Susquehanna Valley Staycations

Posted on July 21, 2017 by Karen Hendricks

By Karen Hendricks

A “staycation” is defined as “a vacation spent at home or nearby,” according to Merriam-Webster. Here in the Susquehanna Valley of Central Pennsylvania, there are infinite possibilities for summer staycations, saving traveling time and shrinking vacation budgets, with the added benefit of seeing our hometowns in a new light. In fact, some of the state’s top tourism destinations are right under our noses.

One of the most authentic staycation experiences can be found at one of the “farm stays” within A Lancaster County Farm Stay, an association of 20 bed and breakfasts and guesthouses that welcome families with children. Not only do these accommodations provide pretty, pastoral farm settings, but they also offer behind-the-scenes tours and opportunities for couples or families to experience farm life.

I headed to Airy Hill Farm B&B to preview their rustic, back-to-basics farm charm.

“Airy Hill Farm Bed & Breakfast: Life as it should be,” reads the sign aside the winding driveway, in the midst of lush, rolling green farmland, shady clusters of trees and several babbling brooks. Situated in northern Lancaster County, just a few miles from Lebanon County, Airy Hill Farm B&B is named for its picturesque
Lancaster County backroad, Airy Hill Road, in Manheim…. click here to read the full article, Susquehanna Valley Staycations: Finding Farm Charm and More–Locally, a cover story in the June issue of Susquehanna Style.

Enjoy a few photos I snapped along the way, below! Fun fact: I covered this story in between snowstorms during the winter of 2017, attempting to make the photography look as “summery” as possible for publication in June.

Carlisle: All-American Spirit and History

Posted on February 20, 2017 by Karen Hendricks

Colonial-style China, featured at 1794 The Whiskey Rebellion, Carlisle

By Karen Hendricks

As we celebrate Presidents Day, here’s a piece of Pennsylvania-themed presidential trivia:

Only one president has ever acted as commander-in-chief of troops in the field. Which president? What was the situation?

Answer: President George Washington acted as commander-in-chief of troops while staying in Carlisle, Pennsylvania for a week in 1794 when he organized federal suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania. That’s because Carlisle was Washington’s choice for the location of our first arsenal and school for the U.S. Army.

These fascinating facts relate to two stories I recently covered for two regional magazines. Both stories are based in Carlisle, a quaint, charming historical town that also features a fun, hip vibe. In 2015, Carlisle was named one of America’s Top 100 Best Small Towns in 2015 by Livability.com (Carlisle came in at #16).

All-American Spirit: Carlisle’s 1794 The Whiskey Rebellion, published in the February 2017 issue of Susquehanna Style, is a restaurant review for popular downtown spot, 1794 The Whiskey Rebellion. It’s all very straightforward and comfortable: a simple and traditional American menu, blended with whiskey and history. Click here to read more!

Also location in Carlisle, the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center (USAHEC) is considered the nation’s leading cover-jan-feb-2017-celebrate-gettysburg 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 (and growing), including what’s considered the world’s largest collection of Civil War photographs with a grand total of 1.7 million military photographs. USAHEC not only includes an indoor museum component, but also outdoor exhibits, and an extensive library, archives, and artifacts collection—all free and open to the public. “It’s one of the treasures of our region,” says Aaron Jumper, communications coordinator of the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau.

And enjoy a collection of behind-the-scene photos taken during my research and interviews for both stories! (Click on any photo to arrow through the collection.)

Downtown Carlisle, PA

A rustic eatery, 1794 The Whiskey Rebellion:

1794 The Whiskey Rebellion, High Street, Carlisle

Deviled duck eggs, one of the most popular choices, come in three delicious varieties—traditional, smoked trout and chipotle gorgonzola.

Colonial-style China, featured at 1794 The Whiskey Rebellion, Carlisle

Behind the bar, 1794 The Whiskey Rebellion

Colonial style dining room, 1794 The Whiskey Rebellion

Welcome to 1794 The Whiskey Rebellion

Rustic touches, 1794 The Whiskey Rebellion

Susquehanna Style photographer Donovan Roberts Witmer works his magic

Always a pleasure working with Susquehanna Style photographer Donovan Roberts Witmer

The whiskey menu: 50+ selections

Colonial-era roofing slates add to the decor

1794 The Whiskey Rebellion, High Street, Carlisle, PA

USAHEC’s mile-long Army Heritage Trail connects 14 interactive exhibits

Outdoors exhibits, USAHEC

Tanks, inside and outside, at USAHEC

U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA

Welcome to the interacive Soldier Experience, telling the Army’s story, one solider at a time

Each visitor’s “dog tag” reveals an actual soldier’s story

See if you can follow instructions from your drill leader!

Take aim, in this interactive display

Experience the parachute!

With a total collection of 16 million military items , USAHEC keeps the “Treasures” exhibit well-stocked

Lindsay Strehl, USAHEC outreach and programs coordinator

Strehl points out her favorite artifact

Civil War veterans hand-wrote their memories, in this large ledger created during a ceremony held by the Carlisle GAR

Strehl’s enthusiasm for history is contagious!

Vietnam exhibit, USAHEC

Veterans are welcome to record their stories at USAHEC

Find out the fate of your soldier by scanning your dog tag at the end

Art helps many soldiers cope with the stress of their military service

Featured artwork

“My memories of Korea aren’t colorful.” – John A. Cook

All eras of history are covered at USAHEC

Numerous soldiers’ stories personalize a visit to USAHEC

A more recent component of today’s warfare

Interactive displays bring history to life

Engaging facts and stories spark an appreciation for our military history

Write a letter to an actual soldier serving today.

Introducing the Ice Man

Posted on January 6, 2017 by Karen Hendricks

Ernie DiMartino

By Karen Hendricks

Despite the cold temperatures, a handful of outdoor winter festivals thrive, mainly due to the warm, welcoming central Pennsylvania communities in which they’re hosted. Organizers say warm community hospitality is the key to shaking off the winter blues during Chambersburg’s IceFest, January 26-29, or the Lititz Fire & Ice Festival, February 17-20. Both celebrations feature fantastic ice sculptures lining downtown districts, free or low-cost admission and a festive spirit woven throughout community-wide events.

Click here to read my latest story for Susquehanna Style magazine, Frozen Fever: Ice Festivals Bring Warmth to Winter in Central PA (January 2017).

Photo Courtesy: Chambersburg IceFest

Photo Courtesy: Lititz Fire & Ice Festival

And meet the talented man who is carving out a name for himself, “Ice Man” Ernie DiMartino:

“Our major tool is the chainsaw—modified to make it faster or more powerful, plus die grinders, disc sanders, and ice chisels,” says Ernie DiMartino, owner of DiMartino Ice, who provides the creative talents behind both festivals’ ice sculptures.

The majority of one-block sculptures are created and stored at his Pittsburgh-area facility in Jeannette, Pennsylvania. He begins carving Chambersburg’s sculptures in September.

DiMartino’s team includes about 10 sculptors including two nephews and his stepson, but whom he says are all “like family.”

Ice-carving became a part of the family-owned ice business about 25 years ago when a neighbor, trained as a chef, taught DiMartino his skills in order to diversify the business. Today, DiMartino Ice provides sculptures for 13 annual festivals concentrated in the winter months.

“There’s a greater demand for interactive carving today—for example, a snowman with a space for visitors to put their faces where the snowman’s face would be. Or Cinderella’s horse and carriage which we created last year in Chambersburg, with people able to sit in the carriage,” DiMartino says. “Sponsors love it and people love it because they post the pictures on social media and share the fun.”

DiMartino says visiting Chambersburg and Lititz every winter is like going home. “I feel and the rest of team feel a part of those communities; we are very well received; we eat together as a family with festival organizers, for example. It’s nothing we ever asked for; it just evolved. In Lititz, Dawn Rissmiller opens her home to us. In Chambersburg, Café Italiano opens the restaurant to cook breakfast for us. Some of my guys are chefs–they jump in and help cook breakfast. We return for lunch and dinner too because they’re like family.”

“I never go on vacation,” DiMartino says with a laugh. “I’m always trying to find time for vacation; I think I’d like to go to Chambersburg or Lititz in the summer.”

Ernie DiMartino

Ice-Cold Facts:

One block of sculpture ice weighs 265 pounds.
It takes the sculptors one hour of labor for every block of ice carved.
It takes four refrigerated trucks to haul the sculptures from Jeannette to each festival.
Largest sculpture DiMartino ever built: Chambersburg’s ice slide created from 75 blocks of ice, measuring 40 feet long.
Highest sculpture DiMartino ever built: An 18-foot high Eiffel Tower for First Night State College.

Links:

Culinary Travels: Christine’s Cafe, Gettysburg

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Karen Hendricks

Farmer’s Benedict: featuring house-made Bacon Jam

By Karen Hendricks

For Chef/Owner Keith Lowman of Christine’s Café, Gettysburg, life has been a journey across America. That 35-year journey is reflected in his cooking, infusing his menu with America’s favorite and iconic regional flavors.

He describes the menu at Christine’s Café as “American fusion,” bringing culinary creativity to breakfast, lunch, and dinner. “American fusion is a combination or fusion of ethnicities combined into one workable dish,” Lowman explains. “Kind of like the way our country is, a melting pot…Having a sense of adventure about new flavors is what American fusion is all about.”

Learn how his journeys shaped the menu at Christine’s Cafe, Gettysburg, PA in my latest restaurant review for Celebrate Gettysburg magazine: Christine’s Cafe: A Melting Pot of American Fusion.

And enjoy a few behind-the-scenes snapshots, below. (Click on any photo to arrow through the highlights.)

Cedar Smoked Salmon

Inside Christine’s Cafe, Gettysburg

Farmer’s Benedict

A colorful blend of potatoes sizzles as a side to the Farmer’s Benedict

Chef Keith Lowman fires up the kitchen

Chef Keith Lowman plates his Farmer’s Benedict

Colorful: Vegan Burrito Bowl

Photographer Casey Martin works his magic

Photographer Casey Martin, behind-the-scenes

Chef Keith Lowman prepares house-made pasta

House-made pasta

Links:

Embracing “Nerd” Status

Posted on October 15, 2016 by Karen Hendricks

nerd-herd-9

By Karen Hendricks

The term “nerd” is thought to have evolved from the 1950 Dr. Seuss book, “If I Ran the Zoo.” Today, “Merriam-Webster” defines “nerd” as “an unstylish, socially inept person; one who is slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits.”

However, a group of eight Gettysburg teenagers are not only embracing their nerd status, but also promoting it via a successful downtown shop, Nerd Herd Gifts & Games.

Click here for my latest freelance writing piece, “The Nerd Herd: Downtown Gettysburg Shop Takes Fun & Games to a New Level,” published in the Sept/Oct issue of Celebrate Gettysburg magazine. And go behind-the-scenes with photos I snapped during the writing of the story, below. What a great group of kids–check out their unique shop the next time you’re in downtown Gettysburg, PA! Continue reading →

Authentic Flavors, Family, and Achieving the American Dream

Posted on August 25, 2016 by Karen Hendricks

By Karen Hendricks – Did you know that Mexican restaurants are the third most popular type of restaurant in the U.S.? According to figures from 2014, there are 54,000 Mexican restaurants across the country. Interestingly, a huge market share–74 percent–are independently-owned.*

One fine example can be found in Gettysburg, PA: At Tania’s Mexican Restaurant, it’s all about authentic flavors, family, and achieving the American dream.

Continue reading →

Formula for Success? Treating People Like Family

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Karen Hendricks

Photo Credit: Donovan Roberts Witmer for Susquehanna Style

By Karen Hendricks

Vision, talent, creativity, perseverance, and passion are five traits I believe every business owner possesses. But there’s one more common thread woven into every business’ story of success–the belief that people should be treated like family. Whether those people are employees, colleagues, clients, or customers, time and time again, I heard this message from business leaders across Central PA. I believe it’s the most important factor contributing to their success.

I recently had the great pleasure of interviewing 21 business leaders throughout the region for Susquehanna Style magazine’s “Faces of the Susquehanna Valley,” appearing in the current May 2016 issue. Their inspirational stories fill 25 pages of the magazine, and it was my joy to attempt to capture each business’ unique spirit, ingenuity, love of people, and story of success: Continue reading →