A brief explanation of SOPA/PIPA and why you should be scared of it

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

If you watch the video and want to do something about this , click here to join the online petition!

Thank you!

Swine flu confirmed in local county

Two cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Mineral County, WV.  Two children that attend the same daycare center tested positive for this type of flu, according to public health advisory #58 from the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health.

According to sources, this strain of flu can cause the following symptoms:

• fever
• cough
• sore throat
• runny nose
• body aches
• headache
• chills
• fatigue

Be sure to wash your hands and your children’s hands frequently to avoid spreading germs.

Make 2012 a healthy year for you and your family!

Merry Christmas to you!

As we pause to celebrate the holidays with our families, each of our contributors want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas.  We will resume publication on January 2, 2012!

Helping families of sick children

So many families are impacted by the serious illness of a child.  I can’t imagine anything more stressful than one of my kids being seriously ill.  The Ronald McDonald House is a beacon of hope and a place for families to rest and not have to worry about finding a place to stay when their child is hospitalized.

This year, for the first time, McDonald’s customers are invited to purchase a $1, $3, or $5 “Give A Hand” with all proceeds being donated to RMHC. In addition, customers can support families in need every day throughout year the when they purchase a Happy Meal® or Mighty Kids Meal®* at participating U.S. McDonald’s restaurants. Through the Happy Meal fundraiser launched in the summer of 2010, McDonald’s donates a portion of the sales proceeds to RMHC from every Happy Meal and Mighty Kids Meal sold {*McDonald’s donates a penny per Happy Meal and Mighty Kids Meal sold, at participating U.S. McDonald’s}. And proving how a little help goes a long way, last year with your support, McDonald’s raised nearly $25 million for RMHC through the in-restaurant Donation Boxes.

With your continued support during this McHappy Day, RMHC can continue to expand programs worldwide and help more families find strength to endure during a very difficult time. More families like the Fletchers that were featured in this Washington Post article a few weeks ago.

Here are a few ways you can participate in the McHappy Day fundraiser this year and show your support for RMHC:

• Celebrate McHappy Day: Starting November 10, visit your local participating McDonald’s restaurant and purchase a “Give A Hand” for $1, $3, or $5. For each paper Hand sold between November 10-20, McDonald’s will donate all proceeds to RMHC.
• Purchase a Happy Meal or Mighty Kids Meal: Every time you purchase a Happy Meal or Mighty Kids Meal, McDonald’s will donate a portion of the proceeds to RMHC. So when you come together with your family for a meal, you can feel good knowing that you’re also helping keep families together when they need it most at a Ronald McDonald House.

·         “Give A Hand” Online Campaign and Sweepstakes: To further spread awareness of and show support for RMHC, McDonald’s is once again bringing “Give A Hand” online. We invite you and your family to write and/or draw messages of support for RMHC on your hand and submit your photo online at http://bit.ly/mcdgah. See Official Rules for details.  No Purchase Necessary.

For more information on donating your money or volunteering your time to this great cause visit www.rmhc.greaterdc.org.

Truancy in the Panhandle~ A Mother’s Rant

There was a meeting yesterday in the Panhandle, a meeting that has been duplicated across the state to address the truancy issue in West Virginia.

{For those not familiar with the term (and I wasn’t until I started in the social work field), truancy is being absent from school without permission.}

Some of you may be surprised that this is a HUGE problem in the Panhandle, some of you may be part of the problem.

22% of students in Berkeley County were absent {unexcused} more than 10 days of the school year last year.  We aren’t talking about missing a day or two for the stomach flu or an extended family weekend.  Truancy is kids staying home from school for no acceptable reason.

Why is this a problem?

This is how I, as someone who works with teens on a daily basis and have four of my own, view truancy: Truancy is a gateway drug.
If a child is supposed to be in school and isn’t- What are they doing with their time?  Who is supervising them? Who are they hanging out with?  How far are they falling behind in their studies?

Nothing constructive is taking place, I can assure you.

As someone noted in a meeting I attended today: “it starts with truancy”.  What starts? Irresponsible behavior, casual sex, drug use, criminal activity, dropping out, teen pregnancy and more.

The statistics are there to support this {read the Martinsburg Journal’s article here}  hypothesis.  And I see it every day with my own eyes.

In my work with teen moms I have encountered students that missed more school than they attended {and that was BEFORE they ended up pregnant!!! }.

Parents, please stand up and be a parent. If your 7th or 8th grader “won’t” go to school, you have a parenting issue.  My 14 and 15 year old boys know better than to even try to skip school. They don’t get to stay home unless they are vomiting or running a fever.  If they miss the bus, I drive them.  If it became an issue, they know that I would sit with them through each class {in my bathrobe and slippers} if that is what it took for them to fulfill their responsibility of receiving an adequate and appropriate education.  Their future is at stake and if they aren’t mature enough to care about that, I am.

As a society, we act surprised at the sense of entitlement and lack of work ethic in the majority of teenagers we encounter.  Many say “the school needs to do a better job of XYZ” or “the community needs to do a better job of ABC”. This problem, of truancy and the other issues that can stem from it, are a legitimate concern in this state and in this area.   I want to suggest that parents need to do a better job of being parents if we want to see change occur with issues such as truancy.

No is a complete sentence.  When it comes to staying home from school, please learn how to say “no” to your child.  The alternative is not attractive!

**Editor’s Note: I have many friends that homeschool their children, a choice that I respect. Please know this article is not directed towards homeschoolers.  This is about the truancy of enrolled public school students.**

Halloween Safety Tips for Parents

Special thanks to the California Poison Control System for providing us with these tips!

1.      Many parents purchase glow-in-the-dark jewelry and glow sticks to keep their children visible while trick-or-treating in the dark.  Children may break open these glow sticks and get the liquid on their hands and in their mouths.  The liquid can be mildly irritating to the skin or eyes but is not likely to cause harm if a small amount is ingested.
2.      Tell children not to eat treats until they return home and all items have been inspected by an adult.
3.      Limit the amount of candy ingested at one time.  Too much candy can cause stomach discomfort, and sugars and other sweeteners can act as laxatives when consumed in large amounts.
4.      If your child brings home a brand of candy that you are unfamiliar with, throw it away.  Some imported candies have high levels of lead that can be harmful.
5.      Candy that is unwrapped should be discarded immediately.
6.      Fruit treats should be washed and cut open before being eaten.
7.      Homemade treats should be discarded unless you know and trust the individuals who prepared them.
8.      Small pieces of candy are potential choking hazards for small children.
9.      Torn, loose, or punctured wrapping may be a sign of tampering. If you suspect tampering, this should be reported to local police.
10.     Commercially produced candy may sometimes have color variation, lumps, or powdered sugar residue – all normal effects of the manufacturing and shipping process. To see photos of candy with these normal effects, go to http://www.candyusa.com/IndustryResources/PRdetail.cfm?ItemNumber=1247.  This candy is generally safe to eat as long as the packaging does not show signs of tampering.

Have fun and stay safe tonight!!!

Mission Haiti~ Post trip update

Editor’s note: Political contributor, Nathan Cherry, wrote about his mission trip to Haiti a few weeks ago.  Here is an update on how he was impacted by the trip and what he encountered there.

Bypassing all the details about our trip from the U.S. to Haiti we arrived safely to the missionary’s compound where we will be staying for the next week. After experiencing the “airport” in Haiti I can say most assuredly that God is actively working to oversee this trip. I am grateful for the Divine favor and blessing we have been shown in all aspects of this trip. But if the heart of Christ is to serve “the least of these” and to minister to the needs of orphans and widows, then certainly Christ Himself has given divine approval to our coming to the people of Haiti. There is poor, and then there is Haiti.

As we pulled into the compound it was hard not to be overcome with emotion by what we saw. More than a hundred kids eagerly welcomed us with hand slaps and hugs as we tried to make our way through the crowd to unload our vehicles. We barely got our things unloaded before the kids begged us to play. They inspected us, smiled, looked curiously at our tattoos, and surrounded us so that we couldn’t move. It was too much for some and tears were evident.

For me the hardest part of Day 1 was seeing a little girl, no different in size and age to my own daughter being fed by her only slightly older brother. These kids, many homeless, some orphans, but all poverty stricken are excited to eat the meager meal of rice and beans (most with their hands) because it is the best – in some cases only meal – they will eat today. AS I contemplated my daughter surviving on one small meal of rice and beans each day it broke my heart.

As we drove around the capital city of port Au Prince in back of an old pick-up truck it became glaringly obvious that most Americans are wealthier and more blessed in their need than these people will ever be. The depth of poverty here far exceeds what Americans can comprehend. The crowded streets are dirty, noisy, polluted with humanity begging to make a dollar. The ruins of a city and people ravaged by poverty and earthquake are a staunch reminder that wealth has less to do with money and more to do with perception and attitude. My old clothes and worn shoes were priceless to a people that aren’t 100% sure of when they would eat next.

After just one day I’ve resolved to be more thankful, complain less, and never let food go to waste. I continue to pray for God to wreck me, to tear me down and show me how to value Him and His glory more than the things of this world. He intends to do something here.

Today we began the projects prepared for us for this week. One group began laying block that will be a family’s house. This family of six currently lives in a tent under a tarp. The two room block house is no more than 200 square feet, a size smaller than most people’s living room. There’s no kitchen or bathroom, just a room for sitting and a room for sleeping. My garage is bigger.

Another group is building a bookshelf for the missionary to replace the very old items he was using. This is no doubt a blessing to the humble man and his wife; and will be well used.

The last project is to paint the room where they prepare the food for the kids. This is also the Kindergarten room at the small school operated by the missionary. It’s not an industrial kitchen with lots of state of the art equipment. It’s a bare bones room with two car rims and a heating element hooked up to a propane tank passing as a “stove.” It’s quite remarkable. I can just imagine asking a group of Americans to use this “equipment” to prepare food for kids. We would think it was a joke, yet this is reality for them each day.

I took a ride today with the missionary to see some of the churches he is helping to start. This man that needs an incredible amount of work done to his own facilities has helped start more than 50 churches in Haiti. The two we saw were little more than brick shells with tin roofs. For the area’s they are located in, they are quite nice. Again, to ask an American church to hold services in these facilities on a regular basis would be an interesting experience. It’s hard enough to get people to come to church in nice clean, carpeted, air-conditioned buildings with padded chairs. If we asked them to come to a concrete building with no electricity, padded chairs or indoor bathrooms it might cause a riot. Maybe what we need is a riot in our hearts that causes us to long for God and His presence more than pews, projectors and coffee. I couldn’t help but shake my head when more than one person asked me where I was from and then said “It’s hard to reach people for Christ in the United States.” I had to say “yes, it is.” I got the feeling that they believed it was hard because we have so much. We have so many distractions, so many comforts, we are the church at Laodicea that believes we are wealthy, yet, God know better of us. The people of Haiti know better of us as well.

Today we all piled into two vehicles and took a ride into the town to see some of the villages. The ride itself was interesting considering I was standing in the back of an old pick-up truck holding tight with white knuckles. I don’t think I’ve inhaled so many exhaust fumes in my life. The country is beautiful, with mountains and greenery that is misleading for the amount of poverty. You would immediately notice a large number of walls surrounding houses, businesses and other structures. Seeing walled compounds is normal here, not ot mention razor wire and broken glass bottles cemented to the tops of the walls.

It’s astounding to see what passes for normal and acceptable here; conditions we would find appalling are common place. The difference is so distinct it is almost other-worldly. As we drive the scene just goes on and on. You would expect, at some point, for it to end, but it doesn’t. The small tent/shack houses, the garbage lined streets; the kids walking alone, the ruins of once inhabited buildings simply go on and on.

Several times along the way as we came to a stop we are approached by peddlers and beggars alike wanting food, water, or a dollar. One dollar from us is nearly 1/3 days wage for these people; yet I spend a dollar on any given day for no reason at all. That sort of disparity is hard to comprehend.

I know I will never forget the things I’ve seen or experienced here in Haiti. To see people work all day just to feed their family, or kids scrounging for any piece of material that could be traded or sold. To see women and small children walking miles for groceries along busy roads and seeing kids as young as 8 or 10 walking alone, leading their younger siblings is a sight hard to forget.

But despite the conditions these people lived in I couldn’t help but see a form of joy on their faces that I don’t see much in America. There seems to be a peace and contentment here that people with ten times as much “stuff” don’t know anything of. It’s not contentment with not having enough food or clothes or shelter, it’s a contentment knowing that life is more than stuff. Would a new flat screen change someone’s life dramatically here, I don’t think so. I think it would be the vehicle for providing food, clothing and essentials for a family. The things that are highly prized here are only prized for what they can provide – food, water, clothing and other basic needs – to these people. A game system or television means nothing to people that are hungry.

I suppose the point is that we have abundance here in America and have become comfortable with our wealth to the point of apathy for those with less. We almost look at those with less as having done something wrong to get where they are; “If they had a better education, better job, better sense they wouldn’t be where they are today.” This mentality is surely grievous to a God that has compassion on and loves people regardless of their material possessions or state in life. I know I would do well to remember that everything I have, even the country I was born is not because of anything I have done, but because of the grace and divine sovereignty of God. In the words of English preacher John Bradford, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”

I can’t recommend enough that everyone visits a place like Haiti in order to understand just how blessed each of us truly is. Such a trip would also cause everyone to realize that we have the ability to help if we simply make the effort to look outside of ourselves and our own selfish desires to the needs of others. We are called by Christ to minister to “the least of these” and I can’t think of any that are the least, and have the least like the Haitian people (though I know some other places are just as bad, if not worse). God says that His heartbeat is to see His people minister to the needs of orphans and widows in their distress; Haiti has an abundance of orphans and widows. I believe this is a place where faith and works intersect in a collision that is sure to bring glory to Christ.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…”
James 1:27

Nathan A. Cherry lives in Bunker Hill with his wife and two children. He is a contributing blogger for the Family Policy Council of West Virginia as well as Eastern Panhandle Moms. Nathan is the Connection Pastor at New Hope Church in Inwood West Virginia where he serves to connect folks into places of service both within the church and in the community.

Local women take pro-life message to Congress

Last week two of West Virginia’s pro-life defenders took their message of adoption and life to Washington, D.C. Carolyn Willis, Executive Director of the Care Pregnancy Center of the Eastern Panhandle, and Kelly McKown-Smallwood, a volunteer at the center were part of the 8^th annual “Babies Go to Congress” campaign.

The Care Pregnancy Center of the Eastern Panhandle (CPCEP) is a well-respected organization in Berkeley County, WV where they have seen their client list grow significantly over the past several years. Willis has developed the volunteer core and community presence of the CPCEP through networking with churches and businesses alike.

“Babies Go to Congress” is a campaign sponsored by Heartbeat International, a nationwide chain of pro-life care pregnancy centers. The goal of this event is to let Congress know that abortion is not the final option and that there is plenty of help available to women seeking alternative options.

Take a look at the video below featuring both Carolyn Willis and Kelly McKown-Smallwood during their trip to Congress where they met Speaker of the House John Boehner and other members of Congress. (The complete article and video can also be seen by clicking this link)

Pro-Life Women Take ‘Babies to Congress’

When Kelly McKown-Smallwood was 14, she became pregnant.

Scared and overwhelmed, she felt pressured by her boyfriend and his family to have an abortion. But she says her Christian conviction ruled that out.

“Deep down I valued life even at the moment and I knew my life would never be the same,” McKown-Smallwood said. “I thank God I didn’t make that choice [to have an abortion].”

Today, McKown-Smallwood is married and works as a dental surgeon.

Now, with her two children, along with a team of other moms and crisis pregnancy center workers, she’s taking the pro-life message to Washington.

The group, known as Heartbeat International, said they want to let lawmakers know that “abortion is not the final option.”

“Some clients, all they want is to look for an abortion. Most choose parenting,” said Carolyn Willis of the Care Pregnancy Center.

Heartbeat International made its eighth visit to Capitol Hill Thursday.

Since the group started its “Babies Go to Congress” campaign, they’ve met with dozens of lawmakers.

Participants say they’re excited about the pro-life bills that have been introduced in Washington since Republicans regained control of the house. But their excitement is tempered.

“We just really are frustrated that these great pieces of legislation are making it out of the House, but the Senate stops them,” Heartbeat International member Virginia Cline explained.

McKown-Smallwood volunteers at a crisis pregnancy in her hometown, where young women get free services in counseling or free supplies for their babies, like formula and furniture.

She said motherhood at a young age was tough, but she made the right choice.

Her goal isn’t to only let members of Congress know there are options, but to let other women who find themselves in similar situations know they have options.

“It is doable. It is absolutely doable,” McKown-Smallwood said. “Care pregnancy centers, we’re there to fulfill whatever needs they have in their lives or to be their friend.”

Nathan A. Cherry lives in Bunker Hill with his wife and two children. He is a contributing blogger for the Family Policy Council of West Virginia as well as Eastern Panhandle Moms. Nathan is the Connection Pastor at New Hope Church in Inwood West Virginia where he serves to connect folks into places of service both within the church and in the community.

Local elections tomorrow- campaign needs volunteers!

New Poll came out showing the Bill Maloney is in a dead heat race with Democratic candidate Earl Ray Tomblin. The wind is at his back, and we need your help! The Martinsburg Holiday Inn HQ, located on Foxcroft Avenue (Exit 13)  and Ranson Holiday Inn Express HQ need your help to get out the vote. Get involved and make a difference in this election! Can Bill Maloney count on your support? Drop by either Panhandle Headquarters for signs, call lists, walking lists or to show your support.

www.billmaloneyforwv.com

Maloney is not a career politician, he’s a businessman who was founder of mining and drilling company and even helped develop the plan that saved the Chilean miners. He is also past president of the Greater Morgantown Community Trust, an active member of the Society of Mining Engineers, the West Virginia Coal Mining Institute, and the Independent Oil and Gass Association of West Virginia and other business groups. Bill, 52, has been married to Sharon Maloney for 30 years, they have 2 daughters, reside in Monongalia County, and attend Chestnut Ridge Church. Elections are Tuesday, Oct. 4th. The race will be very tight and we really need volunteers to help at the campaign office. It resides at the Holiday Inn 301 Foxcroft avenue Martinsburg, WV 25401.

Eastern Panhandle Moms does not endorse any specific candidates for political office.  This information is for information purposes only.

Local church traveling to Haiti to offer hope and more

Nathan Cherry, Connection Pastor for New Hope Church in Inwood, is excited to embark on a mission trip to Port-Au-Prince, Haiti next week.  Cherry will accompany eleven other members of New Hope on a trip they pray will provide tangible care and hope to orphans living in the impoverished country.  The group will be taking 550 pairs of shoes with them after becoming aware of the need for shoes to protect children’s feet from cuts, etc. that can quickly lead to infection.  The group is also taking Bibles, laptops and preparing to be Christ with skin on to the people they encounter.

Cherry, whose church had to raise $12,000 in six months to make this trip possible asked that local businesses that contributed to the funding of this trip be recognized.

The local businesses who donated to the trip include Martinsburg’s Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Distinctive Touch Interiors, East Coast Billboards, East Coast Outdoor Advertising, Stanley Steemer, Orchidstrated Design, U.S. Cellular of Inwood, Cameron’s Car Care, Dave Piepenbrink State Farm Insurance Agency, 4 State Real Estate, Home Solutions 4 U, the Dentist Office of Bonner Smallwood and McKown, the Charles Town BNI Group and 31 Gifts distributor Lizzy Fontaine.

Please be in prayer for the group as they embark on what is sure to be a once in a lifetime experience, bringing hope and shoes to orphans in Haiti.

Next Page »