HEADLINES:
Lactose Intolerant? Don’t Panic!
Leadership 2020 Kicks Off
Local Participates In National Conference
Local Group Attends Conference
It's A Boy!
Keep Pests From Entering Homes

Lactose Intolerant? Don’t Panic!
Submitted By Callie Curley, Susquehanna County Dairy Ambassador

The facts about lactose intolerance may surprise you. To begin with, it isn’t nearly as widespread as people think. In many cases, it doesn’t even mean the affected person has to give up dairy products. In fact, newer studies suggest that most people who are affected by the condition can enjoy many dairy foods daily.

First things first, if you think you may be lactose intolerant, take a visit to your doctor’s office. There are other health problems with similar symptoms, which may be a sign of more serious problems.

Next, after you’ve been diagnosed, do not panic! Lactose intolerance is not an “all or nothing” condition. Rather, it is one of degree. The amount of lactose a person can comfortably digest will depend on their personal lactase levels. For example, a person’s lower lactose levels can digest some milk sugar. Often, having smaller amounts of milk, and having milk products with meals will do the trick. Secondly, don’t let the title throw you off. What is commonly called lactose “intolerance” is actually referred to as maldigestion. Only a fraction of the people who have maldigestion suffer from an actual intolerance. Furthermore, many people with lower levels of lactase can consume up to 8 oz of milk with a meal without any issues.

Lastly, please realize that sometimes an intolerance to milk is only temporary, and could be brought on by certain medications or by illnesses such as the flu. Talk to your doctor if sudden symptoms develop.

Tips for Tolerance:

Most cheeses have only small amounts of lactose. Aged cheeses like Cheddar, Colby, Swiss, and Parmesan are especially low in lactose and taste yummy too!

Many people find chocolate milk easier to digest than white milk and it has the same nutrients as white milk.

If you are lactose intolerant or know someone that is, follow the steps above to enjoy three servings of low-fat dairy products every day!

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Leadership 2020 Kicks Off
Submitted By Joann Kowalski

Leadership 2020/Year VIII began on October 16 & 17 at The Community Foundation of Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties, Lake Avenue, Montrose, with 10 participants from various locations around the county. Community Foundation President, Peter Quigg, welcomed the group and provided an overview of the foundation’s services to the area. Currently the numbers who have graduated from Leadership 2020 totals nearly 80 since the program’s inception in fall 2000.

Pictured above: Sherry Sparks, Kim Smith, Rachel Magargal, Kathy Ashby, Michelle Kowalewski, Dennis Magargal, Kyle Herbert, Jim Mangel, Leadership 2020 co-founder, Ray Osburn, and Joann Kowalski, Penn State Cooperative Extension.

Leadership 2020 is a comprehensive leadership development program open to anyone living and/or working in Susquehanna County: anyone who wants to make a difference in their community or develop their personal leadership potential is encouraged to participate. The sessions are held at various special locations throughout the county to give participants an idea of the depth of services offered by various organizations and to provide an idea of available leadership opportunities.

Leadership 2020 is sponsored by Penn State Cooperative Extension in partnership and with the support of businesses and community organizations throughout the county. The Steering Committee which helps plan the sessions as well as recruiting and reviewing applications consists of Ray Osburn, co-founder, Sue Abbott, Glenn Bailey, Marilyn Haskins, Cheryl Matulevich, Lori Moore, Becky Naylor and Bob Welch.

Graduation ceremonies are planned for Thursday, May 20, at the Montrose Bible Conference.

If you are interested in additional information regarding Leadership 2020, please contact Joann Kowalski at the Penn State Cooperative Extension office at jmk20@psu.edu or by calling (570)278-1158.

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Local Participates In National Conference
Submitted By Susq. Co. Cooperative Extension

Morgan Williams-Clark of Montrose was one of ten 4-H members from Pennsylvania selected to participate in the 55th National 4-H Dairy Conference held annually in conjunction with the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, September 27-30. This year’s conference brought together 200 4-H members from across the United States and Canada. Delegates from Pennsylvania were sponsored through a grant provided by the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association from the Center of Dairy Excellence.

Morgan Williams-Clark

The four-day experience exposed 4-H members to new dairy science technology and dairy-related careers. Through a combination of workshops, speakers, educational field trips and networking with other dairy-oriented youth, 4-H members gained information to strengthen their futures in the dairy industry. Highlights from the conference include tours of ABS Global, Hoard’s Dairyman office/printing facility and Guernsey Farm, The National Dairy Shrine, Nasco, and Crave Bros. Dairy - a 750-cow dairy operation that operates Homestead Cheese LLC, and generates their own electricity by way of a manure digester. For Morgan, the best part of the trip was the opportunity to visit ABS Global.

The National 4-H Dairy Conference is sponsored and presented by University of Wisconsin-Extension 4-H Youth Development, Cooperating Friends of 4-H and the Dairy Industry, World Dairy Expo, and the National 4-H Dairy Conference Planning Committee.

Morgan is the daughter of Kenny and Stephanie Clark and a member of the DES 4-H Club. She is currently a senior at Montrose Area High School and plans to attend college to study dairy science next year.

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Local Group Attends Conference

SCRANTON, PA - A Susquehanna County group was recently represented among more than 400 attendees of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Conference in Scranton.

Seven members of the Susquehanna County Pennsylvanians for Human Life participated in a full day of informational sessions, including a presentation by life sciences professor Dr. David Prentice, who spoke about the life-saving impact of adult stem cell research.

“It’s only adult (not embryonic) stem cells that are treating people now,” said Prentice, who added that adult stem cell research has resulted in successful treatments of nearly 80 forms of disease. He said “zero treatments have resulted from embryonic stem cell research. All it does is create tumors in rats and mice.”

Conference attendees also heard from syndicated Catholic talk show host Teresa Tomeo, who discussed the media’s treatment of respect-life issues.

Pictured (l-r), those attending from PHL Susquehanna County: front row - Jane Conboy, Loretta Daly, Annette Corrigan, Teresa Tomeo, Bridgette Conboy; back row - John O'Sullivan, Mary Louise Keenan, Rosalynd Perlick.

The day’s presentations also included remarks from Bobby Schindler, the brother of Terri Schindler Schiavo, who was allowed to die through euthanasia. Schindler and his family unsuccessfully fought the court ruling that allowed Terri to die.

“As a result of the court decision, it is ok to kill someone purely on the basis of quality of life,” said Schindler. “But all life is sacred. If we don’t value life, how can we value anything in our society.”

The conference ended with a Celebrate Life Banquet featuring former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline, best known as the first prosecutor to bring criminal charges against Planned Parenthood.

“We must hold the abortion industry accountable to the rule of law,” said Kline. “The purpose of law is to respect human life as God created it. No nation can claim the promise and live the lie.”

The state Pro-Life Conference also included a student breakout session. The entire event was sponsored by the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, a grassroots right-to-life organization with members statewide. An affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee, PPLF is committed to promoting the dignity and value of human life from conception to natural death, and to restoring legal protection for the unborn.

PPLF Executive Director Michael Ciccocioppo reminded conference attendees to oppose any healthcare reform legislation less it explicitly excludes abortion.

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It’s A Boy!

The Masters family welcomed the arrival of Coe Julius Masters, on November 4, 2009 at Moses Taylor Hospital, Scranton, PA.

His proud parents are Richard Conrad Masters and Bethann Masters of Kingsley and he has one brother, Richard.

Grandparents are Richard and Shirley Masters, Kingsley; Elaine Tingley, Waverly; and Kenneth and Sandy Tingley, Gibson.

Great-grandparents are Richard S. and Eloise Masters, Kingsley; Maxine Heath, Great Bend; William Katona, Lake Winola.

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Keep Pests From Entering Homes

With fall weather bringing unwanted, but harmless, insects into homes across the state, acting Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding offered homeowners some suggestions on how to keep out the unwanted pests.

“These home invaders may be a nuisance in the fall, but they don’t pose any harm to humans or to property,” said Redding. “They simply enter homes this time of year looking for a warm place to escape the cold winter months.”

Redding said the most common pests include the brown marmorated stink bug, multicolored Asian lady beetle, and the boxelder bug.

Redding recommends homeowners seal any cracks along windows, doors or other openings to keep out pests. If bugs have already come into the home, find the entry location and seal it to prevent further access. Vacuum any other living or dead insects and dispose of them.

The brown marmorated stink bug was first identified in Lehigh County about 10 years ago. It is less than an inch long and shaped like a brown shield. When disturbed, it can produce an unpleasant odor.

A known stone fruit pest, the stink bug also may be found on ornamental plants, weeds and soybeans. As of now, it is not an agricultural pest in Pennsylvania and there are no effective trapping or large-scale control methods.

The multicolored Asian lady beetle, part of a group of insects commonly called “lady bugs,” is smaller than a quarter inch long, oval shaped, yellow or red in color, and can have zero to 19 black spots. It is a tree-dwelling beetle and an important predator of aphids and scale insects. Beginning in early October, it begins congregating outside houses, sheds and other buildings in search of places to wait out the winter.

The boxelder bug is often found near homes or buildings with plantings of boxelder, a species of maple tree. About half an inch long, the adults are brownish-black with reddish-orange stripes on their backs and reddish-orange abdomens. Large numbers of the bugs gather on the south side of trees, buildings and rocks that are exposed to the sun.

Insecticides are only a temporary solution, not a long-term method of control, as the effectiveness of these products diminishes over time and do not prevent insects from entering the home permanently.

For more information on these species, please contact a local Penn State Cooperative Extension Office, or visit Penn State’s entomology Web site at http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets.

Information on other invasive species is also available from the Pennsylvania Invasive Species Council at www.invasivespeciescouncil.com or by calling council coordinator Ashley Walter at 717-525-5800.

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