Manheim Township townlively.com
JULY 5, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXXIX • NO 6
Art is just one way Friendship Community cultivates capabilities BY JEFF FALK
For safe driving in Township, prevention is key BY JEFF FALK
he people. The schools. The amenities. There’s a lot to like about Manheim Township. But below the surface hides a traffic fact concerning the locale that is, at the least, worrisome and, at the worst, alarming. According to statistics provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Manheim Township had the second-most reportable vehicle crashes per capita in the state last year. That may be a surprising fact until one considers the number of major highways and thoroughfares that pass through the township. Roads are especially busy in the summer, as the weather is favorable for more individuals pursuing interests outside. Some variables
“Take your time, slow down, pay attention and stay off your cellphone.” “I think the message is to just slow down,” said Sgt. Barry Waltz, public information officer for the Manheim Township Police Department. “We don’t want to meet you handling a crash or handling a traffic situation. We’d rather meet you at a community
event. There’s a crazy amount of traffic on our roadways, and there are more distractions than there ever have been.” In 2022, PennDOT received reports of 715 crashes in Manheim Township that involved injury or vehicles being towed. Some of the most common causes of crashes were excessive speed, distracted driving, aggressive driving and cellphones. “They’re not accidents; they’re crashes,” said Waltz, “ because they can be avoided. By eliminating or minimizing distractions in a vehicle, a lot of this can be avoided. Manheim Township roads are very congested, so take your time, slow down, pay attention and stay off your cellphone. I feel like we could reduce the number of crashes if people would just do that.”
See Friendship Community pg 3
Sustaining nature Second BioBlitz and Nature Fest planned BY ANN MEAD ASH
Katrina Lefever, sustainable landscape coordinator with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), vividly remembers the first BioBlitz held at MCC in 2022. “Last year, we had it in September, and we held a pawpaw fest as well,” she recalled. “We planted pawpaws in the woods and had some fruit tasting.” While the first blitz, organized by Lefever along with naturalists Lydia Martin, Cameala Freed, and Rita Tomassetti was held in the fall. Lefever believed a summer date
would attract a wider age group. The second MCC BioBlitz and Nature Fest will be held on the MCC grounds at 21 S. 12th St., Akron, on Saturday, July 8, from 9 a.m. to noon. Those wishing to join a BioBlitz team, which will count insects and plant life using the iNaturalist app or pen and paper, should register at https://mcc.org /forms/2023-mcc-bioblitz-nature -fest by Friday, July 7. The Nature Fest is open to the public, and it will include live music, art, and plant giveaways. Children are welcome with adult supervision.
See Safe driving pg 5
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See MCC pg 2
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associated with driving are out of a driver’s control, there are also practices that can make automobile travel safer. Those keys revolve around respecting vehicles, the road itself and other drivers, while maintaining focus when behind the wheel.
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Several busy highways run through Manheim Township.
More than simply self-expression, art is a pure act of creation, making something from nothing. But art also possesses the power to inspire, nurture and invite exploration. Friendship Community is very much in tune with art, its applications and what it can do. A faith-based organization headquartered at 1149 E. Oregon Road, Lititz, Friendship Community cultivates the capabilities of individuals with intellecFriendship Heart Studio artist Adam tual disabilities and autism. Friendship Community oper- shows pride in his painting. ates a day program known as Friendship Heart Studio, which Lancaster, not far from the city’s connects 60 aspiring artists with Gallery Row. The artwork created by participrofessionals and volunteers. The work that the collaborations create pants in the Friendship Heart Studio is displayed at Bloomfield Village program is first displayed at the stuGallery, 235 Bloomfield Drive, dio downtown before being moved Lititz, Suite 111, and at Friendship to the Bloomfield Village Gallery. All Community’s Lancaster city gallery, proceeds from the sale of the art 118 N. Water St., Suite 101, goes back into the program.