Contributor Biographies
Jessica Dean, Publisher & Art Director
Born and raised in Adams County, Pa., Jessica and her husband Troy, created Celebrate Gettysburg magazine in 2006. Before starting the publication, Jessica was art director for Frederick magazine, a successful regional publication based in Frederick, Md. She is also involved with the AIGA Blueridge chapter and has won many awards for her graphic design. Always eager to give back to the community, Jessica has helped to promote many local activities and volunteered design services for numerous regional non-profit organizations. She received a Specialized Associates degree from The Art Institute of York, Pa. She may be reached at jess@celebrategettysburg.com
Jaime Ridgley, Editor
Before becoming the editor of Celebrate Gettysburg magazine, Jaime Ridgley was an award-winning religion reporter and features writer at the Carroll County Times in Westminster, Md.,and later served as an editorial assistant and a contributing writer at Frederick magazine. In addition to her work at Celebrate Gettysburg, Jaime continues to freelance for publications in Maryland. She received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park. She and her husband, Rich, live in Carroll County, Md. She may be reached at editor@celebrategettysburg.com
John Armstrong, Photographer
John Armstrong is an Adams County artist and freelance photographer whose work has appeared in multiple local shows and in Celebrate Gettysburg, Gettysburg College publications and The Gettysburg Times. His interests center around landscape, nature and feature photography, and he loves living among the limitless photographic possibilities of Gettysburg and Adams County.
Dick Bloom, Photographer
Dick Bloom has professionally photographed Adams County and surrounding areas for the past decade. He has worked for various clients, including several local newspapers, the Adams County Arts Council, the Lutheran Seminary and Historic Gettysburg Adams County. His images have hung in the State Museum in Harrisburg while he participated in the Art of the State twice. Dick has received an International bronze award from the International Society of Photographers for his image Peek'n Round the Corner. Dick operates a studio where he’s printing his Adams County images on canvas and art paper and maintains his website, dickbloom.com, and his blog, dickbloom.blogspot.com
Tara Hope, Photographer
Tara Hope is a professional freelance photographer specializing in editorial and commercial imagery. She has a great deal of experience photographing commercial images for businesses, editorial spreads for various magazines and photojournalistic wedding photography. She is the owner of Tara Hope Photography in Westminster, Md.
Tara holds a Fine Arts degree in photography from the Savannah College of Art & Design in GA. She is also a graduate of Villa Julie College in Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree in graphic design. In addition to Celebrate Gettysburg magazine, her work can be seen in Carroll magazine and at www.TaraHopePhotography.com
Barbara D’Arienzo, Writer
Barbara D’Arienzo has been writing lifestyle pieces since the beginning of her career at a New Jersey daily newspaper more than 30 years ago. In addition to writing, she has worked in college administration and for nonprofit organizations. She comes to Celebrate Gettysburg after what she considers her most challenging and rewarding position, caregiver for her mother. She holds a B.A. in social studies from Seton Hall University. She lives in Zullinger, Pa.
Tony DeLacy, Writer
Tony DeLacy has been a full-time licensed battlefield guide at Gettysburg National Military Park for three years. In 2004, he retired after 35 years with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Public Welfare, serving as a field office director in Philadelphia. He has a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Neumann College and a certificate from the Civil War Institute of Holy Family College in Philadelphia. Tony was also a police officer in suburban Philadelphia and served in the United States Marine Corps. He and his wife, Michele, have been permanent residents of Gettysburg since January 2006. They have an adult son who lives in Philadelphia.
To book a battlefield tour, call the Gettysburg Foundation at
877-874-2478 or 717-334-2436.
Jen Faul, Writer
Jen Faul recently graduated from Penn State University in State College with a Bachelor of Arts in communications. She currently lives in Gettysburg. She may be reached at jen_faul@yahoo.com.
Chris Little, Writer
Chris Little grew up in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. She earned a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Virginia and an M.A. in journalism from the University of Texas. Since then, she has worked primarily as a freelance writer and editor, with clients including the M.S. Hershey Medical Center, Lancaster General Hospital and Rodale Press, though she did do some time as an advertising copywriter. These days, she writes for Celebrate Gettysburg, Chester County Life and the Adams County Arts Council’s Imagination Station. She lives with her family in Gettysburg.
Jennifer Mellace, Writer
Jennifer Mellace, a freelance writer based in Frederick, Md., served as assistant editor for a regional lifestyle publication until she made the decision to stay home with her two young children. Her work varies from marketing collateral to lifestyle features in publications such as Celebrate Gettysburg, Frederick News-Post, Hagerstown Magazine, Maryland Life and Today's Diet & Nutrition.
Tracy Panzer, Writer
Tracy Panzer is an award-winning writer and graphic designer who works within the communications department at Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) where she assists with development of media products and state and national advocacy campaigns. Before joining PCAR, Tracy was a reporter and freelance writer for newspapers throughout the state, including the Harrisburg Patriot-News and the Chambersburg Public Opinion. She also worked with the American Civil War Museum in Gettysburg on publicity. A Gettysburg native and graduate of Shippensburg University, she currently resides in Shippensburg with her husband. Tracy can be reached at tlpanzer@gmail.com