Columbia/Hellam/Wrightsville JANUARY 21, 2026
SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 6,480 HOMES
A Faithful Response to Mental Health
Local Vocalists Perform at the White House BY GEORGE DEIBEL
BY CAT SHANNON
ONLINE T
WINTER EVENT CALENDAR townlively.com/ events
hrough education, prayer and compassionate care, Columbia Catholic Mental Health Ministry (CCMHM) strives to fulfill a core mission: to create a community where no one walks alone. “CCMHM was founded to create a compassionate space where our community can openly discuss mental health; support one another; and accompany those who suffer toward richer spiritual, emotional and physical lives,” shared retired deacon Jim Doyle, who leads the program with parish nurse Chamaine DeLeon. “While we do not replace professional mental health care, we offer understanding, presence and hope grounded in faith and community.” CCMHM was founded in December 2023 at a meeting of the parishes of Holy Trinity and St. Peter’s Catholic churches in See Mental Health pg 2 Chamaine and Tony DeLeon light candles during a Blue Christmas service.
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A Beginner’s Guide to Birding BY CAT SHANNON
T h i s s pr i n g , S u s q ue h a n n a National Heritage Area (SNHA) invites people in the community to look up, listen closely and get to know the birds along the Susquehanna River a little better. Three Introduction to Birding workshops will be offered on Saturday, March 28, each designed for a specific age group. A 10 a.m. session will be geared toward families. An 11 a.m. session will address adults, and a 12:30 p.m. R124838
See Birding pg 4 Sarah Gotwols leads a bird walk in Native Lands County Park
VOL LXVI • NO 45
From Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to Pennsylvania Avenue. Perfect Harmony, composed of three vocalists and a piano accompanist who reside in the county, had the honor of performing at the White House on Dec. 2, the first day of the Christmas open house. Wearing traditional Victorian costumes made by group member Ric Zimmerman, Perfect Harmony sang Christmas tunes in the East Room. “It was beautiful. Really beautiful,” said Zimmerman, who lives in Lancaster. Zimmerman, his sister Donna Jones from Columbia, and Kat Prickett from Lancaster were joined by piano player Katrina King of New Holland. Jones was filling in for Sarah Poague of Columbia, who had given birth and was unable to attend the White House performance. “For me, that was really special,” said Zimmerman. “First of all, to have the opportunity to sing at the White House, and then to create that memory with my sister. We’ll always have that for the rest of our lives. We’ll have that memory of something special that we got to do together, which is really neat.” Many of the attendees were on tours. “A lot of people came and stood and listened to sing through several songs because they would move on, and it was neat,” said Zimmerman. “It was all people, all ages and families, children, and it was fun seeing even the children all dressed up. It was obviously a very special event for people that were there. Seeing people’s faces when they would come into the room where See Vocalists pg 3
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