Elizabethtown SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
JUNE 17, 2026
REACHING MORE THAN 11,000 HOMES
EAHS Earns Standing Ovation
LIFT & LEVEL YOUR EXISTING CONCRETE
Riverfest Will Ignite History BY CATHY MOLITORIS
BY CATHY MOLITORIS
For many years, property at 738 Stackstown Road in Bainbridge had looked a little worse for the wear. Now, thanks to the efforts of Bainbridge resident Steve Mohr Jr., and a team of businesses, organizations and volunteers, Stackstown Park welcomes visitors to explore nature and enjoy the outdoor environment of the transformed space. “The park property looked a lot different two years ago,” Mohr
In June of 1863, outnumbered Union troops and local volunteers in Columbia set the wooden covered bridge spanning the Susquehanna River ablaze to prevent Confederate troops from advancing east into Lancaster County. The action forced the Confederates to retreat west, and two days later, the troops met Union forces at Gettysburg. For the first time since the 150th anniversary of the Civil War in 2013, all 26 bridge piers that remain from that bridge will be illuminated as the grand finale of Riverfest 2026. In prior years, Susquehanna National Heritage Area (SNHA) was able to light three piers at a time for Riverfest, but thanks to a sponsorship from the Louise Steinman von Hess Foundation, all of the piers will light up on Sunday, June 28, beginning at 7:45 p.m. “In early 2025, we had begun to plan for this historic year and hoped to find the support to create this breathtaking experience of lighting all the bridge piers,” said Sophia Vayansky, program manager for SNHA. “It’s no easy task to prepare all the piers, load the wood and light them simultaneously. We are deeply grateful to the Louise Steinman von Hess Foundation for their extraordinary generosity and vision. Their support allows us to honor this pivotal moment in American history at the scale it deserves.” To encourage close-up viewing of the piers, Veterans Memorial Bridge between Columbia and Wrightsville will be closed to
See Creekside pg 5
See Riverfest pg 6
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hen the 2026 Hershey Theatre Apollo Awards were presented last month, the theater program of Elizabethtown Area High School (EAHS) received multiple honors. Students were recognized for their work in “Puffs, or Seven I nc re a s ing l y E vent f u l Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic” and for “Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical.” “Frozen” took home the award for Outstanding Musical, with the school also receiving the award Members of the Elizabethtown Area High School theater program celebrate for Outstanding Student following the 2026 Hershey Theatre Apollo Awards ceremony. Orchestra for the same S t u d e n t s L i v i W h i t e a n d Kleis performed as part of the show. Audra Kuntz, who portrayed Oaken in the musical, won Out- Garrett Messick were honored ensemble opening number during standing Featured Performer in a with the Spirit of Theatre Award, the ceremony, held May 17 at the and Annika Erikson and Laura Hershey Theatre. Musical.
• Sidewalks • Pool Decks • Patios • Porches • Garage Floors
See Ovation pg 12
Creekside Comeback
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A ribbon cutting for the new Stackstown Park
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