Elizabethtown townlively.com
JUNE 21, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXIV • NO 19
EACTC supports students BY CATHY MOLITORIS
For 24 years, Elizabethtown Area Communities That Care (EACTC) has been offering programs and partnerships that benefit youths and families. As the school year ended, the nonprofit celebrated the success of its programs in the Elizabethtown Area School District. In May, EACTC held its annual Turn Around Recognition Breakfast at The Gathering Place, spotlighting more than 50 students in grades six through 12 who had made improvements in their grades, behavior,
attendance or attitude at school. “Each student received gift bags and certificates as well as additional prizes as they each shared their stories of success,” remarked Gail Viscome, executive director. “It is always a wonderful event.” EACTC’s Club Ophelia program expanded this year to two programs at the middle school and two at Bear Creek School, with an additional four-week pilot program to address online friendships, Viscome said. Club Ophelia is a weekly afterschool program helping preteen and teen girls address concerns, combat See EACTC pg 2
Luke Risser
Andrea Rodriguez
EAHS marks graduation BY CATHY MOLITORIS
lizabethtown Area High School’s Class of 2023 celebrated graduation on May 25 at the LCBC Manheim campus. Luke Risser was named valedictorian, and Andrea Rodriguez was named salutatorian. “Our class … has had a complicated four years of high school,” Luke told his fellow classmates in his speech. “On top of the complications of the pandemic, we found ourselves in the midst of one of the most complicated periods of our lives.” He talked about class loads, jobs, extracurricular activities and trying to figure out life after high school. He also urged his peers to focus on simplicity when things seem complicated. “As we enter the more complicated world of adulthood, simplicity might sound like an outdated or childish idea,” he stated. “But I believe that simplicity can still be found in this stage of life, and it might even be exactly what we need.”
EACTC honored more than 50 students at the annual Turn Around Recognition Breakfast.
Celebrate with Marietta Fireworks BY CATHY MOLITORIS
If you go to see Marietta Fireworks this year, be prepared to be wowed. “This is the biggest show we have done yet,” said Gary Schatz, who has been organizing the event since 2018. “We have scripted the show to be 35 minutes plus.” Schatz explained that the show can be “scripted” because the majority of it is now electronic, meaning the fireworks are programmed and shot off with a remote. The show will also still include some manual fireworks as
well, he noted. “We’ve been working on transitioning to more electronics over the past three or four years, and this is the second time we’ll be doing a lot of electronics,” Schatz stated. The fireworks will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 1, in War Memorial Park, 344 E. Walnut St., Marietta. “We say ‘approximately’ because it’s completely dependent on the conditions,” Schatz explained. “If it’s not quite dark or it’s raining, we will have to adjust that time until it stops raining.” See Fireworks pg 3 R096376
tell you that you are not important enough to make a difference. Big change comes from individuals who are brave enough to voice their opinions and ideas, no matter how small they may seem.” She cautioned against complacency and living life only for the milestones. “It is what we do with the time in between these significant moments that infuses meaning into our lives and to occasions like this,” she said. “Therefore, I urge each and every one of you to relentlessly pursue your passions, spend time with the people you love and make a lasting impact in your community.” Concluding her speech, Andrea asked her classmates to close their eyes and imagine their younger selves in kindergarten. “Think about how proud kindergarten you would be of the person you’ve become,” she said. “Now open your eyes, and with the joy of a kindergartner, let’s congratulate our classmates and accept our diplomas because we’re finally high school graduates.”
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Luke quoted football coach Lou Holtz in his speech, focusing on the four things Holtz said everyone needs. These are something to do, someone to love, something to believe in and something to hope for. “ Whenever I’ve been anxious about my future or frustrated with the way some things are in this world, my faith in God has given me peace of mind,” Luke said. “I know that my hope is found in greater things than my earthly worries. When life gets complicated, having a belief system to turn to simplifies things, restoring a sense of perspective about what is truly important.” Andrea spoke about how senior year is a unique time because it’s filled with both firsts and lasts, all packed into a few short months. She also referred to the pandemic’s influence on the class and emphasized that the Class of 2023 is strong. “It is individuals such as you and me who wield the power to inspire positive change in others and fearlessly advocate for what is right,” she said. “Never let anyone
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