Pequea Valley townlively.com
SEPTEMBER 15, 2021
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LVII • NO 39
Someone Who Understands ROFM Banquet Will Feature Darryl Strawberry BY ANN MEAD ASH
rowing up in Midland Park, N.J., Thomas Carr, who became the director of Revelations of Freedom Ministries (ROFM) in June, rooted for the New York Mets. “I grew up watching (Darryl Strawberry) play,” recalled Carr, who booked the Hall of Famer as the keynote speaker for ROFM’s eighth annual banquet. Carr had several reasons for engaging Strawberry for the event, but chief among them was Strawberry’s personal experience with addiction, in spite of his success in baseball. Strawberry also went through abuse, divorce, and cancer, and he served time in jail. He has emerged a born-again Christian with an understanding of those struggling with addiction. “He believes in the mission,” said Carr. ROFM, a faith-based, Christ-centered discipleship program for men who struggle with addictions, will hold the annual fundraiser at
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Shady Maple Banquet Center, 129 Toddy Drive, East Earl, on Wednesday, Oct. 20. Doors will open for appetizers at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Table sponsorships for the event are available. Seating will be limited, and those wishing to attend should register by Monday, Oct. 4. There is no cost to attend the event. A freewill offering will be received. Strawberry is a former professional right fielder and an author. He played 17 seasons in the major leagues, where he was known as a slugger whose every at-bat held homerun potential. He helped lead the New York Mets to a World Series championship and the New York Yankees to three World Series championships. He was also suspended three times for substance abuse. His memoir, “Straw: Finding My Way,” was published in April 2009. Carr had a career in banking and banking technology prior to applying to ROFM. He and his wife moved to New Holland three years
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Local Story To Become Feature Film
North Star Fundraiser To Aid The Harbor
BY ANN MEAD ASH
BY ANN MEAD ASH
The program for the 2021 hybrid Tapas Shindig will include presentations by executive director Alicia Corrado, director of development Janelle Esbenshade, a member of the North Star Initiative board, and radio personality Lisa Landis will serve as master of ceremonies. Esbenshade noted, however, that the most impactful presentation of the evening will be made by a See North Star pg 7
Darryl Strawberry
Honoring Stan
Nate Deen (left), formerly Nate Busko, and Stan Deen.
“I think Stan Deen was a remarkable man in the way he encouraged and helped other people,” said Dale Bradley of Inspiring Films. “He defined his life with that.” Dale has moved to Lancaster to make “Brave the Dark,” the story of the late Garden Spot High School (GSHS) teacher Stan Deen and the troubled young man he took in during the 1980s, Nate Busko, now Nate Deen. “But there are lots of men and women like that, so this is an everyman story,” continued Dale, who
runs Inspiring Films with his brother Grant. “Good movies need to resonate with people,” he added. “You need to know people like (the characters in the film) or be like (them) or wish you were like (them).” Grant discovered the true story behind the film about five years ago when visiting Lancaster County looking for possible film subjects. He met Nate, who works at Sight & Sound, and heard his story. Nate was orphaned at a young age after a tragedy involving his parents. He became part of the foster care system, eventually leaving as a teenager
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Sweetness And Laughter . . . . . . . . . .6 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 A Concert In The Grove .11 Business Directory . . . . .12 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . .15 House Of Worship . . . . . .20
See Stan pg 4
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ago after visiting the Lancaster area for decades. “I came to New Holland for the purpose of going into fulltime ministry,” said Carr. While continuing to work in the banking industry from home, Carr worked part time at Water Street Mission and Friendship Community. In May, he was taking part in a prayer meeting at Christian Fellowship Church, where he is a member. One of the ROFM board members asked that the group pray that the organization could find a new director. “I went home and thought, ‘Why not me? I want to go into ministry,’” Carr said. Carr, who will give an update on the ministry at the banquet, has made some changes since his arrival at ROFM, moving one employee to a marketing coordinator position and hiring a grant writer and donation coordinator, who will begin in October. Readers who are interested in attending the banquet may call 717-351-5680 or email banquet@rofm.org.
