On any given day, 20,000 band and orchestra instruments are waiting to be rented or repaired at Menchey Music’s operations center in Hanover.
It’s a far cry from the business’ humble beginnings in 1936 when J. Robert Menchey bought a saxophone for $25, repaired it in his mother’s sewing room and sold it for $40. Continue reading Menchey Music strikes a chord with York County customers for 88 Years
Since 1940, the shop at 117 East King Street has been called Klepper’s.
A giant key-shaped sign juts out from the second story, reading, “Klepper’s Key Shop.” That was the shop’s original name — but technically, it’s called “Klepper’s Security Source” today.
Yet, to many Yorkers, it’s simply “Klepper’s.” The name has stuck over the years — and outlived founder Charles E. Klepper. In fact, there’s no longer a Klepper employed by Klepper’s. But the locksmithing tradition lives on — and has given rise to a slate of additional services that Charles Klepper never could have predicted a century ago. Continue reading The keys to success: Klepper’s has secured and unlocked York for more than a century
Calculating the amount of paint the Berkheimer family has spread, brushed, sprayed and distributed over York County and beyond, over the past 63 years, is difficult to estimate. Gallons, easily in the thousands, have coated the interiors and exteriors of homes and businesses alike, as well as vehicles.
Equally colorful is the family’s entrepreneurial story, now spanning four generations and encompassing the mid-Atlantic region from a home base of York County. Continue reading 4 generations: How the Berkheimers built a business empire spanning paint to IT to Dottie’s
The retro neon sign at 22 North Beaver Street has been overhead as long as Karen Reiss Staub can remember. “Reiss Jeweler” glows in green and red, with a big yellow arrow pointing toward the tiny jewelry shop.
Today, Staub’s A-frame sign on the sidewalk reads, “The Watchmaker’s Daughter.” It’s the latest iteration of the 79-year-old family business, now spanning three generations. Still, the glowing neon sign keeps watch above. Staub says customers are occasionally confused about the business’ name, but she likes explaining the lineage and evolution.
Continue reading The Watchmaker’s Daughter Has Stood the Test of Time
When Heather Valudes found out she’d been named a Woman of Strength, she wasn’t sure she fit the bill.
“When I think about my work, strength isn’t always the first word that comes to mind,” says Valudes, 37. “But I do think I persevere a lot—I’m tenacious, and I show up in the work I do.”
That work includes being named the first female president and CEO of the Lancaster Chamber last year—a milestone year in which the chamber celebrated its 150th anniversary… Continue reading Susquehanna Style’s 2023 Women of Strength
Greg Johnson’s first project, as he was launching his woodworking business, was for his dog. Continue reading Hammering it Home: Fourth-generation woodworker Greg Johnson crafts small business success
New Cumberland has a new identity.
A brightly colored logo proclaiming, “New Cumberland Borough: Old Town, New Energy” is coming to banners and flags, signs, borough newsletters and “everywhere we can put it,” said Valerie Copenhaver, the Cumberland County borough’s first-ever director of community and economic development.
But branding the borough is just the beginning. Continue reading New Energy, New Cumberland: Revitalization efforts are creating a buzz in the riverside borough
Outdoor recreation is “in.” Amid the pandemic, its popularity has soared as high as the treetops.
At the same time, Silas Chamberlin, vice president of the York Economic Alliance, is doing some re-creating of his own: he’s redefining the field of economic development and merging it with his lifelong appreciation of the outdoors—specifically trails—as conduits for community revitalization. Continue reading How Silas Chamberlin Forged a New Path in York County
Pilates, as an exercise, is all about strengthening your core muscles.
But Allison Zang, owner and founder of Absolute Pilates, is also focused on core strength in a business sense.
That’s why becoming a Certified B Corporation, with the “B” standing for “beneficial,” resonated with her. Continue reading At Its Core: Based in PA, the Certified B Corp movement is growing around the world
Extraordinarily challenging times call for strength of character, and these women are flexing mighty muscles to help others throughout the Susquehanna Valley. Continue reading Women of Strength
The financial picture is a little rosier today for capital region arts organizations.
Gov. Tom Wolf announced $20 million in grant funding Tuesday for the state’s cultural and arts institutions, including a combined $308,978 headed to eight Dauphin County organizations. Continue reading Arts Aid
Character and conviction, drive and determination.
What propels people forward—sometimes over seemingly insurmountable hurdles—to pursue their dreams, especially later in life? We talked to eight extraordinary people, following their career paths in and around Adams County, to find out. Continue reading Fascinating, Fearless, and Flourishing at 40 and Beyond
If Dauphin County were a city, it would be in the top 30, nationwide, for breweries per capita.
Based on population, and with more breweries set to open, it would take the next round of national beer statistics by storm. Nearby, Lancaster is already in the top 25.
Jason Meckes did his homework when he helped design Visit Hershey & Harrisburg’s (VHH) new Brew Barons Beer Trail, which launched in mid-July. Continue reading Banking on Beer
Only in 2020 could “Restaurant Week” involve a month-long celebration of takeout.
Tuesday kicks off “Harrisburg Takeout Month,” organized by the nonprofit Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District (DID). It replaces Harrisburg Restaurant Week, in its 12th year in the capital city. Continue reading Takeout Turnabout
Norris Flowers was 12 years old when he launched his life-long career in the tourism industry.
Fifty-five years later, he’s seen a lot—but never anything like the pandemic crisis of 2020. Continue reading Vacation, Staycation
Lucas Brownback is sitting on a cash crop.
“We’ve been preparing and hoping for a year like this—we just wish it wasn’t under these circumstances,” said Brownback, a second-generation farmer who co-owns and operates Perry County’s 300-acre Spiral Path Farm with his brother, Will. Continue reading Agriculture Restructure: Farmers shift gears amid the pandemic
Carryout is king during these pandemic times. When the carryout is king crab—or Maryland’s famous blue crabs—even better for area seafood lovers.
The success of Harbour House Crabs is no fish story or fisherman’s tale. Jessica and Curt Engle hooked the catch of their lives 20 years ago when they founded their Harrisburg-based business. Continue reading Get Crackin’ with Harbour House Crabs
Breweries in the ‘Burg offer an experience.
That’s the premise behind the Brew Barons Beer Trail, launched today by Dauphin County’s tourism bureau, Visit Hershey & Harrisburg (VHH). Continue reading Brew Barons Beer Trail Launched
Janice Black was in a unique position to recognize the scope of the COVID-19 crisis—and to do something about it.
The 25-year president and CEO of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC) also has a background in healthcare and nursing. Continue reading Pandemic Pinch
Cereal, peanut butter, pasta, sauce and other essential household staples are inside the brown cardboard emergency food boxes.
But it’s innovative “outside-the-box” thinking and “extremely generous” acts of charity that are powering and placing the ingredients inside. Continue reading Hunger Pains
Fractures and breakdowns in the global supply chain—a pandemic-laced crisis—may actually present opportunities for south central Pennsylvania’s manufacturing sector. Continue reading Chain Reaction
By the time you’re reading this, the Pennsylvania Distillers Guild will have produced some 2.4 million 4-ounce bottles of hand sanitizer, predicts Rob Cassell.
“To me, I feel like what you’re seeing happen between public-private partnerships and businesses converting to creative solutions is like what our grandparents talked about happening during World War II,” said Cassell, guild president and master distiller at North Philadelphia’s New Liberty Distillery. Continue reading Kindred Spirits
In the midst of today’s COVID-19 pandemic, record unemployment figures, and economic uncertainties, are there comparisons to the Depression era? Continue reading Depression Reflections
“Public enemy number one” is how Shannon Powers refers to the spotted lanternfly.
Powers, press secretary for Pennsylvania’s Department of Agriculture, said the invading insect is an $18 billion threat to the state’s economy—specifically products and jobs related to the grape, apple, hops and hardwood industries.
And April is when the spotted lanternfly hatches. Continue reading Unwelcome in Our Woods
Dan Healy is anxiously awaiting a shipment of hydrogen peroxide. It was due to arrive at Harrisburg’s Midstate Distillery sometime today.
You read that right. Hydrogen peroxide isn’t something the head distiller and co-owner normally orders. But then again, he’s normally producing whiskey, vodka, rum or gin. For about a week, he’s switched to production of hand sanitizer instead. Continue reading Community Spirits
Karen Hendricks 