Here they come, down the stretch, the champions of our nation’s leading political parties, and it’s just too close to call.

This presidential race will be a photo finish.

Hurricane Sandy stole headlines this week, and even though Ephrata was spared from the destruction seen in south Jersey and New York City, it was a historic storm. The Election Day results between Democratic President Barak Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney will be equally historic.

The public has a myriad of polls to choose from, and they all have their own margin of error, but they all demonstrate just how close this will be and that every vote could be a difference-maker.

ABC has Romney ahead of Obama by one percentage point. CBS has Obama ahead by one. There are dozens of others to choose from, and when you average them out the only clear answer is that this will come down to the wire.

Much has changed since Barak Obama campaigned at nearby Wilbur Chocolate in 2008. As the nation’s sluggish economy slowly rebuilds and unemployment remains high, reelection is no easy task.

By: MICHELLE REIFF Review Staff mreiff.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

Ephrata Community Hospital has taken a giant step toward the focus of patient management at the primary care level.

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with WellSpan Health marks not only the beginning of a potential alignment of the two health care organizations, but also, according to ECH President John M. Porter Jr., the essential core for a new model of care.

"WellSpan is going to help us develop services to serve people not only currently but expand them in the future," said Porter, who feels the new model would improve patient outcomes. "Patients will have an alignment with their primary care physician who coordinates all the care that someone needs when they’re well, when they become acutely sick and when they have chronic challenges."

Currently, ECH has about 2,500 employees, volunteers and physicians as well as 10 outpatient health locations; Wellspan has more than 9,000 employees, volunteers and physicians as well as 35 outpatient health care locations.

Porter feels an array of possiblities would become available in an arrangement under which ECH would become part of WellSpan Health’s larger, non-profit, community-based system of care. They include: access to opportunities in terms of capitol markets that the hospital doesn’t have today and cost savings that it can’t access as a stand-alone organization.

Sandra (Wingenroth) Fausnacht loses her head to Roberta (Mowery) Grill at the 1969 Reamstown Halloween parade. They have been good friends for over 50 years. (Photo submitted by Ed Fausnacht)

Ed Fausnacht wins this month’s "It’s All About You" photo contest. He submitted this shot of long-time friends Sandra (Wingenroth) Fausnacht and Roberta (Mowery) Grill at the 1969 Reamstown Halloween Parade.

The winning photo receives a $25 gift certificate to Johnny’s Bar & Steakhouse/KYMA Seafood Grill in Reamstown. Congratulations!

Look for this and other community Halloween photos on pages B6-8 in this week’s Review.

And start sending your photos for November’s theme — fall traditions.

Send your high-resolution jpegs to Andy Fasnacht at afasnacht.eph@LNPnews.com. Photos 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. More ALL ABOUT YOU, page A16

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

This large tree was toppled with a loud crash about 11:45 p.m. on Monday evening in the backyard of a residence on Sunset Avenue in Akron. The family, including five children, were sleeping in the basement for safety from the storm when the high winds toppled the tree and came within about 10 feet of striking the rear of the residence. (Photos by Les Martzall)

Although Subtropical Depression Sandy appeared rather uneventful here, more than 4,000 PPL Electric Utilities customers in The Review readership area lost power early this week, as reported on the provider’s website.

Cocalico School District Superintendent Dr. Bruce L. Sensenig said Adamstown Elementary remained closed Wednesday morning, despite the reopening of other District schools. While most local areas are serviced by PPL, Adamstown Borough is split between PPL and Met-Ed, a First Energy company.

"Unlike PPL, Met-Ed does not communicate with us on the details or even the expected time of completion," said Dr. Sensenig. "At this point, we have no information from Met-Ed on the situation."

Dave Gingrich, Cocalico High School football coach, was without power in his Reinholds home from 9 p.m. Monday until 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Voters who cast their ballots at the Durlach Mount Airy Fire Company in the past will have their polling place changed to the Clay Township Municipal Building for the Nov. 6 election. The building is located at 870 Durlach Road, Stevens.

By: ALICE HUMMER Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

The abandoned, blighted 521 Poplar Street property was sold by bid to William Teleguz, 70 Horseshoe Trail Road, Denver.

Council opened bids at 10 a.m. Oct. 22 and awarded the successful, and only bid, to Teleguz at their 7 PM meeting that night. The minimum bid was $33,000; Teleguz bid $36,000.

"My husband works in plumbing, heating and air conditioning," said his wife, Ludmila, in a phone interview. "Over the winter, it is slow. We will work on the house."

While Teleguz is handy with carpentry and other construction tasks, the whole family will pitch in with the house project.

The property, accepted by the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Lancaster, was sold to Denver Borough for the fair, appraised value of $41,000 Aug. 29.

Denver Borough, calculating all costs incurred with the property for back taxes, lawn mowing and other items needed to secure the safety of the property, advertised the property for bid at a minimum bid price of $35,000.

This first round of bidding produced several people who inspected the property and did not bid.

With no bids, the council reluctantly reduced the minimum bid price by $2,000.

A free jam session will be held Nov. 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Denver Fire Hall featuring old-time country, gospel and some bluegrass. Audience participation is encouraged.

These events are held on the first Sunday of every month.

Franklin H. Wenrich

Franklin H. Wenrich, 85, Pleasant View Retirement Community, Manheim, formerly of Reamstown, died peacefully Wednesday, Oct. 24., 2012 at Hospice-Mt. Joy.

Born in Schoeneck, a son of the late Raymond and Lizzie (Hollenbach) Wenrich, he was the husband of Ida E. (Davidson) Wenrich, Manheim, for 67 years.

A member, former councilman and property committee member of Muddy Creek Lutheran Church, he worked for Boose Aluminum Foundry, Epting’s Service Center, Camp Craig’s Exxon and retired in ’92 from East Cocalico Township Water and Sewer Authority. Franklin was past president of East Cocalico Lions Club and member of the Reamstown Fire Company and Fire Police. A loving grandfather, he cherished family time hunting and fishing at the cabin.

Also surviving is a son: Donald E., husband of Judith Shenk Wenrich, of Manheim; a daughter: Patricia A. Wenzel, fiancée of Edwin Hainley, of Reinholds; grandchildren: Michelle, wife of Christopher Getty, of Stroudsburg; Michael, husband of Lori Volm Wenzel, of Mohrsville; Jennifer, wife of Jamie Boval, of Clermont, Fla.; and Stephen, husband of Rebecca (Weaver) Wenrich, of Paradise; great-grandchildren: Rachel and Kaitlyn Getty; Molly and Gary Wenzel; Brenda, Ryan and Jordan Boval; and Makayla Wenrich; sisters: Vera Zeller, of Hamilton, Ohio; Marguerite Sweigart, of Adamstown.

For the past five years, Horizons of Northern Lancaster County, which includes Cocalico and Lititz senior centers, and local businesses have sponsored a veterans appreciation dinner that includes a social hour, complimentary family style meal, a guest speaker, door prizes and entertainment. This year’s event will be held Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. at the Ephrata Business Center, located at 400 W. Main St., Ephrata.

There is no cost for a veteran to attend; however, there is a small cost for a guest. Since Horizons has recently acquired the Lititz Senior Center, it is expanding this outreach event to include businesses for sponsorships and local Lititz area veterans to be invited to the dinner.

To register, call the business center’s office at 335-2336. The cost is $20.

The Ephrata Business Center is located at 400 W. Main St. Ephrata.

By: MICHELLE REIFF Review staff mreiff.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

The public is invited to join in the excitement as Weaver Markets celebrates its 50th anniversary. Shown are (front) Mabel Weaver Good, founder; (back, left to right) Tim Weaver, seafood manager; Mike Weaver, general manager; Wilma Horst, Blainsport store co-manager; Gene Weaver, general manager; and Linda Snader, payroll manager.

A local family-owned grocery is celebrating 50 years of serving the Adamstown and surrounding areas with two weeks of festivities through Nov. 10.

But providing high-quality products is only a fraction of what has made this business the long-time shopping choice for many.

Weaver Markets, founded in 1962 by the late Earl Weaver, prides itself in strengthening the surrounding community in whatever way possible. This is what the Weavers still feel distinguishes the establishment from others in the same business today.

"I think the most exciting thing is being able to work with family on a day-to-day basis, to understand my dad’s passion, why he got into business and the original vision that he had," said Mike Weaver, his son, who manages the business with his brother, Gene.