Lititz Record Express

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L i t i t z R e c o r d E x p r e s s
117TH YEAR LITITZ, PENNSYLVANIA 24 Pages- No. 45 30 cents
Ownership of square
still remains an issue
DIANE NIXDORF
Record Express Staff
Several months after the onset of the Nativity con­troversy
borough officials continue their search for
answers.
At Tuesday night’s borough council meeting, presi­dent
Dennis Stuckey and Mayor Russell Pettyjohn told
council that they met with attorney John Pyfer last Fri­day,
but had no new findings to report.
“We’re still trying to find out who owns the square,”
said Pettyjohn, noting that they plan to follow up on more
leads.
Although the borough officially transferred the title of
the creche to the Lititz Manger Preservation Society,
officials are still concerned about the parcel of land
where the Nativity scene was displayed and the accusa­tion
that the borough is endorsing one religion above all
others.
Stuckey recently addressed the Moravian Congrega­tion
and the Lititz Springs Park Board about acquiring the
land and both groups are considering the option.
But, liability is a major concern. “Whoever owns the
land will have to take the liability with it,” said Pettyjohn.
In response to the creche update, Ellen Dooley, presi­dent
of the Lititz Manger Preservation Society, ques­tioned
the borough’s search to trace the ownership of the
land.
“It doesn’t make any difference who owns it,” she said.
“That land is public forum.”
Based on previous court rulings as well as her frequent
contact with attorneys at the American Center for Law
and Justice (ACU), Dooley told council that a private
group is permitted to set up a religious display on proper­ty
considered a public forum.
“We are on solid legal footing to pul the nativity scene
exactly where it was this past year,” she said. “The legal
issue is on our side.”
According to Dooley, the ACU contacted Pyfer to
share the legal structure of the issue. However, she said
Pyfer only spoke to the ACU once since the American
Civil Liberties Union sparked the controversy in
December.
“I’m interested to know why he hasn’t made more con­tact,”
she said.
Rather than accept the land as a public forum, council­man
Al Olah said the borough would be better off if the
square is in private hands. “If it’s a public forum, other
organizations can petition to set up displays,” he said.
Borough officials will continue the ownership search
and Stuckey agreed to pass the ACLJ information on to
Pyfer.
Wrapping up the curb and sidewalk waiver request
submitted by Lloyd and Barbara Groff, of 535 N. Water
St., council considered four options designed by Darrell
Becker, of Acer Engineers, concerning the location and
size of the radius at the intersection of Water and Locust
Streets.
Upon examining all plausible designs, council mem­bers
agreed to adopt Plan B, which calls for a 40 foot to 34
foot and back to 40 foot transition.
Due to the projected flow of traffic caused by the new
school, Pettyjohn suggested leaving the intersection at 40
feet rather than decreasing it. Councilman Greg Nies,
however, indicated that such a plan would allow parking
on both sides of the street and actually create less room
for thru-traffic. To avoid such problems, the adopted plan
limits parking.
Although the borough attempted to clear a hurdle just a
few months ago, the railroad tracks on Oak Street con­tinue
to slow progress on the storm sewer installment.
According to Becker, a representative from Conrail
informed him that the company does not own the full
length of tracks in question, but only to the point 45 feet
west of the center line of Oak Street. The additional
tracks are owned by Reading Estate.
At the request of borough solicitor Michael Davis, of
Barley, Snyder, Senft and Cohen, Becker will contact
Reading Estate for prior approval to remove the tracks.
(Turn to Page 24)
Photos by Connie Buckwalter
Neighbors in one local developmentgot into the Olympic spirit by building a luge run in their back yards,
Locals g e t
into sp ir it
o f Olympics
Folks in at least one Lititz
neighborhood caught the Olymp­ic
spirit last week.
Off Knightsbridge Way near
the Kissel Hill Elementary
School, neighbors banded
together to build a dual luge-style
run forboth the kids and the adults
to enjoy. Called “The Lititzham-mer,”
the trail begins in Kelly and
Dave Knight’s yard at 332
i Knightsbridge Way and continues
Kara Knight, daughterof Kelly and Dave Knight, Knightsbridge Way,;
prepares for her trip down “The Lititzhammer.” I
>1 (Turn to Page 191
Residents
comment
on p roposed
boundaries
CONNIE BUCKWALTER
Record Express Staff
About 70 parents attended a meet­ing
last Thursday night in the War­wick
Middle School auditorium to
discuss and listen to comments con­cerning
Warwick School District’s
proposed new elementary school
boundaries.
Dr. Daniel Doremus, Warwick
assistant superintendent, conducted
the 90-minute meeting, first explain­ing
the district’s rationale in coming
up with the proposed changes. He
mentioned several criteria the district
tried to keep in mind while preparing
the boundaries, including the acco­modation
of the return of sixth grade
to the elementary school level. After
Doremus finished, he opened the
floor to resident’s questions and
comments.
Some parents offered constructive
criticism. Others asked questions.
Some parents even proposed alterna­tive
plans.
The purpose of the meeting was
not to offer quick fixes to the bound­ary
dilemna, but to allow Doremus
and the rest of the district staff to hear
about parents’ concerns so that they
could try to address them.
Most of the parents voicing con­cerns
were from the Crosswinds
Development. The elementary
school children living there currently
go to Kissel Hill Elementary School.
Under the proposed boundary
changes, those students (about 58 of
them) would go to Lititz Elementary
School next year, leaving Kissel Hill
(Turn to Page 19)
Photo by Connie Buckwalter
rhe Lititz Evening Chapter of the American Business Club (AM BUCS) celebrates its 40th anniversary this
>r. Pictured are (l-r): C. David Kramer, treasurer; Charlie Eshelman, second vice president; Mac Sapovits,
,sidenf Sandra Dougherty, district governor; Michael Lavery, sergeant-at-arms; William Flickmger, past
sident’and national president-elect; Fred Weaver, board member; and James Wynkoop, club president-elect.
Evening AMBUCS plan
for busy year of service
CONNIE BUCKWALTER_______ . _____________
Record Express Staff
Since 1954, the evening AMBUCS (American Busi­ness
Club) has owned and sponsored the Warwick Com­munity
Ambulance — a vital service to local citizens.
But the AMBUCS do a lot more than supporting and
helping to run the ambulance. For years they have been
an integral part of the community, donating time and
money and many other groups and causes in the Lititz
area. \
Now — in 1994 — as the community service group
celebrates its 40th anniversary, it continues to be
involved with the Ambulance Association and with other
local groups and causes. In order to propagate and
expand its contributions of time and money, the
AMBUCS would like to see new members join its ranks
of 45 people.
One of the biggest changes this year is that AMBUCS
will be taking over the Rotary Club’s June craft show
(which will retain the same name). Bobby Montgomery
and Doodie Charles are co-chairpersons of the event. For
now, Lititz AMBUCS President Mac Sapovits said the
club does not plan any major changes to the already suc­cessful
event.
(Turn to Page 19)
Officials examine future
growth in Brickeruille
DIANE NIXDORF
Record Express Staff
Moving one step closer to comple­tion,
the Elizabeth Township Plan­ning
Commission held a public
workshop Monday night to review
and discuss the future land use sec­tion
of the comprehensive plan.
One of the final efforts of the pro­ject,
the future land use plan (used in
conjunction with a future land use
map) utilizes all background infor­mation
collected throughout the
months on natural features, public
facilities, existing land use, popula­tion
studies and traffic patterns.
According to Katherine Daniels,
senior planner at Gehringer-Roth
Associates, the plan is intended to
address future growth and develop­ment
until the year 2010.
“This is your plan in your com­munity
and you know best,” said
Daniels. “I made my best shot at it.”
Consistent with the community
planning goals and the Lancaster
County Comprehensive Plan, the
future land use scheme considers the
rural nature of the township and
strives to protect agricultural and
natural resources, concentrate
growth in compact areas and infill
development in and around existing
facilities.
To discourage sprawled develop­ment
within the township, the plan
establishes a village growth bound­ary
for Brickerville. “This would
direct a large portion of growth into
that area and limit development out­side
the boundary,” said Daniels.
The village, which presently
offers a number of services and facil­ities,
has the potential to grow into a
community that can provide “addi­tional
amenities, opportunities for
(Turn to Page 1 9)
S l o p i n g s i d e w a l k s
p r e s e n t p r o b l e m s
BRUCE MORGAN___________
Record Express Staff
The Philpots and their neighbors
along Church Street in Rothsville got
a message from Warwick Township
last Wednesday: have your sidew­alks
shoveled within 24 hours.
With that, the residents attended
Wednesday night’s Warwick Town­ship
supervisors’ meeting and
pleaded their case.
It turns out that their situation is a
unique one.
Because their houses are situated
on a hill very close to the road, the
Philpots and their neighbors — Leo
and Ilene Brandt and David and
Wendy Haver — have extremely
sloped banks and can’t go anywhere
with the snow which has accumu­lated
this winter.
According to Wayne Philpot, 22
Church St., snow was pushed from
the street onto the sidewalk, and they
had more than five feet of snow and
ice on their sidewalks.
Philpot said they attended Wed­nesday’s
meeting with the hope of
getting an extension of time so they
could bring in equipment to clear the
sidewalks.
But Township officials went out to
Church Street on Thursday, and after
surveying the situation, told those
(Turn to Page 24)
THIS WEEK IN THE RECORD EXPRESS THE INDEX
W H S A c t i n g C o . t o p r e s e n t T h e M u s i c M a n Warriors claim title, complete 9-0 league season
— I K S P B L % | P
m W T The Warriors’ wrestling team | H r . J R r m K k
The Warw|ck Acting C°m- wrapped up the Section One title w *
pany will present The Music t | | | | ;• last Wednesday when they H k T " * \ * *
Man from Friday through Sun- j g f m . defeated Manheim Township H L \ f
day, March 4-6, in the high | | | | 39-18. With the win, Warwick %
school auditorium. Senior |jp . . KaJ. , completed a perfect 9-0 league SaaL. *
Dan Moury plays the lead role season. The Warriors wrestle in £
o f Professor Hill. Read more J o f the District Team Tournament p lIL
on page 24. I ’" ; » i this week. Read more on page 8.
Business 17
Church 16
Classified 20-23
Editorial 4
Manheim 18
Obituaries 2
Out of the Past 4
School Menu 6
School News 6
Social 14-15
Sports 8-11
WEATHER: Cloudy with main­ly
morning showers likely Thurs­day,
high 45 to 50.