October 2020
One of the best parts of exploring Lancaster County has to be the changing of the seasons. That place you visited last spring is likely to have a completely different look to it in the fall. Below are a few of my favorite places in Lancaster County to revisit during the autumn months.
October 2020
Fourteen years ago, Rachel Adams took a chance on whether Lancastrians would say “oui” to crepes. Lines that stretched out the door and sometimes down the block provided an indication that her café and creperie were an instant hit.
Hand-held is the newest innovation in crepes. The Blackbird is a house favorite. The colorful West End Smoothie gets its color from blueberries and texture from chia seeds.
The restaurant was originally located on the trendy 300 block of North Queen Street. By 2013, the cafe had outgrown the location and Rachel once again took a gamble and moved two blocks away to a larger location on West Walnut Street. A second location in Manheim Township’s Richmond Square (off Fruitville Pike) was added three years ago and was expanded a year later.
What’s the secret to her success? “We spin fresh, made-to-order crepes with an American twist,” Rachel says of the thin pancakes whose names and ingredients harken to places both near (The Philly Cheese: rib-eye steak, mozzarella, mushrooms, scallions and diced red onions) and far (The Mediterranean: curry-infused crepe with organic hummus, feta, diced tomatoes, diced red onions Kalamata olives and spinach).
Owner Rachel Adams, who learned to make crepes in State College, works her magic in the kitchen of the Walnut Street location.
Rachel became a fan of crepes while attending Penn State University; she worked part-time in a State College creperie. Opening a shop of her own is a dream come true. Plus, she’s working with her significant other and co-owner, Brent Hodge.
The Walnut Street location boasts a deck with ceiling fans for outdoor dining and a dedicated parking lot. There’s seating for 70 inside with space for another 30 outside. However, to comply with COVID-19 restrictions, seating has been modified and a tent has been added to provide additional outdoor seating. “People seem to want more of an outdoor dining experience,” Rachel says. “We’ll keep the tent and have patio heaters to extend the outdoor dining season.”
Customers are loving the outdoor pavilion and adjoining tent at Rachel’s downtown location.
The indoor décor features a black-and-white checkered floor in the main dining area. Artwork and décor items reflect the Parisian theme. The rear dining area, which is furnished with tables and hi-tops, features a gray and blue color scheme with a wallpapered accent wall. A large dining table can accommodate groups.
Rachel is most often found at the Walnut Street location, while Brent focuses on the Richmond Square location. “Each location attracts different guests. At Walnut Street, we have people come in for lunch from downtown businesses, so they have limited time. At Richmond Square, the lunch crowd is more leisurely,” she explains. Richmond Square has about four tables inside (following the 25% occupancy COVID-19 guidelines) and eight outdoor tables along the wide sidewalk.
A dessert crepe entailing strawberries and Nutella in the making.
The menu has evolved since Rachel’s first opened. There are breakfast crepes (available all day) such as steak and eggs; specialty crepes such as Thai chicken; kids crepes that include peanut butter and Nutella; dessert crepes, which include dulce de leche; and even plant-based crepes such as vegan chicken. There’s also an array of smoothies (with names like Parisian Sunset and Napoleon’s Weakness) and specialty drinks such as lattes, cappuccino, sparkling lemonades and chai. The menu is augmented with daily specials including house-made soup du jour, salads and crepes.
Beverages such as coffee, latte, cappuccino and chai are on the menu.
“Our current menu is posted on our website and social media sites every day,” Rachel says. Items are available to-go or for curbside pick-up (they must be ordered in advance; no walk-ups). There’s even an option for making crepes at home. Crepe Kits come with 12 mini-sized crepes, a can of whipped cream, a small container of vanilla ice cream, powdered sugar and a choice of four toppings. For vegans, the whipped cream is nixed and the ice cream is plant-based. Rachel’s requests that you place your kit order online 24 hours in advance of picking it up.
Like at all restaurants, indoor seating at Rachel’s is limited due to the state’s Covid guidelines.
“The most important thing to us in the current COVID-19 climate is making sure our customers and staff know we care about them,” Rachel says. “We follow all the safety guidelines, so they can come out and enjoy dining with us and feel like there’s a bit of ‘normal’ in their life.”
Rachel’s Café & Creperie is located at 201 W. Walnut St., Lancaster, and at 608 Richmond Dr., Suite 109, Lancaster (Manheim Township). Current hours for both locations are Tuesday through Sunday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, call 717-399-3515 or visit rachelscreperie.com, Facebook and Instagram.
October 2020
Despite the fact that movie theaters were closed for six months, the sale of popcorn in the U.S. is projected to reach $12 billion this year. The eye-popping number is being driven by the sale of ready-to-eat varieties that now dominate the snack shelves of grocery and specialty stores. But, thanks to a local company, Reist Popcorn in Mount Joy – you can pop it the old-fashioned way and create your own taste
sensations.
Reist Popcorn Company’s Yellow High-Pop Popping Corn is produced in Mount Joy. One cup of kernels with oil over medium heat provided enough to fill a a six-quart Dutch oven.
In this age of healthy eating, popcorn is viewed as the perfect snack. It’s low in calories, delivers flavors beyond butter – sea salt, rosemary & olive oil, cheddar, rosé wine, caramel and the list goes on – and solves those salty cravings we all get. It’s become the fun snack for everything from parties, showers and weddings to vegging in front of the television.
It feels like years have passed since I last visited a movie theater. Actually, it was opening night of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker at Penn Cinema, in the days before Christmas 2019. As is my usual routine, I picked up a sweet, ice-cold Cherry Coke and a salted-and-buttered bag of popcorn before settling into the reclining seat.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, theaters were forced to close. Drive-in theaters made a welcomed comeback, including at Penn Cinema.
While still incomparable, the home movie experience continues to evolve. With online-streaming services producing feature-quality films, such as Tom Hanks’ superb Greyhound on AppleTV+, movie nights are taking on a new form. When the Broadway performance of Hamilton debuted on Disney+ in July, friends in Connecticut simultaneously pressed play to join in from afar. We even silenced our phones during the first and second acts, took a shared intermission to refill drinks, and discussed the performance after.
Despite missing the completely enveloping visuals and ground-shaking audio of the theater, the most glaring difference is the lack of concessions – specifically, popcorn.
Yes, there are plenty of options available. Microwavable popcorn is hit or miss and the differences are carefully marketed. Act II and the higher-quality Orville Redenbacher brands are both owned by Conagra Brands, which also owns Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop. Those are all fine, but I’m left still wanting the real thing.
With kitchen space in our home at a premium, I tend to be gadget-averse, which rules out a popcorn machine. So, the cast-iron Dutch oven that already lives on the stovetop is a perfect solution. The lid retains heat and restrains popped corn so it doesn’t end up all over the kitchen.
Wanting more, I decided kernels were next on my list. With so much dent corn (field corn) grown in Lancaster County for grain and silage, surely some of it must be popcorn?
The mural on the Reist building along Manheim Street in Mount Joy was painted by the artist, Wayne Fetro.
As it turns out, popcorn is commercially grown in Lancaster County. Of the county’s 393,949 acres of farmland, a mere 34 acres grows popcorn commercially. All 34 of those acres are located in Mount Joy at the Reist Farm, which has been in their family since 1827. They’re the owners of Reist Popcorn Company, which was founded in 1925 by Alvin Reist, and remains the easternmost popcorn processor in the United States. If you’ve enjoyed a bag of popcorn at a sporting event or on the boardwalk, you’ve almost certainly had Reist Popcorn.
“Popcorn growing is unique because it requires a few more steps than traditional dent corn varieties,” says Reist Popcorn Company’s president, Mike Higgins. After years of succession planning, Mike is the fourth-generation in the Reist family to take over, having been handed an actual baton in 2019 from his father-in-law, David Reist. Mike emphasizes his stance on the shoulders of those who came before him and those he works alongside every day.
David Reist, vice president and 40-year employee of Reist Popcorn Company, inspects popcorn on the family farm in Mount Joy. The Reists’ 34 acres account for the only commercially grown popcorn in Lancaster County.
He says popcorn is considered a specialty corn, requiring the most sophisticated farmers. It costs less to grow in Midwestern states, across vast swaths of land, which itself requires less capital per acre. Buying from growers across multiple states, many of whom Reist has partnered with for decades, insulates them from poor harvests geographically while curbing market volatility. Looking at the total U.S. corn production, popcorn accounts for 240,000 acres, yet again far less than the 80,000,000 acres of dent corn.
According to Mike, “The growing season – May through October – is the same in the U.S. for other corns. It’s not a genetically modified crop, thus farmers can’t spray herbicides directly on the plants. Growers that can learn popcorn within three years don’t ever look back to dent corn,” which offers “less handling and more dollars per ton.”
Mike will tell you Reist Popcorn Company has seen tremendous growth and change in the last decade, expanding the company’s business into transloading and international popcorn sales and purchases. The instant flow of information within the popcorn industry to all hands in the supply chain makes for faster decisions, so the market responds quickly. Reist’s core business is unchanged but it has diversified by leveraging assets to offer additional services to their customers.
Utilizing transportation equipment that typically hauls popcorn, Reist can also offer dry-bulk transportation for customers. They can offer storage, cleaning and remediating of other companies’ products, including changing transportation modes. “Our rail siding allows us to grow popcorn in any state and transport it to Pennsylvania at a competitive rate,” says Mike of their separate transloading facility on Square Street in Mount Joy.
Reist’s employee culture is also geared for innovation, similar to industrious farmers who often adapt out of necessity. Mike looks to utilize the comprehensive skill sets of each staff member. Rather than simply placing people into defined roles, he looks to work with an individual’s experiences and strengths wherever it makes sense, which makes for a rewarding workplace. Remarkably, Reist’s employees performed most of the construction during their recent addition, bringing in only a few contractors. Old exterior brick is being repointed and one employee, a former mason, is leading the charge.
Like other businesses, the pandemic is having an effect on how Reist does business. “We purchase and ship popcorn all over the U.S. and to other parts of the world. We are having a lot of supply-chain issues with shipping and receiving popcorn from abroad. Other countries’ ports went on lockdown or partial hours to accommodate and implement safety measures for their employees,” Mike explains. “Some of our concession and service-industry customers are going bankrupt. In the coming months, we could see more business closures, [movie] theater closures and supply-chain issues in the industry. We are being cautious and conservative with our inventory purchases and sales projections. Our goal has always been to under-promise and over-deliver. We hope things settle down and people feel comfortable going back to the theaters and theme parks. Our business has been very fortunate to survive the pandemic. We are very thankful to all our customers, vendors and farmers for helping to work through this difficult time.”
Reist Popcorn’s Transload Station is located two miles from their main facility at Square and South Plum streets. From here, popcorn can be imported and exported throughout the country and to destinations overseas.
While adding retail to the business is at the top of Reist’s list of goals, Mike says it’s complicated. Local grocers often look to larger distributors for their products and shelf space is highly competitive. The retail market requires different key relationships than those in the bulk world, distinctive distribution channels and packaging. Movie theaters can also be a tough market to supply, especially theater chains. They tend to want to source all of their concessions, from popcorn kernels to candy, from one supplier for convenience, simplicity and value.
A step in popcorn cleaning involves this machine that removes oddly sized or misshaped kernels from the choice selection.
Retail could be lucrative for Reist. According to Mordor Intelligence, the sale of popcorn (retail) has risen more than 32% over the last eight years, much of it driven by the popularity of ready-to-eat varieties. Globally, the popularity of popcorn is expected to increase 13% annually through 2023.
Until Reist finds its way to more grocery shelves, they will continue to sell 2-pound bags of popcorn kernels for home use online and at their office in Mount Joy. Reist also offers several varieties of popcorn kernels in 50-pound bags for concessionaires, movie theaters and commercial popcorn businesses.
Having secured the kernel of choice, over medium heat, add a couple of test kernels to three or four tablespoons of oil of your choosing. Canola oil will do; I prefer bacon fat, though it has a lower smoke point. Once these two kernels pop, remove them from the Dutch oven to carefully add 1 cup of kernels. Cover, resisting the urge to peek, and carefully agitate or shake as necessary. Remove the Dutch oven from heat once the popping slows down and transfer the popped corn into a large serving bowl to prevent burning.
For a variety of flavors, shake popcorn in paper bags or bowls with lids, adding honey or brown sugar to butter as a sweetener. Parmesan, cheddar cheese, Old Bay Seasoning, Dutch-process cocoa, toasted coconut, paprika, flaky sea, garlic salt and MSG are a few favorite flavor additions.
Emma’s Gourmet Popcorn, 261 Hill Rd., New Holland
emmaspopcorn.com
HalfNuts Popcorn Co, located along the Susquehanna River, 450 S. Front St., Wrightsville
halfnutspopcorn.com
Pappy’s Kettle Korn, located in Kitchen Kettle Village, Intercourse.
pappyskorn.com
Sweet Legacy Gourmet, 55 E. Main St., Lititz
sweetlegacygourmet.com
Uncle Jerry’s Kettle Corn, making regular appearances at local farm markets and events, with bagged popcorn sold at many local grocers and supermarkets
unclejerryskettlecorn.com
October 2020
Like every other business you can name, farming has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. And, like other business owners, Steve and Seth Hershey, who oversee a 120-acre farm in East Donegal Township, have been trying to both roll with the changes that now define the new normal and make plans for the future.
Drive across Donegal Springs Road in Mount Joy and you’ll notice two things: corn and maple trees. The Hershey Farm, which was once owned by Simon Cameron, has been in the Hershey family for four generations.
Drive on the backroads between routes 283 and 441 in East and West Donegal townships and you’ll notice two things: Corn as far as the eye can see and the maple trees that line Donegal Springs Road and the farm lanes that exit off of it. The area is not only rich in farmland but also in history.
Long before William Penn arrived, trails used by Native Americans and traders crisscrossed the area. By the early 1700s, Scottish Irish immigrants in search of religious freedom began settling the area. In 1732, Donegal Presbyterian Church was built on a 200-acre tract that was part of the Penn land grant. The Presbytery of Donegal’s territory extended as far west “as settlers cared to go.”
Thirty-year-old Seth Hershey represents the fourth generation to work the 120-acre farm.
Six years later, James Stephenson was granted a 314-acre tract in the vicinity of the church. The tract stayed in the Stephenson and Watson families (a Stephenson daughter married into the Watson family) until 1872, when Simon Cameron – who served multiple terms in the United States Senate and was Abraham Lincoln’s Secretary of War for a time – purchased it to serve as one of his summer homes. The farmhouse, which dates to 1805, was once regarded as the largest brick structure on the western frontier. Today, it’s known as Cameron Estate Inn.
Cameron also began buying up the farms along Donegal Springs Road that served as glebes – acreage set aside to financially support the church. “I think he owned nine farms in the area,” Seth notes.
As for the proliferation of maple trees, legend has it that Cameron had learned of a bill that was slated to be introduced in Harrisburg to encourage farmers to beautify the state’s roadways by planting trees along them. For each tree that was planted, the farmer would be reimbursed $2. Cameron planted thousands along Donegal Springs Road and even along the farm lanes he owned. It seems he missed a key point – the trees had to be located within fence lines.
Five years ago, Seth and Kelsey introduced a new venture to the farm – a local beef brand called Hershey’s Lancaster Beef. They launched the business by selling quarters of beef and eventually began to supply restaurants in Lancaster, Philadelphia and New York with product. Because of Covid, they are back to selling quarters and are exploring other avenues, including grocery stores.
The Hershey Farm, which according to the date stone on the house is 150 years old and whose lane is lined with maple trees, was one of the glebes that Cameron owned. Seth’s great-grandfather eventually came to own the farm. The Hersheys have always raised crops such as barley, wheat, soybeans and corn and maintained a chicken (pullets) operation. Seth’s area of focus is beef cattle – primarily Black Angus – which is marketed as Hershey’s Lancaster Beef.
Seth grew up in the house he and his family – wife, Kelsey, and daughters Hadlee, Charlotte and Molly – now call home. “We all traded houses over the last year,” he says, explaining his grandparents, Harry and Joan, moved to Brethren Village, and his parents, Steve and Patty, in turn, took over the elder Hersheys’ ranch-style home. Seth and Kelsey, who grew up on a farm on Milton Grove Road in Mount Joy, and their daughters traded their townhouse in Maytown for the large farmhouse.
Corn is a mainstay of the farm.
Growing up, Seth always enjoyed farm life but was not involved in 4-H and other agricultural organizations. “Sports were my interest, especially basketball and baseball,” he says. He wasn’t even sure if farming was his career choice. “I contemplated trade school,” says the Donegal alum. He ultimately headed west and spent a year at Ravencrest, a Bible college in Estes Park, Colorado.
As beautiful as Colorado is, he missed everything about home – “seeing crops grow, family life and the work ethic” that living on a farm entails. So, he came home, worked on the farm and drove truck for three years. He met Kelsey through youth group. They’ve been married for seven years.
Seth and Kelsey, who met through church youth group, have been married for seven years.
Seth and Kelsey launched their beef brand (Hershey’s Lancaster Beef) in 2015. “As a family farm, we’ve been producing beef for many years,” Seth explains. “The beef brand is the new part.” Today, the farm is home to 500 steers (another 700 are kept at a neighboring farm, Pleasant View Beef Farms) that begin life by eating grass on farms in Virginia and West Virginia. They then make their way to the Hershey Farm, where they are switched to a diet of corn, corn silage and grain. When they arrive, they weigh approximately 850 pounds and eat their way to 1,350 pounds over a period of four to five months.
Seth, who began his venture by marketing quarters of beef, gained a devoted following. “People like to know where their food comes from and who the farmer is,” he says. From there, he upped the ante and began working with a company that made his products available to restaurants in Lancaster, Philadelphia and New York.
The farm specializes in Black Angus steers that begin life on farms in Virginia and West Virginia, where their diet is predominately grass. Once they arrive at the Hershey Farm, their diet makes the transition to corn, silage and grain.
Then, of course, it all came crashing down with the arrival of COVID-19. With restaurants closed, the demand for Hershey’s Lancaster Beef came to a halt. He can’t help but to think back to a time not so long ago, when 50 chefs visited the farm for an educational and dining event. He shrugs, as if to say, “What are you going to do?”
In March and April, farmers such as Seth faced a crossroads. “Suddenly, the commodity prices decreased from $1.20 to 90 cents live weight. That’s a lot to lose – like $300 to $400 per steer,” he explains. “You can only hang on for so long and then you really begin to lose money, so you bite the bullet and sell.” Subsequently, the processing plants were being hit hard by COVID-19. Some were forced to close for quarantine purposes. While there was plenty of product available, processing it was problematic. Shortages began to occur in grocery stores. Prices climbed. “Somebody was making money,” Seth observes. “And, it wasn’t the farmer.”
Seth and Kelsey and their daughters, Molly, Hadlee and Charlotte, now live in the 150-year-old farmhouse.
Seth retains his positive outlook and keeps his vision for Hershey’s Lancaster Beef focused on the future. (The farm is certified by Beef Quality Assurance and is registered as PA Preferred.) He thinks his venture has promising days ahead. “Today, there’s even more of an emphasis on Buy Local,” he says. “And, people are finding us. We’re back to selling quarters of beef – we’ve probably sold about 50 head of steers through selling quarters to families as of early July.” (Processing is handled by a local USDA-certified butcher.) Social media (Facebook) is used to announce short-term specials that might entail a quantity of ground beef and a selection of steaks. He would love to find a way to get Boxed Beef products into local grocery stores. ‘We’re working on that,” he assures. “I think we’re close to making that happen.”
Silos store the grain and silage that are used to feed the herd.
He also finds that consumers have a new outlook on red meat due in part to lifestyles such as Keto. “I think people are beginning to realize how healthy beef is,” he says. “It’s a great source of protein. People appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into it – ours is dry-aged for 14 days.
“There’s nothing quite like a good steak,” Seth says, adding his family “eats a lot of beef.” He also has taken notice that local butcher shops are the new darlings of the foodie scene.
The Hersheys consistently invest in their business – last year, fans were installed in the open-air barn to provide better ventilation.
He also hopes that restaurants will return to the old normal and begin using Hershey’s Lancaster Beef products again. “I have my eye on the Baltimore and D.C. markets,” he says. “Having ‘Lancaster’ in our name really helps to open doors,” he notes.
For more information, visit Hersheyslancasterbeef.com or call 717-725-7518.
October 2020
In October, there’s not a ghost or goblin to be seen at the home of Stacey Toomey. Instead, pumpkins and gourds share the spotlight with summer’s last blooms, fall’s signature plants, perennials with interesting foliage, graceful grasses and a surprise element or two. “I don’t have a plan,” Stacey says of her displays that perfectly capture the essence of the season. “I just let nature take its course.”
Last year, an array of pumpkins and gourds lined the walkway that leads to the Toomeys’ front entryway, which was enhanced by an arch that Stacey created from cornstalks, ornamental grass, birch twigs, dried hydrangea and white lights.
No doubt, Stacey is genetically gifted when it comes to all-things home. “I’ve always been creative,” she says. “I probably get it from my mom. She was a nester. She was always doing something – sewing, wallpapering, gardening. I guess I get it from having seen all that when I was growing up.” The mother of three views gardening and decorating as “my form of art.”
Stacey, who grew up in Lancaster, also credits her father’s side of the family for her green thumb. Stacey’s second cousin – Marty Henry – owns Henrys’ Farm & Greenhouses in Holtwood. “Oh, gosh, I’ve been working at Henrys’ for as long as I can remember,” Stacey says. “Because I had worked at a garden center [her husband’s family once operated the Boas Garden Center on Columbia Avenue], Marty asked me to come and work for her,” Stacey recalls. “Initially, I helped customers at the register, but as Henrys’ evolved, I became more involved behind the scenes.”
Stacey and Briar relax in the plant-filled three-seasons room.
Marty launched Henrys’ in 1990 as a way to stay at home with her three daughters and remain engaged in her horticultural career. Because the farm raises everything from the mainstays of the garden to the newest must-haves, Henrys’ developed a sizable base of wholesale and contract clients over the years. Eventually, they also opened to retail customers during a six-week window each spring and again at holiday time.
When Henrys’ announced late last year that retail was being discontinued for the foreseeable future, fans were devastated. Looking back, it was as if Marty had a crystal ball that told her that things would be different in the spring of 2020.
“It was a different kind of spring,” Stacey says. Not having to get the greenhouse ready for the open house that kicked off the retail season – which entailed whimsical displays that always included “found” items and fanciful container gardens that Stacey helped to create – felt odd. Yet, despite the pandemic, business carried on as usual, since contractual and wholesale orders had to be fulfilled. “Fortunately, we were able to stay open,” Stacey explains, referring to their “essential business” status during the early days of the pandemic. “We all got to continue working together,” she says of the tight-knit staff. “There was plenty of space for social distancing.”
Stacey combined pumpkins and several of her finds to create a warm welcome beside her front door.
Henrys’ also made its retail customers happy by making a self-serve plant table available at the entrance to the farm. “It was an experiment,” says Stacey.
Indeed, Stacey’s canvas is her home. She’s the self-professed queen of thrift. “You’re not going to find much that’s new here,” she says. Boho is her style. Her home is a treat for all the senses (there is always a wonderful scent in the air).
The adventure begins at the entrance to the house, where what appears to be Italian tile covers the small porch. “Oh, I stenciled that,” Stacey says. (I had to touch it to make sure.) Inside, neutrals comprise the color scheme. Plants abound. Tables are topped with an interesting array of found items. “If I see something I like, I buy it and find a place for it later,” she explains.
No space escapes Stacey’s touch. Here, the summer-blooming perennial heuchera (coral bells), with its distinctive leaf color, looks right at home with small pumpkins, gourds and ornamental cabbage.
There isn’t a piece of new furniture to be found – everything was found and/or repurposed, creating an interesting and eclectic mix of styles. Her travels will take her as far as Philadelphia in search of a Facebook Marketplace deal.
Throw pillows are a passion and she searches brick-and-mortar stores and online sites for colors, patterns and textures that strike her fancy. “For my 50th birthday, I didn’t want a party,” she explains. “I told Ron [her husband] that all I wanted to do was spend the day exploring and antiquing. It was a perfect day!”
Stacey and Ron might best be described as kindred spirits. Stacey formulates the ideas and Ron makes them happen, thanks to his construction skills. Ron has grown accustomed to helping Stacey with projects and seeing her bring her latest “find” home to be repurposed. “We like to do a major outdoor project every year,” Stacey notes. In 2019, they created a stone-lined patio at the front of the house that appears to have always been there. This year, they turned their attention to the backyard and installed a fire pit and seating area beside a grove of trees. Stacey plans to further enclose it with artful landscaping. An earlier project saw them create a fence-enclosed, raised-bed vegetable garden. Ron also built a rustic potting shed for Stacey. “Our projects are definitely a team effort,” she says.
Stacey buys 80 to 100 pumpkins and gourds each fall. Here, some varieties combine with fall florals and ornamentals to create a colorful display on the patio. If guests are coming, the area glows with candlelight.
Their most ambitious project was repurposing the deck at the rear of the house. “You couldn’t use it during the day, because it was always in sun. It was just too hot out there!” she remarks. So, Ron transformed it into a three-seasons room by adding walls and a roof. Stacey created a secret garden beneath the space. An adjacent water garden provides the sounds of moving water and resident frogs. It’s the perfect place to laze away a summer day. When the weather begins to turn chilly, plexiglass window panes are popped into the window frames. “We can be out here in all but the coldest months,” Stacey says of the cozy and comfortable space that exemplifies her style. The plants do so well here that it has inspired her to put a backyard greenhouse on her wish list.
While the interior spaces of the Toomeys’ home are a study of neutrals, the outdoor environs are anything but – a kaleidoscope of color paints the landscape. While she hates to bid farewell to summer, Stacey begins the transition to fall in mid-September. “Little by little, I’ll start to accumulate things,” she notes.
An old bike is put to use as a “container” garden.
Pumpkins and gourds are the backbone of the display. “I’ll buy 80 to 100 pumpkins and gourds each season,” she explains. She sources them from farmstands across Lancaster and York counties. Ron will even call her during his travels to say he saw some prime specimens and ask if she’d like him to bring some home.
What was originally a deck was transformed into a three-seasons room by Ron. The comfy and welcoming space is furnished with Stacey’s repurposed finds and accessorized with plants, interesting objects and her favorite throw pillows.
Once the pumpkins and gourds are in place, she begins to add plants and containers. “It’s all about layering,” she says.
Last year’s highlight was an arch at the entryway that was comprised of cornstalks, ornamental grass, birch twigs and dried hydrangea blooms. White lights illuminated the structure.
Ron created this window box from old shutters. It’s filled with pumpkins, gourds, grasses, ornamentals, birch twigs and dried items.
Oversized pots filled with plants such as ornamental cabbage and kale, heuchera (coral bells), ornamental grass, croton and even small evergreens bring color, texture and height to the landscape. Similar plantings filled the window box Ron crafted from old shutters. Stacey’s love of repurposing things is evident, as found items such as an old bike, gate and washtub provide the backdrop for her displays, which weather well and remain in place until mid-November, at which time Stacey transitions into holiday mode.
The patio at the front of the house was the Toomeys’ major outdoor project for 2019.
To see more of Stacey’s home and garden style, follow her on Instagram at Stac.2me.
October 2020
Fall is a great time to squeeze in one last long weekend at the beach or schedule a week-long road trip to the mountains to take in autumn’s color. What’s it like to travel these days? You’ll likely encounter businesses that are adhering to CDC and government guidelines. Additionally, I can almost guarantee that you’ll be treated as treasured guests by the hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions you visit.
Because of the new policies that were instituted due to Covid, we felt perfectly safe touring Luray Caverns.
At the end of 2019, I arranged an extensive road trip through Virginia for the spring of 2020, taking me on assignment for several weeks. There were grandiose plans to visit important historical sights, fine restaurants and new breweries. I planned to stay at some of the most wonderful accommodations the Old Dominion could offer. But, Covid happened … and the plans crumbled away.
As the spring warmed its way into June and towns on the western edge of Virginia moved into their reopening stages, I realized I could salvage a bit of the trip and reached out to the folks at the Shenandoah Valley Travel Association for guidance on how to navigate the area amidst these pandemic conditions. What I found was welcoming and thankful communities and businesses happy to see a family of travelers now more than ever.
The Travel Channel calls White Oak Lavender Farm in Harrisonburg, “one of the best lavender farms” this side of France. The farm’s Purple Wolf Vineyard makes lavender-infused wine.
Our miniature adventure began in Staunton, a city of 24,000 in the shadow of the mighty Appalachian Mountains. We weren’t here for long, but we did manage to grab cheeseburgers and ice cream at Wright’s Dairy-Rite – a throwback drive-in diner screaming of the 1950s – and a tour the Frontier Culture Museum.
Wright’s was our first experience with how COVID-19 was forcing restaurants to limit seating, as indoor dining had just been given the green light the week before we arrived. (The western half of Virginia seemed to run about two weeks ahead of Lancaster County when it came to the lifting of stay-at-home orders.) But, the biggest impact from Covid we saw was the sheer lack of a crowd at the Frontier Culture Museum. I would safely bet we were the only family to tour the facility that day. We were alone to enjoy the facility by ourselves and relished the luxury of the undivided attention from our tour guides.
The Frontier Culture Museum presents Old World colonial settlers left behind through a living history. The buildings on the museum’s grounds represent a 1700’s West African farm, 1600’s English farm, 1700’s Irish Forge and Farmhouse and 1700’s German farm structures. All were relocated across the Atlantic to this museum just outside of downtown Staunton.
We had the Frontier Culture Museum to ourselves on the day we visited.
The museum tells the story of the thousands of people who migrated, some unwillingly, to colonial America and shows how they became farmers and rural craftsmen in the drastic and changing conditions of the wild colonial west. Three American farmhouses represent the 1740s, 1820s and 1850s and contrast the lives of native people of North America. The still-functioning Mount Tabor Log Church on the museum grounds is one of the oldest Black churches in the country, dating back to 1850. Frontiermuseum.org.
After leaving Staunton, we traveled north on Skyline Drive, a well-paved, 105-mile stretch of roadway with postcard views running along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains through Shenandoah National Park. It is slower than taking Route 81, but is worth it because of the scenery. Exiting Skyline Drive in Luray, our next destination was easy to find.
The Frontier Culture Museum conveys the life settlers left behind during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Billboards for Luray Caverns line Route 81, both north and southbound, and the attraction cannot be missed, especially now that Covid has dealt them a new way to do things. We got to the caverns only a few days after reopening and I could tell by the size of the parking lot and the space to queue visitors that the sparse attendance was an anomaly.
“The one major change we made was how we used to have 40 to 50 people go through with a tour guide. The new way is quite a success. We’ve rebranded it as a nature walk through one of the largest cavern systems in the world,” said John Shaffer, Director of Marketing and Sales at Luray Caverns, who I recently caught up with by phone. “It was a pretty dramatic change for us, but the public has received it well.”
Lighted, paved walkways lead visitors through the caverns, billed as Geology’s Hall of Fame, and numbered stops coincide with a newly printed pamphlet describing the features inside some of the cathedral-sized rooms with 10-story high ceilings.
After business hours, downtown Harrisonburg grows quiet, until nightlife – spurred by visitors and students from James Madison University – fills the area that is teeming with bars, restaurants and breweries.
Luray Caverns, like many attractions, restaurants, and shopping spaces I encountered on my trip, has gone beyond adhering to state and federal guidelines. The attraction has implemented contact-free ticketing and special employee training. I felt completely safe and comfortable touring the caverns masked and at my own pace. Luraycaverns.com.
After spending the better part of a day exploring and traveling, we were ready to check into a hotel, so we headed down Route 81 to Harrisonburg, where we would spend the remainder of our time discovering shops, many great restaurants and a lavender farm.
The Hotel Madison had recently reopened when we visited.
There is something to be said about a brand-new hotel to make a traveler feel completely at ease and at home, especially in a pandemic. The Hotel Madison had barely been open when Covid forced it to close. Like everywhere else, the hotel implemented heightened care for safety and health standards to reopen in the spring. We were happy to be one of its “first” occupants. It was a little bizarre being one of only a few people walking around a beautiful hotel built for hundreds, but we were treated like royalty. Our room at the Hotel Madison was well-appointed, clean, modern and gave us downtown views. Hotelmadison.com.
Virginia is for beer lovers!
The highways, hotels and attractions are not as empty today as they were in June. It was all a bit magical. We felt appreciated, empathetic and respectful of our presence in a place other people call home. Covid will not destroy travel but it will change how many – including me – experience it with a heightened sense of personal responsibility. While we are eager for things to get “back to normal,” I also hope the appreciation, humility and kindness we have learned over this unique time are never forgotten.
Shrimp & Grits – from Clementine Café in Harrisonburg – is an iconic southern dish.
Spelunker’s: This little burger and frozen custard joint at the head of Skyline Drive in Front Royal is unassuming, but it has the best burgers – no exaggeration! We make this place a stop every time we are even close. Spelunker’s, 116 South St., Front Royal, VA.
Jon Henry General Store: Let the handwritten signs draw you into the old stone building in New Market and feast on their eclectic selection of everything from brooms, CBD and vintage license plates to puzzles. Jon Henry General Store, 9383 N. Congress St., New Market, VA.
Kathy’s: A trip to Staunton is not complete without a trip to Kathy’s for breakfast. I always get the pancakes. If you are looking for scrapple on the menu, they call it “pon hoss” down here. Kathy’s, 705 Greenville Ave., Staunton, VA.
October 2020
The coronavirus lockdown has provided an opportunity for us to spend more time in our gardens. Weeding is an expected chore, obviously. But, analogous to a virus, some weeds are far more “contagious” than others. I’d caution you to be aware of several annual weeds that are attacking the resilience of our treasured plantings and native forests.
Garlic mustard and Japanese stilt-grass invading vinca groundcover
Garlic mustard is a biennial, which means in the first year of growth it forms rosettes of kidney-shaped leaves with scalloped edges that remain green throughout the winter. It then matures into a 1- to 3-foot-tall flowering plant the following spring. The 4-petaled white flowers self-pollinate. All parts of the mature plant, including the roots, give off a garlic-like odor.
The single-stem flower stalk elongates into a spike-like shape, maturing to brown and containing two rows of small shiny-black seeds that release by mid-summer. A single plant can produce hundreds of seeds that can scatter several yards from the parent plant. A particularity vigorous plant reportedly produced as many as 8,000 seeds. The seeds, which are easily spread via animals, people, vehicles and by water, can last in the soil for at least 20 years.
Flowering garlic mustard. Bigstock.com photo.
Garlic mustard is extremely hard to control once it reaches an area and easily out-competes native vegetation in the understory of the forest, whether in densely shaded or sunny sites. Plant stands can produce more than 65,000 seeds per square yard, changing the structure of plant communities. It is also allelopathic, which means it releases chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plants, as well as mycorrizal fungi that are needed for healthy tree growth. Some researchers suggest that garlic mustard may in time affect the tree composition of entire forests by creating a barrier that some seedlings, for example, the chestnut oak (Quercus prinus), may not be able to overcome.
It is very difficult to eradicate garlic mustard once it is established. Be familiar with the first-year foliage in order to attack infestations early and, with the second-year flower, to pull it before seed sets. Hand-pulling is effective if the entire root is removed. (This is best done in the spring, when the soil is soft.) This will have to be continued for up to five years to deplete the soil seed bank. Obviously, this works only in small pockets of plants with a recent invasion.
Flowering or seeding plants should be put in a bag and discarded. Be sure to clean off your boots, clothes and tools to avoid carrying the tiny seeds to new sites.
String trimming will not control it since the remaining root crowns will grow new stems. The whole plant must be pulled. Infested sites should be monitored every year for new plants.
Chemical herbicides are effective for controlling in areas too large for removal by hand. Naturally, they can only be applied in isolated dense stands where other desirable plants are not present. These should always be used according to label instructions and local regulations.
The best method for controlling garlic mustard (or any other invasive plant) is to prevent its initial establishment. This means minimizing disturbances of any kind in the forest understory.
Garlic mustard has no known wildlife benefits and it is toxic to the larvae of several rare butterfly species (Since you asked: Pieris oleracea and Pieris virginiensis) that would be fine on native mustards.
Garlic mustard is native to Europe, Asia and parts of Africa. It is one of the oldest spices used in Europe and has been identified in pottery dating to 4,000 BCE. In the 17th century it was recommended as a flavoring for fish and lamb or for use in salads. It was brought to our shores in the 1860s for medicinal purposes and as a seasoning. Even today the chopped leaves have unfortunately been recommended for mixed salads or use in pesto sauces.
This is an extremely invasive annual vine that grows up to 6 inches in 24 hours and forms a dense mat that will cover and smother shrubs and even trees. Not only does the mass of foliage block sunlight from plants, the weight affects growth and eventually kills them. The vine can grow 20- to 30-feet long, forming a dense, tangled blanket of intertwined stems.
It is found in any disturbed area where openings for sunlight appear: reforestation areas, nurseries, rights-of-way, fence lines and edges of woodlands. In Pennsylvania, it has also been a problem on Christmas tree farms.
Mile-a-minute is easy to identify. The pale-green leaves have an equilateral-triangle shape. The stems appear very delicate but they and the undersides of the leaves are covered with barbs that make it such a skillful climber. The barbs are “recurved,” which means they point down, enabling them to grab and hold onto your clothing. Round leaf-like structures, called ocreae, completely surround the stems at the base of the leaves. The flowers and later the seeds grow from these. The small white flowers are hardly noticeable but develop into clusters of intense blue, berry-like 1/4-inch fruits, each enclosing a single seed.
The vine is self-fertile, meaning it does not need a pollinator to produce fertile seeds. It can continue to flower and produce seeds from June into October. An individual plant can produce up to 40 seeds. Although the vines are killed by frost, those seeds are viable in the soil for as long as six years thanks to birds that carry the seeds long distances, dropping them under utility lines, fence lines and other perching locations. Viable seeds have been found in the scat of deer, chipmunks and squirrels. They are also transported short distances by ants. There’s more: The buoyant seeds can float for many days in moving water. Thus, vines hanging over a waterway can distribute the seeds throughout a watershed. Seeds can also be transported on the tires of farm implements and logging equipment.
There is a weevil (Rhinocominus latipes) that specifically feeds on mile-a-minute. It lays its eggs on the leaves and the larvae bore into the foliage. The life cycle is about a month, allowing several generations in one growing season. The damage can stunt the plants and can kill them.
Hand-pulling or mowing young plants or new infestations is the most effective control. The trick is to get it before it sets seed. As the vine continues to grow, be sure to wear heavy gloves! Late in the season, disturbing the vine will simply cause the fruit to be dropped. If possible, it is best to burn the pulled plants. One must remove the vines before the fruit is formed.
Herbicides are effective but the problem is that the vines are often covering treasured ornamentals. Goats and sheep will graze on the vines in uncultivated open fields.
The vine is related to buckwheat and first made its way to neighboring York County from India and eastern Asia in 1930, arriving in imported rhododendron nursery stock. It is now found in all the Mid-Atlantic states and into southern New England, Ohio and parts of North Carolina. It will likely continue to extend its noxious way through cooler areas since the seed requires at least eight weeks of cold stratification.
It is reported to be edible. The leaves and shoots can be eaten raw or cooked.
This is another annual that is native to Asia. I first noticed it in my garden only a few years ago but now it is on the increase everywhere. From July on, it slowly dominates my borders and everywhere I look nearby: forests, wetlands, meadows, roadsides and wild areas. It might invade any area – full sun to heavy shade – that is disturbed by tilling, mowing or foot traffic.
It is a bamboo-like grass that typically grows 1 to 2 feet in height in a branching, mat-like habit. The narrow leaves can be identified by a distinctive white midrib. It flowers late in the summer. As an annual, it reproduces by seed that is set late, from mid-September into October. One plant can generate hundreds of seeds that not only fall nearby but can be carried by rain water, contaminated hay, animal fur or on your gardening boots. The seeds remain viable in the soil for more than five years.
Japanese stilt-grass invading lamb’s ear
Sure, stilt-grass dies back with frost but heavy infestations turn into thick layers of dry tan-colored thatch that only slowly compost. Deer, horses, even goats do not eat it, allowing it to crowd out native vegetation and tree seedling in three to five years.
Hand-pulling is easy if the ground is moist because it is very shallow-rooted. It is best to do this when the plants are mature and easier to grab but have not yet set seed. In a smaller garden that is relatively protected from adjacent wild areas, it might be possible to get rid of it with several years of vigilance. Do not compost any plants with seed heads.
It is tempting to mow or line-trim sweeps of the grass early in the summer, but that only encourages branching, earlier flowering and seed production.
Preemergent herbicides labeled for crabgrass can be tried but must be spread early because stilt grass germinates earlier than crabgrass. Large, dense infestations without desirable plants can be sprayed with a systemic herbicide like glyphosate. There is a grass-specific herbicide called quizalofop.
Silt-grass was likely accidentally introduced early in the 20th century as a result of its use as a packing material for Chinese porcelain. It has colonized most of the eastern U.S.
October 2020
So, we’ve made it through St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day without the usual fanfare and social gatherings that accompany them. The same applies to weddings, birthdays, graduations and anniversaries. I can’t believe I haven’t seen my son and daughter-in-law, who live in Lehigh County, since February, when we celebrated my birthday.
We had to forego a summer’s worth of live music, theater and sports. Boy, did I miss going to Nats games in D.C.
Dining out was a challenge considering the restrictions and the fact that we experienced the hottest summer on record. Take-out and curbside pick-up became words to dine by.
Homeowners spent the summer battling those horrid spotted lantern flies and I won’t even mention the trials and tribulations of remote learning and working.
Now, of course, people are in a panic about how the next three holidays – the biggest in most households – will be celebrated in a year that can only be described as scary. New Year’s seems like it was both yesterday and a million years ago.
Halloween is the first hurdle. We’ve been challenged in the past, so I’m sure we’ll persevere. Remember the Halloween snowstorm? Hurricane Sandy? Last year’s deluge that prompted many municipalities to change the date of Trick-or-Treat night?
Halloween 2020 is shaping up to be one of a kind, as it falls on a Saturday and will feature a full-moon combo that is being called a Hunter’s Blue Moon. (Blue Moons occur when a full moon happens twice in one month, which will be the case this month.) While full moons are associated with Halloween, in reality that only happens every 18 or 19 years. With that said, first responders, ERs and retail workers will probably have their hands full on October 31 because of the triple-whammy.
The chant of “What’s going to happen to Trick-or-Treat?” started sounding in early August. By late August, cable news channels began broaching the subject. Members of the website, NextDoor, began debating whether it should even take place and asking each other if they would participate if it’s held. The National Confectioners Association (NCA) conducted a survey of millennial-aged moms and found that 74% of them were pumped to go trick-or-treating with their kids, noting that Halloween 2020 would be “more important than ever.”
Although it’s not a sponsored event, several municipalities in Lancaster County had Trick-or-Treat discussions posted to the agendas of their boards of supervisors meetings in August and early September. For the record, a county-wide policy was established by the Lancaster Intra-Municipal Committee several years ago that states Trick-or-Treat will be held from 6-8 p.m. on October 31. If it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the date reverts to Friday (October 29/30).
There’s a lot at stake from an economic standpoint. After Christmas, Halloween is the most celebrated “holiday” on the calendar. The National Retail Federation reports that $8.8 billion was spent on candy, decorations, parties and costumes in 2019.
As for 2020, your eyes weren’t deceiving you – Halloween candy was on store shelves by mid-August as a result of candy companies admittedly shipping their sweet treats two weeks early. No doubt, the manufacturers were tapping into our “gotta have it now before it’s gone” psyches (remember the empty store shelves in March?) and sent out product early.
According to the NCA, Americans spend nearly $5 billion on candy in the eight weeks that lead up to Halloween, 55% of which falls into the “treat-for-me” category, i.e., it’s used to fill candy bowls at home and in the office. Since offices are being manned by “skeleton” crews these days, the candy bowls will undoubtedly go empty.
Nonetheless, candy sales have been booming during the pandemic. It seems we’ve been hoarding candy at home – if sales are any indication, those bite-size chocolate treats have been keeping us sane and somewhat guilt-free (sorry to say, but 10 of those bite-sized treats equals a large candy bar!) over the last seven months. Because of that, manufacturers are confident that even if Trick-or-Treat is axed, sales will soar. Take a close look and you’ll notice the packaging is rather generic – pumpkins and ghosts are downplayed, allowing the bite-sized morsels to get us through Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well. The theory is, if you entertain members of your “social bubble” in early December, they won’t groan at the sight of leftover “Halloween” candy!
If Trick-or-Treat is a go, you have several options: You can take the traditional route and greet kids at your front door and insert a treat into each of their bags. If that makes you uncomfortable, you can sit in the driveway or on your porch – wearing a mask and gloves – and hand out candy. (Who’s scaring who this year?) You could set out a big bowl of candy at your door and let the kids help themselves. (On second thought, make sure the bowl is disposable.) Another option is to make it look like you’re not home and hide out in the basement. Or, you could go to the mall, the gym or out for dinner, timing it so you arrive home about 8:30. Over the years, I’ve done all of the above.
Peruse the internet and there are plenty of ideas for Halloween 2020. Home-related magazines are encouraging readers to go full-tilt in decorating this year, saying it will lift our spirits and make our homes feel festive. Obviously, when it comes to fall decorating, we have that covered in Lancaster County.
As for Trick-or-Treat, everyone from Martha Stewart to Party City is offering options that take social distancing into consideration. Trunk-or-Treat, which merges trick-or-treating with tailgating, seems to be gaining traction. Neighbors can pull their vehicles to the ends of their driveways (or take over a parking lot), pop open their hatches and fill them with candy, which a designated person hands out. Decorating the vehicles is optional. (Geez, this is starting to sound like a lot of work.)
Parades have become a hallmark of Covid. For Halloween, neighbors could decorate wagons, strollers, bikes, golf carts, etc. and have a float/costume contest. Another option is Mardi Gras-style – adults drive their vehicles through the neighborhood and toss candy to the socially distanced kids.
How about a scavenger hunt for candy that’s encased in glow-in-the-dark eggs (apparently Amazon has them)? Kids can enter a yard decorated for the occasion at regular intervals and scavenge for candy.
Of course, you could always have a Zoom costume party or pumpkin-carving contest. Or, you could close the backyard for the season with a movie marathon of Halloween movies.
Ghosting is a perfect Halloween activity – drop bags of goodies at the doors of family and friends, ring the bell and run. Thanks to cameras, it won’t be as fun as in the old days – my mother once shared that in her day, kids would stick straight pins into doorbells, causing them to ring non-stop, and run – so be sure to wear your mask or throw a sheet over yourself.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Hillegas.
After months of uncertainty due to Covid, Lancaster County Field of Hope held their Fifth Annual Benefit Dinner on Saturday, September 12 to help offset the financial burden of long-term care or unexpected medical illness for six local families. Of course, this year’s dinner looked a little different; instead of seating all the guests at one long table like previous years, attendees tailgated to allow for social distancing and their farm-to-table meal was served in individual picnic boxes. In addition to dinner, attendees were treated to drinks and live music.
Photo courtesy of Lancaster County Field of Hope.
Jim was diagnosed with grade IV glioblastoma, an aggressive and infiltrative brain cancer, in December of 2019. The tumor had grown so large that there wasn’t much that doctors could do to cure him. Jim was given steroids to shrink the swelling and relieve the pressure, but Jim and his family opted against chemotherapy, radiation or partial removal of the tumor and instead chose comfort measures. Over time, the steroid stopped working and Jim’s health declined. Unfortunately, Jim passed away on January 15, 2020.
Photo courtesy of Lancaster County Field of Hope.
In his three years of life, Wesley has dealt with various medical problems. In January 2018, a mass was found during a routine check on his kidneys. The mass was a type of cancer called neuroblastoma. Thankfully, the tumor was removed and the recurrence rate is fairly low.
In the summer of 2018, doctors discovered that Wesley’ kidneys were packed with kidney stones. After many surgeries, his kidneys are almost completely clear. He continues to have regular scans for cancer and will require additional procedures on his kidneys in the future.
Photo courtesy of Lancaster County Field of Hope.
While preparing for a bucket list trip to Italy, Paula began noticing issues with her breathing. She was soon diagnosed with non-small cell third stage lung cancer. Doctors discovered an inoperable tumor close to her aorta causing her to have difficulty breathing. In early January, Paula traveled to Johns Hopkins Hospital for a surgery that helped to ease her breathing difficulties. A long-time local hair stylist, Paula’s small salon near Millersville is her only source of outside income, as she is not currently able to work. A friend also set up a GoFundMe in her name.
Photo courtesy of Lancaster County Field of Hope.
Katie is a 26-year-old childhood leukemia survivor. After getting married in September 2019, she began experiencing neurological symptoms by December. By early January, her health had taken a turn for the worse. On her birthday – January 24, 2020 – she was diagnosed with anti NMDA receptor encephalitis, which occurs when the body is triggered by something foreign to create certain antibodies. The antibodies then bind to NMDA receptors in the brain, causing the immune system to attack. She is currently sedated to prevent further damage from the seizures she endures. For now, she is undergoing treatment to remove her antibodies and destroy the cells that create them. As she is treated, the doctors will begin to wean her off sedation. Her treatment is effective, but until they find the source of the trigger, there is a chance of relapse.
Photo courtesy of Lancaster County Field of Hope.
In March 2019, Andy, a U.S. Army veteran, career EMT and volunteer firefighter, was diagnosed with stage IV diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma after having a cyst removed and biopsied from his inner eyelid. Other diagnostics performed by the Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute found the cancer in his eye, brain, cerebral fluid, spine and bone marrow. Throughout the rest of 2019, Andy made the trip to Hershey for high-dose methotrexate chemotherapy, with each visit requiring a five-day stay at the hospital. Andy also had bi-weekly chemo through his ommaya reservoir that was placed in his brain. A stem-cell transplant extraction performed last October and a reintroduction of his own cells last November has put Andy into remission. He will soon begin a new regimen of oral chemotherapy for the next two years.
Photo courtesy of Lancaster County Field of Hope.
4-year-old Jeremiah was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare connective-tissue cancer, following an emergency surgery in June 2019. After a stomachache progressed overnight, his parents took him to urgent care expecting to get some medicine and be sent home. Instead, they were sent to the E.R. and then rushed to Hershey Medical Center. Jeremiah underwent emergency exploratory surgery that led to his diagnosis. He has been in active treatment ever since and is set to finish in October 2020, as long as his scans continue to stay clear.
To learn more about Lancaster County Field of Hope and the families they help, click here.
Fall is my favorite season, so Labor Day is when I can finally begin redecorating and buying pumpkin spice flavored coffee without feeling guilty. Maybe you are hanging on to every last minute of summer before the cooler weather rolls in. Regardless, there is a way for everyone in Lancaster County to have a safe, fun Labor Day Weekend.
August 31-September 5: 37th Annual Hispanic Festival – Takeout Edition: Enjoy authentic Hispanic Food from all over Central and South America. Order food online and pick up at 425 S. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602.
September 4: First Friday in Downtown Lancaster.
September 4: FURst Friday at Spring House Brewing Company. Bring your dogs to Spring House from 5-7 p.m. and enjoy their dog deck, a wading pool, treats galore and an adoption clinic hosted by the SPCA. For every pint sold, Spring House will donate $1 to the SPCA.
September 4-7: Spookley the Square Pumpkin Weekend at Barnyard Kingdom from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Admission includes showings of the Spookley Movie, special story time sessions, corn maze and 30+ other farm activities.
September 5: Creatively Lancaster Makers Market at the Lancaster Barnstormers Clipper Stadium from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
September 5: Barnstormers Cornhole Tournament for Charity. Grab a friend and participate in the Lancaster Barnstormer’s Cornhole Challenge from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Clipper Stadium. The winning team will win a $400 donation to the charity of their choice and a suite to a Barnstormers game in 2021.
September 5-7: PA Renaissance Faire’s Grand Opening Weekend. Due to capacity restrictions, tickets are only available in advance by online reservation. Best mask and costume competition, lots of interesting characters and delicious food.
September 5 & 6: Saturday Yoga on the Roof at Tellus360 at 10 a.m. Tickets are $10, cash only.
September 5-6: Petting Zoo Days at The Amish Farm and House from 12-4 p.m. Cuddle baby goats and kittens. Brush the donkeys and feed the horses. Enjoy other activities like their corn maze and hayrides.
Enjoy drinks and the “last weekend of summer” with outdoor seating at local restaurants like Bube’s Biergarten, T.J. Rockwell’s, The Exchange or The Pressroom.
Pack up a picnic and head for one of Lancaster County’s beautiful parks.
Visit a local farm (like Cherry Crest Adventure Farm or The Country Barn) and get into the fall spirit with corn mazes and hayrides.
Pack up your summer decorations and break out the autumn wreaths and pumpkins. Need some new fall decor? Visit local shops like Prussian Street Arcade, Ville + Rue or Always Never Done.
Grab a scoop or two of local ice cream from Fox Meadows Creamery, Hayloft Ice Cream, Splits & Giggles, Penny’s or the many other creameries in Lancaster County.
Savor the last days of summer heat in the pool. With all the hard work you poured into keeping the pool clear and blue, Labor Day Weekend may be your last chance to truly enjoy it. If you don’t have one, hit up a local swimming hole or float down a nearby creek or stream.
