IN THIS ISSUE: HOPEWELL FURNACE PRESENTS BOOK page 2
Morgantown/Honey Brook /townlively
APRIL 22, 2020
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXVIII • NO 13
Students, Staff Members Remain Connected Local Church By Francine Fulton
Even though the school doors are closed, every effort is being made at Conestoga Christian School (CCS) for students, faculty and staff members to stay connected. Students are taking part in online learning and staff members and parents are meeting via Zoom with head of school Ken Parris. In addition, students have been praying together online in place of the normally scheduled inschool chapel. “We are making the best of it,” Ken said. Although not in preparation for the coronavirus pandemic, the school had already instituted an at-home learning program for high school students. “Four years ago we went one-on-one with our high school students, so they had their Chromebooks all the time,”
Ken explained. “If we had a snow day or power outage, we needed to be ready to go online. Two years ago when we had a prolonged winter storm and we were out for three days, we relied on online instruction.” The program was expanded recently following the mandate that all private and public schools in Pennsylvania be closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. “When this came down and we had to close, we took the first two weeks as our spring break,” said Ken. “We spent time working through how to do (online instruction) well. Going into our online instruction, the three major concerns or platforms we preached to our teachers were academics, community and caring. That was our mantra.” Now, students are asked to complete assignments and take part in Zoom meetings. “We are tracking attendance See Conestoga Christian pg 2
Seeks Masks, Food Donations By Francine Fulton
Conestoga Christian School student Hannah Petersheim prays with her second-grade class and teacher Emilee Booz during an online chapel session.
Artist To Offer Online Workshop By Francine Fulton
MCC
Local artist Anna Carter of Rose River Way Studio will offer an online art workshop on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, May 5, 6 and 7, at 7 p.m. each evening. A fee will be charged for the
three-day class, with half of the proceeds donated to the Village Library of Morgantown. “This will be a workshop hosted live, online through YouTube,” Carter explained. “I will be starting with the very basics of watercolor paint and how it works and then progressively move on until (participants) are able to create a picture of their own. The painting we will end the course with would make a great homemade Mother’s Day gift.” Carter said the workshop is geared toward teenagers, adults and seniors. “I know that many elderly (people) are quarantined even from their families,” she noted. “I want this class to be an opportunity for them to do an activity with their family, remotely.” She said even those with no painting experience will enjoy the class. “Watercolor is not as intuitive as other mediums, but once you understand a few tips on how it works you can actually get a really See Artist pg 7
As part of its commitment to helping others during this time of need, Conestoga Mennonite Church (CMC), located at 2779 Main St. (Route 23), Morgantown, is now a drop-off location for “Twin Valley Hero Masks.” Community members are welcome to sew masks at home, specifically following the pattern guidelines provided by WellSpan Health. To view mask-making instructions, readers may visit www.wellspan.org, click on “I Want to Help” and choose the blue box that reads “Handmade fabric masks pattern (with improved instructions).” The masks will be distributed to local See Donations pg 4
Village Library Names New Director By Francine Fulton
While most newly appointed library directors spend the first few weeks of their tenure getting to know the patrons and becoming familiar with how the facility operates, Maria Long has started
Local artist Anna Carter will offer an online watercolor workshop on May 5, 6 and 7. Half of the proceeds from the class fee will be donated to the Village Library of Morgantown.
her new position at the Village Library of Morgantown during a time when the library doors are temporarily closed. “Literally, the Monday I was supposed to start the library was closed to the public,” said Long, who still visits the library as needed during the week. “Even though we’re closed, there is (work) I can’t do remotely, and I check on the building.” “The book drop is closed, but people drop off books anyway,” she added, advising patrons, “Don’t bring anything back until we are open; you will not get fined.” The Village Library is a part of the Berks County Public Library System, and Long has been working in the system for 11 years, most recently as the teen librarian at the Wyomissing Public Library. Previously, she was an interlibrary loan librarian and worked as the youth services program coordinator at the Reading Public Library. She was also the youth services program coordinator and assistant branch manager at the South East Branch of See New Director pg 6
Maria Long is the newly appointed director of the Village Library of Morgantown.
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