The "What Will Happen In The 600 Block of East King Street? Story

It was an ordinary day.  Remembering back 65 years to when I played baseball on the Schick Little League team.  Played 1st base and one of my friends, Bill, played 2nd base.  Bill lived across from the Lancaster County Prison in the 600 block of East King Street.  Would stop from time to time to pick him up to go to a game or practice and wondered what it would have been like to live across from the prison.  Lancaster's prison was modeled after a European castle with turrets and towers that sat high above Bill's house.  Bill has moved a few times since living across from the prison, but my guess is that he still thinks of the times he spent watching the prisoners being transferred to the prison from other locations in Lancaster County.   The County has recently decided to remove the prison from the neighborhood to give the neighborhood a different vibe.  

Lancaster's current jail.

Informal talks throughout the neighborhood have begun about what they'd like to see happen in the space now occupied by the prison.  The five-acre site provides so many ideas that it will be hard to decide on one plan for the site.  Some of the ideas are a neighborhood swimming pool to affordable housing to a museum.  But, no matter what is placed on the site, the current residents will be glad to see it go.  When it does finally close it will join close to 100 prisons nationwide that have closed or are pending closure in the near future.  A study known as The Sentencing Project began in 2016 which is studying the closure of prisons nationwide and deciding what to do with the ground upon which they all sat.  In Lancaster, engineering studies are now taking place on the 78-acre site in Lancaster Township where the new prison is expected to be built.  

Location where the new jail will be placed.

The county has a $3 million agreement to buy the land, but it has until Nov. 21 to decide if the site is the best suited for the project.  Brainstorming sessions are also  being held to decide what to do with the land under the old prison.  The county commissioners feel that Lancaster City should be given the choice as to what should replace the jail after having to put up with the jail for so many years.  Two of the ideas suggested by residents of the area are: (1) A discount grocery store or shopping center that the entire community could use and (2) A family entertainment area with a swimming pool or laser tag which would be perfect for the kids of the area.  But, all aren't happy about the prison leaving the neighborhood.  One couple said they have lived in the shadow of the prison for years and are now expecting a baby.  Prison guards patrol the area all the time which adds a sense of security to the neighborhood.  Trained dogs also patrol the area which also adds to the safety of the area.  They say they are hoping something such as a halfway house is not placed on the site which would create fear in the neighborhood.  One person said they would love to see the old jail transformed into a museum.  It often reminds them of  an elegant castle.  But, for others the prison has cast a dark cloud over the city because it reminds them of painful mistakes and troubled history.  Executions were carried out there until 1912 and 16 inmates have taken their own lives since 1998.  Those that live in the neighborhood are pushing for affordable housing which is badly needed in the city of Lancaster.  Most worry that whatever is built will make it harder to find parking in the area.  The prison had plenty of parking for those who worked there as well as visitors to the jail and with new housing units it will be harder to find parking in the future.  The city is excited about the jail moving and an opportunity to enhance the neighborhood.  They plan to take their time and make sure they do the right thing for all who now live in the neighborhood.  Emma Hamme, the City of Lancaster senior planner, has asked residents to send feedback to "Engage Lancaster" which is a platform for resident feedback on city projects.  Perhaps everyone's ideas can all be used somehow so the apace where the jail no sits can be a positive addition to the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Only time will tell.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "The House At 1300 Brenneman Road" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Looking at one of the most beautiful houses in southern Lancaster County which is located along Brenneman Road in Conestoga, Pennsylvania.  

The Mellinger Mansion in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

It at one time was known as the Mellinger Mansion which sat on 2+ acres of land with magnificent views of the surrounding farmland.  The historic Victorian home features 10 foot ceilings, decorative slate roofing, gleaming wood floors, stained and frosted glass windows, a butler's pantry, carriage house with in-law quarters and a two story barn.  The house was said to have been built by Henry Mellinger for his son David, starting sometime around 1879, as a wedding gift.  The Edwardian-style house is located in the southern part of Lancaster County near the village know as Conestoga.  The house took about two years to finish.  

The part of the mansion that draws your attention the most is the perfectly curved turret that is on the Northwest corner of the home.  It is a four-story tower that has a peaked roof with curved glass in every window of the tower.  The entire third floor of the home has stained glass in every window with many windows on the upper floors being oval.  The property is 2.2 acres which has a two-story barn and a two-seater brick outhouse with a window.  

Bordering the house is a wrought iron fence.  The interior of the home features woodworking which incorporates chestnut, elm, oak and cherry throughout the house.  The ten-foot ceilings beautify the wood staircase and window sills.  Inside the home is a formal dining room, eight bedrooms, living room, parlor, breakfast room, foyer, main hallway,  full basement and attic and 3 1/2 baths.  The interior wooden doors of the mansion have etched glass in them.  It is considered one of Lancaster County's grandest buildings.  But, even with all I just listed, the most striking parts of the house are the gabled roof and pointed turret.  The Victorian castle is one of the most beautiful homes in Lancaster County.  If you care to visit the home you will find it at 1300 Brenneman Road, Conestoga, PA 17516.  The home was in the Mellinger family until 1985 when Luella Mellinger sold the house to Lawrence and Deborah Palumbo for $161,000.  Miss Luella was the head teacher at Central Manor Elementary School in the Penn Manor School District.  Luella lived in the ornate Victorian home with her sister, Mildred, long after their parents were gone.  Luella and her sister were the first in Southern Lancaster to have a television set.  Luella was often seen working in the garden and cleaning out the chicken house.  After Mildred died, Luella sold the home and moved to St. Anne's Village which is closer to the city of Lancaster.  She created a fund that later endowed three student scholarships as well as support for high school theater and band programs at the nearby Penn Manor School District.  The more I read about the family the more I grew to know them.  Seems that Luella's father David had no real career, but managed money made by his brother, Henry, a respected local doctor.  Dr. Mellinger had an "exceptionally successful practice over a 12-mile radius,  After 40 years in the field, he was still praised for responding with alacrity to the summons of his patients."  Today, the property at 1300 Brenneman Rd. is listed at 2.1 acres, with a second residence and two-detached structures.  The second residence is listed as a carriage house with in-law quarters and was built in 1910.  A shed that still stands was added in 1975.  The property was sold in 2007 to Waste Management for $599,000 to save it from condemnation.  Part of the property will be used for landfill space in the future.  Then in 2009, what was not planned for landfill space, was sold for $535,000 to Virginia Thomas.  Thomas restores antique dolls that were made around the same time that her "new" home was built.  She at one time thought of turning the home into a wedding venue, but now has decided to downsize a bit.  She is now searching for answers to a few questions she has about her home at 1300 Brenneman Road.  She is wondering if the large storage areas in the basement might have been for "good horses."  As for me...I'm beginning a search through Lancaster Newspaper's archives to see what I might find out about the beautiful property at 1300 Brenneman Road!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Now You're Making Me Feel Bad!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  My latest edition of AARP Bulletin just arrived today and I'm anxious to read a few of the stories that usually tell us old people how to survive just about everything from a variety of scams to how to live better in our computerized world.  

My wife and I joined AARP a few years ago after finding we could get better rates for many services as well as learn more about how those our age are able to survive the same things we experience on a daily basis.  One story in the latest issue told about rolling away pain through a variety of different exercises while another story told of some of the best ways to pass along wealth to our relatives after we die.  Yet, another story told about buying in bulk while another story told what our will won't do for us after we die.  We were told how to spot fake texts as well as how much does loyalty matter.  But, the first disturbing item I came upon was in an ad for AARP Life Insuance through the New York Life Insurance Company.  The male rates for buying the insurance only went to the final ages of 70-74 years old.  I couldn't buy any of the life insurance, since I'm older that the final issuing age.  Wow!  And...not just a year older, but three years older.  Made me really think!  But, when I began to leaf through the 52 page bulletin one more time, I stopped at page 4 after reading the headline near the bottom of the page that said, "Life Expectancy plummets in the U.S.  The life expected longevity for Americans fell by almost 18 months in 2020, the largest drop since World War II, because of COVID-19 and drug deaths.  OK, I can see why that might happen, but as long as I can survive COVID-19 and not get hooked on illicit drugs, I should have no need to worry.  But, after reading the numbers...I'm already past the top number on the chart for 2020.  Men in the United States can expect to live to the age of 74.5 years as of 2020.  I was that old 3 years ago!  Now if I were Hispanic I could expect to live to the age of 78.8 years of age.  That's not gonna happen!  Then it hit me.  That's why I couldn't buy any life insurance if I'm over the age of 74.  Now the numbers make sense.  But, how can I stop aging?  I'm already three years past the top age on the charts.  My wife told me, "Stop reading that damn paper and throw it out."  Oh yeah, she did remind me that her age expectancy on the chart was 80.2 years.  Thanks a lot!  I did take her advice though, since I walked to the trash can and threw the paper away!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - If you too get the AARP Bulletin, bypass reading the story, bottom left, on page 4 since it will only make you feel bad.

The "Happy Belated Birthday To Me!" Story

It was an ordinary.  Reading about all the people who were born in the month of September.  Not just famous people, but ordinary people like you and I.  Did you know that nine of the ten most common birthdays are in September?  I didn't know that...and I guess I should have since I was one of those birthdays.  I was born on September 9 and that just happens to be the most birthday-packed day of the entire year.  More people in America were born on September 9th than on any other day of the year.  And...the second most popular day of the year to be born is September 19th.

This may be hard to read...enlarge it on you screen if possible or click to enlarge it.

And...to top that off...fall babies who are born in October are far more likely to live until the age of 100.  My wife will most certainly outlive me since she was born in October!  Another fellow who writes a blog such as this one, Miles Stiles, compiled 20 years of real birth data from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics and the U.S. Social Security Administration to build a chart of birthday popularity between 1943 and 2014.  His chart is shown above and shows the week and a half between September 9th and September 20th containing nine of the top ten birthday days in America, with the top three being September 9, 19 and 12.  So are you wondering by now which days of the year are the least common on which to be born?  They happen to all be holidays with the three  least popular being July 4 (the birthdate of my daughter), December 25 (the birthday of my Aunt Doris) , and January 1.  What's even more remarkable is that there are fewer birthdays on each of those three holidays than there were on February 29th, which only comes once every four years.  Another fact about my birthday of September 9th: September babies are more successful according to science.  So why are these dates I just listed so popular?  There are a few theories that may make some sense.  First...turn back the clock 40 weeks from September and you'll find it is the December holiday season.  Most, if not all, of these September babies would have been conceived in December.  Are you one who takes a vacation around the Christmas holidays?  And...what do you do with all your excess time during your holiday vacation?  Make sense to you by now?  There is actually data that says that more couples have sex while on vacation.  Second...our bodies crave winter cuddles.  Seems that there is a biological deterioration of sperm quality during summer which is rejuvenated by December.  There is something known as "the birthday paradox" that shows that in a group of just 20 people, there is a 50% chance two of them will share the same birthday.  Now, I didn't make that up and I'm not sure I believe that, but it was printed in an article I read...so it must be true!  The article also said that in a group of 70 people, there is a 99.9% chance that two will share the same birthday.  Check it out the next time you are together with 69 other people!  Well, I hope you're not upset if your birthday may not be as popular as mine, but at least you can be sure that when your family and friends are shopping for a nice present for you, they are more apt to find it on the shelves than if they had been shopping for it when I was born.  But remember...cash never goes out of style!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Must We Die Before We Can Understand?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading the "Perspective" section of my LNP LancasterOnline Sunday newspaper.  Naturally...most of the stories deal with COVID-19 and how the local community are dealing with it.  At the bottom of the front page of the section is an article titled "Elanco students ask school board to heed mask order." Lancaster County has been struggling with the issue of having to wear masks in school.  Some schools require the wearing of masks while others could care less if you wear one.  All depends upon whom shouts the loudest at the monthly school board meeting.  Those that want their constitutional freedom of not having to wear a mask and those who want to heed our Governor's mandate to wear masks in schools for the health and safety of those in the school building.  I was a high school teacher for 33 years.  I can remember quite a few times when I would have students in my classroom whom should have stayed home due to illness.  Coughing their lungs out or blowing their nose into a tissue that was full of holes was standard fare every winter in my classroom.  I always had a box of tissues on my desk for those that needed one...but they never seemed to need one..according to them.  I had three young children at home for many of those years and I'm absolutely positive that I went home carrying the germs with me many days of the school year.  If I didn't get sick, one, or all three, of my children and my wife would get sick from me bringing the diseases home with me.  Is it any different today in those schools in Lancaster County that do not feel the need to have students wearing masks in their classes.  The Governor of our state has made it clear that all public school children should be wearing masks; teachers and workers included.  But, some feel it is their right to do as they want..no matter how much it may affect those that are in close proximity to their children in school.  Will it take the death, due to Covid-19, of a few Lancaster County students or a few teachers or school bus drivers before everyone will understand why masking is necessary?  Well, many of the students in Lancaster's Eastern Lancaster County School District, where school district parents have the right to have their children not wear a mask, have decided to take it upon themselves to tell the world what they think is the best for all concerned.  Under the leadership of high school student William Fithian, students had the chance to sign a letter that was written by several students and is being sent to school board members, telling them how they feel about their mental and physical safety while in the school building.  I have included the entire letter for you to read.  These students will be the leaders of our town, city, state and perhaps country someday.  Please take them seriously as you read their letter.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

"To the members of Eastern Lancaster County school board:  As students at Garden Spot High School, we offer our concerns about the new mask exemption policy put in place here in Elanco.  As a district, we should be following what the Pennsylvania Department of Health and medical professionals deem to be appropriate and best practice.  We are in the midst of a global pandemic, and outspoken parents without advance medical and science degrees should not be allowed to determine the fate of our community.  Masking in public schools is highly recommended by licensed experts throughout the medical field.  Many districts right here in Lancaster County are enforcing the masking order from the state Department of Health; how is Elanco separate or different or immune to rules and disease?  As learners at this district, we have been taught the "Spartan Way" of doing what's right, doing our best, and doing for others.  Doing what's right: Countless health experts have suggested we mask up in school.  As a community we are not listening to experts, and as learners we have broken the first pillar of the Spartan Way.  Doing our best:  The best course of action for the public's health is for everyone to mask up.  Doctors, scientists and health experts have been telling us what is best, but once again Elanco is breaking another pillar of the Spartan Way.  Doing for others:  Not masking up in school, especially when we have high-risk students and staff all throughout our campus, is going against our third pillar.  By wearing masks, we limit the spread of all germs, not just the novel coronavirus. The Spartan Way, which learners are supposed to uphold, is being broken in every pillar under this new policy.  We now have irrefutable evidence, as a nation and as a community, that school is the best place for young people to be during the day. The social, emotional and educational interactions with peers and trusted adults provide a crucial psychological support for my peers and for me. The worst way to learn — in fact, the worst way to live — is in isolation at home on a computer. We must do everything in our power to keep our schools open; we must give young people every opportunity to thrive in their classrooms and extracurricular activities. But in order to do so, we must abide by best practices for our community’s health; we must mask up!  Furthermore, the learners and faculty need to have a voice in these decisions. This is especially true for our faculty and staff — the people who make our schools run. Without the help of teachers, administrators and other staff, we students would not be getting the quality education we need. So, when making a decision that puts their health at risk, their opinions need to be heard; they are the ones carrying the load of this new policy. The parents fighting against the state’s mask order do not attend our school; they have careers, jobs and priorities other than our district’s day-to-day policies. So, why are we allowing them to basically take charge of our daily health policies?  Lastly, students are always being taught to follow the rules. But the district is directly breaking the rules of the state mask mandate. This is no simple street law; this is a public health concern. The mandate was put in place for a reason, and a single group of people should not have the power to overrule public health policy.  As students, we wish only the best for our community’s health, and we are doing everything in our power to ensure the well-being of those around us, especially the most vulnerable. The last thing we want is to be online again; unfortunately, by the way things are going, we anticipate “Zoom school” in our very near future. We ask you to please reconsider the best interest of the students, the teachers, the administrators and all other faculty who are directly entrusted to your care.  Our voices matter; our health matters; our lives matter."  William Fithian, a senior at Garden Spot High School, wrote this letter.

The "I'm Older Than A Flying Cake Pan" Story

It was an ordinary day.  September 10, 1946 and a guy by the name of Walter Frederick Morrison and his girlfriend Lucille started a game of catch with a metal lid from a popcorn container.  They had a great time, but found that the popcorn tin lids were easy to dent, and after they dented, were no longer good for flying.  So, they started to use cake pans to play; they were easier to find, and cheap to buy.  One time they traveled to a beach in Santa Monica and people watched them as they played with their cake pan.  Someone offered them money for their cake pan so they could play.  Morrison knew instantly that he had a great opportunity open for him.  He saw a commercial market for a flying disc toy.  His pan was dubbed the Flying Cake Pan and they sold them on L.A. beaches for a quarter each.  

World War II arrived and Morrison was called into the Army were he served as an Army Air Force fighter pilot.  His P-47 Thunderbolt was shot down over Italy and he spent the next month as a POW.  After the war ended he returned home with thoughts of his homemade flyer.  He used his knowledge of aerodynamics he picked up as a pilot and drew a sketch of a new Flying Cake Pan which he called the Whirls-Way.  His design was finalized September 10, 1946; 75 years ago.  Morrison approached investor Warren Franscioni and began selling his Whirlo-Way lightweight plastic flying disc.  The two split in 1950 even though Morrison was making sales headway by demonstrating and selling his Whirlo-Way at county fairs.  Five years later the disc had been redesigned into a new version and renamed the Pluto Platter.  It was at this time that Morrison applied for and obtained an official U.S. patent for his work.  But, in 1957 he sold the rights to his Pluto Platter to the California toy company Wham-O.  

But, during the following year, Wham-O's co-founders, Arthur Melin and Richard Knerr discovered that the concept of the Pluto Platter had already been popular at Yale for years.  Turns out that the students had been throwing pie tins for a while, much like the Morrison's had in the 1930s.  The company that made the pies for Yale had their logo stamped in the tins: Frisbee Pie Company.  The collegians had dubbed their flying discs "Frisbies."  So Wham-O change the game of the Pluto Platter to the "Frisbee."  In 1964 a fellow by the name of Ed Headrick joined Wham-O as General Manager and changed the Frisbee design so it was thinner around the rim, giving the disc the weight and feel that's in has today.  He also changed the marketing and before long sales began to take off in a big way.  Because of this, Headrick is considered the father of the modern Frisbee and the driving force behind popularizing an offshoot that started with tin lids in Canada.  

In 1975 he left Wham-O and trademarked Disc Golf.  He then founded Disc Golf and designed the smaller discs with the original basket design.  Headrick died in 2002 and per his wishes had his ashes molded into discs for his family and close friends while a few were sold to benefit non-profits.  Have you ever played Frisbee golf?  We have a Frisbee golf course near our house, but I never had the interest to give it a try.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "The Chipmunk Whisperer!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting on our back deck on an outdoor chair waiting for "chipper" to appear and take a peanut from my hand.  One of my favorite pastimes is hand-feeding the chipmunks that we have in our backyard.  I love to grab a handful of peanuts when I head to the back deck and find a comfortable position in one of our deck chairs so I can wait in comfort for my friends.  I take one of the peanuts and tap it on the metal arm of the chair as I call to them in hopes he/she will hear the noise and appear from the garden or flowerbed to take it from me and head to his hiding place along our wooden fence. They know the sound and if they are within hearing range of my taping, I can count on a familiar face in a short time.

They approach me from the side or front, wait for me to hold the peanut against the outdoor carpet, carefully remove it from my hand and take off running to hide it for future use.  I'm not quite sure how many "chippers" there might be, but they all seem to take off in the same direction along an area where the grass meets the wooden fence.  If I happen to hold a smaller sized peanut, they pack that one in their mouth along their jaw and look at me for a second one.  Always accommodate them with one more which they hold between their teeth as they hustle off.  Not once in all the years that I have been feeding them have they ever been nasty or tried to bite me.  They are considerate and gentle as they take the peanuts from my two fingers so they can examine it to see if they can pack it away and grab another before they put it in hiding.  

For the past month or so I watched them as they ran behind the fence and disappeared...returning in a minute or two after what I assumed was taking it down one of the many holes along the side of the fence.  At times I do see more than one chipmunk, but they cautiously await their turn to visit with me.  But, it seems they all head in the same direction with their reward.  Recently my wife, Carol, asked if I saw all the peanuts along the side of the fence.  I headed to the fence and there sat a pile of close to two dozen or more peanuts spilling from between two boards of the fence.  

Their peanut hole must have filled and was now overflowing!  What should I do?  I gathered the lose peanuts and took them back to my chair to be recycled during our routine feeding schedule.  I realize they more than likely have an underground  storage area which they fill for use during the cold winter months when they hibernate.  But, with too many chipmunks contributing to the same stash, they seem to have overdone it.  Now I can continue to have my fun with them without having to buy more peanuts.  Winter will be here before long and I will no longer be able to sit in my chair and enjoy myself as my outdoor friends take their turn entertaining me.  But, will Sping be not far behind and they will awaken once again?  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Did You Know That Belching Might Be A Sport?" Story

 It was an ordinary day.  Just had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch and wasn't long before I had to burp.   Funny word, isn't it?  I can remember when I was young that my brother and I burped quite a bit.   Did it to annoy our parents.  Maybe you did the same thing.  So, what causes burping and is it really normal?  Burping, or belching as many call it, is the forcible removal or expelling of air, usually up the esophagus and through the mouth.  When there is air in the stomach, the ring valve that separates the esophagus and stomach relaxes.  If opened up, the air from the stomach comes back up into the esophagus and then is erupted out.  Normal belching can occur for many reasons, one of them being the process of eating.  We naturally swallow air when we swallow food.  

The larger the meal the more you may need to belch.  If your stomach couldn't vent, it would get very large and uncomfortable so the natural response to eating large meals is that the valve releases, allowing you to belch.  Happens also when you eat soup since you swallow air with each spoonful of soup.  Meals that are high in fat can make the bottom valve of the esophagus relax and allow air to come back up.  Meals such as a cheeseburger and fries or perhaps a big steak can make the valve relax.  For many of us, we tend to eat too quickly which can cause you to swallow more air and activate a belch.  Drinking carbonated beverages may result in belching out carbon dioxide.  But, it's not only eating that can cause belching.  It can be caused by stomach ulcers, gastroesopheal reflux disease, small intestinal bacteria overgrowth, asthma, lacose intolerance, distal hernia or an H. pylon bacterial infection.  So, how can you distinguish between normal burping and burping caused by a physical problem?  Well, if you also have other problems such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, trouble swallowing, weight loss or black stools, you may want to see your family doctor, or if you don't have a family doctor, you may want to head to a clinic to see a medical expert.  If you have chronic belching, such as perhaps 20 or more belches in a minute, this may be a behavioral condition and can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy.  Now, you might have to determine if you are belching or if you just have the hiccups.  Hiccups are contractions or spasms in the diaphragm.  The sudden contraction of the diaphragm causes air to be drawn into the back of the throat with a sudden closure of the vocal chords, thus causing the classic 'hit' sound.  Both burping and hiccups may be caused by eating or drinking too fast.  A study was done on volunteers and it was shown that the number of belches healthy participants in the study had in a 24-hour time span was 32.  I don't think I have belched 32 times in the past year let alone in the past 24 hours.  How about you?  I also read one unusual fact telling me that the longest burp on record was achieved by an Italian woman who burped for 1 minute, 13 seconds.  Some people need to find something better to do with their time than timing belches!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "Food For Thought!" Story

Preface: I recently read an article that was in my Lancaster newspaper that was written by Robert Olson who is a pastoral counselor and family therapist who specializes in geriatric issues.  I found it very interesting, especially since I fit into the mold of the person whom he was writing about.  Much of what he wrote I have included in my story for today.  I wish that he had a solution for what he wrote about, but that isn't going to happen any time soon, I suspect.  Read on and see if you agree or don't agree with what he wrote and what I have added to his story.  Hopefully an answer can be reached in the next few years or perhaps generations.  

It was an ordinary day.  Reading one of many articles I have printed from various sources and had hoped to use at one time or another for a story on this site.  One such article was titled "The Old in The Tribe."  Has to do with the "old" people in the tribe being venerated, respected and esteemed.  They were considered to be the "Wise Ones" in the tribe, capable of setting the standards of the tribe as well as the rules to be followed by all in the tribe.  Perhaps it may have been a group of elders who were the "tribal counsel" who would set the rules of conduct to be followed by the rest in the tribe.  The life of the elder was considered a sacred testimony to what God intended human life to be, and the elder set the standards for living an extraordinary life.  As years go by, you would expect this process to be carried on throughout generations, but attitudes seem to have changed in America as compared to other areas of the globe.  Respect for elders seems to have waned with thousands of cases of elder abuse being reported throughout America.  Entire families have attempted to cheat elderly family members out of property and money, or have made disparaging remarks regarding the elder's welfare.  Two years ago a professor at a West Coast college stated to his students that he thought individuals over the age of 75 needed to be euthanized because they were of no benefit any longer to society and would eventually bankrupt the Social Security and health care systems.  I'm sure he isn't the only one with the same thoughts.  It is true that people work hard their entire life to spend and fill their homes and garages with the latest technical inventions, and when they become elderly, no longer have the resources to spend.  They sometimes become a burden rather than a benefit to our society, since they can no longer support the economy.  The elderly then become "invisible" and somewhat forgotten in the family.  Did you know that about 80% of the 600,000 U.S. deaths from COVID-19 were over the age of 65.  Most were in nursing homes or stuck in a single-family dwelling with small children and no privacy to call their own.  Their families were ill-prepared to care for them.  It is well-known that with current medicine and new procedures, the elderly will live significantly longer.  Today there are close to 100,000 centenarians living in the United States and this number will most certainly grow over time.  Where will all these people go?  As for my wife and myself, we have plans to retire into a retirement community that supplies health care until death.  But, what about all those who can't afford that care.  Will family tend to them until death?  My guess is...Most won't!  Will the government tend to them.  You got to be kidding!  Perhaps the elder community needs to help itself if no one else will do so.  Just as the elders of the tribe did years ago, they need to be part of the educational, emotional and spiritual everyday functioning of their lives.  But, how can they do that?  They need to bond together and ask for help from those that possess the necessary wisdom to supply the aide.  I read that there needs to be a professional, educational business to teach elders how to care for and support each other.  It needs to be backed by elders who can model the program after the teaching of Jesus where love is taught as being unconditional, were nonviolence is practiced, where physical care along with ongoing emotional and spiritual support is taught and demonstrated.  Is the religious community ready to aide the aging in the community and if not, who would be willing help?  It needs to be sooner than later!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

The "A Real Tragedy Never To Be Forgotten" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sunday, July 26, 1896 and 18-year-old Barbara Hershey and her escort, 23-year-old Enos Barge were headed home from a party at Witmer Station in their horse and buggy.  While crossing the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks in a town known as Bird-in-Hand, their buggy was struck by a train.  Barbie, as she was known, died instantly and Enos died less than 24 hours later.  Barbie's cousin and her escort had just crossed the railroad tracks in their buggy on the dangerous curve seconds before the fateful accident. Barbara Hershey was born in June of 1878 and was one of 12 children of Peter and Barbara Buckwalter Hershey.  It was only two months before the tragic accident that Peter and Barbara had lost two of their other children to scarlet fever.  Mary was 8 years old and Ellen 3 years old when they died of the fever.  Another child, Martha, survived the fever, but was left frail and deaf in one ear.  Barbie was the delight of the Hershey family who lived on a farm along Strasburg Road in Paradise Township near the Strasburg Railroad.  Barbie had dated Enos before, but had refrained from dating him again since he was several years older and ready to marry.  Just so happened that the host family of the fateful party that Barbara and Enos attended had selected the two of them to be a couple when they drew names from a hat a few days before.  Barbie thought she had the perfect reason for not going, since she wanted to go visit her oldest sister  who had just had a baby.  Her mom and dad nixed that saying they're going to visit and she should go to the party.  When the news of the accident reached her mom and dad, Mom Hershey became so hysterical the doctor thought she might die.  The railroad company offered a monetary settlement to the family to help pay for the funeral but father Peter declined the money saying that he would not accept money for his child's blood.  Eventually the railroad sent a representative from Philadelphia and the Hershey's accepted free train passes for a train trip to Niagara Falls.  I could never understand how they could board a train and ride to Niagara Falls after losing their daughter in a train accident.  

This black and white shows Barbara's parents and
her sister, Martha at Niagara Falls, NY

After the death of Enos and Barbie, the Hershey family, who were strict Mennonites, removed themselves from the "things of this world" regarding dress and social events.  They hosted fewer events and encouraged their remaining children to volunteer and become involved in mission projects.  Lancaster County has a large Mennonite as well as Amish population.  They have very strong religious beliefs and value family over everything.  I have known a few Amish and find they are very loyal to their families as well as their church.  Any one of them would do anything they could to help you if you needed help.  Lancaster, Pennsylvania is well-known for our Amish and Mennonite populations which tend to draw visitors to our area.  The rolling hills and farmland feature farm after farm with most occupied by the Amish and Mennonites.  We are known as the "Garden Spot of America" and maintain that name due to those who farm the land in Lancaster County.  I am proud of where I live and thank those who toil on the farms with helping Lancaster County keep our image.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "I Found My Thrill...On Cabbage Hill" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Standing at the intersection of West Strawberry, West Vine, and South Mulberry Streets in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  This section of the Red Rose City is known as Cabbage Hill, with an obvious reason for the name, but that won't be discussed today.  The intersection is five-way and a confusing place for both automobiles as well as pedestrians.   But, it is an integral intersection to the neighborhood and city-wide traffic circulation.  So, it recently was decided that it be made an "Artful Intersection" with street murals to serve as a reflection of the life and culture of the neighborhood.  It is expected to expand the perceived public space to encompass the street; increase awareness and safety of alternative forms of transportation, and boost community development.  Residents of the area were asked to respond to a community survey to provide input on pedestrian safety and the artwork for the intersection.  

Dangerous intersection in Kansas City, Missouri

One similar intersection is in Kansas City, Missouri which was made safer through an "Artful Intersection" project with street murals to fill the corners of the intersection.  So...what exactly is an "Artful Intersection"?  Artful intersections connect artists and neighborhoods to work together to create street murals in their neighborhoods.  The help of residents was asked to help with the painting of the artwork at the intersection. I arrived at the intersection on a Sunday shortly after noon to see what the artwork at the intersection looks like.  Traffic was very low on the bright, sunny afternoon and I easily found a parking spot right next to one of the new paintings.  At one time this intersection of five roadways was filled with parked cars on both sides of what are both two-way as well as one-way roads merging together.  As I approached I was amazed that I could see in all directions, since the cars were not allowed to park on the newly painted artwork that fills the intersection.

A final design had been developed and the artwork that I found at the intersection today looked very similar to what I had seen online a few weeks ago.  I can see how pedestrian safety will be greatly increased since I had no trouble walking across the intersection after parking my car.  The colors were bright and at this time orange cones cover all areas that had recently been painted.  Once the cones are removed, cars will have to stay off the painted areas to keep safety at a maximum at the intersection.  Neat idea to give maximum safety at the intersection, provided the cars stay off the painted sections of the intersection.  Time will tell!   And, what makes the intersection so unique is the fact that Lancaster residents made it all happen.  Great job!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - The photos that follow are photos I took to show what the design looks like and how much extra space is now at the intersection of the busy intersection that has 5 merging streets.

The "He Wanted To Rule The World" Story

 It was an ordinary day.  July 29 of this year and I was reading headlines from past newspapers as well as a few old magazines I hadn't thrown away as of yet.  One headline took me to a story that told of an Austrian painter who wasn't the best, so he became the leader of a tiny nationalist group called the national Socialist German Worker's Party.  Took him 20 years, but he eventually became the ruler of Germany.  Under his direction, the nation had rearmed and conquered France, Holland, Norway, Czechoslovakia and Poland.  It also  occupied Hungary, Romania, the Baltic States and the Ukraine.  London was pounded to rubble by his Air Force.  Got an idea whom my story is about today?  Guy by the name of Adolf Hitler who also declared war on the United States.  Now, how did a guy who was less than a proficient painter, who had very little formal education and had very little money become one of the most feared people in the world?  How could he have turned Europe upside down as he did, rebuild Germany and then destroy it all over again, and cause the death of millions in the process.   And, why didn't anyone stop him?  Adolph Hitler was a master with the common word.  He could talk anyone into anything.

Adolph Hitler

He was a great public speaker!  Those who were his partners in the German Worker's Party, later renamed the National Socialist German Worker's Party or "Nazi" Party, realized that Hitler had a rare talent for stirring up audiences and spreading his endless anger and racism.  It was in 1923 that Kenneth L. Roberts, journalist for the Saturday Evening Post, wrote about the career of A. Hitler.  He wrote that Hitler could win over just about any group he spoke to as well as attracting all the tough nuts and hard-boiled eggs to his side of the table.  He would call the existing government the meanest German names in or out of the dictionary and all his fans would slap each other on the back and claim to have found "the boy for us!"  They immediately signed on with Hitler.  Just so happened that the German population was looking for an effective leader after following the Kaiser through four years of a costly war and Hitler had found the public stage at just the right moment.  Germany's economy had been destroyed and many workers were injured or killed during World War I.  Germany also had to pay reparation to the allies.  The once great army had been disarmed and the nation was defenseless.  But, many German citizens believed they were meant to be the premier nation in Europe and Adolf Hitler convinced them he had the solutions for all their problems.  He was well known for screaming his threats and boasts and  began to add new jobs, create better living conditions and restore pride and power for Germany.  He also attacked Germany's Jews, saying they were responsible for Germany's defeat in the war.  Many had a hard time believing him.  Many Jewish Germans didn't take him seriously.  Hitler became a local celebrity and only after newspaper giant Alfred Hugenberg took his side did he begin to take control.  

Alfred Hugenberg

Hugenberg used his newspaper to spred the word that he wanted to eliminate the communists and social democrats as well as topple the Weimar government so that the Kaiser would rule Germany once again.  Both he and Hitler had the same views and he began to sped Hitler's message through his newspapers.  The financial support of German business owners helped support the Nazi party. But, Hugengerg thought he could control Hitler and step in and take control of the new Germany.  But, Hitler was more ruthless and sharper than any competitor.  With newspaper coverage Hitler was able to grow the Nazi Party and began to run members for seats in the German parliament.  By 1933 Hitler was chancellor and assumed dictatorial power the following year.  If you opposed his ideas, you were arrested. He began to rebuild the country's military in violation of the Versailles Treaty.  He did make good on his promise of employment and higher living standards for Germans.  But, the government forced women and Jews out of jobs that were then offered to "Aryan" men.  Hitler's path to power left massive destruction and inhumanity.  In 1939 France and Britain declared war on Germany.  It took half a decade to finally defeat Germany.  On April 30, 1945, HItler was found dead from suicide.  Hilter was finally defeated.  Now, my story does leave many events out, but I believe you get the idea of how Hitler tried to take over the world and how he failed.  As you can see, it's been a century since a failed Austrian painter became a leader of a tiny nationalist group and tried to conquer the world.  He did not succeed!  And...no one in the future will ever do what Hitler once thought he could do!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "A Safety Tip That May Save Your Life!" Story

 It was an ordinary day.  Our electrician just left after wiring new smoke and fire detectors in our downstairs and upstairs hallways.  He also told us that before we could ever sell our home, we would have to place smoke detectors in every bedroom in our house.  A few days later I ordered them online and they now are all working in each of the three bedrooms on our second floor.  He suggested they be placed on the ceiling near the door so they would be most effective if smoke would happen to enter the bedroom from the door.  

Make sure you have working smoke detectors in your bedrooms.

I recently read that you should always sleep with your door closed at nighttime just in case there would be a house fire while you were sleeping.  I'm sure there are many reasons why you might want to keep your bedroom door open when you sleep at night such as hearing your children at night in case they wake, hearing possible break-ins or perhaps a home security system or even something going wrong with one of your household appliances might sound like good reasons to sleep with your bedroom door open, but none of these reasons can live up to the devastating reason why you should be closing your door at night: Surviving a house fire!  Closing your door may not seem like a big deal to you, but in the event that you have a house fire while sleeping, it could give you more time to escape a fire at night.  About 40 years ago the average time to escape a night-time house fire was 17 minutes; seems like quite a bit of time to most.  But, with today's synthetic fabrics, household furniture and combustible home construction products, you now have about three minutes to escape a house fire at night.  So, it is vital that you keep your bedroom door closed and have a working smoke and CO2 detector in the hallway outside your bedroom as well as a smoke detector inside your bedroom door.  

You can put the smoke detector on the wall next to the door.

Closing your bedroom door is your best bet to survive a night-time house fire.  A new campaign has the slogan of "close before you doze."  The Underwriter's Labratory (UL), which was founded in 1894, did testing and found that keeping your bedroom door closed can be the difference between life and death in the case of a night-time house fire.  They also suggest you have an escape plan in place so if you have a fire you will be able to get out safely.  But, the major suggestion is close your door.  Carol and I have been keeping our door closed at night, for a few years now, but not because we had read of the main reason to do so.  We have two cats that were strays who decided to make us their parents a few years ago.  They are wise guys, to put it bluntly.  They would always want to play in our bed at night as we slept and we eventually had to put them in our hallway and close our bedroom door before we went to bed.  Little did we know that the Gray Lady and Snickerdoodle were helping us live a bit longer due to having our bedroom door closed while we slept.  Now, your next chore is to plan a way to escape from your bedroom if perhaps a fire would be outside your bedroom door.   Jumping from the second floor may not be a good choice unless you have shrubs to catch you when you jump as we do.  Don't wait until it happens...make arrangements NOW!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Jasper Yeates House Gains Fame As TV Station" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Going through some of my old photographs I have taken and saved over the last quarter of a century when I came across, once again, a photograph of the Jasper Yeates House which was located on the west side of the first block of South Queen Street in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Historic Jasper Yates House on South Queen Street

The house was originally built for Jasper Yates' father-in-law, President Judge of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  It was a three-story, four bay brick townhouse built in the Georgian style of architecture.  Jasper eventually moved into the house and it was eventually expanded to four stories and converted to commercial use.  The house was later known as the home of WLPA Radio and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.  Jasper Yeates was an American lawyer and judge who was a justice of the state Supreme Court from 1791 to 1817.  During his career he built a fine library of legal books in several languages totaling 1,043 volumes in all.  Most were purchased in Dublin and London.  Jasper was a Federalist who was appointed by the Washington administration in 1794 to serve on a commission sent to negotiate an end to the Whiskey Rebellion.  He died in Lancaster on March 14, 1817 and was buried in St. James Episcopal Church cemetery along with his wife Sarah who died October 25, 1829.  It was in 1949, a few years after I was born, that Lancaster's Channel 4 set up it's first studio in Jasper's dining room.  Channel 4 smothered the elegant front facade of Yeates's mansion with some kind of plate glass, colored maroon and applied silver block letters spelling out WGAL-TV.  One day, I'm not sure what year,  this guy stops along the street to watch Channel 4's head producer, Paul Rodenhauser, who was also the 6 o'clock weatherman and the TV station's Santa Claus.  Paul saw the guy through the window and opened the door and invited him inside.  A week later the guy, whose name was Nelson Sears, was sitting in front of a camera reading the nightly news.  Nelson was Channel 4's first anchorman.  Then in 1952 the station changed their channel assignment number from Channel 4 to Channel 8.  Now, I should tell you at this point that the information that you have just read was from a story submitted to The Lancastrian Facebook Page by John Earl Hambright.  

An advertisement for WGAL-TV, Channel 4

Eventually John appeared on Channel 8 many times.  He sat beside Dave Brandt on a show called The Knothole Gang which I remember fondly.  Seems Dave was a perfectionist and memorized his scripts.  Those early years for Channel 4, later Channel 8, were broadcast from that cramped studio on South Queen Street.  One year, John remembered, his Ross Street Elementary School trumpet quartet blew "Lo, How a Rose is Blooming" for a Christmas program in 1951.  Two years later John recalls appearing in a puppet show advertising Reynolds Jr. High's spring festival with Margie Walz who was the head majorette at Lancaster McCaskey High School.  

An early photograph of Channel 8 on Columbia Avenue.

One night on South Queen there was a fist fight in the control room when the sound man had his lights punched out by the husband of the cooking show lady, Carabelle Lounsberry, because he'd made rude remarks concerning her remarkable bosom.  John told one last story about working slides and film on hot summer nights.  They would prop open the rear door along the alley behind the place on South Queen Street to get a little air.  One night a station worker was cranking back a big 30-minute I Love Lucy reel and forgot to put a little tab in place that held the reel on the rewind stand.  The reel flew off the stand and Lucy, Desi, Fred and Ethel went unspooling down the back alley behind the newspaper office, Herr's Books and Troup's Music across Prince Street before ending up somewhere west of Water Street. Eventually the studio was moved to the West end of town along Columbia Avenue where it still sits today.  And, Jasper Yeates House is still there, minus the special window that was placed on the front of the house.  And, as you probably suspected, I have taken many photos of the building over my lifetime.  Funny...but it still looks the same in every one of my photographs.   It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

The "So Who Would You Side With?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about a farmer's plan to build a 40,000 duck barn on his property in Colerain Township, Lancaster County.  Seems that his neighbors aren't too keen on the idea so they complained to the local officials who recently halted the construction of the duck barn.  But, what are the chances that the farmer will forget about his idea and plant something on the acreage.  The farmer, Dwayne Peifer, is likely to appeal the decision.  It was about a month or so ago that Mr. Peifer outlined his plan for the property in the 500 block of Mount Eden Road.  His land is now zoned for agricultural uses with a special exception needed before a barn could be built for a concentrated animal feeding operation.  

Mr. Peifer's land he wants to convert to a duck barn.

His neighbors say he failed to tell how he would handle the manure production that can contribute to both air and water pollution.  Those pollutants could threaten both human and environmental health as well as extremely offensive odors and dust.  Mr. Peifer said that he intended to follow all local, state and federal regulations.  Only problem is that the leaders at the nearby Chester Water Authority issued a public letter warning of potential threats to local water bodies, including the downstream Octoraro Reservoir which is a source of drinking water for Chester and Delaware counties.  Well, a vote was held and Mr. Peifer is going to have to do some more research and report back once again before he can continue on with his idea.  Seems it was the property's proximity to Gables Run and the water supply that was too much for the people in charge who withheld the permit to begin construction of the building.  Mr. Peifer replied that the locals need to come to terms with the fact that they chose to live in and near an area designated for farming.  He told them that for him to produce a product for them to eat, there is going to be some smell.  Animals produce manure...it's part of the process.  As of right now, the new building for the ducks is on hold.  Now, on another note about raising ducks...a local newspaper writer, Jack Brubaker, aka "The Scribbler" recently wrote a story about his youth while living on...of all places...a duck farm.  

"The Scribbler's" duck collection.

He said that the county's largest duck farm shut down in 1961.  How did he remember that fact from way back then?  Well, he happened to live on it!  It had 100,000 ducks and was housed at Beechdale in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania.  And...I didn't make that up!  He said he lived on the duck farm from birth until the last quack faded from the banks of Mill Creek.  So, he knows a thing or two about the subject.  He knows about the vast slick of manure as well as the constant babble that the ducks produce.  Back when he lived on the farm, environmental regulations were loose.  Now, his family didn't have 40,000 ducks in one building.  They kept them in multiple duck houses according to age and stage of development.  His family's ducks preferred to spend their time wadding around outside in fenced pens, some of which bordered the creek.  Water and feed troughs ran through each house complex.  Mr. Peifer does plan to keep his ducks in his one large duck house.  The Scribler went on to say that the sound from the ducks was like a forest of locusts, but 100 times louder and 1,000 times sillier.  His great-grandfather, who started the duck farm, told visitors to the farm that he sold every part of the duck except the quack!  The people currently living around the new proposed location wouldn't have to endure the noise of 100,000 ducks, but they might smell the manure of 40,000 ducks.  But, Mr. Peifer's new place would allegedly have workers who would transfer manure from the duck barn to a concrete storage structure.  That manure would be spread as fertilizer on nearby farm fields.  But, clean water and fresh air advocates complain that some of the manure would run off into and pollute area streams, some of which feed the Ocoraro Reservoir.  The only thing that the Colerain neighbors of Mr. Peifer have is the fact that they live in 2021 and not in 1961 when Mr. Brubaker lived on his duck farm.  Monitoring manure as well as the muting of quacking seems to have come a long way in the past 50 or more years.  It will be interesting to see what happens next!  Will the quacks win or the neighbors?  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.