Octorara townlively.com
JUNE 12, 2024
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXXIV • NO 15
4-H to offer summer camps for youths BY FRANCINE FULTON
Parkesburg resident to celebrate 101st birthday
W
hen asked her secret to longevity, Dor is Durnin, who will turn 101 on Friday, June 14, said simply, “Clean living and trusting the Lord for everything.” Durnin, who resides in Parkesburg with her daughter, Debra Neal, was born in the Carlisle area and had one sister and three brothers, one of whom predicted that Durnin would live to be at least 100. She worked as a practical nurse, an aide in a nursing home and, for a brief time, an aide at the Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center. As an employee of Bayada Home Health Care, she also provided in-home nursing care.
Later in life, Durnin was a beautician. She worked in a salon and then opened a salon in her home. “Being a nurse was my favorite; I liked taking care of people,” said Durnin. She was married for 33 years to James Durnin, who passed away in 1978. “My father’s job took us to Maryland for four years, and we ended up here in Parkesburg,” said Neal. Durnin was a member of Upper Octorara Presbyterian Church and later Freedom Life Church. Her hobbies through the years include knitting and cooking; her favorite meal to prepare was pot roast. She is a fan of jigsaw puzzles and visiting New Jersey beaches. Now, she enjoys watching
Jimmy Swaggart on television, completing adult coloring books and spending time with her grandson, Wes Neal, who often brings her flowers and gifts. She said her favorite memory of her grandson was taking him out to lunch and working with him to complete jigsaw puzzles. One of Durnin’s caretakers is Anna Sterling. “(Durnin) was a friend of my parents,” Sterling said. “She and her husband, Jim, (and my parents) all went to church together at Upper Octorara, and that’s how I met her. She is very independent. There are three of us (caregivers), and we all have fun with Doris.” Neal said that the family is planning a small party to celebrate Durnin’s 101st birthday.
Heritage Days fun for kids and more! New laser show to conclude event BY ANN MEAD ASH
“ We h ave s o m any k id s ’ activities, between the tractor pull and the tractor rides, and the Intercourse Library is doing kids’ activities on Friday evening,” said Mike Sensenig, one of the organizers of the annual Heritage Days in Intercourse. Sensenig noted that the bounce house will be on-site again this year, but in a different location. “The cornhole tournament was
so successful, we needed more room, so we moved the bounce house,” he explained. This year’s Heritage Days celebration will be held in the Intercourse Community Park, 3730 Old Philadelphia Pike, Gordonville, on Friday, June 14, and Saturday, June 15. On June 14, activities will begin at 5 p.m., and on June 15, the Intercourse Fire Company pancake and sausage breakfast for purchase will kick off the day at 6:30 a.m. See Heritage Days pg 3
SWEET CHERRIES are Ripe!! * Ready Picked at Market 400 Long Lane At Marticville Road * Pick Your Own (Rts. 741 & 324S)
(Call for days & hours) * Last entry ½ hr. before closing * POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER JUN. 12, 2024
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
Postal Patron
OCC
BY FRANCINE FULTON
See 4-H summer camps pg 5 of sweet treats.
3 Miles S. of Lancaster
Mon.-Sat. 8-6, Closed Sunday
Beautiful Flowers! 717-872-9311
www.cherryhillorchards.com
R107815
Doris Durnin (right) resides with her daughter, Debra Neal.
This summer, Chester County 4-H - Penn State Extension will offer fun and educational activities for youths through its day camp program. Topics will include computer coding, exploring nature, rocketry and candy making. 4-H will also offer a babysitting training class. A highlight of each of the classes is that all involve hands-on activities. “The candy making is generally the most popular camp, but the STEM camps are also getting popular,” said Toni Stuetz, 4-H Extension educator. “(The camps) are all hands-on. Coding is less active, but they are definitely all learning by doing.” Python Day Camp will be held on Monday, June 17; Tuesday, June 18; and Thursday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day at the Chester County 4-H - Penn State Extension office, Youths in the Candy Making Day 601 Westtown Road, Suite 370, Camp will learn to make a variety