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Cindy Mellinger Is Filling in Her Dash BY JEFF FALK
E New Issue
very day is a gift from God. How thankful we are is our gift back to Him. Those are Cindy Mellinger’s words. They are words that Mellinger lives by; they are words that she takes to heart. Mellinger is a resident of Ephrata, a cancer survivor and a serial volunteer. After inexplicably beating an unbeatable form of leukemia more than 30 years ago, Mellinger has dedicated herself to living her best possible life, and that involves helping others. “At that time, I asked myself, ‘Did I do anything that matters? Did I do enough for the Lord?’” said Mellinger. “I hadn’t found my purpose. On your tombstone there’s your birth date and your death date, and there’s a dash in between. I asked myself, ‘What’s in the dash?’ I said, ‘Lord, if you take me, I know I’ll be with You. But if you give me an opportunity, I will find what that purpose is.’” During a ceremony last fall, Mellinger humbly and reluctantly accepted the Northern Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Aaron L. Groff Servant Leader Award for her enduring impact on the community. Mellinger, who retired from a productive 40-year career at Blue Ridge Communications in December of 2024, has volunteered countless hours to local causes.
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See Cindy Mellinger pg 5 Cindy Mellinger (right) with her sister, Cherri Maurer
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Does ULTWMA Have the Space for You BY JEFF FALK
R129519
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lancastercountymag.com Celebrating Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Since 1987.
The Upper Leacock Township War Memorial Association (ULTWMA) is opening the doors to its house, inviting citizens and residents in and encouraging them to discover what it’s all about. You might be surprised by what you find inside. “We really want people to come out and see the war memorial building,” said Tim Chopp, president of ULTWMA. “No one really knows it’s there. We want people to get an idea of what can be done
Members of ULTWMA perform a handful of services throughout the Leola
Kyle Offers Big Help for Oliver BY JEFF FALK
Everybody needs a role model. Everybody needs someone to bounce ideas off of. Everyone needs someone in their corner. Little Brother Oliver has got Big Brother Kyle. It’s an evolving symbiotic relationship that is rooted in mutual respect, empathy and curiosity. “I wanted to volunteer my time in some way, and Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) seemed like a positive way to do so,” said Kyle. “As our relationship has grown, Oliver seems to respect me more and more and listen to what I have to say. He definitely seems to trust me more as he has become more comfortable. I’m trying to teach Oliver that things won’t always go his way, and that’s OK.” In March of 2024, Kyle and Oliver were matched by the Lancaster County branch of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-Central PA . Included in the match process was an in-depth enrollment process - an interview and staff assessment that identified factors that will support a lasting relationship. Before meeting Oliver, Kyle underwent a background check and received training. Oliver is a resident of Lititz. “The first meet was at Oliver’s house with his mom and the match support specialist to introduce everyone involved,” said Kyle. “At the first meeting, Oliver was pretty quiet and shy, which was to be expected.” On average, Kyle and Oliver get together about twice a month. T heir time spent to gether includes playing with Legos at Oliver’s house, going bowling, playing tennis and pickleball
See ULTWMA pg 2 community.
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VOL LXII • NO 29
See Kyle & Oliver pg 4
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