Noah Z. Burkholder Jr., 83, of Myerstown, died Saturday, June 18, 2011 in Myerstown.

He was born May 12, 1928 in Ephrata Township, a son the late Noah W. and Elizabeth Z. Zimmerman Burkholder. He was the husband of Annie W. Nolt Burkholder with whom he was married for 63 years.

Noah was employed as a farmer and was a member of the Martin’s Mennonite Church of the Weaverland Conference in Womelsdorf.

Surviving in addition to his wife are children: Lucille, wife of Glenn High, of Robesonia; Elizabeth, wife of Marvin Weaver, of Lititz; Aaron, husband of Edith Huber Burkholder, of Myerstown; Noah, husband of Martha Sensenig Burkholder, of New Holland; and Anna, wife of Lester High, of Denver; 26 grandchildren; 56 great-grandchildren; brothers: David Burkholder, of Ephrata; Ivan, husband of Irene M. Zimmerman Burkholder, of Akron; Harvey, husband of Jeanette M. Shober Burkholder, of Ephrata; Norman Burkholder, of Leola; and Elvin Burkholder, of Ephrata; sisters: Anna, wife of Eli M. Horst, of Denver; Mary, wife of Melvin Martin, of Richland; Edna, wife of Noah B. Weaver, of Manheim; Lena, wife of Paul B. Zimmerman, of Ephrata; Ella, wife of Raymond M. Hurst, of Ephrata; and Etta, wife of Edwin M. Martin, of Holtwood.

Andrew Trefny, of Denver, was selected for membership in Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society.

The organization is open to freshmen students who achieve a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. IUP’s Phi Eta Sigma chapter members participate in a number of projects annually, ranging from blood drives for the American Red Cross to volunteer service with the IUP Allegheny Arboretum project.

Trefny, a regional planning and German major, is the son of Paul and Terry Ann Trefny and is a 2010 graduate of Cocalico High School. He is also a member of Gamma Theta Upsilon, the Geography Honors Societ, and the Residence Hall Council. Nina R. Gundrum, of Adamstown, has been named to the dean’s list for the second quarter at Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. A sophomore student in RIT’s School Human Sciences, Gundrum is studying psychology.

By: KAREN SHUEY Review Staff, Staff Writer

Taxpayers in the Cocalico School District will see a 1.65 percent increase in their school proparty taxes as part of the district’s $48.6 million budget for 2011-12.

The budget was approved by a 7 to 2 vote at the school board’s meeting Monday night, which was attended by only one resident –who is running for a spot on the board this fall.

Superintendent Dr. Bruce Sensenig said officials were able to keep the tax hike to a minimum. The increase of .34 mills is the lowest increase for the district since the 2000-01 budget, when it was zero.

The district’s total budget will be just over $48.6 million. Since expected revenues will only total about $46.2 million, the district will use about $1.8 million from its reserve fund to close the gap.

The 1.65 percent tax increase will bring the school district’s total millage to 20.89. That means the owner of a home with the district’s median assessment, at $137,000, will pay $47 more in school taxes next year.

By: KAREN SHUEY Review Staff kshuey.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

Dale Whisler cuts into a scrap piece of wood with his scroll saw as he begins the process of making a homemade toy in his wood shop. (Photos by Karen Shuey)Dale Whisler cuts into a scrap piece of wood with his scroll saw as he begins the process of making a homemade toy in his wood shop. (Photos by Karen Shuey)

From the simplest, to the most complex, Dale Whisler makes wooden toys.

"It keeps me young at heart," the 70-year-old said with a chuckle.

The shed Whisler has wedged his scroll saw into isn’t fancy, but the toys he produces are. He has made several miniature classic cars, helicopters with moving propellers, planes and a number of larger pull toys depicting monkeys peeling bananas, ducks hand-in-hand with their chicks and dogs about to bite into bone — all made out of hundreds of pieces of wood.

While most of Whisler’s work now is devoted to toy-making, that wasn’t always the case. He first bought and taught himself how use the scroll saw to make commercial art, but things changed after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005.

By: TODD RUTH Review Sports Editor truth.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

A community tradition needs your help.

With less than two weeks to go, the annual Ephrata fireworks show needs additional funding to get off the ground.

According to event organizer Dave Lloyd, cost of the show is $15,000. And even with generous sponsorships from Ephrata National Bank, Borough of Ephrata and Weinhold Nickel & Co., he still is in need of a little more.

"We are about $1,600 down," Lloyd said Monday. "We were that way last year at this point and some people came through. It’s just that some of our sponsorships didn’t renew and I think their (absence) represents that dollar amount."

Anyone wishing to make a donation in any dollar amount should contact Lloyd at: dlloyd@ephratarec.com or 738-1167.

The spectacular free fireworks show is set to go off at 9:30 p.m. on Monday, July 4, from current location behind the Ephrata Middle School, where it has been since moving from War Memorial Field 12 years ago.

Lloyd said the response over the years has been a positive one since moving the show to its current location.

By: GARY P. KLINGER Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

Whether or not a school resource officer is stationed at Ephrata High School next spring depends on action being considered by Ephrata Township Supervisors.

At their June 7 meeting, Ephrata Police Chief William Harvey updated supervisors on the consideration of a new three-year contract which would fund the placement of an officer in the building from July 1, 2011 through July 30, 2014.

As has been the case with the two previous contracts for a school resource officer, the school district would contribute 50 percent of the cost while the four municipalities within the district would each sharing a portion of the remaining 50 percent. The amount paid by each municipality would be determined by student population from each.

Harvey said Ephrata Township’s share of the cost would likely decrease in the new contract since the number of students from the township has decreased.

However, the supervisors have plenty of time to mull over their decision to continue with any contribution in the future since the contract will keep officer Pete Sheppard in the halls through the end of 2011.

By: KAREN SHUEY Review Staff kshuey.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

Those needing a helping hand around the house are getting one, and more, this month during the annual Ephrata Project, from volunteers like Nick Crowther (above). The initiative aims to complete a variety of tasks for those who lack the resources to repair and maintain their homes. (Photo by Karen Shuey)Those needing a helping hand around the house are getting one, and more, this month during the annual Ephrata Project, from volunteers like Nick Crowther (above). The initiative aims to complete a variety of tasks for those who lack the resources to repair and maintain their homes. (Photo by Karen Shuey)

A dozen congregations in Ephrata are busy this month providing a helping hand to their fellow man.

The service projects are part of the third annual Ephrata Project initiative, a coalition of churches reaching out to their neighbors who lack the resources to repair and maintain their homes.

Volunteers from various churches do projects ranging from small jobs like light housework and weeding to larger tasks such as rebuilding a porch or installing flooring. Often the projects involve numerous volunteers pitching in.

By: ROCHELLE A. SHENK Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

Participants of the 12th annual Relay for Life of Norlanco line the track at Cocalico High School to pay tribute to those who lost their lives to cancer, as luminaries were lit in their honor Friday night. (Photos by Stan Hall)
Participants of the 12th annual Relay for Life of Norlanco line the track at Cocalico High School to pay tribute to those who lost their lives to cancer, as luminaries were lit in their honor Friday night. (Photos by Stan Hall)

Throughout the 24-hour-long 12th-annual Relay for Life of Norlanco, which was held this past weekend, participants focused on celebrating survivors who have overcome cancer, remembered those who lost their lives to the disease and raised money for research programs.

Once again, the Cocalico High School stadium was the venue where the local community came to support the efforts of the American Cancer Society. This year, according to event coordinators, the relay raised $266,791 for the organization.

Paula Spohn, chair of event, said that this year 52 teams including 650 participants took part in the event. Each team tried to keep at least one member on the track at all times, especially throughout the night, because "cancer never sleeps."

By: GARY P. KLINGER Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

With congratulations flowing and a unanimous vote, Ephrata Area School District School Board members passes the zero-increase budget they had hoped for since the beginning of the year.

This will be the first such budget in recent memory, meaning that tax payers will not see an increase in their property taxes for school year 2011-12.

Council President Tim Stayer was the first to offer his congratulations to the board and school administration for passing the budget.

"Even though we will take in over $1M less in state funding, we will only need to pull $861,441 from reserve," said Stayer. "Thanks to the hard work of the district administration and staff for making this possible."

The new budget is the first passed during Governor Tom Corbet’s initial term in office. Word came recently that a budget could be on the Governor’s desk by the end of this week, a full two weeks ahead of schedule. Nonetheless, until a budget is actually passed, the final dollar amount contributed by the state will remain somewhat unknown. As it now stands, the current state budget would appropriate $8,542,039 in basic education funding and another $1,024,040.62 in property tax relief.

By: TODD RUTH Review Sports Editor truth.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

The Ephrata American Legion team officially got itself back in the race Tuesday night at War Memorial Field.

Ephrata, which began the season 1-4, reached the .500 mark for the first time this year with a doubleheader sweep of Manheim Township.

Trailing 3-1 heading to the bottom of the fourth in the nightcap, Ephrata struck for six runs in the inning to key the eventual 8-6 victory. With its Game One 11-0 triumph, Ephrata improved to 4-4 on the season.

"We knew coming into today it was a big couple of games," Ephrata Coach Derek Sipe said. "We got the momentum back on our side with a big division win over New Holland on Sunday, and getting two wins tonight, especially to continue that momentum that we generated over the weekend was real important for us.

"In the first game, we came out and really hit the ball," he continued. "In the second game we did just enough and were able to scratch and claw and get the ‘W’ which is what matters. I feel the guys gained a lot of momentum with these two wins. We kind of got that excitement back. I think during the losing streak that’s kind of what we were lacking. We were able to get that back and hopefully that lights a little fire under us the rest of the way."