Great Plates: Downtown Daily Bread’s culinary culture upends soup kitchen stereotype

April 29, 2024 | by M. Diane McCormick

Mieshia Jackson & Corrie Lingenfelter

Sometimes, Chef Mieshia Jackson serves her guests baked tilapia. It’s a big hit.

They also like the whole chicken, so moist that it falls apart with a fork.

“They love that chicken,” Jackson said.

Jackson’s guests are the diners at Downtown Daily Bread, Harrisburg’s 41-year-old shelter and kitchen for the homeless and hungry. Chef Mieshia and DDB Executive Director Corrie Lingenfelter, also an experienced chef, have created a culinary culture that dispels old stereotypes of soup-kitchen gruel. By elevating the quality of food from their kitchen, they are elevating the quality of life of their guests.

Consistency & Love

Everyone’s stomach starts rumbling around noon, but those who are homeless are six times more likely to experience food insecurity than the general population. They are also more prone to health conditions aggravated by poor nutrition—diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol.

Food agencies don’t want to serve salty, sugary processed foods, say researchers, but they often lack the grocery store budget or the chilled storage for keeping perishables fresh.

Downtown Daily Bread is methodically applying community partnerships and the staff’s culinary skills to change the flavors and nutrition values of 150 meals served daily.

It began around 2018. Lingenfelter, a culinary management graduate and former chef for celebrities and three-star restaurants, joined DDB as social media and office manager. When the chef resigned, she stepped back into the kitchen. Her first meal of chicken Alfredo made from scratch—the only way she knew how to cook—caught the attention of the diners.

“You would have thought they had this five-star meal because that was not what they were used to,” Lingenfelter said.

As she took on the culinary director’s role, Lingenfelter made it her mission to destigmatize and professionalize soup-kitchen food. Better equipment. Food safe-certified kitchen staff with culinary backgrounds.

“There is no reason in life you should not be afforded a good, restaurant, professional, chef-quality meal,” she said.

In the meantime, her friend and colleague, Mieshia Jackson, was a working mother with a culinary degree, volunteering to teach children’s cooking classes. Her passion for service dates to childhood, when she and her grandmother served food in Harrisburg shelters.

When Lingenfelter was promoted to director in 2022, she reached out to Jackson to sustain DDB’s culinary culture. It was only natural to say yes, Jackson said.

“I felt like this can’t be real,” she said. “I’m going to get a paycheck for doing something I’ve been doing for free for so many years.”

There was a learning curve. Pre-made things like chicken patties were new to her, but she came equipped with the one thing that can’t be taught—empathy. With each meal, Jackson serves “consistency and love,” Lingenfelter said.

“What if someone’s not having a good day, and mental health plays a part?” she said. “Are you going to snap off, too, or are you going to de-escalate?”

If someone isn’t being nice, well, she has bad days, too. She doesn’t put herself in their shoes because it’s impossible to imagine sleeping outside or not having someone to call for help.

“If my meal in their day could make them feel like someone cares, someone loves them, someone took care of them, then I would like for them to leave feeling that way,” she said.

Early in her tenure, Jackson thought about the celebratory meals that her guests were probably missing. For the Fourth of July, she staged an all-American barbecue, complete with ribs, tuna mac and cheese, pasta salad, “the things I don’t think they’re getting because they don’t have their family.”

“They don’t have those holiday meals,” she said. “We just think it’s Fourth of July, and we have a barbecue to go to. It’s those details I took very personally when I started here.”

The DDB culinary team is “pro-seasoning,” going light on the salt that can aggravate chronic health conditions, said Lingenfelter. Dishes are enlivened by her chef’s training in layering seasonings into each ingredient. Jackson brings the flavors with choices like jerk chicken and jerk lamb chops.

Barbecue ribs get a house-made dry rub. What’s the secret ingredient?

“We can’t tell you that,” Lingenfelter said.

Important Partners

Charitable food networks have “really evolved from expired food and dented cans,” said Tara Davis, chief programs officer at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. Today, half of the food bank’s distribution is fresh or frozen.

Downtown Daily Bread, with its strictly organized pantry, refrigerators and freezers, is an “all-star partner” in this transformation.

“They are constantly keeping that neighbor in mind,” Davis said. “How can we continue to elevate that customer service experience that you would have at any other restaurant? It should belong within the food service and food pantry services, too.”

DDB focuses meal planning on nutrition, said Davis, which is “incredibly important” for people more vulnerable to illness. Lingenfelter’s participation with a food bank project mapping food insecurity in Dauphin County will provide data that DDB can use to target resources toward unmet needs.

“They’re a really important partner,” Davis said. “They’ve been a staple in the community and Harrisburg.”

Since 2021, DDB guests have enjoyed a steady supply of fresh greens, tomatoes and protein-rich fish through a partnership with HU Aquaponics.

“You can have tomatoes in the middle of December that look like summer tomatoes,” Lingenfelter said.

After a Giant Company donation launched the partnership, DDB staff toured the aquaponics facility and “were enamored,” said Rachel Fogle, Harrisburg University associate professor and program lead of environmental sciences. “They have been fantastic ever since.”

Freshness matters, Fogle added.

“Providing your body with the balanced nutrients it needs shouldn’t be a limiting factor just because you’re at a bad spot in life,” she said.

In eight-week cycles, DDB receives about 215 pounds of fresh tilapia—the entire HU Aquaponics supply.

Farmed in meticulously clean tanks, the fish don’t taste fishy. They taste like “whatever you prepare them in,” Fogle said. “That was one of the feedbacks they gave us, that the fish tasted really good.”

Relying on donations and partners means that, unlike restaurant chefs, Jackson can’t make a grocery run for supplies. But like chefs everywhere, she delights in turning interesting finds into culinary creations. When food partners list new meats or fish, she snaps them up.

As a result, DDB guests are dining on chili and spaghetti made with food-bank bison. When the ribs they crave are available, Jackson immediately puts in her order.

“That way, the guests can say, ‘Okay, at least she’s not giving us chicken every day,’” she said.

Makes a Difference

Under Lingenfelter’s mentorship, Jackson has learned to think beyond old limitations. When her children’s cooking class lost its space, she let it go until Lingenfelter took up the cause and prodded her to start anew.

Jackson now sees new avenues, “especially when it comes to helping the community.”

“I have an actual boss who cares about that,” Jackson said. “Just allowing someone to help me in that type of situation would probably be the biggest lesson.”

Children’s education is among the DDB culinary ventures that are tackling the broader goal of ending food insecurity. Elevating the food quality helps tear down the walls that isolate homelessness agencies and their clients from the community, Lingenfelter said.

As for the paycheck that Jackson mentioned, she and Lingenfelter agreed that it hardly compares to what they could be earning in restaurants, but maybe that’s the point. DDB is setting an example of customer and community service for their fellow chefs and other social service agencies.

“People don’t realize the impact food could have on people because we’re so spoiled,” Lingenfelter said. “I guess that’s not their story. That’s our intent, to continue to make these meals from scratch, homemade and with love because it makes a difference.”

Downtown Daily Bread is located at 234 South St., Harrisburg. For more information and to make a donation, visit www.downtowndailybread.org.

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Market Makers: The one bright spot to the Broad Street Market fire—the Harrisburg community

April 29, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck.

If all goes right, the Broad Street Market’s long-awaited temporary building will be open for business this month.

Can I get a big “Alleluia?”

Indeed, it’s been a long, tough slog getting to this point, some 10 months after an early-morning fire ripped through the market’s brick building, displacing about two-dozen vendors.

Regrettably, many vendors are not returning, but the ones that are will inject some badly needed meat, cheese and produce into the food desert that is Harrisburg.

As you may know, there’s been a lot of ink spilled on complaining/blaming/arguing over the many glitches and delays getting the temporary market open—and we’ve spilled some of that ink ourselves.

But, at least for now, as we celebrate the building’s opening, I’d like to take a different track. Sometimes, good comes out of bad, and, as it turns out, even the Broad Street Market tragedy has had bright spots that should be acknowledged.

First of all, I’d like to raise a Zeroday double IPA to all the folks who volunteered their time and talents to get the tent up and running. Without them, believe it or not, we’d still be waiting. The credit list is long.

Let’s start with the trades—Carpenters Local 431, Iron Workers Local 404, the McClure Company. They all worked long hours, for free, to build out the temporary market’s interior, install the metal roof and donate plumbing services, respectively.

Secondly, Harrisburg residents, organizations and companies stepped up in a big way. In fact, the community mobilization and involvement may be the best thing to come from this disaster.

It began with a land donation by Millworks owner Josh Kesler. Then came big-money contributions from the likes of PSECU, F&M Trust and the William Penn Social Association, as well as smaller donations from hundreds of residents.

Midtown Property Management offered free management and maintenance services, and Hornung’s LED Lighting donated over $15,000 in new, high-efficiency LED Lighting for the stone building. TheBurg also wanted to help. So, we forgave the market’s past-due balance and, going forward, are donating ad space.

The fire—and its fallout—also led to changes to the market’s board of directors, which had been criticized in the past for being opaque and non-responsive. Following a resident and vendor revolt, a large part of the board changed hands, newly peopled with members who care passionately about the Broad Street Market and its role as a vital food resource and community hub.

Suddenly, a board that often had trouble filling seats and getting a quorum brimmed with new energy and ideas. And those ideas didn’t just come from board members. Wisely, the board opened up its meetings to the public, which offered engagement, oversight and input.

In the meantime, in February, the embattled executive director resigned his post, which gave the market board an opportunity to rethink that position. When hired, the new day-to-day administrator will focus less on time-consuming, mundane tasks like billing and collections (now the realm of Midtown Property Management) and more on making sure the market functions well on a day-to-day basis.

To plug the gap, three board members have been splitting up hours and tasks, acting as de facto market managers and, according to several vendors, doing a solid job. Obviously, this isn’t sustainable long-term, but these volunteers deserve credit for donating tons of their time to the market until a permanent manager is hired.

The board also is launching a badly needed refresh of the market’s website. Here’s hoping that, unlike in the past, the new website is kept up-to-date, with timely, accurate and reliable information.

Having said all this, I don’t want to sound overly sanguine or sugarcoat what’s happened.

There’s no way it should have taken the city 10 months to set up a temporary home for displaced vendors, many of whom got tired of waiting and left. In addition, as I write this, no work has yet begun on the charred, partially roofless brick building, which has sat exposed to the elements for nearly a year.

However, as the temporary market opens, the Harrisburg community has much to be proud of.

Residents and a handful of organizations and companies rose up to fill in gaps, provide leadership, offer direction and donate money, time and services. To the extent they could, community members took charge and pushed the market project forward. Without question, this is the bright silver lining to an otherwise bleak chapter in Harrisburg history.

Lawrance Binda is publisher/editor of TheBurg.

Illustration by Rich Hauck.

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Happenings: Our May Calendar of Events

April 29, 2024 | by Missy Smith

Museums & Art Spaces

AACA Museum
161 Museum Dr., Hershey
717-566-7100; aacamuseum.org

“Professional Vehicles—100 Years of Service,” spotlighting transportation alternatives that powered the American service industries, May 18-Oct. 20

Husqvarna: “Get Your Husky On,” Husqvarna (Husky) motorcycles exhibit, May 18-Oct. 20

“Ollie’s Bang for the Buck Exhibit,“ a collaboration between the museum and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet to highlight great automotive deals, May 18-Oct. 20

Carlisle Events 50th Anniversary Exhibit, May 18-Oct 20

Plymouth Showroom, May 18-Oct 20

Art Association of Harrisburg
21 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-236-1432; artassocofhbg.com

“The Fracas on Front Street,” featuring Auntie Wei and Charlies “Li” Hidley, through May 1

“A Consciousness Over Matters,” solo show by Young Won that centers on her large abstract works, through May 23

“Wading In,” latest works by Paul Nagle, through May 25

“Shifting Expressions” exhibition Steven Pearson + Reem showcase, May 31-July 5; reception: June 21

Arts on the Square
20 S. 2nd St., Harrisburg
717-257-1270; marketsquarechurch.org

“The Four Bows” series of paintings by SoHyun Bae, through May 26

Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC)
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

“From the Ground Up,” features the abstract paintings of Susan Getty, fiber paintings of Michelle Moats and ceramics by Brooke Jones, through May 25

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

May artist of the month

E.H. Studio, The Smith Gallery East
264 North St., Harrisburg
717-774-4301; smithcustomframing.com

Artist-In-Residence Elide Hower, May 18, 6-9 p.m.

Gallery on the Square
Millersburg Area Art Association
226 Union St., Millersburg
Facebook:  Gallery on the Square

Artist of the Month: Toby Bouder

Gallo’ry on Market
2010 Market St., Camp Hill
717-623-2090; galloryonmarket.com

May featured artists: Camp Hill Plein Air Artists

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

Backstage Café at the Allen Theater, through May 31

HAAA Member Artwork at Hershey Public Library, through June 7

Lebanon Picture Frame & Fine Art Gallery
847 Cumberland St., Lebanon
LebanonPictureFrame.com

“Balance, Beauty and Strength, ” plein air paintings by Paul Gallo, through June 1

Messiah University
One University Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

Senior Exhibition II, through May 5

Pop-Up Student Art Show, May 3

Annual Juried Student Exhibition, May 20-Aug. 30

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St.; Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

New works by Linda Benton McCloskey, Judy Kelly, Richard Souders, Paul Gallo and Paul Vasiliades, through May 12

New works by Tara Chickey, Caleb Smith, Phil Wells and Elaine Elledge, May 14-June 16

National Civil War Museum
One Lincoln Circle, Harrisburg
717-260-1861; nationalcivilwarmuseum.org

“Pursuit of Freedom—The Abolition of Slavery,” highlighting early attempts to abolish slavery in the U.S. and actions that ultimately ended slavery with the 13th Amendment, through June 2

New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
717-774-7820; newcumberlandlibrary.org

Art in the Stacks featuring artist Amanda Rife

Pennsylvania National Fire Museum
1820 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-232-8915; pnfm.org

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history

Perry County Council of the Arts
PCCA Gallery, 1 S. 2nd St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

“100 Cats,” artwork by Cheryl Kugler, through May 18

Rose Lehrman Art Gallery
One HACC Drive, Harrisburg
717-780-2435; hacc.edu

Student Honors Show II, through May 3

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

“Game Changers—Pennsylvania Women Who Made History,” celebrating women from across the state in diverse fields and detailing the contributions they made and challenges they faced in their lifetimes

“Bannered Heroes—Celebrating Pennsylvania’s African American Veterans,” presented by Beta Pi Boulé, the Harrisburg chapter of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (the Boulé)

“Pennsylvania in Watercolor—Revisiting Nick Ruggieri’s Bicentennial Series,” through June 16

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; susquehannaartmuseum.org

“desire path,” art by Kiani Kodama that explores silent exchanges between that which is human, animal and ancestral, through May 12

“Cocoon Steelton—The Migrations of Many by Kate Browne,” through May 19

“I’m fine. Pennsylvania,” a statewide community project dedicated to sculpting mental health awareness and conversations through art with ceramic masks, stories and photographs, through May 19

“Portraits of Identity—Harrisburg AAPI Narratives Through the Lens,” through June 16

“The Hidden Museum” invites visitors to locate “hidden” works of art the Susquehanna Art Museum, through Dec. 31

Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery
Lebanon Valley College
101 College Ave., Annville
717-233-8668; lvc.edu/gallery

“Studio Art Thesis Exhibition,” presenting the works of LVC students in the Creative Arts Program, through May 11

The Trout Gallery
Dickinson College
240 W. High St., Carlisle
717-254-8159; troutgallery.org

Senior Studio Majors 2024, through May 19

“William Gropper’s America,” a whimsically didactic map of the U.S. that illustrates legendary and historical figures, from Molly Pitcher to Johnny Appleseed, through Oct. 19

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

“Pilgrim Soul, ” artwork by Claire Louise Giblin, May 3-31

Wheel of Light Studio
3738 Peters Mountain Rd Halifax
wheeloflightstudio.com

“The Sculpted World of Martz Metal Arts,” through June 1

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; wildwoodlake.org

“Art in the Wild” outdoor art show of works by local artists composed mostly of natural materials to blend with the natural setting, through Sept. 30

Read, Make, Learn

Capital Blue Cross Connect
4500 Marketplace Way, Enola
capitalbluecrossconnect.com

May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Virtual INSPIRE, 9 a.m.
May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Cardio Kickboxing, 4:30 p.m.
May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Ready, Steady, Action! @ Enola Store and Virtual, 4:15 p.m.
May 3: Virtual Booty Blast, 9:30 a.m.
May 6, 13, 20: Gentle Yoga Flow @ Enola Store, 9:30 a.m.
May 6, 20: Virtual Adult Art Class, 11:05 a.m.
May 6, 20: Virtual Kid’s Art Class, 12:05 p.m.
May 6, 13, 20: Tai Chi @ Enola Store, 4 p.m.
May 6, 13, 20: Virtual Pilates, 5 p.m.
May 7, 14, 21, 28: Virtual Yoga for Back Health, 10 a.m.
May 10, 17, 24, 31: Boomer Bootcamp @Enola Store, 10 a.m.
May 10, 24: Virtual Barre Intensity Express, 9:30 a.m.
May 31: Virtual Barre Intensity Express, 9:30 a.m.

Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC)
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

May 4: Small Mixed Media Works for Art, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
May 4, 11: Big Cats (ages 9-14), 12-2 p.m.
May 7, 14, 21: Intermediate/Advanced Oil Painting (ages 16-adult), Tuesdays, 1-3 p.m.
May 7, 14, 21: Beginning Oil Painting (ages 16-adult), Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m.
May 11: Spring Plein Air Painting at Allenberry (ages 16-adult), 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
May 11: Mother’s Day Bouquet (ages 5-12) 10:30-12 p.m.
May 11: Copper Enameling Workshop, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
May 13: Suicide Loss Survivors, 5:30-7 p.m.

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

May 15: Seafood Spectacular, 6-9 p.m.
May 29: Spring in the Bayou, 6-9 p.m.

Dauphin County Library System
dcls.org

May 2: Dungeons and Dragons, 7-8 p.m.
May 3: Teen Dungeons and Dragons, 4-6 p.m.
May 8: Spanish Language Conversation Group via Zoom, 6-7 p.m.

East Pennsboro Library
98 S. Enola Dr., Enola
717-732-4274; eastpennsborobranch.org

May 2: Cupcake Liner Flowers (ages 10 and older), 6:15-7:15 p.m.
May 3, 10: Story Time, 11-11:30 a.m.
May 3, 10: Friday Fun, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
May 3, 10: Fine Arts Fridays (ages 10 and older), 2-3 p.m.
May 4: Raising Readers Story Time, 10-10:30 a.m.
May 4: Build with Us STEM Day, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
May 6, 12: Did You Know? Children’s Book Week
May 7: Van Gogh Sunflowers Art Project (ages 10 and older), 6:15-7:15 p.m.
May 8: Red Heart Wall Hanging (ages 10 and older), 6:15-7:15 p.m.
May 14: Air Dry Clay Turtles (ages 10 and older), 6:15-7:15 p.m.
May 18: Tree of Life (ages 10 and older), 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
May 21: Bingo for Books, 6:15-7:15 p.m.
May 30: Air Dry Clay Turtles (ages 10 and older), 6:15-7:15 p.m.

East Shore Area Library
4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg
717-652-9380; dcls.org

May 1, 29: Studio Ghibli Podcast—Spirited Away and The Secret World of Arriety, 4-6 p.m.
May 2: Pressed Flower Art, 5-7 p.m.
May 3: Pressed Flower Art, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
May 7, 21, 28: Zumbini, 9:30-10:15 a.m.
May 7: Stories at Sunset, 6-6:45 p.m.
May 13: Paws 2 Read, 6-7:30 p.m.
May 16-18: Spring Book & Media Sale, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
May 22: Bookmarked for Death—A True Crime Book Club, 5:30-7 p.m.
May 23: Sip & Speak, 3-4:30 p.m.
May 23: Mindfulness and Yoga Workshop for Families, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
May 26: The Year of Ghibli: The Secret World of Arriety, 2-4 p.m.

Elizabethtown Public Library
10 S. Market St., Elizabethtown
717-367-7467; etownpubliclibrary.org

May 1, 8, 15: Toddler Time, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
May 1, 8, 15, 22, 30: Homeschool Happening, 2-4 p.m.
May 2, 9, 16: Family Storytime, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Fiber Artists, 3-6 p.m.
May 4: Knitter’s Group, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
May 7, 14, 21, 28: Card Making Group, 5-7 p.m.
May 9: Ramona and her Mother Book Club, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
May 11: Fiber Artists, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
May 21: Baby Musik Time, 9:50-10:20 a.m.
May 21: Baby Musik Time, 10:30-11 a.m.

Fort Hunter
5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-599-5751; forthunter.org

May 8: Art Heals—Mosaic Montage Cactus, 5:30-8 p.m.
May 8, 9, 16: Homeschool Days, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
May 14: Zoombalicious, 6-7 p.m.
May 15: Art Heals—Wind Chimes Workshop, 5:30-8 p.m.
May 19: Mrs. Reily’s Tea, 1-3:30 p.m.
May 21: Gentle Yoga, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Fredricksen Library
100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill
717-761-3900; fredricksenlibrary.org

May 1: Moving Forward Book Group, 1-2 p.m.
May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Spring Baby & Toddler Story Time, 10-10:30 a.m.
May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Spring Children’s Story Time, 11-11:30 a.m.
May 1, 15, 29: Device Advice, 5-6 p.m.
May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Meditation to Calm the Mind, 12-12:30 p.m.
May 3: Peaceful Poses Adult Yoga, 9:15-10 a.m.
May 3: Peaceful Poses Kids Storytime Yoga, 10-10:45 a.m.
May 3: Chess Club, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
May 4: Tween STEAM Escape Room, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
May 4: Bingo for Books, 1:30-5 p.m.
May 4: Teen STEAM Escape Room, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
May 5: Pokémon Club, 2-4 p.m.
May 5: Silent Book Club, 2-3:30 p.m.
May 6, 13, 20: Book Explorers, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
May 7: Curl up with the Classics—“Utopia,” 10-11 a.m.
May 7: Genealogy Club, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
May 7, 21: Plot Twisters Teen Writers Group, 6-7 p.m.
May 7, 21: READ to Dogs, 6:30-8 p.m.
May 8: One Seed Grows Kids Garden Club, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
May 10: STEAM Discovery Zone, 10 a.m.
May 10: STEAM Discovery Zone for Preschool, 10-11 a.m.
May 13: Philosophers’ Roundtable, 2-3:30 p.m.
May 13: ESL Conversation Circle, 7-8 p.m.
May 14: STEM Club for Kids, 6-7 p.m.
May 14: Tween LEGO Club, 6-7:30 p.m.
May 18: Computer Basics, 2-3 p.m.
May 18: Neurodivergent Adult Support Group, 3 p.m.
May 18, 19: Paint with Us, 1-3 p.m.
May 20: Frederickson Writes on Zoom, 6:45-8:45 p.m.
May 21: Genealogy Club, 5-6 p.m.
May 28: Fredricksen Reads—“The Spanish Daughter,” 7-8 p.m.

Gallery on the Square
Millersburg Area Art Association
226 Union St., Millersburg
Facebook: Gallery on the Square

May 9: Mosaic Cactus Workshop, 6-8 p.m.
May 11: Wine Bottle Basket, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
May 18: On the Porch with Delana Gray-Tuttle, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
May 18: Patriotic Wall Hanging, 1-3 p.m.
May 23: Stained Glass, 6-8 p.m.
May 25: Paint Your Pet Watercolor Workshop, 2-4 p.m.

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

May 10-24: Drawing Fundamentals and Techniques, Fridays, 3-5 p.m.

Hershey Public Library
701 Cocoa Ave., Hershey
717-533-6555; hersheylibrary.org

May 1: LEGO Club, 4-4:45 p.m.
May 1: Open Book Group, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Community Crochet Night, 6-7:45 p.m.
May 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30: Penn State Hershey—Mothers & Babies, 10:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
May 2, 9, 16: Storytime for Everyone, 10:15-10:45 a.m.
May 2, 9, 16, 23: Teen Zine (A Hershey Reads event), 4-5 p.m.
May 2, 16, 30: Hershey Quilters, 12-4 p.m.
May 4, 18: Chess Club, 1-3 p.m.
May 6, 13 Books and Babies, 10:15-10:45 a.m.
May 6, 13: Storytime for Everyone, 11-11:30 a.m.
May 7: Girls Who Code, 6 p.m.
May 8: Board Game Night, 5-7:45 p.m.
May 11: Wendy Makes DIY Card Class, 1-2:30 p.m.
May 14: Philosopher’s Round Table Discussion Group, 2-3:30 p.m.
May 14, 28 Silent Book Group, 10 a.m.
May 7, 14: 1, 2, Whee!, 10:15-10:45 a.m.
May 16, 23, 30: Walking Hershey, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
May 18: Cocoa Area Fiber Enthusiasts, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
May 20: Bricks and Brews at Troegs of Hershey, 6:30-8 p.m.
May 22: Art Club, 5-7:45 p.m.

Joseph T. Simpson Public Library
16 N. Walnut St., Mechanicsburg
717-766-0171; simpsonlibrary.org

May 2: LEGO Club (grades 3-5), 6-7 p.m.
May 2: LEGO Club (grades K-2), 6-7 p.m.
May 2, 9, 16, 23: Beginning Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
May 2, 9, 16, 23: Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
May 2, 9, 16, 23: Story Time, 10:15-11 a.m.
May 2, 9, 16, 23: Toddler Time, 11:15-11:35 a.m.
May 2, 9, 16, 23: Rhyme Time, 11:45 a.m.-12:05 p.m.
May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: LEGO Time, 10:15-11:15 a.m.
May 6: Teen Movie Monday, 6-7:45 p.m.
May 6, 13, 20: Rhyme Time, 10:15-10:35 a.m.
May 6, 13, 20: Toddler Time, 10:45-11:05 a.m.
May 7, 14, 21, 28: Tea and Stitches, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
May 7, 14, 21, 28: Storybook STEAM, 6-7 p.m.
May 9: Graphic Novel Club, 6-7:30 p.m.
May 10, 24: Dungeons & Dragons (grades 6-12), 6-8 p.m.
May 11, 25: Block Party, 10:30-11:25 a.m.
May 11, 25: Puzzle Party, 11:35 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
May 13: Kindergarten Readiness, 1-2:15 p.m. and 6-7:15 p.m.
May 13: English Conversation Club, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
May 16: Thursday Morning Book Club, 10-11 a.m.
May 16: Teen Third Thursday, 6-7 p.m.
May 17: Apple Group for Seniors, 1-2 p.m.
May 20: STEAM Club, 6-7 p.m.
May 20: Monday Night Book Club, 7-8 p.m.
May 25: Trivia at Home—Disney, 6-8 p.m.
May 28: Tea & Stitches Extended Edition, 12-3 p.m.

Kline Library
530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg
717-234-3934; dcls.org

May 2: All Ages Storytime, 10:15-10:45 a.m.
May 2: Book Bingo, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
May 25: STEAM Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

The LGBT Center of Central PA
717-409-5781; centralpalgbtcenter.org

May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Common Roads (ages 12-17), 6-8 p.m.
May 4, 11, 18, 25: Passageways, 2 p.m.
May 5, 12, 19, 26: Young Adult Group, 4 p.m.
May 11: QTPOC Advisory Group, 6-8 p.m.

Madeline L. Olewine Memorial Library
2410 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-232-7286; dcls.org

May 3, 10, 17, 24: Speech Links to Literacy, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
May 21: Stories at Sunset, 5:30-6:15 p.m.
May 29: Coloring for Adults!, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

McCormick Riverfront Library
101 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-234-4976; dcls.org

May 4: Mindfulness and Yoga Workshop for Families, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Middletown Public Library
20 N. Catherine St, Middletown
717-944-6412; middletownpubliclib.org

May 2: Booklover’s Book Club, 6-7 p.m.

Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Cafe
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-236-1680; midtownscholar.com

May 4: An Afternoon with Erik Larson, 2-3 p.m.
May 9: An Evening with Adam Higginbotham, 7-8 p.m.
May 14: Jeff Shaara with Karen Hendricks
May 17: An Evening with Sean Carroll, 7-8 p.m.
May 21: Selected Stories by Franz Kafka with Mark Harman, Kerry Wallach and Scott Lerner
May 24: Steven Williams with State Representative Patty Kim, 7-8 p.m.
May 30: An Evening with R.O. Kwon, 7-8 p.m.

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

May 12: All That Glitters, 1-3:30 p.m.
May 18: Fluid Art, 12-3 p.m.
May 21: Mosaic Lemon Class, 6-8 p.m.

National Civil War Museum
One Lincoln Circle, Harrisburg
717-260-1861; nationalcivilwarmuseum.org

May 2: A Civil Conversation with Dr. Robert K.D. Colby on Zoom, 7-8 p.m.
May 11: Lessons in History with John Reeves, 1-2 p.m.

New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
717-774-7820; newcumberlandlibrary.org

May 1: Kid Builders (ages 3 and older), 4:30-5:30 p.m.
May 1-31: May Scavenger Hunt—Fantastic Families (ages 0-12)
May 1-31: Beanstack Challenge—Spring Into Reading (ages 0-18)
May 2: Ruth’s Mystery Discussion Group, 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
May 2: Mother’s Day Storytime & Craft, 10:30-11:15 a.m.
May 2-June 6: Sunset Yoga Series, Thursdays 6-7 p.m.
May 3, 17: Tumble Tots (18 months -3 years), 10:30-11:30 a.m.
May 3, 17: Tumble Tots (0-8 months), 1-2 p.m.
May 4, 18: Library Book Sales, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
May 5: Getting Rooftop Solar, 3-4 p.m.
May 6, 13, 20, 27: Spring Storytime & More (ages 2-5), Mondays, 10 a.m.
May 6, 13, 20, 27: Book Babies (ages 0-2), Tuesdays, 11:15 a.m.
May 6, 20: Monday Great Books Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
May 8, 22: Wednesday Great Books Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
May 9, 23: Musical Mornings (ages 2-5), 10:30-11 a.m.
May 10, 24: Block Party (ages 0-3), 10:30-11:30 a.m.
May 10, 24: Dungeons & Dragons (ages 13-17), 4-6 p.m.
May 11: Teen Craft Kits (ages 13-17), 10 a.m.
May 14: Tales for Tails (ages 6-12), 6:30-7:30 p.m.
May 16, 30: Movers & Groovers (ages 2-5), 10:30-11 a.m.
May 18: Couponing for Extreme Savings, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
May 21: Local Author Storytime & Book Singing with Jenny Lynn Pease, 4:30-5:15 p.m.
May 22: Flower Power, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
May 22: PennWriters Writing Group, 6-9 p.m.
May 29: STEAM Scene (ages 5-12), 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Palmyra Public Library
50 Landings Dr., Annville
717-838-1347; palmyra.lclibs.org

May 1, 8, 15, 22: Smart Start Storytime, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Strength & Stretching 50+, 10-11 a.m.
May 6: Genealogy Group, 10-11 a.m.
May 13: Book Club, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
May 20: BYO Craft Night (adults 18 and older), 4:30-6:45 p.m.

Perry County Council of the Arts
Landis House, 67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

May 10: Fruit Animals Watercolor Workshop, 6-8:30 p.m.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

May 3, 18: Storytime, 10:30 a.m.
May 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26: Compass, Calendar and Clock, 2-2:30 p.m.
May 4, 11, 18, 25: Oasis in Space, 12-12:30 p.m.
May 4-26: Exploration Sky, 11-11:30 a.m.

Wheel of Light Studio
3738 Peters Mountain Rd., Halifax
wheeloflightstudio.com

May 4: Hand Built Floral Luminaries, 10:30 a.m.- 12 p.m.
May 11: Make a Vase with Mother Clay Workshop, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
May 24: Dirty Date Night, Make a Mug Workshop, 7-9 p.m.
May 25: Intro to Wheel Clay Class, 1-3 p.m.
May 25: Macramé Earrings Workshop, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; explorewildwoodpark.org

May 1: Birdwalk—Peak Migration, 7:30-9:30 a.m.
May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Wednesday Wellness Walk, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
May 2: Spring Flower Walk at Detweiler Park, 2:30-4 p.m.
May 4: May the 4th Be With You Stargazing event at Detweiler Park, 8:30-10:30 p.m.
May 5: Kids Discover—Macroinvertebrates (ages 8-12), 1-3 p.m.
May 10: Penn State Extension Master Gardener Walk & Talk, 10-11 a.m.
May 11: Wild About Dogs!, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
May 11: Bushcraft Basics, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
May 12: Kids Discover—Animals and Their Mothers (ages 5-10), 1-2:30 p.m.
May 14: Wild Recipes—Spring Foraging in Your Backyard, 6-7:30 p.m.
May 18: Medicine in Nature Walk, 10 a.m.-11:15 a.m.
May 18: Daisies & Brownies—Bugs, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
May 19: Flower Walk—Jack-in-the-Pulpits and other Spring Flowers, 1:30-3 p.m.
May 24: Dragonfly Walk, 10-11 a.m.

William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library
200 W. Second St., Hummelstown
717-566-0949; dcls.org

May 1: Born to Read, 10:15-10:55 a.m.
May 2: Preschool Storytime, 10:15-10:55 a.m.
May 4: Sensory Storytime, 10:30 a.m.
May 4: Crafternoon at the Library, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
May 15: Mindfulness and Yoga Workshop for Families, 5-6 p.m.
May 16: Healthy Aging Workshop, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
May 18: The Plot Thickens, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
May 25: Taste the World, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Live Music

American Music Theatre
2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
717-397-7700; amtshows.com 

May 3: Stayin Alive—One Night of the Bee Gees
May 4: The Temptations & The Four Tops
May 10: David Foster and Katharine McPhee
May 11: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
May 12: RAIN—A Tribute to The Beatles
May 15: Brothers Of The Heart
May 17: The Guess Who
May 31: 38 Special

Appalachian Brewing Co./Abbey Bar
50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-221-1083; abcbrew.com

May 4: Driftwood
May 5: Lindy Hop Swing Dancing Party by The Rhythm Lounge
May 11: Chalk Dinosaur with Brachtopus and Roux
May 12: Tacey Travino Mother’s Day Fundraiser featuring The After Hours, Blind Accuracy, Natalie Ness, Grace Mahar
May 16: Open Jam Night hosted by Jason Mescia
May 18: 5AM Trio with thebusiness, Natalie Lain, No Sir E
May 25: Jennifer Hartswick Band

Appell Center for the Performing Arts
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; appellcenter.org

May 3: Jazz in the City
May 4: Plena Libre
May 9: The Outlet—Music & Poetry Open Mic
May 15: Josh Ritter
May 18: York Symphony
May 24: Little River Band

Blues Society of Central PA
Champions Sports Bar and Grill
300 2nd St., Highspire
bscpblues.com

May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Blues Jams
May 26: Annual Blues Picnic, Mechanicsburg Club Picnic Grounds

Carley’s Ristorante and Piano Bar
204 Locust St., Harrisburg
717-909-9191; carleysristorante.com

May 1, 9, 23: Andrea Britton
May 2: Dr. Nyce
May 3, 17, 31: Roy LeFever
May 4, 16, 18, 25, 29: Chris Emkey
May 8, 22: Tristin Lynee
May 10, 24: Ted Ansel
May 11: Anthony Haubert
May 15: Christine Purcell
May 30: Mathias Cabbell

The Englewood
1219 Research Blvd., Hummelstown
717-256-9480; englewoodhershey.com

May 16: BoDeans
May 17: The Bad Toupees, Switch Fu
May 18: Sugar Mountain
May 19: Christian Yeager

Gretna Theatre
Mt. Gretna Playhouse
200 Pennsylvania Ave., Mount Gretna
717-964-3627; gretnatheatre.org

May 30-June 8: The Greatest Love For Whitney

H*MAC
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

May 4: Lebowskis, Witness Market, Post Ramone
May 10: Gimme Gimme Disco
May 11: Broadway Rave
May 14: Blind Guardian
May 16: Fivio Foreign
May 17: Imminence
May 18: Baroness & Red Fang
May 19: Spite & Bodysnatcher
May 24: The Widdler
May 25: Scott Tournet

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra
The Forum at 5th and Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-545-5527; harrisburgsymphony.org

May 4-5: Malina Leads Mahler
May 12: Harrisburg Symphony Youth Orchestra Mother’s Day concert

Harrisburg University Presents
concertseries.harrisburgu.edu

May 11: Rodrigo y Gabriela at XL Live
May 23: Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls at XL Live

Hershey Theatre
15 E. Caracas Ave., Hershey
717-534-3405; hersheytheatre.com

May 1: Godsmack
May 11: Jon Batiste
May 29: Joe Jackson

Hollywood Casino
777 Hollywood Blvd., Grantville
717-469-2211; hollywoodpnrc.com

May 3: Twisted Charm, DJ Zimmz
May 4: Light Up The Moon, DJ Zimmz
May 10: Breck, DJ Gallo
May 11: Vertigo Vultures, DJ Gallo
May 17: 3 AM Tokyo, DJ Koolie Kirk
May 18: Emily’s ToyBox , DJ Koolie Kirk
May 24: Funktion, DJ Matrix
May 25: D-Bo! , DJ Matrix
May 31: Josh Squared Band, DJ Magic

Keystone Capital Chorus
717-350-5712; kccsing.com

May 24: Memorial Day Weekend Sing Out

Keystone Concert Band
145 E. Main St., First Floor, Mechanicsburg
717-329-7541; keystoneconcertband.com

May 4: Concert at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Harrisburg
May 18: Concert at Essex House, Lemoyne

Lovedrafts Brewing Co.
165 Gateway Dr., Mechanicsburg
lovedraftsbrewingco.com

May 7: Until I Wake
May 10: Little Miss Nasty
May 11: Smile Empty Soul
May 12: Hot Water Music
May 14: Orgy & Cold
May 16: Left to Suffer
May 17: Plush
May 19: Fuming Mouth
May 21: Possessed by Paul James, Zach King
May 23: Belmont & Can’t Swim
May 24: Emo Night w/ The Warped Band
May 26: Retro on Tap 2

Luhrs Performing Arts Center
1871 Old Main Dr., Shippensburg
717-477-7469; luhrscenter.com

May 4: Benise-FIESTA!

Majestic Theater
25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg
717-337-8200; gettysburgmajestic.org

May 3: Trailblazing Women of Country—Tribute to Patsy, Loretta and Dolly
May 9, 10: Tommy Emmanuel with Cris Jacobs

Messiah University
One University Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

May 1: Messiah University Choral Showcase
May 2: Messiah University Musica Nova—Student Compositions
May 3: Messiah University Jazz Ensembles
May 4: Messiah University Percussion Ensemble
May 4: Messiah University Vocal Jazz
May 5: Messiah University Guitar Ensemble
May 12: Messiah University Concert Choir at Pine Street Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

May 11: Dan Orlando & Mackenzie Johnson

Pine Street Presbyterian Church
310 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-238-9304; pinestreet.org

May 5: Nathan Laube

Rusty Rail Brewing Company
5 N. 8th North St., Mifflinburg
570-966-7878; rustyrailbrewing.com

May 6, 20: Monday Night Jam
May 9: Beka Jones

Susquehanna Chorale
717-533-7859; susquehannachorale.org

“1000 Beautiful Things” spring concerts:
May 17: Derry Presbyterian Church, Hershey
May 18: Market Square Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg
May 19: Parmer Hall, Messiah University, Mechanicsburg

The Susquehanna Folk Music Society
717-745-6577; sfmsfolk.org

May 1: Natalie and Brittany Haas
May 11: Spring Coffeehouse

Voices of the Valley
voicesofthevalley.co

May 3: Concert at Paxton Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg
May 4: Concert at West Shore Theatre, New Cumberland
May 5: Concert at St. Paul’s UCC, Mechanicsburg

West Shore Theatre
317 Bridge St, New Cumberland
717-759-5464; westshoretheatre.org

May 16: The Furious Bongos—Frank Zappa Tribute
May 17: The Uptown Band
May 18: Crossfire Hurricane—Rolling Stones Tribute
May 19: Very Fine Gentlemen
May 23: Dion Pride with The Cramer Brothers

XL Live
801 S. 10th St., Harrisburg
717-409-8975; xlhbg.com

May 3, 4: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong
May 9: Back to Back to Black The Amy Winehouse Celebration
May 10: The Ultimate Doors
May 11: Harrisburg University presents Rodrigo y Gabriela
May 13: STARSET
May 17: Tell Me Lies, Saliva, Above Snakes & Lives Lost
May 18: Drowning Pool
May 23: Harrisburg University presents Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls
May 31: Almost Queen

The Stage Door

American Music Theatre
2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
717-397-7700; amtshows.com 

May 5: “STOMP!”
May 18: “A Bronx Tale” One Man Show with Chazz Palminteri
May 19: Kevin James

Appalachian Brewing Co./Abbey Bar
50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-221-1083; abcbrew.com

May 3: POV Comedy presents Stand Up Comedy

Appell Center for the Performing Arts
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; appellcenter.org

May 1: “The Book of Mormon”

The Belmont Theatre
27 S. Belmont St., York
717-854-3894; thebelmont.org

May 2-4: “The Bar Stools”
May 31-June 9: “Bridge”

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster
717-898-1900; DutchApple.com

May 1-12: “Ragtime”
May 17-June 22: “The Full Monty”

Gamut Theatre Group
15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-238-4111; gamuttheatre.org

May 4-23: “The Brementown Musicians” w/Popcorn hat Players
May 17: TMI Improv

Harrisburg Christian Performing Arts Center
1000 S. Eisenhower Blvd, Middletown
717-939-9333; thehcpac.org

May 17-19: Home/Cyber School Double Feature
May 24-26: “The Jungle Book”

Harrisburg Comedy Zone
110 Limekiln Rd., New Cumberland
717-920-5653; harrisburgcomedyzone.com

May 3: The Divas Down Under Beach Party Drag Show
May 3, 4: Mike Paramore and Joshua Ryan
May 10, 11: Rich Vos
May 17, 18: Raymond the Amish Comic
May 24, 25: Keith Purnell

Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
hbgimprov.com

May 3: Improv Jam, REAL Fast Coast Wives of Central PA, Add ’em Together, The Offbeats, Say No More, Bandito
May 4: Free Improv Mixer, Solo Sleepover, Elderprov, Love Triangle, Our Bizarre Adventure
May 10: Free Improv Ja, Spontaneous Combustion, Adult Play Date, Spice Crones, Next Level
May 11: Free Improv Mixer, This Show Will Self Destruct, Ham Juice, Musical Improv, And Another Thing
May 17: Level 1 Class Show, Leg of Lamp, Euporia, Team Z, Holy Moly, Bondfire Society, GirlZilla
May 18: Free Improv Mixer, Uncomfortable, Folying Around in the Dark, Rockstar Goes Supernova, Blackest Thing Ever
May 24: Level 2 Class Show, Spontaneous Combustion, Adult Play Date, Lil Stinkers, Original 6, Day Trippers
May 25: Free Kid Friendly Improv Mixer, Phil’s Arcade, All Over the Place, Cosmic Trash

Hershey Theatre
15 E. Caracas Ave., Hershey
717-534-3405; hersheytheatre.com

May 3-4: “Shrek” The Musical
May 17-18: Hershey School of Dance
May 19: Hershey Theatre Apollo Awards

Keystone Theatrics
The Playhouse at Allenberry
1559 Boiling Springs Rd., Boiling Springs
717-258-3211; keystonetheatrics.com

May 3-12: “Something Rotten”

Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg
915 S. York St., Mechanicsburg
717-766-0535; ltmpa.com

May 2-5: “Forever Plaid”
May 31-June 16: “Mrs. Lincoln”

Lovedrafts Brewing Co.
165 Gateway Dr., Mechanicsburg
lovedraftsbrewingco.com

May 18: Back To The 80s—Miss Gay Central PA Pageant

Luhrs Performing Arts Center
1871 Old Main Dr., Shippensburg
717-477-7469; luhrscenter.com

May 3: Illusionist Rick Thomas

Majestic Theater
25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg
717-337-8200; gettysburgmajestic.org

May 17-18: “The Sound of Music”

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

May 25: Pennsylvania Regional Ballet

Open Stage
25 N. Court St., Harrisburg
717-232-6736; openstagehbg.com

May 11-June 1: “What the Constitution Means to Me”
May 17-26: Erotic Fan Fiction Live!

Oyster Mill Playhouse
1001 Oyster Mill Rd., Camp Hill
717-737-6768; oystermill.com

May 10-26: “Hay Fever”

Theatre Harrisburg
513 Hurlock St., Harrisburg
717-232-5501; theatreharrisburg.com

April 26-May 12: “Seussical” at Whitaker Center

West Shore Theatre
317 Bridge St., New Cumberland
717-759-5464; westshoretheatre.org

May 4: Voices of the Valley presents “How Sweet the Sound—Songs of America”

Whitaker Center
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org

April 26-May 12: “Seussical” (Theatre Harrisburg)

May 19: Jordan Klepper

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Community Corner: Notable May Events

April 29, 2024 | by Missy Smith

Bike Harrisburg
May 1-31: For National Bike Month, Bike Harrisburg hosts a series of events, including Sunday Morning Sociable Rides, Friday Lunch Rides, Capital Area Greenbelt Ride (May 5), Bike to Work Week (May 13-19), Ghost Bikes at the Capitol and International Ride of Silence (May 15) and Recycle Bicycle Fix-It (May 17). www.bicyclesouthcentralpa.org

Flower Walk
May 2: Take a walk at Detweiler Park, 1451 Peters Mountain Rd., Dauphin, during Wildwood Park’s Spring Flower Walk, 2:30 to 4 p.m. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon walk in meadows and forests. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Taste of Asia
May 3: Celebrate Asian-Pacific culture with Ware Center, 38 S. College Ave., Lancaster, and Lancaster AAPI during We the People First Friday, 6 to 8 p.m. “The Ninth Art: Inside the World of Asian Cuisine” includes food demonstrations, live music and the opening reception for “Pilgrim Soul,” an exhibit of art by Claire Louise Giblin. www.artsmu.com

Pancakes & Thrifting
May 4: Support the Central PA Womyn’s Chorus at its all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast and rummage sale at Colonial Park United Church of Christ, 5000 Devonshire Rd., Harrisburg, 7:30 to 11 a.m. Enjoy eggs, sausage, fruit and endless pancakes. www.cpwchorus.org

Restoration 5K 
May 4: Join Greenlight Operation for its annual Run for Restoration 5K at City Island, Harrisburg, to support survivors of human trafficking. Check-in is between 8 a.m. and 8:45 a.m., and the run begins at 9 a.m. Runners can do the fun run/walk or the certified race. www.greenlightoperation.org

Cherry Blossom Fest
May 4: The 35th annual Millersburg Cherry Blossom Festival will be held on the square in Millersburg, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with family activities and entertainment, food and craft vendors and a car show. www.millersburgpa.org

Flowers for Mom
May 4: Young gardeners ages 5 to 14 are invited to design a colorful container arrangement this Mother’s Day at the Carlisle Penn State Extension office, 310 Allen Rd., 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Learn how to plant and care for flowers and herbs, create a decoration for your container and make a special card. www.extension.psu.edu

Native Plant Sale
May 4: Manada Conservancy hosts its 24th annual Native Plant Sale at East Hanover Township Nature Park, 328 N. Crawford Rd., Grantville, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with regional native plant vendors, art vendors, food trucks, Mother’s Day baskets, a raffle, kids activities and a guided nature walk. www.manada.org 

HBG Flea
May 4: Shop the HBG Flea for local art, vintage treasures, curated curios and unique gifts, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. The mission of the HBG Flea is to create a platform for community growth by bringing artists, small businesses and patrons together. www.hbgflea.com

Stargazing
May 4: Join Wildwood Park for National Star Wars Day to enjoy a cosmic stargazing adventure and a chance to view the Eta Aquarid meteor shower at Detweiler Park, 1451 Peters Mountain Rd., Dauphin, 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Take a short walk, learn about constellations and astrophotography basics, and enjoy the night sky. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Vintage Fest
May 4-5: Vintage enthusiasts are invited to the 717 Vintage Fest at the York Expo Center, 334 Carlisle Ave., York, to discover unique finds, curated clothing, accessories and home decor. This vintage-only market features established stores and independent vendors from across the region, offering a wide range of styles from every decade. www.717vintagefest.com

Book Sales
May 4, 8: Friends of New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, hosts pre-owned book sales on the first and third Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Foundation House. Find books, vintage items, jewelry, music, puzzles, kids’ books, vinyl records and more. www.cumberlandcountylibraries.org

Garden Faire
May 5: Celebrate spring at Fort Hunter Mansion and Park, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, with its Garden Faire, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can shop plant and craft sales, explore exhibits, take tours of Fort Hunter Mansion and enjoy live demonstrations like Civil War dances and maypole dancing. www.forthunter.org

Health Fair
May 5: Three Leaf Farmden presents a free Health Fair Bonanza, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Allison Hill Community Ministry, 1508 Derry St., Harrisburg. The event features meditation, cooking demos and workshops on diet, nutrition, organic gardening and more. www.threeleaffarmden.com

Girls who Code
May 7: Hershey Public Library, 701 Cocoa Ave., Hershey, hosts Girls Who Code, a program for girls in grades 6 to 12 to use computer science to impact their community, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Girls will build skills in teamwork, confidence, communication and more. www.hersheylibrary.org

Ready, Set, Sing
May 7, 14, 21, 28: Join the Keystone Capital Chorus for its free series of vocal music coaching for all ages, styles of music, singing abilities and experience at Christ Presbyterian Church, 421 Deerfield Rd, Camp Hill, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Coaching includes vocal warmups, lessons with coaches and demos from the chorus. www.kccsing.com 

Golf Outing
May 9: Join Wildheart Ministries for its Golf Outing fundraiser at Colonial Golf & Tennis Club, 4901 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg, at 9 a.m. Join the event as a golfer, sponsor or volunteer. Individual spots and corporate sponsorships available. www.wildheartministries.net

Food Rally
May 9: Enjoy fresh, savory foods at the New Cumberland Food Truck & Restaurant Rally every second Thursday of the month, 5 to 8 p.m. Grab dinner from area food trucks or New Cumberland restaurants and enjoy shopping and special promotions at local businesses. www.newcumberlandpa.org

Art Pop-Up
May 9-11, 16-18: Support local artisans and “the conversation” by purchasing artwork that focuses on mental fitness at a pop-up art market at the ModernRugs.Com showroom, 1404 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. This event is held in conjunction with the “I’m Fine. Pennsylvania” exhibit at the Susquehanna Art Museum across the street. www.imfineproject.com

Hershey Artfest
May  11: Enjoy an artistic day with the whole family at Hershey Artfest at the Englewood Barn, 1219 W. End Ave., Hershey, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event features a juried art display, entertainment, food, local beer and wine and kids’ activities. www.hersheyhistory.org/artfest

Hunger Run
May 11: Support Hummelstown Food Pantry at the ninth annual 5K Hummelstown Hunger Run/Walk at Schaffner Park, on the corner of Poplar Avenue and Water Street. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the race kicks off at 10 a.m. www.htownhungerrun.wixsite.com/hummelstown5k

PA Birds
May 11: Families are invited to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with the Pennsylvania Game Commission at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitors Center, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn about Pennsylvania birds, explore informational tables, listen to lectures on bird-related topics, enjoy activities, watch bird-banding demos and more.www.pgc.pa.gov

Odd Ones
May 11: The Millworks, 340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg, hosts the spring Odd Ones Bizarre, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., on the corner of Verbeke and 3rd streets. Shop for unique, handcrafted items from more than 70 artists and makers at this alternative arts and crafts event. www.millworksharrisburg.com

Mother’s Day
May 11, 12: Take mom to Hershey Gardens, 170 Hotel Rd., Hershey, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to celebrate Mother’s Day, with free admission for all moms. Food trucks will have food available for purchase. On Sunday, see a variety of rhododendrons and azaleas from the Mason Dixon Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. www.hersheygardens.org

Concert for Mom
May 12: Enjoy the Harrisburg Symphony Youth Orchestra Mother’s Day concert at The Forum auditorium, 500 Walnut St, Harrisburg, 3 p.m. The special concert features performances by HSYO, Junior Youth String Orchestra and Elementary String Orchestra. www.harrisburgsymphony.org

Business Women’s Forum
May 15: Carlisle Area Chamber and the West Shore Chamber of Commerce will host the Business Women’s Forum at Messiah University, 1 University Ave, Mechanicsburg, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The conference is designed for women to network and build leadership skills. www.wschamber.org

Book Sale
May 15, 16, 17: Friends of the East Shore Area Library hosts its Spring Book and Media Sale at East Shore Area Library, 4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg. Members get early access shopping on May 15 from 1 to 6 p.m. The sale continues on May 16 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., May 17 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and May 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. www.dcls.org

Climate & Security
May 16: Dr. Michele Devlin, professor of environmental security at the U.S. Army War College, will discuss climate change’s impact on national security at a gathering of the Foreign Policy Association of Central Pennsylvania at Susquehanna Club, 2001 Mission Dr., New Cumberland, 7:30 p.m. www.fpaharrisburg.org

3rd in The Burg
May 17: Explore the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in the Burg, the monthly arts and culture event, where you can visit and enjoy galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown, 6 to 9 p.m. www.thirdintheburg.org

Historic Toast
May 17: Historic Harrisburg Association celebrates the Zembo Shrine’s addition to the National Register of Historic Places with a gala reception from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Zembo Shrine Auditorium, 2801 N. 3rd Street, Harrisburg. Enjoy a champagne toast, heavy hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and guided tours of this landmark. www.historicharrisburg.org

Underground Filmfest
May 17-19: Moviate holds its 25th annual Underground Film Festival with three days of movies at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. This year, the festival highlights compelling, independently produced documentaries, as well as filmmaker visits, special programming and 40 short films from around the world. www.moviate.org

Plant Fest & Sale
May 18: Shop Penn State Master Gardener’s Plant Fest & Sale for sun and shade perennials, native plants, vegetables, herbs and more, at Cumberland County Service Center, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Master Gardeners will answer questions and offer expert advice. Explore a gardener’s yard sale, educational resources and activities. www.extension.psu.edu

Cleanup Event
May 18: Join Wildheart Ministries for its monthly Cleanup Day at 213 S. 18th St., Harrisburg 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. www.lovethehillpa.com

Plant Sale
May 18: Penn-Cumberland Garden Club hosts a plant sale at Frankenberger Tavern, 217 E. Main St., Mechanicsburg, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with proceeds benefitting the garden club’s outreach projects. Plants, garden treasures and baked goods will be available for purchase. www.penncumberlandgardenclub.org

Iris Show
May 18: Susquehanna Iris Society’s annual Iris Show returns to the Garden Cottage at Hershey Gardens, 170 Hotel Rd., Hershey, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy colorful irises and arrangements from members of the Susquehanna Iris Society, who will be available to answer questions. www.hersheygardens.org

Canal Day
May 18: Celebrate history and community at Friends of Union Canal Tunnel Park’s 35th Annual Union Canal Day and fundraiser at 25th Street and Union Canal Drive, Lebanon, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Browse vendors, enjoy food, and take narrated tours through the oldest water transportation tunnel in the U.S. [email protected], 717-269-2994

Indian Arts
May 18: Indian Organization of Lancaster County presents the UTSAV Indian Arts Gala at the Ware Center, 42 N. Prince St., Lancaster. Enjoy a family-friendly celebration of India’s traditions and heritage through music, dance and food from various regions of India. Doors open at 5 p.m. www.iolcpa.org

Apollo Awards
May 19: Hershey Theatre, 15 E. Caracas Way, recognizes local students and high schools for outstanding achievement in musical and play productions at the Hershey Theatre Apollo Awards, 7 p.m. Monetary awards given to further education and encourage involvement in the performing arts. www.hersheyentertainment.com

Ribbon Cutting
May 22: Join the Latino Hispanic American Community Center at its new location, 1301 Derry St., Harrisburg, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its expansion, 11 a.m. Celebrate this milestone with Harrisburg Mayor Wanda R.D. Williams, county commissioners and other guests. www.lhacc.org

Artsfest
May 25-27: Harrisburg’s 56th annual Artsfest in Riverfront Park features more than 150 juried artisans and craftsmen from across the country, and their handcrafted works will be available for purchase. The festival features live entertainment, Jazzfest, a community art project, Kidsfest, HBGFest by the HBG Flea, food trucks and more. www.harrisburgpa.gov

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May News Digest

April 29, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

COVID Funds Appropriated

Harrisburg is preparing to start spending a large portion of its federal COVID relief funds. 

City Council recently approved the appropriation of $26.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the city to spend on affordable housing, a pool replacement, home repairs and blighted property demolition, among other projects. 

In total, Harrisburg received $47 million in ARPA money. In 2022, council voted to use $15.6 million to reimburse the city for pandemic revenue losses and for bonuses for fire and police bureau employees, among other allocations. In July 2023, council allocated the remaining $31.4 million to go into the city’s general fund as revenue replacement, but specified certain projects that the money would fund. 

At legislative sessions in March and April, council voted to start spending $26.8 million of that $31.4 million.

The allocations include $8 million for an affordable housing program, which will provide up to $2 million each to developers building affordable housing as defined by federal standards, and another $8 million for replacing the city’s Hall Manor pool.

Another $5 million will go to home repairs for low-income households and $2 million will be used to pay for low-income residents’ overdue trash bills. A $500,000 allocation will go towards tree removal and pruning services for low-income and elderly residents and $1.5 million will help demolish blighted buildings.

Additionally, $1 million will help nonprofits that provide bridge housing programs, and $250,000 will assist local senior programs. Another $600,000 will cover costs associated with project administration. 

Council has also previously expressed its intent to use funds to construct an ADA-accessible playground, create a workforce development program for youth, fund a “Community Matters” grant program for underserved businesses and nonprofits and create “community connection hubs” in the city to assist with workforce development.

Ribbon Cut on Affordable Houses

Several Harrisburg families soon will receive the keys to newly built affordable homes. 

Last month, Harrisburg nonprofit Tri County Housing cut the ribbon on five new townhomes in Allison Hill, which will benefit lower-income residents.  

“We are turning blight into something right,” said Mayor Wanda Williams, who spoke at the event. “When we can provide safe spaces for people to live, people take ownership of that block.” 

The five attached houses are located on the 200-block of Hummel Street. Each home is about 1,600 square feet, features three bedrooms, one-and-a-half baths, and a full basement. They are listed for $124,900 to $126,900 each, and three of the five are under contract. 

According to Gary Lenker, executive director of Tri County Housing, the organization began acquiring the blighted properties that previously stood at the location in 2015 and demolished them.  

The new homes add to the five other renovated homes across the street that the organization completed about two years ago.  

The $1.3 million project was funded using money from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), and the state’s share of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, among other sources.  

Tri County Housing has also proposed constructing five affordable single-family townhomes on an overgrown lot on the 2100-block of N. 4th Street. Each 1,500-square-foot home would include three bedrooms and one-and-a-half baths. 

According to Lenker, this would be Tri County’s first project in Harrisburg outside of Allison Hill, where most of their construction has taken place. 

“We’d like to see this duplicated throughout the city,” Williams said.

Affordable Housing Proposed

A vacant Harrisburg lot and hot spot for illegal dumping may get a new lease on life as a local developer has proposed building on the land.  

Ryan Sanders of Harrisburg-based RB Development told TheBurg that his company is proposing affordable housing on the 1100-block of Bailey Street in the Summit Terrace neighborhood.  

“For us to bring affordable housing and workforce housing back there and so people don’t have to be displaced, that’s the ultimate goal,” Sanders said.  

The project, “Bailey Street Townhomes,” would include 24 townhome-style units, configured in eight triplexes with three units in each. The apartments would be one-, two- and three-bedroom units, with at least one parking space per unit, Sanders said.  

Currently, the lot sits vacant at the end of Bailey Street, overlooking the downtown skyline. According to Sanders, RB Development plans to purchase the lot from the current owner, the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority.

In addition to the townhomes, the developer has proposed building a community center with a library and meeting space for the community. 

Sanders said that, pending all necessary city approvals, the firm could possibly start construction on the roughly $8.5 million project by the end of the year.  

Area Home Sales Flat, Prices Up

Harrisburg-area home sales were mostly steady while the median price rose significantly in March, according to the latest report on previously owned houses.

For the three-county area, sales totaled 466 homes compared to 454 in the year-ago period, while the median sales price rose to $272,750 from $246,500, said the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 226 homes sold, a decrease of one sale, as the median price increased to $245,000 versus $222,500 in March 2023, GHAR said.

Cumberland County totaled 213 home sales, up from 192 a year ago, as the median price rose to $323,000 compared to $287,450 the prior March, GHAR stated.

In Perry County, 28 homes sold in March versus 35 in the year-ago period, as the median price increased to $245,000 from $230,000, according to GHAR.

The pace of the average home sale was flat at 33 days, the same as in March 2023, GHAR said.

So Noted

Christine J. Gardner, Ph.D., was appointed last month as provost of Messiah University, according to the Mechanicsburg-based college. She previously served as dean of the School of Graduate, Professional and Extended Studies at Gordon College in Wenham, Mass., and succeeds Provost Randall G. Basinger, who retired in May 2022.

Harrisburg Senators last month reached an agreement to sell the team to Diamond Baseball Holdings, a sports management company that owns and operates 30 other minor league baseball clubs. Terms of the sale were not disclosed, though the company stated that it would retain the Senators’ current executive team and continue to play at City Island’s FNB Field, a stadium owned by the city.

Hornung’s LED Lighting last month donated and installed new lighting fixtures in the stone building of the Broad Street Market at no cost to the market or the city. The Dauphin-based company’s donation has an estimated value of over $15,000.

Members 1st Federal Credit Union last month received approval for the proposed spinoff of First Harvest Credit Union’s Williamsport branch following an affirmative member vote of First Harvest’s Williamsport-based members. The “yes” vote means all members and associates of the Williamsport First Harvest branch will become members and associates of Members 1st later this year.

Changing Hands

Allison Ct., 6: 2013 M&M Real Estate Fund LLC to H. Bodenhorn & R. Mason, $165,000

Allison St., 1505: 23 Hickory LLC to J. Donaldson, $151,000

Argyle St., 10: 101 S. 17th Street LLC to 1406 Market Realty LLC, $129,000

Bellevue Rd., 2028: R. Perez to E. & R. Perez, $180,000

Berryhill St., 1414: R. Kabir to O. Conde & N. Esquea, $89,000

Berryhill St., 1614: JST Affordable Homes to Mau Properties LLC, $50,000

Berryhill St., 2437: J. Martinez & M. Gomez to R. Zambrano, $123,750

Boas St., 1614: J. & N. Bream to M. Morgan, $100,000

Calder St., 317: R. Kessler to Equitable Builds LLC, $95,000

Crescent St., 251: D. Boyle to JROD Properties Investments LLC, $62,000

Croyden Rd., 2980: L. Eroh & P. Richardson to M. Gonzalez, $156,500

Cumberland St., 114: L. Larrieu to M. Owens, $220,000

Delaware St., 261: T. Harris & B. Barto to P. Fromm, $185,000

Derry St., 1316: S. Khan to M. Elhabashy, $150,000

Derry St., 1538: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to Mau Properties LLC, $70,000

Derry St., 2119: T. Hurst & E. Fry to L. Ogideh, $118,000

Division St., 700: Town Associates & R. Friedman to AR Uptown LLC, $6,750,000

Duke St., 2447: A. Graham to Alvarez Trust, $105,000

Emerald St., 529: Galaxy Real Estate Inc. to Artemis Realty USA Inc., $137,000

Fulton St., 1703: E. Groff to B. Yuditskiy & H. Greenwald, $216,000

Green St., 1218 & 1222: Harrisburg Dream Homes LLC to J. Weathersby, $273,000

Green St., 2119: Radian Real Estate Management & Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to PA Deals LLC, $79,900

Hudson St., 1212: S. Speaks to J. Munoz, $180,000

Hummel St., 308: J. Byers to JRHeller.com LLC, $58,000

Jefferson St., 2250: Franklin Real Estate USA Inc. to Artemis Realty USA Inc., $132,500

Lewis St., 222: S. Yanez to R. Isom, $185,000

Liberty St., 1353: R. & D. Requa to Balaci Properties LLC, $95,000

Market St., 1404: 101 S. 17th Street LLC to 1406 Market Realty LLC, $185,000

Market St., 1406: 101 S. 17th Street LLC to 1406 Market Realty LLC, $219,000

Market St., 1918: Round Rock Investments LLC, SHG Investment Fund LLC & C. Gallagher to D. Seal, $140,000

Market St., 2000: CTP Funding Corp. to Val de Vie Estate Investments LLC, $180,000

Melrose St., 720: F. Coley to A. & M. Giraldo, $160,000

N. 2nd St., 1909: J. Becker to E. Anselmo, $275,000

N. 3rd St., 2601: Penn Center Harrisburg LP to Pennmark Harrisburg Holdings LLC, $1,450,000

N. 4th St., 1636: Legacy Capital Investment Group to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $55,000

N. 4th St., 2433: A. Abdulrahman to Good Connect LLC, $140,000

N. 6th St., 2338: Galaxy Real Estate Inc. to Artemis Realty USA Inc., $135,000

N. 6th St., 2726: Wilmington Savings Trust to E. Fares, $80,000

N. 6th St., 2935: M. Thebes to M. Shermett & D. Ott, $165,000

N. 14th St., 231: D. Boyle to P. Yisneidy, $59,000

N. 15th St., 1217: PA Deals LLC to K. Lopez, $170,000

N. 15th St., 1310: R. Thomas to Amp Early Learning Center LLC, $68,000

N. 17th St., 1113: R. Morgan to F. Greene, $101,000

N. 20th St., Z. Wiest & PA Deals LLC to MDR Homes LLC, $100,000

Peffer St., 430 & 432: E. Major to Best Blessed LLC, $95,000

Peffer St., 613: Q. Phillips to P. Mulvaney, $131,000

Penn St., 2117: Equitable Rentals LLC to D. Stoltzfus, $165,000

Penn St., 2315: SPG Capital LLC to K. Soder, $140,000

Pine St., 121: Global Reach LLC to C. Poole, $205,000

Reel St., 2744: D&L Development Inc. Group to 248 S. Quince St. LLC, $100,000

Revere St., 1622: V. Son & M. Doeur to Harrisburg Homes Investment LLC, $60,000

Rumson Dr., 2787: P. Idowu to S. Amatya & S. Pradhan, $138,000

Seneca St., 607: Julias Essentials Ltd. to B. Pasco, $162,500

Seneca St., 652: D. Boyle to M. Perez, $58,000

S. 13th St., 240: A. Radon to Porch Time Property LLC, $700,000

S. 15th St., 17: F. Contreras to SNB Real Estate Solutions LLC, $120,000

S. 15th St., 220: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to K. Baez, $85,000

S. 16th St., 420 & 422: C. Trujillo to J. Decena, $186,000

S. 16th St., 904A: A. Bouhach to B. Castro, $133,000

S. 20th St., 215: S. Baltimore to G&W Rentals LLC, $70,000

S. 24th St., 530: Nancy E. Runkle Trust to R. & S. Vatalaro, $217,500

S. 26th St., 730: Elevation Properties LLC to HBA Landscaping LLC, $105,000

S. 27th St., 802: J. & P. Calla to E. Drum, $100,000

S. Cameron St., 10, 14, 40 and 1025 & 1029 Market St.: E. Shore & A. Kopelman to D&S Cameron Bridge LP, $700,000

S. Cameron Terr., 1501: C. Reyes to A. Shamir, $100,000

State St., 1352: D&F Realty Holdings LP to A. Alonzo, $150,000

Susquehanna St., 1805A: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to R&J Property and Home Investors LLC, $51,100

Swatara St., 2245: BDS Property Group LLC to E. & R. Johnson, $230,000

Woodbine St., 230: 230 Woodbine LLC to ARM 230 Woodbine PA LLC, $500,950

Harrisburg property sales, March 2024, greater than $50,000. Source Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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May Publisher’s Note

April 29, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

I’m sometimes asked which issue of TheBurg magazine is my favorite of the year.

Without hesitation, I reply, “May.”

By the time May hits, central PA has fully awakened from its lengthy cold/cool weather slumber. Folks are out hiking and biking, the Pride of the Susquehanna riverboat sails again, and SoMa block parties restart downtown.

Everything seems so much more alive than a month or two ago.

We try to reflect that renewed energy in our May issue through feature stories, event listings and even our cover, photos and illustrations.

Each year in Harrisburg, I especially look forward to the start of the outdoor dining season. To me, nothing means summertime more than when our restaurants tear down their winter door shelters, set out tables and chairs, and become re-integrated with city life.

I might not even be the person savoring the food and drink, but I enjoy the vibrancy that al fresco dining brings to our streets and sidewalks.

In this spirit, each May, we publish an annual dining section consisting of food-related feature stories and a special advertising section.

This year, you’ll find interesting and offbeat stories on local markets, eateries and even a feature on chefs who prepare high-quality meals for people who otherwise could not afford them.

I especially hope you enjoy our photo spreads of mouth-watering dishes from some of the area’s leading restaurants. We urge you to support these fabulous places—maybe even mention that you saw them in TheBurg!

On a separate note, I’d like to thank everyone who recently renewed their memberships to Friends of TheBurg. Four years ago, in the grips of the pandemic, we launched this program so that readers could support all that we offer free to the community—daily news, feature stories, events, 3rd in the Burg, etc. I’m delighted to report that the program has been a huge success.

About half of our renewals take place in late April, so I thought this was the right time to offer a huge “thank you.” If you’re not a friend yet, we hope you’ll consider signing up for membership through our website.

With that, let’s flip the page to the meat (pardon the pun) of the May issue. Happy dining, everyone! I hope you enjoy at least one great meal this month.

Lawrance Binda
Publisher/Editor

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Neighbors to Friends: Two Midtown Harrisburg neighborhood groups merge to share resources, serve the community

April 29, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

When Harrisburg resident Dan Fulton first heard about his neighborhood association, Midtown Action Council (MAC), he wasn’t all that interested.

His neighbor had to drag him, a self-professed introvert, to his first meeting, but Fulton soon began volunteering at cleanup and beautification events.

Fulton never would’ve thought that he would serve as an officer and later board president for the group. But there was a need for a leader, so he became one.

However, attendance at MAC events was waning and fewer people were volunteering for leadership positions on the board. At the same time, Fulton was feeling burnt out in his role and was ready to take a step back.

“I quickly realized that, not only were we not going to find a new president, but we were losing most of our officers,” he said. “It’s not just a MAC problem. It’s a problem that a lot of [nonprofits] are going through.”

However, Fulton didn’t want to completely dissolve the group. He wanted the neighbors to still have a place to plug into, and he definitely didn’t want MAC’s history as the oldest continuously operated neighborhood association in the city, dating back to 1977, to be lost.

So, he called up Hannah Witwer, president of the board for Friends of Midtown (FOM), another neighborhood group, and the two groups formulated a plan.

Just recently, MAC and FOM merged to form one unified organization for the Midtown neighborhood. The now-expanded group has joined as one board, operating as Friends of Midtown, while incorporating MAC’s history into its own.

“It was a very bittersweet thing,” Fulton said. “I was very emotional about it because I’ve invested a lot in MAC. But it’s a good example of two nonprofits making it work. It’s really a good combination.”

For Witwer, the merger was a “no-brainer” as the two groups hosted neighborhood cleanups and events together previously, which always went well.

“We all want to revitalize Midtown and plan fun events and keep the community beautiful,” she said.

Good Bunch

In the past, both groups essentially functioned the same. The main difference: MAC’s boundaries included a smaller section of Midtown.

FOM spreads across an expansive area—from N. Front to N. 6th streets and from Forster to Maclay streets. And while MAC membership included everyone who lived in the neighborhood, FOM asks for a membership fee to support its activities.

The merger will help the groups combine resources and eliminate competition for grants and funding.

“It’s going to help the community by having one group focused on Midtown,” Witwer said.

Six former MAC members have since joined Friends of Midtown’s board, and the transition has gone smoothly, Witwer added.

Ed Jaroch joined MAC as an officer a few years ago and decided to transition onto FOM’s board after the merger. Jaroch has participated in many neighborhood cleanups and said that he looks forward to helping with Friends of Midtown’s events.

“I fully supported the merger,” Jaroch said. “They’ve got a good bunch of people at Friends of Midtown. I’m looking forward to working with them.”

Friends of Midtown hosts trash cleanups, landscaping projects and other community service activities. They also hold candidate debates and forums for those running for local office. Their Midtown Makers Series has been running since April and continues this month with opportunities for the community to take classes from local artists.

This summer, Friends of Midtown will take over Midtown Cinema’s parking lot each month for its annual Outdoor Film Series featuring family-friendly films on the big screen.

And while Fulton understands how hard it can be to put yourself out there and get involved in a group like FOM, through his years of volunteering, he found that it was worth it.

“To me, the best part was getting to work with my neighbors and meet new people,” he said. “It’s important to have an organization that is here to support the community and take care of things.”

Fulton will not hold a leadership position with Friends of Midtown, but still does plan to be involved in community events.

Witwer and Jaroch encourage Midtown residents to get involved with the neighborhood group, if they haven’t already, as it gives residents a way to invest in and make a difference in their community.

Considering the recent merger with MAC and the new board members, Witwer feels hopeful about the future of Friends of Midtown.

“It’s been re-energizing,” she said. “We are stronger together and can do more now. MAC did so much good for the neighborhood for so long. I’m so excited for what we can do together.”

For more information about Friends of Midtown, visit www.friendsofmidtown.org.

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Go Far, Go Together: Winnie Okello works statewide, locally to promote equity, environmental justice

April 29, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Winnie Okello

As a young girl growing up in Kenya, Winnie Okello was forever curious, always asking questions. Her mother called her “kimbelembele,” a Swahili term for someone who’s quick to talk, spunky, tenacious.

She played with Barbie dolls, but was mostly interested in building them houses. She was a problem solver.

All of those qualities carried with her into her teenage years, when she immigrated to the United States, and into her adult life as she became interested in engineering, getting a degree in civil and environmental engineering.

“Growing up, it was seen as a negative thing,” she said of the “kimbelembele” term bestowed upon her. “As I grew up, I realized, no, this is a skillset.”

In May, Okello is transitioning into a new role as the Parks and Recreation Equity Program specialist for the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The job combines her strengths of program coordination and environmental work with her passion for people and equity.

But her new position is by no means her first time combining all of these areas of expertise. Okello is just wrapping up her time as the statewide strategic coordinator for the Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) within the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP). She has also worked for PennDOT as a senior civil engineer and as a professor at HACC, among other jobs.

Okello has also done work in her Harrisburg-area community, founding the Harassment and Assault Reporting Platform (H.A.R.P) for increasing awareness of the issue and holding events to advocate for change at the Dauphin County Prison.

She loves the numbers, the technical side of what she does, but it’s the community that keeps her going.

“I think a lot in African proverbs,” Okello said. “My favorite says, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ I’ve always had that mentality. For me, the thing that kept me stuck in engineering and actually really interested in environmental stuff was how it impacted people.”

Really Intentional

In her position with DCNR, Okello will work to make the department’s grant administration more equitable and inclusive. The department’s grants go to projects like public parks and recreation area development and rehabbing, as well as trail and river conservation and forestry projects, among others.

For too long, there have been barriers in the application process, making it harder for underserved organizations to successfully apply and receive funding, she explained. Much of the time, the same applicants have won grant funding simply because they have the resources to put together acceptable grant packages.

To determine how to improve the application process, Okello will conduct outreach to hear from the community and work to educate people on the process.

“We are actually finally looking to have greater representation and accessibility for everybody who should’ve been invited to the party,” she said. “It’s all about fairness.”

Okello also will work to prioritize environmental justice-focused projects, continuing the work she did in her previous role with the OEJ.

She understands the effects that issues like illegal dumping and pollution have on underserved communities and how those things impact health and quality of life.

That’s a topic that clicked for her as a student, when she began learning about endocrine disrupting chemicals and how they affect women, as well as legacy pollutants.

“As a woman in this space I was like, ‘why is this not a bigger deal?’” she said.

And while Okello is just getting started in her new role, she’s hopeful about the opportunity to make change and further equity in the commonwealth.

“We have to be really intentional about how we achieve that outcome, and I’m actually really glad that DCNR is doing that because they’re very proactive,” she said. “We fund what we care about.”

Okello is a big-picture thinker and sees how everything from engineering to health to the environment to social justice intertwine. It’s why she does the work that she does, including her advocacy and nonprofit work.

However, it can all be summarized into one goal for Okello.

“At the end of the day, we just want safer, healthier, happier communities,” she said.

For more information about the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, visit www.dcnr.pa.gov. To learn more about H.A.R.P, visit www.harpnow.org.

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Market Milestone: For 50 years, the PA Open Air Farmers Market has offered food, flowers, fun

April 29, 2024 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

For Heather Freeland, overseeing the bustling Pennsylvania Open Air Farmers Market is both gratifying and, well, fruitful.

“I like working with the community best,” she said. “I’m a natural bridge builder between people, giving them the opportunity to buy fresh foods and lead them to other organizations and events.”

This year, Freeland, the market coordinator, is particularly excited about the May 7 opening, as it marks the venue’s 50th year of operation outside the PA Farm Show Complex off Cameron Street in Harrisburg. For its anniversary year, the market is planning several new items and events.

“A mom and son want to do a snowball [shaved ice] stand this year,” said Freeland, of Dauphin. “Other fair vendors will be there, too, with other fair food like funnel cakes, and so on. Fiber, forestry and flowers will be highlighted each month for our 50th year, too.”

The market kicks off each year with eight or so vendors with in-season lettuce, spring onions, potatoes, stored apples and more.

“Things we don’t produce in Pennsylvania, we call ‘value added,’” Freeland said. “So, when things aren’t quite ready here, we’re allowed to sell them from Florida until around Memorial Day. Also, they can grow all year round with greenhouses.”

Other highlights include handcrafted goods, such as handmade soap, woolen scarves and crocheted goods, as well as live demonstrations.

By mid-summer, the market usually expands to around 30 vendors at the height of the local growing season. Sales continue through November as fall fruits and gourds come into season, and finally, fresh Thanksgiving turkeys.

As many as 400 customers per day visit the market in mid-June through Labor Day, Freeland said. As the days grow chillier into the fall, the market’s volume slips to about 100 patrons per day.

“Pennsylvania’s produce season really starts in June, July and August,” Freeland said. “We have sweet corn by the Fourth of July. We also get tomatoes, zucchini and fresh apples.”

Family-owned Troutman’s Food Service has been with the market since it first opened in 1974.

“I always enjoy seeing all of the people who come to us,” said Rahn Troutman. “We have regular customers, some from multiple generations, over the years.”

Patrons, he said, largely come from the vicinity, such as city residents, workers from area offices and HACC employees.

Troutman runs the Dornsife, Pa.-based business with his wife and two daughters, plus 10 or so part-time employees. The business started by selling freshly cut French fries but since expanded to offer much more.

“I serve several hundred customers per day at the market,” he said. “Our biggest items are French fries and hot dogs.”

Dobbs Produce is another 50-year veteran of the PA Open Air Farmers Market, said Melissa Dobbs Darr, who runs the small Newport-area farm with her parents, four siblings, husband and two teenage children.

Darr said that the family sees “several hundred” patrons each week at the market, and “thousands” stop by each year. The family begins each season selling greenhouse flowers, strawberries and tomatoes, ending with pumpkins, flowers and tree fruit.

Before the PA Open Air Farmers Market, area produce vendors often traversed the streets of Harrisburg to sell their wares to local businesses, just as Darr’s grandparents once did.

“It used to be that (produce) vendors came from all around the area to sell in Harrisburg,” Freeland said. “Then they passed laws in the early ‘70s that you no longer could solicit goods like that in Harrisburg. So then, vendors came together as a coalition where you could sell it.”

Over the years, Dobbs Produce has faced some challenges operating its market stand, according to Darr.

K. Schlegel Fruit Farm

“COVID was a big thing when we had to keep social distancing,” she recalled. “Being an open air market, masks made it hard to talk to people. Plus, we had to keep people from handling the produce too much then.”

Literally, the market has been part of Darr’s life for as long as she can remember. In fact, her father dropped off her mother at the then-Polyclinic Hospital in Harrisburg while in labor with her before continuing on to the market.

“I grew up at the market knowing some of the people who are still there after 50 years,” Darr said.

The Pennsylvania Open Air Farmers Market operates on Tuesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Nov. 26 outside the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

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A Bigger Boat: J.B. Kelly adds a Dauphin location to his seafood roster

April 29, 2024 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Lauren Ellis & John Kelly. Photo by Dani Fresh.

John B. Kelly is all about fresh fish.

You can find his fare at JB Kelly’s Seafood Connection at the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg and at the Central Market in Lancaster. In March, he added another location to his growing portfolio—Red Raven Surf and Turf, a 1,200-square-foot market located in Dauphin on Peters Mountain Road.

Lauren Ellis, John’s business partner of 10 years, provided a rundown of available items, which includes fresh fish and a variety of seafood, such as oysters, clams, mussels and shrimp.

“We sell a variety of fish, all sustainable, mostly wild-caught,” she said. “Although a few items are aquaculture, they are all sourced responsibly.”.

Much of the seafood is bought during frequent trips to Maine.

“We travel there about six times a year and buy direct,” Kelly said. “The weeks we don’t drive there, we pick up our products in Philly. We’re really interconnected with the wharf fishermen, and we’ve gotten to know them.”

And seafood isn’t the only thing on the menu. Honey, eggs, mushrooms, baked goods and spices from Bowmansdale-based Calicutts are also available at the new shop

Catching a Business

Kelly got into the seafood game rather by accident. Years ago, he embarked upon a lone, pre-fatherhood trip with nothing but a canoe, a backpack and fishing equipment. A dart thrown at an atlas decided his fate.

He ended up in mid-coastal Maine and met some curious fisherman interested in the nomadic Pennsylvanian who was out on a lark. He struck up conversations with the friendly folks, tasted their catches and was so impressed that he returned again, this time hauling coolers along to satisfy the requests of family and friends.

“Eventually, I had to buy a trailer to keep up with demand,” he said.

This sparked an idea, as Kelly, then a schoolteacher, saw an opportunity not only to return frequently to the area but to make a business of it. So, he bid farewell to education and assumed the role of small businessman and passionate fishmonger.

By winter of 2014, he had opened a stand in the Broad Street Market and, soon, was doing a brisk business. In 2017, he added another stand, this time at Lancaster’s Central Market.

Kelly reports that his business was doing well—until the pandemic hit.

“We’ve been down about 50% since then,” he said.

Then, last July, came the Broad Street Market fire, which certainly didn’t help matters, as his stand was located in the charred—and still shuttered—brick building.

“It’s a time of transition, which is why I decided that it was also time to move into a brick-and-mortar in Dauphin,” he said.

John Kelly. Photo by Dani Fresh.

So Fresh

Jackie Imhoff travels from Hummelstown to Harrisburg to shop at the JB Kelly Seafood stand in the Broad Street Market, now relocated across the courtyard to the stone building, which escaped the fire.

“What’s most important to our family is consistency, and John’s stand is the biggest reason why we frequent the market,” Imhoff said.

They eat Kelly’s seafood two to three times a week and depend on him to research what’s best. Two favorites, according to Imhoff, are Arctic char and steelhead trout.

John Baker is another loyal customer. He’s been visiting the stand at the Lancaster Central Market for the past five years.

“Customer service is great,” he said. “Whatever they can do to help, or fill requests, they do.”

What inspired Baker to shop with Kelly was the goal of healthy eating.

“We decided to try to start by adding a little more salmon to our diet, which we weren’t really fond of until we purchased it from Kelly,” Baker said. “It was transcendent.”

The experience inspired the couple to add Arctic char and haddock to the mix.

Catherine Wert’s reason for patronizing the new Red Raven was because she’s been disappointed with the seafood she’s purchased at other places.

“Kelly’s products are so fresh, unlike the seafood at the grocery stores, which is frozen and then thawed,” she said.

The new shop is also convenient for the Wert family.

“My husband works in Grantville and passes the shop every day,” she said.

The couple’s favorites are red snapper, shrimp and oysters.

“He will serve them on the half shell to you right there and also serves clam chowder,” she said. “There’s a small bar there where you can eat it.”

For now, Kelly is happy to focus on his three locations, but that’s not to say he won’t add a fourth.

“We’re thinking about another shop in Gratz because we see the need for some fresh seafood in that area too,” he said. “But we have to make sure we do well in the next two years, before we get too far ahead of ourselves.”

Red Raven Surf and Turf is located at 982 Peters Mountain Rd., Dauphin. For more information, visit www.jbkellyseafoodconnection.com.

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