Manheim Central OCTOBER 29, 2025
SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 11,320 HOMES
Light the Night at Teen Central BY CAT SHANNON
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dd even more festive fun to your Halloween celebration by visiting Teen Central for Light the Night. The event will be held on Friday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the parking lot of Teen Central, 15 S. Wolf St., Manheim. “The event takes place during Manheim’s trick-or-treat hours, and the last few years we have had between 400 to 500 people pass through our parking lot!” said Janelle Heying, Teen Central executive director. “ We would love to welcome everyone to this free community event. Whether people are looking for some safe, family-friendly fun or are out trickor-treating and want to swing by, we will be there with plenty of food and activities for all ages!” Light the Night will happen rain or shine and will include stations offering treats and activities such as popcorn, cotton candy, firepits with townlively.com
JUNE 11, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
See Light pg 4 People enjoy food at last year’s Light the Night.
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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 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 qualpersonalized. ity of life by working with them on “The program is different for activities of daily living that have everyone, as the trainer cus- become difficult for them.” tom-designs the program for the MS FitEffect is open to anyone particular participant,” he stated. with MS or any demyelinating “MS is different for everyone; disease.
The historic Star Barn will be one of the sights to see along the route of Hope Within Ministries’ Let Your Light Shine 5K.
In your mailbox & online ETN
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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 one-hour weekly session,” Mark
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 reading. It’s important for them to
See MS FitEffect pg 5
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 box truck with a single entrance See Bookmobile pg 3
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Protecting Lancaster’s Land for Generations 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,
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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 countr y,” said Sallie Gregor y, L ancaster County Conservation District Donegal Creek stream restoration, one of the
Reflecting on a Career at VisionCorps BY FRANCINE FULTON
“I think I am most proud of the work that we have done over the years and how we have been able to expand our services and our footprint to serve more people,” reflected Dennis Steiner, president and CEO of VisionCorps, who recently announced his retirement . “That is what our mission is - to empower people who are blind to achieve independence. To me, that is what we are here for.” Steiner, who star ted as a VisionCorps case manager in 1984, has 42 years of experience working in the field of blind and low-vision services, including 17 years as president and CEO of VisionCorps. He will be succeeded by Megan Tomsheck effective Friday, Oct. 31. “I have been blessed to have a great leadership team here. Many of them have been here for quite some time,” Steiner noted. “Megan is an 18-year employee. I have a good mix of longevity and newer people. They are all committed to our mission. They are all passionate about their work and a good team to lead.” Steiner was responsible for helping to establish new services during his tenure. His accomplishments include introducing youth programming to the agency and mentoring young people; expanding VisionCorps from one facility in Lancaster to additional rehabilitation and employment sites in Adams, Chester, Lebanon and York counties; and increasing the focus of rehabilitation services to include new technology offerings such as smart glasses, magnifiers and apps. “ Technolog y has been the
See Protecting pg 3 first watershed projects in Lancaster County
See Reflecting pg 8
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BY CAT SHANNON
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