SAM S. STOLTZFUS Amish Farmer MILLCRLFK (Lancaster Co )- Lancaster County fat mens in the Millueck Valley have thiee mam concerns this (all Will milk and cattle puces stay at pi of liable levels, will hay and gram puces stay at the low levels, and will the new Rt 23 cut thiough then (arm Folks scan then newspaper this last while and say, many m their native tongue (net vidda un study ton dem ma veg) not again a study ot the new road Yes, another study made, more tax dollars spent to study the county’s traffic situation really a population pioblem It’s hard to sell a by-pass plan to anyone m eastern Lancastei Co Look at the highway department’s well laid plans back in 1967, when Rt 23 project was started, first the right of way purchased, then grading, bridges built and m the late 1969 The equipment and men took off like a run away horse and what do we have, and still so today A 16,000-ft long, goat, cattle, horse and mule pasture Probably lots easier to sell a 3 legged mule or a 5-cylmder tractor than a new Rt. 23 corridor to Earl Township farmers Though we grow weary of all these studies and tiatfic problems, let’s be thankful for what was done Traffic lights installed many roads widened, and a big thank you to the highway department for providing the buggy lanes along Rt 340, 772 Do We Or Don’t We Need A Rt. 23 By-Pass? and Rt 23 Moie mads will get such lanes next yeai Let’s all be thankful to our good Lord tor a toad piogiam -ihat is sensitive to oui county’s traffic needs, this hoise and buggy and bicycle Hattie Let’s think about what a new Rt 23 will bung Suie then we all can gallop oft to work, no tiatfic jams and perhaps moie safely, and downtown Leola and New Holland may be more peaceful How much faster would folks get to work, studies vary at the most 15-20 mm quicker Seems we’ie gonna sacrifice a lot to gam a little speed, of course it will be safer but folks will still drive too fast, and there is the pioblem But our Dutch-man common sense knows otherwise, cut a new road thiough the country their farms cut up pieces of land isolated, soon sold Gas stations, McDonald’s, banks spring up like weeds in the garden Soon tax assessments go up, more farms sold Developments grow taster than pioneer corn. Zoning is changed variances granted and dot geht da alt nachbaschaft (theie goes the old neighborhood) You don’t believe it, look at the Rt 222-corndor look how icsidential and industrial development escalated all the way to the Berks County line See how Wal-Mart bulldogged into the countryside Changing zoning and inteisections to meet its needs is this what will come in the Weaverland Valley 9 What kind of The Sun Harmony Chi Machine is backed with 38 Years of Experience & Research With Medical Patents. Erich from Colorado: “I am over 60 years young I use the CHI MACHINE 8 to 10 minutes twice a day. I have relief from the pain and stiffness of arthritis, bad knees, legs, ankles and back.” Call For FREE Session 717-656-6408 1 -800-237-0400 life will theie be loi oui childien and giandchildien m eastern I ancastei ’ Co We must be thankful foi oui robust Lancastei County economy Businesses flout ish, unemployment at an all time low Look at all the shops and lactones m the Rt 23-322 corndoi Suppose 3000 oi more if they have an avciage of 5 shipments and leceivmg a day that is already 15,000 vehicles Then theie’s all the folks going to work, the UPS tiucks and ot couise the tounsts All this is just local tiaffic Left) be senous, we must live with this traffic, taimers, shop men, factory operators and tourist places alike. if we want employment foi the next generations And consider how the county’s population doubled since 1946, 221,000 to today’s 448,674 Thus more people will create more tiaffic Let’s utilize our Old Dutch philosophy of use what we got to ease the traffic flow Make the PA Turnpike an interstate highway so through traffic travels on that, consider the New Holland Railroad, get moie freight shipped by rail car Use the bus lines, form car pools Land use is the key word, the land is our birthright, oui lifeline, use it to grow food it can produce forever Put in a road or development then we can get there faster but food production ceases We all need to think about how our Lancaster County farmland is “The CHI MACHINE” Over 150,000 CHI MACHINES being sold The Fullers of Leola & Belinda Clark 93 W. Main St. (Rt. 23), Leola, PA 17540 Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 25, 1999-A27 disappearing Ovei 70,000 acies done gone since 1965, appiox 2000 acies a year taken out ot food production 1 el’s just take this 21 1 acies, gue or take tot the new 23, take 213 X 160 bushels ot coin per acre yield, over 1000 tons of corn Feed that to beef cattle It would furnish 250 steer pci yeai, pioducmg 150,000 pounds ot beef making 6000,000 lb Big Macs laid side by side would stietch from New Holland to Phi Ily Suppose Vi would be in com and '/ 2 m hay 500 tons ot corn 1000 tons of hay, this would feed 60 cows tor year Then milk pioduction would be ovei a million pounds ot milk or 50,000 gallons of ice cream Let’s look at that 1000 tons of corn grind it into coin meal that would feed 2 million hungry folks 1 day So what will be the gam it we can get to woik 15 mm quicker, then there won’t be enough Big Macs and milk shakes In our modern age we have instant everything, instant taxes, cell instant .. phone calls Computers provide instant answers Will the new road be an instant answer to traffic problems, should a modern day Jonah come and lecture on traffic safety Perhaps we don’t really need Farmer’s Museum Receives Special Recognition GLENMONT, N.Y The Farmers’ Museum, located in Cooperstown, N.Y., was recently added to New York Farm Bureau’s highly regarded list of devoted supporters of agricul ture. In recognizing this unique learning institution, New York Farm Bureau presented Joseph Caffrey and Craig Haney with “Excellence” pins, which are to be worn with honor and recog nizes those who have worked diligently to promote and edu cate in the name of agriculture. The Farmers’ Museum also received a Certificate of Recognition. This presentation was part of the state organiza tion’s annual meeting at the Crowne Plaza in Albany, Dec. 6- 9. “The Farmer’s Museum is one of the best agricultural learning centers in the state and I would encourage everyone to stop by their unique setting,” said Judi Whittaker, New York Farm Bureau promotion and educa- EVERY MONTH! Aft moie new mads, |usl mote patience. and pi iy moie about die load problem Seems liattic goes 100 last Many IS mph Speed limits aren't observed don't seem to be enforced folks take big chances passing on )ello\v lines And then one official says “blankly 1 don’t know where the money is coming from to build this new toad" If I recall correctly that was why the goat path was not finished and 'lts a well-known fact big road construction companies have lobbyists in Washington and Hamsburg to assist in passing their highway building projects This may or may not always work m the best public interest The question is do we want the 1 Eat Is to stay rural and a stiong Ag economy 01 don’t we mind If the countryside is cut up Seems townships geai up to allow development, put in sewers, water lines allow big stores and nursing home complexes etc Let's all pray the best decisions are made about the load building pioject Seems the best way to save farm land is to widen and improve existing roads, mote traffic lights and again a sincere thanks to DOT tor providing buggy lanes along the busy toads, it is greatly appreciated tion chair. “The museum not only teaches the public about farming in the past, it really tells a story about how farmers will continue to be a part of our future. Thank you to everyone at the Farmer’s Museum for help ing spread the word about agri culture and educating and influ encing so many lives everyday” Not only is the museum a source of agricultural education, but as part of New York Farm Bureau’s Adopt-A-Classroom Program, it provides hands-on experiences and a personal touch that enhances the knowl edge of students. The Farmers’ Museum was founded in 1943 by Stephen C Clark, Sr., as one of the country’s earliest outdoor museums to preserve rural history and to promote contemporary agricul ture. The museum is unique in its efforts to present a view of the past, while at the same time looking to the present, and the future, of rural America • Lose Weight • Relieves Stress • Relaxes Muscles • Improves Circulation * Improves Digestion and More! • Increases Enei • Improves Muscle Tone, Joints and Ligaments