AI and Me: The one where I hand my column over to ChatGPT

October 30, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck

Last month, I was feeling rather lazy, so had a “brilliant” idea: I would let ChatGPT write my column for me.

For those who don’t know, ChatGPT is an AI (artificial intelligence) model that lets a person use simple, plain-language instructions to answer questions and develop content, with responses rendered in human-like text.

You give it parameters like, “Write a story of 500 words about Harrisburg and impersonate TheBurg editor, Lawrance Binda.”

So, that’s what I did.

With thousands of bylines under my belt, I felt confident that ChatGPT had plenty to work with: news articles, features, columns, blog posts, editorials, etc. If they handed out Pulitzer Prizes for quantity, not quality, I’d stand a fighting chance.

So, off I ventured into our collective utopian/dystopian future, where I could sit back and let all-knowing AI do my job for me. Let’s just say that it didn’t work out as well as I hoped.

In all, I ran eight queries. Some of the content was chillingly spot-on. Some of it was funny. But far too much of it was just plain wrong—and wrong in creative, often alarming, ways.

I started out asking for a column about Harrisburg, imitating me. What I got was, well, something else entirely:

“Wandering the streets of Midtown, you might have observed the gentle transformation; the canvas of our town gradually being painted with strokes of amber, rust and gold. Small gatherings at Italian Lake now include the soft hum of conversation peppered with the rustling of leaves underfoot.”

Yikes! Flowery is not my style, and this text was as florid as Riverfront Park in the springtime.

Even worse, ChatGPT urged people to attend the “annual Harrisburg Harvest Festival,” saying it’s “just around the corner.” What in the name of pumpkin spice is that?

Unfortunately, this tendency to make up people/places/events became a common theme throughout my effort.

Disappointed with the first try, I narrowed my search. This time, I asked ChatGPT to write a column, mimicking me, on “development in Harrisburg,” a topic I’ve written about umpteen times. The program did a better job with this one.

The language was more restrained, though still often over the top (“Harrisburg is once again a canvas upon which developers and dreamers are painting their visions of the future”—ugh.). But it did rightly imitate my (too frequent) use of lists and categories to present problems and solutions.

Then there were the things that I’d never do. It quoted Robert Frost. It used the word, “Harrisburgians.” It said nice things about the state government. Sacrilege!

I actually ran this “development” query four times, adjusting the length of the response. I assumed I’d get the same basic essay, only shorter—but no. Each time, ChatGPT gave me a column that was unique, substantially different from the one before.

Hands down, the funniest version came when it spat out a piece it called “Harrisburg’s Development Dance: A City on the Rise.” In this essay, Harrisburg is engaged in a “dance of development” as “we waltz through the ongoing renaissance” and “master the art of that graceful dance.” Block that metaphor!

To my knowledge, I’ve never compared Harrisburg development to a waltz, a tango, the bump, the Hustle or any other dance, though ChatGPT did so six times in that one piece. It also, in two of the columns, had me advocating for development of the city’s waterfront—which I’ve never done.

Finally, I asked ChatGPT to write me a column about Forster Street, a subject I’ve addressed so often that even I’ve grown tired of it.

It correctly knew that—let’s be honest—I detest Forster Street. However, it had a hard time putting its virtual finger on exactly why.

State-owned Forster Street is overbuilt and dangerous. Its six-plus lanes vastly exceed the traffic needs between the bridge and the Capitol Complex. Meanwhile, it encourages reckless driving, foments blight and needlessly divides our city. As a pedestrian, I’ve nearly lost my life several times trying to cross it.

But, to ChatGPT, I don’t like Forster Street because of—potholes?

“Ah, those craters that seem to have a mind of their own, popping up unexpectedly like mischievous trolls.”

Not true. Kudos to PennDOT for maintaining pretty well its ugly, horrible, deadly road.

ChatGPT also thinks, for some reason, that Forster Street needs better lighting. It believes this so passionately that it simply fabricated several dramatic scenarios, presenting them as true:

“One elderly woman shared her harrowing experience of almost tripping on a broken pavement slab, barely escaping a fall that could have had life-altering consequences. Another recounted an unsettling encounter when she felt vulnerable, surrounded by darkness as she waited for a late-night bus.”

I’ve never written anything like that, and the fact that ChatGPT invented these false encounters on my behalf was the day’s most disturbing result. If ChatGPT worked for me, I would fire it immediately.

In the end, AI didn’t really save me time or effort, but it did make me feel better about my job. I logged off with renewed faith that artificial intelligence is no substitute for the vital, expensive, grueling work done by flesh-and-blood journalists, reporting daily on the real life around us.

Lawrance Binda is publisher and editor of TheBurg.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

November News Digest

October 30, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Apartment Project Approved

A major downtown Harrisburg development project can move forward after receiving city approval.

Last month, Harrisburg City Council unanimously approved a proposal to turn the former Federal Building into a 162-unit apartment building.

A New Jersey-based developer, Yasser Hellel, has proposed adaptively reusing the vacant, 11-story office building at N. 3rd and Walnut streets and constructing one-bedroom, two-bedroom and studio units.

The building would also include first-floor commercial space and amenities such as a fitness center, penthouse lounge, shared office space, a rooftop deck and shared lobby.

Hellel said that the units would rent at market rate, with the exception of 10, which would be affordable by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines.

According to Hellel, the total cost of the project, including acquisition costs, would total about $35 million.

The building previously housed the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and other federal offices. Personnel have since moved to the new federal courthouse on N. 6th Street.

Hellel has said that he expects to begin construction early in the summer of 2024, continuing for about 18 months.

Firefighters Sworn In

The Harrisburg Fire Bureau last month swore in four new firefighters at a ceremony in the bureau’s Station 1 on N. 6th Street.

Additionally, the bureau awarded numerous firefighters for their lifesaving accomplishments, including CPR saves and fire rescues.
“Today is a day that we celebrate the acts of these members and their daily service and commitment to not only Harrisburg, but the region and our great country,” Fire Chief Brian Enterline said.

At the ceremony, Mayor Wanda Williams swore in four new firefighters: Kevin Tarapchak, Samuel Welk, Joshua Jones and Kaleb Shreiner. The new members bring the bureau’s complement of firefighters to 96.

According to Enterline, the new firefighters completed fire training at HACC and have been working in the bureau since June.

“We are grateful to have them join the ranks of our team,” Enterline said.

Also at the ceremony, Enterline announced the return of a partnership with the Harrisburg School District to have firefighters visit the district’s schools to talk with students about fire safety and career opportunities. The bureau is picking the program back up after over a decade without it.

“We really wanted to show our kids in Harrisburg that being a firefighter is a career opportunity,” said district Superintendent Eric Turman.

Enterline highlighted the fact that there have been no fatalities from fires in the city in the past two years and that the bureau responded to over 3,000 calls in 2022.

“These everyday calls may seem mundane to us. However, to the 911 caller, it is probably their worst nightmare,” he said. “It gives our members an opportunity to engage and make a difference.”

Flag Center Debuts

For the first time, the community can learn about the commonwealth’s historic flags in an interactive exhibit.

Last month, officials cut the ribbon on the Pennsylvania Civil War Battle Flag Education Center in Harrisburg.

“This education center provides an immersive experience to our guests,” said Rep. Patty Kim (D-103), chair of the Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee. “We are very excited for you to see this.”

The preservation committee, formed in 1981, has worked to preserve about 403 Civil War and Spanish-American War flags that are in the state’s possession and spearheaded the project to create the education center.

The new center, located in a state Department of General Services Building at 2221 Forster St., now not only houses the flags, but allows visitors to view them and learn about their history through an exhibit.

From 1985 to 2020, the flag collection was located in a building at Market and N. 10th streets. Since then, the committee has worked to create the exhibit, which includes interactive touch screens with flag information, as well as artifacts like war equipment, uniforms and soldiers’ personal items.

According to Kim, the collection is one of the largest state-issued collections of flags in the nation.

“These flags were incredibly important tools of war. Amidst the confusion of battle, they provided direction and inspiration for soldiers,” said Andrea Lowery, executive director of the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission. “And these flags here illustrate the immeasurable sacrifices made by hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians.”

Catalyst Winners Named

Seven people and organizations will receive one of the Harrisburg area’s most prestigious annual awards, as the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC announced its 2023 Catalyst Award winners.

Corrie Lingenfelter, executive director of Downtown Daily Bread, will receive the Catalyst Award itself, for her contributions to the community. Harrisburg-based Downtown Daily Bread serves as a shelter and kitchen for the homeless and food insecure.

The other award recipients are:

Athena Award: Virginia Roth, Color & Culture
Diversity Influencer of the Year: TE Connectivity’s African Heritage ERG-PA Chapter
Entrepreneur of the Year: Jonathan Bowser, Steel Works Construction
Government Leader of the Year: state Sen. Greg Rothman
Small Business of The Year: Burn 30
Volunteer of The Year: Michael Burke, PNC Bank

Each year, the Catalyst Awards recognize recipients for their commitment to leading positive change in the region, creating more opportunities for business, and building a brighter future in the region.

TheBurg received the Catalyst Award in 2018.

“We are incredibly proud to honor this dynamic and diverse group of visionary individuals and businesses for their dedication and commitment to improving our region,” said Ryan Unger, president & CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC.

Home Sales Drop, Prices Rise

Harrisburg-area homes sales declined but prices inched higher in September, in the latest report on the sale of previously owned homes.

For the three-county region, 542 homes sold, compared to 685 in the year-ago period, as the median sales price rose to $260,575 from $254,900, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 258 houses sold in September versus 317 a year ago, while the median price was nearly unchanged at $229,900, GHAR stated.

Cumberland County had 257 sales, a drop from 324 the prior September, as the median sales price rose to $310,000 from $275,000, GHAR reported.

In Perry County, 22 homes sold, a dip from 40 in the previous year, as the median price rose to $257,000 from $217,450, according to GHAR.

The pace of home sales remained unchanged from a year ago, with the “average days on market” holding steady at 21 days.

So Noted

Barbara Barksdale last month received the NSDAR Historic Preservation Medal and Certificate from the Harrisburg chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Barksdale, a historian, was honored for her years-long work to preserve Midland Cemetery and as a founder of Pennsylvania Hallowed Ground, which supports the preservation of historically Black burial grounds.

Capital Area School for the Arts last month was named one of the top-performing charter high schools in Pennsylvania, as acknowledged by the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools. Harrisburg-based CASA educates up to 200 students from nine counties and 30 school districts.

Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Harrisburg University last month received a check for $250,000 from M&T Bank to support its programming for startup businesses. The center, located inside Strawberry Square, serves as an incubator for local entrepreneurs, with a focus on minority- and women-owned businesses.

Madlyn L. Hanes Library at Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown last month was named 2023 Library of the Year. According to the Pennsylvania Library Association, the award honors the library’s overall excellence, including for service, programming and volunteering.

Mary Oliveira has been named the new president and CEO of Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts in downtown Harrisburg. In this role, Oliveira will lead the organization in strategic planning, financial stewardship and community engagement, among other areas. She replaces former CEO Ted Black, who departed in April.

Michelle Loucas last month was installed as the head of St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Harrisburg. Loucas previously served as assistant head of school and, in her new position, will oversee all operations at the school, which serves preschool through the eighth grade.

Sam Sweet has been appointed executive director of The Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation, the statewide nonprofit partner of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. He brings over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, leading cultural and educational institutions, according to the foundation.

Schaedler Yesco Distribution last month entered into an agreement to acquire Clarion Electric Supply, a supplier of electrical parts and service in northwest PA. Harrisburg-based Schaelder Yesco offers services and products for lighting, power distribution, data networking, automation and industrial needs, according to the company.

Teresa Gonzalez has joined The Foundation for Enhancing Communities as a community investment associate, according to the Harrisburg-based community foundation. Another TFEC staff member, Sharon Bass, has been promoted from financial services associate to controller.

Changing Hands

Bellevue Rd., 1927: J. Patchen & KLJ Investment Properties LLC to Penn Properties Associates LLC, $75,000

Bellevue Rd., 1933: R. & E. Grullon to J. Alvarado, $50,000

Bellevue Rd., 2100: Mid Penn Bank to A. & A. Adelanwa, $309,500

Berryhill St., 1643: A&K Investments Partnership LLC to Y. Alrosan, $140,000

Boas St., 219: J. Nicholson to E. Reed, $229,900

Boas St., 231: C. Harris to JRJ Investments LLC, $170,000

Brookwood St., 2115: T. Leach & M. Mesec to E. Fajardo, $55,000

Calder St., 215: C. Fee to M. Woolley & L. Evans, $129,900

Camp St., 657: Keim Brothers LLC to MAT Holdings LLC, $72,000

Catherine St., 1624: M., D. & M. Braktia to G. Milan, $80,000

Chestnut St., 1826: Wengs Labor Services LLC to J. Zamor, $142,000

Chestnut St., 1842: J. Stoncius to M. Bolos, $75,000

Conoy St., 121: K. & J. Russell to Horizon Investments RE LLC, $220,000

Croyden Rd., 2807: A. Blackwell to E. Ayala & K. Vogt, $135,000

Croyden Rd., 2887: B. & K. Sheehe to J. Rittenhouse, $136,000

Curtin St., 538: R. & D. Requa to Elevated Minds Realty LLC, $60,000

Edward St., 106: Aljo Properties LLC to T. Bostic, $199,900

Green St., 2233: R. & D. Requa to Landaff Enterprises LLC, $125,000

Green St., 3000: N. & C. Gras to J. & L. Kreider, $359,000

Greenwood St., 2126: Puzzle Properties LLC to M. Munoz, $123,000

Holly St., 1806: D. Boyle to M. Guzman & P. Acevedo, $62,000

Kensington St., 2315: D. & K. Borelli to Pledgestone Partners LLC, $95,000

Lewis St., 235: D. & C. Borowsky to B. Oumlil, $350,000

Logan St., 2438: M. & M. Iman to D. Quinones, $189,000

Market St., 1205A: Golden Brick Road LLC to K. Mathis, $192,000

Moore St., 2135: A. Bouhach to W. Max, $107,000

Mulberry St., 1955: M. Bedon to M. Gonzalez, $165,000

N. 2nd St., 1008: Grentals LLC to D. & L. Butcher, $359,000

N. 2nd St., 2719: P. & K. Miovas to B. Leshko & D. Bogen, $359,000

N. 3rd St., 1001, 1004, 1006, 1008, 1010, 1013 & 1010 Susquehanna St.: Maki Developments LLC to SJL Rentals LLC, $1,775,000

N. 3rd St., 1820: DPS Properties LLC to A. Cheng, $400,000

N. 3rd St., 2239: G. Gonzales to M. Belle, $74,000

N. 3rd St., 3118: J. Cruz to K. Radle, $210,000

N. 4th St., 2342: Fine Line Real Estate to A. Crespo, $199,900

N. 5th St., 2008: R. Fulton to H. Scott, $118,000

N. 5th St., 2402: Carters Clean Up LLC to K. Hernandez, $75,000

N. 6th St., 3153: D. & K. Borelli to Normans Realty Service Inc., $95,000

N. 7th St., 2700: M. Graybill to M. Debeljak, $53,000

N. 12th St., 54: I. Colon to MAT Holdings LLC, $75,000

N. 13th St., 124: T. Gilmore to Dreams 2 Reality Services LLC, $63,000

N. 13th St., 1207: Tri State Property Holdings to V. Reyes, $196,500

N. 18th St., 817: BCR-2 Properties LLC to R. Alcantara, $155,600

N. 20th St., 15 & 2008 Ethel St.: Evidence Group LLC to J. Sanchez de Polanco, $160,000

N. River St., 3105: G. & J. Peiffer & K. Watkins to M. & T. Chronister, $186,310

Norwood St., 922: M. Gonzalez to J. Quinones, $182,000

Penn St., 2144: MCLP Asset Company Inc. to Oasis Property Investment LLC, $70,000

Race St., 562: SJL Rentals LLC to 562 Race St. LLC & Commercial Loan Funding LLC, $275,000

Race St., 564: SJL Rentals LLC to E. Abutboul, $220,000

Randolph St., 1516: A. & W. Davis to F. & S. Asiyah, $155,000

Reel St., 2425: B. Dewalt, Heavy Lift Property & Greg Burston Management to F. & P. Eras, $92,000

Reel St., 2626: R. Deeb to E. Chattah, $67,000

Rolleston St., 1122: T. Hang & B. Nguyen to R. Young, $149,000

Rolleston St., 1138: A. Hassan to R. Esmurria & V. Melendez, $145,100

Showers St., 700: G. Diehl to S. Smith & M. Masciandaro, $225,000

South St., 122: J. Charles Realty LLC to I. Bah, $206,000

S. 16th St., 409, 411, 413 & 1600 Hunter St.: G. & M. Landis to V. Santos, $160,000

S. 16th St., 953: J. Warren to Y. de Oca, $152,000

S. 17th St., 33: S. Reyes to O. Malcolm, $105,000

S. 17th St., 230: R. & D. Requa to L. Lopez, $55,000

S. 21st St., 916: L. Chatman to B. Jarkow & R. Reuveni, $90,118

S. 28th St., 735: P. & L. Brown to A. Hill, $147,500

State St., 217: 217 State St. LLC to R. Shaffer, $270,000

State St., 231, Unit 706: S. Chaudhuri to LUX Rentals LLC, $145,5000

State St., 1728: R. Vazquez to E. Perez, $45,000

State St., 1915: A. Elnigoumi to Sego Realty LLC, $98,000

Susquehanna St., 1611: SJL Rentals LLC to LSB Rentals LLC, $220,000

Susquehanna St., 1831: J. Colston to K. Ralph & C. Leebron, $205,000

Susquehanna St., 2018: P. Truong to Embark Investment LLC, $42,000

Swatara St., 1317: J. Gonzalez to Inaya Real Estate LLC & Z&Z Real Estate LLC, $130,000

Tuscarora St., 117: K. Yesilonis to M. Hofelich & L. Wegrzniak, $229,000

Verbeke St., 266: G. & P. Kaldes to J. Huff & Huff NC Homes LLC, $147,500

Walnut St., 1810: Global Reach LLC to J. & A. Pena, $132,000

Walnut St., 1902: Ausy Properties LLC to N. Ramos, $99,900

Washington St., 109: DPS Properties LLC to DLK Properties LLC, $360,000

Whitehall St., 2027: J. Patchen & KLJ Investment Properties LLC to Penn Properties Associates LLC, $75,000

Wyeth St., 1404: F. Frattarole to P. & A. Bathla, $170,000

Wyeth St., 1406: J. Oskam to PA Deals LLC, $130,000

Harrisburg property sales, September 2023, greater than $40,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

The Hidden Homeless: In the Harrisburg area, many people have lost their housing, but you won’t find them living on the street

October 30, 2023 | by Susan Ryder

Steve Foehlinger and his children.

“Do I separate myself from my kids, or do I stay on the streets with them?” asked Steve Foehlinger, of the bleak reality he faced as an unhoused father with two children.

He came to this crossroads after running the gambit of housing options, doubling up with friends and family and living in a hotel for a year. These are options for some folks dealing with homelessness, but they come at a steep emotional and financial cost.

After living with friends, Foehlinger, his young son and daughter had to move when their hosting family lost their own housing.

“When you are trying to move forward with your life, sometimes when you double up, you take on that extra stress from the family you’re living with,” he said.

Foehlinger is one of many people in the Harrisburg area who can be described as the “hidden homeless.” They’re not readily visible as people lacking permanent housing. You won’t see them in the tent encampment under the South Bridge or sleeping in the park. Their numbers are substantial, but they’re not included in the annual count of the homeless population.

Instead, after losing their housing, they scrambled to find whatever shelter they could so they didn’t end up living on the street. They couch-surfed. They paid outrageous weekly rents to live in cramped, unsafe, rundown hotels. They shuffled among friends, relatives and even sympathetic strangers—a week here, a week there.

Often, like Foehlinger, they have children in tow.

Joanne Taylor, her husband and daughter found themselves homeless nine years ago after a rent-to-own opportunity went sour.

“The house that we went after was condemned because of its foundation and structure,” Taylor said.

The family moved into a nonfunctional RV parked on an out-of-the-way piece of property. It was basically a box to keep them out of the elements, but it didn’t do that very well. Taylor broke up a bit when she described their time there.

“If you’ve ever seen the movie, ‘Frozen,’ where everything freezes up, that’s what our windows looked like,” she said.

Eventually, the family moved into a hotel. On the upside, it was warmer, but the downsides were plenty. The cost, for example. The least amount Taylor has ever spent on a hotel was $300 a week. Foehlinger has paid as much as $500.

“Most people see it [living in a hotel] from their perspective,” said Aisha Mobley, community mobilization and outreach coordinator at Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area.

However, it definitely is not the Marriott.

“There’s a difference between staying in a hotel because you’re on business and staying in a hotel because you’re homeless,” Foehlinger said.

When asked about the hardest part of living in a hotel, Kalieb Foehlinger chimed in from the background.

“The space!” he said. “You have a bed here, a bed here, right near your bathroom. You don’t have much space to move around.”

Storing belongings adds to the confined conditions.

Both Foehlinger and Taylor mentioned how needed repairs were neglected in their hotel rooms. During the August heat wave, Taylor’s hotel air conditioner died. It hasn’t been repaired yet. They’ve also had an infestation of cockroaches, which caused them to leave the hotel they lived in for three years.

Stuck in a Hole

As the coordinator of a community center in a local hotel, created by Fishing Creek Salem UMC, Marty Wagner is very familiar with hotel life. He described what it’s like.

“Living in a 12-by-12 room with a minimum of two children, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with all your stuff, a dorm-sized refrigerator and the only way to cook your food is a microwave, ” he said.

He pointed out that’s why so many budget hotels have grills outside the rooms—so people can cook for themselves.

Wagner said that at least 40 families live in this particular hotel and described the money vacuum it creates.

“Once they get into this situation, it’s super difficult to get out of it because of their credit,” he said. “I would say that 90% to 95% that live here have jobs.”

Bad credit is one reason people find themselves in a hotel.

“People end up in hotels because you pay by the day,” Mobley said. “They take everybody.”

She said that the lack of inventory makes the housing market very competitive, and people with poor credit, any type of criminal background, reentering society after imprisonment, or an eviction find it very difficult to rent. Add the application costs, first month’s rent and security deposit, and it’s darn near impossible.

“They are stuck in a hole,” Mobley said.

Being stuck in this hole also makes them hidden. They aren’t on the street, and they aren’t on paper. These people are not included in the “point-in-time count,” done once a year, to measure homelessness in the United States.

And “they can’t get into coordinated entry,” Mobley said.

Coordinated entry is the process by which folks enter the shelter system in Dauphin County. It’s like a funnel in which applicants’ names go, and they get assigned to a shelter according to their need. However, folks in hotels, doubled up or couch surfing are not eligible, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) definition of homelessness (it has four) to enter coordinated entry. So, they are blocked from the shelter system.

To become eligible for a shelter spot, people like Steve Foehlinger would have to be living in an “uninhabitable” space, like his car, according to HUD. However, if he chose this, his children could be taken from him. To keep his kids, he continued to pay exorbitant hotel rates.

Costs aren’t the only issue with hotels.

“There’s a lot of bad things that can happen there,” Wagner said.

Hotel residents are emotionally, physically and financially vulnerable.

Mobley described a situation in which a man insinuated himself into a single-parent family living in a hotel. He presented himself to the school as the children’s father. The children reported to the school that their mom cried every night, and they needed help. Eventually, the family just disappeared.

“Human trafficking is rampant in hotels,” Mobley said.

Foehlinger’s housing struggles now seem like a bad but vivid dream. With the help of a local church, he emerged from hidden homelessness and rents a nice home, with homemade pickles on the shelf, full cupboards and a comfy living room where his 4-year-old daughter napped.

“Sometimes, people become homeless because they choose to want to live like that,” Foehlinger said. “And there are people out there, that are the best people in the world, and they just have dumb luck, things happen. And almost everything they tried, they still get shot down at every angle.”

Next Steps

To learn more about the organizations in this story, visit:

New Hope Ministries, nhm-pa.org
Family Promise of Harrisburg Capital Region, familypromisehcr.og
Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area, ccuhbg.org
Fishing Creek Salem UMC, fcsalemorg
Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Highspire, www.renewedingracecoop.org/pages/st-peters-highspire

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Happenings: Our November Calendar of Events

October 30, 2023 | by Missy Smith

Museums & Art Spaces

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

“A Celebration of 20 Years—Going Back in Time,” through fall 2023

“Muscle Cars—Past and Present,” Nov. 18-April 20

Austin-Healey, Nov. 18-April 20

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

Fall Membership Show—“Art Is,” through Nov. 2

“Nothing Pretty” collective, featuring the art of Sean Arce, Tina Berrier, Ted Walke, and Krissy Whiski, Nov. 10-Jan. 5; reception: Nov. 17, 5-8 p.m.

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

Fiber artist Gloria McPherson, through Dec. 17

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

“Art for the Holidays” gift market, Nov. 10-Dec. 23; holiday happy hour: Nov. 10, 5:30-7 p.m.

“Pulled: The Art of Print Making,” showcasing hand-pulled prints, Nov. 10-Dec. 23

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

November artist of the month

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

Fiber Art Show featuring Rebekah and Karen Perkins, through Nov. 11

The Annual Holiday Show, Nov 15-Dec. 31

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

Hershey Public Library Exhibit Galleries, through Dec. 9

Backstage Café at the Allen Theater, through Nov. 30

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

“The Splendor of the Natural World: Plein Air Paintings by Steve Wetzel,” through Nov. 25

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

Recent paintings from Hannah Steele’s MFA painting thesis work at Boston University, through Nov. 19

“Landscape and Memory,” paintings and photographs by Michelle Mackey and Lex Thompson that examine and re-interpret landscape, through Nov. 26

Metropolis Collective
17 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg
717-458-8245; metropoliscollective.com

“Things That Go Bump in the Night III,” solo exhibition of original drawings by Rob Sheley, through Nov. 25

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

New works by Tara Chickey, Caleb Smith, Angela Lapioli and Yachiyo Beck, through Nov. 12

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

Art in the Stacks featuring Sarah Paterson, Nov. 1-30

First Floor Showcase with Shelby Pizzarro, Nov. 1-30

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

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history

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

“Mugstravanganza!” with more than 100 mugs created by local artists, through Dec. 31

“Artisan Marketplace of Perry County,” local handmade gifts by local artists, through Jan. 12

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

“3-Dimensional Drawings, a Semi-Retrospective Exhibition,” works by Hsin-Hsi Chen, through Nov. 7

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

“Art of the State,” an annual juried exhibition open to Pennsylvania artists and craftspeople, through Jan. 7

“A Flair for Public Service—Genevieve Blatt and C. DeLores Tucker”

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

“HORSE2AUTO—A Transportation Revolution,” through 2023

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

“Transforming the Commonplace,” works by Catherine Drabkin, Martha Hayden and Karen Antonelli that highlight the experimentation, tactility and play that is characteristic of collagraph printmaking, through Nov. 12

“The Hidden Museum, 2018,” installation in which viewers are challenged to locate “hidden” works of art, through Dec. 31

“Diane Arbus: 10 Years,” featuring key images from this famous period of the artist’s work

“Shifting Forms: 5 Decades of Abstraction,” traces radical shifts made by abstract artists over the last 50 years, through Jan. 21

“In the Grass with a Baby,” through Feb. 18

“The Shop Presents: Essentials,” Shelby Wormley explores barbershops and beauty salons in Black and brown communities during the global pandemic, through a series of photographs, through Feb. 25

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

“Souvenirs of Ruin,” works by Italian artist, archaeologist, and architect Giovanni Battista Piranesi, through Feb. 10; reception: Nov. 10, 5-7 p.m.

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

Wheel of Light Membership Show, through Nov. 18

Home for the Holidays, Nov. 21-Dec. 31; Shop Small Saturday extended hours: Nov. 25, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Read, Make, Learn

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

Nov. 1, 4, 8, 15, 22, 29: Strong & Fit, 4:30 p.m.
Nov. 3: Virtual Booty Blast, 9:30 a.m.
Nov. 3, 10, 17: BOOMer Strong, 10 a.m.
Nov. 4, 15: Virtual INSpired, 9 a.m.
Nov. 6, 13 BOOMer Fit, 9:30 a.m.
Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27: Virtual Pilates, 5 p.m.
Nov. 6, 20: Virtual Adult Art Class, 11:05 a.m.
Nov. 6, 20: Virtual Kids Art Class, 12:05 p.m.
Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27: Tai Chi, 4 p.m.
Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28: Virtual Yoga for Back Health, 10 a.m.
Nov. 9, 20, 27: Boomer Fit Zoomer at Enola Store and virtual, 4:15 p.m.
Nov. 10, 24: Virtual Barre Insanity Express, 9:30 a.m.
Nov. 16, 30: Fit Chicks at Enola Store and virtual, 4:15 p.m.
Nov. 17: Virtual Booty Blast, 9:30 a.m.

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

Nov. 2: Plant Dyed Yarn, 6-8 p.m.
Nov. 2-Dec. 14 (except Nov. 23): Play with Clay at the End of the Day (ages 10-15), Thursdays, 3:45-5:15 p.m.
Nov. 4: Eucalyptus Magic, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Nov. 4: Copper Enameling, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Nov. 4: Pink Eraser Printmaking, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Nov. 7-28: Intermediate/Advanced Painting, Tuesdays, 1-3 p.m.
Nov. 7-28: Beginning Oil Painting, Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m.
Nov. 8-29: Charcoal Drawing (ages 11-14), Wednesdays, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Nov. 11: Vintage Tin Earrings, 1-3:30 p.m.
Nov. 11, 18: Catopia (ages 9-14), 12-2 p.m.
Nov. 17: Abstract Art 1-Day Workshop, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Nov. 17: Craft Beer & Clay, 7-9 p.m.
Nov. 18: Gobble Goblets (ages 5-12), 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 20: Hartvest Day, (ages 5-12), 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Nov. 20: Suicide Loss Survivors, 5:30-7 p.m.

Dauphin County Library System
dcls.org

Nov. 8: Spanish Language Conversation Group on Zoom, 6-7 p.m.
Nov. 10: Children’s Book Week with Lennor Bontigao on Zoom, 1-2 p.m.
Nov. 11: Reading the Rainbow Book Club at Elementary Coffee, Harrisburg, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

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

Nov. 2: Air Dry Clay Village Part 1, 6:15-7:15 p.m.
Nov. 4: Fall Bean Mosaics, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 6-11: Sesame Street Silliness
Nov. 7: Air Dry Clay Pine Tree Votive Part 1, 6:15-7:15 p.m.
Nov. 14: Air Dry Clay Village & Clay Pine Tree Votive Part 2, 6:15-7:15 p.m.
Nov. 18: Pom Pom Penguins, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 18: Bingo for Books!, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Nov. 20-25: Geography Awareness Week Challenge
Nov. 28: Paper Bag Snowflakes, 6:15-7:15 p.m.
Nov. 29: Pom Pom Snowman Ornaments, 6:15-7:15 p.m.
Nov. 30: Felt Pine Trees, 6:15-7:15 p.m.

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

Nov. 6, 20: Paws 2 Read, 6 p.m.
Nov. 10: Children’s Book Week with Lennor Bontigao, 1-2 p.m.
Nov. 11: Figment Forge Writing Group, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 11: “Hay” Fever (ages 3 and older), 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Nov. 13: Mamas ‘n Dramas, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Nov. 16: Sip & Speak, 3-4:30 p.m.
Nov. 16: “Hay” Fever (ages 3 and older), 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Nov. 18: Crafternoon at the Library, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

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

Nov. 2, 9, 16: Family Storytime, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Nov. 2, 9, 16: Fiber Artists, 3-5 p.m.
Nov. 3, 10, 17: Spanish Storytime for Families, 1-2 p.m.
Nov. 4: Knitter’s Group, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Nov. 6, 13, 20: Baby Time, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Nov. 18: K-Pets Therapy Reading Sessions, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Nov. 21: Baby Musik Time, 9:50-10:30 a.m.
Nov. 21: Preschool Musik Time, 10:30-11 a.m.
Nov. 30: Knitter’s Group, 5-7 p.m.

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

Nov. 1, 2, 3, 8: Homeschool Days, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Nov. 11: Children’s Mansion Tour, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Nov. 12: Home Skills from History, 1-3 p.m.
Nov. 16: Virtual Illustrated Lecture—Dulcimers and Old Time Music, 7-8 p.m.
Nov. 26: Mansion Tour with ASL Interpretation, 1-1:45 p.m.

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

Nov. 1: Moving Forward Book Group, 1-2 p.m.
Nov. 1, 8, 22: Device Advice, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 2: Teen STEAM Meetup, 6-7:30 p.m.
Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Meditation to Calm the Mind, 12-12:30 p.m.
Nov. 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29: Autumn Baby & Toddler Storytime, 10-10:30 a.m.
Nov. 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29: Autumn Children’s Storytime, 11-11:30 a.m.
Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27: Book Explorers (ages 3-6), 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Nov. 7: Curl up with the Classics—“The Light in the Forest,” 10-11 a.m.
Nov. 7: Managing Stress during Times of Change, 10-11 a.m.
Nov. 7: READ to Dogs, 6:30-8 p.m.
Nov. 7, 21: Plot Twisters Teen Writers Group, 6-7 p.m.
Nov. 9, 16: Meet and Greet Library Pups, 10-11 a.m.
Nov. 10: Film Friday, 2-4 p.m.
Nov. 15: Ask a Dietician, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Nov. 16: Tween Epic Comic Club, 6-7 p.m.
Nov. 17: Peaceful Poses Adult Yoga, 9-10 a.m.
Nov. 17: Peaceful Poses Children’s Yoga Story Time, 10-10:45 a.m.
Nov. 20: Frederickson Writes on Zoom, 6:45-8:45 p.m.
Nov. 21: Holiday Decor Library Style, 2-3 p.m.
Nov. 26: Game Day for All, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Nov. 28: Tween LEGO Club, 6-8 p.m.

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

Nov. 4: Paint Your Pet, 1-3:30 p.m.
Nov. 5: Intro to Wet Felting—Small Bag, 1-5 p.m.
Nov. 25: Snowman on Wood, 1-3 p.m.
Nov. 29: Holiday Tree, 6-8 p.m.
Nov. 30: Holiday Stained Glass, 6-8 p.m.

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

Nov. 8-Jan. 7: Intro to Improv, Wednesdays, 6-9 p.m.

Hershey Horticulture Society
www.hersheyhorticulture.com

Nov. 6: Keystone Native Plants and Natural Landscapes, 1 p.m.

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

Nov. 1, 8, 15, 29: Community Crochet Night, 6 p.m.
Nov. 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 28: Penn State Hershey—Mothers & Babies, 10:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Nov. 2, 16: Teen Zine, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 2, 16, 30: Hershey Quilters, 12:30 p.m.
Nov. 4, 18: Chess Club, 1 p.m.
Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27: Storytime for Everyone, 11 a.m.
Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28: 1, 2, Whee!, 10:15 a.m.
Nov. 7, 21: Silent Book Group, 10 a.m.
Nov. 9, 16, 30: Storytime for Everyone, 10:15 a.m.
Nov. 11, 18: Creative Non-Fiction, 3:30 p.m.
Nov. 14: Hershey Area Pokémon Club, 5:30-7 p.m.
Nov. 14, 21, 28: Girls Who Code, 6 p.m.
Nov. 18: Cocoa Area Fiber Enthusiasts, 10 a.m.
Nov. 25: Fused Glass Class, 12 p.m.

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

Nov. 1, 8, 15: Rhyme Time, 10:15-10:35 a.m.
Nov. 1, 8, 15: Toddler Time, 10:45-11:05 a.m.
Nov. 1, 8, 15: Story Time, 1:30-2:15 p.m.
Nov. 2, 9, 16: Story Time, 10:15-11 a.m.
Nov. 2, 9, 16: Toddler Time, 11:15-11:35 a.m.
Nov. 2, 9, 16: Rhyme Time, 11:45 a.m.-12:05 p.m.
Nov. 3, 10, 17 24: LEGO Time, 10:15 a.m.
Nov. 4: Fall Festival, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Nov. 7, 14, 21: Parent & Toddler Together, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Nov. 7, 14, 21: Storybook STEAM, 6 p.m.

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

Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Teen Gaming Club, 3 p.m.
Nov. 2: Book Bingo, 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 3, 10, 17: Silent Book Club, 3:30 p.m.
Nov. 9: Lessons From the Animal People: Native Stories With Dovie Thomason, 4-4:40 p.m.
Nov. 18: Knit One, Crochet Too!, 10:30 a.m.

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

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

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

Nov. 3: Junior Engineers with Snapology, 4-4:45 p.m.
Nov. 18: Creature Creator Robotics with Snapology, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Nov. 29: Coloring for Adults, 3:30 p.m.

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

Nov. 11: Children’s Book Week with Lennor Bontigao, 1-2 p.m.

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

Nov. 8: An Evening with Holly M. Wendt and Curtis Smith, 7-8 p.m.
Nov. 9: Conversation and book signing with Tess Gerritsen, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 11: An Evening with Stephanie Land and Isaac Fitzgerald, 6-7 p.m.

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

Nov. 4: Fluid Art, 12-3 p.m.
Nov. 12: Linocut Workshop, 1:30-5 p.m.

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

Nov. 9: A Civil Conversation with Jonathan W. White, 7-8 p.m.

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

Nov. 4: Basket Weaving, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Nov. 18: Wildlife in Winter, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

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

Nov. 1-30: Beanstack Reading Challenge (ages 0-18)
Nov. 1-30: November Scavenger Hunt: Dinosaurs! (ages 0-18)
Nov. 2: Ruth’s Mystery Discussion Group, 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 2: Musical Mornings (ages 2-5), 10:30-11 a.m.
Nov. 3, 17: Dungeons & Dragons (ages 13-17), 4-6 p.m.
Nov. 4: New Cumberland Public Library Book Sales, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Nov. 6: Monday Great Books Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Nov. 6: Medicare Workshop, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Nov. 6-Dec. 11: Cozy Storytime & More (ages 2-5), 10:30 a.m.
Nov. 7-Dec. 12: Cozy Book Babies (ages 0-2), 11:15 a.m.
Nov. 8: Wednesday Great Books Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Nov. 8: The SAP Essentials webinar, 1 p.m.
Nov. 8: Kid Builders (ages 3 and older), 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Nov. 9: Peaceful Poses Kids Yoga (ages 3-6), 11:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 10: Block Party (ages 0-3), 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Nov. 11: Teen Craft Kits (ages 13-17), 10 a.m.
Nov. 14: Tales for Tails (ages 6-12), 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Nov. 15: PennWriters Writing Group, 6-9 p.m.
Nov. 16, 30: Movers & Groovers (ages 2-5), 10:30-11 a.m.
Nov. 17: Tumble Tots (ages 0-3), 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Nov. 18: New Cumberland Public Library Book Sales, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Nov. 18: Couponing for Extreme Savings, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 18: Children’s Book Writers Critique Group, 2-4 p.m.
Nov. 25: Crafty Crafters Club, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Nov. 26: Friends Cultural Series—Forever Shunned by Jonathan Fisher, 3 p.m.
Nov. 29: STEAM Scene (ages 6-12), 4:30-5:30 p.m.

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

Nov. 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 13, 15, 16: Little Explorers, 10:30-11 a.m.
Nov. 1, 8, 15, 29: Smart Start Storytime, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
Nov. 2, 9, 16: Little Explorers, 1:30-2 p.m.
Nov. 6: Genealogy Group, 10-11 a.m.
Nov. 13: Palmyra Public Library Book Club, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 27: BYO Craft Nights Adults 18+, 4:30-6:45 p.m.

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

Nov. 25: Make & Take Jewelry Workshop, 1-2 p.m. and 2:15-3:15 p.m.

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

Nov. 1, 2, 3, 9, 15, 16: Seasons, 1-1:30 p.m.
Nov. 1-26: Not Your Average Star
Nov. 1-26: Solar Superstorms
Nov. 3, 18: Storytime, 10:30 a.m.
Nov. 8: Homeschool Program, 10 a.m.
Nov. 8: Stargazing—Tonight’s Sky Live Chat, 2-2:45 p.m.
Nov. 10: Soldier’s Art, 11:30 a.m.
Nov. 11: Soldier’s Art, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m.
Nov. 10, 11, 12: Stargazing—Tonight’s Sky Live Chat, 3-3:45 p.m.
Nov. 15: Archaeology, Geology, Paleontology…what’s the difference?, 11:30 a.m.
Nov. 17: Curiosity Kids—Memory and Logic, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Nov. 17: Virtual Program—The History of Drake Well and the PA Petroleum Industry, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
Nov. 24: Gobble! Gobble! The Eastern Wild Turkey, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 24: Family Gallery Tour—Mammal Hall, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

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

Nov. 4: Kids Art Club—Self-Portraiture (ages 8-12), 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Nov. 15: Open Figure Drawing, 7-9 p.m.
Nov. 18: Kids Art Club—Printmaking & Collage (ages 4-7), 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

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

Nov. 1: Wood Burning Cheeseboards, 6-9 p.m.
Nov. 4: Clay Ornaments, 11 a.m. or 1 p.m.
Nov. 4: Painting Wine Bottle Lights, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Nov. 8: Macramé Ornaments, 6-8 p.m.
Nov. 11: Wreath Earrings or Pendant, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Nov. 18: Pinch Pot Snowman Workshop, 10:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m.
Nov. 29: Macramé Ornaments, 6-8 p.m.

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

Nov. 2, 9, 16: Cat in the Hat Learning Series, 10-10:45 a.m.
Nov. 4: Art in the Wild Workshop, 9-11 a.m.
Nov. 5: Macrame Holiday Ornaments, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Nov. 7: Persimmon Walk, 1-2 p.m.
Nov. 11: Penn State Extension Gardeners’ Home Gardening Series—Creating a Garden that Welcomes Wildlife, 9:30-11 a.m.
Nov. 11: Birds and Coffee with Appalachian Audubon, 10-11 a.m.
Nov. 11: Volunteer Work, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Nov. 14: Wild Recipes Fall Foraging in Your Backyard, 6-7:30 p.m.
Nov. 16: Waterfowl Walk, 8-10 a.m.
Nov. 18: Girl Scout Juniors—Animal Habitats, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Nov. 21: Kids Discover—Turkey Talk (ages 2-5), 10-11:30 a.m.
Nov. 25, 26, 28: Wreath Workshop, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

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

Nov. 9: Lessons From the Animal People: Native Stories With Dovie Thomason, 10:30 a.m.-11:10 a.m.

Winters Heritage House Museum
41-47 E. High St., Elizabethtown
717-367-4672; elizabethtownhistory.org

Nov. 7: Thanksgiving Wreath Workshop, 7 to 9 p.m.
Nov. 28: Holiday Wreath Workshop, 7 to 9 p.m.

Live Music

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

Nov. 7-Dec. 30: “The 2023 Christmas Show—The First Noel”

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

Nov. 3: Jazz in the City
Nov. 4: York Symphony’s Elgar’s Enigma
Nov. 9: Atlanta Rhythm Section
Nov. 19: Vince Herman and Airshow
Nov. 25: York Symphony’s Holiday Pops Spectacular
Nov. 28: A Canadian Brass Christmas

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

Nov. 19: David Hurd

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

Nov. 1, 8, 15: Mathias Cabbell
Nov. 2: Andrea Britton
Nov. 3, 24: Roy Lefever
Nov. 4, 9, 22, 25, 30: Chris Emkey
Nov. 16, 18: Doctor Nyce
Nov. 10, 17: Ted Ansel
Nov. 11: Anthony Haubert
Nov. 29: Chris Purcell

Carlisle Theatre
44 West High St., Carlisle
717-258-0666; carlisletheatre.org

Nov. 4: Chris Collins, The John Denver Tribute with Boulder Canyon
Nov. 10: TUSK, Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Central PA Friends of Jazz
www.friendsofjazz.org

Nov. 12: Rodney Whitaker

Central Pennsylvania Womyn’s Chorus
cpwchorus.org

Nov. 18: Spirit of the Season concert at Unitarian Church of Harrisburg
Nov. 19: Spirit of the Season concert at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ

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

Nov. 2: Drink or Treat Halloween Bash with Timmy’s Creep Show and Super Hi-Tech Jet Fighters
Nov. 3: Michael Palascak
Nov. 10: Martin Bros., Very Fine Gentlemen
Nov. 18: The Bad Toupees
Nov. 19: The Bacon Brothers
Nov. 22: The Wild Hymns, Public Disco Porch
Nov. 24: A Charlie Brown Jazz Christmas with The Eric Mintel Jazz Quartet
Nov. 25: Rivers & Knorrwood

Gettysburg Choral Society
gettysburgchoralsociety.org

Dec. 1: Christmas Concert at United Lutheran Seminary, Gettysburg

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

Nov. 1: My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult
Nov. 3: Crankdat
Nov. 3: Zepparella
Nov. 4: Dirty Honey
Nov. 4: Elsewhere
Nov. 9: Gvllow
Nov. 10: More!
Nov. 11: Baddest Bunny Night
Nov. 14: Brian Fallon
Nov. 16: Chloe Ament, Tedious, Brief
Nov. 18: Andrew McMahon
Nov. 24: Jon Spencer
Nov. 29: Andy Frasco & The UN, Dogs in a Pile

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

Nov. 18-19: The Three-Cornered Hat

Harrisburg University Presents
concertseries.harrisburgu.edu

Nov. 10: Lucero at XL Live
Nov. 30: Stephen Sanchez at XL Live

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

Nov. 18: Bush
Nov. 21-26: Chicago
Nov. 30: Sarah Brightman Christmas Symphony

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

Nov. 3: Dance Fever
Nov. 4: Breck
Nov. 10: Vertigo Vultures
Nov. 11: Smooth Like Clyde
Nov. 17: Jess Zimmerman Band
Nov. 18: Sapphire
Nov. 24: Funktion
Nov. 25: Emily’s ToyBox

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

Nov. 4: Have a Nice Day concert with Quin-Tones

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

Nov. 1: Brit Floyd
Nov. 3: Tower of Power
Nov. 10: Chicago
Nov. 19: Shippensburg University Community Orchestra

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

Nov. 17: Wind Symphony Concert
Nov. 11: Jazz Ensemble—Autumn Leaves

Market Square Concerts
www.marketsquareconcerts.org

Nov. 1: Amernet Quartet

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

Nov. 16: Blue Christmas Dance Concert

MH Art Gallery & Studio
42 W. Market St., Marietta
717-314-9551; mhartgallery.com

A juried exhibition of art inspired by the poem written by local poet Ruth Ann Meyers Kulp, through Nov. 19

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

Nov. 19: Steve Rudolph Trio

Susquehanna Chorale
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-533-7859; susquehannachorale.org

Nov. 19: Youth Choral Festival

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

Nov. 7: Mama’s Broke
Nov. 16: Cinder Well

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

Nov. 11: Veterans’ Values & Voices

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

Nov. 10: Why Not Me—A Tribute to Garth Brooks and the Judds
Nov. 11: Colebrook Road
Nov. 14: Harrisburg Jazz Collective

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

Nov. 22: The Machine performs Pink Floyd

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

Nov. 3: The Legwarmers
Nov. 4: Eric Gales, Gabe Stillman
Nov. 9: Barely Alive, Shizzlo, Gorilla Smack, Bluhtii
Nov. 10: Lucero, Jason Boland and the Stragglers
Nov. 11: Ripe, HOKO
Nov. 17: Plini, Strawberry Girls and Standards
Nov. 18: Boy Named Banjo
Nov. 22: The Four Horsemen
Nov. 25: The Badlees, Dustin Douglas and the Electric Gentlemen and Kylie Cole
Nov. 30: Stephen Sanchez

The Stage Door

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

Nov. 10: Kevin Lee and Jen Espenshade
Nov. 12: Wheel of Fortune LIVE!
Nov. 17: John Crist
Nov. 18: History That Doesn’t Suck

Carlisle Theatre
44 West High St., Carlisle
717-258-0666; carlisletheatre.org

Nov. 12: “Death and the Ghost Writer”

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

Nov. 1-11: “Escape to Margaritaville”
Nov. 17-Dec. 30: “A Christmas Carol” The Musical

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

Nov. 10: TMI Improv
Nov. 18-Dec. 3: Gilbert & Sullivan’s “H.M.S. Pinafore”

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

Nov. 3-5: “Frankenstein Slept Here”

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

Nov. 3: The Divas Down Under
Nov. 3, 4: Raymond the Amish Comic
Nov. 10, 11: Preacher Lawson
Nov. 17, 18: The Rich Guzzi Comedy Hypnosis Experience
Nov. 22: Earl David Reed
Nov. 24, 25: Jody Kerns

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

Nov. 3: Musical Improv Level 1 Class Show, Elderprov, Gingersnaps, REAL Fast Coast Wives of Central PA, All Over the Place, Bandito, Rites of Passage
Nov. 4: Kid Friendly Mixer, Solo Sleepover, Clown Car, Love Triangle, Euphoria
Nov. 5: Musical Improv Level 1 Class Show
Nov. 10: Level 1Class Show, 4th Cousins, Naïve Scammers, Our Bizarre Adventure, Leg of Lamp
Nov. 11: Free Mixer, This Show Will Self Destruct, Ham Juice, Barbra, Tiny French Cigarettes
Nov. 12: Level 1 Class Show
Nov. 17: Level 3 Class Show, Team Z, Same Each, Original 6, Holy Moly, Bondfire Society, Girlzilla
Nov. 18: Free Mixer, Next Level, Uncomfortable, Rockstar Goes Supernova, Black Thing You’ve Done
Nov. 19: Level 3 Class Show
Nov. 24: Free Improv Jam, 4th Cousins, Naïve Scammers, Our Bizarre Adventure, Offbeats
Nov. 25: Free Mixer, Phil’s Arcade, Cosmic Trash, Elderprov

Hershey Area Playhouse
830 Cherry Dr., Hershey
717-533-8525; hersheyareaplayhouse.com

Nov. 16-19: “Steel Magnolias”

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

Nov. 4: Jim Jefferies
Nov. 9: State Ballet of Ukraine presents “Snow White”
Nov. 11: Derek Hough with Hayley Erbert
Nov. 14-15: “Bluey’s Big Play” The Stage Show
Nov. 17: Jay Leno

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

Nov. 4-18: “Jingle Arrgh The Way!”

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

Nov. 25-Dec. 11: “One Christmas Eve at the Evergreen Mall”

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

Nov. 5: “The Nutcracker”
Nov. 9: “Bored Teachers Comedy Tour”
Nov. 22: “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer The Musical”

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

Nov. 2-5: “The Prom” The Musical

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

Nov. 9-19: “Alabama Story”

Open Stage of Harrisburg
223 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-232-OPEN; openstagehbg.com

Nov. 4: Mrs. Kasha Davis of RuPaul’s Drag Race
Nov. 10: Erotic Fan Fiction Live!
Nov. 25-Dec. 23: “Who’s Holiday!”

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

Nov. 3-19: “Run For Your Wife”

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

Nov. 3-19: “Fiddler on the Roof” (at Whitaker Center)

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

Nov. 11: Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers present “The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow”
Nov. 12: The Artificial Wizards
Nov. 12: Oxymorons Improv Comedy

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

Nov. 3-19: “Fiddler on the Roof” (Theatre Harrisburg)

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

November Publisher’s Note

October 30, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda

The past year has been one of change for TheBurg.

We started 2023 with a new ownership team, albeit one consisting of three very familiar faces—our longtime editor (yours truly), sales director (Lauren) and creative director (Meg).

Now, we’re delighted to expand our team by adding a new sales executive, Natalie diSanto. After a lengthy and competitive search, we selected Natalie for her experience, enthusiasm and commitment to central PA.

I’d like to publicly welcome Natalie as part of our small, tight-knit team. If you see Natalie out and about, please extend a warm greeting and, heck, maybe even give her one of her first sales!

And that’s not our only recent change.

Did you know that TheBurg helps to organize and run 3rd in the Burg, Harrisburg’s monthly arts, culture and general good-time event? Unfortunately, the pandemic set us back, reversing much of the progress we had made in building it up over the years.

However, we’ve now hired a new 3rd in the Burg coordinator, Skye Leppo, who promises to bring new energy and creativity to this important community happening.

You may already be familiar with Skye. Earlier this year, she became TheBurg’s principal music writer, and she’s a board member for another arts/culture/event group in the area, the New Cumberland Collective. Believe it or not, she also holds down a full-time job.

We were excited when Skye said that, yes, she could add one more thing to her very full plate. She impressed us further with her many ideas to raise the profile and impact of 3rd in the Burg. So, please, make a plan to visit one/several/many 3rd in the Burg venues, the third Friday of every month, and see what Skye has up her sleeve.

And, with that, welcome to our November issue!

Each November, we include expanded coverage of our area’s wonderful small businesses. We urge you to consider shopping at your favorite local stores and shops this holiday season—and perhaps discover a few new ones.

As I’ve said in past columns, shopowners care deeply about their goods, their customer service, their selections. They’re also our friends and neighbors. If you can, please re-commit to shopping local this holiday season.

Lawrance Binda
Publisher/Editor

Click here to read the digital version of our November issue.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Mr. PA Politics: For decades, people have turned to Terry Madonna to understand what’s happening politically in Pennsylvania

October 30, 2023 | by Jeff Falk

Terry Madonna

There are two sides to every story—yours and mine, ours and theirs. The truth can usually be found somewhere in the middle.

Terry Madonna has spent a lifetime seeking the truth; he’s made a career out of it. He’s done it by not taking sides, through impartiality, by favoring facts over emotions.

In Madonna’s field of expertise—politics—that can be a tall task.

“I’m not partisan,” Madonna said. “When one party was shown to win, I pointed out why. I try to talk about the strengths of candidates and campaigns. Overall, I’ve tried to point out factually what’s going on. I try not to be one-sided in my commentary.”

An 82-year-old resident of Lancaster, Madonna is respected as an authority of politics in Pennsylvania. A senior fellow in residence for political affairs at Millersville University, he’s been the host of the weekly statewide news and commentary television show, “Pennsylvania Newsmakers,” for nearly three decades.

He has a deep love for his home state and a high regard for government and elected officials. But what seems to intrigue him most is the interaction of humans.

“Politics is a way of accomplishing an objective,” Madonna said. “It’s about meeting with people and working with programs and making them into laws. Politics is about having goals, defining goals, and working towards adoption. It’s also about fostering relationships and friendships.”

Chris Borick, the director of Muhlenberg College’s Institute of Public Opinion, has known Madonna for 25 years. He counts him as a colleague, a confidante, a friend.

“I continue to look to Terry as a mentor,” Borick said. “I lean on Terry, on his expertise and knowledge. Not surprisingly, the work we have done has brought us together. Anyone who talks to him knows he’s happy to jump in.”

An Educator

From modest beginnings at Lancaster Catholic High School in the late 1950s, Madonna earned his bachelor’s degree in history from then Millersville State College. But it was during his time at Delaware University, while pursuing his master’s degree, that really accelerated his career.

“In the political sense, I’ve had mentors,” Madonna said. “I had politicians, in a sense, mentor me because I followed their careers. I learned a lot in the process about how politics work. I basically learned it from people I interacted with.”

Madonna, who founded the respected political survey Keystone Poll in 1992, has served on the faculty of the University of Delaware, Franklin and Marshall College and, today, Millersville University during a 40-plus-year career.

“I am first and foremost an educator and second a political analyst,” Madonna said. “The political analyst came out of my career as a historian and political scientist. You can’t differentiate them. My basic goal is to help people understand the making of our past, as well as contemporary politics.”

Of all the positions, his role as a teacher may be the one that Madonna takes the greatest pride in. He might have been drawn to politics at a younger age, but deep down he’s always been a people person.

“I characterize my career as a teacher of government and American history,” Madonna said. “I’d like to think I’ve made positive contributions. What I’m most proud of is that I’ve had a positive impact on hundreds, if not thousands, of students. Nothing pleases me more than when I’m out in public and someone comes up to me and says, ‘I had you in class, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.’”

Going Strong

The world of politics is wide and varied. Politics can be found everywhere, on the local, state, national and international levels. Madonna focuses intently on one aspect.

“My whole career has been based on writing and lecturing to people about state politics,” he said. “I decided when I was a relatively young man that Pennsylvania was a big, important state and that I wanted to concentrate on Pennsylvania politics. I wanted to get up every day excited about what I am doing.”

Borick described Madonna’s knowledge of PA politics as “encyclopedic.”

“One of the things about Terry is that he’s a trained historian, and he can reference people and events,” Borick said. “He is someone who has an incredible understanding of Pennsylvania political history.”

Throughout his career, Madonna has seen plenty of change in this state’s politics, but perhaps never more than now.

“Philadelphia used to be a Republican city, and now the cities are highly Democratic,” he said. “The suburbs are going through change. The working-class voters who live in the old mining and mill towns used to be Democrats, and now they’re voting Republican.”

Despite all the wisdom, all the experiences, all the respect, no one gets to a point in a career like Madonna’s without passion. He simply cares about the subject material. Some people might refer to that as “character.”

“He’s a very good man,” Borick said. “Terry’s deeply passionate about it, and he understands the importance of politics. When you’re engaged in influencing in this realm, it carries with it a lot of responsibility. Terry has always approached it that way.”

If Madonna’s scruples haven’t wavered, neither has his love for what he does. It’s very much what keeps him going strong.

“I haven’t thought about retirement,” he said. “I feel fine. I get up, do my job, and everyday is a new challenge. At this point of my career, it’s as much about physical as it is mental.”

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Honoring Nature’s Artist: Marking 30 years, the Ned Smith Center reflects back, peers ahead

October 30, 2023 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Art by Ned Smith.

For Scott Weidensaul, the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art is more than a venue. It’s about the legacy of the center’s namesake, acclaimed wildlife artist and journalist E. Stanley “Ned” Smith of Millersburg.

Smith has been an inspiration for people like Weidensaul, who began his friendship with Smith as a young adult. Smith died in 1985, and Weidensaul became a founder, research director and long-time volunteer at the center that now bears Smith’s name.

“Ned Smith was my hero. I fell in love with his art as a kid,” said Weidensaul, a Schuylkill County native. “He was such a voracious consumer of natural history and an extremely talented natural history writer and illustrator. He had no formal education but was a lifelong learner. He was one of the premiere nature artists of the 20th century.”

The center is a nonprofit founded in 1993. It was originally located in the Daniel Miller House in Millersburg but relocated in 2004 to its current home off Water Company Road. The 535-acre property offers nine miles of hiking trails and a section of private hunting grounds. Its land runs from the Wiconisco Creek to the summit of Berry Mountain.

Following the relocated center’s opening, it expanded to include three gallery spaces, a gift shop, administrative offices, classrooms, an amphitheater and a natural play area. This year, the center celebrates its 30th anniversary with a gala set for Nov. 10.

Smith began his career in 1939 with a cover painting for Pennsylvania Angler magazine. He then moved to South Carolina for a job illustrating hunting and firearm books for Samworth Publishing. Following that, he returned home to Millersburg and began a longstanding association with the state Game Commission as an illustrator.

In the 1960s, Smith initiated a column, “Gone for the Day,” for the commission’s magazine, using his enormous series of field journals and sketchbooks. The columns were later published in book form, which remains in print today.

In 1983, he was commissioned to create Pennsylvania’s first state duck stamp. He continued to work until his death, having created thousands of wildlife sketches and paintings for books, magazines and other publications, plus dozens of limited-edition prints.

“There were two big masterworks on Ned’s easel when he died,” noted Adam Steppy, Ned Smith Center’s marketing and program director. “He always thought of his last 14 years as a gift after he had heart surgery. He died from a heart attack in his garden.”

In 2011, the center opened the Ned Smith Gallery with assistance from the state Game Commission. The gallery features a rotating, $2.3 million collection of Smith’s original paintings, drawings, field sketches, journal notes and manuscripts, donated by Smith’s wife, Marie.

Until recently, Weidensaul served as the center’s collection curator and coordinator for Project Owlnet and Project SNOWstorm, separate owl-banding projects based at the center. He also is a Pulitzer Prize-nominated author of more than two dozen natural history books and writes for several national publications.

John Laskowski, a founding board director, said that he first met Smith as a child and spent much time outdoors with him in the ensuing years. He also spent hours upon hours reading Smith’s library of works.

“I grew to love Ned and Marie,” said Laskowski, of Carsonville. “The saddest day of my life was when he passed in 1985.”

Laskowski—aka “Mothman”—serves as curator of the center’s mounted collection of 18,941 butterflies and moths that he acquired with the help of friends and that are featured in a small interactive display in the Olewine Gallery. The third exhibit of Faye Arlene and Joseph Kopp’s butterfly and moth collection will host its grand opening on Dec. 3 and will be displayed in the gallery for a limited time.

Steppy said that he realizes that digitized, 21st-century life poses a different set of challenges than when the center opened 30 years ago.

“Evolution is the big thing now,” he said. “How do you make people interested in the center when the people who loved Ned Smith are gone? It’s a tough go. How do you compete with so many museums and activity centers that are around today?”

Future goals for the center include updating its galleries to “better reflect the relevant historical aspects of Ned Smith’s legacy,” as well as continuing to host exhibits, performances and other events.

“Ned Smith was very ahead of his time,” Steppy said. “His words ring truer today than they did in the 1970s about the escalating need for conservation.”

The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art is located at 176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg. For more information, visit www.nedsmithcenter.org.

The 2023 NSCNA Gala is scheduled for Nov. 10, 6 to 9 p.m., at the Country Club of Harrisburg, 401 Fishing Creek Valley Rd., Middle Paxton Township. For information, call 717-692-3699.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Liftoff to Learning: Launch your family to Whitaker Center’s interactive space exhibit

October 30, 2023 | by Alex Hayes

Illustration by Clint Bolduc.

Whitaker Center visitors only have to walk down one flight of stairs to be blasted into space.

The arts and science center in downtown Harrisburg is hosting “Space: An Out-of-Gravity Experience” until the end of the year. The exhibit, one of the largest in the center’s 24-year history, allows guests to explore their childhood space fantasies through real-world experiments and artifacts.

“This exhibit allows guests to experience life as an astronaut training on Earth, in the International Space Station and beyond,” said Kristin James, the center’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) curriculum manager.

The exhibit includes videos from NASA explorations, featuring commentary from astronauts. Visitors can see artifacts such as the helmet and gloves worn by Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon. They can take a whiff and experience space station smells or sit on a space shuttle toilet (no smell enhancement included.)

“Encouraging youth to get excited about, and inspired by, space is important,” James said.

The space station section of the exhibit features a full-scale mock-up of the Destiny Laboratory, which was attached to the International Space Station in 2001. Visitors enter a rotating faux lab and experience the sensations astronauts feel every day. The module also features audio and video testimonials from NASA astronauts.

Another interactive exhibit gives guests the opportunity to determine which components of a shuttle should be operating at different times while conserving the equipment’s limited power supply. Guests can slide an arm into an astronaut’s glove and compare their mobility using Earth and space atmospheres.

Other components of Whitaker Center—the PNC Innovation Zone Purposeful Gaming Studio and Select Medical Digital Cinema—also feature special space programs in conjunction with the exhibit.

Whitaker Center hired James two months ago, and the timing of her arrival led to the perfect launch. For the past five years, she has served as a NASA “solar system ambassador.” The program works with volunteers across the country to share the science and excitement of NASA’s space exploration missions and discoveries.

She also spent three summers working at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Ariz., an astronomical facility that discovered the dwarf planet Pluto in 1930.

“Space is the next frontier,” James said. “There is a lot we don’t know about space and, with stuff we don’t know, there comes a lot of opportunity.”

James and other Whitaker Center officials believe that space holds many untapped resources. Exhibits such as “Space: An Out-of-Gravity Experience” are vital to highlighting NASA’s successes and generating energy for its future.

In the 1960s, NASA astronauts were household names. John Glenn dominated the national news in 1962 when he became the first American to circle the Earth. Americans were glued to their television on July 20, 1969, with the first moon landing.

Sixty years later, those names are still recognizable, much more so than astronaut Frank Rubio, who became the astronaut to spend the most consecutive days in space (371) on Sept. 27, 2023.

James believes Rubio’s accomplishment should not be diminished because he achieved it during a time when the national media are less focused on NASA missions.

People of all ages can learn about space’s past, present and future through “Space: An Out-of-Gravity Experience.” Some interactive exhibits are simplistic, while others are challenging.

“Our educator team spent 20 minutes trying to solve one ourselves, and we ended up dying,” James said. “These are questions we don’t know the answers to without interacting with the exhibit.”

Whitaker Center is located at 222 Market St., Harrisburg. “Space: An Out-of-Gravity Experience” is included with tickets to the Harsco Science Center. For more information, visit www.whitakercenter.org.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

On the Road to NEPA: Go for the scenery, stay for the food, shopping

October 30, 2023 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Illustration by Stephen Michael Haas.

My knowledge of Pennsylvania is vast, or at least I thought so. That is, until I stumbled upon some information while researching places where the fall foliage display is the most dramatic.

It turns out that the Delaware Water Gap, nestled in Monroe County near the Delaware River, takes the prize as one of the more-striking areas for viewing fiery fall foliage by foot, bike, kayak or, as in my case, trolley. What surprised me the most, however, is that the small borough is also home to the oldest, continuously operating jazz club in the United States.

After touring the Delaware Water Gap, I continued on to downtown Stroudsburg—a funky, friendly place where thrift shops co-exist with boutique shops and street art is intermingled with galleries. The walkable area attracts many a Delaware Water Gap visitor looking to shop, dine and perhaps take in a show.

The Trolley Tour

The easiest way to learn about the Delaware Water Gap and its history is to sign up for a Pocono Historic Trolley Tour offered by the Pocono Daytripper.

When I visited, Pocono Joe regaled riders with tidbits about the area and how it was once the second most popular inland destination in the country. On the tour, Joe also pointed out structures like the Castle Inn. Built in 1906, it once attracted many tourists seeking to escape the heat of the city and was the area’s first resort with running spring water and electricity. The tour also includes a drive through the Shawnee Inn Golf Resort, which was established in the late 1890s when native New Yorker and business owner Charles Campbell Worthington made it his summer home. Over the years, the resort has hosted celebrities like Jackie Gleason and Arnold Palmer.

Riders will also hear how Fred Waring made his mark on the area. Those of a certain age may have heard of Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians, mostly due to Christmas albums that played in households once a year. Waring, a Penn State grad, also brought to market an invention that helped revolutionize the American kitchen: the Waring blender. According to Pocono Joe, Waring was fond of using it to mix drinks for his musician friends.

Trolley Riders also are able to disembark to take photos of scenic Buttermilk Falls, which flows down a series of rocky ledges and is a favorite spot for photographers, especially as the trees explode in a riot of color during the autumn season.

It’s so rewarding when people tell me they enjoy the tour and our local history,” said Peter Luck, owner of Pocono Daytripper. “It means everything to me.”

All That Jazz

The Deer Head Inn is a Victorian-style building with two stories of sprawling, wraparound porches, perfect for relaxing as the music wafts its way outside. Built between 1853 and 1865, it was originally called the Central House and was renamed The Deer Head Inn in the 1930s.

Jazz enthusiasts have been known to flock to the destination, especially for the annual Jazz Fest that is held the weekend after Labor Day. Those who are interested in staying awhile can choose from among eight rooms and two suites.

Ian Carrig, nephew of owner Dennis Carrig, lists some of the jazz artists who have played at the club, including Stan Getz, Keith Jarrett, Phil Woods, Urbie Green, Nellie McKay and Nicole Glover, to name a few. Carrig works as chef at the establishment and turns out dishes like crab cakes, baked salmon, shrimp scampi, burgers, sandwiches and more.

Funky, Fun and Friendly

If you like getting your shop on, look no further than downtown Stroudsburg, where you’ll find clothing boutiques, thrift shops and galleries tucked among eateries, bars and street art.

Grandpa Joe’s offers friendly service at their candy shop located at 730 Main St. When I visited, they were handing out popcorn-flavored taffy and enjoying people’s reactions. (It was surprisingly good.) Not far from Grandpa’s is Carroll & Carroll Booksellers, an independent bookstore selling new, used and rare books. And for antique lovers, there’s Olde Engine Works. Located at 62 N. Third St., it’s one of the largest antique co-ops in northeast Pennsylvania.

If you work up a thirst while shopping, Stroudsburg is also home to Bovino’s Brewery, Stonehaus Meadery and the Raw Urban Winery and Hard Cidery, all on Main. Just outside downtown there’s the Mountain View Vineyard on Walters Road and the Eagles Rest Cellars at 188 Eagles Rest Lane. And for something a little different, there’s Sango Kura, Pennsylvania’s first and only sake brewery—but you’ll have to return to Delaware Water Gap to indulge in those libations.

You may also want to check out the historic Sherman Theater, also located on Main. The theater dates back to early 1929 and today features comedians like Vic Dibitetto, musicians like Ace Frehley of Kiss fame and various tribute bands, to name a few of the acts that have entertained crowds just this year.

Whether you embark on a day trip, or stay a day or two, these suggestions should keep you busy as you explore eastern Monroe County—an area that offers a diverse array of experiences to cater to a wide range of tastes.

The Great Northeast

For more information on some of the places mentioned in this story, visit the following:

Pocono Daytripper
www.poconodaytripper.com

The Deer Head Inn
www.dearheadinn.com

Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop
www.grandpajoescandyshop.com

Olde Engine Works
www.oldeengineworks.com

The Sherman Theater
www.shermantheater.com

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Sense of Place: This season, take “buy local” a step further with “made local”

October 30, 2023 | by M. Diane McCormick

Stay Apparel

Buy a Stay Apparel made-in-America T-shirt—maybe the one printed with the vintage Helb’s Lager Beer label—and get a bonus “tale of the tee.”

“I can tell customers that Helb’s Beer in York was a pioneer in using electric vehicles in the early 1900s,” said Neal Goulet, founder of Hershey-based Stay Apparel. “I didn’t know that when we started out, but that’s a really cool part of the story. I go to the trouble of researching those old brands and finding a story behind the designs because so much of shopping retail is so antiseptic these days. There’s added value in having a story. People want to engage.”

In a tsunami of fast fashion, locally made apparel is a raindrop, but three area producers agree that local wearables promise durability, unique style, warm fuzzies from supporting a local business, and maybe a really good story.

Goulet is a career journalist and communicator who started diversifying the blog of his PR firm, Goulet Communications, with posts on his passion for buying American-made products. Deciding to put “skin in the game,” he launched Stay Apparel in October 2017. Every item is made in the U.S. and “has a sense of place.”

Stay Apparel’s T-shirts, hats and accessories mix vintage and original designs, from an original “Sas-Q-Valley, Pennsylvania Bigfoot Believers” imprint to the resurrections of long-gone, local bars and breweries, including the former Harrisburg juggernaut Graupner’s.

“I really like local history, especially the businesses,” Goulet said. “I find it kind of heartbreaking when you think of somebody who starts a business, especially a consumer-facing brand that’s successful for decades. Someday it closes, and 10 years later, nobody knows anything about it. They all have cool stories.”

Chantal Nga Eloundou, owner of Nyianga Store in Midtown Harrisburg, was selling her handmade jewelry at Broad Street Market when repeat customers suggested that she add clothing from her native Africa. She scouted events in Philadelphia and Maryland for African clothing and realized she could bring her own design aesthetic to vibrant African fabrics.

Today, she sources substantial cotton textiles from Africa, sewn by Nigerian women into colorful skirts, dresses, head wraps and dashikis.

“It’s a global world,” she said. “My customers want African products. I want them to be on the same page of what’s trending in Africa. I want them on the same page right here in Harrisburg, right here in Pennsylvania, right here in the United States.”

Eloundou’s customers are growing in diversity, as buyers of all ethnicities cotton to her unique looks. When an almost-apologetic white customer said he didn’t feel he belonged in her shop, she told him, “You belong here no less than anybody else.”

“We need to share cultures,” she told TheBurg. “We respect other cultures and share them as a community, as mankind.”

Justin Workman. Photo by Jillian and Ryan McGrath.

Pushing Boundaries

Joelle and Justin Workman, the husband-and-wife team behind Fennec Design, met as musicians. At the time, he was also screen-printing T-shirts for fellow musicians, and she was drawing intricate doodles. They put her designs on his T-shirts and took a supply to a music festival, figuring the sales would help pay for gas.

“We were pleasantly surprised when we got a really positive response,” Justin said. “We thought it was something we could do together.”

Moving from Philadelphia to join friends in Harrisburg brought down their cost of living and connected them with a supportive community. They sell their T-shirts, tanks, hoodies and bottoms online, in boutiques, wholesale and in their Millworks studio in Midtown Harrisburg.

While larger businesses cling to their prefab menus of options, local apparel makers have the leeway to get creative, Justin said. He notes the close relationship they developed with Elementary Coffee owner Andrea Grove to print their own coffee packaging.

“We’re always pushing the boundary of what can we produce ourselves,” he said. “It’s a matter of coming in and getting plugged into the community, making friends with other business owners, and seeing what we can do for each other. It’s not just treating people with, ‘Here’s what I have to sell to you.’ You approach people with a genuine sense of interest in what they’re doing.”

Justin specializes in screen-printing with water-based inks—more complex to handle but also more sustainable and durable than the industry-standard, cracking-prone, petroleum-based inks. Joelle spends weeks studying her subjects before designing what looks like God’s elaborate blueprint of a cicada, rabbit or carnivorous plant. Some customers just like the artwork. Others are experts in their fields—an entomologist, perhaps—fascinated by her take on the subject they have studied for years.

“It allows for these strange, mercurial points of connection you never would have anticipated having,” she said.

Wardrobes once consisted of a few quality items that lasted for years, said the Workmans. That era devolved into today’s “deep undervaluing of fashion as a commodity,” Joelle said. Clothing from a local maker offers a narrative and “better quality for your buck.”

“You are engaging with a more humanizing side of our industry,” she said. “It’s not just some T-shirt you pick up off the rack where you run into 20 other people wearing it. You’re buying something with a greater uniqueness.”

Relationships

Originally, Goulet thought his business would thrive through online sales, but he has learned that makers markets and pop-up shops—in Harrisburg, Hershey, State College, Bucks County, Lewisburg, Lancaster, York—help forge connections with customers and fellow makers and artisans.

The experience prompted Goulet to curate and produce his own holiday artisan shopping experience with The Englewood Makers Market, Dec. 3 at The Englewood in Hershey. None of the 22 vendors are duplicates of another. The 2022 edition went so well that all but one vendor is returning, and several new ones have been added.

From “day one,” he also has forged a partnership with the Hershey History Center—a perfect fit for his vintage vibe. This year, that partnership is blossoming with the Holly Jolly Trolley Stop Pop-Up Shop. It was Goulet’s idea for utilizing the center’s historic trolley stop as a holiday pop-up selling his apparel and curated gift items—all made in America, of course. There will be wooden log toys made in Maine, tin toys from Pittsburgh, and other “cool, classic sort-of heirloom things.”

“It’s about history and honoring the past,” he said.

Yes, Goulet admits, “Nobody needs another T-shirt.” But his shirts are made by Royal Apparel in Long Island, and Lancaster-based Unique Apparel has printed every Stay Apparel shirt.

“I’m sure I could find a cheaper printer, but that’s not what motivates me,” he said. “I like the relationship, and I like the quality.”

Companies that claim it’s impossible to source American-made supplies are “not trying hard enough,” he added.

“There’s an easy way to do it, but we’ve seen a lot of where that gets us when we drive around Pennsylvania or Maine, and you see these hollowed-out towns,” Goulet said. “It’s because people aren’t making things.”

Goulet’s passion has turned him into a disciplined shopper, buying only American-made products when possible.

“A lot of the jadedness people feel today is that they’re not listened to or heard by their public officials,” he said. “Well, you have the power of the purse. It’s one way you can feel empowered. You don’t have to give your money to the chain that’s importing everything. I just like the label, the quiet confidence of knowing that what you’re wearing is American made.”

Chantal Nga Eloundou

Customer support keeps local apparel makers in business, said Eloundou.

“Buying local gives the sense of being useful and being part of the community,” she said. “When we spend in the community, the money stays in the community. That’s how we become stronger. You buy from me, and I go next door to buy something from the grocery store. That’s how we keep it lively.”

For more information on Stay Apparel, visit www.stayapparel.com.

Nyianga Store is located at 1423 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their Facebook or Instagram pages.

Fennec Design is located in The Millworks, 340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.fennecdesign.com.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like