Garden Spot townlively.com
SEPTEMBER 27, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LIX • NO 40
Farm show time BY ANN MEAD ASH
Darryl Keiser (left) and Nick Good are hoping area residents will complete preplanning through First Due.
Encouraging fire safety for all GSFR offers residential preplanning BY ANN MEAD ASH
e have always wanted to preplan houses,” said Garden Spot Fire Rescue (GSFR) Chief Darryl Keiser. “Every house has different and unique things about it.” The people who live in a house are different and unique as well. When firefighters arrive at a home where there is suspicion of danger, knowing details about those people and the home can improve the chances of residents and firefighters coming out of the event safely. The fire company has long used a computer program to record details of fire calls for use by the department and the Pennsylvania state fire commissioner. GSFR firefighters felt the system could be more user-friendly, so Nick Good, chief of staff and public information officer for GSFR worked along with volunteer Stefan Kuenzli to find First Due, a system
since the call may come in from someone other than the homeowner. “If no one is (at the home) to tell us anything, we can get in touch with (the homeowner) ... so we are not walking in unprepared,” he explained. “We don’t want to be intrusive; we just want the information we need to serve those people in their time of need and keep our guys safe,” explained Keiser. Residents who would like to have the benefits of preplanning may visit www.communityconnect .io/info/pa-gardenspot and click on the tab that says “Residents.” “The more information we have, the more we can do,” said Good, who explained that the cloud-based system will be updated and allow for expansion. “We invested in this knowing we can use it for a long time,” he said, adding that he is hoping community members will step up and help GSFR with the cost of the program.
See New Holland Fair pg 3
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he believes will work better and through questions. It breaks it even give residents an opportunity down for you,” said Good, who to participate in reducing their own asked his mother to test the system for him. “She said it was very simple,” risk. Garden Spot Community Connect Good reported. Other information residents may include is a program of First is types of building Due that ELANCOarea residents served “Everybody says, materials and whether by GSFR can utilize. ‘We won’t have a there is a gas connec“The people you pro- h o u s e f i r e , ’ b u t tion and where the tect can go on a web- when you do need shut-off valves are site and pull up their us, this will save located. Information pro(home) address to time.” vided by residents is preplan their house uploaded so that it is for us,” explained Keiser. “So, we have all the informa- readily available when a call comes tion we need about their house in. Keiser noted that a street view coming to us as we are responding, will be available on a tablet for firefighters to know if the home is and it’s documented.” Residents who visit the website a ranch, a Cape Cod, or two-story may set up an account and then farmhouse. Keiser added, “Everyanswer questions about the type of body says, ‘We won’t have a house home they live in and whether fire,’ but when you do need us, this there are children or elderly persons will save time.” Good emphasized that just creating or persons with disabilities or other special needs in the home. “The an account and including contact Community Connect walks you information is extremely helpful,
The New Holland Farmers Fair is arguably the biggest event to happen in New Holland each year. From the arrival of the sheep, goats, and swine at the tents on Fulton Street on Monday through the last turn of the merry-go-round on Saturday night, the fair attracts multitudes of visitors and offers fun and interesting activities for all. The 2023 New Holland Fair will be held from Wednesday, Oct. 4, through Saturday, Oct. 7, on Main Street, Roberts Avenue, Franklin Street, and Fulton Street. The fair will kick off on Oct. 4 with the parade, which will begin at 7 p.m. As in the past, the fair will feature a midway, exhibits in a range of categories, a long john eating contest, pet and baby parades, games, and a variety of food vendors. Area residents wishing to enter an item to exhibit in the fair for the first time will need to register for an entry number. Past exhibitors who did not receive a number in the mail must register as well. Registration for entry numbers will be held at the CrossNet Youth Center, 110 W. Franklin St., New Holland, on Tuesday, Oct. 3, from 2 to 8 p.m. Kristie Overly, who oversees exhibits, noted that the floral exhibits will be located in the youth center this year and that the space will allow the addition of miniature gardens to the competition. “It will be a really beautiful display this year,” said Overly, who encouraged all exhibitors to drop their items off early if possible. Fair president Paulene Redding, who organizes the parade, said that she still has a few premium spots available. Premium spots provide funding to make necessary