Tasha McCardle, of Butler, hands some freshly cooked pizza out of the Benvenuti Pizza Factory food truck on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 30, at the 20th anniversary of Concordia at the Orchard. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle

CENTER TWP — Charlie Ellenberger is old enough to remember when the land at 104 Concordia Way was just an apple orchard owned by a man known to residents as “Mr. Michael.”

“A lot of people in this area all remember him, Mr. Michael,” Ellenberger said. “He sold a lot of cider, and all these hills were filled with apple trees … (People would) go by and see all the apple trees and the cider sign. A lot of people remember the apple orchard.”

What used to be an apple orchard is now the assisted living facility, Concordia at the Orchard. On Wednesday, Aug. 30, the Orchard celebrated its 20th anniversary under the stewardship of Concordia Lutheran Ministries, which purchased the facility from the nearby North Main Street Church of God in 2003.

Under the Church of God, the Orchard was an “independent living” facility, but transitioned to an assisted living facility when Concordia took over.

“The Church of God owned this property beforehand, and then we were able to acquire it from them,” said Concordia CEO Keith Frndak. “It's been a great addition to our ministry ever since then.”

The Orchard is one of nine Concordia locations in Pennsylvania that offer varying services from retirement living to outpatient care to assisted living.

Art Stewart, of Mars, wipes down the hood of his 1938 Chevy coupe on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 30, at the 20th anniversary of Concordia at the Orchard. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle

Residents at the assisted living facility were invited outside for the anniversary celebration, which featured live music, a car cruise, a popcorn machine, hot dogs and food trucks from Kona Ice and Benvenuti Pizza Factory.

“I think it’s great,” said resident and retired schoolteacher Pete Mantzaris, who added his favorite parts were “… the fact that everybody is commingling, the music and the weather.”

Music for the celebration was provided by jazz band the Rich Zabinski Trio, with band leader Zabinski on the drums, Howie Alexander on keyboard, and Rick Matt on saxophone.

To open the event, the facility’s chaplain, Joel Dieterichs, joined the band temporarily to play “God Bless America” on acoustic guitar.

Pastor Joel Dietrich sings to welcome guests on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 30, at the 20th anniversary of Concordia at the Orchard. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle

The trio, which has been together for five years, is a hobby for Zabinski, who regularly works as a pharmacist at one of Concordia’s other facilities, in Cabot.

“We've all played in various bands for probably 30, 40 years,” said Zabinski. “We play at many of the Concordia events and other jazz venues around the city and elsewhere.”

Guests sit and talk on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 30, at the 20th anniversary of Concordia at the Orchard. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle

Good Samaritan Hospice, another part of the Concordia network, was also on hand to promote their services at the event. Representatives handed out “butterfly boxes”, which included both contact information and a Hershey’s Kiss.

“We are here just to make sure that everyone here, as a resident, knows that we are here for them,” said volunteer coordinator Erin Boyles.