Warwick townlively.com
JULY 26, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
Lititz recCenter triathlon amounts to survival of the fittest
Judy Simmons’ spirit lives on in “Around the Bend” BY JEFF FALK
BY JEFF FALK
riathlons are demanding tests of athletic stamina, determination and preparedness. They’re also great tests of character. The Lititz recCenter’s annual triathlon will be contested on Sunday, Aug. 6, beginning at 8 a.m. That’s when some of the fittest athletes around will descend on Lititz to compete against opponents, the clock and themselves. “Our goal is to keep people moving in different ways, to keep people healthy,” said Lititz recCenter’s fitness director, Simon Ababou. “We want to provide exceptional fitness programs to the community. It’s about taking care of yourself. We understand the benefits of being healthy. We always say, ‘Fitness is fun.’” Nearly 250 athletes from Lititz, Manheim, Ephrata, New Holland, Lancaster, York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and New York are expected to compete in this year’s Lititz recCenter triathlon. Contestants range in age from 13 to 75. Participants can compete individually or in teams of two or three. Prizes and medals will be awarded to the top three female and top three male finishers in each age group. “(The competitors) come from all over,” said Ababou. “Most of them know each other, and you can see them conversing. Some of them are very serious athletes. They train hard and compete, and they want to push hard and beat their time. It isn’t easy for them.” As a competition, the Lititz recCenter triathlon is composed of three components: a 300-meter swim, a 15.8-mile bike ride and a 3.1-mile run. Conditioning plays a huge role in success, and for some participants simply finishing is an accomplishment.
All lives reach a conclusion. But books possess the power to live forever. Judy Simmons’ book, “Around the Bend,” is a tribute to her death and her life. A resident of Lititz, Judy passed away on Christmas Day 2022 following a long, debilitating illness, about two weeks after she completed her one and only book. In the early days of June, through the continued love and support of her family, “Around the Bend” was published on Amazon. The story of how the 180-page book came to be published is as compelling as the inspirational novel itself. “Judy was a really serious Christian woman,” said Ernie Simmons, Judy’s husband of 60 years. “She felt like God wanted her to do this
T
See Lititz Triathlon pg 2
Judy Simmons
book. She had prayed about it for years. When she got healthy enough to write again, that’s what See “Around the Bend” pg 2
A 3.1-mile run makes up the final leg of the Lititz recCenter triathlon.
Three decades of ASSETS BY ANN MEAD ASH
“Historically, we’ve done a lot of work in Lancaster city,” said Kevin Nofziger, business development officer with ASSETS. “But more of our clients are coming from all over the county.” On Tuesday, Sept. 12, ASSETS will celebrate 30 years serving Lancaster with an event at Southern Market, 100 S. Queen St., Lancaster. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets, which are necessary to attend the event, called ASSETS at 30, may be purchased at https://assets-at -30.eventbrite.com. ASSETS was started by the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) in an effort to create stateside opportunities for entrepreneurs. “ We are a CDFI (community development financial
institution),” said Nofziger, who noted the organization plans to expand beyond Lancaster County. ASSETS can offer loans from $1,000 to $50,000. Three main lending products are available: a small business loan of up to $10,000; an impact loan of up to $30,000, and a special Reimagining Our Community loan of up to $10,000 for one year at 1%, accompanied by a 30% matching grant. Loans are only the beginning of what ASSETS offers. Entrepreneurial training programs and boot camps, which run from six to 10 weeks, include the Business Validator and Incubator classes, housed in the Women’s Business Center. ASSETS marketing coordinator Kirsten McWilliams said the Incubator offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to “fine tune strategies
The swimming portion of the Lititz recCenter triathlon is contested in the Lititz Springs Pool.
See ASSETS pg 4
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