SEPTEMBER 2011 - JuniataRiverValley.org

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2011
SEPTEMBER
2011
Place to Visit for September…
“The Talk of the Valley Gift Shop”
formerly “The Dairyland Gift Shop”
Following a devastating fire, the Dairyland Gift Shop
was in search of a new place to call home; after much searching
they have settled into their new convenient, spacious location.
Their new home is just 2 miles from their previous location off of
US Highway 322 inside the Big Valley Antique Center in Milroy.
This unique gift shop features gourmet food items, hand crafted
home décor and a full selection of seasonal items.
Vendor Artisans include: Brian Powers with “Bare
Nekked Bath and Body”, local manufacturer of handcrafted
soaps, lotions, and other bath and body products, Marv & Jan Brubaker with
“Brushstrokes & Blessings” specializing in primitive and country décor and inspirational
pieces, “The Dutch Pantry”, owner Scott Keys offers shelves of home-made gourmet jellies, jams, preserves,
made using products from local businesses and farmers and unique bulk food, Marty Fisher’s “The Ivy
Wreath” with hand crafted floral creations and home décor items, Gail Young’s “Young
English Garden Designs” featuring artisan glass, jewelry, including her hand designed
line, J. Roche and accessories as well as Jenny Landis with “Jay Bee Yell” with her quirky
unique and original designed products.
Be sure to stop in and see their full line of unique gift and decorating offerings
and mark your calendar for their grand opening event on Friday, September
16 th !
“Eat goose on Michaelmas Day, and
you’ll never want money all the year round.”
...according to a centuries-old English proverb.
34th Annual Goose Day 5k
Saturday September 24th, 2011 5K Start: 9am
Registration: 7:30am – race time
on the Historic Courthouse Steps
www.jvstriders.com
Goose Day Road Rally
Sunday, October 2nd - Registration 9am-11am
Mifflin County High School $5 Person
Talk of the Valley Gift Shop
47 Auction Circle
Reedsville, PA 17084
717.667.6003
www.talkofthevalleygiftshop.com
Hours: Wed. through Sunday
10am – 5pm

P A G E 2 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1
Teachers, Cows, Wine & Jobs
The Juniata River
Valley Business in Education
Committee, under the leadership
of chair Cher Harpster,
implemented a tour of
two Big Valley dairy farms
for teachers from the Mifflin
Juniata school districts. On
Monday, August 15 th , over 30
educators joined Cher,
Rhonda & Jim for tours of the Spicher Brothers and Dave
Yoder dairy farms across the road from Valley View Haven.
First stop was the Spicer farm, home of one of 16 manure
digester operations in the state of Pennsylvania. President
Obama’s stimulus plan provided full funding of the
costly installation whereby manure is processed into methane
and then into electricity. The result is enough power to generate
all the farm’s needs as well as two adjoining farms and
one of the owner’s houses. A by-product of the process is a
sanitary bedding
material for the
stalls of the 300
head of dairy
cows on the
farm, leaving
ample liquid manure
to fertilize
the farms corn
fields.
N e x t
door at the
Yoder farm, they have two robotic milking machines that
manage all the milking needs for 100 cows three times a day.
Literally no manpower is needed as cows stroll into the stalls
in a fully computerized operation. Using technology from the
Netherlands, this appears to be the future in dairy farming.
Each machine is about a $200,000 investment.
Following the dairy tours the participants stopped at
Brookmere Winery & Vineyard Inn for a tour of the wine
making process, a tour of the adjoining bed & breakfast and
finally, lunch in the pavilion catered by A.J. Peachey & Sons.
Even with heavy rains at times, everyone found the visits
enlightening and educational.
In the
state of Pennsylvania
agriculture
is the number one
industry, followed
closely by
tourism. Big Valley
is a prime example
of both
industries
work.
at
2011 Schedule o f Events
RECURRING EVENTS
Belleville Sale & Livestock Auction -
Wednesdays – All year (unless a
holiday) in Belleville, PA. 7am-3pm.
Amish & Mennonite baked goods,
produce, quilts, antiques, livestock,
& wares. Large flea market & food
vendors. 717.935.2146
Dairyland Flea Market - March
through December on Wednesdays
(weather permitting.) Beside the
Dairyland Complex in Reedsville,
PA.
Golden Mile Farmer’s Market - June
through October on Tuesday &
Friday mornings at the Derry
Township Community Park in
Lewistown, PA.
September Events
Sept 3-10th. Juniata County Fair
Port Royal, PA.
www.juniatacountyfair.com
Sunday, September 4th, 2011 -
MUSIC AND MORE AT POE
VALLEY STATE PARK. Everyone
is invited to a relaxing day and
evening of entertainment at the
beach of Poe Valley State Park.
Kids games will be held at the beach
starting at noon. To kick off the
evening, Bill Bitner with Country
Junction will perform both county
and bluegrass selections beginning
at 6pm. From 7pm-8pm, Marci
Mowery, President of Pennsylvania
Parks and Forests Foundation will
present a program on the History of
PA’s state parks and forests. Music
will then resume from 8pm- 9pm
including a fire on the beach. The
concession stand will be offering
pulled pork sandwiches, fresh cut
french fries, and homemade chicken
corn and vegetable beef soup. A
$1.00 ice cream cone special will be
offered from 4pm-6pm. Bring lawn
chairs, blankets, and the whole
family for an evening of good food
and entertainment.
Sept. 10th - Wings n’ Wheels at the
Mifflin County Airport. Hosted by
the Experimental Aircraft
Association Chapter 518 and the
Touring Friends Motorcycle club.
Starting at 7am with breakfast.
1-877-861-5218
September 10, 2011 - Inaugural
Juniata Valley Council Shooting
Clays Tournament, Mifflin County
Sportsman’s Club, Lewistown, PA.
717-667-9236 or www.jvcbsa.org
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 17 - 8AM
TO 12PM. PA CLEANWAYS OF
MIFFLIN COUNTY KEEP PA
BEAUTIFUL. TIRE RECYCLE
CHALLENGE AT THE
LEWISTOWN BOROUGH PUBLIC
WORKS FACILITY YARD 207
WASHINGTON AVENUE,
LEWISTOWN. FOR MORE
INFORMATION CALL PAM AT
(717)899-6701
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 -
ROTARY CLUB of LEWISTOWN
GOLF TOURNAMENT. Rotary Club
of Lewistown Raising Funds for
Leopold Cabin. Proceeds from the
tournament go to the Juniata Valley
Council – BSA and other Rotary
Fund, Inc. charities Rotary Fund,
Inc. is a 501(c)3 corporation.
Dinner: Sponsor fee includes dinner
for one at the banquet in the
Country Club dining room following
the Tournament Additional dinner
tickets are available for $25 each.
Location: Tournament will be held
at the Lewistown Country Club, 306
Country Club Road, Lewistown, PA
17044. Prizes: Various prizes will
include low net, low gross, longest
drive, straightest drive, and hole in
one.
34th Annual Goose Day 5k
Saturday September 24th, 2011
5K Start: 9am
Registration: 7:30am – race time
on the Historic Courthouse Steps
www.jvstriders.com
C o n t i n u e d o n p a g e 5
D I S C O V E R O U R G O O D N A T U R E !

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1 P A G E 3
MEMBERSpotlight
The JC Penney Company has roots to 1902
when namesake, James Cash Penney opened his first
retail store in partnership with two others, known then as
The Golden Rule Store. By 1913, Mr. Penney had bought out his partners and changed the name
to the J.C. Penney Company. Until the mid-1950’s most stores were located in downtown areas.
Next came the move to anchor locations in newly constructed malls and more recently many
stores are being built as stand alone box stores, sometimes being located in close proximity to
competitors.
Locally, JC Penney Company opened the current store 26 years ago, building a loyal
customer base in our market with continued growth over the years. It is considered a small store
by company standards, employing 35 people today. The company, headquartered in Plano, Texas,
operates 1,107 department stores in all 50 states, plus Puerto Rico.
In February of 2011, twenty year manager, Ruth Fisher retired. A new manager with 31 years of
service to the JC Penney Company in Ohio and Pennsylvania, Mr. Jim Grant relocated his family from Hermitage
to Burnham to take the reigns. Jim served several stores in Cleveland and Akron before moving to
Pennsylvania to serve in Hermitage and Butler. He brings with him a wealth of retail knowledge having served
in many capacities with the company.
Kim Wagner has been with local JC Penney’s since the opening 26 years ago and is a key employee
in the continued success of the store. She points out that deliveries to the local store take place several
times a week to keep the store fresh and up to the minute with in-season offerings. Right now fall and
holiday merchandise is arriving daily.
JC Penney’s has a long reputation for a catalog division, publishing specialty catalogs in many categories.
Copies are available for free at the Burnham store where orders can be placed and merchandise
picked up or delivered directly to your home. They are leaders in internet marketing for direct orders, and can
be followed on Facebook, Twitter & apps provide coupons via Smart Phones. Be sure to stop by JC Penney’s
in Burnham and welcome Jim Grant to our area and while you are there take advantage of the opportunity
to check out the new fall merchandise, holiday arrivals and their annual ―Billion Dollar Jewelry Sale.‖
JC Penney
Greater Lewistown Shopping Center
224 N Logan Blvd
Burnham, PA 17009
www.jcpenney.com
New Passport Program Offers PA Families a Chance to Recreate
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF) is pleased to offer an exciting
new book called the Pennsylvania State Parks and State Forests Passport – the development of
which was funded by a grant from Chesapeake Energy. The Passport will be initially available
for sale on the foundation’s website, www.paparksandforests.org, for $10 plus sales tax, shipping,
and handling; as well as through the mail.
This 135-page passport includes maps, a history of the state’s park and forest system, a brief description and most
memorable feature of each state park and forest, and additional online resources. Participants can track their visits to our
public lands by initialing or stamping their booklet and, on the honor system, apprise PPFF of their progress. Modeled after
the National Park System’s highly successful Passport, the Pennsylvania Passport not only guides people to our state parks
and forests, but it also breaks down interest areas and challenges users to complete each area to receive recognition for their
accomplishment.
The goal of the Passport program is to promote healthy activity and awareness of our amazing state park and forest
system. “This program offers something for everyone,” said Marci Mowery, PPFF President. “Whether you love trail hiking,
paddling, driving tours, dramatic vistas, rock climbing, solitude, campgrounds, birding, or hand gliding – our state parks and
forests have points of interest second to none.”
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation is a non-profit that supports Pennsylvania’s 117 state parks and 2.2
million acres of forest by coordinating volunteers, activities, and donations to encourage recreation, healthier lifestyles, education,
and natural/cultural resources. PPFF helps maximize the economic and environmental benefits from our parks and forests.
Founded in 1999, PPFF has 32 chapters. Learn more about PPFF at www.paparksandforests.org, follow us on Facebook
and Twitter, and join the conversation on our blog, “The Outdoor Muses Muse” – http://blog.paparksandforests.org/.
W W W . J U N I A T A R I V E R V A L L E Y . O R G

P A G E 4 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1
Please join us in welcoming our newest members by patronizing their businesses!
Just as the Chamber is important to our community, they are important to the Chamber. Their
investment in the Chamber means an investment in our community. Their membership reflects
Welcome!
their integrity as a responsible business owner and demonstrates their commitment to the area.
Brandon Aumiller & Associates
144 W. Market Street
Lewistown PA 17044
Janette Ruble
(717)953-7661
janetter@baassociate.com
Thirty-One
Gifts
821 S. Main
Street
Lewistown PA
17044
Pauline Belfiore
(717)437-4697
www.mythirtyone.com/ThirtyoneAgain
psbelfiore@hotmail.com
Central PA Pink Connection
155 Cliffside Drive
Lewistown PA 17044
(717)248-1480
Su Salvatore
www.pinkconnection.org
s_salvatore60@live.com
First Quality Baby Products
97 Locust Road
Lewistown PA 17044
De Kuhns
(717)247-2998
www.firstquality.com
Happy Anniversary!
Ohesson Manor Nursing Home
Cedarrows Farms Inc.
Super 8 Motel
Miller Theater #6
Wal-Mart #1607
Ron's IGA Fruit Market Inc.
Shelter Services Inc.
Waterside Campground & RV
Park
Juniata Valley Tri-County MH/MR
Program
Buttonwood Campground Inc.
EMB Monogramming
American Red Cross of the
Susquehanna
Evelhoch, Ronald P., CPA
Tractor Supply
RSR Realtors
Marlin H. Fields Real Estate
Beaver Springs Dragway
Juniata River Adventures
Mifflin County Airport
J.P. Edward's Grill and Bar
D-Signs & Jake's South
Media X Creative, LLC
John Tedeschi
Rose House Bed & Breakfast
DuMor, Inc.
A & A Designs at Lily Manor
Carpet & Furniture World
Complete Flooring Solutions
Highmark Blue Shield
Belleville Mennonite School
Big Valley Antique Center
Jake's Golf Carts, LLC
The Stewardship Group, Inc.
Bobby Rahal of Lewistown
Service, Access & Management,
Inc.
A.J. Peachey & Sons, Inc.
Rockhill Trolley Museum
Michele's
D I S C O V E R O U R G O O D N A T U R E !

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1 P A G E 5
Lewistown Kish Slalom...
Small but great success!
By David Kurtz
A total of
12 paddlers
blazed their way
through 17 gates
for the 2011 version of the
Lewistown Kish Slalom. Six
paddlers were from Lewistown
which was a first
for this race. In previous
years we had only
up to 2 paddlers from the local area.
For out of town folks, we had Rich Kulawiec from Baltimore,
who raced both K-1 and C-1, and Mark Eschbacher from
Philadelphia, who raced open C-1.
2011 Schedule o f Events
TUESDAY – SEPTEMBER 27 at LEWISTOWN CAREERLINK 8:30AM –
12:15AM. WORKERS COMPENSATION WITH JOSHUA GRAY,
ESQUIRE AND ROBERT J. BAKER, ESQUIRE FROM THE CHARTWELL
LAW OFFICE, LLP, HARRISBURG, PA
Sept 29th – Goose Day in the Juniata River Valley! Otherwise
known as St. Michaelmas Day. 717.248.6713
October Events
Goose Day Road Rally
Sunday, October 2nd - Registration 9am-11am
Mifflin County High School $5 Person
Oct 1 - Central PA Pink Connection 3rd Annual Wine & Food Tasting
Event. 6-9pm at the Seven Mtns Wine Cellars, Spring Mills, PA. $25/per
person. Tickets available at Lewistown Pharmacy or call 717.242.7142 or
717.248.1480.
Nobody broke 100 seconds in time but Chance
Blakeslee of Bellefonte had a better time of 101 seconds for
the fastest time of the day. Coach Dave Kurtz of State College
had two clean runs but the faster was at the 103 second
level. For the second week in a row Kurtz squeaked by Rich
Kulawiec by only 1 second! Kulawiec then had a singles canoe
run of 133 seconds.
Chance of Bellefonte won the kayak cadet class with
a score of 101 seconds. In second place was Kyler Phillips of
Bellefonte whose better time was 109 seconds. Kyler had a
video camera attached to his forehead so I'll be interested in
seeing how it comes out. In third place was Keegan McChesney
of Lewistown in a close 114 seconds. Newcomer Jaelin
Benner of Lewistown took fourth place in a credible 183 seconds.
Benner started paddling only 10 days ago.
The winner of the kayak cub cadet class was 7-year
old Gabriel Koller of Bellefonte. His score was 149 seconds.
In second place was Corey Benner of Lewistown with a 202
second run. This Benner also started only 10 days ago. Dakota
Fisher of Lewistown had trouble on both his runs, ending
up doing a swim on each.
Both the Benner boys showed superior paddling
technique for their experience level. They need only more
river running experience to match the paddle technique and
they'll be on the top of the winner's stand in only a short
time.
In the woman's kayak cadet class Miranda McChesney
of Bellefonte was the winner in 214 seconds. Keegan
McChesney also paddled in two additional classes. In singles
canoe his better time was 146 seconds. Then he combined
with his sister, Olivia, to win the mixed doubles canoe class
in 202 seconds. Finally Mark Eschbacher had a fine run of
136 seconds in an open canoe.
October 1 - The Mifflin/Juniata Counties Walk To End Alzheimer’s will be
held at Derry Park. They are seeking dedicated volunteers to join the 2011
Walk Planning Committee. For additional information, please contact: Clay
MacTarnaghan, Walk Chairperson AT 717.437.1826 or
mailto:cmactarnaghan@primerica.com or Tiffani Chambers, Special
Events Manager 717.651.5020 or mailto:tiffani.chambers@alz.org. Visit
Our Walk’s webpage: walktoendalz.kintera.org/mifflinjuniata
Oct 8th - 8-11pm ―Chatterbox‖ @ Moose Lodge, Lewistown. First Annual
Benefit for United Cerebral Palsy of Central PA. 717.247.2944
October 22nd - Party in Pink Zumbathon with TAZ Fitness. 1pm -
3pm Benefitting Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
www.tazfitness.com
Oct 26 - Halloween Parade - 7pm held downtown Lewistown, PA. Preregistration
is necessary. Pick up forms at Historic Courthouse and FAME
EMS.
December Events
Dec 1 – 2 Festival of Ice - downtown Lewistown, PA. Kick-off the Holiday
Season and come to the Festival of Ice and watch as the downtown
Lewistown streets are transformed into a winter wonderland of seasonal
delights! Thursday 5-9pm & Friday 5-10pm. www.juniatarivervalley.org
Dec 3 - Kiwanis Pancake Festival at the First United Methodist Church on
Dorcas Street. 7-am - 1pm. Annual Kiwanis Christmas Parade @ 1pm.
MERF Radio Food collection drive during the parade. Bring a canned
good and look for the MERF dog!
Dec 31 - The Great Chip Drop - 7pm in downtown Lewistown.
www.chipdrop.com Community Partnerships RC & D 717.248-4901
H a v e a n e v e n t c o m i n g u p ? A d d y o u r
e v e n t t o o u r s c h e d u l e ! E m a i l :
i n f o @ j u n i a t a r i v e r v a l l e y . o r g
o r c a l l 7 1 7 . 2 4 8 . 6 7 1 3
W W W . J U N I A T A R I V E R V A L L E Y . O R G

P A G E 6 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1
The annual RiverFEST has always been a combination of many events
and opportunities bundled and delivered from early morning until late night on
the Saturday proceeding the Fourth of July at Victory Park in Lewistown. Continual
food, live music and entertainment are the threads that tie all the events
together; 5K Race, Raft Regatta, Community Float, Juniata River Idol Competition,
and the annual Fireworks Presentation.
For many years the nation’s largest fireworks company, Pyrotecnico, from New Castle, Pennsylvania, has been contracted
to stage our fireworks. They do an amazing job with the help of the Junction Fire Company and the courtesy of Mifflin
County Industrial Development Corporation for the use of the launch site.
Now … for the rest of the story: The technicians are from our immediate area and work in our communities. Barry Sunderland,
Sr, from McVeytown has been a fireworks devotee since he was a young teenager, first as an amateur and then as PGI
(Pyrotechnics Guild International) Certified. Barry’s oldest son, Barry, Jr, is also certified. Both father and son hold Hazmat
Endorsements on their Commercial Drivers Licenses, allowing them to transport explosives. It doesn’t stop here.
Barry, Jr’s wife Melinda, brother Cameron, and mother Tammy serve in various positions of support at the events. In
addition to RiverFEST they have done McVeytown Country Memories Day, Burnham Centennial
Celebration, Lake Raystown Resorts, and Harrisburg Senators games among many others.
Where might you run into these fireworks professionals on a daily basis? Barry, Sr. works
at Overhead Door, Barry, Jr. is employed as an electrician at Lepley Electric, Cameron is a professional
firefighter in Altoona, Melinda is an ultra sound tech at Geisinger and Tammy is a teller at
MCS Bank.
If you run into any of the Sunderland’s be sure to thank them for the fine job they do bringing
exciting fireworks to the Juniata River Valley.
The LIONS DEN
Needs Your Help!
The LIONS DEN
is in the running of getting
a grant from Pepsi
for $25,000 dollars to get
air conditioning in their
arena, so they can utilize
it all year round! They need a lot of help to vote on their
idea in order for this to become a reality for the Den! Please
help them out and follow the directions below and vote for
them.
Here is what to do!
Go to the Pepsi refresh website:
www.refresheverything.com
Open an account (only takes a minute)
Sign in with your account
Look for our project under the $25,000 grants (you can
keep clicking load more until you see the Lions Den, or
just type in Lions Den in the right hand corner search
bar)
Vote up to 5 times a day
Bring all and any yellow Pepsi caps
you have to the Den. (The person
bringing the most Pepsi Caps into
the den gets a prize!)
For more information contact:
Victoria J. Tornambe, Executive
Director for the Fayette Area Lions
Den at 717-463-3300 or by email:
fayettelionsden@hotmail.com
Penn State Small Business
Development Center will
hold the following business
seminars:
—Tuesday, September 6, First
Step of Starting a Business -
(9am – noon) The 329 Building,
Room 115, University Park (FREE)
—Friday, September 16, Optimizing Your Online Presence – (9 am –
noon) The 329 Building, Room 115, University Park ($49)
—Thursday, September 29, Second Step of Starting a Business – Writing
the Business Plan – Sponsored by SPE Federal Credit Union (9 am –
noon) The 329 Building, Room 115, University Park ($49 per person)
—Friday, September 30, Tax and Bookkeeping Considerations for the
Small Business Owner– – (9 am – 11:30 am) The 329 Building, Room 115,
University Park ($79 per person or both Tax and Bookkeeping and Cash
Flow for $139)
—Tuesday, October 4– First Step of Starting a Business – Sponsored by
First National Bank (9 am – noon) The 329 Building, Room 115, University
Park (FREE)
—Friday, October 7– Cash Flow is the king: Understanding Business Cash
Flow – (9 am – 11:30 am) The 329 Building, Room 115, University Park
($79 per person or both Tax and Bookkeeping and Cash Flow for $139)
—Tuesday, October 11– The Human Aspect series 1 - Managing Human
Capital – (Noon- 1:30 pm)– Outreach Building, Room 324, University Park
($20 each or all 4 for $70)
—Tuesday, October 18 – The Human Aspect series 2 - Hiring Independent
Contractors - (Noon- 1:30 pm) – Outreach Building, Room 324, University
Park ($20 each or all 4 for $70)
—Thursday, October 27– Doing Business with the Commonwealth – (9 am
– noon) Centre County Solid Waste Authority, Room 1, Bellefonte (FREE)
Register and pay for all Penn State SBDC seminars on-line at
www.sbdc.psu.edu or by calling (814) 863-4293 or (717) 247-1280.
D I S C O V E R O U R G O O D N A T U R E !

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1 P A G E 7
Our 76 th “After Hours” networking event
took place on August 17 th at the Waterside
Campground & RV Park, along the Juniata
River just west of Lewistown. Fifty members
gathered together for an evening of discussions,
grilled dogs & burgers and wagon rides around
the wooded home to 250 campsites.
New RV Park manager, Norman Van
Diest, hosted the event, shared improvements to the park with us and unveiled the new
campground office and store within the canal house. Unfortunately, the canal boat was in
need of motor repair so we weren’t able to experience the mile long restored Pennsylvania
Canal boat tour.
We are blessed with two large campgrounds on the Juniata River; the Waterside
near Lewistown and Buttonwood Campground in Mexico in Juniata County. These two
facilities bring thousands of visitors into the Juniata River Valley every year, stimulating the
economy in a significant way.
U P C O M I N G
A F T E R H O U R S :
2011 After Hours:
September 29th - One-Stop
Communications
October - Keystone
Complex, LLC
November - Mifflin County
Library
Tuesday, December 13th -
Holiday Gathering hosted
by...Seven Mountains Wine
Cellar
2012 After Hours:
January – Arbogast Video &
Crafts
February - TAZ Fitness
March - Business 2 Business
April - Central PA Dock &
Door
May - After Hours EXPO
June - Hartman Center
July – GME Communication,
Drayer Physical Therapy &
Penn State Learning Center
August - Lewistown
Hospital
September - Home Nursing
Agency
October - The Ink Garage
November - Brookmere
Winery & Vineyard Inn
December - Holiday
Gathering hosted by… Talk
of the Valley
Hosted by:
Thursday, September 29th
Thursday, September 29th
Thursday, September 29th
5:30 - 7:30pm
Held at the Mifflin County Airport
W W W . J U N I A T A R I V E R V A L L E Y . O R G

P A G E 8 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1
It appears that the only thing that is constant in our lives is CHANGE.
Happy people adapt quickly, miserable folks use it to feed their misery. I would guess those
of us who are resisting change are extremely unhappy right now. I for one embrace
change; therefore, this is a very exciting time living in the Juniata River Valley.
I grew up with change. My school years set the pace for a lifetime of change. Kindergarten
was only offered in one of Kane’s three elementary schools. I qualified by the age standards at
that time to enter Kindergarten at age four, five months shy of my fifth birthday. The school was seven
blocks from home and I walked with two other Kindergarteners everyday. It was half days, in the
morning at the Central Grade School, one block away from the business district.
My elementary school was six blocks from home and included first through seventh grades.
We had a 45 minute lunch break everyday and walked home, ate lunch and walked back five days
a week. Nobody had parents that drove them to school or picked them up, it just didn’t happen.
Kane averaged 125 inches of snow a year and school was never closed for any reason.
I left Clay Street Grade School for high school in eighth grade as construction began
for a new concept, a junior high, which would house seventh, eighth and ninth grades I
completed eighth grade in high school, went to the brand new junior high school for ninth
grade and then back to the high school for tenth, eleventh and twelfth. Both the junior
high and the senior high had cafeterias, therefore, we only walked to school once a day,
eleven blocks each way.
Watching the changes that have taken place in the Mifflin County School District
this past year certainly brings back memories of changes in my school history.
They may seem confusing to some, but they prepare students for a lifetime of constant
change.
Sometimes change and commitment appear to be in direct conflict with one
another. Unsubstantiated or unnecessary change isn’t a good thing. Being adaptable
shouldn’t be at the mercy of commitment. They are essential components to a well balanced
person.
Returning to my grade school years, the local garden club sponsored a program to
encourage students to become involved in gardening, both produce and flowers. The club
provided seeds, information and assistance for students from first through seventh grade.
Once engaged, students would follow the plan; prepare the soil, plant the seeds, weed &
water and harvest. Garden Club members inspected and the school held an exhibition and
competition every fall. Blue, red & white ribbons were awarded in various categories and
students who met all the criteria for the summer gardening project were honored with a large
green ribbon. If you participated all seven years, earning seven green ribbons; upon graduation
from seventh grade you received a bronze metal. I have always been proud that I was the
only member of my seventh grade class to earn a bronze metal.
I often reflect upon my grade school years to
define my ease of accepting change and my desire to
commit to challenges. Both are attributes I take
great pride in and find admirable in my friends and
associates. I choose to associate with people who embrace
change as it happens and seek relationships with
friends that are committed to their ideals and choices.
They are positive people.
This leads me to one of my favorite
quotes: “Never allow a negative person
to drag you down to their level and
engage you, because they will win
with experience”.