Conestoga Valley /townlively
AUGUST 19, 2020
IN THIS ISSUE: CHURCH TO HOST CONCERT page 8
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LVI • NO 36
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The Show Must Go On Area Theaters Reopen In Green Phase By Ann Mead Ash
The Magic and Wonder Theater opened on July 20 with adherence to COVID-19 protocols.
The Bird-in-Hand Stage, 2760 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand, has several years of presenting live entertainment, including local performers interspersed with original Blue Gate Musicals shows focused on the Plain community. Starting in 2016, Brett and Labrina Myers provided shows for Bird-in-Hand before preparing to open their own Magic and Wonder Theater, 3065 Lincoln Highway, Paradise. Bird-in-Hand’s 2020 season was slated to start on April 2. Magic and Wonder’s first show ever in the venue, “Worlds of Wonder,” was planned to launch on April 8. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, however, neither theater opened in
April, but Magic and Wonder opened on July 20, and Bird-in-Hand is holding two shows starting in August. To open in accordance with green phase regulations, theaters may be at 50% capacity. “We can seat about 175 people (under green), but we will probably do less than that,” said Terry Ryan and Friends will play at the Bird-in-Hand Stage through Oct. 17. Buda Moser, director of marketing with Bird-in-Hand. “We placed six feet apart and masks must be will keep (attendees with their own worn while in common areas. Sanitizing households) and seat them six feet occurs before, during, and after each apart,” she added, noting that hand show, and all employees undergo a temsanitizer will be available and masks perature check and answer five Centers will be required when patrons are not for Disease Control and Prevention seated. Cleaning protocols will be fol- questions before being allowed to work. lowed between shows with high- Although the building will hold 500 people, the venue is currently only touch areas sanitized. At Magic and Wonder, tables are accommodating 125 guests. See Area Theaters pg 6
Gifts That Give Hope Fair Moves Online Prayers And Encouragement Local Families Adopt Cops
A year ago, Jenn Knepper, founder of the Gifts That Give Hope (GTGH) Lancaster Alternative Gift Fair, was looking forward to moving the fair from its location at the Farm and Home Center in Lancaster to The Junction Center in Manheim. This year, Knepper is talking about the online fair that the organization will hold on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. During that time period, those wishing to give an alternative gift may visit www.giftsthatgivehope.org and choose an organization to donate to. “You’re purchasing a gift for somebody, and we will send you a card with a description of the gift you purchased,” said Knepper, who added that the fair is the perfect vehicle to find a meaningful gift, especially for those who do not need anything in particular. Knepper suspects that recent occurrences may have changed perspectives on meaningful
By Ann Mead Ash
Annette Roland of Music for Everyone (left) and Grace Julian of The Edible Classroom manned their tables at the 2019 Gifts That Give Hope Fair. The 2020 fair will be held as a virtual event on Dec. 5. gifts. “I think through this (pandemic) people may have realized that stuff really isn’t important, other than basic necessities,” she said. “(Instead of) all the stuff we might have See Gifts That Give Hope pg 7
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Tina Edgell (left) and Sue Esh have both led Adopt A Cop efforts in recent months. Esh helped find families to adopt 133 Lancaster police department officers, and Edgell found families for the East Lampeter and West Earl police officers. The families provide encouragement to their adoptees.
On June 11, Sue Esh of Gordonville was trying to take a nap, but her phone kept beeping. The beeping was alerting Esh to a text from her sister who lives in Tennessee. “She was texting and saying I needed to do something for the Lancaster police,” recalled Esh, whose sister was reacting to a Facebook post from leadership at the Lancaster City Bureau of Police. Esh reposted the item, asking others what could be done to support local officers. “A friend messaged me about a nephew who graduated. (She said that) the school held an adopt-a-graduate program and (she told me) how meaningful that was,” reported Esh. The friend, Verna Fisher, asked if something similar could be done for the police, adding that if Esh would organize the program, she would help. Through friends, Esh was able to connect with Lancaster Chief of Police Jarrad Berkihiser. On June 15, Esh received permission to organize Adopt A Cop in order to support 133 Lancaster police department officers. Using a Facebook event See Local Families pg 4
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By Ann Mead Ash
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