Lititz Record Express

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L ititz R e c o rd E x p re ss
117TH YEAR LITITZ, PENNSYLVANIA 26 Pages- No. 37 30 cents
A C L U asks b o ro to rem o v e c re ch e
R e q u e s t i n f u r i a t e s r e s i d e n t s a n d s p a r k s p r o t e s t & v i g i l
O f f i c i a l s
c o n s i d e r
l e g a l
o p t i o n s
DIANE NIXDORF
Photo by Connie Buckwalter
Wayne Dooley and William T. Reil wave their support to passerbys
during the round-the-clock protest to show opposition to the ACLU and
support of keeping the Nativity scene in the Lititz town square.
Peaceful protest
shows solidarity i
CONNIE BUCKWALTER
Record Express Staff
Even before the sun began to peek over the morning horizon last Thursday
morning, people in support of the Lititz square nativity scene started filling
the square.
The peaceful protest that conveyed stirring support for the controversial
creche continued day and night officially until 7 p.m. Christmas Eve. Many
supporters of the Nativity scene continued to walk throughout Christmas Eve
and into the wee hours of Christmas morning.
Outraged and heartbroken citizens of the Lititz area and beyond braved the
chilly winter air last Thursday and Friday to protest peacefully the American
Civil Liberties Union’s request to remove the nativity scene from the Lititz
town square. The ACLU said that because the scene, which the borough owns,
is on government-owned land, it gives the appearance that the government is
endorsing one religion above all others — and that, the ACLU contends, is a
violation of the first amendment of the Constitution.
“I think they’re a bunch of nuts,” Lititz resident Charlie Getz said of the
ACLU. “How can anybody be so stupid? This is just a nice display.”
Getz stopped by the square shortly after the peaceful protest began Thurs­day
morning both to participate and to sign a petition in support of the nativity
scene. By week’s end, more than 4,000 people had signed the petition in the
square, with many other petitions reportedly circulating throughout the com­munity.
Rothsville resident Ellen Dooley quickly organized the peaceful protest
last week after she heard about the possible removal of the nativity scene on
the noon report of the news.
(Turn to Page 22)
Record Express Staff
Although most holidays create
pleasant memories, Christmas 1993
may linger in our minds for years to
come. It wasn’t a time of record
snowfall or abnormally low tempera­tures,
but rather the unforgettable
moment when the American Civil
Liberties Union (ACLU) challenged
the nativity scene in the Lititz square.
For as long as local residents can
remember, the Christmas season was
synonymous with the display of
Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus nestled
in a woodqn stable strewn with straw
at the center of town. But this year,
the religious holiday was tarnished
with unwelcomed words.
In a letter faxed to borough offi­cials
on Friday, Dec. 17, the ACLU
claims that displaying such a nativity
scene on public property "gives the
appearance that the borough is spon­soring,
endorsing and advancing the
Christian religion.”
Debra Leavy, executive director
of the ACLU’s Pennsylvania chap­ter,
initially contacted Mayor Roy
Clair by telephone to inform him that
the creche violates the First Amend­ment
of the United States Constitu­tion.
Borough officials were ordered
to remove the nativity scene from the
property, which is owned by the state
and maintained by the borough, and
inform the ACLU of their intentions
by close of business Christmas Eve.
“People hear about the ACLU, but
they rarely receive a call,” said Clair,
noting that he was shocked by the
ACLU’s accusation.
(Turn to Page 22)
L C C lin e s u p w in te r c o u rse s
CONNIE BUCKWALTER
Record Express Staff
Whether you want to get in shape, keep in shape, or
make a shape, the Lititz Community Center has the
class to mold you in the right direction.
LCC’s winter session of classes includes a host of
new offerings to enrich the lives of members and non­members
alike.
Diane Lokey, LCC program coordinator, said that
in planning the classes, the center tried to meet the
demands and requests of center members and keep up
with current trends.
In the aquatics area, new classes include Deep
Water Aerobics and Adult Swim lessons (for begin­ners
only).
Yoga for Health will be offered in three sessions.
The class helps improve overall health and well being.
Yoga offers stress reduction, relaxation, stretching,
flexibility , weight control, increased energy and belter
concentration.
The newest in aerobic workouts, the slide, will be
offered as part of the fitness card and also as a separate
class for men only. According to Lokey, the slide can
really get heart rates up and is a great workout.
(Turn to Page 21)
Photos by Bruce Morgan
After leading the throng in prayer, Pastor Irvin E. Straw Jr., of Salem Lutheran Church, joins the rest of the
crowd In singing another carol.
V i g i l
d r a w s
c r o w d
BRUCE MORGAN
Record Express Staff
If there was any question as to how
Lititz residents felt about the Ameri­can
Civil Liberties Union recently
asking the borough to remove the
Nativity creche from its square, it
was answered in astonishing fashion
last Thursday night.
Nearly 3,000 people, the majority
of them holding candles, braved the
cold weather and turned out for a vig­il
in the square at 7 p.m., pouring out
of the General Sutter Inn courtyard,
into Main and Broad Streets, and sur­rounding
the creche.
Led by a brass band trumpeting its
music from the Sutter courtyard, the
crowd sang Christmas charols and
showed its strength in unity.
One Lititz resident believed this
was one of the biggest successful
piotests Lititz has ever managed.
Several speakers, including Clair
Hollinger, pastor of Lititz Mennonite
Church, Fred Moury, of Trinity
Evangelical Congregational Church,
and Ellen Dooley, organizer of the
36-hour peaceful protest around the
creche, led the thousands in prayer,
thanked them for showing their sup­port,
and expressed the irony of a
situation that began as a bad one and
turned into something positive, by
bringing the people of Lititz
together.
(Turn to Page 22)
Brass instrument players lead the assembled crowd in Christmas
charols during last Thursday evening’s candlelight vigil.
Readers respond
in letters section
See pages 4 & 5
T H IS W E E K IN TH E R E C O R D E X P R E S S TH E IN D E X
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e a rn e d a 1 3 0 -4 8 w in , w h ile th e worthwhile projects every year,
g irls w o n 114-66. R e a d m o re ' V ' ^ r T . ‘ > v I t f l o f Read more on page 26.
o n p a g e 1 1 . ~ . ■ , '- r jf im
Business 18
Church 16
Classified 23-25
Editorial 4
Manheim 20
Obituaries 2
Out of the Past 4
School Menu 6
School News 6
Social 14-15
Sports 8-11
WEATHER: Thursday, vari­able
cloudiness with chance of
flurries. Friday, partly sunny.
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