IN THIS ISSUE: AREA THEATERS REOPEN IN GREEN PHASE page 5
Morgantown/Honey Brook
Shop local! Find open businesses near you at
/townlively
AUGUST 19, 2020
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXVIII • NO 30
townlively.com
/open
Follow us. You’ll like us.
townlively
Community Groups Rally To Help Victims Of Norco Fire By Francine Fulton
When a fire destroyed an apartment complex in North Coventry Township on July 30, local churches, nonprofit organizations and individuals pitched in to help the more than 100 people who were displaced by the fire.
Immediately after the tragedy, which occurred at the Ashwood Apartments, donations began to pour in at the Norco Fire Company, which became a makeshift collection depot and distribution center. Donations included clothing, toys, bedding, toiletries, nonperishable food items and cases of water. One organization that responded to the tragedy was the Animal House Project dba Chester County Pet Food Pantry. On the day after the fire, volunteers from the pantry delivered donations to the fire company, including crates, leashes, bowls, collars, bedding, dog food, cat food, cat litter pans and litter. In addition, during the pantry distribution day on Aug. 1, apartment residents who lost their homes were invited to pick
Anchored Ministries, based in Elverson, set up its mobile clothing closets at the Norco Fire Company for victims of the recent fire at the Ashwood Apartments.
up pet food, cat litter and other supplies, whether they were a pantry client or not. Another local organization, Anchored Ministries, based in Elverson, was also on hand at the fire company with its mobile clothing closets. Erika Kanter, co-founder and director of Anchored Ministries, said she heard about the fire soon after it occurred. “My phone started ringing in the middle of the night Thursday into Friday; (I heard about the fire) from community members, from various organizations and, of course, the news outlets,” she said. “As our team gathered at the building to start loading up things, I contacted Connection Church, which was the closest church to the fire proximity-wise, and they were working with Branch Life, as well as the fire department. They cleared it with pastor Josh Parks of Branch Life, who has been the main organizer of everything, as well as the See Community Groups pg 7
MCC
Church Offers Drive-In Sunday Service
Pastor Jim Farnsworth conducts a drive-in service on Sundays at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Birdsboro.
After a fire destroyed an apartment complex in North Coventry Township, donations from the community poured into the Norco Fire Company to benefit those affected.
So You Want To Start A Blog
By Francine Fulton
By Dayna M. Reidenouer
While its church building may be temporarily shuttered, Sunday services are still taking place at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Birdsboro. Similar to a drive-in movie, an outdoor service is held at the church every Sunday at 9 a.m., and attendees are able to watch the service in the church parking lot in their cars. The services are led by pastor Jim Farnsworth, who conducts the service and gives the message from an altar that is placed on a flatbed trailer adorned with a crucifix, flowers and candles. “We ask people to tune their radios to 93.1 FM, and you can listen to the service in your car and have your air conditioner on,” Farnsworth said, explaining that the church purchased an FM transmitter that makes the drive-in service possible. “We also have loudspeakers, so people can roll down their windows.” The service also includes the distribution of Holy Communion. “We make little mini loaves like rolls that you get, which are prepackaged, and we have cups of grape juice. When you drive up, you See Sunday Service pg 2
With unemployment in the double digits nationally and with limits on how much socialization can be done in person, starting a blog might seem like an ideal solution. Bloggers can earn an income while interacting with people outside their own households from the safety of their homes. However, there is more to becoming a successful blogger than just opening a WordPress account. It is easy to start a blog, but it can be challenging to keep it going. “I stay motivated because I picked a topic that is just our life. It’s something that I’m very interested in,” said Ephrata resident Kathy McClure, who launched the Frugal Lancaster blog in 2010. “Don’t start a blog on something new to you. Choose something that you’re already doing and interested in.” McClure began blogging as a way to share with others how she and her husband saved money while raising children. Initially, the blog focused on how to use coupons effectively. It also featured a part-discount, part-referral deal program,
Kathy McClure
See Blog pg 3
SHOP HERE QUEEN MATTRESSES starting at $349 4 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU • martinfurniturepa.com
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
Myerstown 717-866-7555
Cleona Ephrata New Providence 717-273-7555 717-721-3139 717-786-7373
R062351
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER AUG. 19, 2020
Postal Patron