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JANUARY 17, 2024
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXXIX • NO 41
wellness
Hempfield resident publishes faith-based recovery book BY ADRIAN ESCHENWALD
Photo provided by Harry Beauchamp Fire Photography
Every winter, local fire departments such as Rohrerstown Fire Company often respond to more calls as a result of seasonal safety hazards.
How to prevent common fire hazards this winter
N
o matter what season it is, there are many fire hazards that have disastrous potential if they are overlooked. However, the winter months are a busy time of year for many fire departments due to the additional safety concerns that accompany cold weather. From an unmonitored fireplace to poor placement of electrical appliances, being mindful of common fire starters takes a small amount of effort - but it can prevent a big problem. Many homes rely on the use of space heaters to keep the cold out, but these little devices are one of the most common causes
of house fires. Space heaters should be placed far away from anything remotely flammable, including window curtains, blankets and bed sheets. Fireplaces are another heating method that should be used carefully; a fire can quickly get out of control if fueled with treated wood, plywood or accelerants such as gasoline. Although it might be tempting to get rid of leftover wrapping paper by tossing it into the fireplace, anything other than natural wood should be kept out of the flames. Even when using the proper fuel, a fireplace should never be left unattended while it is in use. Now that the holidays are over, many households have gotten
rid of seasonal fire hazards such as stockings above the fireplace and precariously hung Christmas lights. But many families tend to keep their Christmas tree up for a few weeks after the holiday. To prevent C hristmas trees from becoming dry and extra flammable, people should water their trees regularly until they are disposed of. Another common mistake made during the wintertime is using a chimney that has not been regularly cleaned and inspected. Homeowners who use chimneys should schedule an inspection once a year to ensure that residual chrysene has not accumulated in the flue liner; the flue liner funnels smoke from the
Greg Schmalhofer released his latest book on addiction recovery in December.
explores a key principle related to one of the 12 steps in the program. At the end of each chapter, Schmalhofer includes multiple Bible passages that relate to that particular step. “Translating the material to a book format allows me to give a more focused presentation,” Schmalhofer said. See Recovery book pg 3
Be an influencer BY ANN MEAD ASH
“There’s more demand for character coaches than there are volunteers,” said Ben Swarr, director for Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Berks County, who works with athletes in Twin Valley and Governor Mifflin school districts. Swarr is also a former character coach for Cocalico High School wrestling. “We are looking for volunteers and for coaches willing to have character coaches (help out),” added FCA’s Kyle Martin, who works with
See Winter safety pg 8
students at Lampeter-Strasburg, Conestoga Valley, and Solanco high schools. Adam Burns, FCA area representative with Pequea Valley and Ephrata high schools, noted that the job of a character coach is to serve the coaching staff team in any way he or she can, and that a volunteer need not be proficient in a sport to be a character coach. Character coaches are asked to aid the head coach with a focus on social and emotional development of student-athletes. Objectives include encouraging athletes, working to create a See FCA pg 2
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BY ADRIAN ESCHENWALD
On Dec. 4, Hempfield-based author and podcaster Greg S c h m a l h o fe r re l e a s e d h i s latest book, titled “The Twelve Steps of Recovery: Success in Recover y T hrough a FaithBased Journey.” Similarly to Schmalhofer’s previous work, the book presents a biblical approach to the recovery process by offering a faith-centered perspective to those who are battling addiction. “The Twelve Steps of Recovery” elaborates on each individual step in the recovery process featured in “The Hope Recovery Podcast,” a weekly show that Schmalhofer created in September 2022. Just as each episode of Schmalhofer’s podcast highlights a specific topic, each chapter of the new book