Penn Manor townlively.com
JANUARY 31, 2024
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LX • NO 40
100 years of giving 100% Answering a call to action BY ADRIAN ESCHENWALD
BY ADRIAN ESCHENWALD
Time and time again, residents of the Southern End have proven their ability to withstand adversity by coming together as one community. When the coronavirus pandemic shook the foundations of everyday life in 2020, nearly every church and business from Conestoga to Lampeter to Kirkwood held food drives and fundraisers to ensure their neighbors’ needs were met.
B
ill McIlwaine was born on Jan. 4, 1924, in Fall River, Mass., marking the start of a remarkable life that would span more than a century. Bill’s journey eventually led him to Lancaster, where he recently celebrated his 100th birthday with his children and close friends. In the many decades that Bill has called Lancaster home,
Although the worst of the pandemic is behind us, its aftermath and a number of economic factors continue to add to a demand for basic necessities across Lancaster County that is greater than normal. To match the Southern End’s rising needs, organizations such as Solanco Neighborhood Ministries (SNM) are rising to the occasion by looking after their neighbors. T he nonprofit serves a wide zone that See Food bank pg 3
the retired professor and decorated combat veteran has left a major impact on the community and the people in it. B ill g raduated from hig h school in 1942, and he enlisted in the armed forces in 1943. The United States had officially entered World War II only a few years prior, and the conflict would continue to rage around the globe for another two years. Bill was assigned to the United States Army 80th Infantry, where he saw combat in a few of the war’s bloodiest battles. During the Battle of the Bulge in 1944, Bill was wounded by an artillery round, and he was awarded the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, a Combat Infantryman Badge and four Theatre of Operations stars for his role in the fight. After the war ended in 1945, Bill returned to America and enrolled at Boston University to study geology and chemistry. Bill married his wife, Melva, in 1950, and they had four children
Solanco Neighborhood Ministries volunteers (from left) Debbie Grace, Carol Oswald, Anne Fisher and Vickie Shertzer help the organization’s food bank run smoothly.
On Jan. 4, Bill McIlwaine (center) celebrated his 100th birthday with his children, (clockwise, from bottom left) Deb Shenk, Meredyth Van Scherpenseel, David McIlwaine and Doug McIlwaine.
together. While Bill was taking classes at Penn State University in 1957, he heard about a small school that was known as Millersville State Teachers College at the time; he didn’t know it then, but the school would become an accredited university and the home of his long teaching career. Bill and his family moved to Millersville one year later, and he earned both a master’s degree and a doctoral degree in the following years as he taught in Millersville. Bill was heavily active in the
Millersville community both on and off the university’s campus. He helped obtain more than $1 million in grant funding as Millersville University’s director of grants and awards, and he personally testified before a House of Representatives committee to advocate for educational equipment programs. However, Bill’s endeavors were not limited to his own community; he traveled to China and the Soviet Union in the ‘70s as a member of the U.S. State Department’s scholar
Half first responder, half photographer BY ADRIAN ESCHENWALD
After Harry Beauchamp of Lititz graduated from Manheim Township High School in 2015, he decided to take a break from his academic career to explore new opportunities. He wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted to pursue for a career, but he began working at Lancaster General Hospital as he considered different options during his gap year. Beauchamp’s job at the hospital entailed moving equipment and doing general housekeeping tasks.
See 100th birthday pg 5
During his breaks, he started to watch episodes of a television show that follows real-life first responders in New Orleans, and it sparked an interest in Beauchamp that would grow into a passion for firefighting. Today, Beauchamp is a volunteer firefighter at the Willow Street Fire Company, and he works full time as an emergency medical technician and firefighter in Parkesburg and Kennett Square. Beauchamp started his career by completing a training course offered through a partnership See Firefighter pg 5
• Sweet Pears • Citrus • Soups • Salsas • Yams • Potatoes • Fresh Veggies • Jar Products • Lots of fresh Bakery • Donuts • Pies • Cookies • Bread • Fresh Cider & More!
400 Long Lane at Marticville Road (Rt. 741 & 324) 717-872-9311
OPEN ALL WINTER! Mon.-Sat. 8-6
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MORE than just APPLES APPLES!! POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER JAN. 31, 2024
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“When our dad was involved with something, he attended all the meetings and took his involvement seriously.”