LCM | February 2022

The Dining Room STAGES A COMEBACK

Dig Into FAMILY HISTORY THROUGH TREASURED RECIPES

Celebrate Valentine’s Day!

AFTER 42 YEARS AT WGAL, Kim Lemon Contemplates the Future

AFTER 42 YEARS AT WGAL, Kim Lemon Contemplates the Future

Features

18. Kim Lemon Looks to the Future

After a 42-year career at WGAL, the retired news anchor contemplates what the future may hold.

24. The Dining Room … Back From the Brink of Extinction

Covid has caused us to view our homes in an all-new light and make better use of space. Empty-nesters Allyson and Dean Eberly worked with TK Building & Design to create a dining room that reflects their love of entertaining friends and family.

Departments 8. Uptown & Down

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Michael Upton discovers that sweet alternatives to chocolate do exist.

30. Foodographer

Jordan Bush inherits his grandmother’s treasured collections of recipes and discovers family history is included among the ingredients.

36. Table for Two

Rochelle Shenk visits C’est La Vie in Downtown Lancaster.

40. Why We ♥ Lancaster

It’s engagement season! Meet photographer Kelsey Strothers, who “loves” to help couples create picture-perfect engagement announcements for social media.

Special Advertising Section

12. Health & Wellness

With Covid still affecting our lives, it’s even more important to take care of ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually.

On the Cover

Nick Gould photographed Kim Lemon in Downtown Lancaster ahead of her public announcement that she would be retiring from WGAL in late November 2021.

This marks Kim’s fourth Lancaster County Magazine cover, which is a record. Until this month, she was tied with The Belvedere Inn for having the most covers.

Kim’s first cover was in November 1996. She shared a winter-weather-themed cover with WGAL colleagues Susan Shapiro and Mary Saladna (who is now based in Boston), and PennDOT’s Charles Enoch (who, at the time, was on-air as much as WGAL reporters before, during and after winter storms).

Kim’s second cover came in November 2000, when she posed with two furry friends. Kim was always a perennial winner in our Best of Lancaster readers’ survey, having won the “Best News Anchor” category consecutively from 1990 to 2011 and again from 2013 to 2016 (which is the last time the category appeared on the survey).

Her third cover was in February 2009, when she posed with her beloved bicycle that she rode for numerous fundraisers, including benefits sponsored by the National MS Society. One of her most memorable rides took place in 2002. Called the Face of America, the threeday ride took participants from Ground Zero in New York to The Pentagon in Washington, D.C. One of her riding partners was Dr. Mark Burlingame, whose brother, Charles, was the pilot of Flight 77 on September 11. Kim’s appearance on the 2009 cover coincided with her role as the local spokesperson for that year’s American Heart Association Red Dress Campaign.

Kim’s three previous covers were photographed by the late Allan Holm.

Be Scene! Live music, theatre, art gallery and museum exhibits, maker shows, outdoor activities and fundraising events are once again dotting the calendar. Visit our website, lancastercountymag.com, to make plans and order tickets for upcoming events.

Healthcare inspired by women.

There is no such thing as an unnecessary question. At Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, we’ve built an entire women’s health program around this idea. Because we believe that honest, open dialogue leads to healthier outcomes. No question about it. Discover more at LGHealth.org/WomensHealth.

Women’s Health

LORAH’S

ROOMSCAPES

More Than Chocolate More Than Chocolate More Than Chocolate

Sweetish

to consume mass amounts of chocolate to increase his libido, something science would later connect with small amounts of tryptophan and phenylethylamine found in the tasty product. Chocolate was forever bonded with love.

BY MICHAEL C. UPTON SOCIAL MEDIA PHOTOS

Love and chocolate – the connection goes well beyond our modern affixation to February 14, Valentine’s Day. In the 5th century B.C., when a mere 100 million people were estimated to inhabit the Earth, the Mayan people were roasting cacao beans and grinding them into a paste mixed with chiles and cornmeal. This base was turned into a warm drink, which we may associate with hot chocolate today.

Chocolate also became a ceremonial staple, playing important roles at weddings and religious rituals.

Aztec Emperor Montezuma II was said

Europeans embraced drinking chocolate in the 1600s, and “eating chocolates” was marketed to those celebrating St. Valentine’s Day by British confectioner Richard Cadbury, who introduced the world to chocolate-filled, heart-shaped boxes in 1868.

Alas, not everyone loves chocolate. I set out to find some ways to satisfy the sweet tooth of love by visiting a few Lancaster County sweet spots and exploring their non-chocolate options.

Sweetish

My personal favorite go-to place for filling my own stash of candy is Sweetish on the 300 block of North Queen Street. There are two reasons why that is so. One, I have an affinity for all things northern European. And two, I love black licorice.

Sweetish is a play on Swedish, as

the primary source for the candy in the bins adorning the wall is the Scandinavian country. It’s not all Swedish Fish, either. A variety of gummy candy can be found for all ages, interests and tastes. Here, you’ll find candy bars from Iceland, and a selection of drinks from Swedish colamaker Apotekarnes and others. There’s also a big selection of vegan candy. Some new arrivals to check out include Läkerol Dents (a chewy, caramel mint), Yoghurt Jordnötcluster (yogurt peanut clusters), and potato chips from Swedish maker Gotlandschips.

356 N. Queen St. Sweetishcandy.com

The Candy Stand at Lancaster Central Market

When I was a kid roaming the aisles of Lancaster Central Market, I always tugged my mother’s sleeve when we approached The Candy Stand. Things were a lot bigger to me then, so the stand I remember

Valentine’s Day is all about chocolate. But what happens if your significant other dislikes the “most popular sweet treat” in the world? Options do exist!

encompassed much of the entire market … or, so it seemed.

Today, The Candy Stand is owned and operated by Ann and Richard Miller, and it remains a colossus of candy. What I like about this modern-day stand are the throwback items like rainbow coconut strips, clear candy toy pops and spearmint leaves. The cash-only stand also offers everything for younger sweet tooths, including gummy dinos, sour bottle pops and Airheads Xtremes. If you’re in a hurry or are just adventurous, pick up a $1 grab bag.

Speaking of Central Market, there’s a stand that can provide you with a treat for your other Valentine – your furry BFF. Owned by Lindsay and Joshua Gring, Lancaster Pet Bakery offers treats that are made with fresh, “human-grade ingredients.”

23 N. Market St. Centralmarketlancaster.com

Bistro Barberet & Bakery

For those who want a delicate and refined gift, Bistro Barberet & Bakery is a shining example of confectionary elegance. After moving to Lancaster in 2015, Chef Cedric Barberet and his wife, Estelle, opened the namesake eatery and bakery and became an immediate force in the city’s culinary scene.

In November 2019, Cedric won the Neapolitan Delight edition of Food Network’s Chopped Sweets, so he knows what he’s doing when it comes to desserts! Some of the wonderful, chocolate-free specialty items available at Barberet include cream puffs filled with either vanilla or pistachio cream; Ruby, a raspberry mousse with a key lime center on top of yellow sponge cake; and Success, a hazelnut dacquoise with praline cream. A selection of stunning Les Macarons Parisiens include such flavors as raspberry, lemon, coffee, strawberry, pistachio, vanilla and lavender.

26 E. King St. Barberetlancaster.com

Weaver Nut Sweets & Snacks

Like the phoenix, Weaver Nut’s retail store has returned to prosperity after an explosion ripped through the company’s Ephrata facility in August. Not too long after the blaze summoned a response from 50 regional fire companies, the storefront returned to business while the

Sweetish

The Candy Stand

Bistro Barberet & Bakery

Health begins with the basics. Good Samaritan Services’ Ephrata winter shelter is open seven nights per week from 7:00 p.m. –7:00 a.m. providing warm beds, hot meals, shower and laundry facilities and compassionate care to men and women in our community who are experiencing homelessness.

For donation and volunteer opportunities, please visit our website GoodSamServices.org. @GoodSamServ

Weaver Nut Sweets & Snacks

Uncle Leroy’s

River Street Sweets

Savannah’s Candy Kitchen

warehouse underwent rebuilding. The life-size – uhm, well, human-size – Jelly Belly jelly bean mascot sits happily outside welcoming visitors.

Inside, shoppers can find everything from homemade vanilla opera fudge to a 50-pound sack of Spanish blue poppy seeds, although the latter will probably not sit well on Valentine’s Day unless your beloved has wings and a beak … or really likes to bake. For the sweet-toothed sweetie, Weaver’s offers a huge selection of bulk candies, including licorice whips and gummy worms, as well as cute displays of nostalgic candies and gift ideas.

1925 W. Main St., Building B, Ephrata Weavernutsweetsandsnacks.com

Uncle Leroy’s Candy Kitchen

If fudge, brittles or caramel creations are your loved one’s desire, check out Uncle Leroy’s. My daughter loves their fudge, which is prepared by mixing ingredients in a traditional copper kettle after which the finished product is poured onto a marble slab and worked into loaves. Popular, non-chocolate flavors include vanilla, peanut butter and maple pecan. People also like the brittle from Uncle Leroy’s, which comes in traditional peanut, cashew and pecan/coconut. They also make a bacon brittle for the savory lovers out there!

I’m most familiar with the Old Philadelphia Pike location, but Uncle Leroy’s can also be found at Lancaster Central Market and Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market.

2195B Old Philadelphia Pike Uncleleroys.com

River Street Sweets Savannah’s Candy Kitchen

This national chain of sweet shops has a location in the Tanger Outlets on Route 30. The biggest plus about this store is that the shelves are always well-stocked with everything from old-time candy to the newest craze. With the option of buying hard candy by the pound from a dizzying array of colored tubes climbing to the ceiling, this store is just as much fun to visit as it is to find the perfect gift of candy. Runts, Sprees, Skittles and everything in between, River Street Sweets is a hardcandy lover’s dream. Anyone still like Jordan Almonds? They have those!

But hard candy is not River Street Sweets’ specialty – that honor is reserved for their “world-famous pralines.” In the U.S., pralines are mostly associated with New Orleans and other southern hotspots. River Street Sweets’ buttery pralines are made fresh daily – you can smell them from outside – using cream, butter, sugar and Georgia pecans.

311 Stanley K. Tanger Dr., Suite 1250 Riverstreetsweets.com

Health &Wellness Health &Wellness

COMPILED BY KAYLEE REX

Ever since COVID-19 impacted the world two years ago, public health has been at the forefront of everyone’s mind. However, while trying to evade the virus, many of us have neglected other areas of our health and wellness by avoiding doctors’ offices and crowded gyms. Lancaster County is home to top health centers, fitness studios, caregivers and physicians who are ready and waiting to help you reach optimal health.

Even when life is good, there are still daily challenges, stresses and things beyond one’s control to overcome. Experiencing aging – whether personally or journeying with a loved one in the process – only adds to the unknowns, often more than expected and at difficult times.

Each story is unique. HOME INSTEAD ’s CAREgiver team has been invited into the stories of thousands of families across Lancaster County since 2005. From simply “slowing down” to facing Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, surgeries and setbacks, Home Instead welcomes a conversation with you about your family. Looking for peace, hope and seasoned support? Call Home Instead for a consultation.

The WELLSPAN CENTER FOR HEART CARE in Lancaster County provides high-quality care for people who are living with heart failure, a chronic condition that can cause shortness of breath, fatigue and swelling in the legs, feet and abdomen.

The center’s team includes a heart failure cardiologist, nurse practitioners, nurse navigators who are certified in heart failure, a dietitian and other specialists. They serve patients at locations in Ephrata and New Holland. The team offers:

• Medication management, intravenous medication and advanced therapies.

• Nutrition counseling and access to a low-sodium food pantry.

• Self-management tools, including scales, a weight diary and other monitoring methods.

• Patient- and family-focused education. WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital was recognized

Heart disease might just be the beginning

If you have heart disease, or a family history of heart disease, you may have vascular disease as well. Trust our team of vascular experts to get your complete health picture. Learn

We are a faith-based ministry cultivating capabilities of Individuals with Intellectual Disability and Autism through residential services, day programs, life enrichment and advocacy since 1972.

Dermatology Partners is pleased to welcome Dr. Stephanie Mackey to their network of top physicians!

Dr. Mackey has been voted the “Best of Lancaster” for three years in a row for her work in general medical dermatology. She is committed to providing each patient with high-quality, individualized care.

• Treatment of a full range of skin, hair, and nail conditions

• Expert in prevention, detection and treatment of skin cancers

• Treats all skin types and conditions

Dermatology Partners’ Lancaster office is located at 800 A New Holland Avenue. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Mackey, call 717-431-7546 or visit dermpartners.com.

for its heart failure treatment with a “high-performing” listing in the 2021-2022 U.S. News and World Report Best Hospitals Ratings and Rankings, as well as a Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines awards.

FRIENDSHIP COMMUNITY is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a Christian ministry that cultivates capabilities of individuals with intellectual disability and autism through Residential Services, Life Enrichment opportunities and Day Services such as the Friendship Heart Gallery & Studio.

The nonprofit gallery and state-licensed studio provide opportunities for adult artists with intellectual disability and autism to work with instructors and volunteers to create and sell masterpieces while developing a sense of purpose, value and joy. In addition to the gallery and studio, Friendship Community offers various spiritual, social and recreational opportunities for the nearly 140 individuals living within Friendship Community and in surrounding areas.

Friendship Community strives to create options –including Residential, Day and Home-Based Services – where individuals can improve their social and independent living skills. Friendship Community Team Members work with each individual to achieve his or her goals and “Impact the World with Their Capabilities.” For more information, visit friendshipcommunity.net

DERMATOLOGY PARTNERS , a physician-led dermatology group, is excited to announce the opening of their new office in Lancaster! Dr. Stephanie Mackey, who has been voted the “Best of Lancaster” for three years in a row, has joined their network of top physicians. Dr. Mackey practices general medical dermatology and enjoys treating patients of all ages. She specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer.

Dermatology Partners’ top priority is to provide quality patient care in a timely, courteous and professional manner. The practice was founded on providing compassionate care for patients, deploying the latest expertise in treatments and utilizing cutting-edge tools and technologies. Their core values of integrity, compassion, exceptionalism, dedication and teamwork are the foundation for everything they do as an organization.

The Lancaster office is located at 800 A New Holland Avenue. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Mackey, call 717-431-7546 or visit dermpartners.com.

DR. G.J. PALMIERI is committed to providing quality dental care to patients of all ages in the Lancaster area. Dr. Palmieri and his staff believe in the importance of listening to patients and taking the time to understand their needs, goals and lifestyles. By understanding each patient’s objectives, comprehensive solutions can be provided that

YOUR CANCER BATTLE IS HER CANCER BATTLE.

will improve an individual’s health while transforming his or her smile into something bright and beautiful.

The practice is unique in that it can provide a wide range of services in a quality, patient-oriented environment. The practice offers implant services, smile makeovers, crowns and bridges, emergency care and more. Dr. Palmieri and his staff stay up to date on the most current dental procedures to ensure you receive the highest quality of care. For more information, visit lancasterpadentist.com or call 717-898-2228.

In a modern world where everything in the medical arena seems to be transforming into a larger, more impersonal and corporate environment, the LANCASTER CANCER CENTER provides an oasis to those who desire a personal, intimate experience for their oncology care in South Central Pennsylvania.

“Cancer is an unexpected and unwanted illness. It will change your life forever in a way that no other illness can. You have the power within you to battle it and in the end, emerge as a stronger person. As your physician, I will help you uncover that strength. This is my passion, role, and duty as your oncologist.”

– Lena Dumasia, MD

New patients and second opinions will be seen within 24 hours, call 717.291.1313.

The Lancaster Cancer Center is a private, independent, two-physician, hematology-oncology practice that has a legacy of care that dates to over 40 years of service to the community, having been first established in Lancaster County in 1981. Because of the smaller, more intimate nature of the practice, its patients are taken care of in a more individualized, personal manner. This ability to understand each patient on a deeper level provides for a superior outcome, which is precisely the reason why people should choose to receive their care at the Lancaster Cancer Center.

FEDDOCK FAMILY DENTISTRY provides stateof-the-art dental procedures for patients of all ages. The practice is dedicated to gentle patient care and offers cosmetic procedures, routine cleanings and exams, emergency visits, restorations, dentures, implants and more.

Dr. Todd J. Feddock and his staff understand the importance of providing a comforting and relaxed atmosphere in which Dr. Feddock can connect with patients on a one-to-one basis. Every patient will receive the full attention of Dr. Feddock, who is happy to answer questions and explain dental procedures clearly.

Dr. Feddock received his Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh in 1997 and is a member of the American Dental Association, Pennsylvania Dental Association and Lancaster Dental Society. The core of Feddock Family Dentistry is its friendly team of dental professionals that is committed to providing each patient with the utmost in comfort, trust and knowledge. To learn more, visit toddjfeddock.com or call 717-569-8282.

WEST END YOGA STUDIO (WEYS) provides a holistic approach to healing the body and mind through a variety of classes for all skill levels led by teachers who are caring and innovative. Classes include Yin Yoga, Hatha, Vinyasa, Meditation and Accessible Yoga. Unique workshops and restorative and strengthening classes are also offered.

The studio has also expanded its class offerings to include Sunday Morning Meditation, Saturday Morning Power Hour and Evening Express Power Flow. Yoga Wall classes, which are unique to WEYS, offer a safe, supportive wall unit that utilizes straps for body weight. Practicing yoga on the wall provides added support and feedback to increase lengthening, a deeper awareness of supportive muscles, back pain relief, lymphatic system improvement and more.

Buy classes individually or become a Community Member for unlimited classes, local perks, a monthly bring-a-friend pass, open studio time and more. Membership is $45 for the first month and then $95 monthly. All are safe and welcome in the studio community. Learn more at westendyogastudio.com

Photo by Shelah Riley

Kim Lemon Looks to the future

After signing off as the senior anchor at WGAL on November 24, Kim Lemon left behind a legacy that probably won’t be matched in the decades to come, if ever. Having worked at the same television station for 42 years – in her hometown, no less – is a rarity in a very competitive industry that sees talent come and go.

BY SUE LONG | PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK GOULD

WWhen it comes to “news,” Lancaster is a small town. News, leaks, gossip – whatever you want to call it – can spread like wildfire. The fact that Kim was able to keep her plans private for months and announce her retirement on her own terms might qualify as her final accomplishment behind the news desk. “I started thinking about it early last year,” she says. “It was time. After 42 years, I had done it and done it well. I had done my best and hopefully made a difference –that’s all anyone can ask for at the end of their career.”

In March 2021, she sat down with WGAL’s news director, Eric Nazarenus, and delivered her news. Then, she went back to work. Mum was the word. “I didn’t tell anyone else,” she says.

Not wanting to make a “production” out of her impending retirement, Kim began to contemplate how she would announce the news to the public. She chose to do so on November 5 via social media and at the end of the 6 p.m. newscast. “I just didn’t want it to drag on and on,” she says of the three-week window she created between announcing her plans and signing off for a final time. Saying that it took the Susquehanna Valley by surprise would be an understatement.

She also made her announcement in style. “I had this image in my mind as to how I’d do it,” she explains. “I love the color turquoise, so I’d wear that in the picture that I’d post to Facebook.”

It just so happens that one of her favorite pieces of clothing is a sparkling turquoise pantsuit. “That’s what I wanted to wear,” she says. Then, she thought of just going for it and staging a full-blown photo shoot

with Downtown Lancaster as her backdrop. She turned to Nick Gould, a photographer she has worked with over the years. “Nick really got what I wanted to do,” she says. “He really got into it and suggested we do some shots at The Exchange.” Kim also happened to bring a very special gift with her to the photo shoot – a gold and turquoise Versace bathrobe that her friend and former colleague, Jennifer Gilbert, had given her. “We’re up at The Exchange and the next thing I know, Nick is telling me to put on the bathrobe,” she recounts. “We just had so much fun!”

In the weeks leading up to November 24 – her last night on the air –the station presented montages of Kim’s work, with Matt Barcaro, Susan Shapiro, Lori Burkholder and other colleagues coming up with their own tributes. “The send-off pieces were just beautiful,” she says. Sportscaster Mike Hostetler jokingly lamented at the end of his sportscast that he’ll have to find a new source for NASCAR predictions.

After she signed off, Kim left the building, only to be greeted by such former colleagues as Dick Hoxworth and Jim Sinkovitz, as well as anchors and reporters from WGAL’s various newscasts. “We all went back to my house for a party – I have the most beautiful garage,” she says of having created a space that has allowed her to safely visit with friends during the pandemic.

Looking Back

Prior to the 1970s, television news was dominated by men, both on the local level and at the networks. Yes, there were groundbreakers (the concept of the glass ceiling came into vogue in 1984) such as NBC’s Barbara Walters and Nancy Dickerson, but on the local level, ground still needed to be broken.

Still, Kim had role models and mentors, including her mother, Shirley, who was a second-grade teacher. She also points to James Siglin, who advised the students who made morning announcements at Manheim Township Middle School via closed-circuit television. Kim, who began reading the morning announcements in seventh grade, was one of those students. “He sent me the most beautiful note,” Kim says of the congratulatory message she received from her former adviser upon her retirement.

Kim can probably attribute her trajectory into television news to two other women: Marijane Landis and Betty Friedan. Landis, who was born in Lancaster and performed in local theatre, was recruited by WGAL in 1952 to host the station’s female-oriented programming. She proved to be both a groundbreaker and a star at multitasking: Landis wrote, produced and appeared in commercials, did voice-over work and hosted game, talk, cooking and variety shows. She was one of the station’s original “Weather Girls.” In the ’50s and ’60s, Baby Boomers started their Saturdays by

Kim envisions a future that could conceivably include mentoring budding journalists, teaching, writing, public speaking and being an advocate for caregivers.

watching Percy Platypus & Friends, which Landis hosted until it went off the air in 1974. She hosted the show’s successor, Sunshine Corners, until 1979. She also took on a new role in 1978: community services manager and personnel director. Landis retired in 1993. Her career at WGAL spanned 41 years.

KIM GRADUATED FROM Manheim Township High School in 1975. She went on to further her education at Clarion University, where she was initially an education major but later switched to English and theatre arts. “Journalism majors didn’t even exist then,” she says. Upon graduating, she worked in public relations for the Warwick School District.

Still, the lure of a newsroom continued to tempt Kim.

Kim ultimately contacted Marijane Landis and basically asked if she could pick her brain. “We had a wonderful meeting,” Kim recalls. “She was impressed that by going in a public relations direction, I was able to learn a new skill.” Unfortunately, Landis had to tell her no openings existed at the station. “However, as I was leaving, Marijane told me, ‘I will remember you.’”

Landis kept her promise – thanks in part to Betty Friedan and the National Organization for Women (NOW). “WGAL was being sued by NOW,” Kim explains. Beginning in 1970, lawsuits against media outlets –

television and radio stations, newspapers and magazines – began to shed light on the the fact that women were being discriminated against in media workplaces. “WGAL had to hire more women and Marijane called me,” Kim says. The callback resulted in an interview with program manager Nelson Sears. The interview process included putting Kim on camera for one-andone-half minutes and having her talk about herself. “That was a little scary, but I got through it,” she recalls.

KIM JOINED WGAL in 1979. She launched her television career by doing the Sunday night weather (replacing Marijane) and reporting/anchoring the Early Bird News Tuesday through Friday. “I was working six days a week and making $180,” she shares.

Nine months later, Sears approached her with a new assignment –co-host of PM Magazine, a syndicated magazine-format show that was localized through having co-hosts in each market. “Those were the most magical years of my career,” Kim says of hosting the show with Josh Hooper. “For some reason, everyone thinks I co-anchored with Doug Allen,” she says. “We did a lot of assignments together, but we never co-hosted PM Magazine.” Stories took Kim and Josh all over the world, including Greece, Israel, Turkey, Egypt, Finland, Mexico, Brazil and the

United Kingdom, among other destinations. PM Magazine helped to launch the careers of newspeople and entertainers such as Matt Lauer (Today), Tom Bergeron (Dancing with the Stars), Nancy Glass (CEO of Glass Entertainment Group) and Leeza Gibbons (Entertainment Tonight). Did Kim ever dream of moving to a larger market or even one of the networks? “Oh, sure, you flirt with it at some point, but I was happy where my life and career were taking me,” she says, noting that she was always proud to be associated with WGAL. “WGAL is and has always been a very respected station in the industry,” she says. However, she had, in fact, been approached by another station in the market to become its weekend anchor. It just so happened that WGAL needed one, as well. “I knew PM Magazine wasn’t going to last forever, so I came up with a proposal,” she explains. “I could continue hosting PM Magazine, which required two or three days of my time, and anchor the weekend news.” The plan met with the station’s approval; Kim stayed with WGAL.

KIM’S PERSONAL LIFE was moving in a fulfilling direction, as well. In 1985, she married John MacIver, who owned and operated Oletowne Jewelers in Lancaster. “Marriage changed my priorities,” she says of formulating a new plan that included exiting PM Magazine and the weekend news and moving

to weeknights. Once again, an opening paved the way for her to become a weeknight anchor (6 and 11 p.m.). During her tenure, Kim worked with six co-anchors including Dick Hoxworth, Keith Martin, Wayne Herman, Brad Hicks, Ron Martin (their partnership endured the longest) and Danielle Woods. In mid-December, it was announced that morning anchor, Jere Gish, would be replacing Kim at the news desk.

Kim and John became the parents of two daughters. Megan is now attending seminary in Berkeley, California, while Morgan was living in Washington, D.C., until recently. She and her husband, who both can work remotely, purchased a house in Lancaster, so that she can be closer to her parents. Kim is grateful to have her back home, especially in view of the fact that all their lives drastically changed 15 years ago with a medical diagnosis that left them baffled.

John, who was in his mid-50s at the time, was having health issues and was initially diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Kim decided to seek a second opinion and turned to doctors at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia. They diagnosed his condition as Lewy body dementia, which is a progressive neurological disorder that can affect movement, the thinking process, mood, memory and behavior. “I had never heard of it but I learned that it’s often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s,” Kim notes.

Kim took an extended leave of absence early on in order to be John’s caregiver and advocate. “I was so glad I did that,” she says. Eventually, John’s needs overwhelmed the level of care Kim could provide. He now resides in the skilled-care area of a retirement community.

In her role as an advocate, Kim founded a support group for those who are affected by the disease. While she has been open about the very personal battle she found herself waging, Kim hasn’t allowed it to define who she is. “People are very kind, but it’s a private matter that I try to avoid talking about. I didn’t want it to define me professionally. John’s memory is not compromised and he remains the most elegant man I’ve ever met. But, it’s been a crushing ordeal – unless you have lived it, you cannot grasp what it’s like. It’s been horrendous for all of us – John included. In the end, it comes down to a matter of survival.”

It was because of John that Kim elected to work from home during much of 2020 and early 2021. Like everyone else, she assumed the situation would be short term.

“March turned into April and before I knew it, I had been working from home for a full year,” she says. “Working from home was definitely the most stressful part of my career. In the beginning, I was actually broadcasting from my personal cell phone. Then, the tech department from WGAL came in and set up a studio in my home office that included a monitor and a camera.”

On top of coping with the new reality, Megan arrived home from Greece in spring 2020 and quarantined in Kim’s basement for two weeks. “We couldn’t see John, either, which only added another layer to everything,” Kim remarks.

Looking Ahead

When I emailed Kim in early December to ask her to participate in a story, I didn’t hear back from her that day. In all honesty, I envisioned her on a tropical island somewhere sipping on a fruity drink and contemplating the future.

That night, about 10:30, an email popped up from her. She apologized for her delayed response, explaining she had spent the day in the hospital undergoing hip replacement surgery. I was shocked! If Kim Lemon, who leads a physically active life through cycling and other activities, needs such a surgical procedure, God help the rest of us mortals! Then it occurred to me that she had taken the time – just hours after surgery – to respond! Who does that? Kim asked me to give

Kim purposely chose to retire on November 24, which fell a day ahead of one of her favorite holidays, Thanksgiving. During her sign-off, she thanked family, friends, colleagues, behind-the-scenes personnel and viewers for the support they had provided during her 42-year tenure at WGAL.

her a week and we’d talk. Like clockwork, she called at 9 a.m. the following Wednesday and we set up a phone interview for the next day.

In regards to her need for surgery, Kim figures that years of cycling had finally caught up with her and the pain she was experiencing had to be addressed. “I was doing fine until I wasn’t,” she says.

She was amazed by the speed that hospital staff gets patients up and moving post-surgery. “I was still woozy and they were wanting me to get up, get dressed and get to physical therapy. I’ve had nail appointments take more time!” she exclaims. Morgan stayed with her for two days and then began checking in on her mother several times a day. Kim also credits her tight-knit circle of friends for getting her on the road to recovery. “I’m very fortunate to have such good friends,” she says.

Before her surgery, Kim was able to eliminate something from her bucket list – attend the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C. “I’ve always wanted to go and this year they were honoring Joni Mitchell. I just love her. My friend and former co-worker, news anchor Mary Saladna from WCVB in Boston, was able to make it happen. I had a wonderful time!”

She’s also become a re-certified “cat lady,” explaining that her backyard has become a magnet for homeless cats. Years ago she was the pet parent of several Maine coon cats but became a dog mom when she adopted her beloved French bulldog, Ramy, who sadly passed away last summer. Of the cats, Kim explains she and Megan began working with the Spay Neuter Assistance Program (snapofpa.org) to get them spayed/neutered, as well as find them forever homes.

AS FOR THE FUTURE, Kim doesn’t envision herself being a lady of leisure. She wants to be engaged with the world. “There’s so much I can see myself doing,” she says. “I was teaching at Elizabethtown College and really enjoyed doing that. Students today have so many opportunities – the schools have incredible set-ups; [the studios] aren’t quite on the level as WGAL, but from a technological standpoint, they’re pretty amazing. I could see myself somehow nurturing young journalists.” She could also see herself as a public speaker or writing a book. “When it comes down to it, I consider myself to be a writer,” she says.

Travel is also on her agenda. “I will travel eventually,” she shares, noting that Covid is her biggest reason for staying close to home. She thinks back to a pre-Covid trip she and Megan made in celebration of her 60th birthday. “We went on a safari in Africa and swam to the edge of Victoria Falls. It was amazing!” she says.

She would also like to be an advocate for caregivers. “It’s a lonely existence,” she says. “People don’t want to talk about it. In the end, that just might be my legacy.”

REGARDLESS OF WHAT the future holds, Kim wants people to be happy for her. “I had a wonderful career,” she stresses. “The feelings of love and respect that I’ve received over the last few months have been overwhelming.” On a personal level, she says she has “experienced great love.”

As she looks back, Kim treasures the fact that she was a hometown girl who reached for her dreams and achieved success both professionally and personally. “I am so grateful to have worked where I grew up,” she says.

It wasn’t until Lancaster County was celebrating its 300th anniversary that she realized how deep her roots go. “I’m 10th generation Lancaster County on both sides of my family,” she reports, explaining that Lemon (her father, Dean, is a retired teacher and Christmas tree grower) evolved from such surnames as Leaman and Lehman, while Pickell (her mother’s maiden name) morphed from Bickel. The reckoning came courtesy of the Lancaster County Mennonite Historical Society (now known as Mennonite Life), which pitched a story idea on tracing Kim’s roots. “Turns out I’m related to 75% of the Amish population. I have a lot of Mennonite relatives, too,” she adds.

It’s probably safe to say that even the Amish, who don’t own televisions, know who Kim Lemon is.

Top to bottom: During her 42-year career, Kim was the recipient of 12 Mid-Atlantic Emmy awards. Friend and former colleague, Jennifer Gilbert, who recently retired from the FOX station in Baltimore, gifted Kim with the turquoise-andgold Versace robe that she wore for the photo shoot. Kim partnered with Nick Gould to produce the photos that would accompany the social media announcement of her retirement from WGAL.

When their lifestyle became more adult-oriented and pivoted to entertaining friends for dinner, empty-nesters Allyson and Dean Eberly enlarged their dining room with a 16-foot addition. Dean, who names design work and woodworking as favorite hobbies, designed and built the dining table himself in spring 2020.

The Dining Room Back From the Brink of Extinction

Covid has prompted homeowners to find new purposes for rooms that see little use. One of those is the dining room. Over the last two years it has served as a combination classroom, office, game/hobby room, reading nook and substitute for our favorite bars and restaurants, thus making it one of the most utilized rooms in the house.

BY SUE LONG PHOTOS BY AMY SENSENIG

Two phenomenons have contributed to the dining room becoming the forgotten space in American homes. First, the open-concept floor plan, which became popular in the 1990s, made the formal dining room almost obsolete, as families preferred to gather for meals around the kitchen island or in the more casual breakfast room. Even before that, ranch-style homes helped to popularize the eat-in kitchen. Split-levels provided the first inkling of open-concept, as the living and dining rooms flowed into one another.

Lifestyle also impacted the dining room. Our casual way of living, coupled with busy schedules, didn’t mesh with dinner in the dining room. Instead, families were eating in shifts or grabbing something on the go because of late hours at the office, sports practice, music lessons, school activities, etc. Or, worse, they planted themselves in front of the television to eat dinner. As a result, the dining room soon became a place where families gathered only for holiday dinners or special celebrations.

COVID HAS helped to change our perception of the dining room and it’s becoming a hybridized version of its intended use. It seems that homeowners embraced their downtime over the last two years and, with nothing but time on their hands, began cooking up a storm. Sitting down to dinner became a pandemic phenomenon, as well, which led to setting a beautiful table becoming a favorite pastime of many cooking enthusiasts.

Remember the family china, crystal and silver that the Millennials didn’t want any part of? According to Martha Stewart and other lifestyle gurus, they’ve changed

Top to bottom:

Cabinetry that’s outfitted with pull-out trays holds spirits, barware and other necessities for entertaining.

Various-sized chandeliers not only illuminate the dining room, but provide the wow factor.

The dining room addition adjoins the kitchen and deck and overlooks an outdoor fire pit.

their tune and are now fighting with their siblings over Grandma’s china or are scouring antiques stores and online sites such as replacements.com to assemble their own vintage collections. Martha is even posting tutorials on how to mix-andmatch modern china with vintage and antique patterns.

Thanks in part to those resourceful Millennials, the look of the formal dining room has changed. Instead of resembling something akin to Buckingham Palace (which comes at a hefty price), the new dining room is infused with personality and reflects its owners’ lifestyle and interests (for example, homeowners are outfitting the rooms with built-ins to display collections that range from plants to books).

As a result, the dining room has become a modern-day salon in which people carry on conversations, enjoy a meal and linger over a post-dinner drink or a cup of coffee. (In many households, it’s become a no-phone zone.) It’s become a gathering place for neighborhood happy hours (repurposed pieces such as a vintage secretary or a buffet/sideboard are being used to create bars).

The dining room has also become a getaway. “Because of Covid, people saw the drawback – mainly a lack of privacy –of open-concept floor plans,” says Amy Sensenig, who is an interior designer with TK Building & Design in Lancaster. “They want a place where they can get a moment for themselves.

“We’ve seen a lot of interest from clients who want to create separate spaces in their homes,” Amy continues. “I don’t think the open-concept floor plan is going away, but togetherness is prompting people to think about creating getaways in their homes.”

For many homeowners, the dining room is providing such a space. Upholstered furniture is being added to the room in order to create a quiet space where one can read or simply indulge in quietude.

A Room to Dine For

Ten years ago, Dean and Allyson Eberly built a home that mirrored their lifestyle – open-concept main floor that

was conducive to family togetherness. The floor plan included a 12-by-12-foot dining room that was adjacent to but separate from the kitchen. “We didn’t use it very much,” says Allyson of its cozy dimensions. “In fact, we began using the finished basement as a makeshift dining room for holiday dinners.” Besides, their busy lifestyle – she’s an account rep for a wine company, he owns Garden Spot Mechanical and their then school-aged children were involved in a range of activities – didn’t mesh with sitting down to Ozzie and Harriet-style family dinners in the dining room every night. “We ate on the run a lot of nights,” Dean recalls.

Becoming empty nesters changed all that. Their new adult-focused life has pivoted to entertaining. “We really like to cook and have friends over for dinner,” Allyson notes. The size of the dining room put a damper on the number of guests they could invite, which prompted them to begin discussing how they could remedy the situation. “That was two or three years ago,” she recalls. Dean, who calls “design work” a favorite hobby, began to

explore their options. Fortunately there was enough space to build an addition that would extend the dining room by 16 feet.

Dean asked Jon Warner, who had built the house, to recommend a remodeling company for the project. Warner suggested TK Building & Design. The Eberlys contacted owner Tim Kotzmoyer and shared their vision with him. Interior designer Amy Sensenig was brought into the project.

The Eberlys’ vision of an entertainingfriendly dining room included walls of floor-to-ceiling windows that would provide views of the surrounding woodland and farmland; a vaulted ceiling; layered lighting and a wet bar with storage. Dean was aware they were walking a fine line from a size perspective. “Bigger is not always better,” he explains, theorizing that if a dining room is too big, “you lose that sense of intimacy.”

As Amy explains, delivering on details is what Tim specializes in. Add in Dean’s design expertise – “Dean knows what he wants,” Amy says – and she knew she was involved in a one-of-a-kind project. Work

commenced in December 2019 and was completed in April 2020.

LIGHT WAS DEEMED a critical component of the addition. The layers ultimately included natural light that filters into the room during the day via the expanse of windows. Another element is uplighting that is emitted from behind the moldings. Under-cabinet lighting provides task lighting and adds to the ambiance, as well. Finally, the five various-sized, sphereshaped chandeliers not only illuminate the room but provide a wow factor. “We looked for the right chandeliers for a long time and finally found them through Restoration Hardware,” Dean notes.

The wet bar, which encompasses a good portion of the addition, is outfitted with custom cabinetry, a custom-stained wine rack, a sink, a wine fridge, pullout trays and drawers that hold linens and other necessities. Quartz covers the counters and backsplash. “Having everything at hand makes setting the table very easy,” Allyson says.

As for the farm-style table, which

The built-in wet bar provides storage space for table-setting necessities and functions as a bar when the Eberlys entertain.

The Dining Room is Good for Your Health!

Remember the good old days, when families would gather around the dining room table on a nightly basis to enjoy a homecooked meal and discuss everything from school to the state of the world? Well, thanks to Covid, that tradition is making a comeback. Since many families are banning cell phones from the dining room, children are learning the art of conversation. They’re also learning table manners.

Having a sit-down meal establishes an end-of-day routine that helps adults forget the stresses of the day and reintroduces children to the concept of having chores to do, i.e. setting the table, clearing it, filling the dishwasher, etc.

Enjoying a meal in the dining room is also good for your diet. Instead of mindlessly eating in front of the television, sitting at a table promotes mindfulness. Concentrating on your meal without distractions, such as the television and a phone, can result in better digestion, etc., and set the stage for a relaxing evening. Because you leave the table feeling noticeably fuller, you might be less inclined to snack later in the evening.

comfortably seats 12, that was a project undertaken by Dean. “During the lockdown, I decided I would make the table myself,” he explains. After designing the table and purchasing a Douglas fir beam from Riehl’s Construction in New Holland, he set to work, using his own techniques for adding texture to the wood. “I enjoy tackling design challenges,” he says. Woodworking is in his DNA. “My dad was a hobby woodworker,” he explains. “I learned from him. I made my first dining table when I was 19.”

Add in comfortable chairs and the Eberlys find themselves entertaining a captive audience. “It’s become one of our favorite rooms,” says Allyson. “At Thanksgiving, we had 20 guests for dinner. Everyone stayed in the room the entire time – in previous years, we’d have dinner and then scatter to other areas of the house.”

The connection to nature – “the scenery constantly changes,” says Allyson – also lulls guests into a state of relaxation. The Eberlys’ wooded property is a magnet for wildlife such as deer, birds and

Light was essential to creating ambiance for the dining room. The layered lighting comes courtesy of the windows, the chandeliers, uplighting (behind the moldings) and under-cabinet lighting. Panels that are subtly hidden in the peak of the ceiling dampen the noise level in the room.

foxes. “We like to eat breakfast in the dining room on weekends,” Allyson notes. “Before we know it, a couple hours have passed!”

The Eberlys have also discovered a new hobby that is suited to the dining room. In search of something to help his mother pass the time during the height of Covid, Dean discovered paintby-number kits for sale on Amazon. He bought several and told friends who have senior-aged parents to purchase some, as his mother loved her new hobby. Soon, Dean and Allyson found themselves hooked, as well, and were painting away in their dining room. Dean hangs his creations in his new home office that is a repurposed bedroom.

TK Building & Design

Creating home offices, classrooms and other dedicated spaces is part of the reason why companies such as TK Building & Design are so busy. “With people spending so much time at home, they’re discovering they weren’t built with a pandemic in mind,” says Amy. As a result, homeowners are remodeling their homes, adding on to them and expanding them with outdoor spaces that serve a multiplicity of purposes.

Amy remembers spending the lockdown at home, wondering if she’d have a job to go back to. Little did she know that she had nothing to worry about. When TK reopened, “We were slammed with phone calls, and it shows no signs of slowing down,” she says. “The holidays are usually slow, but in 2021, we worked right through them.” Amy, who is a graduate of the Art Institute of York, recently earned her CKBD credentials on top of maintaining an ongoing hectic schedule.

TK Building & Design celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. Tim, whose credentials include completing the residential carpentry program at Lancaster County Career & Technology Center, worked for a custom builder for six years before he launched his own business in 2011. The company’s résumé includes such projects as Melhorn Manor in Mount Joy, Rachel’s Creperie (Downtown Lancaster and Richmond Square) and countless remodeling projects in homes across Lancaster County.

Just recently, TK Building & Design was the recipient of six Remodeling Achievement Awards – including one for the Eberlys’ dining room – presented by the Building Industry Association of Lancaster County. In addition, Tim was also elected to serve as the association’s vice president for 2022.

For more information, visit tkbuilddesign.com.

Credits

• Design/Build: TK Building & Design

• Interior Design: Amy Sensenig, TK Building & Design

• Chandeliers: Restoration Hardware

• Table Wood: Riehl’s Construction

• Woodworker (Table): Dean Eberly

Pat’s Favorite Recipes

Pat’s Favorite Recipes

TEXT

BY

Grandma’s Cooking

Holiday meals were established traditions at my grandma and grandpa’s house, and her cooking was legendary. She cooked grand smorgasbords made from scratch, using the Pennsylvania Dutch holy trinity of ingredients: heaps of butter, sugar and salt. Every holiday she’d set the bar high, even for herself. Once at a great aunt’s house for dinner, my little sister’s disappointment in a single dessert was manifested with, “Where’s the rest?” Thanks to Grandma, it was expected that there’d be a pie, a cake, ice cream and cracker pudding after a meal so hearty that it could warm a snowman.

Growing up, I assumed everyone’s maternal and paternal grandparents were each other’s best friends. Mine were, and on Saturday mornings, the five of us would stop at a diner on the way to the flea market in Middletown, otherwise known as “The Big M.” Those are the earliest memories I have of diner food, which to this day remains a personal favorite.

When I moved to Louisiana in 2010, I asked my grandma to provide me with recipes for some of my favorite dishes. She would also ship me Tastykake Butterscotch Krimpets, a treat I remember having at sleepovers at her and Grandpa’s house in Mount Joy, while watching Wheel of Fortune and listening to the sounds of the Amtrak train and the ticking of the googly-eyed cat clock at night.

As an adult, I spent many late nights talking about food with Grandma over the phone. She was also a night owl and often the line was busy with her endless socializing, so I’d call at 11 p.m., when all else was quiet. She’d answer by the second ring, knowing it was me. Throughout her life, she taught me to be curious, to understand the virtues of learning everything I could and to develop as many life skills as possible.

Patricia Yvonne Mummaw

Like so many of us, Grandma could also be complicated, and she kept her business to herself. She was stubborn and selfless to a fault, but the combination could lend itself to unthinkable examples of kindness. Once while shopping in a department store, a stranger complimented her on her earrings. On the spot, Grandma removed them and insisted she take them.

A few years ago, I remember canning quick pickles with her. It was notable for a few reasons; for starters, she presented me with a ladle. It was given to her by my great-grandmother, her ex-motherin-law from her first marriage. It must be close to 60 years old and, for a woman who gave everything away, earrings to a stranger notwithstanding, for some reason she held onto that ladle. Apparently, there were skeletons in the closet; I’m reminded of that whenever we make homemade soup or Grandma’s chili. Her mixing bowls and cherry rolling pin live in our cupboards, with the steel worn thin from decades of use. Her heart lives on in ours.

That day, while waiting for the canner to boil, she pointed out the window and asked, “Is that Metzler Road?” I informed her that it was. “I was born on a farm on Metzler Road. I used to ride bicycle to the

My grandma’s recipe notebooks, cherry rolling pin and mixing bowl – displayed on her old dining table – are now heirlooms with decades of use and love attached to them.

Jordan Bush is a commercial photographer. His work has allowed him to discover and document cultures and food across five continents. A graduate of Garden Spot High School and Millersville University, Jordan and his fiancée, Jessica, reside and cook together in Ephrata.

I’m sure you have one of those metal recipe boxes or well-used cookbooks that belonged to your mother or grandmother stashed away somewhere. I’d encourage you to take a second look at what I discovered are unexpected heirlooms that share the language of love through food and serve up some family history.

AND PHOTOGRAPHS

JORDAN BUSH

Clockwise from top:

Rice pudding and cracker pudding are favorite desserts in my extended family. Numerous recipes for each have been tastetested over the years.

At Grandma’s home in Gordonville, likely celebrating her birthday in the early 2000s.

An unfamiliar recipe for hermits (similar to biscotti and gingerbread) was found while looking over Grandma’s notebooks.

As I was their first-born grandchild, no more than a few days ever passed without seeing my grandma and grandpa, Pat and Wayne “Moe” Mummaw. December 1985.

cottages on Turtle Hill, selling green beans and strawberries to tourists in the summer. Yeah,” she said, with a firm nod and pursed lower lip. I thought that side of our family came entirely from Greenbank and New Holland, so that came as quite a surprise.

Her Final Days

In March of 2020, she told us she had pneumonia and the flu, and informed us that she “daren’t be near anyone.” She lost interest in food and coughed laboriously for months. She was fiercely independent and downright secretive, on this occasion in particular.

Weeks went by until one afternoon she showed up unannounced. Her mother’s market basket was filled not with baked goods but with computer hard drives. (A bit of backstory, I kept a backup of my life’s photography work at her house, stored in a fireproof safe hidden in her disconnected dishwasher, a modern convenience she deemed inefficient and gratuitous.)

Standing 10 feet away, unable to hug her, I knew what that meant. On a follow-up visit to the doctor for her “respiratory illness,” they discovered cancer elsewhere in her body. Since food no longer tasted the same, she was rapidly losing weight. Exhausted and stubborn, she accepted this would be her fate.

In October of 2020, we shared one final phone call, eight-minutes short. I knew it would be our last. She was in a nursing home with extensive visitation restrictions due to COVID-19, so the phone was the best way to connect with her. Tired, she answered from a cordless phone with a weak battery. I prayed she and the phone would hold on just a minute longer. She asked me to pray that Jesus would accept her into heaven and take her soon. There was not a doubt in my mind that both were quickly approaching.

She passed away on Veteran’s Day 2020, a date that holds special meaning for me. My late grandfather was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served from 1942-1962. He passed in 2003, and researching his Navy history was how I dealt with my grandma’s failing health. With the help of a reunion website for the USS Kenneth D. Bailey DDR713, I made contact with one of his shipmates, Chief Ernie Pina. I mentioned him to Grandma when she was still at home and she brought out letters that Ernie had sent to my grandpa years ago. Ernie lives in Massachusetts, and I hope to visit him this year. Maybe then I’ll be able to tell him that Grandma is gone.

Pat’s Favorite Recipes

Before Christmas of 2020, my Aunt Cindy gifted me with Grandma’s recipe notebooks. The two spiral-bound notebooks were filled with a patchwork of clippings of recipes and

prayers that were taped, paper-clipped and written by hand with pen in her recognizable cursive. I couldn’t bring myself to look through them until this past Thanksgiving, after a friend shared her mother’s turkey stuffing recipe on a beautifully patinated notecard she had found in one of those aforementioned recipe boxes.

Grandma’s oldest notebook tells a story. Faded and yellowed, the pages are dusted with what feels like baking flour and dotted with drops of cooking oil and the occasional coffee stain. Pages in the dessert section are stuck together with red Jello. Referenced on her kitchen counter for decades, she revised recipes with different colored pens, scratching out items, adding to an oven duration here, maybe reducing the number of eggs needed there. Later, her amendments evolved to implement white-out and highlighters. A patchwork of recipe clippings from magazines, newspapers and food packaging is taped and paper-clipped to the lined pages of her notebook. Curiously, her notes are written in the first person, as though she recorded them with us in mind.

Paging through each journal, her mix of recipes feels both familiar and new. I remember her pecan crescent cookies, but not her Scottish shortbread and hermits (a cross between biscotti and gingerbread). Then there are baking suggestions which,

being a baker with more luck than experience, stand out. A “Secret Baking Tip” suggests coating berries and fruit with flour to keep them from settling to the bottom of muffins. Another clipping mentions cooking rice in broth, stock or bouillon rather than water. That tip I already practice, but it adds another twist, cooking rice in fruit juice for “use with pork, poultry and desserts.”

Another layer of discovery comes in the form of her cited sources, some known, others unfamiliar. A recipe for baked macaroni-and-cheese mentions my cousin: “Jodi’s recipe from Grandma Stirk.” A recipe for Colorado Peach Cream Pie from Farm Woman News that’s older than I am, mentions someone I never heard of: “Miriam S. gave this recipe.” I got a laugh with a hand-written note atop one page, giving an obvious yet often overlooked reminder for hasty starters: “Read before making.”

It’s frustrating and curious finding numerous iterations of the same dish. Why anyone would need six recipes for cracker pudding is a mystery, but her notes sometimes leave hints in selecting the right one. “My kids like this the best” is written boldly on the recipe for “Good Rice Pudding (no eggs).”

As with many recipes, there are multiple versions of the same prayer written throughout journals. A Morning Grace,

Grace Before Meals, there’s a familiar amount of care and nervousness in getting them just right. These pages represent the grandmother I loved.

Let Food Be Your Language of Love

Only since my grandma’s passing have I realized my passion for sharing food stems from her expression of care and love through food. She couldn’t sit still and was always on the go, looking for tasty food throughout Lancaster County. Baked goods from Country Table in Mount Joy or Bird-inHand Bake Shop stand out among countless others. Sharing these treasures was one way she expressed love.

Donuts constituted what was arguably her favorite food group, and I don’t know how this is possible, but she had never had a Weiser’s donut before I offered her one. Returning in kind – offering her food to enjoy – was practically impossible, a gratuity to deny herself out of guilt. She would never let me make anything for her unless I said it was for me, so I learned to take one for the team. For a time she borrowed a small cast iron skillet that got her cooking a little more for herself. And, those late phone calls talking about how to make anything from chili to getting the junket to set, those meant the world to me.

A patchwork of recipes and prayers given, clipped, taped and written out in cursive, span decades of collecting and use in Grandma’s kitchen. Many recipes were amended with notes and revisions to improve them.

February

Patricia Yvonne Mummaw was born on February 6, 1939. She was the mother of three children and two more she’d meet in heaven. She was the grandma of three grandchildren, had two great-grandsons, and was known as “Aunt Pat” to many more. This February, I ask that you take a Saturday morning to make a family recipe with someone you love. Even though written recipes often lack fine details and personal touches, I promise you’ll both remember the occasion. Or, if you find yourself in need of an outing, treat yourself and a loved one to breakfast at a local diner. Just make sure to add extra sugar to the coffee.

- Gladdie and Chris M., Homestead Village Residents

Homestead Village has been a pillar of the Lancaster community for nearly 40 years. As a non-profit continuing care retirement community, our campus features a wide variety of cozy cottages, sunny villas, and spacious carriage homes. Additionally, our apartments are dual-licensed for personal care; making our apartments perfect for individuals or couples, especially those with differing care needs. Be energized by living in a vibrant, welcoming community just west of Lancaster!

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Grandma served many dishes in Fire-King peach-lustre brosilicate-glass bowls, including an amended chili recipe. She preferred pinto beans and extra cayenne pepper for herself. Here, I made it with ground turkey.

Yours truly photographed by my grandma in her Mount Joy kitchen in 1989.

Inspired by European bistros, C’est La Vie makes its home in the heart of Downtown Lancaster – across the alley from Central Market in the Hager Arcade. Here, you’ll find a casually elegant atmosphere and a menu that puts the accent on artisanal French food.

C’est La Vie, which opened in 2019, and its sister restaurant, Josephine’s Downtown, are owned by Dean Oberholtzer, Daniel LeBoon, who also serves as executive chef, and Justin Ang, who is C’est La Vie’s manager. If the names sound familiar, Dean is the owner of The Belvedere Inn, while Chef LeBoon is its executive chef.

Prior to opening, the owners spent three months remodeling and updating the dining areas and kitchen of the former Carr’s Restaurant. Olga Lembesis, an

Bistro-style Dining in Downtown Lancaster

BY ROCHELLE A. SHENK PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK GOULD

interior designer based in Hershey, assisted in creating C’est La Vie’s French-inspired décor that includes antique French farm tables that she and Dean bought at an auction and repurposed to serve as high-top tables for the restaurant’s bar area. Artwork also has a French theme – Moulin Rouge –and is the basis of the restaurant’s vibrant color scheme.

An expanse of windows admits natural light and provides diners with a view of street activity, whose tempo increases on market days. Those large windows also multitask – they function as patio doors that open to offer outdoor sidewalk dining for about 60 people. Retractable awnings and patio umbrellas offer shade, while patio heaters provide warmth over the winter. “The outdoor area gives people an option for dining. We realize that some people are still not comfortable dining indoors,” Dean notes.

Seasonal creations from The Gilded Lily augment the restaurant’s décor and ambiance.

Add in the fact that the Hager building dates to 1910 – it was designed by C. Emlen

Urban in the French Renaissance Revival style and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places – and guests are afforded a unique dining experience. “The historic buildings surrounding us and the pavers on the street combine with our atmosphere to make you feel like you’re in a bistro in a European town,” Justin remarks. “Our guests have said they feel like they’re on vacation when they come here.” He adds that some guests have a favorite table, which they request when making a reservation.

AS FOR THE MENU, Dean points out that C’est La Vie’s menu is “more casual than Josephine’s. You can get pizza, sandwiches or a great entrée here. It’s a great place to enjoy a meal with friends or meet for a business lunch.”

Despite the emphasis on casual fare, Chef LeBoon describes the menu as having a European or French flair, as well as a Lancaster connection through fresh, local ingredients that are used to create menu items. “We shop at Central Market,” Chef LeBoon remarks. “We offer a Central

Boeuf Bourguignon: roast beef, onions, carrots, mushrooms, cavatappi pasta, red wine and demi.

Market pizza; it’s done in our brick oven and features fresh toppings, so it varies from day-to-day,” he explains.

Customer favorites include boeuf bourguignon, coquille Saint Jacques (sea scallops, mushrooms, cream and gruyere cheese), and the French dip sandwich, which is made with short rib that’s braised for four hours and then is hand-cut and topped with provolone and a tomato relish on a brioche roll and served with classic French au jus for dipping. Other Frenchinspired dishes include coq au vin (frenched chicken breast) and venison chops that are prepared with a blueberry-port reduction.

For crab cake lovers, the menu offers Chef LeBoon’s signature version. Trending on the menu is a pizza whose ingredients include figs, balsamic, goat and bacio cheeses and arugula.

Desserts and breads (except for the brioche for the French dip) are crafted by pastry chef Renaud Besnard, whose lemon and raspberry macaron is a popular dessert choice. For chocolate lovers, the menu includes chocolate decadence and vanilla & chocolate fudge cake.

As for the selections from the bar, specialty cocktails are named in homage to some well-known landmarks in Lancaster, including Central Market and Penn Square, as well as a number of city streets. That’s Life (the English translation for C’est La Vie) is made from house-made cranberry compote, Stoli orange, triple sec and cranberry juice. Craft beer (from a number of local brewers) and wine are also available.

Guests can be assured there will be something special in store for Valentine’s Day at C’est La Vie. Surf & turf is one idea Chef LeBoon is entertaining. Special desserts will also be on the menu. With theaters and music venues reopening, C’est La Vie is the perfect spot for dining before events at the Fulton Theatre or the Ware Center, which are located about a half-block away. “We also have guests coming in after the shows for drinks, appetizers or dessert,” Dean notes.

C’est La Vie is located at 18 North Market Street in Lancaster. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Reservations are suggested and can be made by calling the restaurant, visiting the website or on OpenTable. Call 717-299-7319 or visit clvlancaster.com, Facebook and Instagram.

Roasted BeetSalad

Moulin Rouge-inspired artwork sets the tone for the restaurant’s color scheme.

The bar’s beverage menu includes specialty cocktails, wine and craft beer.

Tellstar Tuna Poke: dragon fruit, mango, rice, tuna, cucumber, edamame, braised red cabbage, sesame seeds, avocado, baby bok choy and scallions.

In the Neighborhood In the Neighborhood

ANCHOR LANCASTER

Anchor Lancaster provides a hot breakfast, warm showers and a warming center every weekday to our neighbors in need. Guests are received with dignity, respect and compassion.

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• 8:30 a.m. Hot Breakfast

• 10:00 a.m. Winter Warming Center (funded by CommunityAid grant)

29 East Walnut Street, Lancaster Anchorlancaster.org • 717-394-7231

Director@anchorlancaster.org

ATTITUDES HAIR & NAIL SALON

For over 20 years, our mission is helping you LOVE your hair and nails! We specialize in trendy and traditional hair design, refreshing color, brightening highlights and perms for added style. Rejuvenate your hands and feet with relaxing manicures and pedicures. Thank you for trusting us to help you look and feel your best and voting us ‘Among the Best’ salons in 2021. Treat someone special to a gift certificate this Valentine’s Day! 798A New Holland Avenue, Lancaster. 717-295-0836.

HONG KONG GARDEN CHINESE RESTAURANT

Our chefs have been serving Lancaster Countians their favorite entrées for 41 years. To add variety, they are always creating new and exciting specials. Vegetable entrées and children’s menu available. We offer lavish lunch and dinner menus, made with quality, fresh ingredients, for dine-in or take-out.

1807 Columbia Avenue, Wheatland Shopping Center, Lancaster. 717-394-4336.

CASEY JONES’ RESTAURANT

All aboard! Join us in our two original P-70 80-ton dining cars that once rode the rails of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Featuring 175 seats, this unique property offers indoor dining, outdoor deck seating with train and farmland views, and take-out. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, Casey Jones’ Restaurant is a one-ofa-kind experience for all ages!

312 Paradise Lane, Ronks 717-687-5000

CaseyJonesRestaurantPA.com

WEST END YOGA STUDIO

West End Yoga Studio offers a variety of in-person and virtual classes for any skill level, including Yin yoga, Hatha, Vinyasa, meditation, accessible yoga, yoga wall and more. Buy classes individually or become a member and enjoy unlimited classes, local discounts, open studio time and more.

Westendyogastudio.com

717-406-9681

221 W Walnut Street, Lancaster

TWISTED EASEL ETC.

Twisted Easel Etc. offers unique painting and crafting experiences for all ages. With many creative projects to choose from, Twisted Easel Etc. is perfect for date nights, bridal or birthday parties, team building exercises or a girls’ night out. Gift certificates are available. Twistedeaseletc.com.

717-951-7834.

1 South Market Street, Elizabethtown.

JOHN A. ZERN & SONS BEVERAGE

John A. Zern & Sons Beverage specializes in beer and beverage sales and service and has been serving the Lancaster region since 1948. They provide beverage setups for weddings, banquets and other events and work with a number of venues across Lancaster County and surrounding areas.

202 South Charlotte Street, Manheim. 717-665-2233. Zernsbeverage.com.

DUTCH APPLE DINNER THEATRE

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre allows patrons to enjoy both dinner and a Broadway-worthy show all in one experience! Head chef, Alex Rosario, plans a wonderful buffet to correspond with each show. On Thursday nights, Alex and his staff prepare superb served-to-yourtable dinners of soup, salad, entrée, and dessert for each guest to enjoy.

510 Centerville Rd, Lancaster 717-898-1900 • Dutchapple.com

In the Neighborhood In the Neighborhood

HALDEMAN MECHANICAL INC.

Founded in 1939, Haldeman Mechanical Inc. has been providing plumbing, heating, cooling and water conditioning services to residential and light commercial customers for three generations. We are a certified Rheem ProPartner offering sales and 24-hour service as well as service agreements to keep your equipment running at peak efficiency. Free estimates are available by calling 717-665-6910 or visiting our website at haldemanmechanical.com.

(PA#007777)

GALEBACH’S FLOOR FINISHING, INC.

Galebach’s Floor Finishing, founded in 1924, is the oldest floor finishing company in Lancaster County. We specialize in residential wood floor refinishing and have extensive experience with historic restorations. Our dust containment system keeps your home as clean as possible while our workers are on-site sanding and finishing. (#PA019030)

202 Main Street, Landisville 717-898-9680

Galebachsfloorfinishing.com

MOUNTAIN REALTY ERA POWERED

Broker and Owner Nathan Mountain, along with the entire Mountain Realty ERA Powered staff, offers SUPERIOR real estate services to their clients whether they are relocating to or moving within the Lancaster County area or outlying areas. Our goal is to be an ADVOCATE for you through the entire real estate process of Buying, Selling or Investing. Contact Mountain Realty ERA Powered for ALL of your real estate needs.

2938 Columbia Avenue, Suite 602, Lancaster 717-390-8701

www.eramountainrealty.com

nathan.mountain@ eramountainrealty.com

Sotheby’s

Why We ♥ Lancaster

Love! Love!

Valentine’s has always been a popular day to become engaged and even married. In fact, Thanksgiving through Valentine’s is referred to as “engagement season” in the jewelry industry.

Popping the question now entails more than sharing the news – and the ring – with friends and family. Thanks to social media, the news can now be shared with the world. Some couples do so immediately, while others wait until they have participated in an engagement photo shoot that could show them kissing in the moonlight, cavorting on a beach, embracing their dog, relaxing at a mountain cabin … the possibilities are endless. The concept has become a phenomenon; The Knot reports that 40% of engaged couples are scheduling such sessions.

LANCASTER IS FORTUNATE to have a new generation of photographers who are not only astute behind the camera but are tech savvy and understand the role social media now plays in the wedding process. Kelsey Strothers is one such photographer. The Denver-based photographer traces the roots of her career to high school, where she took a number of photography classes.

Homework assignments typically focused on capturing images of inanimate objects. Wanting to expand her horizons, Kelsey borrowed an aunt’s camera in order to document family members “just hanging out.” She so enjoyed photographing people that when it came time to tackle her senior project, Kelsey chose a wedding as her subject matter. Shadowing a wedding photographer led to a stint as a second photographer on jobs and eventually, the launch of her own business, Kelsey Renee Photography.

Kelseyreneephotography.com

3 Questions for Kelsey

1. Describe your style as it relates to photography.

My style of photography is light and airy! I love my images to have bright whites, creamy skin tones and muted greens. Staying pretty true to color never goes out of style!

2. What does an engagement photo shoot achieve (for the couple and the photographer) other than having commemorative photos?

For the photographer, an engagement session is the perfect time to learn the couple’s posing strengths, while simultaneously “breaking the ice” and

creating a new friendship together. As for the clients, it provides them with an opportunity to learn the photographer’s posing style and how the photographer works so that on their wedding day they feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera. This also allows them to look the most natural and relaxed for their wedding photos without taking the time to learn new poses. It’s a win-win.

3. How important is a social media presence to your business?

When I started my business in 2011, social media was not like it is today. Social media makes it MUCH easier to grow your business, spread the word and connect with people from around the world! I love the connections I’ve made and the growth I’ve achieved because of social media!

Longwood Gardens provided the backdrop for Kelsey’s photos of Mike and Erin.

Kelsey photographed Amanda and Chris at the Philadelphia Water Works.

Kelsey captured Austin and Ali at the Merchant Exchange Building in Philadelphia.

Kelsey Strothers and her husband, Zach. Photo by Olivia Rae Photography.

At UPMC, our goal is to diagnose and treat your back, neck, or spine condition as quickly as possible so you can get back to doing the things you love. The road to recovery starts with our team of dedicated providers and nurse navigators who will guide you through the process and help you get the right care — including a full range of non-surgical treatment options. And, if you need surgery, you’re in good hands. Our board-certified neurosurgeons and orthopaedic spine surgeons are among the most experienced in the region.

Call 717-791-2630 to schedule an appointment today or visit UPMC.com/CentralPASpine.

If it’s comprehensive neck and back care, it has to be UPMC.

- LESLIE LEHMAN

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS FROM A PATIENT’S PERSPECTIVE

What was your Situation?

Looking ahead, it was time to enjoy life! After retiring, I decided to get myself in shape–eat better, exercise regularly, visit the grandchildren more often! My husband and I do quite a bit of traveling, so with a trip approaching, I don’t want to have to “what if” myself in getting ready for it. “What if I lose a crown, or a filling falls out, or I chip a tooth!” With Dr. Weierbach, I know I won’t have to think twice about this as he is thorough in going through my X-rays, dental exams and routine cleanings.

What was the Approach?

My case was timely as I needed it NOW. I knew which teeth I wanted done. It was a collaborative process. For instance, my question of “Gee, I don’t want those dark lines at the bottom of my crowns, can we avoid that?” was answered. Now one can have totally natural-looking teeth without those dark lines by the gum line! I was thrilled.

What was it like to Work with Dr. Weierbach?

The procedure was relaxing. The staff is fabulous with each person having a specialty. Dr. Weierbach tells you what he is going to do and proceeds with confidence. The artist in him emerges as he fusses with color and fit. The results are always flawless. And, I was always seen promptly at my appointment time. It made me feel as though my time is important too. I love that I don’t have to wait for weeks to get in. Scheduling is easy and timely.

And the Result?

I couldn’t wait to run home and show my teeth to my wonderful husband. I am so impressed, and those new crowns make me smile. I wish my daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren lived close by as I would have them in that office for their dental care–my treat!

American Dental Association (ADA) - recognized specialists in restoring and replacing teeth for a timeless display of confident beauty and Members in the American College of Prosthodontists.

Wife, grandmother and entrepreneur of the next stage of life.