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The Valley A free newspaper dedicated to agriculture, self-reliance, frugal living, and modern homesteading. Tomorrow’s Media - A Day Early Volume 6, No. 4
by Robin Lavelle
As we look all around us there is not much evidence of anything “new” under the sun. So let’s explore what has been here all along. But first, ARE YOU FACING sleepless nights, PMS, menopause, headaches, indigestion, allergies or worse yet, a life altering disease? We could go on and on, but why are we facing these issues? We are being bombarded with synthetic chemicals from every angle of life from cleaning supplies in our homes to cosmetics on our bodies. Our food is laced with pesticides and synthetic chemicals. They are in the air we breathe and the water we drink. What can we do about it? We know something about the food, but what about putting unpronounceable chemicals in and on our bodies? Instead, we can use alternatives like pure therapeutic essential oils (EO) derived from organic plants of the earth. WHY ESSENTIAL OILS? How about a couple of drops of pure essential lemon oil that takes 3,000 lemons, cold pressed from the rind to make approximately 38oz. of EO? It helps digestion, relieves constipation and all because the key properties are in such a huge concentration. This oil has electrolytes such as potassium, calcium and magnesium, fights infection, and strengthens our immune system. Lemon alkalizes the environment in your body, which makes it an unfriend-
Complimentary
The Valley, April 2015
ly environment for disease. EO can be 100 to 10,000 times more concentrated—therefore, more potent than herbs themselves. Unlike prescription drugs, EO very rarely generate negative side effects and that’s profound for those who want to maintain or regain their health naturally. The ability of EO to act on both the mind and body is what makes them truly unique among natural therapeutic substances! EO have been used throughout history. There are over 200 references in both the New and Old Testament Scriptures where they are used in religious rituals, treatment of illnesses, and physical and spiritual needs. According to ancient writings, evidence suggest that people of ancient times had a greater understanding of EO than we have today. Historical records have found many hieroglyphics on Egyptian temple walls depicting the blending of oils, and describing hundreds of oil recipes. How amazing that in 1922 when King Tut’s tomb was opened, 50 alabaster jars designed to hold 350 liters were discovered with traces
of EO. Robbers actually chose to take the oils over a king’s wealth in gold. During the last part of the 19th and early 20th centuries there has been a reintroduction of EO into modern medicine. Weber State University is conducting research in cooperation with D. Gary Young. Along with other documented research his research is indicating that most viruses, fungi, and bacteria cannot live in the presence of most EO. An example of the power of EO is from the 15th century, during the Black Plague, when a band of thieves reputed to be spice traders, were protected when they robbed the bodies of the dead and dying. This resulted in a blend of EO named “Thieves!” Our modern world has only begun the discovery of the power of God’s healing oils, something that the ancient world knew well. Although modern medicine has some merit, millions of lives have been saved. Those of you that would like to live with strength and vitality without disease and pain, the
answers lies in what God has created, not in what man has altered! ARE ALL ESSENTIAL OILS EQUAL? You hold in your hand three different bottles of lavender oil that all say 100% pure essential oil. They are all different prices, but which do you choose? Gary Young has studied and researched for over 30 years this whole process of what it entails to produce the purest oil with the right amount of inherent chemical constituents. If you are going to invest in your health, why not buy the best quality? It is always the right investment! Moving into the 21st century, we face unprecedented health issues, both physically and mentally. Seemingly, our bodies are under attack. Would it make sense to get back to the original provisions from our creator? Have you made the decision to take responsibility for your own health? Or are you expecting someone else to do it for you? God, who has created us, has provided us with everything we could possibly need, physi-
cally, mentally and spiritually. I think it’s safe to say that we are suffering because we have moved so far away from the beginning, our roots, and the simplicity of God’s original intentions for us. SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? What if we told you, there is a company who controls everything from seed to seal? This company is YOUNG LIVING ESSENTIAL OILS, founded by Gary Young, and it has been operating with excellence and integrity for over 20 years. These oils are 100% pure therapeutic grade, containing highly antiviral, antiseptic, and anti-fungal properties. They also contain anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-tumor components. They plant the seeds, grow them with strict organic standards, harvest at the peak of potency, distill, and seal their products. To guarantee consistent quality, their oils are tested in their own internal labs, as well as in third-party facilities, to ensure that they meet demanding specifications, exceed international standard, and contain the optimal levels of natural bioactive molecules. For more detailed information on their Seed to Seal process and global farms, visit SeedtoSeal.com For the last few years I have been experiencing less and less quality of sleep, due mostly to hormonal changes with meno-
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Lighting Brush Fires in People’s Minds
The Valley, April 2015
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Editor’s Corner Wayne Stottlar Is it still too dangerous to proclaim winter over? Wow, I am from NH and all and am fairly used to the garbage we just went through, but this is PA not NH! Anyone who made it through this last winter could make it in NH, no problem. And, since it is a drier cold, you probably wouldn’t feel as bad as I did here this year. We burned almost two normal seasons of wood this year—about a cord every two weeks during January and February. That is a LOT of work: I’m glad it is over. Our front cover last month caused quite a stir as I thought it would. That Central PA is “ready” to embrace organic practices and Organic Lawn Care really caught people’s attention. Thank you to all who called Job Swarey at Swarey’s TLC Lawn Services to get your free quote. Many of you
found out that it is no more expensive to go organic than it is to keep poisoning your soil with chemicals—in fact, in the long run, it is actually cheaper. Well, this month there is a little more sunshine shining on Big Valley. Alvin Peachey of Keystone Bio Ag at 4382 East Main St in Belleville has now partnered with AEA (Advanced Eco Agriculture) to bring farmers a choice in how they farm. Advanced Eco Ag preaches soil regeneration using their organic products and practices to produce healthy plants and nutritious chemical-free food. Alvin will be more than happy to explain their system to you, stop out or call 717-935-2413 to speak with him. There is a better way to farm, Alvin is happy to share it with you. Speaking of farming, my
good friend Moses Hostetler of Hostetler’s Naturals out in Milroy has FRESH salad greens available from his hoop houses. I was out there getting eggs and was shocked that he had greens already, and got sent home with a big bag for salad that night. Moses and Dorothy saw that there was a need for early spring greens and built a second hoop house this year to supply their farm market and the many other farmer’s markets they take part in during the season. Until then however, feel free to drive out to the farm (see ad on page 12) and pick up some fresh greens and see what else they have for sale. There is one thing I can guarantee, it is all delicious! As you gaze through this issue you will notice another new author. Scott Adams and his column Central PAHikes is a perfect fit for The Valley and one I really wanted to add, for not all outdoors people are hunters and fisherman. Hiking has steadily gained popularity over the last several years and Scott is going to tell you where and what to expect when venturing out into our beautiful central PA ridges and valleys. You might also notice certain writers sometimes missing from our pages. Our writers actually live the life
they write about, and sometimes that life can get in the way of finding time to write. Our writers are not sitting at a desk re-writing a story off the wire, or studying someone else’s experience and writing a story about it. Our writers live it, and that is what makes us special, there is a difference between someone getting paid to write a story and someone who writes about their life experiences, it matters. So when you see your favorite writer absent in any particular month, just know that it will probably lead to a great story down the road. Besides that, our writers are writing for the love of sharing their experiences, THAT also matters. With the coming warm weather, I will also be able to scratch that itch I have had since December 15th (my last day out
detecting before winter) and that is to get out metal detecting. Digging up and preserving our history is important to me. The history part of it is what drew me into the hobby. Finding artifacts or relics on someone’s property that can be placed in the hands of an early ancestor is some kind of special. I do share old coins with property owners and any artifacts or relics I find are theirs to keep if they want. For me it is all about the discovery, not what something is worth. If you own a property that you would give me permission to detect on, please see the ad on page 31 and give me a call. Perhaps you have farmland that had homes or buildings on it at one time; those are great places to find
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Contact Info Editor/Publisher Wayne Stottlar Graphic Artist/ Co-Publisher Lynn Persing The Valley PO Box 41 Yeagertown, PA 17099 (717) 363-1550
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The Valley, April 2015
Back Talk
Festival Celebrates Native Plants
by Dr. Joseph Kauffman
Lunacy Hits Home “Four score and seven years ago….” Just kidding. However, this month’s column is going to touch on the patriotic side of life. Our country was founded and developed by the Pilgrims who fled England due to their desire to choose which religion on which to base their worship. They emigrated in order to have the freedom to choose. The rest of the freedoms that we enjoy are mostly based on our freedoms to choose certain things. All citizens, men and women, can choose who to vote for office. We can choose to remain silent. We can choose to exercise the freedom of speech or bear arms. It’s all about our basic fundamental right to choose. So, stripping us of our right to choose is not only unconstitutional but also downright un-American! I have come to realize that the vaccine debate is becoming one of those conversational topics that is just much easier not to talk about. In my opinion, it is starting to rank right up there with religion and politics with most people. The people who are all for vaccinations are so staunch in their opinions that they try to oppress those who differ with their opinion on the matter. And, the people who are against vaccination are confident enough in their views to be able to defend the oppressive fear-propelling propaganda used by the pro-vaccine people. It’s the people who are on the fence who are easily swayed one way or the other. With the latest tactics based on fear and widespread concern and panic over a disease as minor as the measles outbreak, which was among more vaccinated children than non-vaccinated children, the chances to promote
and persuade the people on the fence are great. But, that is not good enough for certain states, including the one in which we live. There is a bill in the Pennsylvania House right now that was proposed by a Republican and seconded by a Democrat. So, this particular topic has bipartisan support. This bill is designed to strip parents of the right to choose whether or not to vaccinate their children. If you have been reading my column for the past couple of years, you should know that this has been one of my fears. This specific offense has occurred in other states already. In regard to the current bill proposal, it will aim to eliminate the philosophical exemption from the state. This will mean that it will no longer be good enough to just not believe in vaccinations in order to keep your children from being inoculated. If this law goes through, it will be the beginning of the stripping away of our rights. The next set to be eliminated will then be the religious exemption, and then there will be no ability for parents in Pennsylvania to refuse to vaccinate their kids. After kids are no longer protected, do you think that will be enough? Who else will be under fire? The answer is adults who are not up-to-date on their vaccine boosters. If you have not had any boosters in the past 20+ years, this will include you. The government will set their sights on you and you’ll have to roll up your sleeve and get your booster shots, too! Do you think the vaccinations out there today are as safe as the ones administered in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s? There are still preservatives and mercury in them, as well as various other chemicals. They will shoot them
“No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden.” Thomas Jefferson
…and helps our Mother [Earth] into your kids and then into you and there’s nothing you can do about it because slowly, but surely your right to choose is being stripped away from you. When you think about the possibility of this happening and combine it with the quote from Bill Gates back in 2010 about wanting to decrease population of the world by 800 million people through healthcare and new vaccines, I can’t help but wonder…is there a connection? They’re using fear of widespread outbreaks of diseases that are rarely ever fatal, such as measles, to cause panic by repeatedly broadcasting it over the media outlets. And, now they are attempting to strip away our right to choose not to vaccinate. What will occur in the future? These are questions we’re not supposed to ask. You’re supposed to simply comply. Sit down, roll up your sleeve for your shot and shut your mouth. Surely, the government knows what is best for you and your child, right? And, something else to think about…who benefits the most from these new limits of freedom and requirements? Who stands to make money from each and every vaccination? That’s right---Big Pharma. The ones who manufacture the vaccines are the ones who stand to profit the most. This topic and the point of this month’s column is not to debate the question of vaccines. The point is that whether you agree or disagree on the whole vaccination topic, we should all agree that it should be up to the parent to decide what is best for their own children. The government has not proven to be safe, effective or trustworthy, so why are we going to let them decide what is best for our children? Why are we going to continue to let them strip away our right to choose? There is enough data out there to illustrate and question the safety of vaccines, but none of that will matter if they strip away our right to choose whether or not to vaccinate. If there has ever been a time to get a hold of your local representative or senator, that time is now. Whether you are pro-vaccine or anti-vaccine, we should all be pro-American and pro-freedom of choice on this particular topic. a
The Truth Has No Agenda
by Betsy Whitman If Pennsylvania birds, butterflies, and bumble bees could garden, what would they plant? Natives! Because Pennsylvania native plants deliver the goods they need—the right kind of pollen, the right kind of nectar, and the right kind of insects—to stay alive and thrive. (See Page 6, “Why Grow Native?”). But our flying friends can’t garden and the natives they rely on—in natural habitats—are being replaced by cities, farms, factories, highways, parking lots, and, yes, acres and acres of lawns and gardens with pretty, but usually non-native plants. So we need to garden for them! A native tree or shrub here, a wildflower garden there, a natural meadow along a highway can make a huge impact on thriving and surviving. But where to start? At the Central Pennsylvania Native Plant Festival and Sale, May 2, 10am—3pm, at Penn State’s Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, Petersburg. The Pennsylvania Native Plant Society (PNPS) and Shaver’s Creek are partnering again this year to bring together native plant nurseries from across central Pennsylvania
in one market place. Over 300 species of plants—ferns, perennials, shrubs, and trees—will be on sale with vendors and PNPS members at the ready to advise and suggest native plants best suited for your yard. You’ll find plenty of inspiration and information at resource tables and several educational programs and walks. You might learn how to create your own pollinator-friendly garden habitat at home. Or maybe you’ll jump on the latest garden “wave”—rain gardens—and discover how to install one in your yard. Not only are rain gardens a cost effective way to capture, infiltrate, and treat storm water run-off, they can help reduce community flooding and protect local streams, all the while providing a full season of bloom and nectar for pollinators and increase curb appeal, So spread a tarp in the trunk of your car, grab a friend, and trek over to Shaver’s Creek on May 2 for the Central Pa Native Plant Sale and Festival. Celebrate Mother’s Day a week early with a nod to your Mother Earth. See accompanying story page 6. Betsy Whitman is a native plant gardener and a storyteller of traditional and original tales. She lives in State College. a
The Valley, April 2015
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Live Free or Die
In the immortal words of General John Stark, New Hampshire’s most famous soldier of the American Revolutionary War said: “Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils.” How does that apply to Stealth Diggers or anyone that wants to live free without being told how to live? Well let’s use a fine example of freedom being lost. In my first Stealth Diggers article, I introduced all the characters of the Stealth Digger Facebook group, each had their name picked out from the very beginning and everyone was well known by that name. Then on Wednesday the 18th, 2014, Facebook made all our well known friends’ accounts totally disappear. We all were wondering what had happened to Digger Charlie, Jay Mo, Keebler Keebler and the rest of the gang. Facebook decided to end the practice of nicknames, now only your real first and last name can be used, unless it gets by the censorship board. Nothing is free, not even free social media. If it was truly free, then this garbage would not have happened. Unfortunately
we are stuck with Facebook, and its data mining and manipulation of your data for ads targeting your likes. Imagine someone keeping a file on your personal life for all the three letter agencies to use for facial recognition. All privacy is lost with this new digital age. We have all been forced to act like sheep or lose our account. What else is going on with Stealth Diggers? We all have new names, which are now being used on the Diggers’ accounts. Folks are freezing their butts off in the Northeast, digging nothing but piles of snow instead of treasure, and cabin fever has run rampant in our community. The latest episode of Stealth Diggers is out, Charlie and Keebs visit an old theater and do some filming at the shack—it’s a must see. Trooper Bri showcases the best revolvers for the field and the rest I won’t reveal—you have to watch the YouTube show. Don’t forget to subscribe to keyword “Stealth Diggers” channel on You Tube. In the newest episode YouTube Stealth Diggers #71 there is a tribute, or more like a celebrity roast, for Just Bob. Just Bob is
introduced by the gang in true stealth fashion and some great clips of Just Bob joining the gang are rehashed. Just Bob is also roasted by many of the SD family in 10 second video clips that will make you spit your coffee onto your computer screen. Snap Em if You Got Em is always the theme, so make sure you have a good stogie ready to watch this episode. Well the gang is reaching the 900 mark as of 2/26/15, we are growing a larger audience on the group page as well as subscribers on the YouTube SD page. This is a great group of folks who make up the SD family, largely in part by the efforts of Digger Charlie and crew who make Thursday night at 6 o’clock the most anticipated part of the work week for all of us. The family atmosphere and lively banter that goes back and forth is second to none. The video is all shot by Charlie and the members of SD. I don’t see too many folks doing all this live and getting it right like they do. On one final note, the new Stealth Diggers sticker is out and is available for purchase with some great music from our own Digger Charlie. If you haven’t heard his music, just watch the SD videos. Charlie makes his music the soundtrack for all the video he shoots. LFOD, Stealth Doctor a
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style. This winter we all have experienced optimal health. They can be used for everything from cleaning, cooking, oral care, pet
pause. In discovering Young Living essential oils, I finally get a really good night’s sleep, which has resulted in much more peace, energy, and I believe has helped my immune system as well. Our entire family has been incorporating the Young Living oils into our daily life (l to r) Robin Lavelle and Kimberly Greiner
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care, and diffusing into the air. It’s a time like no other in our health system, and the picture is appearing bleaker by the day. Be empowered to be in more control of your own health matters. We invite you to take a closer look into what EO can do for you. Please contact us for details on upcoming classes in the area. Contact: Robin Lavelle-(cell: 717-250-3766) or Kimberly Greiner (cell: 817-584-3038) email: ylessentialoils@ ptlavelle.com or web: www. youngliving,org/kimberlygreiner or www.youngliving. org/rlavellecentra a
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The Valley, April 2015 • • • • •
Vegetable Wines Part 2
While this is part two of veggie wines, this month we will look at two other wines I made this past summer along with their recipes and how they turned out. Let’s get into it, Potato wine. Both recipes are for one gallon. • 3 lbs of Potatoes • 4 lbs of Sugar • 4 ounces of chopped raisins • 2 lemons • 2 oranges • 1 Campden tablet • Yeast Starter for both recipes • 1 teaspoon pectic enzyme • 1 teaspoon yeast nutrient • 1 package of wine yeast • 1 ½ cup of orange juice 1. Scrub the potatoes, but do not peel them. Cut them into quarters and remove any bad spots. Grate them into a pot and add 3 quarts of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove any scum that comes to the top and continue to simmer until no more scum rises to the surface. 2. Put the sugar and the chopped raisins in a fermentation bucket (sanitize that bucket). Strain the potato water into the bucket. Grate the outer rind of the lemons
and oranges. Juice them and add all to the bucket. Add a Campden tablet and let it sit loosely covered for 24 hours. 3. Start the yeast culture by mixing all the ingredients together. Let it begin to bubble and then add to the bucket. 4. Let the mixture ferment for a week then move over to another vessel. Let it ferment for another 2 weeks then move it over again. Let it sit for 2 more weeks. Bottle it, cork it and cellar it. 5. Let it age for 6 months before sampling. This wine is the basis for vodka. All you need to do from here is distill the wine that has aged. This wine is surprisingly sweet and was high in alcohol content around 16%. The sediment was high with this wine that is the reason you have to move it so much. But it did clear (See Picture).
2 pounds of sugar 1 pound honey 2 teaspoons fresh orange zest 1 Campden tablet ¼ teaspoon tannin
Use the same yeast starter recipe as the potato wine. 1. Wash the beets and place them in a pot with enough water to cover them. Simmer over low heat until the beets are tender. Remove the vegetables from the liquid. Add the OJ, sugar and honey. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes removing the scum that appears at the surface. Remove from the heat. 2. Crush the beets that were re-
Now the recipe for the beet wine. • 3 lbs of red beets, greens removed • 12 ounces orange juice concentrate
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moved into a course paste. Add the orange zest and crushed beets back into the liquid. Transfer into a bucket and add water to the 1 gallon level. Add a Campden tablet and let it sit covered for 24 hours. 3. Start the yeast culture. Add tannin and yeast mixture to the bucket. 4. Let it ferment for one month. Then move over to another vessel and let it ferment for another 2 months. Move it over one more time then bottle, cork
Continued on page 11
The Valley, April 2015
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Why Grow Native?
Encouragement from the Book of Revelation by Pastor J. C. Reese Long ago God created man out of the dust of the ground and named him “Adam,” which comes from a Hebrew word for ground. So, man, your name is mud! Ever since creation, man has been trying to pay the Lord back for the favor by trying to be God and create Him in man’s image. We want our will above all else. Things have to go just as we want or we have a hissy fit. And many think they are pretty good at trying to run people and micromanage things, but truth is God is still and will always be God! The sooner we realize this, the better for us. As we close out chapter 17 of Revelation, there are two encouraging lessons we see about God being God. We look first at verses 7-11 and the one who seeks to be God is the Beast (the AntiChrist). In this chapter, we see his rise to world domination, yet it will be shortlived, for he is not God. Our God only is the Eternal Ruler, not a “flash in the pan” whose power comes and goes. You can count on Him no matter what occurs in your life to be the One in control. Though the Anti-Christ will be a force to be reckoned with in the future as he will “carry” the harlot or support her (vs7) and be aided by a great ten king coalition (vs12) in his lust for global power and “godhood”, yet he will not be God! The masses then will wonder in awe at the Anti-Christ (vs8) as he recovers from great personal demise to rise to the pinnacle of world leadership, yet he will simply be Satan’s stooge and not God and as John writes, his future will eternally be to “go into perdition”: the lake of fire will be his end. Oh how we must be careful as to whom we wonder after. Many today fawn all over an athlete or celebrity, we fall for good looks, popularity, or someone who has wealth or can give us what we want. But our admiration, yea, our worship, needs to be ultimately for Him Who is God. Choose your friends based on biblical principles, give your admiration to those who have truly admirable Christlike qualities, for if you don’t, you will be sorely disappointed. The other encouragement seen is in the lesson of the ten kings found in the latter part of this chapter. Their sole purpose
will be to pave the way for the rise of the Anti-Christ, so as powerful as they will be, they are only servants of a servant of Satan. They too are not God! They will be leaders, but they will not be good ones. A great leader, according to Jesus, must have a servant’s heart (Matt.20:25-28). One who’s willing to be an example and not order anything he isn’t willing to first do himself. While it is true that the Bible teaches the husband is to be the head of the home, it never teaches he is make those under him submit, it never teaches he is to be a dictator. Instead the idea in Ephesians 5 is that he must be a loving leader and have himself a submissive heart above all to God knowing that all authority extends from Him and it is a trust given to those of us with this great privilege of leading others. The Bible says these ten kings “shall make war with the Lamb” (vs14), but the outcome is very telling: “the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of Lords, and King of Kings.” Simply put, as powerful as they will be, God is God and they will be no match for Him! Maybe now you are wrestling with God about something. Is it about being saved? You don’t agree with His plan for salvation? Is it that you stay in a church that doesn’t truly honor His Word, but you wonder what people will think if you go? Is it a decision that you know the right answer to, but think it will be hard if you choose it? Well, remember, God IS God and He can see you through. Jacob connived and schemed the great part of his life until he wrestled with God and allowed the Lord to break his pride and he became then known as “Israel” meaning “God has prevailed”. Jacob finally gave in to the Lord and when he did, God said he became a prince and had power with God! Only by surrender to God do we find true peace and victory, because He alone is God. Join us this Easter for our Sunrise at 8 am, Brunch at 8:45 and Main Service at 9:30 am We are the log cabin church between Milroy and State College at the intersection of Mountainback Rd and Rt 322. Our website is: Nittanybaptist.org a
Go Native! Your Mother [Earth] will love it. What are Native Plants? A native plant is one that occurs naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without direct or indirect human intervention. In the eastern United States, native species are usually considered to be flora present at the time Europeans arrived and began settling in North America. Native plants include all kinds of plants from mosses, mushrooms, lichen and ferns to wildflowers, vines, shrubs, and trees. Why Native Plants? Native plants are adapted to the growing conditions where you live so they are often easier to grow and less susceptible to challenging conditions than non-native plants. Easier can mean less watering, less fertilizing, fewer pests and weeds (so less pesticides If You Go DATE: Saturday, May 2 TIME: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm PLACE: Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, 3400 Discovery Road, Petersburg PA 16669. If you’re driving from Lewistown, just look for the large sign on the left of Rt. 26, about a mile after the entrance to Whipple Dam State Park. Visit PaNativePlantSociety.org for more information and link to detailed directions and a map. ADMISSION: Free to the public! SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: 10:00 begin
Plant and food sales
11:00 Program: Rain Gardens Discover the beauty and benefits—improved water quality, reduced erosion and lawn “ponding,” quality native habitat for wildlife—of a rain garden and learn how to set on up in your own yard. Presenter: Sally McMurry, Penn State Master Gardener and member of the Steering Committee of the Snetsinger Butterfly Garden, Tudek Park, Ferguson Township. 12:30 Program: Buzz-Worthy Gardens Bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators need your help!
and herbicides!) and—when you trade a spot of grass for a native ground cover—less mowing and leaf-blowing. All in all, natives can be less demanding of resources—Mother Earth’s and yours! Native plants are essential links in the life cycle of many insects, birds, and other animals. The more native plants in your community, the healthier your ecosystem, and the more likely you’ll attract birds and wildlife to your yard. Plus, many non-native species are invasive and can “jump ship” from landscapes to grow with abandon in field and forest, out-competing and threatening our native plant species. Where do I start? As with any plant, a native must be matched with the right spot— be it sunny slope, wind-swept field, wet swale, dry shade, or other dozens other combination of
light, moisture, and soil type. Two local resources will help you make that match: Central Pennsylvania Native Plant Festival, always the first Saturday in May (see If you Go…, below) and the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society (PNPS). At the PNPS website, panativeplantsociety.org, you’ll find helpful links to national plant databases, native plant resources in Pennsylvania, and landscape help. You can check out wildflower hikes and other native plant events offered by PNPS and related conservation organizations. Best of all, if you have a specific question about a plant, habitat, or native landscape concern, post it on the PNPS website forum (Facebook page) and you’ll soon get an answer—or two or three! --adapted from the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society website, panativeplantsociety.org.
Whether you’re interested in helping bees, attracting butterflies, or bringing in birds, we’ll cover all the ins and outs of creating your own habitat at home. Presenter: Justin Wheeler, Penn State Master Gardener and Communications Director of the Steering Committee of the Snetsinger Butterfly Garden, Tudek Park, Ferguson Township.
plants and native plant conservation initiatives in Pennsylvania! 1:30-3:00 Shaver’s Creek Birds of Prey program. Meet some of Shaver’s Creek resident raptors up close and learn interesting facts from our expert volunteers Carolyn Muse and Rodney Brubaker. You’ll have opportunities to touch raptor wings and talons, as well as ask plenty of questions!
2:00 Guided Walk Take a leisurely stroll through Shaver’s Creek landscaped and natural habitats. Presenter: Eric Burkhart, Plant Science Program Director, Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center.
PLANT VENDERS. Feel free to contact any of our vendors for special orders.
3:00
Vendor sales end
ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: All day--Native plant gardening resource tables • Have questions about native plants? Wonder which native plants will do best in your yard or landscape? Stop by the PNPS “Ask a Sage” table, visit the Penn State Master Gardener booth, or chat with any of our plant vendors. • Chat with knowledgeable folks from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR) Wild Plant Program about native
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Common Ground Organic Farm, Spring Mills, PA Facebook: Common Ground Organic Farm Enchanter’s Garden, Hinton, WVA enchantersgarden.com Fox Hill Gardens, State College, PA foxhillgardens.com Go Native Tree Farm, Lancaster, PA gonativetrees.com Moonstruck Gardens, Stormstown, PA email: stevenfast1961@gmail. com Musser Forests, Indiana, PA musserforests.com
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The Valley, April 2015 Couple the soon-to-be-weakened US dollar, with a mining industry that is on the verge of extinction, due to costs of production that are terribly excessive when compared to current spot market prices, and you have a formula for a metal’s market blastoff that we have not experienced for
Dave Wilson
Coins, Precious Metal and a Little of this and That
decades. This scenario appears to be approaching quickly. a
“Rather go to bed without dinner than to rise in debt.” Benjamin Franklin
A Strong Dollar Bad for Big Business, Good for Consumers, Gold and Silver Since January 1st of this year, the ‘US Dollar” has appreciated in value by nearly 30%. This is a dramatic increase, brought on by devastating economic conditions around the globe. Japan is openly doubling its money supply. Europe has just started a nearly 1.14-Trillion EUROS ($1.3-TrillionDollars) Quantitative Easing (i.e. bond buying, money creating) program, and has stated that it will increase from there if necessary. Russia’s “Ruble” is down over 50-Percent against the US Dollar since last September. Similar currency devaluations have plagued Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Portugal, Spain, France and any number of other countries around the globe. It is called “the race to the bottom,” where every country is trying to cheapen it’s currency, so that its exports are more attractive to outside buyers, therefore strengthening their manufacturing plants and creating new employment opportunities for their citizens.
The problem? When practically everyone is doing the same thing, you end up with few economic winners, and lots and lots of newly created money that will shortly cause severe inflation (perhaps even hyper-inflation) worldwide. So, what do the big money people do with their billions (even trillions) of dollars? They send them to the US, the one country they feel is the last hope for financial survival. (We are in awful shape too, but, as the issuer of the world’s reserve currency, the United States is viewed as the “least rotten apple” in the barrel.) All this money, flowing into US Bonds and Stocks, has made the value of the dollar sky-rocket. This is wonderful for American shoppers, as prices for many imported goods will be cheaper. However, it is BAD for businesses because those US multi-national corporations that depend upon a healthy “export” trade, will lose sales. Their products will become so expensive (due to
the huge increase in the dollar’s value) that other countries will no longer want to buy them. (In the long run, this would weaken US corporations, resulting in higher unemployment among the American people.) So, while consumers would enjoy a brief reprieve in product prices, it would eventually sting the entire country as our overall economy would decline precipitously. The Federal Reserve can not allow the dollar to remain as high as it presently is. They know the dangers that come with a currency that is out of alignment with the rest of the world, and its value must be contained, and, if at all possible, lowered substantially. When the dollar’s value declines, which it surely must for the US to not fall into a deep recession (or worse), then gold, silver and other tangible commodities, which have been in a managed slump for several years, will break out of their low price confines, and test new, much higher prices.
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Touching People's Hearts When it comes to the outdoors, you don’t really think about touching peoples hearts. Let me tell you a story about the day that Jaxon Yoder walked through my doors. Jaxon is a seven year old boy from Big Valley. He’s a pretty shy kid, like most kids are when
Bryson and Jaxson being instructed on how to tie flies by their Dad, Eric Yoder
you have a guy like me standing in front of them. I guess I can be pretty intimidating.... Jaxon’s mom, Candice, came in to the store to buy some gift cards, when is when I found out that Jaxon is an avid fly tyer and fly fisherman. Now picture this a 6’4”, 42 year old man having an adult conversation about fly fishing with a 4’, 7 year old. When the conversation started, Jaxon was really shy and would look at his mom as if he wanted to her to answer the questions for him. Candice would say “you answer him, I don’t know what you are talking about.” We would get a good chuckle about that. As we went on, the more I talked to Jaxon about equipment, what creeks he liked to fish, and the flies he liked to tie, the more Jaxon started opening up. For being seven years old, he knows his stuff. He was telling me the size of hooks he used for the San
Juan Worm and the Green Weenie. Those are his too favorite flies to tie right now, but Jaxon told me his Dad, Eric Yoder, is in the process of teaching him and his brother, Bryson, how to tie other flies like the Stonefly, scuds, hares ear nymph, pheasant tail, and many more. Jaxon and I were standing in front of my fly box that I have at Valley Sports N Outdoors ,when he was explain-
Green Weenies
ing to me what flies he liked to tie. I looked down and I only had 4 Green Weenies left in my box. They were size 12. I proceeded to say to Jaxon, “look there I’m out of Green Weenies, could you tie some up for me? I need 2 dozen, size 12, 2 dozen size 14, and 2 dozen size 16.” He excitedly looked at his Mom, Candice, like please, please, can I please?
I laughed and said “If you don’t want to buddy, I understand it’s a big job, but I’ll pay you to do it. I don’t expect you to do it for nothing.” Candice looked down at Jaxon and told him that it was up to him, if he wanted to do it, he could. Jaxon agreed to tie me 6 dozen green weenies that day
The San Juan Worm
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and I agreed to pay him for his crafty work. When Jaxon left the store, shortly after that I thought to myself what a great kid. It was awesome talking to him about fishing and fly tying. Jaxon didn’t realize how much he touched my heart that day, and I didn’t realize how much I touched his until I got a message from Jaxon’s Mom, Candice, a week or so later thanking me for giving him the opportunity to be a part of something—to be able to show his passion about his
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The Valley, April 2015
Elwood and Murphy Update As I write this, it is a bright, sunny, gorgeous (albeit a bit chilly) spring day. When my dogs, Elwood and Murphy, see the sun, they think that they must be outside...every ten minutes. They don’t care if Mom and Dad have a paper deadline today, they think that there are birds and critters to sniff and keeping them inside during weather like this is doggie abuse. They came from Virginia Beach, so I’m sure that they are anxiously awaiting the days when they can be outside for a good part of the day. And, yes, those days are coming, but they aren’t quite here yet—try convincing them of that! We have contacted FencesN-More in Mifflintown to install a fence around a portion of our yard and we are also installing a doggie door in the screened-in porch, so soon they will be able to come and go as they please. There goes the dog-walking exercise I was hoping to get more of this summer—oh well—tradeoffs! I thought I’d fill you in on how they are adjusting to PA. Elwood is having the most trouble. He doesn’t seem to understand that when he’s outside, it means he’s supposed to do his business. He thinks outside is for sniffing and exploring. He forgets to “go” sometimes. Then he comes in and
ten minutes later...you guessed it, he’s gotta go out again. He’s pretty subtle about letting you know too, and since he was just out, you aren’t looking for the “signs.” Before you know it, you are cleaning up a puddle on the floor. Argghhh! He’s getting better though (and so are we at noticing the “signs,”), and I’m sure the fenced yard will help too. He had a fenced yard at his former home, so he’s used to going out often. Murphy, well Murphy is just plain easy. Murphy has had no trouble adjusting at all. He is the perfect Weimaraner. Who ever met a Weimaraner that’s as easygoing as Murphy? Not me! He is still Mom’s little buddy. He follows me everywhere and sticks by my side. I think this is because Elwood is Wayne’s lap warmer, so this leaves Murphy without a human to love unless he’s with me. Murphy and Elwood aren’t brothers, so sometimes they are a little jealous of each other. Although, Wayne did witness Murphy give Elwood a kiss on the snout the other day—and it’s pretty hard to get Murphy to kiss anyone, so this is especially amazing! It warms my heart to know that he loves Elwood—either that or Elwood had some food on his face that Murphy was trying to clean up! Murphy is our chowhound. Murphy has a little bump on
his back, which is being removed on April 6, so he’d appreciate some prayers that all goes well and he doesn’t have to wear the dreaded “cone of shame” too long. Yea, prayers for that would be good; no one likes to wear a big megaphone on their head. The dogs aren’t the only ones with spring fever. Wayne has been saying for a month now that we are out of the “cold weather.” And each week, he has to retract that statement. He’s ready to be
metal detecting, gardening, and spending his time outdoors, as are most of the rest of us. I’ve reminded him that this means lawn mowing and weed-eating, but he assures me that those chores are better than shoveling snow a few times a week. Winter hit before I got all the leaves and dead flowers cleaned out of the flowerbeds last fall, so I’m looking forward to the next warm weekend so I can get out there and prepare them for the
spring flowers to bloom. My daffodils and tulips are already a couple inches above ground and my snowdrops and crocuses are blooming. Each day I inspect the grass for signs that it’s sprouting new growth. I can’t wait! With the winter we’ve had, I’m sure there will be some extra appreciation of the spring this year. Happy Easter and Happy Spring everyone! a
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Emmie
I knew a few months ago that I would write this particular column. I was just dreading the day. This one is not about horses, but just like many other people that have horses; I too had a dog. I had written the following story on my Facebook page a few months ago. When I originally posted this, I did not have the ending. Here is Emmie’s Story. “When you acquire a dog, you are, or at least you should, be their decision-maker for life. How do you react to people that say it is “just a dog” when the end is near and you have to make that final life-ending decision? Not only is it life-ending for your friend, but it can also be lifealtering for you. Where do you begin when you tell of the loss of a friend? Do you start at the beginning or does your mind go to the end? When I think of Emmie and the heartbreak of losing her, my thoughts go to many days of my loyal companion by my side. However it all really started even before Emmie was born. My true love of an Aussie
dog started at the Ohio State Fair in 1997. I knew I wanted a dog of my own; one that could be my shadow at the barn, at the horse shows, anywhere and everywhere. One little blue merle female caught my eye. That sweet angel of a dog was Calico Calgirl, “Callie.” She not only won my heart, but the hearts of everyone around her. There was and will never be another Callie. She was unique and was definitely more than “just a dog” even to those who did not even care for dogs. When she was ten years old and experienced her first stroke, it stabbed at my heart thinking of her life coming to an end. Even just the thought of losing her was so devastating. There would never be a replacement for someone like her, but her decline led to my search for another companion. I did not want just a puppy. It had to be the right puppy. This dog would have big shoes to fill someday. Callie never really excelled at anything other than being special. So our new sidekick had to have the potential to be just as special as she
was. I found an ad online for puppies in Everett and I took Callie to look. She was not overly impressed with the idea. One by one, I held each puppy but only one stood out to me. They were only a few weeks old, so I would check back when they were ready to make sure that this was indeed the one for Callie and me. When the puppies were 8 weeks old, we returned to claim Callie’s little protégé. The mother dog jumped in the trailer and every puppy followed her to the corner…all but one. I can still remember the site of those little puppy eyes looking back at me, and I knew that this was truly “the one.” From day one, Emmie was a challenge. She was a fighter. She fought me on everything I wanted her to do from house breaking her, to crate training, to agility. She was not a dumb dog by any means. Actually she was smart enough to see if I was smart enough to figure out how to get her to do what I wanted, when I wanted. She loved obstacles, but every puppy class she acted as though I had not spent any time with her. She picked up sit-stay in no time; until I wanted to show everyone how quick she learned it. She would act like she could not hear or see me when I gave her cues to tricks. Callie had been so easy to train. Emmie just wanted to see if she could train me. Callie passed away in 2009 from complications due to con-
gestive heart disease. I remember every second of her seizure and watching the life go out of her sweet eyes. I keep dwelling on that thought as I know I am going to see that again way too soon. There is no comparing one dog to another. There will never be another like each of them. They both became their own kind of “special” to me. Even before Callie was diagnosed with congestive heart disease, I knew something was wrong with her. When you listen and spend time that matters with someone, you know when something is not right. In November, I knew there was something wrong with Emmie. It all started with a sneeze. It wasn’t just any sneeze, but several days of very intense backwards sneezing. I called the vet and spoke to others about it. Everyone agreed that allergies were the culprit. After two weeks of slight drainage, she developed a sinus infection. Ten days on antibiotics, along with Benedryl seemed to be bringing her around to normal. However within a few more weeks it was obvious there were still symptoms of something more. Did she have a bad tooth? Was there an object lodged in her sinus cavity? Or was there some kind of mass growing in there? I
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did not even want to think that cancer was an option. The first set of x-rays was basically inconclusive. The first biopsy was negative. There was a mass of some kind in her sinus cavity, but there was still some hope. More rounds of antibiotics did not make a difference and I could see and hear her decline in breathing. At this point we were waiting on the results of another biopsy. When you have an illness, everyone has an opinion and suggestions of options. I researched and looked at all the information I could find on dog nasal cancer over the last few months. Of course, Google advice is never reliable, but the personal stories of many people hit home. There was no good news about recovery of nasal cancer. Three month life expectancy was what kept creeping into my thoughts after every article or story I read. There were stories of short term success, long recovery and large expense. Emmie is like my child, but I wanted to be realistic on cost and the chance of a successful outcome. We have an active lifestyle and her life is with us. The effects of surgery or even chemotherapy would possibly limit her ability to
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The Valley, April 2015
Hillside Orchard News and Comments by Iddo M. Hostetler Hello to all The Valley readers from Hillside Orchard where the people feed the stove and work in their peach and apple grove. What is it we are all waiting on? Be patient, with the clocks having been turned ahead, it will be spring right around the corner. That means that soon geese will be flying from the south where they have their winter house, north to their water source at a steady course with their wings force. Before long the Earth will be waking up from it’s winter rest. For the farmer that means roll up your sleeves and let the sweat flow down your brow while you prepare your seed to sow in the ground where it can grow, and before you know tiny plants will show. Indeed this is the time of year that most farmers and gardeners can get a little carried away with brightly colored seed catalogs. The motivation begins then as we look on the other side of the fence; spring keeps looking greener and greener until we think almost no mountain looks too big to move come spring. Then it arrives, and we march ahead with a spring in our step across the yard with both feet to get the measuring rod an go to work in a flurry. But things don’t just inch along as fast as we would like, and then we come face-to-face with reality and that is we over-measured our own ability. We resolve to keep things scaled back, and for me that usually lasts for about a year. Any time that the weather warms enough now that buds swell, we plan to start pruning peach trees. For peach and cherry trees, it is best to wait till the weather warms a little for the tree longevity and reduced canker risks. Also, if you want to spray for leaf curl, but haven’t done so yet, your window of opportunity will soon close. As I had mentioned before, this disease overwinters on the buds and when the buds start to swell, the disease
enters into the bud and then there is no stopping it. If you didn’t have much of the disease the year before, a dormant application of pure neem oil may very well be all that is necessary to keep it at bay, but on the other hand, if you had it, you might opt for copper or lime sulphur. Bacterial spot is another disease that affects stone fruit, especially peaches and nectarines. As with most other diseases, tree health, location, variety and weather usually play a role in how severe the disease gets. Bacterial Spot affects both fruit and leaves with brown spots and can stunt the growth of the tree. It thrives in wet, warm and humid conditions while hot and dry weather reduces it. If as a child you remember eating a certain peach that was oh so good, but hardly anyone grows that variety anymore, chances are that is the reason. That was my experience with Sun High, one of the best tasting peaches for fresh eating, but hardly anyone grows it anymore. So when we started an orchard, we decided to plant some, but an experienced orchardist advised me to check any peach variety that I plant for Bacterial Spot susceptibility, and it turned out Sun High is one of the worst ones to get it. We ended up not planting any either. Most tree nurseries have info on which varieties have resistance or not. Another way to help keep the disease at bay is by pruning out diseased looking and dead wood. Pruning can have a big impact on tree health, especially on peaches and nectarines, in my experience. You can get three times the new growth by pruning compared to not pruning. Because they bear fruit on one year old wood, it is best to prune them hard, which results in more new growth and in turn gives you the opportunity to keep the best looking wood for fruit bearing in years to come. To avoid criticism: say nothing, do nothing, be nothing. Auf Weidersehen a
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” Thomas Jefferson
PACleanways of Mifflin County Keep PA Beautiful With all the snow and ice gone, we can now plan our spring cleanups. We will be doing a roadside cleanup on Kistler Road on April 11th. We are still in the planning stages of a stream cleanup to be held on May 2. Our Juniata River cleanup will be on August 1st, and this year’s Tire Recycle Challenge will be September 19. We are still working on times and locations of some of these cleanups. Our state chapter has a new release on Illegal Dump Free PA, which is below. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Launches IllegalDumpFreePA Surveillance Camera Program Aims to Curb Illegal Dumping Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful today launched a new innovative program called IllegalDumpFreePa that will provide surveillance kits, training and online support to Pennsylvania municipalities to help them battle illegal dumping. Illegal dumping is a statewide concern, according to a recent study commissioned by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful (KPB), the state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Dumpsites can be found in every county – 6,500 at last count. Cleanups conducted by local municipalities are costly, averaging about $600 per ton, or roughly $3,000 per site, siphoning off tax dollars and staff resources. “Those funds could be better spent elsewhere, such as parks, children’s or seniors’ programs, or community infrastructure,” says KPB President Shannon Reiter. “Pennsylvanians can no longer afford to continually clean up these sites.”
Vegetable Wines from page 5 and cellar. 5. Let it age for 6 months before sampling. The beet wine is also very potent, 15% alcohol. My wife thinks it tastes more like a brandy, but she likes it. It has a beautiful red color and an earthy scent. So there you have it—veggie wines. I think I will hold on to these bottles for unique Christmas presents for some friends. Let’s end with a quote this month, “I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.” W.C. Fields a
The Truth Has No Agenda
Developed by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and financially supported through a grant from DEP, surveillance kits will be available to be placed at undisclosed, active dumpsites. The kits include three concealable, lockable cameras and accessories that capture usable, conviction-worthy footage of license plates and illegal dumpers – even at night. One camera uses wireless technology that can send pictures via text to a registered cellphone when triggered, providing almost instant results. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful will provide technical assistance for installation; municipalities will have the option of purchasing the equipment. A 2013 pilot program was instrumental in prosecution and convictions in Allegheny, Armstrong and Elk counties. A web portal, www.IllegalDumpFreePA.org, explains the program in detail, and also allows members of the public to report an illegal dumpsite in their community. In a public opinion poll, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful conducted with Penn State University, the majority of respondents stated that they believe fines and penalties levied on illegal dumpers should be used to clean up illegal dump sites, rather than public funds. Unfortunately, the evidence needed to assess fines and penalties was non-existent, difficult to obtain, or insufficient to support enforcement actions, until now. “Cleanups, while necessary, simply absolve the dumpers of
any responsibility,” adds Reiter. “This program provides the evidence needed to fully prosecute those committing this crime.” IllegalDumpFreePA is one of the many resources Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful offers to reduce both the environmental and financial impacts of illegal dumping and littering. Other efforts include the Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania, the Litter Free School Zone, and the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Adoption Program. For more information or to report an illegal dumpsite, visit www.IllegalDumpFreePA.org. About Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s mission is empowering Pennsylvanians to make our communities clean and beautiful. Since 1990, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and its volunteers have removed over 111 million pounds of litter from Pennsylvania’s roadways, greenways, parks, forests, and waterways. To learn more about Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, visit www.keeppabeautiful.org. Media Contacts: For Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Shane M. Swisher 717-232-1898 sswisher@pposinc.com For PA Department of Environmental Protection Susan Rickens 717-787-1323 srickens@pa.gov a
The Valley, April 2015
12
Buying a Home?
Attend our Home Buyer’s Workshop! by Kim Rickert
Whether you are in the market to buy your first home, or your fifth home, the market has changed a lot in the last year and you can benefit from professionals to help guide you through the process. That’s why Kim Rickert of Stone Arch Real Estate and Kish Bank are working to present a workshop that will answer your questions and enlighten you to the “new” home buying market. Far more is involved in purchasing a home than setting out with your favorite REALTOR and looking at homes. Unlike the popular TV show, “House Hunters,” it often takes weeks or months to find the right home, but that time can be scaled down with a few good strategies. Creating a checklist of your “Must Haves” and your “It Would Be Nice” options will help you narrow down the search. At the Home Buyer’s Workshop, handouts will include checklists and House
Report Cards to aid you in your search for the right home. An important consideration for home buyers is being informed about what type of loan is best for their situation, and getting a prequalification letter before starting to look at homes will save a lot of time when they are ready to write an offer. Loan professionals from Kish Bank will be on hand to discuss the options with buyers, and will meet with anyone one-on-one
after the presentation to take prequalification applications. Once you find the home you would like to make your own, there are still quite a few obstacles to get through before you move in! A home inspection will help ensure that you are not buying “a lemon,” and Ron Kuhns of ProSpect Home Inspections will be on hand to discuss common issues to be aware of in a home. Ron will talk about the types of inspections that you may want to have a professional perform to avoid any safety issues or potential problems with the home. With the changes in the mortgage market, as well as the real estate market in the last year, even experienced home buyers will find that it is best to be informed and prepared. Let us help you take the next step to your new home! Join us at the Home Buyer’s Workshop and go home with info and knowledge! Door prizes and light refreshments will be served. The Home Buyers Workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21st from 6 to 8
PM at The Main Street Market in Reedsville. All prospective buyers are welcome (ages 18 and older, please) but must RSVP in advance. Please call Stone Arch
Real Estate at 717-248-6400 (Monday thru Friday from 9 am to 5 pm) or email us at Info@ StoneArchRealEstate.com to reserve your spot today! a
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The Valley, April 2015
Understanding the Constitution by David Molek
CASTLE DOCTRINE/ STAND YOUR GROUND The Framers of our Constitution recognized the natural right of self-defense. Rights are given by God to individuals. The Founding Fathers created the Bill of Rights to protect these rights of individuals. The freedoms of religion, speech, association and the rest all refer to individual liberties. The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms is no different. It states…”the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed”. Aren’t we all tired of the liberal or progressive argument that “times have changed”, therefore the original intentions of the Second Amendment should be modernized. On serious reflection, it is not reasonable to assert that an inalienable, God-given natural right has changed. Recent challenges by gun control advocates have been rebuffed in the Heller
and McDonald cases. However, remember how close these votes were and we may only be one Supreme Court Justice away from major changes in the area of the Second Amendment. We in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are fortunate. Our state Constitution in Article I, Section 21 provides, “The right of citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state shall not be questioned”. The phrase “shall not be questioned” seems even stronger than the Second Amendment and nearly unequivocal regarding individual rights. Even more fortunate and appropriate, Pennsylvania went a step further. Our legislature passed the Castle Doctrine law which went into effect August 27, 2011. We will attempt to explain and clarify the law in Pennsylvania. Under this age-old
doctrine that your home is your castle, this law kicks in when you are attacked in your home. The legislature went even further with individual rights and provided some stand your ground defenses in other than your home. In a house, defined as a dwelling in which a person resides or visits as an invited guest, or in an occupied vehicle, there is now a presumption that any attacker or intruder who is in the process of unlawfully and forcefully entering any of these intends to do great bodily harm to any occupants. There is also a presumption that anyone inside can use deadly force to protect himself or herself against this attacker or intruder. Of course, with many laws, there are some exceptions: (1) If the person attempting to gain entrance is another resident of that place or a person who
has a right to be in that place; (2) A parent, grandparent or other guardian removing a child; (3) Law enforcement officer acting in the performance of his or her duties; or (4) The person who uses protective deadly force is engaged in criminal activity or is using the dwelling, residence or occupied vehicle to conduct criminal activity. In these cases, the right to use protective deadly force does not exist. Another important provision of this law is that in any other place where an individual has a right to be and if that individual is not engaged in criminal activity, that individual does not have a duty to retreat. An individual has the right to “stand your ground” and use protective deadly force if ALL of the following criteria are met: (1) You have a right to be in the place where you are attacked; and
(2) You believe the use of force is immediately necessary to protect against death, serious bodily injury, kidnapping or rape: and (3) The person you use protective deadly force against displays or otherwise uses a firearm, replica of a firearm, or any other weapon readily capable of lethal force; and (4) You are not illegally in possession of a firearm; and (5) The person you use protective deadly force against is not someone that you knew was, or should have known was, a law enforcement officer. As you can see, the law can be fairly complicated and fact-specific. Every responsible person will attempt to avoid such situations, but there may be a time when an individual needs to exercise that right and the responsibility that goes along with it. Our General Assembly made certain findings upon adoption of the law. It is proper for law-abiding people to protect themselves and their families. The Castle Doctrine is a common law doctrine of ancient origins which declares that a home is a person’s castle. Persons residing in or visiting this Commonwealth have a right to expect to remain
Continued on page 19
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Dairy Connection by Kelly Beck
Centre Count y Dair y Princess
APRIL 2015 Mifflin County History Trivia The Great Balloon Ascension of 1842 The editor of the Lewistown Republican proclaimed on April 13, 1842: “We learn with pleasure that Mr. Wise, the great Aeronaut, will make an ascension from Lewistown. This will present a novel and attracting scene for the people of this section of the country. We believe the day on which the ascension will take place has not been determined, but when it is, we will give due notice thereof.” Seven days later an advertisement and accompanying article announced the muchawaited occasion. Mr. Wise, in his new aerial ship, United States, would rise by using “Hydrogen Gas” described in print as both mysterious and interesting. The Republican further encouraged its readers: We expect to see a larger concourse of people in Lewistown to witness the Ascension than has graced our goodly borough for a number of years past. Let there be a general rush... It was a thrilling, but now obscure episode in United States history that played itself out in Central Pennsylvania. Wise, the most famous American balloonist of the time, came to ascend Heavenward
for only the thirty-third time in a career that would see almost 470 ascensions. Wise got the first view of Mifflin County from the air. It was a day to remember! These questions come from the pages of Mifflin County’s Cut Sharp and Republican from that same year. 1. A little newspaper called the Cut Sharp published weekly in Lewistown. Its gadfly editor was a political supporter of Pennsylvania Governor David Rittenhouse Porter. What did the Cut Sharp editorialize about and entreat Porter to do? [a] extend clemency to a local man convicted of distilling “harmful spirits” [b] push to settle a boundary dispute with neighboring counties [c] hang a political opponent for “treason against the Nation” [d] vie for the US Presidential nomination against Martin Van Buren 2. The Lewistown Republican had an item about the “celebrated Mr. Read” who would be lodging for a short time in Jacob Smith’s new brick building on Main Street. What was Mr. Read going to do while “occupying the basement story” during his short stay? [a] paint portraits of local townspeople [b] serve as chef for Livonia Smith’s wedding [c] practice
“painless” dentistry with “Laughing gas” [d] give singing lessons 3. Why were the names of Isaac Aultzs, Daniel Brown, John Cox, Jacob Diggs, Charlotte Elberty, Dr. J. W. Forney, Sydner Gill, Joseph Heffley and dozens of others printed on page three of the Republican? [a] names for individuals up for jury service [b] passengers who traveled by canal boats for the month [c] they had letters to be picked up at the post office [d] were signed up to ride the first train to Mifflin County 4. The April 15, 1842 edition of the Cut Sharp announced a change in the newspaper’s publishing day. Why did the Cut Sharp change from a Thursday to a Friday publication? [a] to print more timely end-of-week news [b] newsprint only arrived Fridays by canal [c] the typesetter could only work Fridays [d] Thursday was militia training day and the editor was a militia captain ANSWERS: 1.D 2.A 3.C 4.A SOURCES: MCHS Archives, 1842 editions of Cut Sharp and Lewistown Republican a
What is one of your favorite memories as a kid? Mine is having grilled cheese and tomato soup during cold winter nights, or as my special birthday dinner. But would you expect a holiday for this food? Well there is. National Grilled Cheese Day is on April 12 this year, and is sure to be celebrated. As the weather warms, and the snow finally finishes melting, some towns even have food showcases showing the many different ways you can serve grilled cheese. While serving with tomato soup may be a classic, there are some interesting was to serve it, including with seafood or hot sauce. Even if you are lactose intolerant, you can still enjoy grilled cheese because cheese has a low amount of lactose. So to help you celebrate this awesome holiday, here are two unique grilled cheese recipes. Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese • ¼ c. Hot Sauce • 1 Chicken breast, cooked and shredded
Touching Peoples Hearts from page 8
hobby—to keep him interested in the outdoors. I have a saying I like that I heard from the co founder of Life Leadership, Orrin Woodward. He said, “No one cares how much you know...until they know how much you care.” That phrase hit me like a ton of bricks. And it is absolutely true. I could be the best fly fisherman or fly tyer in Pennsylvania, but no one is going to care unless I care about others. (Let me set the record straight, I am not or do not even pretend to be the best out there). But with Jaxon starting this hobby at 7 years old, we might be reading articles by him or seeing him on TV some day. So I suggest that you all remember the name Jaxon Yoder,
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•
12 slices American or cheese of choice • 12 slices bread • butter Heat griddle on medium heat. Butter one side of each slice of bread. Mix hot sauce and chicken breast in bowl, set aside. Place slice of bread on griddle and then 2 tbsp of chicken mixture. Place another slice of cheese on top. Cook on each side until golden brown. Repeat for all sandwiches. Grilled Cheese Fingers • 8 slices of bread • 4 slices of cheese • butter Butter one side of each slice of bread. Place on griddle then put slice of cheese then the other slice of bread, butter side up. Cook on each side until golden brown. Slice lengthwise into four strips. Repeat for each sandwich made. a because you just don’t know how famous he could be. DELIVERY DAY!!!! Jaxon walked through the door with his brother, Bryson, and his father, Eric, the day he delivered the flies that he tied for Valley Sports N Outdoors, with the biggest smile on his face; his shoulders were back and chin up showing all kinds of confidence. He handed me 72 green weenies and they looked fantastic. I complimented Jaxon and I told him how good of a job he did on the flies. I also told him to drop me off some business cards so I would know how to get in touch with the owner of Jaxon’s Custom Flies when I needed to restock. He agreed that he would bring one back when he and his Mom were done designing them. I might not have turned Jaxon’s life completely around, but for that moment in time, we both felt like a million dollars. And that was the best gift in the world, seeing Jaxon’s face light up when I, a perfect stranger, did something nice for him and showed him that I cared and he wasn’t just some snot-nosed kid, he is a young person with dreams and values that are ready to be expressed. So I urge everyone to get out there and make a difference. I know Jaxon will and I hope he remembers that the rest of his days. a
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Rothrock State Forest is one of twenty designated state forests in Pennsylvania, named for Dr. Joseph Trimble Rothrock. Born in McVeytown, Dr. Rothrock is often called the “Father of Forestry� and the first forestry commissioner in Pennsylvania. At its inception, Rothrock State Forest encompassed 35,000 acres and now covers more than 96,000 acres and spans the ridges of Huntingdon, Centre and Mifflin counties. Rothrock State Forest encompasses four state parks (Trough Creek, Greenwood, Whipple Dam, and Penn Roosevelt), five Natural Areas, and two Wild Areas. Within its borders you will find many opportunities to hike on a large number of trails. Rothrock State Forest is home to two premiere backpacking trails: the Mid State Trail and the Standing Stone Trail. It is also home to many shorter, day hike trails. If you want a family friendly hike or want to experience hiking in Rothrock for the first time, look to one of the four state parks located here. All of the state parks have short, relatively flat trails; ideal for first time explorers. One such trail is the Whipple Lake Trail at the Whipple Dam State Park. Encircling the lake at Whipple Dam State Park is the Whipple Lake Trail. Clocking in at a bit over two miles in length, this trail is a great hike to do with kids. The trail is mostly flat, follows the banks of Laurel Run, and affords many views of the lake from various vantage points. It is also a great hike to do after a picnic.
To get to the Whipple Dam State Park, head south on route PA26 from State College. After descending Tussey Mountain, continue south on route PA26 for approximately 1.5 miles. Once here, turn left onto the Whipple Dam road. Follow the signs to the State Park for about a mile and then turn left into the State Park proper. Turning right once entering the State Park takes you to the beach and picnic areas on the south side of the lake: a great place to start this hike. There are plenty of places to have picnics here and, when combined with this hike, makes for a great family outing. At the eastern most end of the parking area is the sign for the Whipple Lake Trail. The sign states that the trail is three miles in length, but in actuality, it is just a bit over two miles. Once you get on the trail proper you will find the tread is composed of crushed limestone. There are bridges that cross wet sections of the trail early on in the hike. As you continue, the limestone trail disappears and is replaced with packed dirt. The trail is wet in sections, and depending on the time of year, the trail could get quite muddy. Proper footwear is recommended for these wetter times. The trail follows the southern banks of Laurel Run as it heads east. The stream flows by peacefully as it makes its way to the lake. There are benches planted at various points along this section of the trail, allowing you to rest and enjoy the tranquility of the
stream. At about 0.8 miles, you cross Laurel Run on a well-built bridge. A short distance after the crossing, the trail climbs steeply to Beidler Road. At 0.9 miles, make a sharp left off the road and onto the marked trail as it begins to follow the ridge top. As you hike across the ridge line, the trail makes a gradual ascent. On this section of the trail, you will be walking
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through a stand of pines. Keep your eyes and ears open as you are likely to come upon wildlife on this section of the hike. At 1.3 miles, the climb stops and the trail levels out. You will see a dirt road gradually approaching from your right. The trail merges with the road at about 1.5 miles into your hike. After a short distance, the trail bears off to the left as you descend towards the lake. Around 1.7 miles into your hike, the trail meets back up with
the lake, almost directly across from where this hike started. Turn right and continue following the trail as it heads out onto a small peninsula. From 1928 to 1941 there was a lodge located here. This lodge was used by Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Campfire Girls alike. Now you will find a picnic area that provides some of the best views of the lake. Turning right at this spot, about 1.8 miles into the hike, you will descend
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The Valley, April 2015
16
Get Real
The Secret to Connecting
Have you ever, during sex, thought something like, “Could you do this a little lighter, and a bit to the left,” but never said it fearing embarrassment or killing the mood? Have you ever thought, “I wish he/she would give me some personal space right now,” but didn’t say anything for fear of hurting your partner’s feelings? A Reason for Disconnection in Relationships Of all relationship issues, I believe being afraid to say what you really feel is the most common. Humans make up a gazillion clever excuses to stifle their truth in favor of keeping peace. Ironically, I believe consistently tucking your truth under the rug creates more issues, drama, and disconnection in the long run. Do you fear of making your partner angry, of risking the relationship, or aren’t sure of yourself and your thoughts? I believe that
by blocking our “inner knowing” we build walls that eventually shield us from deeply connecting with ourselves and others, not even knowing how we really feel, what we truly think in any given moment. Wonder why you feel less connected, or less sexual desire for your partner? Is it because a thick and gnarly brick wall of silence or avoidance arose between you – loosening your loving connection? Each time you withhold genuine thoughts and feelings, the wall thickens. I know, because I concealed my own truth for a long time. I played the smile-and-nod game, quietly squashing my authentic feelings and inner voice in fear of creating disconnection. How to Bulldoze the Brick Wall in your Relationship I believe the secret to a thriving relationship is authenticity. Being real, true to yourself.
First examine exactly how you feel all the time, not just when it’s convenient. When you hear your inner voice saying, “Hmmmm…I like this” or “Oh, I don’t like that,” pay attention. Do you say you’re super easy-going, always willing to go with the flow? Under that “easy going” disguise, is there a huge fear of being sorely disappointed when your desires are not met, or of being judged for having them? What if you sought out those hidden gems of desire: those thoughts, feelings, and opinions eagerly waiting within? When is it Time to Say Something to your Partner? 1. If you are afraid to say it, then say it. Fear means it’s important. 2. If it keeps popping up in your mind and you continue to generate a swirl of excuses, it’s long overdue. Say something. 3. If your partner were in your shoes, would you want him to tell you? If so, it’s time to speak. 4. If you’ve sought the support and opinions of your friends, it’s large enough to share. Curious How to Speak the Scary Truths and Feelings? Start by setting the context and enroll your partner in your experience with: “Hey sweetie, I’ve noticed that it’s sometimes challenging for me to tell you what
I feel and what I want. I want to create an even more honest and amazing relationship with you, and I believe we can do that. This feels new and scary for me and I’d love your support.” Then when you have something to share or reveal, remind your partner how challenging this is for you. Then notice what happens: Do you feel closer to yourself and your partner? Is the wall between you starting to crumble? Is there more sexual spark?
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What if you created a relationship based on being real? What if you gave your partner a chance to fully see you by sharing yourself as you really are – your personal desires, brilliant thoughts, and uniquely divine feelings? a
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The Valley, April 2015
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The Valley, April 2015
R. O. F. F.
Savvy Cents & Sensibility by JoAnn Wills-Kline MBA
The Cost Of Your Time Many of us have felt, at one time or another, that there aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish all we would like. This month, we will examine a strategy to visually study how our time gets spent. We all have twenty-four hours in a day, but how we use those hours can be as individual as each one of us. If our days are jam packed, and we wish to add something else to our days, it is logical to determine that we must give something (or some time) up in order to gain time for that certain something. For example, if I look at my day and decide that I want to gain thirty minutes to take a walk, then I also must decide what to give up to make “time” for the thirty minute walk. What shift in resources (resources is time in the example)
Central PAHikes from page 15 to another picnic pavilion and parking area. From here you will be following the paved road. At 2 miles, you will cross the spillway of the dam. Just a short distance past the spillway, turn left and
must occur to gain the thirty minutes? In order to gain something, one must also give up something. The difference between the gain and the loss is called the “opportunity cost.” Opportunity cost can be calculated in currency, weight, products, and intangibles such as personal happiness or experiences. The “cost” may involve examining two tangible things or taking into account the personal worth of the intangible things. Your choice should be based on which opportunity cost seems higher. The higher the opportunity cost the less attractive the choice. One question to ask yourself as you weigh your choices in opportunities is ‘How bad do I want it?’ For example, if you decide that staying up extra late on a Sunday night is worth it
you’ll find yourself back at the swimming area and the start of this hike. Whipple Dam State Park provides opportunities for swimming, fishing, and ample area to have a family picnic. Combine this with a hike on the Whipple Lake Trail
as opposed to getting a full night’s sleep to kick off your work week, then your opportunity cost is a full night of sleep. If I wish to add a thirty minute walk, then I must examine where in my twenty-four hour day I can cut thirty minutes. After studying where/how I’m spending my twenty-four hours, I determine that I will cut thirty minutes from my evening TV time and replace it with my thirty minute walk. So, the “opportunity cost” of gaining the thirty minute walk is losing thirty minutes of TV time in my evening. Ironically, the thirty minute walk will likely do much more for my health than the TV time; therefore, in the long run, the opportunity cost may turn out to be a health benefit in time. In other words, opportunity costs can vary among individuals. What one person views as a cost, another person may deem as an ok trade off. My suggestion to you is to use the visual tactic to the left to determine how you are spending your time, and decide if you want to make alterations. If you want more of something like family time, “pencil it in” on the visual strategy and hold your ground to manifest it. If you want less of something like TV time, replace a portion of that time with something else – perhaps a healthier choice of “me” time like reading or a relaxing bath. Perhaps, as you study your use of time, you determine that you can combine two different time frames – like exercising and family/friend time. You decide that taking a walk with family/ friends gives you a better use of time, and still accomplishes both, the exercise and spending time with family/friends. The best way to determine how you are spending your time is to log it over a specific period of time – a week or a month – review it, and determine if changes would benefit you or make you happier. If so, begin to set change in motion because in the words of Annie Dillard “How we spend our days, is of course, how we spend our lives.” a and you have a great way to spend quality time outdoors with the family. You can get more information about this hike, and many others in central Pennsylvania, on the PAHikes.com website. a
The Truth Has No Agenda
Rescue Our Furry Friends by Patricia Lawson
Happy spring! What a perfect time of year to take your dog for a long walk. Don’t have a dog? Well, ROFF has some ideal companions for you. Just visit our web-site, www. roffrescue.com for more details on who’s wait- Tucker ing for you. Oh look, here’s one! This is our handsome boy Tucker. He is a 1 year old male Black Mouth Cur. He is neutered and up to date with
his vaccines, and he is good with other dogs and kids. (Not sure about cats.) If you would like to meet him, Lucy please go to our web site www.roffrescue. com and fill out an online application. OK, maybe you just like to cuddle up with a good book or a movie. ROFF has oodles of purr-
Editors Corner from page 2
Castle Doctrine from page 13
lost history. If you have one of those old Victorian homes downtown or an old converted farmhouse on one of the back roads, I would love to be able to see what is hiding under your feet. My methods do not cause any permanent damage to your lawn, garden beds or farm fields. I fill every hole and on turf we dig a plug, which is replaced just the way it came out of the ground and the grass just keeps on growing. In fact, we pride ourselves in leaving the property as if we had never been there and just think what we might find. People have been dropping and misplacing items ever since there were people. Today, holding something that has been buried and out of sight for a couple hundred years is thrilling. If your property has been in your family for generations, perhaps we will uncover a monogrammed piece of silverware, or other items that can be identified as belonging to one of your distant relatives. Wouldn’t it be cool to give that item a special place on display in your home or perhaps at the Historical Society for others to enjoy? As always, I want to ask you to please support our advertisers, if you like what we do, they are the ones paying for this to happen,—use their services, buy from their stores and support your neighbors. Local economic development starts with YOU, not Washington. a
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unmolested within their homes or vehicles. No person should be required to surrender his or her own personal safety to a criminal or to be required to needlessly retreat in the face of intrusion or attack outside a person’s home or vehicle. Under most ordinary circumstances, a person has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his ground and use force, including deadly force, against a person who displays or uses a firearm or a replica of a firearm or any other weapon readily or apparently capable of lethal use. There are also provisions in the law covering civil immunity. The use of force for self-protection, protection of other persons or protection of property, when justified, provides immunity from civil liability for personal injuries sustained by the perpetrator. The Castle Doctrine, although an aspirational statement, is a reference to the modern trend of legislatively empowering people to have more ability to use lethal force. Pennsylvania goes one step further with “stand your ground” legislation. In other words, the law covers a Pennsylvania citizen in any location one is legally allowed to be without the requirement of retreat. Outside “castlecovered areas”, there is no duty to retreat if confronted with a weapon. Exercise your rights when necessary and responsibly. a
The Valley, April 2015
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Choosing HealthSouth Helps a Woman Safely Return Home Penelope Young came to HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital after a recent hip surgery, and a heart failure diagnosis, which caused her to become too weak to safely stay at home. “I couldn’t walk, and I was dependent on my daughter to help me,” Young says. “A case manager in the hospital ER suggested that I go to HealthSouth for rehabilitation.” She adds, “When I get back home, I’m going to call that case manager and thank her for suggesting HealthSouth; I feel like she saved my life.” Three hours of therapy a day, with a focus on education, helped Young gain strength and learn how to manage her heart failure diagnosis. Personalized education and weekly classes are provided by HealthSouth clinicians to help patients and their families with topics such as weight monitoring, nutrition and medication.
family education is an essential part of our patient care.” “I love it here,” Young says. “The staff talks to you and teaches you how to take care of yourself when you get home. And I saw a doctor every day.” Young adds, “The words ‘heart failure’ are scary to hear, but I learned how I can help myself, and now I have a better outlook. I still have a lot of life left in me.” a
“We spend a lot of time teaching our patients about how to live with a heart failure diagnosis, so that when they return home, they will succeed in managing their symptoms,” says Nurse Manager Jessica Coudriet, CRRN. “Our heart failure rehabilitation program has earned a diseasespecific care certification Penelope Young practices using stairs in the therapy gym from the during her inpatient stay at HealthSouth Nittany Valley Joint Com- Rehabilitation Hospital. Young came to HealthSouth from her home in order to gain strength and education in Healthmission; patient and South’s heart failure rehabilitation program. Penelope was able to return to her home, stronger and safer.
Regain Strength. Return Home. If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with activities of daily living, consider calling HealthSouth Nittany Valley today for a no-cost rehabilitation assessment. Our rehabilitation nurse liaison comes to you in your home, physician’s office or the hospital to determine if rehabilitation may be right for you. Conditions that can benefit include: • Bathing • Bowel and bladder problems • Chronic pain • Desire to return to previous level of functioning • Difficulty recovering from a recent illness
• Dressing • Increased falls • Walking • Weakness
Call 800 842-6026 and ask for a rehabilitation nurse liaison who will assess your needs, and coordinate with your physician and caregiving team.
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The Valley, April 2015
Modern Energy and Alternative Heating with Curt Bierly
Home Show Results Oil and OPEC
Last month I briefed you on the Local Home Shows that were scheduled for March. Once again, the State College Home Show was well attended by potential customers. The GEO (Geothermal Heat Pump) Seminar we presented was well attended. There continues to be a 30% Federal Tax Credit available for a Residential GEO installation. Perhaps the reason for the high GEO seminar attendance is the interest in consumers wanting to consider it before the end of the 2016 deadline? There wasn’t a particular product in which the majority of the attendees that visited our booth were interested. Custom-
ers that signed up for literature to be mailed after the show were requesting information on Heat Pumps (Air to Air, GEO, Ductless), Wood Stoves/Inserts, Gas Stoves/Inserts, Solar DHW, Gas Furnaces/Boilers, Coal Stoves, Instantaneous DHW heater and Pellet Stoves/Inserts. As compared to last year’s show, there is one distinct difference. The price of gasoline, heating oil and propane are down significantly! Natural gas, coal and electricity saw very little change in pricing. Why is this? In a nutshell, finally, OPEC has an oil competitor - the U.S. Using the controversial hydro-fracking
technology, the U.S. is starting to produce “lots of oil.” To preserve the U.S. business, OPEC chose not to limit production as they have done in the past to shore up the price of a barrel of oil. The resulting oversupply sent prices tumbling from $100 per barrel to below $50 per barrel, which made the production of oil by U.S. shale drillers unprofitable. It is said that OPEC nations can produce oil for $10 a barrel - so - even $50 per barrel is profitable for them. In the meantime, U.S. producers are working feverishly to streamline the extraction process to become competitive at $50 per barrel. So what does all this mean to you and I? Well for sure, electric ($29/MMbtu)*, oil ($20/MMbtu)* and propane ($20/MMbtu)* still can’t compete with low-cost natural gas ($9.75/MMbtu)* and coal ($9/MMbtu)*. You need to take these comparisons and factor in the efficiency and yearly maintenance of the heating appliances available to make a fair comparison. Electric, for example, can be used to power an air-to-air or geothermal heat pump, which dramatically increases the efficiency and thus reduces
Hearing Affects everything between your ears.
the cost/MMbtu. Natural gas and propane furnaces are available in the 95% efficiency range, whereas oil appliances are usually in the 85% range and require a yearly cleaning to continue to operate efficiently. If you are planning to upgrade/replace your heating/cooling system this year, or if you are building a new home or business and there is natural gas available, and you don’t want to consider a GEO heat pump due to the large upfront investment, then currently a gas heating appliance is your best choice. If you don’t have natural gas available, I’m a big fan of a high efficiency dual fuel system (i.e. a propane gas furnace with a heat pump.) This gives you warm air (approx. 98 degrees F) in the spring and fall and hot
air (approx. 140 degrees F) in the winter. In addition, you can move the system balance point to favor the most competitive fuel. There are lots of choices out there. It mostly depends on how much you want to budget for the project and what you consider to be a good return on your investment. * Note pricing shown is representative, but approximate. Curt Bierly is president of the bierly group incorporated of which Stanley C. Bierly is a division. He graduated from Penn State with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and is the chair of the Penn College HVAC Advisory Board. You can contact him at cbierly@bierlygroup.com. a
50th Annual Belleville Mennonite School Auction April 17 & 18
It’s your brain that hears, not your ears. Your ears and your brain work together as a system, with your brain doing most of the work. Your brain, uses the information from your ears to orient you to the direction a sound is coming from. In the brain sound waves become sounds that you recognize. Your brain focuses on conversation and separates out the unwanted noise.
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The Valley, April 2015
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Plain Talk
Solar Explained by S. Yoder Hello to every reader of The Valley and many thanks to all customers! Looks like it is already April. That means summer storms can’t be far off, so the subject this month is Lightening Arrestors. What are they and what do they do? Lightening arrestors prevent lightening from frying your computer and inverter systems by simply connecting to your existing breaker box. They are highly recommended for use with inverters, but are often the missing piece, which is usually the most
important piece in an inverter system. There is more than one style of lightening arrestor available, but only one is suitable for all applications. Make sure the correct voltage is used for your application. They should also be used with solar panels. Pictured below are two different types of lightening arrestors. I have been burning the candle at both ends recently so I better get moving before the two flames catch up with each other! See you all later. S. Yoder a
Your Mifflin County Library
For the third year in a row, The Friends of Mifflin County Library and the Lewistown Community Band are working together to raise funds for the Mifflin County Library. This year the Friends will present the Lewistown Community Band in their first concert of the 2015 season on Thursday, April 30 at 7 PM at the Mifflin County Middle School Auditorium. The Lewistown Community Band has quite a history and Friends would like to share some of that information with The Valley’s readers. Quoting from the Lewistown Community Band’s website: “The bands of Lewistown have an illustrious history dating back to 1832.”
Perennial Gardens, New Bloomfield, PA perennialgardens.name Spring Haven Nursery, Newburg, PA springhavennatives.com Wing Haven Nursery, Coburn, PA email: winghaven.nursery@ gmail.com INFORMATION BOOTHS: Pa Native Plant Society panativeplantsociety.org Pa Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)
Wild Plant Program, Harrisburg, Pa dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/ plants/nativeplants/index.htm Penn State Extension Master Gardeners, Centre County, PA extension.psu.edu/plants/mastergardener ClearWater Conservancy, State College, PA clearwaterconservancy.org Juniata Valley Audobon Society jvas.org/about/ Society for Ecological Restoration FOOD VENDER: Eden View Organics, Tyrone, PA a
Any man who afflicts the human race with ideas must be prepared to see them misunderstood. H. L. Mencken
The annual Belleville area community Easter Sunrise Service will be held at the Altar at the top of Jacks Mountain at 6:30 am. This service includes a time of singing and message by this year’s guest speaker, Pastor Bob Cash from the Belleview CMA church. This service is Non-Denominational and is provided for all area residents who would like to attend an Easter Sunrise Service, but whose church does not have one. For directions or information please call 717-436-8010.
LIbrary Lines By Maddy Thompson and Robert T Long Jr Friends of the Mifflin County Library
Native Plant Festival from page 6
The first band director in Mifflin County was Palmer Mitchell who taught at Lewistown High School in the 1920’s. Palmer had the distinct honor of being the only band director in the country (as far as anyone knows) to have a football field named for him – our very own Mitchell Field. Moving forward in time, the V.F.W. band existed from 1939 until 1950. During the 1950’s, the Elks band was quite famous as a marching band. After that, there was not much happening until Michael Wasilko and Phillip Wysocki organized the Mifflin County Community Band in 1980. Unfortunately, it only lasted two years. Then, in 1991, those two directors, along with Arthur Belfiore, revived the Elks Band, which has become today’s Lewistown Community Band. And today the band contin-
ues to grow under Director Peter Marsh and is made up of amateur musicians from our county. They are a concert band consisting of brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. They perform concerts throughout the summer, ending their season in August. After a short break, they start rehearsing in October to prepare for their Holiday Concerts. (And their performances at the M. C. High School in December are awesome!) So, dig out your musical instruments and join their group – no audition required! While we are writing about history, we can also share information on the Mifflin County Library. It began as a paid lending library in 1842. One hundred years later, it became the County Library. For 114 years, its home was located at 13 E. Third Street at what is now the United Way building. (Does anyone else remember climbing all those steps anticipating finding the next exciting book to read?) In 1956, as the need for more space grew, the library’s next location
was at the corner of S. Brown and Water Streets. Since 1974, upon completion of the newly built structure, the library’s current home is 123 N. Wayne Street. Today, the library is composed of the Main Branch on N. Wayne Street in Lewistown and the Kish Branch in Belleville. Both of these historical organizations, working for the people of Mifflin County and composed of the people of Mifflin County, have brought great joy, entertainment, and learning to our county. The Friends of Mifflin County Library are really pleased to partner with the Lewistown Community Band to continue this tradition and, again, want to invite everyone to the Band’s first concert on Thursday, April 30 at 7:00 PM at the Mifflin County Middle School Auditorium. Join us for a relaxing evening of inspiring music! *************************** In addition to the concert on April 30, you will not want to miss these popular events occurring in April at the Mifflin County Library.
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First, you’ll want to call 242-2391 and register for the reading of Number One Sam by its Author, Greg Pizzolli. Mr. Pizzolli will be reading his book at the Lewistown Library on April 8 at 6:00 PM. The PA One Book program highlights the importance of early literacy development in preschoolers ages 3 to 6. Secondly, the Spring Book Sale will be held beginning April 22 and ending April 26. With over 4,000 items to choose from, there is something for everyone! Finally, National Library Week will be recognized beginning April 12 and ending April 18. National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support. For up-to-date activities and information, follow the Friends on Facebook and check out their web pages at mifflincountylibrary.org. a
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The Valley, April 2015
Community Invited to “Spring into Health” Open House at Home Nursing Agency on April 9 The community is invited to the “Spring into Health” Open House on Thurs., April 9 from Noon – 5 p.m. at Home Nursing Agency’s office, 129 S. Main St., Lewistown (in the Kish Creek Center).
50th Annual Auction April 17 & 18, 2015 April 17: 4-8 PM • April 18: Breakfast at 6:30 AM, Auction at 8:30 AM
“We live in this community. We work in this community,” shares Christine Watts, Home Nursing Agency Hospice patient care supervisor. “We want to host this Open House to share all the resources we have available right here in the Mifflin and Juniata County area.” A variety of free screenings and demonstrations will be offered, including the following: blood pressure checks and balance screenings by Home Nursing Agency, home medical equipment and assistive device demonstrations by Home Health Resource; stroke screening by Health South Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital; oxygen saturation by PRN Medical Staffing of Lewistown; demonstration regarding body fat by Curves of Lewistown; ambulance walk-through by FAME Emergency Medical Services and Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) demonstration by the Geisinger Lewistown CHF Navigator. Attendees will be able to enjoy free refreshments and a chance to win door prizes from those vendors above, as well as other community resource providers, including Barr Funeral Home, Elmcroft of Reedsville, Geisinger Lewistown Hospital Cancer Navigator and Dietician, Lewistown Health and Fitness, Lewistown School of Nursing, Locust Grove Skilled Nursing Facility and Rehab, Meadowview Manor Personal Care Community and Pink Connection. Home Nursing Agency has been serving Mifflin County since 2009 with programs for people of all ages. The Agency offers home health care, hospice care and grief support, private duty home care, Pediatric Home Connection for medically fragile children and Home Health Resource for home medical equipment/assistive devices. For more information about the Spring into Health Open House or Home Nursing Agency services, please call 1-800-445-6262 or visit www.homenursingagency.com.
Homemade turkey dinner Friday night, homemade breakfast and lunch on Saturday, strawberry pies, baked goods, a gift certificate auction, an outdoor auction, a silent auction and an indoor auction filled with merchandise such as furniture, quilts, gift baskets, student projects, art, home decor, kitchen items, tools, and more!
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717-935-2184 4105 Front Mountain Road Belleville, PA 17004 www.bmsprek12.org
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The Valley, April 2015
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The Valley, April 2015 Our special spa packages for April are:
Spring into the Himalayan Salt Spa Finally, Spring is popping. With those wonderful signs of life, though for many also comes sinus and allergy issues. For others, it creates some achy muscles from raking (stones from the yard) to preparing gardens for summer. A great solution for that is a visit to the Salt Spa. Himalayan salt is anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-bacterial, and antifungal. Halotherapy, also called salt therapy is a drug-free and completely natural therapy with no side effects. It takes place in a controlled air environment that simulates the special microclimate of actual salt caves and salt mines. Your session in our spa will be 45 minutes and the cost is $15. If you are over 62 or under 16, it is only $12.50. You will sit in a room with low lights and very soft music. We ask that no other electronics be in the room and there be no talking. This is just a time for your body to relax and begin the healing process. Salt therapy has been found to have beneficial effects with health conditions like: asthma, emphysema, allergies, arthritis, sinus, bronchitis, sleeping disorders, snoring, hay fever, cystic fibrosis, skin challenges (acne and
eczema), psoriasis, and a weakened immune system. Many people include a salt lamp when they leave their visit. That helps extend the benefits into their home. It is a GREAT idea to have a lamp in the bedroom. It helps people to sleep better sometimes and also helps to reduce snoring for many. It is critical that you choose an AUTHENTIC salt lamp. Salt lamps also contain all of the 84 elements found in your body. The composition of the salt has one of the worlds highest elemental concentration of 84 minerals and trace elements, the same nutritional elements our bodies need to survive. A salt lamp is a GREAT GIFT for a baby’s nursery and child’s room. A lamp helps with sleeping, respiratory challenges, allergies, and other sinus issues. A great gift for Easter, birthdays, graduation, weddings, etc is an authentic Himalayan salt lamp. Other great gifts include: edible salt, our full line of natural soaps, cremes, and scrubs all made locally. A salt inhaler is a great way to help reduce sinus issues and lung congestion. It is very portable and should be used every day.
Spring Fling *Enjoy 45 minutes in a Himalayan Salt Room in which negative ions are absorbed into the body by breathing the saturated air into the lungs. The salt is anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-fungal. You will be breathing air that is saturated with 84 minerals and trace elements. This will help keep the sinuses clear and allergies at bay. *Also get 15% off an Authentic Himalayan Salt Lamp of your choice, or a Himalayan Salt Inhaler. Spring Time For You ~ $49 *5-10 minutes of our Whole Body Vibration to get your circulation moving, your lymphatics stimulated, and your muscles relaxed. *30 minute Detox Footbath to pull toxins out of the body and identify where the body is releasing the toxins. This naturally stimulating and relaxing session is based on ionization of water and osmosis to draw toxins from the body. *45 minutes in a Himalayan Salt Room in which negative ions are absorbed into the body by breathing the saturated air into the lungs. The salt is anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-fungal. You will be breathing air that is saturated with 84 minerals and trace elements. *Hot Butter Hand Treatment during the detox Footbath. This treatment begins with a salt scrub exfoliation to remove dead cell and open pores before the warm melted butters are drawn into the skin. The hands are then tucked
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into warm Himalayan salt mitts until butters are delivered deep into skin layers. Slimmer Spring ~ $49 *5-10 minutes of Whole Body Vibration to get your circulation moving, your lymphatics stimulated, and your muscles relaxed. *20-30 minute Far Infrared sauna. Our sauna has the ability to systemically eliminate internal chemical and heavy metal toxins, including mercury. The Infrared sauna burns 500-700 calories in a 30 minute session. It is also great for stress relief, improving cardiovascular conditioning, and enhancing your immune system. *30 minute Jade Infrared Massage. Similar to deep tissue, the far infrared heat delivers deep tissue penetration on the upper body. The infrared heat and jade
rollers help to relieve stress, tension, anxiety and increase blood and lymphatic circulation. *Hot Butter Hand Treatment during the Jade Infrared Massage. The warm butters are drawn into the skin to open pores. The hands are then tucked into warm Himalayan salt mitts until butters are delivered deep into skin layers. 4oz salt scrub to take home. Spring has sprung and so has allergy season. Take advantage of an April Spa Package this month. Visit our website for more details on these packages plus other information: www.simplyhealthcalm.com. You may also call us at (717-248-2000) or (814-9547731) to schedule an appointment. See you soon and have a happy healthy Spring! a
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A Sense of Place There are two great oak trees in our woods. The red oak is well over three feet in diameter and the white oak is nearly as big. They spread their canopies wide, surrounded by much younger trees, with their offspring here and there in all directions and their massive root systems holding the soil down against storm and frost. They speak of a sense of place. These two trees may well be more than two hundred years old. Their spreading forms suggest earlier years growing in the open, probably at the corner of a pasture newly cleared by early settlers for livestock. The soil here, though, is poorly drained and rocky, and the pasture was eventually allowed to begin the long process of natural regeneration into forest. But the two trees continued to broaden and guard their little corner of
the earth against the onslaught of winds that felled lesser trees nearby and against erosion of the banks of the little stream running past their feet. Their acorns have fed generations of squirrels, turkeys, and deer, and those that were missed have continued to start new generations of oaks nearby. I’ve been in this valley for fifty years now, most of my life, and Linda and I have shared this woodlot with the two oaks since we built our first little house here more than thirty years ago. More and more, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of place and of roots and of connection, in myself and other people just as much as in the flora and fauna we share our lives with. A lifetime spent in one place makes that life and that family one of myriad centers
in an interconnected web of lives. Through our children and now grandchildren, as well as longtime friends, we are becoming hopelessly entangled. If those entanglements are based on love, respect, and community, that is a good and powerful thing. None of us are here individually as long as these oak trees have been,
but through our relationships, mentoring, and supportive friendships, we leave a legacy that goes on through the ages. Just as the twin oaks have gradually become pillars of a strong web of community in this woodlot, so
R.O.F.F. from page 19
we also become that in our human communities. Unlike these trees, though, our choices of actions, words, and how we relate to others determine what we are to our community as well as the legacy we will leave behind. Also unlike the oaks, we ponder our place in the vastness of time and space. The conclusions and personal truths we reach in our spiritual searching have great impact on our relationships and our sense of place. To truly embrace loving my neighbor as myself changes everything. a
Tryptich “Rough-legged Hawk Over Shriner Mountain” Oils on canvas by Karl Eric Leitzel
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fect buddies for you too. Here’s Lucy! We are guessing her to be a little older, approximately 6 - 7 yrs old. She is still playful at times but likes her afternoon cat naps. Who doesn’t? She is more of a loner, and likes to be in the same room with you, but she’s not real demanding of your attention. She tolerates the other cats she shares her home with, but enjoys her own company best. If you are interested in giving Lucy a forever home please fill out an application on our web-site. a
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The Valley, April 2015 are wonderful and the Civil war information seems to be very accurate.
Mail Pouch Books by Carleen B. Grossman I recently had requests from readers to write a column on some recent Civil War novels. We live in an area filled with history of those times and I must admit I enjoyed reading these very excellent novels! I hope you will also enjoy them. THE SECRETS OF MARY BOWSER By Lois Leveen Copyright 2012 496 pages A Mail Pouch books reader contacted me and recommended
this Civil War historical fiction that features a slave-turned spy heroine during the Civil War. It is based upon true accounts and Mary and some of the other characters were real people; although like all historical fiction, the book is embellished even though there is excellent research done by this author who is a former faculty member of UCLA. Mary spends her youth as a house slave who travels to Philadelphia a decade before the Civil War begins. After experiencing an unsettling form of prejudice in Philadelphia, she returns home to Richmond, Virginia to be part of a Union spy ring. Her courage, resilience, and determination to make a difference are masterfully portrayed.
to the young woman in this story who has lost her husband in the modern-day war. The story shows that there is no difference in war’s past and war’s present! A journey of love, healing, and coming together runs full circle in the book. You will see pieces of her and her husband’s early life, as well as pieces of Civil war life throughout the book. The life lessons in the book
THE INVENTION OF WINGS By Sue Monk Kidd Copyright 2014 384 pages “The Invention of Wings” is based loosely on the real-life story of a female Southern aristocrat whose father is a judge on South Carolina’s Supreme Court. She is given a young female slave for her 11th birthday in 1803. She doesn’t want the “gift” but she’s forced to accept it even though she keeps wondering how someone can OWN another person? From there, the story is set in motion and follows the two women, who are near the same age, struggling for a common goal: FREEDOM.
The author does an effective job of portraying that time in American history. You will follow the characters in their travels down the road of slavery to a riveting climax. THE LAST RUNAWAY By Tracy Chevalier Copyright 2013 320 pages This novel about the Quakers and the Underground Railroad of the 1850’s tells about the freedom movement. It is a pioneer story with the addition of the Ohio Underground Railway. It is a gripping tale about a small town of Ohio Quakers, a head-strong milliner, her slave-catcher brother and a negro family who all become acquainted in a powerful journey! a
HERE AND AGAIN By Nicole Dickson Copyright 2014 400 pages This is a story of a modernday nurse who’s husband is killed as a soldier in Iraq. The story shifts back and forth between modern times and Civil War times. You will encounter a Civil war soldier ghost who appears
Emmie from page 10
Ed’s Railroading News by Ed Forsythe
Spring is finally here with all types of activities planned at the Rockhill Trolley Museum. For a fun filled day of history and adventure this spring & summer, please checkout this seasons schedule at rockhilltrolley.org. In my last article, I informed you all about the robbery here at Ed’s Train Repairs & Sales. As of this writing, Cathy & I are still doing paperwork to send to our insurance company and our shop is still closed. We never knew just what is involved to report something like this to have it covered by insurance. It’s sometimes just too much stress to handle. I will say that I’m kind of hoping to reopen to some degree sometime in early April. We would like to say THANK YOU to all those who have stepped in to replace the
door and clean-up around the shop, etc., so that Cathy & I could concentrate our efforts elsewhere. We would like to say THANK YOU to all who have kept us in their prayers have sent us notes of encouragement during these days. On a special note, we would like to say THANK YOU to a special lady at church for your kind words and letter. Also THANK YOU to the church in Juniata County who sent us a very nice letter of encouragement from one of their young members who had heard of our plight and wanted to help someone he didn’t even know. Whoever you are, please continue caring for others and THANK YOU. THANK YOU again to everyone and Happy Railroading, Ed & Cathy a
Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats. H. L. Mencken
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participate in life with us. I tossed around so many options of what to do to give her the longest and best quality of life. When her last test results came back positive for cancer and we could see the quick progression of the growth in her face, I knew it was just a matter of time. Three years ago, I thought I would have to make a life ending choice for Emmie due to early arthritis and two torn ACLs. People said she would not have a good quality of life due to those injuries unless I had surgery, which I could not afford. I did not have the surgery, but we walked every day to strengthen her. She was on maintenance medication that was far below the recommended levels. She beat the odds on that one and even through her weakening condition, today you can hardly
tell she has anything that impairs her gait. She fought through that to be able to enjoy every day of her life to the fullest. I know she is a fighter, but she is losing her fight to a horrible disease. I want to end her suffering. I don’t want to end her life. This is not a decision anyone wants to make. I don’t know how much time she has left that she can live comfortably, but I don’t want to write the ending to her story.” Unfortunately I now write the ending to her story. I had to make the decision that I was dreading on February 27th. Emmie had a great weekend, but began to decline in health quickly during the week. I had promised her that I would not let her suffer. The look in her eyes that morning told me it was time. She is finally resting peacefully and not struggling to breathe. I feel comfort in knowing Callie is there for her. a
Next Issue of The Valley: May 6th
The Valley, April 2015
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Life in the East End by Rebecca Harrop Well it looks like Spring is finally here in the East End and everywhere! I saw some snowdrops in the flowerbed the other day. Gram Harrop always said they were the first flowers of spring. They did get some snow on them the other Friday though. The snowdrops remind me of my Gram Harrop. She loved Spring and flowers, and especially Easter. I hope everyone enjoyed St. Patrick’s Day. I made Irish Freckle Bread for our big meal. We didn’t have Irish Cream Cheesecake though. None of us had time this year to make it. I’m not really a big cheesecake fan, but everyone else in my family loves it—especially my Dad, he loves cheesecake. Actually my whole family loves cheesecake. I must be the oddball. We will be celebrating Easter soon. Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus and renewal of all life. No other holiday is like Easter, it goes from joy on Palm Sunday to sorrow and despair on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday back to joy and celebration of the resurrection on Easter morning. We should all spend some time at Easter and think about the significance of it and what it means to each of us.
I had the opportunity to attend the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Rancher conference in March. It was a great chance to meet other young farmers from around the state and to learn more ways to promote Ag. The keynote speakers were the Peterson Farm Bros. They are farmers from Kansas. They take popular songs and rewrite them to promote farming. Then they make videos and put them on YouTube. My Mom’s favorite one is “Chore.” They sang some of their songs and they spoke about the importance of promoting Ag. We had a chance to get our picture taken with them after their presentation. I enjoyed going to the conference and meeting other farmers and hearing how they do things at their farms. It’s always a good opportunity to learn new things. April 12-18 is Rural Road Safety Week. Once again Mifflin County Farm Bureau is working with Huntington County to host an event to help educate the public about Rural Road Safety. The event will be held April 11 from 10 am – 1 pm at the Allensville Fire Co. Pavilion. There will be a demo of the Penn State roll over tractor and ATV and how to prevent it. The guest speaker will
be John Tyson from Penn State Extension. There will be other information provided to help Ag businesses handle equipment on the roadways. Refreshments will also be served. The community is encouraged to attend. April is national Library Month. To commemorate this, Mifflin County Farm Bureau will again be distributing the book “The Apple Orchard Riddle” to all the Elementary schools and the public libraries in Mifflin County as part of the “Farmtastic Book Program.” I will have the opportunity to go into the schools and read the book to elementary students. It will be added to the other books and displayed in the Barn Bookshelves Mifflin County Farm Bureau had made and donated to the public and private schools. This is a really great program sponsored by Farm Bureau to promote Ag Literacy. I am a huge believer in promoting all Ag Education. An informed public makes better decisions. We will soon be getting to work in the fields as the weather warms and things start growing. You will see more farm equipment on the roads and for everyone’s safety, please be aware of the roadways and the other people sharing the roads. A little extra care and patience goes a long way to ensure you arrive alive and in one piece. Until next month, Happy Easter from everyone in the East End! a
“Fair & Balanced” means Spin gets Equal Time
The Valley, April 2015
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Progress At The Embassy by Patricia Lawson And,now an update from the Friends of The Embassy: Embassy Fair At Kish Park – Come out and support the Embassy! The year 2015 is shaping up to be a big year for the Embassy Theatre. Before we get to the details on the Embassy Fair, we want to tell you about a way to donate to the project. We are working to secure funding to begin work in the interior of the theatre. In a later article, we will talk in detail about the “Lawn Chair Phase.” To begin the process, we have established two crowdfunding opportunities. While any amount is appreciated, for any donation of $100 or more, the donor will receive a strip of two vintage Embassy tickets. For $1000 or more, they will receive a strip of five tickets! These are tickets found in the theatre, and date to the 1950s and early 1960s. The sites are Razoo and Indiegogo. The best way to get to them is to go to our Facebook page. The links can be found there.
Now onto the Fair. It is going to be a big blast of fun after the cold and hard winter we just got through. Come out and enjoy the rides, games, food, and entertainment at Kishacoquillas Park in Burnham. The fun starts Tuesday night with “Everything Sleeps” on the stage. Wednesday night is “The Bisket Boyz,” and Thursday night is the “Truth Seekers,” followed by “3MO.” In a change, Juniata County’s own DJ Calvin will host an evening of dancing fun on Friday evening. Saturday evening starts with the Juniata River Valley Idol auditions, after which will be the local favorite Chris Ruble and his band. Wrapping up on Sunday will be Darin Rex band followed by Chris Pick, who toured with Davey Jones. Part of his show will include a tribute to the Monkees. Throughout the week, enjoy rock wall climbing, temporary tattoos, face painting, pony rides, skate and BMX demos, and Ed will have his trains running. Be-
Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty. Thomas Jefferson
ginning Thursday evening Toodles the Clown will appear, along with balloon sculpting. On Saturday will be a tracking dog demo by Mifflin County Bloodhound Search and Rescue. Saturday and Sunday will feature the “Strolling Jock-U-Lar” including an onstage performance. The popular Kid Karaoke will be featured in the Scooter Pavilion from 2 to 5 pm. On the football field at 3 pm will be an exhibition game. Friday evening will feature a special event, as CPW Pro Wrestling comes to the park. All this and more at the 19th annual Embassy Fair. As always, the schedule, performers, and events are subject to change without notice. Keep up to date on the fair on the Embassy’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/embassyltwn. Hope to see you there! www.embassytheatre.org www.facebook.com/embassyltwn A Memory with a Future, a Future Full of Memories! a
The Kish Valley Historical Society Needs Your Help Many of our old photographs were destroyed in the barn fire last October. Our plan for next year’s historical calendar is to feature old homes of the Valley, but we need your help in providing photos and histories. Do you own an old home or home and farm in the Kishacoquillas Valley ( Airydale to Milroy) that was built prior to 1885? We would like to feature it in our calendar. All you need is a clear older photograph of your home and a brief history. Contact Pattie at 483-6596 or email your photo and history to her at pcruikshank@gmail.com. Thanks so very much for your help.
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The Valley, April 2015
SnowFlakes in Summer by Debra Howe Have you ever wondered what goes on at a Christmas Shop this time of the year? Although you will still find plenty of ornaments, collectible Santas, Byers carolers, nutcrackers and Christmas spirit for those who enjoy adding special items to their collections throughout the year, at Snowflake’s on the Square located on Monument Square in downtown Lewistown, you will also find unique items perfect for gift giving or adding that special touch to your home. It is a Christmas store and so much more. One look at the store windows at Snowflakes and you will see that the Circus has come to town. The store is stuffed full of all things Melissa and Doug, including the circus critters. If you missed Snowflakes’ Spring Circus Event held at the end of March, you can still cash in on the event sale price of 20 percent
off of all Melissa & Doug items if you bring this article in before April 15. “Melissa and Doug toys are both educational and fun,” notes Donna Snook, owner of Snowflake’s on the Square, “and they make great birthday gifts for all those parties your children are invited to.” Better yet, items start at just $4.99. Snowflake’s also offers a M&D loyalty price program for returning customers. The off-season provides an opportunity to visit trade shows and search for new and different merchandise. “I am always looking for unique items and try to keep new things coming in all the time,” said Snook, who encourages shoppers to stop by to
check out the Spring Fairy Garden items just received--fairies, critter guards, butterfly baths and accessories. “I’m really excited about a new product line for Snowflake’s—Ginger Cottages, hand-
crafted in the USA in Virginia,” said Snook. The cleverly designed little cottages are loaded with lots of details and secrets. The village includes a chapel, bakery, toy store, train station, grist mill, covered bridge, country store, wine shop,
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gumdrop shop, elf academy, post office, workshop and others. And of course, no village would be complete without a Christmas shop, and Ginger Cottages has designed a “Snowflake’s on the Square Christmas Shop” that will only be available at Snowflake’s. Snowflakes also has commissioned a special Ginger Cottages ornament “Christmas on the Square, Lewistown, Pennsylvania,” which will feature the Historic Courthouse and the old Montgomery Ward Building that now houses Snowflake’s on the Square. “I love being part of the downtown business community,” said Snook, “and I wanted to have an ornament that showcases this wonderful place.” “We’ve stocked the Snowflake pantry with great soups in a glass bottle which makes a great hostess gift,” said Snook, “and we’ve added a new gourmet popcorn from Virginia Beach, and specialty brownie mixes, dips, soups, and crockpot meals.” Made in the USA soy candles in a variety of wonderful fragrances have
also arrived. Warmer temperatures also mean it’s time for spring cleaning and at Snowflake’s this means tables full of excess merchandise starting at 50 cents to make room for new items. The holiday countdown has not yet begun, however a lot is happening at Snowflake’s on the Square. Follow Snowflake’s on Facebook to stay abreast of new merchandise and special sales including a Christmas in July extravaganza. The holidays will be here before you know it! a
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Liberty Forum 2015 has come and gone. Were YOU “Moved By Liberty”? I certainly was! The event drew a record number of attendees, with more than 550 people enjoying liberty, comfort, and camaraderie at the Radisson in downtown Manchester. Thank you to all who participated! We garnered 44 signers,
and inspired countless movers. You can read my wrap up of the conference here. For me, a personal highlight was “The State of the Free State Project” panel discussion with FSP founder, Jason Sorens, and our treasurer, Séamas Ó Scalaidhe. We discussed the FSP’s financials, the upgraded FSP Ambas-
Liberty Forum Organizing Volunteers, Headed by Lead Organizer Merav Yaakov
sador program, and some of our future projects and plans. We also thanked our “people power” volunteers who dedicated thousands of hours to make Liberty Forum the great success it was, and who worked tirelessly to bring you the latest edition of The Free Stater magazine. Thank you again! Take a look at the slides. As
you will note, despite what our detractors say about receiving Koch funds (we don’t), the FSP runs a very, very tight ship. At our current signer rate, we will Trigger the Move in mid2017 (accelerated by a year under my tenure). Our acquisition cost is approximately $100 per signer, which means we need to raise at least $350,000. The faster we can raise this, the faster we can Trigger the Move by increasing our marketing and outreach, the faster we will see more liberty in New Hampshire, home to the first-in-thenation presidential primary. As a step toward both taking advantage
PorcFest is heating up! Early Bird tickets went on sale at Liberty Forum, and sold out in record time. Prices will keep increasing as availability dwindles. Take advantage of the next tiered price and don’t miss out! To stay up to date, be sure to check out the PorcFest website, Facebook page, join the PFXII group, and RSVP to the event. Based on your feedback, this year the campground has been divided into suggested zones. Please reserve your sites according to your comfort level. Roger’s Campground will start taking site reservations on March 20, 2015, the same day Agora Valley reservations open. a
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of our 501(c)(3) status and involving more non-mover FSP enthusiasts, we now have a $25,000 challenge grant–every dollar up to $25K donated will be matched 1:1 through the rest of 2015. Thank you for giving generously! We are building the Beacon of Liberty in New Hampshire. We are the living, breathing embodiment of the creation of a society in which the maximum role of government is the protection of individuals’ rights to life, liberty, and property. Join us as a participant or friend. Move as soon as
you can. Can’t pledge, but love what we are doing? Please support our efforts. Liberty in Our Lifetime is happening before our very eyes. Don’t miss out! Yours in peace and liberty, Carla Gericke President, Free State Project a