Lancaster Post

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Inside

August 22nd, 2008 Volume 1 Number 19

Side by Side: The 21st Century Public Library..................................................................... pg 3 Family and Grownup Fun - the County Entertainment Guide.................................pgs 10 & 11 Hard to Please: Our Discerning Diner steps up to The Loft.............................................pg 12 Trivia Games and Puzzles............................................................................................pgs 8 & 14 ...and much, much more!

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How Big Business Hides Behind “Non-Profits”

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story by Ron Harper, Jr., page 2

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| August 22, 2008

by Ron Harper, Jr., Lancaster Post

Money Grab: Does Big Business Hide Behind “Non-Profits”?

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an a non-profit organization legally work to further the business interests of its directors? Lancaster Post looked into the public record and tax returns of the Lancaster Alliance, an organization that has helped create over $3 million in new taxes every year of its existence, and is now poised to put trolley tracks throughout the city. Some of the directors and the contributors to the nonprofit Alliance stand to gain millions of dollars in taxpayer-subsidized grants and sweetheart deals. In 1993, Lancaster Newspapers (LNP), High Industries, Fulton Financial, Lancaster General Hospital, Franklin & Marshall College, Armstrong World Industries, UGI, PPL, and a half dozen more business formed the organization called Lancaster Alliance. A recent check of Alliance’s website reveals that they have no list of directors. In print, there are only a few scant articles which revealed the non-profit’s true movers and shakers. LNP has consistently hid or shielded who was really behind the group, and instead used general, but positive terms whenever they described the organization: “…a nonprofit group dedicated to community renewal in Lancaster City” “…a nonprofit group involved in renewal efforts.” “… a city revitalization group.” “…a partnership of executives that’s a major player in revitalization efforts” And who could be against such a group with such worthy and lofty goals? In 1999, Lancaster Alliance sponsored and paid for a study which advocated the establishment of a Lancaster County hotel/ motel tax (over $3 million a year) and the building of a public convention center beside a “private” hotel at Penn Square. The expensive study was used as justification for creating the convention center authority and the started the $200 million project that we know

today. The past and present Penn Square Partners (PSP), Fulton Bank, LNP, and High Industries got a tax deductible receipt for “donating” to Lancaster Alliance which, in turn, used the money to pay for a Lancaster Streetcar Co.’s rusted trolley is currently located outside Brunnerville, PA

study that basically said – build PSP a convention center! In 1999, the face of Lancaster Alliance changed from Tom Baldridge, who moved seamlessly to the head of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, to Jack Howell who had come from Michigan. When Howell was hired, here’s what the Intell said: “[Tom] Baldrige said Howell’s salary is confidential, and that funding for the position will come mostly from the private sector, including Lancaster Alliance members and other area companies that are contributing to revitalization efforts.” In a July 21 2000 Lancaster The Convention Center in downtown New Era, they described Howell as Lancaster, at various stages in its follows: ongoing development. “Howell is an affable newcomer to Lancaster who, as executive director of the business and civic group known as the Lancaster Campaign, is leading the charge for the city’s renewal.” LNP simply writes down what Baldridge says, instead of checking tax returns. Howell was paid $148,000 in salary, benefits and a “$6,320 expense account” in 2006. Tax returns over the last three years (2004-06) also show that Lancaster Alliance raised over $1 million from 23 groups including $100,000 from Lancaster County and $66,666 from city taxpayers. Rather than print the names of the companies behind Howell and Lancaster Alliance, LNP represents this group as caring only about helping the city instead of projects that the for-profit derive benefit. In the three years that tax records were checked, LNP’s chairman of the board Jack Buckwalter is listed as the director of Lancaster Alliance. So the question is: does the IRS allow a business to set up a nonprofit and then use that organization to further their business interests – all while taking a write-off for the donations? Jim Clymer, a Lancaster attorney who has set up dozens of non-profit corporations, said, “Of course I can’t comment on the actions of Lancaster Alliance without knowing the specifics, but I would always advise my non-profit clients to protect their [non-profit] status by staying clear of the appearance of wrong-doing. Essential to a 501(c)(3) organization is that it be organized and operated exclusively for a non-profit purpose. If an organization’s activities are designed to further the private business interests of its directors, it lacks the qualifying purpose.” This non-profit not only “fronts” for the various corporate interests, but is also used to create propagandistic quotes that are intended to influence the public. Taking a position against a group who is described as working for “revitalization” and “community renewal” – all while they advocate for projects that require vast The cover story continues on page 6

August 22, 2008

Side by Side: What Does the 21st Century

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Public Library Look Like?

Side by Side is a regular feature of the Lancaster Post where our editors ask the same question of two or more parties on different sides of the same issue.

Karen Haley Field

Steve McDonald

Karen Haley Field is the Board of Trustees president for the Lancaster Public Library.

Steve McDonald is the Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds.

Libraries are more relevant today than ever

Libraries need new solutions

ibraries are a more critical community resource today than ever before. FREE access to books, ideas, resources and information is imperative for the development of education, employment, enjoyment and self-government. FREE means that people of all social and economic backgrounds have equal access to resources and programs that advance literacy, lifelong learning and the technology needed to fully participate in today’s high tech information driven society. Moreover, talented and creative library staff help transform library resources into life-changing services for library users, Nationwide, libraries are expanding and upgrading in response to increased public demand for their resources and services. In the past few months, I have visited more than a dozen libraries in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, British Columbia and Nova Scotia. Many of these have recently undergone extensive expansion and renovations because their constituents wanted and been willing to pay for more space for programs, collections, more work, study and reading areas, more public computers, more public meeting rooms, larger business centers and snack bars. At the same time, operations are being made more efficient with self check-in, self check-out and upgraded administrative computers and software. Lancaster County libraries have also seen a tremendous increase in the use of their services. It is a fact that the Lancaster Public Library now provides more FREE services than any other nonprofit in the county! If our patrons had to purchase used copies of all the items borrowed in 2007, it would have cost them some $8 million dollars. Here is a snapshot of activity at the Lancaster Public Library in 2007: • Number of visits: 417,954 (some 1,500 patrons on an average day) • Service population with library cards: 45% • Materials borrowed by patrons: 815,539 • Materials borrowed by other libraries: 63,866 • Children registered in Duke St. Library Summer Reading Club: 2,320 (2,497 in 2008) • Collection size: 291,271 • Reference questions answered: 23,503 • General Library programs: 475 (attended by 8,648 adults and children) • Business center training classes/programs: 32 (attended by 559 patrons) • Public internet computers: 22 (added 8 in 2008 and there are still wait lines in peak hours!) • Free internet hours used: 77,512 • Specialized databases available online: 59 • Languages: books and videos in 15; language line offers translation in 170 languages and dialects Much to my surprise, many of the libraries I visited were 80% to 90% publicly funded and referendums to fund building or other major projects were readily passed by their public. This explained why these facilities are proud and heavily used hallmarks in their communities. In stark contrast, a 2005 referendum for a 1% special library tax in Lancaster County failed to pass, 48% for versus 52% against. Thus the Lancaster Public Library was only 56% publicly funded in 2007, leaving $750,000 to be raised from other sources. This ongoing funding challenge means that the budget is carefully scrutinized and some public requests remain unmet, such as Sunday hours and more books, CDs, movies and e-books. And though the Lancaster Public Library has as much traffic as some of the other urban libraries visited, it makes do with less than half the space.

s the library of the future made of brick and mortar, or is it a virtual one that will follow you where ever you go? As the automobile came into popularity in the early part of last century, horse drawn wagons and the industries that supported them became obsolete. Would it have been wise to expand a horse shoe business during this decline? Or would it have made more sense to develop a business to meet the demands of the new automobile? In the same way, traditional libraries, with expensive brick and mortar systems are fighting against the tidal wave of the internet, eBooks and the eventual technology that will make books as we know them, a museum oddity. The future of books? I am on the commuter train to Philly and want a book to read. I open my eLib (that’s short for electronic library) applet and browse for a book. After you download the electronic book, you will be able to read it on a number of different interactive appliances using Bluetooth to link to your device. After using my library token, I download a copy that I can the read comfortably by navigating using my Blackberry and having it linked to my video glasses. h t t p : / / w w w. m o b i l e m a g . c o m / content/100/342/C5888/. Back in the office, the Blackberry can link up with my desktop monitor and I can read on a break. At lunch, the Blackberry links up with the screen at my table. Your library will be ubiquitous, everywhere you are not at an expensive brick and mortar location. In this virtual book world, font sizes can be adjusted to anyone’s demands. Don’t you hate when the book you want is checked out? This will never happen in the future! The book self destructs when my return date is up - no need for a circulation department. This is where we will be in 10 years or less, http://www.eblib.com/. Our investments in libraries should be directed toward creating greater electronic resources that will be available anywhere. Instead of directing resources toward expensive building maintenance costs, the future library will take the total of nationwide expenditures and instead focus funds on develop a virtual library the world has never seen! But what of the “have-nots”? How will those with minimal resources be able to read and access these books? The Laptop Foundation has already created a $100 computer for developing

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If our patrons had to purchase used copies of all the items borrowed in 2007, it would have cost them some $8 million dollars.

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Our investments in libraries should be directed toward creating greater electronic resources that will be available anywhere.

R E A LT Y S E RV I C E S

... Side by Side continues on page 6

717-892-6820

... Side by Side continues on page 6

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Improved Police Training

| August 22, 2008

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f you want to legally cut hair in the state of Pennsylvania, you must have 1250 hours of certified training. To be a cop requires 750 hours. That’s right. The state makes you put in more time learning how to prevent a bad hair day than how to enforce the laws of the state. This is wrong. We applaud and support the efforts of Chief Rich Garipoli of Warwick Township, who led the push to have his department accredited by the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission back in 2004. Since then, three other Lancaster County agencies have followed Warwick’s lead: E. Lampeter Township Police, Lititz Borough Police, and Manheim Township Police. There are five other county agencies and the city of Lancaster who have enrolled in the accreditation program. All county police forces should participate in this effort to improve the work of the police. There are benefits to police departments and the public through accreditation. The program teaches and raises the overall standards of police work. It improves community relations and confidence in the police. It can save insurance dollars for agencies and municipalities. Accreditation requires the police department and local government officials jointly notify the Accreditation with a “letter of intent.” The cost is only a one-time $100 fee. Accreditation is renewed every three years. We also suggest that police training must not only address the proper use and non-use of force, how to catch a speeding car, or which doughnut shop has the best jelly Ds. It must also encompass training in the Constitution and the civil rights it provides the citizens they are encountering. And there should be an independent civilian oversight board where citizens have redress of issues involving the police. The Beginning of a New Era Finally, given the abuse of police power in the case of the two falsely arrested Post Publishers, we strongly encourage private police forces, like the security detail of Franklin & Marshall College, to not only enroll in the program, but to actually apply the principles it learns. Until they and other departments are adequately trained in all aspects of law enforcement, the people they are sworn to protect will be less safe and less free. © Copyright Lancaster Post 2008

The Lancaster Post Publishers Ronald P. Harper, Jr. Christiaan A. Hart Nibbrig Editor-in-Chief Chris Hart Nibbrig News Editor Ron Harper, Jr.

Staff Illustrator Jordan W. Martin Contributors Melody Harper Ron Harper, Sr. Artie See

Layout & Graphic Design Limehat & Company

Mascot Zeph

Contact the Post: Email: Letters@LancasterPost.com Phone: 717.431.8145 | Fax: 877.832.8760 Mail: 19 N. Mulberry Street Lancaster PA 17603 Illustration by Jordan W. Martin

A View from Downtown Whom Do They Serve? (part one) by Artie See Lancaster Post email: ArtieSee@LancasterPost.com

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and former Rep. John Barley negotiated concessions in a stadium funding bill, so it would also provide State money for smaller stadiums and convention centers. The problem was, Pennsylvania law prevented a convention center from being built with public funds if there was already “an existing convention center which covers an area of more than 40,000 square feet.” Sen. Gib Armstrong’s solution was to introduce and shepherd through to passage in late 1999 an amendment to State law which modified this prohibition, making a taxpayerfinanced convention center legal in Lancaster County. Fast forward to 2005. By this time, Lancaster City (through its Redevelopment Authority) had purchased the Watt & Shand complex, freeing the Penn Square Partners

August 22, 2008

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build the “private” hotel, all of which were shepherded through the system by Sen. Gib Armstrong. The biggest one of these is from “Act 23,” co-sponsored by Sen. Armstrong, which provides State grants for economic development projects based on anticipated increases in State sales and income tax collections. In the case of the hotel being built by Lancaster City, it provides for a $14,523,716 bank loan, to be paid back over 20 years by $1 million a year in State grants - which is the amount of new State tax revenue expected to be generated by the hotel and convention center. But there was a catch: “Act 23” grants are based on actual tax revenue collected over a period of three years; since no tax revenue would be generated by the hotel and convention center project during construction, this would severely impact the amount of the State grant for the following three years. In addition, the original wording of “Act 23” required the private user - in this case Penn Square Partners - to “timely pay all Commonwealth and local taxes and fees,” which the PSP had already refused to do. To eliminate these issues, Sen. Armstrong (as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee) took a bill already passed by the House that would have provided tax credits for film productions, gutted the existing language, and replaced it with wording that amended “Act 23”; it was passed in the spring of 2006. As a result, State “Act 23” grants are now guaranteed for the first six years (the first threeyear cycle was based on estimated tax receipts, now the second three-year cycle is also). Additionally, it is now legal for Lancaster City taxpayers to pay real estate taxes on the “private” hotel, if the for-profit facility is ruled to be taxable. It is interesting to note that every single Republican State representative in Lancaster County voted against this bill. Meanwhile, other local officials have used their own positions to enable this project. We will look at their roles in the next installment.

e often refer to elected and appointed government officials as “public servants.” Citizens vote in primary and general elections for the individuals we believe will do the best job of serving us, the people. We expect that once these individuals take office, they will take actions that are in the best interest of all. We also expect that they will appoint individuals to boards, commissions, and authorities who will do the same. It is clear that the taxpayer-financed hotel and convention center project has made a mockery of the term “public-private partnership”: $11 million in “equity” (whatever that means), plus $24 million to be paid out of future profits, out of a $176 million (so far) project, makes for highly unequal “partners.” Taxpayers carry an inappropriately large share of the burden in this project. Penn Square Partners (PSP) -- High Real Estate and Lancaster Newspapers -- have often been criticized for taking advantage of taxpayers, and rightfully so. But this raises another important question: Who let them get away with it? Unfortunately, it was the government officials whom we elected to represent our interests. Those elected “public servants” repeatedly created and amended laws to make the hotel and convention from paying any real estate taxes on their “private” center project possible. As the project evolved, and hotel for decades. Since the Redevelopment Authority Penn Square Partners demanded more and more from of the City of Lancaster has no taxing authority of its taxpayers, these same officials repeatedly worked to own, it is dependent on State taxpayer dollars to provide give the PSP exactly what they wanted. enough funding to construct the hotel building. No less Of particular note are the efforts of Republican State than eight separate grant programs provide funding to Senator, Gibson E. Armstrong, who worked very closely with Democratic State Representative P. Michael Sturla. Rarely has bipartisanship been demonstrated in such a way that made it possible for any project 2860 Yellow Goose Rd. to spend more and more taxpayer Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17601 dollars on the “private” part of a “private-public partnership.” In February 1998, Penn Square Partners purchased the Watt & Shand www.lancasterpropanegas.com complex in a private sale. In less than a year, the focus on the site was Wholesale Propane National Service for a hotel and taxpayer-financed Propane Delivery Turnkey Propane Systems convention center. During the same Tank Sales Community Gas Systems time period, Sen. Gib Armstrong

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t is clear that the taxpayerfinanced hotel and convention center project has made a mockery of the term ‘public-private partnership’.

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| August 22, 2008

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n his recent Report to the 96th, Mike Sturla proudly informs us that he worked hard to get state grants for his district. These include a total of $681,583 (86% of the total grants) for F&M, a school with a very small student body and an existing $400M endowment. His report also included these thoughts on the School District of Lancaster, a school with a larger, more diverse student body, and much greater challenges:

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“The School District of Lancaster will receive a $6.6 million increase, which includes a 17.2 percent increase in basic education funding. With this being the fifth-highest percentage increase out of Pennsylvania’s 501 school districts, it is incumbent upon the School District of Lancaster to now effectively utilize this additional funding to continue to improve their students’ education and not squander this opportunity.�

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Money Grab: Does Big Business Hide Behind “Non-Profits�? sums of taxpayer’s money – is difficult at best. It’s even harder when one of the manipulating corporations owns three newspapers distributed throughout Lancaster County. For example, in January of 2006, two of Lancaster County’s Commissioners were going to hold a forum regarding the hotel/motel tax. Why did the paper choose Howell to ask a question? When the Intelligencer Journal asked Howell about the hotel tax meeting proposed, he let slip his disregard for public input when he said, “There will not be any dialogue at these meetings,� Howell said. “There will be three minutes of fame by 100 people coming up to the microphone saying the same thing.� Fast forward to 2007. In addition to Lancaster Alliance and Lancaster Campaign, Jack Howell is the

president of Lancaster Streetcar Company, which is buying up junk trolley cars and looking for Federal and State Funding for the estimated $12-14 million to install the two-mile loop and the hundreds of thousands the trolley line will cost to run. City Council is the legislative body that must give approval to dig up city streets and lay down tracks. Despite this, council has never publicly had any formal discussion about the pros and cons of what could result in greater city deficit and clogged streets. In May, Howell participated in Lancaster Post’s Side-by-Side regarding the suitability of the trolley for Lancaster and he said in part, “We hope to engage the public through stakeholder meetings, a user-friendly web site, and ongoing board outreach.� A recent visit to the Lancaster Alliance North Queen Street headquarters

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revealed that little new information was available on the subject. Howell was said to be on vacation, but no one in the office was certain about the proposed trolley route or had any written information.

The list of donors to the Lancaster Alliance appears on page 7.

...continued from page 3

Side by Side: What Does the 21st Century Public Library Look Like?

Karen Haley Field Naysayers say that modern bookstores have displaced libraries. On the contrary, a 2006 study by the University of North Carolina and the University of Pittsburgh found that only 24% of library use in Pennsylvania is for recreation and enjoyment, while 76% is for educational and economic purposes. Preschool children benefit from early learning programs, students come to study and research, teachers to prepare for class and keep up with literature, academic and other organizational or business libraries us public libraries because of their comprehensive collections, inexpensive access and efficiency and speed of staff, employees and business owners utilize work or job related information including market research, finance, tax and legal issues business, investors research companies, and fledgling entrepreneurs obtain information needed to create business plans. The Gates Foundation notes that most people who use computers at public libraries have no other way to get online. The same study found that libraries return $5.50 for every $1 invested. Without them, we’d have to spend a lot of time and money to find the information we need. Library visitors contribute to local economies by patronizing shops, restaurants and other services. The existing Duke Street Library, as worn, overcrowded and inadequate it is, brings hundreds of people into the city on any given day. A major expansion and renovation to meet space needs and transform it into a vivacious and user friendly destination would draw even more. In short, we all need to do our part to make sure that libraries not only survive, but thrive.

Steve McDonald countries. Similar programs can be created here. As technology advances, history has shown that our devices continue to get faster and better while dropping dramatically in cost. What about access to this virtual library? In the current decade, infrastructure has been built to allow internet access at more and more places. This “wired� internet will be going by the wayside in our library of the future. Remember how slow the internet was a decade ago? (if you even had it then!) The future will see satellite delivered internet that will make today’s “high speed� seem slow in comparison. So when building a library system for the next century, it is important recognize the new opportunities of the digital age, and not burden ourselves with yesterday’s solutions to tomorrow’s problems.

August 22, 2008

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| August 22, 2008

Yesterday &

Today by Ron Harper, Jr., Lancaster Post

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I Can (Almost) See You

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Central Market, Lancaster PA, circa 1960 Photo courtesy Pennsylvania State Archives

Central Market in August of 2008

Have some vintage photos of locations in Lancaster County you’d like to share? Contact us by email (Humans@LancasterPost.com) or phone (717.431.8145)!

Can you identify this location? The answer is on page 14.

ublic access to satellite images of the Earth has never been greater or easier to tap into, allowing anyone with access to the internet to get close enough to any house, building, field, road, or shopping center to see fairly small details. When I recently viewed the house where I used to live, I could see enough detail to tell that there weren’t any plants on the deck, so I know that (A) the pictures were taken since I moved; and (B) the current tenant isn’t big on flowers. Now, anyone who has used Google maps or MapQuest has seen the satellite views of roads and highways, an alternative to the map view that just shows colored lines and regions. The map view is often better for finding your way by car, but the satellite view is incomparable for checking out the lay of the land - are there a lot of trees and open space, or is it all houses and buildings, packed in tight? Where is the parking lot in relation to the building? Are there two driveways, or just one? Those sorts of questions aren’t answerable by the map view, but are quite clear in satellite view, where even with the limited zooming possible in Google Maps or MapQuest, you can see the rooftops and cars and the borders of the parking area. Beyond mapping, these satellite views are handy for people looking at real estate, allowing buyers to see a whole neighborhood and get a “birds-eye” view of the area. They’re also useful for checking out a place you have to go, to get a sense of where things are before you get there. I recently used it to scout the parking areas near an airport, and it was much more helpful than the plain old map or any written directions would have been. When I got there in person, it was like I’d been there before. Accessing these satellite views - many of them quite amazingly detailed - is as simple as typing an address into a web browser. If you go to www.maps.live.com, you can enter in any address, business name, or place name, and search a database of locations and look at the results in satellite view. You can zoom in so close that not only could I have seen flowers on the deck (if there had been any), but I could have told you what color they were. When I recently looked at a friend’s house at this site, I could see junk on her back porch (by clicking the arrow buttons, to view her home from the front, left, right, and back), and was able to harass her about it by email, from 3000 miles away. At sites like satelliteviews.net, you can choose locations by state, county, or by type of place - the home page offering categories like Popular Places, Man Made Features, Land Features, and Water Features. The latter doesn’t refer to a fountain in someone’s backyard, but to waterfalls, harbors, bays, swamps, or rapids. It’s great for pre-camping reconnaissance, or to check out a river before you go rafting. You can also download Google Earth (earth.google.com), and enjoy a more interactive, moving experience as you sort of fly over the earth, from location to location, zooming in as desired, or just skimming along from high above the terrain. You can even look at places with the Sunlight feature, that allows you to see them in realistic “dusk to dawn” views. The free version is pretty cool, and the Plus and Pro versions, at $20 and $400 respectively, do more, but most of the bells and whistles pertain to using the satellite images in spreadsheets and presentations. If you all you want to do is look at your neighborhood from overhead or check out a place before you get there, you’ll be more than satisfied with the freebie. Just download the program and start entering locations to look at. Of course, if you’re expecting the sort of satellite views you see in action movies about the military or on TV detective shows, you’ll be disappointed. Those aren’t available to the public - yet. You can’t zoom in and read license plates on the parked cars or look in windows, using the public versions of these satellite views. Eventually, these will be available. The day’s coming when you can see everything, anywhere, all from the comfort of your chair . . .and I’ll be able to watch you doing it.

August 22, 2008

This is where we re-write the press releases from the local police departments. Obviously, we have fun with the re-writes, but after some self-reflection, we thought it was important to affirm – in accordance with the United States Constitution – that a person is innocent until proven guilty. Of course, we will continue to take our little jocular jabs at both sides of the law, but we do hold that all accused are innocent until proven guilty in a court of American law. And that is as it should be.

(In)Security Complex

A man was spotted running from the Toys R Us store on Harrisburg Pike in Lancaster on August 16th. The man had allegedly (and ironically) stolen two home security cameras just before he made a run for it. An attempt to nab the suspect was made by two employees who ran after him, but he hit one of them, a young woman, with his car before driving out of the lot. Someone saw the guy’s license plate, so unless the car was stolen, too, it might not be too long before the police pay him a visit. Of course, he’ll see them coming with his new home security cameras, so we hope they send in plain-clothed officers to make the arrest.

Well, At Least He Won’t Get Lost

Whatever happened to the clever cat burglar who planned the job for months and was in and out of the house without waking anyone? Thieves today just use blunt force, smash, grab, and they’re gone. No finesse, no style. Case in point, someone smashed a woman’s car window on August 18th, sometime

around 8 pm. She was parked on McGrann Boulevard, on the 800 block. The perpetrator stole her GPS and some change from the car, so we assume, thanks to the GPS, that he found his way home, and if he got on the turnpike, he was able to pay the toll if he didn’t go too far. Nobody will be making an action flick about this kind of ham-handed crook.

Right Back Where He Started

A motorcyclist was spotted by State Police on August 17th at about 7 pm, running a stop sign. Not a huge deal, should have been good for a ticket, but the accused was going 70 mph when he ran the stop sign, and he then failed to pull over when the trooper used his siren and lights to get his attention. He then ran another stop sign, and got onto Route 30, headed east, and reached speeds in excess of 90 mph. He was seen weaving around other cars, and using the shoulder to pass, and then, when this genius was almost back to where he ran the first stop sign – just 2 miles shy of that spot – he stopped, got off the motorcycle, and fled on foot. Always a good idea. Get the trooper’s adrenalin going, so he’s really calm and interested in listening to your sob story when he finally catches up to you. Anyway, the trooper caught him, and delivered him to the Lancaster County Police. He ended up in the Lancaster County Prison, too – it seems that in addition to the laundry list of charges he faces for his driving excitement on the 17th, he had two active bench warrants in PA and another warrant in Delaware.

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Silly Sprayer Strikes Suburbanite

On August 11th, East Hempfield Police received a report of a “substance like Silly Putty” having been sprayed on a car parked on Englishbrook Drive. The substance, however silly, did no damage and washed off the car. Isn’t Silly Putty a wad of clay-like stuff that comes in a plastic egg, and you can press it onto the comics (or anything printed) and pick up the image? How would you SPRAY a wad of clay-like stuff onto a car? Could it have been Silly STRING, perhaps?? Look, guys, the police have to work hard enough without these erroneous reports wasting their time. Silly String, Silly Putty, it’s all silly. Hose off the car and go back in the house.

Wascally Weasel

The Susquehanna Bank on Old Philadelphia Pike was robbed on the morning of August 15th at just after 9:30, by two men – one tall (6’) and one short (5’5”). The tall one was named Weasel (we’re thinking it’s a nickname), and we know this because his brilliant accomplice called him by that name during the robbery. Way to go! Anyway, after entering the bank, they showed their handguns to the bank’s staff, who were all very impressed, and demanded cash. The staff rightly handed it over, and the robbers made off with an undisclosed amount, driving away in a small white car, possibly a Toyota or a Nissan, headed down Rte. 340 toward Chester County. Anyone with information on this – or perhaps a friend named Weasel who’s come into some money recently – should give the State Police a call.

POST NEWSPAPER BOX & DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS: BRIGHT RED BOXES: Lancaster • East Orange & North Duke, the corner of Lancaster County Courthouse • 555 North Duke Street by Lancaster General Hospital’s entrance • East Chestnut St. at Prince St., across from the Police Station • 19 N. Mulberry Street • Marietta Ave and North School Lane, one block west of James Buchanan’s home • Clipper Magazine Stadium, front gate STORES & BUSINESSES: Akron Akron Nutrition Center 22 North 7th Street Columbia Hinkle’s Pharmacy 261 Locust Street East Petersburg Blue Eyed Six Antiques 1961 State Street Ephrata The Brew House & Bistro 52 E. Main Street

Ephrata Public Library 550 S. Reading Road Martin’s Country Market 1717 W Main Street Parkhill Jewelry 5 West Main Street Elizabethtown Darrenkamp’s Market 191 S. Ridgeview Road Lancaster Apple Tree Restaurant 100 S Centerville Rd. Charlie’s Place Market E. King & N Shippen Sts. Dominion Pizza 938 Columbia Avenue Dosie Dough 323 W. Lemon Street Figure Firm 1400 Elm Avenue Hess Station Yale & Columbia Aves. Lancaster County Library 125 N. Duke Street Rainbow Pet Creations 305 N. Queen Street Square One Coffee 145 N. Duke Street Tabor Community Services 439 E. King Street

Trailer Village Grocery 2801 Columbia Ave Triangle Express & Lube 1615 Columbia Ave Villa Nova Sports Bar 1310 Harrisburg Ave Wheatland Beer Distributors 1701 Columbia Ave Leola Lantz’s Discount Groceries 105 Horseshoe Rd Manheim Dino’s Pizzeria 30 S. Main Street Marietta Shank’s Tavern Front & Waterford Streets Mount Joy Darrenkamp’s Market 945 East Main St. New Holland Yoder’s Country Market 14 South Tower Road Martindale Eby’s Store 562 Martindale Road

Maryland Johnson’s Discount Liquors

Little Britain Store Tanglewood Citgo

Millersville John Herr Village Market 25 Manor Ave Mountville Mountville Inn 61 E Main Street

Wakefield Maplehoff Dairy Wakefield Post Office

Oregon Oregon Dairy Markets Oregon Pike Paradise The Revere Tavern 3063 Lincoln Hwy. East Quarryville Hess Gas Station Rte. 222 South Citgo/Subway Rte. 222 South Quarryville Library Peking Chinese Restaurant Good’s Store Sam’s Pizza Ross’ Feed & Grain D&J Farm Store & Hardware Maplehoff Dairy Bartville Store & Deli Pleasant Valley Store Sproul Road

Willow Street Valley View Restaurant Musser’s Market at the Buck Beer Distributor at the Buck Holtwood Supply Beer Distributor (Willow Street) Kmart (Kendig Square) Willow Valley Darrenkamp’s 106 Willow Valley Square Wrightsville American Legion Post 469 South 2nd Street Sue’s Market 214 Hellam Street Wrightsville Pizza 203 Hellam St YOU CAN BE A POST DISTRIBUTION SITE, TOO! CALL: 717.431-8145 or send an email to: Distribution@lancasterpost.com

Page 10

| August 22, 2008

! be your ad ld u o h s is h T ding it, You’re rea ? aren’t you

31.8145 Call 717.4se in the to adverti

ancaste r

The Entertainm

ONGOING FAMILY ATTRACTIONS: Cherry Crest Adventure Farm Ronks, PA | 717.687.6843 A 5-acre interactive corn maze with a different theme each year.

Fireworks! Giveaways! Home Run Harbor Bumper Boats!

CALL 717.509.HITS

Got Family Events? Send them to the Lancaster Post for inclusion in our Entertainment Guide! Call : 717-431-8145 or email: Humans@ LancasterPost.com

Family Fun

ost

Ephrata Cloister Ephrata, PA | 717.733.6600 One of America’s earliest communal societies, best known for its original art and music and distinctive medieval Germanic architecture. Hands-on House Children’s Museum Lancaster, PA | 717.569.KIDS A children’s museum dedicated to helping kids learn, and making sure they have lots of fun in the process.

Lancaster Science Factory Lancaster, PA | 717.509.6363 Experience the hands-on, interactive learning experience of The Lancaster Science Factory, where children of all ages will discover that Science is FUN! Landis Valley Museum Lancaster, PA | 717.569.0401 Largest Pennsylvania Dutch Living History Farm & Village in the country, interpreting German Heritage from 1740-1940, including tours and craft demonstrations.

North Museum of Natural History and Science Lancaster, PA | 717.291.3941 Generating excitement and curiosity Hans Herr House and Museum about natural history, science and Willow Street, PA | 717.464.4438 technology and offering something Cross this threshold and experience for everyone. colonial life as you enter the oldest Rock Ford Plantation residence in Lancaster County. Lancaster, PA | 717.392.7223 Harsco Science Center The historic 18th century home of Whitaker Center, Harrisburg, PA General Edward Hand remains an 717.214.ARTS authentic example of refined country Question everything and break living. boundaries! Three floors feature Strasburg Rail Road more than 240 fun and informative Ronks (Strasburg), PA | exhibits that explore physical 717.687.7522 science, natural science, life science, Fun train ride through Amish mathematics and technology. Country. Enjoy shops, dining and Hole in the Wall Puppet activities at the station. Theatre 126 N. Water St., Lancaster NOTE: Green text indicates an 717.394.8398 outdoor activity. “Rumplestiltskin” through August 23rd, 11 a.m.; $9

EAST PETERSBURG DAY! Saturday, September 20th

Let’s Go to the Movies!

The parade will begin at 10 am and includes classic cars, emergency vehicles, and the Hempfield marching Check out reviews and showtimes - and band. The parade will make its way buy tickets online - for theaters in the through the borough streets to the Lancaster area. Simply enter your zip community park where the majority of code at the following sites: activities are located. A new East Petersburg Day highlight www.movietickets.com will be a chili cook-off – contact us at www.fandango.com info@eastpetersburgday.com for entry www.moviefone.com details. From noon through 8:30 pm there will Support a local independent theater: be a great combination of musicians, Point of View performers and attractions for all ages. The Maytown Sport Parachutist Team 121 West Frederick Street, Millersville is slated to drop in at 5pm. Musicians 717.872.4131 include tunes from the South Street Band and Times Two, as well as a “battle Dinner and a Free Movie of the bands” showcasing local talent at Binns Park! onstage. All performances will be at the Sponsored by the Mayor’s Office community park and are free of charge. of Special Events Also on hand will be craft vendors and Get coupons for dinner at other businesses. The “Cruise in 2008” car show will http://tinyurl.com/4retrf happen between 2 & 6 pm on the park or call MOOSE at 717.291.4757 grounds as well, with a special raffle at 5pm for entrants. Entry is $10 donation Thursday, August 28th: per car. Ratatouille (2007 | Rated G) At 7pm the popular “golf ball drop” Start out with dinner downtown, event will be held, where up to 1,000 and then head over to Binns Park. golf balls are dropped from the fire company’s ladder truck onto a golf hole Movies begin at 9 PM. with pin. The ball closest to the hole will Bring your own chair or blanket! be receiving a $1,000 prize (chances are available for $5 each). To end the day, the finale event will be a professional fireworks display over the park at 8:30pm. The Walking Tour book, a joint effort between the East Petersburg Day committee and the local Historic Society, takes readers on a 45 minute stroll around the center of town and through 200 years of Petersburg history. The Tour books are available at the East Petersburg Historical Society booth with a price of $7.00. For more information about East Petersburg Day or the Walking Tour visit www.EastPetersburgDay.com or call 717-799-0851.

Specials:

66 N Queen St. Lancaster, PA 17603 717-394-6977

Restaurant & Lounge

Monday: Texas Hold 'Em sign up 8pm; starts 8:30 $2 Coors Light bottles; $10 well pitchers Tuesday: 50 cent tacos, $3.50 Corona bottles; $1.50 lager drafts Wednesday: Karaoke with Greg 10pm to 1am $3 Guinness Drafts; $5.50 domestic pitchers Thursday: Ladies Night, Karaoke 10-1pm $4 Cosmos; $3 Blue Moon drafts Friday: DJ Image 10-2

ment Guide

August 22, 2008

posted! Tell o

Grownup Stuff American Music Theatre 2425 Lincoln Hwy East 717.397.7700

www.americanmusictheatre.com

The British Invasion & Classic Crooners Through October

Building Character 342 N. Queen St. Warehouse B Lancaster 717.394.7201 www.buildingcharacter.biz Sunday Market (8/24) Support local artists, businesses, and farmers by purchasing locally-grown produce, great food, art, antiques, and collectibles. Eastern Market 308 E. King Street, Lancaster www.historiceastside.org/ eastern/news.html Wed (4-7pm) and Sat (9-2pm), through Oct. 25th. Art, crafts, antiques, and great food in a combined indoor/outdoor setting. Support local artisans, merchants, and farmers! LancasterARTS www.lancasterarts.com 717.509.2787 Out of the Chateau: Works from the Demuth Museum 120 East King Street Through Aug 31st Tue-Sat:10am-4pm Sun:1-4pm

Lancaster Museum of Art 135 N. Lime St. | 717.394.3497 Through September 7th: New Paintings | Suk Shuglie Sunshine & Shadow | Valerie Jo Coulson Paintings | Sadradeen Ameen Visual Dialogue | Jan Yatsco, Janie Oakes, Mariann Lehman, Blakelyn Albright & Donna Albert Long’s Park Summer Music Series Buddy Lee and the Code Talkers 1401 Harrisburg Pike Sun Aug 23rd: 7pm Whitaker Center 222 Market Street, Harrisburg 717.214.ARTS www.whitakercenter.org Dark Knight Now Showing in the IMAX Theater

BARS & CLUBS: Annie Bailey’s

28-30 E. King Street Lancaster | 717.393.4000

www.anniebaileysirishpub.com

Live Entertainment

Bube’s Brewery 102 N Market Street Mount Joy, PA | 717.653.2056 www.bubesbrewery.com The Catacombs Pirate Feast - Sundays Call for reservations The Biergarten Live music every Sunday

Page 11

Keep them

Things to do, places to go, people to see.

ARTS & THEATRE:

|

The Bottling Works Live Music Fri, Sat, & Sun. Team Trivia on Tuesdays, Karaoke on Sundays Ghost Tours every Friday at 10 pm, call for reservations. Chameleon Club 223 N. Water Street Lancaster | 717.299.9684 www.chameleonclub.net Friday, August 22nd: Head Case w Sight Unseen DJ Readsalot w Akknna Yoj Saturday, August 23rd: Saving Jane & Kheris Wednesday, August 27th: We the Kings Lancaster Dispensing Company 33-35 N. Market Street Lancaster 717. 299.4602 www.dispensingco.com Now smoke-free! Live Entertainment Molly’s Pub 253 E. Chestnut Street Lancaster 717.396.0225 www.mollyspub.com Weekly drink specials, live entertainment. Olde Lincoln House 1398 W. Main Street Ephrata 717.733.3490 www.oldelincolnhouse.com Six dining rooms, plus the Tavern. Tiki Barn open for the summer season!

ur advertis ers you saw th em in the

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Prudhomme’s 50 Lancaster Avenue Columbia | 717.684.1706 www.lostcajunkitchen.com Smoke free Weekly Events: Every Friday night DJ & Karaoke w/ Steve Murray 9pm -12am. Every Wednesday - LIVE Acoustic 70’s w/ Keith Kinard Every Thursday: “Name That Tuna” from 7:30 – 10 pm. The Underground Restaurant & Lounge 4031 Columbia Avenue Columbia, PA 17512 717.684.6000 Weekly Events: Fridays: DJ Dance Parties at 10p Saturdays: Bands/Karaoke at 10p Sundays: Swing Dancing at 6-9pm The Village Night Club 205 North Christian St Lancaster, PA 717.397.5000 thevillagenightclub.com Open ‘til 2 am Wed., Fri., & Sat. Live Entertainment Saturday, August 23rd: Negative Space

ost

Bars! Nightclubs! Restaurants! Send us your entertainment events! Send the location, date, and details to: Humans@ LancasterPost.com or call:

717.431.8145

The Mountville Inn 61 E Main Street - Mountville, PA

DISTRIBUTORS Full Service Distributor

BEER: Imported - Domestic - Micro-Brews - Non-Alcoholic Soda - Purified Water - Snacks Ice - Cigarettes - Fine Cigars - Lottery

717-397-5121

HOURS: Monday-Saturday 9AM - 9PM

1701 Columbia Avenue Lancaster, PA

(717) 285-9907

“a sociable joint” Wednesdays: $2 Labatt’s bottles Every Thursday: DJ NED TUGENT spins Classic Rock! Pool – Darts – Jukebox Open 7 days – Beer-to-Go

Historic

Revere Tavern 3063 LINCOLN HIGHWAY EAST PARADISE, PA 17562-9651 PHONE (717) 687-8601

Page 12

Email Hard to Please at: HardtoPlease@LancasterPost.com

| August 22, 2008

Hard to Please Restaurant reviews by a very discerning diner.

The Loft Restaurant in Lancaster City!

I

am going right to the point: The Loft Restaurant is the very best restaurant I have enjoyed in Lancaster County. This column is intended to direct readers to the better dining establishments in the area. We don’t review every restaurant sampled. In this instance, my personal endorsement couldn’t be more enthusiastic. I was blown away. Artistry is expressed in many ways. It can be found on a canvas, The Loft’s entrance on Water Street a basketball court, an operating room. And it can be found in a kitchen. To make a fabulous dish in one’s home kitchen is impressive; to prepare excellent food on demand in a timely manner for a restaurant is another level of performance entirely. To run a successful eatery many things must come together: service; decor; ambiance; acoustics, and, most importantly, food quality. Combining all of these elements is achieved by very few -- one of them can be found at The Loft Restaurant, Gunter Backhaus, chef/owner. My immediate sense upon walking into the second floor restaurant for lunch was, “Wow, someone gets it.” Hardwood floors. Wood everywhere; intimate booths, well-spaced tables; lovely bar; hanging natural plants (watered daily by the Chef); Van Gough (and other greats’) prints on THE LOFT the walls; good lighting. Great vibe. 201 W. Orange Street Ron Harper, Jr. was his usual sunny Lancaster, PA 17603 self and my dining partner on this day. 717.299.0661 We were promptly seated in a booth www.theloftlancaster.com by Kirsten Backhaus-Smith, Chef HOURS: Backhaus’ ultra-charming daughter M-F Lunch 11:30 AM - 2 PM Kirsten Backhaus-Smith (what!), who was also our server. M-Sat Dinner 5:30 - 9 PM Fresh warm rolls appeared Closed Sundays immediately along with menus and ice water. The lunch menu had improbably delicious sounding items at reasonable prices. When I saw Shrimp Ceviche with strawberry salsa and Pecan Crusted White Snapper, I said to myself, “There is an audacious chef in the ‘Haus.’” It was at Harper’s recommendation (“The best meal I’ve ever had,”) that we chose The Loft, and he informed me that Chef Backhaus had been cooking here for decades. In fact, Mr. Backhaus has been satisfying his customers since 1973. We took the recommendations of Kirsten who pushed the daily specials. We settled on the Orange Roughy (fish), pan-fried with shitake mushrooms and baby shrimp in a garlic butter sauce, and the Blackened Chicken Breast over a Marinara sauce with roasted potatoes. The chicken came with a side crab cake and both with vegetables (carrots and broccoli), and a choice of soup or salad. Did you get all that? The daily lunch special price for both was $9.75, and I defy anyone to find a better value in the United States. This quality of food in New Our lunches: Orange Roughy (right) and Blackened Chicken York City or Philadelphia or San Francisco, would be three times the Breast, with a crabcake (left). price. Seriously. For dessert, Mississippi Mud My facility with the language is not able to express how absolutely Pie (bottom). delicious every single part of these dishes were. The fish was tender inside, perfectly seasoned and seared on the outside. The baby shrimp were fresh, delicate, and impossibly delicious. The chicken breast, likewise, was moist and sublimely spiced, and the odd-seeming accompaniment of the Marinara was a perfect and imaginative complement. The salads that preceded the meal were super fresh with the locally superior veggies, and came with homemade dressings, all absolutely first-rate. We finished with a frozen Mississippi Mud pie, which was chocolate ice cream, whipped with coffee liqueur, topped with chocolate fudge and chopped peanuts, all inside an Oreo crust (5.50). This was so good I wanted to cry. In every respect, according to me, Hard to Please, this is an terrific restaurant.

welcome to

my kitchen Maggie’s Delicious Crunch Bars

O

ne of our very favorite readers is the daughter of two of our dear friends. Maggie is 10 years old and is already showing great promise as a cook with these delicious dessert treats. Hard to Please had this to say about them, “These bars were absolutely fantastic...almost as fantastic as the person who made them!” Maggie shared the recipe with us and we’re sharing it with you. Here it is: 1 stick butter or margarine 3/4 cup of sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla 1/4 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 1 cup flour Crushed walnuts (“if you desire!”) Topping 1 1/2 cups chocolate bits or 3/4 cup chocolate bits and 3/4 butterscotch bits 1 cup peanut butter 2 cups Rice Krispies Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the walnuts. Spread in a 13X9 two-inch greased pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Put 2 cups miniature marshmallows on cake part and put in oven until marshmallows are melted a little. Topping: Melt chocolate bits in double boiler. Add the peanut butter, then fold in Rice Krispies. Pour over marshmallow part and cool. Cut into squares. Good luck!

How We Met...

August 22, 2008

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Page 13

by Melody Harper

Couple: Tom and Kelly Buckwalter Wedding Date: April 6, 1991 Years Married: 17

‘I guess you could say he took my breath away’ Kelly: “After graduation from Cocalico High School, I spent the summer of 1988 as a camp counselor at Camp Hebron in Halifax. Judy, a fellow counselor, and I became fast friends, and she asked me to be one of the bridesmaids in her wedding.â€? Tom: “Judy was getting married to my cousin, John, and I was one of the groomsman. I was paired up with Kelly. She was nice, but there were no sparks. When I learned she was from Lancaster County, I thought she might be too conservative for my taste. I’m an import from Perry County, and, yes, I do have all my teeth.â€? Kelly: “I think he believed all girls from Lancaster County wore noodle strainers on their heads. I was kind of prejudiced against Tom, too. He seemed kind of footloose‌not my type. Judy and John seemed to think we were made for each other, so they kept encouraging us to give each other a try.â€? Tom: “I used to play ice hockey, and our team was coming to play at F&M. Judy and John brought Kelly along to watch with the hope that we would try each other on for size. We went out to eat afterwards, and it didn’t take long for me to see that Kelly was a good fit.â€? Kelly: “In retrospect, our relationship began perfectly. We went into it with our Kelly & Tom in a recent family photo. eyes wide open. Our judgment wasn’t clouded with infatuation or any such nonsense. ‌although, we did have to put aside our initial prejudices. Also, since Tom was from Perry County, we would talk on the phone during the week and then spend the weekends together.â€? Tom: “As you can see Kelly is very grounded. That was one of the things that really attracted me to her. She was very independent‌not clingy at all. And since Relaxing at home, we had protracted dates, we really got to know each other well‌the good and August 2008 the bad. After we were dating for a couple of months, I got a phone message that, I thought, said Kelly’s mother was in the hospital. But it was actually Kelly who was in the hospital.â€? Kelly: “I had a spontaneous pneumothorax‌my lung collapsed. I have blebs on my lungs that are like weak spots. One of my lungs collapsed three times that year!â€? Tom: “Anyway, that hit me hard. I realized at that point that I really cared a lot for Kelly, and she was what I was looking for. After 7 months, I asked her to be my wife.â€? Kelly: “Maybe I should blame Tom for my lungs collapsing. I guess you could say he took my breath away.â€?

Rose

Young love, circa 1990.

Garden

Bed & Breakfast

Romantic Getaways • Discounts for Military Personnel • Gift Certificates

www.RoseGardenBedandBreakfast.com 1566 Lime Valley Rd • Strasburg, PA 17579 • 717-687-0705

At their wedding, in 1991.

Simple fare & fine spirits since 1920 Open Monday - Friday 12pm - 2am

.BTTBHF 5IFSBQZ $BMM +PF (S[ZCJDLJ BU WJTJU XXX NZTQBDF DPN NPSQIZTJRVF $IBJS .BTTBHF ] 5BCMF .BTTBHF .BTTBHF "WBJMBCMF BU :PVS )PNF PS 0GmDF $BMM GPS EFUBJMT

Front & Waterford Sts. Marietta, PA

717.426.1205

Page 14

Sudoku

| August 22, 2008

F U N A N D G A M E S

The solutions to this week’s puzzles can be found at our website: LancasterPost.com Send us your suggestions for Lancaster Trivia Crossword Clues! Puzzler@LancasterPost.com

Lancaster County Trivia Crossword Easy one... you can do it! 9 An asphalt company who purchased Stumpf Field on Fruitville Pike. 11 The avenue with a golf term off Media (golf course) Ave. 12 A building supply store in Willow Street. 13 The Conestoga Valley graduate playing with the Cleveland Browns. 14 The field on Genius Level... use a pencil! Rt. 462 in Columbia where Columbia High formerly played football. 17 The lone school district in PA who rejected the lottery tax rebates. 18 The College _______, the F& M student run newspaper. 20 Route 372 through Quarryville is known by this street name.

ACROSS

5 The nick name for the Penn Manor High School sports teams. 6 Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah’s Witness is on this Avenue. 7 The Millersville University student run newspaper. 8 Washington Boro is known for growing this produce. 10 The German Count who founded the Moravian church in Lancaster in 1746. 15 The township in which Robert Fulton was born. 16 A distributor on Columbia Ave. who advertises in the Post. 19 The Conestoga _____ swimming pool off of Pitney Rd. 21 This surveyor lived in Lancaster and laid out Washington D.C. 22 The Lancaster street that carries Rt 999. 23 ______ Mile House, former tavern that is presently Carlos & Charlie’s on Columbia Ave. 24 The former home for delinquent boys at the present site of Cafe Chuckles..

DOWN 1 2 3 4

The Drive that connects Columbia Ave and Harrisburg Pike. The leader and founder of the Ephrata Cloisters. The _____ Life Assembly of God church at the intersection of 340 & 30. A restaurant that serves Mediterranean cuisine at 125 S. Centerville Rd.

An amazing private residence on Pierson Rd, Lititz, PA

August 22, 2008

... of the week

Batter Up!

W

hen Little Leaguers first begin playing the great American pastime, they often play a variation of the game called “Tee-ball.” This is where the baseball is placed on an adjustable “tee” so that it is easy for the little sluggers to hit the thing. It’s just adorable. But for us, each week knocking a ball off the Lancaster Newspaper’s tee is not much of a challenge for semi-professionals such as ourselves. This is because, as you know, of the abundance of puffery of the three Steinman “news”papers. But this week we were thrilled(!) when Sunday News editor, “Marvelous” Marv Adams tried to slip a curveball past us. We do love a challenge. In the August 17 edition of the News, the Marvelous one ran a “special to the Sunday News” opinion column on the front page of his “Perspective” section. The item (“Streetcars put train riders in the loop”) “written” by Althea Ramsay, is an embarrassingly puerile defense of the idea of putting 1940s era streetcar and tracks in Lancaster City. We won’t list all the fallacies and inanities of Ms. Ramsay’s little article. We will only point out a few things: Streetcars were obsolete 60 years ago; they are loud; this proposal would require tearing up and dedicating a single street for its use; they, unlike buses, can’t change lanes; they are expensive to repair; they are not quiet; they cannot, unlike buses, detour if the road is closed; and the public hasn’t voted or weighed in on it, just Jack Howell’s Lancaster Alliance, on whose board of directors sits one Jack Buckwalter, Lancaster Newspapers Chairman. See, the puffery, folks? The streetcar idea is really a Lancaster Newspapers project. But instead of writing the puff piece themselves . . . again, or have empty suit Howell draft it, they sacrifice poor Ms. Ramsay. Tsk, tsk. And Marv’s role was to hide behind the skirt and OK the whole thing. Very macho, Marv. That’s why you, Marvelous Marv Adams, are receiving the pillowsoft, much desired ‘Puff Piece of the Week.’. Kudos, chum, and next time don’t hang the curve.

R.X. Hearing Aid Service Serving Lancaster & Lebanon Counties Since 1962 Audiometric hearing testing & fitting We carry all major brands & styles of hearing aids Molds, batteries, and accessories Authorized manufacturers’ repairs & service Special attention to the needs of senior citizens and those confined to home - We make housecalls!

Call for FREE hearing analysis!

717-397-2046

127 College Avenue HOURS: Lancaster Monday - Thursday 9AM - 4PM Friday 9AM to 1PM, Evenings/Weekends by Appointment

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| August 22, 2008

Artist Spotlight

A lady named April

A

pril Koppenhaver had a dream. After visiting art galleries in cold museums and official buildings as a young woman, and hearing her artist friends complain that they will have to die before their work is recognized, April dreamed of opening a space where artists were nourished and encouraged, a place where the public wasn’t afraid or intimidated and could get close to art and artists. It was 20 years ago, the last day of June 1988, when April opened Mulberry Art Studios in downtown Lancaster. And if one person ever April Koppenhaver embodied her business it is April Koppenhaver with Mulberry. “I wanted Mulberry to be a place where writers and painters and dancers, all types of artists, could create under one roof,” April says today. As much as anyone, April Koppenhaver is responsible for the artistic renaissance in the city of Lancaster. “When I moved here in 1980, we bought the worst property in the block [on E. King St.].” she says. “And we spent a lot of time really fixing the place up, and I noticed that the neighbors started to do the same thing. I saw new paint jobs, grass planted, repaired fences. People really care about this city. I love the city and have always believed in it.” To know April, truly, is to love her. “April’s positive energy inspires and motivates everyone she comes in contact with,” says Post news editor and co-Publisher, Ron Harper, Jr. “April is one of the finest people I know, and it is a honor to call her a friend,” says Post editor-in-chief and co-publisher, Chris Hart Nibbrig. Mulberry Art Studios is also a facility used for weddings, receptions, corporate “forwards”, recitals, and many other events. The burnished floors, high ceilings, and vintage architecture give visitors and tenants a oneof-a-kind experience. There will be an art exhibit of the Mulberry Art Studios staff during the month of September, with a reception for the artists on the first Friday of the month. A great space for your next meeting

21 North Mulberry Street Lancaster, PA 17603

717.295.1949

www.mulberryartstudios.com

Space for artists to create, for organizations to meet, and for couples to take their vows and celebrate their wedding -- it’s all available at Mulberry Art Studios.

SHAMELESS

plug dept.

Morphysique: Feel Better!

August 22, 2008

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Page 17

M

assage has gotten a bad rap. Many people associate it with indiscrete politicians or wild bachelor parties. But what it really is, is a natural way to improve how a person’s body and mind feel. At Morphysique, Joe Grzybicki, who brings a degree in kinesiology from Temple, a certificate from the Lancaster School of Massage, and years of experience to the massage table, your body is sure to leave feeling better than when it arrived. “Massage is not only for those who want to relax,� says Joe, “but for those who want to give their body the best opportunity to heal. You may not think of it this way, but if you are carrying ue Morphysiq around tension day after day, your body has to cope with that pain and discomfort. If you get 8 86 717.201.7 a massage to relax and loosen your muscles, your body gets the opportunity to readjust and / m pace.co come back to a position of comfort and strength.� www.mys ue Joe Grzybicki morphysiq “There is some confusion as to what the purpose of massage is,� Joe continues. “Not only does it enable your g in in ra T l a body to relax and recuperate—it allows you to do so through human contact. This is crucial! Babies who do not Person Therapy e g a receive physical contact often develop illnesses that babies who experience a regular s s a M ing in ra T nurturing touch do not. The same principles apply to massage. Why submit yourself R P C to a medical system that treats you like a number and keeps you at arm’s length when you can be treated as a person and have your needs addressed in a relaxing way?� Morphysique offers a 30-minute Chair Massage, which consists of compression, kneading petrissage, and percussion for $40, and Table Massage, a blend of Swedish techniques, including gliding effleurage strokes, kneading petrissage, and deep tissue massage (90 minutes, $95; 60 minutes, $70; 30 minutes, $45). Morphysique also offers a special package consisting of 6 one-hour table sessions to promote long-term full-body healing. Each session concentrates on a $BMM +PF (S[ZCJDLJ BU specific area of the body, such as the shoulders, lower back, or legs, all for a reduced fee of $360. WJTJU XXX NZTQBDF DPN NPSQIZTJRVF Joe will gladly come to your residence for no extra charge if it is within 15 miles of his location (add $10 traveling fee for $IBJS .BTTBHF ] 5BCMF .BTTBHF each additional 30 miles round trip). .BTTBHF "WBJMBCMF BU :PVS )PNF PS 0GmDF $BMM GPS EFUBJMT “Whether you want massage therapy to ease stress and tension or you seek to improve your physical fitness, I can offer whatever you need to help you get the results you want.�

.BTTBHF 5IFSBQZ

See Morphysique’s full-size ads on pages 6, 13, and 19.

Adopt a Pet... Save a Life!

The Humane League of Lancaster County... The Best Place to Find a Best Friend!

These are just two of the many animals at the Humane League, waiting for a home. There are millions of homeless pets in the United States – and more are born and abandoned every day. For more information on the animals awaiting adoption at the Humane League, please call (717) 393- 6551 or visit them at 2195 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster.

PLEASE don’t buy a pet - ADOPT one and save a life! www.humaneleague.com

Whisper ID#111475

“Pssst. Hey. You there. Sorry I am speaking so softly, but my name is Whisper. I am a 5 year old, Husky mix, and I need a new home. I am a little shy until I get to know you, so I would appreciate a quieter home where my new family will understand that I may need some time to settle in. Once I do get to know you, however, life is a different story. I am happy and independent and enjoy spending time outdoors. Of course, I would enjoy spending time outdoors even more if I could share it with someone like you. How about it? If you take me home, I will love you forever. I think that is quite a deal!�

Beginning September 1, 2008, the Humane League

will no longer accept feral cats for euthanasia. Humane League President and CEO, Joan Brown, states, “The research is very clear that if you remove and euthanize feral cats, more cats move in and go into reproductive overdrive, so you’re just exacerbating the problem by euthanizing them. If you spay and neuter, you reduce the population, and it’s actually a more effective and humane solution for neighborhoods.� The Humane League of Lancaster County is a private, not-for-profit organization, and as such is responsible to its mission and its donors. (Our Mission: Shelter, Adopt, Educate, Protect) Euthanizing feral cats has been proven to be an ineffective method of population control, and thus does not fall within our mission. If you have a feral cat on your property and wish to bring it to the Humane League, you will be asked to schedule an Chomper appointment to have the cat ID#98363 spayed or neutered for a fee Chomper is a lovable, easy going gentleman. He is about 2 years old and is of just $10.00. ever so handsome. He has been hanging our at our vet clinic since his arrival Appointments can be made and fancies himself to be the popular “man on campus.� Chomper gets along by contacting well with other cats and dogs. Chomper has tested positive for FIV (Feline Nacomi Bissonnette Immunodeficiency Virus), so he would be happiest in a home with no other at spayneuter@ cats or as a companion for a cat who is already living with FIV. Despite his humaneleague.com diagnosis, Chomper perfectly healthy throughout his stay at the shelter and will or call 717-393-6551 x241. be a wonderful companion.

Page 18

| August 22, 2008

GAMES 8/22 - 8/28

Post 5 Random Questions: Jordan Herr S

AWAY GAMES:

7 - D ay le c hedu

HOME GAMES:

BRIDGEPORT BLUEFISH 8/22, 8/23, & 8/24

NEWARK BEARS 8/26, 8/27, & 8/28 Games Start 7:05 pm

8/25 - No game

Coming Soon: 3 of the 6 remaining War of the Roses Games! Stay Tuned!

Atlantic League Standings

Below: Jordan Herr teaches kids outfielding at the Barnstormers’ summer camp.

Freedom Division: W York Lancaster Somerset Newark

22 18 17 17

L 16 19 20 21

Liberty Division: W Long Island S. Maryland Bridgeport Camden

24 19 17 15

L 13 18 20 22

Standings are accurate as of games played through 08/20/2008.

Barnstormers’ Briefs JORDAN HERR

#18

T

Position: Outfield Height: 6’1” Weight: 190 Throws: Right Bats: Right

he youngest Barnstormers player is one who grew Lancaster County. Jordan Herr, 22, grew up in Landisville and is a Hempfield High School graduate. The kid’s got the game in his blood as the son of former Major League All-Star (and first Barnstormers manager) Tom Herr, and brother of Aaron, currently playing Triple A ball in Louisville. Jordan gave the Post a few minutes and answered some random questions.

1 What’s it like playing in front of your hometown fans?

“It’s a blast. I wake up in my own house and come straight to the ballpark. It’s nice having people you know in the stands.”

2 Who was your inspiration growing up?

“My dad and my brother. They both played and I learned a lot just watching them and seeing how they did things.”

3 What do you like to do besides baseball? “I’m a hunter, and I fish the local streams.”

4 Musical tastes?

“I’m really getting into country-- Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley. I also like rock -- Audioslave, Red Hot Chili Peppers.”

5 Most embarrassing moment on a baseball field?

“It was my first pro game. I was playing the outfield and a fly ball was hit to me. I took a step and fell down. The ball landed right in front of me. Another one was my first game starting here at Clipper Stadium. When the outfielders are introduced they gather in the center. I didn’t know that and ran to right field and I was standing there alone. That was pretty embarrassing, too.”

T

he club is 18-19 as of this writing and in second place of the Freedom Division. The Barnstormers continue to combine hot bats with leaving runners on the bases, something that must surely perplex manager, Von Hayes. Newly acquired, Brian Munhall, is the exception: Munhall has hit 5 for 11 with runners in scoring position since joining the team. Michael Woods is hitting everything hard, and in the last six ballgames is batting close to .500. Woods is also poised to become all-time single season runs record holder. He has 88, three shy of the record; fatherhood is agreeing with Ivanon Coffie, as the infielder had a 13-game hitting streak recently end; Jutt Hileman has blasted a team-leading 12 homers; Lloyd Turner extended his club record to 9 triples; Matt LeCroy continues to give batting clinics at Atlantic League Stadiums all over the eastern seaboard. LeCroy, who has the team consecutive game hitting streak record, and has hit a ridiculous almost .400 since coming back from the DL on June 25. Couldn’t happen to a better guy. Eric Ackerman and Ross Peeples were welcomed back to the pitching staff after stints on the DL. Ackerman pitched well in a limited start, facing 9 batters in three scoreless innings. Rick Wise and Hayes are monitoring the left-handed starter closely; Sendy Rleal threw his fifth straight scoreless appearance. Batting (minimum 200 at-bats) Average Matt LeCroy .338 Michael Woods .306 Danny Gonzalez .304

Home Runs Jutt Hileman 12 Matt LeCroy 11 4 tied with 10 RBI Danny Gonzalez 58 Jutt Hileman 52 Matt LeCroy 47 Michael Woods 47

ema Jutt Hil

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Pitching (minimum 44 innings pitched)

ERA Ryan Cullen 1.65 Eric Ackerman 4.31 Sendy Rleal 4.59 Strikeouts Ricardo Gomez 73 Eric Ackerman 71 Yamel Guevara 55

Ryan

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Innings pitched Eric Ackerman 117.0 Nick Renault 86.2 Ricardo Gomez 76.0 All stats accurate as of 8/20/08.

Ricardo G omez

New Barnstormers’ Faces: Catchers Brian Munhall and David Castillo

I

August 22, 2008

|

Page 19

by Chris Hart Nibbrig Lancaster Post

n the first half of the 2008 Atlantic League season, Bridgeport Bluefish catcher, Brian Munhall, abused Lancaster Barnstormers pitching, pounding the team for 10 RBI. “Yeah, I don’t know what it was,� says Munhall. “I always saw the ball really well in this park.� Munhall hasn’t lost sight of the ball since his arrival, and has been smacking the ball around the park he likes so well, hitting safely in 10 of his first 11 games. Used primarily as a catcher, Munhall’s hot bat has kept him in the lineup in the outfield. “He’s been a quick study,� says pitching coach, Rick Wise. “He’s good with the bat and right now he’s helping this ballclub.� “Most catchers can’t play well in the field,� says Barnstormers radio announcer, the great Dave Collins, “but Munhall is actually pretty graceful out there. And he can hit.� Brian Munhall grew up a child of a military father, and moved around in his youth. He went to high school in Spokane, Washington, and was an all-conference player on a Ferris High School team. Munhall went on to play ball at Columbia Basin Junior College, before transferring to Gonzaga University. He earned Brian Munhall his degree in elementary education at Gonzaga. Munhall was signed in 2002 by the San Francisco Giants organization. His contract was purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2007. He played in the Northern League last season, hitting a combined .261 between Fargo-Moorhead and Edmonton. Munhall is currently living in Idaho with wife, Sami, and is a substitute teacher in the off-season. He plans on becoming a fire fighter when he’s finished playing David Castillo ball. “It appeals to me,� says the thoughtful, intelligent Munhall. “You work as a team and you are helping people. That’s always been my thing.� Corpus Christie, Texas native David Castillo signed with the Barnstormers on July 27 after clearing waivers in the Northern League. The sturdy catcher went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI in his Lancaster debut on July 27. Castillo was hitting .280 with five homers and 21 RBI for Fargo-Moorhead. He spent five seasons in the Oakland organization, including two stints at their AAA affiliate. Castillo was a standout athlete at Moody High School in Corpus Christie, and was a quarterback on the football team as well as a catcher on the number two ranked team in the nation. During that season Castillo had a ridiculous statistic: 50 hits and 50 walks. David Castillo went on to play college baseball for Oral Roberts University. “He’s been real good behind the plate,� says coach Boots Day of Castillo. “He’s got a good arm, blocks the plate real well.� In the off-season he and his father $BMM +PF (S[ZCJDLJ BU run a baseball school in Corpus WJTJU XXX NZTQBDF DPN NPSQIZTJRVF Christie, a part-time job that :PHB 4USFOHUI BOE $POEJUJPOJOH ,JDLCPYJOH brings him a full-time salary. “It’s going really great,� Castillo $BMM BCPVU (SPVQ $MBTTFT BOE 1SJWBUF 4FTTJPOT says excitedly. “We’re really expanding. We teach everything – hitting, fielding, base running. We really give them their money’s worth.� Manager Von Hayes sees the value of the new additions. “Both players fit right in,� says Hayes. “I’ve been pleased with both of them. Munhall brings a good bat. They handle the David Castillo tags a runner out at home plate. pitchers well and are real good assets to the team.�

1FSTPOBM 5SBJOJOH

Barnstormers’ team & action photos courtesy Driendl Photography, with the exception of the images on page 19 and the back cover, which are courtesy of Lee Vivian.

Week of August 22nd, 2008 - Volume 1 Number 19 ! Free

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ancaster ost

nothing but the truth...

New ‘Stor mers:

Can David Castillo & Brian Munhall h elp us ‘catch up’ in the second half ? Inside...

(page 18)

- Post 5 Random Questions: Jordan Herr - Barnstormers 7-day Schedule & League Standings - Barnstormers’ Briefs: Player Statistics

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