March 5, 2024 - Liza Naylor, the proud owner of "Locally Seasoned," a thriving culinary venture based in Red Lion, Pennsylvania, captivated members of the York East Rotary Club yesterday with her inspiring story of entrepreneurship. Naylor shared the origins of her business, which she attributed to her diverse international family. Liza's journey into the world of culinary entrepreneurship began with her upbringing in a family where various cultures and cuisines intersected. Growing up, she was exposed to a rich tapestry of flavors and cooking techniques from her relatives hailing from different parts of the world. This multicultural influence ignited her passion for food and inspired her to explore the culinary landscape further. During her address to the Rotary Club, Naylor recounted how her family gatherings often turned into elaborate feasts, with each member contributing dishes reflective of their heritage. These experiences not only deepened her appreciation for diverse cuisines but also planted the seeds of her future business venture. Driven by her love for cooking and her desire to share the flavors of her upbringing with others, Naylor embarked on a journey to establish her own business. In 2018, she launched "Locally Seasoned," a boutique culinary enterprise specializing in artisanal spice blends, sauces, and gourmet cooking ingredients sourced locally. At the heart of Naylor's business philosophy lies a commitment to quality, authenticity, and community. Each product offered by "Locally Seasoned" is crafted with care, using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. By supporting local farmers and producers, Naylor not only ensures the freshness and superior quality of her products but also fosters a sense of community and sustainability. Liza's heartfelt message resonated deeply with the members of the Rotary Club, many of whom praised her entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to community engagement. As she continues to expand her business and reach new audiences, Naylor remains committed to her vision of promoting culinary diversity and fostering a sense of unity through food

York-East members volunteer to pick up trash and litter along Edgewood Road between Prospect Street and Kingston Road twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall, generally to coincide with PennDOT's Road Cleanup Day.  The club has been doing it since 1994 and occasionally finds treasures and lots of trash (cans, cups, bags, and tires).  We even found a wallet this year and hope to return it to the owner!

 

The Club has been recognized for 30 years of participation in the road cleanup project.

From left to right:  Nate Tile, Kris Pollick, Greg Kern, Dan Hoff and Tim Koller

 

March 26, 2024 - Two exemplary students from York County School of Technology took the spotlight at the local York East Rotary Club breakfast meeting. The occasion marked the monthly recognition ceremony for Students of the Month, where these exceptional individuals were honored to be the students of the month. The Rotary Club, known for its commitment to community service and education, hosted the event to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of students who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance, leadership, and community involvement. This month, senior Emma Amereihn and junior Eva Reever were chosen.  Eva delivered a compelling presentation on the importance of community engagement and volunteerism while enjoying reading, painting, crafting, journaling, playing the ukulele and listening to music. She has received distinguished Honor Roll every year and is working at the Keystone Early Learning academy.  Emma was unable to attend the meeting but is also on the distinguished honor roll plus an all-star athlete in field hockey, basketball and track and field.  Members of the Rotary Club commended the students for their exceptional dedication and encouraged them to continue their outstanding work. We have no doubt that they will continue to excel and contribute meaningfully to society. In recognizing and supporting these exceptional students, the Rotary Club reinforced its commitment to fostering education, leadership, and community engagement among the youth, ensuring that the future of the community remains in capable and compassionate hands.

March 25, 2024 - Locally inspired in our York community by a random act of kindness on Good Friday morning between two strangers, one of whom was Kevin Smith, when his wallet was returned within moments after he discovered it was lost. The spirit of Kindness Week is to promote acts of kindness, encourage good deeds, and pay them forward to improve our communities and spread the joy of kindness to all. What began as a simple attempt to identify the young Good Samaritan woman and acknowledge her in a more meaningful way by “going the extra mile” for her as she did for him subsequently assumed a life of its own.  It became a fascinating adventure of a lifetime and the most meaningful pursuit of my life. The story was initially covered by WGAL 8 and quickly spread nationwide - even attracting attention from “Inside Edition,” television’s longest-running syndicated news program. During Kindness Week schools, service and faith-based organizations, businesses, families and all community constituents are encouraged to mobilize to express, display, and promote kindness in ways limited only by the bounds of imagination and creativity. One of the means all are encouraged to “go the extra mile” for kindness is to donate blood. It costs nothing other than our time, can literally save a life, and is a great example of “paying it forward.” When you show kindness, or are the beneficiary of an act of kindness, you are encouraged to share your kindness stories by reporting them on the website or social pages of the new nonprofit inspired by this random act of kindness, Kindness Worldwide, and use designated hashtags. The vision of Kindness Worldwide is to “create a culture of kindness” in our local communities and beyond through multiple initiatives, including the issuance of Kindness Citations by police departments, mass community distribution of “See the Good” and “Be the Good” cards to remind us of the importance of all the “little things” and make kindness intentional in our daily lives and routines, the development and implementation of kindness curriculums throughout our schools, and official recognition of humanity’s greatest asset, Kindness, by governing bodies. Proclamations and formal recognition of Kindness Week have already been made by the city of York, York and Adams counties, and the state of Pennsylvania thus far. That’s a good start, but not nearly enough!