Columbia/Hellam/Wrightsville
townlively.com
DECEMBER 6, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXIV • NO 41
Holiday Bucket List makes spirits bright BY CATHY MOLITORIS
“There are a lot of holiday activities happening across York and Lancaster counties,” said Megan Salvatore, visitor service representative for Susquehanna National Heritage Area (SNHA). For the first time, SNHA has
created a Holiday Bucket List, highlighting 25 events throughout the region. SNHA staff members had created bucket lists previously, but none focused solely on holiday events, Salvatore explained. “Susquehanna National Heritage Area has a mission to connect the See Holiday Bucket List pg 3
Helen Bechtold
Sharing Christmas smiles with seniors ometimes, when she’s out running errands, Helen Bechtold feels like a celebrity. “It could be July and it’s about 105 degrees outside, and people will see me on the street and they’ll say, ‘Hey! You’re the Christmas lady!’” she said with a smile. For the 36th year, Bechtold is organizing a free Christmas Day dinner for anyone age 55 or older. The meal will be available for pickup only at the Hambones Social Club of the Columbia Borough Fire Department, 726 Manor St., from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 25. “ We’re going to have ham, turkey, filling, mashed potatoes, a vegetable, a roll and butter and a dessert,” Bechtold said. “I wasn’t sure we were going to be able to have turkey, because our volunteers are getting older and it’s a job to cook and prepare the turkeys, but we found enough help to do it.”
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“This is not charity,” Bechtold said. “This is not just for lowincome people. This is strictly for people who will be alone on the holiday. Christmas is a special day, and seniors should not be alone. Even though they can’t stay and eat there, they can come in and visit with us when they pick up their meal.” She emphasized that anyone who would like a meal should sign up for one. “I want to make sure no one is ashamed to call,” she said. Asked what keeps her going with the project year after year, Bechtold said she has a heart for seniors. She worked for Columbia Senior Center for more than 20 years, and when she retired, she wanted to continue serving seniors. “I just get a kick out of it,” she said. “I love to see their smiles.” Meals will be available by reservation only. To reserve a meal, call Bechtold at 717-604-4285 or Luzader at 717-475-2562 by Sunday, Dec. 17.
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Along with the meal, each senior will receive a bag of food, much of which Bechtold purchases herself. “If I see something I think a senior will like in their bag, I’ll pick it up for them,” she said. “I like to give them things they don’t normally go out and buy.” Although she loves giving back, she noted that she’s looking for community support of donations of gift cards, candy or other items for the bags. “After the pandemic, we thought things would get easier, but it’s really gotten harder for people,” Bechtold said, noting that last year she served more than 100 meals. “We’re asking the community for more help than ever because the cost of living keeps going up.” Bechtold is joined in her Christmas meal effort by Sis Luzader, who has been helping with the meals for 35 years. Any senior is eligible to receive a meal and food bag, no matter their income or circumstances.
Seeing Santa around towns in Lancaster and York counties is one of the activities on the Holiday Bucket List.
Joy runs through “Hello, Dolly!” BY CATHY MOLITORIS
“This show is classic Broadway at its best,” said Becky Groff, who plays the title character in “Hello, Dolly!” “It’s just fun. The songs are singable. The show is heartwarming, but never sad. This is not a ‘walk away thinking in deep about your life’ show. This is a show you walk away from singing and smiling, and who doesn’t love that?” “Hello, Dolly!” will be performed at Susquehanna Stage, 133 W. Market St., Marietta, on select dates from
Friday, Dec. 8, through Sunday, Dec. 17. The story follows Dolly, a widow socialite-turned-matchmaker who works to find matches for others while navigating her own love story. “The show is technically about the exploits of Dolly, but that’s not really what it’s about,” Groff stated. “It’s about finding love in unexpected places.” It’s also about finding where you belong, said Amanda Trusty, who plays Irene Molloy. “A main theme
May happiness and good fortune surround you at Christmastime and all year! 1659 Lititz Pike, Lancaster • 717-394-6439
See “Hello, Dolly!” pg 2
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BY CATHY MOLITORIS