CELEBRATING LANCASTER COUNTY'S PEOPLE, SCENERY,

HERITAGE, STYLE & POINT OF VIEW SINCE 1987.

Dining Out … at Home

Many restaurants have always offered take-out as part of their regular operations. However, the COVID-19 pandemic took take-out to another level when in-restaurant dining was prohibited during Gov. Wolf’s “stay-at-home” order, as well as during the yellow phase of the state’s re-opening process. In all probability, take-out will continue to be an important part of Lancaster’s dining scene for months to come.

From Sprout Rice & Noodles: Bun Bo Hue, a soup from central Vietnam featuring spicy pork and beef served in a fish stock with noodles topped with Vietnamese cilantro.

Hopefully, we’ll soon be able to dine at our favorite restaurants – the process started in early June, when yellow-zone restaurants were permitted to begin offering outdoor dining.  However, with both indoor and outdoor capacity reduced, take-out and curbside pick-up will no doubt continue to provide a way for local restaurants to keep pace with pent-up demand. 

Restaurants in other areas of the country have been getting creative in order to keep their kitchens cooking. On the Outer Banks of North Carolina, restaurants have turned portions of their parking lots into outdoor dining rooms. In cities across the country, government officials have closed sidewalks and even streets in order to allow restaurants to set up outdoor dining rooms. 

Closer to home, two restaurant owners – Dean Oberholtzer and John Moeller – are providing some insight into how they have incorporated take-out/curbside-delivery into their businesses. 

Special legislation now allows restaurants to include cocktails on their to-go menus. Before the Belvedere curtailed its to-go service, cocktails such as Taylor Made Lemonade were available for transport in stylish Mason jars.

The fact that the coronavirus is causing policies to change at a moment’s notice is especially evident in the restaurant industry. Many restaurants made an immediate switch to take-out/curbside-pickup in order to use up the supplies they had on hand. Once that was accomplished, they closed their doors and adopted a wait-and-see philosophy. Others have been on the job non-stop since mid-March. 

When the state’s re-opening process was unveiled, many initiated or relaunched take-out/curbside service. And, like other cities, it was announced in early June that temporary permits would be issued to allow Lancaster restaurants to make use of outdoor areas around their properties to accommodate guests. 

Himalayan Curry and Grill: Lamb curry, rice and Naan bread.

“Curbside delivery is a way we could deliver our food to guests,” says Dean Oberholtzer of his three Lancaster City restaurants, the Belvedere Inn, C’est La Vie and Josephine’s, all of which provide guests with what Dean calls “the dining experience – ambience, food and service.”  

When selecting items for the curbside delivery menu, Dean says some of the restaurants’ most popular items were included. For example, C’est La Vie’s take-out menu, which includes 10-inch, brick-oven pizzas and take-home pizza kits, also features favorites from Josephine’s (Kennett Square mushroom bisque, poutine, boneless wing dings, crab cake croissant, vegetarian risotto, braised short ribs). Consideration was also given to items that transport well, plus some family-friendly options were made available. 

While the Belvedere made an all-out effort to offer customers the “Belvedere experience” – providing no-contact curbside service, updating menus to reflect lighter, summer fare, offering cocktails to-go and rolling out the red carpet for Mother’s Day – the staff grew frustrated by the fact that they couldn’t provide the full-scale dining experience. As a result, on Saturday, May 30, the restaurant’s website and social media shared the announcement, “We would like to thank our loyal patrons, friends, and family, during these difficult times. After evaluating the current circumstances with covid-19, and the restrictions placed on the restaurant industry, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily close to protect the longevity of our business. At the end of business today, we will be suspending food and cocktails to-go service. Carryout beer, wine and gift cards will still be available from our 6-pack shop 10-2am – 7 days a week. We look forward to re-opening the doors to our dining room and bars when we can once again offer you the full Belvedere experience that we have built over the past 22 years. Watch for updates online and please stay safe and healthy. We miss all of you.”

Menus and information are posted on C’ La Vie’s website (clvlancaster.com) and Facebook page. C’est La Vie/Josephine’s is sharing Market Alley – for outdoor dining – with Old San Juan Lancaster, Spring House Tap Room, Shot and Bottle and Lancaster Dispensing Company. To stay updated on the Belvedere, visit belvederelancaster.com. 

The Greenfield Restaurant & Bar: Grilled salmon accompanied by seasonal vegetables has been a mainstay of the restaurant’s to-go menu. Photo courtesy of The Greenfield.

According to John Moeller, The Greenfield Restaurant & Bar began focusing on take-out and curbside delivery the week of March 17. “The last day we served dine-in was March 15. I was doing a catering job in Northern Virginia and preparing one of the courses when my phone began binging with messages from the restaurant about Gov. Wolf’s shutdown order,” recalls the former White House chef. “The Greenfield is more than just a meal, it’s a dining experience. But, we did what we had to do to obey the order, and shifted to take-out.” 

The resulting “Bring the Greenfield Experience Home” menu focuses on “comfort food – there was no way we could offer our full menu,” he explains. “So, we turned to comfort food: food soothes the soul.” The menu has included such items as classic Caesar salad, red beet salad, braised beef short ribs, beef lasagna, chicken parm, chicken pot pie, crab cakes, grilled salmon and pork barbecue ribs with mac & cheese. Beer and wine can be purchased by the bottle and cocktails to-go are also available. A special menu was offered for Mother’s Day.

From Cocina Mexicana: Steak tacos, rice and chicken soup.

The Greenfield has aggressively marketed its services via social media – including reminders that normalcy will return one day, which means large parties and weddings will be held that require the services of a caterer. John also did an Instagram baking class in mid-May. “It was kind of fun. It was done in real time and I included the recipe for the flourless chocolate torte with raspberry sauce,” he explains. 

The Greenfield’s decision to stay the course – albeit an altered one – has proved successful. “We’ve seen a number of our regular customers. We’ve heard people say they miss our food or they’re tired of cooking at home,” he says of the response the restaurant’s to-go menu has received (curbside pick-up is also offered). He adds that one of the interesting aspects he’s observed about the COVID-19 pandemic is that “families are having more family time.” 

To see The Greenfield’s weekly to-go menu, visit their website (thegreenfieldrestaurant.com) and Facebook page. Note: The Greenfield does have an outdoor patio for dining. 

Lancaster residents Nick and Lanie Gould agree with that assessment. “Before COVID-19, our kids, who are 13 and 16 years old, were busy and often had plans with friends,” Nick says. That, of course, changed in mid-March. They have been doing take-out about once a week. “I like to cook. But, since we’ve been at home for a while and I’m cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner for the family, it’s nice to have a break and do take-out,” Lanie says.

The Goulds – Nick, Lanie, Lily and William – have been treating themselves to take-out at least once a week since the stay-at-home order was instituted in March.

“It’s a special thing for us – a treat,” Nick adds. “We’ve done take-out from some of our favorites like Cocina Mexicana and have tried some new restaurants, too.” 

“Sometimes we let the kids pick the restaurant,” says Nick, who adds that they tend to do take-out from restaurants within a short drive (five to 10 minutes) from their home. He names Rosa Rosa, Iron Hill, The Fat Crab Café and Splits & Giggles as favorite to-go sources. 

Ice cream from Splits & Giggles allows you to finish your take-out dinner on a sweet note.

The family also likes to mix things up. One night they had take-out from four different Lancaster restaurants. Each family member ordered a favorite from a different restaurant – steak tacos, rice and chicken soup from Cocina Mexicana; lamb curry and rice with Naan bread from Himalayan Curry and Grill; pan-seared tuna and a cocktail from the Belvedere Inn; and Bun Bo Hue (a soup from central Vietnam) and shrimp spring rolls from Sprout Rice & Noodles Vietnamese Eatery.

Nick also stops for coffee at his favorite coffee shop on the way to his downtown Lancaster photography studio. “I can go to the coffee shop and have a conversation. I love the more social aspect of going out to dinner,” he says. “I miss it.” 

“Doing take-out is a great way to honor and support the restaurants,” Lanie notes. “The restaurants and their staffs have really been hit hard [during COVID-19]. They’re working really hard to make take-out work in a safe manner.” 

The Year of the Frog

According to the Garden Media Group, “A garden filled with amphibians indicates balance and a healthy ecosystem. An absence may indicate problems…” 

Silence in a garden is not a good thing. That caution pertains to birds, bees and amphibians such as frogs and toads, which are disappearing at an alarming rate. It is estimated that since the ‘70s, more than 200 frog species have disappeared from the world. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, 1 in 3 of all amphibians are red-listed as being endangered. 

What is causing their disappearance? Frog Watch USA and the National Wildlife Federation maintain that the destruction of habitats is central to the decline of amphibian life. Pesticide use, pollution, invasive species, increased UV radiation and climate change are also contributing factors. 

Frogs and toads are important to the ecosystem as they provide effective and natural forms of pest control by imbibing mosquitoes, slugs, destructive beetles and other insects. 

Welcoming Frogs to Your Backyard 

Frogs, of course, love water. According to the Garden Media Group, which is based in Kennett Square, you can entice them to your backyard with a body of water that is devoid of fish. They prefer still water, so save the fountains, pumps and waterfalls for another pond. Refrain from cleaning the pond – debris and wayward insects provide food. 

Those cute toad houses are actually more than a decorative element – they entice and provide frogs with shelter. You can be a good host by not allowing your dog or cat to explore the pond area. 

Frogs view plant life as welcoming and protective. Plants such as ferns, milkweed and Joe Pye provide offspring with cover to safely exit the water. Marginal plants such as iris, lobelia and sedges provide cover for frogs as they enter/exit the water. Submerged plants such as water lilies, broad-leaf arrowhead and pickerelweed oxygenate the water. 

It’s also critical that you don’t introduce non-native species of frogs and toads to your water garden. It could be illegal, plus the newcomers could prove to be invasive and destructive. 

   

Outdoor Dining is Back!

Now that Lancaster County is in the yellow phase of reopening from the coronavirus shutdown, our local restaurants are able to offer outdoor dining.

In addition to outdoor seating at local restaurants, the City of Lancaster is temporarily shutting down some streets and setting out tables for patrons to enjoy take out. The streets will be open for dining from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. See map below for specific areas.

Photo courtesy of Lancaster City Alliance.

Although restaurants are allowed to reopen, there are some restrictions. According to Governor Tom Wolf, buffets/salad bars are not permitted, restaurant staff must wear masks at all time, no condiments are to be left out on tables and disposable (or digital) menus must be used. Here is how local eateries are adjusting post-shutdown.

Be sure to check with each restaurant regarding reservations and hours.

 

The Exchange, 25 South Queen Street, Lancaster. The view of Downtown Lancaster from The Exchange’s rooftop lounge is unbeatable. Stay warm by the fireplaces built into their tables while enjoying dinner and drinks. Reserve your spot on OpenTable.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Secure your spot with us through @opentable 🌇🥂 #sip #savor #socialize

A post shared by The Exchange Lancaster (@theexchangelancaster) on

 

Phantom Power, 121 W Frederick Street, Millersville. Many businesses, like microbrewery/music venue Phantom Power, previously did not have outdoor seating, forcing them to make accommodations to open. Take a seat in their shaded beer garden and enjoy some brews and live music. Seating is first come, first served. Check their website and social media for specific details on live music.

 

Gibraltar, 488 Royer Drive, Lancaster. Enjoy delicious seafood and a glass of wine or craft cocktail under Gibraltar’s pergola decorated with string lights and hanging baskets. Call for reservations.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBIq-OCDS8Z/

 

John Wright Restaurant, 234 N Front Street, Wrightsville. Photo courtesy of Amanda Naylor Photography. The Pizza Patio, which has its own bar, boasts a panoramic view of the Susquehanna River. Guests can relax and enjoy the atmosphere – or play cornhole – as they watch the river flow by. Call to make reservations. Their lawn is also available for customers to enjoy their take out.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Exciting news John Wright Family! 🙌 Starting next Friday, June 5th, we are allowed to OPEN OUR OUTSIDE DINING! We will be able to open our Outside Dining Room along with the Pizza Patio for table service. We encourage guests to limit dining time to 1.5 hours so that we can allow other customers to enjoy the restaurant. We will still offer takeout options for those who prefer to social distance and we encourage you to use our lawn area to enjoy your takeout! We want to thank every who has supported us during this shutdown and we are so excited to serve you at the river! ☀️We will start to take reservations for next week starting on Wednesday, June 3rd. Please call the restaurant to make your reservations.

A post shared by John Wright Restaurant (@jwrpa) on

 

Annie Bailey’s, 28 E King Street, Lancaster. Annie Bailey’s expansive deck has its own bar, plus a fireplace. Patio tables are placed under a large L-shaped pergola and are separated by partitions. Potted plants and ivy-covered latticework provide the feeling of being in a secret garden rather than the heart of downtown Lancaster. Visit their website to make a reservation on Open Table.

 

 

The Pressroom, 26 West King Street, Lancaster. Located in the heart of downtown, The Pressroom offers seasonal dining in its Park Bar. Here, you’ll find patio tables and chairs set amidst the beauty of Steinman Park. The brick patio is accented by landscaping; a waterfall plunges into a fountain at the rear. Reservations are required.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBjaKTzjHaY/

 

Decades, 438 North Queen Street, Lancaster. Although their bowling and arcade games are not yet open, Decades is offering patio seating on their front lawn. Reservations are required for dinner hours, but otherwise tables are first, come first serve.

Photo Courtesy of Decades

 

T.J. Rockwell’s800 Mount Gretna Rd., Elizabethtown.A visit to Rockwell’s is like a day at the beach. The deck is massive and is decorated with surfboards, boats, colorful lights and other beach-related memorabilia. A bar with a palm-thatched roof also provides seating. Tables are first come, first serve.

 

Check out our extended list of outdoor eateries here!

 


Have you been out to eat in Lancaster lately? Send us your outdoor dining pictures here or on Facebook to be featured in this blog. Also, feel free to tag us on Instagram @lanccountymag!

10 Local Gift Ideas for Father’s Day

Celebrate the dad’s in your life while supporting local businesses!

  1. Plants for his garden from a local greenhouse like Tudbinks or Frey’s.
  2. Grilling, smoking or BBQ supplies from Lancaster BBQ Supply.
  3. His favorite libation from one of Lancaster’s many breweries, wineries, cideries and distilleries.
  4. A Father’s Day Box from Creatively Lancaster or Ville + Rue.
  5. An outdoor adventure from Refreshing Mountain.
  6. Peruse Festoon’s men collection.
  7. A Pop ‘N Box full of delicious treats from Pop ‘N Dough. Preorder via Instagram or Facebook by June 20.
  8. New reading material from Aaron’s Books.
  9. A stylish find from Ellicott & Co.
  10. For Father’s Day Dinner, let one of these local eateries do the work.

Gibraltar is offering patio and takeout service for Father’s Day. Special menu coming soon.

Blackworth Lititz has a Dads and Grads Family Style Menu which is available through June 21.

Speckled Hen is having a Smoked Pork BBQ Special. Pre-order by Wednesday June 17.

Iron Hill Brewery is offering Father’s Day Craft Kits for a ready to grill meal.

What have you been doing during the coronavirus shutdown?

As Lancaster County gets closer and closer to entering the yellow phase of reopening, we want to know what you were able to accomplish due to the extra time at home. Did you rekindle a passion for an old hobby? Did you learn a new skill? Or maybe finally complete that home project that you’ve been thinking about for years? Let us know below!

Local film, Calf Rope. Photo Courtesy of Jackie Walker of JMW Productions.

Calf Rope is now completed and once local theaters open up in some capacity we look forward to holding local premieres for it in our region.” Bradley H.

 

“I bought a Baby Wolf loom last year and finally warped it and started weaving cotton dish towels. I used an instruction book and texts from friends to learn how. Just finished the first of three towels today.” Tracy B.

 

“I finally started an Instagram page for my photography! @photos_by_Taylorannphotography.” Taylor M.

 

“Genealogy, and not just during the quarantine.” Maria H.

 

“Making greeting cards for our pastor to send out for birthdays and anniversaries.” Janet B.

 

Tell us what you’ve been working on during quarantine here!

How Local Farms are Faring During the Pandemic

Lancaster County is known for its rolling farmlands and the dedicated farmers who tend to them. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, farms across the country have grappled with a surplus of their products since schools, restaurants and other large buyers closed. Some are dumping milk, euthanizing animals and giving their products away for free. Lancaster County unfortunately felt similar effects.

 

In a recent Lancaster Farmland Trust webinar, Elizabethtown farmer Jim Hershey is aware of several farms in the area that had to see their hard work go to nothing. He knows of dairy farmers who had to “open the plug” on their milk and broiler farmers who had to euthanize some of their chickens.

 

“There’s nothing more painful than good nutrition going to waste,” says PA Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding during a Lancaster Chamber webinar. Although the state was seeing high levels of milk dumping in March and April, Redding says the dairy industry is getting back on track thanks to restaurants reopening, families buying more consistently and farmers adjusting production. He does predict short-term meat shortages as the national supply chain adjusts.

 

Some farms in Central Pennsylvania chose to give their extra products to consumers for free. On May 20, Dieffenbach’s Potato Chips gave away 40,000 pounds of potatoes at the Berkshire Mall in Wyomissing. Another farm in Willow Street gave away 5,000 gallons of milk to anyone in need.

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is also taking measures to help ensure that the surplus of produce, meats and dairy do not go to waste. Through their Farmers to Family Food Box Program, products from farms are sent to distributors who pack the food into family-sized boxes; then the boxes are sent to charitable organizations – like food banks – for families in need.

 

Locally, Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative was awarded $1,365,000 to participate in the program. The cooperative is delivering boxes of local organic produce to families in the area. In just one week, they have given away over 6,000 boxes. “This food comes from hard working farmer families in and around Lancaster County that take so much pride in their harvests,” the cooperative said in a Facebook post.

 

In the previously mentioned Lancaster Farmland Trust webinar, Gordon Hoover, who is a third-generation farmer from eastern Lancaster County, said, “Farmers are very good at figuring out solutions to problems. They are very innovative.” While the pandemic continues on, think about your local farmers the next time you shop. Consider purchasing a CSA, stopping at small stands/markets or buying PA Preferred products.

 

If you are in need of food, find local resources here.

Making Art in the Time of COVID-19 – Part 3

There is an old adage that art cannot be made in a vacuum, however, our local community has been proving that it can, in fact, be made in quarantine. In an era imprinted by uncertainty, solitude and disconnect during the coronavirus pandemic, many makers have been finding solace and connection through the work of creating.

It can be easy, at least for me, to become stoic and focused on pragmatism in times of stress or struggle, but I believe it’s important to keep connecting, creating and communicating through art, especially now. Art should not be viewed as a frill but a necessity for the human spirit, a part of life – whether in creating, viewership or patronage.

I’ve been taking some time on occasion over the last several weeks to do quick doodles and take a break from all the noise of the news cycle and constant screen-time. I’ve been slowly making a small series of what I’m calling “Quarantimes” cards and sending them to friends. I’ve chosen to be very informal and unstructured with these pieces to help keep the process as relaxing as possible. No expensive tools or supplies or strict measurements allowed. I’ve just been using whatever I have on hand as medium and subject. The card pictured is one I made for a baker/cake decorator friend and features a mutually loved song lyric and play on words (Mewithoutyou).

 

What follows is the third collection we’ve assembled of local contributors work and words created in the era of COVID-19, social distancing and shutdowns.

Part one can be found here.
Part two can be found here.

The work that follows is the property of the artist.

Erin Berry, Photographer

“The New Play Date”
“The New Normal”
“The First Rush”
“The Baking”
“The New Clutter”

Note from the artist: I was currently in the middle of a 365 project when the pandemic began. I was able to watch my work evolve from a simple, shooting daily to push my creativity, to shooting daily to document what life is like for my family during this time. Through all the virtual school, my business closure, mental health struggles and day to day stressors. The photos aren’t always jaw dropping perfect. They are meant to be snapshots into what this period of our life was like through my perspective.

Erinberryphotographer.com
Instagram.com/erinberry_photographer

Brenda Blank

“ROSES ALONG THE WAY” – 8×10 watercolor
“IN THE LIGHT” – 8×10 watercolor
“MOURNING DOVE” – 8×10 watercolor

Note from the artist: these 3 small paintings were created as part of a challenge among other local watercolor artists to complete one 8×10 painting a week for the duration of the quarantine (there are 7 total so far).

“THE REFUGE” – 11×14 watercolor

Note from the artist: Created as a visual message of comfort for all the staff at Lancaster General Hospital who are tirelessly working in the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic

www.bjblankart.com
Facebook.com/bjblank
Instagram.com/bjblankart

Robin Chambers

Note from the artist: As I surrender to isolation, closing the doors to immediate society, there has arisen a quiet stillness in my being that has caused my senses to grow keener… my spirit to open wider to my surroundings, and to the reflections they trigger.

I have been running, with a sense of exhilaration and sheer freedom, through my village and into nature, who carries on as she will in the budding Spring. These are images I have captured on my phone along the way.

Simultaneously working up a sweat and a creative fervor, finding the sublime in the commonest of places… these have been my saving graces during these strange days.

Keisha Finnie

“Nurture Your Mind” – PSA Temporary Mural for Lancaster Public Art
“Praying for the World” – Watercolor & acrylic on paper

keishafinnie.bigcartel.com
instagram.com/keishafinnie

Fool

“Sold”
“Run”
“Inside”
“Crete”
“Dogs”
All acrylic and paint marker sizes vary from 8×10 38×48

Eliza Funk

Acrylic on Wood, 9″x12″

Instagram.com/elizafunkart

godzillabutwithwizardpowers

Note from the artist: All images are made through a series of targeted corruptions, within the confines of a Samsung smartphone. Photos captured via smartphone and manipulated via smart phone.

Instagram.com/godzillabutwithwizardpowers

April Jarunas

“When the Light Breaks” – Oil on panel

Instagram.com/apriljarunas

Rick Jones

Note from the artist: Just a quick note…being home more now has allowed me a greater opportunity to pick up my camera and see things differently—to look for images to shoot in and around the house as well as just a few steps out the front or back doors. Exploring this way has been a great experience.

Julie Liz Photography

Julieliz.com

Ric Lyttle

“Mixed media. Photography and watercolor with digital processing.”

mettle_fleche_

“pondering” – a mix of analog and digital collage

“star dreams” – a mix of analog and digital collage 

Note from the artist: Personally, the two edges of this COVID-shaped sword are that I have lost some opportunities I’ll never get back; however, due to being unemployed, I’ve gained the time and energy to create something new. My collage work is on Instagram as @mettle_fleche_ and I’m so excited to see where this creative outlet takes me.

Follow them on Instagram to see more of their work. High-quality prints are available for sale.

Alexander Monelli

“Marionette Land” – Feature Length Documentary about the Lancaster Marionette Theatre

Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2W5EwfTZsg

Note from the artist: This is documentary I’m producing about the Lancaster Marionette Theatre and its charismatic owner Robert Brock. We shot the film mostly in 2019 and I am currently editing it now. We were hoping to submit to film festivals this fall and winter but that doesn’t look possible now. I don’t know if film festivals will be back by then. Either way, I am forging ahead with completing the film by the fall. You can learn more at www.marionetteland.com.

Nick Batdorf

Photo by Nick Batdorf

BenOaks

Note from the artist: “cBREAK” is a song made in collaboration between 3 Lancaster area musicians. I sent the demo beat of the track to Cory Paternoster (Sun Not Yellow, the Mellowells). He added a drum kit performance. Which I sent to Taylor ‘Kouqj’ Bull, to add bass & mix. This ‘Frankenstein monster’ is the result! Not exactly sure what kind of music this is but it is heavy yet funky! Progressive electronica? “cBREAK” is from the upcoming, feature heavy, collaboration album ‘madPHAT’. Each song on the album will feature collaborations from musicians mainly from Lancaster (with a few exceptions being rappers from Wilmington, DE & Philly). “cBREAK” is unique in that unlike the rest of the songs on the album it features collaborations with instrumentalists and not vocalists.

Listen to cBREAK by BenOaks x KOUQJ feat. Cory Paternoster at:
audiomack.com/song/bones-culture/cbreak-x-kouqj-x-cory-paternoster-master
Listen to the rest of the album at (language warning):
audiomack.com/album/bones-culture/twentytwenty-ultrafunk
For more of Ben’s triphop work, go to BenOaks.net

Elaina Posey

#1 “Cityscape” (Philly) – Acrylic on Canvas 2019
#2 “Beachscape 1” (2020) –  Acrylic on Canvas 2020
#3 “Beach Towels” – Acrylic on Canvas 2019
#4 “Skyscraper” – Acrylic on Canvas 2017

www.elainaposey.com
www.etsy.com/shop/PoseyCreative
www.facebook.com/elainaposeyart

Shawn Adomanis

Note from the artist: I am a full-time artist, am lucky enough to work for a really great company and have not been affected by the pandemic. So, I guess I do not have the same situation as many of the other artists out there. For my personal work, over the past year I have been working on a series of 12 paintings of women and sea creatures. They are all gouache/watercolor and ink. Here is #9, that I finished on April 11th. I am almost done #10 as well.

www.shawnadomanis.com

Erika Snitzer

“Hospital Doodle”
“Feeling Better?”
“Too Thin”
“Feel”
“And Another Thing”

Note from the artist: Just before Covid-19 shut down the country, I was struck with a flare up of my auto-immune disorder (ulcerative colitis). It got so hot that I was hospitalized for urgent treatment the first week of March. Four of these images are related to my recovery in quarantine. The fifth image addresses the added stress that came when I was hospitalized again at the end of April to deal with a pulmonary embolism. I am still recovering from both these issues, immune suppressed, and concerned about how I cope in the next phase of this pandemic.

I am typically a mixed media artist working somewhere between 2D and 3D work. My illness coupled with quarantine has kept me away from my studio, so these sketchbook images like these, made using fine felt tip pens, have been my art therapy outlet.

www.facebook.com/artfoodie

Lori Stahl

 

Nick Stehman

Note from the artist: These are my 3d modeling projects. I started a deep dive into 3d modeling at the start of the covid 19 shut down. My goal is to create my own cartoon/game/toy collection. Prior to the shutdown I hadn’t had much extra time to learn this software so progress was slow, now that I’m getting the hang of it, I’m learning in leaps and bounds. I use a free software called BLENDER. It is a cutting-edge tool that is free and accessible to anyone with a computer. I’m having lots of fun and learning a lot and my goal is to submit some animated shorts to some film festivals this fall. I hope you enjoy.

Instagram.com/nicksterkingcool

Fawn Stephenson-Lilly

“Crocheted Coral Reef”

Note from the artist: I started this a few years ago and finished it the first week I was off work because of the pandemic. I’ve seen rooms filled with crocheted coral reefs – this is my downsized aquarium version!

“Art Journal”

Note from the artist: I picked up this little sketchbook when I ended a relationship right before the pandemic started. I can’t put it down! Doodling is so relaxing and fun. It’s just for me! I can do whatever I want – no judgement – no deadlines – A pure creative outlet!

Lourdes E. Torres-Shepard

“The Guests” – Mixed Media Collage
“Untitled” – Mixed Media Collage
“Fearless” – Mixed Media Collage
“Great Expectations” – Mixed Media Collage
“Listen my Child” – Mixed Media Collage

Facebook.com/LULISART

Water & Bristle

Instagram.com/waterandbristle

Jane Wolf

“Fireflies” – 16×20, acrylic mixed media
“Water Garden” – 12×12, acrylic mixed media
“Tulips” – 10×20, acrylic mixed media
“Turtle Medicine” – 20×26, acrylic mixed media
“Pansy” – 20×26, acrylic mixed media

Facebook.com/artsywolf31
Instagram.com/artsdancer
Janefwolf.com

 

Marching into the Unknown

In the heart of the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the mountain pass of Franconia Notch – bordered by the sheer face of 4,080-foot Canon Mountain to the west and 5,249-foot Mount Lafayette to the east – has become a rite of passage to many outdoorsmen and women. “Up in the mountains of New Hampshire, God Almighty has hung out a sign to show that there He makes men,” wrote statesman Daniel Webster (1782-1852) of Franconia Notch. American author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, saw the mountainous formations “as if a mighty angel were sitting among the hills, and enrobing himself in a cloud-vesture of gold and purple.” As the natural majesty struck these men, so it too struck Soren West when he first visited the area as a boy.

May 14: Sunrise at McFee Knob in Catawba, Virginia. This is regarded as one of the most iconic overlooks on the AT.

A lifetime later, the retired lawyer from Lancaster would revisit The Granite State. Worn from months in the wilderness and in the company of his sole companion, a golden retriever named Theo, Soren would turn his face to the howling wind and unleash a guttural cry to the heavens, proclaiming he had returned and crested the mountain ridges surrounding Franconia Notch at age 75.

A Life’s Call to Nature

Soren grew up in the suburbs of New York City – close enough to the Big Apple for his parents’ social and work lives, yet far enough removed in Fairfield County, Connecticut, to know nature. His parents’ lifestyle enabled their alcoholism (and, eventually, 40 years of recovery); this preoccupation left Soren and his brother to discover the natural world around them on their own. “Mother Nature became mother for sure. It was a comforting place to be,” says Soren, who is quick to also credit the many advantages in life his parents gave him.

February 21: The first steps on the AT begin at Amicalola Falls in Georgia.

When he entered his high school years, Soren went off to Northfield Mount Hermon, a prep school in the well-forested lands of northern Massachusetts; the four challenging years exposed him to harsh New England winters. After graduation, he served as an exchange student in the UK, where he met Prince Phillip and witnessed the pageantry of British royalty. He went on to Yale, his father’s alma mater, where he studied English; considered joining the Peace Corps; married “a girl he met at a Yale mixer,” his wife Bonnie; and eventually went to work for his father in the insurance premium finance industry. 

With a call to the unknown reverberating in him, he left the security of working under his father and took a teaching position at a prep school in Connecticut. “I was a little too serious as a teacher and a little too hard on the kids,” recalls Soren. “I really wasn’t enjoying myself, so I ended up going to law school.”

He and Bonnie – whose family hails from Lancaster County – had started a family and welcomed their second son (of an eventual five children) during Soren’s time at law school. Upon graduation, he took a job in Monroe County for a short time until he was offered a position in Lancaster, where he began a 46-year career as a trial attorney.

The memory of his experiences in nature stuck with him his entire life. Soren fondly recalls the years of 6 through 13 when he went away to summer camps. His last three camp summers were spent at New Hampshire’s legendary Camp Idlewild on Lake Winnipesaukee’s Cow Island.

“From there I became such a frequent hiker,” says Soren, and he starts naming the New England peaks he has ascended. “The experience of going over Franconia Ridge impressed me at the time, but it was just something I did as a kid. As the years went on, it was something that just kept resurfacing throughout my life. What a beautiful scene. It was something that just germinated inside of me.”

June 5: Back on the trail a day after Soren celebrated his 75th birthday.

Onto the Trail

The Appalachian Trail, navigating the eastern United States from Georgia to Maine, follows part of the Franconia Ridge as it traverses an 89.5-mile stretch through the White Mountains National Forest. Most of this section of the AT is above the tree line and the climate is classified as alpine. The passage is only recommended for experienced adventurers.

As he writes in the introduction to his book, Soren took 10 years and hiked nearly 500 miles to prepare for his adventure on the AT. Officially designated as the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, but dubbed simply the AT by hikers, the 2,180-mile public footpath traverses “the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains” as described by the National Park Service, which shares stewardship of the trail with the US Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, numerous state agencies and thousands of volunteers. The trail touches 14 states (including Pennsylvania) and was conceived in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937. More than 2,000 hikers attempt to thru-hike the trail in its entirety every year; one in four succeeds.

Post-hike professional photo before Soren shaved his beard. Photo credit: Jenny Shulder

“Wanting to hike the AT had something to do with my experience on Franconia Ridge. I’m a romantic,” adds Soren. “I think of the romantic as a person who needs something out there beyond. The romantic needs to discover the unexpected. I wanted to march into the unknown.”

Soren – who took the trail name of Sojo, short for Sojourner – set out from Springer Mountain in Georgia’s Chattahoochee National Forest on February 21, 2016. At age 74, he was the oldest thru-hiker that year and his loyal dog, Theo, was a spry 8 years old. He set out onto the trail a motivated and ready man. 

Hiking through most of the South proved rather effortless, but north of Roanoke, Virginia, just after passing the picture-perfect, Instagram-inspiring McAfee Knob, near the small town of Catawba, Soren’s body started to give up. He was exhausted and he had no idea why. For motivation, he turned to a motto he developed while training: recoup, regroup, and return. After putting things in perspective, he journeyed on.

He only needed them for a total of three miles, but Theo’s booties were a must on grated steps.

On June 4, close to the physical halfway point of the AT, Soren pulled off the trail near Middletown, Virginia, long enough to mark his 75th birthday with 14 family members who joined with him to celebrate. Pulling off the trail is nothing peculiar. About every six or seven days thru-hikers will come to a small town or rest area near the trail where they can replenish their supplies, do laundry and shower – which is much needed says Soren. This day, when hikers log 0 miles, is known as “zero day.”

“At age 75 I had a lot more leisure. And, I found that a real benefit,” says Soren, recalling his more relaxed pace on the trail compared to other hikers. His tempo allowed him to compile more than 23,000 photos during the journey.

Some thru-hikers plan out each stop along the AT and even mail supplies ahead of them to the post offices they will visit on their zero days. Soren was not so fastidious; he developed an ability to shop for what he needed along the way and repackage most of his goods for the trail. For example, he would transfer jelly – a luxury he insisted upon – from its glass jar into a lighter, plastic container.

Speck Pond, Maine, after hiking through the most difficult and dangerous mile on the trail, Mahoosuc Notch. Soren’s boots needed rest and repair.

Zero days also serve as social respites from the mental fatigue a thru-hiker can experience after being alone in the wilderness. Soren was never alone and considers himself fortunate to have had Theo as a trail-mate. He never had a desperate feeling urging him to quit, which he credits to his faithful family and his four-legged friend.

But, alas, Pennsylvania. Named by most thru-hikers as the least favorite of all states included on the AT, Pennsylvania is rocky, rough and sometimes called “the graveyard of paws and boots.” Soren’s feet were already hurting from a necessary boot change in Virginia and while in his home state he wondered if he could finish the hike without inflicting permanent, physical harm on his body. He rested. And then, he pressed on.

The Final Stretch 

Nearing Franconia Notch, Soren was met on the trail by two of his grandchildren and his son, Christopher. Clouds swept in and out along the ridge, visibility went from zero to limitless in minutes. It was by far the most extraordinary part of the hike for Soren, but the White Mountains were not his ally. By the time he got to Maine, he was running on fumes, he says.

June 4: A contingent of family members traveled to Middletown, Virginia, to join Soren in celebrating his 75th birthday.

Loneliness was starting to take over when he got a surprise visit from his son, Nathan. Hearing a bit of desperation in his father’s voice during a phone call, Nathan flew to Maine and started hiking south to meet up with his dad, who he found by following the sound of the old man’s laughter. Despite the friendly boost to his morale, Soren’s hardest decision was yet to come.

Mount Hight, elevation 4,675 feet, is part of the Carter-Moriah Range of the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

It was October and the days were getting shorter, the daily temps were getting colder and he was heading north toward the Hundred-Mile Wilderness. Along the trail Soren took several falls; once when catching his feet on rusted barbwire he knew he had done some damage to his rotator cuff when he met the ground. In Maine, pressing hard to make more miles and a double-digit day, the paced-hiker snagged his boot, which sent him to the chilled earth. The force from his face meeting a tree root impacted a tooth. An emergency trip to a dentist in Rangeley, Maine, fixed his tooth, but his right arm was nearly useless. A few miles north, the town of Munson marks the end of civilization before a 100-mile trek through rugged Maine wilderness to Baxter State Park, home of the 5,267-foot Mt. Katahdin.

July 10: An endless view in New Jersey.

“My shoulder was hot, swollen and sore, and I knew I had to have it checked,” says Soren, who ended up spending three days in a rural Maine hospital. Doctors suggested operating on the shoulder. Surgery would leave his arm in a sling for six months. “I reasoned and I felt better after an aspiration. They tried to convince me to give up the hike.”

But, glimpsing a forecast of the weather on Katahdin for the next three days, and knowing the seasonal closing of the state park was approaching, Soren decided to switch his direction. He ascended the mountain named after the Penobscot Native American word for The Greatest Mountain and then returned to finish his AT adventure by completing the Hundred-Mile Wilderness.

Reaching a milestone!

Soren got off the trail on October 27, 2016. The hike that fully captured his imagination took him 8 months and 6 days.

“My goal was just to fulfill something that had been in my crawl for 60 years,” says Soren, now sitting in the comfort of his West End home; he fully enjoys sharing his story of a man, a dog and a trail.

“The conclusion I have come to as to why I did it is because I had to. I simply had to.”

For more information about the Appalachian Trail, visit appalachiantrail.org. 

Dining Out … Around the Campfire

Chicken thighs marinated in balsamic with rosemary and roasted corn on the cob.

As we’ve all come to discover over the last few months, retreating into the solitude of nature is a wonderful escape from the chaos of the world. Now that you’re hooked, this may be the summer to discover – or perhaps rediscover – the joys of camping out and cooking over an open fire. 

Camping! With each breath of fresh air, life instantly slows down. I can also guarantee that with each inhalation, your hunger pangs will go into overdrive! Fresh air will do that. 

The good news is that with a little foresight and nominal effort, you can upgrade hot dogs and baked beans for seriously good eating. What follows are my strategies for planning – and enjoying – a weekend in the woods. 

Do Your Homework

Whether you’re taking a cross-country trip or heading for the wilds of Pennsylvania for the weekend, you’ll need to do some homework. For PA, you could start with the Where and When Pennsylvania Travel Guide (whereandwhen.com), which provides a nice list of campgrounds across the state. 

For information about camping facilities in our National Park system, visit the National Park Service’s website at nps.gov. 

State parks take reservations online, often through Reserve America (reserveamerica.com) or their corresponding smart app. 

Some parks offer drive-up registration when available. Keep in mind most have gates that close at a designated hour, so call ahead to learn if there is a security code available to registered campers. 

Check to see if there is a drought or any other temporary restrictions to be aware of. Help keep pests and diseases from spreading by sourcing firewood locally to where you’ll be camping. Residents and convenience stores near campgrounds know their market and often sell firewood – just make sure it’s seasoned and you have the means of cutting it with a hatchet for kindling.

Car Camping

When I think about what camping entails for most people, it probably looks like “car camping” – loading the car, driving to a designated spot and setting up camp. On two separate occasions, Jessica and I have road-tripped to New Orleans, camping at state parks along the way. In my opinion, car camping provides one of the best ways to experience the country. 

Those endurance road trips became educational experiences and have helped to make camping near home a breeze. Well, that’s mostly true with one exception: weekend getaways are instances where I’m less inclined to buy any forgotten items or cooking ingredients left at home. Remembering a kettle or an oven mitt, for instance, will save you from cutting empty soda cans with a pocket knife to boil water for tea aided by a pair of pliers.

My cooking-while-camping philosophy is as follows. I want to relax, not look up recipes on my phone. I want to eat well, but with minimal food prep and cleanup. I don’t want to venture into a grocery store once I get there. What and how I cook will be weather dependent; in a drought or rain, a propane stove may be necessary, so I like to have options when it comes to heat sources. 

Before packing the car to head out into the wilderness, I outline a list of meals and the groceries and utensils that will be needed to cook them.

Prep For Fun

Prepping ingredients before leaving not only makes for an easier job (and better meals) while camping, but it will help you make the most of your precious time. Time is everything on a trip, the culmination of planning. I learned long ago to shop the perimeter of grocery stores, prioritizing fresh food, and I maintain that perspective when shopping for camping supplies and planning menus. 

My favorite trail mix: white confectionery drops, dried cranberries, flame raisins, raw pecans, roasted almonds, roasted cashews and raw walnuts.

Chopping fresh fruit and vegetables ahead of a weekend trip makes for tasty skewers, toppings and even appetizers before dinner. Measuring out dry ingredients in jars or storage containers (being sure you have a little extra) reduces your travel footprint. Raw shrimp (frozen, deveined and peeled) paired with sliced peppers, mangos and onions yields hassle-free and delicious kebabs finished over a fire. Marinate chicken or pork after trimming, store it in a sealed container and it’s ready to go on a hot, oiled skillet. Fresh herbs take up almost no room and bring quality to a meal not traditionally seen at a campsite. Sliced cantaloupe with prosciutto, balsamic or ground pepper is a refreshing treat. Sliced and pre-cooked onions or mushrooms offer utility in omelets, on burgers or in a side dish.

Breakfast! Roasted potatoes, brown eggs over-easy and sharp cheddar cheese cook on a cast-iron skillet.

Cast Iron Skillets & Mountain Pie Makers

Cast iron skillets are ideal when car camping. It’s no secret they’re my favorite cookware and they shine over a campfire. Little fuss, no need for a real serious cleaning after a meal, and they can take the heat. Just remember to bring a hot pad or two. Lemon and lime add dimension while the peels can be tossed into the fire afterward without concern. 

A single-serve pour-over coffee maker makes for easy cleanup. Water is heated in a Japanese-style kettle over a Coleman propane stove.

Bear in mind that hardwood burns much hotter than coals or a propane stove, so if you have a well-seasoned heirloom skillet, consider leaving it at home. Too much heat can burn off the polymerized oils on a cherished skillet. An inexpensive, factory-seasoned skillet is perfect for the task.

Mountain pies offer simple yet still delicious solutions for hot meals and desserts. Pepperoni, marinara and mozzarella with a dash of fresh basil make for a pizza turnover, while Swiss cheese, ham and tuna add up to a tuna melt. Whether it’s cheddar, broccoli and ham or Nutella, peanut butter, chocolate and marshmallows, there are no wrong choices.

Sliced cantaloupe with proscuitto and balsamic make for a refreshing treat and can be largely prepared in advance.

Keep It Cool

Food safety is important. Store coolers in a shaded space inaccessible from animals. I prefer the hatchback of a vehicle backed up to a shaded campsite for quick access, but try not to keep it open for long in order to preserve the battery. 

Freezing water bottles or gallon jugs will keep a cooler from filling up with water, plus provide chilled drinking water after a hot afternoon hike. Make sure meat and cold-stored foods are in sealed containers and maintained at temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

A large plastic storage bin is ideal for keeping cooking staples accessible, easily covered and safe.

Behold, The Plastic Storage Bin

The most underrated device for camping is the plastic storage bin. Living on a picnic table, it’s perfect for organizing all of the necessities and niceties for campsite cooking. In the container: matches, paper towels, paper plates, sanitizing and wet wipes, sheathed knives, a cutting board, tea bags, tinfoil, a can opener, metal tongs (which fit perfectly in the center of the paper towel roll), salt, pepper, Old Bay seasoning, Tabasco, olive oil, trash bags, spatula, utensils, meat thermometer, hot pads, towel, dish soap, scouring pad, skewers, toothpicks, ground coffee and filters.

A lidded bin allows all of your supplies to be quickly covered in the event of rain or safely stored away at the end of the day.

Soaked skewers of shrimp, peppers and pineapple, drizzled with lemon and lime juice.

On Your Way Out

As I learned in Boy Scouts, leave your campsite cleaner than how you found it. Pick up bits of wrappers or bottle caps and dispose of them properly. There’s usually a dumpster and recycle bin near the ranger’s office. For future reference, at a state park or privately owned campground, it’s worth walking or driving through various loops to make note of preferred campsites for the next visit. 

Mill Creek Camping Area, Lancaster County Central Park, was our destination for a weekend of camping. Left to right, Tim Mallinson and Kingston Chow.

Stargazing

Stargazing has suddenly become a big deal. Martha Stewart put it on her Top 50 list of things to do during a pandemic. I’ve also been told that Hallmark movies have been touting stargazing as the new date-night activity. It’s also popular with STEM-oriented students. Why not head for your own backyard – or the Muddy Run Observatory – and do a little stargazing yourself? 

Having grown up in rural eastern Lancaster County, I’ve always been blessed with a beautiful, star-filled night sky. While I lost that appreciation during my teenage years, I fondly recall rediscovering it the day I bought my first DSLR camera. I’ve been gazing at the stars ever since.

Stargazing has been a hobby among humans since prehistoric times, with astronomy claiming the title as the oldest of the natural sciences. The earliest-known records date back to the Sumerians and later generations of Mesopotamians, as well as the ancient cultures of Egypt, China and India. Each of these cultures had their own tools and methods, but over time they began to converge on core themes.

Nowadays, you can look up with your naked eye – like the ancients – and arm yourself with all sorts of applications (I use the Sky Guide app) and software to help explain what you’re seeing. Telescope technology has also come a long way since the days of Galileo. A reasonably priced telescope can provide a clear view of our solar system as far away as Saturn. Seeing pictures of the ringed-planet is one thing but looking into a telescope and counting its moons is a deeply satisfying experience.

On a galactic map, we would find ourselves situated on one of the long spiraling arms in the suburbs of the Milky Way galaxy. If you want to see beyond our planets and stars, you’ll need a mighty telescope like the ones housed at the Muddy Run Observatory in Holtwood. I’ve been anxiously watching their website, as well as the Astronomy Enthusiasts of Lancaster County’s site, to find out when they will resume their monthly open house and stargazing events.

Visit muddyrunobservatory.com or Facebook for updated information.