Columbia/Hellam/Wrightsville
townlively.com
JUNE 14, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXIV • NO 16
Eastern York students reminded to love one another
Jessica Rose
Daniel Slater
BY CATHY MOLITORIS
“Insta-Worthy Moments” celebrated at Columbia’s graduation nsta-Worthy Moments” was the theme of speeches delivered at Columbia High School’s Class of 2023 graduation. The ceremony took place on June 1 at the high school. Kenny Tran was named valedictorian. “We had open audition tryouts for students who wanted to speak,” explained teacher Linda Eckman Wissler. “We asked them to prepare a one- to two-minute speech, and we selected three students to speak.” The speakers were Ciara Ramos, Mercyangelis Gonzalez Morillo and salutatorian Mallory Conroy. Ciara is the daughter of Michelle Ramos of Columbia and Julio Ramos. She said she was hesitant
“I
initially about speaking, but she’s glad she tried out. “Something just called me to do it,” she recalled. “I said I’d take a chance, and I did.” Her speech focused on what the various moments throughout high school meant to her and her classmates and all of the things the Class of 2023 has gone through. At Columbia, Ciara was active in the theater program. She plans to attend HACC, Central Pennylvania’s Community College for two years before transferring to a university. Mercyangelis is the daughter of Jose Rosado and Mercybel Morillo of Columbia. She was a member of the volleyball team at Columbia and plans to play volleyball for Penn State University. “My speech talked about the situations that made me
the person who I am today,” she stated. “I talked about how I moved here from Puerto Rico without knowing any English when I was 12.” Mallory is the daughter of Michael and April Conroy of Columbia. She took the theme of “Insta-Worthy Moments” to heart in her speech, noting, “I specifically wanted to talk about the discrepancy in social media between what you see and what is actually going on behind the scenes.” She plans to attend Shippensburg University and major in psychology. At Columbia, she participaticed on the track and cross-country teams, was a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council, served as yearbook editor and was a class officer for all four years.
See Eastern pg 5
Celebrating history and the river BY CATHY MOLITORIS
“Riverfest commemorates the involvement the river towns of Columbia and Wrightsville had in the Civil War,” said Sophia Vayansky, Columbia Crossing River Trails Center program coordinator. “It’s a really nice opportunity for us to connect to that larger, national story, but also connect to and feature local stories.” Riverfest will be held from Friday, June 23, through Sunday, June 25. Activities will take place throughout Columbia, Wrightsville and Marietta, all with the goal of
highlighting the 160th anniversary of the burning of the bridge over the Susquehanna River during the Civil War. The weekend will be full of heritage walks, talks, trolley tours and more. “We have an architectural tour premiering this year, and that’s going to focus on all of the different styles of buildings you’ll find in Columbia,” Vayansky noted. Hosted by the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County, architectural tours will run all three days and will leave from the Columbia Crossing River Trails Center, 41 Walnut St. See Riverfest pg 3
Sweet Cherries are Ripe!! * Ready Picked at Market ket * 400 Long Lane At Marticville Road d * Pick Your Own * (Rts. 741 & 324S)
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
Mon.-Fri. 8am-7pm Mo 3 Miles S. of Lancaster Sat. 7am-4pm * Last entry ½ hr. before closing * Mon.-Sat. 8-6, Closed Sunday POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER JUN. 14, 2023
Postal Patron
CWM
BY CATHY MOLITORIS
major in health and exercise science and biology on the pre-med track. Jessica’s speech talked about taking the life lessons learned in high school and applying them to the future. “Every class mattered,” she said, “but there was much more to be learned than just the content.” She advised her fellow graduates to acknowledge their support systems. “Be grateful for the people throughout your life who have helped you get to where you are,” she remarked. “Strive to do your best, but only compare yourself to your past self.” Daniel is the son of Michael and Maggie Slater and the brother of Isabella Slater of Wrightsville. His activities during high school included serving as National Honor Society
Beautiful Flowers 717-872-9311
www.cherryhillorchards.com
R096718 6718
Ciara Ramos (left), Mercyangelis Gonzalez Morillo (middle) and Mallory Conroy spoke at Columbia High School’s graduation ceremony.
When the members of the Class of 2023 graduated from Eastern York High School on May 31, the Golden Knights present heard speeches from three of their peers valedictorian Jessica Lynn Rose, salutatorian Daniel Graham Slater and senior class president Cameron Elizabeth Wolf. Jessica is the daughter of John and Sherry Rose of Hellam. At Eastern York, she was an executive officer of Student Council and served as president of the Interact Club. She also competed in Science Olympiad, played soccer and managed the football and basketball teams. She plans to attend Wake Forest University to
Cameron Wolf