Balance Magazine – Spring Issue 2023

SPRING ISSUE 2023

Bank Failur es and the Market

Bank Failures?

After the recent bank failures, there is a lot going on in markets and the economy. Over the last few weeks, several banks have collapsed under the pressure of bad management, high interest rates, portfolio losses and a run of depositor withdrawals. This has caused regulators, governments and other major financial institutions to take over troubled banks and guarantee deposits And ABC News reported that Silicon Valley Bank, the first to fall, had been under regulatory review by the Federal Reserve for more than a year due to the very issues that triggered its collapse.

A possible silver lining of these failures is that other small institutions may be scrutinizing their books and reassessing their strategies to avoid a similar fate.

Will these bank failures trigger a recession?

There is no simple answer From the government perspective, it doesn’t look like these problems are big enough to threaten the overall economy. In fact, banks fail almost every year without triggering serious problems. According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 563 banks have failed since 2001.

Employers could curb hiring, and Americans may grow fearful of spending. With stricter lending standards and the increased cost of loans due to higher interest rates, the end result could be slower economic activity.

The markets:

After giving in to fear and selling off, global markets rebounded when regulators and central banks stepped in to stabilize the situation.

The Fed hiked interest rates a quarter of a point at their most recent meeting and indicated that they might pause increases later this year. Markets may have reacted positively to the news, with hopes of an end to higher interest rates, but more volatility will not be surprising.

Bottom line: There’s a lot going on in the world, and markets are caught in a whipsaw of good news and bad. Economic cycles are normal for a healthy economy.

Michael Zimmerman, M.Sc. IAR

Presi den t & Fo unde r

6 Home Jed Reinert

Is your TV too high? We enlist the help of an interior designer to make sure you aren’t making mistakes that could turn your living room into a Reddit meme.

12 Travel Mike Andrelczyk

Who is the Blonde Coyote? She’s Mar y Caperton Morton, a Stras burg native who has taken up a noma dic lifestyle in a camper van, traveling the countr y and blogging about her journeys.

20 Fashion Katina Kauffman

With airlines losing checked luggage and flights getting delayed, is it possible to pa ck for your va cation using just your carr y-on? We say yes!

26 Wellness Sally Reynolds

“Ear Seeding ” may sound weird, but some folks swear by this new remedy that’s related to acupressure.

32 Characters Mike Andrelczyk

Nicki the turtle may seem like an unusual pet, but the yellow-bellied slider has been part of her owner ’s life for a whopping 70 years.

BALANCE MAGAZINE

We made it to spring! I am glad to have the windows open to hear the birds and see the flowers blooming, even at the risk of all the allergies. While we didn’t have much of a winter, it still always feels like it’s been so long since we’ve had warm, sunny days I know at our house we are ready to get out and do new things, travel a bit, and hopefully welcome a new puppy to the family soon. I was fascinated by our cover story, because that type of travel allows you to see more and for the puppy to tag along, too. I don’t know that an RV is in our future, but our annual trip to Cape May, NJ, certainly is. This issue also features some great tips on how to travel light, a little wellness and a fascinating perspective on your TV placement. Plus, you’ll meet an amazing turtle named Nicki. Thank you so much for reading our spring issue!

Lindsey McCallum | Editor-in-Chief | LMcCallum@lnpnews.com

Published by

President: Caroline Muraro

Editor-in-Chief: Lindsey McCallum

Art Direction: Andrew Albright

Content Editor: Jed Reinert

Design: Jenny Althouse, Krystal Hummer, Allie Miller, Amy Rodriguez, Christine Vernon, Bailey Watro

Photography: Andrew Albright, Quinn Staley, Vinny Tennis

Writers: Mike Andrelczyk, Margaret Gates, Katina Kauffman, Jed Reinert, Sally Reynolds

Advertising Director: Chris Stahl

Production: Rachel Brown, Angela Faust, Erica Feltenberger

Subscriptions to LNP|LancasterOnline: Call 717.291.8611

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P.O. Box 1328, Lancaster, PA 17608-1328

Copyright © 2023 LNP Media Group Inc. All Rights Reserved.

ON THE COVER

Molly Lueke, Becky Goodman, Andrew Porter, Lynda Evans, Kar yn Miller, Ann Hinkle, Zach Miller, Luke Mosch

Photo by Mary Caperton Morton

Mary Caperton Morton, aka the Blonde Coyote, stands in the doorway of her camper van in this photo taken in Montana.

Photo by Ryan McCallum

ALTITUD E

“Now that I’ve seen it,” I thought, staring at photos of a vacation home some friends had rented in upstate New York, “I can’t unsee it.”

It was a gorgeous rental, but in the living room the TV was just too high.

There it was, mounted mere inches from the ceiling, a black rectangle looming over an otherwise attractive space like some kind of alien invader

And it wasn’t just that vacation home – I found myself checking the height of TVs everywhere.

The waiting room at my doctor ’s office? Too high.

At the local pub? Too high but perhaps that one is excusable.

The living room in a friend’s new home? Too high. (But did I say anything about it to her? Offer any suggestions? Reader, I did not I didn’t want to be THAT guy.)

Why had I become so focused, so obsessed with the relative elevation of television sets?

The answer to that was simple: I had discovered a page on Reddit called “TVTooHigh.”

REINHAR US TIONS JED REINHART | ILLUSTRATIONS BY BAILEY WATRO

How a Re ddit pag e of home décor fa ils made me obsessi ve about TV placemen t

“If you mount them too high, your neck gets sore from looking up. It’s like you’re in the front row of a movie theater.”

Kelly Munchel of KM Interiors

Launched in 2019, the subreddit is exactly what the name implies: A massive collection of user-submitted photos of TVs that are mounted too high.

It’s almost absurdly specific, and almost absurdly popular – TVTooHigh has more than 118,000 members, placing it in the top one percent of all Reddit pages by size. And that doesn’t take into account all of the casual browsers like me, who visit from time to time but aren’t members.

TVTooHigh is funny, to be sure, but even in its specificity, it speaks to a broader point: For some reason, in this era of Instagram-ready home aesthetics and “vibes,” we absolutely love to laugh at other people’s failed projects and poor choices

Why is that?

To help answer that question and to learn how one positions a TV so it doesn’t look ridiculous – I spoke to Kelly Munchel of KM Interiors.

Munchel is a degreed interior designer who has been designing residential and commercial spaces and consulting with clients on décor questions small and large for more than a decade.

“A lot of people can relate to it,” she says of the tendency to gawk at terrible design decisions. “They see their own issues.”

And there’s also something encouraging about seeing a home that looks worse than yours – “I’m not as bad as I thought I was,” as Munchel puts it.

For an interior designer such as herself, there’s also the fact that she’s constantly thinking about how to make spaces better or more attractive.

“If I’m out to eat, I think ‘What would I have done’” with the décor, she says “In the waiting room at the doctor ’s office, I redo (the space) in my head.”

That said, Munchel does her best not to be judgmental:

“Common sense is a gift not given to everyone. And that’s OK.”

That lack of common sense is especially obvious when looking at something like TVTooHigh, where some examples seem not only unattractive but outright dangerous

Which brings us to the question of how to correctly place a TV in a living space.

Munchel says there’s definitely a problem with hanging a screen too high.

“If you mount them too high, your neck gets sore from looking up,” She explains “It’s like you’re in the front row of a movie theater.”

But the most important points to consider are how you use the space and how you use the TV For example, do you watch TV lying down or sitting up?

In addition to height, there are other points to consider.

Glare on a screen is a major problem, so be sure to consider the placement of your TV in relation to light sources in the room.

Getting a TV that’s the right size for the space is important, too – a point Munchel realized in her own living room.

“When we moved into our condo two years ago, the TV was, like, seven feet long,” she says. “WAY too big for the space.”

After removing the giant set and patching up the holes it left in the wall, she opted to place their new, smaller TV over the fireplace – which is an extremely popular solution nowadays, especially in the era of wireless screens

“A TV over the fireplace is very on point right now,” Munchel says. “Entertainment centers are kind of passé.”

But remember the question of size there as well. Many people who opt for a TV mounted over a fireplace choose a set that’s far too large for the fireplace, and the whole arrangement ends up looking top-heavy.

Munchel’s advice is simple: Make sure the TV doesn’t extend past the mantel.

As my conversation with Munchel wound to a close, I asked if she ever feels annoyed by the fact that designers have to always incorporate these awkward black rectangles into spaces that might be more attractive without them.

Her response was succinct and pragmatic: “TV is important to Americans Deal with it.”

Very true.

But when you’re placing that ever-present black screen, please – for the sake of your neck muscles if nothing else – keep it away from the ceiling.

This powder room is wrapped in a custom wallcovering of a stunning photo of the Susquehanna River

AN INT DESI GNER

INTE RIOR GNE R’ S

s be a fact

TVs might be a simple fact of modern life to a designer like Kelly Munchel, but any designer has pet peeves. Here are a few of the ones that bother Munchel the most:

BAD LIGHTING

You need the correct bulb. Some bulbs give a blue hue, which is too cold. And you need to have lamps, chandeliers and pendants that are in proportion with the space.

Y IS

DRAPERY ISSUES

While some people prefer no drapes (sad face) draperies really do warm a space. Even a simple valance can exude warmth. Plus, it’s a nice way to bring color and texture into a room. However, draperies that are too short –just like pants that are too short – are never a good thing.

While some no face), do warm a space. Even a valance warmth. it’s a to color room. However, that are too –like that are – are never a

ARTWORK

Your artwork needs to be the correct size for the wall. I am a fan of ‘if you love it, you will find room,’ however artwork needs to be incorporated the right way. Maybe that could be a gallery wall of many different-sized pieces to create a more pulled-together look.

LARGE ARTIFICIAL PLANTS

A/K/A dust traps. Please, no.

DESTRUCTIVE PETS

I had a customer who barely had furniture – they had a beautiful home, but they said the dogs ruined everything. They weren’t going to get anything new until the pets passed on. I had another customer whose dog ate the sofa (yikes).

Many homeowners believe that carpet is a more economical option for their home flooring, but there are a few important factors to consider.

The average lifespan of carpet is about 10 years – often less if it’s in a high-traffic area where it’s exposed to lots of dirt, grime and other hazards of everyday living.

All that dirt and grime can be difficult to clean. Spills and other substances can seep deep into carpet fibers, making them incredibly hard to remove

Those carpet fibers are also great for trapping pollutants and allergens like dust, dirt, pet dander and particle pollution - many of which can become airborne simply by vacuuming or walking across the floor

Carpet can also harbor dangerous mold, especially when it’s installed in or near areas that can experience moisture or dampness, such as bathrooms, kitchens and entryways.

So what’s the solution? Hardwood flooring.

Hardwood floors clean up easily with a cloth or mop, and with proper care and maintenance they can last a lifetime.

Plus, when it comes to interior remodeling projects that bring that rare combination of satisfaction and great resale value, few can compare to hardwood flooring.

In its most recent Remodeling Impact Report, the National Association of Realtors Research Group found that hardwood floor refinishing and new hardwood floors topped the list when it came to recovered project cost - a percentage calculated by comparing the estimated cost of a home improvement to the likely dollar value it would add to the house on resale.

Refinishing hardwood floors recorded the highest

NO THING BEA TS REAL

WOOD

percentage cost recovered at 147%, with new hardwood floors ranking second at 118%. Perhaps just as important, when it came to the happiness homeowners reported with their renovations, new hardwood flooring and hardwood floor refinishing both had a perfect Joy Score of 10

Whether for cleanliness, durability, health, resale value or pure enjoyment, hardwood flooring from Hardwood Floors of Lancaster is an ideal choice for flooring in your home.

Tom Dux has been bringing the beauty of hardwood floors into Lancaster County homes for 25 years. His work with various flooring companies around the globe inspired him to start his own business, Hardwood Floors of Lancaster, in 2005 Hardwood Floors of Lancaster has consistently offered quality flooring and excellent service at below-market, factorydirect prices That’s one reason Dux named his parent company World’s Best Flooring.

“I have been to most every part of the world,” Dux says “I know where to buy the wood people are looking for, but I buy it

directly from the importer, which saves the consumer They get a better selection, but at a fair price.”

Hardwood Floors of Lancaster carries a diverse line of solid hardwood flooring from some of the best companies in the world. They are also the manufacturer for a line of engineered hardwood flooring at competitive pricing. They sell domestic and exotic woods, hand-scraped floors, custom colors and finishes, and specialty products such as medallions, border inlays, wood tiles with leather, marble or cork inlays

They even have a team of designers who can help you make the right choice for your project. And when it comes to installation, they use finish carpenters as installers to ensure the job is done right.

For those who want to refresh their existing hardwood floors, Hardwood Floors of Lancaster offers Vesting LED, a method that’s free of VOCs and uses LED light to cure the finish in a split-second. With Vesting LED, a 500- to 600-square-foot floor can be completely sanded and refinished in just one day.

BY MIKE ANDRELCZYK

PHOTOS BY MARY CAPERTON MORTON

Road warrior Mary Caperton Morton (aka the Blonde Coyote) has hiked in all 50 states, is on her way to standing on 1,000 summits and has lived a mostly nomadic lifestyle for the past 17 years. For the past eight years, she’s traveled the country in a colorful orange 1990 Toyota Starlight camper truck - one of only 12 made - with the even more colorful name of Jerry Odyssey Americano

Caperton Morton, who blogs about her travels at theblondecoyote.com, (though lately posts more to her Instagram @theblondecoyote) is currently living - at least at the time of this interview - in a cabin 8,400 feet above sea level in the wilderness of Colorado, 40 minutes from the nearest town of Basalt. But she grew up in Strasburg, graduated from Lampeter- Strasburg High School in 2000 and from Franklin & Marshall College where she studied geology and biology in 2005 She went on to earn her master ’s degree in science journalism from Johns Hopkins University. She’s the author of “Aerial Geology ” and “The World’s Best National Parks in 500 Walks” and writes for numerous science, geology and travel magazines.

On her ‘Blonde Coyote’ blog (it’s a trail name she got from a canine companion),

STRASBURG’S BLONDE COYOTE TALKS ABOUT LIVING THE NOMAD LIFE AND HOW TO GET STARTED WITH SIMPLE TRAVELING

Caperton Morton has informative and evocatively titled posts like: “Boondocking 101: How to Camp For Free in Beautiful Places,” “Dead Horses of Dead Horse Point” and “Hiking with Dogs.”

Caperton Morton is the daughter of Holmes and Caroline Morton, founders of the non-profit Clinic For Special Children, which treats people with genetic disorders and was originally established to provide affordable medical services to local Amish and Mennonite communities.

In fact, it was the Amish - a community known for simple and traditional living, who inspired Caperton Morton’s very nontraditional lifestyle.

“We got to spend a lot of time with the Amish community and had lots of Amish friends and neighbors,” says Caperton Morton, 41. “I like to say I learned (from the Amish) that you can live your life any way you want.”

One of the ways Caperton Morton is able to live the way she wants is by earning money doing what she loves: writing and working as a backpacking guide at the Grand Canyon with Explorer Chick - a company that specializes in organizing and leading adventure trips for women. Later in the year, Caperton Morton will lead trips to Yosemite, Yellowstone and along the Inca Trail in South America.

The other key is living simply Many people, Caperton Morton says, think traveling involves spending lots of money.

“I like to say all you need to travel is time and a good pair of shoes,” says Caperton Morton. “There’s so much you can see just out your door. It doesn’t have to be like some big exotic vacation.”

If fact, though she spends a good chunk of her life behind the wheel, as Jerry

This is the water you drink, use for swimming, fishing and boating.

We are your advocates for clean water in the Susquehanna.

Our goal is 300 new members by June 21st to support water testing and pollution tracking for you, and future generations.

Help us keep the river safe by becoming a member today!

Odyssey Americano’s odometer rolls over another thousand miles, Caperton Morton has a simple tip for those looking to travel more.

“My number one travel tip if you want to start traveling, just put on a good pair of shoes and go for a walk and see where you go from there,” says Caperton Morton. “I think taking a long walk every day is like the best thing you can do for yourself. Physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually.”

And when you do decide to get behind the wheel and hit the road, Caperton Morton suggests keeping it simple: Start with short trips and have a good, trustworthy mechanic take a look at any vehicle before you buy it.

Some would-be road-trippers or van-lifers may think they’ll need a tricked-out vehicle. Not so

“You don’t have to sell everything and travel the world with your first adventure,” Caperton Morton says “Just buying a van to take out on weekends is a great place to start.”

In fact, Caperton Morton says some of her favorite road adventures occurred in a Dodge Grand Caravan minivan.

“I called it my stealth camper,” says Caperton Morton. “You can camp or sleep anywhere in that and no one will hassle you. You can camp in any parking lot.”

As far as what to pack, Caperton Morton’s list of essential gear includes a sleeping bag, a tent, portable stove, a titanium pot, a satellite communication device, a headlamp, a first aid kit, a knife, fire starters, extra clothes and water The basic things you’d need to survive if you’re stranded somewhere, she says.

For showers, she says there are typically facilities for travelers at most RV parks though she does have a solar shower on board (basically a bag with a spout that uses the sun to warm up water and can hang from a tree). She carries pepper spray and bear spray, but says she’s always felt safe traveling - even when traveling solo. She says she’s met about a dozen grizzly bears while hiking but has never felt threatened by them.

“Unfortunate things happen in the world but I think people spend too much time and energy entertaining the idea that it’s unsafe to travel, especially for women,” says Caperton Morton.

Caperton Morton’s open attitude of embracing life’s adventures rather than being fearful about what could go wrong is something she brings with her on all her travels.

“I think it’ ally importan recognize that at any moment you change your life,” says Caperton some of the great loves in my life I just happen to cross paths My reaction isn’t to be wary it’s to be open to the idea that I meeting my next greatest teacher next great love.”

For me, the meaning of recovery, and what it looks like, has changed along the way. It has meant different things at different times. In the beginning, it meant finding my light when I was consumed in darkness for so long. It meant facing the storms instead of always running from them. It meant no longer being a prisoner of my own mind and accepting that it was OK to not be OK and to start managing my mental health instead of always trying to drown it all out with drugs and alcohol. Recovery meant change and healing would be necessary no matter how brutal and scary it could be. As I continued on my journey I began to feel “alive” and so very grateful for all the blessings my recovery has given me It’s given me freedom from the past and peace in my present. Recovery has helped me find the self-empowerment to make positive decisions for my future. It means I am able to be there when my kids need me - to guide them, to love them, to laugh with them, and to cry with them. It means continuing to grow and to listen to suggestions. Recovery means reaching out on the hard days and being there for others on the good. It means I am able to advocate for those who haven’t found their voice yet and are still struggling. At the end of the day, for me, recovery means life because it saved mine.

—Allison Long

In Lancaster County, recovery is a vital part of our healthy community About 1 in every 8 people has a substance use disorder, but this is a treatable medical condition with strong chances of recovery with the proper supports and resources. Lancaster Joining Forces and many community partners are working together to prevent overdose deaths and promote recovery Visit lancasterjoiningforces.org for more information about our community initiatives to prevent overdose deaths.

Recovery means so many things to me. In fact, it changes daily depending on so many factors. For instance, one day it can mean service since I may be chairing an AA meeting that day or attending a speaking engagement. It could mean doing step work with my sponsor or one of my sponsees. Sometimes, recovery means taking time to meditate and think about where my life would be without a solid foundation and support system. Taking the time to make sure I’m in a good spiritual place and that I constantly remind myself that anything I put in front of my recovery I have the potential to lose. One of the most amazing parts of my recovery is having the opportunity of working at The RASE Project in Lancaster. Being the Program Supervisor affords me so many opportunities on a daily basis, to not only serve a population that I am very familiar with, but to also learn from that same population. To sum up what recovery means to me, there’s only one way I can describe it. A chance at a great life to help and be helped.

“

Recovery for me is going to sleep and being excited for the next day to come. It’s waking up next to my healthy beautiful baby boy and thinking about what he is going to have for breakfast that day. Recovery has given me a second chance at life. To be able to see how amazing life can be as well as how easily your world can be turned upside down in the blink of an eye by the choices that you make. I was in active addiction for a few years before I was able to find recovery, and just in those few years, I lost everything that meant anything to me. Materialistic things aren’t so bad because they can always be acquired again, but I lost many, many things you can’t get back, or you can, but it takes years to make it right again. I lost many friendships, relationships with family, everyone’s trust, and, most importantly, I lost myself and my self-worth. I never want to feel the way I did in active addiction EVER again. It was the scariest and most alone I’ve ever felt in my entire life. I wouldn’t trade one of my best days in active addiction for one of my worst days in sobriety. My favorite quote to live by is:

“Sobriety didn’t open the gates of Heaven and let me in, sobriety opened the gates of Hell and let me out!”

- Anonymous

Maricela

Medina

To find treatment and recovery support services, visit Compass Mark at compassmark.org/find-help Check out the Lancaster County Recovery Alliance at lancastercountyrecovery.com for community events and recovery resources.

Made possible by:

In partnership with:

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” - Martin Luther King Jr

Michael Blackman

or many of us, the ability to communicate is so easy and natural that we take it for granted. But children with autism often have great difficulty expressing their most basic wants and needs, creating a challenge for their friends, teachers and especially their parents Graeme Flynn and his parents, Chris and Alicia, know those challenges well.

Graeme is an energetic 6-year-old boy with a brilliant smile. Because of his courage, determination and success, he’s been named one of this year ’s community ambassadors for the Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development.

Diagnosed with autism at age 2, Graeme was unable to make eye contact and could not talk much, even to his parents This condition meant Graeme

had difficulty telling his mom and dad the simplest things – when he was hungry, when he wanted to watch TV, when his throat was sore or his belly ached.

“I realized Graeme’s speech was not up to par,” Alicia says “His doctor gave us a prescription for therapy. “I knew about Schreiber I knew it turns no one away.”

“We were on waitlists for more than six months,” Chris says. “The demand

for these services far outweighs the available resources.”

But as other children completed their treatment, spaces opened up for Graeme. Within a year, four Schreiber therapists were giving him one-on-one treatments weekly A physical therapist helped him strengthen his body An occupational therapist taught him basic life skills.

A behavioral therapist gave him techniques to understand and get along with others. And a speech therapist improved his ability to communicate his thoughts and ideas, his wants and needs

The therapists at Schreiber are different than those in hospital settings, Alicia says. “In the first few sessions, they established a loving relationship with Graeme. They got to know his needs They got to know him as a person. I knew they were helping him to be the best person he could be.”

Now Graeme can better handle the frustrations of daily life. He can play and make friends with children his age. He’s willing to try new foods

Of all these milestones in his development, that last one was huge, Alicia says. “During the beginning of the pandemic, he would only eat one kind of bread and one kind of deli turkey, both virtually impossible to find Now he’ll eat any bread, often with butter or olive oil,” she says He likes any deli turkey, rotisserie chicken, ham, cheese, rice, sweet peppers, grapes, cucumbers, or anything crunchy.

“Graeme has an amazing relationship with his therapists,” Alicia says “They love him, and they care about him. They understand him and adjust his therapy to his personal situation.”

His behavioral therapist first met Graeme over the computer during the pandemic. They bonded while playing games, making art, and listening to music.

“Her conversations getting to know him blew me away,” Alicia says. “She quickly understood who he is. It was then I knew we really were in the right place.”

The Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development is the only independent outpatient therapy center for children in Lancaster and surrounding counties It was founded in 1936 by Edna Schreiber, a local nurse with a passion for helping children learn to walk again after having polio Today, Schreiber continues to provide world-class children’s

therapeutic services in a loving, noninstitutional environment.

The number of children needing its services grows each year It served 3,400 children five years ago and 4,000 last year It now has more than 500 on its wait lists

About 95% of the children who receive therapy at the Schreiber center are covered in part by Medicaid. But only in part. For every hour of therapy for a child, the center expends $74 more than the reimbursement it receives Generous donations from across the community make up the difference.

This year, on top of its current services, Schreiber has launched a $12.4 million building campaign, an increase from the project’s original $10M price tag, due to increased construction costs It is expanding its facility and endowment so more children can receive needed therapy without excessive wait-list delays

The new three-story, 14,700-squarefoot addition and renovation of the existing center will provide eight new treatment rooms, helping to ensure that kids receive the care they need as soon as they need it The building also will contain a new physical therapy gym and, outside it, a sensory garden will help children with sensory overload become comfortable encountering objects with new textures, smells, sounds, tastes or sights

Schreiber staff make therapy fun for children, says Angie Rice, director of therapy services. As parents see their children enjoying themselves, making progress, gaining physical, mental and emotional strength, their family lives settle into a normal pattern.

“This new building will help us bring that normalcy to as many families as possible,” she says. But while Schreiber grows, it will retain the intimacy and personal connections among child, parents and therapists that have become its hallmark.

“Schreiber has become family,” Alicia says. “I’m not sure where we would be without it.”

You can help make possible expanded facilities for treatment of local children like Graeme with a donation to the Schreiber building campaign. Contact Schreiber Director of Fund Development Danielle Sunday at dsunday@schreiberpediatric.org or speak with her directly at 717-393-0425 ext. 108.

Leave

BY KATINA KAUFFMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY QUINN STALEY

IfI had to classify my own packing style, I would call myself a packing maximalist I like to travel with a pair of shoes for every occasion, a variety of my favorite outfits, backup clothing options for inclement weather, and a few comforts of home, like my robe and slippers. I’ve even begun scheming about how to travel with my very own miniature pillow, just in case the hotel pillow is too puffy for my neck.

For years, my packing eccentricities have served me well, but recent news of airline chaos and lost luggage has me wondering if it’s time to change my packing ways. With an upcoming trip to Beaufort, South Carolina, on the calendar, I decided to put my carry-on packing skills to the test Here are some helpful tips and tools that I used to downsize my bag and maximize space. Now, let’s get packing!

VERSAT ILE CLOT HING

We all know that clothing fills up the lion’s share of free real estate in our carry-on. By more carefully considering the clothing you pack, you can reduce the number of items that you are forced to bring, saving weight and room in your carry-on. Instead of packing a new outfit for each day, think about items in your closet that you could restyle and re-wear multiple times without washing.

For me, a versatile item in my closet is my pair of black jeans I can easily dress them up or dress them down. For a casual look, I pair my black jeans with sandals, a grey cotton t-shirt, and a leather jacket If I want to dress them up, a brightly colored silk blouse will transform the look. Here are some other examples of versatile clothing:

• Sundresses – Casual dresses can easily be worn as beach coverups

• Pants/Shorts – Select a pair that you can dress up or dress down

• Sweaters/Jackets – Bring a style that will coordinate with multiple outfits

• Spandex/Sweatpants – Pack a pair that you can wear while lounging in your room or in public. You will probably want something comfy to wear on your flight home.

SHOES

Cutting back on the number of shoes in your bag is one of the best ways to create space for other essential items because, unlike clothing, shoes cannot be compressed. However, don’t feel like this real estate is wasted. If you’re packing sneakers or boots, cram some socks into them to free up space in your carry-on. Do your best to eliminate unnecessary extras and pack shoes that are suitable for multiple activities I would love to take my slippers and a pair of heels, but my black sandals will work just fine for lounging around the hotel room. Plus, they pair well with a variety of casual and dressy outfits that I have, which makes them a great option.

Ideally, you will take no more than two or three pairs of shoes, including the ones that you wear on the flight. Make sure to wear your bulkiest shoes to the airport, like hiking boots, to save space in your carry-on. When it comes to packing your shoes, you could use a cloth shoe bag, plastic bag, or even a plastic shower cap to keep any dirt from transferring from your shoes to your clothing.

FO LDING VS . ROLLING

Now that you’ve narrowed down your clothing options to only the essentials, it’s time to think about how to pack all those items as efficiently as possible. This leads us to the big question: Should you roll or should you fold? I’ve always been a folder

myself, but I’m open to learning any new tricks that might help me fit more in my carry-on. In this quest for knowledge, I consulted my colleague, Amy Rodriguez.

What exactly makes Amy qualified to comment on such a topic? Here’s a little background for you. Last year, Amy planned a two-week vacation to Hawaii and took only a carry-on bag, and her husband Edgar did, too. Impressive, right?

So, back to my question for Amy: Should I roll or should I fold?

According to Amy, a combination of both rolling and folding is critical if you want to get the most out of your space. In general, you should roll thinner clothing items, like t-shirts, sundresses, and yoga pants Bulkier items, like sweatshirts, ski pants, and sweaters should be folded because those items will actually take up more space if they’re rolled.

TO ILETRIES

TSA guidelines currently state that you can bring a quart-sized bag of liquids and each item must be 3.4 ounces or fewer. I wanted to make sure that I didn’t accidentally go over this limit, so I purchased a $4 plastic toiletry travel kit from the pharmacy to take the guesswork out of this process. As a bonus, the bottles are reusable so I’ll have them for future trips

If you’re having trouble condensing all your liquids into a quart-sized bag, leave out any items that you can purchase when you reach your destination. Of course, this all depends on where you’re going, but generally, items like toothpaste, sunscreen, and contact lens solution are widely available. If you’re willing to go without your usual shampoo and conditioner, you could use what’s provided to you at your hotel or purchase a small bottle when you arrive at your destination.

HAIR CARE TO OL S

Styling tools are another thing that can take up a lot of space in your carry-on because they tend to be bulky and they don’t compress. There’s no way that I’m going anywhere without my hair straightener, and I understand that some of your styling tools may be nonnegotiable as well. Do your best to bring only your most necessary hair tools and keep in mind that most hotels provide hair dryers. If they don’t, consider investing in a miniature travel hair dryer I purchased one years ago, and it has been a lifesaver!

PACKING CUBES

This past Christmas, I was given my very own set of compression packing cubes that have completely transformed my ability to travel light (thanks mom!).

If you’ve never used packing cubes before, you might be wondering what the big deal is

First, compression packing cubes help you gain so much more space than you would without the compression feature. Every inch of space matters! Second, they force you to organize, which makes packing and living out of a suitcase easier Instead of sorting through your entire bag to find one shirt, you can simply locate your shirt bag and find what you need, without disrupting the organization of your other items. Third, packing cubes will protect your clothing from unexpected spills if you purchase a waterproof set.

TECHNOLOGY & ENTERTA INMENT

When space is at a premium, leave your extra technology at home unless it’s absolutely necessary In most cases, your phone will be able to do many of the tasks that you might otherwise use a laptop, Kindle, or camera for. The same goes for books. Don’t bring along a bulky book if you can easily download a novel to read on your phone.

Happy Traveling!

TS A-A PPROV ED

AIRPORT SN AC KS

Let’s face it, airport food is usually gross and overpriced. Here are some TSA-approved snacks, other than peanuts and granola bars, that will make your next airport dining experience tastier, healthier, cheaper and more enjoyable

• Cold Grain & Bean Salads – I just realized that I could bring this through TSA and it has been life-changing. Since you won’t be able to refrigerate your salad, avoid recipes that include dairy Instead, opt for salads that have an olive oil and vinegar base

• Deli Sandwich – You could eat an old pre-made turkey sandwich with sad tomatoes and wilted lettuce from the airport, or you could pack a delicious homemade sandwich! Bring along packets of mayo and mustard or find a couple once you reach your terminal.

• Sliced Vegetables & Hummus Pack – Make sure your hummus is no more than 3.4 ounces.

• Cold Asian Noodle Salad with Vegetables – This is a filling snack that tastes as good cold as it does warm.

• Bagel Sandwich with Egg & Cheese – Only bring this if you intend to eat it shortly after you arrive since you won’t have a way to refrigerate it.

• Pizza – Bring a disposable Ziplock bag and grab a few slices from your favorite pizzeria on your way out of town. Again, you’ll want to eat this quickly since you won’t have access to a refrigerator

Rebuilding homes and restoring hope is the mission of Mennonite Disaster Service, and the nonprofit is currently doing just that in 17 locations across the U.S. recovering from natural disasters, from fires in Washington state to floods in Louisiana

“MDS is a volunteer network,” says Executive Director Kevin King. “We enable people to put faith in action by going, using their hands and their feet and responding to a disaster, whether that’s mucking out, chainsaw work or longer-term building a house.”

In any given month, MDS can spend $15,000-$20,000 per disaster location supporting those volunteers and their work—mostly paid for with contributions

“When we start our new budget year, truly it’s a faith mission,” King says

Everence is an important partner in that mission, not only helping MDS put its faith in action but also helping others support MDS by integrating their faith and values with their financial decisions

“We know not everybody can go but they support with their financial giving,” King says. “That’s just every bit as important … The two are hand in glove, finances and volunteer efforts.”

Everence includes the financial services of Everence Financial, the charitable services entity Everence Foundation, and the banking services of Everence Federal Credit Union.

Everence Financial helps MDS invest in ways that not only align with its values but also provide financial stability and the flexibility to respond to the unexpected.

“With disasters we don’t have a steady income,” King says. “It fluctuates wildly and so (Everence) manages our reserves When a major disaster hits, like tornadoes in Kentucky, that first 30 to 60 days—that’s when donors give. And then you have to stretch that dollar and wisely manage it.”

Everence Foundation serves as a conduit for charitable gifts to MDS, facilitating donations through avenues such as bequests, donor-advised funds and charitable trusts

Everence Federal Credit Union offers banking products like certificates of deposit that can bring stability to porfolios like MDS’s In 2022, MDS also received $3,600 in donations through the MyNeighbor credit card program, which allows members to generate donations to their favorite charitable organization every time they use their card to make a purchase.

King says he is grateful not only for the banking and financial services Everence provides for MDS and its employees, but also the focus Everence places on stewardship and handling God’s resources wisely

“It allows us to do what we do best, and we count on them to do what they do best,” he says “It’s a great mutual relationship.”

Everence has three locations in Lancaster County, all of which include the convenience of both an Everence Financial office and an Everence Federal Credit Union branch in one place.

Everence Federal Credit Union and Everence Financial work collaboratively to help individuals, businesses, churches

and other organizations achieve their financial goals while also giving back in ways that are most meaningful to them.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Everence financial services empower clients to align their faith and values with their finances Everence offers banking, insurance and financial services with community benefits and stewardship education.

GREEN LOANS

Everence Federal Credit Union supports members’ stewardship of the environment by offering a discount on auto loans for electric or hybrid vehicles and home equity lines of credit used for qualified energy-efficient or energy-saving home improvements

CHARITABLE GIVING

Everence Financial offers creative tools for generosity, such as donor-advised funds and charitable gift annuities, that can offer tax deductions or a regular source of income while also benefiting a designated charity.

Similarly, Everence Federal Credit Union’s MyNeighbor card is a way for members to donate

1.5% of every purchase to their favorite charity. Annually, members give over half a million dollars to more than 500 nonprofits nationwide through this program.

Elizabethtown Public Library has used MyNeighbor donations to fund children’s and adult programming and to purchase personal finance resource materials, says Executive Director Deb Drury.

“Contributions of all different sizes make a difference,” Drury says “When people can go about their daily business and use this reward to benefit the community, I think that’s amazing.”

Like MDS, the library relies heavily on contributions to purchase materials, pay for programming and cover operational expenses, Drury says. That makes it all the more meaningful that a relationship with Everence empowers people to get more out of their financial journey while also giving back.

“We’re incredibly grateful for how [Everence] is advancing philanthropy through this program,” Drury says “Whether it be money contributed to the library or just expanding the awareness of how philanthropy can benefit both the donor and nonprofit, I think that’s a great thing.”

I tried ear seeding so you don’t have to

BY SAL LY REYNOLDS | ILLUSTRATION BY BAILEY WATRO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY VINNY TENNIS

No doubt you’ve heard of acupuncture, the ancient Chinese medicine in which a practitioner gently inserts microneedles into specific points on your skin. Acupuncturists say these points are connected by meridians that help regulate energy flow (or Qi) in the body, for healing and pain relief.

Ear seeding is not directly based on acupuncture but is similar in that it relies on a physical healing modality rather than a chemical one. Ear seeding devotees believe that the ear contains a master map of the body ’s healing potential and when certain points on the ear are stimulated, the corresponding body part is positively affected.

little seeds (from the Vaccaria plant) are taped to the ear with medical grade tape.

Ear seeding was developed in the 1950s by French neurologist Dr Paul Nogier, who had some peculiar ideas about

toothaches. Stimulation of points in the upper ear would resolve problems in the knees, ankles, hands or toes, etc.

of acupuncture needles in the ears. Unlike ear seeding is nonare Instead,

You may see ear seeding referred to as auricular therapy, although this term may also be used to describe the use of acupuncture needles in the ears. Unlike acupuncture, ear seeding is noninvasive. No needles are used. Instead,

the structure of the ear Nogier posited that the ear was shaped like an inverted fetus, with the fetal head corresponding to the ear lobe. Thus, stimulation of points in the ear lobe would resolve headaches, TMJ, eye disorders, or

ear stimulation in ear eye or

Practitioners use the ‘map’ of the ear to guide placements of the seeds, but they also visually inspect the ear for changes that might indicate a health problem. For example, swelling, creases, or changes in color of the ear will be used by practitioners to determine what part of the body would benefit from ear seeding.

I suffer from on-and-off

Some nights I sleep just fine. other I to to sleep, or if I

I suffer from on-and-off sleeplessness. Some nights I sleep just fine. But other nights I struggle to get to sleep, or if I

Ear seeding is not directly based on acupuncture but is similar in that it relies on a physical healing modality rather than a chemical one.

In traditional Chinese medicine, ear seeds have a long history of use as a wellness tool to treat pain, manage stress, and more.

sleep, I wake up multiple times during the night. I’ve tried warm milk, chamomile tea, magnesium, stretching, yoga, reading, no screen time before bed, CBD tinctures, and hot toddies, and none have had a consistent impact It was time to try ear seeding.

Unfortunately, I could not find a local ear seeding practitioner to apply ear seeds for me. So I ordered a home ear seeding kit

I selected the Multi- Condition Vaccaria Kit from Earseeds.com for $48 But you can also order “seeds” made from Swarovski crystals

the taped-on seeds about five times a day to stimulate the points

One thing I realized right away is that scratching one’s ears is pleasant and ear seeding gets in the way of that pleasure. If you scratch too much, you’ll scratch those seeds right off But, if I could sleep better, it would be worth the inconvenience.

I’m sorry to report that the ear seeds did not have any reliable relationship to whether I slept well or not On two nights I did sleep well, but other three nights involved my

or even solid gold if you like a little bling with your auricular therapy.

The kit arrived nicely packaged with the ear seeds arranged in rows of six by ten on little plastic trays. The kit also included a single alcohol wipe (woefully insufficient for 600 ear seeds), a sweet pair of tweezers, and a sheet of instructions.

The instruction sheet made big promises that ear seeds would not only resolve my sleeplessness, but would also relieve me of stress, anxiety, headaches, migraines, shoulder pain, neck pain, sciatica, excess weight and inflammation. The ear seeds could also improve my memory and restore my libido

Ear seeds are, in my experience, impossible to apply yourself because accuracy is required to put the tiny seeds on exactly the right tiny spot I cannot see into my ear without multiple mirrors, lots of concentration, and more flexibility than any 61-year-old possesses. So I asked my husband to do it

Dan carefully applied the ear seeds based on the diagram on the instruction sheet I wore the ear seeds for five days and gently rubbed

usual tossing and turning and frustration.

I also had Dan stick on a fresh set of ear seeds on the points that would restore my libido. I figured nothing ventured, nothing gained. But, in this case, nothing was gained. Each time I massaged the ear seeds I waited for some sign that my youthful libido would come roaring back and I’d become a very popular person at home. Instead, I remained a sedate older woman who just wished she could give her ears a good scratch.

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Unfortunately, I could not find a local ear seeding practitioner to apply ear seeds for me. So I ordered a home ear seeding kit.

Does going to the dentist make you ner vous?

We can discuss methods to help you cope. Researchers know there’s a synergic relationship between oral health and overall wellness. Good oral health can help control and/or lessen the risk associated with hear t disease, diabetes, pregnancy, and other conditions. Dentists are often the first health care professionals to recognize and identify a wide variety of diseases, ranging from high blood pressure (hyper tension) to oral cancer Regular dental exams can help detect problems early on and in some cases, prevent them from occurring altogether. Prevention is always better than needing a cure.

I’ve been to 3 dentists in the past 5 years because I haven’t had a good experience at other places. Bender Dental Group did ever ything to make me feel comfor table and understand ever ything during the process. Both me and my daughter go here and will for a long time.

– Mike B.

Introducing Dr. Amar Patel as owner of Bender Dental

Dr. Patel joined the practice in 2008 and in 2022 became the owner after Dr. Bender ’s retirement. With his 14 years of experience with Bender Dental Group, he is prepared to carry on Dr. Bender ’s legacy of excellent patient care.

Dentists do more than fix teeth.

We focus on prevention for you to maintain good oral health affordably and conveniently We want to initiate an enthusiasm for overall body wellness by way of preser ving natural teeth and show our patients how to keep their mouths free from decay and gum disease.

Missing teeth? No worries! We offer a wide variety of options including dentures, par tials, implants and more. Our top cosmetic dental treatment includes teeth whitening, dental bondings, dental veneers and more.

Bender Dental has been a wonder ful practice for me, they don’t tr y to push unnecessar y treatments or procedures on you. The hygienists are always so nice, and Dr. Patel is great!

– Dawn L.

BY MIKE ANDRELCZYK ILLUSTRATION BY BAILEY WATRO

Like many septuag enarians, Nicki relishes a long winter ’s nap.

Nicki is a 70-year old turtle, specifically a yellowbellied slider, and when she moves indoors from her backyard pond and nestles under a rock in the kiddie pool in a spare room of Georgene Aungst’s Hopeland home, her naps stretch from the first frosts of fall until the weather warms up in spring.

Aungst, 80, and Nicki – who will turn 70 in the spring – have been companions since Aungst was 10 years old. Aungst, who says she was an avid comic book reader as a child, remembers noticing a mail-order ad for newborn pet turtles in the back pag es of one of her comic books. The newborn turtles came with a plastic dish with an island in the center and a fake palm tree. (The FDA banned the sale of baby pet turtles in 1975, when the practice was linked to the spread of salmonella.)

“I might have paid $5 or $10 from my allowance for the whole

thing,” Aungst says

A few weeks later, Nicki arrived in a cardboard container and has been at Aungst’s side ever since. Nicki was the size of a half-dollar coin when she showed up in the mail. Now, according to Aungst, she weighs about four or five pounds and is the size of a large Christmas card The yellowbellied slider has appeared at all of Aungst’s children’s and grandchildren’s show-and-tells – even traveling to New Jersey for an appearance. Nicki has entertained generations of neighborhood kids, outlived other family pets and has been there as Aungst’s own children have grown and had children of their own. Nicki was there for almost every one of Aungst’s big life events When Aungst was visiting her late husband’s mother on the day the couple married, Nicki was on her lap “She’s an awesome pet,” Aungst says Aungst wasn’t even sure Nicki was a she until the turtle laid an egg in 1996.

“Luckily, the name Nicki applied either way,” Aungst says

Ye llo w- bellied sliders are native to the southeaster n United States where they’re often found in rivers, ponds and swamplands The shells are a mottled green on top, and underneath is the yellow belly they’re named after. The typical lifespan for yellow-bellied sliders can be more than 30 years in the wild and more than 40 in captivity

Nicki is thriving in the environment that Aungst has provided for her For her 50th birthday, Aungst says her late husband dug a pond in the back yard and ever since that’s where Nicki spends her summers - lounging in the cool water or sunning herself on a rock until it’s time to hibernate again.

“She loves that. That’s her place to be,”

Aungst says

Aungst says turtles make for good pets

“They’re really not fussy,” Aungst says The only thing that Nicki is fussy about is strawberries – she loves fresh strawberries.

“She gravitates to red foods,” says Aungst. “She likes watermelon, tomatoes and strawberries And she knows which strawberries are the best.”

Aungst says there used to be a strawberry patch on her property and she’d feed Nicki fresh-picked berries.

“When my husband stopped the strawberry patch, I bought her storebought strawberries and she wouldn’t eat them,” says Aungst. “If I went to the farmer ’s market and bought strawberries from them, those she would eat.”

Strawberries seem to be the only kind of food Nicki is picky about. Her other favorites include pretzels, chicken, burgers, hot dogs, minnows, dog food, insects and potato chips

“But she has to go underwater to swallow,” says Aungst.

Yellow-bellied sliders need to be

ar oun d water to surviv e. And that fact helped Aungst when Nicki escaped years ag o. There’s a misconception that turtles are slow. Aungst knows that’s not the case. Once, she says, when she was cleaning her dish, Nicki took off and was lost for nearly two weeks.

“Later I saw she had gotten into a pond on somebody else’s property,” says Aungst. “She came up when she heard my voice, but I couldn’t get her So my husband came with a big stick with a net on the end and went underneath her and got her out of there. She aims for water if she’s on the ground. She smells it and she hustles herself and that’s where she’s going.”

Aungst knew where Nicki would be going when she escaped, but lately Aungst has found herself wondering about where Nicki might be going in the future.

“People don’t live forever and I thought I should look for a place where she could go because none of my children have a place where they could put a pond in and take care of her like I do,”

Aungst says She looked into one wildlife park but didn’t feel like it would be a good fit for Nicki. She says her children told her they would figure out what to do with Nicki if they have to.

“I hope they do, because she’s been a good pet,” says Aungst.

In the meantime, Aungst is looking forward to spring, when Nicki wakes up from her hibernation and they can celebrate another birthday tog ether.

Safety for your loved ones.

Volvos are known for being exceptionally well-engineered for safety But, what does that actually mean out on the streets of Lancaster?

Stadel Volvo customer Jon W. couldn’t have said it more impactfully:

I know there are those out there that question why some people would choose to spend a lot of money on vehicles when they’re not an “asset.” I choose to put my wife in a quality SUV with an incredibly high safety rating for the very reasons shown in the picture, because my family IS my biggest asset

Volvo, thank you for designing a vehicle that kept my wife safe when she was rear-ended by a 10-wheeler dump truck this morning. The safety belt system engaged and pulled her tightly into the bolstered seat. All of the side curtain airbags deployed as well. All of this happened in a fraction of a second, thanks to the technology in her XC90.

This family is staying safe by driving a new Volvo XC90 that replaced the wrecked one.

Volvo’s guiding principle for everything is safety because Volvo understands that today ’s traffic is denser, people are driving at higher speeds, and a driver cannot control others on the road. Jon’s wife, in her 4,000-pound XC90, didn’t have any control over the 52,000-pound dump truck heading her way.

What kept Jon’s wife safe was Volvo’s safety cage construction and predictable front and rear crush zones These zones consume the crash impact by folding in a pre-determined manner, leaving the occupant area protected by a rigid boron steel protective cage Whether front, rear, or side impact, intrusion is minimized by years of experience and research.

Since 1972, Volvo has had a team of safety engineers on call to deploy to collisions involving a Volvo. These

engineers examine, along with police and insurance investigators, cause and effect, speed, angle of impact, and injury. In many cases, once the Volvo is released by the authorities, it is taken to Volvo’s crash test laboratory for further analysis The crash test laboratory, built in 2000, is second to none in the industry Engineers can crash Volvos at any speed and any angle into other vehicles and fixed objects representing guard rails and bridge abutments

All this effort pays off In 2022, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety chose thirteen Volvo models as top safety picks, the highest rating for every model tested.

Volvo, thank you for designing a vehicle that kept my wife safe when she was rear-ended by a 10-wheeler dump truck this morning.

Sustainability for the planet.

Volvo takes sustainability seriously, setting a goal to become a circular company by 2040

A circular company designs products for reuse and recycling, eliminating the need to exploit raw materials in the natural environment. Volvo has been recycling up to 85% of its cars’ content for years.

Sustainability also means designing the new era of electric cars, like today ’s XC or C40, and the soon-toarrive EX90 total electric, full-size SUV It not only runs clean, but its bi-directional charging system can power your home and even sell surplus power to the grid.

Research at MIT’s Trancik Lab demonstrated that electric cars produce far fewer greenhouse

gas emissions than gas-powered cars and will cost less than gas-powered cars over the life of the vehicle. You can see MIT’s graph of carbon emissions by car type here: carboncounter.com.

The EX90’s advanced lidar safety system uses 5 radars, 8 cameras, and 16 ultrasonic sensors to create a shield of safety around your car. The system continually scans the environment to prepare for the possibility of driver assistance if needed.

But the EX90 is not only watching the road, it’s also monitoring the interior of the vehicle. The occupant sensing system will alert you if it seems that a sleeping child, or drowsy dog, is about to be left behind in the car.

Safety. Sustainability. Innovation. That’s Volvo.

Protect your family and the planet by considering a mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or fully electric Volvo. Visit Stadel and mention Balance for a no-pressure test drive to discover the many innovative features of a Volvo.

Reasons to Smile

When Silke Cu says her pastime working she’s not you ca that dining occasions have an puzzle on the year to landmark

“Patience and details, they’re my things, Dr Silke says. Those qualities serve her well in puzzles and in her profession as an orthodontist - and the newest member of the Smilebuilderz family. Dr. Silke and her husband, Mike Olorunnisola, a software engineer, currently live in Philadelphia, but they’re in the process of moving to Lancaster County

It’s the latest part of a journey that began in Jamaica, where Dr Silke grew up before moving to the United States at age 15 to attend boarding school in Massachusetts. Having a mother who was a doctor and other relatives in the medical field, she thought she knew her destiny. But a weeklong summer camp at the University of Pennsylvania’s dental school the summer before her senior year of high school changed everything. “After that I was hooked,” she says

Dr Silke chose Penn for her undergraduate degree and dental school, and she chose orthodontics for her specialty because of the transformative impact it can have on patients “It’s like an art and science combined,” she says “I really enjoy meeting a brand-new patient for a consult and then developing that relationship over the next few years and also seeing the change in their smiles. You can play a part in that and it’s awesome.”

Dr Silke says she particularly enjoys what she calls “phase one” or “interceptive” treatment for children ages 7 to 9 who don’t

future,” she says That early intervention is easier at Smilebuilderz, where the dental team includes general and pediatric dentists, orthodontists, periodontists and endodontists. “Having all specialties right there under one roof is super valuable to patients,” Dr Silke says “When it’s all in one place it’s a very streamlined process and I think everyone benefits.”

not her only talent. She also crocheted all the flowers at their wedding.

Together, the couple enjoys travel, board games and food, especially the Latin and Indian cuisine they’ve discovered in Lancaster. And come June, they’ll have one more thing to keep them busy: their first child. That’s another reason Dr Silke is grateful to work at Smilebuilderz, where she says she feels very supported in both her work and home life. It’s something she felt from the very start

In addition to the benefits of working at Smilebuilderz, Dr Silke and her husband are also looking forward to the benefits of living in Lancaster County. Mike, a self-professed “extreme extrovert,” works from home but enjoys finding office space in the nearest coffee shop.

“I can sit down and focus on code for quite a while,” he says, “I like to think of that as a puzzle.” In his free time, however, Mike leaves the puzzles to his wife. “I play the piano, bass and guitar I love music. It’s always been my escape,” he says. “And then basketball is the thing I love to do that keeps me in shape.” While puzzles are Dr Silke’s favorite pastime,

“I’ve been on a good number of interviews before, and it was the first interview I went on where the people that were interviewing me were more interested in me as a person than just as a clinician who would be treating their patients,” Dr Silke says. “The more I met people who were part of the Smilebuilderz community clearly there is something here that everyone is super excited about It was worth Mike and I moving here to be a part of this.”

Smilebuilderz feels equally fortunate to welcome Dr. Silke and her growing family as part of the Smilebuilderz family

“I really enjoy meeting a brand-new patient for a consult and then developing that relationship over the next few years.”

Dr Silke Cummings

Second opinions are common and highly recommended. Never feel as though you are hurting the surgeon’s feelings. If a surgeon takes offense, consider that a red flag. Also, if a surgeon tells you they cannot help you or that nothing else can be done to help you, you should certainly get a second opinion.