Life Under The Willow Tree

The podcast Life Under the Willow Tree features residents of the Willow Valley community sharing the unusual and unexpected jobs they held throughout their lives. The hosts, Dale Johnson and Elaine Kurceba, interview various individuals who recount roles ranging from a movie theater attendant and a deodorant factory worker to a hypnotist's assistant and a secret spy. Some stories highlight dramati...

Fun in Lancaster County Lancaster Central Market (Ann), located at 23 North Market Street in downtown Lancaster, is the oldest continuously operating farmer's market in the United States. It is open year-round on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and offers everything from local produce and meats to cheeses, crafts, and handmade items. Walking Tours of Downtown Lancaster (Tom): The visitor center n...

E219: The provided text is a transcript from the Willow Valley podcast, "Life Under the Willow Tree," where hosts Dale Johnson and Elaine Kurceba explore the unconventional previous jobs held by community residents. The episode highlights a diverse range of early employment experiences, such as working as a car hop on roller skates, assembling body bags, and even caretaking for a rabbit colony. Ea...

E217: The Power of Storytelling and Building a Legacy. This podcast episode features Ray Loewe, the founder of the "Changing the Rules" podcast, and Jim Rose, an engineer who steps into the hosting role to explore the evolution of the show. Originally started as a marketing tool for Ray’s business, the project transitioned from an internet TV show to a successful podcasting community at Willow Val...

E218: Supportive Living. Dale Johnson and Maggie Stauffer have a discussion at Meadow Ridge, a supportive living community at Willow Valley Communities, focusing on the emotional and logistical transition from independent living. A social worker and two residents share personal stories regarding the decision-making process, the challenges of downsizing possessions, and the initial shift in mindset...

Web Page: www.lowerSusquehannariverkeeper.org www.lowsusriverkeeper.org

Links: Dale's Web Site: Airphotos.wordpress.com Willow Valley Through the Seasons https://youtu.be/Cm0_By9mq5o Biking Through Amish Country Video https://youtu.be/NplGjkyURu0

Tap Dancing

In Columbia Pennsylvania, you can visit: Wrights Ferry Museum National Watch and Clock Museum Hinkle's Ice Cream Columbia Crossing River Trail Center

Host: Don Helin Guest: Mary Donaldson-Evans Description: This podcast transcript features an interview with Mary Donaldson-Evans, a resident of Willow Valley and a former French professor. She shares her life story, beginning with her childhood in Minnesota and her formative year working as a nanny in Paris. The conversation highlights a significant discovery of hundreds of wartime letters exchang...

04/14/2026 LCSWMA: The Great Green Secret of Lancaster County Host: Carol MacAllister Guest: Michelle Brown, LCSWMA, Energy and Commodity Manager. Have you ever wondered what happens to your trash here at Willow Valley? Why can’t we recycle everything? Why do we have to separate our recyclables, and what happens to them once they are picked up by our commercial hauler? In today’s Open podcast (mea...

E210: Two Lovely Ladies Host: Elaine Kurceba Guests: Jean Morgan and Sally Gross Description: This podcast episode features an interview with Jean Morgan and Sally Gross, two vibrant residents of the Willow Valley retirement community who are both in their nineties. The conversation highlights their philosophies on aging, emphasizing the importance of staying active, maintaining lifelong friendshi...

Hosts: Dale Johnson and Maggie Stauffer Guests: Taylor Blackwell and Heather Nelson This episode explores the critical link between socialization and longevity through various scientific lenses. The hosts discuss a Brigham Young University study highlighting social integration as the primary predictor of a long life, even surpassing exercise or diet. They also examine the Harvard Study of Adult De...

E208: Goddesses of Hearing Hosts: Ray Loewe and Mary Ann Steinhauer Guests: Heather Eck and Carrie Hermann Description: This podcast episode from Willow Valley features a conversation with two doctors of audiology, Heather Eck and Carrie Hermann, who discuss the complexities of hearing loss and modern solutions. The experts explain that hearing is a collaborative process between the ears and the b...

Host: Carol MacAllister Guests: Sandra Derr, Kim Pfeffer, James Merkel Description: WV’s Transportation Department is a gift to all those residents who no longer drive for whatever reason, temporarily or permanently, or when winter storms make it impossible to shovel their cars free, even if the roads are plowed and salted. The well-trained drivers are intrepid in such situations, but even on the...

Hosts: Dale Johnson and Candace O'Donnell Description: In this podcast episode titled "Kindness at Willow Valley," hosts Dale Johnson and Candace O'Donnell explore the pervasive culture of kindness at the Willow Valley retirement community. The discussion is structured around a series of personal anecdotes and observations involving both residents and staff, ranging from organized support networks...

Host: Carol MacAllister Guest: Sharon Habanec, WV Senior VP of Culinary Services Description: Sharon Habanec reflects on her 39-year career, starting as a part-time hostess. She describes the evolution of the organization’s dining philosophy toward "destination dining," which offers residents diverse choices across nearly 18 different venues. Habanec emphasizes a leadership culture rooted in inter...

Host: Candace O'Donnell Guest: Jim Casler Description: In this podcast episode from Life Under the Willow Tree, host Candace O'Donnell interviews Jim Casler, the experienced director of the community’s chorale. Casler discusses his lifelong musical journey, which began in a boys' choir and led to a long career as a music educator before he transitioned to leading his fellow residents. The conversa...

Host: Carol MacAllister Guests: WV Vice Presidents, Jim Tracy and Terry Cain What does it really take to keep a community like Willow Valley running smoothly every single day? In this behind-the-scenes conversation, Vice Presidents Jim Tracy and Terry Cain share how facilities, construction, real estate, and essential services come together to support residents, team members, and visitors. From th...

Host: Dale Johnson Guest: Lynn Neely Description: In this podcast episode from the Willow Valley community, host Dale Johnson and resident Lynn Neely explore the diverse cultural landscape of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They challenge the perception of the city as a small town by highlighting professional theaters like the historic Fulton Opera House and unique venues such as Sight and Sound, which f...

E201: Host: Ray Loewe Guests: Deborah Greggs and Nathaniel Rivera This podcast features host Ray Loewe interviewing Deborah Greggs and Nathaniel Rivera, two Willow Valley team members who recently received educational scholarships. Deborah is an LPN in resident nursing who is pursuing her RN degree to eventually become a nurse practitioner, motivated by her mother’s memory and her desire to provid...

Host: Don Helin Guest: Tammy Eberly Description: Tammy Eberly is a woman with many talents, who lived in many places. She started out as a resident of Ohio, then lived in different areas in Pennsylvania and Virginia. She first worked as a nurse, and then started several businesses as a fashion fabricator for designers in New York and San Francisco. Later, she worked with Servant Stage in Lancaster...

E198: SmartLife at Willow Valley Host: Dale Johnson Guests: Andrew Salotki, Grace and Ed Valentine This podcast episode introduces Smart Life via Willow Valley, an innovative continuing care at home program designed for seniors who wish to age in place. Hosted by Dale Johnson, the discussion features program manager Andrew Salotki, who explains how the initiative provides long-term care coordinati...

Host: Ray Loewe Guest: Carol MacAllister Carol MacAllister was a social worker in 1978 for the State of New Mexico Mental Health Bureau when a new law, "The Sexual Crimes Prosecution and Treatment Act," was passed. Carol was assigned to assemble a team that was charged with implementing the act. One part was to create a standardized rape kit that would provide hard evidence for the courtroom. That...

Episode 196: Semester at Sea Host: Elaine Kurceba Guests: Maggie and Barry Stauffer Description: In this episode Willow Valley residents Maggie and Barry Stauffer describe their transformative experience with the Semester at Sea program, a 100-day global voyage. Their ship functioned as a floating university, traveling to ten different countries including Brazil, South Africa, and India. The speak...