CELEBRATING LANCASTER COUNTY'S PEOPLE, SCENERY,

HERITAGE, STYLE & POINT OF VIEW SINCE 1987.

The U.S. Women’s Open is Returning to Lancaster!

May 28-June 2 at Lancaster Country Club

Golf fans, the ladies are making a return trip to Lancaster and the timing couldn’t be more apropos: the Lancaster Country Club (LCC), the site of this year’s U.S. Women’s Open, is kicking off its 125th anniversary (founded April 6, 1900) and unveiling the completion of its ambitious “A Defining Moment” project that resulted in a comprehensive upgrade of the club’s facilities and amenities.

In Gee Chun waves to the crowd at the trophy ceremony during the final round of the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club in Lancaster, Penn. on Sunday, July 12, 2015. (Copyright USGA/John Mummert)

The tournament was held in Lancaster for the first time in 2015 and set an attendance record thanks to the 134,016 golf fans who followed the action at Lancaster Country Club. That record stood until last year, when Pebble Beach hosted the tournament for the first time (and set television viewership records, as well). With the tournament’s return to LCC, Lancaster, of course, is aiming to reclaim and set some records of its own.

Thanks to the hospitality shown on the part of the club and the community during the 2015 event (1,500 volunteers will again be assisting during the tournament), LCC gained an honorary member in the tournament’s winner, In Gee Chun. As a result, Chun partnered with the club to create the In Gee Chun LCC Educational Foundation, which awards scholarships to local students who work or have a parent who works at the club. Chun also promotes the value of education in her native South Korea. No doubt Chun views 2015 as a lucky number, as she won two other majors that year and followed up her successes by representing South Korea at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Another fan favorite, Michele Wie West (now retired), also has ties to Lancaster. Now a jewelry designer, she created the famous Taylor Swift/Travis Kelsey friendship bracelet with Wove, a city jeweler. Another collaborative effort with Wove resulted in a bracelet that benefits the recovery efforts on fire-ravaged island of Maui.

In Gee Chun holds the trophy after winning during the final round of the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club in Lancaster, Penn. on Sunday, July 12, 2015. (Copyright USGA/John Mummert)

The U.S. Women’s Open is the premier championship in women’s golf. First played in 1946, the tournament has been conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA) since 1953. It is the second major of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) season and has the highest purse in women’s golf, which is now a record-setting $12 million thanks to its partnership with Ally Financial. In addition to Chun and West, notable past champions include Minjee Lee, Inbee Park, Annika Sörenstam, Patty Sheehan and Betsy King. Last year’s winner was Hawaii’s Allisen Corpuz.

As for tickets, daily Gallery access ranges in price from $25 to $395+ and includes comp parking and shuttle service, grounds and concessions access and grandstand seating at various holes. (The higher-priced tickets provide upgraded amenities.) Packages that provide tickets for the entire event begin at $150. There is also a Flex Pass that provides access during five days of your choosing. Finally, there is the Penn Club package ($2,000) that provides total access as well as upgraded amenities.

Information:
USwomensopen.com

No Foolin’, April Has Arrived

Spring has sprung! It’s time to get out and enjoy all that the season has to offer.

Best Kept Secrets Tour  

April 4-20
Lancaster County

How many times have your driven by a small shop or greenhouse and made a mental note to stop there someday. Well, thanks to this unique tour, that “someday” has arrived. The spring tour will take you to more than 40 shops, small businesses, greenhouses and restaurants that you’ve always meant to visit but for one reason or another never have. A ticket ($12) provides you with a ticket/tour guide that is good for the duration of the self-driving tour. Those who purchase early-bird tickets will be gifted with goodie bags that are filled with coupons and other items. The tour also benefits local nonprofits: $1 from each ticket sale will be donated to the Transitional Living Center.

Information:
bestkeptsecretstour.com

 

Natural World – Copland and Bernstein

April 5 & 6
Gardner Theatre at Lancaster Country Day School

You’ve seen Leonard Bernstein’s life portrayed in the Academy Award-nominated film, Maestro, and now you can hear his music performed by the Lancaster Symphony, which is presenting a program that celebrates our natural world. Joined by the Lancaster Symphony Chorus, the concert will include Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, as well as Aaron Copland’s Suite from The Tender Land. The works will be accompanied by films that were created by Stephen Lias and Alan Hovhaness. Friday, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. 725 Hamilton Rd., Lancaster.

Information:
lancastersymphony.org

Ragtime The Musical

April 5-May 12
Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre

Set in the early years of the 20th century, Ragtime tells the story of three diverse American families whose stories become interwoven. United by their courage, compassion and belief in the future, they confront history’s timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, and hope and despair. Note: this show is rated PG-13. Matinee and evening performances are offered. A buffet lunch or dinner is held before the show, except on Thursday evenings, when dinner service is provided. 510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster.

Information:
dutchapple.com

 

Rails & Ales

April 6
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

Enjoy an evening of sampling craft beer among the museum’s collection of historic trains. This 7th annual event will feature more than a dozen craft breweries, both local and regional. Food vendors will also be onsite. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit, Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Must be 21+ to attend and a photo ID is required. General admission begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the VIP hour (5:30-6:30 p.m.) are also available. 300 Gap Rd., Strasburg.

Information:
rrmuseumpa.org

 

Wildflower Hikes  

April 7, 12 & 13
Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve

The Lancaster Conservancy will be leading hikes through the nature preserve that is world-renowned for its displays of spring ephemeral wildflowers that extend to 70 varieties. Learn how to identify common spring bloomers and explore the ecology of the area in which they grow. The hike will entail 3 miles of mostly flat terrain. For ages 8+. April 7 & 12 at 1 p.m. April 13 at 9 a.m. 857 Green Hill Rd., Conestoga.

Information/registration:
lancasterconservancy.org

 

Noodles Around the World

April 9
Southern Market

Taste unique dishes from around the world by sampling the offerings of chef stations. Event also features live and silent auctions and a cash bar. Also learn how the work of Mental Health America of Lancaster County, the event’s sponsor, is impacting lives. 5:30 p.m. 100 S. Queen St., Lancaster.

Ticket Information:
mhalancaster.org

 

Organic food garden in boxed wood

Pennsylvania Herb and Garden Festival

April 12-13
York Expo Center

It’s time to think about gardens! The show will feature speakers, workshops and plant-related vendors. Workshops will  focus on wreath making and creating herb containers. Presentations will discuss the Herb of the Year (yarrow) and caring for houseplants and succulents, among other topics. Admission is $10 (kids 12 and under are free). Free parking is provided. Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 334 Carlisle Ave., York.

Information:
paherbfest.com

 

Revolutionary War Medicine

April 20
Historic Rock Ford

Thomas Plott, who serves as manager of character interpretation at Mount Vernon, and has over 30 years of professional acting and directing experience, has made a career of portraying historical characters, including William Shakespeare, Leonardo da Vinci and John Wilkes Booth. He now uses his versatility and skills as both an actor and researcher to depict George Washington’s personal physician and friend, Dr. James Craik, who became the first physician general of the United States. Mr. Plott will discuss the medical practices of the Revolutionary War, as well as the methods and medical instruments used by doctors in the 18th century. Tickets are $15; proceeds benefit Historic Rock Ford. 2 p.m. 881 Rockford Rd., Lancaster.

Information:
historicrockford.org

Antiques Extravaganza

April 26-30
Adamstown

Antiques are the epitome of recycling and upcycling! If you’re looking for collectibles or antiques that will add that unique touch to your home’s décor, make your way to the “Antiques Capital” of the USA, Adamstown, where shops, outdoor markets and thousands of dealers will be taking part in this annual spring event, some offering extended hours.

Information:
antiquescapital.com

 

Lancaster Native Plant and Wildlife Festival

April 27
Overlook Park

Habitat MT and Manheim Township Department of Parks and Recreation will host this annual festival that will include a wide range of nonprofit organizations whose focus is on the environment, native plant vendors and presentations. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. 2215 Fruitville Pike.

Information:
lancnativeplantfestival.com

 

Race Against Racism

April 27
Musser Park

Now in its 26th year, Lancaster’s Race Against Racism is the biggest and longest consecutively held event of its kind in the nation. Proceeds from the event benefit the YWCA’s Center for Racial and Gender Equality, as well as educational, training, advocacy and change programming. Registration for the 5K run begins at 7 a.m., with the start time slated for 9 a.m. There is also a children’s running event. Run solo, assemble a team or just come and support the event. East Chestnut and North Lime streets in Lancaster.

Information:
ywcalancaster.org/raceagainstracism

 

Pa Family Travel Fair

April 27
John Bonfield Elementary School Gym/Campus

The Keystone State is filled with unique destinations and experiences that are awaiting your arrival! From big cities to small towns and wide-open spaces, you’ll discover museums, historical sites, the arts, amusement parks, outdoor adventures, fantastic food, seasonal festivals and a wide choice of lodging options. The PA Family Travel Fair is designed to showcase fun and affordable vacation opportunities in the state. Exhibitors from across Pennsylvania will acquaint you with how much the state truly has to offer. No sales are involved, just lots of free information, fun children’s activities and entertainment, mascots, raffle drawings and giveaways. A variety of food trucks will be onsite, as well. Bring the entire family and start planning your summer vacation or weekend getaway. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 101 N. Oak St., Lititz.

Information:
pafamilytravel.com

Plant Exchange

April 28
Lititz Historical Foundation

This annual event invites gardeners to cull their flower beds of excess perennials and exchange them for other plants. How it works is you bring potted and tagged plants (perennials only) to the exchange and received a ticket for each donation. The donated plants are then organized into categories at which time you can use your tickets to select new varieties. 1:30 p.m. Mary Oehme Gardens, rear of 137-145 E. Main St., Lititz.

Information:
lititzhistoricalfoundation.com

 

Ellen and William Craft: A Love Story

April 30
The Ware Center

LancasterHistory welcomes Ilyon Woo, the author of The New York Times best seller, Master Slave Husband Wife, which tells the story of a couple’s bid for freedom through disguise, determination and daring. By posing as a White disabled man (Ellen) and his Black slave (William), the two traveled more than 1,000 miles from Georgia to Philadelphia in 1848,  eluding slave traders, military units and even friends of their enslavers along the way. When their story was revealed, they readily shared it with audiences across New England, often taking to stages with luminaries such as Frederick Douglass and others. But their story wasn’t quite finished. The passage of the Fugitive Slave Act (1860) forced them to seek freedom once again, with their escape taking them to England. Numerous media outlets and literary organizations named this as one of 2023’s best books of the year. 5 p.m. reception/book signing. 5:30 p.m. lecture. 42 N. Prince St., Lancaster.

Ticket Information:
lancasterhistory.org 

 

Lancaster Stormers 20th Season

April 30
Clipper Magazine Stadium

The Lancaster Stormers launched their 20th season by rebranding their name (simply Stormers) and unveiling a new logo. (Cylo will be joined by a bull-themed mascot.) The team will be opening the home portion of their 2024 schedule against the newly minted Hagerstown Flying Boxcars on April 30, during which the Stormers will celebrate their most recent Atlantic League championship, as well as the three other titles they have won. All three of Lancaster’s championship managers – the current skipper, Ross Peeples; Lancaster’s native son, Tommy Herr; and four-time playoff skipper, Butch Hobson – will be honored prior to the game. Members of the 2023 team will be receiving their championship rings, as well.

The early season schedule will also include the two special jersey auctions, a Margaritaville- themed Kick-off to Summer Bash and Spanish Heritage Night. (Note to Swifties: a Taylor Swift Tribute is coming in July.) Throughout the season, fans can take part in Wet Nose Wednesdays (bring your dog) and enjoy entertainment provided by the WellSpan Health Fun Friday series and post-game laser-light shows. Seating discounts will be available to AAA members (Wed.), and military members and seniors (Thur.). This season’s schedule will feature school spirit nights in which students, faculty and teachers from various schools and districts will be honored for their achievements. The Stormers will also be honoring youth sports teams and leagues with their own special games dedicated to their achievements and participation over the last year. In honor of the milestone season, special events, giveaways and promotions will fill the calendar.

April 30 game begins at 6:45 p.m. 650 N. Prince St., Lancaster.

Information:
lancasterstormers.com

So Many Choices … So Little Time:
Lancaster City Restaurant Week,
March 4-10

It was apropos that the preview of Lancaster City Restaurant Week was held at a restaurant named Decades. The annual celebration of food and hospitality is marking its 10th anniversary this year. Decades, which is celebrating its own milestone, 5 years, is one of 40-plus  restaurants, cafes, breweries and eateries participating in the event.

“The world is your oyster” defines the city’s culinary community. Talented chefs hail from all points of the globe, hence the variety of destinations is ever-expanding and includes a choice of American, Asian, Irish, French, Greek, Indian, Italian, Latin, Middle Eastern, Nepalese, Vegan, South American and African diaspora cuisines. Desserts? Oh, my! Cocktails? Everything from the most classic to the trendiest! Craft beer? It’s synonymous with Lancaster. Farm-fresh ingredients? It can’t get much better.

On Monday, 14 such restaurants offered guests a preview of what’s to come during Restaurant Week, when special promotions, prix-fixe dinners and other such enticements lure people to the city to support their favorite restaurants or discover those that are new to the scene. Somebody had to do it, so Foodographer columnist, Jordan Bush, and I set to work and happily sampled the offerings. What follows are some tasting notes:

Frisco’s Chicken

Founder Francisco “Frisco” Gomez De La Torre was on hand to unveil his latest offering, chicken salad. To call it delicious does it disservice. Jordan pointed out that it has that hint of smokiness that makes Frisco’s Peruvian-style chicken so tasty. (The sandwiches paired well with Aji pepper dipping sauces made from flavorful and mild Aji peppers imported from Peru.) Frisco explained that his version of chicken salad takes him back to his childhood in Peru. He recalls that his mother would use leftover chicken to create a delicious salad treat for the following day. “And, it was a treat,” he recalls. Prompted by those memories, Frisco began experimenting with creating his own chicken salad. It will make its debut (as a special promotion) for Restaurant Week. After that, who knows? Based on the reviews it was garnering, I have a feeling chicken salad lovers will convince Frisco that it’s a keeper.

On Orange

Melissa Watro’s restaurant is known for its innovative breakfast fare, but occasionally she hosts dinners that demonstrate another aspect of her staff’s talents. During Restaurant Week, On Orange will host a dinner on Wednesday evening, March 6, that will include a menu created by chef Mary Ona Wheeler: Blini pancakes, cream of asparagus soup, shepherd’s pie and for dessert, panna cotta. BOYB is permitted. Call 717-299-6157 or email mwatro@comcast.net to make reservations.

As for the soup, people tend to have a love/hate relationship with asparagus. This soup just might possess the power to turn those in the latter category around, it was that good. I fall into the “love asparagus” faction and could have eaten bowls – very big bowls! – of it! That made Mary, who was on hand, very happy to hear.

KelSas SweetBox

You can take our word for it, the cheesecakes created by Kelly Carlucci and Sasha Santana are out of this world! The mini-minis they presented equated to little bites of heaven. By evening’s end, they were gone. No doubt, as we roll through March, flavors alluding to St. Paddy’s Day and Easter will be on the menu. Ah, but there’s more to KelSas than cheesecake. Charcuterie presentations, picnic fare and more are on the menu.

Diyo Fusion

I’m sure you’ve heard stories of people lining up to enjoy the fare at Himalayan Curry & Grill. The good news is that you now have a new option: Mohan Pradhan, a native of Nepal, recently opened Diyo Fusion at 101NQ. Jordan and his fiancée, Jessica, had dinner there on Valentine’s Day and reports that it was wonderful. For the preview, Diyo presented slices of rice crepe topped with chicken, red and green peppers, cilantro, eggs and cheese. It sort of reminded me of pizza, but the taste sensation was light and bright, which emphasizes Mohan’s goal to bring fresh and healthy food options to his fans. Also on the menu: a dessert made with creamy, sweet milk and saffron.

Flora’s

There’s a fusion of another kind taking place at this restaurant. In addition to providing tastes of places such as Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Peru, Brazil, Colombia and more, Flora’s is a feast for the eyes, as it serves as a gallery for artist Albert Gonzalez (whose wife is Flora, the owner of the restaurant). Both the menu and art are ever evolving. For the preview, the Gonzalezes served Cuban sandwiches.

401 Prime

Triple cut miso bacon … Nueske’s applewood smoked bacon, Riesling miso glaze, pear & golden raisin chutney. There’s nothing left to be said except perfection.

Decades

Lavender Elixir … lavender and honey Earl Grey and fresh lemon are topped with seltzer and butterfly pea flower gelatin and garnished with button flowers. Who needs alcohol! OK, you can add Tito’s and make it a bona fide cocktail.

The Belvedere Inn

Forget the restaurant’s legendary grilled Caesar salad, the cream puffs, truffles and other tasty desserts were the perfect way to end our grazing odyssey. Biting into that puff of crispness led to a cloud of cream! The rich chocolatey interior of the truffle was oh, so, sweet.

Participating Restaurants

  • Altana
  • Annie Bailey’s Irish Public House
  • Bistro Barbaret
  • Butter and Bean (Southern Market)
  • C’est La Vie
  • Chellas Arepa Kitchen
  • Cocina Mexicana
  • Conway Social Club
  • Decades
  • Diyo Fusion
  • Flora’s
  • 401 Prime
  • Frisco’s Chicken
  • GEMs Catering
  • Himalayan Curry & Grill
  • Isaac’s Craft Kitchen & Brewery
  • Josephine’s Downtown
  • KelSas SweetBox
  • Lancaster Brewing Company
  • Layali El Sham (Southern Market)
  • Lombardo’s Italian Restaurant
  • Marion Court Room
  • Mekatos Eatery (Southern Market)
  • On Orange
  • Passerine
  • Prince Street Café
  • Proof of Lancaster
  • Rachel’s Café & Creperie
  • Rendezvous Pizzeria & Steak Shop
  • Savoy Truffle
  • Spring House Brewery
  • The Belvedere Inn
  • The Bread Peddler
  • The Coffin Bar
  • The Fridge
  • The Pressroom Restaurant
  • The Imperial
  • Urban Farmhouse
  • Yorgos Restaurant & Lounge
  • Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse

For details, visit lancastercityrestaurantweek.com.

Oh, Henrietta!

Henrietta Heisler is one of the talented women who Eliot Sefrin, the founder of Kitchen & Bath Design News, credits for bringing a new point of view and aesthetic to kitchen and bath design. 

What had been a very outdated and dark kitchen is now one that is light, bright and airy. “It’s not only gorgeous but it’s functional,” Henrietta Heisler says of the redesigned space whose centerpiece is an Officine Gullo range and hood that add a pop of color to the space.

The kudos are a result of Henrietta Heisler Interiors winning the People’s Choice Award for kitchen design at last year’s National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) Show. It was the first time the award was included among the categories. “I was the last to receive my award,” Henrietta recalls. “As I was leaving the stage, it was announced the audience was in for a surprise. Next thing I knew, Kool & the Gang started playing as I made my way off the stage!” 

The awards program honors design professionals and projects that, according to NKBA’s website, are “setting the bar for the way we live, work and entertain in our homes. The goal is to select projects that embody the mission of the association: envisioning a world where everyone enjoys safe, beautiful and functional kitchen or bath spaces.” Winners were ultimately chosen from among the submitted entries by a panel of 10 industry judges based on criteria such as innovative design, presentation, function, creativity, safety and ergonomics and adherence to guidelines. The winner of the People’s Choice Award was based upon online voting. 

Homeowners Damon Myers and Dr. Efrem Magtagnob turned to Henrietta after they purchased a home in East Hempfield Township that needed updating. The kitchen was the last space to be transformed, as the two wanted to contemplate what their dream kitchen would look like. Needless to say, their wishes were granted.

The awards were presented during a dinner held at the Encore Hotel in Las Vegas last January. Not only did Henrietta Heisler Interiors win an award for kitchen design, but a bathroom designed by Nicol Hollinger was awarded second place in the category of secondary bathrooms. 

According to an article Sefrin wrote for Kitchen & Bath Design News, the results of last year’s awards program showcased the fact that in the realm of kitchen and bath design, women have arrived and are making an impact on an industry that was once dominated by men. Last year, women swept the 10 categories devoted to kitchen and bath design. He went on to write that the results are reflective of the fact that today’s female designers bring a new skillset to the industry. In addition to a “passion for design,” he maintains they bring instinct, intellect and college educations to the world of design, not to mention hands-on experience as to how a kitchen should function. 

The mix of metals on the range provided the inspiration for carrying the look throughout the space. To do so, Henrietta used satin brass and nickel. The bold color of the range and hood prompted her to keep the backsplash simple.

He also points to a super-talent many female designers possess as being a game changer: the ability to transform utilitarian spaces into the “crown jewels” of homes by introducing elements such as sophistication, fashion and yes, glam, to kitchen and bath design. “It’s gratifying to see talented kitchen and bath designers like Sarah Robertson [Dearborn, Michigan], Mary Haney [Dallas, Texas], Henrietta Heisler [Lancaster, Pennsylvania], and Emily Miller [Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania] garner the accolades they deserve,” he noted.   

Born to Design

Henrietta grew up in the backyard of one of the most heralded homes in America, Winterthur in Delaware, where Henry Francis du Pont amassed what many consider to be the premier collection of American decorative arts, as it is comprised of nearly 90,000 objects made or used in America since 1640. Even though her interests were in art, an innate talent for interior design lurked below the surface. Even as a child she could walk into a room and take note that balance was lacking, a piece of furniture was misplaced, or a color wasn’t quite right. Still, she opted to study art at Scripps College in California. 

Years later, she would find herself drawn to interior design. “I had the opportunity to go to Drexel, but I was a single mom living in Lancaster, so I chose to attend the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design,” says the mother of two sons and a grandmother to a one-year-old boy. While earning her degree (art, interior and environmental design), she worked for the architectural firm, Reese, Lower, Patrick and Scott (RLPS). She loved the fact that she was helping to transform the lives of clients through design. “I take great pleasure in designing spaces for people,” she says. “It’s always gratifying to see all the little pieces come together and know that I’ve helped clients create homes they love.” In August 2001, she launched her own business, Henrietta Heisler Interiors. 

Storage abounds. The work side of the island is quipped with necessities such as trash and recycling compartments. A series of cabinets along a wall creates a pantry.

Operating her own business also enabled Henrietta to widen her scope. In 2013, she bought a building (circa 1910) on West Walnut Street in Lancaster, that was once the home of Wacker & Brother’s Eagle Brewery. After the brewery closed in 1956, the building housed a succession of businesses. Henrietta had hoped to attract another brewery to the space and return it to its roots, but instead, she welcomed Root, a restaurant that specializes in vegetarian and vegan food and drink. Other small businesses, including hers, fill the balance of the space. She named it Wacker on Walnut (WOW). For her efforts, Henrietta was honored with the Historic Preservation Trust’s C. Emlen Urban Award for Adaptive Reuse. 

Henrietta, however, wasn’t quite finished. Prior to the pandemic, she purchased the building at the corner of North Prince and West Walnut streets that had been home to a variety of businesses over the years and had seen better days. It was destined to become the home of Our Town Brewery, which had to weather the mandated shutdown of March 2020 before work could be completed. Once again, Henrietta won an Urban award for Adaptive Reuse. 

Serendipity

Wacker on Walnut happens to be the neighbor of Rachel’s Café & Creperie. Eight years ago, Dr. Efrem Magtagnob and Damon Myers were waiting for a table when Efrem decided to check out the window fronts of the adjoining building. Intrigued by a blue wall in Henrietta’s space, he motioned for Damon to join him. Henrietta happened to be in her office that day and invited them in. 

The satin-brass hardware, designed by Lisa Jarvis, provides the glam element.

The two, who previously lived in Brooklyn, had just bought a house in East Hempfield Township, as Efrem would be moving from Delaware in order to work in the Lancaster area (he is an internal medicine physician/hospitalist associated with WellSpan Health in Lebanon). Damon is the director of Enterprise Analytics Systems for Mount Sinai Health System and works remotely. They were already familiar with the area since Damon’s mother lives in Lancaster. “We were surprised to see how vibrant the city is,” says Damon of their first impression. 

Quartz covers the island and counters. The pendant lighting fixtures were sourced from Italy. The faucet is from Officine Gullo. The pop-up electrical outlet in the island was a surprise for Damon, who loves to cook.

The two had been searching for a suitable home when, what Damon describes as a “dream house fell out of the sky.” Built in 1978, it offered one-floor living, good bones and mid-century features. The kitchen, however, was a “disaster, but we saw its potential,” Damon explains. The thought of decorating an entire house was overwhelming. “Our apartment in Brooklyn was about the size of the kitchen in our new house,” Damon reports. They asked Henrietta if she would take a look at the house. She did so and they agreed she would start the transformation with the living areas. 

Then, she asked to see the kitchen. “Oh, my …” she says, thinking back to what greeted her. “The design was awful!” she recalls of the U-shaped configuration that left a useless “dance floor” at the back of the room, where doors led to the garage and the backyard. “The flow was terrible,” she says. One small corner window admitted natural light. The dark cabinetry only contributed to the gloominess of the room. What she perceived to be 30-year-old laminate countertops were showing their age. Another oddity: Entry to the basement was made through the garage. “That didn’t make sense,” Henrietta says. 

She basically begged them to let her design a new kitchen. “Kitchens really inspire me,” she says. They agreed it needed to be done but explained they wanted to take the time and consider what the kitchen of their dreams would look like. She understood and crossed her fingers that they would green light the project sooner rather than later. 

The Time Had Arrived 

Damon and Efrem loved how Henrietta transformed the living areas and gave her the go-ahead to begin design work for the kitchen. By then, they had established their wish list. Efrem envisioned a white color scheme and clean lines. Damon, who loves to cook, wanted a top-of-the-line range. Both wanted a coffee station. A wine bar was also desired. Better flow was critical as the two love to entertain, “and you know where everyone ends up,” says Damon: “The kitchen.” Plenty of storage was also critical. Losing the doorways was a given. Henrietta, who was grateful to be given “free rein,” went to work. 

A custom coffee station is seamlessly located between the island and the dining room.

In an era when open floor plans define design (even for remodels of period homes), Henrietta and her clients elected to keep the original layout of the house intact. In this case, it works. Walking into the foyer and passing through the living room and the den, you are awestruck when you take a left and are ushered into the kitchen. Gorgeous doesn’t begin to describe it!

Henrietta had granted Damon and Efrem all their wishes. The expanse of white exudes a sense of calm and serenity. Inset cabinetry topped with crown molding delivers a classic look to the space, while the basketweave styling of the tile floor serves as a nod to contemporary styling. Damon’s triangular work area includes the pièce de résistance of the room: a fabulous range (with deep, side-by-side ovens) from Officine Gullo, a company based in Florence, Italy. “We had to go to the showroom in New York to see their products,” Henrietta notes. 

OG’s ranges may look like something from another century, but they are modern wonders, in that they are fully customized and even have the ability to “offer advice” on proper cooking temperatures for food. 

A large wine bar is easily accessible from the island, the dining room, the den and the patio. The custom cabinetry is designed to accommodate various styles of stemware.

Once a model was selected, a color debate ensued. Damon is a fan of the color orange but agreed with Henrietta that such a specific hue could impact resale, should the need to relocate arise. “Instead, he got an orange front door,” she reports. They ultimately chose a shade similar to Tiffany Blue as the color of the range and matching hood. “I was concerned about service, but they assured us it’s available in this area,” Henrietta adds. 

The coffee station, which is outfitted with a Jura coffee maker, is conveniently located in a custom cabinet that is easily accessible from the kitchen island and the formal dining room. Drawers hold necessities for preparing coffee and other hot drinks. “Coffee stations need to be part of the design,” Henrietta says of including elements such as electrical outlets and lighting. In this case, the location is not only convenient but also aesthetically pleasing as retractable doors can be closed to create a seamless appearance. 

The wine bar also boasts the convenience factor, as it’s easily accessible from the island, dining room, den and the patio. The bar area is equipped with a large wine fridge, counter space and custom cabinets designed to accommodate various styles of stemware. 

Storage abounds. One wall is outfitted with a combination of slide-out and overhead cabinets, creating a pantry. Cabinetry also surrounds the range and encompasses the island. The abundance of storage eliminates clutter, thus maintaining the clean lines Efrem desired. 

The island’s nickel faucetry, from Officine Gullo’s Nautical Series, adds an industrial element due to the choice of unique knobs and valves. 

As for solving the light issue, the lone window was replaced by patio doors that provide easy access to the outdoor living area. “That really adds to the entertainment value,” says Damon. Recessed ceiling lights further brighten the space. Pendant lights above the island were sourced from Italy. 

The door issue was solved by creating a corridor that spans the back of the space. “We took 3 feet from the garage to create it,” Henrietta explains. “I think I measured the cars 15 times to make certain they could still fit in the garage.” The corridor now provides entry from the garage that opens into a mud-room area, a proper entrance to the basement and access to a guest suite and the laundry.   

The back wall of the original kitchen held doorways that led directly into the garage and the backyard. By taking 3 feet from the garage, Henrietta was able to create a corridor that not only provides separation, but adds a mudroom, an indoor entrance to the basement, as well as access to a guest suite and laundry.

Henrietta also granted them some surprises. Special touches include a pot filler over the range (Damon loves the convenience factor it offers and uses it all the time); a pop-up electrical outlet on the island (again, Damon loves the convenience and the fact that there’s not an obvious outlet on the side of the island); an overhang on the far-end of the island (perfect for creating a feeding station for the couple’s dogs or extra seating); a heated floor (which both humans and pets enjoy); and fully dimmable lighting (perfect for entertaining). 

The touch of glam is seen in the hardware that embellishes the cabinets and drawers. Henrietta made the acquaintance of their designer, Lisa Jarvis, at an industry show and put her on her radar for when the something special factor was needed. She instinctively knew this would be the kitchen for Jarvis’s works of art. The knobs, pulls and circular hardware that were executed in satin brass definitely add the wow factor to the kitchen. 

Happy Clients 

Damon and Efrem are thrilled with their kitchen. “It really gets used,” Damon says of preparing dinner for himself and Efrem, as well as for family and friends. (The range got a workout for Thanksgiving.) The two, who quickly became part of Lancaster’s fabric, have opened their home to fundraisers for political candidates such as Josh Shapiro and Ismail “Izzy” Smith-Wade-El. Last summer they also hosted a potluck event for members of the Lancaster Asian American & Pacific Islanders organization (Efrem is a native of the Philippines).   

Henrietta is proud of the space she created. “Design can transform your life,” she says of eliminating awkward spaces, improving flow, creating a space to relax or adding elements that make daily tasks easier. “This kitchen is not only gorgeous, but it’s functional,” she states, referring to the game plan and its results as creating “elevated ease” for her clients. 

For more information, visit henriettaheislerinteriors.com. 

Cherry Blossom Time

Mention cherry blossoms and visions of Washington, D.C., immediately come to mind. However, you don’t need to travel to the nation’s capital to see the clouds of pink blossoms. East Front Street in Marietta becomes a sea of pink each spring.

April ushers in spring blooms such as the pink blossoms that define varieties of Japanese cherry trees. Marietta’s trees exist as a result of a beautification project spearheaded by one-time resident, James Sagris, in the early ’90s.

To be honest, I had never seen Marietta’s cherry blossoms until last year, when, while traveling back to Lancaster on Route 441 on a day in mid-April, I instead headed into Marietta. The cherry blossoms were at their peak and, as promised, they were a sight to behold. Two bicycle riders, who had stopped to admire the show, shared that the rider from D.C. (of all places) had suggested to his riding partner from Lititz that they spend the day in Marietta. “I didn’t know all this was here,” the Lititz resident said of the river trail and the cherry blossoms. “It took a guy from D.C. to clue me in!” 

I wondered how the trees came to be and noticed a woman painting the scene. I recognized her as Marita Hines, the owner of MH Art Gallery and one of the founders of Marietta Art Alive. I walked over to say hello and ask if she knew their origins. She mentioned a man’s name as being the motivating factor behind their appearance. 

Intrigued, I did some online research, which divulged the name Marita had mentioned: James Sagris. According to The Marietta Traveler, Sagris, a native of Sheffield, Massachusetts, moved to the river town in the late ’80s. Sagris was a heralded artist whose expertise centered on restoring ceramics. In fact, according to a newsletter published by the Sheffield Historical Society in 1981, Sagris was regarded as among the top dozen restorationists at the time and had been commissioned to do restoration work for the White House and the State Department. Could being in closer proximity to Washington have brought him to Marietta? Marita says that could be, but as she recalls, he had friends who lived in Marietta. “He was an interesting guy,” she says of getting to know Sagris. 

Sagris purchased a house along East Front Street and planted some cherry trees in the front yard, which garnered the attention of townspeople. Soon, they began asking where they could get their own cherry trees. Apparently, that sparked an idea. Sagris proposed a beautification project that hinged on the idea of planting cherry trees along Front Street. 

This is where it gets a little murky. According to Bob Heiserman, who operates Donegal Real Estate, Sagris’s proposal had some red tape connected to it. In reality, the grassy bank on the river side of Front Street is owned by Norfolk Southern Railroad. Since the late ’90s, the Marietta Area Business Association (MABA) has leased the strip of land and has maintained it with the help of volunteers. “I’ve mowed it for 25 years,” Bob notes. How Sagris, who Bob remembers as being “an amazing talent and a unique person,” managed to gain the permission of Norfolk Southern to plant the trees, he’s not certain. “To be honest, I don’t remember them being planted,” he admits. 

The trees, which are beginning to show their age, are maintained by the Marietta Area Business Association (MABA). The organization has developed a game plan for replacing trees, as needed, and moving the tree line back 5 feet.

Bob then placed a phone call to a longtime resident, Vivian Carroll. Vivian recalled that the Kwanzan cherry trees used in the beautification project could be purchased by townspeople in honor of family and friends who had passed away. (A plaque across from Sagris’s former home salutes his efforts.) She also remembered that the trees were about 5-feet-tall and the project took about three years to complete. Estimates of the number of trees that were planted range from 100 to 250. Neither Marita or Bob know what became of James Sagris. Online searches come up empty. However, a real estate summary of 48 East Front Street (Sagris’s address) indicates it was sold in October 1993. 

Bob did share some disheartening news about the trees. Despite regular maintenance, the trees are beginning to show their age. Various websites pinpoint their lifespan to 15 to 25 years, which, based on an estimated planting time, means Marietta’s trees have well surpassed that timeframe. “We’re working on a game plan,” says Bob of the Marietta Beautification Committee (an arm of MABA), which aims to replace the diseased trees with new stock, as well as move the tree line back about 5 feet. (Another group, The Marietta Shade Tree Commission, is working to preserve the health of the river trail’s woodland, as well as beautify Marietta’s streets with trees.) 

In spring, the combination of cherry blossoms, the river trail, restaurants and shops attracts visitors to Marietta.

“It’s such a nice attraction,” Bob says of the cherry trees. “I’d hate to see them go away.” With that said, this may be the year to “think pink” and embrace the Japanese custom of taking a day to unwind, enjoy a picnic and appreciate the beauty of the cherry blossoms. 

River Towns Plein Air 2024

Marietta is home to a growing art event that represents a brushstroke of spring for artists and art lovers alike. 

Four years ago, Marita Hines, Marianne Calenda, Melissa W. Carroll, Susan Divitti Darling, Linda Mylin Ross and Joanne McIlvaine, the founders of Marietta Art Alive, had an idea to host a plein air event in the vicinity of Marietta. The Susquehanna River, tree-shrouded hills, history, period architecture, gorgeous gardens … the subject matter would be unlimited. The reaction they received to their “call for artists” indicated they had a hit in the making. The response of the invitation they issued to the public to see and purchase the resulting art was almost overwhelming. “We were flabbergasted,” says Marita of the crowds that poured into the town’s community building during the two-day show. “The room was constantly packed. A lot of art was sold,” Marita says. “I’ve been to plein air events that barely sold anything.” (Last year, 230 pieces of art were exhibited.) 

She credits the interest in the work that results from the event to its local focus. “People get a kick out of seeing their house, yard or another familiar site become the subject of a painting and want to buy it,” she says. She also points out that such exhibits attract seasoned and neophyte collectors alike. 

The cherry blossoms are always a favorite subject of artists taking part in the annual plein air event, which is being held April 10-17. Here, Joanne McIlvaine and Marita Hines (above) capture their essence.

The event, which has grown in scope over the ensuing years, also brings a sense of pride to Marietta. “People get involved by hosting artists from out of the area in their homes,” Marita reports. “And, it helps the local economy. Artists and visitors frequent the shops and restaurants.” A percentage of the entry fees and sales of art benefits the nonprofit organization, Rivertownes PA, USA.  

En Plein Air Painting became popular in Europe in the early 1800s. Thanks to the development of portable easels, canvases and oil paint encased in tubes, artists could more easily move into the outdoors and capture cloud formations, light quality, shadows and colors in real time and not from memory in their studios. Monet’s paintings that depict the water lily gardens at his home in Giverny and the iconic paintings that capture the mystical riverscapes of the East Coast or the majesty of the American West are examples of en plein air paintings. 

According to Marita, landscapes such as the Grand Canyon, the beaches of Florida, the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, etc., provide the backdrops for modern-day plein air events that attract artists from all over the country. “One of the biggest is held in Easton, Maryland,” she says, adding, “We hope to share in the success of such events.” 

Marita notes that a friend from Lancaster, Beth Bathe, travels to quite a few plein air events. “It’s a nice way to paint,” she says of her own experiences, pointing out the travel aspect, social connections, the community support and the pleasure of being outdoors all add to the enjoyment of taking part. “It’s a way to get known nationally, too,” she observes. However, it’s not all sunshine and breathtaking sunsets. Sometimes Mother Nature does not cooperate. “Let’s see,” says Martita. “We’ve had to deal with high winds and cold temperatures, but thankfully never any snow.” 

Of course, this being the 21st century, there are publications, social media sites and clubs for plein air enthusiasts. Marita notes there are plein air groups that meet and paint together in Lancaster. “It’s fun to watch people’s progress,” she says of the camaraderie that develops. 

This year’s event, which is open to artists over the age of 18, will have a juried format. Entries were due in mid-February, after which the juried process got underway to select the participants. As has been the tradition, half the artists will come from Lancaster and York counties. Painting dates are April 10-17. This year, the river will be the focus of the event, and artists are invited to set up their easels along the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail (from the Falmouth Boat Launch south), as well as at sites such as Nissley Vineyards and the Washington Boro riverfront. In York County, the designated area extends from north of Wrightsville, south to below Long Level, as well as locations such as Samuel S. Lewis State Park. 

MABA leases the strip of land that separates Front Street from the river from Norfolk Southern Railroad.

A Quick Draw event, which is open to any artist over the age of 18, will be held in Marietta on April 13.     

The exhibit/sale of artwork will be held at Studio 264 (rear of 264 West Market Street), April 18-21 (Thursday, 7-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.). 

Visit mariettaartalive.com for details about the plein air event.  For information about exhibits and workshops being held at MH Art Gallery, visit mhartgallery.com. 

Lancaster’s Gift From Japan 

Photo courtesy of Nissin Foods USA. Note: the facility is not open to the public.

Front Street in Marietta isn’t the only location in Lancaster that is resplendent in pink blossoms each spring. With more than 80 cherry trees on site, Nissin Foods, located off Route 30 and Centerville Road, brings a moment of beauty to Lancaster when the trees reach peak bloom in April. Nissin Foods’ founder Momofuku Ando’s wife, Masako, imported the trees from Japan and planted them at the facility in an effort to introduce Japanese culture and heritage to the Lancaster-based Nissin employees and community.

Marietta Cherry Blossom Benefit Music Festival

April 13, 1-6 p.m.

Here’s your chance to spend a spring afternoon in Marietta and help the cause for saving Front Street’s cherry trees. As luck would have it, last year the blossoms were in full bloom on the day of the inaugural festival and, according to Joey Bowden, the owner of the Railroad House, “fingers are crossed it will work out again this year.”

The event, which is held along East Front Street, will feature vendors, artisans and food trucks, along with two stages of live music. Restaurants will feature cherry blossom-themed menu items and drinks. The sale of wristbands will benefit the restoration project being undertaken on behalf of the cherry trees.

For details, visit “Discover Marietta, PA” on Facebook and Instagram.

Cheers to Cherry Blossoms 

“Think pink” extends beyond cherry blossoms at this time of year. Think rosé wine, cosmos and other libations. Last year, in support of the Cherry Blossom Festival, The Marietta Traveler published a recipe for a drink called the River Flower Martini. 

Ingredients 

  • 2 oz. dry gin 
  • 1/2 oz. St. Germain (elderflower liqueur) 
  • 1.5 oz. sour (or equal parts lemon, lime, sugar and water)
  • Dash of Maraschino cherry juice (preferably Luxardo cherry juice) 

Directions 

Shake ingredients on ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a cherry. 

Cheesecake Revival

Have you noticed? Cheesecake is experiencing a resurgence in popularity. From grocery stores and bakeries to specialty shops such as KelSas SweetBox, the dessert is once again enjoying must-have status due to an ever-growing array of flavors and innovative toppings. 

Clockwise from top left: Mini-cheesecake flavors include Peanut Butter & Jelly (strawberry preserves), Classic, Peanut Butter Cup, Double Chocolate, Cannoli, Lemon Curd and, in the middle, Cherry with an Oreo bottom.

Sisters-in-law Kelly Carlucci and Sasha Santana (KelSas) have known one another for 20 years. Between their two households are 11 kids, many of the same age (“cousin twins,” they call them). When cooking meals for large family gatherings, the two were accustomed to going all-out. 

Prior to opening KelSas, Kelly worked in food service for over 20 years, while Sasha was a state employee. In the balance, they were left with little personal time. Still, their busy schedules didn’t deter them from discussing a shared dream of starting a family business together. Calling one another while driving their kids around or commuting to work, the pair carved out whatever time they could to discuss ideas. 

Kelly Carlucci (left) and Sasha Santana opened their North Prince Street dessert shop, KelSas SweetBox, last September.

Ultimately, the yummy, boxed desserts they created for friends and family led them to launch KelSas SweetBox in 2020. In September 2023, they opened a brick-and-mortar storefront at 25 North Prince Street (once the home of Carmen & David’s Creamery) in Lancaster, offering  cheesecakes and other desserts, charcuterie, graze tables, samplers and catering.

Family First

Their cheesecake recipe was born in Sasha’s kitchen. “Three years ago, at the very beginning of Covid, I started to work from home, and we began to bake,” Sasha says of collaborating with Kelly. “I posted the picture of the first order, and it never stopped. In the morning, on my way to work, I would call Kelly and we would talk about our ideas, how we would start.” They made that all-important first step by meeting with SCORE and gaining a mentor. 

Sasha Santana then pipes icing atop the cheesecake.

“I wanted a future of financial freedom for our families,” says Kelly of her motivation to become a business owner. “We come from working hard, nothing has been handed to us. We have many children to keep this going, to pass the torch,” she says of instilling the entrepreneurial spirit in the next generation. “Every dollar we make goes back into the business,” she adds.  

Kelly Carlucci zests lemon on top of a blueberry cheesecake.

While everyone in the family pitches in where they can, it’s basically just Sasha and Kelly on a daily basis. “We’ve stayed up a whole weekend,” says Sasha of baking and meeting orders. “I haven’t slept in 17 years,” Kelly adds, only half-jokingly. “My youngest daughter’s first birthday is in two weeks. My oldest is 17. I started over,” she says. When it comes to running lean, she simply says, “I’m used to it.” 

Cheesecakes, Made Mini

Modern cheesecakes are generally made with a smooth, carefully combined mix of cream cheese, eggs, sugar and vanilla. According to Sasha, baking “low and slow” is the path to a cheesecake’s creamy texture, devoid of air bubbles and cracks. To further achieve a cool, creamy texture, KelSas refrigerates their cheesecakes overnight. Building on their base recipe, varieties as colorful as they are flavorful are made into full- and mini-size cheesecakes. Full-sized cheesecakes generally range in size from 10 to 12 inches, but can be customized for special requests and catering orders. The minis are approximately 2 inches in diameter, making them slightly smaller than a cupcake and just the right size for a rich dessert. 

The cheesecake base is mixed carefully, combining the core ingredients of cream cheese, eggs, sugar and vanilla.

Kelly and Sasha’s cheesecake recipe book has reached into the triple digits, featuring a regular rotation complete with seasonal specialties. Flavors such as Fruity Pebbles, Banana Pudding, Andes Mint and Double Peanut Butter Cup are playfully named treats that both dazzle the eyes and tempt the taste buds.

“With the base of the cheesecake changing, that creates a whole different feel,” Sasha observes. “A lot of [recipes] are a classic base with a different topping. Our Strawberry Champagne has a cooked-off champagne base,” she points out. 

Perfect for Easter: the Peanut Butter Cup cheesecake.

Ask them to name their favorite cheesecake variety and they respond that it depends on the day; however, Sasha admits she “could drink” the banana pudding variety and names Peanut Butter and Jelly as her favorite “right now, as of today.” Kelly cites Banana Pudding and Fruity Pebbles as her current favorites.

The Evolution of Cheesecake

Offering a different texture though similar in spirit, the primitive ancestor of the modern-day cheesecake can be traced to Ancient Greece. This distant recipe was rumored to have been served at the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C. Later, in 230 A.D., the Greek writer, Athenaeus, recorded a Greek version of the cheesecake.

The Romans took this basic recipe a step further by adding eggs to cheese, flour and honey and calling it “Libum” or “Savillum.” Recorded in the second century B.C., Cato the Elder’s De Agricultura (or “On Farming”) contains three recipes for cakes used for religious purposes. One, called “Placenta,” most resembles a modern cheesecake, as it details specific quantities of flour, cheese, honey and eggs in an oiled, covered earthenware bowl lined with bay leaves. 

The sisters-in-law and business partners perfected the recipe for their cheesecake in Sasha’s kitchen during the pandemic.

By 1390, the English had put their spin on cheesecake. An English cookbook, Forme of Cury, contained a cheesecake-like recipe whose ingredients included elderflower and rose water. 

The American version we know today was made possible when dairyman William A. Lawrence, the maker of Neufchâtel cheese in Chester, New York, added cream to the recipe in 1872. The resulting product was ultimately named Philadelphia Cream Cheese (1880), due to the softer versions of cheese that were made popular in southeast Pennsylvania. It wasn’t until 1929, after the Kraft-Phenix Cheese Company purchased the Philadelphia Cream Cheese trademark, that it was implemented into a cheesecake recipe by Arnold Reuben at his New York City restaurant, Turf. 

Lancaster, of course, has been a connoisseur of cheesecake for the past 50 years thanks to Bill and Ruth Pellman, who turned their kitchen enterprise into a thriving business called Pellman Foods in 1973. Based in New Holland, Pellman products, which includes cheesecakes, pies, layer cakes and tortes, are sold at farmers markets, grocery and specialty stores in a four-state area. Pellman products are also served in restaurants and are made available to fundraising endeavors. 

Youth Paid Work Experience 

For any food business, ingredients, kitchen equipment and labor are expensive; Kelly and Sasha realized that fact early in their journey. Now they are ready to expand where labor is concerned. KelSas SweetBox will be making their first hire outside of family through a program in which they will partner with The Mix, a local organization helping “to develop youth and families to be leaders of and within thriving communities.” 

Should you have a last-minute need for dessert, the shop’s case is stocked with mini-cheesecakes.

Funded at the federal level, the Youth Paid Work Experience program is a paid work internship for students to learn from small businesses and expand their skills and résumés, while working to help a small business grow. “Our first student will get paid through a Career Link grant [in partnership with] The Mix. The student will help us out, and we will help him learn. This student really loves baking, so this helps him on his career path,” Sasha says.

The sign says it all.

KelSas SweetBox is located at 25 North Prince Street in Lancaster. Follow along on Instagram and Facebook, @kelsassweetbox. When placing small orders, a 24-hour notice is required at a minimum. Larger catering orders are requested with a minimum of one week’s notice. kelsas.co

Be Gracious, Be Generous, Be Gregarious: Your Guide to Successfully Navigating Fundraising Events

Those perennial signs of spring are just around the corner: daffodils, robins, golfers and, in Lancaster County, fundraising events! Whether you’ll be attending your first or your 50th fundraising event, there are ways to make the most of your experience and participate in its success. 

Be it a black-tie gala or a decidedly un-gala event, you can be certain that the fundraiser’s festivities are a culmination of thousands of hours of work by committees, as well as collaborations among volunteers and employees of the nonprofit organization. The event is probably the nonprofit’s most important fundraising opportunity of the year – a make-or-break evening that can determine the budget and the success of the organization’s mission for the coming year. 

Thanks to a pause in events due to Covid and the fact that a new generation is taking part in these all-important fundraising events, we thought it would be advantageous to provide an etiquette refresher/primer for veterans and novices alike. 

The auctioneering Keller family has made fundraisers an integral part of their business. Left to right are Andy, Mike, Jess and Tim Keller.
Photo by Nick Gould.

Tim Keller, a second-generation professional auctioneer who has grown his father’s local auction business, H.K. Keller, into a specialized fundraising auction event and consulting service, advises patrons to “come with the intention of being an asset to the organization, not a distraction.” Tim and his sons, Andy and Mike, head up teams that handle more than 60 annual charitable happenings from Colorado to Florida, and especially from Harrisburg to Philadelphia. 

Be Prepared 

“There’s an unwritten rule that, if you are invited to attend a fundraiser as a guest of someone else, you are expected to support the event by at least the amount of the ticket price,” Andy Keller says. Come prepared with a check or credit card and bring some cash for the $20 side games like wine tosses, 50/50 raffles and the volunteer bartenders’ tip jars – it all goes back to supporting the nonprofit organization. “Arrive with plenty of time to participate in those small games and the silent auction before dinner,” Tim suggests. 

Be Sociable

Did you know that your reserved seat at the event’s tables is not a random occurrence? Very likely, your seat location was carefully selected by a volunteer committee or the organization’s event planner – yes, you matter! Hours of thought and discussion are invested in creating lively tables where guests are placed to interact, often based on their shared interests, or as an opportunity for them to learn more about the organization’s work through one of their representatives. 

Do be social and engage in conversations with your dinner partners; you may be surprised by what you have in common!

Be a Savvy Bidder

The live auction items are often the big-ticket items, like trips and one-of-a-kind insider experiences. Some preparation may help you land one of those gems, with a little help from your friends. Weeks before the event, most organizations will mail out their catalogues of live auction items or post the items’ details on their social media sites. This is your chance to pitch the idea of that group vacation or once-in-a-lifetime golf trip to your buddies. 

“A week at a vacation home in the Outer Banks for eight, or a gourmet dining experience for six, for example, requires some discussion with your friends ahead of the event to ensure their interest and establish a maximum bid for your group,” Tim explains. Live auction items sell in seconds, so that’s not the time to ponder. Keep that bidding paddle handy!

Be a Supportive Guest

If the live auction items are out of your budget, you can still be a stellar guest. “Be engaged, be excited, and celebrate when one of your tablemates wins a bid,” says Andy. “Cheers and applause create energy in the room.” 

Many nonprofits also offer an opportunity to simply donate to their mission through a live ask for donations. Often following an emotional touchpoint showing the organization’s life-changing impact, this appeal is your chance to add to the success of the night through a donation in an amount at your comfort level. Remember to settle up at the check-out desk, particularly if there is dancing or more fun following the auction. 

Dress for the Occasion

What to wear? Check the invitation for a hint at the dress code. Black tie is a “wow!” level formal affair. Ladies may dazzle in full-length or cocktail dresses, while gentlemen may go all out with a tuxedo or, if that’s not in your budget or closet, a well-tailored dark suit with a white shirt and conservative tie (no cartoon characters or sports logos).

If the suggested attire is not otherwise specified on the invitation, you will likely be in-step in business clothing (which is not your work-from-home look). Ditch the jeans and don tailored pants, a sport coat and open collar dress shirt, guys. Ladies, a dress, pantsuit or pulled-together separates will serve you well.

No-Nos 

  • Tim and his sons have seen their share of dicey guest behavior. Loud, obnoxious conversations during a live auction are a big no-no and reflect poorly on the self-centered revelers. This is the time to be a team player.
  • An open bar is not your signal to load up on “free” drinks (it’s a fundraiser!). 
  • Don’t be cheap. Come prepared to bid over the “retail” price of silent auction items – it’s a fundraiser, not a fire sale.
  • Please, no skipping off with your table’s centerpiece. These are usually available for purchase (and thus benefit the organization). They are not freebies.
  • “A successful fundraiser is one that offers every guest the opportunity to support the cause and genuinely feel good about their being there, with excitement and fun,” Tim notes. “That goes for us, as well. As auctioneers, we choose to do events that we can be authentically passionate about. You can’t bluff that.” 

Upcoming Benefits/Fundraisers

What follows is a partial list of upcoming fundraisers. If you’re not on an organization’s mailing list, reach out for an invitation! Even if you can’t attend, a donation is always welcomed and appreciated. 

Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development: 40th Annual Gala, Saturday, March 9, schreiberpediatric.org 

Prima Theatre: Stage Brawl, Saturday, March 23, primatheatre.org

American Heart Association: Lancaster Heart Ball, Saturday, March 23, new.eventgives/67661

Lancaster Catholic High School: Purple & Gold Gala, Saturday, April 13, lchsyes.org

Lancaster Country Day School: FunFest, Saturday, April 13, lancastercountryday.org

Lancaster Symphony Orchestra: Black & White Gala, Saturday, April 13, lancastersymphony.org 

Our Mother of Perpetual Help School: OMPH Gala for Education, Saturday, April 13, omphchurch.com 

United Disability Service: Annual Gala, Friday, April 19, udservices.org

North Museum: Cosmic Bash, Saturday, April 20, northmuseum.org

Excentia Human Services: Flamingle Gala, Friday, April 26, excentialhumanservices.org

Janus School: Raising Spirits, Saturday, April 27, thejanusschool.org

Samaritan Center: A Gala Renewed, Thursday, May 2. Samaritanlancaster.org

Lancaster County Career and Technology Foundation: Fly on the Run, Wednesday, May 8, Thursday, May 9, lcctf.org

Touchstone Foundation: Feast of the Senses, Thursday, May 9, touchstonefound.org

Water Street Mission: Top Chefs of Lancaster County, Friday, June 7, wsm.org

A Path to Genealogy

I never expected to “get into” genealogy. I had a pretty good grasp on my heritage … I thought. Then a genealogy librarian at the Allen County Public Library in Indiana handed me a large three-ring binder, my full name emblazoned across the front. I cracked it open, took a quick overview, and landed on some names I did not recognize. And my jaw dropped, literally.

The Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is home to the Genealogy Center, which is regarded as having the second-largest collection of genealogy records in the United States. Only the FamilySearch Library operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City is larger than this public collection.

By October 2023, I had finished writing a story for Lancaster County Magazine about Gregg Scott and his new book on Lancaster architect, C. Emlen Urban (see LCM Nov-Dec 2023). I wanted to write about Urban for years – a historical figure I had a passing interest in – and the premiere of Scott’s book, Urban Legend, made for perfect timing. With the copy in my editor’s hands, the Urban story was finished – or so I thought.

I was in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as part of a press trip showing visiting writers everything the Midwest city has to offer. In the morning, I got an email just before heading to the Genealogy Center, the second-largest genealogical collection in the United States and part of the Allen County Public Library. My editor, Sue Long, sent a digital proof of the Urban story for my review. I decided to look it over later in the evening.

At the library, I paged through my binder. On my maternal grandfather’s side, my fingers froze on the tab reading “Other Urbans.” Well, that is a coincidence. I did not know of any Urbans in my family tree. I flipped open the page to Benjamin Urban’s recording in the census of 1850 and spotted two items beyond mere chance – the time of his birth, mid-1800s, and the place of his birth, Conestoga. Both were familiar from my chats with Scott about C. Emlen Urban.

I immediately fired off an email to Scott: “Hey Gregg, long story short, but I’m out in Indiana at a genealogy library. Has anyone ever done any history on C. Emlen’s genealogy?” The research historian for his book, Deb Oesch, had researched Urban’s family tree. I fervently contacted her with my new information. “It appears that would make you a 3rd cousin 3 times removed to C. Emlen Urban” was her reply.

You can imagine how shocked I was to discover through the genealogy book that was prepared for me that I was related to architect C. Emlen Urban! I was thrilled to meet his great-granddaughters at a book signing Gregg Scott held at LancasterHistory.

By serendipity, I learned I am related to a subject I had been drawn to for years and just finished writing about. Amazing! The timing could not have been more cosmic. It turns out revelations like these regularly hook people into genealogical research.

The Genealogy Center

“Story changes people’s lives.” Four words. Simple. But when spoken by Curt B. Witcher, the director of Special Collections at the Allen County Public Library, those words ring a more resounding truth – one of experience, connection and worth. “There is part of us that wants to know ‘I am somebody’ and ‘where did I come from.’”

It turns out, Witcher is a rock star in the genealogy world, but he also serves as the general curator for the institution’s rare and fine book collection and supervises the new Lincoln Library. He led us on a tour of the facility, with its rows of computers, stacks of place- and name-based books, and spacious workstations where people have been known to cart in their own documents and records. The massive collection of genealogical materials is ever-growing; Witcher estimates the library adds 1,200 to 1,500 new items per month. Only the FamilySearch Library operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City is larger than this public collection.

Curt B. Wichter took visiting writers on a tour of the library’s advanced technology that is in place throughout the facility.

As a visiting writer I was given VIP treatment and the research for my binder was completed by one of the five staff genealogy librarians. These experts’ sole job is to help folks find their family members. The public can schedule a free genealogical consultation with a librarian. These take about 30 minutes, but days can be spent perusing through millions of physical records or using the library’s digital and online resources. Throughout the year, the library holds informational seminars with titles like “Using City Directories to Break Down Brick Walls” and “Tracing the Path of African Americans from Enslavement to Freedom.”

Some Local Resources
Check out these Lancaster County sources to get started on a genealogical journey:

  • Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society, Lancaster Theological Seminary
  • Lancaster Public Library
  • Seibert Genealogy Library and Resource Center
  • LancasterHistory
  • Mennonite Life 
  • Office of Records and Archives, Lancaster County Courthouse
  • Other municipal historical foundations and societies

Jump into Genealogy

Modern historians, pop culturalists and scholarly writers all honor Alex Haley’s 1976 novel Roots (and subsequent TV miniseries) as the origin of the current genealogy craze. And it is a craze. In 2014, ABC News reported genealogy was the second most popular hobby in the U.S., after gardening. A decade ago, genealogical websites had already hit 108 million visits annually. By 2023, one popular site had 200 million visits alone.

Stacks upon stacks of records and other materials fill the Genealogy Center.

Before you head off on a genealogical journey to Fort Wayne, gather as much as you can about your family history, including names, resident locations, and birth and death dates. There is a link to start your own family tree on the library website, as well as other information to help plan a visit. The library has compiled many online resources as well, including special gateways for African American and Native American researchers; digitized family history archives; and online database access to hundreds of sites like ancestry.com and newspapers.com.

The Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library produces PERSI, the premier subject index for genealogy and local history periodicals. This valuable resource provides more than 3.1 million citations to periodical sources. Access to some select resources is limited to visitors physically visiting the library.

While in Fort Wayne

Apart from genealogy research, Fort Wayne is a wonderful place for a family visit. The city is home to a minor league baseball team, the TinCaps, as well as a stellar art museum, a botanical garden, a children’s zoo and several breweries. It’s filled with public art, and has its own philharmonic and ballet. 

Fort Wayne was settled on the indigenous lands of the Miami tribe at the confluence of three rivers, so outdoor activities are plentiful and popular. There are more than a dozen parks and gardens in this city of 263,000 residents. Hiking, biking and golf are all popular among locals and visitors. The heart of downtown activity is the riverfront Promenade Park and The Landing, which is filled with special events year-round. With all this and the Genealogy Center, anyone can find themselves – like I did – in Fort Wayne.

For more information, visit acpl.lib.in.us.

CoffeeCo: 40 Years of Coffee, Food & Community

Forty years is a long time for any business to both endure and succeed. CoffeeCo achieved that milestone in December. 

The breakfast menu includes favorites such as French toast (below) and a selection of sandwiches.

“It’s amazing,” says current owner, John Smucker, of CoffeeCo’s achievement. “Chuck Williams opened the first CoffeeCo in Lancaster Shopping Center, a location we still have today. I’ve been told that in 1983, CoffeeCo was the first coffee shop in Lancaster.” 

John and his wife, Heidi, are the fourth owners of CoffeeCo, having purchased it in 2015. “We’ve built on the foundation that was laid by previous owners – great food, great drinks and a warm, friendly atmosphere,” he says. “CoffeeCo is a place of community; we aim for excellence and friendliness – it’s about every guest, every visit. We want to play a little part in making Lancaster County a great place to live.”

CoffeeCo now has five locations, all of which offer both table service and take-out. The newest location in East Hempfield Township (across from Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center on State Road) opened in December. It joins locations in Lancaster Shopping Center; New Holland; Mill Creek Square (along Lincoln Highway East) and Lititz. “We have regulars who visit us as frequently as every day, but we also have a number of first-time guests, especially in the Mill Creek Square location,” John remarks.

While the layout at each location differs slightly, the capacity is uniform, accommodating about 70 guests. The warm tones of the décor create an inviting ambiance. Outdoor seating is available at all locations during warm-weather months. 

CoffeeCo’s newest location on State Road in East Hempfield Township opened in December.

As John was sure to note, CoffeeCo is about more than coffee – breakfast and lunch fare is served. In fact, breakfast is served all day except at the Lancaster Shopping Center location, where the menu transitions to lunch at 11:30 a.m. He also takes pride in the fact that as many menu items as possible are made in-house; ingredients are locally sourced whenever possible and include products from such companies as Pequea Valley Yogurt, Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop and Maplehofe Dairy, among others. “When we bought CoffeeCo, there was an extensive food menu; we’ve built on that foundation. We do look at menu items, and if something isn’t selling well, we will take it off the menu,” he says.

The Swiss chicken spinach salad also entails bacon, tomatoes, onions and housemade poppyseed dressing.

Despite periodically editing the menus, there are plenty of options. For breakfast, you can indulge in breakfast sandwiches, omelettes, French toast or pancakes. Classic dishes include eggs made-to-order and creamed chipped beef. Or take the healthy route and savor steel-cut or house-made oatmeal or a fruit platter. Baked items such as croissants and muffins are also available.  

Popular lunch items include soups, salads, burgers and signature sandwiches such as the gourmet chicken salad melt and The 30 (grilled turkey breast, bacon, tomato, avocado and melted Muenster cheese with CoffeeCo dill ranch dressing on a grilled pretzel roll). Vegetarian items are available, as well. The dessert menu features peanut butter pie, grilled stickys and seasonal specials such as brownies and scones. There’s also a kid’s menu. A catering menu is available, as well. 

Design-your-own grilled cheese sandwiches are the perfect comfort food.

“We’re conscious of price – we want to be affordable but also have a great product and pay our staff well,” John stresses. For example, a brisket sandwich was removed from the menu when the price of brisket escalated, making the sandwich too expensive for both the restaurant and customers. CoffeeCo employs a number of long-term staff members, some of whom have been with the café for more than four years. “We’ve worked hard to make this a place where staff can have a career. We want to show our staff that the restaurant industry can offer great career opportunities,” John remarks.

As its name alludes, CoffeeCo’s menu includes a wide range of coffees (including bottomless in-house coffee), coffee drinks (cappuccino, espresso and lattes), as well as drinks such as chai tea, London Fog, smoothies, hot chocolate and ice coffee. There’s also a seasonal beverage menu. Coffee-blend, espresso and decaf beans are roasted specifically for CoffeeCo, with the recipes being proprietary to the company. In addition, whole beans and ground coffee are available to purchase at all locations. 

The omelette selection includes a design-your-own option. The dish is accompanied by a choice of two sides. Coffee, of course, is the perfect accompaniment.

CoffeeCo has five locations: Lancaster Shopping Center, 1639 Lititz Pike, 717-299-7118; 2151 State Rd., Landisville, 717-844-6473; 245 Bloomfield Dr., Lititz, 717-344-5959; Mill Creek Square, 2350 Lincoln Hwy. East, Lancaster, 717-283-4350: and 504 East Main St., New Holland, 717-354-5980. Hours are 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Sunday. Note: On Sundays, New Holland opens at 7 a.m., while Lancaster Shopping Center is closed. More information is available at coffeecocafe.com. 

For HOPE International, Money Can Buy Happiness

$1.2 million. That’s the amount of money HOPE International raised through its 23rd annual golf outing that was held last fall. The Manheim Township-based nonprofit will put those dollars to good use in the form of loans, investments and assistance to financially challenged individuals and families around the globe.

HOPE International founder, Jeff Rutt (center), and the organization’s COO, Jesse Casler (right), enjoy fellowship with a golfer taking
part in HOPE’s annual golf outing.

“We’re excited about the impact we are having,” said HOPE International founder, Jeff Rutt, who was once a dairy farmer and became a home builder with start-up of Keystone Custom Homes in 1992. Since then, Keystone has built more than 8,000 homes in south central and southeast Pennsylvania, as well as northern Maryland and North Carolina. Five years after launching Keystone, Rutt founded HOPE International; a year later, the organization’s first loans were dispersed in Ukraine.

As for the money that was raised through the golf outing, “That money will impact thousands and thousands of lives,” he noted. “Small loans can empower families to have dignity instilled in their lives. With the families we serve, we really believe God has put each of them in our hands.”

“A lot of people like to golf, and a lot of people want to impact lives around the world,” Rutt said of utilizing the game of golf as a way to help others. “This is a vehicle. It’s a way to network together, have a great time outdoors and at the same time drive out poverty. It’s a fun way of fundraising.”

The outing was conducted at three separate golf courses – Iron Valley Golf Club in Lebanon, Wyncote Golf Club in Oxford and Turf Valley Golf Club in Ellicott City, Maryland – in mid-September. Some 350 players participated. “It’s small businesses who want to get involved, and they’ll send folks on their team,” Rutt explained. “Sometimes the golfers may not even be aware of what the owner of their company is doing. They may not even be aware the company is involved with helping lives around the world. It’s a great way to get involved.”

The 2023 version of the HOPE International golf outing raised about $200,000 more than the previous year’s outing. Over the years, the golf outing has collected more than $7 million in donations. “We started very small at the beginning, but we’ve been building on it,” said Rutt. “I think philanthropy in general has changed over the [past] 23 years. It used to be, ‘We need to send our money.’ But I’ve seen a shift where the world has become smaller. The way [the outing] has grown is tied to the impact,” added Rutt. “If something works, the word spreads. Like, ‘Hey, I want to get behind something that’s growing.’ And with some of the people we work with, their businesses have grown.”

Since its founding, Hope International itself has grown. In 2004, Peter Greer became HOPE International’s president, and in that same year it distributed its 10,000th loan. Over the past 27 years, HOPE International has aided 2.7 million families in 24 countries with $1.7 billion in loans. “In the beginning, I had no idea what I was doing,” Rutt admitted. “I wanted to help, but I didn’t know how to help. God knew, and we just kept taking small steps. God had bigger plans. It was exciting to see.”

For additional information about HOPE International, visit hopeinternational.org.

 

Jeff Falk writes for the community newspapers – Merchandiser, Advertiser and Pennysaver in Lancaster County – that are published by Engle Printing & Publishing. Townlively.com.