Columbia/Hellam/Wrightsville
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Winter Sports DECEMBER 10, 2025
SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 6,480 HOMES
Honoring Two Community-Changing In your Alumni SERVING THE
JUNE 11, 2025
m
LOCAL COMM
UNITIES SINCE
townlively.co
VOL LXVI •
1954
NO 18
t Shine Brigh 5K in at Hope With
at 19, beginning Saturday, July Gables Estate, N 8 a.m. at Stone Elizabethtown. BY CAT SHANNO er Lane, a ofit, 1 Hollingidea came about as local nonpr “The s what Hope Suppo rt a to represent ful surrou nding enjoy beauti exercise all at the means Ministries is - a health and get some partic ipatin g in Withindenta l and couns eling by care, Reiche rt, same time n Minis tries’ center,” said Laurie for the the Hope Withi Shine 5K Walk/ r of development Let Your Light will be held on directo See 5K pg 2 Run. The event
m director
ct participants
s with progra and trainer
r (far right)
Sharing Christmas Joy With Seniors
Mark Muelle
t Puts MS FitEffec Motion to In h gt Stren
2024 MS FitEffe
VOL LXVI • NO 41
the to see along of the sights will be one Light Shine 5K. c Star Barn Let Your The histori Ministries’ of Hope Within
route
aits Wonder Aw A World of Bookmobile Inside the
who no two people ns there are same set of symptoms the “We have sessio ities with the Sat- share explai ned. ay throug h on at the same intens symptoms.” N of availab le Mond BY CAT SHANNO presentation morning, afterno each see cs vary for urday in the is based same up a book and While specifi program focuses and his wife, evenin gs. It ’s be able to pick look like them. ark Mueller diagnosis and some pant, the pant’s and trainer a stabilpartici partici took and , a characters who the ationa l, on Jackie stamin BY JEFF FALK sclero sis g can be inspir kind of on streng th, s. on Readin of multi ple an oppor- availability.” s, it of than books ity for all session it into and with retireeI think retirees combi nationues, It ’s more was (MS) and turned “ We use a full circle. Librar y System For techniq others. Jackie wheel s. The Count y’s (LSLC ) comes comfort in reading. ing, relaxation vascular tunity to help MS in 1998, and stretch find way a ster each can cardio it’s g, n, dge, of Lanca “We meet diagnosed with t to treat the weight trainin and gait training delivers knowle joy. all people in betwee sough bookmobile le, where they unwind.” the couple tion and training, balance training,” Mark lly as possib participant a to relax and o t o n t h e g o to creativ ity, inspira them disease as natura is kind of like and functional each participant When n tion. They experThe bookmobile g up nourishons all across are at and move exerwithout medica said. “We meetat and move them multip le locati y, Lilley parks there.” nutrition and food truck servin and soul. imented with worked and what forward from ter Count where they arethere. We focus on mind main ment for the genera l is very Lancas d from cise to see what research led to obile at LSLC’sVillage qualforwar in bookm better a the ing their al “Read Lilley, ek them achieve didn’t, and 1866 Coloni ter. The said Audrey a free, 10-we ct is helping by working with them on r office at impor tant,” , MS FitEffe MS FitEff ect, MS. The driver, curato Lane, Suite 107, Lancas t-long ity of life that have people with SaturAs Mark shared “It’s the bookmobile’s es of daily living program for obile is a 22-foo ce e coordinator. alized. for activiti will run from and full-tim kids to be read- bookm with a single entran difficult for them.” next session throug h Saturd ay, person program is different truck “The r cus- becomeFitEffect is open to anyoneg impor tant for tant for them to box obile pg 3 day, Sept. 6, MS thtown Fitness everyo ne, as the traine See Bookm m for the any demye linatin ing. It’s impor Nov. 15, at Elizabe t St. with MS or signs the progra Marke . Club, 626 S. pant selects a time tom-de lar participant,” he stated. 5 ne; disease FitEffect pg “Each partici for their private particu differe nt for everyo MS See is with their trainer session,” Mark “MS Tour! one-hour weekly Sails & Rails d
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“T
od ay, we honor two individuals who have fulfilled dreams. They’ve reached goals, and they are making a difference in their communities,” said Vickie Anspach, secretary of the Columbia Education Foundation, speaking at a breakfast for the 2025 Columbia Distinguished Alumni. “Leonardo da Vinci said, ‘People of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things,’ and I think that’s true about these two honorees.” Amita Mehta, Columbia Class of 1991, and Andrew (Andy) Ohrel, Columbia Class of 1966, were awarded this year’s honors at the event held in the library of Columbia High School in early October.
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See Alumni pg 6 Andy Ohrel (left) and Amita Mehta with their awards. Photo by Cat Shannon
C WM
Historic Holiday Fun Along the Susquehanna BY CAT SHANNON
Susquehanna National Heritage Area (SNHA) will hold two familyfriendly events to celebrate the holiday season. A Holiday Open House will be held on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 13 and 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Zimmerman Center for Heritage, 1706 Long Level Road, Wrightsville, and a Natural Ornament Making Workshop will take place at Columbia Crossing R123956
River Trails Center, 41 Walnut St., Columbia, on Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “We’ve been hosting the Holiday Open House at the Zimmerman Center for over 10 years,” said Sophia Vayansky, program manager with SNHA. “We want to invite our communities to meet our staff, learn about what we do at SNHA and enjoy historical holZimmerman Center Holiday iday cheer in our beautiful historic The Open House will feature house along the Susquehanna.” opportunities to sample roasted
BY CAT SHANNON
For decades, Christmas Day has meant something special for area seniors thanks to the e ffor ts of Helen B echtold. What began as a simple way to brighten the holiday has grown into a long-standing tradition. And this year, she’s once again asking the community to lend a hand. “With everything costing more, we really depend on donations,” Bechtold said. “The need keeps increasing.” Contributions of food, monetary donations and practical household items are welcome. Each meal package will include turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, a vegetable and dessert, along with hygiene and paper products for seniors to take home. Meals will be offered for takeout only at the Hambones Social Club of the Columbia Borough Fire Department, 726 Manor St., Columbia , from 11 a .m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 25. Last Christmas, Bechtold and her team - including longtime cook Sis Luzader - handed out more than 100 meals. She anticipates an even larger turnout this year. “There is a real need,” she said. “Our senior population is growing.” Bechtold stressed that the program is open to all adults 55 and older, regardless of income. “It’s for anyone who might be spending Christmas alone or who simply doesn’t want to cook,” she explained. “Some people just want a friendly face and a few minutes to talk when they stop by.” While the meal pickup is in
See Susquehanna pg 3 chestnuts.
See Seniors pg 2
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