CELEBRATING LANCASTER COUNTY'S PEOPLE, SCENERY,

HERITAGE, STYLE & POINT OF VIEW SINCE 1987.

Oola Bowls: Flavor & Nutrition in a Bowl

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It’s that time of the year. As we usher in January, we resolve to lead healthier lifestyles, beginning with the food we eat. Oola Bowls, a berry bowl and smoothie café, is passionate about people and good food. What began in 2018 as a food truck and then a stand at Lancaster Central Market, will soon grow to include a dozen locations. 

Oola Bowls’ signature offerings include açaí and pitaya bowls that are chock-full of ingredients such as fruit, peanut butter, granola, chia, honey and coconut, depending on the bowl you order. Smoothies, snacks and drinks are also available.

Oola Bowls has become known for its signature açaí bowls. Native to Brazil, açaí berries are regarded as a “super fruit,” because they are packed with antioxidants, fiber and essential fatty acids. Oola Bowls founders, Joe Ferderbar and Brock Snider, sampled açaí bowls during their various travels and decided to bring this flavorful and nutritious food to Lancaster County. But before launching Oola Bowls, the business partners spent time researching the best source of açaí berry sorbet (the base of the bowls) in an effort to find one that offered superior taste but wasn’t loaded with fillers. 

“We believe that nutritious products can help you live your best life,” Joe says. “Our goal is to offer the best açaí bowls, as well as a great customer experience. We’re in a new industry, so part of what we do is educate first-time customers about açaí. Generally, if people try it, they really like it.”

The décor of Oola Bowls locations takes its inspiration from the color of the açaí berry. Seen is the new York location. What began as a food truck has expanded to a dozen locations.

Oola Bowls’ menu includes açaí and pitaya (or dragon fruit) bowls, as well as smoothies, coffee and snacks. The signature Oola Bowl is comprised of organic açaí, peanut butter, Grandma’s Granola (made using Brock’s grandmother’s recipe), bananas, strawberries, blueberries, chia, honey and coconut. The pitaya bowl features organic pitaya, a choice of paçoca or Grandma’s Granola, bananas, strawberries, pineapple and coconut. Customers may also create their own açaí or pitaya bowls.

The pitaya bowl (right) features dragon fruit and coconut, among other ingredients.

Snacks include Peanut Butter Oola Bites, Peanut Butter Chip Oola Bites and Nutella Oola Bites. Seasonal menus feature special bowls, snacks (such as Peppermint Mocha Oola Bites and gingerbread granola), and drinks (blue agave lemonade and nitro cold brew or tea). 

 

Are you game to savor an Oola Bowl? Thanks to expansion, Oola Bowls are popping up all over Lancaster, as well as neighboring counties. In addition to Oola Bowls’ Lancaster Central Market stand, there are Oola Bowls locations on Fruitville Pike in Manheim Township, at The Shops @ Rockvale and in Intercourse. Beyond Lancaster, the Fairgrounds Farmer’s Market in Reading and a location in Lebanon are home to Oola Bowls. Two seasonal locations can be found at Hersheypark. The newest location in York opened in the fall. Several of these locations are franchises. “Franchises are the future of Oola Bowls,” Joe explains. “It’s a great way to expand our footprint.” Joe reports that Oola Bowls has recently completed franchise agreements for locations in Ephrata, Wyomissing (Berks County) and East York. 

Joe Ferderbar believes that food choices can help us lead healthier lives.

To assist franchisees, the partners developed a branding guide for décor and signage. Oola Bowls locations share a common décor, with the signature color being purple (specifically HEX#8C4799), a hue that reflects the açaí  berries’ purple skin. Oola Bowls’ logo is imposed on a wood wall, while a “wave” wall features two shades of purple in a wave pattern. 

“Some of these elements are from our first food truck,” Joe notes. “Our Rockvale location is a white building with purple accents. Before it opened, we got a lot of calls asking if it would be one of our locations just based on the paint scheme.” A few of the Oola Bowls locations have drive-thrus, while the Lebanon and York locations offer both indoor and outdoor seating.

Brock Snider partnered with Joe to bring the taste of the açaí berry to Lancaster.

Expansion has been a learning process for Joe and Brock, as well. “Everything on our menu is made to order,” Joe explains. Seeing people leave the line because it was taking too long at the Central Market location prompted a change early on. “We worked hard to streamline our process, so now we get bowls out rather quickly,” Joe reports. 

Rest assured, an Oola Bowl is well worth your time. Here’s to your health! 

Oola Bowls menu, locations and hours are available at oolabowls.com. 

To the Moon and Back … Twice … Plus 30 Miles

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When Teresa Groff of Kirkwood started working for the New Providence post office in 1986, she never thought she would end up receiving one of the rarest awards from the United States Postal Service. Decades later, Groff earned the esteemed Million Mile Award, an honor given to those who have delivered mail for 30 accumulated years or driven more than 1 million miles on a route without a preventable incident.

Teresa Groff (left) was nominated for the Million Mile Award by her supervisor, Cathleen Hodgson.

“I was very surprised,” Groff said. “I guess I always try to anticipate what other people are going to do, and I don’t take a lot
of chances.”

Groff received the award in August, along with a plaque, a pin and a coat to commemorate the achievement. Cathleen Hodgson, Groff’s supervisor at the Quarryville Post Office, nominated Groff for the award after she mentioned her desire to retire soon. “I thought, ‘She’s got to qualify.’ I looked into the award and found out that she was overqualified,” Hodgson said. “She’s such a great carrier. We needed to commend her on her service.” The total distance that Groff has driven on a mail route is equal to four times the distance between Earth and the moon, plus 30 miles.

Groff worked for the post office part time for several years, as she was raising a small child and the flexible schedule allowed her to be home early in the afternoon. Groff became a full-time rural carrier associate in 2000 and came to the Quarryville Post Office after it was merged with the New Providence location. Groff acquired a new route in Quarryville five years ago, where she delivered mail before officially retiring in September. “I got to know the community better as a mail carrier,” Groff said. “You get to know lots of people and what’s going on in their lives. If something was out of the ordinary, or if someone isn’t picking up the mail because something’s wrong, you notice.”

Groff’s colleagues at the Quarryville Post Office threw a surprise retirement party for her on September 21. In a bittersweet celebration, Groff’s fellow postal workers wished her well and mourned the office’s loss of an upstanding worker. “It was a sad moment. I didn’t want to see her go, but she had put in 37 years of service,” Hodgson said. “The knowledge she provided to so many in our craft was tremendous; she always took it upon herself to take new carriers under her wing.” When Hodgson started at the post office in 2019, Groff trained her in safe and efficient practices and showed her the delivery route. Hodgson also cited Groff as her inspiration for becoming a supervisor to better understand and meet the needs of rural mail carriers.

Groff said she is kicking off her retirement with a new adventure. Her grandchild was born in August, and she looks forward to assuming the role of the little one’s babysitter once the baby’s mom goes back to work. “I’ll miss my work buddies and the people I got to know on my route,” Groff noted.

“I’ll never forget what she has done for me,” Hodgson added. “She was always willing to help anyone and to go the extra mile.”

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

8 To-Dos for January 2024

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Ugh, the holidays are history and the winter gloom is upon us. Resolve to get out and make new discoveries in January! February events will be posted online later this month. 

 

North Museum of Nature and Science photo

1. Dinosaurs Among Us 

Through March 31
North Museum of Nature & Science 

Do birds provide a connection to the age of dinosaurs? According to the North Museum’s website, dinosaurs did become extinct, but their evolutionary legacy lives on … in birds. The exhibit highlights the unbroken line between the dinosaurs that dominated the planet for about 170 million years and modern birds. Panels in the exhibit feature large-scale color illustrations of familiar and newly discovered extinct dinosaur species as they would have looked in life.

Dinosaurs Among Us was organized by the American Museum of Natural History (New York), with support from the North Museum of Nature and Science (Lancaster), as well as the Philip J. Currie Museum (Canada), Museo de Ciencias, Universidad de Navarra (Spain) and Universum Museo de las Ciencias de la UNAM (Mexico). 

Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 400 College Ave., Lancaster. Information: northmuseum.org or 717-358-3941. 

2. International Walking Food Tour 

Select Dates in January
Downtown Lancaster 

Unique Lancaster Experiences photo

It’s the time of the year when we dream of taking an exotic vacation. Here’s your chance to indulge in culturally diverse cuisine from around the world without leaving Lancaster County! Created and organized by Unique Lancaster Experiences, a professional tour guide will acquaint you with local restaurants and food vendors whose menus harken to faraway places such as Denmark, Cuba, Japan, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Nepal and more! Award-winning chefs will share their stories of coming to the U.S. to start new lives and business ventures. Learn the history of Lancaster as a certified welcome city to refugees and minority groups. The tasting tour includes food, drinks and other food-related experiences at seven different locations. Most allergies and dietary requests (vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free) can be accommodated. Note: the tour is held year-round. Information: experiencelancasterpa.com or 717-821-5982.

3. Pennsylvania Farm Show 

January 6-13
Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center

PA Farm Show photo

Now in its 108th year, the Pennsylvania Farm Show celebrates the state’s agriculture industry, which supports 593,000 jobs and contributes $132.5 billion to the Keystone State’s economy annually. This year’s theme, Connecting Our Communities, will be complemented by nearly 4,000 animals, over 12,000 competitive events and exhibits, 245 commercial exhibits and hundreds of educational and entertaining events. The 2024 Farm Show will feature such fan favorites as the 1,000-pound butter sculpture, famous Farm Show Food Court, youth showmanship, sheep-shearing competitions and cooking demonstrations at the PA Preferred® Culinary Connection. Visitors can explore the more than
1 million square feet of hands-on agriculture education opportunities and engage with the people who power Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry.

“Visiting the PA Farm Show is like taking a journey through the heart of agriculture, where you’ll connect with the roots of our food, the spirit of our farming communities, and the boundless possibilities for finding your own path in this industry. Whether it is your first visit or you come every year, the PA Farm Show is the best place to cultivate connections with agriculture,” says Sharon Myers, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center. Admission is free, but parking at the complex is $15. Note: The Food Court will be open January 5, 12-9 p.m. Regular hours are 8 a.m.-9 p.m. daily (closing Saturday at 5 p.m.). 2300 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg. Information: farmshow.pa.gov or 717-787-2905.

4. We the People First Fridays 

January 5
Ware Center 

Yesid Gomez/ AZZURRO STUDIO photo

Millersville University hosts a community-centered event each First Friday that is designed to showcase Lancaster’s diversity from an artistic and cultural perspective. Each First Friday features an art exhibit in the Regitz Gallery and a performance in Steinman Hall. This month, the focus will be on Yesid Gomez, an artist, sculptor and consultant, who founded Azzurro Studio & Gallery in Lancaster in 2012. Gomez believes that the “power of art” can create solutions for many of the problems society faces. The theme of the art exhibit being presented by Azzurro, which continues through January 26, is A Voyage of Fear & Hope. Steinman Hall will be the setting for  An Artist’s Mind, through which Gomez will delve into the creative process by way of film and discussion (6:30 p.m.). 42 N. Prince St., Lancaster. Information: artsmu.com/ware-center.

5. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast

January 15
Millersville University 

Bakari Sellers: Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County photo

The annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast, which is sponsored by the Crispus Attucks Center, provides an opportune time for the community to come together, foster relationships, dialogue around the life and legacy of Dr. King, and confront issues of iniquity and injustice. This is the center’s largest fundraiser, annually raising $100,000, which equates to nearly 1/3 of its yearly budget.

This year’s theme, Activating the Promise of Democracy, harkens to Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech he delivered in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963. In support of the theme, this year’s keynote speaker is Bakari Sellers, whose résumé includes such notable achievements as best-selling author, activist, entrepreneur, attorney, legislator and analyst for CNN. A graduate of Morehouse College and the University of South Carolina Law School, Sellers was the youngest (22) person elected to the South Carolina legislature. He practices law in Columbia, South Carolina. Tickets are $75 for in-person and $25 for livestream. To make the event accessible to all, there is also a pay-what-you-will, in-person ticket option. 7-10 a.m. Millersville University Student Memorial Center, 113 Shenks Lane. Information: caplanc.org/MLK or 717-299-7301. 

6. Country Line Dancing 

Britain Hill Venue & Vineyard photo

So, your New Year’s resolution calls for exercising more, but becoming a gym rat isn’t in your wheelhouse. Have you considered dancing … as in country line dancing? Credit for its resurgence goes to Yellowstone (the television show). Heck, if Rip can line dance, you can, too! According to Harvard Health, an average person can burn up to 225 calories in 30 minutes by dancing (just lay off the beer and nachos). People have been line dancing all over Lancaster County for the past year in places like the Southern End (Britain Hill Venue & Vineyard and the Lancaster County Sportsfarm); Lititz (Mickey’s Black Box); Gap (White Chimneys, Jan. 20, 7 p.m.); Ephrata (American Legion); Manheim (ARTiface Ales & Mead) and Downtown Lancaster (Tellus360, Jan. 16, 7 p.m.). Information: Check websites and social media for upcoming dates.  

Photo courtesy of American Consumer Shows

7. Suburban Pennsylvania Home Show

January 20 & 21
Lancaster County Convention Center

 

It’s time to start thinking about spring and those home remodeling projects you’d like to tackle. This home show will inspire you with ideas, products and the opportunity to meet industry professionals. If what you’re looking for is home-related, you’ll find it here. Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 25 S. Queen St., Lancaster. Information: lancasterhomeshow.com.

8. Best Wedding Showcase

January 28
Wyndham Lancaster Resort & Convention Center

Photo couresy of Best Wedding Showcase

Did you get engaged over the holidays and are just beginning to think about weddings plans or are you in need of those last few details to truly make your wedding perfect? No matter where you stand, the Best Wedding Showcase can get you on the path to planning your dream wedding. During the show, you can meet vendors, learn about the newest venues, sample food and drink, see beautiful floral designs and much more. One lucky attendee will win a $500 prize that will be applied to the exhibitor of their choice. Many exhibitors will be offering prize drawings, as well. Admission is $10 and can be purchased online. 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. 2300 Lincoln Hwy. East. Information: bestweddingshowcase.com or 717-7335683.

12 Things To Do in December 2023

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The holidays are upon us, which means the calendar is packed with events that are sure to light up your December! Here’s wishing you the happiest of holidays!

 

1.Christmas Spirit Light Show

Through December 31 | Clipper Magazine Stadium

Picture courtesy of Christmas At Clipper Magazine Stadium

Enjoy hundreds of thousands of color-changing lights from the warmth of your car as you traverse a mile-long route. Tune into the show’s radio station and watch the lights “dance” to Christmas classics. Tickets (per vehicle) can be pre-purchased online or at the entry booth. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Water Street Mission. The light show operates through December 31.

In addition to the light show, you can also enter the stadium to enjoy Christmas Tree Lane (December 1-23), where 100 decorated trees will represent local nonprofit organizations. Purchase votes for your favorite trees and each will count as a donation to that tree’s charity. Event features photos with Santa, a toy drive (Tuesdays), festive food and drink and more. Reindeer will even make an appearance on Thursdays! Hours for both events are Sun.-Thur., 5:30-9:30 p.m. and Fri. & Sat., 5:30-10:30 p.m.

Also returning is the Dashing Through the Lights 5K on December 15 (10 p.m.) Run the 5K or stroll the mile-long route dressed in Christmas attire. Prizes will be awarded.

Information: christmasspiritlightshows.com.

2. Laurel Avenue Lights

Through December 31 | Lititz

Fans of holiday lighting displays have been flocking to Lititz for the last 10 years to take in the show at the Laurel Avenue home of Rich and Wendy Motz. Sadly, in a July 28 Facebook post, the Motzes announced that after this year, the elaborate display will be scaled back. “We will have a display going forward, but not to the level that we have [been doing],” Wendy explains, adding that she and Rich “hope this year will be the best ever.” The reason the Motzes are scaling back has to do with the fact that the display has become very labor intensive, requiring a 3-month set-up time, a month to operate/maintain it and another month to disassemble it. Over the course of the last 10 years, the Motzes have won several decorating contests. Last year, drone footage of their display appeared in two movies, including Three Wise Men and a Baby, which broke all sorts of viewership records on the Hallmark Channel. They’ve also given back to their community by forwarding donations they’ve received to the Lititz Fire Company. Laurel Avenue Lights will once again be hosting a zip-code-wide decorating contest that is sponsored by Lititz Springs Park and Venture Lititz (look for tour maps in early December). To see the Laurel Avenue Lights display, follow the glow in the sky from November 25 to December 31 (5:30-10:30 daily) that will take you to 659 Laurel Avenue in Lititz.

Information: Facebook.com/LititzChristmasLights.

 

3. A Longwood Christmas

Through January 7 | Kennett Square, Chester County

A Very Retro Christmas is the theme of this year’s holiday event at Longwood Gardens. Nostalgia will define this year’s event, as trees will sparkle with baubles from Christmases past and shimmer with old-fashioned tinsel. Retro toys will be on view and an area in the Conservatory will be decked out to welcome guests to a mid-century Christmas party as only the designers at Longwood can create. A vintage Christmas street scene is sure to inspire guests to reminisce about the good old days! As for the grounds, lighting displays will only add to the magical trip back in time. Music, dancing fountains, workshops and more fill the holiday calendar.

Information: Timed tickets are required, visit longwoodgardens.org or 610-388-1000. 

4. Ann Lowe, American Couturier

Through January 7 | Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library 

Looking for a fascinating day trip? Just an hour’s drive from Lancaster, you will discover Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, the legendary estate of Henry Francis du Pont. Now the home of one of the largest and most comprehensive Americana collections in the country, the galleries are hosting a tribute to Black fashion designer Ann Lowe, who learned how to design and sew from her once-enslaved grandmother, as well as her mother. Lowe (1898-1981) fashioned a career through which she created gowns for members of the Social Register. Her most famous creation was undoubtedly Jacqueline Kennedy’s wedding gown, which was recreated by the University of Delaware’s Katya Roelse and students enrolled in the Fashion and Apparel program for the exhibit. Otherwise, the 39 other Lowe gowns/dresses on view are originals. A portion of the exhibit is devoted to modern-day Black designers such as Michael B, who is represented by a gown he designed for the Met Gala. Running in conjunction with the Lowe exhibit is Yuletide at Winterthur. 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware.

Information: winterthur.org or 800-448-3883.  

5. Strasburg Tree Lighting & Holiday Home Tour

December 1-2

Photo courtesy of Strasburg Heritage Society

The holidays kick off in Strasburg on Friday night, with a tree lighting, carol singing, brass band, a bagpiper, refreshments and an appearance by Santa. The event will be held on the Strasburg Borough Lawn (Precision Ave.) at 6:30 p.m.

On Saturday, seven Strasburg-area homes/buildings of varying ages will welcome visitors for this 12th-annual tour. All will be decked out for the holidays. Pictured is the Olde Village Inn, a stop on the tour. Dating to the 1740s, it is one of the oldest grist mills in the country. Over time, it has served many purposes, including a woolen mill, an electric power plant and even a residence. Daryl and Dianna Stoltzfus purchased it in January 2023 and have spent the past year renovating it to serve as an events venue. Also, be sure to visit the First Presbyterian Church (South Decatur Street), where you can purchase tickets, food, greens and crafts and participate in a silent auction. Sponsored by the Strasburg Heritage Society, the tour is a major fundraiser, with proceeds benefiting the organization’s efforts to educate the public about the area’s rich cultural heritage and the advantages of preserving it. Tickets purchased by December 1 are $20 and are available at Speckled Hen Coffee, Main Street Antiques or online at strasburgheritagesociety.org. Day-of tickets are $25.

Information: strasburgheritagesociety.org. 

6. The Nutcracker Ballet

December 1-3 | High Performing Arts Center

Photo courtesy of Viktor Yeliohin International Ballet Academy

The Viktor Yeliohin International Ballet Academy will mark a milestone with the upcoming 30th anniversary performances of The Nutcracker Ballet. The story of Clara and her beloved gift, a nutcracker, was written by E.T.A. Hoffman in 1816. The story was adapted to ballet in 1892, with Pyotr Tchaikovsky writing the musical score. Since then, the ballet has been performed the world over at holiday time. In honor of the Lancaster anniversary, Yeliohin has invited several Ukrainian professionals, as well American dancers, to join the 100 local dancers who represent 10 dance schools across Lancaster County. In addition, many of the former dancers who performed as Clara are being invited to take part in a recognition ceremony. Friday, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, 1 & 6 p.m. Sunday, 2 p.m. High Performing Arts Center, Lancaster Mennonite High School.

Information: Tickets range from $27 to $40 and can be purchased at vyballet.com or by calling 1-610-924-3663. They can also be purchased at the door. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Ukrainian dancers affected by the ongoing war.   

7. Winterfest

December 2 | Mount Joy

Mount joy is celebrating 25 Years of Winterfest this year. Sponsored by Members 1st Federal Credit Union, the community is invited to gather and celebrate the holiday season in Downtown Mount Joy. Main Street will be closed from Market to Barbara streets for this event. Visit Santa at the Sheetz Funeral Home, enjoy live music on Main Street, and sample goodies at the food court on Delta Street. The Church of God will be hosting a children’s area that includes a petting zoo, small shoppers shop, train ride, face painting and coloring contest. The retail shops will be open for holiday shopping, while various businesses, churches and nonprofit organizations will have tables set up along Main Street. The annual tree-lighting will get underway at 5 p.m. This year’s event is being organized by the Rotary Club of Mount Joy, the Lion’s Club, Voyage Mount Joy, Kiwanis International and Friends of Donegal. 2-5 p.m.

Information: voyagemountjoy.com.

Photo courtesy of Marietta Restoration Associates

8. Marietta Candlelight Tour of Homes

December 3  

Marietta Restoration Associates hosts one of the oldest continuous holiday home tours (57 years) in Pennsylvania. From 11 a.m.-7 p.m., eight private homes, as well as historical buildings – all decorated for the holidays – will welcome visitors. Tickets can be purchased in advance ($20) at area businesses as well as online at mariettarestoration.org. Day-of tickets are $25. Free parking and a convenient shuttle service will be available. In addition to the tour, an Artist Showcase will be held. Lancaster Recumbent and McCleary’s Public House will also be sponsoring carriage rides (provided by Benchfield Farms) from 12-7 p.m. Rides are $25 per carriage if purchased by December 2 or $30 for walk-up purchases. Carriages comfortably accommodate up to four people. Pick-up and drop-off are located at Lancaster Recumbent on Market Street.

Information: For the tour, mariettarestoration.org or 717-426-4048. For the Carriage Ride, lancasterrecumbent.com/event/holiday-carriage-rides or 717-448-8464.

 

9. The Phantom of the Opera

December 8-30 | EPAC

Photo courtesy of Ephrata Performing Arts Center

As a follow-up to EPAC’s wildly popular 2021 production of Les Misérables: School Edition, Andrew Lloyd Weber’s world-famous and iconic, The Phantom of the Opera (Young Performers Production), will take to the stage in December. Love, passion and horror all descend on an 1800’s Parisian opera house as Christine, a young soprano, becomes the obsession of an enigmatic and phantasmic musical genius, who seeks to make her his protege. Filled with widely acclaimed music that has defined the musical theatre genre for nearly 40 years, The Phantom of the Opera will serve as yet another showcase for the extraordinary youthful talent that is found in our area. 320 Cocalico St., Ephrata.

Information: epactheatre.org.

10. Wolf Sanctuary of PA Full Moon Fundraiser Tour

December 23

Photo courtesy of Wolf Sanctuary of PA

Dedicated to the Cold Moon, the event will feature a roaring bonfire (weather permitting) and educational tours. Along the tour route, guides will provide information on the wolves that reside at the sanctuary, as well as facts and information about wolf conservation and biology. Bring a blanket, a flashlight, a chair and maybe something warm to drink (non-alcoholic beverages only). Reservations recommended. 7 p.m. 465 Speedwell Forge Rd., Lititz.

Information: wolfsanctuarypa.org or 717-626-4617.

Photo courtesy of Lancaster Symphony Orchestra

11. The Magic of John Williams

December 29 & 30 | Gardner Theatre

The Lancaster Symphony Orchestra will pay tribute to John Williams, a composer, conductor and pianist who is regarded as the master of providing movies with music that is not only highly recognizable but is critically acclaimed. After almost 50 years, the two opening notes of the theme from Jaws still possess the power to terrorize people! Over the course of 60-plus years, Williams has worked with an array of film directors, notably Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. He has won 25 Grammys, 5 Oscars, 4 Golden Globes and 7 British Academy Film Awards. The symphony will perform music from Star Wars, Harry Potter, ET, Home Alone, Superman, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones and more! Friday, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. The Gardner Theatre at Lancaster Country Day School, 725 Hamilton Road.

Information: lancastersymphony.orghttp://www.lancastersymphonyorchestra.org/ or 717-291-6440.

Photo courtesy of Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre

12. Tribute to the King

December 31 | Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre

Ring in 2024 by traveling back in time and rocking out to the music of the King, Elvis Presley. Back by popular demand, award-winning impersonator, Dwight Icenhower, backed by The Promised Land Band, is regarded as one of best Elvis tributes in the country. There is a lunch buffet and show that begins at 11:30 a.m. The evening event gets underway at 7 p.m. with an upscale buffet (appetizers to dessert), party favors, a 9 p.m. show and a midnight Champagne toast. 510 Centerville Rd.

Information: dutchapple.com or 717-898-1900.

The Best Of Lancaster 2023

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Drone Photography by Jordan Bush

It’s that time of the year. Your votes have been cast and the results of our annual Best of Lancaster Readers’ Survey are in.

AESTHETICS  

Barber Shop 

1. Gary & Joel’s Barber Shop (West Hempfield)

2. (Tie) The Black Comb  and Elizabethtown Barbers and Izzy’s Fast Fades (Elizabethtown) 

Cosmetic Dentistry 

1. Edward E. White, Jr., DDS: White Family Dental (Elizabethtown)

2.  Silvaggio Prosthodontics 

3.  Weierbach & Genetti Prosthodontics 

Day Spa 

1.  Luxe Salon & Spa (Lancaster & Lititz)

2.  Kairos Massage & Skincare (Elizabethtown) 

3.  Visage a Visage Spa & Salon 

Hair Salon 

1.  Attitudes Hair & Nail Salon 

2.  Luxe Salon & Spa (Lancaster & Lititz)

3.  Tangles Salon (Rohrerstown)

Manicure/Pedicure 

1.  Attitudes Hair & Nail Salon 

2.  Pinkies N Toes Nail Studio (Mountville)

3.  Luxe Salon & Spa (Lancaster & Lititz)

Med Spa 

1.  Blossom Med Spa 

2.  James Street MedSpa 

3.  Ponessa Medical Massage Center 

Tattoo Artist 

1.  Wes Schulz of Dreams Collide Tattoo 

2.  (Tie) Joshua Constein,

Zach Walter, Cactus Zach and

Carissa Eichhorn, Skintonz Tattoo Studio 

FITNESS 

Bicycle Shop 

1.  Martin’s Bike & Fitness (Ephrata) 

2.  Lancaster Bicycle Shop 

3.  The Common Wheel 

Bike/Hike/Run Trail

1.  Northwest Lancaster County River Trail 

2.  Enola Low Grade Trail 

3.  Warwick to Ephrata Rail Trail 

Dance Studio 

1.  e-dance center (Elizabethtown) 

2.  Encore Dance Center 

3.  Morton’s Dance Center (Landisville)

Fitness/Rec Center 

1.  Universal Athletic Club 

2.  Hempfield recCenter 

3.  YMCA of the Roses (Lancaster & Lampeter-Strasburg)

Pool

1.  Hempfield recCenter/East Petersburg pools

2.  Lititz recCenter/Lititz Springs pools 

3.  (Tie) Landisville Pool and Skyline Pool 

Yoga/Barre/Specialty Studio 

1.  West End Yoga Studio 

2.  Blaze Yoga 

3.  Move It Studio 

FOOD/DRINK 

Bakery 

1.  Achenbach’s Pastries (Leola)

2.  Bistro Barberet & Bakery 

3.  Lancaster Cupcake 

Brewery 

1.  Mad Chef Craft Brewing (East Petersburg)

2.  Lancaster Brewing Co. 

3.  Spring House Brewing Co. (Lancaster & Strasburg)

Candy 

1.  Evans Candy 

2.  Wilbur Chocolate (Lititz)

3.  Sweetish Candy – A Swedish Candy Store 

Catering 

1.  Cracked Pepper Catering

2.  Vigi’s Parties (Leola)

3.  Enck’s Plus Catering 

Coffee/Tea Shop 

1.  New Holland Coffee Co. (Lancaster, New Holland, Lititz)

2.  Mean Cup 

3. (Tie) Copper Cup (Lancaster, Mount Joy, Lititz), Latte Luv (Paradise) and Coffee Co. (Lancaster, New Holland & Lititz)

Farmers Market

1.  Lancaster Central Market 

2.  Root’s Country Market & Auction (Manheim)

3.  Green Dragon Farmers Market & Auction (Ephrata) 

Food Truck 

1.  Gourmet Julie’s Way 

2.  Walk-O Taco 

3.  Chellas Arepa Kitchen 

Grocery/Food Store

1.  Stauffers of Kissel Hill (Mount Joy, Lancaster & Lititz) 

2.  Giant Food Stores (multiple locations)

3. Weis Markets (multiple locations)

Prepared Food 

1.  Stauffers of Kissel Hill (Mount Joy, Lancaster & Lititz) 

2.  (Tie) Lemon Street Market and Oregon Dairy (Lititz) and Vigi’s Parties (Leola) 

Ice Cream 

1.  Fox Meadows Creamery (Ephrata & Leola)

2.  Pine View Dairy 

3.  (Tie) Son’s (East Petersburg & Quarryville) and Splits & Giggles 

Pretzels/Snack Foods 

1.  Hammond’s Pretzels 

2.  Philly Pretzel Factory 

3.  Dutch Country Hand-Rolled Soft Pretzels (Mount Joy)

Specialty Cakes 

1.  Oregon Dairy (Lititz)

2.  Lancaster Cupcake 

3.  Byers Butterflake Bakery (Leola)

Winery 

1.  Nissley Vineyards Winery & Estate  (Bainbridge) 

2. Waltz Vineyards Estate Winery (Manheim)

3.  Grandview Vineyard (Mount Joy) 

HOME & GARDEN 

Appliance Center 

1.  Martin Appliance (Brownstown & Quarryville)

2.  Brubaker Inc. 

3.  Gochnauer’s Home Appliance Center (East Petersburg) 

Carpet Cleaning 

1.  Certified Flooring 

2.  The Rug Beater (Brownstown) 

3.  Lancaster Carpet Cleaning

Electrical Work 

1.  Lancaster Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical (East Petersburg)

2.  Hawthorne Electric (Mount Joy) 

3.  Lapp Electric 

Flooring 

1.  Martin’s Flooring (Lancaster & Denver)

2.  Bomberger’s Store (Lititz)

3.  Certified Flooring 

Floral Design 

1.  Floral Designs of Mount Joy 

2.  Royer’s Flowers & Gifts (Lancaster, Columbia, Ephrata)

3.  Central Market Flowers 

Furniture/Home Accessories 

1.  Interiors Home 

2.  Always Never Done (Landisville)

3.  Martin’s Furniture (Ephrata)

Garden Center/Greenhouse 

1.  Stauffers of Kissel Hill (Lancaster & Lititz)

2.  Ken’s Gardens (Smoketown & Intercourse)

3.  Esbenshades’s Garden Centers & Greenhouse (Lititz)

Hardware Center 

1.  JB Hostetter & Sons (Mount Joy)

2.  Bomberger’s Store (Lititz) 

3.  GR Mitchell (Willow Street)

Interior Design 

1.  Interiors Home 

2.  Henrietta Heisler Interiors, Inc. 

3.  Heritage Design Interiors (New Holland) 

Kitchens/Baths 

1.  GR Mitchell (Willow Street)

2.  Bomberger’s Store (Lititz)

3.  (Tie) Kitchens by Eileen – KbE Design & Build (Brownstown) and Bath Barn (Lititz) 

Landscape Impressions

Landscape Design 

1. (Tie) Landscape Impressions (Mount Joy) and Stauffers of Kissel Hill (Lancaster & Lititz)

3.  (Tie) C.E. Pontz Sons (Leola) and Savicky Lawn Care 

Lawn/Yard Maintenance

1.  Landscape Impressions (Mount Joy)

2.  Clover Cutter Landscaping (Maytown) 

3. Tomlinson Bomberger Lawn Care & Landscape (Landisville) 

Lighting 

1.  Yale Electric Supply 

2.  Interiors Home 

3.  Olde Mill House Shoppes 

Outdoor Living Center 

1.  Stauffers of Kissel Hill (Lancaster & Lititz)

2.  Bowman’s Stove & Patio (Ephrata)

3.  (Tie) Fox Country Sheds (Lititz) and Penn Stone 

Paint/Wallcovering Center 

1.  Grauer’s Paint & Decorating (Lancaster & Lititz) 

2.  Phillips Paint & Decorating 

3.  Bomberger’s Store (Lititz)

Painting/Wallpaper Contractors 

1.  Ville Painters 

2.  Joel’s Painting Contractors 

3.  Two Dudes Painting Company 

Plumbing/Heating/Cooling 

1.  Neffsville Plumbing & Heating 

2.  Lancaster Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical (East Petersburg)

3.  Ranck Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning 

Residential Builder/Remodeler 

1.  Metzler Home Builders 

2.  Ebersole Brothers Construction (Mount Joy)

3.  Garman Builders (Lititz)

Residential Cleaning 

1.  A Divine Clean 

2.  Garman’s Cleaning (Manheim) 

Roofing 

1.  Joyland Roofing (Elizabethtown) 

2.  George J. Grove & Son 

3.  Greenawalt Roofing (Silver Spring) 

Window Treatments 

1.  Phillips Paint & Decorating 

2.  Grauer’s Paint & Decorating (Lancaster & Lititz) 

3.  (Tie) Interiors Home and Jackson’s Window Shoppe 

Windows/Doors/Exteriors 

1.  GR Mitchell (Willow Street)

2.  George J. Grove & Son 

3.  Choice Home Remodeling, Inc. (New Holland) 

PETS 

Groomer 

1.  Keystone Pet Place (Lancaster & Mount Joy) 

2.  Gochenauer Pet Resort (Lititz)

3.  Renee’s Pet Grooming (Mountville)

Pet Boarding/Daycare 

1.  Gochenauer Pet Resort (Lititz)

2.  Oscar’s Pet Resort 

3.  Canine Country Club (Manheim) 

Dog Sitter/Walker 

1.  Once Upon a Dog Tail (Landisville)

2.  Moritzen Family Pet Sitting 

3.  Your Place or Mine Pet Sitting (Columbia)

Pet Store 

1.  That Fish Place – That Pet Place 

2.  Keystone Pet Place (Lancaster & Mount Joy)

3.  Basset & Lab, LLC

Rescue Organization 

1.  Pet Pantry of Lancaster

2.  Humane Pennsylvania Lancaster Center for Animal Life-Saving 

3.  Pennsylvania SPCA Lancaster Center 

Veterinary Practice 

1.  Metro Pet Vet Lancaster, Leola, Downtown 

2.  Landisville Animal Hospital 

3.  Neffsville Veterinary Clinic 

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 

Accountant 

1.  Kyle Lin: Acuity Advisors and CPAs, LLP

2.  Brian W. Rosenberg: Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz 

3.  Brad Rauch: Cloister Group 

Attorney 

1.  Christopher P. Larsen: Georgelis, Larsen & Sabatino Injury Law Firm, P.C. 

2.  Gregory Hirtzel: Fowler Hirtzel McNulty & Spaulding LLP 

3.  (Tie)John R. Gibbel: Gibbel Kraybill & Hess LLP and

Marci S. Miller: Gibbel Kraybill & Hess LLP 

Bank/Credit Union 

1.  Fulton Bank 

2.  Members 1st Federal Credit Union 

3.  PNC Bank

Insurance Agent 

1.  Lee Kennedy: State Farm Insurance 

2.  Ethan Gibbel: Gibbel Insurance Agency (Lititz)

3.  Rip Lawhead: State Farm Insurance (Willow Street) 

Photographer 

1.  Jeremy Hess: Jeremy Hess Photographers 

2.  Nick Gould: Nick Gould Photography 

3.  Janae and Hugo Tomas: Janae Rose Photography 

Real Estate Agent 

Tony Zook

Craig Hartranft

1. (Tie) Craig Hartranft: The Craig Hartranft Team, Berkshire Hathaway Homesale Realty

    and Tony Zook: Remax Pinnacle 

3.  Jessica Mann: Manor West Realty 

RESTAURANTS 

Breakfast 

1.  Gracie’s on West Main (Leola)

2.  Rachel’s Café & Creperie 

3.  Gus’s Keystone Restaurant (Mount Joy & Ephrata) 

Buffet/Smorgasbord 

1.  Shady Maple Smorgasbord (East Earl) 

2.  Miller’s Smorgasbord (Ronks) 

3.  Dragon Hibachi & Sushi Buffet 

Casual Dining 

1.  Blue Collar Restaurant, Bar & Catering (Landisville)

2.  Lancaster Dispensing Company 

3.  (Tie) Annie Bailey’s Irish Public House and Trio Bar and Grill (Silver Spring) 

Celebrating/Special Occasion 

1.  The Belvedere Inn 

2.  (Tie) Josephine’s Downtown and The Log Cabin (Leola) 

Dinner 

1.  The Belvedere Inn 

2.  Horse Inn

3.  LUCA

Hotel Restaurant 

1.  Plough: Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square 

2.  John J. Jeffries: Lancaster Arts Hotel 

3.  Loxley’s: Heritage Hotel 

Lunch 

1.  Rachel’s Café & Creperie 

2.  Isaac’s Restaurants (Lancaster, Mount Joy, Lititz, Ephrata)  

3.  Coffee Co. (Lancaster, New Holland, Lititz)

New Restaurant 

1.  401 Prime 

2.  Passerine 

3.  Frisco’s Mount Joy 

Outdoor Dining 

1.  Tobias Frogg 

2.  TJ Rockwell’s (Elizabethtown) 

3.  Loxley’s 

Pub/Bar 

1.  Annie Bailey’s Irish Public House 

2.  Stubby’s Bar and Grille 

3.  Quip’s Pub 

Take-out 

1.  Caruso’s (multiple locations) 

2.  Rice & Noodles 

3.  Two Cousins (multiple locations)

Weekend Brunch 

1.  Eden Resort 

2.  Rachel’s Café & Creperie 

3.  Square Mile Public House (Mountville) 

SPECIALTIES OF THE HOUSE 

Asian Fusion 

1.  Oka Asian Fusion 

2.  Issei Noodle 

3.  SukhoThai Restaurant 

Barbecue 

1.  Harvey’s Main Street BBQ (Mount Joy) 

2.  Rocky’s BBQ (Columbia)

3.  Hess’s Barbecue Catering, Inc. (Willow Street) 

Beer Selection

1.  The Fridge

2.  Funck’s Restaurant & Bar (Leola)

3.  Mad Chef Craft Brewing (East Petersburg) 

Burgers 

1.  Cabalar Meat Co. 

2.  Horse Inn  

3.  Route 66 Restaurant 

Chinese 

1.  Hong Kong Garden 

2.  Jade Garden (Mount Joy) 

3.  Café East (Centerville)

Dessert 

1.  Bistro Barberet & Bakery 

2.  (Tie) Fox Meadows Creamery (Ephrata & Leola) and Lancaster Cupcake 

Indian 

1.  Himalayan Curry & Grill 

2.  Taj Mahal Restaurant 

3.  Namaste Restaurant 

Italian/Mediterranean 

1.  Ciro’s Italian Bistro 

2.  Lombardo’s Italian American Restaurant 

3.  LUCA 

Mexican/Latin American 

1.  El Serrano Restaurante

2.  Tequila Mexican Grill & Bar (Rohrerstown)  

3.  Cocina Mexicana 

Pennsylvania Dutch 

1.  Dienner’s Country Restaurant (Ronks)

2.  Shady Maple Smorgasbord (East Earl) 

3.  Miller’s Smorgasbord (Ronks)

Pizza 

1.  Caruso’s (multiple locations)

2.  Two Cousins (multiple locations)

3.  LUCA 

Sandwiches 

1.  Isaac’s Restaurants (Lancaster, Mount Joy, Lititz, Ephrata) 

2.  Cravings Gourmet Deli 

3.  Caruso’s (multiple locations)

Seafood 

1.  Gibraltar Restaurant 

2.  Kyma Seafood Grill (Stevens) 

3.  The Fat Crab Café/Mr. Bill’s Fresh Seafood 

Steak 

1.  401 Prime 

2.  The Belvedere Inn 

3.  Johnny’s Bar & Steakhouse (Stevens) 

Sushi 

1.  Oka Asian Fusion 

2.  Ginza Sushi 

3.  Wasabi Sushi (Willow Street) 

Tequila Mexican Grill & Bar

Walk-O Taco

Tacos 

1.  (Tie) Tequila Mexican Grill & Bar (Lancaster & Rohrerstown) and Walk-O Taco (food truck) 

3.  Cocina Mexicana 

Vegetarian/Vegan 

1.  Root 

2.  Harvest Seasonal Grill 

3.  (Tie) Callaloo Trinidadian Kitchen and Decades 

Wine/Spirits Selection 

1.  The Belvedere Inn 

2.  Harvest Seasonal Grill 

3.  (Tie) Gibraltar Restaurant, Horse Inn, The Greenfield Restaurant & Bar, and The Log Cabin (Leola) 

Wings 

1.  Beanie’s Bar & Grill (Mount Joy) 

2   American Bar & Grill 

3.  Stubby’s Bar & Grille 

SHOPPING 

Car Dealership 

1.  Lancaster Toyota 

2.  Jones Honda 

3.  New Holland Ford 

Clothing Store/Boutique 

1.  Boscov’s Department Store 

2.  Knock Knock Boutique (Elizabethtown) 

3.  Clemintines Boutique (Lititz) 

Consignment 

1.  Fashion Cents (Strasburg & Ephrata)

2.  Next to New Fine Clothing 

3.  Ooh La La Consignment 

Jewelry 

1.  Brent L. Miller Jewelers 

2.  Koser Jewelers (Mount Joy) 

3.  Ream Jewelers 

Thrift Store 

1.  MCC Thrift Shops (multiple locations) 

2.  Community Aid 

3.  Goodwill (multiple locations)

Vintage 

1.  Space 

2.  Maejean Vintage (online) 

3.  Redeaux Vintage 

THINGS TO SEE AND DO 

Art Gallery 

1.  ESOarts  

2.  Liz Hess Gallery 

3.  Friendship Heart Gallery & Studio 

Art/Craft/Maker Show 

1.  Long’s Park Art Festival 

2. (Tie) Mount Gretna Outdoor Art Show and The Rotary Club of Lititz Craft Show 

Fair/Festival 

1.  Elizabethtown Fair 

2.  Ephrata Fair 

3.  Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire (Manheim) 

Family Fun 

1.  Dutch Wonderland 

2.  Cherry Crest Adventure Farm (Ronks)

3.  Hersheypark 

Golf Course 

1.  Overlook Golf Club 

2.  Crossgates Golf Club (Millersville) 

3.  Four Seasons Golf Club (Landisville)

Live Music Venue 

1.  Tellus360 

2.  American Music Theatre 

3.  Phantom Power (Millersville)

Museum/Heritage Site 

1.  Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum 

2.  North Museum of Nature and Science 

3.  President James Buchanan’s Wheatland 

Park/Recreation Area 

1.  Long’s Park 

2.  Lancaster County Central Park 

3.  Overlook Park 

Performing Arts 

1.  Fulton Theatre 

2.  Sight & Sound Theatres (Ronks) 

3.  Servant Stage Company 

Pick-your-own Produce/Flowers 

1.  Cherry Hill Orchards 

2.  Country Joy Flowers (Elizabethtown) 

3.  Shenk’s Berry Farm (Lititz) 

Special Occasion Venue 

1.  Stone Gables Estate/The Star Barn (Elizabethtown) 

2.  The Smoker Farm (New Providence) 

3.  (Tie) Bluestone Estate Weddings (Refton), Eden Resort and Pepper Theo Café 

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS

Cardiologist 

Devyani Chowdhury, MD
Ajay R. Marwaha, MD
Dana M. Weinstein, MD
Gurpinder K. Chatha, MD
Neil R. Clark, MD
Scott T. Riebel, MD
Matthew Bernabei, MD

1.  (Tie) Devyani Chowdhury, MD: Cardiology Care for Children,

    Ajay R. Marwaha, MD: Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health,

    Dana M. Weinstein, MD: Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, 

    Gurpinder K. Chatha, MD: Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, 

    Neil R. Clark, MD: Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, 

     Scott T. Riebel, MD and

     Matthew Bernabei, MD: Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health

Keith Yocum, DC

Keith Krueger, DC

Chiropractor/Holistic Practitioner 

1.  (Tie) Keith Yocum, DC: Elizabethtown Family Chiropractic and

     Keith Krueger, DC: Krueger Chiropractic Clinic 

3.  David A. Carbo, DC: Wenger   Chiropractic Group

Edward E. White, Jr., DDS

Dentist 

1. Edward E. White, Jr., DDS: White Family Dental (Elizabethtown) 

2.  Matthew D. Freedman, DMD 

3. (Tie) John M. Schmidt, DMD: Cosmetic and Family Dentistry, 

    Donald Burgess, DMD and

    Thomas Sardina, DDS: Sardina Dental Group (Landisville)

Desiree A. Antonacci, MS

Dermatologist 

1.  Desiree A. Antonacci, MS: Dermatology Associates of Lancaster 

2.  Jennifer A. Sceppa, MD: Dermatology Associates of Lancaster 

3. (Tie) Christina N. Lawson, MD: Dermatology Associates of Lancaster, 

    Joanne Rill, MD: Dermatology Associates of Lancaster and 

    Richard J. Herschaft, MD: Dermatology Physicians and Laser & Skin Care Center 

Francis J. Manning, MD

Eye Physician 

1.  Francis J. Manning, MD: Manning, Rommel & Thode Associates 

2.  Bethany Rommel, MD: Manning, Rommel & Thode Associates 

3.  Roy D. Brod, MD: Lancaster Retina Specialists 

Gary S. Gehman, MD

Family Physician 

1.  Gary S. Gehman, MD: Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health 

2.  (Tie) Bradford Granger, MD

     and Christopher Putney, MD (Strasburg) 

Hospital 

1.  Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health: Lancaster General Hospital  

2.  Penn State Health: Lancaster Medical Center

3.  UPMC: Lititz 

Angela Shuman

Nurse 

1.  Angela Shuman: Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center 

2.  Anna Cooney: Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health 

3.  (Tie) Deborah Larsen, LPN: Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, 

    Kristin Beard, RN: Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health and

    Trinket Abbott: Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center 

Thomas R. Westphal, MD

Orthopedic Physician 

1.  Thomas R. Westphal, MD: Lancaster General Health Physicians Orthopaedics

2.  (Tie) Gary M. Zartman, MD: Lancaster Orthopedic Group and

     Vincent Battista, MD: Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster 

Pia Boben Fenimore, MD

Pediatrician 

1.  Pia Boben Fenimore, MD: Lancaster Pediatric Associates 

2.  Laura Poskitt, DO: Clinic for Special Children (Strasburg) 

3.  Daniel Summers, MD: Roseville Pediatrics 

Physical Therapy Practice 

1.  HARTZ Physical Therapy (multiple locations) 

2.  Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster (multiple locations)

3.  (Tie) CPRS Physical Therapy (multiple locations) and

     Drayer Physical Therapy (multiple locations) 

Physician Assistant 

Chase Schaeffer, PA

Hannah M. Wilson, PA-C

Francine L. Redman,
CRNP, FNPBC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.  (Tie) Chase Schaeffer, PA: Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health,

    Hannah M. Wilson, PA-C: Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health and 

    Francine L. Redman, CRNP, FNPBC: Penn State Health 

Maulik B. Patel, MD

Masood Ahmed, MD

Pulmonologist 

1.  (Tie) Maulik B. Patel, MD: Pulmonary Associates of Lancaster and

Masood Ahmed, MD: UPMC 

3.  (Tie) Yaroslav Lando, MD: Pulmonary Associates of Lancaster and

    Shakeel Amanullah, MD: Pulmonary Associates of Lancaster 

Surgeon 

1.  Thomas R. Westphal, MD:  Lancaster General Health Physicians Orthopaedics

2.  (Tie) Gregory A. Tocks, DO: Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster, 

    John C. Rodgers, MD: Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster and

    Wendell L. Funk, MD

Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Urgent Care Norlanco

Urgent Care 

1.  Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Urgent Care Norlanco (Elizabethtown)

2. (Tie) Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Urgent Care Kissel Hill (Litiz) and MedExpress 

COMMUNITY 

Artist/Maker 

1.  Liz Hess: Liz Hess Gallery 

2.  Andrew Silvius: crumbsLANC and ESOarts

3.  (Tie) Keisha Finnie,

Suzanne Rende: Suzanne Rende Artworks & Murals and The Artful Nest (Marietta)

and Andy Smith: Andy Smith Watercolor (Lititz) 

House of Worship 

1.  Lives Changed by Christ (LCBC) Church 

2.  First United Methodist Church 

3.  Calvary Church 

Joe Calhoun, WGAL

Anne Shannon, WGAL

Media Personalities 

1. (Tie) Joe Calhoun, WGAL  

    and Anne Shannon, WGAL 

3. (Tie) Gere Gish, WGAL

    and Lori Burkholder, WGAL 

Neighborhood 

1.  Lititz 

2.  Chestnut Hill, Lancaster City

3.  Grandview Heights, Manheim Township

Nonprofit Organization/Charity 

1.  Anchor Lancaster 

2.  Clinic for Special Children  (Strasburg)

3.  Bear Bags (Elizabethtown Area School District) 

School 

1.  Hempfield School District 

2.  Dayspring Christian Academy (Mountville)

3.  Penn Manor School District 

Taylor Mohr, Kissel Hill Elementary

Teacher 

1.  Taylor Mohr, Kissel Hill Elementary (Warwick SD)

2.  Brad Miller, Landisville Primary Center (Hempfield SD)

3.  Randy Gehman, Dayspring Christian Academy 

Senior Living Community 

1. Willow Valley Communities 

2.  Masonic Villages (Elizabethtown) 

3.  Landis Homes (Lititz)

Word That Best Describes Lancaster County 

Drone Photography by Jordan Bush

1.  Scenic 

2.  Diverse 

3.  Historic 

The Belvedere Inn: Cheers to 25 Years

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What constitutes success in an industry that is rife with challenges? In the case of The Belvedere Inn, the buzz that surrounds the menu, the décor, the staff and the promise of a fun evening out continues to drive its success. Still, it’s been a long and winding road for owner Dean Oberholtzer to reach this milestone anniversary. “Change is a constant, especially in this business,” he has discovered. “You just have to learn to go with the flow to survive.” 

Ahead of its milestone anniversary, Dean worked with designer, Olga Lambesis, to completely redecorate the Belvedere. Tim Arpin of The Gilded Lily now oversees the holiday décor for the Belvedere, as well as the other Vescor-owned restaurants.

Survive he has. Dean and his partners, Justin Ang, John Costanzo and Daniel LeBoon, now oversee four restaurants, all of which are in the city. In addition to The Belvedere Inn, their hospitality company, Vescor, operates Josephine’s Downtown, C’est La Vie and 401 Prime. While the three additions to the portfolio follow in the footsteps of the Belvedere where food, décor and the entertainment factor are concerned, each possesses its own unique menu and personality.   

The Sky is Not the Limit 

Becoming a restaurateur was not always in Dean’s plans. His grandfather and father, Leon Oberholtzer, were Mennonite ministers and missionaries. Church assignments took the family as far away as Tampa, Florida, and as nearby as Steelton, Dauphin County. Home base was a house Dean’s grandparents had built on his great-grandfather’s Leola-area farm. “I grew up along Creek Road,” he notes, adding that his parents resided there until their recent move to a local retirement community. A graduate of Lancaster Mennonite High School, Dean set his sights on the skies and enrolled in the aviation program at Hesston College in Kansas. He soon decided it would be better if he kept his feet on the ground. 

On the Cover: Nick Gould photographed Dean Oberholtzer, the owner of The Belvedere Inn, on the occasion of the restaurant’s 25th anniversary. The Belvedere, as well as C’est La Vie, Josephine’s Downtown and 401 Prime, will all be decked outfor the holiday season.

Debt from college loans prompted the need to find a job. “My dad got me a job [with a kitchen manufacturer], but I hated it,” Dean recalls, adding that he was disheartened to learn that friends were making more money bartending and waiting tables at local restaurants than he was on a production line. Opportunity knocked and Dean became a banquet server at the former Historic Strasburg Inn. He immediately recognized that he had found his niche. 

After two years at the Historic Strasburg, he then accepted a position at the former Olde Greenfield Inn. “I originally worked for Janet and Elam Lapp, and when Ray and Sue Hottenstein took over, I worked for them for five years. I went from being a server to being a manager one night a week. I consider Ray and [the late] Bob Fenninger, as well as John Keares, to be my biggest mentors. I learned so much from them.” 

From the Greenfield, Dean went to work for the Keares Group, first at Doc Holliday’s and then at Gibraltar, where he was tapped to be the opening manager. 

A Harmonious Collaboration

That’s where he met Shirley Fultineer, whose dream was to open a bar. She achieved that goal through Dean and went on to become his right-hand woman. Shirley had learned through the grapevine that John and Katina Keares, owners of the Harmony Inn, a popular bar and restaurant at the corner of North Queen and West Lemon streets, were looking for new partners and a new direction. Dean, along with Owen Seachrist, took a meeting (arranged by Shirley) with the couple. The two ultimately became the Keares’ new partners at the Harmony Inn. A name change followed. The Belvedere Inn made its debut in July 1998, which according to Dean, “seems a lifetime ago.” 

Dean was determined that Shirley would play a key role at the restaurant. “She became ‘the face’ of the Belvedere,” he says of her role as the restaurant’s assistant manager. Shirley was often the first staff member arriving guests would encounter. “I was happy to let her take on that role,” he says. “I was content to stay behind the scenes.” 

 

 

C’est la Vie 

Inspired by French bistros, this window-filled restaurant provides a view of Central Market. Here, the color scheme is earthy and the vibe is casually upscale. The menu is adventurous and includes hors d’ oeuvres, sandwiches (Croque Monsieur), brick-oven pizzas and entrées such as boeuf bourguignon and coquille Saint Jacques. The bar specializes in inventive cocktails. 

The earthy color scheme stumped Dean as to how to decorate the space for the holidays. Entrer Tim Arpin of The Gilded Lily, who introduced metallic neutrals, earth tones and other elements to the décor.  

C’est La Vie is located at 18 North Market Street. Lunch and dinner are available Tuesday-Saturday. Clvlancaster.com. 

 

 

Five years in, Dean bought out his partners and was able put his own spin on the menu and décor. “When we opened the Belvedere in 1998, our vision was to provide a fun place that served great food and drinks in a warm, friendly, elegant and lively atmosphere,” he recalled in an article that appeared in this magazine in 2008. Now, he was ready to up the ante. 

You could say that Dean essentially returned the Belvedere to its roots. Built in 1869 by Strasburg tobacco merchant, John S. Rohrer, the Italianate-style residence was designed with hospitality in mind. It was here that Rohrer entertained friends and colleagues, inviting them to climb to the rooftop “belvedere” and take in the views it offered of the city. 

According to records, the building served as a residence until sometime in the 1920s, at which time it became the home of the private Harmony Club. Over the years it served as a bar and as a boarding house, becoming the Harmony Inn sometime in the late ’50s or early ’60s. 

David Haines bought it in 1981 and sold it six years later to open D&S Brasserie with Steve Kirkessner. They would again join forces in 2009 to open D&S Fireside Tavern, which is located at the Historic Strasburg Inn (now Clarion Inn Historic Strasburg), verifying that everything in Lancaster is truly connected, especially in the restaurant industry! Adding to that sense of connectivity is the fact that Dean celebrated his 21st birthday with a drink at the Harmony Inn’s bar. 

Recognizing its Potential 

Ahead of the Belvedere’s 1998 debut, the restaurant was refreshed with paint and new carpet. Still, Dean always felt the potential was there for more. Prior to the Belvedere’s 10th anniversary, Dean collaborated with the late designer, John W. Hughes, to redecorate the building top to bottom. The results were breathtaking and reflected an elevated sense of Victorian elegance via animal-print carpet, vivid wall color, faux painting techniques, beautiful artwork and lighting fixtures and the list goes on. While the rooftop belvedere is now off-limits, a gardenesque balcony on the second floor provides views of the neighborhood’s streetscape. The bar echoes the restaurant’s sophisticated yet friendly ambiance. 

 

 

401 Prime 

When Tom Ponessa first showed Dean his beautiful restaurant, Amorette, Dean admits he was a bit jealous. “He had done a gorgeous job [designing and decorating it]. I was envious. I was blown away! Then I got a little nervous, knowing it was only a block away from the Belvedere.” Opened in 2018, Amorette specialized in Asian- and French-inspired food. Its wine program was unsurpassed. The pandemic forced it to close in 2020 and it did not reopen until summer 2021. 

When Ponessa decided to sell, Dean was one of the first people he approached to take it over. “There was no question; I said yes right away,” he recalls. Renamed 401 Prime, the restaurant takes its inspiration from upscale steakhouses of yesteryear but puts a modern-day spin on the concept through offering products such as wagyu beef. “We didn’t change a thing except to  transform a wine cooler into a meat-aging fridge,” Dean reports. Open since last November, the team still made it a priority to enliven the beautiful décor with holiday decorations. 

401 Prime is located at 401 North Prince Street. It is open Tuesday-Saturday for dinner. 401primelancaster.com.       

 

 

The Belvedere also has a unique lounge area on the second floor that has been called Crazy Shirley’s since its inception. Its logo pays homage to its inspiration – Shirley Fultineer – right down to the animal-print eyeglasses and cigarette. “Shirley loved animal print,” Dean remarks of his long-time friend and colleague, who died at the age of 85 in August 2021. It’s been the scene of musical entertainment for the last 25 years. After a break due to Covid restrictions, Crazy Shirley’s is back on track. Currently, on the second Sunday of each month, Lindsay Bretz Morgan (who is also a server) brings her cabaret show, Showtune Sundays, to Crazy Shirley’s. Live jazz is offered on Friday and Saturday evenings. 

A Mainstay: Grilled Caesar Salad 

As for the menu, the Belvedere has been a trend setter since it opened. Dean shrugs at the notion that he helped to pioneer farm-to-table dining in Lancaster. “Farmers would just show up at the back door with produce and we’d buy it,” he says of incorporating Lancaster County farm-fresh products into the menu. “It didn’t even have a name then,” he says of the farm-to-table concept. “It was something we just started doing because of the freshness factor.” 

No doubt, the best-known item on the menu is the restaurant’s heralded grilled Caesar salad that has been available since day one. Starters range from lobster & crab dip to Belvie Sliders (wagyu beef and an array of toppings served on a bao bun). Entrées include such favorites as four-hour braised short ribs and pan-seared halibut (with cranberry bean ragout). Desserts include a modernized Lancaster County favorite: chocolate peanut butter bread pudding. 

Victorian Goes Modern  

Aware that The Belvedere’s 25th anniversary was approaching, Dean deemed it was time for a complete makeover. “It needed to be done,” he says. Having worked with Olga Lambesis, a designer from Hershey, on decorating C’est La Vie and Josephine’s, he once again relied on her talents to update the Belvedere. “Olga’s great at tweaking my ideas and making them special,” he says. “She also takes my old-fashioned ideas and puts a contemporary spin on them.” 

The makeover was executed last year and unveiled in time for the holidays. The transformation brings a modern spin to the interiors. Step inside the entry doors and you’ll immediately notice a beautiful chandelier. “The owners of Next to New called and said I had to see it,” he says of the find. “They were right; I had to have it!” The tiled floor and carpeted staircase set the tone for what’s to come: a bold black-white-and-red color scheme infused with geometric design elements. In the dining room, the carpet is repeated while the linen-topped tables are surrounded by chairs covered in a black crocodile-inspired fabric. The walls are now covered in a geometric-patterned wallpaper. It’s fabulous!  

Shiny & Bright!

Of course, this is the time of the year when the Belvedere really shines. The restaurant’s holiday décor, which commences with sidewalk planters and a festively decorated vestibule and continues inside with color-coordinated trees, wreaths, garland and more, is considered must-see. “The reservation requests start coming in over the summer,” Dean reports. “It’s at the point where people now request certain tables.” 

The tradition began in December 1998. “I just love Christmas and I’ve always loved to decorate for it,” Dean says, explaining it’s a genetic predisposition. “My mother, Leona, was big on Christmas, as was my grandmother,” he says. “They loved to decorate their homes.” 

That first year, Dean brought all his decorations from home and decked out the Belvedere. “Everyone loved it; the decorations were a huge hit,” he recalls. He repeated the gesture the following year and a precedent was established for not only the Belvedere but for other area restaurants. 

 

 

Josephine’s Downtown 

Josephine’s roots extend to Marietta, where Chef Daniel Le Boon’s French-inspired menu attracted legions of fans. Despite its closure in 2011, Josephine’s lived on in the palates of its fans. Several years later, Daniel became the Belvedere’s executive chef and ultimately became part of the restaurant group’s management team. When the opportunity to buy Carr’s Restaurant materialized, Dean jumped at it, telling LNP in June 2019 he had always been envious of the center-city location. Josephine’s opened in the lower level of the Hager Building later that year. Here, Chef Daniel oversees the menu that combines his love of French cooking and fresh ingredients. The menu sublimely complements the restaurant’s swanky supper-club ambiance, which at holiday time is elevated with decorations that add color and sparkle to the premises. Half the fun, however, is trying to name the Old Hollywood celebs whose portraits fill the walls of the restaurant. 

Josephine’s Downtown is located at 50 West Grant Street. It is open Tuesday-Saturday for dinner. Josephinesdowntown.com.  

 

 

In order to deliver the wow factor year after year, Dean began expanding his inventory. “The third floor is filled with decorations,” he says. It soon became a tradition for Dean and his staff to decorate the restaurant just before Thanksgiving. Later he turned the job of designing and securing new decorations over to professionals. (In the bar, Dean’s personal collection of gingerbread figures continues to be displayed at holiday time.) 

Not knowing how to decorate C’est La Vie, whose color scheme revolves around earth tones and citrusy hues, he turned to Tim Arpin of The Gilded Lily for help. Tim now oversees the holiday décor at all four restaurants. In the case of the Belvedere, “It goes up the second or third week of November – guests who come for Thanksgiving dinner have come to expect it – and stays up well into January,” Dean explains. “We host a lot of post-holiday parties and people enjoy that the decorations are in place.”   

A Pandemic Pause 

You can’t discuss history without touching on recent events, namely the pandemic. Like all restaurant owners, Dean was faced with having to pivot from one day to the next. “We had just opened C’est La Vie and Josephine’s,” he recalls of early winter 2019. By March 2020 all three restaurants were closed due to the state’s Covid regulations. “I was depressed,” Dean admits. He found an outlet in helping Justin find photos of Hollywood stars to add to Josephine’s décor. “That became my therapy,” he notes. “We started with 140 and now have over 400.” Because of Josephine’s confined spaces, the restaurant literally had to remain closed for 18 months. Spacing requirements for tables deemed it useless to reopen the Belvedere. 

So, Dean coped by offering take-out from the Belvedere and C’est La Vie when that became viable. He also renewed his pre-Covid efforts with the city to allow him to offer outdoor seating on Market Street. “Four or five restaurants would benefit, not just C’est La Vie,” he points out. Fortunately, the city relaxed restrictions and allowed city restaurants to expand to outdoor sidewalks and thoroughfares in order to continue operations and meet state guidelines. C’est La Vie continues to offer outdoor dining. “It’s still hugely popular,” Dean reports. 

At the Belvedere, Dean invested in three greenhouses that were situated on the balcony. They proved to be so popular that they’ve become another seating option, as they are in service from November to April. “People love them,” Dean says of the greenhouses that seat four, are heated and provide for a magical dining experience.  

The pandemic prompted a change at the Belvedere that proved to be beneficial and remains in effect. Lunch is no longer served. “With so many people working from home, we just didn’t see demand for lunch return,” Dean explain. “It’s turned out to work in our favor. The staff isn’t stressed, and we get to stay on top of maintenance. If someone asks, we refer them to C’est La Vie, which is open for lunch.”  

Kudos

On a final note, Dean says he will always be indebted to his staff. “When we were able to reopen at the Belvedere, everyone came back. We have staff members who have been here for a long time. Guests like knowing that.” One staff member, server Jamie Hornberger, has been at the Belvedere since day one. “He has developed quite a following,” Dean says. 

Dean has never been busier, and nothing makes him happier than to see his restaurants filled with people who are enjoying a night out, celebrating a special occasion or simply stopping in for a drink before or after heading for the Fulton Theatre or a social event downtown. “I try to get to all four restaurants during the evening,” he says. “It’s kind of like going to four parties!” 

The Belvedere Inn is located at 402 North Queen Street in Lancaster. Dinner is served each evening. Belvederelancaster.com. 

Rachael Lugo: Juliet’s Guiding Light

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Always interested in interior design, Rachael Lugo’s life and career path took a few detours before she fully embraced her talent. She credits her late daughter, Juliet, for showing her the way. 

For Christmas 2022, Rachael utilized metallics and sparkle to complement the neutral color scheme of the living areas of her home. She also decorated two identical 9-foot trees to balance the expansiveness of the living room. A self-confessed bargain shopper, she furnished the room with a white sectional sofa she found at Costco; the draperies were a find from Amazon.

As the daughter of missionaries, Rachael recalls a childhood that was spent on the move. “I was seven when we moved from Bucks County to Lancaster,” she explains of finally putting down roots. High school presented a challenge of another kind. Following graduation, Rachael became a teenaged mother with the birth of her daughter, Juliet Benson. Nonetheless, she mapped out a future that would allow her creativity to shine by enrolling at the Lancaster School of Cosmetology and later earning credentials through the Philadelphia Institute for Laser Medicine. She became part of the staff at Luxe Salon & Spa. 

Ten years ago, her life was drastically changed. In January 2013, Juliet’s father, Lucas Malmer, lost his battle with cancer. He was only 33. Following her father’s death, Juliet began dealing with depression, which was further exacerbated by bullying at school, which of course spilled over to social media. Counseling ensued. Medication helped somewhat. 

The family dog, Kai, lounges by the fire while Rachael puts the finishing touches on a tree.

In September 2014, Juliet sought a release from the turmoil she was enduring by taking her own life. She was 16 years old. As Rachael shared with WGAL and LNP, she had done her diligence as a mother and talked to school officials and even the mother of Juliet’s most ardent tormenter. At one point, she even confiscated Juliet’s phone so that she could not see the online bullying. As Rachael told WGAL’s Meredith Jorgenson, “High school is hard for all kids. I made it through, and I just assumed that she would too.”  

Rachael likes to change the color scheme for holiday décor from one year to the next. Bargain finds: décor from Hobby Lobby and Michaels.

Following Juliet’s death, Rachael, lost her will to engage in life. “I stopped working. I couldn’t get out of bed for a year,” she explains. 

Then, a lifeline came her way. An acquaintance called and asked if she could do her makeup for her engagement photos. Rachael agreed to the request. The photographer enjoyed working with Rachael and asked if she would be interested in working with her on weddings and other projects. “All I could say was, ‘I’ll try,’” Rachael recalls. Between the photography projects and being tagged on social media, bookings for Makeup Artistry by Rae filled her calendar. New avenues also opened for Rachael. “That got me into commercial and pageant work,” she says. 

Unexpected surfaces such as mirrors get decorated. Bargain find: greenery from Goodwill.

Filling her days with work helped to a degree. But she still felt the void that losing her daughter had created. “I needed something else to occupy my mind other than grief,” Rachael explains. “That’s when I decided to throw myself into my other interest, interior design.” 

Rachael proceeded to buy a house that needed some TLC. “I just threw myself into remodeling and decorating that house,” she recounts. She began posting pictures of the progress she was making and before she knew it, she had thousands of Instagram followers. Rachael had found her way out of darkness. Juliet Interiors was born. “I know she’s up there looking out for me,” Rachael shares. “She keeps putting things in front of us.” 

Splurges include tabletop décor from Beautiful Home Interiors that can be carried well into winter.

Us is Rachael and her husband, Mike Lugo, who is a real estate investor and the general manager at John Rock, Inc. (Coatesville), which is regarded as the country’s largest manufacturer of pallets and crates. The two met when Rachael was working for a local restaurant and one day was delivering pizza. They made eye contact as they were making their way through traffic. The next thing she knew, he began following her. “I left the house I was delivering to and found him blocking my car in the driveway,” Rachael says, admitting she was nervous. The ploy was an innocent one; Mike asked for her telephone number, but she suggested he order a pizza and they could see where that would lead. “He did exactly that the next day. That was 18 years ago, and the rest is history.” 

New marble floors lead the way from the foyer to both the living and dining/sitting rooms. Rachael says the makeover is a marriage of her style (glam contemporary) and Mike’s (modern with clean lines).

During Covid, Rachael honed her skills by taking online courses through the New York Institute of Art & Design. Subsequently, her next project materialized. “I found a house on Facebook Marketplace,” she explains. Built in 1998, its original occupant was the owner of a tile business. The current owners had been trying to sell it for 10 years. She immediately saw why it hadn’t sold: “There was tile everywhere!” Adding to that was the fact that it was very outdated from a design perspective. “Boxy” is the way Rachael describes the layout. 

The Lugos lived in the basement for five months while the first floor underwent a complete transformation in order to create an open-concept floorplan. The new kitchen features a waterfall-edge island. Sadly, the Lugos had to say goodbye to Pookie earlier this year.

When Mike saw the house, he thought Rachael had lost her mind. “I saw the potential,” she says. “My husband did not. ‘Trust me,’ I told him.” 

Against his better judgement, Mike instilled his trust in Rachael and the house was theirs. She set to work redesigning the layout, with the goal being to create an open concept first floor. “I think nine or 10 tons of tile was taken out of here,” she says. Walls came down. New flooring was installed. A new kitchen emerged. A combination dining room/sitting room was created that included a wine room that is tucked beneath the staircase. “The main floor was done in one shot,” she explains. “We lived in the basement for five months.” The new layout delivers a living area that is light, bright and airy. In Rachael’s estimation the redesign is a perfect marriage of her style (contemporary glam) and Mike’s (modern with clean lines). The recently completed second floor echoes the look and feel of the main floor. 

The breakfast room is outfitted with a table Rachael found on Facebook Marketplace. Originally painted brown, she transformed the base with white paint, giving it a new lease on life.

Rachael also employed her talents for ferreting out bargains to decorate the house. “I’m a sucker for a good deal,” she laughs. “You’ll see everything in my projects,” she says, referring to finds from Goodwill and consignment shops to discoveries made through Facebook Marketplace and Amazon. She also can’t resist splurging on items from local sources such as Beautiful Home Interiors.  

Sparkle is another must-have and complements Rachael’s love of glam design.

Over the years, Rachael has expanded her resumé to include commercial (restaurants and salons) and residential (homes and airbnbs) projects. “I’m at the point where I breathe and sleep interior design,” she reports. 

She also feels Juliet’s presence in the house. “I feel like this is her house,” Rachael says of the cathartic release she experienced through transforming the house into their home. 

The expansive dining/sitting room (and adjoining kitchen) is perfect for entertaining. The Lugo home has become the go-to place for holiday dinners that welcome family and friends. Last New Year’s, they hosted a party for neighbors. Tabletop décor is from At Home and Goodwill, while the chiffon runner is from Amazon, as is the lighting fixture.

Rachael has always loved to decorate for Christmas. “I’ve always loved the sparkle and magic of Christmas and because of Instagram, I knew it had to be a big deal,” she says of going into holiday mode by late October. For their first Christmas in the house, Rachael installed one tree in the living room. Last year, she invested in two 9-foot trees. She also situated one in the dining/sitting room. “I like a contemporary look for Christmas,” she elaborates. As you can see from last year’s décor, Rachael employed lots of sparkle and a variety of metallics to complement the neutral color scheme. “I like to change it up from year to year. This year I’m toying with doing red,” she said in early September of her plans for Christmas 2023. She names Michaels and Hobby Lobby as her go-to sources for holiday décor. 

Wanting to find a more creative use for a closet that was tucked beneath the staircase, Rachael and Mike came up with the idea of transforming it into a glass-enclosed wine room. “It just adds to the mood of the room,” she says. Since these photos were taken, the staircase was replaced and the second floor was remodeled to echo the look and feel of the main floor. Light-hued LVT flooring replaced the tons of tile that were removed.

Now that the house is finished, Rachael plans to do more entertaining. “It’s become the go-to place for family holiday dinners,” she notes, adding that by holiday, she means all of them. “They are kind of potluck affairs; everyone brings something.” For such dinners, the concept of family extends to friends who don’t have relatives in the area. “Last year, we had a New Year’s Eve party for our neighbors,” Rachael says. “That was a lot of fun. It was the first time we met some of them.” 

Follow Juliet Interiors on Instagram @Juliet_Interiors_Home. 

A Christmas Miracle! Michter’s Whiskey Cake 

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In early December 2018, I was invited to a celebration of Dick Stoll’s 85th birthday. The last master distiller at Michter’s Distillery in Schaefferstown had gone on to become the first half of the Stoll & Wolfe Distillery in Lititz, where the event was held. A concurrence of extraordinary rarities commemorated the occasion, including a 30-year-old bottle of whiskey, a peculiar birthday cake and the search for a nearly forgotten recipe.

A photographic recreation of the cover of Michter’s Recipe Notebook, featuring Michter’s Whiskey Cake and “Wonderful Good” Egg Nog. Also shown is a Michter’s 750 mL hex decanter, 1753 jug decanter (and candle holder), quart jug and a “Love and Romance” hex cup. The sealed 1970s Michter’s Sour Mash Whiskey bottle, distilled in Schaefferstown by Dick Stoll, is courtesy of Michter’s historian, Ethan Smith.

It was a laid-back evening at Stoll & Wolfe Distillery that saw many people stopping by to wish Dick a happy birthday. I pulled up a chair next to Ethan and Gretchen Smith, collectors and absolute historians of the storied Michter’s Distillery in Schaefferstown, Lebanon County. I perceive Ethan to be the ampersand in “Stoll & Wolfe,” as he is credited with having made the fortuitous introduction of Dick Stoll to Erik Wolfe.

Illustrated recipes from the Michter’s Recipe Notebook include Carriage House Mince Meat, Michter’s Amish Coffee, “Wonderful Good” Egg Nog, Blue Mountain Pumpkin Custard, Michter’s Whiskey Cake and Schapp’s Sauce. Just recently another Michter’s cookbook popped up on Ebay. Dating to 1959, its title is Michter’s Plain and Fancy Pennsylvania Dutch Cookbook.

Without ceremony, Ethan quietly produced a vintage bottle of Michter’s Whiskey. It was distilled by Dick and predated the Schaefferstown distillery’s closure on Valentine’s Day, 1990.

Unexpectedly, Ethan generously offered me a sip of the sour mash whiskey. In disbelief, I felt I should decline, understanding its rarity. But then again, it struck me that the opportunity might never present itself twice. His offer was sincere. I was restrained but no fool. The moment I took a sip, there was less Michter’s whiskey left in the world. It was wonderful and an experience made better by knowing I was sampling whiskey that’s about as old as I am, all the while I was seated next to the man who distilled it. I will never forget that once-in-a-lifetime gesture by Ethan.

Now having a flavor reference of the original Michter’s 86 Proof Sour Mash Whiskey, I asked Ethan what spirit he considers a modern facsimile. “Old Forester 86” was his reply, adding, “Old Forester is about the closest you’re going to get in flavor to the original Michter’s without spending serious coin.” This would quickly become a necessary anecdote.

The “Birthday Cake”

At the next table over sat Sam Komlenic, an editor at Whiskey Advocate. Sam has probably forgotten more about whiskey than I will ever hope to know. He had baked a birthday cake of sorts that was being passed around to those nearby. Prepared in a sheet pan covered in waxed paper, it was sliced into finger-food-sized portions. That isn’t how I typically approach cake, but hey, it’s still cake! 

Dick Stoll’s 85th birthday party was held at Stoll & Wolfe Distillery on December 8, 2018. Left to right are Sam Komlenic, Jordan Bush, Dick Stoll, Ethan and Gretchen Smith, and Erik Wolfe. Photograph courtesy of Jim Wolfe.

Dick and Elaine Stoll met through Michter’s, where he was a distiller and she conducted tours during the summer months. Their birthdays are a month apart (Elaine’s on October 30 and Dick’s on November 28). Dick would have been 90 this month. Photograph courtesy of Jim Wolfe.

Taking a bite, it became clear why the portions were small: it was a whiskey cake. And not just any whiskey cake, it was a Schaefferstown Michter’s Whiskey Cake, soaked in sour mash whiskey. Dense and flavorful, the whiskey contributed warmth and spice to the delicious, fruited cake. In amazement, Elaine Stoll, Dick’s wife, shared she had sampled many whiskey cakes over the years, but Sam’s was “the best by far.”

Naturally, I asked Sam about the origins and recipe of his whiskey cake. He instructed me to find a copy of Michter’s cookbook. I had no idea such a book existed, something he offered up as though the book and its information were common knowledge. He let me in on a secret, too: “Soak the cake in whiskey for a week or two, covered tightly in the fridge.”

Recipe Hunting

I was 30 years too late to walk into the Schaefferstown distillery to buy a copy of the recipe book. Instead, I saved an eBay search for “Michter’s” and waited. In the meantime, on August 13, 2020, Dick passed away at the age of 86. Four months after Dick left us for the angel’s share, my eBay search produced a listing for not one but five copies of the Michter’s recipe book. Of all places, the seller was in Lititz and offered local pickup. It was a Christmas Miracle! Clicking “Buy it Now,” all five copies were mine. Eager to retrieve my prize, I drove the windy, snow-covered backroads to Lititz, a short trip that felt like a lifetime.

The cake is baked with a pound each of candied cherries and dried dates, both of which I soaked in Old Forester 86 bourbon. Out of the oven, the cake weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces (before the final dose of whiskey was added)!

Collecting my package on the seller’s front porch, I couldn’t wait and opened the envelope while parked in their driveway. To my surprise, each copy of the recipe “book” was pristine, with crisp edges and tight binding. The fully embossed cover features a colorful spread of desserts and drinks that are accompanied by stoneware whiskey decanters sold by Michter’s. No author or publication date was listed. The only date shown – “1753” painted on a stoneware – alludes to the first distillery at that site, which was started by Swiss-Mennonite farmers, John and Michael Shenk, in the year 1753.

To my surprise, the recipe book isn’t in a traditional format. Instead, it’s a notepad titled, Michter’s Pennsylvania Dutch Whiskey Recipe Note Pad. Each tear-out page contains a recipe and illustration using Michter’s Whiskey, being careful to capitalize MICHTER’S, emphasizing the point of the handout. These notepads weren’t created to endure but to be consumed and shared like a good bottle of Michter’s whiskey. 

Carefully turning the pages, I scanned to find Michter’s Whiskey Cake recipe listed on page five. All told, there are six recipes repeated throughout the notepad, each using whiskey: Carriage House Mince Meat, Michter’s Amish Coffee, “Wonderful Good” Egg Nog, Blue Mountain Pumpkin Custard, Michter’s Whiskey Cake and Schapp’s Sauce. 

Arriving home, I messaged Elaine to let her know I finally found the collection of recipes. Back when the Schaefferstown distillery was open, Elaine, who was a teacher, worked as a summer tour guide at Michter’s, where she met Dick. Surprisingly, Elaine didn’t have the recipe book, so a copy went back to Lititz for her. Elaine recognized it, explaining they were offered for sale in the gift shop for a few years beginning in 1976.

Following Sage Advice

Taking the input of Ethan Smith, Sam Komlenic and Elaine Stoll into account, I made a few revisions to the recipe. Instead of using a rare, 30-year-old bottle of Michter’s Whiskey distilled in Schaefferstown, I took a cue from Ethan and used Old Forester 86. 

I candied cherries with a 1/2 cup of sugar and simmered them over low heat for roughly an hour, letting them cool before adding chopped, dried dates. 

Make sure to heavily grease the bundt pan; I used room temperature, unsalted butter.

I accidentally doubled the amount of dates and was pleased with the outcome. Covered, I let them sit out in a bowl overnight so as not to affect the baking temperature with a chilled ingredient. 

Four hours at 265 degrees and a broom cake tester produced a clean result. Still in the pan, the hot cake weighed 6 pounds and 10 ounces before one cup of whiskey was added to the cheesecloth. Adding a splash of whiskey every few days, the cake was kept covered tightly in the fridge for several days (or even weeks for a softer texture) before being enjoyed in excessive portions.

Whiskey Cake Trivia

Yes, the jokes about fruit cake are sure to begin soon. But, add whiskey, and I’m sure you’ll change your opinion. 

Curious about the origins of such cakes, I did a little digging and discovered some historical background through the website, Rabbit Hole. It seems that 200-plus years ago, whiskey provided such cakes with more than flavor and a kick. Whiskey also served as a preservative that allowed cakes to stay fresh long after their shelf life would have expired. It seems we have Ireland and Scotland to thank for the treat. 

According to Rabbit Hole, “Whiskey cake is a historical recipe that has withstood the test of time. The earliest writing about it extends as far back as the 1700s, with the delicious baked good providing a tasty treat for Irish families in the 18th century. 

The story of how whiskey cake came to the U.S. has something in common with how the country became a key player in the whiskey community. As with the drink that gives it its name, whiskey cake soon found its way across the Atlantic Ocean as European colonists migrated to the Americas, bringing their favorite dishes with them. Once imported to the colonies, whiskey cake proved to be just as much of a success with the colonists as it was with their relatives across the sea.”

The narrative went on to share that George Washington was one of whiskey cake’s biggest fans. In fact, the Emmy Award-winning show, A Taste of History, even provided a recipe that is thought to be the same one that was used at Mount Vernon. 

Congratulations!

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As we prepare to usher in 2024, we’d like to say “Cheers” to the following businesses, organizations and individuals that are marking milestone anniversaries in 2023. 

Railroad House Inn, 200 years 

Fulton Theatre, 170 years 

Lancaster NAACP, 100 years 

Junior League of Lancaster, 100 years 

Giant Food Stores, 100 years 

E.H. Gochnauer & Sons, Inc., 90 years 

New Holland Farmers Day Association, 90 years

The Log Cabin Restaurant, 90 years  

McCaskey High School, 85 years 

Metzler Home Builders, 70 years 

June Smith, organist at St. Paul’s UCC (Manheim) for 70 years 

Bill Rhoads, organist at Otterbein United Methodist Church (Lancaster) for 70 years 

Ephrata Cloister Museum Store, 65 years 

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church’s Greek Food Bazaar, 65 years 

Dutch Wonderland, 60 years 

George Grove & Son, Inc., 60 years 

Mountville Library, 60 years 

Spanish American Civic Association (SACA), 50 years 

Elizabethtown Fair, 50 years 

Martin Appliance, 50 years

Mount Joy Area Historical Society, 50 years 

MVE Group, 50 years 

Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitors Center, 50 years 

White Family Dental, 40 years 

Whitmoyer Auto Group, 40 years 

Joe Calhoun, chief meteorologist, WGAL, 40 years 

Coffee Co., 40 years 

Isaac’s Restaurants, 40 years 

Arch Street Center, 40 years 

Wolf Sanctuary of PA, 40 years 

Lancaster Farmland Trust, 35 years 

Schreiber Pediatric’s Rubber Duckie Race, 35 years 

Heart of Lancaster Art & Craft Show, 35 years 

Groff’s Plant Farm, 30 years 

Noah F. Boyle Cabinets, 30 years 

Phillips Paint & Decorating Center, 30 years  

The Belvedere Inn, 25 years 

Landmark Homes, 25 years 

Champ’s Barber Shop & School, 20 years 

Clemintines Boutique, 15 years 

Grandview Vineyard, 10 years 

Beau’s Dream Park, 10 years 

Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute, 10 years 

Space, 10 years 

Walk-O-Taco, 5 years 

To Write of Architecture…

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Over coffee, on a sunny day in the city, two writers speak of the beauty of Lancaster’s architecture. I am chatting with architect turned author, Gregg Scott, about Cassius Emlen Urban. And I am discovering how deep another writer will dig to unearth a story with veins touching almost everyone who strides upon the Red Rose city’s sidewalks. 

Gregg Scott inspects the intricate moulding that distinguishes a period fireplace.

Anyone who has walked along the streets of Lancaster has met the work of architect C. Emlen Urban. There is Lancaster’s first “skyscraper,” the Griest Building; the Southern Market; and the Fulton Theatre. Tourists meet Urban through staying at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square, its façade the remains of his Watt & Shand building. The pious know him as they walk past the St. James Parish House on North Duke Street. He created Roslyn, the mansion home of Peter T. Watt on Marietta Avenue. The list of Urban’s projects, I soon discover, stretches beyond my wildest suppositions.

November 15 marks the official release of Gregg Scott’s book on the life and work of architect C. Emlen Urban. Several book signings are planned for November and December. A portion of the proceeds will benefit LancasterHistory and the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County.

Reynolds Middle School, which Urban created in 1927, is my closest appreciation for the architect’s work. The building was not only my junior high school, but also the view from my bedroom window. I always loved the building. My young hands traced the building’s tan bricks; we kicked soccer balls against its walls, skateboarded in its shadow. Wonder drove my thoughts on school days passing under the cast stone embellishments over the doorways. My mild curiosity with Urban pales in comparison to the connection Gregg has made with his fellow architect. He is now poised to release a detailed book on Urban. 

Finding Lancaster 

“Ever since I was a little kid, I loved art. Drawing was my passion. I was terrible at mathematics, except for geometry,” remembers Gregg, who was even tapped to help instruct his high school geometry classes. “So, when it came time to choose a career, I was bent on becoming a graphic designer. However, my father had a different idea because he was a mechanical and electrical engineer and couldn’t wrap his head around art as a way to make a living.”

Urban was a master of 21 different styles of architecture. His work can be seen across six states.

Gregg’s father started to bring home charts and graphs detailing possible careers. They agreed architecture was a blend of what they both wanted for a future. Gregg attended Penn State and graduated with honors in 1973. Originally from Bucks County, he now laughs at the seriousness of what brought him to Lancaster: unemployment. This was the ’70s, and the economy was mired in stagflation. A former professor connected him with Jim Reese, who was looking to fill a position at Haak Kaufman Reese and Beers Architects in Lancaster, which is now RLPS Architects.

“I became a partner four years later. My career was essentially designing retirement living, travelling throughout the United States, and I didn’t really have too much time to appreciate our community historically,” says Gregg. Nonetheless, Gregg embraced an opportunity to write a column on architecture for LNP. The idea was sparked by his newly discovered joy of Lancaster’s buildings.

Scott & Urban

“I was standing in Penn Square on a beautiful autumn afternoon enjoying the day when my attention was directed to the surrounding buildings,” he recalls. “I realized then that I wasn’t just looking at them, but was appreciating them. I said, ‘Wow, this is amazing.’” Even though Gregg was active in the community throughout his professional career, including 22 years of writing a monthly architectural column for LNP, it was not until 2018 that he began to focus on the brilliance of one particular architect who “benchmarked everything.” 

C. Emlen Urban was born in Conestoga Centre 160 years ago. Not the best of students (he tied for last in his class at Lancaster Boys High School), he launched his prolific career as an architect with an apprenticeship.

Thus began a mission to find out more about C. Emlen Urban. “I embarked on a quest to learn more about this guy. Who was he? Where was he born? Where did he grow up? What made him tick? The more I learned, I realized Urban was different than any other architect I have studied in terms of his ability and his moxie,” recalls Gregg.

He found two unheralded, historical pamphlets about Urban, which served as the perfect launching point for his research. Then, in 2019, Lancaster Newspapers released its archives to newspapers.com, opening a trove of information. He employed Deb Oesch, a research historian. The investigation took off, and he soon uncovered hundreds of architectural commissions assigned to Urban for buildings throughout six states. “It was like a Gatling gun of information. I didn’t know what to do,” explains Gregg. “All this information came flooding in, and no one was aware of it. It helped me to learn who he was and what he did.”

In 2016, there were 94 commissions accredited to Urban in those two publications. When we met for coffee in the spring of 2023, Greg reported the known total had boomed to 544 projects. Since then, Gregg’s work has continued, and the number has escalated to an architectural feat exceeding 760. Gregg has no problem declaring Urban as Lancaster’s most prolific architect of the 19th and 20th centuries. “How does one person with only a high school diploma and no partners produce that much work in 50 years, and quality work? It’s unheard of.”

C. Emlen

Cassius Emlen Urban, who always reduced his forename to C., was born in Conestoga Centre, Lancaster County, on February 20, 1863. His father was a successful carpenter by trade, a musician in the Civil War, and operated a mill in the city. The family moved to 544 South Queen Street with the young Urban, his three sisters and one brother; in 1880 the family built and moved to a home one block away. In that same year, Urban graduated from Lancaster Boys High School, where he tied for last place scholastically but nonetheless was invited to present a valedictorian address. He did not attend a college or university; instead he went straight into apprenticeship with a combined four years spent in Scranton and Philadelphia.

One of Urban’s more famous residential projects was Roslyn, whose story is detailed in the book.

At age 21, Urban moved back to Lancaster and set up his first office in the Urban & Burger’s Planing Mill. Soon after starting his practice, he was married to Jennie Olivia McMichael and moved to 141 East New Street. He and his wife had two children and moved to 212 East King Street in 1896, where the family lived until 1914.

“Through my research I have discovered not only was Urban prolific in his work, but he practiced in 21 different styles of architecture,” says Gregg. In Urban’s time, it was customary for an architect to specialize in a particular style, be it Romanesque, Victorian, Queen Anne, etc. – Gregg likes to call these “architectural languages.” Specialization means an architect will know every detail about the design. “He had to understand design details, colors, materials, proportions in 21 different languages. Not only that, but he was also able to design 54 different kinds of buildings,” Gregg elaborates.

Urban was, and still is, a force on the city skyline. Of his approximately 650 projects in the city, Gregg suspects about 85% are still standing today. One of Gregg’s favorite Urban buildings is the Kirk Johnson building on West King Street, which he calls “a toybox of lush, gooey architectural details,” followed closely by the former Stevens High School at the corner of West Chestnut and North Charlotte streets. One of the most respected and admired Urban works is the Watt & Shand façade. “He was a little unorthodox and bold. When he debuted Watt & Shand’s new department store in 1898, it was the only white building in the city. That takes courage. Every other building in Lancaster was red brick. He convinced Peter T. Watt and James Shand to introduce a Beaux-Arts French-inspired building in Lancaster County! I mean, we are as far removed from Paris as the man in the moon,” says Gregg. “He obviously had some persuasive power. He introduced Europe into this city.” 

Urban Legend

The culmination of Gregg’s acquired information will result in the first hard-cover book on Urban. Gregg’s goal is to pre-sell 500 copies of his book, Urban Legend: The Life & Legacy of C. Emlen Urban, before its release in mid-November. (He emailed me one month before the release date to let me know sales had just passed 425 copies.)

“Through 25 narratives, the book chronicles Urban’s life and his work with some of the most beautiful architectural photography you will ever see,” says Gregg. The book includes creative exterior visuals and photos of interior work not available to the public. Lancaster photographer, Matthew Tennison, presents Urban’s work “in ways you have never seen it before. He is able to catch the magic of the buildings,” Greg notes. 

The book will also include reproductions of ink-on-linen drawings and designs by Urban. Urban Legend will explore the facts surrounding some residential and commercial commissions designed by the architect. The photos are rich with captions that complement the narratives. In all, the book will detail 17 architectural styles while delving into the history of buildings and their owners. “It is not just about the architecture. That is only one part of the story. I will not put readers to sleep with architectural jargon. I aim to entertain and educate,” promises Gregg. 

Gregg chose the ancient Roman decoration, Egg & Dart, as the name of his publishing company and partnered with Fig Industries for the design and marketing. Preorder sales are discounted until November 14 and will be signed by the author. A purchase also comes with an invitation to an appreciation party on November 14 at the Southern Market. A portion of the proceeds from sales will be directed to LancasterHistory and the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County. Preorders will be available for pickup beginning November 14, while shipped orders will commence on November 15. Urban Legend will retail for $120 and can be ordered online at egganddartbooks.com. Egg & Dart can be found on Instagram @egganddartbooks.

Greg’s research uncovered new Urban projects, but it also confirmed some suspicions. It turns out Urban was the designer of the arch leading into Lancaster Cemetery off Lemon Street. The Liberty House, which housed the soccer equipment when I was a kid playing in Buchanan Park, was designed by Urban and helped promote the sale of war bonds. A cowbarn for Milton S. Hershey, steeple tops on local churches, the Malta Boathouse interior on Boathouse Row in Philadelphia (which he completed at age 22) and other “curious commissions” have further piqued Gregg’s curiosity. He is already thinking of book two even before the first book has hit the shelves. 

Gregg Scott’s fascination with Urban began in 2018.

Scattered thundershowers rolled through Lancaster on a cloudy Monday, May 22, 1939. In the early hours, in a home he designed on Buchanan Avenue, Urban succumbed to a two-year illness. His architectural mark on Lancaster will live on forever, if not for the durability and quality of his designs but for the appreciation of fans and scholars like Gregg Scott.

Upcoming Events For Urban Legend: The Life & Legacy of C. Emlen Urban

November 15, 5-7 p.m. 

Release Party at Campus of LancasterHistory

230 N. President Ave.

November 24, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. 

Book Signing at Pocket Books Shop

903 Wheatland Ave.

December 1, 5-7 p.m.

Book Signing at Lancaster City Welcome Center

38 Penn Square

December 5, 5-7 p.m. 

Book Signing at The Trust Performing Arts Center

37 N. Market St.

December 9, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. 

Book Signing at Ellicott & Co.

45 N. Market St. 

For details, visit egganddartbooks.com.

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