penn Highway. The Legend of Bird Rock has an uncertain origin. There is no mention of the Bird Rock legend in the several notable county histories published in the 19th or 20th centuries. It has appeared from time-to-time in various published forms in the past 60 years or so. The adaptation I’ll tell to-
day comes from one that appeared in the Lewistown Sentinel, January 8, 1969. It was also reprinted in Birds and Friends of Central Pennsylvania by Ben and Hattie Meyers, published in 1973. This little privately published book is a collection of columns written by Ben Meyers titled “We Notice That.” The Sentinel carried Meyers’ column for 39 years. The Legend of Bird Rock is a tale not unlike those written by Pennsylvania’s first official folklorist, Henry W. Shoemaker, who lived from 1880 to 1958. Shoemaker was born into one of America’s most wealthy families from New York City, became a diplomat and soldier serving the United States in Europe, yet would return to the Commonwealth, and become a champion of the highlands of Pennsylvania’s central mountains. He helped found what is today the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Shoemaker was also a successful newspaper publisher and used his editorial pen to promote the lore and mystery of Pennsylvania’s wilderness. He became widely known for his collections of state lore published in the first decades of the 20th century. Some titles include: Pennsylvania Mountain Stories, In the Seven Mountains, Juniata Memories, Susquehanna Legends, plus a dozen or more titles. He emphasized the romance and mystery of the Pennsylvania Mountains he called “a wooded paradise.” His stories told of the people and animals that once lived here, Native People, the mountain lion, the buffalo and the wolf. One Shoemaker story told of Centre County’s “NitaNee,” Indian princess, for whom it is said Mt. Nittany is named. The Legend of Bird Rock was never associated with Shoemaker, but has a resemblance to
Next Issue of The Valley: June 6th
the type of tales he told. However, mankind devised stories to explain everything from the rising and setting sun to why the bear has a stubby tail, so why not a legend to explain how that geological feature we call Bird Rock came to perch in the Reedsville Narrows? IT’S A CASE OF GEOLOGY The area of Jack’s Mountain where Bird Rock found its perch is called the Reedsville Narrows today, earlier it was Mann’s Narrows and even earlier, Logan’s Gap. The convenient break in the mountain is frequented by geology students from Penn State or Juniata College studying the well exposed outcroppings of various rock types. Roadside Geology of Pennsylvania by Bradford B. Van Diver notes that: “The gap is well profiled in both the northern and southern approaches, and the Tuscarora quartzite is exposed in several places along the ridge crest.” As to how that old rock came to rest on the side of Jack’s Mountain, Ben Meyers attempted an explanation in his 1969 column: Looking closer (at the giant rock)... Seems as if the original rough rock was upended by water, frost and ice action and the rock in some unknown manner became balanced, quite close to its very source. But what force produced the shaping of the rock? What unseen sculptor was busy here? Must have been ages of water, wind, frost and snow action at work. Thus the forces rounded the head, shoulder and wings, creating a likeness as it now appears for sightseers to gaze upon. THE LEGEND OF BIRD ROCK It was a time well before the first European settlers ventured into the verdant land, and the native people made a home out of the lush wilderness. Ample streams crisscrossed the land, wild berries grew in plentiful amounts, waterfowl abounded. The First People hunted elk, bear and deer amid the forested valley that one day would be known as the Kishacoquillas. These First People were guided and led by a wise and
Great Chieftain. Since his own beloved wife’s death, the Leader treasured his only child, a daughter, loved and cherished her more than life itself. The daughter, too, loved her widowed father and vowed never to displease him, but pledged to serve him always. To show his love the Great Chief bestowed upon his only child the finest adornments bracelets, necklaces and rings for which he traded near and far toward the Great Waters to obtain. The Chief granted his daughter’s every wish, with one exception. The father had but one demand of his only child. She must not marry, save the one the chief himself approved. It soon became apparent to the daughter that she was fated to perpetual maidenhood, for her father refused every request of marriage from her many suitors. Just as winter follows fall, and summer the spring, the inevitable happened, she fell in love. Never wanting to go against the wishes of her father, whom she loved as dearly as life itself, she was thrust into a terrible dilemma- she knew her father would not agree to a union with her new-found love. Despite her impassioned entreaties, her father refused her many marriage requests, he would not give way. Dolefully relating the news to her beloved, the warrior yet persisted as no other before him. Run away with him and leave the father. He would recover in time, the warrior told her, but she knew better. Her father would be heart broken by such defiance. She resisted her lover’s entreaties over much time and
finally ran into the woods to escape his advances. Up the mountain she fled, far above the valley of the Kishacoquillas, the young warrior close behind her. She pulled off her bracelets, rings and necklaces, casting them to the ground behind her, hoping her pursuer would be diverted by the riches. To no avail. Hysterical and desperate, she found herself at the very edge of a mountain cliff. Disobey the beloved father? In despair she chose to leap from the cliff to her death on the rocks along the stream far below. And now the breathless warrior stood at the edge of the precipice where just a moment earlier his dearest had paused. He looked down disbelievingly at the maiden’s lifeless body on the rocks along the creek bank below. At this very same moment, the Great Spirit who watched the events unfold from afar, instantly turned the warrior into a giant stone bird. He would now keep a perpetual vigil on the mountain for his lost love. To this very day, the hapless warrior still keeps his silent watch, and we see him still, as Bird Rock. It seems a romantic notion, so poetic if that roving warrior was indeed turned into a stone bird by the Great Spirit. What do you think? As Ripley urged decades ago, “Believe it or not.” NEXT MONTH: An explosion at one of Mifflin County’s largest employers killed and injured workers, details in the story of the American Viscose Blast of 1952. a
Remember The Fallen
All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.
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The Valley, May 2017
Thomas Paine “Titles are but nicknames, and every nickname is a title.” ~ Thomas Paine Thomas Paine was not only instrumental in America’s bid for freedom, but he also is responsible for letting the liberty genie out of the bottle. For during his time, every country in the world was governed by some form of monarchy. People were either born into the royal family or they were subjects or slaves. Paine saw this as absurd and dangerous for the well being of the majority, who at the time, had no say over the affairs of state. Subjects were taught from their first understanding of language that their obligation was to the crown first and foremost. Thomas Paine was an unlikely hero of the American Revolution and was born on February 9th 1737 in Thetford, UK. His father Joseph Paine, was a Quaker and was a stay maker since Thetford was a sailing town. Stay makers made the ropes used buy all sailing ships of the time. At 13 years of age, Thomas joined his father in the shop, but Thomas detested the work and after a spell, began working as an excise officer collecting taxes on liquor, tobacco and hunting for smugglers. Again, Paine detested the work; in fact, this was the case in everything he did—he was a failure at it all. Even his marriage came to an end due to losing his wife and child in childbirth during this troubled time in his life. A lot for one man to bear, but there was more in store. I suppose it may have just been the accumulation of failures
that caused Paine to strike out at what he saw as an injustice (his rate of pay) with a quill rather than a gun. Paine was self taught and highly intelligent according to many. He spent the entire winter of 1772 in London passing out copies of his first political work, a 21 page pamphlet titled “The Case of the Officers of Excise,” which was a defense of higher pay for those of his profession. Even though 4,000 copies were distributed to Parliment and common people, the effort yielded little results—another failure—and to make matters worse, he was fired from the Excise Office in the spring of 1774. Absent of ideas, Paine thought he was finished. But someone had been watching his anti-tax work and was about to change his life, and the future of the world. None other than Benjamin Franklin was staying in London at the time, and convinced Paine to come to the colonies where a new nation was forming. Paine arrived in Philadelphia in the winter of 1774. Thomas Paine found employment as an editor at the “Pennsylvania Magazine.” Paine also began writing under pseudonyms or anonymously in order to tackle issues which he found abhorrent. “African Slavery in America” was an early condemnation of the practice which Paine found detestable, partly due to his own Quaker faith being persecuted in Europe and America, but mostly because he saw all humans as equals. He didn’t believe in one class of people having power over another, He was in a way, America’s first Libertarian.
With events coming at everyone at an everincreasing pace, it is probably no surprise that each conflict hardened Paine’s thought and sharpened his quill, which became a weapon against the King of England. This was a very confusing time in colonial America, as news traveled painfully slow from one area to another, besides that, writers of the era spoke much like the upper-crust elites. The writing used a language that was
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basically foreign to the every day man. So even though most folks were aware by April 1775 of the outbreak of hostilities at Concord and Lexington, and the follow-up battles shortly thereafter, no one really understood why we were killing each other. People were confused, and so was the second Continental Congress where only one third of the body was in favor of a split from the motherland. Some were of the mind that we were just rising up and showing our displeasure with the king in order to gain some bargaining leverage. About all anyone knew, was that colonists were shooting
redcoats and the redcoats were shooting colonists. There had been a couple years of rumblings among people in separate districts, nothing coordinated, but the feeling of impending trouble was apparent. Paine realized even at that early stage that freedom, once ignited, would spread like wildfire. Paine realized that the populace, as well as the Congress, needed to use “Common Sense” in deciding the best course of action for the colonies. Born of this need was Paine’s most influential piece of his life. A 50-page pamphlet titled
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All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.
The Valley, May 2017
The Truth Has No Agenda
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The Valley, May 2017
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Researchers Recruiting Citizen-Scientists for ‘Great Pumpkin Project’
Entomologist also seeking local residents who have ground-nesting bees Story courtesy Penn State Public Information. A researcher in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences is reaching out to Master Gardeners, teachers, students and other interested parties to participate in a citizen-science project that ultimately could benefit growers, crops, pollinators and the environment. Margarita Lopez-Uribe, assistant professor of entomology, is working with collaborators at North Carolina State University on “The Great Pumpkin Project,”
cal processes,” she said. “We hope to raise awareness of the connections between humans, nature and food production, while studying how organisms move and coevolve in the environment.” The project has several facets. For example, a major focus of one researcher at North Carolina State is recruiting citizen-scientists to collect data on the location, abundance and persistence of a pest beetle that transmits bacterial wilt of cucurbits. The objective is to examine how relationships between plants, insects and microbes vary from place to place and what that means for plant health, crop productivity and resistance to pests. LopezUribe’s contributions to Two male squash bees join a cucumber beetle in a pumpkin flower. Through the “Great Pumpkin Project,” researchers are the project will center hoping to learn more about the interactions among cucurbit on her crops, insect pests, pollinators and microbes. primary Image: Derek Artz research which is aimed at describing the interest: understanding how envigeographic distribution of imporronmental change -- such as shifts tant crop plants and the insects in land use and climate -- and and microbes with which they management practices influence interact. Data collected could help farmers one day to improve plant health and crop yields. “By examining the complex associations among plants, herbivores, pollinators and pathogens, we hope to gain a better understanding of how crop domestication for food production is changing ecological interactions across the landscape,” she said. The project is focusing on cucurbits such as pumpkin, squash, cucumber and melon, which explains its name, according to Lopez-Uribe. “We are looking for citizens and students who are willing to grow plants as food, watch the progress from seed to maturity and observe the related ecologi-
evolutionary history and learn how bee communities vary across the United States.” Another Penn State researcher, David Hughes, assistant professor of entomology and biology, will assist The Great Pumpkin Project by utilizing the PlantVillage application that he co-developed. PlantVillage is a web-based and mobile platform designed to help growers, gardeners, extension specialists and others around the world to identify crop diseases and other plant-health issues. Users can upload photographs of plant disease symptoms or insects and receive feedback
changes in the population and health of wild and managed bee species. “My ultimate goal is to develop informed strategies for conservation and restoration of bee populations and the ecosystem services they provide,” she said. She noted that she’s Entomologist Margarita Lopez-Uribe is looking for help in interested finding ground-nesting bees, such as this one from the genus in having Andrena (mining bee), as part of a research project examining bee diseases. citizenscientists Image: Margarita Lopez-Uribe help map the distribution and abundance of and advice from other users and bees and other beneficial insects experts in the virtual community. in relation to where cucurbits are Using machine learning tools and grown. artificial intelligence, Hughes and “For example, a lot of bees colleagues also are training neural and herbivores have been movnetworks of computers to recoging with squash as it was domesnize and identify crop diseases. ticated across North America,” “Incorporating our platform Lopez-Uribe said. “Previous studinto this new project will alies have shown that one species, low students, teachers and other the squash bee, is an invader from participants to ask questions about Mexico, where the plant is native, the pests, pathogens and other and there’s a strong indication stressors that may be affecting of recent population expansion their plants and get advice on how of that bee. But other bees visit to solve these problems,” he said. these plants as well, so we want “Although our machine learning to collect samples, look at their effort has been focused on disease
All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.
symptoms on the leaf, there is no reason it can’t identify pollinators and other insects -- if a human can spot the difference, so can a machine. So, we hope this project helps us get better images for training machines.” Hughes believes the project also will be valuable in connecting students and other youth researchers to food production. “We hope it will help them realize that growing food -- whether in a farm field, schoolyard or garden -- is easier if we share our knowledge,” he said. “Through PlantVillage and the Great Pumpkin Project, we want to expand the available data about plants and plant health and make it easy for kids and others to ask questions about their crops.” Seeking ground-nesting bees As part of a related project, named “Bee Germs,” Lopez-Uribe is looking for homeowners in the greater State College, Pennsylvania, area who have a nest of ground-nesting bees in their yard, with an eye toward collecting samples and studying diseases that affect these native species. “When it comes to crop production, European honey bees may be best known as pollinators,” she said. “But with honey bees in decline, native bee species make important contributions to pollination in both crops and natural ecosystems. By mapping populations of native, groundnesting bees and quantifying the pathogens they carry, we hope to conserve and improve their habitat and enhance their disease resistance.” Local residents who have ground-nesting bees on their property can find out how to assist this research by contacting LopezUribe by email at mml64@psu. edu. a
The Valley, May 2017
Plain Talk
Solar Explained by S. Yoder Well, the weather is proof of itself, Spring is here! No more need for wishful thinking as of the second full week of April. It is just perfectly beautiful outside and let us not forget the reason for the season, way more important than Easter eggs. Sure, we also hid eggs, I remember the fun. I like Spring and the promise of new life. Hands up as another challenge is on its way—yes, it is battery talk again. The most popular battery up until now is the lead acid battery, but I think this is all about to change and lead acid will soon take a back seat as other types of batteries are developing fast. Let’s cover some of the most heated discussions I have had recently. No, no one was upset, but this is battery talk and this is how it goes. Let’s talk prices per kilowatt. We will compare a few styles of lead acid batteries. For the old style sweeper battery, the up front cost is usually $118.75, or over its life under ideal conditions you arrive at $0.215 per produced kilowatt. For a designated solar battery, the up
front cost is $129.16 or $0.1645 per produced kilowatt over its lifetime under ideal conditions. Next let’s look at tubular cell batteries. This type battery has double the normal lifespam of 1100 cycle batteries and delivers 2200 cycles at just $133.00 per kilowatt up front costs, which works out to $0.1209 per produced kilowatt. Tubular cell batteries get little attention as people think they are just another wet cell battery, which they are, but as the name implies, the cells are tubular and less likely to clog. I have been monitoring one set for three years now and it seems as if the batteries are still brand new. This is just my opinion, but if I ever get to pick a battery again in the lead acid line, this battery would be my pick; I think they are that good. Yes, they cost more up front, but well worth it. They are called the Discover 2400 & 3300 WHR as this is the power that they hold, which translates to about 230 AHR. They are 12 volt, so you can decide if this is right for you. For other types of batteries, we will just give you some basic information as it is always better
90 - 100 percent efficient, Saltwater batterys are large and in charge, with a 6000 cycle rating they give you a great rate of return on your investment, and they are also the world’s dafest battery to date.
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for you to fully research your choices since you will learn more than by just having me tell you. First up would be Saltwater Batteries, they are somewhat new to the market, but the concept behind them has been known for some time. Don’t fall over about the up front prices, look rather at the price per kilowatt (KW). The notable difference is the up front cost of $542.31 per KW, but over the life of the battery this translates to $0.0903—a substantial savings. Saltwater batteries hook up a little different and are rated for 6000 cycles and are 90100% efficient! We installed one set of these last summer—a ten piece bank. It is also worthy to note that these batteries are not Made in the USA in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, these saltwater batteries provide inexpensive power and support America and Pennsylvania. Their long life expecaffected by temperature, are non tancy further attracts new buyers to this new to the market technology, do your poisonous and maintenance free, own research and this will come out near the top. so do check them out! I saved the best part for last though, they are MADE IN THE USA, right in Pittsburgh PA. They are truly the safest battery in the world. Another battery I bet you may not have heard of is not made in the USA, but is a step in the right direction in changing the world of batteries. Some are skeptical, but I am not. With a 17-year life span, the only drawback so far is that they have a 30% loss in low temps, but tests are ongoing in Canada and the cold regions of China where it is manufactured. The price tag is lovely, I just wish they were made in Pittsburgh, but still, these batteries are silicone salt and the up front cost is $321.96. They are also maintenance free and cost per KW over the life of the battery is a very low $0.0765. Some may have heard of the NIfe battery, once manufactured in New Jersey, but were bought out by a lead acid battery company to kill the competition. These batteries are now only made overseas and are known as Edison batteries. These are high maintenance batteries, but can be very rewarding as they last up to 40 years! Up front cost is $916.00, but over the life of the battery, it comes out to $0.05 per KW, give or take. Prices used above are ballpark figures and do not represent what items may actually cost, but now you have an idea. Steven Yoder can be reached at 717-667-0330, if no answer please leave a message. a
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To demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and reduce energy costs, Monument Square Center, LLC celebrated completion of a new high-efficiency solar photovoltaic (PV) system at 3 West Monument Square in Lewistown. The 29-kilowatt SunPower® Helix™ solar energy system is expected to create enough electricity equivalent to powering almost three average homes annually. The historic building, recognized by its Art Deco facade, is owned and operated by Monument Square Center, LLC. It was originally constructed in 1929 for Montgomery Ward, and is registered as a National Historic Landmark. Most of the building’s exterior remains as it was constructed in 1929, but the interior —and now the rooftop—have both undergone major renovations to transform it into a modern retail and office building. The building is the home to many different businesses and organizations. The system is expected to produce 33,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean, solar energy in its first year of operation, which is approximately 30 percent of the total electricity used at Monument Square Center. Over 25 years, the Monument Square Center SunPower® solar energy system is expected to produce enough energy to offset more than 700 tons of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent to planting 17,000 trees, or saving 72,000 gallons of gasoline. Installation of the solar electric system was completed by Sun Directed, a residential and commercial solar energy installer located in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. As an authorized SunPower® dealer, Sun Directed installs the highest efficiency solar panels available on the market today for homes, farms and businesses. The meter and major electrical work was completed by Robert P. Lepley, Electrical Contractor. Michael Buffington, President of Monument Square Center, says that the building has also been recently outfitted with new heating and cooling systems and extensive energy-saving lighting upgrades have been made throughout, making it one of the most energy efficient rental office buildings in
Mifflin County. “This project is something that we’ve been want-
ing to do for a long time, and it’s gratifying to see it finally come to fruition,” said Buffington. “Not only are we lowering our carbon footprint, but we
are able to lower our utility expenses, which keeps the energy costs down for tenants in the building.” a
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All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.
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The Valley, May 2017
Modern Energy and Alternative Heating with Curt Bierly Spring Maintenance and Next Winter Planning Well, I do believe that we can consider winter officially over!! And what a beautiful spring it has been. The grass is very green and the mountains are shedding their bleak appearance as the leaves begin to appear. Spring flowers are blooming. We’re not short of rain so far this spring. With one exception, it was a mild winter with little to no snow. 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, amd is financing needed? Schedule a meeting with an HVAC or Alternative Energy Heating Professional (call us if you like) and let them know what you’re thinking. There are lots of options out there. They’ll provide choices that will fit your lifestyle 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 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
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and sulfuric acid, which will eat thru black steel smoke pipe by the next heating season and cause wear and tear on the coal burning equipment. If you have a coal stoker boiler that heats domestic hot water all summer, it’s ok to wait until the fall to shut it down to clean because as long as there is heat in the unit, no degradation will occur. 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 stainless steel 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! 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 a
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As I sit writing this article for the Valley Newspaper, I recall the changes in library service over the years. The Mifflin County Library celebrates 175 years of continuous library service to the residents of Mifflin County, and how that service has changed! Do you know that MCL had a bookmobile in the 1940s? It was a big truck and it drove around the county delivering books to anyone who wanted a book. The borrowers still had to have a library card and the book could be returned when the bookmobile came back into the area, about two or three weeks later. If you use your imagination, we still have a bookmobile today. I’m sitting here writing this article on my iPad. I don’t know how I lived without this thing! My iPad is my typewriter, my television, and my portable library all rolled into one! A bookmobile is a portable library and my mobile device is my own personal portable library. If you have a mobile device and a library card from Mifflin County Library, you have a bookmobile in your lap. You can use MCL’s digital library to download books in that collection. Our digital library is like our third branch, or like a bookmobile. The digital library has over 12,000 volumes in the collection, both eBooks and eAudio. The collection is “powered” by Overdrive and sponsored by your central Pennsylvania district libraries, which includes the libraries in Mifflin, Juniata, Centre and Clearfield counties. So, what do you do first? Visit our website at mifcolib.org and click on the link for “download audiobooks and eBooks.” This takes you directly to the digital library. I admit, it is a little hard to just browse for a book. But once you sign in, you can begin a wishlist of the items you want to read in the future. eBooks can be downloaded to either Kindle format or another device using the format called ePub (this is Nook or the format for the Overdrive app). You will be prompted to download the Big Blue O so that you can enjoy an eBook when you are not connect-
ed to wifi, by downloading the app. Or, if you have a Kindle, you just download the eBook to that app. You will need the Overdrive app for all eAudiobooks. Lots of people tell me, “but I just love the SMELL of a book.” Okay. But books are so heavy! And my iPad weighs less than a bottle of water. Also, I read about three books at once. So with my mobile device, I always have a book with me. If you want to learn more about eBooks and using the bookmobile of the 21st century, just give me a call or stop by. Bring your mobile device. I’ll help get you started. And just like the bookmobile that would come back around and pick up your library book, the eBooks return themselves. When the loan period is over, the books just vanish. And if you’re like me, you agree with this quote: “Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.” Lemony Snicket, Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can’t Avoid a
We have managed to do two road cleanups so far this spring, which amounted to nearly eight miles of road on which we collected 75 bags of trash. This is really sad because the road we got 39 bags from has been cleaned twice a year for the last 5 or 6 years. I’m not sure what happened to the people in Mifflin County that don’t know how to properly dispose of their trash and think it’s okay to just throw it out of their vehicles. Why can’t they take it home and put it in with their household trash, or put it in a trash can at the service station when they have to be there to fill up their gas tanks anyway? While I realize that not everyone is like that, there are enough people that just don’t care what our countryside looks like. My brother came last week to visit from Maine and asked why there is no deposit on bottles and cans like they have up there. He said people are out collecting any that may be occasionally thrown out up there to get the deposit money for them. We were raised on a large dairy farm in Maine and years ago our dad pushed for the bottle redemption up there because of callous people throw-
$1,000.00 SCHOLARSHIP OFFERED BY JUNIATA COUNTY VETERANS COUNCIL A $1,000.00 “BERNIE REGAN’’ SCHOLARSHIP IS BEING OFFERED BY THE JUNIATA COUNTY VETERANS COUNCIL TO ALL SENIOR STUDENTS ATTENDING THE MIFFLIN/JUNIATA VOCATIONAL / TECHNICAL CAREER & TECHNOLOGY CENTER. THE STUDENT MUST BE A “SENIOR” ATTENDING EITHER JUNIATA OR EAST JUNIATA HIGH SCHOOLS AND ALSO ATTEND THE MIFFLIN/JUNIATA CAREER & TECHNOLOGY CENTER. APPLICATIONS FOR THIS SCHOLARSHIP ARE AVAILABLE AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS GUIDANCE COUNSELOR’S OFFICE OR BY CALLING VETERANS SCHOLARSHIP CHAIRMAN, GARY WILLOW, AT 717 348 1370 CELL / 717 535 5102 HOME, OR VETERANS COUNCIL COMMANDER, JOHN MONTELEONE, AT 717 463 2276. THE APPLICATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD FROM http://jcveterancouncil.org . THE APPLICATION MUST BE RETURNED TO THE JUNIATA COUNTY VETERANS COUNCIL , P.O. BOX 1, MIFFLINTOWN, PA. 17059 BY MAY 15, 2017. ANY APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THAT DATE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. FOR FURTHUR INFORMATION, ETC. PLEASE CALL VETERAN GARY WILLOW OR JOHN MONTELEONE.
ing bottles in the fields, which the farm equipment would end up hitting when he was cutting hay for the cattle. If he broke a bottle, that meant he had to stop and clean it up so that the equipment didn’t hit the broken bottles and cause flat tires later. It wasn’t cheap to replace a tractor tire. Also, he didn’t want it being baled into the hay that the cattle would be eating in the winter months. When we went up there to visit, we had our 12 year old granddaughter with us who commented that there wasn’t any trash along the roads up there like there is in Pennsylvania. That seemed to simply amaze her, because the roadsides were not marred with unsightly trash. After talking at a Commissioner’s meeting this spring to make people aware of this year’s Great American Cleanup of PA, I had a call from Cathy. Cathy wanted to cleanup Walnut Street exit and the entrance ramp to 322 because she was tired of seeing all the litter when she got on and off the ramps. I told her someone would be down to help her, but I couldn’t promise a whole crew. She went in and talked to the Borough to let them know she was going to do it. One of us went each Wednesday she was working on it to help and she did a fantastic job at cleaning it up. She said she wondering why people would even want to come off of those exits to go into to Lewistown with the way it looked before. Cathy didn’t want me to take her picture or give her full name, she said she just wanted to make a difference in her community. When you get off or on those exits, thank Cathy for her willingness to make a difference. Thanks a million Cathy. I have had other calls as well about roads that were really trashed. Hannah called about all the trash she sees along Kish Pike and Parcheytown Rd. I told her because of all the events we already had planned this spring, our PACW group couldn’t help her with those roads. I have spoken to several groups in the area to see if they would be interested in helping her. Another area that was brought to my attention was Long Lane in Decatur Township. So far
All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.
I have not had anyone come forward to help with these two areas. If you are reading this and would like to help Hannah or the other person make a difference please, contact me and I will pass it on to them, my email is pammiff@ verizon.net. The Great American Cleanup goes until May 31, but you can make a difference any time throughout the year. On April 25th, our secretary Mindy and I will be attending the DEP Annual Dinner in Harrisburg where PACleanWays of Mifflin County along with Huntingdon, Juniata and Perry Counties will be receiving the “Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence,” for efforts with our Tire Wars. Last year we got a Recycle Award from Keep America Beautiful for holding the War for the past 10 years. The one that collects the most wins the Gold Rim Award locally. We want to thank Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful for nominating us for this prestigious award. We do the annual Tire War in September each year to give our citizens a way to effectively dispose of tires that will be recycled properly, so we won’t find them along the roadsides or in the waterways or rivers throughout our counties. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact us. You can find all the counties’ contact information involved by going online to www. keeppabeautiful.org. This year’s date for the Annual Tire Recycle will be September 16th. We will be holding our river cleanup on August 5 near Lewistown. As soon as we have all the details worked out for these, I will pass it on. Pam Sechrist Affiliate Coordinator a
“Character is much easier kept than recovered.” ~Thomas Paine
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The Valley, May 2017
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Designing With Nature The next principle of permaculture is maybe the most misused of all. Sometimes referred to as “Designing from Patterns to Details”, many permaculturists get hung up on following the formation of patterns in nature. An unreasonable amount of time seems to be spent in many permaculture classes on recognizing pattern forms in nature such as spirals, helixes, honeycombs, and undulating waves. I have sat through many lectures by people who focus on building raised beds in a honeycomb shape or planting crops in a sunburst without any discussion on why they chose to do such a thing. Many people design a kaleidoscope of different patterns for no other reason than that’s what others are doing.
(I think this is where most kids these days would use the hashtag #facepalm.) While those things could be useful in (very) limited circumstances, the use of any random form found in nature doesn’t make something inherently permaculture. I wish I could shout this from the rooftops, so I will repeat it. The use of a random form found in nature does not make something permaculture! In fact, if you spend inordinate amounts of time trying to mimic a honeycomb pattern for no reason other than it looks pretty, you have violated the principles of producing no waste and catching and storing energy. Don’t waste your time, money, and energy unless it has a function. Creating
a permaculture landscape is about thoughtful design. You should use patterns in nature to brainstorm ideas which might give you a solution to a landscape problem, but aesthetics isn’t the purpose. The use of patterns in nature is a tool. That’s not to say permaculture has to be ugly, but there are millions of well-manicured lawns out there that do absolutely nothing for habitat diversity or food production. A great example of this is the permaculture darling: the herb spiral. An herb spiral is simply a tiered spiral formed with rock edging in which different herbs are planted in the microclimates created. Herbs which love heat and thrive without excess moisture are planted on the southern
side at the top where their needs are met. You then work your way around, planting different species where they thrive. This can be a really useful design, and there is no doubt that many permaculturists use it well. However, if I just built a big spiral and planted things willy nilly, that isn’t permaculture. Therefore, the pattern used takes a backseat to the use of the microclimates created by the pattern. I really like how Jessi Bloom, author of Practical Permaculture describes this principle. Instead of even using the word “pattern”, she rephrases it as “Mimic Nature and Use Biological Resources.” This puts the focus more on the thoughtful design process as a way of solving problems than simply popping a few spirals in for aesthetics. In her book and in her lectures she emphasizes the
All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.
use of relationships that we find in nature. If you are tempted by pinterest to build some crazy raised bed design ask yourself a few questions. 1. Where is this form found in nature? 2. Why is it formed as such in nature? For example, do you know why honeycomb is formed as it is? 3. What is the result of the form? Streamlines are the fastest way from one point to another, while an undulating wave slows the journey. Streamlines also have less surface area, whereas waves increase surface area. This is a really important concept to understand when designing any type of water systems or overflow! 4. Does the form achieve your goals for your landscape? Permaculturists use mandala gardens to have increased arm reach in a polycropped, intensive garden. Sunburst patterns are used with multiple pathways to create the least amount of disturbance to the landscape as possible. If these aren’t goals of yours, however, these might not be the ideal pattern for your garden or pathways. 5. Does the creation of this form
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The Valley, May 2017 Revolutionaries, Thomas Paine from page 15
the Congress was ready for A Declaration of Independence to be unanimously ratified. Paine’s plain talk and the enlightenment of the common man had sparked a desire for freedom to be openly discussed. Throughout the war, Paine, although no soldier, served in the
“Common Sense,” written in street language—no pretense, just plain talk. In “Common Sense,” Paine laid out the very road map to what it was to be American. He used his command of the common language to enlighten the people to a bold new idea, that of citizenship rather than subject. Because of geographic location, that being Philadelphia, the pamphlet was available to many in the first month. 125,000 copies were distributed and from there, as Paine predicted, it spread like wildfire, and within a few months over a half million copies were in the hands of colonists and the members of Referred to by historians as one of the most incendiary the Continental and popular books of its time, Thomas Paine’s “Common Congress. By Sense” is still credited with igniting the fuse of Liberty all July 4th 1776, over the world.
Continental Army as an assistant to General Nathanael Greene. During this time, he was contributing to the cause of Liberty by inspiring the troops with his 16 “Crisis” papers between 1776 and 1783. His #1 Crisis paper started with the words “These are the times that try men’s souls” and so struck was George Washington that he had it read to all of his troops at Valley Forge where his army had been all but decimated. Washington thought Paines’s words so powerful that they might spur his men to victory. Paine returned to England shortly after the conclusion of the war and took an interest in the French Revolution, which was in its early stages. Paine was a supporter of the revolt against aristocratic society. So when Edmund Burke wrote an attack on the Revolution in France, Paine answered with a scathing response in another of his well known writings, “Rights of Man.” Once again Paine was fanning the flames of liberty, this time amongst the common Englishmen. The British government promptly banned the book and indicted Paine for treason. Always one step ahead, Paine was already enroute to France when the decree for his arrest went out. France made him an honorary citizen. Trouble was not through with Paine yet; however, as a few years later while
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supporting efforts to spare the life of the deposed King Louis XVI, the new power decided that Paine should be sent to prison for his efforts. He served a sentence from December 28th 1793 to November 4, 1794 only narrowly escaping execution. While in prison he wrote the first part of his next book, “The Age of Reason” where he criticizes institutionalized religion as corrupt and political, and also took a shot challenging the validity of the Bible. Once again, the British government banned the book and prosecuted anyone caught distributing it. Paine stayed in France after his release in 1794, and wrote parts two and three of “The Age of Reason.” Thomas Paine returned to America in 1802 or 1803 and although his reputation as a trouble maker still followed him, his Revolutionary work and influence upon freedom had mostly
been forgotten by the people. Those who knew, such as George Washington proclaimed, “Under God, Thomas Paine was the most important figure of our revolution.” Thomas Paine probably couldn’t survive in today’s poltical times. After all, he had been indicted for treason, was a failed businessman, a perceived radical by the ruling elite, but one thing can’t be denied, he is the one figure in modern history who was able to ignite the fuse of freedom and liberty. a
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Some interesting things have happened in Gregg Township in the last month. On Monday, April 10th, my husband and I went to the township office with a list of missing minutes from the Old Gregg School. The Office of Open Records (OOR) gave them 30 days to turn over any additional minutes they had. The 30 days had passed, and the township took no action. It is their position that these minutes don’t exist. There are around 70 months of minutes missing from our Right-to-Know Request, spanning from 20072015. We were also looking to inspect any bids they had available. They ignored us and eventually called the police because we were recording. The police told them we are allowed to come to the office to conduct business, and we allowed to record them while we do so. Because of this most
recent escalation, we now have a YouTube channel called “Gregg Township Unofficial.” The Court of Common Pleas ruled on the audio recordings from 2016 we requested. The township had appealed the Final Determination from the Office of Open Records, so we had to go to court. The Judge gave them 30 days to turn over any of the audio records we requested that exist. (They lost.) They have already admitted to destroying the recording from the October meeting where they increased taxes, so it will be interesting to see how they handle this ruling. At the Board of Supervisors meeting, we were publicly slandered. We were accused of “demanding to go through staff files,” “harassment,” and “following staff around.” It was also suggested that the staff are unable to do work because of us. None
May is Swarm Season! Please be on the lookout for resting swarms and give us a call
of this is factual. We have been visiting the office 1-2 times per month, looking for public information about our township. It was also suggested they had to call the police to get us to leave. The truth is, we went to the office to inspect bids and confirm that each of the 70-ish minutes are nonexistent. We expected it would be a quick visit, but instead we were there for over half an hour because they ignored us and called the police.
The police did not ask us to leave. This is all part of their ongoing smear campaign against us. The Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to appeal the OOR’s Final Determination that the video we requested of Supervisors entering and exiting a secret meeting is a public record. The township will continue to use the court system to keep us from obtaining these records in a timely fashion, costing you (the taxpay-
er) money. It was also announced that the Roadmaster, who was the first to take down our tax increase sign, has resigned. One more thing—the Board of Supervisors page on the township website has been removed! The next meeting is Thursday, May 11th at 6:30 at the Old Gregg School. a
Vote Integrity Hello, I am Michael Lesniak and I am running for Gregg Township Supervisor. I currently work for Penns Valley Code enforcement Agency as a Building Inspector, Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer. I grew up in Eden, NY, a small farming community south of Hamburg, NY I was Rochester NY police officer for 30 years. Prior to retiring I was the Commanding Officer of the Technical Services Section. I was responsible for a multi-million dollar budget and had over 100 employees. I have been married for over 30 years and have two wonderful children. My wife grew up in Penns Valley and after I retired we moved back to Gregg Township so she could be closer to her family. I am running for Supervisor because I am discouraged with some of the recent events that have happened and feel that they are not in the best interest of the majority of residents. I do not feel I have the right to complain and not be willing to be part of the solution. Some of the concerns I have are the 40% property tax increase, the speed limit change on route 45 and the proposal to close Penns Cave Rd. The answer to a budget shortfall is not just to increase taxes, the responsibility also requires ways to reduce spending. If you have a yearly budget then you need to follow that budget. You cannot manage your personal finances like that, nor should the Township manage the tax payer’s money like that. A 40% tax increase is unacceptable, especially to farmers and people on fixed incomes. I live on Penns Cave Rd and am not pleased with the prospect of the road closing for several reasons, but mainly if Penns Cave Rd does close, you have removed 1/3 of the ways to get from one side of the Valley to the other, leaving you with either Brush Mountain Rd or Ridge Rd. Increasing traffic on both roads and reducing the response times for fire trucks and ambulances. When seconds count, why add minutes? I realize that if elected I am only one vote, but I would like to bring another point of view to the table based upon my management experience and common sense. Thank you in advance for your support. Thank you, Mike Lesniak
Paid for by the Candidate
All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.
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Mail Pouch Books by Carleen B. Grossman “Although it amounts to only a fraction of American history in terms of years, the Civil War is largely responsible for defining the nation as we know it–and for creating a plethora of literature in numerous genres. In fact, some have called it the most writtenabout war in history. The reasons that the Civil War has resulted in such a large and varied body of work are numerous. One is that it was such a momentous occasion–composed of so many different important figures, places, and events–that historians have penned academic works on nearly every conceivable facet. Another is that many who lived during the war era have produced personal narratives of their experiences. “
“Beauty and the Beast” “Beauty and the Beast,” the Disney animated classic from 1991, holds a special place in my heart. It was the first movie I saw in its original run in theaters. The film kicked off a lifelong love of movies, and in that time I’ve seen a scant few that were on its level. But I’ve also seen many worse movies, including the new liveaction “Beauty and the Beast.” The script remains largely unchanged. Belle (Emma Watson) is a smart, sweet young woman who yearns to escape the simpletons of her village, especially the brutish Gaston (Luke Evans). Her father Maurice (Kevin Kline) gets lost on the way to the market and seeks shelter in a castle. The castle is home to the ferocious Beast (Dan Stevens), a handsome prince cursed to spend his life as a hideous monster until he can find true love. The Beast wants to keep Maurice as his prisoner, but allows Belle to take his place since it’s possible that she can break the spell. The Beast is cold-hearted and Belle is upset about being his prisoner, so they’re unlikely to fall
Publishers’ Bindings Online— The Art of Books “The Most Written-About War in History”: Civil War Themes in Fact and Fiction THE SECOND MRS. HOCKADAY By Susan Rivers Copyright January 2017 Hardcover: 272 pages I did not want to put this novel down! In fact, a Booklist starred review describes it as a novel of UNBEARABLE SUSPENSE; yes it was almost so unbearably suspenseful that twice I thought about getting on the Internet to look up spoilers to see “who did it.” Fortunately, my common sense held up and I de-
in love on their own. But they’re pushed along by the castle’s staff, who have been cursed to live as household objects until the Beast can find love. Ewan McGregor plays a candlestick, Ian McKellen is a clock, and Emma Thompson is a teapot, to name a few. Meanwhile, Maurice tries to enlist the village to rescue Belle, and Gaston schemes to take advantage of the situation to win Belle for himself. When I say that the script remains largely unchanged, I don’t just mean the basic storyline. I mean that entire stretches are copied word-for-word from the animated version. I was able to mouth along with this movie, but not in that fun singalong way, out of boredom with how little it’s willing to change. It does try to add a little bit: there’s a detour where Belle learns the truth about her long-lost mother, there’s a scene where Gaston tries to kill Maurice, there’s a mass death scene—a lot of dark stuff come to think of it. There’s also a new musical number for The Beast, a new character in a piano voiced by Stanley Tucci, and an ex-
older widowed man and has two days with him before he is called back to fight for the South in the Civil War. His young wife is left alone with a few slaves to aid her and her infant stepson while she manages her new husband’s 300 acre farm. The story is told primarily through diary entries and correspondences. At the beginning of this his-
torical novel, the husband has jut returned from his battles and we learn that the young wife has been arrested for a crime. The husband is ready to abandon her. The reader is not told exactly what has happened, but through the various letters, you will learn what she has been through in trying to maintain her home, and the terrible trials she has suffered. The book is captivating. The language of the era is accurate, and is both entertaining and enlightening; and as the reader, you will learn about the social order of a Southern homeland and you will sort through various views on race and family while reading this story filled with love, crime and racial problems that take place as the South begins to crumble during the war. You will discover how that generation—and the following generation, 30 years later, begin to see their world with a different vision. a
little scamps from the animated version. The 2017 “Beauty and the Beast” spends the whole time trying to catch up to a classic that is way out of its league. When it’s trying to be that film, I’m thinking about how inferior it is, and in the rare instance that it’s trying to be original, I’m thinking about how this is its big chance and it how better not blow it, and before I know it, the scene’s over. I suppose it’s nice to be reminded of how much I love the 1991 film, but I didn’t need to spend over two hours being reminded.
Kudrow and Jimmy Kimmel), but his world gets turned upside down with the arrival of his little brother, the otherwise-unnamed Boss Baby. Immediately something seems off about the newborn. Some of it is just baby stuff that Tim has to learn to accept, but some of it is strange even by baby standards. He arrives unaccompanied in a taxi, he keeps the family awake all night, he wears a suit (fortunately the necktie is just a fabrication, more on that later), he takes the parents’ attention away from Tim, and he’s a spy from a corporation that supplies all the babies in the world. There’s a surprisingly intricate plot to this movie, but basically the Boss Baby is an adult with the body of a baby who was sent to Earth to stop evil puppy manufacturer Francis Francis (Steve Buscemi) from unleashing the world’s cutest puppy to the masses. Supposedly adults will love the puppy more than babies, and this will lead to the depletion of the human race. Boss Baby doesn’t have much luck recruiting other babies for the mission, but Tim is willing, provided Boss Baby goes back to BabyCorp afterwards and lets him have his parents all to himself again. Adventure, hijinks, bonding, and life lessons ensue. Almost everything that happens in the movie is ridiculous, and the reason is that it’s a story being told by an adult version of
cided not to cheat, but to stay with the book and find out for myself. It is a concise book (the chapters are short and the author gives just enough information in each chapter to keep you turning the pages). I am so glad I did not resort to reading spoilers! The book is a historical portrait of courage, determination, and eventually of steadfast love—but it mesmerizes and shocks the reader. The Second Mrs. Hockaday is about a seventeen year old girl who marries an
panded role for LeFou (Josh Gad), Gaston’s sidekick. You remember LeFou, right? He’s Gaston’s everpresent companion who throws together a song-and-dance number on the spot about how much he admires his manly captain. In this version, he’s gay. Among the things that don’t work about this movie is the way the characters look. There’s an effort to make the human characters resemble their animated counterparts, but there’s something about the makeup and musculature that doesn’t translate. They look like they’re on loan from one of those botched live-action Dr. Seuss movies from the early 2000’s. Then there are the characters that aren’t human, The Beast and the servants. The Beast is done well, with Stevens melding flawlessly with his CGI (computer generated imagery) hair. But the servants are severely downgraded. They’re CGI, so technically they’re still animated, but they’re supposed to look more realistic, and the result is dead eyes on nearly-featureless faces. No doubt this will be a tremendous disappointment to those who remember the expressive
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One and a Half Stars out of Five. “The Boss Baby” Good news everyone: “The Boss Baby” isn’t as bad as the advertising makes it seem. Frankly it would be hard to be that bad. I was expecting 97 minutes of painful, lowbrow baby jokes mixed with tired corporate stereotypes left over from the 80’s. Some people thought the movie might be redeemed with political satire, since Alec Baldwin voices the Boss Baby and he has recently taken to playing America’s most iconic boss, but this movie was completed long before any Trump jokes could be worked in. No, the movie has to rely on other ideas to redeem itself, and a few of them actually succeed. A few. Seven-year-old Tim Templeton (Miles Bakshi) lives an idyllic life with his parents (Lisa
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Life in the East End by Rebecca Harrop It is getting greener by the day in the East End! The hay fields are getting ready to mow. I saw fields of rye and triticale mowed up route 655 the other evening. For those who don’t know what triticale is, here is a brief definition. Triticale is a hybrid of wheat (Triticum) and rye (Secale) first bred in laboratories during the late 19th century in Scotland and Germany. As a rule, triticale combines the yield potential and grain quality of wheat with the disease and environmental tolerance (including soil conditions) of rye. It is grown mostly for forage or fodder, although some triticale-based foods can be purchased at health food stores or are to be found in some breakfast cereals. I think it is fairly new to our area but it seems to be gaining popularity. Soon corn planters will be seen along with the mowers and hay and forage harvesters. I encourage everyone to please pay particular attention when traveling our community roads for farmers moving equipment from field to field. When we can, we try to get over so you can pass safely, but that is not always possible. When you do pass, please make sure you allow enough room. We do our best to not hold you up, but patience on all our parts helps all of us. Better a few minutes longer commute, than a trip to the emergency room or worse. Now I really have to say something about something I read in the Lewistown Sentinel’s Opinion line a few days ago. Someone called in saying “If we wanted to do something about Rural Road Safety, we should keep large, slow moving vehicles off the road. They spread mud and manure on the roads.” I was pretty upset when I read that. For most farmers, it is impossible not to use the roads, they have a right to be on the road just like anyone else. We ALWAYS try to be considerate to other drivers. As for getting mud and manure on the road, farmers also try their best not to because you can be fined for getting that on the road in excessive amounts. Also remember the next time when you’re complaining about farmers, if it wasn’t for them you would be naked and hungry. May is the month for mothers as we celebrate Mother’s Day on
the 14th. Don’t forget to tell your Mom how much you appreciate all she does for you and your family. Here is a poem I would like to share with everyone for our Moms. More Than A Mother When God set the world in place, when He hung the stars up in space, when He made the land and the sea, then He made you and me. He sat back and saw all that was good, He saw things to be as they should. Just one more blessing He had in store; He created a mother, but whatever for? He knew a mother would have a special place to shine His reflection on her child’s face. A mother will walk the extra mile, just to see her children smile. She’ll work her fingers to the bone to make a house into a home. A mother is there to teach and guide, a mother will stay right by your side. She’ll be there through your pain and strife, she’ll stay constant in your life. A mother will lend a helping hand until you have the strength to stand. She’ll pick you up when you are down, when you need a friend she’ll stick around. A mother is one who listens well, will keep her word; will never tell. A mother never pokes or pries, but stands quietly by your side, giving you the strength you need, encouraging you to succeed. A mother is one who can be strong when you need someone to lean on. You’re more than a mother to me; a reflection of Him in your face I see, a love that knows no boundaries. I’m glad that you chose to be all this and more to me. You share a love that knows no end, you’re more than my mother, you are my friend. —by Kari Keshmiry I wish a very Happy Mother’s Day to all our Moms. Till next month that’s all from the East End. a
Local Events from page 4 Centre County Master Gardener Plant Sale Saturday, May 20 9:00 am-3:00 pm Ag Progress Days Site (2710 W. Pine Grove Rd, PA Furnace) The Plant Sale features over 5,000 plants and vegetables as well as talks and demonstrations on topical gardening related subjects. There will also be a silent auction and garden-related resale items. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your gardening questions and help you with your shopping too. Thousands of potted plants are for sale, including perennials, annuals, herbs, vegetables, and pollinator and native plants. For more information, visit: http://extension.psu.edu/ plants/master-gardener/counties/.
Wheeler will share his knowledge and enthusiasm for establishing gardens to attract pollinators. Bee inspired! For more information,
Bee Friendly Gardening Saturday, May 20 2:00-4:00 pm Tait Farm (179 Tait Rd, Centre Hall) Local pollinator expert Justin
All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.
visit: http://www.taitfarmfoods. com/blog/classes-events-shows/. a
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30 Bob at the Movies from page 27 Tim (Tobey Maguire). It’s established that Tim has an overactive imagination, hence the obvious embellishment. But the movie makes you think that it’s taking one approach to the narrative when it’s actually taking another, and I liked the first one more. The “real” version negates the whole story and it basically means that all the growing and learning that Tim does throughout the movie doesn’t count. But at least it means that the parents didn’t do frightfully irresponsible things like give the baby a necktie (I
Pomona Grange Annual Banquet from page 13 hopes to attend Penn State in the future. Halee talked about everything she has done to represent not only the Centre County Dairy Industry, but also the Dairy Industry throughout the State of Pennsylvania. Halee was crowned the PA State Dairy Princess in September. Halee stated that “the legislature along with the grange and the dairy industry all need to work together to support our economy.” She has also been talking with school students along with doing seminars for the PA Dairy Promotion Committee educating future dairy promoters. Halee is a student in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State. The guest speaker for the evening was Vince Phillips. Vince is the Legislative Director/ Lobbyist for the Pennsylvania State Grange. Vince spoke to many people before the dinner and asked for any questions. Using these questions that he was asked, he used these topics in his speech for the evening. Vince also stressed the need for the government and the community organizations like Grange to work together for the betterment of the communities. Vince holds a Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University in South Bend and advanced degrees from Notre Dame and the Maxwell School of Syracuse University. He has been an advocate in Pennsylvania since 1989. Some of the agricultural
Goss on Permaculture from page 24
fit with the other principles of permaculture? (Most notably, ‘Use Slow, Small Solutions,’ ‘Use and Value Renewable Resources,’,and ‘Catch and Store Energy.’) If you ask yourself these ques-
never could get past that detail). I was really dreading the humor of “The Boss Baby,” and make no mistake, there are a lot of dumb gross-out gags. But about five minutes in, I laughed at something. And then again at ten minutes. And then maybe at a creative action sequence around the 15-20 minute mark. The movie’s strength is that it goes for so many types of gags and at such frequency that something is bound to work. If you can enjoy the baby humor, that’s great, but there’s also wordplay, pratfalls, deadpan, jokes for adults that will go over kids’ heads, and when all else fails, Elvis. a
There’s a little something for everybody in “The Boss Baby,” but I have to emphasize “a little.” This movie probably isn’t worth seeking out if you have no interest in it. But if you feel obligated to see it, say, if your kids want to go, then go with them. There’s more to this movie than you think, though much of it is exactly what you expect.
and rural interests he has lobbied for include the PA Christmas Tree Growers, the former PA Horticultural Trade Alliance, the Crop Insurance Agents Association of Pennsylvania, the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, the PA Septage Management Association, the PA Floral Industry Association, and the PA Association of Professional Soil Scientists. Currently, he is the association executive for the PA State Council of Farm Organizations, an umbrella organization of over 70 agricultural groups and the Mid-Atlantic Soybean Association representing soybean growers in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and Delaware. Prior to coming to PA, Vince worked in Washington on President Reagan’s Transition Team and at the USDA in rural development and for the Secretary of Agriculture. He also was press secretary for the National American Wholesale Grocers Association and the International Foodservice Distributors Association. Vince and his wife Claudia reside in Mechanicsburg, PA. All candidates attending were given a small amount of time to introduce themselves and speak about the position they are running for and why they feel they are qualified. There were several in attendance along with those currently holding elected positions. We were privileged enough to be joined by Christine Millinder, the Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans’ Court;
Joe Davidson, the Recorder of Deeds; Rich Irvin, Pennsylvania State Representative of the 81st District; County Commissioners Mark Higgins and Michael Pipe; Centre County Sheriff Bryan Sampsel; and current District Attorney and candidate for re-election, Stacy Parks Miller. Other candidates that attended were Robert Bascom running for District Court Judge, Bernard Cantorna running for District Attorney, Brian Marshall running for Centre County Judge, Ronald McGlaughlin running Centre County Judge, Jason Moser running for Jury Commissioner along with others working on individual campaigns. We, the members of Pomona Grange, can be proud that there was at least one representative from nine of the eleven subordinate Granges in Centre County and numerous guests from the community. This banquet is one way the Grange in Centre County tries to connect with the community leaders. It is not a “fundraiser;” it is a “Community service project. All those who attended were given a chance to win one of the beautiful door prizes that were donated. So next April, if you are interested in what is happening in the politics of Centre County, come join the Centre County Pomona Grange #13 members at their annual Legislative Banquet tentatively to be held April 7, 2018 at the New Hope Lutheran Church in Spring Mills, PA. a
tions when it comes to any design element, you should be able to rule out anything that isn’t useful. Let’s forget the obsession with patterns found in nature and focus on the relationships those patterns have with their immediate environment and how we can use their functions in our landscapes! a
Two Stars out of Five. “The Boss Baby” is rated PG for some mild rude humor. Its running time is 97 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@ nyu.edu.
The Roman Jew Series from page 6 capitol Sepphoris. In 4 B.C. with Herod the Great dead, a zealous band of Jewish warriors lead by Judas the Galilean broke into the armory in Sepphoris. Now well armed, launched a guerrilla war across the Galilee! Like all the rest, Judas was captured, and murdered by Roman forces. As retribution for allowing Judas to empty the armory, Sepphoris was burned to the ground. Jesus of Nazareth was likely born during the rampage of Judas the Galilean and may have been around 10 years old when the Romans captured Judas, crucified his followers and leveled Sepphoris. At this time, Augustus divided rulership among the sons of Herod the Great (see map of 1st century Palestine). Herod Antipas would initiate an extravagant building campaign to include Sepphoris and later Tiberias. Every Tekton in the region would have poured into Sepphoris to take part in largest restoration project of the time. One can be fairly certain that Jesus and his brothers living a short distance away in Nazareth would have been among them. I can imagine that Jesus may have set eyes on “the fox” who lived in Sepphoris until 20 A.D.—the same man who would cut off the head of his closest friend, John the Baptist, and play a role in the demise of the charismatic Tekton from Nazareth. It could be that Jesus of Nazareth helped build an elegant home for Manaen. A home that he would likely be unwelcome in.
“Time makes more converts than reason.” ~Thomas Paine
All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.
In Acts 13, we find Barnabas, Saul and John Mark in Cyprus “proclaiming the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews.” Acts 13:6 says, “when they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar Jesus (Son of Jesus), who was with proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence.” This “Jewish Magician” opposed Saul’s teachings, and was seriously reprimanded by the “Roman Jew” from Tarsus. Acts 13:10 says, “You are full of deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord?” “Now, behold, the hand of the Lord upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.” “And immediately a mist, and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand.” Sergius Paulus “a man of intelligence” converted after witnessing Saul cast his spell on the Jewish devil. At this point in Acts, Luke (a gentile convert) renames Saul as Paul. John Mark, and later Barnabas, abandon him. Unfortunately, this is not the last time the Jewish people are cast as devils. It seems that this “mist” would turn to a cold wet blanket smothering the Jews in the centuries to come. Ghetto, Inquisitions, Crusades, Holocaust Galatians 1:9 says, “If any man is preaching to you a Gospel other than what you have received (from me), he is to be accursed.” a
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The Valley, May 2017 Brisco’s Coffee House & DP Gifts from front page and steamed milk foam. Flavored syrups can also be added to this hot beverage. Macchiato - An espresso with a small amount of steamed milk. Mocha- A latte with sweet chocolate added. Scott and Brian’s extensive research turned up few new ideas that they’ve brought to their coffee shop. Some of the new products that Brisco’s is featuring include: Nitro Cold Brewed Coffee - Nitrogen infused iced coffee that results in a crisper, slightly sweeter brew. “We encourage customers to try it before you add milk and sugar. You might just like it how it is,” explains Scott. Rothrock Coffee’s Summer Blend - “This blend of coffee beans is made especially for ice coffee,” explains Brian. “It’s not diluted when poured over ice and has a very nice, bright coffee flavor that many people say is close to an iced tea.” Rothrock Coffee is a small roaster located in State College. Red Espresso - Rooibus tea from South Africa that’s brewed like an espresso coffee and used in lattes and cappuccinos or brewed like a regular tea and consumed with milk and sugar. Matcha - a Japanese green tea that can be used in a variety of hot and cold beverages. Also used as a flavoring in dessert items. Affigato - a scoop of high quality vanilla ice cream “drowned” with a shot of hot espresso. The staff at Brisco’s has been trained to encourage their customers to ask questions. Their goal is to help each person find their perfect drink—even if it’s not coffee! They have a large selection of tea, frappes, Italian sodas, juices
A cheerful Barista is ready to create magic in a cup for YOU!
and more. The shop is currently featuring a variety of sweet treats to go with your beverages. Wednesday through Saturday, the shop will have a selection of NS Sweetie’s donuts brought in daily from Belleville. A lunch menu is in the works and will feature Scott’s homemade soups along with salads and other lighter fare. The Gift Shop is Open The total square footage of space is shared with the new incarnation of DP Gifts. The gift shop space is three times larger than the previous Milroy store. Located at the back of the building, the large, open space is filled with jewelry, clothing accessories, wreathes, LED candles, wind chimes, figurines, artisan candy
WiFi as well as the comfortable couches and TV in the lounge area. Board games are also available and in the near future, there will be game nights hosted by the Keystone Gamers. Scott and Brian have other ideas that they hope will turn their coffee shop into a community gathering place. From live music to poetry readings, small meetings to parties, they are open to new ideas that encourage community, promote understanding between all people, and cultivate a stronger world. Find Brisco’s Coffee Shop and DP Gifts on Facebook and at their respective
A comfortable atmosphere makes Brisco’s a perfect place to meet.
and jams, PSU memorabilia, and bath and body products. Known for their seasonal items, DP Gifts is currently filled with spring items and Scott and Brian are anxiously waiting for their new fall and Christmas merchandise to be delivered in a few months. Local artists, Daphne Marthouse and Jenny Barron Landis, also have their work on display and for sale. Coffee’s On! Hours for Brisco’s Coffee Shop are 7am 8pm Monday through Saturday and 8am - 5pm on Sunday. Gift shop hours are 10am -8pm Monday through Saturday and 10am - 5pm Sunday. Customers are welcome to use the shop’s free
The Truth Has No Agenda
websites: briscoscoffeeshop. com and dutchpantrygifts. com. Contact the shop by calling 717420-3286 or emailing info@ briscoscoffeehouse.com. a
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All might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they should.