Solanco NOVEMBER 5, 2025
SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 11,250 HOMES
VOL LXII • NO 29
Family Finds Racing Is Far From a Drag
Taking Thanksgiving Orders Now...
BY GEORGE DEIBEL
C
harlotte and Austin Ecks weren’t just born to drag race. They were born because of drag racing. The siblings’ parents, Brian and Nicole Ecks, met 31 years ago while competing in the Junior Drag Racing League (JDRL) in New Jersey. “The (JDRL) program started in 1993, and I started at the tail end of that year,” Nicole said. “Both of our fathers raced, so the kids now are third-generation racers.” Brian started the following year at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, which is where the JDRL originated. “We kind of grew up together and raced together and then, many years later, started dating, got married and now have kids that do it,” Nicole said. “They’ve started it because we were interested, and we knew the
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program existed.” Charlotte, now 15 years old, began her racing career at Atco Raceway in New Jersey. She earned her license and competed in her first race at 9. “I used to go to Atco, and my dad would race his car, and I remember I would always want to go up and watch the juniors race,” she said. “It took me a while to know that I wanted to do it, and then I told my dad, I said, ‘Dad, I think I want to race juniors.’” Austin, 12, did not start racing until two years ago. “At first he didn’t want to,” Brian said. “He said, ‘I just want to play baseball. I want to ride my dirt bike.’ Then we were going over to the baseball field one day and he says, ‘How long does it take to build a junior (dragster)? I think I want to race, too.’” Austin said, “I thought it looked pretty fun, and I wanted to go fast.” Nicole noted that Austin’s learning See Drag Racing pg 5
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Stepping Up for Solanco Students BY CAT SHANNON
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Siblings Charlotte Ecks (left) and Austin Ecks are excelling on the dragstrip. Photo by George Deibel
The staff members of Dewald Funeral and Cremation Services, a family-owned business, believe in giving back. They’re hosting their annual sneaker, socks and underwear drive through the end of November to help students in Solanco School District. “As a family, we always ask a question when we see a need: ‘How can we help?’” said Kara Miller, office manager. “With a collection drive like this, we’re
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raising awareness and, by collecting from the community, we can exponentially expand our impact. If everyone gives just a little, it makes a big impact.” Dewald began hosting the drive in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. “So many families had lost income due to the shutdown, and we were looking for a way to help alleviate their burden,” Kara said. She had a conversation with Mary Humphries, the guidance counselor at Quarryville Elementary School,
With donated items are (from left) Mary Humphries, Kara Miller, fifth-grade Quarryville Elementary student Harry Miller and 12thgrade Solanco High School student See Annual Drive pg 3 Andersen Miller.
Reflecting on a Career at VisionCorps BY FRANCINE FULTON
“I think I am most proud of the work that we have done over the years and how we have been able to expand our services and our footprint to serve more people,” reflected Dennis Steiner, president and CEO of VisionCorps, who recently announced his retirement . “That is what our mission is - to empower people who are blind See VisionCorps pg 9
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