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PAMD · Senior Member

Amish Mafia

PAMD · Senior Member

There are two "houses of ill repute" which limit themselves to Amish and Mennonite clientele, only. (that I am aware of)

One is located in West Caln Township, Chester County, PA, in the Village of Compass, and operates on Monday and Friday evenings. I was informed of its existence by one of the paramedics from a nearby hospital who went there to administer care to one of the "employees" who had a syncopal episode. This occurred in the mid-'90s; as to the best of my knowledge, it was still in operation as of 2010.

The second location in East Drumore Township, Lancaster County. I am unaware of it's exact location.

The philosophy/reasoning behind their existence is not familiar to me.

Younger Amish men and women do not normally socialize with those outside of their extended community, there are problems with "inbreeding", and a higher-than-normal rate of birth defects in that community. Sadly, most of those affected are sequestered in the homes of the families. You will occasionally see the more capable of them tending to a roadside stand. Seldom do you see these family members in public (at the grocer, clothing store, hardware store, etc..)

The same Mennonite population, unlike their Amish brethren, freely socialize outside of their extended community. Several times per year, local grange halls or firehouse banquet halls will host community dances, where young adults of both "English" and Mennonite persuasions gather. Most of the time, "English" guys attend to try and pick up Mennonite girls. Seldom do Mennonite men attempt to select women outside of their communities, as they are usually averse to the tasks required to maintain a home in the Mennonite tradition.

Mennonite women are prized by "English" men because they are known for their ability to maintain a stable home. What they usually don't bargain for is that they are usually required to enter the "brethren" as a prerequisite for marriage.

The paramedic who informed me of the existence of the "house" also told me a tale of having attended one of the dances, and upon entering the hall, yelled "hey, Becky". To his amazement, 80% of the girls turned to see who beckoned - as it turns out that Rebecca/Rebekah are the most common female names in both the Amish and Mennonite communities.

Later this weekend, the horribly "cruel" side of the Amish....

PAMD · Senior Member

In Lancaster County, we enjoy a great standard of living, largely attributable to the Amish and Mennonite communities. Their presence has kept this area from feeling the full effect of the 2007/2008 economic downturn, and we have a lower than normal cost of living largely because of the fruits of their labor.

A Mennonite-owned meat market in nearby Lebanon County, Stohler's, carries only dry-aged beef, and pork which is not raised in pens (and raised locally). Their poultry was alive five days prior to purchase, and is also free range. Everything there is a little on the expensive side, but well worth it. They slaughter their own beef and cattle, making their quality control better than 99%+ of US meat retailers. Their locally raised cattle graze on some very lush pasture land, and the corn they are fed for "grow-out" is not genetically modified. None of their product sees the inside of a plastic bag until you process it for your freezer. Nowadays, that's important, because the three most important people to know (healthwise) are your physician, your pharmacist, and your butcher.

http://www.stohlersmeatmarket.com/

I purchase most of my dairy products from Fertile Valley Farms, also in Lebanon County. They sell only raw milk products, and were listed as having been a USDA Grade AA dairy for many years. They are impeccably clean, otherwise, I'd opt for pasteurized products.

In the spring and fall, their milk and cottage cheese has an orange tinge because of the casein content of the milk. When I make coffee in the morning, there is 2" of cream atop the container of "cream line" milk, and bread pudding made with their offerings is to die for.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/fertile-valley-farm-myerstown

About ten years ago, I almost relocated to southern Florida, but chose to remain here largely because of the fact that I would not trade oranges, lemons, and grapefruit for scrapple, smoked sausage, and fasnachts.

PAMD · Senior Member

RE: "as I always understood the Amish do not drive or use modern gas combustible engines, but these Amish are definitely not bringing there products over with horse and buggy"

One of the largest "cottage industries" in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties is the "Amish Taxi Business", some being nefarious in origin:

http://lancasteronline.com/article/local....mish-taxis.html

That's how "this little piggy gets to market" - 100mi from the point of origin.

PAMD · Senior Member

The Amish of Lancaster, and Chester Counties; The Bad Side

(don't worry, the next, and final installment will be "The Good Side")

Sometime in either 1986 or 1987, a good friend who was the EMS Chief for an ambulance company which served an area hospital told my ex and I about having to do an emergency transfer of a (then) 14 y/o Amish boy to the Deborah Heart and Lung Hospital, in Browns Mills, NJ.

When the ambulance arrived at Deborah, they were greeted by "half the staff of the hospital, with the other half crammed into his room to greet him". This is not the norm, and when my friend inquired as to "why the presidential greeting", the response was "Enid has been here three times in the last year, each time for no less than six weeks - without one visitor from his family or community".

My friend also drove charter buses at the time, and had a trip scheduled to NYC two weeks after the transfer. He was going to use the NJTP, whose exit 7 serves Deborah, and is a "hop, skip, and jump from the Turnpike". He contacted the group leader for the "shopping and Radio City show" trip, which happened to be from a senior citizens center - near Enid's home, and informed him of the situation, and asked if "we could leave an hour early so that I can visit him".

The group leader approved, and asked if my friend would contact the hospital to see if it was okay if a few of his friends brought "get well gifts" and visited, which was approved by the hospital's supervisory staff.

When my friend arrived at the senior center, he was awestruck to see everyone carrying a wrapped gift, and was enough to fill 1½ baggage compartments.

He called Deborah from the senior center, and told them that there would be "47 visitors for Enid, arriving in about an hour and a half".
Needless to say, it must have been a great experience for the young man.

About five years later, my then wife, who was an ICU nursing supervisor at another hospital, was called at the end of her shift by the hospital's ER physician, and asked if she could accompany a severely burned infant to the Crozer-Chester Burn Center. The ER was swamped, and there were no critical care qualified nurses available to leave the hospital for at least four hours, and the child had to "get there quickly" (inclement weather grounded their helicopter). Of course, she didn't say no...

She arrived downstairs to find a nine-week old girl who had been accidentally?? scalded during bathing, and her fifteen y/o brother sitting in a chair; he would accompany them on the trip. The parents were "unable to be there" for some unknown reason.

The young man "laughed sporadically" for the entire trip, my wife wanted to "slap the h*ll out of him".

She kept tabs on the child, who eventually recovered, but endured numerous wound debridments, skin graft procedures, and plastic surgeries.

I often wonder what really happened there; it's these types of things which make us think???

A post script:

Many in this area believe that some of the Amish mistreat their children, or treat them "like human farm machinery". There is often less than a year between births in the Amish familial population, and a friend who operates a "birth center which caters to the Amish" remarked that on several occasions, she's warned Amish women that "this must be your last child", and provide them with prescription birth control - at no cost, with an offer to refill at no cost.

Six months later, many of those same women would register for the birth center's prenatal care program, and wouldn't qualify because they were deemed "high risk". One had a uterine prolapse, and still became pregnant.

The pressure to maintain a large family to run the farmstead is tremendous, and comes at a high cost, with great suffering.

The next time that you see a "Rosanna of the Amish" paperback, think about this post before taking the time to read it.

PAMD · Senior Member

The Amish of Lancaster, and Chester Counties; The Good Side

Up until now, I've explored the "seedy" side of the Amish and Mennonite communities in Lancaster County. Now, for some of the many things which makes their presence in the community so very special.

To begin, the availability and quality of fresh dairy, produce, pork products, poultry, and baked goods is unlike anywhere else within the United States. The items are "farmyard fresh", and wholesome. Most everything they make tastes just a little bit better. There is one exception to this rule: NEVER purchase anything labeled as "Amish potato salad" or any "Amish" salad containing sour cream, mayonnaise, or "Miracle Whip", as it will be sickening sweet. They almost always add sugar to anything cold with milk, cream , sour cream, mayonnaise, or even Miracle Whip. They do the same with items containing tomato in any form. <---- don't ask why, for I have no idea as to their thinking.

Their baked goods are excellent; the best item being white bread (made with scalded milk and butter). Their pie crust is to die for, and apple dumplings, well, they are beyond belief.

Here is a primmer from a Penn Dutch pie making champion:
http://berkscountry.readingeagle.com/?p=1359

My "English" neighbors, "Rich and Betty", during the married years, had the rear section of their roof blow off during an extreme windstorm. They had no idea there was a problem, until that afternoon, our Amish neighbor to the rear, (whom Rick and I provided transportation to and from the grocery store because of the treacherous roads - difficult for a horse and buggy to traverse), and his friends showed up, with the necessary roofing materials, and installed the rear section of their roof before sunset.

When they accept you into their circle of friends, you become covered by an insurance policy like no other. Baked goods mysteriously appear at your front door before 6:00AM, a note will appear on your front door "come over when you return home, bring your picking clothes, "bread and butter corn" is on.

My daughter's best friends to this day are her childhood Amish friends.

When I decided to divorce, I moved into a rental property which I owned in a town that was quite difficult to get to via horse and buggy, but "Zeke", our neighbor, traveled the nine miles, at severe risk, and tied "Drehla" his horse off to the bumper of a pickup truck near my new (temporary) home. He proceeded to try to talk me out of divorcing, because he said that "nothing good can come of this".

He was right.

He's also been a great friend over the years. Two of his nieces were killed in the "Nickel Mines Murders", October 2nd, 2006, in Bart Township.

http://www.worldmag.com/2006/10/paradise_lost

My ex and I attended the funeral for the girls. Access to the event was restricted by invitation, and enforced by the Pennsylvania State Police.

To this day, the Amish community still cares for the family of the shooter, and they have had a rough time of it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Carl_Roberts_IV

The standard of living in Lancaster County has remained stable, largely because the Amish and Mennonite communities remain isolated to a degree, which lessens the effects of downturns in the economy, and allows them to employ those outside of their religion's influence. They also produce a much sought after commodity, wholesome, reasonably priced foods, well built homes and other structures, hand crafted furniture, and several other specialty items.

ghostmonkey · Guru

Did anyone watch it and what did you think?

AnitaLaLouise · Senior Member

I wouldn't watch that show with your eyes, Coxie. It's beyond ridiculous.

Maribegood · Senior Member

I have watched two episodes, and to quote the great Agent Tobias Fornell on NCIS, "Holy 4th of July Weenie Roast, WHAT AM I LOOKING AT!"

So we have an unbaptized Amish "enforcer" who is a "respected" member of the community and a kid who is dumb as a box of hair who thinks the position is rightfully his. Not to mention the tatooed Menonite with all the guns when the Amish community had such a tragedy in 2006 involving an English crazy, some automatic weapons, and innocent school children. Am I susposed to believe this crew freely socializes in the Amish world and is not shunned? Who wrote this bad screenplay? Please fire them.

anotheridiot · Guru

so far my only question is, since levi has a cell phone, caddy and lives modern, does he have a tv to watch this show and what happens to the guys talking openly about going behind his back when he does see it? They also should do subtitles the entire show because its hard to tell when they are speaking dutch and their drawl.

As far as John and that "Blair Witch" caption of nobody knows what happened to that truck driver, why arent the store owners that actually bought that crap seeing any retaliation?

1Moparsick0 · Senior Member

ghostmonkey wrote:
Did anyone watch it and what did you think?

As someone who has Amish (Juniata County) ancestory. I am completely ashamed that discovery has sunk lower than a snake in the grass to portray what they are showing as reality, for entertainment.

Maribegood · Senior Member

It is cow excrement. Whoever gave the go-ahead for that make-believe garbage needs to be beaten with a stick until he repents. My eyes, my eyes.

PAMD · Senior Member

Mariebgood is quite correct, it is largely bullsh*t. "Insurance"moneys are controlled by the Amish Aid Society, and the church elders, they would never be handled by someone the likes of "Lebanon Levi". Yes there are some "bad apples" who exist on the boundaries of the community, and the fact that they were referenced as "not having been baptized" into the community means that they aren't really Amish, they only have relatives who are Amish.

Mennonites operate a self-insured fund called "Brotherly Aid Liability", which covers their auto, home, and to a lesser extent, liability insurance. Mennonites in good standing with the church pay an average of around $200.00 for a combined auto and home policy. Farm policies are handled differently, and a re-insurer handles life and casualty coverages at a greatly reduced rate because their lifestyles are much healthier than ours, for the most part.

Anotheridiot: "since Levi has a cell phone, caddy and lives modern, does he have a TV to watch this show and what happens to the guys talking openly about going behind his back when he does see it?"

You would be surprised how many tractors reside in Amish barns; cell phones are allowed within the Amish communities, because they are not physically connected to electricity produced by the grid. Most Amish don't have TV's, mirrors, indoor plumbing (aside from a cold water sourced from a manual or wind-driven pump); and they all freeze their tails off going to the outhouse to relieve themselves (yes, they have chamber pots for night use). They have refrigeration (natural gas/propane powered) in their businesses, and can have electricity for purposes of operating saws for woodworking operations. Until the rise in cell phone usage, necessitated by the shootings in Nickel Mines, five families shared one phone, always located in a small shed-type structure near a telephone pole, and away from the barn and residence.

1Moparsick0 · Senior Member

So sonme of the people nowadays could say they are the O.G's Hippies of the green living movement...

ghostmonkey · Guru

Cool as I thought, thks all.

rumple · Veteran Member

PAMD wrote:
...Younger Amish men and women do not normally socialize with those outside of their extended community, there are problems with "inbreeding", and a higher-than-normal rate of birth defects in that community. Sadly, most of those affected are sequestered in the homes of the families. You will occasionally see the more capable of them tending to a roadside stand. Seldom do you see these family members in public (at the grocer, clothing store, hardware store, etc..)

That's probably due to wooden condoms being so uncomfortable (though durable). Not as bad as the ones made of straw or recycled children's clogs, though.

anotheridiot · Guru

rumple wrote:
PAMD wrote:
...Younger Amish men and women do not normally socialize with those outside of their extended community, there are problems with "inbreeding", and a higher-than-normal rate of birth defects in that community. Sadly, most of those affected are sequestered in the homes of the families. You will occasionally see the more capable of them tending to a roadside stand. Seldom do you see these family members in public (at the grocer, clothing store, hardware store, etc..)

That's probably due to wooden condoms being so uncomfortable (though durable). Not as bad as the ones made of straw or recycled children's clogs, though.

From sex drive "Rumspringa WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"

Izzy Ryder · Senior Member

All this Amish talk reminds me of some funny movie scenes.........

rumple · Veteran Member

Maribegood wrote:
It is cow excrement. Whoever gave the go-ahead for that make-believe garbage needs to be beaten with a stick until he repents. My eyes, my eyes.

I had taped the shows on the DVR, but after reading this thread I deleted them without watching them. Thanks for saving two hours of my life.

PAMD · Senior Member

Scuttlebutt from my neighbor, and friend yielded some interesting info about that "Amish bishop" (he's from New Holland BTW, where they make New Holland Farm machinery), and the digital camera was purchased from Coes Camera Shop in Lancaster.

The motel in question was the "Rodeway Inn", on the Lincoln Highway, in Paradise, PA, a location notorious for harboring prostitution. Most of the other (staged) incidents took place in Saulisbury Township, near the Village of Cains, just off of Buena Vista Road: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=cain%27s%20pa&hl=en:official&biw=1280&bih=661&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=il

...and here's the big news: this transgression apparently did happen, as the "bishop" in question was removed as an elder according to that same fairly reliable source....

...who happens to be Amish, and operates a bakery which supplies farmer's markets in PA and New Jersey. The fragrance of sticky buns fills the air on Tuesday and Wednesday during the night time, often forcing me to walk over there and make a purchase or two.

There was apparently a big stink about the show, as quite a few Amish gathered at the Smokestown Fire Company to watch the program.

ghostmonkey · Guru

rumple wrote:
Maribegood wrote:
It is cow excrement. Whoever gave the go-ahead for that make-believe garbage needs to be beaten with a stick until he repents. My eyes, my eyes.
I had taped the shows on the DVR, but after reading this thread I deleted them without watching them. Thanks for saving two hours of my life.

I watched more like a comedy and found it quite funny lol.

PAMD · Senior Member

As before, my daughter's best friends are the two Amish girls who lived at the property bordering our back yard. I had her ask one of them if the existence of an "Amish enforcement agency" exists, and she replied that she didn't know, but to have me ask her father --- which I will do this Saturday, that is, if the world doesn't end on Friday....

anotheridiot · Guru

Did anyone watch wednesday? I was just wondering what happened when the enforcer and the sister closed themselves in a room and turned off the mics.

rumple · Senior Member

PAMD wrote:
As before, my daughter's best friends are the two Amish girls who lived at the property bordering our back yard. I had her ask one of them if the existence of an "Amish enforcement agency" exists, and she replied that she didn't know, but to have me ask her father --- which I will do this Saturday, that is, if the world doesn't end on Friday....

This topic reminds me of Michael Jackson's "Bad" thing. For some reason he wanted people to think he was some kinda badass who could whip out a dance move that left even Wesley Snipes cowering in fear.

In this case, we're supposed to believe there's some kind of "Don Vito Stoltzfus" putting hits on Englische and overturning buggies in the night. It's truly laughable.

PAMD · Senior Member

I'll post what info I learned from my former neighbors a little later, and it wasn't much. I learned far more from the manager of the restaurant where I sometimes have breakfast. Mostly about the "scum lawyer" who is the "conscience" of the show.

PAMD · Senior Member

Okay, here goes,

I had to spend the day, yesterday, doing "family things", in an effort to keep-the-peace, as my normal Christmastime appearances have been offset by the fact that I am on-call this week, and the travel distance to the hospital would be foreboding. "Zeke", my former neighbor, moved to a farmette after the first of his daughters was married about four years ago, and finding the location was somewhat trying, as it is in an area of Lancaster County which I do not frequent.

From what he knew of "the Amish Bureau of Enforcement" (really, that's what it's called, "A.B.E.", no crap!), there are three small organizations empowered to "do the bidding to help relieve the misery of the Amish caused by interactions with the English". One each, for northern, central, and southern Lancaster County. Other regions also have their own separate entities. They are paid for out of the tithing required by the individual ordnungs, and usually employ those from outside of the order who are deemed "trustworthy to do the need, without the injury to the person". They will, at the extreme worst, destroy the property of another, or employ attorneys to represent an Amish person/persons substantially injured by someone from the general population. They also enforce the "ordnung's taxation" of roadside stands and Amish owned business, and help to resolve disputes with their many interactions with the Mennonite communities (Martinite Mennonites only; the Weaverland Mennonites do not subscribe to such interactions, and prefer to resolve disputes on their own).

He has never required the services of the "bureau". He further added that "you are the third person in the last week to ask me who 'Lebanon Levi' is, and I do not know of him", and from what you tell me, he is not Amish, or Amish-associated.

One thing that I noticed, "Esther", spoke of Lebanon Levi, and pronounced "Lebanon" like Lebanon, the country would be pronounced. Lebanon, in-fact, is pronounced "Leb - ah - nen". This tells me that she's an actor of some type, or is not from this area.

The woman who manages a nearby diner, where I occasionally enjoy breakfast, was deep in discussion about the show, and "that scum-bag Steven Breit". She addressed him as a "do anything for money" type, who has an office within two blocks of the Lancaster County Services Building. It turns out that her cousin worked for him for several years, and described Steven as being someone of questionable conscience. She believed that he is laughing all the way to the Susquehanna Bank.

Of the seven or eight, who would have superior knowledge to mine in this matter, none thought that there was a real "Lebanon Levi" or a Lebanon Levi - type. This guy was minted for our viewing pleasure, and should be considered as "entertainment only" with zero factual basis.

Some of the characters were genuinely either Amish or Mennonite, as a few were recognized as being from the areas where the filming took place; in Elizabethtown, New Holland, Kinzers, Cains, and Intercourse/Gordonville.

You will find a fairly accurate accounting of the "seedier" side of the Amish, along with photos of the "Amish Hot Rod" shown in last week's show here:

http://bryanallain.com/category/amishparadise/page/2/

This is about as much as I could find out.

-- Edited by PAMD on Sunday 23rd of December 2012 06:18:14 AM

rumple · Senior Member

PAMD wrote:
"scum lawyer"

That's redundant and repetative.

PAMD · Senior Member

Lebanon Levi, debunked: http://hollywoodite.com/lebanon-levi-mug-shot-real-name

Levi-Stoltzfus-Lebanon-Levi-Amish-Mafia-Arrest-Record-450x485.jpg

There is no "Lancaster County Police Department"; a Sheriff's Department does exist, with no enforcement abilities - their only duties include the transportation of prisoners, and the service of warrants and subpoena documentation.

-- Edited by PAMD on Sunday 23rd of December 2012 10:38:53 PM

PAMD · Senior Member

RE: The Bishop and the prostitute.

Yes, Virgina, there is a bishop, and his last name is believed to be Y***r. He was discovered to have been frequenting prostitutes for more than a few years, and believed to have developed a taste for opiates. His reign consisted of areas to the east of Lancaster, including New Holland, Intercourse, White Horse, Bird-in-Hand, Smoketown, Gordonville, Gap, and Kinzers. It is rumored that the local police became involved, and ceded control back to the Amish hierarchy.

The area where the Nickel Mines Massacre occurred would have been within his jurisdiction; he was an "Amish Minister" at the time.

There never was any involvement by a "Lebanon Levi". It seems that the stories conveyed on the show were taken from known newsworthy events, and "ginned up" to meet the standards of reality television.

He was forcibly removed from his office, but by members of the Amish Bretheren, and not by Lebanon Levi. It is rumored that he frequented prostitutes who made themselves available at the Dutch Wagon Wheel Restaurant, in Paradise, PA; which burned to the ground about three years ago, and had been warned after being caught by a state police sting, in operation at the time.

That was as much of the story as I was able to get, but that's juicy enough!

AnitaLaLouise · Senior Member

Please stay on topic. This thread is not about choppers.

dahammer_57 · Senior Member

AnitaLaLouise wrote:
Please stay on topic. This thread is not about choppers.

That admonition belongs in the thread:Will the world come to an end on 21 December 2012??? The winning prediction wins: . Should go right after the "Do teeth cost extra" reply. See what I did there...choppers/teeth...aaawww never mind

PAMD · Senior Member

Source article: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20130102_Amish_with_guns__fancy_cars__Really_.html

LANCASTER - Discovery Channel says its new series Amish Mafia has broken viewership records for its portrayal of previously unseen law-enforcers among the Amish community here.

A national ratings system and local feedback indicate people are tuning in in droves to watch Lebanon Levi, Jolin the Mennonite, and their gang of "protectors."

A Discovery executive insisted in a recent interview that the characters were not paid actors, but genuine Amish and Mennonite folks living in Lancaster County.

"They are actual people," said Laurie Goldberg, Discovery's vice president of public relations. "These are real people in the Amish and Mennonite communities."

The network also maintains that, while many events on the show are reenacted, they are based on actual happenings.

In its first three episodes (and a few spin-offs), the series depicts Levi's crew wielding guns in fancy cars while confronting violators of the Amish community.

Local viewers say they know better.

"That fighting mentality isn't even there," said Jeffrey Conrad, a local defense lawyer and former prosecutor, who said he had litigated "scores" of cases involving the Amish. "We can't even get them to file lawsuits when we suggest it."

Conrad said he recently did an interview for an ABC News show regarding Amish behavior here - Conrad believed it was in response to Discovery's series.

He said the interview was halted when he didn't tell stories of guns, avid partying, and other mayhem depicted in the series.

During his seven years as a local prosecutor, he said, he heard of no such "mafia" group. "We would have gone after them."

Other critics have created spoof social-media pages, including one by someone posing as Lebanon Levi, another by someone purporting to be Amish Alvin, and a catchall page, simply titled "Amish Mafia Is Fake."

On those pages, hordes of followers post wisecracks and take shots at Discovery's vision of the allegedly untold side of the Amish.

The debate rings on as the network stands by the events, as does a prominent player on the show, local lawyer Steven Breit.

"The show displayed another side of the Amish people," Breit said. "Folks in Lancaster County are having a hard time coming to grips with that. You've got people [here] looking at it with a jaundiced eye."

Breit said that he would not confirm or deny the events on the series, but that he had heard of such activity while defending many Amish folks over the years.

"The events are re-creations," he said. "I can't speak for the embellishments."

'Amish' Ambiguities

Local skeptics have questioned several aspects of Amish Mafia. Among them:

Lebanon Levi

On the show: Levi is the leader with a criminal past who meets clients and other appointments inside a hay-lined barn office. His alleged rap sheet was displayed in the debut episode as proof.

Reaction: Lawyer Steven Breit says that he has knowledge of Levi (though he never represented him) and that his criminal record is "verified."

Jeffrey Conrad, another lawyer, said he asked his Amish connections about such a person. "Who?" they responded, Conrad said. "Across the board, no one heard of him."

Bad business

On the show: Members of the "mafia" are shown walking out of stores tucking away envelopes of money, allegedly earned by protecting local merchants.

Reaction: At least one local business depicted in the show says it just isn't true. The business says it never paid protection fees.

Down by the river

On the show: Purporting to be based in the heart of Amish country - south-central Lancaster County - one scene shows characters John and Esther chatting on a riverbank.

Reaction: Locals are shaking their heads at this one, too. Many recognized the backdrop as a riverside park in Columbia, where the Amish population is next to nil. And the location is on the county's western edge, which would represent quite a trip in a horse-drawn buggy.

One Columbia resident said: "I actually saw them setting up for the scene at the Columbia River Park while I was working. Totally staged."

But are they Amish?

On the show: Look no further than the series title for proof that Discovery is presenting the characters as genuinely Amish (though Discovery's Laurie Goldberg said some characters are Mennonite).

Reaction: There is a big difference between the two faiths. Also, a local professor pointed out, Levi is touted as being an Amish man who was never baptized. Baptism is essential in the Amish faith: Either you're in or you're out, said Elizabethtown College professor Donald Kraybill, a prominent researcher of

Anabaptist culture.

Also, Kraybill and others observed, genuine Amish folks wouldn't appear on camera, as the faith forbids it.

AnitaLaLouise · Senior Member

If Amish Mafia has actually broken viewership records, then the USA deserves to sink into the abyss, because we have become a nation of morons.

dahammer_57 · Senior Member

AnitaLaLouise wrote:
If Amish Mafia has actually broken viewership records, then the USA deserves to sink into the abyss, because we have become a nation of morons.

Too late:

-- Edited by dahammer_57 on Wednesday 2nd of January 2013 10:46:02 PM

PAMD · Senior Member

"Levi King Stoltzfus", a.k.a. "Lebanon Levi", has apparently p.o.'d several of his neighbors (in an area of Lebanon County called Myerstown):

The owners of the Dutchway Farm Market, the local grocery store, and center of community activity, who happen to be long-time friends of mine (Cliff, Rich, Jeff), came into the store's restaurant while I was having breakfast this morning (one hell of a sale this week), and made the mistake of joining me in the booth in which I sat. After the normal niceties, "I'm getting older, and this is aching", and "we're having a truckload beef sale in three weeks, so run your freezer down" announcements, I broached the subject that everyone in that community is sick of hearing, "who in the heck is this neighbor of yours, Lebanon Levi, and is this guy for real?".

Apparently, two of the local fire companies are under investigation for assisting in that staged trailer fire, seen during last evening's offering. The trailer had been towed there from a lot on PA Rt 419, near the Wernersville State Hospital. The fire companies were contacted two weeks ahead of the scheduled "re-creation", and given a rather healthy donation by C&L Siding, Levi's contracting company (which apparently does fine work). The treasurer of one of the fire companies cannot account for any of the monies received during such a transaction. The treasurer of the other fire company is under fire for not reimbursing Richland Township for fuel used during the staged event.

An investigative reporter for Lancaster Newspapers, Incorporated searched public records in Richland Township, for a period of 24 months, and found reference to only two trailer fires (dispatched by Lebanon County Emergency Services). Neither of those was within five miles of "Levi's" property, on Tulpehocken Road, in Richland. He has one other property off of Rt. 419, and that is his residence, which is a conventional "stick built" structure. No fires were reported there, either.

"Esther", is thought to be a former Amish family member, who lives in Cressona, PA, near Pottsville, home of the Yeungling Brewery. She used to work at the Pottsville Wal*Mart, however, has since left the area.

This information was all that I could squeeze out of them......

-- Edited by PAMD on Thursday 3rd of January 2013 10:38:33 AM

1Moparsick0 · Guru

I think I'd rather watch never ending golden girls, or roseanne

rumple · Senior Member

It makes you long for the days of REAL Amish mobsters, like Abner "Chinless" Stoltzfus, who gave the order that any English who tailgated a buggy should be given "the frowning of a lifetime," or Adolph "Big Nose" Stoltzfus (no relation), who secretly installed a battery-powered nightlight in his barn so he could see what he was doing while yoking his team for plowing at 4 A.M.

Beulah "Shoo-fly" Stoltzfus, legendary "moll" of the "Bethlehem Bad Boys," was rumored to have seen "Guadalcanal Diary" at the old Biograph theater in Intercourse, and was supposedly so overwhelmed by the experience that she said; "I opened my eyes once during a bunch of shooting noises and saw one of them little fellers dang near get his head blowed off, and I enjoyed it." Thereafter, Beulah would always smile and act nice with Japanese tourists, but gave them "the bird" behind their backs.

rumple · Senior Member

PAMD wrote:
...An investigative reporter for Lancaster Newspapers, Incorporated searched public records in Richland Township, for a period of 24 months, and found reference to only two trailer fires (dispatched by Lebanon County Emergency Services). Neither of those was within five miles of "Levi's" property, on Tulpehocken Road, in Richland. He has one other property off of Rt. 419, and that is his residence, which is a conventional "stick built" structure. No fires were reported there, either.

Unfounded rumors of trailer fires?

When will this madness end?

1Moparsick0 · Guru

[video=undefinedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wod7Lc_r5wY]

Oldie but goodie.. Now I believe this video is more Amish "thug" life than Amish Mafia

-- Edited by 1Moparsick0 on Monday 7th of January 2013 07:05:24 AM

1Moparsick0 · Guru

PAMD · Senior Member

Report from the CBS affiliate in Harrisburg regarding the authenticity of "Amish Mafia":

http://www.whptv.com/mostpopular/story/Amish-Mafia-sparks-more-controversy-in-Central-PA/kAJ1aZkOAE27yWhD2Z2YTw.cspx

PAMD · Senior Member

The Amish and puppy mills: absolutely, positively 100% true, Jack Levengood, a veterinarian, and friend of mine, who lives in Chester County actually began running ads in local newspapers stating "free veterinary consultation prior to your purchasing any "farm raised" puppy in either western Chester County, or all of Lancaster County. Be sure that you are purchasing your new friend from a reputable breeder".

The worst offenders were those who bread Labrador, and Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Newfoundlands, Rotties, Dobermans, and the "custom c0cktail" breeds, like the Labradoodle, and the Bullshihtz (Bulldog and Shih Tzu).

They preferred German Shepherds and the retrievers because they have larger litters, and are easily sold.

One of the few things which former governor Edward G. "Fast Eddie" Rendell did, which I wholeheartedly agree with, was his legislation to control and disband puppy mills. The Amish were by far the worst offenders, fully 30% of all Amish farms had at least one breeding pair of purebred AKC registered dogs. That said, there were quite a few "English" farm owners in Lancaster and Chester Counties who profited from the misery of animals; which, with the exception of the horses which pull Amish buggies, are treated as commodities, and not living beings.

-- Edited by PAMD on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 04:22:27 PM

rumple · Senior Member

My wife and I have raised and trained Golden Retrievers for pet therapy and assistance work for 24 years. After so long of answering people's questions and offering advice (after all, when you walk three big Goldens in formation, without leashes, people tend to trot out their dog-related problems), we're sort of like "Fight Club" about the topic: The first rule of dog training is; "don't talk about dog training..."

However, one thing we make sure to tell EVERYONE is this: every dog in a pack has a job. Besides the pack leader (which, ideally, should be your job), the most important job is called "the enforcer." This job is to confront all potential challenges to the pack and either kill it, or be killed in the process. Other jobs are things like "the peace-maker," "the nanny," "the herder" etc. But the enforcer is the most instinctual job, since it's ultimately about sacrificing themselves for the survival of the pack as a whole, so enforcers are born to the job.

Usually, when someone visits a pet store (or breeder) to pick a pup, they'll say; "oh, look! That one really likes us! He came right up to us and wagged his tail! We didn't pick him, he picked US!"... and they're going to take "the enforcer" home with them.

Don't.

The one(s) all the way in the back, who barely seem to notice your presence, and seem shy? THAT'S the pup you want.

Word.

-- Edited by rumple on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 06:36:33 PM

-- Edited by rumple on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 08:23:18 PM

rumple · Senior Member

Since we know the Amish Mafia is strictly the product of a producer's fevered imagination, let's form our own.

I nominate Doc for "Don Stoltzfus" ("capo di tutti-frutti" for fans of that even more ridiculous show about Gotti's daughter and her brood of future inmates), and he can bestow titles and positions as he sees fit. He probably should consider one of our fellow gun-nuts to be an instructor of advanced rake-fighting techniques, though.

As long as I make my vig in the form of chickens, corn or shoo-fly pie, I don't care.

In the comments section on that webpage, someone makes the case that the real Amish criminals are the ones using their barns as "puppy mills." What's your take on that, Doc?

anotheridiot · Guru

There seems to be some credibility to having the show on the discovery channel, otherwise it seems more like an MTV or VH1 reality series.

PAMD · Senior Member

I never thought of using the study of pack mentality and function as a guideline in the selection of a pup, however the "enforcer" aspect makes sense. I will add one important aspect, it is of great benefit to raise young children with a newly acquired puppy, as kids who grow up with a dog in the house seem to derive emotional benefit from having a dog.

Maribegood · Senior Member

I saw the season finale yesterday. It was the 3rd episode I watched, after Ep1 and Ep2. Don't judge. I write this in the spirit of true repentence and woe. Woe to me who will never get that hour of my life back. I repent. I could NOT believe what I was watching. I felt brain cells dying. Midget (Little Person, but they were going for a "freak" factor) Amish enforcers, good Amish women seducing the unbaptized down in Florida, the "Black Amish" Strikes Back-or at the very least is out of jail and wants vengence for his 4 months in the slammer.

Discovery has no shame. This stuff is shameful. Ugh.

anotheridiot · Guru

I thought it was the finale, but then they said there is a new one next week. They were implying that Esther knows so much about Merlin because she is banging him too. Seems she had the Joline enforcer quit to make Levi weaker.

All I know is Esther must wear that long black dress because that pussy is pure sunshine, or these guys are just that stupid..