Manheim Township townlively.com
JULY 10, 2024
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XL • NO 6
Enthusiasm for fossils, Toys for Tots’ minerals to be displayed Touch-A-Truck is vehicle at extravaganza for enhancing young lives BY JEFF FALK
beneath her surface. And he wants to pass on his acquired Chris Haefner understands expertise to others. Mother Earth. He appreciates It’s that spirit that led Chris the precious gems hidden just and his wife, Catherine, to found
BY JEFF FALK
See Extravaganza pg 2
Chris and Catherine Haefner invite the community to the Christmas in July Fossil and Mineral Extravaganza.
LCDHH provides connections for communication BY JEFF FALK
Lancaster Toys for Tots’ coordinator, Gil Bixler (left), and Ethan Braeglemann, the youth ambassador for Toys for Tots, sort and box toys after a toy drive.
On hand that day will be nearly 100 vehicles - cop cars, fire trucks, emergency medical services vehicles and tow trucks - as well as a LifeLion helicopter and a state police helicopter. Many members and representatives of police departments from Lancaster County townships and Lancaster County’s first responders will be present. “It’s helping us and it’s great
(public relations) for them,” said Bixler of the public servants. Up to 500 people are expected to attend. Lancaster Toys for Tots’ TouchA-Truck Family Day will also include food trucks. “I perceive it being a growing event every year,” said Bixler, himself a retired Marine. “It’ll be a lot of families, a lot of kids, a lot of fun. The state police will show
One of the five human senses, hearing is something that can be easily taken for granted. But for those who can’t hear, there’s an element of appreciation that inspires creativity, ingenuity and a manifestation of the human spirit. Through a wealth of services and resources, the Lancaster Center of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (LCDHH), located at 2270 Old Philadelphia Pike, Lancaster, which is a subsidiary
of and overseen by Keystone Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services (KDHHS) of Reading, helps individuals with hearing loss learn to listen, communicate better and generally lead fuller lives. LCDHH client services manager and language specialist Karen Pfortsch, who has been deaf since birth, was interviewed for this article with the help of sign language interpreter Kandy Reyes, KDHHS’ president. “Deaf individuals are happy being deaf,” said Pfortsch. “We can do everything except hear.
See Touch-A-Truck pg 2
enhance your room with a new rug!
See LCDHH pg 5
100’s
in stock!
Stop in and see our large selection! Pictured are just a few styles and colors we have to offer.
PA033474
(717)656-7077
40 Glenbrook Rd, (Rt 772) Leola M, T, W, F 8–4, Th 8–7, Sat 8-Noon
Tampa Taj Mahal
Tampa Delhi
Tampa Phuket
R108143
www.florhaus.com
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ancaster Toys for Tots continues to do amazing things in our community. But it’s work that can’t be done alone, or without the support of many generous donors. Lancaster Toys for Tots’ latest venture, Touch-A-Truck Family Day, looks to build off that altruistic spirit and take the organization’s work to a whole different level. “We’re helping kids in Lancaster County, and there’s a big need in Lancaster County,” said Gil Bixler, Lancaster Toys for Tots’ coordinator for the last 37 years. “I’ve got a fantastic team of volunteers who just enjoy doing it. That’s what it takes to make it all happen. They work harder than I do.” Associated with the United States Marine Corps Reserve, Lancaster Toys for Tots’ Touch-ATruck Family Day is a brand-new, kid-friendly event. It will be held outdoors at Park City Center, 142 Park City Center, Lancaster, near Tires Plus, on Saturday, July 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free to attend, but families are encouraged to donate a new, unwrapped toy. It is also being used as a way to draw attention to autism. “Park City came to us and said, ‘What do you think of this idea?’” said Bixler. “We thought it was great. The goal is to create awareness and supply toys for autism groups. Autism is more prevalent than you and I know. We want to get the public more aware of the needs of these children.”