LCM | September 2021 | The Food Issue

SEPTEMBER 2021

THE FOOD ISSUE

KITCHEN REMODELS

Open, Airy and Colorful

LITITZ CRAFT BEER FEST

Each Pour Helps the Community

FAIR SEASON

Tips for Creating Winning Food Entries

SENIOR LIVING

In Lancaster County, Senior-living Communities Embrace Nature!

R AI L ROAD H O USE I NN Full Steam Ahead!

ARE YOU HAVING PERSISTENT PAIN ?

WE HAVE NON-SURGICAL OPTIONS. CALL US TODAY!

“I AM HONORED

GROWING UP,

to be elected to the board of directors of the

Dr. Smith said he was always interested in medicine because it is a

International

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“caring field.”

Neuromodulation Society.

help others.”

Jack Smith, MD Pain Medicine

Steven M. Falowski, MD Nationally Recognized Brain and Spine Surgery

Jarod B. John, MD Neurologist

Argires Marotti Neurosurgical Associates of Lancaster’s team of doctors are prepared to provide various non-surgical pain relief to patients utilizing various modern treatments.

Dr. Jack Smith helps patients improve the quality of their daily lives through innovative pain management techniques. “Regenerative medicine is a unique focus in which a patient uses their own body’s healing ability,” he explained. “For example, we use platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, which are a concentration of a patient’s own platelets, to accelerate the healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints. This is a great option for patients who have arthritis, or tendon, joint or muscle pain.”

”

Dr. Steven M. Falowski, honored to be elected to the Board of Directors of the International Neuromodulation Society, provides spinal cord stimulation when non-surgical pain treatment options have failed to provide sufficient relief. Spinal cord stimulators may be used to treat or manage different types of chronic pain, including back pain, post-surgical pain, arachnoiditis, nerve-related pain, peripheral vascular disease, complex regional pain syndrome, pain after an amputation, and visceral abdominal pain and perineal pain. Spinal cord stimulation can improve overall quality of life and sleep, and reduce the need for pain medicines. It is typically used along with other pain management treatments, including medications, exercise, physical therapy and relaxation methods.

Neurologist Dr. Jarod B. John is able to offer a variety of services to patients ranging from medical management of migraines and headaches to procedures such as Botox and EMG. He has a deep understanding of the feeling of helplessness a patient and family can experience when dealing with a neurological disorder. His goal is to help patients and their loved ones navigate this confusing and scary time and to provide a successful plan to improve their lives. This diverse group of dedicated physicians and staff offers a unique blend of neurological, neurosurgical, and pain management care all under one roof. For more information on Argires Marotti Neurosurgical Associates of Lancaster, visit our website at www.argiresmarotti.com or call (717) 358-0800.

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SMILE Thanks for whitening and brightening!

More than $500,000 has been raised by you, our patients, over the last 20 years. By whitening your smiles, you’re brightening the lives of children in need all around the world, and right here in Lancaster County too.

Thanks to you and the Bear Bags program, children in the Elizabethtown Area School District get nutritious meals, so they can grow and learn.

For more details on Smiles for Life or to schedule your appointment to whiten your smile, call any of our offices.

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CONTENTS

SEPTEMBER 2021 | VOLUME 35 | NUMBER 5

FEATURES

24.

ON THE COVER: Ben McMillen photographed Joey Bowden, the co-owner of the Railroad House Inn, in the newly restored carriage house that provides the perfect setting for micro-weddings and other small-scale special occasions.

Doing Good Through Beer, Food and Music

The Lititz Craft Beer Fest is back after taking a pandemic pause. Sponsored by the Lititz AMBUCS, proceeds benefit more than two-dozen nonprofit organizations and programs, as well as provide Amtrykes to those with mobility issues.

46.

The Railroad House Inn … Full Steam Ahead

With its bicentennial fast approaching, coowners Freddy States and Joey Bowden spent a good portion of the pandemic preparing the Marietta landmark for its next 200 years.

53.

46.

Kitchen Remodel Mania!

The past 18 months have made homeowners realize they either love or hate their kitchens.

If you fall into the latter category, The Chris & Claude Co., Choice Home Remodeling and KbE Design & Build share some projects that will motivate you to get dreaming about your own kitchen remodeling project.

53.

DEPARTMENTS

6.

The Long & Short of It

8.

Life of a Party

At long last, editor Sue Long visits Vivian Howard’s restaurant, Chef & The Farmer, in Kinston, North Carolina.

Jill Brown shares how the Water Street Mission and the North Museum marked the return of their signature fundraisers in the great outdoors. Fortunately for the two organizations, Mother Nature provided the perfect weather for their events.

72.

Foodographer

Have you ever wondered what it takes to win a blue ribbon in the canning and baking categories during fair season in Lancaster County? Jordan Bush was the fly on the wall during judging at the fairs in Southern Lancaster County and Ephrata in 2019 and offers some observations on what impresses the judges.

24.

78.

Table for Two

Rochelle Shenk visits Coffee and Cream in Columbia.

88.

It’s a Beautiful Day

Kristy Aurand, who is the chief development officer at the Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County, describes her perfect Lancaster County day.

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LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

BE SCENE! Live music, theatre,

arts and craft shows, outdoor activities and fundraising events are beginning to once again dot the calendar. Visit our website, lancastercountymag.com, to make plans and order tickets for upcoming events.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIONS

15.

Building Industry Association

If you are contemplating building a new home, remodeling your present home or are in need of insurance or other home-related services, the BIA’s members can assist you.

66.

Fabulous Fall

Whether you want to update your look, get organized or remodel your kitchen, bath or basement, the advertisers in this section are ready to help you.

ADVERTORIAL

29.

Senior Living

The senior-living communities profiled in this special section firmly believe that their residents benefit from garden-related activities and communing with nature. The resulting beauty is one of the reasons why Lancaster County is regarded as one of the best places to retire in the United States.

L A N C A S T E R G E N E R A L H O S P I TA L

# 4 I N P E N N S Y LVA N I A #1 IN LANCASTER

We’re proud to announce that Lancaster General Hospital has once again been ranked among the top hospitals across all of Pennsylvania by U.S. News & World Report.

Being recognized as a health-care leader is a great responsibility. We believe that keeping you, your family and our entire community healthy is our calling. That’s why improving the health and well-being of everyone in our community is the focus of everything we do. As part of Penn Medicine, we continue to provide more advanced care and breakthrough treatments, right here in the place you call home.

Ranked among the best in the nation for: • Orthopedics • Urology

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Rated high performing in 22 clinical areas including: • Cancer • Diabetes & Endocrinology • Gastroenterology & GI Surgery • Geriatrics • Heart Attack

• Heart Bypass Surgery • Heart Failure • Pulmonology & Lung Surgery • Stroke

inspired pieces

for Inspired Spaces!

PUBLISHER Jocelyn Engle EDITOR Suzanne Starling-Long Sue@lancastercountymag.com ART DIRECTOR Ashley Kendrick Kennedy Ashley@lancastercountymag.com ASSISTANT EDITOR Kaylee Rex Kaylee@lancastercountymag.com REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS WRITERS

P H OTO G RA P H E R S

Dr. Richard L. Bitner Jill Brown Rochelle A. Shenk Michael C. Upton Kathleen Wagner

Jordan Bush Seth Dochter Nick Gould Kirk Zutell

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T H E LO N G July marked my first visit to my son’s new home in North Carolina. Charlie and his wife, Jenny, invited me to visit during the week of July Fourth.

“What would you like to do when you’re here?” he asked prior to my visit. There was only one thing on my “mustdo” list: Visit Vivian Howard’s restaurant, Chef & The Farmer, in Kinston.

I

discovered Vivian as I was mindlessly channel surfing one dreary Sunday afternoon. Upon landing on PBS, I thought I detected a North Carolina accent.

The scenery looked like eastern North Carolina.

Indeed, as I later learned, Vivian grew up on a farm in Deep Run, North Carolina (population 3,000-ish). Intrigued, I kept watching. Turns out, I had tuned into Vivian’s award-winning show, A Chef’s Life. I was hooked and set the DVR to record future shows.

Each segment of the series, which launched in 2013 and ended in 2018, focused on a different ingredient, as well as the trials and tribulations of operating a restaurant, facing challenges such as a kitchen fire and flooding caused by a hurricane, being a mom to twins, building a house and making her Chicago-born artisthusband, Ben Knight, feel at home in a town whose population numbers just over 20,000.

Vivian, who headed for New York after graduating from North Carolina State University, began her career at an advertising firm. She hated it and left, turning to waitressing to pay the bills. Vivian also discovered she loved to cook and went on to graduate from the Institute of Culinary Education. She and Ben then launched a soup-making enterprise and delivery service out of their New York apartment. That’s when her parents stepped up and offered

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LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

& SHORT OF IT

to back Vivian’s dream of opening her own restaurant. There was one hitch – it had to be close to home, as in eastern North Carolina.

Vivian agreed to the proposal – Chef & The Farmer opened in 2006 – and decided the menu would focus on traditional Southern dishes but with a modern spin. Her show and first cookbook, Deep Run Roots: Stories and Recipes from My Corner of the South (2016), explore that notion one ingredient at a time. She takes pride in the fact that she relies on “the wisdom of older folks” to learn how to properly prepare the traditional dishes before she puts her twist on them. She’s also become a champion for North Carolina-grown and -raised products.

As a result, 60% of the ingredients used at her restaurant are sourced within a 90-mile radius of Kinston. She has transformed Kinston into a tourist destination.

Vivian became the first woman since Julia Child to win a Peabody Award (2014) for a cooking show. She’s also been nominated a dozen times for various James Beard awards, winning several. She was nominated for several Daytime Emmy awards, winning one in 2018.

She’s gone on to open restaurants in Wilmington (NC) and Charleston (SC), create another show

20 years ago. He made the most delicious blackened okra. I got a little misty-eyed.

Next up were the entrées. Charlie ordered tuna, which was delicious. I ordered the pork shoulder with red curry-braised watermelon.

Oh, my, gosh! For the sides, we ordered Boiler Room fries (perfection), a squash casserole (yummy) and succotash.

The succotash made me stop in my tracks.

Composed of corn, limas, tomatoes and bell pepper, it looked just like the succotash my dad used to make. His succotash was a day-long affair whose ingredients came from his garden.

The lima beans had to be uniform in size, the tomatoes perfectly ripe, the peppers crisp and the corn, sweet as can be. It was the ultimate treat.

When I tasted Vivian’s succotash, all those memories came flooding back. “Are you OK?” Charlie asked.

Speaking of Vivian, I was disappointed she wasn’t there. However, I did recognize a few faces from the show. As we were leaving, I asked the hostess if it would be all right to snap some pictures. I also began to tell her how much I enjoyed the succotash and why, but before I knew it, my eyes were stinging and my throat froze. I could feel the onset of what they call

for PBS – Somewhere South – and write her second cookbook, This Will Make It Taste Good: A New Path to Simple Cooking (2020). She’s a star attraction at food festivals.

“ugly” crying in the South and made a beeline for the restroom.

Obviously, Vivian achieved what she set out to do. “I work to blend family, food and storytelling in a way that teaches people and reminds them of where they came from,” she once explained in a magazine article. “Who in their right mind cries over succotash,” I thought to myself and wondered if anyone else has left Chef & The Farmer in tears. Picky Charlie was wowed. “This is probably the best restaurant I’ve ever eaten at,” he said as we surveyed the cars in the parking lot that bore license plates from as far away as Rhode Island and Alabama.

So, Charlie and I set off for Kinston at 2 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon (unfortunately, Jenny had to work and couldn’t go along). Doors open at 4 p.m. and at present, reservations are not accepted. By 5 p.m., the place was packed.

First things first, we ordered craft beer from two breweries in Asheville. Then, we ordered three appetizers: pork-belly skewers (fantastic), farmarita flatbread (topped with tomatoes, cheeses and herbs; very tasty) and fried okra that is served with “ice cream” (a blend of ranch dressing and buttermilk). The dish was amazing! I hadn’t had okra since my dad, a North Carolina native, died almost

Forget about Chef & The Farmer being a bucket-list restaurant … we’re definitely going back when I’m in North Carolina over Thanksgiving! This time, I’ll be sure to leave room for dessert!

– Suzanne Starling-Long

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LI FE O F A PA RT Y

A blue, teal and yellow color scheme and vibrant floral displays enlivened the interior of the white tent with a summer vibe.

FUN DR AIS I N G FUNDRAIS

in the Great Outdoors Two innovative nonprofit organizations kicked off a new season of giving with a fresh way of celebrating their missions and patrons.

R

BY JILL BROWN emember where you were one year ago? In all probability you were isolated in your little home office, taking shelter from the pandemic. A year ago, it was hard to imagine a day when we could again safely gather in crowds of 300-plus in support of our community’s many nonprofits.

Fast forward to spring 2021, when it took a leap of faith by board members, committee members and the leadership of two organizations to begin conceptualizing in-person events. To make it happen, the North Museum and Water Street Mission decided to boldly go where few have gone before – outdoors!

WATER STREET MISSION’S TOP CHEFS OF LANCASTER COUNTY Imagine a tent bigger than most homes: 7,200 square feet of open-air space under a huge white tent. That’s how Water Street Mission solved the dilemma of how to welcome its 340 guests back to the 8th annual Top Chefs of Lancaster County. With a spectacular view of the Lancaster Country Club’s golf fairways and greens, the tent was scenically situated between the clubhouse and tennis courts, creating an enchanting setting on an early June evening.

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LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

An in-the-round stage in the tent’s center, plus state-of-theart video screens brought crystal-clear images to all guests in the massive tent, as spirited bidding on one-of-a-kind getaways and dining experiences were auctioned to benefit Water Street Health Services, which provides health, dental and behavioral care to the most vulnerable adults and children within our community.

Behind the scenes, Lancaster Country Club’s executive chef, Tanner Seipp, was orchestrating a multi-course dinner that featured specialties from seven of Lancaster’s finest restaurants. It takes a village of tents to support an outdoor event of this scale, including food preparation, covered canopies over paths in case of inclement weather, plus an additional 800-square-foot tent for guest receiving, check-in and silent auction areas.

The result? Magical. The positive energy of friends and colleagues seeing each other unmasked and face-to-face – many for the first time in the longest year of our lives – was overwhelming.

“It was such a joyous event,” a member of Water Street Mission’s team reflected. “It’s truly about the connection to others, the relationships. And, that was palpable.”

Wsm.org

The theme of the night? No doubt, it had to be happy, smiling faces! Top Chefs of Lancaster County was one of the first benefits to be held in Lancaster County following the lifting of Covid restrictions in late spring.

Guests were thrilled to once again have the opportunity to socialize, dress up and raise much-needed funding for an organization – Water Street Mission – that is vital to Lancaster.

Photography by Nick Gould

Clockwise from top left: Dr. Chip Mershon, one of the founders of Water Street Health Services, welcomed guests to the event, the highlight of which is bidding on the services of some of Lancaster’s top chefs and restaurants, as well as unique experiences and getaways.

The Lancaster Country Club’s culinary staff took charge of preparing the multicourse dinner that included dishes from seven of Lancaster’s finest restaurants.

The wizards behind the tent concept: Jon Eisenberg, vice president of advancement, and Greg Kessler, vice president of health services at Water Street Mission. Thankfully, the event was blessed with a nearly cloudless blue sky.

Honorary committee members (left to right), Sheri and Steve Riley, and Dr. Chip Mershon.

Anne Shannon volunteered her services as the emcee for the event.

Photos

by Pippa McPhillips

fabric tornado of past events, all of which were created by Tom and his design team at Atomic. While 2020’s lunar-themed Cosmic Bash was put on Covid-caused ice in lieu of an online event, the North Museum’s committee and staff decided that an outdoor event in 2021 would serve as a perfect way to call attention to the museum’s relationship to the natural science its mission celebrates.

Under the Stars became the theme of Cosmic Bash 2021, and on a May evening, the North Museum was bestowed a beautiful, mild spring night that allowed patrons to safely distance as they partied,

donated and supported the museum under a brilliant moon and star-filled sky.

The reinvented event took advantage of being situated on the lawn of the museum and the campus of the supportive Franklin & Marshall College for an evening of dining, live auction bidding and dancing. Guests entered the museum under an archway of stars to experience Earth, Sky and Water exhibits, enjoyed hors d’oeuvres under a tent and were seated at tables under the stars for dining. “The vibe created by including the museum as part of the event was a big plus,” recalls Tom. “Guests could immediately connect to see where their

creating spaces that you

love

Top to bottom: A beautiful late-spring evening sky provided the backdrop for the North Museum’s annual benefit, Cosmic Bash. A wall of the museum served as the backdrop for light projections.

Big Boy Brass was on hand to provide the sounds of everything from New Orleans brass-band music to rock, pop and funk.

THE NORTH MUSEUM OF NATURE AND SCIENCE’S COSMIC BASH Tom McPhillips, founder of Atomic Design, and his wife Pippa – who is a long-standing museum board member – have created a legacy of spectacular, over-the-top scenic designs for Cosmic Bash since the event’s inception in 2015.

It was Pippa’s choice of a natural-science theme that has provided inspiration for the elaborate rain forest, northern lights and a 25-foot moving

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donations would go.” Important to holding an event in sprawling space is creating a cohesive feeling, ensuring guests’ perception that it is indeed one event. Turning the event layout to a diagonal setting from the museum’s corner was the key to having every guest and every table visible to each other.

While the visual effects were greatly simplified, the quiet drama of being outdoors was enhanced by the colorful uplighting of large trees and light projections on the museum wall. “We defined the space with arches of pipes in the ground, covered with stretch fabric, to give guests a feeling that they were in a special place within the natural world,” says Tom. Scott Downs, director of corporate giving, reports the event raised nearly $133,000 toward its goals of promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) learning and cultivating an appreciation and interest in the natural world. “It was the Big Experiment,” says Tom, adding, “A pleasant surprise was how guests lingered well into the night.”

Northmuseum.org.

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WHILE BOTH ORGANIZATIONS hit the weather lottery jackpot, planning an outdoor event is not without its risks. Event planners work (and worry) up to the final hours before deciding that the weather radar will allow guests to safely assemble outdoors. Of course, there is always a Plan B that will move guests to an indoor sheltered area if necessary.

This year, the challenge has been reserving a tent. Local rental companies have been providing tents to weddings and other events as far away as Virginia. My advice would be if you are planning to host an outdoor event in the next year, a tent is like any venue – reserve it as soon as you have established a date.

THANKS TO THE LEADERS, planners and patrons for taking the risk, seeing the possibility and executing two memorable events that overcame our Covid concerns. In doing so, the bar was raised on festive fundraising. We can’t wait to see what’s next!

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LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

Opposite: A starlit archway set the tone for the Under the Stars theme. The entry led the way to the North Museum’s special-event exhibits.

Above left: Majestic trees on the campus of Franklin & Marshall were uplit to provide dramatic spotlights on the natural world.

Above right: Repurposed “moon rocks” from the canceled 2020 lunar-themed Cosmic Bash were paired with solar-powered, litfrom-within flowers to create centerpieces for tables inside the tent.

JILL BROWN

Owner of Jill Brown Publicity, Marketing & Events, Jill Brown brings highlights of Central Pennsylvania’s social scene and special events to Lancaster County Magazine’s readers. With over 30 years of experience in marketing, media relations, fashion and event-planning, she would love to plan and execute an exceptional event for you or your business.

Do you have an event that you would like to have covered by Life of a Party? Contact her at jillianbrown@live.com.

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What is the BIA?

It’s the Building Industry Association – Lancaster County’s respected trade association for residential builders, remodelers and related home and trade professionals. Created in 1956, the organization represents not only the interests of its members, but also those of homeowners. According to the BIA’s executive officer, Karen Watkins, “The BIA is recognized by consumers as the premier source for reputable contractors and businesses for the homebuilding and remodeling industries. Our members value the advocacy efforts put forth to ensure a fair market business environment and to influence public policy through legislation. Our foundation supports varied community efforts that have improved our parks, enhanced local housing stock and expanded neighborhood services, as well as funded almost $100,000 in scholarships to college students entering the trades.” Currently, the BIA’s membership extends to almost 400 companies. A BIA membership also includes a company’s membership to the Pennsylvania Builders Association (PBA) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), among other incentives.

The BIA hosts a number of events throughout the year, including their Spring Home Show (March 11-13, 2022), which will be held at the Wyndham Lancaster. “Our events give us the opportunity to network and promote our member professionals to the community and to each other,” Karen shares. “We also offer events for business-to-business exposure – golf outings, networking and social events and educational classes for our professionals, in addition to our Remodelers Showcase and Pillar Awards programs.”

Why should a consumer look to hire a BIA member versus a non-member? Karen emphasizes that BIA members “provide the highest quality of work and have a wealth of expertise in their specialized fields. Members agree to abide by our Code of Ethics and our Contractor Quality Commitment program.” For more information about the BIA, visit LancasterBuilders.org.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

personal property, but on your home as well, so you are guaranteed you’ll have the money to rebuild. Coverage for underground service lines and your mechanicals, as well as a host of things such as identity theft, pets and higher values for jewelry, guns and other items are likely limited on your current policy. Douple’s agents will have a conversation with you to learn what is important to you and craft coverage to meet your individual needs. No pressure either! Read their Google reviews and you’ll quickly see they put your needs first and work to get you the best possible coverage at the lowest possible cost. Douple Insurance will partner with you to protect your good life!

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garmanbuilders.com

LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

Whether you’re a building-industry professional or a Awarded by The Building Industry homeowner, GR MITCHELL has the knowledge, products Association of Lancaster and service necessary to make your next project successful.

With its roots in the lumber industry, GR Mitchell has emerged as Lancaster’s building-supply destination. From framing materials to finishes, this locally owned business offers a wide assortment of products from basic hardware items (think paint, garden, plumbing and electrical) to custom millwork and everything in between.

For their novice customers, GR Mitchell has in-store and online resources to help you make vital product decisions for your new build or remodel that can optimize budget, schedules or inclusion of the latest technologies and features. Their staff can even help you to select a contractor

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n need of a trusted resource for your next home project? For over 50 years GR Mitchell has been guiding builders, remodelers, and homeowners in the selection of hardware, lumber, and building materials that meet the needs of their job.

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Located just south of Lancaster city, GR Mitchell gives you the option to skip the big box stores for a locally-owned business. But a smaller business doesn’t mean fewer op�ons; GR Mitchell has a vast network of manufacturing partners, meaning they bring you the best assortment of quality goods across a variety of product categories.

Going local also offers you a level of service unique to GR Mitchell. The staff makes themselves available to offer advice, suggest creative solutions, and ensure that you receive accurate, timely deliveries of the materials you need.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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best suited to the type of work that you need completed.

Interested in learning how GR Mitchell can help? Visit their showroom at 14 Beaver Valley Pike in Willow Street, give them a call at 717-464-2999 or check them out online at grmitchell.com.

TROUT CPA is an accounting firm with offices in Lancaster, Lancaster City, Carlisle and Mechanicsburg. They provide personalized tax, financial statement and business advisory services.

In addition to traditional accounting services, they also offer outsourced accounting, data analytics and other business solutions.

The firm consists of experts with various specialties, which allows them to pair each client with the best team of professionals to meet their unique needs. Call 717-569-2900 to learn how Trout CPA can help with your specific needs.

In 1954, the late George Grove Sr. started what later became GEORGE J. GROVE & SON, INC. The business moved from George Sr.’s home to a shop on Cabbage Hill, incorporating in 1973. Five years later, it moved to its present location on the Manheim Pike. George J. Grove Jr. had joined the business at a very young age, assisting with installations; in keeping with family tradition, George Grove III also became involved in the business.

The Groves have built their business on a firm belief in a quality product 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.

Established in 1953, METZLER HOME BUILDERS is a fourth-generation business specializing in custom homes, additions and renovations. Over the span of more than six decades, they have designed and built hundreds of homes and have completed countless addition and renovation projects. They have built their reputation on crafting quality homes and additions and providing efficient project management and open communication through the life of the project and beyond. The numerous awards and recognitions they have received over the years attest to their team’s dedication to their craft and to their customers.

The team at Metzler Home Builders enjoys developing personal relationships with their clients throughout the construction process, with complete customer satisfaction at the heart of every custom home, addition or renovation project they undertake. Metzler Home Builders takes pride in their reputation for high-quality and fine craftsmanship, built through years of personal service and attention to detail.

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717.687.6302 • www.MetzlerHomeBuilders.com LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

23

Doing Good

Through Beer, Food and Music The Lititz Craft Beer Fest is about more than beer. Each year the event, which is sponsored by Lititz AMBUCS, raises tens of thousands of dollars for those in need. The 7th Annual-ish – the 2020 version was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions – Lititz Craft Beer Fest will take place September 25 and 26.

BY MICHAEL C. UPTON | PHOTOS COURTESY OF LITITZ AMBUCS

W

hen Jason Best visited a small beer fest in western Pennsylvania, his gears started turning. As a member of the Lititz AMBUCS – a chapter in a national organization with a mission to inspire and provide mobility and independence for everyone – he knew there was a need for a greater inflow of cash to fund philanthropic projects. A few weeks later he visited another festival and the beer fan knew he had to bring the idea to Lititz.

The idea worked. Thanks to a lot of

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LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

hard work – and much trial and error – the Lititz Craft Beer Fest is now one of the most sought-after tickets in the beer-fest world.

A booming beer fest is an accomplishment in itself; the greater achievement is the more than $431,000 the Lititz AMBUCS has been able to raise and donate to local charities through ticket sales.

Brewing a New Fundraising Effort Jason joined the Lititz AMBUCS in 2005, when the community-minded

business organization coordinated the Lititz Business Expo, which was the primary source of funds for all its benevolent works.

Although the event raised between $12,000 and $15,000 annually, members recognized that the overall interest in business expos was on the decline. “It was big in the ’90s,” says Jason. “But we got to the place where our funds were on life support.”

Fast forward to 2013, when Jason and some other members were impressed by Rock Lititz’s Dawn of the Lititz Dead 5K Zombie Run to benefit Lititz Springs Park.

Left: Get your tickets early! The Lititz Craft Beer Fest is always a sell-out!

Right, top to bottom: Music keeps the crowd entertained.

Army veteran, Manny Gonzalez, who was injured during deployment to the Middle East, is one of nearly 600 veterans across America who has received an Amtryke through AMBUCS.

More amazing was the fact that the event concluded with participants entering a miniature street fair that included beer, food and music. Beer. Food. Music. In the streets of Lititz.

“How did they get this approved?”

Jason remembers questioning. The event prompted him to realize “this was our window of opportunity.”

At the next board meeting, Jason and friend and fellow AMBUCS member, Patrick Moulds, presented the idea of a local beer fest as a means to raise funds for the nonprofit. Everyone thought it

was a great idea. “We didn’t know what we didn’t know,” admits Jason. “That first year was pretty rough.”

“Yeah, we got beat down pretty good,” adds Patrick, as the two talk about the origins of the Lititz Craft Beer Fest with current Lititz AMBUCS president, Kim Gingrich. “We went in thinking we had some idea of how a beer fest works,” recalls Patrick. “I remember we came out of our first meeting with a distributor and [realized] we didn’t know what we had gotten into.”

The organizational team, which started as Jason and Patrick and now includes many others, had to learn state and local laws, create relationships with vendors and breweries and navigate many unknown intricacies. “We stepped into a world which we knew nothing about,” remembers Jason. Patrick recalls feeling overwhelmed.

Yet, the first Lititz Craft Beer Fest was a resounding success. Patrons loved it, and it brought in some much-needed funds – the one-day, 2014 event hauled in $57,000.

LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

25

Local Benefits Lititz AMBUCS donates the money it raises to other local nonprofits. Jason explains that prior to the fest, “we were doling out $250 checks to these folks and I felt like there had to be more. It felt like we weren’t even putting a dent in the need that was out there.”

In 2019, the fest raised more than $98,000 after expenses, which ultimately found its way to 19 organizations and helped fund seven local programs including the Lititz Walk for PA Wounded Warriors, Lititz Hometown Christmas and EMS training scholarships. Local services benefiting from the perennially sold-out event include Aaron’s Acres, VisionCorps, TeenHope, United Disabilities Services and many others. To date, funds raised at the beer fest have accounted for $431,000 in charitable donations.

ONE OF THE MOST important cogs in the beer-fest machine is the Warwick Community Ambulance Association, which provides the nonprofit status for Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board requirements, supports the fest with an onsite presence and receives approximately one-quarter of the funds raised. For Jason and the other members, the ability to provide money to the ambulance association is key for a healthy community.

Lititz AMBUCS has been a sponsor of the Warwick Community Ambulance Association since 1957, long before the idea of a beer fest was born.

“We have a great relationship with the organizations we support. Some even come and help as volunteers at the brew fest,” says Kim, who has tapped local resources to supply the human power to help run the event by taking tickets, replenishing water stations and filling the other small jobs on fest day. “For example, we have parents of children who go to Aaron’s Acres who

Clockwise from top left: The beer fest resonates with music.

Thanks to proceeds from 2019’s event, the Lititz AMBUCS was able to aid 19 organizations and seven programs, award scholarships and provide Amtrykes to people of all ages in Lancaster and Lebanon counties.

Members of the Lititz AMBUCS celebrate the success of 2019’s beer fest.

Ticket-holders receive commemorative glasses.

The ladies are loving craft beer! According to the Brewing Association, 31% of those who imbibe are women.

More than 50 craft brewers will be represented at this year’s beer fest.

come help. And, our people go in and help with some of their programs.”

The three are quick to note the support the event receives from business sponsors, fellow community organizations and a large list of local volunteers – 2021’s volunteer list numbers over 300 people. “One of the neat things about Lititz is there is such a huge list of people who are ready to help with anything you need. If they don’t know someone, they are going to find someone,” says Patrick.

A Free Ride The National AMBUCS mission statement charges members to inspire “people to conquer challenges related to mobility and independence, through a nationwide network of volunteer chapters, working in partnership with physical, occupational and speech therapists.”

Part of the mission includes providing Amtryke adaptive tricycles to those who need them, as well as scholarships for therapists who aid folks with mobility challenges. In Lititz, this directive is headed

by Tryke Team co-chairs, Tanya and Scott Myers. This year the local branch gifted a record 19 Amtrykes to neighbors. This is all due to the efforts of the beer fest. Prior to the fest funds, Lititz AMBUCS could manage only one Amtryke per quarter.

“That has topped our record,” says Kim. “We could have never given away 19 Amtrykes in the past.”

Amtrykes follow the national organization’s belief that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy the fun and freedom of riding their own bike. These custom-designed rides offer a bike-riding experience to those who cannot operate a traditional bicycle and are specifically created and adapted to meet the needs of each rider. The national organization has provided over 40,000 Amtrykes to riders of all ages in the United States. The majority of these Amtrykes, which range in cost from $800 to several thousand dollars, depending on a rider’s needs, have been purchased by local chapters like Lititz AMBUCS and donated free of charge. The Myers’ involvement in AMBUCS is comprehensive – not only do they serve as volunteers but their professional roles as therapists are essential to the Lititz community. “The importance and usefulness of their work can’t be understated,” says Jason.

The Myers are pediatric physical therapists by vocation and work with local families to place Amtrykes, ensuring each recipient gets a ride to meet his or

her individual needs, whether they have cerebral palsy, polio or other physical challenges. Their work is present in local schools and through private practice. “A lot of our clients do not have access to affordable tricycles and other equipment,” explains Tanya. “They are so appreciative to get out and do the things others are doing.

They just love to be free and just get out and move.”

Each bike is built to the individual’s needs. For example, those who have limited use of their legs can have a hand crank installed. Younger riders can work on their

balance while an adult steers with a handle if needed. Special seats can be installed and adapted. Base units of the Amtryke come in a myriad of sizes and shapes.

The Lititz branch distributes Amtrykes to residents of Lancaster and Lebanon counties. The program is another way proceeds from the fest stay local. “Being there when we give an Amtryke just melts your heart,” says Kim. “The kids are so excited because they can spend more time with their families. They have a bike they can operate.”

“And, these just aren’t for kids,” adds

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Jason. “In 2018 we donated an Amtryke to a U.S. Army veteran who busted up his leg in one of the entanglements in the Middle East.”

Nationally, AMBUCS has provided Amtrykes to nearly 600 veterans. The organization is willing to provide a Road Show upon request (more info can be found at AMBUCS.org/riders/veterans) and bring a “trailer-full of trykes and adaptations, free of charge,” to help create a veteran-focused program in any community.

“It’s an important thing to note because veterans facing mobility issues are an underserved portion of our community,” says Jason.

Beyond Amtrykes, AMBUCS helps to provide items such as speech devices, entertainment/educational consoles and therapeutic aids for students working with therapists like Tanya and Scott Myers. Scholarships for physical and occupational therapists are also one of the pillars of AMBUCS’ giving. National AMBUCS awards scholarships to students pursuing degrees in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology and hearing audiology. A portion of the money raised by the fest adds to the more than $9.3 million in scholarships the national organization has awarded to more than 16,000 students.

Details for 2021’s Fest Experience First Fridays

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LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

Because of some changes due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s event – September 25 and 26 – is a one-off beer celebration covering two days with three event times. That means there are three times the number of tickets to go around, potentially tripling the money to be raised for area charities and civic organizations. Saturday’s sessions will begin at 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., while Sunday’s will start at 2 p.m. Instead of happening on the streets of downtown Lititz, this year the fest will be temporarily relocated to the TAIT facility at 401 West Lincoln Avenue. (Jason and Patrick say the plan is to return the fest to the streets of downtown in 2022.)

Each year the festival brings in over 50 breweries from around the world. New breweries for this year include names like Dancing Gnome Brewery from Pittsburgh; Big Oyster Brewery of Lewes, Delaware; and Human Robot Brewery from Philly.

For Lititz Craft Beer Fest ticket information, visit lititzcraftbeerfest.com.

New Members Welcome The Lititz AMBUCS is always open to new members. The club holds meetings on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. “We are always looking for new members that have a passion for helping to inspire mobility and independence for others. We have opportunities available to assist with programs at all levels: committee chairs, fundraising or simply providing new ideas,” explains Kim. “Anything that promotes access to people with disabilities, we are all over that,” adds Jason. “That’s our thing: to help the people who are helping people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.”

For information about Lititz AMBUCS, email info@lititzAMBUCS.com or visit lititzambucs.com. There is also a Lancaster City chapter. For information, visit lancasterambucs.com.

Quarryville Presbyterian

United Zion Retirement Community

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

SENIOR LIVING Seniors who are contemplating a move to a retirement community often hesitate because they fear they will have to give up one of their favorite pastimes: gardening. As you will discover, Lancaster’s seniorliving communities have developed into “garden spots” that keep residents engaged with nature.

T

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK GOULD | PRODUCED BY KAYLEE REX

oday’s senior-living communities recognize the benefits their residents derive from digging in the dirt and communing with nature. As a result, many communities encourage residents to beautify the areas around their homes with gardens.

Some have greenhouses. Some are home to community gardens in which vegetables are raised. Beautifully landscaped communities compel residents to go outdoors and take advantage of the walking paths that weave their way through natural areas.

Research is revealing the many ways gardening and natural surroundings improve the lives of seniors. The benefits are so dramatic that gardening is being hailed as “Horticulture Therapy” and is especially proving beneficial for those dealing with mental health issues. The ramifications of its positive impact are endless and include lower stress levels, reduced depression and a decreased risk of developing Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

As a moderately intense form of

exercise, gardening can certainly contribute to the 30 minutes of daily exercise that is recommended. As a result, gardening can help seniors maintain or even increase their levels of mobility and strength and utilize all their motor skills. Being outdoors can also improve Vitamin D levels.

Finally, gardening delivers social benefits.

For many residents, a love of gardening serves as a gateway to establishing friendships within the community. On-campus garden clubs further instill a sense of camaraderie.

No doubt, local senior living communities’ commitment to providing residents with a connection to the natural world is one of the reasons why Lancaster County is regarded as one of the best places to retire in the United States.

While senior-living communities won’t be hosting their annual Explore Retirement Living tour this fall due to the pandemic, they welcome you to visit virtually or by scheduling a private tour. For more information, visit exploreretirementliving.org.

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LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

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CORNWALL MANOR THE NEW NATURE OF SENIOR LIVING

OVERVIEW • •

•

•

Type of Community Continuing Care Community Range of Services A not-for-profit community, Cornwall Manor offers a full range of services, including Independent Living, Personal Care, Skilled Nursing Care and Rehab, as well as physician’s offices, pharmacy service, maintenance, housekeeping, transportation service and dining where no meal plan is required.

Residential Options One- and two-bedroom apartments range in size from 630 to 1,500 square feet. Single and Duplex homes range in size from 1,000 to 2,700 square feet.

On-Campus Activities Residents enjoy activities such as concerts, social get-togethers, lectures and trips, as well as book, card and game clubs. Outdoors, there is a putting green, bocce court and many walking trails. Residents also have access to a woodworking shop, train room, library, greenhouse and a state-of-the-art fitness center and pool.

Photo courtesy of Cornwall Manor

GARDENING AND NATURE AT CORNWALL MANOR

C

ornwall Manor is a uniquely beautiful senior-living community tucked into the quiet countryside of Cornwall in southern Lebanon County. Our welcoming community has been compared to a college campus, with its blend of historic buildings and new homes, walking paths and nature trails.

One cannot get any closer to nature than on the Cornwall Manor campus.

Nestled within 190 wooded acres, Cornwall Manor allows one to relax, enjoy and live surrounded by a beautiful, wooded backdrop. The Cornwall Manor campus offers plenty of walking paths to enjoy.

Our two campuses are connected by the Lebanon Rail-Trail, which offers additional opportunities to walk, bike and bird watch.

Plenty of wildlife such as deer, birds and even a wild turkey or two can be seen running or flying through the meadow area. The 10 Life Trail® stations designed

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LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

specifically for senior exercise use are located along one of the campus’ many walking trails. In addition to the walking trails, Cornwall Manor offers a variety of outdoor activities, from perfecting your golf stroke on the putting green to challenging a neighbor in a game of shuffleboard, bocce or horseshoes.

AS PART OF the natural setting of Cornwall Manor, we also have a multitude of gardening activities on campus. It is a well-known fact that gardening improves the lives of our residents. Residents can adopt an area on campus to plant and tend to flowers or they can plant flowers or vegetables around their homes. They are also welcome to become part of a very active Garden and Greenhouse Committee at Cornwall Manor. Gardening has become a vital part of life for many residents on our campus. The Buckingham Campus also features historic greenhouses, which allow residents to garden year-round. Our 190 acres offer plenty of space for green thumbs to garden and get back to nature.

1 Boyd Street, P.O. Box 125 Cornwall, PA 17016 CornwallManor.org • 717-274-8092 marketing@cornwallmanor.org

In addition to the residents’ gardening activities, Cornwall Manor recently partnered with the Rodale Institute, a global leader in regenerative organic agriculture, to establish the Trailside Organic Farm on Cornwall Manor’s Woods campus. The Trailside Organic Farm will begin as a twoacre organic farm and all produce grown on the farm will be served in all campus dining areas. Utilizing Rodale Institute’s expertise in organic growing methods, Trailside Organic Farm will provide residents with healthy food choices and a thriving natural environment that supports residents’ health, environment and overall well-being. Not only will residents be able to reap the goodness of eating the produce grown on the farm, they will also be able to volunteer their services on the farm.

FAIRMOUNT

DEDICATED TO FAITH, FAMILY & COMMUNITY

OVERVIEW • •

•

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Type of Community Life Plan Retirement Community Range of Services Residential Living, Personal Care, Shortterm Rehabilitation and Health Care/ Skilled Nursing residences. Fairmount at Home provides in-home services to campus residents, as well as the broader community. The rehab center provides physician-directed programs including physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapies. Fairmount also offers a Plain Community Rehabilitation Program for those who do not have insurance due to religious beliefs.

Residential Options Fairmount’s Residential Living accommodations include 52 cottages ranging in size from one-bedroom to three-bedrooms, all with at least a onecar garage. Fairmount’s 103 apartments range in size from studio to twobedrooms.

Health/Fitness Facility/Activities With two fitness rooms on campus and extensive walking trails winding throughout the 50+ acre campus overlooking the scenic vista of rural Lancaster County, there are many options for our residents to stay in shape.

Fairmount offers exercise classes led by our team members, as well as volunteer opportunities assisting residents, taking care of the gardens and quilting. Our residents can stay active intellectually at Bible studies, on-campus Sunday chapel services, book clubs and more.

GARDENING AND NATURE AT FAIRMOUNT

S

ituated in a rural setting and with many farmers and folks with green thumbs among our residents, Fairmount is a great place to continue “playing in the dirt.” Many residents plant and care for vegetables and flowers off their patios or on their balconies. For those who want to have more land to garden, Fairmount offers gardens, raised beds and flower beds for our residents to tend through an adopt-a-flowerbed program.

Residents Ruth, Fern and Edna have chosen the flowers for our building entryways so that they have color splashes throughout the seasons. Ruth and her husband, Don, share a large garden plot with residents Paul and Elsie. They share the vegetable yields with their neighbors and even donate some to Fairmount Dining Services.

Personal Care resident, Elvin, grew over 100 varieties of hosta on his farm in Cochranville. After moving to Fairmount, he brought several varieties and planted them across the campus for everyone to enjoy.

Another resident, Alvin, had orchards of apple, crabapple and nectarine trees throughout his life. Alvin and his wife, Naomi, planted a small apple tree in front of their cottage when they moved to Fairmount 10 years ago. Every fall, Alvin gathers hundreds of apples, which he shares with friends and family. Ephraim and Mabel and other residents grow boysenberries, blackberries, strawberries, shell peas, asparagus, potatoes, sweet potatoes, lima

beans, green beans, zucchini, red beets, cucumbers and tomatoes, among other produce. Jim grows burpless cucumbers, green beans, tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, basil, chives and mint, naturally with no spraying. “I want success, but it is therapy. I just enjoy seeing things grow,” Jim says.

Residents who don’t garden still enjoy nature. Many residents moving to Fairmount opt to live in our apartments with breathtaking views of local farmers sowing, harvesting and rotating their crops throughout the year, as well as the orchard that Fairmount overlooks.

The walking trails that wind across campus are great places to take in the scenery of the countryside.

In summer and fall, Fairmount provides bus trips to local orchards and roadside stands to support the community and get a taste of fresh produce.

All said, there are plenty of opportunities at Fairmount to enjoy the beauty of creation provided to us by our heavenly Father.

333 Wheat Ridge Drive, Ephrata, PA 17522 FairmountHomes.org • 717-354-1800 mailbox@fairmounthomes.org LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

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HOMESTEAD VILLAGE THRIVE WHERE YOU ARE Photo courtesy of Homestead Village

GARDENING AND NATURE AT HOMESTEAD VILLAGE

R

esident and (retired) Master Gardener, Linda Kay Pressley, has brought her love of gardening to Homestead Village by forming a new gardening group called “Soil for the Soul.” This dedicated group of residents spends one hour a month together learning the many joys and benefits of gardening. During one activity, they planted several container herb gardens to be used by the Homestead Village chef. This petite garden is located on the walls surrounding the patio just off the hallway leading to the Plow and Pineapple café. Residents can stop at the garden to smell the aromatic leaves of sage, oregano, rosemary and thyme! The herb garden was funded by a grant from the Homestead Auxiliary.

In another activity, the residents whimsically filled old shoes with flowers and succulents to explore creative repurposing. At holiday time, they fill the herb planters with beautiful greenery. The group enjoys fellowship and a shared love of the outdoors.

ANOTHER ANNUAL TRADITION is the Homestead Village Garden Tour.

Homestead allows residents to enjoy planting and embellishing the gardens around their homes and the tour provides them with the opportunity to show off their work during a festive event that also features music and refreshments! During the 2021 garden tour, musical entertainment was provided by Seasons Celtic Band and Todd Fulginiti’s jazz group, the Hot Walkers Quintet. This lovely event is something that residents of all ages and abilities can enjoy!

OVERVIEW •

•

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Type of Community Continuing Care Retirement Community (Life Plan Community) Range of Services Residential Living, Apartments that are dual-licensed for Personal Care, Skilled Nursing Care, Rehabilitation Services and Home Care.

Residential Options Cottages, villas, carriage homes, small and large apartments.

•

Volunteerism Residents at Homestead Village log hundreds of hours of volunteer efforts ranging from serving with local nonprofits such as Schreiber Pediatric Center, the Samaritan Counseling Center, Advantage Lancaster and more!

Opportunities are posted each month in the resident newsletter and opportunity app.

1800 Marietta Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603 HomesteadVillage.org • 717-397-4831 • info@hvillage.org

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LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

AT RADER PARK, located on Homestead Village’s Apostle Way, residents can also rent garden plots for the summer to plant produce or flowers. Produce grown in the garden can be donated to the Seeds of Hope program, which is part of the adjacent Church of the Apostles Food Bank.

Linda Kay notes that, “As we age, we sometimes become more vulnerable to physical limitations, failing health and the emotional turmoil that accompanies these changes.

Gardening blossoms as a welcome activity for independent seniors, as well as residents in assisted-living communities. Gardening increases physical activity, reduces pain, improves attention, reduces stress and offers venues for socialization.”

KEYSTONE VILLA AT EPHRATA A DISTINCTIVE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY GARDENING AND NATURE AT KEYSTONE VILLA AT EPHRATA

K

eystone Villa at Ephrata truly believes that removing obstacles and giving people the opportunity to do what they love is how a person experiences fulfillment and joy each day. This is how we choose to enrich the lives of our residents. Finding those interests and helping them achieve great things is to give them a life full of purpose and happiness. Our Gardening Club is a supreme example of this mission.

Our residents gather to plan, plant and care for their gardens utilizing gardening plots, planters and gardening boxes. This allows each and every person, regardless of limitations, the ability to have their hands in the soil and the opportunity to see their hard work come to fruition. Gardening has been proven to reduce stress and improve mental well-being. Take a short walk around our campus and you can immediately experience and enjoy their hard work.

Our gardening isn’t just limited to flowers. We grow herbs, teas, fruits and vegetables. Our residents love to sit on the rooftop deck and enjoy a glass of meadow tea made from their homegrown tea. They gather for “Gabbing in the Garden,” fellowship and the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

To quote Thomas Jefferson, “The greatest service which can be rendered to any country is to add a useful plant to its culture.” The Gardening Club of Keystone Villa at Ephrata certainly takes those words to heart. We would love for you to visit and have the opportunity to spend time in our courtyard or one of our gardens. Flowers always make the heart feel younger.

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100 North State Street, Ephrata, PA 17522 KeystoneVillaAtEphrata.com 717-271-7970 lgarrison@keystonevillaatephrata.com

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Type of Community Retirement Community offering apartment-style living.

Range of Services We offer Independent Living, Personal Care and Memory Care, with six levels of individualized care plans.

Residential Options We offer a variety of floor plans, including studios, one-bedroom and

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two-bedroom apartments, along with two full-bath options.

Visitor Policy We are so happy that our families and friends are able to visit our residents at their convenience. Spending time with those you love is so important and our visitation policy allows for unlimited visitation, seven days a week.

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LANDIS HOMES ENRICHING LIVES, TOGETHER

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GARDENING AND NATURE AT LANDIS HOMES

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he natural setting of the 114-acre campus hosts many areas for residents to explore including ponds, woods, rain gardens and a bluebird walk, in addition to a restored stream and wetlands. Within this area is a large variety of animal, bird and plant life. The extensive network of walkways connects to fitness stations, resident gardens, a farm market and a nearby supermarket.

All during the growing season, many residents choose to have a garden space in addition to where they live. Gardeners

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enjoy the time they spend outdoors with others, growing a variety of healthy fruits, vegetables and colorful flowers.

“There is a special joy in connecting to the earth that one has while gardening.

Planting the tiny seeds, watching them push up through the earth and finally grow into mature plants ready to harvest is gratifying. Yes, there is work involved, but eating the fresh produce is such a reward.

And, when there is abundance, we love to share with friends and neighbors,” says resident gardener, Mae Stoltzfus.

Type of Community Life Plan/Continuing Care Retirement Community Range of Services Since 1989, Landis Homes has hosted the longest-running adult dayservices center in the area providing meaningful activities to older adults.

Landis at Home, a home-care agency, provides personal care, companionship, household tasks and transportation services.

Residential Options Landis Homes offers cottage homes, apartments, hybrid homes, Personal Care, Healthcare and Memory Support to over 840 residents on their campus. It is one of two retirement communities in Lancaster County nationally accredited

by CARF and was the first retirement community in the area to receive a LEED Gold certification for sustainable construction practices.

On-Campus Activities A learning and wellness center offers a fitness studio, indoor pool, art gallery, bank, pharmacy, salon, spa and classrooms for lifelong learning. In recent years, there has been a blossoming of a variety of groups and activities initiated by and for residents. Some of these new opportunities are groups interested in the arts, a dog park, singing, the free little library, nature, line dancing, bicycling, anti-racism and life story writing.

Since 2008, Pathways Institute for Lifelong Learning® has offered a variety of classes on campus. Residents, as well as any person age 55 and older in the Lancaster community, can take advantage of more than 50 courses and experiences offered each semester, both in person and online.

1001 East Oregon Road Lititz, PA 17543 LandisHomes.org 717-569-3271 info@landishomes.org

UNITED ZION YOUR STORY MATTERS HERE GARDENING AND NATURE AT UNITED ZION

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he close-knit community of United Zion looks out from its hilltop-perch that offers views of Lancaster County farmland and Lititz. Each day you see residents out enjoying the peaceful nature of our various courtyard gardens or strolling around our campus. As the weather warms, residents start planting their plots in our large community garden or start plants in their outdoor container gardens.

Yet, our connection to the natural world is not limited to just the campus’ outdoor environs. For example, the newly built chapel has many large windows that provide views of a beautiful courtyard garden and the surrounding countryside.

THIS VIBRANT COMMUNITY, which welcomes pets, is the perfect size for connection and friendship. The abundance of activities – educational and spiritual programming, musical events, bingo, wellness classes and volunteering – will keep you busy in your retirement. Plus, enjoy amenities including the fitness center, billiards area, game and puzzle room, library, brand-new chapel auditorium, shuffleboard, computer lab and group transportation.

Don’t miss our on-campus restaurant that offers tasty meals featuring seasonal foods for table-side service or grab-and-go meals.

RESIDENTS HAVE TIME to enjoy their favorite hobbies as our staff performs housekeeping and maintenance. Plus, they live care free knowing that should they need additional care – from short-term rehab to long-term care – it’s available to them right here at United Zion.

Come see why folks say United Zion feels like home. Reserve your space at our Open House on September 25 from 10 a.m.3 p.m. by calling 717-627-8421 or emailing marketing@uzrc.org.

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722 Furnace Hills Pike, Lititz, PA 17543 uzrc.org • 717-627-8421 marketing@uzrc.org

Type of Community Continuing Care Retirement Community Range of Services Independent Residential Living (cottages & apartments), Personal Care, Long-term Skilled Care and Short-term Rehab Residential Options One-bedroom apartments, onebedroom cottages, one-bedroom + den cottages and two-bedroom cottages

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Dining Options Our restaurant-style dining facility, which is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day, offers seated service and an expansive menu, including over 20 made-to-order items. Other options include Grab and Go takeout, Home Apron Meal Kit service and Pick-Up and Delivery service.

Menu selections can be customized to your personal requests and nutritional needs, including glutenfree options. Wellness lifestyle and healthy selections are available.

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LUTHERCARE TOGETHER IN COMMUNITY

GARDENING AND NATURE AT LUTHERCARE

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hen you gather a group of gardeners together at a Luthercare community, conversation comes easily. Whether they’re discussing the variety of herbs or flowers growing at our greenhouse and gardens, remarking on a Monarch butterfly that just passed through, asking if anyone could use the extra beets or tomatoes being harvested or simply catching up with each other, the camaraderie and joy that comes from sharing a hobby is clearly on display.

“This is a ‘Harvest of Friendship,’” says one of the gardeners, and the others enthusiastically agree. For them, gardening provides not only a way to stay physically active and yield some nutritious, homegrown fare, but it’s also therapeutic to dig in the soil, tend their gardens and cultivate friendships in the process.

“It provides an activity and social contact for those who have been gardening all their lives and thought they

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might lose that opportunity when they moved here,” says Terry Wible, a Luther Acres resident who can often be found at the Horticultural Center gardens on campus.

“I call it playing in the dirt. It’s just so relaxing,” says Shirley Wise, a Luther Acres resident and lifelong gardener.

For some residents, gardening is a new hobby that they’ve begun as they settle into life at a Luthercare community.

Some choose to garden in designated plots or raised beds, while others bring their love of gardening to the beds and patios surrounding their cottages.

Whether your passion is gardening, hiking, swimming, art or music, or something you’ve yet to discover, life here is filled with opportunities for you to be active and engaged.

LUTHERCARE OFFERS two seniorliving communities in Lancaster County – Luther Acres in Lititz and St. John’s Herr

Estate in Columbia – that feature a variety of apartment and cottage homes with a maintenance-free lifestyle and peace of mind for tomorrow.

Our vibrant communities are home to fantastic amenities, including on-campus restaurants, fitness centers, a movie theater, woodworking shop and more.

Moving to a Luthercare community is an investment in your future, freeing you from the responsibilities and hassles of home ownership, enabling you to do the things you love and offering you the security of a network of care and services.

You’ll have the time to focus on the things that matter most to you and the freedom to experience it all.

We invite you to explore a Luthercare community and experience the difference for yourself. Come see why our communities are more than a place to live; they are an opportunity to blossom and create the future you’ve envisioned!

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Type of Community Continuing Care Retirement Community

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Range of Services Luthercare’s three senior-living communities – Luther Acres in Lititz, St. John’s Herr Estate in Columbia and Spang Crest in Lebanon – offer a lifestyle rich in services, amenities and programs. Luthercare offers active Independent Living, Supportive Personal Care, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing Care, Rehabilitation Services and In-home Care.

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Residential Options Our communities feature comfortable and stylish independent-living cottages and apartments in a wide variety of sizes and designs. Most feature patios or balconies. We also offer beautifully updated private rehabilitation rooms, private or companion personal care suites, and private or semi-private skilled nursing care rooms.

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Dining Options Our on-campus dining options feel like your favorite fullservice restaurant – complete with a professional wait staff and menus to delight all tastes.

Each day you’ll enjoy choosing delicious made-from-scratch items, including signature dishes, regional favorites and freshly made desserts. We offer dine-in or take-out options.

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On-Campus Activities Our communities offer a variety of opportunities to share your interests, cultivate hobbies or develop new pursuits.

On-campus activities include live music events, happy hours, clubs (from walking clubs to book clubs), educational seminars, group exercise classes, a water volleyball team and much more!

Photo courtesy of Luthercare

600 East Main Street Lititz, PA 17543 Luthercare.org 717-626-8376 info@luthercare.org

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MORAVIAN MANOR COMMUNITIES PURSUE MORE FROM LIFE GARDENING AND NATURE AT MORAVIAN MANOR COMMUNITIES Discover the perfect place with opportunities to grow and enrich your lifestyle at Moravian Manor Communities. With the area’s widest array of residences and two campuses in Lititz, we’re cultivating a community rich with possibilities. Here, you’ll not only discover room to grow physically, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually, but also actually grow whatever you want … native flowers, herbs and veggies! Meet some neighbors who discovered the art of finding room to grow at Moravian Manor Communities.

THE COURTYARD POLLINATOR GARDEN, certified by the National Wildlife Federation, started as a seed in the imagination of resident Elaine Bell. A gardening enthusiast and past volunteer at the Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia, Elaine approached the grounds supervisor about creating a sustainable pollinator garden.

Together, with the guidance of Linda Ferich, a master naturalist from the Lancaster Conservancy, this garden took root in our interior café courtyard.

IN OUR COMMUNITY GARDEN PLOTS, companion planting takes on a new definition. Here, neighbors enjoy planting sideby-side, sharing conversation and their harvest. For resident Marsha Campbell, her dad inspired her love of gardening. “He gave me a couple packets of flower seeds and showed me where I could plant them. Hopefully, I’ve planted the love of gardening in my grandchildren – one will gladly weed, one likes to water, one

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enjoys harvesting and one simply eats … especially cherry tomatoes right from the vine!” Lititz was already home to Marsha and her husband, and they chose Moravian Manor Communities for its Life Plan offerings and friendly, dedicated staff.

BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE gardening was a big factor for resident Elaine Fulmer when choosing to move here. “I love having a perennial flower and herb garden around my carriage home, plus a vegetable plot. I love the serenity and nurturing of plants. As well, I enjoy the camaraderie of the community garden. New friends helped me expand my knowledge about growing vegetables too, from basic ones last year to watermelon, scallions, Swiss chard, delicata squash and more this year.”

Gardening helps resident Jerry Shank stay grounded. “My parents introduced me to gardening. I still see it as somewhat of a mystery … putting an inert seed into the ground can produce a

OVERVIEW

living plant … and then helps nourish my life.” Jerry and his wife chose the community for its close connection with Lititz. “We find this setting so inviting and comfortable as we move through our retirement years.”

For resident Walt Stump, his grandfather introduced him to gardening. He shares, “When we arrived at the Warwick Woodlands Campus, we both loved the beautiful quaint, village-like appearance of homes with inviting front porches.”

Home flower gardens add to the beautiful landscaping around Moravian Manor Communities. Resident Ann Hostetter used her passion for gardening to bring her carriage home’s yard to life with a wide array of everblooming perennials and annuals.

Discover community connecting with nature and each other at Moravian Manor Communities by calling 717-626-0214 or visit us virtually at moravianmanorcommunities.org.

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Type of Community Life Plan Community (Contract Type C – Fee for Service)

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Range of Services Residential Living, Assisted Living, Personal Care, Skilled Care, Memory Care and Short-Term Rehab.

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Residential Options Nearly 40 different floor plans: apartments, cottages, carriage homes and townhomes.

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Dining Options Moravian Manor Communities dishes up six ways to nourish your lifestyle with diverse culinary experiences. The Owl’s Nest Restaurant & Sippery serves fresh farm/sea-to-table comfort food plus specialty drinks, wine and craft beers (to residents and their guests only). The Gallery Café is a relaxed cafeteriastyle hub with Wi-Fi, serving breakfast and lunch. The Founders Dining Room offers chef’s home-style daily specials and à la carte items. Outdoors there are grill stations on the Tree Top Terrace and in the Pavilion. A variety of convenience meals and catering also are available.

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On-Campus Activities Meaningfully connecting with the world around us creates a sense of purpose and encourages personal growth. At Moravian Manor Communities, life is active and engaging, infused with opportunities for lifelong learning, cultural enrichment, outings and excursions.

300 West Lemon Street Lititz, PA 17543 MoravianManorCommunities.org 717-626-0214 nicolem@moravianmanor.org

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PLEASANT VIEW COMMUNITIES PERSPECTIVE OF PURPOSE

Photos courtesy of Pleasant View Communities

GARDENING AND NATURE AT PLEASANT VIEW COMMUNITIES For over 66 years, gardening has been at the heart of Pleasant View Communities. When the doors of the Pleasant View Rest Home opened in 1955, the Hoffer Farm, located across North Penryn Road, was responsible for provisioning the home with all items needed to provide care to the residents. From milk and vegetables to blankets, almost all necessities were met by the operations of the farm.

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ow, many decades later, gardening continues to play a pivotal role in the lives of the residents who call Pleasant View home.

Community gardening plots are shared and tended to by members of the Gardening Club. A greenhouse was recently added to an activity lounge so residents can garden rain or shine. Residents enjoy landscaping their own cottages and balconies and most recently, hydroponics was installed for learning, engagement and opportunities for farm-to-table.

Resident John Landis, who moved to Pleasant View two years ago with his wife, Eileen, was just a young boy in the fields of the Hoffer Farm when the thoughts of a care facility were in their infancy stages.

His mother’s cousin, Grace Barto, was a founding mother of the original rest home.

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The Landis family recalled many memories of growing up in their family gardens.

John says, “My early schooling was in the garden with Mom. There wasn’t much she didn’t plant and had reasons for why she planted things where she did.”

John’s family farm was on nearby Graystone Road where he, as a young boy with his father, would operate a onehorse cultivator shovel harrow from atop a horse named Scott. Eileen’s childhood was similar – spending time in the garden with Mom harvesting peas, lima beans and corn. The life lesson Eileen learned as a young girl was recognizing the hope that gardening promotes. If a crop failed one year, there was always next year. She finds so much joy and satisfaction in what such a small seed can yield.

Having been farmers, it was only fitting

that the opportunity to continue that craft was an important amenity they hoped for in a retirement community. John and Eileen joined the Gardening Club as soon as they moved in and found that it helped them meet new people and make friends who shared similar interests. Today, the Gardening Club is growing strong and abundant with a beautiful display of expert gardening. Reflecting on how gardening has impacted their life, John and Eileen share, “We believe it is healthy to garden – something about the earth, the soil, watching it grow, battling bugs – it is a wholesome connection to living.”

AS PLEASANT VIEW COMMUNITIES continues to find ways to redefine the retirement-living experience, the reimagination of the Hoffer Farm will

OVERVIEW

not only serve as an integral part of the greater Manheim community, but also offer many new and exciting opportunities for residents who enjoy gardening and harvesting. Orchards cultivated with apple trees and sunflowers, hydroponic greenhouses and native-plant gardens will be a part of the 50+ acre redevelopment.

A significant share of the crops raised in the gardens and fields will be donated to organizations that are working to eradicate food insecurities in the area. Another portion of the crops will be available to the public at an on-site produce market.

Vegetables and herbs will be utilized for farm-to-table dining at Pleasant View’s Hearth and Harrow restaurant on campus.

The orchards and native-plant gardens will also serve as habitat for wildlife for the community to enjoy.

Given the rich history of gardening and a connection to the natural world, Pleasant View Communities is a great fit for anyone who is looking forward to a retirement-living setting where they desire to experience nature in its beauty, enjoy a community of friends and a place where there is plenty of soil to plant!

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Type of Community Life Plan/Continuing Care Community

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Range of Services Pleasant View provides a wide range of services, including Independent Living, Personal Care, Memory Support, Skilled Nursing Care and Rehabilitation Services.

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Residential Options There are many options to choose from at Pleasant View, including 52 cottages and 100 apartments on our Manheim campus, as well as our new expansion, West Lawn, which will provide hybrid apartments. Our satellite campus in Lititz offers the newest trend in senior living: urban living at the Lofts of Lititz Springs.

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Dining Options Welcome to Heath and Harrow, a restaurant, bistro, coffee bar and outdoor patio where friends can relax and families can gather. At the center of the restaurant area, you’ll find a hearth oven. Our name highlights that signature feature and connects back to Pleasant View’s heritage of the family farm. Our goal is to partner with local Lancaster County food vendors to bring the farm-to-table movement to our community.

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Health/Fitness Facility/Activities PVFiT is available to anyone over the age of 40. Amenities include a stateof-the-art gym, fitness room for group classes, personal trainers, saltwater pool, jacuzzi and sauna. Play golf all year round with our Full Swing Golf Simulator!

544 North Penryn Road, Manheim, PA 17545 PleasantViewCommunities.org 717-665-2445 Info@pvcommunities.org

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QUARRYVILLE PRESBYTERIAN RETIRE THE ORDINARY AND LIVE THE EXTRAORDINARY GARDENING AND NATURE AT QUARRYVILLE PRESBYTERIAN For over 70 years, Christ-centered living has been our hallmark at Quarryville. We are a community alive with rich cultural activity, exciting programming for physical and spiritual wellness and ample opportunities to use your God-given gifts. Retirement at Quarryville means engaging new and old interests, and our campus has all the resources to make your day come to life. Even better, our community is full of people who share your interests and eagerly look for friends to join in the fun. This spirit makes Quarryville one of the most energetic, enthusiastic retirement settings in Pennsylvania.

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et in the peaceful countryside of Lancaster County, Quarryville’s campus offers a variety of natural areas for residents and visitors to enjoy.

Walking paths, gardens, a labyrinth, a koi pond with a soothing waterfall and a larger pond stocked with fish allow residents to get outside and experience nature in different environments.

The Five Stones Pond provides a peaceful setting where you can take a leisurely walk around the pond on a paved path, sit and relax on a nearby bench, enjoy some bird watching or grab your fishing pole to see what may be biting at the dock. The pond is stocked every year with about 500 to 1,000 fish, including bass, bluegill, sunfish and baitfish.

At Quarryville, you can wear as many different hats as you please. One of our more popular resident activities is gardening. Gardening has been shown to

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improve immune system function, relieve stress and anxiety, provide light exercise and lift your mood. Generally, being out in nature and sunshine is good for the soul.

Quarryville has 10 ground garden plots and 12 raised garden plots. Every spring, residents apply for a garden; many residents use the same plot each year as they care for the soil and plants. They enjoy getting their hands in the dirt and tending to individual vegetable or flower gardens. The raised beds are automatically irrigated so there is no need to lug water to the garden plots.

Near the individual garden plots there is also a labyrinth where you can take a walk, slow down the pace of life, pray, reflect and enjoy being surrounded by nature. The labyrinth is bordered by trees and shrubs that provide a green, lush backdrop.

Across from our outdoor sport court, you will find another garden area

highlighted by a white gazebo proclaiming, “The LORD is my Rock and my Fortress” (Psalm 18:2). A delightful fountain completes the sitting area with seasonal flowers providing a medley of colors for the eye to enjoy. Next to the fountain is a greenhouse where residents can grow flowers and plants over the winter and nurture seedlings for their individual gardens.

Gardening can provide a personal connection to nature, a means to make new friends, an enjoyable form of exercise, increased mobility and flexibility, stress reduction and improved well-being, as well as prevent osteoporosis and boost brain health. One of our resident gardening enthusiasts, a caretaker for her husband, says that being in the garden gives her a chance to enjoy some peaceful time alone while keeping a watchful eye on her spouse who sits contentedly by the koi pond.

OVERVIEW

625 Robert Fulton Highway Quarryville, PA 17566 Quarryville.com 717-786-7321 info@quarryville.com

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Type of Community Continuing Care Retirement Community that strives to provide for the spiritual, physical, emotional and social needs of our residents through high-quality facilities, services and personal care in a manner faithful to the Bible and honoring our Lord, Jesus Christ.

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Range of Services We offer a wide array of Residential Living options, including cottage homes in our Great Rock neighborhood, spacious apartments, as well as Personal Care, Skilled Nursing Care, Rehabilitation and Memory Support.

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Residential Options Several styles of cottage homes and apartments with a variety of layouts, including one- and twobedrooms and efficiencies.

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Health/Fitness Facility/ Activities We offer a wide variety of services for your unique health and fitness needs. Our state-of-the-art fitness center, aquatic center, indoor walking track, outdoor walking path with a pond and new outdoor sport court provide many opportunities to maximize your health and wellness.

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Spiritual Connections Many different spiritual opportunities are available to residents, including chapel, vespers, Sunday school, Bible study, community hymn sing, prayer for missions, men’s Bible study, Bible memorization, prayer for persecuted Christians and the personal ministry of a full-time chaplain.

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Photos courtesy of Willow Valley Communities

WILLOW VALLEY COMMUNITIES LIFE LIVED FORWARD

GARDENING AND NATURE AT WILLOW VALLEY COMMUNITIES Residents at Willow Valley Communities enjoy limitless ways to grow, learn, and engage. Countless opportunities are offered to residents for them to discover new passions or reignite those previously enjoyed years before. Senior life is one of the most fulfilling times of life, and at Willow Valley Communities, this time is characterized as “Life Lived Forward.”

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hroughout the stunning 210-acre campus, Willow Valley Communities residents engage in recreational and mindful activities, including hundreds of clubs, world-class performances, activities, presentations, classes and lectures every day. Award-winning amenities, such as Willow Valley Communities’ 30,000-square-foot Clubhouse and 80,000-square-foot Cultural Center are the hubs of this vibrant, active and intergenerational lifestyle.

One of the most popular passions at Willow Valley Communities is gardening. The community’s residents are offered a variety of ways to participate. Three gardens are situated across the sprawling 210-acre campus for residents to use in a multitude of ways. To prepare the gardens for residents, Willow Valley Communities’ grounds team tills each garden in the spring and plows them in the fall.

After the gardens are prepared, residents are then free to work on their plots as they wish, growing delicious vegetables and glorious flowers. An ample supply of tools is always available at each garden for residents to dig in any time they want. Some residents have been gardening for decades and have even achieved the level of Master Gardener, while others have only started gardening after moving to Willow Valley Communities. Whether

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an experienced pro or a novice, gardening is a wonderful way for residents to be outside enjoying nature and each other, as well as learning new things.

In keeping with their “Life Lived Forward” philosophy, residents at Willow Valley Communities take their love of gardening to deeper levels. For example, two residents worked with the Pennsylvania State University to have one of their gardens Penn State Master Gardener Certified as an official Pennsylvania Pollinator-Friendly Garden. The stunning garden is well-known for attracting bees, butterflies, insects and birds, helping our ecosystem to thrive.

Residents are also able to pair their gardening skills with their desire to volunteer and give back to the Lancaster community.

With the area’s rich, fertile soil as well as the extra special care and attention the plants receive, residents often have an abundance of vegetables and decide to donate them regularly. The Solanco Neighborhood Ministries’ food bank receives a variety of beans, lettuce, kale, peas, carrots, eggplant, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, spinach and much more from residents’ gardens throughout the growing season. Additionally, every fall a harvest of hundreds of pounds of sweet potatoes and butternut squash

OVERVIEW •

Type of Community Premier 55-plus Lifeplan (CCRC) Type-A Lifecare contract senior living community

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Range of Services Willow Valley Communities offers award-winning amenities and programming, plus hundreds of clubs, performances, lectures and activities. Willow Valley Communities is an exclusively Type A Lifecare community, which means that if long- or short-term care is ever needed, there will be no increase to the resident’s monthly service fee because of the need for enhanced care.

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Residential Options Willow Valley Communities offers over 100 distinct floorplans to choose from, ranging from cozy studio apartments to spacious multi-level homes.

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On-Campus Activities For close to 40 years, their vision has been to provide innovative opportunities and spaces for a premier senior-living experience.

Willow Valley Communities’ 80,000-square-foot Cultural Center is one campus hub with its indoor fitness and aquatics centers, pampering day spa, 500-seat performing arts theater, art gallery, art room and more.

Willow Valley Communities’ 30,000-square-foot Clubhouse is another venue well-known for providing intergenerational activities for residents and their families and friends. The pool and Har-Tru tennis courts provide hours of activity outside, while fun abounds inside with pinball and skee-ball at the vintage arcade, golf at worldwide courses at the golf simulator, bowling nights at the alleys, and more action at the fully equipped fitness and sports centers.

gets delivered to the Lancaster County Food Hub, a community resource for free, nutritious food.

One Willow Valley Communities gardener, who maintains four plots from which all of the vegetables she grows are donated, says she never gardened before moving to Willow Valley Communities and simply enjoys giving. Another resident adds that she donates her surplus just because she “hates to see any waste.”

Gardening is just one of the almost limitless opportunities that Willow Valley Communities’ residents have to engage their talents and passions and discover new ones. Residents also see how their talents and gifts can grow into other areas to help others – much like the many gardeners of Willow Valley Communities.

Find out more! Willow Valley Communities invites you to contact them today to arrange for your no-obligation personalized visit and tour.

Twelve different culinary venues allow residents to recharge, ranging from casual coffee shops and wine bars to the fullservice gourmet restaurant, Local Table, located in The Clubhouse.

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Health/Fitness Facility/Activities The term “well-being” is often thought of in the one-dimensional meaning of physical wellness. One does not have to look far to see examples of this at Willow Valley Communities: A visit to the Fitness and Aquatic centers or a conversation with one of the National Senior Games athletes is all it takes. However, the state of well-being encompasses much more than physical health and can include mental, emotional, social, environmental, spiritual, environmental and occupational health. At Willow Valley Communities, residents routinely pursue opportunities that enhance their well-being in all areas. Hundreds of clubs, classes, award-winning performances and other programs occur daily at the 30,000-square-foot Clubhouse and the 80,000-square-foot Cultural Center, as well as other locations across Willow Valley Communities’ 210-acre campus.

600 Willow Valley Square, Lancaster, PA 17602 WillowValleyCommunities.org 717-464-6800

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Transforming the carriage house on the property into an events venue was at the top of co-owners Freddy States and Joey Bowden’s to-do list. Work was completed last fall, allowing the venue to begin hosting micro-weddings and events such as wine dinners. The carriage house makeover also included the addition of a patio and gardens.

THE RAILROAD HOUSE INN

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Built in 1823, the Railroad House has survived catastrophic floods, the effects of war, a depression, prohibition, economic downturns and a barroom brawl or two over the course of nearly 200 years. When it remained closed during the summer of 2020, fans feared the pandemic had derailed it.

Put your fears to rest … the Railroad House’s future is on track to move forward!

BY SUE LONG PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN MCMILLEN

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ctually, the pandemic allowed co-owners Freddy States and Joey Bowden to take a break and map out the future of the Railroad House. “Even before the pandemic, the wheels were moving to make some changes we had on the drawing board,” Joey explains. “In March [2020], we looked at the mandated closure as an opportunity to make our move and not sit idle. We took advantage of the downtime and were finally able to get projects off the ground and also get work done on our never-ending ‘to-do’ list. This is an old building – it seems like things constantly need to be fixed.” He estimates that 60 to 65 hours a week were spent working on projects over a nearly six-month period before the Railroad House reopened in the fall of 2020. “The only area that didn’t get a makeover was the mainfloor bar and dining rooms,” Joey reports.

WHEN OTHER RESTAURANTS reverted to offering take-out service, the Railroad House remained closed so that projects could be completed. “It was easier to forge ahead and just push through,” Joey explains. When outdoor dining was permitted, the Railroad House’s beautiful patio was in the process of being renovated.

“We took out all of the 4,200 bricks and relaid them in order to eliminate the issue of wobbling tables,” Joey notes. New concrete walkways that skirt the building and lead to others on the property were added, as well.

New patio furniture was purchased. Bradley Hagens, who works at the Railroad House and once helped to care for the gardens at Doneckers, added his expertise to freshen

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and redesign the landscaping.

On the upper floors of the inn, they began the process of refurbishing the guest rooms. “They really needed it. I bet they hadn’t been updated in 40 years,” Joey says.

“They had become a mish-mash of styles.”

Now, the guest rooms are light and airy thanks to the modern color schemes that serve to showcase the architectural details in each room.

The Perry Street Cellar, which always bears the brunt of flooding in Marietta, was given a thorough cleaning and update.

“We went over that top to bottom,” he notes. With its emphasis on craft beer and pub fare, the space has become a favorite place for casual dining, musical entertainment, fundraising events and wedding-related activities such as engagement and bachelor parties.

SPECIALIZING IN MICRO-WEDDINGS The Railroad House has always been a popular wedding venue. “We’re unique,” Joey says of the historic buildings and beautiful setting. “We were doing microweddings before the concept even existed.”

When micro-weddings began trending locally about four years ago and were a personal preference rather than a pandemic necessity, Freddy and Joey were on-board, as they had already begun to make plans to convert a carriage house on the property into a wedding venue. The renovated, climate-controlled carriage house, with its soaring ceiling, window-filled walls and wrought-iron chandeliers, can comfortably accommodate 50 to 60 guests and offers such amenities as a bar, a secret-garden-like patio, private bathrooms and, of course, an on-site caterer.

Another building on the property – the original summer kitchen – has also been given a new lease on life. It’s always presented owners with the dilemma of how to utilize it, so it has largely stood empty.

“I know a previous owner used it as a guest house but since it’s located right next to Left, top to bottom: The original summer kitchen now functions as a private dining room that can accommodate 15 to 20 guests.

On the menu: Pork loin, salsa and a medley of roasted vegetables.

Right, top to bottom: On the menu: Risotto with sweet corn, heirloom tomatoes, Vidalia onions, parmesan cheese, fresh herbs and shrimp.

The restaurant’s patio area was given a makeover that included pulling all of the 4,200 bricks and relaying them, new furniture, new concrete walkways and updating the landscaping.

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On the menu: Roasted chicken with Brussels sprouts and potatoes.

LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

the patio, it’s not very private. Freddy and I butted heads over this one,” Joey shares.

“He saw it as a bridal suite, while I saw it as a private dining room.” Joey’s vision won out and the refurbished summer kitchen now functions as a private dining room that has a seating capacity of 15 to 20 guests. “It’s a nice option for events such as showers, anniversary and birthday parties, very small weddings and even small corporate dinners,” Joey points out.

The expanded emphasis on weddings and other special occasions prompted Freddy and Joey to add a wedding coordinator to the staff. “We’re learning a lot about weddings – namely, it takes a lot of legwork to plan and execute one,” Joey admits. “As two guys who barely took part in helping to plan our own weddings, we knew we needed help. Fortunately, we were able to bring Lauren Kurzik on staff. She brings experience – Lancaster Country Club – and a background in restaurants to the Railroad House, plus she lives in Marietta.”

Joey and Freddy are grateful for Lauren’s expertise. Like other venues, the Railroad House is doing its best to accommodate weddings that were canceled or postponed in 2020, as well as host those that were booked for 2021. As a result, weddings are being held at the Railroad House (and across Lancaster County) not just on weekends but throughout the week. “It’s been a little crazy,” Joey attests.

And, with fall fast approaching – the most popular wedding months in Lancaster County – the schedule will undoubtedly remain hectic going into 2022.

CHUGGING ALONG In regards to Marietta, Joey is excited by the fact that the riverside town is “hitting it just right” as far as moving forward is concerned. “Our restaurants seem to have made it through the pandemic,” he says, noting that when Heart Café closed its doors in early summer (2020), York native Molly Fisher took it over and opened a second location of her popular Molly’s Courtyard Café, which specializes in breakfast and lunch fare.

With buildings along Market Street transitioning from apartments to retail and entertainment locations – thanks to entrepreneurs such as Freddy, Steve and Abby Ulrich and others – Joey sees a “walkable downtown” emerging in Marietta over the next five years.

One such entertainment venue is Susquehanna Stage, which makes its home in a large stone church on West Market Street. The expanded space prompted the creation of an umbrella organization called Marietta Center for the Arts. In addition LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

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The Perry Street Cellar offers a casual alternative, as it specializes in pub fare and craft beer.

The guest rooms on the upper floors were completely refurbished. Modern color schemes bring focus to the architectural features, while décor and accessories make the rooms all the more inviting.

to community theater, plans call for the building to host events such as live music performances, open-mic nights, art exhibits, summer camps and more. The organization has also been working to restore the Marietta Theatre, which dates to 1914.

Of course, Marietta is known for its wonderful holiday tour of homes, which is presented by Marietta Restoration Associates and is one of the oldest (more than 50 years) tours of its kind in the state.

Its annual garden tour allows visitors to see yet another artistic aspect of Marietta.

As for recreation, the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail meanders along the Susquehanna River from Columbia north to the Falmouth area, bringing trail users through Marietta. Restaurants and other businesses are definitely reaping the rewards that the trail brings to the town.

THE BIG NEWS is that movement is starting to take place at the train station that sits across Perry Street from the Railroad House. “We’ve been wanting to do something with that for years,” Joey says.

Now, thanks to grants already awarded to the Lancaster County Redevelopment Authority and Susquehanna Heritage, Marietta will become a major component of the Susquehanna National Heritage Area courtesy of the adaptive-reuse project that will see the train station become a visitors center and trailhead station along the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail.

Everyone along Front Street’s “Restaurant Row” is excited by the prospect of having even more visitors “flood” into Marietta.

Built in 1869, the station has been languishing for years. Plans call for it to be operated by Susquehanna Heritage, the organization that oversees Columbia Crossings and the Zimmerman Center for Heritage near Long Level in York County.

The Railroad House is in discussions to operate a casual dining area in the rear of the building. Joey is excited about the design plans architect Wendy Tippetts has shared. “It’s going to be beautiful!” he says.

As the grant-application process is nearing an end, Joey hopes to see work begin on the project by 2023, which just happens to be the occasion of the Railroad House’s bicentennial.

A POST-PANDEMIC RAILROAD HOUSE Joey is of the opinion that the pandemic “will change the landscape” of what restaurants look like and how they operate. Staff shortages and supply chain issues were a major concern over the

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LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

The carriage house, which seats 50 to 60 guests, offers such amenities as a bar, private restrooms, wrought iron chandeliers and an outdoor sitting area.

summer. “I’ve had to step in on occasion and be the bartender,” he says. “You do what you gotta do to stay open.” Food shortages and rising prices have also been challenging restaurateurs and their staffs. For example, the price of crabmeat prompted restaurateurs up and down the East Coast to remove crab dishes from their menus over the summer. “I’d hate to own a crab-picking restaurant right now,” Joey said in mid-July, adding that lobster prices had escalated as well. “I paid $30 for a justOK lobster roll in Cape Cod earlier in the summer,” he noted. “That’s nuts!”

What hasn’t changed is the public’s love of dining out. Now, however, consumers expect restaurants to meet their lifestyle preferences. As a result, the Railroad House’s kitchen staff – which is now led by Taylor Heck – strives to keep current with trends (small plates and farm-to-table) and lifestyle choices (vegan and gluten-free), yet offer guests a well-rounded menu that offers everything from burgers (grass-fed beef, of course, as well as black bean for vegans) to what Joey calls “innovative comfort food” that

ranges from gouda mac-n-cheese to low country shrimp boil, pork loin, autumn pasta, Norwegian salmon and steaks. An expansive brunch menu is available on weekends. Ingredients provided by local farmers and purveyors help the menu to evolve on a seasonal basis.

Looking to the future, Joey maintains that diversifying will allow the Railroad House to not only survive but thrive. “We want to offer our guests an experience, whether they are having dinner at the restaurant or are having a wedding in the carriage house,” he says. Diversifying extends to offering yoga in the gardens, meditation sessions and wine and beer dinners in the carriage house and trivia contests and get-togethers for vinylrecord enthusiasts in the Perry Street Cellar. “We’re willing to give anything a try!” he says.

IN JULY, after a particularly busy weekend, Joey took to Facebook to thank his employees for a job well done. “I wanted to get out a message of positivity today. As a restaurant owner and someone

that also works the day-to-day grind of the industry, I want to shout my whole entire staff out for meeting and exceeding expectations whenever possible. The whole country should understand and appreciate what this pandemic has done to our industry.

That being said, I want to shout out my whole staff. They come in with the mindset that we will conquer and today was a shining example. Thank you, Taylor Heck, Chance Boyd, Bradley Hagens, Alexis Strickler and many more!! Small win for the soul!”

DESPITE UNCERTAINTY and the challenges that no doubt lie ahead, Joey maintains a positive outlook. “We’re as strong as we’ve been since opening six years ago,” he says of when he and Freddy became the owners of the Railroad House. “Things are looking up!”

The Railroad House Inn is located at 280 West Front Street in Marietta.

Call 717-426-4141 or visit railroadhouseinn.com for more information.

LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

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Let’s Get Local.

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550 E Main St, New Holland, PA 717-354-2003 choicehomeremodeling.com

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LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

www.HeritageDesignInteriors.com

Kitchen Remodel Mania!

Anyone who has spent the last 18 months taking refuge in their home will undoubtedly agree with one thing: You’ve either gained a new-found appreciation for your kitchen or grown to absolutely hate it.

IF

you’ve paid attention to news reports over that period of time, you’re no doubt aware that the latter is probably the consensus of opinion.

Designers, cabinetmakers, appliance retailers and other kitchen-related trades have never been busier. It’s become obvious that many of us are in the throes of remodeling our kitchens.

What’s trending? Individuality would probably go at the top of the list! While we are all rejoicing over the fact that we can dine out again, we’ve also come to realize that staying home and spending a quiet evening puttering around the kitchen isn’t all that bad. The pandemic helped to reinforce the notion that the kitchen is and remains the heart of a home.

As a result, kitchens have become very personalized spaces that are brimming with color, interesting tile and flooring, beautiful counter surfaces, creative lighting, hightech appliances and the list goes on.

To demonstrate how individualized and personality-driven kitchen design has become, we reached out to three companies that were happy to share some of their favorite kitchen remodeling projects with our readers.

The pandemic has only reinforced the fact that no matter its size and style, the kitchen is the heart of a home.

Photos by Madeline Isabella; courtesy of The Chris & Claude Co.

– Suzanne Starling-Long LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

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The Chris & Claude Co., Creative Space Designers IN THE PINK! Chris and Claudia Beiler are a husband-wife, self-taught team based in Honey Brook. “We discovered, quite by accident, that we enjoyed working together and designing unique spaces while renovating our first home together,” says Claudia. “We began helping out our friends with design – knowing absolutely nothing, but going with what our guts told us to do. We slowly built our company into what it is today: Real estate agents who can help you find your home and designers and a construction team who can create your dream home.”

THE PROJECT After successfully renovating and selling a row home in Lancaster City, the Beilers were excited to tackle another project. One day, Chris arrived home and announced he had found their next project, explaining it was located on the outskirts of the city and describing the stone façade as “ugly.” Chris also confessed there was no going back – he had signed on the dotted line. The house was theirs.

The two googled the address and upon looking at photos of the house, Claudia exclaimed, “No, you didn’t!”

Then came the walk-through. “The more I got a sense of the house, the more I liked it,” she recalls. Built in 1952, it still retained original elements such as hardwood floors, maroon plumbing fixtures in the bath and colorful (orange) kitchen counters. Their goal was to take “Louise” (as they dubbed the house) back to her retro roots. “Sometimes starting with what is already in place is the most creative way to begin,” Claudia wrote in a blog that detailed the process of remodeling Louise. “We call it ‘creative limitation.’” Going forward, the goal

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LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

Opposite, top to bottom: The remodeled kitchen was outfitted with a retroinspired stove.

Square-sized tile – as opposed to subway tile – was more in keeping with mid-century styling.

Here: With no room to physically expand, the Beilers visually enlarged the size of the kitchen with a pink and white color scheme and simple flat-fronted cabinetry.

LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

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Clockwise from top left: “Louise” was built in the early ’50s.

Whether you call it Millennial Pink, Rose Quartz, Dusty Pink or a host of other names that define this new neutral, pink is having its moment where home design and décor is concerned.

The color palette took its cue from the maroon plumbing fixtures the Beilers discovered in the bathroom.

A blast from the past! Pink-tiled bathrooms!

Farrow & Ball’s Pink Ground brings a sense of warmth and serenity to a room.

Claudia and Chris Beiler took Louise back to her midcentury roots through modern design.

A Dutch door was a definitive design element of homes built in the ’50s and ’60s.

A pink-tinged limewash continued the color theme on the walls of the dining room.

was “to keep the beautiful feel of the house and pay tribute to the era that it was built; hence, our design would reflect midcentury styling wherever possible.”

THE DESIGNER Claudia Beiler

DESIGNER’S VISION “From the moment we walked into the house, we knew that we wanted to pay tribute to the original owners and their design from the 1950s,” says Claudia, who began the process by creating a mood board that would guide them back in time.

Upon discovering a vintage maroon toilet and sink in the master bath, they knew they had found the basis of their color palette.

“We decided to build the entire design around that concept,” Claudia explains.

Using maroon as their jumping-off point, lighter shades of pink were incorporated throughout the home.

COLOR SCHEME Pale pink/blush was selected to tone down the intensity of the maroon. The color is “Pink Ground” from Farrow & Ball. “It was neutral, but it still delivered an unexpected wow – especially in the

kitchen!” says Claudia. Farrow & Ball describes the hue as a “dusty pink” due to a “large dose of yellow pigment” that infuses it with warmth and serenity.

The company suggests pairing it with Great White, which has red undertones.

Together, they work to take a pink color scheme from sugary to sophisticated.

Pink Ground was ultimately used on ceilings, walls, cabinets, doors and moldings.

Other shades of pink distinguished accessories, light fixtures and furnishings that were selected for staging. “We had pink-tinged limewash added into the dining room walls to add an aged and classy feel,” Claudia notes.

ST YLE OF THE KITCHEN Claudia describes the results as “midcentury modern with pops of fun. We added a unique retro-era-inspired stove, a neon banana to lighten up the mood and small-scale wooden shelving that wraps around the corner.”

CHALLENGES THAT WERE ENCOUNTERED As the house was built in the ’50s, the kitchen was far from spacious. “The space was much smaller than we wished it would

be but we didn’t have any room to push out in any direction, so we worked with what we had,” Claudia says.

TRENDS THAT WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE DESIGN According to Claudia, “We wanted to create a kitchen that wasn’t just ‘trending’ but could withstand the test of time. This meant we would incorporate pale colors, flat-front cabinets, wooden accents and beautiful concrete countertops to our design.”

Obviously, Louise and all her pinkness struck a chord with someone – when the house hit the market, it quickly sold.

CREDITS FOR PROJECT PARTNERS The Chris & Claude Crew Shannon King – design and limewash Tyler Martin – concrete counters The Beilers are associated with Kingsway Realty. To learn more about their services, visit thechrisandclaudeco.com.

LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

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The remodeled kitchen now ties into the outdoor-living area thanks to large windows and doors, as well as to the rest of the first floor due to its open floor plan.

CHOICE HOME REMODELING

Inspired by Outdoor Elements 58

LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

Choice Home Remodeling is a family-owned business with longstanding roots in the Lancaster County community. Founded in 1995, Choice has grown into the multi-faceted remodeling company that it is today, with an exterior division and an interior division that focuses on designand-build projects such as kitchen and bathroom remodels.

The mission of the company, which is based in New Holland, is to continue its tradition of excellent customer service while completing quality projects with products and workmanship it can stand behind.

THE PROJECT This project began as a kitchen renovation.

As with many of Choice’s projects, its scope expanded to flow through most of the home’s first floor.

THE DESIGNER Alyssa Hayes

CLIENT ’S AND/OR DESIGNER’S VISION According to Alyssa, “It was important to our client that we create a new kitchen space that incorporated both the outdoor-living areas of the home and additional living spaces within the house. The existing kitchen was very closed off; it was our intent to brighten the space by opening it up to the first floor and selecting finishes that would further the light and airy feeling brought in by new larger windows and doors that were incorporated in the renovation.”

SIZE OF THE FINISHED KITCHEN By creating a new floor plan that opened the kitchen into the living spaces, this room essentially grew in size from a very defined 11x18 area to a fluid 20x18.

COLOR SCHEME PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATILDE LAMESSO

Alyssa’s clients loved the idea of incorporating their beautiful pool and backyard area into the space via a large bay window

LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

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White cabinets and counters and a lightcolored backsplash set the tone for a redesign that took a kitchen from being closed off to open and airy.

Another much-loved color – blue – makes a style statement for the accent tile and island.

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LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

Alyssa Hayes worked with her clients to create a kitchen that blends with the outdoors and opens to the rest of the first floor.

Color is one way to personalize kitchens. Here, a beautiful hue of blue defines the multi-functional island.

and a new 12-foot sliding door to the patio. Bringing the outdoor elements in influenced the resulting color scheme that centers on natural-looking wood tones mixed with clean whites and a vibrant blue accent.

ST YLE OF THE KITCHEN Alyssa describes it as “an eclectic blend of warm, Pennsylvania earthy styling and mid-century modern’s clean lines and contemporary flair … among other things!”

CHALLENGES THAT WERE ENCOUNTERED Every project comes with its own unique restraints and this project was no exception. A collaborative vision came together for an island that would serve as both a visual “hint” at a room divider between the kitchen and living room, as well as a seating and storage area. Alyssa was tasked with the challenge of creating an effective layout within set parameters. “Our client has wonderful vision and I enjoyed working together to create a final layout that we all agreed would function well while looking beautiful.”

The kitchen remodel expanded into other areas of the first floor as is exemplified by this multi-functional dry bar/buffet.

TRENDS THAT WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE DESIGN “Our client has amazing eclectic taste, which made it so easy and enjoyable to incorporate plenty of trends without being overly ‘on-the-nose’ with any one style in particular,” Alyssa explains.

“While white cabinetry is a large component of this kitchen – a long-standing trend that we’re not anticipating going anywhere anytime soon – fun colors are definitely having a moment and we had the perfect opportunity to utilize a popular choice: blue. We selected a custom shade of blue for the island to keep it feeling fresh and to tie-in seamlessly with the exterior components of the home we wanted to call attention to.”

550 East Main Street, New Holland 717-354-2003 • Choicehomeremodeling.com LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

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The owner of a row home in the city found cooking in her small and outdated kitchen becoming more and more of a challenge. Her dream-come-true kitchen has doubled in size and is now very user-friendly.

Opposite: Displaying cherished kitchenware items she has collected was important to the homeowner. Designer Amanda MacFeat solved that by incorporating glass-fronted cabinets and floating shelves into the design.

K bE DESIGN & BUILD

Cooking Up Memories 62

LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

KbE Design & Build, which is based in Lititz, has over 25 years of design experience.

Each renovation project is carefully handled by their award-winning designers, who specialize in space planning and design. They guide their clients through the design process to help build upon their specific tastes and styles.

KbE’s team sees the project all the way through to completion, giving the client peace of mind from start to finish.

THE PROJECT When homeowner Lilia approached KbE designer, Amanda MacFeat, with the idea of remodeling her kitchen, it was a continuation of the relationship they had formed while working on the master bath and second-floor renovations of Lilia and her husband’s row home in Lancaster City. Because it is where the couple raised their three children, their home holds

many memories. New memories are also being created – Lilia loves having her grandchildren visit, with painting being a favorite pastime.

Lilia, who loves to cook and bake, had been dreaming of remodeling her kitchen for years. The existing kitchen was a cramped 107 square feet. Located at the back of the house, it essentially was cut-off from the other parts of the home. The cabinets were falling apart and counter space was limited, which made cooking and baking more and more of a challenge.

Finally, the time had come to turn Lilia’s dreams of a new kitchen into reality!

THE DESIGNER Amanda MacFeat

CLIENT ’S AND/OR DESIGNER’S VISION Amanda took the lead from Lilia’s vision for the space. The plan included removing the wall between the existing kitchen and dining space, which would more than double the kitchen’s size (225 square feet). This allowed for more storage and counter space, a better entertaining area and most importantly,

a beautiful space to create more family memories.

While much of the new space would be centered around functionality, style certainly would not take a backseat. Lilia mentioned many times throughout the process that part of the challenge of living in a smaller city home is that every space needs to be multifunctional and purposefully planned. Amanda would address those concerns through the deep drawers that were planned for much of the base cabinetry and by adding interior accessories for storing dishes, utensils, cutlery and other kitchen items. The coffee station was designed with cabinet doors that pocket so that they can be left open without interrupting the traffic flow.

Another functional – but stylish – element is the flip-up walnut bar top at the back of the island. Amanda and KbE’s project manager worked with Joel Bare Woodworking to engineer this unique feature that allows Lilia’s grandchildren to pull up stools and bake or simply visit with her. When not in use, it can be lowered, making it easier to move throughout the space on a daily basis.

Lilia also wanted to take aging-inplace into consideration. For example, the laundry area is located in the LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

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basement and Lilia wanted to plan ahead and include a way in which a stackable washer/ dryer unit could be moved to the kitchen in the future, thus eliminating the need to go up and down the basement steps. To achieve this, Amanda designed a tall cabinet to the right of the refrigerator that blends with the rest of the kitchen cabinets. In the future, it can accommodate a stackable washer/dryer.

ST YLE OF THE KITCHEN According to Amanda, “The aesthetic of the kitchen was focused around marrying a simple, modern design with the warmth of wood tones and textures that would create a classic look to withstand the test of time.”

Lilia’s great appreciation for art and the sentiments relating to her kitchenware collection also played a role in the design of the kitchen. “Many are items of sentimental value that she has collected over the years,” Amanda notes, adding that Lilia shared many stories with her about where the pieces came from or who made them. Hearing the stories prompted Amanda to include glass-front cabinet doors and beautiful walnut floating shelves – also made

by Joel Bare Woodworking – as the perfect solution for displaying Lilia’s collection.

COLOR SCHEME

Above: This was Amanda’s second opportunity to work with the homeowners, as she helped them renovate the second floor of their home.

Here: Being cognizant of space constraints and traffic flow, Amanda designed a coffee station with pocket doors. Note the art-influenced drawer/door pulls that tie into the stainless appliances and floating walnut shelves.

The cabinetry, from Signature Custom Cabinetry, features custom colors that were selected with the intent of pulling the quartz countertop and backsplash together.

CHALLENGES THAT WERE ENCOUNTERED Other challenges involved relocating the entrance to the existing powder room, replacing the existing exterior side entrance, concealing the waste line from the previous secondfloor bath remodel and tying into the existing Brazilian cherry wood floors.

As for the powder-room entrance, Amanda uses the word “awkward” to describe the fact that it would now be in the kitchen. The solution was to relocate it to the top of the landing at the basement steps. This also created the perfect wall space for a television. The issue of the side door was solved by replacing it with a taller single door that allows more light to flood into the space and provides a more updated clean look. The waste-line problem was remedied by hiding it behind cabinetry and crown molding.

The last challenge was tying into the existing wood floors; fortunately, Lilia was able to source the material from the vendor that supplied the existing material.

29 South Broad Street, Lititz 717-627-1690 • Kbebuild.com

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LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

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music. food. friends.

It’s the recipe for a perfect evening. Lombardo’s is a destination for enjoying live music, signature cocktails, and the savory flavors of fresh-made, authentic Italian dishes cooked with love.

lunch Tuesday to Saturday 11–2:30pm dinner Tuesday to Thursday 4–9:30pm Friday and Saturday 4–10pm Visit lombardosrestaurant.com or call 717.394.3749 for reservations 216 Harrisburg Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603

LancasterCountyMag.com LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Fabulous Fall COMPILED BY KAYLEE REX

Fall is here, which means it’s time to decorate our homes with gourds, colorful leaves and pumpkins. Gather those scarves and indulge in pumpkin spice everything. Lancaster County businesses are also preparing for fall with the latest trends, information and tips for your home, health and happiness.

YOUR DREAM KITCHEN Is JustIsWeeks Away!

Here!

Improve the value & beauty of your home with quality craftsmanship.

Get your estimate!

717-944-1007

3043 Steinruck Rd | Elizabethtown, PA 17022

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LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

Looking to upgrade your kitchen, bathroom or office space? NOAH F. BOYLE CABINETS, located in Elizabethtown, has been manufacturing and installing their custom cabinets since 1993. Noah F. Boyle has the ability to create quality kitchen and bathroom cabinets that complement any budget and style. From design to installation, 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 717-944-1007 to find out how Noah F. Boyle Cabinets can help create your dream kitchen or bathroom.

LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The 7th annual LANCASTER ROOTS AND BLUES FESTIVAL, to be held October 15, 16 and 17, is a festival for music and art lovers. This year’s festival will host over 80 musical artists varying from the well-established to exciting up-andcomers. This walkable festival throughout downtown Lancaster City features eight venues with a total of 10 stages.

Lancaster Roots and Blues has something for everyone! Of course, there will be world-class blues musicians, but stages will also host everything from jazz and rock to funk, soul, rockabilly, bluegrass and more.

With 15,000 attendees, downtown Lancaster comes alive for the Roots and Blues Festival. In addition to an eclectic mix of bars and restaurants, a food truck park will be open and ready to serve. Check out their website, lancasterrootsandblues.com, to learn

more about featured artists, venues and schedules. Links and maps will help you with your accommodations and travel.

Life is returning to normal, and it’s time to entertain again! Whether you are hosting a dinner party for friends or an intimate celebration, THE SALTED APRON provides refreshing, hassle-free entertaining experiences. Owner Hillary Prickett’s appreciation of people and food is evident in the delicious dishes she creates. Serving Lancaster County and surrounding areas, her culinary philosophy is presenting fresh, local and in-season ingredients prepared in a way that allows their flavors to shine. Each ingredient is hand-selected and locally sourced from trusted farmers, bakers, butchers, artisans and specialty shops. Hillary’s creativity, warm personality and ease in the kitchen

make her a pleasure to work with. Gather your people and leave the cooking to her. For more on her services, including boutique events and custom meal preparation, visit thesaltedapron.com.

BOWMAN’S STOVE & PATIO is a 44-year-old family-owned business located in Ephrata that specializes in outdoor furniture, gas fireplaces, wood stoves and gas and charcoal grills. They have over 100 patio furniture sets on display all year and over 40 burning displays of stoves, fireplaces and fireplace inserts. Bowman’s also has their own install crews that perform all installations.

Modern and transitional-style fireplaces – such as linear gas fireplaces, which are much wider than they are tall – are gaining in popularity. Gas fireplaces

Deliciously Creative In-Home Culinary Services

instagram.com/thesaltedapron • 717-877-2059 • thesaltedapron.com

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LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

Black

now have many other options besides traditional log sets. You can now choose from glass beads, river rock, driftwood, white birch logs, etc.

Bowman’s advises you to shop early if you want to have a new stove or fireplace installed this winter. Worldwide raw material shortages and shipping delays are causing many products to have longer lead times than normal.

With so many challenges presented over the past year and a half, where to put your “stuff” shouldn’t be one of them.

Juggling new responsibilities, such as working and schooling from home and exploring new gardening or home-gym hobbies, can take up valuable space in your home and on your property.

The addition of a backyard shed from FOX COUNTRY SHEDS, available in a variety of sizes and styles (and budgets), can solve not only your storage needs but also some of these new challenges. A new shed can easily be converted into a home gym or a quiet home office, just steps away from the bustle of the household. The Rancher Shed’s extra-tall height is the perfect storage solution for your new garden tools, or even pool equipment for that staycation your family has been enjoying. Whatever your current storage needs are, adding an attractive “Fox Shed” will not only add valuable storage space to your home but will enhance the exterior of your property, as well.

As fall arrives, trust A. LANE LIVING to refresh your outdoor-living spaces with quality polywood furniture, handmade in Pennsylvania. All products come in a variety of colors and are made from polywood, which is a lowmaintenance wood alternative made from recycled plastic milk and detergent bottles.

Owner Betsy Grady grew up spending a lot of time in her family’s furniture store and learned the importance of a strong work ethic and attention to customer satisfaction. Betsy parlayed those skills into opening A. Lane Living last year. Their new storefront, located at 1 South Market Street in Mount Joy, opened in mid-August and offers a variety of outdoor furniture and décor. Browse their selection of tables, chairs, rockers, planters and more online at alaneliving.com. Check out their website for new store hours!

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B A L AYA G E COLOR CORRECTION HAIR COLOR HAIR EXTENSIONS

Want a fresh look this fall? Whether you are in need of a quick touch-up, glamorous blowout or a blissful body treatment, a visit to GLAMOUR ROOM will make you feel brand new.

Glamour Room is an Aveda salon featuring vegan and crueltyfree products. Located on North Duke Street in downtown Lancaster, it is the premier salon for special occasion hairstyling, skincare, esthetic services and makeup. Update your look with the latest beauty trends, including balayage hair coloring, HaloCouture extensions or a lash lift.

Owner Bobbi Nicole Bentzel has been making people feel their best since 2004. “After going to school, taking extensive classes and working in Los Angeles, New York City and Philadelphia, I wanted to bring what I learned from the big cities back home,” Bobbi Nicole says. Visit lancasterglam.com to book your appointment or purchase a gift certificate to pamper a loved one.

Visit SPOOKY NOOK FARM for a perfect fall day in Lancaster County. Hang out with their many llamas and alpacas, as well as their sheep and horses, and learn all about the beautiful creatures. The farm breeds, shows and sells the animals, so they will be sure to answer any questions you may have. Spooky Nook Farm is excited to announce that they are now the first Lancaster County farm to breed 100% Valais Blacknose sheep, also known as “the world’s cutest sheep!”

The farm offers tours of the property and llama walks for all ages. To visit Spooky Nook Farm, schedule an appointment, which they can personalize to your needs. They welcome schools and small groups, as well as birthday parties and special events on the farm. Be sure to visit their farm boutique, Pamela’s She Shed, for clothing, candles and much more! Call 717-459-3414 to schedule your visit and discuss how Spooky Nook Farm can make your experience unforgettable.

HALO EXTENSIONS MAKE UP LASH LIFTS FA C I A L S (13 different kinds) WA X I N G We Use Natural & Organic Products

420 N Duke St., Lancaster 717-299-4349 • Lancasterglam.com

• FARM STORE • PRIVATE EVENTS • FARM TOURS • LLAMA WALKS 462 Weidler Lane, Manheim, Pa. 17545 • 717-459-3414

W W W. S P O O K Y N O O K FA R M . C O M LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

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FOODOGR APHER Fair Fare

Fair CHANCES TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY JORDAN BUSH

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Fair season is back! All across Lancaster County, competitors will be vying for those treasured blue ribbons. Folks take their food seriously and on the periphery, there’s always that reoccurring question: what makes for a strong fair entry? What are the food judges looking for and evaluating and what makes a winning entry? I was offered a behind-the-scenes look as judges at the Solanco and Ephrata fairs evaluated food submissions and offered advice on the many dos and don’ts that apply to creating a winning entry.

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W

hen asked to name their favorite episode, fans of The Andy Griffith Show often point to The Pickle Story. Aunt Bee, of course, was known as an excellent cook – except when it came to making pickles! For her 12th try at creating the perfect pickle for the county fair, she was determined to beat the perennial winner, Clara Johnson, who just happened to be her best friend.

With each test run, Andy, Opie and Barney Fife were invited to critique the resulting pickles. They lied and told Aunt Bee that her pickles were delicious but when she was out of earshot, they described the pickles as “kerosene cucumbers.”

On the day of the competition, all eyes were riveted on the judges whose reactions were in line with the kerosene description.

In the end, Clara won the contest and Aunt Bee graciously congratulated her … and vowed to try again next year.

Above: The Hoffman Building at the Solanco Fairgrounds is closed to the public while judging for produce, canned products and baked goods takes place.

A Rich Tradition

Below: Martha Zepp, food safety program assistant, judges canned products at the 2019 Solanco Fair.

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On a picturesque, late-summer morning in Quarryville, I immediately sensed I was walking into a rich, local tradition. It’s a gorgeous area of the county that I don’t often visit. In fact, it was my first time visiting the Solanco Fair. Raised in New Holland, whose fair is usually held the first week in October, it seemed warm for fair weather.

The building hosting food exhibits whirled with activity. First, I said hello to Martha Zepp of Penn State Extension’s Lancaster office, who was settling in at the jam and jelly table. I later spent much of the morning practically participating in the judging process with Martha in an effort to learn how it’s done.

I then made a beeline towards the baked goods section, where I met Elaine Knight, one of the many volunteers assisting in the judging process. While Elaine no longer submits for judging, she is one of three generations in her family who specialize in baking apple pies. According to Elaine, she’s been helping at the Solanco Fair for “46 years, missing once in 1981.”

She goes on to explain that she skipped 1981 because of the imminent birth of her son. “He came late, anyway,” says Elaine.

Anticipating her absence from the fair, she had asked a friend, Doris Aument, to step in for her. Doris hasn’t missed a year since then, either.

There is an incredible sense of community and pride here. Folks take off work to volunteer and compete. Traditions have been passed down from generation to generation. At every turn, someone

has a shared connection or history. With the exception of secret family pie recipes, they offer much to learn from and it’s not merely about food, but about local history and the people who live in the Southern End. These many folks offered to pull back the curtain to offer insights to entrants hoping to improve their submissions and their chances of winning a ribbon.

TO GO WITH the insights of the many volunteers, there was much to learn simply by observing judges at the Solanco Fair and a week later at the Ephrata Fair.

Judging takes place behind closed doors where food is evaluated by category, picked apart, sampled and evaluated by small panels of volunteer judges. They were also kind enough to answer every question I posed.

Because many of them represent multiple Penn State Extension offices, their position in the food world makes for knowledgeable judging. As a bonus, they offer on-site information on safe (and tasty) scientifically tested food preservation methods at the fairs.

Hopefully, their knowledge and insight will inspire you or someone in your family to elevate or even start a fun, annual tradition of competing at community fairs.

Baked goods are ready for judging, exhibit and sale at the 2019 Solanco Fair. The fair’s four special categories include the Blue Ribbon Apple Pie, Pennsylvania’s INCREDIBLE! Angel Food Cake, Homemade Chocolate Cake and PA Preferred Junior Baking contests. A small sample of each item is judged, with the larger portion packaged for public sale in the Hoffman Building, splitting the proceeds between the Solanco Fair and the Quarryville Fire Company.

Canning Dos and Don’ts Have you ever visited the food exhibits at a community fair and wondered how an entry wins a blue ribbon? Believe me, where canning is concerned, a lot of work goes into presenting those colorful jars! What follows are some tips to create an award-worthy entry.

Jars should be clean and free of residue and adhesive labels. Hot, soapy water, rubbing alcohol or Goo Gone work wonders to remove labels, permanent marker ink and adhesive residue.

Lids should have a fingertip tight seal from a pressure canner, water-bath canner or atmospheric-steam canning process, depending on the recipe. After a seal forms, remove rings and wipe clean and dry, free of rust. If a ring has rust, discard it. You would be amazed at how often entries have rusty lids or old labels.

Volunteers take on the sweet work of judging baked goods at the 2019 Solanco Fair.

Martha Zepp judges jellies at the 2019 Solanco Fair.

Entries prepared using an openkettle canning method will not reach temperatures high enough to kill harmful pathogens or to form a strong sealing lid. Seal strength will be tested and entries with a weak seal (or altogether lacking one) will be eliminated from LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

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the competition, as the food is not safe enough to judge on flavor.

Keep jars upright when canning; turning them upside down offers no processing benefit or better seal. In one instance, a jar of jelly was turned upside down while cooling and incorrectly developed headspace at the bottom of the jar. There is no need to turn jars upside down for a seal to form.

Penn State Extension’s Nancy Wiker, extension educator, and Andy Hirneisen, senior extension educator of food safety & quality, judge an assortment of jellies at the 2019 Ephrata Fair.

Top canned entries at the 2019 Ephrata Fair.

Nailing the proper amount of headspace is an easy box to check and should not be overlooked. Don’t overfill your jars! That extra space isn’t stingy; it ensures a clean seal in the canning process and it looks attractive.

When entering a product, be sure it is properly labeled and entered in the correct category. You don’t want to miss out on it being judged in the proper category, such as entering a jelly into a jam category.

Due to the work involved in canning, you will likely end up with many filled jars, so take care to select one that meets all of the above qualifications. In contests where appearance and process are judged, missing more than one visual or processing criteria is a quick path to elimination.

Jams and jellies are taste-tested by judges, so flavor and consistency factor into the winning entries. I taste-tested sumac jelly, which has a curious, tangy flavor. I’m now a fan. Note: Edible sumac is red (Staghorn) sumac, where as poison sumac is yellow, white and gray.

If a category has many submissions, only the best in presentation with a strong seal and proper headspace will be taste-tested, as they otherwise would not earn enough points to place.

Canned vegetables, meats and soups are judged on appearance only. They are lowacid foods and have the risk of botulism.

Fair-goers await the sale of baked goods following judging in Ephrata.

Proceeds benefit the Ephrata Fair.

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Fruit and vegetable preparation is everything and this is a situation where the judge makes a difference. For example, if canned properly, using a scientifically tested, food-safe method, white cherries darken from heat. While a lighter, blanched appearance looks aesthetically pleasing, it is superficial. This came up time and again in conversation among the judges, as the food is not fully preserved. Were I to prepare a submission, I would submit darker vegetables prepared true to the intent of showcasing home-grown produce.

Some participants submit dozens of entries. They often use custom, self-inking stamps to swiftly fill out entry tags at each fair. A single canning session with enough yield can easily be spread out across multiple fairs and winning entries can rack up earnings. For all the work that goes into canning, there is a case to be made for entering in multiple contests. This is fine, so long as subsequent entries are not made under the false pretense of someone else’s name for double the chance of winning a prize.

Baked Goods I think you’ll agree, where judging is concerned, this has to be a “sweet” assignment. Pies, cakes, cookies and other sweets not only look tasty but some of them are just gorgeous to look at. Unlike specific canning categories, baked goods are always evaluated on taste by a panel of judges.

Some tips to follow: Cookies comprising an entry should be uniform in shape, size and consistency.

Don’t overdo it with chocolate chips – try to keep the numbers uniform. Bake more than you need, and select the nicest from each batch. If you have too many “seconds,” I know someone who will gladly take them off your hands.

I understand some fairs auction off the leftover baked goods after judging.

In Ephrata, the remaining cookies, pie and cake slices are sold to the community promptly at the end of judging.

There will be a crowd queued outside, so don’t hesitate. Funds raised benefit the Ephrata Fair Association.

Look for secondary categories where your entry might be eligible. For example, you can double your chances with a category such as “PA Preferred.” If your ingredient list is made with all PA Preferred ingredients – products made within the state and produced by members of the program – you may be able to enter a second plate from the same batch. Using PA Preferred apples, milk, butter, eggs, etc., your apple pie could have double the chances of taking home a prize.

Divide and conquer by freezing. If your baked goods hold up to being frozen, one large batch can be divided and submitted to multiple fair competitions.

As with canning, some highly organized

participants have custom self-inking rubber stamps for signing multiple entries checking in at multiple fairs.

If you happen to bake a blue-ribbon winning apple pie at your local fair, you might go on to the Pennsylvania Farm Show in January. The Blue Ribbon Apple Pie Contest is a serious endeavor with specific criteria, where qualifying bakers earn their entry by winning a preliminary competition at a local fair. Sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs, rules can be found at farmshow.pa.gov.

Personal Observations I’d love to see new incentives created that encourage junior submissions. While the number of entries remains steady across most fairs, the number of entrants tends to be on the decline. To carry the tradition forward, I’d like to see a random or honorable-mention awardee in a junior category be given the opportunity to learn and/or prepare a recipe with a local small business. Or, provide him or her with a seat at a Penn State Extension workshop.

Offer a mid-summer workshop to the public on baking or safe canning methods in your town.

The original idea of canning was to preserve home-grown produce and not buy it at a supermarket or farm stand.

This isn’t feasible for everyone, but the intention is sound. Were I to make the rules, I’d want the option to award bonus points if an entry supplies a photograph of the home-grown produce used in canning (without identifying anyone).

Something multiple judges commented on is that some contests require recipes/ directions for canned-food submissions.

Unlike a pie recipe, there’s no family secret to the canning process and it needs to be done safely. Even if everyone used the same recipe, the quality of the produce and of the canning process will lead to major differences in each entry.

Canning is a great way of preserving fresh, home-grown food, but there is an exact science to it. Safe canning methods, particularly in low-acid foods, should be encouraged for the safety of the judges. For those who say they’ve used untested recipes or wax seals for years without issue, it’s a matter of luck. Penn State Extension, whose staff often serve as judges at local fair contests, offers

scientifically tested recipes at their office, online (extension.psu.edu/lets-preserve) and at their workshops held throughout the year.

Add experience levels for popular categories. It would be exciting to see a professional baking category added. Local bakers could submit larger entries, which could be sold as fundraisers after judging like the other submissions. Bakeries would have an objective claim to fame in the community until the next year.

Special thanks to the folks at the Solanco and Ephrata fairs for inviting me to your community events in 2019. Best of luck with your return in 2021!

2021 Fair Schedule After a year’s hiatus because of Covid, Lancaster County’s fairs are back on schedule in 2021. Some may not be fully up to speed because of the pandemic, but the community aspect of celebrating the county’s agricultural heritage, enjoying delicious food and engaging in friendly competition will no doubt be on display.

• ELIZABETHTOWN FAIR: August 23-28. Entries accepted Monday, August 23. Etownfair.org • DENVER FAIR: September 14-18.

Entries accepted Monday, September 13.

Thedenverfair.com • SOLANCO FAIR: September 15-17.

Entries accepted Tuesday, September 14.

Solancofair.org • EPHRATA FAIR: September 21-25.

Entries accepted Monday, September 20.

Ephratafair.org • WEST LAMPETER COMMUNITY FAIR: September 22-24. Entries accepted Tuesday, September 21. Westlampeterfair.com • NEW HOLLAND FAIR: September 29-October 2. Newhollandfair.org • MANHEIM COMMUNITY FARM SHOW: October 4-8. Manheimfarmshow.org

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.

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TA B L E

for T W O

The coffee and tea menu is extensive.

COFFEE AND CREAM

Ice cream selections include flavors from Hershey’s and Beck’s.

Coffee, Ice Cream and More As you might guess from the name, Coffee and Cream features coffee and ice cream. However, that’s just the beginning. As you will discover, there’s so much more to this eatery that’s located just a short walk from the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail.

BY ROCHELLE A. SHENK | PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK GOULD

T

his gem of an eatery in Columbia was opened in October 2019 by Megan and Jim Groff, who also are part-owners of Union Station Grill, where Jim serves as the general manager.

Coffee and Cream makes its home in what was originally a Pennsylvania Railroad passenger station. Megan reports that the building once served as a manufacturing facility for Lasko fans and was a machine shop before it was vacated. “It sat vacant for a couple of decades,” she explains.

“Jim always liked the building, which is across from the boat ramp. We live in town and would come in from a day of boating and see the building – he would say it might be a great little place where

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people could stop by after boating or hiking the trail and get an ice cream treat,” she explains.

The building is near the southern terminus of the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail and across from Columbia Crossings River Trails Center, a visitor/education center and trailhead for the popular trail. “We have people coming in after walking or biking the trail. We also have ‘regulars’ who stop in for coffee in the morning. A coffee shop is an everyday thing for a lot of people,” Megan says.

THE LIGHT AND AIRY SPACE is distinguished by a white-and-turquoise color scheme, high ceilings, large windows

and an understated industrial-chic design aesthetic. The café has seating for about 28 indoors. The main seating area shares space with the service counter where guests place orders, select pastries or grab a drink from the reach-in. A long wooden banquette with tables and chairs is on the wall opposite the service counter. There are also several free-standing tables with chairs. A hand-painted mural on the wall over the banquette was created by a local artist and artwork from local artists adorns the walls throughout the café.

A smaller dining area contains a hightop table and chairs and two casual chairs, as well as a bin filled with toys and books for young visitors. The long front porch serves as an outdoor seating area. There’s also a walk-up window on the front porch.

“We put the take-out window in during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Megan says.

“It’s something we thought about doing when we opened, but didn’t have the time to do it then. It’s convenient for people coming off the trail – sometimes you’re hot and sweaty and don’t want to go inside a restaurant to order.”

COFFEE AND CREAM serves both Hershey’s and Beck’s (a premium, handcrafted ice cream produced in York) ice cream, as well as Achenbach’s pastries and Mr. Sticky’s sticky buns. “They’re all local products, and we like to focus on local,” Megan says, describing the menu as “simple classics; items like your kitchen at home.”

Breakfast fare includes baked oatmeal, creamed chipped beef, loaded hash browns, biscuit sandwich, breakfast panini and croissant-wich (bacon or sausage, egg, and American cheese on a house-baked croissant). Lunch items include a variety of paninis (including a “build your own”), cobb salad, classic or Waldorf chicken salad, quiche and grilled cheese among others.

Fresh soup, small salad and fruit cup are among the sides.

Hot drinks include coffee, latte, café au lait, chai latte, cappuccino, Ghirardelli hot cocoa and teabased drinks such as London Fog and Parisian Mist. Cold drinks include freshbrewed iced tea, iced cold-brew coffee, iced latte, fruit smoothies, frappes, milkshakes, ice cream floats and fountain soda.

“You can tell the weather in Columbia by what menu items are popular that day. When it’s hot, smoothies, shakes and ice cream are top sellers,” Megan says. “On the weekends, people come in for our breakfast sandwiches and quiches. During the week, some people get coffee and a breakfast sandwich to go.”

Coffee and Cream makes its home in a former railway station that is a short walk away from the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail.

Lunchtime choices include soup and sandwiches such as chicken salad croissant.

Bakery items are provided by Achenbach’s and Mr. Sticky’s.

Coffee and Cream is located at 101 North Front Street, Columbia. Hours after Labor Day are Monday through Friday, 6 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, call 717-449-5488 or visit coffee-and-cream-coffee-shop. business.site and on Facebook and Instagram. Take-out is available; order online at clover.com/online-ordering/ coffee-and-cream-columbia.

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HONG KONG GARDEN CHINESE RESTAURANT 1807 Columbia Avenue, Wheatland Shopping Center, Lancaster. 717-394-4336.

Our chefs have been serving Lancaster Countians their favorite entrées for 41 years. To add variety, they are always creating new and exciting specials.

Vegetable entrées and children’s menu available. We offer lavish lunch and dinner menus, made with quality, fresh ingredients, for dine-in or take-out. Hours: Sun., 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m; closed Mon.; Tues.-Thurs., 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri., 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sat., 12-10 p.m.

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The B U S I N E S S A D V A N T A G E Beverage Distributor JOHN A. ZERN & SONS BEVERAGE 202 South Charlotte Street, Manheim. 717-665-2233. Zernsbeverage.com.

John A. Zern & Sons Beverage specializes in beer and beverage sales and service and has been serving the Lancaster region since 1948.

They provide beverage setups for weddings, banquets and other events and work with a number of venues across Lancaster and Lebanon counties.

Carpet Cleaner CERTIFIED CARPET 1855 Columbia Avenue, Wheatland Shopping Center, Lancaster.

717-394-3731 or 1-800-479-9258.

Certified Carpet can make your soiled, dirty carpets and furniture look like NEW again! Year after year, Certified Carpet is voted No. 1 BEST carpet-cleaning company by the readers of Lancaster County Magazine. Locally owned and operated since 1949. “When it’s Certified, you’re satisfied!” (#PA024067)

Electrical STEPHEN M. DANIELS ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS, INC.

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REWIRING FOR OLDER HOMES IS OUR SPECIALTY. Specializing in updating your older home for today’s needs! We can install a single receptacle or rewire the whole building. Our goal is to install wiring without cutting holes that need to be patched and painted. Indoor and outdoor lighting, dedicated computer circuits, telephone lines, ceiling fans, heavy-duty appliances lines. (#PA008272)

Fashions NEXT TO NEW FINE CLOTHING 1920 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster. 717-299-2924.

Consistently voted one of the BEST consignment shops in Lancaster County year after year, Next to New Fine Clothing Consignment has something for everyone’s style, taste and budget. This one-stop shop offers women’s apparel, shoes, accessories, jewelry and more.

Sizes 0-3x. Closed Sundays. Follow Next to New on Facebook @ NextToNew1920.

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GALEBACH’S FLOOR FINISHING, INC. 202 Main Street, Landisville. 717-898-9680.

Galebachsfloorfinishing.com.

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)

Hair & Nail Care ATTITUDES HAIR & NAIL SALON 798A New Holland Avenue, Lancaster.

717-295-0836.

For over 20 years, our mission is helping you LOVE your hair and nails! We specialize in trendy and traditional hair design, refreshing color, brightening highlights and perms for added style.

Rejuvenate your hands and feet with relaxing manicures and pedicures. THANK YOU for trusting us to help you look and feel your best and voting us ‘Among the Best’ salons in 2020. Call us to schedule your appointment.

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

(PA#007777)

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

NE X T TO NEW FINE CLOTHING Looking for sustainable, quality clothing at affordable prices? Located on Lincoln Highway East, just outside of Lancaster City and only minutes from PA Dutch Country attractions, Next to New Fine Clothing is a one-stop shop for women’s apparel, shoes, accessories, jewelry and more. Next to New Fine Clothing has been consistently voted one of the best consignment shops in Lancaster County year after year. The store offers an extensive selection for every preference, style and taste. Explore two floors filled with like-new items, many of which are from designer brands like Michael Kors, Coach, Dooney & Burke and Anthropologie, among many others. Fall items began arriving in August, so it’s the perfect time to stop in and update your fall wardrobe!

Interested in consigning? Next to New Fine Clothing accepts consignments by appointment only. Items must be clean, in season and ready-to-wear. They accept sizes 0-3x. The merchandise will be displayed at the store for three months. After that period, consignors will receive a check for 40% of any items sold. For more information, call 717-299-2924 or follow them on Facebook @NextToNew1920.

Real Estate LUSK & ASSOCIATES SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY Anne Lusk represents the area’s finest properties and gives unmatched customer service for all your real estate needs from start to finish, ensuring a smooth transaction every time. Call Anne and her team at 717-291-9101, or stop by her office at 100 Foxshire Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601. Annelusk.com.

MOUNTAIN REALTY, LLC 2938 Columbia Avenue, Suite 602, Lancaster. 717-390-8701. Mountainrealtyllc.com.

Offering superior real estate service to anyone relocating to or moving within the garden spot of Lancaster County. The people of Mountain Realty, LLC are extremely knowledgeable about the county and would love to share their expertise. You will find them pleasant and friendly, but totally professional.

Retirement THE GROVES 103 West Main Street, Ephrata. 717-733-2040. Thegroveshome.net.

The Groves is a personalized retirement home offering community independence and peace of mind. Housed in an elegantly restored Victorian home, The Groves accommodates a limited number of residents who prefer to not reside in a large retirement facility. Full personal care at independent living prices with no entrance fee!

LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

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It’s a Beautiful Day WITH KRISTY AURAND

Imagine Covid doesn’t exist and you have a day off from work. You are free to spend the day doing exactly as you please. Inspired by U2’s It’s a Beautiful Day – “It’s a beautiful day, don’t let it get away” – we asked Kristy Aurand to describe her perfect Lancaster County day.

ABOUT KRISTY Born and raised in Lancaster, Kristy is a graduate of Manheim Township High School.

She earned a degree in government and political affairs from Millersville University.

Her career path has taken her from LNP (Lancaster Newspapers) as an editorial clerk, reporter and marketing coordinator to sales positions with the Lancaster Barnstormers and the Lancaster Chamber.

Today, she is the chief development officer at Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County (CAP), where she leads fundraising and friendraising efforts.

Kristy is married to Adam Aurand and is mom to daughter Kylar, and the family dogs, Sally (mutt) and Lucy (corgi). She is also an avowed wine enthusiast!

LOVING WINE! Kristy credits her love of wine to Adam. “When I met him in my early 20s, my Sunday afternoon ritual included eating Pizza Hut pizza paired with white zinfandel in a coffee mug,” she recalls. “He had gone to Ithaca College in the Finger Lakes region and encouraged me to branch out and try new wines.” The Aurands have continued to branch out where wine is concerned. “We love trying wines that are local to wherever we’re traveling – some of which are better than others,” Kristy says. “Virginia wine, for example, is much better than Georgia wine. Texas wine is surprisingly good. Some of my very favorite New World wines come from Oregon, Washington and South Africa.

Nothing beats France in the Old World!”

RED, WHITE OR ROSÉ?

“If I’m drinking wine with a meal, it all depends on the food pairing! If I’m enjoying a glass by itself, and it’s between the months of May and September, it will always be rosé,” Kristy reports. “Outside of rosé season, I generally prefer red over white, although I believe I’ve developed a touch of an allergy to red – it sometimes gives me a headache if I enjoy too much.”

MOST INTERESTING WINE EVENT SHE’S ATTENDED “That would have to be the Harrisburg

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LANCASTER COUNTY | SEPTEMBER 2021

Wine Festival, no question,” says Kristy. “It is put together by the state system - Fine Wine & Good Spirits. There are more than 100 winemakers who pour more than 600 wines from all over the world.

In 2018, I had the chance to taste a Penfolds Grange, which retails for $800/bottle! Due to the pandemic, the event was canceled in both 2020 and 2021, but I’m super hopeful it will be back in 2022.”

BUCKET LIST WINERY For Kristy, it would be Chateau Miraval in the southern French region of Provence. “Not only do they produce one of my favorite rosés, but there’s always the chance that Brad [Pitt] or Angelina [Jolie] will be there,” she says of the winery’s celebrity owners. (Kristy better hurry: Jolie has initiated legal proceedings to sell it.)

WHAT ROLE DOES CAP PLAY IN THE COMMUNITY? “CAP works to transform generational poverty into economic prosperity so that all can thrive,” Kristy explains. “Best known for the individual programs we administer – Head Start, WIC, Domestic Violence Services, among others – CAP annually serves 40,000 people in Lancaster County, as they work to attain economic empowerment. On a systems level, we partner across sectors to dismantle policies and practices that work against the economic prosperity the families we serve are looking to achieve. As chief development officer, I am responsible for setting organizational fundraising strategy to ensure our customers have access to the resources they need.”

IN HER OWN WORDS: KRISTY’S PERFECT LANCASTER COUNTY DAY My perfect Lancaster County day would start with sleeping in and enjoying a leisurely amount of time to wake up. Then Adam, Kylar and I would head to Central

Market for a smoothie at Lancaster Juice Company and a treat from Shady Maple Bakery (they have a gluten-free section now!). We’d buy some cheese from S. Clyde Weaver and then drive to Manheim to visit Waltz Vineyards. We’re wine club members, so we get free tastings any time we want!

After a tasting, we’d buy a bottle of wine – preferably rosé – and take our cheese from market out to Waltz’s beautiful lawn area, which seems to overlook basically all of Lancaster County! We’d enjoy our wine, our daughter would play with Lucy, the resident border collie, and we’d take lots of pictures.

Next, we’d treat our dogs to an adventure. Both Sally (a complete mutt and the sweetest dog) and Lucy (purebred corgi and exceptionally sassy) love to go to the Manheim Township Dog Park, so we’d take them there to play with their friends.

Back at home, we’d “get fancy” (as my daughter would say), and head to one of my favorite Lancaster County restaurants.

It’s simply too hard to choose, but it would either be Citronnelle, C’est La Vie or El Toro Barbacoa. All have delightful options for outdoor dining, as well as some of the most delicious options for gluten-free food around, a lot of which is sourced locally.

Oh, and we’d drink wine!

MEET OUR BAKERY SHADY MAPLE SHADY MAPLE BAKERY REGULARLY OFFERS MORE THAN 200 VARIETIES OF FROM-SCRATCH BAKED GOODS. HERE AT MARKET, THEY’RE MOST FAMOUS FOR THEIR AMISH COUNTRY WHOOPIE PIES, FRESH-BAKED DONUTS, AND PIES.

TUESDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY 6 AM 3 PM

I HAVE SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT “I greet my young students at the door with a big smile every morning, and I send them home with a smile at the end of the day. A teacher’s smile, or lack of one, can set the tone for her classroom. A reassuring smile lets my little ones know that I care, and they are welcome.

But, my smile needed some help! I was so happy to have found Dr. Weierbach and his staff. Together they have helped me achieve a brighter, more attractive smile that helps me feel more confident. And that’s something to smile about!

Thank you, Dr. Weierbach.”

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.

- JOANNE BACON Third Grade Teacher

160 North Pointe Boulevard Suite 203 / Lancaster, PA 17601 717.560.9190 YourClassicSmile.com

Specialists in Cosmetic, Restorative & Implant Dentistry