Category: General

LEMOYNE, PA – The PA State Grange is presenting a program on Rural Broadband Access at the PA Farm Show today (11 January). Its focus is to discuss what steps can be taken to ensure that rural Pennsylvania has the same access to Internet and cell phone service as do urban and suburban citizens. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order recognizing the need to “promote better access to broadband internet service in rural America” as well.

“This addresses a critical need for rural Pennsylvania”, said PA State Grange President Wayne Campbell. “Telemedicine may be a great way to reach rural areas but is almost useless if you don’t have the technology to go with it. Computers in the classroom is a great idea, but if kids have no Internet access at home, that resource is wasted. Rural commerce is stymied without access to those technology tools everyone else has. That is why Broadband Internet access is a top Grange legislative priority”

Presenters include: Mark Critz, Governor’s Rural Development Council Executive Director; Bev Gruber representing the PA Campgrounds Association; Betsy Huber, President of the National Grange and member of the Federal Communications Commission Advisory Committee for Broadband; Regina Matz, Esq. representing Public Utility Commission (PUC) Commissioner David Sweet; PA State Representative Kristin Phillips-Hill from York County who has introduced a package of Broadband bills; and Steve Samara, President of the PA Telephone Association.

The event will be moderated by PA Grange Director of Legislative Affairs Vince Phillips. The general public is encouraged to attend. The event is not just for members of the PA State Grange.

PA State Grange was founded in 1873 as an organization seeking to promote the interests of rural Pennsylvanians and to improve their lives economically and through strengthening the social fabric of their communities. The Grange’s presentation will take place in the Monongahela Room, second floor, Farm Show Complex Maclay Street entrance from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

For more information on the National Broadband Plan, visit: http://www.broadband.gov/rural_areas.html. Click HERE to view the President’s Executive Order.

Editor’s Note: The above is from a press release from the PA Grange and the White House.

(c) Therapeutic Thymes, 2018. All Rights Reserved.

Pennsylvania is home to hundreds of species of pollinators. There are 500 species of bees alone that call Pennsylvania home. In addition to bees, pollinators include beetles, butterflies, moths, and even flies.

At the PA Farm Show today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding will join representatives from the Center for Pollinator Research at Penn State, beekeepers, and others concerned about the health of state pollinators to share recommendations from the Pennsylvania Pollinator Protection Plan. The plan, known as P4, was developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Center for Pollinator Research at Penn State University (PSU). It is designed to protect bees and other insects that pollinate nearly 75 percent of the commonwealth’s food crops.

For more information on the Plan, visit: PSU’s Center for Pollinator Research.

(c) Therapeutic Thymes, 2018. All Rights Reserved.

Have you ever wondered how the honey gets from that little bee to that delicious sticky liquid we often use in tea or on toast? Wonder no more. Today, at the 102nd PA Farm Show, there will be a Honey Extraction Demonstration It is scheduled for 10 a.m. by Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association on the Culinary Connection Stage. There are several methods of extracting honey.

The PA Beekeepers Association has several educational stands at the Show. The Farm Show is the PA Beekeepers Association’s showcase annual event and the primary source of fund raising for the Pennsylvania Honey Queen Program, according to their website. The 2018 Pennsylvania Honey Queen is Hannah Albright. Lydia Barr was selected as 2018 Pennsylvania Honey Princess.

The 2018 show runs through 13 January, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, except Sunday, 7 January, when it runs 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, January 13, when it opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. This year is the 102nd PA Farm Show.

(c) Therapeutic Thymes, 2018. All Rights Reserved