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Holy Cow! The war on milk…

20 Wednesday Apr 2016

Posted by HattieBelle in American, Amish, Board of Animal Health, Brad Rogers, Community, Controlled, Cows, Crime, Elkhart County, Food, Food Labels, Freedom, Fresh Garden Produce, Genetically Modified Food, GMO Alternatives, Government, Health, Indiana, Mennonite, Milk, Raw Milk

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Illegal substance “partakers”???

By, Gayle Lane

Extending for four decades now, the war on drugs has ingrained a certain ideology into society. What was sold as an initiative to get dangerous drugs off the streets has conceived a totalitarian mindset that government has the authority to control everything you eat and drink and, if you disobey, the state can fine you, destroy your property, raid your home and throw you in jail. I’m not talking about cocaine or meth. I’m not even talking about marijuana. I’m talking about milk.

According to Time Magazine , “for some Americans, milk has become a test of their freedom. And they’re not paranoid kooks either; the government really is out to get them, authorizing seizures of bottles and jugs of unpasteurized milk and, in one recent case, a full-on, agents-brandishing-guns raid.”

There is indeed a war going on, and it’s threatening one of your most basic freedoms – the right to eat a wholly natural, healthful food!

The FDA has long banned the sale of raw milk across state lines, and in many states it’s illegal to sell raw milk entirely. (For more information about laws in various US states, please see this link. For information about raw milk in other countries go here.)

Why has a natural food source been banned for sale in so many areas?

Well, they claim raw milk is simply too dangerous to consume and by restricting its sale they are serving the public health and reducing the risk of illness….

Yet shockingly there’s no evidence backing up this claim.

According to CDC data, from 1993 to 2006, only about 116 illnesses a year were linked to raw milk. That amounts to less than .000002 percent of the 76 million people who contract a food-borne illness in the United States each year!

Looking at the evidence, or rather lack thereof, it is quite clear that raw milk has been unfairly singled out and targeted by the FDA, the USDA, and even the FBI, despite the fact that it’s so low on the food-borne illness risk scale it’s hardly measurable.

The recent enforcement efforts against raw milk sales is so disproportionate to the risk it poses to consumers that it defies all logic.

Is the Ban on Raw Milk Unconstitutional?

Raw milk enthusiasts and raw dairy suppliers began fighting back in early 2010, filing suit against the FDA, claiming that banning interstate sales is unconstitutional.

The rebuttal received from the FDA was shocking to say the least. It contained the following outrageous statements, which make it very clear they believe you have   no right  to natural, unadulterated food:

Live free, drink raw milk.

“There is no absolute right to consume or feed children any particular food.”

“There is no ‘deeply rooted’ historical tradition of unfettered access to foods of all kinds.”

“Plaintiffs’ assertion of a ‘fundamental right to their own bodily and physical health, which includes what foods they do and do not choose to consume for themselves and their families’ is similarly unavailing because plaintiffs do not have a fundamental right to obtain any food they wish.”

The FDA’s brief goes on to state that “even if such a right did exist, it would not render the FDA’s regulations unconstitutional because prohibiting the interstate sale and distribution of unpasteurized milk promotes bodily and physical health.”

“There is no fundamental right to freedom of contract.”

With these assertions, the FDA essentially claims to have the authority to prohibit any food of their choosing, and make it a crime for you to seek it out.

This is simply unacceptable.

Raw Milk Safety Standards – Actually HIGHER than Those for Pasteurized Milk

It’s essential to understand the reasons why most dairy is pasteurized in the first place.

The dairy cows used to produce much of the pasteurized dairy sold in the United States are raised in such unsanitary conditions that it affects the cows’ health and hence the quality of their milk.

Factory farming conditions are the reason why the milk has to be pasteurized in the first place. If it wasn’t, it simply would not be safe to drink. This fact is also what prevents the conventional dairy industry from competing with smaller organic farms.

In terms of quality and nutritional content of the milk, you simply cannot compare the milk produced by factory farms to that of organic farm that raise their cattle on grasses and let them out to pasture. These cows are healthy, and produce high quality, uncontaminated milk that does not require pasteurization to kill off dangerous pathogens.

Still, despite the fact that grass-fed organically-raised cows are at a distinct advantage, from the get-go when it comes to the quality of their milk, organic dairy farms in most states still must meet or exceed pasteurized milk standards, without pasteurizing.

California, specifically, (where raw milk is legal) has its own special set of standards for raw milk for human consumption.

So, if it’s not really about food safety, what’s all the hubbub about?

In a word: money.

The conventional dairy industry, realizing that consumers are flocking toward raw milk because of its health benefits, has redoubled their efforts to quench raw milk sales.

You might think that if raw dairy became attractive enough the dairy industry would simply follow suit and begin producing raw products to meet the demand. Alas… this is virtually impossible because of the way their overcrowded farms are run.

You simply CANNOT drink factory farmed milk raw. It would be extremely unsafe. Their business depends on pasteurization, and that is why their powerful lobbyists will stop at nothing to persuade government agencies to keep raw milk bans in full force.

Big Dairy simply cannot compete, so to maintain their market share, they’re employing dirty tactics to destroy the competition instead.

A yearlong sting operation, including aliases, a 5 a.m. surprise inspection and surreptitious purchases from an Amish farm in Pennsylvania, culminated in the federal government announcing this week that it has gone to court to stop Rainbow Acres Farm from selling its contraband.

Related articles
  • Setbacks and Bizarre Turns in the Raw Milk Saga (libertycrier.com)
  • Baylen Linnekin on the Fight for the Right to Choose Raw Milk (reason.com)
  • Setbacks and Bizarre Turns in the Raw Milk Saga (txwclp.org)
  • Raw milk appeal breaking news in TO (thebovine.wordpress.com)
  • Sheriff Brad Rogers takes on the Feds in defense of Elkhart County Dairy Farmer

Don’t miss the Nappanee Apple Festival this weekend!

20 Friday Sep 2013

Posted by HattieBelle in 2013, Contest, Corn Hole Contest, Elkhart County, Family Fun, Festival, Food, Indiana, Nappanee, Nappanee Apple Festival

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Contests, Family Fun, Festival, Food, Fun, Music, Nappanee, Nappanee Apple Festival, Nappanee Chamber of Commerce, Rides

The Nappanee Apple Festival is proud of their family-friendly atmosphere and Midwestern hospitality that attracted over 85,000 people in 2012.

The Nappanee Apple Festival is proud of their family-friendly atmosphere and Midwestern hospitality that attracted over 85,000 people in 2012.

The festival has begun! Come to Nappanee and check out all the crafts, commercial exhibits and enjoy some great food! Today, Mike Hemmelgarn, comedy juggler and ventriloquist is on the Martin’s Entertainment Stage from 11:30-12:30 p.m. and Billy Dee (variety music) is on the CenturyLink Stage from 11:30-12:30 p.m. Senior Bingo starts at 1:00 p.m. in the Martin’s Super Market stage and Silly Safaris has a live animal show on the CenturyLink stage from 1:00-2:30 p.m.

Joe Knapp, from Goshen, IN on a downtown Nappanee sidewalk is about to play "Stairway to Heaven" at my husband's request. There is so much going on in Nappanee today!

Joe Knapp, from Goshen, IN on a downtown Nappanee sidewalk is about to play “Stairway to Heaven” at my husband’s request. There is so much going on in Nappanee today! Join in on the fun!

The Nappanee Apple Festival also features Indiana’s largest 7 foot baked apple pie. We serve approximately 750 slices of pie and many people travel across the United States to savor their annual piece of this pie. Other activities include a variety of entertainment on two stages, 100 craft vendors, 60 commercial vendors, carnival rides, parade with signature military aircraft fly-over, scholarship queen pageant, corn hole tournament, apple baking contest, garden tractor pull, kids and adult pedal pull contests, wings and wheels show at airport, apple peeling contest, 5K road run and half-marathon and a pie-eating contest.

In the spirit of the celebration, you will find crates of fresh apples dotting the downtown sidewalks and more than 25 food vendors including many local non-profit organizations serving all your favorites. There will be plenty of your favorite fresh apple products like apple pie, apple fritters, apple dumplings, apple turnovers, apple fry pies, apple bread, applesauce, apple cider and apple butter to enjoy during the festival or to take home to enjoy later.

The Nappanee Chamber of Commerce invites you to experience a truly unique hometown festival. After the fun and entertainment, you’ll be sure to mark your calendar to return for next year’s festival!

Click HERE for a schedule of events.

Elkhart County GOP ~ Nappanee Parade

11 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by HattieBelle in 2013, Elkhart County, Family Fun, GOP, Indiana, Join Us, Nappanee, Nappanee Apple Festival, Nappanee Parade, Republican Party

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GOP, Join Us, Nappanee Apple Festival, Nappanee Parade, Parade Float, Republican Party, Saturday, September 21

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PLEASE NOTE THE CORRECTED DATE;THE PREVIOUS EMAIL WITH SEPT 14 DATE WAS INCORRECT.

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So far, Church Community Services’ ‘Seed to Feed” program has harvested 17,500 lbs. of food for Elkhart’s food pantries

08 Sunday Sep 2013

Posted by HattieBelle in 2013, Civic Engagement, Civic Service, Community, Community Services, Elkhart County, Elkhart Indiana, Farming, Food Pantries, Food Pantry, Fresh Garden Produce, Gardening, Indiana, National Hunger Day, Neighbors, People helping Neighbors, Seeds, Vegetables

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Caring, Church Community Services, Community, Community Services, Donations, Donors, Farmers, Food, Food bank, Food Pantry, Fresh Garden Vegetables, Gardening, Helping Neighbors, Hunger, Seed to Feed, Volunteers

‘Seed to feed’ is a program through Church Community Services where fresh produce is provided to local food pantries. The idea started two years ago and last year, 55 acres of corn and beans were planted to help fund the project and a one acre vegetable garden was planted. Shortly after its start, another garden was donated and a farmer donated 3 acres of potatoes.

Volunteers at Goshen's garden work hard to harvest the last of summer produce. Volunteers are always needed to help pick vegetables from the programs many gardens. Donations of extra food from individual gardens are also accepted.

Volunteers at Goshen’s garden work hard to harvest the last of summer produce. Volunteers are always needed to help pick vegetables from the programs many gardens. Donations of extra food from individual gardens are also accepted.

In its first year, 25,941 pounds of fresh produce was donated. This year the goal is the same and community involvement has increased. This summer six gardens were planted and so far, 17,000 pounds of produce has been harvested. Money from the cash crops has been used to go to the Wakarusa Produce Auction to purchase additional produce.

There are two fields of income crops being grown and this year a livestock component has been added as well.

More about ‘Seed to Feed’ HERE and HERE.

Jeremy Shue, Director of  the Goshen Garden, with volunteers stand proudly behind vegetables they just harvested.

Jeremy Shue, Director of the Goshen Garden, with volunteers stand proudly behind vegetables they just harvested.

‘Seed to Feed’ thanks all the volunteers who give generously of their time and their muscles to help in the gardens. Listed below are all the gardens and scheduled work days.

PLEASE CALL IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE!

Goshen Garden: 14723 CR 36, Goshen. Mondays @ 5:30pm. Coordinator: Jeremy Shue: jeremyshue@gmail.com. 574-536-2010

Bullard Garden: 22104 CR 14, Elkhart. Tuesdays @ 5:30pm. Coordinator: Kurt Bullard: Kurtbullard4444@gmail.com. 574-298-9059

CCS Garden: 902 Thomas St, Elkhart. Wed & Thurs @ 8:00am. Coordinator: Katie Jantzen: mailto:Kurtbullard4444@gmail.com. 574-295-3673 ext 122

Northwest Goshen: 538 S. Indiana Ave, Goshen. Wednesdays @ 5:30pm. Coordinator: Andrea Milne andreajillmilne@gmail.com. 574-400-5858

Heart’s Desire Garden: 3030 Old US 20, Elkhart. Thursdays @ 5:30pm. Coordinator: Dave Hochstetler Dhhooch@aol.com. 574-349-4905

See you at the gardens!

Wakarusa Patriot Day ~ ‘Remembering 9-11’ Blood Drive and Ceremony

07 Saturday Sep 2013

Posted by HattieBelle in 2013, 9-11, 9-11 Remembrance, Activism, American, Blood Drive, Boy Scouts, Brad Rogers, Caring, Cataclysmic Event, Elkhart County, Honor America's First Reponders, Indiana, Patriotism, Scout Surge, United States Armed Forces, Wakarusa

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9-11 Remembrance, Blood Drive, Boy Scouts, Boy Scouts Surge, Community, Community Service, Elkhart County, Honoring America's First Responders, Patriotism, Sheriff Brad Rogers, United States Armed Forces, Wakarusa Indiana

2013 Remembering and Blood DriveOpen to the Public

Patriot Day/Remembering 9-11 Blood Drive and Ceremony
BLOOD DRIVE (South Bend Medical Foundation)
When: September 11, 2013
Time: 2:30pm – 5:30pm EST
Where: Wakarusa Memorial Park
(Behind Wakarusa Elementary School)

CEREMONY

When: September 11, 2013
Time: 5:30pm – 6:15pm EST
Elkhart County Sheriff, Brad Rogers is our guest speaker.

The Wakarusa 911 Remembrance ceremony will feature guest speaker, Elkhart County Sheriff, Brad Rogers.

The Wakarusa 911 Remembrance ceremony will feature guest speaker, Elkhart County Sheriff, Brad Rogers.

Where: Wakarusa Memorial Park
(Behind Wakarusa Elementary School)
Bring Chairs – Their will be some shelter.

Your local scouting community is holding their 3nd annual Scout Surge a 9-11 remembrance ceremony at Wakarusa Memorial Park. This service will last approximately 45min. Please bring your chairs as we honor and our local first responders, our armed forces and their families as well as remember this day in our nation’s history. Our guests of Honor include all branches of our local United States Armed Forces as well as our Local and County First Responders. Help us say Thank You! You will also get a chance to see Memorials MedFlight Chopper!

On September 11, 2001 nearly 3,000 innocent people died in the most devastating terrorist attack upon our country. For the families and friends of those lost on 9/11, commemorating their lives in a meaningful way ensures that their memory will live on for future generations.

In the days following 9/11, people of all ages came together as one in communities around our country. Join the Surge and show your patriotism by participating in a Day of Remembrance in your community. With your help we will Always Remember! To learn more about Scout Surge please CLICK HERE

Blood Drive Facebook Link >> CLICK HERE
Ceremony Facebook Link >> CLICK HERE

Map to Wakarusa Park

‘September 2’…68 years ago

02 Monday Sep 2013

Posted by HattieBelle in American, Celebrations, Community, Douglas MacArthur, Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana, Japanese Surrender, Labor Day Weekend, USS Missouri, VJ Day

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America, Douglas MacArthur, Elkhart, Elkhart County, Elkhart Indiana, End of WWII with Japan, History, Labor Day, Larry App, Paul Thomas, September 2, Signing of Treaty with Japan, USS Missouri, VJ Day

 Gen. Douglas MacArthur accepts Japanese surrender, USS Missouri, Tokyo Bay, September 2, 1945.

Gen. Douglas MacArthur accepts Japanese surrender, USS Missouri, Tokyo Bay, September 2, 1945.

What is was like in Elkhart, Indiana

during World War II?

Video by Larry App

 

“When World War II ended,” says, Paul D. Thomas, Elkhart, Indiana’s “Official Historian”, “there was more elation and more excitement in Elkhart than over anything that had ever happened before. People poured into the streets. I remember that I had a 1929 Essex. If you can believe that; in 1943, I bought a 1929 Essex. When Victory in Japan Day was announced we cruised up and down Main street and we hollered and we bellowed. And it was just one of the greatest things that ever happened.”

Thomas, owned the former Paul Thomas Shoes, served on the city council and headed the Elkhart Urban Enterprise Association, along with many other civic groups and committees.

Upon retiring,Thomas opened the “Time Was” Museum located at 125-A North Main Street, Elkhart, Indiana.

Elkhart County: On the edge of nuclear disaster?

26 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by HattieBelle in Cancer, Death Statistics, Elkhart County, Health, Indiana, Meltdown, NRC, Nuclear, Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Regulation Commission, Palisades Nuclear Plant, Radiation, Safety, Tritium

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Cancer, Cancer Rates, catch basins, Corroded, Covert Township Michigan, Death Rates, Health Risk, Lake Michigan, Leaks, New Haven, Nuclear Energy, Palisades Nuclear Generating Station, Public Safety, Radioactive Waste, Reactor Parts, Safety, Steam, Tritium

I subscribed to a Nuclear Energy Newsletter on June 7, 2012 so that I could keep track of what was going on with Palisades Nuclear Plant in Covert township, Michigan. That day someone had tweeted that a radiation monitoring station in St. Joseph County was reporting radiation levels as high as 7,139 counts per minute (CPM) for most of Northern Indiana and parts of Michigan

Normal radiation readings are between 5 and 60 CPM.

Something had to have happened and although the mainstream media wasn’t saying anything about the high readings, I suspected there was more to the story.

Screen capture of  reading of  7,034 from 'Radiation Network' website. Normal readings are between 5 and 60 CPM.

Screen capture of reading of 7,034 from ‘Radiation Network’ website. Normal readings are between 5 and 60 CPM.

Black Cat radiation website gets a reading of over 3500 for the same area. www.blackcatsystems.com/RadMap/map.html

A screen capture from Black Cat radiation website showing a reading of over 3500 for the same area. http://www.blackcatsystems.com/RadMap/map.html

EPA reading from a separate website shows the same area is in the danger zone.

EPA reading from a separate website which shows Southwest Michigan is in the danger (red) zone.

My husband said that there was a nuclear plant located in Southwest Michigan that had been named the 3rd worst nuclear plant in the nation. A report, by nuclear engineer Dave Lochbaum, a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) confirmed what my husband told me and then some. Lochbaum compares the “Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Palisades nuclear plant situation to a driver trying to get out of a speeding ticket by saying their car doesn’t have a speedometer”.

It seemed VERY coincidental that THREE Radiation Monitoring Stations in different locations, but ALL within a 50-mile distance of Palisades, a nuclear power plant known to be leaky, and the 3rd worst-maintained plant in the United States, were getting dangerously high radiation readings.

Strangely enough, within a few days after the Radiation Monitoring Stations showed high radiation levels in Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana, Reuters reported Entergy Corp had shut DOWN Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan due to leakage from a refueling water tank.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said in a report that the company was in the midst of cooling down the reactor in order to make repairs to the refueling water tank. Palisades nuclear plant spokesman, Mark Savage, told Reuters that the plant would return to service once repairs were completed. The tank was believed to be leaking from several locations.

Palisades nuclear power plant, Covert Township Michigan

Palisades nuclear power plant, Covert Township Michigan

It took a FULL MONTH for the Palisades Nuclear Plant to be repaired. While the plant was shut down the, the Michigan Department of Community Health made Potassium Iodide pills available FREE to anyone who lived, worked or was visiting within 10 miles of Palisades nuclear plant. Congressman Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., sent a letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission requesting more information about the leaking cooling tank. Markey said he was concerned because, according to NRC documents, the leak was first noticed in 2011 and a  YEAR PASSED without ANYTHING being done to fix it. According to Markey’s letter, radioactive water was dripping into the plant’s Control Room and Auxiliary Building and being captured in “catch basins” with nuclear waste designators attached. Read Congressman Markey’s letter HERE.

Despite Congressman Markey’s efforts,  Palisades Nuclear Generating Plant has continued to have problems.

Early this summer, when more tank leaks led to another shutdown of the nuclear power plant, the plant owner, Entergy, patched up the leak, fired back up the reactor, and hoped for the best.

Unfortunately, the best did not materialize.

The tank began leaking again. Which didn’t concern Entergy. Palisades was only leaking a gallon a day. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission allows nuclear power plants to leak up to 38 gallons a day.

But, before the weekend was over, the leaky drip turned into a gush. All the hoping in the world couldn’t hold back the tide of spilling radioactive water. The NRC told the AP news that over 80 gallons of “slightly” radioactive water spewed into Lake Michigan.

How did the Nuclear Regulatory Commission know the water was just “slightly” radioactive?

They didn’t.

“Officials say they don’t know how radioactive the leaked water is.” Michigan Radio reported.

Spokeswoman for the Entergy plant, Viktoria Mitlyng quickly reassured the public, “The radioactive water pouring into Lake Michigan will have no impact on the health and safety of the public.” said Mitlyng “This tank has leaked before. It leaked in 2012 too. It’s a repeat occurrence.”

NRC Commissioner William C. Ostendorff

NRC Commissioner William C. Ostendorff

Palisades Nuclear Plant has been shut down nine times since 2011. The leakage in 2012 caused significant water seepage into the plant’s control room. As a result, NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko toured the plant and ordered an investigation. Jaczko’s request allegedly caused NRC Commissioner William Ostendorff to shout at top agency investigators, that “further inquiry would be a waste of resources.”

Adding to southwest Michigan and surrounding area concerns, a study by the nonprofit group, Radiation and Public Health Project links Palisades nuclear plant to increased death and cancer rates in Van Buren County. “We’re suggesting a causation,” said Joseph Mangano, executive director of the health group, “between the plant and an increase in deaths. This report is a start with a number of red flags raised.”

Major findings in the report include:

  • The plant stores massive amounts of high-level radioactive waste, mostly in a waste pool of water that must be constantly cooled to avoid a fire.
  • Palisades operated 93.5% of the time between 2006 and 2011, which means the aging and corroding reactor parts are being pushed to their maximum.
  • A 2006 report concluded that of 200 “near-miss” accidents at U.S. reactors from 1986 to 2006, four occurred at Palisades, among the highest of any U.S. reactor. Another five potentially harmful incidents occurred since 2010.
  • A 1982 federal estimate of 16,700 radiation poisoning cases and 13,000 cancer deaths after a meltdown to the Palisades reactor core would be greater today, due to higher population and effects beyond the study’s geographic limits.
  • From 2001 to 2007, sharp increases in releases from Palisades for several types of airborne and liquid radioactivity were observed in data compiled by the U.S. Environmental Protection agency.
  • In the late 1990’s, the latest data available, tritium levels in Lake Michigan at South Haven (near Palisades) exceeded those of most U.S. reactors.
  • The Van Buren County death rate from all causes was 3 to 6 percent below the state in the 1970’s and early 1980’s but has risen since, to a level 12.5% greater than Michigan (2003-2010). This change suggests that 1,330 “excess” deaths have occurred in the county since Palisades started operating. Elevated levels were observed for all age groups (especially children/young adults), both genders and all major causes of death.
  • The Van Buren County death rate for all cancers combined was 10.5% below the Michigan rate in the 1970’s, but is now 12.0% above the state (2005-2010). This rate is the highest of the 34 most populated Michigan counties.

Data presented in the Radiation and Public Health Project report suggest a link between emissions from Entergy Palisades and elevated health risk. This finding is particularly important at this time as the reactor has been operating for over 42 years. Regulatory decisions to allow the reactor to stay in operation have been made with no attention paid to the health risks.

The U.S. and other governments have been covering up nuclear meltdowns for fifty years to protect the nuclear power industry.

To this day, governments worldwide continue cover up the amount – and health effects – of radiation released by military and energy facilities. Psst…unless you have a LOT of time, don’t even get me started on the Fukushima “accident” in Japan.

Related Articles:
    • Palisades Nuclear Plant Shuts Down With Radioactive Waste Leaking Into Lake Michigan
    • Nuclear Plant Spills Waste Into Lake Michigan
    • Radioactive water was released into Lake Michigan before nuclear plant shutdown
    • Study links Palisades nuclear plant to death, cancer rates in Van Buren County
    • Study claims cancer rates higher in Van Buren County

Geocel, a local Sherwin-Williams company, helps Elkhart County residents

23 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by HattieBelle in Civic Engagement, Civic Service, Community, Community Services, Elkhart County, Emergency Measures, Food Pantries, Helping, Hoosier, Indiana, Volunteer

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Aid, Church Community Services, Civic Engagement, Civic Service, Empowering Women, Food Pantry, Helping Neighbors, Love, Need, Service, Soup of Success, Volunteer

Elkhart County's Church Community Services quickly found ways for Geocel employee volunteers to assist them in serving the Elkhart County area.

Elkhart County’s Church Community Services quickly found ways for Geocel employee volunteers to assist them in serving the Elkhart County area.

Last Wednesday, 9 employees from Geocel assisted Elkhart County’s Church Community Services in a variety of ways. From 12:30 – 2:30, one group helped the Food Bank of Elkhart County sort hundreds of pounds of food, while the other group helped Soup of Success by assembling over 150 ‘No Worry Vegetable Curry’ soups.

The Sherwin-Williams Company often encourages their employees to find ways to give back to their own communities. So recently Sherwin-Williams contacted Church Community Services in the hopes that they could connect with Geocel, a local Sherwin-Williams company that specializes in sealants and adhesives. The goal was to determine if the Geocel leadership team might be able to engage their employees in the Elkhart community in a sustainable, meaningful way.  Because of the large demand for help throughout Church Community Services’ organization right now, they quickly found work them to do.

Continue reading HERE.

To donate to Church Community Services, visit their website or Facebook page and click on the donation button! Or call (574) 295-3673. So far, 14,787 families have been helped by Church Community Services in 2013

CHURCH COMMUNITY SERVICES

NEEDS WOOL SWEATERS!

 If you come across  wool sweaters in a thrift store or in the depths of your basement, attic or closet, Church Community Services would love to have them! The mittens being made from them are gorgeous and help empower women.

If you come across wool sweaters in a thrift store or in the depths of your basement, attic or closet, Church Community Services would love to have them! The mittens being made from them are gorgeous and help empower women.

Roundabout Meeting: Wednesday, August 21

21 Wednesday Aug 2013

Posted by HattieBelle in 2013, Elkhart County, Nappanee, Northwood High School, Roundabout Meeting, SR 119, SR 19

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Elkhart County, Indiana, Labor Day, Meeting, Nappanee, Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce, News, Northwood High School, Public Information Meeting, Roundabout

Nappanee logo 2The Public Information Meeting for the proposed roundabout at the intersections of SR 19 and SR 119 is scheduled for tonight at 6:00 pm at NorthWood High School.  The doors will open at 5:30 pm.

Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce offices will be closed, Sept. 2 for Labor Day.

302 West Market Street
Nappanee, IN 46550
574.773.7812  Office

574.773.4691  Fax

Is ‘THIS’ the Kind of Education We Want in Elkhart County?

19 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by HattieBelle in Common Core, Education, Elkhart County, Government Intervention in Local Schools, Indiana, School, Schools

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Common Core, Common Core Standards, Curriculum, Dumbing Down, Education, Math, Our Kid's Future, Schools, Students, Teachers, Teaching, Testing

Shock Video: The New Common Core Obama Math Standard: “3 x 4 = 11”

by Mac Slavo

Common Core Math

Common Core Math

Earlier this year President Obama detailed his new educational initiatives aimed at “closing America’s school readiness gap.” As with all things Obama, it seems that “readiness” is yet another doublespeak term that suggests exactly the opposite of the traditional definition.

At a recent school meeting in Grayslake, Illinois curriculum director, Amanda August discusses the new federally mandated Common Core education standards, which are currently being implemented into school districts across the nation.

Here’s how we’re readying America’s children for a highly competitive globalized marketplace:

Under the new Common Core… even if students say 3 X 4 equals 11, if they are able to explain their reasoning, and explain how they came up with their answer in words and in oral explanations, and they show it in a picture — even when they get final number wrong, then “3 x 4 equals 11”, even though THAT isn’t true.  “We’re focusing on the how and why.”

It’s no matter if a student comes to the conclusion that 3 x 4 = 11. So long as they can explain how they made this erroneous determination they go home with an ‘A’.

Watch.

Though “experts” argue that the new Common Core standards will improve our education system and prepare America’s children for a brave new world, a study conducted by none other than Common Core shows just how far we’ve fallen at America’s pedagogic institutions:

  • One in four high schoolers think Columbus discovered the New World after 1750.
  • On the multiple choice test, less than half of high school students knew when the Civil War was fought. They didn’t even need to know exact dates, just that it was sometime between 1850 and 1900.
  • Only 60% of students knew that WWI was fought between 1900 and 1950 — they only had to guess the half century!
  • 40% of students could not identify the name of the ocean on the eastern side of the United States.
  • Nearly 60% of students could not identify the two major political parties.
  • When asked who is in charge of the Executive Branch of the United States, 70% of high school students got the wrong answer.
  • Fully 75% of high school students failed to identify the First President of the United States.

Not convinced that implementing Common Core will “dumb down” our public schools?

Watch the following video from Lunch Scholars, which asks typical American high school students to answer a series of common questions covering topics such as American history, geography, and politics.

  • In which war did our country win its independence?
  • Who is the Vice President?
  • Which countries border the U.S.?
  • How many stars on the flag of the United States?
  • Can you name a country starting with the letter “U” ?

AFTER THE DRAMATIC DROP IN ‘COMMON CORE EDUCATED’ STUDENT’S TEST SCORES AROUND THE NATION, CONCERNED PARENTS ASKED THE IMPLEMENTERS OF FLORIDA’S COMMON CORE: “Should we be worried if our child dropped in performance on this year’s FCAT?”

THE IMPLEMENTERS OF COMMON CORE TOLD THOSE PARENTS: “Because the FCAT 2.0 is based on more demanding content standards and the achievement standards are more rigorous, scores may appear lower on the new scale than on the previous scale for certain grades and subjects.

“Please know that this is an effort to prepare your student for success after high school, in college, in the workplace, and in life. Raising standards and measuring students’ progress toward the standards is the right thing to do.”

Read the question and answer sheet put out by Florida Common Core educators for concerned parents HERE.

So…according to the Common Core educators in Florida, expecting your child to KNOW THE NAMES OF THE TWO MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE THE UNITED STATES is too rigorous and demanding for children educated under Common Core to master in a couple of years?!

Common Core’s Question and Answer Sheet, in my opinion, “talked down” to valid parental concerns.

Basically, concerned parents were told,  “Common Core is the “right thing to do? Trust us.”

“Trust us.”  That has worked out so well so far. What could possibly go wrong?

More information at www.SHTFplan.com
Related Articles:
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  • Indoctrination Revealed in Utah School Curriculum
  • How Your Child Is Being Dumbed Down by “Common Core” Education
  • Teacher Resigns Over Curriculum Mandates and Disrespect
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