Conestoga Valley SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 13,770 HOMES
Collin Goshert’s Local Skills Translate Well to National Level BY JEFF FALK
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ollin Goshert is a quick study, a fast learner. The 18-year-old resident of Warwick Township thrives in a nurturing and supportive educational environment. What Goshert has been able to accomplish in 10 short months is nothing short of amazing. “National champion” has a certain ring to it. “From my perspective, I didn’t think it was difficult to learn to operate,” said Goshert. “For some, it’s more challenging. It’s not hard to learn if you have the right teachers and the right support. There’s operating and doing it proficiently; there’s a difference.” Near the end of June, Goshert took top honors in the heavy equipment operations category at the fifth annual SkillsUSA Championships in
townlively.com
JUNE 11, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
Collin Goshert stands with a piece of heavy equipment.
Atlanta, Ga. Goshert scored 866.5 to best 24 other high school students out of a possible 1,000 points in 22 from 18 states. judged competitions over two days Goshert had qualified for the See Collin Goshert pg 6
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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Pathways Is Continuing Education for Lifelong Learners BY JEFF FALK
Learning expands the mind. Learning fuels the soul. Learning enriches lives. Learning knows no age limits. Landis Homes’ Pathways Institute for Lifelong Learning isn’t a high school, but its students are seniors. “One of the keys of healthy
aging is engaging the mind with new adventures,” said Beth Graybill, Pathways Institute ’s manager at Landis Homes. “It’s a way to stay engaged with our interests. The social aspect is an important part of it. It helps people get outside of their comfort zones and engage with other seniors in topics they care about.” All of Pathways Institute A student learns from an instructor during a See Pathways pg 8 Pathways class.
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BY JEFF FALK
Knowledge is empowering and emboldening. Information can open minds and lead to understanding that produces empathy and curiosity. Some people who come to know reptiles come to love them. Those people have given reptiles a chance. “Imagine if someone told you there’s this magical, mysterious world that’s existed all of your life,” said Jesse Rothacker, a 2000 graduate of Warwick High School, a herpetologist and the president of Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary. “That’s the reptile world, and it does exist. It’s a very complex world. Maybe if you hear that, you think, ‘I wonder if I can learn a little bit about it and see what all the excitement is about.’ That’s when you fall in love with these animals.” Rothacker operates Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary from his home in Rapho Township. The organization includes a rescue/ adoption program and provides the foundation for Rothacker’s engaging, entertaining and educational reptile shows. “Half of what everyone knows about reptiles is not true,” said Rothacker. “Everyone thinks every snake is a copperhead. Once you understand that they’re not, you can learn new things about reptiles. If you can get past the fear, then you can unlock the fascination.” Rothacker stages more than 300 45-minute reptile shows each year, both public showings and private performances. He See Reptiles pg 9
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Cast members perform a musical number from Servant Stage’s production of “Swing!”
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VOL LXI • NO 38
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