Conestoga Valley FEBRUARY 4, 2026
SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 13,770 HOMES
Program Participants Grow From Connections, Kindness BY JEFF FALK
A
aron’s Acres isn’t intentionally and deliberately expanding. But by responding to the needs of the community, Aaron’s Acres is growing organically. One of its newer programs, Kindness Konnections, is taking a different approach to giving back to the same community that Aaron’s Acres is already serving. “I like the phrase ‘natural evolution,’” said Madison Heider, the program coordinator at Aaron’s Acres. “We’ve had discussions about how this program can continue to grow. There’s a need for it in the community. I think it’s a natural progression of Aaron’s Acres mission to support participants in our community.” Located at 1861 Charter Lane, Suite 114, Lancaster, Aaron’s Acres serves and enriches the lives of children and young adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. A community service group, Kindness Konnections works with Taylor Warner (left) and Ben Morganstein work on a other local nonprofits to provide participants mass mailing project as part of Aaron’s Acres’ Kindness townlively.com
JUNE 11, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
See Kindness Konnections pg 2 Konnections program.
VOL LXI • NO 25
“Swing!” Will Connect Audiences With Their Mojo BY JEFF FALK
Swing music. And the performers of Servant Stage. What possesses the power to “Swing originated in the 1920s bring a tap to your toes, to put and was popular in the 1930s and a bounce in your step, to bring a ’40s,” said Johnathan Bauer, who snap to your fingers? founded Servant Stage in 2013. See “Swing!” pg 8
Local residents watch birds during a recent East Lampeter Township recreation department activity.
Local Recreation Promotes Healthy Work-Life Balance
ast Lampeter Township is 12 months into its grand recreation exper iment. Time for an update. While results have been mostly mixed, some positive and quantifiable progress has been realized. But much work remains in the new recreation department’s mission to get the word out and provide activities that appeal to a majority of East Lampeter Township residents. “I always feel like we can be doing more and reaching more people,” said Lisa Cleveland, who as recreation director makes up East Lampeter Township’s one-person recreation department. “Growth
is not resting. Am I happy where we are in the time we got here? Yes. Do we have more work to do? Yes. The opportunities are endless, so there are always things that are going to be new.” Since officials made the commitment to provide recreational opportunities to the township’s citizens on May 28, 2024, by hiring Cleveland as recreation director, the newly formed East Lampeter Township Recreation Department has instituted a number of programs and activities, some of which have been well received. The department has provided community events like movie nights, a fall festival and an Easter egg hunt; youth events like Hero Hang-Out, Touch-a-Truck
and a summer playground program; fitness and yoga programs; and educational programs like a bird walk and Exploring the Night Sky. This spring, the department introduced a community gardens program that allows individuals and families to rent plots of land at Community Park for growing vegetables, plants and flowers. Twelve of the 16 available plots are currently being utilized. The recreation department has also placed a strong emphasis on promoting and utilizing township facilities like Community Park, Flory Park, Lafayette-Tower Park and Gibbons Park at Nolt’s Mill, as well as fostering relationships with like-minded community partners.
LCWG Is Made Up of a Bunch of Do-Gooders
BY JEFF FALK
Good is universal, timeless and objective. Because it mirrors God, good is good. The Lancaster County Women for Good (LCWG) group knows some things about the concept of doing good. It’s part of the all-volunteer organization’s mission, purpose and reason for existing. “We use that word a lot, ‘good,’” said Anna Horst, the chairperson of the five-member board that oversees LCWG’s operations. “It’s
in our name. I think it’s safe to say our connections and providing nonprofits with resources is part of the good we aim to do. I think there are a number of nonprofits in Lancaster County who have amazing missions. They’re real people trying to help real people. They are problems that a majority of us would agree need to be solved. Maybe we need to be more clear by what we mean by ‘good.’” LCWG, which does not operate from a physical office or building, conducts more than 15 membership events each year, including
See Recreation Department pg 4
See LCWG pg 9
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St. James’ Knights Shine a Bright Light
Faith can move mountains. But faith with acts of service becomes even more powerful and impactful. By using their collective talents, St. James Catholic Church’s Knights of Columbus honor God by helping others. “You can be a wonderful person, but we derive part of our inspiration from our Christian teachings and upbringings,” said Rick Thompson, who’s been St. James’ Knights’ membership director of St. James’ Knights of Columbus (from left) for two years. “We received the greatest gift Members Mike Schreiner, Jim Graham, Joe McGrath and Dave Dillon
Miss Lancaster County Puts Service Before Self BY GEORGE DEIBEL
Kathryn Davis is a staunch believer in serving her community and country. The 2024 Lampeter-Strasburg (L-S) High School graduate was crowned Miss Lancaster County last fall, earning the right to compete in the Miss Pennsylvania pageant in mid-June at the Appell Center for the Performing Arts in York. “I’m super excited to represent my hometown,” said Davis. The victor of the Miss Pennsylvania contest will advance to the Miss America pageant. “It’s something I’ve dreamt about since I was a little girl,” said Davis. “Right now, my focus is on Miss Pennsylvania. Whatever God has in store will happen.” She was enthroned as Miss Lancaster County Sept. 24 at Ephrata High School. “It was so unexpected,” Davis said. The competition was composed of a 10-minute interview, which was 30% of the total score; an onstage question about the contestants’ community service initiative (10%); talent demonstration (20%); a fitness competition in athleticwear (20%); and an evening gown walk (20%). Three titles - Miss Southern Lancaster County, Miss Heart of Lancaster, and Miss Red Rose City - were announced prior to Miss Lancaster County. Davis thought she had a better chance to win one of those crowns, but she tried to remain optimistic before the announcement of the
See St. James’ Knights pg 5 prepare to stage a youth soccer competition.
See Davis pg 3
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Cast members perform a musical number from Servant Stage’s production of “Swing!”
In your mailbox & online BY JEFF FALK
VOL LXII • NO 7