Pride on the Page: In an acclaimed book, a local activist collected stories of LGBTQ+ trials, triumphs

May 31, 2023 | by M. Diane McCormick

Floyd Stokes

“If you’re looking for unicorns and rainbows, turn the page. But if you want a real-life story about growing up the hard way and still finding that strong person inside, keep reading.”

This is the voice of Tamika Wesley, one of about 50 speaking through “How We Found Our Pride: Letters to a Young Queer.”

The locally produced book, published in fall 2021, presents letters from LGBTQ+ people, plus a few allies, that illuminate their experience in tones ranging from heartbreaking to humorous, from painful to insightful. Each story differs, but all lead to pride, authenticity and advice on finding your tribe.

The book was the brainchild of Floyd Stokes, executive director of American Literacy Corp. in Harrisburg. As he was planning for how to celebrate Pride Month, he remembered a favorite book, “Letters to a Young Brother,” by Hill Harper. For young Black men who rarely see themselves in a positive light, the book offered encouragement and advice.

Stokes wondered if he could do something similar for young LGBTQ+ people, reflecting their struggles, their fight against stereotypes, and their ability to rise above adversity and find success.

With financial support from Capital Blue Cross, Stokes pulled together a local team of artists, editors, advisers and backers to make the project happen.

“There’s so many aspects and so many positive things that have come out of the book,” Stokes said. “A reason why we created the book was to give young people a chance to read other testimonies from people who have overcome obstacles.”

The letters encompass the range of human experience in its racial, ethnic, age and gender diversity. They include a genderfluid 8-year-old, a Fulbright Scholar from Utah, accountants, entertainers and artists, political operatives, teachers and elected officials. Their voices say:

“And she chose love.”

“I see so much pain behind your eyes.”

“All the lying and hiding was eroding my integrity.”

Wesley, a Harrisburg mental health provider, helped Stokes devise the concept and contributed a letter sharing her journey of trials and acceptance and her commitment to helping young people find safe havens. She found the book “inspirational,” especially at a time when more people are coming out, including trans individuals.

“‘How We Found Our Pride’ gives that inspiration to people that they can still have positive effects from coming out,” Wesley said. “They don’t have to be scared. There’s support out there. There’s help out there.”

Wesley and many other authors address the intergenerational dynamics they navigated and, often, the growth of parents and grandparents from resistance to acceptance. Wesley attributes their initial resistance to “the fear and ‘I don’t knows’ and stigma” they grew up with.

“Over time, they see that sexuality and gender does not depict the person themselves,” she said. “I’m still going to be a great person regardless of my sexual orientation. Love is love.”

Next Level

Proceeds from the book funded scholarships awarded by ALC to HACC students last fall and again this coming fall.

“In everything, I believe in education,” Stokes said. “Life is difficult, but you’re better off with an education than without. You can better navigate the obstacles in life. You’re better able, when you stumble, to get up, dust yourself off, and stand on your own two feet.”

In a letter submitted by John J. “Ski” Sygielski, the HACC president shares the memory of finally coming out by publicly thanking his husband of 30 years during his HACC presidential inauguration.

“Were we mocked and jeered?” he wrote. “Not at all! In fact, my husband received more applause than I did!”

LGBTQ+ students have faced ridicule in classrooms and playgrounds their whole lives, said Sygielski. HACC policies “accept and we support everybody,” creating campuses that students consider to be safe spaces.

Some LGBTQ+ students struggle to get or keep jobs due to discrimination and workplace bullying, Sygielski said. The Pride Scholarship, HACC’s newest, tackles that barrier by “letting our LGBTQ community know that there are individuals and organizations that are there to support them in their academic work in the hopes that they will achieve their professional goals, so they can then be employed at some of our major employers in the area.”

In the book, Emily Taylor, of Lower Paxton Township, shared her story of growing up in a conservative Christian household, the painful process of coming out, and the realization that “coming out and owning my truth and my identity was and continues to be worth it.”

Today, Taylor said that she submitted the letter because, “I know what I’ve been through in my personal journey and how difficult that was in many ways.”

“Having people in our communities who are visible and in leadership positions or in positions to have an impact on others and are willing to be open and honest about who they are, it helps other people be more comfortable and see things differently,” Taylor told TheBurg.

Like Taylor, many letter authors wrote about fears that their sexuality or gender status would suppress their careers. Many, however, found embracing their true selves freed them to fully utilize their talents. That was part of Taylor’s story, and she has now “gone to the next level” as HR director for a health care provider.

“Who I am is always going to be a part of how I do things,” she said. “I’m going to always value diversity. I’m going to always want to champion any kind of aspect of diversity because I know what that feels like.”

Candid & Clear

The book is making its way to personal libraries, including the collection of Dr. Vicki Basktecki-Perez, president of Montgomery County Community College. Gifted to her by Sygielski, she shares it with others as a book “that fosters a sense of belonging and offers a candid and clear look” at the personal stories within the LGBTQ+ community.

“It really helps us look at humanity as not binary in anything, whether you look at gender, whether you look at expression, race, ethnicity,” Bastecki-Perez said. “It’s not necessarily just a binary process. It’s fluid.”

Bastecki-Perez leads a campus culture celebrating equity, diversity and belonging for all, and she pinpoints the Pride book’s most valuable takeaway as the notion “that someone can live an authentic life and be happy, be joyous, be healthy and be successful.”

She added that she knows of youth who have shared the book with their peers, so “that singular book has touched more than one life.”

The book’s allies include Leigh-Ann Reitze, who has proudly embraced rainbows in her clothing and décor since her son came out as gay. She has learned everything she can about the LGBTQ+ community so she can proudly stand beside her son, even when he’s rolling his eyes, but those moments have led to incredible experiences—the coincidence of being in Ireland during the Dublin Pride Parade, and a Brooklyn visit this spring to attend a Pride festival and visit Stonewall, a trip they’re calling the “great gay May vacay.”

In her letter, Reitze urges readers who aren’t fortunate enough to have a loving family to find the “people out there who will love you for who you are. Do the things that you’re passionate about, and those generous souls will find you.”

At the book release party, Reitze read a selection from her letter, surprised to find herself getting emotional. Afterwards, another letter author called her “the perfect mom.” Recently, she loaned a copy to a new transgender coworker.

“They took it home, and their girlfriend is reading it right now,” said Reitze. “They said it was really cool.”

Reitze also took the time to read the entire book—it’s a breezy 127 pages—and came away with “a sense of community. I just loved the concept of the book. It’s a nice, easy read about other people in the same boat as us.”

“How We Found Our Pride: Letters to a Young Queer” can be purchased directly from the American Literacy Corporation at www.superreader.org or from Amazon.com.

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Liberation Celebration: Juneteenth HBG festival returns to commemorate holiday, showcase Black culture, art

May 31, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Dr. Kimeka Campbell
Photo by Chris Gordon

Dr. Kimeka Campbell knows that, not only do many hands make light work, but the more that community members collaborate, the stronger Harrisburg becomes.

One city. One team. One impact.

That’s the motto for Juneteenth HBG, an annual celebration spearheaded by Young Professionals of Color-Greater Harrisburg (YPOC), of which Campbell is the co-founder.

The team has brought together leaders from Harrisburg’s art, religious, theater, health, academic and music scenes to create this year’s lineup of events.

“When you bring together the talented people in the city, you have something really nice,” Campbell said.

This is the third year that YPOC will hold Juneteenth HBG to celebrate the holiday, on June 19, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. June 19, 1865 is recognized as the day when the remaining Black slaves in Texas received word that they were free. Juneteenth was officially recognized as a national holiday in 2021.

Juneteenth HBG has grown each year, with 2023 offering a list of events encompassing everything from history to art to education. Events already kicked off in May with a historic walking tour, homeownership class, economic panel and environmental festival. June’s events are gearing up and will take place in mid-June.

First up is the Juneteenth Conference, a daylong event at both HACC and the National Civil War Museum on June 10. Author, activist and TV personality Marc Lamont Hill will present the keynote address and other speakers will discuss topics surrounding homeownership, business, Black history, health and wellness and community development.

A new event this year will be the Juneteenth Interfaith Church Service at Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church to highlight the importance of Black churches in the African American community.

Frank Henley

Frank Henley, founder and artistic director at Harrisburg’s Narçisse Theatre Company, is especially excited about one of the month’s events. On June 14, the theater will host a Black Performance Arts Showcase featuring dance, music, spoken word, theater and more.

Narçisse recently moved to a new location on Chestnut Street downtown and plans to hold its grand opening this month, before the showcase.

“The event is going to focus on Black performance art through its many forms,” Henley said. “We are trying to show the strength and transformative power of the arts.”

The show will pay homage to those who lost their lives during slavery, as well as those who made it through, and will spotlight the ways that the Black community has found joy in times of sorrow, Henley explained.

Another arts event, “Evolution: The Revision of Black Arts Expo,” at the Susquehanna Art Museum, will showcase work by local artists on the past, present and future of Black history. Attendees can also participate in an interactive paint session.

Closing out the week, on June 17, will be a Juneteenth concert, and the capstone event, Juneteenth Jubilee, will take place on June 18 at HACC. The concert, at XL Live, will celebrate 50 years of hip-hop and artists like Michel’le, Soul for Real, Zhane, Shai and Jeff Redd will take the stage. Juneteenth Jubilee will highlight small, Black-owned businesses and vendors, offer activities for families and have food trucks on site.

Through all of the wide range of events, the focus will be on Juneteenth and what it means for, not only the Black community, but for the community as a whole, Campbell shared. Events like homeownership and economic classes address the systemic issues and impact of slavery, while others like the art and theater events spotlight Black culture and the freedom found in creating and telling a story.

“Harrisburg has the culture, and we are trying to amplify that in all that we do,” Campbell said. “The week is about celebrating the life and culture of the Black community, which we believe goes hand-in-hand with emancipation.”

Since Juneteenth became a national holiday and, with YPOC’s promotion of the celebration over the years, Campbell believes more people are recognizing and understanding the holiday’s significance. But there’s still educational work to be done, and Campbell is hopeful that Juneteenth HBG’s events help further that work.

“It’s not just about recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday, but understanding the history,” she said. “Black history and Juneteenth and emancipation are American history.”

Juneteenth HBG will take place at locations around the city June 10 to 18. For more information, visit www.ypoc-hbg.org.

On Your Calendar

Make plans to attend one or more of these Juneteenth events:

Juneteenth Conference
June 10, 10 a.m.
HACC & National Civil War Museum

Juneteenth Church Service
June 11, 10 a.m.
Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church

Topixx Tuesday Juneteenth HBG Edition
June 13, 7 p.m.
Hurston Manor

Black Performance Arts Showcase
June 14, 6:30 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m.
Narçisse Theatre

Evolution: The Revision of Black Art Expo
June 15, 5 p.m.
Susquehanna Art Museum

UPMC Healthy Harrisburg Kick-off
June 17, 9 a.m.
Soldier’s Grove

Juneteenth Concert
June 17, 8 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m.
XL Live

Juneteenth Jubilee
June 18, 12 p.m.
HACC

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Green Team: Grassroots organization Capital Area Cleanup hosts trash pickups, educates on environmentalism

May 31, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Leslie Avila has an objective that may seem small, but could make a huge impact.

“One of my biggest goals is to get people to care about putting trash in trash cans,” she said.

If people did that, the environment would reap all kinds of great benefits, Avila explained. Our waterways, food, air quality and soil would all be impacted positively.

Avila is working towards that goal one trash cleanup at a time with her group Capital Area Cleanup. The group, which started about four years ago, has worked to beautify the greater Harrisburg area, as well as educate participants on how to better care for the earth.

Avila, along with co-leaders, Tyler Vaupel and Jazmine Soberanis, kicked off their 2023 cleanups this spring, giving local residents monthly opportunities to volunteer and make a difference in their community.

“Our actions shape the world around us,” Avila said. “We are cleaning up to make our planet better.”

Capital Area Cleanups are different than your average trash cleanup, Avila said, as they include a lot of environmental education. The team instructs volunteers on the difference between waste materials and whether they should be recycled, composted or trashed. The group will then separate them out.

The cleanups take place in Harrisburg and the surrounding communities, with the group beautifying city streets, alleys and even creeks.

In May, the group hosted an event in conjunction with Juneteenth HBG’s weeks-long festivities, at which participants heard from Capital Region Water, Harrisburg Public Works and local activists on environmental topics.

Harrisburg resident Donovan Bailey started participating in the trash cleanups, as well as providing graphic design services for the group, within the past year. When he started volunteering, he didn’t know much about environmental issues, he admitted, but that quickly changed.

“I brought no knowledge to the first day, but she [Avila] has been teaching us every time,” Bailey said. “It’s made me want to take care of the earth and learn more.”

He said he since has invited friends to join the group and wants to continue spreading awareness of the need.

“It’s been nice to see the area I grew up in get cleaned up,” Bailey said. “Knowing there’s a change happening and I’ve helped make it—it warms my heart.”

Why is picking up trash so important to Avila?

It’s more than just a way to make the neighborhoods look nicer, although that’s a huge benefit, as well. A trash-ridden environment can affect the soil, allowing chemicals to harm plants, Avila said. It can also impact the sewer system, making water more difficult to clean and damaging the infrastructure. Trash can also harm wildlife—critters on land and in water.

Capital Area Cleanup volunteers have been surprised by how much trash they encounter on their walks, Avila said. But it’s that awareness that she hopes will drive people to want to make a change.

She’s also noticed the impact on the community as the group has remained consistent over the years.

“People are excited to see everyone so dedicated,” she said.

For more information on Capital Area Cleanup, visit their Facebook page.

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In a Pickle: The sport with the funny name is taking the Harrisburg area by storm

May 31, 2023 | by Dan Miller

Renderings of future Smash Point Pickleball.

Forty-four year old Vinay Joshi has only been playing pickleball since March 2020.

A little over three years later, Joshi and a business partner are about to open the greater Harrisburg area’s first indoor facility devoted entirely to the pickleball mania sweeping the nation.

Smash Point Pickleball, with eight courts, is expected to open the first week of July on Gateway Drive in Hampden Township, between Sky Zone and T.J. Maxx.

Joshi and partner Vijay Varadarajan are leasing a former retail space with 24-foot-high ceilings being redeveloped for the new use. Smash Point will have 25,000 square feet of space, including a 4,000-square-foot lounge.

Joshi isn’t the only one seeing opportunity from the growth of pickleball in the Harrisburg area. Ace Pickleball Club recently awarded 10 franchises for new indoor pickleball facilities nationwide, including one in the Harrisburg area.

Just Start

In 1965, three men on Bainbridge Island near Seattle, Wash., invented pickleball. A fast-paced combination of tennis, ping pong and badminton, pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court with a net about two inches shorter than a tennis net.

Players use a paddle slightly larger than in ping pong and a ball similar to a whiffle ball, but more durable. Pickleball can be played by two people in a singles match or two on each side in doubles play.

Pickleball used to be considered chiefly a game enjoyed by senior citizens at retirement communities in states like Arizona and Florida. But, recently, the sport has exploded in popularity, driven in part by the need for people of all ages to come up with new social and exercise outlets during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023, pickleball was named the fastest growing sport in America for the third straight year by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, according to USA Pickleball. There are now 8.9 million pickleball players in the United States over age 6—nearly double the 4.8 million in 2022, according to the association.

Joshi played racquetball until the pandemic shut down all venues for that sport in early 2022.

“We didn’t have anything else to do,” he said. “We didn’t have an option so I thought, why not try this?”

Joshi quickly got hooked on the sport. The game is simple to learn and a lot of fun.

“From 8 to 80, everyone can play,” he said. “You don’t have to be extremely athletic. You can just start.”

Anyone can learn to play in an hour’s time, and you don’t need a large space, Joshi said. He knows many people who started playing pickleball in their garage or driveway.

Also, the sport isn’t expensive. You can get a decent paddle for $50 or less. Otherwise, you need a ball and the same kind of shoes you’d wear for tennis.

Joshi plays every day, usually early mornings between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m. He used to play at Creekview Park in Hampden Township but said the park gets too crowded with other players.

So, he often plays with a friend who built his own pickleball court at this house in Camp Hill. In winter or when it’s too cold or windy or rainy, he plays indoors at the YMCA in Carlisle, which has a basketball court lined for pickleball.

Brings Me Joy

Mitch Dameshek, a special education teacher who lives in Enola, also started playing pickleball during the pandemic. Besides giving him something to do, Dameshek said that pickleball helped him during an especially difficult time.

“I lost my daughter to cancer about six years ago,” he said. “She was 12. (Pickleball) was a great way for me in the last few years to interact socially. I have a new group of friends. It gives me something to do everyday that brings me joy. It definitely offers a relief from the stressors of life.”

Dameshek plays four to five times a week, weather permitting, usually at Creekview.

On a recent Wednesday night at Creekview, three tennis courts were empty but the four pickleball courts were all full, with people waiting their turn to play.

Like Joshi, Dameshek said that a major factor behind the growth of pickleball is how easy it is to learn and play. Pickleball also is more accessible to the average person in a way tennis is not.

“Tennis has never been the kind of sport where you just show up to a park and ask to play,” Dameshek said, whereas pickleball has more of a community feel.

Barry Reynolds lives on the east shore. When the weather is bad, he plays at Friendship YMCA in Lower Paxton Township, which has five indoor courts.

Otherwise, there’s a growing number of outdoor courts he can choose from on the east shore, including in Hershey near the Derry Township Community Center on Cocoa Avenue, off Patton Road near Linglestown, in Brightbill Park and in Koons Park in Lower Paxton Township.

Besides keeping him in shape, Reynolds, 72, enjoys the social aspects of pickleball.

“You have this huge social interaction when you are standing or waiting,” he said. “You make all these friends and have such a good time.”

Reynolds teaches pickleball classes at Friendship. He said his pickleball friends keep telling him to stop because he’s creating more pickleball players, and there aren’t enough courts now.

But Reynolds sees a number of east shore municipalities stepping up with plans to build more pickleball courts.

“It appeals to a lot of older people who are retired and are now looking for something to do,” he said. “Not everybody plays golf.”

Smash Point Pickleball will be located at 97 Gateway Dr., Mechanicsburg. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

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Feeling Peevish: You know what really bothers me?

May 31, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck.

If you’re of a certain age, you may remember an old, crotchety guy named Andy Rooney.

For years, Rooney capped off each episode of the TV program, “60 Minutes,” with his wry observations centered on the petty things in life that bugged him. His weekly complaints included everything from ice hockey to pepper grinders to faucets.

I’m now around the age that Rooney was when he became a national figure, a time, a couple of decades back, when I sat in front of the TV and thought to myself, “What the hell is wrong with this cranky old man?”

Indeed, I now have my own list of little things that bug me. Unsurprisingly, a number of those things pertain to Harrisburg, always the subject of this column.

Now, most of these things are not major issues. So, I won’t point out, for the umpteenth time, the dangerous, overbuilt insanity that is Forster Street.

Instead, they are, as the term “pet peeve” implies, petty and peevish. Or, as Rooney used to famously say, “You know what really bothers me?”

10. Tree Screed. I do a lot of walking around Harrisburg, so notice things that drivers might not—such as the many types of trees planted along city streets. In recent years, people have thrown shade at the callery pear and, indeed, it is a pretty stinky plant (in all respects). But, to me, the worst offenders are those that belong in fields and forests, not tucked into a small square of the concrete jungle. Trees like oaks, elms and firs need a lot of space for their roots and canopies. In the city, they can tear up walkways, invade power lines and damage pipes. My street has several towering, constantly shedding sycamores, and I’ve often wondered—who thought this was a good idea? My kingdom for a dogwood!

9. Plate Pics. If you have pictures of food in your restaurant window, I’m not coming in.

8. Sign Off. Let’s talk real estate signs. No, not the small, residential sale signs that get placed in front of a house for a month or two, but the enormous, wooden signs that some commercial realtors mount on our public sidewalks. For instance, until recently, an enormous sign sat smack-dab in the middle of the brick walk near Front and State streets, a horrible eyesore collecting debris and marring the landscape—for years. These are, basically, huge advertisements and should not be allowed in our public rights of way.

7. Space Race. I’m a big fan of sites like CityLab and Strong Towns, which often offer great ideas for city planners and residents. Then there’s the opposite—urban trends that should stay far away (I’m looking at you, wheelie-popping street bikers). Among those: a rude import from New England that uses folding chairs to reserve street parking spaces, especially after a snow. In my view, shoveling out your car earns you exactly one privilege—the right to use your vehicle. These public spaces belong to everyone, regardless of one’s manual labor. Unfortunately, this behavior seems to have migrated to other snowy cities, including Harrisburg, about the worst thing to come out of Boston since Whitey Bulger.

6. Open or Closed? A few months back, I had a late meeting that, conveniently, was near one of my favorite sandwich shops. Hungry, I looked up the shop on my phone and saw that it closed at 8 p.m. I got there at 7:15, and was it open? No, it was not. I wasn’t surprised. As regular readers know, I love Harrisburg small businesses, but am consistently annoyed by the inability of some to stick to regular hours. It’s certainly not all businesses, but enough lack consistent hours to make it noticeable—and frustrating.

5. Dropping In. So many geese, so much left behind.

4. In the Weeds. On a given Sunday, you may find me in front of my house, pulling and scraping a dozen different types of weeds from my otherwise lovely brick sidewalk. Why then, I wonder, isn’t this expected of others? I don’t mean the old lady up the street, but I do mean some major property owners who, for some reason, seem to be exempt from the city’s mandate that they maintain sidewalks adjacent to their properties. In Harrisburg, some of the deepest pockets, including developers and business owners, are some of the worst offenders. I may find their negligence simply annoying, but a weed-strewn or shattered walk is a serious problem for folks with limited mobility.

3. Step Up. Harrisburg’s waterfront is a gem, but the river is slowly reclaiming its iconic steps. In places, they’re in such bad shape that they’re little more than the crumbled remains of our City Beautiful legacy. I realize that the city government has many needs and limited funds, but this problem has to get on someone’s radar before it’s too late.

2. Bad Vibes. Andy Rooney often would begin his complaining with the phrase, “Did ya ever notice?” So, did ya ever notice that some people play their car music so loud that it literally shakes your house? That.

1. Unsocial. Without question, my number-one pet peeve is the toxicity of social media. In Harrisburg, social media, particularly Facebook, is sometimes used for good, but, too often, it is not. I’m truly shocked by what some people post about us, TheBurg—their assumptions often mean, unhelpful and, even worse, just plain wrong. If you have input or a complaint, please contact us directly. We’re happy to respond in a nice, kind, factual way.

Admittedly, a few of these items may rise above the trivial. So, I’m OK if you take issue with my definition of “pet peeve.” And I’m also fine if you end up thinking: “What the hell is wrong with this cranky old man?”

Lawrance Binda is publisher and editor of TheBurg.

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Lives, Shattered: Gettysburg’s newest museum focuses on the civilians who lived through the famous battle

May 31, 2023 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Gettys Tavern

In a darkened parlor, the thundering ka-boom of cannons and the whizzing of bullets spark imaginations.

Floorboards shake as the occasional bullet strikes the side of the home and anxious voices in muffled tones discuss the horror of what’s happening outside. A dog whimpers, terror-stricken by the chaos. Some visitors are brought to tears by the realness and the gravity of the immersive experience titled “Caught in the Crossfire.”

The exhibit is part of a new attraction in Gettysburg called “Beyond the Battle Museum,” which uses cutting-edge technology to allow patrons to see, hear and feel what civilians experienced during the bloody Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863.

Ken Burns, the well-known documentarian who created the miniseries, “The Civil War,” and who visited the museum in February, described “Caught in the Crossfire” as “visceral.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this,” he said.

Historian and author Garry Adelman echoed that sentiment.

“I got chills and a little bit emotional at the same time,” he said.

The 25,000-square-foot history center, located on Biglerville Road on the edge of the Gettysburg Battlefield, opened in April, part of the Adams County Historical Society. In 2020, the society launched a successful, $12 million campaign to construct a new, permanent home, which includes the museum.

The museum itself contains more than 1,000 artifacts and 12 interactive exhibits, including the accounts of eyewitnesses and their experiences before and after the Civil War.

To begin the tour, guests are transported back to the area’s pre-history to view rock formations, a meteorite and dinosaur tracks, before moving on to learn about Native Americans and the lives of local indigenous people. The next exhibit describes life on the frontier, and guests are led to a recreation of Gettys Tavern, founded by settler Samuel Gettys, to eavesdrop on conversations taking place there in the late 18th century.

The exhibits that follow are designed to educate young and old alike about well-known figures with ties to the Gettysburg area, such as National Anthem lyricist Francis Scott Key and abolitionist Thaddeus Stevens. This museum, though, is truly unique in that it tells the stories of regular folks like Sarah Broadhead, whose diary helped raise funds for wounded soldiers, and Joseph Broadhead, who, blind in one eye, joined local men to fell trees to thwart Confederate advances.

Then there’s the story of Basil Biggs, an African-American who served as a conductor on the Underground Railroad and later took on the unpleasant task of overseeing the disinterment and relocation of about 3,000 Union soldiers from the battlefield to the Soldiers’ National Cemetery, now known as the Gettysburg National Cemetery. For the families who wanted their soldier’s remains returned, Biggs was responsible for taking them to the local train station for transportation.

At the end of the tour, guests can visit the gift shop to pick up a reasonably priced book or other item as a memento, before taking the elevator upstairs to view the bright event center that overlooks the battlefield. Adjacent to the community center is a research room that is chockablock with old tomes containing property deeds, maps, records of wills, Adams County ephemera and more.

“It’s a spectacular evocation of not only the Battle of Gettysburg, but, more importantly, the people and the place,” Burns said. “And it’s a beautifully told story.”

Beyond the Battle Museum is located at 625 Biglerville Rd., Gettysburg. For more information, visit www.achs-pa.org.

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June News Digest

May 31, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

General Election Field Takes Shape

Two newcomers and one incumbent won Democratic nominations last month for three seats on Harrisburg City Council.

With all precincts reporting and mail-in ballots counted, council President Danielle Bowers topped the eight-candidate primary field, followed by challengers Crystal Davis and Lamont Jones, according to the Dauphin County Election Bureau’s unofficial results for the municipal primary.

Cole Goodman came in fourth place followed by Brad Barkdoll, current council member Robert Lawson, Leslie Franklin and Lori Beamer Saulisbury, according to the bureau.

The Democratic nominees are heavily favored to win the three, four-year council seats in the Nov. 7 general election, as no Republicans ran in the primary in the heavily Democratic city.

For city treasurer, incumbent Dan Miller ran unopposed for another four-year term. No Republicans ran in the primary.

The Harrisburg school board race had five seats at stake, but only four candidates ran—all Democrats and all incumbents. They are Ellis Roy, James Thompson, Doug Thompson Leader and Terricia Radcliff, so all will appear on the November ballot.

For magisterial district justice, Matthew Pianka won both the Democratic and Republican primaries for District 12-01-02, as he cross-filed, and was the sole candidate on the ballot in each primary. Autumn Fair ran unsuccessfully as a write-in candidate after getting knocked off the Democratic ballot following a challenge to her nominating petitions.

For District 12-1-04, Democrat Mikaela Sloan won her primary as the sole candidate to run for that district judgeship.

In District 12-1-05, incumbent MDJ Hanif Johnson defeated two challengers, Claude Phipps and Lori Ann Jenkins, to win the Democratic nomination for the seat. He cross-filed in the primary and also won the Republican nomination.

In Dauphin County, no primary races were contested, but the results will set up several contests for the November general election.

For commissioner, Republican incumbents Mike Pries and Chad Saylor, Democratic incumbent George Hartwick and Democratic challenger Justin Douglas will vie for three, four-year seats on the board.

For clerk of courts, Republican John McDonald will face Democrat Bridget Whitley. For recorder of deeds, Democrat Tami Dykes will challenge incumbent Republican Jim Zugay. And, for county treasurer, Republican Nick DiFrancesco and Democrat Fred Faylona will compete.

In other county races, incumbent District Attorney Fran Chardo, Sheriff Nick Chimienti, Controller Mary Bateman and Register of Wills Jean Marfizo King all ran unopposed in the Republican primary. No Democrats appeared on the primary ballot in those races.

Federal Funds to Boost Housing Security

The effort to assist unhoused residents in Dauphin County received a boost last month, as area officials announced a multi-million federal grant to help battle housing insecurity.

In the MLK Jr. City Government Center, Harrisburg and Dauphin County officials were on hand to accept a $2.3 million check from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), money that will help area social service groups assist people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

“Thanks to HUD, $2.3 million is coming back into Harrisburg and Dauphin County to give groups like CACH [Capital Area Coalition on Homelessness] the tools we all need to give our unsheltered men, women and children the shelter they desperately crave,” said Mayor Wanda Williams.

Dauphin County/Harrisburg is one of 32 communities throughout the country selected to receive the competitive “continuum of care” grant, according to Matthew Heckles, HUD Regional Administrator, Region III, Mid-Atlantic.

“It’s not just enough to give someone a roof over their head, but also to provide the supportive services that they need to address the challenges that they face,” he said. “They must be able to address those challenges while knowing that their housing is secure.”

According to Heckles, the federal government’s goal is to reduce homelessness nationwide by 25% by 2025. In January 2022, the annual “point in time count” found 423 homeless individuals in Dauphin County, including 64 living on the streets at that time, he said.

During the half-hour check presentation ceremony in city hall, HUD also announced that it would provide five additional “stability” vouchers that help with emergency housing for Dauphin County residents.

The three-year, $2.3 million grant will be distributed to several social service organizations already addressing housing insecurity and homelessness in Harrisburg and Dauphin County, said Dennise Hill, president of CACH and the city’s director of building and housing development:

CACH will receive $91,030 for its homeless management information system.
Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area will receive $549,784 for unsheltered rapid re-housing to quickly rehouse people experiencing homelessness; $341,800 for coordinated entry services; and $270,450 for street outreach.
Gaudenzia will receive $491,814 for unsheltered permanent supportive housing.
Scholars Inc. will receive $582,381 for Thrive Housing, joint transitional housing and rapid rehousing.

“As we all know, the need is often greater than the resources,” Hill said. “These funds will help to expand the capacity of the dedicated service providers doing incredible work as it pertains to homelessness in the city of Harrisburg and the CACH network.”

School Renovation Breaks Ground

Harrisburg is one step closer to reopening a “state-of-the-art” school for students.

Last month, Harrisburg School District officials ceremonially broke ground on the renovation of Steele Elementary School, which they plan to reopen for the 2024-25 school year.

“It feels good to get to a place where you can finally see things coming to fruition,” said Superintendent Eric Turman. “What I want the community to do at this point in time is to get excited about what this is going to look like.”

Steele School, built in the 1930s, closed in 2011 and has since sat vacant on the 2500-block of N. 5th Street. In September, district Receiver Dr. Lori Suski approved a $21.6 million revitalization project and the reopening of the school.

According to Turman, the district’s decision in April 2022 to move fifth-grade students from the middle schools back to the elementary school level made classrooms fuller, while many of its buildings were already near capacity.

The reopening of Steele would help solve that capacity issue, while providing a neighborhood school in the Uptown community. Turman noted that many children currently have to walk a far distance to Ben Franklin Elementary School. Steele School will have classrooms for kindergarten through fifth grade.

The building, which is about 68,000 square feet, has been largely gutted inside for renovations, and the exterior will receive new windows, doors and a deep clean, according to district director of operations Craig Glass.

An addition will also be constructed onto the rear of the building to house a new cafeteria and classrooms. A new playground and basketball court will be constructed, as well.

The project is being funded through Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds that the district received during the pandemic.

Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates is serving as the architect, and Fidevia Construction Management & Consulting is the contractor for the project.

“They [the students] are going to walk in here over time, and they’re going to see a school like no other,” Turman said. “This will be a model that, hopefully, over time we can look at how can we create these types of facilities for our children, because this is what they deserve.”

Veterans Multi-Service Center Opens

A long-established veteran support organization cut the ribbon on its new facility last month.

Philadelphia-based Veterans Multi-Service Center celebrated the opening of its downtown Harrisburg office, which provides assistance to low-income and homeless veterans.

“It’s really to give veterans a hand up rather than a handout,” said Ryan McGoldrick, deputy executive director of mission execution for VMC. “They really need someone to help guide them.”

VMC officially moved into the new center, located at 21 S. 3rd St., in September and has already served over 100 veterans and their families, according to officials.

The organization, which got its start in 1980, assists over 6,500 veteran households each year across its 10 east coast locations and expects to add another 150 to that yearly number with the addition of the Harrisburg office.

The resource center helps underserved veterans with services like housing, food security, transportation, employment, accessing veteran and social services and pro bono legal services. According to McGoldrick, veterans make up a large portion of the homeless population in the U.S.

With several centers already in the commonwealth, VMC saw expanding into Harrisburg as a natural fit and a way to address a lack of veteran services in the area, McGoldrick explained.

The new, three-story center includes staff offices and meeting rooms where clients can work with staff and case managers to create a support plan. There is also a women veterans closet on site, with toiletries and household items for those in need.

Veterans in need of assistance can walk into the center, visit the website or call 844-226-0368. Those experiencing homelessness should call 2-1-1 and veterans will be connected with VMC.

“They served us so we want to serve them,” said Lincoln Strehle, deputy executive director of business operations.

Housing Market Cools

After several hot years, the local housing market is showing signs of cooling off, with both sales and prices falling in April.

For the three-county Harrisburg region, 448 previously owned homes sold in April, a sharp drop from 628 houses in April 2022, as the median sales price fell to $245,000 from $250,500, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 233 homes sold versus 314 in the year-ago period, while the median sales prices declined to $213,900 from $230,000, GHAR said.

Cumberland County sales totaled 193 homes compared to 268 in April 2022, as the median price dipped to $285,000 from $290,950, according to GHAR.

In Perry County, 19 houses sold versus 36 a year ago, as the median sales price rose to $219,000 from $208,900, GHAR reported.

The pace of home sales slowed significantly, as “average days on market” for the region rose to 34 days in April versus 16 in April 2022, according to GHAR.

So Noted

Cate Barron will retire as president of PA Media Group as of June 30, the Hampden Township-based company has announced. Barron spent nearly four decades with the Patriot-News, PennLive and PA Media Group, rising through the ranks after starting in 1985 as an assistant city editor.

Danette Blank will retire as executive director of Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania at the end of June, according to the organization. She has served with Harrisburg-based Vision Resources for 23 years, building up the organization and solidifying its mission to assist the blind and visually impaired.

Found Collab opened last month at 25 S. 3rd St., Harrisburg, the long-time home of Walker’s Art & Framing. Andrew Kintzi and Anela Selkowitz, the owners of Midtown Dandy and Stash Vintage, respectively, moved down the street into a much larger space, rebranded and expanded their offerings to include vintage clothing, household goods, unique gifts and art, among many other items.

Park Harrisburg initiated a new “pay-to-text” option last month for street and garage parking. Through the service, parkers can text 30202 and enter their parking zone number, license plate number and parking length of time. Drivers still can pay at the 168 parking meters or through the ParkMobile app.

Rev. Timothy C. Senior has been named the 12th bishop of Harrisburg, according to the Diocese of Harrisburg. Senior, 63, succeeds Bishop Ronald Gainer, who, in keeping with canon law, offered his resignation when he turned 75 years of age in August 2022.

Tri County Housing Development Corp. has simplified its name, rebranding as “Tri County Housing.” In conjunction with the name change, the Harrisburg-based affordable housing nonprofit has an updated logo, website and slogan. For more information, visit www.TriCoHousing.com.

Will Foster was named last month as the new executive director of the Dauphin County Court Appointed Special Advocate Program, previously serving as the group’s program supervisor. The nonprofit recruits, trains and supervises community volunteers who serve as advocates representing the best interests of foster children in court.

WITF will assume ownership this month of LNP, a daily newspaper based in Lancaster. In late April, Steinman Communications gifted the paper, as well as several other Lancaster County-based news assets, to the Swatara Township-based public media organization. Steinman will retain ownership of Lancaster Farming, a weekly farm newspaper, and Susquehanna Printing.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2429: P. Madigan to D. Boyle, $50,000

Adrian St., 2460: D. & P. Seng to PT Capital Properties LLC, $50,000

Allison St., 1506: J. Davison to Treasurehunt Home Investments LLC & New Harvest Solutions LLC, $73,000

Berryhill St., 1637: A&K Investment Partnership LLC to F. Kale, $139,000

Berryhill St., 2425: N. & S. Harris to EJB Rentals LLC, $62,000

Berryhill St., 2432: SF Rentals to PA Deals LLC, $75,000

Brookwood St., 1929: R&K Realty Group LP to J. Morrison & Y. Blanding, $153,000

Brookwood St., 2435: I. & K. Mita to T. & B. Baka, $110,000

Chestnut St., 1826: KBH Properties LLC to Wengs Labor Services LLC, $46,400

Chestnut St., 1926: E. Ayala & N. Vogt to Two Three Two Investments LLC, $88,800

Chestnut St., 2312: A. & L. Myers to D. Appel, $241,000

Croyden Rd., 2887: C. Oman to B. & K. Sheehe, $55,000

Curtin St., 634: CRS Housing LLC to S. Santiago & Z. Marla, $150,000

Dauphin St., 636: M. Graybill to J. & D. Negron, $40,000

Derry St., 1301, 1307, 1311, 1313, 1315: Keystone Community Development Corp. Inc. & National Tax Search LLC to Latino Hispanic American Community Center, $450,000

Derry St., 2331: D. Clark to A. Puklowski, $150,500

Derry St., 2344: C. Mescan to J. Ross, $130,000

Derry St., 2453: L. Brown & C. Bennett to J. King, $91,000

Ellersie St., 2352: Kirsch & Burns LLC to Wengs Labor Services LLC, $46,400

Emerald St., 222: C. Shokes to P. Mikkilineni, $239,000

Emerald St., 317: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to M. Fane, $148,000

Emerald St., 327: Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to PA Deals LLC, $47,000

Evergreen St., 12: C. Murphy to D. Boyle, $50,000

Geary St., 611: L. Marquez to Balaci Properties LLC, $97,000

Green St., 1102: C. Frey to N. Campos, $270,000

Green St., 1612: G. Hoffner to A. Desrosiers, $247,500

Green St., 2127: Pietro Enterprises Inc. to D. Boyle, $78,000

Green St., 2316: Dolly Properties LLC to T. Zuzzio, $155,000

Herr St., 308: M. Woodring to RSB Real Estate LLC, $105,000

Holly St., 1806: Tassia Corp. to D. Boyle, $62,000

Holly St., 1847: E. Shadd to M. Martinez, $75,000

Holly St., 1922: Jhonleo Home Renovations LLC to C. Benedetto & C. McCorkel, $180,000

Hummel St., 335: U. Doub to Su Hogar LLC, $49,000

Jefferson St., 2223: T. Allan to R. & K. Engle, $65,000

Jefferson St., 2263: Cascade Funding Mortgage Trust HB7 to TKO Property Holdings LLC, $81,527

Kensington St., 2259: D. Griffy to Lansanah Home Services Group, $65,050

Kensington St., 2406: J. Zandieh to B. Thapaliya, $110,000

Lewis St., 319: K. Berry to Feudale Investments LLC, $82,500

Logan St., 1722: J. Edmondson to J. Ziobro, $227,000

Logan St., 2242: D. Boyle to R. & S. Pichardo, $52,000

Manada St., 1948: E. Miller to Paramount Sol LLC, $85,000

Manada St., 1949: I. Robinson to J. Irvin, $95,000

Market St., 1921: M. Gillespie to State West LLC, $125,000

May St., 918: M. Goldberg to Tommy Boy Holdings LLC, $56,452

Muench St., 212: C. Kim to J. & L. Wadley, $225,000

Muench St., 413: Castro Investment Group LLC to Sector 3 Properties, $145,200

Naudain St., 1638: T. Tolbert to M. Holston, $40,000

North St., 1941: A. Mohamed to D. Eberly, $72,500

N. 2nd St., 1715: A. & T. Stienstra to Golden Property Holdings LLC, $280,000

N. 2nd St., 1817: W. Livington & M. Magilton to J. & C. Armour, $182,500

N. 2nd St., 1909: S. Catanese to J. Becker, $240,000

N. 3rd St., 1810: A. Manning to O. & K. Troxell, $266,750

N. 3rd St., 3104: B. McClain to A. & K. Scott, $140,000

N. 3rd St., 3118: A. & F. Joppy to J. Cruz, $90,000

N. 4th St., 3014: Buonarrati Trust to Global Reach LLC, $110,000

N. 5th St., 2512: D&F Realty Holdings LP to L. Pimentel & A. Nunez, $68,000

N. 6th St., 3161: D&A Homes LLC to Y. Mota, $141,000

N. 14th St., 1313: Cascade Funding Mortgage Trust HB5 to P. Brisneo, $120,000

N. 14th St., 1319: M. Strawn to E. Trujillo, $60,000

N. 15th St., 1217: SF Rentals to PA Deals LLC, $130,000

N. 15th St., 1327: J. & S. Nolten to M. Griffin & K. Roberts, $69,000

N. 16th St., 1019: L. Bumbrey to A&K Investments Partnerships LLC, $70,000

N. 18th St., 16: S. Pichardo to E. Lopez, $55,000

N. 18th St., 67: D. Boyle to M. de los Santos & C. Bonilla, $62,500

N. 18th St., 812: Great Row LLC to A. Castro, $75,000

Oxford St., 627: B. & L. Nguyen to HD Financial Services LLC, $90,000

Peffer St., 321: V. Robinson to A&W Homes LLC, $100,000

Penn St., 2220: Inder Group Real Estate LLC to New Ventures Investments LLC, $98,100

Pine St., 115: Peleton Investments LLC to Din Investments LLC, $295,000

Reel St., 2406: C. Arango to Zephawk Investments LLC, $68,000

Regina St., 1608: Keystone Properties Solutions LLC to J. Suarez, $100,000

Regina St., 1820: F. Stabley to J. Lamb, $130,000

Revere St., 1620: S. Doeur to Your New Home Rental LLC & La Cultura LLC, $65,000

Schuylkill St., 540: Ideal Associates LLC to Y. Abdur Rahman, $42,000

Seneca St., 607: W. & D. Foutres to Julias Essentials Ltd., $71,000

S. 15th St., 443: J. Espaillat to B. Pasco, $125,000

S. 16th St., 520: L. Smith to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $45,000

S. 17th St., 320: Henderson & Sons LLC to E. Torres, $114,900

S. 17th St., 546: G. & Y. Garcia to S. Paniagua, $65,500

S. 18th St., 1309: A. Bouhach to J. Chanchonte & J. Patterson, $235,000

Susquehanna St., 1728: J. & D. Miller to S. & D. Williams, $170,000

Susquehanna St., 1841: SJL Rentals to J. Morales, $186,800

Swatara St., 1505: Tri County HDC Ltd. to Z. Hernandez, $119,000

Swatara St., 2048: JBNPA Properties LLC to K. Parker, $116,000

Taylor Blvd., 36: LMG Enterprises LLC to Biyaki Enterprises LLC, $90,000

Valley Rd., 205: K. Stewart to T. Kline, $225,000

Verbeke St., 256: J. Speakman to T. Brown, $230,000

Walnut St., 1810: VV Real Estate Developments LLC to Global Reach LLC, $55,350

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

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June Editor’s Note

May 31, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda

There’s an old cliché that the motto for Harrisburg should be, “Two hours from major cities.”

Indeed, Harrisburg is extremely well located, so that description is accurate, if a bit cynical.

So, a few times a year, TheBurg is here to remind folks that there’s an awful lot to do in our area without needing to hit the highway for a couple of hours. Our current issue is one of those times.

Each June, we feature numerous stories focused on fun things to do in and around Harrisburg for the summertime. In these stories, we try to avoid the obvious (sorry, Hersheypark) and feature events and activities that may be more under the radar.

Over the years, we’ve run stories on everything from exhilarating hikes to niche museums to day trips galore. You’ll just have to flip through these pages to see what we have in store this time around.

I’d like to use the rest of my allotted space for a little shoptalk.

Recently, we local news types were stunned to learn that our area’s public media organization, WITF, soon will acquire LNP, a venerable Lancaster-based newspaper with roots dating back to Colonial times. LNP’s long-time owner, Steinman Communications, is gifting LNP and several other news outlets to WITF.

On behalf of TheBurg, I want to publicly congratulate both WITF and LNP. I look forward to the great things these top-notch news organizations will do together.

However, I also want our readers to understand that this deal is but the latest development in a rapidly changing local news scene. Unfortunately, most have not ended with as much promise as this one, as many newspapers have closed, while others have scaled back considerably.

Given this, TheBurg is profoundly grateful for the support of the greater Harrisburg community. Without you—our cherished advertisers, sponsors and Friends of TheBurg—we could not continue to report, write and publish. So, thank you everyone, from the bottom of this newsman’s ink-stained heart.

Lawrance Binda
Publisher/Editor

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

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Recital, Revival: Harrisburg church kicks off concert series, fundraiser for restoration of century-old organ

May 31, 2023 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Helen Anthony

Helen Anthony has played organs in many of the area’s churches, but, for her, none compares to the 1918 Moller pipe organ at Messiah Lutheran Church in Harrisburg.

“This is such a beautiful organ, and the acoustics at Messiah are so wonderful,” said Anthony, who serves as the church’s director of music and organist. “Whenever I lift my fingers off the keys, the sound reverberates for another three seconds.”

Carol Scott, the church’s former director of music and 20-year member, concurs. In fact, Scott, of Linglestown, is a chair of the Messiah Steering Committee that formed this year to raise funds for restoring the “magnificent” instrument.

On June 11, the committee will launch the first of a planned series of organ recital fundraisers at the landmark 1860 church located at N. 6th and Forster streets. The public is welcome to attend the 3 p.m. event featuring Anthony performing the works of classical composer, J.S. Bach.

An afternoon tea reception is scheduled in the church social hall immediately following the recital.

Messiah Lutheran Church, formerly known as the Second English Evangelical Lutheran Church, was founded in 1860 and currently has about 175 members. An initial church structure was dedicated on July 12, 1867, but due to a growing congregation, a new, two-story brick chapel, measuring 100-by-60 feet, was dedicated on April 13, 1890. Today’s congregation continues to meet in the same historic building.

Scott, a 20-year Messiah Lutheran member, said that she wants a greater swath of area locals to become aware of all that her church has to offer.

“We are a presence in downtown Harrisburg,” she said. “Thousands of cars pass our church every day, but nobody really knows the beauty of this building.”

The goal, besides raising money for the organ restoration, is to open their doors and show people the grandeur of the church, Scott said.

“We have beautiful stained glass windows and a magnificent organ,” she said.

Anthony also lauds an abundance of “hard surfaces” inside Messiah Lutheran’s vast sanctuary that contributes to a mighty reverberation of the church organ’s sound.

The historic organ has been evaluated by a professional and is estimated to cost around $300,000 to fully restore, according to Scott. However, raising the needed funds “may be a few years,” she admitted. This month’s recital is considered the first in a series of fundraiser concerts the church plans to run in the coming months.

In addition to the concerts, Messiah Lutheran offers sponsorship and donation opportunities for organ restoration in the following denominations: J.S. Bach, $1,500; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, $1,000; Ludwig Van Beethoven, $500; Frederic Chopin, $250; and Friends of Messiah, other amounts.

Since its installation 105 years ago, the instrument’s three keyboards and pedal keys were rebuilt in 1948 and restored in 1974, Anthony said.

“Fifteen years ago, we did major work on the organ’s console, including the keyboards and stops,” Scott noted.

Overall, the organ’s pipes, enclosed in two chambers, now require professional cleaning to remove accumulated dust and plaster as some pipes are no longer in operation. Altogether, the organ comprises three keyboards and 33 ranks. Each organ rank comprises pipes that make a same sound at different pitches.

Likewise, the instrument’s chamber enclosures need fresh paint, and leather pouches affected by water damage also need work.

During the upcoming restoration, Anthony said that she plans to use a “lovely baby grand Steinway” piano, also in the church sanctuary.

“It will sound very vibrant in there,” she said.

Music at Messiah holds its inaugural concert on June 11 at 3 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, 901 N. 6th St., Harrisburg. Information and tickets are available at www.messiahhbg.org or by calling 717-652-6880.

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Long Ride: Under new ownership, Pedal Pusher marks 50 years of serving Harrisburg

May 31, 2023 | by Jeff Falk

In the dog-eat-dog world of local retail business, the weak are weeded out and only the strong survive.

So, it says something special that Pedal Pusher Bicycle Shop has been serving Harrisburg and surrounding communities for 50 years.

Over that time, the bike shop has stayed true to its traditional values, has served thousands of riding enthusiasts of all ages and interests, and has evolved right along with this very personal mode of transportation.

Ted Carskadon, a 54-year-old resident of Lower Paxton Township, has been Pedal Pusher’s proprietor and shopkeeper only since February. But he is neither new to the business nor the bicycle, experiences that give him an empathetic insight into the minds of customers.

“We try to stay cutting edge,” he said. “But we know we can’t be all things to all people. My biggest enjoyment comes from people being thankful we’re here. We see the delight when a customer makes a purchase. People can’t wait to ride the bicycle they just bought. It’s that joy.”

Jay Barnhart and James Hartman founded Pedal Pushers Bicycle Shop in 1973. Carskadon had worked in the store for about two years when he was approached with a business proposition.

“There was the prospect that Pedal Pushers was going to close,” said Carskadon. “One of the owners said to me, ‘We could talk about this.’ I wanted to see it continue because it’s been such a fixture in Harrisburg. Harrisburg needs a bike shop. I’m willing to take a chance because this place is worth it.”

Subculture

Gone are the days when bicycle shops were sprinkled in every downtown business district and suburban shopping mall. Today, two-wheelers often are purchased online, at mega superstores or at do-it-all sporting goods palaces.

But many come disassembled, and good luck when something breaks or a replacement part is needed.

“They know me, and I know them,” said Dick Norford, a local bicycle enthusiast and a loyal Pedal Pusher customer since 2004. “I’m confident they’ll do the work right, and if they don’t, they’ll make it right. I don’t want my bike out of service too long. It’s the kind of place I like to do business.”

Indeed, the local bicycling scene is like its own societal subculture. Everybody knows everybody else, and they share a craving for pedaling on the open road.

“I love the freedom of getting outside and using my power to move me,” Carskadon said. “I like that it’s exercise and that it keeps me healthy, physically and mentally. There’s a great feeling of accomplishment that comes from riding a bike. I like that you get to see things, smell the air, feel the sun.”

On any given day, Pedal Pushers displays about 100 bikes across its floor. Road bikes, touring bikes, mountain bikes, kids’ bikes, adult bikes, a handful of used bikes that were trade-ins—all the makes and models, all the accessories.

Pedal Pusher’s bicycles range in price from around $150 all the way up to $3,000. Repairs and service generate 65% to 70% of the shop’s earnings, while the remainder is the result of sales, Carskadon said.

“We’re a pure bike shop, and there’s only one of us,” he said. “We have a lot of knowledge. It’s not about putting the almighty dollar first, and people see that. We try to treat everyone fairly, and we’re honest. I think that’s what kept us here so long.”

Norford agrees with that assessment.

“There’s a lot of people who do a lot of business there, and it’s because of the personal service,” he said. “It’s like your car. You can’t drive it forever. Things do break, and when they do, you have to take it to people who know how to fix it.”

New Phase

Carskadon is optimistic for the future of his sport and his shop.

He traces the long history of the bicycle from its early 20th-century frenzy to, over the following decades, a niche product for kids and enthusiasts. But he now believes that biking is entering a new phase.

“There’s this shift that’s taking place, a shift in the mentality,” he said. “Bicycles are definitely making a comeback, with the price of gas and the weather. Plus, a lot of people are working from home.”

Carskadon is more than happy to ride that wave, offering his experience and expertise to a new of generation of cyclists.

“I’ve been very fortunate to come across an opportunity to turn a love and passion into a business,” he said. “I know I’m not going to be the next millionaire. But I can go home every night knowing I helped people.”

Pedal Pusher Bicycle Shop is located at 3798 Walnut St., Harrisburg (Susquehanna Township). For more information, visit their Facebook page.

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