Endorsing Swartz for judge

To the Editor:

Allow this letter to serve as my endorsement of Tara Ebright Swartz for Magisterial District Judge. Tara is a paralegal with the firm I work for and has a breadth of experience in all aspects of the legal realm. She continually demonstrates a mastery of the law through her devotion to her work and the clients that we serve. She routinely assists multiple attorneys in multiple fields of law with a variety of legal issues in both state and federal matters. If you have not had the opportunity to meet Tara in person, then I sincerely hope that you do because she is one of the most diligent and compassionate individuals when it comes to helping people which I witness every day working with her. It is because of Tara’s diligent efforts, devotion to her work, and compassion that I believe she is prepared to serve the citizens of Juniata County as your next Magisterial District Judge. If elected, although it will be sad to see her go, I know that she will serve her constituents well.

Jaron P. Castranio, Esquire

Johnson, Duffie, Stewart & Weidner, P.C. Lemoyne

Lucky to have Ketchem

To the Editor:

We are fortunate to have among us moderate Republican Dr. R. Brian Ketchem running for school board, and I am sharing the basics of his education journey. Brian attended first grade at Union Township Elementary in Belleville and the remainder of his schooling in the Harrisburg area. After attending high school at Central Dauphin, he worked as an actor for Theatre IV, in Ohio, traveling to perform historical narratives for schoolchildren. The actors served as cast, crew, business managers, drivers, navigators, prop and wardrobe coordinators, sound techs and in other capacities as required for stagings in venues ranging from grade school cafeterias to fully equipped theaters. At 21 Brian enrolled at Penn State McKeesport and graduated at University Park in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering. After working for Boeing in Washington, he returned to Penn State, earned an MBA, and was living in Oregon with his young family when his grandmother asked him to return to manage the family business, D.K. Hostetler, Inc., near Milroy. Brian has lived in Reedsville these past 8 years, working while studying and obtaining his Ph.D. in Workforce Education and Development. He and his wife Kat, currently a student teacher at Lewistown Elementary, have three school-age children. Brian has a passion for quality education for all our children. It is my hope that you have a chance to meet with, ask questions, and share your concerns with Brian during this election season.

Melody Knarr Gehlbach

(formerly from Belleville)