Elizabethtown townlively.com
FEBRUARY 26, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXVI • NO 3
Transforming conflict into conversation BY CAT SHANNON
The Rheems Athletic Association offers programs in a variety of sports, including softball.
Building champions on and off the field BY CAT SHANNON
“We want to help kids make friends, boost their self-confidence and learn to be part of a team.” Norman estimates that about 500 youths participate in association programs, and players come from across the county. Soccer and softball are the most popular
sports in the organization. “This organization is run 100% by volunteers,” said Norman, who noted that his three children have all participated in the programs offered by the Rheems Athletic Association. “Every sport could use help from volunteers. Every spor t could use some extra coaching and field help. Anybody who has a sport they like and care about should reach out to us and let us know.” Along with volunteers for specific sports, the organization also relies on sponsorships for teams and donations, which cover the cost of insurance as well as maintenance of fields and equipment. “ We do our best to keep our costs as low as possible for our families who participate,” Norman said. “We’re not
See Conversation pg 2
A calming presence VITA announces free tax preparation BY ANN MEAD ASH
“Most people don’t understand taxes,” said Cliff Mast, site coordinator for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Paradise location at The Factory Ministries, 3293 Lincoln Highway East. “We as a group (of volunteers) work on de-mystifying them or just being a calming presence.” Mast explained that many clients who come to VITA for free tax preparation services feel a lot of anxiety about completing their taxes. “Our goal is to say,
See Champions pg 5
‘It’s alright. We will take care of this. We will help walk you through it.’” Mast, who has been a volunteer with VITA for nearly a decade, said that the Paradise site, which opened at the end of January, is one of 15 sites located throughout the county that are staffed with volunteer tax preparers. Locally, free tax preparation through VITA is available at two locations in Elizabethtown: Alliance Church, 425 Cloverleaf Road, as well as Elizabethtown College, 1 Alpha Drive. See Taxes pg 3
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he Rheems Athletic Association’s mission is to support youth sports programs, but the benefits of the nonprofit go much deeper. “We’re trying to create a place for children and youth to be able to participate in athletics; be safe; have fun; and have something to do that ultimately builds teamwork, resilience and confidence,” said Jon Norman, president of the group. “All the things kids do in sports are the things that translate to real life: communication, how to work together and especially resilience. Sometimes in life, you lose. How can you handle that? And on the other side, how can you handle success gracefully?”
T he association has been around for decades, and it offers sports programs for children from kindergarten through 12th grade. Sports include soccer, softball, volleyball, field hockey, rugby and lacrosse.
For just over two years, community organization Advoz worked with middle and high school students in the Elizabethtown Area School D i s t r i c t to re d u ce conflicts and promote restorative practices. Although the Lancaster-based organization’s participation in the district ended after grant funding ran out, Advoz saw positive results from First-grade students learn how to listen part of a weekly lesson with Advoz coll a b orat ing w i th as facilitator Carmen Epstein. the students, and it’s now looking to expand Advoz highlight mitigation of classpartnerships with other districts room conflict and improve comin the county. munication skills. From Elizabethtown, Advoz “We focused on an introducstaff members worked with tion of conflict skills, ‘I’ mesninth-grade students in the sages, and the various conflict School District of Lancaster to styles of different people,”