Donegal townlively.com
JUNE 25, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXVI • NO 20
Music - and Meaning with Mr. Matt BY CAT SHANNON
Volunteers set up a previous year’s Marietta Fireworks display.
Marietta Fireworks Will Feature Food and Fun
T
he skies over Marietta will come alive once again this Independence Day, as the longtime community fireworks celebration retur ns to War Memorial Park, 344 E. Walnut St., on Friday, July 4. The festivities will begin at 4 p.m. with family-friendly activities and will culminate with the fireworks display around 9:15 p.m., conditions permitting. Organized by fireworks enthusiast Gary Schatz, Marietta Fireworks will feature a new addition to the festivities this year. “We’re starting a line of food trucks at the park,” Gary said.
“Our goal is to have six.” One of the trucks will be a brand-new offering from Mumma’s Eats & Treats, operated by the former owners of the Clearview Diner. The truck will serve items including hamburgers, hot dogs and french fries. Again this year, Marietta Fireworks is partnering with Community Bible Church, 331 Anderson Ferry Road, Marietta, to offer a place to enjoy the fireworks and experience a fun atmosphere beforehand. The parking lot at the church will open at 4 p.m., and while parking is free, donations will be accepted. “Donations are one of our
biggest moneymakers for the year,” Gary said. His wife, Raeann, describes the festivities at the church as “family-friendly tailgating.” People come early to enjoy kids’ activities, including bounce houses, face painting and a barrel train, and to eat and socialize. Food trucks will begin serving food at the church at 4 p.m., and children’s activities will begin at 4:30 p.m. Live music will be provided by Common Vine from 6 to 8 p.m. “People set up in the yard, and they play cards or board games and just enjoy time together before the fireworks,” Gary said, noting that last year’s event
Matt Wheeler
vocabulary, with Wheeler writing and sharing songs based on this topic. Wheeler presented weekly videos from March through May, and the program culminated in a school-wide assembly on June 4. “I made recordings of each of the SEL songs, and teachers See Music pg 3
Foundation Provides Families With a Chance To Feel Normal BY GEORGE DEIBEL
Lynn Walker was worried. In 2013, after her son Caleb had undergone his third brain surgery, a friend sent the family away for an extended weekend trip to Ocean City, N.J. Caleb had been gone for more than two hours on a beach bike expedition, and Lynn was getting anxious. “Caleb comes bursting through the door and says, ‘I know what I’m going to
See Fireworks pg 4
do! I’m going to start a foundation!’” Lynn recalled. Caleb explained that while biking by the ocean he had felt normal for the first time in four years. “He said, ‘When you get away from everything else, you get to feel normal. This is what I want to give people,’” said Lynn. For the last 11 years, the organization Caleb formed, A Week Away Foundation, has been providing families with weeklong vacations. “Our mission is to See Foundation pg 2
Sweet Cherries
Flowe rs ALL o n are RIPE! Picking Hours: 400 Long Lane At Marticville Road Mon.-Sat. 8am-6pm (Rts. 741 & 324S) Closed Sun. Sale! * Pick Your Own Mon.-Fri. 8am-6:30pm * Ready Picked
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER JUN. 25, 2025
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
Postal Patron
DON
BY CAT SHANNON
R achel Peters, the music teacher at Donegal Primar y School (DPS), firmly believes that students benefit most from a variety of educational opportunities. She saw that firsthand when first-, second- and third-graders participated in Music Mondays with Mr. Matt, a program presented by musician Matt Wheeler. “I truly believe that students don’t learn in silos, so any time we can utilize cross-curricular strategies, I feel the students really benefit,” said Peters, who just wrapped up her first year teaching at DPS. “It’s been a fun experience to hear how they related to the Mr. Matt songs and see them get excited to watch the videos every Monday.” This is the fifth year Wheeler has presented the music program to students. It focuses on social emotional learning (SEL)
Sat. 8am-3:30pm Closed Sun.
3 Miles S. of Lancaster Follow us on
717-872-9311 www.cherryhillorchards.com
R119171