Lampeter-Strasburg APRIL 29, 2026
SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 9,190 HOMES
VOL LXII • NO 52
Tools, Trades STEM Journey and a to Get Launches L-S Graduate Place Started Into Dream Career F BY CAT SHANNON
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computer-aided design (CAD), Lego Mindstorms, and combustion engines. He asked for a CAD laptop and a 3D printer for Christmas. He also moved up into the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics league, where the robots are more complex and customized. With access to mentors and industry CAD and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software, Holsinger found his calling on the FIRST FTC scene as a member of the Out of the Box Robotics team from Downingtown. Holsinger designed, built, and drove the team’s robots to several state and regional championships and qualified for the FIRST world competition every year. In St. Louis and Detroit, Out of the Box Robotics competed alongside teams from countries around the globe. Participants had just a few hours to strategize with randomly assigned See STEM pg 3
Lander Holsinger
Flags Across Commonwealth Journeys Through Lancaster BY JEFF FALK
1955 Beaver Valley Pike, just N. of Quarryville
(717) 786-4713 Mon.-Fri. 8am-6pm, Sat. 8am-4pm
mecksproduce.com
Scouting America’s current flag offers a fresh, clean look that features a small image of an eagle and the colors of our country. It symbolizes the morals, commitment and tradition that Scouting America stands for. In this particular instance, the passing, raising and lowering of that Scouting America flag represents the role that Scouting has played in the history of our nation. “There are pride and meaning attached to all Members of the Pennsylvania Dutch Council of Scouting
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America and local dignitaries gather around the flagpole at
Like many creative people, Emily Fritz comes from a crafty family. Her grandfather was a woodworker, but he died before she could learn from him. Eager to explore the craft, she wasn’t sure where to begin, and that experience inspired her to help others find their starting point. She is the founder and executive director of Lancaster Workshop + Tool Library, opening later this year. “Finding mentorship, tools, space, etc., was a serious lifelong limitation until I shared this story with my friend, mentor and now co-founder, Gene Shaw, a retired cabinetmaker and artist in the city of Lancaster who invited me to learn with him,” she recalled. “By lesson three, I told Gene we must start a community workshop to give our community an opportunity to learn skilled trades in a mentorship, cohort environment, from seasoned experts.” She connected with SCORE, wrote a business plan, created a budget and pitched her idea to the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County. The Trust agreed to serve as fiscal sponsor, supporting the workshop and tool library under the Trust’s 501(c)(3) status. “It’s really thanks to them and their belief in our mission along with the Steinman STEM Alliance for giving us the gift of startup funding to get off the ground,” Fritz said. In August 2025, Shaw began setting up space in a warehouse located at 433 Ice Ave., Lancaster.
See Scouting pg 2 the Lancaster County Courthouse.
See Workshop pg 5
Beautiful Gardens Start Here! Stop in, treat your senses! Perennials • Herbs • Annuals 50+ Varieties Tomatoes & Peppers Berries • Shrubs • and Lots More!
400 Long Lane At Marticville Road (Rts. 741 & 324S)
717-872-9311
www.cherryhillorchards.com
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 8-6 Closed Sunday 717-872-9311 R127540
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rom the window of Lander Holsinger’s childhood bedroom, he could see the farms and fields that define Pennsylvania’s rural landscapes. But since he was in middle school, Lander’s gaze has been directed upward, toward outer space. It all began in a basement with a few neighborhood kids building and programming Lego robots. Holsinger became involved in FIRST Robotics, an organization that provides opportunities for teams to compete against and in cooperation with one another while learning the fundamentals of engineering. The scoring system also includes a judging and community outreach element. In elementary school, Holsinger attended several weeklong summer STEM camps at Millersville University on topics such as