August Publisher’s Note

July 28, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda

The calls and texts began arriving before 3 a.m.

Who could that be, I wondered, as my phone lit up in the middle of the night.

An early-morning call is almost never good news, and this one certainly wasn’t—the Broad Street Market was on fire.

A friend who lives near the market began texting me pictures, and, well, I’m sure you remember how the scene looked: sheer devastation. I believe that our cover image this month captures well the profound destruction and sense of sorrow.

It was the beginning of a very long and emotional day for Harrisburg. At TheBurg, we wrote several stories, interviewed vendors and residents, spoke with city, state officials. I received more texts, emails, phone calls—people shocked, distressed.

The Broad Street Market holds a special place in the hearts of Harrisburg, this I’ve long known. However, sometimes it takes tragedy for people to truly feel that emotion and express it.

They expressed it intensely and at length. On social media, they shared stories and memories of the market; they voiced sympathy for their favorite vendors; they detailed their pain, their grief.

If there’s a more beloved city institution, I don’t know what it is. Fortunately, as that first day wore on, the news got better. The city seemed eager to quickly rebuild; the state pledged its support.

To me, one interesting aspect was that, since the pandemic—let’s face it—the market has been in something of a funk. Foot traffic has been down, and some vendors have left recently.

So, I deeply hope that, in the end, this catastrophe proves to be a blessing: that the re-construction modernizes a building desperately in need of repair and updates; that officials better appreciate this remarkable city gem; and that the community continues to rally around the market with their love, their patronage and their money.

Let’s take this opportunity to turn disaster to fortune, to reinvigorate our allegiance to our beloved Broad Street Market.

If you would like to donate to the market and its vendors, please visit www.broadstreetmarket.org.

Lawrance Binda
Publisher/Editor

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

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Royalty & Representation: Two Harrisburg residents represent the commonwealth in a national pageant spotlighting, celebrating Black girls

July 28, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Kahlia Brown and Laila-Joy Perry. Photo courtesy of Red Patch Studios.

Laila-Joy Perry and Kahlia Brown aren’t only cousins, they’re Pennsylvania royalty.

You may have seen them around Harrisburg, their home city, wearing their tiaras and sashes or at the occasional ribbon cutting or parade.

The girls think it’s fun to feel like celebrities, waving to crowds and meeting with city officials, but even queens and princesses get a little nervous at times.

Perry and Brown both proudly represent Harrisburg on a national level in the Little Miss Black US of A pageant. Perry, 7, was selected as Little Miss Black Central Pennsylvania and Brown, 12, was chosen as Little Miss Black Pennsylvania, each for her own age group.

To the girls, competing in the pageant means more than showcasing their talents, intellect and beauty, it’s about a chance to inspire other girls, represent their community and grow in confidence.

“I was so ecstatic to be chosen,” Brown said. “Because I wanted to show girls that they can do this.”

“Especially because the pageant is for Black girls,” Perry chimed in.

The Little Miss Black US of A pageant, founded by Letricia Loftin Russell, is in its second year of promoting, celebrating and empowering young Black girls around the country. For 2023, 32 girls, across six states, were chosen to compete in the national pageant, held at the end of July in Maryland.

Girls who apply and are selected participate in community service, sisterhood bonding and other events leading up to the competition. There, they participate in dance numbers, fun fashion showcases and onstage interviews.

According to Tracie Hunt, community and public affairs director for the pageant, there aren’t many other pageants like this, specifically for Black girls.

“There isn’t always a space for Black queens, so we are intentional about making that space for them,” she said.

While crowned, Perry and Brown have had the chance to meet with Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams. Brown even appeared on Harrisburg’s local TV station, WHBG 20, to discuss self-confidence with Williams.

“I like seeing Black women in leadership,” Brown said of meeting with Williams.

Perry, who wants to be a police officer when she grows up, also got to meet Harrisburg Police Commissioner Thomas Carter.

“There needs to be more Black and girl police officers in the world,” she said.

Through all of these experiences, Racquelle Perry, Laila’s mom and Brown’s aunt, has seen the girls grow in confidence and poise.

“It’s important for young girls, specifically Black girls, to know that they are seen, they are appreciated, they are loved and valued, no matter how much society may make them feel like they are less than,” she said.

Brown knows the importance of promoting self-worth, and that’s the platform she’s standing on throughout the pageant.

“Girls need to love themselves,” she said. “I want to help them.”

The cousins practiced together for the pageant, which helped calm their nerves going into the event. But mostly, they were just excited to compete together.

For one portion of the evening, Brown will wear chucks and pearls in honor of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’ signature style, and Perry will wear an outfit paying homage to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

The pageant will take place just days after this story is published, and the girls will find out the results, but to them, winning is only a bonus.

“I just want to have fun,” Brown said. “I don’t really have to win. It’s about sisterhood and having fun.”

“It doesn’t matter if I win or lose, at least I competed,” Perry added.

And while the girls are still young, Racquelle is hopeful that one day, they will look back at this experience and understand the impact it had on not only their lives, but the broader community.

“It’s something they’ll really appreciate when the time comes,” she said. “And the fact that the two of them are from Harrisburg is not only a win for the city, but overall, for Pennsylvania.”

For more information about the Little Miss Black US of A pageant and to see the 2023 results, visit www.littlemissblackusofa.com.

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Eye to the Sky: Cedar Crest High School boasts a unique, far-out feature—a planetarium

July 28, 2023 | by Jeff Falk

At first glance, the Cedar Crest High School planetarium in southern Lebanon County doesn’t look like much.

Two rows of outdated circular benches provide viewers access to a high, domed ceiling. Conventional desks, pushed against the wall, are a stark reminder of the traditional classroom setting.

But when the lights go out, the stars come out—as well as the planets and the constellations and seemingly infinite possibilities. The planetarium sparks one’s imagination that parallels the universe being portrayed.

“From 5 year olds up to people rolling in here in a wheelchair, it always causes the same reaction,” said Cedar Crest astronomy teacher Rich Fried. “They come in here and the lights are turned off and you turn on the stars for the first time, and the first word from every single one of them is, ‘Wow’ or ‘Whoa.’ I can talk to you about a supernova exploding. But why would I just talk to you about it when I can show you?”

If astronomy is the coolest of all the major sciences, then a planetarium is the ultimate visual aid.

“It’s a supplement to the normal classwork,” Fried said. “We get to take it one step further by actually seeing and immersing ourselves in the topics we are studying. Now that I’ve been teaching with a planetarium for so long, I personally would find it challenging to go back to the paper-and-pencil way. It’s easier to learn things by seeing them rather than just reading them, and the planetarium allows us to do that.”

Not only is the Cedar Crest planetarium a unique teaching tool, it’s also uncommon. It is believed to be the only functioning planetarium in Lebanon County, and one of the few in central Pennsylvania.

“At the high school level, planetariums are exceedingly rare,” Fried said. “It’s an uncommon perk or uncommon benefit. The type of planetarium we have is typically reserved for museums, as well as university-type learning. I’m not going to say it’s the only digital planetarium at the high school level in the state, but you can count the number of them on one, or perhaps two hands.”

Ever Evolving

In the planetarium, Fried teaches two different astronomy courses—a historical one and one focused on deep-space topics—to six to eight different classes. But the Cedar Crest planetarium is also used as a field trip destination for elementary- and middle-school-aged students and is made available as a community outreach tool for older local residents.

“It is something that kids from the youngest of ages can look up at the sky and just question, ‘Why?’’’ Fried said. “It’s that simple fascination with trying to put your life here on earth in perspective with a greater universe. Astronomy very often deals with things beyond our comprehension, things that are very, very old, things that are very, very hot or cold, things that are so very, very distant. Astronomy challenges the perceptions of life here on earth.”

It’s also ever evolving. We may know more about the universe today than we did yesterday—and not as much as we will tomorrow—but we may never know everything about it.

“In the planetarium, we can look forward 100,000 years and look back 100,000 years,” Fried said. “You can speed up time and you can slow down time. Where we’re at right now in astronomy is we’re starting to figure out what we know and what we don’t know. We’re at this interesting point where the mathematics is outpacing our technological abilities to study the universe.”

Part of the Cornwall-Lebanon school district’s original plan, the planetarium was constructed when Cedar Crest High School was built in 1966. Upgrades and the maintenance of the planetarium, including the installation of a digital projection system in 2006, have afforded thousands of students an opportunity to indulge their fascination with astronomy over six decades.

That type of commitment is at the heart of learning and education.

“I would argue that planetariums were more common back in the ‘60s and ‘70s,” Fried said. “Of course, back then, we had the Apollo missions front and center, the race to the moon. Astronomy was perhaps very much mainstream back then; it was ever-present in the news.”

Times have changed, people have come and gone, and the love for astronomy has spiked and waned. But as a course of study, astronomy will always be relevant.

“It’s fascinating to think about, not just how many people, but how many generations have gone through these doors,” Fried said. “Some of them have been so interested in the sciences that they have focused on a career in them.”

With this one tool, the school has brought both young and old together, under one roof, to learn something fascinating.

“As a teacher, I find that to be the most rewarding component of my time spent here,” Fried said.

Cedar Crest High School planetarium is located at 115 E. Evergreen Rd., Lebanon. For more information, visit www.clsd.k12.pa.us.

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Plane Talk: Pilots with a Purpose introduces young people to careers in aviation

July 28, 2023 | by Rachel Curry

Ed Nielsen

Alex Ellerbee

Back in his days as a youth counselor, Ed Nielsen found that a literal change of perspective shook some troubled teens out of their normal and into a more positive trajectory.

It was a bird’s eye view from a plane, he found, that did the trick on more than one occasion.

“I called it being ground-bound in terms of what you see and what you perceive based on your vision,” Nielsen said about the youth before he took them on a flight.

But the aerial ascent, he added, “gave them a whole new perspective of what was going on and how they fit into things.”

Nielsen—a private pilot, lifelong aviation enthusiast and U.S. Air Force veteran—has since transitioned out of counseling. However, he has managed to find a way back into directing youth toward a successful path in life through a nonprofit organization he co-founded called “Pilots with a Purpose.”

Pilots with a Purpose (PWAP) seeks to connect under-represented teens (including females and minorities) ages 16 and up with the education and experience needed to venture into successful aviation careers.

The group partners with Cargill Aeronautical Academy in New Cumberland to help students excel in pilot training. While education for aviation careers is traditionally a costly expense, corporate partners help alleviate the financial strain on students. Due to factors like pilot shortages at airlines, companies hiring for aviation roles are incentivized to streamline the path to education.

PWAP student Alex Ellerbee is in the process of getting his commercial pilot’s license, which requires 250 hours of training as well as a range of experiential and written assessments. Ellerbee already has his private pilot license and his instrument rating, which allows a pilot to navigate in adverse weather conditions.

Ellerbee is also a student at Penn State York, but flies as much as he can to push his dream forward of being a commercial pilot. He compared his field of study to his peers focused on traditional college majors.

“It’s a lot more practical, a lot more physical,” he said. “It’s a skill as much as it is knowledge.”

According to Ellerbee, “there’s also a risk factor.”

“You have to pay attention to what you’re doing and the consequences for your actions,” he said.

But for students with the drive to be disciplined and conscientious—even if they haven’t been given the chance to prove that part of themselves yet—it’s a promising path.

Besides pilot training, PWAP has affiliations with Harrisburg International Airport and Susquehanna Area Regional Airport for career paths like cargo loading, air traffic control, airport security, airport management and more.

“My goal is to get kids who don’t have an opportunity, don’t have exposure, from the inner city to get into aviation career paths,” Nielsen said. “It’s really that simple.”

PWAP has conducted aviation career days at schools in the region and plans to extend them to more schools in the future. They’re also seeking to partner with more guidance counselors to connect people ages 16 to 22 throughout central PA with aviation careers.

As for Ellerbee, he knew he wanted to be a pilot ever since his mom gifted him with a discovery flight experience one Christmas. When it came time to look for college, he said that he rushed into it, in part due to college being thrust upon him as the number-one option, and, in part, due to the fact that he once felt like piloting was out of reach.

“The cost seems very prohibitive for people that don’t really have much money or come from a lot of money,” Ellerbee said.

But he added that there’s always a way, whether through PWAP, scholarships to academy programs or military routes.

Maybe it’s his nature, or maybe it’s his flying experience that’s given him the confidence, but Ellerbee is full of words of wisdom.

“People in aviation are very goal-oriented. You’re always thinking ahead,” he said. “Slow down, enjoy where you’re at. This time doesn’t last forever, and it’s such a small amount of time when compared to the big picture of how long you’re actually going to be doing it for a career.”

If you’re a PWAP student, Ellerbee said that it means the team believes in you. Perhaps, in addition to the perspective change of flying in the sky, that support is enough to put someone on the right track.

To learn more about Pilots with a Purpose, visit www.pilotswithapurpose.org.

Photos courtesy of Shannon Confair.

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All in the Family: Juggling single motherhood and education, Danielle Martin has received her doctorate, as her twins prepare for college

July 28, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Ashlee, Danielle & Arin Martin

It’s that time of year when students get ready to head back to school. For twins Ashlee and Arin Martin, that means the start of a big new adventure.

Soon enough, the sisters will be off to Temple University in Philadelphia for their first year of college. While there’s always a little bit of nervousness that accompanies a significant life change, Ashlee and Arin, of Lower Paxton Township, are excited for their next chapter.

Their acceptance to Temple was even more significant, as their mother Danielle Martin just received her doctorate degree from the school in May.

Education has always been a major part of Danielle’s life, and she raised her daughters to understand its importance, as well. As she has now reached a level of scholarship that she never would’ve imagined for herself as a young girl, she has all the confidence that her girls will find success, as well.

But in one fell swoop, both of her girls, whom she has raised as a single mom, will be out of the house, and she knows that won’t be easy.

“It’s always just been us, our little club,” she said. “I’m so proud of them and so excited for them for this next chapter. But also, everybody’s leaving. It’s bittersweet.”

It’s the end of an era for the Martin family as Danielle finished her doctorate degree in step with Ashlee and Arin’s graduation from Central Dauphin High School. And after 18 years, the sisters will move out of their house and onto campus.

But it’s also the beginning of a new era, when the twins will get to explore their love for art and music at a higher level and when Danielle will use her degree in her career as an academic success coordinator at Temple’s Harrisburg campus.

“I’m grateful,” Danielle said. “My path was not a straight path. And I need people to understand that too, success is not a straight path.”

Crazy, in a Good Way

Danielle, a Harrisburg native, was the first in her family to attend college. Even so, there was always an “unofficial expectation” from her parents that she would pursue higher education.

She decided to follow her passion for teaching and graduated from Millersville University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Soon after, she landed a job teaching first grade in the Harrisburg School District and later received her master’s degree.

During her time as a teacher with the district, Danielle gave birth to her twins and suddenly her life revolved around little people, at work and at home.

“I had an amazing village,” she said. “But also, there is such a thing as prayer. It was not easy.”

Danielle’s career shifted into the higher education realm when she took a job assisting students from underrepresented communities in accessing college and, later, a position as an admissions counselor at HACC.

When HACC offered her the opportunity to pursue a doctorate of education, she had her doubts about whether she could do it.

“I wasn’t sure how I would be able to manage that,” Danielle said. “How was I still going to be actively engaged in parenthood, on top of going to school, on top of what it was going to cost me as a single mom?”

She was scared that she wouldn’t be able to make it work, so she declined.

When she was later offered her position at Temple, the school told her about its tuition remission program, and this time, Danielle took the chance.

While their mom was going back to school, Ashlee and Arin were entering high school and life was busy.

“We were in school together, which was crazy, but in a good way,” Danielle said.

Always There

After the many years at home of Danielle teaching the girls to write cursive, giving them educational games, and helping them learn how to read at a young age, Ashlee and Arin were more than prepared for high school.

“Every second I had, I wanted to make sure they were learning,” she said.

At Central Dauphin, the girls participated in almost every band, ensemble and drumline offered while also getting good grades.

At home, Danielle balanced helping the girls with homework with her own studies.

“She took a lot of pride in us and what we did and always pushed us to go harder,” Arin said. “Because of that, I literally am where I am. She was always there.”

For Danielle, that validated all of the hard work and investments she made in her family, even through the challenges.

“As a single parent, you’re just trying to do the best that you can, and you’re praying that the best you are giving is what they need,” Danielle said. “It does my heart good to know that they appreciated that.”

Now that Ashlee and Arin are headed off to college, they may be leaving home, but the twins will still be side by side as roommates. If their history isn’t enough to predict that they’ll be good living partners, they also received a 99% match on the university’s roommate finder program.

“She’s the only one that can tolerate me,” Arin said.

Both sisters will study art, a lifelong passion for each. They both have many years’ worth of sketchpads filled with drawings. At Temple, they look forward to finding their own unique style and expressing themselves.

“Art is a part of me and a coping mechanism for me,” Ashlee said.

As they continue their education, Ashlee and Arin are grateful for the role model that their mom has been for them and how she led by example.

On the flip side, everything Danielle has done has been for her girls, she explained. They’re what has motivated her.

“They are what keeps me going,” she said. “They are why and how I finished my doctorate program. They are what got me through.”

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Grief, Relief in Room 116: Daughter takes over mom’s second-grade classroom after beloved teacher dies suddenly

July 28, 2023 | by Diane McNaughton

Ashley and Jill Demmel at St. Catherine Laboure School.

Jill Demmel was the type of teacher you are destined to reminisce about long after you leave the report cards, reading assignments and recesses behind.

As a second-grade teacher at St. Catherine Laboure School in Swatara Township, “Mrs. Demmel” understood that some of her pint-sized students were dealing with adult-sized challenges beyond the walls of her alphabet-lined, primary-colored classroom, fragrant with the scent of Play-Doh, books and glue.

To brighten their world, Mrs. Demmel bought hairbrushes and decorated them with the words, “You Are Beautiful,” to brush a student’s hair every morning.

She bought snacks for the children who would have gone without. She came to every game, recital and tournament and cheered exuberantly from the sidelines.

“She gave out ‘mom hugs,’ and you didn’t even have to tell her you needed it,” said Megan Fackler, the school’s administrative assistant and Jill’s close friend.

She even purchased clothing for students in need.

So, when she suddenly passed away last October at the age of 49, leaving behind her husband Bob, two daughters, a sister, and a stunned classroom of second-graders, the close-knit school family was rocked to its core.

Demmel had just been diagnosed with what was deemed to be a “mild” case of breast cancer. After just one chemotherapy treatment, she was hit with an aggressive infection that overpowered her.

The pain and permanence of death is difficult for anybody to fathom, but when you’re 7 and the teacher you love was fine on Friday but gone on Sunday, grief and confusion are more confounding than advanced algebra.

On that Sunday, an emergency text went out to all school parents informing them of the sad news and encouraging them to talk to their children. Grief counselors were also brought in to help.

Children at that age often experience “magical thinking” to try to cope with complex issues, grief experts say. When they lack the emotional tools to understand the world, they may, irrationally, blame themselves or others to try to explain the unexplainable.

Fortunately for the children of St. Catherine’s, something magical did happen.

The teacher who stepped into Mrs. Demmel’s ample shoes was her 22-year-old daughter Ashley, who had just graduated from Shippensburg University with a degree in elementary and special education.

Long-time learning support teacher Aimee Surgeoner said that some caring teachers feared that it would be far too painful for Ashley to walk into her mom’s empty classroom.

Yet, soon, they saw that taking her mom’s place was far from traumatic—it was healing. Ashley wanted to teach the kids the way her mom did, hug them like she did, and give them the Christmas gifts her mom would have, which she did—blankets and ornaments with their names on them.

When news of Ashley’s hiring hit social media, the outpouring of joy was tangible.

“Absolutely beautiful” said one mom. “Can’t think of a better tribute to Jill and a gift for those lucky second graders.”

“Best news I’ve heard in a long time,” said another mom. “Couldn’t imagine anyone else teaching those kids!”

“We were elated for Jill to take her mother’s room,” Fackler added. “She was graduating college, and it just seemed like fate.”

Surgeoner agreed.

“Having Ashley step in for her mother has been a blessing for all of us,” she said. “It has truly been seamless.”

The entire school community, from the principal and teachers to the custodians and lunch ladies, supports her, and they all feel Ashley channeling her mom’s love.

“I see a lot of Jill in Ashley,” Fackler said. “Ashley is gentle, kind and patient. She gives the best hugs. She is her mother’s child.”

Students sharing memories of Jill with Ashley has been a big part of their collective coping, Surgeoner said.

In honor of Mrs. Demmel, the school family purchased a buddy bench, which Fackler described as a place where, “when you are feeling sad or alone, you sit. Friends see you and either sit with you or ask you to join them.”

It was something Demmel always wanted for the school playground.

“I know the staff will be sitting on it to talk to her as well,” Fackler said.

“I feel like Jill’s final gift to her daughter was room 116,” she said. “Jill will never be replaced, and that void will always be present…. As much as I know she didn’t want people to be sad for her, she comforted us with Ashley.”

Ashley said that the kids sometime tell her they miss her mom. Even though she is “Miss Demmel,” they often call her “Mrs. Demmel.” And that’s more than fine with her.

“I know she was my mom, but she literally was the best person ever,” Ashley said.

Still, school goes on—the pancake breakfasts, the school plays, the holiday fundraisers, the classroom parties.

“You can still feel Jill in room 116, and I think Ashley feels comfort in that,” Fackler said. “It was just meant to be. We needed her, and she needed us.”

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Musical Notes: August Is Hear

July 28, 2023 | by Skye Leppo

Let’s skip the small talk and dig into the music, because there’s a lot of good stuff happening in the 717 this month!

DON’T MISS

The Head And The Heart, 8/26, HU Presents Summer Series, Riverfront Park

In the fall of 2011, a very cool friend of mine, who is responsible for much of my early music discovery, invited me to a small music festival at the Ukie Club in Philly, and last-minute tickets were about $12. The lineup? An incredible snapshot of time in indie music—Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, Jukebox the Ghost, Good Old War, and an amazing folksy band called The Head And The Heart that absolutely blew me away. My friend threw the band’s song, “Rivers and Roads,” on a CD mix for me and I was hooked. This Seattle folk rock outfit has been a mainstay on the indie scene for the better part of the last 12 years and has seen peaks and valleys of stellar successes and criticism. While they’ve taken on a much more polished sound in recent releases, including 2022’s LP “Every Shade of Blue,” I can vouch for the band’s live performance skills.

GET ON YOUR FEET

CupcakKe, 8/24, XL Live

Rapper CupcakKe writes what are possibly the funniest lyrics I’ve ever heard. CupcakKe mostly, if not entirely, raps about sex with euphemisms and comparisons that are second to none. At 26 years old, she’s had an impressive rapping career for 13 years and nearly retired from music altogether in 2019 after concerns that her music was “corrupting youth,” but emerged from her hiatus 40 days later with new music. While none of her music is appropriate to print on the pages of this magazine, this show is likely going to be a great time. For a slightly more accessible intro to her music, check out the track “Squidward Nose.”

GROOVIN’

Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel, 8/18, H*MAC

Duane Betts is an astounding talent in his own right for his phenomenal guitar playing and singing in the Allman Betts Band, of which he is a co-founding member, not to mention the years he spent playing on tour with his father, Dickey Betts & The Great Southern. This time around, he’s putting forth his first solo effort, “Wild & Precious Life,” released in July via Royal Potato Family Records. I’d plan to arrive to this show early to catch opening act Cordovas, too. I’ve been especially digging their song “High Feeling.”

FOR CONSIDERATION

Windborne, 8/12, Unitarian Church of Harrisburg

As seen on #FolkTok (that’s the folk music section of TikTok, for those of you scratching your heads,) an insanely talented vocal group called Windborne will perform at the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg as part of Susquehanna Folk Music Society’s 2023 Susquehanna Folk Weekend. The quartet, comprised of Jeremy Gordon-Carter, Lynn Rowan, Lauren Breunig and Will Rowan, released a beautiful album in 2022 called “Recollections|Revolutions.”

Honorable Mentions

Outlaw Music Festival, 8/4, Hersheypark Stadium
The Smithereens w/Marshall Crenshaw, 8/4, The Englewood
Pantera, 8/5, Hersheypark Stadium
Beres Hammond, 8/9, H*MAC
The Chicks, 8/10, Hersheypark Stadium
Splintered Sunlight, 8/11, XL Live
Guns N’Roses, 8/11, Hersheypark Stadium
Shakey Graves, 8/16, XL Live
Samantha Fish, 8/17, XL Live
Southern Rockfest: A Brothers Revival, 8/19, H*MAC
Black Flag, 8/21, XL Live
Quinn Sullivan, 8/25, H*MAC
RalphReal & The Family Jam, 8/27, West Shore Theatre
Rival Sons, 8/29, XL Live

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Summer Stuffer: A perfect meal for those giant garden zucchini

July 28, 2023 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

I’ve written several times about the “first world problem” of having too many zucchini at the end of summer. We have all been there.

A co-worker brings a big shopping bag of baseball bat-sized zucchini from their home garden, and there is enough for everyone! Well, luckily, there are many zucchini recipes out there now, including zucchini muffins and cakes, zucchini pickles and even crispy zucchini chips.

Zucchini need to be “dressed up” a bit as making them without seasoning or without other ingredients can result in a rather bland vegetable side dish. One of my mother’s best summertime casseroles was a combination of sliced zucchini, cherry tomatoes, sliced onions, olive oil and lots of breadcrumbs baked until it was bubbling. Even on a hot day, it was delicious and a nice accompaniment to a grilled steak or chicken. She never wrote the recipe down but I have made a similar dish by “winging it.”

But one of my very favorite zucchini preparations is from a very old publication called the “Grass Roots Cookbook.” It is a compilation of best-loved recipes from home cooks all across the country. “Sausage Stuffed Zucchini” is a great summer dinner because it can be made early in the day and gently heated when you are ready to eat it. It only needs some ripe, sliced beefsteak tomatoes dressed in olive oil and vinegar to accompany it to the table (and maybe some heated Italian dinner rolls). For me, once the prep is done, it is an easy meal with no last minute grilling. It is perfect for a buffet table, and leftovers can be served for lunch.

Sausage Stuffed Zucchini

Ingredients

6 medium zucchini, scrubbed well and stem ends trimmed
A large pot of lightly salted water
½ pound sweet Italian sausages
A medium onion, peeled and finely minced
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ teaspoon dried marjoram or oregano
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
¼ cup dried breadcrumbs
1 large egg
½ teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper

Directions

Half the zucchini lengthwise and then parboil them in the lightly salted water. (You must be careful here. The recipe says to boil for 10 minutes, but you must check frequently with a little fork. You want the zucchini to be “crisp tender” and not mushy and falling apart.) When they are done, remove gently with tongs and lay on a dry, clean dishtowel to drain and cool.
When cool, scrape out the central portions of the zucchini, leaving the shells with walls about ¼ inch thick. Chop the scooped zucchini very fine and set aside.
Slit the casings on the sausage, scoop out the meat into a large, heavy skillet set over low heat.
Break up the clumps with a wooden spoon and sauté very slowly until no traces of pink remain.
The meat should be fine and crumbly, but only lightly brown.
Add the minced onion, basil, parsley and oregano. Turn the heat to medium low and simmer for about 5 to 8 minutes.
Remove the skillet from the heat and mix in the reserved chopped zucchini, Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, egg, salt and pepper. Mix all together briskly with the wooden spoon.
Fill the zucchini shells with the stuffing mixture, dividing it equally among the 12 shells and mounding it slightly in the center.
Arrange the filled halves in a heavy baking pan with the shells touching each other for support as they bake.
Bake uncovered in a 350-degree oven for 30 minutes just until the stuffing is lightly browned.

I’ve written so often about how Italians love to “stuff things,” especially vegetables. I know the prep for these stuffed zucchinis seems a little involved, but they are a perfect summer meal and this recipe makes a lot. Make ahead of time, and dinner will come together easily. Even people who don’t like zucchini will like these. Enjoy the best of summer. It is passing by so quickly.

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Messy, Like Life: “Mutt” is a fabulous film that’s also authentic

July 28, 2023 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Photos courtesy of Strand Releasing.

Vuk Lungulov-Klotz’s “Mutt” is an absolutely phenomenal film that takes a stroll straight to your heart.

At first, the term “Mutt” seems a bit harsh during the setup of the film. Feña (Lio Mehiel), having undergone breast reduction surgery and perhaps unintentional social surgery, explains to an acquaintance that, just because he hasn’t given himself genital surgery doesn’t mean he’s any less of a man. It is partially conversations like these, and a number of other reasons, that Feña finds himself with a different crowd of friends and disconnected from a lot of people he knew previously, including his family.

But suddenly, those he was close with prior to transitioning begin to pop back into his life unexpectedly. His father (Alejandro Goic) is visiting in order to renew his green card; his ex (Cole Doman) is back in town; and his sister (MiMi Ryder) comes looking for him when she gets her period for the first time and their mother doesn’t give her the time of day. Simultaneously navigating a bustling New York City without a car and navigating several tumultuous relationships without any warning, Feña makes the effort to reconnect with his past, all the while knowing that these connections may end up just being temporary.

“Mutt” may be one of the most naturally occurring stories I’ve seen in a while. The relationships feel natural, the acting feels genuine. Though many things go wrong for Feña narratively, the culminating events of his very stressful couple of days don’t feel like they’re being forced on us. They unfold with boldly realistic nuance, never quite trespassing into over-sentimentality at the expense of Feña’s character development. Overall, the story feels really satisfying, in a messy, haphazard sort of way. True to life as it can ever be.

Mehiel gives a breathtakingly honest performance, shading in the details of their complex character with ease. And the supporting cast rounds out the film nicely. Each and every relationship in this film is so delicately woven, and the result will suck you right in.

Don’t miss your chance to see “Mutt” at Midtown Cinema this August.

Midtown Cinema is located at 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com.

August Events At Midtown Cinema

Music on the Patio
Every Thursday, 6 to 8 p.m.

Film Opening
“Theatre Camp”
Friday, Aug. 4

Free Outdoors Film
“Inside Out” (2015)
Saturday, Aug. 5, at dusk

“The Sandlot” (1993)
Saturday, Aug. 19, at dusk

Cat Video Fest
Aug. 6 to 13

Down in Front! Presents
“Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever” (2002)
Friday, Aug. 11 at 9:30(ish)

3rd in the Burg Movie Night
“Deadpool”
Friday, Aug. 18, 9:30 p.m.

National Theatre Live
“Fleabag”
Sunday, Aug. 20, 7 p.m.

Sunday Docs Series
“Summer of Soul” (2021)
Sunday, Aug. 20, 4 p.m.

Trivia Night on the Big Screen
Tuesday, Aug. 22, 7 p.m.

Late Night Frights Presents
“Barbarian” (2022)
Friday, Aug. 25, 9:30 p.m.

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

Community Corner: Notable August Events

July 28, 2023 | by Missy Smith

Evening Mixer
Aug. 3: Join West Shore Chamber of Commerce for an evening mixer at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet 5 N Orange St., Suite 3, Carlisle, 4 to 6 p.m. This free event is open to chamber members. Potential members are welcome to attend two free chamber events. www.wschamber.org

Sunset Series
Aug. 4, 11, 18, 25: Dauphin County’s “Movie & Music Series” takes place at Fort Hunter Park, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg. Performances start at 7 p.m., movies start at 8:30 p.m. Bring a picnic or grab refreshments from the concession stand. Find a full schedule on the Fort Hunter website. www.forthunter.org

Kindergarten Program
Aug. 5: WITF, 4801 Lindle Rd., Harrisburg, hosts “Ready Set Go… Kindergarten,” a fun morning out for families with children entering kindergarten and for recent kindergarten graduates, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. www.witf.org

Mystery Conference
Aug. 5: Mechanicsburg Mystery Bookshop hosts a Mystery Conference at 125 E. Main St., Shiremanstown, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Doors open at 9 a.m. Enjoy an afternoon with 15 authors speaking on several panels, author roundabouts and books to purchase and have signed. Admission is $20 per adult and $18 per young adult. www.MysteryBooksOnline.com

Home Tour
Aug. 5: Enjoy the architecture and style of Mt. Gretna’s iconic homes at the annual Mt. Gretna Tour of Homes and Gardens, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Take a self-guided walking tour to see how people have transformed cottages to accommodate modern life while keeping the Mt. Gretna charm. www.gretnamusic.org

Summer Flea
Aug. 5: Shop the HBG Flea for local art, vintage treasures, curated curios and unique gifts, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. The mission of the HBG Flea is to create a platform for community growth by bringing artists, small businesses and patrons together. www.hbgflea.com

Book Sale
Aug. 5-8: Hershey Public Library will hold its Friends Annual Summer Book Sale at 701 Cocoa Ave., Hershey. www.hersheylibrary.org

Bike Trifecta
Aug. 5-Sept. 17: The Central PA Bicycling Trifecta brings together the Chocolate Tour in Manheim on Aug. 5, the Lancaster Bicycle Club’s Covered Bridge Classic in Lancaster on Aug. 20, and the Harrisburg Bicycle Club’s Three Creek Century in Newville on Sept. 17. Each of these events offers scenic rides of varying distances. www.threecreekcentury.com

Folk Arts
Aug. 6: the Susquehanna Folk Music Society will recognize artists completing the first year of their Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grant at the Fort Hunter Mansion and Park Centennial Barn, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, 1 to 4 p.m. The celebration will include performances, interviews and demos. www.sfmsfolk.org

Macramé Workshop
Aug. 6: Join Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, to learn macramé, the art of decorative knotting, and create a handcrafted plant hanger to take home, 2 to 4 p.m. No previous experience is needed. The workshop fee includes all materials and instruction needed to complete one plant hanger. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Sousa Concert
Aug. 6: The Carlisle Town Band will host the 35th annual Grand Sousa Concert at the Carlisle Theatre, 40 W. High St., at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy an evening of music in the style of the iconic “March King” John Philip Sousa, under the direction of guest conductor Dr. David Kammerer, professor of music emeritus, Rider University. www.carlisleband.org

Garden Camp
Aug. 8: Penn State Master Gardeners of Cumberland County hosts Summer Garden Camp at the Penn State Extension office, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle, for kids ages 7 to 12, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Campers will learn about beneficial birds and insects and harvesting times of herbs, plants and flowers. They will also make a lawn ornament. www.extension.psu.edu

Food Rally
Aug. 10: 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

Golf Open
Aug. 11: The Education Foundation of Central Penn College hosts the 52nd annual Golf Open, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Rich Valley Golf, 227 Rich Valley Rd., Mechanicsburg. All proceeds benefit student scholarship funds. www.centralpenn.edu

Folk Weekend
Aug. 11-13: The Susquehanna Folk Festival is taking a year off, but the Susquehanna Folk Music Society is still packing the second weekend of August with world-class performers, workshops and hands-on fun in Lancaster, Harrisburg and Hershey. www.sfmsfolk.org

Volunteer Day
Aug. 12: Enjoy the outdoors and help with park and habitat enhancement projects at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tools and work gloves will be provided, and refreshments will be available. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Block Party
Aug. 12: Brethren Community Ministries (bcmPEACE) invites the community to a block party at 2 p.m. on the 200 block of Hummel St., Harrisburg Enjoy free food, tours of bcmPEACE facilities, and activities for all ages. Learn more about what bcmPEACE offers to the community to help their neighbors thrive. www.bcmpeace.org

SoulFit Festival
Aug. 12-13: Enjoy music, performances, dance classes and fitness classes at the 4th annual SoulFit Festival, 1 to 5 p.m. each day at Camp Curtin School, 2900 N. 6th St., Harrisburg. 717-425-3314

Opera in the Park
Aug. 13: Enjoy Harrisburg Opera Association’s “Opera in the Park—Make ‘Em Laugh” at Italian Lake, Harrisburg, 4 p.m. The free, educational outreach concert is kid friendly and geared toward music lovers of all ages. Picnicking and aloha or casual attire will be celebrated. www.harrisburg-opera.org

Evening Mixer
Aug. 15: Join West Shore Chamber of Commerce for an evening mixer at Harrisburg’s West Shore Scuba, 203 Valley St., Enola, 5 to 7 p.m. This free event is open to chamber members. Potential members are welcome to attend two free chamber events. www.wschamber.org

Plant Sale
Aug. 17: Manada Conservancy will host a summer native plant sale at its native plant nursery, within the East Hanover Township Nature Park, 328 N. Crawford Road, Grantville, 5 to 8 p.m. www.manada.org

Garden Workshop
Aug. 15: Join Penn State Master Gardeners for “Gardening with Nature—Pruning Basics and Beyond,” a hands-on workshop, at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Learn how to tackle your pruning projects with greater skills and confidence. www.extension.psu.edu

Jazz Party
Aug. 17: Historical Society of Dauphin County hosts “Flowers & All that Jazz—A Jazz Age Lawn Party” at John Harris- Simon Cameron Mansion, 6 p.m. Enjoy food, dessert, wine, beer, a specialty cocktail, raffles, croquet, live music, flowers, mansion tours, conversation and networking. Tickets start at $60. www.dauphincountyhistory.org

Golf Scramble
Aug. 18: The 12th Annual Harrisburg Young Professionals Golf Scramble will be held at Dauphin Highlands Golf Course, 650 S. Harrisburg St., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Teams of four golfers are invited to register online. Shotgun start begins at 2 p.m. Scramble includes a round of golf, a golf cart, lunch, dinner and an opportunity to win prizes. www.hyp.org

Film Friday
Aug. 18: Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, will show “Rabbit Proof Fence” from Australia at 2 p.m. Following the film, you are encouraged to join the library for a film discussion. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

3rd in The Burg
Aug. 18: 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

Cleanup Day
Aug. 19: Wildheart Ministries hosts a Love the Hill cleanup event from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteer to work outside picking up trash, doing basic landscaping, helping with dumpsite removal or planting flowers in the neighborhood. Bring a pair of gloves, a water bottle, sunscreen, bug spray and any tools you may have. www.lovethehillpa.com

Art Soiree
Aug. 19: Art Association of Harrisburg hosts the “Manor on Front Soiree” at the home of Mark and Sheri Bennington, 2917 N. Front St., Harrisburg, 5 to 8 p.m., with featured plein air artists Jonathan Frazier, Brian Eppley, John McNulty and Steve Wetzel. Cost is $45 in advance, $50 at the door. www.artassocofhbg.com

Flower Walk
Aug. 20: Take in the sights of summer at Wildwood Park, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., with a free nature walk to see some wetland plants along the North Boardwalk, including American lotus and the rose mallows. Common ragweed, responsible for a great deal of allergic response, will be identified along the trail, as well. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Choral Concert
Aug. 20: The Susquehanna Chorale will perform their 2023 spring concert, “Songs for the Journey,” at Mt. Gretna’s open-air Tabernacle at 7 p.m. A variety of music will be performed under direction of chorale founder and artistic director, Linda L. Tedford. www.susquehannachorale.org

Farm to River
Aug. 20: Fort Hunter will host its annual “Farm to River” fundraiser at the mansion, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, 6 to 8 p.m., with locally sourced, homemade dinner offerings, local brews and wines, live acoustic music and more. www.forthunter.org

Golf Tournament
Aug. 21: Bethesda Mission will host its annual Mission Open Golf Tournament at Colonial Golf and Tennis Club, 4901 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg, to raise funds for its long-term recovery program, beginning with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. www.bethesdamission.org

Yard Concert
Aug. 26: Tim and Polly Alexander will host a “Front Yard Concert” at Deer Road/White Rock Acres in Boiling Springs with Christie Lenée, 7:30 p.m. The driveway opens at 6:30 p.m. Admission is a $20 donation per person, and guests are asked to register online. Bring a lawn chair, picnic food and cold beverage. www.mansionconcert.com

Run Wild
Aug. 26: Join Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, for the 4th annual Run Wild for Wildwood 5K & 10K, 8 to 11 a.m. This scenic run/walk will take you on the Wildwood Way Trail around the lake and the Towpath Trail along the Pennsylvania Canal. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Concert Series
Aug. 27: Harrisburg Young Professionals hosts a free Italian Lake Concert Series concert with Mark DeRose and the Dreadnoughts at Italian Lake, N. 3rd and Division streets, Harrisburg, 6 to 8 p.m. Bring a lawn chair, picnic blankets and snacks. www.hyp.org

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

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