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
How long does it take to remove 26,400 pieces of trash from the Susquehanna River?
John Naylor found out. One boatload at a time. Continue reading York man has pulled 26,000 pieces of trash from the Susquehanna – 1 boatload at a time
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
Dolly Parton’s unmistakable voice floats across the graveyard, carried on a chilly breeze, sweeping down Adams County’s Harbaugh Valley. Her music provides the soundtrack for Lisa Rawlings’ workday.
Humming along, absorbed in her work, Rawlings focuses on the gravestone in front of her. Perched on a stool, her purple rubber-gloved hands gripping a long gray brush, she scrubs a 60-year-old gravestone—the kind that marks a double grave for a husband and wife who wanted to be remembered as they likely lived—side-by-side.
“I feel like it’s an honor for me to come and do this. I don’t want them to be forgotten,” says Rawlings, 47, of Fairfield. Continue reading Resting Places, Restored
Kareem Rosser’s childhood neighborhood, “The Bottom,” is known for its poverty and violence. To say it was an unlikely home for the United States Polo Association’s (USPA) High School National Championship team is an understatement. But Philly loves an underdog story. Continue reading If Wishes Were Horses: Kareem Rosser’s Story
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
Every dog has his day. But not every dog has his own Twitter account with nearly 20,000 followers. Continue reading Lucky Levi: How a chained, rescued dog became “the official dog of Pennsylvania”
Sliding behind the wheel of a shiny new convertible is how many people imagine celebrating their 50th birthday.
But as Father Leo Patalinghug approached his 50th milestone, his wheels turned in a different direction. Continue reading A Vehicle for Good
Meet Holly and John Hoey—but don’t call them a “power couple.” These humble community leaders just want to make a difference in central Maryland. Continue reading Building a Better Baltimore
The soul of a business is often depicted in a logo. And that’s the case for Uncle Moe’s Soul Food Truck, which, on any given day, rolls into Gettysburg or throughout the region—from Frederick, Md., to Chambersburg, Hanover to Fairfield.
Eldridge “Moe” Moses walks to the side of his bright red food truck and stands beside the logo—a circle containing hands, stretched upward toward a blue sky, clouds, and a sunburst.
“When praises go up, blessings come down,” says Moses. Continue reading A Taste of Heart and Soul
For nearly 30 years, Marian Elby has been a regular visitor at central Pennsylvania prisons.
“People need someone,” said Elby, 77. “Ever since I was little, I had a heart for those who didn’t have.” Continue reading Being a Spark
Thirty armed militia members started walking down a hill, across the Gettysburg Battlefield, toward him.
It was the 4th of July, and it was the first time all day that Scott Hancock felt his heart beating out of his chest. Continue reading Monumental Issues
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
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
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
Rick Hill thought he’d be playing golf every day, enjoying retirement.
“I was incredibly bored, and my wife said, ‘You might as well get another job,’” said Hill. “The stars aligned… I was introduced to Goodwill and its mission, and at that point I knew I didn’t want to do anything else but work for Goodwill the rest of my life.” Continue reading Goodwill to All
Alex Lemon grew up with a childhood tradition of drinking coffee with her mom on Sunday mornings. It was such a cherished time that it pulled her back home to Dillsburg from West Chester University during her college days, so that their mother-daughter coffee rituals could continue.
Little did she know then that she was just a few years away from becoming co-owner of a highly successful Gettysburg coffeehouse and roasting company—Eighty Two Café and Ragged Edge Roasting Co.—housed together under one roof at 82 Steinwehr Ave. Continue reading Eighty Two Cafe
Gwen Loose was hiking with a friend on the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) when a question crossed her mind.
While Benton MacKaye and Myron Avery are considered the founders and fathers of the A.T., “Who was holding down the fort at conference headquarters?” she wondered. Continue reading Trailblazers
When Tina Weyant began her position as founding executive director of the World Trade Center (WTC) Harrisburg nearly 30 years ago, there was no internet. Continue reading Window to the World
It’s possibly the most-listened-to podcast produced in the Harrisburg area.
“When we first started, we didn’t know how it would be received,” said Angie Spencer. “We figured there would be an appetite, but we’ve been blown away.” Continue reading Run Hear
Michael Doub describes it as a hunger.
He has a need to know more. He wants to know the truth about a single, vital subject—the history of slavery in the United States. Continue reading Michael’s Mission
David W. Blight wrote his first book about Frederick Douglass 30 years ago and never dreamed there would be another—let alone a full biography. However, “some lives are, in a way, made for biography,” Blight said during a recent interview. Continue reading A Voice for the Ages
It’s not every day that your teenager texts you uplifting messages like, “I’m extremely proud of you,” and “You’re a hell of a human,” and “Love you, Dad.”
Those texts “were like fuel,” said Mike McCauley, which inspired his run throughout the first weekend of November. And it was the run of a lifetime by the 55-year-old Mechanicsburg dad, a run dedicated to his 17-year-old son Lachlan. Continue reading Son Run
Sue Pera lives by the motto, “Strong women drink strong coffee.” Continue reading Silver Cup
The day that her husband pushed her into a wall was the day that Cherie Faus-Smith left. Continue reading Style and Substance
Emma Lower laughs when asked if agriculture is in her family’s DNA. The 33-year-old is a fifth-generation co-manager of Boyer Nurseries & Orchards in Biglerville.
“There are farmers on both sides of my family,” she says. “We have a healthy love for growing plants and quality fruit–it runs deep.” Continue reading All in the Family
Sandra Spicer-Sharp said it was one of her proudest moments as a mom.
Her son’s artwork, created on parachute cloth, was laid out on the grass…ready to be installed as part of the Harrisburg Mural Festival. Continue reading Meet the Artist: Brandon Spicer-Crawley
Youthful creativity, energy, ideas, hard work, and a stroke of good luck—these seem to be the factors that propel young entrepreneurs on their paths to founding successful businesses.
Here are the stories of three businesses founded by young people—a 9-year-old Lancaster County boy following in the footsteps of his entrepreneurial parents, a “herd” of Gettysburg teens and 20-somethings making their own mark on history by showcasing today’s pop culture, and a popular Harrisburg coffee shop owner who began brewing up her business when she was 26. Continue reading Young Entrepreneurs
Imagine a fall wedding in the woods, a casual reception in a barn. There’s hot apple cider, pulled pork, pies, popcorn, and just a good time “hanging out” with close friends and family.
It sounds in many ways like a picturesque storybook wedding. And, it was.
But it took years for this bride with her beautiful smile to consider marriage. That’s because she’d already had the traditional, big fairy-tale wedding with all the trimmings years before–a first marriage to her high school sweetheart that ended in tragedy. Continue reading Second Chance at Love
Not many people decide to open a restaurant during their retirement years. Cheri Ann Freeman operates Chez Cheri Cafe with a vitality and energy that seem to defy her age of 72. Continue reading Worldly Flavors, Friendly Faces
What do you imagine yourself doing at the age of 68? While retirement is likely at the top of most people’s lists, that’s not the case for Diane Krulac, owner of downtown Mechanicsburg’s popular candy shop Brittle Bark. Instead, she recently launched a new line of unique chocolate truffles and bars called Cocoa Creek Chocolates. Continue reading Mechanicsburg’s Sweet Spot
Nicole Baer’s home-based cupcake business was so popular that her kitchen wall oven was on nearly all day, every day, and she still couldn’t bake enough cupcakes to fill orders.
That all changed when she opened Ann’s Cupcakery on Mechanicsburg’s Main Street last fall.
Continue reading Let Them Eat Little Cakes
Mediterranean and Ukrainian cuisine are married throughout the adventurous, flavor-filled menu at Tatiana’s Restaurant, Mechanicsburg—the perfect symbolism for husband-and-wife owners Tatiana and Ashraf El Seaidy. The restaurant’s namesake, Tatiana, hails from Ukraine, while her husband of 19 years, chef Ash, was born and raised in Egypt. Continue reading A Destination to Love
Jeff Jurkowski says he was probably about 4 years old when he first saw crabs being steamed.
Growing up in Baltimore, an uncle owned and operated a popular crab house that served up 600 bushels of crab weekly. With watermen also in the family, Jurkowski grew up learning about the Chesapeake Bay’s bounty. Seafood just might be in his genes, and now the chef/owner is sharing his flair for adventuresome dishes at Gettysburg’s newest restaurant. Continue reading The Hoof, Fin & Fowl
Jason McNew says his military background provided the perfect training for his current field, cybersecurity.
“Veterans are security minded by nature…it’s a mindset,” he says. Continue reading A New Battleground
Trailblazing runner Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to compete in the Boston Marathon, once said, “If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon.”
Harrisburg-area residents can do exactly that this month when the 44th Annual Harrisburg Marathon winds through the city. Continue reading Marathon Made
Mickey Minnich wears a silver bracelet inscribed with the phrase, “One day at a time.”
It’s a reminder, he said, to stay focused on the moment, helping one family at a time as they face cancer. Over the past 15 years, his organization, Vickie’s Angel Foundation (VAF), has raised more than $2.6 million, helping more than 1,500 families throughout a nine-county area of central Pennsylvania. Continue reading Angels Among Us
“Why does September seem sunny as spring?” asks one version of the classic Hollywood song, “Singin’ in the Rain.”
Stosh Snyder, whose favorite musical of all time is “Singin’ in the Rain,” likely has the answer. Continue reading Glorious Feeling
Lesa and Brennan Brackbill of Hershey have endured something no parents should—the death of a child.
Now they’re determined to create a lasting legacy by advocating for changes to Pennsylvania’s newborn screening laws that could have prevented their daughter’s death. Continue reading A Loss, A Purpose
Abraham Lincoln presenter James Hayney has held numerous roles throughout his life. But this self-described “high school dropout” who served in the Navy never saw his ultimate role coming. Continue reading The Role of a Lifetime
In April 1948, York County native Earl Shaffer set out to do what no man had done before—hike the Appalachian Trail’s (A.T.) 2,000-some miles in one continuous hike. His motivation was to “walk off the war” and his experiences serving in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Last month (May 2018), during this 70th anniversary year of Earl’s first hike, two of Earl’s relatives launched their own A.T. adventure to pay homage to the legendary trail figure. Continue reading Duo Treks AT in Memory of Uncle, First Thru-Hiker
Each spring, about 3,000 people set off on the journey of a lifetime.
That’s how many attempt to “thru-hike” the entire 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, about 750 people—one in four—succeed. Continue reading Through It All
Against the backdrop of Tuscany, Rynn and David Caputo decided that shortly after their wedding, they would leave their jobs, move to Italy, and attend culinary school together. “I would say our parents were concerned,” recalls David Caputo. Continue reading Caputo Brothers Creamery
Alison McIndoe says she always knew she would be an interior designer. She spent a lot of time with an aunt and uncle who often remodeled and redecorated their home. “I saw the floor plans, the fabric swatches, and I became so enamored with the process that I decided to make a career of it,” she says. Continue reading Dreams and Destiny
Tracey Wakeen says that everything she does revolves around her mission statement, written in marker at the top of her office’s dry erase board: “Unlocking true potential by strengthening all women in body, mind and spirit.” Continue reading Gaining Momentum
If the sweeping mountain views aren’t enough to sweep you off your feet, then Eagle & The Owl Public House’s fresh, homemade approach is sure to wow you. Continue reading Eagle & The Owl Public House
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
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
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
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
“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
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
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
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 