Pequea Valley townlively.com
JANUARY 5, 2022
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LVIII • NO 2
PVIS Teacher Receives PPL Foundation STEM Grant BY ANN MEAD ASH
hen Pequea Valley Intermediate School STEM 8/STEM 8 Advanced teacher Jamiel Smoker received information about a PPL Foundation Empowering Educators grant program from principal John Trovato at the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, he looked at the projects the previous winners had submitted. “They had some neat things,” noted Smoker, who thought his idea had a chance. He completed the application by the Sept. 30 due date. In early November, Smoker learned that he was one of 50 teachers across the state to receive a $1,000 grant to spend on equipment and materials for a project. The funds will purchase the instruments needed to teach a cross-curricular lesson involving science, math, and the study of trees. Utilizing a stand of trees located on school property, all eighth-grade students will have the opportunity to take part in the project in a required STEM class.
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Smoker plans to employ the Pythagorean Theorem to teach students how to discover the height of a tree. “The kit comes with a device for a 45-degree angle,” he explained. “You hold it level, and you see the top of the tree. (For example, at) 55 feet away, the theorem tells me the tree is 55 feet tall. That’s a handson, out in the field (lesson),” he said. The implications of weather on trees and history will also be part of the class. “There is a tree borer (in the kit) that will bore a hole into the tree and pull the center out (in a round cylindrical rod) so you can see the growth rings,” said Smoker, who noted that the age of the tree and extreme weather patterns can be uncovered from looking at the tree rings. He explained that information about historical Jamestown was discovered this way. “They determined that there was a hard drought when Jamestown was settled (by seeing that) the trees didn’t do well (at that time),” he said. “That’s the historical application of tree knowledge. We can prove history with that.” He noted that the tree is not harmed by the boring. See PVIS pg 5
Pequea Valley Intermediate School teacher Jamiel Smoker received a PPL Foundation Empowering Educators grant.
Quilting And Partnership Aids Medicare Recipients providing certified counselors who Community can help recipients reduce Medicare BY ANN MEAD ASH
When Linda DaSilva walked into the Quilt Shop at Miller’s, 2811 Lincoln Highway East, Ronks, in January, she began a conversation with retail manager Annette Nauman. “I said it was a fun place,” recalled DaSilva. Nauman responded by asking DaSilva if she would like to work in the shop. Two days later, DaSilva was back to fill out an application, and she began working in the shop in March. See Highland Quilters pg 2
When Kim Skinner, volunteer coordinator with Lancaster County Office of Aging, looked at the county map in early 2021, she saw that the ELANCO and Pequea Valley areas had no Apprise locations. Apprise offers help to new and existing Medicare beneficiaries by Ridgeview Mennonite Church pastor Audrey Kanagy (left), volunteer Apprise counselor Susan Ryan (right), and Kim Skinner (not pictured), volunteer coordinator with Lancaster Office of Aging, teamed up to provide Medicare enrollment information.
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costs during the annual open enrollment period, which ran from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 in 2021. Skinner contacted Dawn RanckHower, pastor of New Holland Mennonite Church, for help. Ranck-Hower referred Skinner to Audrey Kanagy, who pastors Ridgeview Mennonite Church, 3723 Ridge Road, Gordonville. Ridgeview sits on the high ground in Pequea Valley School District, just over the line from ELANCO School District, making it convenient for residents from both areas.
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