May - Juniata River Valley

Inside the view...
Place to Visit
1
Schedule of Events
2
Member Spotlight
4
New Members
5
After Hours
6
Jim’s Corner
10
 Contestants must be 12 years of age and older. RiverFEST Idol is



OPEN
AUDITIONS!


MAY 19TH, 25TH - 3 - 7 pm at the Historic
Courthouse in Downtown Lewistown!
PLACE TO VISIT FOR MAY!

limited to amateur contestants.
Open Auditions will be done “A cappella.”
All auditions will be videotaped and posted on
www.juniatarivervalley.org.
Open Auditions will be held on May 19TH & 25TH (3-7pm) at the
Historic Courthouse in Downtown Lewistown, PA.
30 Semi-Finalists will be chosen by judges from open auditions and
announced on the MERF Radio Morning Show at 9:30am on May
28th.
Semi-Finals will be held on June 2ND (time to be announced) at
Media X Creative in Downtown Lewistown, PA (door to the right of
Glick’s Shoe Fly.) If you are a semi-finalist you may bring a cd to
sing along to.
Ten Finalists will be selected by judges and announced on the
MERF Radio Morning Show at 9:30 am on June 5th.
Natural Designs Floral Studio and Gardens Natural Designs Floral Studio
and Gardens is literally bursting with springtime blooms! From weeds to seeds to baskets and wreaths, owner Sally Yoder
harvests many of her supplies directly from nature’s storeroom. Sally creates baskets from many of
earth’s offerings such as; apple tree clippings, swamp willow, bittersweet & honey suckle. Sally is a self
taught gardener and artist. She gleans her inspirations along the field lanes and woodlands surrounding her homestead. Her signature designs are created with a simple elegance sure to enhance any
home or business environment.
If you are feeling creative and would like to receive step-by-step instructions on natural arranging then the 2010 Workshop Series is for you. Each month features a seasonal themed instructional
hands-on experience. May’s featured topic will be “Designing Flowers with Tea in the Orchard. Students will be afforded the
opportunity to design a fresh flower arrangement. Tables will be set up under the blossoming apple trees with the finished
arrangements becoming the centerpieces for “Tea Time”. In June, “The Joy of Roses” will be explored. This class will begin
with making handmade original Rosary Beads from rose petals. Then “Rose-Water” will be made to freshen linens or use in
cooking. Finally students will create a small “Tussie-Mussie” Victorian bouquet to take home. Students will sample foods
made with roses and the recipes will be shared. A complete listing of all 2010 workshops can be found at
www.naturaldesignsstudio.com.
If a wedding or special event is in your future, Natural Designs provides artistic arrangements of elegance for every budget.
Schedule an appointment to discuss the wedding flowers of your dreams. Installation services are available, since the difference between an average event and an extraordinary
one is the designer’s final placement at the event.
Natural Designs Floral Studio and Gardens
At this time of year when all of nature is
Front Mountain Road
beginning to awaken and burst forth into song,
Allensville, PA 17002
celebrate the season of spring with something
(717)483-6046
special from Natural Designs Floral Studio and
[email protected]
Gardens.
www.naturaldesignsstudio.com
Page
2
MAY
Schedule of Events
2010
(continued on pg 8)
RECURRING EVENTS
Belleville Sale & Livestock Auction - Wednesdays – All year (unless a
holiday) in Belleville 7am-3pm. Amish & Mennonite baked goods, produce,
quilts, antiques, livestock, and wares. Large Flea Market and food
vendors. 717-935-2146
Dairyland Flea Market - March through December on Wednesdays
(weather permitting) Beside the Dairyland Complex in Reedsville, PA
Buttonwood Campground - Solar Energy
It will come as no surprise to those who know Dennis McFarland and his history with Buttonwood Campground that he has found a way to reduce the cost of electricity at his family business. Always the innovator and always planning for the long term, Dennis researched solar
power and saw the advantages long ago. It became a real
possibility when he discovered two streams of grant money
were recently made available.
Both the state of Pennsylvania and the federal government are offering limited pools of grant dollars for commercial solar installations. If you are interested in learning
more about the programs, contact Dennis at (717) 4368334. Better yet, stop by the campground and look over
the installation and talk to Dennis about the process. Call
first to make sure he is available.
Greenspring Energy of Timonium, Maryland, sold
and installed the system at Buttonwood. It consists of 90
solar panels, generating approximately ten percent of the
energy needed by the campground. The payback will take
seven or eight years. More panels will undoubtedly be
added as time goes by. The panels have a minimum of a
thirty year life.
Buttonwood Campground consists of 279 campsites,
44 of which are riverfront. They offer an in-ground swimming pool, beautiful 18 hole miniature golf course, store, arcade, playground, canoe & kayak rental & livery service, a
67’ by 33’ jumping pillow and plan to add a golf cart track
and an outdoor laser tag area.
Golden Mile Farmer’s Market - June through October on Tuesday & Friday
Mornings at the Derry Township Community Park in Lewistown, PA
Historic Pennsylvania Canal Boat Ride – Locust Campground in
Lewistown, PA. Departure time and dates on: www.locustcampground.com
or (717) 248-3974
May Events
May 3 – Mifflin Juniata Community Concert Association – Canadian Tenors
– held at the LAHS High School. 717.248.5732
May 6 (9am-Noon) - Penn State Small Business Development Center
Seminar - Doing Business with the Commonwealth - Government
Contracting MBE/ WBE. 253 Transfer Road, Bellefonte (FREE)
May 7-8, 14-15, 21-22 @ 8pm and May 16 & 23 @ 2pm – Stone Arch
Players “Dearly Beloved” – held at the Theatre in the Park at Derry Park.
717.248.2224
May 6 - 4th Annual National Day of Prayer Breakfast. 8:30am. Hosted By:
Sacred Heart School, Lewistown. This is a Free Community Event!
Please, R.S.V.P. for the Breakfast by April 23, 2010. To Communities That
Care: (717) 248-3994
MAY 7 - An Evening with Matt Millen. 6-9PM. Held at Brookmere Winery,
Belleville, PA. Proceeds will support
Lewistown Hospital Imaging Services – Bone Density Equipment & Mifflin
County American Legion Baseball Association. Catered by JP Edwards •
Open Bar Cocktail Hour with Hors d’ oeuvres begins at 6pm. Dinner at
7pm. RSVP by May 1. 717.242.7365.
Mifflin
Mifflin-Juniata Arts festival
May 8 - Touring Friends & All American Cruizers Cruize-In. Held at Derry
park 1-5pm. www.touringfriends.com or 1-877-861-5218.
May 22 - 10am to 5pm
May 8 - Mother/Daughter Luncheon Fundraiser – 11am @ Simplicitea in
Mifflintown, PA. To benefit ACS Relay for life Team DD. $20/person.
Patty Zannino at (717)248-0752.
May 23 - 11am to 5pm
Lewistown Rec Park
Held Rain or Shine
Music, Artisan wares,
delicious international foods
www.mifflinjuniataartsfest.com
May 9 - Mothers Day Brunch at Lily Manor. Reservations from 10:00 AM
until 2:00 PM. Three Course Served Brunch Menu. $35.00 per person
plus tax and gratuity. Gift Certificates Available call (717) 436-5888 or
email [email protected].
May 9 - Simplicitea’s Mother’s Day Tea. Come for a brunch on at noon (or
later if needed). The cost is $16.95 per person & is by reservation only.
Seating is limited, so call for your reservations today! 44 North Main
Street, Mifflintown, PA 17059. Phone: (717)436-0010
w w w . j u n i a t a r i v e r v a l l e y . o r g
Page
3
may
2010
Lewistown Hospital School of Nursing Receives Accreditation
The Lewistown Hospital School of Nursing recently received accreditation from the National League
of Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The NLNAC and its predecessor, the National League for
Nursing, have stood for standards of excellence for all types of nursing education for over 50 years. By
choosing to be accredited by NLNAC, the school and its faculty have demonstrated their commitment to the
highest standards of nursing education. The school's successful accreditation shows that the school does indeed meet these high standards. NLNAC granted full approval with special recognition of strengths related
to the school’s community partnerships and support.
The NLNAC welcomes comments from interested individuals from the nursing community, students,
and graduates, as well as the public-at-large. The NLNAC provides information on program type and accreditation of nursing programs. For more information visit, www.nlnac.org
For more information on the Lewistown Hospital School of Nursing, call 242-7930 or visit
www.lewistownhospital.org/schoolofnursing.
Museum Open for the Season
History comes alive in the summertime in Mifflin and Juniata Counties.
Both Historical Societies operate wonderful museums that are well worth exploring. If you haven’t visited the McCoy
House in Mifflin County or the Tuscarora
Academy in Juniata County recently then you need to make it
a priority this summer.
The General Frank McCoy House on North Main
Street in Lewistown is open Sunday afternoons starting May
16th from 1:30 to 4:00 P.M. Allow plenty of time as the collections and period room displays will amaze you. Please
note they will be closed on Sunday, July 4th. The Historic
Courthouse is open to visitors weekdays from 8:30 A.M. to
4:30 P.M. The restored courtroom will transport you back to
the mid 1800’s. You may want to include a stop at the Stone
Arch Bridge for more history and a walk through the cemetery at the corner of Water Street and South Brown Street.
The Tuscarora Academy in Academia (Spruce Hill) is
open Sunday afternoons from 1:30 to 4:00 P.M. starting June
6th. They will be open on July 4th. Be sure to include a stop
at the recently restored Pomeroy Academia Bridge which is
nearby (the longest remaining covered bride in the state at
270 feet long). In Mifflintown you’ll want to get a first hand
look at the renovation project going on at the Juniata County
Courthouse and invest some time at the Pennsylvania Canal
Park just off the Arch Rock exit of 322/22. While not officially
a dedicated park, the restored canal lock and all the PennDOT provided informational signage is of great interest.
There is a mile and a half riverside walk from the park west
to the fishing access area. The trail is walkable, but rather
crude.
Due to Pennsylvania revenue issues, grants normally
awarded to both historical societies have disappeared. Facing budget problems, both societies must rely on membership
to provide operating income. Please consider joining both
societies as soon as possible. It’s inexpensive, but will be so
appreciated. Help preserve local history for generations to
come.
For membership details go to:
www.rootsweb.com/-pajchs for Juniata County Historical Society
www.rootsweb.com/-pamchs for Mifflin County Historical Society
Five hundred people lost over three thousand
pounds in the six week Mifflin County Melt-down. This
first ever local mass healthy living tune-up was prompted by
our own Chamber board member Marge Delozier-Noss following a motivational speech given by Carole Carson at a
Curves convention. In 2004 Carole turned 65 years old and
was 60 pounds overweight, plus her health statistics were less
than stellar.
She engaged a core group of community leaders to
organize a melt-down and health tune-up and one thousand
people responded. Six community meetings were held with
six expert speakers on a wide range of health talks.
We borrowed the same plan which she detailed in her
book, “Fat to Fit”. Needless to say it worked extremely well
right here in the Juniata River Valley. Close to seventy
teams were formed and many of them are continuing to track
weight loss and exercise on a monthly basis.
President Jim was involved in the organizing process
and was a participant in the tune-up. He recently commented,
“The Melt-down concept was a win-win all the way around.
It benefited the 500 participants who registered and hundreds
more who chose to work alone. I had fallen off of the wagon
during the 2009 holidays after several months of continuous
weight loss. Between February 1st and April 30th I lost 20
pounds and am applying many changes the six speakers
brought to the meetings. I feel great and I am striving to
reach my goal of loosing 30 more pounds. I am focusing on whole foods, vegetables, fruits, sea
food, high fiber content carbs, lots of
water and daily walks.”
The committee will meet in
the near future to discuss future plans
for 2011. If you would like to be a part of it email Jim at
[email protected] or call at 248-6713.
w w w . j u n i a t a r i v e r v a l l e y . o r g
Page
4
MAY
MEMBER
SPOTLIGHT
The Lewistown Paper Company on West Freedom
Avenue across from Calkins Automotive is a thriving family
business. Founded by Sam Elsesser on the corner of South
Main and West Water Streets (Recognition Engraving location today) in 1976, the company today includes three generations of the Elsesser family. Sam is still involved, his son
Mark and daughter-in-law Deb, their son Todd and daughter
Amy run this huge warehouse operation employing 35.
The massive building was built in 1987 when Mark
and Deb officially took the reigns of the company. Well over
50,000 square feet, the multi level warehouse serves customers within a 150 mile radius of Burnham. Ten salesmen call
on the company’s customers each and every week and seven
delivery trucks bring those orders to the customer’s front
doors weekly. It’s all about great customer service and relationship building.
The seven delivery trucks are on the road in the daytime hours when freight is arriving in the warehouse. Orders
are pulled in the evening and the trucks loaded so they are
ready to go first thing the next morning when the drivers arrive.
The warehouse is bulging at the seams and extra storage units full of merchandise are on site as well. The wholesale distributor/retail salesroom stocks janitorial supplies,
food packaging products, restaurant supplies & equipment
and paper and plastic products. The showroom is open to the
public, a great place for garbage bags, paper and plastic dining products, kitchen utensils and cookware, commercial
cleaning products and sweepers. Check it out. You’ll be
surprised and will save money as well.
Member Since 1994!
2010
LENDING A HAND
On Friday, April 16th a
large group of students
from Belleville Mennonite
School as well as their
teacher, Ann Quinn joined
Janet Walker with the Visitors Bureau and Rhonda
Walters with the Chamber
in a “Community Clean Up
Day”. Janet supervised and
worked with a group focused on the beatification of the Downtown Lewistown
Monument Square Area, while Rhonda and Ann worked
with the crew at Victory Park.
The students raked, pulled
weeds, swept, and pickedup multiple bags of trash
and debris. The students’
efforts help prepare Victory
Park for the upcoming influx of visitors expected for
the upcoming RiverFEST 4th
of July Celebration as well as
the new Veteran’s Mural that is currently being created under the River Bridge in Victory Park. Thank you BMS staff
for instilling in
your
students
the value of
investing time in
your community! Thank you
BMS
students
for your willing
attitude!
5 Tips on Advertising Basics
1. Be consistent in your ad message and style including business
cards, letterhead, envelopes, invoices, signs and banners.
2. Newspapers, radio and TV stations are helpful in producing the
advertising that you will be running with them.
3. While word-of-mouth advertising has been around a long time, it
usually falls short of being able to attract the number of customers needed to be successful in business.
4. Promote benefits rather than features. A benefit is the emotional
satisfaction your product or service provides, or a tangible performance characteristic.
5. Know your competitors. Knowing everything about your competitors is just as important as knowing everything about your
own business.
Brought to you by SCORE, America's small business mentors, at
www.score.org. Ask SCORE!
w w w . j u n i a t a r i v e r v a l l e y . o r g
Page
5
MAY
2010
Please join us in welcoming our new Chamber Member
by patronizing their businesses! Their membership
reflects their integrity as a responsible business owner and demonstrates their
commitment to the community.
Penn Equipment Co. Assoc. Inc.
PO Box 86
100 Windmill Hill
Burnham PA 17009
Terry Shank
(717)248-8876
Kardex Production USA
MCIDC Plaza 35-6395 SR 103 North
Lewistown PA 17044
Christian Rueckerl
(717)248-6000
www.kardex.com
David Borland
73 Luther Drive
Lewistown PA 17044
Guy E. Mosgrave
37 French Drive
Lewistown PA 17044
First United Methodist Church
Juniata Concrete Company
200 E. 3rd Street
Lewistown PA 17044
Rob Hagenberger
(717)248-4618
[email protected]
721 Smith Road
Mifflintown PA 17059
Joel Auker
(717)436-2176
HAPPY
Trout Chiropractic Center, P.C.
Empire Kosher Poultry
Lewistown Welding Supply Co. Inc.
Haubert Homes, Inc.
Mifflin Co. Solid Waste Authority
Hummel Associates
PA CareerLink of Mifflin County
Representative Kerry Benninghoff
Buchanan’s Fabrics & Sewing Center
Juniata Memorial Park, Inc.
Lindsey's Decorative Concrete
Downtown Lewistown, Inc.
Downtown OIP & Grille
Trolley Car Cafe
Mary Kay Cosmetics
Lozinak Professional Baseball LLC
Juniata Valley Foot & Ankle
Associates
ANNIVERSARY!
Mark Eddy - Gold Key Real Estate
Lewistown Florist, Inc.
EconoLodge—Mifflintown
The Stop Restaurant
Heller - Hoenstine Funeral Homes,
Inc.
Clark, Thomas G., CPA
Greater Lewistown Corporate
Center
Olde Hatchery, Inc.
Strawser's Excavating & Hauling
American Cancer Society
Ewing & Company
Paint Shop at Brindel's Hardware
Reedsville Seafood Company
Culligan
Kishacoquillas Valley National Bank
Hartman Center
Do you have an upcoming
event? Let us promote it for
you! Send it to us by fax
717.248.6714 or email:
[email protected]
Deihls' Flowers, Inc.
Juniata Valley Council Boy Scouts of
America
Strut and Stroll Exercise Class
Love Shine Agency, Inc.
Central Penn Real Estate
Geisinger Health Plan
Mike Kalin
Gisewhite Construction Inc. Keystone Sprayfoam
SimplyHealth.Calm
Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
Burnham OIP
Triple G Design Group, Inc.
Keystone Business Support, Inc.
The Pampered Chef
Overhead Door Corporation - PA
Division
Have You checked Your Website
Listing? To ensure that your business is
represented properly to visitors and residents,
please review your listing information at
www.juniatarivervalley.org to ensure it is correct. If you see
that there are modifications to make, please email
[email protected] your changes.
w w w . j u n i a t a r i v e r v a l l e y . o r g
Page
6
MAY
2010
There was a cold wind blowing through the Big Valley on
Wednesday, April 28th and we do
mean literally! However, the gusty
winds were not a deterrent to the 170+
guests who attended the 2010 Business After Hours Expo held at Brookmere Winery & Vineyard
Inn Pavilion.
PRIL
TH
The 21 participating exhibitors did
such
an
impressive job with their displays,
Focus on
on:: Home & Office Savvy
in one case recreating nearly an entire living space! Each of them paid very close attention to detail, while presenting ways their business or organization could help make attendees’ home & office living spaces more inviting, efficient, functional & beautiful.
New this year were Expo Workshops presented by: Natural Designs Floral Studio & Gardens, The
Paint Shop at Brindel’s Hardware, Media X Creative, Stone Arch Real Estate & Caretaker LLC. If you
missed out on being an exhibitor this year, (we filled up very quickly and had a waiting list!) and want to
participate
next year;
be sure to get your registration in
early!
Thank you to all our terrific exhibitors and our
“connected” attendees as well as
our gracious hosts Ed & Cheryl
Glick at Brookmere Winery &
Vineyard Inn!
A
28
EXPO
, 2010
UPCOMING AFTER HOURS:
2010 After Hours:
Gathering hosted by
Lewistown Country Club
May 26th - Metzler
2011 After Hours:
Forest Products
January - Hoss’s Steak &
June 10th - Central PA
Sea House
Dock & Door
February - Goin’ Postal
July 28 - South Hills
School of Business &
March - Sacred Heart of
Technology of Lewistown Jesus Parish and School
August 25th - The
April - After Hours EXPO
Paisley Bride
May - Belleville
September - Walnut
Mennonite School
Springs Racquet Club,
June - Tillie’s Sunshine
Ed’s Train Repairs &
July - OPEN
Sales, Yoga Massage &
August - OPEN
Body Works
September - One-Stop
October 13th - Paint
Communications
OUR Town Pink with
October - Keystone
Mary Kay
Complex
November - Rich Coast
November - OPEN
Coffee
December - Holiday
December - Holiday
Top Ten Employers in the Juniata River Valley
(Based upon workforce)
Juniata County
Mifflin County
Empire Kosher
1. Lewistown Hospital
Poultry
2. Mifflin County
2. Armstrong Wood
School District
Products
3. Standard Steel
3. Excel Homes
4. Trinity Packaging
4. Juniata County
5. Philips Ultrasound
School District
6. Tuscarora Interme5. Weis Markets
diate Unit
6. Zimmerman Truck 7. Valley View Haven
Lines
8. Wal-Mart
7. Brookline Manor
9. First Quality
Nursing Home
10. Overhead Door
8. State Government
9. Jay Fulkroad &
Sons
10. Juniata County
1.
w w w . j u n i a t a r i v e r v a l l e y . o r g
Page
7
MAY
Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting
The annual breakfast meeting of the Juniata
River Valley Chamber of Commerce took place on
Monday, April 19th at 7:30 A.M. at the Lewistown
Country Club. This marked the 92nd annual gathering since the chambers inception in 1918 and the fifth
under President Jim’s administration. Chairman
Kurt Stewart presided over the meeting.
The highlight of this
year’s meeting was the presentation by guest speakers, Mr. Jos
De Vuyst and Christian Rueckerl of Kardex AG. Kardex AG
recently purchased the American Kardex company in order to
expand their USA distribution
and manufacturing. Originally
one corporation, years ago the
European division became it’s
own entity and held the rights
to the name everywhere except
for the USA. Since the recent
purchase there is only one international corporation and Lewistown now serves as its USA
headquarters. Millions of dollars have been invested in updating the factory and the goal is to increase the employee count to 100 over the next few years. This is
great news for Mifflin County.
Election of Officers for 2010 took place under
Nominating Committee Chairperson Susan Kratzers’s direction, elected were: Chairman, Kurt Stew-
2010
Mrs. Kratzer
also conducted the
election of positions
on the Board of Directors. Elected to
three year terms
were: Susan Kratzer,
Rob Postal, Larry
Wise, Ruth Fisher, Jon Zimmerman, and Lee Ellen
Foose.
President Jim reviewed the five years to date
as President, listing promises made at the annual
meeting in April of 2005, comparing them to actual
results. He was very pleased to
be able to report that he and the
staff have exceeded all of his
goals and expectations. Special
thanks goes to Rhonda Walters
for planning, promoting, organizing and implementing the event
with assistance from Jill Haubrick and Janet Walker of the
Visitor’s Bureau.
The following awards were presented by Administrative
Assistant, Rhonda Walters, during the meeting:
Emerging
Spirit of the
Business Award: Juniata River
Kentucky Fried Valley Award:
Chicken
Satyam Lalani
Standard
Steel
Ambassador
of the Year:
Community
Service Award:
Cher
Harpster
Shelter Services
Wilda Fisher
art with UGI Central Penn Gas, Vice-Chairman,
Mark Partner with The Partner Agency, Secretary,
Brent Miller with First National Bank of PA, and
Treasurer, Lee Ellen Foose with Juniata Valley Bank.
Pride Award: Central Pa Dock & Door
Business and Education Committee awards were presented by
Chairperson, Cher Harpster: (Picture on left) Juniata County
Teacher of the Year Award: Diane Glock, Juniata High School and
(Picture on right) Mifflin County Teacher of the Year Award: Matthew
S. Kern - Lewistown Middle School.
w w w . j u n i a t a r i v e r v a l l e y . o r g
Volunteer
Award: Bryson
Wagner
Page
8
MAY
Schedule of Events
(contd. From pg 2)
May 10-17th - Creekside Hearth & Patio Customer Appreciation Days.
Food, Door Prizes, & Great Deals! 220 West Freedom Avenue, Burnham
PA. 717.248.9984
May 15-16 Kish Creek Trout Tournament. Tagged trout tournament along
the Kish Creek. Registration at Mifflin County Youth Park in Reedsville, PA.
717.667.6829 or www.kishcreektrouttournament.com.
May 16-22 – US Sports Class National Glider Contest. Mifflin County
Airport in Reedsville, PA 717.667.6829
May 17 - Success by 6 Business Leaders Breakfast. 7:30am Breakfast &
Networking, 8:00 - 9:00am Program, Held at the Lewistown Country Club.
COST IS FREE! Registration is required. RSVP by May 14 to
717.248.6713 or [email protected].
May 19 - 2010 Good Scout Dinner at Moose Family Center in Lewistown
@ 6pm. Honoring John Pannizzo. RSVP/Tickets: $110/person or $160/
couple. Table sponsor/$800. The evening reception will begin at 6:00pm
with dinner and the program beginning at 6:30pm. Chris Styers at 717-667
-9236 or [email protected].
2010
LOCUST CAMPGROUND - CHANGES
OW NERSHIP On April 15th, 2010,
Dave and Jack Knox announced that they
had officially sold the Locust Campground, the brand new swimming pool
and the restored one and a half miles of
Pennsylvania Canal to the Bradd Rudman
family of Burlington, Vermont.
The Knox brothers are not leaving the area and you may
very well find Captain Dave at the helm of the canal boat as
usual. They are excited to enter into retirement and very
pleased to turn the reigns over to the Rudman family who are
experienced campground owners and have immediate plans to
expand the number of campsites.
Congratulations to the new owners and thank you to
the Knox Brothers for the many decades of professional management and community service you have provided. We can
think of very few individuals whose love of the Juniata River
Valley and its people exceeds that of Dave and Jack Knox.
Business & Education Committee Educator in the Workplace Tour
May 22 - 18th Annual Children’s Miracle Network Event. 5pm at Wal-mart
Lawn & Garden Department. 717.242.6201
May 22-23 - 41st Mifflin-Juniata Arts Festival. 10am to 5pm & 11am to
5pm. Held Rain or Shine at Lewistown Rec Park in Lewistown, PA. Music,
Artisan wares, delicious international foods. www.mifflinjuniataartsfest.com
or 717.363.8073.
MAY 25 - Juniata Valley EAC Seminar - UNEMPLOYMENT
COMPENSATION DENISE KERR, UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION,
HARRISBURG BRYAN DIEHL, UC BOARD OF REVIEW, HARRISBURG
~ Unemployment Compensation Updates and Mock Hearings with
audience participation
May 28 – Greenwood Furnace State Park Black Smith Shop – 8pm. “Tin
Pan Alley – Pop Music History” 814.667.1805.
May 28 – Mifflin County School District Jazz Festival – held at the
Lewistown High School. 717.242.1401
May 28 – VFW Memorial Day Parade – held in Belleville, PA. Starts at
9am.
May 29th – Country Memories Day. McVeytown, PA 9:30am-4pm.
717.899.7450
May 30th – Music in the Vineyard held at Brookmere Winery in Belleville,
PA. Featuring Tommy Wareham. 717.935.2195. 7-10pm.
May 31 – Memorial Day Parade in McVeytown by the Lions Club. Starts at
10am.
June Events
June 15 or June 16 - Charity Golf Tournament by Lewistown Healthcare
Foundation and Friends of Lewistown Hospital at the Lewistown Country
Club. 717.242.7365 or register online at: www.lewistownhospital.org/golf
On Monday, April 5th, the Juniata River Valley Chamber of
Commerce Business & Education Committee hosted an Educator in the
Workplace Tour for educators in the Mifflin and Juniata County School
Districts. The attendees were treated to breakfast at the Lewistown Hospital and then given the opportunity to tour several departments such as: the
laboratory, imaging, cardio-pulmonary and paramedic. While touring, the
educators were given an overview of each department and encouraged to
ask questions. The purpose being, that with the information they obtained,
they are better equipped to return to the classroom and then direct their
students into areas of study that can best prepare them for their chosen
career paths.
At the conclusion of
the tours a light lunch was
served, as Dr. Jeanette (Fraser)
Carter, Director of the Outreach
for K-12 Department at Penn
State College, spoke to the
group offering suggestions of
ways they could incorporate the
information they received on the
tour into their classroom. Act
48 credit hours were awarded.
The next event on the
agenda for the Business & Education Committee is a committee luncheon meeting with members of the
administration of the Mifflin and Juniata Country School Districts at the
Mifflin- Juniata Career & Technology Center on May 19, 2010 from noon
– 1:00 pm. Both of these events were made possible by a grant obtained
through the South Central Workforce Investment Board.
w w w . j u n i a t a r i v e r v a l l e y . o r g
Page
9
MAY
2010
Victory Park Veterans Mural - Priming, & Painting!
In the beginning of April, the mural
site was sandblasted by Polarblast out of Bellefonte. This step was necessary to start with a clean surface. On April 20th &
21st, the mural site was primed and painted. Some of our members answered our call for help in preparing the wall. This
preparation was no small task considering the extremely porous texture of the cement wall.
Just when it seemed we would be applying primer well into the future at the rate we were going, Adam Barkett
with Carketaker LLC, came riding in on his white steed to our rescue. Well it actually was his white Caretaker Van, but he
rescued us just the same. Adam quickly assessed the situation and volunteered to bring his commercial paint sprayer to
tackle the task at hand. Needless to say this method of application worked much more efficiently than ours. On day two it
was time for the blue background to be applied. This day was made easier as well when we were rescued once again; this
time it came in the form of a scissor lift from Steele’s Rental, helping us reach the high spots.
All the paint used in this project is from The Paint Shop at Brindel’s Hardware in Reedsville. Jewel kept us continually supplied with paint in order to complete this step. Many times she was called and heard, “we need more paint”. She
was always quick to respond and mix a few more gallons as needed.
A HUGE thank you to all of our volunteers who came and invested their time into this amazing community project: Mike Ryan with Penn State SBDC, Bryson Wagner of Bryson’s Stuff, Adam Barkett & Jesse Hutko with
Caretaker LLC, Bob Lyter from Community Partnerships RC&D, Ed Forsythe of Ed’s Train Repair & Sales, Becky Connolly
with Lewistown Home Health and Hospice: The Bridge, Marihelen Hower of Gussy’d Up, Pam Kightlinger with Creekside
Hearth and Patio, and of course our staff Rhonda, Jim, Janet & Jill. Thanks to Mike Tate, with GME Communication for
the installation of the security cameras.
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention our mural artist, Dwight Kirkland, who has been working feverishly on
the project. If you haven’t been down to see the mural evolve, be sure to plan several trips down to watch Dwight create this
amazing tribute in dedication… to those who respond to the colors.
On April 15th, all area fire trucks responded to a
massive fire just off of Route 655 on the road over to Barrville. A.J. Peachey & Sons business complex burned to the
ground. A family owned business that included a full sized
grocery store with meat market and bakery, a family restaurant featuring a daily buffet, an ice cream parlor with
walk-up window, a huge country gift and home décor store
and a catering business.
Father and son, Lewis and Aaron Peachey owned
and operated the business started by Lewis’s father A.J.
Peachey. Recently Lewis and Aaron had bought out Lewis’s brothers and became the sole owners.
The Big Valley is without any doubt the premier tourist attraction in the Juniata River Valley. The
loss of the A.J. Peachey businesses will have a devastating effect on the overall tourist experience. It is a
very significant stop on every visitor’s tour and offered a real taste of the plain folk lifestyle we are so proud
of in our area.
The business offered local Dutch food favorites in the restaurant, stocked a wide variety of locally
made canned goods, baked goods and bulk packed staples; handmade crafts & furnishings; an old fashioned
meat counter; and the ability to cater picnics, banquets, wedding receptions, reunions and pig roasts. At this
point very little is know about the cause of the fire and the future of the business, however, we need to reach
out to our brother members and extend our sympathy and a helping hand when and where needed.
w w w . j u n i a t a r i v e r v a l l e y . o r g
Page
10
MAY
Jim’s Corner
2010
Yes I can ride a bicycle….
It was the fall of 1977 and I was mesmerized by an article about Block Island,
Rhode Island that appeared in the Harrisburg Patriot Travel section. This quaint five
mile long island off the coast of Providence, R.I., and just north of Long Island, is reached
via ferry boat. The mode of transportation on the island is bicycle and moped.
I started dreaming of spending a week at a bed & breakfast on the island and this
led to a passion for some information about mopeds. Ah, what an inexpensive means of
transportation this would prove to be around town and out on our network of country
byways. The more I read, the more I wanted to own one. It was in the dead of winter
when Fosselman’s Furniture Store advertised a brand new addition to their extensive
product offerings, Vespa mopeds and scooters, made in Italy.
Now mopeds and scooters were, and still are, hugely popular in Italy and in much
of Europe. Why oh why not in the United States of America? My dreams focused on
the smallest, least expensive moped, followed by weekly upgrades until all my passion
rested on the top of the line motor scooter. I just knew this was exactly what Jim Tunall needed in his life, a fun packed, and
exciting, funky European two wheeler.
Next, I rolled my attention right into the official Vespa accessory catalog. Saddle bags, a full sized wind shield, a stereo system and extra comfort seat. All that was left was to choose a color, sit down with Jim Fosselman, write the order and
make the down payment.
Then the waiting game began. Waiting for the scooter to arrive, waiting for the installation of the accessories and
finally, the longest wait of all, waiting for mild spring weather. Months passed slowly and finally one early April Wednesday
morning it appeared that the warm temperature I longed for was to be reality…. sixty degrees at noon. At that time my store
closed on Wednesdays at noon, so, off to Fosselman’s I went, silver helmet in tow to match my silver Vespa. Total cost
$2,560.00, quite different than the simple $495.00 moped I initially detailed.
Hmmm! I had never driven a motorized two wheel vehicle. How difficult could it be? Hop on, hit the gas and go. Not
quite, it had gears and a clutch. I headed towards town on Ort Valley
Road, turned left onto Electric Avenue, then right onto Mill Road past
the former Olde Mill Pet Store and on to Bridge Street. This is where a
left turn onto Bank Street should take place. I was burning along at a
snail pace of well under 5mph into the turn. I took it wide, got onto
the gravel berm and slide into a ditch. I found myself pinned under the
Vespa. Surrounded by broken glass and quickly drawing a crowd of drivers who
had lined up behind me. They were hollering “call an ambulance!” and I
was hollering, “get this thing off of me!”
I survived, unscathed, but deeply scarred, by the humiliation. I
abandoned the Vespa, walked the three blocks to my home on Spanogle
Avenue, called Fosselman’s and requested they pick up my new wheels
and instructed them to call me when it was repaired. Three weeks and
$1,500.00 later, they delivered it to my store in downtown Lewistown.
I was never to ride the Vespa again. It sat in the back hallway
at Tom Johnson Shoe Store (now South Hills School of Business and
Technology) for 12 months… untouched. At the end of the
year I traded it in on a Toyota Celica, black coupe, five on the
floor. Needless to say, that deal involved some serious negotiations on my part and I’m not proud of the financial compromise it took to get into that sporty auto with four wheels….and,
yes, two years later, I did take that
week’s vacation on Block Island and
rented a moped for the week and rode it
daily, accident free. However, I no
longer felt the need to own a
moped of my own.
Yes I can ride a bicycle…
Contact Us: Historic Courthouse - One West Market Street - Lewistown, PA 17044
Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Phone: 717.248.6713 Fax: 717.248-6714
Email: [email protected] Web: www.juniatarivervalley.org