Classical Era: The Wednesday Club is one of the oldest musical organizations in the country

February 28, 2024 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

It may be 142 years old, but the Wednesday Club for the Performing Arts is as energetic as ever.

Just ask Norma Swain, the nonprofit musical performance organization’s executive director.

“We present concerts by classical musicians, but since all are so talented and multifaceted musicians, we almost always have another genre of music in our concerts,” said Swain of Camp Hill. “Show tunes, ragtime, folk, etc. We’ve even presented Irish step dancers on one of our concerts and have had jazz bands from area high schools participate.”

The group is scheduled to continue its 2023-24 concert series this month with a performance at the Art Association of Harrisburg on March 10.

“This provides the community a chance to see some wonderful performers,” said Frank Rapisarda, the club’s new president. “I enjoy getting together with other people who enjoy classical music. I’m also totally impressed when I see young people perform in the art.”

David Morrison, Historic Harrisburg Association’s executive director, has been involved with the Wednesday Club for about 40 years, once serving on its board of directors. His involvement with the club came about in a roundabout way through a job assignment at the Forum while employed by the state Department of General Services.

“Next thing I knew, I was on the Wednesday Club’s board of directors and doing fundraising,” he recounted with a laugh.

Morrison’s interest in the Wednesday Club is fueled not only by a love of music but by the group’s “tie into history,” he noted.

“The Wednesday Club goes back to the 1800s,” he said. “It was founded by a lot of our community’s leaders of that century and has lots of rich history. That was as much of an interest to me as the music.”

Growing Club

The Wednesday Club actually didn’t originate from music. It began as a 19th-century ladies’ group sharing the fruits of their kitchen skills, according to the club’s printed history, “Wednesday Club Hi-Notes.”

The history states that around 15 “prominent young women of the Harrisburg area” pooled their talents into forming a cooking club, the Hungry Lunch Belles. The group soon tired of cooking, however, and began to perform music together.

The music club’s first regular performance took place on May 17, 1882, at a member’s Front Street home. Performances that day kicked off with a piano recital of Franz Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody.” Following that, the initial 25-member club met every other Wednesday.

In 1915, the growing club was incorporated exclusively for “charitable and educational purposes” and expanded to include men. In 1931, the club held the Forum’s first-ever public event, the Don Cossacks Russian Orchestra. In 1939, the organization presented groundbreaking Black contralto Marian Anderson at the Forum immediately prior to her historic performance for 75,000 in Washington, D.C.

“Marian Anderson was treated to a tea at the (Harrisburg) Civic Club before her concert at the Forum,” Swain said. “We have always been about music and promoting classical music without discrimination.”

The Wednesday Club was also “instrumental in the vision of a performing arts center in Harrisburg,” according to Swain, which eventually led to the opening of Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts in 1999. The club remained a resident company there for 13 years.

Today, the nonprofit organization stands as one of the world’s oldest continuously operating music clubs and still abides by its original mission, “to stimulate interest in classical music and to develop and promote the musical talents of its performing members through concerts and educational activities.”

“We no longer present concerts on Wednesdays,” Swain said. “Since I’ve been involved these many years, we moved from Tuesday evenings to weekends. We now only present concerts on Saturdays, or mostly on Sunday afternoons, avoiding all the other presenters in the region.”

The club is supported through grants, member dues, community donations, program ads and various foundations.

The organization currently offers around 10 concerts per season, featuring performances by members and guest musicians from throughout the region. Auditioned performance categories include Resident Professional Concert Artist, Collegiate Concert Artist, Young Concert Artist and Ensemble Concert Artist. Performers range from elementary-level students to adult professionals.

“I love classical music,” Rapisarda said. “My mission as board president is to get the word out about our organization to (performing) students and professionals.”

For more information on the Wednesday Club for the Performing Arts, visit www.wednesdayclub.org, or their Facebook page or call 717-571-5189.

Catch a Show
The Wednesday Club has numerous performances in the coming months. These include:

March 10, 3 p.m., Art Association of Harrisburg, 21 N. Front St., Harrisburg. Young Pianists in Concert
April 14, 4 p.m., Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 509 Hummel Ave., Lemoyne. Dr. Elizabeth Etnoyer, pianist, and other featured artists
May 5, 4 p.m., Zion Lutheran Church, 15 S. 4th St., Harrisburg. Daniel Stokes, organist, and instrumental and vocal ensembles
May 25 to 27, Artsfest Five-concert series at Art Association of Harrisburg, 21 N. Front St., Harrisburg
June to August. Three-concert summer series, to be announced.

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March News Digest

February 28, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Task Force Recommends Uses for William Penn

The William Penn building should be preserved and returned to educational use, says a task force formed to suggest a path forward for the blighted structure.

In late January, Harrisburg School District officials heard recommendations from the 25-member task force, the culmination of several months of meetings that included presentations from groups interested in redeveloping the property.

The task force of residents, local officials and community members was formed in September as a way for the district to gather input on the fate of William Penn. Several months earlier, Receiver Dr. Lori Suski approved the demolition of the building, but halted that plan after public opposition.

After wrapping up its meetings, the task force made its final suggestions to Suski, advocating for retaining and strategically utilizing the property.

The task force’s top recommendation was to use William Penn to house a career and technical education program for district students, shared Sheila Dow-Ford, a facilitator for the task force.

“They want to see a skilled workforce,” Dow-Ford said. “Everyone wants viable employment for each and every student in Harrisburg as a goal. There must be career pathways.”

This could include training students for healthcare careers, as well as for first responder careers, as the group weighed a proposal from the Harrisburg Fire Bureau to create an emergency services and public education facility.

Additionally, the task force favored ideas like creating affordable housing for seniors and using outdoor space for sports fields for students.

The task force crafted its recommendations after hearing a handful of proposals from local businesses and organizations. The group ultimately did not recommend such suggestions as constructing a sports arena, an outpatient medical facility and market-rate housing.

In the end, Suski will need to make a decision on what to do with the building and how the district will financially support any construction project.

Bike Share Plans for New Season

Harrisburg’s bike share program is readying for a new riding season with upgrades and additional bike locations.

SusqueCycle, which stations rental bikes around the Harrisburg area, will return in April with bikes in Midtown, downtown, Allison Hill and City Island, according to Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, which administers the program.

“We want to thank all our participants and sponsors for the program’s success in 2023, and we eagerly look forward to the bikes returning in April,” said Steve Deck, TCRPC executive director.

In the coming months, SusqueCycle plans to add two bike stations in Harrisburg at the TransitPark lot at 10th and Market streets and at Commonwealth and North streets.

According to Deck, they will also make “sleeker, more modern” upgrades to bikes. TCRPC also plans to gather better location information to observe rider routes and plan for future expansions.

Additional improvements are dependent on ridership revenue and on the program obtaining more sponsorships, Deck said.

SusqueCycle, which is operated by Michigan-based Tandem Mobility, allows users to rent bikes by paying as they go or by purchasing an annual membership through the Movatic app.

In 2023, its second year, the program grew in popularity, as people took over 2,300 SusqueCycle rides, attracting everyone from commuters to tourists, Deck said.

Approvals for Apartment Projects

A proposal to construct a large apartment building in Midtown Harrisburg has taken a step forward again, over two years since it was first proposed.

At a meeting last month, the Harrisburg Planning Commission voted in favor of zoning variance and special exception relief for a proposed 144-unit building at 320 Reily St., moving the project forward for further approvals.

The proposal received variance and special exception approval from the Zoning Hearing Board in October 2021, but the developer, Harrisburg-based GreenWorks Development, never subsequently filed a land development plan so the relief was revoked, according to Geoffrey Knight, the city’s planning director. Therefore, GreenWorks was required to start the approval process again.

The plan also has changed slightly, knocking the number of units down to 144 from 155 and reducing first-floor commercial space from 3,000 square feet to 2,590 square feet.

Additionally, GreenWorks originally proposed only 86 off-street parking spaces, but now plans to include 160, using space at 1511 N. 3rd St. and 1530 N. 4th St. The developer nonetheless is requesting parking relief, as city code requires 191 spaces for a project of this scale.

The proposed project site is currently a surface parking lot. The project will need eventual approval from Harrisburg City Council in order to start.

Additionally, last month, the planning board heard a proposal for a four-story, 36-unit senior apartment building on land bounded by N. 4th, Clinton, Logan and Harris streets.

The board voted in favor of the land development plan, the consolidation of 19 lots on the project site, and the vacation of several grocer’s alleys on the property.

The project, proposed by developer Midtown Redevelopment LLC, would also include two first-floor commercial units, 30 first-floor interior parking spaces and 12 outdoor, on-site parking spots.

Developers will need approval from city council, as well, before they can break ground.

Free Services for Broad Street Market

The Broad Street Market has some extra help managing day-to-day operations.

At a meeting last month, the nonprofit Broad Street Market Alliance board approved a contract with Midtown Property Management, which offered free services to the market.

The Harrisburg-based management company is providing its services to the market at no cost for an initial term of five years, as the market recovers from a devastating fire last July.

According to Justin Heinly, owner of Midtown Property Management, the group will help with rent collection, financial consulting, day-to-day operations and 10 free hours of maintenance work each month.

“I want to be part of the team,” Heinly shared. “We are here to support day-to-day operations from day one.”

Heinly shared that his company may be willing to assume more of the roles of the market’s executive director at any point, if the market’s board wanted that. However, that is not part of the current contract.

Wildflower Coffee Opens

Wildflower Coffee opened last month inside the McCormick Riverfront Library in Harrisburg.

Owner Lucila Khan and her husband Jalal opened the shop on the library’s second floor, in the space that briefly housed Good Brotha’s Book Café.

Khan, who previously worked at the library, said that she became interested in opening her own business when she saw that the library was looking for a new vendor to fill the café space.

“It’s a dream job, running a coffee shop at a library,” said Khan, an Argentina native who lives in Harrisburg.

Home Sales Down, Prices Up

Harrisburg-area home sales dipped but prices were higher in January, according to the latest report on previously owned houses.

For the three-county area, sales totaled 358 houses versus 389 in January 2023, as the median sales price rose to $258,000 from $245,000, said the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 187 homes sold, an increase of one, as the median sales price climbed to $229,900 compared to $204,000 in the year-ago period, GHAR stated.

Cumberland County had 146 home sales, down from 174, but the median sales price increased to $297,450 versus $290,000 the prior January, according to GHAR.

In Perry County, 24 homes sold, a decrease of three, as the median price rose to $263,450 compared to $191,000 in January 2023, GHAR said.

Houses sold a bit faster than last year, as the “average days on market” stood at 31 days in January versus 34 days in the year-ago period.

So Noted

Ami Zumkhawala has been named the new chief operating officer for Harrisburg-based Hamilton Health Center. Previously, Zumkhawala served as managing director at the Northridge Consulting Group, a national management consulting firm.

Brittany Boyd-Chisolm last month was named chief executive officer for the Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania, according to the Harrisburg-based disability and support services organization. Prior, she served several years as an administrator in the homecare field.

Harrisburg Area Food Pantry last month cut the ribbon on its new location at the Camp Curtin YMCA on N. 6th St. The pantry, formerly called the Ecumenical Food Pantry, relocated from Messiah Lutheran Church in Harrisburg.

Heyy Healthy, an alternative health provider, debuted last month at 3950 Tecport Dr. in Susquehanna Township. The company offers “advanced red light therapy” as a tool to help treat and prevent various health conditions, according to the company.

Kenny Young, a veteran Harrisburg police officer, has been sworn in as deputy chief of the Harrisburg Police Bureau, replacing Dennis Sorensen, who retired after 32 years with the department. In addition, longtime officer Tom McGarrity was promoted from lieutenant to captain.

Kyle Snyder was appointed last month as president of Penn State Health’s Hampden and Holy Spirit medical centers. Snyder joined Penn State Health in 2020 and has served as interim president of the two medical centers since last July.

Nauman Smith law firm last month merged into Cohen Seglias, expanding that firm’s Harrisburg office. Five Nauman Smith attorneys and their administrative staff joined Cohen Seglias effective Feb. 1. In addition, senior partner Spencer G. Nauman, Jr. retired after more than 62 years with the firm. Founded 153 years ago, Nauman Smith was Harrisburg’s oldest law firm.

Tanis Monroy last month resigned his position as executive director of the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg. Monroy cited health reasons for his departure, and the market board stated it would begin a search for a new day-to-day administrator.

Tymia Q. Green last month was named the new executive director of Shalom House, a Harrisburg-based nonprofit that provides shelter and support services to women. In this role, she will provide strategic leadership, program development and collaborative partnerships, according to the organization.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2427: L. Shultz to K. Weldeghebrial, $106,000

Berryhill St., 2424: Pcons Investments to JR Phoenix Investing LLC, $110,000

Boas St., 1812: Cooperwink LLC to MAT Holdings LLC, $85,000

Chestnut St., 1961: D. Trustey to Normans Realty Service Inc., $80,000

Crescent St., 310: C. Patel to M. Olano, $55,000

Crescent St., 404: HE Pressley Properties LLC to KTG Holdings LLC, $102,000

Derry St., 1603½: M. & W. Gomez to N. & D. Williams, $200,000

Derry St., 1954: Malesic Group Inc. to E. & K. Burri, $110,000

Derry St., 2105: Evans Property Rentals LLC to Planet Properties & Investments LLC, $70,000

Derry St., 2107: Evans Property Rentals LLC to Planet Properties & Investments LLC, $70,000

Emerald St., 520: R. Feiler to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $71,000

Forster St., 1847: Tender Loving Care Healthcare Services to D. Henderson, $58,000

Fulton St., 1422: M. Evans to D. Zeigler, $170,000

Green St., 807: H. Wehry to V. & A. Jones, $274,500

Green St., 2432: Mr. Wright Properties LLC to Stoute Housing LLC, $80,000

Hamilton St., 422: SRM Rentals LLC to T. Brandon, $105,000

Herr St., 1334, 1340: Sangrey Properties LLC to Kawity Capital LLC, $350,000

Herr St., 1406: Cooperwink LLC to Savvy Beyond Enterprise LLC, $65,000

Herr St., 1500: Herr Street Trust to M. Lewis, $225,000

Holly St., 1826: D. & W. Bruner to D. Warren, $120,000

Jefferson St., 2242: N. & J. Hoover to Homewise LLC, $65,000

Jefferson St., 2244: N. & J. Hoover to Homewise LLC, $64,000

Jefferson St., 2246: N. & J. Hoover to Homewise LLC, $64,000

Jefferson St., 2514: N. & J. Hoover to Homewise LLC, $64,000

Kensington St., 2123: Cooperwink LLC to 248 S Quince St LLC, $90,000

Kensington St., 2230: Murphy Rentals Incorporated to TM Murphy Properties LLC, $70,000

Kensington St., 2254: Equity Trust Co. Custodian Ray Dunkle IRA to Harrisburg Rentals LLC, $80,000

Kensington St., 2256: M. Mardula to IUGNAP Investments LLC, $70,000

Kensington St., 2360: L. Dyson to G&W Rentals LLC, $91,200

Kensington St., 2435: A. & M. Padua to G. Chambers & R. Ervin, $79,000

Lenox St., 1912: C. Saterstad to A. Rosario & S. Castillo, $70,000

Maclay St., 335: Bill Culwell Enterprises Inc. to E. & D. Tomlinson, $121,000

Maclay St., 1037: P2N2 LLC to Eastern First LLC, $194,000

Manada St., 1913: M. Rodriguez to M. Woolfork & S. Beatty, $177,000

Market St., 1228: Upscale Properties LLC to J. Bonilla & L. Velasco, $235,000

Market St., 1738: G. Ajakaye to JACB LLC, $195,000

Muench St., 404: G. & L. Neff to 248 S. Quince St LLC, $75,000

Muench St., 411: P. & R. Dixon to Figueroa Enterprises LLC, $70,000

Naudain St., 1428: R. Rammouni to Steve Etienne Service LLC, $71,500

Naudain St., 1638: A&K Investments Partnership LLC to Y. Alrosan & A. Hariri, $135,000

North St., 215: C. & M. Schenck to J Beck Properties LLC, $50,000

North St., 1851: Tester Ridge PA LLC to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $149,000

N. 2nd St., 2023: WCI Partners LP to MBS Solutions Real Estate LLC, $575,000

N. 2nd St., 3021: C. & T. Hines to D. Doziar, $200,000

N. 3rd St., 1116: Capozzi & Ehring Realty LLC to Green Scapes Investments LLC, $450,000

N. 3rd St., 1600: Fratelli Property Investments LLC to M. Hunsberger & J. Hartman, $270,500

N. 3rd St., 2304: FD Harrisburg Holdings LLC to Almonte Harrisburg LLC, $2,400,000

N. 3rd St., 3100: M. Clark to R. Kilby, $196,000

N. 3rd St., 3317: C. Moore to F. & C. Burton, $290,000

N. 4th St., 2647: SPG Capital LLC to J. Alfaro, $157,000

N. 4th St., 3115: E. & K. Kauffman to C. Hocker, $80,000

N. 5th St., 2211: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to D. Broncano, $50,000

N. 12th St., 29: ILL Holdings LLC to Ali Al LLC, $75,000

N. 16th St., 918: R. Martin to Upscale Properties LLC, $50,000

N. 18th St., 34: D. Boyle to M. Perez & M. Lauriano, $62,500

N. Cameron St., 1603: 1603 Cameron Associates LP to Tunis Express LLC, $1,600,000

N. Front St., 2705: MBS Solutions Real Estate LLC to EI 2709 North Front Street LLC & G. Cipriano

Park St., 1847: LMG Enterprises LLC to Val de Vie Estate Investments LLC, $55,000

Paxton St., 140 & 406 River St.: Above Da Rim LLC to 140 Paxton LLC, $240,000

Penn St., 2349: Best By LLC to Vernon St Apartments LLC, $225,000

Pennwood Rd., 3120: C. Brubaker to J. Hill, $173,000

Pennwood Rd., 3160: T. Wylie to J. Stroup, $230,555

Radnor St., 514: Link Investment Properties LLC to A. Hariri & Y. Alrosan, $85,000

Reily St., 208: R. Bulgarelli to Millie 208 LLC, $285,000

S. 13th St., 1440: SPG Capital LLC to K. Kute, $124,900

S. 16th St., 520: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to B. Pasco, $115,000

S. 18th St., 23: Gilligan Realty LLC to Val de Vie Estate Investment LLC, $57,000

S. 19th St., 533 & 535: Best By LLC to PACC Homes & Development LLC, $200,000

S. Front St., 713: E. Kitzman to C. Rue, $230,000

State St., 1828: W. & D. Griffin to Visionary Investments RE LLC, $105,000

Susquehanna St., 1835: C. Blanco to K. Lourde, $137,000

Sycamore St., 1807: Z. Hailu to S. Redding, $122,500

Vernon St., 1315: M. Nichols to E. Marmolejo, $70,000

Walnut St., 1205: L. Palmer to F. & T. Heras, $134,000

Wiconisco St., 409: A. Kreider to Central PA Buyers LLC, $85,000

Zarker St., 1407: A. Reyes & R. Cruz to Zarker AW LLC, $95,000

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

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A Town, Emerging: “Cocoon” art installation captures the people, spirit of Steelton

February 28, 2024 | by Christina Heintzelman

Photo courtesy of Will Masters.

Greg Lewis Reese has worked at the steel plant in Steelton for 50 years.

So, when approached to participate in an art installation about the town, its history and its people, he readily said, “yes.”

“For me, on a personal basis, it was a great reflection on the diversity of people in Steelton and the diversity of people in the steel mill itself,” he said. “There are various generations, before me, with me, after me.”

The exhibit, entitled, “Cocoon Steelton: The Migrations of Many,” is on display through late May at the Susquehanna Art Museum in Harrisburg. It’s the brainchild of Kate Browne, a York County native and international performance installation artist.

“This is a way to put the past, present and future together in one place at one time,” Browne said. “It’s a connection to missing links in history by allowing the history of a place to emerge into the light and elucidate our understanding.”

Specifically, “Cocoon” is a 10-by-26-foot illuminated structure built from local maple saplings, with tags hanging on the interior that note the participants’ towns and countries of origin. Walking through the interior, visitors hear audio recorded during interviews with participants. It gives the feeling of walking through a space and overhearing bits and pieces of various conversations.

The walls surrounding the cocoon structure create a panorama of life-sized photos of those who took part in the interviews and were or are still employees or family members of employees who came to the area to work at the steel mill. The installation premiered in Steelton last August and was later moved to SAM for a longer exhibit period.

Browne, who now lives in New York, chose Steelton as the location for the seventh “Cocoon” in her series of art focused on the sites of forced and voluntary migrations, the struggles with traumatic histories, and the narratives that arise.

The original concept of a cocoon came from the idea of the cocoon or chrysalis in nature, a “safe place” for moths and butterflies as they transform from caterpillars. The sculptural cocoon created by Browne represents people moving forward during their migration or immigration toward a better and more sustainable life.

Joy, Sadness

Browne has been working on the Steelton project since 2019, beginning with research on the town and the mill.

While researching, she realized that this history worked well with her understanding of migrations. Steelton and the factory exist because of each other, with people coming from Europe and the southern United States to create a community that became a very American place. She traced these migrations back to Civil War times.

“Steelton is full of a detailed history of these migrations to the town in the search of steady employment,” she said.

Browne interviewed Steelton residents, union and town officials, and mill employees, ranging from 20 to 90 years old. She also partnered with United Steelworkers Union 1688 to contact past and present workers at the steel mill. They opened their doors to Browne’s work and supplied her with interview and photographic space.

“The Borough of Steelton and the Women of Steel must also be given thanks in assisting me with the original project,” she said.

Browne contacted local historian Barbara Barksdale, a Steelton resident, at the onset of the project, asking for assistance in locating current and former mill workers willing to tell their stories.

“To hear from the interviewee directly of their thoughts, passions, joy, sadness and what it meant to their families was eye-opening,” Barksdale said. “It gave sight to how the town was formed as well as the individual communities within the large community.”

The interviews focused on the reality of living in a small steel town with a single-industry economy where jobs have shrunk considerably since the 1950s, Browne said.

“Today, the situation is far from over as the steel mill has recently changed hands again,” she said. “It is important to document how the history of the single economy, local union, generations of families, tell their stories and make decisions about their future.”

Bonnie Mae Carrow, director of exhibitions at SAM, said that it’s an honor exhibiting this art installation that was created for the history of Steelton and the steel mills. She added that having the artist and her crew assist with the installation created a perfect blend of collaboration and understanding of the project and the nuances of the stories told by over 70 participants.

Reese, the steelworker, similarly voiced his admiration for the five-year-long project that has culminated in the installation now at SAM.

“Kate did a great job in bringing this all together,” Reese said.

“Cocoon Steelton: The Migrations of Many” runs through May 19 at the Susquehanna Art Museum, 1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.susqueannaartmuseum.org. For more information on artist Kate Browne and her “Cocoon” series, visit www.bykatebrowne.com.

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A Kale Tale: Rosemary scores a small victory in the battle of the vegetables

February 28, 2024 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

At least once a week, I tell my husband there is a reason they made a movie called “Grumpy Old Men.”

Now, as a matter of full disclosure, he was always grumpy. But with the passage of time, it has gotten worse. I have been cooking for 54 years and almost every night of our lives. So, “Mr. Picky” often upsets me. Especially when it comes to vegetables. I love vegetables, all of them.

I’ve written before about my love of peas, especially in pasta. “His” usually end up in the bottom of the bowl. And green beans? Despite the addition of chives, olive oil and garlic, they are usually “too beany.” Then there is the oft-repeated question: “Broccoli again?”

One day, at the farmers market, I spotted a beautiful bunch of fresh, curly kale. I know kale is the “in vegetable,” and I wondered if I could tempt my picky spouse with a kale salad. Try something that’s not cooked, I thought.

I bought the kale, wrapped it gently with a moist paper towel and plastic bag and stashed it in my garage refrigerator. I thought I would likely throw it away at the end of the week (usually, the fate of my rhubarb every spring).

One night, I decided that kale salad was going to be on the menu. And it was very simple. I washed the kale and let it drain on a clean dishtowel. I patted it dry, cut out the thick stem in the middle of each leaf, and cut it into bite-size pieces. I found some dried cranberries languishing in the fridge and used a recipe for homemade poppy seed dressing given to me by my daughter-in-law.

It was very good. And he ate it. All of it! Now the kale was crunchy. Some cooks “massage” the leaves to tenderize them but that seemed like an unnecessary step to me. The dressing is a keeper. It works well in a spinach strawberry salad, too.

Rosemary’s Kale Salad

1 bunch curly kale, washed, dried, tough ribs removed and pulled or chopped into bite-sized pieces. Place in salad bowl.
Prepare poppy seed dressing, recipe follows.

Poppy Seed Dressing

½ cup sugar (seems like a lot, but the dressing is not overly sweet and not much is needed for each salad)
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup white vinegar (you could also try champagne vinegar)
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
¼ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
¼-½ cup dried cherries or cranberries

Place all ingredients for the dressing in a lidded jar and shake or whisk briskly. Toss with the kale and serve chilled. You could also add some toasted sliced almonds instead of the dried fruit, or along with it.

If you are shopping for kale, you might be surprised to find a different variety out there in addition to the curly version I used. It is black kale or cavolo nero. Italians like to use it in ribollita, a beloved soup from Tuscany. Both types of kale can be chopped and added to meatloaf, omelets, soups and smoothies, a sneaky way to increase vegetables in your diet.

I’m still on a mission and definitely not giving up on my endeavor to improve my spouse’s diet. He’s now getting little organic green sprouts on his sandwich, hiding under the tuna salad, cheese and tomato. Peas are next: pasta shells with creamy Gorgonzola cheese sauce and maybe a few peas, just for “color?”

Nonprofit Focus: S&T Bank & United Cerebral Palsy of Central Pennsylvania (UCP Central PA)

February 28, 2024 | by Admin

S&T BANK
S&TBANK.COM

Why do you feel it’s important for your business to support our area’s nonprofits?

Making people our purpose is what we’ve done at S&T Bank for over 120 years. S&T has always been driven to support the nonprofits within our operating footprint. Giving back to the communities we serve is central to who we are and is fundamental to our philosophy of putting people first and working together to better the lives of our employees, customers and communities. Nonprofit organizations in any given area have a direct pulse on the needs around them. They work tirelessly to meet those needs, sometimes with limited volunteers and resources. Much more can be accomplished when we work together toward a shared goal. This common desire to improve lives and circumstances is why we operate as a neighborhood-minded bank guided by empathy, humility and compassion with a sincere desire to uplift each other and work towards a brighter future. We are proud of the dedicated work of our employees who continuously volunteer their time, treasure and talents to serve others. People-forward banking at S&T is a multi-faced endeavor in which we assist with a variety of needs across all of our markets through the donation of time and resources. We’re committed to making a difference in the lives of others by providing hope, encouragement and care. We believe that we have a responsibility to assist these nonprofits, and we are confident that when we work together, we will see tangible results, and make a true impact on the world around us.

Why do you support this particular nonprofit and what does your business do to benefit the organization?

UCP Central PA provides life changing, vital support for people with a variety of diverse abilities. At S&T, we have the utmost respect for all individuals and recognize that all people have their own individual story and background. We join UCP in embracing all differences that make each person unique, and we support equality and inclusion to empower everyone to live their lives to the fullest. UCP promotes life with no limits and offers a wide range of services to those with disabilities. Like other nonprofits, they must also rely on the assistance from partners to fund and physically and intellectually support those efforts and programs. S&T Bank Commercial and Industrial Regional Manager, Market Executive, Joseph Entenman, continues to be highly involved in supporting UCP’s mission, stating, “I have been a supporter of UCP for over 16 years. I have served at the committee level, as Committee Chair, Agency Board of Directors, Foundation Board of Directors and as a two-time Board President. I support UCP of Central PA because I believe in their mission, guiding principles, dedicated employees and the exceptional service they provide their clients. S&T graciously allows me to donate my time and expertise to UCP and also supports them financially through various sponsorship opportunities.”

UCP Central PA
ucpcentralpa.org
55 Utley Drive, Camp Hill

Describe your organization and the importance of corporate or foundation support to further your mission.

United Cerebral Palsy of Central Pennsylvania (UCP Central PA) has been creating opportunities for people of all ages with all types of disabilities for 70 years. Today our 1,600 employees deliver on our mission as we empower 2,500 people with diverse abilities each year to live a meaningful life through innovative support and services. We plant seeds daily until we achieve our vision of a community that embraces every individual’s ability. We encourage a life without limits for people who are born with a disability, acquire a disability through illness, accident, or injury, or are aging into a disability through our comprehensive service offerings.

We rely on our corporate partners to help us meet unfunded needs related to the implementation of our mission. This includes funding assistance for things like start-up costs for a new home, replacement of furnishings and fixtures for existing homes or program facilities, upgraded technology, testing new ideas (innovation), and supplies to facilitate a person-centered approach to programming. Additionally, UCP is governed by a 20-member Board of Directors and four Board Committees. Our corporate partners lend us their team members who are looking for a measurable way to give of their time and talents to an organization committed to positive outcomes for people with disabilities in Central Pennsylvania.

For 2024, what is your greatest need for corporate or foundation support?

In 2024, our greatest need for corporate or foundation support is to help us empower people to have a meaningful life in a constantly evolving service system. Pressures in the direct support professional (DSP) workforce have led to the encouragement of providers to explore alternative ways to support people in a person-centered way that ensures health and safety. As such, we are building our plan for remote support, and will need to invest in technology.

Remote support offers innovative, technology-based solutions to people who are looking for something other than traditional 24/7 in-person staff support. Remote support for people with intellectual disabilities and autism provides a more customizable menu of services while offering greater independence due to less reliance on staff. As with traditional supports, remote supports are individualized. This includes technology that will be used to address the following areas: physical health, seizure management, fall risk mitigation, elopement mitigation, medication management, kitchen safety, overnight support and independent living.

At a very basic level, remote support is a tool for communication. This includes communicating when someone is in danger, needs support, or has veered from a typical routine. Sensors and communication devices produce an alert that can be responded to by a natural support such as a neighbor, or a staff member who is either nearby or in a remote call center. Remote health monitoring will allow us to monitor, report, and analyze an individual’s acute or chronic conditions from outside a clinical setting.

This is sponsored content.

The Citizen’s Skeptic: With another election year looming, Dennis Owens is . . . energized.

February 28, 2024 | by Jeff Falk

Dennis Owens performs at Hershey Symphony Orchestra’s holiday show.

Straightforward. Genuine. Transparent.

He wears his heart on his sleeve. And with Dennis Owens, what you see is always what you get.

Still, one can’t help but think that there’s something more going on below the surface, that there’s a deeper level to Owens’ persona. Perhaps it’s simply enough to say that there’s a public Dennis Owens and a private one.

“I do struggle with work-life balance,” he said. “I feel very secure at work, but sometimes struggle with my life at home. If I’m open and honest, it builds trust. The private Dennis is an assistant coach for a seventh- and eighth-grade basketball team.”

That transparency is the common thread woven throughout the fabric of Owens’ 30-plus-year television journalism career. That, and a nature that seems to put him on the side of the little guy.

“I am fascinated by the fact that good people occasionally do bad things,” Owens said. “There are also bad people who occasionally do good things. I do gravitate towards those types of stories. I am genuinely curious about people. I like to meet new people.”

It almost seems redundant to say that Dennis Owens is the 6 o’clock news anchor and the Capitol reporter for ABC27, simply because nearly everyone knows who he is.

“Most people don’t care about state politics,” he said. “I want to tell you why you should care, and I want to take complex issues, boil them down and explain why it should matter. If you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention. State politics is important.”

Creative Side

Owens grew up in an Irish Catholic family in northeast Philadelphia in the 1970s and ‘80s where the talk around the dinner table usually revolved around sports and politics.

In the early 1990s, he came to Harrisburg from Bakersfield, Calif., where he was the sports director at KGET. He started out as a weekend sports anchor under the late Gregg Mace, before his career path took an unexpected exit into news, politics and features in 1999.

“Sports is known as the candy store of any news operation, but I got fascinated with the journalism side,” said Owens, 61. “Switching to the journalism side has not only piqued my interest, but it’s also kept my curiosity. As I’ve applied that to the state Capitol, it was just a win-win.”

The station explored Owens’ creative side with his man-on-the-street turn on “Live at Five” and with his current show, “This Week in PA,” a weekly 30-minute wrap of the political comings and goings in Harrisburg.

“Our viewers can see that Dennis is competent, works hard and does a great job,” said Alicia Richards, Owens’ co-anchor. “The bottom line is you’ve got to be interested in people, and Dennis is interested in people.”

Owens’ personal story is one of personal growth and serving the Harrisburg community, with just a hint of destiny sprinkled in.

“The way the path usually works for people in my field, you come to a place like Harrisburg for two years and you move on to something usually bigger,” Owens said. “But because I was getting challenged and advancing within, I was content going up the inside of the silo instead of looking for another farm.”

Unique Perspective

Throughout his career, Owens has covered stories big and small.

He has interviewed Muhammad Ali and broke the 1997 story that led to then-Penn State running back Curtis Enis being declared ineligible for the Citrus Bowl. He covered the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s early morning pay raise of 2005 and helped bring to light electric companies’ practices of price spikes after the polar vortex in 2014.

“I do recognize I have this wide knowledge of state politics,” said Owens, the winner of 15 Emmy awards. “It’s my job to keep people informed. Sometimes, I’m doing a story that no one else is doing, and I’m wondering why. I like to joke that I’m not partisan—I dislike both parties equally.”

Owens’ experience and expertise provides him with a unique perspective on Pennsylvania politics and the Keystone State’s role in national issues.

“Almost everyone I meet in state politics is a good person who wants to do good things,” said Owens. “But it’s broken because of partisanship, and that’s true of the entire country. We are the largest of the battleground states, and I think the (presidential) candidates think Pennsylvania is in play. When the presidential election comes around, I’m going to cover my eyes, but I can’t help but look.”

When you give everything you have all the time, eventually the tank empties, the well dries. But, in his early 60s, Owens remains energized, ready to head into yet another presidential election cycle.

“What I love about it is that I’m doing something different almost every day,” he said. “That certainly keeps the job fresh, and when you’ve been there 30 years, you’ve got to keep it fresh.”

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Your Best Self: Allenberry opens Longevity Center to promote wellness, healthy aging

February 28, 2024 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Vibro-acoustic chair

Mike Kennedy could feel age beginning to creep up on him.

“I’m 55 now and, as a workaholic, I haven’t taken care of myself physically like I probably should have,” he said.

So, he decided to do something about it and, in the process, felt he could help others who similarly needed to make changes as they aged.

The owner of the Allenberry Resort, Kennedy recently unveiled the Longevity Center, a self-care haven nestled in a serene corner of the property with a view of the scenic Yellow Breeches.

“When I started looking into this, I discovered that the technology that exists is pretty amazing, and that the body is resilient and can bounce back from years of abuse—until it can’t,” he said.

Feeling Good

Kennedy said that, as we live longer, it’s more important than ever for us to take care of ourselves, rather than relying on the healthcare system alone.

“Tens of thousands of us are retiring every day, and that will increase over the next few decades,” he said.

Gabby Murray, a nurse and the director of wellness, offered a tour of the facility, explaining the benefits of various machines, processes and procedures based upon the individual needs of clients.

For instance, there’s the portable electric ion transfer mat.

“People lay on it, fully clothed, for about 20 minutes, and the magnetic activity promotes circulation in the body while opening up blood vessels,” she said. “It helps people with inflammation that they may have in areas where their circulation isn’t good or if there’s damaged tissue.”

Murray also mentioned a machine often used by professional athletes.

“It’s a Peloton that is hooked up to oxygen and helps with performance so that people feel great exercising,” she said. “That’s because the circulation and oxygen keep cells alive.”

There’s also a machine for red light therapy, which touts anti-aging benefits, only this one treats the entire body. Shaped like a tanning bed, it helps with pain relief and treats fine lines, wrinkles, skin pigmentation and rashes.

“We want you to leave feeling good,” Murray said.

Also on site is a two-person dry infrared sauna.

“We can infuse salt into the air for detoxification and purification to treat asthma and respiratory conditions,” Murray explained.

This isn’t your average, run-of-the-mill sauna. It also features chroma therapy, a sequence of colored lights designed to boost immunity, elevate mood, treat sore muscles, aid in sleep and more. Murray said that clients generally use the sauna, then settle down into a cold plunge afterwards.

“Some people use it in the morning,” she said. “It’s like their coffee.”

Long Lives

Kennedy said that he uses the equipment himself. He begins with oxygen-infused cardio, then moves on to the PEMF (pulsed electro-magnetic field) mat that wakes up his cells before moving on to red-light therapy.

To combat stress, he does the “brain tap,” something that especially helps “type A” personalities. The BrainTap headset is said to de-stress the body and create peak brain performance by producing a deep meditative brain state as users sit back, slip on a headset, close their eyes and relax.

As for the cost, there are various ways to take advantage of the facilities, ranging from a la carte fees to a monthly membership.

According to Kennedy, the center also is ramping up its retreats.

“Groups can stay for three to four days where they have access to lockers, the onsite restaurant, overnight accommodations, and a room where speakers can hold educational sessions,” he said.

The center currently works with Dr. Vu Nguyen at Sage Integrative Medicine in Mechanicsburg.

“Clients can order labs one to two weeks prior to coming in and having a one-on-one consultation with him about alternative ways to treat their conditions,” Murray said.

Kennedy added that he underwent blood tests in January then received advice on diet and supplement changes.

“My plan is to retest in three months,” he said. “My hopes and dreams are likely shared by many others. I hope that, if I and my wife Katie live a long life, we aren’t spending it laying in a hospital bed.”

The Longevity Center at Allenberry is located at 1559 Boiling Springs Rd., Boiling Springs. For more information, visit www.allenberry.com/the-longevity-center-at-allenberry.

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Novel Approach: Eight writers combine forces for a new book addressing gun violence

February 28, 2024 | by Susan Ryder

Contributors to “American Roulette.”
From top: Jody West, Andy Carey, Cheryl Dunn Bychek, Cheryl Woodruff Brooks, James Dodds, Matthew Best, Phyllis Orenyo, Sherry Knowlton, Robert Bradshaw, Pat LaMarche.

“Matthew and I are notorious for grabbing an elephant and saying, ‘I can eat that!’” said Pat LaMarche, writer, homeless advocate and executive director of the Carlisle-based Charles Bruce Foundation.

She’s referring to the recently released “American Roulette,” which features eight local authors who combined their talents to write a book about the crisis of mass shootings in America.

In this case, Rev. Matthew Best, pastor at Christ Lutheran in Harrisburg and executive director of the health ministries there, is the fellow elephant-eater, the one who presented the idea to LaMarche.

“American Roulette” combines qualities of a mystery and a social impact novel, featuring characters who eventually find themselves involved in a mass shooting.

Fatigued by the predictable “cycle” that often follows such events, Best wanted to use the novel form to humanize the issue.

“People have a debate about the abstract issue of guns, talking past each other, without any resolution whatsoever, with no intent of having a resolution,” he said.

LaMarche pulled in her network of writers to collaborate on the book. Why eight?

“If Matthew had to write the whole thing all by himself, this could take years, because he’s got a real job,” she said.

Can’t Un-see

Eight authors working on the same book, using the same timeline, which will end in the same place, presented many challenges. Cheryl Dunn Bychek was brought into the project to edit and help keep the timeline and story straight.

The group met regularly via Zoom to work out all of the details. Authors were asked to write to a certain point in the novel’s day; then they would meet and talk about it. One might think that combining eight authors’ work would be like wrangling cats, but the process was surprisingly smooth.

“Everybody’s story is pretty much intact,” Dunn Bychek said. “A lot of what I did was polish up the timeline and try to tighten up some of the narrative.”

The authors brought their particular expertise into the project, including Andy Carey, a counselor and former co-editor of the Pennsylvania Counseling Association Journal who lives in Shippensburg. He didn’t immediately say “yes” when invited to participate.

“My whole being pulled back from the idea of doing it when Pat asked me, partly because I like writing uplifting things,” he said.

But, after some thought and consideration of the book’s goal, he reconsidered.

“I felt like my contribution to the novel would be of insights into the dynamics that are built into situations,” he said. “I felt like, if anything, it could actually help people learn about dynamics that often lead to these kinds of situations.”

Each author wrote a character, and to avoid any possible spoilers, they won’t be divulged here. However, Best did write the pastor character.

“I needed to start with something familiar,” said Best, who was making his first foray into fiction writing.

The pastor and all the characters avoid the stereotypes often conjured when talking about gun violence.

“There was a lot of intentionality and conversation around not allowing any of these characters to move into the realm of caricature,” Dunn Bychek said.

Best added that he treated the book like one of his sermons.

“Sermons are designed to do two things—to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable,” he said.

What does that mean?

“It’s kind of like when I first learned about homelessness in the area, at especially the truck stops,” he said. “I had driven by truck stops, I don’t know how many times, and once you learn about it, you can’t un-see it.”

Call to Action

The “who done it” aspect of the book will leave readers wondering.

“It’s also a great mystery book,” LaMarche said. “And what makes a good book is when you realize who the killer is going to be. When was it? Was it two hours early? Were you halfway through the book?”

Unlike the typical mystery novel, all proceeds from the book will support anti-gun violence groups. The first checks will be cut to the Brady Campaign and Orange Ribbons for Jamie.

Writing with the group was much less turbulent than the book’s topic.

“I’m thrilled with the company I keep,” LaMarche said. “I am so impressed by the other authors. Everyone did a great job, and nobody’s ego was ever bigger than the project.”

She believes that the way the book is written creates a learning opportunity for students to read about an important issue and to participate in the storyline.

“This would be a great assignment for an English teacher to tell their kids, ‘Write another character for that day,’” LaMarche said. “Then I want you to put a character in the timeline.”

Best and LaMarche did indeed take the last bite of this elephant, producing, with their fellow authors, a humanity-driven mystery book, a mystery book with a call to action.

“I’m just amazed that I had this idea a year ago and here we are,” Best said. “There’s an actual book that I can hold in my hands. That’s just amazing to me and it could not have happened without the authors and Sunbury Press.”

To order “American Roulette,” visit www.sunburypress.com, www.americanroulette.vip or Amazon.com.

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Walk-In Wellness: Allison Hill medical clinic stresses whole-person healing

February 28, 2024 | by Molly Pavlovich

Bill Holland first learned about the Penn State Health Medical Outreach Clinic shortly after moving to Harrisburg from New York 12 years ago.

At the time, he was volunteering at a local church’s food bank, and nurses from the clinic were there offering free blood pressure screenings. He received a screening, made a mental note of the clinic’s down-the-street location, and has been going to and advocating for it ever since.

“It’s a known and loved resource in the community—the people and the place,” said Holland, who has developed strong connections with the staff over the years. “Whatever I need, whether it’s medical related or not, I know I can go to them.”

Nestled on the lower level of Christ Lutheran Church in Harrisburg’s Allison Hill neighborhood, the free-of-charge health clinic touches the lives of more than 10,000 people a year.

Unlike most medical practices, patients don’t need insurance or an appointment to receive care. It’s a walk-in clinic, so people come as they are.

Some come for regular blood pressure or sugar screenings; others require medication prescriptions or an urgent referral to a specialist. A considerable number of people simply need someone they can talk to and trust. Regardless, the clinic is committed to providing care to all those who enter—never turning anyone away.

“We meet people where they are in life,” said Vanessa Garcia, clinic director. “How we’ve served the community for the last several decades is so much broader and deeper than just providing health care.”

A big part of the approach, she said, is actively showing that you care.

“We’re here to listen to people—really listen to them,” she said. “We sit down with them for however long they need us. We talk about the individual’s needs, we talk about life. We get them the help they need, and we get to know each other on a first-name basis.”

With a staff of only six—Garcia, one full-time and two part-time nurses, a secretary and a custodian—each takes on their day-to-day tasks with heartfelt diligence, transforming the sterile-in-nature environment of a health clinic into a welcoming place rooted in whole-person healing.

Garcia, who was a nurse at the clinic for many years before becoming director, still takes the time to visit patients like Holland and ask them how they’re doing. Similarly, Sandra Cruz, one of the nurses, said that she loves what she does so much that she’d do it for free. In fact, as a long-time volunteer, that’s exactly what she did for many years.

“That’s not how most hospitals or doctor’s offices function, but the fact that we do is what made me want to work here at this clinic in the first place,” Cruz said. “It’s who I am at my core—extending my hand out to others, no matter who you are or where you came from.”

In 1995, the clinic began as a church soup kitchen turned health ministry, now affiliated with Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center. Nearly 30 years later, its ties to spirituality remain strong in more ways than just its location.

Matthew Best, the newly appointed pastor of Christ Lutheran, began his role with the church and its health ministries a little more than six months ago, but it didn’t take him long to embrace it fully. Many days, he can be found sitting in the lobby of the clinic with a sign that reads, “Free Prayers,” and engaging with waiting patients.

“A lot of churches think of themselves as the congregation and outreach as an extra add-on. In the case of Christ Lutheran Church, I see an important partnership between the two,” Best said. “The congregation can’t exist without the health ministries, and the health ministries that exist in our church do so because of the congregation. It’s a symbiotic relationship. They both rely on each other’s existence.”

Every day, Garcia sees the support of Christ Lutheran and countless other local ministry partners who believe in and contribute to the clinic’s people-centered mission at work—in the lights kept on, the shelves stocked with supplies, the lives that have been transformed, and the people who keep flowing in.

“If we can maintain what we have—the place, the space and the mission support to keep it running like this—that is my hope, that this goes on forever,” she said. “We will certainly evolve some as the needs of the community change. But foundationally, I hope that we’re always here, and we’re a stable place for people to come into because the need will always be there.”

The Penn State Health/Holy Spirit Hospital Medical Outreach Clinic is located in Christ Lutheran Church at 124 S. 13th St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.christharrisburg.org/health-ministries.

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A Fair Fix: Harrisburg friends open auto repair shop, strive to provide transparent, affordable services

February 28, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Carlos Lozada & ThoMas Mari

A handful of years ago, Carlos Lozada referred to himself as “the backyard guy”—always tinkering on cars, taking pieces apart, and trying to put them back together again.

Before his dad showed him the basics of fixing cars, Lozada admitted, he didn’t even know how to change a tire.

But as he started learning more about cars and even decided to tackle building an engine himself, with help from YouTube, his interest was piqued. Still, early on, he wasn’t considering making auto work his career.

However, Lozada recounted all of this to me from behind his desk at On The Go Services, he and his business partner’s newly opened auto repair shop in Harrisburg. So, obviously, plans changed.

As we talked, he explained his car knowledge in a way that everything didn’t just fly straight over my head, which isn’t always a given from car people. And that’s coming from someone who doesn’t know an alternator from a carburetor. But Lozada understands uneducated auto users like myself, because not long ago, he was one.

“I disliked everything about cars. I just wanted to get in it and drive it,” he said. “It was honestly an accident. I didn’t plan on getting sucked into it.”

Previously, Lozada, of Harrisburg, worked jobs at a grocery store, in a bank and even as a car salesman. He was skilled at working his way into jobs that, at the time, he didn’t necessarily feel qualified for.

“I somehow talked my way into a lot of different things in my life,” he said.

At one point, a friend who owned a local car shop offered Lozada a job, with one condition—he had to get a dysfunctional Honda running again. At that point, Lozada was in between jobs and having trouble finding work, so he said yes.

“I had a little box of tools. I’m thinking it’s a simple fix, but it was completely torn apart,” he said. “I didn’t know what I was doing, but I hyped myself up. I ended up fixing that car.”

From there, Lozada set off in the auto repair field, working at dealerships and starting his own company, which provided mobile services.

Eventually, he connected with high school friend ThoMas Mari, who was also running his own business, while working at a dealership. The pair decided to join forces doing mobile work, and, in January, opened their first garage for On The Go Services on N. Cameron Street.

Both Mari and Lozada have seen the worst of the auto industry, customers getting swindled out of money, being taken advantage of and getting mistreated. Because of that, they strive to do the opposite at their shop and give people fair and affordable services.

“The reason we are doing this isn’t about the money,” Lozada said. “I try to give everybody the same experience I would want.”

Repairs & Relationships

Like Lozada, Mari was introduced to car repair and maintenance by a family member, his grandfather, but he didn’t really understand the benefit of the skill at first.

At 17 years old, Mari needed a repair on his car that ended up costing him all of the money in his bank account. After that experience, he knew he needed to figure out how to do repairs for himself.

As he learned about cars, Mari, also a Harrisburg resident, felt like he had finally found his niche. He recalled experiences in school being told he would never amount to anything. His work also became a way to help financially support his family as his late father was seriously ill and in the hospital at the time.

Hard times like those have helped Mari empathize with customers.

“Being able to help someone out is a great feeling,” he said.

I may not know much about what’s under the hood, but I can understand and appreciate that kindness.

I’ve seen, firsthand, the impact that a caring and compassionate car guru can have on you, especially when you’re stressed about that noise your vehicle is making and about the bill that accompanies a repair. Shout out to my grandpop Jim who is always helping me, his neighbors, friends and family with car troubles.

Unfortunately, according to Lozada and Mari, that attitude isn’t always easy to find.

At On The Go, the owners will talk with customers, walking them through the issues they’ve found and physically showing them where those parts are on the car. They also seek to make their services affordable.

“I’m a person, you’re a person. We want to show people what it’s actually supposed to be like,” Lozada said.

Opening the garage wasn’t easy, but the owners are happy to have made it to this point. Getting to this place and discovering their passions wasn’t a straight line, but they feel like they’ve found a great fit and are excited to serve their community.

“Getting up in the morning is fun,” Lozada said. “I enjoy what I do.”

If I’ve learned anything from Mari and Lozada, it’s time I learn how my car works…or maybe I’ll just take it to someone, like them, who already does.

On The Go Services is located at 1914 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit onthegoservicesllc.com or call 717-602-9550.

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