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S ERVING O VER 34,000 H OMES
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2026 • VOLUME LX, NO. 44 • READ THE DIGITAL EDITION ON THE WEB: SNEWS.COM
In This Week’s Issue: Section A
Do You Know...? Page 5A Valentine’s Dining & Gifts Page 8A & 9A Lititz Fire & Ice Page 10A
Where In The World January Winner Page 15A Biblical Message ............. 13A Births.................................... 15A Crossword Puzzle......... 12A “Happy Birthday”.......... 15A Obituaries ............................2A Professor Beam’s “Deitsch Eck”......................4A Things To Do ................... 12A
Section B
Student Spotlight
Celebrating
This Valentine’s Day, we are sharing stories of local couples whose marriages have stood the test of time for more than six decades. The couples featured on this week’s cover pages shared their stories and words of advice for long-lasting love.
Everlasting
Love Ben & Linda Harnish 1965 Little did Ben and Linda Harnish know at the time that a blind date would lead to a lifetime together. The pair’s cousins were married, and arranged for Ben and Linda’s first date – bowling at Blue Ball Lanes. That first date led to more, and the Harnishes were married on August 28, 1965 at Stone Hill Church in Denver. Ben was 24, and Linda was 22. Ben, originally from the New Holland area, and Linda, from Ephrata, lived most of their married life in the Ephrata/Reamstown area, with the exception of four years living in Juniata County. Ben and Linda are both retired from D&E Communications. Some of the couple’s favorite memories with family include relaxing by the beach in Long Neck, Delaware – Ben has done lots of fishing
there over the years – and several vacations to the Outer Banks. The Harnishes are parents to three daughters: Kristal “Kris” Morton, Ephrata; Karen Burkins, Denver; and Kathleen “Kat” Longenecker, wife of Jason, Denver. They also have ten grandchildren: Tabitha, wife of Kevin Wolfe; Kasey, wife of John Mares; Chad, husband of Alicia Morton; Kirstie Yost, Taylor, husband of Jessica Yost; Connor Stoudt; Danielle, wife of Dan Tornetta; Garrett, husband of Makenna Longenecker; Samantha Longenecker; and Aaryn Longenecker; and eight great-grandchildren: Rias Wolfe, Scarlette and Marley Mares, Randi and Oliver Morton, Valerie Yost, Jayden and Aidan Tornetta, and one on the way.
Cocalico High School Lydia Knepper Lititz Christian School Jadeyn Hamilton
Don & Lucy Pryor 1956
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Don and Lucy Pryor have many memories of vacations and summer trips to the shore over the years. But some of the most special moments from their nearly seven decades together have been the major milestones they have shared: their wedding day, the births of their five children, and their retirements. Currently 90 and 91 years old, the Pryors met as stud-
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After 60 years, Ben and Linda credit their lasting marriage to having God in their lives, trusting each other, being honest with one another, and always saying “I love you.” They reference those same ideas in their advice to young couples: “Have God in your lives, be honest, and hug and kiss each other daily.”
ents at Albright College before marrying in Lucy’s hometown of Hanover in 1956. After marriage, the couple lived in Coatesville, where Don was from, before moving to New Holland and then Ephrata. They are the parents of David Pryor, New Holland; Elaine Wapinski, Frackville; Diane Dowlin; the late Paul Pryor; and Donald Pryor, Bath, Maine. They family has expanded over the years, now including six grandchildren: Jess, Beth, Matt, Brad, Lorelei and Aiden; and nine great-grandchildren: Jake, Mason, Jonas, Carter, Maddie, Noah, Ryan, Harrison and Zachary. When asked what has contributed to the success of their marriage, Don and Lucy say the most important qualities have been their faith, treating each other with honesty and respect, and having goals.
See pages 7A and 1B to read about more local couples!
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Les & Anna Mae Eby
Lee & Connie Fry
Paul & Barbara Kensinger
Elvin & Lois Martin
Jay & Mary Edna Martin
Don & Blanche Myer
Joseph & Celia Poli
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