Smith Middle School seventh-grader Olivia Bauermaster recently released a children's book titled "Lemon-Aid: Spreading Kindness One Cup at a Time." The book, which Olivia co-authored with her father and the Providence Elementary School principal, Zac Bauermaster, tells the story of how Olivia and her friends used a lemonade stand to make a positive impact in their community.

Olivia and Zac dedicated the book to the residents of Quarryville and members of the Solanco community. The story was inspired by a lemonade stand Olivia started with her siblings and two other kids from her neighborhood three years ago. The lemonade-slinging youngsters dubbed themselves the "Cul-de-sac Kids," and they made some extra spending money in their first year. The following summer, the Cul-de-sac Kids used the lemonade stand to raise money for Solanco Neighborhood Ministries, which operates a food bank in Quarryville and offers community outreach programs to residents of the area. Members of the community frequently bought cups of lemonade for as much as $50 to support the organization. "It was really amazing," Zac said. "The kids were wondering why people were giving so much, and that's the lesson of compassion and community. It really opened my eyes too, seeing the community come together for one another."

"Once we started donating, more and more people showed up," Olivia said. "So many people came out to help others in the community." Olivia added that the Cul-de-sac Kids plan to operate the stand again next summer to sell copies of the book in addition to ice-cold cups of lemonade.

Although this is the first time Zac and Olivia have collaborated as co-authors, Zac published his first book, "Leading With a Humble Heart," in 2022. The 40-day devotional and leadership guide incorporates Scripture and personal anecdotes from Zac's career as an educator. Zac released his second book, "Leading With PEOPLE: A Six Pillar Framework for Fruitful Leadership," in October 2023. The book, similarly to Zac's devotional, incorporates Christian values as it explores key concepts that Zac considers foundational to successful leadership. But instead of following a 40-day framework, "Leading With PEOPLE" features six chapters. The chapters highlight the importance of giving people empathy, observing their needs, praying for them, prioritizing them, loving them and offering encouragement.

Zac, a Quarryville native and Solanco High School graduate, studied secondary education at Millersville University, and he earned a master's degree in educational technology from Penn State University. Zac continued his education at Drexel University, where he earned a doctorate in educational leadership as well as his superintendent letter of eligibility. Zac has worked as a school administrator in school districts throughout Lancaster County for over a decade, and he returned to Quarryville in December 2022 to become principal of Providence Elementary School.

"Lemon-Aid" is currently available to purchase from online retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.