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Friday, June 10, 2011

Ephrata grads reach 'end of a journey'



By LARRY ALEXANDER
Staff Writer
The only thing higher than the temperature outside Ephrata High School on Wednesday was the excitement level of the 291 students of the Class of 2011 inside the building.
Donning their caps and gowns, they mingled in the corridors they would soon be leaving for the last time, chatted with friends, thought about the past and anticipated the future with a mixture of eagerness and dread.
"I'm excited," said Johanna Jimenez-Montoya, who plans to go to college and study criminal justice. "But I'm also sad and scared. Definitely."
Many of the graduates shared their emotions, even though they have definite plans for their lives beyond high school.
Brian Clifford will be joining the military, "most likely the Navy," he said.
Richard Barclay will be looking for a full-time summer job. He plans to keep "it for as long as I need to" while taking general education courses, possibly at Harrisburg Area Community College "or even F&M, if I can afford it." Later, he hopes to enter a state college and major in communications.
Anna Yermolov will attend Temple University to study speech pathology, while Brandi Harvest will join the National Guard and, after that, study criminal justice. Kayla Gordon will attend Alvernia University in Reading to become an athletic trainer.
Even as they prepared to leave what class valedictorian Nathaniel Latshaw called "the multicolored tile corridors" with "questionable color schemes" of Ephrata High School, all have things they will look back on fondly.
For some, it will be a favorite teacher such as Michael DelPiano who, Yermolov said, "made learning fun and exciting." For others, it will be class events such as Culture Day for language students.
"All of the classes came together, and we had a whole bunch of food and hung out," Clifford recalled. "It was a day for getting to know everyone."
Barclay enjoyed his days working with Ephrata AM, the school's television broadcast station.
"Even though it meant I had to be here early every day, it was still a great time working with people in front of the cameras, behind the scenes and things like that," he said.
The graduation ceremony was held on War Memorial Field, which is flat as a griddle and felt just as hot. In the grandstands, white programs fluttered like feathers as friends and family members of the graduates tried to fan away the stifling heat of the late-day sun.
At several locations, orange-and-white barrel-shaped coolers filled with cold water, along with plastic cups, were available for all who needed a drink.
Here and there, soap bubbles rose up, then, caught on the evening breeze, wafted gently over a sea of purple-and-gold gowns.
Class president Lauren Smith told her classmates that the world they have known for the past 12 years is about to end, and a new world is starting.
"Tonight marks the end of a journey and the beginning of a lifetime," she said.
Some, like Dion Deamer, who hopes to one day own his own auto-repair shop, were eager for that lifetime to commence.
"I'm just ready to get out of here," he said.



EHS graduating 295 at ceremony tonight Nathaniel Todd Latshaw
Latshaw named valedictorian


Staff Writer
Ephrata High School announced Monday that senior Nathaniel Todd Latshaw is Valedictorian for the Class of 2011.
Latshaw, who was also a star player on the EHS soccer team last fall, will join classmates Catie Eckman, Robert McGlaughlan, and Chris Prosser, as well as class president Lauren Smith on the stage, as a featured speaker during commencement exercises set for 7 p.m., Wed. June 8 at Ephrata War Memorial Field.
All eligible graduates are pictured in this issue and can be found on pages A16-18.
The evening's program will begin a prelude by the graduation choir followed by the traditional "Pomp and Circumstance" and "Star-Spangled Banner," also sung by the graduation choir.
An introduction by the superintendent, Dr. Gerald B. Rosati, will precede the class president's welcome, followed by some remarks by the principal, Mrs. Joane Eby.
After the class speakers have shared their memories and inspiring words, Principal Eby will present the graduates, accompanied by a message by the Board of Education president, Timothy W. Stayer.
This year's senior class, whose motto is "Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to be the person you believe you were meant to be," by Dr. George Sheehan, is comprised of many students who have reached high academic standing. Graduates who have attained a 4.0 GPA are designated as Summa Cum Laude; Cum Laude, 3.75; Academic Excellence, 3.5; and Honor Graduates, 3.0.
The Board of School Directors -- Timothy W. Stayer, president; Robert E. Miller, vice-president; Clare LeFevre, secretary; Jean Hornberger, treasurer; Judy Beiler; Marty Harmes; Ted Kachel; Kay Kurtz; Glenn R. Martin; Jenny Miller; Neal D. Reichard; and Allyson Snyder -- will present the diplomas to the graduating seniors.
The Alma Mater, postlude and recessional will conclude the events of the evening.
The graduation season kicked off in late May with the senior awards assembly (awards listed last week) and the prom. Ceremonies continued this week, with a Baccelaureate service on Sunday at Ephrata Community Church (see photos in this issue), and of course, the main event tonight.
In case of inclement weather, commencement exercises will be held at Ephrata Middle School and admission, then, would be by ticket only. More GRADUATION, page A22


Ephrata seniors' dream evening

During the commencement, a petition circulated in honor of a former teacher killed by a texting driver.
By LARRY ALEXANDER
Staff Writer 
The scene was as old as public education itself; seniors arriving at school, donning caps and gowns, saying good-bye to friends and lining up to take that final walk as high school students.
That was the experience of the 288 seniors in Ephrata High School's Class of 2010 Thursday, during the 115th annual commencement ceremony at War Memorial Field.
Lauren Dixon, class president, said she was "nervous," both about graduation and about having to give a speech, but she also was "kind of excited."
Dixon had two jobs, Thursday. One was to give the welcoming speech to the parents and the other was to honor the memory of teacher Jean Good by asking her classmates to sign a petition vowing not to use hand-held cell phones or to text-message while driving.
Dixon said she heard about the cell phone campaign in social issues class while watching the Oprah Show episode that featured Lancaster County native Jacy Good, who was injured in the same 2008 crash that killed her parents; a crash caused by someone using a cell phone. Jacy's mother, Jean Good, was a former Ephrata Middle School teacher.
"It hit close to home with our class because of Mrs. Good," Dixon said. "Everybody in the class got emotional, so I took it upon myself to get a petition going here."
So far, she said, she had 122 signatures and would try to collect more after the ceremony.
Morgan Porter saw graduation as "letting go of the past" and thinking "this is the start of a whole new life."
Rachel Engleman, whose grandfather, Terry, is a retired Ephrata track coach and math teacher (who tried unsuccessfully to teach algebra to this reporter in seventh grade), said, "I'm so excited to graduate. It was a lot of hard work, but tonight's when it pays off."
She plans to attend Lebanon Valley College and major in elementary education.
"I'm following in my grandpa's footsteps," she said.
Jonathan Brynarsky said, "It's graduation. I'm ready to throw the hat up in the air and get going," while Alexander Badie admitted to being "excited" but also " a little bit scared."
"I'm actually sad to leave," said Seth Zeiset. "I had a great time here."
But the time to leave came, and the seniors donned their purple and gold caps and gowns which, for the first time in 115 years, the students purchased, and lined up.
As the school band under director Scott Fairchild played "Pomp and Circumstance," the class of 2010 filed across the lush green grass of the War Memorial Field to hoots and hollers by family members in the bleachers.
The setting sun seemed a fitting farewell to the graduates, and Ephrata Superintendent Gerald Rosati, commenting on the event and the picture-perfect weather, called it "a night when dreams come true."
A sea of young people seated before him could not have agreed more.




Dr. Coburn’s Statement on Upcoming Ethanol Vote


Jun 10 2011


(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) released the following statement today regarding the Senate’s plan to vote this coming Tuesday on his amendment (#436) to repeal the ethanol tax earmark and tariff. Dr. Coburn’s amendment is identical to legislation (S. 871) he has introduced with Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to end the ethanol tax earmark and tariff. If enacted, Dr. Coburn’s amendment would save $3 billion for the remainder of this year and $6 billion annually.
“The days of placing spending programs in the tax code and giving them holy status are over,” Dr. Coburn said. “Economic conservatives and leading free-market groups like the Club for Growth understand that using the tax code to pick winners and losers kills economic growth and job creation. Today’s way of doing business is a tax increase on anyone who can’t hire a tax lobbyist or make large donations to special interest groups in Washington. Taxpayers are tired of this game and expect us to eliminate wasteful special interest spending in all of its forms.”
“Eliminating the ethanol tax earmark and tariff would be a big step toward restoring fiscal sanity in Washington. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment on Tuesday. Ethanol is bad economic policy, bad energy policy and bad environmental policy,” Dr. Coburn said.
Additional background on the amendment is here, including a letter of support from dozens of organizations on the left and right.
The Club for Growth’s statement regarding its decision to Key Vote the Coburn amendment is here. The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste letter urging Congress to vote in favor of amendment #436 here.
Dr. Coburn has previously sent this letter to Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) President Grover Norquist urging ATR to end its inappropriate defense of tax earmarks.

103 Representatives Call for “Cut, Cap, and Balance” Response to Impending Debt Crisis


Chairman Jordan on Cavuto "Cut, Cap

and Balance"



Uploaded by  on Jun 2, 2011
As reported in prior post: The House Republican Study Committee shared that 103 House Republicans sent a letter [pdf copy of letter with signatures identified] to Speaker Boehner and Majority Leader Cantor calling for a "Cut, Cap, and Balance” response to the debt limit and the bigger debt crisis that’s just over the horizon. It’s a simple, three-part plan:
With each passing day our nation’s fiscal health gets worse, leaving our children and grandchildren falling further into debt. Democrats seem to have given up, proposing even more borrowing in response to our massive debt addiction. With the problem growing larger every day, we must move quickly and unite behind a plan to cut spending and get our budget into balance.


Washington, Jun 6 - 

103 House Republicans, led by Republican Study Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, today called for a three-pronged approach of spending reductions to resolve the debt limit impasse and avoid the greater debt crisis just over the horizon.


The “Cut, Cap and Balance” proposal, outlined in a letter to Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor, calls for:




  1. Immediate spending cuts to slash the deficit in half next year.  According to March projections from the Congressional Budget Office, this would require spending cuts of approximately $380 billion in the 2012 fiscal year.
  2. Statutory, enforceable caps that align spending with average revenues by ratcheting total federal spending down to 18% of GDP.
  3. House and Senate passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution that includes a spending cap at 18% of GDP and a high hurdle for tax increases.  47 Senators have already endorsed a Balanced Budget Amendment along these lines.



“America faces what Democrat Erskine Bowles has called ‘the most predictable economic crisis in history,’” said Rep. Jordan.  “Yet President Obama and other Democrats want to raise the debt ceiling with no questions asked.  ‘Cut, Cap, and Balance’ is the only plan on the table bold enough to turn the tide of debt, prevent the coming crisis, and restore confidence in our economy.  These three measures together will breathe new life into the Age of America.”

The full text of the letter is available here, and the 103 House Republicans who signed the letter are listed below.

“Cut, Cap, and Balance” has also garnered the support of the American Conservative Union, the American Family Business Institute, Americans for Limited Government, Americans for Tax Reform, Citizens United, the Club for Growth, the College Republicans, and the Conservative Action Project.  Other supporters include the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, the Family Research Council, FreedomWorks, Heritage Action, Let Freedom Ring, the Life & Liberty PAC, the National Taxpayers Union, and RedState.com.








Letter Signers:


1.       Rep. Todd Akin36.     Rep. Tom Graves
2.       Rep. Justin Amash37.     Rep. Tim Griffin
3.       Rep. Roscoe Bartlett38.     Rep. Paul Gosar
4.       Rep. Joe Barton39.     Rep. Frank Guinta
5.       Rep. Dan Benishek40.     Rep. Ralph Hall
6.       Rep. Rob Bishop41.     Rep. Andy Harris
7.       Rep. Marsha Blackburn42.     Rep. Vicki Hartzler
8.       Rep. Kevin Brady43.     Rep. Nan Hayworth
9.       Rep. Paul Broun44.     Rep. Tim Huelskamp
10.     Rep. Larry Bucshon45.     Rep. Bill Huizenga
11.     Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle46.     Rep. Randy Hultgren
12.     Rep. Dan Burton47.     Rep. Bill Johnson
13.     Rep. John Campbell48.     Rep. Sam Johnson
14.     Rep. Steve Chabot49.     Rep. Jim Jordan
15.     Rep. Jason Chaffetz50.     Rep. Mike Kelly
16.     Rep. Howard Coble51.     Rep. Jack Kingston
17.     Rep. Mike Coffman52.     Rep. John Kline
18.     Rep. Chip Cravaack53.     Rep. Raul Labrador
19.     Rep. Rick Crawford54.     Rep. Doug Lamborn
20.     Rep. John Culberson55.     Rep. Jeff Landry
21.     Rep. Scott DesJarlais56.     Rep. James Lankford
22.     Rep. Jeff Duncan57.     Rep. Bob Latta
23.     Rep. Stephen Fincher58.     Rep. Billy Long
24.     Rep. Jeff Flake59.     Rep. Cynthia Lummis
25.     Rep. Chuck Fleischmann60.     Rep. Connie Mack
26.     Rep. John Fleming61.     Rep. Don Manzullo
27.     Rep. Bill Flores62.     Rep. Tom Marino
28.     Rep. Randy Forbes63.     Rep. Mike McCaul
29.     Rep. Virginia Foxx64.     Rep. Tom McClintock
30.     Rep. Trent Franks65.     Rep. Thad McCotter
31.     Rep. Scott Garrett66.     Rep. Patrick McHenry
32.     Rep. Bob Gibbs67.     Rep. Gary Miller
33.     Rep. Phil Gingrey68.     Rep. Jeff Miller
34.     Rep. Trey Gowdy69.     Rep. Mick Mulvaney
35.     Rep. Sam Graves70.     Rep. Sue Myrick








71.     Rep. Randy Neugebauer
72.     Rep. Kristi Noem
73.     Rep. Alan Nunnelee
74.     Rep. Pete Olson
75.     Rep. Stephen Palazzo
76.     Rep. Steve Pearce
77.     Rep. Mike Pence
78.     Rep. Joe Pitts
79.     Rep. Ted Poe
80.     Rep. Mike Pompeo
81.     Rep. Ben Quayle
82.     Rep. Tom Reed
83.     Rep. Reid Ribble
84.     Rep. Scott Rigell
85.     Rep. Phil Roe
86.     Rep. Todd Rokita
87.     Rep. Dennis Ross
88.     Rep. Ed Royce
89.     Rep. Steve Scalise
90.     Rep. Robert Schilling
91.     Rep. Jean Schmidt
92.     Rep. Dave Schweikert
93.     Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner
94.     Rep. Steve Southerland
95.     Rep. Cliff Stearns
96.     Rep. Steve Stivers
97.     Rep. Marlin Stutzman
98.     Rep. Scott Tipton
99.     Rep. Tim Walberg
100.  Rep. Joe Walsh
101.  Rep. Allen West
102.  Rep. Joe Wilson
103.  Rep. Kevin Yoder

Cut, Cap, and Balance



Posted June 6th, 2011 at 12:22pm in Entitlements

The House Republican Study Committee (RSC) has deployed a new theme to be introduced into the debt limit increase debate: “Cut, Cap, and Balance.” The debt limit is expected to be considered by both chambers of Congress by August 2. House conservatives have drawn up a list of demands in consideration for allowing the debt limit to be increased.
The fault lines are clear in the debate right now. The Los Angeles Times reports today that there is a standoff between the two parties on a debt limit deal, and no comprehensive deal on taxes and entitlement reform is expected.
The standoff over raising the nation’s nearly $14.3-trillion debt limit may conclude this summer with a more limited round of spending cuts and promises of future reform, pushing off the tough choices about taxes and Medicare until after next year’s election. Republicans, by not compromising on taxes, can continue to campaign on the no-new-taxes stance that is a cornerstone of their political strategy, while attacking Democrats and President Obama for their proposed tax increases on the wealthy. Democrats, whose political prospects have brightened since House Republicans proposed deep cuts in Medicare, have all but ruled out any deal that would relinquish the issue as a political weapon.
Liberals want to increase taxes to balance the budget. They seek to remove entitlement reform from the debt limit debate, because they fear any changes to these programs. Liberals are pushing right now to divorce the debate over spending cuts from the debate over increasing the debt limit. They don’t want spending cuts to be attached to the debt limit increase.
Another liberal idea introduced into the debate was President Obama’s mechanism for automatic tax increases if the budget was not in balance starting in Fiscal Year 2014. Obama deployed the idea of a “Debt Failsafe Trigger” as a means to automatically increase taxes and cut spending when the budget is not in balance. Of course, this idea would exempt entitlement programs from the automatic cuts, and one should not expect that these cuts would end up balancing the budget.
Conservatives want to shrink government and are dead set against raising taxes as a means to balance the budget. The opponents of big government want to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution, set up a tough budgetary mechanism to control spending, and/or implement entitlement reforms.
Between liberals and conservatives, there is not much common ground on a debt limit deal or on the future of government spending. The Republican Study Committee has taken a different approach to this debate: Put out a list of demands and pledge to stop any increased debt limit unless these demands are met. Instead of cutting secret deals with the Vice President behind closed doors, the RSC is opting for a transparent public negotiation on the debt limit increase that includes the participation of the American people.
The RSC is gathering signatures for the following Cut, Cap, and Balance Pledge list of demand on the debt limit increase:
  1. Cut. We must make discretionary and mandatory spending reductions that would cut the deficit in half next year.
  2. Cap. We need statutory, enforceable caps to align federal spending with average revenues at 18 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with automatic spending reductions if the caps are breached.
  3. Balance. We must send to the states a Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) with strong protections against federal tax increases and a Spending Limitation Amendment (SLA) that aligns spending with average revenues as described above.
The RSC recognizes that there does not have to be a bipartisan deal on the debt limit increase if conservatives can make it a condition that their list of demands must be met before the debt limit is increased. Conservatives recognize that this may be the one opportunity in a lifetime for Congress to marry strong spending restraint measures to an increase in the debt limit.
In a letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner (R–OH), conservatives in the House are joining the call for a stop to “out-of-control spending”:
We must state unequivocally that we will not vote for a “clean” debt ceiling increase. We share your belief, as articulated in your speech in New York on May 9th, Mr. Speaker, that if we do not reverse the out-of-control spending that has led us here, it would be grossly irresponsible for us to extend the limit on the national credit card.
We shall see over the next month if Congress has the stomach for some real cuts to spending or whether it merely wants to rubber-stamp the credit limit of the U.S. government with no restraint on the appetite for spending that has added $14.3 trillion in excess weight.