Columbia/Hellam/Wrightsville townlively.com
FEBRUARY 14, 2024
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXIV • NO 50
Supporting students BY CATHY MOLITORIS
The members of Riverside Masonic Lodge 503 in Wrightsville believe in supporting the community. Their efforts range from providing meals for families to organizing blood drives. They also award scholarships annually to students in the Eastern York School District or
any student with an affiliation with the lodge. “We think it’s important to help deserving young people continue their education,” said Ed Reisinger, senior warden. Years ago, the organization began offering a single $500 scholarship, and that tradition continued for quite some time, Reisinger said. See Students pg 3
Members of St. Peter Catholic Church are ready for another season of Lenten Fish Frys.
Four decades of fish frys BY CATHY MOLITORIS
penance,” she explained. “The tradition is to abstain from meat, not necessarily to eat fish.” The fish fry is a fundraiser for the Parish Council of Catholic Women, Storm said, noting that proceeds will benefit various activities in the parish, Our Lady of the Angels Catholic School, Water for Life and other nonprofits. Congregation members begin prepping each meal the day before, making crab cakes and setting up, Storm remarked. The men of the parish assist with the setup, cleanup, heavy lifting, washing dishes and working in the kitchen. Reservations are not required for the fish fry. There are two parking lots at the church as well as parking on the street. “Enjoy a tasty, filling meal at a reasonable price,” Storm said, encouraging people to come to the fish fry. “You just never know who you may meet there as people from Columbia and surrounding areas come to enjoy good food and to socialize.”
Accepting their scholarship awards are Mason Smeltzer (left), Charles Heap (second from left) and Amya Best (right), with Ed Reisinger (second from right), senior warden.
Holy Trinity will host “Tolton: From Slave to Priest” BY CATHY MOLITORIS
History will come to life inside Holy Trinity Catholic Church when the church hosts “Tolton: From Slave to Priest.” The oneman drama will be performed by actor Jim Coleman on Thursday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. at the church, 409 Cherry St., Columbia. The performance is free, but a freewill offering will be received. The play is based on the life of
Father Augustus Tolton, the first Black priest. Tolton was born a slave on a farm in Missouri in 1854, before his mother risked everything to reach freedom in Illinois with her three small children. Despite facing hardships and prejudice in his new home, Tolton pursued his desire to become a Catholic priest. He was rejected by every seminary in the United States, but he did not give up. Instead, he was ordained See Tolton pg 2
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or 45 years, the members of St. Peter Catholic Church in Columbia have been offering Lenten Fish Frys to the community. “The event is a tradition in our parish,” said Claire Storm, fish fry committee member. “It was started by our parents and handed down, so now a younger generation has taken over and the tradition continues.” This year’s Lenten Fish Fry will begin on Friday, Feb. 16, and will continue on Fridays through March 22. The event is open to the public, and dine-in and takeout options will be available from 4 to 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Center, Second and Union streets, Columbia. The menu will include platters of one or two crab cakes, baked haddock, fried fillet of fish, fried shrimp, fish sticks, fried scallops, fried oysters or breaded fried clam strips. Macaroni and cheese, french fries, stewed tomatoes, a vegetable, coleslaw and a dinner
roll are included in the price of the platter. A la carte items include a crab cake sandwich, a fried fish fillet sandwich, an oyster sandwich, french fries, macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, coleslaw and cheesy bread sticks with marinara sauce. Quarts, pints and bowls of homemade soups will be available each week as well. On Feb. 16 and March 8, potato soup will be served. On Feb. 23, minestrone will be featured, and on March 1, cream of crab will be on the menu. Cheesy broccoli will be offered on March 15, and Maryland crab will be served on March 22. A variety of individually wrapped baked goods made by the women of the parish will also be available for purchase each Friday as well as a variety of drinks. As Storm explained, the fish fry tradition began at the church as a way to honor a Catholic dietary restriction during the season of Lent. “Jesus died on Good Friday, so Catholics and other religions refrain from eating meat in His honor on Fridays. It is a form of