By:

ANDY FASNACHT Review Editor afasnacht.eph@lnpnews.com

, Staff Writer

Ephrataâ??s Amy MacKenzie was officially named the first female Commander of the VFW Post 3376 of the Cocalico Valley last week. She is flanked on left by Tom Oâ??Donnell, Junior Vice Commander and on right by her husband Dwayne, Senior Vice Commander. Missing from photo was Jack Snyder, Quartermaster.

Amy MacKenzie is a familiar face to many in the community and has worn many hats over the years.

But following last week’s appointment, she will wear one neither she or any other women in the area has ever figuratively donned previously.

Last Wednesday evening at the VFW Post 3376 of the Cocalico Valley, MacKenzie was named the first Commander in the post’s 77-year history.

"I am honored to be the first female Commander of our post," MacKenzie said. "I know that many may see this as a groundbreaking achievement, however, women continue to serve around the world alongside their male counterparts, and often in harm’s way; I want to focus on how best to serve them as they serve and upon leaving the military.

A local Mother’s Day tradition is trucking through town on Sunday.

A long line of trucks will once again make its way through Lancaster County as part of the Make-A-Wish of Philadelphia and Susquehanna Valley’s 24th Annual Mother’s Day Truck Convoy and Family Fun Festival.

This year a detour is involved for Ephrata traffic since the bridge on Route 272 is currently under construction. The convoy will stay on its historical route. However, for approximately 1-1/2 hours, southbound local traffic will be rerouted. With the help of traffic controllers, local southbound traffic on Route 272 will be detoured at Rothsville Road to Newport Road, Route 772 and back onto southbound Route 272. Local residents will be alerted the week before with electronic signs.

Hundreds of trucks will depart from Burle Business Park at 1:30 p.m. and travel west on Route 30 to Route 222; north on Route 222 to the Brownstown exit; a route through Akron to Ephrata, then to State Street; onto Route 322 and then return to Burle Business Park.

The Family Fun Festival will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Burle Business Park on New Holland Avenue in Lancaster.

By:

GARY P. KLINGER Review Correspondent

, Staff Writer

A "grand" idea made its way to the floor of the Ephrata Borough work session Monday night which could pave the way to a new pricing structure at the Ephrata Community Pool, aimed at aiding the extended family.

It’s hard to believe by this time next month the outdoor pool will already have been open for almost two weeks. And at Monday’s meeting, with visions of warmer days spent by the clear blue water stirring, the topic of the pool and a new approach to a particular rate category soon become a discussion topic.

The Ephrata Recreation Center oversees the yearly operation of the outdoor pool. The Rec’s executive director Jim Summers was on hand for Monday night’s meeting to flesh out the details on possible grand family pricing.

"Right now we have a very clean, structured rate system in place," explained Summers. "If we were to introduce grand-family rates, this would become a bit challenged."

By: GARY P. KLINGER Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

Scott Galen

An honored assistant principal from the Warwick School District has been named to the same position at Ephrata Senior High School.

Monday night, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Brian Troop introduced the school board to Scott Galen, who earlier was named the new assistant principal at EHS.

"When (current assistant principal) Ken Grove announced his retirement effective at the end of the school year, we discussed a number to interview," stated Troop. "Tonight the school board just approved the employment of Mr. Grove’s replacement, Mr. Scott Galen."

Galen has been an associate/assistant principal for five years at Warwick High School. Previous to that, he spent 15 years teaching biology at the same school.

Recently, Galen was named the Assistant Principal of the Year by the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals. Galen earned a bachelor of science degree in biology from Messiah College, a master of science degree in Education Development Strategies from Wilkes University, and his principal certification from Penn State University –Great Valley. He lives in Ephrata with his wife and two children who are already district students.

By: ANDY FASNACHT Review Editor afasnacht.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

Those concerned that a local bridge project may impact an annual Mother’s Day tradition can rest easily.

Officials from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, hosts of the annual Mother’s Day convoy which goes through town, confirmed Tuesday that plans are in place to ensure that the parade of trucks will be able to travel Route 272 without interruption. This despite the one-lane of traffic on the highway at Steinmetz Road on the south end of the borough limits, caused by the bridge work being done there.

"Our plan is to keep the convoy on the historical route through Ephrata," said M. Paulette Battenfelder, regional executive director Make-A-Wish Philadelphia and Susquehanna Valley. "We will re-route southbound traffic on Rt. 272 at Rothsville Road to Newport Road, Rt. 772, and back on to southbound 272. This is the plan for 1.5 hours during the convoy. We will have traffic control at these intersections for this time frame, as well."

Trucks depart Burle Business Park on New Holland Avenue in Lancaster at 1:30 p.m. on Mother’s Day, May 12. They go west on Route 30 to 222, the Brownstown exit, Rt. 772 to Rt. 272 north through Akron to Ephrata, then to State Street, to Rt. 322, then 222, returning to Burle Business Park.

By: GARY P. KLINGER Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

An agreement signed last week between Ephrata Township and the Hope United Methodist Church on Rothsville Road has moved the proposed rail trail project to the next level.

The agreement was an easement giving the township permission to go around a retention pond and onto church property for the purpose of extending the rail trail. This eliminates the need to re-engineer that portion of the trail which would have been blocked by the retention pond had an agreement not been reached with the congregation.

"We are very appreciative of the United Methodist Church," stated chairman of the board of supervisors, Clark Stauffer, who explained that the retention pond had been built for Tapsco several years ago. "Without the church granting this easement, it would have been very costly to the township to reshape and redirect that in order to move forward."

Hope United Methodist Church granted the township the easement in exchange for $1.

Township solicitor Charles Sheidy was instrumental in working out the agreement between the church and the township.

Debra Sheaffer took this picture at Winterthur. She says there is so much color and photo opportunity there. Here is a patch of spring flowers that caught her eye on a walk. (Photo by Debra L. Sheaffer)

Congratulations, Debra Shaeffer, you’ve won this month’s "It’s All About You" photo contest for your photo of spring flowers. This month’s prize is a $25 gift certificate to Bright’s Family Style Restaurant, 1025 S. State St., Ephrata.

Check out all of the springtime and Easter photos submitted by readers on page B5-6.

And start sending in your photos for next month’s them. In May, it’s all about Mom!

Send your high-resolution jpegs to Stephen Seeber 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 the number of submitted photos to three. More ABY, page A18

By: TIFFANY WOODALL Review Staff, Staff Writer

When U.S. News and World Report compiled its 2013 rankings of the best high schools in the nation and state, Ephrata High School made the cut.

Of the 687 public high schools in the Commonwealth, only 168 were awarded gold or silver status, which means they placed in the top 2,290 schools nationwide. Based on its position in the national rankings (No. 2,090), EHS landed a silver award and the No. 62 spot in Pennsyvlania.

"I am very proud of the work accomplished at EHS," said Ephrata High School Principal Joane Eby. "Both students and teachers take their learning and teaching seriously."

U.S. News teamed with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and implemented a three-step process to rank each school. First, AIR used reading and math scores on state proficiency exams, taking into consideration the percentage of economically disadvantaged students enrolled at the school, to identify whether or not a school was performing better than statistically expected.

Then, AIR compared the math and reading proficiencies of disadvantaged students (defined by U.S. News as black, Hispanic and low-income) with the statewide results for these student groups and selected the schools performing better than the state average.

By: BETH MYERS Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

A scene at Flintstone Acre Farm in Ephrata.

Ephrata’s John Lapp takes great care to respect conventional farmers, but it is his personal belief that organic farming will produce a higher quality product.

Horizon Organic agrees. Since John and his wife Malinda began to transition their dairy farm, Flintstone Acre Farm, to organic in 2000, they have won the Quality Award from Horizon every year but one. It’s not just a quality product that organic practices promote. It is reported that organic farming is more sustainable for the environment, has a higher nutritional value for the consumer and makes for a healthier cow.

"It’s always good to have a cow outside in the sunshine and fresh air," says John.

That is a belief that Horizon Organic shares. Nearly 20 years ago, Horizon Organic became the first company to sell organic milk nationwide. With values like "health, community, and environmental stewardship," Horizon Organic and Flintstone Acre Farm have partnered up with the common goal of supporting a healthy planet and healthy families.