What if I told you growth and preservation can coexist?
As I’ve grown older and more invested in my hometown, I’ve found myself grappling with the push and pull of change. Recently, Elizabethtown was named the top small town in America by Zillow. A surprising accolade and one that could put us on the map in new ways. Yet the reaction from some corners of my community have been disheartening—a mix of fear about losing our identity and frustration about perceived problems in the town.
I understand the apprehension. Change can feel threatening, especially in a place we hold dear. But what if we shifted our perspective? What if growth didn’t mean replacing the things we love but enhancing them? What if preservation and progress could work hand in hand?
I believe they can. And I’ve seen it happen.
Over the past few years, I’ve poured my heart into Elizabethtown in ways that bridge the past and the future, both through my business, Lola Love Letter, and my community involvement. Lola Love Letter allowed me to be part of the team that started Elizabethtown Farmers Market, a project not just about fresh produce but about educating and empowering those who lack access to the incredible food grown right in our County.
I also had the privilege of helping restore a 20+ year-old mural in town, a piece of local history that had faded with time. Standing in front of that wall, brush in hand, I felt the weight of the past and the promise of the future. That mural is more than paint on a wall; it’s a story, a legacy preserved for the next generation.
These experiences taught me that progress doesn’t have to erase our history. Artists, in particular, are visual recorders of history. Every mural is a snapshot of a person, place, or thing, preserving that moment in time. Through Lola Love Letter, I’ve had the honor of embodying this balance—preserving localized history while contributing to the town’s evolution through creative initiatives.
Thoughtful growth honors the past while creating new opportunities for the future.
To those who fear Elizabethtown becoming “another Lancaster” or “another Lititz”: I hear you. But what if we saw growth as an opportunity to create something uniquely our own? My background in tourism and place-making has shown me that when communities embrace thoughtful change, they empower both residents and visitors alike. Elizabethtown has the potential to build on its strengths—arts, history, and community—to shape a future that reflects its values. Turning into Lancaster isn’t inherently a bad thing—it’s a model of how a town can thrive by balancing its past with its future.
Growth doesn’t have to mean losing our identity. It’s up to us to guide that growth, to ensure it reflects the values of our town. Instead of resisting change, we can shape it.
Negativity often overshadows the incredible work being done. Through Lola Love Letter, I’ve supported these efforts by celebrating Elizabethtown’s unique character in my artwork and helping to create initiatives that bring the community together. As Americans for the Arts reports, communities with vibrant arts scenes see measurable benefits, from economic growth to enhanced quality of life. For example, cultural participation increases community involvement by 50%, and arts participants are twice as likely to volunteer compared to those who don’t participate in the arts. Plainly put, supporting the arts supports the town as a whole. The Farmers Market, the murals, the small businesses revitalizing our downtown—these are all proof that growth and preservation can coexist. It’s not about one singular business, or one accolade. It’s about all of us working together to make a place we’re proud to call home.
If you’re inspired to help shape Elizabethtown’s future, I encourage you to learn more about Lola Love Letter and the work myself and my creative colleagues are doing to celebrate this community’s past, present, and future. Allow yourself to dream big about what’s next for our small town.