It was an extraordinary day. That is until my desktop iMac flashed a message across my screen! The date is March 23 and the weather is awful...rain so heavy that you can't see across the street at times. I never saw that happen to my desktop in my lifetime! And, as soon as I saw a flashing note...I knew exactly what was going on. Seems that our Lancaster Public Library was supposed to host a Drag Queen Story Hour event this morning for children of Lancaster...at the Public Library! That's right...good ole Amish Country Lancaster, Pennsylvania was going to sponsor a Drag Queen Story Hour for children at it's public library. And...boy were there letters after letters written by both sides of the situation that were sent to the local newspaper to be shared with their readers. I'll bet the morning newspaper sold out at all locations for days...if not weeks! And...to top that off...the rain came pouring down in buckets this morning. Was that a warning from above?...and I don't mean our tallest skyscraper in downtown Lancaster which is two blocks from our public library. As for myself...I have my own thoughts on the topic, but care to keep them to myself. Others in Lancaster do not care to keep them to themselves. Many believe that having a drag queen read stories to young children at our public library is just fine while others think it is horrendous! And boy did it sell newspapers! And now.....with the rain pouring from the skies, I can just imagine what is going on in downtown Lancaster right now...being it is about the time that the readings were to take place. The poor Lancaster Police have to be out in this weather making sure that no one is trying to get into the Library while carrying a gun while parents of those children who have arrived for the story telling are hoping their children are in a safe place. My damp morning LNP newspaper had a headline that read...Police prep for reading...City officers will be working near Drag Queen Story Hour. The Police Chief said that they will have enough officers on duty to respond effectively if anything does happens. But...you know....for some strange reason the skies opened this morning and are filling the streets with lots and lots of rainwater. The Police Chief did state that "We will have enough officers here to respond effectively. We don't know what this is going to be like. It's hard to gauge how many people are going to show up on either side." And...as for "yours truly", who will add this extra story today to my blog as soon as I have finished typing it...there must have been help from above when the skies opened as they did. Everyone will read that differently...and my opinion will remain my opinion...if you know what I mean. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
An update 4 hours from when I posted the previous story. I got it from a site online in Lancaster.......
Lancaster City police are asking you to avoid the 100 block of N. Queen Street and 100 block of North Lime. Police are requesting that motorists stay off the roads in Lancaster City unless necessary. POLICE UPDATE: At 12:20 pm: The Pennsylvania State Police bomb squad has cleared the Lancaster Public Library. However, there are additional reported threats that are still being investigated. We are advising the public to remain away from the area of the 100 block of N. Queen Street. POLICE UPDATE: A suspicious package has been located inside the Lancaster Public Library. The Pennsylvania State Police bomb squad is en route, and the area has been shut down to pedestrians and vehicles while police investigate. Avoid the area. We will provide additional information when we are able.
Police remind residents that safety is their top priority. Police appreciate your cooperation. More when I get it!.........
UPDATE at 2:06 pm: The evacuation order for the 100 blocks of N. Lime and 100 block of N. Queen in Lancaster City remains in place until further notice. Police are advising residents to evacuate immediately. Clipper Magazine Stadium is available for evacuees to gather.
POLICE UPDATE: The evacuation order for the 100 blocks of N. Lime and 100 block of N. Queen in Lancaster City remains in place until further notice. Police are advising residents to evacuate immediately. Clipper Magazine Stadium is available for evacuees to gather.
UPDATE at 3:16 pm: The evacuation order for the 100 blocks of N. Lime and N. Queen Streets in Lancaster City has been lifted. Residents can now return to their homes. There is no danger to the public.
Seems that all is well once again in the city of Lancaster....known as the City of Brotherly Love!!
This will end my story for today. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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