Columbia/Hellam/Wrightsville townlively.com
MARCH 13, 2024
National
Day
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXV • NO 2
Look Inside
Introducing girls to engineering BY CATHY MOLITORIS
Speaking to an auditorium full of high-school girls, Dr. Sara Atwood recalled a story about the early days of seatbelts. The male engineers designing the device, noted the Dean of the School of Engineering and Computer Science at Elizabethtown
College, neglected to consider the needs of pregnant women when making the safest seatbelts possible. “We care about having every p ers p e c t ive in the ro om,” Atwood told the girls. That’s the motivation behind Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day on the campus. The second annual See Engineering pg 3
The cast and crew of “The Lightning Thief”
Kids on a quest in “The Lightning Thief” BY CATHY MOLITORIS
effects, said Kenshin Meekins, a senior who is the sound designer. “This is a complicated show for tech,” he stated. “We’re using fog and other special effects, and the lighting design and sounds we’re using make the show great.” “The Lightning Thief ” features a cast of 25 with a d oz e n c re w m e m b e r s , a n d the cast members range from second-graders through highschool seniors. Many of the younger students are siblings of the high-schoolers. Kaitlin hopes audiences will leave the show feeling a bond with the characters. “There’s at least one character in the show that will speak to you,” she said. “ There’s a connection level, whether it’s their confidence or their insecurity.” And Eva expects audiences won’t soon forget the musical, adding, “You will go home with at least one song stuck in your head.” Tickets for “ The Lightning Thief” will be sold at the door. All seating is general admission.
Working on a water filtration project are (from left) Columbia High School freshmen Isabella Ward, Sophia Garza and Mar Mendoza.
Egg Fest and more in Wrightsville BY CATHY MOLITORIS
For the cong re gation at Wrightsville Assembly of God, Easter provides an opportunity not only to rejoice in the resurrection, but also to celebrate the importance of community. The church, located at 365 Orange St., Wrightsville, will host Egg Fest on Saturday, March 30, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., as well as Easter services on March 30 and Sunday, March 31. Egg Fest will feature a unique egg hunt, said Valerie McClure,
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hen Columbia High School presents “The Lightning Thief,” audiences can expect to understand the motivation of the characters on stage, especially if the audience members are high-school students. “It’s a show about kids dealing with their parents’ mistakes, and I think that’s relatable to a lot of people,” said Nevaeh Kilby, a senior who plays Grover. “I think the message speaks to a lot of people.” Columbia will present the show at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, through Saturday, March 16, with an additional performance at 2 p.m. on March 16. It will be performed in the high school auditorium, 901 Ironville Pike. “The Lightning Thief” is based on the first book in the series by Rick Riordan. “It’s about Greek mythology, but set in the modern day,” said Eva Fanous, a junior who is a member of the lighting crew. “It’s about the children of
the Greek gods. They’re called half-bloods because they’re half human, half god. T he main character is Percy Jackson, and he finds out he’s a half blood and he has to go on a quest to help his father prevent a war between the gods.” The musical features several fight scenes, and the cast worked with fight coordinator Rebecca Gentry to prepare. “ There are a lot of intense s c e n e s ,” e x p l a i n e d K a i t l i n Scheele, a senior who plays Annabeth. “There is a capture the flag scene that is a big fight scene.” She added that the show includes a mix of emotions on stage. “There are funny parts, but there are also tragic parts,” she said. “These are 12-year-olds who are sent on a quest to save the world. It gets pretty intense. There are moments of insecurity and moments when they are ready to fight and take on the world.” Along with stage combat, the show features a variety of special
Mon-Sat. 8-6
church secretary/communications director. “Rather than a starting line and a mad dash for eggs, upon arrival, kids will receive a map at the registration tables,” she explained. “ The map will indicate where they can find egg stations dispersed throughout the event. Every kid is guaranteed to get a basket full of eggs by the time the leave.” The egg hunt is open to children in fifth grade and under. As kids collect eggs, families can also enjoy on-site food trucks, including Cupcakes by See Egg Fest pg 2
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