Octorara JUNE 17, 2026
SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 3,720 HOMES
VOL XXXVI • NO 16
Strasburg Senior Citizens Celebrates 60th Anniversary BY LOGAN MOYER 1954
REACHING
MORE THAN
S
7,480 HOME
VOL XXXIV
• NO 14
Southeast C PFB
t Regionmoof tes k Derby Se Pro Waterway g Annual Duc Well-bein SERVING
MAY 6, 2026
BY LOGAN
OUR COMM
UNITIES SINCE
MOYER
BY JEFF FALK
of al east por tion he annu o T he south i a i s t h e m o s t r an B i r d s b o ir of a Pe n n s y l v ated part S t re e t Fa dense ly populy rural state. But will those and Duck Derby predominantl Satur’t mean all far to be held on from that doesn 30, have to travel outdo or day, May 4 p.m. reside nts ylvani a’s 10 a.m. to Park, enjoy Penns activities. in Main Bird St., recreational main initiatives of One of the 226 N. Water and Boat lvania Fish Birdsboro. s , the the Pennsy (PFBC) is to provide A s alway Commission natural fun in and the day te highlight of Duck and promo will be the p.m., around water.really need to make u“I think we Derby at 3:30e will of all the opport when peopl people aware them,” said Andy Derby th of the banks of and Duck th around “sponsors” sses line the outreach the nities Street Fair to the to ro ed been Creek busine 2025 Birdsbo the Hay rdized award g ducks. Local Desko, who’sion coordi nator for ter & ees at the plastic money for Ark Encoun winnin are all standa watch 1,800 d u c k s Attend n of the d the prize t of prize and educat The ducks A few days Creation Museum d east Regio KY every year. zers will have donate amoun line. weighte the South years. “We want Williamstown, and reused the finish organi winners. The on how much is 18 “race” toward intere sting,” said before the derby, all the ducks the PFBC for folks to them will depend uce out the money really lay introd zes r. There “It’s ually to help d. Derby , who organi backyards. their sponso s individ Nicole Sapna oro borough worker and match them to deter mined donate ds from the DuckLibrary. right in their s (to water) out Procee Area to-beaware they dump event. “Birdsb are many accesse the Boone are cross the The first may not be bridge, and in ducks to very last will benefit not sold online but , stand at the trash bags of ducks there. People boat accesses near numb er of s are library as the are three large there’s a wooden chute finish line, as well finish line, will Ticket le in advance at the that there to inspire people to pg 2 be availab the creek ... (the ducks) down, and duck to cross the See Duck them. I want opportunities.” rd prizes will s th the Region that funnel get into the single be the winners. Cash check out Southeast to Tour ed just The PFBC’s they have considered.” Fruiter Yooperac Island headq uarterLititz, at shoot to be office is Mackin town of Michigan: Peninsula the of Road, north & Upper ker Valley 255 W. Bruba ell Forge Lake. , nd Lititz, at SpeedwRegion office July 2 east Thursday, 8 a.m. to Pirates The South Pittsburgh Phillies open from lphia which is Mond ays throu gh at Philade as the 4 p.m. on ily serves Fridays, primar tion enforc eregula and PFBC, rules uarter s for ment headqoffer some services does MOYER it ries but LOGAN BY Minist ies. Anchored and amenit ch and educa tion back to sful first year, er” event As outrea Desko does work After a succes“Food Truck Takeov ay, May 16, from its periodicoordi nator, is bringing High School on Saturd e Lititz office • Recharg that out of the spends the majority Twin Valley Relax • Refresh inaugural event ing cally, but he time in the field and 3 to 8 p.m. the ministry held its while educatproof his work Last year, to provide family fun zation, which ed around water. was design the nonprofit organi Nearly 800 people Boat pg 4 See Fish and including people aboutnce to those in need. of food trucks, people event. variety vides assista takeover. be a wide last year’s how many visit attended the really didn’t know , a board member There will candy vendor from Scan QR Code, cotton ours.com “We just said Donna Larson pg 3 the er FunCountryT 3-2086 See Takeov would come,” or call 717-822026 for a FREE Menu! Tour
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July 7 -10
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for Prepares Ministries er Anchored od Truck Takeov Second Fo
townlivel
Val Wakeman was named as the school’s 2026 valedictorian.
The Class Val-edictorian
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BY LOGAN MOYER
I
t was a simple pun, but it was fitting. When Octorara senior Val Wakeman took the stage at the school’s graduation ceremony on June 5, she opened her remarks with a fun play on her name. “Good evening, fellow graduates
and distinguished guests, my name is Val Wakeman, and I’m honored to be here with you as the class Val-edictorian,” she said. Standing by the Octorara Brave statue in front of Octorara Junior/ Senior High School, the district celebrated its 70th class of graduates on a very warm early summer evening.
Multiple speakers harkened back to experiences prior to the school year, giving perspective on what the year brought for this Octorara senior class. “It all began last summer when we held our first annual student leadership summit,” said high school principal Jonathan Propper. “During that summit, I asked (students) a
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Atglen Readies for 150th Celebration BY LOGAN MOYER
In a year where countless towns and community organizations are readying for celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary, Atglen Borough will celebrate a milestone birthday of its own. This year is Atglen’s 150th birthday, which will be honored by a massive five-day event that is scheduled to run from Wednesday, June 24, to Sunday, June 28. “I noticed that we were coming up on an anniversary in the summer of (2024),” said Jennifer Grossman, chairperson of the borough’s park and recreation commission. “Then we kind of talked about how we should plan something ... there’s been conversations every meeting in 2025 about what we’re going to
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Special cornhole boards have been made for the event,
See Atglen 150 pg 3 featuring a unique logo.
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See Graduation pg 4
For six decades, the Strasburg Senior Citizens has been an organization unlike most others. The group is not the average Rotary, Kiwanis or Lions Club, although it shares many of the same charitable causes. The group, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in May, is a special place for those age 50 and older to fraternize, enjoy activities and forge a unique connection to the area and to each other. A member of the Graybill family has been a part of the group for most of its existence. Kay Graybill is the group’s only active third-generation member; her grandmother and mother were both also active members in the past. “This is my third year in the club,” she said. “My mom, she worked part time; it was more a way to just get out. And my grandma, at that age, she would just get a place to go out and meet other people. It just feels right to be in a group that they were a part of.” The group meets at 1 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every month at the Strasburg Fire Hall, 203 W. Franklin St., Strasburg. There is a small door fee to pay for the rental of the fire hall. People from all around the county are members, although most are from Strasburg, Paradise, Quarryville, Ronks and the surrounding towns. The meetings typically consist of fellowship, live entertainment, bingo, and informative
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See Seniors pg 2
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