Manheim Township townlively.com
APRIL 30, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XL • NO 48
Rotary and Interact clubs install peace pole BY JEFF FALK
Peace and service are two peas from the same empathy pod. Philosophically, t h e co n ce p t o f peace aligns with Lancaster Sunrise R o t a r y C l u b ’s (LSRC) vision of “ S e r v i ce A b ove Self.” L SRC has teamed with its little brother s er v ice c lub at Manheim Township High School (MTHS), Interact Club, to bring that philosophy to life in the form of a peace pole. “I think peace is critical in these
MTHS Interact Club adviser Ked Kantz (left), Interact Club vice president Neve Dvorchak (second from left), Interact Club president Jocelyn Parise (second from right) and LSRC See Peace pole member Dave Ament stand by the peace pole pg 3 recently installed at MTHS.
Individuals celebrate World Down Syndrome Day at GiGi’s Playhouse Lancaster.
GiGi’s Playhouse celebrates Down syndrome everyday Individual attention makes
W
orld Down Syndrome Day doesn’t celebrate our differences. World Down Syndrome Day celebrates why we’re all special. On March 21, at 2501 Oregon Pike, GiGi’s Playhouse Lancaster added its own special twists to World Down Syndrome Day. “Down syndrome is not a condition,” said Kevin Hewitt, president of GiGi’s Playhouse Lancaster’s seven-person advisory board. “People with Down syndrome aren’t suffering. They’re just different. They might have challenges that other people don’t have. Sometimes they’re
challenged physically. They might be challenged in their cognitive abilities.” “In the past, people with Down syndrome tended to get pushed aside,” continued Hewitt. “General acceptance is what World Down Syndrome Day is all about. (People with Down syndrome) are often misunderstood, and sometimes they’re bullied. Our mission is to change the way the world views Down syndrome.” That Friday in late March at the Lancaster location of GiGi’s P layhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Center, World Down Syndrome Day was celebrated from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and was marked by discovery, fellowship and inclusion.
As part of the festivities, a group of GiGi’s Playhouse clients visited Lancaster County Christian School and a group of Lancaster-Lebanon IU13 students and Pennsylvania state Rep. Nikki Rivera visited GiGi’s Playhouse and toured the Manheim Township facilities. “It was just a festive day, a day of awareness and celebration,” said Hewitt. “The playhouse was decorated with balloons and glitter. Music was playing. Different families were coming in. Grandparents were joining with families. It was loud, fun and exciting.” In all, about 150 people visited GiGi’s Playhouse Lancaster on World Down Syndrome Day. The only Down syndrome achievement
Aaron’s Acres summer camps something special
BY JEFF FALK
T here is simply nothing like one-on-one connections, human touch and personal interaction. They can lift spirits and change lives. Those types of interactions are what Aaron’s Acres is built upon, and collectively they are the driving force behind the local nonprofit’s original program, summer camp. “We accept participants with all disabilities,” said Elaine Burnett, who’s been a program director
at Aaron’s Acres for 12 years. “Their needs vary, from hand over hand to behavior assistance to emotional and communicative assistance. With 1-on-1 or 1-on-2 staffing, we’re able to meet those needs. We’re able to meet those participants where they’re at. It helps us meet the child where their need is right now.” “ T he traditional summer camp usually has a 1-to-6 or 1-to-8 counselor-to-participant ratio,” Burnett added. “But we’re able to assist and modify concerns right there and now.”
See GiGi’s Playhouse pg 4
See Aaron’s Acres pg 2
Saturday, May 3 9 am to 3 pm Spooky Nook Sports, Olympic Hall 75 Champ Boulevard, Manheim, PA
$2,000 Vacation Giveaway pafamilytravel.com
Free Parking Vouchers for Attendees!
R117429
Free info from PA destinations and attractions
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER APR. 30, 2025
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
Postal Patron
MTM
BY JEFF FALK