Octorara townlively.com
JUNE 5, 2024
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXXIV • NO 14
Russellville Grange celebrates 150th anniversary BY FRANCINE FULTON
Members of the Russellville Grange recently celebrated the organization’s 150th anniversary with a banquet held at Oxford Presbyterian Church. More than 70 people attended the event, which featured dinner,
guest speakers and awards presentations. Betsy Huber, a past state Grange president and former national Grange president, was the speaker for the evening. She also presented a national citation to Russellville Grange president Terry Murray. The See Russellville Grange pg 4
Mayor Darren Hodorovich (left) welcomed keynote speaker Jill Hardy, who brought mementos and photos of her son to the event.
Memorial Day observed in Atglen
“F
or our family, ever y day is Memorial Day,” said keynote speaker Jill Hardy during the Memorial Day ceremony held in Atglen on May 25. Jill is the mother of Brandon Hardy, who was killed in Iraq in 2006 while serving in the United States Marines Corps. “We have learned to live without him, and life goes on, but it will never be the same.” In a poignant tribute to her son, Hardy told the stor y of Brandon’s life and his desire since the age of 10 to serve in the military. Brandon graduated
from Octorara Junior-Senior High School in 1999 and then left for Air Force basic training in San Antonio, Texas. He spent two years in Germany, followed by an assignment in Spokane, Wash. Brandon was deployed three times during his five years in the Air Force, including to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. “Brandon decided that he was not doing enough for his country in the Air Force and decided to become a United States Marine, and in so doing he gave up rank and pay of a staff sergeant to start over at the bottom as a recruit,” Hardy recalled. “He loved being
in the military and served with pride and honor, and he was passionate about the freedom of this country.” Brandon graduated as a United States Marine in 2005. “Brandon came home for a 10-day leave after boot camp, and he was sitting at the dining room table one day with his training manual,” said Hardy, who brought the manual to the ceremony. “(Reading from the manual, he stated), ‘I’m an American fighting in the Armed Forces to guard my country and our way of life. I’m prepared to give my life in its defense right now.’ I didn’t know that in 10 short months he would do just that.” See Memorial Day pg 7
Special Needs Benefit Auction scheduled in Ronks BY ANN MEAD ASH
Mervin Beiler, who has been attending the Sunny Sunbeam Center, located south of Route 30, for about 10 years, loves to greet visitors with the words, “Welcome to Sunny Sunbeam Center.” Beiler is the unofficial assistant to teacher Esther King, and he hurried to help answer questions for this article on the upcoming fundraiser that helps support Sunny Sunbeam and seven other area centers for members of the Plain community
with special needs. The 18th annual Special Needs Benefit Auction will be held on Monday, July 1, at Fisher’s Quality Dairy Sales, 3304 B Old Philadelphia Pike, Ronks. The auction will begin at 10 a.m., but a variety of foods will be offered for sale beginning at 5:30 a.m. Sunny Sunbeam and the other centers - Special Hearts Circle, Sunbeam, Caring Hearts, New Horizons, Upper Valley Workshop, Shady Hollow, and Sunnyside Specials - together give the more than 100 adults See Benefit auction pg 3
33 Years of Service
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BY FRANCINE FULTON
Receiving membership anniversary awards from Matt Esbenshade (far right) are (from far left) Sarah Coburn; Chris Coburn; Jessica Reyburn; Francis Sharon; Marge Holman; Melanie Murray on behalf of her late mother, Betty Spotts; Rebecca Clendenin; (not pictured) Stanley Reyburn and Jack Lindsey.