Happy November! I hope you all are having a wonderful and cozy autumn, enjoying the season nestled by the fireplace, snuggling with pets, spending time with loved ones and indulging in the delicious flavors of fall.
There’s a lot to give thanks for and celebrate this month. This year, the Susquehanna Style team is thankful for loving family and friends, good health and the opportunity to do our jobs every day of sharing the stories of the community, establishing meaningful relationships and connecting with our readers.
This month, we’re also thankful for—and celebrating—our 2024 Women of Strength. Every November is our Women of Strength issue, in which we select women from across the Susquehanna Valley who exemplify strength in many forms. From being leaders, movers and makers in the community, to volunteering for nonprofits in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and education, to excelling not only in the workplace but in motherhood and at home, these women are truly invested in the welfare of their communities and bettering the lives around them.
We selected five women out of more than two dozen remarkable nomi-nations this year. Flip to page 34 to read their stories. Each woman was nominated by a family member, friend, coworker or someone in the community. It was extremely difficult to choose just five, as each woman exemplified all of the qualities, and beyond, of what it means to be a woman of strength. It’s been empowering and inspiring to learn about each of the superwomen shaping our community, and we thank all of you who nominated a woman of strength in your life.
We’re also highlighting another woman of strength in the Susquehanna Valley on page 14. Read about Kendra Daub and the nonprofit cat rescue she founded, Cocoa Kitties. Based in Hershey, Cocoa Kitties has saved more than 800 cats in its two and a half years since opening. Daub’s dedication to not only cats but the community as a whole is a story that can inspire us all.
On page 20, you’re invited to step into the kitchen of Levant Mediterranean Cuisine in York and immerse yourself in the authentic and delicious flavors Levant serves, as well as the unwavering spirit and talent of the restaurant’s chef and backbone, Randa Alshalabi.
The delicious flavors aren't limited to just Levant, however. Keep your taste buds excited with Registered Dietician Nikita Grove’s recipes for a “Thanksgiving with a Twist.” These recipes take our favorite familiar and comforting dishes and add a healthy “twist” to them, incorporating less butter and fat, more whole foods and options for those with allergies and dietary restrictions.
We are so excited for you to dive into this issue and find who and what motivates you. We can all draw some inspiration from this year’s women of strength to apply to our own lives. And this month, take a moment to celebrate your own strength. Keep changing the world around you. Your presence and light make a difference, even if you can’t always feel it! Your strength comes in many forms.
