Manheim Central townlively.com
JULY 17, 2024
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXV • NO 25
Manheim Sertoma honors essay winners BY CATHY MOLITORIS
With a mission to support local organizations and residents, the Manheim Sertoma Club also participates in programs organized by Sertoma Inc., including Freedom Week. This annual event offers an opportunity to
reflect on the freedoms we have as a nation and the people who fought to win that freedom as well as those who continue to protect it today. To honor Freedom Week, the club holds an annual essay contest, open to all sixth-grade English Language Arts students See Sertoma pg 4
The cast rehearses for “When We Climb Trees.”
“When We Climb Trees” explores allure of gaming and screentime
C
atch the world premiere of a youth musical, “When We Climb Trees,” at the Junction Center, 1875 Junction Road, Manheim. The show will be performed at 2 and 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 21. “When We Climb Trees” tells the story of a tight-knit group of friends who struggle with the conflict between sharing real-life adventures and succumbing to the draw of gaming devices and screentime. “ This show is really about finding balance between time to play, pretend, be a kid and be with friends with the ever-present allure of screentime and gaming,”
said Steven Courtney, who wrote the show. “I find it interesting to observe the youthful cast as they ‘pretend’ to bring this ‘play’ to life through their hard work yet willing spirits. Collectively, there are so many elements of teamwork, collaboration and planning to produce this playful, upbeat show with a rather serious undertone. More and more studies are showing the addictive power of devices.” Courtney, who is the producer, songwriter and playwright of the show through Sun Hill Productions, worked in partnership with Kami Deppen of Big Dream Players, who is directing the show and served as costumer and set designer. The pair held auditions earlier this year for local youths to
record the musical’s soundtrack. “ The recording of the soundtrack demo was super fun, and it went as good as we could have hoped,” Courtney recalled. “We used the demo versions of the songs to share with the cast. After the cast selection process, we provided the soundtrack for actors to rehearse with prior to our official rehearsals. The instrumental parts of the soundtrack will be used in the live show, and the cast will sing live vocals for the performance.” The cast of “When We Climb Trees” is primarily youths ages 10 to 16 from Lancaster and York counties. This is the first youth musical Courtney, a singer-songwriter, has written, but he knows it
Toys for Tots’ Touch-A-Truck is vehicle for enhancing young lives BY JEFF FALK
Lancaster Toys for Tots continues to do amazing things in our community. But it’s work that can’t be done alone, or without the support of many generous donors. Lancaster Toys for Tots’ latest venture, Touch-A-Truck Family Day, looks to build off that altruistic spirit and take the organization’s work to a whole different level.
“We’re helping kids in Lancaster County, and there’s a big need in Lancaster County,” said Gil Bixler, Lancaster Toys for Tots’ coordinator for the last 37 years. “I’ve got a fantastic team of volunteers who just enjoy doing it. That’s what it takes to make it all happen. They work harder than I do.” Associated with the United States Marine Corps Reserve, Lancaster Toys for Tots’ Touch-ATruck Family Day is a brand-new, See Toys pg 5
See Youth musical pg 3
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BY CATHY MOLITORIS
Donna Keller (second from left) with essay contest winners (from left) Matthew Pennypacker, Landy Virgile and Aiden Weber
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