Manheim Township
October Is
Breast Cancer townlively.com
OCTOBER 18, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXXIX • NO 21
Awareness Month
MTEF is its name, enhancing education is its game BY JEFF FALK
he importance of education can’t be overstated. And the work of the Manheim Township Education Foundation (MTEF) can be undervalued. Because MTEF does so much for the Manheim Township School District behind the scenes, sometimes its work can be taken for granted. In fact, the foundation does so much good that one can’t help but wonder what Township education might look like without MTEF. “We aim to provide resources that bring our educators’ ideas to life, and we want to make education more impactful for our learners,” said MTEF executive director Becky Doumaux. “Without the Manheim Township Education Foundation, the school district would go without a lot of the extras that are enhancements for our learners. These things have been outfitted through grants throughout the
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year. The learning would still happen; it just wouldn’t be as engaged.” On Aug. 28, Doumaux took over for Jenny Germann as MTEF’s executive director, one of the foundation’s two paid positions. The employees are supported by a board of 19 volunteer members, which includes two student representatives, a representative of the Manheim Township school board and other community members with a passion for education. “There are parts of my responsibilities I’m still figuring out,” said Doumaux. “We oversee the inner workings of the foundation. The executive director is typically the chief fundraiser. The fundraising aspect is a big part of what I’m doing, that and community awareness. I don’t have specific goals yet beyond building upon the strength of the organization I’ve inherited and to continue to provide the educational opportunities we have been.”
MTEF is a nonprofit that works closely with the school district but is not overseen by it. “We exist to be a benefit to the school district,” said Doumaux. “I think most school districts have education foundations. How they operate and how they’re funded is probably different. But they’re kind of like a school district’s best-kept secrets. We want to increase the awareness of who we are.” MTEF passes along the funds it raises to administrators, teachers and now even students through grants that involve an application process. During the 2022-23 school year, MTEF awarded 23 grants for a total of $128,000 of educational enrichment. Now in its 30th year, the foundation has awarded a total of $1.7 million in grants. “There are great things happening in our school district,” said Doumaux. “The foundation is so happy to help make those Manheim Township students peer into the astronomy equipment housed at
See MTEF pg 4 the district’s SkyLab Observatory, a project that MTEF helped fund.
Beautiful and historic BY ANN MEAD ASH
Elaine Bowman, board member with the Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley (HSCV) and a member and former executive board member for the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County (HPT), had an idea. Having worked on a few church tours with HSCV about a decade ago, she thought she could bring the two organizations together to create a tour of local outbuildings. “I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun to hold a barn tour?’” said Bowman, who mulled the idea over for a bit before bringing it to both organiza-
tions in late 2022. Bowman called together a committee that began meeting monthly in January. Members contacted Lancaster County historical societies and municipalities, along with some interested citizens for nominations of barns, and they received more than 100 nominations. “We were looking for not just historical aspects but architectural components that make that barn interesting,” said Bowman. After narrowing down the nominated barns, the result is a booklet Bowman calls “a drive-by tour.” “It is timeless,” she noted, adding that
BY JEFF FALK
When you’ve done something for as long as Avery Bracken has, it becomes second nature. Familiarity leads to comfort, comfort leads to confidence, confidence leads to proficiency. And proficiency produces results. A sixth-grader at Landis Run Intermediate School, Avery has been around horses and riding and barns for most of her natural life.
“I just always remember being at the barn and being around horses,” said Avery. “I’ve always loved it. It’s so amazing to me; it’s special to my heart.” She has developed a passion for horseback riding, and that passion has evolved into a love for the sport of hunter/jumper. “I think she’s learned where hard work gets you,” said Avery’s mom, Kristin Bracken. “She’s incredibly responsible. It’s her priority.
See Barn Tour pg 3
Avery Bracken has formed a connection with her
See Hunter/jumper pg 4 pony Sweetie.
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When it comes to hunter/jumper, Avery Bracken isn’t horsing around
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