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T H E R E S S S E R V IN G T H E W A R W I C K A R E A F O R N E A R L Y A C E N T U R Y 100th Year ESTABLISHED APRIL, 1877, AS THE SUNBEAM | CONSOLIDATED WITH THE U T IT i RECORD, 1937J Lititz, Lancaster County, PA 17543, Thursday, October 7,1976 IS CENTS A COPY; $5,00 PER YEAR BY MAIL WITHIN LANCASTER COUNTY 22 PAGES—No. 9 i— ; ' -Lÿ. ■ ■ ■ i i i i BMMI - ' ' - -W * ¡«.■'•.V. U s Surrounded by some of his best pals, Matthew Tieman’s smile tells us that having a "Big Brother” is one of the most fun things in the world. Mat has been Sam Heffner’s “ Little Brother” for a year and a half, during which time Sam, Mat, and the three canine members of the family have become fast friends. Area Man Shares Time and Fun With Very Special “ Little Brother” By; Bonnie Szymanski.; About a year and a half ago, Sam Heffner, who lives on Dridge Hill Road in Elizabeth To wnship, heard a radio advertisement appealing for men between the ages of 18 and 99 to ask themselves this question: “Do you have a few hours a week to share vVith a fatherless boy?” Sam thought about that question. He thought about his own two boys, Tony, 21, and David, 13. It didn’t take him long to come up with the answer. Soon he was talking with Hans Wirsching, executive director of Lancaster County’s Big Brothers of America program. One” of more than three I i i T h is Is su e Business Directory 18 Church News 16 Classified Ads 19,20,21 Editorial Page 4 Sports Section 6,7,8,9 Women’s 10,11 hundred Big Brother agencies across the United States, the Lancaster County Big Brothers have matched about 180 pairs of big and little brothers, but, said Heffner, there are still about 80 boys on the waiting list. These boys want and need male companionship, he explained, and noted that a man who opts to share a part of his life with a “Little Brother” need not be concerned that he can only devote one evening a week to the boy. It is the quality of the time, not the quantity that is important, he stressed. Heffner conferred with his younger son on the matter of a Little Brother, and David, although too young to be an official “ Big Brother” decided that a Little Brother between the ages of eight and 10 would be ideal. Given a choice of four, all matched with Heffner according to interests, locale, and other considerations, he and David decided on Mat because he fit their age preferences and because he had been on the waiting list for 13 months. “He was really excited to see me the first time I went to pick him up, ” Heffner recalled. He took me in the house and showed me a robot he had made,” he continued, at which point Mat looked up and said, “I don’t remember that.” “Well, you did,” laughed Heffner and explained that Mat “seemed to be up on the Big Brother program” and didn’t need much orientation: after all, he had been waiting for 13 months, months. Heffner commented that it’s often up to the mother to initiate the desire and enthusiasm for the program. She also is the one usually responsible for making sure the “Little Brother” is ready when Big Brother comes to pick him up. It didn’t take Mat long to become like one of the family, said Heffner. An outgoing child, Mat looks forward to his weekly outing Poplar For Twp Grove Petition Asks Road Maintenance By Laurie Knowles A petition signed by more than 190 residents of Poplar Grove was presented to the E liz a b e th T ow n sh ip supervisors at the meeting held Monday, Oct. 4. The petition asked that the village’s roads be taken over by the township to be “opened, widened, graded, and straightened” , and eventually paved, and the petition was presented by Mrs. Ruth Stohler, wife of Carl A. Stohler, township supervisor. The petition was read by Joseph Heath, a Poplar Grove resident, who later explained that as a new resident of Poplar Grove, he had not been aware that the roads were maintained by property owners. The petition asked that the .....NotTCe.... The monthly meeting of the Lititz Retailer’s Association has been scheduled for the second Wednesday of this month. The October meeting will be held next Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 P.M. at the General Sutter Inn. All area businessmen are welcome and invited to attend. » • • • • • • • • supervisors make a decision within 60 days, and said that the residents intended to “pursue the matter” as they were authorized to do according to the township code. The residents requested that a total of 5,680 feet of roads be at least graded. These roads included parts of Lancaster Ave., California Ave., Laurel Ave., Washington Ave., and Pennsylvania Ave. George White, chairman of the supervisors, said that he was not able to answer any question on the matter until the legal aspects had been studied by the township solicitor, William Crosswell, who was not able to attend the meeting. “There’s no one here who wants roads for Poplar Grove more than I do,’’said White, “But this must be legal.” Luther Ober, of the supervisors, said that Miss Hilda White, who inherited the I.C. White Estate, which owns the roads, would have to dedicate the land to the township. Stohler pointed out that Miss White had signed the petition and had told him that she would be willing to turn the roads over to the township. “What I want to know, is what do we do when we need an ambulance back there?” [Continued on Page 2] with Heffner and his son. They take advantage of most warm days by going fishing, hiking, or turtle catching around Speedwell Forge Lake. One evening a week on his way home from work, Heffner stops in Neffsville where Mat lives, picks him up, and brings him back to Dridge Hill Road. After dinner, the two of them, usually accompanied by “Junior” Big Brother David (a term originating with the Heffners), go tramping around the countryside, play football, or indulge in one of Mat’s favorite pastimes, working in the yard. In less agreeable weather, they play games indoors or work on projects such as carving wooden racing cars to enter in the Pinewood Derby, an annual model car race for Lancaster County Cub Scouts. David has won two Pinewood Derby trophies, and Mat is not far behind with a second place in the most colorful car division. Taking trips together is often an important part of the Big-Little Brother relationship. Heffner has taken Mat to Washington, D.C.; they went to a football game in Baltimore last year where, according to Mat, “we saw the Baltimore Orioles beat the Texas Rangers:” and this weekend the pair will be traveling to Lake Wallen- [ Continued on Page 2] Penn and Elizabeth Township Residents Fight to Prevent Proposed “ Model Landfill” By Laurie Knowles Robert A. Smith, a Lancaster realtor and appraiser, told persons attending the joint zoning hearing of Penn and Elizabeth Townships, that the reason the landfill was being protested was because of the fear of the people, based on what they had seen happen with other landfill sites. R.E. Wright Associates of Harrisburg is seeking a . special exception to township zoning in order to build a “model landfill’ site on a 90-acre tract of land on Penryn Road that lies in both Penn and Elizabeth Townships. R e s i d e n t s b e g a n protesting the landfill proposal as soon as they became aware of Wright’s plans, and in the second part of the hearing, which was held Sept. 29 at the Old Penryn Fire Hall, more than 125 concerned residents attended to hear testimony. J. Marlin Shreiner, attorney for the residents of the two townships, called Smith as a witness, and asked Smith if he had observed the site of the proposed landfill. Smith said that he had. “There is no question that properties on the fringe of the landfill will be devaluated,” said Smith, “The best uses for that land would be residential or agricultural.” The lawyer for Wright, Herbert A. Shaffner, Harrisburg, said that all of Smith’s statements were “speculative”, because no landfill exists at the site yet. Smith admitted that his s t a t e m e n t s w e r e “speculative,” but he explained that the residenls were concerned about the landfill because of a long history of landfill sites, beginning with ash dumps. “The burden Of proof is on you,” said Smith, directing his statement to Wright and his council. The hearing began with questioning of Wright and Ned Welder, an employee of R.E. Wright, Inc., by the members of the township zoning hearing boards. Dale Diehm of Elizabeth Township began the questioning by asking Wright what the height of the grade would be. Wright said that the Pa. Department of Environmental Resources regulates the size of the slope. Diehm also asked Wright to explain the procedure for determining at what point the first landfill site would be completed and the second si' started Wright said that tl first site would be t pleted m about five, six, even years. John Gerstemeier, of Penn lownship. asked about the controls the company would maintain to assure residents that their wells would not be polluted. Wright explained that DER required that wells be checked before the landfill site was started, and that the company planned to build monitoring wells on the landfill site to test the water. G e r s t em e i e r a ls o questioned Wright as to whether polluted water, or “leachate” , could seep through their controls. Wright answered by saying that “we would have to be absolutely divine to state that it would be impossible in our natural situation” for water to seep through the trench. Penn Township zoning board member, Gerald Quinn, further questioned the company’s pollution prevention plan. He asked Wright what pollutants would be in the leachate, and Wright referred his questions to Ned Wehler, geologist and engineer for the Wright company. “This is a proven, solid method, and all pollutants will be considerably lower than danger levels,” explained Wehler in summary of his testimony. The case of the protestants began with attorney J. Marlin Shreiner’s statement that a special exception under the law as not sup- [ Continued on Page 12] Lexington Still Awaits Decision On Controversial Rifle Range By Bonnie Szymanski Elizabeth Township’s zoning decision on the high-powered rifle range lately proposed by the Lexington Rod and Gun Club is still hanging in the balance. Zoners have until October 23 to hand down their collective decision that will allow or forbid the construction of a 100-yard rifle range on the rural portion of gun club property located on the the north side of Snavely Mill Road 300 feet east of Firestone Road in the village of Lexington. M e a n w h i l e , b o th proponents and opponents of the range are verbally battling it out, each side insisting on the legitimacy of its claims. This week, point by point, opponents hammered away at assurances made by members of the gun club that the new range would be not only safe, but an asset to the community. Club members have made it clear that the 18-foot backstop included in the plot • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • a « « National School Lunch Week School Kids to Eat Hotdogs, Vegetable Soup on Wednesday School kids will be eating vegetable soup and hotdogs next Wednesday in honor of National School Lunch Week Oct. 10-16. Wednesday will be Universal Menu Day, when 25 million students, including Warwick students, will be eating the same “All American” lunch - a hotdog on a bun, vegetable beef soup, orange wedges, tutti-frutti crisp (with peaches) and milk. This year marks the 30th birthday of the National School Lunch program, which came about shortly after World War II when Congress passed the National School Lunch Act, with the goal of safeguarding the wellbeing of children and encouraging the use of nutritious foods. Thousands of schools are now participating in the School Lunch Program. The federal program has set explicit requirements for the quality of the meal served under its authority. Its Type A lunch includes, at a minimum, one-half pint of whole fluid milk, 2 ounces of meat or othe^ protein food, % cup of 2 or more fruits or vegetables and 1 serving of enriched or whole grain cereal. Such a lunch is geared to meet one-third or more of the nutrient old child, with adjustments made in serving sizes for both older and younger children. The United States D e p a r tm e n t o f Agriculture has supported the program by providing subsidies. These have taken the form of surplus ag r icu ltu ra l commodities or food purchased as part of the price support programs, technical advice, and cash subsidies. The School Lunch Act requires that each participating school operate on a non-profit basis, and provide meals free or at reduced prices to those unable to pay full price. s ------------- 0- ........— ----- ,®e« ÍL year • any noise from shot guns plan for the rifle range would make the possibility of anyone’s missing such a huge target almost nil. They added that if by some remote chance someone did miss the backstop, there are 250 yards of heavy timber through which the bullet would have to travel and emphasized the improbability of its passing through without being stopped by a tree. On the other hand, opponents contend that the woods is neither heavy nor thick, that it is a logged area containing only thin trees and very little underbrush. “If you can see right through it, a bullet can go through,” insists Carol Wardell. The Wardell property adjoins gun club property. Janice Graybill is another neighbor opposed to the new range by virtue of the fact that, according to the plot plan submitted to the zoning hearing board, the angle of trajectory shows that a bullet missing the backstop could travel approximately 160 yards through the woods, then cross a corner of the Graybill property before it headed back into a wooded area. The Graybills, who have been Snavely Mill Road residents for only a few months, said they purchased the property with the intention of creating a horse path around their meadow. If the rifle range is approved, they contend, they will be forced to abandon those plans and, in fact, will be unable to use the lower portion of their property altogether. The Graybills, along with other nearby residents, claim the new rifle range would have the ultimate effect of devaluing their property considerably. Another sparring point is the issue of excessive noise caused by rifles. Club members note that residents have lived for years with the noise of shot guns from dub grounds and have not minded it in the past. Nearby neighbors say the noise from a rifle range will far exceed In reply to the WardeUs’ contention that they have seen their horses running back and forth in fright from the noise of guns, Jay Foreman, president of the gun club, said he watched those same horses recently during a block shoot and observed no apparent show of nervousness. Foreman has explained that the club took great pains to see that this new rifle range has been designed and will be constructed according to National Rifle Association standards of safety. This includes provisions for a ricochet board and protective wings or baffles alohg the sides of the 18-foot backstop. But opponents have claimed that though the NRA standards have allegedly been met as far as design, it is their opinion that the NRA would never approve of the range’s proposed location 25 feet from a residential property, 500 to 600 feet from a house, _and “on top of a hill.” Neighbors have also expressed concern over possible ricocheting bullets despite club members’ assurance that a ricochet board has been provided for. Testifying at the Sept. 9 zoning hearing, Ron Wardell stated that four years ago when he was building his home, he discovered the ground in the area to be full of shale and very rocky. Because of this, he said, there is a very real possibility that a bullet could ricochet off of a rock. Members of the Lexington Rod and Gun Club have approached the zoning board with their proposal for a new range in a community minded spirit, they have declared. They said that because they realize the present 80-yard range is insufficient for the sighting-in of rifles and because they realize that club members are using it at times for those purposes they have presented their case as a move toward a safer and more acceptable range in which to shoot rifles. Many residents who disagree with this argument say it’s a matter of “two wrongs not making a right.” They agree that the present range is not the place to be shooting high-powered rifles, but they also claim the new range will be jeopardizing people’s lives and properties by its proximity to a residential area and by the fact that, theoretically, bullets from riñes shot on the new range could land as far away as Halfville or as close as a neighboring property. Whatever the outcome, those involved have only two weeks or less to wait before the Elizabeth Township Zoning Hearing Board must make its decision on whether or not the new rifle range will be approved for the Lexington Rod and Gun Club. Fire Cd. Friday and Saturday The public is invited to participate in an open house at the lititz Fire Company from 7 to 9 p.in. on Friday, Oct. 8, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9, in honor of Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 3-9. Special activities during both days will include a slide presentation on home fire safety entitled, “Startling But True.” If interest warrants, the presentation will be shown on the hour both days. Various types of fire equipment will be on display, and fire company members will be on hand to provide commentary on the use of the equipment. Refreshments will be served throughout both days. Fire company members have urged the public to consider visiting the borough fire station during these two days to view the slide presentation and become familiar with procedures that could someday save their lives.
Object Description
Title | Lititz Record Express |
Masthead | Lititz Record Express 1976-10-07 |
Subject | Lititz (Pa.) -- Newspapers;Lancaster County (Pa.)—Newspapers |
Description | Lititz newspapers 1877-2001 |
Publisher | Record Print. Co. |
Date | 1976-10-07 |
Location Covered | United States;Pennsylvania;Lancaster County (Pa.);Lititz (Pa.);Warwick (Lancaster County, Pa. : Township) |
Type | Text |
Original Format | Newspapers |
Digital Format | application/pdf |
Identifier | 10_07_1976.pdf |
Language | English |
Rights | Steinman Enterprises |
Contact | For information on source and images, contact LancasterHistory, Attn: Library Services, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster, PA, 17603. Phone: 717-392-4633, ext. 126. Email: research@lancasterhistory.org |
Contributing Institution | LancasterHistory |
Sponsorship | This Digital Object is provided in a collection that is included in POWER Library: Pennsylvania Photos and Documents, which is funded by the Office of Commonwealth Libraries of Pennsylvania/Pennsylvania Department of Education. |
Description
Title | Page 1 |
Subject | Lititz (Pa.) -- Newspapers;Lancaster County (Pa.)—Newspapers |
Location Covered | United States;Pennsylvania;Lancaster County (Pa.);Lititz (Pa.);Warwick (Lancaster County, Pa. : Township) |
Type | Text |
Original Format | Newspapers |
Digital Format | application/pdf |
Language | English |
Contact | For information on source and images, contact LancasterHistory, Attn: Library Services, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster, PA, 17603. Phone: 717-392-4633, ext. 126. Email: research@lancasterhistory.org |
Contributing Institution | LancasterHistory |
Sponsorship | This Digital Object is provided in a collection that is included in POWER Library: Pennsylvania Photos and Documents, which is funded by the Office of Commonwealth Libraries of Pennsylvania/Pennsylvania Department of Education. |
Full Text | T H E R E S S S E R V IN G T H E W A R W I C K A R E A F O R N E A R L Y A C E N T U R Y 100th Year ESTABLISHED APRIL, 1877, AS THE SUNBEAM | CONSOLIDATED WITH THE U T IT i RECORD, 1937J Lititz, Lancaster County, PA 17543, Thursday, October 7,1976 IS CENTS A COPY; $5,00 PER YEAR BY MAIL WITHIN LANCASTER COUNTY 22 PAGES—No. 9 i— ; ' -Lÿ. ■ ■ ■ i i i i BMMI - ' ' - -W * ¡«.■'•.V. U s Surrounded by some of his best pals, Matthew Tieman’s smile tells us that having a "Big Brother” is one of the most fun things in the world. Mat has been Sam Heffner’s “ Little Brother” for a year and a half, during which time Sam, Mat, and the three canine members of the family have become fast friends. Area Man Shares Time and Fun With Very Special “ Little Brother” By; Bonnie Szymanski.; About a year and a half ago, Sam Heffner, who lives on Dridge Hill Road in Elizabeth To wnship, heard a radio advertisement appealing for men between the ages of 18 and 99 to ask themselves this question: “Do you have a few hours a week to share vVith a fatherless boy?” Sam thought about that question. He thought about his own two boys, Tony, 21, and David, 13. It didn’t take him long to come up with the answer. Soon he was talking with Hans Wirsching, executive director of Lancaster County’s Big Brothers of America program. One” of more than three I i i T h is Is su e Business Directory 18 Church News 16 Classified Ads 19,20,21 Editorial Page 4 Sports Section 6,7,8,9 Women’s 10,11 hundred Big Brother agencies across the United States, the Lancaster County Big Brothers have matched about 180 pairs of big and little brothers, but, said Heffner, there are still about 80 boys on the waiting list. These boys want and need male companionship, he explained, and noted that a man who opts to share a part of his life with a “Little Brother” need not be concerned that he can only devote one evening a week to the boy. It is the quality of the time, not the quantity that is important, he stressed. Heffner conferred with his younger son on the matter of a Little Brother, and David, although too young to be an official “ Big Brother” decided that a Little Brother between the ages of eight and 10 would be ideal. Given a choice of four, all matched with Heffner according to interests, locale, and other considerations, he and David decided on Mat because he fit their age preferences and because he had been on the waiting list for 13 months. “He was really excited to see me the first time I went to pick him up, ” Heffner recalled. He took me in the house and showed me a robot he had made,” he continued, at which point Mat looked up and said, “I don’t remember that.” “Well, you did,” laughed Heffner and explained that Mat “seemed to be up on the Big Brother program” and didn’t need much orientation: after all, he had been waiting for 13 months, months. Heffner commented that it’s often up to the mother to initiate the desire and enthusiasm for the program. She also is the one usually responsible for making sure the “Little Brother” is ready when Big Brother comes to pick him up. It didn’t take Mat long to become like one of the family, said Heffner. An outgoing child, Mat looks forward to his weekly outing Poplar For Twp Grove Petition Asks Road Maintenance By Laurie Knowles A petition signed by more than 190 residents of Poplar Grove was presented to the E liz a b e th T ow n sh ip supervisors at the meeting held Monday, Oct. 4. The petition asked that the village’s roads be taken over by the township to be “opened, widened, graded, and straightened” , and eventually paved, and the petition was presented by Mrs. Ruth Stohler, wife of Carl A. Stohler, township supervisor. The petition was read by Joseph Heath, a Poplar Grove resident, who later explained that as a new resident of Poplar Grove, he had not been aware that the roads were maintained by property owners. The petition asked that the .....NotTCe.... The monthly meeting of the Lititz Retailer’s Association has been scheduled for the second Wednesday of this month. The October meeting will be held next Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 P.M. at the General Sutter Inn. All area businessmen are welcome and invited to attend. » • • • • • • • • supervisors make a decision within 60 days, and said that the residents intended to “pursue the matter” as they were authorized to do according to the township code. The residents requested that a total of 5,680 feet of roads be at least graded. These roads included parts of Lancaster Ave., California Ave., Laurel Ave., Washington Ave., and Pennsylvania Ave. George White, chairman of the supervisors, said that he was not able to answer any question on the matter until the legal aspects had been studied by the township solicitor, William Crosswell, who was not able to attend the meeting. “There’s no one here who wants roads for Poplar Grove more than I do,’’said White, “But this must be legal.” Luther Ober, of the supervisors, said that Miss Hilda White, who inherited the I.C. White Estate, which owns the roads, would have to dedicate the land to the township. Stohler pointed out that Miss White had signed the petition and had told him that she would be willing to turn the roads over to the township. “What I want to know, is what do we do when we need an ambulance back there?” [Continued on Page 2] with Heffner and his son. They take advantage of most warm days by going fishing, hiking, or turtle catching around Speedwell Forge Lake. One evening a week on his way home from work, Heffner stops in Neffsville where Mat lives, picks him up, and brings him back to Dridge Hill Road. After dinner, the two of them, usually accompanied by “Junior” Big Brother David (a term originating with the Heffners), go tramping around the countryside, play football, or indulge in one of Mat’s favorite pastimes, working in the yard. In less agreeable weather, they play games indoors or work on projects such as carving wooden racing cars to enter in the Pinewood Derby, an annual model car race for Lancaster County Cub Scouts. David has won two Pinewood Derby trophies, and Mat is not far behind with a second place in the most colorful car division. Taking trips together is often an important part of the Big-Little Brother relationship. Heffner has taken Mat to Washington, D.C.; they went to a football game in Baltimore last year where, according to Mat, “we saw the Baltimore Orioles beat the Texas Rangers:” and this weekend the pair will be traveling to Lake Wallen- [ Continued on Page 2] Penn and Elizabeth Township Residents Fight to Prevent Proposed “ Model Landfill” By Laurie Knowles Robert A. Smith, a Lancaster realtor and appraiser, told persons attending the joint zoning hearing of Penn and Elizabeth Townships, that the reason the landfill was being protested was because of the fear of the people, based on what they had seen happen with other landfill sites. R.E. Wright Associates of Harrisburg is seeking a . special exception to township zoning in order to build a “model landfill’ site on a 90-acre tract of land on Penryn Road that lies in both Penn and Elizabeth Townships. R e s i d e n t s b e g a n protesting the landfill proposal as soon as they became aware of Wright’s plans, and in the second part of the hearing, which was held Sept. 29 at the Old Penryn Fire Hall, more than 125 concerned residents attended to hear testimony. J. Marlin Shreiner, attorney for the residents of the two townships, called Smith as a witness, and asked Smith if he had observed the site of the proposed landfill. Smith said that he had. “There is no question that properties on the fringe of the landfill will be devaluated,” said Smith, “The best uses for that land would be residential or agricultural.” The lawyer for Wright, Herbert A. Shaffner, Harrisburg, said that all of Smith’s statements were “speculative”, because no landfill exists at the site yet. Smith admitted that his s t a t e m e n t s w e r e “speculative,” but he explained that the residenls were concerned about the landfill because of a long history of landfill sites, beginning with ash dumps. “The burden Of proof is on you,” said Smith, directing his statement to Wright and his council. The hearing began with questioning of Wright and Ned Welder, an employee of R.E. Wright, Inc., by the members of the township zoning hearing boards. Dale Diehm of Elizabeth Township began the questioning by asking Wright what the height of the grade would be. Wright said that the Pa. Department of Environmental Resources regulates the size of the slope. Diehm also asked Wright to explain the procedure for determining at what point the first landfill site would be completed and the second si' started Wright said that tl first site would be t pleted m about five, six, even years. John Gerstemeier, of Penn lownship. asked about the controls the company would maintain to assure residents that their wells would not be polluted. Wright explained that DER required that wells be checked before the landfill site was started, and that the company planned to build monitoring wells on the landfill site to test the water. G e r s t em e i e r a ls o questioned Wright as to whether polluted water, or “leachate” , could seep through their controls. Wright answered by saying that “we would have to be absolutely divine to state that it would be impossible in our natural situation” for water to seep through the trench. Penn Township zoning board member, Gerald Quinn, further questioned the company’s pollution prevention plan. He asked Wright what pollutants would be in the leachate, and Wright referred his questions to Ned Wehler, geologist and engineer for the Wright company. “This is a proven, solid method, and all pollutants will be considerably lower than danger levels,” explained Wehler in summary of his testimony. The case of the protestants began with attorney J. Marlin Shreiner’s statement that a special exception under the law as not sup- [ Continued on Page 12] Lexington Still Awaits Decision On Controversial Rifle Range By Bonnie Szymanski Elizabeth Township’s zoning decision on the high-powered rifle range lately proposed by the Lexington Rod and Gun Club is still hanging in the balance. Zoners have until October 23 to hand down their collective decision that will allow or forbid the construction of a 100-yard rifle range on the rural portion of gun club property located on the the north side of Snavely Mill Road 300 feet east of Firestone Road in the village of Lexington. M e a n w h i l e , b o th proponents and opponents of the range are verbally battling it out, each side insisting on the legitimacy of its claims. This week, point by point, opponents hammered away at assurances made by members of the gun club that the new range would be not only safe, but an asset to the community. Club members have made it clear that the 18-foot backstop included in the plot • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • a « « National School Lunch Week School Kids to Eat Hotdogs, Vegetable Soup on Wednesday School kids will be eating vegetable soup and hotdogs next Wednesday in honor of National School Lunch Week Oct. 10-16. Wednesday will be Universal Menu Day, when 25 million students, including Warwick students, will be eating the same “All American” lunch - a hotdog on a bun, vegetable beef soup, orange wedges, tutti-frutti crisp (with peaches) and milk. This year marks the 30th birthday of the National School Lunch program, which came about shortly after World War II when Congress passed the National School Lunch Act, with the goal of safeguarding the wellbeing of children and encouraging the use of nutritious foods. Thousands of schools are now participating in the School Lunch Program. The federal program has set explicit requirements for the quality of the meal served under its authority. Its Type A lunch includes, at a minimum, one-half pint of whole fluid milk, 2 ounces of meat or othe^ protein food, % cup of 2 or more fruits or vegetables and 1 serving of enriched or whole grain cereal. Such a lunch is geared to meet one-third or more of the nutrient old child, with adjustments made in serving sizes for both older and younger children. The United States D e p a r tm e n t o f Agriculture has supported the program by providing subsidies. These have taken the form of surplus ag r icu ltu ra l commodities or food purchased as part of the price support programs, technical advice, and cash subsidies. The School Lunch Act requires that each participating school operate on a non-profit basis, and provide meals free or at reduced prices to those unable to pay full price. s ------------- 0- ........— ----- ,®e« ÍL year • any noise from shot guns plan for the rifle range would make the possibility of anyone’s missing such a huge target almost nil. They added that if by some remote chance someone did miss the backstop, there are 250 yards of heavy timber through which the bullet would have to travel and emphasized the improbability of its passing through without being stopped by a tree. On the other hand, opponents contend that the woods is neither heavy nor thick, that it is a logged area containing only thin trees and very little underbrush. “If you can see right through it, a bullet can go through,” insists Carol Wardell. The Wardell property adjoins gun club property. Janice Graybill is another neighbor opposed to the new range by virtue of the fact that, according to the plot plan submitted to the zoning hearing board, the angle of trajectory shows that a bullet missing the backstop could travel approximately 160 yards through the woods, then cross a corner of the Graybill property before it headed back into a wooded area. The Graybills, who have been Snavely Mill Road residents for only a few months, said they purchased the property with the intention of creating a horse path around their meadow. If the rifle range is approved, they contend, they will be forced to abandon those plans and, in fact, will be unable to use the lower portion of their property altogether. The Graybills, along with other nearby residents, claim the new rifle range would have the ultimate effect of devaluing their property considerably. Another sparring point is the issue of excessive noise caused by rifles. Club members note that residents have lived for years with the noise of shot guns from dub grounds and have not minded it in the past. Nearby neighbors say the noise from a rifle range will far exceed In reply to the WardeUs’ contention that they have seen their horses running back and forth in fright from the noise of guns, Jay Foreman, president of the gun club, said he watched those same horses recently during a block shoot and observed no apparent show of nervousness. Foreman has explained that the club took great pains to see that this new rifle range has been designed and will be constructed according to National Rifle Association standards of safety. This includes provisions for a ricochet board and protective wings or baffles alohg the sides of the 18-foot backstop. But opponents have claimed that though the NRA standards have allegedly been met as far as design, it is their opinion that the NRA would never approve of the range’s proposed location 25 feet from a residential property, 500 to 600 feet from a house, _and “on top of a hill.” Neighbors have also expressed concern over possible ricocheting bullets despite club members’ assurance that a ricochet board has been provided for. Testifying at the Sept. 9 zoning hearing, Ron Wardell stated that four years ago when he was building his home, he discovered the ground in the area to be full of shale and very rocky. Because of this, he said, there is a very real possibility that a bullet could ricochet off of a rock. Members of the Lexington Rod and Gun Club have approached the zoning board with their proposal for a new range in a community minded spirit, they have declared. They said that because they realize the present 80-yard range is insufficient for the sighting-in of rifles and because they realize that club members are using it at times for those purposes they have presented their case as a move toward a safer and more acceptable range in which to shoot rifles. Many residents who disagree with this argument say it’s a matter of “two wrongs not making a right.” They agree that the present range is not the place to be shooting high-powered rifles, but they also claim the new range will be jeopardizing people’s lives and properties by its proximity to a residential area and by the fact that, theoretically, bullets from riñes shot on the new range could land as far away as Halfville or as close as a neighboring property. Whatever the outcome, those involved have only two weeks or less to wait before the Elizabeth Township Zoning Hearing Board must make its decision on whether or not the new rifle range will be approved for the Lexington Rod and Gun Club. Fire Cd. Friday and Saturday The public is invited to participate in an open house at the lititz Fire Company from 7 to 9 p.in. on Friday, Oct. 8, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9, in honor of Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 3-9. Special activities during both days will include a slide presentation on home fire safety entitled, “Startling But True.” If interest warrants, the presentation will be shown on the hour both days. Various types of fire equipment will be on display, and fire company members will be on hand to provide commentary on the use of the equipment. Refreshments will be served throughout both days. Fire company members have urged the public to consider visiting the borough fire station during these two days to view the slide presentation and become familiar with procedures that could someday save their lives. |
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