Octorara JULY 4, 2018
PLAY K PROGRAM
Pequea Valley Public Library, 31 Center St., Intercourse, will offer the Play K program on Mondays, July 9, 16, 23 and 30, at 1:30 p.m. The program is for children who will attend kindergarten in the fall and their parents. The program is meant to provide opportunities for children to practice skills needed for kindergarten while having fun. During the first half-hour, the children will participate in circle time and story time. During the second half-hour, parents and their children may play with educational toys related to that day’s theme. Registration is requested. To register, call Pequea Valley Public Library at 717-768-3160.
IN THIS ISSUE: CHURCH PLANS BIBLE INSTITUTE FOR CHILDREN page 7
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
Animal Rescue Is A “Woerthy” Cause Veteran Aims To Help Others Through Horsemanship By Dayna M. Reidenouer
Three years after graduating from Solanco High School, Sara Hodgkiss entered the Army in October 2006 with the goal of serving country above self. Nearly seven years later in February 2013, she received a medical discharge and joined the ranks of disabled veterans. Hodgkiss has pressed forward, her medical condition notwithstanding. Last year, she launched a nonprofit equine/animal rescue, Woerth It Hollow, at her family’s farm with hopes of providing a safe and supportive place for veterans and other disabled individuals to discover every aspect of horsemanship and rescue farming. “This is my way of continuing this selfless service and helping my fellow
BIBLE SCHOOOL
Our Lady of Consolation Church will offer a vacation Bible school (VBS) from Sunday, July 22, through Thursday, July 26. The program will run from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m. at the Schneider Parish Center, 2995 Cemetery Road, Parkesburg. The theme will be “Shipwrecked - Rescued by Jesus.” There is no cost to attend. To register, readers may visit www.olcchurch.org, call 610-857-0511 or email jdagney@gmail.com.
The Calico Cutters Quilt Guild will meet on Wednesday, July 11, at 9:30 a.m. at the Goshen Fire Company, 1320 Park Ave., West Chester. Mark Sherman will present “What It’s Like to Be a Man Quilter.” Sherman will also conduct a workshop abount trapunto, quilting with a raised design, on Tuesday, July 10. The guild meets each month. In addition, it has a Charity of the Month, Block of the Month, giveaway drawing, show-and-tell, and more. As this month’s charity project, nonperishable food items will be collected for the West Chester Food Cupboard. The meeting is open to guests for a nominal fee. For more information, including details on the June 10 workshop, visit www.calicocutters.com or email calicocutters@gmail.com.
Army veteran Sara Hodgkiss (left), founder of an equine/animal rescue at Woerth It Hollow, and fellow veteran Nancy Snelgrove flank Gizmo, a rescue pony that lives at the Kirkwood farm. The nonprofit animal rescue offers veterans and disabled folks a place to learn horsemanship.
brothers and sisters in arms to do so themselves,” Hodgkiss explained. “Who can deny the added bonus of saving the horses as well?” Hodgkiss grew up at Woerth It Hollow, 259 Cooper Drive, Kirkwood, and was an avid horsewoman until around middle school. While she stopped competing in hunter/jumper events, she continued to work in the stables. After leaving the military, Hodgkiss found herself in a position to take over the farm. She spent several years finding a way to manage her health, and she fostered the idea of a rescue for animals and veterans. Hodgkiss had served a tour in Afghanistan, and she witnessed soldiers in her unit struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after deployment. Working with horses is one way that veterans can cope. “This is a place where veterans can See Animal Rescue pg 6
DAR Presents American History Awards Heather Pierson Trio To Perform Concert By Francine Fulton
The Chester County Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) recently presented Outstanding Work in American History Awards to local eighth-graders. Unlike the DAR’s annual American History Essay Contest, which ask students to complete essays that are judged by DAR members, the Outstanding Work in American History Awards are given to students who are chosen by the staff members at local public and parochial schools. “We send an invitation to each middle school in Chester County to participate,” explained Kym Dyer, history award committee chair. “Each year, the school’s educators identify one student in the graduating eighth-grade class who has demonstrated achievement, interest and knowledge of our American history. “
The winners are announced at endof-year awards ceremonies held at the schools. “The recipients’ names are recorded and documented in our national and Chester County chapter records,” Dyer said. “The students receive a medal, a certificate and letter that is personally presented by a member of the DAR or by the educators of the middle schools.” Winners of the award in 2018 include the following students: Lucia Garzon - Collegium Charter School; Carolynne Eckert - Fred S. Engle Middle School; Ella Prieto - Fugett Middle School; Erin Dychdala - Holy Family School; Nicholas Gonzalez - Kennett Middle School; Gavin Que - Lionville Middle School; Jacob Steward - North Brandywine Middle School; Kayla Kittlitz - Octorara Junior High School; Chloe Lockwood - C.F. Patton Middle School; Tanner Turek - Peirce Middle School; Emiliano Zetune - Penn’s Grove See History Awards pg 2
By Francine Fulton
As part of its ongoing concert series, the Friends Folk Club will present a performance by the Heather Pierson Trio on Friday, July 13. The concert will be held at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 116 Lancaster Pike, Oxford. Doors will open at 7 p.m., and the concert will start at 7:30 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring nonperishable food items to be donated to the Lighthouse Youth Center in Oxford. Pierson is an award-winning pianist, singer/songwriter, arranger and bandleader who plays piano, tenor banjo, melodica and acoustic guitar. Pierson, who will provide lead vocals, will be accompanied by Davy Sturtevant See Heather Pierson Trio pg 3
Wedding P
The Heather Pierson Trio, composed of (from left) Shawn Nadeau, Heather Pierson and Davy Sturtevant, will perform on July 13 as part of the Friends Folk Club concert series at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Oxford.
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VOL XXVIII • NO 23
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