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FALL ISSUE 2026

BALANCE MAGAZINE 6 6

ON THE COVER

Celebrations and Service — Sally Reynolds How the South Asian Association of Lancaster is sharing culture and building community.

18 Garden of the Year — Sally Reynolds LNP | LancasterOnline contest winner is an ever-changing project.

The Hindu festival of lights, Diwali, is one of the biggest nights of the year for the South Asian Association of Lancaster.

24 Staying Social — Maddy Pontz With loneliness on the rise, Lancaster County offers many options for making connections. 30 Visit St. Michaels — Mary Ellen Wright Enjoy history, shopping and the waterfront in this charming town on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

FROM THE EDITOR

Photo courtesy of the South Asian Association of Lancaster

Published by President: Chris Stahl Editor-in-Chief: Lindsey McCallum Creative Direction: Amy Rodriguez Content Editor: Margaret Gates

Thank you so much for reading our fall issue! Your feedback and ideas are always welcome, feel free to email me at lmccallum@lnpnews.com.

Design: Kim Buckwalter, Susan McPhail, Amy Rodriguez, Christine Vernon, Bailey Watro Photography: Quinn Staley, Vinny Tennis Writers: Margaret Gates, Maddy Pontz, Sally Reynolds, Mary Ellen Wright Production: Erica Feltenberger Subscriptions to LNP | LancasterOnline: Call 717.291.8611 Advertise: Contact advertising@lnpnews.com or call 717.291.8800

Lindsey McCallum Editor-in-Chief | LMcCallum@lnpnews.com

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AI, Business and the Road Ahead: One Practitioner’s Perspective BY JOHN PACKER, CPA, CEPA

I entered the accounting profession in 1980 when our tools were a calculator, pencils and green ledger sheets. Since then, I’ve lived through three significant technological changes that made me faster and more capable: the personal computer, electronic spreadsheets and the internet. Now I’m using artificial intelligence. As a fractional CFO and consultant, AI has already made me more productive and valuable than I’ve ever been. Ironically, those personal gains also make me uneasy. Nobody, including the people building this technology, can accurately predict where it’s headed. Here’s what strikes me: Through every earlier wave of change, I remained the one doing the work. The PC and the spreadsheet were tools I essentially controlled. AI feels different. For the first time, I have something closer to a thinking partner — a resource I bring into the design and reasoning of a project, not just its execution. With the right prompts, it helps me build reports and analyses in minutes that once took hours, and the results are often better than anything I could have produced alone. That feels like a new kind of relationship with a tool. Automation has always changed how work gets done; however, this is the first technology that can help us think — and even think for us. To me, that sets AI apart from every preceding innovation.

judgment and relationships with clients rather than mechanics. I already believe my small business clients have derived greater value from my unique mix of experience and AI fluency. But this optimism doesn’t erase a broader worry. I’m concerned about whether our society can absorb this transition without significant job losses, and the social and political strain that would follow. I am also concerned about how easy and even practical it is to surrender our human creativity. Bill Gates raised similar themes in a recent essay on his personal website, gatesnotes.com, warning that AI could disrupt fields like accounting, law, medicine, customer service, software and manufacturing within a decade and arguing that policymakers need to act deliberately so the gains of this era don’t come at the expense of the workers in our communities. I don’t have a confident forecast. What I have is a front-row seat spanning more than four decades of technological change, and a belief that we can navigate this one too, if we’re honest about the stakes and deliberate about the choices ahead. I hope we choose wisely. Our clients, families, communities and even society itself are counting on it.

AI has sharpened my analysis, quickened my turnaround, and freed me to spend more time on

Michael Zimmerman M.Sc. IAR

President & Founder John Packer CPA

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October 2026 | BALANCE | 3

The

JOURNEY to Clear

SPEECH ichie Elliott’s journey to the Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic was a little more circuitous than that of many other children who have come through the doors of this Lancaster city institution since it ﬁrst opened in 1938.

Of the roughly 2,500 patients with craniofacial differences that the Clinic treats each year, most involve a cleft lip or palate. Richie had neither, but he did have a condition that is common among children who do. Richie’s odyssey began in his early childhood years, when he suffered from sleep apnea and repeated bouts of strep throat, recalls his mother, Carrie. At the age of 4, Richie had his enlarged tonsils and adenoids removed, but that surgery resulted in additional challenges. “After (his tonsils) came out, all the air came out of his nose when he talked,” Carrie says. “He was always difficult to understand, but that got worse after his tonsils were removed. Even as his parents, we could probably only understand maybe 20% of what he said.” Consultations with an ear, nose and throat specialist as well as a speech therapist with the IU13 led to a diagnosis of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), a condition where the soft palate does not close tightly against the back of the throat during speech and swallowing. This allows air to escape through the nose, making speech weaker and more difficult to understand. While the VPI was unrelated to Richie’s tonsil issues, having the surgery made the condition worse. Richie was referred to the Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic, where his diagnosis was conﬁrmed. The Elliotts sought second opinions but ultimately chose to have Richie treated at the Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic because they loved the doctors and it was close to their Strasburg home. Until he was mature enough for surgery, Richie visited the Clinic regularly for speech therapy. Then two years ago, when

Today his speech is actually remarkable. His speech is perfect. It’s actually pretty amazing.” - CARRIE ELLIOTT 4 | BALANCE | October 2026

he was 10, Richie underwent a surgical procedure called a pharyngoplasty to correct the condition. Dr. Cathy Henry, a Clinic provider and pediatric plastic surgeon, performed the surgery at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. The results were immediate. “I could actually speak words clearly,” says Richie, who will soon turn 13. “It was very, very impressive,” Carrie says. “Today his speech is actually remarkable. His speech is perfect. It’s actually pretty amazing.” The Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic has been doing amazing things since its founding 88 years ago, when local orthodontist Dr. Herbert Cooper put together a multidisciplinary team of specialists to treat children with cleft palates and other craniofacial conditions. The Clinic is considered the ﬁrst facility of its kind anywhere, and its team approach has become the worldwide standard of care in the ﬁeld. The Clinic has a team of health specialists in 13 areas, including dentistry, plastic surgery, orthodontics, audiology,

speech and language pathology, social work, pediatric medicine, oral surgery, and ear, nose and throat specialists. Several practitioners donate their services to the Clinic, including two plastic surgeons and two ENTs supported by Penn State Hershey Medical Center. In addition to its craniofacial patients, the Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic also supports another 4,500 patients with special needs through their expertise in pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, speech pathology, and audiology. The Clinic’s service area encompasses 45 Pennsylvania counties and 10 states. While the Elliotts say they are fortunate to live a convenient 15 minutes away, many other patients travel a great distance to receive treatment at the Clinic. Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic is innetwork with most private insurances and all local Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) plans and will treat any craniofacial patient regardless of their ability to pay. However, with 75% of their patients utilizing Medicaid or CHIP, insurance reimbursements only cover about 50% of patient care costs. Thus, the Clinic depends on their generous community, especially efforts like the Lancaster County Community Foundation Extraordinary Give (ExtraGive), to ensure all craniofacial patients can receive the care they deserve.

SUPPORT LANCASTER CLEFT PALATE CLINIC DURING THIS YEAR’S EXTRAGIVE!

Families like the Elliotts appreciate that support as well. Carrie gets tearful when she recalls the difficulties her son had in school and the impact of what she calls “a life-changing surgery” — a surgery that now allows Richie to express all those feelings clearly in his own words. “I was kinda scared to do it, but I’m really happy I actually did.” Richie says of the surgery. “If I didn’t, I would still have all these problems. Now I’m free from all those problems with my voice, and now I have tons of friends at school and that really helped me a lot.”

223 NORTH LIME STREET LANCASTER, PA 17602

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– ADVERTISING FEATURE – October 2026 | BALANCE | 5

From vaccine clinics to Diwali dance ﬂoors, the South Asian Association of Lancaster is building bridges, one celebration and one act of service at a time.

BY SALLY REYNOLDS | PHOTOS COURTESY OF SAAL

n a Saturday night each fall, hundreds of people crowd into a ballroom, dressed in lively colors. There’s a live band, a buffet dinner and, by the end of the night, a dance floor packed with people moving to Bollywood music, many of them learning the steps for the first time. It’s Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, and it’s one of the biggest nights of the year for the South Asian Association of Lancaster. But for the organization’s leaders, the celebration is only part of the story. “SAAL has grown into more than a nonprofit organization,” says Rita Rathod, the group’s president. “It has become a community where generations come together, and friendships are formed, traditions are shared, and our culture is highlighted.”

A HOME FOR THE NEXT GENERATION SAAL was founded in 2012 with young people in mind. Rathod says the goal from the start was to give the next generation a reason to stay connected to their roots while also rooting themselves in Lancaster County. “We wanted to create something which is a welcoming space for our community as well as members from other communities to know more about our culture, and together we can come and celebrate as family and friends our major festivals and traditions,” Rathod says. 6 | BALANCE | October 2026

That mission, she says, is about more than preserving customs. It’s about working collaboratively with the larger Lancaster County community and local businesses to make a lasting, positive impact while promoting South Asian heritage. The organization has grown steadily. SAAL now counts about 150 to 200 member families, and its signature events, particularly Diwali, regularly draw crowds of about 500 people. Neeta Dedhia, SAAL’s public relations committee chair, who moved to Lancaster from New York City in 2008, has watched the county transform into a place with room for everyone. “Lancaster has become as big a melting pot as New York City,” Dedhia says, adding with a laugh that her husband used to tease her about “New York City withdrawal” after the move. Now, she says, the feeling has reversed: A visit to New York City leaves her eager to get back home to Lancaster. Her hope for SAAL’s future is that the young people who grow up performing in its festivals (her own daughter, now a college junior, has danced in SAAL’s Diwali and Navratri celebrations for years) will choose to put down roots in Lancaster as adults. “We believe that when we come together as a community, everyone has an opportunity to thrive,” Rathod says. Dedhia says that spirit of openness is the organization’s deﬁning trait. “SAAL is a very strong and vibrant nonproﬁt organization,

and we are committed to building a welcoming, inclusive and connected community,” Dedhia says. “Everybody is welcome to participate in any of our events and activities, regardless of their background.” SHOWING UP FOR THE WIDER COMMUNITY SAAL’s presence in Lancaster stretches well beyond festivals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization ran vaccine clinics that inoculated more than 10,000 people, an effort local health authorities and government officials

recognized for its efficiency, Rathod says. The group’s youth branch, SAAL Youth, has built its own track record of service. Youth members have run donation drives that raised money for Clare House, which supports unhoused mothers and children. Last year, SAAL Youth raised funds during the Diwali season to donate Christmas gifts to a mother and her three children staying at Clare House. Youth have also volunteered at Penn Medicine Stadium’s backto-school programs, participated in the Race Against Racism 5K and partnered with Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health on an annual blood drive. More recently, SAAL Youth launched a program called Tech Buddies, pairing young volunteers with seniors, both within the South Asian community and beyond it, who want help learning technology but may feel held back by a language barrier. This year, SAAL helped form the Community in Need Foundation, an alliance with the Gurudwara Sahib of Lancaster County, a Sikh temple on Columbia Avenue, and the Jalaram Temple, a Gujarati community organization. The foundation mobilizes support for local families facing a health crisis or the loss of a loved one. “Basically, what we are trying to do is bring people and organizations together to support those in need and create a stronger, more connected community in Lancaster,” Rathod says. “So it’s not just limited to the South Asian community, but everyone in Lancaster.” Dedhia says SAAL’s giving extends further still: annual food drives for Water Street Mission and the Lancaster Food Pantry, disaster relief fundraising after the 2015 Nepal earthquake and support for the Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development. Then there’s the cricket camp, which SAAL runs every summer at Neffsville Park in Manheim Township for kids ages 6 to 18. No South Asian heritage required.

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“It’s open to everyone, like not just kids from the South Asian community, but the entire Lancaster community,” Dedhia says, noting the camp draws about 25 to 30 kids and doubles as a leadership-building exercise in teamwork and communication. For seniors, SAAL runs a monthly gathering called SAAL Evergreens, with more than 60 regular members. The group is about both companionship and wellness checks for a population at risk of isolation, Dedhia says. “This helps us fight loneliness and depression among our senior citizens, as they lose loved ones or their partners,” Dedhia says. The group recently took a day trip to Delaware, including a river cruise, a stop at a local temple and a visit to an Indian grocery store. FESTIVALS THAT WELCOME EVERYONE SAAL’s calendar is anchored by three major celebrations, and Rathod and Dedhia say all of them are designed for South Asian and nonSouth Asian neighbors alike. Navratri, held in early October, marks nine nights leading to a celebration of the goddess Durga’s victory over evil. In India, the festival runs the full 10 days. In Lancaster, SAAL condenses it into a single Saturday, so families don’t have to juggle school schedules. “Everybody is welcome to participate in this and experience a part of our culture and heritage and discover something,” Dedhia says, noting the event opens with an hour reserved for children and seniors before a group prayer and dancing that lasts well into the night. Diwali follows on Oct. 24 at the Wyndham Lancaster Resort and Convention Center. The celebration builds around a different theme each year, Rathod says. Last year’s was Bollywood, with performers highlighting the traditions of different Indian states. The evening also serves as something of a town hall, where SAAL shares the year’s financials and activities with members. “Diwali is a more formal sit-down event where you enjoy group performances, have a delicious dinner together, and then groove on the dance floor at the end (no prior knowledge of Bollywood dance moves required),” Dedhia says, contrasting it with Navratri’s looser, drop-in format. “Navratri is more of a free flow; you can just pop in and see what’s going on.” Come spring, SAAL hosts Holi, a color festival typically held the first weekend in May in Manheim Township. Attendees douse each other in colored powder, a tradition Rathod says carries a message of unity. “Once you have smeared each other with the color, there’s no differentiation between people,” Rathod says. Across all three festivals, the invitation is the same one SAAL has extended since its founding: Come learn about us, come dance with us, come and let’s build community.

8 | BALANCE | October 2026

DIWALI Saturday, October 24 Wyndham Lancaster Resort and Convention Center 2300 Lincoln Highway East. HOLI First weekend of May 2027 (weather permitting) Manheim Township Community Park. NAVRAT RI October 2027 Tickets for Diwali are available at saal.us under the shop/purchase tab.

2026 *This ad was created using AI and submitted to LNP.

The Vision Is Becoming Reality.

Breaking ground this November, Mosaic is the latest offering from Willow Valley Communities. More than half of Mosaic residences are already reserved. A limited number remain available, with prices starting in the low $800,000s. Backed by more than 40 years of exceptional service and the security of Type A Lifecare, Mosaic is built on a foundation of hospitality, trust, and sound financial stewardship. If you’ve ever considered Mosaic, now is time to learn more. Explore current availability at mosaiclancaster.com/more, then schedule a personal consultation to find the residence that’s right for you. info@mosaiclancaster.com | 888.893.1423 10 | BALANCE | October 2026

All images of Mosaic are for illustrative purposes and are subject to change without notice.

Upcoming Live Shows OCTOBER 9 | Oh He Dead: Album Release Show Kicks off National Tour! 8:00 PM $35 23 | The Maks with Kenny Arbuckle 7:30 PM $20 30 | The Clearing: Indie Rock Band Reunites for Local Fundraiser 7:30 PM $25 31 | Quentin Jones Rock & Roll Revue w/ Charlie Ingui, lead singer from the legendary Philly band Soul Survivors. 8:00 PM $25 NOVEMBER 13 | Delta Blues Meets Southern Rock w/ The Jamie McLean Band. Special Guest JASON 7:30 PM $25 DECEMBER 11 | Barkley Cove Brings Back CSNY Show 7:30 PM $20

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Lancaster County Clinic at the Forefront of Rare Disease Research

ucked at the end of a winding lane just east of Intercourse on Old Philadelphia Pike sits a world-renowned clinic for rare genetic conditions: the Clinic for Special Children. From participating in cutting-edge gene therapy trials to treating everyday illnesses like the common cold, the Clinic has cared for thousands of families over the past 37 years. While its patients primarily come from local Amish and Mennonite communities, the Clinic’s impact reaches far beyond Lancaster County.

In recent years, this Lancaster County nonproﬁt became the highest-enrolling clinical trial site in the world for a now FDA-approved gene therapy to treat spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a devastating neuromuscular disease. The success of this research has transformed lives globally, demonstrating how discoveries made in a local clinic can inﬂuence modern medicine worldwide.

SMA is just one of 511 genetic disorders the Clinic has diagnosed or treated throughout its history, reﬂecting both the complexity of rare disease and the depth of the Clinic’s expertise. What makes the Clinic unique extends beyond the population it serves. Unlike traditional health care systems, the organization operates largely through charitable support, allowing it to prioritize patient-centered care and long-term research. Its on-site advanced genetics laboratory is fully integrated into everyday clinical practice, enabling physicians and scientists to work side by side. This collaboration allows genetic testing results to move quickly from laboratory discovery to real-world patient care.

To learn more or to donate visit www.ClinicforSpecialChildren.org

As a result, the Clinic identiﬁes a genetic diagnosis approximately 76% of the time, well above the diagnostic rate reported by many large health care systems. Its research program begins with questions raised in the exam room, ensuring that scientiﬁc discoveries directly improve treatment options and quality of life for patients and families. At the Clinic for Special Children, innovation and compassion work hand in hand, proving that world-class medical advances can grow from deeply local roots.

Street Address 20 Community Lane, Gordonville, PA 17529 Mailing Address P.O. Box 500, Intercourse, PA 17534 717.687.9407

12 | BALANCE | October 2026

– ADVERTISING FEATURE –

2026-2027 SEASON

CHANTICLEER October 29, 2026, 7:30 p.m.

PIANIST JIARUI LI November 14, 2026, 7:30 p.m.

KATE KORTUM November 20, 2026, 7 p.m.

Grammy® Award-winning vocal ensemble, one of the most prolific recording and touring ensembles in the world.

A Lancaster International Piano Festival Concert The winner of the Hershey Symphony Annual Young Artist Competition will perform with the Hershey Symphony Orchestra.

A Juilliard graduate and winner of the 2025 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.

THE TRUST DANCE FESTIVAL January 16, 2027, 2 & 7 p.m.

WINTER’S ROMANCE BALLROOM SOIRÉE February 13, 2027, 7 p.m.

JONATHAN WALKER-VANKUREN & KENDRA BIGLEY February 16, 2027, 7 p.m.

The Trust Performing Arts Center

THE SWINGLES December 17, 2026, 7 p.m. Good Shepherd Chapel

These seven singers are constantly seeking new ways of reimagining jazz, folk, pop and classical music.

ISAIAH BAILEY FROM ‘THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA’ February 22, 2027, 7 p.m.

Showcasing dance companies and choreographers from Lancaster and beyond, the festival celebrates the beauty and artistry of dance.

Hosted by City Ballroom owner Rebecca Gentry This formal-dress event offers the perfect blend of sophistication and fun.

Tenor Jonathan Walker-Vankuren and pianist Kendra Bigley present“Songs My Mother Taught Me:”a Black History Month recital.

Sponsored by the Melva S. McIlwaine Guest Artist Endowment Fund Additional credits include“The Lion King,” “Jesus Christ Superstar”and“Come From Away.”

IMANI WINDS March 2, 2027, 7 p.m.

PIANISTS TANIA TACHKOVA & IVO KALTCHEV March 19, 2027, 7:30 p.m.

DINNER AND A SHOW WITH VIVACE LIVE STRING QUARTET April 2, 2027 5:30 p.m. Dinner | 7:30 p.m. Show

PIANIST ERIC FUNG April 16, 2027, 7:30 p.m.

The Grammy® Award-winning ensemble is celebrating three decades of transformative music-making.

THE STRING QUEENS April 23, 2027, 7 p.m.

An award-winning, genre-defying string trio celebrated for its dynamic performances and music that reflects diverse cultural experiences.

A Lancaster International Piano Festival Concert Internationally acclaimed pianists who have performed at the world’s most prestigious concert halls and festivals.

EMAYLIA May 4, 2027, 7 p.m.

Queens, N.Y., native Emaylia found her passion for music early in life, developing a unique mix of pop, jazz, and R&B.

Vivace Live seamlessly blends classical repertoire with jazz, contemporary pop, Celtic traditions and cinematic scores.

A Lancaster International Piano Festival Concert Fung is a Steinway Artist distinguished pianist renowned for his“vibrant vitality, unflappable logic, flexibility in nuances and requisite lyricism.”

The Trust is an architecturally stunning venue for music, theatre, dance, lectures, and community events in the heart of Lancaster’s downtown arts district. In 1912, the Lancaster Trust Company completed construction on their new headquarters – a Beaux-Arts masterpiece from the imagination of Lancaster’s leading architect, C. Emlen Urban. A century later, Lancaster Bible College has reimagined it into The Trust Performing Arts Center. Our Arts & Culture Series exists to honor God by encouraging excellence in the work of student and professional artists and by enriching our community through inspiring, challenging, and redemptive experiences.

UNDERSTAND your Medicare options

Roxann Brown

or many, October’s arrival brings thoughts of crisp fall weather, Halloween and the fast-approaching holiday season. But for those of a certain age, October signals something just as important: the start of open enrollment for Medicare. Open enrollment is the period from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year when Medicare recipients can review, switch or drop their health and prescription drug plans for the coming year.

14 | BALANCE | October 2026

Bayley Stauffer

“It’s a very natural time of year to be thinking through your coverage and if you want to make changes,” says Bayley Stauffer, a Certiﬁed SeniorAdvisor® with Everence Financial.

It’s also a great time to educate yourself on Medicare plans if you’re closing in on age 65.Medicare can be complicated, Stauffer says, and many people may not know all they need to know to make an informed decision. Here are just a few things to consider:

THE CHOICES Original Medicare, the federal government’s own health insurance program, includes Part A, which

covers hospital costs, and Part B, which covers outpatient costs like doctor visits. Part D, which is an additional option, provides coverage for prescriptions. Those who opt for Original Medicare will often choose a private supplemental plan— sometimes referred to as a Medigap plan—to offset out-of-pocket costs such as copayments and deductibles Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to Original Medicare offered through private insurance companies. These plans must cover all medically necessary services that Original Medicare (Parts A and B) covers, and they may include some level of dental, vision and prescription drug beneﬁts Advantages and disadvantages Medicare Advantage is popular, Stauffer says, due to its low- and zero-dollar premium plans along with some plans offering ancillary perks such as money back for groceries, gym memberships and over-the-

counter medications. But there are also drawbacks that may not be obvious when you’re signing up as a healthy 65-year-old. “The reality is when folks actually need the care later, they’re often paying more out of pocket through higher deductibles and copays,” Stauffer says. “With Original Medicare and a supplement plan, the premiums may be higher, but out-of-pocket expenses are lower.” There are nonﬁnancial considerations with Medicare Advantage as well, such as preauthorization and referral requirements that may delay treatment. And unlike Original Medicare, which allows you to see doctors or facilities anywhere in the U.S. that accept Medicare, Medicare Advantage frequently limits you to doctors or facilities within the plan’s network.

Issue-age plans are rare, Stauffer says. As of Sept. 1, 2026, there is only one insurance carrier in the state of Pennsylvania offering issue-age pricing for its Medicare Supplement plans, according to Medicare.gov. Plan for tomorrow If you’re not satisﬁed with your plan, the annual open enrollment period gives you an opportunity to switch, but that isn’t always easy, especially if you want to exchange your Medicare Advantage plan for Original Medicare with a supplement.

It’s a very natural time of year to be thinking through your coverage and if you want to make changes.

Issue age vs. attained age Many people have never heard of these terms, but they are an important consideration for anyone shopping for a supplement to their Original Medicare plan. “No matter where you are in the country, these are the two most popular ways Medicare supplement plans are rated,” Stauffer says. With an attained-age plan, your monthly premiums are calculated based on your current age, so they will automatically increase each year as you age, along with any additional increases due to inﬂation. With an issue-age plan, your rate is locked at the age you are at the time of enrollment and will only increase due to inﬂation, not because you are getting older. At age 65, attained-age plans might look more appealing because their premiums start out lower than those for issue-age plans; however, those premiums will also climb faster due to the guaranteed yearly age increase, Stauffer says. “In an average lifespan, you’re usually paying less over time on an issue-age plan than an attained-age plan because of that stability,” she says.

Medicare with you in mind

-Bayley Stauffer

Switching to Original Medicare is easy, but supplemental insurance companies will ask underwriting questions about your medical history and can deny coverage based on your health. The window of opportunity to enroll in a Medicare supplement policy without medical underwriting questions is when you first enroll at 65, or if you sign up post-65 through a qualified Special Enrollment Period after coming off of a creditable, large employer-sponsored health plan. “If you’re in good health, you might be able to switch,” Stauffer says. “As you get older, health issues generally pop up quicker. If you’re not in good health, you can get confined to options within the Medicare Advantage path.” That’s why understanding Medicare from the start is essential. Everence Financial offers a variety of online and in-person educational events along with specialists like Stauffer, who can help you review your Medicare options and choose the one that’s right for you — not just for the present, but for the future. “People are making this decision at age 65 or at retirement, which is usually on the younger end of the Medicare spectrum,” Stauffer says. “But they’re not making the decision just for that moment, they’re often making a decision that will affect them for the rest of their life.”

Everence offers Medicare education. •

Understand your Medicare options.

•

Find out when and how to enroll.

•

Discover the difference between issue-age and attained-age Medicare supplement policies.

LEARN MORE Call 717-653-6662, email centralpenn@everence.com or visit everence.com/centralpenn.

Advisory services and securities may be offered through a third-party registered investment advisor or registered broker-dealer that is not affiliated with Everence Trust Company. Investments and other investment-related and/or securities products are not NCUA or otherwise federally insured, may involve loss of principal and have no credit union guarantee. Certified Senior Advisors (CSAs)® have supplemented their individual professional licenses, credentials, and education with knowledge about aging and working with older adults. It is recommended that you verify the validity of any professional’s credentials with whom you conduct business. Be sure you completely understand what those licenses, credentials, and education signify. The CSA certification alone does not imply expertise in financial, health, or social matters. For more details visit: www.csa.us

October 2026 | BALANCE | 15

SO MANY STYLES TO BE TORN BETWEEN. WE’LL WALK YOU THROUGH IT. BLINDS & SHADES. SHUTTERS. DRAPERIES. DESIGNED. MEASURED. INSTALLED.

GRAUER SPAIN T. COM CARLISLE • CENTERVILLE • LANCASTER • LITITZ • MECHANICSBURG • WEST LAWN 16 | BALANCE | October 2026

A community rooted in Connection, Compassion & Care for nearly a Century.

Join Us on October 17 for the 14th Annual Explore Retirement Living Open House!

For more information or a tour: 717.285.1404 for skilled & personal care or 717.285.6197 for independent living options

3952 Columbia Avenue | West Hempfield Twp., PA 17512 | StAnnesRC.org October 2026 | BALANCE | 17

Rip it out, start again

Variegated hosta leaf.

The ongoing evolution of the Garden of the Year Golden lantana in bloom. BY SALLY REYNOLDS PHOTOS BY QUINN STALEY

or Terri and Steve Williams, a great garden isn’t something you ﬁnish. It’s something you keep working at, sometimes entirely tearing things apart to make room for something new. After 27 years in their Strasburg home, they’ve become experts at garden reinvention.

That willingness to rebuild and adapt is a big reason the couple were voted the winners of LNP | LancasterOnline’s Garden of the Year contest. Their garden — built around a pool, a ﬁre pit and ﬂower beds packed edge to edge with color — has had multiple redesigns, a sewer-line installation, porch construction and more than a few plants that simply didn’t work out. “That would probably be the story of our property: tearing out and redoing,” Terri says. 18 | BALANCE | October 2026

Terri and Steve Williams relax in their backyard oasis.

Cattail sculpture in front garden.

Rip it out, start again One the most signiﬁcant changes to the Williams property started in a decidedly unglamorous manner: Two years ago, the township hooked their home up to public sewer, a project that meant digging up large sections of the garden. For many people, this would have been a hassle that, at best, resulted in some new lawn space. However, for the Williamses, the destructive work opened up an opportunity for a delightful new use in that part of their property. The old septic area is now the site of the family’s relaxing ﬁre pit. With no further need for a septic system, the couple saw a chance to reclaim the space. They brought in 40 tons of topsoil, and Steve built a retaining wall to elevate and extend the area all the way back to the property line. They had surveyors come out to determine exactly how far back they could build.

Bring

modern style to your backyard

The fire pit is now one of their favorite spots, where the whole garden comes into view while they relax in the evening in Adirondack chairs, beverage in hand. The couple’s approach to garden reinvention is a partnership. Steve handles the heavier work, like retaining walls, pavers and stones, while Terri designs the overall plan. “Terri created all this herself. She puts it all together,” Steve says. “She does like it when I dig the holes though.” Some of the changes were needed to remove old plants that had become overgrown. Along the side of the driveway, glossy Dragon Lady hollies replaced shaggy Leyland cypress. On the right side of the house, a stand of 60-foot evergreens, likely original to the house, were taken down to make room for a deck. The Williamses planted crape myrtles to replace the evergreens, but the myrtles struggled, so they were later replaced by graceful kousa dogwoods that are flourishing. “When I think of looking back through old photos and everything we have ripped out, put in, ripped out, it’s been a lot,” Terri says. Even now, she says, Steve will step into a flower bed and crush something underfoot and “I’m cringing, but I view it as an opportunity to do a replacement. So, you know, we enjoy all the changes.”

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When the Williamses ﬁrst moved in, a rotting wooden privacy fence enclosed the pool area. The old fence had to come down, so they installed a new metal pool fence farther back from the old one. “We thought it would be so horrible when we removed the old privacy fence and opened it up, but we love it now,” she says. The new fence provides a clear view to the back of their property, an area that had previously been untended. Privacy is important to the couple, who spend most of their time outdoors. So, they planted a rose of Sharon along that back property line for screening. That single rose of Sharon has since multiplied; Terri transplanted its suckers all along the property line to build a natural privacy hedge, then ﬁlled in with perennials. As for regrets, Terri has two: trumpet vine and ivy. “We have spent years ripping ivy out. We are still ripping it out,” she says. She’s also locked in an ongoing effort to tear out endless walnut tree seedlings, courtesy of the neighborhood squirrels, who “inevitably plant their walnuts in my pots all summer long.”

The old wooden privacy fence was replaced to open up the area behind the pool.

after The art of cramscaping Ask Terri to describe her gardening style and she’ll borrow a term she recently discovered in a book: cramscaping. “I love that!” she says. “Because if I can find a place to put a plant in, I will. If I’ve got a hole to fill, I will.” This time of year, that means scanning the fence line for bare spots and running to the garden center for coneflower to fill an unexpected gap in color, even though late-season planting means extra watering to get new plants established. Terri’s favorite season is spring, when new plants go in, though she also loves late summer cleanup, when she can get close to each plant and see what’s thriving. Terri says she doesn’t garden specifically for pollinators or native species. “I plant what I like, and the bees apparently like it, too.” Her flower beds are busy with pollinators. Annuals stay confined to pots, with lantana a favorite for its heat tolerance, while perennials fill the ground: black-eyed Susans, coneflower, Shasta daisies, sedum and anything with a daisy-shaped bloom. This year’s color scheme leaned orange and purple, including gazania from Fisher’s Greenhouse in Strasburg that open with the sun and close at dusk. Hydrangeas are a favorite, including limelight, lacecap and oak leaf varieties. Terri also loves golden-flowered ligularia and hostas. Hostas are a plant she once had no interest in until her brother, a hosta hybridizer who has bred more than 600 varieties, gave her 40 different hostas for Mother’s Day. They’re now a well-loved member of the garden, nestled under shade trees.

Garden area behind the pool. 20 | BALANCE | October 2026

Hardscaping without heavy lifting Steve’s contribution to the garden runs toward structure rather than plants, and he says homeowners intimidated by hardscaping are thinking too big.

he mixed two sizes of stone with Belgian block, a project he says any homeowner could tackle without specialized equipment.

“Hardscaping is not only about big projects like paving and retaining walls,” he says. Simpler materials count too, like metal sculpture, driftwood, decorative rock, or swapping mulch for a layer of river jack stone. Around the ﬁre pit,

“It doesn’t take a real strong back. It doesn’t take heavy equipment,” Steve says. “If you have a wheelbarrow or a cart, you could just use that and create your own hardscaping spots in your garden.” For the fire pit base, he compacted six inches of crushed stone and leveled it himself, a technique he says is easy to learn from online tutorials. Laying flagstone or brick, or building a low wall, adds visual interest without requiring professional skill. The Williamses have put in a lot of work redesigning and rebuilding, and the payoff is the moments relaxing with friends and family in the lush oasis they’ve created. After 27 years of tearing out and starting over, Terri says, the garden is never really finished. “And it’ll probably keep evolving for the next 27 years,” Steve adds. Left: Looking deep into a hosta. Below: Cleome in bloom.

October 2026 | BALANCE | 21

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Living THE

SOCIAL

Life

Lancaster County offers many opportunities to make connections in your community. Here are just a few. BY MADDY PONTZ | ILLUSTRATION BY BAILEY WATRO

n 2023, it was made official — loneliness is an epidemic in the United States, according to Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.

sometimes it’s hard to visualize something new to try, to bring ourselves to take on a new skill, put ourselves out there, to take the risk of looking a little bit silly to try something new.

The data is startling: From 2003 to 2020, social engagement with friends fell by an average of 20 hours per month, the Office of the Surgeon General reports.

“The purpose of this (event) is to sort of replicate that ﬁrst weekend at college experience, where all of the extracurriculars are available to you in the big central gym, but for adults, Capizzi says. “They can ask the questions they need to ask or just sort of explore all of the options for new stuff to do.”

Here in Lancaster County, some community leaders have made it their mission to help neighbors ﬁnd a sense of belonging — or at least a fun activity to meet a few new friends. After all, a sense of community is important for your health and well-being, according to Vanessa Simmons, a licensed professional counselor with Meadow Grove Counseling in Lancaster. “There are some studies that show that one of six people worldwide experience loneliness,” Simmons says. “This perceived sense of loneliness is associated with a higher heart disease risk, a higher risk of stroke. It’s also associated with high risks of dementia, as well as depression, anxiety. That doesn’t mean that everyone’s experience is the same and it’s not causal… We can see that it can be so impactful on us.” According to the Surgeon General’s 2023 report, “lacking social connection can increase the risk for premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.” Sav Thorpe Capizzi launched the Stuff To Do Fair in January 2025 with the goal of creating a low-stakes setting for local organizations, clubs and groups to connect with the community, designed for beginners. “The Stuff To Do Fair is sort of like a job fair, but for classes, clubs, hobbies and activities,” Capizzi explains. “As we become adults, 24 | BALANCE | October 2026

Now, the Stuff To Do Fair has expanded to include themed minifairs, regional gatherings, “sampler” events and more. For Bettina Heffner, getting involved with the Lancaster Downtowners served as a way to learn more about Lancaster city, her home since 1975. The Downtowners group aims to “engage older adults in meaningful opportunities that build a multidimensional support network to stay informed, involved and independent in their community,” according to its website. The social connections and friendships that came along with her involvement? Well, they were a fun bonus. “(Community) is critical for enjoying life to the fullest,” says Heffner, who serves on the Downtowners’ membership committee and volunteers with their Just On Call program. “To the very end, life is to be enjoyed. Doing so with others adds to the excitement.” “What makes a difference is when we have a sense of belonging,” Simmons says. “When we feel safe, when there’s trust, when we know we can be ourselves and do not have to hide parts of ourselves. When we feel known, valued and accepted, and just know that we have a place.”

FITNESS & OUTD OUTDOOR UTDOOR

To help you �nd your community, �nd a (non-exhaustive!) list of additional resources below.

HILANTHROP

Our main takeaway? If you’re interested in an activity, there’s a good d chance that a group, club or organization is out there for you.

Fitness and O

utdoors

GAME AME

ltd.com ning | common .com /events Common Run rt | westartlanc A t es W at a og ackrunclub Community Y roups/insidetr /g om .c ok bo ce Run Club | fa na.trekkers Inside Track om /susquehan .c m ra ag st in | enture Club Lancaster Adv rbikeclub.net Club | lancaste le yc ic B er st lub.org Lanca | lancasterbirdc b lu C d ir B ty n m Lancaster Cou rhikingclub.co Club | lancaste g in ik H er st Lanca | lrrclub.org unners Club R d oa R -kickball er st Lanca rrec.org /adult te as nc la | l al Adult Kickb Serious Lancaster Rec gues (Not-Soea L l al kb ic K rmers Adult allpark-events Lancaster Sto tormers.com /b rs te as nc la | ) tive /events and Competi westartlanc.com | rt A t es W are Dance at Lancaster Squ ckclub.com lub | redrosetra C ck ra T e os ncaster.com Red R | riderollstrollla er st ca an L l trol Ride Roll & S m.com / Club | instagra re tu en dv A & SEPA Hiking dventureclub da an ng ki hi /run-club sepa dhouse717.com ea tr | b lu C n u R Tread House

ARTS�& TS & CRAFT AFT

Collage Night at

West Art | westa rtla

Drink & Draw | in

Gleaners Film Cl

stagram.com /drin

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Arts & Crafts

nc.com /club

kndrawlanc

westartlanc.com /c lubs Lancaster Art Va ult Critique and Coffee Club lancasterartvault.c om /shows-works hops-events/criti que-club Lancaster Coun try Art Associat ion classes | lcaa online.org Lancaster Creati ve Factory | lanc astercreativefacto ry.org Library System of Lancaster Co unty Writers’ G calendar.lancaste roup rlibraries.org /eve nt /writers-group2278 Music For Everyo ne Community Ch orus musicforeveryone.o rg /community-cho rus Old Time Jam at West Art | westa rtlanc.com /clubs PA Guild of Craf tsmen | pacrafts.or g Pennsylvania Co llege of Art & Des ign Center for Cr Exploration | pc eative ad.edu/creative-ex ploration Screenwriters Ci rcle at West Art | westartlanc.com /clubs Songwriters Circ le at West Art | w estartlanc.com /clu Water Color Club bs at West Art | wes tartlanc.com /event Write Now Lanc s aster | jamiebeth cohen.com / writenowlancaste r

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Aaron’s Books /book-groups aaronsbooks.com est Art Book Clubs at W nts ve /e westartlanc.com ic Library Lancaster Publ rary.org lib lancasterpublic ounty of Lancaster C Library System es.org lancasterlibrari & Book Shop Nooks Gallery es /book-clubs nooks.gallery/pag op Pocket Books Sh m co p. ho ss pocketbook rs Red Rose Reade n-a-book-club/ oi /j om bookclubs.c aders club/red-rose-re

Games

Chess Club at West Art westartlanc.com /events

Lancaster Board Gamers facebook.com groups/12948501058979 8/

Lititz Library Game Club lancasterlibraries.org

Philanthropy

Civitas Lancaster | civitaslancaste

Junior League of Lancaster | lanc

r.org

aster.jl.org Lancaster County Women for Goo d | lancowomenforgood.org Local Lions Clubs | lionsclubs.org Rotary Club of Lancaster | lanc asterrotary.org

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“What makes a di�erence is when we have a sense of belonging,” Simmons says. “When we feel safe, when there’s trust, when we know we can be ourselves and do not have to hide parts of ourselves. When we feel known, valued and accepted, and just know that we have a place.”

ITNESS ITNESS�

Book Clubs

HILANTHROP

OOK CLUB OOK�CLUB

S GAME

RTS & CRAFT RTS�&�CRAFT

More ways to connect:

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Vibrant. Connected. Community.

On the next pages, meet some community members out and about in Lancaster. – ADVERTISING FEATURE –

October 2026 | BALANCE | 27

Doug and Ellen Harris

Doug and Ellen Harris came to Lancaster in 2024 by way of western North Carolina, where they had lived for 30 years in a small town outside of Asheville. “I never thought I’d live in a small town and certainly not for that long,” says Doug, who was born in Philadelphia and grew up in southern New Jersey. “It worked out, and it was a great place to live.” Both architects, the couple had owned their own firm before retiring in fall 2019 with no set plans for staying put or moving elsewhere. Then in 2023, they planned a road trip to the Northeast, including a stop in Lancaster to watch their nephew play soccer at F&M. Unfortunately, he got injured and they canceled that leg of the trip, but they were intrigued enough by their research on Lancaster to visit a little over a year later. That was July 2024. By August of that year, they had already returned, talking to Realtors and residents, and eventually buying a home in the city. “The first thing that caught my eye was the fact that it was a relatively small city but had both historic qualities about it and a very kind of urban walkable downtown,” Doug says. “It was a way to live in a city downtown without having to buy into all the big city hassle.” Soon after their arrival, the Harrises joined the Lancaster Downtowners, a nonprofit that builds a support network for older adults, helping them to remain independent and engaged in the community through two main functions: a full slate of social activities and events and a Just One Call program where members volunteer to help one another with everything from transportation to technology coaching. The Downtowners are part of the nationwide Village to Village Network, dedicated to helping people age in place. “It’s been fabulous,” Ellen says. “It gave us a whole group of people to get to know easily and activities to go to - happy hours and dinners. ... It gave us sort of an immediate community.”

Doug recently started Guys GAB (grab a beer), an informal time for men in the Downtowners to meet for a beverage and casual conversation. For the Harrises, being Downtowners has helped them plant roots in the new city they now call home.

Brad Smith

Smith grew up in northern New Jersey, went to school in North Carolina and worked in Manhattan for five years. But after visiting his sister at F&M, he decided to make Lancaster city his home in the early 1980s. “I love the history, the architecture, the art scene, the restaurant scene and just the inclusivity of the city,” he says. “It had a really nice vibe to it, and that was in the mid-’80s. What’s happened in the last 15 years has just been fantastic … I love it.” Unlike the Harrises, Smith, now 75, had decades to establish a life and friendships in Lancaster city. So he wasn’t really looking to expand his social circle when he joined the Downtowners a year and a half ago. A lifelong bachelor, Smith says he can’t rely on a spouse or children to assist him in the way he did for his own aging parents. The Downtowners represent “a healthy movement of neighbors and friends” to help out, he says. He was first drawn to the Just One Call service, which he used over the winter when he had surgery and needed transportation. He also participates in Solo Agers, a Downtowners group that has offered valuable information and advice for those aging on their own. But his favorite activity may be driving for Just One Call, whether it’s taking someone to a doctor’s appointment or giving them a lift to the train station. There’s always an opportunity to meet someone new. “I love hearing people’s life stories,” he says. “When you do the drives, there’s always a time when you take someone for the first time and you’ve never met them that’s part of the joy of doing it. They become friends.”

Terry Brown

Downtowners enjoy a summer Beer Garden.

Brown was born and raised in Manheim Township and has lived there all her life. While not a “downtowner” by the physical deﬁnition, she happily joined the group three years ago as a way to meet people and enjoy the company of others with common interests. Since then, she’s joined the Downtowners for bus trips to Washington, D.C., tours of Mount Gretna, outdoor concerts and dinners at local restaurants. A retired massage therapist, Brown, 69, says she particularly enjoyed a recent talk on holistic therapy. “It’s just a nice way to meet other interesting, fun people,” Brown said recently as she was gearing up for a trip to the Kennett Square Mushroom Festival organized by the Downtowners culinary club. She planned to go with a friend she met when she requested a ride through the Just One Call program. For Brown, who is single, learning about Just One Call was a bonus. She has used it not only for transportation, but also for help with tasks around the house. “It’s so kind of people who want to volunteer,” she says. “I didn’t even know about it when I joined, and then to learn about it? What a nice thing!”

SPECIAL OFFER! Mention “Balance” when you join Lancaster Downtowners in October and you’ll get a rebate check for 3 months free in your membership. Scan the QR code and enter Balance on the application form, or call us at 717-584-1224, or email info@lancasterdowntowners.org and mention Balance.

Downtowners dining at Shot & Bottle. All photos courtesy of the Lancaster Downtowners

Linda Ecker

Downtowners having lunch in the city.

Downtowners are inspired by the art at Lancaster Museum of Art.

Ecker regularly visited a good friend in Lancaster over the years and was always reluctant to return to her home in Philadelphia. When it came time to retire 19 years ago, coming to Lancaster seemed like a good move, she says. “To me, it’s kind of a miniature Philadelphia,” Ecker says. “I loved Philadelphia. It had everything Philadelphia had only less of it. It’s easier to navigate. All of that appealed to me.” That was summer 2007, in the early years of the Downtowners. Her new neighbors reached out immediately, and one of them invited her to a Downtowners meeting. The rest, as they say, is history. “The ﬁrst few years I was in Lancaster I was out nearly every night (mostly with Downtowners activities),” she recalls. “It was a really wonderful entree to the city, and I think it still is for older people, retired people who come here.” Ecker met even more people while serving as coordinator of the Just One Call program for three years. Today, at 87 and no longer driving, she is a regular beneﬁciary of the service. And while mobility issues have limited her participation in some of the more physical Downtowners activities, she has started taking mahjong lessons on Monday afternoons and continues to host a quarterly Share-A-Poem group for Downtowners in her home. Ecker says being a Downtowner means feeling comfortable in a new place. “To move to a new environment can be daunting at any age, and to have a group like the Downtowners available to get to know people and participate in a range of activities on a regular basis is just such a gift,” Ecker says. “I feel indebted. I think we’re all indebted to the founders of the Lancaster Downtowners. I think it’s easy to say it’s been a roaring success.”

– ADVERTISING FEATURE –

October 2026 | BALANCE | 29

On The cemetery behind Christ Church.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARY ELLEN WRIGHT

The town of St. Michaels in Talbot County, which is less than three hours by car from Lancaster, sits along the Miles River — a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. Once a shipbuilding center and later a seafood-processing port, the town has been a tourist destination for more than 50 years. The town took its name from an Anglican parish, St. Michael Archangel, which began serving settlers to the region in 1672. The 1878 Gothic Revival building for the parish’s Episcopal successor, Christ Church, and its historic cemetery still stand on Talbot Street — the name for the portion of Route 33 that becomes St. Michaels’ main street. 30 | BALANCE | October 2026

Maryland’s Eastern Shore sits a little waterfront town that offers a great place to take a stroll. A stroll through centuries’ worth of history. A stroll along a river harbor ﬁlled with all kinds of boats. A stroll through a cute downtown ﬁlled with restaurants and shops located in 19th-century houses and other buildings painted in every color.

Both times I’ve visited the town, I’ve made it a two-day trip; while there are plenty of bed-andbreakfast inns throughout the town, I’ve stayed in chain hotels in nearby historic Easton, Maryland, about 10 miles to the east of St. Michaels.

A stroll along Talbot Street When you ﬁrst drive The Book Hounds bookstore. into St. Michaels’ historic downtown along Talbot Street, look for one of the many blue “public parking” signs on either side of the

A jerk salmon dish and cappuccino at Sprout.

A day in

St. Michaels The waterfront view from Muskrat Park in St. Michaels. Foxy’s Harbor Grille is on the right.

IF YOU GO • DRIVE: IT TAKES ABOUT 2 HOURS, 45 MINUTES TO GET TO ST. MICHAELS FROM LANCASTER CITY. • PLAN: BEFORE YOUR VISIT, CHECK OUT THE ST. MICHAELS TOURISM WEBSITE AT STMICHAELSMD.COM, AND CLICK ON THE “EXPLORE” BUTTONS UNDER “STAY,” “SHOP,” “EAT AND DRINK” AND MORE.

St. Michaels is ﬁlled with Victorian architecture.

street; there’s plenty of free parking for visitors on side streets. My first stop on my first visit was a little house-like kiosk at the corner of Talbot and Mill streets — the self-serve information booth filled with maps, event listings and cards advertising local businesses. A free public parking lot and public restrooms are adjacent. Talbot Street, lined with Victorianstyle houses and other buildings, is filled with cute stores, boutiques and home decor, antique and jewelry shops, along with a wide variety of dining options. I enjoyed browsing in the Chesapeake Trading Company at 102 N. Talbot St., which features a thoughtfully curated collection of books, music, apparel and accessories, and Book Hounds, a cozy, two-story bookstore at 104 S. Talbot. When I visit a waterfront town, I strive to dine outdoors, overlooking the water,

• WELCOME: IF YOU LIKE PHYSICAL MAPS AND BROCHURES, VISIT THE SELF-SERVE INFORMATION BOOTH AT THE CORNER OF NORTH TALBOT AND MILL STREETS. YOU CAN ALSO PICK UP INFORMATION AT THE ROUTE 301 REST AREA NEAR CENTERVILLE, MARYLAND, HEADING TOWARD ST. MICHAELS.

if the weather cooperates — and I’ve done so on two visits to St. Michaels. While strolling along Talbot Street, I also grabbed lunch at Sprout, a takeout/ dine-in cafe at 114 S. Talbot. It features a coffee menu and a variety of dishes — from breakfast sandwiches to baked goods and soups, salads and wraps — made fresh daily and brought in from the eatery’s Easton location. Food is self-serve in compostable containers from a refrigerated display, for takeout or dining at tables indoors or outdoors along Talbot Street. I enjoyed a bowl featuring jerk salmon with pineapple salsa, carrots, spinach and beans and rice — which the staff heated up for me — and a cappuccino with a rosettadesign ﬂourish on top.

During two other stops along Talbot Street, I had great ice cream at both Justine’s, 106 N. Talbot, and JoJo’s Ice Cream, 101 S. Talbot.

Chesapeake Trading Co. on Talbot Street.

An exhibit at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. The St. Michaels Museum is open on weekends.

A stroll through history St. Michaels started as a 17thcentury trading post serving trappers and tobacco farmers. The early infrastructure for the town was formed in 1778 around St. Mary’s Square, now a residential neighborhood filled with Federal, Greek Revival and Victorianstyle frame dwellings that are an attraction in themselves. You can pick up a brochure at the information kiosk detailing a self-guided tour of St. Mary’s Square and the other historic buildings in town. Download the tour at lanc. news/StMichaelsTour. If you’re in town on a weekend, I highly recommend a visit to the free St. Michaels Museum at 201 E. Chestnut St., on the green in the middle of St. Mary’s Square. The house contains recreations of a mid-19th-century living room and kitchen, period furniture and artifacts from across decades of St. Michaels’ business community. The volunteer on duty the day I visited in August was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. St. Michaels calls itself “the town that fooled the British.” Local lore has it that patriots living in St. Michaels — a town that had been filled with British Loyalists — hung lanterns high in the trees during the War of 1812 so the invading British wouldn’t know where they should be aiming their guns. At the museum, a light-up miniature map of the town’s 19th-century structures shows how the British invaded St. Michaels because of the five shipbuilding sites it had in town at the time and a temporary fort at 32 | BALANCE | October 2026

Parrot Point. The museum also offers historical walking tours on Saturdays, which can be booked in advance. Visit stmichaelsmuseum.org for information. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, a series of more than 20 buildings and exhibits that introduce visitors to the shipbuilding and seafood-processing years of St. Michaels’ history. It’s located along the Miles River waterfront, is open every day and has plenty of benches for sitting and watching the boats come in between buildings.

In the welcome center, visitors can see more than 100 boats, including skipjacks and skiffs, made between the 1880s and 1980s. There’s a new, longterm exhibit called “Stories from the Shoreline” that explores Chesapeakeregion life including duck hunting, eco-tourism, Indigenous trapping traditions, ﬁshing, plein air painting and more. Visitors can even come away from the exhibit with traditional recipes for cooked muskrat and terrapin stew. If you have questions at the welcome center, you’ll ﬁnd roaming staff members and volunteers who are friendly and knowledgeable. Patriot cruises travel the Miles River.

Your entry fee always buys a two-day ticket, because there’s a lot of ground to cover and a fair amount of walking required. (Most of the exhibits with elevated entrances or second stories are accessible with ramps or elevators.) I ran into the museum’s chief historian, Pete Lesher, on the grounds of the historical site, and was able to tell him how much I appreciated that the museum tells its historical stories of life and work in the area through individual people — not merely through artifacts they owned or used.

Next door to the welcome center is a building housing an exhibit on the role the Chesapeake and its tributaries played in the Underground Railroad; waterways were one escape route to freedom. On the second ﬂoor is a new exhibit about 19th-century author, statesman and abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who was born into slavery nearby and whose historical footprint can be found throughout Talbot County. A small white cabin that his sister, Eliza Bailey Mitchell, and her family lived in was moved to the museum grounds and is one of the buildings open for tours.

In addition to a timeline of Douglass’ entire life, the exhibit also features an animated version of Douglass on a video screen talking about his life and escape from enslavement; you can even ask him questions, and artificial intelligence empowers him to answer with words from his own writings. Other buildings on the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum grounds include re-creations of a crab-picking plant and a fishing shanty. There are buildings housing exhibits about the town’s oyster harvesting and packing industries and about the history of boating, resorts and other leisure activities along the Eastern Shore. The Hooper Strait Lighthouse includes a recreation of a lighthouse keeper’s quarters. Visitors can also watch shipbuilders at work on a variety of boats throughout the day. There’s a small “buy boat” on the museum grounds that you can climb into, and a theater where visitors can watch their choice of several 20-minute films about the region. Two-day admission to the museum ranges from free for little kids to $22 for adults at the welcome desk (or up to $20 if you order online in advance). You can also buy tickets for a 70-minute narrated

historical cruise on the Miles River aboard the two-story Patriot boat (up to $30 for adults when bought online), or combination tickets for the museum and cruise that save you a few dollars. Find tickets at visit.cbmm.org.

A stroll along the waterfront There are plenty of places to sit on a bench and relax along St. Michaels’ waterfront. They include Hollis Park on Mill Street, Muskrat Park on Willow Green Street and Waterfront Park on Seymour Street. During two trips to St. Michaels, I’ve eaten at two popular restaurants with outdoor seating and waterfront views. The Crab Claw, a bustling seafood restaurant on Burns Street that’s been in business for 61 years, is closing for good on Nov. 6 of this year; I’m glad I had the chance to experience having my rockﬁsh tacos at a picnic table right at the river’s edge. My lunch was punctuated by the sounds of other patrons smashing their crabs with hammers.

Fish tacos and an orange crush at The Crab Claw.

The waterfront at the Chesapeake Bay museum.

Two years ago, I ate my ﬁsh tacos at Foxy’s Harbor Grille, 125 Mulberry St., with another great view of the water and a menu of seafood, burgers, soups and salads. There’s often live music on the patio. Whether you like to stroll along water, through history or along a historic town’s main street, you’ll ﬁnd something to draw you to St. Michaels.

DISCOVERING THE ARTS Drive through Lancaster city on North Prince Street and it’s hard to miss the imposing four-story, glass-and-granite building known as The Ware Center for the Arts — part of the busy arts corridor that’s also home to Gallery Row and Fulton Theatre. While you could hardly call The Ware Center a hidden gem in the physical sense, there are many who may not realize all that this satellite campus of Millersville University offers the community. “It’s not just a campus building,” says Cori Jackson, arts communication manager for the center. “We have such diverse programming that’s unlike anything else that’s being done in the region. And most importantly, we’re not just here to offer arts experiences for students — we’re here for the entire Lancaster community.” It’s more than stellar performances from nationally known artists like Branford Marsalis or the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, both on the schedule for this upcoming season. It’s gallery shows, family events, documentary discussions, educational camps and more — all designed to make The Ware Center a community gathering place where the arts are accessible to everyone.

THE MISSION

The Ware Center has a five-pronged mission focused on bringing the community together in a celebration of the arts: TO PRESENT WORLD-CLASS VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS That means bringing in diverse and exceptional artists from all over the world representing music, dance, visual art, theater and documentary films. TO SHINE A LIGHT ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL TALENT “We want to give a platform to those who may not have a platform elsewhere,” Jackson says. “Our programs strive to lift all voices, celebrate all cultures, and open all doors through the arts.” TO CREATE A COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE The free On Screen / In Person series encourages community dialogue by pairing a documentary film with a diverse panel discussion and a Q&A session. And with its multiple venue spaces, including a community meeting room and glass pyramid-topped Atrium, the Ware Center can accommodate numerous public and private events and community organizations. Last year, Jackson says, the Ware Center hosted 261 events and welcomed 21,000 people through its doors.

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TO FOSTER ARTS EDUCATION Arts Smarts, a summer camp for grades K-5, focuses on music, theater, dance and visual art. The M-Uth Theater program brings together young people

with disabilities or challenging life circumstances to stage performances tackling heavy real-world issues. The center also hosts workshops for all ages on everything from swing dancing to drawing like Picasso. TO MAKE THE ARTS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE Jackson estimates the center gave away about 1,700 free tickets this year to various under-served communities. The center offers free programming in the form of First Friday events, gallery shows and the On Screen / In Person series. They also offer school day shows that allow hundreds of local students to see a show for free before the public performance. Other ﬁnancial assistance includes scholarships and stipends for the summer camp and youth theater programs. For those with disabilities, the Ware Center offered accessibility services for 18 shows last year, including sign language interpretation, captioning, audio description and sensory-friendly accommodations. Some performers will also offer a pre-show “touch tour” for the blind and vision impaired, whether it’s feeling the textured soles of Celtic dance clogs or playing Japanese taiko drums.

COMING SOON

The Ware Center for the Arts offers a host of opportunities to engage with the arts during its 2026-2027 season. Here is just a sample:

PERFORMING ARTS SERIES In addition to Branford Marsalis (Feb. 4) and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (Dec. 18), this season’s lineup includes the Nashville-based country-pop trio DEK of Hearts, finalists on NBC’s “The Voice” (Oct. 10) and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s “Swinging Songs of Broadway” (April 10). FAMILY FUN FEST SERIES Tailored toward children and families of different ages, these events include an hour of free kids’ crafts and activities before each show. This season’s offerings include the Cirque Du Canines dog circus (Oct. 17); “Layer the Walls,” a puppet and live-action show telling immigrant stories (Nov. 21); and “Milo the Magnificent,” a wordless puppet play about a magician whose tricks don’t always go as planned (Feb. 27). ON SCREEN / IN PERSON SERIES Among the offerings in this season’s documentary film and community discussion series are “Redemption Time,” a multimedia performance film about a formerly incarcerated poet and jazz violinist who reclaim their lives through art (Oct. 6) and “A Long Way to Go,” a film exploring the stories of three migrant nurses (Jan. 20). LANCASTER LOVES SERIES Now in its second year, this series celebrates local music by pairing –ADVERTISING FEATURE –

two artists with similar themes or genres. This season’s pairings include Harrisburg singer-songwriters Jeffrey Gaines and Meaghan Farrell (Oct. 23); folk music with Rivers and Big Sky Quartet (Dec. 11); and a cabaret of music from the silver screen with Reji Woods and Friends (April 24). WE THE PEOPLE FIRST FRIDAY SERIES These free First Friday performances, paired with new gallery openings, will include a musical tour of African culture with the McCaskey Combined Choirs (Dec. 4) and an evening of popular music with The UnSinkables, a group of teens and young adults who received services at Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development (April 2). ARTS FOR HEALTH AND WELLBEING SERIES New this year, this series encourages the arts as a means to improve health and healing. Immerse yourself in Indian classical music from a cushion on stage as you experience the healing power of music with tabla maestro Sandeep Das (Oct. 18), or join the conversation about aging and wellness through a free screening of the ﬁlm “Sally’s Iron Mustangs” and a live Q&A with the ﬁlmmakers (Apr. 8). For the complete schedule of programming, visit ArtsMU.com/shows.

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Wed, Oct. 28 | 7:30pm Open Mic/Jam Thurs, Oct. 29 | 7:30pm TBA Fri, Oct. 30 | 12pm Quentin Jones

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Sat, Oct. 31 | 9pm Halloween party on the Patio with The Nobles!

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all has officially arrived, along with the promise of crisp days, chilly nights and the knowledge that winter won’t be far behind. Over the past summer months, keeping the house warm might have been the furthest thing from your mind, but now is the time to make it a priority. One efficient, cost-saving and stylish solution for keeping your home toasty in the colder months ahead is a wood stove. “They are more cost-efficient, especially if you have your own wood. And if you lose power, you still have heat,” says John of Brightside Chimney and Heating, a familyowned and operated business that offers stove installation and a full array of chimney services for homeowners in Lancaster County and surrounding areas. While some people simply enjoy the ambiance of a wood stove, many are purchasing them to cut down on heating costs. “This is going to be cheaper than electricity and cheaper than oil as well,” he says. Brightside Chimney and Heating carries a selection of freestanding wood stoves from major brands, including Osburn, Ventis and Ironstrike. They come in a variety of sizes, with the largest models able to heat up to 2,500 square feet.

to Scandinavian-inspired options with soapstone bases for a more contemporary look. The wood stoves Brightside carries and installs are EPA 2020 certified, meaning they meet strict clean-air and emission standards. Unlike older wood stoves, these modern counterparts produce less smoke and particulate pollution while also using less wood. Health and safety concerns are always an important factor in home heating choices. That is one reason Brightside also carries and installs fireplace inserts to convert open fireplaces into safe and efficient heating solutions. “It is a necessity for a lot of fireplaces, because they are not up to code to have an open, burning fireplace,” he says. The process of converting an open fireplace is fairly straightforward, he says. It involves measuring for the right size insert and installing a stainless-steel chimney liner to improve efficiency and safety and to bring it up to code. One advantage of the fireplace insert over an open fireplace is that more heat stays in the room, rather than escaping out through the chimney. The fireplace insert has a fan that is

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designed to blow heat out over the stove and into the room. Brightside also offers chimney inspections and sweeping. They can install chimney liners for your coal, oil or propane stoves and furnaces and custom caps for those who have damaged flues or other issues and simply want to bring their fireplace or chimney up to code. Chimney service and stove installation schedules tend to fill up fast in the fall as homeowners start thinking about the cold weather ahead. If you’re hoping to enjoy the beauty and warmth of a freestanding wood stove or wood stove insert once winter’s chill arrives, make an appointment now. Call 717-925-7272, email brightsideheat@upwardmail.com, or visit brightsidechimney.com to learn more and request a call.

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