Warwick townlively.com
OCTOBER 16, 2024
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXV • NO 32
Venture Lititz’s 5K showcases costumes, characters and community BY JEFF FALK
Participants in last year’s Lititz Lions Halloween parade display the sign announcing the start of the yearly event.
Halloween parade is when local boys and girls come out to play
T
he Lititz Lions Halloween parade has always been about community. “It’s a parade for kids,” said Lititz Lion Ted Beck, who’s coordinating the Halloween parade. “I think it’s a fun time for kids to dress up. My favorite part is not only seeing the kids, but especially adults dressing up, just being a different person, a different character. When I see kids dress up and having fun, that brings joy to my heart.” The 77th annual Lititz Lions Halloween parade will step off at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28. The downtown Lititz streets will close at 6 p.m. to allow the parade to
form, and the festivities are expected to begin winding down around 8 p.m. The Halloween parade will start at the corner of Locust and Main streets, proceed west and turn left onto South Broad Street and then turn right on West Orange Street. The parade will disband in Warwick High School’s parking lot, 301 W. Orange St. “I see Lititz as a quilt,” said Beck. “There are so many events that Lititz has that families can participate in. They all fit and they’re coordinated with each other. (The Halloween parade) is a time for families to come together. It’s a free night and it’s a safe night. You see people from Brickerville, Brunnerville,
Rothsville and Manheim there. All these different patches make up a quilt to celebrate what a small town is really all about.” The Lititz Lions Halloween parade will feature nearly 70 groups, floats and individuals representing sports teams, Scout troops, school groups, dance teams and emergency service units. Prizes will be awarded in three children’s categories: individuals or groups of eight marchers or fewer, groups of nine or more and floats. The Lititz Lions Club will operate a concession stand at the corner of Main and Cedar streets, near the judges’ stand. There will also be a DJ spinning Halloween-themed music and
Runners in last year’s Apoca-Lititz 5K stride toward the finish line.
to raise funds for Venture Lititz, the downtown business district’s advocate, supporter and partner. This year’s version of the annual event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 9 a.m., beginning and ending at Stoll See Apoca-Lititz pg 3
Rooted in COBYS’ support, Zoeller family tree sprouts branches BY JEFF FALK
The experiences of fostering and adopting children can be both challenging and rewarding. They’re experiences that COBYS can both enhance and make more manageable. Louis and Melissa Zoeller have been married 16 years, and they are the parents of seven kids, two of whom are their biological offspring and five of whom they adopted through the help of
See Halloween parade pg 4
COBYS Family Services. For the Zoellers, who have affectionately dubbed their family “The Zoeller Bunch,” it’s sometimes a hectic, topsy-turvy existence, but one that they have no regrets about. “If there was one thing that broug ht (Melissa and me) together, it was that we felt God was calling us to adopt,” said Louis. “It was the one thing we could agree upon. When we got involved with COBYS, it helped that they were a faith-based See Zoeller family tree pg 2
Carolina Christmas Tour Including Biltmore Estate & Billy Graham Library
December 2nd -6th
• Holmes County, Ohio Holiday Tour Dec. 11th-13th • Fun Country Tours Christmas Banquet Dec. 17th
Call For A Free Catalog 717-823-2086 or visit/book @ FUNCOUNTRYTOURS.COM
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WAR
BY JEFF FALK
It’s not about destruction, finality or even devastation. Nothing like that. In fact, the Apoca-Lititz 5K represents just the opposite. It’s an event that promotes maintaining, nurturing and moving forward. So, what’s in a name? “It’s another way to enjoy our amazing community,” said Emily Allen, executive director of Venture Lititz, which sponsors Apoca-Lititz 5K. “It’s supposed to be fun, celebrator y and exciting. It’s a great chance for people to meet each other, get a little exercise and dress in costume. It’s a costume fun run.” The Apoca-Lititz 5K is an event that’s as competitive as dressed-up participants care to make it, as they can choose to run or walk. The 5K is conducted