Octorara JULY 23, 2025
SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 3,720 HOMES
Church Holds Food Drive, Offers Summer SPARK Program BY FRANCINE FULTON
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Michele Francis and Donna Norris collected food items for the Octorara
JUNE 11, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
See Church pg 6 Area Food Cupboard on July 12. Photo by Francine Fulton
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Golf Tournament To Support Animal House Project BY FRANCINE FULTON
on Monday, July 21, which will benefit Animal House Project Bellewood Country Club, an (AHP), a nonprofit organization exclusive golf club in North that serves pet owners in need. Coventry Township, will be the By operating a pet food pantry site of a charity golf tournament and offering veterinary services, See Golf Tournament pg 9
Partipants in last year’s event included (from left) race co-directors Pam Haas and Lynn Cronomiz, Freddie Henry and Lynne Bickta.
Paint the Town Purple Run/Walk To Benefit Alzheimer’s Association
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s part of an effort to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and in memory of her mother, Carol, who passed away from the disease in 2017, Lynn Cronomiz of Morgantown will again host the Paint the Town Purple 5K, with all proceeds supporting the Alzheimer’s Association. This year’s event, which will include a 5K run and 1K fun walk , will take place at the Zerbe Retirement Community, 2499 Zerbe Road, Narvon, on Saturday, June 14. Registration will open at 8 a.m., and the 5K and walk will begin at 9:30 a.m. Participants and attendees are encouraged to wear purple to the event. This is the third year for the
fundraiser. Paint the Town Purple began in 2023 at Historic Joanna Furnace. This is the second year it is being held at the retirement community. “We’re hoping to grow it this year. We are trying to attract runners from the L ancaster area (as well),” Cronomiz noted, adding, “The past two years we had beautiful weather. The 5K is professionally timed, and we accurately measured the course to be a 5K.” Nonrunners and walkers are also invited to attend to cheer on the 5K participants, but it is requested that they arrive by 9:15 am. due to a road closure. “The run goes out of Zerbe Mansion and down the hill on Zerbe Road and turns right onto Hammertown Road. The Caernarvon Township police will
have half of the road secured and the other half (open) to let out runners,” Cronomiz explained. “Then, they run up the hill about a half mile to the top of Zerbe Road and turn left. They will go along School House Lane, which is on the campus.” She noted that the walkers will stay on the campus on School House Lane. Retirement community residents are also involved in efforts to support the Alzheimer’s Association. “They did a bingo on May 19, and they raised $310,” she said. “The residents will also do a bake sale at the race.” There will also be an opportunity for attendees to win gift baskets through a random drawing. 5K participants will get five tickets, but the public may purchase tickets to win prizes, such as Wawa and Olive Garden gift cards.
Last year’s event drew more than 90 golfers.
MCC
In your mailbox & online BY FRANCINE FULTON
“It will be fun … like a treasure hunt,” said Melissa Harrop, AgConnect communications coordinator, when describing the Chester County Farmers Market Trail, which invites people to experience 10 different farmers markets across Chester County and collect a stamp at each one. Those who complete a Farmers Market Trail card will receive a special “Ag Swag Bag.”
“Sometimes vendors change, or what each vendor brings week to week may change depending on what their stock is,” Harrop added. “Going to a farmers market is a new experience every time you go. You never know what you are going to find.” During the first-time event, being presented by AgConnect, local families are invited to take fun road trips to the various markets throughout the county. Participating markets are
A Tower of Flowers Floral Attraction on Display at Christiana Library
See Farmers Markets pg 4
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See Run/Walk pg 2
Community Invited To Discover Chester County Farmers Markets
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER JUN. 11, 2025
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Postal Patron
BY FRANCINE FULTON
“I first saw one of these in Luzerne, Switzerland; they call them flower columns,” said Robin Coffroth, when describing the new flower tower that he created at Moores Memorial Library. “As soon as I saw one, I said we have to have one of these in Christiana.” Robin, president of the library board of directors, and his wife, Kathy, created the 6-foot-tall flower
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POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER JUL. 23, 2025
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
Postal Patron
OCC
BY FRANCINE FULTON
Lafayette To Return to Chester, Lancaster Counties BY FRANCINE FULTON
ongregation members from Penningtonville Presbyterian Church recently conducted a food drive at Dutch-Way Farm Market in Gap, where they collected nonperishable food items for the Octorara Area Food Cupboard (OAFC). As part of the effort, shoppers were provided with a list of needed items when they entered the store, and they were able to drop off their donations as they exited. “We try to do this a couple of times a year. Dutch-Way allows one (food drive) per month, so you have to schedule it,” explained congregation member Pat Softchin, adding that the OAFC trailer was on hand to carry the donated items back to the food cupboard. The church volunteers also Penningtonville Presbyterian Church members (from left) Pat Softchin,
townlively.com
VOL XXXV • NO 21
tower, which is covered mostly in inpatients along with petunias and other flower varieties. They began the effort to replicate the flower column this past spring by contacting officials in Switzerland. “We were on a river boat cruise. We started in Amsterdam and went down the Rhine River to Switzerland. This (flower tower) is 6 feet high, and theirs there were 3 or 4 feet higher,” Robin explained, noting that flower columns are prominent See Flower Tower pg 2
Robin Coffroth and his wife, Kathy (not pictured), created a flower tower at Moores Memorial Library in Christiana, modeled after similar structures they saw in Switzerland. Photo by Francine Fulton
The Marquis de Lafayette was a 19-year-old Frenchman who volunteered to join the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War in 1777. He was able to secure France’s assistance in the war effort, which has been credited in the success of the Continental Army’s defeat of the British at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781. In 1824, President James Monroe invited Lafayette to return to America, a trip that became known as Lafayette’s “Farewell Tour.” Planning to stay just three months, Lafayette extended his visit to 13 months because of the number of people who wanted to honor the Revolutionary War hero. During 1 8 2 4 a nd 1 8 2 5 , L a faye t te traveled more than 6,000 miles to all 24 states in the country, including Pennsylvania. To commemorate the 200th anniversary of that visit, American Friends of Lafayette established a nationwide committee consisting of more than 500 individuals representing those 24 states that Lafayette visited. Events are being planned by communities to trace Lafayette’s footsteps on the exact dates and in the exact order he followed on his Farewell Tour of America. Locally, a re-creation of his visit to Lancaster and Chester counties will take place on Sunday, July 27, through Tuesday, July 29. The event has been in the planning stages for the past four years. “Basically, I started by researching See Lafayette pg 3
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