Pequea Valley /townlively
OCTOBER 14, 2020
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LVI • NO 44
Local Author Publishing Two New Books BY ANN MEAD ASH
J.
Arthur Moore of Narvon, author of the Civil War series “Journey Into Darkness,” has recently published his first new book in six years, and he plans to have another book out later this fall. “West to Freedom,” which was released in September, is the story of best friends who in 1862 embark on a journey to free one of them from the bonds of slavery. “Summer in Stewart Creek,” due out by early November, transports a young man from his hometown of Baltimore to the fictitious town of Snow Shoe, W.Va., in the summer of 1879. “West to Freedom,” was written prior to 2010. Moore called the 56page story more of a novella or extended short story than a book. Set in northwest Arkansas, the tale follows Thomas Reynolds and his best friend, Daniel Russell, who was born into slavery. W hen Thomas learns Daniel is in danger of being sold, he and his father plan to help Daniel escape west to the Cherokee nation. “The story is
totally fiction and the only thing I have ever done that directly involves slavery,” said Moore. Moore taught school for more than 40 years, and his students who were photographed for the cover art for “West to Freedom,” John Rivera as Daniel Russell and Thomas Ristine as Thomas Reynolds, are now grown. “Summer at Stewart Creek,” which is more than 100 pages, is based on campers Moore met at a camp on Cape Cod in 1979. “This book is totally unrelated to anything else I have done,” mused Moore. A model railroad enthusiast, who serves as vice president of the Short Line Club in Ephrata, Moore based the setting on the layout in his basement, using realistic-looking photos at the ends of chapters. “All (the story) is imaginary,” said Moore, “including the Virginia and Truckee Railroad of West Virginia.” “Summer” is the story of 12-yearold Brett Tompkins who finds himself in West Virginia when his father, a banker, takes over the
Bench Mark: Lifting Youths Up Unique Fundraiser Planned
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
A Safer Way To Travel Is Trending
CONCERT TO BENEFIT MISSIONERIES . . . . . . . .2
BY ANN MEAD ASH
Entering the Bench Mark facility on East Liberty Street in Lancaster is a little like entering a secret club. A short hallway leads to a door that opens into a room filled with serious weightlifting equipment. The brightly colored walls are covered with graffiti-like artwork paying homage to superheroes.
The pandemic has resulted in a significant increase in families looking into and plunging into camping during the summer of 2020. For fall, that trend does not seem to be slowing much, and fall weather is often ideal for camping activities. Scot Ash, general manager of Shady Maple RV in East Earl, has seen a 50% increase in sales over 2019, and he said that the majority of those sales involved first-time buyers. “RVing is an alternative
See Bench Mark pg 9
See Camping pg 13
BY ANN MEAD ASH
John Rivera (left) as Daniel Russell and Thomas Ristine as Thomas Reynolds are featured on the cover of J. Arthur Moore’s book “West to Freedom.”
Let’s Go Camping!
SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 VIRTUAL “MCC AT 100” EVENT PLANNED . . . . . .6 HOUSE OF WORSHIP . . . . . . . . .15 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . .16 A group of people from the Lancaster area enjoy roughing it on the south loop of Pennsylvania’s Black Forest Trail.
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See Local Author pg 2
James Wunderlich of Nottingham portrayed Brett Tompkins on the cover of J. Arthur Moore’s book “Summer at Stewart Creek.”