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Mat Magic Runs in the Carl Family
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BY CAT SHANNON
EVENT S CALENDAR
he’s only 14 years old, but Ivy Carl has already made history. Ivy, the daughter of John and Tracy Carl of Elizabethtown, is the first person in the 51-year history of the Elizabethtown Optimist Junior High Tournament wrestling tournament to win her weight class back-to-back years and also earn fastest pin honors. Additionally, she took home Outstanding Wrestler, an honor voted on by other coaches and teams. Going into the tournament, Ivy was a heavy favorite to win her weight class of 120 pounds. She finished this past season with an undefeated record. “I was excited, and I felt ready to go,” she said of participating in the February tournament. “I knew I was probably going to have a target on my back just from last year and how I did the whole season, but I felt confident and ready for
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The Carl siblings, (from left) Cassidy, Liam and Ivy. Photo by Cat Shannon
whatever happened.” and eleven seconds overall. To earn the fastest pin award, Ivy Although it was a successful day completed pins in all three of her for the young wrestler, the sport is matches, totaling just two minutes about much more than winning, See Magic pg 8
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Early Learning Takes Root
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BY CAT SHANNON
Transformation is underway at the former Rheems Elementary School, where construction has begun on a no-cost learning center set to open in summer 2027. When it does, the Catherine Hershey School will bring change not only to the building, but also to the students and families it serves. The Elizabethtown Catherine Hershey School, located at 130 Alida St., will be the second location to open in Lancaster County, following the opening of a site in New Danville this summer. A third school is set to open in Lancaster city in the fall of 2027. Additional Catherine Hershey Schools are open in Hershey, Harrisburg and Kim Nixon (left), facilities supervisor, and Luanne Middletown. Dohner, center director, outside the Catherine
See Learning pg 5 Hershey School in Elizabethtown. Photo by Cat Shannon
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
In your mailbox & online
VOL LXVII • NO 5
Cooking Up Hope at Relay For Life BY CAT SHANNON
About 25 years ago, Joan Schaum learned about Relay For Life, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, through her employer, and she joined a team. She didn’t know that the organization would touch her personally in the future. Years later, her mother-in-law, Jackie Immel, moved in with Joan and her husband, Jeffrey, to their home in Columbia. While living with the Schaums, Immel was diagnosed with several types of cancer. The Schaums took Immel to the Lancaster Relay For Life, which was then a 24-hour event focused on walking laps around a track to raise funds for cancer research. “She loved walking around the track,” Joan recalled. “When she couldn’t walk around the track anymore for the survivor lap, we put her in a wheelchair and pushed her around the track. She thought it was awesome that all these people were clapping for her and cheering her on, and she had no idea who they were.” In 2016, Immel passed away from kidney failure. The loss prompted the Schaums to take action in Immel’s memory. “We thought it would be nice to honor her, and she liked the Relay so much, we decided to start our own team,” Jeffrey said. Recalling how much his mom liked the survivors’ dinner part of Relay For Life, he had an idea. “We thought, ‘Why don’t we start a survivor breakfast?’” Jeffrey said. “Growing up, any time we had big events, my mom cooked. We thought, ‘What a great way to honor her by cooking for the cancer survivors and their caregivers.’” See Relay pg 2
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