Conestoga Valley townlively.com
APRIL 2, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXI • NO 15
Landis Valley has made celebrating history a local tradition BY JEFF FALK
Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum has a long and storied history of promoting a long and storied history. It’s an unwavering commitment to the local community that warrants a celebration. For an entire century, Landis Valley has been teaching about
and preserving a time nearly 300 years ago. “Henry and George Landis were brothers who were into collecting,” said Terry Kreider, manager of the Landis Valley Associates. “In adulthood, they realized the culture they grew up in was disappearing. They started getting reputations, and See Landis Valley pg 12
Members of CVCCS’ administrative team (back, from left) administrative director Brittney Anderson, director of client services Dottie Slothower, director of finance and food bank coordinator Emma Arnold, executive director Jon Barrett, and (front) board member Geoff Lapp
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CVCCS taking on poverty one case at a time BY JEFF FALK
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overty is best known as a financial and economic condition associated with a lack of funds or resources. But there are those who see poverty as more of an effect than a cause, a multilayered, multidimensional societal issue. Conestoga Valley Christian Community Services (CVCCS) knows a little about the condition. CVCCS interacts with poverty on a
daily basis, and the local nonprofit contends that the condition is not only deepening but also becoming more widespread. “(Poverty) is something that’s really on my heart, and it’s on our organization’s heart,” said Jon Barrett, who’s been CVCCS’ executive director for three years. “We’ve really seen a rise in homelessness and mental health issues, and it’s all linked to poverty. It’s been building in our society. There are advantages to
technology, but as the shift continues to a virtual world, we’ve seen a rise in homelessness and mental health issues.” “The government can’t do anything but throw money at things,” continued Barrett. “But there has to be a better way, which is getting at the root cause of things. We have gotten away from relationships and being a community and the significance of churches.” Located at 2420 Gehman Lane, Lancaster, CVCCS operates an See CVCCS pg 8
Amish Made Furniture, Custom For You.
A demonstrator shows Landis Valley visitors the 18th-century skill of textile spinning.
From football player to activist BY CAT SHANNON
In 2015, Deon Butler was living a dream, playing professional football for the Detroit Lions, but he held a secret: Despite having graduated from college, he could not read past a fourth-grade level. After getting help, Butler was moved to help others, and today, he’s a motivational speaker. He’ll share his story at “Breaking Barriers: A Path of Perseverance.” The event will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, at The
Janus School, 205 Lefever Road, Mount Joy. Growing up in Michigan, Butler became adept at hiding the secret of his struggle with reading. “I got picked on a lot in middle school and high school, where I was called ‘stupid’ and ‘dumb,’” he recalled. “I bottled it all away, and I got really good at hiding it.” Butler became a master at memorizing, always chose the easiest book to read if he had to read out loud and avoided situations where his secret might come to light. See Deon Butler pg 2
2318 Beaver Valley Pike New Providence (1 mile north of Quarryville on Route 222)
717-806-7373
R116280
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