Comforting Food: You don’t have to love winter to love this seasonal pasta dish

December 29, 2022 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

I know I’m likely in the minority, but I think I’m a winter person.

January is here, and I love the quiet of the winter months. I always hope for snow and treasure the contentment of a late winter afternoon staring at the blue shadows on the snow with my cup of tea. I even drag out my decades-old silver tea ball and start buying fresh loose tea. (As my husband would say: “You’re not right. Who likes winter?”)

Anyway, returning to the kitchen, January is a great time for comforting but pared down meals. After the excesses of the holiday season, simple soups, stews and pastas are welcome.

Indulging my never-ending love of cookbooks, I recently bought a small gem by Lidia Bastianich, famed restaurateur, television chef and prolific cookbook author. It is called “Commonsense Italian Cooking.” Lidia’s theory here is that humble ingredients can make delicious meals and that no food should be thrown away. I read that last part with guilt and vowed to try to find a place for my leftover veggies.

I found a wonderful little recipe from the cookbook called “Farfalle Della Bisnonna” or “Bowties with Cabbage and Meat Sauce.” It was perfect for a cold night before Christmas. Lidia shares that this dish was her grandmother’s favorite and that she could eat it for lunch and dinner.

Cabbage, always available when other vegetables look tired and worn out in winter, and sausage make excellent partners in this easy-to-prepare pasta recipe. Lidia uses Italian sweet sausage, but you could use hot sausage or even the many varieties of chicken and turkey sausage. Lidia even suggests using chopped cooked chicken if you prefer. And you can substitute penne for the bowties or the very wide noodles known as pappardelle.

Farfalle Della Bisnonna

Ingredients

kosher salt
6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
½ pound Italian sweet sausage, removed from the casing
½ cup chopped carrot
½ cup chopped celery
½ cup chopped onion
¼ to ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon dried thyme
2 tablespoons tomato paste
½ head Savoy or regular cabbage, shredded (about 4 cups)
1 pound bowtie pasta (farfalle)
½ cup grated Parmesan Reggiano

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta.
In a large, deep skillet, over medium heat, heat 4 tablespoons of the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the sausage. Cook, crumbling with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 3 minutes.
Add the chopped carrot, onion and celery, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
Season with the dried red pepper flakes and the thyme.
Make an empty spot in the pan and add the tomato paste. Let it “toast” in the pan for a minute or two and then stir it into to the chopped vegetables.
Add the cabbage and 3 cups water. (I substituted 1 cup of white wine for 1 cup of the water.)
Cover and cook until the cabbage is wilted, about 20 minutes. Then uncover the pan and continue cooking to thicken the sauce, about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta until al dente. Then drain and add to the sauce.
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil (or more if you prefer) and toss very well. (The pasta should be completely coated with the sauce.)
Add the grated cheese and toss well again.

This recipe seemed to make a lot of pasta, so it will feed a family or provide leftovers for lunch. And you might be surprised how sweet the cabbage becomes with slow cooking even if you think you don’t like cabbage. I served it with some warm Italian bread and sliced cold Bartlett pears. My husband was happy that his nightly vegetable was already in his main dish!

There may not be many winter fans out there in the world, but I hope this comforting pasta dish warms your January.

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Saluting America’s Storyteller: First-ever Ken Burns film festival set to premier in Gettysburg

December 29, 2022 | by Alex J. Hayes

Ken Burns
Photo by Evan Barlow

For more than 40 years, millions of people have enjoyed filmmaker Ken Burns’ well-regarded documentaries, all on the small screen.

Burns will premiere his work in a theater for the first time in historic Gettysburg this winter. Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater will host the first-ever Ken Burns film festival, running from Feb. 10 to 12.

“He has never given permission for someone to hold a festival celebrating his work and see his films on the big screen for the first time,” said Jeffrey Gabel, founding executive director of the Majestic Theater. “It’s a singular sensation.”

Gabel and festival Director Jake Boritt expect Burns’ arrival to be the second time he’s given an economic boost to the site of the 1863 battle that changed the course of the Civil War. Tourism rose in the 1990s after Burns’ “The Civil War” premiered on PBS.

“It is an extraordinary gift to the community that he is coming, will make these presentations,” Gabel said. “The vast majority of the films that he is showing are free with a reservation.”

Boritt, a filmmaker himself and Gettysburg native, contacted Burns in 2020 asking him to promote the Adams County Historical Society’s capital campaign for a new museum. The 29,000-square-foot facility, currently being built on Biglerville Road, includes a museum, café, reading room, library, climate-controlled archive storage, event space and conference room.

“I was incredibly impressed by the fact he was willing to make a generous and heartfelt endorsement and did it in less than 36 hours,” Historical Society Executive Director Andrew Dalton said. “Some people try really hard to say ‘no,’ some people try really hard to say ‘yes.’ It is clear from all of this that Ken wants to help whenever he can.”

While he had Burns’ attention, Boritt decided to push his luck and suggested he host a festival of his work in Gettysburg. The answer floored him.

“Love it, lots to work out,” Burns wrote Boritt.

Lawyers helped The Majestic receive rights to show the films and Boritt, Gabel and others began planning in earnest. Burns had one free weekend, which just happened to match up with the completion of Dalton’s museum.

“Who Are We? A Festival Celebrating the Films of Ken Burns” opens Friday, Feb. 10, with a showing of Burns’ first film, “Brooklyn Bridge” (1981). Episode five of “The Civil War,” which focuses on the Battle of Gettysburg, will close the evening and include a post-screening discussion with Burns and Boritt.

The next two days will feature more than 21 hours of Burns’ work on the Majestic’s three screens, including “The Roosevelts: An Intimate History,” “The Central Park Five” and “Country Music.” Breakout sessions on writing, music and cinematography will also be offered.

Special guests scheduled to attend include longtime Burns collaborators. They include writer Geoffrey Ward, producer Sarah Botstein, and cinematographer Allen Moore, as well as musicians Jay Ungar, Molly Mason and Jacqueline Schwab and exonerated Central Park Five member Kevin Richardson. Tracie Potts and Susan Eisenhower of Gettysburg College’s Eisenhower Institute also will offer their perspective during the festival.

Boritt believes that Burns’ work is especially important as national politics continues to divide American culture. Burns has an uncanny ability to drill down and tell people’s stories to show they are much more than political or war figures.

“If we can relate to another person’s story, we can see them in a positive light,” Boritt said. “I think we are still struggling with some of these political, societal and racial tensions that Ken confronts head-on in his work.”

The festival is also important to Gettysburg. Tourism and agriculture are Adams County’s top industries and neither are traditionally active during the cold days of February.

“Festival attendees are not only coming here to the Majestic, but they are going to visit the rest of downtown,” said Jessica Rudy, Majestic’s director of marketing.

As of early November, people from 24 states already had purchased tickets.

“He is lifting a community that is a sacred American place,” Dalton said.

“Who Are We? A Festival Celebrating the Films of Ken Burns” takes place Feb. 10 to 12 at the Majestic Theater, 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg. For more information, call 717-337-8200 or visit www.gettysburgmajestic.org.

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Happenings: Our January Calendar of Events

December 29, 2022 | by Missy Smith

Museums & Art Spaces

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

“Cars, Christmas & More!” through Jan. 15

“Racing to the Finish Line,” through April 22

“Corvettes Celebrate 70!” through April 22

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

“It’s Not All Fun and Games,” a photographic collaboration between Karen Commings and R. Andrew Hoff, through Jan. 5

Photographs by Andrew Hoff, Karen Commings, and Michael Hower, through Jan. 5

“Figuratively Speaking” annual member show celebrating the human form, Jan. 13-Feb. 17; reception: Friday, Jan. 20, 5-8 p.m.

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

“Beautifully Broken,” a juried exhibit expressing the creative community’s experiences with their observations of imperfection, Jan. 13- Feb. 4

“The Way I See It,” a diverse collection of photography by the West Shore Camera Club, through Jan. 14

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

January artist of the month

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

“Winterfest,” through Feb. 28

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyareaartassociation.com

HAAA Member Exhibition at The Cocoa Beanery, through Jan. 9

Campbelltown Academy of Music and Arts Ballroom Exhibit, through Jan. 14

Backstage Café at the Allen Theater, through Jan. 31

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

New works by Pamela Black, Paul Vasiliades, Judy Kelly, Marsha Souders and Kelly Curran, through Jan. 15

New works by Reina Artist 76, Elaine Eledge, John Davis, Susan Bailey and Tina Berrier, Jan. 17-Feb. 12

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

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history

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

Artisan Marketplace of Perry County, filled with local art and handmade gifts for the holidays, through Jan. 14

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

“Art of the State” annual juried exhibition selected by a distinguished panel of jurors, through Jan. 15

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

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

“I’m Still Black—Osmyn Oree,” photography by Osmyn Josef Oree, depicting the diversity and depth of Black expression, through Jan. 8

“Lies & Redactions—A Survey,” Doug Navarra’s work of mark-making, historic found documents, bold minimalistic redactions and layered geometric patterns, through Jan. 8

“Deep Roots—Ornamentation and Identity,” highlighting the work of artists Kuzana Ogg, Cecilia Paredes, Daisy Patton, Helice Wen and Helen Zughaib, through Jan. 22

“Fleeting Pleasures,” featuring work by some of the best known ukiyo-e artists exploring this ‘floating world’ of Edo culture, through Jan. 22

“Alternative Means Necessary,” featuring alternative process photographs by C. McCormick, Renee Romero, and Tamsen Wojtanowski, through Jan. 29

“Event Horizon,” featuring the work of artist and educator Leah Limpert Walt, through Feb. 12

“Souls Shot Portrait Project” brings attention to and memorialize the lives lost and altered due to gun violence, Jan. 12-April 16

“The Hidden Museum, 2018,” installation in which viewers are challenged to locate “hidden” works of art, Jan. 1-Dec. 31

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

“Bronze—Highlights From the Permanent Collection,” through Feb. 25

“Noise,” drawings, paintings, prints and photographs by Dickinson Professor Emeritus of Art Ward Davenny, through April 15

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

Jan. 2-7: “Home for the Holidays” show with art and local gifts

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

Photo Contest Display of photographs that feature all of Dauphin County’s parks, through Jan. 18; reception and winners announcement: Jan. 15, 1 p.m.

“Winter Discovery,” Olewine Nature Center special exhibits and activities, and self-guided walks along the Towpath Trail, highlight the magic of the winter world, through Jan. 31

Read, Make, Learn

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

Jan. 7-28: Fundamental Drawing for Middle Schoolers, Saturdays, 12-2 p.m.
Jan. 10: Winter Birds Painting Workshop (ages 16-adult), 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 10-31: Beginning Oil Painting (ages 16-adult), Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. or 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 10-31: Intermediate/Advanced Oil Painting (ages 16-adult), Tuesdays, 1-3:30 p.m.
Jan. 10-Feb. 7: Art Journaling (ages 18-adult), 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 11-May 3: Middle School Art Lab, Wednesdays, 3-5 p.m.
Jan. 12-May 4: High School Art Lab, Thursdays, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Jan. 14: Copper Enameling (ages 13-adult), 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Jan. 14-Feb. 11: Focus on Glazing (ages 16-adult), Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Jan. 16-30: Meditations in Charcoal and Conte Drawing (ages 15-adult), Mondays, 2:30-5 p.m.
Jan. 18: Suicide Loss Survivors (ages 13 and older), 5:30-7 p.m.
Jan. 20: Craft Beer & Clay, 7-9 p.m.
Jan. 21: Cuppa Cocoa (ages 5-12), 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 24-Feb. 28: Intermediate Throwing Techniques, Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 26-Feb. 16: Beginning Knitting, Thursdays (ages 16-adult), 6-8 p.m.

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

Jan. 14: Fiber Artists, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Jan. 14, 28: LEGO Club, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Jan. 26: Knitter’s Group, 5-7 p.m.

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

Jan. 11: Virtual, Illustrated Lecture on “Ecology—a Major Theme in The Trees Remember” with Joyce Kieffer, 7-8 p.m.

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

Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Winter Baby & Toddler Story Time, 10-10:30 a.m.
Jan. 2, 16: Frederickson Writes on Zoom, 6:45-8:45 p.m.
Jan. 3: Curl up with the Classics—“The Crucible” 10-11 a.m.
Jan. 3, 17: READ to Dogs, 6:30-8 p.m.
Jan. 4: Moving Forward Book Group w/ Hospice of Central PA, 1-2 p.m.
Jan. 4: Teen STEAM Meetup, 4-5:30 p.m.
Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25: Winter Children’s Story Time, 11-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 4, 18: Tween STEAM Meetup, 5:15-6 p.m.
Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26: Language at the Library—Spanish, 10-11 a.m.
Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26: Meditation to Calm the Mind, 12-12:30 p.m.
Jan. 6: Peaceful Poses Adult Yoga, 9-9:45 a.m.
Jan. 6: Peaceful Poses Yoga Storytime, 10-10:45 a.m.
Jan. 6: Chess Club, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 10: Teen Writers’ Meetup, 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 12, 19: Meet and Greet Library Pups, 10-11 a.m.
Jan. 14: Young Explorers (ages 6-8), 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Jan. 20: Family Paint & Pix, 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 21: Dragons & Mythical Creatures Party (ages 4-18), 2-4 p.m.
Jan. 22: Teen Crafternoon, 1-2:30 p.m.
Jan. 24: Tween LEGO Club, 6-7:30 p.m.
Jan. 28, 29: Paint with Us, 1-3 p.m.

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

Jan. 14: Winter Blue Moon Painting (ages 16 and older), 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

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

Jan. 9-Feb. 27: Level 2 Game of the Scene, Thursdays, 7-10 p.m.
Jan. 10-Feb. 28: Level 1 Intro to Improv, Tuesdays, 7-10 p.m.
Jan. 15-March 5: Sketch Improv to Sketch, Sundays, 6-9 p.m.

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

Jan. 10-Feb. 21: Painting with Paul Gallo, Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

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

Jan. 3, 10 17, 24, 31: Penn State Hershey—Mothers & Babies, 10:15 a.m.
Jan. 4: LEGO Club, 4 p.m.
Jan. 5, 19: Hershey Quilters, 12:30 p.m.
Jan. 7: Chess Tournament, 10 a.m.
Jan. 11, 25: Artisan Wednesday, 3 p.m.
Jan. 14, 21, 28: Chess Club, 1 p.m.
Jan. 16: MOMS Club of Derry Township, 10 a.m.
Jan. 16, 30: Movie Monday, 3 p.m.
Jan. 24, 31: Girls Who Code, 6 p.m.
Jan. 30: Books and Babies, 10:15 a.m.
Jan. 30: Storytime for Everyone, 11 a.m.
Jan. 31: Silent Book Group, 10-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 31: 1, 2, Whee!, 10:15 a.m.

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

Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Rhyme Time (18 months and older), 10:15-10:35 a.m.
Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Toddler Time (18 months-3 years), 10:45-11:05 a.m.
Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Storybook STEAM, 6-7 p.m.
Jan. 3: Teen Tuesday, 6-8:30 p.m.
Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Tea & Stitches, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26: Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27: LEGO Time, 10:15-11:15 a.m.
Jan. 9: English Conversation Club, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Jan. 10: Tween Scene, 6-7 p.m.
Jan. 11: Mad About Mysteries on Zoom, 7-8 p.m.
Jan. 16: Monday Night Book Club, 7 p.m.
Jan. 19: Thursday Morning Book Club, 10-11 a.m.
Jan. 19: Teen Third Thursday, 6 p.m.
Jan. 21: Discovery Club, 10:30-11:15 a.m.
Jan. 21: Adventure Club, 11:30 am.-12:15 p.m.
Jan. 21: Teen Squad Meeting, 3-4 p.m.
Jan. 24: Tabletop Game Night, 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 26: STEAM Club (grades 1-2), 6 p.m.
Jan. 26: STEAM Club (grades 3-5), 6 p.m.
Jan. 28: Trivia at Home—2022 in Review, 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 31: Tales for TAILS!, 6-7 p.m.

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

Jan. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Young Adult Group, 4 p.m.
Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25: Common Roads (ages 12-17), 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28: Passageways, 2 p.m.

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

Jan. 6, 20, 27: Speech Links to Literacy, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Middletown Public Library
20 N. Catherine St., Middletown
717-944-6412; middletownpubliclib.org

Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Storytime and Craft, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Tales with T.A.I.L.S., 6-7 p.m.
Jan. 5: Book Club, 6-7 p.m.
Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27: Online Science Fiction Book Club
Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27: Star Trek Rewatch online group
Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30: STEM Club, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Jan. 12, 19, 26: LEGO Club, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

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

Jan. 21: Book signing with Gabriel Hamilton, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 27: An evening with Julia Kasdorf, 7-8 p.m.
Jan. 28: Book signing with Dr. Amaka Nnamani, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

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

Jan. 28: 2023 Lessons in History Speaker Series, 1-2 p.m.

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

Jan. 1-31: Beanstack Challenge—Kids Cocoa Club (ages 0-18)
Jan. 1-31: Winter Weather Scavenger Hunt (ages 0-18)
Jan. 3, 16: Monday Great Books Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Jan. 4: Musical Mornings (ages 2-5), 10:30-11 a.m.
Jan. 5: Ruth’s Mystery Discussion Group, 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 6, 20: Movers & Groovers (ages 2-5), 10:30-11 a.m.
Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30: Storytime & More (ages 2-5), 10:30 a.m.
Jan. 10: Tales for Tails (ages 6-12), 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Jan. 10, 17, 24, 31: Book Babies (ages 0-2), 11:15 a.m.
Jan. 11, 25: Wednesday Great Books Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Jan. 12, 26: Block Party! (ages 0-3), 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 14: Frozen Fest (ages 3 and older),10:30-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 19: Kid Builders (ages 3 and older), 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Jan. 21: Teen Take & Make (ages 13-17), 10 a.m.
Jan. 21: Couponing for Extreme Savings, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 21: Children’s Book Writers Critique Group, 2-4 p.m.
Jan. 23: Pajama Party (ages 3 and older), 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 28: Crafty Crafters Club, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

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

Jan. 21: Encaustic Class, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Pine Street Presbyterian Church
310 N. Third St., Harrisburg
717-238-9304; pinestreet.org

Jan. 29: New York Polyphony

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

Jan. 4-29: “Animals of the Night”
Jan. 4-29: SEASONS
Jan. 6, 21: Storytime, 10:30 a.m.
Jan. 7-29: Highlights Tour, 1:30-2:30 p.m. (Wednesdays-Sundays)
Jan. 11: Homeschool Program—Horse Power to Gas Power, 10 a.m.
Jan. 20: Virtual Program—Pennsylvania’s Diverse Weather, 12:15 p.m.
Jan. 25: Tonight’s Sky Live Chat, 2 p.m.

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

Jan. 7: Kid’s Art Club—Textured Monsters, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Jan. 7: Painting—Exploring Symbolism, 2-5 p.m.
Jan. 14: Visual Storytelling with Helen Zughaib, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Jan. 21: Kid’s Art Club—Storytelling with Comic Books, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

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

Jan. 17: Cupcake Decorating, 6-7:30 p.m.
Jan. 18: Beginner Painting Basics, 4 Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 21, 28: Dinosaur Figure Painting, 2-4 p.m.
Jan. 27: Winter Cheer Paint Party, 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 28: Intro to Hand Building with Clay, 1-4 p.m.

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

Jan. 7: Kids Discover—Super Sniffers & Other Amazing Animals (ages 6-10), 10:30-12 p.m.
Jan. 10, 24 Winter Lecture Series—Planting Trees for Tomorrow, 7-8:30 p.m.
Jan. 12: Winter Edibles at Detweiler Park, 2-3:30 p.m.
Jan. 14: Penn State Extension Spring Symposium, 9:30-11 a.m.
Jan. 14: Birds & Coffee with Appalachian Audubon Society, 10-11 a.m.
Jan. 21: Painting at the Park, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. 28: Rocks & Blocks Workshop, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Live Music

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

Jan 20: Stayin Alive—One Night of the Bee Gees
Jan. 21: Elvis Birthday Bash
Jan. 22: Mike Albert’s Elvis Gospel Show with The Stamps Quartet
Jan. 29: ‘50s Dance Party—The Music of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens

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

Jan. 6: Jazz in the City

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

Jan. 20: Eaglemania

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

Jan. 5: Buffalo Nichols
Jan. 18: Rhett Miller
Jan. 27: Della Mae

Greystone Brew House
303 Golf Club Ave., Dillsburg
717.347.0632; greystonebrewhouse.com

Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Music & Munchkin Mondays, 6-8 p.m.
Jan. 6: Dave McCullough
Jan. 13: Aaron Daniel Gaul
Jan. 20: Curtis Smith
Jan. 27: North Mountain Ramblers

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

Jan. 14: Hexbelt
Jan. 22: Twiddle
Jan. 28: Slaughter Beach, Dog

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

Jan. 7, 8: Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto
Jan. 21, 22: A Night at the Movies

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

Jan. 7: Elvis Tribute Show

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

Jan. 12: America

Market Square Concerts
www.marketsquareconcerts.org

Jan. 10: Dali Quartet

Pine Street Presbyterian Church
310 N. Third St., Harrisburg
717-238-9304; pinestreet.org

Jan. 29: New York Polyphony

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

Jan. 5: Buffalo Nichols
Jan. 8: Monthly Jam and Song Swap

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

Jan. 19: Rusty Banks

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

Jan. 21: Appetite For Destruction
Jan. 26: Circles Around The Sun
Jan. 27: The Reagan Years
Jan. 28: The Dave Matthews Tribute Band

The Stage Door

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

Jan. 13: Lionel Harris and David Griffin

The Belmont Theatre
27 S. Belmont St., York
717-854-3894; thebelmont.org

Jan. 13: “Four Weddings and an Elvis”

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

Jan. 20-Feb. 18: “Murder on the Orient Express”

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

Jan. 6: Divas Down Under—“Hits of Y2K”

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

Jan. 6: Free Improv Jam, Ham Juice, 7th Kevin, Heart Throbs, Nuclear Family, The Offbeats, Humpday Momentus
Jan. 7: Free Mixer, Solo Sleepover, Baby, Love Triangle, Barn Bitches, The Renegades, Uncomfortable
Jan. 13: Free Improv Jam, House Team Z, Chill Karen, Bandito, The Bondfire Society
Jan. 14: Free Mixer, The Show Will Self Destruct, The Bat, Barbra, Tiny French Cigarettes
Jan. 20: Free Improv Jam, Ham Juice, 7th Kevin, Cosmic Trash, Mane n’ Tail
Jan. 21: Free Mixer, Sunday School, Leg of Lamp, Rockstar Goes Supernova, Bondfire Society
Jan. 27: Free Improv Jam, House Team Z, Chill Karen, Midtown Funk, Merely Players
Jan. 28: Free Mixer, Snicker Casket, Sugar Weasel, Elderprov, The Original Six, TBA

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

Jan. 7: “Dancing with the Stars Live!”
Jan. 14-15: “Paw Patrol Live!—The Great Pirate Adventure”
Jan. 17-22: “My Fair Lady”
Jan. 28: “Beyond the Footlights”

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

Jan. 14-29: The Lion in Winter

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

Jan. 13: “Dancing with the Local Stars”

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

Jan. 13-22: “Puffs—or, Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic & Magic”
Jan. 27: “EFF Live!”

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

Jan. 13-29: Agatha Christie’s “Verdict”

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Community Corner: Notable January Events

December 29, 2022 | by Missy Smith

Community Corner

Penguin Plunge
Jan. 1: Welcome the New Year by taking a plunge into the Susquehanna River with hundreds of other supporters of the Humane Society of Harrisburg to help give animals homes in central PA. The 26th annual event begins at 10 a.m. on City Island beach in Harrisburg with the actual plunge at noon. www.humanesocietyhbg.org

Winter Discovery
Jan. 2-23: Visit the Olewine Nature Center at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, to see special exhibits and activities that highlight some of Wildwood’s animals in winter, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Follow self-guided signs along the Towpath Trail and learn the natural history of the park and animals in winter. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Photo Display
Jan. 2-28: View the photographs entered in Friends of Wildwood Park’s annual contest in the Olewine Nature Center, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, during business hours. Vote for your favorite photos. Winners will be announced on Jan. 15 at 1 p.m. People’s Choice Award winners will be named at the show’s conclusion. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Winter Reading
Jan. 3-Feb. 28: New Cumberland Public Library invites you to get cozy and read during its Winter Reading Program for adults. Sign up at the library or online using a reading log program. Log your minutes of reading each week for a chance to earn prizes and share your reviews and recommendations with other readers. www.newcumberlandlibrary.org

Calm the Mind
Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26: Learn short, easy 15-minute calming meditations on Thursdays from 12 to 12:30 p.m. at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Peaceful Poses
Jan. 6: Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, hosts Peaceful Poses Yoga with Ann Fields for adults, 9 to 9:45 a.m., as well as a Peaceful Poses storytime for kids ages 2 to 5, 10 to 10:45 a.m. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

HBG Flea
Jan. 7: Shop the HBG Flea for local art, vintage treasures, curated curios and unique gifts, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Strawberry Square, 320 Market St., Harrisburg. The mission of the HBG Flea is to create a platform for community growth by bringing artists, small businesses and patrons together. www.hbgflea.com

Kids Discover
Jan. 7: Head to Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, to learn about “Super Sniffers & Other Amazing Animals,” 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Join a naturalist to explore the super feats of animals found in our state, followed by a chance to create your own amazing animal. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

2023 Farm Show
Jan. 7-14: The PA Farm Show, the largest indoor agricultural show in the nation, returns to the PA Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, N. Cameron and Maclay streets, Harrisburg. Milk a cow, enjoy a Farm Show milkshake, learn firsthand the science and skills used in agriculture, and discover some new events and features. www.farmshow.state.pa.us

Book Sale
Jan. 7, 21: Friends of the New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, will hold pre-owned book sales on the first and third Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Foundation House, across the shared parking lot from the library. Find books, vintage items, jewelry, DVDs, CDs, kids’ books, vinyl records and more. www.cumberlandcountylibraries.org

Member Appreciation Mondays
Jan 9: Join Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg, 3301 N. Front St, Harrisburg, for a presentation with PSECU, 6 to 8 p.m. Learn about the importance of investing and budgeting. Light refreshments, coffee and tea will be provided. www.jewishharrisburg.org

Winter Edibles
Jan. 12: Join a Wildwood Park naturalist for a hike at Detweiler Park, 1451 Peters Mountain Rd., Dauphin, 2 to 3:30 p.m., with a focus on trees and edible winter foods. Become familiar with a variety of common species and a few recipes you can try at home. Dress for the weather. Cost is $5, and space is limited. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Food Rally
Jan. 12: Enjoy fresh, savory foods at the New Cumberland Food Truck & Restaurant Rally every second Thursday of the month, 5 to 8 p.m. Grab dinner from area food trucks or New Cumberland restaurants and enjoy shopping and special promotions at local businesses. www.newcumberlandpa.org

Fresh Start
Jan. 12: Learn simple changes you can make at Fredericksen Library’s “Declutter in the New Year,” 100 N. 19th Street Camp Hill, 7 to 8: 30 p.m. This interactive talk is designed to help motivate you to remove clutter from your life. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Library Pups
Jan. 12, 19: Meet library pups Calvin and Hobbes with their registered therapy team at Fredericksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, 10 to 11 a.m. Children have the opportunity to interact with dogs and build self-esteem. All ages welcome. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Spring Symposium
Jan. 14: Join Penn State Master Gardener Kevin Kelly and Wildwood Park for a virtual presentation on “Happy Hydrangeas—How to Successfully Grow these Gorgeous Shrubs,” 9:30 to 11 a.m. Learn about different varieties of hydrangeas, proper location in the garden, their value to pollinators and how to correctly prune them. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Birds & Coffee
Jan. 14: Stop by the Nature Center at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, for a cup of coffee, tea or hot cocoa, 10 to 11 a.m. Join a naturalist and Appalachian Audubon to observe and count common feeder birds as part of Project FeederWatch. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

MLK Service Day
Jan. 16: Save the date for the annual Central PA MLK Day of Service, with projects taking place throughout the Harrisburg area. Visit the Central PA MLK Day of Service website for details about the opening ceremony and this year’s events. www.centralpamlkday.org

Martin’s Mission
Jan. 16: Carlisle YWCA, 301 G St., will host a full-day adventure for students in second through fifth grades to learn about Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy of promoting peace and his mission to end racial inequality, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided. www.ywcacarlisle.org

Annual Dinner
Jan. 16: Join the Capital Region Council of Governments at Best Western Premier, 800 E. Park Dr., Harrisburg, for its annual dinner, reorganization meeting and presentation of the Perry Albert Award. Reception begins at 5:30 p.m., with dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. www.capitalregioncog.org

Evening Mixer
Jan. 19: Network with area business professionals at West Shore Chamber of Commerce’s evening mixer at Mid South Building Supply, Inc., 3451 Simpson Ferry Rd., Camp Hill, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to chamber members. www.wschamber.org

3rd in The Burg
Jan. 20: Explore the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in the Burg, the monthly arts and culture event, where you can visit and enjoy galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown, 6 to 9 p.m. www.thirdintheburg.org

Painting at the Park
Jan. 21: Join Friends of Wildwood for the sixth annual “Painting at the Park” to create a moonlight boardwalk piece at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Cost is $25 per person, with proceeds going to the Save The Boardwalk fund. Materials provided; pre-registration required. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

SnowFest
Jan. 21: Kick off the new year at Juniata Valley YMCA’s SnowFest and Polar Plunge at Greenwood Furnace State Park, 15795 Greenwood Rd., Huntingdon, 12 to 4 p.m. The event includes the SnowFest 5-miler race, live music, bonfire on the beach, ice harvesting, ice skating, snowshoeing, broomball and the Polar Plunge. www.jvymca.org.

Dragon Party
Jan. 21: Children ages 4 to 18 are invited to enter the land of dragons and mythical creatures at Fredericksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, 2 to 4 p.m., with songs, stories, crafts and more. Wear your favorite mythical creature costume. Registration required. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Pajama Party
Jan. 23: Children ages 3 and older and their families are invited to a storytime and craft each month at New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza. This month’s theme is pajama party. Come dressed in your comfiest pajamas. www.newcumberlandlibrary.org

Lecture Series
Jan. 24: Save the date for Wildwood Park’s “Winter Lecture Series, Planting Trees for Tomorrow—Can I Eat that?” at 110 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Learn a few recipes, how to tap a maple tree, and which species are edible. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Girls who Code
Jan. 24, 31: Hershey Public Library, 701 Cocoa Ave., Hershey, hosts Girls Who Code, a program for girls in grades 6 to 12 to use computer science to impact their community, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Girls will build skills in teamwork, confidence, time management, communication and more. www.hersheylibrary.org

Parent Cafes
Jan. 24-Feb.21: Tri County Community Action’s free, virtual Parent Café Series allows parents and caregivers to share their stories, experiences, worries, fears and wisdom and find community and strength, 6 to 8 p.m. Register for all sessions on Jan. 24, Feb. 7 and Feb. 21, or choose those you’re able to attend. www.cactricounty.org

Legislators’ Forum
Jan. 25: Harrisburg Regional Chamber and the West Shore Chamber of Commerce host the 2023 Legislators’ Forum, featuring area members of the state House of Representatives, at the Hilton Harrisburg, 1 N. 2nd St., 8 to 10 a.m. Cost to attend is $70 or $50 for members. www.harrisburgregionalchamber.org

Tonight’s Sky
Jan. 25: Join the planetarium director at the State Museum of PA, 300 North St, Harrisburg, at 2 p.m. to explore what you can see in the night sky. Learn about the basic motions of the sky, visible constellations and planets and special celestial events. www.statemuseumpa.org

Youth Production
Jan. 26, 29: Enjoy a production of “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” with the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg’s youth theater on Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. and Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. Tickets available at www.jewishharrisburg.org

Rocks & Blocks
Jan. 28: Create a sculpture using rocks, metals and woods foraged locally in south central Pennsylvania at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Cost is $25 per person and pre-registration is required. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Winter Painting
Jan. 28: Create a sunny winterscape painting with step-by-step instruction from an experienced instructor at Frederickson Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, 1 to 3 p.m. Cost: $5 per person. All art materials supplied.www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Burns Night
Jan. 28: Scottish Society of Central Pennsylvania will host the 68th Annual Burns Night Supper, a celebration of the life, poetry and music of the Scottish bard. Enjoy dinner, Burns poetry, bagpipe music, haggis procession, live entertainment and an opportunity to wear a kilt. A social hour will be held 5 to 6 p.m. followed by dinner. www.pennscots.org

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Maybe Baby: “Broker” delivers a quirky story and food for thought

December 29, 2022 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Photo courtesy of NEON.

It all begins with a baby box, a pregnant prostitute, two men who sell babies on the black market, and two detectives trying to make an arrest.

The baby box depicted in Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Broker” is not an uncommon phenomenon. Many hospitals and churches long have provided a place to leave an unwanted baby to ensure that they will be cared for, also known as a baby bin or baby hatch—and the idea is spreading like wildfire across the world.

In South Korea alone, baby boxes receive hundreds of drop-offs per year. For Kore-eda, the extent that mothers use the baby box in South Korea was enough for him to make the film in a language he didn’t even speak (“Broker” is his second non-Japanese language film, the first being the French film, “The Truth”).

The plot sounds like it would be a thriller. So-young (Ji-eun Lee) drops her baby off at the baby box with a note that says she will come back for him, while Detective Lee (Lee Joo-young) and Soo-jin (Bae Doona) stake out their new, unwitting bait nearby. Sang-hyeon (Song Kang-ho) and Dong-soo (Dong-won Gang), who work at the church where the baby box is located, collect the new baby and decide to sell him—to find him a home with actual parents instead of waiting it out in an overcrowded orphanage.

Dong-soo grew up in such an orphanage waiting for his mother to return, so he has no sympathy for So-young’s situation. But, the next day, So-young returns. She wants to split the profit 50/50 from the sale of her baby, and the men admit that having the mother there will make the sale easier. And so they begin their journey, trying to get a buyer for So-young’s baby, with detectives hot on their trail.

It all sounds a bit heartless. But, as we watch the events unfold and we get to know the characters, we find the complete opposite to be true. Sang-hyeon and Dong-soo’s goal (or at least main goal) is not to make a profit—their goal is to give the child a better life. While individual characters have their opinions ready to attack So-young’s choices, the nature of the story is extremely empathetic, and the brokers slowly transform into a bizarre little family of misfits. Kore-eda is no stranger to this kind of story. Several of his previous features (“Shoplifters,” “Like Father, Like Son”) are all about misfit families and the importance of family.

U.S. audiences might view the film at a bit of an angle, as the conversation here has definitely shifted the focus towards abortion as of late, rather than baby abandonment. But the film still has a universal purpose—it aims to combat the prejudice that society has against mothers. It is not a conversation about what the mother does, but why, and how the mother is not the only factor contributing to a baby’s wellbeing. For So-young, abandonment is the best choice she can think of to help her son. If it takes a village to raise a child, but the village is failing to step up, what should be done?

If there is one thing that Kore-eda should never cease to get credit for, it is that he makes his audiences think. While the film does toe the line of a fairy tale ending, attempting to give its characters a hopeful future instead of the more probable, grittier outlook, the journey makes up for the destination in this circumstance. The film is beautiful, with a strong cast and powerful storytelling.

Don’t miss your chance to see “Broker” at Midtown Cinema this January.

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

January Events At Midtown Cinema

First Run film opening

“Corsage”
Friday, Jan. 6

FraserFest presents

“George of the Jungle” (1997)

Friday, Jan. 6, 9:30 p.m.

“Encino Man” (1992)

Sunday, Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m.

National Theatre Live presents
“Jack Absolute Flies Again”

Sunday, Jan. 8, 5 p.m.

First Run film opening
“Broker” (South Korea)
Friday, Jan. 13

Down in Front! riffs on

“Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985)

Friday, Jan. 13, 9:30 p.m.

3rd in the Burg Movie Night

“The Mummy” (1999)
Friday, Jan. 20, 9:30 p.m.

National Theatre Live presents

“Book of Dust”

Sunday, Jan. 22/23, 5 p.m.

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Jam-Packed January: New Year, New Tunes

December 29, 2022 | by Belle Frank

My New Year’s resolution is to experience more live music. I genuinely believe there are few things better than having a melody unfold right in front of you. That being said, if you’re ever on the fence about buying concert tickets, here’s my advice—do it.

Eternal Frequency, 1/15, Lovedraft’s Brewing Co., 7 p.m.

With fewer than 4,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Eternal Frequency is definitely a hidden gem. I would describe the band’s sound as electronic metalcore. Oddly enough, I always seem to find the most poetic lyrics in the most intense metal songs. In the band’s top song, “Parasite,” lead singer Emelle Eternal handles the hard rock sound with surprising grace. Eternal Frequency has meaningful lyrics, a robust instrumental sound and originated right here in central PA.

The Judds, 1/26, Giant Center, 7:30 p.m.

Originally, The Judds started in 1983 as a mother and daughter duo, but they stopped making music together in 1991. Naomi Judd, the mother, passed away in April 2022, and Wynonna began a solo tour, accompanied by some famous guest musicians. The Judds’ music transports me back to my childhood, listening to their music with my mom. She would have “Turn It Loose” on repeat. The blending of harmonica, tambourine and cowbell was genius to me. Going to their live concert will transport you back in time, especially with a nostalgic voice like Wynonna Judd’s.

Slaughter Beach, Dog, 1/28, H*MAC, 7 p.m.

Listening to this band is the equivalent of drinking a hot chai in your favorite coffee shop on a rainy day. Originally a side project of band Modern Baseball, Slaughter Beach, Dog later became an independent band. Jake Ewald, one of the frontmen of Modern Baseball, started the side project due to his writer’s block, but you would never know that from the storytelling he emotes in his lyrics. This band has a smooth indie vibe that is easy to digest. My favorite song is “Intersection.” I’m a sucker for harmonica.

Mentionables

Buffalo Nichols, Jan. 5, The Englewood

Todd Morse, Jan. 12, Lovedraft’s Brewing Co. 

Chris Wilson, Jan. 14, The Manor on Front

Twiddle, Jan. 22, H*MAC 

Circles Around The Sun, Jan. 26. XL Live

Dave Matthews Tribute Band, Jan. 28, XL Live

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Air Care: When minutes matter, Life Lion roars

December 29, 2022 | by Jeff Falk

Becky McCormick didn’t think too much of her headache when she laid down to take a nap on a Friday afternoon.

But when the 31-year-old resident of Pine Grove woke, she was on the floor. She couldn’t walk, and her speech was slurred.

It was May 19, 2017, the day of McCormick’s 10th wedding anniversary.

“Being in health care, I knew that if you’re in Life Lion, you’re bad,” McCormick said. “In the helicopter is when reality set in. It was like ‘Holy s***. This is real!’ But the crew kept me calm. They both talked to me the entire time and asked me to squeeze their hands and wiggle my toes.”

McCormick had been taken to the Schuylkill Medical Center in Pottsville, where she was diagnosed with a brain aneurism. Doctors determined that McCormick’s condition could be better treated at Penn State Health’s Hershey Medical Center.

It’s more than an hour drive from Pottsville to Hershey. It’s about a 12-minute flight.

The average speed of a vehicle is 60 to 70 miles per hour, but Life Lion cruises at 186 miles an hour.

“I needed help faster than an ambulance could give me,” said McCormick, who is now an emergency medical technician as part of Life Lion’s ground team. “My brain was bleeding, and they needed to get me there right now. I remember bits and pieces of the flight. I remember flying over Fort Indiantown Gap. Calculating it now, I probably wouldn’t have survived an ambulance ride.”

McCormick’s story of crisis and rapid response, and ultimately survival, is a story that exemplifies the lifesaving work that Penn State Health-Hershey’s Life Lion performs on a daily basis.

Flight paramedic Mike Kurtz has been part of Life Lion’s team since the program’s inception in 1986. He has flown thousands of missions in Penn State Health-Hershey’s “flying critical care unit,” and he’s helped save thousands of people like Becky McCormick.

“Ambulances do a great job. They can do what’s essentially needed,” Kurtz said. “But when it comes to the aircraft, there are no holds barred, more or less. The stuff we’re doing is kind of high tech for the out-of-hospital realm. When minutes matter, they call us to reduce the loss of life.”

With a sister base located in Carlisle, Penn State Health-Hershey maintains and operates three Life Lion helicopters from a hangar located on the west side of the medical center. Equipped with two hours of fuel, Life Lion services a 10-county region in central Pennsylvania, namely Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, Lebanon, York, Lancaster, Berks, Schuylkill and Franklin counties.

“The general public wants help when they need it, but they really don’t think about what goes into it,” said Kurtz, a 62-year-old resident of Dauphin Borough. “We’re called out when Mrs. Smith is having a bad day. That’s probably the saddest moments, when you see a family gathered in a waiting room based on a split second. I’ve seen a lot in my career, but you never say you’ve seen everything.”

Goosebumps

While it responds to just about any sort of physical tragedy imaginable—on average about three a day—the majority of Life Lion calls involve vehicle accidents. By maintaining a heightened degree of preparedness and readiness, for both its medical personnel and aircraft, Life Lion can be airborne in fewer than five minutes.

The Life Lion team is comprised of highly trained paramedics, EMTs, nurses, physicians, pilots, dispatchers and mechanics.

“We can have very slow days,” Kurtz said. “Or we could be 10 hours into a 12-hour day, and all chaos breaks loose. We don’t have a crystal ball to know when people are going to need us. You’ve always got to be ready to move. We do have adrenaline spikes in this position.”

When Life Lion was established 37 years ago, it was one of the first of its kind. As aeronautical and medical technologies have evolved, so have Life Lion’s capabilities.

“There’s always a risk involved when you work against gravity,” Kurtz said. “We fly really fast, and those flights can be pretty intense. Any first responder takes on a certain level of risk. When you say goodbye to your family, you just never know. It can take a lot to save a life, and that’s the business we’re in.”

Meticulous attention to detail is a mindset that reduces human error and produces success. But when you work in a people business as a flight nurse, it becomes a way of life in which elements of humanity can never be totally eliminated.

“You’re right, I am passionate. You have to be passionate,” said Kurtz, who’s been involved as a first responder since he was a 15-year-old volunteer. “It can be stressful, but it’s rewarding 95 to 99% of the time, because we can make a difference in people’s outcomes. We can’t save everybody. We do our best. But when we can’t, we try to support family members the best we can.”

Looking ahead, it seems that the need for Life Lion’s services will continue to grow.

“I wanted to be a flight nurse since high school,” McCormick said. “When the Life Lion crew came into my hospital room that day, I said, ‘I’ve always wanted to meet you guys. Let’s chat.’ Now I’m working out of the hangar most of the time, and when I see the helicopter, I still get goosebumps. It’s different when you’ve heard the helicopter from the inside.”

For more information on Life Lion, visit www.pennstatehealth.org.

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Bicyclist fatally hit by vehicle at Harrisburg intersection, community members pay tribute

December 28, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Members of the local bicycling community place a ghost bike along S. Cameron Street, near Paxton Street, where a bicyclist was fatally struck Tuesday.

On Wednesday, community members paid tribute to a bicyclist who was killed in a fatal accident in Harrisburg.

According to Harrisburg police, a 29-year-old female bicyclist was struck and killed by a truck on Tuesday at about 6:15 p.m. near the intersection of Cameron and Paxton streets.

Police responded to the scene and spoke with the motorist, who was cooperative, according to Harrisburg Communications Director Matt Maisel. The female was transported to a local hospital, but later died as a result of her injuries.

Initial investigation showed that the vehicle was traveling south on Cameron Street with a solid green traffic light, according to police. The bicyclist was traveling west across Cameron Street when the collision occurred, police said. According to the bureau, the investigation is still ongoing.

S. Cameron Street, near the intersection at Paxton Street

On Wednesday afternoon, members of the bicycling community placed a ghost bike at the site of the incident to honor the victim. Ghost bikes, painted white, are used to honor those who have died in biking accidents, often due to collisions with automobiles.

“I’m incredibly frustrated,” said Brandon Basom, a Harrisburg resident and advocate for improving bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

Basom said he was riding his bike home from nonprofit Recycle Bicycle in Allison Hill, where he volunteers, when he came across the scene of Tuesday’s fatal crash.

Since 2021, there have been four other deaths of pedestrians and bicyclists nearby on Cameron Street. Just earlier this month, on Dec. 9, two pedestrians were stuck at the Market Street intersection. One of them, a woman, died from her injuries. In June, bicyclist Leyla Monroy, 36, was killed after colliding with a car that was making a U-turn near the same intersection. In August of 2021, Floyd Kelly was struck and killed near the intersection, and the following month, Victor Alvarez was hit and killed.

Members of the bicycle community, like Basom, hope to see improvements to dangerous roadways in the city, making them safer for non-motorists.

“It’s pretty traumatic,” Basom said of the most recent accident. “If nothing happens, it’s more traumatic.”

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Harrisburg Police at 717-558-6900. Tips and information can also be submitted via the CRIMEWATCH website.

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PennDOT to make intersection improvements on Derry Street, seeks public input

December 27, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Intersection at Derry, 19th and Berryhill streets

A project to improve safety along a Harrisburg roadway is rolling along.

PennDOT announced on Tuesday 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 would include milling and overlay of the existing pavement, signing and pavement marking upgrades and sidewalk and crosswalk improvements.

The design specifically addresses the intersections at 21^st and Derry streets and Berryhill, 19^th 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.

Proposed plans to intersections at Berryhill, 19th and Derry streets and 21st and Derry streets.

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

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

The public can view and comment on project information on PennDOT’s website through Jan. 30.

The project documents can be made available in alternative languages or formats if requested. For translation/interpretation services or special concerns that require individual attention, contact Adam Wright, PennDOT project manager, at [email protected], or 717-772-4028.

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Year in Review: The most popular stories of 2022, click by click

December 27, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

What a difference a year makes.

That’s my takeaway as I peer back to our most popular stories from the past year.

In 2021, our top-10, most-read online stories nearly all had one thing in common: new business openings.

For 2022, there was some of that, but the top-10 featured a hodgepodge of topics. It even included an old story about a celebrity dog.

So, I present my annual rundown of TheBurg’s most popular stories for 2022, as voted by you, our readers, via your page views. As is typically the case, these tended to be online-only stories, since we still lack a way of tracking your reading habits as you sit at home, curled up on the sofa, with our print magazine—and I consider that a good thing.

No. 10. Bougie Bites. Recently, a friend asked me, “So, how’s that new Trader Joe’s doing?” He remarked that he had heard nothing about the popular national grocery chain since it opened its doors on the west shore in late March. He found this interesting given the yearlong hype surrounding the store after it announced its first central PA location. In any case, our readers flocked to our single Trader Joe’s story of 2022, making it the 10th most-read story of 2022. Despite its popularity, the story, about the store’s opening, still lagged our lone Trader Joe’s story of 2021, when the project was first announced, which clocked in at No. 6 last year.

No. 9. State of Confusion. As the weather warmed up, construction crews resumed work on several long-planned road projects in Harrisburg. The 2nd Street redesign moved towards completion, but that wasn’t the case with another major project—State Street in Allison Hill. Once construction started, some residents objected that the redesigned road would force them to move their parked cars every day. Over several months, we ran numerous stories about their concerns, about the bicycling community’s response and about the city’s stance. One of these stories snuck into our top-10, landing at No. 9, as the city stopped and began to rethink the project.

No. 8. Getting Thrifty. 2022 seemed to be a year of thrift stores, as we ran several stories about new shops selling old goods. One of these landed among our most-read stories–a business feature on Boho Hoarder, on Jonestown Road outside of the city. In the story, owner Rebecca Babish explained how her new store was the culmination of a lifetime spent hunting for high-quality secondhand and vintage goods. Check it out if you’re searching for a silky robe, a woven basket or a picture of Elvis—or any of Babish’s many other eclectic finds.

No. 7. A Dog’s Life. Most news items are fleeting things—they come, they go. Even very popular stories tend to peak quickly then fade fast. But that’s not the case with one particular Burg story, featuring an adorable, golden-coated mutt named Levi Fetterman. Back in July 2021, writer Karen Hendricks penned a charming magazine piece about the “Official Dog of Pennsylvania” and his very popular Twitter account. We expected the story to lie right there, like a good boy. Instead, it had legs—maybe even more than four. Periodically, for over a year, the story would begin trending again, slowly racking up more and more page views. Then—boom—it took off like a terrier chasing a squirrel after Levi’s dad, a big dude named John, became a household name as he ran for U.S. Senate. This may be TheBurg story with the longest lifespan, and it now sits, patiently awaiting a treat, at No. 15 on our list of most-read stories of all time.

No. 6. Fun on a Bun. Our next story also involved dogs—but, this time, the food variety. In April, our reporter Maddie had one of her tough city assignments, to try out a new eatery called the Original Hot Dog Factory on Market Street. So, she ventured downtown to sample the many original, quirky takes on this most American of foodstuffs. The new restaurant opened in the long-time home of the Flamingo Grill, which closed a couple of years ago, an early victim of the pandemic. It was encouraging to see this new business replace the old, especially as many downtown businesses remain troubled by a lack of foot traffic wrought by stay-at-home office workers.

No. 5. House on a Hill. In past years, development stories have usually been good for a few places on our annual top-10 list. This year, just one made the cut—the restoration of the Donaldson Mansion on the 2000-block of N. 3rd Street. By Harrisburg standards, it wasn’t a large project, just six apartment units tucked inside a Victorian masterpiece. However, developer Justin Heinly brought this 135-year-old property back from the dead, restoring much of its original detail. It was actually the second grand house that Heinly and his team at Midtown Property Management have renovated along the once very desirable row known as “Cottage Ridge.”

No. 4. Park Plans. About seven years ago, Harrisburg developed a master plan for Reservoir Park, imagining a spray park, handball courts and many other amenities, including extensive renovations and upgrades to existing features. In April, the first major part of that plan broke ground, a new “Chutes and Ladders” playground, which became one of our top stories of the year. The project was just one piece of positive park news throughout the year. Other developments included the completion of the long-awaited 4^th and Dauphin park project and million of dollars in grants to update and enhance numerous other city parks, playgrounds and fields.

No. 3. Reel It In. In November, our city reporter was back on the downtown food beat, this time checking out a new spot with the cheeky name of Hooker’s Seafood Joint. Owners Robert Bryant and Kendale Harris of York brought their culinary skills to Walnut Street in Harrisburg to fry up some fish, preferably served alongside their specialty cheesy grits. Their philosophy: life should be made up of equal parts good food and good fun. Going into the new year, I’ll sign up for that.

No. 2. Pizza Problem. Unfortunately, it wasn’t all happy times on the Harrisburg food front in 2022. The city lost a number of eateries, as some veteran restaurateurs retired and others threw in the towel after a rough couple of years. Arguably, the greatest foodie news came from a very unlikely place—a corner pizza shop. In August, a Philadelphia-based union stated that a majority of Knead Pizza’s dozen or so workers had voted to unionize. The business abruptly closed its two locations: a slice shop on 3^rd Street and a wood-fired pie mecca inside the Broad Street Market. To no one’s surprise (certainly not yours truly), the news lit up social media, with locals (and many non-locals) battling it out via several Facebook pages. My take was that, in the end, there were no winners in this sad saga, as the workers lost their jobs, the city lost a growing business, and customers lost some of the best pizza in central PA.

1. Buy an Isle. Sometimes, popular stories come from unexpected places, such as the middle of the Susquehanna River. Such was the case with our most-read online story of the year, as, in August, we broke the news that two islands, Independence Island and Bailey’s Island, had hit the sales market. The story originated when our reporter (that would be me) noticed a weird property listing floating in the middle of the river on a real estate map. To my surprise, the islands pictured actually were for sale. I then tracked down one of the owners, who told me a great story about how his family had owned the properties seemingly forever. With their clicks, our readers seemed to agree that this was a wonderful, quirky slice of Harrisburg history. This article now holds the honor of not only the most-read story of 2022, but our most-read online story of all time, clocking in at over 38,000 page views as of this writing.

For a different take on 2022, I will have my annual list of top local news stories in the January magazine, which drops on Dec. 29. Does my list differ from that of our readers, who voted with their clicks? Return on Thursday to find out!

Lawrance Binda is publisher/editor of TheBurg.

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