CELEBRATING LANCASTER COUNTY'S PEOPLE, SCENERY,

HERITAGE, STYLE & POINT OF VIEW SINCE 1987.

A Change of Taste

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Susan and Chuck Rabinovitz were ready to embrace the next phase of their lives and move to a 55+ community in Cornwall, Lebanon County. With that decision, Beth Alexander of Interiors Home was given the dream job of her career. 

The design of the first floor lent itself to creating a living room that makes a contemporary statement. The rug inspired the color scheme – blue, taupe and black – for the living area. Comfort was also important and was achieved with a power-reclining sofa and chair/ottoman (all from the company, Stressless), as well as a swivel chair. Hardwood covers the floors, while screen shades filter light and add an element of privacy.

In moving to their new home, the Rabinovitzes were spared the headache of deciding what to take and what to part with. Instead, they did what many of us only dream of doing and started fresh. Natives of Baltimore, Susan, who is retired from the government, and Chuck, who is retired from teaching, had moved to Gettysburg when they were still working. They filled their period-influenced home with replicas of antiques and and other treasures. “It was very traditional, very Old World,” Susan says of her style at the time. They were also longtime customers (45 years) of Interiors Home, and when they remodeled the house in 2010, Beth helped them through the process. 

Black-and-white defines the open kitchen. The large, quartz-covered island is outfitted with a sink and offers plenty of storage. Beth maintained that because the kitchen is in the middle of the living space, the bar stools that surround the island “needed to stand out.” The patterned, cut-velvet fabric does exactly that.

Ten years later, they began to feel overwhelmed by the house and decided to start looking for a smaller home close to Hummelstown, where their son and his family live. “Three floors for two people were too much,” Chuck shares of what influenced their decision. They fell in love with a 55+ community in Cornwall called Alden Place and began making plans to build a house there. They contacted a realtor to begin the process of selling their Gettysburg home. “It didn’t even hit the market,” Susan reports. “The realtor knew someone who might be interested in buying it.” The buyer not only purchased the house, but all the furniture, as well. “When we moved to Cornwall, we didn’t even need a moving truck,” Susan adds. With the transaction completed, minimalism became their mantra. Contemporary became their style. 

The cabinet from Century demonstrates how one can bring a customized look to a room, as the case, door pattern, wood and finish can be the buyer’s choice. The mirrors add to the contemporary flair of the space beneath the staircase.

The only hiccup was a six-month period that existed between moving from Gettysburg and waiting for their home in Cornwall to be completed. They rented a converted springhouse for the duration. The lull allowed them to join forces with Beth and concentrate on furnishing the house. For Beth, it would be a “relatively uncommon route, as most people entering this phase of life tend to downsize and maybe buy a new piece or two of furniture to replace items they’ve had for 20 years. The plan is usually to combine old and new. It’s really unusual for someone to completely change their style and basically start over.” Beth found the prospect of working on such a project to be exciting. “For a designer, it’s the sort of opportunity that doesn’t come along every day.” 

The on-trend dining space adds a touch of opulence to the floorplan thanks to the velvet-cut chairs that tie into the color scheme. Note the gold lighting fixture.

A Born Designer

Beth, who grew up in Elizabethtown, has loved the world of design since she was a youngster, always knowing she would gravitate in that direction career-wise. “I took an architecture class in high school and loved it,” she recalls. That prompted her to enroll in a home-correspondence course. She then met the late Albert Newlin, who operated an interior design business in Mount Joy. “Al took me under his wing; I learned so much from him,” Beth says. “Working with him was a wonderful experience.” That was 45 years ago. Since then, she has worked for other companies and joined Interiors Home in 1993. “I started in the Lancaster store and when Interiors expanded to the Harrisburg area, I moved to that store and now mainly work out of the Camp Hill location, although I still have many clients in Lancaster.” Alluding to her long tenure, Beth laughs and says she is at the point in her career where she has redone the same rooms for clients several times. 

Chuck and Susan Rabinovitz worked with Beth Alexander (right) to take their home in a contemporary direction.

Beth maintains that helping a client involves more than choosing a piece of furniture or a shade of paint. “There’s a lot of psychology involved; you need to get to know them and their family, and they need to get to know you. In the beginning, it’s like a two-way interview process that reveals if we click. After all, they are trusting you to decorate their home in the manner they want.” 

Clicking on All Cylinders 

Fortunately, Susan, Chuck and Beth clicked from the outset. The couple’s desire to go in a new direction style-wise didn’t come as a complete surprise to Beth. She remembers back to 2010 and Susan telling her, “If I ever move, I’m going in a totally different direction.” Beth was also aware that Susan is a person who is not afraid of change and loves the design process. “With Susan, perfection is key … right down to the last accessory,” Beth notes. “It has to be right.” Again, working with someone with that degree of dedication (and determination) represented a project that doesn’t come along very often. 

A floating vanity in the first-floor powder room is enhanced with a wall of floor-to-ceiling tile that employs shades of gray, taupe and brown.

Beth worked with the Rabinovitzes every step of the way. “Alden Homes was very easy to work with,” Beth says of the Cornwall-based builder, whose presence in Lancaster County is represented at Gables at Elm Tree in Mount Joy. The Rabinovitzes were able to take elements of two Alden models and create a custom design that entails an open floor plan in the living area, a home office, a guest loft and a primary suite that includes a bedroom, spa-like bath, a gorgeous closet area and laundry area. “We also worked with Alden’s designers to determine placement of electrical outlets throughout the house, as well as the window placement in the living room area,” Beth recalls.   

A laundry area is positioned between the closet area and kitchen.

Beth also worked with the couple on design elements for the kitchen and bathrooms, as well as the lighting, flooring, paint, wallpaper, etc. The hand-knotted wool rug in the living room set the stage for the blue-taupe-black color scheme that defines the living areas. “Everything spilled off that rug,” Beth says. She appreciated Susan’s determination to find the perfect rug. “Not enough effort is put into selecting rugs,” she notes. “Rugs can often serve as the artwork for a room,” she says of their importance in the overall scheme of things.  

The walk-through closet answered Susan’s desire to add a little glitz and glam to the primary suite.

What to do with the windows also presented a challenge. “We needed sun control plus a way to create privacy,” Beth points out. “Draperies would not solve either issue.” In the end, they chose screen shades that in Beth’s estimation are perfect in that they filter the light, are simple in design and complement the minimalistic tone of the house. Best of all they operate via remote control. 

In the primary bedroom, taupe defines the paint color, while silvery tones embody the nightstands, rugs and linens.

Home Contemporary Home 

Now that they are nearing the finish line, Susan says she will miss interacting with Beth. “I do enjoy the process and I’m sad we’re done,” she says. But, as she and Chuck discovered, the area offers lots of opportunities to create new interests. The community is home to a clubhouse that offers amenities such as a café, as well as a fitness center with an indoor pool. The Lebanon Valley Rail-Trail is a short walk from their home. Mount Gretna is minutes away, while Lebanon, Hershey and Lancaster are close by. They enjoy living near their grandchildren. They’ve also launched new careers: Susan works on a part-time basis at Martin’s Floor Coverings in Myerstown, while Chuck dabbles in the antiques and collectibles market. 

The walls of the spa-like primary bath are covered in a wallpaper whose style Beth describes as “modernized traditional.” Since baths are usually devoid of furniture, Beth maintains that they can be enlivened with paint color or a patterned wallcovering. The floating vanity features his-and-her sinks and storage. The basketweave tile floor adds another pattern element to the space.

Bumping into Beth in the future is a real possibility. The Rabinovitzes’ son and his wife are now working with Beth on projects at their home. 

 

Beth’s Observations  

Are you contemplating making changes at your home? Beth shares what’s hot on the homefront. 

Color is back (which thrills Beth). 

Gold and brass are adding a metallic glow to homes, especially in kitchens and baths.

Traditional design is making a comeback. 

Cotton prints are in vogue again. 

Wallpaper is back with interesting nature-oriented designs. 

Performance fabric continues to evolve to the point where it’s available in tight, durable velvets, as well as textured patterns.  

Pets are part of the family; leather is a good cover option, although it can scratch. 

Kitchen islands continue to grow bigger. 

Dining areas, as opposed to separate dining rooms, are popular. 

Gray is becoming much warmer and is going in a taupe direction. 

 

For more information, visit interiorshome.com.

Spotlight on Halloween

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Lisa Bowman has loved Halloween since she was a child. “It’s always been my very favorite holiday,” she notes. As an adult, she gained an appreciation for the history and traditions that encompass Halloween. She’s also embraced the creative aspects that the season provides. 

Lisa Bowman awaits the arrival of trick-or-treaters on the front steps of her home in Lancaster. Halloween has always been her favorite holiday and that fact is reflected in the creative manner in which she decorates the exterior of her home.

I know what you’re probably thinking. Isn’t it a little early for Halloween? Apparently not! I found myself out of luck when I perused the big home stores in search of a summery door mat in late May. Instead, the shelves were in the process of being stocked for Halloween! Stores of all sorts and sizes followed suit as soon as July 5 appeared on the calendar, as did online sources. It seems that Pinterest- and Instagram-crazed members of the younger generation prefer to shop early so that they can swing into Halloween mode right after Labor Day and post pictures by the time fall arrives. 

Just as with Christmas, we’re seeing Halloween decorations go up earlier every year. The two powerhouses – where consumer spending is concerned – have formed a juggernaut that has taken on monikers such as Halloweenmas and Yuleoween. Last year, Halloween spending reached a record $12.2 billion. “The big picture is that Halloween is more popular than ever,” the National Retail Federation’s Katherine Cullen wrote in a 2023 blog that shared a record 73% of consumers planned to mark the holiday in some fashion. Interestingly, Halloween has become a big party night for adults; only New Year’s Eve and the Super Bowl out-pace Halloween. 

Pumpkins, lighting, bats, container gardens, swags of bittersweet and foliage are used to create the seasonal décor.

“Halloween is just fun,” Lisa says. Like many members of the baby boom and Gen X generations, Halloween stirs up nostalgic memories for her. “So many memories,” she muses, saying that in her estimation, Halloween was the “highlight of the kid year,” because it was “the only night when you were allowed to stay out after dark.” She also recalls all the planning that went into creating a costume. “Nobody went to a store for a costume,” she says. She remembers being mesmerized by It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, which made its television debut in 1966. She was also enamored of Dark Shadows, The Munsters and The Addams Family, which she credits for her love of anything Victorian and all things gothic. When Halloween approached, special desserts emerged from her mother’s kitchen. Another favorite memory centers on the family getting crafty and making decorations and carving pumpkins. 

Lisa credits Martha Stewart for creating a newfound interest in heirloom pumpkins and gourds.

Later, television would help to elevate Lisa’s imagination in regards to Halloween décor, thanks to Martha Stewart, whose first primetime Halloween special aired in 2005. For Lisa, Martha Stewart Living (the magazine) became her bible. “The photography, the styling, it was just beautiful,” she remarks. In Lisa’s estimation, Martha “put holidays, as we now know them, on the map.” As for Halloween, she points to Martha as being the catalyst behind the revival of heirloom varieties of pumpkins and gourds. “She was the first to carve white pumpkins,” Lisa notes. “When I was a kid, the selection extended only to the orange pumpkins. Now, you can go to any farmstand or garden center and the selection is huge.” 

Lisa’s creativity and love of plants initially led her to become a floral designer. She credits her first employer, Nancy Gingrich Shenk, for teaching her how to decorate a Christmas tree. When she launched her own business, working with clients led her down other avenues. “When I started out, event planning was an unknown commodity,” she says. “I kind of backed into it by doing little things to elevate a client’s parties. When someone would say, ‘If I just had whatever,’ I’d run to my house and get it. I helped many a client with their Halloween parties.”  

An exhibit of Japanese Kabuki masks prompted Lisa to create masks out of pumpkins by carving them lengthwise and hanging them on doors and windows. They can be illuminated with candles or battery-operated lights.

 

Lisa discovered that her “knack for anticipating” everything from last-minute needs to averting disasters added to her success in planning weddings and other events. “I was kind of an oddity,” she says of her yin and yang ability to combine creativity and managerial skills. “Being thanked for providing a family with the best day possible is a memory that will stay with me forever,” she says of the 20 years she spent designing florals and planning events. 

Now, Lisa uses her home in Lancaster City as her creative outlet. Here, her interests in architecture, art, history, period furnishings, antiques, books, travel, nature and gardening are readily evident. At Halloween, the house especially comes alive. She loves the history and folklore that are connected to Halloween, notably the fact that the Irish and Scots brought the tradition of carving turnips at Halloween time to America and adapted to using pumpkins to mark the holiday. “People brought their customs here and they mixed and mingled to create an American phenomenon,” she says of modern-day Halloween. She likes the fact that pumpkins once had a practical side in that they were grown to feed cattle and provide settlers with food ingredients that had staying power. Hence the need for a pumpkin patch, she points out. 

Inspired by the decorated windows she saw in Europe, Lisa transformed her living room windows into tableaus that she fills with finds and mementos.

Lisa’s travels have provided her with opportunities to experience Day of the Dead observances in the American Southwest and in Poland. The marigolds that decorate windowsills and other spaces pay homage to that tradition. 

Trips to Europe, where people decorate their windows with treasures, inspired Lisa to begin creating tableaus in the windows of her living room. They are filled with things she has collected since she was a child, including the small shark jaw she begged her parents to buy when she spied it in a shop in Boston. Dried roses, seashells, antique glassware, antlers, a silver squirrel (Stephan) she bought at her favorite flower shop in Amsterdam, a piece of marble, green apples and two horse-like creatures she calls Victor and Hugo (purchased at a shop in Paris) fill the windows. 

The bats recall a childhood spent crafting the winged creatures out of construction paper.

The windows, like the exterior of the house, are illuminated with green string lights. “I love to use green lighting for Halloween,” she says. “As soon as Stauffers has them in stock, I’m there. I also like to use blue lights at Christmas.” She traces her fascination with green lighting to her favorite Disney movie, Sleeping Beauty. “The wicked witch, Maleficent, always had a green aura of light around her,” Lisa explains, noting that the green lighting effect was used in several Hitchcock movies of the ’50s and ’60s. The green lighting also helps Lisa to overcome the challenge of competing with the streetlights. 

A found mirror was used to create an optical illusion. It appears there are two pumpkins but in reality it’s one that has two faces, one of which is reflected in the mirror.

Lighting challenges are also overcome by using a theatrical trick Lisa discovered years ago. Gels, she explains, can transform and add interest to even the most mundane of spaces. “If the lighting isn’t good, you, your decorations and the table won’t look good,” she says of an event as grand as a wedding or as intimate as a dinner party at home. Gels are available in a wide range of colors and are relatively inexpensive. “You can buy them online,” she says. 

Lisa also likes to employ the concept of using light and shadows to set the mood. Candles can convey everything from romance to eeriness. Candles can also be used to cast shadows. Lisa also relies on mirrors to bounce light around a room and to bring life to her tree-shrouded patio. 

When decorating for a Halloween or harvest party, Lisa recommends that you “shop” your home and garden for items such as candlesticks, feathers, vintage items, foliage, statuary, etc. She also likes to fill glass containers with strings of battery-operated lights.

“Smoke and mirrors” is another ploy she relies on. Last year, she found a discarded mirror along a roadside and retrieved it. She turned the find into an optical illusion, as she positioned a pumpkin (carved on both sides) in front of it. “Two pumpkins for the price of one!” was the result. The mirror also multitasks, as she uses it as a serving tray for entertaining. “Everything has to multitask when you live in a small house,” she reports.  

Even the dormer window is decorated.

As for the pumpkins she hung on the front door and windows, Lisa explains the idea of cutting a pumpkin in half lengthwise occurred to her when she visited a Japanese Kabuki mask exhibit at a museum. “I’m looking at them and all of a sudden it occurred to me I could do the same thing with pumpkins,” she relates. She went home and experimented and voila, unique Halloween decorations emerged. 

The bats that decorate a portion of the house represent nostalgia. She loved creating the bats as a child and enjoyed sharing the project with her now-adult niece and nephew. “They just bring back nice memories,” she says. Swags made from bittersweet and other natural elements provide the finishing touch. Lisa says the resulting décor pays homage to Halloween traditions, as well as the harvest aspect of decorating that Lancaster County has become known for. 

The skeleton demonstrates how gels can take a simple decoration to another level. Here, Lisa added a blue gel to the light. The effect is doubly eerie, as the skeleton’s shadow is cast across the sidewalk.

Lisa likes the fact that people have made it a tradition to stop by and take in the decorations. “I think of it as my way of giving back to the community,” she says. Oh, and she was already contemplating her Halloween décor in mid-July. “I bought a giant owl to put in the dormer window,” she shares. 

A Mosaic of Residents

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Older adults are embracing this next phase of life by moving to communities whose amenities and residential options have helped to make Lancaster one of the country’s top retirement destinations. Mosaic, by Willow Valley Communities, is the latest lifestyle option for older adults in that its focus is on urban living.

Three of Mosaic’s future residents, Lizanne Ledbetter McClenon, Heather Vidal and Steph Schreyer, became better acquainted during the photo shoot that was held at Willow Valley Communities’ Welcome Center.

The choice of where to spend your retirement years is ever-expanding. Besides traditional retirement communities (which offer anything but “retiring” lifestyles), Lancaster is home to an increasing number of 55+ communities. For those who wish to remain in their homes, many retirement communities are developing “at home” programs. 

The newest focus is urban living, senior style. Willow Valley Communities has embraced that trend with Mosaic, a 20-story high-rise, which will exude what Maureen Leader, public relations and communications manager at Willow Valley Communities, terms as “quiet luxury” in the heart of Downtown Lancaster. For occupancy anticipated to begin in 2027, Mosaic residence reservations are underway now. 

Mosaic’s 16 floorplans feature two- and three-bedroom apartments (ranging in size from 1,592-3,338 square feet), that include floor-to-ceiling windows, open floor plans, chef’s kitchens, primary suites, top-of-the-line finishes and superior craftsmanship. A design team will assist residents in making selections for their new homes. 

Mosaic’s 16 floorplans will exude the concept of “quiet luxury,” which refers to the use of quality elements and materials. The term also relates to creating a décor that is truly personal and utilizes items that are meaningful and reflective of one’s interests.

Residents will be afforded amenities such as a restaurant; a rooftop bar and terrace lounge; a wine cellar and tasting room; a ballroom; a game room; a full-scale fitness center, indoor pool complex and cycle studio; a library and business center; a game room/lounge; a community garden; a spa and wellness center; and a dog park and salon. In addition, residents will be able to take advantage of the amenities, dining options, activities and events that are held on Willow Valley Communities’ campuses. Of course, the city’s shopping, cultural and dining opportunities are just a short walk away. 

Envisioning such a lifestyle is made easy at Willow Valley Communities’ Welcome Center that is located on the Lakes campus. Visitors are welcomed to the center by a large and detailed model of Mosaic. They can then tour the model apartment that has been built within the center (complete with “views” of the city thanks to the bank of floor-to-ceiling windows). Introduction-to-Mosaic events are held on a monthly basis. Visit mosaiclancaster.com/events for details. 

Getting to Know You 

What is one topic of conversation that binds the baby boom generation? If you said “music,” that would be correct. Three future residents of Mosaic – Lizanne Ledbetter McClenon, Heather Vidal and Steph Schreyer – became acquainted with each other by sharing memories of the first concerts they attended. For Lizanne, it was Black Sabbath (with none other than Ozzy Osbourne). Heather named a Mott the Hoople concert at the Spectrum in Philadelphia as her first foray into the concert scene. As for Steph, she still has fond memories of seeing Shaun Cassidy perform in Hershey. The three also found common ground in pets, as Heather and Lizanne both have cats, while Steph is a dog mom. 

“Music helps to keep me young,” says Heather Vidal, who continues to perform locally and regionally. “The fact that I performed on the mainstage of the Roots & Blues Festival [in 2022] at the age of 65 still amazes me,” she marvels. “Now, I have more of a pick-and-choose schedule, which suits this stage of my life,” she says of being a newlywed.

They chose Mosaic for different reasons. Lizanne, who once worked for the world’s top mathematician at the University of Texas, was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and spent most of her adult life in Austin. “Austin was a great place to raise kids,” says the mother of three. “Lancaster seems to be similar in that respect.” 

 It was their children that prompted Lizanne and her late husband to move East. “I had friends at Willow Valley, so we got the grand tour of the area and really liked it,” she explains. “We were absolutely sold – the amenities are world class – and the kids were thrilled by our decision.” When Mosaic was announced, Lizanne was intrigued – “I love living in high places,” she says – and made the decision to move downtown. 

Steph Schreyer loves to make plans. “I’m a planner,” she says. “I always need something to look forward to; it keeps me going.” Steph says making plans to move to Mosaic is exciting. “There’s always something going on downtown,” she remarks. “And, once I’m living downtown, I hope to explore volunteer opportunities.”

As for Heather, that concert in Philadelphia obviously had an impact on her, as she became a singer and songwriter, sharing that Bonnie Raitt and Joni Mitchell are major influences.  Having spent most of her adult life on a farmette in Dover, York County, Heather sold the property 10 years ago and moved to Lancaster, where she met Rick Price, who she married in June. It was Rick who suggested they explore Mosaic. “We both like the fact that Lancaster offers a walkable lifestyle,” Heather says. Rick and Heather, who continues to perform locally (and beyond), love city living so much that they became investors in the former Molly’s Pub, which is now known as The Corner at Musser. 

Lizanne Ledbetter McClenon doesn’t like to let the grass grow under her feet. “I feel like I’m still 25,” she says of her desire to stay active and engaged with all that life has to offer. “I want to live life to the fullest and try new activities and go on new adventures.” True to her word, Lizanne ventured to Scotland this summer and has an African safari on the schedule for 2025.

Steph grew up in Leola and now lives in New Holland. She has been employed by Cargas for the last 19 years, while her husband, Tim, works at Industrial Resolution. The two, who plan to “work their way into retirement,” saw Mosaic as a way to finally move downtown. “We practically live downtown,” she says of working, dining out and attending shows at the Fulton. “We plan to retire on our terms and saw Mosaic as an opportunity to make that a reality.” Having experience as caretakers, the Schreyers wanted to relieve their two children of that responsibility. “I know the toll that being a caretaker can take on a person,” she notes. They also liked the idea of having Willow Valley Communities’ Type A Lifecare. This financially wise contract entitles every Mosaic resident to short- or long-term care, if needed in the future, with no increase to the monthly fee because of the need for an enhanced level of care.  “If we would need additional services, it’s a relief to know they are available,” Steph says. 

For more information, visit mosaiclancaster.com.

2024 U.S. Women’s Open Championship: Looking Back

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I was thrilled to be granted press credentials for this year’s 79th U.S. Women’s Open Championship held at Lancaster Country Club (LCC) in June. I reveled in covering the 70th U.S. Women’s Open Championship hosted at LCC. Thanks to my trusty Yashica Mat camera (1958) and more than $25,000 in equipment on loan from Nikon, I had the time of my life at this year’s Open. 

The U.S. Woman’s Open Championship returned to the Lancaster Country Club in June 2024, following its highly successful inaugural outing in 2015. The 403-yard third tee provides a spectacular view overlooking the Conestoga River.

It’s not every year the U.S. Women’s Open Championship comes to town. In fact, it rarely makes a return visit to a course within a 10-year period. However, there is one exception: Pebble Beach Golf Links. Having visited Pebble’s 18th green on the Monterey Peninsula, I must admit it’s breathtaking and its reputation as being the “the most famous finishing hole in golf,” is warranted. To have Lancaster Country Club appear in the same conversation as Pebble Beach is astounding.

2015 to 2024

It was immediately obvious that the club – and Lancaster – was well prepared to welcome the 79th U.S. Women’s Open Championship. Since the inaugural event, the club had undergone extensive renovations. Now, manicured landscapes and sweeping views opened up LCC’s course to faster-drying fairways. Native grasses and sand bunkers added to the course’s difficulty and charm. A new entrance and swimming pool complex (which were reserved for players) were part of the extensive renovation project that had been undertaken ahead of LCC’s 125th anniversary. 

Early morning putting practice on the green by LCC’s clubhouse.

As in 2015, the course’s infrastructure was transformed into a temporary village. Dining experiences throughout the course were equipped with water, electric service, restrooms, scoreboards and massive air conditioning units. Data cables lined the fairways for connectivity and TV broadcasts that are aided by cameras that zip by overhead on wires, while lifts elevate TV crews above the trees.

The USGA Media Center equated to NASA mission control, as it hosted dozens of desks, massive video projections, exhausted staffers and a much-appreciated coffee bar. (I was told the media center at the men’s U.S. Open is even larger.) 

Beyond golf, tremendous resources are invested into the host community, attracting businesses, spectators and world-class golfers to courses such as Lancaster Country Club. But with the passage of time comes change. Analog scoreboards are now digital, coupled with the USGA mobile app, providing real-time updates on the course. The television landscape has also changed, as the tournament was carried on NBC, the Golf Channel and NBC’s streaming service, Peacock. In 2015, In Gee Chun won the Championship and with it, $810,000. In 2024, the total purse increased to $12 million, with the champion receiving $2.4 million (closing in on the record $4.3 million payout to the 2024 U.S. Open champion, Bryson DeChambeau).

Golf fans embraced the opportunity to watch their favorite players in action, with many putting in miles of walking over the course of the tournament.

1958 Yashica Mat

Preparing to photograph the event, I was struck by how much cameras had evolved since 2015. DSLRs, which I still use, are less fashionable than mirrorless cameras that operate silently. A golf necessity, coming up with two mirrorless cameras would be a tall order.

Jordan Bush’s decision to bring his Yashica Mat camera (1958) to the Open created unexpected interactions with players, caddies, guests and tournament personnel. For instance, player Ai Suzuki (below) happily posed for photos while she was on the practice green. Another player, Yiu Kawamoto, and her caddy, Mirei Midorikawa, pointed at the camera and waved as they made their way to the 12th hole.

Photographing all week, I decided to document the event in a second storyline using a film camera. Film has never gone away; the aesthetic and process are as relevant as ever, intentionally approaching light, shadows and moments without a safety net. I might take thousands of digital photographs in one afternoon, and only two or three film photographs (or none) in another, looking for the right moment.

Ai Suzuki poses for photos on the practice green.

With several options, I chose my 1958 Yashica Mat, a twin-lens reflex camera (TLR). The top lens is for viewing, and the 80mm bottom lens is for exposing film. Compact and lightweight, it’s nearly silent. There are no additional lenses to carry. Operation is completely manual, devoid of autofocus, zoom or a light meter. The waist-level viewfinder displays in obverse: left is right, right is left. Larger, 6×6 cm square negatives comprise the iconic format Instagram used to build its brand. Unlike 35mm canisters, 120 film is wrapped in paper. Changing rolls would need to be well-timed. I took 10 rolls of Kodak Ektar 100 (speed) film, with several drop-offs at Perfect Image Camera for developing and scanning. Each click costs $3.50 total.

Yiu Kawamoto, and her caddy, Mirei Midorikawa

The People You’ll Meet

The Yashica first came out of the bag on Wednesday morning for the last practice round. Almost immediately, the first comment came from Joe Calhoun (recently retired from WGAL), who remarked, “Now that’s a beautiful camera!” I frequently photograph with the Yashica at Strasburg Rail Road, where most people walk in front of the camera, oblivious to its presence. I’m looking down into a waist-level viewfinder, not at a phone. Joe was astutely aware of the camera; otherwise, I expected the Yashica to go unnoticed.

Volunteers issue the “all quiet” signal as Yiu tees off.

Entering through security, camera equipment needed to be inspected. Each time, curious security guards wanted to look through the viewfinder. “Here’s the camera I told you about!” one said to another. Passing by crowds, and photographing along the course ropes, the camera’s attention grew. I tried to blend in, but the Yashica drew gazes constantly. What felt like every dozen people, someone commented. “Wow, look at that camera!” or incorrectly, “A [Kodak] Brownie! What is that doing here?” Teens asked if it took good photographs or occasionally, what film was loaded. After several days, I answered curious glances with, “1958.” Without fail, everyone replied, “That’s what I was about to ask.”

Nelly Korda finishes out the first round after a slog at the 12th hole.

The Yashica led to dozens of wonderful conversations with LCC members, USGA volunteers, marshals and security officers, not to mention friends and acquaintances, as well as people like Adrian Godoy, a writer with a journalism degree, who was instrumental in photographing the Women’s Open. Two weeks later, he would be working at the men’s 2024 U.S. Open in Pinehurst, North Carolina. I envied him for that assignment. 

On Thursday, Ai Suzuki, an accomplished player legitimately famous in Japan, practiced in a sand bunker near the main gate. Able to “zoom with my feet,” this moment was made for the Yashica. Soon after, caddy Garry Johnstone walked over to me. Thinking he might be annoyed, Garry introduced himself and was enthusiastic about seeing a 66-year-old Japanese camera.

Ai’s trainer, Takemasa Kudou, followed suit. A conversation in Japanese unfolded with Garry translating. Thinking Ai might be bothered, she climbed out of the bunker, tapped the sand off her shoes with her club, and walked over to see the camera. Through Garry, I asked if Ai would pose for a portrait; she happily posed for two. It was a humbling, thrilling and unfamiliar moment. I desperately hoped the film would turn out well. I’d know the outcome days later. So, too, would Ai. She made the cut and finished Sunday, tied for 67th, earning $21,743. Not a bad week.

The scenic 7th back tee looks across the Conestoga River, famous for spectating kayakers around the bridge. Here, volunteer Drew Xentaras recalled a TLR camera that belonged to his father. He dug it out of storage and sent me a few photographs of a gorgeous 1950s German-made Rolleiflex, with plans to use it.

Players and caddies make notes before starting the round.

The ominous 12th green brought unexpected moments. Canted towards a stream laying waste to dozens of golf balls, 12 was the destroyer of dreams. In the first round, it dashed the chances of favorite and LPGA World Ranked number-one player, Nelly Korda. I was there, reluctantly capturing the gutting moment. Two days later in the third round, a caddy walking down the same hill pointed at the Yashica and exclaimed something in Japanese. Caddy Mirei Midorikawa and player Yui Kawamoto smiled, waving at the camera as they passed. On Sunday, Kawamoto tied for 39th overall (five-way), earning $44,897.

Yuka Saso approaches the 18th hole in the rain during the final round, moments before winning the Championship.

Around the busy 18th fairway leading uphill to the clubhouse, I met Brad Peterson. A course volunteer from Elizabethtown, Brad mentioned he shoots film and used to work in a darkroom. In the stands, Manheim Township police officer, Michele Klinger, appeared from behind a camera that she brought for the fourth round. We met Monday morning near 16, discussing photography and the famed 1930s press photographer, Weegee (Arthur Fellig). There was a conversation with East Lampeter police lieutenant, Rob Eachus, who mentioned this is a years-long planning effort. He would retire when the Open concluded.

Lancaster’s favorite player and 2015 champion, In Gee Chun, practices on the putting green.

The most startling moment came in the final round. Following leaders Minjee Lee and Andrea Lee and hustling down the first fairway with NBC’s crew hot on our heels, another photographer asked, “Do you soup your own film?” Meaning, do I hand-develop my film? (Yes, black-and-white). He and another shooter said they photographed the Yashica in action throughout the week. I was dumbstruck.

All-In

Applying for a credential to the 79th U.S. Women’s Open Championship was on my calendar for nearly two years. Requests opened on March 7 (2024), and unfortunately, I was denied immediately. Likely due to my email address not being connected to our publisher, my appeal went unanswered. Two months went by. Editor Sue Long contacted the USGA on my behalf. Inspired by a conversation with chef Bushra Fakier of Flavors of Morocco, I appealed yet again. Twenty-nine minutes later, with three weeks to go, I was approved.

NBC’s Melissa Stark prepares to go on camera.

I not only had to prepare for the Open, but I had several commercial and magazine photography projects to complete. Procuring silent cameras was at the top of my To-Do list. A Nikon Professional Services member since 2011, Nikon offers paid tiers with equipment consignments. Upgrading my membership would cost hundreds, not thousands of dollars. With no guarantees, I requested two mirrorless cameras and a 400mm telephoto lens. Soon after, $25,249.80 in new gear arrived at my disposal for a week, ruining me for life.

Next, my USGA credential didn’t provide inside-the-ropes access that benefits larger media outlets. As crowds grew, I started missing shots. After two requests, on Sunday afternoon I was granted inside-the-ropes access. It was an emotional moment, and I went into overdrive.

A lift on the third green elevated live television coverage on NBC and Peacock.

No longer needing to camp out at the 18th green, I could follow the lead group for the final round. At hole 4, I ran out of water. Around the 7th or 8th hole, the leaderboard started to shift away from Andrea Lee and former champion, Minjee Lee, to another former champion, Yuka Saso. Rather than transiting the course to 9, I followed Yuka from nearby 12 to the finish. Needing water made the fortuitous decision easier.

Eventual champion, Yuka Saso, prepares to take her winning shot.

When Yuka stepped off the course at 18, two pairings remained, followed by a televised award ceremony. Photographing now for 12 hours, I was down to three film exposures and a 30% charge on one battery … between two digital cameras. Switching a battery is faster than changing lenses. Memory cards were also filling up rapidly. One camera had 100 frames remaining, while the other had 500 frames. Storage evaporates at 20 frames per second, so battery and memory were rationed. My last resort, an iPhone 14 Pro, had a 20% charge.

Honors for Asterisk Talley, Catherine Park and Megan Schofill, who tied for lowest-scoring amateur (Low Amateur), are announced by Mike Whan, USGA CEO. (Tied for 44th at +12 strokes, seven-way tie).

Yuka took her shot, and I took mine. Instead of $2.4 million, I brought home over 16,000 digital photographs and 100 on film. It took a week to organize several terabytes of data. Traversing 43 rolling miles with three cameras, all seven days were covered of the 79th U.S. Women’s Open Championship. Most were 10- to 12-hour shoots, the balance spent preparing for the next day. It’s difficult to explain, but I had to be there. It occurred to me that I was 30 years old at Lancaster’s first Women’s Open, and should it return, at the earliest, I’ll be in my 50s. I wouldn’t say the perspective triggered a midlife crisis, but it reminded me that life’s moments, great and small, pass by in a flash. Capture them however you can.

Yuka Saso, the winner of the 79th U.S. Women’s Open Championship. Born in the Philippines, she honored her Japanese father this year by playing under the Japanese flag. Her win elevated Saso to No. 6 on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. According to NBC’s Olympic bios, the 23-year-old Saso credits her win in Lancaster for giving her the confidence to successfully vie for a position on Japan’s Olympic golf team.

Pairing the Perfect Party

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Cars line the roads surrounding Bryan Campbell’s farmhouse. The circa 1868 home is part of the Lancaster County phenomena whereby an old building is saved as new construction springs up in the fields formerly surrounding it, and Bryan has taken on the task of maintenance and renovation. Like me, the occupants of the cars have arrived to take part in the area’s most epic beer dinner that will include tastings of 16 beers paired with cheeses, appetizers, a main course, dessert and an intriguing guest list, not to mention a cast of volunteer servers and kitchen staff. It is a night to remember!

 “He’s cool, and he knows a lot about beer,” was the preface a friend provided before  introducing me to Bryan. That evening, at my house, we spent hours recalling beer experiences and hashing out our most memorable brews, like Thomas Hardy’s Ale. Honestly, I like this obscure British ale because I favor the Victorian novelist. Bryan, however, is not only familiar with the beer, but he also has a definite opinion on which vintages are best, knows the history of the brewery, and has several bottles aging in his basement he will only crack open when in the company of one of his best friends.

Bryan brought a couple of stouts and Belgians with him. These have been aging for special occasions, and I soon learn this is just the tip of the beer iceberg. Bryan is a man driven by the history and culture of brewing, who relishes the unique characteristics of every beer and definitely enjoys the social aspect it helps create. 

“I have a party every year …,” started Bryan. And I was in.

“There’s a little bit of social engineering going on. I try to connect or invite certain people, so they all end up talking.”
– Bryan Campbell, party host

PLOTTING THE EVENING

As we walked through Downtown Lancaster, talking about his annual event, Bryan explained, “I don’t know the start of the process. It might happen when I walk into a brewery or find a good beer and I will start thinking about the next party.” His approach makes sense, since he fell in love with beer almost by accident. 

In 1994, he was in the process of building a guitar and one night while the glue was drying, he and his friend, Pete Bohling, headed to Russell’s Restaurant to kill some time. The now defunct eatery in Bloomsburg crafted a beer list requiring a three-ring binder. Seeing the array of options, Bryan became intrigued with and was soon entrapped in the world of import beers. For years, the friends made return visits. “We would go through the list and do vertical tastings because Russell’s had all these beers we had never tried,” recalled Bryan.

Bryan (left) and his brother, Tom, welcome their parents, Romaine and Tom, Sr., to the event. Mrs. Campbell always donates her crème de menthe brownies to the dessert course.

For his annual gathering, he starts by acquiring beers in volume. “At some point, I assemble what I think will be a good mix,” he explained. “I try and find a mix good for people who really know beer, but at the same time something for those who may find a beer that invites them into something new and different.”

COLLECTING THE BEER

A month before the party, Bryan and I ventured to the beer store to pick up the last cases. He is on a first-name basis with the folks at Shangy’s The Beer Authority, the epic beer store 70+ miles northeast of Lancaster, in Emmaus. For decades, before the rise in popularity of “craft beer,” when the little guys of brewing were still called microbreweries, Shangy’s was what its name implies: the authority. For beer fans, Shangy’s was (and still is) the home of something completely new, something hard to find. The over-sized beer mart boasts more than 4,000 cans and bottles in stock and claims to have been voted “America’s Finest Beer Store.” I cannot argue with this. Shangy’s turns the beer lover into a kid in a candy store.

In 2024, 16 beers comprised the tasting menu for host Bryan Campbell’s annual beer dinner that he has held for 25 years.

Bryan and I headed back to the walls of imports that are off to the left of the 60-tap tasting counter. With beers stacked floor to ceiling and separated by region, it takes us several minutes to even cover a few feet as we discuss different styles, compare similar brands and ultimately find a few things neither of us have ever seen – our selections go into a grocery cart. Meanwhile, a hand truck with a couple of cases appears back at the tasting counter. Bryan’s order begins to burgeon. On top of the cases from St. Bernardus, Trappistes Rochefort and Unibroue, sits an out-of-place 30-pack of Hamm’s. I am intrigued to see how this fits in with Bryan’s plans.

Cases of beer await their turn to be served.

After about an hour of perusing the aisles, adding a few more singles and six-packs to our cart, manager Matt Zehnder rounds the corner to find us. Bryan’s order – now requiring two dollies – is ready, but he wants to talk beer. And so, we do. Matt is eager to make some additional recommendations and welcomes us into the warehouse filled with seemingly unending rows of beer. Feeling like an entourage member with a VIP, I trail behind the two aficionados while they rattle off experiences, consider vintages, and ultimately find another case Bryan needs to add to his order. I have been writing about beer, wine and spirits for more than 25 years, but these guys live and breathe yeast, barley, water and hops! What they know, remember, and even have forgotten, is impressive.

ATTENDING CHEESE NIGHT

A couple of weeks before the party, Bryan assembles a core group of attendees at his house to taste a selection of cheeses and devise pairings with more than a dozen beers. By now, Bryan has whittled down his list of potential libations, but wants the eyes, ears and tastebuds of an esteemed few to put the menu in ink. Gathered on a Saturday night in March, Tom Campbell (Bryan’s brother), Evan Major (Bryan’s neighbor), Ray Dewar (Bryan’s neighbor and family friend), and Ben Weiss and Ella Usdin (owners of Susquehanna Sustainable Enterprises at Central Market) taste and talk cheese – and beer – around Bryan’s dining room table. 

Bill Mandros is kept busy cutting and slicing cheese during the event.

The retinue for cheese night can change year by year, and in 2024 some key names are missing. “Eric Usner is a critical part of this. There are so many people who are important to this event. Ideas need to be created, tested and explored. And then they need to be executed. Eric is part of the group that creates the ideas, and he also helps make the evening happen,” explained Bryan. Also missing this year is Dan Mentzer, former owner of the house whose family had lived here for more than 100 years. 

Most of the cheeses arrive with Bill Mandros, a party staple and “an enthusiastic collaborator,” added Bryan. Bill’s shop, Mandros Imported Foods on the corner of Lemon and Charlotte streets in Lancaster, handles between 125 and 150 diverse types of cheeses. A walking encyclopedia of fromage, Bill brings Michelin Guide knowledge with a working man’s disposition.

Bill Mandros (seated) regularly provides cheese for the event. Fifteen cheeses were on the paring menu, including varieties from as close as Lancaster, to as far away as Europe.

Fifteen cheeses, displayed on live-edge wooden planks across the dining table, hail from all over the world. The exercise in flavors allows the group to figure out how a smoked black lager from Germany is elevated by an English cheddar, or how a French sheep’s milk cheese bounces against the palate while drinking a Flemish red from Connecticut. The task of the evening is to consider guests’ palates, making sure not to “blow people out of the water” after the first of many pairings.

PAIRINGS IN ACTION

As soon as I arrive on party night, I check out the menu. There is the Hamm’s. It is beer number one of 16 for the evening’s tastings. The legacy brand’s Minnesota-born recipe is now brewed by powerhouse Molson Coors and serves as the evening’s opening salvo. Hamm’s is a beer recognized for its place in American brewing history, when the big producers were in fact regional brands appealing to the wants and desires of the blue-collar folks building the nation. Beer serves as a human connection in the annals of history, as well as here in Bryan’s Lampeter home. Blurring culinary contrasts, Bryan pairs Hamm’s with Alpenblumen from Bavarian cheesemakers Hofkäserei Kraus und Kaeskuche. Aged four months in a rind of dried wildflowers, the cheese immediately stirs chatter amongst guests noticing the colorful display making its way around the crowd.

The pairings begin after Bryan introduces new attendees and reviews the beer list.

Volunteers – friends, past invitees or even cheese mongers themselves – carry antique cutting boards and natural wood trays loaded with samples and weave their way through the sea of 50 to 60 people spread about Bryan’s first floor. Tonight’s server-volunteers are Andy Mellinger from Linden Dale Farms and Lindsay Gring, co-owner of Lancaster Pet Bakery. Cheese from Andy’s Ronks farm shows up in round four, after Intangible Ales’ (Enola, PA) Bad News Brew is paired with Le Fribourg A La Crème (Switzerland) and Plan Bee Farm Brewery’s (Poughkeepsie, NY) Tippette meets La Fermière de Méan Charmoix (Belgium).

Michael Upton (right) grazes the table filled with appetizers.

Bryan likes to age beers. His basement is a cellar, impressively stocked with cases from around the world in varying states of aging. Some are just for his own amusement and others for use at future parties. This year’s Bad News Brew has been aging since 2016. This treat from the depths of Bryan’s collection may be some of the last of its kind in existence. The now defunct collaboration-brew specialists officially retired Bad News Brew before the brewery ceased operations, and the tart, mixed-fermentation ale made with wheat, fresh turmeric and mangosteen is aging exquisitely. The flavors pop in the mouth, and I find myself hoping Bryan has a few more bottles of this stuff tucked away somewhere. 

Next, the Tippette is a low ABV farmhouse ale, and the oak-aged brew with hints of lemon and yeast pair exceptionally with the soft, washed rind cheese from Belgium.

Lindsay Gring, co-owner of Lancaster Pet Bakery, is a volunteer server for the event. Serving the beer is Phil Bernot.

For round four, Andy provides a sampling of his Laughing Lindy cheese. I met Andy’s father years ago when I penned a story on goats for Lancaster County Magazine (September 2013), and I have been a fan of Linden Dale Farms cheeses (found at Central Market) ever since. Laughing Lindy is served on sourdough baked by attendee Janice Longer (who has been practicing law in Lancaster County for over 20 years) and is paired with Tynt Meadow by Mount Saint Bernard Abbey, where “beer should be liquid bread, not colored water.” And so go the pairings as the evening glides along, until the last of the cheeses – Rogue River Blue from Oregon – is offered with a vintage 2013 Gravitation from New Hampshire’s Smuttynose Brewing. After nine decadent beer samples and cheese tastings, incoming tables and chairs temporarily disperse the conversing crowd who eventually find seats for the main course.

HAVING DINNER …

“A whole lot of things have to be in place before the morning of,” says Bryan, when asked about planning dinner. “Depending on the recipe, I might have been cooking all week. I used to get up early Saturday morning and go to Central Market, where Steve Richardson [a friend from Bryan’s Camp Mack counselor days] or Pete would act like market sherpas – there were so many ingredients that needed to be carried around. I’ve gotten better at not having so much to do in the morning.” By late morning on the day of the party friends start showing up at Bryan’s. Someone brought lunch for the crew. Someone brought a nice bottle of bourbon. “I used to have to coordinate everything, but now things seem to run automatically; this group is so good at what they do,” he remarks.

The main course: Linden Dale Farm goat crepes topped with mushrooms, olives, veggies, feta and a Chardonnay-Marsala sauce.

His house – for one night – should draw the attention of the James Beard Foundation. In 2023, his kitchen served a Hungarian-inspired goulash that would make any Central European expat long for home. This year, chevon from Linden Dale Farm takes center stage. Slow roasted in Cabernet until fork-tender, the rich meat is lifted into a crepe with sauteed shiitake mushrooms and painted with a chardonnay-Marsala sauce. The succulent and light entrées are topped with feta and Kalamata olives.

Appetizers, each year provided by Bob Dewar, included items such as goose liver pate, smoked Canada goose and Speckgans, cured/smoked Canada goose breast prepared in the style of Germany’s Baltic coast.

Manning the crepes (one at a time), the sauces and all other things culinary, is a crew made up of Bryan’s friends. Hours before guests start to arrive, Dan, Eric and Tom join Bryan’s childhood friend, Doug Rider, and his brother-in-law, Phil Bernot, in the kitchen. “Those two guys and Steve are like the center of the kitchen,” Bryan notes.

… AND DESSERT

Staying true to the evening’s theme, dessert is mostly in liquid form. Big flavors begin immediately with offerings like Maiden by Lancaster’s Cartel Brewing & Blending – owner Adam Chamberland is here, roaming about, talking beer – and Imperial stouts from Estonia and Missouri. Three Floyds Brewing Company makes Trolls Trolls Trolls in Munster, Indiana, and has been bestowed with the honor of being paired with “Mom’s crème de menthe brownies,” which are the greatest highlight of my evening each year. Bryan’s parents are regular attendees and a source of inspiration. “As parents, they always took advantage of opportunities to expose us to the world beyond home,” recalls Bryan. “And at home, most of our food was homemade by Mom, even bread and pizza.” I have been known to sneak a couple of Mom’s brownies home in a napkin! The jig is up now, I guess.

Fifty to 60 guests typically attend Bryan’s annual event.

There are seven after-dinner beers. Most of these are from Bryan’s aging collection. At my table, where the guests have become jovial and splendidly opinionated on beers of their liking, the consensus favorite of the dark samples is Mephistopheles from Avery Brewing Company. Bryan dusted off a case he has been aging since 2016, right before the Boulder, Colorado brewery limited production of the malt-forward stout made with Westmalle Belgian yeast. But the biggest beer was saved for last. Dystopias from Free Will Brewing (Perkasie, PA) is a 20% ABV, barrel-aged strong ale. In 2022, Bryan picked up a couple cases of this beer from its first run and it now punctuates an evening filled with creative culinary selections and amusing merriment.

The kitchen crew kept track of the evening’s progress by following the pairing menu.

The beauty of Bryan’s celebration, beyond the uber-impressive beer list, is how it is not a “beer snob” event. Yes, this is an elevated beer party/dinner/pairing, but it is more of a testament to the relationships Bryan has curated over the years. He simply makes sure to gather us all together, which he has done for the past 25 years.

A chilly night calls for homemade chili. Ingredients in knowledgeable hunter Bob Dewar’s Critter Chili included pheasant, chukar, duck, goose and venison.

As we talked after the event, walking through Central Market on a random Saturday, Bryan adds, “And, I don’t drink any Thomas Hardy’s unless Pete is around.” Once again, Bryan shows how friendship is the keystone of any memorable occasion.

A Century of Agriculture & Community

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Taking in your community’s fair is a fall ritual in Lancaster County. Each one possesses a unique spirit that’s worth exploring. This year, that is especially true of the West Lampeter Community Fair, as it is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

The fair’s annual Tractor Parade features models both old and new.

Having grown up in New Holland, the arrival of fair season always prompts me to become nostalgic about carnival rides, fair food and doing my best to win Coca-Cola and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups at the game stands set up along Main Street. For kids (and many adults), fair week is the most anticipated seven days on the calendar. While I consider Ephrata to be my current home fair, I’ve gained an appreciation for all the local editions, including the West Lampeter Community Fair, which I attended last year for the first time. It represented a nice diversion from the carnival-like atmosphere that accompanies the fairs in Ephrata and New Holland. Having experienced it, I’m sure it won’t be the last time I venture to West Lampeter. 

Roots 

According to the fair’s website, students at the West Lampeter Vocational School are credited with starting what has become known as the West Lampeter Community Fair. Their purpose in 1924 was to host an event through which school projects could be displayed. The guidebook was comprised of four sheets of paper. The show was a hit and a year later, dairy judging was added to the itinerary. In 1930, it officially became known as The Community Fair, growing the following year to include tents that held exhibits and livestock. The grounds were purchased in 1948 and made their debut as the site of the fair a year later. Since then, the fair has grown to encompass a wide range of events and competitions. 

The fair allows visitors to get an up-close view of what grows in the fields and gardens of Lancaster County through the exhibits that fill the tents at the fairgrounds.

As a first-time attendee, I noticed the West Lampeter Community Fair marches to the beat of its own drum. The first clue comes early in the fair book, a free resource released mid-summer, now spanning well over 200 pages. On page two, it is specified that West Lampeter’s is a “Strictly Educational Fair.” True to its word, the fair heavily emphasizes community and agriculture. It also has a shorter run than the other fairs, as it kicks off on Wednesday and concludes Friday evening. Admission is free and with a donation to the fire company, visitors can park in the grassy fields that surround the fairgrounds. Absent of rides and games (and the accompanying music, bells or sirens), the atmosphere is remarkably calm. Large tents line the fairgrounds, with the arena awaiting festivities later in the evening. 

Food and Agriculture

True to its intent, agriculture is displayed front and center, celebrating home gardeners and farmers alike. On Wednesday morning, exhibits are judged before they open to the public at 1 p.m. Everything from baked goods and homegrown produce to floral arrangements, needlecraft and artwork are proudly displayed in the Exhibit Center. There are also exhibition categories for youth including baked goods, dioramas and the PA Preferred Junior Baking Contest. 

In another tent, farm-grown crops in the Grain and Hay category are judged. Varieties of corn bundled together on the stalk are displayed, as are glass jars filled with oats, wheat, winter barley, rye, sunflower seed and dry-shelled corn. Small bales of hay, 10-pound samples of silage (fermented green foliage stored in silos for fodder), and bundles of tobacco leaves on the lath are representative of other categories. The displays provide an opportunity to see what grows in Lancaster County’s fields up close.

The Bake Sale kicks off Wednesday at 7 p.m., with entries (including decorated cakes) auctioned off in a tent outside the Exhibit Center. With top bakers competing for the best Homemade Chocolate Cake, Blue Ribbon Apple Pie and Incredible Angel Food Cake (all qualifiers for the PA Farm Show in Harrisburg), there are delicious baked goods to bid on and if you’re lucky, take  home.

Paisley Rankin’s winning entry from last year’s Junior baking contest.

The fair’s atmosphere is conducive to conversations; it feels more like a community picnic or local bake sale than a fair. Friends, neighbors and strangers gather to eat, converse and enjoy the fairgrounds. Asking folks what they thought of the food selection, one couple was gracious enough to offer me a bite of their funnel cake.

A fair staple: funnel cake.

By and large, local fairs offer fundraising opportunities to nonprofits, churches, schools and service organizations. West Lampeter takes a community-focused approach to supporting local groups, as there are no outside food vendors. Instead, Lampeter-Strasburg High School students, supporting organizations and volunteers handle food prep and vending. Groups then receive a share of the profit from respective stands. It’s simple, local and satisfying. For example, in 2023, the following groups offered fairgoers a taste the fair: Pioneer Marching Band (hamburgers and hot dogs); Strasburg/Willow Street Baseball & Softball Association (French fries and chicken tenders); Garden Spot Chapter of FFA (drinks, sausage sandwiches and ham loaf patties); Rawlinsville Camp Meeting (breakfast sandwiches, drinks, pit beef and chicken sandwiches, soup, hot dogs and whoopie pies); Lancaster South Rotary Club (funnel cakes); L-S Boys Lacrosse (pork BBQ, baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, soup and fruit cup); L-S Interact Club (pizza, walking tacos and ham & cheese sandwiches); L-S Soccer Booster (waffles and ice cream, apple dumplings and subs); Lampeter Fair Directors (milkshakes, ice cream and root beer floats). 

Antique Tractors

An antique tractor lines up for the parade.

The sound of the antique tractors firing up had to be my favorite part of the West Lampeter Community Fair. My grandpa, Glenn Overly, grew up farming in Greenbank with the aid of a steam engine, and later worked as a mechanic and welder. His stable of tractors changed over the years, but two stand out the most in my memory. There was the small red Farmall Cub that resided in the barn for many years, which I fondly remember started with a hand crank. However, the tractor that stands out the most was a 1950s John Deere 40T Tricycle. Because of the sweet sound that era of John Deere engines made, they’re sometimes referred to as a “Johnny Popper.” Watching dozens of antique tractors putting about in Lampeter during the Wednesday evening tractor parade, I couldn’t help but smile ear to ear. Such an event connects attendees with the heritage of local farmers bringing crops to harvest.

Show Animals

Youngsters are heavily involved in the fair and take pride in the animals they have raised. Here, Will Deamer tends his lambs.

Shows held throughout the fair feature market livestock: swine, lamb, goat, beef cattle and dairy beef. Friday features an All-Western Horse Show, calf roping and the FFA Youth Market Sale for goat, lamb, hog, dairy beef and beef. In 2023, there were 118 livestock exhibits featuring 240 animals (of the 1155 total exhibitors). Auction winners of the livestock sale have three options: buy and keep, buy back, or donate the meat to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.

100th Anniversary Events

In celebration of its milestone year, the West Lampeter Community Fair will be holding six days of festivities, with special events starting on Sunday, September 22. The fair itself opens on Wednesday, September 25, and closes on Friday, September 27. There is a public call to display vintage fair memorabilia such as photographs, ribbons, signage, hats and fair books.

Community organizations operate the food stands at the fair.

Sunday evening will kick off fair festivities with the annual Fair Queen Coronation, along with a bluegrass band and a fireworks show. Monday will see a larger-than-ever Tractor Pull, as well as a Pedal Tractor Pull and Baby Parade. Tuesday will see a Lampeter’s Got Talent competition take over the fairgrounds. Wednesday and Thursday will host the livestock shows and entertainment, including the Tractor Parade, Horse-drawn Hitch, Tractor Games, Barnyard Chase events and more! Friday will conclude the week with the All-Western Horse Show and livestock auction. 

 

Visit WestLampeterFair.com for more information.

BierHall Brewing: An Accent on German Brews & Food

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BierHall Brewing will celebrate its first anniversary in November. “Opening a craft brewery and restaurant is a longtime dream for us,” says Jim Rommel, who co-owns the business with his brother, Chris. 

Brothers Chris (left) and Jim Rommel are the owners of BierHall Brewing.

Chris, who serves as brewmaster, learned brewing techniques through attending a school in Germany over a decade ago. He then worked in the craft brewing industry for about 10 years (locally at Spring House Brewing, as well as at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery in Richmond, Virginia), before launching BierHall. The brewpub’s name pays tribute to Germany and the biergartens or beer halls that can be found in nearly every community. 

“In Germany, each small town has a biergarten/beer hall. It’s a place where people gather for food and drink and to socialize,” Jim explains. With that in mind, the brewpub plans to honor that tradition and host an outdoor event on Saturday and Sunday, September 28 and 29, to celebrate Oktoberfest. Jim, who is BierHall’s general manager, says the event will entail the release of a special fest beer. Food specials will also be on the menu for the event. Visit BierHall’s website and social media for details.

The menu pays homage to traditional German fare such as bratwurst, sausage and schnitzel, as well as American favorites such as burgers.

The Manheim Township restaurant and craft brewery is housed in the former Juke Box Nightclub, but those familiar with the site will find dramatic changes have been made to the building. Jim and Chris worked with Benchmark Construction Company to transform the space. “It was a major renovation; it was originally a house with a front porch that was later enclosed. We demolished two layers of drop ceiling and left the wooden ceiling exposed and restored the brick,” Jim explains. “We also added a lot of windows – we went for a clean, modern, industrial feel. A lot of people who had been here when it was a nightclub are amazed at the transformation – they’ll come in the door, look around and say, ‘Wow!’”

BierHall will celebrate Oktoberfest on September 28 and 29.

The renovation project created a large but comfortable space. The brewing equipment is visible at one end of the space, as well as from the building’s exterior thanks to the addition of large windows. “Craft brew fans focus on that space and visit shortly after entering. Some people visit the brewing area after they’ve finished their meal,” Jim notes.

Chris Rommel is BierHall’s brewmaster.

The brew pub seats about 150 indoors; seating is available at tables that accommodate up to six, as well as at long communal tables with bench seating. A bar constructed by Jim and Chris seats 12. “The communal seating area has been well received; it encourages people to talk with one another,” says Jim. An outdoor beer garden seats about 100. It’s festively lighted in the evening. Sails shade the area during the warm-weather months. There’s even a designated dog-friendly seating area for canine visitors and their owners. 

Ashley Vazquez serves as BierHall’s chef. Jim describes the menu as a mix of authentic German and American pub-style food. Produce is sourced locally through vendors such as Brogue Hydroponics and Lancaster Farm Fresh. Bread products are made by Front Porch Baking Co. in Millersville. The Rommels hope to expand their reach and work with other local vendors.   

Twelve beers are always on tap.

Popular menu items include house-made potato pancakes, the giant Bavarian pretzel that’s served with mustard (a house-made beer cheese is an optional upgrade), and the BierHall cheesesteak, which uses the beer cheese as a sauce. Appetizers include loaded fries that also incorporate the beer cheese, wings, nachos and roasted garlic hummus. Salads include Caesar and Cobb. Sandwiches range from a plant-based smash burger to bratwurst. Entrées (“plates”) include fish-and-chips, sausage (bratwurst, sweet Italian or Italian) and schnitzel (chicken or pork). Sides include German potato salad, sauerkraut and onion rings. To top it off, there’s apple strudel or strawberry cream cheesecake. The menu, which is reviewed and tweaked monthly, is augmented with weekly specials.

An outdoor beer garden features a dog-friendly area.

BierHall offers 12 beers on tap. The brewpub’s three flagship craft brews – ZugTruppe, a hefeweizen; Das Pils, a German pilsner; and Golden Crispy, a Helles bock – are always available. Tap selections also include seasonal brews and a guest cider, which is locally sourced from Levengoods of Lancaster, Ploughman Cider of Gettysburg or Wyndridge Cider Co. of Dallastown. The beverage list also includes cocktails, adult slushies and wine from such wineries as GlassHouse Wineworks in Manheim; Galen Glen Winery in Andreas; and Britain Hill Vineyard in Quarryville.    

Long tables fill the interior of the dining area, while individual tables encircle the space.

 

BierHall Brewing is located at 1703 New Holland Pike, Lancaster. Hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 4-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon-10 p.m. Sunday, noon-8 p.m.  (The kitchen closes 30-60 minutes earlier.) Reservations are accepted for parties of 8 or more. For more information, visit bierhallbrewing.com and Instagram.

Junior League of Lancaster Celebrates a Century of Community Service

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Evolving from the early years of their white-gloved predecessors, the contemporary members of the Junior League of Lancaster are hands-on, results-driven community activists whose missions have launched and supported dozens of projects. 

The Fulton Theatre was the scene of the Junior League of Lancaster’s 100th anniversary celebration.

The list of accomplishments is long, the community impacts are vast and the energy of the 100-year-old Junior League of Lancaster (JLL) is indefatigable. The organization’s centennial was recently celebrated at the Fulton Theatre’s James Hagelgans + Gale Zorian Lobby that welcomed current and sustaining members to a reception of hors d’oeuvres, dancing and renewing scores of friendships. 

Founded in 1923 by 55 Lancaster ladies – 22 years after the Junior League of New York City was established – the Junior League of Lancaster has consistently focused its volunteer efforts on identifying needs within our community and effecting change. In the process of community improvement, its members also benefit from the organization’s mission of providing a safe space for women to learn, grow and serve together. “I learned many of my leadership skills at Junior League,” says sustaining member, Nancy Randall, referring to such skills as running a meeting, time and project management and effective organization. 

What a difference 100 years makes! An archival photo of the Wheatland Foundation Commmittee in 1936, and today’s members, Christine Johnson, Elizabeth Reidenbach, Hannah Funk (2023/24 president), Teresa Marino.

Women who are new to the area can find a welcome and shared sense of purpose. “I loved how Junior League was involved in so many goodwill projects in Lancaster, like Hands-on House,” notes sustaining member, Pam McDonald, who moved to Lancaster in 1992. “It allowed me to tap into women who have great work experience, life experience, and utilize their talents.” 

Sarah Ganse, JLL’s 2017/18 president, agrees: “I returned to Lancaster County from Ohio, adding to my young family and looking for ways to get involved in the community. Junior League gave me a lens to see projects and meetings. Junior League gets things done. You surround yourself with that and absorb.”

Past presidents Sarah Ganse, Bunnie Buckwalter, Kate Lowry

“We know how to get things done” is a universal statement from both current and sustaining members. Anne Louise DeBord, a second generation JLL member and current chair of the Sustaining Advisory Board, considers her fellow members as “such an amazing group of women – hard-working, smart and dedicated. I think they are the movers and shakers of our community.” 

Debbie Chen-Sloan, Stacie Reidenbaugh (past president), Carrie McCullough, Karen Chesters

In 1934, they were indeed movers and shakers in that the Junior League was the force that initiated the purchase and restoration of Wheatland, the Lancaster home of President James Buchanan.  Since then, JLL has partnered with Students Against Violence Everywhere (1996); New Directions Employment and Counseling Center (1987); Habitat for Humanity Women Build (2004) and Deb’s House Crisis Nursery (1998). In addition, JLL contributed to the restoration of the historic Demuth House (1981), saved Historic Rock Ford from demolition (1950s) and established the Hands-on House, Children’s Museum (1987). More recently, the organization’s focus has been on assisting children who are aging out of the foster care system, promoting business- and STEM-focused opportunities to girls and, for the past three years, partnering with local organizations to address the estimated 50,000 Lancaster County residents who are forced to deal with food insecurity and nutrition accessibility. 

Aly Curtis, Susan Ketchum, Pam Hoffmaster (past president)

When 21-year-old Jackie Brennan moved to Lancaster from Montreal in the 1960s, she recalls the Junior League having been a “big plus to meet like-minded women.” At that time, one had to be invited to join; now, one applies for membership. And sustaining members who once were “retired” from service may now continue to support the organization’s volunteer efforts. Bunnie Buckwalter, who served as the League’s president in 1988/89, was one of the “founding mothers” of the Hands-on House, which she considers “a wonderful gift to the community,” and humorously describes the project as “my fifth child.” 

Laura McGarry (2024/25 president), Susan Bowser (past president), Teresa Marino, Hannah Funk (2023/24 president), Melissa Esterly (president-elect)

Mingling among sumptuous hors d’oeuvres served by Cracked Pepper Catering, past and present members caught up on each other’s lives, as current League president, Hannah Funk, called the group to order, recognizing the 25 past presidents in attendance and saluting the League’s lasting mark on Lancaster, through “training thousands of volunteers to serve not only the League, but many other impactful organizations in the area.” The Mama Tried Band signaled it was time to rock the dance floor and, on a broader perspective, a member commented, “Our slogan says it all: ‘One woman can make a difference, but together we can rock the world.’”

Junior League of Lancaster welcomes all women 21 years and older. Email info@jllancaster.org or visit jllancaster.org for more information.

Bob Sauders: Leading the Mountville Indians One Last Time

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There’s a reason why Hempfield High School excels in baseball and is this year’s PIAA state champions. Programs like the Mountville Indians youth (12U) baseball team provide the school with talented players coached by the likes of Bob Sauders, who has led the team since 1988 and will relinquish that role at the end of the season. 

Bob Sauders rallies players on the Mountville Indians youth baseball team on game day. According to the team’s website, the stars on the boys’ caps (“Mountville Stars”) are awarded to players by the coaches based upon a player’s attitude, effort, improvement and execution of various game fundamentals. They are given to reinforce the techniques learned in practice, build confidence and promote team pride and unity.

After more than three decades, Bob Sauders has announced that this season will be his last time serving as the coach of the Mountville squad, which competes in the Lancaster County Youth Baseball League, various elite tournaments in the mid-Atlantic region and an annual 104-team tournament in Cooperstown, New York. As he closes out his career, players, parents and members of the local baseball community  are saluting Sauders for his unwavering dedication to the program and teaching young athletes on the sandlot. Think about it, some of the boys Sauders originally coached are nearing the age of 50 and probably have children who have played for him. “Sometimes you just get the sense that it’s the right time,” Sauders says of the decision he made last fall. “You don’t want to hang on too long. I’m sure I’ll miss it when I get out, but you want to stop while you’re still enjoying it.” 

Although he had always been fond of baseball and gained some experience coaching in the instructional baseball program beforehand, Sauders reports he never planned to become a coach for the Indians. He explains that he stepped up to the plate when his son, Rob, became old enough to join the team, which was looking for someone to put at the helm. “I guess I wasn’t paying attention and they picked me,” Sauders jokes. “I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy the coaching aspect of it.”

Despite coaching for multiple decades, Sauders says he’s still learning as he wraps up his final season with the Indians. His coaching method focuses heavily on the strategy of baseball and his practices have often incorporated simulations of different scenarios players could find themselves in out on the diamond. “I really want to teach players the game of baseball, not just hitting, throwing and catching,” Sauders notes. “I try to push them a bit in that regard and teach them to expect the unexpected.” Through the years, he’s also stressed to his players that baseball is a team sport. The team’s website succinctly states that philosophy: “I believe that no play or player can win or lose a game for us.” 

Sauders credits the duration of his career to the abundant support of parents, players and other members of the youth baseball program in Mountville (including the Mountville Youth Athletic Association), as well as the encouragement from his wife, Deb. “I’ve been very fortunate. You couldn’t coach this long without that kind of support,” Sauders says. Deb, who writes a blog on the team’s website, shared an observation earlier this summer that explains why Mountville’s Indians have been so successful for so long. “Over the years, Bob and I have been surprised to hear time and time again that landing a spot on the Indians team is something many of our community’s young ball players dream of from an early age. And we’re told they don’t just dream about it. For years, many work on improving their baseball mechanics to better their chances of making the team when the time comes. Many forego other opportunities hoping to make their dream become reality.”

Bob Sauders’ Box Score
Coached an undefeated season (51-0) in 2003
Reached 500 wins with the Indians in 2007
Coached 1,000 games as of 2012
Reached 1,000 wins with the Indians in 2021
Lancaster New Era Tournament winner 11 times
Named Volunteer of the Year by the Lancaster County Sports Hall of Fame in 2018
Has coached the Indians in the Cooperstown NY Dreams Park Tournament since 2002

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

Senior Living:
Home Creative Home

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Moving to a senior living community may mean that tasks such as downsizing will need to be addressed, but it doesn’t signify that an interest in home decorating, DIY projects, crafting, collecting, hobbies or gardening must be curtailed. More than likely, you’ll now have even more time to devote to such interests (or develop new ones)!  

Thanks to the very talented and creative residents of local retirement communities, you can learn how they navigated the challenge of downsizing, designed beautiful (and meaningful) living spaces using furnishings and décor from their previous homes, continued to pursue favorite hobbies and artistic endeavors and, most importantly,  embraced this new phase of life. 

Explore Retirement Living

October 19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 

If you or a loved one are contemplating making the move to a retirement community, put October 19 on your calendar. The annual tour will see 17 communities – many featured on the following pages – open their doors to visitors. Through the tour, you’ll understand why Lancaster County is regarded as a top place (#3 this year) to retire in the United States, per U.S. News & World Report. The results were based on such criteria as cost of living, taxes, superior healthcare, access to cultural activities and the happiness factor. 

Visitors are encouraged to bring along friends and family members whose advice they respect. Plan to spend at least an hour at the communities you wish to visit. You’re also advised to wear comfortable shoes, as walking distances will vary. Questions are welcome and follow-up visits can certainly be arranged. 

Be sure to bring your appetite! You will be invited to sample food and beverages along the way. No doubt, you’ll discover that Lancaster’s senior-living communities have upped the ante where dining out on campus is concerned. As a result, you’ll see gorgeous restaurants (many now open to the public), cozy cafés and coffee shops, plant-shrouded outdoor-dining venues, health-conscious take-outs and upscale wine bars.   

Those who are health-conscious will marvel at the fitness facilities that exist on the campuses, offering swimming pools, classes, weight training, cycle studios and yes, pickleball! 

You’ll also learn about the clubs, activities and cultural offerings that abound. If you don’t already have a hobby or area of interest, no worries! You’re bound to find new horizons to explore.

For details, visit exploreretirementliving.org. 

Cornwall ManorCornwall Manor
Moravian ManorMoravian Manor
Luther AcresLuther Acres
Fairmount HomesFairmount Homes
United ZionUnited Zion
Quarryville PresbyterianQuarryville Presbyterian
Pleasant ViewPleasant View
Homestead VillageHomestead Village
Landis HomesLandis Homes
Willow Valley CommunitiesWillow Valley Communities

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