Donegal townlively.com
JUNE 30, 2021
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXII • NO 21
REYS Has Your Back BY CATHY MOLITORIS
It’s an essential school supply, but for some students, a new backpack isn’t in the budget. That’s where Rainbow’s End Youth Services (REYS) steps in. REYS offers Backpacks to School, providing free backpacks and school supplies to students in grades one through 12. “Any family in need is eligible for a backpack,” said Jeremy Freimark, REYS program director. “We serve
Marietta Fireworks will put on a display on Saturday, July 3.
Lighting Up The Sky In Marietta BY CATHY MOLITORIS
ary Schatz likes to blow things up, and the Marietta community can thank him for it. Schatz, a certified pyrotechnician, is the driving force behind Marietta Fireworks, a nonprofit organization that puts on an annual fireworks show. This year’s display will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 3, in War Memorial Park, 344 E. Walnut St. The rain date for the event is Sunday, July 4. “Fireworks have been a passion of mine since the early ’80s,” said Schatz. “I like doing the layout and the design of the show.” Marietta had a fireworks show for years, but eventually the organizers of the event were no longer able to put on the display. In 2017, after two years without fireworks in Marietta, Schatz came on board. The first fireworks show under his direction happened in 2018. “I jumped in and was like, ‘We can do this. We can get this done,’”
makes a perfect spot for viewing the fireworks, Schatz said. Festivities at the church include will food trucks, a barrel train for children, yard games and a bounce house. Juggler Chris Ivey will perform at 7 p.m. Donations will be accepted upon entrance to the parking lot, and all proceeds will go to Marietta Fireworks. Schatz said the fireworks display will be bigger and better than ever this year, noting that last year’s show opened with 13 “cakes” or boxes containing hundreds of firework shells. “It looked so incredible,” he said. “I’m planning on doing even more cakes this year. Last year we had the biggest finale I’ve ever seen in a show. It was two minutes and 21 seconds, and that length is just unheard of. Wait ’til you see what we have in store for this year.” For more information on Marietta Fireworks, to donate or to watch a livestream of the event, search for “Marietta Fireworks” on Facebook. Donations are also accepted by PayPal.
See REYS pg 11
Jeremy Freimark, program director at REYS, invites families to sign up for the Backpacks to School program.
A Passion For People BY CATHY MOLITORIS
Richard Vaughn is a people person. “I love talking to people and meeting people,” said the pastor of Mount Joy Church of God, 30 E. Main St. Richard took over as pastor on May 1, bringing with him an extensive background in ministry and counseling. Richard’s journey as a pastor began after attending Liberty University, where he eventually earned his master’s degree in counseling. He has served as pastor at churches in New Jersey and Pennsylvania,
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Beauty In The Backyard . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Business Directory . . . . . .7 Youth Sports . . . . . . . . . . .8 Summer Vibes At PA Beaches . . . . . . . . . . .9 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . .12 House Of Worship . . . . . .16
See Pastor pg 7
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he recalled, noting that he handles fundraising for the fireworks and also recruits people to help with the event. “I don’t give up.” Still, passion alone isn’t enough to put on a successful show. It takes a lot of hard work, Schatz emphasized. “It’s so expensive to do a good fireworks show, and it’s so indepth in terms of planning,” he stated. “I work on this year-round, from getting the proper permits to fundraising to getting people on board to help with our committee.” Marietta Fireworks is run entirely by volunteers. Most of the fundraising comes from donation request letters and Facebook posts. “We’ve gotten a really great response from the community,” Schatz noted. “If it wasn’t for individuals, businesses and organizations supporting us, it wouldn’t happen.” Before the fireworks begin, Community Bible Church will host a variety of family-friendly activities beginning at 5 p.m. The church, located at 331 Anderson Ferry Road, Marietta,
primarily Lancaster County, but we also have served families in surrounding areas including York and Harrisburg.” REYS, located at 105 Fairview St., Mount Joy, has been providing the service since 2012 and has given away thousands of backpacks. “We have been able to provide more than 600 backpacks each year, and the majority of them are not repeat families,” Freimark noted. Backpacks are stuffed with school supplies, including notebooks, pocket folders, markers and colored pencils. The registration deadline to receive a backpack is Saturday, July 31. Backpack distribution will be Monday, Aug. 9, through Friday, Aug. 13. “After families register, they’ll be assigned a time to come in during that week in August to pick up their backpack,” Freimark explained. “We try to make it an individualized experience for the recipients, and the students get to pick out their backpack.”