It was Timbrel Wallace’s father who suggested she call her downtown Gettysburg gift shop “Lark.”
“I wanted a name that was happy and uplifting. Of course, a lark is a bird, and the two sayings that come to mind are ‘happy as a lark’ and ‘doing something on a lark,’ indicating spontaneity. That all resonated with me,” says Wallace. Continue reading Happy as a Lark
It’s a timeless source of inspiration: Nature’s beauty and bounty, in every season, has inspired our creativity for centuries. So it was only natural that two of the Susquehanna Valley’s prominent wedding planners recently focused on winter, spring, summer, and fall to develop seasonal wedding vignettes. Continue reading Love is in Season
Brittle Bark could quite possibly be the happiest place in all of central Pennsylvania—especially during the holiday season. Tucked into a tall corner storefront along Main Street in Mechanicsburg with a brightly decorated seasonal front window, the chocolate and candy shop has earned a sweet reputation over the past 10 years. Continue reading Sweet Break
Domingo Mancuello says people constantly call him an “old soul”—and he’s the first to admit that they’re right. The pianist’s specialty—ragtime and popular music from the 1890s to 1940s—puts Mancuello’s “old soul” directly in the spotlight. Continue reading The Old Soul Ragtime Show
Yonder Star, an Adams County business, has cultivated relationships with artisans and manufacturers of nativity scenes located around the world for 17 years. Owned by husband and
wife Brett and Cindy Snyder, Yonder Star is keeping the Christmas tradition of the nativity alive—using today’s technology as an online business. Continue reading Following Yonder Star
Gettysburg’s place in history was cemented due to its location—at “the crossroads of America.” During the Civil War era, all major routes running north and south, east and west, met in Gettysburg. Today, just a block from Lincoln Square where those crossroads still collide, a downtown Gettysburg restaurant is gaining a reputation for its creative American fusion menu—bringing traditional American flavors together from the north, south, west and east in fun new ways. Continue reading At the Crossroads of American Fusion
Located almost exactly at the midway point of The Appalachian Trail, the Appalachian Trail Museum tells the story of the A.T., “the most popular hiking trail in America.” And it’s an excellent place to launch an Appalachian adventure of your own. Continue reading Appalachian Adventure
As primary caregiver for her father—diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease—Stephanie Weimer always knew his whereabouts thanks to a tracking device on his cell phone. About two years ago, he drove himself to a routine doctor’s appointment and became disoriented while driving home. “He was lost, and the tracking device didn’t work because his cell phone had gone dead,” Weimer said. Continue reading Home Safely
People often talk about “finding their calling in life.” Dr. Domingo Alvear’s began in his native Philippines, inspired by a country-doctor uncle who let his nephew tag along as he made house calls in a bouncing Jeep. Six decades later, Alvear is retiring after both a long career as a pediatric surgeon in Harrisburg and as a founder of the nonprofit World Surgical Foundation (WSF). Continue reading Medical Journey
Augmented reality, or technology that allows computer-generated images to be superimposed over the iPad’s camera view, provides battlefield scenes as if the visitor is standing on the battlefield during the July 1863 battle. Continue reading InSite Gettysburg
Fred Joslyn ran on his wedding day. And on the days his three children were born. Joslyn, in fact, runs every day. No exceptions. If there’s a face of Harrisburg’s running community, Joslyn’s is it. Continue reading Born to Run
Inspired by family, traditions and Sunday dinners, Chef AnnMarie Nelms has created a warm, welcoming atmosphere at Thea. Tranquil colors, hand-crafted tables and a finetuned menu infused with family heritage all work in gracious harmony—as if Nelms is inviting you directly into her home. Continue reading Like Family
Flour is the foundation of some of our favorite “comfort foods,” including pizza, subs, and pasta. So, how appropriate that Antica Napoli Pizza features more than a dozen unique pizzas, more than three dozen subs plus Stromboli, and a dozen varieties of pasta, all created by Owner Ignazio “Iggy” Farina, whose very name “Farina” is Italian for “flour.” Continue reading Antica Napoli Pizza: Putting Pizazz in Gettysburg’s Pizza
“Athletics teach us real life lessons,” says Gareth “Lefty” Biser. “And loss [not only in athletics, but in life] is an opportunity to build character.” Continue reading Building Character through Tragedy
“It’s been a life-long fascination…I’ve been interested in American history from childhood–I followed it, studied it, and ultimately painted it… professionally, since 1963,” says artist David Wright, known as “the artist of the American frontier.” He makes interpreting history through a paintbrush sound easy–“I paint history,” Wright says. But the intriguing paintings captured on canvas only emerge after painstaking research. Continue reading History Meets the Arts
“This 100-year-old building was an incredibly warm space,” says Yianni Barakos. Original brick walls, exposed beams, and thick concrete floors harken back to the restaurant’s former days as Gettysburg Furniture Factory. After a year-and-a-half-long renovation, the father-son duo opened Mason Dixon Distillery’s doors in July of 2016. Now, new spirits are rising from downtown Gettysburg’s industrial past. Continue reading Grit & Grain
“I know I’m intelligent, but I feel very stupid,” says Melissa*, her voice shaking at times, but strong enough to tell her personal story. “I was the breadwinner, but now I have nothing.” Continue reading Stories from the Yellow House
It’s all very straightforward and comfortable: a simple and traditional American menu, blended with whiskey and history. Continue reading All-American Spirit
Many Adams County home renovations merge with residents’ deep appreciation of history. “In the Borough of Gettysburg we have Civil War era homes that line our streets. Further out in the
country, there are beautiful farmscapes rich with all types of historic homes—not just Civil War homes but those going back to the 1700s,” says Anne Zabawa, president of Historic Gettysburg Adams County (HGAC). Continue reading Old Meets New
It’s considered the nation’s leading organization dedicated to educating and preserving the legacy of Americans who have served their country as U.S. army soldiers. The range, depth, and breadth of USAHEC is staggering: a 54-acre site housing 16 million military items, including what’s considered the world’s largest collection of Civil War photographs. Continue reading Destinations: The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA
Eight Gettysburg teenagers are not only embracing their nerd status, but promoting it via a successful downtown shop, Nerd Herd Gifts & Games. Continue reading The Nerd Herd
A natural and national treasure, the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world. “Like Pennsylvania being the keystone of the colonies, Pennsylvania is the keystone of the trail,” says Joe Harold, manager of the A.T. Museum. Continue reading An Appalachian Adventure
During a 2001 leadership class at Freedom Valley Worship Center, Pastor Gerry Stoltzfoos asked participants to dream, to think about what they would be doing in their lives to minister to
others if money were no object. Brandy Crago responded with an answer—therapeutic horse riding—and Stoltzfoos quickly offered her the use of the land surrounding the church, setting her
dream into motion. Continue reading Churches on a Mission
The rails-to-trails movement–converting unused railroad lines into recreational trails is “on-track” with today’s environmentally-friendly, recycling movement. Continue reading Trail Blazing
At Tania’s Mexican Restaurant, it’s all about authentic flavors, family, and achieving the American dream. Continue reading An Authentic Taste of Mexico in Adams County
Chef-owner Josh Fidler waits, poised with tongs, until he sees the perfect amount of charring, then flips a piece of octopus on the grill. His eyes, trained by a degree in photography, give him an artistic edge in the kitchen. Continue reading Old School Hospitality and New Age Flavors at Fidler & Co
Just as everyone has a unique fingerprint, everyone has a unique footprint—including shape, structure and function. Going to a shop specializing in running shoes—often staffed with experienced runners—can put you on the right footing. Continue reading Hit the Ground Running
If music strikes a note with area kids, there’s a good chance their lives are touched by Gettysburg’s Carrie Trax. Continue reading Carrie Trax: Inspiring Future Musicians
Ask anyone about their favorite holiday tradition and you will receive a multitude of answers—everything from Christmas trees, to music and carols, the hustle and bustle of shopping,
decorating, and celebrating the “true” meaning of Christmas through Christ’s birth. The one place in Adams County where you can experience every single one of these traditions—and
more—is located in the heart of Gettysburg, at Lincoln Square. Continue reading The Heart of the Holidays
Craft beer—the art of combining water, malt, yeast, and hops in traditional style with an innovative twist—is a trend growing by leaps and bounds. You could say that Central Pennsylvania is blowing the lid off the craft beer market. Continue reading Brewing Big Business
For 100 years, Licensed Battlefield Guides have preserved the stories of Gettysburg. “More men and women have flown in space than have been licensed battlefield guides,” says Joe Mieczkowski. “It’s prestigious–a privilege to be a guide.” Continue reading Caretakers for a Century
Nestled in the northernmost Blue Ridge Mountains of Adams County, tree farms thrive in the county’s unique climate. “We are world-renowned for our apples, but that same climate also produces great Christmas trees,” says Aaron Miller, one of 15 partners at Seven Springs Tree Farm, Orrtanna. Continue reading Oh Christmas Tree
Apples have been at the core of Adams County’s economy for decades. Today, the cash crop is a key ingredient in the revival of a beverage that’s as American as apple pie itself. Continue reading Branching Out
Three days in July 1863 changed the course of American history. They also altered the lives of Gettysburg’s civilians forever. Many of their stories have remained untold until now. Here is the historic, and often heroic, “other side of the story.” Continue reading Caught in the Crossfire
A connection to nature–that’s just one catalyst behind a resurgence in gardening, especially community gardening. Continue reading Gardening for Community Good
In October of 2013, during the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, barricades blocked visitors from entering Gettysburg National Military Park. All expectations for this banner year of tourism could have come crashing down. However, the government shutdown highlighted the Gettysburg community’s resiliency. Continue reading Gettysburg Tourism Community Rallies Amid Government Shutdown
Some of Curt Musselman’s fondest childhood memories include time spent grading eggs with his grandmother or opening the gate for the sheep on his grandparents’ Fairfield farm. Today, he’s the seventh generation owner of the 125-acre farm including a picturesque barn built partially with stones cleared from the property in 1830. “The Musselman Barn–this is the reason why I’ve gotten involved in barn preservation,” he says. Continue reading These Old Barns
Paul Heller, known as a rebellious teen, ran away from his Allentown home three times. But his third attempt, at age 15, was for good. Heller fulfilled his dream–somehow fooling recruitment officers–and joined the Marines. It was 1942. Continue reading Coming Home to Gettysburg: The Stories of PA’s WW I and II Veterans
Adams County’s orchards are among the most prized, technology-driven acres worldwide. Continue reading Orchard Innovations
When Kevin Lochbaum told his family he was in dire need of a kidney donation in March 2012, somehow his sister-in-law Traci Lochbaum knew her kidney would be a perfect match. Continue reading Everyday Hero: ‘Angel’ Traci Lochbaum
Karen Hendricks 