Conestoga Valley SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
JANUARY 28, 2026
REACHING MORE THAN 13,770 HOMES
VOL LXII • NO 6
Readers Can There’s Something Cooking Winter Take a Book, Sports at Ephrata Public Library Share a Book BY JEFF FALK
T Catch the latest highlights from your local high school teams Visit our Sports Page today for all the action!
he cooking program at the Ephrata Public Library (EPL) teaches a critical life skill and important life lessons. But on a more symbolic level, the educational classes represent the Ephrata library’s continuing growth as a community institution. There was a time, seemingly not that long ago, when eating was forbidden in libraries or at least discouraged. “Libraries are more than just four walls and the books that line them,” said Helen Taylor, who’s been EPL’s program manager for five years. “Libraries have evolved. Now we deal more with programs. Libraries are not quiet or monotonous anymore. We’re more of community hubs. It’s hard to keep up with us. We’re constantly innovating and changing.” EPL conducts five cooking programs for both children and Ephrata Public Library staff members Helen Taylor (left) and Emily Good See Ephrata Library pg 3 prepare for a cooking class.
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At The Arc, Individuals With Disabilities Don’t Go It Alone BY JEFF FALK
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of individuals with disabilities. It’s both a grassroots and holistic approach that focuses on the importance of home and relationships. “Where I really see the empowerment is through education and being a resource center for people who are gaining knowledge on being a part of the community,”
The Arc Lancaster Lebanon’s goal is to empower and improve the lives of residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism. The Arc executes its mission and achieves its goals by advocating for and educating the families
Employees of The Arc Lancaster Lebanon (front, from left) Amy Fisher, Abby Morris, Dana Henry, (back) Amy Austin, (not pictured) Ian Gebhard and Brenda Moreno take a family approach to the See The Arc pg 2 services they provide.
SERVING THE
JUNE 11, 2025
townlively.com
NITIES SINCE
1954
VOL LXI • NO
25
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BY JEFF FALK
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In your mailbox & online
at New Little Free Library
BY FRANCINE FULTON
The Little Free Library (LFL) initiative started in 2009 in Hudson, Wis., when Todd Bol built a small book-sharing box in the shape of a one-room schoolhouse as a tribute to his late mother, who was a teacher and loved to read. Today, book-sharing boxes in all shapes and sizes can be found worldwide and are managed by stewards, who build and install the boxes and then maintain them by assuring that they are filled with books for both children and adults. Many add other small items to share as well, including small toys or bookmarks. Locally, the newest box, with the motto of “Take a book, share a book,” has been built and installed by Autumn and Tommy Rinck of Narvon, who are calling their box “The Backroad Bookshelf ” because of its rural location. Along with homemade bookmarks, the box also contains a jar of dog treats because of the couple’s love of dogs. Those who visit the box are invited to sign their name in a guestbook if they choose. Autumn explained that she has a great love of books and reading and wanted to share books with others. “I like anything from romance to thrillers,” she said, noting that she frequently visited LFLs throughout the area. “I always went to Little Free Libraries, and I always wanted to make one. We moved here two years ago. We were from (New) Jersey, and See Readers pg 5
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