Miller’s Smorgasbord, Plain & Fancy And AmishView Offered For Sale

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lancaster County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Three major tourism businesses and their properties in eastern Lancaster County are for sale, it was announced Wednesday.

The businesses are Miller’s Smorgasbord, Plain & Fancy Farm and the AmishView Inn & Suites.

They employ a combined 280 people and post annual revenues exceeding $12 million.

“There will be a transition, but it doesn’t have to happen tomorrow,” said Al Duncan of Thomas E. Strauss Inc., which owns the businesses.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/business/local_business/miller-s-smorgasbord-plain-fancy-and-amishview-offered-for-sale/article_d0c5d524-a4b8-11e3-bfa2-0017a43b2370.html

Lancaster Central Market: The 13th Best Market In The United States?

Lancaster County loves Central Market. We know that.

But so do fresh-food aficionados across the United States, according to recent rankings.

Lancaster’s Central Market is ranked the 13th best among 101 farmers’ markets across the nation by The Daily Meal, a website that celebrates all things culinary.  It was the only farmers’ market in Pennsylvania to make the list.

The Daily Meal said its ratings factored in the quality, number, and variety of products sold at the markets, and the availability of each vendor’s background information.  The website also weighed what it described as “street credibility.”

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/896875_Lancaster-Central-Market–The-13th-best-market-in-the-United-States-.html#ixzz2fS8zsrGf

Anne Beiler (Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Founder) Is A ‘Secret Millionaire’

She called herself a country girl.  Growing up Amish is about as country as it gets.

Anne Beiler said she never lived in a city, but in August 2011 she spent five days in one of the poorest sections of Baltimore.

“Five days is not long, but it is long enough to get a feel for city life,” said Beiler, who will be featured on Sunday at 8 p.m. on ABC’s “Secret Millionaire.”

In a unique twist, Beiler, founder of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, lived on Washington Street in East Baltimore —one of the most unsafe areas in the city — and worked with people and organizations in need of her help.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/878087_Anne-Beiler-is-a–Secret-Millionaire-.html#ixzz2akO1mPV6

Amish Experience Halts ‘Amish Mafia Tour’ After Legal Threat

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lancaster County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hold on chust a minute: “Amish Mafia” fans won’t get to see Lebanon Levi’s “office” or his crew of enforcers’ stomping grounds after all.

Producers of the hit “reality” show have threatened legal action against Bird-in-Hand-based The Amish Experience, which had plans for an extensive tour of the show’s local sites, beginning this month.

Many scenes for the Discovery Channel series — which just wrapped a second season of filming — were shot in Lancaster County.  The tour, its organizer said, would have included a behind-the-scenes glimpse of filming locations while debunking the show’s portrayal of a group of violent Amish protectors.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/847682_Amish-Experience-halts–Amish-Mafia-Tour–after-legal-threat.html#ixzz2Sv2jfUcK

Lancaster County Convention Center Gets Deadline Extension On Debt

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lancaster County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Lancaster County Convention Center is living on borrowed time.

With less than three weeks to go before the center’s $64 million in construction debt was due to be restructured — pushing interest rates higher — officials on Friday extended the financing for three more months.

The move buys time for negotiation with lender Wells Fargo to come to terms the center can live with.

A consultant sounded the alarm a year ago that the nearly 4-year-old center could be forced to close if revenues were not significantly increased or financing fees cut.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/813342_Convention-center-gets-deadline-extension-on-debt.html#ixzz2KX1XXIeh

Amish Sect Leader Mullet Sentenced To 15 Years In Beard Attacks

CLEVELAND — The leader of a breakaway Amish community in which 16 people were convicted in hair- and beard-cutting attacks was sentenced today to 15 years in prison.

“Sadly, I consider you a danger to the community because of the control that you possess over others,” U.S. District Judge Dan Polster told Samuel Mullet Sr., 67.

Mullet was convicted under a federal hate crimes law. He spoke in court today for the first time since he was charged.

“My goal in life has always been to help the underdog,” he said. “That’s been my goal all my life and now I get pushed up to where I’m at. If somebody needs to be punished for this and I’m a cult leader, then I want to take the punishment for everybody.”

He didn’t get his wish.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/region/amish-sect-leader-mullet-ready-to-take-the-punishment-for-everybody-in-beard-attacks-673950/#ixzz2KLSUqvAU

Abundance Of Attractions Makes Lancaster County Marketable

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lancaster County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lancaster County, Kathleen Frankford contends, is no one-trick pony.

“It’s probably the most diverse destination in the country,” she said.

Sure, it is known for its Amish and the outlet shopping that attracts people by the busload.  But, there is also live entertainment, dining and lodging.

And, “within each of those categories, you have such a wide range of offerings,” Frankford said.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/807662_Abundance-of-attractions-makes-Lancaster-County-marketable.html#ixzz2JEbUTqMC

Amish Farmer Charged With Killing Young Eagle

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lancaster County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

An Upper Leacock farmer fed up with birds of prey killing his free-range chickens has been charged with shooting an immature bald eagle.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission charged Paul A. Zook, 28, of the 100 block of Geist Road with two misdemeanors of the state Game and Wildlife Code.

One count is for killing an endangered or threatened species and one count is for unlawful taking and possession of protected birds.

Zook, an Amish farmer, could face up to two years in jail and fines up to $5,000 if found guilty and depending on the feelings of the judge.  In addition, a judge could require Zook to pay up to $5,000 to “replace” the eagle.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/806328_Amish-farmer-charged-with-killing-young-Eagle.html#ixzz2Ika5B9Sh

Presence Of ‘Amish Mafia’ Felt In Lancaster City

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lancaster County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In Discovery Channel’s popular television show “Amish Mafia,” the lead character, Lebanon Levi, is portrayed as a sort-of Amish Vito Corleone.

“Lebanon Levi is the cops,” another character, Esther, says in one of the episodes. “He is the courthouse, he is the bank and he is the insurance company.”

Karin Meacham is making the most of her Lancaster city store’s 15 minutes of fame — delivered in an unmarked envelope by “Amish Mafia.”

Visitors to Art & Glassworks, 319 N. Queen St., are greeted at the front door by a sign bearing a photo of Levi and the faux warning — “This store is protected by Lebanon Levi.”

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/796915_Presence-of–Amish-Mafia–felt-in-Lancaster-city.html#ixzz2GIZXGlas

Lancaster County Residents Find ‘Amish Mafia’ Debut Fun, Entertaining

English: Discovery Channel logo, used 1985-1995 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Wednesday night’s premiere showing of Lancaster-based “reality” show “Amish Mafia” was as outrageous as advertised, locals agree.

Many locals who watched the series debut — allegedly based on the unseen workings of Amish law enforcement here — found the show entertaining and fun.

Most said they’ll watch the next episode, which, according to Discovery Channel’s trailer, will feature a clash between rival Amish men from separate families.

But how much of the show is actually legit?

Depends on who you ask.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/792549_Lancaster-County-residents-find–Amish-Mafia–debut-fun–entertaining.html#ixzz2EzUfhqic

Today’s Funny – Amish Elevator…..Priceless (Oldie)‏

A little Lancaster County humor!

A fifteen year old Amish boy and his father were in a mall.  They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls that could move apart and then slide back together again.

The boy asked, ‘What is this Father?’

The father (never having seen an elevator) responded, ‘Son, I have never seen anything like this in my life, I don’t know what it is.’

While the boy and his father were watching with amazement, a calorically challenged senior female in a wheel chair moved up to the moving walls and pressed a button.  The walls opened, and the woman rolled between them into a small room.  The walls closed and the boy and his father watched the small numbers above the walls light up sequentially.

They continued to watch until it reached the last number… and then the numbers began to light in the reverse order.

Finally the walls opened up again and a gorgeous 24-year-old blond stepped out.

The father, not taking his eyes off the young woman, said quietly to his son…..

‘Go get your Mother’

Some “Tourist Rules” For Visiting Lancaster From The FM 97 Morning Crew

This is quite funny – even if you live in or around Lancaster.  A little common sense guide for visitors to Central PA attractions.  Having lived in Lancaster and experienced “tourists” first-hand I would say they nailed it!

To check it out, click here:

http://www.fm97.com/pages/jhurley.html?article=8646082

Growing Amish Community Heading West

The number of Amish is growing!  A recent study estimates the Amish population has increased 10% in the last two years.  It is believed there are 249,000 Amish in North America.  In 1992 there were 124,000.  Land in Lancaster County is hard to find and very expensive.  This has forced many Amish to look elsewhere for farmland.

The Midwest is attracting more and more Amish.  Farmland in Lancaster County can cost $15,000 an acre compared to $2,000 – $3,000 an acre in other parts of the county.  That being said, two-thirds of the Amish live in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana.  Pennsylvania has the largest population.

Amish families tend to have 5 or more children which accounts for their swelling ranks.  Half of the Amish population is under 18 years old and 85% of young adults remain in the church.

South Dakota is the latest state to get an Amish settlement. 

Go West, young Amish.