Conestoga Valley townlively.com
APRIL 26, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LIX • NO 18
First flag croquet fundraiser planned Minutemen United to support CVCCS The event will be held at Leola Com- hands and feet of Jesus in our community Park, 23 E. Main St., Leola, on munity,” said Lapp, who has conhen Geoff Lapp and nearly Saturday, May 20, from 10 a.m. to nected CVCCS to the organization 30 others joined together 3 p.m. The per-player registration fee as well. Lapp credits Groffdale Machine on Leap Day in 2020 to will include food and two rounds of found Minutemen United, a non- flag croquet for a group of three play- Company with popularizing flag profit seeking to fight poverty by ers. Prizes will be awarded in croquet in Lancaster County. “They supporting community service categories that will include best score have engineered a golf game for organizations, he had no idea that and closest to the pin. The top prize average (people),” said Lapp. “Flag less than a month later COVID-19 for the best score is a flag croquet set croquet is in the Amish communiwould cause a statewide shutdown. with nine baskets and flags and eight ty, and I want to bring it to the To help fund the organization, Lapp bats. “Everything will be provided (for English community.” Lapp noted founded Waymark Transport and the tournament players),” said Lapp, that the disc golf course at Leola is began driving those in need of who will have a few flag croquet sets 18 par three holes. “At Leola Comtransportation services. In the pro- available for purchase at the event. munity, the holes are pretty close. cess, Lapp met many members of The tournament, which will be So it’s not crazy long (drives),” he the Plain community, and he was capped at 54 players, is presented in explained. Individuals wishing to introduced to the game of flag cro- partnership with the YMCA of the take part in the tournament may call 717-629-2989 or email quet, a game that utilizes croquet- Roses, which oversees the park. Minutemen United envisions a geoff@minutemen-united.com to style equipment - fortified mallets called bats - and a modified disc golf poverty-free community and has register. Registration must be combasket lowered to the bottom of the the mission of connecting people to pleted by Saturday, May 13. flag to create nine holes of family support services. Values, based on Scripture, include gathering intenfun. To help raise funds for Conestoga tionally, living gratefully, engaging Jonathan Barrett (left), director Valley Christian Community Services generously, and encouraging creof Conestoga Valley Christian (CVCCS), a nonprofit social service ativity. Lapp said that the organizaCommunity Services, and Geoff tion has worked closely with a organization founded in 2010 by the Lapp of Minutemen United disConestoga Valley Ministerium, Lapp group called True Charity from play equipment to be used in the is organizing the first Flag Croquet Joplin, Mo. “(True Charity) has first Flag Croquet Memorial Memorial Tournament for CVCCS. helped me find out how to be the Tournament fundraiser. BY ANN MEAD ASH
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BY ANN MEAD ASH
Josiah Casler held a bowling fundraiser at Dutch Lanes as part of a passion project for a class at Conestoga Valley High School.
When Josiah Casler was 6 or 7 years old, his grandfather moved to Willow Valley Communities, and the pair began bowling together on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fast forward 10 years, and Casler has been a member of the Conestoga Valley High School (CVHS) bowling team for two years. As a sophomore, he takes gifted education teacher Brian Schlee’s SAGE class, which includes a passion project - an independent project in an area where the student has great interest. “SAGE is a class
in our high school that promotes critical thinking skills, creativity, and advanced topics not featured in other high school classes,” said Schlee. “The course places a lot of emphasis on student choice within assignment parameters, hence where the (name) passion project ... arises from.” According to Schlee, one of the requirements of the project is that the student must in some way give back to the community. “I was thinking about my passions,” said Casler. “I came up with bowling and helping my community.” Seeking to combine his two interests, Casler
Barking for life in Ephrata BY ANN MEAD ASH
East Earl resident and member of the Misfits on a Mission Relay For Life team Sharon Groff, is a woman who believes in giving a project her all. Groff loves the idea of Bark For Life, an American Cancer Society Relay For Life event involving dogs and their owners, so she decided to get behind the concept and do her best to make it succeed. The result is the first Ephrata-area Bark For Life, to be held at New Life Fellowship Church, 420 E. Fulton St., Ephrata, on Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “It’s a dog-friendly event,” said Groff. “It’s
a community event.” No admission will be charged to attend Bark For Life. Not only will dogs be welcome, but they also will have the opportunity to show off a little if they take part in the Strut Your Mutt parade scheduled to begin at 10:10 a.m. “There will be judges and prizes in different categories,” said Groff, who noted that dressing one’s dog up is encouraged but not required. Dogs who work to rescue humans will be featured in a Pennsylvania Canine Search and Rescue (PACSAR) demonstration at 10:30 a.m. PACSAR’s highly trained and certified volunteers provide free search
See Bowling pg 7
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See Bark For Life pg 5
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Bowling for donations
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