By: ROSALBA UGLIUZZA Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

The Galen's store in Lincoln when it was still a two-story operation.

As rows of clocks chimed in unison to mark the beginning of the hour, Don Schwarz walked out of Galen’s of Ephrata for what would be one of his final times.

"It’s a shame," said Don, of Ephrata, who bought a Howard Miller clock last Thursday. "It’s a small community. There aren’t many mom and pop stores anymore."

For shoppers who didn’t receive a postcard in the mail several weeks ago announcing Galen’s "Going Out of Business/Retirement" sale, they sure have gotten the memo now as yellow signs clutter the storefront indicating that after 63 years of retail service, everything must go.

Owners Mike and Edith Amico have received many notes from their longtime customers sadly thanking them for their superior customer service over the years.

"They’ve been very good, very supportive, very sad. A lot of them are quite sad because we’re closing. They’ve said, ‘Now where can I possibly go to buy appliances if you’re not here anymore?’" said Mike. "I know why they say that because we always had pride in how we handled our customers. We took good care of them, had the proper service, quality delivery."

The deadline for submitting back to school photos has passed; readers can look for their pictures in next week’s Review.

Meanwhile, you can send us your favorite images for the October issue of "It’s All About You." The theme for next month is Halloween.

Send your high-resolution jpegs to Andy Fasnacht at afasnacht.eph@lnpnews.com. They can also be dropped off at our Ephrata office or mailed to P.O. Box 527, Ephrata, PA 17522.

When submitting photos, please include all necessary identifications and your contact information (in case we have any questions). Submitted information should include names of those in the photos, your local connection, where and when the photos were taken, and identity of the photographer.

Please limit submissions to three photos per family.

Our Back to School photo spread will be published in our Sept. 25 issue. Deadline for photo submissions is Tuesday, Sept. 18. More ALL ABOUT YOU, page A18

Ephrata Borough Manager Robert Thompson addresses the crowd at last week's dedication of the new Whistlestop Plaza on East Main Street. (Photo by Preston Whitcraft)

Last Wednesday marked the formal dedication of Ephrata’s new Whistle Stop Plaza, a green space in front of the railroad station made possible through funding from a $179,595 Pennsylvania Hometown Streets initiative grant and the Urban Enhancement Program. Ephrata Borough supplemented this grant to provide a total of $400,000 for the project.

"We were very pleased with the turnout," said Marsha DiBonaventuro of Downtown Ephrata Inc. She said about 50 people were present to celebrate the completion of the plaza, which was named to reflect the history of its location.

"There is comfort and security in knowing how we connect with the past," said DiBonaventuro. "It provides explanation and some teachable moments, of who and why we are."

Project Manager Dave Burkholder said he felt a sense of fulfillment in seeing final product, but that "having personal knowledge of the time and effort spent on bringing this project to fruition certainly amplifies that level of contentment," he said.

"Although parking spaces were sacrificed, a necessary improvement was created providing some much needed green space downtown," said Burkholder.

Once again The Ephrata Review is partnering with the Akron Lions Club to get more of those tasty toasted cheeseburgers into the hands of fairgoers.

For every new or gift subscription ($13.50 for a year) purchased during fair week at either our office or booth out front, you will receive a coupon good for a free Lions Club toasted cheeseburger.

But don’t wait, the offer is good while supplies (cheeseburgers) last…and they go fast!

Doreen Klunk, Cameron Mills

The Denver Fair received a warm weather welcome last week, returning after Tropical Storm Lee flooded the park just before the 2011 event. We browsed the stands Thursday afternoon to ask visitors what they liked most about the Denver Fair, and how they felt about canceling the town tradition last year.

Doreen Klunk of Strasburg and her grandson,

Cameron Mills of Landisville

"I like the food," said Doreen, who takes her grandson, now in kindergarten, to several area fairs each year. This was their second year coming to Denver. "It’s better than the York fair. This is just a nice little one."

"I like to go on the roller coaster," said Cameron, who planned to take his very first ride on the dragon coaster that afternoon.

Burnell Oberholtzer

of East Earl

"Last year was a relief," joked the East Earl dairy farmer about the 2011 Denver Fair washout. "We didn’t have to wash sheep and get them ready. It was a nice break." For this livestock showman and 10-year fair veteran, the Denver Fair means "a lot of work."

Donald F. Geschwindt

Donald F. Geschwindt, 88, formerly of Reinholds, passed away Monday, Sept. 17, 2012 at the Masonic Village of Elizabethtown.

He was born in Shoemakersville to the late Morris C. and Katie M. (Stitzel) Geschwindt and was the husband of the late Betty D. Geschwindt, who died in 1999.

After graduating in 1942 from Perry Township High School, Donald served in the U.S. Air Force for three years during World War II in Okinawa. Following the service, he worked as a milk tester for two years. He continued his education at Franklin and Marshall College, graduating with the class of 1952 and Lancaster Theological Seminary in 1955. Donald was the pastor at Swamp United Church of Christ (UCC), Reinholds, for 27 1/2 years. Prior to Swamp UCC, he was charged with four churches in Perry County and had a Landisburg charge, two churches in Centre County and a Hublersburg charge. After Swamp UCC, Donald was the interim pastor at Salem Hellers UCC, Leola. Donald helped to organize the Cocalico Ministerium. He served on the church and ministry committee of the Lancaster association.

In the spring of 1981 the plans for the first Denver Fair were already in progress, and a young Penn State student in her second year of college was dating a young man from Denver who was involved in the original concept for a Denver Fair.

Well, a person will do lots of crazy things when they are in love…and so began Denise Eshleman’s involvement in the Denver Fair. Her active role in the fair since the original idea began — over 31 years ago — has led her to become the recipient of the Outstanding Fair Ambassador Award. The award was presented the evening of Sept. 13 on the stage by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s special advisor to the governor, Barron L. Hetherington.

Denise was very surprised to receive the award.

"I wasn’t expecting it," she said. "There are a lot of other volunteers that need recognition."

Denise has served as publicity chairperson, a member of the board of directors of the fair committee for over 12 years, exhibits chairperson, fair office assistant and fair premium booklet chairperson. She sold the advertising for the first books and was critical in this addition to the growing fair.

By: ALICE HUMMER Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

John Weaver, Denver Volunteer Fire Company vice-president, explained the benefits of keeping Denver Fire Company, a healthy, viable organization, at council’s Sept. 10 meeting.

Without a local company, response times would increase and everyone’s fire insurance rates would go up. Insurance companies base rates on many factors, including proximity to a fire station and type and age of apparatus.

"When I started in the fire company, we had 27 calls per year in the ’70′s; last year we had 318," said Weaver. "During the Sept. 2011 flood, we had over 1,000 public service calls."

"Training hours per year for a volunteer fireman total approximately 2,860 hours," he said. "A full-time job is equivalent to 2,020 hours per year. If you consider men are spending two to three nights per week at the firehouse, and responding to calls 24/7, is it any wonder why volunteers might balk at joining when you say that they are also expected to put in so many additional hours for fundraising?"

Data supplied to council indicates that 41 percent of residents contributed to the fire company’s annual drive in 2002. In 2011, the residential response was less than 30 percent. Business response in 2011 was 26 percent.

Clair Raymond Zeiset still lives. The body that had faithfully carried him through this world for 66 years does not. His body had completed its task and at the precise moment appointed ahead of time by God himself, ceased working Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012 at Zerbe Sisters Nursing Home in Narvon.

Born in Denver, he was the son of the late Benjamin S. and Anna E. (Arment) Zeiset. On Sept. 25, 1965, he married Esther M. (Bowman) Zeiset, who survives.

In the early years of their marriage, they spent two years in voluntary service in Homestead, Fla., and Potter County. Clair worked in excavating prior to becoming a salesman, last working for Cenpeco. He was a charter member of The Worship Center and served on the board of Shepherd’s Touch Counseling Center. He enjoyed motorcycling, traveling, hunting, the beach, his grandchildren and friends. One of his hallmarks was being able to network with many people.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters: Bonita F., wife of Michael D. Stone, of New Holland; and Angela Y., wife of Brent S. Lundberg, of Willow Street; four grandchildren: Nicholas, Michaela, Jerod and Jordan; and four siblings: Ernest D., husband of Leona (Martin) Zeiset, of Denver; Vernon L. Zeiset, of East Earl; Malinda M., wife of Sam Oberholtzer, of Akron; and P. Ervin, husband of Ruth Ann (Eberly) Zeiset, of Mohnton.