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1841 Columbia Avenue, Lancaster * 717.293.3333 REVELO (Latin) verb: Reveal; Disclose; Uncover

Just as the name suggests, Revelo is a tool to reveal and uncover stories. To take the storytelling concept a step further, each interview has been video recorded at the very moment the subject was speaking. For every The concept of Revelo was born from the desire to bond as a community article you read in each issue of Revelo, an extended video version of the and learn more about the inspiring people who surround us—the entire interview is available on our website at www.revelomag.com. everyday heroes with extraordinary journeys. These individuals shared their backgrounds, passions, heartaches and struggles, triumphs, and The goal of Revelo is to create a unique experience for audiences from future goals with us. all walks of life. Together, we aim to educate, inspire, and lift up those around us by exposing the “why” behind what motivates the people of Lancaster.

THE REVELO TEAM Katerina Kuss Editor We are proud to present our very first issue of Revelo! Todd Geiger It is our hope that the stories told throughout Account Manager these pages inspire you through your own journey. When you are finished reading this publication, we Chris Ruch Videographer encourage you to visit www.revelomag.com and watch the video interviews of each of our subjects Bianca Cordova that reveal even more about their incredible lives. Photographer The Revelo team would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the businesses who have sponsored Michael C. Upton Writer these inspirational stories and provided the means to make Revelo a reality. We truly could not have Brooke Carlock Miller done this without you! Writer

In order for Revelo to generate the biggest impact on our community, we encourage you to pass this issue on to Please pass this someone else when you are finished. Not only is it cool publication on! to recycle, it also gives these stories a further reach.

For business sponsorship opportunities, please contact (717) 364-4344 or email [email protected]. For story submissions, visit www.revelomag.com to fill out a submission form for consideration.

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SCOTT FAITHFULL

Scott Faithfull points to one of the many Children International. That night, Scott with education expenses. “The money goes photographs spread out on his table. signed up and started with his first two kids. to the agency and the agency representative It shows a little girl clutching a Disney Scott remembers, “Those two turned into takes them shopping for what they need. Princess backpack. Next to it sits another six, and then it just kind of snowballed after For my children in India, I also pay for their photograph of the same girl, posed in front that. Because when you get their letters and education, because to get a good education of a dress, a sensible pair of sneakers, and you see what kind of impact you have in in India requires private tutoring, and a lot some socks. “This is Alison, from Honduras,” their lives and what you’re actually doing, it of families can’t afford that, so I help out,” he Scott explains. Alison is one of the children becomes almost like an obsession. It drives says. He also has plans to help with college that Scott sponsors through Children you to help more.” expenses for his children. International, a charity organization devoted Two children have now turned into eleven, While helping monetarily is important, to breaking the poverty cycle for children in with plans to add more in the future. Scott Scott insists that the biggest benefit of third-world countries by focusing on health, chooses the children based on financial need, sponsorship through Children International education, empowerment, and employment. often picking the children whose families is the relationship he is able to form with The photos show Scott the purchases Alison have the lowest incomes. They range in age the children. He communicates with each of made with gift money he recently sent her. from five to 17 years old. “I’ve dedicated my them regularly through letters and pictures. Sitting on his back deck, Scott produces the life to this,” Scott says, fighting back tears. “All of the children that I picked are writing next photo and smiles sadly. This one shows “I don’t have children of my own, and this fiends,” he laughs, “so I am constantly Alison standing with her mother in front of just means the world to me, to give back. getting something.” Often the letters are bags of rice, beans, and various vegetables. For me, going without something is nothing emotional, and Scott recalls, “One letter, I “Me, at that age…” Scott says, “I would compared to what they would go without. cried for days. It was the most amazing letter want whatever the latest toys were. But Going without shoes, going without food… from a little child, basically welcoming me they provide for their families.” A couple of the kids, their family income is into his family…” As he talks, Scott proudly While he had always made yearly $50 per month. People spend that in a day, flips through the pile of mail and photos contributions to various charities, it and this is what they’re living on in a month! in front of him, which he often shares on wasn’t until a sleepless night in February So, I do what I have to. They’re children. Facebook and follows with the same caption 2015 when everything changed for Scott. They’re the future. So if I can give to them each time: “This is my purpose in life. This is A friend of his had mentioned sponsoring and do without myself, that’s fine.” my life. Blessed.” children and that night, when he got home Not only does Scott send the typical monthly from work and couldn’t sleep, he found donations for each child, but he also saves himself researching different organizations up to donate extra gift money and to help online. That’s when he stumbled upon

STORY SPONSOR:

LANCO FEDERAL CREDIT UNION By Brooke Carlock Miller 349 West Roseville Road Lancaster, PA 17601 WATCH THE VIDEO INTERVIEW IN ITS (717) 569-7180 ENTIRETY AT WWW.REVELOMAG.COM 3 www.lancofcu.com

ISSA ROSARIO

“Your mouth is always getting you in herself. “The first time I competed, my little Since her first poetry slam at Lincoln, trouble, they say. Watch the attitude…” 13-year-old self, I didn’t know what to do,” Issa has performed her poetry all over This is how Issa Rosario begins one of her she muses. “I’d never been in a poetry slam Lancaster County at open mic nights autobiographical poems. At only 14 years before, but everybody was so supportive.” and competitions, including the Fulton old, she possesses a remarkable amount The support from her fellow poets helped Theater, The Ware Center, and Fruition of self-awareness. A freshman at J.P. give Issa the confidence and inspiration to Collective. She has also taken an interest McCaskey High School, Issa uses spoken- dig deeper into her emotions for themes in acting, having participated in Millersville word poetry as therapy, an outlet for and ideas for her poems. University’s M-Uth Theater performance expressing her inner thoughts and feelings. “At first, I was really cautious because of The Song of Freedom, a play about What began as an after-school activity has I didn’t want to offend anybody,” she desegregation in the 1960s. She credits blossomed into a full-blown passion for explains. “I tried to be really nice. I didn’t the program with improving not only the performing arts. want stuff getting out there that would be her technical skills, such as diction and “I went to Lincoln Middle School, and we disrespectful or offensive.” She continues, projection, but also with improving her had to learn poetry and recite it. We were “But then I realized I didn’t want to hold mindset: “I played a black woman, but I’m forced to,” she laughs, “and I had a small back. I’ve changed, and if I have something Puerto Rican. M-Uth Theater taught me voice. I was never the type to stand up in I want to say, I’ll say it. I don’t really care.” about diversity—it’s not about what color front of an audience.” However, when her While at times her poems are positive, Issa you are, how much you’ve been through. seventh grade teacher asked the class to frequently writes about personal struggles It’s about your talent and how you can write their first poem, Issa found herself and issues, including family dynamics, present yourself and how you can turn hooked. “We had to perform in front of bullying, and police brutality. While she yourself into a different person by acting.” the class. I was nervous… but I liked the sometimes gets nervous about offending Issa plans to keep expressing herself rush, you know?” She continues, “I liked someone with the content of her poetry, the through poetry and acting long into the the adrenaline.” therapeutic effect of releasing her emotions future­—perhaps even as a career—and she With her interest piqued, Issa met with Ty through her words outweighs any negativity hopes to inspire others to do the same. Gant, coordinator of the “We Rock the Mic” she might receive. “I used to be quiet,” she says, “but now spoken-word poetry program for youth. “I’m very dramatic. Whenever something I’m pretty loud. I can say I was a little Ty became Issa’s poetry coach, helping bad happens, I write about it. And when I caterpillar, but now I’m like a butterfly.” her form a team from Lincoln to compete speak it out, yell about it… I feel so much in The Mix’s Youth Poetry Grand Slam. better after. I feel relieved, you know? I They didn’t win, but the experience left don’t feel so much pressure anymore,” Issa craving more opportunities to express she says.

STORY SPONSOR: LANCASTER COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION By Brooke Carlock Miller 24 West King Street Lancaster, PA 17603 WATCH THE VIDEO INTERVIEW IN ITS (717) 397-1629 ENTIRETY AT www.lancfound.org WWW.REVELOMAG.COM 5

TIMOTHY TRUMAN

One summer day in 1986, I crossed the draw still hanging in his voice. “We started While Scout is the character closest to Tim’s Armstrong pedestrian bridge spanning running out of paper.” heart, most fans associate him with Grimjack, the railroad yard connecting the West End After drudging his way through school, he a sword-for-hire, machine gun-toting war of Lancaster City to the straggled bits of moved onto what he loved at The Joe Kubert veteran working out of the multi-universe what becomes Manheim Township. Built to School of Cartoon and Graphic Art in Dover, city of Cynosure, which was published by 1st transport industrial workers to their jobs, I New Jersey. He earned his first pay for his Comics. Tim went on to work with DC Comics regularly used the expanse as a shortcut to drawings through a work study program with where he revamped Hawkman. the Golden Triangle shopping center, then Scholastic Magazine, earning $30 per page. “Grimjack launched my entire career,” says home to The Comic Store. On this particular After college, he started creating art for Tim, smiling under his worn baseball cap. day, I was off to meet and greet comic book “I might do things a little differently if I had illustrator Timothy Truman, who autographed role playing game companies, including TSR, makers of Dungeons & Dragons. to do it over again. I was penciling and inking a copy of his book, Killer, “TO MIKE!” in two books, as many as five pages a day, which decisive strokes with a purple pen. I was 13. But, as an artist, punching a clock and pushing out pages in a windowless office in is an astronomical amount of work. These Now well-worn, having been read dozens of Wisconsin didn’t suit his active personality. days, I’ll take two days to pencil a page and times and presented as evidence for tales of my His experience in gaming led to a Chicago two days to ink a page. I hate to look at that youth, I produced the volume as I walked into comic book convention. old work because it is bashed out.” Tim’s Lancaster County home 31 years later. That “old work” is still in demand. Back at It was a blast from the past for both of us. “At this point the independent comics movement was just starting,” says Tim. The Comic Store (at its current location on As a child growing up in central West Virginia, “I had all these science fiction mercenaries McGovern Avenue), Tim’s work is still for Tim found he had an innate ability to tell in my portfolio.” sale. In the stacks of graphic novels, fans can stories through drawing. Starting out by find volumes of Scout and other titles; there’s doodling on the back of his sisters’ graded The bulk of Tim’s comic work came with even a Grimjack adult coloring book for those homework, he soon needed a bigger canvas. Eclipse, a strong, independent publishing force who want to take a couple days and ink their His mother disassembled brown paper grocery of the 80s and 90s. Their offshoot packaging own page. bags, giving Tim the area he needed group published the titles The Spider, Prowler, to create sequences of car chases, western and (one of my personal favorites) Airboy. scenes inspired by TV, and spaceships At Eclipse, he found a home for his character attacking people. Scout, an Apache and ex-Army Ranger in a Little known fact about Timothy Truman: post-apocalyptic United States. He has worked extensively with The Grateful “My mom and sisters tell me that as soon as Dead, creating artwork for t-shirts, albums, and I could hold a pencil I was putting marks on “When I was growing up, I didn’t know posters. Music is his second passion. His guitar paper,” Tim says, with twinges southern if I wanted to be a writer, an artist, or a musician. Scout gave me the ability to meet collection hangs in his studio, melding with two of those goals,” says Tim, backdropped illustrated works in progress and an extensive by a painting of a Native American in his collection of alphabetized CDs. STORY SPONSOR: living room. HORSE INN By Michael C. Upton 540 East Fulton Street Lancaster, PA 17602 WATCH THE VIDEO INTERVIEW IN ITS (717) 392-5528 ENTIRETY AT www.horseinnlancaster.com WWW.REVELOMAG.COM 7

CHRIS CALDWELL

On any given day, someone stopping by The “At that point, there wasn’t really any level. Through programs such as “Earn-a- Common Wheel Community Bike Center in urban bike culture in Lancaster,” Chris Bike,” “Bikes for All,” “Women on Wheels,” Lancaster might see a professional mechanic says. “There was a big road bike culture in and adult beginner mechanics classes, refurbishing a donated bike to be resold, a the county,” he notes, but adds that even Chris watched his vision of a vibrant biking female customer purchasing a new bike to friends who owned a road bike didn’t want community in Lancaster come to fruition. ride back and forth to work, a Cuban refugee to haul out their expensive gear for short Now, three years later, his vision is fixing a flat tire at the self-serve working rides downtown. Other friends noted that evolving and expanding, and new ideas area, or a ten-year-old boy bringing in a they didn’t feel safe riding on Lancaster are floating in Chris’s head. He would love bag of collected trash to pay for the repairs streets. Knowing the benefits of biking to collaborate with Thaddeus Stevens on his bike that he can’t afford. It is this firsthand, Chris set out to change biking School of Technology to promote coming together of community and culture culture in downtown Lancaster. “I started mechanical STEM skills for the youth who that makes Chris Caldwell realize that his to read about how cities can become more go through the “Earn-a-Bike” program. idea is working. For Caldwell, the creator bike-friendly,” he says, “and the community He’s also hoping to start an “adventure and executive director of The Common bike shop model sounded like a good way to biking” program that takes members of the Wheel, it’s not necessarily about the bikes, start something that was hands-on… It was community on trips outside of Lancaster. but about the movement. an idea that started to percolate.” Around “Some kids who come in here have never The idea of a community bike shop came to the same time, Chris’s mother lost a long seen the Susquehanna River,” he says, Chris as he attended college at West Chester battle with cancer, fueling his desire to do shaking his head. Taking those kids University. As a student and member of the something meaningful. somewhere like the Pittsburgh-D.C. rail baseball team, Chris used his bike as his In 2014, with about $50 in the bank, trail, “starts to expand their world view.” main mode of transportation. He noticed Chris went to the city and told them he Mostly, though, Chris still wants to get he was one of the only people riding a bike, needed a space for his vision to become a Lancastrians out of their cars and onto their and he wondered why. He could get where he reality. “I didn’t think they’d actually have bikes. “A big thing we tell people is it’s not needed to go around campus, usually in less any,” he laughs, but they told him about like you’re flipping a switch and all of a time, for less money, and without having an old 1,100 square-foot abandoned pump- sudden you get rid of your car and you have to worry about parking. After graduation, house building in Reservoir Park. “Luckily, to ride no matter what the conditions,” Chris Chris worked construction in Lancaster to I had construction background,” Chris says, “It’s really just like, on a nice day, finance what he calls his life as a “ski bum.” says. Following a complete overhaul of consider riding your bike. Ride a couple of He continued to ride his bike around town the neglected space, The Common Wheel times… to the store, to the market. Once it in order to save money, but when he asked opened its doors with a mission to provide starts, it will spread, and I think we can help his friends to join him on bike rides to go to access to cycling for everyone, regardless of put Lancaster on the map as a bike-friendly restaurants or markets downtown, he was age, gender, skin color, belief, or income city with a bursting bike culture.” met with resistance.

STORY SPONSOR: LANCASTER AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE By Brooke Carlock Miller 155 Independence Court Lancaster, PA 17601 WATCH THE VIDEO INTERVIEW IN ITS (717) 293-0250 ENTIRETY AT www.lancasterlebanonhabitat.org WWW.REVELOMAG.COM 9

CARISSA LIBHART

“You have breast cancer.” Those words, was fine: “Nobody showed concern. Nobody Carissa exhausted at the time, however she dreaded by any woman, were especially looked at it.” is quick to note that her daughter was her shocking to Carissa Libhart of Lititz as she Nine weeks later, after giving birth to a number one motivation for staying strong heard her family doctor pronounce them healthy girl, Carissa went for her follow-up through the realities of hair loss, nausea, and over the phone in the autumn of 2010. As ultrasound. Doctors immediately scheduled extreme fatigue. “She was the best medicine she cradled her beautiful newborn daughter a biopsy and discovered the mass was not in for me,” she says, “because I felt like I in her arms, Carissa wondered how it was fact a benign fibroadenoma, but stage three couldn’t lie around and feel sorry for myself. possible that she, a 27-year-old seemingly breast cancer. I had a little one that I needed to take care of, healthy new mother, could have possibly and I didn’t that want that to be taken away heard her doctor correctly. “I didn’t even know what to say,” she recalls. from me.” She called her husband Ian immediately and After all, it had been less than a year since asked him to come home from work. “In the Now cancer-free for six years, Carissa says she discovered a lump in her breast during meantime, I put my daughter in her little her battle has taught her many lessons. a self-exam after learning about a coworker’s bouncer, and I remember just walking in Armed with the knowledge that she is a cancer diagnosis. Following an ultrasound circles in my house, kind of screaming but carrier of the hereditary BRCA1 cancer to check the lump, Carissa remembers, not even recognizing my own voice, looking gene, she proactively undergoes multiple “I was told I had a benign fibroadenoma, at her and going, ‘Oh my god, what am I cancer screenings each year. However, on which is basically just fatty tissue, and that going to do? What am I going to do?’” a psychological level, Carissa says, “I think they would follow up a few months later.” it’s taught me that when it comes to hair or When she found out she was pregnant, From that point, Carissa experienced what your body­—they’re not what make you who she mentioned the fibroid to her OBGYN she describes as a whirlwind of tests and you are.” She grins as she elaborates, “Hair is and asked if it would impact breastfeeding. appointments. Through a family connection, just an accessory, and at the end of the day so She was told that it was “normal” and that she met with the chief breast surgeon at Mt. are your boobs, you know?” She thinks for a the hormones from pregnancy might even Sinai hospital in New York City and made the minute and adds, “I also think you learn that make the mass grow, but she shouldn’t decision to temporarily relocate her family you are a lot stronger than you ever knew be concerned. from their home in Lititz to her parents’ you were when you’ve faced something like house in New Jersey, where she embarked “So throughout my pregnancy,” Carissa says, that. I think it’s made me, in a sense, a better on an aggressive treatment plan that friend and a better person.” “I felt fine and nothing was painful. The involved four months of chemotherapy, lump was growing, like they told me, but at a bilateral mastectomy (removal of both “If you have your health and you have the first I really wasn’t concerned.” However, the breasts), and radiation. love and support of your family and friends, mass continued to grow. It grew so large that you don’t need much else.” Carissa started to wonder if something was Battling the typical side effects of cancer wrong, but her doctors still assured her she treatment on top of having a newborn left

STORY SPONSOR: SPA LA VIE By Brooke Carlock Miller 3031 Columbia Avenue Lancaster, PA 17603 WATCH THE VIDEO INTERVIEW IN ITS (717) 295-4523 ENTIRETY AT www.spalavielancaster.com WWW.REVELOMAG.COM 11

JACK YUSKA & JACK FREY

As they slide into their seats at The Fridge, at a hospital on an Air Force base in Japan matter,” they said. “We’re just looking for Jack Frey (pictured right) fills his glass with a before becoming stable enough to return replacements.” This was definitely not a carefully selected beer from one of the reach- to the States, where he would continue his good thing to hear. in coolers of the bottle shop. Next to him sits slow recovery. A bed in Philadelphia Naval After a couple days of filling sandbags, his friend, Jack Yuska. The two of them, along Hospital became his permanent home for the orders came down that reassigned Yuska with a group of other Vietnam Veterans, meet next year. Paralyzed and without therapy, to the 82nd home guard, or also known as at The Fridge every Friday afternoon and Frey struck the interest of a girl he knew from “America’s Guard of Honor.” He relocated greet each other with “welcome home” each his brief time at college. She went to visit him from Southern Vietnam to the Northern part time. As simple as the phrase may seem to and although he could not speak or walk, she in Phu Bai and was tasked with carrying a the average person, we learn that the specific continued to visit Frey two times per week radio for a lieutenant in the fields for four welcoming is said because the military and worked with him to regain his strength. months. For the eight months that followed, veterans returning from The Vietnam War did Through her patience during the year-long Yuska carried supplies for a mine company. not exactly receive the warmest homecoming hospital stay, the woman taught him how to Thankful to be placed with a platoon led from people in the States. read and write again. “During that year’s time, by incredibly efficient officers, Yuska says, Jack Frey grew up in Millersville and had by God I started to like her,” he laughs. “Well “I was lucky to be with them. It was a great no plans of joining the military. Shortly the amazing thing is, she started to like me!” opportunity to prove yourself. They were after a friend was drafted, Frey decided to The couple married in 1969 and are still going some of the finest people I’ve ever met in enlist in the Marines where he completed a strong 48 years later despite Frey’s brush with my life.” He returned home in March of 1969 tour of duty in Cuba and was then stationed cancer. His Agent Orange exposure during healthy and alive despite the intensity and in the Northern part of Southern Vietnam. Vietnam led to the cancer removal from his hatred he­, and many other soldiers, endured In January of 1968, on the third day of kidney, abdomen, colon, and spleen. With from fellow Americans. surprise of attacks called the Tet Offensive, several operations and the help of medication You may be wondering how the two Jacks Frey’s company was ambushed while on a for a year, Frey has now been cancer-free for met. Both active runners, Frey (due to sweep through the rice patties. Most of Frey’s over a decade. “My wife is my savior,” he says the loss of his peripheral vision­) literally fellow men were killed. Frey himself was shot while nodding. bumped into Yuska several times on a trail. in the temple, with the bullet passing through Jack Yuska, a McCaskey graduate, was drafted After exchanging way too many “sorry/ his head. As fate would have it, the blast in 1967. He recalls returning home from no problems,” the two started talking and turned his body, allowing him to fall face training for thirty days, watching the news realized they had a lot to discuss. The up which prohibited him from drowning of Vietnam on the television, and thinking dynamic duo now conduct lectures about in the rice patties. to himself, this is really going to happen. their experiences at Millersville University as Frey was unconscious for two weeks at a Yuska shipped out with the Army not long well as a variety of other places. They found nearby hospital. He later spent a few weeks after. He was assigned to the 101 Airborne that talking about their time in Vietnam even after trying to explain to them that he has been not only educational, but also a was not Airborne qualified. “That doesn’t therapeutic way to help relieve PTSD. STORY SPONSOR: THE FRIDGE By Katerina Kuss 534 North Mulberry Street Lancaster, PA 17603 WATCH THE VIDEO INTERVIEW IN ITS (717) 490-6825 ENTIRETY AT www.beerfridgelancaster.com WWW.REVELOMAG.COM 13

TONY PADILLA

Tony Padilla is eager to talk about his past. “Prison was like my second home. It was Tony came to Lancaster to get clean, and He wants to share the gritty details of his my culture. It became my life. I would come connected with the TLC homeless outreach life with as many people as possible in the out of Rikers Island in New York City and program through the Water Street Rescue hopes that his story will inspire at least one get high again as soon as I came home, the Mission. “I remember that day,” he says. addict to get clean. As he sits on the sofa same day. It didn’t bother me at all going to “TLC gave me a room, and all I did was in his small apartment in Ephrata, he looks jail. It was like a vacation.” cry, and think, ‘What have I done?’” With at his surroundings like a king looking at Tony spent over sixteen years of his the help of the program and his own his palace. “I never thought I’d be here,” life incarcerated. He tried different determination, Tony is now four years he admits, “with a place to live, a good job, rehabilitation programs, but never took clean and sober. He earned his Class A CDL a car… I’m going on four years clean, and I any of them seriously. “It came to a point license and works 14-hour days at a steady think God has really blessed me.” where I almost died a couple of times from trucking job. He has an apartment, a car, Tony started smoking cigarettes as a small overdoses, and it still didn’t stop me,” he and a new lease on life: “I practice integrity. child in New York. By age 11, he smoked says. Then, in 2008, Tony’s sister passed I try to be the best person I can be when marijuana and drank alcohol. Within a few away of AIDS, and he hit rock bottom. “I nobody’s looking.” years he tried cocaine, and by the age of wasn’t there. I was in prison when she died. “I believe I’m here for a reason. In spite of fourteen, he graduated to heroin. “Back They took me to her funeral chained up all the things I’ve been through and what in the 70s and 80s, it was the party era,” in shackles,” he explains, visibly upset. “It I’ve done. I really believe good things are he explains. “It was my culture.” Most of took my spirit. I really didn’t care if I lived going to happen… My advice to anybody Tony’s family members and friends did or died.” When he got out of prison, Tony who’s an addict is that legacy is important drugs, so he didn’t think anything of it. started living in the streets. in life. What you did in the past, you can’t He quickly became an addict. In 2014, while visiting his mother in remake that, but you can become a better “I remember the first time I starting using Reading, he decided to shoot heroin in her person. That’s what being clean does. I heroin, I vomited,” he says, “but I fell in bathroom and overdosed. Tony credits that think my legacy will be, ‘Back then, he was love with the high. It captivated me. It took event as the turning point in his life: “It who he was, but today he is successful and away my pain, and I didn’t have to worry wasn’t so much the overdose, but that my he loves himself and he’s got goals.’” no more.” Unable to function without the mom caught me. She thought I was dead. drug, Tony dropped out of high school. He I don’t remember anything but waking up married at 19 and had two daughters, but in the hospital, but the images of her face, his addiction led him to multiple stints and her finding me in the bathroom… in prison, so he rarely spent time with his That led me to change, my mom seeing family. Although his wife urged him to get me like that.” help, and eventually left Tony, he says,

STORY SPONSOR: LANCASTER NEUROSCIENCE & SPINE ASSOCIATES By Brooke Carlock Miller 1671 Crooked Oak Drive Lancaster, PA 17601 WATCH THE VIDEO INTERVIEW IN ITS (717) 569-5331 ENTIRETY AT www.lancasterneuroscience.com WWW.REVELOMAG.COM 15

TRACIE YOUNG

The term labor of love is overused, but Raven Ridge, the only non-profit wildlife animal, but she warns that nocturnal animals when love’s labor makes you lose your job, center in the area. do not make great pets. They have weak there is no other cliché better suited to Raven Ridge officially opened on January eyesight and rely on sense of smell. Tapioca describe the passion. This is the case of 1, 2015. During the first ten months of turned her previous owner’s home furniture Tracie Young, who sheltered wounded operation, the center took in 850 animals, into shreds and raided the refrigerator every animals in her car, returning to the parking from groundhogs to geese, even some rare chance she had. Safe in the proper confines of garage to feed and nurse the animals back animals like the mink rehabilitating here Raven Ridge, Tapioca visits schools and youth to health during the workday. today. The state licensed facility is one of groups as an ambassador of education. “I always had a love for animals,” says Tracie, only 13 certified to handle rabies vector The job can be fun, the care and compassion sitting under a beautiful pergola at Raven species, like raccoons, bats, and skunks. These are rewarding, but dealing with injured and Ridge Wildlife Center. It’s a moderate day, are all animals that have been either injured, helpless animals all day long, every day of the nice enough to sit outside and hear her story. perhaps by a car, or orphaned for some reason year can be taxing. Her love for animals is an understatement. or another. “There’s a term called compassion fatigue,” Tracie, now one of 31 licensed wildlife “We accept primarily mammals, bunnies, says Tracie, who hasn’t had a day away from rehabilitators in the state, has devoted her and squirrels. At one point last year, we had the center since it opened. “You don’t know life to animals. The most recent chapter 80 squirrels,” she says. what is going to be coming in. You don’t know started with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill Most of the time, Raven Ridge operates at what is going to need your help. But, once it is in 2010. capacity. Without any federal, state, or local in your system, it is love and dedication.” “It was just heart wrenching, so I wanted funding, the center relies on donations, both After the interview, Tracie leads me around to do something,” says Tracie, who reached monetary and in goods. Most of the money the grounds. There’s a comfy place where out to organizations helping with animal donated to the center goes toward food and turtles hang out. We coaxed the mink out of cleanup—but her help was denied because veterinarian bills. hiding. I struggled seeing a groundhog with she wasn’t licensed. “We have no corporate sponsors. The only neurological problems after being a victim “I was willing to drop everything and go help way we are able to do this is by donations of a car accident. I also got to see where the those animals and I couldn’t. So, I started from the public. We are a public service,” says magic happens. doing my research,” says Tracie. Tracie. “Last year we got six baby groundhogs. Inside a cramped, sterile building, surgical She started talking with the people at Red They were on formula, but when they started supplies were neatly stacked and organized. Creek Wildlife Center in Schuylkill Haven, PA eating food we went through more than $100 Boxes of rubber gloves hung next to charts and began classes in 2013. She volunteered at a day.” outlining each animal’s daily routine and the center. She realized there was a need for In some cases, Tracie and her staff of care. I bet if the animals who passed through a center in Lancaster County, so she started volunteers get a cast-off pet, like Tapioca these doors could talk, they’d want to first say the skunk. Tapioca is the center’s education thank you to Tracie and her staff. I know I do. skunk. Skunks are also Tracie’s favorite And all I did was meet her for an interview. STORY SPONSOR: GREG ORTH’S SANDLER TRAINING By Michael C. Upton 1175 Manheim Pike, Suite B Lancaster, PA 17601 To learn more about Raven Ridge or make a WATCH THE VIDEO INTERVIEW IN ITS (717) 459-3445 donation visit www.ravenridgewildlifecenter.com ENTIRETY AT www.thincbox.sandler.com WWW.REVELOMAG.COM 17

JOEY WELZ

The clack of the aluminum storm door when you come in,” says Joey, going on a bit the distinction of being the only musician to shutting ricocheted through the quiet about potential gigs, late night television, do so, of his own accord. suburban neighborhood. I took a step back and a potential boom in his career. After a brief tickle of the ivories and a from the doorway and waited patiently with And so, we go on inside … Wikipedia-inspired history of The Welz, we the rest of the Revelo crew to interview a move to the other rooms of the house—all rock icon hiding in plain sight in Lititz. Except for the stretch limo and matching Cadillac parked out front bearing Joey’s of them except his bedroom. Each one is We should have been running on rock and name and record company, the home is a packed with rock and roll memorabilia, roll time; instead, we showed up at Rock nondescript rancher built sometime mid- music equipment of one shape or sort, and and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Joey Welz’s century. Stepping inside is an entirely enough old photos to make a collector door a couple minutes early. I mean, if you’re different experience. drool. It is in one of his offices that he gonna rock around the clock, you gotta grabs a piece of paper and holds it up as if expect visitors to be at least fashionably late. Joey has taken on the role of steward to one a Christian having found a divine doctrine We should have known. The boogie-woogie of the most iconic rock and roll songs of all forever demystifying the presence of God. piano man wasn’t quite ready for us. time: Rock Around the Clock. Made famous The pink piece of paper is an ASCAP notice by Bill Haley and His Comets in 1954, Rock After reaching a more respectable time of proclaiming Joey the co-author of and Around the Clock is the anthem of 1950s rights-bearer to Rock Around the Clock. day, Joey reappears—golden hair still wet youth. The song reached number one on the from his shower, shuffling barefoot, amped US and UK charts and was named on Rolling His song is the one used in the intro to the about our interest—and meets us outside Stone’s list as one of “The 500 Greatest television hit “Happy Days,” he says; it’s before taking us all on a tour of his home- Songs of All Time.” notably more up-tempo than the 50s hit. turned-museum. Changes to the original and sometimes His home is dedicated to the song. It is “I’m busier than a snake in tall grass,” says dated lyrics, like converting “glad rags” literally the Rock Around The Clock Hall to “blue jeans,” are his handiwork. Joey as we exchange introductions. Fresh of Fame. off a return flight from Chicago, he may be Joey’s official claim to fame is “the co- particularly animated this afternoon; he’s Passing through the threshold, we enter writer of the revised version of Rock riding a wave of excitement after learning the front room; every inch of wall space is Around the Clock.” covered with photos. There’s a who’s who of his newest version of Rock Around the Clock “I’m always interested in telling the truth. will be released worldwide later in the day. rockabilly and 50s rock collaged all around the living space. The tops of the walls are It’s always been that way. People always By his own hands, the song—his song—is say, ‘Oh, you wrote Rock Around the Clock.’ revamped for a 21st century audience. trimmed with Welz wax. In his 62-year career, the Baltimore-born musician has And I have to interrupt and say, ‘I didn’t “What I did was do it hip-rock—my own consecutively recorded 60 albums (plus 75 write the original. I co-wrote and revised,’” creation—in today’s music. It’s hot. I’m 45s and more than 100 CDs) granting him explains Joey. gonna start the tour off by playing that

STORY SPONSOR: MOLLY’S PUB AND CARRY OUT By Michael C. Upton 253 East Chestnut Street Lancaster, PA 17602 WATCH THE VIDEO INTERVIEW IN ITS (717) 824-4535 ENTIRETY AT www.mollyspub.com WWW.REVELOMAG.COM 19

ELIZABETH COURTRIGHT

When describing her life before children, agency,” Elizabeth says. “They had a sibling that point.” They didn’t give up, and three Wrightsville author Elizabeth Courtright group of four who were nine, seven, six years after “Hell Week,” with perseverance readily admits that she and her husband and four years old. Brian and I were like, and perspective helping the family to adapt lived an existence many would envy. “We ‘Uh, what happened to two teenagers?’” to its new normal, the Courtrights officially had fun,” she laughs. “We didn’t really have Yet something inside Elizabeth said that adopted Christian, now 17, Kristiana, 15, any responsibilities other than work. We these children were the ones they had Eugene, 14, and Orin, 12. took a lot of vacations, we traveled all over been called to help. They arranged a trial One of the main coping skills that Elizabeth the place; we bought anything we wanted. week of fostering, which Elizabeth now used during the first tumultuous years We had a really comfortable, nice life… I affectionately refers to as “Hell Week.” was writing. Having always dabbled in guess you could say a spoiled life.” “They were horrible!” she muses. “They storytelling but never completing anything In 2009, however, Elizabeth lost her job. came in and just went tearing through the seriously, she used her free time while her She decided to use the couple’s savings house. The next thing I knew, they were children were at school to finish several to take a few months off to relax before on top of the dogs trying to ride them incomplete stories and turn them into full- beginning another job search. However, in like horses, and I was like, ‘Whoa, little length novels. She has now self-published her free time, she read the newspaper daily people! Slow down!’” It was an eye opening eight books which she insists never would and kept noticing classified ads about foster experience for the couple, and Elizabeth have happened without her children coming parenting. Something in the ads struck a admits many tears were shed as the children into her life. nerve, and Elizabeth eventually asked her continued to knock down chairs, throw As a way to give back to families like husband what he thought about the idea food, jump on furniture, and disregard any hers, Elizabeth started the Third Chance of taking in foster children. “One day I said attempts the Courtrights made at discipline. Foundation in 2015, which helps provide to Brian, ‘We have this big house, most of Her perspective changed, however, after scholarships to both foster children and which we don’t even use, and we’re never learning about her children’s background. children who have been adopted out of the going to have children of our own. We “At the time they came to us,” she says, “we foster system. All of the proceeds from could give a home to a kid who needs one,’” didn’t know about any of the things that had Elizabeth’s book sales go directly to the Elizabeth recalls. The couple connected happened to them. But they weren’t silent. organization. In addition, people who make with an agency and began taking the classes We played this game every night at dinner, monetary donations to the organization may required to become foster parents. Both called ‘Mad, Sad, Glad.’ We would sit at the choose one of her books as a gift. the Courtrights and the agency agreed table and everybody had to say something that one or two teenagers would be the Elizabeth hopes to grow the Third Chance that made them mad, sad, or glad. As their Foundation into a multi-author organization best fit for their lifestyle. Fate, however, stories started coming out, our hearts were had other plans. that provides opportunities for bright breaking; it was just story after story of futures to children just like her own— “One day, out of the blue, we got an e-mail horrific things that no child should ever children who have given her a life she never from one of the folks at the foster care have to endure. We really couldn’t give up at imagined, but wouldn’t change for anything.

STORY SPONSOR: MOR SMILES By Brooke Carlock Miller 245 Bloomfield Drive #211 Lititz, PA 17543 WATCH THE VIDEO INTERVIEW IN ITS (717) 961-5767 ENTIRETY AT www.morsmiles.com WWW.REVELOMAG.COM 21

CHRIS WHITCOMB

Chris Whitcomb vividly remembers the day found is that I’m really good at creating remote that feels like a military weapon, in 2009 when his M1126 Stryker armored 3D environments, or the world that you a patient experiences a startlingly real combat vehicle took a hit from a roadside see around you within the computer,” Chris combat environment as if he or she is there bomb in Iraq. An infantry officer in the says. Seeing the benefits of 3D modeling in real time. A licensed therapist controls Pennsylvania National Guard’s 56th Stryker for business uses, such as architecture and the environment of the application, adding Brigade Combat Team, Chris was serving a interior design, he created a new company people, vehicles, trees, roads, and even nine-month tour of duty in Taji, just north of called BluShell Productions to supplement ambient noises in order to perfectly recreate Baghdad, when the bomb exploded under his his photography business. As his skills and scenarios that cause particular stress for vehicle as he sat in a passenger’s seat. “The experience progressed, Chris started the patient. Chris based the project on way the Stryker is designed,” he explains, to wonder about other applications for positive research showing that exposure “it’s designed to survive hits like that.” his designs. therapy—repeated, systematic exposure to Fortunately, he and his team suffered only His thoughts turned to his experiences in a stressful event—helps the patient become minor physical injuries, and Chris gained a Iraq. “I started working up a concept of desensitized to that event over time. new appreciation for the M1126. reenacting one of my experiences in Iraq, Chris knows, through both personal When he returned home to Pennsylvania, which was just sitting in one of the hatches experience and his research, that many Chris settled into a new life. He became of the Stryker at nighttime and just looking veterans suffering from PTSD are hesitant a husband and father of two children and around. I built that world. Then, I created to seek professional help. “It’s one of the started a photography company in Lititz. an animation where you’re just sitting there reasons I keep doing what I’m doing,” he However, he felt like he needed a bigger looking around and somebody shoots at says, “I want to help. This is not, ‘Come on purpose. “I’m sitting there for months on you. You have a round go right by your head. down, sit on the couch, and have your head end thinking, ‘How can I separate myself as Around the same time I created that, I just shrunk.’ Instead, you just sit here and put a photography studio from the thousands happened to stumble upon an article online this headset on, almost like a game.” Chris of other photographers out there?’” Chris about how some therapists were trying to use is hoping that the video game-like format recalls. One day, while playing a video game virtual reality to treat PTSD. It just kind of all will prompt more veterans to seek therapy that involved a camera that looked all around came together at that moment.” for their PTSD. While M1126 is still in a digital environment, Chris had a “light It was in that moment that Project M1126 development, he is eager to connect with bulb” moment: “I’m sitting there thinking, was born. Named after the Stryker vehicle local therapists who might be interested in ‘Wow, this looks really, really amazing. This that saved his life in Iraq, the objective using the program. looks realistic. How did they do this?’” of Project M1126 is to create immersive “My hope is if I just had one therapist come That moment led to months of online virtual reality worlds that simulate the up to me and say, ‘Hey, I used this with a research as Chris taught himself about the experiences of combat veterans suffering patient, and they’re doing great now.’ I just world of 3D design, and he realized he had from post-traumatic stress disorder. Wearing want one person to be impacted in a positive a talent for the creative process. “What I a virtual reality headset and carrying a way and then I’ll be happy.”

STORY SPONSOR: FAST SIGNS By Brooke Carlock Miller 121 Centerville Road Lancaster, PA 17603 WATCH THE VIDEO INTERVIEW IN ITS (717) 569-7606 ENTIRETY AT www.fastsigns.com WWW.REVELOMAG.COM 23

JEROME WRIGHT

It doesn’t really matter to professional cellist Leaving home, he moved onto the streets. room to chase away bugs; it clicks and chirps and artist Jerome Wright what people may Drug use was rampant in the “hood” and as I turn the conversation to music. think. Secured away and sheltered in his he was forced to use heroine—once. School His calling in music came as a young child Lancaster City home, the animated introvert counselors stepped in with connections in Paris. has made peace with a life of tragedy and to a church group who provided the then triumph, and he damn well doesn’t care homeless Jerome with shelter and helped “We went to the symphony… and all of a what anyone thinks about any of it. That’s him graduate high school. Through sudden I heard the cello,” says Jerome. “It not to say the musician—who believes age is everything he clung to a vision. was so mesmerizing that I literally went into irrelevant—is a gruff man. Quite the opposite, a trance. There was something holy about it, “When I was suffering the abuse, I had a something sanctifying about it.” Jerome is a boisterous and fun soul. He just spiritual awakening. I was beaten so bad my tells it like it is. blood was splattered up on the wall. I was Youth orchestra led to Beethoven, which “I call it good, bad, or ugly. Because that’s whipped raw with an electrical cord. My jaw turned into acceptance at the Duke Ellington life, too,” says Jerome, as he sits behind his was swollen; I was a punching bag. I was School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. He circa-late 1600s dining room table on a recent ready to give up.” moved to Brazil for five years to play with the Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo afternoon. “The most I ever learned is from He saw the Madonna in blue, and she the failure, the drama, and the trauma. That’s and upon his return, he joined the U.S. Army. encouraged him to go on with life. Jerome After retiring from service, he made his way why I celebrate every moment. There’s no carries the message with him every day. He right way or wrong way. There’s just ways.” to California and then Pennsylvania. He was never needed confirmation of hope more than drawn to Lancaster for its art scene. Born in Richmond, Virginia, Jerome grew up the day he lost his sister. An innocent victim, an “Army brat” and lived throughout Europe— she was decapitated during a crash resulting He recently fielded a call from his alma mater. mainly France—under the rule of Charles from a high-speed police chase. Jerome had DESAP board member Peggy Cooper Cafritz De Gaulle. Eventually, he found his way to to claim the body. would like to display a concert poster from Jerome’s recent Carnegie Hall performance the streets of Baltimore; there he witnessed “She was the only one who understood me,” the ugly and also a lot of bad first hand. At at the school. On April 28, 2017 Jerome says Jerome of his sister, who he leaned on for presented Beethoven’s complete sonatas the age of 13, he contemplated murder as a support when things got bad in his family. means of escape from a family that showed for cello and piano with Glenn Sales to a him no nurturing, except for his sister. His father died in 2016. Jerome hadn’t talked sold-out audience. to him in 40 years. “I survived a lot of things,” says Jerome, his “I’m no different than anyone else. Lots of voice taking on a more solemn tone. “I’m a Today, Jerome uses sound to occupy his people have had trying lives. I’m one of the survivor of abuse on all the ugly levels of it. once troubled mind. As we talk around his guys who can say, ‘The arts really saved me,’” I am proof that you can move on.” mammoth table, classical music plays in the says Jerome. He knows he can never change living room. In the kitchen, the television set the past and he has used it to build a bright is on. Having an aversion to all things flying future. “It’s a painful reference, but the past about, Jerome keeps a device in the dining is just a reference.” STORY SPONSOR: D&S CIGAR By Michael C. Upton 1623 Manheim Pike Lancaster, PA 17601 WATCH THE VIDEO INTERVIEW IN ITS (717) 569-3500 ENTIRETY AT WWW.REVELOMAG.COM 25 www.dnscigar.com Jerome is proudly pictured with his Gagliano cello.

JESSICA HIGGINS

While other kids were keeping up with were four wins, five losses, and one draw, Besides her standard issue handcuffs, 90s fads, Jessica Higgins was throwing with three losses coming to one fighter who flashlight, tourniquet, taser, radio, pepper punches in a Lancaster City gym. Eventually, she eventually bested. spray, and gun, Jessica sports two gel bands the young boxer realized the sport wasn’t “Jessica was a very, very aggressive fighter,” on her left wrist. One is black with a dark going to pay the bills, so she considered a says gym owner and Jessica’s former trainer blue line symbolizing her support for fellow career in healthcare, but it didn’t fill the Terry Nye. “She’s a good athlete who is level officers and the other is a light blue band action and excitement she wanted from headed. From what I’m told, other officers on with the phrase: In Jesus’ name I play. a profession. Now, as an officer on the the force want her as their backup.” “It’s important to me to remember why I’m Lancaster City Bureau of Police, Higgins doing what I’m doing,” says Jessica, who spends her days and nights patrolling the Jessica is one of 11 female officers currently serving on the Lancaster force, making attends church in Hempfield. “I belong to a city’s sector one, north of Harrisburg Pike couple Bible studies; we even have a small and East Frederick Street. up part of the 7.86 percent of women in uniform. Lancaster’s first female officer study group with Lancaster City officers “I wanted something that kept my attention. was Agnes Theresa Ferriter*, who was hired who share the same faith. It’s a really This job was always in the back of my head in March of 1923. Being a policewoman has neat dynamic to learn more about Jesus ever since I was a little kid,” says Jessica, in both benefits and burdens when dealing with with people that also share the same life full uniform at police headquarters located the public, admits Jessica. experience as you.” at 39 West Chestnut Street, as she took time “You don’t know what is going to happen The biggest hurdle in police/citizen relations to tell the story of one female officer in a is remembering officers are people, too. force growing in diversity. every day and that has proven true throughout my career. I like dealing with Underneath her bullet proof vest, Jessica is a “Most people were into the Teenage people, getting to know people, and helping human being who has kids, plays sports, and Mutant Ninja Turtles, so I started out with them,” Jessica says. cleans the bathroom just like the rest of us. karate and progressed into boxing,” she “Sometimes that is forgotten; people says, smiling at the memories. “I wanted Recently, she and her partner stopped at a convenience store and picked up a few often just see the badge and the uniform,” something with more impact. It was at a she says. time when there weren’t many females cold drinks. They delivered them to the kids involved in the sport.” shooting hoops at the Sixth Ward Park. It was a small gesture, but one she hopes will Starting when she was nine-years old, allow the kids to see her as a human being. Jessica trained for ten years at Nye’s Gym *Officer Ferriter went onto national until turning pro in 2001. Fighting as a “Out of my pocket it is only a couple prominence; more on Lancaster’s first Featherweight and Lightweight, her career bucks, but hopefully one kid sees that and female officer online. stats over her one-year professional career remembers what one police officer did,” says Jessica.

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CHRIS & BILL DAVIS Chris Davis just danced. On the green rooftop explains as an example of the ritualistic nature With a goal of happiness over measured of Tellus360, I sat with Bill Davis for more of the everyday occurrence. After the bath, Bill successes, Bill has created a Make-A-Wish- than an hour as we talked about his son, goes over the days schedule of events. like life for his son. Every day is an adventure, Chris. Slowly swaying and bopping to 80s rock “You can’t tell him too much, and you can’t tell and Bill embraces each day by striving to coming from the smartphone next to us, Chris him later in the day,” he says. If he becomes make Chris happy. The little things, like reached over now and then with a gentle touch too excited about an upcoming event he’ll ask hugs, outweigh any formal benchmarks in to his father’s arm. Those four outstretched when—in his own, limited-verbal way—over the science of autism treatment. They go to fingers meant Chris had something to and over again. concerts. Chris loves the E-town fair. communicate to his dad. Most of the time this There’s a lull in the music and Chris stops act was followed by Chris pointing into his All of this is minute compared to Chris’ earlier life. As a youngster, Chris would not sleep dancing. Here comes that touch again, tender empty glass. There is kindness in Chris’ eyes, and earnest, a far cry from the boy who would an acknowledgment of camaraderie going and was in need of constant stimulation. He wouldn’t wear clothes. He hurt himself, bite or hurt himself or others to get attention. beyond the typical father-son relationship. This time, Chris doesn’t point to his empty The 22-year-old Chris wanted more Diet Coke. smeared himself with feces, and wouldn’t eat. He lived on formula until the age of seven. soda glass. He marks an invisible T on the table “Drink your diet soda, drink your diet soda,” The smell of food would make Chris gag. Bill with his finger. says Bill, pulling out of our conversation for a couldn’t cough, sneeze, or create any other “Excuse me,” says Bill, and begins his own few seconds. Then he repeats himself, repeats sudden, unexpected noise without setting series of marks, just below where the T was himself again, and adds, “Go ahead.” Chris off. Lights needed to be dim. He held traced. They are going over the schedule for The repetition is necessary for Chris, but as his bowel movements for periods as long as the rest of the day. “Just five more minutes, a man living with severe autism, intellectual 20 days. okay? Five more minutes.” disability, and neurological disorders, he has “I knew something was off, or wrong, when he Chris nods. He resumes dancing as Prince become less dependent on the devices and was two years old. At that time, more than 20 starts playing. patterns he once needed to complete even the years ago, nobody knew what autism was,” “Every time we go to a concert, he wants to be simplest of tasks. Still, Chris needs to follow a says Bill. schedule to maintain his equanimity. The day in the center of the mosh pit. I don’t want him starts with a bath. Ultimately, he found support—through to be in the mosh pit!” says Bill, smiling. much perseverance—at the Kennedy Krieger The whole experience has led Bill to pen two “Chris wakes me up. He grabs my glasses and Institute’s Center for Autism and Related gets me out of bed,” Bill says. books, Breaking Autism’s Barriers: A Father’s Disorders. Here, Chris got his diagnosis and Bill Story and Dangerous Encounters—Avoiding Chris likes hot water, hotter than average. He got a hint of hope, but other doctors wanted to Perilous Situations with Autism (both available then routinely pours himself a soda. institutionalize Chris. on Amazon); he’s also created a GoFundMe “Then I have to say, ‘drink your Coke Zero, “I was angry,” says Bill, who knew there was (www.gofundme.com/f2ndmh3w) campaign to drink your Coke Zero, drink your Coke Zero, more for his son. He battled the hospitals help offset Chris’ expenses. yeah. Drink your Coke Zero, drink your Coke and school systems, ultimately creating It’s a hard, but happy life... and Bill is more Zero, drink your Coke Zero, go ahead,’” Bill a personalized curriculum for Chris who than happy to embrace it. graduated high school and now even attends STORY SPONSOR: college classes. “Chris must have the TELLUS360 knowledge of Albert Einstein. He listens to By Michael C. Upton 24 East King Street WITF all day long. I imagine if he ever had Lancaster, PA 17602 the ability to just say things he’d spit out WATCH THE VIDEO INTERVIEW IN ITS (717) 393-1660 knowledge that was incredible.” ENTIRETY AT www.tellus360.com WWW.REVELOMAG.COM 29

PAM PAUTZ

The worst part of Pam Pautz’s job is proximity to larger cities such as Baltimore, very structured. They’ll have individual the referrals. They are sad, and they are Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and New York also counseling therapy sessions; they’ll have constant. Pam serves as the executive make it a prime stop for traffickers. group counseling sessions,” Pam says. The director of the North Star Initiative, an In response to the problem, North Star women will also learn valuable life skills organization created to help the victims Initiative opened its doors in 2012 with a such as cooking, staying physically active, of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation in three-fold mission: to educate and make and establishing positive relationships. They Lancaster County. The referrals for women the public aware of the sex trafficking will have Bible study, art therapy, and other needing help from North Star are not what issue in the area, to develop alliances with daily activities to help them deal with stress Pam expected when taking on the job. organizations and law enforcement to aid in and trauma in healthy ways. “I realized trafficking was an issue,” she women being restored from trafficking, and “We’re going to touch the education admits, “but I think it’s when you get the to open and operate Lancaster County’s first component,” Pam continues, “because some call from the state police and the girl is 19, restoration home for survivors. of these women don’t have their high school and she graduated from a local high school, “There is limited space across the United diploma, so we’ll have a GED program.” She and played soccer on the weekends… and also hopes to partner with local schools they’re calling because now she’s being States for women coming out of trafficking,” Pam explains, “and many don’t have such as Thaddeus Stevens College to support trafficked and she’s strung out on heroin women who might choose a STEM career: or K2. Being a mom with children that age, anywhere to go, except either to a homeless shelter or a domestic violence shelter. But “The goal is to put the women on the road it’s gut wrenching, because that could be to having an earned income that will support anybody’s daughter.” that’s not really what they need. What they need is a holistic approach where you’re them so they aren’t lured back into the It is difficult to imagine that the bucolic actually touching the trauma and offering sex trade.” tourist area of Lancaster harbors such a deep a restoration to it… We need to heal these When asked about the future goals for North and dirty secret, but Pam faces the evidence women and get them back into society in a Star and The Harbor, Pam admits that while of sex trafficking on a daily basis. “That’s healthy way.” she can’t wait to hear success stories from probably the number one question we get North Star’s group home, called The Harbor, the women going through the program, asked,” Pam says. “‘Is this really happening there is still more work to be done with other in Lancaster County? Are these women and became a reality in March 2016 when the organization purchased and began populations, such as adolescents and men girls who are actually local?’ The answers affected by sex trafficking: “It’s daunting. are ‘yes,’ and ‘yes.’” Lancaster’s tourism renovations on a large farmhouse property in Lititz. Beginning in October 2017, The This isn’t just a teen, or twenty-something industry actually contributes to the problem girl issue. It’s a child issue. It’s a human of trafficking, Pam notes, because “it makes Harbor will provide a home and care to ten adult female victims at a time. “We’re going issue. We’re trying to give a voice to people it very easy access for people to come in who absolutely do not have one. Just to and leave and not really even be noticed.” to deal with their spiritual, mental, and physical well-being,” Pam notes. give them a light… a hope… So we’ll do our Lancaster’s system of major highways and small part.” “Basically, we’re going to take their world and turn it upside down. Their day will be STORY SPONSOR:

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Jenny Orsag: 222 West Orange Street 717-305-0755 espialdesigngroup.com « 717-364 -4344 Lancaster, PA 17603 PRINT DESIGN « WEB DESIGN « VIDEOGRAPHY « PHOTOGRAPHY « BRANDING « ILLUSTRATION « WRITING John Spidaliere: 717-299-3433 717-425-9892 www.puffermorris.com We’re proud to be part of one of Lancaster’s oldest and most respected real estate firms.

Providing clients with expert service for more than 35 years.

Brian Altimare: 717-330-4695

Jenny Orsag: 222 West Orange Street 717-305-0755 Lancaster, PA 17603 John Spidaliere: 717-299-3433 717-425-9892 www.puffermorris.com Take charge of your financial future

Call me today at Since 1894, Ameriprise Financial has helped millions of Americans feel more confident 717.431.0522. about their financial future. As an Ameriprise financial advisor, I remain true to our vision of always putting clients first. Discover the one-to-one attention you deserve, backed by the strength of America’s leader in financial planning.*

Ted Williams, MBA Financial Advisor, Business Financial Advisor 30 East Roseville Rd, Ste E Lancaster, PA 17601 717.431.0522 [email protected] ameripriseadvisors.com/theodore.p.williams

* Ameriprise helped pioneer the financial planning process more than 30 years ago. We have more CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals than any other company in the U.S. as documented by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., as of Dec. 31, 2015. Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., a registered investment adviser. © 2016 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. (8/16)