Garden Spot townlively.com
APRIL 27, 2022
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LVIII • NO 18
From Uganda To New Holland BY ANN MEAD ASH
he outlook of Garden Spot High School (GSHS) senior Iyamuremye Habarurenye has been shaped by his family’s decision to emigrate from Uganda to the United States. “If you look objectively, there is much (we) can achieve if (we) start with principles,” he said. “There are opportunities (here) to get education and nutrition. There are ways to transform and make a difference in the society you live in.” Habarurenye noted that he often asks himself, “What can I do to be a positive influence in society?” Habarurenye began life in Uganda in 2003. His father’s decision to take his family to America took four years to become reality. “We came here in 2018, but the immigration process started in about 2014,” he explained, noting that Church World Service connected his family to resources that helped the newcomers find shelter and other necessities. Petra Church aided the family with rent in the New Holland area. Habarurenye became an eighth-grade student at Garden
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Spot Middle School in the spring of 2018. His family in New Holland is made up of his parents and two sisters. Habarurenye’s father works at a local food production facility. Habarurenye works there as well and also at a fast-food establishment in addition to attending school. Habarurenye and his family had the advantage of speaking English before moving here. “My country was colonized by Great Britain,” Habarurenye explained, noting the English he learned is different from American English. “Once you’re in primary one (first grade), they start teaching you English and how to write (it).” In Uganda, the family lived in the village of Mukarange in the subcounty of Kyangwali in the Hoima District. Habarurenye recalls that life there was not easy. “In Uganda, I could accomplish all my studies and (graduate) and not have a job. The unemployment rate is so high,” he said. He added that health care services could use improvement. “My country loses more than 20 women a day giving birth due to poor medical facilities,” he said, adding, “My dad did not want to leave Uganda to go
abroad, but he decided for the future of the family and his children we should start the process.” Habarurenye enjoys his classes at GSHS. He mentioned that he especially likes studying history, but also environmental science, chemistry, algebra, and English. After graduating, he is considering attending Millersville University to study criminal justice and maybe later become a lawyer. “As a lawyer, I can advocate for things that need to be changed,” he said, noting that it is important to him to contribute to society. Habarurenye’s cultural experience has caused him to think deeply about the outlook of his generation. “I feel we need to come to a realization that … if you see someone struggling, you just can’t say, ‘That’s none of my concern,’” he said. “If we have a mentality of trying to help one another, we will be in a better place.” Habarurenye added that young people are the future of the country. “I want to encourage young people to get involved in leadership,” he said. “It’s important to find our mission. A generation that doesn’t have a mission is a failed one.”
Garden Spot High School student Iyamuremye Habarurenye emigrated from Uganda in 2018.
PA MEDI Seeks Volunteers
BY ANN MEAD ASH
BY ANN MEAD ASH
Sandra Leonard, who formerly lived in New Hanover Township and Bedford County, is a Fairmount resident who is especially interested in genealogy. So interested, in fact, that the former librarian has written two books - “From Sea to Shining Sea,” about her own family history, and “From Bavaria to Brady,” about relatives of her husband, Keith. While researching her own family history, Sandra discovered important information about a Bedford
“After you have been through struggling to understand Medicare yourself, and you’re helping other people to understand … when they say, ‘This is the most anyone has ever done to explain this,’ it makes your day,” said Kim Skinner, volunteer coordinator with Lancaster County Office of Aging. Skinner is hoping to help more Lancaster County residents get that feeling of satisfaction that comes from helping others answer their See PA MEDI pg 2
County woman, who came to be known as Indian Eve after being kidnapped by Native Americans. Sandra shared Eve’s story in a multimedia presentation to other Fairmount residents on Feb. 17. Sandra began her presentation by recalling her first day in seventh grade in 1955. Raised on a dairy farm in Bedford County, Sandra was excited to learn that she would be learning about Bedford County history that fall. Another girl in the class shared a story about Indian Eve, who was the girl’s great-grandmother several generations back. See Fairmount pg 3
Sandra Leonard
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Prison Ministry Sets Annual Banquet . . . . . . . .4 Business Directory . . . . . .4 Singers Announce Tour Schedule . . . . . . . . . .5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 House Of Worship . . . . . .14 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . .16
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