Dauphin County treasurer DiFrancesco announces for open state Senate seat

January 31, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

Nick DiFrancesco

A familiar name in Dauphin County has announced his candidacy for an open state Senate seat.

On Wednesday, Nick DiFrancesco said that he would pursue the Republican nomination for the 15th senatorial district, which includes the lower half of the county.

DiFrancesco currently serves as county treasurer, following his election last November. He previously served as county commissioner, Highspire council member and Lower Swatara Township commissioner.

“I’ve always focused on the needs of the communities I’ve represented,” DiFrancesco said in his campaign announcement. “There aren’t Republican or Democrat challenges, and there are rarely one-sided solutions. I’ve always worked with anyone who wanted to solve our problems and strengthen our communities.”

Sen. John DiSanto, a Republican, is retiring after serving two terms, leaving the 15^th district seat open.

On the Democratic side, longtime state Rep. Patty Kim has announced her candidacy for the seat, as has Harrisburg pastor Alvin Q. Taylor.

In addition to his elected positions, DiFrancesco has served as president of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers.

In his announcement, DiFrancesco said that he would focus on such issues as schools, safety and the economy.

“My record stands for all to see,” he said. “I will fight for this community before all else, and that means making certain that every child has a shot at a good education, regardless of zip code, every resident feels safe in their community, and everyone has a pathway to the skills needed to get a good job.”

The primary election is slated for April 23, with the general election on Nov. 5.

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Proposed rent hike for Broad Street Market vendors significantly lowered as board weighs fundraising options

January 31, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Broad Street Market

A proposal to raise the rent for Broad Street Market vendors has been changed, significantly lowering the rate hike.

The Broad Street Market Alliance board of directors shared on Wednesday that they are now weighing a plan to raise rates by 25%, as opposed to nearly doubling rent, as discussed previously.

The rent increase is part of a new proposed financial stability plan, aimed at keeping the market open through fundraising and cutting costs, according to a release from the board.

In early January, market management notified vendors that their rents would increase by nearly 100% to help make up for a large budget deficit. Vendors and community members pushed back on the plan, and, ultimately, the board voted to suspend the measure.

According to the board, the market has only $14,000 left in its operating account and was facing a deficit of over $160,000 for the upcoming year. Market management has shared that they have lost 70% of their revenue, due to the brick building closing after a July fire.

Since the last board meeting, members have identified $30,000 in cost savings from “reduced discretionary expenditures,” according to the release. Board Chair Bryan Davis previously shared with TheBurg that the board has temporarily cut funding from areas like marketing and special events.

The market also recently received a $30,000 donation from the William Penn Social Association and has agreements with the city and utility providers to defer bills until the city’s temporary market structure for displaced vendors is open and bringing in more revenue.

Between the cost-cutting and donations, the market would likely have an operating deficit of $100,000 for the year, but the rent raise and additional fundraising, such as branded corporate sponsorships, may help close the gap, the board shared.

“We are beyond grateful for the assistance offered by the City of Harrisburg, the Shapiro administration, our utility providers and generous donors such as the William Penn Social Association who are helping to make sure the market remains open for business,” Davis said.

The new proposed financial plan was agreed upon by board members, including three new vendor representatives. The board is slated to officially vote on the plan at a meeting on Wednesday evening at the Historic Harrisburg Association.

“As vendors, the outpouring of support from the community has meant the world to us,” said Tito Tep, owner of Tep’s Fresh Seafood, a vendor. “Although any rent increase is difficult to absorb during such challenging times, we believe the sacrifices everyone is making in this new plan will set the stage for long-term recovery at the market.”

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Capturing Culture: Local photographer’s exhibit showcases hip-hop, music celebrities

January 31, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Leon Laing

Visitors to Harrisburg’s city hall may see a few famous faces they recognize.

For the next two months, photographs of hip-hop artists and other celebrities by local photographer Leon Laing will be displayed in the MLK City Government Center atrium.

Laing, a Harrisburg resident, has worked since the early 2000s to capture cultural moments, photographing everyone from rappers J. Cole, Drake and Kendrick Lamar to local artists as well. Before he started his blog, Vigoronline.com, no one else locally was providing this type of coverage, he said.

“There was no one covering urban music, Black music, hip hop, R&B. No one was writing about it or taking photos,” he said. “So I said, let me fill this void.”

Laing has photographed local artists at Harrisburg events, festivals and concerts, but also regularly travels to Philadelphia, Washington D.C., New York City and other larger metros to snap pictures of celebs.

His exhibit at city hall showcases a range of photos from his earlier years, using his father’s film camera, to more recent shots. The exhibit is part of the Art Association of Harrisburg’s Community Exhibition Program.

Photo of J. Cole by Leon Laing.

Laing said that he has always been artistic and grew an interest in photography while an art student at HACC. He also took art classes at the Art Association of Harrisburg and eventually zoomed in on celebrity and music culture as his focus. He made connections in the music industry and studied all things music, specifically hip-hop news, and began to find himself behind the camera at concerts and even meeting and interviewing artists backstage.

“I’ve been blessed to do this and to get access to people that other people don’t,” he said.

Laing has also photographed several famous actors and rappers who have connections to Harrisburg, such as the late actor Michael K. Williams.

“I like to show that we are a small city, but we’re hip,” he said. “I’m always trying to bring some of the experience from these larger cities to Harrisburg.”

The photo exhibit will be on display in city hall through March, and Laing hopes that visitors will find joy in spotting a celeb they love and enjoy reflecting on cultural moments spanning decades.

“I like to see the smile on people’s faces,” he said. “I’d like to give Harrisburg residents a sense of pride. We are a small city, but we have some cool things going on.”

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Dig It: HU professor helps identify, describe close relative to T. rex

January 30, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis reconstruction (by Sergey Krasovskiy)

For one Harrisburg University professor, the dinosaur hits keep coming—and this is the biggest one yet.

On Monday, HU reported that Dr. Steven Jasinski had identified and described a new species of large, predatory dinosaur, Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis, which is related to the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex.

In the journal, “Scientific Reports,” Jasinski and several other researchers joined forces to describe the unique characteristics of the dinosaur and its significance in the late Cretaceous period, according to HU.

Jasinski has been describing and naming dinosaur finds for years. In a 2021 interview with TheBurg, he said he had named seven dinosaurs and was hopeful there would be many more to come.

“We are kind of only scratching the surface,” Jasinski said at the time. “We have at least several thousand more that we could and should be able to find.”

He estimated that 1,100 to 1,200 dinosaurs had been named in all until that point.

The newly described species, Tyrannosaurus mcraeensis, lived about 70 million years ago in what is now New Mexico. It had a massive head and sharp teeth, reaching lengths of 35 to 40 feet.

The dinosaur’s fossil bones were initially discovered in 1984, but remained partially underwater until 2002, when a drop in lake water allowed additional recovery, according to HU.

Further research tied the specimen to a group closely related to T. rex, but predating it considerably.

“As we continue to explore these areas, collect more fossils, and study those already in museum collections, our understanding of the diversity of the dinosaur fauna of North America, particularly in the late Cretaceous, will continue to grow,” Jasinski said.

Click here for more information about Harrisburg University.

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Harrisburg’s bike share plans for new stations, upgrades this year

January 30, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Susquecycle location at the Broad Street Market

The season for cycling may be over for now, but a local bike share program has plans to put more wheels on the street come spring.

SusqueCycle, which stations rental bikes around the Harrisburg area, will introduce upgrades and additional bike locations in 2024, according to Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, which administers the program.

The bike share, which launched in 2022, is currently paused for the winter, but will return in April with bikes in Midtown, downtown, Allison Hill and City Island.

“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 purchasing an annual membership through the Movatic app.

Over the past year, the program grew in popularity, Deck shared, as people took over 2,300 Susquecycle rides, attracting everyone from commuters to tourists.

In 2023, the program added new bike stations near the federal courthouse on N. 6^th Street, by Tri-County Community Action’s office in Allison Hill and in downtown Hummelstown, bringing the total to nine stations.

Bike share promotes environmentalism, health and wellness and positively impacts the local economy, Deck explained.

For more information about Susquecycle, visit their website.

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Called to the Table: Democrat Justin Douglas became Dauphin County commissioner in a historic win, with plans to make changes

January 30, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Justin Douglas

At this time last year, Justin Douglas was filling trash bags and sweeping at one of Harrisburg’s largest homeless encampments.

The pastor organized a group from his city church, The Belong Collective, to clean under the Mulberry Street Bridge, as he advocated for the city to reverse its decision to evict encampment occupants.

A year later, Douglas still cares about issues like homelessness, prison reform and mental health services. What has changed—in that one year, he’s gone from activist to public official.

In fact, life looks quite different than it did last year. Last January, Douglas was preaching to a small gathering of church attendees at Midtown Cinema, which hosted his church for a period of time.

This January, Douglas stood on a stage introducing the President of the United States at a campaign rally.

“I’m not confident I’ve really processed this reality yet,” Douglas said. “It’s going to take some time for this to sink in.”

Douglas is Dauphin County’s newest commissioner, one whose election was a surprise to many, including to Douglas himself, and a big shake up to the long-time Republican-controlled board.

Douglas’ victory has marked the first time in over a century that the county has had two out of three Democratic commissioners.

He’s also come in strong, publicizing his interest in making changes to the county’s troubled prison as his chief concern. And he doesn’t shy away from acknowledging that the change and his activism may make people uncomfortable.

“I understand that my entry into this role may have seemed abrupt and nontraditional, potentially causing some anxieties,” Douglas said during his address to a crowd at the county’s swearing-in ceremony. “You may have heard my call for change, and let’s acknowledge that change, in any instance, can be intimidating.”

Although he says he’s ready to work collaboratively.

“I’m not here to call people out,” he said. “I’m here to call people to a table.”

The progressive pastor from Elizabethtown never saw himself running for public office, until he got a call from Run for Something, a national political organization that encourages young progressives to consider running for local elections. When he learned more about the role of commissioner, he saw an opportunity to take his passions and experience at the pulpit to the dais.

He touts his prior experience working in government—none—as a positive that means he brings a fresh, younger perspective to the county.

“It’s a historic occasion,” he said. “It’s the first time Dauphin County has elected a commissioner with gauged ears.”

New Set of Changes

Douglas, a California native, entered pastoral work straight out of college, starting as a youth pastor, with a “desire to serve people.”

In 2015, he started as the lead pastor of The Bridge Church in Hummelstown. However, four years later, the Brethren in Christ denomination revoked Douglas’ pastoral license after he openly shared his stance on LBGTQ inclusivity. He and his family also lived in housing paid for by the denomination, which was taken away.

Douglas, and many former members of The Bridge congregation, joined to start a new faith community called The Belong Collective, which focuses on inclusivity. The group now regularly meets in the STEAM Academy building on N. 3rd Street in Harrisburg.

“We are definitely a community that has persevered through a lot,” he shared. “Change is hard. Even now with me being an elected official, we are going through a whole new set of changes.”

The county commissioner board is going through changes, too, as Douglas joins re-elected Democrat George Hartwick, who, for the past 20 years, has been the minority on the board, and incumbent Republican Mike Pries, who took office in 2010.

Douglas unseated Republican Chad Saylor, who was appointed to the board in 2021.

“We’ve been saying for years, what would happen if we had the majority? Now, we have it,” said Rogette Harris, chair of the Dauphin County Democratic Committee. “It’s very exciting. I know a lot of people were surprised.”

When Douglas realized he won, he wasn’t prepared. It was late at night, following a day of visiting polling places, texting constituents and waiting as results rolled in. Suddenly, he realized he needed to write a press release.

“I didn’t have anything ready,” he said. “You have to understand, we ran a campaign with no staff. The other three commissioners combined raised over $850,000. We raised $12,000, and we ran entirely volunteer.”

When he finished the press release announcing his victory, he read it to his volunteers.

“One of the people said, ‘Do you want to use the word surprised?’ And I go, ‘Do I want to be real?’” Douglas said. “We knew we worked so hard. We were surprised in the way that the underdog team in the NCAA tournament beats the juggernaut team. You knew they had it in them, but they’d have to play a perfect game.”

Douglas believes unconventional campaign strategies worked in his favor, things like his aggressive door knocking, social media content, a bold billboard (stating the number of deaths in the county prison at the time, 18, since 2019) and even the fact that he was running on prison reform, often a contentious topic.

Harris sees a mixture of circumstances contributing to his victory.

“It’s always a possibility for us [Democrats] to win if we get people to come out,” she said. “The problem is always getting that vote out in off years.”

For this past election, Harris said that voter turnout was up by 3 to 4%, and she suspects that other Democratic candidates and issues, like abortion rights, had down-ballot effects for candidates like Douglas, as well.

“This gives people hope that a Democrat can win in an off year,” Harris said.

Tough Job

Douglas’ first week in office was a whirlwind of administrative tasks—getting e-mail set up, organizing his calendar, attending meetings.

However, in the midst of the onboarding, he got a call.

“I’m coming into work, and I get a call from the Biden campaign,” he said. “I thought it was a former high school student pranking me.”

But it wasn’t a prank.

Just a few days later, Douglas was giving a speech at President Joe Biden’s rally in Montgomery County, speaking on election integrity and supporting Biden for “defending American democracy.”

Douglas spoke to Biden before stepping out on stage.

“He kind of fist-pounded my chest and said, ‘You’re a commissioner. I used to be a commissioner. Man, that’s a tough job. Everybody wants something from you,’” Douglas shared.

But Douglas won’t be making decisions alone. He has two other commissioners to work with.

“What I believe is that the idea of fresh ideas—the ability to have a collegial discussion about perspectives and the ability to learn about county government—are some things that we should really focus on in the early days,” Hartwick told TheBurg at the county’s swearing-in ceremony. “And I suspect that there will be areas of similarity that we can prioritize.”

Hartwick shared that he too wants to see changes and address issues surrounding the prison, economic development and mental health, but explained that, for a newcomer, there’s a lot to learn about how county government works.

“There’s a difference between activism and leadership,” he said. “He’s got a lot to learn.”

According to Douglas, he and Hartwick have already met for breakfast and had discussions, and he feels like they’ve started to get on the same page.

“I’m encouraged about our ability to work together,” Douglas said.

Despite all of the meetings and other first-week work on Douglas’ plate, he’s already started planning for how to make changes at the prison—one of his top priorities.

“It’s always been one element of social justice and inequity in our world that I’ve seen the effects of, and I’ve pastored people who have been deeply affected by it,” he said. “I felt like I could be a voice for enhancing that issue within the consciousness of Dauphin County.”

Within his first week, he took a trip to the county prison to create a checklist of priorities for his first 100 days in office. Hiring additional corrections officers is one of the top items, as the prison is around 25% understaffed currently, he said. He also hopes to address issues that he’s seen, like poor food quality, lack of cleanliness and a lack of showers in the juvenile detention area.

Ultimately, the advocacy work he hopes to do at the county level is work that he says he’s been doing all along as a pastor, just now with a bigger platform.

“I’ve always had a heart for people at the margins,” he said. “That will be my agenda throughout my time in office.”

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Joyous Journey: The Studio celebrates 20 years with a tribute to its hometown

January 30, 2024 | by Dan Miller

The Studio performing “Centerfield.” Photo courtesy of LongShots Photography.

The Harrisburg area has been good to The Studio, which is about to mark its 20th anniversary.

In return, the Enola-based dance studio will express its gratitude this month by paying tribute to some of the things that make our area great.

On Saturday, Feb. 10, The Studio will perform a show called “Hometown Heart” at the Scottish Rite Cathedral auditorium in Harrisburg, celebrating in music and dance contributions of an eclectic group of midstate institutions, including the Harrisburg Senators, Susquehanna Art Museum, Arts on the Square, Reservoir Park, the historic Harrisburg Transportation Center and Kristy’s Whistle Stop ice cream shop in Enola.

The performance will open with a professionally staged ballet, “The Christening,” from “The Sleeping Beauty.” Seventy dancers will participate in the performance, said Jennifer Turner Long, The Studio’s owner and artistic director.

Following the ballet, the school’s musical theater students will lead the audience through the journey of the community organizations being highlighted.

“It’s just like, ‘Hey y’all, in spite of the news of the day, right here is the joy and goodness of where we live, the wonderful things about where we live,’” said Long, a Virginia native who came to the midstate from Colorado.

Without giving too much away, here are a few tastes of what to expect from the Feb. 10 show.

The performance highlighting Susquehanna Art Museum focuses on “Cocoon,” a museum exhibition by Kate Browne featuring the history of Steelton. Images from the exhibition will be projected while the dancers perform.

For Arts on the Square, dancers will perform a piece called “Masquerade.” Last October, the Studio collaborated with Arts on the Square with a performance at Market Square Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg.

For “Centerfield,” the piece dedicated to the Harrisburg Senators, The Studio went to FNB Field on City Island last summer to film a portion of the choreography on site.

This will be the second time The Studio has performed “Centerfield” in public. The first was at the 2023 Pennsboro Pumpkin Festival in October—in the pouring rain.

“Centerfield” is inspired by the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), created in 1943 by Philip Wrigley, then-owner of the Chicago Cubs.

Wrigley sought to fill the void in professional baseball created after many male players in the major leagues left to fight in World War II. The AAGPBL lasted until 1954 and is considered the forerunner of women’s professional league sports in the United States.

Last summer, Long and her daughter watched “A League of Their Own,” the movie starring Tom Hanks and Geena Davis, based on the AAGPBL. The Studio dancers will wear AAGPBL uniforms while performing “Centerfield.”

Long also learned of two women from the midstate who played in the league.

Helen Waddell Wyatt grew up in Lemoyne. At age 18, she tried out for a women’s softball team in Harrisburg and attracted the attention of a Wrigley scout. She then played for the Rockford Peaches in 1950 and 1951 before retiring to marry and start a family.

Betty Warfel was born in Enola and played for the Rockford Peaches in 1948 and 1949. She was a highly versatile player who pitched and played several infield positions.

Afterwards, Warfel returned to Pennsylvania, retiring from the Westinghouse Corp. in Philadelphia. She died in 1990 and is buried in Rolling Green Memorial Park in Lower Allen Township.

Long is using social media to try to locate family members of both Waddell Wyatt and Warfel, to invite them to the Feb. 10 performance.

“They were pioneers at a time when women weren’t leaders in all aspects of the word,” Long said. “It was much harder. (They) are just a great role model.”

The 20th anniversary celebration also includes an appearance by internationally known tap dancer Maud Arnold at The Studio on Feb. 11 to kick off “Love Your Body” week. Arnold is giving a tap dance class and will lead a question and answer session.

Long left a career in the corporate world to launch The Studio.

“I wanted to create this business so I could manage my own life and schedule professionally on my terms while I was integrally involved in raising our daughter,” she said.

Looking back at what has been achieved since 2004 is “quite humbling and hard to believe. The whole thing has been sort of surreal,” Long said.

“We certainly have a bright future,” she said. “We are looking forward to it, but we are most grateful for the path that we have had. It’s been joyous.”

“Hometown Heart—Exploring Harrisburg through Art” takes place Feb. 10 at the Scottish Rite Cathedral auditorium, 2701 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. The Studio is located at 427 N. Enola Rd., Enola (Summerdale Plaza). For more information, visit www.summerdaledance.com.

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Small City Well: To meet its destiny, Harrisburg needs to play to its strengths

January 30, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck.

We get visitors.

Nearly six years ago, TheBurg moved into very visible space on N. 3rd Street in Harrisburg and, since then, we’ve had people, every day, stream into our office.

Some are attracted by the merch displayed in our storefront window. Some come in to praise or complain or just say hi. Some folks tell us their life story.

Recently, a woman walked in to buy a sweatshirt and, in the process, said that she and her husband had moved up from the Tampa area to retire in Harrisburg. I thought to myself, “Doesn’t it usually work the other way around?”

Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised. Last year, U.S. News & World Report named Harrisburg the No. 1 place to retire in the United States. Yes, in the whole U.S. of A. Take that, Florida!

Now, our visitor didn’t come to Harrisburg because of that report, but, talking with her, she cited several of the attributes mentioned by U.S. News: affordability, walkability, easy access to the outdoors and larger metros.

The chilly, gloomy winter weather didn’t seem to bother her.

She chose to rent in the 1500 Condominiums, but other large buildings in Harrisburg also have become retiree havens. I know of several empty-nesters who have sold their houses and downsized to live in places like Riverview Manor and the Parkway, giving them easy access to restaurants, the waterfront, theaters, etc.

These buildings are not specifically meant for senior living, but they have become magnets for the over-65 set.

The problem, though, is that there simply are not enough of these buildings. Harrisburg city has few large apartment/condo buildings and not a single market-rate building explicitly designed for seniors.

Contrast that, if you will, with Lancaster, where Willow Valley Communities is erecting a 20-story, modern-style building smack-dab in the heart of the city. Soon, a couple hundred seniors will be strolling around downtown Lancaster, spending their disposable income in its restaurants, shops, galleries and farmers market.

Have developers heard that Harrisburg is now ranked No. 1 in the nation for retirees, while Lancaster has dropped to a lowly No. 3? If not, they read it here first.

About a decade ago, I wrote a column saying that Harrisburg should stop trying to be something it’s not. It’s not a museum mecca and never will be. It has some nice attractions, but isn’t a tourist hotspot either. Once an industrial city, those days are long gone. And while a state capital, Harrisburg oddly isn’t really a political town—even less so after COVID.

As I said all those years ago, Harrisburg is a walkable small city with great urban neighborhoods, situated on a beautiful river and geographically blessed near larger metros. That’s the destiny it should embrace.

In other words, a growing population—and the small businesses and enterprises that support it—is its destiny, not industry or tourists or state workers. Harrisburg should do what it can to attract residents who want an urban lifestyle at a fraction of the cost and congestion of its larger East Coast peers.

To me, that means narrowing and right-sizing busy streets to make the city even more livable. It means cracking down on a predatory army of slumlords and improving the housing stock. It means making streets safer, more attractive and more pedestrian-friendly. It may mean up-zoning and encouraging density in places like downtown and Uptown.

Another big blessing: Harrisburg has thousands of empty tracts of land where this development can occur. Heck, there are three large, underused surface parking lots just on my small, Capitol-area street. Half-empty office buildings, post-pandemic, present another opportunity.

Recently, the Washington Post lauded the success that Cleveland, Ohio, has had transforming a former transit hub into an urban “living room” full of people, not exhaust-belching cars and buses.

The strategy was threefold: Cleveland focused its efforts on a compact area downtown to build density. It created an attractive “public square” with green spaces, pedestrian areas and recreational amenities. It then offered incentives to developers to build there.

In response, since 2016, five nearby office towers have been converted to apartments, bringing in over 1,000 new residents. And, to serve this population, new restaurants, cafés, bars and shops have opened.

There’s no reason something similar can’t happen in Harrisburg. Sure, Cleveland is much larger, but it’s like Harrisburg in some key ways—a post-industrial city with a huge population loss and a downtown that’s seen better days.

The ways it’s dissimilar are also notable, as they’re almost all to Harrisburg’s advantage. Harrisburg’s location, walkability, Victorian-era neighborhoods and temperate climate are all huge pluses.

Most importantly, Harrisburg is a compact, well-located city that already is attracting young professionals, telecommuters, retirees and urban dwellers from larger, more expensive cities. It has some buzz and a running start. A lack of decent housing, though, both affordable and market rate, is dampening the city’s potential and its growth.

Back in 2013, I called Harrisburg, “a little jewel of a place perfectly sited on a grand river.” I further said that, “To succeed, Harrisburg must do small city well.” I continue to believe that this is Harrisburg’s superpower and the key to its future.

Lawrance Binda is publisher and editor of TheBurg.

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Community Corner: Notable February Events

January 30, 2024 | by Missy Smith

February Community Corner

Calm the Mind
Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Learn short, easy 15-minute calming meditations on Thursdays, 12 to 12:30 p.m., at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill. Led by Buddhist nun Kelsang Chonzdin, a teacher and practitioner of almost 20 years, the meditations are suitable for people of any religion. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Get Fit
Feb. 1-29: Get fit with Capital Blue Cross Connect, 4500 Marketplace Way, Enola, at a series of in-person and virtual wellness and fitness classes. Sign up for a variety of classes including yoga, barre, Pilates and Tai chi. Find a full list of classes at www.capitalbluecrossconnect.com

Black History
Feb. 2: The Arts at Millersville University joins Lancaster’s First Friday celebrations with “We the People,” 6 to 8 p.m., at the Ware Center, 42 N. Prince St., Lancaster. The event features a performance honoring Black history and Sir Dominique Jordan’s exhibit reflecting upon the present and future of Black activism in Lancaster. www.artsmu.com

HBG Flea
Feb. 3: Shop the HBG Flea for local art, vintage treasures, curated curios and unique gifts, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Strawberry Square, 320 Market 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

Drop-In Art
Feb. 3: Families are invited to Perry County Council of the Arts’ “Drop-In Art,” 1 to 4 p.m., at Landis House Creative Commons, 67 N. 4th St., Newport. Create up to three craft projects. Best suited for ages 3 to 12. www.perrycountyarts.org

Beef and Brew
Feb. 3: Join Puchog’s Beef and Brew at Chambers Hill Fire Co., 6400 Chambers Hill Rd., Harrisburg, 6 to 8 p.m., to enjoy food from Mission BBQ, live music and drinks while helping veterans get onto the ice to play hockey. Tickets are $35 in advance. A limited quantity will be available at the door for $45. www.puchog.org

Kids Discover
Feb. 3, 10: Kids are invited to make exciting discoveries at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg. On Feb. 3, kids ages 5 to 10 will learn about groundhogs, and, on Feb. 10, kids ages 8 to 12 will explore rocks and fossils. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Book Sales
Feb. 3, 17: 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, across the shared parking lot. Find books, vintage items, jewelry, music, puzzles, kids’ books, vinyl records and more. www.cumberlandcountylibraries.org

Game Day
Feb. 4: Frederickson Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, invites the community to a board game day for people of all ages and skill levels, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. The library will have games available to play, but feel free to bring your own. All ages welcome; kids ages 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Roots & Shoots
Feb. 5: Children ages 5 to 8 can participate in “Roots & Shoots,” a youth service program developed by Jane Goodall, at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, 6 to 7 p.m. Kids will learn how to foster respect and compassion for all living things and promote understanding of all cultures and beliefs. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Networking Mixer
Feb. 8: Socialize with local business professionals at Central Penn College/Education Foundation evening mixer, 5 to 7 p.m., at Sigma Legal Advisors, 2101 Market St., Camp Hill. The event is free and open to West Shore Chamber members. www.wschamber.org

Food Rally
Feb. 8: 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

Library Pups
Feb. 8, 15, 29: Meet library pups Calvin and Hobbes with their registered therapy team, at Frederickson Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, 10 to 11 a.m. Children have the opportunity to interact with dogs and build self-esteem. All ages are welcome. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Film Friday
Feb. 9: Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, will show “A White, White Day” at 2 p.m. Watch the film at the library and stay for the moderated discussion. Read the description of the film on the library’s website. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Evening Concert
Feb. 9: Arts on the Square hosts tenor Jonathan Walker-VanKuren in concert at Market Square Presbyterian Church, 20 S. 2nd St., at 7 p.m. Enjoy a celebration of African American history through spirituals, accompanied by collaborative pianist Tyler Canonico. Admission is a free-will offering. Free parking provided in the adjacent Market Square garage. www.marketsquarechurch.org

Truffles for Couples
Feb. 9, 10: Enjoy a sweet date at Hershey Story’s Chocolate Lab, 63 W. Chocolate Ave., with an evening of truffle-making for Valentine’s Day, 5:45 p.m. and 7 p.m. Guests can enjoy drinking chocolates from around the world and making hand-rolled ganache. Tickets are $65 per person. www.hersheystory.org

Curious Kids
Feb. 9, 23: State Museum of PA, 300 North St., Harrisburg, invites kids ages 3 to 6 and their families to “Curiosity Kids” at 11:30 a.m. On Feb. 9, kids will learn about two-dimensional shapes and, on Feb. 23, they will explore Mammal Hall. www.statemuseumpa.org

Birds & Coffee
Feb. 10: Stop by the Nature Center at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, for a cup of coffee, tea or hot cocoa, 10 to 11 a.m. Join a naturalist and Appalachian Audubon to observe and count common feeder birds as part of Project FeederWatch. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Art & Beer
Feb. 13: Join The Millworks, 340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg, for a date night or an evening with friends at the Art and Beer Crawl, 6 to 9 p.m. Sip on beer, make art, and taste some delicious food in various studios and spaces throughout the building. www.millworksharrisburg

Galentine’s
Feb. 13: The Englewood, 1219 West End Ave., Hershey, will host a Galentine’s Day dinner with a cash bar, signature cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages, 6 to 9 p.m. Craft flower bouquets with Palmyra Green House, and design your own permanent jewelry with York Linked. www.englewoodhershey.com

Lecture Series
Feb. 13, 27: Join Wildwood Park, 110 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, for “Winter Lecture Series—PA Natural Wonders,” 7 to 8:30 p.m. Learn more about Pennsylvania streams, rivers and caves. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Love Songs
Feb. 14: Send your loved ones a special treat on Valentine’s Day, with a Keystone Capital Chorus singing Valentine, rose and Hershey kisses. Singers are welcome to join rehearsals at Christ Presbyterian Church, 421 Deerfield Rd., Camp Hill. Music will be provided. www.kccsing.com

Winter Storytime
Feb. 14: Families are invited to join the Dauphin County Library System and Wildwood Park at 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, for a fun story time for kids ages 2 to 5, 10 to 10:45 a.m. Children will be introduced to Wildwood critters and the joy of books and language with stories, songs, rhymes, play and a craft. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Conflict Talk
Feb. 15: Foreign Policy Association of Central Pennsylvania hosts Professors Larry Goodson and Chris Bolan in a point-counterpoint discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the Susquehanna Club, New Cumberland, 7:30 p.m. www.fpaharrisburg.org

3rd in The Burg
Feb. 16: 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

Love of Art
Feb. 16-18: Hershey Art Association presents “For the Love of Art” exhibit of paintings, prints, photographs, 3D art, handmade jewelry and more at the Hershey Gardens Butterfly Conservatory, 170 Hotel Rd. The show is included with admission and free for members. www.hersheyareaartassociation.com

Girls who Code
Feb. 16, 23, 30: 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, time management, communication and more. www.hersheylibrary.org

Shutter Workshop
Feb. 17: Design your own decorative wooden shutter sign or photo display using repurposed antique shutters at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Everything including paneled shutters, stencils and hardware will be provided. Cost is $40 per person. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Black Makers Market
Feb. 17: Join McCormick Riverfront Library, 101 Walnut St., Harrisburg, to celebrate Black culture and innovation at the Black Makers Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This free event will feature a variety of Black makers, artists and vendors. Learn about Black history and culture, support Black-owned businesses, and connect with your community. www.dcls.org

Free Museum Day
Feb. 17: National Civil War Museum welcomes the public to its Community Free Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy living historians, games, presentations and more. www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org

Veg Meeting
Feb. 21: Penn State Extension hosts a “Winter Vegetable Meeting” at the Montgomery County 4-H Center, 1015 Bridge Rd., Collegeville, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Conventional and organic commercial vegetable and small fruit growers can earn credits for their Pennsylvania or New Jersey pesticide applicator license. Cost is $50; pre-registration required. www.extension.psu.edu

Author Talk
Feb. 22: The Center for Holocaust and Jewish Studies at Penn State Harrisburg will host a virtual book talk by Dr. Rachel Einwohner about her book “Hope and Honor: Jewish Resistance in the Ghettos of Warsaw, Vilna, and Łódź.” The webinar will begin at 12 p.m. and is free and open to the public. harrisburg.psu.edu/center-for-holocaust-and-jewish-studies

Peaceful Poses
Feb. 23: Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, hosts Peaceful Poses Yoga with Ann Fields for adults, 9:15 to 9:45 a.m., to explore yoga poses, breathing techniques and ways to deal with stress and anxiety. From 10 to 10:45 a.m., kids ages 2 to 5 can participate in mindful movement and deep breaths. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Spring Symposium
Feb. 24: Join Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 9:30 to 11 a.m., for a talk with Master Gardeners Michael Brewer and Steve Tambolas about climate change. They will discuss the challenges and present practical advice for taking action in your backyard. $10 per person. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

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Veggies from Heaven: Warm up the winter with a bowl of minestrone

January 30, 2024 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

One of my all-time-favorite movies is “Moonstruck,” the 1987 romantic comedy starring Cher, Nicolas Cage, Olympia Dukakis, Danny Aielo and Vincent Gardenia.

The film, set in Brooklyn and New York City, just oozes a real feel of Italian culture, Italian food and most of all, family. You can almost smell the tomato paste.

One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when Olympia Dukakis, who plays Cher’s mother Rose, visits a neighborhood restaurant, The Grand Ticino, for a dinner alone. The Grand Ticino was a real restaurant, a favorite of screenwriter John Patrick Shanley, who won an Oscar for “Moonstruck.”

I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to eat here, along with my husband and parents, before it closed in 2001, a memory I cherish. The food and the atmosphere were classically Italian and wonderful. My dear father really did feel as if he had been transported to southern Italy.

In the film, Rose greets her favorite server (Bobo) and orders dinner: “A martini, no ice, two olives and a bowl of minestrone soup.” It would be my choice for a cold winter night, too.

It is said that there are as many versions of minestrone soup as there are cooks in Italy. There are summer recipes for the soup and winter ones. As we enter the deepest part of winter, I always think of homemade soup as the perfect heartwarming meal. There are usually lots of leftovers, and the soup is easily frozen for another night.

The recipe below is from the Ligurian region of Italy. I’ve made several adjustments, including adding canned tomatoes and beans to simplify it a bit. There are lots of ingredients but it is so good—and you can improvise.

Minestrone Soup

Ingredients

1 cup chopped mushrooms (optional)
2 cups chicken, beef or vegetable broth
1 medium sweet onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
¼ cup olive oil
1 bunch Swiss chard, spinach or kale, stems removed and chopped (“bunches” vary, so about 2 cups)
3 potatoes. peeled and cut into small chunks (yellow golds are good)
2 cups diced vegetables of your choice (cabbage, squash, green beans, corn, eggplant, peas, zucchini or cauliflower)
2 cups chopped plum tomatoes (canned is fine)
2 cups canned beans, rinsed and drained (cannellini hold their shape well)
Piece of Parmesan rind (really worth it)
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ pound small pasta (I love ditalini)
Grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

In a large saucepan or soup pot, over medium heat, cook the onion, carrots, celery and mushrooms (if using) in the olive oil, stirring frequently until tender and golden (about 10 minutes).
Stir in the chard, spinach or kale, potatoes, chopped vegetables, tomatoes, beans and the cheese rind.
Add the broth of your choice just to barely cover the vegetables. Bring to a simmer then reduce the heat to low. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Cook uncovered until the soup is thickened and the vegetables are soft (about 1½ hours). Add a little more broth if the soup becomes too thick.
Add the pasta, stirring frequently until the pasta is tender (about 15 minutes).
Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Serve in deep soup bowls and dust with lots of grated Parmesan cheese. The cheese rind can be removed, cut into pieces and eaten (really!).
Serve with good crusty Italian bread dipped in olive oil (or splurge with butter).

It is fun trying different vegetables in this soup. Some regions of Italy substitute rice for the pasta, and you could try that. If you are a garlic fan, you could sauté some along with the onions, celery and carrots. Or you could add some chopped fresh herbs like thyme, oregano or basil.

Pasta note: Some cooks like to cook the pasta separately and add it to the soup when ready to serve. Pasta will absorb the broth as it sits and the soup can become very thick.

Some fresh fruit, like chilled pears, orange sections or crisp apple wedges, would round out the meal.

For me, Olympia Dukakis (Rose) had the right idea: An ice-cold gin martini, straight up with two olives—the best accompaniment to this hearty soup.

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