When will your best story begin? Larry and Christine McHenry can't wait to move to Garden Spot Village. The couple is on the Radar Screen and waiting for their next home. In the meantime, they visit Garden Spot Village several times a week. Together, they enjoy walks through the Legacy Garden, dinner at The Harvest Table and time in the Wellness Center. Christine loves to play pickleball with her future neighbors and Larry has enjoyed working in the Metal Shop. Christine says, “When we are at Garden Spot, it's like we are already home.”
THANK YOU
TO OUR RACE SPONSORS
SATURDAY MARCH 23, 2024
GET ALL THE DETAILS AND REGISTER ONLINE AT GSV.RUN CAN’T MAKE IT IN PERSON? RUN THE RACE VIRTUALLY!
COME JOIN THE KIDS FUN RUN ON MARCH 22 AT 6PM HOSTED BY GIRLS ON THE RUN AT GARDEN SPOT VILLAGE. OPEN TO GRADES K-8. REGISTER AT GSV.RUN/KIDS .
Visit WEAREGSC.ORG to explore all the career opportunities available at Garden Spot Communities.
STEP
STEP 2
When Marian Sautter moved to Mountain View Personal Care she brought the Mason & Hamlin spinet piano she and her husband bought new shortly after they married in 1953.
Andy Brightman is a walking testimony to Garden Spot’s people-positive, employee-centric team member value proposition: We are a community committed to knowing you and helping you fulfill your dreams and live the life you imagine.
Marsha Dawson finds joy in everything and shares that joy with everyone around her. Whether it's handwritten cards, freshly-baked banana bread or meals shared at the Harvest Table, Marsha finds ways to make people around her feel valued and loved.
Marsha Dawson sends greeting cards with handwritten notes to her family and friends to commemorate birthdays, special occasions and just because.
PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY
21
Meet Your Neighbor
Mike and Martha Zeher combine faith, work and community.
24
Socially Speaking
The Art Guild builds community one brush stroke at a time.
27
Staff Spotlight
Christie Kennedy builds on a career in long-term care.
28
Volunteer Spotlight
Rita McEldorney connects with fuure neighbors through volunteering as a future resident.
30
Giving Generously Garden Spot looks forward to building the next cooperative living house in Thistledown.
33
Words of Wisdom
Mim Saunders reflects on the wisdom she gleaned through the Wisdom Course.
47
Looking Forward
Walt and Zoe Bilski build new relationships in their hometown.
50
Downsizing Tips
A list of tips to get you started.
52
Real Estate Update A solid future for sellers.
NEARBY & BEYOND
67
On The Road
A creation tour through the southwest.
70
On the Clock
Larry Gouge drives his community.
72
Community Spotlight A Life Transition Service. THE
35
Welcome to Destination Garden Spot Communities. As of February 1, Frederick Living has joined the Garden Spot Communities family along with Garden Spot Village and Maple Farm. During the affiliation process it was recognized that Garden Spot Village, Maple Farm and Frederick Living have a common “soul.” We are working together, cross-pollinating ideas, in order to bring to you the best that each community has to offer.
This is the People Positive issue of Destination . That has a nice ring to it. It’s a rather catchy phrase, and although it’s short, it speaks volumes. You’ll discover the ways in which the people of Garden Spot Communities—both residents and team members—put other people first.
One of the wonderful things about being people positive is that it is inherent in the Garden Spot culture and speaks to the heart of service. The expression people positive emerged from who we already are as opposed to some desired future state.
Are we perfect? Of course not. Can we get better? Of course. However, as you will see, a people-positive mindset and spirit of service is clearly already alive and well in our communities.
Few people realize that American Psychologist Abraham Maslow amended the top of his hierarchy of needs late in life. Sitting above self-actualization, which is all about “me,” is transcendence, in which we come to realize that life is not all about “me” after all. There is something more. Purpose, meaning and fulfillment come when we realize it’s about contributing to the lives of others, to our community and to the world around us.
Does that mean we neglect ourselves?
Not at all. Mixed in with the adventures, the travel and all the wonderful things people love to do is a people-positive mindset and a desire to serve that goes beyond simple self-actualization.
What transcendence really means is that the Garden Spot Communities— whether Garden Spot Village, Frederick Living or Maple Farm—are unique, welcoming and designed to create opportunities for you to live with purpose in community. As you read the pages that follow, we hope the journeys, stories and contributions made by the people of Garden Spot Village will inspire you. And when you are done, flip the magazine over to see how the people of Frederick Living are doing the same things in their own way.
SCOTT MILLER Brand Editor & Chief Marketing OfficerBRAND EDITOR & CMO
Scott Miller
EDITOR & STORYTELLER
Juanita Fox
VISUAL DIRECTOR & DESIGNER
Brandon Adams
PHOTOGRAPHY AND ILLUSTRATIONS
The Premise Studio: Jeremy Hess
GSC Creative Team: Brandon Adams, Sharon Sparkes, Haley Delgiacco
PLEASE SEND COMMENTS
OR ARTICLE SUGGESTIONS TO: info@gardenspotcommunities.org
PLEASE SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: ccreek@gardenspotvillage.org
PUBLISHED BY: Garden Spot Communities
443 S Kinzer Avenue New Holland, PA 17557
VIEW ONLINE: destination.gardenspotcommunities.org
Sustainably printed to reflect Garden Spot Communities' commitment to environmental stewardship.
ISSUE NO. 30
PUBLISHED BIANNUALLY
YOU’RE IN CONTROL:
Choose what’s best for you, if and when you might need it.
GARDEN
MOUNTAIN
GARDEN
To learn more, call 717.355.6000 or visit gardenspotvillage.org/healthcare
We welcome
Michael P. O’Day, Esquire, and his practice to the BCGL Family.
Mike joins us with 43 years of experience and wisdom.
He exemplifies our motto: HONEST, CLEAR and DIRECT ADVICE
Esquire
Tuesday, September 17, 11:30am
Garden Spot Village, Concord Room Lunch will be provided.
LOCALLY OWNED • HIGHEST PRICES
WE MAKE HOUSE CALLS
DIAMONDS • GOLD • SILVER • JEWELRY COINS • PLATINUM • ENTIRE ESTATES
we do! ®
VOTED LANCASTER COUNTYʼS #1 GOLD BUYER, 3 YEARS RUNNING!
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE & WORK HERE
MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR MIKE AND MARTHA ZEHER FAITH, WORK AND COMMUNITY
OnApril 1, 2023, Martha told Mike that Garden Spot Village had called about a house for them to consider. He was relieved when it was an April Fool’s joke because he wasn’t ready to move.
When Ric Myers, sales associate, called for real in July 2023 with an opportunity in Sycamore Springs, Mike and Martha were on vacation in Ocean City, Maryland. “We weren’t necessarily ready, but we knew it was a rare opportunity,” says Martha. “We were very connected to our community and had significant responsibilities in our church. As we processed it with our family and church family, we asked ourselves, is God, our Good Shepherd, leading us here now?”
A couple of months earlier, Martha and her grandson had toured Sycamore Springs and the specific homestyle that
was available. The couple who had opened their home for the tour had an office in the den and Martha realized the floor plan could work for their needs.
They stepped out in faith believing it was a gift from God and accepted the home; they moved into Sycamore Springs in October 2023. Mike says, “Our pastor explained to us that many people take a year to transition from one community to another. So, we intentionally began a year of transition where we are stepping out of our roles at church and are stepping into our new community at Garden Spot Village.”
Part of Mike’s transition to New Holland has been a shift in his work. He now works four days a week from his office in their home at Sycamore Springs; on the fifth day he is in the office at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory. As a project manager, he coordinates teams working on innovations that transform lives. While their innovations have a wide variety of applications, his team has worked specifically on technology to improve prosthetics for upper-body extremities. He’s had a very successful career, also working for Smiths Aerospace and GE Aviation.
Martha accompanies Mike to Maryland on Thursdays; she spends the day leading a women’s Bible study and connecting with friends.
In the late 1990s Mike and Martha were feeling restless and felt a call to start a new business. Two of their three children have learning disabilities and they believed they could share what they had learned from that experience.
“I had a passion to help families whose children were falling through the cracks—those kids who had learning disabilities but were not severe enough to get the assistance they needed. The whole family is affected when a child struggles in school. We wanted to
start a family-oriented Christian school for students with learning challenges,” Martha explains.
The school their daughter attended went out of business and their pastor approached them with the opportunity. “We started a school for children with dyslexia,” Martha says. “But my heart was bigger than that. I wanted to minister to kids who struggled with ADHD, Aspergers, processing disorders, anxiety and autism.”
Over the next 22 years Martha served as principal of Cornerstone Academy in Mount Airy, Maryland. “It was such a blessing to see children who had previously been hiding under the bed, not wanting to go to school, thriving in our school,” Martha says.
“We have so many success stories of the children who attended Cornerstone. It was such a neat opportunity to bless people who found themselves in crisis,” she continues.
Mike adds, “Plus we gained a lot of
experience as to what’s required in order to run a small business.”
“We had to lay off good employees when we needed to make budget cuts. That was hard,” Martha remembers.
When COVID closed schools across the nation, Martha and her fellow teachers and administrators taught themselves how to use Google Classroom to teach children from home. She explains, “I wrote my reopening plan in the summer of 2020. The Maryland Department of Education was very supportive of helping private schools reopen.”
“Howard County approved her plan,” Mike adds with a smile.
“It was hard, but we saw God’s providence in various ways. God is so good,” Martha says.
“We are excited about the future,” Mike says.
“I believe God brought us to Garden Spot to restore our souls,” Martha says. Psalm 23:2-3 appears on wall art by their front door as a reminder: “He leads me beside still waters; He restoreth my soul.”
Mike and Martha are looking forward to their time of spiritual refreshment and new ways to serve at Garden Spot. Mike has connected with Men’s Christian Fellowship and Martha enjoys taking Wellness classes such as cardio drumming and cooking with her International Dinner Club friends.
“Our neighbors have been great and very welcoming,” Martha says. During the warmer fall days the neighbors connected outside, as various people were planting bulbs and preparing for the winter.
“Martha planted 120 bulbs around our house,” Mike says.
Martha adds, “We are looking forward to spring.”
The Garden Spot Village Art Guild includes more than 100 artists, art patrons and art enthusiasts of all kinds. Just recently, the Art Guild initiated the integration of Garden Spot Village team members into the group. The micro-community’s board acknowledges the influx of younger staff and wants to give them the opportunity to bond with residents in a fun and creative manner. The Guild has been around for approximately 20 years, and this is the first time they are expanding their horizons beyond residents and local artists.
Current resident and Art Guild Vice Chair Lou Ann Miller says, “The goal is building communities, not just with residents but with team members too.”
Focusing on the value of community and relationships, the Guild seeks to provide opportunities outside Garden Spot Village. Previous field trips have included Lancaster City’s First Friday tours of local art galleries and the Kuerner Farm in Chadds Ford, where Andrew Wyeth was born.
The group is involved in many aspects of the community— coordinating the Main Street Gallery for 10 out of the 12 months of the year, hosting art lectures with internal and
external educators, and participating in the “Inspire Your Heart with Art” event in January by making cards for firefighters, police officers, librarians, and CrossNet Ministries.
“The Art Guild is all about getting to meet people, hear their stories and inspire their artwork,” says Elizabeth Givens, resident and guild chair.
Lou Ann and Liz heavily encourage Guild members to get involved, no matter what experience they have with art. “People who are inexperienced take classes,” Liz remarks. Anything from sketching to watercolor lessons are available, and there is an open art space in the lower level of Garden Spot Village’s main building.
Lou Ann says, “We really want to expand the opportunities and experiences with the Art Guild for the greater community.”
Above left: Phyllis Reinsfelder, Garden Spot Village resident since July 2022, paints in the art studio.
Above: Lynn Kokotiuk, Garden Spot Village resident since November 2014, chats with Phyllis.
Opposite: Bonnie Lord, Garden Spot Village resident since December 2008 and a stained glass artist, adds finishing touches to her art.
Liz adds, “We want to give people ways to express joy with the art in their lives.”
Meaningful projects are a staple of the Art Guild. A highlight that many visitors, residents, and staff enjoy is the display case in the Apartment Suites Lobby. To the Art Guild members, it is less a display and more a service. Each month a resident’s collection is highlighted in the case. The collections are often sentimental, holding personal memories.
“It becomes extremely meaningful to the person who is displaying,” Lou Ann states. “It is a resident’s source of joy.”
In 2024, the Guild expanded that opportunity to Garden Spot team members. Due to its wonderful popularity, a place in the display case must be booked a year in advance. People are drawn to the activity because it helps them feel represented and connects them to the surrounding community.
The Art Guild has already accomplished so much, but Liz and Lou Ann have a strong vision for the future. As the number of members increases, they look forward to expanding the opportunities they provide to the community.
The Art Guild’s impressive networking is connecting them to local artists whose
work can be displayed in the Main Street Gallery. Photography is an area of art that leadership of the Art Guild is determined to explore. They are reaching out to community photographers who might be interested in becoming members or showcasing their work.
The Art Guild is a micro-community that has recently gone macro. Big things are in store for this determined group of individuals as they extend their welcoming hands to the people of the community.
A final message from Liz and Lou Ann: “We are not stagnant. We are all looking for more exciting ideas.”
“Ican’t believe I’ve only been here a year,” says Christie Kennedy, nursing home administrator at Maple Farm, with a smile. “I feel at home at Maple Farm.”
Christie’s deep connection to serving Maple Farm’s residents reflects a career of serving older adults. With a master’s degree in social work, she finds deep satisfaction in engaging with the people who live and work at Maple Farm.
Christie has managed skilled nursing communities in Lancaster and Berks counties, many of them large and either for-profit or state managed. She longed to implement the person-centered care she believed was best for the people she served. She did it in small ways, where she could. Often the other communities had barriers she couldn’t remove. For example, limited budgets and staffing, as well as physical layouts prevented the implementation of person-centered care.
Christie met Carrie Kneisley, Garden Spot’s director of healthcare admissions, while they were both working on their master’s degrees at Temple University. When the nursing home administrator position at Maple Farm became available in early 2023, Christie reached out to Carrie to learn more. Carrie encouraged her former classmate to apply.
“Maple Farm is more in line with my philosophy of care,” Christie says. “I do my best to be present with the people who live at Maple Farm as well as with their families and the staff here. Because it’s a small community, with just 46 residents, I’m able to touch each of their lives. Maple Farm really feels like home; the staff truly puts the resident first.”
She continues, “I loved all of the jobs I’ve held in various communities where I’ve served. Every community was different. Each challenge I faced taught me to be a better person and how to find the positive in every situation.”
“I wish everyone in long-term care had the opportunity to live the way that residents at Maple Farm do. Living in a community that offers person-centered care is the best way to live. I wish there was something I could do to help residents at other communities experience what we have here.”
Christie does have the opportunity to influence the mindsets of other nursing home administrators. She teaches continuing education classes at Harrisburg Area Community College for future nursing home, personal care home and assisted living administrators. She provides leadership to classes each spring and fall, making a difference where she can.
In addition to her passion for people living in long-term care, Christie loves to travel. Her brother, sister-in-law and two nieces live in Stockport, just outside of Manchester in England. She visits them twice a year. While she is there, she enjoys trips to Ireland, Spain and other surrounding countries. Her extended family is also very important. An annual trek to Stone Harbor, New Jersey, with many family members—aunts, uncles, cousins, parents—is always a priority.
She’s also an integral part of Aspril Plumbing. She helps keep the books for her family’s small business and can solder, swap out a heat pump and fix a toilet as well as her dad and brother.
“
Volunteering not only gives you purpose—it also helps, in a small way, to brighten someone else’s day.” – Rita McEldorney
Rita McEldorney has a long history of volunteering and she has impressed the value of volunteering on her children and grandchildren. “I want to teach my grandkids to be kind, compassionate people,” she says.
She and her husband, Dave, joined the Radar Screen by placing a down payment on the home of their choice at Garden Spot Village.
Rita and Dave live in New Holland and often walk or bike around Garden Spot. “I knew about the Weekly Weeders volunteer opportunity and on one of our walks I spotted some weeds that needed to be pulled. I said to Dave, ‘They need me!’” Rita says with a laugh.
Rita also volunteers in Mountain View Personal Care. She helps with life enrichment events and assists residents who attend fitness classes at Garden Spot’s Wellness Center. “I would encourage anyone—resident or future resident—to volunteer. I get more than I give and it brings such a lightness to my heart,” Rita says.
Rita and Dave’s two daughters live locally, so their home is a hub of activity with their children and grandchildren. Rita often chauffeurs the grandchildren to their after-school events. “I love to help with the grandkids; our family is my priority.”
Opposite: Future resident and volunteer Rita McEldorney pulls weeds. Below: Rita and her daughter walk in the Legacy Garden.
At least once a week, Rita and her daughter enjoy walking the paths at Garden Spot Village. “It’s been helpful to walk through the campus,” Rita says. “My daughter’s comfort with our decision to move to Garden Spot has improved as we’ve walked through the community.”
She started volunteering two to three hours a week in August, rotating through areas in the community where weeds were cropping up. She enjoys caring for outdoor spaces; their move to New Holland means she has fewer outside areas to care for, freeing her to volunteer at Garden Spot Village and elsewhere.
“Garden Spot Village has such a beautiful campus—weeding is such a tiny thing. It fits me because I like to be outside,” Rita explains. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know the residents better as well. I’ve been asking their opinions about their experience at Garden Spot. Everyone is so kind.”
Rita and Dave look forward to their upcoming move. Rita says, “Moving to Garden Spot Village will be a whole new chapter in our lives—our chapter.”
nIthe spring of 2018, the first set of residents moved into Thistledown Cooperative Living House. It was an exciting time as the project, which had first been shared with the public in spring 2015, was finally completed.
The vision for the home—which was built with donations of cash, materials and labor—was to provide quality, low-rent housing for people 62 and older with the opportunity to live with purpose in community.
For Steve Lindsey, chief executive officer of Garden Spot Communities, the opportunity to live in community was the most important factor. “Thistledown replaces isolation with community. Isolation has psychological impacts; our social and physical health deteriorates when we live in isolation. Living in community—with a small group of other people you come to know, care about, and learn to live with—helps to mitigate all of those challenges that people face as they age,” Steve says.
This social piece has been paramount. Esther Courtney, who moved into Thistledown in 2018 says, “I came to Thistledown because I knew I was done being alone.” In moving, she found a set of women who have become like sisters, who live together and share life with her.
Ever since 2018, Garden Spot staff and residents have been talking about the next cooperative living home.
After living in the home for about eighteen months, the current residents of Thistledown provided feedback on the home’s layout, functionality and more. Their input was shared with a team of interior design students from Kansas State University’s Center on Aging in early 2020. The students’ research and ensuing
white paper helped form the architect’s blueprints for the next home.
Lancaster County’s ExtraGive in November 2023 offered Garden Spot Village residents and community partners the opportunity to join in fundraising for the next cooperative living home. Grants from local foundations provided additional support. The new home will offer a floor plan very similar to that of the first house; it will provide five private bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms as well as comfortable common areas where residents can build community and host guests.
Wendy Nagle, chief mission advancement officer for Garden Spot Communities, says, “The overall cost for the second house will exceed $600,000. We have now raised $200,000 to get the project started. We used a volunteer model to build the first home and we hope to do that again. We invite people to donate their time and their resources to help make this project a success.”
Once again, the Garden Spot Village Wood Shop plans to be very involved in building the home. Last time, they provided more than 600 volunteer hours.
“The biggest challenge the first time was coordinating community volunteers beyond the Wood Shop,” Wendy says. “Our goal is to create partnerships with other nonprofit organizations that want to organize volunteers to help make the project sustainable as well as affordable for the residents who will live there.”
Wendy says, “Everyone deserves a safe, affordable home in a supportive community. We invite our community to join us in making a difference in New Holland.”
Learn more:
gardenspotvillage.org/charitable-giving
Original illustration by Haley Delgiacco
MIM SAUNDERS, A GARDEN SPOT VILLAGE RESIDENT SINCE FEBRUARY 2006, PARTICIPATED IN THE 2023 WISDOM COURSE. SHE SHARES THE WISDOM SHE GLEANED WHILE REFLECTING ON HER LIFE STORY.
1 WORRY IS A RED LIGHT THAT I’M NOT TRUSTING GOD. Often it causes me to surrender my inadequacies and prayerfully seek God’s help and guidance.
2 THE WORLD NEEDS ENCOURAGEMENT.
If I feel a gentle nudge to affirm or encourage someone, it’s important to act on it.
3 LOVE HELPS HEAL WOUNDS.
Forty years ago we met a refugee family from East Africa. Our journey of learning and growing together has been a blessing and healing for all of us.
4 BE RECEPTIVE TO ADVICE AND ACCEPT WISE COUNSEL.
The summer before I went to college, my dad sat me down and asked me about my life goals and interests. After listening, he encouraged me to pursue a major in music. He said it’s easy to bounce out of music if you decide you don’t like it, but it’s hard to bounce in. So start with music and see what happens. I chose music and it has brought me so much joy.
5 DON’T CARRY EXTRA BAGGAGE. I don’t want to carry a backpack of rocks, which is what unforgiveness can feel like. Instead, I choose the path of forgiveness.
6 OFTEN INTERRUPTIONS END IN BLESSINGS.
When my husband, Art, was recalled to the military shortly after we were married, I was not happy with the interruption to our lives. Today, though, I’m thankful for that interruption because of the help we receive from Veterans Affairs.
7 WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES, WAIT EXPECTANTLY FOR A NEW ONE TO OPEN.
When we moved to Garden Spot Village, I gave up teaching piano lessons. It was hard to let go. After arriving, I joined the bell choir and God opened a new door: taking harp lessons!
To
SETTING A
FEATURING DIPS AND SPREADS TO DELIGHT YOUR GUESTS
Freshly-made apple butter enhances crusty French bread. Recipe on page 44.
Orange Apple
A delightful accent to your favorite soft cheese.
Recipe on page 44.
Recipe on page 45.
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We offer Preventive Care, Digital X-Rays, Crowns, Bridges, Veneers, Invisalign, Tooth Colored Composite Restorations, Metal-Free Dentures + Partial Dentures, Mercury-Free Dentistry, Implant Dentistry, Extractions, and much more.
nIthe spring of 2021, Jim and Deb Radwanski purchased a restaurant located along Pennsylvania Route 625 just northeast of Knauers in southwestern Berks County. The property held sentimental value for Jim; he remembered stopping there as a child to eat with his parents. Later, he met Deb for a blind date at the same location. It was a labor of love as the couple took a year to renovate and upgrade the space.
They dubbed their new restaurant Doc & Bubba’s. Doc is for Deb, who has a Ph.D. in health administration and medical imaging and Bubba is a long-time family nickname for their son, J.P. They opened in May 2022.
Doc & Bubba’s quickly became a hotspot for locals.
The restaurant’s quality food, live music and family-friendly atmosphere helped to establish it quickly as a favorite weekend restaurant. Everyone I’ve talked with—representing all ages—has found an option on the menu that they’ve liked.
Because parking is limited, Deb and Jim secured additional parking at a secondary location and use a Mercedes Sprinter Limo to transport diners to the restaurant. The ride is half the fun!
When you arrive, you can choose an open seat at one of two bars or wait in the foyer for a table. During the spring, summer and fall you can choose a table in the covered outside dining area, which includes incredible south-facing views of rolling woodland.
I’ve visited several times and have enjoyed everything I’ve ordered—from ham and pineapple wood-fired pizza to Bubba’s wings and lobster mac and cheese made with fresh Maine lobster and three types of cheese. The portion sizes are generous and the prices are affordable. Our wood-fired pizza was completed to perfection and the honey sriracha, Korean BBQ and sweet Thai chili wings we ordered were quite delicious. I’ve also enjoyed the lobster bisque—again, made from fresh Maine lobster. It was fantastic!
For dessert we ordered the triple chocolate fudge cake served with fresh strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream. It was excellent.
The apricot mustard salmon, original Bubba burger (pictured) and pear Gorgonzola salad are on my list for future visits. The chef does an amazing job!
One of the times I visited, my friend and I enjoyed live music by Cliff Starkey’s
Uptown Band. The music was a wonderful touch—just loud enough to create ambiance without making it difficult to talk. One couple even got up and danced. Cliff is a regular performer at Doc & Bubba’s. You can visit the events page on their website to see who is performing each weekend.
Every time I’ve dined at Doc & Bubba’s I’ve been struck by the welcoming atmosphere. I never feel rushed. In fact, time stands still as I slow down and enjoy the experience. Jim and Deb have created a space where people feel welcome and enjoy good food, good conversation and a good time with their friends and family.
Read more: docbubbas.com
Fay Strickler, Garden Spot Village resident, has a master’s degree in Agriculture and Extension Education from Penn State. She also has extensive experience training restaurant staff on food safety and has served as a food judge at Pennsylvania fairs.
Explore more of Fay’s Restaurant Reviews: gsc.gl/restaurants
The secret to building a grazing table is taking your favorite sweet and savory treats and mixing and matching a table of meats and cheeses with fresh vegetables and fruit. An abundance of color and textures makes this a table where your guests will gather for flavor and conversation.
Our Grazing Table includes Italian meats, soft cheese, olives, fresh grapes, strawberries and berries, as well as fresh vegetables and herbs. Pickles, olives and our spreads and dips enhance the flavors. Crackers and crusty breads offer a foundation for the meats and cheese. Chef Michael Pezzillo adds unexpected color with fresh Belgian endive.
We offer recipes for Chef Michael’s homemade spreads and dips to lay the foundation for your next Grazing Table.
Yields three pints
5 pounds Granny Smith apples, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces
1½ cups white sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
⅛ teaspoon freshly-grated nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground allspice
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
1 splash water
1. Place apple pieces into a large slow cooker. Add white sugar, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and vinegar. Add a splash of water and mix well.
2. Cover and cook on high until apples start to soften and release liquid, about one to two hours. Reduce heat to low and cook, uncovered, until all the apple flesh is dissolved, about five to six hours. Stir occasionally.
3. Puree using an immersion blender until smooth. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until darkened and thick, about four hours more. Pass apple butter through a strainer if desired. Seal in a glass container and refrigerate until cool.
Yields 14 servings
2 navel oranges
2 12-ounce packages cranberries
2 apples, peeled, cored and chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 cups white sugar
1. Grate peel of orange; reserve. Peel oranges and discard white membranes. Separate oranges into sections and place half in a food processor or blender.
2. Add half of the cranberries, apples and celery. Process until coarsely chopped. Transfer to a bowl; repeat with remaining oranges, cranberries, apples and celery.
3. Stir in sugar and reserved orange peel. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Yields four pints
32-ounce package, frozen whole kernel corn
1½ cups vinegar
1 cup chopped bell peppers
1 cup chopped red tomatoes
½ cup chopped Vidalia onions
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon celery seed
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1. Combine all vegetables in a large pot. Add vinegar, sugar, salt, turmeric, celery seed and mustard. Heat to a boil, stirring often. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring every now and then to ensure even cooking.
2. Ladle hot mixture into hot, sterilized pint canning jars, leaving a ½-inch headspace. Wipe jar rims; adjust and secure lids.
3. Process filled jars in a boiling-water canner for 10 minutes. Remove jars from canner; cool on wire racks.
Yields five or six cups
6 cups quartered fresh figs
3 cups white sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
1. Bring figs, sugar, lemon juice, ginger, cinnamon, vanilla and salt to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat and cook at a low simmer, stirring every 20 minutes, until desired consistency, about three to four hours.
2. Pack fig preserves into hot, sterilized jars, filling to within ¼-inch of the top. Run a clean knife or thin spatula around the insides of the jars to remove any air bubbles. Wipe rims with a moist paper towel to remove any residue. Top with fresh lids and screw rings on tightly.
4. Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and carefully lower jars into the boiling water. Pour in more boiling water to cover jars by at least one inch. Bring to a rolling boil, cover and process for 10 minutes.
5. Remove the jars from the stockpot and let rest, several inches apart, for 12 to 24 hours. Press the center of each lid with a finger to ensure the lid does not move up or down. Remove the rings for storage and store in a cool, dark area.
LOOKING FORWARD WALT AND ZOE BILSKI FROM DEEP ROOTS TO NEW BEGINNINGS
e’ve been aware of Garden Spot Village for more than 25 years,” says Zoe Bilski. “When we started looking for a retirement community, we knew we wanted to stay in Eastern Lancaster County, but we also wanted to know that we had access to quality care if we needed it. We love the mission of Garden Spot and the active, productive lifestyle people experience here. It just made sense for us to move to Garden Spot Village.”
Zoe and her husband Walt live in East Earl, just 15 minutes from Garden Spot Village. They attend Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in New Holland and
have deep roots in the local community. Each Christmas they coordinate an Angel Tree at Our Lady of Lourdes. In 2023 they connected with Prison Fellowship, which allowed them to provide Christmas gifts for the children of men and women who are incarcerated.
“I was surprised at the needs right here in our community. It’s been a blessing for us to help local kids in need,” Zoe says.
“We do the coordinating at church, but it’s the parish family that makes it work by giving generously with joy,” Walt adds.
In addition to their involvement at their church, they have also volunteered with CrossNet Ministries, packing and delivering Meal Packs during the school year and delivering lunches through the summer lunch program. “Volunteers prepare and pack the lunches and then, as volunteers, we drive the lunches to Petra Church, Pine Grove Church and the skate park in Terre Hill,” Zoe explains. “It’s an easy way to make a difference.”
Walt worked for Lukens Steel in Coatesville. As an electrical engineer, he was responsible for the electrical control systems in the melt shop department.
Above and Opposite: Future Residents Walt and Zoe Bilski regularly visit Garden Spot Village to exercise in the Wellness Center. Walt uses the machines in the weight and cardio rooms while Zoe enjoys taking classes.
Note: Walt and Zoe shared the Scavenger Hunt they created for their grandchildren; we have posted it as part of a blog at gardenspotvillage. org/blog
Zoe worked most recently as an operating room nurse at a small surgery center in Chester County that specializes in eye surgery. “It was a good place to work,” Zoe says.
“Garden Spot, for us, is a safety net,” says Walt. “Several years ago I was dealing with some health issues and I started to think, can I care for this house? Do I want to maintain it?”
Walt’s health issues were a wake-up call and he retired early. Because both of their daughters live several hours away, Walt and Zoe don’t want to burden them with their potential future care. They chose their future home at Garden Spot Village and placed a 10 percent down payment, which put them on the Radar Screen in 2020. They hope to move to Garden Spot in 2024.
Zoe says, “We can’t wait to move and become more involved—a more integral part of the community. Our involvement
to date will hopefully make that transition easy and seamless.”
When Zoe and Walt’s grandchildren come to New Holland, they always plan a visit to Garden Spot Village. “In the summer of 2022 both our grandson and granddaughter visited. We walk through the campus a lot so we decided to take our usual walk and make note of things that might be interesting to include on a scavenger hunt,” Zoe explains.
“The kids had a blast and it was neat to see them working together to find the things we listed. Each item had points and they earned a prize in the end. They far exceeded the points goal, but didn’t stop looking because they were having so much fun,” Walt says.
“It’s great that Garden Spot Village is a place you can bring your grandkids to have fun,” he reflects.
The couple visits several times a week, using the Wellness Center and volunteering. Walt drives the small Garden Spot Village bus to Yoder’s Country Market once a month. He also drives the shuttle to the summer concerts at New Holland Memorial Park. In addition, the couple volunteered at the golf tournament in June 2023. “It was so much fun,” Zoe says.
“It’s nice,” she adds, “that we have all of these connections with our future neighbors already.”
People tend to downsize when they are expecting a big life change, whether that is moving into a smaller living space or transitioning into a retirement community. The task is tedious, so here is a list of tips to help you with the process:
• DECIDE WHAT NEEDS TO GO. Minimizing the items in your life is a difficult task. Starting with a list of items to discard can help. The rule of thumb is, if it is not essential, toss it. Keeping sentimental gifts and objects is not a crime, but once the pile becomes overwhelming, it’s a sign that it’s time to condense the collection.
• CREATE A TIMELINE. Downsizing is a process that can take several months or even a year. It requires the complete evaluation of every inch of your home—from the simplest pieces of furniture to the clothes in your closet. Thus, an early head start could greatly benefit you. After listing the nonessential items in your home, create a schedule and set a goal for when you want to complete your downsizing. Consider setting aside a day or two to reminisce on memorabilia and the house itself; research places to get rid of items; and reach out to friends and family to help with moving out.
• COMPARE AND CONTRAST YOUR NEW AND OLD SPACES. Make sure that the items you do keep will fit into your new home. To ensure this, measure your new space as well as the old. This includes wall space, doorways, square footage, and furniture. Comparing and contrasting your old and new homes will give you a better idea of what you can keep.
• DECIDE WHERE TO SEND YOUR STUFF. Once you have piles of “keep” and “discard” items, it is time to decide where the “discard” items will go. There are plenty of opportunities to sell, donate or give away your items. Consider local thrift stores connected to charity organizations, because they always welcome new donations or contact Garden Spot Village! Share & Care accepts donations of lightly used household items and furniture while micro-communities like the Wood Shop and the Art Guild accept donations of wood and art supplies, respectively.
• FINALIZE FUTURE PLANS. Before downsizing, have a concrete plan in place. However, revisit your plans after completing the downsizing process. You do a disservice to yourself if you don’t pause for a moment and think about how you feel about the situation. Are you content with the progress you have made? Are you ready for the transition that is about to occur? Do you need more time? Being sure of your future is something each of us needs, especially when expecting big changes.
In2017, U.S. News & World Report introduced its Best Places to Retire list. Lancaster landed in the #2 spot. Since then, Lancaster has consistently ranked among the top five Best Places to Retire. In 2024, it ranks #3, behind Harrisburg and Reading.
This increased interest around retiring in Pennsylvania is the result of a mix of factors including cost of living, quality healthcare and the beauty of the rural landscape. Access to a small city, as well as proximity to New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., also makes Lancaster a great place to live. Most important for retirees, Pennsylvania offers retireefriendly tax laws; Pennsylvania does not tax social security income or withdrawals from retirement accounts.
The retirement ranking, coupled with U.S. News & World Report listing Lancaster as the #3 best place to live in Pennsylvania, makes the real estate market tight in Lancaster and the surrounding counties.
“At the end of 2023, there were just 300 homes listed on the re-sale real estate market,” says Carol Lehman, a Realtor with Hostetter Realty. “The low inventory means that it remains a sellers’ market—and will remain that way for the foreseeable future.”
With the U.S. Federal Reserve poised to drop interest rates in 2024, the real estate market will only become more competitive. “This is good news for sellers—especially those who are moving to a retirement community like Garden Spot Village,” Carol explains. “You benefit from the strong market without needing to worry about buying another home.”
Carol also points to the increase in mortgage applications at the end of 2023 as a sign that the real estate market will continue to be strong.
“If you are anticipating a move in the next two years, it’s crucial that you seek a professional’s advice. I’m currently meeting with people who are two to three years away from moving to Garden Spot. We can help with a market analysis, explain ways to prepare your property and tell you what the market might look like when you are ready to sell. This preparation will make the listing and selling process much smoother,” Carol says.
“There is no cost for a consultation,” Carol notes. “A Realtor isn’t paid until you sell your house. We want to help you have the best experience possible.”
She adds, “If you don’t live in Lancaster County, we can also help you find a Realtor you can trust in your community. It’s so important to work with an experienced Realtor who can help you navigate what could be a stressful transition.”
Learn more: hostetterrealty.com
“I DON’T ENJOY TALKING IN FRONT OF OTHERS, SO I LET THE PIANO TALK.” SAYS MARIAN SAUTTER, PERSONAL CARE RESIDENT AT GARDEN SPOT VILLAGE.By Mallory Lettorale
MARIAN SAUTTER’S STORY IS A TESTAMENT TO GARDEN SPOT’S PEOPLE-POSITIVE, PERSON-CENTERED FOCUS ON RESIDENT CARE THAT PROVIDES ABUNDANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE WITH PURPOSE IN COMMUNITY. AS HER FINGERS TICKLE THE IVORIES, THEY TELL THE STORIES OF HER PAST AND HER PRESENT.
Marian moved to Garden Spot Village in 2003. After 20 years in a cottage, she opted to move to Mountain View in September 2023. As she was considering which furniture she wanted to move to her new home, she was very grateful that she could take her piano. Marian says, “I am so thankful to have my piano; my music and my piano are so meaningful to me. They’ve been my life.”
Music has played a huge role throughout Marian’s life. She attended Westminster Choir College where she majored in voice performance and minored in organ study. After college, she became a music therapist at a private hospital in Towson, Maryland, and then at Norwich State Hospital in Connecticut.
Music therapy was still a relatively new discipline in the 1950s. It was challenging work so she decided to switch careers and moved to Wilmington, Delaware, where she found a job as organist for a Presbyterian church. She met Carl Sautter and they married in 1953. Shortly after their wedding, she says, “I told Carl I needed a piano.” They purchased a Mason & Hamlin spinet piano and Marian has
played it ever since. When the couple moved to Garden Spot Village they brought the piano with them. Carl passed away in November 2014.
Marian started composing her own music in 2020 as a way to stay engaged in purposeful activity. Her collection of songs now totals more than 130. She explains that she has a different style than traditional composers. She writes to express a feeling. Her music reflects life, which can be fun but also complicated at times.
When it comes to the process of starting a new song, she never knows where an idea or melody will take her. She starts by playing little phrases and fiddling around on the keys until she finds a sound she likes, which can take a while.
Sometimes it takes her even longer to think of a title, which typically has a story behind it. For example: “Karen’s Dance” was named after her daughter, who started dancing as Marian played the song for her. Other titles include, “He Walks and Talks with Me,” “Isn’t He Cute?” “Oh Good! We are Going to Myrtle Beach,” and “When I was Sweet Sixteen.” Marian is grateful to have a son and daughter who help her in any way they can and support her musical talent.
Although the piano makes the living quarters in her personal care apartment a little tight, she’s thankful to have her piano. “I think the Lord has something more for me to do. I’ve been able to write this music, even though it’s a little different,” she says.
Andy Brightman always responds with a smile.
Andy is a walking testimony to Garden Spot’s people-positive, employee-centric team member value proposition: We are a community committed to knowing you and helping you fulfill your dreams and live the life you imagine.
Andy started his career at Garden Spot Village in November 2015, while still in high school, as a server and dietary aide in Central Kitchen. Garden Spot was familiar to him because he lives locally and his dad, Stan, serves as director of facility services at Maple Farm.
After a couple of years in Central Kitchen, Andy added shifts in maintenance, working full-time-plus between the two departments. He eventually settled into a full-time role in general maintenance. In 2020, when the temporary security tent was positioned along Linden, Andy often worked the overnight shift— 11pm to 6am—relieving evening staff volunteers who needed to be back in their offices by 8am. He recently began as the appliance specialist, which has
challenged him to increase his knowledge of and expertise in home appliances.
Andy is currently working toward certification as a Master Samurai Technician. His online classes detail how to troubleshoot issues, repair and replace broken parts and fix a variety of makes and models of home appliances. Garden Spot is paying for his certification, which will allow him to better serve residents and minimize emergency calls to outside technicians. He also shadows the appliance technician from J.B. Zimmerman who works at Garden Spot on Thursdays.
As an appliance specialist, Andy reviews new appliances with new residents, demonstrating how the appliances operate and explaining special features. Plus, when an appliance isn’t working properly, he’s the one to call, to diagnose and, most times, repair the appliance.
“I get a lot of calls saying, ‘My washing machine won’t spin,’ ‘I don’t know how to use the dishwasher’ or ‘My refrigerator is frosted up.’”
Andy’s visits with residents are mostly business, but they are often engaged in the process, he says. “Residents are often with me, watching as I
work. I always learn something new—many times they are teaching me. Many of them have been repairing their own appliances for 40 or 50 years. Their knowledge is helpful.”
His biggest challenge to date was a pump that went out on a washing machine. “It flooded the apartment, so we started with cleanup, but I also put in a new pump, including a new hose and wiring harness,” Andy recounts.
Andy says, “Regardless of the shift I work or the reason I’m called, my day is always fun. I get to meet a lot of people and help them with their appliances or other maintenance needs. I love the sense of accomplishment and knowing that I did the job right and the resident can move on with his or her day. When
I get a smile in return, I know I did the job right.”
In addition to the daily connections with residents, Andy also enjoys his coworkers. Members of the facility services team function as friends and family. They regularly get together after hours, going to dinner at Texas Roadhouse or bowling. Andy enjoys the camaraderie with the others on his team. Being known and accepted for who he is, as well as having opportunities to grow and expand his expertise, makes all the difference.
She mails 15 to 20 greeting cards weekly to friends and family—always including a personal note—just to let them know she’s thinking about them. In addition, she sends 40 to 50 birthday cards each month to her neighbors at Garden Spot Village. Plus, she has a list of 50 people who get Christmas cards.
“My aunt always sent cards, so I followed her example. Just knowing how much people appreciate getting a card has inspired me to continue,” Marsha says.
Her desire to spread joy doesn’t stop with her neighbors. “I try to get to know as many Garden Spot team members as I can—their first names at least. I’m not always successful, but I try,” she says.
Regardless, the team members know Marsha. Her genuine smile, her love for Coca-Cola and her delicious banana bread have made her famous.
Marsha volunteers regularly at Linden, Garden Spot’s gift and essentials shop. She collects the overripe, unsold bananas and throws them into her freezer. “When I have enough bananas, I make bread,” she explains.
“My friend who lives in South Carolina gave me a banana bread recipe years ago,” she continues. “It always turns out perfectly. I cut the bread into 16 or 17 slices, wrap them up, add pretty napkins and walk down the hall. As I greet team members, I pass them out. Sometimes I run into the maintenance guys or I head to Marketing or Information Technology. I try to go to different departments so everyone gets some.”
“I haven’t cooked since I moved to Garden Spot Village, but I do like to bake. This is a fun reason to bake!” she says with a smile.
Marsha spreads joy far beyond her community at Garden Spot. She stays connected to colleagues that she met around the world during her 51 years working at Graco Children’s Products in Elverson, Pennsylvania. She’s also deeply connected to her church family at High Point Baptist Chapel through small group, Sunday school and church camp ministries. Young people from her church often join her for dinner throughout the week.
She currently sponsors a young woman’s schooling through 58ten, a child sponsorship ministry in Kenya that was started by three men who attend her church. She connects with the young woman, Cynthia Rose, through cards and letters; once a year she stuffs an envelope with hygiene items and gifts. In 2017, she visited her in person. The visit solidified their international connection.
Marsha has always shared her passion for spreading joy with others. “When I used to watch my friends’ children, I would take them to Walmart or the grocery store. I would instruct them to find someone who isn’t smiling and then challenge them to look at them, smile and say hello and watch their face change.” Marsha adds, “As adults, they still talk about that.”
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BEAUTY AFTER DESTRUCTION: A JOURNEY OF ENLIGHTENMENT
Written by Amelia Madrigal
This past fall, Curt and Paula Cole, Garden Spot Village residents since January 2019, embarked on an enlightening adventure through a Mission: Imperative! tour. Their journey began in March 2022 as they attended creation and evolution seminars at Christian Fellowship Church in New Holland taught by Mike Snavely, a local creation scientist. During the six-hour seminar Mike presented the biblical accounts of Creation, explaining how what we see now in our world is in perfect agreement with what is written in the Word.
The Coles were fascinated with Mike’s lectures and were especially interested when Mike announced he was offering a Southwest Safari. The 10-day excursion into the Colorado Plateau provided a backdrop where Mike could tell the story of the formation of the Grand Canyon and other amazing landscapes as it applies to the aftermath of the Flood in Genesis.
Thirty-six people, most from Christian Fellowship Church in New Holland, signed up for the tour, which took them to Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, ending at the Grand Canyon. The Coles strongly recommend the trip to others. Curt says, “The tour was very well-organized. The driver/owner for Master’s Touch, the bus company that drove us on our 1700-mile tour, grew up in the area, knew the Native American culture and shared it with us as we drove along. He knew all the scenic back roads, best restaurants, best bathroom stops, best trading posts, and even where to buy real turquoise.”
Curt and Paula were amazed at the beautiful yellow Aspen trees and yellow Cottonwoods. “It was completely different from the traditional red and brown fall colors we’re used to here,” Paula notes.
They also remarked that the sky in the Southwest is clearer than it is in Pennsylvania, due to the lower humidity and rural environment with less pollution. In Antelope Canyon, the group had a Navajo guide who played his flute and told stories of his Native people, adding a rich cultural addition to the trip.
Paula says, “The unusual-looking arches were fabulous to see, realizing just how they were formed.”
Curt added, “It’s beauty out of destruction.”
Paula agrees and adds, “It’s amazing to stand under the arches and look up and see the sky through them and just understand that this all happened
because there was a giant flood and it pulled away everything soft. It’s as the sculptor says: If you want to carve a statue of a person, take away everything that doesn’t look like a person. That’s kind of what God did. He just pulled it all away and left these delicate-looking arches. They were amazing.”
Aside from the incredible beauty, the most impactful part of the trip, Curt and Paula agree, was the people they met. “Now we have new forever friends,” Paula remarks. We didn’t know most of the folks who went on the trip and only met them for the first time at the Las Vegas airport at the start of the trip; but through hiking together, many shared meals, and the hours on the bus, we created a whole set of new friends.”
Paula explains, “We were all Christians, so after we got on the bus every day, we started our day with a devotion with Scripture and prayer. It’s the best way to start the day. And then we went off on these adventures and got to know the people—that’s the lasting memory.”
During the tour, Snavely described the physical makeup of the rocks as evidence of the Flood described in
Genesis. For example, there are balls of lava on the top of the canyons and mountains that are formed only under water. Additionally, the direction of the sedimentary layers, he would point out, indicated that the water had burst up from under the ground and it was not just days and days of rain that caused the Flood. As Snavely explained, this is exactly how the Flood was described in the Bible.
Paula’s biggest piece of advice for a walking tour like this is, “Always make sure you have the right shoes for hiking! Also, when reaching high altitudes, make sure you’re hydrated and take the time to catch your breath.”
Next on the calendar for Mission: Imperative! is a safari tour in South Africa, where Snavely grew up and, as a young adult, served as a park ranger at Kruger National Park. Although the Coles will not be joining this trip, they recommend this trip to anyone who is interested in viewing South Africa from a biblical perspective. Curt says, “Mike shares everything through a biblical lens and really makes it come to life.”
Learn more: missionimperative.org
Larry Gouge (aka the Energizer Bunny) is always on the move. For 34 years he worked for A. Duie Pyle, first as a truck driver and then in operations, opening new terminals and training new hires.
“My career success was a case of being in the right place at the right time and not being afraid to say yes when opportunities were presented to me,” Larry says. “I was blessed to have a boss who was a mentor.”
When Larry started as the night shift supervisor in 1985, A. Duie Pyle was poised for expansion. Because they are a familyowned, non-unionized less-than-truckload (LTL) shipper, they are more nimble and customer-centric. When Larry retired in 2013, the company operated 16 terminals in the Northeast and was still growing. Today they have 28 terminals and are a leader in LTL shipping in the Northeast.
In 2013, Larry was ready for a shift in his work-life balance. He had spent 34 years in the trucking industry. His workdays had a start time but no specified finish time. After one-too-many 14-hour days, he recognized he needed to shift his focus more toward his family. He took a job as a bread route driver for BB’s Grocery Outlet and got home much earlier each day. When his wife was diagnosed with cancer, he was already prepared to step out of his career to care for her. Unfortunately, she passed away after a courageous 41-day battle with brain cancer.
In August 2015 Larry met Spring Seldomridge, who had also been recently widowed. After a whirlwind courtship, they were married just two months later and started a new life together.
“We fit each other perfectly,” Larry says.
In July 2023, Larry and Spring moved to Garden Spot Village. Spring had just turned 54, but they were ready for a new lifestyle in a new community. It was a “very hectic time”—selling their home, taking a planned vacation to Alaska and moving to Garden Spot, all within several weeks.
Larry and Spring were one of Daryl Groff’s first new-resident visits. Daryl started as Sherpa for Garden Spot in July 2023, with the goal of helping residents find ways to live with purpose in their new community. As the three were visiting, Daryl mentioned that residents can now work at Garden Spot if they’d like, and Garden Spot was looking for commercial drivers to drive the Garden Spot Village bus.
It was a perfect fit. “When I worked at A. Duie Pyle I always said, ‘One day, I will be driving when the freight walks off itself.’ And now I am,” Larry says with a laugh.
He enjoys the trips he takes with his neighbors to local and regional events. “I am in my glory driving the Garden Spot Village bus,” he says.
As a flex employee, Larry chooses the hours he works. He also drives the Amish owner of Asphalt Repair and Paving, LLC. He started working for the company as a dump truck operator in 2016, then
scaled down into a minivan. There he also sets his own hours.
Larry encourages others to consider part-time work in retirement. “You can easily balance work and retirement living. Lots of companies are looking for the wisdom and experience retirees can offer and will offer flexible schedules to accommodate your needs.”
“Our faith drives us,” he says of his relationship with Spring. “We are thankful we could move to Garden Spot Village and live with purpose. As Christians we have a higher calling to serve those around us. It’s one of the reasons we volunteer with SOWER (Servants on Wheels, Ever Ready) Ministry. We enjoy the opportunity to mix work with play. We volunteer for three weeks and then enjoy a week of sightseeing. We’ve enjoyed time in Tennessee, Maine and Florida and look forward to returning soon.”
Larry also looks forward to serving as a volunteer and getting to know his community better. He walks five miles a day and is in and out of the main building throughout the day. “Everyone is so pleasant here,” he reflects. “I’m just really happy here. It was certainly the right move for us.”
“In2017, Pete and Shandy Shaub approached me and another business partner and asked if we wanted to buy A Life Transition Service because they were retiring,” Larry Hess says. “We saw the opportunity the business afforded and invested in it.”
Over the past six years, Larry, who has been a licensed Realtor since 1995, invested in growing the business. “Today we serve clients in Lebanon, Dauphin, York, Lancaster and Chester counties,” he says.
“Only a few businesses offer what we do,” Larry explains. “We offer a turnkey move management service. We will provide as much or as little help as our clients need. We can pack, unpack, stage your home and help you get ready for the move. We have moving partners who can physically move the items from Point A to Point B. We’ll also do room space preparation. If a client is downsizing to Garden Spot Village—for example, if they are moving from a 4,000 square foot home to a 1,200
Larry’s clients find the turnkey experience of A Life Transition Service helpful. “Our services complement each other. People don’t need multiple phone numbers and multiple contacts. We can take care of everything.” Because the turnkey services can include realty services, Larry’s clients don’t need to pay for the separate services through the process. “We don’t collect a fee until everything is settled; we don’t want our services to be a financial burden along the way,” Larry explains. “Instead, our services can be included in the settlement costs most of the time.”
“We have a deep relationship with our clients,” Larry adds. “In many cases, they have lived in their house a long, long time and they are entrusting us with their family-owned, personal property. When they sell their house and move to Garden Spot Village, it’s nice to know they are going to be taken care of—physically and financially. It feels so good to help people through this transition.”
square foot home—we can help them decide which furniture to take. If they choose, we can also help them sell their unneeded items through our auction house partners or our new retail store, 717 Vintage Shoppe. We also donate unsalable items to many of our community aid locations and take items that need to be discarded to waste management and recycle centers.”
“We also offer general contracting services. If you need repairs prior to listing your home, we get it ready for the market. If you don’t use the services before listing, our contractors can take care of issues that come up during the home inspection,” Larry says. “As licensed Realtors, we can either sell your property through a traditional real estate listing or auction or, we can purchase your home directly from you.”
A Life Transition Service recently expanded its offerings to include a retail storefront called 717 Vintage Shoppe, located at 2 South Union Street in Middletown. Larry says, “We’ve been increasingly aware that when we take a client’s items to auction, the client doesn’t always get top dollar. So, in November 2023 we opened our own storefront. We consign items that have retail value. It may take a little longer, but the clients typically get a better price for their items—and many times the retail price will be closer to the items’ full value.”
The store includes space for local artisans to display their art and other products. The result is an eclectic treasure trove of anything you can imagine, from antiques and collectibles to handcrafted soaps and other items, as well as fresh-baked bread and pastries. It’s a micro-marketplace in one building. Larry hopes to expand the offerings further in 2024. “We have space for up to 50 vendors and we look forward to growing the storefront.”
Explore the abundant opportunities you have to live with purpose in community at Garden Spot Village.
MORE:
WAYS TO LEARN
• Attend a Look & Learn: gsvlookandlearn.org
• Complete The Road to Garden Spot Village online at: gsc.gl/road-to-garden-spot-village
• Watch videos on our YouTube channel
• Like our Facebook page
• Follow us on Instagram
Bruce and Alice Bishop, Frederick Living residents since April 2018, walk near their home in The Meadows.
Bruce and Alice Bishop love the sense of community and purpose they experience at Frederick Living. Alice works part time as a Marketing Receptionist, welcoming guests; Bruce regularly works out in the Wellness Center. Both enjoy connecting with their neighbors and making new memories together.
The lock-and-leave lifestyle they’ve discovered at Frederick Living makes it easy to travel and they often find themselves on new adventures in places around the world. DISCOVER
Join STEVE LINDSEY, CEO of Garden Spot Communities, and DR. CONRAD KANAGY, sociology professor at Elizabethtown College, in Episode #24. Explore the profound insights from the Wisdom Course, a transformative journey conducted at Garden Spot Village and available soon at Frederick Living. Discover the richness of life experiences, uncover valuable lessons, and learn how sharing your journey can profoundly impact others.
LISTEN NOW AT: gardenspotcommunities.org/podcast or catch us on your preferred podcast platform
Raquel Versoza,
Garden Spot
Village
Future Resident
Steve Lindsey CEO, Garden Spot Communities
Dr. Conrad Kanagy Sociology Professor, Elizabethtown College
9
First Word Garden Spot Communities Chief Marketing Officer Scott Miller offers a warm welcome.
11 Meet Your Neighbor
Alan Kohr stumbled into whittling more than 50 years ago when he volunteered at the Goschenhoppen Folk Festival.
15 Staff Spotlight Frederick Living Residency Counselor Lisa McCartin connects future residents to their new homes at Frederick Living.
17
On the Road
Barry and Sigi Fretz love to travel. In 2023 they embarked on the journey of a lifetime: 180 days around the world.
21
A Heritage of Community and Opportunity
Frederick Living offers a heritage of nearly 130 years of service and opportunity in community. Voices from the past, present and future influence the work they do today.
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Welcome to Destination Garden Spot Communities. As of February 1, Frederick Living has joined the Garden Spot Communities family along with Garden Spot Village and Maple Farm. During the affiliation process it was recognized that Garden Spot Village, Maple Farm and Frederick Living have a common “soul.” We are working together, cross-pollinating ideas, to bring to you the best that each community has to offer.
This is the People Positive issue of Destination . That has a nice ring to it. It’s a rather catchy phrase, and although it’s short, it speaks volumes. You’ll discover the ways in which the people of Garden Spot Communities—both residents and team members—put other people first.
One of the wonderful things about being people positive is that it is inherent in the Garden Spot culture and speaks to the heart of service. The expression people positive emerged from who we already are as opposed to some desired future state.
Are we perfect? Of course not. Can we get better? Of course. However, as you will see, a people-positive mindset and spirit of service is clearly already alive and well in our communities.
Few people realize that American Psychologist Abraham Maslow amended the top of his hierarchy of needs late in life. Sitting above self-actualization, which is all about “me,” is transcendence, in which we come to realize that life’s not all about “me” after all. There is something more. Purpose, meaning and fulfillment inspire us to realize it’s about contributing to the lives of others, to our community and to the world around us.
Does that mean we neglect ourselves?
Not at all. Mixed in with the adventures, the travel and all the wonderful things people love to do is a people-positive mindset and a desire to serve that goes beyond simple self-actualization.
What transcendence really means is that the Garden Spot Communities— whether Frederick Living, Garden Spot Village or Maple Farm—are unique, welcoming and designed to create opportunities for you to live with purpose in community. As you read the pages that follow, we hope the journeys, stories and contributions made by the people of Frederick Living will inspire you. And when you are done, flip the magazine over to see how the people of Garden Spot Village are doing the same things in their own way.
SCOTT MILLER Brand Editor & Chief Marketing OfficerBRAND EDITOR & CMO
Scott Miller
EDITOR & STORYTELLER
Juanita Fox
VISUAL DIRECTOR & DESIGNER
Brandon Adams
PHOTOGRAPHY AND ILLUSTRATIONS
The Premise Studio: Jeremy Hess
GSC Creative Team: Brandon Adams, Sharon Sparkes, Haley Delgiacco
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ISSUE NO. 30
PUBLISHED BIANNUALLY
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE & WORK HERE
MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR ALAN KOHR
CREATING A FUTURE BY CARVING HISTORY
Alan Kohr stumbled into his art. Soon after moving to Frederick Township more than 50 years ago, Alan and his wife Nancy volunteered with the Goschenhoppen Folk Festival. The event is an annual celebration of the life, food and culture of 18th- and 19th-century German settlers, sponsored by Goschenhoppen Historians.
Alan arrived at the festival willing to do whatever the organizers needed.
When they asked, “Can you whittle?” he said, “I can try.”
That first year he whittled a stick, while sitting on a hay bale. The next year, he decided to try carving birds and farm animals. Guests of the festival were intrigued by his work and wondered if they could buy his carvings. The year after that he set up a table where he sold his Pennsylvania German-themed birds and animals. In 15 minutes, he sold his entire inventory, and he was hooked.
“Each year I added to my offerings and tried harder to carve more authentic Pennsylvania German-themed animals. I typically focus on farm animals, but I also carve birds, trees and other items,” Alan says. “Over the years we added additional shows with other historical societies. At one point, Nancy and I were selling my carvings at 12 shows a year.”
Keeping up with the product demand was challenging, but Alan loves to stay busy. On the weekends he would cut out the rough shapes with a bandsaw. On weeknights after work he would whittle while watching TV. “I’m self-taught and
evolved my business over time,” he says.
“We put three sons through college, and I retired from my day job as a senior research chemist at Dow Chemical at age 60. Carving has been good to me and I’ve had fun,” he reflects.
“I’ve been trying to retire from folk art, but people won’t let me,” he says with a grin.
Alan and Nancy moved into a home in The Meadows neighborhood at Frederick Living in December 2020. They immediately engaged in the community, finding ways to serve and connect with their neighbors. Nancy joined the choir and Alan was quickly appointed the chair of the Wood Shop Committee.
“We didn’t look anywhere else. We knew we wanted to move to Frederick Living,” Alan says. The couple already had multiple connections to the community. “Our three sons worked at Frederick Living and my mother-in-law was a resident. Plus, all of our neighbors worked at Frederick Living.”
Today Alan does most of his work in the Frederick Living Wood Shop. He does a rough cut with a bandsaw and preliminary shaping with a one-inch belt sander. The rest is done with a whittling knife and hand sanding. When the shape is complete, he paints the piece using acrylic paints in deep, saturated colors that reflect the traditional Pennsylvania-German folk art found in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Alan also makes and sells replica period furniture such as benches and chairs. He’s also working on a family genealogy book. He has traced his family history to the 1500s in Germany and details the family’s emigration to Lancaster in 1728 and their movement around southeastern and south-central Pennsylvania.
In addition he’s writing the history of Bethel Moravian Church. “My family was involved in a very small log church in Swatara Township called Bethel Moravian. The history I’ve found of the church is written in 400 to 500 pages of records in German script, so I taught myself how to read it,” Alan shares.
“My high school German wasn’t the greatest,” he says with a laugh.
No matter what art he’s exploring—whether whittling or writing—Alan finds abundant opportunities to live with purpose in community at Frederick Living.
When Lisa McCartin, residency counselor, was a psychology student at Bloomsburg University, she took a gerontology course that required a one-week community service experience. She spent a week at Chestnut Knoll, a personal care community in Boyertown, Pennsylvania.
“I had a great experience,” Lisa reflects. “There was one resident who made an impact on me. He was so kind and just needed someone to talk to. That was my first experience with a senior living community and it shaped my career. Later I completed an internship with an assisted living community, where I helped with activities. I loved building connections with residents.”
After graduating, Lisa worked for Berks County Children and Youth Services for a year, but she quickly found herself back in senior services, working for the Chester County Department of Aging. After her son and daughter were born, she continued to work part-time with the Department of Aging as a case manager and assessor. “I helped lower income, older adults stay in their homes. I connected them with resources that would allow them to remain independent.”
When her youngest child headed off to kindergarten, Lisa returned to work full time, this time as a residency counselor with Frederick Living.
It was a bit of a career shift for her. “I used to advocate for people to stay in their homes; now I recognize the value of living in community,” Lisa says. As a residency counselor, Lisa helps people move into independent living or directly into personal care or memory support.
Lisa helped her in-laws move to Frederick Living two years ago. They enjoyed their personal care apartment; her mother-in-law recently transitioned to memory support.
“It’s very reassuring to my husband and our extended family that we know the quality of care they are receiving. My mother-in-law has dementia, so we know she’s safe in Aspen Village. As they were making the decision about where to move, Frederick Living was our first choice. It turned out to be the best choice as well, because it allows them to be closer to extended family. I’m thankful they are part of this community,” Lisa says.
She encourages people to make a decision about a retirement community sooner rather than later. She says, “People often ask me, ‘How do I know I’m ready?’ I tell them, if they are looking they are ready. Too often, people don’t understand the wait time. It’s very beneficial to get on a waiting list now so that when they are emotionally ready, they will be higher on the list. Too often people wait too long and then need to move directly to healthcare. They miss the benefits of independent living at Frederick.”
Frederick Living’s welcoming and family-friendly culture makes a difference to Lisa. “I love the welcoming community of Frederick Living. It’s a very familyoriented atmosphere where staff and residents get to know each other and their families. I love walking down the hall because everyone says hello to each other.”
Lisa sees Frederick Living’s recent affiliation with Garden Spot Communities as a positive change. “We are open to new ideas, new programming, new faces. I’m excited about the new opportunities we will experience now and in the future.”
Above: Lisa McCartin, residency counselor, helps people connect with their new community.TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 1-4PM
In addition to tours and the opportunity to interact with Frederick Living residents, you will have the chance to receive additional information from our partners regarding home care, financial investing, realty services and help with moving.
RSVP by calling 610.754.7878 x1001 by March 17.
EXPLORING
ON THE ROAD
BARRY & SIGI FRETZ
AROUND THE WORLD IN 180 DAYS DESTINATION
could talk about our adventures all day,” says Sieglinde (Sigi) Fretz, a Frederick Living resident since August 2016.
Sigi and her husband, Barry, booked their cruise in December 2020. They were itching for an adventure post-COVID. When they received the brochure from Oceania inviting them to a Cruise Around the World, they looked at each other and said, “We could do this.”
A couple of weeks later they made their first deposit and began to look forward to January 15, 2023—the date they would embark on their trip around the world. They boarded Oceania’s Insignia in San Francisco and set off on the journey of a lifetime that let them set foot on five of the earth’s seven continents.
“On an extended trip like this, the cruise ship becomes your new neighborhood,” Sigi reflects. The floating luxury hotel included three restaurants and catered to an adult clientele.
“The service at the restaurants was slow,” Barry says, “but it was good, because it helped us to revive the art of conversation. We met a lot of people. Many were accomplished, retired professionals who lived all around the world. We met people from across the United States as well as Australia and Great Britain and made lasting friendships.”
Throughout their “endless summer” cruising through the tropics, Barry and Sigi experienced the extremes of the world—from wealth to poverty and from kingdoms to democracies. “It was incredibly eye-opening. We learned about different governments, like Thailand’s unbroken dynasty, and what happens when rich countries pull out of poor nations,” Barry says.
Sigi echoes, “We learned so much about how the world lives. It was a major education in governments, culture and lifestyle.”
As Barry and Sigi recount their adventures, they cite lemurs in Madagascar, temples in Vietnam and Thailand, pristine streets in Japan, glimpses of Mount Everest as they flew along the Himalayas, the iconic Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro, lions and wildebeests in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, Brunei’s benevolent dictator, penguins in Antarctica, impoverished villages in West Africa and more.
“We took more than 4,000 pictures,” Sigi admits. The couple shared stories from their adventure through a presentation for the Frederick Living community. They encourage their neighbors to consider an adventure like they experienced. “Travel while you can,” Barry says.
The lock-and-leave lifestyle at Frederick Living makes it easy to travel. Barry and Sigi enjoyed traveling prior to their move to Frederick Living but often came home to an unwanted mess like broken pipes and fallen trees. Today, they just lock and leave their home in The Meadows neighborhood and the Frederick Living team worries about the pipes and trees.
Barry and Sigi look forward to a cruise to Iceland, Greenland and
Germany in July 2024, followed by a cruise from Rome to Miami via the Canary Islands in the fall.
After traveling—whether on a road trip or a cruise—Barry and Sigi return with photos, memories and magnets. A metal wall in their sunroom displays their collection of magnets they’ve gathered from around the world.
FOUNDED WITH A VISION FOR COMPASSION
He was called to ministry in the Mennonite Church in 1872 at age 21. The summer he was ordained, he married Salome Gottshall and the couple moved to Wadsworth, Ohio, so he could attend Wadsworth Institute.
After graduation, N.B. and Salome returned to Pennsylvania, where he served at Schwenksville Mennonite Church. A bi-vocational pastor, N.B. looked to printing and publishing as a way to support his family. He established the Schwenksville Item, which remained in print until 1989. In 1882 he was appointed the pastor of First Mennonite Church in Philadelphia—the first urban Mennonite congregation. He served the congregation for the next 53 years.
He remained curious and involved in his community, finding ways to serve. He was described by a friend this way: “In him is no evasion, but practical Christianity of kind words and deeds, an unselfish and upright life.”
He observed his colleagues aging and some without family to care for them. N.B. was compelled to find a solution that would allow Mennonite pastors without family as well as other people, to age with grace in community and under the attention of compassionate caregivers.
N.B. went out on a financial limb in 1896 when he negotiated to buy the defunct Frederick Institute following a public auction with no acceptable bids. He had no firm institutional backing except the last-minute go-ahead of his own congregation.
Over the next few months, donations of pennies and dollars began coming in from the community and the local Mennonite congregations. Support was so enthusiastic that historical records say N.B. “quit collecting when they had secured the needed $1,521.50 with only part of the conference solicited.” Meticulous accounts in ledgers recorded every donation, whether money, two jars of jam, or a basket of turnips.
Nearly six months later, on September 1, 1896, The Frederick Mennonite Home officially opened. After a year, the community had five members from a variety of local congregations.
In 1897, N. B. wrote, “The spirit of benevolence has always been a noted characteristic of the Mennonite Church, and the care of the needy among their number is a cardinal principle of the church, though not always carried out in practice as it should be. The Home of Frederick is an outgrowth of this spirit of charity.”
Over the next 100 years a series of improvements transformed the property into Frederick Living—a vital, vibrant community offering a continuum of care, where people to this day find abundant opportunities to live with purpose.
Many, many people contributed to the growth and development of Frederick Living. One Frederick Living resident, Marlene Smith, recounts the growth she experienced firsthand. She started as the community nurse in November 1965; in 1967 she married the administrator, Larry Smith. Larry provided leadership to the community until 1983.
“Larry was a pastor of a local Mennonite church and served as the administrator for 24 years. He was always focused on the care of the residents and their families. We always tried to give Christian love and care to the residents,” Marlene remembers.
“He started a lot of programs—such as Sunday school and regular Sunday afternoon church services. He played the piano and organ and always had a sermon in his pocket, just in case,” Marlene continues.
Larry oversaw the building of the skilled nursing wing in 1971 and the building of the first cottages starting in 1978. Marlene remained involved at Frederick Living until 1998.
The couple eventually moved into Frederick Living as residents; Larry passed away in 2017, but Marlene remains a vibrant member of the community today, living in a onebedroom apartment in Oaktree Court Apartments.
“I thank the Lord every day for allowing me to be here. I enjoy playing cards, participating in choir and other activities. I am perfectly happy at Frederick Living,” Marlene says.
Patty Retzlaff moved to Frederick Living in August 2022. She and her husband, Pete, a former professional football player for the Philadelphia Eagles, moved to Zieglerville in the late 1960s and quickly became involved in the local community. Patty volunteered at Frederick Living in the 1990s, serving as president of the Frederick Auxiliary and on the Frederick Living Board of Directors.
“The majority of the volunteers on the auxiliary were from the local Mennonite churches,” Patty remembers. “They wanted to expand their committee to include community members. I was invited to join them.”
Patty and the other volunteers coordinated Founders Day events, auctions, geranium sales and more, all to raise funds to cover benevolent care as well as the “extras” that made life
at Frederick Living a little more comfortable. “We purchased walkin tubs for skilled nursing, a bus for independent living and more.”
She appreciated the opportunity to engage with the community. “The gals I served with became dear friends of mine,” she says.
Joe and Jane Genuardi moved to Frederick Living in June 2021. The couple lived in nearby Collegeville for more than 50 years and explored a move to The Meadows at Frederick Living in 2017. Frederick Living had a long wait for that neighborhood, so they kept looking at other communities. They really felt Frederick Living was the right fit for them so a few years later, they returned for an open house. As they recall, the community was so beautiful, filled with flowers and greenery. A member of the sales team suggested they consider a villa that was going to be available. “I immediately fell in love with this home,” Jane says. They moved in and quickly became engaged with the community.
In addition to previously serving as the Frederick Living Residents Association president, Joe serves as the first resident member on the Frederick Living Board of Directors. He was an integral part of the team as Frederick Living began to consider affiliation in late 2022.
“When we began to explore an affiliation, we reviewed proposals from three well-positioned communities. Garden Spot Communities was clearly the right fit. We share the same heritage, the same philosophy. Steve Lindsey often says, ‘We are made from the same soul,’ and I couldn’t agree more. Steve brought Coffee and Conversation—an opportunity for residents to ask anything of senior management. His depth of knowledge and his leadership are obvious, as is his humility.”
Patty agrees with Joe’s assessment. “Our affiliation with Garden Spot Communities has given us a boost in morale; I’m looking forward to the improvements we will be able to make.”
She adds, “Frederick Living is such a warm, welcoming community. That will never change—we are very, very friendly. We take care of each other; my neighbors keep me connected to the community.”
Joe, Jane, Patty and Marlene are all thankful for the opportunities they currently have at Frederick Living and for the opportunities they anticipate in 2024 as the community looks forward to growth and innovation through their affiliation with, and integration into, Garden Spot Communities.
Joe continues, “Our relationship with Garden Spot Communities assures that Frederick Living will thrive and be a preferred continuing care community for future generations. We look to Steve Lindsey for his guidance and experience as well as a spirit of collaboration with the Frederick Living community. In addition, Mike Hagarty, Frederick Living’s Executive Director, is a well-respected, decisive and available leader. Mike and Steve complement each other well.”