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We've got mail! Wind: Who are we? To the editor: Development of alternative energy is a complex issue and demands a response that is well researched, investigated and debated. It does not call for a kneejerk reaction, giving an enormous handout to an industry (wind) whose contribution to our quest for clean energy is at best minimal, leaving in its wake a heavy widening scar across our land. Sensitive ecosystems are being disrupted. Bird and bat mortality is a fact the industry can no longer deny. Human health and safety, and the basic right to enjoy our homes in relative peace, are being jeopardized, while industrial wind complexes are springing up as unwanted and intrusive "neighbors" in residential areas. Yet, the industry attempts to trivialize valid concerns by labeling those who oppose as NIMBYs ("Not in MY back yard!). The ridge tops of Potter and Tioga counties represent much more than just a back yard. Our unspoiled natural beauty is what makes us unique. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental lawyer and professor at Pace University Law School, writes: "All of us need periodically to experience wilderness to renew our spirits and reconnect ourselves to the common history of our nation, humanity and to God. The worst trap that environmentalists can fall into is the conviction that the only wilderness worth preserving is in the Rocky Mountains or Alaska. To the contrary, our most important wildernesses are those that are closest to our densest population centers." We are the home of the Pennsylvania Wilds. We are her caretakers. To close, I'd like to borrow from a quote by Mark Walsh of Manchester, Vermont: "Potter and Tioga County mountain ridges may not be as impressive as Yosemite's El Capitan or the Grand Tetons, but something very real would be sacrificed on the questionable altar of renewable energy for profit. Potter and Tioga County mountain ridges are not just a back yard. They are a heritage and a legacy. And they are as good a place as any to make a stand."
Preserve the beauty of our region. Say no to industrial wind. Going natural To the editor: Products we use every day for personal care - from shampoo to deodorant, lotion to make-up - can contain chemical ingredients that are absorbed through the skin, inhaled or ingested. So it's not surprising that potentially harmful chemicals have gotten into our bodies, our breast milk and our children. Some of these chemicals are linked to cancer, birth defects, learning disabilities and other health problems. The cosmetics industry says it's safe to put toxic chemicals into personal care products because the amount is too small to matter. But none of us use just one product. Think about how many products you use in a single day - from toothpaste to soap, shampoo, hair conditioner, deodorant, body lotion, shaving products and makeup - and how many products you use in a year, and over a lifetime. Small amounts of toxic chemicals add up and can accumulate in our bodies. Chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects do not belong in personal care products, period. More and more people are looking for natural alternatives to the chemical products they can buy at the store. The third annual Mountain Thyme Herbal Fair, to be held at Cherry Springs State Park July 19-20, from 10 am to 4 pm each day, is a great place to start. Vendors will feature products made from nature, including herbs, as well as gardening and nature-based art. It's an opportunity to purchase soaps, lotions, salves, aromatherapy sprays, oils, cleaning products and other personal care items that have been hand-crafted, containing healthful herbs and organic, chemical-free compounds. And it's also a great place to get information about herb use for health as well as healthy additions to your culinary creations.
Programs will be presented on wild plants and flowers, plant use and identification, and there will be activities specifically geared for children. Fresh produce will be available and live music will be featured. Artists, jewelrymakers and a blacksmith will also have booths. Admission is free. To the editor: This year's "Make A Difference Day" is Oct. 25, set aside for residents of the U.S. to volunteer and help others and make the world a better place. It would be nice if Cameron County residents would take a cue from the employees of Motor Coils, who complete a project each year that makes our community better. Each community in the county could get together and make a difference. Each church could decide on a project to help someone in the church or a project for the community at large. A group of churches could get together for a major effort. Employees from each industry could decide on projects that they could do. Organizations could become involved. School kids could work together. The list is endless. Think what we could do if we all work together. We could help those in need, and we could make a difference. Last year, ten prizes of $10,000 each were given to communities across the U.S. Even though I don't think the prize should be the motivating factor, it would be nice if we could win a prize to be used next year for good works locally.
To get more information on this, go to makeadifferenceday. com. This website shows tips on how to get started, including an idea generator. Let's get busy and make difference! help available To the editor: Learning about managing money doesn't have to be intimidating or painful. Penn State Cooperative Extension is holding monthly money management workshops to help families effectively reduce debt and increase savings. The workshops will be held on the fourth Tuesday of every month from 6-8 pm at the First Baptist Church on North Broad Street in Emporium. Topics to be discussed will include tools for tracking and managing spending, improving credit use, recordkeeping and making financial decisions. Next workshop will be held Tuesday, July 22. Here are some comments from past workshop participants: "I used to be a little bit of a saver, but what I learned helped me become a better saver." "My wife was always pretty good with money. That's why she sent me to the class -- to learn what she knows and to put it into practice." Registration is requested to assure adequate handouts are available.
Register by calling the Elk County Extension offi ce at 776-5331 or email elkext@psu.edu. |
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