Celebration Restoration: Jubilee Day returns to the streets of downtown Mechanicsburg

May 31, 2022 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Images courtesy of Jeff Palm and Mechanicsburg Chamber of Commerce.

After a two-year hiatus, one of the West Shore’s most-loved annual events is set to return this month.

On June 16, Jubilee Day, known as the East Coast’s “largest, longest running one-day street fair,” will take place for the 92nd year in the heart of downtown Mechanicsburg. It was last held in 2019 then halted due to the pandemic.

“There’s anticipation around town now that we’re doing something that resembles what we’ve always known as Jubilee Day,” said Jeff Palm, executive director of Mechanicsburg Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the event.

“It may not look like it did in 2019, but it will be something that’s familiar and will give everyone a respite,” he said. “The world has changed in the three years since we last held it. It’s a stretch for some companies now with personnel shortages.”

Nonetheless, Palm said that he expects this year’s event will feature at least “a couple of hundred vendors” offering food, games, arts and crafts, business information, retail products, carnival rides and more. Past Jubilee Days have attracted as many as 70,000 attendees.

Palm said that the “whole area” benefits from Jubilee Day, not just the day-of participants.

“Jubilee Day is a chance for our local businesses to promote,” he said.

Friends & Neighbors

The first Jubilee Day took place in 1924. Mechanicsburg Mayor Jack Ritter, who was born in 1936, remembers going as a small child to the annual event then known as “Farmers’ and Merchants’ Day.”

“As a kid, I was excited to smell all the food there and to see all the new cars and farm equipment,” Ritter recalled recently.

In those days, the festival’s span was limited to Main Street from High to Arch streets, though it was halted for several years in the 1940s due to World War II.

“Back then, there were a lot of street vendors and picnic food,” Ritter said. “The car dealers all had their new cars on display, and the local farmers corralled their cows, pigs, sheep and whatever for display. Farmers also had their fruits and vegetables set up for sale all along the street.”

Ritter, a former third-generation owner of Ritter’s Tru-Value Hardware on Mechanicsburg’s Main Street, remembers his father, William R. Ritter, setting up Frigidaire appliances for display outside the store. As a teen, Ritter ran chainsaws for sale outside the business.

Today, Ritter said that he enjoys bringing his grandkids to Jubilee Day, where “they get to run all around.”

“I use that day as a proclamation that calories don’t count,” he quipped. “I enjoy the smells of the crab cakes, pancakes and funnel cakes. People get to see their friends and neighbors there, too.”

Annual Tradition

Jim Schmick is a downtown Mechanicsburg merchant who sets up a sidewalk sale outside of his business, Civil War and More, on Jubilee Day. He’s done so for most of the 21 years his shop has been in business on S. Market Street.

“Jubilee Day needed to come back,” said Schmick of East Pennsboro Township. “It’s always been an annual tradition for our family to bring the kids to Jubilee Day.”

Schmick said that he’s seen people “from all over the U.S.” peruse his sales on Jubilee Day. His shop specializes in Civil War books, videos, prints, ephemera and music, particularly focusing on area milestones that led to the Battle of Gettysburg.

For a 15th year, Palm is overseeing the event planning. He said that he starts planning right after the prior year’s event concludes.

For Palm, the biggest challenge involves logistics or “getting things in place,” such as arrangements for portable restrooms, visitor shuttle service, vendor placements, trash receptacles and so forth. In short, his goal is to provide “a safe and enjoyable time” for all.

“I still had color in my hair when I first started doing this,” he joked.

Jubilee Day 2022 takes place June 16, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., in downtown Mechanicsburg. For more information, visit www.mechanicsburgchamber.org/event/jubilee-day.

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June Editor’s Note

May 31, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

Last month, Harrisburg received some stunning news.

It was about tacos.

TheBurg broke a story that the city’s beloved taco truck would be no more. The third-generation owner was trading in his wheels for a permanent, brick-and-mortar location downtown.

You can’t blame the guy. Eventually, we all put aside our nomadic ways and look to settle down in a place with a few rooms and a bath.

I personally delighted in the news, since the MASA restaurant (opening this month) will have extended hours, will be open in the winter, and will be near my house. And, like much of Harrisburg, I love their tacos!

But, even more so, I was happy that their storefront (316 N. 2nd St.) will be occupied again. Much of Harrisburg has survived the pandemic in relatively good shape, but it’s taken a toll on the downtown.

Due to fewer state and office workers, a stroll down 2nd or 3rd streets often seems like a lonely exercise. Yes, the neighborhood has come back a bit, but it has a long way to go to reach its pre-pandemic state.

So, this is an appeal, an appeal to visit downtown Harrisburg. There are some wonderful restaurants there, most still operating. Remember that great meal you had just before COVID hit? There’s no need to sit at home and reminisce—just come on in and take a table!

Since it’s June, that table might be outdoors. And, since it’s June, you’ll also find TheBurg outdoors, as it’s our annual issue focused on “summer fun.”

Within these pages, you’ll discover numerous stories about day trips, festivals and outdoors activities. We also toss in a little history, some arts events and a community feature or two.

June may be my favorite month of the year. The air is warm, and the days are long, perfect for a baseball game on City Island, al fresco dining on a city sidewalk or socializing with friends in your own backyard, late into the night.

Lawrance Binda
Co-Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

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

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Sipping Surfside: Harrisburg Beach Club brings the shore to the Susquehanna.

May 31, 2022 | by Rachel Lindsley

Photo courtesy of Rachel Lindsley.

Sand? Check. Boat drinks? Check. Sunny, summertime fun? Check and check.

You may never confuse the Susquehanna River with the Atlantic Ocean, but the Harrisburg Beach Club is bringing as much of the shore experience to the capital city as possible.

At the point on City Island, you’ll discover a new hotspot where you can play in the sand[box], grab a drink, eat a meal and find a spot to relax with friends, with an unbeatable view of the Harrisburg skyline to boot.

Co-owners Bryan Donovan and Adam Maust opened the outdoor venue last November with a vision to provide a year-round, waterfront hangout spot for locals and visitors alike.

The cold-weather months can be rough in central PA, but, as the weather has warmed, the Beach Club has hit its stride. Swimming isn’t permitted, but, according to Maust, “we have sand, a beautiful view and live music for guests to relax, play and enjoy.”

The city’s beautiful, century-old bathhouse is the centerpiece of the Beach Club, which the business partners brought back to life as part of the venue’s construction.

“Before we stepped in, the bathhouse had been shuttered for more than two decades, and the beach was hidden behind a dilapidated area of the island,” Maust said. “We worked hard to bring this idea to life, restoring the bathrooms and changing areas for guests who would like to take in the sun while avoiding the water, since swimming is prohibited.”

The Harrisburg Beach Club is open seven days a week, from noon to 10 p.m. during the warmer months, weather permitting. Adirondack chairs and “comfort zones” line the lawn for casual lounging and to take in live entertainment—all free of charge. Patrons can listen to live music throughout the day as the Harrisburg Beach Club rotates artists and genres regularly.

“We pride ourselves on providing a space for local artists to play music,” Donovan said. “We have a broad selection of genres and announce the schedule weekly on social media.”

Only a few steps from the shore, beachgoers will find a bar serving specialty cocktails made with local Hidden Still spirits as well as Pennsylvania-made beers and wine. Want to taste before you buy? Harrisburg Beach Club also offers tastings of their partnered spirits on site.

For a more authentic beach day, parties can rent beach chairs and umbrellas just a few feet from the water. Reservations can be made through their website’s booking portal, where guests can choose a chair location and enjoy personal wait service from the bar and food truck. The owners also plan to launch an app reservation system that will guarantee groups a spot on the beach together, Maust said.

Around the corner from the beach, a food truck serves such savory items as Bourbon smash burgers, Nashville hot chicken sandwiches and Coney Island dogs. Starting this month, the food truck will be open daily from noon to 9 p.m.

The Harrisburg Beach Club is a family-friendly venue and even allows canines, if on a leash. Kids can play in the sand, eat some lunch from the food truck or from home and run around in the grass with Fido while adults lounge and sip on spirits. Children under the age of 21 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

“We have worked hard to create a free destination that anyone can come and appreciate at the most beautiful spot in Harrisburg,” Donovan said. “From parents to adult couples and even dogs, too—there is something for everyone at the Harrisburg Beach Club.”

The Harrisburg Beach Club is located on City Island, Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.harrisburgbeachclub.com. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @HarrisburgBeachClub.

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Downtown Rebound: Harrisburg-based nonprofit helps PA towns envision a brighter tomorrow.

May 31, 2022 | by Norah Griffiths Johnson

Julie Fitzpatrick

For the past 35 years, a unique nonprofit has quietly been making a difference in hundreds of cities and towns across Pennsylvania.

Based in Midtown Harrisburg, the PA Downtown Center (PDC) is powered by a staff of urban and regional planners, preservationists and designers passionate about working with communities and community organizations to help them undertake strategic revitalization plans.

With PDC’s help, communities strive for such important goals as increased quality of life, sense of place, long-term sustainability and competitiveness.

Julie Fitzpatrick, PDC’s executive director, said that her greatest job satisfaction comes with helping communities progress in their revitalization goals.

“It’s not always about making it easy for them,” she said. “Sometimes, it might actually be about causing a ruckus because it’s about expanding and growing. But it really is about us helping them be the best versions of themselves.”

Fitzpatrick has been with the Downtown Center since 2005, assuming the helm in mid-2019 following the tenure of long-time executive director, Bill Fontana. During this time, she has built a national reputation as an expert in community revitalization and development, with a knack for connecting with people and helping communities and towns re-discover their own personal brand of magic.

Todd Vander Woude, executive director of Harrisburg’s Downtown Improvement District, said that he has worked with Fitzpatrick and PDC for many years.

“Julie has great knowledge of downtowns and other Pennsylvania communities,” he said. “She’s so easy to talk to and is great at connecting communities to help them solve issues.”

He then added, with a chuckle, “And she knows and remembers everything.”

Host of Services

At its core, PDC is a membership organization. Member communities can tap into a host of network-based meetings and educational opportunities—anything from governance training, financial review processes, partnership building, volunteer development and preservation basics to zoning, budgeting and events.

While communities don’t have to be members to work with PDC, the benefits are persuasive.

“Once you engage in what we offer, it’s just such a host of services and offerings that I really can’t imagine doing this sort of work and not plugging into us,” Fitzpatrick said. “It just helps so much.”

Due to the long-game nature of most community improvement efforts, the field is not for the fickle or faint of heart. Later this month, close to 300 people who have chosen to undertake this difficult work will convene at the Hilton Harrisburg for PDC’s annual conference and 35th anniversary celebration.

Vander Woude, who sits on this year’s conference planning committee, shared his excitement about the event.

“It means a lot to have the conference come here,” he said. “Harrisburg has a great story to tell. The city is really walkable, so we’ll be highlighting some great projects and can’t wait to share ideas and really tell the story of what we’re all about in Harrisburg.”

In addition to the many conference sessions scheduled and an awards dinner, attendees can take advantage of mobile workshops highlighting the city’s various redevelopment projects, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, murals, rain gardens and stormwater management solutions.

Garry Gilliam, founder and CEO of the Bridge Ecovillage (and a Harrisburg native and former Seattle Seahawk) will deliver the opening keynote on the critical role of investing in urban communities to achieving sustainability targets.

Author Philip J. Merrill, CEO and founder of Nanny Jack & Company, an African American heritage consulting business, will present a breakfast keynote titled, “Telling the Fuller Story.”

Wednesday’s closing luncheon will include a panel discussion by the 2022 gubernatorial candidates.

The PA Downtown Center’s tagline long has been, “Helping you make your town a better place.” In our conversation, Fitzpatrick stressed the community-based, ground-up approach critical to success in revitalization efforts.

“Most people who enter this field want to make a difference,” she said. “It’s not about the individual or their ego. It’s about collaboration, relationship building, incremental progress and patience. But with this type of work, you really do get out of it what you’ve put into it.”.

The Pennsylvania Downtown Center is located at 1230 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.padowntown.org or phone 717-233-4675.

The Pennsylvania Downtown Center’s 2022 conference and 35th anniversary celebration takes place June 26 to 29 at the Hilton Harrisburg, 1 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg. For conference details, visit www.padowntown.org/conference. Readers of TheBurg can use the code BURG22 for 50% off the conference’s day registration rate.

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Green Getaway: The only destination of its kind in PA, The Nature Inn is an eco-lodge that’s red-hot.

May 31, 2022 | by Karen Hendricks

Image courtesy of The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle.

It’s almost exactly in the center of Pennsylvania.

Appropriately, The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle—and its environmentally inspired design—goes to the heart of Pennsylvania’s definition, “Penn’s Woods.” It’s the only lodge, eco or otherwise, located in a Pennsylvania state park.

“It’s a gem, more comparable to a lodge you’d find in the national parks,” said Tara DeVore, assistant manager at Bald Eagle State Park.

Perched atop a hillside, the soaring structure is oriented to a lakeside vista, cocooned by mountains lit by dewy sunrise views, as well as cotton-candy sunset skies. But the 16-room inn’s placement is about more than a pretty view. Everything about the inn is thoughtfully designed in harmony with nature.

It’s Only Natural

Green technology powers The Nature Inn, from geothermal heating and cooling to innovative rainwater harvesting.

Cisterns capture raindrops, and, altogether, the 2,800-gallon system flushes the inn’s toilets. Floor and wall tiles contain 55% recycled glass, and outdoor patio furniture is comprised of 100% recycled aluminum. Furniture and fireplaces are constructed from hardwoods and stones locally sourced from the surrounding forest. Signage explains many of the inn’s fascinating eco-features.

Going green has even garnered gold. The Nature Inn has been named “#1 Eco-Lodge” in the country by USA Today readers, and it’s earned the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification—a worldwide rating system for green buildings.

“There’s nothing else like it in PA,” said Kashia Quay, operations manager. “Sustainability is a large factor. We do everything we can to continue eco-friendly aspects into the property. Everything you look at has a purpose.”

She especially enjoys watching kids search for whole sunflower seed hulls embedded in the hotel’s bio-composite front desk.

Overall, the green design is “groundbreaking,” said Michelle Smithbauer, the park’s environmental education specialist. “It makes people feel better when they’re staying in a state park. It’s a less impactful way of staying in a hotel.”

Bird’s Eye View

Eight rooms are lakeside, while eight face the woods, and all include binoculars, bird guides and balconies. It’s a birders’ paradise—even for the birds. The inn’s large windows of fritted glass—featuring patterns—reduce bird strikes. Bluebirds have their own accommodations—72 wooden boxes sprinkled throughout the park.

“There are over 275 bird species seen in the park,” said Smithbauer. “The lake is large and deep enough to support a large variety of waterfowl, from herons to diving and dabbling ducks. But people get really excited about the bald eagles.”

While many visitors assume the park is named for the beloved national bird, Bald Eagle State Park actually pays homage to a Native American chief.

Additional wildlife includes plentiful white-tailed deer and more elusive residents: black bears, mink and fishers—related to weasels. The nearby “frog pond” is a hotbed of amphibians.

While the park’s traditional campground attracts seasoned campers, the inn attracts a whole different crowd. It could even be thought of as an ambassador for the state park system.

“For sure, the inn introduces people to our state parks. It’s a good buffer, if people aren’t so sure about camping,” said DeVore. “They can feel the comforts of home, but still get out and explore the outdoors.”

On the Menu

Similar to a bed and breakfast, stays include a hearty, hot breakfast. The onsite scratch kitchen offers gourmet lunch and dinner options—including world-famous ice cream concocted nearby, at Penn State’s Berkey Creamery.

Outdoor lovers also can choose from a menu of activities: hiking, biking, boating and summer water sports—including paddle boarding, fishing and swimming at the sandy lakeside beach. Winter adventures include sledding, ice skating and fishing.

“This park is amazing—it has everything you’d hope to find in a state park,” said Charlie Brooks, innkeeper since The Nature Inn opened its doors in 2010.

Inside, green technologies also read like a menu, providing food for thought.

“Environmental stewardship is the tip of the spear,” Brooks said. “For someone thinking about home improvements or new construction, everything in this building is a suggestion to start the conversation.”

And this is one of the primary goals of the innovative property, conceived by Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). It’s a green investment.

“It achieves what DCNR was going for—a way to educate people, not in a way that detracts from their stay. It shows them that, ‘I can do something that’s good for the environment, and it’s not going to detract from my home,’” said Brooks, who operates the inn under an equally innovative public-private partnership with DCNR.

Twelve years ago, the inn’s $10 million construction budget had its “skeptics,” Brooks said, amid “the state parks’ ever-tightening budget. But what has always been important to me, is that essentially the inn generates enough income to offset operating costs.”

The good news? The Nature Inn appears to be meeting and exceeding that goal. The bad news? Some nature lovers simply can’t get into the inn.

“We find that peak weekends are booked two years in advance,” said Quay.

The inn’s small size and access to the outdoors are like a ray of sunshine within a pandemic-weary landscape.

“Occupancy rates during the past two years were higher than they’ve ever been,” Brooks said. “Our average occupancy rate now hovers around 80%.”

From every direction, the view is green. While Brooks and DCNR see healthy green growth, they’re planting seeds for green eco-practices. Meantime, backlogged travelers await their visits, green with envy.

For more information on The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle, visit natureinnatbaldeagle.com. Writer Karen Hendricks advises visitors to consider off-peak travel times. She recently escaped to The Nature Inn to snag a string of weekdays-turned-truly-remote workdays.

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Rhubarb Rules: This month, show some love to an often overlooked veggie.

May 31, 2022 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

During my weekly trips to the farmers market, I love seeing all the fresh produce that is the hallmark of each season. But I always wonder about a few things.

How many people are buying those eggplants or sweet bulbs of fennel? What about the watermelon radishes and celery root? And is anyone choosing the little baskets of fresh figs for their appetizer plate?

One of the farmers I often speak to at the market was recently lamenting the change in customers’ buying and cooking habits. He claimed that prepared food is so popular that few people regularly are “really cooking anymore.” He wishes he had been an eye doctor.

Well, I do. Cook, that is—and regularly. So, I buy things that actually need to be cooked.

Spring is still with us. The homegrown spring lettuces are a wonderful addition to salads and the “real strawberries” from local farms put the off-season berries in plastic clamshells to shame. Sugar peas must be “strung,” but they are a special treat when cooked with small new potatoes and olive oil.

But what about rhubarb? I still buy it every spring during its very short appearance at the market. If you are not familiar with this special vegetable (that is treated as a fruit), it looks like bright, cherry-red celery. You can’t eat it out of hand like an apple, but, when cooked in sauces and desserts, rhubarb is transformed.

Every year, I look for thin rhubarb stalks, which are more tender than their fuller-figured relatives. Like my mother, I often just cook it with a little water, sugar and orange slices to make a sauce. It can be served with dinner, as a simple dessert with ice cream, or even breakfast with plain yogurt.

The cookbook author and TV celebrity Ina Garten has a similar rhubarb sauce that is even better. Ina adds raspberries and strawberries to hers and serves it with a little whipped cream and a store-bought cookie for a very easy, late spring dessert. Orange liqueur gives the compote a little kick but is optional. I am sharing her recipe with you this month. I hope you will try it for something very different.

Ina’s Stewed Rhubarb with Red Berries

Ingredients

2 pounds fresh rhubarb, cut in ¾ inch chunks (6 to 8 cups)
1 cup sugar
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 pint fresh or frozen strawberries (thickly sliced)
½ pint fresh or frozen red raspberries
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (2 oranges)
1 tablespoon Grand Marnier or Triple Sec (these are both orange-infused liqueurs)
Sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for servings

Directions

Place the rhubarb in a large saucepan and add the sugar, salt and 2/3-cup water.
Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally until the rhubarb is tender and starts to fall apart.
Remove from the heat, stir in the strawberries, raspberries, lemon and orange juices and Grand Marnier if using. Allow the mixture to cool.
Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

This lovely fruit compote can be made several days ahead and kept in the refrigerator. It is a light dessert and would be a very good choice for a little dinner party.

If cooking with rhubarb is new for you, you will be amazed at how many ways you can use it. There are rhubarb cocktails and rhubarb pies. Rhubarb scones and tangy rhubarb glazing sauces for grilled chicken. Rhubarb crisps and cobblers. Rhubarb relish served with goat cheese on French bread baguette slices.

So, stop a minute at the produce section of your favorite market and think about giving those strange fruits and vegetables a try. Our local farmers will thank you.

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Stem to Stream: If you want cleaner river water, you need good tree cover.

May 31, 2022 | by Dan Miller

We need water to survive. That’s one thing that all of us humans have in common.

Here’s something else we have in common. Nearly all of us can enhance water quality in the greater Harrisburg region by planting a tree.

This summer, that’s the message coming from numerous local environmental groups, such as the PA Parks & Forests Foundation, in addition to government agencies.

An Imperative

A few hundred years ago, no less an authority than Thomas Jefferson extolled the value of trees. The nation’s third president equated killing a tree with capital punishment, saying, “The unnecessary felling of a tree, perhaps the growth of centuries, seems to me a crime little short of murder, (and) it pains me to an unspeakable degree.”

Nowadays, killing a tree probably won’t get you charged with a crime. Perhaps it should, when one considers all the ways trees contribute to water quality.

In case of rain or flooding, trees slow down and reduce the amount of water flowing into a stream or other drinking water source like a creek or river, said Marci Mowery, president of the statewide Parks & Forests Foundation, based in Camp Hill.

Trees do this in a variety of ways, such as capturing rain before it ever hits the ground.

“If you have ever walked down the street on a rainy day, you notice that it is probably safe to stand under the tree,” Mowery said.

Then tree roots absorb rainwater that makes it to the ground.

“An incredible amount of water goes up into a mature tree,” Mowery said. “So, that water is not directly flowing into the waterway from a flooding perspective.”

In addition, trees provide soil stability that prevents erosion. Rainwater trickles down and percolates into the soil and into the groundwater. The water is cleansed and impurities are removed as part of this process.

Without trees and tree cover, rainwater falls on impervious surfaces like blacktop, picking up chemicals on its way to a water source, such as our creeks and rivers and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay.

Tree cover also reduces temperature.

“Downtown areas often heat up much more quickly” due to the amount of asphalt and lack of tree cover, said Matthew Keefer with the Bureau of Forestry of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Without tree cover, stormwater runoff that heats up can harm ecosystems that depend upon cooler water, especially in streams like the Conodoguinet and Yellow Breeches that are heavily sourced by coldwater springs, said Andrew Gavin, vice president of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission.

“Those warmer temperatures running off from parking lots and roads can really impact the aquatic ecosystem to the extent they are used to colder water temperatures,” Gavin said.

Ultimately, there are economic consequences, as well. Pennsylvania has 83,260 miles of recreational stream—second only to Alaska in the United States, Mowery said.

“We are a very large tourism state. Nobody wants to recreate if the water is bad,” she added. “We have a large craft beverage industry that depends on clean water. We have a lot of food production companies that depend on clean water. So, it is imperative that we protect this natural asset.”

Positive Aspects

Each year, Pennsylvania loses tree cover to development, whether residential or commercial, Keefer said. At the same time, “we gain forest back from agricultural fields reverting back to woods, so statewide the numbers are consistent.”

The greater Harrisburg area is probably losing more forest cover than gaining, due to the amount of development taking place, Keefer said.

“When you drive on 322 just north of the city (Harrisburg), and you look to the west, you can see new housing developments on top of the ridge, on top of the mountain,” he said. “So, there is certainly development like that happening.”

But Keefer is encouraged by the partnerships and restoration efforts he sees throughout the midstate. He cited examples like Penn State, which is working with school districts to plant trees on land owned by the districts, and Harrisburg, which has an arborist on staff leading efforts to increase tree cover and tree plantings citywide.

The greater Harrisburg area also has many volunteer-based organizations working to establish riparian buffers—tree plantings and tree cover along streams and waterways.

Among the more active is the Conodoguinet Creek Watershed Association.

The association partners with local municipalities and with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s “Keystone 10 Million Tree” project, which aims to plant 10 million trees throughout Pennsylvania by 2025.

CCWA volunteers have done tree plantings in Ridley Park and Acri Meadow Park in East Pennsboro Township, in Siebert Park in Camp Hill, and in Willow Mill Park and in the DiFilippo Nature Preserve in Silver Spring Township.

The association planted over 1,500 trees in 2021, not including the stormwater basin in East Pennsboro Township, where the association planted thousands of wildflowers and perennials.

In addition, midstate municipalities, including Hampden, Derry, Lower Allen and Londonderry townships, are exercising their authority under state law to levy fees upon businesses and residences to help pay for stormwater system improvements that protect and enhance water quality.

“A lot of municipalities are embracing the fact that it helps to build quality of life for their residents,” Gavin said. “You start to improve the local stream water quality and you improve aesthetics through more green space and connected parks. There’s a lot of rails to trails, and all that goes hand in hand with greening up a municipality. A big component of that is tree planting. All that contributes to a lot of things—a lot more positive aspects to residents, but it improves water quality, too.”

For more information:

The PA Parks & Forests Foundation, www.paparksandforests.org

Susquehanna River Basin Commission, www.srbc.net

Conodoguinet Creek Watershed Association, www.conocreek.org

Stories on environmental topics are proudly sponsored by LCSWMA.

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Soldiers’ Stories: U.S. Army Heritage Center offers an immersive experience in military history.

May 31, 2022 | by Susan Ryder

When it comes to the military life, Joe Boslet knows what he’s talking about.

The Vietnam War veteran volunteers as a tour guide at the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center (USAHEC) in Carlisle, where he shares his knowledge and expertise with visitors.

“Kids are interested in how I lived,” he said.

They ask about what he ate and what his duties were, he said. Adults and teens often want to know more about combat.

“They usually ask if I killed anyone,” Boslet said.

He answers that question as best he can, emphasizing that combat isn’t like what’s depicted in the movies.

Starting indoors, visitors receive a dog tag card for one of six soldiers, such as Master Sgt. Edward G. Abraham, who served in the Korean War. The card provides specifics about the soldier, such as where he saw combat. At the museum’s end, visitors learn how the soldier fared through the war and whether he arrived home safely.

Displays include gear and weapons, including a parachute jump interactive exhibit.

“Who would jump out of a perfectly safe airplane?” Boslet asked, happy to keep his feet firmly on the ground. In the “Where in the Hell is Korea?” display, the center helps citizens understand that conflict better, he said.

The “On Patrol” exhibit gives the feeling of being there. “There” is Iraq, with four soldiers on patrol, ready to enter a room through a heavy metal door. Each time visitors open the door, they’re greeted by a different scenario. In one, a family sits to eat; in another, militants are armed and ready to fire. It creates a tension unfamiliar to most people, but completely familiar to soldiers.

Would-be sharp shooters can practice their aim at the digital shooting range.

“We go to Gettysburg quite a bit, and this is something different,” said Morgan Smink, who recently visited USAHEC with her children. When asked what he liked best, son Sawyer Smink replied, “The big tanks.”

He’s referring to the exhibits on the one-mile Army Heritage Trail. This flat, cindered path gives visitors a close-up glimpse into the lives of soldiers and equipment used in Army operations. Visitors will walk onto a Redoubt Number 10 reconstruction, an earthen bulwark with vertical pointy logs encircling it, from the Battle of Yorktown, see artillery up close, and marvel at the tanks and helicopters.

“The 155-caliber howitzer—I didn’t know they could get that large,” said 17-year-old Jacob Lapinas.

He, along with newfound friend Adam Whary, visited with a student group from Commonwealth Connections Academy.

“This place is fantastic,” Whary said. “Pieces of history that others need to see.”

Gary Emerson, a veteran of 22 years in the Army, visited that day from Ithaca, N.Y.

“I can see the development of my military career,” said Emerson of the facility.

Those who would like to delve deeper into military history can make an appointment at the U.S. Army War College Library located at USAHEC. There, history buffs, authors and academics can find letters, journals, rare books, unit histories and the like.

“We collect items from the public to generals,” said John Kurash, audiovisual curator.

About 10% of the collection has been digitized.

“It allows everyone in the world to view” the artifacts, documents and audio recordings, Kurash said.

People visit the library for a variety of reasons.

“Not only academics or historians but authors and for genealogy,” said archivist Joanne Lamm, who described her job as “making order out of chaos.”

Archived items include papers that, at the time, may have been considered mundane, such as the receipt of the materials for the A-bomb, and more ominous, like the D-Day invasion plan.

Art-lovers can stop into the Omar N. Bradley Memorial Art Gallery. The rotating exhibit now holds “Carved in Stone, Cast in Bronze: Commemorative Sculpture of the Civil War.” The “Standing Lincoln” by Augustin Saint-Gaudens and marble busts of Gen. George McClellan and Gen. U.S. Grant are included in this exhibit.

After a day of wading through history, walking the trail and experiencing a soldier’s life, visitors can grab a drink and something to eat at Scoops Café. MREs aren’t on the menu, but there’s a nice selection of sandwiches, soups and salads.

So, how did Master Sgt. Abraham from the digital dog tag manage after the war? He received the Bronze Star, was discharged in 1953, obtained his pilot’s license, and served in the National Guard and Operation Desert Storm.

Whether you prefer history or art or just like marveling at the big guns, you can find something to enjoy and learn at the USAHEC.

The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center is located at 950 Soldiers Dr., Carlisle. For more information, visit www.ahec.armywarcollege.edu.

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Place Your Beats: My Heroes Stage at Hollywood Casino offers a new entertainment option in central PA.

May 31, 2022 | by Jeff Falk

If variety is the spice of life, then options and alternatives are true delights. Cue the My Heroes Stage in five, four, three, two, one.

My Heroes Stage is central Pennsylvania’s newest live music venue. Located at Hollywood Casino in Grantville, it’s bringing big-name recording artists from the musical realms of rock, pop and country and western to the Harrisburg region.

For Hollywood Casino, the venue is a way to expand its business footprint, to spread its entertainment wings. But the real winners are music-loving locals.

“My Heroes Stage is more than just another entertainment venue at the casino,” said Dan Ihm, vice president and general manager at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. “We wanted to provide a different experience. We’re not here to compete with Hershey. We’re here to complement them. They bring in a different type of artist than we would bring in.”

More than just another concert, a show at My Heroes Stage at Hollywood Casino is an intimate experience in music.

Located on the north side of the complex, My Heroes Stage is within walking distance of the casino building, and the picturesque Blue Mountains serve as the enormous stage’s scenic backdrop. The venue’s outdoor seating can accommodate 5,000 guests, and concerts are staged in a festive, carnival-style atmosphere.

Vendors, food trucks and outdoors bars are located nearby, admission is reasonably priced, and parking is free.

“I went to see Journey last summer, just to see what it was like,” said Glenn Hamilton, program director and morning host for Harrisburg radio station, WRVV 97.3 FM. “The thing I was impressed with was how big the stage was and the quality of the production. For a first-year endeavor, they put on a great show. Nobody knew what to expect. You’re surrounded by the mountains, and the setting is absolutely beautiful.”

From a business standpoint, My Heroes Stage was an opportunity born of a pandemic. With COVID-19 restrictions easing, August 2021 proved to be the perfect timing for the opening of a new outdoor music venue.

Or, as Ihm put it, “We seized the moment last year, and now it’s growing.”

“I think, overall, we’re just making Dauphin County more of a destination,” he said. “We’re creating entertainment value. We’re bringing in new people who may not have come here before. The more reasons we provide for people to come into the area, the more opportunities for economic growth.”

Last year, My Heroes Stage offered a limited series of six shows, a schedule that included music legend John Fogerty, comedian Larry The Cable Guy and the rock band, Journey. The 2022 schedule has expanded to include 15 concerts, featuring such big names as Martina McBride, Bush, Big & Rich, Collective Soul, Rick Springfield, Men At Work and John Waite.

“I think they’ve got a great place that fits into the local live music scene,” said Hamilton. “There is a need, and it fills a need in that market. There is no better way for an artist or a band to connect with their audience than through a live performance. You’re there in person with someone you like or love.”

There’s also a direct community element to My Heroes Stage.

The venue is named in honor of active military, veterans, police, firefighters and first responders. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from shows is donated to myheroes charities.

“The concept of My Heroes is part of our loyalty program,” Ihm said. “Penn National is very involved in providing services to the military. It was very important to us to give back and provide live entertainment to the community. For me, it’s about giving back to all the people who have given so much to us and our community.”

In a unique way, My Heroes Stage represents a natural entertainment progression of Hollywood Casino and Penn National. Thoroughbred horse racing at the Grantville property began on August 30, 1972, and Hollywood Casino was built in 2008.

“You have all these conveniences, all these different things to do, in one spot,” Ihm said. “In my mind, there’s not a better place to go. People can come here, and they don’t have to gamble. We just want to introduce more people to our product. We’re in the entertainment business, and we do it well.”

There are few vehicles with as much universal appeal as music. Music possesses the power to bridge generations and bring people together.

“Central Pennsylvania loves live music,” Hamilton said. “Now, it seems like there’s more of it, with so many different venues. None of the venues are hurting; they’re all doing well. My advice would be, buy a ticket, go experience a show and be your own judge. There’s nothing else like it.”

My Heroes Stage is located at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, 777 Hollywood Blvd., Grantville. For more information, visit www.hollywoodpnrc.com/entertainment/myheroes-stage.

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Freedom Festival: This month’s Juneteenth celebration in Harrisburg is set to be the biggest yet.

May 31, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Juneteenth organizers

For Dr. Kimeka Campbell, Juneteenth means a lot of things.

It’s about celebration, history, reflection, rest, education and economics. People may spend the day differently, but one thing’s for sure—it’s an important holiday for all.

“We are celebrating American history,” Campbell said. “It’s an important day for every single American. How you observe it is in your hands.”

All of these different meanings behind the holiday will be spotlighted in this month’s Juneteenth HBG event, hosted by the Young Professionals of Color-Greater Harrisburg (YPOC), co-founded by Campbell. And while the holiday itself may be just one day, YPOC plans to celebrate all week long with conferences, reenactments, art experiences, concerts and vendor markets.

Juneteenth—June 19—commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States. It is recognized as the day in 1865 when the remaining African American slaves in Texas received word that they were free. While celebrations of the holiday date back to as early as the year after those last slaves were freed, Juneteenth was only officially recognized as a national holiday in 2021.

YPOC has held Juneteenth events for the past few years, but 2022 will be their biggest yet. Their vision is far-reaching, as shown through their theme, “One City. One Team. One Economic Impact.”

The economic impact of Juneteenth is of special importance to Campbell and the team as they head into the holiday.

“The ending of slavery is not just about freeing people physically, it’s also about being free to economically advance,” Campbell said. “Wealth was stolen from Black people, even post-slavery.”

After slavery ended, targeted policies and structural practices such as sharecropping, Jim Crow laws and redlining made economic advancement difficult. With the long-lasting, multi-generational effect of this history in mind, YPOC came up with its program for Juneteenth.

“It’s this idea of economic impact and restoring wealth to the Black community,” Campbell said. “This is a drop in the bucket of that very huge landscape, but we wanted to do something and craft a week where we had education, economic drivers, entertainment and celebration.”

Throughout May, the committee held microenterprise business courses, free to 10 local entrepreneurs. All of those who completed the course were offered free vendor slots at the June events. La Cultura, a partner in the Juneteenth events, hosted the courses.

“There needs to be more Black businesses to shop from, and they need to last longer,” said La Cultura founder Elyse Irvis.

People will be able to shop from local Black-owned businesses at a few of the Juneteenth week events, most notably the Juneteenth Jubilee.

The Jubilee will take place on June 19 at Reservoir Park. The event will showcase live music, local vendors, speakers, talent acts and community resources.

Additionally, earlier in the week, organizers will hold a concert, featuring rapper Bow Wow, at XL Live, a Harriet Tubman reenactment, and a “Paint Noir” interactive art event with artist Bryan “King Prolifik” Hickman on City Island.

Additionally, there will be a downtown restaurant crawl, a joint event with UPMC’s “Healthy Harrisburg” program and a kickoff event at the state Capitol. A Juneteenth conference will be held on June 14 at HACC, featuring local speakers from the region and nationally renowned keynote speaker Michael Eric Dyson. The event will include interactive sessions, panel discussions and a Q&A. Many of the events are free, but some require tickets.

Legacy Building

Campbell is proud of the unity her organization has achieved through partnerships in the Juneteenth event. In past years, community groups have largely held separate events scattered throughout the city, but she feels that this year is more of a collective effort.

“It is probably the most collaborative Juneteenth event the city has ever seen,” she said. “Together, we can do more and leave more of an impact.”

Organizations like UPMC, the African American Chamber of Commerce, The Singer’s Lounge, La Cultura, Capital Blue Cross and Dauphin County are partners in the event.

YPOC also received a state grant from the Pennsylvania Tourism Office’s “Journeying Toward Freedom” grant program in April. The funds will support their Juneteenth efforts.

“To see it come this far—I’m very grateful,” Campbell said. “This is a legacy building event for the city.”

While the team plans for the day, Campbell has a request for Harrisburg-area businesses—give employees the holiday off from work.

“You’ll actually make your employees feel like you care about them,” Campbell said. “It’s a tangible thing to do. Give people the day off.”

Shaniqua Williams, another member of the Juneteenth leadership team, sees the day off as a way for people of all races and cultures to learn more about the history of the holiday. She hopes YPOC’s events will prove educational for attendees.

“This is something that Harrisburg truly needs,” she said. “There’s just so much to celebrate. The celebration starts in your heart.”

For more information about Juneteenth HBG and the Young Professionals of Color-Greater Harrisburg, visit www.ypoc-hbg.org.

Juneteenth HBG Events

Meeting of the Minds Community Summit: Saturday, June 11, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Keystone Building

Capital Kick-Off: Sunday, June 12, 12 to 2 p.m. at the state Capitol steps

Harp Love in Action Protest: Monday, June 13, 3 to 5 p.m., at the Harrisburg Mall parking lot, opposite the Dauphin County Prison

Juneteenth Conference: Tuesday, June 14, 12 to 6 p.m. at HACC

It’s Lit Black Theater Cafe + Harriet Tubman Reenactment: Wednesday, June 15, 6 to 8 p.m. at Open Stage Theatre

Paint Noir: Thursday, June 16, 6 to 10 p.m. at the City Island carousel pavilion

Discovery Walk and Restaurant Crawl: Friday, June 17, 5 to 10 p.m., starting at Ad Lib Kitchen and Craft Bar inside the Hilton Harrisburg

UPMC Healthy Harrisburg Kick-Off: Saturday, June 18, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on N. 2nd Street in downtown Harrisburg

Juneteenth Concert: Saturday, June 18, 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.) at XL Live

Juneteenth Jubilee: Sunday, June 19, 1 to 8 p.m. at Reservoir Park

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