For more than 134 years, the Lititz Record Express has focused its attention on you the reader. The content of the hometown weekly newspaper is uniquely local and is what we mean when we say "It’s All About You."

To formally kick off the debut of this new slogan in the Memorial Day issue of May 24, we would like to invite readers to submit photographs and identifying information for any current or past family member serving in the military for publication in that edition. E-mailed JPEG photo attachments are preferred, but we will also accept quality prints for scanning.

Read more about the "All About You" feature in upcoming editions of the Record Express. In the meantime, be part of the debut on May 24 when we will honor members of our communities who have given so much for their country.

Lititz area veteran photos can be e-mailed to sseeber.eph@lnpnews.com, mailed to P.O. Box 366, Lititz, PA 17543 or dropped off at 1 E. Main St., Ephrata. Photos can be picked up following publication.

The deadline for submitting photos is Tuesday, May 15.

Linden Hall's Carrie Myers is ranked number one nationally in her division.

After an undefeated season and a hard-fought competition at the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) National Finals, Linden Hall’s riding team ended the year ranking seventh out of 2,300 teams nationwide.

The returned to the Lititz campus Sunday night.

The accomplishment is the result of hard work and dedication from coach Jen Merris-Dolk and riders Olivia Gibney, Mackenzie Majeskie, Katie Miller, Carrie Myers, Maren Nordhoy and Alexandra Sethi.

Highlights from Nationals include freshman Myers ranking first overall in her division (novice). Nordhoy, a sophomore, ranked fifth in her division (intermediate), and senior Mackenzie Majeskie ranked sixth in the open rider division, which is the most advanced division in the competition.

Look for full a full feature, along with photos, of the event in next week’s Record Express.

Settled in 1756, Lititz is the home of the first commercial pretzel bakery in North America. The origins of the pretzel date back to early European history. Early German settlers brought their recipes with them to the "colonies," specifically to a new settlement in Warwick Township, Pennsylvania. In 1756 the new settlement was named Lititz.

On April 28, Lititz will celebrate its edible icon with the first inaugural Pretzel Fest, downtown from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Downtown parking will be free the day of the event, which will be held rain or shine.

Riding on the success of the Chocolate Walk held each year in October, members of the Kiwanis Club of the Lititz Area decided to create a similar event to celebrate the pretzel.

Like the Chocolate Walk, the Pretzel Fest will have a recommended route that attendees can travel around town that includes all the tasting and entertainment stops.

The epicenter of Pretzel Fest is the old Rudy Building, 27 E. Main St. Visitors will check in and receive a ticket and ballot for the chef’s competition. Local chefs, including Mike Greco from Greco’s Italian Ice and Tim Whitmyer from Scooter’s, will vie for the award of best use of pretzels in a recipe. Visitors will sample and vote for their favorite. More chefs are joining the competition each day.

By: GARY P. KLINGER Record Express Correspondent, Staff Writer

Lititz Borough Council put its support behind an effort to stop potential stream pollution caused by the drained Speedwell Forge Dam.

On Tuesday night, council expressed support for efforts already undertaken in a joint resolution by Warwick, Elizabeth and Penn townships regarding the Speedwell Forge Dam and Hammer Creek. Warwick was the first to adopt the resolution at its April 18 board of supervisors meeting. Similar resolutions have either been or soon will be adopted by the other two municipalities.

The collective goal is to "ensure the welfare, safety and economic well-being of the Hammer Creek Watershed and the prudent use of taxpayer funds."

The resolution expresses concern that since the dam at the Speedwell Forge Lake has been removed from operation by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, since September 2011, it is allowing for excessive and likely highly contaminated legacy sediment discharge into the Hammer Creek.

By: STEPHEN SEEBER Record Express Staff, Staff Writer

Photo by Preston Whitcraft Warwick second baseman Derrick Shields forces out Ephrata s Paul Larusso and makes the pivot to complete a fourth-inning double play.

Lititz-brewed hefe weizen may be the toast of the town this summer if plans come together for a new brewery on Water Street.

Everything appears to be in place to make that happen as Paul Brown, owner of the former Lititz Junction Tavern at 55 N. Water St., has confirmed that a long-term lease is in place that will allow the Harrisburg-based Appalachian Brewing Co. to open on the second floor of his industrial site within the next two months.

"We’re diligently working so they (ABC) can open soon," Brown said. "I think this is a good addition to the grand scheme of things for Lititz."

The plan is for ABC to operate a restaurant and bar similar to its existing sites in Harrisburg, Gettysburg, Camp Hill and Collegeville. Brown’s liquor license will be transferred to ABC in the coming weeks, and the brewing of specialty Belgian, German and English beers will begin as soon as state permitting is finalized. And because ABC will be occupying an existing use zoned for manufacturing, no action is required by Lititz Borough Council.

By: MICHELLE REIFF AND WENDY KOMANCHECK Special to the Record, Staff Writer

Photo by Stephen Seeber
There was no waiting at the polling site for first ward, first precinct voters in Lititz Tuesday morning. Turnout was expected to be low for the primary election, and when the doors opened at 7 a.m. only one voter was ready to cast his ballot.

For some voters, Tuesday was business as usual for a primary with a presidential race. For others, it was a heated General Assembly race that drew their attention.

Though voter turnout was low in area polls, in some locations only 10 percent reporting, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney received the most votes statewide as expected. In the Warwick School District, Romney also received the most votes, with 1,855, followed by Rick Santorum with 534, Ron Paul with 429 and Newt Gingrich, 421. The GOP will decide if Romney gets the nomination when the chosen delegates attend and vote at the Republican National Convention in August.

This weekend, cyclists of all skill levels will take to the streets of Lititz and the surrounding countryside as they vie for recognition and a piece of the $10,00 in prizes offered in the annual Rock Lititz Tour.

Originally called the Tour de Lititz, the event name was recently changed. Rich Ruoff, Pro Cycling Tour operations manager, explains: "The name changed when the guys at Atomic Design, Tait Towers and Clair Brothers came on in support of the race. They want to support this event and see it grow into the future."

Ruoff expects to draw thousands of visitors from all over the east coast. Saturday starts with a ten mile road race through the scenic countryside. On Sunday the tour features two events, an eight-mile uphill time trial and a short and fast criterium race through town. Said Ruoff, "We will have over 300 riders on Sunday."

Ruoff has big plans for growing the annual race. "We want to develop this race into the largest Pro Am bike race in the East over the next several years," he said.

The most spectator-friendly event is the Sunday afternoon Lititz Criterium, which begins at 12:30 p.m. The race starts and finishes in front of the Rudy Building, 27 E. Main St.

For as long as my memory can be recalled, one thing that has been a part of my life was the excitement and happiness I felt after helping someone else. I have my family, friends and teachers to thank for instilling these values. Now I have the Lititz Fire Department, and the dedicated volunteers who share a similar passion, supplying me with an outlet and support system to continue helping those who live in my new hometown.

Stop reading and take a moment to think about one childhood memory that instantly puts a smile on your face. For me, this was the sound of my local volunteer fire department alert whistle and the green (not the norm) fire trucks speeding past my house. From these moments, I was instantly hooked and could not wait for my chance to become a firefighter. In my previous hometown of Lehighton, I started learning basic firefighting skills while in college. As my career moved me away from my friends and family, and I settled into my new hometown of Lititz, I felt as if pieces of my passion were missing.

The Warwick girls track and field team overcame the elements.

And they overcame a couple of earlier close calls.

On Monday, the Lady Warriors earned their first win of the season, using a dominant advantage in the field events to defeat McCaskey 91-55 in a Section One meet in Lititz.

"Despite the not so spring-like weather, the girls finally pulled out a win," Warwick coach Katie Vann said. "They have come so close on a couple of meets and everything finally clicked today. It was a great all-around effort by the girls team."

The Warwick boys team also had a number of great efforts, but came up a little short against the Tornado, losing 97-54.

"The boys had a tougher time, but we still had some great performances," Vann said. "Ben Mueller, Colin Garner, AJ Sanderson, Keondre Martzall, Landon Hess, Mike Urban and Chris Sandkuhler were our first-place earners … McCaskey had strong sprinters and hurdlers which created tough competition."

Senior Bailey Groves and junior Hannah Grove proved tough to beat in the field events for the Warwick girls. Groves was a triple individual winner in the shot put (35-11 3/4), discus (95-1) and javelin (83-10), while Grove took the long jump (14-4 1/2) and triple jump (31-9) and added a silver in the high jump (4-8), as Warwick held a 50-9 edge in the field.