Community Calendar

by Engle Printing & Publishing Co., Inc

June 30. Woman’s Virtual Coffee Mount Carmel United Methodist Church - St. Peters, 10 a.m. Visit http://www.mountcarmel umc.org and click on “Virtual Coffee” on any Wednesday morning.

July 3. Berks Strollers Hike Schuylkill River Trail, Union Township 1281 East Main St., Douglasville, 9:30 a.m. Participants will meet at the trailhead by the Fork and Ale Restaurant on Route 724. For details, contact Sandie, the hike leader, at 610-587-2730.

July 6. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensib bly) The Torch Community Center in the Clocktower Plaza 2846 Main St., Morgantown, 8:45 to 10 a.m. Visitors may attend their first meeting for free. www.tops.org

July 10. Make a Toothbrush Rug Historic Joanna Furnace 1250 Furnace Road, Geigertown, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. www.haycreek.org

July 10. 11th Annual Car Show St. John’s Lutheran Church

1035 Old River Road, Birdsboro. Also featured will be a food, music, a flea market and more. Call 610582-3655 or 610-823-2730 for details and to register. Craft and flea market vendors are welcome.

July 11. Open Point Show Good Fellowship Riding Club 724 Monocacy Creek Road, Birdsboro, 9 a.m. www.goodellowshipridingclub.com

July 17. Chicken Barbecue Nantmeal Methodist Church 259 Nantmeal Road, Glenmoore, 3 to 6 p.m. The dinner includes a half-chicken, baked potato, coleslaw, homemade apple sauce, a roll, butter and desert. Reservations are recommended. Call or text 610-613-2657 to reserve tickets. The dinner is takeout only.

The Community Calendar is a weekly feature of the Community Courier. Submit your meeting or event for consideration in writing at least two weeks prior to Only takeouts will be available the event. Email submissions to ffulton@engleonline.com. For more information, call 800800-1833, ext. 6018.

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Walk-Ins Welcome - While Supplies Last Nantmeal United Methodist Church

359 Nantmeal Rd., Glenmoore R073086 He compared the adventures to life during a lockdown and cited athletes, musicians and leaders as the student heroes. “Our heroes are also our parents, friends, teachers, custodians, administrators and our (school) staff,” he said, adding, “The end of our adventure is the start of another. “

Other speakers included class president Lauren Brown, vice president Ben Williams, secretary Katherine Hafer, treasurer Molly Stevens, superintendent Dr. Patrick Winters, school board president Gary McEwen and class speaker Alex Brown.

Alex talked about attending school virtually. “Who would have thought you could be in class in your underwear, and no one would know?” he asked, adding, “Although the pandemic has affected us negatively, the diploma we hold in our hands today shows that with dedication, passion and perseverance, anything is possible.”

TVHS principal William Clements listed the accomplishments of the Class of 2021, including awards and honors won by students in FFA and Technology Students of America, being able to present a school musical and other performances despite the pandemic and the achievements of student artists and student-athletes. “Against remarkable odds, the school Mini-THONcollected more than $30,000 to help fight the end to pediatric cancer, which is a school record,” Clements said.

Malavika concluded the ceremony by offering her thoughts, which centered on the theme of gratitude. “It is important to thank those who have changed our lives. Our families, whether it is those related to us by blood or those we have chosen, have impacted us greatly,” she stated. “I implore all of you to thank whoever you call family.”

“While it is a sad thing that our time together is coming to a close, I have no doubt that the friendships we have forged will stick with us for the rest of our lives,” she said to her classmates. “We will never forget each other.”

Jocelyn Hittle, who will be a senior this fall at TVHS and who writes poetry for the Twin Valley Labyrinth, the TVHS literary magazine, was on hand to observe the ceremony, which took place in a minor league ballpark a unique venue. “As each student rounded home base - diploma in hand - they officially crossed over into adulthood, into their future adventures and into the rest of their lives,” she said.

To view the entire TVHS graduation ceremony, visit www.youtube.com and search for “Class of 2021 - Twin Valley High School Graduation.”

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Students Earn Recognition

Two local residents were named to the spring 2021 dean’s list at University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. To qualify, students must earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher in at least 12 graded credit hours during any one term.

The local students named to the dean’s list are Christopher Eggert of Morgantown, whose major is design foundations BS, and Niko Novak of Honey Brook, whose major is computer science BCS.

More than 100 people took part in Eye Drop 2019 to raise money and awareness for VisionCorps.

Sortland said she is committed to the feat despite her fear of heights as part of an effort to raise funds and awareness for VisionCorps after the nonprofit organization helped her when she became visually impaired. Sortland’s vision was damaged after she suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a condition that often results in death or significant impairments.

“I became visually disabled a couple of years ago. (As a consequence), I was cutting my fingers, burning my hands and I almost got hit by a car. I could not read emails or pay bills,” said Sortland, whose coordinator of care recommended that she contact VisionCorps for help. “I was really lucky that I finally gave VisionCorps a call. They gave me a caseworker and I told her about all the things that I was struggling with. She said that I would be OK and get my independence back and (find) a new way to live.”

VisionCorps helped Sortland learn to overcome the obstacles that she encountered on a daily basis. “They came in and taught me how to use technology, cook and organize. Someone taught me to use my cane not only at home, but anywhere I needed to go. They offered me the world,” she stated. “If I can’t figure out how to do something, they can help me.”

The Eye Drop was canceled in 2020 during the pandemic, but in 2019 120 people took part in the event, some with vision loss and some sighted, according to Carol Gifford, VisionCorps community relations specialist. “(Eye Drop) is run by a group of professionals,” Gifford noted. “They are in charge of making sure the entire process is safe.” Although Sortland’s limited vision is blurry, she will be aware of the building’s height. “The first time the event came around, I said, ‘No way,’ but (this year) I realized that I have to do this because I need to make sure that other people get this help,” said Sortland. Sortland plans to dress as Lady Liberty since the event is close to the July 4 holiday and to represent her newly independent life. “I will not (back out),” she said. “My determination to get help (to the people who need it) will be stronger than my fear.” People who would like to financially support Sortland’s effort may visit https://give.visioncorps .net/natanya for more information. VisionCorps’ Eye Drop event will be held at the Holiday Inn Lancaster, 26 E. Chestnut St., beginning at 9 a.m. All proceeds will help fund VisionCorps’ prevention, rehabilitation and employment services, which are offered to those who are blind or have low vision in Adams, Chester, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties. There are still open spots to join and rappel. For more information and to register, visit www.EyeDrop2021.org.

Natanya Sortland will take part in Eye Drop 2021, rappelling down the side of the Holiday Inn in Lancaster.

Comfort K-9 Marley and his handler, Sgt. Janis Pickell of the Chester County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), recently became the nation’s first canine team to achieve Police Service Therapy /Comfort K-9 certification through the United States Police Canine Association Inc. (USPCA). The accreditation incorporates the first national standards and testing of a police comfort dog’s temperament and skills, as well as handler knowledge.

This past winter, Pickell wondered if there was a way to determine if she and Marley were providing the best service possible. That same week, she was contacted by certified K-9 trainer Sgt. Paul Bryant Jr., head of the CCSO’s K-9 unit. Bryant sent Pickell an article about a new, national certification program and encouraged her to apply. She did, and the 18-year veteran of the CCSO and her English black Labrador partner began a new regimen.

Refining skills of bonding and obedience practiced since they became partners in January 2020, Pickell helped Marley learn to encounter and respond calmly to people with diverse life situations and in noisy spaces.

The entire CCSO got into the act, under the expertise of Bryant. Six fellow K-9handler partners from the award-winning CCSO K-9 team and the civil office staff helped Marley socialize with other animals, strangers and bystanders. A deputy in a wheelchair and a civilian staff member using a knee scooter after surgery acclimated Marley to mobility devices. Visits to the CCSO’s squad room taught Marley about different levels of noise and activity. Visits to eating areas gave him practice ignoring food that was not his. He became accustomed to riding an elevator. In each situation, Marley honed skills and acquired fans.

The CCSO quickly became an important law enforcement agency in the USPCA initiative. Now that the first program is over, Bryant is providing feedback to help the USPCA fine-tune requirements.

This certification is the first for law enforcement therapy dogs in the United States, according to Melinda Ruopp, national secretary of the USPCA, the largest governing body of police canines and an organization whose standards are accepted in federal court. She noted that therapy K-9s provide comfort and support in prisons, in courtrooms and for victims in interview rooms. “We felt they needed certification for tasks specific to dogs in law enforcement. Tests needed to ensure that uses of dogs are policy driven,” said Ruopp.

“There are civilian organizations that provide certifications for other therapy dogs, but law enforcement K-9s perform different tasks in different situations and environments.”

Pickell reported on her canine’s reaction to the event: “Marley is unfazed at the prospects of celebrity status after achieving this first certification. For him, it’s another happy day of work at the office.”