Pequea Valley
/townlively
IN THIS ISSUE: COLLABORATIVE EFFORT SUPPLIES ORGANIZATION WITH MEALS page 7
MAY 20, 2020
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
LOOK FOR
VOL LVI • NO 23
MONDAY • MAY 25 • 2020
Summer 2020
R058471
home MEMORIAL DAY appeal REMEMBER AND HONOR INSIDE!
Rebels With A Cause
Emerging Businesses Overcome Obstacles
“Star Wars” Fans Feed Homeless In Lancaster By Ann Mead Ash
National
EMS Week
May 17-23
• mail a card • create a banner and deliver it when restrictions are lifted • connect with EMS organizations on social media and leave an encouraging message • leave a message on your own social media page expressing your gratitude • donate to an organization that supports EMS groups • schedule a time to drop off a meal when restrictions are lifted • volunteer (off-site tasks may be available while restrictions are in place) • simply say
thank you
By Leah Sintic
Operating a business is a strenuous venture in the best of circumstances, and with the current economic climate, local entrepreneurs are being strained and stretched even more. But that hasn’t stopped some tenacious Lancaster County residents from pushing forward with new or expanding businesses. LaundrE-town on Market in Elizabethtown is one such emerging endeavor. After over a year of renovation and progress, the fully renovated, modern laundromat was slated for an April 1 grand opening, but state mandates and closures postponed the final stages of completion. The essential business eventually opened successfully on May 1.
See Rebels With A Cause pg 3
Kaden Stetler of Rebel Cause stands with a truckload of food that he and his crew of volunteers then turned into meals for Lancaster’s homeless population. Rebel Cause is made up of “Star Wars” fans with a mission to aid the homeless.
Aaron’s Acres Finds Permanent Home In Manheim
Aaron’s Acres hopes to have a new home at the Hoffer Farm property located adjacent to Pleasant View Retirement Community on North Penryn Road in Manheim. Pleasant View plans to build a cultural center on the property with the goal to complete it by 2022. By Ann Mead Ash
In 2018, Aaron’s Acres celebrated 20 years of providing socialization and recreation for children and young adults ages 5 to 21 with special needs. The nonprofit
organization held camp at the Jewish Community Center in Lancaster until 2013. Starting in 2014, the program was hosted by the Manheim Community Pool and Memorial Park. In 2019, the six-week camp served 220 campers. See Aaron’s Acres pg 5
See Emerging Businesses pg 6
Partnership Provides Mental Health Information By Ann Mead Ash
The Samaritan Counseling Center’s TeenHope website page presents some sobering statistics about youths in Lancaster County. Nearly 30% of teenagers say they feel sad or depressed most days. Almost 16% have seriously considered attempting suicide, and more than 9% of students have attempted suicide. Gretchen Gaudioso, client and
family advocate with Mental Health America Lancaster County (MHALC), has been visiting schools for some time, working to educate students about See Partnership pg 2
Gretchen Gaudioso (front), client and family advocate with Mental Health America Lancaster County (MHALC), educates students about mental health issues. MHALC recently began working with TeenHope, which addresses mental health issues by offering screening programs for depression, anxiety, and suicide risk to area middle and high school students.
We’re Open! Spring Sale Specials are valid until June 15!
(717) 656-7077 FlorHaus.com
R058901
See ad inside PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER MAY 20, 2020
Postal Patron
PEQ
Here are a few ways to say thank you:
Kaden Stetler of Lancaster, one of the founders of Rebel Cause, an organization that began feeding homeless people in Lancaster on March 19, credits “Star Wars” with the inspiration behind the group’s mission. “‘Star Wars’ has always been my inner mythology,” explained Stetler. “It’s about helping others and hope and inspiring other people to do the right thing.” Rebel Cause, a group made up of about 15 members living in the Lancaster area and beyond, was founded in 2015 with a dedication to uniting “Star Wars” fans and doing good in the community. The Rebel Cause mission statement reads in part, “We are committed to helping the homeless in Lancaster
County with dignity and compassion.” Until recently, Rebel Cause aided local members of the homeless community with regular events. “We sponsored community meals on the weekends and held fundraisers for needs of the homeless community,” said Stetler. “We would use whatever space was available to us, including churches and community centers.” When Gov. Tom Wolf announced that all non-essential businesses would be closed, Stetler found himself out of work. “I knew Rebel Cause was in a position to do something (for the homeless),” said Stetler. “We started the very next day making food and handing it out to the homeless, and through that I became officially connected with the city to use one area to serve meals.”