Octorara JUNE 24, 2026
SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
REACHING MORE THAN 3,720 HOMES
Parkesburg to Host 250th Celebration
ONLINE
Summer
BY LOGAN MOYER
EVENT CALENDAR
Val Wakeman was named as the school’s 2026 valedictorian.
The Class Val-edictorian 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 See Graduation pg 4
OCC
The Patriotic Cruisers BY LOGAN MOYER
It’s a patriotic year for the Lancaster County Cruisers. The group, which holds its annual car show on the first Saturday of July every year, will present this year ’s show on Saturday, July 4, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Willow Street Fire Company, 2901 Willow Street Pike North, Willow Street. No registration is needed for the 26th annual show. Anyone wishing to participate can bring their cars, R129153
For the first time in a decade, fireworks will light up the night sky at Minch Park in Parkesburg on Friday, July 3, as part of Parkesburg’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. Parkesburg’s massive five-day celebration of the countr y ’s birthday will commence on Wednesday, July 1, and run through Sunday, July 5, at the park, 111 West St., Parkesburg. A carnival, provided by Houghton Enterprises of Cochranville, will anchor the event, running from Wednesday to Saturday. Organizers described the carnival as having “all the big rides.” It will run from 6 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before a closing schedule of 3 to 10 p.m. on Saturday. “Houghton would bring the carnival to town every year,” said organizer Cassandra Wyatt, speaking of Parkesburg’s history. “Then that relationship broke up all of a sudden. ... So this was huge for us; we really wanted to bring (the carnival) back.” While Wednesday and Thursday’s schedules only consist of the carnival, Friday will bring a DJ providing music and a beer garden that will run from approximately 6 to 9:15 p.m. At the conclusion of the evening, fireworks will be launched into the sky above Minch Park. “Fireworks are huge for us, because we have not had fireworks in Parkesburg for about 10 or 12 years,” Wyatt said. Wyatt noted the increased prices of fireworks for the weekend of the Fourth of July, saying that organizers did everything they could to get fireworks on
See Car Show pg 2 The show usually pulls in around 300 to 400 vehicles.
See 250th pg 3
Summer Fruits
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Flowers! & 400 Long Lane at Marticville Rd.
Open Mon.-Sat. 8-6, Closed Sun.
(Rt. 741 & 324) 3 Miles S. of Lancaster
Great Selection!
ALL ON SPECIAL
717-872-9311 www.cherryhillorchards.com
R129119
townlively.com/ events
VOL XXXVI • NO 17
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER JUN. 24, 2026
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