By: MIKE REVO Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

In September 2012, the Courtyard Cafe at 349 Main St. in Denver started brewing coffee and making food from scratch. In just a few months, they have already established a base of regular customers, largely thanks to the ever-changing, creative menu and clean, comfortable atmosphere. With a good bit of effort, owner Courtney Rittenour and her staff have managed to establish a type of business that has been conspicuously absent in the Denver area.

"I grew up in Denver and since junior high I felt there was nothing in town that offered what a cafe offered — the option for people to come in, feel at home over good food and company," said Rittenour.

Her desire to fill that void in her hometown is what drives her. Ingredients for her varied menu come from local sources and are made fresh. Only the sandwich wraps and bases for several sauces are ordered in.

"I get here at five a.m., bake, and get the soups ready for the day," said Rittenour. "Later I bake in the afternoon for the evening. We go and pick out everything ourselves, so it’s time consuming, but it’s all worth it. It’s such a passion. I never feel like I work as long as I do."

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

While the celebration was a bit anticlimactic after the Cocalico girls clinched their second-straight Section Two title last week with an L-S loss, the importance of it and what it took to get there was not lost on Coach Matt Woods on Tuesday.

"I’m just very happy for the girls," Woods said. "They worked hard, improved as the season went on, listened to what (the coaches) were preaching all season long and did the little things right."

The Lady Eagles completed a perfect 6-0 regular season Tuesday, downing L-S, 100-70 in the regular season finale.

Despite the fact that their title was already secure, the Lady Eagles came out and were as dominant as ever Tuesday, staking claim to wins in every event to pull off a sweep of the Pioneers.

Sam Marino and Olivia Evans each were part of four wins on the day, including two individually each to lead the way.

Marino claimed both the 200 free (2:05.23) and 500 free (5:27.04) while Olivia Evans was a winner in the 100 back (1:01.22) and 100 free (:57.13).

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

It was heartbreak city for the Cocalico boys basketball team Tuesday night.

With sole possession of second place in Section Two on the line, the Eagles looked to be left for dead down nine at Lebanon with just 3:40 to go. But just that quickly, and on the back of sensational freshman Tucker Lescoe, who scored 13 of his game-high 25 points in the final quarter, the Eagles made it all the way back to take the lead at 55-54 with 58 seconds remaining.

Unfortunately, that only made it harder to swallow at the end for Cocalico after Lebanon’s Josh Spaulding’s last-second shot rattled around the rim before dropping through at the buzzer, giving the Cedars an exciting 56-55 victory.

"I was like, "oh my goodness please fall,’" Spaulding said of his game-winning shot.

It did. And because of it, the Cedars (7-7 section, 9-9 overall) now own a one-game lead over Cocalico (6-8, 9-9) for the second and final Section Two L-L playoff spot with two league games remaining. Cocalico, which plays a non-league game Wednesday at Conrad Weiser, has a road game at Ephrata Friday before hosting Solanco next Tuesday in the regular season finale.

Todd Ruth

Ephrata Review

Sports Editor If Tuesday’s Section Two boys basketball showdown in Lebanon was any indication of what the atmosphere is going to be like in the post-season, then we are in for a treat.

It was flat-out excitement from the opening tip until the last shot by Lebanon’s Josh Spaulding rattled home, giving the Cedars the all-important win over Cocalico.

Must say both teams went after each other, matching clutch basket with an even bigger shot at the other end. And the biggest star of the night happened to be Eagle freshman Tucker Lescoe, who stepped up like a senior down the stretch, albeit in a losing cause.

And that game only whets the appetite for Friday, which is round two of Ephrata and Cocalico.

Both games are extremely juicy. On the boys’ side, which is set for in Ephrata, the Eagles face a must win as far as their L-L and District playoffs are concerned. And they will be out to avenge their last-second overtime loss to Ephrata played back on Jan. 7.

The Mounts have played a lot better than their record would indicate, and should give the Eagles everything they can handle, and then some.

Friday’s girls basketball game in Denver between Ephrata and Cocalico (8 p.m.) is now officially set up as a schedule maker’s dream.

Both teams come into the game on amazing runs (Cocalico has won seven straight while Ephrata is on a five-game streak), and first place in Section Two will be on the line when they tip off in what amounts to be the biggest game of the season for both schools.

The Lady Eagles (12-2 section, 15-3 overall), who won the first meeting, 46-43 back on Jan. 7, currently hold a one-game lead over the Lady Mounts (11-3, 15-5) and can clinch their first outright Section Two title under second-year Coach Tony DiMatteo with a victory over Ephrata. A Lady Mounts’ win would force a first-place tie with Cocalico with just one regular-season game remaining.

Cocalico ends section play Tuesday at Solanco while Ephrata will host Lebanon. Should the two teams be tied after Tuesday, a one-game playoff will be held at a neutral site on Friday, Feb. 8.

Both teams took care of business Tuesday night as the Lady Mounts thumped host CV, 49-23, while Cocalico got past visiting Lebanon, 43-36.

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

Ephrata's Todd Dumas (center) gets three back points during the 120-pound championship bout vs. Garden Spot's Chance Norris. Dumas went on to capture a 12-6 victory to win his first L-L title and claim his 100th victory of his career. (Photo by Preston Whitcraft)

Todd Dumas was undeterred.

The Ephrata senior wrestler entered the Lancaster-Lebanon League Wrestling Tournament held this past weekend at CV needing four wins to reach 100 for his career.

The quickest, and perhaps most dramatic path to that mark would have been to sweep through his 120-pound weight class and clinch both his first L-L title while reaching the Century Mark with a victory in the finals.

Done.

Dumas reached the finals impressively, thanks to three first-period falls through the semifinal round. Then in the finals against Garden Spot freshman Chance Norris, Dumas put together an eight-point second period to pull away for the eventual 12-6 triumph, netting him both the 120-pound title and a piece of Ephrata history.

Rather than sitting in a vault, a treasure trove of rare and precious unclaimed valuables will be auctioned next month under a new partnership between the Pennsylvania Treasury and Morphy Auctions of Lancaster County, according to State Treasurer Rob McCord, who explained the auction is part of Treasury’s ongoing effort to maximize revenues to the Commonwealth from property that is unlikely to be claimed.

Treasury selected Morphy Auctions, which is a world-renowned Pennsylvania auction house, through a competitive bid process in order to sell valuables that were turned over to the department as unclaimed property.

"This is the first live unclaimed property auction in more than a decade for treasury, so we want to get it right, which is why we selected an auction house with a sterling worldwide reputation and one with a proven track record of getting the best price for valuable items," Treasurer McCord said.

"Morphy Auctions lends us the expertise to properly evaluate and price the items from our vault, which enables our team to focus their efforts on the work to search and reunite the remaining property in our possession with its rightful owners."

The Berks County Wine Trail’s annual Chocolate & Wine Pairing event takes place on Feb. 9 and 10 from 12 to 5 p.m. with eight opportunities for delicious pairings of wine and chocolate.

The event is a self-guided tour of all eight Berks County Wine Trail wineries. Plan a trip based on wineries’ location or based upon the menu of wine pairings. No reservations are required and the event is free, though several wineries do charge a nominal fee for tasting of their full wine menu (fee refundable by a purchase of a bottle of wine). A complete menu will be posted on the trail’s website at www.berkscountywinetrail.com.

The Berks County Wine Trail, a group of eight family-owned wineries feature hand-crafted wines made from grapes and fruits from the Berks County Region. Each winery offers a full menu of wines and fine chocolate decadence to enjoy during your visit. The array of wines to choose from at each winery is vast with something for everyone, including white, red, dry, sweet, bubbly, blends, fruit wines, ports and dessert wines. Chocolates include truffles, chocolate-covered fruits, chocolate fondue and more.

By: JOYCE ZIMMERMAN Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

Want to impress your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day? If she (or he) fancies anything old fashioned or enjoys antiquing, consider bypassing the drugstore cards and look instead for a perfect match among the wealth of antique and vintage valentines available. The selection is vast and it is not hard to find a treasure to send to someone special or to add to your own collection.

Long before Hallmark, suitors sent flowers, chocolates, homemade valentines, and other lovely gifts to their loved ones on Valentine’s Day, celebrated each year on Feb. 14. However, the history of Valentine’s Day, and the story of its patron saint, is shrouded in mystery.

Legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served the early Christian church during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defiled Claudius and continued to perform marriages in secret. When his actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Supposedly, his execution occurred on Feb. 14.

By: ALICE HUMMER Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

Cocalico High School Junior, Ryan Shupp (center) took the Denver junior council person oath of office from May Webber on Jan. 14. He will serve on council for the remainder of the school year. Welcoming Shupp is Denver mayor, Adam Webber (left) and Denver council president, Walter Fink (right).

Business owner, Walter Fink, remains president of Denver Borough Council, and clergyman, Rodney Redcay, vice-president.

During a Jan. 14 meeting, council reappointed Alan Meckley to a three-year term on the Denver Borough zoning hearing board and Frederick Wagaman, to a five-year term on the Denver Borough planning commission.

Denver recreation board appointments included Michael Styer and Lou Casanova to three-year terms and Dennis Worley to fill a vacant one-year term.

Doug Musselman was appointed to a five-year term on the Denver Borough shade tree commission.

Council approved $8,102.34 to purchase a new HP computer file server from Freedom Systems Corporation, Eagleville.

"We’ve know this expense was coming," Denver Borough manager, Mike Hession, said. "We’ve maxed out the capacity and budgeted for this purchase."

"I was in here to sign bills last week," said President Fink. "And I can vouch for how slow the system is."