Octorara townlively.com
MARCH 3, 2021
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXXI • NO 2
Octoraro Watershed Association Sets Photography Contest on virtual platforms. “A year has gone by and people have learned to adapt and educate themselves (on computer technology),” she said. “I anticipate more entries as a result of that.” It is not necessary to live in the Octoraro Watershed to participate in the contest, which is open to photographers of any age. Entries will be judged in three age categories: Adult, age 18 and above; Youth, ages 13 to 17; and Youth 2, age 12 and under.
BY FRANCINE FULTON
Kimberly Mowery displays a copy of the children’s book she wrote in memory of her late grandmother, Sarah June, who is pictured behind her.
Children’s Book Honors Author’s Late Aunts BY DAYNA M. REIDENOUER
t took New Providence resident Kim Mowery less than two days to write “The Crownless King,” the first book in her Christian children’s series “The Pilgrimage of Jacki and Gerri.” Its origins, however, date back more than 80 years. Mowery, who grew up in Parkesburg and and attended Octorara schools, was 14 years old when she learned that she had twin aunts who died in childhood. Her grandmother, Sarah June, never spoke about the girls, so when she died when Mowery was 19, any information she could have shared died with her. After she married and had three sons, Mowery experienced her own child loss. In 2005, her daughter, whom she named Sarah June, developed a cancerous brain tumor at 16 months and died two-and-ahalf years later. Mowery realized that she could relate to the first Sarah June. In 2014, Mowery set out to learn more about the twins. She found their burial site in Ohio and
“My grandmother always wanted to be a writer, but she used to say the 1930s and ’40s weren’t the time for women authors.” “There is no such thing as coincidence, only divine intervention,” said Mowery. For years, Mowery had wanted to write a book about her grandmother’s life as a way to bring her back to Earth and allow her to grieve the loss of her twins. Instead, she felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit to focus on the children. The Pilgrimage series features their imagined adventures in heaven and provides
a way for youngsters to personally connect with Jesus Christ and biblical principles. The books are illustrated by local artist Anna Kelsey and are available in paperback and hardcover wherever books are sold. Mowery also donated a copy to Quarryville Library, from which it may be borrowed by patrons. “I never thought in a million years that I’d write kids’ books,” Mowery commented. “My grandmother always wanted to be a writer, but she used to say the 1930s and ’40s weren’t the time for women authors. All these years later, her dreams are coming true (through me).” Mowery wants her books to encourage readers and to give them hope. “This Earth isn’t our home,” she explained. “People need to look beyond what’s here on this Earth because it’s going to be gone one day.” For more information about Mowery and “The Crownless King,” readers may visit www.authorkimberlymowery.com.
March
See Photography Contest pg 3
Octoraro Watershed Association recently announced that it will hold its annual photography contest.
Historic Preservation Network To Present Spring Workshop
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Parkesburg Library Announces Book Sale, Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Business Directory . . . . . .2 Octorara’s Jed King Named Coach Of The Year . . . . . .4
BY FRANCINE FULTON
The Chester County Historic Preservation Network (CCHPN) will host its annual spring workshop virtually this year. “Celebrating Our Cultural Heritage,” which will feature four sequential free programs related to preservation, will take place on Saturday, March 6, between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Church Plans Easter Event . . . . . . . . . . .4 Community Calendar . . . .7 House Of Worship . . . . . . .8 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . .9
See Spring Workshop pg 3
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through cemetery records discovered that the girls had been born prematurely on Jan. 23, 1940. Jacqueline Ann was stillborn, and Geraldine Doris lived 48 hours. Mowery was struck by the dates. Her daughter, Sarah June, had died on Jan. 24.
Local amateur photographers are invited to participate in the annual Octoraro Watershed Association (OWA) Photography Contest by submitting photos taken in the watershed area, which includes 208 square miles in southern Chester and Lancaster counties, as well as Cecil County, Md. Because of the pandemic, this year’s event will give photographers an opportunity to email their entries for the first time. In past years, only mailed-in prints were accepted for the contest. “We had to cancel (the contest) last year, but because we have seen how well virtual entries can work, we decided to give it a try,” said Shotty Sprenkle, contest organizer. Sprenkle said she believes that this year’s contest will attract even more photographers because the pandemic has caused many people to rely
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