Features

There is a quotation by Albert Einstein tacked up in my work cubicle.             He was a genius when it comes to capillary forces, general relativity, matter-energy equivalence and how light from another star can be bent by the sun’s gravity.

It isn’t Einstein’s ability to comprehend atomic vibrations, wave-point duality and critical opalescence that I respect. Gosh, I have trouble just spelling Brownian motion and thermodynamic fluctuations, much less discerning what all of that means.

For years, there were two vacant lots between our house and the one where the family of building contractor Mr. Barney Gardner lived. 

Those overgrown fields were the setting for many adventures such as fighting wild animals in the jungle or standing off an Indian attack on the prairie.

But all good things eventually come to an end. One of the fields disappeared when Mr. Ned Gregory, Sr., and his wife Mrs. Lucille, built a two-story brick house next door to us.

Editor’s note – The Lancaster News recently asked readers on Facebook to share the names of some of the county’s best foodies. One of them is Cathy Ardrey. 

Cathy Ardrey’s family thinks she’s a great cook, with good reason. 

From vegetables to wild game and seafood, Ardrey has an arsenal of dishes, many of which she’s developed herself or adapted from recipes found in her cookbook library. 

Editor’s note – The Lancaster News recently asked readers on its Facebook page to share memories on family members who proudly served in the United States military. Here is Mickey R. Hinson Sr.‘s story on his dad, the late John Harry Hinson, who died Feb. 16, 2008, at the age of 92.

This was my father in the U.S. Army infantry in Germany and Italy in World War II. 

Lancaster folks were a bit antsy the last week of October 1940.

All of this war stuff was taking a toll. 

James Williams of Route 4 and Henry Flynn of Elm Street were among the first soldiers whose draft numbers were drawn from a fish bowl in Washington, D.C., that week.

It had been a tough week. Friday night’s weather had messed up the football game between Lancaster and Fort Mill. The game ended in a 7-7 tie. Some didn’t go ’cause of the rain and the ones who went were mad about the outcome.

Heirloom pumpkins, mums, autumn wreaths, flags and pillows add special touches that greet the season at the home of Frank and Corinne Brackett, located at 714 Plantation Road.  

These special touches and the natural beauty of the landscaping prompted the Lancaster Council of Garden Clubs to choose the Bracketts for the October Yard of the Month. Selected by Betsy Folks and Sheila Roberts of The Lancaster Garden Club, the Brackett yard is loaded with perfect fall flavors.

Name: Danny Johnson

Age: 58

Address: Loading Road

Family: Wife, Barbara, 52; a daughter, Stephanie Roney, 29

Pets: Two ducks on my pond 

Job: Retired service technician for Pepsi Cola (18 years)

Church: Pastor of Heartland Freewill Baptist Church

Hobbies: Pastoring and farming with my tractor

We’ve sprung through spring and splashed through summer. Autumn splendor is on its way; Carolina blue skies will backdrop leaves of ambers, ochres and rich reds. Temperatures will drop and fall foliage will soon follow. Don’t miss a chance this year to see fall in all its majesty.

While there are countless locations to enjoy autumn colors right here in Lancaster County – including your own backyard – you can also pack a picnic and take a day or weekend trip to soak up the changing of seasons. 

Some things don’t need fixing and can’t be improved on.

Take country ham, for instance.

I’ll wager your mouth is watering right now. 

To me, country ham is the ultimate ingredient of Southern cuisine. Molasses finishes a close second.

Forget the macaroni and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, meatloaf and mashed ’taters. I’ll take country ham every time.