Columbia/Hellam/Wrightsville JUNE 3, 2026
SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 6,480 HOMES
Sweat, Strength and NEWS, Sisterhood EVENTS, & MORE!
BY CATHY MOLITORIS
B
efore the sun is fully up on Saturday mornings, women gather behind Columbia Christian Fellowship to flip tires, drag ropes and push themselves throug h grueling outdoor workouts. Minutes later, sweaty and exhausted, they sit around a campf ire shar ing stor ies about faith, struggles and life. For the women of Chromium Tribe, the challenge is the point. The group combines Chromium Tribe members during a recent workout. Photo by Cathy Molitoris “We meet outdoors, so we try to physical fitness with spiritual in Columbia since late February encouragement, creating a space as part of Women’s Alliance, a do things you don’t do in a gym,” where women can grow stron- national outdoor ministry. Every said Feliciano, who oversees mulger together, both mentally and Saturday morning begins with tiple tribes in Pennsylvania and what Laura Feliciano describes as a Maryland. “We strive to do our spiritually. workouts so they’re harder than Chromium Tribe has been meeting “rugged workout.”
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• NO 12
iser Merchand Delivery Updates Beginning June 3
you June 3, 2026, s in how Beginning some change may notice community newspa your weekly ed as we continue per is deliverdistribution methevolving our our commu nities ods to serve responsibly. and n, effectively on your locatioue Depending per may contin your newspamail or be delivered ay, but in to arrive by your drivew directly to home deliver y may some cases no longer available. or may be reduced y methods While deliver tment to keepvary, our comminities informed ing our commu ged. Reader s unchan s the same remain e to receive conwill continu ality local trusted, high-qucome to expect have week. tent they tions each remain from our publica al teams will Our editori sharin g hyperl ocal focuse d on nity events, school news, commu s, nonpro fit ini, achiev ement business stories tiatives, local nes, and the posmilesto within sports, happen ing and suritive stories hometown both your nities. access rounding commu how you No matter are commi tted we your paper, our public ations ng our to ensuri available to remain readily edition will cononline at readers. Every accessible g readtinue to be , allowin anytim e townlively.com connec ted ers to stay ere. In additi on, and anywh will be available and at printed copies at our office for pickup high-tr affic comhout conven ient, ns throug update d munity locatio . A full and will be ns the region locatio list of pickup website. our 4 posted on ution pg See Distrib
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When members of Wrightsville Presbyterian Church saw a need in their community, they took action, and the Summer Lunch Program was born. The program will run from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on weekdays from Monday, June 8, through Friday, Aug. 14, in the church’s fellowship hall at the back of the church, 205 N. Second St., Wrightsville. “ When we learned that one
Saying Goodbye to “Olde Salem” BY CATHY MOLITORIS
If the walls of Historic Salem United Church of Christ could talk , what would they say? Would they recall when the first German-speaking people gathered in the building for worship in 1803? Would they remember when the cornerstone of the present building at 324 Walnut St. was laid in 1860? Or would they celebrate the day the first woman was elected to the church council in 1949? As Columbia’s oldest church, Salem UCC has impacted generations of people who came together to celebrate their Christian faith in an open and affirming space. But all good things must come to an end, and on May 24, the church affectionately known as “Olde Salem” - held its last service. “This church has meant so much to this community over the years,” said pastor Mark Harris. “I have no doubt that there will be an empty space in the community now.” The decision to close was not made lightly, said Robert “Scott” Bollinger, who serves on the church council. The Keystone Conference UCC began suggesting closure even before Harris was hired almost a decade ago. The conference was concerned about the turnover of ministers and the dwindling membership, but the congregation was determined to stay the course. The members provided materials showing the church’s activity in the community and completed a program organized by the conference to strengthen the church. “We tried a lot of different things, but COVID was really the
See Kids pg 6 People enjoy a previous year’s Summer Lunch Program.
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