Donegal townlively.com
FEBRUARY 26, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXVI • NO 3
Banquet will celebrate 75 years BY CAT SHANNON
For three quarters of a century, Kraybill Mennonite School has been providing academic and spiritual enrichment to Lancaster County children. The school, located in Mount Joy, invites the public to celebrate its milestone 75th anniversary at a fundraising banquet. The event will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 29,
at Melhorn Manor, 977 W. Main St., Mount Joy. It will feature food, fellowship and fundraising, said school representative Rachelle Vriend. “We plan to have various speakers from the Kraybill community sharing on God’s faithfulness through the past 75 years, as well as speakers talking about the financial needs for Kraybill moving forward,” she explained, adding that the evening will also See Banquet pg 2
Donegal Performing Arts will present “Annie.”
BY CAT SHANNON
W
hen Donegal Performing Arts (DPA) presents “Annie,” audiences will see a story of a plucky young orphan who maintains her positive outlook even in the face of challenges, said Isabella Reich, a freshman who portrays the title character. “Her whole personality is that she’s an optimist, and her goal is a better, brighter future for herself and her orphan friends,”
Isabella said. “She’s a very happy person, but she goes through a lot of sad things in the show, and she experiences a lot of emotions.” Based on the Little Orphan Annie comic strip, “Annie” tells the story of an orphan searching for her family. Annie lives in an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. Dreaming of a better life, the young girl escapes but is caught and returned. Meanwhile, billionaire Oliver Warbucks, looking to improve his public image, invites an orphan to stay in his
mansion for the holidays. His secretary, Grace Farrell, chooses Annie. Warbucks grows fond of Annie and wants to adopt her, but Annie longs to find her real parents, so Warbucks offers a reward for information, prompting many fraudsters to come forward. Miss Hannigan, her scheming brother Rooster, and his girlfriend, Lily, plot to pose as Annie’s parents to collect the reward. Isabella noted that although the show has a happy ending, it’s
The first Kraybill Mennonite School class in 1949
Championing student-athletes BY CAT SHANNON
“As an all-volunteer, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, our mission is to invest in Donegal athletics in order to support our school district as a whole, enhance the overall student experience and contribute to the quality of life and closeness of our community,” said James “Buzz” Albert, founder and board member of Donegal Athletic Club (DAC). A s Alber t explained, the organization provides financial
See “Annie” pg 3
support for athletics, which allows the district to continue to enhance academics, the arts and other areas. DAC also creates community-wide opportunities for recreation, fitness and sports, contributing to the livability and appeal of the community, he said. This year, DAC celebrates its 15th anniversary. “The idea for DAC grew from my realization of the importance that athletics play in shaping our student -athletes to be the best they can be - to contribute to a productive See Athletes pg 5
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“Annie” will bring joy and heart to Donegal stage