Life + Culture

Horses, Heritage, and Home

Preserving the lands, livelihood, and legacy behind Maryland racing Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Courtesy of Bonita Farm For Michelle Boniface St. John, Maryland’s Thoroughbred industry has never been limited to what happens at the racetrack. Growing up on Bonita Farm in Darlington, she witnessed the network of people, farms, businesses, and communities behind every horse that makes it to the starting gate. Her family has deep roots in the sport. Her grandfather, Bill...

Life + Culture

A Decade of Growth

Bel Air's business incubator celebrates 10 years of growth. Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Kerry Paradis Photography Ten years ago, a row of former Maryland National Guard garages behind the historic Bel Air Armory began a second life. Today, those spaces are home to the Armory Marketplace, where small businesses can test ideas, establish customers, and grow toward something bigger. Established in 2016, the Town of Bel Air-owned Marketplace is a retail-focused business...

Life + Culture

The Call to Care

Aaron Rabinowitz, University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health’s president, reflects on community, service, and gratitude. Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health You’ve called Harford County home for decades. What has this community meant to you personally, and how has living here shaped the way you approach your role at UM Upper Chesapeake Health? Harford County has been home to my family for many years. We have raised our children...

Life + Culture

Fun, Funds, and Furry Friends

From fundraisers to adoptions, the community shows up for animals in need. Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by The Humane Society of Harford County For 80 years, the Humane Society of Harford County has brought people together around a shared commitment to animals in need. Founded in 1946, the nonprofit provides refuge and care for animals while supporting adoption, advocacy, and education throughout the community. That work takes many forms, and recent months have offered an...

Food + Beverage

Stirred, Smoked, and Ready to Sip

A touch of smoke transforms a timeless cocktail for cooler weather. Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Steve Vilnit Lib’s Grill has no shortage of creative cocktails on its menu, but this take on a classic is a showstopper. With flavors of bright orange cherry, rich brown sugar, and smokiness this version of an Old-Fashioned is sure to warm you up from the inside as the crisp weather settles in. Smoking Old Fashioned Ingredients 2 oz whiskey (choose your personal favorite) ...

Home + Design

Elevating Lives

Accessibility, expertise, and compassion come together at Elevator Works. Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Contributing Photographers For Vincent Russo, an elevator is rarely just a way to get from one floor to another. After nearly two decades in the industry, the President of Forest Hill-based Elevator Works has seen the equipment become a source of independence for older adults, a solution for families navigating disabilities, and, in some cases, an important part of helping...

Life + Culture

A Path Forward

CHEP helps veterans build stability, independence, and a path forward. Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Chesapeake Health Education Program For more than three decades, CHEP has evolved by paying attention to what its communities need. What began in 1990 as the Chesapeake Health Education Program, providing professional training and continuing education, eventually expanded its mission when another need became increasingly apparent: veterans facing homelessness and housing...

Food + Beverage

Paired with Community

Jon Kohler shares how food, wine and community have shaped Pairings Bistro Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Contributing Photographers For nearly a decade before Pairings Bistro opened its doors, Jon Kohler had an idea he couldn’t quite shake. “I have been telling my wife Sandy that somebody should open up a nice upscale restaurant that was a part of the community and supported the community with fellowship and cuisine that just wasn’t here at that point,” Kohler said. ...

Food + Beverage

Cooking With Connection

Chef Stacia Epps brings French inspiration and Harford County ingredients to Maison Intimate Catering Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Contributing Photographers Long before Maison Intimate Catering became a personal chef and intimate catering business serving clients from Virginia to Philadelphia and beyond, Chef Stacia Epps was fresh out of culinary school with big plans and an idea inspired thousands of miles from home. Epps, who attended Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia...

Food + Beverage

A Recipe for Longevity

How family and quality built a Harford County tradition. Article by Jennifer Waldera | Photography by Kerry Paradis Photography When Tommy Kanaras and his brother, Chris, decided to open a pizzeria, they already knew restaurants from the ground up. Their father, George Kanaras, had made sure of it. “My father taught us from the beginning,” Tommy Kanaras said. “He had us cleaning bathrooms and washing floors. He wanted us knowing everything about this business.” The brothers grew up in the...