As the new year begins, it is a good opportunity to reflect one last time on 2022, a year that featured positive news stories that filled the pages of the Community Courier newspaper.

Local pet rescues were highlighted in 2022, specifically those with inspirational stories. Readers learned about a little kitten named Drizzle, who was dumped in the trash and found by a good samaritan who turned him over to Lucky Dawg Animal Rescue (LDAR). LDAR volunteers cared for Drizzle, who weighed only 2.5 ounces when he was found, which included feeding him by hand every four hours for several weeks. Today, Drizzle has found a permanent, loving home and is thriving with his new owners.

Another pet that readers met in 2022 was Cider, the 3-year-old black Labrador retriever that is the Octorara Area School District's facility dog. Cider, who was trained by Susquehanna Service Dogs (SSD), works on a daily basis with the elementary school students, who are able to read to him and share their lessons with him.

One of the most notable events in 2022 was the Parkesburg Sesquicentennial, a three-day celebration held in May. Activities included a parade, musical entertainment, fireworks, Victorian dancing and the crowning of a sesquicentennial queen, king and court. The anniversary marked the incorporation of the borough of Parkesburg, which was originally known as Fountain Inn, named after a tavern built in 1734.

Community service organizations were active again in 2022. The Parkesburg Lions Club held its annual Adopt a Soldier Project, which provided boxes of snacks, toiletries and other items for men and women serving in the military overseas. The Christiana Lions Club spearheaded a collection of supplies for flood victims in eastern Kentucky as well as for tornado victims in western Kentucky. The supplies, including generators, flashlights, bottled water and more, were delivered directly by tractor-trailer and distributed by members of Lions Clubs in the affected areas.

A new organization that formed in 2022 was Everybody Plays! The all-volunteer group is looking to renovate the playground at Minch Park in Parkesburg so that it is accessible to children of all abilities. Plans call for the playground's main structure to be fully wheelchair accessible.

2022 also saw the opening of two important buildings in the area. The Atglen Public Library relocated to 121 Main St., across from the borough hall. With the relocation, the library has more than doubled its size, which allows for additional programming, a snack area, a meeting room and exhibition space to hold art shows.

The Brinton House in Christiana opened as the new home of the Christiana Historical Society. The two-story house is located at 17 Green St., next to Latta Memorial Presbyterian Church. The facility, which is currently undergoing renovations, will include a community room, a meeting space and an area to display historical exhibits.

To read the highlighted stories in their entirety, visit http://www.townlively.com and enter the story topic in the search bar.