Garden Spot townlively.com
JUNE 25, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXI • NO 27
Winning Combination BY ANN MEAD ASH
A
few years ago, Lighthouse Vocational Services was looking to enhance the educational services it offers to its clients. “Our previous quality assurance director wanted something more (for clients),” recalled Lighthouse program specialist Jen Swanson. The director had heard of the project-based learning programs being implemented for students being served by the Lancaster-Lebanon IU13. Enter Lori Blantz, instructional technology specialist with the IU. “I assist all our educators from preschool through age 21 with STEM and technology, computers, and communication devices,” explained Blantz, who then simplified her role by adding, “In this situation, STEM is out-of-the-box learning.” Blantz set about creating life-enrichment units for Lighthouse working with fellow IU staff members Jen Bennett,
Lighthouse Vocational Services clients created and donated blankets as part of a life-enrichment unit on civics.
Ketrina Walter, and Giovanna Chamberlain. In July of 2024, the IU staff members began working with Lighthouse staff members, including Swanson and program specialist Kaitlyn Deemer. “We did several training sessions with Lighthouse, and we planned (monthly) programs through
March (of 2025),” said Blantz. Blantz admitted there were some differences between her usual work and lesson requirements for Lighthouse, an organization that exists to promote growth opportunity and hope for persons with disabilities based on Christian values and principles.
“It was a challenge to work with a population that I haven’t worked with,” said Blantz, who added that researching how to teach daily devotions for students is not usually part of her job. Swanson stated that since Lighthouse personnel are not required to have educational
certifications, some staff members were apprehensive about the training. Blantz said that initial training sessions focused on the monthly lessons the IU staff had devised, which ran from October 2024 through March of this year. “We created six lessons,” said Blantz, who listed lesson topics as
19th Annual Special Needs Benefit Auction Planned
Band To Continue Holiday Tradition
BY ANN MEAD ASH
BY ANN MEAD ASH
Fred Hughes, director of the New Holland Band, is interested not only in the music the group chooses to perform, but also in the history of the nation’s second-oldest community band. Specifically, Hughes recently recounted the New Holland Band’s first actions after becoming the Victory Band more than 80 years ago. “The first concert with the band after they marched in the July 4, 1942, parade was The New Holland Band will perform a patriotic concert in the
Mervin Beiler is always quick to greet visitors at Sunny Sunbeam located in Bart Township, a workshop that serves members of the Plain community with special needs. Sunny Sunbeam is one of several workshops found throughout Lancaster County. This year, Beiler’s friend Elmer Smucker joined Beiler in saying hello. The workshops, which provide socialization for adults with special needs and welcome respite for their parents, are
supported by an annual auction. This year, the 19th annual Special Needs Benefit Auction will be held on Monday, July 7, at Fisher’s Quality Dairy Sales, 3304 B Old Philadelphia Pike, Ronks. The auction will begin at 10 a.m., but breakfast food items will be offered for purchase at starting at 5:30 a.m., with drivethrough service available. Sunny Sunbeam attendees visit the center on Mondays and Wednesdays over the summer and on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays during the other
See New Holland Band pg 5 New Holland Memorial Community Park on July 4.
See Benefit Auction pg 4
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See Lighthouse Vocational Services pg 8