Morgantown/Honey Brook SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
MARCH 4, 2026
REACHING MORE THAN 7,480 HOMES
VOL XXXIV • NO 5
The Flight of Fancy Community Comes Together to Find Lost Dog BY FRANCINE FULTON
D
uring the height of the January blizzard, Fancy, a 5-year-old Shih Tzu mix, took off from her home in the Summerfield development in Elverson. Over the next two weeks, while Fancy was missing, the community rallied together to find her. There were people out looking for her in the bitter cold, and for those who were not local and couldn’t search, they offered prayers for her safe return. Ultimately, with the help of the neighbors and a dog tracker who volunteered to help, Fancy was returned to her owner safe and unharmed. Linda Smith adopted Fancy from a rescue on June 26, 2025. The dog was surrendered to the rescue from a puppy mill and was shy and timid around people. “I didn’t know what she was going to be like, but I said, ‘I am not leaving this dog here,’” said Smith, when describing her first visit with Fancy. Exactly seven months later on Jan. 26, Fancy escaped at 4 a.m. after she “asked” to be let outside. “She and I were sleeping in a chair, which is what I was doing with her when I first got her, because I felt she needed the human touch,” Smith recalled. “She woke me up frantic (to go out). I usually put her
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JUNE 11, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
on the deck, but the snow was way too deep. Something scared her and she went right out the garage door and down the driveway and made a right turn.” Normally, Smith blew a whistle to call Fancy back in, but the dog did not respond to it or when Smith called her name. Even though it was early morning, Smith contacted her neighbors, including Karen Templeton, who put Fancy’s photo and information on Facebook. “I was handling the social media and technology for Linda, and another neighbor created posters the same day,” said Templeton. “I emailed our homeowners association, and they emailed everyone in Summerfield.” Through neighbors, Smith learned that Fancy had been living off birdseed from people’s feeders. “She survived the cold, even when it was in single digits,” Smith noted. “Between the bird feeder and a stand of some evergreens is where she was seen a number of times. I think she was getting under the trees to hide and to have some shelter from the wind.” After Fancy went missing, Carole Lowry of Gap, who has a passion for helping people find lost dogs, contacted Templeton on social media and offered to help track Fancy. See Fancy pg 2
VOL XXXIII • NO 19
Golf Tournament To Support Animal House Project
Linda Smith and Fancy. Photo by Francine Fulton
BY FRANCINE FULTON
on Monday, July 21, which will benefit Animal House Project Bellewood Country Club, an (AHP), a nonprofit organization exclusive golf club in North that serves pet owners in need. Coventry Township, will be the By operating a pet food pantry site of a charity golf tournament and offering veterinary services, See Golf Tournament pg 9
Court of Honor Ceremony Honors Three Local In your Eagle Scouts mailbox Partipants in last year’s event included (from left) race co-directors Pam Haas and Lynn Cronomiz, Freddie Henry and Lynne Bickta.
Paint the Town Purple Run/Walk To Benefit Alzheimer’s Association
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s part of an effort to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and in memory of her mother, Carol, who passed away from the disease in 2017, Lynn Cronomiz of Morgantown will again host the Paint the Town Purple 5K, with all proceeds supporting the Alzheimer’s Association. This year’s event, which will include a 5K run and 1K fun walk , will take place at the Zerbe Retirement Community, 2499 Zerbe Road, Narvon, on Saturday, June 14. Registration will open at 8 a.m., and the 5K and walk will begin at 9:30 a.m. Participants and attendees are encouraged to wear purple to the event. This is the third year for the
fundraiser. Paint the Town Purple began in 2023 at Historic Joanna Furnace. This is the second year it is being held at the retirement community. “We’re hoping to grow it this year. We are trying to attract runners from the L ancaster area (as well),” Cronomiz noted, adding, “The past two years we had beautiful weather. The 5K is professionally timed, and we accurately measured the course to be a 5K.” Nonrunners and walkers are also invited to attend to cheer on the 5K participants, but it is requested that they arrive by 9:15 am. due to a road closure. “The run goes out of Zerbe Mansion and down the hill on Zerbe Road and turns right onto Hammertown Road. The Caernarvon Township police will
have half of the road secured and the other half (open) to let out runners,” Cronomiz explained. “Then, they run up the hill about a half mile to the top of Zerbe Road and turn left. They will go along School House Lane, which is on the campus.” She noted that the walkers will stay on the campus on School House Lane. Retirement community residents are also involved in efforts to support the Alzheimer’s Association. “They did a bingo on May 19, and they raised $310,” she said. “The residents will also do a bake sale at the race.” There will also be an opportunity for attendees to win gift baskets through a random drawing. 5K participants will get five tickets, but the public may purchase tickets to win prizes, such as Wawa and Olive Garden gift cards.
Community Invited To Discover Chester County Farmers Markets
BY FRANCINE FULTON
“It will be fun … like a treasure hunt,” said Melissa Harrop, AgConnect communications coordinator, when describing the Chester County Farmers Market Trail, which invites people to experience 10 different farmers markets across Chester County and collect a stamp at each one. Those who complete a Farmers Market Trail card will receive a special “Ag Swag Bag.”
“Sometimes vendors change, or what each vendor brings week to week may change depending on what their stock is,” Harrop added. “Going to a farmers market is a new experience every time you go. You never know what you are going to find.” During the first-time event, being presented by AgConnect, local families are invited to take fun road trips to the various markets throughout the county. Participating markets are See Farmers Markets pg 4
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Last year’s event drew more than 90 golfers.
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Aidan Long, Canaan Toothman and Kevin Bolt were recognized as Eagle Scouts during a Court of Honor ceremony held on Feb. 21 at Conestoga Mennonite Church in Morgantown. The Scouts are members of Troop 543 Plowville, which meets at Robeson Lutheran Church.
According to www.scouting.org, Eagle Scout is the highest honor in the Scouts BSA program of Scouting America. Only 4% to 6% of youths involved in Scouting earn the honor, which requires earning more than 21 merit badges, holding leadership positions within the troop and completing a major community service project.
Scouts who earned the rank of Eagle are (from left) Aidan Long, Canaan
See Eagle Scouts pg 8 Toothman and Kevin Bolt. Photo by Francine Fulton
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BY FRANCINE FULTON