MERCHANDISER - Manheim Township Edition - June 9, 2021 - 7
townlively.com
Pretzel Legacy BY ANN MEAD ASH
Jill Marie Thomas is the author of several books, including several Bible studies. Among her works are “Risking It All,” the story of how she gave away her income for a full year, and “The Day My Son Fell from the Sky,” which tells the story of her son’s powered parachute crash, which he survived. Most recently, Thomas has written “Twisted: Mindful Pretzel Consumption,” the story of how her greatgreat grandfather, Julius Sturgis, opened America’s first pretzel factory in Lititz in 1861, when the country was on the brink of civil war. “My family has pestered me to do this for years,” said Thomas, who taught math at Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport while competing in East Coast judo competitions until 2010, when a mat accident sidelined her for two years. A delicate surgery enabled her to walk again, but the two-year recovery led to a deep depression. Thomas started writing to “lift myself out of that funk,” and she was soon leading Bible studies via Facebook. In 2017, when she was between writing projects, she agreed to write “Twisted.”
“The relatives were passing away, and the stories go with them,” said Thomas, who noted that her father, Tom Sturgis Jr., is still making his way into the Shillington factory five days a week at the age of 87. Thomas said she parked herself in front of the Sturgis archives at that factory to do her research. “We have anything that was published (about the business),” said Thomas, noting that the book features old photos from the archives, including one of Julius, who died in 1897 at the age of 62. The factory passed to his son William, and William’s son, Tom Sr., before passing to her father. Thomas said she began the book with her memories of the factory. “I grew up in Shillington, but I visited Lititz as a child,” said Thomas, who spent time in the original factory at 219 E. Main St. “That’s where I learned to twist my first pretzel,” she recalled. Thomas and her brothers worked at the factory in Shillington when they came of age. “I worked at everything from cleaning rest rooms to scrubbing the sides of the oven walls,” said Thomas. “My father didn’t coddle us. He said, ‘If you want any respect in this factory among the other employees, you have to do the dirty work,’” she recalled, noting that she worked on the assembly line and her brothers cut the factory grass. Her father had the opportunity to
Jill Marie Thomas displays the book she wrote about her family’s pretzel business, which started in Lititz in 1861.
make pretzels with his father and grandfather. “My dad told me how they mixed the dough in large batches by hand and then twisted the pretzels by hand and lay them out and put them in and out of the oven,” she noted. “He knows the old methods.” Thomas said the book contains “a little bit of everything,” including recipes, pretzel trivia, and a transcript of an interview with her grandfather. When “Twisted” was published in 2019, Thomas had 32 speaking engagements to talk about the book lined up for 2020, but she said most of them were canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. She hopes to resume speaking soon. More information about Thomas and her books may be found at www.jillmariethomas.com.
The Lancaster Muzzle Loading Rifle Association (LMLRA) will hold its 64th annual gun show at a new location this year: the Solanco Fairgrounds, 172 S. Lime St., Quarryville. The show will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 19, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 20. The show will feature more than 100 tables, and the public will be able to buy, sell, or trade items at the show. Among the items will be modern and antique guns, muzzleloaders, black powder items, knives, collectibles, books, and accessories. Food and other refreshments will be available, as well. A set donation per person is requested. The LMLRA is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1956 and currently has approximately 100 members. The purpose of the club, which meets monthly, is to encourage and promote interest in muzzleloading firearms and related items. For details on the club or the show, call 717-368-4653 or email lmlra@comcast.net.
BREAKOUT MINISTRIES: Senior Pastors Ron & Mary Buch; Sundays at 10am. Contemporary worship & messages of freedom, healing, deliverance and discipleship. Children’s ministry includes nursery through Sr. High. Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting 7-8pm; 3rd Friday night Home Bible Study 7-8:30p.; JA Jesus based recovery meeting Saturday 7-8:30p. Men and Women groups meet monthly. Family Fun Night bi-monthly 6:30-9:00, Jr. and Sr. High youth group meets alternating months. Local and International outreaches. Visit us on the web at www.brekaoutministries.org or Call for details 2400 Anita Court, Leola PA 17540 (717)656-8366
HIGHLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: 500 East Roseville Rd., Lancaster (off Rt. 272 / Oregon Pike). (717) 569-2651 Come worship with us online www.HighlandPC.org
LANDIS VALLEY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP: 2420 Kissel Hill Road, Lancaster. 717589-6051. SUN. WORSHIP SERVICE 9:30am, Sunday School for all ages 10:45am.Children’s Church & Nursery. Handicap Accessible.
PENTECOSTAL EXPERIENCE! Miracle Life Churches 813 E. Market St. York, PA & 6139 Main St. (Rte. 72) East Petersburg PA HMLCYORK.com (717)854-1220 SAINT JOHN NEUMANN CATHOLIC CHURCH: 601 East Delp Rd., Lancaster, PA 17601 (Off the Oregon Pike - 3 miles North of Rt. 30 Exit at Oregon Pike). Phone (717) 569-8531; Website: www.sjnlancaster.org Saturday 2:30 p.m. Reconciliation. Weekend Mass Schedule: Saturday 4 p.m. Mass (Inperson & Livestream); Sunday, 7:30 a.m. (In-person), 9 a.m. & 11 a.m.(Inperson & Livestream) Rev. Daniel F.X. Powell. ST. JAMES CATHOLIC CHURCH: 505 Woodcrest Ave., Lititz Ph:717-626-5580 Rev. James O’Blaney, C.Ss.R., Pastor Confessions: Sat. 4 pm & anytime on request Daily Masses: Mon.-Sat. 9 am Saturday Vigil Mass: 5 pm Sunday Masses: 7:15, 9 & 11 am Visit www.stjameslititz.org for livestream Masses ST. MATTHEW LUTHERAN CHURCH: 700 Pleasure Road, Lancaster, PA 17601. Robin Fero, Pastor. Online Worship Services at www.stmatthewelc.com For more information, call (717) 3949607, e-mail: info@stmatthewelc.com or visit our web site.
Please Note: Updates can be made to your church’s listing for 1st issue date of each month only. (Changes must be submitted by the previous Wednesday.) For More Information On Church Listings And Rates, Call Justin at 717-492-2533
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L ANCASTER BEYOND OUR DOORS At Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, we believe care is more than what happens in a hospital. It’s when we all come together to help our neighbors. We know that safe housing, access to healthy food, and emotional and behavioral support are essential to the well-being of our community. As Lancaster’s most trusted health system for generations, we never stop working to deliver care far beyond our doors by teaming with equally dedicated partners to improve lives, here in the place we call home.
Learn more about our community initiatives at CaringForLancaster.org
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Author Fulfills Family Request
LMLRA Sets 64th Annual Show