By: ANGELA CABEZAS Review Staff acabezas.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

Smiles were all around, even if only one was directed at the camera, when Denver's Josh Zimmerman won his heat Tuesday during the greased pig chase on the opening night of the Ephrata Fair in Tent City. (Photo by Preston Whitcraft)Smiles were all around, even if only one was directed at the camera, when Denver's Josh Zimmerman won his heat Tuesday during the greased pig chase on the opening night of the Ephrata Fair in Tent City. (Photo by Preston Whitcraft)

With an eye on the sky and the forecast for the week, the 93rd Ephrata Fair got underway Tuesday under threatening clouds.

But that didn’t deter hundreds from making their way onto the midway for the first taste of fair food, the first game of skee ball, or the first look at the many contest exhibits.

"It’s not going to rain," joked Merv Esh, Ephrata Farmers Day Association board director and former president. "But if it does, I don’t anticipate it will keep people away. The biggest thing is if there’s severe weather. The past few years it was really hot, but this year, with the colder weather, there may only be showers."

By: BRUCE MORGAN Review Staff, Staff Writer

Cocalico's Liza Morgan (right) fires a shot on the Ephrata goal during Tuesday's 3-0 shutout win over Ephrata. Morgan had a pair of goals and an assist to lead the way. (Photo courtesy of Denise Mitchell Photography) Cocalico's Liza Morgan (right) fires a shot on the Ephrata goal during Tuesday's 3-0 shutout win over Ephrata. Morgan had a pair of goals and an assist to lead the way. (Photo courtesy of Denise Mitchell Photography)

What was billed as a potential first-place field hockey showdown turned into a one-sided affair Tuesday in Denver.

Behind a suffocating defense and an opportunistic offensive attack, Cocalico frustrated upstart Ephrata in an eventual 3-0 decision.

The Lady Eagles (5-0 Section Two) got a pair of goals from Liza Morgan while their defense held an Ephrata offense that had been averaging four goals per game to just four shots in the entire contest.

"My defense is very seasoned," Cocalico Coach Krista Page said following the win. "This is their third year together…Our defense was tough and they followed the gameplan just perfectly."

Be sure to check the Sept. 28 issue of The Ephrata Review for the debut of a new sports photo page which will appear weekly in the paper. The page will contain exciting action shots of athletes from both Ephrata and Cocalico.

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

Ephrata had plenty of chances to put away its first win of the season Friday night at Conestoga Valley.

The Mounts held a 7-0 lead and were playing well enough with the lead to earn the win. Unfortunately, they simply couldn’t close the deal.

That’s when CV’s Anthony Brown took over, first by making a big defensive play and then shredding a worn down Ephrata defense in the second half.

Brown rushed for 227 yards on 24 carries, and scored a pair of second-half touchdowns on runs of 20 and 23 yards to lead the Buckskins to a 17-7 come-from-behind victory.

According to Ephrata Coach Jim Vieland, who saw his team drop to 0-3, the Mounts are making just enough mistakes at the wrong time.

"That’s the name of the game right now and we got to clean it up," he said. "We are not going to do the things we need to do to win until we get rid of the mistakes. It’s all over the place. I just can’t point to one area. It’s what’s going on right now. We are making mistakes at inopportune times…That’s what is keeping us from winning games right now. We got to clean it up and play four quarters of football. We got to finish games."

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

Dave Gingrich’s young Cocalico football squad may be coming of age. And the young Eagles couldn’t have picked a better time.

Friday night, the Eagles headed to Shillington to take on Governor Mifflin in the final tune-up before heading into Section Two play.

And a week after claiming their first victory of the season over Ephrata, the Eagles almost made it two in-a-row against a Mustang team that beat mighty Wilson in Week One. Cocalico jumped out to a 13-0 first half lead before the Mustangs rallied for a pair of touchdowns to earn a 14-13 come-from-behind victory.

While the Eagles did drop their second game in three weeks, the results show the team is getting better.

"I was extremely proud of the effort and heart our kids showed," Gingrich said of his team following the loss. "They played extremely hard and fought all night. However, we (the team) are not into moral victories. We must finish games. We scored 13 points in the first half and nothing in the second half. We need to keep improving."

Ephrata's Gabe Murcia (right) heads the ball away from Cocalico's Chris Ward and to a teammate during Saturday's Section Two contest at Mountaineer Field. Ephrata prevailed by a score of 3-1. (Photo by Stan Hall)Ephrata's Gabe Murcia (right) heads the ball away from Cocalico's Chris Ward and to a teammate during Saturday's Section Two contest at Mountaineer Field. Ephrata prevailed by a score of 3-1. (Photo by Stan Hall)

After years of enjoying a distinct home-field advantage playing at War Memorial, Ephrata is starting to cozy up to its new digs at Mountaineer Field.

The Mounts won their second home game in two starts Saturday night in a one-sided back-yard affair with Cocalico.

Ephrata went up 2-0 midway through the first half on goals by Kyle Phillips and Brandon Straley and added an insurance tally late by Andrew Moore. Cocalico (4-3 Section Two) did ruin the shutout bid when Wyatt Dungan scored in the final two minutes but the Mounts came away with a very impressive 3-1 decision.

Nate Eberly, Kyle Smith and Quint Felak assisted on the goals by Ephrata, which held a 15-8 shot advantage for the game. Mountaineer keeper Kole DeHaven turned back seven Eagle shots en route to the victory.

By: KIMBERLY MARSELAS Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

Looking to pad its coffers, Cocalico School District has started selling advertising space across its campuses.

At a school board meeting Monday night, Assistant Business Manager Lesley Stricker outlined a program that allows business to sponsor facilities or buy banner space for advertisements.

So far, she has sold six ad spaces, with total revenue of $7,424. Stricker said she began by soliciting more than 160 local companies, but plans to expand her efforts to neighboring companies and those who do business with the school district.

Among the current advertisers are Heck Construction Company, which is sponsoring the scoreboard at Eagles Stadium. Matt Marte Insurance purchased space on a boiler room wall, and four other businesses are advertising on stadium fencing.

"That’s where most of our space is: our fences, " said Stricker, who plans to expand the initiative to include sponsorships of baseball field fences, the Denver Elementary School gym (home to junior high basketball games) and the high school game.

Stricker said multi-space packages might be more appealing to larger companies, but she is keeping the district’s wellness policy in mind as she accepts contracts from companies that might be targeting children.

Tamara Banks of Denver received an associate degree in medical billing and coding at the YTI Career Institute commencement ceremony on Aug. 30. HACC has named part-time students to the dean’s list for the 2010-11 academic year.

Denver students include: Jesse J. Bensel, Adrien N. Bernard, Jessica E. Fackler, Ann M. Hall, Lori A. Lee, Amber J. Martin, Kelly R. Martin, William A. Miller, Brett Rader, Robin K. Schelling, Amy B. Shirk, Daniel Teleguz and Lindsey M. Wilson

Reinholds residents honored are: Heather J. Brechtlein, Dustin S. Fox, Janelle M. Morgan and Jeanette G. Stillman

Stevens students on the list are: Svetlana K. Borisik, Kyles A. Conner, Karen M. Cook, Akiya B. Shirk, Tracy L. Wooden. The Lancaster County Community Foundation awarded a scholarship to Erin Hess, a Cocalico High School graduate, for the 2011-2012 school year. Hess is attending Duquesne University.

Dr. Michael T. Murray, ND, a leading authority on natural medicine, will present “The Latest Breakthroughs in Natural Healing,” a public lecture, on Sept. 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Akron Church of the Brethren, 613 E. Main St.
In this fact-filled lecture, Dr. Murray will provide the latest research on natural solutions for common health conditions. This practical program will also discuss the latest nutritional and herbal supplements that can be used to improve health and promote healing.
A question-and-answer session and book signing will follow the lecture.
Seating is limited, so call 859-4901 or go to the Akron Nutrition Center at 22 N. Seventh Street, Suite 2, to reserve seats. Tickets are $5 each.

SUSAN LINDT
Review Correspondent
Note: “Equus” was directed by Michael Swanson.
On Thursday, while floodwater eased into the basement of Ephrata Performing Arts Center like a diva sauntering onstage for her last curtain call, more than a few nervous stars waited for word about whether the show would, could, go on.
But when Mother Nature stages her own showstopper on your opening night, one must beat the old lady at her own game.
The modern classic “Equus” opened a day late but with more drama than even Mother Nature could conjure – both onstage and off.
“I had a moment…I almost cried,” said Ed Fernandez, EPAC artistic director and the lead of “Equus.”I was at home and I couldn’t get to the park but I knew the water was rising. Later that night, I was exhausted mentally. Then I looked on Facebook and saw everyone was offering to rush to the playhouse with pumps to cleanup. I almost broke down and cried because I realized how much people love the playhouse. It’s good to realize what you have.”
Although the playhouse suffered some minor damage to basement flooring, the show went off without a hitch and the drama of Peter Shaffer’s award-winning 1973 play actually paled the chaotic scene outside Sharadin Bigler Theatre for 2 ½ full hours.
“Equus” is a mystery, although not your traditional mystery. When 17-year-old Alan Strang (played by Jeremy Ebert) lands in a psychiatric hospital after intentionally blinding six horses he seemed to worship, psychiatrist Martin Dysart (played by Fernandez) must find the cause to find a cure – that is a means of making the boy “normal” enough to coexist in society.
Of course, the journey is painful for the boy, who must confront the horror of his actions that appalled his bucolic English community. He delves into his erotic obsession with horses that is comingled with religious fervor. Through sessions with his doctor, Strang reveals to the world and to himself what compelled him to his senseless act.
But “Equus” is largely about the psychiatrist’s journey, as well. Heavy with monologues, “Equus” is Shaffer’s most successful play that he designed as a modern form of the Greek tragedy. Dr. Dysart questions why we become who we are, what charges violent actions falling outside societal norms, and whether it’s morally just to force his patient into a model of correctness defined by societal standards.
“A show like this has so many scenes that people really take from it what strikes them or touches them,” Fernandez said. “The greatest thing about this play is that it questions what makes us what we are. We all experience things in life, but why do certain moments make us who we are? Why are we obsessed with what we’re obsessed with? Nobody really knows.”
“Equus” is a cerebral, erotic show that earned Shaffer the Tony Award for Best Play in 1975 and also earned several drama awards when revived on Broadway in 2009 with actor Daniel Radcliffe starring in his first adult breakout role since the Harry Potter series.
Predictably, most of the press regarding the revival centered on Radcliffe’s appearance in the buff. And Fernandez said that is typically the case with any show delivering nudity, as “Equus” does. However, Fernandez said the licensing company doesn’t give any creative leeway for the nude scene.
“It’s contractural. The scene must be done in the nude or you can’t perform the show,” Fernandez said. “If you do it any way other than totally nude, you could be shutdown or sued. (Licensing companies) are getting very tough on that nowadays.”
Fernandez said usually the hardest part of staging “Equus” is getting one male and one female actor willing to take it all off in the name of theater. Fernandez said even that was relatively easy. Eighteen-year-old Ebert returns to EPAC’s stage from this season’s earlier production of “13.” Megan Baum, who was last seen in EPAC’s “Of Mice and Men,” plays Strang’s love interest, Jill, in “Equus.”
And while rehearsals for shows with nudity are often closed and gradually opened to other actors and production staff, Fernandez said his cast took a matter-of-fact approach from the start.
“It was a nonissue to us,” he said. “Even in rehearsals, Megan and Jeremy were like, lets get started. We had no problems with it at all.”
EPAC’s is an interesting cast with some new faces and some others that are a rarer find on Lancaster stages these days. Look for Rita Clarke’s EPAC debut as Hester Salomon; Elizabeth Pattey in a strong performance as Strang’s mother, Dora; John Rohrkemper playing Strang’s creepy dad, Frank; and Michael Sevareid, a veteran of Broadway and Off Broadway productions and a retired Elizabethtown College theater professor in the role of Harry Dalton.
Although EPAC’s staging is relatively simple, as it usually is for productions of “Equus,” this show calls for six horses, which play no small part in the plot. Fernandez used classic “Equus” effects and costuming rented out of New York City to wonderfully create the effect of massive animals juxtaposed with the boy who worships them. They are powerful scenes worth a watch.
While this is no “Willy Wonka,” Fernandez said he doesn’t want audiences to by daunted by the notion “Equus” is not approachable because it’s more thinking than action.
“I don’t want people to be scared of ‘Equus’ because they think it’s too intellectual ,” he said. “It’s moving and erotic and sexy. It’s very moving and real.”
Aside from nudity that might make this an uncomfortable experience with the kids, “Equus” would be a snooze to the younger set. So get a sitter and enjoy this heady stuff that makes it OK to wonder what kinky things your neighbor’s up to – and why.