Manheim Township townlively.com
MAY 3, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXXVIII • NO 49
Brian Roche is a battle-tested warrior in fight against fraud BY JEFF FALK
The beauty of mature nature abounds in The Gardens of Oz.
His garden makes Dennis Denenberg feel right at home.
“Gardens of Oz” offers free beauty for the asking BY JEFF FALK
esthetically pleasing, beauty takes on a deeper meaning when shared with others. In the natural world, there are few things recognized as more beautiful than plants, including trees and flowers. Manheim Township resident Dennis Denenberg has a deep appreciation for the magnificent and complex 1-acre garden that surrounds his home at 410 Valley Road, Lancaster. But that appreciation blooms into pure enjoyment when visitors see it, smell it and experience it. In fact, Denenberg has made his garden, affectionately referred to as The Gardens of Oz, available as a nonprofit venue for charitably minded organizations to host fundraisers, meetings and events free of charge. In return for the use of the garden, Denenberg does accept donations to Diana’s Dreamers, a charity he founded at Millerville University to honor his late sister Diana DenenbergDurand, who succumbed to breast cancer in 2007. Denenberg said that the garden has already been reserved for four
appreciate the layout, but every person wants to see colors.” “Each season affects the garden drastically,” continued Denenberg. “My favorite time is spring. It’s spectacular. Once the first blooms come, from then on, there are colors everywhere. Then with the interaction of animals, the bees and the birds, it’s magical.” It’s also natural beauty 28 years in the making. When he purchased the property, Denenberg decided after an initial mowing of the lawn that he wanted his yard to be a garden. Now, a blade of grass cannot be found anywhere. It took Denenberg eight years to fill in the acre lot with plants and flowers, a process he continues to tweak today. Denenberg has been offering tours of the garden for about 15 years now. “It’s morphed in that the garden now is much more mature,” said Denenberg. “Life is about giving back. It doesn’t matter how rich or poor you are; give back to others. Even a smile can make someone’s day.” For additional information about The Gardens of Oz, email Denenberg at drdenden@aol.com or call 717-682-0206.
Brian Roche addresses a gathering at Lititz Senior Center.
question-and-answer period, as well as slideshow presentation. In addition to his consumer protection work on WGAL, Roche makes about five or six presentations to similar community groups across Lancaster County each month. “Seniors have time; they’re home and near the phone,” said Roche, who’s been employed at WGAL for 22 years, 20 of which have been dedicated to his current role. “Seniors are susceptible to it because they don’t understand the See Brian Roche pg 6
To build hope New Clinic for Special Children breaks ground BY ANN MEAD ASH
On April 4, the sun shone brightly over the tent set up at the site along Hatville Road in Intercourse where the new Clinic for Special Children (CSC) will be built. Herman Bontrager, board chair of CSC and chair of the Keeping the Promise: Building Hope Capital Campaign, welcomed the gathering, noting, “We have a perfect day.” The groundbreaking and tree planting that occurred on the site not only celebrated the new building, but also commemorated the
founding of CSC by Dr. Holmes Morton and his wife, Caroline, 34 years ago. “They had the vision and courage to establish a clinic to serve children with genetically transmitted diseases here in Lancaster County,” said Bontrager, who noted that the new building will help more families, allow for the innovation of new therapies, and be a place of comfort and hope for generations to come. He stated that more than 1,700 donors have contributed to the $8.8 million raised toward the $12.5 million goal of the campaign. See Clinic pg 3
Be u f l Gardens Start Here! Beautiful Awesome Selection! A • Annuals • Vegetables • Herbs • Perennials • Shrubs • Strawberry & Raspberry Plants & Lots, Lots More!
400 Long Lane At Marticville Road
Containers = Our Best Potting Soil, Proven Results!!
(Rts. 741 & 324S) 3 Miles S. of Lancaster Follow us on
Mon.-Sat. 8-6 Closed Sunday
717-872-9311 www.cherryhillorchards.com
R095375
ther For Mo u! o Y & PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER MAY 3, 2023
Postal Patron
MTM
A
events this season but that he’d like to see it used four times more. Guided by a pair of certified horticulturists, known as the “Garden Godesses,” the tour takes about an hour to complete. “My joy comes from seeing people enjoy the gardens,” said Denenberg. “I like to hear people laugh and ask questions. There is nothing as spectacular as nature. Even our grandest man-made monuments don’t come close. It’s fun to share it.” Plural, The Gardens of Oz is actually an arrangement of more than two dozen separate but intertwining gardens. Mixing both common and exotic plants, the garden features a bamboo grove, fish ponds, a garden dedicated to the Emerald City and Yellow Brick Road, as well as a pink garden honoring the memory of his sister. The Gardens of Oz is home to more than 500 species of thriving vegetation, each with its own unique life cycle and color pattern. “Every garden has a different vibe,” said Denenberg. “This is a ‘Wow.’ Here, you’re in the garden. You’re not just observing it. You’re at the whim of nature. Gardeners
Scam artists want to take what you’ve got. Brian Roche wants you to keep what you rightfully earned. Roche is a full-time consumer investigator for local television station WGAL-8. Personable, knowledgeable and genuine, Roche has made a career out of helping viewers and listeners avoid the seemingly unrelenting onslaught of hoaxes and scams. “What I want (the consumer) to learn is how to spot the scams,” said Roche. “Money is the root of it. What I’ve learned over my career is that two things motivate people: power and money. In this case, it’s money.” On April 24, the Manheim Township resident brought his message of awareness to Lititz. Roche addressed an audience of older local residents at the Lititz Senior Center, 201 E. Market St., Lititz, about how to identify and combat the current wave of fraud being perpetrated through phone calls, text messages and emails. The hourlong address included a