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America250 Series Puts Local Spin on American Backstories BY JEFF FALK
A
ll humans are created equally, and peoples of different colors , backgrounds and beliefs can share the Earth and peacefully coexist. If indeed America is a grand experiment, then those are the premises. On the occasion of this country’s 250th anniversary, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum’s America250 lecture series examines forces which have directly and indirectly affected that experiment and highlights the role that Pennsylvania and Lancaster have played in it. “It’s really important to understand where we come from,” said museum educator Zachary Long. “This is an opportunity to look at
Dr. Patrick Donmoyer
250 years of history and reflect on it. None of the European powers thought that we were going to make it this long. But we’ve
become incredibly successful and become a world power.” The seven-speaker America250 lecture series that Long has pulled together will be presented at Landis Valley Village & Far m Museum, 2451 Kissel Hill Road, Lancaster, on the last Friday of every month, beginning on May 29. There are costs involved with attending the series of lectures, which will conclude on Wednesday, Nov. 18. “Pennsylvania was called the Keystone State because we bridged the northern colonies and the southern colonies,” said Long. “Pennsylvania has always played a critical role in this nation. At the beginning, this was the birthplace of the revolution. We supplied a great deal of food for the (continental) army. See America250 pg 2
MTM
ODC Serving Delicious Dishes With Purpose
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BY JEFF FALK
There’s something blue-collar - almost workmanlike, in a culinary sense - about consuming delicious food prepared in a truck. In that vein, a food truck festival seems like the perfect fundraiser for Occupational Development Center (ODC). “The best thing about the festival is seeing people discover their new favorite foods and their new favorite food trucks,” said Ken Mueller, the public relations and development manager for ODC. “Some people know exactly Supporters prepare to sample vendors’ wares at last year’s
You Too Can Be a “Misfit on a Mission” BY JEFF FALK
They call themselves “Misfits.” But that is not a complete representation of who they are and what they are all about. They could also call themselves “Supporters,” “Heroes” or “Sympathizers.” “We are a group of people who have been impacted by cancer in some way, either as caregivers, survivors, or we have friends who have gone through the fight,” said Sharon Groff, the Misfits on a Mission team captain. “When we started, most teams were affiliated with a school group, church group, a business or family members. We were a group of people who wanted to do something to give back in honor or in memory of loved ones. Thus, we were a bunch of misfits who had no affiliation, but were on a mission in the fight against cancer.” Misfits on a Mission is an independent, six-member Relay for Life team that will be out in full force at Conestoga Valley High School (CVHS), 2110 Horseshoe Road, Lancaster, on Friday, June 12, from 3 to 11 p.m., when the American Cancer Society stages its popular local fight against cancer. The volunteer-led, fundraising and awareness-raising Relay for Life brings people together from all over Lancaster County who have been directly or indirectly affected by cancer. Lancaster County’s annual Relay for Life will feature local teams and individuals running or walking around CVHS’ track in support of loved ones who have battled cancer and will include music, kids’ activities, food trucks, baked goods, crafters and auctions. “The vibe at Relay is upbeat
See ODC Fest pg 4 ODC Food Truck Fest.
See Relay pg 3
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MAY 20, 2026
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