THE ISSUE: It’s Friday, the day we take a few moments to highlight the good news in Lancaster County and the surrounding region. Some of these items are welcome developments on the economic front or for area neighborhoods. Others are local stories of achievement, ingenuity, perseverance, compassion and creativity that represent welcome points of light as we face critical issues in Pennsylvania and stressful situations in our nation and world. All of this uplifting news deserves a brighter spotlight.
Leading off, here’s a news item from LNP | LancasterOnline’s Elizabeth DeOrnellas we want to amplify: “Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light aims to plant 100,000 trees across the state in the next 18 months, and sign-ups are open through July 15 for those who want to request a free native tree to plant this fall.”
The online form to request a tree can be found at lanc.news/PAplantsnative.
Plantings can be done on private properties, congregational or community space and even public lands (with permission). Those requesting trees will be able to pick them up in September and October from distribution centers in the county.
These plantings are part of the 10 Million Trees for Pennsylvania project backed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. In 2018, organizers set a goal of planting that number of trees across the state by 2025. More than 5.9 million trees have already been planted.
As we noted in this space last September, “Trees are ... incredibly beneficial to the environment, especially in combating the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. Trees improve the soil, air and water. ... They reduce flooding, provide habitat for wildlife, keep cities cooler and bolster property values.”
So, if you’re interested and able, please request a free tree and help with the plantings.
In other good things:
— We loved the LNP | LancasterOnline article about recent Warwick High School graduate Maggie Turner, who found a creative way to make special occasions for others more memorable.
Best of all, it involves cake.
“Turner, a Girl Scout, earned a Gold Award — the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve — for her project providing specialty cake pans to Lititz Public Library, for patrons to check out,” LNP | LancasterOnline correspondent Laura Knowles explained last month.
Books and DVDs are available at the library. So why not cake pans, too?
(Public libraries in general are such wonderful resources. Did you know that Lancaster Public Library has American Girl dolls, a harp and ukuleles available as specialty lending items?)
For her project, Turner wanted to do something that would have a lasting impact for Lititz Public Library patrons.
“I thought it would be a fun idea and wanted to show that libraries are not just about books,” she told Knowles. “Libraries seem to be under fire these days, so I wanted to do something to help both the community and the library at the same time.”
The 20 cake pans collected by Turner for the library came from various sources — her family’s own collection, thrift stores, donations and requests posted on Facebook.
Now, Lititz patrons can check out a cake pan in the shape of a baseball mitt, a butterfly, a dinosaur, Elmo, Pikachu, a mermaid or one of many other themes.
And if you ask Turner, she’ll recommend the one that’s still her favorite.
“I’m still pretty fond of the pony,” she said.
— Finally, it’s been heartening to see the letters to LNP | LancasterOnline filled with praise and enthusiasm for the Lancaster Senior Games.
The annual event, which was held in May and is organized by the Lancaster County Office of Aging, provides a terrific opportunity for older residents to share some fun, exercise and camaraderie.
Winnie Gerlach of Manheim Township wrote to thank Lisa Paulson and the Office of Aging staff for organizing the event.
“I know it is a lot of hard work to make the games possible,” Gerlach wrote. “Each year, we see how dedicated everyone is to making it a fantastic, enjoyable and inspirational week. ... It is a week of competing and seeing old friends. And it is so inspirational seeing everyone of all ages and abilities competing.”
Added Wanda Rosser of West Lampeter Township: “My sisters and I took part in different events, and it was such a great experience. I’ve taken part for five or six years, and I’ve had so much fun. ... It was great to meet up and reconnect with people I hadn’t seen since last year’s event — it was like a reunion.”
And Sandy Neal of East Hempfield Township, in a letter co-signed by numerous fellow competitors, called the event a “treat” and said they’re already looking forward to May 2025.
Many others are surely looking forward to it, too. These games are part of what makes Lancaster County such a wonderful place to live.
