Lebanon Family Fall 2025 by Engle Printing & Publishing Co., Inc

Introducing virtual primary care for patients of all ages.

Virtual First Primary Care combines the local care you trust with convenience that fits your lifestyle. With video appointments and direct-to-provider text messaging, we’re breaking down barriers so our community can access care faster and easier than ever before. Whether you’re in need of a new provider or looking for care for the whole family, our dedicated Virtual First Primary Care practice offers ongoing, reliable primary care without needing to make a trip to the doctor’s office.

PUBLISHER

Jocelyn

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Jeff Falk

COVER

Ashley Kendrick Kennedy

CREATIVE

Melissa McKee

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER

Greg March

Spruce Up Evenings With Family Fun

Parents and children benefit when they spend quality time together. According to South University, children feel special when their parents take time to engage in fun activities with them. Routine activities and the occasional unusual outing can make for great bonding experiences.

The opportunities for families to have fun do not stop just because the sun sets. In fact, many different activities are tailor-made for family fun in the evening hours.

Backyard camping

Children can ease into the idea of camping by having the first overnight excursion take place in their own backyard. Before cold weather starts to set in for the year, set up a tent, light a campfire in the fire pit, and have fun experiencing the sights and sounds of outdoors at night. With close proximity to the bathroom and an easy means of escaping the outdoors if bad weather sets in, backyard camping can be a safe way to learn some basic camping skills and experience a night under the stars.

Watch a movie

Turn an outdoor (or indoor) area into a theater to enjoy a family-friendly film. Projectors are relatively inexpensive, and some can hook up to smartphones, making them quite portable. Invite extended family and friends over for the ultimate movie night.

Host a scavenger hunt

Everyone in the family can take part in a scavenger hunt. Doing so in the dark can make the hunt a bit more challenging. Young children can be paired off with an older sibling

or an adult for safety's sake. Items to collect outdoors can include a garden stone, a tree branch, a pine cone, a clover, or a backyard accessory, like a grill brush. Curate the list so items can be found without too much exploring in the dark.

Star gazing

Learn about the galaxy, stars, solar system, and more by finding a dark place away from artificial lights to stare into the sky. Consult books about what you're seeing, or rely on a phone app that can identify celestial bodies and constellations. From meteor showers to eclipses, there are plenty of celestial events to engage star gazers.

Flashlight tag

A spin on traditional hide-and-seek, children and adults can run around in the evening with flashlights and try to find or rescue team members.

Toasting marshmallows

Fire pits and early-fall evenings make a perfect pair. Add to the fun with marshmallows toasted on skewers and a fixings bar of other sweet treats, like s'mores ingredients or cookies and fruit, to enjoy with the melted marshmallows.

Meal competition

Take a page out of the cooking show playbook by pitting the family against one another in a light-hearted manner. Everyone can be charged with putting a spin on a signature meal made from the same set list of ingredients.

Make the most of evenings by spending time together with the family outdoors or inside.

Lebanon Lilly Introduces Readers to Must-See Local Destinations

BY JEFF FALK

Lebanon Lilly is inquisitive and bright. Lebanon Lilly is friendly and thoroughly enjoys adventures. Lebanon Lilly follows her values and always tries to do the right thing.

Born, raised and conceived of in the Lebanon Valley, Lilly takes great pride in the hometown of Lebanon she cares for so deeply. Because what’s not to love?

“Lilly’s very curious, and she goes to the fair too,” said Jen Kuzo, Visit Lebanon Valley’s creative and empathetic executive director. “She wanders outside of her pasture. She asks herself, ‘Are there fun places to explore in my own backyard?’ Lilly loves Lebanon. She’s so proud of her hometown.”

Lebanon Lilly is a figment of Kuzo’s fertile mind, one that is constantly exploring new ways to benefit the Lebanon Valley, to introduce to visitors what locals already know, to make Lebanon County a better place to live. Lebanon Lilly was initially recruited to be Visit Lebanon Valley’s mascot and to help the tourism bureau and

area advocate to provide Lebanon County with its own identity.

But Lebanon Lilly has taken on a life of her own. It may be that it was she who introduced herself into Kuzo’s sphere of influence.

“About six years ago, my husband and I were driving down the road. We were going to dinner,” said Kuzo. “I saw a cow statue for sale alongside the road. I told my husband, ‘Pull over; stop. I think I want to buy that cow.’ It was $800, and I had to check with our board, and it was approved.”

“I thought we needed a mascot,” continued Kuzo. “We had a naming contest, and Lilly came up several times. I loved the alliteration. I thought it was an appropriate name for us. Then we had an artist come in and give her eyelashes.”

But Kuzo didn’t stop there. She took the concept of Lebanon Lilly to the next level by writing two children’s books about her. The second, “More Adventures With Lebanon Lilly and Friends,” was released earlier in August.

Lebanon Lilly celebrates her birthday

The 28-page sequel, which was illustrated by Jonestown artist David Scheirer, expertly interweaves elements of fiction and nonfiction. The book introduces Lebanon Lilly’s barnyard friendsManny the duck, Jordan the goat, Theo the horse, Pete the piglet and Adrian the lamb - to readers.

Lilly serves as the guide and leads her friends on eight adventures to some of her favorite Lebanon Valley destinations, like Patches Family Creamery, Swatara State Park, Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area and the Lebanon Area Fair.

“They have a thirst for adventure,” said Kuzo, a resident of Palmyra. “Every month or two, she has a visitor, and she takes them to different places in the Lebanon Valley.”

“Lilly is just telling the story we tell every day,” added Kuzo. “We’re highlighting the best places in the Lebanon Valley every day. She’s almost like an employee.”

Kuzo wrote “More Adventures With Lebanon Lilly and Friends” during the span of a month in the summer of 2024. The book can be purchased at any of Lebanon County’s six libraries, and all the proceeds from the sales will benefit the Lebanon

The Lebanon Area Fair is one of Lebanon Lilly’s favorite places to visit.

Executive director Jen Kuzo is always coming up with creative ways to promote Lebanon Valley tourism.

County Library System.

“I started thinking, ‘Lilly has more places she wants to visit,’” said Kuzo. “It’s normal to take friends to fun places, and we want to acknowledge these places. It didn’t take long to write the book.”

“I’m pleased with the final product,” Kuzo added. “David has added a fun element to it with his cartoonish caricatures. You can see the personalities of the animals coming through.”

Kuzo had not written a book before she penned “The Adventures of Lebanon Lilly” in 2019, and the success of the book may have caught Kuzo a little off guard. A bit of inclement weather and the presence of family helped inspire her.

“I wrote the first Lebanon Lilly book on a rainy day on a family vacation,” said Kuzo. “I just thought she had a story to tell. She escapes her pasture, gets on the rail-trail and runs through the Lebanon Valley.”

In Kuzo’s initial offering, Lebanon Lilly visits the Cornwall Iron Furnace, the Lebanon Farmers Market downtown, Coleman Memorial Park, a roadside produce stand, Memorial Lake State Park and Union Canal Tunnel Park.

To help promote the book, Kuzo went to 60 local first-grade classrooms and read it to students aloud.

“It all started with the cow,” said

Visit Lebanon Valley president Jen Kuzo has read her first book, “The Adventures of Lebanon Lilly,” to local first-graders more than 60 times.

Kuzo. “I found the cow, we developed her, gave her a name and gave her eyelashes. And she needed a story.”

“It’s been such a source of pride knowing we have a new avenue to tell our story,” added Kuzo. “We still sell the books here every day. It’s a great thing for grandparents to read to their grandkids.”

Since Kuzo became Visit Lebanon Valley’s executive director eight years ago, the locale’s hotel occupancy tax - an instrument used for measuring the number of overnight stays in Lebanon County - has

is just one of the many places that Lebanon Lilly likes to visit.

increased in value by 300%. In 2023, tourism injected $296.2 million into the local economy in the areas of food and beverages, recreation, rentals, retail, lodging and other tourism related activities.

“I know we’re starting to make an impact,” said Kuzo, who’s been Visit Lebanon Valley’s president for eight years. “Visit Lebanon Valley strives to spotlight the area’s rich culture and preserved history. We want to share the best of the Lebanon Valley with everyone. We want to share that success with local businesses, and that growth is certainly important to the development of the Lebanon Valley. We should take pride in our community and county and support them.”

“I’m just telling our story,” Kuzo added. “Everyone knows Hershey. Everyone knows Lancaster. We have to shout a little louder to tell our story. I want to acknowledge the wonderful events and locations here in the Lebanon Valley.”

Writing a pair of children’s books promoting local tourism could be considered going above and beyond the call of duty for an agency president. But Lebanon Lilly deserves a little bit of the credit as well.

Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Kleinfeltersville

“The Adventures of Lebanon Lilly” was released in 2019.

“Maybe it is going above and beyond the call of duty,” said Kuzo. “I’ve never heard of any visitor’s centers in Pennsylvania writing books to promote their areas. But this really lends itself beautifully to the Lebanon Valley. It’s important for me to do a good job because it benefits all the businesses in Lebanon County. It benefits everyone.”

For additional information, go to www.visitlebanonvalley.com.

BIGFOOT CORN MAZE

Delicious and Nutritious: School Lunch Ideas for Kids

No two children are the same, but many youngsters share a number of similarities. Few young children enjoy going to bed on time, and many can't resist a good trampoline. Kids also have a reputation for being picky eaters, which can be challenging for parents tasked with picking and preparing school lunches. When dining at home, parents know which foods their kids eat and which they push around their plates in the hopes they won't have to consume them. School lunch is a different scenario altogether, as parents are not around to ensure their youngsters eat a full and nutritious meal. Kids who are picky eaters may not eat any lunch at all. Parents who want to ensure their children get the nutrition they need to do well in school can consider the following school lunch ideas. Make-your-own sandwich: Kids may be more likely to eat a full lunch if they get to put it together themselves. Parents can put all the elements of a tasty sandwich into youngsters' lunch boxes, but let kids assemble the meal themselves. Sandwiches can be made more nutritious when parents pack wholegrain bread, tomatoes, lettuce, and low-sodium deli meat in students' lunch boxes. If a do-it-yourself sandwich is a nonstarter, consider a DIY taco lunch complete with whole-grain tortillas.

Burrito bowl: A burrito bowl with kid-friendly yet nutritious ingredients is another great school lunch option. Red beans are a good source of fiber, and the Harvard Medical School notes all beans are rich in potassium. Fiber is filling, so a burrito bowl that includes fiber-rich ingredients, including red beans but also quinoa or brown rice, can help students avoid late-day hunger pangs that can compromise how they feel and perform in the classroom. Burrito bowls are so tasty that kids may not even realize Mom and Dad have sneaked some healthy foods like vegetables into their midday meal.

Parfait: Parfaits have all the looks of a tasty dessert. The nutritional value of a parfait depends on the ingredients Mom and Dad choose to include. Protein-rich Greek yogurt paired with some fruit and granola makes for a filling and tasty meal that's also loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. An insulated and airtight lunch box with ice packs can ensure the parfait is still cool come lunchtime.

Pasta salad: Kids tend to be especially fond of pasta, and parents can use that affinity to their advantage when planning school lunches. A whole-wheat pasta salad with some cherry tomatoes and diced broccoli makes for a nutrient-rich lunch that kids can enjoy. If broccoli figures to raise youngsters' ire, consider a nutritious substitute, such as shaved cucumber or zucchini. School lunches can be nutritious and still make kids excited to eat their midday meal away from home.

and Built for Fun Risser-Marvel Corn Maze Is Designed for Families and Built for Fun

By Jeff Falk

When consumers think of farmers, they think of people who grow food. And that’s true.

But from a broader agricultural standpoint, farmers are merely citizens who make their livings from the land.

Tina Forry and her husband, Greg, are farmers and the proprietors of RisserMarvel Farm Market, which is located at 2425 Horseshoe Pike, Annville, just east of Campbelltown on Route 322. During the autumn months, the Forrys operate a corn maze, which, in addition to being a whole lot of fun, is a creative use of the land.

“We could be growing something else there, maybe something more convenient,” said Tina. “There are other things we could be doing with the land. But with the weather, you don’t want to put all of your eggs in one basket. You want to be diversified. In this day and age, for farmers to survive, they have to think outside the box. I guess we’re adding value to the land by having a

corn maze. Some farmers have side hustles just so they can farm.”

Locally, Risser-Marvel Farm Market’s corn maze has become as much a part of the fall horizon as trick-or-treat, jacko’-lanterns and celebrating the harvest. The corn maze will be open varying hours - some days as early as 11 a.m. and until as late as 9 p.m. - from Saturday, Sept. 27, to Saturday, Nov. 1.

Flashlights can be used during the hours of dusk, and the maze is made accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.

There is a fee associated with admission to Risser-Marvel Farm Market’s corn maze.

“A maze is really just a series of right and left turns,” said Tina. “We want everyone to be able to enjoy it. But we get corn maze enthusiasts coming. I’d say we’re about average difficulty-wise.”

The family-friendly fun at the corn maze is enhanced by hayrides, rubber ducky races, a tricycle track, inflatable bouncy ponies, grain bin basketball, straw bale piles, a giant Connect Four

game, cornhole and food trucks. A pickyour-own pumpkin option is offered as a separate service.

“Fall is kind of when the corn matures, and that’s when people are looking for fall fun,” said Tina. “Corn mazes go well with hayrides and pumpkins. They sure go better with cooler weather. If the moon is shining brightly, you don’t really need a flashlight. But I’d say more families come during the day.”

“As a mom and a grandma, I think it’s nice to see families playing together,” continued Tina. “That really makes my day. We’re about families. I like the hayrides. I’ll even hop on one if I get a chance.”

The corn maze is laid out on three acres of a flat maize field located a few hundred yards directly north of the farmers market. The corn maze, which typically takes about an hour to navigate, features a single bridge and eight stations related to that season’s theme.

The Risser-Marvel Farm Market’s corn maze theme this year is “Bigfoot.” In the past, the corn maze has had focuses like pirates, Robin Hood and a jungle, and one even commemorated the service of veterans.

“We thought Bigfoot would be something to have fun with,” said Tina. “We’re not about scary. We’re about families and having good, old-fashioned fun together.”

Planning for this year’s corn maze at Risser-Marvel Farm Market began at the conclusion of last season. While the Forrys do have some input into each year’s design, much of the work that goes into creating the actual corn maze is performed by outside companies.

“We tell the design company Maize Quest (Fun Park) in southern York County the dimensions and how many bridges we have,” said Tina. “They have a master puzzle maker, Dave Phillips, who will design it, and we approve it.”

During September, at the precise

moment of the corn’s maturity, the maze is installed. The path leading through the rows of corn are about two to three feet in width.

“We pay someone with a GPS to cut the maze,” said Tina. “He’ll use a mower and a small garden tractor. Then they’ll go out and pull the plants out by hand. The nice thing with the GPS is they can cut it at night. It’s kind of fun to watch.”

While it is indeed an inventive use of the land and there are financial benefits to it, the Forrys’ main motivation behind the corn maze is fun. In addition, the maze serves as the perfect fall complement to the farmers market.

“This is farming. We’re farmers first,” said Tina. “The maze brings people into the farmers market. Yeah, the money helps. Every little bit helps. We’re closed for the winter, and my family needs something to live off of. But we love the lifestyle we live, and we’re happy to share a little bit of it with people.”

During its six-week season, typically several hundred people visit the Risser-Marvel Farm Market corn maze. There are plenty of activities for families and groups to do locally in the fall, but few are similar to a corn maze.

“It’s moms, dads, grandparents, youth leaders and groups, high school bands and choruses,” said Tina of the maze’s clientele. “Some are teams in the area for baseball tournaments and soccer tournaments who are looking for something to do and have time to kill. We have a lot of local Scouting and church groups who have been coming for years. We have businesses coming for teambuilding activities.”

At any one time, there are about 15 corn mazes hosting visitors in central Pennsylvania.

“There are different kinds of corn mazes,” said Tina. “Some are in and out; you just walk through, and you’re out. Some are more complex. Some have puzzles. We’re a smaller corn maze. Others are seven to 10 acres in size.”

The Forrys first installed a corn maze in 2007, a year after they took over operation of RisserMarvel Farm Market. Over time, the maze has developed its own Halloween tradition.

Owner Tina Forry provides perspective on what the corn maze looks like prior to the maize growing tall.

Who wants to have some family-friendly, fall fun?

In addition to the corn maze, the Risser-Marvel Farm Market offers lots of things for families to do in the fall.

The corn maze serves as the perfect fall complement to the Risser-Marvel Farm Market.

DRAUDE’S DERAILMENT

“Mazes have always been around,” said Tina. “In England, they have garden mazes and labyrinths. A group from LVC (Lebanon Valley College) did it as a fundraiser, and it was one of the first corn mazes in the world. Ever since, my husband has had the idea in his head.”

“It’s a fall thing,” Tina continued. “People want to do

something with their families that’s not going to cost a lot. You get to be outside and experience a fun atmosphere. You’ve got the fresh air, a nice breeze and some sunshine. Some people make it a tradition, like it’s their fall thing to do.”

For additional information, search for “RisserMarvel Farm Market” on Facebook. The