Inside the Central Market House in downtown York, you’ll find Naked Chick Art. Owned by Suzanne Rende, Naked Chick Art is an artist collective that offers “raw” art of all types available for sale. “Raw’ means handmade artwork and pieces that are created using natural, repurposed, reclaimed and upcycled items,” Suzanne explains. Naked Chick Art’s goal is to bring quality “raw” art to the public by providing exposure in a prime location at a low cost to the artisan.

Naked Chick Art’s Beginnings

“I really was looking to start selling my paintings that were piling up at home,” Suzanne says as she reflects on the inspiration that led to the creation of Naked Chick Art.

She conceived of the idea to rent a few pop-up stands at Central Market and other art-related fairs and festivals. Suzanne considered the idea of having a permanent stand in Central Market and decided to pursue that vision. Having the stand in Central Market allows Suzanne to continue her passion of art and paint murals at home since the market is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Downtown foot traffic is a huge benefit, a reason that convinced her to give Naked Chick Art a home in the market. The Naked Chick Art stand has been doing well since it opened in May 2018, and Suzanne has already been able to expand and double the size of her space.

When you stop by and visit with Suzanne, you’ll find not only her art, but art created by community members, her friends and family members. Explore Naked Chick Art at Central Market York and discover a diverse collection of art in the raw.

Naked Chick Art at Central Market

34 W. Philadelphia St.

York, PA 17401

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Photography Courtesy of The Apartment Gallery

Dedicated to opening doors and creating new opportunities for residential real estate investors, The Apartment Gallery of York, Pennsylvania, has announced a new addition to its property management and investment portfolio: Laketree Manor in Chester, Virginia. With its blend of convenient access to the Richmond metro area and relaxed country-style ambiance, Laketree Manor offers appealing living accommodations just south of the city.  The location, strong rental history and physical condition of the property made for an attractive opportunity for this group of investors supported by The Apartment Gallery.

The Apartment Gallery’s acquisition of Laketree Manor complements its portfolio of over 5,000 apartments, single-family homes, and townhomes in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Justin Quigley, a partner of The Apartment Gallery, says that The Apartment Gallery is always actively seeking residential rental real estate investment opportunities. Multi-family real estate, he adds, creates further appeal for investors who want to maximize their ROI through a tax-sheltered investment.

Laketree Manor

What Makes Residential Rental Real Estate Investments So Appealing?

Whether you’re an experienced investor or you’re just getting started, residential rental real estate is appealing for many reasons.  Here are a few:

• Ability to generate an ancillary income stream in addition to your salary without utilizing more of your time.
• Ability to build equity in a property and use that equity to develop a real estate portfolio.
• Ability to receive tax-sheltered income from your investment in residential rental real estate.

If you thought an annual bonus or a performance raise was the only source that you could count on to increase your income, think about investing in multi-family residential real estate.

Let’s say you invest in a five-unit residential property. Depending on the specifics of the property and your overall investment strategy, you could expect to receive cash flow of $8,000 or more annually after  paying property expenses, management fees, and debt service, but the key to this plan is hiring a qualified, professional property management company so that your rents are priced at the optimal level and the property is maintained without utilizing significant amounts of your time.

Ability to Build Equity in a Property and Use Equity to Develop a Real Estate Portfolio

Along with generating cash to supplement your income, investing in residential rental real estate has another advantage: building equity. Property improvements such as interior renovations help build equity by allowing for higher rents, thereby increasing the market value of your property. In addition, a portion of rental income received will typically be used to pay down your loan balance. As a residential real estate investor, you can tap into this equity to make additional investments in residential rental real estate and have the ability to receive tax-sheltered income from your investment in residential rental real estate.

Ability to receive tax-sheltered income from your investment in residential rental real estate. This provides a more appealing after-tax return than many other passive investments, like the stock market, for instance.

Residential rental investors typically receive tax-sheltered income on their investments as a result of the combination of leverage and depreciation rules.  This provides a more appealing after-tax return than many other passive investments….like the stock market.

What Should You Do If You Want to Own But Not Necessarily Maintain Residential Real Estate?

Hire a professional property management firm!

Professional property management firms such as The Apartment Gallery can help with all the responsibilities that come with owning residential rental real estate.

From filling vacancies to move-out inspections to 24-hour maintenance support for residents, The Apartment Gallery deploys its team to handle the day-to-day tasks of property management. Justin notes that The Apartment Gallery’s level of attention and service doesn’t merely stop with maintenance alone. With access to investment advisory and entity-level services, investors benefit from The Apartment Gallery’s depth of knowledge, resources, experience with investment identification, long-term strategy and capital planning. The Apartment Gallery’s ongoing examination and reporting of the investor’s assets prove to be a valuable tool when looking at any current or future investments.

Expect more from the professionals of The Apartment Gallery. Contact them at 717-220-8157 to learn more about multi-family residential real estate investment opportunities currently available.

The Apartment Gallery

1 Waterford Professional Center

York, PA 17402

717.220.8012

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Equal Housing Opportunity

Behind the brick and steel, and the schematics and surveying, you’ll find something fundamental to the structure of every building: relationships. Those relationships are what Keystruct Construction of York shape through every type of pre-construction, design-build and renovation project its team undertakes. Like the bedrock of a building’s foundation, one Central Pennsylvania faith community nurtured this bedrock support for the construction of new relationships.

Divided is no word any faith community desires. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hummelstown, Dauphin County, was a witness to that division among the members of its congregation. Despite this division, hopes to bring a major project to fruition remained with this faith community for close to 30 years: improve the accessibility of the church.

Key to this undertaking was bringing a new elevator to the building that would offer multi-level access to all church members and members of the community who visit the Hummelstown Food Pantry, housed in the lower level of the church.

Construction Connections

Photo courtesy Keystruct Construction

Connections are the key to any relationship, and a project ofthis scope and scale leveraged connections. The Rev. Lois K. Van Orden, Intentional Interim Pastor, says she learned about Keystruct Construction through Thyssenkrupp Elevator, a diversified industrial firm recommended by her daughter, an architect in New York City. Keystruct Construction’s estimator, Kirk Taylor, says that Keystruct’s work with many church projects positioned it uniquely for Zion Evangelical Lutheran’s needs.

But before any shovel hit the ground, Keystruct Construction needed to make the congregation (even its youngest members) feel connected and a part of this project. Members of Keystruct Construction and its design partner on the project, SAAarchitects of York, attended a service at the church where they presented the scope of work for the building project and invited members of the congregation to ask questions. Given the divisions within this faith community, Kirk says it was gratifying when Keystruct Construction ultimately received unanimous support from the congregation to move forward.

“The elevator project had been on the ‘wish list’ of Zion for 20 to 30 years,” Pastor Lois explains, but due to issues that included cost and confusion about the vision, the elevator project languished. “On a personal note, I saw the need for an elevator to assist the clients of the Hummelstown Food Pantry. As the circle of discussions expanded from the expressions of one senior member of the congregation to the property committee and the Congregation Council [governing body of the congregation], the membership was banning together in support of this project.”

Back to Bedrock

Rock and lots of it: Keystruct’s crews had some digging to do — 16 feet by 16 feet by 16 feet, to be exact — at the project site to create the new home for the church’s elevator. But where some construction contractors would see obstacles, Keystruct Construction saw the challenge as a way to demonstrate its efficiency and project agility.

In addition to the elevator installation itself, Keystruct Construction updated the church’s restrooms in the building’s first and second floors, added ADA-compliant restrooms on the lower level of the structure and created a new ADA-compliant sidewalk for access into the church’s lower level.

“We were able to match the existing brick, roofline and shingles, so that when we’re all done, the upgrades will look as though they’ve always been there,” Kirk says.

The Keystruct Construction Commitment

“We gave them a level of comfort and understanding,” he continues, “and it’s what we do when we work with many clients. We bring people in and make them feel a part of the project, and at the end of the day, it’s more than just a project — it’s having satisfied customers. When you form relationships with churches, in particular, you have to understand that their communities are made up of an incredible range of people from all walks of life. We’re not here to do one project; we hope that, through our work, we get the opportunity to work on other jobs through building relationships.”

Keystruct Construction Project Engineer Nate Leister adds that through his volunteer work with Fitness 4 Focus — a program focused on helping individuals with special needs gain the benefits of physical fitness through workouts — he was able to connect with Hummelstown and appreciate the contributions Zion Evangelical Lutheran makes to its community. Cooperation from the congregation, he adds, helped ensure each portion of the project progressed smoothly.

“The Keystruct team provided the expertise and leadership necessary to complement the vision of the congregation,” Pastor Lois says. “They carried us from vision to reality. Their expertise guided us to the best location for the elevator, which meant that ideas expressed by individual members were addressed professionally without creating division among members as to whose idea was the ‘best.’ Keystruct has been, and continues to be, a source of support to address unforeseen problems which often creep up during construction.”

Riding Out the Old and Riding in the New

“Zion Rising,” the church’s theme for its capital campaign to raise funds for the construction of the new elevator, also takes on new meaning for what will be a “riding out the old and riding in the new” adventure for two senior members of the church community. These individuals — longstanding congregation members who, during a congregation meeting to vote on the proposal, passionately expressed their desire to see the elevator project come to completion — will have the ceremonial honor of riding out the old and riding in the new. In this case, this “ride” will be the last in the church’s old chair lift that transported individuals from floor to floor in the building and the first ride in the new elevator.

“Bringing this project to fruition demonstrates to the congregation that they can indeed work together to make things happen, which was significant to their identity as a ‘new’ congregation, that is, the membership which remained following the period of division,” Pastor Lois says. “Their pleas for it to materialize contributed toward the faith community’s desire to see the project through to completion.”

Keystruct Construction

30 Marianne Dr.

York, PA 17406

717.764.1326

keystruct.com

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They are the people who help ensure that businesses and lives are protected from the unexpected. They are the individuals whom businesses have been turning to for support when decisions about protection count. When it comes to making York a better place for people to live in and work in, the employees of McConkey Insurance & Benefits have been and continue to remain ever committed to supporting neighbors and championing the work of agencies and nonprofits that serve York County.

Leaving a Legacy: The Tim Kotula Community Outreach Committee

Founded in 1890, McConkey Insurance & Benefits traces its roots back to the agency organized by Edwin K. McConkey, who worked for the Farmers Fire Insurance Company. McConkey created the agency as a way to sell policies for his insurance company. Upon McConkey’s death in 1925, his wife sold the agency to a family member for $1, and it remained a small family business for several decades. Beginning in the 1950s and continuing through 2001, the agency itself grew from a small team of only four employees to a company of close to 100 employees with two locations in Pennsylvania: York and Valley Forge.

But what hasn’t changed over the company’s more than 125-year history is its desire to respond to the needs of the community in ways that go beyond insurance brokerage services alone. To McConkey Insurance & Benefits employees, making an impact involves giving time and resources to help nonprofits meet the needs of York Countians.

McConkey’s internal committee, The Tim Kotula Community Outreach Committee, acts as that connector between McConkey’s employees and the needs of people in the community. This committee honors the legacy and memory of Tim Kotula of Hanover, a partner in McConkey, who originally created this employee-led effort and served as head of McConkey’s Surety Bond Department.

“McConkey’s Outreach Committee was founded in order to give back to the community where we have been located for more than 100 years,” says Erica Grimm, community outreach co-chair and account administrator. “Our employees take pride in donating their resources to a variety of nonprofits and families in the area and have made an impressive impact year after year.”

A Community of Caring

To give you a sense of what this impact looks like, consider the following:

• As part of the United Way of York County’s 2017 campaign, McConkey employees donated a total of $27,259 over the course of one year – funds employees contributed directly from their own paychecks.
• Employee contributions to a holiday giving campaign for LifePath Christian Ministries totaled $800.
• For Christmas 2017, through the generosity of McConkey employee contributions, the Tim Kotula Community Outreach Committee was able to give Visa gift cards to eight families in need totaling $2,500 in donations.
• In honor of McConkey’s 125th anniversary in 2015, the company launched its McConkey Box Project, a region-wide giving initiative with a goal of collecting 125 boxes of donations for 10 nonprofits based in York and Lancaster counties. McConkey collected more than 11,000 pounds of items that were donated to organizations such as the York County SPCA, the York County Food Bank, Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, Bell Socialization Services, Goodwill, and the Salvation Army. More than 50 McConkey business clients and partners took part in the McConkey Box Project by serving as host sites for donation boxes.
• Following a book exchange in the McConkey offices, staff filled two SUV trunks with boxes of book donations for Child Care Consultants of York.
• In connecting with the United Way Day of Giving, employees completed painting at The Arc of York County this year and light landscaping at Olivia’s House in 2017.
• In late August 2018, McConkey’s account executives contributed their time to assisting with landscaping projects at Leg Up Farm, which also received a $1,000 monetary donation from McConkey.

For McConkey Insurance & Benefits, directing resources and time to serve the needs of the community that the company has called its home for more than 125 years is about more than simply writing checks. It’s about stepping out from behind the desks to serve meals to people in need at Our Daily Bread, pitching in to help staff at the York County SPCA maintain a clean and welcoming environment for all shelter animals and collecting gently used winter coats, scarves and hats to benefit Bell Socialization Services.

More than insurance, McConkey’s team ensures a company commitment to social responsibility by making their community a better place to live.

McConkey Insurance and Benefits
2555 Kingston Road, Suite 100
York, PA 17402
717.755.9266

ekmcconkey.com

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Engaging by doing … from day one, young adults discover learning without limits. Challenged to confront real-world problems that blend theory and practical applications, students at York College of Pennsylvania find that project-based learning can give them the knowledge and connections to grow as professionals.

At York College — led by the Center for Community Engagement, the Center for Academic Innovation, the Academic Affairs department and College Provost Niesen de Abruna — York College has launched a new focus on project-based learning, making it the standard of how learning occurs at York College. This focus puts emphasis on applying learning to real-world projects and real-world results.

Revolutionizing Learning

Dean of the Center for Community Engagement Dr. Dominic DelliCarpini says that project-based learning targets active, not passive, engagement: “Learning is not listening, and teaching is not talking. Teaching is facilitating learning that students experience by doing.”

At a recent conference focused on project-based learning attended by 25 invited colleges (including York College) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts, Dr. Randy Bass — vice provost for education and a professor of English at Georgetown University — proclaimed, “The future of higher education, and indeed the very survival of your institutions, entirely pivots on what you will be doing here in the next three days.” Bass and colleges like York College that are forging forward with project-based learning understand that higher education has to change to fit today’s students.

“That model is active, project-based, experiential. That is what we are focusing upon for our students: an education that — to quote poet Adrienne Rich — students are asked to ‘claim,’ not one that they receive,” Dr. DelliCarpini says. “Learners, deep learners, learn by doing. The experiences they recall are those that produce something of value and the joy they take in learning comes from saying, ‘I did this’ or ‘I made this.’”

Research on project-based learning aligns with this idea. A study published in the Journal of Experiential Education evaluated the effects of experiential learning depth (the amount of time commitment) and breadth (the quantity and diversity of experiences) on graduating senior student outcomes. Both depth and breadth were associated with acquiring a broad general education, writing clearly and effectively, and contributing to the well-being of communities. The study’s authors, Jeffrey Scott Coker, Evan Heiser, Laura Taylor and Connie Book, add that “the ideal situation for a college student is likely to include both experiential learning depth and breadth — an approach that develops the full array of knowledge and skills that are highly advantageous for succeeding in life after college.”

Project-Based Learning at Work in York

Dr. John Hughes, Dean of the School of the Arts, Communication and Global Studies and Director of the Hospitality Management Program, is one of many York College faculty members continually seeking to create project-based, experiential learning partnerships among York College, the City of York and York County. The summer edition of YRK Magazine profiles one such partnership with the York County Industrial Development Authority (YCIDA) and The Yorktowne Hotel. Hughes emphasizes that project-based learning is all about connecting learning to the world and developing critical thinking and problem solving skills that are essential to career success in any industry, not just the hospitality industry specifically.

In the case of The Yorktowne Hotel rehabilitation, three students — a senior, junior and sophomore — each participated in a spring independent study program that brought them into conversations with architects, contractors, designers, hotel management professionals and investors. Over the course of the spring semester, these students worked on a project related to The Yorktowne Hotel’s redevelopment and presented their findings and recommendations to stakeholders at the end of the semester.

“You will see our students working with not only the Yorktowne project, but with nonprofits, with new concepts such as Keystone Kidspace, with York Exponential (robotics) and with the greenhouse our engineers are placing at Goode Elementary School. You will see our students working with the York County History Center and the Goodridge Freedom Center to remake our local history in more inclusive ways,” adds Dr. DelliCarpini. “You will see our social scientists working through the Arthur J. Glatfelter Public Policy Institute to gather and act upon community research on poverty, education and social mobility. You’ll see our York College Community Opportunity Scholarship Program students launching their ‘Generations of Hope’ initiative — partially funded by a Women’s Giving Circle grant — to help bring transformative change to York’s schoolchildren.”

York College also continues to seek and implement various Community-Based Learning (CBL) initiatives that merge learning outcomes with community interactions and allow students to merge learning with community interaction. Jo-Ann Orcutt, the director of programming for the Center for Community Engagement, continually aims to work with community partners that can create the types of experiences that students can learn from and in ways that benefit the business and organization partners. For students, it’s about giving their time and ideas while also gaining a sense of self. For faculty, it’s the ability to equip young adults with the tools to arrive at their own solutions to real-world challenges. And for members of the community, it’s a way to embrace the intellectual capital that exists in York.

“We welcome more partners in this work, which will bring mutual benefit to the community and to our students, who will learn by doing,” Dr. DelliCarpini says, “because teaching is not talking. Learning is not listening. Learning is doing.”

To learn more ways to partner with the York College Center for Community Engagement, contact Dr. Dominic DelliCarpini at 717.815.1303 or email dcarpini@ycp.edu.

 

York College of Pennsylvania

441 Country Club Rd.

York, PA 17403

717.846.7788

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ycp.edu

At age 43, Paget Keller Rhee was experiencing early menopause. At age 45, she struggled with depression, gained weight and believed she was not the person she ultimately wanted to be. In the midst of these challenges, Paget discovered that quick-fix diet and weight loss solutions would not — and could not — replace the power of something she already had inside her: the power of hormones. Today, Paget applies her life-transforming experience through BeBalanced Hormone Weight Loss Centers to help women understand their body chemistry and use the power of hormone balancing to lose and keep off weight.

How Hormones Play a Role in Weight Loss

Founded by Dawn Cutillo, BeBalanced Hormone Weight Loss Centers target the major barriers to losing weight, weight control and overall health using a holistic approach called Natural Hormone Balancing. As Natural Hormone Balancing Specialist and owner of the BeBalanced Hormone Weight Loss Center of York, Paget helps clients understand how achieving the highest quality of life begins with bringing hormones into balance.

“Hormones impact so many areas of our lives,” says Paget, “and hormones are impacted by stress. We work with women to find out the triggers in their lives that impact their health and well-being. We try to help women identify the causes of the symptoms they are experiencing, whether it be weight gain or lack of sleep, and introduce them to strategies such as relaxation. What we do is very personal for each client.”

BeBalanced, Paget adds, takes pride in its natural, not synthetic, approaches to addressing hormones. Every client begins with a hormone assessment, which allows Paget and her team to understand what’s happening inside a woman’s body on a hormonal level. “We work off of a symptom-based analysis, and as we work with our clients, we may introduce them to supplements — digestive enzymes, helpful probiotics and vitamins. We talk about relaxation to mitigate the negative effects of stress.”

Paget explains that the Becoming Balanced Hormonal Metabolic Correction program focuses on weight loss through a safe, natural homeopathic formula. This formula, the Metabolic Correction Blend, is used in tandem with a low-calorie diet to help an individual enter into ketosis, a state that allows the body to use fat as a main source of fuel. According to Paget, the Metabolic Correction Blend — when taken three times a day — stimulates the body to “release” its own fat that ultimately gets burned by daily metabolic activities. BeBalanced states that women following the Becoming Balanced Hormonal Metabolic Correction protocol can lose up to 1 pound of weight per day.

The diet used to engage the Metabolic Correction Blend is a low-calorie, hormone-balancing diet consisting of foods such as fruits, proteins and vegetables. The advantages, she says, of the Becoming Balanced protocol is the delivery of a steady stream of energy (no highs or lows in blood sugar), weight loss in problem areas such as hips and thighs, and slight reductions in health issues such as diabetes, arthritis and high blood pressure.

Following the weight-loss phase — which consists of 30 days — a maintenance phase focuses on diet and keeping hormones in balance to prevent weight gain and PMS or menopause symptoms through natural hormone support creams. A lifestyle phase completes the program, as starches become integrated into the eating plan along with checks for food sensitivities, which can cause issues with digestion and weight gain.

The Journey from a Bleak Existence to Being Balanced & Why York?

She advocated for children from Washington, D.C., neighborhoods of greatest need. As director of outreach for the nonprofit City Gate, Paget worked with youth across the city through education, recreation and spiritual development programs. The work itself was rewarding, but it also demanded much of her time.

Paget says she empathizes with women who try to juggle career and parenting responsibilities on top of taking care of themselves and their needs. She herself was seeking balance in her life and a freedom from the overwhelming struggles of depression and stress.

“BeBalanced was life changing for me. When I help people on their own personal journeys, it’s rewarding to hear them say, ‘I feel like me again.’”

“I can tell you that BeBalanced is sincerely life changing,” says Liz Bell, WARM 103.3 morning show host. “Yes, I went there for weight loss, but it’s crazy how much more I got from it. With my job, I have some insane hours. I always blamed my exhaustion on that. But since starting BeBalanced, I sleep so much better at night that I actually wake up feeling rested. I also feel clearer and have a ton more energy. BeBalanced helps you manage your stress, and as a single mom, I don’t have to tell you I have plenty of that. After years of doing everything wrong, I can honestly say it wasn’t easy to change my entire lifestyle, but I will say it was worth it.”

Just as Paget and her staff seek to help people through the journey to becoming their best selves through hormonal balance, Paget also observes that she applied this same commitment when she opened the BeBalanced Hormone Weight Loss Center in York.

“When I first came to look at the York area, we saw this portion of the shopping center [on East Market Street], which had looked neglected, and transformed it. I feel as though we were able to bring new life to this building, and that’s what we hope to do for women — help them realize a new life by living healthfully and looking and feeling their best.”

Editor’s Note: The information contained in this post is provided for informational purposes only. Before starting any diet or weight loss program, please consult your physician or health care professional. This material has been reviewed for accuracy by BeBalanced Hormone Weight Loss Centers. Individual results may vary from the accounts of the sources described above.

BeBalanced Hormone Weight Loss Centers

2331 E. Market St.

York, PA 17402

717.673.7979

BeBalancedCenters.com

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When we think of heirlooms, jewelry, china and antiques often come to mind. The plant kingdom has its heirlooms, too, and at the Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education, you’ll get to discover — or rediscover — the beauty of heirloom plants at the farm’s Heirloom Plant Sale, Saturday, May 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Browse more than 10,000 plants among 300 varieties of flowers, herbs and vegetables for sale. All plants sold are ready to transplant in your garden or into containers. And take this tip from the insiders: You better arrive early if you want the best selection.

The Big Deal About Heirloom Plants

The term heirloom means that a particular plant has been passed down from generation to generation by way of its seeds. If you grow an heirloom plant cultivated from seed from its parent plant, it’ll maintain the original characteristics of its parents. That’s not the case with hybrids.

What makes heirloom plants special is the uniqueness of their characteristics. Heirloom tomatoes, for example, tend to have more flavor than hybrids. At the Heirloom Plant Sale, you’ll find heirloom tomatoes with variety names ranging from ‘Black Prince’ and ‘Hillbilly’ to ‘Mortgage Lifter’ and ‘Mountain Princess.’

“People come looking for particular plants that are non-GMO, grown using organic methods, and some people have a family history with a particular plant,” says Alyson Earl, executive director of the Horn Farm Center.”

Among the heirloom varieties that Alyson likes are the ‘Cherokee Purple,’ ‘Pineapple’ and ‘Speckled Roman’ tomato varieties as well as ‘Joe’s Long Cayenne’ hot pepper and calendula, an heirloom flower she uses in infused oil for a homemade skin care treatment.

Preserving Agricultural Heirlooms of York County

The Horn Farm Center is like an heirloom unto itself in York County and Hellam Township. With a rich history dating back to the 1700s, the Horn Farm today preserves agricultural traditions by connecting food, soil and people. As a leader in regenerative agriculture, the Horn Farm Center models holistic land management practices surrounding not only the food we eat, but also their ecological and economic benefits.

Throughout the year, the Horn Farm Center invites the community to join a class or workshop, grow their own flowers and vegetables in community garden plots, learn the art of beekeeping and get assistance on new farm businesses with an innovative farm business training program.

This program, the Incubator Farm Project, gives the next generation of aspiring farmers the knowledge and skills to successfully operate their own profitable small farm businesses.

“It was born in 2009, and we’re one of the oldest farm incubators in the country, of which there about 300 total now,” Alyson says. The Incubator Farm Project is a three- to five-year program in which participants get involved in the work of creating a small-scale, sustainable farm operation and developing a market for their products. At the end of the project, participants must present a plan for cultivating their own agricultural operation, and the Horn Farm Center works with them to help them find available farmland in York County and the surrounding area.

Why York?

Although its 186 acres of land occupies only a small part of Pennsylvania’s 46,000 square miles of land, the Horn Farm Center is a place that holds significance in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. According to Alyson, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Pennsylvania Game Commission have been in discussions with the Horn Farm on projects such as agroforestry and restoration of ecological habitats and wildlife corridors.

Each day, Alyson says, she commutes from the city — the City of Lancaster — to the country to come to work, and she couldn’t be more appreciative of her role in caring for this piece of York County.

“To me, York County is a place of spectacular beauty … the land has such a personality to it,” she says. “I took this job three years ago, and working here at the Horn Farm inspires me to want to do something to protect the land and make it beautiful. I had someone who once commented to me about the Horn Farm, ‘When I see what you’re doing here, it gives me hope.’”

 

Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education

4945 Horn Rd.

York, PA 17406

717.757.6441

hornfarmcenter.org

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What better way to honor Mother Earth than with recycling? How about celebrating recycling by turning recycled items into art? The York County Solid Waste Authority (YCSWA) proves that “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure” by inviting York County high school students to participate in an art contest involving recycled and “trashed” materials each year for Earth Day.

YCSWA hosted a public reception for its fourth annual Earth Day Recycled Art Contest Thursday, April 19, at the Creative York West Gallery, 118 W. Philadelphia St., in downtown York.

Contest Details 

Students entering the contest were given only a few guidelines:

• Entries must be created with only 100 percent recycled, recovered or found content with the exception of paints, dyes, adhesives, canvas and mounting hardware.
• Entries can include any material as their medium, except for food matter.

Local businesses in York, Refindings and LifePath Christian Ministries, generously opened their doors to the students participating in the contest, donating materials for use in creating their projects. YCSWA even held a “Picker Day” at Refindings where the students gathered together to rummage through the store’s recovered treasures for anything they wanted to turn into art. The art installments created were placed on display in Creative York West Gallery from April 14-21.

Prize awards included $600 in art supply gift certificates for first place, $400 for second place and $200 for third place. The awards were split evenly among the winning artists and their school districts.

The Heart Behind the Event

Mindy Waltemyer, community services specialist at YCSWA, understands how important it is that students have the opportunity to participate in creative events. “Some schools aren’t able to sustain art programs. A lot of funding has been cut, so if we can offer them an opportunity to participate in a creative project that also broadens their environmental awareness and provides them an opportunity to think about environmental problems, that’s what we want to do.”

The YCSWA began the contest as a way to reach high school students in York County with its messages on environmental consciousness. Thirty-five students from eight different school districts, such as Central York High School, Kennard-Dale High School, Northern York County High School and Red Lion Area Senior High School, entered the Earth Day Recycled Art contest this year. The noteworthy turnout for participation shows that high school students in the York community are excited about the opportunity. Their generation, dubbed Generation Z, is often acknowledged for their motivation to create a more sustainable planet, and the Earth Day Recycled Arts Contest shows their willingness to contribute in whatever way they can.

Waltemyer says that each year she’s in awe of the participants’ creativity. “I’m always surprised by the pieces that come in, what comes out of their minds and the amazing ways that they’ve thought of using everyday materials to create something special.” She says that each contest brings her such great respect for the time and effort of the students and hopes that the event can provide the York community with a deepened sense of pride in the young artists and thinkers of York.

Why York?

Waltemyer, a York native herself with deep roots in the community, is passionate about environmental challenges and the unique, cutting-edge ways that York County tackles waste management. When asked why she chooses to work and hold events such as the Earth Day Recycled Art contest in York she responded, “I am proud of my community and I’m proud of the efforts of young people, the ways that they perceive ecological issues, and their hopes and ideas for making changes.”

If you want to be inspired by the creativity and ideas of the young minds of York County as well, check out the winners of this year’s Earth Day Recycled Art contest, which are now on display at YCSWA until May 18.

Story contributed by Lizz Dawson for YRK Magazine
Photography courtesy of York County Solid Waste Authority

Every year, hundreds of York County nonprofits offer time, money, manpower, and other crucial resources in service to the York community. As a way to give back to these impactful York nonprofits, the first-ever Give Local York hosted by the York Federal Fellows Alumni Association will take place Friday, May 4. The main focus of this 24-hour online giving event is to encourage the York Community to come together, support, and contribute to York County’s nonprofit organizations.

Give Local York’s Impact

Nonprofit organizations serving York County directly benefit from funds raised on this one-day community giving effort. This year, you have the opportunity to support 467 nonprofits participating in Give Local York. The areas in which these nonprofits serve the community include animal relief efforts, community improvement, education, environment, health, human services, and youth development. Every dollar donated counts and will be stretched with bonus funds provided by sponsors to add excitement and incentives, while raising essential funds for the work of local nonprofits. These donations allow York County’s nonprofits to continue to provide for the community.

How You Can Donate

From midnight to 11:59 p.m. on May 4, you can visit givelocalyork.org to make secure donations to any participating local nonprofit organization during this 24-hour period. The minimum donation is $10 with no maximum.

Cash Prizes Nonprofits Can Win

Participating nonprofit organizations can also compete for cash prizes in addition to receiving online donations. Any of the participating organizations have the opportunity to win a cash prize up to $500, $1,000, or $1,500 by raising the most money online during a specific time of the giving day. Below are a few of the cash prizes that will be given.

White Rose Credit Union First Prize of the Night

$500 to the organization that receives the very first donation during Give Local York at midnight EST on May 4.

Powered by Shipley First Hour Prize

$1,000 to the organization that receives the most donations from midnight to 1 a.m. EST on May 4.

HealthSouth Night Owl Prize

$1,500 to the organization that receives the most donations from 10:30 p.m. to midnight EST on May 4.

Give Local York Events You Can Attend

Donating online isn’t the only way you can participate in Give Local York. Nonprofits and other local businesses will be hosting family-friendly events in the city and throughout the county on May 4. Some local business will be donating a portion of their daily proceeds to a local nonprofit. Below are a few events you can attend on May 4.

7:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

Family First Health Celebrates GLY with Cherie Anne’s Courtyard Cafe

Stop by Cherie Anne’s Courtyard Cafe between 7:30 a.m. and 9 p.m., for a smoothie or tea, and Family First Health will receive 10 percent of your purchase.

Cherie Anne’s Courtyard Cafe | 48 W. Philadelphia St. | York, PA 17401

9 a.m.

York County History Center Open House

See what’s behind the doors of the York County History Center Library and Archives for free during its open house from 9 a.m. until noon. Take guided tours of the library and take advantage of the opportunity to gain free access to start your own family history on Ancestry.com.

Historical Society Museum | 250 E. Market St. | York, PA 17401

10 a.m.-noon

Guthrie Memorial Library

Adults and kids can color together in the boardroom and experience an art show. Enjoy a 10-minute virtual reality experience in the Corner Room (signups required). Tap into your creative side and partake in some craft fun with Head Start. Refreshments will be provided, and computers will be available, so you can donate to a local charity for Give Local York.

Guthrie Memorial Library | 2 Library Place | Hanover, PA 17331

10:30 a.m.

Golden Connections Lip Sync Battle/Phone-a-Thon

The center will host a lip sync battle, in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association. The “act” that raises the most funds for the center will win the battle.

Golden Connections Community Center | 20 Gotham Place | Red Lion, PA 17356

11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Plants for Your Garden with Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Horn Farm Center volunteers will be at DreamWrights Center for Community Arts giving away an organically grown heirloom tomato, pepper, or basil plant to anyone who makes a contribution to the Horn Farm Center through the Give Local York platform.

DreamWrights Center for Community Arts | 100 Carlisle Ave. | York, PA 17401

As the number of days, hours, minutes, and seconds leading to Give Day decreases on Give Local York’s countdown to May 4, reflect on which nonprofits you will want to give to and how you will give back in honor of the first-ever Give Local York. Discover all Give Local York events that are happening on May 4 and which nonprofits you can donate to by visiting givelocalyork.org.

Downtown Inc will recognize businesses, organizations and individuals who put Downtown York first through their commitments of time, advocacy and resources during the 18th Annual Downtown First Awards sponsored by The Glatfelter Agency. This year’s Downtown First Awards will take place at 6 p.m., Thursday, April 12, at Logos Academy, 250 W. King St., York. Tickets are $25 and available for purchase online.

York Mayor Michael Helfrich will deliver welcoming remarks, while Braddock Mayor and York native John Fetterman, dubbed America’s “coolest mayor,” will deliver the keynote address and discuss his thoughts on the revitalization of small boroughs and cities, as well as his connection to the White Rose City.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for registration, with the awards ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. A reception with hors d’oeuvres and complimentary wine and beer will follow.

Leaders of the City of York who have made a positive impact on the community will be recognized across eight categories. The list of nominees includes stand-out individuals and small and large businesses in Downtown York. Below are some of the awards that will be presented and a highlight of one of the nominees in each category:

Outstanding Small Business – Sponsored by Stock and Leader 

This award is presented to a business that has directly benefited York’s Business Improvement District and has 15 or fewer employees.

Weary Arts Group (WAG) is one of the five nominees in this category. Comprised of artists, educators and community leaders, WAG recognizes the power that the arts have to transform a community and strives to make a positive impact on the academic and social growth of the York community. This organization has created a range of specialty arts-based classes that has made the arts and arts education available for everyone in York.

Weary Arts Group | 118 W. Philadelphia St. | York, PA 17401

800-960-4163 | wearyartsgroup.com 

All nominees in this category include:

• DiDi & Smiling John’s Barber Shop and Salon
• Grace Manor Bed and Breakfast
• McCallister & Myers – Real Estate Services
• Qdot Engineering

Outstanding Nonprofit Organization – Sponsored by the York Revolution

This award is presented to a 501(c)(3) organization that has directly benefited York’s Business Improvement District and enhances the Downtown York experience.

Stick N Move Boxing received a category nomination in recognition of its outstanding work in the community. The organization provides at-risk youth an alternative to negative influences created by inner city living. Young individuals are prepared for future roles as productive members of the community. Since the inception of the organization, it has provided extensive boxing instruction and wellness opportunities to students who, due to their families’ financial limitations, would not otherwise have been able to participate.

Stick-N-Move Boxing | 2601 W. Market St. | York, PA 17401

717-600-9636 | sticknmove.com

All nominees in this category include:

• Appell Center for the Performing Arts
• Child Care Consultants
• Junior League of York
• Stick N Move Boxing
• York County Hispanic Coalition
• York County History Center
• York XL
• Young Thinkers of York

Outstanding New Business and Merchant – Sponsored by O.N.E. Hospitality Group

This award is presented to a business or merchant located within York’s Business Improvement District that has opened or relocated to the district in 2017.

Revival Social Club has been nominated for its work and dedication to creating a memorable dining experience every time guests walk into its doors. Created to be a destination to gather for interesting small plates, this restaurant takes on globally inspired cuisines served in an engaging and comfortable atmosphere. From carefully constructed cocktails to hand-picked produce and everything in between, Revival Social Club takes every step to make your dining experience remarkable.

Revival Social Club | 19 N. George St. | York, PA 17401

717.430.2981 | revivalsocialclubyork.com

All nominees in this category include:

• Appell Center for the Performing Arts
• Child Care Consultants
• Junior League of York
• Stick N Move Boxing
• York County Hispanic Coalition
• York County History Center
• York XL
• Young Thinkers of York