Mount Joy has a story to tell, and Dave Schell wants to tell it. Schell, executive director of Main Street Mount Joy, is working on a podcast about Mount Joy. He hopes to launch the podcast in late March or early April.

Doing a podcast has been on Schell's mind since he started at Main Street Mount Joy three years ago. "I had a lot of the older-generation residents of Mount Joy coming in and asking me if I knew what my office used to be 40 years ago," he recalled. "They started talking about what businesses used to be at different places in Mount Joy and how Mount Joy has changed over the years. ... I realized that as time goes by, all those memories could be lost."

Although Mount Joy has a historical society, Schell wanted something he could record so people could listen to the history for years to come.

"I had been doing videos around Mount Joy, showing the back side of a business, like how a restaurant makes food or how Twisted Bine makes beer," he stated. "Some people don't like to be on camera, but they are happy to talk about their business all day, so this seems like a good fit for that."

Along with spotlighting Mount Joy businesses, Schell plans to include episodes on local nonprofits, civic organizations and Mount Joy residents.

"I want to introduce the public works department to the community," he said. "I want to focus on the police force, on the Lions Club, on the library, on a variety of nonprofits. I want other people to know what these organizations do and how we all work together to make Mount Joy a better place."

Schell plans to record episodes in the Main Street Mount Joy office but will also take his equipment to businesses or residents' homes to record.

"I want this to feel like we're just sitting down and talking," he remarked. "It will be done in a relaxed, conversational type of way."

He has just begun to spread the word about the podcast and said he's already received suggestions for businesses and interesting residents to feature. He emphasized that it will take a few weeks to work out the kinks of doing the podcast.

"I ask people to be patient with us as we figure it out," he said. "The first episodes may be a little rocky, but we'll get there."

Above all, he wants the podcast to shine a positive light on what's happening in Mount Joy while also highlighting the borough's rich history.

"I look at this podcast as a great way of introducing people to Mount Joy," Schell stated. "I'm excited to get started."

For more information on the podcast or to suggest topics, contact Main Street Mount Joy at 717-653-4227 or visit http://www.facebook.com/MainStreetMountJoy.