Garden Spot DECEMBER 31, 2025
ONLINE
Winter
EVENT CALENDAR F
SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 11,290 HOMES
For Neidermyers, Firefighting Is Shared, Bonding Experience
BY JEFF FALK
townlively.com/ events
our teen- year-old Br iella Neidermyer is making her own way, forging her own path. Because his example is providing guiderails for his daughter’s journey, her father, Kirk Neidermyer, derives a lot of parental pride from that emerging independence. That he gets to share in her developmental experiences is a sheer delight. “I think doing this with Briella will make our relationship even stronger,” said Kirk. “We’ll have a bond in a different way. She’s my firstborn and only daughter. We get along. We respect each other. She listens and does what she’s told.” The bond that Kirk and Briella share is firefighting and community service. Kirk has been a volunteer firefighter with Garden Spot Fire Rescue, 339 E. Main St., Kirk Neidermyer and daughter Briella prepare for an emergency run with See The Neidermyers pg 2 Garden Spot Fire Rescue. Photo by Mona Steinhauer
GDN
Home Is Where Servant Stage’s Heart Is BY JEFF FALK
Everybody deserves a place to call their own. Everybody needs a home. Servant Stage’s new home is also the nonprofit’s first. Not only are Servant Stage’s new digs a product of growth, the location is also a space where it can continue to grow. “It’s almost hard to put into words,” said Johnathan Bauer, the founder and executive director of Servant Stage. “It hits every once in a while. This is a home. Like, ‘Wow, this is for real.’ It hasn’t fully sunk in yet. There are a lot of firsts in this place that are really special.” Following 12 years of serving the Lancaster County R124382
Staff members move into Servant Stage’s new digs in
See Servant Stage pg 5 East Lampeter Township.
VOL LXII • NO 2
SALT Proves Friendship Has No Age Limit BY CAT SHANNON
Are we ever too old to make new friends? Absolutely not, say the senior citizens who gather on Tuesday mornings for SALT (Seniors Are Living Treasures). The group meets for fun, friendship and fellowship from 9 a.m. to noon weekly at Mount Joy Church of God, 30 E. Main St., Mount Joy. “ We might have anywhere from 25 to 30 people each week,” said Tracy Miller, who coordinates the group with a team of volunteers. “We have people in their 50s and up. Our oldest member is 93.” Each meeting begins with people gathering up to 30 minutes early in the church lobby, enjoying the time to catch up with each other before heading into the chapel for coffee, food and games such as Uno or Apples to Apples. Coordinator Debbie Cohn might lead the group in chair yoga, or coordinator Renee Haney might direct a small group in devotionals or take prayer requests. Coordinator Nancy Shonk is in charge of the snack calendar, ensuring that everyone who wants to bring food has a chance to do so. The group does some activities once a month, such as playing bingo or enjoying a movie together. They also play roundrobin matches of games like cornhole or ladderball, switching tables regularly to encourage interaction among everyone. The group also brings in guest speakers to discuss a wide range of topics. Once a quarter, the See SALT pg 4
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