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VIEW OF THE VALLEY News and Notes from Franklin County
Explore the South Mountain Landscape
South Mountain is a beautiful landscape, a visual piece of paradise that beckons to all the senses. Geographically, the South Mountain corridor of Pennsylvania is an interstate greenway about six to seven miles wide and 40 miles long through parts of Franklin, Cumberland, Adams and York counties. The Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites its southern neighbors to travel“ due north” and explore the beauty and flavor of Pennsylvania’ s South Mountain. Many of Maryland’ s historic events, its agricultural heritage, and cultural roots are spread across the shared north and south landscape of South Mountain.
Throughout 2012, the Franklin County Visitors Bureau, using an $ 11,000 mini-grant from the South Mountain Partnership, worked with the visitors bureaus in Cumberland, Adams and York counties to create a mobile app to discover the treasure of the South Mountain landscape. The app features five established itineraries and also allows users to create their own itinerary from more than 75 sites in the four-county region.
Bodesgeschmack, one of the five ready-to-explore itineraries, highlights the flavor of South Mountain— the delectable foods grown in the fertile soil and the cultural flavor that gives the region its character. Experience the landscape in the historic footsteps of soldiers, seekers and settlers, and discover the many kernels of American history in the heritage of the region. Ramble through the scenic beauty of four state parks or please the palate at one— or all— of five wineries. Pet an alpaca and a miniature horse, and visit an elephant museum. Or, build your own tour and make our South Mountain landscape your South Mountain landscape.
The app is currently available in iTunes and Google Play stores as simply South Mountain. For more information on activities“ due north,” visit ExploreFranklinCountyPA. com and follow Ben
Franklin @ Facebook. com / FCVBen. For more information on the South Mountain Partnership and its initiatives, visit www. southmountainpartnership. org.
Janet Pollard, Franklin County Visitors Bureau
Fun With Fund-Raising
The Butcher Shoppe and the Big Oak Café in Chambersburg offer a variety of fund-raising opportunities to help area groups raise monies needed for trips, uniforms and supplies, or to meet the general expenses necessary to run a good organization. Butcher Shoppe fund-raising opportunities include cookie dough, pizza and subs, make-your-own sandwiches, and coffee sales. Or, sign your group up for a dining week at the Big Oak Café, during which 15 percent of sales benefit the designated organization. It’ s a local option— made fresh in the store, roasted here or baked and sliced fresh on-site— to help groups of all sizes reach their goals. Call 717-263-1918 or visit www. mybutchershoppe. com / fundraising.
JOYFUL PARTNERS IN ART
Greencastle nonprofit Joyful Arts Studio, Inc., has partnered with Menno Haven Retirement Communities to provide an art therapy program for residents with cognitive impairment. Offered at the Menno Village and Penn Hall campuses and made possible through a grant from the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts, Joyful Arts Executive Director Susan Shaffer will teach the Simple Lines drawing course— a well-researched program that aims to increase participants’ quality of life and social interaction, improve cognitive skills, concentration and build confidence.“ We are very thankful and excited to... give our residents a joyful activity that will stimulate cognitive functioning,” says Menno Haven Director of Life Enrichment Katie Ackerman. The program will culminate with an art reception at Menno Haven displaying residents’ artwork.
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