Purple and Gold Standard: For 100 years, the men of Kappa Omega have made history, impact in Harrisburg

January 31, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Kappa Omega members (from left) Lonnie DeVan, Michael Elby, Dr. John Gumby Sr., Jesse Rawles Sr., Lance Freeman

Usually, the men of Kappa Omega are dressed in their business attire—jackets and ties. They’re known for dressing up, even just for their chapter meetings.

But, today, they came dressed in “Omega casual,” sporting sweaters, button downs and turtlenecks, all in their fraternity’s colors—purple and gold.

Some of the men admitted that they rarely leave the house without some article of clothing emblazoned with the Kappa Omega Greek letters. It’s a point of pride and a way to recognize fellow brothers around the area—and even country.

“Everywhere you go, you can see so many strong men,” said fraternity member Michael Elby.

The Harrisburg Kappa Omega chapter is part of the national Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, a historically Black fraternal organization. The “Capital City Ques,” as the Harrisburg group calls themselves, was established in 1923 as a graduate chapter for college-educated men to find fellowship and serve their community.

You can’t talk about Harrisburg history without referencing historic Kappa Omega men. Their names are on schools, monuments and buildings. Today’s members are making history, as well, as doctors, lawyers, principals, city officials, business owners and educators.

“Your mailman may be an Omega man. We have men in so many different professions,” member Lance Freeman said. “We are everywhere.”

The chapter celebrated its centennial in January, recognizing decades of consistent service and the impact it’s had on the region.

“There’s an organization of men who have been here in this community for 100 years—African American men, educated men—who have been involved in so many things to uplift their community,” Freeman said.

Men of Influence

Omega Psi Phi was founded in 1911 at Howard University, a historically black college in Washington, D.C. Harrisburg’s graduate chapter started about a decade later and would grow to include notable local figures such as attorneys James Rowland Sr. and Jr., former Dauphin County President Judge Clarence Morrison and Dr. Charles Crampton, among others.

Currently, the chapter includes around 100 members from Harrisburg, York, Lancaster, Reading and other central Pennsylvania municipalities.

Dr. John Gumby Sr. of Harrisburg, a former school district teacher and principal, has been an Omega man for 55 years. He also was the school district’s first Black high school football coach and remembers when the community threatened to cancel the season over it. Gumby has had significant academic and professional success during his lifetime, but through both good and challenging times, his fraternity brothers have been there.

“Omega gave me a chance when no one else would,” he said. “That’s why I love this fraternity and my brothers.”

Fellowship and brotherhood are embedded in the organization—it’s right in the name. Omega Psi Phi represents letters in the phrase, “Friendship is Essential to the Soul.”

Brothers like Gumby and others have come to realize the truth in that statement over the years.

“It’s just something there that makes you feel very comfortable,” said the chapter’s Keeper of Peace, Jesse Rawls Sr. “I’ve established more friendships in this organization than in any other team I’ve been a part of.”

Uplifting Community

Community members may recognize the chapter from their fraternity house on State Street in Harrisburg. While they hold meetings and community events in their building, much of the members’ time and effort is focused outside of the building’s walls. One of their core principles is “uplift,” which has played out over the organization’s 100 years of service to their community.

The fraternity has assisted with COVID vaccination clinics, voter registration, Big Brothers Big Sisters mentorship, blood drives and scholarship programs, among other volunteer opportunities. For years, the men have regularly served at Bethesda Women’s Mission, hosting meals, donating gifts and serving breakfasts.

“What’s important to me is what we do in the community,” Freeman said. “That’s critical.”

The men also recognize the responsibility they hold as role models in the community.

“You never know who’s watching you,” Rawls said. “That’s very important, to demonstrate manhood and how you carry yourself. Every day, we live that and walk that to show kids that you can be successful in life.”

Member Lonnie DeVan, who has been with the chapter for 10 years, was once one of those kids, looking up to men in the fraternity who were teachers, coaches and principals.

“Growing up, there were a lot of Omega men,” DeVan said. “As you learn and hear the stories of all the men who’ve come before me and what they’ve done in the community, you find out how much Omega Psi Phi is influential in Harrisburg.”

As the Harrisburg chapter celebrated its 100-year anniversary, members talked about how their fraternity brothers supported them through family members’ deaths, life-threatening illness and single fatherhood, among other challenges. Over the years, they’ve become family.

But they also hope that the organization’s mission will continue to reach outside of their members and into the Harrisburg community through their service.

“We’ve been making a difference in the community for 100 years,” Freeman said. “We want to continue to be part of the change in Harrisburg.”

The fraternity house of the Kappa Omega Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity is located at 2020 State St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.kappaomegaques.org.

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

New Heights: F.L.Y. Fitness helps women feel confident, healthy with personalized training

January 31, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Back: Stacy Hawthorne, Saliyma Muhammad-Bey. Middle: Jelissa Gilmore, Sabria Dorsey. Front: Marisol Santana, Shanon Watts. Photo courtesy of Hakim Zahir.

When Jelissa Gilmore first started exercising, she realized she was among a small group of women, and an even smaller group of women of color, who regularly went to the gym.

It was even more rare to see women in the weights section, as many she knew were too intimidated, she said.

To Gilmore, this was a problem.

So, she began F.L.Y. Fitness in hopes of trading the intimidating atmosphere for one of empowerment. She opened her studio in 2020 with a goal to help other women like her live a healthier lifestyle.

“I had this vision of creating a facility that we all could come together in and build a community,” she said.

F.L.Y. Fitness is located on N. 6th Street, just outside Harrisburg city. At her studio, Gilmore provides personal training services and fitness classes to students. However, her program is about more than just losing weight, quickly.

“If you want to change your lifestyle, you’re in the right place because that’s what I promote,” she said.

Inside the teal-painted studio are weightlifting racks, punching bags, medicine balls and kettle bell weights, among other equipment. They’re the same things one might find in any other gym, but the environment is designed to feel different. Here, you won’t find burley men grunting out reps or rows and rows of equipment without a clue where to start.

“Women tell me this is the best thing because they’ve never seen this,” Gilmore said. “Women like the fact that this is their sanctuary.”

For each student, Gilmore crafts a fitness and healthy eating plan, tailored to their body and goals. She believes that the key to a healthy lifestyle is long-term commitment with a generous dose of grace for when you get off schedule or backslide.

Ultimately, she wants to help women feel comfortable enough to leave her program and continue their fitness journey on their own.

“If you do what I tell you, it’s gonna work,” she said. “You need to change the way you think about working out and eating healthy.”

New Lifestyle

Gilmore’s own introduction to fitness came at the age of 21. She reached a point where she knew her weight was unhealthy and out of control, she said. So, she turned to the gym hoping to get in shape.

Gilmore had her fair share of ups and downs as she lost and regained weight, but she continued working out until she really started seeing results, and those around her took notice, too.

“A lot of people started to see my dedication and the results I was getting,” she said. “It became a lifestyle for me.”

Gilmore has now been a certified trainer for seven years. A few years after F.L.Y. was born in 2018, Gilmore found her studio space. She was scared to step into the uncertainty of owning a business, but knew it was exactly what she wanted to do, she said.

And then several life changes hit.

Right as the studio was getting set to open, COVID hit, pushing back the grand opening. On top of that, Gilmore found out she was expecting her first child.

“I’ve gone through phases where my life turned upside down, but I’ve come through it,” she said.

Gilmore’s own dedication through challenging times has encouraged her students, as she serves as an example of what can happen if you commit to living healthy.

Tracy Kohl has been a student of Gilmore’s for several years. She was drawn in by Gilmore’s own transformation, which she had shared on social media.

Kohl admitted that, when she started working out, she wasn’t fully committed and had to take time off to refocus. But as she came back ready to dedicate the time, she saw amazing results. With Gilmore’s personalized workouts, Kohl lost around 50 pounds and became more interested in staying healthy than just losing weight.

“Most of the time, I feel better after I work out,” she said.

Even beyond physical results, Kohl saw her mental health improve as things that used to be issues, like seasonal depression, faded.

“It’s been even more important for my mental health than physical,” she said.

Challenge to Change

Painted on the wall of the studio is the F.L.Y. Fitness logo, a Black woman with butterfly wings lifting a barbell. She looks strong and empowered, which is what Gilmore’s ultimate hope is for her students.

She named her business to reflect that—F.L.Y. standing for “First love yourself.”

Gilmore had to learn that lesson in the early days of her fitness journey as her weight fluctuated and she faced setbacks. She’ll carry that lesson with her moving forward as she is now expecting her second child and her fitness routine will, no doubt, change again.

Students like Kohl also have had to learn that lesson as they’ve faced challenges.

No matter what the number on the scale reads, “you still have to love yourself,” Gilmore said.

As she has done that and continued to grow in confidence, her business has grown, as well. Over the years, she has noticed a small, but consistent trickle of more women, especially women of color, working out.

Gilmore hopes to expand to operate an even larger gym facility in the future—one where women will continue to feel comfortable and empowered. She knows that, both with fitness and business, “you have to consistently challenge yourself to change.”

F.L.Y. Fitness is located at 3525 N. 6th St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.flyfitnessllc.com.

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

Fun-Filled February: A vibrant sound for your post-holiday slump

January 31, 2023 | by Belle Frank

The holidays are over, and the buzz of the new year is past us. So what do we have to jump-start our energy? Music. I don’t know about you, but live music always gives me a jolt of life. There’s always a vibrancy added to your day/night after going to a show. It’s such a special feeling, standing in a concert venue, surrounded by people with similar musical tastes, and shouting along to the lyrics. If you read last month’s issue (and I hope you did), you know that my new year’s resolution is to listen to more live music, and this month’s lineup will make that very enjoyable.

Flipturn, 2/11, H*MAC, 7 p.m.

Listening to Flipturn’s music, you can tell this band originates from Florida, as their songs bring to mind an endless summer. Flipturn got their start in 2017, starting their musical journey from a bandmate’s garage. Since then, they’ve steadily gained momentum with a growing fanbase, sharing stages with more-established bands like Mt. Joy and Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had the acoustic version of their song, “August,” on repeat, a tune with a nice mellow tone over indie angst. I’ve been following Flipturn since they were a small, independent band, before they began to tour major festivals like Bonnaroo. Personally, this is a show I don’t plan on missing.

Big Head Todd and the Monsters, 2/17, XL Live, 8 p.m.

Big Head Todd and the Monsters has been around quite awhile, getting their start in 1986 in Colorado. To date, this rock band has recorded 13 studio albums, with one, “Sister Sweetly,” going platinum in the United States. Their top song, “Bittersweet,” has over 17 million streams on Spotify, and for good reason. The smooth guitar blends with effortless drumming, and Todd Park Mohr’s voice has a classic feel to it. After digging into their discography, I could tell why they’ve been an established band since the ‘80s. It’s obvious how comfortable they are with each other in their music. Everything ebbs and flows together nicely. The sound is pure. It reminds me of listening to classic rock in my dad’s car on the way to any destination growing up. Big Head Todd and the Monsters is definitely a must-see this month.

Elle King, 2/25, XL Live, 8 p.m.

Elle King made her musical debut in 2015 with her first album, “Love Stuff.” Her single, “Ex’s & Oh’s,” quickly climbed the charts and got her nominated for two Grammy awards, perfectly demonstrating her signature blend of country, rock and blues. In 2018, she released her second album, “Shake the Spirit,” with her band, The Brethren. Her latest single, “Tulsa,” is from her highly anticipated new album released just last month, “Come Get Your Wife.” King gives her whole heart in her songs, as she digs down deep to mix her soulful voice with bluesy guitar. When King was a kid, her stepfather gave her an album by The Donnas, which sparked her love for fast-paced rock. You can definitely hear this influence in her songs.

Mentionables

The Four Horsemen, Feb. 11, XL Live
Highly Suspect, Feb. 16, XL Live
Within Destruction, Feb. 16, Lovedraft’s Brewing Co.
Yonder Mountain String Band, Feb. 18, XL Live
Soulfly, Feb. 25, Lovedraft’s Brewing Co.

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

Help and Hope: Three years into the pandemic, we’re still learning about long-haul COVID-19

January 31, 2023 | by Karen Hendricks

Aaron Jumper

It had to be the worst Christmas gift ever.

“I woke up Christmas morning, 2020, with the gift of COVID-19 under the tree,” said Aaron Jumper of Duncannon.

The 34-year-old had always been in good health, and his bout with the infectious disease was “very mild—mostly body aches with no other significant symptoms.”

About a month later, he started realizing his case of COVID-19 was far from over.

“I was working on the computer, and I was getting migraines and tension headaches from issues with my vision,” said Jumper, who serves as public relations manager for the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau.

He never needed glasses before, but off he went to the eye doctor for his first pair.

By Valentine’s Day, there was another new development.

“My wife made me a steak, and it tasted off,” Jumper said. “Later that week, it was chicken, and it started a progression of foods—eggs, bread, chocolate, soda—a litany of items. The taste of those foods was completely off. I wish I could describe it, other than to say it just all tasted foul.”

Throughout the summer, he lost 15 pounds, primarily because he couldn’t stand the taste of most foods. His sense of smell was affected next. Then headaches turned into neurological issues. Almost a year later, he developed an extreme sensitivity to light. Muscle spasms randomly took over his body. Additional health issues—painfully dry eyes, ringing in his ears, pressure in his head—made Zoom calls nearly impossible.

“I couldn’t look at devices more than five minutes without being in pain last winter,” he said.

All of Jumper’s symptoms are attributed to the lingering effects of COVID-19, referred to as long COVID or long-haul COVID. And he’s a “long-hauler.”

“I spent a lot of my time focused on vision issues in 2021—I saw five different eye doctors,” said Jumper, who keeps a list of the sequence of events, doctors’ names and treatments, on his phone “so that when I meet with a new doctor, I have my entire history at my fingertips.”

That list includes a local neurologist and physical therapist, plasma treatments at Philadelphia’s Jefferson Hospital, nerve injections and sinus-related surgeries. He’ll add another doctor to the list soon—a neurologist with Philadelphia’s Penn Medicine who’s seeing long-haul COVID patients seeking relief from light sensitivity. Jumper can no longer drive at night, and the family swapped out their home’s light bulbs for softer ones. Doctors have told him the severity of his light sensitivity is comparable to concussion recovery.

Despite everything that’s happened, he considers himself lucky that he never had to be on a respirator, as many acute COVID-19 patients have. And there have been small victories.

“I really missed watermelon,” Jumper said. “In 2021, it tasted terrible, but the taste came back, and I enjoyed it in the summer of 2022. It’s a small win.”

A Facebook group for long-haulers across the country is helpful at times, but it can also be anxiety-producing. He reads everything he can find about long-haulers, experimental treatments and the doctors behind them.

“It’s definitely affected my quality of life,” Jumper said. “I was relatively healthy and active before this, with very little health issues, so this has been challenging. Nothing about me was at high risk for COVID-19. I just don’t know what the determining factor is.”

COVID Clues

Are there theories about why COVID symptoms linger and turn into long-term issues for some people, like Jumper?

“There’s not a clear-cut answer for that,” said Dr. Navdeep Brar, UPMC Pulmonary and Sleep Medical Director based at UPMC Harrisburg. “It’s thought to be some kind of immunological phenomena. This is a hypothesis—that some people have different immune system reactions going into overdrive, triggered by the infection or reinfection which causes lingering symptoms.”

While there’s no cure for COVID, there are specific treatments, such as pulmonary rehab, to address some of the symptoms, including improved lung health.

In her position with UPMC, Dr. Brar manages critical and acute COVID patient care and post-COVID patient care. She said that 10% to 20% of COVID patients experience recurring, long-haul symptoms.

“We opened this new pulmonary clinic in Harrisburg in January of 2022, so it’s been a year,” Dr. Brar said. “It was an underserved specialty. There was no pulmonary clinic here for post-COVID patients—everything was on the west shore.”

The most common symptoms reported by long-haulers are fatigue, headaches and shortness of breath. According to Dr. Brar, a small percentage of long-haulers experience joint pain, chest pain, brain fog and gastrointestinal issues.

“I think there’s definitely much to learn [about COVID-19],” Dr. Brar said. “Unfortunately, the treatment is limited, so what we focus on is more rehabilitation. We focus on breathing, exercise, building up strength and stamina again.”

Meantime, Jumper continues to seek relief through innovative treatments both within and beyond central PA. And the experience has changed his perspective on life.

“I try to keep a positive attitude about it. There are rough days, but it’s made me more cognizant of other disabilities people have and my other senses that still work,” Jumper said. “Maybe this is on the spiritual side of things, but this is a trial. Being empathetic was one of my lowest skill areas a few years ago. So, if I’ve gained anything from this, I’ve gained empathy and compassion for people with long-term health challenges.”

For more information on UPMC’s Post-COVID Pulmonary Care, visit www.upmc.com/services/south-central-pa/lung/pulmonology/rehab.

By the Numbers

It’s been nearly three years since COVID-19 struck the United States, exacting a devastating toll.

8 million confirmed cases in PA
49,000+ deaths in PA
19% of COVID patients report long-haul symptoms nationwide
12.4% of PA adults report long-haul COVID symptoms

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

Expanding their Footprints: Two area running shoe stores open new locations. What’s afoot?

January 31, 2023 | by Karen Hendricks

Shelby & Fred Joslyn

Economic forecasts predicted that half of all running stores would close amid the pandemic.

Good thing the owners of Fleet Feet Mechanicsburg and Appalachian Running Company didn’t believe the hype. Both stores not only weathered the pandemic, but are now expanding by opening brand new locations.

Locally owned and operated Fleet Feet Mechanicsburg is launching a Fleet Feet Harrisburg location in February. And Pittsburgh-based Appalachian Running Company, with an established location in Carlisle, opened a Camp Hill store in November.

How did they defy those dire retail predictions?

“Being closed for 10 weeks was scary, completely unprecedented, but, interestingly, a couple of things happened,” said Fred Joslyn, Fleet Feet Mechanicsburg co-owner, with his wife Shelby. “One, we reopened, and business came back. But two, even when people were on tighter budgets, this industry—taking care of your own personal needs—was still a high priority [for consumers]. People realize they need to exercise for mental health, physical health and enjoyment.”

Although the running community is a key customer base for both shoe stores, perhaps surprisingly, it’s not the sole reason for either store’s expansion.

“One thing that definitely surprises people is less than half of our customers define themselves as runners,” Fred said. “The running community will always be important to us, but a lot of people also recognize us for our fittings and ability to help people find comfortable shoes.”

And comfort is especially important to people on their feet, on the job.

“I feel like the running community has been growing in the Harrisburg community, but we also see warehouse workers coming in every day, along with nurses and doctors—people who are on their feet for extended periods of time,” said Rosie Mascoli, manager of Appalachian Running Company’s new Camp Hill location.

Best Foot Forward

More and more people are seeking custom-fit, comfortable sneakers—available in a wide variety of styles, fits and brands—as a form of self-care.

“Having the right fit is extremely important, not just for your feet, but for the rest of your body,” Mascoli said. “If you don’t have the right supportive shoe, you could have aches and pains up and down your body as a result—your knees, hips or back might hurt.”

Some employers will even foot part of the bill for new, work-related footwear.

“Max cushion shoes” by brands such as Hoka, New Balance and Altra is one of the trends Mascoli sees at Appalachian Running Company.

“A lot of brands are going to a higher-cushioned shoe for people on their feet all day, and people with arthritis, to take pressure off their joints,” Mascoli said.

Appalachian Running Company’s walking, running and hiking shoes fill half the store, while the other half carries parent company Shoe Fly’s brands, from Birkenstocks to dress shoes.

“We’re a one-stop shop for comfortable shoes, whether you need running shoes and sandals or something else,” Mascoli said.

Head to Toe

During the pandemic, supply chain issues affected athletic shoemakers, but production is now humming. Most brands are actually diversifying and expanding their options.

That all sounds like positive news—and it is—but it was causing headaches at Fleet Feet Mechanicsburg, where the Joslyns were running out of space for all those sneakers and sizes.

“Our physical size was starting to be a restraint,” Fred said.

That’s because, at any given time, Fleet Feet Mechanicsburg carries nearly 100 types of shoes in a storeroom with a 1,500-box capacity. A shared inventory between Mechanicsburg and the new Harrisburg location—at High Pointe Commons—will allow the shops to ramp up to 2,500 boxes, providing more options to customers.

“That’s what we try to champion—let’s find the correct shoe for you,” Fred said.

Although the word “feet” is in their name, Fleet Feet stands for much more.

“We’re so much more than a shoe store,” said Shelby, who oversees inventory and buying.
“We have an extensive apparel and accessory assortment for runners, walkers and fitness enthusiasts.”

Fred, meantime, leads Fleet Feet Training programs and group runs for beginners as well as seasoned runners.

They are roles the husband-and-wife team knows well. Before opening Fleet Feet Mechanicsburg in 2015, the Joslyns worked for two Fleet Feet Syracuse stores, where Shelby was the buying manager and Fred led training programs.

Foot in Both Camps

With an eight-year track record in the established west shore location, and a new east shore shop, the Joslyns look forward to a retail footprint across both shores of the Susquehanna. Fleet Feet Harrisburg is set for a soft opening on Feb. 9 and a grand opening on Feb. 25.

“We’re excited not only to be more accessible to some of our current customers, but also to be able to serve more of the Harrisburg community,” Shelby said. “Our team is our biggest asset. We take staff training very seriously, and we recognize that a strong team and a healthy staff culture is the key to our success.”

Businesses that run smoothly often create community-building magic.

“With our training programs, you get to watch people’s success and watch them flourish—people who don’t know what they can do through running,” Fred said.

And, sometimes, success is as simple as discovering and tying up the right pair of shoes.

“Your feet are important—they take you through your entire life,” Mascoli said. “I’ve had people put on a new pair of shoes and give me a hug.”

Appalachian Running Company Camp Hill is located in the Camp Hill Shopping Center. For more information, visit apprunco.com.

Fleet Feet Harrisburg is opening in High Pointe Commons. For more information, visit fleetfeet.com/s/mechanicsburg.

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

Haze Phase: Harrisburg, I’m ready to get defogged

January 31, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda

From where I sit, this young year looks hazy.

I suppose that it’s always tough to forecast the future, at least this side of Madam Marie (a bone tossed to you Springsteen fans).

But, in Harrisburg, 2023 seems hazier than usual, with several major matters in flux. These are important issues that I expect will develop over the course of the year, so that we should, I hope, have greater clarity come year-end.

First of all, I expect that we’ll have a better understanding of the commonwealth’s back-to-the-office plan. As we all know, “normal” life got tossed to the winds with the onset of the pandemic and, three years later, still hasn’t settled completely.

For Harrisburg, that’s meant two opposing things.

On the positive side, some people have migrated in, often choosing the city as a lower-cost option for urban living for their new work-from-home lifestyles. On the flip side, the same trend has bitten the city hard, as the state’s small army of office workers has largely toiled from home, which, more often than not, has meant staying in the suburbs.

Former Gov. Tom Wolf left this important issue hanging as he left office and, as of this writing, it’s remained unresolved. To me, it’s clear that state workers will never again return to five-days-a-week in the office—but just how many days, how many hours?

With this knowledge, Harrisburg can begin to plan. The ultimate answer may be acceptable or it may be awful, but, at the very least, city government, businesses, developers, residents, etc., will know where they stand and, with that knowledge, be able to forge ahead. I hold the opinion that the city’s future will look quite different from its recent past.

Building on that theme, my second “hazy” issue involves the city’s housing situation. As I write this column, both affordable and market-rate housing proposals are in flux.

On the affordable side, we await details of the city’s plan, as it has pledged to deploy a large chunk of American Rescue Plan Act money to the cause. On the market-rate side, we wait to see if any of the many proposals for new apartments and townhomes will break ground in 2023.

The former is an easy call. We almost certainly will learn the city’s vision for providing much-needed affordable housing this year. I’m eager to see how the administration and City Council approach it, as there are numerous possible paths forward.

The latter is much tougher. Building proposals, many already approved, dot the city, touching almost every neighborhood. The Reily Street corridor, in particular, is thick with them, with developers apparently understanding that there’s demand for quality rental housing in Harrisburg.

Few of these projects, though, have broken ground, mostly due to rising interest rates and escalating construction costs. Several seem to be in jeopardy of not happening at all.

In the financial world, there’s an old saying, credited to super-investor Warren Buffet, which says, “Only when the tide goes out do you discover who was swimming naked.”

By year-end, I anticipate that we’ll have a much better understanding of who was prepared for tougher times and who was wearing nothing but a smile.

Lastly, by the end of 2023, I hope we’ll have a better understanding of how serious the city and the state are in addressing Harrisburg’s dangerous road system. The city’s street network was built out in the 19th century for pedestrians, horses and the occasional streetcar. It then was widened and expanded to accommodate cars and trucks, to the exclusion of other methods of mobility.

Like many cities, Harrisburg has now entered a new stage, a multimodal one.

In this phase, vehicles aren’t the only things on the city’s streets. They compete for space with pedestrians, pedal bicycles, e-bikes, scooters and however else we’ll move around for the next century or so.

We’re already witnessing a clash of modalities, as we sit (and drive and walk and ride) stuck between the old and the new.

We’re at an inflection point, where the old ways have begun to fade but the new ways haven’t been fully embraced—or even realized by some. For evidence, look no further than the shocking rate of pedestrian and bicycle accidents and fatalities on city streets.

To their credit, PennDOT and the city have taken some measures to address our changing transportation needs, such as the 2nd Street project and improvements on some state-owned roads, but there’s much more work to do.

To me, there is some low-hanging fruit: slimming down Forster, slowing down Front and fixing the rest of 2nd. And in retrospect, removing bike lanes from the State Street project seems shortsighted. In fact, we need more bike lanes, not fewer, on more roads in Harrisburg.

Eleven months from now, will I be un-hazed? Will these three issues seem any clearer to me? My bet is “yes,” though my total defogging is likely to extend far beyond 2023.

Lawrance Binda is publisher/editor of TheBurg.

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

Happily Ever After? “Into the Woods” has new takes on some old tales

January 31, 2023 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Cast of “Into the Woods”

We all know the story of Little Red Riding Hood, or Jack and the Beanstalk—in our mind’s eye, we’ve all seen Rapunzel letting down her long hair, and Cinderella dancing with the prince.

But what if there was a darker nuance to those stories that tradition has covered up in favor of happy endings? And do we even really know what a happy ending is?

“Into the Woods,” a musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine remixing and deconstructing our favorite Grimms’ fairy tales, takes a stab at answering these questions—and you will soon be able to see it come to life at Open Stage, directed by Stuart Landon.

Every narrative track in the story follows a famous fairy tale character, except one, which follows the Baker and his Wife, who want to break a curse that has prevented them from having a child. Alexis Campbell, who will play the Baker’s Wife in Open Stage’s rendition, is quick to point out the irony in her character not having an actual name.

“She’s just the ‘Baker’s Wife,’ and she’s never referred to anything past her connection to her husband,” she said.

And so her wish for happiness is also connected to the Baker, and yet—“She’s so independent. She has wants, too.”

Campbell paused and added a quick note.

“I think that a lot of women get caught up in what they can do for others and forget to do things for themselves,” she said.

In fact, it seems that many of the characters of “Into The Woods” have a skewed perception of what is at the end of the road to happiness. Like Cinderella, for example. Played by Chloe Acquaviva, she is not your typical Cinderella character sketch.

“She is ditzy and klutzy and not at all poised and classy like the Cinderella we’ve grown up with,” Acquaviva said. “She just wants to go to the ball.”

But then she meets the Prince, and he’s not at all what she hoped for. Each character begins to realize that they will have to work to be happy.

“And no one wants to work to be happy,” Landon said. “They just want it to happen.”

Landon mentioned that a small cast will play multiple characters in this fairy tale world, which brings a whole new element of fun to the stage. Though the story gets quite dark, he stressed its transformative magic.

“It’s still an enchanting show,” he said. “It’s a chance for the audience to get lost in another world and escape.”

“Into the Woods” runs Feb. 18 to March 11 at Open Stage, 25 N. Court St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.openstagehbg.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS

At Open Stage
www.openstagehbg.com
717-232-6736

Edgar Allan Poe’s

“The Masque of the Red Death”

A gothic musical experience
Feb. 3 & 5 at 7:30 p.m.

Black Newsbeat
With Dr. Kimeka Campbell

Feb. 8 & 22 at 7:30 p.m.

Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine’s

“Into the Woods”
Feb. 18 to March 11

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

February News Digest

January 31, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Swears In Police

Soon, Harrisburg will have nearly a dozen new police officers on its streets.

Last month, the Harrisburg Police Bureau swore in 11 officers, one of its largest classes of new officers in recent years.

“On this day, we welcome 11 new officers into our family, the greatest police force in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Mayor Wanda Williams at the swearing-in ceremony held at Whitaker Center.

After a months-long selection process, 10 of the officers began training last month at HACC’s police academy, followed by in-house training with the bureau. According to Police Commissioner Thomas Carter, the training process may take about a year to complete. One officer has already completed police academy training and will move straight to in-house training.

With the new hires, the bureau’s complement of sworn and civilian officers includes about 160 people.

Among the new officers is Daniel Donovan, 64, who came to the bureau as a retiree, following a 34-year career as an attorney with the U.S. Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps and U.S. Department of Defense.

During the pandemic, Donovan saw the struggle that police departments were facing in terms of recruiting officers and wanted to step up to the plate, he said.

“I thought, my health is still good, my children have grown, I have a few good years left to serve, and I felt that if good people don’t step up and try to help, then the police bureau doesn’t have the manpower it needs,” he said.

Carter said that this attitude was part of the reason the new class was so large compared to past classes. During the pandemic and during nationwide Black Lives Matter protests, fewer people were joining police departments, Carter said. However, he believes the trend is now shifting.

“More and more people are willing to serve,” he said. “People feel that they can make places safer and are willing to do that.”

The newly sworn-in officers include:

James P. Bard
Marco G. Benitez-Soto
Elliot D. Christman
Sean J. Cigich
Daniel G. Donovan
John J. Grant
Steven C. Gray
Jared A. Nouzovsky
Thomas L. Oxenrider
Evan A. Ramos
Robert C. Tritch

“I’m so proud of these officers because they have answered the call,” Carter said.

Additionally, bureau officers Travis Banning and Donald Bender were promoted to the rank of corporal. Banning has been with the bureau since 2015 and Bender joined the bureau in 2009 and works in the K-9 Unit.

Apartment Project Gets Approval

A proposed residential building near the new federal courthouse has passed a key milestone as the developer looks to start the apartment project.

Last month, the Harrisburg Planning Commission unanimously approved a land development and lot consolidation plan for the Savoy, a 48-unit apartment building proposed for the 1500-block of N. 6th Street.

A year ago, Harrisburg-based Vice Capital, a firm headed by retired NFL player LeSean McCoy, purchased 1522, 1524 and 1526 N. 6th St., along with several adjoining grassy lots for $575,000. Three blighted buildings currently occupy the site—a 1950s-era commercial building flanked by two 110-year-old houses long used for apartments.

The developer expects to raze the existing structures this month, according to Jonathan Bowser, managing partner of Wormleysburg-based Integrated Development Partners, the project’s general contractor.

“We’re very excited to get started,” Bowser told commission members.

Before construction can begin, the project will need additional city approvals, including final approval by Harrisburg City Council.

During the planning commission meeting, Bowser said that the four-story, 62,370-square-foot building will include a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units ranging in size from 432 to 941 square feet. The $8 million project also includes first-floor commercial space, a 45-space parking lot and a rooftop deck.

Ten of the building’s 48 units will be considered affordable housing, Bowser said.

“This looks like a good project,” said commission chair Joseph Alsberry.

Derry Street Improvements Planned

PennDOT announced last month that the public may now view plans for its Route 3012 (Derry Street) Improvement Project, which will span Swatara Township, Paxtang Borough and Harrisburg.

The road construction will extend from the intersection of Mulberry and Derry streets to the intersection of Rosewood Lane and Derry Street. Proposed work includes milling and overlay of the existing pavement, signage and pavement marking upgrades and sidewalk and crosswalk improvements.

The design specifically addresses the intersections at 21st and Derry streets and Berryhill, 19th and Derry streets with proposed improvements to pedestrian crosswalks and improved school zone signing, as Rowland Intermediate School and Scott Elementary School are both nearby.

PennDOT decided on the recommended improvements after completing a corridor safety study and meeting with local officials, according to the department.

The project is currently in the design phase and construction work is expected to take place in 2024.

Home Sales Down, Prices Up

Home sales fell markedly in December, but prices continued to rise, according to the latest report on sales of previously owned houses.

For the three-county region, sales totaled 528 houses compared to 774 in December 2021, as the median sales price was $250,000 versus $229,900 a year ago, said the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 274 houses sold, a decline from 385 in the year-ago period, while the median price rose to $225,000 from $205,550, GHAR stated.

Cumberland County had 229 home sales versus 333 the prior December, as the median price increased to $288,900 versus $255,900 a year ago.

In Perry County, sales dropped to 21 units from 46, as the median price went up to $206,500 compared to $190,500 in December 2021.

The pace of home sales was nearly unchanged at 22 “average days on market” compared to 21 days the prior December.

So Noted

Brian Fertenbaugh plans to open a new restaurant on the west shore, at the location of the former Cork & Fork Osteria in Hampden Township. Fertenbaugh, who owns Café Fresco Center City in Harrisburg, said that the new restaurant will offer Mediterranean-style cuisine, with an anticipated springtime debut.

Chelstan Anderson has been named the new executive director of the East Shore YMCA. He has been with the Harrisburg Area YMCA’s Northern Dauphin Branch since 2007 and has served as executive director since 2017.

Dauphin County commissioners Mike Pries and Chad Saylor last month announced their intention to run for re-election. The Republicans will seek their party’s nomination during the May 16 primary election.

Lovedraft’s Express is opening in the stone building of the Broad Street Market. The market location features J.B. Lovedraft’s burgers, a popular item at its downtown pub, plus beer from its west shore brewery.

Michael Yeosock last month was named Harrisburg’s new city engineer. The city had been without a full-time engineer for over a year, with those responsibilities outsourced to Lower Paxton Township-based Dawood Engineering.

Tamara Boutique opened last month at 17 S. 3rd St. in Harrisburg. From the storefront, owner Tamara Robinson-Grant offers a variety of women’s clothing and accessories to complement her online presence.

Changing Hands

Argyle St., 41: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to E. Samuels, $110,000

Argyle St., 43: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to E. Samuels, $110,000

Barkley Lane, 2514: Kirsch & Burns LLC to Wengs Labor Services LLC, $50,802

Bellevue Rd., 2007: T. & C. Brown and C. Britton to SPG Capital LLC, $62,000

Berryhill St., 1637: E. Hunter to A&K Investment Partnership LLC, $40,000

Berryhill St., 2453: P. Steele to V. Marsico, $95,000

Briarcliff Rd., 201: Fulton Bank NA to R. Montgomery, $245,000

Briggs St., 1504: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to J. Chappel, $139,900

Briggs St., 1925: C. Forney to Y. Martinus, $75,000

Brookwood St., 1935: M. Myers to Two Three Two Investments LLC, $50,000

Chestnut St., 1947: R. & L. Goldberg to L. De Jimenez, $65,000

Cumberland St., 120: Berlin Group LLC to W. Rowe, $210,000

Derry St., 2453: K. Ribble to L. Brown & C. Bennett, $59,000

Emerald St., 220: HBG Rents LLC to K. Vance, $215,000

Emerald St., 623: R. & B. Crawford to SPG Capital LLC, $50,000

Fulton St., 1621: R. & F. Hamid to W. Falls, $199,900

Geary St., 620: G. Neff c/o City Limits Realty to R. Almonte, $69,900

Green St., 1409: R. Rammouni to Aljo Properties LLC, $66,000

Green St., 2008: H. Greer to M. & M. Akins, $255,000

Green St., 3114: G. & K. Sipe to M. Trujillo, $45,000

Green St., 3240: M. Sangrey to M. & S. Charles, $161,500

Hamilton St., 277: J. Feldman to M. Teles, $180,000

Hamilton St., 332: 332 Hamilton LLC to K. Dubina, $198,900

Hamilton St., 501½: 88314 LLC to J. & C. Stout, $100,000

Harris St., 224: M. Goldberg to B. Durant & V. Jones, $295,000

Herr St., 315: P. Shaughnessy to C. Day, $185,000

Herr St., 411: Thiemann Family Trust to A. Aguilar, $160,000

Hudson St., 1135: H. Harlan to EBM Real Estate Holdings, $43,000

Hunter St., 1607: B. Balkcom to S. Scott, $69,000

Jefferson St., 2715: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to E. Samuels, $117,400

Jefferson St., 2717: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to E. Samuels, $117,400

Kelker St., 203: J. Flamagan to Silverstone Enterprises LLC, $56,000

Kensington St., 2300: C. Small to B. Sium, $93,000

Lexington St., 2639: S. Naranjo & M. Picon to M. Villarino, $139,900

Lexington St., 2710: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to R. Veras, $139,900

Liberty St., 1400, 1402: Gold Key Properties LLC to B. Garcia, $104,000

Market St., 1935: TRYB Investments LLC to L. Bautista, $145,000

Muench St., 638: Bill Culwell Enterprises Inc. to M. Renteria, $120,000

North St., 1614: Carters Clean Up LLC to D. Marcel, $105,000

North St., 1619: K. Mooney to A. Hoskote, $85,000

N. 2nd St., 1223: A. Holt & S. Hayes to G. & E. Elledge, $235,000

N. 2nd St., 2347: M. & I. Barclay to J. & P. Flesher, $300,000

N. 2nd St., 2964: Invariant Real Estate III LLC to Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg, $150,000

N. 2nd St., 3211: K. McRae to M. & S. Ishman, $158,000

N. 4th St., 1622: J. Lightner to N&R Properties LLC, $200,000

N. 4th St., 2442: NA Capital Group LLC to L. DeJesus, $125,000

N. 5th St., 2735: J. Quinnonez to B. Spence, $72,000

N. 6th St., 2136, 2138: Dakar Realty Inc. to Breaking the Chainz Inc., $360,000

N. 6th St., 2642: E. Weaver to Rivas Property Investments LLC, $60,000

N. 6th St., 2941: Asun Star Homes LLC to G. Rubinstein, $188,000

N. 6th St., 3109: D. & M. Hillard to C. & L. Jerry and T. Vrabel, $125,000

N. 15th St., 1525: M. & J. Ravenel to Ourvizion Investments LLC, $50,000

N. 18th St., 716, 718: L. Tanuos to W. Matthews, $114,000

N. 19th St., 45: Equity Trust Co. Custodian M. Gillespie IRA to SNB Real Estate Solutions LLC, $85,000

N. Cameron St., 527, 603, 611, 627; 650 N. 12th St.; 700 Monroe St.: Goodwill Industries to Susquehanna Regional Transportation Authority: $4,850,000

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 612: M. & N. Hameed to M. & J. Vaccaro, $229,900

Peffer St., 264: J. Stemple to S. & R. Gray, $152,500

Penn St., 1512: M. & S. Staub to M. Caru, $237,600

Penn St., 1610: K. Bueti to A. & J. Norris, $215,000

Penn St., 2127: K&M Housing LLC to F. Mateo & A. Nova, $45,000

Penn St., 2219: PA Deal LLC to G. Pluyer, $99,950

Penn St., 2329: J. Alibrio to R. Memmi, $52,500

Race St., 550: Panda Real Estate LLC to A. Thompson, $163,000

Radnor St., 680: K&F Property Investments LLC to Knight Development & Management LLC, $83,500

Reel St., 2402: Gilligan Realty LLC to J. Vazquez, $43,000

Regina St., 1617: J. Linan to F. Escalon, $63,000

Regina St., 1628: JOG Investments LLC to D. Boyle, $58,000

Regina St., 1814: J. Daneurys to BYD Properties LLC, $58,000

Rudy Rd., 1831: B. Sible & Sible Family Trust to M. Freeman, $65,000

Rudy Rd., 1923: T. Bui & H. La to C. & C. Mmuo, $110,000

Rudy Rd., 2401: B. Royster to J. Jones & A. Royster, $180,000

Rumson Dr., 2971: Towd Point Mortgage Trust 2016 4 & Select Portfolio Servicing Inc. to R. Gonzalez & M. Cabrera, $95,000

S. 12th St., 1453, 1455: A. & R. Apa to J. Good, $250,000

S. 13th St., 1412: C. Prieto to A. & A. Koss, $133,000

S. 13th St., 1524: C. Greenwood to E. Guevara, $85,000

S. 15th St., 429: E. & L. Jones to Z. Ali, $63,500

S. 15th St., 526: M. Morton to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $45,000

S. 15th St., 528: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to D. Boyle, $65,000

S. 20th St., 225: R. King to Lone Pine Real Estate LLC, $75,500

S. 23rd St., 647: J. Mears to J. Grimek, $110,000

S. Cameron Terr., 1515: Keystone Properties Solutions LLC to G. Pluyer, $131,000

S. Front St., 623: A. Yockin to K. & S. Lewis, $179,900

State St., 231, Unit 401: S. Sehar to D. Rowe, $207,000

Swatara St., 2029: L. Huynh to O. & J. Famuyiwa, $145,000

Thompson St., 1239: R. Dixon to Biyaki Enterprises LLC, $40,000

Thompson St., 1614: V. Belliard to 417 Shamokin LLC, $70,000

Vernon St., 1441; 2220 & 2229 Logan St.; 2123 Penn St.: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to J. Awunganyi & R. Fualem, $234,985

Walnut St., 1215: B. Collier to J. & M. Johnson, $42,000

Wyeth St., 1410: T. Bogans to R. Harvey, $113,413

Harrisburg property sales, December 2022, greater than $40,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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

One Hundred Stories: Sankofa and Gamut Theatre amplify the “Voices of the Eighth”

January 31, 2023 | by Francesca Amendolia

James Mitchell, Sydney Crutcher & Latreshia Lilly. Photo courtesy of John Bivins Photography.

“If you deny people their own voice, you’ll have no idea of who they were.”

—Alice Walker

New York’s Little Italy once stretched from Worth to Houston, from Lafayette to the Bowery. It’s now a scant three blocks and a cannoli from Ferrara’s. That’s OK—neighborhoods naturally come and go as populations change, as immigration patterns shift, as children leave home and new hopefuls arrive.

It’s one thing, however, to accept that the natural ebb and flow of urban life shifts neighborhood cultures and boundaries. It’s entirely another to confront the loss of a diverse and thriving district that was abruptly razed to make way for the edifices of power.

That’s what happened to Harrisburg’s Old Eighth Ward with the expansion of the Capitol Complex between 1913 and 1919—then again in the 1950s. When the Eighth Ward was claimed by the commonwealth, its inhabitants (many of them African American) lost their homes, their livelihoods, their neighbors and their connection to their own history. This kind of disruption doesn’t just fragment the stories of those living through it but also the stories of their ancestors and descendants. Those once-strong voices become whispers and then those whispers are lost, blown away on the winds of “progress.”

Sharia Benn, the founder, president and executive artistic director of Sankofa African American Theatre Company, saw a pressing need to salvage those stories. She delved into the history, and the result is her ever-evolving theatrical project, “Voices of the Eighth,” something she describes as a tapestry of storytelling.

“I believe in the power of local history and truth,” Benn said. “I’m trying to connect people, especially local people, to their local roots, their local stories.”

The first iteration of “Voices of the Eighth” was performed in 2020, the second in early 2022. By then, it was clear to Benn that, if she wanted to tell a hundred stories, one for each of the hundred names on the “Gathering at the Crossroads” monument at 4th and Walnut, it would need to be a multipart, multiyear project. The name of this year’s installation reflects that intention: “Voices of the Eighth: Chronicles II; Stories from Harrisburg’s Old Eighth Ward.”

Wherever possible, these productions—which combine storytelling, video imagery, movement and song—draw on primary sources such as diaries, letters, poems and published works. In this way, “Voices of the Eighth” is not just telling stories about historical Harrisburg-connected African American abolitionists, artists and changemakers such as Alice Dunbar Nelson or Maud Coleman. It is letting those people speak for themselves.

“These aren’t made-up stories but the erased histories of actual people,” Benn said. “We give the audience facts and then let them deal with those facts in whatever way makes sense to them.”

People have come to productions and recognized the names of their ancestors. Benn is thrilled when that happens because it means that her plays are connecting people to their roots, connecting them to greatness.

“Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass are, of course, amazing,” Benn said. “But they’re not the only stories of Black folk doing great things. When people hear stories that come from local history or even their literal families, they feel inspired. These stories are in their blood.”

But Benn has found that this project inspires more than audiences (though audiences have been passionately appreciative).

“We cast actors from all over, and we create this collaborative process,” she said. “The play is fully written and scripted, but I leave room for actors to contribute, and I‘ve so enjoyed over the years hearing actors who were like, ‘I didn’t care about history—I just wanted to act—but now I learned something.’ Sankofa artists embrace these stories, learn from them, and then they themselves grow into agents of social change—they become artivists.”

Benn sees a pressing need for artist-activists. The arguments justifying the erasure of the Old Eighth Ward are not confined to history—gentrification is still dislocation.

“If we don’t see it for what it is and if we don’t connect things, it will continue to happen,” she said. “But if you know your history, you can be prepared for it. You can speak out with power, knowing these patterns are not unique to you or your community.”

“Chronicles II,” which will run at Gamut Theatre in February, will entertain as well as educate, of course, or what’s the point? Theater is meant to be enjoyed, but it can be so much more. Benn sums it up like this: “That’s the work of Sankofa. We use theater as a vessel to pour into people and make them stronger.”

“Voices of the Eighth: Chronicles II; Stories from Harrisburg’s Old Eighth Ward” runs from Feb. 3 to 12 at Gamut Theatre, 15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.gamuttheatre.org/vote or www.sankofatheatrehbg.com/general-8.

UPCOMING EVENTS

At Gamut Theatre
www.gamuttheatre.org
717-238-4111

“Voices of the Eighth: Chronicles II”

Feb. 3 to 12
Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

TMI Improv

Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m.

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

February Publisher’s Note

January 31, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda

Officials. Activists. Business people. Artists.

Our February issue is, you might say, profile-heavy, featuring accomplished people doing amazing things in our area.

We have unsung heroes and newly elected representatives. We have creators and mentors. We have folks who have given their lives to the service of others.

We are so fortunate that they call Harrisburg their home, that they’ve decided to settle here or, in many cases, were born and raised and never left.

We started TheBurg with the belief that too many of these stories were going untold. We thought that, when it came to news coverage locally, the bad often overwhelmed the good—and undeservedly so.

As a lifelong journalist, I’ve never understood my media peers’ fixation with deviance and dysfunction. I guess it sells, as the cliché goes, but it also doesn’t represent the reality of most people’s lives. And, I don’t know about you, but reality is where I spend most of my time.

Besides that, I believe that we should give recognition to people who are trying to build up, not tear down.

They’re not hard to find at all. Maybe they’re your co-worker or family member or neighbor—or you. All you need to do is flip through the following pages to discover a few more. Even better, please listen to the special February edition of TheBurg Podcast, which features a number of unsung heroes in our midst.

I want to wrap up this introduction by thanking everyone who reached out to us last month after we announced our partnership change. We were overwhelmed by the good wishes and messages of support from Harrisburg and beyond. It’s amazing to know that so many people are on our side, rooting for us.

Lawrance Binda
Publisher/Editor

Click here to read the digital version of our February magazine.

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

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like