Pequea Valley townlively.com
DECEMBER 27, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LX • NO 1
Pressing on Position plays to director’s strengths BY ANN MEAD ASH
sheds adjacent to the garage. The flames ran up the corner of the garage to where the decorations were kept. “We lost about 90 Christmas ornaments,” said Norm Jr., noting that with most items the damage was apparent right away. “We had to clear the garage out, and we could see what
“Ever y print that’s done directly supports The Factory Ministries, which is here to support individuals battling issues of poverty,” said Liz Swirniuk, director of Factory Prints, which is part of The Factory Ministries, 3293 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, a ministry that endeavors to walk alongside those in need in the Pequea Valley area. “Even with Christmas cards,” added Swirniuk, who is currently running a special on New Year’s postcards for those who did not check “Christmas cards” off their list prior to the arrival of the holiday. Swirniuk was a cheerleader for Factory Prints years before she became the director last May. She first learned of the organization while working as youth and young adult manager with PA CareerLink Lancaster. “I was asked to go talk about paid work experience with The Factory, so in my head I pictured an industrial warehouse and manufacturing,” recalled Swirniuk of her 2019 experience. “I was walking around (The Factory), and I was so confused,” said Swirniuk, who had only recently arrived from Franklinville, N.J., armed with a degree in sociology from Rowan University. “I asked if it
See Christmas house pg 3
See Factory Prints pg 6
Up from the ashes Christmas house will be open through Dec. 31 BY ANN MEAD ASH
M
ontgomery’s Christmas House has been a fixture at 193 Cambridge Road, Gap, since 1984. Each October, Norm Montgomery Jr. begins setting up the display, which includes nearly 45,000 lights and
more than 300 Christmas characters. Each year on Thanksgiving night, Norm Jr. flips the switch and the Christmas House comes to life ready to delight visitors. This year the display will be open each evening from 5 to 9 p.m. until Sunday, Dec. 31, when hours run from 5 to 10 p.m.
For 2023, however, the annual labor of love was almost derailed. Following Jan. 1 each year, Norm Jr. dismantles the display and stores the decorations on the third floor of the garage behind the house. Last February, when he had put away all but the last load, a fire broke out in two
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Norm Montgomery Jr. did not let fire damage deter him from setting up the Montgomery’s Christmas House display for the 2023 holidays.
POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER DEC. 27, 2023
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