Penn Points Online

Manor FFA to award members’ dedication

The 2012-2013 Manor FFA officers will hand over the reins to the new officer team at tonight's banquet. — The 2012-2013 Manor FFA officers will hand over the reins to the new officer team at tonight’s banquet. Photo provided.

By Danielle Johnson

Manor FFA will hold its annual awards banquet tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.

The main event of the banquet is the new officer installation. On February 25, FFA members interviewed for a chance to hold an office for the 2013-2014 school year. The new officer team was selected by a group of alumni and three FFA seniors.

The old officers will swear the 13 members of the new officer team into their positions. The president will be junior Kayla Major and her vice presidents will be juniors Katie Hess and Jesse Burkholder. Junior Victoria Herr and freshman Nathan Phan will be the secretaries and junior Aaron Breneman the advisor. The treasurers will be freshmen Katey Bleacher and Justin High. Freshman Brooke Pannell will be the reporter. Freshman Cheyanne Ditzler will be sentinel and freshman Sammy Bleacher will be chaplain. Freshman Brooke Riffert will be the historian, and Parliamentarian went to sophomore Wayne Rineer.

When the new officers were announced, Major said she was excited and hoped to involve new people in the organization.

“I’m looking forward to making the entire chapter feel even more like a family. I want to get our members more involved and excited about FFA and agriculture,” said Major. “I don’t come from a direct ag background so I want to make more people aware that you don’t need to live on a farm of come from a farm background to be in FFA.”

The new officer team will be in charge of the FFA members and activities for the next school year. Current president Katrina Reiff, a senior, said that the banquet is a great example of the leadership by the officer team. The banquet is a great time to portray the responsibility the new officers will be taking on.

Another important part of the banquet is the awards ceremony.

Members interviewed at awards interview night on February 11. All members going out for an award are interviewed about their FFA involvement by a panel of alumni.

The panel then decides who will receive each award. For those members who interview for a specialty award, the panel elects them to receive awards based on their FFA involvement and record books.

Many members just go out for their degrees. These are the awards that you earn for each year of involvement in FFA. There will be 35 first-year members receiving Greenhand Degree, five second-year members receiving Chapter Degrees, 12 third-year members receiving Red Rose Degrees, six seniors receiving Keystone Degrees, and one graduate receiving an American Degree.

Graduating seniors have the opportunity to give a speech, which allows them time to reflect on their growth and thank everyone who has helped them along the way.

Witmer starts play with National Field Hockey team

Jill Witmer, right, poses with Team USA teammate. (Photo provided by Jill Witmer)

By Nick Tulli

Jill Witmer’s field hockey career began in eighth grade, although reluctantly.

“We had a gym built on our farm for my dad’s boss’s daughters to play field hockey in,” said Witmer. “My parents knew I had an athletic ability and they thought I would love to play field hockey and thought I should give it a try,”

Initially, Jill refused.

“My parents knew my personality and knew that I didn’t want to play because I was afraid to try something new,” she said.

Her parents kept after her, and she finally agreed to try out for the eighth grade team.

“That fall season I hated the sport, and I honestly did not understand the rules. My parents still did not give up and told me to try it one more year because there was a new high school coach [Soto].” Jill agreed, made the varsity team in her freshman year, and has loved the sport ever since.

All of her hard work paid off in late February when the 2010 Penn Manor graduate was named to the the roster of the United States National Field Hockey Team. Witmer, 21, is one of 18 girls to be named to the team, and is one of the only college underclassmen to ever become part of the team.

Witmer made her debut during the teams’ March 4 6-0 win over Brazil in the first round of the International Hockey Federation’s World League tournament. In round two on March 10, Witmer scored her first goal since joining the national team and helped the team to a 6-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago.

This win advances the team to World League Round Three, to be held this summer in London; playing in Round Three will give the team the opportunity to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.

USA Field Hockey announced in January that the national team will be based in Lancaster through a partnership with Spooky Nook Sports. The team will be located at Nook Sports, a new complex on Spooky Nook Road.

While at Penn Manor, Witmer was named to the all Lancaster Lebanon-League Team in 2008, 2009 and 2010. She led her team to league, district and state titles in 2010, won gold medals at the 2009 Indoor Keystone Games and the 2009 National Field Hockey Festival and became Penn Manor’s all-time leading scorer with 112 goals. Witmer also played on the United States Under-19 and Under-21 teams that toured Argentina. In 2009, she was the featured athlete on ESPN’s The Rise magazine, targeting talented students at the high school level.

Penn Manor senior and Boston College recruit Eryn McCoy cites Witmer’s play on the United States Under-19 and Under-21 teams as a motivating factor.

“I always thought that it was really cool how she got to go to Argentina and play with the U-19 National Team, and I wanted to have an opportunity to do something like that too. It seemed like a really cool experience,” said McCoy.

When asked to explain Jill’s ability, Penn Manor Field Hockey coach Matt Soto said, “I have never seen a girl that fast. I’ve been involved on national field hockey teams as an assistant coach before, but I have never, ever seen a girl that fast.”

Witmer says that she would be nowhere near where she is now without the coach she received in high school.

“Coach Soto has been a great coach at Penn Manor and really helped me fall in love with the sport from the beginning. He has taught me what I needed to make it at the Collegiate level.”

In three years at the collegiate level, Witmer’s resume speaks for itself.

As a midfielder at the University of Maryland, Witmer is a two-time National Champion (2010, 2011) and a one-time ACC Champion (2010), where she scored the game-winning goal over #2-ranked North Carolina.

She started all 24 games as a freshman and was named the ACC freshman of the year. As a sophomore in 2011, she scored the game winning goal to beat North Carolina in the ACC championship for the second year in a row. She was named to the ACC all tournament team as a sophomore as well, and this past year, as a junior, she was named a National Field Hockey Coaches Association first-team member and was named to the All-ACC team for the third consecutive year.

“Since even last year, Jill’s knowledge of the game has increased so much. Most people understand the idea that you can be athletic alone, but if you don’t have any knowledge of the game, you aren’t going to excel,” said Coach Soto. “If you put both things together, you become so much better than the competition, and that’s exactly what Jill has become.”

Witmer agrees.

“In high school I definitely used my speed as an advantage but on the college level you have to know the technical and tactical parts of the game,” she said.

“When I first watched her and saw her play, I knew she had the potential to be great. She was among the best players in the whole country at the high school level,” Soto said,. “As a coach, we can’t ‘expect’ her to achieve this kind of an honor, but put simply, I’m not surprised. She’s just too good not to achieve success.”

Activities ‘N’ Festivities

Students in the Activities Club enjoyed a "Minute to Win It" game at a recent meeting. — Students in the Activities Club enjoyed a “Minute to Win It” game at a recent meeting.

By the Life Skills and School to Work classes

The Activities Club was started by the Life Skills and School to Work classes in the 2008-2009 school year. Club members have a great time meeting new people and socializing during club time and after school activities.

Every year the Activities Club plans many fun events. During the club period, the members meet and plan a monthly activity to participate in after school hours.

The first big event of the current school year was tailgating. The club makes Penn Manor merchandise and snacks to sell. They then go to the football game and enjoy watching the game together. This year, Activities Club members even got to sit on the field to watch the game.

The club also celebrates the holidays by holding a party during club period at school, which includes a Secret Santa gift exchange. The club also recently held a game night where the students played video games, board games and enjoyed snacks together.

“The club is wonderful. I like hanging out with my friends,” said club member Alex Ditmer.

On Thursdays during club period, the students are challenged with “Minute to Win It” and team building activities.

“My favorite game was ‘Junk in the Trunk’ because we had so much fun,” said club member Cristian Phibbs.

The club ends the school year with a picnic at the Millersville Park to celebrate another fun and successful year with games and a cookout.

Some future activities the club might participate in include bowling, miniature golf and watching movies together.

To be part of this club, students must see Mrs. Melissa McMichael in room 239 or Mrs. Rachel Taylor in room 235 to fill out an application at the beginning of the school year during club sign ups. The Activities Club can accept up to 35 applications.

78-year-old Eckman Road bridge closed for repairs

The Eckman Road bridge is closed for repairs. (Photo from bridgehunter.com)

By Coral Consylman

The Eckman Road bridge in West Lampeter Township closed in early February due to rusting and deterioration of the steel beams. The bridge was built in 1935 and spans Millcreek at a total weight of four tons.

The rusting of the bridge was said to be worse due to the flood from Hurricane Irene two years ago.

Local residents reactions to the bridge shutdown vary.

“It’s about time the bridge is being redone,” said local resident Crystal Consylman. “It is a hazard and although it’s an inconvenience, it’s better than someone dying.”

Rachel Brenneman uses the bridge regularly and expressed frustration with the early closing of the bridge.

“I understand that the bridge needs to be shut down for repairs, and can respect that, but I think its foolishness to shut it down so far ahead of the Township gaining the appropriate permits to begin construction,” said Brenneman. “Construction time will be lengthy enough, without these additional weeks and/or months prior to the replacement. In the meantime people detour unnecessarily.”

The township shut down the bridge due to too many complaints from residents.

The bridge was identified as one of the top replacement candidates for the Lancaster County Bridge Capital improvement plan. The Capital plan estimated the cost to replace this structure will be 1.4 million dollars.

Estimated time for the bridge to be completed will be about a year.

Orchestra expands membership

By Elise Klingaman

“I play a string instrument because I can’t sing” said Sam Huyser, senior in the PMHS orchestra.

For many orchestra members, that is the case. But when joining orchestra, there are plenty more benefits than a “non-singers support group.’’

Every cycle day one, three and five, string players from all areas of Penn Manor high school join in practicing for the upcoming concerts and gigs planned throughout the year. This year, the orchestra has expanded the number of participating members.

Sara Ricciardi, conductor of the Penn Manor Middle and High School orchestras, recalls her first year conducting the high school orchestra.

“In my first year here in 2008, I only had six musicians-total,” Ricciardi said. “There were five violins and one viola. It was shocking.”

This year, there are seven cellos — a very rare sight in a high school orchestra-two basses, three violas and 18 violins.

Why care? Studies show that musically involved young adults perform better academically in all subjects.

Ricciardi explains that in music, there are many different types of subjects, all combined.

“In music, musicians use math to count each beat in the measure to know when they join in,” said Ricciardi. “Many musicians also have utilized history, language arts, reading skills and physics to aid them while playing.”

She also believes that students gain knowledge when learning to play an instrument.

Ricciardi also stated that music is an international language. Musicians speaking any language can look at the exact same sheet of music and be able to understand and play them-the notes don’t have to be translated into that musician’s language as do most things in the world.

Students without a musical background who are interested in playing an instrument shouldn’t be afraid to try, according to Allison Ulaky, who plays the oboe.

“When I began playing the oboe, I had absolutely no musical background, but I decided to try it anyway,” said Ulaky.

Flu affects many in Penn Manor

Many students, teachers and staff have needed items like these as the flu has affected many this season.

By Lauren Hillegas

H3N2 hit the East Coast with a vengeance this winter, and young people are the most susceptible to this strain of flu.

Penn Manor High School was just one of many schools that was hit hard by the flu epidemic this winter. Numerous students and faculty members were victims of the 2013 H3N2 strain.

“I’ve seen at least 30-40 students with flu-like symptoms within a time period of three weeks,” said Mrs. Ann Butterfield, nurse at Penn Manor.

Junior Alexis Cunningham said that she missed one week of school and had the flu for a total of 12 days.

“It was the week before finals, so I had to cram all the work I missed and studying together,” said Cunningham.

Commonly reported symptoms of the flu include fever, chills, sore throat, dry cough and body aches. And this latest flu epidemic had many students missing school at a vital time of the year — Keystone testing, final exams and the beginning of a new semester.

According to Mrs. Butterfield, preventing sickness and staying well is imperative.

“A flu vaccine, coughing into your elbow, not touching your face and frequent hand washing are excellent prevention steps that anyone can take to stay well.”

However, for those students who fall victim to the H3N2, Mrs. Butterfield has advice that will hopefully aid in the recovery from their ailments.

“Drink plenty of fluids, get a lot of rest and tell a doctor.”

She adds that it can take up to two weeks for one to recover from the illness, but they will continue to experience phases of tiredness.

As the height of the reported H3N2 cases start to dwindle here on the East Coast, as well as in Lancaster County and throughout the Penn Manor community, the flu still continues to be prevalent.

Penn Manor High School gets “All Shook Up”

By Allison Ulaky

In a Midwest town in the 1950s, Chad (played by sophomore Paul Harrold), a rock ‘n’ roll rebel who had been recently released from jail, enters a small town after his motorcycle breaks down. A young mechanic looking for love helps the out of place stranger and instantly falls in love with him. The mechanic, Natalie (senior Jess Hanner), wants to catch Chad’s attention, but he is too busy chasing after Sandra (senior Sierra Woodworth), who has no interest in him or Jim (senior Jared Bonawitz), another male falling head over heels for her. Natalie is also unaware of her friend Dennis (senior Cobi Kremer) loving her.

With the mayor’s strict rules, including no loud music or misbehavior, being broken each day, she knows something is up. When the mayor learns that her own son, Dean (junior Mike Dempsey), has been spending way too much time with Lorraine (senior Lily Ngo) and has even learned how to dance, she declares that it is the last straw.

Meanwhile, Sylvia (senior Katie Irwin) falls for Jim, who still wants Sandra, but Sandra is now interested in Ed (who could possibly be Natalie in disguise?)

As the story unravels, with everyone falling in love with each other, the real question is whether or not this small town can handle getting “all shook up.”

This is the story of Penn Manor’s spring musical All Shook Up. The show is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, and it features some of Elvis Presley’s biggest hits, such as “Love Me Tender,” “Jailhouse Rock” and “Burning Love.”

The show, directed by Melissa Telesco and assisted by Carole Shellenberger and Melissa Mintzer has been rehearsing and preparing since the beginning of January. The choreographer for the show, Donovan Hoffer, accompanist Jordan Groh and pit director Lauren Forbes have also been working hard at dance rehearsals, vocal rehearsals and all of the pit rehearsals to make sure the show is as perfect as it can be.

Parts of the show were challenging to learn.

“The dancing is extreme and very difficult to execute,” said sophomore Paul Harrold, who plays Chad. “The comedic timing is also kinda hard at points.”

Harrold also mentioned his favorite parts of the musical.

“One of my personal favorites is the opening number, “Jailhouse Rock,” which has some amazing dancing, but every musical number is a great moment to watch.”

All Shook Up will be performed March 1-2 and 8-9 at Penn Manor High School. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets cost $7 for students and $9 for adults.

Wrestling team meets goals in rebuilding season

Penn Manor wrestlers finished at 12-8, beating their goal by two wins.

By Alexis Cunningham

The Penn Manor High School wrestling team met and exceeded its goal this winter. With a new head coach and the loss of many seniors from previous years, the team was expecting a difficult start.

“The goal of this season was to be 10-10,” said Michael Fowler, head coach.

The wrestling team met that goal and finished with a record of 12-8.

The team’s season was officially over in the Lancaster-Lebanon League.

However, for a few Penn Manor varsity wrestlers, Sectionals on February 16 was just the beginning of their post-season. Junior Matt Schnieder wrestled at 126 and placed third. Sophomore Ashton Leschke wrestled at 160 and placed second. Senior Mac Evarts took first place in his weight class of 170. Freshman Jesse Kann took third at 182.

Those wrestlers who moved on to Districts on February 22-23 bringing this season to its final close. Evarts placed 5th at Districts.

Note: A previous version of this story stated that no Penn Manor wrestlers placed at Districts. Senior Mac Evarts finished 5th.

Hambright Elementary students find “The Leader in Me”

By Jordan Machado

Students at Hambright Elementary school are participating in a new program to find "The Leader in Me." — Students at Hambright Elementary school are participating in a new program to find “The Leader in Me.”

Inspired by a book a teachers at Hambright Elementary read called “The Leader in Me” by Stephen R. Covey, the the teachers and students of the school have implemented a program to teach students some of the important points in the book. This program began in September 2012.

There are seven habits in the book that have been incorporated into the school’s culture. The entire school has learned and uses them in their everyday lives.

Hambright Principal Dr. Jerry Egan is proud everyone took part in this school-wide effort.

“The habits made a significant change in the culture of students and discipline has dropped by at least half,” said Dr. Egan. “Hambright has gone through many changes and this by far, is one of the best.”

These habits consist of the following:

1. Be proactive – you’re in charge
2. Begin with the end in mind – have a plan
3. Put first things first – work first then play
4. Think win-win – everyone can win
5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood – listen before you talk
6. Synergize – together is better
7. Sharpen the saw – balance feels best

This program is the product of three years’ work. Beginning in summer 2010, the teachers read the book to familiarize themselves with it. Later, the teachers raised $10,000 by holding a chicken barbecue, cookie sales and dress-down days to hold a two-day training to learn everything they wanted to pass on to the students.

The 2012-2013 school year was the beginning of the actual “Leader in Me” program. The students have picked up these habits very quickly and use them as much as possible.

“All the students show and prove they like to use these skills all the time, many have told me they use them at home and even pass it onto their siblings to learn. This program is heading in the right direction.”

Susquehanna River not listed as impaired

By Brandon Kauffman

The Susquehanna River, shown here in Bradford County, was not listed as impaired in a recent report but many say it should be. Photo source originally posted to Flickr as Meander via wikipedia.

According to the State Department of Environmental Protection, the Susquehanna’s main waters were not listed as impaired because of a lack of evidence that the waters are contaminated. The Susquehanna River has not been considered impaired under the Clean Water Act according the State Department of Environmental Protection.

However, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission said in recent fishing reports that “fishing has been slow in the lower part of the susquehanna river.” The Commission also released reports of smallmouth bass having black splotches, young ones dying off and fish having bacterial infections. The commission has caught some fish that exhibit the “Blotchly Bass” syndrome.

“I have fished the (Susquehanna) river for many years and have noticed a lot more trash, dead fish, and less fish being caught in the last few years or so,” said Sam Brown of Holtwood who fishes the Susquehanna River often.

On change.org, there is a petition to the Pennsylvania senate created by Cynthia Lustig of Biglerville, Pa. She is trying to get the Susquehanna River listed as impaired. The petition has so far reached 750 signatures. If the Susquehanna River is on the Impaired list, there are certain legal actions the government must take to the clean up river.

In an interview with Pennlive.com, the Pennsylvania Boat and Fish Commission said that “The Susquehanna River is sick.” In the same interview, John Arway, executive director of the commission discussed fish having both male and female characteristics, which is “not natural.”

In a 2009 report, the U.S. Geological Survey said that the oxygen levels are low in the river, which causes the fish to have bacterial diseases. The infection is caused by Flavobacterium columnare, a bacterial infection that affects stressed fish.

According to a USGS water report, in October 2009 the Susquehanna River was found to be low in oxygen and warm water was killing smallmouth bass.

According to Americanrivers.org, last year the Susquehanna River was named the “most endangered river in the nation.” The reason for the endangerment was “Natural gas drilling posing unprecedented threat” in Bradford County.

The drilling has been going on for the past few years and is operated on mountains above the Susquehanna River in New York and Maryland causing the runoff to flow into the Susquehanna River according to the Susquehanna River Basin Commission.