Penn Manor townlively.com
DECEMBER 18, 2024
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXI • NO 34
Discovering the legacy of a patriot BY ADRIAN ESCHENWALD
T
wo decades ago, Todd Adams of Conestoga set out on a journey to trace his family tree all the way back to its first roots in American soil. The avid genealogist and Conestoga Area Historical Society (CAHS) trustee sought evidence to validate certain chapters in his family’s story, but Todd’s quest would lead him to discover pieces of his past that he never knew existed. Todd’s primary goal was to validate his lineage on his mother’s side of the family, which he traced back to his sixth great-grandfather Michael Quickel. Due to Quickel’s military service during the Revolutionary War, Todd decided that he could validate his lineage by having his descendance acknowledged by the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). The nonprofit organization’s mission is to promote patriotism,
to educate Americans about the country’s history and to recognize individuals’ ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War. Todd researched his family tree for more than a decade, scouring the depths of historical societies and public records throughout Lancaster and York counties. Todd examined his ancestors’ signatures and completed DNA testing as he gathered the proof of his lineage; however, Quickel was not yet officially recognized by SAR as a patriot, which the organization defines as a man who fought in the Revolutionary War or aided the cause by providing supplies or supporting the military in other ways. Four years ago, Todd learned that Quickel was finally recognized as a patriot by SAR and the Daughters of the American Revolution, an organization that shares SAR’s mission but focuses on the women who helped the United States earn its independence. Todd assembled his findings and investigated his Ed Kopsick (left) of SAR presented Todd Adams (second from left), Trevor Adams (second from right) and Les Adams with certificates that acknowledge their relation to an American soldier who fought in the
See SAR pg 4 Revolutionary War.
BY FRANCINE FULTON
Holiday tunes like “Silver Bells” and “Winter Wonderland,” as well as religious hymns, including “Mary, How Could You Have Known?” and “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks” will be featured at a Christmas concert to be presented by the LanChester Chorus on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 3 p.m. at the Christiana Fire Company, 214 S. Bridge St., Christiana. The chorus gets its name
from the fact that its members are from both Lancaster and Chester counties, including many singers who attend Middle Octorara Presbyterian Church and other faith communities in the Southern End. The director of the chorus, Kimberly Kusnersyk, is a resident of Strasburg, and the accompanist, Christine Smith, resides in Willow Street. Light refreshments, including cookies and punch, will be served after the concert. There is no admission fee, but a freewill See Chorus pg 3
Talent on parade BY ANN MEAD ASH
Reflecting on his opportunity as one of six Doherty Petri School of Irish Dancing students who took part in the Riverdance performance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year, Isaiah Pujol, a 17-year-old Manheim Township resident, called the experience “awesome.” “A lot of people don’t understand how big Riverdance is in the world of Irish dancing,” explained Isaiah, who noted that the experience brought together the chance to be part of an international show where he could dance with professionals in an event as large as the Macy’s parade. “It’s this fantastic thing,” he said. Jase Lawrence, an 11-year-old who lives in Penn Manor School District and who was both the shortest and youngest member of the Riverdance parade performers, was impressed Doherty Petri School of Irish Dance students who performed with Riverdance by the experience of dancing with professionals he has looked in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade up to. Sarah Smith, a 14-year-old who travels weekly from Balti- include (from left) Sarah Smith, Abigail more to train at the school, said, “It opens up opportunities for Ernst, Liam Snodgrass, Ezekiel Pujol, Isaiah See Irish dancers pg 4 Pujol, and Jase Lawrence.
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LanChester Chorus to present holiday concert