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When will your best story begin? Marge and Hal Landis started their story when they moved to Garden Spot Village in April 2021. Their granddaughter, Corinne, loves to visit her Nana and Pa at Garden Spot Village. Together, they plant flowers, take the neighbor’s dog for a walk, ride bikes and visit the art studio. Garden Spot Village is a wonderful place to write stories that last a lifetime.
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This podcast explores what it means to retire with purpose, live to your full potential and explore abundant opportunities to live with purpose in community.
LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST: gardenspotcommunities.org/podcast
Garden Spot Communities has created a Strategic Blueprint to set a pathway for the organization’s future. This blueprint includes a new mission statement, a guiding principle and an envisioned future.
Garden Spot residents love to refer their friends to live in their community. An even better way to build community is to invite your family to join you! Explore the family connections at Garden Spot Village.
Because of the many career opportunities available in a community like Garden Spot Village, family members in different career fields can often find meaningful employment in the same community.
Each person who works in healthcare at Garden Spot Village is a hero! Discover how Garden Spot Village is propelling person-centered care forward in new and exciting ways.
for them. Family connections are extremely important, especially for children. In traditional societies, the older generations took care of the children, sharing life stories, values and cultural history, while the parents provided a living. Research has conclusively determined that grandparents or adopted grandparents are instrumental in the long-term well-being of younger generations. In this issue of Destination, we explore the joy of family living and working together.
BRAND EDITOR & CMO
Scott Miller
EDITOR & STORYTELLER
Juanita Fox
VISUAL DIRECTOR & DESIGNER
Brandon Adams
PHOTOGRAPHY
The Premise Studio: Jeremy Hess
The future looks bright at Garden Spot Village. The senior leadership team, over a ten-month period with widespread input from staff, directors, residents and the board of directors, announced an extremely exciting Envisioned Future and Strategic Blueprint. The entire community was involved in the process of identifying impactful ways to “Spark a Pro-Aging Revolution” with the goal to serve residents and future residents as well as our neighbors both locally and globally. It is the type of mindset and planning people have come to expect from Garden Spot. To explore this far-reaching plan see page 20.
Lately, people have been asking, “How long have you been at Garden Spot?” I usually respond, “I’ve worked here for going on 18 years.” It’s not unusual for a curious expression to come across some faces as they respond, “You work here? I thought you lived here?” To which I reply, “I wish I did!” Then we usually have a good laugh. I turned 65 in 2022, which means there are people far younger than me living at Garden Spot. During my 50s I ran marathons, and there are many people who run them into their 70s and 90s, but unfortunately, this body of mine can’t handle that anymore.
Why bring this up? Three reasons. First, family connections have become far more significant for me as I crested 60. You may be familiar with the scenario. The younger people in your life, including your kids and grandkids, are in the busiest phase of their lives and making time for extended family is a challenge
The second reason I bring this up is whether or not you’ve begun to experience it, these bodies of ours don’t hold up forever. I often hear residents say, “I hope I never need healthcare, but knowing it is available here gives me peace of mind, and after what I went through with my parents, I do not want to be a burden to my kids.”
Garden Spot invests significantly in providing quality healthcare. In 2022, we were one of only 26 healthcare organizations in the country to be awarded highest honors in all our healthcare areas by U.S. News & World Report. That is a big deal, not only for us but for you! In this issue we are also featuring healthcare and the people who make it happen.
Finally, I’d like to put the next phase of Sycamore Springs into your thinking cap. I personally think it is going to be one of the coolest, most innovative communities in the Northeast. It will include a Town Center and Main Street, a variety of eateries bordered by outdoor spaces, unique nooks and crannies, and eclectic, historically-inspired architecture.
I’d like to invite you to be among the first to receive additional information as it unfolds by e-mailing me directly at smiller@gardenspotcommunities.org. Please put Sycamore Springs in the subject line and I will personally make sure you get updates as they become available. Plus, I’d love for you to take the opportunity to say hello and introduce yourself and share what you would hope for in this new neighborhood.
Please grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and explore the vast opportunities available across the Garden Spot campus, whether in skilled nursing or in a brand new flat, where community comes together and people live with purpose.
SCOTT MILLER Brand Editor & Chief Marketing Officer
PLEASE SEND COMMENTS OR ARTICLE SUGGESTIONS TO: info@gardenspotvillage.org
PLEASE SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: ccreek@gardenspotvillage.org
PUBLISHED BY: Garden Spot Communities
VIEW ONLINE: destination.gardenspotvillage.org
Sustainably printed to reflect Garden Spot Communities' commitment to environmental stewardship.
ISSUE NO. 28
PUBLISHED BIANNUALLY
To learn more call 717.355.6000 or visit gardenspotvillage.org
Copies of the poem “For a Leader” by Irish poet John O’Donohue were given to Garden Spot Communities leaders and emerging leaders during an event in August 2022. The event marked the start of the development of Garden Spot’s newest envisioned future and strategic blueprint, which was approved by the board of directors in January 2023.
The multi-faceted four-year strategic blueprint reflects the words of O’Donohue as it looks beyond the role of continuing care retirement communities today, and envisions a future where these communities will be the hub of sharing knowledge, experiences and relationships. In addition to an envisioned future, the blueprint includes a refined mission statement, resident and team member value proposition statements, a guiding principle and strategic focus areas.
“We gave ourselves the luxury of time because this is important work. It was a priority,” Garden Spot Communities CEO Steve Lindsey says. “We engaged many people in the process. Residents, team members and the board all spoke into the blueprint. We extended the depth and breadth of our conversations and we had a better outcome than previous plans. We listened to the audiences we shared the plan with and adjusted our goals based on their feedback,” he adds.
As Garden Spot looks to implement the strategic blueprint over the next four years, Steve says, “Our mission is foundational to who we are and guides our work. The mission plus our envisioned future, which outlines our vision, our future direction, and our aspirations, jointly serve as Garden Spot’s North Star.”
He continues, “There is something about living in a community where people are challenging each other to live more and be more. What could our impact be like if we truly lived into what we are called to be in the world around us. If we lived that way, nothing could stop us.”
“MAY YOU HAVE A MIND THAT LOVES FRONTIERS SO THAT YOU CAN EVOKE THE BRIGHT FIELDS THAT LIE BEYOND THE VIEW OF THE REGULAR EYE…”
Irish poet John O’Donohue
Spark a Pro-Aging Revolution
Garden Spot Community is a significant catalyst for sociocultural transformation regarding aging—resulting in new language, new mindsets and new attitudes which are fully embraced by society. We reject can't, shouldn't and won't because of age. Age is no longer seen as a liability but instead a reality that is leveraged in ways that improve the life of the individual, the well-being of communities and the benefit of society.
Whole person well-being has replaced traditional aging models. Healthcare is viewed as a support for living, not a location of decline. Instead of being stigmatized, aging is seen as a natural progression that focuses on the benefits that only living a long life can bring, such as experiences, wisdom, resiliency and selfdiscovery. A long life well lived, when shared, results in priceless contributions to family, friends, community and society.
Attention to both physical and social design lead to vibrant communities that become hubs for sharing knowledge, experiences and facilitating new relationships between diverse people. Intergenerational connections will provide an environment for both informal engagement and lifelong learning that improves the flow of knowledge, wisdom, care and connection. Opportunities are embraced for people to move into and out of environments in a manner that fits their needs, interests and abilities, rather than their age.
No longer is the goal to defy aging, but rather to define aging in new terms. A mindset of generativity, not passivity, prevails… leading to an inspired and impactful season of life.
Inspired by the life of Jesus, we cultivate vibrant community for purposeful living.
Be Kind. Do Good. Show Love.
Facilitate abundant opportunities to live with purpose in community.
A community committed to knowing you and helping you to fulfill your dreams and live the life you imagine.
Design and deliver the next generation of transformative retirement community and hub. Develop people-positive strategies and systems to meet the needs of a transforming workforce.
Scale and expand our communities for long-term sustainability.
Secure new, alternative funding sources to support transformative ideas.
Design systems and infrastructure to support planned growth and expansion.
To read more about the Garden Spot Communities Strategic Blueprint, visit gardenspotvillage.org/strategic-blueprint
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE & WORK HERE
NEW POSSIBILITIES
JIM & SUSAN
CARSCADDEN
LIVING NEAR FAMILY
e chose a home at Sycamore Springs because we wanted to move on our schedule,” Susan Carscadden says. Susan and her husband, Jim, moved to the Sycamore Springs neighborhood at Garden Spot Village in March 2021.
Because the couple chose a new construction home during the presale phase, they were able to choose their home style, their location and all of the cabinets, countertops, flooring and fixtures. They were also given an estimated time frame for their new home’s construction, which allowed them to plan their move.
Susan’s brother and his wife were also interested in moving to Garden Spot Village; they too chose Sycamore Springs, so the couples were able to move to the neighborhood at the same time. The family members are now neighbors!
Before moving to Sycamore Springs, Jim and Susan lived near Baltimore, Maryland. When they began to look for a continuing care retirement community, they realized that a move to Pennsylvania would be beneficial in a number of ways. In addition to generous tax breaks for retirees, they found that the cost of living, especially in Lancaster County, was much lower than what they had been paying.
They visited 15 communities before discovering Garden Spot Village. “Garden Spot Village looks very nice,” Susan comments. “But what impressed us was that marketing connected us with residents for a tour of the community.”
“Residents will tell you the good, the bad and the ugly,” Jim says with a smile.
“Yes, they will,” Susan agrees. “But the transparency was important. Also, Garden Spot was the only place we visited that emphasized the ability we would
have to contribute to the community.”
“It’s the sense of community that grabs your heart,” she continues. “You can feel it when you walk in the door.”
Over the past two years, Jim and Susan have connected with their new community. A civil engineer by trade, Jim had been around construction his whole life, but had never explored woodworking. Joining the Wood Shop was one of the first things he did after moving. He appreciates the way everybody has accepted and mentored him in his woodworking journey.
“I just have to ask a question and I immediately have three people right there, willing to help me,” Jim reflects. “In the back of my mind, I’ve always wanted to explore woodworking, but I never had the tools, time, materials or a mentor to help me. Now I have all of those things.”
They enjoy going to the Wellness Center together, where they exercise and take classes. They have taken trips with life enrichment to Longwood Gardens and stops on the Ice Cream Trail. They volunteer, too.
Grands & Kids Camp has offered them opportunities to make memories with their grandchildren.
“Our grandchildren love it here. They live in Baltimore, but when they visit, they bring their bikes. They love to roam the community,” Susan says.
When Susan was growing up, her family moved frequently. An electrical engineer by trade, she was frequently transferred, as was Jim. As a result, the couple also moved frequently, following work and projects across the country.
“Garden Spot Village is truly home,” Susan says. “This is what I’ve been waiting for my whole life.”
Volunteering is very rewarding. It gives me joy to know that I'm serving the Lord and others,” says EJ Rittersbach, a Garden Spot Village resident since August 2008.
EJ volunteers in a variety of roles at Garden Spot Village, including serving as a co-manager of Share & Care, the thrift shop located on the lower level of the Village Square.
For EJ, volunteering is all about serving people—whether they are residents who make donations to Share & Care, customers who shop at Share & Care or Garden Spot Village team members.
“It’s almost a full-time job,” she says with a smile. She starts each day in the shop, checking inventory and making sure that volunteers have what they need to serve customers. She also manages the inflow of donations, especially furniture. She often visits residents’ homes to evaluate whether larger items are appropriate for the shop.
EJ says, “I appreciate the opportunity to serve with Share & Care for a couple of reasons. First, 100 percent of proceeds go directly to the Benevolent Fund, which supports residents who, for reasons outside of their control, have exhausted their financial resources. Someday I may need that help, so I am thankful for the opportunity to help others.
“Second, if a resident cannot physically bring the items to Share & Care, we will arrange for pickup and delivery. We see it as a ministry to our community. We will take care of it. And if we get something we can’t sell, we just pass it along to another thrift store.”
EJ co-manages with Shirley Wenger, a Garden Spot Village resident since June 1996, and Janice Ford, a resident
since June 2017. The ladies work with a team of resident volunteers—Nancy Kreuzburg, Rose Lippolis and Karla Plazer—who help them price merchandise and plan sales. An additional 25 volunteers work two-hour shifts in the store, selling products to customers.
In addition to volunteering with Share & Care, EJ serves on the Garden Spot Communities Board of Directors and the Finance Committee, providing resident insight and support to the executive leadership team. She also sings with Village Voices and helps with the Garden Spot Village Development Committee.
On Thursday mornings she can be found sorting and delivering the mail for Village Square Apartments. At the beginning of each month she does data entry for volunteer services, recording volunteer hours for people with last names starting with A through K. Tuesday and Thursday evenings you can find her volunteering as a hostess at the Terrace Dining Room.
“Volunteering in the Terrace Dining Room is a good way to touch the lives of staff and learn what is happening in their lives. Intergenerational connections are very important and I hope I can give guidance and direction to the young people who work at Garden Spot,” EJ says.
She adds, “People tell me I need to slow down, but I thank God every day that I have the health and strength to serve.”
“Since moving to Garden Spot Village we have chosen Stephanie Stephens, DMD as our dentist. We made the right choice! She and her staff are personable, caring and their work shows great attention to detail.”
—Ross and Nancy Ricketts, Garden Spot Village residents since December 2021
Patient-centered care
Comprehensive exam to diagnose dental needs
Same day emergency appointments
Participates in continuing education for innovative care
Creates treatment plans within the scope of medical, dental and financial needs
Dr Stephens serves as an adjunct professor, teaching the next generation of dental professionals
When the life enrichment position opened at Garden Spot Village in October 2022, she was intrigued. She believes that person-centered care is the best model for healthcare, so she did research on Garden Spot Village. She had as many questions as the interviewers did when she interviewed for the job.
She was a natural fit for Mountain View and started in November. She connected quickly with the residents, learning their life stories and asking questions about what brings them purpose.
Based on her conversations and her commitment to the dimensions of wellbeing, Jojo builds a calendar of events that meets the needs of the residents in Mountain View. She balances education with fun—all to offer opportunities to live with purpose in community.
y role is to create moments for people. I want to walk with them on their journey and offer moments that will help them where they are. For some people, it is a group gathering. For others, it is a conversation where I learn more about them. I don’t want to just create activities; I want to keep people engaged with the community around them,” says Joanne (Jojo) Feo, life enrichment coordinator, Mountain View personal care.
In high school, Jojo's first job was in the kitchen at a local retirement community. She enjoyed connecting with residents and began to bounce between assignments at that retirement community and others, looking for the right fit. She spent time working as a resident aide, homecare assistant, certified nurse assistant and life enrichment coordinator.
“I knew I wanted to do more with people; I wanted to work with them more directly,” she reflects. She settled in as the activities director in a memory support community in York County.
Jojo has a trademark clothing style. “I’ve been dressing in vintage clothing for about 12 years. I love the classic movie stars and performers—Cab Calloway, Artie Shaw, Greta Garbo. It offers me a unique connection to residents. Many of them remember dressing in these fashions. More and more, residents tell me, ‘You remind me of my mother—she used to dress that way.’”
She finds her clothing at local antique stores and on eBay and Etsy. “I always carry a tape measure with me,” she says. “Sizes have changed over the years, so I hold the clothing up and take the measurements to see if items will fit.”
Ninety percent of her clothing is from the 1940s and 1950s; she complements her style with reproduction pieces. When she and her boyfriend, Cody, were looking for a house, they discovered one from the 1960s with the original kitchen, complete with a pink Formica countertop. “It is perfect!” she says.
Working at Garden Spot Village has offered Jojo a new community. “Everyone has been very friendly,” she says.
“Everyone has a specific role or job to do, but we have a unity that is unique. It’s a blend of different personalities and working styles that works really well together.”
Above: Based on resident input and interest, Jojo incorporates cooking and travel in the events she plans. She recently introduced residents to the art of charcuterie and taught them how to make their own salami roses.
Each day a small group of women gathers around a large wooden quilt frame in the Craft & Quilt room to add stitches and memories by hand to their current project. Participation ebbs and flows as the days pass, but their focus remains the same—to share their passion for quilting with others. Their projects often benefit the Benevolent Fund as well as material resource and relief programs such as Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). The women offer a gracious invitation to anyone interested in joining them. No experience is needed: those who just enjoy the opportunity to socialize may help to knot comforters.
A large portion of the sale of each quilt is donated to the Benevolent Fund. Often the group keeps just enough money to cover the cost of fabric and thread; their time and talent are donated in full.
They meet on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Their pieces can be found displayed in the hallway outside the Craft & Quilt Room as well as in The Artisans Corner and at pop-up sales throughout the year.
The Quilters also provide Celebration of Life quilts for the chaplains to share with families who experience the passing of a loved one who was a resident at Garden Spot Village or Maple Farm. This touching remembrance includes memories written on the back by team members and neighbors. The Quilters also offer hand quilting on personal items in exchange for a fee per thread yard. Members of the Quilters offer classes and sewing projects to involve people who are interested in learning more about quilting. These special events help to build community and engage new people.
In July 2021, the Quilters hosted Airing of the Quilts, a day-long celebration of quilts. They invited the Garden Spot Village community
Clockwise from left: Quilters gather on a Wednesday morning to hand quilt a quilt for sale at an upcoming event. Ruthann Zook, a Garden Spot Village resident since December 2021, and Julia Welsh, a Garden Spot Village resident since September 2021, knot comforters for Mennonite Central Committee. Tools collected for the creation of art.
to display their quilts outside; more than 450 quilts were displayed during that first event. In 2022, the Quilters increased publicity and hosted even more quilting enthusiasts, who enjoyed hundreds of quilts. They look forward to hosting another Airing of the Quilts in 2024.
Sally Mittelstadt, a Garden Spot Village resident since January 2005 and president of the Quilters, says, “I’ve made good friends through quilting. All my life I have sewn but never took a quilting class until ten years ago here at Garden Spot. Now I make a few quilts a year. I have great satisfaction in what our group has accomplished and the friendships built.”
The Quilters also piece and knot comforters for MCC. These 60-by 80inch patchwork blankets offer love and warmth to people around the world. Ruth Hershey, a Garden Spot Village resident since April 2010, organizes the regular knotting sessions. In 2021, the group donated 90 comforters; in 2022, they donated more than 72 comforters.
Ruth says, “Knotting comforters has always been a passion for my family and me. It was also something I did as part of a sewing circle at Kinzer Mennonite Church; it was a way we could support people all over the world. Also, as I understand it, MCC doesn’t just drop materials; its representatives distribute the comforters and other relief materials.”
Ruth also helped to coordinate the hand quilting of a quilt made by a sister of the Hostetter family in May 2022. She worked hard to complete the quilt so that when the sister visited in July she could take it with her. In turn, the sister donated the quilt to the Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale. The quilt brought $8,500 at the sale, which was held the same weekend that Hurricane Ian hit Florida; proceeds went directly to MCC.
“I’ve been sewing and quilting with a sewing circle since I was 16. We do not have a big group here at Garden Spot, but we all seem to have a good time when we are together,” Ruth adds.
sales inspire her and the other crafters to keep creating. Hagar says, “Knowing that things are selling is fun!”
In addition, knowing that their work directly affects someone else in their community inspires them to keep giving. The Crafter group donates 100 percent of their sales to the Benevolent Fund.
“I might need the Benevolent Fund someday. I think it is a good thing for our community,” Hagar says.
nI1997, Garden Spot Village hosted a Fall Festival and Auction to sell items and raise funds for the newly developed Benevolent Fund. Designed to help people who live at Garden Spot Village to remain at Garden Spot Village, regardless of their financial situation, the Benevolent Fund became something the entire community supported. Small groups of residents quickly connected to create items to sell.
The Quilters made quilts and wall hangings. The Woodworkers built furniture. The Crafters made bowl cozies and other crafts and a group of women created cross-stitch items. The first Fall Festival and Auction was a success. As soon as the event was over, the Makers quickly began to create new items for the next year.
More than 25 years later these groups continue to work together making items to sell, simply for the joy of “paying it forward” and benefiting their community. In 2022, the event shifted to a Village Christmas Market held in early December. Local makers joined the event, and visitors, friends, and extended families enjoyed shopping and the beauty of Garden Spot Village at Christmas.
Wendy Nagle, director of mission advancement, says, “The work of the Makers at Garden Spot Village reflects the grace and homegrown spirit of mutual aid, which is so prevalent in Lancaster County. Everyone works together for the good of our community.”
Maker groups host pop-up sales throughout the year in addition to selling items in The Artisans Corner and at the Village Christmas Market.
Hagar Scott, a Garden Spot Village resident since December 2012, participates with the Crafters. Hagar says their group occasionally offers pop-up sales outside the Craft & Quilt Room. Their most popular items are also for sale in The Artisans Corner. Ongoing
Doris Baumbach, a Garden Spot Village resident since May 1999, started the crossstitch group with neighbor, Trudy Kuserk, who moved to Garden Spot Village in January 1997, shortly after she moved to Garden Spot Village. The sole goal for the group was making cross-stitch items to sell to benefit the Benevolent Fund. Doris says, “We simply wanted to help others. We felt like this group could be a good way to help our neighbors.”
The Cross-Stitch group offers items for sale during their November Main Street Art Gallery show, at pop-up sales events and at Landis Valley Museum, as well as The Artisans Corner and Village Christmas Market. The group donates 100 percent of their proceeds to the Benevolent Fund.
The Wood Shop hosts an annual Bird House Display and Silent Auction, which also directly benefits the Benevolent Fund. In addition to handcrafted wood birdhouses, birdinspired wall hangings, paintings, cards and other crafts are also available for bidding during the month-long event each February. Since its inception in 2009, the event has raised nearly $55,000 for the Benevolent Fund. While the percentage varies, each of the Makers groups at Garden Spot Village donates a portion of their sales to the Benevolent Fund. Building community one stitch, brush, nail and hammer at a time makes all the difference.
In2007, Dennis and Lois Brandt visited friends who had moved to Garden Spot Village after the first carriage homes were built. They were impressed by the community and put Garden Spot Village on their “someday” list.
“Our friends did the research for us. We trusted that if they believed Garden Spot was the best place to move, then we should consider it too,” Lois says. They applied to be future residents in 2008.
At the time they were living in Chadds Ford. Dennis was working in operations for State Farm Insurance and Lois was working as a nurse for a general surgery office. They connected with their friends regularly; each time they visited they knew they wanted to live at Garden Spot Village.
Over the years, others from their church and school communities moved to Garden Spot Village, which affirmed their desire to make the community their home, too. When Lois’s brother and sister-in-law Bob and Mickey Adams also moved to Garden Spot Village in September 2013, Lois and Dennis knew it was time to seriously consider their next steps.
In May 2018, they joined the Radar Screen.
When Kelly Sweigart, sales director, offered them a temporary apartment in Gardens West in August 2021, they took advantage of the opportunity. They were able to sell their home during the booming real estate market and move to Garden Spot Village sooner rather than later.
The temporary apartment was offered in as-is condition and they needed to move twice, but Lois says, “Our location allowed us to be in the middle of it all while we were acclimating to the community.” They were able to access all of the amenities and connect to their neighbors as they awaited a carriage home.
They also appreciated the opportunity to connect with their many school and church friends who had already moved to Garden Spot Village.
Since moving to the community, they have appreciated opportunities to volunteer and participate in Wellness classes.
Lois volunteers with Helping Hands and has appreciated the opportunity to experience the healthcare settings. “I am impressed with the caring atmosphere and the tidy appearance of the healthcare areas,” she says.
Dennis enjoys playing pickleball as well as cornhole and table tennis.
Before moving to Garden Spot, Dennis and Lois looked forward to the physical security and knowing that healthcare is available if needed. “We see moving to Garden Spot as a gift to our children,” they say.
Their grandchildren enjoy visiting and take advantage of the Refresh Coffee Bar, the Harvest Table and table tennis.
Their advice to future residents? “Don’t wait to move to Garden Spot Village. There are so many things to do here— there is no reason to wait.”
A slow-cooked Sicilian dish, Beef Braciole blends tastes and textures to delight your palate.
Recipe on page 46.
Grilled polenta topped with portobello mushrooms and mozzarella cheese create a delicious appetizer or side.
Recipe on page 46.
Breaded Italian rice balls complement the roasted tomato jam they accompany.
Recipe on page 46.
Red pepper, oregano and Parmesan cheese enhance the flavor of extra virgin olive oil in this dipping oil.
Recipe on page 47.
Light and airy panna cotta enhances the juicy flavor of fresh strawberries in this delightful dessert.
Recipe on page 47.
Located in Adamstown—also known as “Antiques Capital, USA”—Boehringer’s Drive-In (pronounced: BEAR-ring-ers) offers a delightful small-town, family-friendly experience.
This family-owned drive-in, located less than 15 miles from New Holland, has been serving customers since 1936. The second-generation owners moved to the current location, sandwiched between the Little Muddy Creek and Route 272, in 1947.
Boehringer’s seasonal menu offers basic drive-in fare. I enjoy their sloppy joes and cheesesteaks. They also offer french fries, burgers and subs. The highlight of my visit is the 21 flavors of fresh, homemade ice cream. Their flavors range from vanilla to peanut butter, black cherry, chocolate chip mint, banana, strawberry, pineapple and butter brickle. They offer a sugar-free butter pecan as well.
You can upgrade the ice cream to a sundae or add extras such as sprinkles, crushed Oreos or peanut butter cups to your waffle cone or pretzel cone. Their extra-thick milkshakes and root beer floats are also delicious.
I was born in Adamstown and grew up nearby in Denver, so a stop at Boehringer’s brings back many good memories. When I’m in the area on a summer afternoon, I always stop for ice cream and wander outside to watch the kids play with the ducks.
Boehringer’s offers a casual dining experience. You order at the counter and take your tray, laden with comfort food, to a picnic table along the creek. A separate ice cream line allows those who come just for dessert to order quickly.
Children of all ages enjoy splashing in the water on warm summer days. Feeding
leftover bread to the ducks is always a favorite pastime for children as well. On any given summer evening, baseball teams, teenagers and families can be found making memories at this popular spot.
This is a wonderful place to take your family to experience the nostalgia of a small-town, family-owned drive-in, where college and high school students are servers.
Boehringer’s is open April through September, Tuesday through Sunday, 11am to 8pm; Friday and Saturday, 11am to 9pm.
During the off-season, Boehringer’s ice cream can occasionally be found on the road at community events. Follow them on Facebook or Instagram @BoehringersDriveIn to discover where they will be next.
Through the course of her career she was very involved in training restaurant staff on food safety as well as serving as a food judge in fairs across Pennsylvania. She offers recommendations for local Lancaster County restaurants on the Garden Spot Village website.
CHECK OUT FAY’S RESTAURANT REVIEWS: gsc.gl/restaurants
Executive Chef Michael Pezzillo’s family strongly influenced his love of food and his passion for creating works of art with the most basic ingredients. His Nani was especially influential in his life. He has frequently offered “A Night in Nani’s Kitchen” as a Gathering at the Table to benefit the Benevolent Fund. In honor of Nani and his family, he shares these traditional recipes with you.
1. Place each steak between two sheets of plastic wrap. Use a meat tenderizer to pound out to a ¼-inch thickness.
2. Place 4-5 slices of prosciutto, overlapped, down the center of each steak. The prosciutto should stop about ¼ inch from each edge of the steak.
3. Toss together the parsley and basil and then divide the herb mixture into 6 portions.
4. Place one portion of herbs over the prosciutto on each steak. Place a hard-boiled egg in the center.
5. Fold in each side of the steak toward the center and then roll up the steak to make a neat little packet. Tie the two ends with twine. Repeat for all of the steaks.
ALLA GRIGLIA
Makes 6 cakes
5 cups water
Pinch of salt
1 cup cornmeal (polenta)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Black pepper to taste
Grated Parmesan
the polenta out of the dish. Remove and discard plastic wrap. Place polenta onto a cutting board.
9. Using a round cookie cutter or round glass, make 6 polenta circle “cakes.”
10. Place a saute pan over medium heat and add extra virgin olive oil.
11. When oil is hot, carefully place the polenta circles into the pan. Cook until a golden crust has formed on both sides, turning as little as possible.
12. When polenta cakes are nearly finished, season with pepper and a sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese.
13. Serve with sauteed portobello musrooms and fresh mozzarella cheese.
Makes 10-12 servings
3 lbs top round steak
12 oz. sliced prosciutto
1/2 cup Italian flat leaf parsley, chopped; plus more for garnish
1/2 cup fresh basil, chiffonade
6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
SAUCE
1 small yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz. can San Marzano
tomatoes, mashed 14 oz. water
Small handful basil leaves, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped
Salt and black pepper, freshly ground
6. In a 12-inch skillet, heat ¼ cup of olive oil. Brown the steak packets on all sides in the olive oil over medium heat. Remove the braciole from the pan and set aside.
7. Drain all but 2 tablespoons of leftover oil, leaving the browned bits in the pan.
8. Over medium heat, cook the onion until soft and translucent. Add the minced garlic to the pan and cook 1-2 minutes longer.
9. Add the remaining sauce ingredients to the pan and stir to combine. Heat over medium heat, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
10. Place the braciole back into the pan of sauce, cover, and simmer for 1-2 hours.
11. Garnish with freshly chopped Italian flat leaf parsley.
1. In a large, heavy bottom saucepan bring water to a rolling boil. Season with salt.
2. Gradually add cornmeal, and stir with a wooden spoon until well-combined.
3. Reduce heat to low. Continue to cook until mixture thickens, stirring often. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
4. Spray a casserole dish with a small amount of cooking spray. Line dish with plastic wrap and set aside.
5. Check polenta for seasoning. Add salt to taste.
6. Pour polenta into the plastic wrap-lined dish. Add another layer of plastic wrap on top, and smooth it down directly on top of the polenta.
7. Place dish in refrigerator to chill until firm. (Two hours to overnight.)
8. When you are ready to make the polenta cakes, lift
ARANCINI DI RISO:
SICILIAN RICE BALLS
Serves 4 (16 balls)
RISOTTO:
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Approximately 30 oz. chicken or vegetable stock
Salt
1 egg
2 cups Carnaroli or Arborio rice (the best rice to use is Carnaroli)
BREADING: All-purpose flour
2 eggs, beaten Breadcrumbs
Oil for frying
GARNISH: Sunday Gravy and basil leaves
1. To make the risotto, add the rice to heated oil in a large saute pan. Stir quickly for one or two minutes.
2. With the heat on medium high, begin adding the chicken stock a little at a time. Stir continuously, until all the stock has been used and the rice is cooked to al dente.
3. Taste; add salt if necessary.
4. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
5. Add an egg to the risotto and mix well.
6. Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.
7. To make the arancini, place some rice in your hand and begin to form a ball.
8. Roll the shaped arancini in flour, then roll them in the beaten egg, and finally the breadcrumbs. Set aside until all of the rice has been used.
9. Heat oil in a deep fryer, pot or wok until it is very hot.
10. Add the arancini, and cook quickly, turning often so they don’t brown too much on one side. If serving immediately, remove from oil and place on paper towel-lined plate or tray.
Note: If you’d like to serve the arancini at a later time, remove them quickly after just browning; then, just before serving, place them on a baking sheet and re-heat in the oven at
400F for 5 to 10 minutes.
Serve plain, or place on tray with Sunday Gravy (recipe below) and garnish with basil.
SICILIAN STYLE
Makes 4-6 servings
1 lb boneless spare ribs, about 1 inch thick
28 oz. can whole Italian tomatoes (preferably San Marzano)
14 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 small Spanish onion, diced fine
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 oz. dry white wine
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
1/8 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
2 fresh basil leaves
1. In a large saute pan over medium heat, add a drizzle of olive oil.
2. Sprinkle a little kosher salt over the pork and add to the hot pan.
3. Cook on both sides for about 3 minutes or until a light brown color appears.
4. Remove the pork from the pan and set aside.
5. In the same saute pan over medium heat, add onions and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes.
6. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
7. Add the wine. Stir around in the pan and let the alcohol cook off, about 2 minutes.
8. Add whole tomatoes and crushed tomatoes.
9. Gently press down the whole tomatoes with a potato
masher until all tomatoes are mashed.
10. Add kosher salt and pepper and stir well.
11. Place the seared pork in a large cooking pot and turn the heat to low.
12. Pour the sauce over the pork.
13. Add the fresh basil.
14. Cover and cook for six hours or until the sauce is smooth and the pork shreds.
Makes 4 servings
3 tablespoons sugar plus 2 teaspoons sugar, divided
3 tablespoons water
1 1/2 cups strawberries, chopped
3/4 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoons unflavored powdered gelatin
GARNISH
1/2 cup fresh strawberries, diced
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chiffonade
1-2 cloves garlic, very finely minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper & salt to taste Fresh chopped parsley (garnish)
1. Whisk ingredients together and top with chopped fresh parsley.
2. Serve with thick slices of freshly baked, crusty Italian bread.
1. Place chopped strawberries, 2 teaspoons sugar and water in a blender. Blend until pureed. Set aside.
2. Place milk, cream and 3 tablespoons of sugar in a saucepan. Simmer until sugar dissolves. Allow to cool slightly. Add gelatin. Stir to dissolve. Add strawberry puree. Stir to combine.
3. Strain mixture through a fine mesh sieve, into a 4-cup Pyrex pitcher.
4. Pour mixture into 6 oz. glasses. Refrigerate at least 4 hours to set.
5. Before serving, toss diced strawberries with basil. Top each panna cotta with 2 tablespoons of the strawberry basil mixture.
While visiting the Lancaster Science Factory, Garden Spot Village resident Ruth Hershey interacts with a camper during Grands & Kids Camp.
PRESENTED IN COOPERATION WITH FIG
DAVID AND KAREN STAMBOVSKY have a cinematic love story. Karen grew up in Lancaster County, the daughter of a Mennonite farmer, and David grew up in Massachusetts, the son of a Rabbi. Nearly 40 years ago, they had their “meet cute” on a plane.
They were sitting in separate sections, but it was love at first sight for David. He left his seat to talk to Karen and proposed before the plane landed. After about a year of traveling back and forth to see one another, they were married here in Lancaster. The couple traveled the world and called many places home, and now they live happily-ever-after in retirement at Garden Spot Village in Lancaster County.
Garden Spot Village is a licensed, non-profit, faith-based continuing care retirement community. Karen’s parents lived at Garden Spot for years before she and David moved there in March 2022. “Seeing how they cared for my parents, we realized more and more what we would need in a residential community, so living here now has been a real joy,” says Karen. Their independent living apartment connects to a memory support suite where Karen’s mom lives. This unique arrangement allows the couple to care for family while living engaging, active and purposeful lives.
David enjoys long-distance open-water swimming and hopes to start a swim team at Garden Spot Village. “I like the community at Garden Spot,” David said. “Every person we’ve met here, residents and staff, are kind people, and the amenities are beyond compare.” The energetic couple still travels the world together, but they are happy to come home to the Lancaster community they love.
David & Karen’s LOCAL FAVORITES
Favorite Dinner Spot: YORGOS yorgoslancaster.com
Favorite place to enjoy the outdoors: LONG’S PARK longspark.org
Favorite place for a treat: PASSENGER COFFEE passengercoffee.com
“Seeing how they cared for my parents, we realized more and more what we would need in a residential community, so living here now has been a real joy…”This article is sponsored by our long-time partners and friends at Fig Lancaster. Fig celebrates independent businesses in the City of Lancaster. They love supporting local businesses and use their talents and creativity to change a community…for good.
FROM HISTORY TO HANDS-ON, FINE ART TO INDUSTRIAL— LANCASTER COUNTY HAS YOU COVERED.
You can find a museum for every interest. A museum is the perfect place to spend a cold or rainy afternoon or to wander around in to escape the heat. You can dive into local history or let the kids learn with hands-on activities and experiments.
If cabin fever has set in or you are looking for a way to sneak learning into summer break, head over to one of Lancaster’s kidcentric museums. These museums make learning fun!
Lancaster Science Factory, New Holland Avenue, Lancaster, is a hands-on, interactive museum featuring exhibits that tap into science, technology and engineering.
Hands-on House, Children’s Museum of Lancaster, Landis Valley Road, Lancaster, is an interactive museum featuring exhibits that promote hands-on learning through play.
Christiana Underground Railroad Center, at Zercher’s Hotel, Green Street, Christiana, is a free, publicly accessible historical site that details the town’s involvement in the Underground Railroad.
State Museum of Pennsylvania , North Street, Harrisburg, offers visitors four floors of exhibits presenting the state's story, from Earth's beginning to the present.
If the walls of these buildings could talk, they would have countless stories to tell. See for yourself: take a guided tour at one of these houses to experience colonial architecture and antique furniture and machinery.
President Buchanan’s Wheatland , Marietta Avenue, Lancaster, is a history center featuring exhibits and galleries about Lancaster’s history and the former home of James Buchanan, America’s 15th president.
Historic Rock Ford , Rockford Road, Lancaster, offers guided tours of the 1794 Georgian-style mansion of General Edward Hand, adjutant general to George Washington during the Revolutionary War.
Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum , Kissel Hill Road, Lancaster, is a 100-acre living history museum that presents Pennsylvania German history and culture. Mennonite Life Visitors Center, Millstream Road, Lancaster, offers information and insight on the life and beliefs of the Amish and Mennonites.
From the production of large pieces of iron and steel to the more intricate creation of watches and clocks, at these museums you’ll get a peek at these industries—from their history to their present day artistry.
Cornwall Iron Furnace, Rexmont Road, Cornwall, is an historical site that is home to America’s most complete charcoalfueled ironmaking complex, used in the early American iron industry.
National Watch & Clock Museum , Poplar Street, Columbia, is dedicated solely to horology—the history, science and art of timekeeping and timekeepers—and features an extensive collection of clocks and watches.
Automobiles, locomotives and fire trucks— oh my! Learn about these vehicles and their history and dive into their effects on society.
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania , Gap Road, Strasburg, is a railroad museum celebrating Pennsylvania’s rich railroading history.
Barry’s Car Barn , Old Philadelphia Pike, Intercourse, hosts a collection of American muscle cars from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
For those who prefer to stroll around an art museum, Lancaster has a few to check out during your visit. Many of these museums include rotating exhibits, filling each visit with new art to browse. The variety is superb—from local to famed. Demuth Museum , East King Street, Lancaster, houses the paintings of Charles Demuth in his former studio and home.
Lancaster Museum of Art, North Lime Street, Lancaster, is a small museum showcasing local, regional and international works of art.
ON THINGS TO DO IN LANCASTER COUNTY, VISIT: discoverlancaster.com
A special thanks to Discover Lancaster for providing these museum opportunities
Photos provided by local museums.
Depending on age, lifestyle, and overall health condition, vision care requirements change. Our team of dedicated eye care professionals will become familiar with each patient’s unique visual needs and customize treatment plans to fill those needs.
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Our warm and trusted eye doctors provide personalized optical and medical eye care services to satisfy your family’s needs at any age, from pediatrics to geriatrics.
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TAKING THE NEXT STEPS
LOOKING FORWARD RAQUEL & NONIE VERSOZA
FINDING A NEW COMMUNITY IN NEW HOLLAND
In the fall of 2019, Raquel and Nonie Versoza were planning to move into a 55+ community. They settled on a neighborhood and were working through the paperwork when they realized that a move to a 55+ community meant they would still be responsible for the upkeep and repairs on their home. Plus, they would need to move again if they wanted the convenience of continuing care.
They hit pause on the purchase and began to look for a retirement community instead.
In early 2020, they attended a Look & Learn informational session at Garden Spot Village. “We were enthralled,” Raquel says. “It was a small city, right here in New Holland. Why would we go anywhere else?”
In April 1988, as a young married couple with two small children, Raquel and Nonie Versoza moved to the United States from the Philippines. Nonie came with a work visa and planned to work in New York City. When they arrived, they learned that his original job was no longer an option. The hiring company redirected him to Ford New Holland.
The young couple settled in New Holland. After a year their sons joined them. Nonie settled in at Ford New Holland and Raquel tended to their young children. They became active in their church, Our Lady of Lourdes.
When the boys went to school, Raquel became involved in their classrooms at Our Mother of Perpetual Help and Lancaster Catholic High School. The family became United States citizens in 1999.
“This is a good place to raise a family. New Holland has been good to us,” Nonie reflects.
Nonie retired from his role as Information Technology (IT) Manager at Case New Holland in 2019. When the pandemic hit, he went back to work, offering IT support to Wenger Feeds. He
Above: Nonie and Raquel Versoza enjoyed a warm welcome when they traveled to the Philippines in November 2022.
Opposite: Nonie and Raquel enjoyed making memories with their extended family while they were visiting the Philippines in November and December 2022.
retired for the second time in July 2022. He continues to consult part-time.
As the couple began to think about retirement, they knew they wanted a smaller home in a 55+ or retirement community.
“We were so thankful to discover Garden Spot, right here in New Holland,” Raquel adds. “When a home becomes available for us we won’t need to move far. Our friends are here and our church is here.”
In addition to the amenities they discovered at Garden Spot Village, the opportunities to volunteer and live with purpose appealed to Nonie and Raquel.
“We wanted more than a social club,” Raquel explains. “At Garden Spot Village, we have opportunities to connect with people through the Train Room, the Wood Shop, volunteering— actually helping people.”
“Garden Spot Village is different than a 55+ community,” Nonie adds. “It’s more service oriented.”
Garden Spot’s lock-and-leave lifestyle also offers Nonie and Raquel the opportunity to travel without worrying about the upkeep of their home. They try to visit family in the Philippines once a year; they most recently visited in November 2022. They also enjoy traveling with friends; past trips have included a religious pilgrimage to Rome as well as foodie and cultural tours to Mackinac Island, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; and Green Bay, Wisconsin.
CHANGE IS EXCITING
Although 2021 and 2022 were an incredible rollercoaster ride for the housing market, 2023 looks to provide a more stable situation. Carol Lehman, a New Holland-based Realtor with Hostetter Realty, says, “Inventory remains low in Lancaster County, but rising interest rates are helping to create a more balanced market than we have seen in the last two years. Although the real estate market continues to be a seller’s market, buyers are being more selective about the home they choose to buy.”
Carol stresses the importance of planning ahead as the real estate market eases into a more balanced position. Some of the steps you can take include the following:
SCHEDULE A NO-OBLIGATION APPOINTMENT WITH A LOCAL REALTOR. Connecting with a local agent will help you identify the steps you need to take before you list your home for sale. The Realtor can provide referrals to local businesses who can help with repairs, a pre-home inspection and moving.
REQUEST A FREE MARKET REVIEW. A Realtor can provide a free market review, which will include an estimate of what your home will sell for in today’s market. According to
realtor.com, home prices will continue to climb through 2023, although not at the pace of previous years. Unless something unexpected happens with inflation or the economy, your home should hold its value through 2025.
OBTAIN A HOME INSPECTION. A home inspection will help you find trouble areas before you list your home, service your mechanicals and deal with any deficiencies discovered during the inspection. When interested buyers see that you have taken the time to complete the home inspection and make the recommended repairs, they are more likely to choose your home over a home for which that inspection has not been completed.
FIND HOMES FOR YOUR STUFF. Taking the time to downsize your possessions now will make staging your home and making the move easier. Enlist your family to help or find a local moving and downsizing company such as Wayforth, Beyond the Fork in the Road or A Life Transition Service.
In addition, Carol says, “Beware of phone calls, texts or letters from investors or flippers trying to pressure you into selling your home before you are ready. Often they will use scare tactics to have you sell your home for less than it’s worth.”
When you do the homework and have the facts available to you, you are less likely to make an impulsive decision that could cost you a lot of money in the long run.
READ MORE: hostetterrealty.com | realtor.com
Karen Waltz, managing director at Wayforth in Lancaster, uses her real-life experience of moving nine times in 20 years to help her clients. “I’ve been through a lot of bad moves,” Karen says. “I want to help other people avoid the mistakes I made.”
Through her work with Wayforth, Karen specializes in helping people move to retirement communities. Many times people have lived in their homes for 40 or 50 years and find the idea of a move overwhelming. Karen says, “They postpone moving because they don’t even know where to start.”
Karen offers the following strategies to help you start your downsizing journey.
DEFINE YOUR WHY. Reminding yourself of the why behind your downsizing and upcoming move helps you to stay motivated. Are you moving to simplify your lifestyle? To move closer to your grandchildren? To find security in a new community? Whatever your why may be, write it down and put it someplace where you can refer to it often, such as on the refrigerator, by your bed or on a mirror.
SET GOALS. If you have a tentative move date, back yourself into a schedule that will allow you to move with the least amount of stress. Set deadlines on your calendar and commit to meeting them.
HONOR YOUR COMMITMENT. Schedule times to work on the project. Write those times on your calendar and honor those times. If you make your downsizing time as important as other appointments, you will protect that time and use it efficiently.
START EARLY, START SMALL. Karen says, “Give yourself time; downsizing is a very emotional, exhausting process, especially for people who have a hard time letting go. Consider starting in the kitchen with items that are easy to eliminate.” Do you have five spatulas? Keep two and send the rest on their way. Too many kitchen towels? Keep the best and toss the rest. Removing excess is the easiest way to remove clutter.
CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESS. When you have finished a space, celebrate your work. Reward yourself, then tackle something bigger and tougher.
ASK FOR HELP. Invite your family, friends or a professional to help you. An outside perspective can help you evaluate your need for certain items. Family members may want some of the family heirlooms you have safeguarded for them. A professional moving and downsizing company can help you connect with resources that will help you sell, donate or recycle your items as well as keep you on task throughout the process.
Karen says, “Wayforth provides webinars and blogs to keep you motivated in your downsizing journey. People who join our email list will have access to those materials as they are available.”
READ MORE: wayforth.com
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FAMILY CONNECTIONS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN. IN TRADITIONAL SOCIETIES, THE OLDER GENERATIONS TOOK CARE OF THE CHILDREN, SHARING LIFE STORIES, VALUES AND CULTURAL HISTORY, WHILE THE PARENTS PROVIDED A LIVING. RESEARCH HAS CONCLUSIVELY DETERMINED THAT GRANDPARENTS OR ADOPTED GRANDPARENTS ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN THE LONG-TERM MENTAL, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF YOUNGER GENERATIONS. EXPLORE THE JOY OF FAMILY LIVING AND WORKING TOGETHER.
WORD OF MOUTH CONTINUES TO BE THE BEST REFERRAL SOURCE FOR FUTURE RESIDENTS AT GARDEN SPOT VILLAGE. IN MANY CASES, THOSE REFERRALS ARE FOR FRIENDS AND FORMER NEIGHBORS, BUT THEY ARE OFTEN REFERRALS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS TO LIVE IN COMMUNITY AS WELL! DISCOVER A SAMPLING OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO LIVE WITH PURPOSE IN COMMUNITY AT GARDEN SPOT VILLAGE.
Brothers Art Johnsen, a Garden Spot Village resident since August 2016, and Roy Johnsen, a Garden Spot Village resident since September 2017, enjoy a shared passion for woodworking. The Wood Shop offers a place for them to connect as neighbors and brothers.
Sisters Janet Burge and Barb Straton moved just around the corner from each other at Garden Spot Village in July 2015. They enjoy connecting over lunch at the Terrace Dining Room.
Jeanne Lang, a Garden Spot Village resident since June 2015, was delighted when her younger sister Pat moved to the Sycamore Springs neighborhood at Garden Spot Village in August 2021. The two regularly enjoy sharing stories and laughter over coffee at Refresh Coffee Bar.
When your next-door neighbor is family, it’s a delight! Brother and sister, Phil and Susan, moved with their spouses to the Sycamore Springs neighborhood at Garden Spot Village.
Viola Weber, a Garden Spot Village resident since March 1999, was delighted when her brother, Leon Stoltzfus, moved to the apartment directly above her in November 2020. The siblings enjoy being neighbors as well as family.
Two generations of the Glick family live and work at Garden Spot Communities. Team members Laura (Glick) Feiser and Tyler Glick (center and right in back row) are the grandchildren of Mabel Glick (seated, second from left), a Garden Spot Village resident since December 2014. Tyler and Laura are also the great-niece and great-nephew of Donald and Verna Wirth (standing left and seated left), Garden Spot Village residents since July 2004, and Dave and Sue Glick (seated right), Garden Spot Village residents since August 2014.
The Hess family enjoys lots of intergenerational laughter and fun in Bob and Rosey’s home at Sycamore Springs. Garden Spot Village residents since June 2020, Bob and Rosey welcome their family for Saturday morning pancakes, sleepovers and playdates.
GARDEN SPOT COMMUNITIES BELIEVES THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN THRIVE WHEN FAMILY MEMBERS WORK TOGETHER. YOU NAME THE COMBINATION AND GARDEN SPOT HAS IT: FATHER/SON; MOTHER/SON/ GRANDDAUGHTER; MOTHER/DAUGHTER; HUSBAND/WIFE; BROTHERS. ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES FIND JUST A SAMPLING OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO LIVE AND WORK TOGETHER.
Brandon Newborg started working as an electrician at Garden Spot Village in May 2016. He loved the culture and soon convinced his brother Ed to join him. When his wife, Kristy, needed a new opportunity, he suggested Garden Spot. It was the same for his identical twin, Julien. Now the four Newborgs enjoy working together as family and friends. (Pictured at top, left to right: Julien, Ed, Kristy and Brandon)
Mother and daughter, Nicole (right) and Kali (left) Riker work in Mountain View. Kali works as a dining server in The Coop while Nicole works as an LPN supervisor.
Father and son, Scott (right) and Derek (left) Mohler, also enjoy working at Garden Spot Village. Scott works as facility systems specialist in facility services while Derek serves as the lead IT specialist for information technology.
Joanne Ashcroft loves working with her daughters Sophia and Lauryn. Together, they help residents pursue their fitness goals in the Wellness Center. (Pictured, left to right: Sophia, Joanne and Lauryn.)
Scott Ruth started as director of campus services in September 2019. He soon saw an opportunity for his niece, Alesha, on the renovations team. Alesha, in turn, found an opportunity for her daughter, Haley, to work in the Wellness Center. The three enjoy a unique working environment where they can each share their passion and expertise with the community.
Three generations of the Vega family share their talents and skills in four different departments at Garden Spot Village. Pictured, left to right: Alecsy (daughter to Albert & Stacy) works in dining services; Marta Sanchez (mother to Albert) works as overnight security; Albert serves as the director of environmental services; Stacy works as facility operational support in facility services; AJ (son of Albert & Stacy) works in wellness.
Cousins Tyler Glick and Laura Feiser enjoy the camaraderie they have as coworkers and family. Tyler works in information technology as an IT specialist and Laura is the director of activities at Maple Farm.
ALTHOUGH 85% OF THE GARDEN SPOT VILLAGE COMMUNITY LIVES IN RESIDENTIAL LIVING, INCREASINGLY, PEOPLE TOURING GARDEN SPOT VILLAGE WANT TO LEARN ABOUT AND TOUR THE HEALTHCARE
AREAS—PERSONAL CARE, MEMORY SUPPORT AND SKILLED NURSING. THE INCREASED INTEREST MAY BE A RESULT OF MEDIA COVERAGE IN RECENT YEARS OR IT MAY BE A RESULT OF THE BABY BOOMER AND GEN X MINDSET, WHICH INCLUDES A DISCERNMENT AND AWARENESS OF WHAT THE FUTURE MAY HOLD.
Fifteen years ago, Garden Spot Village was one of the first communities in the United States to offer a household model with a person-centered approach to healthcare. Countless healthcare professionals from all across the U.S., Europe and Asia visited to learn more. Garden Spot continues to improve, innovate and transform the lifestyle people experience in healthcare.
The physical layout makes common spaces warm and welcoming; the design creates community in a home-like environment.
Many healthcare professionals use the term person-centered to mean choices about clothing and food. At Garden Spot, person-centered care means we honor each individual’s choices about when to wake, when to eat and how to engage in purposeful community.
We adjust team member responsibilities to meet the needs of residents and families. In the following pages, you’ll meet some of the people and the innovative positions they helped to co-create to ensure a life-giving experience for you.
“I really enjoy meeting and talking with people ahead of the admission process to answer questions and hear their concerns and any feelings they have about the transition. I walk them through what to expect, what to bring. It helps to build trust with the family and the resident,” says Carrie Kneisley, director of healthcare admissions. Carrie began working at Maple Farm in June 2004. As Maple Farm transitioned into a Garden Spot Community, Carrie helped to introduce the household model; when Maple Farm restarted admissions after
a major renovation in 2012, she stepped in to help and has been working in that role ever since.
When Garden Spot Village expanded admissions beyond existing residents, Carrie moved into the position of director of admissions for Garden Spot Communities. As a social worker, she connects with both prospective and existing residents, helping them to find the best healthcare solutions for their needs. She also helps people who need a short-term stay for rehab after a medical procedure or illness, by connecting them and their families with resources to ensure a safe, successful discharge.
“I’ve been working in long-term care my whole career—since I was 16,” says Brittany Morgan, nursing assistant instructor and evaluator. “I really respect the people we serve in long-term care and I want to influence others to gain that respect.” Brittany’s role represents a unique partnership with Harrisburg Area Community College and an innovative solution that helps Garden Spot train nursing assistants more easily.
“Having an in-house instructor is really unique; we reserve five seats in every ten-seat class; the rest of the students are either self-pay or sponsored by another community,” Brittany explains. The monthly classes help to build a larger pool of nursing assistants for Garden Spot and the greater Lancaster area. In addition, Brittany’s instruction lays the groundwork for Garden Spot’s person-centered culture. “I always tell my students, we can always learn, we can always ask questions and keep learning and growing with those around us.”
“Garden Spot offers so many opportunities for people to maintain their health and fitness level,” says Andrea Smoker, fitness coordinator. A certified personal trainer, Andrea brings her passion for exercise and healthy living to her work at Garden Spot. In the Wellness Center, she teaches a variety of classes, including yoga, boxing and balance. In addition, Andrea takes her balance and exercise classes to residents in Meadow View Memory Care, Mountain View Personal Care and DayBreak. These small-group lessons engage people and get them moving.
“We want people to remain as independent as possible, as long as possible,” Andrea says. A social component is always part of the classes. “We believe that fitness is just one aspect of an individual; wellness is a much bigger picture. I am thankful that I get to work with a team that maintains a holistic view of wellness,” she says.
When Amelia Hamm started at Garden Spot Village as the coordinator of Garden Spot Village at Home in August 2020, she was working on a degree to become a registered nurse. Over the next two years she completed her degree, became licensed, and expanded the services her department offers.
Now, as director of Home and Community Based Services, Amelia has expanded Garden Spot’s offerings to include a walk-in nursing clinic as well as an endof-life doula who serves the New Holland community through Garden Spot Village at Home. She also supports DayBreak, a day program for Garden Spot Village residents and members of the greater community. Amelia and her team advocate for people to make the best choices for themselves—whether that is to age in place with supportive services or to move through the continuum of care at Garden Spot Village.
I REALLY RESPECT THE PEOPLE WE SERVE IN LONG-TERM CARE AND I WANT TO INFLUENCE OTHERS TO GAIN THAT RESPECT. THE PEOPLE IN THE GENERATION WE SERVE ARE SO SELFLESS— THEY MAKE ME WANT TO BE MY BEST SELF FOR THEM. WE CAN LEARN SO MUCH FROM THEM.
As technology and opportunities to communicate and document medical records digitally have become more and more prevalent, Garden Spot Communities has recognized the need to have a dedicated information technology nurse. Jessica Zoski, the former director of nursing at Maple Farm, stepped into the role in September 2021. Over the past 18 months she has worked to improve, automate and streamline the ways Garden Spot Village and Maple Farm use PointClickCare, the healthcare-based software. New opportunities are continuously available to expand the ways technology can help improve care for residents. Jessica recently rolled out the Practitioner Engagement App, which allows medical professionals to view resident charts and complete order reviews from a mobile device. In addition, PointClickCare Connect allows staff to access pertinent information directly from discharging hospitals and specialists, eliminating the need for data entry and allowing staff to increase their interactions with new residents.
Jeannine Perry started working at Garden Spot in August 2019, just months before COVID-19 illuminated the need for infection control. Jeannine says, “Infection control is an evolving field. I work with the team to find ways we can apply appropriate precautions to contain infections and prevent the spread of illnesses and infections to others.”
Technology can help to make these decisions easier. For example, during the height of COVID testing, Jeannine and the COVID testing team worked with Derek Mohler, lead IT specialist, to create a testing app to make accessing test results easier for employees. Jeannine makes all of her decisions with residents in mind. “I have a desire to protect those who are counting on our care. I want to do what I can do with my knowledge to keep people healthy.”
The art of music therapy offers a unique opportunity to impact people’s mood and build community. Very few retirement communities emphasize music therapy like Garden Spot Village does. Laura Gribble, a board-certified music therapist, works at Garden Spot full time, enriching the lives of residents through music.
Laura says, “I like to learn how residents interacted with music throughout their lives and support them as they interact with music now. For example, if a resident sang in a choir earlier in their life, but can't now, I invite them to join our chime choir so they can still enjoy making music in a group.” She continues, “I am thankful for the way Garden Spot has supported music therapy. I started with an idea and other residents and team members poured in their insight and knowledge so that the work I do is so much greater.”
Marcia Parsons brings a passion for helping people live with purpose to her role as community engagement coordinator. Previously the social worker for skilled nursing, Marcia recognized a need to help people in the healthcare areas re-engage with the broader community now that restrictions surrounding COVID have relaxed. Marcia connects with residents in the skilled nursing households as well as those living in Meadow View and Mountain View. She also supports participants in DayBreak.
“I work to create opportunities for people to connect with others and find purposeful things to do.” For example, she has reached out to Freedom Thrift and CrossNet Ministries to identify projects that residents can volunteer to complete at Garden Spot Village. The transformation she sees when people participate in purpose-filled projects is inspiring to her. “I want to give people opportunities to live life fully,” she says.
Our founder, Dale Weaver, believed that Garden Spot Village should be a community that reaches out and makes a difference in our local community. He believed that we should generously share our time, talent and treasure. This underlying part of our culture compels residents and team members to continuously look for ways we can partner with our community and make a difference, right here in Lancaster County. www.gardenspotvillage.org
559 TEAM MEMBERS Live and serve in our broader community, impacting the lives of their friends and neighbors.
4,100 MEALS PROVIDED
Residents and team members donate funds to support a monthly community meal at CrossNet Youth Ministries.
FRESH LETTUCE DONATED
25+ SPONSORED CHILDREN
Garden Spot residents and team members sponsor students living in the urban slums of Nairobi, Kenya, through Missions of Hope International, a Garden Spot sponsored mission organization. Their monthly monetary support and regular correspondence build international, intergenerational relationships.
252 VOLUNTEER HOURS FOR NYSUM
A team of 14 residents and team members traveled to New York School of Urban Ministry (NYSUM) where they volunteered, renovating dorm rooms, doing food truck ministry and raising funds for an elevator replacement campaign.
$36,000+ DONATED ITEMS Through Making-a-Difference
$61,900 CASH CONTRIBUTIONS To Other Non-Profits
7,621 donated items like toothbrushes, non-perishable foods, pet food and pet supplies, eyeglasses, winter coats and backpacks. Residents and team members support a monthly collection of material goods for local non-profits like the Pet Pantry of Lancaster County, Ronald McDonald House, COBYS, Water Street Mission and CrossNet Ministries.
We believe in supporting our local community, so that’s why as an organization, Garden Spot supports fundraising efforts of local nonprofit organizations like CrossNet Ministries, ELANCO Public Library and Fulton Theatre. These donations do not include the countless donations provided by residents and team members who also support their local community.
The largest taxpayer supporting ELANCO School District.
We plan for surplus in our aeroponic greenhouse because we want to bless our community with fresh lettuce through the local food pantry. $1,721,000 PER YEAR IN LOCAL TAXES $26,250 TO GARDEN SPOT FIRE RESCUE
Garden Spot partners closely with Garden Spot Fire Rescue, supporting in ways that go beyond an annual donation. Volunteers train in the stairwells of Garden Spot’s Village Square Apartments and residents donate time and resources above and beyond our organizational donation.
CONNECTING WITH FAMILY
love to laugh,” says Ruthann Ware, a Garden Spot Village resident since August 2008, as she reflects on her family.
“Sometimes we giggle too much and Stella and Abby get upset with us.”
Stella, 3, and Abigail, 2, were a significant reason that Ruthann took a month-long, pre-Christmas trip to Wiesbaden, Germany. Ruthann’s daughter, Christy, her husband Mike, and their daughters Stella and Abby, moved to the mid-sized German city from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in January 2021.
Laughter and her faith in Jesus have proven to be the best medicines for Ruthann’s soul in recent months. When her husband, Don, passed away unexpectedly in early October 2022, Ruthann considered canceling the trip to Germany that they had been planning together.
Christy, Mike, Stella and Abigail were in New Holland for Don’s Celebration of Life in late October. Christy encouraged Ruthann to keep her plans and invited her to travel with them to Wiesbaden when she and the girls returned in mid-November. When Ruthann’s son, Pete, offered to join her in Wiesbaden in mid-December and fly home with her, Ruthann resumed her travel plans.
“The trip was really about spending time together and being present with each other,” Ruthann says. Highlights of her time in Wiesbaden included visits to Stella’s and Abigail’s schools, Bible studies with women on the nearby U.S. Army base, Thanksgiving dinner with Christy and Mike’s friends and reading to her granddaughters.
As November rolled into December, Ruthann and Christy enjoyed visiting Christmas Markets in Wiesbaden and the surrounding communities such as Heidelberg and Mainz. They enjoyed Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes) and waffles with Nutella, as well as train rides and browsing the many artisans’ booths filled with arts and crafts.
Visits to the local IKEA and Aldi gave Ruthann a sense of home.
Through it all, giggle sessions provided moments of healing. “We shared so many giggles and so much laughter,” Ruthann remembers. During an impromptu live nativity directed by Stella, Mike took on the part of the snowman and Ruthann donned a towel to serve as the local shepherd. The group dissolved into giggles when Mike insisted he had a connection at the local Marriott and there would be room in the inn.
After a 23-hour day of traveling, Ruthann and Pete landed in Philadelphia on Monday, December 19. Ruthann was ready to return to Garden Spot Village, where she finds support from her friends
and community. Good friends Don and Lucille Sutton, Garden Spot Village residents since November 2017, greeted them at the airport gate.
Despite Ruthann’s and Pete’s exhaustion, the four stopped at Nifty Fifty’s Diner in Folsom, Pennsylvania. “We laughed and laughed,” Ruthann says. “We were so tired, but it was such a relief to be almost home and we were so hungry! It’s a family tradition to stop at Nifty Fifty’s—either as the last meal together before someone takes a trip or the first meal together after picking someone up at the airport. It was good to enjoy that time with Don and Lucille.”
When Suzanne Butler moved to Garden Spot Village with her husband, John, in August 2020, she was still working full-time. A registered nurse, she was employed by Aetna Insurance to do hospital case reviews remotely.
She retired in April 2021 and began to explore volunteer opportunities at Garden Spot Village. Even with the new community and volunteering, Suzanne felt unsettled and restless. She was looking for something more.
At about this time Garden Spot changed employment rules, enabling residents to work at the community. Suzanne was intrigued. Could she live AND work at Garden Spot?
She applied and was hired as a part-time registered nurse assessment
coordinator (RNAC) in skilled nursing in November 2021.
“I need structure,” Suzanne says. “Working part-time gives me that.”
Suzanne finds that structure working on Wednesdays and Fridays. She completes the majority of her work on a computer in her office. She is one of three RNACs whose job is to ensure that all of the medical documentation is accurate for each resident in the skilled nursing households.
She tracks the federally mandated quality measures and looks for red flags—places where the nursing staff can improve performance. She also does some assessments, determining residents’ ability to provide general self-care and other healthcare markers.
Suzanne has a wide breadth of work experience. After earning a bachelor’s
degree in behavioral sciences from Widener University, her first job was at the University of Pennsylvania in the admissions department. She then served as financial assistant to the Dean of Pharmacy at Temple University. While working at Temple, she started nursing school.
In nursing Suzanne found a personal connection to people that was missing in her previous roles. She found purpose in making an impact in the daily lives of people as she provided nursing care.
She worked as the Nursing Home Administrator at Linden Hall, a skilled nursing neighborhood at Friends Home in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Linden Hall was an early adopter of person-centered care in the early 2000s. Suzanne appreciated having the flexibility to spend extra time with the residents she was serving.
Suzanne appreciates the new community she has gained by working at Garden Spot. “The staff is all wonderful, accessible
members. They are more than coworkers—they are my friends too,” she says.
She appreciates that she can bring her “whole self to work.” All of the skills and talents she brings are respected and welcomed.
The only challenge of living in the community where she works? She just needs to remind herself occasionally which hat she is wearing at any given moment—whether she’s interacting with people as a resident, a volunteer or a team member.
Want to join the Garden Spot team?
LEARN MORE AT: wearegsc.org
OUR CUSTOMERS ARE FAMILY
“Wefocus on the relationships we have with our customers,” says Tanner Horst, co-owner of Keystone Quality Motors. “We see our customers as our extended family. We believe that by serving our customers well, we will serve their families well. We build trust with our customers. Unfortunately, people have had trust broken with other companies. We work hard to maintain trust.”
Tanner represents the third generation at Keystone Quality Motors. Ray Martin opened Martin’s Auto Service in a three-bay garage beside his home in 1972. In 1980, his son Larry joined him in the family business. They served their community well, focusing
on building relationships with their customers. When a property on Main Street in New Holland became available in 2007, Larry and Ray moved the business. Their capacity to serve their community more than quadrupled.
In 2012, Ray semi-retired and Larry assumed full ownership. Tanner Horst also began working at the business. In 2013, Tanner graduated from college with a degree in business management and married Larry’s daughter Tonya. Involving the third generation in the business
made sense; Tanner joined the team full time and became a partner in 2020.
In 2014, Elvin Weaver, of the former neighboring Ultra Car Center, joined their team to manage the newly formed Sales Department. They changed the name of their business from Martin’s Auto Service to Keystone Quality Motors to better reflect the full spectrum of automotive services and sales the company now offers.
Keystone Quality Motors’ mechanics are certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and use state-of-the-art equipment, including Hunter light- and heavy-duty alignment racks, a Hunter tire changer and a Road Force tire balancer. On average, they have 15 vehicles for sale, ranging from sedans to trucks. The sales team offers a custom vehicle search for customers who want a specific make and model, including year and desired features. They even purchase vehicles from Garden Spot Village residents who choose to downsize their vehicles.
Keystone’s proximity to Garden Spot Village makes the family-owned company a convenient choice for residents. Gordon Lash, Garden Spot Village resident since October 2016, says, “Keystone Quality Motors offers great service and they stand behind their work. I can take my vehicles there with confidence, knowing that they will fix whatever is wrong. I highly recommend Keystone Quality Motors to anyone who asks.”
Keystone offers free courtesy vehicles and shuttle service as well as free vehicle pickup and delivery for customers in the New Holland area.
“Our community offers a lot of options for auto service and sales,” Tanner says. “We differentiate ourselves with our commitment to customer care and relationship.”
READ MORE: keystonemotors.net
24 Kids Fun Run
Join the cheering crowd as children ages 6–12 compete in a Fun Run. For residents, guests and the public.
25 Garden Spot Village
1/2 Marathon & 10K Visit gsv.run for more information. For residents and the public.
27 Community Meal
A free community meal at CrossNet Youth Center. Prepared by Garden Spot Village staff and residents. For the public.
APRIL
24 Community Meal
A free community meal at CrossNet Youth Center. For the public.
MAY
22 Community Meal
A free community meal at CrossNet Youth Center. For the public.
24 Look & Learn
A luncheon to learn more about life at Garden Spot Village. Visit gsvlookandlearn.org to find out more and register. For the public 55+.
JUNE
17 Garden Spot Village Yard Sale
Annual community-wide yard sale offers bargains on household items, crafts, books and more. For residents, guests and the public.
26 Community Meal
A free community meal at CrossNet Youth Center. For the public.
4 New Holland Fireworks
A patriotic community display for the 4th of July! Enjoy a concert at the New Holland Park and stay for the fireworks. For the public.
24 Community Meal
A free community meal at CrossNet Youth Center. For the public.
27 Look & Learn
A luncheon to learn more about life at Garden Spot Village. Visit gsvlookandlearn.org to find out more and register. For the public 55+.
AUGUST
28 Community Meal
A free community meal at CrossNet Youth Center. Prepared by Garden Spot Village staff and residents. For the public.
14 Look & Learn
A luncheon to learn more about life at Garden Spot Village. Visit gsvlookandlearn.org to find out more and register. For the public 55+.
16 Garden Soiree
A delightful evening to celebrate the future of Garden Spot Village and support the Benevolent Fund. For residents, future residents and the public.
The above schedule is subject to change. For current listings, visit gardenspotvillage.org/events or contact Resident Services at 717.355.6000
To learn how your business can help Garden Spot Village enrich the lives of older adults through sponsorship and giving, contact Wendy Nagle at wnagle@gardenspotvillage.org.
