STACEY GAGNE-   If you’re like me, you are still coming to terms with the fact that August is here.   But believe it or not; it’s Back to School season and just a few short weeks from Kids Cookie Break Fest 2015

KCB Fest has become a favorite annual event here at the Junction Center.  This one day festival being held on August 29th is a big hit with Kids Cookie Break fans and and also a great opportunity for families to reach out to neighbors and friends with kids under 12.  Music, games, inflatables, firetrucks, petting zoo, pedal cars, barrel train rides, and more are all offered for free during morning and afternoon sessions from 10am-2pm and 3pm-7pm.

Would you consider joining us and being part of the volunteer team this year?  We need help staffing all the fun areas of the festival.   There are a variety of jobs from parking and stage crew to ticket taking and selling merchandise or snacks.  Maybe you could help with a carnival game or drive a barrel train, pick up trash or help on stage crew.   Please consider joining us on this fun day. Check out our volunteer page and sign up to be a part of the team.

Here are some organizations/ministries that are providing aid relief to Nepal as they recover from the earthquake.  Whether or not you are able to give financially, we encourage you to remember this nation in your prayers.

Samaritans Purse:  http://www.samaritanspurse.org/

MCC:  Mennonite Central Committee http://mcc.org/

Food for the Hungry:  https://fh.org/

World Vision:  http://www.worldvision.org/

GAIN:  http://www.gainusa.org/

YWAM:  http://www.ywam.org/blog/2015/04/27/nepal-quake-relief/

Gospel for Asia:  http://www.gfa.org/

Salvation Army:  http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/

*We encourage you to do your own research on any organizations that you donate through to be sure your finances are going where you intend them to go.

STACEY GAGNE – One of our new traditions since we’ve been here at The Junction Center is our annual WJTL Christmas Open Houses.  We love these evenings listening to music,  and visiting with listeners who stop in for cocoa, cookies and tours as we celebrate Christmas.

Drop by and join us next Tuesday (Dec 16) & Wednesday (Dec 17) anytime between 4pm and 8pm both evenings.   We’ll be here to greet you.  It’s  also a great time for you to drop off your end of the year donation and save a stamp.

We hope to see YOU, but either way, we wish you a Merry Christmas!

STACEY GAGNE – This Saturday, October 4th join WJTL at the Women’s Expo at Lebanon Expo Center.   This one day event hosted by Business Woman magazine features exhibitors, interactive fun, live makeovers, and the latest in women’s health, and more!

In addition to over one hundred exhibitors, there are demos and entertainment throughout the day covering topics from cake decorating and fashion to health screening and musical performances.   Door prizes, drawings and giveaways will take place along with other interactive fun and pampering as you visit the various booths.

Vendor focuses include topics that affect a woman’s life including: beauty,  home, health & wellness, shopping, fashion, finance, technology, nutrition and more.

STACEY GAGNE – Susquehanna Style has released their list of the Best of Lancaster 2014 according to their readers;  and we are thrilled to announce that WJTL was included in their blue ribbon list.   WJTL was voted Favorite Radio Station!

Check out the August edition of Susquehanna Style for the list of all Winners and Staff Picks for Best of Lancaster 2014.   (our ad is on page 63 in the print version) or visit Susquehannastyle.com

Thanks to all who voted and for your impact on WJTL.

Christ. Community. Music

STACEY GAGNE – My heart lept when I received an email this morning from one of our friends at Compassion International who was a part of their recent Sponsor Tour to Ethiopia.  One of the projects that they visited on the tour was Tedecha Mekane Yesus …they are standing where I walked in January 2013 and WJTL listeners in turn sponsored many of these  children during our 26 Hours of Compassion!    JoAnn shared how amazing the Pastor and Project Director at the project are and how the team was impressed and enjoyed their time there with the children.  Maybe you can spot your sponsored child in this picture?!

Our friends from Compassion will have a booth at Creation Festival and there will be opportunities for you to sponsor a child.   If you are at the festival, I encourage you to stop by and prayerfully consider  … or visit the website today and help release a child from poverty in Jesus name.

STACEY GAGNE –   There are tons of great concerts and events taking place at The Junction Center during the tent season which runs all the way into October!  In the midst of all the concerts and events; we host Family Movie Nights every month!  Movie Nights are fun times to come out and enjoy some tasty treats, ride the pedal carts and watch a family movie together.

Family Movie Nights at WJTL are free!  When you reserve your ticket you are given a “Name Your Price” donation option, but that price can be from $0 on up.  We want this to be a blessing to you and your family whether you are prepared to make a donation or not.

Our Monthly Movies include:

June 20:  JONAH!  A Veggietales Movie

July 18: Mary Poppins (1964)

August 15: The Muppet Movie (1979)

September 19: The Parent Trap (1961)

October 17: The Love Bug (1969)

All movie nights begin at 7:00 pm with doors opening at 6:00 pm and are held in the Junction Center Tent at 1875 Junction Rd in Manheim.  Uncle Jerry’s Kettle Corn and Turkey Hill treats and drinks will be available for purchase.

*Parents are always encouraged to research movies to ensure they are compatible with what is acceptable for your family viewing.

STACEY GAGNE – Our 30th Anniversary Concert Event is just a few days away; and we have more fun activities up our sleeve to add to the already exciting line up!

Join us this Saturday when doors open at 4:00 pm for tours of The Junction Center, take a spin on our pedal carts and get a fun photo with your family or friends in the photo booth!   We’ll also be serving free anniversary cake from Country Table Restaurant.   Other food will be available onsite for purchase including treats from Turkey Hill and Uncle Jerry’s Kettle Corn and Catering With Attitude’s food truck.

Some of our friends are helping add to the fun including prizes provided by Turkey Hill Dairy, Sight and Sound Theatres, Walk in Love , Chick-fil-A and more.  We’ve also put together an extra special WJTL prize pack including our brand new full line of tshirts.  We plan to do giveaways throughout the evening.

The program begins at 5:15 with the planned schedule below:

5:15 pm: Welcome
5:20 pm: Dan & Lauren Smith
6:10 pm: City Harbor
7:00 pm: Bob Lenz
8:00 pm: Sanctus Real
9:05 pm: FIREWORKS

Our staff is really excited to celebrate with you.   Tickets are free, but need to be reserved.   Visit thejunctioncenter.com for details.  See YOU Saturday!

STACEY GAGNE –  Dates are available for booking venues at The Junction Center this Fall.   Banquets, corporate events, weddings, concerts, church services, parties, and more can be held in our facilities here at 1875 Junction Road.   We’ve had a great response from guests who have joined us so far.

The Junction Center tent is a Saddleback tent venue with a completely open interior.   When set up in concert style with a stage at one end; it will accommodate approximately 650 people.  Banquet seating capacity is approximately 450 depending on the type of table used.  In “band shell” set up, the audience capacity increases to the thousands.   The marquee tent outside of the larger saddleback tent works great as a greeting area or lobby for  larger events.  It can also be equipped for a smaller group banquet space or party.   Some examples of events hosted so far includes:  S. Clyde Weaver’s company picnic,  Manheim BIC’s combined Easter Service, Child Evangelism Fellowship’s Banquet, Hempfield Baseball end of the year party, Victory Church Young Adult Kick off service, a PA Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau Mixer, National Day of Prayer and various other concerts and events.

We also take reservations for The Millen Room, a cozy 980 square foot café featuring a small stage plus tables and seating for approximately 50 people.  Business Meetings, smaller parties (birthday, bridal and baby showers), luncheons and similar functions work great in this space equipped with a warming kitchen, projection and sound equipment.

More details about the venues are available at thejunctioncenter.com.  Please email chris@wjtl.com for questions specific to your event needs.

STACEY GAGNE – June 7th is coming quickly and we can’t wait to celebrate our 30th Anniversary with YOU here at The Junction Center!

It’s going to be a fun evening with concerts by Sanctus Real, City Harbor and Dan & Lauren Smith.  Our friend and dynamic speaker Bob Lenz will be our guest speaker.    Studio tours will be available.  Come take a spin on our pedal cars.  We’ll have food vendors and goodies on site  and more!  We’ll round out the fun night of celebration with fireworks, which is a first for us!

Information on reserving your tickets and other details are available at thejunctioncenter.com.  Like our other Listener Appreciation concerts;  your donation is appreciated but not required!   We just need you to reserve your tickets and are giving you the option to name your price when you do …  from $0 on up.  (All those details  including tax deduction info. is explained when you order).

Thanks so much to our friends at Turkey Hill Dairy All Natural Ice Cream,  Alan Manufacturing and Supply,  Trinity Law P.C., and  Lancaster Bible College for your sponsorship!  We appreciate you.

Our crew had a blast once again this year at the Cardboard Derby at Roundtop Mountain Resorts.  Teams came out with super creative vessels and even costumes to go along with the theme “Candy Rush”.  Some of the creations were speedy and went the distance, some fell apart before they made it down the hill and others just enjoyed the ride and the fruition of their teamwork.

Thanks to everyone that bundled up and came out to cheer on the teams and all who participated in another fun event.  Thanks also to Roundtop Mountain Resorts for inviting WJTL to be a part of the event.  Here are the results (by Team Name) from the judging and the races:

(video and photos to come soon)

Distance Youth

1st:  Nerds (from Calvary Chapel)

2nd:  Smartie Pants

3rd: One Sweet Ride

4th: Candy Crusher

5th: Nerds f(rom Zion Lutheran)

6th: Big Box of Skittles

Distance Adults

1st: Team Sour Patch

2nd: Mr B Entertainment

3rd: Flaming Marshmellows

4th: Nerds (from York)

5th: Darth Pez

6th: Backwards Piñata

Creativity/Appearance Youth

1st: Battle of the Bulge

2nd: Smartie Pants

3rd; Candy Canes and Bottle Caps

Creativity/Appearance Youth

1st: Candy Rush

2nd: Nerd Dragster

3rd: Darth Pez

Spirit Awards:

Youth:  Tootsie Roll

Adult: Candy Rush