Pequea Valley townlively.com
FEBRUARY 12, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXI • NO 8
A calming presence VITA announces free tax preparation BY ANN MEAD ASH
“M
Cliff Mast (left) and Richard Ferrier provide free tax preparation services to those who qualify through VITA.
Calling all hunters When Kevin Ressler, one of the organizers of the Ephrata Area Churches’ annual New Holland Sportsman Banquet, learned that Eddie Salter was being considered as the 2025 speaker, the turkey hunter’s name was not familiar. “I had never heard of him before,” stated Ressler, who noted that the event had hosted deer hunters as speakers for the last several years. “We wanted to try something different,” Ressler pointed out. “(Salter) deer hunts, but he’s big into turkeys.” The family-friendly banquet,
which was first held in 2005, will take place on Friday, March 14, at Yoder’s Restaurant, 14 S. Tower Road, New Holland. Attendees can view about 10 vendor stands, which will include hunting and fishing gear as well as other local businesses, such as a car dealership, when doors open at 5 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6:15 p.m. According to Ressler, the event will again feature a number of door prizes, which are provided by banquet sponsors. Ressler noted that the pr izes will not necessarily be related to hunting and fishing. “We will have free car washes, maybe a
“It’s an incredible gift to the community.” 31 S. Duke St.; the United Way offices; and 245 W. King St. More information about hours or making an appointment, which is recommended, is available at www.uwlanc.org/vita. Individuals may also schedule by dialing 211. Pop-up sites may be available as well. In Lancaster County, VITA services are provided through a partnership
between the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the United Way. “(VITA services) are available to anyone with a household income under $70,000,” said Mast, who explained that further parameters exclude taxes for rental properties and S corporations. “We don’t do business returns,” he said, but then added that Schedule C taxes for a side business would fall within VITA’s wheelhouse. VITA will complete federal, state, and local tax forms as well as the PA-1000 form for those who qualify. “That is an extra rebate up to $1,000,” he said. According to Mast, the service starts with an intake form, which can be filled out online or may be sent ahead of the appointment by email. “We have everyone fill out an intake name, address, who is in the house, W-2, 1099, retirement income, etc.,” he explained. “ That helps us to interview and be sure we have all See VITA pg 4
Snow Angels wield shovels of mercy BY JEFF FALK
Snow angels Jennifer Jarvis (left) and Camden Thompson clear snow at a residence in Adamstown.
It has absolutely nothing to do with people lying on their backs in the snow and moving their arms and legs to create impromptu winter weather art. It’s more closely related to kindred spirits performing heavenly work here on Earth. These are different kinds of Snow Angels. “Before we had a formal name, the people who we were helping named us,” said Jennifer Jarvis, one of the founding members of
the Lancaster Snow Angels. “ They said to us, ‘ You’re angels. We’re so thankful.’” The Snow Angels are an independent, communityoriented group of concerned citizens who travel around the Lancaster countryside shoveling and removing snow from the sidewalks, walkways and driveways of the elderly, the disabled and veterans - neighbors who can’t remove snow on their own. It began as a grassroots movement in local neighborhoods, but the altruistic concept has gained traction and See Snow Angels pg 2
R114841
See Ephrata Area Churches pg 5
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER FEB. 12, 2025
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
Postal Patron
PEQ
BY ANN MEAD ASH
ost p e ople don’t understand taxes,” said Cliff Mast, site coordinator for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Paradise location at The Factory Ministries, 3293 Lincoln Highway East. “We as a group (of volunteers) work on de-mystifying them or just being a calming presence.” Mast explained that many clients who come to VITA for free tax preparation services feel a lot of anxiety about completing their taxes. “Our goal is to say, ‘It’s alright. We will take care of this. We will help walk you through it.’” Mast, who has been a volunteer with VITA for nearly a decade, said that the Paradise site, which opened at the end of January, will be staffed with volunteer tax preparers each Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Thursday, April 10. The Paradise location is one of 15 sites located throughout
the county. Free tax preparation through VITA is available at two sites in Elizabethtown, as well as sites in Columbia, Denver, Ephrata, New Holland, Hempfield, Manheim, Millersville, and Quarryville. Lancaster sites are located at HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College; Trinity Lutheran Church,