Hempfield NOVEMBER 5, 2025
SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 10,110 HOMES
Camaraderie on the Court
Protecting Lancaster’s Land for Generations
BY CAT SHANNON
O ONLINE FALL EVENT CALENDAR
n a sand cour t tucked beside a r iverside cabin in Columbia, laughter carries as easily as the volleyballs. For 40 years, a tight-knit crew known as River Rules Volleyball has gathered here every Wednesday night to dive, bump and banter their way through another round of competition and camaraderie. What began in 1985 as a few friends from a local social club has turned into a decades-long tradi- A River Rules Volleyball game in action. Photo by Cat Shannon tion, complete with its own set of “We will play anytime, regard- like your average sand volleyball quirky rules, seasonal marathons less of the weather conditions,” match, with teams of three, four and plenty of good-natured chaos. said original member Matthew or five racing to 15 points. But a The group plays from early April Berntheizel. “When we started closer look reveals the spirit of through September and hosts two this group, we wanted to play in River Rules: unpredictable, a little rowdy and a lot of fun. daylong marathons to celebrate every season.” “We don’t call carries,” Berntheizel the solstices. At first glance, their games look
Technically, films combine elements of images, motion, dialogue, ideas and music. It’s a combination of sensory stimuli that can evoke strong emotions and transport viewers to different places and times. Ryan Shank, the founder of the Red Rose Film Festival, has been theatrically transported on many different occasions. “(Films are) an escape,” said Shank. “I’ve always loved stories. I grew up on Ninja Turtles, and I also grew up on ‘Jaws.’ I love to laugh. It’s almost like therapy in a way. I’d rather listen to a story and See Film Festival pg 5
See LCCD pg 8
Viewers screen a presentation at last year’s Red Rose Film Festival.
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Love of Film Will Unite Buffs at Red Rose Festival BY JEFF FALK
R123017
BY CAT SHANNON
What’s the value of dirt? For the Lancaster County Conservation District, it’s priceless. The organization formed in 1950 with a mission of empowering farmers to maintain and improve the rich, productive soil of Lancaster County through conservation practices. Today, as the group marks its 75th anniversary, it has expanded its focus to include four more departments beyond agriculture, touching the lives of everyone who calls the county home. “Coming out of the time period of the Dust Bowl, in the late 1920s and ’30s, there was a national movement to create conservation districts across the country,” said Sallie Gregory, Lancaster County Conservation District education and operations coordinator. What began as a local resource for farmers in Lancaster’s Southern End to encourage sustainable practices soon grew into wide outreach, promoting conservation practices that included the proper ways and times to plow and constructing fences to keep cows from polluting streams. “In 1950, the county commissioners approved having a conservation district the whole way across Lancaster County,” Gregory said. The county’s conser vation district, which is the largest in the state, now includes departments focused on erosion and sedimentation, watersheds, data and analysis and education. “The erosion and sedimentation department works with
See Volleyball pg 2
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VOL XLI • NO 31
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