On Centre: Penns Valley

Weather didn’t dampen spirits

Ed Mahon

Barring another record-setting snowfall, the Penns Valley Area School District's homecoming parade will take place at 6:30 p.m. today at the Grange Fairgrounds in Centre Hall. The event, scheduled for last Thursday, was rescheduled because of the weather.

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The parade will begin at Gate 4 and end with a pep rally at 7:45 p.m. at the grandstand.

Food will be available for purchase served by many local community groups.

That’s a lot of hair

Since she was 11, Centre Hall’s Amanda Puff has donated her hair three times to Locks of Love. Total contribution? Thirty inches of hair for the nonprofit that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

“It was because of all the family members that I’ve had that have had cancer,” said Puff, now 16.

Puff, a Penns Valley Area High School junior and 4-H member, sold her goat at the Grange Fair and donated the proceeds — $375 — to the American Cancer Society.

Scarecrow stolen

If you’ve driven past Penns Valley Elementary School on state Route 45, you’ve probably caught sight of the scarecrows. Sixth-graders built 17 of them as part of team-building exercises that take place throughout the year. The students are split up into groups throughout the year

“The goal is that over the course of the year, they get to know everybody in sixth grade,” sixth-grade teacher Steve Frigle said.

Last week, one of those scarecrows went missing, and Frigle learned that it was one with a Pittsburgh Steelers sweatshirt owned by a student.

Students were warned not to put anything too valuable or irreplaceable on the scarecrows, but Frigle was still disappointed to see the scarecrow stolen.

“She’s taking it pretty well,” Frigle said of the student. “It’s just a sad statement on society, that someone would … steal from our elementary students.”

Lesson on cover crops

I didn’t know there were 30 ways to cover crops, but Myers Farm plans to show that many at its annual Cover Crop Field Day on Nov. 10. Discussion will include tips on how to use cover crops to reduce nutrient inputs, conserve moisture and increase cropping profits. The event runs from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and includes free lunch.

To reserve a spot, call the Centre County Conservation District at 355-6817 by Nov. 5. The farm is at 3790 Penns Valley Road in Spring Mills.

Ed Mahon writes about news from the Penns and Brush Valley regions. He can be reached at 231-4619 or emahon@centredaily.com.