The Penn Manor football team, marching band, and cheerleaders will host our Military Night celebration at the August 30, 2013 home football game.  The event will honor the men and women who serve our country, area veterans and those lost in the line of duty.  The Comets invite all members of the community to attend the game against Solanco High School at Millersville University’s Biemesderfer Stadium at 6:30 p.m.

Members of the military will be recognized throughout the evening. All military, past and present, will be admitted free with military identification. During the marching band’s performance prior to the game, individuals representing each branch of the armed services will be honored on the field. In addition to the activities throughout the evening, the Comets will be honoring the military in several ways that extend beyond the event.

Biodegradable balloons representing local individuals who are currently serving in the military will be released by the Gold Star Moms. Two special Gold Star Moms will participate, with their families, in the balloon launch; Denise Torbert, mother of Eric Torbert, Jr., a Penn Manor graduate and Marine killed in Afghanistan December 18, 2010 and Barb Benard, mother of Brett Adams, a Hempfield graduate who was killed in the line of duty on December 1, 2005 while serving in Iraq.

The Military Night Committee organizing the event asks that names of those serving or lost in the line of duty be submitted to PMMilitaryNight@gmail.com. There is no limit to the number of names you can submit.

Monetary donations collected throughout the August 30^th event will be donated to the Pennsylvania Keystone Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that supports returning soldiers through counseling, education, physical recreation and support.

There will also be an opportunity to donate to the scholarship fund created by the Torbert Family and the scholarship fund created by the Adams Family in memory of their sons. These scholarships are awarded to graduating seniors each year.

The Comets are also asking attendees to donate items for the Victory House. The Victory House is an organization in Lancaster that provides short term housing for homeless veterans. The items needed include shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, soap, tissues, body wash, toothpaste, tooth brushes, disposable razors, and shaving cream.

At this year’s FFA Activities Week held at Penn State University in June, twenty-three Manor FFA members competed in five Career Development Events – Poultry Evaluation and Technology, Agronomy, Floriculture and Small Animal/Vet Science. The teams competed against other FFA members from across the state. Manor FFA’s Poultry Evaluation team and Agronomy team earned first place finishes and a trip to compete in the National FFA Poultry Evaluation competition during the National FFA Convention in Louisville, KY in October.

The Vet Science team competed in the largest contest of the day where they finished 9th as a team in a field of over 107 contestants. Taylor Lefever and Kylee Myers competed as individuals in Floriculture. Katrina Reiff represented Manor FFA as a delegate to the Pennsylvania State FFA Association. The delegates represent FFA chapters from across the state and are involved in committees where recommendations are made for policy changes in the FFA.

In addition, Manor FFA completed the Chapter Evaluation Award application that includes FFA activities on the national, state and local levels. This application is completed by a committee of students and is evaluated by a team of Agriculture teachers and Penn State University personnel. Manor FFA earned a gold award in this category and the application will be submitted for competition at the national FFA level.

Spring Fling, the annual community carnival, will be held at Comet Field on Friday, May 17 from 3 pm to 9:00 pm. This event is planned by Penn Manor High School students for the enjoyment of the entire Penn Manor community. Everyone is invited!  High school bands and soloists will be taking to the stage to provide live entertainment from 4 pm to 9 pm. High school sports teams and extra-curricular groups will have booths with carnival games and lots of different types of food. Amusement rides and inflatables will also be featured. New this year – a hot dog and a watermelon eating contest, a car smash and a make-your-own sundae bar! Fireworks will close the event and will begin at 9:00 pm. There is no charge to attend this event and the parking is free. The event will be held rain or shine.

Pictured from left to right – senior class coordinators Adam Hess and Savannah Blake; junior class interns Alissa Herr and Brad Seiger.

Corporal John Michener of the Southern Regional Police Department took time to stop by Pequea Elementary recently to read to Mrs. Drexel’s kindergarten class. The students listened to the humorous story of Officer Buckle & Gloria by Peggy Rathmann and asked Corporal Michener questions about his job. The Southern Regional police officers have been visiting Pequea, as well as Conestoga Elementary School, frequently this year reading to students, visiting classrooms and joining the students for lunch. The school visits help students to build connections with the police officers.