This country is facing an alarming shortage of skilled labor and trade workers. Is there a way to solve this universal issue? Many believe the answer lies in education. Lancaster County is fortunate to have a top-rated school – Lancaster County Career & Technology Center – and a highly ranked college – Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology – that are striving to provide solutions and manpower to industries that are most impacted.

The total number of workers hired by U.S. businesses increased to 5.9 million for the month of April, according to data collected by the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), and released by the Department of Labor in early June of this year. The total number of hires was the most recorded in the JOLTS series’ history dating back to December 2000.

However, the amount of available jobs still surpasses the number of unemployed workers. According to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “For two decades, there have been more available workers than available jobs.” Yet, that suddenly changed in 2018.

The issue is also a concern statewide, as evidenced in the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry’s 28th Economic Survey that was conducted in August 2018. As stated in The Philadelphia Inquirer, “For the first time ever, more job creators – 14% – listed difficulties finding skilled and qualified employees to fill open positions as the biggest problem facing their companies over any other issue.” The skills of plumbers, nurses and everything in between are in high demand, especially those in the skilled trade sector.

So, what’s causing this skilled labor gap? Several factors come to mind: a growing number of students preferring to attend a four-year college; blue-collar baby boomers retiring without a younger generation to take their place; the rise of automation, such as robots, has moved slower than predicted; lower-income workers leaving the workforce on disability claims (including drug addiction), and the list goes on.

Lancaster County Career & Technology Center

There were approximately 1,300 students enrolled for the 2018-2019 school year at the Lancaster County Career & Technology Center (LCCTC), which is comprised of the Willow Street, Brownstown, Mount Joy and Health Sciences campuses. Students in the 12th grade – from all of the 16 high schools in the county – who have an interest in the trades, attend one of those campuses, depending on which program they want to take. There are also adult-education programs offered at LCCTC, through which you can earn a certificate or associate degree, improve your skills or learn a new one.

The Mount Joy campus offers a range of programs, including welding, mechanical engineering, precision machining, culinary arts and more. Dave Smith, principal at the Mount Joy campus, says the school’s welding program has seen a huge increase in interest and enrollment. “Welding seems to be our biggest program right now. Three years ago, we decided to go from 24 students to 40 high school students to help meet the need,” he explains. “We built a brand-new lab, specifically for the adult side, so they can run some trainings during the day when our high school side is being used. In the evening, both labs are being used up until 9 or 10 o’clock by adults. I think we’re already really scratching the needs of what’s out there.”

The Mount Joy campus also received a grant from BB&T Bank (which the school’s foundation and other employers matched) that helps to provide a free 10-week training session for welding and a free 17-week training session for electric mechanical. “The idea for that is for someone who just wants to get their feet wet. They need to be underemployed or unemployed, and we bring them into the program, and then they are able to go out and get jobs in the field,” says Amber Kreger, who is LCCTC’s director of higher and continuing education at the Mount Joy campus. “Our hope is that they continue on with us in a full-time program so that they can build upon those skills; it’s a good start to help fill that gap.”

Other ways of combating the shortage involve adding new programs (including a new apprenticeship program through Project Spark), meeting with employers in the trade industries to understand what needs they have, hosting tours and open houses, and changing the mindset of parents and educators. “Years ago, there was a push that every kid had to go to college for a four-year degree,” says Dave, who is of the opinion that “That mindset is with the parents; they feel that’s the way their child is going to do better than what they [the parents] are doing, without understanding that somebody in welding can start off at $14 or $15 an hour, easily, with benefits, and make a very good living being a welder, machinist or carpenter.”

Amber adds, “I think, too, that the perception of a student who comes to the CTC should be changed. To be a machinist, you need to have strong math skills, so you need to be looking at the students who are excelling in math and those areas. I think it’s also changing that perception of who would come into these sorts of programs and what that can do for their future.”

A concern of some students is that they will miss out on special events, club activities, sports, etc., at their home school if they are enrolled at LCCTC. “I think sometimes there is some apprehension of leaving their school district, but they can still participate,” Amber points out.

Two more areas of potential growth at the LCCTC include the expansion of the center’s health programs and the housing project in the residential carpentry program. “We have an aging population, so while manufacturing and construction may go up and down, healthcare is one of those solid fields where there’s a need,” Dave observes. “We’re looking to expand our high school side and some of the initial introduction courses and, hopefully, guide some of our students into our LPN programs or into other institutions that have a need.”

The residential carpentry program provides students with hands-on experience by enabling them to build actual homes. “It takes us about two years to build a house, and then we’ll sell that house and the land it’s built upon,” Dave explains. “Our residential carpentry students do the framing, the siding, the roof and all those areas, and then the electrical students from Brownstown come down and do the wiring.” Students in other programs – HVAC, plumbing, painting, etc. – provide their expertise, as well. “It’s really a cross-campus project,” Dave emphasizes. “Our plan is for the students to see the beginning of a house and the finishing of a house. By having two houses going at the same time, they can see the start and the finish.

It’s about the curriculum; that’s why if it takes us about two years to build a house, it’s OK because there’s a learning process that goes along with it.”

For more information about LCCTC, visit lancasterctc.edu.

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology

You’re probably aware that the college is named in honor of the man who was one of Lancaster’s best-known philanthropists and one of the country’s most outspoken supporters of the underprivileged. Those two elements laid the groundwork for the college that bears Thaddeus Stevens’ name.

Life for the Vermont-based Stevens family was challenging. Two of the four boys (including Thaddeus) were born with clubfeet, which led to a life of what we in the 21st century call bullying. The patriarch of the family was an alcoholic who eventually deserted his family and was killed in the War of 1812.

Mrs. Stevens saw education as the solution to the family’s plight and somehow raised the money to send Thaddeus and his older brother, Joshua, to a nearby school. Thaddeus excelled in school and was accepted at Dartmouth College. After graduating, he taught school in York County, all the while studying law at night. After passing the bar exam, he established a law practice in Gettysburg, eventually moving to Lancaster.

In 1833, he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. During his tenure in the House, he played a critical role in the passage of a bill (and prevented its repeal) that would make Pennsylvania one of the first states to provide children with a free public school education.

Despite the passage of the bill, he took it a step further and bequeathed $50,000 in his will so that a school could be established “for the relief and refuge of homeless, indigent orphans” who would be “educated in the various branches of English education and all industrial trades …”. That bequeath provided the foundation for what is now the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. The state’s first technical college was established in Lancaster in 1905 with 15 students on its roster. The state named it in honor of Stevens.

Today, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, which boasts 1,200 students – men and women – offers 23 associate degree programs, including such areas of study as carpentry, plumbing, cabinetmaking and wood technology. The college’s mastery of the building trades is reflected in the row homes students began building in Lancaster City during the 1950s. In the fall of 2016, the school branched out and began building homes in the Millersville area.

“It was a great experiment. At that point, we wanted to draw some attention to make people aware of what we do, because not a lot of people understand what we do,” explains sophomore carpentry instructor Dan McCord. “So, we wanted to do something to get that attention, and we entered the Parade of Homes.” The custom home won Best of Show honors in 2017. “We weren’t really expecting to, but that just kind of opened up the flood gates, and we hope that continues,” he remarks.

Continue it did – this year’s house, located on Edington Place near Millersville, took first-place honors for exterior, interior design, kitchen, bath and décor in the Townhouse/Duplex Division I category, thereby claiming Best of Show honors for that division.

Another interesting fact is the rate at which students are getting hired as soon as they graduate from Thaddeus Stevens. Dan shares that one of his former students had seven job offers before he even graduated. “Our hours for the morning classes are technically 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m. I had students all semester, but I had probably three guys who came at 6:30 a.m.; one kid would come at 6 a.m. They’re dedicated,” Dan says. “… I think we were in the 90s for carpentry as a whole, like 96% [for job placement rate]. I might’ve had one student who didn’t get a job offer this year, and that’s simply because his attendance was horrible, his attitude was not good, and I can’t give a good reference if it’s not deserved. But, if you apply yourself, you’re going to get a job.”

The industry is definitely “booming.” He says it’s funny how things have changed since he graduated from college less than two decades ago. “It’s always been there, that gap, but especially right now with everything booming the way it is. Now, we have companies coming out to the housing project. One company brought donuts one day. Another company brought drinks. I’m thinking to myself, ‘When I graduated college, you had to take the donuts to them,’ and now they’re bringing them to you. So, it’s pretty crazy how that has changed.”

Dan agrees that all areas of the skilled trades are in need of workers. “We have people coming to us saying, ‘We need carpenters, we need roofers, we need carpet installers,’ all screaming the same thing. I feel badly, but I only have so many students.”

Similar to the perception Dave and Amber spoke about at LCCTC, Dan also saw the push for a four-year college degree. Millennials, as well as some Gen-Xers, are seeing debt pile up because of student loans. However, Dan says, “When they graduate here, they don’t have all that debt because we’re not that expensive. So, it’s a win-win situation.”

Though the college is growing, it still has a number of potential students wanting to enroll but can’t because of limited space. “We promote to try to grow our programs, and I know our president, Dr. William Griscom, is always trying to grow the school for that reason because there’s such a demand in the trades,” Dan says. “He and Alex Munro, who runs the alumni association, are always in Harrisburg beating the drum and trying to get us more money so we can put more things in to get more students. I think the figure I heard was something like 2,000 students can’t get in who want to get into Stevens. We are aware of it, and we’re trying to grow, but we need help in doing that.”

One way Thaddeus Stevens and the LCCTC help create connections for their students is through the Building Industry Association of Lancaster County. Dan says the connection to the trade association grows stronger with each passing year. “I know Pauline Wilton wants to start getting some of the students out to some of their events, so companies can meet them more that way. We’re also going to be working with them to try to find more land to build on in the future and also in staying up to date on the codes,” Dan shares. “Having them is absolutely essential. We use them more than most builders, I would say, and we’re going to use them more in the future.”

Dave Smith also states that the BIA is very supportive of the LCCTC. “A lot of it is connections and networking. They always invite us to the BIA Spring Show.” The BIA also invites LCCTC personnel to industry luncheons and events. Students are also given the opportunity to meet BIA members. “If we need contacts or if we think that they can help us out, they’ll guide us to who we need to contact,” Dave notes.

Both institutions are also very proud of their NOCTI scores. NOCTI stands for National Occupational Competency Testing Institute, which is similar to an end-of-the-year test for those in the skilled trades. Dave explains that you either score basic, proficient or advanced. “As a system, we hit 95% – we got either proficient or advanced. This was a little bit higher than in the past. The last three years, we’ve been around 91% or 92%, so we had a little increase here. This was a good year. For instance, at Mount Joy we hit 97% for this year, which was the highest we’ve had in about a decade.”

For more information about Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, visit stevenscollege.edu.

There’s Work to be Done!

By Sue Long

No matter where she goes, Karen Watkins, who has served as the executive officer of the Building Industry Association of Lancaster County since 2013 and is a former member of the Executive Council of the Pennsylvania Builders Association, says the topic of conversation is the same: the dearth of skilled labor that is affecting the industry. “It’s just not here,” she says. “It’s everywhere. It’s a nationwide concern.”

Between younger generations not seeking careers in the trades and baby boomers reaching retirement, the concern is growing expeditiously.

As a result, companies are responding to the skilled labor gap in unprecedented ways. Some are offering signing bonuses. Others are providing on-the-job training. Still others are enticing potential employees with perks and attractive benefits packages.

Advocating for the Trades

Eleven years ago, Mike Rowe launched the Mike Rowe Works Foundation with the goal to re-educate Americans that careers exist beyond those that require four-year college degrees. If you’re not familiar with Rowe, he is the host of Discovery’s Dirty Jobs. During the show’s 10-year run, Rowe traveled to all 50 states and tackled more than 300 jobs.

Mike Rowe, Daily News

On his website, Rowe shares that through Dirty Jobs, he was afforded the opportunity to work with plumbers, pipefitters, electricians, farmers, brick layers, fisherman and a host of other tradespeople. He came away impressed by their talents and dedication to their trades.

Slackers they weren’t.

Dirty Jobs had a profound impact on Rowe. He became aware of the disconnect that exists in America where work is concerned – trades have become an endangered species. In his estimation, the “corner office is glorified, but the process of building it is belittled.” He is appalled that vocational schools, community colleges and apprenticeship programs are viewed as “alternative” levels of higher education. On the high school level, he is dismayed that, like the arts and physical education, vocational programs are being underfunded or eliminated altogether. In his opinion, America must redefine the definition of a good education and with it, a good career. He has spent the last decade testifying before Congress, speaking to chambers of commerce and appearing on any news show that will have him.

How bad is it? Student debt now stands at $1.6 trillion, making it the second-highest debt category in the U.S. According to a study conducted by Merrill Lynch and Age Wave, 36% of college graduates question whether the debt they incurred was worth the degree they earned.
On the flip side, in mid-June the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there were more than 7 million skilled labor/trade jobs available across the U.S. that don’t require a four-year degree. Peruse Rowe’s website and those jobs – ranging from plumbers to heavy-equipment operators – are available all over the country.

Rowe is not just talking the talk. He is taking action. The Mike Rowe Works Foundation not only serves as a PR machine for the cause, but it also provides scholarships to individuals who have the desire to learn skilled trades through accredited schools or programs. Thus far, the foundation has awarded more than $5 million to over 1,000 recipients representing 15-plus trades.

For more information, visit mikeroweworks.org.

Hands-on House Children’s Museum

Several years ago, during the installation of a new exhibit, space was going unused at this museum whose target audience is 2 to 10 year olds. So, museum officials erected a temporary “Construction Site” that allowed visitors to become engaged in the building industry. “It was a huge hit with visitors – boys and girls alike,” says Becca Stamp, the museum’s development and community relations coordinator. “People were sad to see it go.”

The success of the temporary exhibit inspired an idea that was further spurred on by the widening skilled labor gap. With the support of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), Keystone Chapter, and the Building Industry Association of Lancaster County (BIA), a vision for a new exhibit – HOH Construction Co! – took hold. The new exhibit, which will take the shape of a two-level job site, will focus on skilled trades, including carpentry, plumbing, electric and masonry. “It’s going to provide children – especially those at the upper age range of visitors – with an introduction to such career opportunities,” Becca explains, noting that the museum receives 50,000+ visitors on an annual basis, plus provides outreach programs to local schools.

The museum’s leadership team and board are hopeful that the Hands-on House exhibit will encourage children and parents to view skilled trades as viable careers. “We’ll help to plant that idea early on,” says Becca.

As with all museum exhibits, HOH Construction Co! will provide parents and children with hands-on activities that promote problem solving, creativity, innovative thinking and exploration.

The exhibit is slated to open in early 2020. Construction of the exhibit is being handled by ABC, whose apprentice students are doing the “hands-on” work for it off-site. ABC is on-board as the title sponsor, while the BIA is the Carpentry Trade sponsor.

For information about the museum and updates on the project, visit handsonhouse.org.

Haller U

Haller Enterprises, which is based in Lititz, launched Haller University last September. Because Haller provides plumbing, electrical and HVAC services to its residential and commercial customers, company officials saw the labor gap widening and took a hands-on approach to solving it before it reached the crisis stage.

Haller’s educational approach includes Field Ready Programs, which are intensive courses – Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., for 6-8 weeks – that are geared to new hires who have little to no experience in plumbing, HVAC and electric. Those who are accepted into the programs earn paychecks as they undergo training.

Like trade schools and colleges, Haller U is equipped with training labs, and students are afforded the opportunity to learn from guest lecturers. Team-building training is also part of the curriculum. When students complete their courses of study, they receive certificates of accomplishment. However, the learning doesn’t stop there. Seasoned employees can receive advanced training in their respective fields, as well as product education and personal development coaching through Haller U.

Like many businesses searching for younger generations of employees, Haller is marketing its training center via the internet and social media, including YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. And, it seems that Haller and others in the industry have an advocate in yet another high-profile television star – Kevin O’Leary of Shark Tank. He is of the opinion that college isn’t for everyone and recommends that those contemplating their next move should consider trade and technical schools. “Plumbers make a nice living, plus everyone needs one – even in a recession,” he says. Perhaps that’s why U.S. News & World Report ranks plumbing as one of 2019’s 100 Best Jobs.

For more information about Haller U, visit halleru.com.

Situated less than 2 miles north of the Lancaster-Lebanon line, a unique community of 2,000 residents is nestled in the timbered hills of the Piedmont Province before the geography opens into the Great Valley comprising most of Lebanon County. It was in these lush and lovely woodlands that some forward-thinking individuals – a railroad man, a church group and Chautauqua enthusiasts – formed “a quiet retreat where art, culture, spiritualism, nature and community come together.”

For many Lancastrians, summer isn’t summer without paying at least one visit to Mount Gretna, whether it’s to enjoy a Broadway-caliber show, hear a Grammy Award-winning performer, swim in the lake, hike the trails or indulge in a decadent ice cream dessert. Earlier this year, Fodor’s Travel Guide named Mount Gretna as one of 15 “Amazing Lakeside Towns” to spend the summer.

I’d have to agree. One year I had the pleasure of spending most of a week in a rented house in Campmeeting, where I parked my car and never restarted it until I had to leave. Simply walking the different areas of Mount Gretna is an enriching and soul-inspiring activity. My fellow guests and I savored the many different styles of life in Mount Gretna and enjoyed a forced simplicity in a communal atmosphere we had never experienced before.

Established in 1883 by Robert Coleman, the town, which becomes an international destination for two days in August, because of its well-known outdoor art show, was founded as a simple respite on the Cornwall-Lebanon Railroad line. The stop was named by Mrs. Sophie Maxwell, who borrowed it from Gretna Green, a parish in southern Scotland popular for weddings. Her suggestion, Gretna, became Mount Gretna on the map, serving as a recreational destination where visitors could enjoy “huge pines and hardwoods, springs and a profusion of wild flowers (in a) spot where Old Pinch Road passed on its way from Lancaster to Lebanon.” In 1884, Coleman installed picnic facilities at the stop; in 1886, he commissioned construction of a dam across Conewago Creek, thereby creating Conewago Lake, which continues to serve as a popular summer recreation area.

The settling of the area included Coleman’s amusement park, with another similar attraction following in the 20th century and lasting only a year before weather and the Great Depression shuttered its operation.
A lot has changed in the 90-acre town over time; Gretna’s prosperity is a testament to its year-round residents and seasonal guests.

On most modern maps, the area mutually referred to as Mount Gretna is divided into three distinct sections: Mount Gretna, with its Chautauqua-influence, includes the Mt. Gretna Playhouse, The Jigger Shop, Porch & Pantry and the town’s post office, as well as the area known as Campmeeting, the earliest residential area of Mount Gretna; Mount Gretna Heights, home of the Mt. Gretna Inn and Stoberdale, an area that includes the Hide-A-Way restaurant; and Timber Hills, which is the area located west of Mount Gretna Road and includes the lake and the Timbers Restaurant & Dinner Theatre. Conewago Hill and TimberBridge also have Mount Gretna addresses. While Mount Gretna is known for its iconic cottages, modern architecture is also blending in among the trees.

— CHAUTAUQUA —

In 1892, around the same time Campmeeting was founded, a movement flourishing nationwide was making its way into Pennsylvania. Started on the banks of the western New York lake bearing its name, Chautauqua began as an alternative, summer-education program founded by Lewis Miller and John Heyl Vincent in 1874. The idea created what is described as the Chautauqua Movement whereby adult learning melded with summer-long vacations.

By 1880, the idea had established itself as a national forum for open discussion of public issues, international relations, literature and science by hosting approximately 100 lecturers each summer season. So called “Daughter Chautauquas” began to form all over the U.S. and Canada, promoting and providing civic adult education to more than 50 million people annually.

“The success of the Chautauqua Movement was tied to the success of the railroads. People traveled to go to Chautauquas, and they used rail to get there,” writes Ferki Ferati in his 2017 University of Pittsburgh dissertation, The Rise and Decline of the Chautauqua Movement and its Lessons for 21st Century Civic Adult Education.
Mount Gretna was the perfect location for a Pennsylvania Chautauqua. Robert Coleman agreed and offered the land adjacent to Campmeeting, across Old Pinch Road, to the movement. The first Chautauqua gathering in Mount Gretna was held in July 1892, with a dozen cottages, several public buildings and the Auditorium constructed in the inaugural year.
The Pennsylvania Chautauqua is one of 18 remaining in North America and operates on the organization’s four pillars: Arts, Education, Religion and Recreation. As the Chautauqua movement grew and prospered, so did Mount Gretna. The town filled with summer homes, residents staying from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

— THE GRETNA STAGE —

In the early years before Chautauqua became a nationwide movement, The Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle lumped “theater-going” in with “idle pastimes” like drinking, gambling and dancing. Ultimately, the entertainment provided by the arts was recognized for its value, and by the end of the 1920s The Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra welcomed classical and contemporary ballet. The Chautauqua Theater Company was formed in New York.

The Mt. Gretna Playhouse now stands on the spot where the original Chautauqua Auditorium stood in 1892. Theatrical productions began in 1927. The Pennsylvania Chautauqua owns the building. Gretna Theatre is a tenant, along with Gretna Music and the Original Mt. Gretna Cicada Festival. The Mount Gretna Arts Council’s Playhouse Operating Committee oversees the building. Gretna Borough maintains it.

“This is the renovated version of the playhouse,” says Executive Producer Brian Kurtas, as he leads a backstage tour of the theatre. “This was really just a large meeting space 100 years ago. As the venue has evolved, so have the needs of the artists we are demanding.” Today, Gretna Theatre licenses and stages shows that have been on Broadway.

The existing structure was renovated between 1994 and 1996 after an estimated 150 tons of snow caused the roof to collapse following the Blizzard of ’93. While the 700-seat, open-air theatre is spacious and comfortable for visitors (especially due to large, air-moving ceiling fans and constant shade), backstage is tight. The onus is on set designers to work in a space with little room for movement on and off stage. Space during large musicals is even further limited by the occupation of a band behind stage right.

Every year the theatre’s governing body – consisting of a 15-member board of directors – reflects on what the theatre needs in order to grow. In 2017, the sound system got an upgrade. “It’s a living and breathing venue that changes every year,” says Brian.

What does not change is the fact Gretna Theatre is one of South Central Pennsylvania’s few professional theaters, as well as one of the longest-running summer theaters in America. The Gretna Theatre season runs June through August, but Brian has placed an increased emphasis on the theatre’s off-season activities, like touring shows and school performances.

“We’ve gotten a lot of acclaim,” he notes. “We build a season based on what we call a ‘keystone show.’ Then, we build the season around that [by appealing to] a variety of tastes.”

– GRETNA GATHERINGS –

Gretna Music has presented more than 700 concerts since its inception in 1975. The summer music program has welcomed more than 1,200 artists, including 44 Grammy winners.

While Gretna Music focuses on classical and jazz with a dash of world music, another mix of styles – pop, Motown and rock ‘n’ roll – can be found invading Mount Gretna at the end of the summer for the Cicada Festival (which was already sold out by early May). “They do six nights in August filled with tribute bands,” explains Sue Hostetter, president of the Mount Gretna Area Historical Society.

This area was simply built around gatherings. The centralized location in terms of farmland made early Mount Gretna home to several grange festivals and farmers’ encampments, the “precursor to the Pennsylvania Farm Show,” Sue explains. The grange building still stands today. Built in 1890, it is the oldest structure in Mount Gretna. Today, this building sees something far different than cattle and corn; it is home to the Mount Gretna Roller Rink. With a tight concession area and a spacious middle island for beginners, this recently reopened rink keeps most visitors moving. The family-friendly atmosphere is enhanced by year-round family nights each Thursday featuring music from the 80s – that’s the 1980s. Resting spots in the concession stand are hard to come by on Saturday nights during the “off season” (October through April), when the atmosphere harkens back to yesteryear with live organ music; the organ is replaced by “mixed music” May through September.

– ART –

Most visitors know of Mount Gretna’s relationship to art through the outdoor art show, whose beginnings date to 1976. Since then, the show has grown to include approximately 260 juried artists, 200 volunteers, a food court, a kid’s art show and live music. Promoted by the Pennsylvania Chautauqua, proceeds from the show benefit community projects.

Mount Gretna is also home to an art school. Founded in 2013 by Jay Noble, who serves as its executive director, Mount Gretna School of Art subscribes to the tenets of the Chautauqua movement and provides an intensive summer program for artists ages 18+ who seek to paint “all day, every day.” The 7-week session is devoted to capturing Mount Gretna’s natural beauty. Artists from South Central Pennsylvania and beyond serve as faculty and lecturers.

The program is also unique in that those taking part live in a cooperative setting and involve themselves in community-service activities. The school also offers opportunities such as fine art classes, lectures, museum trips, art exhibits and more to the public.

– TASTE OF GRETNA –

Mount Gretna is not without its mark on the growing, local food scene thanks in part to Brad Beamenderfer, the new chef-owner of Porch & Pantry who took the centrally located eatery year-round (in a predominantly seasonal environment), kept longtime favorites and incorporated his own high standards. He purchased the business in 2016 as a career goal to own a breakfast and lunch spot, which would allow him to produce quality food and service he is proud of, but most importantly afford him time with his growing family. “It’s a quality of life thing,” says Brad, who has accumulated 25 years of experience in food service.

Previously operating as Le Sorelle, the restaurant building was built in 1912 as a lodge for the local Women’s Auxiliary. During its history, the pied-à-terre became the home of the Chautauqua caretaker, a rental unit, and a business office until the late ’80s when it became an art gallery. Work from local artists continues to be a focus of the décor in Porch & Pantry, a restaurant now in its third incarnation.

“We kept some of the core things the same,” Brad notes, specifically referencing the restaurant’s sticky buns made fresh every morning and grilled to order. “I’d be insane to get rid of those. With that being said, I’ve brought in some new flavors and seasonal items. I also like to source everything locally as much as possible.”

He’s a stickler for making everything from scratch. All the bread, dough and crusts are made in house. “There’s no pride in just heating something up from out of the freezer,” he remarks.
Weekdays are more relaxed at Porch & Pantry, but expect a wait on the weekends as seating is limited and demand is high. Guests waiting for a table are welcome to grab a cup of coffee and mingle amongst the pines until seats are ready.

In the evening, visitors can withdraw from the quiescence of Mount Gretna. A world away, but still within walking distance, is the Hide-A-Way Restaurant, which offers a tavern-style atmosphere and popular outdoor seating. Beer, cocktails and merriment flow freely, and the menu offers everything expected in pub grub.

For food and entertainment, The Timbers has been the go-to place for more than 50 years. It too, maintains year-round hours plus has become a destination for banquets, weddings and other special occasions.

Of course, the spot to visit for dessert is The Jigger Shop. Nestled into the Chautauqua woods, this 100+ year-old attraction dishes up some of the most decadent ice cream desserts around.
Mount Gretna is not only an attraction in itself, but it has also become a jumping-off point for out-of-state visitors to other PA destinations, such as Hersheypark. “We have a tremendous amount of people coming from outside of the county,” says Brian, speaking beyond his role at Gretna Theatre. “We’ve learned how people are traveling 30-plus miles to come to this special place, not only to see a great show, but to also enjoy great food and go hiking. It’s kind of become a hub.”

– A Coleman Legacy –

As of 2019, cell phone service is still spotty in and around Mount Gretna. Wi-Fi is limited. So far so good, Mr. Bitner.

– Mount vs. Mt. –

Depending on the business, publication or even personal preference, the name of the town can be spelled with an abbreviated “Mt.” or the fully spelled “Mount.”

“I think it should be ‘Mount,’” says Sue Hostetter. She draws on the spelling of Mount Joy as a proper comparison. However, she points to the late Jack Bitner, who was regarded as the town’s “unofficial historian” and relates that he preferred “Mt.” Either way, she encourages people to “just pick one and be consistent.”

Happenings in Mount Gretna

August 3 | 35th Annual Mount Gretna Tour of Homes & Gardens

This self-guided tour includes a mix of iconic cottages (some more than 100 years old) and contemporary homes – all with Mount Gretna’s signature porches and outdoor living areas. Tickets are $20 in advance (available locally at Stauffers locations), $25 on tour day. Proceeds benefit Gretna Music. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Gretnamusic.org.

August 17-18 | Mount Gretna Outdoor Art Show

Held in the Chautauqua section of Mount Gretna, artists will be displaying media ranging from acrylics to wood. Proceeds benefit community programs and projects. Sat., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mtgretnaarts.com.

August 17-18 | Mount Gretna Summer Craft Market

Handcrafted items plus various art media are on display. Mt. Gretna Park. Sat., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mtgretnashows.com.

Through September 7 | Gretna Music

• Aug. 10: GM4K Akropolis Reed Quintet performs a mini-concert geared to families. 11 a.m.
• Aug. 10: James “Blood” Ulmer. Rolling Stone calls him the “most original guitarist since Jimi Hendrix.”
• Aug. 11: Akropolis Reed Quintet presents adventurous chamber music.
• Aug. 25: Song of the Earth pays homage to Mahler’s epic hymn of man and nature, love and life.
• Sept. 1: Pianist Jeremy Denk returns to Gretna for a third time.
• Sept. 7: Gretna welcomes a second generation of musicians with an appearance by Telegraph Quartet.

All performances are held at the Mt. Gretna Playhouse and begin at 7:30 p.m. unless noted otherwise. Gretnamusic.org.

Through August 31 | The Timbers Musical Revue

Summer of Song is the theme of this year’s musical revue. Choose from meal options. Tue.-Sat. evenings, with select matinees offered. Gretnatimbers.com.

Through August 31 | PA Chautauqua Programs

This summer’s programming covers a wide range of topics and events. Visit pachautauqua.info for details.

Through September 1 | Mt. Gretna Summer Concerts

• Aug. 17: Burt Bacharach Songbook
• Aug. 24: Broadway’s Greatest Hits
• Sept. 1: Divas Through the Decades

All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. and are held at the Tabernacle, 3rd St. & Glossbrenner Ave. Newvoicescabaret.com.