Conservative Actors Scrutinized By Irs ‘Dracula’ Dishonors God Cultural Divide ‘Sleeps With Fissures’ Pitts Overstays Welcome Mayer Homestead At Risk…

Conservative Actors Scrutinized By Irs 'Dracula' Dishonors God Cultural Divide 'Sleeps With Fissures' Pitts Overstays Welcome Mayer Homestead At Risk Free Immunizations Barking Dog Alert The Almighty 'I'

Actors Gary Sinise and Jon Voight have starred in plenty of dramas - and now they're living one, courtesy of the IRS.

For years, the duo (along with Kelsey Grammer) have been the face of Hollywood's conservative resistance, even going so far as to form a sort of underground support group.

With people from across the entertainment industry, Sinise set out to make "conservative actors" less of an oxymoron.

Although the group isn't politically affiliated, members pride themselves on supporting our troops and traditional American values.

Nine years later, the organization, Friends of Abe, is 1,500 members strong - and growing.

Sinise has tried to keep his network under wraps, an effort to protect members in a fiercely liberal industry.

But so far, the biggest threat of retaliation isn't Hollywood - it's Washington, D.C.

Desperate to keep its iron grip on Hollywood, the Obama administration is using any means necessary to choke off the opposition - including its favorite weapon, the IRS.

For months, the agency has tried to trip up Abe's tax-exempt application, using the same kind of harassment the agency is (in)famous for. No one's ever accused the government of being efficient, but two years is a little extreme for processing paperwork.

Unfortunately, that seems to be the average waiting time for tax- exempt requests for groups like Sinise's, who happen to lean right.

Instead of sending the documents through the usual channels, the IRS unleashed a full-scale investigation of "Friends of Abe," using Mafia-like tactics to get a hold of the group's confidential member list.

In what most insiders call a highly "unusual request," the agency demanded access to Abe's security-protected website and then grilled leaders about its activities.

Jeremy Boering, the organization's executive director, insists Friends of Abe has absolutely no political agenda. "It exists to create fellowship among like-minded individuals."

The IRS even pored over the list of conservative speakers at Friends of Abe events, implying that nonprofit groups couldn't associate with political leaders - something 501(c)(3) groups do on a regular basis.

But in President Obama's IRS, the only rules that matter are the ones the administration rewrites.

Although plenty of conservatives are outraged at the treatment Sinise and others have gotten, there isn't much motivation for the IRS to clean up its act - especially after the announcement that agents won't be prosecuted for the criminal targeting they already committed.

Larry Garber

Maytown

For some time now, NBC has been airing the series "Dracula."

As a Christian and Catholic, I am concerned about networks showing programs such as "Dracula" and others like it. These types of shows do not honor our God and Lord.

People of faith should avoid watching movies and TV shows that do not honor God. It is a hindrance to our faith and values.

I love the Bible movies, "King of Kings"; "Ben-Hur"; "Greatest Story Ever Told" and others like them. Those types of movies build up my faith instead of tearing it down like "Dracula," and other programs and movies that do not honor God.

In this day and age, with what we see happening on the news, we need to draw closer to God.

Most of the programs aired today on the major networks, I consider garbage. I will not subject myself to this worldly influence.

Bill Mattern

Lancaster

On Feb. 24, 2011, President Obama instructed Attorney General Eric Holder to cease enforcing the Defense of Marriage Act as he, the president, had changed his mind and no longer agreed with it.

Under our Constitution, it is the U. S. Congress' duty to pass legislation and the executive branch's duty to enforce all of those laws.

If Congress does not challenge Mr. Obama when he decides what laws, duly passed and signed by a president, he will not enforce, then attorneys general in all states know they may follow his example.

Kathleen Kane, the Pennsylvania attorney general, was elected in November 2012. In 2013, she adhered to his precedent and declared she will not defend Pennsylvania's DOMA, as she does not agree with it.

Mark R. Herring, the recently elected attorney general in Virginia, has stated that he will fight to overturn Virginia's state constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union between a man and a woman. As a state senator in 2006, though, he supported its passage.

All of these officials are members of the Democratic Party. It has been assimilated by the political far left, which embraces the homosexual lobby and the ACLU.

Our culture has split to the point that anyone who publicly affirms the Judeo-Christian beliefs as they relate to any of the far left's doctrines is said to be guilty of "hate speech." There is not much room for any compromises. Thus, only God knows how this struggle for our nation's spiritual soul will end.

Robert L. Wichterman

Manheim Township

This is in response to the "Lizzie Borden Took an Ax," movie that was broadcast on TV on Jan. 25.

I lived a few miles from Fall River, Mass., and heard all the folklore and versions of "What really happened at 92 Second Street" for decades.

Lizzie was tried and found not guilty, and the murder remains unsolved to this day.

My best guess is that Andrew Borden "sleeps with the fissures," from an ax after being struck on the head a reported 40 times so that "someone" could profit from his demise.

George N. Bennett

East Lampeter Township

Our ancestors are rolling over in their graves at the way politicians are behaving today.

Our ancestors chose to come to Washington to do two, possibly three, terms then go home.

Today, politicians think they are God's gift to the human race and run for term after term.

A case in point: Joseph Pitts is going to run for a 10th term. He is milking the system for all it is worth. No Democrats will defeat him. It would cost a fortune. The incumbent has money to spend, but a newcomer does not.

Republicans will not pick someone else to back. Joe is not doing anything to help the whole country.

George F. Steffe

Manheim Township

They stand like sentries, welcoming visitors and county natives alike to Lancaster. The home and barn of the David and Catherine Mayer homestead are considered significant examples of 19th century farm buildings in Pennsylvania.

Built in the 1800s, these two buildings on the Fruitville Pike bring to life the roots of our community. The architecture and the story belonging to these rare living historical narratives are in jeopardy right now as plans evolve for the Belmont development.

I think the developers and the township and the community would be crazy not to leverage the significance of the historical buildings (along with the spring-fed quarry and lime kiln remnants).

Keeping these buildings intact can enhance our quality of life, add prestige to the development and sustain the historical draw of Lancaster County.

There is much to gain and much to lose. Let's choose gain.

Jill Yescalis

Manheim Township

If you have not had your flu shot, get one now. We are still seeing an upsurge in flu cases. If your insurance does not cover the shot, free flu shots are given every Friday at the Department of Health. The number is 299-7597. Everyone 6 months and over should get a flu shot. Deaths and hospitalizations are rising here and nationally.

Whooping cough (pertussis) has been seen in more than one school district in Lancaster County recently. Adults not only can contract the disease but transmit it to others who may not already be immunized, including infants and pregnant women. It can cause a terrible cough for up to three months, as well as hospitalization and death.

Flu shots and whooping cough (Tdap) shots are indicated in pregnant women, too. All family members of pregnant women should also have flu shots and the Tdap immunization for pertussis, as young infants may not be adequately protected.

Eileen Gannon R.N.

Vice Chairman

Lancaster County

Immunization Coalition

The recent story of the death of Claudine Murphy was doubly sad. It was reported that her dog, Chase, stayed with her for 30 hours while he continually barked.

The news said neighbors heard the dog barking all night. What I find so sad is that no one took a moment to see why a dog was barking continuously.

Dogs are notorious for alerting us to the danger of fires, intruders, seizures - you name it, they are alert to it. Here was a dog, Chase, that realized something was wrong with his owner, Claudine, and he did what any good dog would - he barked and barked. Sadly, help came too late.

The intent of my letter is not to point fingers at anyone, but to educate people. Please, the next time you hear a dog barking for long periods, take a moment to investigate.

I know many people deal with dogs in their neighborhoods that bark non-stop, but you never know if the few minutes you spend checking it out could result in saving the life of a person or an animal in distress.

Let's all look out for each other - for the two-footed and four- footed creatures of this world.

Jill Luettgens

Lancaster

I yi-yi: so many I's.

We had a modest, caring president once, John Kennedy. He nearly always said "we." No matter if some incident involved his political blame or if he were to be honored, he said "we."

We need leaders who deflect attention from themselves, consider themselves a part of a group instead of the almighty "I."

Such leaders are interested in procedures which will help others for the common good.

Where are those leaders?

Lee Shank

East Hempfield Township