Y ask % ou This column is for read ers who have questions but don’t know who to ask for answers. “You Ask—You Answer” is for non-cooking ques tions. When a reader sends in a question, it will be printed in the paper. Read ers who know the answer are asked to respond by mailing the answer, which will then be printed in the paper. Questions and Answers to this column should be addressed to You Ask—You Answer, Lancaster Farm ing, P.O. Box 609, Ephrata, PA 17522. Attention: Lou Ann Good. Or, you may e-mail ques tions and answers to LGOOD.EPHOLNPNEW- S.COM Please clarify what ques tion you are answering when responding. Do not send a self-ad dressed, stamped envelope for a reply. If we receive the answer, we will publish it as soon as possible. Please include your phone number because we some times need to contact the person to clarify details. We will not publish your phone number unless you request it. However, if your question requires someone to mail items to you, you must include your address or phone number for pub lishing. QUESTION - In William sville, New York, outside of Buffalo, there is a former gas station/minimart of which Polly E. Mathys, Spring City, Pa. is part owner. She writes: “We are selling the ground, and the building will in all likelihood be torn down. In this build ing are store-type items such as display shelves, a walk-in cooler with five glass door fronts, and five 6-foot-long chest coolers (you know the kind you reach into in the store to get your Popsicle or what not). The buyer of the ground doesn’t want them and neither do we. But rather than get a certified refrigerant remover to come in and then trash all this equipment, we’re look ing for a food bank, a farm, a produce stand, or whoev er to come to Williamsville and claim these items. HONESDALE (Wayne Co.) The “I Am Your Child Cam paign” is a national public awareness effort devoted to mak ing early childhood development a top priority in the U.S. It was created by the Reiner Foundation and works with many other child-centered agencies and or ganizations, such as the Ameri can Academy of Pediatrics and the Coalition for America’s Chil dren. The I Am Your Child (lAYC) None of this stuff is new, but to our knowledge, it all worked the last time the electricity was on.” Call Polly at (610) 495-6185 for more information. QUESTION - L. T. Burke, Southampton, wants to know where to buy out door iron furniture from the 19605-1970 s that is in new or very good condition. He wants straight and rocking chairs. QUESTION - Naomi King, Lititz, wants to know where to purchase replace ment thermos lids with at tached spouts to drink from. They are the 2-quart Rubbermaid jugs with screw-on lids. QUESTION - Amy Marple, Mullica Hill, N.J., wants to know where to purchase Pride of Wiscon sin cantaloupe seed. Her father grew them in the 19505. The cantaloupe were of great size and ex cellent flavor, she writes. QUESTION - Bruce Nat tiess, Fleetwood, wants to know if anyone knows of a source to buy replacement tips for the cone on a Woodbuster PTO driven log splitter. Or, perhaps a read er has an extra one to sell. Call (610) 944-9162. QUESTION - Betty Jakum, Littlestown, wants to know where to purchase a gasoline-powered rotary lawn mower that cuts 18 inches or less to use for trimming. QUESTION - Mary Sasscer, Maryland, is look ing for a Dick and Jane reader that dates back to about 1943-1944. The book contained a story about a neighbor who was restoring an old rocking horse, which was white with dapple spots on the rump and the platform was red. Mary has a rocking horse like the one in the story and has al ways remembered the story. Hers had leather ears, real horse hair mane and tail, a saddle, bridle, and reins. She would like to have the book to keep with her rocking horse. The rocking horse is well over 100 years of age and be longed to her father. Any information on the Dick and Jane reader would be ap- Penn State Extension Offers Free Parenting Videos video series addresses critical early childhood and school readi ness issues, including early bond ing and attachment, quality child care, early literacy, discipline, health and nutrition, and child safety. Video topics include: • The First Years Last Forever Hosted by Rob Reiner, this intro ductory video provides informa tion on the inportance of bond ing, communication, health, nutrition, child care, and other is sues discussed in the video series. predated. Call her at (301) 627-5178. QUESTION - Dick Her ring wants to know where to find railroad ties. QUESTION - Jennifer is trying to locate an article that she believes appeared in one of our June issues about a father and son team from the Allentown/ Lehigh area who specialize In painting old farmhouses. Anyone know to whom she is referring? QUESTION - Diane Gray, 70 Damascus Rd., Blandon, PA 19510, wants information and bottles from the former Lebanon or Lebanon Valley Dairy. QUESTION - W. Spence Haines, Lansdale, has sev eral push, old-style reel mowers, which she heard may have some value. She asks how she can find out the worth of the mowers. QUESTION - Jean W., Newmanstown, wants to buy the book, “It Happened in the Hills of Kentucky,” by John Vogel, copyrighted 1952. Call (717) 949-2846. QUESTION - C. Faus, Hegins, wants to know how to store raw vegetables such as carrots, squash, kohlrabi, and more to store for winter use. QUESTION - Nicolette Wagman, Seven Valleys, is doing research for a book about musical instruments and makers in York County. She wants information and photographs of instruments and their makers from any era. Call her >at (717) 428-1856. QUESTION - Shirley Schwoerner, Wysox, writes that some time ago she had clipped an answer in this column from Joyce Rau benstine who told how to make creams from aloe vera. The instructions were unclear, and she asks if someone can tell her the exact amount of aloe vera to use. The directions she has are as follows: To pre pare a herb ointment or salve, crush the leaves of the aloe vera and mix with four parts melted fat (lard or shortening) and one part dry white wine. Heat gently for 20 minutes. Cool slight ly and strain. Shirley writes that her husband’s chronic back problem was aggravated during haymaking. She rubbed aloe vera leaves on his back, and it helped in stantly. He was amazed. It was a sloppy procedure, so they’d like to make the salve if possible. Shirley adds a bit of humor by writing that she • Ready to Learn Hosted by LeVar Burton and Jamie Lee Curtis, lead a discussion on the importance of early literacy and show parents and caregivers how to help young children develop language skills through everyday activities like talking, singing, and playing. • Quality Child Care Host ed by Maria Shiver, this video fo cuses on the importance of find ing quality child care. It shows what to look for when choosing a can’t boil water without a 3x5 card, "so you can see my problem with the aloe vera (instructions).” QUESTION - Kenneth Wirtz, White Hall, Md., is having trouble finding re placement parts for his electric three-point hitch that is on a 10HP Sears garden tractor purchased in 1977. The parts are no longer available through Sears. The item is Model number 917.253130 electric 3-point hitch. Wirtz would appreciate hearing from someone who no long er uses the part. He doesn’t need the complete hitch, Just the power assist lift. He is willing to pay a fair price for the item. Call him at (410) 329-2175. QUESTION - Sharon Heller writes that they have 75 acres in Perry County. About half of the acreage is mowed by a neighbor who sells the Vi ton mixed hay rolls for his own profit. She wants to know how to find an average rental for the acreage. What is the best way to advertise the avail able acreage? QUESTION - Cindy Esh leman, R. 3, Box 7957, Jonestown, PA 17038, wants to know what day of the week the Selingsgrove Horse Sale is conducted. Also, she asks, if a sequel was written to “Gone With the Wind” and “Scarlett”? If so, what is the title of the book? Eshleman also wants the May 2003 issue of “Paper Horse.” She is will ing to pay postage. QUESTION - Mike White, Bemville, writes that the last few years, he has a problem with black birds (grackels) after he plants field corn. When the corn first comes up until it is two to three weeks old, the birds either pull out the small plants or tear them off. This year, he had to re plant a three-acre field be cause of the destruction the birds caused. No one else in the area seems to have a problem, but White has witnessed the birds digging and pulling out the com. It seems the area is hardest hit on the hills where the morning sun first shines. He has tried scare crows, which only works in a 20-feet area around the scarecrow. Any help or suggestions will be appre ciated. QUESTION - Marie Hix son, Crystal Spring, wants to know how to grow wild rice. They live on a farm with some wet areas that she believes would be suit- care provider, whether at a child care center or in a private home. • Safe from the Start Gloria Estefan shows parents and care givers how to keep children safe from accidental injuries. • Your Healthy Baby Chil dren’s health and nutrition is the focus of this video, hosted by Phylicia Rashad. Your Healthy Baby discusses children’s chang ing health needs as they grow and provides useful information on prenatal care, breastfeeding, able for growing rice. Any one know where she can find information? QUESTION - Warren Glideweli, Bloomsburg, wants to know where to find Flemish giant rabbits in a fawn color. QUESTION - C. Gut shall, Carlisle, is looking for proper cleaning instruc tions for printed cotton seed sacks made in the 19405. She also would like a Web site address that of fers information on older cotton and burlap feed sacks. ANSWER In response to A.M. Hurst’s request for a copy of the Wenger Fami ly history book dates 1727-1959, which has a black cover, Anna Martin, Denver, writes that' she contacted the Mennonite Historical Society. Copies of that book are no longer for sale. However, the Wenger Family History book was brought up to date in 1978. It sells for $49.50 plus shipping and handling. The price in cludes a free index, which used to sell for $35 sepa rately. Contact the Men nonite Historical Society at (717) 393-9745. ANSWER - Mrs. Ivan Risslar, Mohnton, writes that her family had the same problem with itchi ness after swimming in a farm pond. They searched for a solution for years. She agrees with the reader whose response was in last week’s issue. She writes the most common parasite problem in ponds is swim mer’s itch, which is caused by a small, free-swimming parasite that burrows under the skin where it dies and causes itching for about a week. A brisk rub down with a towel immedi ately after the swimmer emerges from the water minimizes the irritation caused by the parasite. The most practical way to con trol the parasite is to con trol the snails that serve as intermediate hosts, by draining the pond and let ting it dry for several months. Stocking of redear sunfish may be effective since they are natual pred ators of snails. The Risslers purchased swans to help control that algae in the hope that less algae is less homes for snails. No chem icals are registered for controlling snails. Rissler’s information is from the Penn State publication “Management of Fish Ponds In Pa.” It is available at local county extension offices or call University Park (814) 865-6713. visiting the pediatrician, chil dren’s nutritional needs, and exercise. • Discipline Renowned child development experts Dr. Berry Brazelton explains why children actually look for behav ioral limits. The video shows that a firm but gentle approach is best and demonstrates useful tech niques to promote discipline. C opies of these videos can be ob tained, free of charge, by picking them up at county Cooperative Extension offices.