Solanco SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 11,250 HOMES
Solanco High Opens Art Gallery BY GEORGE DEIBEL
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A Night to Honor Burns: Celebrating Scotland’s Favorite Poet
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Burns Night, an evening to recognize the birthday of Rober t Bur ns, the national poet of Scotland, will take place on Friday, Jan. 23, at Historic Beale Manor, 200 S. Church St., Parkesburg. The Octorara Covenanter Presbyterian Foundation will host the event.
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See Art Gallery pg 4
BY FRANCINE FULTON
Leo’s Helping Paws Is All About the Dogs BY GEORGE DEIBEL
ome Solanco High School art students and members of the community can enjoy a genuine galler y experience without leaving the Southern End. O n N o v. 1 9 , teacher Shannon VanGyzen established the Black & Gold Galler y in a hallway adjacent to her art classroom. Students’ artwork lines the walls and is als o avail a ble Solanco art teacher Shannon VanGyzen (front) and students (from left) Ava Breckbill, for purchase. “The Kate Zdrojewski, Keira McCauley, and Honor Hersh were involved with opening the Black & Gold Gallery at Solanco High School. Photo by George Deibel opening (coincided) People interested in viewing the with the fall play, which was great,” had already been sold as of Dec. 19. VanGyzen said. “We sold a bunch All the works will remain up until art and inquiring about purchasMonday, Feb. 2, when they will be ing a piece can go to @slcblackand of pieces that day.” goldgallery on Instagram or visit Of the 23 pieces on display, 10 replaced by other creations.
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Burns Night will begin at 6 p.m. with a social time featuring music by fiddler Tom Knapp. Bag piper Thompson McConnell will also be featured. A traditional haggis ceremony will follow, ending with a toast of Scotch. Haggis, a traditional Scottish dish, is a type of savory pudding that Enjoying last year’s event are (front, from left) Joyce is made from the heart, Rotecki, Jonathan Welch, Barry Girvin, (back) John See Burns Night pg 2 Girvin and Donna McCool.
It’s fitting that the next fundraiser for the Leo’s Helping Paws nonprofit group will be held on Valentine’s Day. That’s emblematic of the love Kathy Styer and Beth Buchter have for dogs. Styer and Buchter co-founded Leo’s Helping Paws in July 2014. The pair were volunteers for another rescue organization before electing to branch out on their own. “At that time, we were seeing a lot of need,” said Styer, who is the president. “There were more rescues that were being formed, and the need for vet care was the No. 1 issue with all the dogs that they would rescue, and it’s costly. In order to get them adopted, first they had to be vetted, because that’s protocol for a rescue.” Leo’s Helping Paws’ mission is to provide financial assistance for veterinary care to nonprofit all-volunteer dog rescue groups in Pennsylvania and neighboring states. The organization, made up of 40 volunteers, has also assisted outfits in Ohio, Ne w York , Mar yland, Ne w Jersey, West Virginia, Virginia, Connecticut, and Delaware. Anyone wishing to donate, volunteer, or apply for a grant can go to www.leoshelpingpaws.org. Leo’s Helping Paws, based in Lancaster city, has awarded an average of more than 80 grants per year totaling approximately $780,000 in its existence. “I am a big dog lover,” said Buchter, who is the treasurer. “I’ve always had compassion for animals. It’s just in me. It’s my nurturing instinct.” See Aiding Dogs pg 3
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