Conestoga Valley townlively.com
JULY 5, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LIX • NO 28
Sustaining nature Second BioBlitz and Nature Fest planned BY ANN MEAD ASH
atrina Lefever, sustainable landscape coordinator with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), vividly remembers the first BioBlitz held at MCC in 2022. “Last year, we had it in September, and we held a pawpaw fest as well,” she recalled. “We planted pawpaws in the woods and had some fruit tasting.” While the first blitz, organized by Lefever along with naturalists Lydia Martin, Cameala Freed, and Rita Tomassetti was held in the fall. Lefever believed a summer date would attract a wider age group. The second MCC BioBlitz and Nature Fest will be held on the MCC grounds at 21 S. 12th St., Akron, on Saturday, July 8, from 9 a.m. to noon. Those wishing to join a BioBlitz team, which will count insects and plant life using the iNaturalist app or pen and paper, should register at h t t p s : / / m c c . o r g / fo r m s / 2 0 2 3 -mcc-bioblitz-nature-fest by Friday, July 7. The Nature Fest is open to the public, and it will include live music, art, and plant giveaways.
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Children are welcome with adult supervision. Each BioBlitz team will work with a naturalist to explore the MCC campus. “There’s a stream back in the woods, and there’s a micro meadow in the Welcoming Place, which hosts many butterflies,” said Lefever. At the Nature Fest, there will be information tables, and visitors will have the opportunity to work at an art table overseen by Tomassetti. There will be a plant and plug giveaway of native plants. Lefever explained that a plug is a very small plant. “There is soil, but it’s mostly root,” she said. A musical group called Nodding Onion will also play. “(Nodding Onion) uses PlantWave technology, which is technology that attaches electrodes to a plant,” explained Lefever, who noted that every plant creates its own music. Lefever has been at work to change the landscape at MCC since early 2021. “We made the move to ecological landscaping, which is trying to live with rather than against nature,” said Lefever, who noted that the effort is based on the work of Doug Tallamy, a professor in the Department of
The grounds of Mennonite Central Committee in Akron will be open for exploration by teams during the second BioBlitz and Nature Fest.
Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, who has been studying the relationship between plant life and insects for decades. “Right now, our insect and bird numbers are plummeting,” said Lefever. “We have to make changes so we are not fighting nature but living
with nature.” To that end, Lefever has identified and removed invasive plants on the property and replaced them with native plants. “It has made a difference already,” she said. Now, Lefever would like to share the changes with area residents via the BioBlitz. “We are aware of the amazing
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Music in the park
bounty here,” she said. “There’s a wonderful number of native plants (on the property). We want to share that with the public and make them aware.” Readers who would like to learn more may visit https://mcc.org/get -involved/events/mcc-bioblitz -nature-fest.
Feeling the power FCA holds sports camps
BY ANN MEAD ASH
BY ANN MEAD ASH
“It’s wonderful especially after being cooped up with COVID-19 to be out and about,” said Akron Borough manager Sue Davidson of the free Akron Summer Concert Series, which began in Lloyd H. Roland Memorial Park in June. So far, Fire in the Glen has performed on June 11, and Rizzetta’s Tones took to the park stage on July 2. “The musical variety is nice (for people of all ages),” said Davidson of the series. All concerts are held on Sunday evenings beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Diana Roth, area representative for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, was thrilled to hear the response from a parent whose child was attending the New Holland Power Camp when Roth asked if her child was enjoying the experience. “I asked a parent today if her child had fun,” said Roth. “And she said, ‘Yes.’ She said her child’s only complaint was that this is the last day. I like to hear that.” The New Holland camp, which was held from June 19 through 22,
is one of three held in the county this summer. The Lancaster camp, which attracted about 50 students from Manheim Township, Conestoga Valley, and Lampeter-Strasburg school districts, was held at Westminster Presbyterian Church from June 12 through 15. The Manheim camp will be held at Manheim Brethren in Christ Church from Monday, July 10, through Thursday, July 13. Students ages 8 to 12 who would like to take part in that camp may sign up at www.lancasterfca.org /manheim-power-camp.
See Akron Borough pg 2
Harrisburg Mandolin Ensemble
See FCA pg 4
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