The Valley - September 2015

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Serving Mifflin County and the surrounding area.

The Valley A free newspaper dedicated to agriculture, self-reliance, frugal living, and modern homesteading. Tomorrow’s Media - A Day Early Volume 6, No. 9

The Valley, September 2015

Complimentary

Goose Day Weekend Expands to 5 Days!

by Jenny Barron Landis Looking for money? Some people try lottery tickets, others chase rainbows for the pot of gold, but in the Juniata River Valley, we wait for Sept. 29. That day is St. Michaelmas Day or, more commonly known as Goose Day when restaurants serve goose dinners for those who hope “to never want for money all the year round.” “Saint Michaelmas Day dates back centuries and is celebrated in several European countries, but we can credit a young Englishman for bringing it to Central PA,” explains Jim Tunall, executive director of the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau, headquartered in Lewistown. In 1786, Archibald Hunter had jumped ship while docked with the British fleet in Philadelphia. A chance encounter with a prosperous landowner from Central PA gave the young Archibald the position of tenant farmer overseeing the fertile land. All accounts were to be settled on Sept. 29, at the end of the growing season and it was the traditional day to do so. On that day, Archibald arrived on the landowner’s doorstep with the accounts under one arm and a goose under the other – such was the English tradition. So Goose Day was established in the farmlands of Central PA and continues to this day. And while goose dinners, complete with gravy and mashed potatoes are the

norm, local chefs are coming up Technology, will kick off Saturday a variety of activities including with fresh ways to “eat lucky” on on the Square in Downtown Lewgames, soccer skills, live music, the 29th. Goose noodle soup by istown, after the start of the Goose lots of mascots, and interactive Ohesson Manor and goose panini Day 5K Run. The Fun Fest offers displays. The Mifflin County sandwiches Historical by Taste of Society is the Valley are hosting Team returning this Trivia Sunday year as are afternoon and Goose-tinis they promise made with that knowl(what else?) edge of local Grey Goose history is Vodka. not required. Retail stores Goose are also on Day isn’t only “The List” about eating with holiday and drinking. related proBusinesses, motions like churches, nonGlick’s Shoes’ profits and golden eggs other groups and Kathryn also make & Company’s “The List” of goose pond. special events and activi In adties. There dition to the are Goose lucky goose Day manimeal, other cures at local food prodnail salons, a ucts and their goose colorcompanies ing contest are making for kids and “The List” adults, and the with interestGoose Day ing offerings. Road Rally. The Dutch The Goose Pantry will be Day Fun Fest, sampling their sponsored by limited edition Stained Glass Glory, a new event for Goose Day, will feature stained glass windows gooseberry South Hills of Downtown Lewistown churches and more. The event is sponsored by the Juniata jam on Friday, School of River Valley Visitors Bureau and will be held on Friday, September 25. For more Business & Saturday information, call 717-248-6713

Veritas vos Liberabit

and Tuesday. When you stop out to their store on Commerce Drive, Milroy, ask Scott about the extraordinary efforts that were made to procure the ten quarts of berries he needed. Juniata Valley Winery is holding a raffle for a gift package including a night’s stay in their B&B, The Wilson House, and of course some wine. And Dunkin Donuts is devising a follow-up to last year’s specialty donut. Their delicious treats will be available at both the Lewistown and Burnham stores. The Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau is also on the list with a new event that highlights a collection of public art that most people probably take for granted. Stained Glass Glory will feature the windows of all of the Downtown Lewistown houses of worship along with several “bonus” windows. The $5 ticket will give participants a brief tutorial by Ray Pilarski about how stained glass windows are created. It also includes a booklet on the histories of the windows and a map for the self-guided tour. Tickets are available from the JRV Visitors Bureau, 717-248-6713. And, if you can’t get out of your house Goose Day Weekend, download “Goose Day Shuffle,” and strut your stuff! The shuffle is an original song written by Dave Landis and recorded at Market Street Studio. Two versions can be found on YouTube. Find the

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The Valley, September 2015

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Editor’s Corner Wayne Stottlar Today, a childhood dream came to reality. My first real tractor was delivered to the house. I was 12 when the desire to have a tractor first took hold of me. Life as a farmer was not to be, however, and the desire for a big Red tractor was pushed back into the shadows where most desires whither and fade away. Still though, each time I saw one alongside the road for sale, I would stop and quickly figure out that the specimen in front of me was beat to death, or the owner was a lot more proud of it than I was willing to pay. Year after year would pass with nothing fitting the bill, until that is, two weeks ago. I was on my way over to New Columbia to get bee supplies at Brushy Mountain Bee Farm since we have done well collect-

ing swarms, and I was critically low on frames. Anyway, I was barreling down 522 toward Middleburg and saw what looked to be a beautiful Farmall along side the road. I only saw it for a split second and made a mental note to stop on the way back. Well, at my age, mental notes have a habit of disappearing all by themselves and reappearing when it is too late to use the note—like when you are flying by the tractor again with a truck on tailing your rear bumper. Oh well, guess it wasn’t to be—looked too nice anyway, probably out of our price range—yeah, forget about it, until Lynn got home and I mentioned it to her. She had been wanting to go out to Iddo Hostetler’s Hillside Orchard for peaches to can, and

both are in McClure, two birds and all that. So within minutes we were heading back down 522 towards McClure. We were looking it over and the owner came out and answered a bunch of questions and it was obvious he had a passion for this machine as he had just spent all of his free time meticulously restoring this beauty. We talked for a few minutes and said goodbye and headed for the peach orchard. I could tell that Lynn liked it too and while the miles passed and we talked, we had ourselves sold by the time we arrived back home and I called Nathan back and told him we wanted it and would be out with a deposit the next day until money could be moved around. Good thing we did. In the time that passed until we got back there, several people had stopped. Things happen for a reason. All went well and we paid Nathan for the tractor a few days later, and he delivered it the next day. Now the quest for attachments begins, and some that we want are hard to find. Oh well, we have time. Since the tractor looks so good, any attachments we find would need restoration, and I know a paint guy (Lynn’s Dad is a retired auto body guy and needs things to do), so the

hunt starts. Summer is almost over and we are happy to report ZERO fleas or ticks on Elwood and Murphy since we had Swarey’s TLC Yard Service start treating our yard for fleas and ticks. His service is all organic, no poisons involved, on the lawn or on the dogs—they are happy and so are we! Give Job a call and get on the list for next season, keeping your yard free of fleas and ticks is easy and Lynn was an ally for sure on this purchase, I am not very affordable! sure who was more excited about it. Nice to have a If any of you partner who enjoys practical items and shares the are still getting same dream your news from for you? Networks don’t even television, no matter which broadcast, how is Continued on page 19 that programming working out

I pledge to uphold our gun rights!

Lisa Nancollas for County Commissioner!

Paid for by Lisa Nancollas for County Commissioner and The Citizens for Honesty and Integrity for Local Government.

Call or visit today!

866-935-5858

Contact Info Editor/Publisher Wayne Stottlar Graphic Artist/ Co-Publisher Lynn Persing

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Associate Editor Colleen Swetland The Valley PO Box 41 Yeagertown, PA 17099 (717) 363-1550 E-mail: thevalleynewspaper@gmail.com Web: www.thevalleynewspaper.com ©The Valley. All Rights Reserved.

“Fair & Balanced” means Spin gets Equal Time

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The Valley, September 2015

Incumbent Commissioner Defends His Record by Mark Sunderland Misleading and incorrect information has ruled the day when it comes to the 2015 Mifflin County Commissioner race. Instead of simply promoting their own candidacy and announcing their plans for the office should they be elected in November, challenger candidates have combined to spend well over $40,000 (so far!) in order to distort the favorable records of the incumbents. So, in other words, the challengers have been concentrating on fabricating reasons for voters to vote AGAINST the incumbents instead of providing tangible reasons why voters should vote FOR the newcomers. The main thrust of the “material” used in the Primary election season centered on the meeting attendance records of Commissioner Riden and me, along with the salary increases which were approved for all elected officials for the years 2016-2019. First, it’s very important to understand that boards like the Mifflin County Hospital Authority and Mifflin County Planning Commission are boards that feature no commissioner members. In fact, it is the duty of the Board of Commissioners to APPOINT members to these governing bodies – not serve on the boards themselves. The Hospital Authority and Planning Commission recommend board members to the commissioners for approval, and the commissioners then take action in a public meeting. It’s true that my attendance at the Mifflin County Hospital Authority meetings is zero percent, because I have never been a member of that board. The second governing board cited by the challengers, the Mifflin County Planning Commission, is another example of a board which contains no commissioner members. Again, the Board of Commissioners receives recommendations from the Planning Commission and then APPOINTS citizens to serve on the board. It’s certainly worth noting that the board of commissioners is OVER the County Planning Department, and Planning Director Bill Gomes regularly goes over ALL Planning Commission recommendations and findings with all three commissioners. Other activities outside the direct

scope of the Planning Commission – actions dealing directly with the Planning Department – are also delivered to ALL THREE commissioners on a regular basis. The Planning Department does an admirable job keeping the commissioners informed on all county planning efforts. It’s critically important to note that all three of your Mifflin County commissioners serve as active board members on many area boards. The clear distinction that must be made is there are other boards where the commissioners APPOINT board members instead of serving on the board itself. Not having membership on a board certainly does not preclude commissioners from attending meetings of these other boards, but there’s a big difference between being a seated board member and being just an observer. As for the second point of contention, the salaries of elected officials, I would like to add some clarity to this area as well – though former commissioner Murray Laite did an excellent job in his letter published in The Sentinel and County Observer and I will repeat many of the same points. The challengers’ gigantic distortion campaign (radio, mailers, and newspaper ads) hammered home a so-called “huge 15% pay raise the current commissioners voted for themselves.” Right out of the gate, everyone needs to realize that commissioners are not permitted to “vote themselves” a raise. County Code requires the county commissioners to establish the salaries of all elected county officials -- the Treasurer, Prothonotary, Register and Recorder, Sheriff, Coroner, the County Auditors, and the Commissioners. The previous Board of Commissioners (serving from 20082011) decided the rates of pay for the time period covering 20122015. It was then incumbent on the CURRENT board to set the salaries for 2016-2019. So, no current county commissioner will receive any of the approved elected official raise unless they are in office at the start of 2016. Another important point set forth in County Code establishes that no new salary schedule shall be adopted in a calendar year in

which the county commissioners are to be elected. The current Board of Commissioners scheduled and conducted a special public meeting on December 11, 2013 in order to set the salary schedule for 2016-2019. County Code also contains the following key provision: “Any salary increase shall be on a percentage basis and applied equally to all county officials except that the county may provide a greater percentage to the lowest paid county official other than the county auditors.” Thus, the current commissioners were responsible for establishing the salaries for ALL elected officials for the 2016-2019 timeframe. In addition, any increases had to be on a percentage basis and applicable across the board. The commissioners could not provide one percentage to one elected official and then a different percentage to another official. Citizens should know that the current commissioners conducted a thorough examination of the salary history for the elected officials, and listened to public input, before arriving at a decision for the 2016-2019 timeframe. Mifflin County’s elected officials have gone eight years without an increase and during that time period salaries have dropped to last place among all 24 sixth class counties in Pennsylvania. As the elected officials’ salaries have remained constant since 2007, the county’s union employees have seen an increase of 21%. Another 3% increase will occur next year, which is the final year of the current union collective bargaining agreements. Your elected officials are in their positions to do a quality job for the citizens and not just for a paycheck, but rising costs of goods and services hit them personally, too. At the special, advertised meeting held to consider and set the 2016-2019 salaries, the commissioners asked for public opinion as to a fair or appropriate increase given the salary history. Despite having audience members suggest increases of totaling 25.5% and 30% for the four-year period covering 20162019, the current commissioners decided to approve a four-year increase that totaled a more conservative 15%. When one takes that 15% and spreads it over the 12-year time span of 2008-2019, the raise averages 1.25% per year. Another point slammed home with the advertising done during the recent campaign said the commissioners “Voted themselves a

The Truth Has No Agenda

huge 15% pay raise while YOUR TAXES INCREASED.” This is simply false. Remember, the salary increases approved at the December 11, 2013 meeting do not take effect until 2016. In addition, since that vote the commissioners approved budgets for 2014 and 2015 which featured NO TAX INCREASES. In addition, the current commissioners have indicated they will not pass a 2016 budget if it contains a tax increase. There has been just one tax increase at the county level in the last decade. Though I haven’t seen any mailers or ads on this topic yet, another rumor allegedly making the rounds says the commissioners have a “second set of books” they are keeping, and that other money is available that doesn’t appear on their financial statements. I believe our former insurance consortium explains this ridiculous, erroneous rumor. Mifflin County was a member of the Pennsylvania County Health Insurance Purchasing Cooperative (PCHIPC) from January, 2008 through December, 2013. The county paid a fixed maximum premium amount each month to fund their health insurance claims. Money left in the claim fund at the end of each year can be returned to the member county. Each member of PCHIPC

has the option of receiving any surplus funds in the form of a check, keeping the money in a rate stabilization fund to offset future invoices, or a combination of both. Like MANY other counties, our county chose to keep our surplus funds in a rate stabilization fund and used that money to offset their claims invoice each month. On a couple occasions, our fund balance was high enough that we did not pay our monthly benefit premium, and instead had PCHIPC pay our premium with the money from the stabilization fund. So, there was no “second set of books” in play. The commissioners managed the PCHIPC money in a manner which was advantageous for our county. When the amount in the stabilization fund became high, the commissioners basically said, “That’s our county’s money. We aren’t paying our premium this month. Take the amount of the premium out of our fund balance.” In closing, your current county commissioners remain committed to providing quality representation for all of Mifflin County’s citizens, and we thank you for your support. Sincerely, Mark Sunderland 717-667-3564 717-363-0027


The Valley, September 2015

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Do you believe that adults have the right to make their own decisions about their own lives? Do you want to live in a place where adults are treated as adults? Where people take responsibility for their own actions, lives, and dealings with others? Where community is genuine and volun-

tary? Where your rights are fully respected, provided only that you equally respect the rights of others? If you answered “yes” to these questions, then the Free State Project has a proposition for you. What the Free State Project is

The Free State Project is an effort to recruit 20,000 libertyloving people to move to New Hampshire. We are looking for neighborly, productive, tolerant folks from any and all walks of life, of all ages, creeds, and colors, who agree to the political philosophy expressed in our Statement

of Intent, that government exists at most to protect people’s rights, and should neither provide for people nor punish them for activities that interfere with no one else. Statement of Intent: “I hereby state my solemn intent to move to the State of New Hampshire. Once there, I will exert the fullest practical effort toward the creation of a society in which the maximum role of government is the protection of individuals’ rights to life, liberty, and property.” Anyone who promotes violence, racial hatred, or bigotry is not welcome. When you sign our Statement of Intent, you signal your com-

mitment to move to the state that the Free State Project has chosen to build freedom in, New Hampshire, within five years of obtaining 19,999 other people who commit to move. The more signatures we get, the more secure people can be in their decision to move, because they know that

Continued on page 30

Steve

Nancollas & Dunkle Lisa

Republican Candidates for County Commissioner Job creation is our number one priority • We need more quality jobs with benefits • Additional jobs will keep more of our children/grandchildren here at home

Cut wasteful spending • County bills must be paid on time. We are loosing money paid on late fees.

Clean and Green - We strongly support! • We need to preserve farmland and open space

Support 2nd Amendment Rights - We oppose gun control We will donate the PAY RAISE approved by the current commissioners to local charities such as volunteer fire companies, food banks, youth groups including sports teams, scouts and others. Paid for by Lisa Nancollas for County Commissioner and The Citizens for Honesty and Integrity in Local Government

Paid for by Steve Dunkle for County Commissioner and people for fair and responsible government.

“Fair & Balanced” means Spin gets Equal Time


The Valley, September 2015

Supports Clean & Green!

Steve Dunkle For County Commissioner

Paid for by Steve Dunkle for County Commissioner and People for Fair and Responsilble Government.

I pledge to keep taxes low with responsible spending!

Lisa Nancollas for County Commissioner! Paid for by Lisa Nancollas for County Commissioner and The Citizens for Honesty and Integrity for Local Government.

The Truth Has No Agenda

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The Valley, September 2015

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Encouragement from the Book of Revelation

October 24, 2015 7:00 PM A s pecial presentation of:

GOLDEN EAGLE MIGRATION

by Pastor J. C. Reese A pastor and a priest were standing alongside a road holding up signs saying “The End is Near.” A motorist drove by and yelled at them calling them both fanatics. Shortly thereafter they heard the squeal of his brakes and a big splash. The pastor turned to the priest and said, “Maybe we should change our signs to say “Bridge Out Ahead!” All kidding aside, the end is near. Soon the Day of the Lord will be here and God will step out from behind the curtain to say “Enough is Enough” and all evil will be eliminated! In Revelation 20:7-15 what is clearly seen that should be of great encouragement to us now is that in this time ALL evil will be ended and all evildoers will be judged. As John starts to end this chapter, we find in vs. 7 that Satan has now been loosed from his millennium long imprisonment in the “bottomless pit” to “deceive the nations” (vs 8). “Loosed” is a passive idea in the original language implying that though Satan is powerful, he is still no match for Almighty God! Apply that to your everyday life. Sin and evildoers may exert some measure of power and influence in this old world, but the reality is, they are and will always be “paper tigers” by comparison to God and those who would simply follow His Word. If you have been truly saved by asking Jesus to forgive you for being a sinner and to also be your Savior, you have His Spirit within Who can strengthen you over any temptation. Ask for His help each day. You have His Word that will fortify your mind and trump the fleshly ideas and feelings and build in you a stronger desire to do right than wrong! So Satan goes to fool “Gog & Magog” to do battle against the Lord and us who serve Him. The term Gog & Magog refers to those opposed to the Lord at this time and their number will be vast, which all the more highlights Jesus’ power when they instantly die at His appearing! They surround Jerusalem but heaven exacts a simple and effective “scorched earth policy” and they are defeated: “. . . fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.” And it’s here Satan meets his final and eternal demise as the Lord throws him into the lake of fire. Imagine

a world without Satan and his evil influence?! Immediately after this, John witnesses another surreal scene in which the unsaved dead are finally dealt with. It’s called the “Great White Throne Judgment” and John sees God the Father sitting on a massive shining throne meting out justice to those who have ignored and refused His free gift of salvation in their lifetimes. The imagery here is astounding as it says the very heaven and earth have fled away and “there was found no place for them.” I recall teaching about this in a Sunday School at our church years ago and a man who was there for the first time sat gripping the seat in front of him, his knuckles white with fright. He believed this would happen and to him unless he received Jesus as his Savior. Thankfully he did that Sunday and the fear was gone and replaced by a peace in knowing such a judgment was no longer for him. What about you though? Have you accepted Christ yet? Don’t delay or there will be no place found for you! Accept Him and a mansion in glory awaits with your name on it!! As the judgment begins, records or “books” are opened and one is called the “Book of Life.” It is this book to which all the saved are registered therein and so to these at this time there is no indication their names are in it and so they are then banished forever in that same lake of fire prepared for Satan and his demons. Sad for those who turned their back on the greatest gift, but encouraging for those who did not! You may never have your name engraved on some monument, but if you receive Jesus as you Savior, your name is indelibly written in the Book of Life! So, the next time evil bums you out—whether it’s the world with all its wicked shenanigans, or the sin nature in you giving you fits, remember we are drawing closer to the end and friend, it’s gonna be a HAPPY end too if you have accepted Him!!! Join us Sunday mornings at 10:45 at the LOG CABIN church one mile west of Potters Mills at the intersection of Rt 322 & Mountainback Rd. Our website is nittanybaptist.org a

and OVER-­WINTERING on JACKS & STONE MOUNTAINS

Dr. Trish Miller will present her on-­‐going & extensive research of real-­‐time golden eagle migration patterns over the ridges of Mifflin County via cellular telemetry mapping

At Calvary Bible Church in Lewistown, PA (100 Calvary Lane, Lewistown, Pa – just off Burnham Exit of Rt. 322)

Arrive early to see Jon Kauffman of Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center give a live golden eagle presentation at 6:15 and 6:30 PM At the end of the program, Laura Jackson, President of Save Our Allegheny Ridges (SOAR) will give a brief update concerning the remaining Wind Turbine Project proposed for Jacks Mountain. Contact Cindy @ 717-­‐935-­‐0164 for more information

Next Issue of The Valley: October 7th

“Fair & Balanced” means Spin gets Equal Time


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The Valley, September 2015 in the value of their money! This has hurt the “US Dollar” (by making it much stronger, and further hurting the export business of our Multi-National Corporations) and severely rattled our equity markets. Sadly, 8% will do very little to help the Chinese, and it is widely expected that their cur-

Dave Wilson

Coins, Precious Metal and a Little of this and That

rency devaluations will continue until they reach between 35-to40%! If a mere 8% drop in the value of China’s “Yuan” can cause the panic we have seen thus far, just imagine what will happen if they devalue another 30+%!! a

2008 Is Happening Again But THIS Time, The Cavalry Can’t Save us! Nobody can truly predict the future, and those that try, too frequently wind up with a nasty case of egg-face. That said, it is amazing that so many people seem anxious to make such prognostications, especially about the direction of the US Economy. Usually, there are at least two, sometimes three, camps making predictions, that are typically on opposite sides of the fence. With three, there are those on each side of the fence (with completely different opinions), and another group sitting on the fence, unwilling to be definitive about their economic expectations. Rarely, is there a time when nearly everyone is of a similar mindset, regarding our country’s economic future. Unfortunately, this, right now, is a time when nearly all economic analysts are pretty much crowded into the same corner.

The US Economy is in serious trouble. The “Recovery” we have been hearing about (for nearly 7 years) has never materialized, and the US is quickly heading into a terrible (possibly prolonged) period of InflationaryDepression. A similar scenario presented itself in 2008 when then Treasury Secretary Henry (Hank) Paulson, Jr., panicked the US legislature into passing TARP (the Tangible Asset Relief Program), which was signed into law on October 3rd by George W. Bush. This (quicklyinstituted) program was deemed necessary to keep the entire world economy from immediate collapse, and required nearly a halftrillion dollars (in newly created cash) for the purpose of addressing the Subprime Mortgage crisis. While that quick infusion of new cash, and lowering of interest rates to near zero did stave off

the worst case scenario, it set the stage for what is happening at this very moment. Comments from several Central Bankers (in the past 18 months) have indicated that if any such financial crisis were to happen again, there would now be very little that could be done to unwind such a new, even more serious economic disaster. The Federal Reserve can’t lower short term rates, as they are already almost zero, and any such intense money-printing campaign, as was utilized in 2008, would certainly cause massive hyper-inflation. In other words, as we suggested in this article’s title, the cavalry can’t ride to our rescue this time, and our economy could experience a terrible collapse! With the US Stock market experiencing a strong “correction” as this article is being written, nearly every analyst out there is jumping on the “this is the big one” band wagon. China got the ball rolling with three currency devaluations, equaling an 8% drop

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Call or visit today!

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www.TheStewardshipGroup.org

The Truth Has No Agenda


The Valley, September 2015

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Back Talk by Dr. Joseph Kauffman

The Insurance Scam I have had many people ask me, “Why are you getting out of taking insurances?” The answer is simple: they suck! The insurance scam is a nightmare and we are tired of dealing with and being controlled by them. We see the insurance industry from two different sides, from the provider aspect and from the consumer aspect. And, from both perspectives, it is a nightmare and it will not get better in the future. Speaking as a consumer, I felt penalized for having insurance. Due to snoring, I had to have a sleep study done to determine whether or not I had sleep apnea. The insurance plan I had at the time had a $2500 deductible. Being self-employed, I had to buy my own insurance for my family. Have you ever seen the premiums for having

a family insurance plan being self-employed? I was paying approximately $900 per month just to have health insurance coverage. That was for a plan that carried a $2500 deductible and a 20% coinsurance and a $25 copay to see my medical doctor and a $50 copay to see a specialist. In order to get tested for apnea, I had to see a sleep specialist, which carried the $50 copay. When I received the bill for the sleep study, I was shocked to find that the bill was $1600. And, because my insurance plan had a $2500 deductible, $0 was paid. Nothing! So, upon going to the billing department, I learned that I had to pay out of pocket. Then, I asked what the cash price would have been. The lady said $900. So, I said, “Ok. I’ll pay that.” She said we cannot

give you that price because you have a high-deductible health plan. We have to charge you what we would charge the insurance company. I told her I wanted the cash price. She reiterated that the cash price is only for those who do not have insurance. I told her that until my deductible is met that essentially I was a cash patient. She said that I was not because I had insurance. So, I had to pay the full $1600 out of pocket, which had to be applied to the deductible. Taking that I had to pay almost $10,800 per year just for the premiums, and learning that because I did pay that amount and I had an insurance plan and now had to pay $700 more than I would have had to pay if I did not have an insurance plan at all, I was very frustrated and angry!

Looking at that example, I had to pay a total of $12,400 using just that example of my sleep study, when you add up what I paid for the year in premiums plus the $1600 for the study. However, if I opted to not carry insurance, that would save the monthly premium of $900 and I would have only been charged $900 for the sleep study. Which is cheaper? $12,400 with insurance or $900 without? Hmmm. On the provider aspect, we have to fight with the insurance companies to get paid for just about everything we bill out. Insurance companies like to step in and control how often I can see patients and for how long. Utilizing one of the biggest plans in our state, we must first get authorization from the insurance companies in order to see a patient for the amount of visits desired. I have to fight with them to get visits approved! Insurance companies only want to pay for acute pain and not to maintain wellness or to prevent future issues. The time spent fighting with insurance companies, re-billing “lost” claims, and waiting for payments could be much more easily utilized treating patients. Cash is king. If we scrapped the insur-

“Fair & Balanced” means Spin gets Equal Time

ance industry, it would not cost an arm and a leg to go to the hospital or to get a Band-Aid, or to have to ride in the ambulance. And, when the medical facility has to bill the patient what they bill the insurance company, per the rules of insurance, it becomes a scam. Here is a medical doctor’s story of why she is fed up: Dear 3rd party player! I’ve had it, and I’m not taking it sitting down anymore! Appeal this! Posted on August 27, 2015 This morning I operated on my patients; this afternoon I’m fighting the denials from their insurance companies for their care. I am exasperated, but when the patients and I just get fed up and give in (the patient just pays for it or the physician writes off the bill), the insurance companies win, profit, and redouble their efforts. I am looking forward to 10/01/2015 when I am liberated from this government-run, third party-controlled healthcare mess and practice under a new alternate model where my patients and I freely engage in a patient-doctor relationship, and I serve them first to the best of my ability with

Continued on page 19


The Valley, September 2015 spend more than 5 or 10 minutes. She has two floors of unique items to peruse and you’ll want to spend some time looking at everything! Bushmen@Home is located at 1537 Loop Rd. in Lewistown with a second location at Toot’s Place in Reedsville. See ad on page 18. a

Gingersnap Jewelry at Bushmen@Home I’m dedicating my space this month to an article about a unique line of jewelry that you can find at Bushmen@ Home in Lewistown. Bushmen@ Home owner, Jeannie Bush, tells you all about it in the prose that follows. GingerSnap is the name— Switching up jewelry is the game. Females of all ages love this new line to my shop. It is called GingerSnap and it allows you to build different looks in a “snap.” If you have a bracelet, necklace, ring or even boot wraps in this line, you can change the look you want for that day or evening by changing out the “snaps.” You essentially design your own look that tells a statement about YOU. There are two sizes, petite and the original snap, and they do look great worn together—layer-

ing is a big trend right now. You can go with the bling look or a more country look, as we have silver and brass polishes in many designs—the choice is yours. They are so affordable to build; this is what makes them so much fun! Petite snaps run $6.95 a snap and the original sizes run $7.95 a snap. Ginger Snaps make a great gift to give a new bride, mother, daughter, co-worker, or a friend. When you buy your first piece, you will get excited to share them with people you know. So come on in and take a look—we are more than Landscaping-we are a gifts shop for the home and you. First place you will think of—Last place you will need to go.

Gingersnaps jewelry is a unique way to get a different look no matter what your style or desire. The pieces come in two sizes, Petite or Original—wear them together or separate.

If you’ve never been to Bushmen@Home, you are in for a treat. Jeannie’s store is packed full of unique decor for your home and gifts for loved ones or friends. It’s impossible to get out of there without buying something! Be sure to go when you have some free time, because you’ll want to

The Truth Has No Agenda

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The Valley, September 2015

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I am so excited to have the opportunity to share what I have been learning on Essential Oils! I am hoping some of you are finding the information as interesting as I am. This month I am going to share some tips on buying your Essential Oils (EOs). If you have searched the Internet or been approached by a distributor to purchase EOs: you will probably be able to testify that there is A LOT of competition out there for your business! I know at the closing of last month’s article I said I was also going to cover safety and how Essential Oils can work with the immune system. WELL…. this would have been a five page article. So, I decided to break it down. A lot of the information I share with you today comes from the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy. This organization is a member based non-profit association devoted to the holistic integration and education of aromatherapy into a wide range of complementary healthcare practices including self care and home pharmacy. Key word: NON PROFIT! They have a great website: www.naha.org. Another

great place to learn more is a website called AromaWeb. The site is vast! It contains so much information it is mind boggling. They do not sell EOs, but there are a lot of companies advertising to sell on the website’s side bars. Here are just a few topics on AromaWeb’s site: How to shop for oils, Deeper detail into the misleading grading and certification of EOs, Aromatherapy applications, Blending, Safety, Storage, and my favorite: Essential Oil profiles. Here are some tips I have come up with to help you with purchasing your EOs. • True essential oils are very expensive to produce, and many companies in the industry take shortcuts to save on costs. Some companies will cut their essential oils with much cheaper carrier oils (i.e.: sweet almond oil, olive oil, sunflower oil) in order to sell them at a huge profit. You must read the label to make sure it says 100% pure and does not have an added oil. Do not buy if the oil is termed “fragrance oil,” “nature identical oil,” or “perfume oil.” • Also, there is A LOT of competition out there and some companies are actually making

very misleading claims to be selling Therapeutic “grade” or “certified” Essential Oils. Be cautious of suppliers who sell EOs as being certified or graded, whether that be therapeutic grade, aromatherapy grade, or grade A (funny: I have NEVER seen a grade B, C, D, etc for sale!) There is NO governmental regulating body that grades or certifies EOs. NONE! I have done so much reading on reputable websites and you can do the same. Just do a search on the Internet. Does this mean there is no such thing as therapeutic grade? No, but just realize that any therapeutic grade standard out there right now is an internally derived company standard. So… the company that is selling the oil comes up with its own grading system. • Do not buy EOs that are sold in clear glass or plastic containers. Some very reputable companies will sell in plastic for shipping purposes, especially when shipping large quantities. Oils should be stored in dark colored glass, as sunlight can damage and plastic can be broken down. Also, do

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The Valley, September 2015

G A P S Gut and Psycology Syndrome

by Merry Matakonis

GAPS - what is it? Learn about the condition which is behind many mental and physical problems, which our children and adults suffer from, such as autism, hyperactivity and attention deficit, dyslexia, dyspraxia, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders and more. Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAP Syndrome or GAPS) is a condition, which establishes a connection between the functions of the digestive system and the brain. This term was created by Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD, MMedSci (neurology), MMedSci (human nutrition) in 2004 after working with hundreds of children and adults with neurological and psychiatric conditions, such as

autistic spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD/ADD), schizophrenia, dyslexia, dyspraxia, depression, obsessive –compulsive disorder, bi-polar disorder and other neuropsychological and psychiatric problems. Gut flora is something we do not think much about. And yet the number of functions the gut flora fulfils is so vital for us that if some day our digestive tract got sterilized we probably would not survive. The first and very important function is appropriate digestion and absorption of food. If a child does not acquire normal balanced gut flora, then the child will not digest and absorb foods properly, developing multiple nutritional deficiencies. And that is what we commonly see in children and adults with learning dis-

abilities, psychiatric problems and allergies. Many of these patients are malnourished. Even in the case where the child may grow well, testing reveals some typical nutritional deficiencies in many important minerals, vitamins, essential fats, many amino-acids and other nutrients. Apart from taking a direct part in nourishing the body, beneficial bacteria in the gut act as the housekeepers for the digestive tract. They coat the entire surface of the gut protecting it from invaders and toxins by providing a natural barrier and producing a lot of anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal substances. At the same time they provide the gut lining with nourishment. It is estimated that 60 – 70% of energy the gut lining derives, is from the activity of bacteria, which live on

PACleanways of Mifflin County Keep PA Beautiful Volunteers worked tirelessly to finish cleaning up the area we cleaned last year. I want to thank the Granville Fire Company firemen, The Lewistown Elks Club and all our volunteers. I would also like to thank Steve Byler for allowing us an area to pull everything out of the river to be properly disposed of and Downtown OIP for their support throughout the year. This year, our 29 volunteers removed 284 tires and three bags of trash to completely finish this area. A lot of what we were cleaning was tires and trash that came down river from previous floods. The new flood plain ordinances that all the townships in Mifflin County have adopted, will help to end a lot of flood debris. Residents along the river can help by letting law enforcement know when they see someone throwing trash or tires in the river.

prise out of Liverpool. Disposal rates will vary by size of tire from $1.00 to $10.00. There will be an added charge of $15.00 for any oversize tires that are over 4 feet tall. This is an affordable way for residents to get rid of those unwanted tires that may be laying around your garage or property. Once again this year, we are competing against Huntingdon, Juniata and Perry County affiliates to see who wins the gold rim award for collecting the most tires. We will be planning an International Coastal Cleanup at our September meeting. You can

go online to the KPB (Keep PA Beautiful) website and check on events and go to your county to see what we are doing. News from KPB I am including parts from our latest KPB online newsletter. If you would like to receive that newsletter, you can contact them at www.keeppennsylvaniabeautiful.org. This newsletter will include news and notes about national, statewide and local community improvement efforts you can plug into, program and event announcements, and of course, grants and awards. If you click on

Tire Recycle Challenge 2014 We will hold our annual tire recycle on Saturday September 19 at the Lewistown Borough Public Works Facility at 207 Washington Avenue. Volunteers will be there from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm to load resident’s tires on the trailer supplied by Mahantango Enter-

it. So, it is no surprise that when the gut flora is abnormal the digestive tract itself cannot be healthy. Indeed most children and adults with learning disabilities, psychiatric disorders and allergies have digestive problems. Did your child have normal development in the first year of life, and then in the second year became autistic, hyperactive, defiant, oppositional, aggressive, obsessive, compulsive or developed other abnormal behaviors? events, you can see what the Mifflin Affiliate is doing and you can help. As the state affiliate, KPB aims to be the premier source for grassroots community improvement resources and their newsletter will enable them to reach more people and more organizations all working together to achieve our shared vision – a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania. Mike Rowe, the host of Dirty Jobs, recently raised a good question – one that we couldn’t agree with more. “How can we expect people to care about their carbon footprint when they don’t even know what they’re walking on? How relevant is global warming to a people who will throw their crap out the window?” Well said Mr. Rowe – well said. Keep America Beautiful is all about behavior change, including getting people to stop “throwing their crap out the window,” but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a role for community stewardship as well. Clean and beautiful communities aren’t built in a day and bad behavior doesn’t change overnight. KPB and their local affiliates are in it for the long haul — we hope you are too! Thanks to all those who take pride in their community by keeping it clean throughout the year. It takes a village and we invite you to join our effort. Pam Sechrist Affiliate Coordinator a

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Did your baby suffer from colic, loose stools, constipation, eczema, asthma, ear infections or chest infections treated with antibiotics? Did you or your child have digestive problems and allergies, was a fussy eater, then in late teens become anorexic or bulimic? Did you or your child suffer from tummy aches, dyslexia, dyspraxia, was anemic or vegetarian, and then developed psychotic episodes and was diagnosed with schizophrenia? Did you or your child have urinary infections or acne, treated with numerous courses of antibiotics, and then developed bloating, abdominal pain and was diagnosed with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)? There are many more conditions listed on www.gaps.me if you want to learn more. I am a Certified Gaps Practitioner and will begin group GAPS meetings in my office in Centre Hall. Call for details. (814) 933-9149 If any of these situations apply to you or your family then you have come to the right place! You need to learn about GUT AND PSYCHOLOGY SYNDROME a


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SEARCH HOMES FROM YOUR COUCH! by Kim Rickert Everyone knows that the first step in a home search these days is to jump on the internet via your PC, tablet or phone and search for homes in the target area. The National Association of REALTORS statistics say that over 85% of consumers get their first impression of a home from an Internet search. With this in mind, sellers as well as buyers, are well aware of the importance of a good real estate website presence for their listings. It should be easy to find and work well on both a computer screen and a mobile device. It should have reliable information on listings but also provide helpful information about the neighborhoods and area. And most importantly the website should have comprehensive search fields that can be customized to the needs of the buyers. After several previous website providers, Stone Arch Real Estate has now partnered with Placester.com to create our new office website that will be a more thorough search experience for buyers. Consumers will find us at the same address: www. stonearchrealestate.com. One of the new features of the website is our IDX feed which allows the

searcher to see all properties that are listed in Mifflin County thru the CCAR MLS. This gives a wider selection of listings, including those listed by Centre County agencies as well as most local agencies. A custom search allows the buyer to search by city, price, etc, and to save that search after registering on the website. You can also search just Our Office Listings if you want to see only Stone Arch listings. Once you find a photo of a home you like, just click on the photo for more info including property details, photos and map of the area. You can enter info into the mortgage calculator to get an idea of the monthly costs for mortgage and taxes, too. Besides just being a search site, we have included other interesting resources such as our neighborhood descriptions. If you are new to the area, this can be a great resource as well as our article on Moving to a New Area which explains how a local Realtor helps you find a home from long distance,while looking out for your best interests. Just starting out your quest for a new house and not sure what your priorities are? Look under the Buyers tab and print out the

Buyers Questionnaire. Then call one of our professional Realtors and set up an appointment to discuss your needs and get advise on homes that may suit your needs. Sellers can find helpful information on the website, too, including tips to prepare your home for sale. Reviews are important to today’s consumers when it comes to finding a great restaurant, a hotel or a car. Why not check out our testimonials from our clients and find out why so many buyers and sellers choose Stone Arch Real Estate’s professionals to help them meet their real estate needs. Whether you are a first time buyer, moving to a new area, or selling the home you have owned for 40 years we can help by taking you through each step and making the process as stress-free as possible In our efforts to be visible on social media, we also maintain a Facebook page and Twitter account which have daily updates on new listings and open houses. Check us out at Stone Arch Real Estate on Facebook, and StoneArchRE on Twitter. As we continue to add features to our website our hope is to

become your “go to” website for accurate local real estate information. Check us out today and drop

us a note to tell us what you think! www. StoneArchReal Estate.com a

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The Valley, September 2015

Understanding the Constitution by David Molek

Radical Supreme Court Decisions Our Constitution is being obliterated. Our life is being transformed into a socialist agenda. We have overreaching, arrogant, socialist policies. It appears to be time to take back our nation and its economy for ourselves and our children. There have been two recent Supreme Court decisions in which a prejudiced majority attempted a death blow to the self-evident truths of our Declaration of Independence. In our Declaration, it cites the authority of “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God,” and the will and judgment of the Creator and Judge of all the world, as the basis for the claim of sovereignty. These two cases are the King v. Burwell decision on Obamacare and the Obergefell decision on same-sex marriage. The King

ruling said the federal government was authorized to provide subsidies for individuals whose states did not establish health care exchanges under the terms of the so-called Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). The court essentially rewrote the law. No judge or judges have the power to rewrite the law. This is an obvious unconstitutional power grab every bit as unlawful as Obama’s rewrite of Obamacare. None of these justices have the constitutional power to rewrite major components of Obamacare in order to “save it.” Congress writes and rewrites laws and courts interpret laws. This is a clear case of Supreme Court justices disregarding explicit federal statutes in favor of their own policy choices. It was Justice Roberts who helped rewrite Obamacare the first

time around, making a penalty into a tax and, for the first time in history, allowing the American government to coerce every citizen into buying a product as part of its power to regulate commerce. Obamacare requires the creation of an “exchange” in each state which is essentially a marketplace that allows people to compare and purchase insurance plans. The law gives each state the opportunity to establish its own exchange, but provide that the federal government will establish “such exchange” if the state does not. Tax credits are allowed for people who are enrolled in an insurance plan established by a state exchange. 4 people who live in Virginia did not want to purchase insurance. Virginia has no state exchange and uses the federal

exchange. Therefore, they are not entitled to tax credits, which is exactly what the law says. However, the Supreme Court decided the tax credits are available to people in states that have a federal exchange. The plain meaning of the law is obvious. But our Supreme Court just ignored it and decided otherwise. They say the law’s context and structure compel their conclusion “to avoid the type of calamitous result that Congress plainly meant to avoid.” This court holding decides that when the ACA says “exchange established by the state,” it really means “exchange established by the state or the federal government.” This is absurd. Words still do have meaning under all the usual rules of interpretation. The government should have clearly lost this case. As a lawyer for 40 years, I would not, in a million years, have thought the justices would ignore plain

English and rewrite a law. That violates the basic premise in our Constitution of separation of powers. If the law was drafted inappropriately or incorrectly, the court’s job is to send it back to Congress to be fixed. The court should not have rewritten the law under the pretense of interpreting it. The court’s act of doing Congress’ work shows a display of activist judicial power grab. The other case that is a danger to our republican form of government is the Obergefell case which imposes same-sex marriage on our entire country. Democracy itself is at stake. I just cannot believe that this decision is constitutional. Justices Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan abused their public office and acted contrary to their oaths of office by assuming the power to legislate their progressive views on homosexual marriage from the bench. The logic of this Supreme Court decision directly challenges the authority of the people as conferred by the Creator that makes our Constitution the Supreme Law of the Land. The case involves two New York lesbians who wed in Canada. One died and left her

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The Valley, September 2015

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Sara’s Dairy Journey by Sara Lucas

SEPTEMBER 2015 Mifflin County Trivia Tales from the Lewistown Gazette A small boy perched on the cabin roof near the bow of the packet boat as it meandered through the waterway along the Juniata River. His father told him after the boat passed Mifflintown, “It won’t be long now, George.” The boy intently stared up stream in the direction of the York County family’s destination. Finally, the canal boat arrived along the Water Street wharf at Lewistown, Mifflin County’s bustling county seat. The small boy looked upon the place he would call home for over eighty-five more years, and where he would become the “father” of the Mifflin County Historical Society. George R. Frysinger was a charter member of that organization and served as editor of the Lewistown Gazette for nearly forty years. When George R. and his family came to Mifflin County in 1846, George’s father, also named George Frysinger, became editor and publisher of the Gazette, originally known as the Juniata Gazette when founded in 1811. The son amassed a wealth of historical information about Mifflin County and wrote many articles that chronicled the events that shaped the area. These questions come from the pages of Frysinger’s Lewistown Gazette.

1. In 1847, when the Juniata Guards, Co. D, 11th US Infantry left the area for the Mexican war, James K. Kelley, Esq. of Lewistown delivered a speech to those gathered for the send-off. Later, Kelley would hold what esteemed position? [a] U.S Ambassador to Cuba [b] Chief Justice of Oregon Supreme Court [c] Governor of Georgia during the Civil War [d] President of the Union Pacific Railroad 2. When George R. Frysinger’s father traveled on the Pennsylvania Canal to Pittsburgh in 1838, he expressed something about the journey that impressed him. What was it? [a] Indians he saw on the way [b] no corn seen growing in the Juniata Valley [c] traveled with future President John Tyler [d] met his future wife 3. In 1850, an ordinance was enacted in Lewistown establishing a police force of three officers. These men could deputize a necessary number of citizens to patrol the alleys and streets for a specific purpose. For what were the deputies looking? [a] drunkards [b] ladies of the night [c] arsonists [d] domesticated animals roaming at will

4. Another ordinance passed in 1816, organized Lewistown into two fire districts. All taxable inhabitants were expected to do something monthly or be fined twenty-five cents. What were they to do? [a] check their leather fire buckets for cracks [b] clean their flues of soot buildup [c] clear litter and trash from backyards [d] train with the fire engine 5. Frysinger wrote often about local Civil War history and the area men who served in the war. Which of these was NOT a local Civil War-era unit? [a] Belleville Fencibles [b] Mifflin County Dragoons [c] Milroy Zouaves [d] Bucktail Rifle Brigade ANSWERS: 1.B (A Google search will yield an interesting biography for James K. Kelley on Wikipedia.) 2.B (1837 Pennsylvania experienced an extreme drought) 3.D 4.D 5.D SOURCES: Lewistown Gazette microfilm files, Mifflin County Historical Society. a

Radical Supreme Court Decisions from page 13 entire estate to the other. The federal tax exemption was denied because they were same sex partners excluded by the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The survivor sued contending DOMA violates the principles of equal protection incorporated in the Fifth Amendment. The court found DOMA unconstitutional as a deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment. They state the law as being that the regulation of domestic relations is an area that has long been regarded as a virtually exclusive province of the states. They then state that the federal government’s DOMA law had a practical effect of imposing a “disadvantage, a separate status, and so a stigma upon all who enter into same-sex marriages.”

for their cows every day to help make a small contribution to your diet, and to try to ensure you get your 3 everyday servings of dairy.

I hope everyone has had an amazing summer! I know I have. I’m learning so many amazing things from so many incredible people! People like you, your neighbor, and even your neighbor’s cousin. You not only taught me, but also many others on what it means to have a good work ethic. I mean, there is a whole day dedicated to all of you influential individuals—Labor Day! However, there are some jobs that doesn’t get the luxury of enjoying Labor Day though. That’s right, the Dairy Farmer. It’s true though. Seven days a week, 365 days a year, the dairy farmer has to feed and milk the cow twice a day. I’m sure that some days the farmers do wish that the cows could milk themselves especially on those bitter winter days in January when it’s -20 degrees. Everyday though, they push through it. It’s not just the farmers though, it’s the family as well. Children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters always pitching in making the process go by quickly and making it a little more fun and less of an act of labor. I know when all of my cousins, as well as my aunts and uncles, get together in the summer for baling hay, we don’t even remember that we were actually there for a job! We always turn it into a game such as: who can unload the load the quickest, or who can throw a bale of hay or straw the farthest (I personally have never won that game). In the end, the task gets accomplished and correctly too. So while everyone is enjoying their nice day off that is dedicated to all the hard work they have done in the past year, remember the people who never get a break, the people who care

Directions: Place eggs and milk in a blender. add the flour, salt and pepper; cover and process until smooth. pour into a greased 13x9x2 baking pan. Bake at 450 degrees for 20 minutes or until the eggs are set.Sprinkle with cheese. roll up on a serving platter. Cut into 1 inch slices.

The court has basically created a new “right” of homosexual marriage. The personal advocacy for homosexual causes by justices in the majority casts an ethical cloud over this decision. This decision leads to challenges to a right which actually is in our Constitution and not created by a court, the right to freely exercise one’s religion. These two rulings are an affront to the rule of law, separation of powers and the idea of constitutionally limited government.

Not only is the Executive a threat to our republic, but now so is the Judiciary. These decisions have seriously damaged the rule of law. We cannot acquiesce. These are two more examples of modernday socialism, its insatiable thirst for power, and its coercion to implement policies that are inherently damaging to liberty and our national interest. I see the same example of tyranny that led our Founding Fathers to declare independence. a

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Omelet Roll 6 eggs 1 cup MILK ½ cup of flour ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp pepper 1 cup SHREDDED CHEDDAR CHEESE

Old-Fashioned Bean Soup 2 lbs white beans 4 quarts water 1 hambone 1lb. Smoked Ham Hocks 1 chopped onion 2 tbs. BUTTER 1 tsp Salt 1/8 tsp pepper Directions: Place beans in a soup kettle with 4 quarts water and let soak overnight. Pour off water and add 4 quarts fresh water. Add hambone, ham hocks and remaining ingredients. Cook over low heat for about 2 hours. Serve. a


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The Valley, September 2015 after three quarters of a mile of hiking, the trail emerges onto Alan Seeger Road. From here you can see your parked car, just a few hundred feet away, on the other side of Stone Creek. Cross the bridge and your back at the trailhead. If hiking with kids, make it a point to explore the natural area. Downstream from the picnic area are some areas along Stone Creek that are very picturesque. With the picnic facilities here,

A Hike For Kids of All ages There are a number of hikes in Central PA that are good hikes for children. The Alan Seeger Natural Area is one such place. At less than a mile in length and never over 50 feet in elevation gain, this is a great place for a leisurely stroll. Toss in huge trees, rhododendron tunnels, bridges and a creek, and this circuit hike is a hit for kids of all ages. The Alan Seeger Natural Area is one of the more easily accessible areas of Rothrock State Forest. Depending on your mode of transportation, and how much you dislike driving on stone forest roads, will help in determining the approach to this circuit hike. To stay on paved road for the majority of the trip, you will want to make your way to Stone Creek Road. This is a paved road that travels through the heart of Rothrock State Forest from route US322 to route PA26. It passes Penn Roosevelt, Alan Seeger, and Seeger Place. From route US322, you will want to travel down Stone Creek Road for about 7.4 miles. You will see Alan Seeger Natural Area on your left. There is plenty of parking at the intersection of the two roads. If there isn’t room to park here, turn left off Stone Creek Road, cross the bridge, and you’ll find additional parking here. If you enjoy a leisurely ride on forest roads, you can reach Alan Seeger via Bear Meadows Road coming from State College, and Rag Hollow Road coming from Greenwood Furnace State Park. This hike is not very long at all; only about 0.8 miles in length. The trail is blazed yellow in areas, and for those sections of the trail that are not blazed, it well defined with logs lining the edge of the trail, specifically for the first 0.4 miles. After this, you’ll enter a thicket of rhododendron with the main trail the only easy navigable path. Starting at the parking area, you’ll walk a short distance back

along Stone Creek Road until you see a sign showing the route of the trail. The trail is a short loop and you’ll be hiking it in a clock-wise fashion. From here you leave the paved road and follow the wellgroomed trail. At 0.3 miles, the trail turns to your right and intersects with a trail coming from your left. This is the Greenwood Spur, now part of the Standing Stone Trail, and part of the Great Eastern Trail. This section of trail, as it passes through the Alan Seeger Natural is now painted with yellow blazes. The Great Eastern Trail is a new addition to the collection of long-distance backpacking trails in the United States. Starting in Florida, it is possible for a hiker to backpack up the Appalachian Mountains and finish their journey in upstate New York. The Great Eastern Trail was created as a backpacking option to the heavily used Appalachian Trail. It is a unique feeling knowing that at this point on the trail, you could decide to hike either north and follow hiking trails the entire way to New York, or follow the trail south the entire way to Florida. For today, we’ll keep the hike much shorter. In less than a tenth of a mile from the intersection of the Greenwood Spur, you’ll come across the first bridge. In 0.2 miles you’ll cross four bridges on this short hike. You’ll walk through rhododendron tunnels that are absolutely stunning when the flowers are in bloom in late June and early July. You’ll also pass by some large, ancient hemlocks for which the natural area is known. After hiking 0.6 miles you’ll cross the last bridge and have a short climb, leaving the lowlands of the rhododendron thicket behind. The trail then follows the foot of the mountain, heading back to the picnic area. Once again the trail is well groomed and easy to follow. Almost done with the hike,

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don’t forget to pack a lunch or snack. The Alan Seeger Natural Area is a great place to spend the day. a


The Valley, September 2015

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Second Annual Pawpaw Looza Is for the Dogs! From Me to We

The Secret to Human Connection I’m pretty sure you’re familiar with the expression “What’s in it for me?” Yes, it can be a valid concern. We all have needs and the urge to do what we can to fulfill them. However, that singleminded viewpoint should be examined. It may not be an effective attitude in relationship situations. I believe that as we evolve, we may benefit from a shift from ME to WE – not only at an intellectual level, but at a conscious level. I’m curious? What would it be like if you were to tell someone you don’t think they value your input? Instead of hearing: “That’s not true, I’m hearing everything you’re saying,” what if the reply was: “Thank you for telling me what’s going on with you. I’d like you to feel that your input is highly valuable. What might I do in this moment to shift things?”

No defending, no resisting, no explaining, no correcting, no advising…simply a pure and compassionate response with an invitation to explore and enhance your experience. Would that make a big difference in the quality of your interactions and your relationship? Would it draw you out? Stimulate you? Build trust? It takes practice to be able to listen and engage in this way. It’s learning how to strengthen our “Empathy Muscle” and make it more than a mental exercise. We must learn to engage with our whole being. In order to do that, we need to resist our ego’s desire to push its agenda – what the “wanna-be-in-control” ego loves to do. The ego wants to be right, stand alone, and divide and conquer. Ego is truly great for survival, but when it comes to hu-

man connection, partnerships, and turning a conflict into a genuine win-win, our ego never considers looking for the whole or greater good. I’ve been a teacher and student of Compassionate Listening for many years. I continue to be amazed at the opportunity it offers – the gift of transcending the ego’s selfish agenda, arriving at a place of rich and authentic connection. It’s so important even in the smallest interactions: who should pick up Kori after school, empty the dishwasher, feed the dog, chair the next meeting, or address less-than-optimal work performance. I’m astonished how threatened the ego feels when moving into the WE consciousness. It seems the moment we begin to give our attention fully to another person’s needs, we hear a voice inside our head screaming: “Hey, what about me?” “I can’t give in so easily.” “I have to prove them wrong so I can be right.” The good news is that after practicing these new WE skills, your ego voice will become softer, less urgent, more under control – allowing for better human connection. The ego eventually recognizes that, in fact, it will not die. It remains well and healthy. And it won’t feel a need to take over anymore. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with having an ego. Nurturing a healthy ego is necessary for us to function and survive. But when we want to resolve differences at work or home, the ego must be held in check so that our deeper compassionate nature transforms – from ME to WE. a

The Second Annual PawpawLooza is slated for September 26th 2015 from 9:00am to 7:00pm at the Port Royal Fairgrounds. This event is the largest fundraiser of the year for MCJC Pet Pantry which provides pet food for the many animals in Mifflin and Juniata counties that the organization is helping. “Quite simply, the more we receive in donations thru this event and at our food banks, the more area animals we will be able to help, the need is huge,” according to Sue Yorks, president of the MCJC Pet Pantry. “People will also be happy to learn that all donations to MCJC Pet Pantry stay in Mifflin and Juniata counties, so your donations are helping the pets of your neighbors,” Yorks said. “Last year we distributed over 70,000 pounds of food in the two county region,” Yorks proclaimed happily, “This year we hope to do more!” Yorks said “Pawpaw-Looza is designed for folks to join us

for the day and bring along their 4-legged kids! We provide a pet station that supplies treats, fresh water and waste disposal bags. By the time the 26th arrives, we should have well over 100 vendors. A large variety of foods to choose from and 7 live bands along with Flash J Lighting & Sound to provide the best shows available. This year we will have a pitbull kissing booth, a dog agility course, games and a ton of raffle prizes. If you bring a non-perishable item to donate to the Food Bank, you will get a free raffle ticket for a large HD TV that we give away at the event! Please “like” our Facebook page and keep updated with all the exciting news. Event t-shirts will also be available. The first 200 thru the gate will receive free swag bags filled with goodies from dozens of local businesses! Hope to see you there! Thank you!” a

President of MCJC, Mifflin County/Juniata County Pet Pantry, Sue Yorks and her husband and Vice President John Yorks enjoying last years PawpawLooza.

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The Valley, September 2015

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The Valley, September 2015

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The Valley, September 2015 The Insurance Scam from page 8 state of the art care, compassion, confidentiality, and dignity for a fair, reasonable, transparent fee. Until then, I’m not giving up the fight. The companies are ripping patients off—huge premiums, huge deductibles, and huge co-pays- and for what? Delays, denials, narrow networks, and restriction of care. Here is today’s letter to a company denying coverage for a drug that works beautifully for my patient. I bet I’ll hear nothing back. Typically we’re stonewalled—the patients and doctors are nothing but an annoying inconvenience in the big government/big business $3T dollar a year healthcare bonanza. “Dear third party entity that is denying coverage for a prescription drug I have written for my patient, In the current healthcare environment, government mandates that patients buy health insurance from insurance companies such as yours that have subsequently developed and implemented major strategies which primarily delay and deny care to these patients but secondarily increase your bottom line. The three most common delay tactics for medications are 1.) Requiring preauthorization, 2.) Establishing quantity limits, and 3.) Requiring step edits. These tactics are harmful to patients and waste incredible resources such as the time I have spent talking to my patient and staff about this and now writing to you. I could have been caring for other patients at this time when physician shortages are resulting in limited access to care, and physicians are living a bureaucratic nightmare. When my patients seek my care, I thoroughly evaluate, diagnose, and treat them. When indicated, I write a prescription for a medication that will alleviate their symptoms or cure their condition. I write the prescription, because I want them to be treated with that particular drug. When possible I will authorize that a generic may be dispensed if adequately safe and efficacious. A prescription I write for my patient is not a request for you to pontificate. You are interfering in the patientdoctor relationship and effectively practicing medicine without a license. You are causing increased suffering, morbidity, and potential mortality for patients whose care you are delaying and denying. In this particular case, you have denied filling the prescription for Restasis I wrote for a patient who has a long history of

severe dry eyes dating back to March 10, 2003, when I became her physician more than twelve years ago. Her condition is well documented in her confidential medical record and supported by ancillary testing, as is her excellent response both symptomatically and clinically to her use of Restasis for the past few years. I received a “prior authorization request denial” stating the information submitted does not indicate a trial of the formulary alternative: steroid eye drops. I am stunned on many levels. A steroid alternative is not an appropriate or equivalent alternative for Restasis. Steroid eye drops can cause cataracts and glaucoma, which Restasis does not. Steroids and Restasis are not even in the same class of drugs. Will your company bear the blame when a new generation of patients presents with iatrogenic premature cataracts and glaucoma, which will then require increased expense treating those conditions and in some cases will result in permanent visual loss? Someone must advocate for the patients. It is ethically wrong that your company is choosing to act not as a provider of health insurance, but as a provider of health care, for which you are not qualified. Worse is that in this perverse system your clients are forced to buy what you promise to provide, and you profit by denying them what you promised to provide. No longer will I play this game nor allow you to take advantage of my patients in this deplorable fashion. Your letter states: “If you wish to file an appeal please contact PARx Solutions at 866725-7279 to review the appeals process.” My response to you is: 1) fill the prescription I wrote which is indicated for my patient who pays you to provide access to care, not to delay and deny it, and 2) do not tell me to use an alternative therapy that is wrong and potentially harmful, if not blinding, to my patient. That is my appeal. I will copy my patient on this letter, and I expect you to honor your commitment to her by covering the prescription I wrote. Sincerely, Kristin S. Held, MD” https://krisheldmd.wordpress. com/2015/08/27/dear-3rd-partyplayer-ive-had-it-and-im-nottakig-this-sitting-down-anymoreappeal-this/ My example happened to me three years ago before Obamacare. But, sadly, things have not gotten any better. Now, having

the same insurance scam (I mean plan) costs approximately $1200 per month. On the consumer side, premiums and deductibles are only getting more expensive. Those in charge aren’t going to wake up one day and realize that they need to make premiums more affordable or make affordable plans with a small deductible. On the provider end, the payments for services rendered have gotten lesser every year and the payments have become much more difficult to obtain. Those in charge are not going to wake up one day and decide to pay providers more. Things are bad and getting worse by the year. Premiums get higher for the consumer and payments get lower for the provider. So, where does all the money go? On October 1, 2015, all of the codes that have been used for the past 30+ years are going to change. Those in charge advised providers to put money back to have because payments are going to get much more difficult to obtain than ever before during this transition. Yay for us! Going all cash is much easier and a much better deal for all involved, except of course, for the insurance companies. They don’t like the idea. Go figure. Tell me what you think. I always encourage feedback and check out the source I provided. And, to the person who called the editor of the paper to complain about my last column and to say bad things about me, I say this to you: “Thank you for reading!” Dr. Joseph Kauffman Kauffman-Hummel Chiropractic Clinic drjosephkauffman@comcast.net a

Editors Corner from page 2 work at trying to hide their bias anymore. Is it because they feel that they know that the viewers are too stupid to see it, or is it that they don’t really care? Either way, the majority of people ARE being programmed, don’t know it, and really don’t care. Caring is too much like work. Remember, that these programmed nitwits vote, and last I knew, the networks didn’t represent my views one iota. What would make anyone think the mind-numbed masses will recognize the propaganda? With what has happened in the world, our pathetic Secretary of State violated his oath and made a deal that threatens all of us. We have a presidential candidate that believes laws don’t apply to her and likely is directly re-

The Truth Has No Agenda

R. O. F. F.

Rescue Our Furry Friends by Patricia Lawson

Let’s meet the featured ROFF furry kids of the month! First we have Sam and here’s his “tail:” “My life has been a bit ‘ruff.’ My prior owners lost their home so now I’m at ROFF waiting for another place to call home. I’m a 6 year old Collie mix and just look at my handsome face!

I love kids and other dogs, but I haven’t met any cats yet. Give me a chance and I might like them just fine. And, talk about easy to care for. I’m housebroken and crate trained, plus I’m neutered and all up to date on my vaccines. All you have to do is go to ROFF’s website www.roffrescue.com or call ROFF at 877-933-7633 and start the process to bring me into your home…please?” Now it’s time to introduce Frankie! “Hi, Frankie here. I’m just a young lad that was found wandering on the road. Thank you ROFF for rescuing me from my demise. I get along just fine with dogs, other cats and kids, plus I use the litter box. And, look how cute I am! There’s more good news. ROFF has taken very good care of me. I have been dewormed, I have been started on a flea prevensponsible for leaking the information that got Ambassador Stevens and the others killed in Benghazi, while taking part in the dangerous game of arms dealer. There are so many Republicans running that I doubt anyone can name all of them off without missing one. Don’t you think this is all part of the theater for your consumption? The financial system is so fragile that the slightest indication that people are catching on and dumping fake money results in the government jumping in and buying with a frenzy to keep appearances up. It is a scam and it will

tative and I have had my vaccines. I promise to be a ‘purr-fect’ addition to your family, so check out www.roffrescue.com today!” Calling volunteers…we need volunteers to help earn money for the animals at ROFF my manning a concession stand at the Spikes game on Sunday, September 6th. Volunteers need to be there around 5:30pm and will be needed until approximately 9pm. Just contact ROFF at the email address or phone number posted below. Also, another “Cash Nite Party” is being held on Saturday, September 26. So mark your calendars and check out our Facebook page or Web-site for more information. We continue to need your help to cover vet bills and supplies. Your donations are greatly appreciated and can be made via PayPal and checks may be mailed or dropped off to this address: 133 North Walnut Street, Burnham, PA 17009. Thank you! Until they all have homes www.roffrescue.com; rescueourfurryfriends@yahoo.com; 1-877-933-ROFF (7633) a soon come crashing down. One thing you can take to the bank, the situation we now find ourselves in has been brought to you by Republicans and Democrats, as they have been in power during our decline. Ever stop and think that both sides have us right where they want us? Occupied by shiny objects and fighting about flags, while they sell our souls into slavery. Think about all of this with election day coming, stop wasting your vote the way THEY want you to, for once vote for truth. a


The Valley, September 2015

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Colorful potatoes may pack powerful cancer prevention punch By Matt Swayne Compounds found in purple potatoes may help kill colon cancer stem cells and limit the spread of the cancer, according to a team of researchers. Baked purple-fleshed potatoes suppressed the growth of colon cancer tumors in petri dishes and in mice by targeting the cancer’s stem cells. Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. and responsible for more than 50,000 deaths annually, according to the American Cancer Society. Attacking stem cells is an effective way to counter cancer, according to Jairam K.P. Vanamala, associate professor of food sciences, Penn State and faculty member at the Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute. “You might want to compare cancer stem cells to roots of the weeds,” Vanamala said. “You may cut the weed, but as long as the roots are still there, the weeds will keep growing back and, likewise, if the cancer stem cells are still present, the cancer can still grow and spread.” The researchers, who released their findings in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, currently online, used a baked purple potato because potatoes are widely consumed and typically baked before they are consumed, especially in western countries. They wanted to make sure the vegetables maintained their anti-cancer properties even after cooking. In the initial laboratory study, the researchers found that the baked potato extract suppressed the spread of colon cancer stem cells while increasing their deaths. Researchers then tested the effect of whole baked purple potatoes on mice with colon cancer and found similar results. The portion size for a human would be about the same as eating a medium size purple-fleshed potato for lunch and dinner, or one large purplefleshed potato per day. According to the researchers, there may be several substances in purple potatoes that work simultaneously on multiple pathways to help kill the colon cancer stem cells, including anthocyanins and chlorogenic acid, and resistant starch. “Our earlier work and other research studies suggest that po-

tatoes, including purple potatoes, contain resistant starch, which serves as a food for the gut bacteria, that the bacteria can covert to beneficial short-chain fatty acids such as butyric acid,” Vanamala said. “The butyric acid regulates immune function in the gut, suppresses chronic inflammation and may also help to cause cancer cells to self-destruct.” In addition to resistant starch, the same color compounds that give potatoes, as well as other fruits and vegetables, a rainbow of vibrant colors may be effective in suppressing cancer growth, he added. “When you eat from the rainbow, instead of one compound, you have thousands of compounds, working on different pathways to suppress the growth of cancer stem cells,” said Vanamala. “Because cancer is such a complex disease, a silver bullet approach is just not possible for most cancers.” The next step would be to test the whole food approach using purple potatoes in humans for disease prevention and treatment strategies. The researchers also plan to test the purple potatoes on other forms of cancer. Using evidenced-based foods as a proper cancer prevention strategy could complement current and future anti-cancer drug therapies. Vanamala said that foods could actually offer a healthier way to prevent cancer because they often have limited side effects compared to drug treatments. “Indeed, we have seen that the animals that consumed purple potatoes are healthier compared to animals that received drug treatment,” said Vanamala. Purple potatoes could be potentially used in both primary and secondary prevention strategies for cancer, Vanamala suggested. Primary prevention is aimed at stopping the initial attack of cancer, while secondary prevention refers to helping patients in remission remain cancer-free. Most of the funding in

cancer research currently goes to cancer cures but not to prevention, Vanamala said. However, as cancer incidences are predicted to surge in the next two decades, an equal emphasis on both food-based cancer prevention and therapeutic drug approaches should be used to counter the growing epidemic of cancer in the U.S. and around the world.

Vanamala worked with Venkata Charepalli, a doctoral student; Sridhar Radhakrishnan, a post-doctoral scholar; Ramakrishna Vadde, a visiting scientist from India, all in food science and Lavanaya Reddivari, assistant professor of plant science, all from Penn State and Rajesh “The butyric acid regulates immune function in the gut, suppresses chronic inflammation and may also Agarwal, professor help to cause cancer cells to self-destruct,” Vanaof pharmaceutical science, University of mala said. ment of Agriculture supported this Colorado. work. a The United States Depart-

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The Valley, September 2015

Modern Energy and Alternative Heating with Curt Bierly Are you Planning to Purchase an Alternative Heating Appliance for this Winter?

It’s hard to believe but Grange Fair is over and Labor Day has passed, so we know winter is around the corner. What a summer it has been. Lots of rain initially and then lots of sunshine. As always. it is hard to believe fall is here already. The evenings are becoming cooler, the schools are open and we’re all turning our attention to fall and the oncoming of the winter. Possibly you are considering the purchase of an alternative heating appliance for use this winter. What fuel are you considering? Wood, coal, pellets, gas, oil or solar? Possibly you will choose wood for the ambiance and to keep you nice and warm on those cold winter days.

You may be looking for a stove to provide occasional heat as time permits – or – perhaps you will be using it daily to provide a large portion of the heat your home will require this winter, and thus save you money on your heating bill. You may want a plain black stove or a more elegant one that will accent the current décor of your home. Whatever your reasons or objectives, to arrive at an installed cost for a wood stove system, there are three important mechanical parts to consider – chimney, stove and accessories. You will save a substantial portion of the system cost if you currently have a good chimney (correctly installed and in good

looking for an overnight burn, because you can always burn a small fire in a large stove, but you can’t put an overnight charge of wood in a small one. Also, do you want a steel or cast iron wood stove? As a general rule, the steel stoves are less costly, have a plain exterior surface, aren’t available with an enamel finish (they can be painted with a high temperature paint) and are lined with firebrick, which occasionally needs to be replaced if broken. Cast Iron stoves generally need no firebrick, are offered with or without an enamel finish, and because they are cast, they are offered in many

condition) available that isn’t being used by another heating appliance and is adjacent to the location you envision the unit being installed. The performance of any wood stove will depend heavily on the natural draft the chimney can create. The best chimney is a warm chimney – so – we would need to rate a good inside flu (chimney) the best, and a good outside flu second best. For draft and safety reasons, a good inside masonry chimney should be lined with a stainless steel liner that is sized to the outlet diameter of the wood stove (usually 6”). Keeping in mind we want a warm chimney for best draft, if the good masonry flu is outside, a stainless steel liner should be installed and insulating the liner with a ceramic wool blanket should be considered. In either case, the chimney should be inspected before you install the liner to confirm that it is in good condition and correctly installed. If you don’t currently have an available chimney, a good insulated masonry or stainless steel chimney will need to be installed inside or outside. When choosing a wood stove, you need to consider the area you want to heat and do you want the fire to last overnight? Don’t be afraid to favor a larger size then needed, particularly if you are

pleasing exterior designs. All new stoves today are equipped with an EPA approved Clean Burn Air Injection System that introduces fresh air to the hot gasses exiting the stove to continue the burn and thus reduce the emissions (i.e. smoke/creosote) and increase the unit efficiency. The air injection requires no fans or blowers. It works off the natural draft of the chimney. Beware - if you purchase a used wood stove it might not contain an EPA approved air injection system. Accessories you will need or

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Plain Talk

Solar Explained by S. Yoder Hello to all of The valley readers from Honey Creek Road where everything seems to be in full swing! More news on the EVO Inverter/charger that it works very good, so the next time you get a chance, stop in and check it out if you are thinking about solar. If you are, see SamlexAmerica. com. No solar system is complete without it and they have 4 models to choose from. The great part is, they won’t break the bank either. Even to install in an RV or truck, it is the right machine with conformal coated circuit boards with

many more safety features, two AC inputs so you no longer need to unplug the generator as soon as you reach the campground. Just plug into the utility. I talked to Mike Berg of Samlex and he informed me that the E-panel is coming and is being designed by Midnite Solar, that is good, and he also said the Auto Genstart is coming soon as well. Recently I ordered a second unit for myself, now I have one 2224 and one 4024 model. We now have a complete Magnum system available. We can also now string panels 3, 4, 5, 6, each

which used to be set at 3 panels. The new Magnum controllers are good as well, but are very limited availability right now due to the production time and the very high demand due to a volt point of 185 and the ability to string 4 panels instead of 3 panels in a 12 panel system. Remember to check us out for all of your deep cycle battery needs. We understand what you need because of our education in batteries over the years. We have decided to make a switch over to Troljan Ligreb for our larger systems because of its proven track record. See ya next month! Steven Yoder Jr. —Your sales and service provider for off-grid renewable energy systems and inverter/charger/battery back up systems! a

Kish Historical Society Offers Free Program The Kishacoquillas Valley Historical Society will host an educational program on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015 at the Belleville Community Hall at 7:00 PM. The topic will be the history of the French and Indian War in the Kishacoquillas Valley and

Mifflin County. The speaker will be Steven Runkle of the PA Museum Commission. The program is open to the public and free of charge. a

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by Robert T. Long Jr President of The Friends of the Mifflin County Library Hello! My name is Bob Long and I am President of the Friends of the Mifflin County Library. It’s a pleasure to have this opportunity to write this edition of Library Lines. After a very busy summer and a successful summer reading program, the Library staff certainly can use a little “downtime”. If your child participated in the program, you are encouraged to take a few minutes to help your child complete a survey. The survey is available on the Library’s website and will provide staff with key information and will also let them and their partners know how they are doing and if there are any changes that should be made to better serve patrons. What a significant, positive and lasting impact your local library provides for the residents of our communities and the Friends are honored and privileged to lend its support. The Friends of the Mifflin County Library is a member supported non-profit organization that advocates, fundraises, and provides support for the Mifflin County Library. We provide the residents and the communities in Mifflin County with opportunities to invest in the success of the library by donating time through volunteering or donating funds. We encourage you to thoughtfully consider donating to the Library’s 2015 Operating Funds Drive which is currently

underway. If you haven’t already, you should be receiving a post card flyer in your mail. Take a few minutes and give it a good read. We think you will conclude that the Library is unquestionably vital to our community’s health and worthy of financial support from you. We hope you will join us at the Mifflin County Library on Saturday, October 17 from 10 am to 3 pm for our 2nd Books & Brushes art show. This is a perfect opportunity to pick up a nice gift, talk with a local artist about their craft, and just enjoy seeing the talent we have right here in Mifflin County. Light refreshments will be served. Another upcoming Friends event you will surely not want to miss is another Vintage Book Sale. It will be held in the community room of the Mifflin County Library on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Some unique books, some first editions, some classics …come and see! Please visit and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ FriendsofMCL for up-to-date happenings, or you can obtain additional information on our web page located on the Mifflin County Library’s website at www. mifflincountylibrary.org. That’s it for now. We’ll see you at the Library, friends! a

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The Valley, September 2015

Well, summer is behind us, and ANOTHER allergy season is upon us. Thank goodness there’s a natural alternative at Simply Health Himalayan Salt Spa! Consider sitting in a Himalayan Salt room for 45 minutes (only $15.00) and allow the properties of the salt to start to lessen the amount of inflammation that’s in your body. Himalayan Salt is anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal. You sit quietly in a climate controlled room, listen to soft, soothing music, and breathe. Side effect.......feeling rested! Another possibility is to do some detoxing as well. Many have not been taking as good care of their bodies over the summer as usual, so it may be time to rid the body of excess toxins and chemicals. An IonCleanse detoxing footbath might help to make you feel better, have less pain, and have more energy. Many clients tell us of their excellent results

after detoxing. Another choice is the Far Infrared Sauna for detoxing.

A great combination is when a client takes home one of our authentic salt lamps to use in their bedroom or office after using one of our salt rooms, which helps to extend the benefits into the home. The same benefits apply to a lamp as to a salt room....obviously on a smaller scale. Many new things have been added at Simply Health! We now have a full line of ORGANIC

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essential oils. More new items are on the way! Stop in and see for yourself at 1760 S. Atherton Street and check out our web site at www.simplyhealth-calm.com. Please call us at 814-954-7731 to schedule an appointmentsfor a massage, amethyst Bio Mat, Jade massage, Ion Cleanse footbath, Far Infrared Sauna, and our signature service, a Himalayan Salt room. Check out our special Spa

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The Valley, September 2015

24 Goose Day Weekend from front page one that runs the lyrics across the screen and sing along! This is the second year the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau has been the self-designated, community cheerleader for Goose Day. “Everyone is encouraged to get involved, host something fun, or make a plan to patronize the businesses that are doing something,” explains Jenny Landis, project coordinator. “Our goal is to have such a large variety of things to do over the whole weekend that people from outside our area are compelled to visit – and hopefully spend a bit of money.” Complete Goose Day information, including the legend, a list of restaurants serving goose, and “The List” of special events can be found on www.juniatariv-

ervalley.org starting September 1. For daily updates, follow the Facebook page “Goose Day in the Juniata River Valley.” Phone calls and email requests are also welcome: 717-248-6713, info@ juniatarivervalley.org. Jenny Barron Landis Project Coordinator Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau Historic Courthouse One West Market Street Lewistown, PA 17044 717-248-6713

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The Valley, September 2015

Write-In

MARK SUNDERLAND County Commissioner Paid for by the Candidate

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The Valley, September 2015

26

Grange Fair

Through the Artist’s Eye Having grown up in Penns Valley, I’ve known the Centre County Grange Encampment and Fair nearly all of my life, and have been painting it for the past eight years as the Fair’s official

Artist in Residence. I’m here right now, writing at my exhibit/studio space in the Emporium Building after having just completed my third painting of this year’s fair. This one was an evening scene

Sunset at the Grange Fair, Oils, 12x24 inches As a beautiful sunset began to fade the first Friday evening, I quickly walked to the far end of the south parking lot to photograph this panoramic view of the fair.

Dappled sun Among the Tents, Oils, 9x12 inches This one was painted on site among the tents, as I often do on sunny days

looking out over the rides and the truck pull area from the south parking lot. I painted this one in the studio from photos I took Friday evening when there was a beautiful sunset, but I do others right out on the grounds (plein air), especially during daylight hours. Working as an artist at the fair gives me a reason to both spend a lot of time here and also really look at things, trying to spot the scenes and situations that most capture the essence of a large country fair. I take hundreds of photos every year, painting some during the fair and a few through the rest of the year.

It’s hard to imagine a more visual event, with brightly colored and

lit concession stands and rides, animals, thousands of people, and the unique tent and camper city. It isn’t the easiest thing for one artist to paint all these different aspects, but I enjoy the challenge. I also enjoy interacting with people as they come to my display or talk to me while I paint out on the grounds. Some have questions about how I work, but others just like to watch for a few minutes and perhaps come back later to see the finished piece. If you didn’t get to the fair this year to see the work in progress, stop by at the Green Drake Gallery in Millheim to see the pieces on display that haven’t already been bought. Hopefully, you’ll almost be able to smell the hot sausage sandwiches! a

This is a photograph taken just after the reference for the other painting, but focusing on the truck pull and young people watching from their truck beds. There’s something very iconic about this shot and I’ll probably have it painted before this issue comes out.

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Available Laboratory testing if necessary includes: Analytical Research Labs - Hair Mineral Analysis - to evaluate mineral status, thyroid, and adrenal function. ALCAT Lab Testing - Blood test for food intolerances. Diag-Nos Tech Lab - Saliva testing - Adrenal Stress Hormones, Peri-menopausal hormones, Post-menopausal hormones, Cycling woman hormones. I have many years experience in restoring hormone balance naturally.

Other services available: IonCleanse detox foot-bath 21 - Day Purification 10 - Day Blood Sugar Handling Program 10 - Day Female Vitality Program 10 - Day Anti-Inflammation Program Phone: (814) 933-9149 Merry Matukonis, RN, ACN, CGP E-mail: optwell123@gmail.com Web site: www.optwell.com P.O. Box 526 • Centre Hall, PA 16828

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The Valley, September 2015 Non-baseball fans will enjoy the book as well because it has well developed characters and a moving story. The story’s highlight is forgiveness and righting wrongs!

Mail Pouch Books by Carleen B. Grossman It is already August and summertime is almost over! In a wrap-up for this summer I have chosen three very special books that provided me with some great summertime reading. I hope these books will find their way into your reading and enjoyment. MOXIE: The Dachshund of Fallingwater By Cara Armstrong [curator of education at Fallingwater] Copyright 2010 32 pages Tour the famous house that Frank Lloyd Wright built in Pennsylvania named Fallingwater. You will tour his historical and unusual home with Moxie the doxie. Mox-

ie was one of seven long-haired dachshunds (along with litter mates Macho, Maggie, Mollie, Martha, Mira and Moss) who had the good fortune of spending weekends at Fallingwater with their owners, the Kaufmanns. You will join Moxie with lots of dog fun like swimming in streams and her attention to architectural details, including the structure’s cantilevered terraces and its relationship to the big rock. The final pages include a glossary of terms and more information on Fallingwater. It is a great book for children and adults, lovers of dachshunds and architecture buffs.

THE BULLET: A Novel By Mary Louise Kelly Copyright March 2015 368 pages the name of it and it is a touching story told from the viewpoint of a child (and as he grows up into adulthood) who was victimized by the vanity of his father, a professional baseball pitcher, who neglected his family and injured a rising baseball star by ending his career and disabling him for life.

In this mystery/novel, a 37 year-old female goes to the doctor due to carpal tunnel-like symptoms. After an MRI and X-rays are completed, they discover that the woman has a bullet lodged at the base of her neck. She has no idea how it ever got there but she realizes that it is critical to have it

“I Can Not Live Without Books”

CALICO JOE By John Grisham Copyright 2013 262 pages

Thomas Jefferson to John Adams 10 June 1815

Did you know that one of America’s best storytellers, John Grisham, departed from his usual tales of crime and trials to write a baseball novel? CALICO JOE is

Ed’s Railroading News by Ed Forsythe

Well, another busy month for us at Ed’s Trains. Our sons and families were here for a worldwind one week visit. They all arrived on Monday and were all gone the following Monday. We certainly got a lot done, but had a real long list of things yet to do. Retirement is great for Cathy and I, but I sure don’t like it when they must return home to go back to teaching and school. As for train related things, we all spent time at Knoebels Grove Park and most of us got to take one train ride together. We would have loved to take everyone to the Rockhill Trolley Museum, but the schedule just didn’t allow it to happen. “O” well, maybe next time. But, you all can surely make it to the museum sometime this year as there are many, many weekend events that are still to be attended. Each Saturday and Sunday beginning at 11:00 am to the last ride leaving at 4:15 pm, you

can enjoy riding a historical trolley dating back to the late 1800’s. Just this past month, the museum volunteers completed restoration of their first ever trolley, number 311. This trolley has been off-line for several years as it underwent many, many restoration efforts from new floors and walls, roof, window sills, painting, etc., not to mention much rebuilding of the running systems. Come on out and enjoy this neat relic that started it all way-back in the 1960’s. This car was built in 1922 and is one of two cars at the museum from the Johnstown Traction Company of Johnstown, Pa. There are lots and lots of events yet to be enjoyed this year. Please go to ....rockhilltrolley. org....for more information and news. Many great rides back into history aboard the ROCKHILL TROLLEYS, ding ding ding goes the trolley. Happy railroading, Ed a

removed since it is now starting to cause physical problems with her body. Thus begins a most intriguing story of this young woman’s life. You will travel with the characters back and forth from the Washington DC area to Atlanta, Georgia and ultimately to Europe and specifically to Paris, France before discovering exactly what went on when this young woman, at 3 years of age, had the bullet enter her body and why! There is a twist at the end of the book that will make you gasp! I guarantee that this book will give you a wild ride as you travel with the protagonist as she searches for her own identity! a

Cave Echoes from page 23 air that is saturated with 84 minerals and trace elements. • 15% off an Authentic Himalayan Salt Lamp of your choice or a Himalayan Salt Inhaler. BOGO BIO for Two (Wednesdays & Thursdays Only) ~ $49 • 60 minutes (30 minutes for each person) on the Amythest BioMat. The deep penetrating Far Infrared rays and negative ions help reduce stress, tension and aches and pains and is capable of stimulating the cells of our nervous and musculoskeletal systems. • 60 minutes in a Himalayan Salt Room (for each person), while laying on the Amethyst BioMat, 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. Time For You ~ $49 •

5-10 minutes of our Whole

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Body Vibration to get your circulation moving, your lymphatics stimulated, and your muscles relaxed. • 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. • 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. • Hot Butter Hand Treatment during the 30 minute detox footbath. This treatment begins with a salt scrub exfoliation on the hands to remove dead cells and open pores before the warm melted butters are drawn into the skin. The hands and feet are then tucked into warm Himalayan salt mitts and booties until butters are delivered deep into skin We look forward to seeing you this month!! a

Modern Energy and Alternative Heating from page 21 might want to consider for safety and ease of operation are smoke pipe (single or double wall), wall protection, floor protection, a flu thermometer, a carbon monoxide detector, insulated gloves, a wood holder, fire extinguisher, fireplace tools (poker, tongs), ash can and sweeper. Wood stove manuals today are very detailed and contain a wealth of important information relative to the stove you chose – so – be sure to read it carefully and heed the advice therein. It will help you to have a good wood stove experience and enjoy your stove. We certainly enjoy ours! Curt Bierly is president of the bierly group incorporated of which Stanley C. Bierly is a division. He graduated from Penn State with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and is the chair of the Penn College HVAC Advisory Board. You can contact him at cbierly@bierlygroup.com. a


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The Valley, September 2015

butter with an old butter churn he had. I like hearing stories from my parents and grandparents about stuff they did as kids. This year I entered a container for serving condensed milk that my Gram Harrop gave me before she died. It is glass with a hole in the by Rebecca Harrop bottom, a lid and a saucer that it sits on. I always liked it when it We had another very sucpeople don’t even use anymore, was in Gram’s china cupboard. cessful fair again this year. We like butter churns. I doubt too We asked Gram what it was had quite a few entries in the new many people even know how because of the hole, but she didn’t egg decorating class. The baked to make butter. I know I didn’t know. She always said that if the goods entries were up this year. until I was a Little Dairy Miss traveling antique show ever came Mom and I didn’t get a chance with the Dairy Promotion. My close, she was going to take it to to make any baked goods. We Dad said he remembers when he find out. The year I was Dairy just had too much going on. I was young, his Dad showed him Princess, Mom and I were at the hope next year we can have time. and his brother Bob how to make All American Dairy We are usually helping Show in Harrisburg. all day Monday with While we were there, registration until about we were looking at all 9:00 pm. Then we the different displays of would go home and bake milk cans, signs, books, until midnight or later. and just anything and Then we’re back at the everything to do with Fair Tuesday morning dairy. We saw these reby 8:00 am for judging, ally neat cheese servers which goes until around and a whole bunch of noon and placing ribbons dishes like Gram’s. I until about 3:00 pm. asked the lady there what After that, it’s time for they were, and she told the evening activities, us they were used to so it makes for a really serve condensed milk. long day. I really like When it first came out in to see the little kids that 1848, people in England are too young for 4-H who liked there fancy bringing stuff in for the serving dishes didn’t like Open Show—they really to have the can sitting on like being able to enter their tables, so they came something, also. up with a server that I also like to see they could put the whole every year the antiques can in—many of them that are entered. It’s neat where China. Anyway, I to see the older versions of some of the modern Gram Harrop’s condensed milk server placed “Grand Cham- got Grand Champion of the Antique Grandma’s things we use every day. pion” of the Anitque Grandma’s Kitchen Display. Kitchen department with Some antiques most

Life in the East End

it. I think that would have made Gram happy. The Benefit Auction had a good turn out again this year. We had lots of nice stuff and the wood carvings were really nice again this year. I really liked the “Welcome to the Farm” bench. TD Carvers did a “Minion” carving that was a big hit. Don Chesney and his team provide the auctioneering services for us and they do a fantastic job. The Open Show committee wants to thank everyone who entered items in

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the Open Show, businesses and individuals who donated an item for the auction, and to everyone who came out and supported the auction. Last month I went to Erie to go walleye fishing with my brother. It’s the second year I went, and I really had a lot of fun. We toured some local wineries again and I brought Mom a couple bottles back. One of Ernie’s friends and his dad were

Continued on page 30


The Valley, September 2015

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The Valley, September 2015

30 Essential Oils from page 10 not purchase EOs with rubber stoppers. EOs will break down the rubber and contaminate your precious oils. You may certainly want to use a dropper with your oils, but it is best to use and then rinse it with water. • Seek out vendors that provide detailed information about their oils, such as botanical name, origin, and extraction method. A good aromatherapy vendor should realize the importance of this information. There are many varieties of chamomile, cedarwood, lavender, etc. • If purchasing on-line: Seek out an educated distributor. Find a site where they are not only selling oils, but educating, blogging and writing articles. • If not on-line: Try to buy your oils from a knowledgeable Aromatherapist, or ask one where there is a good retailer. Aromatherapy is currently an unregulated and unlicensed field both for the practice of aromatherapy as well as the manufacture of aromatherapy products. Try to find a NAHA or AIA certified aromatherapist. Technically speaking, anyone who has taken a “certification” course in aromatherapy can call themselves a certified aromatherapist. However, certification courses in aromatherapy vary widely and the level of education does too. To address this issue, professional aromatherapy organizations such as the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) or the Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA), both leading governing bodies for national educational

Free State Project from page 4 many other people will also be moving— enough to make a real difference! You don’t have to wait until we have 20,000 signatures to move, of course, but that option is there to let you be more secure in your decision. The Free State Project is an educational organization, educating people about the advantages of New Hampshire for liberty folks, and about the advantages for liberty of like-minded people gathering and working together. What the Free State Project is not We are not a political action organization. We are not tied to any political party or organization; we do not run candidates for election; we do not financially support

standards for Aromatherapists. Aromatherapy educators and schools who wish to apply for status as an approved provider for such courses must meet these standards of education. The term registered Aromatherapist is used in the United States by certified Aromatherapists who have taken their level of training one step further, in an effort to demonstrate their level of expertise to potential customers and clients. In order to become a registered Aromatherapist, you have to have completed a minimum of 200 hours aromatherapy study with an approved aromatherapy certification provider. Qualified applicants can then apply to take the registered aromatherapist exam with the Aromatherapy Registration Council. Aromatherapists who pass the exam with the Aromatherapy Registration Council can use the initials R.A. after their name on business literature. • Do not buy from anyone selling oils that all cost the same: the reason is this: Orange EO cost about $4 for a half an ounce and Bulgarian Rose can cost about $550! Now these two oils are at opposite ends of the price scale, but: you can see how it would be impossible for a reputable business to sell all their oils at the same price and it is a red flag. • Do not let price be our only deciding factor. Although oils that are too cheap should put up a red flag, so should oils that are too costly. Do research for yourself. Look online and at a few different places. Keep in mind that some distributors are “down the ladder” and those “up the ladder” need to be paid along with all the marketing and such. You may be able

to find the same quality oil from a smaller distributor who has cut out the middleman or middlemen! • When comparing EOs from different companies: make sure you are comparing “apples to apples” For instance: there are many different types of Lavender EO. Here are a few: Bulgaria (Lavandula angustifolia), French (Lavandula dentate) , Maillette (Lavandula Officinalis) , Spanish (Lavandula stoechas), and lavender spike (Lavandula latifolia) Be sure to compare EOs with the same botanical name. • Pay attention also as to whether you are comparing organic, wild-crafted, or ethically farmed. These could cause a price difference. I hope these tips are helpful to you when you go out to purchase your oils. There is so much competition out there: just be sure to do your own homework and check multiple places before purchasing! As always: I would like to invite you to stop in at Shade Mountain. We are a small family-owned business and we LOVE company! We just expanded our production and would love to give you a tour. We make all of our products here on-site: FRESH! Soaps, Crèmes, Bath Bombs, Lip Balms, Body Butters, Facial Soaps, Facial Moisturizers…and more! We will give you a FREE sample and, of course: smells are always free and encouraged. At last count: we had over 70 Essential Oils! Now that we have some good tips on purchasing EOs: happy shopping. Next month we will talk about safely using the oils you purchased! a

or endorse candidates; and we do not oppose or endorse legislation. All these things may be done by people in the state in whatever ways they choose, either individually or through the many local activist organizations with which many Free Staters are involved. The Free State Project’s only goal is to gather enough people in one place to make a real difference. How they do that is then up to them.

representatives have not raised their $100 per year salary since 1889, low crime levels, a dynamic economy with plenty of jobs and investment, and a general culture of individual responsibility, independence, and self-reliance. If you’re interested... Please consider signing the Statement of Intent, participating in our message board, signing up for our monthly e-mail newsletter, visiting New Hampshire, or learning about a few of the hundreds of activists who have already Made the Move to NH. If you would like to help us advertise and promote our mission, please consider making a donation. Did you receive a phone call from someone such as Free State Now asking you to join or support the Free State Project? Find out more here. a

There’s no better place for freedom-loving Americans than New Hampshire In a vote that ended in September 2003, FSP participants chose New Hampshire because it has a low state and local tax burden, a low level of dependence on federal spending, a citizen legislature where state house

Mifflin-Juniata Board of Realtors Merges With Centre County Association of Realtors What is new? The Mifflin-Juniata Board of REALTORS® has merged with the Centre County Association of REALTORS® (CCAR) as part of changes encouraged by NAR (National Association of REALTORS®) The local REALTORS® will benefit from added access to programs, networking opportunities as well as continuing education with the CCAR organization to better serve our clients. What does that mean? The Mifflin – Juniata REALTORS® will continue to serve local consumers as in the past, because who better to sell and/or assist you in the purchase of local real estate, than a professional local REALTOR® who knows the area well and has connections to professional services that can help during the transaction process. How does that affect me? The Mifflin-Juniata Realtors® will maintain the Mifflin-JunataHomes.com website as a resource to our community as a tool to search and gather information/photos on local properties listed for sale. What is the difference between listing with a local REALTOR®

versus a Centre County REALTOR®? Buying or Selling your home through one of the local REALTORS® brings you added exposure to the market. How? The majority of Centre County Realtors are not members of our MLS, so your properties exposure to the local market could be very limited. What are any added benefits with listing a property with a Mifflin-Juniata REALTOR®? The local REALTORS® have first-hand knowledge of the area, local contacts, contractors as well as valuable ‘first hand’ experience in our community. Your property could be marketed in Mifflin – Juniata County as well as Centre County. For more information or questions call a local REALTOR® today! Mifflin – Juniata Board of REALTORS® gives back to our community. We have made recent contributions to:

Life in the East End from page 28

Mom said she adds 2 tbsp. of brown sugar to a quart of sauerkraut. Sometimes she also adds half of a medium onion. Before I close, I would like to remind everyone with Fall approaching, farmers will be out on the roads moving between barns and storage facilities with large trucks and equipment. I’ve said it before and I say it now, we try to get over when we can, but it isn’t always possible. Getting mad at us or risking an accident by trying to pass when it’s not safe isn’t going to accomplish anything. Just slow down and take your time. I recently read an item in the Sentinel’s Opinion Line complaining about farmer’s equipment on the roads. Everyone better remember that if you’re complaining with a full stomach, a farmer is responsible for you not being hungry. With that I’ll close till next month. a

along. All together, we caught 15 walleye, 6 white bass, and some fish called a sheepshead that the captain said didn’t taste good so we threw them back. It was getting kind of dry here towards the end of August, but we finally got some much needed rain. It’ll soon be time to start filling the silos with corn silage. I always like to smell corn silage. I think our corn and beans should be pretty good this year. We plant cabbage in August for sauerkraut. I think we planted 55 plants, so that should make a good bit of kraut come the end of October or early November. Before I forget, a lady called my Dad about how we make sauerkraut, but he couldn’t remember how much brown sugar Mom adds when she cooks it for a meal.

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Taylor Fultz Family Kirk & Andrea Nagle Family Habitat for Humanity Mifflin County Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard Juniata County Food Pantry a


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The Valley, September 2015

Farmette for Sale in Centre County A Homesteader’s Dream!

Penns Valley ~ Near Woodward 133 Jackson Hill Rd. Aaronsburg, PA 16820

Hershey Farm Agency Inc. Thomas Hershey 610-209-7096 Cell 800-880-3831 Office tomh@hersheyfarmagency.com www.HersheyAuctionLLC.com

Opportunity Knocks! 15 +/- Acre Pristine Farmette with Astounding Views, Pond ~Shop, Retail Space, & Warehousing, and 3 Wells ~ A Rare Find! Priced to Sell at $479,000. For more pics and lots of info visit www.FarmetteforSaleinPA.com

Located in Penns Valley in Centre County in Central PA boasting 15 +/- Scenic Acres Hugged by the Mountains, Cuddled by the Countryside, and Kissed by Nature! Sure to win over your heart is the well-cared-for home and outbuildings. The property is ideal for horses, livestock, poultry business, produce growing, a B & B, retail or fabrication. Or just enjoy the space, privacy and visual beauty! A nature lover's paradise! GROUNDS--Astounding views and serenity! Built on three springs, the 1/3 acre pond is stocked with large mouth Oswego Bass and trout. There's appx. 3-5 acres of woods with great hunting! HOUSE--Experience the ambiance! Country charm and character throughout! The house can be used as a single dwelling or as two private suites. The house has all new windows and doors!

The downstairs has 1 master bedroom with 3/4 bath, living room with propane gas fireplace, almost new cookstove, large closets, foyer, full bathroom, kitchens, living room, utility and laundry room and a patio. The upstairs has large 4 bedrooms with double door closets and a full bathroom There are two large walk-in attics. The concrete basement has an interior and exterior entrance. OUTBUILDINGS--The large, beautifully maintained barn has a 1600 sq. ft. repair shop on the first level, an adorable office, a lovingly built warehouse, and supply room on the second level which can be used as retail space, warehousing, or fabrication. The third level is strong and sturdy for warehousing and equipment storage area. There is also have a very large implement shed. A large garage, and a garden shed / summer kitchen with a new cookstove and kessel, and also a new smokehouse!

L-R: Summer Kitchen, Living Room, Pond, House Kitchen

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TheThe Valley, September 2015 Valley, July 2015

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