Columbia/Hellam/Wrightsville SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 6,480 HOMES
Fall Fest Promises Fun and Finds BY CAT SHANNON
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t St. John’s Herr Estate’s a n n u a l Fa l l Fe s t , y o u never know what you’ll find - maybe a $5 TV, a singing Chihuahua, or just a whole lot of laughter. Part indoor yard sale, part bake sale and all-around good time, the event is as much about fun and fellowship as it is about bargains. The Fall Fest will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the community, 200 Luther Lane, Columbia. “We have seasonal items, linens, a plethora of kitchen things, pocketbooks, toys, household items, jewelry,” said resident Carolyn Livingston, a member of the Fall Fest committee. “It’s probably the biggest sale of this kind around here. It’s all in one location. We have a lot of stuff. It’s good stuff, and it’s inexpensive.” Resident and committee member townlively.com
JUNE 11, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
St. John’s Herr Estate residents with some of the items for sale at Fall Fest. Photo by Cat Shannon
Andrea Robinson agreed, adding, The community’s chapel will “You name it, we have it for sale. serve as the hub for items, with Where else can you get a TV for $5?” framed artwork expanding out See Fall pg 8
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Shine Bright at Hope Within 5K BY CAT SHANNON
Support a local nonprofit, enjoy beautiful surroundings and get some exercise all at the same time by participating in the Hope Within Ministries’ Let Your Light Shine 5K Walk/ Run. The event will be held on
Saturday, July 19, beginning at 8 a.m. at Stone Gables Estate, 1 Hollinger Lane, Elizabethtown. “The idea came about as a means to represent what Hope Within Ministries is - a health care, dental and counseling center,” said Laurie Reichert, director of development for the See 5K pg 2
2024 MS FitEffect participants and trainers with program director Mark Mueller (far right)
MS FitEffect Puts Strength Into Motion explained. “We have sessions there are no two people who available Monday through Sat- share the same set of symptoms urday in the morning, afternoon at the same intensities with the and some evenings. It is based same presentation of symptoms.” While specifics vary for each on the participant’s and trainer’s participant, the program focuses availability.” on strength, stamina and stability for all sessions. “ We use a combination of “We meet each stretching, relaxation techniques, participant where they weight training, cardiovascular training, balance and gait training are at and move them and functional training,” Mark forward from there.” said. “We meet each participant where they are at and move them forward from there. We focus on As Mark shared, MS FitEffect is helping them achieve a better qualpersonalized. ity of life by working with them on “The program is different for activities of daily living that have everyone, as the trainer cus- become difficult for them.” tom-designs the program for the MS FitEffect is open to anyone particular participant,” he stated. with MS or any demyelinating “MS is different for everyone; disease.
The historic Star Barn will be one of the sights to see along the route of Hope Within Ministries’ Let Your Light Shine 5K.
In your mailbox & online ETN
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ark Mueller and his wife, Jackie, took a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and turned it into an opportunity to help others. Jackie was diagnosed with MS in 1998, and the couple sought to treat the disease as naturally as possible, without medication. They experimented with nutrition and exercise to see what worked and what didn’t, and their research led to MS FitEffect, a free, 10-week program for people with MS. The next session will run from Saturday, Sept. 6, through Saturday, Nov. 15, at Elizabethtown Fitness Club, 626 S. Market St. “Each participant selects a time with their trainer for their private one-hour weekly session,” Mark
A World of Wonder Awaits Inside the Bookmobile
BY JEFF FALK
It ’s more than books on wheels. The Library System of Lancaster County’s (LSLC) bookmobile delivers knowledge, creativity, inspiration and joy. The bookmobile is kind of like a food truck serving up nourishment for the mind and soul. “Reading in general is very important,” said Audrey Lilley, the bookmobile’s driver, curator and full-time coordinator. “It’s important for kids to be reading. It’s important for them to
See MS FitEffect pg 5
be able to pick up a book and see characters who look like them. Reading can be inspirational, and with retirees, it kind of comes full circle. I think retirees can find comfort in reading. For all people in between, it’s a way to relax and unwind.” W h e n n o t o n t h e g o to multiple locations all across Lancaster County, Lilley parks the bookmobile at LSLC’s main office at 1866 Colonial Village Lane, Suite 107, Lancaster. The bookmobile is a 22-foot-long box truck with a single entrance See Bookmobile pg 3
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Building Bridges for Brianna Inspires Hope BY CAT SHANNON
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER JUN. 11, 2025
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
Postal Patron
Matt Dorgan took heartbreak and turned it into hope and healing. On Dec. 3, 2020, his 15-yearold daughter, Brianna, died by suicide after a long struggle with mental health. “Her passing shook us to our core,” he said, noting that close friends rallied around him but he knew he could not just simply move on. “As we shared our grief,
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we realized a painful truth: Every one of us had lost someone we loved to mental illness. And now, we had lost Brianna. We knew something had to change. We had to do something.” In those first raw moments of heartbreak, the idea for a mental health festival was born, he recalled. “We wanted to raise money, yes, but more than that, we wanted to raise awareness and build a real See Brianna pg 3
• Pick Your Own • Ready-Picked
Market Full of Fresh Fruit & Veggies
Brianna Dorgan
Heritage Grants Fuel Local History Projects BY CAT SHANNON
The Susquehanna National Her itage Area (SNHA) has awarded $100,000 in grants to six local organizations for projects that celebrate and preserve the region’s cultural, historical and natural heritage. The 2025-2026 Heritage Partnership Program grants support initiatives that connect people with the stories and landscapes of the Susquehanna River region through exhibits, signage, historic preservation and public education. This year, nearly $190,000 in funding requests were submitted, underscoring the strong interest in heritage-focused investment across the area. “These projects exemplify the mission of the Susquehanna National Heritage Area: to connect people with the places and stories that make this region special,” said SNHA president Mark Platts. “As we approach America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, these efforts ensure that our communities have meaningful ways to reflect on the past and inspire the future.” This year’s recipients include the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County, which received $18,000 to mount an exhibit at Lancaster Public Library highlighting pre-1776 buildings across the county in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. The Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education was awarded $20,000 to install 10 new interpretive signs on its campus, offering a self-guided tour on topics ranging from Indigenous land stewardship to regenerative farming and the ecology of the Susquehanna watershed. See Heritage pg 2
Fall:
Pansies Cabbages & Kale Ornamental Peppers Cool Season Annuals 400 Long Lane At Marticville Road Mums, (Rts. 741 & 324S) Pumpkins (All Shapes & Colors) 3 Miles S. of Lancaster & MUCH MORE!! Mon.-Sat. 8-6, Closed Sunday • 717-872-9311 www.cherryhillorchards.com
• Peaches • Apples POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER SEPT. 10, 2025
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
Postal Patron
C WM
BY CAT SHANNON
VOL LXVI • NO 28
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SEPTEMBER 10, 2025