Harrisburg, He Is Here: 200 years ago, the Marquis de Lafayette thrilled the capital city, which will now commemorate his landmark visit

December 30, 2024 | by M. Diane McCormick

Marquis de Lafayette

Bitterness from a factionalized election was threatening to spoil the nation’s milestone birthday, just two years away. To remind Americans of the ideals behind the founding of their republic, the U.S. president invited a friend from France for a visit.

Cue the Lafayette mania. You know Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. Wealthy French nobleman recast as a hero of the American Revolution. Outspoken advocate for abolition, feminism and the rights of all.

In 1824 and 1825, Americans went so bonkers over the Marquis de Lafayette’s return that a planned three-month tour of the original 13 colonies ballooned into a grueling, 13-month trek crisscrossing America’s 24 states.

“He gave up so much to be part of the revolution in this country that I think he reminded everybody who saw him and met him of the noble causes that this country was founded on,” said Elizabeth Zucker, a Texas resident and midstate native who has researched Lafayette for the Harrisburg chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. “He gave us all a common hero, a common architect explaining why we created a country and why we stayed a country. Those values resonated 50 years later.”

From Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, 1825, Lafayette’s tour brought him to Harrisburg. From Jan. 30 to Feb. 3, 2025, the spirit of Lafayette returns, with an interpreter and events commemorating his Harrisburg visit as part of Lafayette 200, the nationwide recreation of the 1824-25 tour.

It’s a reminder that the lessons of history can help heal present wounds, organizers say. The real Lafayette would even recognize one of his reenactor’s possible Harrisburg stops, in Dauphin County Library System’s historic, little-changed Haldeman Haly House.

The Man, the Legend

After 200-plus years, Lafayette’s story continues to enthrall. Nineteen-year-old French aristocrat and wildly wealthy heir of his parents’ estate. Denied permission to exit French army service to join the American fight, but so enamored with liberty and the “Rights of Man” that he bought his own ship and sailed off to the Americas. Wounded hero of the revolution who helped trap redcoat Cornwallis into surrendering to the Colonial bluecoats, thus giving America its independence from the crown.

Americans of 1824-25 cherished Lafayette, his ties to France, and his contributions to liberty.

“He could have lived a life of luxury,” said Zucker, who will give a presentation to the Harrisburg DAR on Lafayette’s visit. “He didn’t have to leave France. He could have had everything he wanted, but instead, he pursued something more meaningful.”

Never Gets Old

Lafayette’s 1824 arrival in New York attracted 90,000 people for a glimpse of their hero. From one stop to the next, he just couldn’t turn down an invitation, which explains the extended tour. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Gov. John Andrew Schulze invited him for a stay in Harrisburg at the governor’s mansion on Front Street.

Which brings us to 2025. In a stroke of serendipity, Schulze’s mansion still stands, largely untouched. The library’s 2022 restoration retained the marble fireplace, built-in bookshelves and arched windows in the community room where, doubtless, Lafayette set foot.

Interpreting historic characters in preserved settings is “a rare treat” for reenactors, said Michael Halbert, the Lafayette interpreter, who might, if plans align, appear in the Haldeman Haly House community room. He was assigned to Harrisburg by the American Friends of Lafayette, organizer of the bicentennial events.

“That’s been one of the highlights of this trip, to go to the very places where he was, to speak at the places he spoke, to speak the words that he spoke or words very much like them,” Halbert said. “This entire project is a very rare and one-time event. It never gets old.”

Dauphin County Library System Executive Director Ryan McCrory, a historian by training, said the space is “pretty much” what it was 200 years ago. The local partnerships making Lafayette’s visit possible represent a “small example” of how community organizations can leverage their resources to generate change, he said.

“I tell people all the time that, given the way the world is going, none of us is going to solve the problems on our own,” he said. “We have to partner.”

Lafayette’s 1824-25 visit became a stemwinder for the nation’s 1826 semicentennial. Now, in the lead-up to America 250 in 2026, the reenactment reminds Americans about Franco-American amity and that Americans loved Lafayette’s dedication to revolutionary ideals as much as his battlefield heroics, said Sam Sweet, executive director of the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation and a member of the local planning committee.

“Somebody from another country was actually perceived as a hero in our own land because of his contributions to making America and the revolution something that was successful,” Sweet said. “The great success that America has become is because of how many people have become part of the American culture and helped create a stronger American culture.”

Repeating the Past

Lafayette’s 1825 Harrisburg visit featured all the pomp of the era, with receptions, dizzying rounds of toasts, military escorts, and a 13-gun salute. For an elaborate procession from Schulze’s mansion to the then-new (now gone) Capitol, Lafayette rode in a carriage borrowed from a local farmer and, according to Zucker, pulled by two horses who had a total of one non-blind eye.

“He seems like the kind of guy who was very much at home in many types of atmospheres,” Zucker said. “He didn’t need to be feted or treated like royalty. I guess he cut quite a figure.”

Historic Harrisburg Association Executive Director David Morrison convened state and local historical and arts organizations to coordinate Lafayette’s Harrisburg stop. Knowing that Gov. Schulze’s home is the only still-standing Harrisburg building visited by Lafayette, the committee knew they needed to “recreate that episode of history,” Morrison said.

But the question remains: Why Lafayette? Why rehash a visit from 200 years ago? Don’t look for the answer in his Revolutionary heroics. You’ll find it in his core beliefs and post-Revolution story.

After returning to France, Lafayette remained outspoken for liberty, against slavery, for women’s rights, against religious persecution. He escaped the guillotine, suffered imprisonment in Prussia and Austria, and defied Napoleon’s imperialist regime.

“If we’re not talking about him as an abolitionist, we’re talking about him as a feminist, because he had very strong feelings about the fact that women were every bit as smart or as capable as men,” said Chuck Schwam, bicentennial committee chair, American Friends of Lafayette.

While the equal rights Lafayette envisioned have since been enshrined—in law, at least—the reenactment reminds Americans that political wounds, whether from the 19th or 21st century, can be healed, Schwam said.

“Most of the questions about our future can be answered simply by looking in the past,” he said. “This is a legacy project, making sure that people understand what we’re going through as a country now isn’t certainly in any way, shape or form foreign from what we’ve done in the past.”

Lafayette may have been disappointed that his ideals weren’t fully realized in France or the U.S., but “once he developed these ideas, he remained steadfast,” Halbert said. “He didn’t falter. He didn’t change.”

And, Halbert added, “he was never one to shy away from any pulpit to talk about liberty and justice, freedom and equality.”

The Lafayette 200 tour spotlights a newfound appreciation for someone whose contributions “got lost a little bit in history,” said Zucker.

“I just admire that he was not willing to sit back and live with the status quo,” she said. “Because he had strong convictions and was action oriented, he knew he had to do something about it.”

Details of Harrisburg’s Lafayette commemoration were pending at press time. Tentative plans include a free talk by author Elizabeth Reese at Historical Society of Dauphin County, Feb. 2 (www.dauphincountyhistory.org); exhibits on Lafayette’s life; and a ticketed reception at Haldeman Haly House featuring Michael Halbert, Feb. 1. Additional information might be found at Historic Harrisburg Association, www.historicharrisburg.org, Dauphin County Library System, www.dcls.org, and Lafayette 200, www.lafayette200.org.

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No Family Is Homeless: Bridge of Hope offers vital connections, services for unhoused mothers

December 30, 2024 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Faith and her daughter

Brenda Strawbridge understands homelessness in a very personal way.

She’s director of development for Bridge of Hope Harrisburg Area, a program for single mothers facing homelessness.

“I have been in the shoes of a lot of these moms,” said the Harrisburg resident. “I truly want to see these moms do better. This program truly is transformative. We’re changing people’s lives.”

The Harrisburg-area affiliate was founded in 2007 by a group of local women in response to the growing need for services for single women and children. They are a “faith-based organization dedicated to ending homelessness, one family at a time,” Strawbridge said.

The local affiliate is part of a national network established in 13 U.S. states using a three-way partnership of single mothers and their children who face homelessness, church-based volunteers who offer practical support and encouragement, and professional staff.

“We don’t bring in any moms unless they have neighborhood volunteers,” Strawbridge stated.

Locally, the “Neighborhood” program utilizes eight or 10 neighbor volunteers from 25 participating “Christian faith communities” in Dauphin, Cumberland and York counties, plus a neighborhood resource specialist. The organization’s stated vision is: “No family is homeless.”

Dianna Thomas, of Lancaster, is the organization’s director of administrative services after joining the Harrisburg-area team in 2022 as a program support specialist. Thomas’ greatest challenge, she said, is finding housing for the program’s participants.

“The market and affordability for housing is horrible,” she said. “We try to focus on making relationships with landlords because some moms have bad credit, so it’s very difficult for them to find housing on their own.”

In addition to Thomas, the affiliate includes Executive Director Kevin Lutz, who leads the team, and lead case Manager Heidi Cardenas-Weaver, who works on the front lines with mothers and children.

Since the Harrisburg Area affiliate has no central location, it can’t offer onsite housing to its clients. Instead, it seeks landlords willing to negotiate with staff on behalf of families. In exchange, landlords can count on “the stability of timely rental payments on behalf of our families,” according to the organization’s website.

Another challenge for the organization, not surprisingly, is funding.

“Since we’re fully donor-funded, we need to bring in more money for more moms,” Strawbridge said. “In 2024, we’ve helped 15 families. For 2025, we hope to have 18. Our biggest challenge is getting the word out there about us to as many people as possible.”

Bridge of Hope participants are covered for basic needs, financial support, neighboring, service opportunities, and financial support/education. Rather than focusing on the short-term, the program lasts a full 18 to 24 months, enough time and opportunity for initiating long-term change.

Basic needs include diapers, gift cards for gasoline, children’s pajamas, transportation, housing and much more. “Neighboring” involves 10 or so volunteers from participating churches who host monthly gatherings with program families.

Service opportunities cover childcare, prepared meals, rides, gathering sites and more, all provided by volunteers. Financial support includes family sponsorship opportunities for area businesses and individuals.

Faith, a Harrisburg Area graduate, said that it was a “major pick-me-up” when she came to the program with her two young children.

“I think it was mostly spiritually for me because I couldn’t believe that there would be people who would be there to support me and to help me, down to the neighborhood volunteers and things like that,” Faith shared in a YouTube video. “It was like coming from not having a whole lot of people in your corner to a whole gang of folks.”

Faith said that she learned the most about budgeting and “again, the spirituality thing” from the program.

“They helped me in every way,” she said. “They helped me with my kids, giving them some discipline and structure, and they hooked me up with a life coach and a therapist. I feel just grateful.”

Another client, Carla, called Bridge of Hope “one of the best things that ever happened to me and (daughter) Olivia” after escaping an abusive situation at home. Nearing the end of her program, Carla said she’d learned “so many things,” such as budgeting, going to work daily, parenting and self-care.

“I am a little bit sad that I will be leaving the program because it was an overall amazing experience,” she said. “I never thought I would be able to work a fulltime job, pay all my bills, and take care of my kid.”

For more information or to donate to Bridge of Hope Harrisburg Area, visit www.harrisburg.bridgeofhopeinc.org or call 717-635-5957.

Sponsorship opportunities are available at the organization’s next “House A Family Gala,” scheduled for March 22 at West Shore Country Club, 100 Brentwater Rd., Camp Hill.

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Nature Made Easy: Celebrating 25 years, the Olewine Nature Center is a portal into the wildlife of central Pa.

December 30, 2024 | by Ashley Andyshak Hayes

Wildwood Park in Harrisburg was established in the early 1900s with a dual purpose: to support flood mitigation for the city and to provide recreational opportunities for the growing population.

It serves both purposes still today, and the 229-acre park near the intersection of I-81 and U.S. 22 is “nature made easy,” with free and convenient access to local wildlife, six miles of trails and Wildwood Lake, said park Manager Chris Rebert.

Near the southern end of the park, the Olewine Nature Center complements its natural surroundings, providing hands-on learning opportunities for visitors of all ages. The center opened in 1999, made possible through a major donation from Benjamin Olewine III, whose family lived near and enjoyed Wildwood Park for generations.

The center celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024, and over that time, much has changed while much has stayed the same, Rebert said. The park’s trails continue to welcome walkers, joggers, naturalists and birders, as well as art lovers who come to experience the park’s “Art in the Wild” exhibit, with installations situated along the trails.

Inside the Olewine Nature Center, visitors can learn about a freshwater wetland and its inhabitants, observe local birds, and enjoy a variety of creative and educational programs that showcase the park throughout all four seasons.

Perhaps the most notable change over time is in park visitation, which has increased 40% over just the last five years, Rebert said. Roughly 115,000 people use the park trails each year, and about 30,000 to 35,000 people visit the nature center. Visitors come primarily from Dauphin County and surrounding areas, while those from further away are drawn in by highway signage or the park’s high rating on Trip Advisor. The Capital Area Greenbelt also extends into the park, providing another venue for people to access the area, and many schools plan field trips to the center, as well.

Part of the Olewine Nature Center’s 25th anniversary celebration included giving back to those who have supported it over the years, including through field trip scholarships, new programs and publications and a dedicated celebration event in September.

“We’ve had so much support from the community, individual donors and state and federal grants, and we wanted to recognize that by giving back,” Rebert said.

The park is owned and managed by Dauphin County Parks & Recreation and is supported by the nonprofit Friends of Wildwood.

“Wildwood Park and the Olewine Nature Center are true treasures in our community,” said Dauphin County Commissioner Mike Pries, who oversees the department. “The past 25 years have been filled with remarkable growth, and I look forward to the exciting possibilities ahead.”

These possibilities include a major upgrade to the Olewine Nature Center, encompassing a redesign of the lobby, gift shop and exhibit hall, all of which have remained virtually unchanged since the center opened. The center has invited the public to share their input on the project through a short survey available on the center’s website.

The park relies on its many volunteers to help fulfill its mission, and they log more than 5,000 hours every year, assisting with programs, trail and wetland maintenance and other operations.

“We want to maintain what we have and maintain it well,” Rebert said. “Safe, clean parks are what people want most, and it takes time and resources to really keep everything operational. We could never do this without the volunteer help we have.”

Prior to his role as manager, Rebert was an educator at the park, so he’s spent many years developing and supporting the nature center’s programs. He said his favorite part of the job is introducing people to the natural wonders right in their own backyard.

“I really enjoy interpreting the natural world for the public and giving people the opportunity at their leisure to come and enjoy that,” he said.

The Olewine Nature Center is located at 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg. For more information on Wildwood Park and the Olewine Nature Center, visit www.explorewildwoodpark.org. Photo courtesy of Olewine Nature Center.

Stories on environmental topics are proudly sponsored by LCSWMA.

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Decade of Dazzle: Camp Hill jewelry store celebrates a sparkly 10 years

December 30, 2024 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

“There were hugs all around.”

So said Monika Krol, owner of Meeka Fine Jewelry in Camp Hill, who recently celebrated her 10th anniversary in business.

Many regular and former customers stopped by to congratulate Krol, who, in 2014, opened in a snug, 750-square-foot shop on Market Street only to realize quickly that she had underestimated her needs.

“We were there three years and realized we needed a larger space,” she said. “So, we moved to 2135 Market St., which is triple the size.”

The shop’s décor can be described as streamlined and contemporary, with Edison bulb pendant lighting nestled in smoky glass globes and walls that vary from gray to white. Handmade cases allow the jewelry to shine, and a mural located near the back of the store draws in the eye towards a painting of a rabbit sporting a crown.

Krol explained that her family is from Poland and her last name means “king” and a shortened version of “rabbit” when translated.

“Our designer was able to take our royal rabbit idea and create the logo for the store,” she said.

Krol previously worked for another jewelry maker—her professor at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where a serendipitous selection of a jewelry elective changed her life, leading to where she is today.

Monika Krol

Love of Craft

Krol makes and sells her own line of jewelry at the store, including rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces. Her favorite materials are 14-karat gold and tourmaline.

“Tourmalines come in a range of colors, so that’s part of the appeal,” she said.

She also sells jewelry crafted by other artists.

“There were about eight of us in the beginning and that has shifted over the years to three others and me,” she said. “We often have a visiting collection, which can last anywhere from three to six months and can be a test period for the artists.”

Hannah Blount, a Nantucket native who works at a studio in New York, recently visited Krol’s shop.

“I’ve been working with Monika since the beginning,” Blount said.

Her foray into the jewelry world began at an early age when she was gifted with a Klutz bead book.

“My love for the craft took off from there,” she said.

Blount, who makes one-of-a-kind necklaces, earrings and rings, takes some of her inspiration from her fisherman father by creating a selection of nautical-inspired jewelry.

She said that her favorite material to work with is 18-karat yellow gold, which Krol also described as a favorite. As for her favorite gemstone? That would be the Montana sapphire, a gem that ranges in color from cornflower blue to purple.

Blount explained that her most recent work, the “Rose Garden Collection,” is inspired by the rose gardens of Paris and pays homage to European architecture.

Other artists at the shop include Rosanne Pugliese, who is influenced by her work as a designer for Calvin Klein; Lola Brooks, who derives inspiration from the Victorian obsession with death and sentimentality and the Arts and Crafts movement; Rachel Atherly who is inspired by nature; and Mimi Favre, a recipient of a prestigious American Gem Trade Association’s Spectrum Award.

Krol said that the majority of her sales are online, with the top two purchasing states being California and New York.

“We rely mostly on social media and word-of-mouth, and have a very vibrant online following,” she said.

Despite this, she opened a second brick-and-mortar location in Newport, R.I., in 2019.

“People also seem to enjoy the experience of walking into the store and seeing the jewelry,” she said. “We make it fun, and you can meet the artists at our trunk shows, which we hold almost every month at both stores, depending on the season. They bring their entire collections with them.”

Krol, who employs two full-time employees and three others who are part-time, describes her decade in business as extremely fulfilling.

“It’s the people who have been brought into my life from my top-notch team to the artists with whom I’m in constant communication and, of course, the customers whom I’ve gotten to know,” she said. “It’s been a great 10 years for someone who never envisioned herself opening a retail jewelry store.”

Meeka Fine Jewelry is located at 2135 Market St., Camp Hill. For more information, visit www.meekajewelry.com. Portraits courtesy of GK Visual. Jewelry photos courtesy of Isabel Hetrick.

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A Winter Walk: It may be chilly, but some hikers prefer mid-winter outings

December 30, 2024 | by Dan Miller

Detweiler Park. Photos courtesy of Calliope Pappadakis.

With its rolling hills, mountains and valleys, countless creeks and streams, the greater Harrisburg area is a hiking region that’s hard to beat.

For some, like Nina Brown of Steelton, the best hiking is not when it’s warm and green, but when the trees are bare and the views sparkling and unobstructed—the dead of winter.

“Many people don’t like to hike during the winter just because it’s cold,” Brown said. “I really enjoy it more during the winter just because you see more. The leaves are gone, there’s no bugs, less people.”

Brown hikes about seven miles each time out. Her favorite is Detweiler Park, located in Dauphin, less than half an hour’s drive from downtown Harrisburg at the base of Peters Mountain.

Owned and managed by Dauphin County, Detweiler offers more than seven miles of trails winding through various habitats.

The park is an easy trail for those new to hiking, Brown said. There’s some elevation through the woods, but it also offers open land that takes you through diverse nature scenes.

When in need of a more challenging winter hike, Brown heads for Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area, which features 12 miles of trails off Fishing Creek Valley Road.

Straddling Blue Mountain, Boyd has a variety of trails catering to different skill levels—novice to top tier. A power line overlook offers striking views of both sides of the mountain.

Brown’s most advanced winter hiking trail is Cove Mountain, 15 miles north of Harrisburg on the west side of the Susquehanna above Duncannon. Cove Mountain includes the popular Hawk Rock overlook, which offers spectacular views of the surrounding valley.

Many Options

Iordanes Daretzes, who lives in Susquehanna Township just outside the Harrisburg city line, is another winter hiking enthusiast.

“It’s peaceful, the air is cleaner, the leaves are coming down, and it’s quieter,” he said. “There aren’t as many people.”

Now in his 40s, Daretzes has been hiking all his life. He learned about pushing his body to extremes while in the U.S. Marine Corps.

“A lot of people get lazy in the wintertime,” he said. “I go out harder.”

He still likes a challenge, but with two kids frequently in tow—a soon to be 15-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son—he can’t get too crazy. His favorite venue is the Appalachian Trail.

“You can basically pull off the road and walk into the trails,” he said.

The Appalachian Trail is clean, well-maintained and clearly marked to alert hikers to hazards like cliffs or rocks. The rocky areas and snow and ice in the winter are enough to make it interesting.

Like Brown, Daretzes enjoys Detweiler Park.

“It has rocks, up and down elevations, is smooth and not that long,” he said.

Boyd Big Tree Preserve is another favorite.

“It has multiple trails,” he said. “If you do the whole park, it’s like six miles and you have the mountain.”

Besides these trails favored by Brown and Daretzes—Detweiler Park, Boyd, Cove Mountain and the Appalachian Trail—others in the region meriting a thumbs up from winter hikers include Wildwood Park in Harrisburg, Kings Gap west of Carlisle and Chickies Rock Overlook in Columbia.

Located off Chickies Hill Road, Chickies Rock trail is just half a mile but offers sensational views of the Susquehanna River. On clear days, you can take in Columbia, Marietta and Wrightsville. The trail is dog-friendly and wide enough for strollers.

Be Prepared

If you’re going for a winter hike, prepare for the weather, which may include wind, cold and even snow and ice.

Dress in layers you can take off or put back on quickly, said Ellen Matis, who blogs about hiking for PA Wilds.

“Conditions can change on you—and fast,” she said.

Wear boots with good traction or add ice cleats to your boots. Make sure your pack includes water, protein-filled snacks, extra gloves and hats.

Wear orange when hiking in the winter because you may be sharing the forest with hunters. Don’t forget eye protection for when the white stuff is falling and whipping into your face, or when the sun hits the snow and blinds you.

Brown packs hand and feet warmers on the coldest days—and extra socks. Food-wise, she packs light because she isn’t out there too long, but always brings an apple and water.

Daretzes covers his neck and pulls his ski mask over his nose. He never goes out without gloves.

Importantly—bring plenty of water. Daretzes takes at least a gallon in his CamelBak.

“You can’t drive your car without gas, right? Without water, you won’t survive,” he said. “That’s your fuel.”

Also, always let someone know where you are and how long you’ll be gone, he said. Try making sure there are places you can get to with cell phone reception.

Brown recommends the AllTrails app as a good source for information about trails and hiking overall and to connect with the hiking community.

She takes a lot of photos while hiking and posts them on social media to encourage people to get out in nature. You can find her on Instagram at @whyeyethrive.

Daretzes urges people to give winter hiking a try, especially if you’re looking for a way to escape, unwind and connect with nature. You may just like it.

“Nobody has a perfect life, but when you come out here, nothing bothers you,” he said.

For more information on Pennsylvania Wilds, visit www.pawilds.com.

For more information on Dauphin County parks, click the “Parks and Recreation” link at www.dauphincounty.gov.

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Leap of Faith: Lemoyne gym aims to empower through community fitness

December 30, 2024 | by Alex Hayes

Harry King

People of all ages congregate daily at Kingdom Fit in Lemoyne. Some of their differences are obvious, others are not, but none of that matters because everyone looks the same in gym clothes.

Harry King opened Kingdom Fit in Lemoyne in 2022 to unite people of all races, genders, educational backgrounds, classes, ethnicities and ages. King is a Harrisburg-area native who was tired of the divisions that often weakened the community during his youth.

“No matter where you came from, you are just in here working out,” King said.

Kingdom Fit’s motto is “Iron Sharpens Iron,” from the Bible’s Proverbs 27:17. The entire passage states, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” King strives to sharpen others and show appreciation for those who helped him.

Several years ago, King began a personal journey to improve his physical, mental and spiritual health. He began coaching basketball and powerlifting but found coaching to be his true passion. He joined the training staff at Gold’s Gym in Camp Hill and started promoting his services using the Instagram handle, “Kingdom Fit,” drawing inspiration from his last name and his strong faith.

“Without that, none of this would be possible,” King said. “I am a firm believer in doing things for the good.”

The name took off. One day, an entire fitness class surprised him by wearing Kingdom Fit shirts.

Gold’s closed in 2022, leaving King and his clients in a lurch. Like King always pushed them to embrace new challenges, his clients encouraged him to embrace opportunity and open his own business.

Starting a business is a big endeavor, but King was not alone.

Mike Donovan of Midstate Carpet Masters, one of King’s clients, stepped up to install flooring. Other members painted walls, donated equipment, and helped to design the space. After two years in operation, the sense of community continues as members push each other, form friendships that extend outside of the gym’s walls, or step up to babysit each other’s children so parents can exercise without distractions.

“It’s so surreal to see how people are coming together,” King said. “When I wanted unity, I didn’t see this.”

Kingdom Fit offers personal training and group personal training through classes such as Butts and Gutz, Cardio XP and Power Yoga. King and his staff keep a close eye on their clients to ensure they not only reach their potential but avoid injury by using proper form.

King is proud to welcome everyone into his gym, regardless of age or physical fitness level.
At Kingdom Fit, a 91-year-old man often exercises next to teenagers and young adults.

King also runs Kingdom Empowerment, a nonprofit organization that helps develop youth ages 12 to 21. King and his staff aim for the program’s participants to return as mentors to the next generation.

“Too many of our young people are navigating through life without a sense of purpose, which leads to the opportunity for them to be misguided, and that must stop,” he said.

The organization hosts a 10-week “Responsibilities and Morals” program that combines physical training with practical life training through discussions that focus on topics such as free will, conflict resolution, values and goal setting.

King has goals of his own. He hopes to franchise Kingdom Fit in the future so residents of other communities can benefit from his model.

King recognizes that joining a gym or a self-improvement program can be intimidating and hopes to be a positive force in people’s lives.

“Let go of your fears. God didn’t give you a spirit of fear; he gave you a spirit of courage,” he said. “You are capable—just take that leap of faith.”

Kingdom Fit is located at 219 S. 10th St., Unit B, Lemoyne. For more information, visit www.kingdomfitharrisburg.com.

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A Humble Tribute: Karate teacher honors his instructor’s legacy through new dojo

December 30, 2024 | by Savannah Pecknold

Michael Sheffield

Each night, powerful bursts of “kiai” can be heard from the walls of a new dojo in New Cumberland.

Carrying on the legacy of the karate instructor who changed his life, Michael Sheffield leads his first ever dojo (school) with these four principles: discipline, generosity, appreciation and camaraderie.

Sheffield has found his ikigai—his reason for being—through karate. He feels it is his duty not only to share his instructor’s teachings with others, but to dismantle the misconceptions surrounding martial arts.

With the official opening of Kazoku Isan Dojo in May 2023, Sheffield honors his instructor’s name by sharing his knowledge with those who are willing to learn, reminding them that karate is more than throwing punches.

In the early 1960s, Ralph Lindquist started one of Pennsylvania’s first dojos in New Cumberland. In 2007, at 17 years old, Sheffield and his younger brother attended their first karate class at the Isshinryu Karate Association of Harrisburg. In 2009, Sheffield began learning directly under Lindquist, up until the instructor’s passing in 2015.

What was meant to be only a bonding activity between two brothers ended up making a monumental shift in Sheffield’s life.

Last year, Sheffield opened his first dojo, an experience he has since described as “freeing.” In what he felt was the right thing to do, he dedicated the dojo’s teachings and principles to that of Lindquist, as a way to honor and share the gift he had been given. The name, Kazoku Isan Dojo, translates literally to “Family Heritage Dojo” as a reflection of its founding purpose.

“As my sensei always said during classes, ‘It’s the doing and the sharing of the doing that’s the essence of true value,’” Sheffield said, recalling the words he still lives by.

Something Back

Sheffield’s teachings are grounded in the art of Isshin-ryu, a style of karate originating from Okinawa, Japan, that means “one heart method.” Harmonizing the mind, body and spirit, this form of karate combats the stereotype that the sport is only about beating someone in a fight or the color of your belt.

“It’s a battle against your own ego,” Sheffield said.

The style contains lessons that help guide one’s understanding of their physical and mental being, simultaneously improving their form as well as their way of life.

Offering 21 classes every week, Sheffield teaches all ages and adapts his lessons according to different age groups. From “Little Bonsai” to the adult evening classes, Sheffield ensures that karate welcomes anyone and everyone.

Samantha Haenitsch, one of the dojo’s instructors, respects Kazoku Isan Dojo the most out of all the schools she has tried for truly embodying the spirit of family. Haenitsch feels that Sheffield’s unorthodox approach to Isshin-ryu transformed her perceptions of karate forever.

“I’ve never been anywhere that feels so much like a family and bases its teachings off of the heritage of his greatest teacher,” she said.

For Haenitsch, the lessons she has learned have transcended the dojo and have made deep impressions on her and her family’s lives.

Outside of the dojo, Sheffield continues to pay tribute to his late instructor. As a way to give back, he is working on a carefully curated memoir honoring Lindquist’s life, achievements and impact on others. Hearing from 90 different voices so far, he is eager to see where this journey takes him.

Sheffield wants to further his involvement in the martial arts community, such as the free classes he occasionally hosts. This past summer, Kazoku Isan Dojo held its first annual Open Traditional Martial Arts Tournament, a tradition previously held by Lindquist. With over 100 participants from five different states, the tournament contained events with forms, weapons and sparring.

The dojo also will host its second annual 100 Kata Challenge Fundraiser on April 19 to help students cover tournament fees. In this outdoor event, students receive certificates based on how many kata (forms) they perform.

Without holding any knowledge, techniques or understandings back, Sheffield is steadfast in offering everyone the same opportunities to learn the art of Isshin-ryu—the only limit is whether you’re willing to take it.

“I wish people could get even half of what I got from karate,” Sheffield said. “I feel it is my responsibility when you are given something to give it back.”

Kazoku Isan Dojo is located at 210 Locust Alley, New Cumberland. For more information, visit www.isandojo.com.

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New Year, More Sweat: Hot yoga turns up the temperature on your routine

December 30, 2024 | by Rachel Curry

TranscendU

In a white-walled, warm gallery room decorated with a lotus flower mural, I laid down my props in what I thought was an obscure corner but turned out to be right next to the teacher.

I brought my own yoga mat from home, years old and not often used, because I didn’t want to have to worry about making sure I mopped up every last drop of sweat after returning the communal mat to its rightful place.

It was my first time trying hot yoga. This class was a 75-minute vinyasa practice at One Love Yoga studio in Harrisburg, owned by yoga lover and teacher Chris Berger. The studio warms the space with forced air but uses infrared heating panels during class to maintain a smooth 90 degrees with around 50% humidity. The infrared, Berger said, is so “you don’t get that oppressive, swampy feeling” during your workout.

Before the class began, my workout neighbors mingled, talked about a recent ayurvedic workshop they’d attended at the studio, and discussed whether they’d actually implement practices like dry brushing, tongue scraping and drinking warm lemon water in their everyday lives. Next to me, one practitioner, Tina, said that she comes to hot yoga three times a week. While it can feel hard in the moment, “it feels better after,” she said.

Vinyasa is a style of yoga that involves flowing between sequences of poses while coordinating the poses with your breath. At times, it can feel intense. A heated room only adds to the intensity. When the teacher, Cindy Frain, who later informed me she’s 70 years old, got started, the temperature in the room felt like it was climbing, likely due to the heat emanating from our own bodies. That’s when the sweat started to crawl.

Berger said that hot yoga increases muscle flexibility, relieves pain from arthritis and other conditions, detoxifies through sweat, improves circulation, and reduces stress. Elizabeth Foote, owner of yoga studio and rock-climbing facility, TranscendU in Mechanicsburg, noted that it also reduces inflammation and helps you sleep better. I can attest to the latter point—I didn’t get up once in the night after my hot vinyasa class, which is abnormal for me.

But just like any physical exercise, there are things to be mindful of. When the practice is fast paced, hot yoga is hard, and it takes time for the body to acclimate.

“Starting any strenuous activity, even couch to 5K, you should make sure that you are physically fit,” noted yoga instructor and manager of TranscendU, Leslie St. John.

Foote and Berger agree that people on high blood pressure medication should consult their physician before trying hot yoga.

“It’s going to dilate your blood vessels and actually bring your blood pressure down,” Foote said. “Over time, people actually have to reduce their blood pressure medicine. Some people actually get off of it and never need it again.”

Healing Heat

From my own experience, hot yoga was hard—harder than a vinyasa class at a regular temperature. Berger knows this.

“Don’t go full monty in the class, but you will notice you start to develop acclimation to it,” she said.

Berger noted that child’s pose, which involves kneeling and leaning forward, is always there for you when you need a break from more strenuous movements.

“And nobody’s watching,” she said.

During class, I took my fair share of child’s pose breaks.

With all the sweat that comes with a hot yoga class, students can’t rely on the friction of the body or their mat as much as they may be used to. In tree pose, where the sole of my foot pressed into my inner thigh, I was slipping out of balance much easier than I’m used to. In downward dog, my hands tended to slide up the mat, though some mats are specially designed for hot yoga to preserve friction in moist environments.

Some hot yoga classes are more beginner friendly than others. At One Love Yoga and TranscendU, the maximum temperature isn’t as high as at some other studios.

TranscendU also offers a class called “healing heat,” where overhead infrared heat panels combine with extremely gentle movement for a calming experience. Both studios offer mildly heated chair yoga, which is the type of class Berger likes to teach. She said that chair yoga classes ought to be rebranded because people tend to stay away from it, thinking it’s only for elderly folks. But, she said, that’s not necessarily the case.

“It’s so nice if there are issues in transitions from ground to up, post-surgery or injury recovery, because it really does help you keep your agility,” she said.

In One Love Yoga’s hot vinyasa class, there were times when I thought, in my naturally sarcastic way, “Oh, there’s more.” While some classes are not for the faint of heart, there’s a spectrum in the hot yoga world, and no one says you have to start at the more difficult level.

After getting out of my comfort zone and trying a new type of exercise, I could feel the sweat leaving my body to make way for self care. As for whether I’ll go as often as my yoga neighbor, Tina, I can’t say that’s going to happen. But an every-now-and-then challenge to become a better version of myself? Now, that’s not out of the question.

One Love Yoga is located at 2591 Brindle Dr., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.oneloveyogaharrisburg.com.

TranscendU is located at 5103 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg. For more information, visit www.transcendu.net.

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Better Births: More doula programs mean more healthy babies

December 30, 2024 | by Rachel Curry

Amy Wilt working with a patient. Photo courtesy of Amy Wilt.

Despite tremendous advances in care that have made birth safer, more comfortable and less traumatizing over time, the medical care team—doctors, nurses and even midwives—are often not enough.

The United States has a relatively high maternal mortality rate of 23.8 deaths per 100,000 live births when compared to other high-income countries, according to research from the National Institutes of Health. Complications increase for mothers of lower socioeconomic status, and other issues like preterm birth, low birth weight and postpartum depression remain a concern.

So, increasingly, families are seeking out additional support in the form of doulas, with the popularity of their services steadily on the rise since the 1980s. That’s true in and around Harrisburg, too. New doula programs are popping up to bolster existing organizations that have served the area for years.

A doula is “a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to their client before, during and shortly after childbirth to help them achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible,” according to the world’s leading doula training and certification organization, DONA International.

Doulas are specifically non-medical professionals, said Nancy Cupps, MSN, RNC-OB, regional director of women’s health services at UPMC, but that doesn’t take away from their importance.

UPMC is in the early days of its own doula program, which Cupps said will be unique to other doula providers because it’s already part of a formed organization that offers the service at no cost to patients.

“When you come in through UPMC, you have the resources,” Cupps said.

Doulas working for UPMC go to outpatient offices where people get their prenatal care and find folks who might be a good candidate based on support needs. This could include someone who doesn’t have family to support them or has been through a traumatic birth, for example.

Starting at UPMC Magee-Womens, Cupps said that the organization hopes to eventually expand the program to other markets, including Carlisle, Hanover and Memorial in York.

Every Option

Studies show that birth doulas reduce instances of cesarean birth and pain medication, increase the likelihood of spontaneous birth and promote a shorter labor, all of which can increase birthing experience satisfaction.

Cupps said that they’ve also found there’s an increased rate of breastfeeding and a decreased rate of postpartum depression when doulas are a part of the birthing process. And research shows doulas are a tool to reduce racial disparities in health outcomes associated with labor and delivery.

A lot of this boils down to being informed.

“I’m a big fan of people knowing their rights,” said Amy Wilt, LPN, certified birth and postpartum doula and owner of Dauphin County Doulas.

Wilt, who has been a practicing doula for nearly eight years, said that informed consent means enabling the mother to know the risks associated with every option the medical team presents. Only then can they make an educated decision on how best to proceed.

Wilt has a background in nursing and continues to teach nursing but ventured into the world of doula work because she wanted to find a way to support labor and delivery patients without being under the direct influence of the hospital system.

“We really take a look at where baby is at in the pelvis, what is mom feeling, and then use that information to give mom suggestions on movements and positioning to help the baby get through the pelvis easier,” Wilt said.

Cupps added that doulas use pain management techniques like counter pressure and massage, which can reduce the need for medications.

Nearly all the births her agency works are in the hospital, with just a few home births every year.

“We are not tree-hugging hippies,” she reminds people. “We are in hospitals. We do the work alongside the providers. We are really a bridge from the patient to their provider to help facilitate the needs of the patient.”

Same Team

At Dauphin County Doulas, every person gets two doulas who share an on-call schedule and back each other up. Should those two doulas not be available at the time of birth, they work as a team to ensure someone is there.

UPMC is focusing on hiring doulas with flexible schedules so they can try to create a relationship with patients over the course of their pregnancy and be there for them during the birthing process.

While UPMC conducts their education in-house with the help of a certified lead doula, Wilt requires trained experience for anyone joining her agency. If necessary, Wilt will help trained doulas get their certifications by connecting them with clients for their certifying births. Both organizations include ongoing training for staff.

For patients selecting a doula, Wilt said that it’s important to know that not all certifications are created equal.

“In any state right now, doulas are not regulated,” she said, adding that DONA International is the most valued and is most likely to be covered by health insurance. “Insurance companies are starting to recognize doulas as an important part of the healthcare team.”

Third-party payers like Carrot, which offers global fertility benefits for employers, are also becoming increasingly popular.

Wilt has been a professional doula for nearly eight years and has figured out some ways that medical professionals, doulas and mothers can optimize their relationship.

“The more communication [mothers] have with us, the better the experience is overall,” Wilt said.

In the end, everyone must work together for the best result.

“We are all here on the same team for the same purpose,” Wilt said. “I think if everybody in the room realizes that we’re going to have a much better birth.”

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Superfood Startup: Lancaster-based Oola Bowls extends its reach throughout central Pa.

December 30, 2024 | by Kylie Stoltzfus

Oola Bowls is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of founders Joe Ferderbar and Brock Snider.

“We were young bucks just coming out of college,” Snider said. “I remember going to a lot of Lancaster Chamber [of Commerce] events and just networking mixers and constantly seeing Joe throughout the week there.”

There is some debate over who generated the original idea for the company. Ferderbar recalls scribbling notes on a napkin while on a flight home from San Francisco. But, if you ask Snider, the idea originated after he tasted acai for the first time. Regardless, the duo’s dedication to the business exists in equal measure.

“We spent every Thursday night watching football and going over to [Joe’s] house to kind of create somewhat of a formalized business plan [and] see if this could be a viable option for Lancaster,” Snider said.

Acai has joined the rank of smoothies and salads as a nutritious and convenient grab-and-go option. When frozen, the superfood berry from Brazil mimics an ice cream texture without the dairy found in traditional frozen treats.

Oola Bowls pairs an acai base with berries, bananas, seeds, nut butters and a house-made granola taken from a recipe by Snider’s grandmother. As they prepared to launch the business in 2018, Snider and Ferderbar spent weeknights tasting samples and developing recipes they could confidently introduce to the Lancaster community.

They hoped to unveil their creations at Lancaster Central Market.

“Central Market was always a dream of mine,” Snider said. “Finding out that they had a stand open just drove me to really figure out a way that we could get in there.”

After proposing the idea to the Central Market board, Ferderbar and Snider waited to hear if they would receive approval to open their stand. Itching to get started, they bought and renovated an old Italian ice trailer, opening the first Oola Bowls food truck in 2018. Shortly after, they received confirmation—the vacant stand in Lancaster Central Market was theirs for the taking. Snider quit his job and went full time in the venture.

“The moment that I was most scared was when Brock quit his job full time to work at Oola Bowls,” Ferderbar recalled. “Is this even gonna work or is this gonna fail before it gets started?”

It did work, as evidenced by the opening of the company’s 12th location in Camp Hill, coming after years of expansion—establishing online ordering, getting a stand at Hersheypark and opening brick-and-mortar franchise locations across central Pennsylvania.

In October, 50 people received free acai bowls in celebration of the opening of the company’s brand-new location. With an extensive career in the coffee industry, Camp Hill’s General Manager Christopher Fisher now aims to introduce the Harrisburg area to Oola Bowls’ unique spin on the superfood.

“We very much value quality over quantity,” Fisher said. “We are just trying to focus on two bases—the acai base and the pitaya base—and we are making sure those can be the best that they can be.”

Fisher leads his team through the daily operations, encouraging connection between the tight-knit Camp Hill community and the team working behind the scenes to prepare Oola Bowls’ signature treats.

“I want people to be their best and also bring their best,” Fisher said. “I think if you give them the tools, they for sure can rise up to where you need them to be.”

Snider said that the pair has always had a positive outlook, despite the adversity that accompanies almost any business startup.

“I think [we’ve] been creative enough to see the positive side of each situation, and I think there’s a lot of things that, at the time, seemed very negative and almost detrimental to our company,” he said. “But without them happening, I don’t think we would have been pushed into some of these opportunities.”

Oola Bowls is located at 3201 Market St., Camp Hill, as well as locations in Hershey, York, Lancaster and Lebanon. For more information, visit www.oolabowls.com.

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