August News Digest

July 29, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

A summary of Harrisburg news over the past month

Development Projects Approved

Several Harrisburg development projects focused on serving lower-income residents will move forward following a City Council legislative session last month.

Council took action to push forward an affordable housing development for South Harrisburg, as well as a childcare center, the Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning.

Council unanimously voted to approve a lot consolidation and land development plan for “Sycamore Homes,” a 23-unit affordable apartment building planned for the 1400-block of Sycamore Street, near Foose Elementary School.

Harrisburg developer George Fernandez, CEO of Latino Connection, explained that the $3.4 million project will offer high-quality studio units to lower-income residents.

“What drives us is helping to change what the face of low income looks like,” he said.

Fernandez said that he hopes to begin construction by this fall, with the project completed by fall 2023.

Additionally, council approved a lot consolidation and land development plan for the Catherine Hershey School for Early Learning, which has proposed a childcare facility and school in Uptown Harrisburg.

The building will occupy a 3.44-acre area bounded by Peffer, N. 7th, Muench and N. 6th streets. The school is an arm of the Milton Hershey School and would offer free care and pre-K education to 150 low-income and at-risk children, from birth to 5 years old.

According to Executive Director Senate Alexander, the school will focus on providing kindergarten readiness programming and family support options.

“I look forward to it,” council member Ausha Green said. “I think it’ll be great for the community.”

The project is slated for completion in spring 2024. The school still will need to secure street vacations for several small roads on the project site.

In other news, council approved a resolution to create “Hot Spot Saturdays,” a summer initiative to encourage residents to participate in six community cleanup events, which will take place throughout July, August and September in Harrisburg.

Maclay Street Bridge to be Replaced

A critical link in Harrisburg is set for an upgrade, as PennDOT prepares to replace the Maclay Street Bridge.

Last month, the PA Department of Transportation unveiled its project website and opened up the comment period for its plan to replace the bridge, which carries about 25,000 vehicles a day. The comment period lasts through Aug. 5.

Under the current schedule, the $35 million project would begin in 2024 and last for about two years. The project extends from the Maclay Street/7th Street intersection to Julia Street, which is a half-block west of Cameron Street.

PennDOT describes the existing, 82-year-old bridge as in “poor condition with advanced deterioration to the primary load carrying members.”

Major elements of the bridge project include:

Construction of a new, four-span steel girder bridge over the Norfolk Southern Harrisburg Rail Yard, replacing the existing, seven-span bridge, which was built in 1940.
Raising the profile of the Maclay Street roadway to increase the vertical clearance of the bridge from 21 feet to 23 feet to better accommodate double-stacked rail cars.
Widening of Maclay Street from four lanes to five lanes in the project area.
Addition of bicycle lanes in both the eastbound and westbound directions.

As part of the project, the small bridge carrying Maclay Street over Paxton Creek also will be replaced.

The width of both bridges will be increased from 62 feet to 86 feet. The new bridges will have five 11-foot-wide lanes, two 6-foot-wide bike lanes, and two 8-foot-wide sidewalks.

According to PennDOT, construction will be performed in stages while maintaining three lanes of traffic and at least one sidewalk in each stage. The temporary lane configuration will carry two lanes of traffic westbound into the city and one lane of traffic eastbound out of the city.

2022-23 School Budget Passed

The Harrisburg School District has approved a budget for the 2022-23 school year, a spending plan that includes a 3.36% property tax hike.

At a board meeting in late June, Receiver Dr. Lori Suski approved a $223.8 million budget, and the school board voted 6-1 to increase the property tax rate from 29.78 to 30.78 mills. Board Director Roslyn Copeland voted against the increase; directors Jaime Johnson and Terricia Radcliff were not in attendance.

“I am very happy that the board saw fit to approve of the tax structure because that enables us to have a balanced budget and enables us to move forward with some necessary projects for the district,” Suski said.

With the increase, taxpayers pay $30.78 per every $1,000 in assessed property value. However, the 5,609 households in Harrisburg that receive the homestead exemption will actually see a small decrease in their taxes, according to Dr. Marcia Stokes, the district’s business administrator. Additional property tax relief funds this year will increase the exemption, she said.

The district’s 2022-23 budget includes the use of millions of dollars in federal COVID relief funds, making the spending plan much higher than last year’s $184.8 million budget.

The approved final budget is slightly lower than the district’s originally proposed $224.2 million budget.

Harrisburg received an influx of about $50 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding, which it plans to use on projects such as the renovation and reopening of the district’s Steele Elementary School. The district also plans to replace HVAC systems across schools with the funding.

The budget also pays for day-to-day expenditures like instruction, special instruction and staffing costs.

Post Office Set to Move

By the end of the year, Harrisburg’s downtown post office will have a new address.

Last month, Harristown Enterprises announced that the Federal Station Post Office will relocate about one block away, inside of Strawberry Square.

Specifically, the post office will occupy about 2,000 square feet of space on the 300-block of Market Street, in the long-vacant storefront location last occupied by the restaurant, the Gingerbread Man, which closed in 2014, according to Harristown, which owns Strawberry Square.

“We are delighted to announce this news to the public, and we believe Strawberry Square is an excellent location for the new U.S. post office,” said Brad Jones, Harristown’s president and CEO.

The space will be built out and the move completed by the end of 2022, Jones said.

Earlier this year, the federal government sold the Ronald Reagan Federal Building, located at N. 3rd and Walnut streets, to Seychelles-based Global Ocean Investments for $10 million.

As a result, all federal offices located in the building must move, including the post office. The building is expected to be entirely vacant by early 2023.

New building owner Justin Etzin has said that he plans to redevelop the 56-year-old, 251,000-square-foot structure as a 200-unit apartment building with several restaurants and bars.

The federal building sale was prompted by the construction of a new federal courthouse at N. 6th and Reily streets in Harrisburg. The $201 million courthouse project, which includes 243,000 square feet of space, is nearing completion, according to the U.S. General Services Administration.

Plants + Pints Returns

Harrisburg, chew on this—a festival devoted to healthy eating will return this month following a pandemic-induced hiatus.

Plants + Pints Harrisburg, formerly called Harrisburg Veggie Fest, plans to bring the community together to educate people on living a healthy and eco-conscious life by highlighting local farms, vegan and vegetarian businesses and other plant-based products. And, in a unique, central PA twist, there also will be craft beer.

“It’s a wellness community event with a focus on wellness, PA agriculture and craft beer,” said organizer Sara Bozich, CEO and founder of Sara Bozich Events.

The festival will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27, in Strawberry Square in Harrisburg.

The event, produced in partnership with Harristown Enterprises and presented by UPMC in Central PA, will benefit two local nonprofit organizations: Downtown Daily Bread and Harrisburg River Rescue and Emergency Services.

Bozich said that the idea came from Harristown Enterprises CEO and President Brad Jones, who has vegan family members and loves craft beer. Jones attended an event in Philadelphia spotlighting plant-based companies and local craft breweries and wanted to bring it to Harrisburg.

The event will feature more than two-dozen plant-based vendors, as well as DJ duo His&Hers and six craft breweries. Bozich also stated that, although everything is plant-based, anything not vegan will be clearly specified.

General admission tickets for adults are $20 and youth ages 12 to 21 are $10. Anyone under 12 years old is free.

Bozich stated that this is an event for everyone, not just those who follow a plant-based lifestyle.

“It’s a community event,” she said. “And proceeds are going back to the community.”

Home Sales Dip, Prices Up

Home sales slipped while prices rose in June, according to the latest report on previously owned houses in the Harrisburg area.

For the three-county region, a total of 770 houses sold in June, compared to 826 in June 2021, as the median price rose to $264,050 from $230,000 last year, said the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, sales dipped to 349 homes versus 389 last June, but the median price increased to $230,500 from $209,000, GHAR said.

Similarly, in Cumberland County, sales slipped to 374 houses, compared to 404 in June 2021, as the median price rose to $315,000 versus $256,750 in the year-ago period, according to GHAR.

Perry County had 43 homes sell in June, an increase of 10 houses from a year ago, as the median price rose to $219,950 from $200,000 in June 2021, GHAR said.

In June, houses also were selling quickly, as “average days on the market” decreased to 13 days versus 16 days last June, according to GHAR.

20 in Their 20s

It soon will be time for local up-and-coming professionals to take the spotlight.

Harrisburg Young Professionals (HYP) announced that nominations are now open for its 2022 “20 In Their 20s” class.

“It’s a good opportunity to highlight people doing good work in their communities,” said HYP Board President Jade Honey.

Anyone between the ages of 20 to 29 who lives or works in Dauphin, Cumberland or Perry counties is eligible for nomination. The nominee must contribute to making a difference in their community or workplace. Twenty young people will be selected and honored.

Nominations are open through Aug. 8. For more information, visit www.hyp.org.

On Nov. 9, HYP will host its “20 In Their 20s” awards ceremony at the Hilton Harrisburg. Tickets for the event will go on sale Sept. 7.

So Noted

Beacon Clinic for Health and Hope last month was awarded a $25,000 grant from the Highmark Foundation. The grant will allow the Harrisburg-based healthcare clinic to improve its technology systems and offset some staffing costs, according to Beacon.

Blaze Pizza opened last month at 4401 Jonestown Rd. in Colonial Park. It’s the second Harrisburg-area location for the California-based fast-casual restaurant chain, which has about 300 locations nationwide.

David Ozmore last month was named the new president and CEO of the Harrisburg Area YMCA. Ozmore, a long-time YMCA staff member, will assume the post on Aug. 1, replacing long-time CEO Richard A. Curl, who is retiring.

Gina Seibert last month was named the incoming chief financial officer for PSECU. Seibert, who has been with the Susquehanna Township-based credit union for 19 years, replaces Carol Noblit, who announced her retirement.

Harristown Enterprises last month said that it planned to remove the “Chockablock Clock” from Strawberry Square, using the space for a larger stage and second-floor, cantilevered meeting room. The clock, an audio-kinetic ball machine, was designed by George Rhoads and installed in the atrium in 1988.

H*MAC is now a “Live Nation” venue, it was announced last month. Under the multi-year agreement, Live Nation, a leading live entertainment company, will be H*MAC’s exclusive booking partner for the 1,200-person capacity Capitol Room, the largest of several performance spaces in the sprawling arts and restaurant complex in Midtown Harrisburg.

Raising the Bar will open soon in the first-floor commercial space of the newly renovated “Carpets and Draperies” apartment building in the 1500-block of N. 3rd Street in Midtown Harrisburg. Bakery owners Casey Callahan and Timishia Goodson will expand their hours and offerings, which will include sandwiches and coffee, while retaining their stand in the Broad Street Market.

Raymour & Flanigan cut the ribbon last month on its new showroom at 4661 Lindle Rd. in Swatara Township. The retailer offers a wide variety of furniture and décor for home and office.

Steve Sanchez, president of Camp Hill-based JDK Group, has been elected president of the International Caterer’s Association. In this role, he will help spearhead the ICA’s direction for the next two years.

Changing Hands

Argyle St., 41: L. & E. Keefer to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $49,900

Barkley Lane, 2518: L. & B. Grotjan to A. Jayapal, $131,000

Benton St., 631: D. Clark to J. Bonilla, $140,000

Berryhill St., 1421: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to S. Kundilepurayil, $139,995

Berryhill St., 1620: R. Kessler to G. Taylor, $75,000

Berryhill St., 2436: F. Phan to J. Charlton, $96,500

Boas St., 106: A. Nascone to E. Cannady, $210,000

Briggs St., 207: S. & K. Plummer to M. Vogel, $95,000

Briggs St., 255 and 248 Oliver Alley: Eastern State Investments to SJL Rentals, $625,000

Briggs St., 1810: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. & New Rez LLC to Your New Home LLC, $72,008

Calder St., 107: L. & M. Ferenbaugh to LE Real Estate Trust, $135,000

Calder St., 115: JMW Property Group LLC to W. Boehi & J. Leberman, $258,000

Camp St., 645: J. Gulbin to LHV Properties II LLC, $63,500

Catherine St., 1624: Shope Rentals LLC to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $40,000

Chestnut St., 1935: N. Doan to J. Hallager, $108,000

Conoy St., 108: D. Wendling to Ashkay Properties LLC, $170,000

Crescent St., 309: R. & B. Lehman to J. Hamilton, $55,000

Crescent St., 328: Z. Gonzalez to C. Rodriguez, $70,000

Derry St., 1521: K. Bitner to 2020 Real Estate Ventures LLC, $60,000

Derry St., 2024: T. Evans to Bertao Family Investments Penn LLC, $70,000

Derry St., 2029: S. Ginder to S. Bailey, $147,400

Derry St., 2348: K. Saengmuang to R. Harbaugh, $70,000

Derry St., 2626: F. & M. Morris to Portee Properties LLC, $155,000

Duke St., 2446: R. Martin to T. Desta, $83,500

Duke St., 2452: M. & D. Graeff to P. Carter, $124,900

Elm St., 1644: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to D. Boyle, $50,000

Forster St., 2011A: L. & E. Keefer to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $64,900

Forster St., 2013: L. & E. Keefer to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $59,300

Green St., 1020: J. & H. Piper to R. Chelsey, $185,000

Green St., 1630: B. & L. Bauman to Big Leaf Properties LLC, $200,000

Green St., 1702: J. & S. Lebron to J. Barrie, $245,000

Green St., 1908: G. & T. Washington to L. Silverberg, $241,000

Green St., 2015: National Residential Nominee Services Inc. to A. & W. Jamgochian, $280,000

Green St., 2146: J. & S. Compton to R. Gillette, $65,000

Green St., 2237: J. Compton to El Gamwo LLC, $115,000

Green St., 2338: E. Chattah to D. Harris, $159,000

Hale Ave., 204: BP Real Estate Investment Group LP to D. & L. McKinnie, $255,000

Hamilton St., 202: D. & R. Stachow to SJL Rentals LLC, $160,000

Hamilton St., 334: D. Monzon to Bitsy & Tino Enterprises LLC, $135,000

Harris St., 416: M. Riegel to M. Gomez, $130,000

Herr St., 267: S. & D. Kaplan to J. & R. Thompson, $230,000

Hoerner St., 117: A&K Investments Partnership LLC to Y. & J. Colon, $85,000

Holly St., 1937: CR Property LLC to M. & E. Kaiser, $125,000

Industrial Rd., 4230: Cottage Real Estate LLC to 4230 Industrial Rd. LLC, $2,175,000

Jefferson St., 2620: M. Galvez to A. Rosario, $60,000

Jefferson St., 2717: L. & E. Keefer to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $61,400

Jefferson St., 2717: L. & E. Keefer to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $64,900

Kelker St., 232: J. & A. Webb to 232 Kelker LLC, $195,000

Kensington St., 2006: S. Carr to A. Ryabukha, $65,500

Lewis St., 100: E. & Y. Friedman to W. Yankey & N. Scarcia, $249,000

Lexington St., 2558: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to RA Love Homes LLC, $159,500

Liberty St., 1412: Mainline Funding Group Inc. to D. Boyle, $55,225

Logan St., 1931: Capital Real Estate Group to D. Boyle, $40,000

Logan St., 2141: E. Alacantara to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $52,000

Logan St., 2143: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to M. Estrada, $130,000

Logan St., 2163: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to M. Estrada, $130,000

Logan St., 2417: DMA Rentals LLC to J. Mbuthia, $105,000

Manada St., 1938: W. & N. Williams to L. Lobos, $115,000

Market St., 1641: M. & G. Stiffler to J. & M. Gonzalez, $46,250

Market St., 1642: Lynn & Ryan Investment Properties LLC to 2020 Real Estate Ventures LLC, $51,000

Market St., 1917: S. Lynch to SPG Capital LLC, $118,500

May St., 916: A. Weedon to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $45,000

Mercer St., 2425: S. Hill to K. & T. Monroe, $96,100

Muench St., 313: Awakening Enterprises LLC to R. Cortes, $93,000

Mulberry St., 1813: EB & ZEE LLC to JM Thrift & Vintage LLC, $69,360

Mulberry St., 2004: T. Taylor to Z. Roudi & M. Maniari, $119,995

Naudain St., 1529: Keim Brothers LLC to D. & S. Tucker, $50,999

North St., 1836: B. & R. Lomax to J. Paulino, $85,000

North St., 1838: B. & R. Lomax to T. Bauserman & J. Hoskins, $76,500

North St., 1906: T. Davis & R. Wilder to S. Patterson, $72,000

N. 2nd St., 1117: 1117 N. 2nd Street LLC to CWJK Holdings LLC, $497,000

N. 2nd St., 1601: Lynn & Ryan Investment Properties LLC to D. & A. Hoffman, $370,000

N. 2nd St., 2135: Heller Investments to T. Wadlinger, $142,855

N. 2nd St., 2802: P. Kessler to K. & J. Reed, $244,900

N. 2nd St., 2812: J. & K. Reed to L. & N. Hunsinger, $420,000

N. 2nd St., 3228: R. & C. McAllister to Toch Investments LLC, $70,000

N. 3rd St., 1708: D. Cobb to Y. Miller, $185,000

N. 3rd St., 2014: S. & C. Payson to C. & L. Eby, $270,000

N. 3rd St., 2500 & 2518: Kesher Israel Congregation to M. & A. Reuveni, $200,000

N. 5th St., 3138: S. Cameron to L. Confer, $166,000

N. 6th St., 2607: A. Clark to B. Costa, $50,000

N. 12th St., 43: J. Hardy to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $45,000

N. 12th St., 54: J. Achenbach to I. Colon, $42,000

N. 15th St., 1215: A. & M. Hayden to T WY Enterprise LLC, $48,000

N. 18th St., 614: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to RA Love Homes LLC, $159,900

N. 19th St., 712½: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to M. Estrada, $149,900

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 312: R. & C. Chaudhuri to J. Bowles, $180,000

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 504: J. Brown to W. & L. Renz, $284,900

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 507: C. Tomlinson to X. Samuel, $135,000

Peffer St., 216: Grentals LLC and Wix Wenger & Weidner to 216 Peffer LLC, $220,000

Pennwood Rd., 3015: S. & F. Harp to D&J Properties, $80,000

Pennwood Rd., 3133: M. Mumma to BP Real Estate Investment Group LP, $98,000

Putnam St., 1620: A. Adams to J. Alvarez, $160,000

Race St., 558: M. Kramer to F. Yarwood, $172,500

Radnor St., 625: R. Rammouni to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $95,000

Reel St., 2412: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to D. Tobe, $139,995

Reel St., 2732: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to RA Love Homes LLC, $149,500

Regina St., 1700: Safarii Properties LLC to A. Miller, $210,000

Reily St., 215: B. & L. Bauman to Big Leaf Properties LLC, $200,000

Rose St., 931: P. Van Rossum to W. & K. Hemler, $52,500

Rudy Rd., 2257: K. Krusko to B. & A. Dunfrund, $275,000

Rudy Rd., 2482: 2482 Rudy Road Trust to K. Ross Seals, $84,000

Seneca St., 530: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to RA Love Homes LLC, $159,500

Seneca St., 615: M. & G. Toro to N. Dunbar, $95,500

S. 14th St., 328: M. Valdez to J. Meija, $50,000

S. 14th St., 349: G. Vargas to D. Boyle, $45000

S. 14th St., 437: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to Chand Living Trust, $139,995

S. 16th St., 566: M. Dones to D. Illanes, $68,000

S. 18th St., 1323: McCoy Rentals LLC to R. Rammouni, $62,000

S. 19th St., 1111: K. Saqib to D. Strausbaugh, $188,000

S. 19th St., 1125: Mann Realty Associates to J. Halkias, $205,000

S. 19th St., 1129: M. Montano to R. Gutierrez, $147,000

S. 20th St., 614: G. Hanslovan to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $65,000

S. 21st St., 1000: K. Roach to Golden Brick Road LLC, $607,143

S. 27th St., 803: B. Turner & B. Faulkner to M. Arellano & V. Bravo, $150,000

S. Cameron St., 1327: J. Swigart to Rainey’s Lighthouse LLC, $95,000

State St., 112: Pennsylvania Republican Home Inc. to Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter Inc., $750,000

State St., 231, Unit 805: M. Tantardini to B. Azevedo, $185,000

Swatara St., 2042: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to D. Boyle, $43,500

Swatara St., 2051: J. & L. Krum to K. McClain, $123,000

Verbeke St., 1330: K. Byers to J. Castro, $190,000

Wendy St., 1126: Keystone K9 LLC to Warnell LLC, $1,850,000

Whitehall St., 2021: Sunny Day Real Estate Solutions LLC to M. McCall, $155,000

Wiconisco St., 564: D. Fernandez to J. Cruz & A. Sanchez, $160,000

Wyatt St., 310: M. & E. Shapiro to G. Archer, $142,500

Harrisburg property sales, June 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!

Life Lessons: Tri-County OIC helps area adults continue their education, seeks volunteers

July 29, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Kathy Watkins-Lewis

Continuing her education as an adult has been an uphill battle for Kathy Watkins-Lewis.

The 70-year-old Harrisburg resident started pursuing her GED when her son was young. She wanted to be able to help him with his homework. Now, he’s 51, and Watkins-Lewis is still working towards her goal.

“There was always something hindering me,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of personal trauma. But this is a promise that I made to myself. I’m doing this for me.”

While Watkins-Lewis has needed to pause and resume her studies for years, slowly chipping away at her goal, Tri-County OIC has remained a constant support in her life.

The organization, located on Maclay Street in Harrisburg, provides adult education courses to local residents. Every year, hundreds of adult learners like Watkins-Lewis come to the OIC to receive assistance in getting a high school equivalency diploma, learning English and for vocational and digital literacy help. They also offer a program for those re-entering society after prison.

According to Bill Gustafson, tutor recruiter for the OIC, like Watkins-Lewis, many participants in the organization’s programs take years to complete their courses. Getting an education as an adult comes with unique challenges like childcare, transportation and financial issues, he said.

Gustafson started as a volunteer at the OIC when he retired and was looking for a way to help people. But he quickly discovered how rewarding the experience was for him, as well.

“People are happy to be here and to achieve their goals,” he said. “It’s just great. I can’t think of a better way to spend my time.”

Where You Should Be

With the recent migration of refugees from Afghanistan and the likely influx of Ukrainian refugees, Tri-County expects the demand for its English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to increase.

The organization is currently in need of volunteers for that program in the form of tutors, classroom aides and one-on-one helpers. Only know English? According to Annette Reiff, volunteer coordinator, that’s actually a good thing, as tutors encourage students to only speak English in the classroom to assist in the learning process.

New volunteers for the program will undergo orientation and training and don’t need any experience in education to serve, Reiff explained. All Tri-County OIC asks is that they make a commitment to volunteering for a longer period of time.

“I think it’s the most rewarding experience you can have,” Gustafson said. “This is where you should be.”

Tri-County OIC has operated in Harrisburg since 1965, as part of a nationwide alliance of OIC’s. Over the years, the local organization has grown and taught classes at over 75 locations in the Harrisburg area.

“People come because they know people here will help them change,” Gustafson said.

Degrees & Dreams

While Watkins-Lewis originally started the process of getting her GED when her son was young, she’s now working towards the same goal alongside her grandchildren.

“I tell them, ‘don’t wait until you’re as old as me to get this education,’” she said.

Still, her age has never deterred her from pursuing education, although there have been times where she considered giving up. Watkins-Lewis remembers when she talked to an OIC tutor about the personal struggles she was going through.

“You can open up to them,” she said. “It’s like a family. I love them.”

Watkins-Lewis hopes to receive her high school equivalency diploma in the near future and then wants to take courses at a community college, she said. Getting an education is the best way she can find to better herself.

The staff and volunteers of the OIC would agree. According to Reiff, education is one of the best ways to help someone get out of poverty and find job opportunities. But it’s also a way to find renewed hope for the future. For Watkins-Lewis, that hope has remained strong through the years, thanks to the support from volunteers at the OIC.

“They take the time out of their busy schedules to teach us,” she said. “They really don’t have to. I really appreciate it.”

Tri-County OIC is located at 500 Maclay St., Harrisburg. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, visit www.tricountyoic.org.

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

All the Buzz: The Capital Area Beekeepers Association and Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association are attracting new members, like bees to honey

July 29, 2022 | by Karen Hendricks

Gary Carns is busy as a bee.

He was in the midst of an eight-day road trip covering 28,000 miles when we connected on the phone. He had a schedule to keep. He was due in South Carolina the following day for a delivery of some precious cargo—bees. Actually, 50,000 bees.

“I run bees from South Carolina to Pennsylvania and New York and back again, supplying them to orchards,” said Carns, of Millersburg. “I have a 4-year old vehicle—and let me see, I have 216,000 miles on my odometer right now.”

A full-time beekeeper, Carns serves as president of the Capital Area Beekeepers Association (CABA). It’s a growing hobby and profession that’s all the buzz, thanks to greater awareness about the importance of pollinators—especially bees—to our crops and environment, amid harmful effects of climate change on the pollinator population.

Bees are also pretty fascinating.

“Honeybees are the only living organism that doesn’t harm any other living organism,” Carns said. “In fact, when they visit a plant, they leave it better. The honeybee is an amazing creature.”

Carns, 59, is an eighth-generation beekeeper. His son, 14, represents the up-and-coming ninth generation.

“I’ve been doing it since 1969, when I started helping my dad,” Carns said.

Back then, the region’s beekeeping association was called the Dauphin County Beekeepers. Carns has been “heavily involved” the past 10 years as a CABA officer.

New Bees, Newbies

More than 200 Harrisburg-area residents belong to CABA, with about 25 newbies joining their ranks this year, having completed CABA’s 34th annual short course on beekeeping. It covers everything from how to establish a bee colony to bee biology and disease, hive management, and the sweet rewards of harvesting honey.

Membership is growing, Carns said, because “people are starting to realize the food bees make—honey—is a perfect food, and they’re starting to realize how important bees are for the pollination of our food.”

That food includes fruit orchards such as Strites’ Orchard, just outside Harrisburg, where CABA bee boxes provide a mutually beneficial exchange. CABA bees help pollinate Strites’ trees and crops—such as cherries—while gathering nectar, which they take back to CABA’s hives, where the insects work collaboratively in colonies to turn it into golden honey.

Sweet Spot

CABA also has maintained a bee yard at HACC in Harrisburg since 2016. Volunteers from the organization began clearing brush and debris from a 2-acre plot in the winter of 2020 in order to establish a community pollinator garden. Members researched and designed the garden to include plants that are both native to central Pennsylvania and pollinator-friendly.

The garden, adjacent to the Capital Area Greenbelt, not only provides beautiful scenery for passing bikers, runners and hikers to enjoy, but it elevates awareness and cultivates a greater appreciation for these tiny insects.

HACC’s hives also provide hands-on experience—for those in full beekeeping suits, of course.

“We’re trying to introduce people who have never had bees to beekeeping,” Carns said. “So twice a month or so, we show people what their bees should look like at HACC.”

CABA has another unique educational use for the HACC bee yard. Through a partnership with the national nonprofit Hives for Heroes, they introduce military veterans to beekeeping through free training and mentoring.

Buzzwords

CABA is one of 37 clubs dedicated to nurturing and growing beekeeping across the state.

“Beekeeping continues to grow in popularity, although a little more slowly than it has in the previous decade,” said Mark Gingrich, 54, of Gingrich Apiaries in Dover, York County. He’s currently president of the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association (PSBA).

People seem to be attracted to—even falling in love with—beekeeping.

“Keeping bees is reasonably inexpensive to get started,” Gingrich said. “Most people love the learning process and are fascinated with how bees function as social insects, cooperative care of young, overlapping generations and the division of labor for a common cause.”

Current environmental buzzwords—pollination and climate change—are also powerful motivators for many new beekeepers.

“Both wild and managed pollinators face a wide array and ever-changing list of stressors,” Gingrich said. “They—in combination with changing weather trends— contribute to a national annual honey bee loss as high as 42%. In Pennsylvania, bees indirectly create many jobs and help support families devoted to growing fruits and vegetables.”

An estimated 80% of state crops rely on pollination, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

Sweet Rewards

Gingrich got into beekeeping almost 20 years ago—as an entry-level, and affordable, way to be involved in the agricultural industry.

“I’ve always had a passion for agriculture,” said Gingrich, who grew up in 4-H and FFA. “As time passed, it became apparent to me that I would never have the resources available to overcome the economies of scale necessary for me to farm at a level beyond just a hobby. Beekeeping, at a sideliner level, provided me the opportunity to enter the arena at a considerably lower investment level.”

Beekeeping, like the lives of bees themselves, seems to rely on a fine balancing act of science and environment, work at an individual level, as well as key connections to a hive of activity at the community level.

“The reasons for keeping bees are many—from supporting the planet we share to the sweet reward of honey after a successful year,” Gingrich said, “But, for me, it also provides a certain joy in teaching others the craft.”

To learn more about the Capital Area Beekeepers Association and the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association, see cabapa.org and pastatebeekeepers.org, respectively.

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

Fighting Force: Become one with the fun with the Jedi Sith Alliance

July 29, 2022 | by Susan Ryder

Central PA Jedi Sith Alliance participants

“I like…to share the love of ‘Star Wars,’” said Andrew Rinier, through his menacing red and black Darth Maul makeup, spiky horns dotting his head.

He shares this love of “Star Wars” through the Central PA Jedi Sith Alliance (JSA). To bring the non-Star Wars versed into the conversation, Jedi’s represent all that is good in “the Force,” while the Sith choose to use this power for evil.

JSA performs choreographed Jedi/Sith fight scenes, complete with light sabers, elaborate costuming, and audience participation at events in central Pennsylvania—all for no charge.

Jason Baker explained that, because it’s a Star Wars Fan Club recognized by Lucasfilm, Ltd., they can’t charge for appearances. However, they do accept donations for local charities and to cover their expenses. Though money has zero to do with why they do, what they do.

“How often do you get to say, ‘I own a light saber, how about you?’” said Eryka Ward, who performs as the character, Ja’En Nexu.

At a recent practice, the yellow, red, blue and green light sabers swooshed through the air with their distinctive whirring sound, as Nick Marquette, fight director, guided the group’s movements, followed by the clack, clack, clack of contact.

JSA requires no experience to join the group, but some folks arrive with skills.

Cindy Hanwell had sword-fighting experience and discovered JSA at a PA Farm Show Complex Comic-Con event. She tried out the group.

“We came to a practice, and they couldn’t get rid of us,” said Hanwell dressed in her Ashoka Tano costume, with orange and white face makeup and a handmade, blue-and-white, foam, fabric and papier mâché headdress that dropped over her shoulders like pigtails.

Members can challenge themselves to increase their skills or keep it simple.

“We can incorporate any skill level into what we do,” Hanwell said.

It’s not only adults who participate. Five-year-old Vera Lenker performs as a Wampa and Baby Yoda. She prefers the dark side of the Force “because my dad likes the dark side, “she said.

“Generally, Sith don’t like Jedi. They have too many rules,” said Vera’s dad, Curtis.

He brings her along to the hour-long, weekly practices, which involve dinner afterwards.

“You can blame me for her nerdiness,” he said.

The group embraces its Star Wars nerdom, and members agree that making people smile is their favorite part of it all.

“When we go to events, people love it, kids love it, and a lot of adults are interested,” said Baker.

Children are often a bit scared, but they still muster up the courage to hug the imposing Darth Maul, and folks are always drawn to the light sabers.

“We got to go to parades and everything, and people cheering us on,” Ward said. “I wanted more of that in my life.”

Group members also enjoy the camaraderie, learning new skills, and the active, overall fun of participating.

“You see something you loved as a kid, and now you get to do it as an adult,” Ward said.

For many, it’s a family affair. Baker and his two sons have performed for about five years.

“It is something I thought my son would like, and it was something we could get out and do,” Baker said.

Folks don’t need to be “Star Wars” super-fans to participate. Baker enjoyed “Star Wars” about as much as the average person before he joined, but the group has elevated his interest.

“This has put us over the top,” he said.

While there’s much fun to be had, the group also needs to consider safety. The fight director choreographs the saber battles, and there’s lots of practice. The costume supervisor makes sure that the costuming allows for movement in battle. Scenes are recorded and uploaded to YouTube so that members can work on them at home, as well.

In his persona as Darth Maul, but with his blue eyes and soft-spoken nature letting his real self shine through, Rinier summed up JSA’s mission.

“To share the love for ‘Star Wars,’ and give the best performance we can give,” he said.

To learn more about the Central PA Jedi Sith Alliance, visit www.centralpajsa.org.

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

Mining Your Roots: A trip to coal country helps our writer connect with her great-grandfather

July 29, 2022 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Stephanie Kalina-Metzger and Ignatz Kalina

I remember very little about my great-grandfather, Ignatz Kalina.

I have but one picture of him—a fading black-and-white photo of the two of us, sitting together on a couch, in his living room in Taylor, Pa. I seem to recall that day when I, young and squirmy, was forced to sit for a photo when I had so much to explore in those new-to-me surroundings.

With the ongoing Ukrainian/Russian conflict, I’ve been thinking more about him and my great-grandmother, Paulina, who left the region for the United States in 1907 while they both were in their 20s.

My mother remembers just a few visits before my parents divorced and recounts how Paulina welcomed me enthusiastically, scooping me from her arms when I was an infant and scurrying to a back room to quietly sing to me in her native language. I, sadly, have no photos, nor recollection of Paulina, who passed a decade before Ignatz. With my father gone, I have relied on the internet to gain a little more insight into their lives.

Ignatz worked for the Moffat Coal Co., which I was able to confirm when I discovered his name on a list of mining accidents. He was struck in the jaw when a bar slipped while he was working as a trackman’s helper. Evidently, he advanced in his profession to become a full-fledged miner, certified to work with explosives only later in life. “Pop” lived to be 86 years old. The man who toiled in the damp, dark recesses of the earth for many years, was, by accounts, hale and hearty and managed to escape the perils of black lung—a condition that struck down so many of those who worked in his profession.

When I unearthed his address in Taylor and learned I could tour the coal mine where he worked, I decided that a road trip was in order. My husband agreed to do the driving, and off we went to scout out the house where my granddad, Ignatz’s son, grew up.

During road trips, I usually have my head buried in a book or in dozens of periodicals that I drag along. I mention this because, when I finally glanced up, about two blocks from the house, my eyes fell upon a street name: Myron Thomas Court. I pointed this out to my husband, explaining that Myron Thomas was my dad’s first and middle name. It’s almost as if he was aware of the pilgrimage and was giving me a little nudge. A few minutes later, we were parked in the front of a cozy-looking, well-kept house where my grandfather was raised and where my great-grandmother toiled in the kitchen, making the delicious sausage that was a carefully kept secret.

In His Footsteps

After seeing the house, I was ready to learn more at the mine where my great-grandfather toiled, so we headed off to the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour in nearby McDade Park. I can’t help but admit it was a bit of a thrill to walk the same path that Ignatz walked so many years ago.

When we arrived, staff provided us with a hair net and a hard hat before inviting us to watch a short film about coal mining. Afterwards, we browsed the small gift shop while awaiting the call for the tour to start.

When it was our turn, we joined about 25 others and piled into a bright yellow car to make our descent into the mine. I had a few butterflies as we moved slowly down, 300 feet into the abyss, thinking that it was unnatural for living humans to be comfortable beneath the earth. When we arrived at the bottom and were permitted to exit the car, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Our guide led us through the cramped, wet 1860s-era mine and described various duties performed by the workers. We learned that, in 1902, the certified rate paid for laborers was 18 cents an hour and breaker boys (those who separated the coal from impurities) earned 13 cents—the same as mule drivers. Engineers made $78 a month and nippers, who were in charge of opening and closing the heavy wooden doors that sealed the mines when miners would pass through with coal carts, were paid the least at 11 cents an hour, likely due to their young age.

We also learned that mine employees always had to be on guard, especially for electrocution hazards. Our guide relayed a story about a mule whose ear touched a wire and was struck dead on the spot, landing on the damp ground with a sickening thud. Eventually, makeshift mule hats were employed to keep this from happening.

As we made our way through the mine, we peered into the boss’ office, a small space hacked out of a mine wall and looking rather rustic. I can imagine “Pop” Kalina peering in and waving a friendly hello here and there.

At the end of the tour, guests were given “mining certificates,” earned by doing little but observing how these men contributed to the fabric and success of America through their grit, hard work and determination.

I left feeling a debt of gratitude to those who came before—for their intestinal fortitude, their pride and their work ethic. I’m very proud to count my great-grandfather among that group of fine men.

The Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour is located at 1 Bald Mountain Rd., McDade Park, Scranton, and is open from April 1 through Nov. 30. For more information, visit www.visitnepa.org/listing/lackawanna-coal-mine-tour/196.

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

Soldier, Athlete, Leader: Victoria McCallum blends talents, skills to make her mark in Harrisburg

July 29, 2022 | by Susan Ryder

Victoria McCallum. Photo courtesy of Deanna Arroyo

You might say that Victoria McCallum has a very eclectic resume.

It’s not everyday that you meet someone with the following credentials: artist, soldier, entrepreneur, athlete.

She lives her life as an Army National Guard staff sergeant, a business owner and “Best Warrior” competitor.

“Ultimately, I really just wanted someone to tell me what do to,” said McCallum of her decision at 17 to join the National Guard.

She described her life before that as “always living in between things” and credits an extended church family for helping her through those young years.

“It was me making a lot of decisions to make sure that I had the best outcome in life despite what was going on around me, “ she said.

A Balance

After high school, McCallum studied at the University of the Arts in her hometown of Philadelphia, at a school she never realized existed. It was kismet.

Walking down Broad Street, she came upon the school, discovered that it was dedicated to arts education and decided to enroll, eventually graduating with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts.

After graduation, she experienced what many graduates do—fear.

“I was kind of panicking,” she said. “I had an arts degree, and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do right after school.”

Then a seemingly unlikely partner, the Army, offered her a job. Recruiting and retention needed a graphic designer, and she jumped at the chance, serving in that capacity for a few years.

After a stint in the private sector, McCallum found herself in Harrisburg, a city she admits that she had completely misunderstood.

“I was actually pretty surprised Harrisburg was a city,” she said. “I always considered it a city of like a Capitol building surrounded by trees. So, when I got here, I was so amazed. I just felt like Harrisburg has so much character.”

That’s when she and her business partner created Na’toria Marketing and Design Solutions.

“I felt that a lot of minority businesses in Harrisburg didn’t have the marketing tools that they needed to be aesthetically competitive against their non-minority competitors,” she said. “And I felt that maybe that’s something that we can provide to this specific community.”

McCallum, 32, described Na’toria’s client base as eclectic and diverse, serving people in real estate, construction and even self-published authors.

In the meantime, the National Guard continued to need help, so she went back to work on active duty. She’s been juggling her military life and entrepreneurial life since.

She credits her team with enabling her to balance it well.

“They [the Na’toria team] are why Na’toria is still growing strong, because as a soldier and non-commissioned officer, I don’t believe that I have to do everything myself,” she said. “I rely on the team. I know how to delegate.”

Want It All

The Pennsylvania Army National Guard has also allowed McCallum to compete in the state’s “Best Warrior” competition for the title of “Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year.”

Participants are invited to enter this seven-day event, which includes weapons qualifications, a written exam, Army combat fitness tests, a 12-mile march with a 35-pound pack, grenade throwing (yes, grenade throwing!), and night-into-day land navigation.

The competition begins at the company level, and participants rise through brigade then state levels. McCallum made it to the state level.

“I was actually really excited to even be considered for the competition, and originally my goal was to get to brigade level,” she said.

McCallum didn’t think she was eligible for the competition, because, at 19, she was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes. So, she had to battle just to stay in the National Guard.

In the end, she didn’t win the competition, but is proud that she did well.

“It was a way for me to prove that, not only was I not a liability, but I can also be very successful,” she said.

McCallum credits her husband, who was willing to forgo their planned trip to Morocco, for her ability to compete in Best Warrior and for helping her make this complex life work.

“He makes me feel like I can do anything, and I just love him for that,” she said.

McCallum also credits the Army for cultivating leadership in her “as being a soldier and then being a leader.”

“I’ve experienced a lot of terrible leadership, and some great leadership,” she said. “And so I have learned to take lessons from both to develop the leader I want to be, and I know what I don’t want to be.”

Far from her days of moving and chaos, McCallum has defined her life and has plans for her certified minority-owned business—internships, partnerships and employing creatives.

“I want artists to be paid for their work,” she said. “I want them to feel valued and important. I want my minority business to succeed. I want other businesses to consider minority businesses. I want it all.”

For more information on Na’toria Marketing and Design Solutions, visit www.natoria.co.

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

Sisterhood, with a Squeeze: Reign and Taij’s Homemade Lemonade makes the summer sweet

July 29, 2022 | by Rachel Lindsley

Reign and Taij Saunders

Your average 12- and 14-year olds probably spent their summer at the local pool or summer camp.

Reign and Taij Saunders, though, devoted their time off to growing their lemonade business—squeezing every drop out of each day.

The sister duo grew up in the kitchen helping their mom, Tee, with her baking business, making cakes for events and parties throughout Pennsylvania. One day, inspired by their mom’s entrepreneurial spirit, the girls decided to step out on their own with a sweet idea.

“A lot of kids sell lemonade, but they don’t take it to the next level. We have a brand, bottle a special recipe and deliver it to our customers at events in the community,” Taij said. “We came up with this idea by thinking about what our customers would want in the summertime—fresh-squeezed lemonade.”

With an idea in hand, Reign and Taij developed a logo, started promoting their product on social media and signed up for their first local event in September 2019. After the fair, they received their first pre-paid order for one gallon of lemonade. Three years later, the sisters have sold thousands of gallons.

They currently allot at least 10 hours per week to fulfill orders from local businesses such as OD’s Fish House and community partners like Millersville University, D.R.E.A.M.S. Minority Business Network and the Dauphin County Library System. Their at-home process takes around two hours per 100 bottles.

“Every flavor of lemonade starts with us juicing fresh lemons,” Taij said. “Then, we mix our secret recipe together and conduct a taste test. After, we bottle, label and package each product by hand. Orders are available through curbside pickup or delivery.”

As a licensed traveling vendor, the Saunders family participates in vendor fairs throughout Pennsylvania and Virginia. The lemonade line has expanded from four to 12 flavors, including popular varieties like blueberry, mango and strawberry.

Lemonade prices range from $3 for a single bottle to $8 for a half gallon and $12 for a gallon. For repeat customers, the sisters also sell souvenir cups for $7 with a $2 lifetime guaranteed refill. New to their menu this summer was “sugarless” lemonade and fruit-infused water—for those watching their sweets. These are made by special order.

In the next year, Reign and Taij want to take their business on the road.

“We are working on purchasing and wrapping a food truck to show our original logo with a photo of us when we started the business in 2019,” Taij said. “This truck will help us take our business to the next level and allow us to provide more offerings at events.”

As the sisters return to school this month, they look forward to their school district and teachers supporting their small business and keeping the lemonade orders flowing during the slower winter months.

“Our teachers are so supportive of our business and purchase lemonade throughout the school year to keep us busy,” Taij said. “We also like to give to back-to-school fundraisers because, even though we are business owners, we are kids, too.”

This August, the Harrisburg community can support the lemonade sisters by purchasing lemonade cups at local events such as at SoMa block party on Aug. 25 at S. 3rd and Market streets in Harrisburg. Reign and Taij’s Homemade Lemonade will have a table, selling a variety of lemonades to enjoy.

“We have so much fun working together as a family,” Reign said. “We love being out and about at community events and seeing our customers’ faces when they try our lemonade for the first time. They often come back for more.”

For more information on Reign and Taij’s Homemade Lemonade, visit www.rntlemonade.bigcartel.com or follow them on Instagram @reign_taijs_lemonade.

Are you a local business wanting to partner with Reign and Taij? Email them at [email protected] for bulk, discount ordering.

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

True Blue: Police officers and area youth forge brotherly bonds through “Bigs in Blue”

July 29, 2022 | by Karen Hendricks

Sgt. Darren Cotten & Bo Williams

There’s one story that always brings tears to the eyes of Derry Township Police Sgt. Darren Cotten.

“Bo was in second grade when we started having lunch together once or twice a month, then going out to recess together,” Cotten said. “We were a perfect match, instantly, because he’s a little athlete, into the same sports I’m into—football, baseball and basketball.”

The first few times, Cotten’s presence, as a fully uniformed police officer, drew curious looks from Bo’s classmates. They were skeptical.

“But I’d start playing out on the playground, and you’d start to see the barrier coming down,” Cotten said. “More and more kids would come hang out with us.”

The next year, there was a breakthrough.

“One day, we were at lunch, and all the kids were asking Bo, ‘Can I sit with you?’ And there was one seat left at our table. I tear up every time I tell this story because there was a kid sitting all by himself. And it was nothing I said to Bo, but he went over and asked that kid to sit with us.”

Cotten paused for a moment, remembering.

“The smile on that kid’s face, and to watch Bo go over to someone sitting by himself—was that part of Bigs in Blue? I don’t know,” said Cotten.

But you could tell, he wonders.

Bro Bonds

“Bigs in Blue” is a national initiative designed by Big Brothers Big Sisters to pair youth with law enforcement officer mentors. Officers meet with “little brothers” a few times a month at area schools.

Bo, who’s now 11, was adopted by his grandparents when he was 5.

“Bo struggled at first after he left his mom and dad, and we were looking for support to help him through that. I was very excited when I found out his teacher had recommended Bo for this program,” said his grandmother, Betty Jane Condron, of Derry Township. “Bo really respects Darren, and I love that Darren is a super good role model for Bo.”

The pair hit it off so well that they were approved to meet regularly off school grounds—at Cotten’s home, area pizza shops and Bo’s sporting events.

In fact, Cotten said, “My wife and son are always asking, ‘When is Bo visiting again?’”

Big Picture

Regionally, Bigs in Blue flourishes under the umbrella of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region (BBBSCR).

“Our goal is for kids to have a mentor that lasts a lifetime,” said Amy Rote, BBBSCR’s president and CEO, who established Bigs in Blue in central Pennsylvania. “It’s been my baby. It really started in 2014 with Ferguson [and the shooting of an 18-year old Black man by a white police officer]. I was receiving calls from ‘bigs’ asking, ‘How do I help my ‘littles’ be safe?’”

She started talking to area police departments, and Swatara Township was the first to come on board. BBBSCR’s Bigs in Blue officially launched in 2016.

“We have a region that’s really committed to giving back to kids and trying to build relationships—it just needed the structure [of Bigs in Blue],” Rote said.

Elizabeth Goodman is BBBSCR’s full-time Bigs in Blue coordinator. Her background includes several years of teaching experience, at Harrisburg’s Benjamin Franklin Elementary, then Yellow Breeches Educational Center—a private school for students struggling in their districts due to mental health and other diagnosed conditions.

“My grandfather was a police officer, and when I saw the Bigs in Blue position posted, it struck a chord with me, knowing the importance of relationships with police officers,” said Goodman, who personally interviews—and matches—officers with youth.

“Bigs get to learn about their littles and the struggles they’re facing, and littles get to realize their bigs are real people,” said Goodman. “The overall goal is to grow the program. We’re constantly bringing on new departments and expanding.”

Mentorship on the Map

BBBSCR currently has the second-largest Bigs in Blue program in the nation, in terms of the number of participants, behind Miami.

However, when it comes to the number of police departments engaged, BBBSCR leads the country. Thirteen area police departments spanning five counties, plus Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), participate in Bigs in Blue, through a total of 36 officers, with more than 20 additional officers awaiting matches this coming school year.

East Hempfield Township police recently became the first Lancaster County department to participate—“and four officers had their applications to me on the first day,” Goodman said. “That’s a moment that stands out for me, because it shows how much officers want to impact the life of a child.”

But the impacts radiate even further, beyond brotherhood into neighborhoods.

“Sometimes, the kids can change a parent’s outlook on police, or other kids’ outlooks,” Cotten said.

Cotten, Goodman and PSP were all featured speakers representing BBBSCR’s thriving program, at last year’s national Bigs in Blue conference.

Paradigm Shifts

PSP Lt. Adam Reed has volunteered with Bigs in Blue since the beginning. He’s currently matched with 11-year old De’Von, who moved to the area last year.

“Making new friends at a new school is always going to be a challenge, no matter who you are,” Reed said. “So, it was my hope that I could make that transition easier for him.”

Ultimately, does this program, Bigs in Blue, have the ability to change the narrative—to impact and improve relationships between today’s youth and police?

“Yes, you hit the nail on the head—it definitely has the potential to change the narrative and make positive impacts with Pennsylvania’s youth,” Reed said. “That’s important today, more than ever. Traditionally, people interact with police when they’re having their worst day. So, it’s really refreshing on our end to interact with the community in a positive way, and this program allows that.”

To learn more about Bigs in Blue and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region, visit capbigs.org.

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

Musical Notes: Awesome August

July 29, 2022 | by Ellen Frantz

As the summer draws to a close, there are still plenty of chances to catch live music in the midstate. Whether you prefer a smaller, intimate venue or a sold-out stadium, there is something coming this month for everyone.

I personally believe that the concerts lined up for August are even better than those that came earlier in the summer. There are a lot of big names coming to Hersheypark Stadium and Hollywood Casino, as well as some very talented musicians headed to places like Harrisburg’s Riverfront Park and The Englewood in Hershey.

Here are the shows that you won’t want to miss:

Lord Huron, 8/20, 8 p.m., Riverfront Park, $55

When I spoke to Frank Schofield, Harrisburg University’s director of live entertainment and media services, about their summer concert series, he told me that Lord Huron was selling the most tickets. And rightfully so. This indie band’s music is described as having “cinematic flair.” You can hear that in their song, “The Night We Met,” which some may recognize from TikTok. Lord Huron’s music is often guitar-driven, exemplified on tunes like “I Lied” and “Ends of the Earth.” They’re sure to put on quite the show as they take the stage this month in Riverfront Park.

Lady Gaga, 8/28, 7:30 p.m., Hersheypark Stadium, $108-$450

In my opinion, this is the biggest name to come to the Harrisburg area this summer. The Grammy and Oscar award-winner is bringing her “Chromatica Ball” tour to only 18 cities across the globe, with one of them being Hershey. Gaga will perform songs from her 2020 “Chromatica” album, including the hit “Rain on Me” featuring Ariana Grande. Although this concert will most likely draw a younger crowd, fans of any age will be able to appreciate hearing hits like “Poker Face” and “Bad Romance” live.

Cordovas, 8/30, 8 p.m., The Englewood, $25

Cordovas is a folk-rock band from Tennessee, and they are phenomenal. I am so glad I discovered their music because they’re a group worth checking out. Their new album, “Destiny Hotel,” focuses on the theme of openness, with songs like “Afraid No More” and “Destiny” being about living freely and authentically. This band is sure to delight not only fans of folk, rock and country, but also fans of musicians who tell stories.

Mentionables

Steve Forbert and the New Renditions, Aug. 6, The Englewood
Santana and Earth, Wind and Fire, Aug. 6, Hersheypark Stadium
“Weird” Al Yankovic, Aug. 6 & 7, American Music Theatre
Creed Bratton, Aug. 10, H*MAC
The Toasters, Aug. 11, H*MAC
JJ Grey and Mofro, Aug. 11, XL Live
Courtney Barnett, Aug. 12, XL Live
Susquehanna Folk Festival, Aug. 12-14, York Expo Center
Ballyhoo! and Shwayze, Aug. 18, XL Live
Chris Young ft. Rodney Atkins, Aug. 13, My Heroes Stage at Hollywood Casino
Rick Springfield, Men at Work and John Waite, Aug. 20, My Heroes Stage at Hollywood Casino
The Beach Boys, Aug. 21, American Music Theatre
Chris Stapleton, Aug. 27, Hersheypark Stadium
Alesana, Aug. 28, H*MAC

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

The Right Tools: Evolve Youth Trades Academy offers students another path forward

July 29, 2022 | by Jeff Falk

Students at Evolve Youth Trades Academy

Workers tend to fall into two general buckets: those who work with their heads and those who work with their hands.

Evolve Youth Trades Academy’s mission is to educate young people about productive career paths that involve using their hands and their minds, while lifting them up and offering them hope.

“We believe that trades are not the last opportunity, but a first choice,” said Patricia Robinson, founder and CEO. “Without a path, students will end up on the streets or incarcerated.”

Evolve Youth Trades Academy provides middle and high school students in the Harrisburg area with training and practical, hands-on experience in the disciplines of carpentry, plumbing, HVAC, electrical and graphic design.

But beyond the basics, Evolve offers job training, apprenticeship programs, scholarships, life lessons, critical-thinking skills, community awareness, time management training and real-world opportunities, while instilling flexibility, persistence and determination.

Currently, Evolve works with students from the Steelton-Highspire School District, but hopes to expand its reach to other area schools. Evolve also maintains working relationships with the area Home Builders Association, the local home services company H.B. McClure and Lowe’s Home Improvement of Harrisburg.

“We want to make sure that there’s access for all students and that they are able to sustain themselves,” Robinson said. “We have children who are underachieving, and we want a level playing field. If we can give children access to opportunities, the community can thrive. We want to put the right tools in their hands so they can be proud of their sustainability.”

Ultimately, Evolve seeks the elusive win-win-win scenario—happy and productive workers, properly staffed and profitable local businesses and a safe and stable community.

“I have companies coming to me, and they don’t have enough people to fill positions,” said Robinson, a 55-year-old resident of Linglestown. “They’re telling me, ‘We’ll train them. We’ll pay them.’ It’s challenging to find work that fits everybody. People are getting into jobs because they have to, not because they want to, and that’s unhealthy.”

One Path

Four years ago, Robinson was a teacher in the Central Dauphin School District, until one day she felt it “wasn’t enough.” So, in April 2019, she founded Evolve Youth Trades Academy.

“I didn’t choose to start Evolve,” Robinson said. “I really think it kind of chose me.”

She explained that an eighth-grade student told her that he planned to drop out of school, and that inspired her.

“I realized I wasn’t having enough of an effect in the school district,” she said. “My goal is to shape young minds in order to create change.”

Janice Baldwin, a 17-year-old Harrisburg resident, is a testament to what students can attain. Two years ago, she was exposed to a hands-on, little-bit-of-everything course at Evolve, discovering a proclivity for carpentry. She also learned a little bit about herself.

“I love working with my hands and meeting new people,” Baldwin said. “At the school, it’s like a family environment. I think there’s power in confidence. I don’t think people should let others’ doubts and opinions bring you down, because you know yourself better than anyone.”

There are no requirements for acceptance—just an open mind and a natural curiosity for learning. The school accepts students as young as 12.

“We are looking for the underserved, marginalized students who are interested in the trades,” Robinson said. “Not all students are academically inclined. Oftentimes, students’ imaginations are stifled. Trades lead to creativity. There isn’t just one path to success.”

Because when their options are limited, students’ growth is stunted. Faced with decisions that will affect the rest of her life, Baldwin, for one, isn’t closing any doors.

“I plan on going to Penn State-Harrisburg and majoring in biology or science,” she said. “After I finish my years at Penn State, I do plan on getting a carpentry certification. I’m positioned for both. I see no reason to get rid of either.”

Evolve Youth Trades Academy is located at 4309 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.evolvetrades.org, call 717-608-2315 or email [email protected].

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