Three suspects accused of firing upwards of 40 rounds near South Muddy Creek Road in East Cocalico Township last month were taken into custody, police said Saturday.

Wilhelm Montalvo-Otero, 24, Carlos G. Muniz-Cardona, 25, and Miguel A. Perez-Ruiz, 42, all of Lancaster, were charged with recklessly endangering another person, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct for an incident April 27, police said.

East Cocalico Township police reportedly heard about 30 to 40 rapid-fire shots while doing surveillance in the 500 block of South Muddy Creek Road.

An officer located the three suspects fleeing the scene with handguns, police said.

Police also found two 9 mm handguns, three empty magazines and numerous shell casings at the scene.

Police reports indicated the property is a “no trespassing” area that sits approximately 75 yards from Pennsylvania Turnpike tollbooths.

Turnpike workers previously complained about shots being fired in the area and rounds ricocheting in close proximity to the booths, police said.

The men’s preliminary arraignments are scheduled with District Judge Nancy Hamill May 25.

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The East Cocalico Police Department reported the following:

SCAM: Police have received numerous complaints of phone calls from individuals reporting to be from the IRS. They allege that thousands of dollars are owed, and if not paid, the resident will be arrested. Please be aware that this is a scam and becomes more prevalent around tax season.

SIMPLE ASSAULT: Officers responded to an assault in the 1200 block of West Swartzville Road, East Cocalico Township, at 7:03 p.m. May 10. It was learned that Charles Williams, 25, was engaged in an argument that turned physical, which resulted in him biting the victim.

FALSE REPORT: Jeremy R. Steiner, 40, Honey Brook, was charged with false reports to law enforcement authorities and several traffic violations after an incident in the 100 block of Denver Road at 4:32 p.m. Feb. 21 when an officer stopped Steiner’s vehicle for traveling the wrong way through a construction zone. Steiner, who did not have any identification, gave the officer his brother’s name and date of birth.

Several days later, Steiner’s brother contacted the police regarding the incident. The brother indicated that the defendant uses his name whenever he gets in trouble. A warrant was issued for the defendant’s arrest. On May 6, Steiner was taken into custody by the state police on unrelated charges. He was arraigned and bail was set at $20,000.

The East Cocalico Police Department provides coverage for East Cocalico Township and Denver Borough.

The Ephrata Police Department reported the following:

WARRANT: Tonya Moberly, 33, Adamstown, was taken into custody on a Lancaster County bench warrant in the 100 block of East Main Street in Adamstown Borough at 9:30 p.m. May 16. Police turned Moberly over to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department for transport to Lancaster County Prison.

The Ephrata Police Department provides coverage for West Cocalico Township and Adamstown Borough.

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Adamstown Community Days are set for this Memorial Day Weekend, Friday, May 26, through Sunday, May 28.

All entertainment is free and all performances will be under a large circus tent. Individuals wanting reserved seating near the stage can do so at a cost of $10 per seat. Checks should be made payable to Adamstown Community Days, P.O. Box 654, Adamstown, PA 19501.

Midway attractions are by Ottos Amusements.

Admission, parking, and entertainment is free of charge. Donations will be accepted.

The carnival opens Friday at 5 p.m. and a pulled pork dinner by the Adamstown Lions Club will be served. Open cruise night starts at 6 p.m. The Poets perform at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, the carnival opens at 2 p.m. A spaghetti and meatball dinner by Immanuel Evangelical Congregational Church will be available from 2 p.m. till sell out. Twenty-dollar wristbands will be available for unlimited rides.

The Saturday entertainment lineup includes: the Insanity Factor, from 3 to 5:45 p.m., followed by a Magic Show on stage followed by two hours of walk-around magic and balloons; Karaoke on Stage with Josh Levingood, 4:30 p.m.; and the Fabulous Grease Band performs at 7:30 p.m.

On Sunday, the grounds open at 9:30 a.m. and there will be a community worship service. Starting at noon until sold out, the Adamstown Rod and Gun Club will serve its famous trout chowder as well as a chicken barbecue.

The carnival opens at 2 p.m. There will again be $20 wristbands available for unlimited rides.

From 4 to 6 p.m., there will be face painting. At 7 p.m., Flamin’ Dick and the Hot Rods will perform.

A 10,000-rocket fireworks display by D&M Fireworks begins at 10 p.m. The fireworks are sponsored by Unruh Insurance Agency, Weaver Markets, Sauder Fuels, Park Place Diner, Boehringer’s Drive In, and Stoudt’s Brewing Co. Any change in the fireworks schedule due to weather will be announced at the event Web site, www.adamstowncommunitydays.com

The 2017 Adamstown Community Days event is supported by Blue Ridge Cable.

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The Reamstown Federation of Churches will hold its annual Memorial Day service on Sunday, May 28, at 4 p.m., in Reamstown Memorial Park on Church Street in Reamstown.

Lt. Colonel Linford E. Riniker, USAF (retired), will be the guest speaker. Riniker commanded the 111th Mission Support Group, the 111th Logistics Readiness Squadron, and served as the Wing Senior Intelligence Officer for the 111th Fighter Wing, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, at Willow Grove Joint Reserve Base, Montgomery County. He has served in Vietnam, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Jordan and Iraq.

The military salute will be offered by the honor guard of the Reinholds VFW Post No. 6759.

Refreshments will be provided after the program by the Reamstown Memorial Park Association at the nearby Reamstown Community Center at 23 E. Church St. The public is invited to attend.

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There are activities of interest for all ages as Denver Borough celebrates the national Memorial Day holiday.

A parade steps off at 9 a.m. from the Denver Volunteer Fire Company, 425 Locust St. When it reaches the Denver Memorial Park there is a remembrance ceremony and guest speaker.

Denver native Lt. Commander Daniel J. McQuate is the honored guest speaker at Denver Memorial Park this year. The Cocalico High School graduated has served in the United States Coast Guard for nearly 18 years.

McQuate is a 1999 graduate from the Coast Guard Recruit Basic Training facility in Cape May, N.J. In 2005, he completed Coast Guard Officer Candidate School in New London, Conn.

Chief of the Facility Compliance Safety Branch, McQuate is responsible for development of doctrine, policy and procedures used by more than 400 facility inspectors nationwide at some 3,750 waterfront facilities.

The parade, led by the rifle squad of the Reinholds VFW Honor Guard, pauses along the side of the North Fourth Street cemetery for a short tribute to veterans. A hymn, dedicated to the veterans buried there is played. A representative from Denver Woman’s Club places a floral tribute on the grave of a veteran representing all veterans buried in our cemeteries.

The Centerport Band provides music for the marching parade.

Representatives from the Venture Crew and Cub Scouts place white crosses at Denver Memorial Park for veterans who gave their lives in service to our country.

Any community group is welcome to step in line and join the parade by reporting to the Denver Volunteer Fire Company prior to 9 a.m.

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Dean Hoover, managing partner of Weinhold, Nickel and Company, Reamstown, reviewed Denver’s 2016 audit at the Monday, May 22, council meeting and offered some good news.

“Overall, the borough is in a strong position,” said Hoover. “One area where expenses were up was engineering, generally related to water, sewer and the South Fourth Street bridge replacement project.

“Internal methods are really good. The grant received for the South Fourth Street bridge project is a good chunk of the increase in revenue.”

Borough manager Mike Hession has won numerous grants for the borough over the years. The work of Barbara Artz, treasurer, was complimented by council members.

The audience could see audit report information as Hession used an entire wall on which data was clearly projected for everyone to follow.

Audit Manager Lisa Saneli from Weinhold, Nickel, was also at the meeting.

During public comment, Locust Street residents Cindy Leamy and Wilson Ramos thanked council for the borough’s prompt response to their late winter concern about snow removal in the alley behind their homes.

“Unfortunately, now we have many potholes. When do you think that they might be filled?” Leamy asked.

“Hopefully by the end of this week or next week, weather permitting,” said George Whetsel, director of public works.

Hession explained at the beginning of May that lots of effort is needed to get the pool open.

Donald Wenger, as well as a council member, questioned the status of the former Denver House. The property doesn’t appear to have anything happening to it at this time and its structural stability, as well as the poorly looking front, was mentioned.

Rodney Redcay, stepped out of his role as mayor to respond. He is the executive director of REAL Life Community Services, which purchased the building Oct. 28, 2016. Plans are to convert it to health offices and affordable apartments.

“Right now,” Redcay said, “we’re in a fundraising stage. When we have 60 to 70 percent of the approximately $2 million that we need, we’ll get the green light to start work on the building. We’re hoping that will be in January 2018; if it’s sooner, that would be great.

“We’ve had experts in to determine stability of the structure, and it’s satisfactory. We’re looking at ways to make the front look better.”

In other business:

* East Cocalico Police Sgt. Derrick Kepley presented the police report. Denver had 153 calls for service in April, which is 18.42 percent of the total police calls for the force. Denver had 71 parking tickets issued this month, many due to noncompliance with no parking signs when street sweeping was scheduled.

* Sandy Leed, 210 Main St., explained her concerns about trying to pull safely out of her driveway onto Main Street with limited visibility. Vehicles park close to the driveway, forcing her to inch into traffic lanes without knowing if a vehicle is approaching.

Many ideas were presented. Permit parking was thought feasible. Kepley said it can work well to address issues discussed. Councilman Todd Stewart suggested line painting to designate parking spaces. Council said no action would occur without input from residents and area business owners.

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The Ephrata Police Department reported the following:

CRASH: Police responded to a vehicle accident at the intersection of Route 897 and North Peartown Road, West Cocalico Township, at 3:28 p.m. May 23. A commercial truck driven by Timothy Mohn Jr., 38, Myerstown, swerved to avoid a vehicle that pulled out from a stop sign and struck a tree and utility pole. Mohn and his passenger were taken to Reading Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Reinholds Fire Company, Reinholds Ambulance and Reamstown Ambulance assisted.

WARRANT: Zachary Thomas, 22, Denver, was taken into custody in the 100 block of North State Street in Ephrata Borough May 24 on an outstanding Lancaster County bench warrant. Thomas was turned over to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office for transport to Lancaster County Prison.

The Ephrata Police Department provides coverage for West Cocalico Township and Adamstown Borough.

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The East Cocalico Police Department reported the following:

WARRANT: An officer conducted a traffic stop in the first block of North Sixth Street, Denver Borough, at 12:58 a.m. May 19. Justin McMullen, 33, was found to have an active bench warrant from Bucks County. He was taken into custody and taken to Lancaster County Prison to await pick up.

DUI: Vernon S. Strohl, 33, of the 500 block of Walnut Street, Denver, was charged with two counts of driving under the influence and possession of drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop in the 400 block of North Fifth Street in Denver Borough at 5:10 p.m. April 15. Strohl’s vehicle was stopped and an officer determined he was impaired and placed into custody. After being placed into custody, the officer found a small marijuana pipe in his pocket. A breath test indicated that Strohl had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 percent at the time of the test. Strohl was sent a summons to appear in District Court.

POSSESSION: Kyle N. Groff, 34, of the 400 block of Schoeneck Road, Ephrata, was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia after an officer witnessed Groff and a second male smoking marijuana in a vehicle parked at a business in the 1400 block of North Reading Road March 23 at 3:30 a.m. Groff was sent a summons to appear in District Court. The second male was also charged but passed away prior to his preliminary hearing.

DUI: Jose R. Gutierrez-Morales, 40, of the 300 block of Main Street, Denver, was charged with two counts of driving under the influence and drivers required to be licensed after a traffic stop in the 1900 block of North Reading Road at 12:15 a.m. May 8. An officer witnessed a vehicle being driven by Gutierrez-Morales that did not have functioning taillights. After stopping the vehicle, the officer determined Gutierrez-Morales was impaired. A breath test indicated Gutierrez-Morales had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.199 percent at the time of the test. It was also learned that his driver’s license expired in December 2016. He was sent a summons to appear in District Court.

WARRANT: Austin B. Gilbert, 29, of the first block of Mohler Church Road, Ephrata, was taken into custody on an outstanding bench warrant and faces drug charges after an incident at a hotel in the 2000 block of North Reading Road. Police received information at 12:07 a.m. May 24 that Gilbert, who had an outstanding warrant, was staying at a local hotel. Officers took Gilbert into custody without incident and then located a small amount of marijuana and dozens of undocumented prescription pills. Gilbert was taken to Lancaster County Prison and faces additional drug possession charges.

The East Cocalico Police Department provides coverage for East Cocalico Township and Denver Borough.

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June marks the 200th anniversary of the dedication of the church building that is now home to the Salem Evangelical and Reformed Church in Reamstown.

On Saturday and Sunday, June 17 and 18, the congregation will celebrate that anniversary with special services for members and a Saturday morning open house for visitors. Light refreshments will be served at the open house, which will last from 10 a.m. until noon.

The celebration theme is “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” according to Jane Rathman, a long-time member who chairs the anniversary event.

The church has a long and interesting history, according to material supplied by Rathman.

At the time the original church was built, there were only about 40 families living in Reamstown. Bricks used in the construction of the building were fired on-site from clay obtained along the Cocalico creek on Wabash Road. Timbers for construction were floated down the Susquehanna River to Columbia and brought to the site by covered wagons.

Members volunteered much of the labor. The cornerstone was placed in 1815, the building was dedicated in 1817, and the first recorded service was in May 1818. The offering at that first service totaled $1.14, and services were held in both German and English.

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In an unusual turn of events, East Cocalico Township Manager Scott Russell found all participants present for a meeting and only one of the three supervisors able to attend on Thursday, May 18.

“We knew supervisor Secretary Noelle Fortna could not attend the meeting, said Russell. “There was a conflict with a family activity.

“Chairman Doug Mackley was also unable to attend due to illness.”

Vice President Alan Fry did show up for the meeting. However, with no quorum, no business could be conducted.

UGI officials were on hand because their hearing for possible granting of tax abatement for up to 10 years on the 32-acre parcel along Colonel Howard Boulevard was to be handled first.

A new building is planned for this site which will be UGI corporate headquarters. The hearing was not listed on the draft agenda on the township website, although the hearing was advertised.

Russell told the attendees that the meeting officially was cancelled.

“All business will move on to the next meeting on Thursday, June 1, held at the Reamstown Fire Company,” he said. The supervisors meeting begins at 7:30 p.m.

The parking lot and entrance for the Reamstown Fire Company is to the rear of the building.

Supervisors meet at each of the fire companies — Reamstown, Smokestown, and Stevens — one time per calendar year. Taking the supervisors meetings out of the municipal building is intended to encourage residents to attend a meeting more conveniently.

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The children of Denver may not realize when they play baseball, sled, feed the goldfish in the park, go to the fair, that they are doing these things in the exact same place as did those folks whose names are listed on the War Memorial in Denver Memorial Park.

Even though the word “Memorial” is a huge hint of why the park was built, do those using it think of its meaning?

Lt. Cmdr. Daniel J. McQuate, a 1999 graduate of Cocalico High School, says he did not. McQuate was the distinguished speaker for the Denver Memorial Day celebrations on May 29.

“A big part of my childhood was time in this very park,” said McQuate. “To somebody not from here, it may seem like just another park, but being a kid in Denver, it was pretty much the center of the universe.

“One thing I never did in this park when I was growing up is go to the corner of Eighth and Main streets and really try to understand what the monument that stands there means.”

McQuate has served in the United States Coast Guard for nearly 18 years. He graduated from the Coast Guard Recruit Basic Training in Cape May, N.J., in 1999, and, the Coast Guard Officer Candidate School in New London, Conn., in 2005. He currently serves as the chief of the Facility Compliance Safety Branch at Coast Guard headquarters where he is responsible for the development of doctrine, policy, and procedures utilized by more than 400 facility inspectors nationwide in some 3,750 waterfront facilities.

Though a cool drizzle greeted the spectators, McQuate’s words honoring those who sacrificed themselves for a greater cause, were bright. He urged spectators to hug their loved ones who served or experienced loss.

“The pain that is shared by so many, is the pain that can be hidden, but will never go away,” said McQuate. “I ask that you give a hug to someone who lost a loved one for a cause greater than themselves.”

McQuate gave an insider’s perspective of how worldly tensions have affected those in service to country in over the past decade.

“I was stationed in Hawaii back in 2004 and 2005,” said McQuate. “I knew troops were deployed and I remember feeling like there was an air of uneasiness, but for the most part, people were smiling.”

A few years went by and McQuate noticed the faces change.

“The uneasy smiles I saw at Schoefield Barracks in 2004 were replaced by looks of pain,” said McQuate. “Not just physical pain, but a pain of loss. A pain that those soldiers and family members will always have after losing so many of their own in battle.

“Another generation of Americans has to live with this pain.”

“Their loved ones have made the ultimate sacrifice and today and every day we must remember them for putting service, and ultimately their life, before self,” he said. “We must also recognize there was a hole left in the hearts of many others.

“It’s needless to say that today I have a much better understanding of why the monument stands on the corner over there.”

Todd S. Stewart, Denver councilman, officiated the ceremony.

“It’s becoming a tradition in Denver that each year we honor a fallen veteran, someone who gave their life for their country,” said Stewart.

Dale L. Shober was honored this year. Shober was born in 1936. He was a Boy Scout and a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church.

“Dale’s assignment was to fly 15- to 16-hour missions that would take him from Newfoundland, Canada, to a small group of islands off Portugal, and then to Argentina and then back to Newfoundland,” said Stewart.

Stewart said the crew of 22 men aboard were to monitor the locations of Soviet submarines using sonar and radar.

“On Feb. 28, 1958, Dale’s plane disappeared from the radar,” said Stewart. “The Navy searched for at least eight days, yet no debris was ever found. Dale was listed as missing. Three months later, Dale was declared dead.

“The Shober family has since made efforts to find out what actually happened. While there had been reports that at least three aircraft had been shot down by the Soviets in that time period, these reports remain unconfirmed.”

Shober’s surviving family members came on stage and were given red carnations. The pain of the loss remains with them nearly 60 years later.

Britta Killian, president of Reinholds VFW Ladies Auxiliary, introduced the 2017 Poppy Queen, Skyelar Bohn, granddaughter of Jeff Wenrich, senior vice commander of the Reinholds VFW. She handed out poppies in return for a donation to the VFW.

“The Buddy Poppy Program helps the VFW to honor its motto to honor the dead by helping the living,” said Killian. “The poppy is a small red flower symbolic of the bloodshed in World War I by millions of allied soldiers in defense of freedom.”

Killian mentioned the poem “In Flanders Fields”written by Lt. Colonel John McCrae during WWI. The poem speaks about the poppies that grow wild over the graves of WWI soldiers.

Funds from the poppies go to disabled veterans.

Stewart thanked the sponsors that helped create the day:

Centerport Band; Reinholds VFW Color Guard and Auxiliary; Kauffman’s Tractor; Friendly Horseman’s Club; Floral Time Floral Design; Denver Orioles Woman’s Club; Denver Park Association; Cocalico High School Small Ensemble; Nolan Leid; Bob Gensemer; Mike Hession, borough manager; Dennis Worley; Charlie Messner, former mayor; Denver Cub Scouts; Boy Scouts Venture Crew; Steve Leed; Sarah Register, Denver Junior Council member; Pastor Michael Roney; Mayor Rodney Redcay.

Michele Walter Fry welcomes your comments at michelewalterfry@gmail.com.

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The Reamstown Cub Pack No. 60 held its picnic/pack/rain gutter regatta May 1 at the Stevens Fire Hall.

Aaron Wilczek captured first place in the regatta, with Brayden Reinhold in second, Chace Smith in third, and Tanner Hartranft in fourth.

Following a pot-luck meal, the following awards and advancements were disbursed:

Receiving their Wolf badges and graduation certificates were Thomas Davenport, Tanner Hartranft, Samuel Hecker, Tristan Newton, and Ryan Reinhold.

Receiving their Bear badges, graduation certificates, Bear Necessities, Fur Feather Ferns, Paws of Action, Fellowship and DTG (Duty to God), Critter Care, and loops were Alexander Boyd, Jared Evans, Lincoln Hecker, Cooper Kurtz, Kenston Lafleur, Logan Pierce, Alexander Porter, and Tanner Wentzel.

Receiving Webelos 1 graduation certificates were Brody Ebersole, Jeremy Ouilikon, Brayden Reinhold, Chace Smith, and Aaron Wilczek.

Summer camp times are set for the following: Wolf Den, July 8 to 10; Bear Den, July 15 to 17; and Webelos Den, July 8 to 13.

Cub Scout Pack No. 60 will hold a Cubmobile Race on Ebersole Road on Saturday, July 22, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The road will be closed to the general public at that time, but homeowners will have access to their properties.

Fire police will provide traffic control. In the event of rain, the event will be cancelled. There is no rain date.

Any boy in first grade interested in joining Tiger Cubs or any boy in grades two through five interested in joining Cub Scouts should contact Cubmaster Alan Fry at 717-335-3859 or Assistant Cubmaster Clarence Rutt at 717-336-5928.

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Supervisor Ray Burn

The West Cocalico Township supervisors have only a short time to find a new board member.

At the June 1 board meeting, Supervisor Ray Burns announced he will be settling on his house in about 20 days. At that time, he said, he will resign since he will be living out of the township.

Burns joined the board of supervisors at the beginning of 2016. He is retired from the East Cocalico Police Department, which he joined in 1983.

Burns told the board he has met with township employees to advise them of the situation.

Supervisor Chairman James J. Stoner said the township will want to fill the vacated seat within 30 days of Burns’ departure. Sunshine Law requiring public deliberation, along with a revised summer schedule with only one meeting in July could make that challenging.

In comments to The Ephrata Review on June 2, township Manager Carolyn Hildebrand said the board has 30 days from a resignation to appoint a new replacement according to second class township code.

Stoner said it’s disappointing to hear that Burns will be leaving so soon.

“I was excited about you being on the board,” Stoner said. “I don’t think anyone can question the excellent job you did. I was kind of hoping you’d be around for a long time.”

Stoner asked those residents in attendance to get the word out to others, saying the township will look seriously at candidates who have been attending board meetings.

“The names have to come in soon,” Stoner said.

The township has worked quickly to fill another vacancy on the parks and recreation board. Just last month, supervisors were casting around for someone to appoint. During Thursday’s meeting, they appointed Chris Laudenslager, a design engineer at WORLD Electronics.

Another township deadline involves the Sportsman Road Bridge, which needs major work. At their meeting, the supervisors discussed moving forward to repair the bridge. Supervisors have a strategy for funding the bridge project that looks forward to other fixes on the horizon: Stoner and Burns both promoted the idea of financing the Sportsman Road Bridge repair.

Answering resident questions about previously budgeted money for the bridge, Stoner and Hildebrand explained that of $300,000, half of that money had been budgeted through a grant that was never received. Of the remaining $150,000, around $50,000 had been spent on initial engineering work for the bridge; the rest had gone to pay off the township’s community center.

The idea with financing, Stoner said, is that instead of depleting township reserves, West Cocalico can get a very low interest rate for Sportman Road Bridge, and be able to throw cash into subsequent projects to “cycle” improvements and get ahead of the curve.

“We can’t keep pushing off road projects and then wait for some miracle to happen,” Stoner said.

Stoner admitted the township does not typically finance projects, but cited recent meetings with an audit professional who told them that financing a project can be fiscally responsible in some situations.

In police news, supervisors heard a presentation by Ephrata Police Lt. Tom Shumaker, whose department covers West Cocalico Township. In May, officers saw two burglary/theft incidents, two DUIs, 15 traffic accidents, and 17 traffic citations.

Noting the high number of traffic accidents, board members asked Shumaker if ongoing pipeline construction and detouring in the northern end of the township has been a problem. Shumaker said to his knowledge, it has not been an issue.

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Benjamin Robert Hinkley and Colin Thomas Hinkley have earned the highest rank in scouting, the Eagle Scout Award.

They are the sons of Bob and Sheila Hinkley of Denver and are veteran members of Troop 61, chartered by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Adamstown. Both began scouting in Cub Pack 61 where they earned the Arrow of Light Award.

Ben and Colin attended the National Scout Jamboree in West Virginia in 2013, Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico in 2015, and NOAC (National Order of the Arrow Conference) in Michigan in 2015. They completed NYLT (National Youth Leadership Training) in 2013.

While scouts, they also visited Camp Mack, Camp Bashore, Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation, Ockanickon Scout Reservation, and Sinoquipe Scout Reservation. They were elected to the Order of the Arrow, the Scouting honor society, and served the troop in several leadership positions including senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, patrol leader, and troop guide. They each earned more than 50 merit badges.

For his Eagle Project, Ben rebuilt the courtyard garden at Owen J. Roberts Middle School. Modeled after the original garden, his project involved design, planting, and mulching.

Colin’s Eagle Project was the refurbishing of the Adamstown sign near the swimming pool. The landscaping was improved, scenic pavers were installed, and a light was added to the sign. A large part of each project was the organization and management of people and resources.

Beyond scouting, their activities include Pennsylvania Classics Soccer Club, Cocalico High School varsity soccer and tennis, high school choralaires and symphonic band, Cocalico musicals, student government (Colin is president and Ben is Treasurer), and National Honor Society.

Ben and Colin are members of the Class of 2017 of Cocalico High School.

Ben will attend Lebanon Valley College and major in physical therapy. Colin will attend the Pennsylvania State University Main Campus and major in biochemistry. He plans to be a dentist.

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The East Cocalico Township supervisors and UGI officials answered residents’ questions at a June 1 hearing regarding the 10-year tax abatement being sought on property UGI will develop in the township.

The hearing which was held in conjunction with the regularly scheduled prior meeting.

A 100,000-square-foot building with about 330 employees is planned for the 32.7-acre site along Colonel Howard Boulevard and Route 272.

The land, currently owned by Reading Health System, has ideal access with Route 222 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike less than a mile away.

This location is considerably more costly to develop than the customary tract of land. Some of the challenges: water and sewer connections are 1,700 feet away, a more complex entrance road is required than first planned, and a buffer area to address environmental concerns is needed.

The developers of this substantial, approximately $23.8 million project, sought tax relief under the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act, known as LERTA.

Supervisors unanimously approved the LERTA plan to waive taxes on the building the first year. The second year UGI would pay 10 percent of the assessed tax. The third year UGI would pay 20 percent of the assessed tax on the building, with 10 percent more added annually until year 11, when all taxes assessed on the building would be due.

UGI would still continue to pay the taxes assessed on the property.

Paula Leicht, an attorney representing UGI said corporate officials are using the $271,000 county land value assessment figure in their calculations, even though the re-assessment value is $291,000. This value, which is posted online, was confirmed in conversation with the assessment office after the May 4 hearing when supervisors established the boundaries of the property eligible for LERTA.

“We hope to begin construction in late 2017 with occupancy at the end of 2018,” said Daniel J. Platt, UGI vice president for finance.

Two questions from residents centered on whether UGI would seek a lower assessment and the language in LERTA that states “the tax exemption is for new construction in deteriorated areas of economically depressed communities and for improvement to certain deteriorated industrial, commercial and other business properties.”

Several residents stated that the area doesn’t, in their opinion, meet the test of an economically depressed area. LERTA uses the word, “and,” which they believe meant both exceptions needed satisfied.

Solicitor Tom Goodman and Leicht said this terminology wasn’t addressed because it wasn’t legally necessary. They cited other cases in the county where LERTA met the test of being a deteriorated property.

Attorneys noted that it is a person’s right to seek reassessment consideration. Leicht said that seeking reassessment is a complex process, not one that happens quickly. UGI didn’t indicate whether it would or wouldn’t be seeking reassessment in the future.

Supervisors concluded by welcoming UGI to the township. It’s a desirable addition to the Route 272 business corridor and will open desirable job opportunities in the area, they said.

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East Cocalico Police Chief Terry Arment reported to supervisors at their June 1 meeting that Officers Roger Kreisher and Steve Walsh each received letters of commendation for their life-saving action.

A resident experiencing a health emergency was revived using an AED — automated external defibrillator — and taken to a hospital.

“He’s since recovered, come home and doing well,” said Arment. “Each year at the May Lancaster County Banquet, one officer is named Officer of the Year. This year East Cocalico Officer Dave Fisher was honored as 2016 Officer of the Year.”

In July 2016, Fisher rescued a man from his burning home on Wabash Road. When the front door couldn’t be accessed, Fisher, with assistance from another nearby resident, quickly gained access through a window after removing an air conditioner and pulled the male resident out, saving his life.

The East Cocalico police department in May reported 45 criminal cases; 17 of them are cleared.

Arment said a resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, would like to supply uncooked Thanksgiving meals to three different police officers for Thanksgiving.

“My thought was we’ll rotate this so three different officers each year are selected,” said Arment.

Another resident volunteered to install “really nice flags” at the front of the municipal building for Memorial Day, Flag Day, and Veterans Day.

In other business:

* Supervisors approved traffic signal modifications at the intersection of Church Street and Route 272. Reamstown Volunteer Fire Company has the equipment to preempt a signal. The traffic light lacks the equipment to accept the signal and fire police currently are called upon to direct traffic whenever fire apparatus needs to get through the intersection on a call. Left turn arrows will also be part of the traffic signal upgrades.

“The township has heard from many residents about the difficulty in making left-hand turns, especially traveling south on Route 272 at rush hour,” reported Scott Russell, township manager.

* Supervisors approved a fee of $1,857 in lieu of the park and open space land dedication for the Enck minor subdivision plan. It involves one residential lot and a total of .84 acres.

* Supervisors accepted the time extension offer until Dec. 22, submitted by Garden Spot Frame and Alignment for their preliminary/final land development plan. This Route 272 project, across from Park Place Diner, involves proposed construction of a 29,000-square-foot truck repair facility on 8.2 acres. Entrance requires an improved access off Route 272.

* Supervisors were briefed on the rezoning application from Arthur Graybill.

Two parcels of land off Weaver Road are requested to be rezoned light industrial. One parcel is 130 acres and one parcel is 50 acres. No further information was available. The request will go to the zoning hearing board.

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The faces of recovery include (from left) Alex, Celeste, Gerri Shober and Grace Shober. The surnames of Alex and Celeste are bein

In wake of daughter’s struggle, Shober family opens doors to recovery for other women

The Shober family, alone, cannot change the world, but its members are creating ripple effects in the community, one by one, making it a safer less drug-filled environment.

Phil and Gerri Shober bought a house in Denver for their daughter, Grace, in hopes she would get back on her feet after drug rehab. The day they signed the contract, Grace relapsed into drugs. Thinking they would lose her, they decided to keep the house as a sober living environment for women who want to work on and maintain their recovery.

“This is the last step for the ladies to be totally independent,” said Gerri. “This is supportive, minimal oversight so women can get back on their feet.”

The Shobers make it their mission to try to save other women and have since opened sober living houses in Akron and Ephrata.

“At one point, I wasn’t sure we were going to save Grace, but I knew that if I couldn’t save her, I was going to save other people,” said Gerri.

The debate of whether substance abuse is a disease or whether it results from individuals making poor choices continues. Mental health problems can also be sparks for substance abuse.

“I didn’t feel like I fit in at school or with other people and that made me internally depressed,” said Grace Shober of her high school days.

Phil said he saw “absolutely nothing” as far as Grace using drugs and abusing alcohol.

“She’s our youngest and I always said that I have it easy with this one,” said Phil. “I know it sounds ridiculous, but I didn’t see this. We knew we had a problem, but we thought we had a girl going through social challenges. With the help with the school and the counselors, we were trying to address it. That was the direction we were going.”

Phil said there were no drug or alcohol problems in his family history.

The Ephrata Review visited Grace House in Denver and talked with some of the most articulate, humble women who live there. One theme the reporter will take away, and lhas earned, is when there is an underlying mental health problem, combined with drugs or alcohol, there is an addict in the making.

Loneliness, despair, depression, poor self-esteem was present before the substances; seemingly the need for love and acceptance is as difficult a challenge as the need for drugs and alcohol.

“Grace House should start after rehab,” said Gerri. “They come to the house right after rehab and it helps the women on the despair problems so relapse will be less likely. This transitional period has been the key to success that many do not get.”

“You need to put yourself back into your real life,” said Grace, now 26. “You need to relearn how to live and rehab doesn’t have enough time offer this. Not much time is spent on mental health.”

This critical stage after recovery is necessary to stay sober, but there are few of these houses in existence, and they can house only a few.

“The houses are a big chance for these women,” said Phil.

Residents must adhere to all house rules and are expected to be actively engaged in a recovery program. Management performs weekly random drug and alcohol testing and the women must leave if they fail a test.

“We had heard there’s a big need for sober living,” said Gerri. “I got certification in sober living and continue with workshops. An opportunity like this is something we saw that was missing for Grace.

“A lot of times the women, it’s not a good thing for them to go back into their home. People, places, and things can be real triggers for our ladies. Going back into the same environment can put someone at risk for a relapse. Residents give significant support to each other such as attending AA/NA meetings together.”

Running a sober living house is not a money-maker.

“If you’re in the business to make money, this is not it,” said Gerri. “It maintains itself; it’s our passion. We make it really affordable because these women now have to be self-sufficient. Families either can’t afford it because of rehab payments, or they won’t. We will accept weekly dollar-by-dollar payments if we have to.”

The Shobers get some down-turned looks and subject-changed-quickly encounters when sharing their passion.

“I got a negative vibe from people when I told them I’m running a sober house,” said Gerri. “There’s not a whole lot of interaction with the neighbors. We like to try to keep it as anonymous as possible.”

Women are coming in frail and defeated.

Celeste (surnames are being withheld), 43, graduated from the house in April.

“The addiction for me started at age 17,” said Celeste. “I didn’t think I was an alcoholic at 17, but looking back, I didn’t drink like normal people. I thought I was the fun type and the party type, but I got out of hand. It kept getting worse, just from the drinking. I didn’t know when to stop. It caused problems in relationships.”

Celeste was once sober for seven years. She wasn’t sure she could live in a sober living house because she has two children and they are not allowed to be in the house, along with other family members or male visitors.

“I couldn’t go home, but nothing changes if nothing changes,” said Celeste. “Every time I relapsed, I never changed anything. I just kept going back to the same insanity and doing the same thing over and over again.”

Celeste has a master’s degree in education and was the director of a preschool.

“I resigned from my job once I knew I would be coming here,” said Celeste. “This was the best thing for me to come here and be with sober women who understand the disease.”

Most addicts, recovered or not, have shattered relationships.

“I feel the Grace House has helped me with structure and accountability in my life,” said Celeste, tearing up. “There are people that don’t get that it’s a disease. My friends support me, but they don’t truly get it. These women get it. I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to live here because all the times I’ve been sober before, not once have my parents said they’ve seen a change in me, and they see it now.”

Celeste is an extrovert and wore multiple bracelets up and down her arm.

“I was abusing muscle relaxers from a car accident and thought it was okay because I was sober from alcohol,” said Celeste. “I never thought of myself as a pill addict, and then I became one. I know I can become an addict.”

Celeste now lives with her roommate, at the time, from Grace House. She is rebuilding her life.

Ideally, a sober living house is the next step after a halfway house. A halfway house should come after rehab.

“A halfway house has more restrictions,” said Grace. “A more affordable option for people is sober living. There’s only one halfway house that I know of, and that’s in Scranton.”

Another woman said there is one in Leesport.

Grace, now almost three years sober, manages the house and says the women get along.

“We let them know that we are all here fighting for our lives due to alcohol abuse and addiction so we need to support each other and that’s where the common ground comes in,” said Grace. “After the first three weeks, we want them looking for a job.”

Alex, 23, currently living at the house, faces legal issues stemming from addiction. She explained what substances did for her.

“It was that calming,” said Alex. “It was the feeling that I got when I put that drink in my body.”

Alex closed her eyes and breathed in and out deeply as if being suddenly relieved or hearing long-awaited good news.

“I was drinking to feel okay about myself and to remove myself from the situation that was going on,” said Alex. “I’m not drinking for the effect, I’m drinking for the feeling. It was a constant need.”

Alex’s, and the other womens’ description of why they abused substances suggests there may be underlying psychological problems or disorders, emotional problems that might not cause addiction but once they are combined, must be dealt with and should be noticed early on to prevent ruined lives.

“They sometimes try to self-medicate themselves,” said Gerri.

Alex is learning how to create and sustain satisfied feelings without using substances.

“When I’m having a bad day, I can come home to five sober women,” said Alex through tears of thankfulness. “I have women and people here who care about me and get me through things when I’m a hysterical mess. I don’t feel like I need to put that drink or drug in my body anymore. They want the best for me.”

Where in the world are they getting these drugs?

They go to cities such as Reading and Philadelphia and walk up to strangers on the street and ask them if they have drugs.

“There are people that you can find and if they don’t have drugs, they point you to someone who does,” said Grace.

They keep asking until they find it. All agreed.

“I’d go out to a bar with people from work and then say: ‘Hey, when we’re done here, let’s go smoke some weed’,” said Alex.

Connections come from there.

Whether folks are on the side of “It’s not a disease, it’s their choice, they chose to take the drugs” or you believe “It’s a hereditary disease, not their fault” camp, there is a need to think beyond that.

Drugs have exploded. Even children as young as 12 are going to take them — for whatever reason we may not ever be able to explain or know why exactly. Drugs and alcohol abuse are taking the brightest and most talented.

“The face of addiction and alcoholism has changed completely,” said Grace. “It’s not the person, under the bridge, all the time homeless. There are people that have good jobs and are professionals that are struggling with addiction and alcoholism. People still don’t understand.”

Michele Walter Fry welcomes your comments at michelewalterfry@gmail.com.

The post Full of Grace appeared first on Ephrata Review.

The East Cocalico Police Department reported the following:

POSSESSION: A vehicle was stopped in the 100 block of West Church Street, East Cocalico Township, April 23 and two passengers, Daulton Lee Blessing, 22, and Kaitlyn Renee Wright, 20, were found to be in possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. Blessing was in possession of several hypodermic needles and Wright was in possession of methamphetamine, a digital scale, two meth pipes and a marijuana pipe. Charges were filed June 5 after lab results were received.

HIT-AND-RUN: A silver SUV drove down the side of Ingham’s Powder Coating, 22 Industrial Way, East Cocalico Township, at 11:28 p.m. June 3 and struck several pallets containing metal plates. The suspect vehicle will have driver’s side taillight damage. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 336-1725.

PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS: Officers responded for a male at a business in the 2100 block of North Reading Road, East Cocalico Township, at 10:22 p.m. June 1 that was visibly intoxicated. Officers contacted Titus Zimmerman Hoover, 55, and confirmed he was impaired. He was cited with public drunkenness and released to a friend.

DUI: Angela F. Rivers, 28, of the first block of North Church Street, Ephrata, was charged with two counts of driving under the influence, drivers required to be licensed and careless driving after an incident at a business in the 1200 block of North Reading Road May 5. Police were dispatched at 5:51 a.m. for an unconscious person in a vehicle and found Rivers slumped over the wheel of her vehicle with the engine running. The vehicle had struck a concrete post in the parking lot. Officers determined Rivers was impaired and she was taken for a blood test. Rivers’ blood alcohol concentration was 0.20 percent at the time of the test and she was sent a summons to appear in District Court.

POSSESSION: Erik Wheatley, 23, of the first block of Circle Drive, Reinholds, was charged with two counts of driving under the influence, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under suspension and a traffic summary after a traffic stop in the 1400 block of North Reading Road May 17. An officer stopped Wheatley’s vehicle for a traffic violation at 12:18 a.m. and determined Wheatley was impaired and he was placed in custody. A small bag of marijuana and a pipe were found in Wheatley pocket after he was arrested. A blood test indicated Wheatley had high levels of marijuana in his system at the time of the test. He was sent a summons to appear in District Court.

CRASH: Michael S. Wanner, 44, of the 300 block of East Main Street, Lititz, was charged with two counts of driving under the influence, reckless driving and expired registration after a vehicle accident in the 1300 block of North Reading Road May 8. Police were dispatched at 6:47 p.m. and the investigation indicated Wanner was attempting to “pop a wheelie” when he lost control of his motorcycle and struck an embankment. Wanner was treated at the scene for minor cuts and bruises. Officers determined Wanner was impaired and a breath test indicated he had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.12 percent at the time of the test. Wanner was sent a summons to appear in District Court.

The East Cocalico Police Department provides coverage for East Cocalico Township and Denver Borough.

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The impact of water run-off onto a resident’s driveway led to more involved conversations about a sidewalk and curbing ordinance at the June 6 meeting of the Adamstown Borough Council.

Kerry Fisher, 466 Adamstown Road, was visibly upset when addressing council members regarding his ongoing driveway problem.

“I’m been trying to work with you guys about the water problem I have there with water running through the driveway,” said Fisher.

“I still have the problem and my driveway is getting deteriorated with the water running through it. I’m gonna have to seek myself some legal help. I just can’t deal with it anymore.”

“If you had curb at the front of your property, would that solve the problem?” asked Council President Randy Good.

“If we’re gonna start talkin’ curb, we got another problem,” said Fisher. “I can’t afford to put curbing in.”

“I think if the borough decides to put storm drain in, they will require the property owner to put curb in,” Good replied.

“I’m going to demand that you put curbing in,” said Fisher.

Good said council will look in to it. Fisher left visibly upset.

“He could have put black top over his driveway 10 years ago,” said Councilman Dave Matz. “He wants the government to do it.”

Councilman Mike Wetherhold noted the continuing conversation of redoing damaged sidewalks and curbs in the borough. An ordinance regarding this is a work in progress.

“I think the bottom line on this thing with inspections right now is that the quality of the workmanship and the adherence to our published specifications. I think these two items fall squarely on the shoulders of both the contractor and the homeowner,” said Wetherhold. “I think it’s the homeowner’s responsibility to deal with a reputable contractor, one that is aware of our sidewalk specifications.

“I’m recommending that we do not perform inspections except for those that involve the roadways.”

Council discussed the engineering of sidewalks and possible problems that could occur such as a snow plow damaging them.

“When you sent the violation letters out, who is going to make the determination that the repairs have been done and made properly?” asked Councilwoman Cindy Schweitzer.

“At this point, no one,” said Wetherhold.

Bob Getz, the appointed “sidewalk inspector,” has admitted that he is not qualified to inspect the sidewalks in the same manner as an engineer, noted Wetherhold.

“There are a few iffy details that need to be ironed out,” said resident Bob Stork. “In years past, whoever put the curbing in just did it to suit themselves, irregardless of what the town’s plans are for the slope or anything else.”

Good and Wetherhold said the specs are very specific.

Wetherhold made a motion that the borough not have inspections of the sidewalks but the curbing be inspected along with the roadway. The curbs must be inspected at a critical time in the process before pouring.

With a vote of 4-to-1, the ordinance was approved. Schweitzer voted against it; Councilwoman Jessica Kelly was absent.

As a result of former Councilman Joe Dietrich, complaint last month about trash on residential properties, council members have been looking in to updating the 1993 Property Maintenance Code to a 2015 version.

“We had a resident here, a former councilman, who was quite upset and told us what he thought,” said Good. “I think if you drive Main Street from Goods Chips to the pool, you can understand what he meant.”

An example of what is in the code: grass can be no longer than 10 inches high.

Schweitzer offered a motion to have the borough solicitor update the code to 2015.

It was approved 4-to-1 with Matz opposing.

“How are those issues enforceable, everybody who goes around saying this is a violation about someone’s trash cans sitting on a sidewalk, where do you draw the line?” asked Matz.

“Who goes out and measures that someone’s grass is more than 10 inches long?” asked Councilman Alex McManimen.

Council members, in further discussion, contended that enforcement would be “complaint based,” and pictures would be taken of the violations.

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Three out of six action items for Denver council’s June 12 meeting dealt with borough work slated for this summer.

Bids awarded include Rock Road Construction, Newmanstown, $16,940, for Denver’s rain garden project on the borough lot behind the maintenance building. This project is part of Denver’s stormwater management plan, known as MS4.

Lincoln Pavement Services, Denver, was awarded thermoplastic line marking work at $7,750. Denver started contracting with Lincoln Pavement in 2011 to apply the thermal markings on high traffic streets and intersections in the borough to avoid having to paint these areas annually.

“How many years does the thermoplastic line marking last?” asked resident Mike Cohick.

“About three to four years,” council Vice President Christopher Flory. “On the most heavily traveled streets, like Main and South Fourth, it’s three years.”

Four bids were received for the North Fifth Street reconstruction project. Low bidder was Unitex, Downingtown, with a $128,714.75 bid.

Denver council members also discussed dealing more proactively with property maintenance code issues.

Several council members discussed the length of time that elapses after a violation is noticed, when corrections do not occur, and any action, such as sending the issue to the district justice, happens.

“The borough has protocol in place,” said Mayor Rodney Redcay, “and we need a stronger protocol.”

“Every time we hold a meeting on the future of the town, people request that we crack down on property maintenance violations,” said Councilman Mike Gensemer.

Mike Hession, borough manager, researched Danville’s Quality of Life Ticketing Ordinance, which fines noncompliance of time-sensitive property issues affecting health and safety if the warning letter is not heeded.

“Many property maintenance issues are repeat offenders, year after year,” said Hession. “I had one repeat offender call me and say his grass wasn’t quite 10 inches tall, so why didn’t the borough wait and then send him a letter?”

“That’s why we’ll need to think carefully about an amount to use for a fine,” said Councilman Jason South. “Someone could think that paying, say $20, wouldn’t be a big deal, and choose to not mow his yard.”

“Denver’s had 42 violation notices sent this year,” said Hession. “Three property owners were sent to the district justice and received fines.”

Council agreed, moving forward, to draft a similar ordinance to help expedite dealing with property maintenance issues.

In other business:

* Kinsley Construction notified the borough that preliminary work to relocate water and gas lines for the South Fourth Street bridge replacement project begins the week of June 19. This daytime work uses flaggers to reduce the two lanes to one. Around July 7, a traffic signal will be installed to allow northbound and southbound traffic to alternate through the work zone. The bridge reconstruction project extends until fall 2018.

* Council supports the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks request to contact federal and state legislators to oppose bigger trucks. Concerns include motorist’s safety, weakening of bridges, and road damage which will require more highway maintenance.

* New “Welcome to Denver” signs are to be installed during the week of June 12. Locations are the Main Street Bridge and North Sixth Street.

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