Elizabethtown SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 14,530 HOMES
Making a Splash at 8 Years Old
planning your vacation has never been more fun!
BY CAT SHANNON
S
Saturday, April 11 9am-3pm at Lebanon Expo & Fairgrounds
Get information from great Pennsylvania destinations and attractions. Free kid’s activities, giveaways and more!
2 vacation giveaways SAVE THE SAVE THE DATE SAVE THEDATE DATE this year!
SAVE THE DATE HE DATE
Happy Valley Adventure Getaway & a Destination Gettysburg Getaway
Dani Heim at the pool at Elizabethtown College. Photo by Cat Shannon
he’s only 8 years old, but Dani Heim is already breaking records in the pool. The swimmer, who is the daughter of Dan and Sarah Heim of Elizabethtown, became the first girl in the 8-and-under age group to complete a 1,650-meter swim, also known as a “mile swim.” She log ged 66 laps for the feat, but, in true youth fashion, she pushed for one more lap, so she’d finish with 67. (If you have youngsters at home, you no doubt understand why.) “My mind went berserk when I was swimming,” Dani recalled. “I was like, ‘Am I going to finish this?’” Her parents credit her ability to pace herself with her strong finish. Rather than diving in and expending all her energy like she might do in a short race, Dani kept it slow and steady.
“I’m very, very impressed with her,” Sarah said, noting that she stood poolside counting the laps as Dani swam. “She just kept going and going. She would look up at me every now and then, and I would cheer her on, and she’d keep going.” That last lap, Dani said, was just for fun; she called it a “cool-down” lap. Dani has been swimming for most of her life. “I started swimming with my dad when I was 2, and I got on my first swim team at 4,” she said. She joined the Elizabethtown Aquatic Club (EAC), which is part of the Central PA Aquatic League (CPAL). She tried out for USA Swimming just three weeks after turning 8, and she quickly swept her age group events and earned her first of several USA Middle Atlantic Championships qualifying times at her first USA Swimming meet. With CPAL, she’s helped her team See Splash pg 5
• no salesmen, pressure, or gimmicks! SATURDAY, APRIL 11,11, 2026 SATURDAY, APRIL SATURDAY, APRIL 11,2026 2026
WHEN: 9 AM TO 3TOPM WHEN: 9 AM 3TOPM WHEN: 9 AM 3 PM • free information, WHERE: LEBANON EXPO &EXPO FAIRGROUNDS WHERE: LEBANON EXPO & FAIRGROUNDS WHERE: LEBANON & FAIRGROUNDS goodies & giveaways! 5 miles of the Lancaster-Lebanon exitexit ofexit the PAthe Turnpike 5 miles north of11, the Lancaster-Lebanon of the PA PA Turnpike 5 north miles north of the Lancaster-Lebanon of Turnpike APRIL 2026 PRILSATURDAY, 11, 2026
Facing the Future With a Plan
ETN
WHEN: 9 AM TO 3 PM AM TO 3 PM WHERE: LEBANON EXPO & FAIRGROUNDS XPO & FAIRGROUNDS Ffrom GetGet information from great destinations andand attractions. RPennsylvania information from great destinations attractions. Egreat Get information Pennsylvania destinations and attractions. EPennsylvania
ADM IS been easier orN more been easier or more fun!fun! Sbeen BY CAT SHANNON easier orfun! more IO
es north ofexit theofLancaster-Lebanon exit of the PA Turnpike Lebanon the PA Turnpike Planning your 2026 summer getaway hashas never Planning your 2026 summer getaway never Planning your 2026 summer getaway has never
no •salesmen, pressure, or gimmicks • Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland Show at Show noon! noPennsylvania pressure, or gimmicks • Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland Show at noon! • salesmen, noattractions. salesmen, pressure, or gimmicks • Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland at noon! ormation from •great destinations and attractions. ylvania destinations and kids activities • FREE information, goodies & giveaways! • free• free kids activities •2026 FREE information, goodies & giveaways! kids activities • FREE information, goodies &never giveaways! • free summer getaway has mmerPlanning getawayyour has never • food on site • been friendly & knowledgeable vendors • food on site • friendly & knowledgeable vendors • food on site • friendlyor& more knowledgeable vendors easier fun! or more fun!
It’s something many of us don’t like to think about, but it’s somesmen, pressure, orReptiland gimmicksShow at• noon! Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland Show at noon! • Clyde Peeling’s ormation, goodies &2 giveaways! • free kids activities VACATION GIVEAWAYS THIS YEAR! 2 VACATION GIVEAWAYS THIS YEAR! activities • free kids 2 VACATION GIVEAWAYS THIS YEAR! thing that will happen to every one • food on site & •knowledgeable food on site vendors HAPPY VALLEY ADVENTURE GETAWAY FORFOR 4 PEOPLE HAPPY VALLEY ADVENTURE GETAWAY 4 PEOPLE HAPPY VALLEY ADVENTURE GETAWAY FOR 4 PEOPLE of us. Death is a natural part of ANDAND A AND DESTINATION GETTYSBURG GETAWAY FORFOR 4 PEOPLE A DESTINATION GETTYSBURG GETAWAY 4 PEOPLE A DESTINATION GETTYSBURG GETAWAY FOR 4 PEOPLE VACATION GIVEAWAYS AWAYS THIS YEAR! THIS YEAR! human existence, and, while it may Amazing giveaways and door prize drawings Amazing giveaways and door prize drawings Amazing giveaways and door prize drawings to ignore this reality, seem tempting APPY VALLEY FOR ADVENTURE GETAWAY FOR 4 PEOPLE URE GETAWAY 4 PEOPLE throughout thethe event! throughout event! throughout the event! A DESTINATION BURG GETAWAYGETTYSBURG FOR 4 PEOPLE GETAWAY FOR 4 PEOPLE it’s important to plan for this stage. With that in mind, Mount Joy azing giveaways and door prize drawings nd door prize drawings throughout the event! pafamilytravel.com pafamilytravel.com t the event! pafamilytravel.com Church of God will host “Planning for Life’s Final Season.” The talk SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2026 WHEN: 9 AM TO 3 PM will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. on pafamilytravel.com ravel.com WHERE: LEBANON EXPO & FAIRGROUNDS 5 miles north of the Lancaster-Lebanon exit of the PA Turnpike Saturday, April 11, at the church, Get information from great Pennsylvania destinations and attractions. 30 E. Main St., Mount Joy.
pafamily travel SAVE THE.com DATE
yorkpa.org
Planning your 2026 summer getaway has never ® ® been easier or more fun! yorkpa.org
• no salesmen, pressure, or gimmicks • FREE information, goodies & giveaways! • friendly & knowledgeable vendors
R126973
® ® yorkpa.org yorkpa.org yorkpa.org
• Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland Show at noon! • free kids activities • food on site
®
See Plan pg 8
2 VACATION GIVEAWAYS THIS YEAR! HAPPY VALLEY ADVENTURE GETAWAY FOR 4 PEOPLE AND A DESTINATION GETTYSBURG GETAWAY FOR 4 PEOPLE
Amazing giveaways and door prize drawings throughout the event!
pafamilytravel.com
Lisa McHenry
Lancaster Railway Society Celebrates 90th Anniversary BY FRANCINE FULTON
T h e L a n c a s t e r C h a p t e r, National R ailway Historical Society (NRHS), which aims to preserve history and railroad artifacts, as well as educate the public about railroading and its history, is in the middle of celebrating its 90th anniversary. According to a histor y of the Lancaster Chapter, NRHS, provided by chapter historian Linda Himpsl, it began in 1934 when a few young railroad and trolley enthusiasts met in an old trolley in Neffsville, forming the Lancaster Railway & Locomotive Historical Society. In 1935, the group merged with the Interstate Trolley Club and other organizations to form the NRHS. The Lancaster Chapter was the first charter organized in the NRHS, launching on Oct. 13, 1935. Today, chapter meetings are held in the 1882 freight station in Christiana, which was restored by the chapter in 1998. Members, who come from various backgrounds, all share a love of railroading. “Most people have an interest in railroads, history or just trains in general. Very few of us actually worked for the railroad,” noted Steve Himpsl, second director. “Some have model trains. They are avid collectors.” “Some have fathers or grandfathers who worked the railroad,” added Linda. Last October, chapter members and invited guests celebrated the See Railway pg 3
COME TRAVEL WITH• ArkUS... Encounter & Creation
Mackinac Island & Holland, Michigan Tulip Festival Hurry! April 29th-May 7th
Museum (Williamstown, KY) July 7th-10th • Steam, Stone & Holmes Overnight Mystery Tour August 5th-7th
Call For A Free 2026 Tour Menu 717-823-2086 or visit/book @ FUNCOUNTRYTOURS.COM
®
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER APR. 8, 2026
yorkpa.org
Lynette Morales
VOL LXVII • NO 9
R126949
APRIL 8, 2026
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
Postal Patron