July2013thevalleyonline

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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 4, No. 7

The fifth annual celebration of “Wings in the Park” will take place 10 AM-2 PM Saturday, July 20 at the Snetsinger Butterfly Garden at Tom Tudek Memorial Park. “Wings in the Park” is an event filled with life, energy, and wonder. Its purpose is to educate people of all ages about the importance of pollinators to our ecosystems and ultimately to our everyday lives. The Snetsinger Butterfly Garden is a three-acre site that not long ago was an old

Complimentary

The Valley, July 2013

agricultural field. Dr. Robert “Butterfly Bob” Snetsinger, for whom the garden is named, inventoried a scant half-dozen butterfly species in the 1990s. Under “Butterfly Bob’s” guidance and inspiration, that old field has been transformed into the Snetsinger Butterfly Garden. Since 2007 the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners have been major partners, working hard to create and expand demonstration gardens with pollinator-friendly native plants, native plants, native bee habitat, woodland habitat, and a Monarch Waystation. Today more than thirty butterfly species grace the garden. They sip nectar and lay eggs there; caterpillars hatch and munch away on food supplied by the host plants, mostly natives to our region. After growing rapidly, the caterpillars then form chrysalises where they metamorphose into adults, emerging to bring the life cycle full circle. Butterflies are the most captivating and visible pollinators at the site, but Dr. Robert Snetsinger handling a Monarch butterfly many other insect

species come to the garden too.

It’s critical to provide habitat for all insect life, for they pollinate a large portion of our food supply, from apples to zucchini. Pollinator species have been experiencing alarming decline, and the Snetsinger Butterfly Garden is one effort to explain their importance and educate people on how they can incorporate pollinator-friendly practices into their own lives. To help get them started, each family will receive a free native plant.

“Wings in the Park” will offer multiple ways to learn about pollinators geared to all audiences.

Last year over 300 adults and kids attended and enjoyed various activities and demonstrations.

Many attendees come dressed as their favorite pollinator and step out in a colorful Pollinator Parade that kicks off the day. Past costumed “Pollinators” have floated into the garden dressed as vivid yellow and black bees, or gossamer butterflies. Throughout the event, Master Gardeners will be on hand to explain the Snetsinger Butterfly Garden’s five Extension Demonstration Gardens, where visitors can see first-hand how to incorporate pollinator-friendly plants and gardening techniques in their own backyards. Community Stewards also will be present to explain how they contribute to the Snetsinger Butterfly Garden’s mission. The Stewards each tend a corner of the garden. Some are interested individuals; others are groups like Girl Scout troops and the State High Wild Dream Team .

The event’s activities and way Elementary School first and exhibits all convey the pollinator second graders. message in one way or another.

Tom Tudek Memorial Park Kids can join a scavenger hunt; is located at 400 Herman Drive examine an observation hive up in State College, PA. If you’re close; compare a diet without traveling by car, the entrance is pollinators (pretty monotonous!) off Martin Street, which is one to one that benefits from foods block west of Atherton Street/US that need pollinators (directly 322 about a mile north of the Penn or indirectly, most everything State campus. If you’re on a bike we now enjoy on our table); or or on foot, the Tudek Park bike visit a “Bug Hotel.” “Butterfly and pedestrian trail goes right past Bob” himself will man one of the the Snetsinger Butterfly Garden. a scavenger hunt stations. Over a dozen exhibits will represent organizations such as the Penn State Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania Native Plant Society, the Frost Entomological Museum, and Discovery Space with hands-on activities for the kids and information for the adults. New this year, Shavers Creek will be providing a hands on experience of making your own butterfly net. In addition, a pollinator-themed art exhibit will Father and son getting acquainted with honeybees, show work from Wings in the Park 2012 Easterly Park-

Lighting Brush Fires in People’s Minds

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Editor’s Corner Wayne Stottlar Scandal after scandal, after scandal. Have you had enough yet? Don’t hold your breath, there are bound to be more revelations come to light as more and more Americans become angry at what our government does IN OUR NAME!

That’s right, to be silent is to provide cover and unspoken approval for the criminal activity our government perpetrates on us every day. If you do not stand up and speak up, you are giving those that are supposed to represent you permission to break the law, ignore the Constitution, and further restrict your God given LIBERTY!

This isn’t intended as an attack against Obama either, it is Bush’s fault too, as they are BOTH responsible, but beyond them, it is the Republicans AND the Democrats who have brought us here.

We have four dead Americans still shrouded in a cloud of mystery. Questions (prepared and approved) have been asked by reporters, lies have been spewed by public officials and politicians, and the complicit mainstream media runs with it. No follow up, no clarification, they are nothing more than a mouthpiece for the government, ALL of them! Those of you who are Fox News junkies

are being manipulated and lied to as well, just a bit differently.

I have really stepped back lately and watched stories unfold while asking myself, “what do they want me to think, how is this supposed to make me react.”

If you follow a specific story through its many cycles of evolution, you will clearly see that there is an attempt to lead the reader or watcher to a specific point of view.

Take the Edward Snowden story, for instance. When the story first unfolded, it was reported that a high school dropout, who worked as a contractor for the NSA had “leaked” information to the media. The coverage was often different in the early days with some outlets regurgitating the statements of government officials who now had yet another issue to deal with, while some outlets allowed that Edward Snowden might actually be telling the truth

American Hero, Edward Snowden

and could possibly be a hero of sorts. Early on, Judge Andrew Napolitano actually expressed that very description, he identified Snowden as “An American Hero.” I happen to agree with my Libertarian brother on this.

Quickly the government trotted out the usual suspects to denounce Edward Snowden and call him a traitor—Dick Cheney, John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Schumer, Peter King, Karl Rove and on and on. All of them got the governments message out to the public by their willing mouthpieces at the networks and news rooms. The public perception needle barely moved in their favor.

They changed course and started calling Snowden a spy for China, because somehow fleeing to a place where it would take a while for the US goons to catch up with him, Hong Kong, somehow proved their point. Then it got even whackier. The government in dire need of swaying public opinion on their side quickly charged him with espionage, and tried to have him extradited back to the US, probably to die suspiciously while in captivity. Or perhaps to have been killed during an escape attempt. May seem wild, but with

all the other recent revelations about the outright bankruptcy of moral authority and persistent lying by our government, I am sorry, I just do not trust them at all anymore. And I now know that I probably never should have.

I still love our country, as it was founded, but we have strayed so far from that ideal that I wonder how we switched places with the old U.S.S.R. It is funny at times, but when Vladimir Putin makes more sense and is more believable than our own president, we have truly entered the twilight zone.

We still haven’t talked about our all powerful government agency, the IRS, targeting individuals who disagreed with government, or the fact that our government was spying on our news media. Is this the reason the media seem to have all fallen into line? Well, most media, and yes, that was a plug for independent media—that is where the truth lies, not with a corporate media giant who answers to the dollar.

I would just ask that you not allow yourself to be swayed and played by news reports or friends that are addicted to the 24 hour news cycle—there is a reason that garbage is called programming, BECAUSE IT IS!

I have watched otherwise smart people have the right reaction and interpretation to an event in the moments it breaks, then over the next few hours or few days or weeks, you can see their opinion changing as they are manipulated by the news stories in the paper and on the TV. Bottom line is, it takes work to be informed. If you are happy being lazy and being spoon-fed lies

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Contact Info Editor/Publisher Wayne Stottlar Graphic Artist/Co-Publisher Lynn Persing Associate Editor Colleen Swetland The Valley PO Box 41 Yeagertown, PA 17099 (717) 363-1550 E-mail: thevalleynewspaper@gmail.com Web: www.thevalleynewspaper.com ©The Valley. All Rights Reserved.

and complete bunk, you will one day find yourself out of options.

The truth is out there, but don’t expect to find it on the surface of a corrupt society. A BIG truth is, “If our government wasn’t doing anything unconstitutional or unethical in the first place, there WOULD BE NO STORY! They are just mad they got caught.

Our government is broken, and the fix has already been written—it is our Constitution. Our SERVANTS need to be made to follow it or be dealt with accordingly. It isn’t the Republicans or the Democrats, IT IS THE REPUBLICANS AND THE DEMOCRATS! Founding father Thomas Jefferson said, “When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.” It is long past time for the government to start fearing THE PEOPLE! a

The Valley, July 2013

Green Lane Store

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Everyday Carry

An Every Day Carry (E.D.C.) kit which will supplement your main Bug-Out Bag (B.O.B.) survival kit is the topic for this month’s Bunker article.

I have created a small kit that will meet all the basic needs in an emergency survival situation. The basic needs being: fire, shelter, and water.

While looking for a suitable carry method for the contents of this kit, I found several great options at my local army surplus store, HD Peffers (Deb if you’re reading this you had better stock up!). Heck, I’ll even recommend, the fashion nightmare that it is, the tried and true fanny-style pack. Seriously though, I’ll admit I’ve used a fanny pack while hiking, when worn in reverse it gives

you convenient access to necessities like sunglasses, sunscreen, and lip balm. But for the sake of not embarrassing your dad, we’ll refer to it as a waist pack.

Any small pack would be suitable, but the one I chose to use has several adjustable straps on the back giving me the option of wearing it on my belt or attaching it to a vest. The size of this pack is so that you could easily remove it from a vest or belt and toss it into a larger backpack.

The intention of this kit is that it could be easily carried with you at times when your main pack is inaccessible, impractical to carry, or should you become separated from it. This small kit would have all of your basic essentials.

Let’s take a look at what I’ve included in my kit. Contents will vary according to your situation and preferences, but the basics should include, like I mentioned earlier, the means to make a fire, build a shelter; and obtain potable water. Here is what is inside: 1) I have included three methods for starting a fire: strike-anywhere matches, butane lighter, and a Ferro rod with striker. Also included is some type of tinder.

2) For shelter, I have included a small bivy made of reflective material similar to a space blanket, but with a hood. I also almost always have with me several feet of 550 para-cord, which could be used in shelter building.

3) To treat water I have included water purification tablets.

4) A flashlight or depending on the situation, a headlamp.

5) A small firstaid kit, which is basically a few band-aids, pain medicine, and gauze pads.

6) A multi-tool.

7) I know it’s redundant, but I do carry a few tools with me that are mostly used for weapons maintenance; these include a small flathead screwdriver and a set of hex wrenches.

8) I usually have some type of a bandanna or head wrap with me at all times. Bandannas have

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many uses besides the obvious; they are great for pre-filtering water or can be used as a dust mask.

9) A few large safety pins and tweezers.

These items are just an example of what could be included in your Every Day Carry survival kit, but of course, your preferences and situations will determine its contents.

Start with the basic essentials and build your kit from there.

Remember, this is just to see you through a short term emergency situation until you can get to your main pack and other supplies. a

There are many styles and fabrics that make up the possibilities of becoming your “Everyday Carry” bag.

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A great example of the effects of weather on rock and the creation of soil parent material.

Getting Down And Dirty!

The Basic Building Blocks

It’s time to continue with our look at good old Mother Earth.

To bring us back up to speed, let’s recap a short version of last month’s definition of soil. “Soil is a dynamic natural body capable of supporting a vegetative cover and is composed, primarily, of weathered minerals and varying amounts of water, oxygen (air) and organic material.” These four basic building blocks of soil fall into two groups – the inorganic and the organic.

Let’s begin our exploration of soil where the soil itself begins – with the inorganic three: minerals, water and air. Just to keep things

straight, remember that these are considered inorganic because they do not originate from living organisms.

Of these three, minerals (think rocks) are the basis of all soil. The rock material, from which soil develops, is called the parent material. Parent material becomes soil through the process of weathering – in essence, the rock is worn down into smaller and ever smaller particles, until it ceases to be rock and becomes soil. The structure and chemical makeup of the parent material will be the beginning structure and chemical make up of the soil;

sandstone to sandy soil high in silica, limestone to more friable soil rich in calcium, etc., etc.

Depending on the hardness of a mineral and how it is being weathered, new born soil will sometimes remain near the parent material, keeping its original characteristics or the weathering processes that form it will sometimes carry the soil away and expose it to influences that change its chemistry and structure, some-

times quite markedly, from what it began with.

[A brief aside: do you really think it a coincidence that this process sounds a bit – well – biological? We need to be attentive to patterns and what they can teach us to see.]

Now, interestingly enough, the other two inorganic components of soil – air and water – also happen to be two of the major mechanisms by which the parent material is weathered down and transformed into soil. Wind and water are major weatherers on our little planet, helped along in

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no small part by climate (heat expanding, cold contracting, change of seasons, humid, dry, etc. etc. etc.). So while wind and water are busy turning rock into soil they are also being absorbed in differing amounts, eventually playing an important role in the characteristics of the soil and how that soil will be used by living organisms.

So, here we have the first three basic building blocks – minerals, air, and water. For these three to work together in just the right way to create soil that is ready for the

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Thots on...Genesis

A Bible Study for the Lay Christian

by Lydia

In 2 Timothy 3.16, Paul tells us, “Every inspired scripture has its use for teaching the truth and refuting error, or for reformation of manners and discipline in right living…” [NEB*] *Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are quoted from the New International Version.

Genesis 24.3-4 ‘I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.’

Sarah died at the age of 127 at Kyriat Arba, near Hebron, and Abraham approached the Hittites, among whom he lived, to ask for a piece of land to use for a burial place. [Genesis 23.4] He paid a fair price for the land, even though Ephron had offered to give it to him. The burial site for Sarah was the first parcel of the promised land to be legally transferred into Abraham’s possession.

Despite his initial doubts

and fears, despite his mistakes, Abraham’s faith is held up as a standard for us to emulate [Hebrews 11.8-10], yet Abraham lived among a pagan people. How did he perfect his faith under those circumstances? He worshipped the one true God and took direction only from Him. So should we seek wisdom and direction only from God, and not contaminate our faith by consulting pagan sources as psychics or horoscopes.

It is interesting to note that even though God had promised him the land, and even though he’d lived on the land for years and was considered something of a prince by the Hittites [Genesis 23.6], Abraham considered himself an alien.

Just so, we are told by Peter to “live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear” [1 Peter 1.17]. Again, Peter wrote, “I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.” [1 Peter 2.11] For we belong not to this world, but to the Kingdom of God!

The 34th Annual Big Valley Bluegrass Gospel Concert and Ice Cream Social will be held on Saturday, July 6th beginning at 6:00 PM on the lawn at the Belleville Mennonite School, 4105 Front Mountain Road, Belleville, PA. Three talented groups: Raven Creek, The Old Time Way, and The Unusual Suspects will be presenting Gospel Bluegrass. Please offer a contribution to cover the expenses and a delicious dessert to complement the ice cream.

That is The Big Valley Bluegrass Gospel Concert on Saturday, July 7th at The Belleville Mennonite School. Bring your lawn chairs and look forward to that Ice Cream.

Now Abraham was growing old and was concerned that he might die before his son Isaac was properly married. Why was he so determined that his son should not marry a Canaanite woman? The Canaanites worshipped idols, and a Canaanite wife might have led Isaac away from faith in the one true God. Compare Abraham’s determination with the attitude of Lot, who had arranged marriages for his daughters to wicked men of Sodom. [Genesis 19.14]

Abraham instructed his servant to go back to his kinsmen to find a wife for Isaac. When the servant asked if he should take Isaac back to Abraham’s homeland, Abraham remembered God’s promise and answered, “On no account are you to take my son back there.” [Genesis 24.6 NEB] Then he added, “The LORD…will send his angel before you….” [Genesis 24.7]

And so the servant set out with 10 camels laden with gifts for the woman God would provide. He arrived at the Mesopotamian town where Abraham’s brother Nahor lived and settled his camels near the well in the evening. However, he wasn’t sure how he would know which woman to approach and so as not to make a mistake, he asked God to make His will clear to him. “See, I am

standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.

May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels, too’ [Remember, he had 10 camels!]—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac.” [Genesis 24.13-14] Before he had finished praying in his heart, God answered! [Genesis 24.45]

God understands our confusion and our occasional inability to discern His guidance, and He is more than willing to make His will plain to those who are willing to follow Him. It’s not necessary to make a big production of prayer, to assume a certain pose or to recite certain words. The faithful servant simply prayed “in his heart.” Prayer is nothing more than conversation with God!

A beautiful young woman named Rebecca came to the well and when the servant asked her for a drink, she offered to draw water for his camels, too. When she had finished, the servant gave her a few pieces of gold jewelry and asked to spend the night at her father’s house. I’m sure it came as no surprise to the faithful servant when the girl revealed that she was the granddaughter of Abra-

ham’s brother.

The servant was welcomed

by Rebecca’s family and invited to dine with them, but he refused to partake of their hospitality until he had concluded his master’s business. [Genesis 24.33] He then told them of his conversation with Abraham and his prayer to God at the well.

After hearing the servant’s report, Rebecca’s father and brother concluded that it was, indeed, God’s will that Rebecca should become Isaac’s bride. [Genesis 24.50-51]

The enemy then attempted to foil God’s plan by placing doubts in the minds of Rebecca’s family and they tried to delay the girl’s departure. A disagreement ensued and it was decided that the decision would be left up to Rebecca, who said, “I will go.” [Genesis 24.57]

Again, what other answer can we give when the Lord calls us than, “Here am I. Send me.”

Psalm 45.10-11 (NEB) says, “Listen, my daughter, hear my words and consider them: forget your own people and your father’s house; and, when the King desires your beauty [or your time or your talents], remember that He is your Lord.” a

OBSERVATIONS . . . of an OLD MAN Living In Troubled Times - Times of Pervasive and Dramatic Changes Whose side am I on? How can I discern?

In all things of the universe, in every issue of our times, there are positive and negative elements:

God - Satan Good - Evil

Light - Darkness

Joy - Sadness

Love - Hate Understanding - Fear Sharing - Greed Compassion - Cruelty

The Discernment Challenge: Sorting out the elements

James Truslow Adams: “There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it hardly behooves any of us to talk about the rest of us.”

Come Let Us Reason Together

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Peter J. Moses

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Adventures on Our Nourishing Journey

by Sue Burns

Choice and Change The Ultimate Human Freedom

obvious from the rise in obesity and chronic disease that our bodies are not keeping up with the influx of chemicals and preservatives that we are chewing and swallowing each day.

We continue to rely more and more on pills and procedures to “make us well” instead of seeking out real whole foods that allow us to thrive, not just survive.

Fake food is now recognized as ‘real” and real foods are seen as foreign. You can test this theory simply going to the grocery store and putting some kale in you cart.

Proceed to the check out line. If your cashier is under 30 years of age, I bet you 9 times out of 10 he or she will ask you, “what is this’ as they cautiously dig for the product code. Scary.

Healthy eating in today’s world requires some rebellious action, but it is not an impossible accomplishment. We need to reawaken or senses in order that we begin to recognize and choose “what is good for us.” Here are some suggestions to get us started on this path less traveled.

Food Freedom in 10 Basic Steps 1. Independence can not happen until dependence is recognized, so

Every human has four endowments—self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom...

The power to choose, to respond, and to change.” ~ Stephen Covey

Happy 4th of July! Honoring, remembering and giving thanks for our freedom and independence are hopefully imbedded in our thoughts this month. Political turmoil aside, I think we all agree that we are blessed beyond measure to live in the greatest nation on this planet, because we are FREE.

Along with that freedom, we are granted the privilege of choice. Our choices are a reflection of who we are and what we value. For the most part, in this great land, we are permitted to choose our living environment, our life’s work, our place of worship, our life mates, our children’s school, what we eat for dinner, and our hobbies. We also put our personal seal of approval on our cars, clothing, music, hair style, friends, and travel destinations.

Suffice it to say, we are bombarded and blessed with hundreds of choices everyday. Obviously our responses to these choices have an impact on our lives; some more

long lasting than others.

With that in mind, I am curious. What do our food choices say about us? What influences our food choice? For most of us, we choose food that represents what I call the three C’s; Cost, Convenience, and Comfort. We want food that is inexpensive, easy to prepare/obtain and tastes great. Usually the taste factor trumps all others. Food choice is very personal, regional and traditional. If you want an example, just ask my pastor who was born and raised in Germany how she likes one of our favorite central Pennsylvania meals of “chicken and waffles.” You will be certain to get a reaction that is less than positive! While I agree that influence behind the three C’s is critical, optimal health requires that we add one more C to the equation. We must include the concept of Care. When we choose healthy foods, we are expressing care not only for our bodies, but for our families, our community, our local farmers and the environment too.

Saying yes to good food becomes a daily practice of stewardship.

Today our grocery stores are packed with 40,000 products for our choosing, netting the food industry billions of dollars each year. Most of these items cater

very well to the three C’s of cost, convenience and comfort in the form of massive amounts of faux food, neatly tied up in pretty packages. Laden with sugar, salt and damaged fats, these offerings have become so much a part of our culture that we don’t question feeding our children “magically delicious” marshmallows in their breakfast cereal. Neither do we consider what “laboratory” created them, nor do we want to face the unpleasant task of examining the havoc they create in our bodies. Most of the “food” we are exposed to today has only recently been designed in the past 3-4 generations. It seems

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the first step in declaring freedom from the mass markets is awareness. Without judgements or guilt (because they are negative emotions that raise the stress level), start to look at your pantry shelves along with what you choose to toss into your grocery cart. Ask yourself why you select the foods you do. Simply start becoming more aware. Noticing and recognizing our food choices is the very first step. Are there alternatives that fall within your budget?

Consider making one substitution this month such as trying the high protein grain called quinoa (yes, it can be found in the grocery store) instead of white rice. It is prepared the same as rice, yet it offers more minerals, fiber and protein and less carbohydrates.

This seed/grain is pronounced “keen-wah.”

2. Speaking of how foods are pronounced, seek out and remove the “unpronounceable” on a food label. Quinoa does not count! When looking at a food label, if you cannot say the ingredient or spell it, why would you want to eat it? Chemicals are not food. Our taste buds have become addicted to them and it will take some time to recondition

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Fruit Trees are Producing!

Well the rain is falling here again today. You would think that as a homesteader I would relish the rain. It IS a blessing, but the weather pattern around here has been such that things are not really drying out between downpours. If I don’t pick strawberries twice per day, they are rotting on the stem. My lettuce is beginning to look a little sickly as other things in the garden are yellowing

slightly. Nutrients are washing right through the soil. Looks like I will have to fertilize soon.

One plus side to the rain is that my two year old (well, at least to us) fruit trees are producing fruit! I have pears, apples and peaches! I have two Santa Rosa Plums (which didn’t bloom this year) so no fruit production from them yet. I am looking forward to next year in the hopes that they

will be better established. The pear tree, an old variety called Kieffer is loaded with baby pears this season. I know I should be on the lookout for over production in my fruit trees, but I don’t think it is to that point yet.

Because of the age of the tree though, the branches are still fairly tender. I am researching how to properly stake my fruit trees.

Two materials I am considering to use are long solid tree branches and 2x4s with notches cut into the ends of them.

I have a good supply of both and I suppose it will take some experimentation to see what works best. My mother has actually seen an apple orchard that used the notched lumber method in New York, so I am leaning in that direction.

People have wondered why I planted Kieffer trees. (I have two of them). To some, Kieffer pears are junk fruit—nothing like the exotic Asian pear trees that produce the varieties you see in the grocery stores. To me, planting a heritage type that among its many attributes, resists the dreaded fire blight is a huge consideration. I don’t like spraying if I can avoid it.

If your Asian variety trees happen to catch the blight, there is no method of control. You must destroy your trees and not replant another pear tree for some years. No thank you.

The Kieffer is also very hardy with a zone 4-9 growing range.

They are heat and drought tolerant too. Any fruit tree that can withstand our cold New England winters is great in my book. They are also rapid growers and can shoot up four feet in a year reaching an estimated height of 25 feet. Kieffer is also the preferred pear if you plan on canning them or making pear honey. Because they have a firm flesh they hold up well to the heat and rigors of canning and or baking.

Have I convinced you yet?

Using forked saplings as branch supports on my fruits trees is not only economical, it is aesthetically pleasing to me as well

Good, because I think that they only been in the new area of the would make an excellent addiyard for a year. I can only imagine tion to your yard or orchard. I what next year will bring! a planted two myself, because even though the trees are self pollinating, it is a good idea to have at least two of this variety to make sure the bees do their business.

While we are talking fruit, the raspberry bushes that we transplanted into the raised boxes that James made for me last year are absolutely full of little green berries, as are the cultivated type blueberry bushes that I bought at the wholesale nursery.

I am very pleased with these recent additions to my garden. After all of My two Keifer pear trees near the barn are loaded with small pears this year, supporting is a must! these things have

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The Valley, July 2013 Seasonal Produce

No GMOs Naturally Nutritious No Synthetic Chemicals Open Polinated and Heirloom Varieties Available Tuesday’s Rec Park Farmers Market, Lewistown 3:00pm - 7:00pm Thurs. & Sat. Tri Valley Farmers Market, Lewistown 9:00am - Noon

Wednesday’s Big Valley Farmers Market, Reedsville 8:00am - 1:00pm Fridays 8:ooam - 7:00pm Saturdays 8:00am - 4:00pm At Our Farm 260 Stage Road Milroy FMNP & SFMNP Checks Accepted

Meet The Folks Who Grow Your Food!

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Just Dynamite!

The horses get jealous of my popularity!

Who would have thought when I started the HORSE Scoop that one fuzzy ‘lil gray “critter” would become so popular. Yes

people ask me questions about horses. They may comment on my horse pictures, but most often they ask “How is the donkey?”

Well the donkey is JUST DYNAMITE!

When you own a “Dynamite” donkey, you must be prepared to be the “butt” of many jokes. I no longer think that people are complimenting my “behind,” I now know they are talking about my “nice ...umm donkey.” Dynamite is forever entertaining, not only to me, but also to my friends through the pictures I share of his antics.

So for this month’s Horse Scoop, by popular request (especially from Lynn and Wayne), I am giving you a whole column of Dynamite moments. If I am not careful, Dynamite may someday have Is my picture going to be in The Valley his own column in The Valley. a newspaper again?

Shhhhh, I’m hiding from the paparazzi

“Hey, look! It’s a Papilio glaucus, commonly called The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail...what?...You thought I was just another pretty face?”

It’s all about the ears.

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“Ok, ok, you’re right, I am showing off. But can you do this?”

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LIbrary Lines

Choice and Change from page 7 ourselves to what real food tastes like. Be patient. The reward is worth the effort.

Your Mifflin County Library

If you have Facebook and are a fan of the Mifflin County Library, then maybe you know that in the Children’s Room, we have been taking care of a whole bunch of butterflies!

This started last year, when Community Partnerships RC&D wanted to partner for Pollinator Week. I had never heard of Pollinator Week, and whenever anyone in the community wants to partner with the library, I try to agree.

So last year, Kevin Morgan from RC&D ordered butterflies that arrived shipped in dry ice. How cool was that! I had never heard of any such thing, didn’t know butterflies could be frozen, and after our story time and craft, we released the butterflies. Well, they were still a little bit frozen and sort of laid on the ground, their wings moving very feebly.

This year, the library was given 33 caterpillars. They were teeny tiny and Miss Kelly at the library and Beth Miller from RC&D separated them from one box into 32 individual little cups each with a lid and a slice of food.

The food sort of looked like Styrofoam but I think it was sugar.

That was when the stress began because two of the caterpillars had to share a home! The first caterpillar, I named Gerald, ate most of the food and transformed into his chrysalis. When we looked a few days later, the other caterpillar was gone! We

panicked! Did Gerald eat his friend? Were caterpillars cannibals? What would we do? Most of the children knew that one cup housed two caterpillars because I had posted this status of the caterpillars to Facebook!

Well, the little guy was just hiding and soon ate the remainder of the food. Later on, he hung upside down in the shape of a letter J and, days behind everyone else, had formed a chrysalis. The caterpillars came with a kit and

the kit had a little tent. Each of the chrysalises had to be moved into the tent. I really don’t like bugs. I hate spiders. Caterpillars spin something like a web. So transferring them into the tent was like tearing through webs.

Grossed-out and disgusted, we did it! And we waited; anxious and nervous for them to emerge seven to nine days later.

Caterpillars do not hatch.

They EMERGE. Children learn this in first grade, apparently.

(Thank you, Ada Bodmer, recent first grade graduate, for teaching me something new.)

By the way, did you know that when they emerge, they are bloody? I did not know this—it was a very bad experience, especially as I was reading a vampire book at the time.

My caterpillar instructions told me to feed the caterpillars Gatorade, not the G2 low-cal stuff, but the very sugary Fierce Grape. Fortunately, I had little sample cups that Walmart had donated to the library last year, hoping we could use them for a craft. I put the first cup in the tent and then panicked again because the poor little guys could drown, you know! Several cotton balls in the cups solved this dilemma.

Speaking of the little guy, he finally did emerge, last one of all! He is now a healthy fluttering butterfly. One of the 33 has malformed wings. The kids ask about this one. I tell them that just like all people are different, so are all butterflies. And even though he can’t fly around like the others, he walks carefully around the tent, sipping the Gatorade just like the others.

One morning, Miss Chris came into the Children’s Room and the tent was at the very edge of the countertop. The butterflies flittered and fluttered all night, all 33 of them, so much so that they moved the tent and almost toppled off! She surrounded the tent with encyclopedias.

Even with the anxiety (and yes, I called the library on my days off to check up on the little guys and asked the staff to text me with any changes—which they did), this partnership was one of

3. Plan, plan, plan. This is the key to sticking to a food budget.

If we have the time to lull away on Facebook, we have the time to plan simple and economical whole food meals. For starters, here is a quick dinner idea. Try baked spaghetti squash topped with an organic meat sauce sprinkled with shredded mozzarella cheese paired with a mixed green organic tossed salad and some crusty sourdough bread. This just happens to be what we are having for dinner tonight, AND I can be on the computer while the squash is baking!

4. Let go of a High Fact Diet.

You read that right, I said “fact” not “fat.” Confusion and controversy abound when it comes to “experts” telling us what to eat.

Yes, scientific fact is important, but in my opinion we are going WAY overboard by relying more and more on “the most recent study” and less and less on our gut instinct about seeking out and enjoying the real whole foods that deep in our gut we know are best for us. A quick way to assess our food selection is to ask ourselves if the food we are choosing was living at one time. Trust me, Twinkies are not grown or raised.

5. Bring in the reinforcements.

Sometimes it is hard to go it alone. When you get a moment, explore one of my favorite blogs at www.nourishedkitchen.com.

Although we have never met, I have visited this site so much that I think of the creator, Jenny, as my friend. Next, jump over to www. villagegreennetwork.com. This site hosts hundreds of blogs on natural foods and healthy living ideas and also has a market place that helps to answer the ever present question, “Where do I buy that?” I really enjoy hunting for and gathering real foods, so if you the most fun, most educational partnerships I’ve ever had. The children and students, and even parents and other adults and library staff, learned so much and became involved in the partnership with us. This became a community event in the library.

Facebookers followed my daily posts on “Caterpillar Update” which later turned into “Butterfly Update.” Some of our Facebook

have a question or want me to try to find something for you, be in touch.

6. Shop Local. Our local Rec Park Farmer’s Market in Lewistown brings us one of the best food bargains in town. In addition, they also offer weekly, complementary, Cook Shop classes that are designed to guide us in learning how to prepare the bounty direct from the market.

Join me on July 16th when I will be talking about kale. Are you surprised that I picked that topic?

7. Are you ready to become a food rebel and challenge “politically correct nutrition?”

Food rebels embrace real butter, grass-fed meats, fermented foods, raw milk, and local organic vegetables. Maybe you are not willing to be a total rebel, but are wanting to make some moves in those directions. If so, check out www.foodrenegade.com. This is my go-to resource when I need a boost of encouragement.

8. Check in with you body. How do you feel? Do you remember what it is like to have vim and vigor, or at least more good days than bad? I recently saw on the news that the average American checks in with their cell phone 150 times each day. I guess we are afraid we might miss a message. Yet, unfortunately we ARE often missing the messages our body is sending us. It may be overfed, but starving for real food.

9. I did not forget the 3 C’s. A bunch of kale cost less that a family size bag of potato chips. It takes less than 10 minutes to sauté it with a little garlic and olive oil which is less time than a trip through the drive through so it is super convenient. Granted kale is not high on the comfort food list, but remember your taste buds are in boot camp and they sometimes might be uncooperative, so keep dishing it out and they will soon be ready for active duty.

10. Finally, get familiar with what it is like to eat real food with followers live outside of the county.

We are very grateful to Community Partnerships RC&D, especially Beth Miller, for all you do in Mifflin County and for all you did in helping us raise these caterpillars into butterflies, helping us have a wonderful event at the library and then a Painted Lady butterfly release.

All 33 butterflies were

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joy, pleasure and true nourishment. Food is our fuel, plain and simple. That means we get the opportunity to fuel up with three pleasurable experiences a day.

Even on the worst of days, this is great news! I encourage you to give your time and your budget to choosing the highest quality food you can. Allow meal times to be a joyful occasion. Joy and pleasure actually change our body chemistry for the better. I know we live very busy lives. If you must have grab and go food most days try to get in at least three nourishing and joyful meals a week.

In conclusion:

Freedom brings responsibility. As proud citizens of the United States we have many responsibilities to ourselves, our communities, our nation, and our planet. Becoming more aware of our food choices is one responsibility that will aid us in making better decisions about the food we eat, and in turn bring us optimum nourishment and health. When we have self love and self respect, we naturally begin to pay more attention to self care. Granted, food has a multidimensional role.

It has deep-seated roots in our culture, our religion, our family traditions and our personal enjoyment.

Negating these aspects is not my objective. I realize my 10 steps to Food Freedom may appear to be a revolutionary concept. Give them some thought and let me know what you think.

Remember, we make our choices and then our choices make us. And don’t forget the kale!!

Sue is a holistic nutrition consultant and holistic health educator.

Her office is located at 54 Chestnut Street in Lewistown. To learn more about her business go to www.mynourishingjourney.com She can be reached by email at sue@mynourishingjourney.com or give her a call at 242- 3132. a

released June 19th. Almost 70 library and butterfly lovers attended the big event. Little Gimpy with the malformed wings jumped onto my finger and I very carefully placed him on a flower. The rest flew away!

Susan Miriello Youth Service Librarian, Mifflin County Library a

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tion of my strawberry plants. Now that gets me excited.

BEE-SIDE MYSELF

Well, I knew this day was coming; Wayne has been talking about it for years--I just didn’t think it would get here so soon.

Wayne is getting bees! Yup, honey bees--about 10,000 of them. This is definitely one road I would like to travel less. I know they are important pollinators and they make honey. Sure, there’s lots of good stuff that bees do, but they also sting. And do they have to have their home in my back yard? Can’t they live with someone else? I guess you can tell I’m not so thrilled with this sweet venture of Wayne’s. I bet if I asked Murphy, he’d voice his displeasure too. He tried to eat a wasp last year and it didn’t end well.

My Dad and my brother are both allergic, and since you can

become allergic at any time, I’m thinking there’s a chance I could be now too.

It’s almost 9PM and Wayne just headed to Sam Alexander’s to pick up his hive and bring them back. I’ve been volunteered to help lift the hive out of the back of the truck and set them in place.

Yippy skippy. Can you feel my excitement? A breeze has kicked up and the sky looks pretty threatening right now. So, we might be setting that hive in place in the pouring rain. It just keeps getting better and better.

Over dinner Wayne told me everything he knows about bees.

Well, ok....not everything, but he told me a lot. You should hear the excitement in his voice. The only thing I’m excited about is the honey...well, and maybe the pollina-

Wayne told me that since this is an established hive, we should get lots of honey this year. So, friends and family, I guess you know what you’ll be getting for Christmas this year. That’s right, a little bit of liquid gold, should we get that lucky.

So now, I need to learn some things about bees and honey.

Wayne called his bees “girls.”

What, no men in that hive? He said, “Nope, after they mate with the Queen Bee, they die. And any male bees that are born, stick around for a while and then the ‘girls’ send them packin’ before winter hits.” Huh!

Now about the honey. I do know that eating pure, raw honey from your local area is really supposed to help with allergies.

I don’t have much in the way of allergies, except for itchy, watery eyes now and then, but I’m anxious to start using this honey to see if I notice any difference in the way I feel. Alright, maybe I am a little excited after all.

We won a book called “Bees for Dummies” in a raffle a few years ago when we attended a get

together at a bee farm in southern Pennsylvania. (Ok, I know that’s not what they call the place where they keep bees, but it was a farm, so that’s what I’m calling it! I know it’s really an apiary.) Since bee delivery night is finally here (sigh), I guess I better dust that book off and start reading.

I must put a positive spin on this article, so here are ten health benefits of honey as taken from Diana Herrington’s article found on http://www.care2.com/greenliving.

Health Benefits of Honey: 1. Prevent cancer and heart disease: Honey contains flavonoids, antioxidants which help reduce the risk of some cancers and heart disease.

2. Reduce ulcers and other gastrointestinal disorders: Recent research shows that honey treatment may help disorders such as ulcers and bacterial gastroenteritis. This may be related to the 3rd benefit.

3. Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal: “All honey is antibacterial, because the bees add an enzyme that makes hydrogen peroxide,” said Peter Molan, director of the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato in New Zealand.

4. Increase athletic performance: Ancient Olympic athletes

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would eat honey and dried figs to enhance their performance.

This has now been verified with modern studies, showing that it is superior in maintaining glycogen levels and improving recovery time than other sweeteners.

5. Reduce cough and throat irritation: Honey helps with coughs, particularly buckwheat honey. In a study of 110 children, a single dose of buckwheat honey was just as effective as a single dose of dextromethorphan in relieving nocturnal cough and allowing proper sleep.

6. Balance the 5 elements: Honey has been used in ayurvedic medicine in India for at least 4000 years and is considered to affect all three of the body’s primitive material imbalances positively. It is also said to be useful in improving eyesight, weight loss, curing impotence and premature ejaculation, urinary tract disorders, bronchial asthma, diarrhea, and nausea.

Honey is referred as “Yogavahi” since it has a quality of penetrating the deepest tissues of the body. When honey is used with other herbal preparations, it enhances the medicinal qualities of those preparations and also helps them to reach the deeper tissues.

continued on page 14

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The Valley, July 2013

Understanding the Constitution

by David Molek

The Federalist Papers

The Federalist Papers can teach us more about the theory and practice of our Constitution than any other work. These documents reveal the connection between the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution.

The Federalist Papers are a series of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay promoting the ratification of our Constitution. It is the outstanding American contribution to the literature on constitutional democracy and federalism. It is, by far, the most authoritative text concerning the interpretation of our Constitution and an insight into our Framers’ intent. However, it is one of the least studied and least understood of all American political writings.

The Federalist Papers revealed the connection between our

two foundational documents of American politics. They demonstrated how our Constitution was an extension of the principles of our Declaration of Independence, especially the principles of liberty and equality, while illustrating at the same time how these principles had to be reconciled in a new constitutional instrument. Our Constitution is predicated upon the transcendent rights of our Declaration of Independence.

Ultimately, the Federalist Papers comprise 85 papers covering six general topics. These topics are often described as: (1) the utility of the Union to political prosperity; (2) the insufficiency of the Articles of Confederation to preserve that Union; (3) the necessity of a government at least equally energetic with the one proposed; (4) the conformity of the proposed Constitution to the

true principles of republican government; (5) its analogy to your own state constitution; and (6) the additional security which its adoption will afford to the preservation of that species of government, to liberty and to property. In simple terms, it advocates establishment of a “constitutional” government which it defines as limited government or government limited to the powers enumerated in the Constitution and established by the consent of the governed.

The idea of a more perfect union took front stage. The most obvious practical end that the new constitutional union would promote was security. They were thinking security from foreign dangers, from civil discord certain to arise between the several confederacies that would emerge absent federal union, security from despotism and security from domestic faction. Their argument and goal was a new constitutional union that would enable Americans both in the realm of necessity and in the realm of freedom providing security while at the same time creating a dynamic republic historically unprecedented in its promotion of those conditions necessary for the flourishing of individual and political liberty.

Five basic themes can be discerned in these Federalist Papers.

They are federalism, checks and balances, separation of powers, republicanism and representation. Federalism, or the division of political power into state and federal governments, would provide “double security…to the rights of the people”.

The division

of the federal government into three distinct branches, each with authority to effectively check the power of the others, was meant to ensure the best protection of individual liberty. There was designed a double protection for the rights of the people with the subdivision of authority on two levels – state and federal.

Because the basis of American constitutionalism is the individual and the object of legislative process is the general welfare or public interest, our Constitution’s republican forms – its bicameralism, different terms of elections, separation of powers and checks and balances were intended above all to defeat majority factions.

Majority rule is not synonymous with majority interests.

There was a distinct goal of protecting individual liberty from possible injustices by political officials. Both the government and the governed have to be controlled. The best way to control the federal government was to limit its powers. Our Constitution did just that. The meaning of our Constitution comes from those who ratified it, as it is from “We the People” that government derives its sovereignty.

The 17th Amendment, which popularized the election of Senators, arguably removed

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the only or the most significant check on behalf of state interests from federal institutional process, thus opening the floodgates of the federal regulatory state. Add that to the interpretations of the commerce clause and necessary and proper clause and the federal government has carte blanche to regulate what should be state governmental functions or left free of regulation altogether in the private world. The liberal welfare state is pervasive and too many Americans certainly have become dependent upon it. The post-New Deal and Great Society welfare state is here to stay. That ideology is leading our country into financial, political and moral bankruptcy. This is just what the Federalist Papers were concerned about and opposed.

The Federalist Papers are the best guide we have to the meaning of our Constitution. It sets out the Founders’ natural rights principles and comprehensive justice. Our Constitution is based on principles of limited and responsible government. Where is that today? We need these founding principles to be read and understood. We need to see to it that they once again guide our country.

The best way to determine the intent of our Founders is to read our Constitution and the Federalist Papers. Then you can be the judge of whether or not the federal government is abusing the limited powers afforded it by our Constitution. I have made my decision. Our Founders have left us with their teaching and example, showing us the way to restore our Constitution to its rightful place.

Time is running out. a

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Canning Tomatoes from page 17

You’re Invited th

80 Year Celebration Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy Day Sunday, July 21, 2013 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Join in a day of sharing and learn how events brought about the creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps program that included the construction of Poe Valley State Park. Learn about life in a Civilian Conservation Corps camp.

Visit the site where the camp was erected and tour the original “officer’s quarters” building. Enjoy a stroll along Poe Valley Lake that resulted from the erection of an earthen dam through the works of the local CCC camp located near the park.

Bring your lawn chairs and a picnic lunch. Aren’t able to pack a picnic?

Enjoy lunch at the parks’ concession stand. A collection of memorabilia will be on exhibit for you to enjoy. You may bring any mementos you have that you wish to share with others.

WHO

WHAT

WHERE

CCC Veterans, Sons, Daughters, For more information on the A celebration and day of Grandsons, Granddaughters, park location and its activities, sharing to learn more about the Nieces, Nephews, visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us and CCC’s and the creation of search for Poe Valley State Park Extended Family Members, Poe Valley State Park. This is a or phone (814) 349-2460.

CCC History Buffs, FREE, family friendly event.

Local Historians, Everyone!

For event specific information, contact William Marcum at willmar54@hotmail.com

Bee-side Myself from page 12 7. Blood sugar regulation: Even though honey contains simple sugars, it is NOT the same as white sugar or artificial sweeteners. Its exact combination of fructose and glucose actually helps the body regulate blood sugar levels. Some honeys have a low hypoglycemic index, so they don’t jolt your blood sugar. (Watch this video Sweetener Comparison where I compare stevia, brown rice syrup, honey, molasses and agave, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each.)

8. Heal wounds and burns: External application of honey has been shown to be as effective as conventional treatment with silver sulfadiazene. It is speculated that the drying effect of the simple sugars and honey’s anti-bacterial nature combine to create this effect.

9. Probiotic: Some varieties of honey possess large amounts of friendly bacteria. This includes up to 6 species of lactobacilli and 4 species of bifidobacteria. This may explain many of the “mysterious therapeutic properties of honey.”

10. Beautiful skin: Its anti-bacterial qualities are particularly use-

ful for the skin, and, when used with the other ingredients, can also be moisturizing and nourishing! For a powerful home beauty treatment for which you probably have all the ingredients in your kitchen already.

Here are some cautions about honey taken from the same article

by Diana Herrington. I didn’t know most of these, did you?

Honey Cautions: • Best not to feed to infants.

Spores of Clostridium botulinum have been found in a small percentage of honey in North America. This is not dangerous to adults and older children, but infants can have a serious reaction of illness in the first year. Do not add honey to baby food or use as a soother to quiet a fussy or colicky baby.

• Honey is a sugar, so do not eat jars full of it if you value your good health and want to maintain a healthy weight. It has a high caloric value and will put you on a sugar high and low.

• To cook with honey or not: There is some controversy about cooking with honey, although I cannot substantiate it from all of my research about honey. “…when honey is heated above 108 degrees Fahren-

Times are changing. How ought we respond? I’d like to invite you to join us for a four part video series entitled: Money and Wealth in the New Millennium. A cutting-edge financial seminar that explains how to apply Biblical Investment Models that help you “come out” from under the bondage of today’s debt-based investment system. Taught by Norm Franz, a former monetary economist and investment company president with an extensive background in business development and consumer finance. Also an ordained minister and international Bible teacher, he is a noted authority on what the Bible says about money and investments in the last days. His proven biblical insights concerning the problems plaguing the global economy have made him a prophetic voice to business, government, and church leaders worldwide.

This series is Biblically based and will be conducted Monday, through Thursday, July 15th to the 18th and is our kick off event for the Make Time for Stewardship series. Each session will last two hours, including one hour of video teaching by Norm followed by one hour of group discussion. Cost is $15 per person or $20 per couple and includes the book by the same title along with refreshments. Choose either the 1 PM or 7 PM showing.

Call our office at 717-935-5858 and ask for Vonnie to reserve your space. Our conference room here in Belleville is not that big, and space is truly limited.

C. Mark Ostrowski is the Founder & President of The Stewardship Group in Belleville. He earned his Master of Science in Financial Services degree from The American College in Bryn Mawr, PA in 2007. He can be reached by e-mail at: mostrowski@thestewardshipgroup.org a

heit, it becomes transformed into a glue-like substance that is extremely difficult to digest.

This substance is considered a toxin (ama), since it adheres to the tissues of the body and is very difficult to remove.” (quote from the Ayurveda Wellness Center)

Don’t worry, I’ll bee sure to give you an update in the next issue of how I’m getting along with the “girls.”

UPDATE: We just unloaded the hive (all sealed up) and I got stung.

This is not a good sign at all! Wayne has to open the hive—I’m getting the Benadryl ready a

Nature’s Harmony Grand Re-opening from page 25 Mountain for providing such a generous item to give away.

Of course no Grand ReOpening would be complete without a Grand Prize, and that prize for this event is a pair of tickets and camping passes to the 2013 Country Concerts valued at $1,000! It is a three day event in Loramie, Ohio on July 11- 13 that features 18 country Superstars!

Stop in at the new store and check for details!

If you have always wondered about a healthier lifestyle and diet, NOW is the time to start. Drop in to Nature’s Harmony Health Food Store, Belle Ave Lewistown and start your own healthy journey!

See their ad on page 4. a

Poor Will’s Valley Almanack from page 18 repeating rhythms of the year.

Bill lives in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

He has two daughters, Jeni, who is a psychologist in Portland, Oregon, and Neysa, a photographer in Spoleto, Italy.

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717-248-5476 • 1-800-PROPANE (776-7263)

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The Valley, July 2013

Our Environment Our Culture

The King Is Dying

by Kevin Morgan

Recently there have been many reports about the decline of bee populations within the United States. Bees are by far the most important pollinator. They are engineered to collect pollen.

However, almost all pollinators are in rapid population decline, including butterflies. One species in particular is dying off extremely quickly—Danaus plexippus otherwise known as the Monarch Butterfly.

Each year Monarch Butterflies spend the summer months in the United States and Canada.

During the winter months, the majority of the population migrates south and overwinters in Mexico. Over the last twenty years, population numbers have been estimated by observing the total amount of acres covered by the trees in which the butterflies are residing. Last year alone there was a 59% drop in the population. The numbers have fluctuated back and forth from year to year, but the numbers are dramatically

down from 20 years ago. In 1996, the population was 18 times larger than it is today. To understand what is taking place, one needs to learn about the reproduction cycle of the Monarch Butterfly.

The Monarch Butterfly will only lay its eggs on one type of plant, milkweeds. There are three types of milkweeds in Pennsylvania—butterfly weed, swamp milkweed, and common milkweed. Common milkweed is by far the most prevalent on the landscape. These plants are poisonous to mammals and birds, but the caterpillar of the Monarch Butterfly loves it. The caterpillar actually uses the toxic matter of the plant as a defense mechanism. It incorporates the toxin into its tissue, thus making itself an unpleasant dinner to a predator. That is also the reason for its black, yellow and white striping.

It’s a warning—“eat me and you will regret it. “ The caterpillar will consume large amounts of this plant and increase its size. It

will then pupate inside a chrysalis and become an adult Monarch Butterfly. That butterfly will survive two to six weeks throughout the summer looking for the next milkweed to lay its eggs.

However, every fourth generation survives six to eight months. That is long enough for it to fly down to Mexico, hang out for the winter and migrate back come spring.

There are many reasons why the numbers of Monarchs have dropped off over the years. One is that over the last three years Texas has been dealing with severe drought and that is a bottle-neck corridor for the migration of the insect. In many areas milkweed, and even water resources, have literally dried up. Another is urban sprawl. As more and more meadows are paved to make parking lots, habitat for the milkweed is lost. But, the biggest reason is the loss of milkweed on the agricultural landscape. Twenty years ago common milkweed could be found within many

Butterfly Weed or Asceplias tuberosa to you scientific types out there.

agricultural fields, along field borders, and roadside ditches. But in 1997, the first Round Up ready product hit the market—soybeans—with corn following close behind. Since then, the amount of glyphosate use has tripled in the United States. This product does not just kill the milkweed in the crop fields, but due to the wind it kills a lot of the milkweed along field borders and roadside ditches.

Fewer milkweeds equal less Monarch Butterflies.

So what can be done? First off, less use of Round Up would help, but if the product is used it should be applied on a day with no wind to cut back on herbicide drift. Also, highly erodible land should be taken out of production and placed back into natural meadow or hay land, which will

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provide an environment for the milkweed to strive. As a homeowner, planting common milkweed on your property, or even butterfly weed would help the population. Butterfly weed is a beautiful orange color and all pollinators love it.

The Monarch Butterfly is the state insect for five states and state butterfly of two others. At the rate of loss of this majestic insect, it’s going to become harder to find them naturally on the landscape within these states. One out of every three bites of food you eat needs an animal pollinator, so plant milkweeds to help the population rebound to provide this important ecological service for us. a

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Breed A Winner, Feed A Champion

In the 10 years that I have been showing livestock, I have had my ups and downs in the show ring. One year you will pick out a good lamb or goat, and place high in your classes, and other years, you’ll be at the bottom of the class. It could be that the animal didn’t grow and was in a smaller weight division, or they weren’t the best structurally.

Now that you have picked out your animals for upcoming shows this year, now is your perfect opportunity to bring out their potential.

What is a show feed? Show feeds are a specially formulated feed that brings out the potential,

growth, and visual appeal to show lambs and goats. The feeds can be either pelleted or a textured feed depending on the feed company.

Usually, the guaranteed analysis (ingredient listing) for show feeds

Purina’s “Honor Show Chow” provided noticeable benefits on my animals.

High Noon show feed is one of just a few of the feeds we use here at our farm.

is similar, with 16-18% protein.

There are many show feed lines

on the market (Show-Rite, Honor Show Chow, High Noon, Kent, Sunglo—just to name a few).

Show feeds are medicated (In the prevention of coccidiosis and urinary calculi), and the aroma of the feeds make any animal go crazy!

Keep in Mind: Goats and lambs may get similar products, but cannot have the same ingredient listing. Copper, a required mineral that is included in feeds, is extremely toxic to lambs and can be fatal if consumed in large amounts. Make sure if you own lambs and goats, and have them in the same pen together, that you separate them to feed.

Why switch to a show feed?

In my personal experience with show feeds, I have seen a huge improvement in visual appearance, and muscle shape on each animal I have shown.

People may think that show feeds are too expensive compared to regular mill type feeds, but $2 or $3 extra that you might spend could set you apart from the other animals in the show ring. I have used both the Honor Show Chow, made by Purina, and High Noon Feeds, and have been extremely impressed with both of them.

Also, not only do these feed manufacturers make exceptional feed, but they also carry a wide variety of show supplements to

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High Octane supplement is high in fat and will help fill your goat or lamb out.

create that finishing touch months before you step foot in the show ring. I have experience with the Power Fuel and The Champion Drive, both made by Purina Feeds. If you have an animal that needs more cover, the Power Fuel is high in fat and gets your lamb or goat filled out. The Champion Drive trims off the fat and builds muscle with its high protein level.

The next time that you go to your feed store to pick up feed for your lambs or goats, ask about their show feed line. Ask questions, and try the product for yourself!

You’ll be glad you did! a

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The Valley, July 2013

Canning Tomatoes or

How to Store Your Wealth For Future Days

Mankind is very creative and ingenious. We’ve learned how not to rely on hunting and gathering today to provide for today’s sustenance. We’ve learned (as a friend of mine in Millerstown succinctly puts it) to can tomatoes. Those who are utilitarian and frugal, understand that one should not consume all he has in the present moment, but should lay aside from our efforts today for future needs tomorrow. This is actually a Biblical concept and is very prudent (I think this is a bad word today, but leave it to me to drop the “P” bomb!). We are chided in Proverbs to “Go to the ant, you

sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” In Genesis we have the example of the Patriarch Joseph storing up grain for future years of famine, and returning to Proverbs, we are told that a good man lays up an inheritance for his children’s children!

Gathering, storing and leaving inheritances all speak to the wise and prudent use of resources.

More often then not, wealth was attributable to tangible assets such as land, produce from that land, livestock and herds, silver and

gold. Paper money didn’t show up on the scene until around the year 1000 AD and since that time it has made quite a splash, hasn’t it?

Now, instead of tangible assets, most folks hold bank accounts with digits that represent how many of these pieces of paper money we have there. Much easier, more streamlined and definitely more sophisticated and convenient than those ancients who had to lug all that “stuff” (metals and livestock) everywhere they went.

My focus here is to have us consider how we save as well as what we save. Saving a portion of our earnings is a great way to accumulate wealth over time. Aren’t we all fascinated by the stories of individuals who don’t seem to have anything and yet leave large sums of money to others when they die? Now I don’t advocate living that frugally, however in his book The Millionaire Next Door, Thomas Stanley notes that most

millionaires are actually the opposite of the picture that Hollywood paints for us. They (the millionaires whom he studied), on average, drove seven year old vehicles (predominantly Ford F-150’s, if I recall correctly) and never spent more than $300 on a suit. They are living right next door to you, and you don’t even know it!

Now I will admit, it’s harder these days to stretch a dollar.

That’s because our government continues to print them at a fantastic rate. Going back to my friends canning analogy, one could can enough tomatoes to last her for the next three years if she chose to. But, what if somehow the jar lids did not seal properly on some jars? The tomatoes therein would be inedible due to air infiltration. That, my friends, is what is currently happening to bank accounts in this country due to the Feds massive Quantitative Easing (money printing operation). So, the wise see danger an hide themselves from it (another Proverb).

Are there other methods by which one can save up for tomorrow and be reasonably assured that the energy and efforts put forth today will not be diminished by out side forces? Perhaps....

You could actually can tomatoes, or peaches, or corn or anything you’d care to! The value

of a meal will never diminish.

Perhaps after deciding how much cash you want to have on hand (as it’s wise to have some available cash), you would convert the rest of it into items that could easily be traded or bartered. Things that will retain their value. Items such as gold and silver coins, ammunition (an idea our publisher likes), canned or freeze dried food with long shelf life, batteries, sanitary products, even bottles of alcohol (those small one shot bottles would work very well as currency), gloves, candles & water purification tablets will all work nicely especially if (when) the currency crumbles and infrastructure is affected. As I’ve written before, no paper currency has lasted much more than 100 years.

The temptation for the bankers and the political class to inflate it for their own pet projects, wealth and benefit is just more temptation than can be resisted. The Federal Reserve Bank (our central bank) was formed via congressional action on December 23, 1913.

All of this, without saying, works to get out of debt as well.

The borrower is always a slave to the lender. Sadly, slavery is alive and well in the United States today.

Continued on page 14

MEAT. WILSON’S MEATS AND GROCERIES

Fresh Meats, Full Line of Groceries, and Produce

Open 7 Days! 7am - 9pm

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A hometown grocer you can trust.

The Valley, July 2013

18

POOR WILL’S VALLEY ALMANACK for July of 2013

by Bill Felker

So you walk the roads and fields. The bees hum. The hot air shimmers. Grass heads ripen.

Summer possesses the land. And you can smell July, honey-sweet, on every breath of air.

Hal Borland The Sun Aphelion, the point at which Earth is farthest from the sun, occurs at July 5: 10:00 a.m. The sun traditionally enters the sign of Leo on July 22.

The Planets Starting on July 4, Jupiter becomes the morning star, and it will continue to appear in the pre-dawn sky throughout the rest of the year. Mars remains in the morning sky in Gemini. Saturn is still in Virgo, shining deep in the west before midnight. Venus moves retrograde into Leo, keeping its position as the summer evening star.

The Stars Late at night, July brings Hercules almost overhead, bearing ripening sweet corn, green beans and zucchini from the Sweet Corn Moon.

Cygnus (the Northern Cross), Lyra with bright Vega, and Aquila with its anchor star, Altair, are rising in the middle of the Milky Way, presiding over preparations for autumn harvest.

Meteorology Tornadoes, hurricanes, floods or prolonged periods of soggy pasture are most likely to occur within the weather windows of July 3 through 7 and July 18 through 23. Full moon on July 22 and new moon on July 8 may increase the chance of tornadoes in the South and the Middle Atlantic region and the landing of a hurricane in the Gulf near those dates.

JULY - WEEK 1 THE FIRST WEEK OF MIDDLE SUMMER Lunar Phase and Lore As wild raspberries come to the end of their season, the Sweet Corn Moon (new on July 8 at 2:14 a.m.) brings sweet corn to market across the central and northern states. Rising after midnight and setting in the late afternoon, the dark moon will lie overhead in the morning, making mornings the most favorable time for fishing, but the worst for dieting. Planting of autumn turnips and beets is recommended with moon in Taurus on July 1 – 4 and under Cancer, July 6 – 8.

Weather Trends Like the final front of June, the first major weather system of July is associated with the Corn Tassel Rains. Thunderstorms and overcast skies precede this front, often spoiling fireworks displays, sometimes bringing hail. The 6th itself is sometimes one of the driest days of the July’s first two weeks, but some of the wettest days in July come between the 2nd and the 13th. The evening following the passage of this barometric wave offers the best sleeping weather of the early Dog Days.

The 10th of the month, however, begins a two-week period during which cool nighttime temperatures are rare.

JULY - WEEK 2 THE SECOND WEEK OF MIDDLE SUMMER Lunar Phase And Lore The Sweet Corn Moon waxes throughout the week, entering its second quarter on July 15 at 10:18 a.m. Rising in the morning and setting in the evening, this thin crescent moon is overhead in the early afternoon. The moon favors midday fishing and feeding this week, but makes noontime dieting tough. Planting by the moon for autumn crops is best in Scorpio from the 16th through the 18th.

Lunar stress is expected to be

low, especially on the upcoming weekend.

Weather Trends As the Dog Days settle in across the country, the barometer remains relatively steady, dipping only a little for thunderstorms until it falls deeper in advance of the July 14 front. The day preceding this front is likely to be the coolest and wettest of July. However, once the mid-July weather system passes through, conditions are more likely to be dry than wet.

Often, heat intensifies. Temperatures are in the 80s and 90s most of the time, and highs above 100 are more likely to occur on July 15 and 16 than any other days of the year.

JULY - WEEK 3 THE THIRD WEEK OF MIDDLE SUMMER Lunar Phase And Lore The Sweet Corn Moon waxes throughout the week, becoming completely full on July 22 at 1:15 p.m. Rising late in the day and setting early in the morning, this moon is overhead well after dark.

Lunar dominance of the night, especially toward the end of the week should enhance night-time fishing and snacking. The best fishing of all should occur before cool fronts approach before the July 14 cool front and the July 21 cool front (but not after these weather systems). The moon’s position in Scorpio (July 16 – 18) and Capricorn (July 20 – 22) may help seeds of autumn grains and vegetables sprout a little better.

The full moon, according to some, brings more moisture to fruits and vegetables – as well as irritability to spouses and sheep.

Weather Trends Rain is a bit more likely this week than it was last week as chances for showers rise over the next seven days from 20 percent to 35 percent. Temperatures in the 80s occur more than 55 percent of the time, with 90s coming 35 percent.

The coolest days of the period are typically the 22nd and 23rd of the month, when mild 70s are recorded about a fourth of all the years.

The most consistent day of the period, and of the whole month, is the 24th when highs in the 80s come 95 percent of the time. The 23rd brings cool sleeping conditions more often than any night in July, a full 35 percent of the nights drop below 60 degrees.

JULY - WEEK 4 THE FOURTH WEEK OF MIDDLE SUMMER Lunar Phase And Lore The Sweet Corn Moon wanes until it enters its final phase at 12:43 p.m. on July 29. Rising after dark and setting in the middle of the day, this moon is overhead before dawn. Lunar position suggests that morning fishing could be most productive, and the falling barometer that precedes the cool front of July 28 should enhance feeding. Lunar position in Taurus on the 29th through the 31st could help late summer plantings of shrubs and trees set their roots, as long as you water them well.

phlox are getting ready to open.

Maroon seedpods have formed on the locusts. Black walnuts are half-size. Green wild cherries hang in clusters. Dig garlic now before the cloves loosen. If some of the heads break apart when dug, use those first that come apart first.

July 2: May’s goslings and ducklings are almost full grown.

The behavior of raccoons, opossums and groundhogs becomes erratic in the heat. Young robins, blackbirds and blue jays are in the honeysuckle bushes eating red and orange berries.

July 3: The first buckeye, apple and cherry leaves become yellow and drift to the ground. Cicadas have emerged, and soon the rough-winged swallows will lead the fall migrations south.

July 4: Today is United States Independence Day And Puerto Rican Independence Day: Consider marketing lambs and kids for cookouts, especially if your county fair is over.

Weather Trends Sunshine remains the rule for this week of the month, with three out of four days bringing at least a partial break in the clouds.

Chances for rain typically decline as July comes to a close, dropping from 40 to 45 percent on the 24th down to just 20 percent on the 30th and 31st. A cool front passes through the lower Midwest between the 27th and the 29th. Five years in ten, at least one afternoon in the 70s follows that late-July cool wave. Evening lows in the 50s, unusual only two weeks ago, often return. Average high temperatures drop one degree on the 28th, their first decline since late January.

July 5: Fish, game, livestock and people tend to feed more and are more active as the barometer is falling one to three days before the weather systems that arrive near the following dates (on which cold fronts normally cross the Mississippi River): July 6, 14, 21, & 28.

A DAYBOOK FOR JULY July 1: The thistledown unravels, and Asiatic lilies enter full bloom.

The rose of Sharon and the garden

July 7: Morning birdsong continues to diminish, making way for the increase of insect volume.

Milkweed pods emerge almost

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July 6: Potato leafhoppers reach economic levels in some alfalfa.

The oats crop is ripening throughout the southern and central parts of the country. Red cones of the staghorn sumac become prominent, and early woolly- bear caterpillars are wandering the byways. Squash beetles bore into the squash vines.

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The Valley, July 2013 everywhere. Sycamore trees shed their bark, marking the center of summer.

July 8: New moon today and full moon on July 22 may increase the chance of tornadoes. New moon also means slightly higher tides, and more problems with livestock and family.

July 9: Field corn is silking, and detasseling operations have begun in seed cornfields. Long, fresh, red seedpods hang from locust branches. Throughout the whole country, more wildflowers blossom now than at any other time of year.

July 10: Leaf-turn is beginning now in the undergrowth. Depending on the year, buckeyes can be badly rusted, and leaf miners can be turning the locust leaves brown.

July 11: Easter (both Roman and Orthodox) in 2014 comes on April 20. Plan your breeding of does and ewes to provide five months for gestation and then enough time for your animals to reach the preferred weight of between 25 and 60 pounds.

July 12: In Ontario, timothy is still sweet to chew. Strawberries are just starting to come in. Peonies and lilacs and wild lilies are in bloom. In Pennsylvania, forty percent of the second crop of alfalfa has often been cut by now – along with almost half the wheat.

A fifth of the oats is typically ripe.

One in ten or twenty soybeans is in bloom.

July 13: The peak period of heat stress begins for summer crops.

High temperatures start to turn some grasses dormant. San Jose scale and flathead borers are active on flowering fruit trees.

July 14: Tufts of thistle down hang in the grass. And cucumberpickle picking peaks. When you see the elderberries turning purple, then you know that the wheat harvest is almost over, that oats is a third ripe, and that a good percentage of the soybeans is in bloom. That’s when you’ll see the velvet leaf blossom in the corn – and you’ll find more Japanese beetles and aphids than you ever thought possible!

July 15: The moon enters its second quarter today, a time when lunar stress is at its lowest.

July 16: Pokeweed gets green berries as Japanese beetles reach

major levels in the soybeans. Out in the fields at night, fireflies put on some of the best shows of the summer.

July 17: Woolly bear caterpillars prophesy winter when they cross the backroads this week. In town, gardens show their Asiatic lilies, tea roses, bergamot, coneflowers of all kinds, midseason hosta, gay feather, yarrow, helianthus, guara, and all the annuals.

July 18: Prepare for August seedings of alfalfa, smooth brome grass, orchard grass, tall fescue, red clover and timothy.

July 19: More than half the corn will be silking in the heat of the Dog Days, and two thirds of the soybeans will be in bloom.

Summer apples will be one fourth picked. Blueberries and elderberries will be ripening. A few peaches will be ready in the bottom lands.

July 20: When morning birdsong diminishes and insect volume increases, then collard, kale and cabbage sets are often planted for fall. Japanese beetles reach major levels in the soybeans, and aphid infestations increase dramatically as July’s heat builds up.

July 21: Tobacco topping is often begun this week - guided by the first blossoms of tall purple inronweed and the song of the late summer field crickets.

July 22: Today is full moon day, a time to be extra gentle with spouses, children, clients and animals.

July 23: Harvest fruits and vegetables as the moon wanes. Blackberries begin to come in throughout southern counties. Cattails are heavy with fresh, loose pollen.

White sweet clover, so prominent a few weeks ago, is fading along the highways. Swamp milkweed is just opening in the wetlands.

July 24: When the foliage of multiflora roses is yellowing, then white snakeroot (poisonous to livestock) is budding in and around the woodlots.

July 25: Autumn turnip planting and tobacco topping are often begun today, guided by the first blossoms of tall ironweed.

July 26: Throughout the woods, June’s clustered snakeroot is overgrown by August’s nettle and white snakeroot. The first blue tall bell flower is blooming, the first

few touch-me-not pods are ready to burst. Hosta past its prime now, most lilies are gone.

July 27: In July forage pastures, clip alfalfa plants when blooms have just started; its energy will be directed back to making foliage instead of producing seeds. Even though the Dog Days are still with us, and normal averages are still within a degree or two of their middle July peak, they now start dropping at the rate of approximately half a degree every four days.

July 28: This is the last week of Middle Summer, and you should begin your vigil for the katydids - listening after dark for their first rasping call. A new generation of crickets has been born too, and you will hear them soon even if you live deep in the suburbs.

Across the land, wingstem, burdock, ironweed, tall and showy coneflowers, pigweed, thin-leafed mountain mint, blue vervain, tick trefoil, downy false foxglove, monkey flower, three-seeded mercury and Joe Pye weed are blooming.

July 29: When Joe Pye weed sends out its purple flowers in the wetlands, then farmers are preparing for August seeding of alfalfa.

July 30: Wild grapes ripen; the dry onion harvest starts; geese become restless as a Judas maple here and there turns red.

July 31: At the very end of July, when the Summer Triangle of stars moves overhead just before bedtime, normal average temperatures start to fall in every state of the Union.

Almanack Literature If You Give a Mouse a Cookie…

By Mrs. Jack Wagner Delta, Ohio

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is the title of a cute children’s book by Laura Joffe Numeroff.

But, cute as that story is, I would never give a cookie to a mouse. I am still made about the cookies a mouse stole from me back in the 1970s.

Buying ingredients for homemade chocolate chip cookies was a strain on our food budget back then. And, the time it took to make those cookies made them even more of a big deal at our house. So, my family was looking forward to chocolate chip cookies in their lunch boxes the next day.

I made the cookies after every one else was in bed. My ceramic

bean-pot shaped cookie jar was too small to hold all the cookies, so I piled the cookies over the edge of the cookie jar and set the lid on top of them.

During the night we were awakened to a tickling sound we had never heard before. What was that noise? It would quit then start up again a few minutes later. The sound was annoying enough to make us get out of bed to investigate.

The lid to the cookie jar was now where it was supposed to be, sitting on the lip of the jar, but the lid was bouncing up and down like a Mexican jumping bean.

A mouse had eaten enough of the cookies to make the lid come down flush with the jar, trapping him in the jar. Try as he might, he just could not push that lid up far enough to make an escape.

Every time he pushed the lid up, it came back down again with a tickling sound. The little guy must have been exhausted, using every ounce of strength he had to push that lid up, with no success, over and over again.

He was trapped in there with my freshly baked batch of chocolate chip cookies that not one person in my family got to eat. We all cussed him royally as we tossed him outside, along with the cookies.

WINNER OF THE MAY SCKRAMBLER

Only four entries were received in the May Sckrambler Sweepstakes (the first and the fifth to receive a five-dollar prize), and the first - and the May winner - is Jane Kile of Bloomsburg, PA. ANSWERS TO THE JUNE SCKRAMBLER UBG

BUG NICTSE INSECT REPOOL LOOPER ACHLCID CHALCID EEEBTL BEETLE LYF FLY MIEGD MIDGE PILLERCATER CATERPILLAR EAIERNMFL LEAFMINER WWBMROE WEBWORM TISPELGUBT SPITTLEBUG PERHOPASRSG

GRASSHOPPER

TIME MITE TOMH MOTH EBE BEE ROBER BORER DITYKAD KATYDID HPIDA APHID CUSKRE SUCKER MINEBARKR BARKMINER

THE VALLEY “SCKRAMBLER” FOR JULY If you are the 1st or the 5th per-

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son to respond with the correct answers, you’ll receive a $5.00 prize. There should by no typos in this puzzle, but if you do find one, you June skip the word without penalty. There should be no typos in this puzzle, and no typo prize will be awarded. If you happen to find a typo, however, you June simply skip that word without penalty. Send your entries by postcard only to Poor Will’s Valley Almanack at P.O. Box 431, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387.

The unscrambled words and the names of the winners will appear an upcoming issue of The Valley Newspaper.

GIVANTEA

TIAAETG

GGGRTEEA

RRGTIIAE

EAITR

ETARBELEC

EAOETRCD

ATEPETUPER

RAPCITEAT

REPTEPTARE

TORTAE

RRTTIIAE

SLTIOAE

BVTOIAE

LMNTEIIAE

CNTMNTOAIAE

LTGTIIAE

TDMEAOE

TRGMEAI

NGTEAE

MDTTEAIE

Listen to Bill Felker’s weekly “Poor Will’s Almanack” on podcast any time at www.wyso. org. And Bill’s website, www. poorwillsalmanack.com, contains weekly updates and a sizable bank of information about nature. His organization of weather patterns and phenology (what happens when in nature) offers a unique structure for understanding the

Continued on page 14

The Valley, July 2013

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Fifty Years Ago From the pages of The Sentinel (Lewistown, PA), founded in 1903: July 1963

The heat wave continues into late July, with continued 90+ degree-days more often than not. Humidity was unbearable at a recorded 75%. The Municipal Authority announced water consumption is 3.5 million gallons daily. On July 31, however, the temperature plunged to 56 degrees bringing satisfying relief at last.

The newspaper announces a circulation record, averaging 13,628 newspapers daily from April 1962 to March 1963.

In local sports, Lewistown Nationals win Area 2 Little League crown with 2-1 win over Snyder County, then go on to win District 13 title with 31-7 win over Bloomsburg; LeRoy Felty

and Junior Ritchey win a double feature at the Port Royal Speedway in Juniata County.

One Hundred Years Ago From the pages of the Democrat & Sentinel (Lewistown, PA), founded in 1832: July 1913

ITALIAN SHOT IN RIOT DEAD – Three Men Accused of Shooting Will Face Murder Charges – HEARING YESTERDAY AFTERNOON – Victim’s Wounds, Serious from the First – Death Came This Morning – After lingering since Sunday evening with three bullet wounds, each in a vital location, Ralph Cappo, victim of a trio of Italian gunmen at the Naginey Stone Quarries, died at the Lewistown Hospital…

District Attorney Howard W. Aikens announced the three would be held on a charge of murder.

Cappo was a quarry workman at the time of his death.

Civil War Echoes – One Hundred Fifty Years Ago From the pages of the Lewistown Gazette (Lewistown, PA), founded in 1811 July 1863

Reports of the casualties at Gettysburg were reaching Mifflin County. Dozens of local men were killed or wounded during the clash of armies. The newspaper’s junior editor, George R. Frysinger, reported from the battlefield.

“Gettysburg cannot be called a town,” he wrote, “but a collection of hospitals.” Colonel Alleman of the 36th Pa. Volunteer Militia was appointed commander of Gettysburg, and Lt. Col. Maclay of Belleville was made provost marshal of the town.

A lengthy letter signed “W”

After two years of researching local history, collecting community photos, documenting the findings and reviewing his own experience, Paul Fagley’s book on the history of Derry Township Community Park is available.

Entitled “Memories of Kishacoquillas Park,” the book presents the heyday times of this community landmark, which was once a popular amusement park, through more than 300 pages of color photos, illustrations and printed memorabilia. The idea for the book came to Fagley in 2010 after giving a walking tour of the park for the local Boyscout Camporee.

“Memories of Kishacoquillas Park” is priced at $32.95 plus tax. Contact the Mifflin County Historical Society at 242-1022 or at info@mifflincountyhistoricalsociety.org Books can be purchased from the Historical Society office, at the Chamber of Commerce Gift Shop in the Historic Courthouse or at Friendship Book Store in the K-Mart Plaza, Burnham.

and headed “Six Days Under Rebel Rule” appeared in the newspaper. It detailed life in Cumberland County as Rebel forces took up positions on the march to Gettysburg. It expounded, “With the exception of a few officers, they wore no uniforms and no two privates could be found dressed

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alike. Their clothing was of the very coarsest texture and very much worn… Imagine several thousand street beggars armed with old guns and swords and formed into regiments and you have an exact picture of the rebel army.” a

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The Valley, July 2013

Modern Energy and Alternative Heating with Curt Bierly

Propane as a Fuel Source to Heat Your Home

In June we discussed the savings realized if one were to switch from using heating oil to natural gas. If natural gas (Nat Gas) is not available in your neighborhood, what is the savings if one were to convert from oil to propane?

First some facts about propane and natural gas. Whereas natural gas occurs naturally, propane is mostly a by product of petroleum refining or natural gas processing. Propane is transported and stored in a tank as a liquid.

To convert propane to Liquid Propane Gas (LPG) it needs to be cooled to -46˚F degrees; whereas, to convert Nat Gas to Liquid Natural Gas (LNG), it is necessary to cool it to -260˚F degrees; therefore, Nat Gas is usually compressed (CNG) for storage or transportation in lieu of cooling it. A gallon of propane contains 2-1/2 times the energy of a gallon of Nat Gas. Propane is heavier than air and Nat Gas is lighter then air. By using propane, more energy (BTUs) can be stored at your home in a smaller tank and at a lower pressure; therefore, it is more practical and safer to deliver and store propane at your home than it is CNG.

The equipment costs to convert your oil system to a gas system depends on if you have a hot air system (furnace) or a hot water system (boiler). A

basic high efficiency gas furnace (95% efficiency) would be in the $7000.00 range installed; whereas a basic high efficiency gas boiler (95% efficiency) would be in the $12,000 area installed.

If you heat with propane, currently the cost of propane is significantly less then the cost of oil. What the price structure of propane will be in the future is anyone’s guess as there is much discussion by the suppliers relative to exporting propane to other countries that are currently paying much higher prices. As opposed to propane, the price of heating oil has increased significantly in the same time period.

This appears to be a very good time to switch out your current oil furnace or boiler for a high efficiency propane furnace or boiler. Payback is 7 years or less. Add a heat pump if you have a furnace and realize more savings and thus a quicker payback!

Check out the “Keystone Help” financing program, www.keystonehelp.com, for possible financing.

Keep Cool!!

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 a member of the Penn College HVAC Advisory Board. You can contact him at cbierly@bierlygroup.com. a

Getting down and Dirty from page 5

variety of soils found in a wide variety of environments. Even the hardest minerals will yield to running water, blowing wind and the chipping actions of climatic change – given enough time.

Add in some glaciers, grinding and dragging back and forth every ten or twenty thousand years, earthquakes and volcanoes shoving and ripping things apart to expose new rock to the weath-

fourth building block – life – one more thing is needed.

And that one more thing would be the third major weathering mechanism – time. Vast, almost incomprehensible stretches of time; eons during which the wind, water and climate reduce a wide variety of rocks to a wide

ering process and it’s easy to see that even the inorganic aspects of soil formation can definitely be described as dynamic – continuously and productively active.

A bit violent perhaps, from our point of view, but important to keep in mind in order to maintain a healthy perspective and healthy respect for the system of which we are a part. Not to mention sometimes keeping a healthy

distance.

So here we have the barest of introductions to the beginning of pretty much everything; minerals being weathered and moved about over time, by wind and water, helped along by climate (which is also influenced by wind and water) so that the minerals break down into smaller components of themselves, eventually becoming soil, that amazing substance that

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interacts with and supports all life on our little home in space.

Next month – the fourth building block; a.k.a. the critters down below. a

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23

The Valley, July 2013 Grandma’s soup-cooking, you will gain wisdom to help you come to terms with many kinds of grief! A tip section is at the back of the book—it is rich with wisdom and concrete recommendations.

Mail Pouch Books

by Carleen B. Grossman

This month will find us celebrating two special celebrations—the traditional 4th of July celebration, which is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs picnics, concerts, baseball games, political speeches/ceremonies and family reunions. Then on July 28th, there will be a celebration of PARENTS’ DAY, which recognizes the uplifting and supporting role of parents in the rearing of children. I have tried to select books that will tie into the family unit no mater which of these holidays you decide to focus on!

THE ART RACING IN THE RAIN

By Garth Stein Copyright 2008

If you have not already read this book, you must! It is a novel with the most unlikely meshing of subjects, yet they all come together to make this a quick read! Do have tissues ready because you will need them as the story unwinds told from the perspective a beloved dog!

Race car driving, the love of dogs and some other unlikely subjects work to make this touching and yet exciting story one of the best I have read in a long time. I was on page 30 early one after-

noon and completely finished with all 300 pages of it by 9:00 A.M. The next morning! I could not put it down!

You will laugh, cry and be totally touched as you join this family on an unforgettable life journey following Denny Swift, a race car driver and his dog Enzo.

Enzo spends his days watching and learning from television about his owner’s greatest passion, racing cars — and relating it to life.

This dog eventually plays a key role in Denny’s child-custody battle with his in-laws!

The race car driving in this novel is based on the author’s own experience in racing cars. Among his experiences, he left racing after crashing while racing in the

rain! After reading this book I can’t help but wonder what our dog would say about us if she could talk!

TEAR SOUP

By Pat Schwiebert Copyright 2004

This 56 paged, full-color book on grief is a must for the family. Parents can share this book with their children as well as with other adults! Through

THE QUARTER ACRE FARM: How I kept the patio, lost the lawn and fed my family for a year

By S. Warren Copyright 2011

This wise and witty book tells you how to get control of the family food choices by creating a garden in your yard. It tells of bugs, worms and rot; failure and learning; replanting, harvesting and eating. Self-sufficiency is what this fun book is all about!

EATING WITH UNCLE SAM: Recipes, histories, bites from the

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National Archives

By P. Mason Copyright 2011

What a fascinating and entertaining book! This book covers 150 presidential, celebrity and government administration recipes from the United States.

The selected recipes cover a wide range of themes from breakfast, bread and snacks, to planning a full dinner menu. This is a perfect book for the family holiday cookout! a

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The Valley, July 2013

Find us on The Valley Newspaper

The Pen and Thread Custom Calligraphy and Weaving

Mary Anna Chenoweth Proprietor

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

717-248-6079 131 West Market Street Lewistown, Pennsylvania

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The Valley, July 2013

July 6-13

These are exciting times in Lewistown if you are the type that likes to eat healthy.

Nature’s Harmony Health Food Store has been on quite the roller coaster ride these past six months. They packed up their health food lines and moved across the hall into what was their Primitives Shop while their main store was almost tripling in size and becoming very fresh and modern! Over the last month they have been moving everything back and completely redesigning their layout. They have increased some of the lines they carry and added more variety to some of the items they already sell.

I was somewhat able to follow the progress by peeking in

allow.

Rose began her journey in the health food business in February 2007 when she opened Nature’s

Harmony Health Foods with a vision of helping the community grow by helping the people of the area increase their knowledge of the health benefits of natural food.

Rose’s goals for the expansion is to be able to: --Stock more items that customers are looking for.

--Increase the numbers of items for each line that we stock.

--Incorporate the Primitives and Gift lines into the overall layout of the store.

from time-to-time and from what Rose would tell me when I was in the store, but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when I first stepped into the new store.

I was blown away! Lewistown now has a health food store that will rival any within driving distance, and this is just the beginning.

Rose has plans for even greater surprises The new centrally located checkout ensures you will be able as time to get Rose’s attention from whereever you are throughout the and store. money

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Rose has strived to be the best at what she does and help the area understand the benefits of healthier, natural products.

The Grand Re-Opening scheduled for July 6 - 13 is a big deal for sure. There are prizes to be given away such as $25 gift certificates and a basket of some of the favorite products from Shade Mountain Naturals. A big thank you to Tamela from Shade

Continued on page 14

The Valley, July 2013

26

Savvy Cents & Sensibility

by JoAnn Wills-Kline MBA

Savvy Summer Savings Ideas

The summer season has been ushered in, and on the season’s heels come opportunities to save money. This month, I have assembled a long list of summer saving suggestions from savvy financial experts – enjoy! Jeremy Vohwinkle, former About.com Money/Financial Planning guide, offered five summer money saving suggestions (http://financialplan.about.com):

1. Turn off air conditioning – use only when needed to maximize efficiency. An alternative, turn up the AC temperature to 70F. If it’s a cool night turn off the AC and open a few windows.

2. “Sun-dry laundry – utilize outdoor clothes lines to dry laundry naturally. If clotheslines are not permitted in your residential area, opt for a drying rack placed outside (inconspicuously in a garage with an open garage door) or inside near an open window that can catch a good breeze.

3. Replace AC filters – dirty filters restrict airflow and increase cooling costs. Filters are cheap so check them frequently, keep them clean, and replace them when necessary.

4. Cook outside – utilize a

grill, single stovetop burner, or crockpot for most of your summer meal prep. There are oodles of recipes available for easy summer meal prep that require little fuss or cookware.

5. Plan ahead – summer’s end is a great time for sales on landscape plants, tools, and outdoor project materials.

Plan next year’s projects this year and purchase some of the supplies at great savings this year.

Dave Ramsey (daveramsey. com) suggested saving money by making a few simple modifications. Ramsey said every little thing does add up and has the potential to save big money. His suggestions:

1. Park the car – think about the places you could walk, bike, or carpool as opposed to always driving. Then make a plan to utilize an alternative method of transportation. There will be a level of inconvenience; it’s an adjustment, but better for your wallet.

2. Brown-bag it – organize an office potluck, pack your lunch and eat it outside to re-

fresh your mind, pack a mini cooler with snacks and beverages before you hit the park or pool. You could possibly save big money till season’s end by skipping restaurant/ take out lunches and concession stand snacks.

3. Freeze the cable & gym membership – take advantage of longer days and nice weather. Get outside and utilize a balcony, patio, porch or yard. If you do not have access to an outdoor space at your residence, then take frequent walks in your neighborhood. Creatively think of ways to enjoy summer weather and exercise outdoors. Unfreeze your cable and gym memberships once autumn arrives and its time to move indoors again.

4. Experience your town like a visitor – check out your local Chamber of Commerce for act ivies and happenings close to home. Check out bed and breakfasts, quaint shops, farmer’s markets, festivals, state and federal parks, libraries, and museums.

Reacquaint yourself with your locale by seeing your community with fresh eyes.

5. Organize your money –

mid summer is a great time to organize your money.

Re-evaluate your current circumstances and make a plan to refine your expenses and spending habits. Before you know it, events such as new school clothes shopping, return to college costs, and holiday shopping will be at hand. Be proactive and be clear on what you’re able to provide within a reasonable spending plan.

The folks at Real Simple magazine offered a few savvy saving tips via their website (http://www.realsimple.com) for summer fun in the sun: 1. Rental cars – reserve your rental for a mid-week pick up

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rather than a weekend pick up to net about a 10 percent savings. Choose to prepay when you make a booking, and net a hefty 35 percent average savings.

2. Discounted sports – head to the course on a Wednesday, usually the slowest day for both public and private golf courses, and snag a discounted round.

3. Entertainment – save up to 25 percent on theme park tickets by purchasing at supermarkets, discount stores, or bulk club stores rather than at park entrance gates.

Hopefully, at least a few of these tips could be enacted to produce a viable savings for you.

In addition to the above tips, remember to shop at our many local farmers’ markets to purchase your fresh foods. Nothing beats locally grown and made foods! Enjoy the remaining summer, stay safe, have fun, and find time to relax! a

27

The Valley, July 2013

Grosze Thal Nachbaren

(Big Valley Neighbors)

by Jeptha I. Yoder

Ein Grusz in dem Namen unseres Herren. Es ist die liebe Sommer zeit. Die Kirschen, Maulbeeren, und Hembeeren sin am färben, aber ein wenig später als gewöhnlich.

Der Sechs-und-zwanzigst Mai gingen meine Eltern in Kirchengasse Gemein ans Christ S. Hostetlers. Besuch war Mose D. Yoders und zwei Kindern und Mose N. Hostetlers und Famile, alle von Neu York; Eli Z. Hostetlers von Penns Thal, welche kommen mit ihre Eltern Isaak S. Yoders; Yost Is und jüngste, (Sam Y. Jr.) Emma Y. und Tochter Lena, alle Hostetlern von McClur.

Von ander theil waren Mose I’s, Johannes M’s, Noah D’s und Sohn Isaak, alle Hostetlern. West Lang Leen Gemein war ans Menno M. Yoders.

Manasse J’s und Johannes I’s und Famile, alle Yodern, waren ans Mose C. Yoders fürs mittag-essen. Unkel Christ M. Yoders gingen in McClur und blieben für die Vendu für Jeptha T. Yoder (David H.) welche war am Montag der sieken und zwanzigst.

Etliche von die Jesse S. Hostetler Famile waren in McClur in der

Gemein bei ihr Sohn und Bruder Iddos.

Der zweyt Juni waren wir in der Gemein ans Unkel Jesse S. Hostetlers. Von ander theil war Isaac R’s; Von McClur waren Amos J’s und Esra S’s, alle Hostetlern und alle ihre Kindern mit, Auch von McClur war Barbara Hostetler (Joseph S.), Amos J’s waren hier fürs abendessen, darnach ein wenig ans Unkel Christs und ans Jesse J’s über nacht und gingen heim Montag morgens. Ost Lang Leen Gemein war ans Urie J. Yoders.

Ans Mose C. Yoders fürs Mittag-essen waren Christian S’s, Jacob M’s und Familien, alle Hostetlern.

Der Neunt gingen meine Eltern in West Lang Leen Gemein ans Mahlon C. Yoders. Von McClur waren David H.Sr. Von ander theil waren Joel E’s und Familie und Eli T. (Franey N.) alle Yodern. Meine Eltern, David H’s, die (Sam R.) auch dort fürs abendessen. Kirchengasse Gemein war ans Yost J. Hostetlers. Mose I. Hostetlers waren ans Mose C. Yoders fürs Mittag. Die Aunt (Salomon) Mareily und Uria S’s

und Familie, alle Hostetlern waren dort abends und auch ein wenig hier.

Der Sechszeht waren wir in der Gemein ans Esra B. Hostetlers. Von andere theilen waren Joseph C. Hostetlers und zwei jüngste, Uria J’s und zwei jüngste, Jeptha, Fräney und Dorothy (Emanuel J.) und Fräney (Joel M.) alle Yodern. Etliche theilen ihr gemein waren ab-bestellt von wegen die Leiche des Christian C. Zug. Mahlon C. Yoders und Familie Kommen ans Esra B’s nachdem sie in die Leiche waren.

Wir waren ein wenig ans Unkel Christs.

Seid die betrübten eingeddenkt. Gottes Segen Gewin.

Christian greetings on a nice summer day. Garden goodies including peas, lettuce, and spinach are finding their way to the table.

Then there are also strawberries and cherries.

Sunday June 16 at 9:00 was the funeral of Christian C. “C.C.” Zook (84) of 487 Siglerville Pike, Milroy, PA 17063. By Joshua J. Hostetler in house with Freundschaft. In other house by Urie N. Yoder. In barn by Samuel L. Hostetler Jr. Pallbearers were; John H. Hostetler, Eli S. Zook, Eli T. and Noah J. both Yoders. Born March 11, 1929 he was a son of the late Bish. Christian Y. and Barbara A. (Yoder) Zook. Surviving are two daughters Franey E. married to Yost J. Speicher with whom Christian resided; Barbara A. married to Joas J. Speicher of La Farge, Wisconsin. Twelve grandchildren. One great-grandchild. Four brothers Eli B. of Penns Valley; David D. of Reedsville, Samuel Y. Sr. (widowers) and Tobias P. and Lydia K. Hostetler both of Milroy.

One sister Elizabeth Y. married to Noah B. Yoder of Reedsville.

Preceded by his wife Elizabeth L. (Hostetler) in November 2012; Two brothers and five sisters. The family has our sympathy.

A correction for my last writing, the new arrival at Christ M. Zook Jrs. is a daughter named Barbara. Sorry about this!

Joining three sisters and one brother is Andy M. on May 21, to Tobie M. and Betsy E. Speicher.

Grands are Andy M. and Leah F. (Host.) Hostetler.

David S. and Veronica F. Hostetler are first time parents to Dena E. on May 27. Grands are Jonathan D. and Ester E. Hostetler. Grands to both of these babies are Michael A. and Franey M. (Yoder) Speicher. Great-grands are (David J.) Leah N. Hostetler.

Step-great is (Seth D.) Rachel L.

Hostetler. Great-grand to both is (John S.) Dena B. Yoder, all widows.

Joining two brothers on June 9 is Moses to Ezra Y. and Lydia B. Hostetler of 142 Church Lane, Reedsville, PA 17084. Born with a cleft palate and a hare lip, he will need special care.

Grands are Samuel B. and Anna Z. (Yoder) Hostetler, local; Moses Y. and Barbara J. (Yoder) Hostetler of McClure. Greats are widow (Eli J.) Barbara Y. Yoder, local; widow (Sam H.) Lydia A. Hostetler and Abie S. and Lena R. (Host.) Yoder, all of McClure.

Saturday June 15 was the annual benefit auction at the C. M. Zook residence. With three auctioneers going, things sold fast, or so I was told, as I was not there.

Saturday June 8 was the barn raising for Esle B. and Elizabeth L. Hostetler in Barrville. This was on part of the original farm, where this young wife’s late grand-father David J. Hostetler was fatally injured in an accident, while repairing the old barn, on the day of the frolic. This was 30 years ago this summer.

Friday the 14th the writer, among others, attended the school meeting in Juniata at Allen Wengerds; with our local meeting at Sunny View being at 6:00 in the evening.

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Eli S. Hostetler is having a public auction on Thursday July 4th on Sheepfold Lane, Lord Willing.

God’s Blessings wished to all for a happy, healthy, summertime.

Jeptha I. Yoder a

Public Consignment Benefit Auction Saturday July 13th 9:00am Green Lane Store 98 Dusty Lane Reedsville

The Valley, July 2013

28

PENNSYLVANIA

CERTIFIED

ORGANIC

PRESENTS

P e n n s y lva n i a O r g a n i c

FarmFest August 2-3, 2013

Grange Fairgrounds, Centre Hall, PA Free Admission • Farmfest2013.paorganic.org 814-422-0251 • farmfest@paorganic.org

events

• SpringCreek Homesteading Education Track • • Trail2Creek.com Outdoor Symposium • Kids Parade • • Silent Auction & Raffle • FarmFest 5K & Fun Run • • NCAT Agricultural Education Track • Art Exhibit • • Children’s Activities • Organic Book Nook • • Homemade & Homegrown Market •

Call or visit today!

866-935-5858

speakers Jerry Brunetti • Gary Zimmer • Brian Snyder • Susan Beal

live music Lady Moon Farms Grandstand:

Mountain Minstrelsy Ted McCloskey & the Hi-Fi's Vinegar Creek Constituency J-Mac, Jr. & Friends Organic Valley Stage:

The

Rounders

The

Hot Mamas Harold Taddy

Organic Kids Stage:

Gary Gyekis Three Kitties robot mouth

LOGO USAGE AND STYLE GUIDE

LADY MOON FARMS

Proper Logo Usage

Use logo on white or purple background only (see color builds below).

The minimum amount of space that should be allotted around the logo should be equal to the height of the moon in the logo.

Color Guidelines

The Big Valley BIC Church will be hosting a “Hay Daze” Vacation Bible School for ages pre-school through 5th grade on July 15-17 from 6:00 - 8:00pm. There will be Hay rides and a live animal petting farm among other great learning activities for the children who attend. The Big Valley Church is located at 81 Wagner St. Belleville, PA. For more information or registration please call 717-436-8010.

Purple PMS 2685 C-92 M-100 Y-0 K-10 R-58 G-45 B-130

Yellow PMS 109 C-0 M-10 Y-100 K-0 R-249 G-220 B-47

Improper Usage

Do not stretch, skew, or change the colors of the logo. Do not place logo on backgrounds other than a solid white or purple background.

Typography

Headlines: Adobe Garamond Bold Text: Adobe Garamond Regular

Logo: Bernhard Std Use only in logo and not in body or header copy

For questions or comments related to the use of the Lady Moon Farms logo, please contact Marc Laucks and Company, Inc. 717-747-5895 or marc@marclaucks.com

REV 05/11

thevalleynewspaper@gmail.com

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29

The Valley, July 2013

Shell Shocked

Being that it is Independence Day again I wanted to write about colonial brewing again this month. So I pulled out one of my favorite brew books, Radical Brewing, and turned to the chapter “Forward into the Past.” I began reading about colonial brewing and came across a side note about making a beer or ale from pea shells. This intrigued me almost as much as last month’s Stinging Nettle Beer. I have always wanted to make a brew with zero monetary input and last month was the closest I have come. I was thinking this one could even be less if I could find a supply of pea shells. Luckily, my friend Mary from Hollow Brook Farm needed to shuck a mess of peas

while at the REC Park Farmer’s Market this week. I told her I would help if she would let me have the shells. She agreed so I was in business again.

The earliest mention I found for using pea shells to make an alcoholic beverage was in the seventeenth century from Britain, but it seems to have been common practice in Lithuania, Japan and Colonial America. In fact, the most common recipe I found comes from a book called Mackenzie’s Five Thousand Receipts: In All the Useful and Domestic Arts, published in Philadelphia in 1825. In the book it states, “No production of this country abounds so much with vegetable saccharine matter as the shells

of peas. A strong decoction of them so much in odour and taste an infusion of malt, termed wort, as to deceive a brewer.” This is the recipe I will mention later in the article. After 1839, however, references in Britain to peas being used in brewing seem to vanish.

It had been illegal for commercial brewers in the United Kingdom to brew with anything other than malted barley as their source of wort since the malt tax was introduced. So using pea shells to make a beer fell out of favor in Britain, but remained popular in Lithuania. Today, only a few commercial brewers in California and Lithuania brew batches of pea shell ales.

I have to admit, I researched a lot about saccharine and only found information about it being a sugar substitute and basically made in a lab through a chemical process. I could not find any real information about vegetable saccharine except that Webster’s

online dictionary refers to it as releasing sugars during the boiling process. So I am guessing that the sugar released is actually sucrose and fructose, not saccharine.

The recipe is fairly simple. Remove the peas from the shells and rinse shells to remove loose debris.

Place shells in a boiling pot and add water one half inch above the level of your pea shells. You might want to use a plate to weigh down the pea shells to get an accurate water level. Bring the pot to a boil and simmer for three hours. Strain off the wort from the shells. At this point I added one pound of dried malt extract, but you can use cane sugar. The recipe calls for wood sage or hops to bitter the brew. I used homegrown hops from last year—one ounce. I figured there was at least three gallons of wort after I remove the shells, and the hoppier the better. I let the hops sit in the wort for 20 minutes and then removed them. At his point I took a gravity reading (1.020). If this ferments similar to past brews, this should be a lower alcoholic beverage somewhere between 2 to 3% alcohol by volume. I reduced

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the temperature to 80 degrees F and pitched a brewer’s yeast.

I have never even thought of doing something like this before, so I have no idea what to expect, and to tell the truth, I will be amazed if this works. You could say I will be shell-shocked if I make something palatable.

Ha Ha! Until then, I hope your Independence Day is enjoyable and remember it’s not just a day you get off work to barbeque and go swimming. Great men gave up their life so you can live yours.

Raise a glass to them and pour a little on the ground as a sign of respect to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Update: Last month I had a blast making and researching about Stinging Nettle Beer. It’s not quite ready as far as completely carbonated, but it’s not too bad. It tastes much more like a wine than a beer. a

The Valley, July 2013

30

Home-Grown!

A Homeschooler’s Perspective

By Mary Eck

First thing’s first, congrats on another homeschool year in the memory books! The evaluations are complete, portfolios assembled, texts put away or sold, desks cleared out or off, and gloriously mischievous grins celebrate a load lifted and the promise of summer fun. Whether you are an enthusiastic newbie with eager-faced primary students or a haggard-butstaunch veteran proudly bracing for the imminent “cap and gown” finale, kudos to you and yours for making the commitment, and finishing well!

We experience the gamut of emotions at the end of a school year, from raw pride in our sosmart offspring and utter delight in our own personal accomplishment, to sheer relief, considerable mental fatigue and dangerous inklings of self-doubt. And as much as we want to live in the blissfully sun-drenched “here and now” of July, a mere sixty days separates us from the next school year (definitely a killjoy moment, sorry). So, what to do?

It is so like a parent (moms, you especially) to tend to everyone and everything else, and his or herself only if there is time to

spare, which is a rarity. But this innate tendency is a treacherous one for the dual-role homeschool parent, and one that we need to be relentlessly intentional about countering if we are to give our children the best educational experience we are capable of; because that is the end goal, right?

An anonymous adage suggests that “the best teachers teach from the heart, not the book.”

Attitude and energy level are arguably the chief determinants of our achieving that goal, and making sure we as teacher/parents refresh our hearts and recharge our batteries, so to speak, needs to top our list of summer priorities!

Some homeschool parents plan elaborate vacations or daylong getaways for their loved ones, while others can’t wait to just enjoy the spontaneity of hangin’ at home, enjoying the fleeting luxury of leisure time, and acting on summer fun whims. Regardless of which you prefer, the point is to make the days count so that, come Labor Day weekend celebrations, your outlook is not one of lamenting the end of summer, but anxious and thrilled for yet

another academic adventure.

Sure, these next two months cannot be all about fun, to the neglect of chores and preparing for September, but a balanced approach will cultivate a cheerful and buoyant spirit within us that will absolutely build a heady momentum our youngsters can latch onto and emulate. It’s all about creating the perfect conditions for the natural contagions of curiosity and enthusiasm to thrive and, ultimately, infect. Just be sure to do what you need to do for yourself so that you emerge from the “time off” as teacher with a renewed sense of purpose that reminds you exactly why it is you chose to homeschool in the first place, and makes your passion and excitement for learning all the more infectious!

The family experience minus the school load and all that comes with it—like scrambled, chaotic schedules, the stress of deadlines and grading tasks, and the general lack of individual and together “down” time—is probably the biggest blessing summertime break can offer, where we can reconnect with our dear children as “just” mothers and fathers.

Recognize it for the reprieve it is, and revel in it!

Of course, the 2013-2014 school year will commence in a matter of weeks. But until then, sunny days are here again, so by all means, be sure to enjoy ‘em, the days AND your children! a

The Blind Leading the Blind from page 33 16,681 people in Morganton. In the age of computers, this would be something easily nipped in the bud — if the IRS wanted it nipped.

Also, the $70 million in employee bonuses the IRS is demanding suddenly seems like small potatoes compared to this.”

Interesting and at least intriguing, huh? So, the money, we who are working and paying into the system, is not going to just fund programs that our country needs, such as state programs like libraries, education, mental and physical health agencies. Much of it is going to fund people who not only do not work, but are in our country illegally and cannot work a job in which taxes are paid. I lived in Florida and Georgia many years ago and remember seeing illegal aliens gather in a spot to be picked up by a construction company to work for the day and collect a tax-free wage. Did they

Guest Editorial Is This The Issue That Will Unite Us?

by Karl Eric Leitzel

For probably the first time ever, I’m seeing posts from people all over the political spectrum who are in agreement in being incensed over our government’s broad and secretive perverting of our rights. I think that with these latest incidents of government intrusions, we finally have an issue that we the people of the United States of America can rally around. Both parties let it get to this point, both parties are still shying away from taking the action necessary to fix it, and regular people from far left to far right are deeply offended by the trampling of our thoughtfully constructed Constitutional Rights.

The Patriot Act, while not the whole issue, is at its core, and it needs to be greatly scaled back if not eliminated. One major terrorist act twelve years ago cannot be the basis for the gutting of our Constitutional protections. And when our government considers

it a crime for its citizens to have even the slightest idea that these invasions are taking place, we have a real problem. Many of our people at the top are intent on prosecuting the whistleblowers, while I believe a majority of our citizens would be ready to award them with a medal of honor. You didn’t see that kind of solidarity during the Vietnam War and you don’t see it over environmental issues.

In spite of the rampant political apathy in our country, everyone knows from their grade school days the basics of our Constitution, and there are things going on that gravely threaten that Constitution. Let’s not get bogged down in partisan bickering over details (and the leaders will try to foster that), but instead lean VERY hard on all of our elected officials to level with the American people and then FIX IT! a

make as much as a legal alien? I doubt it. But, they didn’t pay any taxes on what they made either.

And, now you see our Internal Revenue Service is sending refunds and in many cases thousands of refunds to one address!!!

Why are we not outraged??!!! If we are, why don’t we do anything about it?! If you Google IRS sending many refunds to one address, you can find my sources, although I will list them at the end as always. Another interesting piece of information is that, of course, neither MSNBC nor CNN will have this news on their websites. I tried unsuccessfully to find it. News is news.

The last paragraph here is the rest of that article and is why I titled this month’s column, The Blind Leading The Blind. This is how it ties to chiropractic and health care in general.

“But most of all, I keep thinking that in 2014, this same agency, the IRS, is going to be running the Affordable Care Act. If they can’t competently handle their own business, how can we expect them

to administer Obamacare?”

And, this scares me deeply.

The IRS is going to run Obamacare?!!! http://cnsnews.com/news/article/ irs-sent-46378040-refunds23994-unauthorized-aliens-1-atlanta-address http://www.bizpacreview. com/2013/06/22/irs-sent-refundsto-23994-undocumented-immigrants-at-same-address-78436

For another interesting video to watch if you have time, check this one out. It’s a single mother of seven who is in the country illegally and has been on the system collecting money for TWENTY years and she wants to teach other illegal immigrants how to do it!

Fantastic! http://www.bizpacreview. com/2013/05/31/fla-illegal-onwelfare-for-20-years-shows-others-how-to-milk-system-73531

thevalleynewspaper@gmail.com

Dr. Joseph Kauffman Kauffman-Hummel Chiropractic Clinic drjosephkauffman@comcast.net

31

The Valley, July 2013

The 2nd Annual Pennsylvania Organic FarmFest announces two of many activities at this year’s event, including a Kids’ Triangle where Face Painting and Crafts will be offered throughout Friday and Saturday August 2 and 3 at the Grange Fairgrounds in Centre Hall, PA. Children can explore the Petting Zoo, and sing along at the Organic Kids Stage with Gary Gyekis and the Three Kitties, Robot Mouth, and PA Alleycats.

Kids (and adventurous adults) can participate in the FarmFest Kids Parade which tops things off at 5:00 pm Saturday.

Among some of the other activities at the Kid’s Triangle are a special seed planting activity, a leaf-rubbing card-making activity, and hands-on watershed and food educational activities with partnering organization, the Penns Valley Conservation Association.

“I’m very excited to be involved with the children’s activities again this year,” says Sandie Elder, Of-

fice Manager at PCO. “We have a combination of fun, hands-on, educational activities and crafts that the kids really love and enjoy learning about.”

Get out your running shoes and enjoy a 5K race and 1 Mile Fun Run or Walk around the historic Grange Fairgrounds in Centre Hall, PA. This run is hosted

by Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO) and the Nittany Valley Running Club and will take place inside the extensive, beautiful Grange Fairgrounds. Make this race part of your celebration at the Pennsylvania Organic FarmFest and bring your whole family to participate!

Race-day is August 3rd and registration begins at 7:30 a.m. at the PCO Welcome Tent. The Fun Walk begins at 8:30 am and the 5K Run starts at 9:00 am. The entry fee is only $15 if postmarked by July 15, 2013 & $20 thereafter. A special kids rate of $10 for those 12 and under if pre-

registered by July 15, 2013 and $12 thereafter.

All runners who pre-register will receive a custom designed short-sleeved t-shirt, and there is a very limited supply on the race day, so book early! Kids-size t-shirts are only available with pre-registration. Awards go to the top male and female finishers in each age category (no duplication), and children 11 and under also receive a participation award.

All proceeds from the 5K and Fun Walk will go towards the FarmFest Children’s Learning Area.

There are showers available for use (bring quarters as they are needed for the showers to work).

And in keeping with the FarmFest spirit, dogs are invited and a special prize will be given to the best costume in the race!

Runners and walkers can register at

the FarmFest 5K website at http:// farmfest.paorganic.org/5k/ or call Kathryn at (814) 422-0251 for more info.

Camping is available at Farm Fest for runners, families, and general festival goers. Campers can bring their own tents and RVs or they can rent green army tents that the Fairground will have set up. Bikes are encouraged in the camping areas.

Also included at this year’s FarmFest are a Homemade and Homegrown Market, local food vendors, and an exhibit hall featuring organizations dedicated to local, organic, and sustainable food and a special Organic Dairy

FarmFest Kids Parade

Gary Gyekis and The Three Kitties.

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Farm Field Day on Friday August 2. Music from local bands tops off the event on both nights. Be sure to visit the website at http:// farmfest.paorganic.org/, or call Kathryn Tokarz at (814) 4220251 for more information.

Pennsylvania Certified Organic is a non-profit organization that educates and certifies organic growers and handlers in Pennsylvania and the surrounding region. To learn more about PCO or to apply for organic certification, call 814-422-0251 or visit our website at www.paorganic. org. a

The Valley, July 2013

32

REED COMMONS

COMING SOON Single Floor “Worry Free” Living

Fernzler-Hutchinson Architecture LLC

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RENTALS START AT ONLY $795 PER MONTH. Reed Commons is just 25 minutes south of State College in Brown Township at the entrance to Mifflin County’s beautiful Big Valley Amish Country. Our location is convenient for shopping, dining, cultural events, entertainment, top quality health care and much more!

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REED COMMONS PO BOX 87 REEDSVILLE PA 17084 thevalleynewspaper@gmail.com

33

The Valley, July 2013

Back Talk

by Dr. Joseph Kauffman

“The Blind Leading The Blind”

This month’s column is straying quite a bit from Chiropractic.

But, it is quite interesting when I found out what has happened and I hope you find it as intriguing as I did. I have had my doubts for many years about an agency such as the Internal Revenue Service.

I don’t like the places that they send our money. For example, how is it ethical for any government agency to send federal aid to a known abortion clinic such as Planned Parenthood? Planned Parenthood claims to offer assistance to pregnant women who are looking for help, when in fact they have been busted, on camera, helping girls as young as fourteen get abortions without telling their parents. It blows my mind how young girls need parental permission to attend a class field trip, but not to take the life of a baby! I am against abortion and I am appalled that my tax money is used to fund a known abortion clinic. If you

work for someone, take a look at your pay stubs and see how much tax is being taken off by the federal government. Sure, you may get a refund. But, your refund pales in comparison to what has been taken. And, I think anyone who is self-employed like I am, can relate and probably dreads paying taxes just like I do. If I knew my money was being spent on good things, needed things, I would not have any problems. But, after reading this next article, I really have an issue with the IRS, more so than before. Check this out:

“The Internal Revenue Service sent 23,994 tax refunds to a single Atlanta address for a total of $46,378,040 in 2011 — and each of the refunds, averaging over $1,900 each, went to undocumented immigrants, according to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

Although that single Atlanta address was perhaps the most

egregious example, it was by no means the only one. As it turns out, ‘four of the top ten addresses to which the IRS sent thousands of tax refunds to ‘unauthorized’ aliens were in Atlanta,’ as reported by CNS News.

The IRS sent 11,284 refunds worth a combined $2,164,976 to unauthorized alien workers at a second Atlanta address; 3,608 worth $2,691,448 to a third; and 2,386 worth $1,232,943 to a fourth. But the problem isn’t limited to Atlanta or even Georgia. Similar examples can be found all over the country. Here in South Florida, the IRS sent 1,972 refunds to ‘unauthorized’ recipients totaling $2,256,302, all going to a single address in Palm Beach Gardens.

Other locations on the Inspector General’s Top Ten list for singular addresses that were theoretically used simultaneously by thousands of unauthorized alien workers, included an address in Oxnard, Calif, where the IRS

sent 2,507 refunds worth $10,395,874; an address in Raleigh, North Carolina, where the IRS sent 2,408 refunds worth $7,284,212; an address in Phoenix, Arizona, where the IRS sent 2,047 refunds worth $5,558,608; an address in San Jose, California, where the IRS sent 1,942 refunds worth $5,091,027; and an address in Arvin, California, where the IRS sent 1,846 refunds worth $3,298,877.

The problem began in 1996, when the IRS began issuing Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers to undocumented immigrants who are ‘not authorized to work in the United States.’ Three years later, the Treasury Inspector General reported the problem with this practice.

‘The IRS issues Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) to undocumented aliens to improve nonresident alien compliance with tax laws.

This IRS practice seems counterproductive to the Immigration and Naturalization Service’s (INS) mission to identify undocumented aliens and prevent unlawful alien entry,’ Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) warned in that long-ago report.

But the practice continues,

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and the problem persists. Two IRS employees eventually went to a member of Congress alleging that IRS management was requiring employees to assign Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) even when the applications were fraudulent,’ according to the Inspector General’s 2012 audit.

All-in-all, the Inspector General found 154 addresses around the country that appeared on a 1,000 or more ITIN applications made to the IRS’ CNS reported.

CNS’s Terence Jeffrey continued: Perhaps the most remarkable act of the IRS was this: It assigned 6,411 ITINs to unauthorized aliens presumably using a single address in Morganton, North Carolina. According to the 2010 Census, there were only

Continued on page 30

The Valley, July 2013

34

Joanne Wills-Kline Contentment Quest

Kritikos

The Greek word “Kritikos” was the root word from which our modern day word “criticize” evolved. Kritikos meant to judge or discern for the sake of improvement (www.thefreedictionary. com). In ancient times “criticism” was based on the intent of helping us grow. Interestingly, the definition of our modern day word “criticize” is “a form of judgment” and “to indicate the faults of someone in a disapproving way.” Overtime, Kritikos, a word rooted in assisting growth, has evolved to mean judgment and disapproval.

The positive intent of the ancient word has evolved, or shall I say, deteriorated into a negative intent.

Criticism based on the intent to harm becomes noxious.

I think if we are all really honest, it’s safe to say that every one of us is guilty of being critical at some point in our lives. I think that’s just human nature… but hopefully, we haven’t partici-

pated in criticism with the intent to produce harm. Living with a critical spirit and the intent to produce harm is like living with closed fists rather than open palms to receive all the goodness of life.

Sometimes criticism takes the form of passiveness and indifference – like when we don’t take a stand and support someone or something (some concept) because we are afraid of being the target of harmful criticism.

People who challenge us to think differently – people who rock the boat – often find themselves smack dab in the middle of the crosshairs of noxious criticism.

Elie Weisel, author and Holocaust survivor, said when you find yourself in the crosshairs of harmful criticism – stop. Do not “react”… rather, choose to “respond.” The difference is in the intent. Reaction is often spawned by knee-jerk defensiveness; however, response can usually be

associated with a slight “time-out” and space to think before moving forward. Weisel said we need to “think higher… feel deeper… life is meant to be lived with an open palm not a fist… noxious criticism, passiveness, and indifference are actually worse than evil.”

Sometimes we are the target of harmful criticism from the people closest to us – those who have shared our darkest hours and the lightest of times. Criticism from those we hold dear is a very jagged pill to swallow. It is important to discern whether the jagged pill originated from the intent to grow us and benefit our overall well-being, or if it is carefully crafted with malice and harmful intent. If you discern that the intent was rooted in harm, at least take heart that something you said or did struck a deep cord of truth with them – it rocked the boat and challenged their current level of thinking. Unfortunately, there is no easy fix to mask the

Progress At The Embassy

by Patricia Lawson

July brings us the annual “Let Freedom Ring” concert in front of The Embassy Theatre on South Main Street in downtown Lewistown. The event is Friday, July 5, 7pm, and the rain date is Saturday, July 6, 7pm. Come out and enjoy the Lewistown Community Band and the Let Freedom Ring Chorus!

While you’re there, take a look at the exterior of the theatre.

Doesn’t the theatre seem a bit more proud and brilliant? Well, thanks to the on-going restoration, it is! But, we still need your help to reach our goal. Your donations would be greatly appreciated.

Please make your checks payable to “The Friends of The Embassy Theatre,” and mail them to The Embassy Theatre, P.O. Box 203, Burnham, PA 17009. Thank you in advance for your support, and remember to “like” us on Facebook and visit our web-site.

Those web-sites are listed at the

end of this article.

Last month, I promised that we were going to take a look at the theatre’s state-of-the-art organ, so here we go!

The theatre’s Kimball pipe organ was said to have

been one of the finest in any theatre in Pennsylvania, including a console adorned in gold leaf.

The organ contained a genuine Chinese gong, a factory whistle, and other special devices for all sorts of special effects. In se-

painful hurt of noxious criticism, but author and life coach Martha Beck suggests paying attention to YOUR NEEDS rather than their criticisms.

Martha Beck said “You must befriend, protect, and nurture your own spirit. This means paying attention to your real needs, treating yourself not just fairly, but kindly, and standing up for yourself even if that displeases people around you. Just as a run-down body may be unable to conceive a healthy new life, a run-down soul cannot support the healthy development of the life you were meant to have” lecting the organ, Harold, the owner of the theatre, said he was concerned with its size, tone, and variety in the organ, not its price.

A gold-gilded grand piano also graced the stage. Can you guess the total cost of the organ and piano? It was $25,200! That would be an expense of approximately $344,000 today!

A small orchestra pit was located directly in front of the stage. The width was only twentytwo feet. The front of the pit was curved to match the curve of the seats. A low railing enclosed the pit from the aisle in front of the seats, and the Kimball organ once stood in this pit. Remarkably, parts of the pit railing have been found under the stage.

Next month, we have exciting news to reveal – another grant has been secured! Stay tuned for more details…

Happy 4th of July from The Friends Of The Embassy Theatre! www.embassytheatre.org www.facebook.com/embassyltwn A Memory with a Future, a Future Full of Memories! a

Fashion Show, 1928. Note the original stage, the orchestra pit, and the organ console in the pit.

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(marthabeck.com). I suggest we all choose to take a step back and reflect on how we personally have partaken in the act of criticism.

We need to ask ourselves if the criticisms we spoke were rooted in an intent to “grow” or “harm.”

Then step forward with a new mindful awareness to choose the intent of “growth and Kritikos” with each passing day. To those of you, like me, who have been in the crosshairs of harmful intended criticism, I urge you to take heart, and rejuvenate your weary soul with the words of Joel Osteen and Mother Theresa in the following quotes.

“God promises that if you stay in faith he will take what’s meant for your harm and use it for your good.” ~Joel Osteen

“People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” ~Mother Theresa a

35

The Valley, July 2013

Life in the East End

by Rebecca Harrop

Well the beginning of June was a pretty sad time for my family. My Gram Harrop passed away June 1st. Around Easter she had to go to the hospital and then went to William Penn nursing home. We had hoped she would be able to come home, but I guess it wasn’t meant to be. You know, when someone dies everyone is sad and I understand that because I’m really sad when I think about not seeing Gram anymore—not having her as part of our family gatherings, not seeing her sitting on the porch when I go to feed the calves in the afternoons, just all the things about her. At the same time, it’s like my Dad said it is a bittersweet time because we know Gram is not suffering now, we believe she is in heaven, so we are glad for that.

Gram was such a huge part of our lives. She always wanted to know what you were doing whether it was school, 4-H, whatever it was, she always took an interest and wanted to know if you needed anything. I have so many wonderful memories of Gram.

All of us cousins have great memories we will always treasure.

Over the last few weeks we’ve all been sharing special times. Ernie and Ben told us about a time when they were pretty young. Mom and Gram took them way out in the back of the farm to pick blackberries. They had gotten quite a few.

Gram and Mom each had a bucket with berries in it. They were walking back along a hill where the cows had made paths. It was pretty steep and as they were coming across, Gram lost her footing and fell. Because it was so steep she started rolling down the hill. There were a lot of rocks and a section of woods about half way down, then it eventually ended with a sheer drop into what we call the long pond (part of the Treaster creek). There was an electric fence and a huge tree at the edge of the woods and Gram was rolling straight towards it.

Mom started running after her, but of course she couldn’t stop her. She said all she could think of was Gram was going to hit that tree and get tangled in the fence.

Ernie and Ben thought she was going to roll all the way to the long pond and fall in and drown.

Somehow she got stopped before she hit the tree. She got up and with Ben and Mom helping her she got back up to the top. Mom made Ernie take off his tee shirt because Gram had a cut on her head then run into the house to get Pap to bring his truck out to take Gram in. I guess other than a little cut on her forehead and some bruises, she was fine. Gram was mad because she lost her bucket of berries.

Ernie and Ben said they didn’t want to go for blackberries after that.

Gram loved the beach. I guess when she was young, before she married, she and some friends usually went to the beach.

My aunt Susan and her family live in New Jersey and most summers we would go visit her and go to A stolen picture taken by Ernie. Rebecca thought perhaps the soon-to-be pond they were the beach. A building for their Mom might make a decent couple times swimming pool. It was COLD! we went

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to Virginia Beach. I remember the rest of us all had our shorts, swimsuits and flip-flops on. Gram had her regular good cloths on and sneakers and her purse. She would be the only one on the beach with regular cloths on. We would have a lawn chair for her and she would sit there and watch us playing in the sand and water.

One time when Rachel, my cousin Rowena, and I were about 2 years old, Mom, Susan, and Gram took us with Ernie and Ben to Sea Side Heights. They had one of those ski lift type rides. Ernie and Ben wanted to go on it, but Mom and Susan said they weren’t going.

Well, Gram said she would go with the boys. So Gram, Ernie

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and Ben rode the ride all the way along the boardwalk. I don’t remember this, but we had a picture of them we had out at Gram’s funeral.

Gram also loved to shop. It didn’t matter what for, she just liked to shop. She didn’t have

Continued on page 38

The Valley, July 2013

36

Hey. Howaya’s? Time for a rant. I was just riding the mower around, trying to keep ahead of it for a day or three. This lovely tool has one great big defect that has been irking me, so today I finally said ENOUGH. It had a seat safety switch built-in so that morons that try mowing mountainsides don’t get squished and made into chop sue-me. Every time I’d reach in my back pocket for a hanky to blow my nose, the tractor either stuttered or stalled.

Its since been fixed with a cable tie, so its not going to infuriate me again. Which leads to my rant.

You know what? I don’t want, or need ANYONE to keep me from harming myself. As long as what I do has zero affect on anyone else, it’s nunya damn business what I do. I will even

ingest into my body whatever I want. (gasp!) If you want to live long and prosper, or ride hard and die fast, it’s Your Choice. We used to live in a free society with free will. You membah’?

And to all of you that would say “We all have to pay for all these people, its a burden on everyone!” Show me where it says, anywhere, that I’m my brother’s keeper?

Guess what? Our Constitution has been constipated. By dipshidiots that do not love our country.

Corruption is now the norm, God is out and evil reigns supreme. For now, anyway.

This path we are on is not sustainable folks. Something has to give. Billions of OUR dollars leave this country, and where does most of it go? To countries that

hate us, and would love to see us dead. All in the name of ‘Foreign Aid.’ How lovely.

When ‘They The Sheeple’ wake up from their stupors, and realize they are nothing but human atm cash cows, maybe we can get back on track. But I have my doubts. How can they get angry when their chip bowl is full, their chair is comfy, and the remote works perfectly? I don’t normally eat chips, my only chair is at my kitchen table, and I shot my TV.

Now, it’s back to mowing my lawn...and blowing my nose... without stalling my mower.

Until next time, remember: Politicians and diapers need to be changed often, and for the same reasons. a

thevalleynewspaper@gmail.com

37

The Valley, July 2013

Caving Mifflin County with Todd Karschner

Hello Valley readers! Before I get started, I would like to take the time to mention that on May 26th, fellow caver Dwight Kemph was critically injured in an accident while caving in Ellison Cave, Georgia. After 24hr rescue efforts by 103 volunteers, Dwight is now recovering. If you would like to send a donation to him and his family to help in their time of need, contact me at toddkarschnercave44@gmail.com and I will put you in touch with the proper

enough to get out caving twice, and to introduce three new people into the sport of caving. Please welcome Sonnie Wilkins, Aimee Hostetler and Kelly Johnson. (I hope I spelled all of your names correctly!)

The first part of this article is about another caving/camping weekend in the Juniata River Valley, Mifflin County. It was held

by Nittany Grotto Inc. for their annual business meeting, elections and of course, caving!

I ar-

The Earth Room

people. From everyone here, we wish you a speedy and complete recovery Dwight!

This month I was lucky

rived Saturday morning to a campfire and some early morning risers. After saying a few “good mornings” to some familiar faces, and the pleasure of being introduced to even more new ones, the

task of setting up camp began.

While wandering around looking for a nice soft spot for my tent, I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful and peaceful it was. I could have stayed there a month and would not have gotten tired of the scenery.

Just after lunch the caving began. Some went to a couple dig sites and others went to a few local caves. Due to the fear of vandalism, I was politely asked to refrain from mentioning the name and location of the cave we visited—guess you will have to join our club to see this one in the future. With a little over a mile and a quarter of mapped passages, you could spend all day exploring.

Our trip was focused on a newer section called Earth Room, (found on Earth Day), and the historic section with names like The Ballroom, The Four Guards, The Pits and Fat Mans Misery.

There were passages 10’ to 20’ high and others were 1’ to 2’ high.

There were also ten foot deep pits to freehand and narrow vertical crevices to climb through. This cave has lots to offer. We were in the cave for over 3 hours and it seemed like twenty minutes. I had a blast and can’t wait to go again.

After everyone had finished exploring and got cleaned up, we migrated to the picnic tables and had the meeting, followed by elections and a pot luck dinner.

No one went to bed hungry! Food

was excellent.

The next morning I woke up a little stiff and sore from the day before. At 10 am there was one more cave trip to the very end.

Only six people plus two guides were all that were permitted on each trip and it’s first-come, first- served. You cannot be claustrophobic and must be able to squeeze through some very small restrictions. I was #9, so I had to sit this one out. After the group started in, the rest of us munched on leftovers and packed up. Wow, was that depressing having to leave!

The other trip was in Milroy 2. The purpose was to get a few new people some experience in a typical Pennsylvania cave, and for them to see if they are going to like caving or not.

All went well and you will be seeing some new faces in upcoming pix.

We have a ton of fun. Why don’t you come with us and try it for yourself!

Cave Safe, Todd K. a

OutdOOr SympOSium Aug. 2nd & 3rd

Centre County Grange Fairgrounds

Live!

Birds of Prey Demo Saturday, Aug. 3 hosted by penns valley outfitters

Building appreciation and access to outdoor recreation in the Central PA region by highlighting area outfitters, outdoor gear vendors, environmental groups and outdoor clubs.

For more information contact:

wolfe@trail2creek.com

(l to r) Kelly Johnson, Jenn Jones, Aimee Hostetler, Sonnie Wilkins

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The Valley, July 2013

38

Hello everyone, It’s been just about a month since the number 765, Berkshire steam engine and train came through the area taking rides from Lewistown to Altoona and around the World Famous Horseshoe Curve, then back to Lewistown. The Fort Wayne Historical Railroad Society’s Berkshire engine was accompanied by two heritage diesel engines, one painted Conrail Blue and the other painted PRR Tuscan Red, as helpers on the curve if needed.

It still seems like yesterday that I watched it arrive in Lewistown on Saturday and Sunday mornings and then on Monday Cathy and I got to ride in the full dome car.

We had the seats right at the very front of the car on the left side where we had a great view of the steam loco working hard, putting out lots and lots of smoke and steam with what seemed like not much assistance from the diesels.

The view from the dome car was indeed quite interesting and enjoyable as we crossed the Juniata River several times, traversed through tunnels and past pastures, etc. There were hundreds of people along the tracks watching as we passed. Many of them jumped in their cars and raced ahead to see the engine working again and again.

Each train was well filled with riders watching the engine work when they could see it and enjoying the ride of a lifetime.

This engine travels around the country pulling excursions each year, but this is first time it has pulled a train like this around the Horseshoe Curve. This is the reason getting tickets to ride became quite hard after the first forty-

eight hours they went on sale back in February. There were visitors in my train shop from Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, New Jersey, Kentucky, Indiana, California and Ontario, Canada. All of these folks were here to ride along with others from Wyoming, Alaska, Washington, New York and many other states across our nation.

Since I was in the crowd each morning, I saw many vehicles from most of the states in the nation. If I had time I would have written down where each was from to see if each state was represented. I have a feeling each state had someone here enjoying our great area and hospitality. There were also hundreds at the station and along the rails watching. Everyone was really excited to be in attendance with the only negative talk being about the Junction Firehouse volunteers charging for parking. I’d like to take some time here to address just what had transpired on this subject. The people involved in making this event happen contacted the firehouse folks to handle parking and security while the riders were away all day. Since this was a holiday weekend, many of these folks had family plans to be away or at other events so they originally had to say no to the request. When the organizers authorized the firehouse volunteers to charge a $5.00 per car donation to the firehouse, the folks who originally had other plans with family and friends, changed their minds and volunteered to do the work each day to support their favorite firehouse. These funds will be used to assist in the yearly operational expenses of the

firehouse. Along with directing and regulating traffic in and out of the lots they patrolled the lots for protection all day long and all weekend long giving up much of their holiday weekend with family and friends. The firehouse also provided van shuttle services to and from the parking lots for those who wanted to use it. The expenses for the van rental were also handled by the firehouse personnel. Although several persons had and have made comments about the parking charges, anytime I have had the opportunity to explain the facts as I’ve received them, most people were OK with what had been charged. Hopefully this will lay to rest anyone’s thinking that someone was doing anything improper. I, for one, didn’t mind paying the fee each day that I went to see the train.

Perhaps in the future if there is to be a parking fee, the information will be published beforehand.

I and many others realize the volunteers handled everything very professionally and last minute, just like they always do when they get called out to handle any emergency and such. After all, who really schedules a house fire or vehicle crash that these volunteers run to assist with at all hours of the day and night. Lastly I would like to say “THANK YOU’’ to all who gave up time and effort to volunteer to make things safe and secure that weekend.

While riding along, we enjoyed the company of many new friends from around central PA and a few others from out of state. We all seemed to have the same love of history and trains.

After riding around the curve, the train stopped in Altoona where we got off the train while it was being serviced and went to the Railroaders Museum for lunch, historical looking around, shopping, etc.

Cathy and I spent some time in the new round house where there is already a PRR tuscan red GG1

Life in the East End from page 35

wanted to shop. I think they were exhausted, but Gram was ready to go. I’ve heard Susan say several times that her Mom could shop all the rest of us under the table.

Grocery shopping was always a fun time with Gram as well. She and Mom used to go to two stores and then, of course, it would be near lunch time so we had to stop for lunch. Long John Silvers, Leoras’s Cafeteria in Lewistown, and Burger King were our favorite lunch spots. I don’t know if all kids are as close with their grandparents as we were, but I know we were the luckiest kids to have

our Gram as long as we did. My cousin Matt is the youngest, he’s only five, but he will still have great memories of his Gram Harrop.

On the farm life goes on.

We are kept busy with all the things that normally need to be done. The crops look pretty good right now. I like to see the fields planted and growing. My Dad usually starts his occasional trips around the different farms to see how the crops look. Sometimes when he’s checking the fields at Milroy he’ll run through the drive through at Dairy Queen for ice

Ed’s Railroading News

by Ed Forsythe

to buy a lot, I think she just liked to be out. One night in Virginia Beach we had been out to dinner and it was rather late when we got back to the hotel. On the way back Gram asked Susan if there was a gift shop in the hotel because she needed to get some salt water taffy or something to take back to the “boys.” Anytime she went away she brought something back for her sons or whoever wasn’t along. Susan and Mom couldn’t believe she still

engine and the PRR Mountain View special passenger car being readied for display. When the round house is completed, it will hold many PRR items of interest for visitors to enjoy. All this is part of the Altoona Railroaders Museum and is a fantastic place to spend time looking into the history of the “Standard of the World” which was the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Now for something to do for all railroading fans and history buffs. July 6th is the 50th Anniversary of the Rockhill Trolley Museum. Just 45 minutes from Lewistown, South on Route 522 to Orbisonia and turn right, cross over the bridge and enjoy great times riding several trolleys back into history. On July 6th we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of running our first trolley, #311 from Johnstown, Pa. Way back then, the members had only a short run of track laid and no overhead wiring. They got together that weekend and connected an extension cord that was plugged into a generator and fastened it to the trolley pole base in order to run #311 for the first time. This event makes the Rockhill Trolley Museum the oldest operating museum in Pennsylvania. #311 is now undergoing extensive rebuilding but hopefully it will at least be on display for folks to see while riding several of our other fine trolleys dating way back to the beginning of the last century.

So, check out the Rockhill Trolley Museum at ...rockhilltrolley.org.... and make plans to visit us several times this summer.

For those interested in the East Broad Top Railroad, it still isn’t running. Although there has been several newspaper articles about some of the railroad being sold, so far there is nothing new about being open this summer. We are all keeping our fingers crossed.

I hope everyone has a very safe and enjoyable summer. cream. I think it might be time to check those fields real soon Dad. Just make sure you take me along... and Mom can come too I guess.

I just weeded all of the garden. I still have some more seeds to plant, but I have a lot planted.

Our potatoes are looking pretty good. I had some strawberry plants in the refrigerator to plant, but I forgot them. I don’t know if it’s too late to plant them or not.

Ernie and I have been busy putting in a fish pond for Mom. She and Pap had fish at Belleville Agway and since Belleville was

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Happy Railroading, Ed a

closed, she needed a new home for the fish. We are still doing the landscaping around it so it is still a work in progress, but I hope to have pictures for next month’s issue. We were working on it the day Gram died. Dad said Gram always used to have a fish aquarium and she would have loved that we were putting in a pond. I wish she was still here to see it.

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers during this sad time for our family.

I wish you all a safe and Happy 4th of July!!! a

The Valley, July 2013

I gained 50 pounds ...and love it! www.families4kids.org 800-568-6449

foster parent or adopt...you’ll love it too!

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The Valley, July 2013

40

Cancer Rehab in the Continuum of Care

Cancer, and the treatments for cancer, can have a significant impact on daily life. When we consider cancer care, we think of things like surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. But there’s another critical component – one that can help cancer survivors return to life after treatment: rehabilitation.

In a study of 1,325 cancer patients with the ten most prevalent cancers, 63% reported the need for at least one rehabilitation service, 43% reported the need for

physical therapy (most frequently reported need), and 40% reported unmet needs.*

In the Centre region, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital is meeting those rehabilitation needs. The hospital’s Outpatient Clinic in Pleasant Gap has an interdisciplinary therapy program that provides compassionate, comprehensive rehabilitation for cancer survivors.

“Comprehensive cancer services can help speed recovery, shorten hospital stays and improve quality

of life,” says HealthSouth CEO Susan Hartman. “Our program focuses on individual and family needs to improve the patients’ functional abilities, provide ongoing psychosocial support, educate the patient and family/caregivers about the rehabilitation process, and provide follow-up and referrals to other resources which support the patient’s continued recovery.” Those resources may focus on wellness, nutrition, transportation, education and community and caregiver support.

HealthSouth Nittany Valley outpatient therapists are also enrolled in the STAR (Survivorship Training and Rehab) Clinician® Certification, the gold standard in cancer rehab for hospitals that offer multidisciplinary survivorship care. “This certification will enable our therapists to help cancer survivors function at the highest level possible,” says Hartman.

The program’s specialized services include functional capacity evaluations, a driving screen, nutritional counseling, pain management and therapy for vestibular/balance disorders and memory deficits related to cancer treatment. Another critical component of cancer rehabilitation provided at HealthSouth is Lymphedema Therapy, including Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD); compression bandaging (wrapping); remedial exercise; and patient education. And Medi-

Make Your

Outpatient Therapy appointMent at HealtHSoutH Our physical, occupational and speech therapy staff will design a program to meet your specific needs. These specialized programs include, but are not limited to: • Amputee

• Hand rehabilitation

• Arthritis

• Neurological conditions

• Lymphedema

• Aquatics

• Orthopedic conditions

• Back care

• Pain

• Balance/vestibular

• Pulmonary diagnoses

• Brain Injury

• Spinal cord injury

• Cancer rehabilitation

• Sports injuries

• Cognitive function • Foot/ankle injury

• Functional Capacity Evaluations • General reconditioning

• Stroke

• Swallowing difficulties • Work injuries

A Higher Level of Care®

Lewistown 105 First Avenue Burnham, PA 17009 717 242-5400 Fax 717 242-5404

Mifflintown 27 CJEMS Lane, Suite 1 Mifflintown, PA 17059 717 436-8233 Fax 717 436-5513 NittanyValleyRehab.com

thevalleynewspaper@gmail.com

Pleasant Gap 550 West College Avenue Pleasant Gap, PA 16823 814 359-5630 Fax 814 359-1232

care and most insurance companies are covering such services.

HealthSouth Nittany Valley’s Physical Therapist Joanna Buergin recently completed requirements to become a certified lymphedema therapist.

Lymphedema therapy will soon be offered at the Lewistown location.

For more information, contact HealthSouth’s Pleasant Gap Outpatient Clinic at (814) 359-5630.

The Clinic is located at 550 West College Ave., Pleasant Gap, PA, 16823. *Thorsen L., et al. Cancer patients’ needs for rehabilitation services. Acta Oncologica (2011). a

41

The Valley, July 2013

Notes

Doug’s Rug Spa Stays On The Cutting Edge

Hospital Hosts Bus Trip

Lewistown Hospital is hosting a bus trip to the Philadelphia Premium Outlets, featuring the Vera Bradley Outlet, on Saturday, July 27, 2013. Cost is $25 per person. Departure time is 7:00 am from the Wal-Mart parking lot in Lewistown with a second pick up at the Cedar Grove Church of the Brethren in Mifflintown.

Bus will leave outlets at 7:00 pm to return home.

Deadline to register is June 28, or until seats are sold out. Seating is limited. Tickets are available in Community Relations, Monday – Friday, 9 am – 4 pm, or by calling (717) 242-7464.

Lewistown Hospital Recognizes Volunteers

Lewistown Hospital honored its dedicated volunteers during a picnic on June 20, 2013, at Kish Park. In 2012, over 130 active volunteers donated 280,811 hours to Lewistown Hospital.

For more information on becoming a volunteer, call (717) 242-7225 or visit www. lewistownhospital.org Photo: right, L to R: Hospital volunteers, Vivian Searer and Martha Foltz, both from Lewistown, enjoy the volunteer picnic.

L to R, Back to Front: Members of Lewistown Hospital’s Pink Zone Fundraising Committee: Cathy Hunter, Jon Zimmerman, LHF Board Member and Pink Zone Community Volunteer; Julie Maidens, Keria Meals, Joel Diamond, Co-Chairman, Pink Zone Fundraising Committee and member Pink Zone Board of Directors; Michelle Wray, Deb Bickhart, Robyn Smith, Raelene Arnold, Nicholl Kuhns, Melissa Knepp, Miriam Powell, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Pink Zone; and Kay Hamilton, President and CEO, Lewistown Hospital.

Doug and Amanda Moerschity located at 105 N. Main St. bacher from Doug’s Rug Spa in Pleasant Gap, PA 16823. They Pleasant Gap recently attended the offer certified hand washing of all New Experience Convention & types of rugs, repairs, and sales of Trade Show (http://www.experinew & used rugs. You can reach encetheevents.com/) in ClearwaDoug’s Rug Spa at 814-808-5071, ter, Florida. The Convention is for email at dougsrugspa@gmail.

Water Restoration and Carpet & net ,or visit our website at www.

Rug Cleaning Firms. The Condougsrugspa.com. vention focuses on educating, networking, and an industryrelated trade show featuring the latest innovations in technolDoug Moerschbacher (in the blue shirt), of Doug’s Rug Spa ogy.

Pleasant Gap, is explaining how Anthony & Shannon Belmonte Doug’s Rug Spa (in the maroon shirts), of Naples, FL, are cleaning a rug in a is a full wash pit. Onlooker Clark Lancaster (in the white shirt), of Birmingham, AL, is the engineer of the Centrifuge (steel machine service in the back ground). Doug’s Rug Spa is a proud owner of a rug care Centrifuge machine for cleaning rugs. facilRIVER VALLEY HARDWARE July 2013

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The Valley, July 2013

42

To Appreciate Art Participation is the Key

To do is to understand. We experience this simple truth all the time in our lives. Anyone who knows how to cook in any degree can better appreciate the meal prepared by a topnotch restaurant chef because of their own, more limited and basic, work in the kitchen. Or, why are spectator sports like football and baseball such a huge draw in our country?

Part of the reason is that nearly every kid growing up here played it themselves, in some neighbor’s backyard if not on a more formal team. So, when you watch the players starting to run the next play, you have a sense of what it’s

like down there on the field and what’s going through their minds because of your own experiences.

Art is best appreciated in the same way. Whether it’s painting, playing music, dance, or some other art form, the work of the true master is best appreciated by the person who has at least dabbled in it on a personal level. So, I’m suggesting that, if you enjoy music but have never played an instrument yourself, or not since “way back”, it’s never too late to start. Or, if you enjoy visual art but have seldom or never painted or drawn, give a try! Whether on your own, with a more experi-

enced friend, or through lessons or classes, there is no reason to be afraid of failure. If you give a decent effort to learning something new, there is no such thing as failure. Regardless of how far you get in achieving the proficiency you dream of, you’ll learn a lot along the way, and that will all translate back into a greater appreciation for the art form.

I’ve experienced this “new appreciation” phenomenon myself. Along with my professional work as a painter and visual artist, I’ve always enjoyed playing music on several instruments as well as singing and some song writing.

But for a long time, I had liked the sound of the saxophone and wished I could play it. So, almost two years ago, I decided to dive in and try the instrument. My only experience with any reed instrument was when I was twelve or thirteen, playing the clarinet in the band for a couple of years.

I had to read up on the different kinds of saxes, figure out how to get a cheap used one and have it serviced to be playable, and download a basic fingering chart from the internet. From there, it was just a lot of consistent practice, listening to the great sax players, and eventually playing informally with other musicians.

I started with an alto sax and later switched to playing both tenor and soprano.

Along the way, I developed a

new interest in jazz music and the great musicians of that genre.

A whole new side of music was opened up to me through my personal involvement with a new instrument. How far I can get with the instrument is still to be seen, but it’s been a fun ride, and I’m sure the enriched musical experience even comes back around to add new layers to my visual art.

If there is a form of artistic expression you’ve been wanting to try, or get back into, and you feel like you need some help to get started, there are many artists, musicians, dancers, and others in the area who offer lessons or classes. The Art Alliance (artalliancepa.org) in Lemont has various art classes on a semester basis as well as special workshops with visiting artists. At the Green Drake Gallery and Arts Center in Millheim (greendrakeart.com) we have various art class and workshop opportunities as well as several people giving lessons on a variety of musical instruments.

I teach an Open Studio painting

class at the Green Drake most Wednesday afternoons that offers a relaxed, informal way to explore or further develop painting in acrylics or oils.

If you are already pursuing a creative outlet, keep at it! You’ve probably already discovered the many ways it helps you grow as a person and as an appreciator of the arts. If you’re still just thinking about, now is as good a time as any to turn thought into action!

In news from Millheim, the Mayfly Festival was a big success, with live music and other special events all over town June 7th and 8th. The Green Drake Plein Air Paint-out attracted sixteen artists, who painted all around eastern Penns Valley and in town for four days. We’ve decided to feature the best of that work for our July/ August special show. The opening reception Friday, July 5, will have music by three great singer/songwriters who played at our Open Mic during the Festival; Monica Brindle, Jeremy Tosten, and Walt Whitmer. a

Amateur musician Walt Whitmer

An Open Studio class participant paints outdoors in Millheim.

thevalleynewspaper@gmail.com

43

The Valley, July 2013

Breed Like Rabbits

Last month in Splitting Hares we discussed the ins and outs of breeding rabbits. This month we will be following this up, by talking about baby bunnies (called Kits). When born, kits are very small, and fragile. They have no fur and cannot see or hear. They have a high mortality rate, and can often have fatal birth defects.

But, even though raising kits can be difficult, it is one of the most rewarding parts of our hobby!

When born, kits have no fur, but they start to grow a soft fuzz when they are only one day old.

By the time they are 2 weeks old, they have a short coat of fur and have opened their eyes. At 3 weeks old, they start to venture out of the nest box. When they are 4 weeks old, they are eating solid food and munching on hay. By 8 weeks old, they are fully weaned off of their mothers and can be taken to their own cage.

At this age you can sell the kits, as it is illegal to sell them under 8 weeks of age.

If the rabbit only has one kit, or if the mother dies, and if more than one doe has been bred at the same time (this is highly recommended), there is the option of fostering the single kit to a healthy litter, to give it a higher chance of survival. This does not always work, and it is not recommended if the fostering doe has a large litter to begin with. It has saved

many lives though and is often worth the risk.

To prepare the kit for fostering, first rub a rag dipped in vanilla extract all over all the kits in the healthy litter, and the kit to be fostered. Be sure they all smell of the vanilla. Rub the does nose with the cloth, so that she smells like vanilla as well. Then, put all of the kits (including the fostered one) into the nestbox of the foster mother. Keep a close eye on the litter for a few days after fostering to be sure that she is feeding all the kits, and has not rejected the foster kit. When fostering kits of the same breed, and or color, a way of identifying the foster kit is to put a small Sharpie dot in the kits ear, checking often as it may rub off. This is a way to know what rabbit belongs to what mother.

Kits can easily become ill in the first few weeks of life, so it is important to look over all kits at least once a day to make sure that they are healthy. One common ailment is when the babies start to eat solid food, their rear ends may become swollen. To try to stop the swelling, and save the kit, you can put a dot of triple antibiotic ointment on the swollen area two times a day until the swelling goes down. If swelling persists, consult your vet for further instruction.

Another common issue is not so much an illness, but the

fact that mothers can sometimes overgroom their babies, causing them to tear an ear or injure a leg.

This is not fatal, but can make a rabbit unshowable, depending on how severe the tear is.

A common myth about kits is that they can not be touched when they are born, or the mother will reject them. This is not true at all. They can be touched from the minute they are born, but let the mother finish having all kits before disturbing her, so giving her at least an hour after she is done having them before you touch them is a good idea. When they are touched early on, and are held often, then they will be friendlier to humans, because they will have been interacting with them from day one.

When born, kits can have a variety of fatal birth defects. The most common defect found in dwarf breeds such as Netherland Dwarfs, Holland Lops, and Jersey Woolies, is called a “peanut.” A peanut is what happens when a dwarf rabbit gets two dwarfing genes, instead of one dwarfing gene, and one “normal” gene.

Having two dwarfing genes makes it so that the kits system is too small to support its body. They are characterized by being almost half the size of the other kits, having a big-

A new litter of kits.

ger head, and eyes that bulge out more than the others. They also have under-developed back ends, causing them to look pinched.

These kits always die, most of the time in the first few days, but some have held on to be almost 2 weeks old.

Another defect, that is not as common but still occurs, is called “The Max Factor.” Kits with this are also called “frogs.” Kits with the Max Factor often exhibit flipper like feet and twisted limbs, and sometimes they will have extra toes. When born, the kits have

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their eyes open, which can often lead to eye infections due to the fact that the eyes were open in the birth canal. These kits can also have human-like hair, or very soft hair, lacking guard hairs. These kits do not always die, and can live a good life, if they survive.

Kits can be difficult to raise at times, but they are such a blessing, and it is so rewarding to see baby bunnies running around the cage and watching them grow.

They are what make our hobby possible! a

The Valley, July 2013

44

R. O. F. F.

Dairy Connection

by Halee Wasson

Rescue Our Furry Friends by Patricia Lawson

Centre Count y Dair y Princess

July is a month of hot temperatures, cold pools and summer fun. To start this month off, America celebrates its 237th year of independence, while the sky lights up with a big bang. This holiday is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, carnivals, baseball games, fairs, and family gatherings. All these help celebrate the national holiday and bring us close with our family and friends. Whether it is a gathering, cook out, or bar-b-que, this month is full of food. As you are in the grocery store preparing for these celebrations, remember there is something in the dairy case for everyone with low fat, fat free, and lactose free products. Also, keep in mind July is ice cream month. Nothing tastes better on a hot July day than a cold ice cream cone. I am including some recipes that you can have at your celebrations; please enjoy these delicious treats and have fun in the sun!

RED, WHITE AND BLUE DESSERT 2-8 oz. pkgs. CREAM CHEESE, softened

½ C. sugar ½ tsp. vanilla extract 2 C. HEAVY CREAM, whipped 2 qts. Strawberries, halved, divided 2 qts. Blueberries In large mixing bowl, beat CREAM CHEESE, sugar and vanilla extract until fluffy. Fold in the WHIPPED CREAM. Place a third of the mixture in a 4-quart bowl. Reserve 20 strawberry halves and ½ cup blueberries for garnish. Layer half of the remaining strawberries and blueberries over cream mixture. Top with another third of CREAM CHEESE mixture and the remaining berries.

Spread the remaining cream mixture on top. Use the reserved strawberries to make a “flag” on top. Serves 18.

OREO AND ICE CREAM 1 regular size pkg. Oreos (not double stuffed) 1 stick BUTTER, melted ½ gal. good quality vanilla ICE CREAM 1 jar hot fudge topping ¼ to ½ C. Chopped cocktail peanuts

Grease a 9x13” pan or glass dish (with BUTTER). Using a 1-gallon Ziploc bag, smash Oreos until they are in small chunks and crumbs. Empty into large bowl and add melted BUTTER, mixing until crumbs are well coated. Pour into pan and press down to cover bottom. Chill for 20 minutes to firm up crust. Peel box off ICE CREAM and slice into three thick slices, long ways. Place on Oreo crust, spreading slices together with the back of a warm spoon to cover crust. Heat hot fudge in microwave until pourable. Jar will be very hot, so use an over mitt or tea towel to pour over ICE CREAM. Spread evenly over ICE CREAM. Sprinkle chopped peanuts over the top. Cover with foil and place on freezer until ready to serve. a

Look at this sweetheart! This is Nash, and he is 3-4 year old male cat who has been in ROFF Rescue since he was about 6 months old. He is neutered, tested negative for FIV/Feluke and is litter trained. It has taken him a while to come out of his shell, but he is super affectionate now and is looking for his forever home.

Wouldn’t you love to give Nash a forever home? Please go to our website www.roff.cc and fill out an online application or call 877933-ROFF (7633). Please note: there is a $25 adoption application fee. And, since these articles are written several weeks prior to publication,Nash may already have a forever home. However, be sure to check out the other dogs and cats on our website that would be a loving companion.

Important Notice: Please do not

PACleanways of Mifflin County

by Pam Sechrist

PACleanWays of Mifflin County is looking for volunteers to help with a cleanup of the Juniata River this summer on July 20, 2013 in the area of the Sand flats just off from SR 103 between Granville Boat Ramp and Lewistown. We will be working from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The general area will be between the two railroad bridges that cross the river in that area. Cleaning up the river will be an Economic Engine to help with the tourism industry in Mifflin County. This cleanup will reach out to a wider audience wanting to boat or kayak on the river. We are currently surveying the river for access points and to see where the most tires and trash are, so that we can find it easier on the day of the cleanup. We are looking for land owners in that area that would like to see the river cleaned and will be willing to work with us on the access points.

We are looking for sponsors to help promote the cleanup and places to put fliers to promote it.

We are working on Safety Captains, Resource Recover people, Land Captains, Food Captains, and truck driver support for hauling trash. Anyone helping that day with kayaks must have a life vest on that day. We are also looking for photographers that will be willing to take pictures for us that day.

We will provide gloves, garbage bags, and food and drink to all volunteers willing to help.

Juniata and Perry County will also be doing a cleanup that day.

Last year we cleaned three areas of the river—Victory Park Boat ramp, Granville boat ramp, and also the area off from the Newton Hamilton boat ramp. In all, we cleaned and disposed 1.23 tons of trash and 1.88 tons of tires from along the banks and in the river.

In a previous year, we pulled out 111 tires from a cove at the end of Musser Run near Mcveytown.

For more information or to sign up to help on July 20, please contact Pam Sechrist at 717-8996701 or by email at pammiff@ verizon.net.

September 21 will be the date for this year’s Tire Recycle Challenge. It will once again be held at the Lewistown Borough Refuse Yard on Washington Avenue. The time will be from 8 am to 12 pm.

Nash

leave your pets in your vehicle when the outdoor temperatures are 70 degrees or higher!

Pam Sechrist Affiliate Coordinator a

thevalleynewspaper@gmail.com

Mark your calendars!

ROFF is sponsoring a “Rabies Clinic”: Where: City Hook And Ladder Fire Company on Valley Street in Lewistown.

When: Saturday, July 20th, 2013 Time: 10am – noon Costs/Canine: Rabies = $11.00 DHPPC = $19.00 Lyme = $26.00 Bordetella = $17.00 Canine Influenza = $9.00 Costs/Feline: Rabies = $11.00 FVRVP IV = $16.00 Feline Leukemia = $19.00 Attending Vet: Dr. Braunstein

As you know, we are always in need of foster homes, and donations of your time and money.

We also need: Scoopable cat litter, Purina Kitten Chow, Purina Cat Complete, Purina Puppy Chow Complete & Balanced, Purina Dog Chow, Purina Beneful, towels, sheets and blankets. These can be dropped off at: 133 North Walnut Street in Burnham.

Thank you in advance for your help, and I’ll talk to you next month! a

45

The Valley, July 2013

Dave Wilson

Coins, Precious Metal and a Little of this and That

Capital Controls.. are coming??

It isn’t much of a secret that fiat money governments (those whose physical money supply is backed by nothing EXCEPT that Country’s “Full Faith and Credit”) do NOT like gold, silver, or any of the precious metals. Gold and silver, specifically, are often times targeted because those are the two metals that MOST people are familiar with, and where (literally) 98% of precious metal investments occur.

To most governments, gold and silver are non-productive assets. They would MUCH rather have their citizens invest in stocks, bonds, bank savings accounts or CD’s. Those types of investments are easier to track, and of course, to tax. Also, when the Fractional Reserve Banking System is working properly, such deposits do, in fact, aid the economy with the creation of new capital. Unfortunately, even though the Federal Reserve is pumping hundreds-of-billions of new (unbacked) dollars into the system, with its monthly QE (Quantitative Easing) purchases of 15- and 30year mortgage backed securities, that money seems to be STAYING at the banks, and is NOT making its way into the marketplace. As a result, the Fractional system is not working, and is unable to boost the economy out of it’s present

(long-term) slump.

The proponents of stocks, bonds and bank savings products have always used the same sales line that, “Gold and silver do not earn interest.” When bank interest rates on customer deposits were in the 5+ percent area (or higher), this was always a good line for them, because it was, in fact, true. For the past several years, however, it has not been true, as interest rates are as close to -0- as they can get. Just ask any retiree who saved for DECADES hoping that interest on their savings would help in their retirement, how happy they are with their present interest rate earnings.

In fact, do NOT ask them, as you might end up getting an “ear full” of most unpleasant comments, accentuated with language not particularly suited for children.

People who relied on interest income from their lifetime savings, to augment their income in retirement years, are presently a sorry lot indeed.

Regardless, we have now established the fact that most governments want your money “in” the system (stocks, bonds, bank savings programs), and not “out” of the system (in gold, silver and other tangibles).

How best to make happen what they want? Enter CAPITAL CONTROLS...

If the free market begins to swerve away from the establishment’s desired course, or, in this case, if money begins to head for the safety of gold and silver in dollar amounts that make them “uncomfortable,” then some “way” must be found to interfere with free market activity and bring cash back to exactly where they want it, in areas “they” feel are most productive to their best interests.

Let me stop for just a moment and tell you straight out that I am not suggesting that you put all of your money in gold and silver. That this is my particular preference, is just that, a personal choice. Most people would likely be quite uneasy about that type of investment plan, and we completely understand. Our suggestion, is that if “very little” of your nest-egg is presently in tangible investments, you just might be making a terrible mistake, especially considering the current crisis facing worldwide fiat currency systems.

In earlier articles, we had outlined several (potential, and quite likely) CAPITAL CONTROL plans that could easily scuttle the gold/silver distribution system (i.e. 4-STAR, and every other precious metals seller).

Imposition of sales tax (or VAT, Value-AddedTax) on coin/bullion sales, lowering the maximum allowable amount of cash that can be used in transactions, new, more harsh reporting requirements, etc.

Now, a few new, even MORE creative, CAPITAL CONTROLS are popping up around the globe. Just three weeks ago, France made it illegal to mail gold, silver (and some jewelry items) through their postal system, pretty much assuring a shut-down of their

entire gold/silver sales distribution system. India, also within the past month, has made it illegal for its banks to continue selling physical gold and silver to customers and requires them to have a pro-active plan to discourage their customers from owning physical gold and silver. Many countries are now banning “cash” purchases of precious metals, and some are now restricting how much a customer is permitted to buy at any one time.

In the US, several states and larger cities currently have bills before their legislative houses that would intentionally create a nightmare for coin and bullion enthusiasts. Dealers would be required to photograph both sellers and buyers, and provide “authorities” with a complete listing of whatever is being purchased or sold, as well as collect buyers’ and sellers’ personal information. This information will be immediately available to any law enforcement agency that might ask to review it (for whatever reason).

Prices paid, specific items

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purchased, where the buyer or seller lives, and how payment was tendered, would likely all be required on the new forms.

“Big Brother is watching” and it is about to get a whole lot worse. If, in fact, these new controls are ineffective, an outright ban of gold, silver and coin sales would not be completely out of the question. Time may be running out for interested people to even have the possibility of adding precious metals to their investment mix.

One last point to ponder. Ten years ago, writing an article like this, for inclusion in a monthly periodical, would not have given me any pause for concern. Today, the political climate is much different, and I seriously contemplated pressing the “delete” button several times, before I just closed my eyes and hit “SEND”. This is no longer the America of my youth, and I have great concern for my children and grandchildren. a

The Valley, July 2013

46

The summer solstice occurred at 1:04 A.M. EDT on June 21, 2013, the moment that the sun’s “apparent” annual path reached its northernmost point: the Tropic of Cancer at 23.5 degrees latitude North. To get your bearings, the Tropic of Cancer runs through Mexico, the Bahamas, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, India, and southern China.

For us here in central Pennsylvania, the midday sun reaches its highest elevation in the sky on the summer solstice, and, although its midday position changed very little for several days after the solstice, we have, astronomically speaking, already started our inexorable slide toward winter (the sun’s midday elevation in the sky has started to decline).

Yet July is the hottest month of the year, on average, with August coming in a close second. The reason that July is, on average, the hottest month is that the atmosphere still runs a positive energy budget for much of July, even though we’re in “solar decline.” That’s because the atmosphere receives more energy that it loses during most of July.

For readers perplexed by this assertion, keep in mind that the atmosphere receives energy from

the Sun and the Earth.

But I digress. My main reason for writing this piece is to emphasize the safety of animals and pets during hot weather. The best way I know to make my point here is to share an experience I had in the late 1970s while I was living in Atlanta, Georgia (colloquially referred to as “HotLanta”).

My story begins on a hot July day circa 1979 when I went to the mall to buy a new pair of running shoes. As I walked out of the airconditioned mall into the sweltering heat (the temperature was in the mid-90s with oppressive humidity), I started to anticipate the dreaded Toyota bakeoff—that “gourmet” moment when bare skin is sautéed once it touches simmering vinyl seats.

As I was searching for my car in the parking lot, I approached a sleek, new BMW…or was it a Mercedes? It doesn’t matter.

It was certainly too rich for my blood. Like a teenager ogling a souped-up Chevy with rear fins (yeah, I’m an old guy), I gave the car an admiring once over.

As I moved closer, I noticed that all the windows were cracked open about an inch or two. Nothing unusual, considering the

Juror Revolt from page 47

deliberation. “The holding order trial’s focus. He said more than on all counts; Robb Porubsky, a was applied in a way that wasn’t once he didn’t want the jury ruling plant manager at a metal fabric company, was holding out for right,” she said. on DATCP’s authority to issue

The jury foreman, Paul Freitconviction on a charge that would hold orders or licenses, nor on ag, was more forceful. An installer whether sales of raw milk should penalize Hershberger for not for a cable television company, be allowed (they are prohibited in having a retail license. Eventually Freitag said he decided to leave Wisconsin, except on an “incidenPorubsky was persuaded to abanthe letter writing to Bollfrasstal” basis). don his position for conviction on Hopp because he feared his own

As most juries do, the jurors the retail license charge (“Herletter might be harsher than hers, of the Hershberger trial comproshberger was in a gray area,” and seen as “criticizing the judge Porubsky decided) in exchange mised. Freitag wanted to acquit too much.” Freitag said for Freitag giving up his he was upset that jurors lone vote for acquittal on “didn’t have the truth” the hold order. Everyone and that “if we could was at peace, until they have ruled on whether got home and began that was a legitimate reading in articles about hold order, we would the reasons the hold probably have found order had been issued to him innocent.”

Hershberger.

Judge Reynolds

Aside from had ruled in a pretrial leniency for Hershhearing against allowberger, there have been ing the jury to see the a few other unexpected Members of the jury pose with farmer Vernon Hershberger and outcomes from the trial. full hold order in an his wife, Erma, outside of court. effort to narrow the Porubsky has been mo-

said he received letters from three jurors in support of the farmer and that it was the first time in more than a dozen years on the bench that he had been contacted by jurors seeking leniency or acquittal for the man they had convicted.

Bollfrass-Hopp was joined at the hearing by three other jurors and an alternate. After the hearing, they mingled with Hershberger and his family, congratulating him on the relatively small fine.

The jurors had bonded personally over the two weeks since the trial and had become increasingly upset about the single guilty verdict they rendered. BollfrassHopp said her letter was part of “a juror revolt” that had built up in the days following their decision, which arrived at about 1 a.m. on May 25, after about four hours of

blistering heat. As I leaned closer to get an interior view, my heart nearly stopped. There, lying prostrate on the back seat, with saliva frothing rapidly from her mouth, was an Irish Setter.

I didn’t need to be a veterinarian to know that this dog was in serious trouble. I looked around frantically for an arriving owner.

No such luck. In what seemed like an out-of-body experience, I picked up a large rock, smashed it against one of the windows, and began kicking in the glass. And I was screaming “Help!” at the top of my lungs.

By the time I lifted the dog out of the car, several shoppers were responding to my screams.

I spotted a shade tree about 30 yards away and made a beeline for it, cradling the alarmingly limp dog and still shouting urgent pleas for help. When I reached the shade, a good Samaritan gave me some cool water, which I immediately poured on the dog.

Meanwhile, several folks had instinctively formed a water brigade between my location and the mall. To make a long story short, the Irish Setter began to respond, and within a matter of ten minutes, was standing weakly by my side.

Just then, the owner of the car returned to find his new car with a smashed window. He ran to the shade tree and started yelling at me—not about his dog, but about his new car. I tried to explain, but he was livid and irrational. He ran into the mall to call the police (no cell phones in those days, folks).

When the officers arrived, the owner demanded that they arrest me. I told my side of the story, and pressed them to arrest the owner for cruelty to animals.

Actually, if I had been completely honest, I wanted the police to lock This is the temperature inside a the owner in a car so he could ex- vehicle with an outdoor temperature perience what it must be like to be of 84°F. It only took five minutes for the inside of the car to heat up to over trapped in 150-degree heat! My 103°F. confession notwithstanding, the owner acquiesced and changed to go on long runs on hot days his tune. (even worse for dogs with short

Dogs and cats do not have snouts) is downright dangerous. cooling systems like we do.

Moreover, dogs who are older or People perspire, and the evaporaoverweight are more susceptible tion of sweat from our skin helps to the deleterious effects of heat. up to cope with hot weather.

During the hot dog days of

For the most summer, folks are reminded to part, dogs and cats don’t sweat. take precautions for themselves Instead, they rely on panting to and their families. With regard cool themselves. Such a cooling to pets and hot weather, I’m system is not designed to cope reminded of what Corporal Radar with the stifling heat that quickly O’Reilly once said on the TVbuilds up inside a closed car on a sitcom, M*A*S*H: “Dogs are hot summer day. people, too.” a

Just like humans, body temperatures of dogs and cats can soar to life-threatening levels if precautions aren’t taken. Leaving your pet in a hot car, tying your dog in the sun (even worse when the dog doesn’t have access to water), Dogs overheat very quickly in a closed-up vehicle—yes, even when the windows are cracked! or forcing your dog

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tivated to start growing his own corn and soybeans. And Freitag and Bolfrass-Hopp, along with two other jurors who attended the hearing said they hope to visit Hershberger’s farm before long, and possibly sign up as members so they can try some of the raw milk they spent so much time in court learning about.

(David E. Gumpert writes about food and health, and is the author of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Food Rights: The Escalating Battle Over Who Decides What We Eat, due out in June.) See ad on page 4 in

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The Valley, July 2013

The Inside Story of a “Juror Revolt” in Amish Raw Milk Trial

by David Gumpert Reprinted with permission of Jake Swearingen, editor at “Modern Farmer” where the story first appeared on June 13th.

See more stories on similar issues at modernfarmer.com. One of our favorite sites!

Editors note: Vernon Hershberger is no longer officially Amish. He grew up in an Amish community, and much of his family still lives in an Amish community in Ohio. While Vernon still adheres to many Amish religious and philosophical beliefs, he officially left the Amish community seven years ago.

The criminal misdemeanor trial of Wisconsin raw milk farmer Vernon Hershberger that drew national media attention ended more than two weeks ago, but Michele Bollfrass-Hopp, one of the jurors in the case, has been unable to get it out of her mind.

In the case, Vernon Her-

shberger, a 41-year-old Amish farmer, was put on trial for violating Wisconsin’s dairy and food licensing laws by selling unpasteurized milk. Cases in which farmers are prosecuted for selling unlicensed food for private use are rare. In one other case, last September, a jury of six people acquitted Minnesota farmer Alvin Schlangen on criminal misdemeanor charges similar to those facing Hershberger.

Bollfrass-Hopp has been “haunted,” by the proceedings, she said, so much so that she has spent hours since the trial reading up about natural, raw, and nutrient-dense foods of the type Hershberger sells to about 200 members of a private food club in Loganville, WI.

“I have never been an organic food person, the whole raw milk thing has never been on my radar,” said the 51-year-old manager of a local telecommunications company. After the trial ended,

she was “up till four in the morning reading about all this.”

As a result of her reading, she also became deeply troubled by what she now feels was the unnecessary withholding of relevant information from the jury—information that she says would likely have led the jury to acquit Hershberger of the single criminal count of which he was convicted.

Hershberger faced a sentencing hearing Thursday at the Baraboo courthouse where he was tried, with a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Hershberger was charged with four counts: three counts of not having appropriate licenses, and one count of violating a holding order. The jurors voted to acquit Hershberger of the licensing charges, but since Hershberger admitted during the trial to violating the holding order (which was issued to prevent him from distributing, or even moving, his products) they convicted him on

that count. What they didn’t know was that the reason for issuing the holding order was because of Hershberger’s failure to have retail and dairy permits, the DATCP said were required — the very charges they acquitted him of.

The members of the Hershberger jury were only allowed by the judge to see a redacted version of the hold order issued to Hershberger during a search of his farm and store by state agriculture and public health authorities on June 2, 2010; blotted out were the causes for the hold order.

If they had been able to see the whole document, some members of the jury believe they would have acquitted on all four

counts.

Bollfrass-Hopp decided to take matters in to her own hands: she wrote the state judge overseeing the case, Guy Reynolds, expressing her objection to the information blackout. She wrote, in part: “In my opinion, our jury instructions required us to find Mr. Hershberger guilty of violating a food holding order because we were directed to determine whether a holding order had been issued and whether it had been violated—two events that Mr. Hershberger admitted to during his testimony. I believe that our three not guilty verdicts support the fact that the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection should never have issued a food holding order to Mr. Hershberger.”

She also decided to take off from work to attend the sentencing hearing Thursday. She wanted to see if the judge would mention her letter, and she wanted to meet Hershberger and offer him support.

Not only did Judge Reynolds mention the letter, he imposed a fine much smaller than the maximum: $1,000 plus $513 in court costs. And it wasn’t the only letter he received: Judge Reynolds

Continued on page 46

Handmade Wonders at Dutch Pantry Gifts

By Bill Crownover and Scott Keys

Handmade and fired with beautiful glazes, few works of art capture the mark of an artist like handmade pottery. Made with a variety of techniques, no two of these beautiful handmade examples of pottery are the same.

Bill Crownover started using clay to make his own toys with his two brothers when he was 5 years old. “This was modeling clay that we reused to make toys according to our immediate needs—often little airplane and airport needs,” Bill says.

Artist, Bill Crownover

In later years, while he was in high school, Bill spent his afterschool hours exploring the creek and Long Island Sound around Stony Brook, NY. Bill states, “I found some clay deposits near a couple beaches and brought a bucketfull home. My mother was taking a pottery course and used the clay for her projects.”

When Bill was in third grade, 1952, the town built a new school for the children. While the playground was still under construction, he explored out back and found several quart- sized clay bottles. According to Bill, “My teacher, Mrs. Smith, told me they used to put ink in them. We still had inkwells in our desks that we used to fill our fountain pens. I kept those master ink bottles until I moved to Mount Union in 1975.

While I was moving, I forgot to

take the box with me and when I went back for them, they had already been sold to an antique dealer. I started looking for another one in junk shops and discovered that they cost too much—$30.00 to $150.00!”

When Bill heard about Jack Troy giving a pottery class at Juniata College, he decided he would try to make his own ink bottle. “It took me several courses to learn to use the pottery wheel well enough to make one.

I’m still trying to learn how to make a full-sized one,” says Bill.

Bill continued, “I started making the face pots after the Antiques Road Show did a section on

One of Bill’s “one-of-a-kind” Ugly Mugs, sure to add a whimsical touch wherever you use them.

“Ugly Jugs. Ugly jugs have ugly faces on them. I tried to make some. Mine are mostly ugly, but sometimes they come out sort of cute. I will keep making them until I get tired of them.”

Bill has a wide selection of his functional ugly mugs, cups and ink bottles, along with his own creation of spirit chasers, on sale a Dutch Pantry Gifts, 15 Commerce Drive, Milroy. His signature is the combination of the triangle at the front end and the notch in the handle.

Bill would like to give a special

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thanks to The Valley for letting his story be told and to the following teachers: --Mrs. Smith 1st grade, 1948, took us on field trips to the mill pond and the beaches on Long Island Sound (from 1948-1962 we were on the water, under the water and on the beaches.)

--Jack Troy 1975-present pottery teacher --Sandy McBride 1975-1996 art teacher --Chris Drobnock pottery teacher Bethany Benson pottery teacher Matt Wren pottery teacher. a

48

The Valley, July 2013

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