Hempfield DECEMBER 31, 2025
SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 10,110 HOMES
VOL XLI • NO 38
Guest Landisville Native Is Instructor ONLINE Busy With Movies, Books Inspires BY GEORGE DEIBEL
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townlively.com/ events
achael Quinn is a modern-day Renaissance woman. The versatile graduate of Hempfield High School, where she was a pitcher on the softball team, is an actor, author, podcast host, screenplay writer, director, producer, and editor - and she even once “accidentally” joined a band. “I think in general (the entertainment) industry requires you to be multifaceted in a lot of ways, but also I think it’s just in my personality,” said Quinn, who resides in Los Angeles. “I love learning new skills, and I also love being able to have ownership and take control of things and get them moving.” Her most recent project is a role in the movie “Christmas in Amish Country,” which is airing o n U P t v ’s s t r e a m i n g platform and broadcast channel. “It’s pretty classic,” said Quinn. “It’s about a chef in the big city who’s been trying out a bunch of new-age modern technology with cooking, and her opening doesn’t go well. With all their bad reviews and everything else, she decides to take a break and goes out to the countryside to visit her family. A reporter by happenstance ends up being the one to drive her out there and realizes that she’s actually from an Amish community. They both end up spending time there, and he kind of sees the Amish side of life, and she kind
Rachael Quinn Photo by Lauren Altheah Photography
of gets back in touch with the cooking that originally brought her to cooking.” Quinn portrays the sister-in-law of Claire, the protagonist. “It’s a pretty big ensemble movie for being a Christmas movie,” she said. “They have a lot of really fun side plots and characters that are all kind of interweaving together. My character’s big struggle is that she is pregnant, but she’s afraid to tell her husband because she doesn’t want to get his hopes up because they’ve been having fertility issues. … It’s very wholesome with a happy ending.”
“Christmas in Amish Country” was filmed in Missouri. “It was really cool when I actually saw the listing, because the character ’s name is Rachel and then me growing up around here. I was obviously not in the Amish community, but I feel like I understand it better than the average Joe,” Quinn said. “It was really cool to get to be a part of that. A lot of the other actors ended up asking me questions because they weren’t as sure about the community. It definitely felt like a kind of a homecoming, but in Missouri.” In May 2026, Quinn and her writing partner Abigail Reed will publish their debut novel, “Hollow’s Bend.” “It’s a world that we’ve been building out for a long time,” Quinn said. “We pitched it for TV, and then with the pandemic we switched over and did a podcast radio play version of it. That cast was really fun, because we were able to get some staple names from the genres. We’ve been working on a book series to bring that world to fruition since we’ve already fleshed so much of it out. We love the characters, and we love the meaning behind all of it.” Preorders for the book will be accepted in the spring. Go to www .rachaelquinn.com for updates. Quinn stated that the book is a young adult thriller that will appeal to teenagers as well as people in their 20s and 30s. “‘Hollow’s Bend’ See Rachael Quinn pg 5
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JUNE 11, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXVI • NO 18
Shine Bright at Hope Within 5K BY CAT SHANNON
Support a local nonprofit, enjoy beautiful surroundings and get some exercise all at the same time by participating in the Hope Within Ministries’ Let Your Light Shine 5K Walk/ Run. The event will be held on
Saturday, July 19, beginning at 8 a.m. at Stone Gables Estate, 1 Hollinger Lane, Elizabethtown. “The idea came about as a means to represent what Hope Within Ministries is - a health care, dental and counseling center,” said Laurie Reichert, director of development for the See 5K pg 2
2024 MS FitEffect participants and trainers with program director Mark Mueller (far right)
MS FitEffect Puts Strength Into Motion BY CAT SHANNON
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ark Mueller and his wife, Jackie, took a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and turned it into an opportunity to help others. Jackie was diagnosed with MS in 1998, and the couple sought to treat the disease as naturally as possible, without medication. They experimented with nutrition and exercise to see what worked and what didn’t, and their research led to MS FitEffect, a free, 10-week program for people with MS. The next session will run from Saturday, Sept. 6, through Saturday, Nov. 15, at Elizabethtown Fitness Club, 626 S. Market St. “Each participant selects a time with their trainer for their private
explained. “We have sessions there are no two people who available Monday through Sat- share the same set of symptoms urday in the morning, afternoon at the same intensities with the and some evenings. It is based same presentation of symptoms.” While specifics vary for each on the participant’s and trainer’s participant, the program focuses availability.” on strength, stamina and stability for all sessions. “ We use a combination of “We meet each stretching, relaxation techniques, participant where they weight training, cardiovascular training, balance and gait training are at and move them and functional training,” Mark forward from there.” said. “We meet each participant where they are at and move them forward from there. We focus on As Mark shared, MS FitEffect is helping them achieve a better quality of life by working with them on personalized. “The program is different for activities of daily living that have everyone, as the trainer cus- become difficult for them.” MS FitEffect is open to anyone tom-designs the program for the particular participant,” he stated. with MS or any demyelinating
The historic Star Barn will be one of the sights to see along the route of Hope Within Ministries’ Let Your Light Shine 5K.
A World of Wonder Awaits Inside the Bookmobile BY JEFF FALK
It ’s more than books on wheels. The Library System of Lancaster County’s (LSLC) bookmobile delivers knowledge, creativity, inspiration and joy. The bookmobile is kind of like a food truck serving up nourishment for the mind and soul. “Reading in general is very important,” said Audrey Lilley, the bookmobile’s driver, curator and full-time coordinator. “It’s important for kids to be read-
be able to pick up a book and see characters who look like them. Reading can be inspirational, and with retirees, it kind of comes full circle. I think retirees can find comfort in reading. For all people in between, it’s a way to relax and unwind.” W h e n n o t o n t h e g o to multiple locations all across Lancaster County, Lilley parks the bookmobile at LSLC’s main office at 1866 Colonial Village Lane, Suite 107, Lancaster. The bookmobile is a 22-foot-long
In your mailbox & online
Hempfield Musicians
BY GEORGE DEIBEL
Guest instructor Christian Howes encouraged members of the Hempfield middle and high school orchestra to venture beyond the music. Thanks to a grant from the Hempfield Foundation, the Asheville, N.C., native made a return trip to Landisville on the morning of Dec. 9 and worked with students prior to a public concert later that night. Howes also visited in 2022. “I think he’s a good fit because he also grew up as a classical musician,” said Hempfield orchestra director Nile Wilson. “He went through orchestra. His own children play instruments. I want the kids to have an example of a person who does other styles but also has a very solid classical background. And I want them to realize that classical is great. I See Guest Musician pg 2
Jazz violinist Christian Howes made his second trip to Hempfield High School. Photo by George Deibel
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