Penn Manor JANUARY 29, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXI • NO 40
Double the groundhog fun at Acorn Acres
CAPLC promotes economic opportunity for all
BY GEORGE DEIBEL
BY JEFF FALK
squirrels, chipmunks, squirrels, bunnies, and groundhogs. We are also the only place in the county to do Virginia opossums.” S h a n k ’s l i fe c h a n g e d o n April 16, 2010. “That’s the day I found my first baby squirrel,” she says. On a tax season holiday from her accounting job performing internal audit and compliance on financial institutions, she was mowing her yard on a tractor when she saw a squirrel she believed was dead. Planning to dispose of the squirrel so her dogs wouldn’t eat it, Shank discovered the squirrel was alive and began scraping off the maggots. “I wrapped him up in my shirt and drove back to the house,” she recalled. “I did everything wrong,” Shank joked. “Everything. I could not have been more wrong. The squirrel survived. He was released. He
T here are a great many Lancaster County nonprofits seeking to fulfill basic needs. But there’s so much more to life than bare necessities. Not only does Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County (CAPLC) want its clients to survive, but the nonprofit also wants them to thrive. “ T here are folks in our community who are living with low incomes,” said Kristy Aurand, who’s been CAPLC’s chief development officer for eight years. “When any one group of people do better, we all do better. Every person has value, and we’re all members of the same community. We get to do this work, and we hope that everyone sees this work as important, not just the people receiving our services. Lancaster County is a strong community, but we know that not everyone is benefiting from the growth and development. It’s all of our responsibilities to be a part of that.” CAPLC, headquartered at 601 S. Queen St., Lancaster, operates under the motto o f “ Pe o p l e . E m p o w e re d .” The organization serves its clients through 10 distinct programs in four focus areas - early education, health and nutrition, household stability and safety empowerment. With satellite offices at 560 S. Reading Road, Ephrata, and 400 Chestnut St., Columbia, CAPLC offers individuals services through its Thrive to Five program, WIC (Women,
See Acorn Acres pg 6
See CAPLC pg 2
Acorn Acres’ director, Betsy Shank, holds Lilly (left) and Elliott.
Ballroom & Imperial Terrace, community needed us too much, 26 E. Chestnut St., Lancaster, and we didn’t fit in my house anyfrom 3 to 7 p.m. It is a free, fam- more,” said Shank. “They were ily-friendly event with games, giving us too many animals. I was drawings, and activities for kids. running 300 animals through my Elliott will make his prognostica- dining room every year.” tion regarding the I t i s t h e f i rs t championship footcommercial or nonball game, looking residential wildlife “It’s just a fun to make his third community event, rehabilitation and s t ra i g ht cor re c t education facility in and how often do Lancaster County. prediction. Acorn Acres, a “We made history you get to see a wildlife rehabilitaday,” Shank live groundhog on that tion and education said. facility, was born Groundhog Day?” Acorn Acres Sept. 1, 2020, treats a variety of but because of animals. “We don’t the pandemic, did not officially do any predators,” Shank said. announce itself to the world until “Predators are animals with the Jan. 1, 2021. It operated out of eyes going front. I do animals 154 square feet in Shank’s home with eyes going side. And we don’t before moving to its current do any birds. We do any of your location, 2100 Stone Mill Road, common backyard prey animals Lancaster, on Nov. 9, 2024. “The moles, voles, shrews, bats, flying
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roundhog Day is such an important occurrence for the people at Acorn Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation that one party is not sufficient. Acorn Acres will hold two celebrations on Sunday, Feb. 2, featuring two live groundhogs. Elliott, one of Acorn Acres’ resident groundhogs, will make his official prognostication at the Hempfield Apothetique, 100 W. Walnut St., Lancaster. The event will run from 9 to 11 a.m. with Elliott scheduled to provide his forecast at 10. Elliott learned his trade from Poppy, Acorn Acres’ first, and most famous, groundhog. Poppy, who appeared in a 2020 commercial during the professional championship football game and was nominated for an Emmy, died Feb. 28, 2023. “Lancaster cried that day,” said Betsy Shank, Acorn Acres’ founder and executive director. Shank said Elliott was a “hot mess” when he came to Acorn Acres because of the individualized care the volunteers furnish. “Elliott got to meet Poppy, and she imparted her Groundhog Day knowledge and skills to him,” Shank said. Elliott made his first solo prognostication last year and will be passing along his knowhow to fellow groundhog Lilly. Snacks will be available. Donations will be accepted, and there will be some merchandise for sale. “It’s just a fun community event, and how often do you get to see a live groundhog on Groundhog Day?” said Shank. Acorn Acres’ annual Groundhog Day Party will be held at the Imperial Event Center Blue
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