Hempfield
townlively.com
MARCH 8, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXXVIII • NO 48
Taking a seat at the table BY CATHY MOLITORIS
Margaret Thatcher once said, “If you want something done, ask a woman.” There’s a whole lot getting done in Lancaster County, because for the first time ever, all of the Chambers of Commerce in the county are led by women. Each woman brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to her role, but all
of the leaders share a common goal: They want to make their community a great place to live and work. Denise Grove, who started her role as executive director of the Elizabethtown Area Chamber of Commerce in February of 2022, said the job offers her a way to really connect with others. “As a lifetime resident of Elizabethtown, I had a strong desire to work where I could See Chamber of Commerce pg 8
Students on the e-sports team utilize communication and strategy during their practices.
E-sports team emerges at Hempfield High School t the beginning of the spring semester, Hempfield High School introduced a new club to its students: e-sports club. Members of the group have been meeting during both the school’s new WIN period and after school as they lay the foundation for the new program. Bill Turner, who teaches digital photography at Hempfield High School, first introduced the idea to create an esports team at the school prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Turner and another member of the school’s staff researched local teams and acquired permission from the administration but had to place the project on hold in 2020. Once school routines regained a sense of normalcy, Turner approached fellow teacher and video game enthusiast Steven Lied with a plan to get the ball rolling again. Lied and Turner began laying the groundwork for the program as they explored the resources required to operate a competitive e-sports team. They plan to make the team fully competitive next year, once the players are ready. In the meantime, Lied
more than their legs, many aspects of playing a school sport translate to the virtual extracurricular. Instead of relying on physical prowess, e-sports players practice their hand-eye coordination, communicate with other players, develop strategies and bond as a team. “I think it’s no different than any other sport. There are wrong ways to play video games just like there are for football,” Lied said. “There are moments where you’re going to fail, but you use that as an opportunity to grow and react to setbacks in a positive way.” The e-sports club has gained the full support of the school since its inception. Although many of the teachers may not entirely understand the world of video games, the administration continues to assist with the program’s development. Students in the manufacturing class are currently crafting stands for the players’ headphones, and the e-sports club was featured on the student-run news show “Hempfield Happenings.” “The school has really rallied around this program,” Lied said. “It’s exciting. I would have killed for something like this when I was in school.”
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and Turner are meeting with the tech department and working with school administrators as the students hone their skills as a team. “It’s been really nice to see students come in with a shared passion of video games already,” Lied said. “I’m trying to foster that bonding and team aspect, and the students take on a lot of leadership roles.” The students in the e-sports club have been practicing two team-based video games. The first is League of Legends, an online battle arena video game that relies heavily on communication and team strategy. The second game is Rocket League, an arcadestyle game similar to soccer. Instead of trying to score goals on foot, each player pilots a vehicle and must work together with his or her teammates to score in a fast-paced setting. “Everybody is engaged and playing during practice,” Lied said. “We set high expectations academically and behaviorally. Our goal is to make it a sustainable model for future students.” Lied added that he hopes to add more games in the future. Although students on the e-sports team may be exercising their thumbs
Leaders of the county’s Chambers of Commerce include (front, from left) Ashley Zell, Heather Valudes, Denise Grove, (back) Jona Green, Kristie Schmid, Kerry Meyers, Rebecca Branle, and (not pictured) Liz Ackerman.
Mountville Library slates book sale BY ADRIAN ESCHENWALD
The Friends of the Mountville Library will host its semiannual book sale on Friday, March 24, and Saturday, March 25, at Mountville Church of the Brethren, 60 Clay St., Mountville. The sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Free parking will be available at the church. A variety of items will be available to purchase at the sale, including used books, family-friendly DVDs, vinyl records, board games
and children’s books. Several new books will also be sold, many of which are in the category of Christian romance. Every item at the sale is donated by members of the community and local businesses. All profits from the sale will directly benefit the Mountville Branch of the Lancaster Public Library and help to support its general maintenance and upkeep costs. The book sale is one of the library’s largest fundraisers, and it holds the sale once in September and once in March every year. The event incorporates different parts See Book sale pg 2
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