The Lititz Sportsmen’s Association has scheduled a Fishing Derby for kids at Riparian Park, located at the intersection of Rte. 772 and Clay Road, on March 30. Registration begins at 6 a.m. with fishing between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The event is designed for kids 15 and under. The Association will be stocking the waters with 1,000 fish. Food and drinks will be available. To learn more, call 572-3421. The 67th annual Lititz Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt is set for this Saturday, 10:30 a.m. sharp at Bonfield Elementary School.

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

A new ordinance that would require regular inspection of all residential rental units within Lititz Borough took a step toward reality Tuesday night when borough council voted to advertise the proposed ordinance for public review. A public hearing on the matter will be held at the start of next month’s borough council meeting.

Council members Todd Fulginiti and Doug Bomberger have been shepherding the ordinance through its various planning stages.

Bomberger stressed the importance of landlords and tenants being aware that there is progress on the new ordinance and that now is their opportunity for comment. As a part of the hearing process, local residents are invited to offer their input.

At the close of the hearing, the council then has 45 days in which to act on the measure. That means that action could take place as early as their April 29 meeting. Should council not act on the measure by the May 28th meeting, it would go back to the drawing board, something council has said they hope to avoid.

Lititz is one of perhaps only a handful of municipalities state wide that don’t already have such an ordinance in place.

Photo by Carl ShumanThe Trombone Choir leads a procession to the shrouded cross in God's Acre at the 2012 Sunrise Service.

Between 2 and 3 a.m. on Easter morning the members of the Moravian Trombone Choir gather at Church Square in Lititz to keep a tradition that is as old as the town itself. After sharing breakfast at the Church, the musicians divide into three groups, moving to various sections of the town, stopping on street corners, under lampposts, to musically announce the Day of Resurrection with chorales such as "Sleepers, Wake!"

It is a tradition as old as Lititz, a town formed by the Moravians in 1756. Like the Christmas Vigils, it is one of those traditions that give character to the community.

About 5:30 a.m. the musicians return to the Church for an interval of rest before the 6:15 a.m. Sunrise Service. This service begins with a brief liturgy in the Church, but soon the doors from the sanctuary are opened, and the congregants stream outside where they hear the Trombone Choir playing the joyful "Jesus Christ is Risen Today."

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

It seems hard to believe that it has been just over a year since the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department came into existence, merging the police forces from Warwick, Clay and Penn townships into one department. Now, the first ever annual report for that new force has been issued, and Warwick Township officials are impressed.

"We were extremely pleased with the report," Supervisors Chairman Logan Myers. He described it as professional and concise, addressing all aspects of policing in the community, as well as the administrative elements of the department. "Very was comprehensive."

"I know the board of supervisors were very pleased with the professional service and dedication provided by Chief Steffen and every member of the NLCRPD in our first year," said township manager Dan Zimmerman. "It takes a tremendous amount of effort to get a new organization up and running. We are also very pleased with our two municipal partners, Clay and Penn Township. The whole effort has exceeded our expectations."

Findings from the first report were made public during the March 20 supervisors meeting. Police Chief David Steffen provided in-depth details of a busy, productive year in which the new force cleared a number of key hurdles.

Wow! We invited readers to send their favorite pet photos for this week’s special section, and the readers responded with nearly 200 pictures. They’re all featured in "Oh, Those Pets!" in this week’s Record Express.

Next month’s theme is Easter/spring, so send us your best shots from this year’s egg hunt.

Reader poll

Also, we’re looking for readers to chime on which theme we should go with for May, veterans or Mother’s Day. Email Steve at sseeber.eph@LNPnews.com with your preference.

Burnell S. Siegrist, 89, formerly of Lititz, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at United Zion Retirement Community in Lititz.

Born in Manheim Township, he was the son of the late Clarence F. and Mattie Stauffer Siegrist. He was the husband of the late Verna Neff Siegrist for 68 years prior to her passing on June 8, 2012.

Siegrist was an active member of Erb Mennonite Church in Lititz. He was a self-employed farmer in Manheim Township and the surrounding area. He was also employed as a dispatcher by Manheim Auto Auction for 45 years. His interests included listening to music.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children: Kenneth L., husband of Elizabeth Harnish Siegrist, of New York; Karen L., wife of J. Mervin Keller, of Maine; and Brenda A. Frey of Lititz; 14 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and a brother: Clarence Jr., husband of Jane Siegrist, of Neffsville. He was preceded in death by two grandchildren: Dale Siegrist and Janice Keller; and two siblings: Rachel Becker and Mark Siegrist.

A funeral service was held March 26 at Erb Mennonite Church, Lititz, with Pastors Wesley D. Siegrist and Michael S. Zimmerman officiating. Interment was in the adjoining cemetery.

Ruth G. Shelly, 93, formerly of Manheim and Lititz, went home to be with the Lord Sunday, March 24, 2013 at Hamilton Arms Center, Lancaster, after a brief illness.

Born in Rapho Township, she was the daughter of the late Herman and Lizzie Souder Geib. A homemaker, Ruth was the loving wife of the late Mahlon N. Shelly, who died in June 2000.

Ruth was the oldest member of East Fairview Church of the Brethren, Manheim. Her interests included vegetable and flower gardening, playing bingo and rooting for the Phillies. She had a life-long passion for her family and enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Surviving are five daughters: Nancy P., wife of Ronald R. Auker of Manheim; Susan D., wife of Jay Zellers of Elizabethtown; Sandra R. Sauder of New Holland; Vickie E. Miller of Sporting Hill; and Lydia M. Crigger of Ebensburg; two sons: Jeffrey L. Shelly; and Dennis N., husband of Paula Ammon Shelly, both of Lititz; 17 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death is a son: Gerald Shelly; sons-in-law: James Sauder, Dennis Miller, Billy Crigger; four brothers: Isaac, Clinton, Elam and Jacob Geib; and four sisters: Elsie Hostetter, Anna Geib, Kathryn Olweiler and Martha Cover.

Catherine M. Mollitor, 77, passed away peacefully Friday, March 22, 2013 in her home surrounded by her loving family.

Formerly of Westbury, N.Y. and Lititz, Catherine resided in Lancaster.

Catherine was born May 5, 1935 in Westbury, and was the daughter of the late William J. and Catherine Kaiser.

She was active in her Village Grande Pool Club. She loved going to the beach and spending time with all of her grandchildren. She was a sales associate at J.C. Penney for 26 years, formerly at Long Island and Park City in Lancaster.

She is survived by a brother, Robert, of Green Valley, Ariz.

She is also survived by her soulmate and husband of 56 wonderful years, Donald, and five children: Donald Jr. (wife Jill) of Franklin Square, N.Y.; James (wife Deborah) of Huntington, N.Y.; Susan Fanning (wife of Tony) of Lititz; Richard (wife Nanette) of Crystal Lake, Ill.; and Gary (wife Anna) of Mountville. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren: Steven, Eric, Nicholas, Anthony, Victoria, Catherine, Claire, Nora, Andrew, Daniel, Jami, Tayler and Macenzi.

The family met with friends March 25 at Charles F. Snyder, Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating her life was held March 26 at St. James Catholic Church in Lititz.

James Franklin Harbison died Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at Luther Acres Manor in Lititz.

Jim is fondly remembered for his love of dogs, photography, fishing and family vacations at the beach.

Born April 28, 1921, Jim was the son of the late James H. Harbison and the late Reba E. Ditzler of Lancaster.

He graduated from J.P. McCaskey High School in 1940, where he played football. He completed training in electronics at Thaddeus Stevens Trade School in Lancaster. He worked as a lab technician for over 40 years at Armstrong Cork Company and had a TV repair business in his home for many years.

Most notably, Jim served in the United States Army in the Battery B 405th, Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion, and was honorably discharged at the rank of Technical Sergeant on Nov. 20, 1945. A decorated veteran, Jim’s WWII duty included battles in Normandy and Northern France.

Jim and his late wife Anna Jean Hemphill were members of the Lititz Moravian Church and lived in Lititz most of their 59 years of marriage.