Susquehanna Style November 2022

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Strength

As we celebrate this year’s Women of Strength, I am honored to introduce myself as Susquehanna Style’s new Associate Publisher. Born and raised in Lancaster, my love for all communities in Lancaster County and the Susquehanna Valley runs deep—as such, it is a privilege to work with a trusted brand that serves the communities and businesses I’ve loved and supported all my life.

An even greater honor is the privilege to commemorate those featured in this month’s Women’s Edition. All of the women nominated and selected are local changemakers exhibiting strength, leadership, humility, and ingenuity. We as a team at Susquehanna Style are elated to share their stories that are truly an inspiration to not only to women, but also to all.

In celebration and appreciation of all women, we are thrilled to host our annual Celebrate Women event on November 17 at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square & Lancaster County Convention Center. Join us for a night of festivities and the opportunity to network with incredible women as you indulge in self-care that will include food, beverages, shopping, fashion, pampering, and inspiration.

With no further ado, please read on and enjoy the stories of empowering local women who we are sure will inspire and touch your heart, just as they have ours.

We hope to see you on November 17!

Visit susquehannastyle.com/celebrate/celebrate-women-2022 to reserve your tickets for this year’s Celebrate Women event.

THERESA

Paul Prass

Lisa Prass

Theresa Stoddard

Erica Montes

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES

Sue Ottenheimer, Sherry

Madison

Marianna

Joshua

Rachael

Karlo Gesner

Karen

Stotler

Kate Pistone

ACCOUNTING

Donna Bachman, Sarah Varano

CIRCULATION MANAGER

Andrea Karges

CONTACT US:

Editorial: Send your compliments, comments, story ideas, and suggestions to: Editor, Susquehanna Style, 202 Butler Avenue, Suite 102, Lancaster, PA 17601; or tstoddard@susquehannastyle.com.

Subscriptions and Backorders: For new subscriptions, changes of address, or questions about an existing subscription, call 800-896-1392, Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., EST. Annual subscriptions (11 issues/year) are $12. Postmaster please send returns to: Susquehanna Style, P.O. Box 2548, Orlando, FL 32802.

Advertising: To request a media kit or to receive other information on advertising, call 717-581-6550, fax 1-717-581-6552, or visit www.SusquehannaStyle.com.

Staff directory at www.SusquehannaStyle.com or call 717-581-6550.

SUSQUEHANNASTYLE.COM

LEVEL UP YOUR THANKSGIVING TABLESCAPE

Want to impress your friends and family with a stunning tablescape? We’ve got you covered with these interior decor ideas.

PLAN THE PERFECT DATE NIGHT

Shake up your date night routine with these fun ideas to get you out on the town.

HISTORY IN OUR BACKYARD

Brush up on your Susquehanna Valley knowledge and check out some of the region’s most historic spots.

DAY AT THE MUSEUM

Looking for family-friendly activities this time of year? Stay warm and head to these museums for a full day of fun.

HOW TO CREATE A HEALTHY WORK-LIFE RELATIONSHIP

Holly Mann of Fresh Habits has tips and tricks to help you find your balance.

LIFESTYLE

TALK OF THE

BY MARIANNA TORRES

Coatesville

November is the perfect month for a mini day trip to Coatesville. From seeing the last bits of fall foliage in the park to prepping your skin for winter at the spa, discover why we think you should put this Chester County city on your list of spots to visit.

STARGAZERS VINEYARD

Considered a “hidden gem” in Chester County, Stargazers Vineyard is definitely a local favorite. With a welcoming staff, calming environment, and picturesque views, it’s no wonder patrons say it’s a go-to spot for date night or even just to celebrate with friends after a long week. At Stargazer’s, they love to create community and do so through their many events like sip & paints, yoga, live music, and more. Definitely put this one on your bucket list!

1024 Wheatland Dr, Coatesville, PA stargazersvineyard.com

THE RECORD KITCHEN + BAR

Wood-fired pizza, fresh-baked sandwiches, and a robust rotation of libations–what more could you ask for? The Record Kitchen + Bar is the newest restaurant to come to Downtown Coatesville in a renovated space that was once home to a local newspaper. Stay tuned to their social media channels for major updates on new menu items and events.

204 E Lincoln Hwy, Coatesville, PA therecordcoatesville.com

PIERIS LUXURY DAY SPA

Looking for a little R&R? Pieris Luxury Day Spa is the spot for an afternoon of treating yourself. Whether you need a massage or a facial, you’ll feel immediately rejuvenated and transcended into bliss. Be sure to head to their website and make yourself an appointment. You deserve it!

116 Quarry Rd, Coatesville, PA pierisdayspa.com

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STARGAZERS VINEYARD, THE RECORD KITCHEN + BAR,

PIERIS LUXURY DAY SPA, LOOKER BOOKS, HIBERNIA COUNTY PARK

LOOKER BOOKS

Looker Books is Downtown Coatesville’s newest pop-up bookstore. Their mission is to bring together community and harvest imagination in a quaint and cozy environment. Their books and gifts are geared toward a variety of genres and ages–everyone is welcome to express their curiosity and creativity at Looker Books.

E Lincoln Hwy, Coatesville, PA

HIBERNIA COUNTY PARK

Reset and connect with nature at one of Chester County’s finest, Hibernia County Park. There, you’ll find hidden trails and walkways where you can fully decompress from the stresses of daily life. Want a bit more excitement? The park also features fishing, boating, and tours of Hibernia Mansion–a restored 19th century property that was once home to ironmasters.

Park Rd, Coatesville, PA

RESULTS

SPOTLIGHTS HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Ville & Rue

8 W King St, Ste 816, Lancaster, PA 717-723-9639 | villeandrue.com

From products for your furry friends, to beautiful home decor for someone special, find the perfect gift for everyone on your list this Holiday season at these local hotspots.

Basset & Lab

1352 Harrisburg Pke, Lancaster, PA 717-288-1200 | bassetandlab.com

Celebrate your furry friend with a visit to Basset & Lab on Harrisburg Pike, and see their selection of holiday toys, treats, and gifts.

This holiday season, treat your pup to a delicious feast. Basset and Lab is taking orders for fresh-cooked holiday dinners from the Bistro! Visit them on social media or at bassetandlab.com for details.

Ville & Rue is a home furnishings, design, and gift store that offers a wonderful selection of gifts for the Susquehanna Valley lover. From locally made tea towels and bottle openers to drinkware and ornaments, show your hometown pride with these great gifts for anyone this holiday season!

cards and nationwide

Hounds N Herbs, LLC

2519 S Queen St, York, PA 717-804-9111 | houndsnherbs.com

Your pet deserves the best organic foods, treats, supplements, professional expert grooming, and luxury spa treatments. Hounds N Herbs has over 33 years of experience in masterful show and pet grooming, with a holistic approach to nutrition and herbal remedies, our knowledgeable staff and Certified Master Groomer is here to educate, teaching pet grooming and to pamper your pet. Pets’ wellness is our lifestyle!

Lark Modern Marketplace

Lincoln Sq, Gettysburg, PA | 717-334-5275

larkgifts.com

Looking for the perfect gift? Lark – A Modern Marketplace is known as Gettysburg’s go-to shop for fun, funky and fabulous gifts. Lark occupies 5,000 square feet in a beautifully renovated building located on Lincoln Square in the heart of historic downtown Gettysburg. Lark isn’t about mass-produced products, nor is it an art gallery. What you will find are wonderful items made by small businesses that are design-oriented, handmade, fair-trade, and unique, featuring the qualities of excitement, design, craftsmanship—any element that stands out that can tell a story. Step inside and find out why Lark’s customers continue to be surprised and delighted with every shopping experience.

Mela Kitchen at Jack’s Cider House

1865 Gettysburg Village Dr, Gettysburg, PA 717-334-4888 | melakitchen.com

Mela Kitchen at Jack’s Cider House is located in the Jack’s Hard Cider production facility. Our food is simple, seasonal, and always packed with flavor. Visit for a farm-to-table dining experience like no other. We are located in historic Gettysburg nestled behind the Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg.

Heritage Design Interiors Inc

E Main St, New Holland, PA | 717-354-2233

Holiday Open House ~ Starting November 3rd, our store is the perfect place to start your holiday decorating. Located in an old historic inn, it’s the perfect backdrop to gather holiday decorating ideas. Five trees and five mantels are decorated in different themes and colors. A beautiful selection of ornaments, holiday decor, floral designs, wreaths, Santas, reindeer, candles, and more will inspire you! Our retail store is open all year with artwork, mirrors, lamps, silks, accessories, decor, candles, and more! Heritage Design Interior specializes in window treatments & home decor along with design consultations. We offer custom-made window treatments, blinds and shutters, bedding, wallpaper, accent furniture, and more.

out our website and social media for more details.

BY RACHEL CURRY PHOTOGRAPHY BY KARLO GESNER

A Concrete Rose Blooms In Lancaster “Long live the rose that grew from concrete.” -Tupac Shakur

Between 1989–1991, the late Tupak Shakur wrote a collection of poetry that went on to be published posthumously at the end of the millenium. Evita Colon and Solise White are the co-owners of A Concrete Rose Bookbar, one of Lancaster’s newest hangouts. The name is an homage to Shakur, whose poem, “The Rose That grew from Concrete”, encapsulates strength, growth, and beauty despite all obstacles.

A Concrete Rose Bookbar is an amalgamation of books, beverages, art, poetry, events, community, and Black excellence. In short, “it’s a manifestation of all our dreams coming true together,” says Colon.

For A Concrete Rose, books are not just merchandise—they’re a tool for connectivity and growth. The bookbar features authors from the African diaspora (think Shakur’s legendary poetry collection, and Lancaster local Ali Kamanda’s esteemed “Black Boy, Black Boy”). White says, “We want to use the literature that we have here as an opportunity to host discussions about our differences and our similarities, to bring people together so that we all grow together as a community.”

The bookbar features wine from Allegro Winery and Pinnacle Ridge as well as some beer selections from Lancaster Brewing Company. To further invoke a sense of community, visitors receive a wristband and serve themselves through a self-pour system. Tapas, or small plates, enhance the experience.

As a whole, A Concrete Rose is a huge proponent of art, as evidenced by its hand-painted walls. Local Lancaster artist Keisha Finnie painted the walls a one-of-a-kind print (with matching mugs to boot).

The art gallery will feature a quarterly exhibit of selected artists, and artists can submit their collections to A Concrete Rose for showing on the walls. The bookbar’s first installation is Bryan “King Prolifik” Hickman’s “Ode to the Orishas”.

“We’re really big on amplifying local artists, especially BIPOC local artists, and giving them opportunities that we may lack as a community,” says Colon.

White and Colon’s bookbar has a lot to offer in its interior—but its location makes a statement, too. It’s situated in Southeast Lancaster, where Colon grew up. “My childhood home is literally around the corner. It means a lot to me, because I come from a part of Lancaster that is often written off, and it’s very beautiful,” she says. “There’s a lot of talent here; there’s a lot of potential here, and I’m a product of that. I’m a product of this community that has raised me and has provided me with a lot of encouragement and love during some very difficult times in my life. It means the world to come back to this community specifically, and assist and encourage and empower the people here to follow their own dreams or overcome their own challenges.”

White, who grew up in New York City, can relate to a challenging upbringing. That’s what makes Shakur’s poetry so relevant. A rose growing from concrete seems impossible, but there are ways to emerge from a difficult environment. “You grow from overcoming challenges, and it makes your process more beautiful,” White says. “It makes the rose more beautiful.”

Visitors that make their way to A Concrete Rose can expect no shortage of entertainment, including jazz night, open mic and spoken word events, and other classes and programs. The co-owners have plenty of experience hosting events and maintain an extensive network of local artists to tap into thanks to Lancaster’s fruitful scene. Visitors will also be able to access Black Voices Magazine right in the bookbar. Collaborations with the City of Lancaster and local authors and artists prove just how integral A Concrete Rose is to the community, even as a young business.

“Sometimes we’re overlooked here in Lancaster,” Colon says, but supporting and uplifting the local community works against that.

Above all, A Concrete Rose Bookbar serves as a safe space for the Lancaster community and beyond. It’s poised to attract tourists and visitors from all over, while simultaneously helping locals access an environment and resources they may not have been able to before.

Another Shakur poem, “Ambition Over Adversity”, says, “Turn adversity into ambition. Now blossom into wealth.” Through A Concrete Rose Bookbar, Colon and White have embodied this notion—for themselves and their community at large.

6 Tips For Healthy Lungs

This Fall (or any season)

We know that physical health is more than just eating the right foods and working out regularly–especially when it comes to respiratory health. Many people don’t think about the importance of their lung health until they experience a breathing problem or other issue.

Your lungs provide oxygen and keep every other organ functioning by removing carbon dioxide from your body. While genetics and disease can affect the health of your lungs, there are simple things you can do each day that will actually help keep your lungs healthy and functioning at the top of their game.

We’re sharing six simple tips for healthy lungs this fall that you can start today for strong and healthy lungs.

1. Practice Deep Breathing

Deep breathing is a technique used to help reach your lungs’ full capacity.

As you slowly inhale, consciously expand your belly while making an effort to lower your diaphragm. Next, expand your ribs, allowing them to pull open like wings. Finally, allow the upper chest to expand and lift up. During your exhale, allow your chest to fall, contract your ribs, and bring your stomach muscles in and up to lift the diaphragm and release all of the air in your lungs.

After a few weeks of practicing regular deep breathing, you’ll notice your breaths feel fuller and your oxygen richer.

2. Count your Breaths

In addition to deep breathing, counting your breaths is a great way to increase your lungs’ capacity. Counting your breaths increases the length of your inhales and exhales gradually.

First, start with counting how long a normal breath takes you. For example, if you naturally inhale for 4 counts, your exhale should be the same number. After assessing your current breath count, try adding one more count to your breathing until you can comfortably extend to that new length. As that feels easier and easier, add another count and so on.

Don’t push your lungs past straining or discomfort, but use this practice as a tool to strengthen your lungs over time.

3. Be Aware of your Posture

Did you know that your posture can affect how well your lungs are–or aren’t–functioning? Because lungs are made up of soft tissue, they only use the space you give them.

Remember to watch your posture and give your lungs space to work their best to increase your lungs’ capacity and function. Try to sit up tall and reach overhead once or twice a day to make more room for your lungs and to improve your posture.

4. Stay Hydrated

The importance of staying hydrated is not new news regarding your health, but you may not realize hydration affects your lungs and how well they operate. Staying well-hydrated by taking in fluids throughout the day helps keep the mucosal linings in the lungs thin, allowing the lungs to function at their best.

Drink up!

BY SALLY RICKER

5. Laugh

As if we didn’t need another reason to enjoy some laughter in our days, laughing is actually a great way to exercise your lungs and work the abdominal muscles, ultimately increasing your lungs’ capacity. Laughing also clears out your lungs, meaning stale air that has been trapped deep in your lungs gets released and new, fresh air has more room to enter.

6. Stay Active

Staying active and participating in regular exercise help keep your lungs in their best shape. By moving daily and conditioning your lungs, not only do you keep your lungs healthy, but you also enjoy so many additional health benefits, from a healthier heart and stronger muscles to an overall enhanced mood.

Try to get at least 30 minutes of consistent movement daily, which could include anything from walking your dog or running around with kids to hitting the gym, participating in a sport, or any other form of movement you enjoy.

A WISE

Sage Café: A wise choice for dining

A haven of peace in Carlisle

BY M. DIANE MCCORMICK PHOTOGRAPHY BY KARLO GESNER

Taryn Farhat had a vision for her restaurant. Something different. Something with character. In a pre-Civil War building on Carlisle’s fun and funky Pomfret Street, she found the ideal setting for Sage Café.

“We came to Carlisle and found this and just fell in love with it right away,” she says.

In Carlisle’s bustling restaurant scene, Sage Café is a new entrant. Here in this vibrant BYOB, dishes prepared by an experienced, well-traveled chef offer classic comfort reimagined for contemporary tastes.

Sage Café is the dream of Farhat, an entrepreneurial foodservice veteran who formerly owned the Pizza Delight restaurants in Harrisburg and Elizabethtown.

As her daughters (now 15, 17, and 18) reached their teens, she sought out an experience that would incorporate them.

“I wanted to venture out and do something for myself but also with them involved, because that was a huge part of my life,” she says. “That was my priority.”

She found her spot in the building that once housed Trattoria Piatto. Nineteenth-century touches abound—arched entrance, fireplace, grand staircase, and the distinctive enclosed side porch.

Two and a half years of major renovations augmented the vintage character with modern touches and conveniences. An addition expanded the kitchen, added bathrooms, and created a balcony wrapped in windows.

The view from the brick-walled balcony incorporates the street, the courtyard, and a true novelty—the building’s ornate, original, three-seater outhouse, now serving as a storage shed. When others advised getting rid of it, Farhat resisted.

“I said I’d like to keep it and paint it,” she says. “It matches the colors of our exterior. It’s part of the history of this place.”

A newly built courtyard offers al fresco dining beside the colorful Pat Craig Studios next door.

“The lights at night are amazing,” Farhat says. “It’s nice to have this outdoor seating in the city. You can bring a bottle of wine and just sit out here.”

Carlisle’s love of unique places was a big reason for locating in town. The café has participated in Pomfret Street events, and Farhat has found she can turn to her neighbors whenever she has a question.

Holiday Shopping Made

Legendary

“I like the community feel,” she says. “I like the shops and the art. On Pomfret Street, I saw that I could make it what I wanted. I didn’t want a box. I wanted something unique, individual, something different.”

With its intimate spaces, including one room equipped with a television screen, Sage Café takes reservations for meetings and gatherings. Guests often request the semi-private “Chandelier Room,” nestled behind original pocket doors but bright with natural light and the glow from the eye-catching light fixture of mid-century-modern orbital bands encircling blingy Victorian crystals.

Farhat’s middle daughter, Olivia, is a natural at restaurant management. She and a friend of Farhat’s collaborated on the décor done in soft grays and whites, with natural touches throughout. Don’t miss the Instagram-worthy installation on the side porch featuring the letters SAGE decked out in flowers and greenery.

Recently, Sage Café switched to lunch and, on some nights, dinner service, a change from the original breakfast and lunch. The lunch menu, available all day, features handmade pizzas, and such salads as the ginger chicken salad served with honey-peanut dressing. Handhelds include the grilled portobello, a black angus burger, and Farhat’s favorite, the nutty chicken sandwich of chicken breast encrusted with nuts and oats and served with sweet-chili mayonnaise.

Dinner choices include bow tie carbonara or the sunset chicken coated in oats and pecans and lightly sauced with accents of honey, peanuts, and ginger. The tenderloin stuffed with gorgonzola, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach, all glazed with a marsala wine-mushroom sauce, is another favorite of Farhat’s.

The menu comes from chef Russ Freeman, formerly of the award-winning Café on Market and New Market Bistro in Camp Hill. His travels in 48 states and six countries have inspired the

selection. With a commitment to local,

many dishes with fresh produce from Whistleberry Farm and prime quality beef from Carwood Farm, both of Boiling Springs. A full coffee bar offers coffee, espresso, lattes, mochas, and cappuccinos, plus teas.

Farhat’s love of animals is visible in the display of paintings of adoptable dogs from Cheddar Paws Dog Art. On a recent morning, the café got a visit from a dog that found its fur-ever home during a Speranza adoption event held there last spring.

“I’ve always wanted to be able to do something with the community through this restaurant, something special that made a difference,” Farhat says.

The neighborhood and a growing retinue of regular customers have been quick to welcome Sage Café since it opened in November 2021. Farhat feels she is achieving her vision of a comfortable place for friends and family to gather. It’s all in the name.

“The name Sage, to me, feels calm and relaxing,” she says. “It gives an overall feeling of peace, and I wanted it to resonate in my life and all around. That’s what I’m aiming for, just a place for people to get together and have fun, food, drinks, and relaxation.”

FESTIVE Sweets to spice up the Season

BY DIANA SMEDLEY

Holiday Hand Pies

Makes 12 Pies

These holiday treats are easy to whip up in a pinch. Use whatever sweet preserves you have on hand. I’m using Christina Maser’s Apple Conserve, but a cranberry or plum jam would bring the seasonal vibe, as well. I find joy in making homemade pie crust, but if that’s not your thing, get a storebought puff pastry or rolled-up pie dough. When my mother-in-law visits and she’s three hours early, this is my go-to, tea-time treat.

@christina_maser_co

1 batch of pie crust dough

8 oz jar of Maser’s Apple Conserve

1 beaten egg Cinnamon sugar, for dusting

To make pie crust dough: Toss the 2 ½ cups flour and 1 tsp. salt together in a bowl. Using your fingers, rub and pinch 1 cup of cold butter into the flour until you get little pieces and the mixture looks like little peas. Add a splash of cold water, and gradually knead until you have one dough ball.

1. With a rolling pin dusted lightly with flour, roll out dough to ¼ inch thickness.

2. Use a large round cookie cutter or jar lid to cut out rounds.

3. Fill each round with a generous Tbsp. of conserve in the center. Try not to over-fill them. If you do, they might leak, but that’s not a big deal.

4. P ull one side of the dough over to get a half-circle shape. Crimp the edges with a fork, and make a slit in the top to let out steam.

5. Place on a baking sheet and let chill for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375° F.

6. Remove from fridge, brush with beaten egg, and dust with some cinnamon sugar.

7. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until the filling, bubbles out of the top slit. Let cool slightly, and serve warm if possible.

8. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Meet Chef Diana Smedley, your guide to seasonal cooking in Lancaster County. Diana believes that what grows together, goes together, and she’s on a mission to help home cooks by making it easy to enjoy local, seasonal food. Memories are made in the kitchen, so get cooking!

Chef Diana is the co-founder of Lancaster Local Provisions, a luxury gift box company based in Lancaster, PA. Lancaster Local Provisions curates artisanal products from small-batch food producers in Pennsylvania and creates signature gift boxes that are shipped around the USA. For easy and meaningful gifts this holiday season, shop their Lancaster-Centric gift boxes at lancasterlocalprovisions.com. Check out all of Chef Diana’s easy seasonal recipes at whatgrowstogether.com.

DISH

Five Spice Gingersnaps

Makes 24 Cookies

Chinese Five Spice Powder refers to the five traditional Chinese elements: wood, fire, metal, earth, and water. It’s an earthy and sweet spice that’s a great addition to any pantry and can be found at Calicutts Spice Co. The spice blend that I’m using is a combination of cinnamon, fennel, star anise, clove, and peppercorn. This spice combo also works great in a beef stew.

@calicuttsspiceco

1 cup All Purpose Flour

1½ cups white whole wheat flour

1½ tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp five spice

1 tsp salt

2 tsp baking soda

¾ cup butter, room temperature

1 cup of white sugar

¼ cup molasses (I prefer Grandma’s Brand molasses.)

1 egg

1 cup demerara sugar or raw sugar

1. P reheat oven to 350° F.

2. Combine all the dry ingredients, except the sugars, in a bowl.

3. In a mixer, cream the butter and white sugar until light and fluffy. Then add in the molasses and egg, mixing to incorporate after each addition. Slowly add the mixed dry ingredients, and combine until dough forms.

4. Form walnut-sized dough balls, and roll each ball in the Demerara Sugar. (You can use regular white sugar if you’d like.) Place 6 balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Make sure to leave enough space between the dough balls, as the cookies tend to spread out while baking. Bake these cookies in 2 batches.

5. Bake for 10-12 minutes until cookies begin to crack and get crisp around the edges. Remove from oven, and transfer to cooling rack. They will flatten as they cool.

6. Cookies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Extra Recipe: These cookies are perfect for homemade ice cream sandwiches. I’ve paired mine with pumpkin ice cream. Let the cookies cool completely, and soften your ice cream. Scoop ice cream onto a cookie, and place another cookie on top. Freeze till solid on a baking sheet, then wrap in plastic wrap. They will survive about a month in the freezer without getting burned.

SStrength HARED

As we approach the holiday season—a time of giving and thanks, joy and celebration—there’s no better time to celebrate and appreciate special people in our midst. Susquehanna Style’s 2022 Women of Strength are all, in their own ways, sharing their talents, gifts, and strengths for our community’s greater good. It’s our honor to introduce five outstanding women making a difference in the lives of others, all 365 days of the year.

BY KAREN HENDRICKS

How Susquehanna Style’s 2022 WOMEN OF STRENGTH are sharing their talents and improving the lives of others across the Susquehanna Valley.

Lingenfelter Corrie

director appealed to Lingenfelter, as a former chef, she stepped up to the plate—and the rest is history.

Lf

CORRIE LINGENFELTER SAYS she was “taken aback, very surprised and honored” to learn she was nominated as a 2022 Susquehanna Style Woman of Strength.

“I pride myself on being a woman of strength, but to actually get an award for it—I was like, ‘Wow,’” says the 32-year-old Carlisle resident.

Lingenfelter’s name and identity, to many, is “Chef Corrie.” A Bedfordarea native, she launched her culinary career at the exclusive Omni Bedford Springs Resort.

“I was the fine dining chef, which started me on this journey of what I thought I wanted to do. It’s a great lifestyle you’re opened up to, cooking for celebrities,” says Lingenfelter, whose next stop was Harvest, within the Hotel Hershey.

“Then I kind of got burned out,” says Lingenfelter, who returned to school, refocused on public relations, and launched a new position running the office and social media for Downtown Daily Bread. The nonprofit soup kitchen and night shelter for homeless men is a mission of Harrisburg’s Pine Street Presbyterian Church. That was June of 2018. But two days before Thanksgiving, the cook quit. When her

“I had never cooked that way before—a lot more high-volume—but it opened me up to a sense of community. I had to pivot, but I fell in love with being able to feed people and being a resource for the community,” Lingenfelter reflects. “It made my life more purposeful.”

Today, she cooks for as many as 150 people daily. In the open-concept kitchen, she knows every guest by name. Her stuffed French toast casserole is a breakfast favorite, while chicken corn soup is one of her popular comfort food lunches.

Lingenfelter has racked up awards and honors, from winning The Central PA Chopped Competition to publishing a cookbook, “Feeding the People,” to share her recipes with other soup kitchen chefs. Simultaneously, Lingenfelter juggled motherhood, becoming a teen mother at the age of 17.

“Even as a pastor’s kid myself, it was very hard,” Lingenfelter says. “My daughter is now a freshman in high school, and she’s a blessing, my focal point. My parents were very big on generational wealth, and it’s an everyday legacy I continue to leave for her—she loves to cook with me. Being a mother is one of the hardest careers—the most challenging, yet most rewarding.”

And Lingenfelter has a new goal: She founded The Lynn Project, a nonprofit community food pantry.

“My father has passed away, but both of our middle names were Lynn,” she explains.

Strength, to Lingenfelter, means “pulling from your inner self to get things done. As women, we’re never off the clock. There’s an inner voice that says, ‘OK girl, you got this.’”

For more info, see downtowndailybread.org. “Feeding the People” is available on Amazon.

TIFFANY SHIRLEY, as a volunteer, plays a role in one of Lancaster County’s biggest events. Lancaster Pride, in fact, has become so big that Shirley has a problem on her hands.

“My number one goal right now is trying to find a new place to hold Pride, because this year we sold out our festival and had to turn people away,” Shirley says. “And we’re not just doing this to plan a party, but to give people a safe spot to be.”

Last June, between 4,000 and 5,000 people gathered at Clipper Magazine Stadium for the nonprofit’s signature Lancaster Pride event. And as Pride’s Director of Events, Shirley says it was an incredible sight.

“Seeing the whole concourse full, the entire grass area full of vendors, everyone smiling and laughing, enjoying the performers, the influx of rainbows and trans flags, all types of flags of inclusivity—I didn’t see a sad person in the stadium besides my blubbering face,” Shirley says. “Everybody was just loving each other.”

Shirley, 33, of Manheim, has volunteered with Lancaster Pride the past year and a half—and she’s transitioning into the board president role. But she manages many additional roles, including her job as a dental assistant.

“I enjoy the smiles I see on patients’ faces,” Shirley says. “Some have severe phobia, but I like to make sure our patients are comfortable and happy—it’s one of the joys I take out of this job.”

Shirley, a Lancaster County native, launched her career by serving in the Navy—an experience she “loved.” Today, Shirley and her

husband of 14 years have two daughters, ages 12 and 14—and it’s her family who inspired her to volunteer with Lancaster Pride.

“My oldest daughter is gender fluid, and she was trying to find her place in society, so I decided to reach out to Pride and see how I could help improve the community for everyone, including my daughter,” Shirley recalls. “Lancaster County is evolving as a great community—I love being part of Lancaster.”

But she’s had to overcome several major challenges, including cancer. Shirley was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in early 2021.

“My career, my family, Pride—all motivated me to keep moving. I couldn’t dwell on the situation because I knew it wouldn’t be good for my mental health,” Shirley explains. “I definitely had a journey, but I had a reason to kick its butt.”

Just a few months ago, Shirley went into remission. But she has one regret: that her mother didn’t live to see her be cancer-free. Still, Shirley’s life challenges formed her strength of character.

“I think strength is an action,” says Shirley, “Knowing you’re strong enough to overcome challenges, realizing you’re capable of whatever you set your mind to. Strength is fighting cancer, providing for my family, strength is the action of doing and fulfilling things.”

For more information, see lancpride.com

Strength is... AN ACTION

Shirley

Payne

Jenn

JENN ORANTES SAYS she was “speechless” when she learned she was nominated as a Susquehanna Style Woman of Strength.

“Growing up in Lancaster, Susquehanna Style magazine was for people who were doing things—and a lifestyle I honestly thought I couldn’t be incorporated into,” Orantes says. “To be named—I was not so much shocked, but speechless. It’s really energizing. I think of strength as internal—it’s that energy in someone, when you’re able to take the hardest pieces of life and come out for the better.”

Orantes, 30, is chief creative officer at Elume, alongside founder Melisa Baez and COO Sarah Payne. And it’s Orantes who gave the entrepreneurial start-up its name and logo, which embellishes journals created for entrepreneurs.

With a degree in digital media, experience in storytelling, directing, film, and a love of theater, Orantes’ career path first led her to Community Action Partnership where she had the opportunity to help rebrand the organization during their banner 50th anniversary.

“It was my beginning of storytelling in the nonprofit world— storytelling for people I wanted to support—people I grew up with in my own community,” Orantes says.

Along with community, Orantes is grateful for family, especially her mom.

“My parents came here from El Salvador and had great jobs. My mom, for example, went to college, so I grew up knowing a different type of world, but that all switched in high school,” Orantes recalls.

That’s when her mom was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, and the family struggled to make ends meet.

“I went from being priviledged to...seeing my mom having to let go of her pride, being thrown into that world,” says Orantes.

But several full-circle moments were to follow. First, Orantes helped support her family. Then, she realized she could use her skills to help others avoid the pitfalls of poverty. After her position with Community Action Partnership, Orantes transitioned to the nonprofit Assets.

“I was working with small businesses, leading some of Assets’ marketing boot camps, working with women who are so often taken advantage of when it comes to marketing—and trying to help them build brands that could compete,” Orantes says.

Through this time period, she crossed paths with Baez—and the two trailblazers put their heads together to launch Elume.

Now that Elume is branded, Orantes is transitioning out of day-to-day operations to fully tackle a position with the City of Lancaster—acquiring sponsorships and grants for city projects. She’ll stay on board as a consultant to Elume.

“Finding friends, to the point that I want to build something that has change and lasting benefits for others—I have been so lucky to find these two amazing women who are so smart, so strong—seeing each other shine,” Orantes says. “Honestly, we would love for this to turn into a Netflix show—how do these three women reshape businesses?”

JOURNALING IS A PRACTICE that Sarah Payne could get behind.

“I love the vision journaling provides,” Payne explains. “The practice of writing and getting ideas onto paper is compelling. It makes everything feel clearer, and I take my journal everywhere.”

As COO of Elume, alongside CEO Melisa Baez and chief creative officer Jenn Orantes, Payne sees her position as “a doer” at the entrepreneurial startup that puts sustainable journals into the hands of fellow entrepreneurs.

“I see my role as making Melisa’s dreams happen—we joke that I’m the executioner,” says Payne with a laugh. “I’m excited to grow alongside and within Elume. We are a product-based business, but we’re really passionate about storytelling.”

Payne’s own story has taken her across the country. Originally from Massachusetts, Payne, 31, moved to the Susquehanna Valley to attend Messiah College, now Messiah University.

“I knew since high school that I wanted to be involved in economic development, so I majored in history, and peace and conflict studies, with a minor in economics, and did a lot of travel abroad,” says Payne, who tacked on a year with AmeriCorps near Washington, D.C., then an MBA in economic development where “my social enterprise class changed the game.”

Payne’s definition of business became reframed.

“It made me think about the role of business in the private sector—there are businesses and entrepreneurs who really do want to make a change,” says Payne.

An internship at Lancaster’s nonprofit Assets morphed into a position, which she has now held for five years.

“Lancaster is dealing with a lot of issues of inequality and poverty. All change is local, and I can be part of finding solutions at the local level, continuing to hold businesses accountable for their impact,” says Payne, who serves as Assets’ impact consulting manager. There, her path intersected with that of Baez and Orantes.

“Melisa has such good energy—people are drawn to her vision, to her as a person,” says Payne.

All women, Payne believes, are hard-wired with strength.

“I’m a raging feminist, and I do think strength is this idea of courage and resilience—I think it’s baked into our DNA as women,” explains Payne. “As a sex, we’ve been through so many things through the millennia. To lift up women doing badass things—it’s helpful to have that reminder that we’re made for so much more.”

Additionally, she believes Elume, as a company, exemplifies strength.

“Even though we’re a very small business, I think what we decided to do is strong. We’re elevating women in business, women of color in business, and entrepreneurs taking a different path. We provide simple and accessible sustainability.” »

A FIRST-GENERATION AMERICAN, Melisa Baez seems destined for a great American success story. Her parents, from the Dominican Republic, settled in New York, where Baez was born.

“We moved to Lancaster when I was 5, because my mom wanted us to be where there were more opportunities for education and change,” says Baez, who turns 37 in November.

Her career path led her to Philadelphia’s Temple University, where, as a sports and recreation management major, Baez was intrigued with “helping athletes give back to communities of color—I always had this ‘give-back’ mentality,” Baez says.

Back in Lancaster, she applied her vision to the Children Deserve a Chance Foundation, creating programs designed to mentor at-risk youth via leadership and college readiness skills.

Baez switched gears and began working with entrepreneurs through the women’s business center at nonprofit Assets—all the while, earning her master’s degree in sustainability.

“I spent my last year researching how to make entrepreneurship accessible,” explains Baez, while getting involved in groups such as World Economic Forum and their Global Shapers Community, as well as Opportunity Collaboration.

Oh—and she also caught the entrepreneurial bug herself.

“I decided to launch Elume while working at Assets, while earning my MBA, while having two children and getting married,” says Baez with a laugh. “I wanted to create a product that enhances entrepreneurs’ practice, and so many of them were journaling—needing time to pause, assess, reflect and then do.”

Elume, launched in December of last year, offers sustainably-made journals. Water and tear-resistant pages are concocted from a unique formula without tree pulp or water.

“It’s stone paper,” Baez says. “Without giving away our secret sauce, our partners developed the technology to take marble, repurposing the scraps, bringing it down to a powder, and using that to create the paper.”

Elume is powered by an all-woman trio including Jenn Orantes—“artistically and creatively a bit of a genius,” and Sarah Payne—"a brainiac, ally, champion, and fighter,” says Baez, who serves as CEO.

Elume’s social media channels offer content, like journal prompts, freely accessible to all.

“Personally, I truly believe in local impact being a strategy for sustainability and change, and my heart is still here in Lancaster,” says Baez.

How does Melisa Baez define strength?

“Oh man, this is kind of funny, but I literally just watched ‘Woman King’ with Viola Davis and it was phenomenal—when I think about strength I think about those women. I also think about my mom, my mentors, and teachers. The one thing they have in common—they’ve all had barriers and adversity, but they’ve overcome them by being consistent.”

For more info, see elumetheway.com and assetspa.org

Baez Melisa

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Whether it be launching their own businesses, advancing into managerial positions, or dedicating their time to empowering other women, these women and businesses have been breaking down walls (and stereotypes) left and right in the workplace. Here's your chance to meet a few of the amazingly dynamic women making strides in the Susquehanna Valley.

From its inception a decade ago, the Pet Pantry of Lancaster County has grown into a transformative animal welfare organization that serves hundreds of families and thousands of animals each year.

The Pet Pantry was founded on three core services: to feed, fix, and rescue animals in need. Food insecurity is one of the leading reasons why a beloved family pet would be surrendered to a rescue. Founder and CEO Melody Sanders knew this issue could be addressed by providing services with dignity. The organization provides emergency and longer-term pet food assistance to families experiencing hardship to ensure pets remain happy, healthy, and safe with their loving families.

Early on, animal overpopulation was another issue Mel and her team recognized and began to diligently address. In order to help keep pets healthy by reducing pet overpopulation concerns, the organization expanded into offering lower-cost spay/neuter and feral cat Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) programs. These services are provided with the intention of removing barriers to accessing exceptional veterinary care. Lastly, was ensuring that animals in need of loving forever homes were given the chance they deserved to find those families. Each year the Pet Pantry adopts over 500 pets into furever homes.

Today, the organization celebrates a decade of saving stray, sick, and injured animals. All of this has been possible through the intention, care, and passion of one woman’s commitment to empowering animals to thrive by listening and responding to their unspoken needs.

THE FEMALE LEADER IN SECURING AND INSURING YOUR REAL ESTATE ASSETS

Annette Myers is the Managing Partner of Integrated Land Transfer, a real estate title services company serving buyers and sellers in all real estate transactions. These transactions include land settlements, residential and commercial real estate developments, and residential real estate transactions.

The firm is responsible for protecting buyers and sellers in a real estate transaction, ensuring the property’s or land’s title accuracy, and uncovering potential liens.

Integrated Land Transfer is a neutral third party that prepares all the necessary paperwork, coordinating bank payoffs, real estate taxes, and other fees required at settlement.

Myers formed Integrated Land Transfer with other real estate professionals to ensure that the organizations and individuals entering a transaction are provided with quality service and that deadlines are met.

Integrated Land Transfer is operated out of its convenient location on Market Street in Camp Hill, home to many real estate agents and financial institutions it serves.

Myers oversees the firm’s daily transactions, including leading and empowering the women reporting to her who strive to provide aboveaverage service to clients who sign paperwork for what is often one of the most significant decisions they have ever made.

She takes it upon herself to get involved in as many community service initiatives as possible, including honoring veterans, first responders, and healthcare heroes.

Myers says, “It fascinates me that so many people do not know they can choose to select their title company when closing on a property or in the refinancing process.”

More information about Integrated Land Transfer can be found online at www.integratedlt.com

EDUCATION BUILT FOR IMPACT

Dr. Pamela Gunter-Smith became the first woman and the first African-American to serve as the president of York College of Pennsylvania on July 1, 2013. She will retire from the College in June 2023.

Gunter-Smith came to York College after leadership roles at Drew University, Spelman College, and the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute. At York, she championed an education that integrates career preparation with a strong foundation in the liberal arts. She also advanced programs that serve the greater York community while providing experiential learning for students and developed a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation through both academic programs and outsidethe-classroom experiences. President Gunter-Smith also worked to ensure this highquality educational experience focused on career-readiness is accessible to all.

“I am looking forward to retirement, and I believe I am leaving York College at a time of increasing strength and stability,” Gunter-Smith said.

441 Country Club Rd York, PA 17403 717-846-7788

When I moved to Pennsylvania 20 years ago and made the decision to become a Realtor, I believe it was the best career choice I have ever made!

I have studied and earned Realtor designations to be able to be the expert in helping buyers and sellers. Within my company I have earned the prestigious designation for “Homes of Distinction” (HOD) to be able to properly list and advise luxury home sellers and buyers.

My parents taught me at a very young age, if you work hard, listen, be kind, have faith, and remember that your word is your bond—you will have a very full life!

lessons have stayed with me! That hard work paid off and has allowed me top recognition in the Howard Hanna Companies—being a Top Producer for my Camp Hill Office, National Sales Excellence Award Winner, and The Very Best of the Best in my company that has over 8,000 agents!

TRAILBLAZING WOMEN SHAPE CGA

A history of gender equality

Sharon Myers (center) was the third female attorney to accept a CGA Law Firm offer in the mid-1970s, a time when most law firms around the country would not seriously consider hiring a female attorney. Sharon appreciated CGA because the firm’s shareholders respected her and shared meaningful work. During Sharon’s first week at CGA, she argued a case before the PA Supreme Court. In the weeks and years that followed, she continued to receive challenging cases and in 1996 became the firm’s President. Her presidency saw CGA through 18 years

tremendous

The impact of women leaders

Having women leaders like Sharon has richly influenced the firm’s corporate culture, creating a flexible and collegial team environment.

CGA is proud that there is a significant percentage of women at all levels of the firm. More than one-third of CGA attorneys, including shareholders, are women, and the law firm administrator has always been a woman.

is proud of the strength, intelligence, and passion its female professionals bring to the firm and community.

Driscoll, Taylor Baublitz, Devon Myers Kolomick, Hunter Schenck, Haley

Rebecca Shanaman, Liliana Fisher, and Firm Administrator Kerri Cassel

Catherine Azeles, CFP®, RICP®

MOTHER | WIFE | INVESTMENT CONSULTANT

Catherine is an Investment Consultant at Conrad Siegel in Harrisburg–one of the region’s largest financial advisors (by assets under management). Her passion for finance started at a young age after witnessing firsthand the pressure that finances can put on a family.

As a Certified Financial Planner® professional, Catherine brings one of the industry’s top credentials to Conrad Siegel. She was also named a “Women of Influence” by Central Penn Business Journal in 2022. Catherine specializes in comprehensive financial planning—partnering with clients through the different stages of retirement planning, investment management, risk mitigation strategy, and estate preservation planning.

Fueled by her desire to educate others, Catherine has been featured in the media, appearing in outlets such as: Forbes, Fox 43 Morning News, and WITF Smart Talk. Her commitment to educating others might be best displayed through her role as a mom, raising her two young children.

Although her family keeps her pretty busy most days, Catherine feels a strong commitment to the community and giving back. When not busy meeting with clients or tending to her family’s needs, Catherine stays involved through organizations such as Leadership Harrisburg Area, United Way’s Women’s Leadership Network, and The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC). Most notably, Catherine was named “Woman of the Year” in 2021 by the Central PA Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) for raising more than $77,000 in a 10-week campaign.

Get to know

more at:

CHAMPIONS OF CREATIVITY

The trio of art, education, and community drive a powerful partnership at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design’s Center for Creative Exploration. The Center’s Director, Natalie Lascek, and Program Coordinator Salina Almanzar-Oree work to build programming that enables creativity at every age. These women spread their experience not only through CCE, but also through their contributions to other boards and community projects throughout the region. From festivals to libraries, retirement homes to classrooms, their impact spans the Susquehanna.

Together they create popular youth summer camps and intergenerational classes that bring families together in artmaking. They host Art Recess lunch breaks in Lancaster City and Mind Mapping activities in York. They coordinate art activities in Lancaster’s Art Alley and Art at Brunch at Zoetropolis. Their playful energy draws in children of all ages to make and create.

They are also champions of continuing education, programming professional certificate programs in design, marketing, and entrepreneurship, as well as inspiring middle and high school students with rich coursework to prepare them for college.

Almanzar-Oree, a native of Lancaster, recently was named one of five 2022 YWCA Lancaster Women of Achievement honorees. Devoted to Creative Placemaking in the Lancaster Latinx community, she is a co-facilitator of the Latino Empowerment Project and has served as a teaching artist in Lancaster City parks through Lancaster Public Art and as founder of Taller Pa’lante, a Lancaster-based art and placemaking organization.

Lascek is the College’s 2022 winner of the Trustees’ Award for Staff Excellence, and Vice President of the Board at Lancaster Creative Reuse, an organization that connects excess creative materials with those who can use them. Lascek is ingenious when it comes to connecting creatives throughout Lancaster and beyond. Being involved, she says, “has helped to form (CCE’s) partnered work with the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, the Lancaster Museum of Art/ Demuth Foundation, Lancaster Science Factory, and Gallery Grow.”

Learn more at PCAD.EDU/CLASSES

Salina Almanzar-Oree, Program Coordinator

Natalie Lascek, Director

THINGS

FIVE

From your cup of morning joe to your late-night glass of wine, these womanowned eateries have got you covered.

5 Woman-Owned Eateries

BY MARIANNA TORRES

SYDNEY ROASTING CO.

sydneyroastingco.com | 720 Quentin Rd, Ste 3, Lebanon, PA

With the belief that coffee is made to bring us together, it’s no wonder that patrons of Sydney Roasting Co. rave about the welcoming atmosphere and fresh, delicious coffee to match. From merch to blends you can enjoy in the comfort of your home, Sydney Roasting Co. aims to make the coffee experience special and affordable.

SAVOY TRUFFLE

savoytrufflelanc.com | 398 Harrisburg Ave, Ste 250, Lancaster, PA

Sweet treats and savory eats are in bountiful supply at Savoy Truffle. Grab a bite with one of their freshly-made sandwiches with a side, or see what all the buzz is about with their decked out signature milkshakes. We suggest trying the Birthday Cake milkshake which features vanilla ice cream, rainbow sprinkles, whipped cream, and to top it all off–a mini cupcake.

JAZZY’S GOOD EATS

101 S 25th St, Ste 12, Harrisburg, PA

For those days where you’re craving homestyle soul food, head to Jazzy’s Good Eats in the heart of Harrisburg. Upon walking in, you’ll be greeted with neo-soul and R&B music that will get you ready to grub on some of their must-try meals.

FAT BAT BREWING COMPANY

fatbatbrewing.com | 10 N Railroad St, Hanover, PA

What was a lifelong dream turned into reality for owner Sandy Bialek of Fat Bat Brewing Company. Fat Bat takes pride in making their own in-house brews and seltzers, and creating a welcoming environment for all to unwind and enjoy. They’ve also teamed up with Divino’s Pizzeria to bring delicious food to the brewery. Listen to live music every Friday and Sunday as you sip and sing along with local artists.

THEA

Thea-dining.com | 1303 Saxton Wy, Mechanicsburg, PA

Thea is a Mechanicsburg staple. Serving up Mediterranean-inspired dishes with local ingredients, Thea is the perfect spot for a girl’s night filled with fine food and plenty of conversation. Bring your favorite bottle of wine, and take a bite of what Thea has to offer.

MY LA GOS MY WA Y