Tioga Freedomist News Journal Second Draft 5 20 15.pub
Transcription
Tioga Freedomist News Journal Second Draft 5 20 15.pub
FR EE - V ol um e 4, I s s u e 1 0 - M ay 2 0t h , 2 0 1 5 ™ News-Community Focused, People Powered - Free and Independent 11 Candidates, including 5 incumbents, faced off May 19th in the WASD Board elections. Only five candidates were left standing. Of those five, only one was an incumbent. We have the details on this stunning result. READ STORY ON PG 2 Deats, Coolidge, Bunn among the big winners in the May 19th Primary. Find out who else won and who lost. READ STORY ON PG 3 More Hot Stories State Rep Matt Baker stands in the middle of the debate over the legalization of medical marijuana. Opinions READ STORY ON PG 4 and more inside. Ramadi Falls– Former Freedomist Editor Bill Collier Analyses the Fall of Ramadi What’s behind this story that’s not being reported? READ ON PG 5 Obamacare Czar?– Our US Representative Tom Marino (R) joins others in calling for an Inspector General for Obamacare. READ ON PG 6 First Friday News– Wellsboro’s First Friday gets ready for June. “Earth Day, Every Day” is the theme of this upcoming event. READ ON PG 7 Digital Newspaper and Print News Journal for Tioga County PA, Surrounding Areas and Beyond 2 Four out of the five incumbents up for reelecon in the WASD Board race lost their seats in the May 19th Primary. Here are the details of the events that led up to the elecon, as well as the results. Paul Gordon Collier- In the Wellsboro Area School Board elecon, there was a lot of controversy leading up to this primary elecon around two votes the school board made on April 14th to use public funding to help pay for upgrades to the athlec facilies. By a vote of 5-4, the board approved two separate resoluons. Vong in favor of both were: Carl Chambers, Stewart Burrous, Steven Kramer, John Peropat and Lana Shabloski. Vong no to both resoluons were: Chris Gastrock, Wayne Hacke3, Ma3hew Feil and Susan Rudy. The school board inially announced a meeng on the votes to take place in a small room in the high school, but the ven- 2 TF ™ Tioga Freedomist– People-Powered Press - Volume 4, Issue 10 - May 20th, 2015 ue was quickly changed once the community found out about the meeng. The meeng took place in the school auditorium and was a3ended by hundreds of Wellsboro residents, most of whom were not in favor of using public funds to upgrade the athlec facility. As it so happened, 5 of the incumbents on the WASD board were up for re-elecon. Four out of the five incumbents voted for the measure with only one, Chris Gastrock, vong against it. The four incumbents who voted for the resoluons, and were up for re-elecon, were Carl Chambers, Steven Kramer, John Peropat and Lana Shabloski. Shortly a7er this vote, four challengers emerged, running together as “Vote 4 Posive Change.” These four candidates ran specifically in opposion to the decision to use public funds for athlec field upgrades. The four challengers were Duane Cotner, John Hoover, Tim McCrac and Denise Sherman. Two addional challengers arose, previous school board director Craig West and Blake Maxson We sent quesonnaires to all of the candidates, incumbents and challengers alike. While we did receive a noficaon from Chris Gastrock, we received no responses from any of the incumbents. All four of the “Vote 4 Posive Change” challengers sent in responses, as did Craig West. Blake Maxson was the lone challenger who did not respond. A7er the votes were tallied, it soon became apparent that all four of the “Vote 4 Posive Change” candidates had won, while the lone incumbent up for re-elecon who voted against both resoluons, Chris Gastrock, also won. Here are the final numbers in this race: (Connued on page 8) Your Digital Newspaper and Print News Journal Serving Tioga County PA, Surrounding Areas and Beyond TF TF ™ Tioga Freedomist– People-Powered Press - Volume 4, Issue 10 - May 20th, 2015 Paul Gordon Collier- The May 19th Primary offered some stunning results in the WASD Board race (see pg. 2 for our coverage), but also offered some more predictable results in a few of the major races. Krista Deats, the current Tioga County DA, fought off two challengers in Tom Walrath and Mary Morris, but failed to reach a majority. She won with a plurality vote of 44%. Roger Bunn topped the four republican candidates for County Commissioner, with Erick Coolidge earning the second spot on the Republican cket for the November general elecon. Both men are incumbents. The odd man out turned out to be Mark Hamilton, who finished third, with William Neuhauser finishing fourth, followed by Pam English. On the Democrat side, Joseph Drue3o won the nominaon. Unless someone chooses to run a write-in campaign, these TF three candidates will run unopposed in the General elecon. Speculaon is circulang of a possible independent campaign being run by Paul Watkins, who ran for Tioga County Sheriff in 2013. Unconfirmed rumors are also circulang about possible write-in campaigns by Hamilton and/or Neuhauser. In the race for District Judge, James Edgcomb beat Bobby Ghee 68% to 32% in the Republican Primary and 56% to 44% in the Democrac Primary, meaning Edgcomb will run unopposed in November unless someone chooses to run a write-in campaign. The County Auditor, Recorder of Deeds, Coroner and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas were all uncontested races. Of note, the appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and former Tioga County DA, George Wheeler, is no longer an appointed judge, but an elected one, albeit an uncon- 3 tested one. If you visit ogafreedomist.com/ elecon2015 you will find a link to the complete unofficial elecon results, which includes all of the borough races as well. Here are the numbers in the two countywide races we were following: Tioga County DA Krista Deats 44.79% 2389 Votes Tom Walrath 29.47% 1572 Votes Mary Morris 25.68% 1370 Votes Tioga County Commissioner Republican Roger Bunn 25.06% 2449 Votes Erick Coolidge 23.83% 2329 Votes Mark Hamilton 21.35% 2087 Votes William Neuhauser 15.42% 1507 Votes Pam English 13.15% 1285 Votes Democrat Joseph Drue3o 64.58% 1286 Votes Write-In Votes 35.42% 678 Votes Your Digital Newspaper and Print News Journal Serving Tioga County PA, Surrounding Areas and Beyond 3 4 Paul Gordon Collier-The Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Bill passed the PA Senate last week by a decisive 40-7 majority that crossed party lines. Our local lawmaker, Ma3 Baker, is the chairman of the House Health Commi3ee. He has stated that he does not intend to bring the bill up for consideraon, nor would he consider any legislaon legalizing medical marijuana. The point may soon be moot if Representave Jim Cox of Berks County has his way. He plans on introducing the measure in the form of an amendment to a bill outside of the House Health Commi3ee. Some pro-marijuana acvists have doubts about the substance of this bill to begin with. Chris Goldstein, the chair of Phil- 4 TF ™ Tioga Freedomist– People-Powered Press - Volume 4, Issue 10 - May 20th, 2015 lyNORML, a promarijuana acvist group, says the Senate bill "may help a handful of paents. In the short term, it will do nothing but offer false hope.” The Pi3sburg chair, Patrick Nighngale, says he's disappointed by "the endless compromises [that were] made in order to appease a very small number of entrenched socially conservave legislators in order to get the bill passed." To these charges, the sponsor of the Senate bill, Daylin Leach (D) said, "I think anyone looking at this issue objecvely would say the fact that we passed a medical marijuana bill that includes vaping, that includes chronic pain, which is a very controversial condion to include...in a legislature in Pennsylvania that is overwhelmingly controlled by Republicans is a miracle.” Here are two tesmonies offered by medical professionals during the Senate Hearing, one for and one against: Dr. Bruce MacLeod, an emergency physician from Allegheny County and the society's immediate past president, said this at the Senate Hearing when the bill was being considered: "Senate Bill 3 goes far beyond the use of cannabidiol oil to treat children with seizure disorders, permiQng the use of marijuana with THC, its psychoacve ingredient, to treat a long list of disorders. This despite a review in this month's Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, the official journal of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, stang that a growing body of evidence links cannabis to 'long-term and potenally irreversible physical, neurocognive, psy(Connued on page 10) Your Digital Newspaper and Print News Journal Serving Tioga County PA, Surrounding Areas and Beyond TF TF ™ Tioga Freedomist– People-Powered Press - Volume 4, Issue 10 - May 20th, 2015 Forces) to slaughter Sunni in the area. Ali Hammad told the Indian mes, “They wanted us to reach this point. The people and the provincial council were forced to accept the entrance of the Hashid because they didn’t give weapons to the Sunnis...Abadi doesn’t rule Baghdad; William Raymond Collier- Forget the socalled “Islamic State”, the future in Iraq may very well belong to Iran. Sheikh Ali Hammad of Falluja in the Anbar province of Iraq says that the Prime Minister of Iraq has deliberately allowed Ramadi to fall to ISIL in order to create a pretext for sending in the Iranian-backed Shia milia, the Hashid Shaabi (Popular Mobilizaon TF The milias rule.” Haider Al-Abadi, Iraq’s current Prime Minister, replaced Nuri al-Maliki, who was overtly an-Sunni and rather cozy with Iran. But while Abadi’s rhetoric is more conciliatory, his acons play into the hands of Tehran and worry the Sunnis who oppose both the Salafism of the “Islamic State” (which is a Sunni brand of Salafism) and the Salafism 5 of the Iran-backed Shia milias. (Salafism is the Jihadist and imperialisc version of Islam as a polical movement.) On the morning of May 18th, there were 3,000 well armed Hashid Shaabi ready to go back into Ramadi, all sporng Iranian equipment and allegedly including among their number Iranian special operaves. Meanwhile the Sunni, who were promised arms, never received them- They are sidelined in the fight for their homeland between two essenally Salafist forces. As of this wring, the Hashid Shaabi have not retaken anything, but already there are accusaons that as ISIS slaughter Sunni moderates in Ramadi, Shia Salafists are persecung Sunni moderates outside the fallen city. Whatever Washington’s strategy for Iraq might be, it would appear that the winner is going to be Iran. Your Digital Newspaper and Print News Journal Serving Tioga County PA, Surrounding Areas and Beyond 5 6 Congressman Tom Marino Supports Legislaon to Create Obamacare Inspector General Valia Jenkins- H.R. 2400 was introduced on Monday in the House by Peter Roskam (R-IL), the Chairman of the Ways and Means Oversight Subcommi3ee, with the support of every Oversight Subcommi3ee Majority member, central oversight subcommi3ee chairs, and conservave advocacy organizaons. The legislaon would implement a Special Inspector General for Monitoring the Affordable Care Act (SIGMA). Much like other federal agencies that have inspector generals that oversee their operaons, such as U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and United States Postal Service, the SIGMA would oversee the Affordable Care Act. To go 6 TF ™ Tioga Freedomist– People-Powered Press - Volume 4, Issue 10 - May 20th, 2015 along with H.R. 2400, Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) introduced a Senate companion legislaon. Senators and Congressmen offered their support of SIGMA as well, including Pennsylvania's own Congressman Tom Marino (R-PA). Congressman Tom Marino (R-PA) has added his support for establishing a SIGMA. Of the SIGMA legislaon, Marino commented, “In both my legal career and service in congress, I have seen the effecve use of Special Inspectors General to provide the necessary oversight and protecon the American people demand and deserve of their government.” Congressman Marino is Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommi3ee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial, and Antrust Law. “Chairman Roskam’s SIGMA legislaon is absolutely vital to gaining access to informaon about Obamacare’s performance, or lack thereof, while adding an independent set of eyes to watch the law’s implementaon unl we can fully repeal it. I applaud the Chairman’s work and that of our colleagues who seek every avenue to protect the American people from Obamacare.” Chairman Roskam went on to explain the importance of creang a SIGMA. He menoned the wasteful spending on a "failed website," Americans who lost the healthcare plans they were on, and premiums that went up for small businesses and working Americans alike. Roskam wants Obamacare repealed, but while it is sll in effect he says that, "We need assurance (Connued on page 8) Your Digital Newspaper and Print News Journal Serving Tioga County PA, Surrounding Areas and Beyond TF TF Wellsboro First Fridays June Event Valia Jenkins- The Wellsboro First Friday June event will have many happenings you won’t want to miss. It takes place on Friday, June 5, 2015 and the Free Family Happenings begin at 5:00 p.m. June 5 is also World Environment Day. There will be many free family acvies from local businesses. The theme is “Earth Day, Every Day!” There will be a Wellsboro First Friday Scavenger Hunt in which you have the chance to win a prize package from local businesses such as Peggy’s and Arcadia. Entry sheets may be go3en from Stained Glass Reflecons, Shabby Rue, Pop’s Culture, and other businesses. Emerge Healing Arts and Spa will be offering a free manicure and/or a chair massage. TF 7 ™ Tioga Freedomist– People-Powered Press - Volume 4, Issue 10 - May 20th, 2015 The nail polish is chemical free. They will be set up by the entrance to Ginn & Vickery which is on Main Street. A demonstraon by The Hula Hoop Club with Rosie Bloom will take place on the lawn by the Deane Center Stage. Rosie Bloom also did a performance in May which was enjoyed by all. Local fine arst Kari Roslund will be doing a painng demonstraon at Garrison’s Men’s shop, located on Main Street. She will also be showing her works. Mansfield needle felter Alaina McKee will be joining Kari. There will be a Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest in front of Stained Glass Reflecons. You can win a Peggy’s Candies and Gi7s gi7 cerficate. Peggy’s Candies and Gi7s prizes will be awarded throughout the whole First Friday season. A few prizes will be given for the Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest. Joe Callahan will be providing music on the outdoor stage at the Deane Center. The Fi7h Season will have a flower pot decorang/ flower seed planng acvity from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. There will also be refreshments. From 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. there will be a read-along story me at Dunham’s Children’s Department which will feature Super Hero stories. There will also (Connued on page 12) Your Digital Newspaper and Print News Journal Serving Tioga County PA, Surrounding Areas and Beyond 7 8 ™ Tioga Freedomist– People-Powered Press - Volume 4, Issue 10 - May 20th, 2015 (Connued from page 2) (Connued from page 6) Christopher Gastrock 15.84% 1312 Votes Denise Sherman 13.56% 1123 Votes John T. Hoover 12.64% 1047 Votes Duane Cotner 11.16% 924 Votes Tim McCrac 10.51% 870 Votes _____ F Craig West 9.07% 751 Votes Carl M Chambers 6.23% 516 Votes Steven Kramer 5.88% 487 Votes Atalanta Shabloski 5.69% 471 Votes John Peropat 5.29% 438 Votes Blake Maxson 3.70% 306 Votes As you can see, Christopher Gastrock got the most votes and thus was the only incumbent to finish in the top five. The other four incumbents finished 7th through 10th in a field of 11 candidates. Is this a mandate on what to do about the WASD athlec facilies? We’ll let our readers decide. that—unl Obamacare is repealed and replaced—there is rigorous oversight in place to prevent more taxpayer dollars from being squandered on this law." Senator Roberts (R-KS) wants Obamacare to be repealed but noted that while Obamacare is sll in place, "we need a watchdog, namely a Special Inspector General, to invesgate its implementaon and ensure our taxpayer dollars are being spent within the le3er of the law.” Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), who is also the Chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommi3ee on Invesgaons, said of H.R. 2400 that he acknowledges the need for an Obamacare watchdog - "Our bill will help to put in place an independent watchdog so that we can know how exactly this law is impacng Americans." Congressman Bill Flores (R-TX), who is the 8 TF Chairman of the Republican Study Commi3ee, supports the repeal of Obamacare and the creaon of a SIGMA in the meanme. Flores said, "While the House works to repeal the president’s disastrous health care law, America’s families and taxpayers have a right to know the true cost of Obamacare’s waste and abuse." Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH), who is the Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus and Administrave Rules, says a SIGMA is needed as Obamacare "was passed decepvely." He says that a SIGMA "would be able to thoroughly review Obamacare and provide oversight of how it’s being implemented." Jordan also expressed the need for Americans to "know exactly how their tax dollars are being spent through this unaffordable government takeover of the health insurance industry." Your Digital Newspaper and Print News Journal Serving Tioga County PA, Surrounding Areas and Beyond TF TF T I O G A F R E E D O M I S T B U S I N E S S 9 D I R E C T O R Y Adver0se online, in print and on Facebook GREAT RATES, THOUSANDS of DAILY Readers Call Now– 570-787-3561 Custom Made Hydraulic and AC Hoses 24-Hour Towing Service 14519 Route 6 Mansfield PA We Make Hydraulic Hoses Great Marke0ng Op0ons Available CALL NOW Susan Graver 570-787-3561 Tioga Auto Detailing 2103 S. Main St. Mansfield, PA Open 842 South Main Mansfield PA16933 (570) 439-6360 18 N Main St , Mansfield, PA See our ad on page 7! (570) 662-2200 Complete car/truck detailing: wash, wax, steam clean interior Make your vehicle look like new! Daily 6AM— 10PM (570) 6622972 The BEST Breakfast Around! Home Cooking, Great Prices, Friendly Staff Breakfast Any Time! Drop In Today Home-made fresh bread! Dave’s Tax and Tags 16 Pearl Street Wellsboro PA 570-724-2442 10 ™ Tioga Freedomist– People-Powered Press - Volume 4, Issue 10 - May 20th, 2015 (Connued from page 4) chiatric and psychosocial adverse outcomes.'" Colleen L. Barry, associate professor and associate chairwoman for research and pracce in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Balmore, stated: "In absolute terms, states with a medical marijuana law had about 1,700 fewer opioid painkiller overdose deaths overall in 2010 alone than would be expected based on trends before the laws were passed. While medical marijuana laws have been controversial, our study indicates an important unintended benefit of state medical marijuana laws." Read Ma3 Baker’s statement on this page. Reader Opinion on page 11 Editor Opinion on page 20 10 Paul Gordon Collier- The Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Bill passed the State Senate this past week by a vote of 40-7. The bill has now come before the Health Commi3ee in the State House, where our local State Representave, Ma3 Baker, resides as the chairman. Ma3 Baker has recently stated he does not plan on bringing this bill up before the commi3ee, seQng off a firestorm, led by naonal pro-marijuana groups against the Representave. We reached out to Representave Baker and asked him to offer to our readers where he was at regarding the bill. Here is his response: "Regardless of any campaign amounts and allegaons, the truth is that I have never even discussed the topic of marijuana with pharma as I have never been in favor of approving an illegal schedule 1 drug such as marijuana as medicine. Medicine should undergo strict FDA re- TF search, have extensive longitudinal randomized double blind tests to prove that it is safe and effecve and that there are more benefits than risks. Medicine should be approved by the FDA, prescribed by medical doctors and dispensed by pharmacists. My goodness, drug addicon, dependence and overdose deaths are at an all-me high in Pennsylvania and I am greatly troubled by the marijuana acvists and advocates that are so desperate for legalizaon that many will say anything to discredit, demean and lie about those who oppose legalizaon of marijuana and merely want medicine to be safe and effecve for both children and adults." We have a counter-opinion by one of our readers on page 11, as well as an editorial on page 20. Your Digital Newspaper and Print News Journal Serving Tioga County PA, Surrounding Areas and Beyond TF TF ™ Tioga Freedomist– People-Powered Press - Volume 4, Issue 10 - May 20th, 2015 Representave Ma3 Baker's opposion to SB3, a bill for strictly-limited medical cannabis in PA, puts him in opposion with 88% of Pennsylvanians (according to state-wide scienfic polling by Quinnipiac University). Blocking bill SB3 denies potenal relief to those Pennsylvanians suffering the most, from cancer to ALS, MS, Parkinson's, and PTSD. The PA Senate passed SB3 by a landslide 40 to 7 vote. That's decisive, surely following reless research into the bill's risks, benefits, and implementaon. Yet Baker cites "unresolved issues" (He should look into how the Senate came to such a strong, biparsan consensus.) Pharmaceucal corporaons rejoice: Baker says he won't budge without the FDA's approval. He claims that the "medical community" is "concerned about us [...] calling something medicine when it’s not been conclusively proven safe or effecve." Medical cannabis has long been offered in TF many states. Besides, today's dueling pharmaceucal ads, with their litany of side effects and risks, don't come across as comparavely safe or effecve. The FDA, with its glacial pace and own history of mistakes, shouldn't trump the clear will of the people. Neither should one State Representave with an extremely-minority posion. The suffering shouldn't be le7 at the mercy of the slow machine of FDA bureaucracy. Campaign finance records at FollowTheMoney.org show that Baker propor- 11 onally accepted more campaign money from pharmaceucal (and healthcare product) companies than from any other group. Let's say there's no correlaon between Baker's posion and the drug manufacturers standing to profit most from SB3's blockage...his posion sll benefits Big Pharmaceucal at the expense of suffering PA cizens' liberty and healthcare choices. The sickest among us suffer in search of the right medicine, all while the pharmaceucal painkiller OxyConn, along with its big brother, heroin, ravage our state. Does anyone sll believe that opiate-based pharmaceucals are safer than cannabis? Cannabis is now is a medicine in nearly half of US states. Suffering Pennsylvanians deserve the same choice, and we--the vast majority-ask Representave Baker to accept the clear will of the people. Thomas Dalton Wellsboro PA Your Digital Newspaper and Print News Journal Serving Tioga County PA, Surrounding Areas and Beyond 11 12 (Connued from page 7) be a cra7 to go along with the stories with Chandia who reads for Story Hour at the Green Free Library. Enjoy free dirt pudding at In My Shoes on Main Street. At Stained Glass Reflecons’ side window on Cra7on Street will be James States, who is an arst, teacher, and po3er in Wellsboro. He will have finished pieces on display to look at and purchase and he will be demonstrang how to throw po3ery at his po3er’s wheel. You can also try using the po3er’s wheel. Cache Me If You Can! Pop’s Culture Shoppe on Main Street invites you to celebrate Earth Day Every Day. Meet at 5:00 p.m. to help plant some flowers. Game designer Dan Hundycz will also be there demonstrang all of his games 12 TF ™ Tioga Freedomist– People-Powered Press - Volume 4, Issue 10 - May 20th, 2015 including the geo-caching game “Cache Me If You Can.” Wild Asaph Ou]i3ers will have a JetBoil backpacking stoves demonstraon. They will also be offering free dehydrated food samples. The Nave Bagel will have a free cupcake decorang acvity for kids. The Nave Bagel is located around the corner on Central Avenue. It will be open late during First Fridays. An author event will take place at From My Shelf Books and Gi7s from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Pennsylvania author Joseph Berube who wrote “The Buckskin Saint” will be there signing books. “The Buckskin Saint” is set in the American Colonies of the 1770s. At the me, central and western PA were considered “the western froner.” The protagonist is Henry St. Albans, who was born as a child of privilege in Brish society. Financial issues of his father forced him into a new life on a colonial farm as an indentured bondsman. Real events and people are woven into “The Buckskin Saint.” Joe is a lifelong American history student who especially likes the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The idea for “The Buckskin Saint” came (Connued on page 13) Your Digital Newspaper and Print News Journal Serving Tioga County PA, Surrounding Areas and Beyond TF TF ™ Tioga Freedomist– People-Powered Press - Volume 4, Issue 10 - May 20th, 2015 (Connued from page 12) when he made up the story to tell his dying father. His dad enjoyed hearing Joe’s history inspired stories. Joe’s dad lost his ba3le with lung cancer in September 2011. From My Shelf will also have a trivia table with HAVEN, including free prizes for contestants of all ages! In addion, we will have FREE popcorn and co3on candy …. and possibly, just possibly, the Sno-Cone machine!! Enjoy listening to music by Vernal Pool in front of Stained Glass Reflecons on Main Street. Acousc musicians Anne and Ciro LoPinto will also be present. They may use instruments such as a guitar, bagpipes, hammered dulcimer, squeezebox, etc. Caleb Rutherword, a musician and banjo player will be performing in front of Country Ski and Sports on Main Street. Violinist Johanna Vogt will also perform at TF Cafe 1905, also on Main Street. There will be many shopping and dining specials. When you purchase a pair of shoes at In My Shoes on Main Street during First Friday Hours you will be entered to win a pedicure from Jeane3e’s Hair Care. The Fi7h Season’s “Spring Fever” inventory reducon sale will connue with 20% to 60% off items in the store. Shabby Rue will have 15% off everything during First Friday Hours. First Friday June 2015 sales Pop’s Culture Shoppe will have 10% off all DPH games and 15% off Take a Hike dice game, Wildlife Track Mold kit, and all Handy Books during First Friday Hours. Handy Books features nostalgic outdoor ps for boys and girls from D.C. Beard, Boy Scout 13 Founder, and his sisters Adelia and Lina Beard. Wild Asaph Ou]i3ers on Main Street will have 15% off ALL dehydrated foods and instock backpacking Peggy’s Candies and Gi7s on Main Street will have a buy one ice cream, get a second one 1/2 price sale during First Friday Hours. Cafe 1905 will have $1 tall coffee from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. During First Friday Hours they will have any flavor Frappuccino for $3. Get bonus bucks for every $20 you spend at Dunham’s, including sidewalk sale purchases. Sign up for a stained glass or fused glass class at Stained Glass Reflecons during First Friday Hours and pay 20% less. You can schedule the class at your convenience. Your Digital Newspaper and Print News Journal Serving Tioga County PA, Surrounding Areas and Beyond 13 14 Valia Jenkins- Military Service Academy Representaves Vising PA High Schools Representaves of Military Service Academies throughout the United States will be vising two Pennsylvania high schools, announces Congressman Tom Marino. The visits are part of ‘Academy Days’ aimed at leQng students preview the Military Service Academies and meet the representaves. The Pennsylvania High Schools representaves will be vising include Williamsport Area High School on May 30, 2015, and Abington Heights High School on June 13th. Both events are on a Saturday. Students wishing to a3end a Military Service Academy have to be nominated by a congressional representave. They also 14 TF ™ Tioga Freedomist– People-Powered Press - Volume 4, Issue 10 - May 20th, 2015 have to complete the applicaon requirements and submit their applicaon before October 5, 2015. These Military Service Academies have nominaons available: the Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT; the Merchant Marine Academy in Great Neck, NY; the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY; the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO; and the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Here is the official Press ReleaseWashington D.C.—Congressman Tom Marino (PA-10) has announced two ‘Academy Days’ at local high schools in the 10th District where students can preview and meet representaves from each of America’s presgious Military Service Acad- emies. Marino’s congressional office is now accepng applicaons for nominaons to the United States Service Academies and all interested students are invited to a3end one or both of the following events: Locaon 1: Saturday, May 30th, 2015 Williamsport Area High School, 2990 West Fourth Street, Williamsport, PA 17701 From 11:00AM to 1:00PM Locaon 2: Saturday, June 13th, 2015 Abington Heights High School, 222 Noble Road, Clarks Summit, PA 18411 From 1:00PM to 3:00PM Applicants to U.S. Service Academies must be nominated by their congressional (Connued on page 15) Your Digital Newspaper and Print News Journal Serving Tioga County PA, Surrounding Areas and Beyond TF TF ™ Tioga Freedomist– People-Powered Press - Volume 4, Issue 10 - May 20th, 2015 (Connued from page 14) representave and complete all applicaon requirements and submit before October 5th, 2015. For more informaon on Academy Days, academy applicaons, and the nominaon process please contact Ryan Barton at (570) 322-3961 or email at ryan.barton@mail.house.gov. All applicaons should be mailed to Congressman Marino’s Williamsport office at 1020 Commerce Park Drive, Suite 1A, Williamsport, PA 17701. Nominaons are available to the following: the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY; the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD; the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO; the Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT; and the Merchant Marine Academy in Great Neck, NY. TF Susan Graver- The annual Nave Bagel Open Golf Tourney will take place on Wednesday, July 22 at 4 PM at Tyoga Country Club in Wellsboro. All proceeds will be given to Wellsboro Food Pantry and the Medard Kowalski Family. Medard went hunng on December 1st in the Susquehanna River. His canoe capsized and his body was recovered on March 16th. Funds raised will benefit the brothers and sister of Medard. Medard was the son of Susan Griscavage Kowalski, a former resident of Wellsboro, and the grandson of Charlie, Sandy and Maryanne Griscavage of Wellsboro. The Nave Bagel Open is a nine-hole tournament. 15 It will be a fun golf tournament for everyone! Parcipants & teams are now being accepted. You may make your own teams or call Angelo Serva at 570-723-3212 or Sue Cummings at 570-724-0900 for any other informaon. The tourney will be limited to 72 golfers. The cost to parcipate will be $50.00 per golfer which includes golf, cart, prizes and a buffet at The Nave Bagel a7er the tournament. All golfers who parcipate will receive a chance to win two ckets to see the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox on September 27th at Yankee Stadium (Courtesy of Benedicts Bus Service.) Your Digital Newspaper and Print News Journal Serving Tioga County PA, Surrounding Areas and Beyond 15 16 Valia Jenkins- A fraudulent email claiming to be from PennDOT is making the rounds, the Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center (PaCIC) warns. The subject line of the email reads “Acon Required – Fine For Traffic Violaons.” Text in the body of the email reads “a vehicle registered to you was captured running a red light” and also lists a cket number, date of the supposed violaon, and a fine amount. The email also includes links to photos, links to pay the “fine,” and links with more informaon about the email security service. If you receive an email like this, delete it. Do not click the links as they redirect to websites not related to PennDOT. The fraudulent email itself contains certain elements revealing that it is, in fact, a phishing scam. There are misspellings, bad grammar, and different violaon dates. Traffic ckets and citaons do not get paid directly to PennDOT, yet another clue that 16 TF ™ Tioga Freedomist– People-Powered Press - Volume 4, Issue 10 - May 20th, 2015 the email is not from PennDOT. Phishing is something cyber a3ackers do to trick email recipients into revealing personal informaon about themselves. For instance, the email may appear to be from PennDOT or another legimate business or organizaon, but it is not. The email address may even look like one that a real business or organizaon would use, but that is because cyber a3ackers go so far as to spoof email addresses. To guard yourself against email phishing scams, don’t give out any personal informaon such as your social security number, date of birth, phone number or address. Do not open links or a3achments from unknown senders. Also, don’t click on links in emails that only contain an IP address. Finally, never allow plug-ins or run programs from unknown or un-trusted sources. Hamilton-Gibson 20th Season Reunion May 23 Rehearsal, May 24 Concert 20 years of singers are gathering this May 23rd and 24th to join forces in a Hamilton Gibson reunion that’s sure to put a song in your heart. Here are more details: WELLSBORO, PA—Everyone who has sung in the Hamilton-Gibson Community Choral Arts Program’s Children and Youth Choirs between January 1996 and May 2015 is invited to a3end the 20th Season Reunion on Memorial Day Weekend, May 23 and 24. “We’re hoping that many of the former singers from past years can join us for our 20th season celebraon,” said Thomas Putnam. He has served as choir director for all 20 seasons. (Connued on page 18) Your Digital Newspaper and Print News Journal Serving Tioga County PA, Surrounding Areas and Beyond TF TF ™ Tioga Freedomist– People-Powered Press - Volume 4, Issue 10 - May 20th, 2015 Bennie and the Jets at the Deane Center May 22 Greg Ransom brings his unique Elton John Tribute Band to the Deane Center this May 22nd. Here are the details of this excing performance coming up: WELLSBORO, PA—He makes you believe he is Elton John with his spot-on vocals, piano playing, mannerisms and the plumage and costumes he wears. His real name is Greg Ransom and he is the leader of the “Premier Elton John Tribute Band” called Bennie and the Jets. This band will perform at the Deane Center’s Coolidge Theatre next week on Friday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $20 per person. In big sunglasses and a straw boater hat playing a baby grand piano and belng out Elton John tunes, Ransom looks and sounds like the real deal. Accompanying him are Dan Moraski on guitar, Steve Lawton on TF drums and Mike Gibbs on bass. Moraski and Lawton sing backup vocals. The 90-minute show at the Deane Center will include two costume changes and 17 to 21 Elton John hits, like “Mona Lisas and Mad Ha3ers.” Elton John has been performing for five decades, since the 1960s. Ransom said. “Because he is sll touring and doing newer music, we focus on his earlier hits, from 1970 to 1991. We do a blend of his songs, both his big hits and the ones you don’t hear as o7en. We frequently perform ‘Rocket Man’ and ‘Crocodile Rock.’” Ransom began taking piano lessons at 10 years old, studied music and started his own band in high school. In 1991, a7er a snt in the Air Force, the 21-year-old was playing piano in a hotel lounge in Springfield, Massachuse3s, his hometown when his boss asked him to sing an Elton John tune. “He told me no ma3er 17 what song I sang I sounded like Elton John to him and suggested I start a tribute band.” Ransom bought a box set of Elton John tunes and began memorizing his music. He a3ended his live shows to study what the arst did when performing. By 1994, Ransom felt he knew enough Elton John songs to successfully start a tribute band. “I asked Dan Moraski who I could get to play guitar.” Moraski has been in the band ever since. ”In 1995, I started the band. I was 25. We had played two local gigs when a naonally known entertainment broker hired us to do a show in California,” Ransom added. Bennie and the Jets has been on the road ever since traveling the world and performing. Lawton became the band’s drummer in 1996 and Gibbs the bassist in 2003. “The four of us hail from Springfield. That’s our home base,” Ransom said. For more informaon or ckets, call the Deane Center at 570-724-6220 or visit deanecenter.com. Your Digital Newspaper and Print News Journal Serving Tioga County PA, Surrounding Areas and Beyond 17 18 ™ Tioga Freedomist– People-Powered Press - Volume 4, Issue 10 - May 20th, 2015 ing nine counes to achieve the iniave goal to sing in all 67 counes in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. On Wednesday, April 29 they sang in the Rotunda at the state capitol in Harrisburg where the inia- (Connued from page 16) “It would be helpful for returning singers to let us know they plan to a3end so we can have enough music ready,” he connued. “If any H-G choir members are in contact with other former singers, please pass on the invitaon in case we have not been able to locate them.” The rehearsal for the Reunion Concert will be Saturday, May 23, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Wellsboro High School auditorium at 227 Nichols Street in Wellsboro. All of the former singers are invited to get together at the Warehouse Theatre on Central Avenue in Wellsboro immediately following the rehearsal. “Because we don’t know how many may a3end, we are asking each individual singer to bring his or her own lunch. Ordering lunch ahead from an area restaurant may 18 TF help speed up the process,” Putnam said. The Reunion Concert will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 24 at the Wellsboro High School auditorium. Favorite songs from the 20 seasons will be sung at the concert. More than 350 former choir members were invited to parcipate. Being celebrated at the 20th Season Reunion will be the choirs’ 20th anniversary and compleon of the H-G choirs’ 67 Iniave. From April 26-28, 46 fourth through twel7h graders sang in each of the remain- ve started in 2008. In January 1996, the Hamilton-Gibson choral program began with one choir with 18 singers in grades 4-8. This year, there are four choirs and more than 60 singers in grades 2-12 who are from communies throughout Tioga County. Admission at the door for adults is $8 and free for children and students. This event is sponsored in part by Partners in Progress. For more informaon, call 570-724-2079 or email hamgib@gmail.com. Your Digital Newspaper and Print News Journal Serving Tioga County PA, Surrounding Areas and Beyond TF 20 ™ Tioga Freedomist– People-Powered Press - Volume 4, Issue 10 - May 20th, 2015 Paul Gordon Collier- Whether you are for or against the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Bill, the merits for or against this legislaon are there for all to consider. Ancillary issues arise when opponents from either side of the debate engage in personal targeng of parcipants in this discourse. One such targeng has come in the form of the man who has been deemed the one person who is stopping the passage of the PA Medical Marijuana Bill, our own representave, Ma3 Baker (R). Two charges have been leveled against Baker. The first charge is that Baker will somehow benefit economically from this bill not passing. Allegedly, if this bill does pass, it might hurt sales of an alternave, alreadylegal drug. We have found absolutely no connecon between Baker and any commercial interest that would benefit from the sale of alternave drugs to cannabis-oilbased treatments. It should be noted that the leading proponents of that theory come from outside of Pennsylvania, from powerful pro-marijuana groups that seem to have engaged in a ‘by any means’ scorched earth campaign to push this legislaon through, not on its merits, but by demonizing the opposion. The second charge is that Ma3 Baker is simply in the pocket of big pharma. This is the allegaon that we will examine. Ma3 Baker received a total of $32,800 from the Pharmaceucal industry, with the bulk of that money coming a7er he was appointed to the Health and Human Services Commi3ee in 2009, and he has since become the Chairman of the Health Commi3ee. Prior to the 2010 Elecon, Baker had received a total of $32,000 over the course of 14 years. A7er his appointment to the Health and Human Services Commi3ee, and then to the Health Commi3ee, Baker has received a total of $29,700. He received $6,900 in 2010, $11,500 in 2012 and $11,300 in 2014. In 2014, Baker raised a total of $55,925, with roughly 20% of his funding coming from the pharmaceucal industry. That funding came from 13 different contributors, with no contributor giving more than $1,000. 20 As the Chairman of the Health Commi3ee, from a pharmaceucal perspecve, Ma3 Baker is the most powerful man in the House. If we look at how the pharmaceucal industry has given to other candidates, we see a proporonal giving commensurate with the influence that polician has in Harrisburg. We decided to look at three Democrats, the sponsor of the PA Medical Marijuana Bill, the ranking member of the House Health Commi3ee, and a lowranking Democrac member of the House Health commi3ee. The sponsor of the PA Medical Marijuana Bill is State Senator (D) Daylin Leach. Leach has been in office for 13 years, 6 years as a State Representave and 7 years as a State Senator. In his last race as a PA State Representave, he raised $124,000. All total, Leach has raised over $2.073 million throughout his polical career, with the largest industry donor coming from lawyers and lobbyists, who gave him $225,081. Leach has not served on any major health commi3ees in the House or the Senate, but sll received a total of $4,600 from Pharmaceucal Companies, with $2,400 coming to him in 2012. He received no money from pharmaceucal companies in 2014 The ranking member of the House Health Commi3ee is Florindino Fabrizio (D). Fabrizio has been in office for 13 years and has raised $148,728 during that me. Up unl the 2014 elecon, the first elecon in which Fabrizio was the ranking member of the Health Commi3ee, the Representave received no money from the TF pharmaceucal industry. In 2014, Fabrizio received $2,000 from the pharmaceucal industry. We would be willing to bet he will receive at least as much, if not more, in 2016. Another Democrat, Mary Jo Daley, was appointed to the Health Commi3ee in 2013. Daley was elected in 2012. In only 2 elecons, Daley has already raised $159,523, with $94,110 being raised in her first elecon bid. She received no money from the pharmaceucal industry in her first run. In 2014, Daley received $1,200. Whatever your posion on money in polics, what our study reveals is that interests follow power, but power does not necessarily conform to those interests, though, of course, it might. The fact that Ma3 Baker received the amount of money he has received so far, as the Chairman of the most powerful commi3ee to the pharmaceucal industry, should be of li3le surprise to anyone. Would you assume that Senator Leach is beholden to lawyers and lobbyists because he has received so much money from them? Given the fact that he is the Democrac Chairman of the Judiciary Commi3ee, is at any surprise lawyers and lobbyists would want to contribute heavily to his campaign? Issues that go a7er personalies, unless a CLEAR case of undue influence can be made, only serve to distract us all from this important debate now facing our elected officials today. Read the full arcle on TiogaFreedomist.com. $525/Mo Full Page + Top Website Banner Ad Call Susan Graver at 570-787-3561 Your Digital Newspaper and Print News Journal Serving Tioga County PA, Surrounding Areas and Beyond TF