Sunday News from Lancaster, Pennsylvania • 17

NEWS, LANCASTER, PA. PAGE B-1 JULY 4, 2004 B5 Benuel Stoltzfus, 67, Honey Brook Benuel J. Stoltzfus, 67, of 193 Given Road, Honey Brook, died Saturday at his home after al long illness. He was the husband of the late Annie S. Esh Stoltzfus, who died Feb.

28 of this year. Mr. Stoltzfus was a farmer and a member of the New Order Amish Church. Born in Leola, he was a son of the late Stephen S. and Malinda Stoltzfus Stoltzfus.

He is survived by seven sons: Aaron husband of Anna Stoltzfus, Gap; J. Elmer, husband of Elizabeth Stoltzfus; S. Lloyd Stoltzfus; Mark husband of Linda Mae Stoltzfus; and Abner Roy Stoltzfus, all of Honey Brook; Stephen Paul, husband of Martha Stoltzfus, Huntington; and Benuel Ray, husband of Julia Stoltzfus, Sugar Creek, Ohio; three daughters: Naomi E. Stoltzfus; and Linda wife of Keith Mast, both of Honey Brook; and Anna Mary, wife of Lavern Schrock, El Dorado Springs, 33 grandchildren; and two sisters, Annie, wife of David King, Kinzers; and Priscilla, wife of Mark Stoltzfus, Rockville, Ind. He was predeceased by sister, Lydia Stoltzfus.

R. Roark, explored Antarctica in 1958 Raymond Donald Roark, 72, of Murrieta, and formerly of Lancaster, died of natural causes June 24 at home. He was the husband of Lila Servano Roark. Mr. Roark retired as a master chief petty officer in 1970 after 21 years in the U.S.

Navy. In 1958, he spent a year at MeMurdo Station in Antarctica with a 27-member crew in the Navy's Operation Deep Freeze. He was a member of the Old Antarctica Explorers Association and attended its reunion in Pensacola, in 2001. Mr. Roark was a 1949 graduate of McCaskey High School.

Born in White Rock, he was a son of the late Raymond W. and Dorothy E. McCardell Roark. Surviving besides his wife are a daughter, Erika Roark, Murrieta; and two sisters, Janet, wife of Ronald Kuhn, Willow Street; and Jeanne McComsey, Lancaster. He was predeceased by two brothers, Tom Roark and Terry Roark.

M. Nakashima, 91, English teacher Marion Sumire Nakashima, 91, of New Hope, died Wednesday in Chandler Hall, Newtown. Born in Seattle, she moved to New Hope from the internment camps in Idaho in 1943 with her late husband, the internationally acclaimed woodworker, furniture designer and architect George K. Nakashima. A graduate of UCLA who held degrees in English and psychology, Mrs.

Nakashima taught English in pre Japan and was the past president and co-founder of the famed Nakashima Woodworkers of New Hope. She was a daughter of the late Kinya and Marianne Hegt Okajima. She is survived by a daughter, Mira, wife of Jonathan R. Yarnall, and a son, Kevin K. Nakashima, both of New Hope; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by two sisters, Thelma Shizuko and Dorothea Aiko, and a brother, Victor Kenya Okajima. SEE OBITUARY B2 Drought: Wetter and cooler Continued from B1 urday Night Live" routine, the record drought that scorched this area for more than a year could one day return. But dry and placid are not in the forecast. A stubborn jet stream trough continues to stir the Northeast meteorological pot, touching off frequent rain and thunderstorms. As summer wears on, said AccuWeather meteorologist Henry Margusity, expect, a Bermuda high to the south to steer hotter, stickier air this way.

Already, Margusity said, Chesapeake Bay water temperatures are a couple of degrees above normal. "The thunderstorms just feed on that warmer, more humid air coming up the Chesapeake Bay." Water world The water level in USGS monitoring well 1351 in Blainsport was about 11 feet below the surface last week. Nantz said no long-term comparative records were available Politics Continued from B1 Roll Call apparently doesn't agree. In its June 17 issue, a story on Clymer's candidacy was headlined "Skunk at the Garden Party." Clymer laughed about it last week. His poll by Neighborhood Research, a summary of which was posted on PoliticsPA.com last week, indicates Clymer has 2 percent of the vote and 25 percent name recognition among respondents.

Exposure in Roll Call, after all, can only help his name ID. The poll shows Specter leading Hoeffel, 52 percent to 23 percent, but, Clymer noted, Specter has "high negatives." "Right now there's sort of a resignation in the minds of people that they have to vote for Specter because there's not anyone else," Clymer said. "They don't know I'm out there." Specter's campaign manager, Chris Nicholas, politely scoffed. "I think most of that polling memo could be described as a political pipe dream," Nicholas said. "What a poll says and what happens is the difference between the first day of spring training and the pennant race in the fall." "We're going to see a million polls between now and election day," said Hoeffel spokeswoman Kristin Carvell, adding that the Clymer numbers don't agree with other surveys' findings.

Hoeffel's campaign does concur that Clymer will attract conservative votes and from Hoeffel's viewpoint, that's a good thing. "We wish him well," Carvell said, "and welcome him into the race." Neighborhood Research, a Sparta, N.J., company that works with conservatives, conducted the survey of 631 likely voters June 7- 16. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.9 percent. "Voters are not happy with Specter," the poll summary says. "He goes into the contest with a 're elect' number of just 44 percent, and only 22 percent would re-elect him regardless of his opponent far below the 30 percent figure incumbents generally need to be considered 'safe' and not much above the 20 percent figure where an incumbent could be said to be in severe danger." According to the poll, Specter is viewed favorably by 42 percent of respondents and unfavorably by 19 percent.

Hoeffel is viewed favorably by 7 percent and unfavorably by the same number, indicating voters don't yet know much about him. Clymer has a unfavorable" rating of 2 percent and zero percent, meaning his challenge will be getting voters No Exceptions (COUPON) NOW thru THURSDAY Valid 409 Granite Run Dr. Lanc. 5696101 ONLY! Not valid with offers or prior purchases. MUST PRESENT ADj JULY 4th 11-5, Regular Hours Mon Sat 9.9.

Sun 11-5 SECRET SNEAKER because the well is a new one for the Geological Survey. However, the level dropped at the end of June because vegetation this time of year slurps up so. much moisture. "Fortunately," Nantz said, "we had a wet spring" so the groundwater was recharged before plants began leafing out. But we haven't just had a wet spring.

In the 21 months from October 2002 to June 2004, said MU meteorologist Eric Horst, the county absorbed about 80 inches of rain. Normally, Horst said, it would take two years to accumulate that much liquid. "Soil, reservoirs, groundwater, rivers, you name it, everything is up." The 17-month drought emergency was lifted in November 2002. Then-Gov. Mark Schweiker formally upgraded southeast and southcentral Pennsylvania to normal on Jan.

8, 2003. The wealth of moisture and clouds have helped hold temperatures down this summer. Horst said temperatures last month acquainted with him. The poll found 49 percent of voters are more likely to support a prO-1 candidate than one who isn't. "It won't take 49 percent" to win i in a three-way race, Clymer said.

But first Clymer has to convince voters that he has a chance to win. The poll found that 72 percent of respondents would be willing to vote for a like third-party candidate with a serious challenge. In case conservatives worry that a vote for Clymer could propel Hoeffel to victory, the poll offers reassurance. "With no prospect of a Hoeffel victory, Clymer has a free hand to mobilize Keystone State conservatives on such issues as conservative judges, private investment of Social Security, pro-life, same-sex marriage and stopping liberal efforts to remove God from the public square," the memo contends. "The campaign plans early radio to begin framing the campaign.

With Hoeffel losing badly even in his own geographic base and with many of his own liberal supporters backing Specter, it is possible that the Democratic nominee's campaign could atrophy to a point where he ends up in third place by the time the votes are cast this November." Friday, PoliticsPA posted a leak from the Clymer campaign that he had raised $68,039 so far. (Conservatives discovered during Republican Pat Toomey's primary challenge of Specter earlier this year that lots of hot stuff can be disseminated that way.) of April 4, Specter had almost $4.6 million left from the primary, while Hoeffel had $801,000. Clymer was all over the Web last week, from PoliticsPA to the first part of Ephrata attorney Mitch Sommers' interview with him on Political State Report (www.polstate.com; click Pennsylvania archive link on the left side of the page to find the article). Clymer told Sommers that his base is "the disaffected Republicans who voted for Toomey But, if you look at the demographics from Peg Luksik's campaign (for governor, with Clymer for lieutenant governor) in '94 and '98, she ran strongest in Allegheny County, a strong Democratic county. Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Lackawanna, Luzerne.

Did well up there." When Sommers asked if Clymer thinks he will throw the election to Hoeffel becoming a "sort of Pennsylvania Republican Ralph Nader" Clymer said he's not worried about it: "I think Specter, with 24 years seniority, as head of the Judiciary Committee (Specter is in line to be ONE DAY HEARING AID REPAIRS (LAB ON PREMISES) advanced Tech Hearing Aid Ctrs 1875 Lititz Pike, Lancaster 560-5023 Budget, a style for every point of view 717-299-6619 717-687-8800 FREE In lome Consultation Estimates Each Franchise Independently Owned And Operated www.budgetblinds.com don of the his: soared just once to 90 degrees, a mark hit five times in a typical June. Meanwhile, Margusity said, the northern edge of the Bermuda high has seesawed over southeast Pennsylvania, alternately, dousing the area with humid subtropical air and bowing to cooler shots from Canada. The moisture has helped fuel storms like the one that spawned a tornado in Lancaster County Central Park three weeks ago. The local severe weather season runs from Memorial Day to the Fourth of July. But despite some recent glorious, sunny days, Horst said, don't count on seeing many more of those cool, comfortable air masses this summer.

And don't look for your lawn to dry up and turn brown. Showers and higher humidity are on tap for the long July 4th weekend. The pattern is expected to cling like a sweaty T-shirt, egging on the grass Horst doesn't particularly like to cut. "This may be one of those years where it keeps growing throughout." chairman if he wins) does more damage to the constitutional cause than does a freshman Joe Hoeffel. Specter is defeated, Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) becomes the Judiciary chairman, and Jon Kyl is much more conservative.

He will be a much greater help to President Bush in getting certain judges Clymer's most pressing challenge is getting his name on the ballot. He needs around 26,000 signatures by Aug. 1 to be listed. He said Thursday that it's going to be an interesting fall. But probably not a garden party.

Rumor mill Specter's primary challenger, who lost by a scant 12,000 votes, was touring the state with a pro-President Bush outreach to Catholic voters last week. He also has his own ongoing Web log (www.toomeyblog.com). That high profile has folks figuring Toomey, who's stepping down from his Lehigh Valley congressional seat later this year to fulfill a term limit pledge, doesn't intend to vanish from the public eye. Republicans have been touting Toomey for governor against Ed Rendell in 2006. Other sources, though, say Toomey prefers Washington to Harrisburg.

So does Pat Toomey have higher political aspirations? Bensing's back Bob Bensing has been reelected chairman of the Ephrata Area GOP. The committee reorganized June 10. Other officers are vice chairman Glen Beiler Anna Mae Ressler; and advisory committee members Tony Kilkuskie, Tom Zeager, Ressler, Bensing and Beiler. In Lancaster Township, former county commissioner and new committeeman Paul Thibault has been elected chairman of the local GOP, while the last chairman, Tony Allen, is now vice chairman. Allen said he had hit the LT committee's term limit and had to step down as chairman.

Plus, since he's running for the 96th state House district against incumbent Democrat Mike Sturla, "I need more time." Returning LT officers are secretary Bonnie Bowman and treasurer James Humphreville. Book him State Rep. Gordon Denlinger saw a book titled "God and Ronald Hoeffel: Fired up Continued from B1 congressman in the state." has high hopes for holding down Hoeffel took issue with that. Bush's margin in November. "My voting record is in the "First I need to make sure the mainstream of the Democratic Democratic voters know me and Party," he said.

A lot of the polike my message and are enthu- sitions I take are not traditionally siastic about turning out to vote," liberal." Hoeffel said. He said he favors a balanced "Democrats are fired up here budget and a pay-as-you-go apand around the state. (Bush) is a proach to spending, strong degreat motivating factor for Demo- fense and the death penalty for crats these days." premeditated murder. So the Hoeffel campaign has "The president, vice president been busily linking Bush and and Sen. Specter stand for staySpecter, pointing out to Demo- ing the course," Hoeffel said.

crats eager to put Kerry in the "John Kerry and I want to change White House that Specter got the course." enthusiastic support of Bush in a Hoeffel said that while Penntough primary race against Con- sylvania is considered a key to gressman Pat Toomey. the presidential race, the Senate "He really needed the presi- contest is critical too. Republicans dent and Sen. (Rick) Santorum to now hold a one-vote majority in drag him across the finish line," the upper chamber. Hoeffel said of Specter, contend- "It's highly likely that the ing that by supporting Bush on majority of the next Senate will such issues as tax cuts and foreign be determined by who wins in policy, Specter "seems to have lost Pennsylvania," he said.

This his voice and lost his vision." really is a watershed election, The Specter campaign, mean- one of the most important in the while, has been tagging Hoeffel last generation. If voters are as with the word. Specter cam- interested as I think they are paign manager Chris Nicholas in changing policies in Washtermed Hoeffel "the most liberal ington, this is their chance." Reagan: A Spiritual Life" at the local Barnes Noble earlier this year, bought the book, read it and loved it. When Reagan closed events with the singing of "God Bless Denlinger said, "I never really knew how personal that was to him." It started him thinking about bringing the author, Grove City College professor Paul I Kengor, to town. A month after President Reagan's death, Kengor will be coming to Ephrata to talk about his book at a fund-raiser for Denlinger.

Kengor also will be selling and signing books after his remarks, which may make Denlinger's July 20 reception at the Artworks at Doneckers the first book campaign fund-raiser in local history. Denlinger, a Republican from the 99th District in northeastern Lancaster County who is running unopposed, said Kengor's connection to Grove City, a western Pennsylvania school, triggered his interest in asking Kengor to speak. The book, published in February, traces Reagan's spiritual development from childhood through the presidency. One of Reagan's sons, Michael, said of it, "Finally, a book that not only focuses on my dad's faith but gets it right." Reagan, 93, died June 5 from complications of Alzheimer's disease. Denlinger's reception is at 5:30 p.m.

at the Artworks. More campaign trails Cheryl Desmond's campaign for the 41st state House district has gone multimedia. Campaign manager Robert Spicer last week announced the launch of the multimedia room on Desmond's Web site, www.cheryldesmond.us. Video clips of Desmond on the campaign trail and audio of her talking about issues will be featured. The latest is a video from her June 18 press conference on education funding.

Desmond is challenging Republican incumbent Katie True in the west-suburban district. the 43rd District, Democrat challenger Ben Donahower issued statements recently in support of Gov. Ed Rendell's Growing Greener II initiative and in opposition to a GOP plan to replace property taxes with a tax on business revenue. Donahower, who's running against GOP incumbent Scott NEED NEW WINDOWS? Replacement Windows From $18900 INSTALLED INSTALL We Also Do: Vinyl Siding 399-8800 AMERICA Roofing Patio Doors Lancaster Additions Decks Changing the way you see the Joseph E. Mitchell, ABOC Optical Manager and unique European designer frames children's frame collection for needs lenses special vision frames the way tie ptique world sees you." FAMILY Phone: 717.735.1141 Lancaster General Health Campus EYE Building 2110 GROUP Boyd, said the Commonwealth Caucus plan to impose a 4.5 percent tax on gross business revenue while eliminating both the property, tax and state sales tax billion tax hike" that would "hurt working Donahower also said he signed a petition in favor of Growing Greener I II, an $800 million plan to clean up polluted waterways and, abandoned mines, improve parks and preserve open space and invest in housing, infrastructure and alternative energy sources.

Political potpourri congressional candidate Scott Paterno, son of you will be guest of honor at a city GOP committee breakfast at 8 a.m. Thursday at the Hotel Brunswick, according to the county party's Web site, www.goplancaster.com. Paterno is trying to unseat Democrat Tim Holden in the 17th District, which used to include a chunk of Lancaster County. notes that Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and colleague Ted Kennedy collided recently but not on the Senate floor.

"The good news: Kennedy wasn't driving. The bad news: His driverless minivan crashed into three other parked cars, including that of Sen. Rick Santorum, near one of the entrances to Dirksen (Senate Office Building) last Thursday morning," Roll Call said in its report of the accident. In his rush to hand a cell phone to his boss, a young Kennedy aide who was driving the minivan forgot to put the van in park, and it rolled into the other vehicles, Roll Call said, adding that damage to Santorum's TrailBlazer was "cosmetic." week's column on the local John Kerry campaign drew a response from former Warwick GOP chairman Jesse Blankenship, who's gone from Lancaster County but not forgotten. "Kerry is the largest dud on the planet," Blankenship e-mailed.

The economy is heating up nicely, Iraq will be less and less of an issue as Iraqis assert control of their own nation, and Kerry has no shot. "It doesn't seem like it now, but trust me, the cream almost always rises to the top, and Kerry is 100 percent You heard it here first! Helen Colwell Adams is an editor of the Sunday News Perspective section. E-mail her at or phone 291-4962. OFF STORE WIDE excluding Bird Seed LAST DAY: TUES. JULY 13 ERA WILD BIRD 560-4008 2042 Fruitville Pike Hawthome Centre For Hours!.