Mount Joy will hold National Day of Prayer event

BY CATHY MOLITORIS

Experience the power of prayer at the Mount Joy National Day of Prayer. The event will be held on Thursday, May 4, at The Gathering Place, 6 Pine St., Mount Joy. It will begin with breakfast from 7 to 7:30 a.m., followed by a program and prayers from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.

“This is a day for the Mount Joy community,” said Nancy Shonk, a member of the organizing team for the event. “We’ll be praying for churches, for families, for education, See Prayer pg 2

Girl on fire

BY CATHY MOLITORIS

W hen Emma Schneider twirls a baton, she’s on fire. That is, her batons are on fire - literally. Emma, a junior at Elizabethtown Area High School (EAHS), is a twirler with the school marching band and also competes on a national level, showcasing her ability to combine twirling up to three fire batons with acrobatics.

“I have been twirling baton since I was about 5 years old,” said Emma, noting that she began twirling at Paula’s School of Baton in Mount Joy. “I knew I wanted to twirl when I saw the sparkly costumes everyone got to wear.” She joined the EAHS marching band as a sixth-grader. “Usually, they don’t allow twirlers in the band until they are in high school,” Emma noted, but the band needed a twirler, and majorette instructor Heather Hartsough noticed something special in Emma.

“Emma is super talented,” Hartsough stated. “Her showmanship is fantastic, and you can tell she loves being out there performing for people.”

Soon after joining the band, Emma decided to try twirling with fire. “I wanted to do fire baton because it’s fun and different from regular batons,” she explained. “It’s also something that everybody See F ire pg 8 for first responders and for the people of Mount Joy.” The Mount Joy National Day of Prayer is open to anyone of any faith, and the event’s theme will follow the national theme, “Pray fervently in righteousness and avail much,” which is inspired by James 5:16. something.”

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Music duo SweetLife will perform at the program, followed by guest speakers Steve and Jeremy Blount. The father and son, owners of GCM Inc. in Mount Joy, will talk about the ways God has worked through their business. Richard Vaughn, pastor of Mount Joy Church of God, will pray for churches. Collin Gingrich, pastor of Proclamation Presbyterian Church, will offer prayers for families, and Amanda Hann, director of secondary education for Donegal School District, will pray for education.

She encourages everyone to come to the event, noting, “Come with an open heart and an open mind, and you will feel the difference prayer can make.”

Shonk emphasized that the day would not be possible without the help of the event team. Joining Shonk on the team are Tracy Miller, Stephen and Brooksyne Weber, Marion Young, Chad Habecker, Chris Silvestri and Bunny O’Hare.

Shonk expressed her gratitude to the team members but added that she’d love to see even more community members included. “I would like for the churches of Mount Joy to become more involved in this event,” she said. “If the churches all work together, we can make a difference.” encouraged

“The program moves right along, with one person going after the next,” Shonk said, explaining that the event is scheduled to allow people to attend and still get to work on time.

She noted that the Mount Joy National Day of Prayer is more important than ever.

“Our country needs prayers,” she stated. “If we can pray for Mount Joy, to keep Mount Joy a great place to live, work and play, we’ve accomplished

Tickets for the Mount Joy National Day of Prayer must be purchased by Monday, May 1, and are on sale at J.B. Hostetter & Sons, 1225 W. Main St., Mount Joy; Jim Roberts West Main Auto, 14 W. Main St., Mount Joy; and the Mount Joy Chamber of Commerce office, 62 E. Main St. Tickets may also be purchased by calling Shonk at 717-989-6452. For more information on the National Day of Prayer, visit www.nationaldayofprayer.org.

Expo frompg 1

Along with information tables, the expo will feature activities for people of all ages, Stehman said, adding, “W e’ll have fun and games, too. We’ll have food trucks. It’s a family event.”

A silent auction of items, including paintings by a local artist, themed baskets and gift cards to local businesses, will help cover the operational costs of Getting Ahead and its follow-up class, Staying Ahead.

Christina Helfrick, vice president of Friends of Donegal, explained that both programs are open to anyone in the community who’s interested. “We’ve grown the program over the years to focus on interactivity with the community and building bridges,” she stated. “Part of the expo is about building bridges between community members and organizations.”

There will be an opportunity to sign up for a Getting Ahead or Staying Ahead class at the expo. For more information on Friends of Donegal or the expo, visit https://friendsofdonegal.org or search for “Friends of Donegal” on Facebook.

Historical society plans meeting

The Maytown Historical Society will hold a meeting on Thursday, April 20, at the East Donegal Township Building, 190 Rock Point Road, Marietta. The gathering will take place in the large meeting room beginning at 6:30 p.m.

A short program titled “Can You Solve a History Mystery?” will be presented and will include audience participation. Following the program, the regular business meeting, including the election of officers for 2023, will be held. A discussion of upcoming activities highlighting Mayfest 2023 will also occur.

The meeting is open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Tree Service

Spring

BY CATHY MOLITORIS

Spring is a busy season for many of us, so take a load off your plate and make plans to pick up dinner on Friday, May 5. Mt. Hope Nazarene Retirement Community will host a drive-through chicken barbecue dinner in the parking lot of LCBC, 2392 Mount Joy Road, Manheim, from 4 to 6 p.m. The meal will include Peters’ Barbecue fire-grilled chicken, gourmet cheesy potatoes, savory baked beans with bacon, a dinner roll with butter, Mt. Hope’s famous coleslaw and a dessert. Proceeds from the dinner will benefit Mt. Hope, a 50bed skilled nursing facility and rehabilitation center providing care for seniors and people with disabilities regardless of their ability to pay.

“Most residents at Mt. Hope do not have financial resources to cover the cost of their care, and a growing gap of about $150 a day exists between what a resident is able to pay and the cost of daily care,” explained

Kris Wilson, director of advancement. “That’s why these fundraisers are so very important for Mt. Hope and the care we provide. Any gift to Mt. Hope is appreciated and makes a huge difference.”

Wilson noted that a new opportunity has been created to support Mt. Hope on an ongoing basis. “This spring is the perfect time to join in a monthly partnership with Mt. Hope,” she stated. “We’re kicking off our monthly giving opportunities and welcoming new growth, which brings exciting energy and life to Mt. Hope. Our monthly giving program enables Mt. Hope to finance our day-to-day activities and cover daily operating expenses.”

Wilson emphasized that the facility is growing in several ways, with new programming, building upgrades and new staff members. “Our care team is growing with the addition of two excellent team members: Michelle Weber, a registered nurse and director of nursing, as well as Steph Book, occupational therapist and therapy program manager. Both have over 22 years of experience in their respective jobs.”

Mt. Hope’s capital campaign continues, providing funding for remodeling the first-floor nurses’ station, the main entrance and resident common areas as well as