Amish in the News: Summer Reunions (Brubakers, Yoders), Tragedy in Punx, Amish Jamboree,and Recipes

By Kevin Williams

We have some interesting Amish in the news today, so let's get right to it!

BRUBAKER REUNION:  How neat!  It would be fun to have a last name that is so distinctive that you feel a bond with someone else who has that last name.  Brubaker is a name that I first became familiar with as a young journalist in Middletown, Ohio.  I met some Old Order German Baptist Brethen who had the last name Brubaker.  Since then I've met other Brubakers from time to time who have left behind the Plain church.   There have been other Brubaker reunions over the years but this year - the 300th anniversary of the Brubakers arrival to America - they are pulling out all the stops with a 3-day reunion at Millersville University complete with speakers and panelists.  Click here to check out all the Brubaker brouhaha.

Yoders can pretty much be found in every Amish community.

YODER REUNION:   The Brubakers aren't the only ones celebrating 300 years in the USA, so all the ubiquitous Yoders.    They have actually been in the USA longer, but 1717 marks their arrival in Berks County, PA which is sort of the official planting of their permanent roots here.  So they are celebrating with a 3-day shindig in Shipshewana later this summer.  Click here for all the details.

AMISH GIRL, 16, DIES IN ACCIDENT:  Such a sad story and I would think that dying from burn wounds would have to be so excruciatingly painful. You just feel for this girl and her family.  Click here to read more.

HOSPITALITY:  Some very hospitable folks in this part of Canada. An Amish family recently lost two horses in a tragic accident so the community pitched in to help them replace the horses.  Obviously a very caring community because this wouldn't happen everywhere.  Click here to read more and I love the way the Canadians use British spelling for stuff: cheque is so much more fun to write than check!

RECIPES - Ever wonder how Snickerdoodles got their name?  You can read how in this Washington Post review of a new cookbook, plus give some of the book's recipes a test drive:  Key Lime Pie, Thin Mints, and more! Click here.

WHOOPING COUGH SPREADING:  An outbreak of the cough is spreading through an Amish community in southern Michigan. Click here.