By: GARY P. KLINGER Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

Following the horror of the school shooting last week in Connecticut, which left 20 elementary students and six staff members dead, Ephrata Area School District officials responded to local concerns about safety.

District Superintendent Dr. Gerald Rosati addressed members of the school board Monday night, expressing the deep sorrow the district shared with the rest of those across the country left reeling from Friday’s tragic events.

"I know how deeply saddened everyone is over the tragedy," said a somber-faced Rosati. "I want the community to know and I’m here to remind you that we have a comprehensive safety plan in place for the district. We do have safety plans and a safety committee to evaluate and re-evaluate our campuses, to train staff and to minimize the risk."

Rosati added how important it was for parents and students to recognize the district does not work alone. He acknowledged the excellent relationship the district has enjoyed with local law enforcement officials.

"It is important for people to know we don’t work alone," commented Rosati. "We are fortunate to have (School Resource) Officer (Pete) Sheppard help us. We have an excellent working relationship with the police and with the county ‘s emergency response team."

Law enforcement officials hold a press conference concerning the Dec. 14 home invasion in Clay Township. (Photo by Stan Hall)

He posed as an insurance salesman to gain access to their home, and then unleashed his anger toward Mennonites on three elderly women.

He incapacitated them with a stun gun, punched them in the face, destroyed their Bibles, and bound and gagged his victims before fleeing the scene. That’s just a summary, taken from a long criminal complaint, of what happened in Clay Township on Dec. 14.

Northern Lancaster County Regional Police arrested Dereck Taylor Holt, 22, of no fixed address, at 6 p.m. Dec. 15 in association with the previously mentioned home invasion and robbery that occurred at 9 a.m. in the 300 block of Indiantown Road.

Three women between the ages of 84 and 90 remain hospitalized after being assaulted. Police were notified Dec. 14 at 4:23 p.m. after a relative had discovered the women bound and restrained inside the home, which had been ransacked. Household chemicals were used to cover flooring, furniture and other surfaces within the home.

MICHAEL C. UPTON
Record Express Correspondent

By: GARY P. KLINGER Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

"A budget is a careful plan for spending money over a given period of time," stated Ephrata Borough Council President Dale Hertzog at the opening of Monday night’s borough council meeting. "It is created from the input from various departments and outside organizations, from the borough council via committee level meetings and input provided by the community."

Hertzog kicked off the regular session of council Monday by explaining how a good budget must take into account fiscal responsibility and community need while using all resources, whether human or monetary in the most efficient manner.

"Ephrata residents can enjoy the lowest millage of any borough in Lancaster County with a rate of 2.07 along with a high level of services and programs," added Hertzog. "These are things residents can be proud of."

With that, Hertzog turned the meeting over to Director of Administration and Finance/Treasurer Gail M. Bare who presented council with a Powerpoint presentation on the budget process and its outcome for fiscal 2013.

We continue to gather photos for our next It’s All About You section. The theme is Holiday Traditions. Deadline for submissions is Dec. 28, and your photos will be published in our Jan. 9 edition.

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 A18

Cloister Wash & Lube, the iconic Ephrata-based company known for its local philanthropic efforts, has been sold. As a result, one percent of its more than 400 employees will be laid off.

Word got out Tuesday that Mike Mountz, Cloister’s founder and CEO, sold the business for an undisclosed price to Mister Car Wash, a Tucson-based chain. The purchase gives Mister, the largest chain of its kind in the nation, its first Northeast locations.

The sale was reportedly finalized Dec. 4, at which time Mountz officially retired.

"This was one of the most difficult decisions of his life," said Sharon Ramp, director of marketing for Cloister, said in a business article published by the Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era.

The Lancaster newspaper also reported that as part of the acquisition, one percent of Cloister’s 400-plus employees will be laid off.

The Cloister name will be retained at all four locations.

The following background comes from the Intel/New Era article:

Helen A. Mengle Mitchell

Helen A. Mengle Mitchell, 104, formerly of Ephrata and Reinholds, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012, at Ephrata Manor.

She was born in Girardville, Pa. to the late Cyrus and Ella (Burns) Mervine.

A graduate of Girardville High School, Helen was a member of the school’s first girls basketball team. She earned a nursing degree from Temple University Hospital and began her nursing career at the Chavalier Jackson Bronchoscopic Clinic in Philadelphia.

Helen married the late Dr. Harold A.K. Mengle in 1931. With her encouragement, Dr. Mengle was instrumental in the founding of the Ephrata Community Hospital. After his untimely death in 1940, Helen worked many years as an operating room nurse where she was well known and well respected for her nursing skills. In 1943 she married the late Joseph Mitchell, the loving step-father to her two young children.

Helen loved to travel but most of all loved golfing and gardening. In her later years she enjoyed watching golf tournaments, and working jigsaw puzzles, but especially spending most of her day doing word search puzzles which she continued to enjoy until a week before her death. She was a member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Ephrata.

Akron will once again hold its annual "Shoe-In" this New Year’s Eve to welcome 2013.

The 2012 Shoe-In runs from 8 p.m. to midnight at Broad Street Park. This year’s event features free food, a street hockey tournament, a DJ spinning tunes, a bonfire and a hayride. A giant, lighted shoe will drop as the last seconds of 2012 tick away.

This event has been held each year since 2007 with the exception of 2010.

Mayor John McBeth, an ardent Shoe-In supporter, along with Akron resident Barb McMinn and an ad hoc committee are organizing the event. Hot dogs with sauerkraut and condiments, cookies and hot chocolate will be served free of charge. There will also be face-painting artists, fire officials with an engine on hand and a DJ playing family-friendly music to add to the celebration. Good’s Disposal and Ephrata National Bank are once again the event sponsors.

The night will begin with a street hockey tournament at 8 p.m., followed by a multi-denominational community worship service at Grace E.C. Church at 9:30. Pastor Les Cool said his service would focus on ".he part that God wants to play in our personal and corporate transition from 2012 to 2013, from where we are to where we might be, from who we are to what we might become." The Rev. Tom Webber of Akron Church of the Brethren will assist with the service.