PUBLIC OPINION GUEST ESSAY

[caveman]

From The Chambersburg Public Opinion

www.publicopiniononline.com/opinion/ci_6135190

Guest essay:
Antrim supervisor shouldn't call our community 'Mayberry'

By DONALD E. ESHLEMAN

After reading the newspaper reports concerning the Antrim Township meeting and the published comments attributed to Supervisor Myers, I felt compelled to reply:

I was offended by the remarks attributed to Supervisor Myers relating the Greencastle-Antrim community to "Mayberry" and "one-horse town." I was born and raised in this community and these quotes are way off base.

First, I would remind Mr. Myers, Antrim Township is not a town and Greencastle is not Mayberry. There was more than one horse in the township in the good ole days, six on my father's farm, and the last time I checked, Greencastle police carried weapons and bullets. Now, to some serious comments.

Thanks to progressive leadership, we retired the "one- room schoolhouse" many years past and built today's "modern buildings."

Thanks to progressive municipal and business leaders, we have national and local industries that employ thousands. Did Mayberry have a Corning Distribution Center, now World Kitchen, Food Lion Distribution Center, Grove Manufacturing or Strait Steel? Would Corning have come to Antrim Township if the supervisors in 1959 described their township as a "Mayberry" or "one-horse town?"

I was a manager with Corning for 30 years and I think the answer would have been, "No thank you."

Thanks to progressive businessmen and ladies, we have businesses that have been owned and operated by local families for over 50 years. In 1922, my grandfather converted two school buses into "Store on Wheels" units and sold or traded groceries for eggs and poultry. This business later evolved into Lehman's Egg Service. His descendants still own and operate ELM Department Store, ELM Shoes, Sunnyway Foods, Sunnyway Diner, Keystone Ford, Lehman's Egg Service, Mrs. Gibbles Candies and Restaurant, Dairy Farms and others. Does this sound like "Mayberry?"

Thanks to progressive municipal and businesspersons, we have a medical center, senior citizens center, parks, playgrounds, youth baseball facilities, soccer complex and others. Is this a "Mayberry?"

Thanks to progressive municipal, business and volunteer leadership, we have a modern volunteer fire and rescue department. The Rescue Hose Company's station and equipment are some of the finest in the area. Yes, we do have a "1741 hand-pulled pumper and 1926 Seagraves Pumper, but they are museum pieces and do not answer alarms.

Mr. Myers, there is a saying that you might want to consider: "Penny Wise and Pound Foolish." This township has a great history and is one of the fastest growing townships in the state and will require progressive leadership, not regressive leadership. I have the deepest respect for the current progressive township leaders and suggest you may want to listen and learn from them.

My wife and I love this community and spend much time in volunteer service. Marie spends countless hours planting and caring for the flowers on Center Square, post office and town hall. She picks up trash at the Exit 5 interchange and many other volunteer activities.

I have served over 50 years as an officer and firefighter with the Rescue Hose Company and several years as the volunteer emergency management coordinator for both Antrim Township and the Borough of Greencastle.

For a supervisor to refer to our community as a "Mayberry and one-horse town" is discouraging and a disgrace.

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Donald E. Eshleman is a resident of Greencastle. He is also the Chief Engineer at the Rescue Hose Company.

Let's hope that the views of the Supervisor who made the comment do not become a majority view of the Antrim Board of Supervisors after the November Election.