On Being a Farm Wife (and other hazards) Joyce Bupp Well, here we are, smack-dab between two of the season's sig nificant holidays. Halloween. And, Election Day. Not likely that many of us were unaware of Halloween. After all, retailiers had pumpkin-stuff in the stores at least 10 weeks ago. Some places, maybe sooner. And why not enjoy getting into (he spooky spirit, anyway? What’s more adorable than your favorite bttle people showing up at your doorstep, giggling under a crea tive costume that their mom may have spent untold hours creating? Plus, it’s one time of the year when I can stop apologizing for the spider webs in the house cor ners and instead just pretend I’m in tune with seasonal decorating. To say nothing of the great excuse it made to stock up extra chocolate candy in the cupboards. Okay, now, hands up. How many of us who-were ready to hand out trick-or-treat goodies are equally prepared to vote on Elec tion Day? Uh, huh. I was afraid of that. At least most of us should be aware that there’s an election on the horizon, if for no other reason than the bombardment of election ads via both the broadcast and printed media. To nothing of the uncunmED freight co. SUQUIDdTIOn S4LES!N£ : BEDROOM ; ; closeout ; ! Arm., Dresser, Mirror, Nightstand, & ' Headboard Get 2nd Nightstand 1 j FREE WHILE THEY LAST 1 ; TWIN/DOUBLE J ' FUTON BUNK BED . 1 Trailer Load • Dealer Refusal with 8 I Futon Mattress i Pine Finish and i Brass Hardware i Reg Ret a. I CASHPRICE 1 WITH COUPON E||||l ; $39.04 SSP ' RECLINER , lif a „J/ \ Reg. Ret. * I $389.95 I OUR CASH I 1 PRICE . 1 I AvL, |j) $129.95 1 \jjf —W WITH COUPON-) ! $89.88i sprouting of candidate signs along the roads, like weeds popping up after a July rain. (Yes, Virginia, some years it does rain in July around here.) Fact is, many of us are woefully unprepared to intelligently vote this coming Tuesday at our local polling place. (Many folks out in citizen land AREN’T EVEN REGISTERED TO VOTE, for crying out loud! Meaning they have forfeited the right to whine or bellyache about any public policy. Anyway, Th Farmer and I are registered and we do plan to vote. But...every election, I try to study the information presented in local papers and non-partisan, pre election publications, describing candidates and issues. But..too often, I still find myself standing in the voting booth, trying to select from candidates, like for judge seats on a high state court, when I have no clue who they really are. Sure, I’ve read the short paragraph or two giving their phi losophy about issues, but I have no idea what really makes them tick or who would be the best indi vidual for the job. And I get frus trated with myself every election over that There’s one issue we do know about this year, though. It’s an CLAIM YOUR BARGAIIN PPfIPJ SET OF 6 SOUP MUGS I M k 4 31 31 $5O Retail Value Willi Bnssel oi Sena bedding purchase imh We Abwhuth Mine the Best Pities im Bedding BASSETT MATTRESS Si BOX SPRING | j 1 Ins i-. tin.’ hip i'l Ilu 1 1lie hi dJi n e iiiiJ I'lii 1 i l l itie lvs| ilm|s ih.il we e\t i ni.ule 1 llk m' I ,lie .ill i»\i n mis t ,nu efl.iii-Mi' nu! Jii in I,ihi k s I l;is is one Ik v k »l .i pi ke on | beililine (.i'liipkie u 11 1 1 ,i hat mill} oj omfnl! uai tvpUu iinnif ai.no < home j Reg. Ret. OUR CASH PRICE SPECIAL . Single 5589 95 5259 95 $129.95 Double 5729 95 5309 95 $159.95 I Queen $Hf)9 <)S $219.95 King 51099 0-3 un $279.95 -bOSrJiV. • » rio M c SERTA MATTRESS 8f BOX SPRUNG SINGLE Rfi] Ri I Snu‘) OUR CASH PRICE SI 49.95 (Serta, DOUDI.L R. Ri t SGM‘G OUR CASH PRICE SI 89.95 X- QUEEN R.--J Hft SUH’f'iU OUR CASH PRICE 5249.95 KING R.'fj Ri lsi IGU US OUR CASH PRICE 5299.95 PRICES INCLUDE BOTH PIECES I Sectional Closeout I | Reg Ret $1689 95 | i CASH PRICE $599.95 1 Take an additional $5O 00 OH With Coupon 3019 Hempland Road, Lancaster 397-6241 /'We are a five store chain not affiliated with any other storesTN. ( Stores in: LANCASTER • YORK • CARLISLE, PA \ LANCASTER STORE HOURS; Mon.-Fri. 9-9 • Sat. 9-6 • Sun. Noon-5 • No Refunds •No Exchanges For purchases with a check, bring FINANCING itSSfik 3C •No Exchanges drivers license and phone numbers AVAILABLE k • Cash & Carry J Njjot responsible tor typographical errors We reserve the right to substitute gift Hems BIG SELECTION OF WOOD & METAL BUNK BEDS HUNDREDS OF OTHER ITEMS! issue called the "Homestead” tax measure and it's near and dear to the hearts of Pennsylvania’s farmers. For years, fanners and property holders have lamented the system which levies the bulk of local tax es on those who own land. Most property owners we know are willing to pay their fair share of taxes to provide local services. But much of farm and open land requires only nominal “service” from our local taxing entities. One familiy on, say 100 acres, requires far less per-acre service, for schools, roads, trash, fire, water, sewage, etc., than cluster areas where there might be several dozen-or several hundred-people per acre. Clean and Green legisla tion eased the property tax burden a bit for those qualifying. But it’s not nearly adequate to cushion the blow to some of our farm friends who recently saw their local assessment valuations triple, while at the same time watching their crops wither in the fields. The Homestead exemption. Joint Resolution 1997-1 on the ballot, would amend our state Constitution to allow local tax dis tricts to initiate property tax relief measures. All residents of an area, rather than just property owners, could thus more fairly share the responsibility of funding local public services. Regardless of your election views, don’t be tricked into think ing your vote doesn’t matter. Instead, treat yourself and your country by participating in our right-our responsibUity-as Ameri can citizens. Vote on Tuesday. fSTTiN -CATNAPPER Lounger sT V*i* -Wjj Reg Ret $849 95 Dealer Refusal YOU PAV 5249.04 Under Wholesale Can t Beat l 200 to Sell Won t Last l Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 1, 1997-B5 Upcoming Programs LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) Lancaster County’s Landis Valley Museum presents a series of November Sunday programs focusing on the coming of winter and the merriment of the holidays. On November 2, Cynthia Beil, member of the Ramsden Fiber Guild and Landis Valley volun teer, presents Get Out Your Wint er Woolies, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Visitor Center Auditorium. Ms. Beil will discuss the seasonal change from light, warm-weather clothing to heavier, cold-weather woolen garments and will offer an extensive display of 18th and 19th-Century clothing. On November 9, garden enthu siasts, take off your gloves and show off your green thumb. Win tering Your Garden will be pre sented by Maggie Posselius, Heir loom Seed Coordinator, 2:00 p.m. in the Visitor Center Auditorium. Ms. Posselius will discuss the guidelines and techniques on properly preparing one’s garden for the harsh, winter months. On November 16, Landis Val ley presents From Sheep to Sbawl! Donna Haines, animal husbandry expert, will work with sheep in our historic village and demonstrate the entire process of sheering the sheep by hand, clean ing and carding the wool, and finally, weaving a woolen shawl - all in the course of an afternoon. Ms. Haines will present her prog ram in front of the Log Farm from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. On November 23, holiday cooking is on the menu at Landis Maintenance Free Railings For Porches, Decks or Balconies We have the expertise to design & create a system just to fit your need. Any Size, Different Styles 'j/P/J-/ vinyl railing systems offer low C7C£ce maintenance and durability. ,ft j • No Rust A\ nhbli in 'jH • No Paint 'fe; • No Scraping • UV Stabilized mJ - 1 1 ' 49