Pequea Valley townlively.com
AUGUST 2, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LIX • NO 32
Changing family dynamics icole Hooper, mother to Riley, 11, and McKinley, 9, both Pequea Valley School District (PVSD) students, first participated in the Strengthening Families program with Riley at the Together Community Center in the fall of 2022. She was so impressed with the program, she is planning to take part again in the spring. “I will do this as long as they are offering it,” said Hooper. “You can always gain more (from the program).” Strengthening Families is a seven-week, evidence-based program developed 30 years ago by Iowa State University for families with children ages 10 to 14. In PVSD, the program is fully funded by a Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health grant and offered by a partnership between Lancaster General Health, The Factory Ministries, and COBYS. Hooper first connected with The Factory through Anna Beasley,
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director of adult advocacy. The family benefited from some of the ministry’s resources and took part in Lunch & Learns held in the summer of 2022. When Hooper was invited to attend Strengthening Families, she was excited about the prospect. “It sounded like something good to try,” she said. “We came to the introduction program, where they have a guest speaker, and the kids get to hear a little bit about what will go on with them.” The aim of Strengthening Families is to help parents and caregivers learn nurturing skills they may use to support their children and to teach them how to effectively discipline and guide their children. It also aims to give youths a healthy future orientation and an increased appreciation of their parents and caregivers and to teach them skills for dealing with stress and peer pressure. Hooper had a few specific goals with regard to communication and discipline. “I was thinking about our communication and how much it mattered,” See The Factory pg 6
Pequea Valley-area families take part in Strengthening Families, a seven-week program held at The Factory Ministries.
Sally Winchell is senior queen “When I commit to a goal, I want to see it through to the end,” said Sally Winchell, who was crowned Ms. Pennsylvania Senior America 2023 in Harrisburg on June 4. “With this pageant, I was all in.” Sally first heard of the pageant last February when a friend, who served as Ms. Pennsylvania Senior America in 2021, invited her to a meet-and-greet. Sally met the current and past Pennsylvania queens, along with one who was a national winner. “It was fact-finding,” reported Sally, who noted any lady who has reached the age of elegance
- age 60 and up - is eligible to take part. An application, including biographical information, was necessary to compete. Sally explained that the purpose is to give older women a “chance to display their inner beauty, talent, and elegance.” She added that the pageant honors the achievements of senior women and motivates and encourages them to utilize their full potential and share their positive outlook on life with others. “It’s not just a beauty pageant,” she pointed out. “It’s more about your achievements, goals, and what you stand for. It gave me an opportunity to reflect.” See Senior queen pg 12
BY ANN MEAD ASH
Sally Winchell was crowned Ms. Pennsylvania Senior America 2023.
King’s Pet
Dore’Ann Weaver has always had artistic talents. Over the years, those skills have expanded into a variety of areas, including costume and set design and construction and painting a scrim backdrop the size of a gymnasium floor. However, Dore’Ann was a little unsure of exactly how to use those talents when she received a call in July of 2022 asking her to serve as art director for a DBM Films production called “Little Heroes.” “I said, ‘I am from theater. What does that mean?’” recalled Dore’Ann. Fortunately, her friend Robert Amaya,
who played the Snake King in the movie “Courageous,” was able to provide background information. “Little Heroes” focuses on four young friends who discover something is not right at their usual swimming hole. They soon uncover a mystery that involves a local factory owner and the mayor. The movie was filmed in Chesapeake City, Md., and North East, Md., over a 12-day period. A premiere was held in Baltimore on June 8 and on June 9, the film was shown again as part of a celebration in Chesapeake City. “Little Heroes” can be purchased from DBM Films or on Amazon. See Talents pg 8
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