Manheim Township townlively.com
FEBRUARY 19, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XL • NO 38
Robotics team approaches outreach in systematic, mechanical ways BY JEFF FALK
T
o lay people, the ideas and innerworkings of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) can be complex and foreign. One Small Step for an Axolotl is a local independent robotics team whose mission is to inform, educate and advocate for the use of science and technology in the community. While they may be difficult to fully comprehend, what’s important to know is that these cutting-edge concepts are indeed important. “We want people to know that there’s this amazing program called FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and that kids can explore the exciting worlds of robotics and STEM,” said Janny Kim Lee, One Small Step for an
Axolotl’s coach. “We want people to know how great of a growth opportunity it is. We’re trying to get more kids involved and more girls involved.” On Jan. 12, One Small Step for an Axolotl, which is made up of four Manheim Township School District students - juniors Isaac Link, Grant Lowther and William Lee and seventh-grader Elizabeth Lee - took top honors at a 30-team robotics event hosted at Manheim Township High School, the Blue Streaks Qualifier Tournament. The team, which bested entries from all over Pennsylvania, designed, built and programmed its own robot; responded to questions from judges about its design; and worked cooperatively with other robotics teams. One Small Step for an Axolotl’s performance qualified it for the
Members of One Small Step for an Axolotl (left) compete at recent robotics tournament.
Pennsylvania FIRST Tech Challenge, which will be contested in Bellefonte on Saturday and Sunday, March 8 and 9. “These are kids who are concerned about the world,” said
Janny. “They want to learn and figure things out. They want to make a difference. They have so much in them. They want to get better and better, and they want to help their community
get better. They’re giving back already.” As part of its mission, One Small Step for an Axolotl has donated 350 volunteer hours to promote STEM in the community. Included in the
Lancaster County WoodCarvers to hold 50th festival BY GEORGE DEIBEL
The Lancaster County WoodCarvers group will hold its 50th annual Woodcarving Festival on Saturday, March 15, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, March 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Millersville University’s Student Memorial Center, 108 Shenks Lane, Millersville. Parking is free. Admission is free for those with a military
ID and for students with high school or post-high school student ID. “It’s going to be the largest show we’ve had,” said Jeffrey Pretz, who is a member of the Lancaster County WoodCarvers. “We’re having commemorative carving knives created that will be for sale. We’re having the Caricature Carvers of America. There will be a lot of bird carvers and spoon carvers and other
Snow Angels wield shovels of mercy BY JEFF FALK
It has absolutely nothing to do with people lying on their backs in the snow and moving their arms and legs to create impromptu winter weather art. It’s more closely related to kindred spirits performing heavenly work here on Earth. These are different kinds of Snow Angels. “Before we had a formal name, the people who we were helping named us,” said Jennifer Jarvis, one of the founding members of the Lancaster Snow Angels.
“They said to us, ‘You’re angels. We’re so thankful.’” The Snow Angels are an independent, community-oriented group of concerned citizens who travel around the Lancaster countryside shoveling and removing snow from the sidewalks, walkways and driveways of the elderly, the disabled and veterans - neighbors who can’t remove snow on their own. It began as a grassroots movement in local neighborhoods, but the altruistic concept has gained traction and has now spread to nearly every Snow angels Jennifer Jarvis (left) corner of the county.
See Lancaster County WoodCarvers pg 3
and Camden Thompson clear snow
See Snow Angels pg 4 at a residence in Adamstown.
FRUIT VEGETABLES OPEN ALL WINTER! Mon.-Sat. 8-6
400 Long Lane at Marticville Road (Rt. 741 & 324) 717-872-9311 www.cherryhillorchards.com Follow us
R115134
Five-a-day fresh & POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER FEB. 19, 2025
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
Postal Patron
MTM
See Robotics team pg 5