East Cocalico Police will collect and safely dispose of unused and expired prescription drugs April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the police station.

Held in conjunction with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the take-back initiative allows people who have missed previous events or those who have accumulated unused prescription drugs to safely dispose of them.

Statistics show that Americans are supporting these take-back days well. On the October 29, 2011 take-back day, 188.5 tons of unwanted or expired medications were taken back for safe disposal at 5,327 take-back sites held in all 50 states and U.S. territories.

This is the time of year for spring house cleaning. Don’t forget to houseclean the medicine cabinet or dresser drawers for unused or expired prescriptions.

The police station is located at 100 Hill Rd., Denver.

By: KIMBERLY MARSELAS Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

The Cocalico school board approved a number of spending measures for the 2012-13 school year at a meeting last week.

Among several bids and contracts awarded April 16 were about $24,000 for school supplies ranging from batteries to loose leaf paper and $10,000 in new equipment for the high school’s gymnasium expansion.

Several of the new sales and lease agreements represented cost-savings for the district, which like many is scaling back in what continues to be a tough economic stretch. The board approved about $8,200 in athletic supplies for the fall sports season, about $10,000 less than what they approved for fall 2011. The board ordered no new uniforms.

"There has been a conscious effort to keep the supply costs down," Superintendent Dr. Bruce Sensenig said after the meeting, noting that the district had spent about $13,000 on football equipment alone over the previous two years. "We’re trying to trim everywhere we can."

The board also saved in creating a new, five-year lease for copiers at each of its schools and reduced its natural gas price to $3.80 per unit for the coming school year.

By: ALICE HUMMER Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

Denver is getting ready for Arbor Day. Above (left to right), Danny Rabold, Denver Shade Tree Commission, is ready to dig, and Jay Snyder, president of Cocalico Creek Watershed Association, holds a sycamore sapling, as Denver Borough Manager Mike Hession and Denver Borough Council President Walter Fink observe. (Photo by Alice Hummer)

Denver residents will mark being named a Tree City, U.S.A. on April 28 at their annual Arbor Day Celebration sponsored by Denver Borough’s Shade Tree Commission.

Beginning at 9 a.m. at the Bon View Linear Park, 330 Monroe St., Mayor Adam Webber will read the Arbor Day proclamation and a presentation from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources recognizing Denver as a Tree City USA recipient.

Walter Fink, Denver Borough Council president, shared his community pride and support.

"I’m very proud to live and work in Denver and be part of Denver Council. I’m proud to be a part of Denver being named Tree City U.S.A. for 14 consecutive years," he said.

Kyma Seafood Grill of Stevens will be hosting Silk City Days on April 29 from 7 to 11 a.m. featuring the favorite breakfast specials from the former Silk City Dinner. All of the proceeds will benefit the Reamstown Fire Company.

Making The World A Better Place

By Michelle Brenner There is a place on the outskirts of town that cares for the body, mind and spirit of people battling disease. It’s a healing place; a place of hope and encouragement.

For the past 12 years, the Ephrata Cancer Center (ECC) has been helping a vast number of local people in their fight against cancer. In fact, since opening its doors, more than 90,000 people have received treatment there. It’s been the center’s purpose to deliver compassionate, excellent, clinical care for the whole patient and not simply treat disease.

Everything about the ECC fosters a feeling of well being. Upon entering the facility, patients immediately encounter an environment specifically designed to provide comfort. An abundance of natural light and lush tropical foliage create an uplifting atmosphere. There are practical amenities available such as: a flat screen television, comfortable seating and complimentary coffee and tea. Most importantly, the center’s staff members are compassionate and accommodating, which is especially comforting to patients coping with the stresses and rigors of cancer treatment.

For more than 134 years, The Ephrata Review has always focused its attention on you the reader. The content of the hometown weekly newspaper is uniquely local and is what we mean when we say "It’s All About You."

To formally kick off the debut of this new slogan in the Memorial Day issue of May 23, we would like to invite readers to submit photographs and identifying information for any current or past family members serving in the military, for publication in that edition. E-mailed JPEG photo attachments are preferred but we will also accept quality prints as well for scanning.

Read more about the "It’s All About You" feature in upcoming editions of The Review. In the meantime, be part of the debut on May 23 when we will honor members of our communities who have given so much for their country.

Ephrata area veteran photos can be e-mailed to afasnacht.eph@lnpnews.com, mailed to PO Box 527, Ephrata, PA 17522 or dropped off at 1 East Main Street, Ephrata. Photos can be picked up following publication.

The deadline for submitting photos is Tuesday, May 15.

As they have done for over 25 years, Akron Borough, Clay Township, Ephrata Borough and Ephrata Township, in conjunction with the Ephrata Recreation Center, are sponsoring a full summer of rec programs.

The 2012 edition of Ephrata Area Summer Municipal Program will include long-time favorite tennis lessons and swimming lessons along with the specialty camps. Camps returning from past years are dance, street hockey, art, crafts, soccer, lacrosse and fitness. EPAC will again direct theater camp. Nature camps held at the Haller property will include the return of Native American Nature and the addition of Space Camp.

Also included for 2012 will be flag football, directed by Rec Center youth coaches and the addition of boys basketball camp, directed by members of the Ephrata High School boys coaching staff.

These programs are free for residents of Akron, Clay and Ephrata Borough, and discounted for residents of Ephrata Township. For more information, detailed schedules and registration information visit ephratarec.com or call the Rec at 738-1167. More SUMMER REC, page A15

By: TIFFANY WOODALL Review Staff twoodall.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

Members of the Ephrata Middle School miniTHON planning committee pose alongside The Four Diamonds Fund logo. Shown left to right are Larry Rupp, Deanna Rupp, Kevin Rupp, Lexi Rupp, Mason Hornberger, Vicki Socie, Johanna Hoffer, Pamela Sola and Jessica Gordon. (Photo by Stephanie Gingrich)

"Standin’ for Brandon" and "Fightin’ for Felicia" are slogans to be seen on Ephrata Middle School students’ purple t-shirts this Saturday commemorating the lives of former students who passed away after battling pediatric cancer.

Lancaster County’s first middle-school-only miniTHON will have students standing from 6 to 10 p.m. to celebrate four months of fundraising for The Four Diamonds Fund at Hershey Children’s Hospital.

"I know that every dollar I raise can help a child with cancer," said Larry Rupp, a member of the miniTHON planning committee whose older sister passed away from cancer as a Four Diamonds Child.

"We don’t wish anyone else to have to go through what we did," said Larry’s mother, Deanna Rupp, who also works with her husband, Kevin, as an inclusion aide at the middle school.

By: GARY P. KLINGER Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

It’s electric.

Well, at least quite a few more signs are around the area these days.

The topic of electronic signboards was once again the topic of discussion when the Ephrata Township Board of Supervisors met for their monthly meeting in April. It is now clear the township is moving closer to enacting some guidelines with regard to the use of such signs.

What is not clear is exactly what form those regulations will take.

Electronic advertisement boards have become the rage in recent years, being found everywhere, from along Route 222 to various locations along 322. Supervisors discussed at length, the findings that the more often the messages transmitted by these signs change, the higher incident of accidents caused by drivers distracted by the signs.

Yet, while public safety remains the chief concern in considering the matter, supervisors were also sympathetic to the needs to local businesses.

"We don’t want to do anything to in any way impede on commerce," said supervisor Clark Stauffer, "but we also need to be concerned about safety."