By Kelly Benning, Staff Reporter

One boy does donuts with his wheelchair in the outfield. Another grins from his coaches’ praise after making a leaping catch for a ball thrown well over his head. Practice for the Challenger Angels Little League team has begun.  

“The Challenger team provides an opportunity for children with all types of special needs to play baseball when they otherwise wouldn’t be able to on the regular Little League teams,” said Vince McAneney, head coach and vice president of the Berwyn-Paoli Challenger League. 

Volunteers from Conestoga work to make the Challenger players’ dreams possible by acting as buddies, helping the athletes field balls and run the bases. Students also announce  games, keep score and run the snack stand.

Senior Clara-Ann Joyce, a  Little League player since elementary school, is the volunteer coordinator for the Challenger team. Joyce began the volunteer program while earning her Girl Scout Silver Award as a freshman. She said that when she realized that the parents of the players were  doing all of the work instead of enjoying the games, she wanted to give the parents the chance to watch their children play.

“It’s gratifying to be able to help someone who might not normally be able to play,” Joyce said. “It’s fun to see how much the kids are enjoying themselves.” 

Junior Erin Pavillard also volunteers every weekend with the Challenger team.

“I actually look forward to Sunday mornings,” Pavillard said. “I look forward to getting up and helping this team out.” 

Pavillard and fellow junior Shannon Martin are two of Joyce’s Little League softball teammates who regularly volunteer with the team. 

“I don’t even consider it volunteering; it’s just something I love to do,” Martin said. “It teaches the kids that if they have a dream, they can continue to play and not let their disability stop them.”

The players are not the only ones benefiting from the program. Parents of Challenger team members recognize the organization’s impact on their children.

“It’s a great way for them to get out, get some exercise and enjoy all the benefits of being on a team,” parent Robert Lynch said. 

“You can tell that it makes their day better—and that’s what it’s all about,” Pavillard said. 

Kelly Benning can be reached at  kbenning@stoganews.com.

This article originally appeared on p. 18 of the June 7, 2010 issue of The Spoke.

By Margot Field, Staff Reporter

People all over the district agreed an all-day event would bring together Tredyffrin Township’s young and old in a unique way. They called it Community Day, and everyone was invited free of charge to Wilson Park for the celebration. For five years, it served its purpose. Even last year, after the global recession began, no one would have ever guessed that the event would not continue.

But when it came to figuring out how to deal with serious budget concerns, Tredyffrin Township had to call off the annual festival.

With a turnout mostly made up of families, the event had been successful. Tables were set up by local businesses and charities, and activities for children were all around the park. But this year, there were no children’s games, tables or food, because Community Day had become yet another casualty of hard economic times.

When Community Day was cut, its cancellation faced no direct opposition. Those who had attended it dealt with their disappointment.

“[Community Day] showed that T/E was clean and friendly and wanted kids to have fun in a safe environment and to spend time with their families,” freshman Aida Mohajeri said.

But while a good sense of community is important, it was not a top priority. The current financial situation is news to no one, and it is hard to find anyone unaffected. Tredyffrin Township is no exception, and when the time came to make cuts, the board of supervisors had to think seriously.

“You have to look at what essential versus what non-essential,” 3rd District Supervisor John DiBuenoventuro said.

Tredyffrin is not the only township feeling the sting of the recession. Easttown had to come up with more creative ways to cut costs as well.

“We had to defer spending in capital projects,” said Chris Polites, vice chairman of the board of supervisors in Easttown Township.

As far as seeing what stays and goes in the next year, the board will meet again this November to discuss the 2010 budget.

Margot Field can be reached at mfield@stoganews.com.

Printed originally on p. 18 of The Spoke’s Oct. 16, 2009 issue.