By: TIFFANY WOODALL Record Express Staff, Staff Writer

Cassidy Godber, Emily Hink and Alyssa Good will march in the Macy's parade Thanksgiving Day morning.

While most of Lititz will be basting turkeys and baking pumpkin pies this Thanksgiving morning, three Warwick High School seniors will be preparing for the march of their lives.

As America tunes into NBC to watch the 86th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Cassidy Godber, Alyssa Good and Emily Hink will be performing in it. Godber and Good secured two spaces in the trumpet section of the 185-member marching band, and Hink landed one of the 50 flag and dancer slots as a member of the color guard.

The Great American Marching Band, now in its seventh season, is a unit comprised of student musicians, flags and dancers from across the country, directed by Dr. Richard Good of Auburn University and Barry Houser from the University of Illinois. Students were required to submit a written application and an audition DVD (flags and dancers) or CD (musicians) to be considered for one of the coveted positions.

By: MELISSA HUNNEFIELD Record Express Staff, Staff Writer

It’s Thursday night, and the last of the Thanksgiving dishes are finally done … and that means Christmas in Lititz is right around the corner.

Hot on the heels of what is expected to be a busy Black Friday for local shops, the community will be ready for the festive jingles that officially kick off the Christmas season here.

By Nov. 30, the historical stars that were recently affixed to the downtown street lamps will be shining brightly, and Lititz Springs Park will be filled with carolers for the annual community tree lighting and address from Mayor Ron Oettel.

Christmas in the Park serves as Part One in a weekend of events that usher November into December.

The Friday night candlelit program begins at 6:30 p.m. and will feature music from the Lititz Moravian Trombone Choir and a sing-along with Warwick High School’s production companies and concert choir. For more information on this event, check out next week’s Record Express.

The following day, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in town for Have Yourself A Merry Lititz Christmas. Children 10 and under can enjoy a special day just for them on Dec. 1. Putting this event together has truly been a community endeavor.

Thank you to everyone who submitted a favorite fall photo for our next "It’s All About You" photo album. Look for your pictures in next week’s Record Express.

And start getting ready for our December pages. The theme is Holiday Traditions.

Send your high-resolution jpegs to Stephen Seeber at sseeber.eph@LNPnews.com. Photos can also be dropped off at our Ephrata office or mailed to P.O. Box 527, Ephrata, PA 17522.

When submitting photos, please include all necessary identifications and your contact information (in case we have any questions). Submitted information should include names of those in the photos, your local connection, where and when the photos were taken, and identity of the photographer.

Please limit the number of submitted photos to three.

By: SARA MILLER Record Express Staff, Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Susan MartinSusan Martin bids Rambo farewell with crackers during his last day at Stonecroft Manor.

It’s an adjustment moving miles away from the only home you’ve ever known.

Rambo, a Jacob ram, can relate. He has been adapting to his new environment, since leaving his familiar farmette in Lititz a few weeks ago for the Philadelphia Zoo, which he now calls home.

"I felt sorry for him at first," said breeder Susan Martin, who lives on the 10-acre Stonecroft Manor near Brickerville with her husband Richard. Together, they have been breeding Jacob sheep for 17 years.

Drawn to the breed’s striking physical appearance and hardiness, the Martins had purchased their first Jacob ewe from the Rockefeller farm in New York.

Susan described the ideal land conditions that Rambo, his friends, family and predecessors — along with a few chickens — freely roamed and grazed on since birth.

But, of Rambo’s departure, she said the zoo staff has been a pleasure to work with, and, "(Rambo)’s never lived in a cleaner area."

By: JANET SCOUTEN Record Express Correspondent, Staff Writer

During this time of thankful feasting, counting blessings often turns toward remembering those who are less fortunate.

For Beth Trachte, pantry coordinator at the Lititz Warwick Community Chest (our local food bank), it’s the ideal time to bring attention to this non-profit’s mission — to provide food on a temporary basis to families and individuals in times of job loss or illness.

"Everybody wants to give at this time of year," Trachte said. "I refer to it as the season of good tidings and great joy."

The number of Lititz people in need, considering the perceived affluence of this community, is surprising.

Trachte said the Community Chest has served 233 families so far in 2012, compared to 150 just a few years ago. Currently, her 50 volunteers are making 46 deliveries a month. During a recent meeting of the Warwick Ministerium, it was reported that 23.8 percent of the Warwick School District student body qualifies for free or reduced lunches.

"That tells me that one out of every four children in our school district is potentially in need," Trachte said. "Lititz hides its poverty very well."

Lititz VFW Post 1463 and Lititz American Legion Garden Spot Post 56 are currently collecting items for care packages to send to military service members deployed away from their regular duty locations.

Items needed include hygiene products like deodorant, shampoo and toothpaste; non-perishable foods such as hard candy, cookies and gum; socks; iTunes gift cards and hand-held games.

Donations may be dropped off at the VFW, the Legion or at either of the following locations: 1555 Highlands Drive, Lititz; 301 E. Main St., Lititz.

For more information, contact Jeff Vance at 940-0600.

The Susquehanna Warriors, comprised of boys from the Warwick Middle School lacrosse team, participated in the 21st annual Turkey Shootout on Saturday, Nov. 10 in Ithaca, N.Y. Susquehanna Bank and Lititz Mutual Insurance sponsored the team which competed in one of the premier fall lacrosse tournaments in the country. More than 65 teams attended from as far away as Chicago, Ill. and countless teams throughout Canada.

The Warriors tested themselves against the rich lacrosse heritage of Philadelphia, New York and Canada and took on the challenge this fall by stepping outside the local area to improve their lacrosse skills.

In the first game, the Warriors faced Mimico Lacrosse Club, established in 1890, from the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario Canada. The Susquehanna Warriors jumped to an early lead and never looked back as they dispatched the Mountaineers 21-0 in a dominant performance.

By: BRUCE MORGAN Record Express Sports Editor, Staff Writer

Dan Cotchen

Dan Cotchen didn’t have to think long about whether he wanted to apply for the vacant Manheim Central varsity girls basketball head coaching position earlier this year.

Getting the chance to join a school with a winning tradition in its athletic programs was a no-brainer.

"I think if you look at the tradition of the school’s athletic program and the competitiveness of their programs, it just seemed like a very good opportunity," the 50-year-old Cotchen said. "Their softball team, I believe, just went to the State championship and their girls volleyball team had a successful year this year and of course their football team is always traditionally good. So it seemed like it was a good program to be part of."

Cotchen was approved for the position at the Manheim Central school board’s August meeting to succeed Tom McCabe, who stepped down after leading the Lady Barons to the Section 3 crown in the 2011-12 season.

His goal now is to help build on Manheim Central winning’s tradition while inheriting a squad that finished 15-9 after falling to Hempfield in the L-L League playoff quarter-finals and then dropping a loss to Susquehanna Township in Districts.