by Kym Byrnes
Being remembered feels good. You walk into a restaurant, someone greets you by name, and before you’ve settled into your seat, your server is striking up a conversation about your kids or bringing your usual drink.
On a day when you’re feeling a little worn down, that kind of welcome can mean a lot.
The longtime waitresses at Bob Evans in Westminster, featured on page 64 in this issue, have spent years making people feel that way. They know their regulars, ask about their families and make room for conversation in the middle of a busy shift. While writing that story, I kept coming back to how much these small gestures matter.
This issue also includes our Women in Business special advertising section (see page 30), recognizing women whose work helps our community thrive. It’s a good opportunity to appreciate the range of work that keeps a community going, including jobs we rely on every day but don’t always give much thought to.
School bus drivers, wait staff, custodians and maintenance crews—so much of our daily routine depends on people showing up and doing their jobs well. When they bring patience, humor and kindness to that work, we feel the difference. Being on your game every day takes effort. Being gracious while you do it deserves our appreciation, too.
With Thanksgiving approaching, I’m taking this occasion as a reminder to pay a little more attention by thanking the person who helped me, offering some grace when things take longer than expected, asking someone how their day is going and actually listening to the answer.
We can all take a cue from these waitresses. A smile and a few kind words are within reach for most of us, and we rarely know just how much someone might need them. It’s a simple way to be a good neighbor.
We also have a special thank you to share in this issue. After 20 years as our Taste writer, Michael Vyskocil is stepping away from writing for Carroll Magazine. His farewell feature on page 72 looks back at memorable assignments, recipes he developed for readers to create in their home kitchens and Carroll County restaurants he wrote about over two decades.
Michael has brought care, curiosity and a journalist’s attention to detail to our pages.
We’ll miss his voice in Taste, but we’re fortunate that his eagle eyes and editorial expertise will remain with us as he continues helping edit and proof each issue. And we look forward to welcoming a new voice to our food coverage.
For now, please join us in thanking Michael for 20 years of delicious reading.
I, along with the rest of the team here at Carroll Magazine and Kohn Creative, wish you a beautiful fall and a happy Thanksgiving, with good company around your table and plenty of opportunities to make someone feel welcome.
