Conestoga Valley JULY 29, 2026
SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 13,770 HOMES
Who Knew Cops Could Summer Be So Much Fun? ONLINE
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Cadet Campers Continue Local Firefighting Tradition
BY JEFF FALK
BY JEFF FALK
hen we think of community, we think of home, we think of neighbors, we think of family. And security. We don’t necessarily think of police officers when we think of community, but maybe we should. “The goal is to engage with our community and to have a familyfilled night,” said Ryan Blessing, who’s been a West Earl Township police officer for five years. “It promotes police-community partnerships. A strong relationship with the community allows residents to have trust in the police department and shows them that we are always going to be there for them when they need us the most.” The West Earl Township Police Department’s upcoming National Night Out will serve as a reminder of the role that law enforcement plays in the community. The local version of a national program
Garden Spot Fire Rescue (GSFR) is taking a proactive approach to the future of local firefighting. The organization’s Cadet Camp does not compel teens and tweens to become first responders; it inspires them to. “(Firefighters are) something that’s going to continue to be a need,” said Cody Straub, GSFR’s assistant chief, who organizes Cadet Camp. “We are very blessed in eastern Lancaster County with the amount of volunteers we have. Not all parts of the county can say that.” “We’d rather be proactive with volunteer firefighters, keep replenishing our supply,” he added. “The idea is that, when kids turn 14, they can join GSFR as a junior member.” Recently, GSFR conducted the sixth edition of its annual weeklong Cadet Camp at its 339 E. Main St., New Holland, headquarters. The participants worked hard every day, experienced firsthand the first responder and firefighting lifestyle and learned a little about themselves. “This camp is a unique opportunity for kids,” said Straub. “I tell parents, ‘Your kids are going to be doing things most 10- to 14-year-olds never would have thought about doing. We’re going to push them to meet new challenges.’ Every year, kids have a blast, they’re exhausted, but they come together as a team. It’s cool to see.” Among the lessons and skills learned at Cadet Camp were the utilization of gear and apparatus, the basics of firefighting, search and rescue skills, pulling hose,
Officers of the West Earl Township police department give National
See Night Out pg 2 Night Out visitors a tour of their cruiser.
World Cup Was Life-Affirming for Michael Smith
CON
VOL LXII • NO 32
BY JEFF FALK
It was a memorable moment in the young life of Michael Smith, a special day. It was a special day because it revolved around soccer. It was a special day because it was made possible by his fallen father. “I love soccer with every bone in R129990
my body,” said Michael. “The World Cup only happens every four years. It unites a nation, and it unites everyone. It’s a game everyone is able to play.” Michael, a soon-to-be ninth-grader at Conestoga Valley High School and a projected member of the Buckskin boys’ soccer team, recently got to Michael Smith bears the flag of experience something most soccer France that he paraded onto the field in Philadelphia during the
See Michael Smith pg 3 World Cup soccer tournament.
See Cadet pg 4
NEWS, EVENTS, & MORE! Discover what’s happening in YOUR TOWN and across Lancaster County!
1954
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VOL LXII •
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SERVING
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BY JEFF FALK
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CHARTER BUS TOURS
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