Conestoga Valley Delivered to you every other week, and NEW online EVERY week!
/townlively
JANUARY 6, 2021
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LVII • NO 3
NHELC Harvests Sprouts For Peace BY ANN MEAD ASH
When 4- and 5-year-olds attending the New Holland Early Learning Center (NHELC) were asked about their experiences tending and harvesting the Sprouts for Peace Garden, which is located on the New Holland Mennonite Church campus along with NHELC, their answers were colorful. Francisco, who is 5, said that he enjoyed both picking
Monica (left) was partnered with Officer Heather Waltman (right) for her Shop With a Cop experience on Dec. 5.
Lt. David Webb (left) and Sebastian (right) looked over their shopping list before boarding the bus for Kohl’s during the first Shop With a Cop held by Troop J - Lancaster.
Troop J Holds First “Shop With A Cop” BY ANN MEAD ASH
fficer Kelly Osborne, community service/public information officer with Pennsylvania State Police Troop J - Lancaster and the organizer of the first Shop With a Cop event held on Dec. 5 at Lafayette Fire Company, was overwhelmed at the response she received when she began planning the program in early fall. “I have been amazed at the outpouring and generosity of people for this program,” said Osborne, who hopes to expand the event into other areas of the county in the future. The program involved 15 preselected students meeting with 15 volunteer State Police officers and a few police from local districts at the fire station at 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 5. Osborne had paired up the elementary-age children with the officers. Each child was given a $150 gift card to Kohl’s, and the students and officers were bused to the businesss’s Lincoln Highway store so students could shop for family
that students who had been the victim of a crime or other difficult circumstances were given priority. Osborne worked with Camp Cadet, which is connected to Troop J, where she has been involved since 2006. “Camp Cadet has existed since 1971,” said Osborne, who said that the 501(c)(3) is run by a civilian board of directors. To fund the program, Osborne sold “Shop With a Cop” yard signs, and she found donors plentiful. “We raised money to help fund it for the next few years going forward,” she said. Before the event, Osborne was looking forward to giving the children a special experience. “All the families whose children were accepted were ecstatic,” she said. Following the program, the “Troop J Lancaster Shop With a Cop” Facebook page had garnered positive comments and expressions of gratitude. The mother of a young man named Sebastian who took part wrote, “Thanks to everyone for their kindness and this positively amazing experience.”
See NHELC pg 3
Appreciating the harvest from the Sprouts for Peace Garden in New Holland are (from left) Amy Marburger, Francisco, Meara, Ray Hurst, and Andrew.
Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast To Be Held Virtually Previous years’ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfasts have attracted more than 700 community leaders who gathered in one place to honor King’s legacy through performances, community awards, and a keynote speech. This year, however, due to COVID-19 restrictions, when attendees gather, they will do so virtually. The 33rd annual event will be held Monday, Jan. 18, from 9 to 10 a.m. in a livestreamed format.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Student-Athletes Announce College Choices . . . . . . . .2 Prima Theatre Plans 2021 Season . . . . . . . . . . .3 House Of Worship . . . . . . .8 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . .9
See Martin Luther King Jr. pg 3
Merchandiser | Advertiser | Pennysaver | Community Courier
R067070
When your paper isn’t in your mailbox, you can find it online! Each week you can read a fresh digital edition at PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER JAN. 6, 2021
Postal Patron
CON
O
members. Armed with lists of possible gifts, the students and officers shopped and then returned to the station, where the officers helped wrap the gifts. Each student left with a bagged lunch when a parent picked him or her up at 12:30 p.m. Troop J - Lancaster, located at 2099 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, covers 19 townships and two boroughs in the county. The officers are particularly active in the eastern portion of the county and the Southern End. The two school districts that are full time for the officers are Pequea Valley and Solanco. Osborne gave priority to those areas when organizing the event, accepting nominations from pastors, school counselors, and other members of the community for children living in the greater Paradise area and the Southern End. She initially hoped to include 30 children, but COVID-19 restrictions forced her to scale back to 15. “I am giving the opportunity to kids who would benefit from positive law enforcement interaction,” Osborne said, noting
corn and picking bugs off potatoes. Meara, age 4, said she picked tomatoes, cucumbers, and corn, but she noted that she enjoyed chasing lightning bugs each Tuesday evening during the weekly watering and weeding. Andrew, also age 4, recalled eating the fresh cherry tomatoes. The growing season of 2020 was the second for the garden at the church, 18 Western Ave., New Holland. The season saw the garden expand to two plots - one near the church parking lot and the other at the far end of the church’s property which effectively doubled the size of the garden. Dawn RanckHower, pastor at the church, explained that providing food