Looking Back , Looking Ahead
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
EPHRATA (Lancaster Co.)
New Year’s is traditionally a day
to reflect on the events of the
past year and set resolutions for
the upcoming year. The good
and the bad are left behind and
the New Year greeted with ex
pectation and some uncertainty.
Some years are better than
others, and some offer more po
tential. No one knows exactly
what the year 2001 holds, despite
the best laid plans.
For some, the new year may
bring unexpected pleasure and
for others unwarranted pain.
Several of the people we pro
filed in the past, share their high
lights from the year 2000, its
frustrations, and expectations for
the future.
Bob Loy
Remember Bob Loy? He or
ganized a fundraiser that gar
nered more than $lO,OOO for can
cer research. The story of the Loy
family and the on-the-farm fund
raiser in Schuylkill County ap
peared in the Sept. 23 issue of
this paper.
Loy’s upbeat philosophy in
battling bladder and prostrate
cancer is remarkable. He sees
every day as an opportunity to
do something for someone else
and has spread happiness into
many corners.
But those happy molecules
Loy was counting on to destroy
the cancer within haven’t been as
successful as he hoped. In up
coming weeks Loy is lined up for
30 radiation treatments and on
going hormone treatment to aid
•n his personal battle against the
disease.
Nonetheless, Loy said that he
plans to continue his positive
outlook by facing one day at a
time.
“I don’t look too far into the
future, but this past year the
For many years, Betty Light, Lebanon, has faithfully
sent in recipes and creative craft ideas. In recent
months, many readers have asked why they no longer
see her name in print. According to a relative, Betty is in
nursing care and no longer able to write but loves to re
ceive mail. Write to Betty Light at 1785 Quarry Rd., Leba-
highlights were the fundraiser
and my daughter’s wedding,” he
said.
Peg Kreider
Some troubles can’t be avoid
ed, but Peg Kreider and husband
Rick seemingly volunteered for
the challenges they faced recent
ly. In June, the Kreiders added a
special-needs baby to their family
of three natural-bom and two
adopted children. The Kreiders
have also served as foster parents
to more than 20 children during
the past 12 years.
“But it has always been in my
heart to reach out to a special
needs baby,” Peg said.
Born four months premature,
the little girl celebrated her first
birthday the day after Christmas.
The medically needy child is on
oxygen full time, attached to a
heart monitor, needs eye surgery
to prevent blindness, and battles
constant ear infections and many
other illnesses. She cannot sit up
unattended and her intellectual
prognosis is uncertain.
“But all the children love her
to pieces,” Peg said. “She is so
happy when she’s feeling well
that it compensates for all those
sleepless nights we face in caring
for her.”
The biggest challenge Peg sees
looming ahead is teaching their
soon-to-be 16-year-old daughter
to drive.
Betty Light
For years, Betty Light, Leba
non, has consistently sent recipes
to Lancaster Farming to be pub
lished on the pages of “Home On
The Range” and “Cook’s Ques
tion Corner.” But for the past
several months, not a word has
been received from Betty. Many
readers have inquired about her.
According to a relative, Betty
has been confined to nursing
care. However, she would enjoy
mail. If you are a reader who has
benefited from one of Betty’s rec
ipes or from one of her crafty
ideas, send her a card at 1785
Quarry Rd., Lebanon, PA 17046.
Kraft Family
Keeping everyone out of the
hospital is the goal Mary Jo
Kraft would like to see in 2001.
A week before Christmas, her
husband George fell off a ladder.
He hasn’t been able to work and
continues hospital testing to de
termine internal injuries.
Adding to that, his mother was
hospitalized with a life-threaten
ing illness, and the family spent
days and nights of Christmas
week by her hospital bedside.
George’s dad had died on a
previous Christmas Eve, making
the family a bit jittery about the
state of events.
On the whole, the year had
been an exciting one for the
Kraft family. Daughter Rijelle
was named Pennsylvania Poultry
Ambassador, National 4-H Con
gress representative for the state,
a 4-H exchangee to Colorado, a
national merit scholar, and at
tained numerous other
achievements.
“I’m really excited about being
accepted at Virginia Tech,” Ri
jelle said of her college choice.
Rijelle and her mom present
embryology projects at York
County schools.
“One of the year’s highlights
was seeing an increase in schools’
embryology projects,” said Mary
Jo, the 4-H assistant for York
County.
Another great success was the
Fresh From The Farm Camp
conducted by the York County
Extension. The camp is open to
nonfarm youth to spend three
days and nights in a farm envi
ronment where they are assigned
chores and visit several types of
farms.
On the final day, students par
ticipate in a Jeopardy-like pro
gram to determine how much
knowledge they have gained in
understanding the farm to the
table concept.
“I want to continue working
with the nonfarming community
to teach them the importance of
agriculture in life,” Mary Jo said.
“Farm safety is another sub
ject of critical importance to me.
I have lost several (4-H) kids to
tractor rolls and I don’t want to
lose anymore. They are near and
dear to my heart,” Mary Jo said.
Renee Blatt
After a year of achievement,
Christmas Eve brought a devas
tating loss to Pennsylvania
Honey Queen Renee Blatt.
The farmhouse of the family
farm that had been in her family
for more than 100 years was
heavily damaged by fire.
Renee said that she and her
brother were just finishing dairy
ing chores when they noticed
(Turn to Page B 7)
Bob Loy organized a cancer research fundraiser on
the farm. In facing an ongoing battle against cancer, Loy
maintains a positive attitude by living one day at a time.
Pennsylvania Honey Queen Renee Blatt will com
pete for the national crown Jan. 15. Although successful
in so many endeavors, Renee said dealing with so many
events in life over which she has no control has been dif
ficult since she is a highly organized person.