Elizabethtown townlively.com
MARCH 6, 2024
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
Filling body and soul BY CATHY MOLITORIS
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Banquet will support Cornerstone BY CATHY MOLITORIS
shared love of food and community brought together three women who are striving to make a difference in Elizabethtown. Madison Synder, Nikita Grove and Cecile Madonna will launch the Elizabethtown Farmers Market Co. (EFM) this spring. The nonprofit will provide fresh produce along with a gathering space for community members to come together to share information and ideas. A little over two years ago, Synder and Grove connected after prepar ing meals for a
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“ We want Cornerstone to start a positive transformation in kids’ lives and then that has a ripple effect of positive transformation in our community,” said Jim Bush, executive director. You can help promote that transformation by attending Cornerstone’s annual banquet presented by Brown Plus.
The banquet will be held on Thursday, March 21, at Mount C a l va r y C h r i s t i a n S c h o o l , 629 Holly St., Elizabethtown. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the banquet will begin at 6 p.m. The evening will feature a catered meal prepared by The Spot Hometown Deli, including ham, macaroni and cheese, soup, salad and desserts. A silent auction will include a See Banquet pg 6
friend and lamenting the loss of their favorite community supported agriculture farms, markets and co-ops since both returned to Lancaster County - Synder from a job in North Carolina and Grove from a job in Philadelphia. The pair connected with fellow Elizabethtown College graduate Madonna a few months into the planning process. Soon, the trio realized their backgrounds in business, nutrition and community made the perfect combination for the nonprofit board. Synder serves as president of Elizabethtown Farmers Market Co., while Grove is vice president and Madonna is secretary and treasurer. The women are still working with Elizabethtown Borough to finalize a space along Market
People enjoy a previous banquet for Cornerstone Youth Center.
Cecile Madonna (left), Madison Synder (center) and Nikita Grove will open Elizabethtown Farmers Market Co. this spring.
Street for the market, which they plan to open with a special event in May. More details will be coming soon about the opening, and the market will remain open every first and third Wednesday of the month through October. It will feature locally sourced food items not limited to produce, baked goods and fresh-cut flowers. “Our vision is to remove access barriers related to income, geography or education,” Madonna said. “We think everyone should have access to fruits, vegetables and goods at their peak freshness and nutritional value. We
also want to support the growth and success of local businesses by highlighting our farmers and vendors.” Synder noted that farmers markets in general have a positive economic impact, referencing a 2021 Penn State Extension survey that showed that farmers markets in the state generate an estimated $100 million in annual sales. “The farmers market will also serve to bring the produce to the people,” Grove said. “We are surrounded by so many amazing local producers and yet access is still a barrier. By bringing the
Friendship and family in “The Wizard of Oz” BY CATHY MOLITORIS
“This is one of those shows that makes you feel good,” said director Dena McKell, describing “The Wizard of Oz.” “Everybody loves this show and how it brings that aspect of family and home together.” “The Wizard of Oz” will be performed by Encore Home School Productions at T he Junction Center, 1875 Junction Road, Manheim, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, through Saturday, March 16, and at
2 p.m. on Sunday, March 17. A l tho u g h the mu sic al is based on the iconic movie, the directors encouraged the students to make their characters their own. “ We ’re not imitating the movie,” said assistant director Jill Panyard. “ We wanted to shape the characters a little differently than the movie. We are shaping Dorothy a bit more like a tomboy, like a hardworking farm girl.” The cast features about 40 students, ranging in age from See “Wizard of Oz” pg 5 R102845
See Farmers market pg 7
Let us show you the difference a caring neighbor can make. Rothermel-Finkenbinder Miller-Finkenbinder Fager-Finkenbinder Smedley-Finkenbinder Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. Funeral Home & Crematory Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. Palmyra | 717-838-9211 Elizabethtown | 717-367-1543 Middletown | 717-944-7413 Marietta | 717-426-3614 Travis S. Finkenbinder, Supervisor Kala M. Smith, Supervisor Alaina A. Ace, Supervisor Megan S. Waters, Supervisor
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“We think everyone should have access to fruits, vegetables and goods at their peak freshness and nutritional value.”