Spend an Evening in Morocco Courtesy of Chef Bushra Fakier
David Gelatt’s Living Plant Wall
Remodeling the Great Outdoors with Cocalico Builders
Dining
Chef Rafe Hottenstein Puts the Focus on Seafood at Josephine’s
August 17, 1972 - March 22, 2024
We are deeply saddened about the passing of Dr Louis Marotti.
He had a distingushed career as a neurosurgeon and had the following of countless patients. His vast experience and insight have served as a strength to the Lancaster County community for the last 15 years.
Dr. Marotti’s presence will remain alive in our hearts.
Dr.
WHITE FAMILY DENTAL —
We are here for you today, and tomorrow.
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For over 50 years GR Mitchell has been guiding builders, remodelers, and homeowners in the selection of hardware, lumber, and building materials. Located just south of Lancaster city, GR Mitchell gives you the option to skip big box stores with over 50,000 items in-stock and endless ability to order the custom touches you need for your next project. Going local also offers you a level of service unique to GR Mitchell. Staff make themselves available to offer advice, suggest creative solutions, and ensure that you receive the products you need. Visiting their Willow Street showroom will make decisions easy. There you’ll find windows, doors, trim, cabinetry and more on display to help you (or your customers) confidently choose which styles and features to have installed.
At UPMC, our team of dedicated spine providers and nurse navigators guide you to the right care. Working together, we diagnose your back and neck pain and customize treatment plans with you — including non-surgical treatment, rehabilitation, and pain management — all so you can get back to doing what you love. And, our experienced spine surgeons are here for you with the most advanced surgical techniques and innovative technologies.
To schedule an appointment, call 717-791-2630 or visit UPMC.com/SpineCareCPA.
PUBLISHER Jocelyn Engle
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Willow Valley Communities resident, Jim Comey, says his philosophy on life comes from writer, Jonathan Swift: May you live every day of your life.
And that’s exactly what he does. A produced playwright and published author, Jim is the chair of the Willow Valley Communities Writers Group. He teaches Tai Chi and Qigong and performs in plays. And when he’s not doing all that, Jim’s found riding his motorcycle on the gorgeous country roads in Lancaster County. “This is a whole new world for me,” he says. “I have the freedom to enjoy life’s next adventures knowing that my wife and I — and our adult children — have the peace of mind of Willow Valley Communities’ Type A Lifecare for the future.”
Find your Life Lived Forward. Explore Willow Valley Communities today.
48. Features
30. Say Olá to Thomas Augusto dos Santos Claro
Meet a young man from Brazil whose goal is to become an actor and expand his horizons through travel.
34. The Green Room
David Gelatt and Kevin Peters solve the question of how to oversummer hundreds of houseplants by creating a living green wall in their city garden.
48. Serendipity
Cocalico Builders undertakes a remodeling project in which longtime clients enlarge and update their home’s outdoor-living area.
Jordan Bush photographed the colorful tents that chef Bushra Fakier uses to transform her backyard into a Moroccan getaway.
12. Event-Full
There is so much happening in May, including the return of the U. S. Women’s Open to Lancaster Country Club.
16. Uptown & Down
Michael Upton visits Sight & Sound Theatres’ Branson, Missouri, location, where Queen Esther is currently being staged.
20. Life of a Party
Jill Brown takes you to WGAL’s 75th anniversary celebration that was held at Excelsior in March.
64. Foodographer
“Travel” to Morocco with Jordan Bush, as he experiences one unforgettable evening of culinary and visual delights courtesy of chef Bushra Fakier, owner of Flavors of Morocco, which is based at Southern Market.
74. Table for Two
Rochelle Shenk catches up with chef Rafe Hottenstein, who is now associated with Josephine’s Downtown.
80. Neighbors
Meet Ashley Mayer, the founder of the Lititz Stroller Gang.
24. Explore Lititz
Summertime and the living is easy! It’s the perfect time to update your home, revamp your garden, explore and relax. 64. 34.
Discover why Lititz is regarded as one of America’s “coolest small towns.” Events, history, unique shops and a diverse culinary scene make it the place to be in summer.
42. & 56. Celebrate Summer
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Lancaster Cancer Center is proud to announce its expansion of care with the addition of Roxana Ramos, CRNP. Roxana began her career at the practice over a decade ago in our scheduling department and became a registered nurse. She earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing and then her Master’s degree as a CRNP from the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences.
She joins the team of expert physicians and highly trained staff who are committed to providing the highest quality of cancer care in the county.
Together, they will be with you every step of the way.
We make new patients and second opinions a priority with appointments available within 24 hours by calling 717.291.1313.
The weather is perfect, gardens are in bloom with spring flowers, rhubarb and strawberries are in season, the school year is in its final stretch and Memorial Day is just around the corner. If that’s not enough to keep you busy, events fill the calendar.
May 28-June 2
Lancaster Country Club
Golf fans, the ladies are making a return trip to Lancaster, and the timing couldn’t be more apropos: the Lancaster Country Club (LCC), the site of this year’s U.S. Women’s Open, is kicking off its 125th anniversary (founded April 6, 1900) and unveiling the completion of its ambitious “A Defining Moment” project that resulted in a comprehensive upgrade of the club’s facilities and amenities.
The tournament was held in Lancaster for the first time in 2015 and set an attendance record thanks to the 134,016 golf fans who followed the action at Lancaster Country Club. That record stood until last year, when Pebble Beach hosted the tournament for the first time (and set television viewership records, as well). With the
tournament’s return to LCC, Lancaster, of course, is aiming to reclaim and set some records of its own.
Thanks to the hospitality shown on the part of the club and the community during the 2015 event (1,500 volunteers will again be assisting during the tournament), LCC gained an honorary member in the tournament’s winner, In Gee Chun. As a result, Chun partnered with the club to create the In Gee Chun LCC Educational Foundation, which awards scholarships to local students who work or have a parent who works at the club. Chun also promotes the value of education in her native South Korea. No doubt Chun views 2015 as a lucky number, as she won two other majors that year and followed up her successes by representing South Korea at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Another fan favorite, Michele Wie West (now retired), also has ties to Lancaster. Now a jewelry designer, she created the famous Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce friendship bracelet with Wove, a city jeweler. Another collaborative effort with Wove resulted in a bracelet that benefits the recovery efforts on the fire-ravaged island of Maui.
The U.S. Women’s Open is the premier championship in women’s golf. First played in 1946, the tournament has been conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA) since 1953. It is the second major of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) season and has
the highest purse in women’s golf, which is now a record-setting $12 million thanks to its partnership with Ally Financial. In addition to Chun and West, notable past champions include Minjee Lee, Inbee Park, Annika Sörenstam, Patty Sheehan and Betsy King. Last year’s winner was Hawaii’s Allisen Corpuz.
As for tickets, daily Gallery access ranges in price from $25 to $395+ and includes comp parking and shuttle service, grounds and concessions access and grandstand seating at various holes. (The higher-priced tickets provide upgraded amenities.) Packages that provide tickets for the entire event begin at $150. There is also a Flex Pass that provides access during five days of your choosing. Finally, there is the Penn Club package ($2,000) that provides total access as well as upgraded amenities. Information: USwomensopen.com.
Dr. Dennis Denenberg welcomes groups to visit and tour his imaginative gardens and home and, in the process, support breast cancer awareness and research. Two decades of planning and work have transformed what was once an expanse of lawn into a gardenscape that blooms from early spring (6,000+ daffodils) to fall in an ever-changing palette of plants and colors. He is proud of the fact that nary a blade of grass grows on
the property. The garden also serves another purpose: through the tours, he raises funds for a cause that is near and dear to his heart: Diana’s Dreamers: Determined to Defeat Breast Cancer, which honors his sister, who succumbed to the disease. Information: gardensofoz.com.
Opens May 3
Mulberry Art Studios
In celebration of National Pet Month, Mulberry Art Studios will exhibit art that honors the animals that bring so much joy to our lives. The 6th annual show will feature artwork from local artists (of all ages) in a variety of mediums. The show opens with a First Friday Reception on May 3 from 5-9 p.m. The public is invited to view the art and meet the artists. In addition, several local pet-related vendors will be onsite. Rescue dogs from The Sebastian Foundation for Animal Rescue will also be at the event. The event is free to visit, but
donations to The Sebastian Foundation are encouraged. The exhibit will be available for viewing throughout the month of May by appointment only. 21 N. Mulberry St., Lancaster. Information: Facebook.com/ mulberryartstudios.
May 4 & 5
Lancaster County Art Association
Just in time for planting season, the sale will feature a selection of perennials, annuals, shrubs and garden art. In addition, the exhibit, Springtime in the Garden, will showcase members’ work in the Kauffman Gallery, while Jeff McCredie’s work will be displayed in the Steinmetz Gallery. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 149 Precision Ave., Strasburg. Information: lcaaonline.org.
May 4
New Life Fellowship Church
Bark For Life honors the lifelong contributions of our canine caregivers, celebrates human and canine cancer survivors and works to end cancer through research, education, advocacy, and patient services. Canine attendees can participate in games, contests and a Strut Your Mutt costume parade. Rescue organizations, adoptable dogs, vendors and food trucks
will be on hand. Demonstrations will be held and a live auction will get underway at 1 p.m. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 420 E. Fulton St., Ephrata. Information: relayforlife.org/barklancasterpa.
May 4 & 5
Downtown Lancaster
Downtown Lancaster’s galleries and other art venues will be hosting special exhibits, meet-the-artist events, children’s activities and live demonstrations throughout the weekend. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, 12-4 p.m. Information: lancastercityart.com.
May 9
Farm & Home Center
Greystone Manor Therapeutic Riding Center, which enhances the lives of individuals with special needs, as well as at-risk populations, is holding its first-ever bingo fundraising event.
Attendees can play 20 games of winners choice bingo, participate in a 50/50 raffle, enjoy food and drink and more. Doors open at 4 p.m., the games get underway at 6 p.m. 1383 Arcadia Rd., Lancaster. Information: greystonemanortrc.org.
May 9
Excelsior
The Touchstone Foundation, which focuses on mental health wellness for youth and families, is hosting a unique and interactive dining event through which patrons will connect with the five senses – see, feel, hear, smell and taste – through food and beverage pairings, all while learning about the mission of the foundation’s programs. Silent and live auctions will also be held. 5:30 p.m. Ticket Information: touchstonefound.org.
Herb & Garden Faire
May 10 & 11
Landis Valley Village & Museum
The Herb & Garden Faire, now in its 36th year, will feature plants from the museum’s Heirloom Seed Project, vendors offering natives and other hard-to-find varieties, herbal skin care products, garden art, jewelry and more. Food and drink will be available onsite. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., rain/ shine. 2451 Kissel Hill Rd., Lancaster. Information: Landisvalleymuseum.org.
Thank you Lancaster! We continue our tradition of providing state of the art care in a friendly and compassionate environment.
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May 12
Manheim Pennsylvania Auto Auction
Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, the beloved event draws hundreds of big-rig trucks and thousands of spectators, both at the family carnival and along the convoy route. The free family carnival (9 a.m.-3 p.m.) features games, entertainment and local food trucks. The official start of the convoy is 1:30 p.m. The event celebrates current and former wish kids, while raising money to grant more wishes to children with critical illnesses. Funds raised grant 75% of wishes in the Susquehanna Valley. 1190 Lancaster Rd., Manheim. Information: wishconvoy.org
Gyrofest
May 18
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
Enjoy authentic Greek food and pastries at this spring festival. The menu features gyros, a platter (a gyro, two pieces of spanakopita and a Greek salad), Greek
pastries and desserts. Preorder online and pick up your order in the drivethrough lanes from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. A third of proceeds will be donated to various philanthropic organizations that benefit the Lancaster community. 64 Hershey Ave., Lancaster. Information: annunciationorthodox.org.
May 18
Root’s Country Market & Auction
The spring edition of one of Lancaster’s favorite shows will welcome a selection of artists, craftspeople and vendors from Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., rain/shine. 705 Greystone Rd., Manheim. Information: hlcshow.com.
May 18
Manheim
Back for its second year, this event offers something for every palate – beer, wine, mead, cider, spirits and more. Dozens of breweries, wineries and distilleries will be represented. Products can be purchased to go. Food trucks will be participating, as well.
Live music will be provided. Tickets required. Must be 21+ to attend, ID required. 3-6 p.m., rain/shine. Market Square. Information: lovemanheim.com/brewfest.
May 27
Amos Herr Park
On Memorial Day, Landisville is the place to be if you love flea markets and garage sales. Featuring over 100 vendors, the flea market offers everything from antiques and collectibles to handmade crafts, vintage clothing and more. Food trucks will also be onsite. Organized by Hempfield recCenter and the Hempfield Women’s Club, proceeds from this event are used to fund the rec’s “Everyone Belongs” financial-assistance program, as well as other community endeavors. The flea market is free to attend. In addition, residents throughout Landisville hold garage sales that day. 7 a.m.-2 p.m. 1700 Nissley Rd., Landisville. Information: hempfieldrec.com
May 30 and Thursdays
Through August 8
The Barn at Paradise Station
Lancaster’s newest events venue will be hosting jazz musicians on Thursday evenings throughout early August (note: no event on July 4). The barn’s patio will be the setting, allowing you to take in views of the farm fields and countryside. Small plates, beer and wine available. Doors open at 6 p.m., music begins at 6:30 p.m., rain/shine. 312 Paradise Lane, Ronks. Information: barnatparadisestation.com.
“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament;” – Daniel 12:3 (King James Version)
It is the end of a multi-month run of a show at Sight & Sound Theatres. The “install and logistics team” loads a convoy of tractor-trailers to make a 1,000-mile trek to Branson, Missouri, where the show will live on at the theatre’s second location. More than 60 truckloads of sets, equipment and costumes will make their way from Lancaster to a new home in the Ozarks over the next six months.
BY MICHAEL C. UPTON | QUEEN ESTHER PRODUCTION PHOTOS COURTESY OF SIGHT & SOUND THEATRES, BRANSONLAST SUMMER I got a chance to meet some of the folks in Branson and tour the theatre. “It’s the same story, just 1,000 miles away,” says Kortney Neal, the marketing and customer relations manager at the Branson Sight & Sound Theatre. She leads me onto the stage of Queen Esther, which met with rave reviews when it ran in Lancaster in 2020 and 2021. The theatre is an immersive experience with a wrap-around effect as the actors’ space flanks out stage right and left. In center stage stands a massive palace alongside other multi-floored buildings. “Similar to the Lancaster theatre, we seat just over 2,000 people. The experience is going to be the same,” adds Kortney.
We are joined by Branson’s technical director, Luke Bates, who adds some specialized expertise to the tour. After a successful 2023, Queen Esther reopened on March 9 and will run through October 5 in Branson. “The shows are constructed in a certain way that they can move between the two theatres rather flawlessly,” explains Luke. “Technically, the contour is slightly different, but what worked in Lancaster will work on our stage. The building was designed so we could essentially cut and paste a show from one stage to another. We don’t have to completely reconstruct a set each time.”
“The size and scale of this production is pretty impressive,” notes Kortney. At 11,000 square feet, the palace is the largest set piece of any Sight & Sound production. Luke points to a connecting set piece running the length of the stage that weighs in at 120,000 pounds, the heaviest set piece in the history of Sight & Sound productions. The piece moves on a track system laid into the stage. Queen Esther pushes the limits of both stages. Every inch of the space is used by actors, animals and buildings.
“When the show opens, you don’t see any of this,” says Luke, who gestures toward the palace and array of other buildings. “When it comes into view you get that ‘ahh’ moment from the crowd.” The stage floor has a wide elevator, which allows cast and animals to appear between scenes as the story unfolds. Kortney credits the tech team for their creative ability to use sound, light, and, frankly, any means necessary, to create a stunning display of theatre.
“When we set out to open a new location, we looked all over the country,” explains Katie Miller, Sight & Sound’s director of marketing and communications. “Branson quickly rose to the top. It felt like our ‘home away from home,’ and it still does. And it has been an honor to be a part of the Branson community.”
Branson, Missouri, is big-show territory and the epicenter of entertainment in the Ozarks. A staggering 10 million people visit the city (population, 13,000) annually. What Branson lacks in population it makes up for in hospitality and top-notch entertainment. Branson is home to Dolly Parton’s Stampede, The Terry Bradshaw Show (yes, that Terry Bradshaw), Russian comedian, Yakov Smirnoff, and countless tribute acts – from ABBA to Elvis. Attractions include the Hollywood Wax Museum, WonderWorks and the Titanic Museum – and that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to things to do in Branson. A grand Sight & Sound theatre was a natural fit.
Michael C. Upton works as a freelance writer specializing in arts and leisure covering subjects ranging from funk punk to fine wine. He graduated with a BFA in Creative Writing from the University of Maine at Farmington and is actively published by trade journals, specialized websites, and regional and national magazines. Upton lives in Lancaster County with his wife, Mel, and two youngest children, Halligan and Teagan. Tyler, his oldest son, is a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America.
Sight & Sound employs approximately 800 people, with 250 of those working in Branson. “We travel up to Lancaster to partner with the crew and staff, and they often come here to support us,” says Kortney.
It takes up to four years to produce a brand-new show. To start, a group gathers to craft the biblical story. Everything takes place internally, from scriptwriting to choreography, to costume, lighting and set design.
“What surprises people the most about Sight & Sound is that we have a team of 150 people creating, writing, choreographing our shows here in-house. That does not really happen in theatre. We like to call it our ‘secret sauce.’ It is powerful to have all these people, like the costume, lighting and set designers, rubbing elbows every day and working towards the same goal. It brings a unique synergy to what we do,” says Katie.
From watching the show on opening night (March 13), I could not tell which set pieces in Daniel were fabricated in Branson. But I know from talking with Luke that a dozen were, and those pieces will someday make their way back to Branson with the rest of the set after Daniel closes in Lancaster on December 31.
The show opens with a giant, wow-inspiring statue floating in from the back of the theatre as King Nebuchadnezzar has
a worrying dream. The set transforms from the Palace of Babylon, adorned with massive pillars topped with winged lions and richly colored, “jewel-tone blue” walls, to multiple locations throughout the story. Most of the huge building pieces revolve to change the setting, while state-of-theart CGI adds an element of reality seen only in the most elaborate productions.
Kortney was in Lancaster for opening night. She was not the only one from Branson. There may be two Sight & Sound locations, but there is one team. “For the opening of Daniel, a whole bunch of our Branson team arrived in Lancaster. I walked into the theatre two days before opening night and one of the sales team members from Branson was vacuuming the lobby. It’s all hands on deck,” says Katie, with a smile in her voice. “We are one big team across the miles working together for one purpose, and that is to bring messages of hope and inspiration to our guests. We are each other’s biggest fans and biggest cheerleaders.”
PRO TIP: If you visit Branson, check in with Explore Branson (explorebranson.com), the official visitors bureau, to avoid any kind of timeshare pitches or inflated ticket prices. For tickets/information about Queen Esther, visit sight-sound.com/shows/branson/ queen-esther/2024. For tickets/information about Daniel, visit sight-sound.com/shows/lancaster/daniel/2024.
House Plants and Succulents
Perennials and Annuals
Shrubs and Native Plants
Vegetables and Herbs
Few businesses touch the community with such depth and breadth as WGAL-TV. We wake up with Regina and Christine to hear the current traffic tangles and learn what we need to wear to brave the day’s weather. Dining alone at home? We tune in to Susan and Brian as our dinner companions. In our comfy pjs, we wind down at night as Jere and Lori wrap up the day’s events. Sharing our bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms, these people are our trusted friends.
BY JILL BROWN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK GOULDAnd beyond our familiar friends on the News8 set are the behind-the-scenes professionals. The producer who never leaves the live newscasts’ on-air anchors and reporters panicked about what’s next; the videographer whose edits capture the heart of the story; the engineer in master control who avoids the dreaded “dead air.” Many of the station’s 120-plus-strong team recently gathered to celebrate WGAL’s 75th anniversary and and gave a nod to the station’s past, present and future.
Dolled-up in gowns and dazzling dresses, tuxedos and business suits, the current WGAL team and its
retirees were reminded of the unique position WGAL-TV holds in the nation’s television industry. Since its inaugural sign-on from the Queen Street studio in Downtown Lancaster on March 18, 1949, WGAL has been a pioneer, true to its original Conestoga wagon logo. It was the first Pennsylvania station to go on the air outside of Philadelphia. For many years, Lancaster was the smallest city in the country to have a television station. In 1981, WGAL was first in the market to establish a second newsroom in Harrisburg to provide greater coverage for its loyal viewers.
AT THE CELEBRATION, the station’s president and general
manager, Cindy DeLuca, proudly described what WGAL’s legacy includes. “WGAL has been the number one station in audience delivery since its existence,” she said, then continued a more personal note. “The true definition of WGAL’s legacy is in the people and their values – past, present, and future. We approach our work with a sense of service to our viewers, to our business partners and to the community at large. We don’t just respond to change; we advance change for the common good of all people. We lead with respect – for each other, for our differences, for all members of the community and the individuals
Opposite: Current and former WGAL employees gathered in Excelsior's courtyard for a shot for the ages.
Clockwise from top left:
A vintage photo captures WGAL’s first home on South Queen Street in Lancaster. WGAL photo.
Dick Hoxworth, Pat Principe, former program manager
Rebecca Campbell, Jim Sinkovitz
Kim Lemon, Cindy DeLuca
Michael Fuller, Regina Ahn, Gabriel Thomas
Ron and Millie Martin
Above: To WGAL’s past, present and future! Kim Lemon leads the 171 guests in a heartfelt toast.
whose stories we tell every day. We show trust, integrity and sincerity in how we treat each other day in and day out, always striving for excellence and having each other’s backs.”
AS RETIRED NEWS ANCHOR and reporter Kim Lemon invited the crowd to raise a glass to toast the milestone, she encouraged everyone to “pause and reflect on what it took for us to be in this moment: the preparation, the determination and the good luck that brought us here. The interview, the chance encounter, the audition, the work.”
Acknowledging the memories of past WGAL alumni and industry innovators – including Nelson Sears, news director Ed Wickenheiser, and on-air personality Marijane Landis –Kim toasted “to the past television pioneers, the current team members whose day-to-day commitment to something greater than ourselves, and to the future – those waiting to become part of the legacy of excellence that is WGAL.”
DURING THE GUESTS’ countless selfies, joy-filled reunions and flat-out funny reminiscences of days spent shooting stories out in the field, a band was warming up for an after-dinner dance party. Revelers rocked, looking nothing like WGAL’s 1960’s Dance Party, when Susquehanna Valley high school students would come to the Columbia Avenue station’s Studio A to do the twist, pony and the mashed potato, a la American Bandstand. But the past was indeed present as the original “Channel 8 Dance Party” sign hung above this night’s dance floor, bringing a bit of authentic memorabilia to the event.
A well-deserved night of congratulations to all who work to bring WGAL into our homes. We’ll be watching!
Owner of Jill Brown Publicity, Marketing & Events, Jill brings highlights of Central Pennsylvania’s social scene and special events to Lancaster County Magazine’s readers. Do you have an event that you would like to have covered by Life of a Party? Contact her at jillianbrown@live.com.
Below, top to bottom: Another vintage shot: Channel 8’s very popular Saturday afternoon Dance Party WGAL photo. On the way to the dance floor ... a dessert bar! It’s a Channel 8 Dance Party, 21st century-style! Lucas Winter and weekend anchor•
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Row 2:
• Jack Hubley, Doug Allen.
Gabriel Thomas.
Katelyn Smith, Meredith Jorgensen, producer Ronda Keiser.
Row 3:
Jill Brown, Millie Martin.
Mike Hostetler, Barbara Barr.
Susan Shapiro.
Row 1:
Brian Roche takes a spin around the dance floor with a vintage film camera replica.
Meredith Jorgensen, Anne Shannon, News8 photographer Ray Rosario and Kaitlin Filipelli-Rosario.
Row 4:
• Joe Sanks, a 41-year News8 photographer, T.J. Springer.
• Katelyn Smith, Tom Lehman.
• Lori Burkholder, Jere Gish.
The BROOKSIDE BROTHERS team is experienced in transforming outdated living spaces into something brand new. Whether you want to remodel your kitchen, backyard or whole home, their team will walk with you through every step of the process, including the initial design, material selection and the actual remodeling itself. Brookside Brothers take pride in their attention to detail, quality craftsmanship and outstanding customer service. When looking for a home addition company that can handle large and small residential remodeling projects, there is no one out there quite like Brookside Brothers. To learn more and see their work, visit brooksidebrothers.com
At LUTHER ACRES , a Luthercare community in Lititz, older adults enjoy a healthy, active retirement with more time to do the things they love.
Thanks to many on-site conveniences and without the worries of home maintenance, they’re enjoying the warmer weather and living life to the fullest – whether walking their dog across the 55-acre campus, gardening at the Horticulture Center, practicing their swing on the putting green or relaxing with a meal and a glass of wine with friends! Charming Downtown Lititz is also walkable from Luther
Acres, and residents appreciate taking in the unique community events, quaint boutiques and fantastic restaurants.
COMMUNITIES is a one-of-a-kind place to live and retire. The walkable community features two campuses, just steps away from Downtown Lititz.
Residents all around our two campuses are pursuing their interests through a collection of clubs and programs, meeting up at social hubs, and taking advantage of first-class amenities and services that free them from home maintenance.
Everything you could desire, including downtown Lititz, is within walking distance from our carriage homes, cottages, townhomes and apartments.
From art, gardening, lifelong learning to traveling, woodworking and more, residents pursue more from life here!
Call 717-626-0214 to plan a visit soon. But don’t delay… our wait list continues to grow!
Moravian Manor Communities offers the area’s widest array of residential home styles, as well as a full continuum of Life Plan options and more – all supporting active aging. Residents are assured of support that’s available 24/7. Moravian Manor personnel are prepared to handle any emerging issues or health situations that arise. Call 717-626-0214 to learn more about their two distinct campuses, community amenities, lifestyle opportunities, dining options and engaging groups that can help you strike the perfect balance in life.
If you would like a side of rock ‘n’ roll with your meal, head to PER DIEM at the Hotel Rock Lititz. The restaurant is located on the Rock Lititz campus, which is a one-stop shop for A-list artists who are preparing to go on tour. Starring fresh ingredients sourced from regional farms, foragers and producers, Per Diem offers dinner daily and brunch on Sunday. For dinner, choose from starters, salads, pizza and entrées. Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options are available. Signature cocktails, beer and wine are also offered. Be sure to leave room for dessert from their in-house pastry chef!
For more than 53 years, GOCHENAUER PET RESORT , which is family owned and operated, has provided quality care for pets. Their professional staff is committed to giving your pet individualized care and attention to ensure they adjust to their temporary home. At Gochenauer’s, your pet is always treated like family and provided with all the essentials to keep them happy and healthy until you return. Request an appointment 24/7 at gochenauers.com or during normal business hours by calling 717-569-6151.
For more than 53 years, Gochenauer Pet Resort has been providing veterinarian-recommended pet boarding, daycare, and grooming for families throughout Lancaster, PA and beyond. Our multi-generational, family-owned and operated resort has proudly been chosen for over 74 people’s choice awards recognizing our outstanding services, advanced level of care, and attentive caregivers.
It’s summer in Lititz! While it’s best-known for its Fourth of July celebration, the summer calendar includes a line-up of events that help to make Lititz one of the “coolest small towns” in America.
For details about any of the following events, visit lititzpa.com.
May 4, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
PRETZEL FEST
This ticketed event combines pretzel tasting and shopping. Stroll through town as you sample local chefs’ and bakers’ takes on pretzels. Sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of the Lititz Area.
May 10, June 14, July 12, August 9, 5-8:30 p.m.
2ND FRIDAY
Enjoy shopping, entertainment, art and food & drink throughout the downtown area.
May 16-October 17 (Thursdays) 4-8 p.m.
Fresh, local and fun defines this market that is held in Lititz Springs Park. You’ll find fresh produce and flowers, baked goods, dog treats, fermented items, prepared food and more.
May 18, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
KIDS FREE DAY IN THE PARK
Kids in grades Kindergarten through fifth are invited to Lititz Springs Park to enjoy bouncy attractions, games and food. Sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of the Lititz Area.
May 19, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
WARWICK BANDS FOOD
TRUCK FESTIVAL
Bring your appetite to Lititz Springs Park, where food trucks will be offering a smorgasbord of selections. Proceeds benefit the Warwick Marching Band.
May 25, 7 p.m.
LANCASTER SYMPHONY IN THE PARK
The free concert will be held in Lititz Springs Park.
June 2, 3 p.m.
FRESH TAKE ON JAZZ CONCERT SERIES
Mickey’s Black Box will present the Hailey Brinnel Quintet.
June 7, 5-9 p.m.
TASTE OF LITITZ
Lititz invites you to stroll along Main Street and sample local restaurants’ very best bites and sips. Also, enjoy live music, family activities and shopping. Free admission, pay as you go.
June 8, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
AMBUCS CRAFTS IN THE PARK
Spend the day at Lititz Springs Park browsing crafts, art and décor.
June 23 & July 14, 6:30 p.m.
PAY WHAT YOU CAN CONCERTS
Bring a blanket or chair to Mary Oehme Gardens and enjoy music provided by NO REPLY (rock & roll) on June 23 and Temple Avenue (jazz) on July 14. Proceeds will benefit the Lititz Historical Foundation’s efforts to maintain the gardens and 18th century structures.
June 28-29
61ST ANNUAL ANTIQUES SHOW
The Lititz Historical Foundation will welcome dozens of dealers presenting a wide range of country wares and dry goods. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Warwick Middle School.
July 4
207TH ANNUAL JULY 4TH CELEBRATION
Take Flight is the theme of this year’s celebration and will feature aviationrelated demonstrations and activities with actual pilots. Surprises are promised! Traditional events such as the Queen of Candles, baby parade, Lititz Lions parade, musical entertainment and, of course, fireworks, will fill the day. Tickets are required to enter Lititz Springs Park. Information: lititz4thofjuly.com.
July 27, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
LITITZ ART ASSOCIATION OUTDOOR FINE ART SHOW
Oils, acrylics, watercolors, drawings, ceramics and sculptures will all be on display during this annual show in Lititz Springs Park.
A Unique Woman’s Boutique!
Color Me Cotton
Clara Sun Woo
Lu Lu B • Charlie B
Renuar • Tribal
Cedar Heights Apartments at United Zion Retirement Community, coming in 2025! Taking reservations now. Call 717-627-8421 for more information
through Saturday 10am - 5pm
12pm - 4pm 25 East Main Street Lititz • 717-626-6688
August 4, 8-11 a.m.
LITITZ RECCENTER TRIATHLON
Athletes of every level are invited to take part in this annual swim/bike/ run event.
August 10, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
LITITZ ROTARY CRAFT SHOW
Drawing 700 crafters from throughout the U.S. and Canada, this is one of the largest craft shows on the East Coast!
August 21, 5:30 p.m.
LITITZ LIONS CAR CRUISE
Main Street will be lined with vintage rides, street rods and modern marvels. Prizes will be awarded, entries welcome.
Summer is always an exciting time at CLEMINTINES . The shop is filled with bright colors including shades of ocean blue, pale pink and golden yellow. Also find a wide range of accessories, which are essential to complete your look. Staff favorites in jewelry include Sea Lily (made from piano wire), OC Jewelry (artistic statement pieces) and Origin (a resin material that comes in an array of colors and styles). Clemintines also has lightweight scarves and purses. A clutch by Joy Susan can be used as a crossbody or wristlet. All it takes is that one special piece to pull your outfit together!
UNITED ZION RETIREMENT COMMUNITY is a welcoming, closeknit, faith-based Life Plan Community that has been providing exceptional service and care for 120 years. Located just minutes from historic Downtown Lititz, their beautiful hilltop location offers great views of North Lititz and surrounding farmland.
The community offers a full continuum of care including independent living apartments and cottages, personal care, long-term skilled nursing care and short-term rehabilitation. United Zion is taking reservations for the brand new Cedar Heights apartments, which are projected to be movein ready in 2025! Call 717-627-8421 or visit uzrc.org to learn more.
Meet a stranger from another part of the world (and even from another generation) and the saying that we have more in common than we have differences has credence.
BY SUE LONGThomas is an interesting young man. Born in São Paulo dos Campos, Brazil, he has lived in the Lititz area for the last five years. A career move on the part of his mother, Valeria Santos, who is an engineer with Kenvue (formerly Johnson & Johnson), brought the family to the United States.
The move was an answer to Thomas’ dreams. “I’ve always wanted to come and live in the United States,” he says. That desire took root when he was a sophomore in high school and spent a year in the U.S. as an exchange student. “I lived with a family in New Jersey, about 40 minutes from New York. It was an amazing experience! I loved being in nature. I got to see snow fall for the first time. They took me many places, including Memphis, where I saw Elvis’ home and toured the factory where Gibson guitars are made. I play the guitar, so that was really special. We also went to California; that was amazing!” Seeing all that the country has to offer instilled a yearning in Thomas to return for college and to ultimately launch a career in acting.
THOMAS HAS ACHIEVED one of his goals (college) and is working diligently to establish the other (an acting career). He graduated from Millersville University last May, where he majored in speech communications with a concentration in theatre. He works at the university’s costume shop, which also allows him to take part (behind the scenes) in stage productions. Otherwise, he is working on his craft, reaching out to talent agencies, auditioning, interacting with members of career-related Facebook/ social media groups and engaging in whatever he
discovers that will help move his career forward. “I’ve done some voiceover work for Millersville and had a part in a training film that was made for the Pennsylvania School Safety Institute,” he notes. “I am open to anything except singing and dancing. I don’t do those things.” He has sent audition tapes to agencies in New York and California.
NOW THAT HE’S completed his education, Thomas is also working toward getting a different visa. “My status has changed,” he explains. He’s hit roadblocks but is determined to secure the visa that will enable him to remain in the United States. “I’ve seen several immigration attorneys and they’ve all told me different things,” he says. “I really need to be represented by a talent agency,” he says, explaining that it would really help his cause. He is hopeful that an agency that recently expressed interest will take him on as a client.
THOM AS, WHO IS bi-lingual (Portuguese and English), is also a devotee of American movies and television. “American television shows are really popular in Brazil,” he reports. However, the selection doesn’t compare to being stateside. “I’ve become a binge-watcher,” he says. He has a list of favorite actors but names the late Robin Williams and Johnny Depp as his top two. “I like Robin
Williams for his range and genius,” he points out. “Johnny Depp is interesting because of his quirkiness and weirdness.” As for favorite television shows, there’s no hesitation: Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead. Last summer, he binged Games of Thrones over a two-week period. Outlander, which he always watches with his mother, is another favorite. “She loves Hallmark movies,” he shares. Thomas is also enamored of classic movies. “I like to study the actors,” he says.
THOMAS ALSO DREAMS of expanding his horizons. “Through my father, I’ve become an Italian citizen,” he says. He loves Italy and recalls spending time there through a program called Children’s International Summer Villages. “They match your interests with a child in another country. They spend 20 days with your family and then you spend 20 days with their family. I got to go to Italy, where I visited places like Pisa – yes, I saw the leaning tower – Florence and Bologna. It was one of the best experiences of my life. The interesting thing was the language barrier. We didn’t speak Italian, they didn’t speak Portuguese and this was before Google Translator existed. Somehow, the brain works out a way to communicate.”
Thomas’ roots – Italian on his father’s side and Portuguese on his mother’s – have inspired an interest
in genealogy. “I want to travel to those places,” he says. He also wants to explore the British Isles and Peru. Learning to speak Italian is also on his to-do list.
T HO MAS HAS RETURNED to Brazil, where his father lives, only once – during Covid. “I really needed to be with family and friends again,” he explains. “Because Millersville was doing classes via Zoom, I was able to spend a whole semester in Brazil.” While the trip provided a change of scenery, it was far from a vacation. “The rules were equally as strict – and confusing – there,” he recalls.
WH A T ASSUMPTIONS do Americans typically make about Thomas? “When they hear I’m from Brazil, they always assume I’m good at soccer,” he laughs. “They are wrong. I’m terrible at soccer,” he says, explaining that he falls into the category of having a “perna de madeira” or wooden leg. “I’m not a sports guy, although I do like to play handball.”
As for the reverse scenario, like most newcomers, Thomas is intrigued by Amish culture. He loves the fact that Lancaster champions artistic expression and is home to so many ethnic restaurants. One, the Brazilian Table, in Lititz, even provides a welcome taste of home.
“I’V E ENJOYED a lot of different experiences in my life,” Thomas shares. “But, I’m ready for more!”
Saturday, June 22, 2024 10AM to 6PM Sunday, June 23, 2024 10AM to 5PM & Foundry 48 | 100 W Millport Rd, Lititz, PA 17543 Admission is $10 for adults. Advance admission tickets
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, May through October,
Once warm weather arrives, David moves his plants outdoors, where they help to create a living green room in the garden. Other plants include fragrant and colorful bloomers (such as oleander), as well as a 20-year-old bonsai David has been training for the past 10 years.
Appropriately enough, the creator of this space, David Gelatt, is not only an avid gardener but has long been a devotee of the performing arts.
BY SUE LONG PHOTOGRAPHY BY JORDAN BUSHHistory is another of David’s interests and the house he shares with his husband, Kevin Peters, has an intriguing tale of its own. Located on a side street in Lancaster’s East Side, David has a suspicion that the property, which sits just off Plum Street, may have once been owned (or leased) by Lancaster’s first mayor, John Passmore. David explains that in the late 1700s and early 1800s, Lancaster City’s eastern boundary ended in the vicinity of Shippen Street or perhaps Plum Street. Beyond that, the rural landscape held orchards, garden plots and farm fields. As the city expanded, distilleries and similar businesses gravitated to the area.
Passmore, who was appointed as Lancaster’s first mayor by Gov. Simon Snyder in March of 1818, lived at the corner of North Shippen and East Orange streets. According to Uncharted Lancaster, Passmore was the third owner of the house that, to this day, retains unique historical “amenities,” including a curbside stepping stone
(which provided easier entry and exit from a carriage), a hitching post, a busybody mirror (which allowed people on the second floor to see who was at the front door), a sundial (above the front door) and a fire mark (indicating that in the case of a fire, either a private or volunteer company would render assistance).
Through research, David has learned that Passmore, an attorney who had the reputation as being colorful, eccentric and “larger than life” (he weighed nearly 500 pounds), harbored an interest in apples and maintained an orchard not far from his home. The fact that apple trees exist in the vicinity of their home has prompted David to wonder if it
was the site of Passmore’s orchard. Another clue relates to the house in which David and Kevin live. It was once a cidery, earning the name “Vinegar House.” (The timeframe is consistent, as the cidery was built in the late 1700s or early 1800s.) His interest in genealogy prompted David to research the house’s succession of owners. So far, he’s found nothing that relates to Passmore, but he plans to keep digging.
WHEN DAVID AND KEVIN bought the house 15 years ago, the back of the property was far from inviting. “Let’s see,” David says, “It was basically an open space with a scraggly rose bush, a black walnut tree, a cherry tree and a 6-foot-high tree stump.” Layers of differing types of gravel comprised
the “landscape.” As David recalls, “I’d shovel gravel into a hole that was filled with another type of gravel. It was never-ending!” To remedy the situation, he had a truckload of topsoil brought in to create a blank canvas. “I built beds using stone and leftover shingles,” he recalls. “There was nothing at the front of the house either, so I put beds in there, too.”
The next project entailed building a fence. “I had never built a fence in my life, so I followed directions on YouTube,” he explains. After that, he installed a brick walkway. “I had never done that either,” he says of once again consulting YouTube. “Then we went on a great shopping trip,” he recalls, admitting that he loses all aspects of
common sense whenever he is in the vicinity of a greenhouse. “We bought a dawn redwood and realized too late that they get really big!” he laughs.
The not-so-joyous side of gardening presented challenges when the cherry tree became infected with bores and a cypress tree developed a fungal infection. Trial-and-error describes the way in which he found flowering plants that liked the shade-filled space. “Eventually, we got to a good place,” David says.
DAVID WAS NO NEOPHYTE where plants are concerned and is quick to point out that he loves them all and enjoys nothing more than going plant shopping. He traces his affinity for plants and gardening back to his
childhood. “I’ve loved houseplants since I was a kid,” he says. “My mom, as well as my dad’s mother, were really into plants.” Visiting his grandparents in New York state provided him with an introduction to a doctor’s wife whose gardens were dedicated to herbs. “I loved hanging out with her,” David recalls. “She taught me all the names of the herbs she grew and their medicinal purposes.” Back home (Denver area), Good’s Greenhouse (now Esbenshade’s) was a favorite destination. “By the time I was in 8th or 9th grade, I had 400 plants growing in my bedroom,” he reports.
David’s fascination with plants continues; only now the focus is on tropicals. His very sizable collection
winters over on the second and third floors of the house and spends the warmweather months outdoors.
“Funny thing about houseplants is that you bring them indoors and they become susceptible to all kinds of bugs and pests, but move them outside and they thrive,” he says, explaining that Mother Nature provides protection in the form of beneficial insects that prey on those attacking the plants.
DAVID CREDITS THE emergence of the outdoor green room to Summer Rayne Oakes, whose résumé makes you wonder when the woman has time to eat or sleep. Oakes, who lives in a
Clockwise from top left:
A birdbath is a favorite spot for the neighborhood birds to cool off. David uses the app, Merlin, to identify the chirpings of birds he does not recognize.
A bartlett pear tree grows in the garden. “The squirrels love them,” David reports.
Potted plants are massed to create container gardens. No space goes unused: tree branches are perfect for creating vertical interest.
plant-filled (nearly 700 and counting) apartment in Brooklyn, was born near Clarks Summit (northeastern PA), where she developed an interest in science and nature. She graduated from Cornell University with degrees in environmental science and entomology.
Oakes’ varied interests –everything from gardening and cooking to interior design – led to blogging, a YouTube channel, social media sites, writing books, a show on Discovery (Planet Green) and podcasting. An interest in fashion led to modeling, through which she has become an advocate for sustainability in the industry and with it, recognition as the world’s first “eco-model.”
Oakes’ latest project is Flock, through which she and two partners are transforming 90 acres in the Finger Lakes region into a “living laboratory” that centers on sustainable and creative ways to “live life to the
fullest.” (Garden tours for Summer 2024 are already sold out.)
It seems Oakes is no stranger to Lancaster. When David learned she was a recent visitor to Little Brook Orchids, he was crestfallen that he missed the opportunity to meet her. Information: summerrayne.net and flockfingerlakes.com
WHILE WATCHING ONE of Oakes’ YouTube shows, David noticed that she has making space for the plants in her apartment via vertical gardening. In one area, rows of vertical plantings essentially created a green wall. “It resulted in one massive display of green leaves,” he explains. “She also had incorporated a drip irrigation system.”
David immediately thought of his fence that essentially serves as a wall on the street-side of the deck area. It had always needed “something” to merge it with the garden beds and
container gardens. Inspired, he came up with the idea of outfitting the wall with circular wrought-iron holders that could hold terra cotta containers. Upon doing his homework, he determined “it would cost a fortune” to buy the number of holders he would need. It was back to the drawing board.
One day, while visiting Lowe’s, David thought to explore the plumbing department. That’s where he found the perfect solution: hose fittings. “I bought a couple and went home and began experimenting,” he says. Voilà! They worked … sort of. “They weren’t strong enough to hold the pots upright; instead, they tilted,” he continues. David ultimately arrived at a simple solution: blocks of wood screwed into the wall under the fittings kept the pots upright.
Maintenance is fairly easy. “I water the wall twice a week,” David reports. A natural drip-irrigation system exists
in that excess water from the top row of plants filters down to the plants in the lower rows.
The bottom of the display is comprised of smaller pots that fit into a tray-like area; here, the containers can absorb the water that fills the tray. “The
plants love it,” David says. “They get light, there’s air movement and the porous pots retain water.”
DAVID DEFINITELY qualifies as a dedicated gardener, as he is always making plans for the future. “I’m thinking of going in another direction and filling the beds with boxwood,” he says of bringing a different vibe to the 20-by-25-foot L-shaped backyard. At this news, Kevin, who admittedly has a black thumb where gardening is concerned, rolls his eyes, knowing that
trips to greenhouses are in his future.
While Kevin gives David free reign where the garden is concerned, osmosis seems to be having an impact. “He’s getting to the point where he recognizes plants and knows their names,“ says David. “We’ll be somewhere, and I’ll pick something up and he’ll say, ‘Don’t you already have one of those?’” Kevin’s newfound talent may have credence, but knowing David, there’s a very good possibility that such a plant lurks somewhere in the house or garden.
David and Kevin love to jump in the car on a Saturday and visit wellknown garden centers, as well as the small greenhouses that dot the rural areas of the county. “You never know what you’ll find!” David says of such adventures. What follows are a few of his favorites and what he feels are their specialties.
Ken’s Gardens, Smoketown & Intercourse: garden plants.
Conestoga Nursery, East Earl: trees and shrubs.
Terrain, Glen Mills, Chester County: plants, containers and lunch/dinner in a greenhouse.
Black Creek Greenhouses, East Earl: annuals and perennials.
River Road Produce & Garden Center, Marietta: bedding plants, houseplants and tropicals.
Mutschler’s Rare Plants, Birdsboro, Berks County: the name says it all.
Little Brook Orchids, Lancaster: huge selection of orchids, plus supplies and services.
Gallery Grow, Lancaster: houseplants, tropicals, supplies.
He also suggests that veteran plant growers or those just getting started on their collections join the Facebook page, Plants of Lancaster County, PA. To date, the page boasts 4.5K members.
Join the DEMUTH FOUNDATION for their 25th Art Auction Fundraiser on Thursday, May 16!
This year’s event will take place at the Imperial Blue Ballroom & Terrace at the Holiday Inn and will feature both live and silent auctions of more than 70 original artworks by local and regional artists. Proceeds support the Demuth Foundation and their museums, the Demuth Museum and Lancaster Museum of Art. To mark 25 successful auctions, memorable moments from the past three decades will be highlighted and Lancaster’s wonderful art community will be celebrated. Visit demuth.org for tickets and more information.
Whether you’re looking to unwind, or want to enjoy a night out with family and friends, stop by TRIO BAR AND GRILL on Marietta Avenue in West Hempfield. Cool off inside or relax on their new patio, where you can savor the weather, listen to live music and enjoy a delicious meal and a cold drink from the outdoor bar.
Our chefs have cultivated an exciting spectrum of dishes, including appetizers, salads, wings, steamed seafood, tacos, flatbreads, sandwiches, burgers and entrées such as crab cakes, miso-glazed salmon, pasta and more. Daily and weekly specials are offered! In addition to a full bar, there’s a rotating selection of beers on tap. For more information, visit triobarandgrill.com.
NOAH F. BOYLE CABINETS , a family-owned-andoperated business located in Elizabethtown, has been producing high-quality custom kitchen and bathroom cabinets since 1993. Craftsmanship extends to authentic solid wood face frames and doors, solid wood veneer core plywood cabinet boxes, soft-close drawer slides and doors and high-quality paint and/or clear finish. The whole building process is kept in-house from design though manufacturing to install, ensuring quality control. Noah F. Boyle provides excellent customer service and attention to detail through every step of the project. “The cabinets are a work of art,” says one satisfied customer. Call 717-9441007 to find out how Noah F. Boyle Cabinets can help you create your dream kitchen or bathroom.
Celebrate America at PARADISE STATION ! Join us Wednesday, July 3, for our first annual concert and fireworks extravaganza. Located on the property of the iconic Red Caboose Motel, festivities begin at 4:30 p.m. with the area’s favorite food trucks and yard games, followed by a 7:30 p.m. concert on the lawn with The New Holland Band and Lancaster’s vocal trio Perfect Harmony. Schaefer Fireworks will end the night with a bang as they light up the night sky with a show like no other. While the event is free, a freewill offering will be accepted during the concert.
A beautiful backyard shed from FOX COUNTRY SHEDS is the perfect solution for any number of needs. Adding a row of sunny windows along the south-facing side of a Farmhouse Shed will create the ideal location to start early seedlings. The extra-tall height and overhead loft of the Rancher Shed will accommodate seasonal gardening equipment. A Poolhouse Shed is the ideal spot to relax while your pool equipment is out of sight. Our website allows you to customize and view your ideas in 3D. You can even “place” your new shed in your backyard virtually with the Augmented Reality feature. A “Fox Shed” will add valuable storage space to your home while enhancing the exterior of your property.
Since our founding in 1974, LANCASTER ASPHALT SYSTEMS, INC. has remained family-owned and operated. Central PA business owners, municipal leaders, school districts and homeowners have relied on our team’s experience for quality sealcoating, athletic surfaces, power sweeping and line painting services that are completed with quality materials and expert technique. We provide onsite evaluation of your needs and turn around quotes within 24-48 hours. Estimates are always free and reflect an honest assessment of the work needed. We strive to build long-term relationships with our customers. Call 717-626-8788 or visit lancasterasphalt.com.
BOWMAN’S STOVE & PATIO is a 46-yearold family-owned business located in Ephrata that specializes in outdoor furniture, gas and charcoal grills, gas fireplaces and wood stoves. Popular this year are gas fire-pit chat tables paired with curved cushion sofas and cushion swivel rockers. Large dining tables are also popular, such as rectangular extension tables that seat eight to 10 people or octagon- and hexagon-shaped tables that seat six or eight. Bowman’s Stove & Patio has a large selection of in-stock outdoor furniture to choose from, or you can custom order exactly what you want.
Enjoy family fun all summer long at SCOOPS ICE CREAM & GRILLE and BOULDERS MINIATURE GOLF in Mountville. Open through October, indulge your sweet tooth with over 24 flavors of hand-dipped ice cream, soft serve, sundaes, splits and shakes. Enjoy lunch or dinner with a full menu, including cheesesteaks, burgers, quesadillas, salads and more. The mini golf features fun for all ages with 19 challenging holes. Be on the lookout for Scoops food trucks in the community or book them for weddings, corporate events, employee appreciations and more. It’s food, ice cream and mini golf all in one great location.
In 1954, the late George Grove Sr. started what later became GEORGE J. GROVE & SON, INC. The family-owned business, now in its third generation, is built on a firm belief in quality products and installation and in maintaining professionalism, integrity and fairness in their relationships with their customers. George J. Grove & Son, Inc. provides all types of home improvements. Their product lines include windows and doors, roofing, vinyl siding, spouting, gutter protection systems and patio enclosures. They also carry skylights, shutters, railings and retractable fabric and metal awnings.
What had been a very expansive backyard is now dedicated to a pool that is part of a remodeled outdoor-living complex that includes multiple sitting areas and a dining/cooking space. The complex, which originally grew out of a 10x12-foot patio, has become a favorite gathering space for four generations of family members.
Serendipity is defined as making “unexpected and fortunate discoveries.” Such is the professional and personal relationship that exists between Dwight Graybill, the owner of Cocalico Builders, and some clients who became valued friends over the course of the last 15 years.
BY SUE LONG | PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK GOULD
Thestory actually begins
40-plus years ago, when Dwight and his client played basketball for rival high schools. Years later, the two experienced a chance encounter in Florida, where both were attending events for their respective industries. “I was at a cocktail party and looked over and thought to myself, ‘I know that guy,’” Dwight recalls. A high
school rivalry seemed so, well high school, and they deemed it was time to let bygones be bygones and catch up on where life had taken them. They found common ground in the fact that both were pursuing careers, had married and become fathers. Then time, as it often does, flew by.
Fifteen years ago, Dwight found a property outside of Denver that
“spoke” to him, and so, he bought it and moved his family and business there. However, there was one thing that irked him about the property. There was a large open space between the house and the garage/office. “What am I going to do with that?” he thought to himself. Dwight decided to remedy the situation by building a spectacular outdoor-living area that would allow him to indulge in his favorite things: cooking, entertaining
and celebrating life’s special moments (or a run-of-the-mill Saturday night) with family and friends.
He also transformed the house, which featured log and stone construction, by building an addition that holds a soaring living room and a primary suite, remodeling the kitchen (twice) and bathrooms, and installing a wine cellar in the lower level. He figures it’s time to update the outdoorliving area. “After all, it’s been more
than 10 years,” he says. “It could use a little tweaking.”
Building the outdoor space and wine cellar also allowed him to indulge in his love of recycling and upcycling building materials. “I grew up on a farm,” he explains. “If I wasn’t milking cows, I was swinging a hammer. We did for ourselves. We never threw anything away. We saved all kinds of stuff,” he says of repurposing stone, boards, beams, windows, doors, metalwork
and the list goes on. “Reusing things is just second nature to me.”
He also likes to “incorporate a little bit of history into projects,” by using items that he sources from local farms, buildings being razed and landmarks such as the former Mountain Springs Hotel in Ephrata. “Repurposed items just add some character to a project that you can’t achieve with new material,” he says. Two of his projects – Bear Mill Estate
in Denver and the Fichthorn residence near Adamstown – won C. Emlen Urban awards, which are presented annually by the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County.
That regard for history also comes as second nature to Dwight. Thanks to his uncle, Dr. Donald M. Herr, who founded Manheim Pike Veterinary Hospital with his wife, Dr. Patricia Thompson Herr, Dwight can trace his lineage back to Hans Herr. “Uncle Don was able to trace our family back to the 17th century,” he says of his mother’s late brother. “Hans Herr is my 10-times grandfather,” he notes, adding that another relative, Daniel Herr (Dwight’s great, great, great grandfather), founded the Refton area in 1877. Donald and Patricia Herr were also avid collectors of antiques. Dr. Patricia was instrumental in bringing the Esprit Collection of Amish Quilts back to Lancaster. (LancasterHistory recently hosted two sold-out shows that allowed attendees to see a select number of quilts and learn about the collection.)
A story about Dwight’s outdoorliving area appeared in the July 2010 issue of LCM. His former basketball opponent took note of the article, telling his wife, “I know this guy!”
The two had been wanting to take advantage of their expansive backyard and build an outdoor-living area for their family to enjoy. “All we had was a 10x12-foot patio,” the client recalls.
They contacted Dwight and the three agreed to meet at a local restaurant. The couple shared their vision and ideas took shape on napkins. “From the beginning, there was a trust factor,” the client explains. “Dwight’s an artist; we trusted him to create something that would meet our expectations.” The resulting outdoorliving area included a covered dining area/kitchen, a sitting area with a massive fireplace that accommodated
a television and another sitting area that was outfitted with a spa. Lighting, another of Dwight’s must-haves for outdoor projects, also made an impact. The outdoor area became a magnet for family and friends, notably the couple’s four boys and their friends.
The project also represented a new direction for Dwight, in that the design was rather contemporary. “Every project is different,” he explains. “I like to say, ‘It will build itself.’” No matter the style of a project, he feels it’s important to infuse it with the personalities and tastes of its owners. “I’m old school,” he admits. “I’m not sitting on the internet looking for ideas. They kind of find me.”
Four years ago, the client’s wife decided to purchase some new furnishings for the spa area. “These two huge chairs show up and I tell her they are not going to fit,” the
Clockwise from right:
A beautiful travertinecovered terrace extends the outdoor-living area and provides a beautiful view of the
Dwight Graybill (left), who has owned Cocalico Builders for the last 30-plus years, is in the process of handing more responsibilities over to his younger son, Ben. Submitted photo.
Not wanting wet
client remembers. Nevertheless, she was determined to keep them, which prompted him to say, “We’ll need to extend that area in order for them to fit.”
Those prophetic words instigated a conversation about the future.
Knowing this would be their forever home, they decided to remodel and enlarge the outdoor-living area.
“Our landscaper always said that
the backyard needed a pool,” she recalls. With their sons well on their way to forging their own careers and families, they viewed making such an investment in their home as a way to maintain and even strengthen family bonds. In agreement they should proceed, they placed a call to Dwight.
The wife also had another idea on her to-do list: she wanted to replace
all the manufactured man-made stone veneer with real stone and extend the travertine flooring to the expanded patios. “That one kind of blew my mind, but she’s the client,” Dwight says of digesting that request. She also took a page from Dwight’s game book and arranged for all the stone veneer that would be removed to be reused or donated. “We found new homes
for everything that was removed,” she notes. Through that exercise, a new talent – organizational skills – emerged.
AS A RESULT, Dwight gained a project manager for the job in his client. “You have to remember, we were in the middle of the pandemic and supply-chain issues were a problem,” Dwight says. “We began sourcing materials a year before we even broke ground. She just took control and found everything we needed. It took the pressure off me. I’ve never experienced that with a customer before. Even the landscaper wanted to know how we managed to get access to all those materials.”
As for the client’s hidden talents, she says she enjoyed the role she played in the project and credits “women’s intuition” for knowing how to move the
project along. Needless to say, once the project was underway, it became evident that more furniture would be needed, a project she was more than happy to oversee.
The addition of a pool also initiated the need for some remodeling inside the house. Before, visitors had access to the first-floor bathroom. “They had to walk through the entire first floor to get to it,” she points out. “With a pool, I didn’t want wet feet tracking through the house.” Dwight came up with a plan that would move the laundry room to another area of the first floor and transform that space into a powder room that was accessible from the outdoors. “That made a huge difference, plus the laundry is more convenient, now,” she reports.
The project was completed just in time to celebrate the Fourth of
July holiday. “We were in the water for the first time on July 3, 2021,” the client recalls. It’s in constant use by four generations of family members (grandchildren have since joined the fold) from late spring to early fall. The “media patio” attracts a “lion’s share” of Penn State football fans each fall. Plus, an annual open house takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving that entails chili, beer, football and officially closing the pool for the season.
Dwight is excited that his younger son, Ben, is now in a position to take over more of the day-to-day responsibilities of operating the company he has owned for the last 30-plus years. That will allow Dwight to
spend more time doing what he loves: designing spaces for clients. He has all the confidence that Ben, who just turned 30, will keep Cocalico Builders moving forward. “He’s almost running it now,” Dwight says of handing more and more responsibilities over to his son. “Besides, all the clients are now asking for his advice, so I see that as a positive sign.”
Ben, who graduated from Cocalico High School and spent 18 months at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, says he always had “a gut feeling” that he would follow in his father’s footsteps, referring to the on-the-job training he has received as “Cocalico Builders University.” He believes the seeds of following in his father’s footsteps were planted when
he helped with a roof-replacement project at their home. “I think I was 8 at the time,” he says. Dwight thinks back to the project and quips, “I think I had the whole family up there!” he says of son, Don, who serves in the Navy and is based in San Diego, and daughter, Savannah, who lives in Lancaster and will be getting married this summer. “The kids and I were pulling off the shingles and throwing them down to my wife, Angie.”
It appears Dwight already has a project to oversee for his clients/ friends. The wife has been dropping hints that she would like a new kitchen.
For more information, visit Cocalico-builders.com.
• Design/Build/Remodel: Cocalico Builders, Denver
• Pool: Integrity Pools & Spas, Lititz
• Excavator (patio/rock wall): Brian Hackman, A&H Excavating, New Holland
• Stone: Welsh Stone Supply, Paradise
• Stone: Drohan Brick & Supply, Mount Joy
• Electrical Contractor (lighting): Tyler Fichthorn Electric, Reinholds
• Furnishings: Bowman’s Stove & Patio, Ephrata
• Fencing: Country View Fencing, New Holland
• Landscaping: Cobblestone Landscape, Lititz
Spring has sprung at CHERRY HILL ORCHARDS AND FARM MARKET! Their garden area is bursting with color and ready for Mother’s Day gifting and garden refreshing. The first fruits of the season will soon be ready for picking; 36,000 strawberry plants will be exploding with flavor and color by early June. Bring your family for the fun, time-honored tradition of pick-your-own cherries in mid-June. Their Farm Market is filled with fresh local produce, baked goodies and breads, as well as freshpressed cider. Follow them on Facebook to keep up with upcoming events and fresh fruit picking in the Orchard.
KEYSTONE GUN-KRETE, LLC specializes in lifting sunken concrete slabs of all sizes. Owner Richie Zook says, “If you’re looking at a sunken pool deck, patio, or a section of sidewalk at your home or business, the cost savings to have it lifted instead of replaced can be huge. Plus, it’s done in hours instead of days and without the mess.” Keystone Gun-Krete simply drills small holes through the slab and injects their expanding foam below to raise the concrete back to its original location. The holes are then filled with mortar, so the concrete is ready for foot traffic immediately.
New this year at NISSLEY VINEYARDS
SUMMERFEST ! Friday night concerts are now family friendly and will feature alcohol-free slushies, milkshakes and facepainting. Saturday night concerts will stay age 21+, so put on your dancing shoes and come and enjoy the sounds of this area’s most popular musical groups, July 5-August 31.
Join us at the winery on May 18 (12-6 p.m.) for Springfest, a day of family fun! Catch live music from Randy Zimmerman and Kracker Beez. Enjoy food from local food trucks, lawn games, local vendors, and Nissley wine!
Experience the ultimate breakfast and lunch destination at WHISK CAFE , Elizabethtown’s top spot for local, made-to-order cuisine. Our breakfast menu, which is served all day, boasts unique, fresh, seasonal options that will satisfy every foodie. The lunch menu includes a great selection of salads and sandwiches. On the run? Grab a freshly made baked good. Enjoy freshly brewed coffee, signature lattes or indulge in a cocktail for a memorable breakfast, brunch or lunch experience.
KITCHENS BY EILEEN (KBE Design & Build) has over 25 years of award-winning design and construction experience. Each project is carefully handled by our expert designers who specialize in space planning and design. KBE›s superior project management team handles your entire renovation, giving you peace of mind from start to finish.
Our Process:
1. Schedule a complimentary consultation in our showroom.
2. Designer measures and designs your new space.
3. Designer guides you through the selections process.
4. Project manager oversees your renovation from start to finish.
KBE also offers an option for those who want the look and convenience of a custom closet without paying a sky-high price. Their patented system, VICTORY CLOSETS , allows you to reconfigure your closet any time without tools or fasteners. Simply lift and move! Visit KBE and Victory Closets’ showroom, located at 4224 Oregon Pike in Brownstown (next to Martin Appliance).
TROUT CPA , an accounting firm with offices in Lancaster and Mechanicsburg, PA, provides personalized tax, financial statement and business advisory services. In addition to traditional accounting services, they also offer Outsourced Accounting and other business solutions.
Trout CPA consists of experts with various specialties, which allows them to pair each client with the best team of professionals to meet their unique needs. To learn how Trout CPA can help with your specific needs, call 717-569-2900 or scan the QR code to visit their website.
Swing into Summer! Every summer starts with seemingly endless possibilities. This year, that includes seeing history made at the U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN PRESENTED BY ALLY . The biggest event in women’s golf is coming to Lancaster Country Club May 28 –June 2, with the best professional and amateur golfers vying for their share of the record $12 million purse. Another record is also on the line: the 2015 Open at LCC attracted 135,000 spectators, and this year promises to beat that record. Don’t miss out! Witness history and the thrill of the highest levels of competition, right here in our own backyard.
MAY 28 - JUNE 2, 2024
BUY TICKETS NOW
KREIDER’S CANVAS SERVICE, INC. has been installing awnings in Lancaster County for over 40 years. Leslie Kreider shares that Kreider’s Canvas offers an option that makes outdoor areas more useful and comfortable. “We developed a ‘Roof Vent System’ that can be used on the flat back wall of a deck or patio canopy. This increased venting area provides more air flow and minimizes trapped hot air,” Leslie says. What’s trending? “There has been an increased use of clear drop curtains around porches and pavilions to block the cold, wind and rain when needed. The clear inserts in the curtains block the cold, but not the view,” Leslie notes.
VILLE PAINTERS has been preserving and beautifying Lancaster County homes and businesses with the expertise and craftsmanship that has been our passion for more than 36 years.
Our ViP team offers a wide range of residential and commercial services including interior and exterior painting, historic preservation, cabinet refinishing, wallcoverings and decorative finishes, signage, drywall and plaster repair, carpentry and more.
Whether you are revitalizing your home’s kitchen cabinetry or refurbishing your 1700’s farmhouse, Ville Painters will provide you with experienced artisans, top-quality materials, and an exceptional customer experience. Call us today for a free estimate!
Appetizers included shrimp cocktail and skewers of
egg
pepper and
The selection of appetizers served varies with seasonal availability.
Driving down a bamboo-lined drive on a humid summer night, a farmhouse appears at the bottom of the hill. Overlooking the Conestoga River, the view is framed by towering trees accented with a few fig trees. Wearing an apron over a vibrant red dress with green accents (djellaba), a red headscarf (hijab) and a matching red Apple watch, chef Bushra Fakier welcomes her guests. We’re off to Morocco!
TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY
JORDAN BUSH
cucumber, veggie
muffins,
olives.
A salad comprised of green beans, beets and peppers.
Chef Bushra Fakier readies her serving tables ahead of her guests’ arrival. On this night, she welcomed members of the meetup group, Central PA Foodies.
Appetizers of chicken bastilla and tortilla chips with roasted veggies.
guests to wash their hands upon arrival before being served.
Tagine of Diafa served at dinner: lamb shank marinated with saffron, Rass el Hanout (a blend of the best spices a shop owner has available), and other spices, slow-cooked for at least nine hours with onions, garlic, and aged butter. Served with quail eggs, caramelized prunes, sesame seeds, and roasted almonds.
Bushra invites
Moroccan tagine, decorative serving dishes, arranged in the dinner buffet.
Serving food in a traditional Moroccan tableside fashion, Bushra explains a dish to guests.
Basmati rice.
then leads everyone to the front patio of her home. Next to a fountain adorned with floating lights are a silver wash basin and an arrangement of sweet treats. Guests wash their hands as Bushra graciously pours water from a kettle. She then provides individual drying towels before offering the first of many treats: almond milk and richly prepared dates. From there, Moroccan music charms guests to the bottom of the walkway where a dazzling experience awaits. Next to a barn, radiant tents and vivid tapestries encircle the space, infusing it with life. Awestruck guests choose between a tent that is outfitted with standard dining tables and chairs or one that offers low tables with plush pillows and woven rugs for seating. Lights hang from above as the breeze drifts through the spectacularly colorful tents. Proudly displayed are red flags with a green star (which signifies the five pillars of Islam), representing the
Kingdom of Morocco. In the event of rain, there is a new indoor space to accommodate smaller groups.
HINTING AT THE coming feast are luminous tagines lining the center of the opulent space. These ornate, metal domes (they can also be made of clay) are used to slow cook and steam food. Here, they function as stunning serving stations. Guests mingle before several rounds of appetizers are served tableside. The sound of Moroccan music builds to overtake the atmosphere. Flowing scarves and dancing feet celebrate the occasion, making way as chef Bushra carries each dish to the center of the dance floor and places it on the buffet.
Once the dynamic menu is in place, she lifts each tagine to commence dinner. Soothing music and a meal fit for a kingdom take over as empty plates become palettes of rich, dynamic and delicious food. Some plates are a bit more customized than others, as chef
Bushra goes to great lengths to accommodate dietary restrictions. With each bite, conversations grow quieter. Tender and flavorful is the diafa, a lamb shank tagine served with caramelized prunes, quail eggs and sesame seeds. Moroccan chicken tagine is flavorful and rich with a dry, subtle heat, cooked with saffron, preserved lemons and olives. It’s accompanied by hibiscus juice, a kombucha tea-like beverage with an aroma that encapsulates the delicate essence of hibiscus that you would find in a lush garden. Brilliantly refreshing, the crisp flavor is neither overpowering nor offensively floral. Between morsels, laughter adds to the chorus of crickets ushering in the twilight of a summer evening, one that might as well be in North Africa, along the Mediterranean Sea.
AFTER DINNER, appetites satisfied, an easygoing chatter resumes and chef Bushra closes with the pinnacle: tea service. Marked with a
kettle at the beginning of the evening for handwashing, the event is about to come full circle. Seating herself in the middle of diners, she places a large tray of tea cups at her feet. Quite sensationally, hot tea is precisely poured from several feet away. The soothing, unsweetened herbal tea balances out tonight’s dessert: baklava, Moroccan biscotti and peanut butter cookies. A night to remember!
Bushra and her nine siblings grew up in Ksar El-Kebir, in the Kingdom of Morocco, south of Tangier. Her father worked as a grocer in Gibraltar, eventually buying farmland across the Strait in Morocco, where he and his wife settled, growing an assortment of foods such as quince and raising cows for milk. Bushra attended college in France and ultimately earned a Ph.D. in physics. Later, she worked in human resources at the Ministry of Interior.
In 2010, as a single mother, Bushra moved to Canada with her two children. As a way of promoting Moroccan culture, she started catering Moroccan food with friends under the name Royal Tagine. “As a woman coming to the West by myself, we face so many obstacles, but we don’t have to give up,” says Bushra. “I want people to dream about Morocco. In Morocco, Moroccans dream about having the American dream. I want Americans to dream about Morocco.”
In 2015, Bushra moved to the United States with her husband, Feizal. She continued cooking for friends and in 2018 she rebranded, opening Flavors of Morocco at Lancaster Marketplace in Manheim Township. The stand operated until the pandemic prompted its closure in 2020, but that was far from the end. Not to be without Bushra’s cooking, customers started calling her. “I told them, ‘I don’t have a [commercial] kitchen to cook for you guys.’” Customers “grieving” the loss of her food even stopped by her home to ask if she had food available. “I told my husband, ‘We have to make something,’” she says of utilizing the equipment from the marketplace to create a commercial kitchen. The real work was about to begin.
Through ASSETS, Bushra had
The event page for Central Pa Foodies' evening. Bushra is very proud of the glowing Yelp reviews she receives for her stand at Southern Market. Dates stuffed with almonds, pumpkin and sesame seeds and topped with frosting.
support to start over yet again.
“ASSETS gave me a grant, I took classes,” she explains. As spring approached, Bushra now had a certified commercial kitchen in the basement of her home. She began cooking again and customers flocked to her new place of business. Some asked if they could dine outside of her home, picnic style. “Let’s make it beautiful for people,” Bushra said to Feizal. With one table and an umbrella to start, “People were waiting two to three hours to sit down,” she says. “I would take each order then go into the kitchen to cook and plate food,” she recalls.” Soon, the word spread. “You have to start with what you have. When you start the action, the reaction will come. The action is whatever vibration you send into the universe,” she says.
“Since [then], it’s been word of mouth. I had to call my sister [Sanaa] from Oklahoma to help me,” Bushra continues. She’s also hired help from others in Morocco, including another of her seven sisters, Souad. “I need her the whole summer,” says Bushra, who sees her enterprise as an opportunity to support women through improving language and business skills well beyond cooking. “One girl, behind her are 10 to 15 people she’ll support,” Bushra notes. “I had the opportunity to come here. I love what I do. I want to give back to my country. Once I came here, I told myself I am an ambassador. I have to show people we have a lot to offer. I want people to have good food [that is] healthy and tastes good. All the spices, saffron, cardamom, garlic, anise, cinnamon, every plate has all the spices.”
AS THE CHILL OF another winter approached, chef Bushra signed on as a vendor at Southern Market, a food hall in Downtown Lancaster. In January 2022, Southern Market opened for service and Bushra had a new place to cook for her patrons.
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.
Guests relax as others dance before dinner.
A wide array of Moroccan cookies and traditional Kaab el Ghazal (almond) pistachio to be served ceremoniously with hot Moroccan herbal tea.
Bushra performs a tea ceremony ahead of the dessert course.
“We are all the same,” she philosophizes. “Ask questions. Look for solutions. Change your mindset. Be grateful. You have to believe, don’t wait for anything. All the time reach higher. Don’t make it comfortable. God has abundance in faith; whatever He gives to others, we can get the same amount. You are worth the same, it’s just finding the way to grab that,” she says. “It is up to us.”
Once a season, the Moroccan Experience takes on a slightly different format, elevated to an exclusive ladies’ night. Women embracing the occasion can quite literally let their hair down, dance, and enjoy a Moroccan feast, with a couple of additions. There is often a DJ on hand, and guests can experience the temporary artwork of henna, traditionally found at celebratory events. (Date TBD.)
For more information, visit usflavorsofmorocco.com and southernmarketlancaster.com.
• Samosas: spicy (like cinnamon or cardamom), with a satisfying crunch. Fried yet not oily.
• Shrimp: served with a sweet sauce, chilled and refreshing.
• Hummus: served with pitas chips. Creamy with notes of citrus.
• Skewer tomato mozzarella: The sausage is bright with the tomato, black pepper
• Chutney: the zesty Moroccan trio salad entails beets, carrots, and green beans (or eggplant).
• Moroccan Chicken Tagine: chicken cooked with saffron, preserved lemons and olives.
• Chicken Tikka Masala: the chicken is moist, flavorful and rich with a dry, spicy heat. The rice is tender and assumes the flavor of the chicken.
• Diafa: this lamb shank tagine is served with caramelized prunes, quail eggs and sesame seeds. The lamb is tender and flavorful, making it a standout entree.
• Hummus: with olive oil
• Organic Carrot Salad
• Hibiscus Juice: a must-try kombucha-like tea with an aroma that encapsulates the essence of hibiscus. Brilliantly refreshing on a humid night, the crisp flavor is neither overpowering nor excessively floral.
• Hot Unsweetened Herbal Tea
• Baklava
• Moroccan Biscotti
• Moroccan Peanut Butter Cookies
Table for Two
Josephine’s Downtown
BY ROCHELLE A. SHENK PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK GOULD
Growing up in the restaurant industry sparked Rafe Hottenstein’s passion for cooking – a passion he’s now sharing as executive chef at Josephine’s Downtown in Lancaster City.
Rafe’s parents, Ray and Sue Hottenstein, were the owners of Greenfield Restaurant & Bar (formerly The Olde Greenfield Inn) from 1981 until 2018, at which time they retired and sold the restaurant. As a teenager, Rafe learned the nuances of running a restaurant both in the
kitchen and at the front of the house. Then, it was on to Penn State, where he earned a degree in hotel and restaurant management. While his father had hopes he would join the family business, Ray noted in an article that ran in this magazine in 2003 that Rafe was “too young to be worried about making
decisions to come into the business. We want him to experience what’s out there.” That support prompted Rafe to explore his options by interning at Pinehurst in North Carolina and then honing his skills at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at Greystone in Napa Valley, California.
Upon graduating from the CIA, he worked in restaurants in Napa Valley and San Francisco for a decade before heading back east to Lancaster. “California has great vegetables and produce, as well as seafood and wine. I really learned a lot out there,” Rafe shares. “I love cooking with fresh, high-quality ingredients, and both the
Clockwise, from left: Lemon-pepper barramundi with forbidden rice, Indian curry butter sauce, peas and carrots. Barramundi, also known as Asian sea bass, is a white-fleshed fish that delivers a sweet, buttery flavor. It’s native to the IndoWest Pacific region.
A decade spent in California prompted Rafe’s interest in seafood, farm-fresh produce and wine.
Cauliflower velvet with saffron-braised mussels and parsley oil.
Napa Valley region and Lancaster have access to those fresh-from-the farm ingredients.”
Upon his return to Lancaster, Rafe again worked alongside his family –his parents and sister, Kristen – at Greenfield Restaurant & Bar. “There’s just something about working with family,” Rafe says, adding that his own focus at this stage of his life reflects the way he grew up, as it’s on food and family. He’s now married with a family of his own – wife Trisha and their children, 13-year-old Stella, 2-1/2-year-old Callum and 8-month-old Harper. (Ray and Sue
are quick to volunteer for babysitting duty.) He also enjoys outdoor pursuits such as hunting and fishing, always preparing what he captures or catches. “I love recreational cooking. You’d think after being in the kitchen all day for work that wouldn’t be the case, but I enjoy cooking for family and friends,” Rafe says with a smile.
Recently he and his son, Callum, have begun making breakfast together. Could the talent for cooking be “in the genes”? Rafe is hopeful, reporting that Callum preps his own eggs in the morning – whisking and seasoning them and getting out a pan before Rafe cooks them for him.
After the Hottensteins sold Greenfield, Rafe worked for other restaurants, including Per Diem in Lititz, before landing at Josephine’s Downtown earlier this year. In a sense his career has come full circle – he and Dean Oberholtzer, one of the partners in the Vescor Hospitality Group, which owns Josephine’s, the Belvedere Inn, C’est la Vie and 401 Prime, worked together at the Greenfield; Dean began as a server and worked his way up to manager. “The ownership team’s members are professional restauranteurs, and it’s great to work with Dean again,” Rafe says.
Clockwise from top:
Several of Josephine’s specialty cocktails – Hollywood Libations – are named for stars, including the Marilyn Monroe, which entails elderflower liquor, sparkling white wine, lychee fruit and raspberry.
Rafe puts a modern spin on shrimp cocktail by pairing it with roasted garlic aioli.
Pan-seared rockfish is accompanied by beluga lentil tabbouleh, pickled onion, smashed cucumber and sumac vinaigrette. Native to the Pacific, rockfish is a versatile fish that has a sweet, nutty taste.
Scallop Crudo "Mi-Cuit" with bagna cauda dipping sauce, shaved radishes and Meyer lemon.
As for Dean, he considers Ray Hottenstein to be one of his most meaningful and supportive mentors (Dean’s flagship restaurant, the Belvedere Inn is celebrating its 25th anniversary) and says it’s an honor to have his son working with him. “It’s wonderful to have this opportunity to work with Rafe again,” Dean says. “When we worked together before, he was a kid. Now he’s a talented chef – he’s really professional and the staff enjoys working with him. He has a lot of California style, and he’s much about seafood, which is a great addition to Josephine’s.”
While Josephine’s has been known for its filet and jumbo lump crab cakes, Rafe’s love of seafood has led to the debut of a new menu. While those two signature items remain on the menu, it now includes more seafood items such as swordfish, rockfish, scallops and tuna tartare, among others. While the menu may have undergone some changes, Josephine’s décor will continue to encapsulate the elegance of a supper club thanks to its royal blue velvet high-backed banquette
seating, sparkling chandeliers and a grand piano. The walls of the 120seat restaurant are filled with photos of Old Hollywood celebs, including its namesake, the renowned singerdancer-actress of the ’20s and ’30s, Josephine Baker. Specialty cocktails are named for Hollywood royalty like Marilyn Monroe, Betty White, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. There are even two mocktails – Betty Ford and Designated Driver – on the menu.
Josephine’s intimate feel extends to its glass-enclosed wine room. There’s also a private dining room that can be reserved for special occasions such as birthday, engagement and anniversary parties. On Friday and Saturday evenings, dinner music is provided by pianist Mark Huber.
Josephine’s and the Belvedere recently received accolades, being named as two of the Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America for 2024 (and tops in Lancaster), according to the nationwide Open Table restaurant reservation service. “We’re very proud of winning this award,” says Justin Ang, one of Vescor’s partners. “Josephine’s
has a close-knit team both in the front of the house and at the back of the house; many of them have been with Josephine’s since its opening [in 2019].” Rafe concurs that winning the award is a “validation for both the front of the house and the back of the house.”
Josephine’s plans to piggyback on that accolade by adding special events to its schedule. Although Josephine’s is usually closed Sundays, it will be open from noon to 6 p.m. on May 12 for Mother’s Day. In June, Josephine’s will host a summer solstice party and wine dinner. Justin says he’s hopeful that the June celebration can be held outdoors.
Josephine’s Downtown is located at 50 West Grant Street, Lancaster. Hours are Tuesday-Thursday, 4:30-9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 4:309:30 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday. For more information, call 717-2997090 or visit josephinesdowntown. com and Facebook and Instagram. Reservations are suggested and can be made by phone or online via a link on Josephine’s website or through Open Table.
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) 1148 Old Line Road, Manheim 717-898-9680
798A New Holland Avenue, Lancaster. 717-295-0836. GALEBACH’S FLOOR FINISHING, INC.
Anchor Lancaster, voted #1 Lancaster nonprofit, provides a free hot breakfast, warm showers, case management, winter warming center, summer day center and limited laundry services. Guests are received with dignity, respect and compassion.
• 35,000 meals served in 2023
• 5,000 showers provided in 2023
29 East Walnut Street, Lancaster Anchorlancaster.org • 717-394-7231
Shopping at ReUzit on State is an extraordinary treasure hunt as you peruse the fully accessible 20,000-square-foot retail store. Browse gently used clothing, accessories, housewares, furniture, toys and more. When you donate and shop, you are impacting neighbors locally and in 50 countries around the world through Mennonite Central Committee.
1054 S. State Street, Ephrata Reuzitonstate.org
Celebrating 26 years in our mission of 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 “The Best” hair and nail salon in 2023.
Lancaster County’s flooring experts since 1949, providing flooring solutions and 5-star customer service to:
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There are good ideas and there are better ideas. But the best ideas snowball, gain momentum and take on lives of their own. Ashley Mayer started the Lititz Stroller Gang as an exercise club, as a social club for moms. Not even she could’ve imagined what it has evolved into.
BY JEFF FALK“Itstarted as moms needing community,” says Ashley, a native and resident of Lititz. “But it’s expanded beyond whatever I thought it could be at the beginning. We are a Christian group. Our mission, in our heart, is to share something from the Word of God. Recently we’ve started doing more outreach work as well. We love to support other moms and their kids.”
The Lititz Stroller Gang now includes almost 100 members, mostly local moms and their children and their strollers. They find it easier to walk together, about 2 miles, around 40 minutes, on the west side of Lititz, once a week.
“I first envisioned the gang as an exercise group that incorporated kids with strollers,” she explains. “I love to exercise and stay fit. It’s kind of like a lifestyle. A lot of our moms would not show up to an exercise group. We want
to get our steps in. That’s part of our mission as well. Being active is a really important part of our group.”
THE LITITZ STROLLER GANG meets every Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. at Lititz Springs Park (24 North Broad Street), weather permitting. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, sometimes “The Gang” meets at Spooky Nook Sports (75 Champ Boulevard) in Manheim.
Before and after the walks, there is typically time for socializing as well as an opportunity for the kids to run and play. “For the most part, it’s just getting kids with other kids,” Ashley notes. “My son Gabe is almost 4 and his best friends are from the stroller gang. They met there and they’re still friends. I knew he needed social interaction. Church once a week is not enough. I think we all needed a way to meet up with other moms, and the kids needed friends too.”
AS THE LITITZ Stroller Gang has grown, more moms have joined in, friendships have been struck, a community has formed, and other stroller groups have branched off. “At the heart of our group, the mission is faith based,” Ashley says. “Not everyone who comes to our group has to be a believer. But I really think that’s what’s keeping us going. We want to be there for you on Thursdays. It’s community building.”
Mayer started the Lititz Stroller Gang in May of 2021 at a time when people were beginning to emerge from the grips of the pandemic. She was just looking for a bit of companionship.
“I needed some mom friends. At the start, it was mostly people I didn’t know,” Ashley recalls. “The name of our group fits us so well. We literally look like a gang of moms when we’re out there. We push our strollers and it’s like a parade. Some days there are 40 strollers and 60 kids lined up. The stroller is our symbol.”
For additional information about the Lititz Stroller Gang, visit lititzstrollergang.wixsite.com/info.
Jeff Falk writes for the community newspapers – Merchandiser, Advertiser and Pennysaver – that are published by Engle Printing & Publishing. Townlively.com.
- LESLIE LEHMAN
Wife, grandmother and entrepreneur of the next stage of life.
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.
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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.