Conestoga Valley townlively.com
MAY 31, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LIX • NO 23
At the speed of a high school senior CVHS schedules graduation ceremony BY ANN MEAD ASH
hen the Conestoga Valley High School (CVHS) Class of 2023 graduates at Calvary Church, 1051 Landis Valley Road, Lancaster, on Tuesday, June 6, at 7 p.m., two of the seniors will address the gathering. Both Sara Geleta and Elyse Emrey were chosen by a panel based on video auditions to give speeches at the event. Sara is the daughter of Solomon Geleta and Gete Buli of Lancaster. She has given her speech the working title “In a Flash.” “(My speech) talks about how fast our high school careers went (before) it transitions into acknowledging the opportunity we have now that we have graduated,” Sara explained. For Sara, one of those opportunities will be studying at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., in the fall. She plans to major in political science in hopes of eventually going into law. She noted that her time at CVHS was marked by opportunity as well. “(At CVHS) I was able to try
W
a lot of new things,” she said, noting that just this past year she participated in a number of different clubs. “(The experience) helped me to learn about myself and what my interests are,” she said. Sara noted that her drama experience at CVHS has helped to quell any pre-graduation jitters, but she noted it will be different addressing her peers
“We are always moving on to the next thing, ... we should slow down and try to enjoy each day.” rather than performing for a diverse audience. Elyse is the daughter of Matthew and Susan Emrey of Leola. Elyse will have the unique experience of giving her high school graduation speech exactly 26 years to the day that her mother addressed her graduating class at Garden Spot High School. When she told her mother she was thinking of auditioning, Susan
encouraged her, and Elyse then used Susan’s speech for inspiration in writing her own, which she calls “Counting Down.” “I focused on how we all rush through life during our four years of high school,” she said. “We are always moving on to the next thing.” Elyse noted she will then counsel her classmates to take it easy. “ We should slow down and try to enjoy each day,” she stated. In October of 2023, Elyse will attend Lancaster School of Cosmetology. She plans to eventually focus on hair with the longterm goal of owning her own salon. She is glad she attended CVHS because of the variety the school offered. “CVHS is very diverse,” she pointed out. “You meet a lot of different people and have a lot of opportunities with clubs and sports. I like the diversity.” Sara Geleta (left) and Elyse Emrey will each address family, friends, and peers at the Conestoga Valley High School Class of 2023 graduation ceremony.
LVS schedules 30th annual auction Nearly half a million served Power Packs Project seeks volunteers
BY ANN MEAD ASH
Lighthouse Vocational Services participants displaying items to be sold at the organization’s 30th annual auction are (from left) Jared B., Jon M., and Shauna P.
“It’s only one day this year. That’s a big difference,” said Katie Martin, Lighthouse Vocational Services (LVS) event coordinator, of the 30th annual LVS auction, which will be held on Saturday, June 10, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Martin noted that all the activities will be held outdoors on the LVS grounds at 144 Orlan Road, New Holland. LVS provides vocational services for individuals with disabilities. The event will open with a by-donation breakfast including pancakes, eggs, and hash browns, beginning at 7 a.m. A candy drop from an ultralight plane will be held at 8 a.m., weather permitting. LVS CEO Kirt Barden will welcome the gathering at 8:15 a.m., and the live auction will begin at 8:30 a.m. with crafts, farm supplies, and groceries going over the block.
“There are similar programs, but to the best of our knowledge there is no one that does exactly what we do,” stated Brad Peterson, executive director with Power Packs Project, which delivers ingredients to make a nutritious meal to families in Lancaster, York, and Lebanon counties. Peterson noted that last year, the organization provided nearly half a million meals made up of more than 500,000 pounds of food. Power Packs was founded in 2009 by Joan Espenshade, who was
See LVS pg 3
Ready, Set,
volunteering at a Lancaster city school when she saw some students lined up to get breakfast and others visiting the nurse’s office complaining of stomach aches because they had not had enough to eat over the weekend. “We give a recipe and all the ingredients for that recipe,” said Peterson, adding that the costs of the ingredients are included and that a recent meal cost $7.91 to make. “It’s part of our mission to empower families to show them they can create a healthy meal on a budget,” he said. The pack, which usually weighs 9 pounds or less, also includes staples such as cereal, canned goods, and fresh milk. See Power Packs pg 2
RUN!
See our Ad on Pg. 3!
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
1659 Lititz Pike, Lancaster
R095679
CON
BY ANN MEAD ASH
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER MAY 31, 2023
Postal Patron