Donegal FEBRUARY 25, 2026
SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 9,800 HOMES
VOL LXVII • NO 3
Conference Get Ready to Reel in Spring Will Address Cultural Challenges to Faith
BY CAT SHANNON
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ONLINE WINTER EVENT CALENDAR townlively.com/ events
BY CAT SHANNON
Depoe, a founding member of the DFCA and a longtime advocate for outdoor education. “He passed away since last year’s show, and we wanted a way to honor him and his contributions,” Robbins said. The show will feature more than 40 vendors, along with tables of information from the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Marietta Fireworks and other groups. See Spring pg 2
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Minnie Brings Science to School
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BY CAT SHANNON
Students at Donegal Primary School (DPS) learned some new vocabulary words and discovered what animals do to prepare for the winter, all while meeting a local furry celebrity when Mount Joy Minnie spent the day at the school. After making her weather prediction (an early spring), Minnie then visited DPS on Feb. 2, greeting students and sharing information in a program presented by Heritage Creek Farm & Education Center. It was all part of an opportunity to combine Cindi Hughes (left) and Natasha Herr (center) demonstrate local lore with scientific facts.
how students should put “wolf ears” on to listen, while Michele
See Minnie pg 3 Emenheiser and Mount Joy Minnie (right) look on.
townlively.com
JUNE 11, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXVI • NO 18
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 BY CAT SHANNON
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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
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 quality of life by working with them on personalized. “The program is different for activities of daily living that have everyone, as the trainer cus- become difficult for them.” MS FitEffect is open to anyone tom-designs the program for the particular participant,” he stated. with MS or any demyelinating
The historic Star Barn will be one of the sights to see along the route of Hope Within Ministries’ Let Your Light Shine 5K.
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 read-
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
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“Our country was founded on a Judeo-Christian worldview,” said Dan Blank, pastor of Reich’s Evangelical Congregational (E.C.) Church in Marietta. “In these times in which we live, it is very important for Christians to know not only what we believe, but why we believe it. We need to understand our times and how we arrived at this point and what we as Christians can do to engage our culture today for Jesus Christ.” With that in mind, the church will host a live Christian worldview conference called “Understanding Our Times and Biblical Path Forward,” featuring Del Tackett. Tackett is the producer and teacher of “The Truth Project,” produced in partnership with Focus on the Family; the producer and teacher of “The Engagement Project;” and the producer of the movie “Is Genesis History?” The conference will be held on Saturday, April 11, at Reich’s E.C. Church, 338 Stackstown Road, Marietta. It will run from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. “We all know that our culture ... needs Jesus,” Blank shared. “How do we as Christians engage our culture today, that embraces and advances a worldview that is so much against what we believe? That is what Dr. Tackett is going to be addressing.” For the first two sessions of the program, Tackett will explain, from a biblical worldview standpoint, reasons for the changes in our culture. The third session will draw from “The Engagement See Conference pg 4
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fter this w inter, we all need a little spring,” said Dan Robbins, a member of the Donegal Fish & Conser vation Association (DFCA) and a committee member for the group’s annual outdoor show. “Come to the show, walk around, see what everybody has to offer and get ready for fishing and other outdoor activities.” A previous year’s outdoor show The 61st annual Ken Depoe Memorial Outdoor Show will 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will include be held on Saturday, March 7, from a pork barbecue sandwich and two 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Maytown sides. Tickets may be purchased in Fire Company, 160 E. High St., advance for the meal by contacting Maytown. It will feature vendors Chris Brandt at 717-470-7585, and and displays, including information meals will be available to purchase from local conservation groups, on-site while supplies last. The used hunting and fishing gear for deadline for preorders is Friday, sale, artisans, children’s activities Feb. 27. Although the show has been and more. A meal from Har vey ’s Main held for six decades, it has been Street BBQ will be available from renamed for the first time to honor
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