Keystone Made: Manor House Studio carries on a local legacy, honors PA craftsmanship

March 31, 2022 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Images from Manor House Studio showroom.

For Robert “Bob” and Amanda Hasemeier, Manor House Studio is more than just owning a business. It’s also carrying the legacy of Ed Lank Kitchens, the landmark local business that previously held the same spot for decades in downtown Lemoyne.

Manor House specializes in kitchen design and remodeling, continuing to carry the same Wood-Mode custom cabinetry line that Lank once sold. The Hasemeiers also honor Lank’s customer warranties.

“We are the only representatives in this area who sell Wood-Mode,” Bob said.

The husband-and-wife team took over the business at the suggestion of a Lank team designer, Philip Gramley, who, like several other former Lank employees, now works for Manor House Studio.

Gramley already knew the Hasemeiers as regular Lank customers. Upon opening Manor House, Amanda and Bob were acquainted with Lank’s signature cabinetry brand, Wood-Mode, Inc., of Snyder County. The couple had used Lank’s house brand when twice remodeling their century-old home in New Cumberland, as well as a previous home in Utica, N.Y.

“Our cabinets are made in Pennsylvania with sustainable wood and a forest management system that replaces trees that are cut down for production,” Bob said.

Uptick

In summer 2018, Gramley was helping the Hasemeiers restore their home’s partially renovated kitchen after a flood when he mentioned that Lank was retiring. Until then, Bob, a professional engineer, considered himself mostly retired. Amanda, too, had retired after a mapping career for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“I had mixed feelings about (doing) this,” Amanda recalled recently. “At first, I didn’t want to be tied down to something again, but it grew on me. I get to meet lots of people here, and it keeps the intellect sharp. We’re really a part of the community here, and we like making people happy.”

Like most business owners, though, things don’t always go smoothly, or as expected, for the Hasemeiers. Just months after the showroom opened in late 2018, Wood-Mode halted factory production for five months, leaving Manor House Studio without a cabinetry supplier. In the interim, Bob contracted Architects Millshop of Clinton County as an additional supplier.

“That was a fun summer,” Amanda said. “He had to go to a lot of places to find something.”

In March 2020, Manor House showrooms closed to the public under pandemic orders and would remain so for weeks. The business’ website and phone remained active, so Amanda and Bill continued to meet customers by appointment, with all masked.

As the pandemic stretched into months, Bill said that he didn’t really notice an uptick in home kitchen remodels so much as an increase in residential bathroom re-dos. Plus, as in most of the United States, Manor House customers still are waiting longer than “normal” for merchandise to ship.

“It used to be eight weeks for a kitchen order. Now it’s usually over 12 weeks,” Bob said. “As soon as a client decides what they want, we start to purchase their product. We want to be dependable about when customers get our products.”

Trending

When asking senior designer Gramley about the latest in kitchen design trends, don’t expect a short answer. He’s quick to retrieve multiple examples of the newest home modeling styles available to customers at Manor House.

“Curved tabletops are out,” he said. “Red oak finishes are out, but white oak is hot. Walnut also is hot now for cabinet finishes. People now also are going for combination finishes with wood accents.”

He laid out several display samples before him.

“Traditional flat cabinet doors are in,” he continued. “Cabinet doors are made thicker now, too, at 1- or ¾-inch thick.”

Other trends include painted glass cabinet doors, open shelving, auto interior cabinet lights and retracting pet dish drawers, among others.

Manor House staff also comprises project manager Steve Kephart and interior designer Patti Vogel, as well as a trusted team of contractors and subcontractors.

Alex Minoff of Hampden Township said that he’s one of Manor House’s satisfied customers. Their team recently redid his family’s home kitchen in about a month with new cabinets, paint, LED ceiling lights, and “a really cool light that hangs over the peninsula.”

“They explained all of the project phases to us and did everything on time,” Minoff said.

Not surprisingly, Minoff said he “highly recommends” Manor House Studio.

“Everything they did exceeded our expectations,” he said. “They did an exceptional job.”

Manor House Studio is located at 313 Market St., Lemoyne. For information or to make an appointment, call 717-737-3733 or visit www.manorhouse.studio.

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Shear Wisdom: “Chops” Green combines cuts with counsel

March 31, 2022 | by Deborah Lynch

Hauson “Chops” Green. Photo by Dani Fresh.

The day after Christmas last year, Harrisburg lost another young Black man to gun violence on the streets.

The murder of 20-year-old Daiquon Phillips left his family, community and friends, including longtime Uptown barber and Phillips’ mentor Hauson “Chops” Green, reeling.

Not so long ago, Green took Phillips under his tutelage with the shears, going to Phillips’ home to teach him the trade that would lead to a job at another Harrisburg barbershop. Phillips had learned the subtle part of the trade from years sitting in Green’s chair—the part that involves learning to know your customers and dishing life lessons to them. That’s what Green is famous for Uptown.

He speaks from his own mistakes and life experiences, as well as from heartache and what he’s observed. Green isn’t afraid to own poor choices he made that led him to selling drugs on the streets and putting in his time behind bars.

“While incarcerated, I had an epiphany—I just love the kids,” he said. “They don’t have examples in the city. A lot of their examples are incarcerated. That’s why I stay.”

A Podium

Green works out of Heads Up barbershop on N. 6th Street—a family-owned business for 46 years currently owned by his uncle James Cheatham.

It’s close to both the Camp Curtin YMCA and the Nativity School of Harrisburg. That location gives him a podium to reach the youth. He opens his shop at five in the morning, staying open till at least six each night, so he can be there for school kids to come in.

When he doesn’t have someone in the chair, he’s out on the street corner, talking to whoever comes by, keeping his eyes on the neighborhood. The kids know he’s there, and they know he’s watching.

“They get to see an example of someone who is not just standing on the corner smoking weed,” he said.

Jamien Harvey, executive director of the Harrisburg Area YMCA’s Camp Curtin and East Shore locations, also spends time out on the street in that Uptown neighborhood, keeping his eyes on the kids.

“Barbershops are important places,” he said. “Those guys are definitely counselors. I get my hair cut [at Heads Up] weekly. We discuss what’s going on politically and how we can change things for the Uptown area.”

Phillips was a middle school graduate of the nearby Nativity School, which is how Green came to know the aspiring barber.

“My first impression of him? He made me smile,” Green said. “One day, he came in and said, ‘I want to cut hair like you.’ I said, ‘OK, come on.’”

Even after Phillips got a job in another shop, he always came back to Green for his haircuts. His death “really stole something from me,” said Green, who lost his own 18-year-old son in an unsolved shooting in 2014.

“From that day, I took the tragedy from my son’s death,” Green said. “It was the fuel for the fire to give back to the kids. From that day, it’s been nonstop.”

Coming Back

Parenting is hard, especially when the streets and wrong crowds beckon, said Michelle Hall, the mother of a 19-year-old who has been getting regular cuts and pep talks from Green for years.

“It’s rough because they’re going to make their own decisions regardless of how hard we try to encourage them to do right,” Hall said. “I’m grateful for people like Chops. Hopefully, he can keep encouraging the kids to do right.”

Her son, Amir Brower-Pitts, now a sophomore at Shippensburg University, said that he and his friends always stopped in the shop on the way home from school just to say “what’s up” and to get advice.

“Every time we walked into the barbershop, it was, ‘Hey, stay out of trouble,’” he said.

Although Green employed Brower-Pitts to sweep hair on the weekends and tutored Phillips, he wants to give even more young people opportunities, which is why he plans to open the Original Hot Dog Factory, an Atlanta franchise, next to Sneaker Villa on Market Street in downtown Harrisburg.

“I never had a business like this before,” he said. “I’m learning as I go. I get to learn with them as we work together. I feel like God placed me here for a reason.”

Green wants to keep kids coming back for his advice. He asks them about school. He encourages them to think about college and trades. He offers them money for good report cards, saying that, one year, he gave out more than $1,300.

Another former Nativity student who used to sit in Chops’ chair, Tony James, is a junior at Neumann College outside of Philadelphia, where he won an academic scholarship and plays for the basketball team.

“He tells me every time to stay safe and keep doing what I’m doing in school and stuff and just basically lets me know I have his support, and he wants the best for me no matter what,” he said.

Green said that he’s thought about his legacy in terms of, “what can I leave behind to where it can help other people’s kids?”

Talking to his customers, it seems he has achieved that.

Heads Up is located at 2286 N. 6th St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.headsupmensandladiesbarbersalon.com or call 717-236-2533.

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Tell It Like It Is: Michael Gingerich and Tom Kaden want to know what’s on your mind

March 31, 2022 | by Rachel Curry

Illustration by Aron Rook

Early 20th century feminist author Miles Franklin once wrote, “Someone to tell it to is one of the fundamental needs of human beings.”

Michael Gingerich and Tom Kaden take that mantra seriously.

As their Harrisburg-based nonprofit, Someone To Tell It To, rounds out its first decade, Gingerich and Kaden are taking vulnerability and connection mainstream. Why?

“Because we’ve experienced it ourselves, the need to be heard,” Kaden said.

At its core, Someone To Tell It To is a listening service for businesses, teams, families and individuals. Kaden and Gingerich built a model to help people process feelings and reduce loneliness.

The organization doesn’t fit the traditional mold of a therapeutic service. Gingerich and Kaden are the co-CEOs, otherwise known as chief encouragement officers. The team isn’t made up of licensed counselors or therapists, but certified listeners—handpicked to be part of a team built largely with intuitive feelers, according to the Myers-Briggs type indicator. Someone To Tell It To calls these listeners “story seekers,” and the people who they’re listening to “story tellers.”

“We realized there was an epidemic, a growing epidemic, of loneliness not just here in central Pennsylvania, but really all around the world,” Gingerich said.

Someone To Tell It To has helped people process their stories in about 25 countries globally (through interpreters as needed). They never turn anyone away based on an inability to pay.

Two story seekers lead each session, helping to build empathy and respect regardless of the person’s story.

“When it comes to listening, you have to believe the person in front of you, the person you’re listening to, is worthy of being hard,” Gingerich said.

Gingerich and Kaden recently published their third book, “Listening 2by2: A Paradigm Shift for Leaders.” It focuses on how to break down barriers, evoke curiosity, ask questions, and negotiate a path forward.

An average of more than 3.95 million workers quit their jobs each month in 2021, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. Gingerich and Kaden said that this is symptomatic of a larger listening epidemic. The Someone To Tell It To founders’ book combats the shift by breaking down toxic workplace behavior and building up an environment where healthy listening is status quo.

In the book’s forward, renowned author and management training leader Ken Blanchard writes, “Great things can happen when you are bold enough to speak your truth and to listen to others speak theirs. When you listen with intention, conversations flourish and take on a life of their own.”

Recently, Kaden and Gingerich stopped by a local health organization to meet with a team of about 20 nurses and doctors. One of the team members endured a traumatic car crash that left their spouse deceased. The team was rocked, and Someone To Tell It To helped them process what they were experiencing together.

“It was one of the most meaningful encounters that we’ve probably had with anyone, any group or individual, because it was so powerful and so intense,” Gingerich said.

Because of their years of experience, they were able to come last minute and step right into a difficult situation.

Moving forward, Someone To Tell It To plans to continue their eponymous podcast series, featuring guests like Pennsylvania state Rep. Patty Kim. They also plan to continue their work with individuals, hopefully expanding into education settings to help the community build a foundation of listening skills from an early age. All the while, the organization wants to delve deeper into working with professional teams and groups.

“The more money that we can bring in from those kinds of things, the more people we can serve, the more people we can bring on to listen, to train, and to expand the movement,” Gingerich said.

Someone To Tell It To will host an evening with best-selling author and leadership expert Jon Gordon at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Harrisburg on Apr. 12 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.someonetotellitto.org.

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Flower Powers: In Dauphin County, the subject is roses—and veggies and plants and pollinators

March 31, 2022 | by Susan Ryder

Hunger Garden harvest 2021 and Wildfire Rose. Right photo by Sharon Sowers

As the air warms, gardeners itch to dig in the dirt—and, fortunately, they have a valuable resource at hand.

For years, the Penn State Extension Master Gardener Program has been sending graduates into the field to help local residents know how to till, plant, tend and harvest.

The program “expands the science that Penn State University does out into the community,” said Catherine Scott, extension horticultural educator, master gardener coordinator.

It accomplishes this by training master gardeners, then sending them forth to help others. All of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties have master gardening programs.

The one-year “Master Gardener Basic Training” requires a commitment of time and energy. This training is extensive, with an exhaustive application and educational process. Coursework dives into botany, soils, pollinators, pesticides and a plethora of gardening topics.

All of this training is necessary because volunteer master gardeners act as advocates and educators.

“They trust that you’re not going to go and teach something that you really didn’t learn,” said Cindy Hogeman, master gardener. “Like, if you’re going to be on the monarch (butterfly) display, you really should know a lot about monarchs.”

The Master Gardener Program requires 20 volunteer hours per year from graduates, though many put in far more than that, especially since gardeners can choose projects that interest them. For example, Hogeman, also a Capital Area Greenbelt Association board member, tends the Five Senses Garden that runs through the Greenbelt near the Harrisburg Mall.

As its name implies, this garden fills the senses, as grasses rustle, fragrant herbs sweeten the air, and thistles invite a light touch.

“We also have a very large non-native poppy section and, when it blooms in June, it is bright orange, and you can’t even look away,” Hogeman said. “It’s so beautiful.”

Twenty-year veteran master gardener Shawna Raymond’s favorite project is close to the seat of power, very close—the Capitol Hunger Garden. This 1,000-square-foot vegetable garden sits right on the statehouse grounds, providing vegetables to local organizations like Downtown Daily Bread.

“That, to me, feels like we’re really making a difference,” Raymond said. “We’re contributing so much food locally.”

She also appreciates the interaction with all of the garden volunteers and the passersby, who often reminisce about their grandma’s garden and tell of their own.

Raymond’s grandmother and mother kept vegetable gardens, which she never really appreciated as a child. But, ultimately, she couldn’t escape the gardening bug.

“It had already seeped into my bones,” she said.

Questions, Answers

The Master Gardener Program provides many resources for those who are ready to pick up the trowel every spring.

Raymond runs a class where gardeners can learn how to get their garden “pollinator certified.” Other classes include “Seed to Supper,” which teaches novice gardeners how to grow food, as well as webinars on native plants, roses and garden design.

The program rose to the task of continuing to inform gardeners during COVID, making many of its seminars hybrid, both in person and online. This has allowed for greater participation, with 297 people registered for an upcoming “Pennsylvania Native Plants” class, for instance.

“We’ve been able to keep attending meetings, and we’ve done everything via Zoom,” Raymond said. “So, from home, we’re still keeping in touch with people, keeping active programs, and even creating new programs, which is astonishing.”

Can’t make a class but have questions? Contact the Dauphin County Master Gardener Penn State Extension hotline. Master gardeners will answer questions of every variety. For instance, is it OK if my daffodils are popping up early? Why does my maple tree have weird spots on the leaves? Why don’t my blueberry bushes have fruit?

“Horticulture is an ever-changing topic,” Scott said.

Master gardeners must commit to 10 hours of continuing education each year, so they stay on top of the latest gardening news and trends.

Nearly 3,500 master gardener volunteers have participated in the program since its inception in 1982. According to several master gardeners, they have benefited greatly from the program, as well.

“You get to know people who know deeply the things that you are interested in,” Hogeman said. “If I want to learn more about soils or trees or orchids or African violets, then I know somebody who does that.”

Raymond has enjoyed the community that the program provides. Even during the pandemic, groups were able to meet outside, using COVID precautions. She also appreciates the ability to specialize.

“It helps you to become a specialist in an area, if you focus on certain things,” said Raymond, whose focus is on pollinators and native plants. “I don’t know a lot about roses, but some people know a lot about roses.”

For more information on the Penn State Master Gardener Program, visit www.extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener.

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Happenings: Our April Calendar of Events

March 31, 2022 | by Missy Smith

Museums & Art Spaces

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

Packard showroom exhibit, presented by Keystone Packards, through April 23

“Survivors: Unrestored Classic Cars, Trucks & Motorcycles,” through April 23

“Driving After Sundown—The Evolution of Headlights,” highlighting the evolution of American vehicle head-lighting

Arts on the Square
20 S. 2nd St., Harrisburg
717-257-1270; marketsquarechurch.org

Photography by Beth Hager, illustrating the appreciation of the commonplace through landscapes, architecture, still life and more on paper, canvas and metal, and craftswoman Kari Hultman, exhibiting woodworking, leatherworking and miniatures

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

“A Celebration of Student Art,” highlighting a broad selection of projects from Carlisle Area School District K-12 students, through April 9

“Oil and Water,” with oil painter Julie Riker and watercolor artist Pam Wenger, who share their diverse medium, subject matter and styles, April 22-May 18

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

April artist of the month

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

“Queering the Muse,” by contemporary photographer Lissa Rivera and her partner B.J. Lillis, through April 16

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

Lenkerville Elementary Student Art Show, through April 2

“Creative Synthesis of Organic Life,” woodturnings by Toby Bouder and pressed flower pictures by Judy Bouder, April 6-May 14; reception: April 10, 3-5 p.m.

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyareaartassociation.com

Works by Alyson Tran, Daniella Mimoso, Marie Gamon, Wendy Craig, Jim Davis, Shirley Davis, Sue Myers, Chris Slates and Mary Lott at Hershey Public Library, through April 9

Messiah University
One University Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

Senior Show I, through April 10

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

New works by Yachiyo Beck, Richard Souders, Elaine Elledge and Linda Benton McCloskey, April 12-May 15

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

Paintings by Christy McKenna, through April

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

“Anne Frank: A Private Photo Album,” a photo exhibit consisting of rarely seen reproduced photographs taken by Otto Frank, through April 9

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

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history

Perry County Council of the Arts (PCCA)
Landis House, 67 N. Fourth Street
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

“Weaving Creativity,” a display of traditional and modern hooked rugs by the Magdalena Rug Hookers of Perry County, paired with basket designs by Teena Beutel, through April 22

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

“Good Taste,” on-trend artwork depicting food and cooking, as well as home goods to use in the kitchen, through April 23

“Frame of Mind,” a display of artwork in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month that will explore how artwork can be an outlet for self-expression, April 30-June 11

Rose Lehrman Art Gallery
One HACC Drive, Harrisburg
717-780-2435; hacc.edu

Digital Video Works by Jeffrey Moser, April 4-29; Zoom reception: April 14, 6 p.m.

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

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

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

“Approximate Release,” a sculptural installation in the DeSoto Family Vault by Ron Lambert, through April 10

“World Traveler/Shelter At Home,” works by Diana Jensen, who took inspiration from an anonymous assortment of vernacular photos for her paintings, April 15-June 19

“In Nature’s Studio,” showcasing a bounty of early 19th century through late 20th century American artists’ depictions of the landscape, through May 22

“Hedy O’Beil—The Late Work,” a selection of work from the 1970s to mid-1980s, through June 19

“Mythologies of Motherhood,” personal stories of artists currently raising children, through June 26

“Project—Nature,” a sneak peek of the current VanGo! Museum on Wheels exhibit, “Nature in Art,” featuring the work of Victoria Fuller, through Aug. 22

Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery
Lebanon Valley College
101 College Ave., Annville
717-233-8668; lvc.edu/gallery

“Our Strength is Our People—The Humanist Photographs of Lewis Hine,” through April 6

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

“Art in the Wild” features works of art composed of mostly natural materials to blend with Wildwood’s natural setting, April 3-Sept. 30; meet the artists, April 3, 1-3 p.m.

Read, Make, Learn

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

April 2: Art Together, 12:30-2:30 p.m.
April 4-May 2, May 7: Obvara (Baltic Raku) Alternative Firing Process, Mondays, 6-8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: Beginning Oil Painting, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. or 6-8 p.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: Intermediate/Advanced Painting, 1-3:30 p.m.
April 7, 14, 21: Oil Painting Spring Flowers, 6-8 p.m.
April 9: Plant a Rock Garden, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 12-May 17: Intermediate Clay for Teens & Adults, Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m.
April 13-May 25 (no class on May 4): Introduction to Photoshop for Photographers on Zoom, Wednesdays, 6:30-8 p.m.
April 14-May 18: Macro Photography, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 16: Added Elements, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
April 16, 23: Buck a Book Making Class, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 22: Indigo and Shibori, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
April 22: Craft Beer & Clay, 7-9 p.m.
April 22-May 27: Friday In-Person Art Cub, 3:45-5 p.m.
April 23: There’s Gold in Those Petals, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 23: Vintage Tin Earrings, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 23: Eucalyptus Magic Gold Edition, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
April 29: Welcome Spring!, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

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

April 29: Seaside Specials, 6-9 p.m.

Dauphin County Library System
dcls.org

April 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26: Born to Read (birth-18 months), 9:30-10 a.m.
April 4, 11, 18, 25: Board Game Club, 6-7 p.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: Born to Read (birth-18 months), 9:30-10 a.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: Toddler Storytime (ages 19-35 months), 10:15-10:55 a.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: All Ages Storytime on Zoom, 6 p.m.
April 6: Hear Me Out Cryptocurrency, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
April 6, 13, 20, 27: Secret Agent Academy, 4-4:45 p.m.
April 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28: All Ages Storytime, 10:15 a.m.
April 6, 13, 20, 27: Toddler Storytime (ages 19-35 months), 10-10:40 a.m.
April 6, 13, 20, 27: Toddler Storytime (ages 19-35 months) on Zoom, 11-11:40 a.m.
April 7, 14, 21, 28: Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5 years), 10:15-10:55 a.m.
April 7, 14, 21, 28: Anime Club (ages 13-18), 4-5 p.m.
April 8, 15, 22, 29: Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5 years), 10-10:40 a.m.
April 8, 15, 22, 29: Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5 years), 11-10:40 a.m.
April 8, 15, 22, 29: Virtual Tween Dungeons and Dragons, 4-5 p.m.
April 8, 15, 22, 29: Virtual Teen Dungeons and Dragons, 4-5 p.m.
April 13: Spanish Language Conversation Group (ages 15 and older) on Zoom, 6-7 p.m.
April 19: Crash Course on Credit on Zoom, 6-7 p.m.
April 20: Virtual Young Adult Book Club (ages 13-18), 4-5:30 p.m.

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

April 4: Baby Time Spring, 10:30 a.m.
April 6: Toddler Time, 10:30 a.m.
April 7: Family Storytime, 10:30 a.m.
April 7, 14, 21, 28: Fiber Artists, 10 a.m.
April 7, 14, 21, 28: Fiber Artists, 3 p.m.
April 9, 23: LEGO Club, 11 a.m.
April 12: STEM Stations, 4:30 p.m.
April 14, 28: Knitter’s Group, 5 p.m.
April 16: Book Discussion Group, 10 a.m.
April 16: Knitter’s Group, 10 a.m.
April 19: Musik Time, 10:30 a.m.

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

April 6: Virtual Illustrated Talk— Pre-Colonial Pennsylvania, 7-8 p.m.

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

April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Get That Job! Workshop, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
April 2: Library for Lunch—Egg-stravaganza, 1 p.m.
April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Teen Grab and Go Bag (ages 7-12), 1 p.m.
April 2, 16: STEM Grab & Go, 1 p.m.
April 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27: Discovery Zone Fun, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 4, 18: Zoom—Frederickson Writes on Zoom, 6:45 p.m.
April 5: Curl up with the Classics—“The Woodlanders,” 10-11 a.m.
April 5: Teen STEAM Lab, 4-5:30 p.m., 6-7:30 p.m.
April 5: READ to Dogs, 6:30-8 p.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: Career Exploration Workshop, 10:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m.
April 6: Moving Forward Book Group w/ Hospice of Central PA, 1-2 p.m.
April 6: Cryptocurrency—A ‘Hear Me Out’ Dialogue, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
April 7, 14, 21, 28: Language at the Library—Spanish, 10-11 a.m.
April 7, 14, 21, 28: Resume Writing Workshop, 10:30-11:30 a.m., 4:30-5:30 p.m.
April 8: Film Friday, 7 p.m.
April 8, 22: Peaceful Poses Children’s Yoga Story Time, 10-11 a.m.
April 11: Philosophers’ Roundtable, 2-3:30 p.m.
April 11: Mission Transition Kindergarten, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
April 11: Twisted Stitchers, 6:30 p.m.
April 12: Comics Club, 6-7 p.m.
April 14: Plot Twisters, 6-7 p.m.
April 15: Family Movie Night, 6:30-8 p.m.
April 25: Fredricksen Reads—“The Songs of Trees: Stories from Natures Great Connectors,” 7-8 p.m.

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

April 9: Intro to Hand Caning, 1-5 p.m.
April 16: “Light and Dark” mixed media workshop, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
April 21, 28: Paper Mache Sculpture for Kids, 6-8 p.m.
April 30: Mixed Media Collage Workshop, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

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

April 20-June 8: Level 1 Intro to Improv, Wednesdays, 7-10 p.m.

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyareaartassociation.com

April 6: Katriel Srebnik Paint Workshop, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

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

April 2, 9, 23: Chess Club, 1 p.m.
April 4: Pencils and Pints at Troegs Brewery, 6:30 p.m.
April 4, 11, 18, 25: Facebook Live—Books and Babies (birth-12 months), 10:15 a.m.
April 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28 : Penn State Hershey—Mothers & Babies Together, 10 a.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: 1, 2, Whee!, 10:15 a.m.
April 5, 12, 26: Girls Who Code, 6 p.m.
April 6: LEGO Club, 4 p.m.
April 6: Hear Me Out—Cryptocurrency, 5:30 p.m.
April 6: Silent Book Group at Mount Gretna Craft Brewery, 6:30 p.m.
April 7, 14, 21, 28: Storytime for Everyone, 10:15 a.m.
April 7, 21: Hershey Quilters, 12:30 p.m.
April 9: Cocoa Area Fiber Enthusiasts, 10 a.m.
April 14: Hershey Area Neighbors and Newcomers, 10 a.m.
April 25: All Things Color Trivia, 7 p.m.
April 30: Chess Tournament, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Historical Society of Dauphin County
John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion
219 S Front St., Harrisburg
717- 233-3462; dauphincountyhistory.org

April 10: The Life, Times and Publications of James H Howard, 2 p.m.

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

April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: LEGO Time, 10:15-11:15 a.m.
April 4, 11, 18, 25: Storybook STEAM, 6:30 p.m.
April 5: Tween Scene, 6-7 p.m.
April 5, 12, 29, 26: Parents & Toddlers Together, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
April 5, 12, 29, 26: Tea and Stitches, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 7, 14, 21, 28: Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
April 8, 22: Dungeons and Dragons (ages 6-12), 6-8 p.m.
April 9, 23: Block Party, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
April 11, 25: English Conversation Club, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
April 13: Mad About Mysteries on Zoom, 7-8 p.m.
April 16: Adventure Club, 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
April 16: Teen Squad, 3-4 p.m.
April 18: Monday Night Book Club, 7-8 p.m.
April 21: Thursday Morning Book Club, 10 a.m.
April 26: Tabletop Game Night, 6-8 p.m.

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

April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Passageways, 2 p.m.
April 3, 10, 17, 24: Young Adult Group, 4 p.m.
April 6, 13, 20, 27: Common Roads (ages 12-17), 6-8 p.m.
April 9: LGBTQ Book Club, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
April 12, 26: Queers and Quests game night, 6 p.m.
April 14: Aging with Pride Luncheon, 12 p.m.

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

April 22, 23: Opera Workshop with Symphony Orchestra

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

April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Online Science Fiction Book Club
April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Star Trek Rewatch online group
April 4, 6, 11: Free Tax Preparation, 5:30-8 p.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: Storytime and Craft, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
April 5, 12, 19, 26: Tales with T.A.I.L.S., 6-7 p.m.
April 7: Book Club, 6-7 p.m.
April 18: Mystery Book Club (in person and online), 6-7 p.m.

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

April 15: An Evening with Ali Rothrock, 7-8 p.m.
April 20: An Evening with Dr. Shauntey James, 7-8 p.m.

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

April 2: First Saturday, 2-5 p.m.
April 7: Foundations of Drawing, 6-8 p.m.
April 9: Fluid Art Class, 12-3 p.m.

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

April 23: Lessons in History with Judkin Browning and Timothy Silver, 1-2 p.m.

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

April 23: Beginner’s Backpacking—Hiking 101, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 30: Spring Bird Walk, 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 30: Nature Photography, 1-3 p.m.

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

April 1, 22: Movers & Groovers (ages 2-5), 10:30-11 a.m.
April 1-30: Beanstack Challenge—For the Love of Reading (ages 0-18)
April 2, 16: Book Sales, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
April 4, 18: Monday Great Books Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 7: Ruth’s Mystery Discussion Group, 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 9: Write-On Writer’s Workshop, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 11: Cherry Blossom Craft (ages 5-8), 5:30-6:30 p.m.
April 11, 25: Outdoor Storytime & More (ages 2-5), 10:30 a.m.
April 12: Book Review Program, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
April 12: Tales for Tails (ages 6-12), 6:30-7:30 p.m.
April 12-26: Outdoor Book Babies (ages 0-2), 11:15 a.m.
April 13, 27: Wednesday Great Books Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 14, 28: Block Party! (ages 0-3), 10:30-11:30 a.m.
April 16: Couponing for Extreme Savings, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 16: Children’s Book Writers Critique Group, 2-4 p.m.
April 19: Kid Builders! (ages 3 and older), 5:30-6:30 p.m.
April 20: Wellness Wednesday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
April 24: Trees Nature’s Great Connectors, 2-3 p.m.
April 25: Music & More Mondays (ages 3-7), 5:30-6:30 p.m.
April 26: Evening Family Storytime, 6:30-7 p.m.
April 27: PennWriters Writing Group, 6-9 p.m.
April 27: KIND Club—Kids Interested in Novels of Diversity on Zoom (ages 8-12), 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Palmyra Public Library
50 Landings Dr., Annville
717-838-1347; palmyra.lclibs.org

April 11: Palmyra Public Library Book Club, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 27: Smart Start Storytime, 12:15-12:45 p.m.

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

April 1, 16: Storytime, 10:30 a.m.
April 1-30: Highlights Tour, 1:30-2:30 p.m. (Wednesdays-Sundays)
April 6: Explore! Fowler’s Bird’s-eye Views & PA’s Industrial Towns, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 6, 21: Family Gallery Tour—Paleontology, 11:30 a.m.
April 8: Virtual Adventures in Nature Lab—Peregrine Falcon Recovery in PA, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
April 13: Family Gallery Tour—Mammal Hall, 11:30 a.m.
April 14: Curiosity Kids, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 20: Explore! Earth Day, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 22: Learn at Lunchtime—Virtual Curator’s Choice—Levittown at 70,
April 27: The Games & Puzzles Challenge

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

April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Saturday Morning Art Club, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Young Artist Camp, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

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

April 2: Wild About Dogs!, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
April 5: Kids Discover—April Pools (ages 5-10), 2-4 p.m.
April 6, 13: Penn State Master Gardeners’ Veggie 101-201 Series, 6-7:30 p.m.
April 7: Natural Dyeing with Acorns, 6-8 p.m.
April 9: Birds and Coffee, 10-11 a.m.
April 9: Volunteer Work Day, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
April 10: Penn State Extension Master Gardeners’ Home Gardening Series—Creating a Crevice Garden, 1-2:30 p.m.
April 10: Fort Hunter Conservancy Hike, 2-4 p.m.
April 13: Preschool Storytime, 10-10:45 a.m.
April 15: Kids Discover—Birds and Their Nests (ages 5-10), 10-11:30 a.m.
April 23: Forest Therapy, 1-3 p.m.
April 24: Flower Walk—Dutchman’s Breeches and Trout Lilies, 1:30-3 p.m.
April 28: Kids Discover—Pollywogs (ages 5-10), 2-4 p.m.
April 30: Cadette & Senior Girl Scouts—Outdoor Art Explorer and Expert, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Live Music

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

April 2: Spring Doo Wop Cavalcade
April 3: Jimmy Stuff & Jay Siegel’s Tokens
April 9: The Duttons
April 16: Disney Princess Concert
April 20: One Night of Queen by Gary Mullen and the Works
April 21: Trace Adkins
April 22: Josh Turner
April 23: Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals & Micky Dolenz of The Monkees

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

April 1: Jazz in the City
April 2: Enter the Haggis
April 3: Sonia De Los Santos
April 6: The Milk Carton Kids, Michaela Anne
April 9: York Symphony
April 16: Los Chicos del 512—The Selena Experience
April 18: Tedeschi Trucks
April 21: Oliver Wood of The Wood Brothers
April 22: The Machine performs Pink Floyd with the Interstellar Light & Multimedia Show
April 29: The Fitzgeralds

Boneshire Brew Works
7462 Derry St., Harrisburg
717-469-5007; boneshire.com

April 7: Holly Serio
April 21: Sherri & Dennis
April 28: Strangest Hearts, Brian Polensky Mug #224

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

April 22: Vanilla Fudge with Kashmir—The Live Led Zeppelin Show

Central PA Friends of Jazz
www.friendsofjazz.org

April 3: The Bill Charlap Trio
April 24: George Burton

Elizabethtown College
1 Alpha Dr., Elizabethtown
717-361-1212; www.etown.edu

April 10: Elizabethtown College Community Orchestra Concert
April 21: Jazz Band and Percussion Ensemble Concert
April 24: Elizabethtown College Symphonic Band Concert
April 25: Scholarship and Creative Arts Day Recital

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

April 1: Colebrook Road
April 2: The Band Who Sold the World w/Shea Quinn
April 3: Sunday Jazz Series w/the Steve Rudolph Quintet
April 8: Crippled But Free
April 9: Damn the Torpedoes
April 10: Harrisburg Jazz Collective
April 14: Cody Canada and the Departed w/Them Dirty Roses
April 16: The Aces
April 17: Sunday Jazz Series w/The Redd Bros. Trio
April 22: The Bad Toupees
April 23: The Kenton Sitch Band
April 30: Sugar Mountain

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

April 1: The Mavericks
April 1: Attack Attack!
April 2: Richie Ramone, Public Nature
April 5: Wednesday 13
April 6: Doyle
April 10: Joanne Shaw Taylor
April 13: Powerglove
April 15: Trevor Hall, Gone Gone Beyond
April 16: The Taylor Party—Taylor Swift Night
April 21: GFM with KrashKarma
April 21: Drive-By Truckers
April 23: Lucero
April 24: Al Stewart w/The Empty Pockets
April 29: Three Days Grace, Lilith Czar

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

April 9, 10: Masterworks—AMEN!
April 23, 24: Magnificent Mendelssohn

Harrisburg University Presents
concertseries.harrisburgu.edu

April 4: JOHNNYSWIM at XL Live
April 5: Mother Mother at XL Live
April 16: The Aces at The Englewood
April 21: Rainbow Kitten Surprise at XL Live
April 30: Jade Bird at XL Live

Hershey Area Playhouse
830 Cherry Dr., Hershey
717-533-8525; hersheyareaplayhouse.com

April 1-2: The Unforgettable Big Band

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

April 1-3: Blue Man Group
April 10: The Beach Boys

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

April 3: Shippensburg University Wind Ensemble and Concert Band
April 9: Black Violin
April 24: Shippensburg University Community Orchestra
April 30: Girl Named Tom

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

April 1: Wind Symphony & Percussion Ensemble Concert
April 9: Jazz Ensemble Concert
April 10: Symphony Band

Messiah University
One University Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

April 2: Azaguno “Nukpɔkpɔ”
April 3: Messiah University Woodwind Quintet
April 4: Messiah University Chamber Ensembles
April 5: Messiah University Jazz Combo
April 11: Messiah University Chamber Ensembles
April 12: Messiah University Brass Choir & Symphony
April 22: Messiah University Symphony Orchestra
April 23: Messiah University United Voices of Praise
April 24: Messiah University Wind Ensemble
April 27: Messiah University Choral Showcase
April 28: Messiah University Musica Nova—Student Compositions
April 29: Messiah University Jazz Ensembles
April 30: Messiah University Vocal Jazz
April 30: Messiah University Guitar Ensemble

Music By The River
musicbytheriver.org

April 2: Harrisburg Camerata at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral, Harrisburg

Perry County Council of the Arts
Landis House
67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

April 14: Don-Paul Kahl, Zach Nyce

Pine Street Presbyterian Church
310 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-238-9304; pinestreet.org

April 1: Eric Rieger & JJ Penna
April 24: Scott Dettra

Rusty Rail Brewing Company
5 N. 8th St., Mifflinburg
570-966-7878; rustyrailbrewing.com

April 4, 18: Monday Night JamFest
April 14: Gift, Troutman & Gift

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

April 9: The Honey Dewdrops
April 15: Ye Vagabonds
April 27: Dom Flemons

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

April 9: Stanley Jordan
April 29: Erich Cawalla Big Band

Whitaker Center
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org

April 6: Steve Hackett
April 16: Almost Queen
April 27: Janis Ian

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

April 1: Start Making Sense and the Immaculate Horns
April 2: Rakim, Brand Nubian
April 8: The Far Side (Pharcyde)
April 9: The Johnny Swim Show, Katelyn Tarver
April 15: Mother Mother
April 16: Badfish—A Tribute to Sublime, Dale & The Zdubs
April 21: Rainbow Kitten Surprise, The Brooke & The Bluff
April 22: Das Trio, Derhak, Amico, Schnier of moe
April 23: The Dead Milkmen
April 29: Yngwie Malmsteen
April 30: Jade Bird

Zeroday Brewing Co.
925 N. 3rd St, Harrisburg
717-745-6218; zerodaybrewing.com

April 1: DJ KYNZ
April 2: Bend The Rails
April 8: Plunder & Lightning

The Stage Door

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

April 24: “Peppa Pig Live!”
April 29-May 11: Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show

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

April 8: Corey Alexander and Jen Espenshade
April 13: “Waitress”
April 21: “The Underwater Bubble Show”
April 23: “My Name is Not Mom”

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

April 7-Sept. 22: “The Bar Stools Go Back To The Future”
April 22: “Steel Magnolias”

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

April 1-10: “Harvey”

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

April 1-16: “Singin’ in the Rain”
April 22-May 14: “Rock of Ages”

Gamut Theatre Group
15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-238-4111; gamuttheatre.org

April 1: TMI Improv
April 8-10: “Panchatantra Tales”
April 13-30: “The Emperor’s New Clothes” (Popcorn Hat Players)

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

April 8: Steve Hofstetter
April 9: Dustin Sims
April 10: Queens Who Brunch
April 10: Jim Breuer

Harrisburg Christian Performing Arts Center
1000 S. Eisenhower Blvd, Middletown
717-939-9333; thehcpac.org

April 8-10: “The Crown and the Cross”

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

April 1: Divas Down Under April Fool’s Comedy Drag Show!
April 1, 2: Comedy Hypnotist Rich Guzzi
April 8, 9: Larry XL, Jim Bryan
April 13: April Comic Showcase
April 15, 16: Jody Kerns, Ben Jones
April 22, 23: Larry Reeb, JoJo Casillas
April 29, 30: Kevin McCaffrey, TBA

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

April 1: Free Improv Jam, Heartthrobs, The Outsiders, Meetwood Flac
April 2: Free Mixer, Solo Sleepover, Love Triangle, Barn Bitches
April 8: Free Improv Jam, Leg of Lamp, The Outsiders, Introduce a Self
April 9: Free Mixer, Ferret Prom, Bandito, Don’t Play with Deacon
April 15: Free Improv Jam, Midtown Funk, Larry Bird, Cheese
April 16: Free Mixer, The Outsiders, Sugar Weasel, Rockstar Goes Supernova
April 22: Level 1 Class Show, Teens Girls, Same Each, HIT BITS
April 23: Free Mixer, Snicker Casket, Elderprov
April 24: Level 1 Class Show
April 29: Level 2 Class Show, 3-on-3 Tournament
April 30: Hitstravaganza!, Free Mixer

Harrisburg Scottish Rite Theatre
2701 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-238-8868; valleyofharrisburg.org

April 16: Psychic Gallery

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

April 22: “Whose Live Anyway?”

Keystone Theatrics
The Playhouse at Allenberry
1559 Boiling Springs Rd., Boiling Springs
717-258-3211; www.keystonetheatrics.com

April 22-May 8: “Once”

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

April 8-24: “Reefer Madness”

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

April 28: Jeff Allen

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

April 12: “Menopause”
April 30: Kim Weitkamp

Messiah University
One University Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

April 7-10: “Yeoman of the Guard”
April 22-23: “Culmination ’22—Spring Dance Concert”

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

April 7-10: “Jack and the Giant”
April 9: “Letters from Anne and Martin”
April 13 & 27: Black NewsBeat w/Dr. Kimeka Campbell
April 30: New York City’s Paige Turner—“What a Drag!”

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

April 1-3: “A Murder is Announced”

Rose Lehrman Art Center
One HACC Drive, Harrisburg
717-231-ROSE; hacc.edu/RLAC

April 21-24: Virtual New Works Festival

Theatre Harrisburg
513 Hurlock St., Harrisburg
717-232-5501; theatreharrisburg.com

April 1-10: “Now and Then” at Whitaker Center

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

April 1: We the People First Friday

Whitaker Center
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org

April 1-10: “Now and Then” (Theatre Harrisburg)
April 2-3: “Hansel & Gretel” (Central PA Youth Ballet)

Zeroday Brewing Co.
925 N. 3rd St, Harrisburg
717-745-6218; zerodaybrewing.com

April 21: Boozy Bingo w/Felicia O’Toole

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Water Ways: It’s smooth paddling ahead with the Canoe Club of Greater Harrisburg

March 31, 2022 | by Susan Ryder

Pennsylvania boasts nearly 85,000 miles of rivers and streams and 200,000 acres of lake.
How would one even begin to explore this watery expanse?

That’s where the all-volunteer Canoe Club of Greater Harrisburg paddles in.

“[We’re] a group of people who like to get out on the water and provide a way to connect with others who like to do that,” said Jennifer Brock, CCGH president.

For beginners, a kayak or canoe may be intimidating. There’s purchasing equipment, transporting boats, and navigating unknown waterways. CCGH helps with all of that.

The club has its own boats, paddles and life jackets.

“You can definitely try it out before you make the investment,” said Cynthia Mickievicz.

Membership is only $20 a year and allows paddlers to explore with folks familiar with a particular waterway. It also provides a way to get one’s kayak or canoe to a location and an opportunity to learn from veteran paddlers.

“There is a really good ratio of experienced people to beginners,” Mickievicz said.

Mini-Vacation

CCGH also provides a sense of community.

Michelle Jones joined the club in August 2020 after moving from the Finger Lakes region, where she left a group of about 30 family members who paddled together every Sunday. New to the area and isolated by the pandemic, she found a safe, outdoor way to meet people and do what she loved.

“It’s an eclectic group—engineers, government workers and lots of retired folks,” Jones said. “They’re just really welcoming.”

Member diversity extends to the type of water experience they enjoy—white or flat, excitement or leisure.

“I’m an outdoor naturalist,” Jones said. “I like to paddle and look at the birds.”

Mickievicz’s passion is whitewater, and she has been paddling the rapids for five years. Brock, an avid canoer, entered whitewater kayaking when the club offered a trip to paddle the Grand Canyon.

People shouldn’t let age be a factor, members said. Brock didn’t begin paddling whitewater until she was 50. And without revealing her present age, she said that she’s been doing it for a while.

The club gears its trips to the skill levels of those involved, including everyone when planning trips. Members can explore more waterways or sharpen their existing skills. Regardless of objectives, the water has the same effect.

“It’s like a mini-vacation,” Brock said. “Leave your problems on the shore.”

While it’s not required to join the group for a trip, CCGH offers classes, given by certified instructors, for all skill levels.

“When you’re a beginner, you don’t know what you don’t know,” Mickievicz said.

Newbies will learn about basic maneuvering, evaluating conditions, basic safety and handling capsizes. Higher-level classes include information on operating on moving water, water hazards and reading the water, with levels three and four dealing with increasingly challenging water. Some of this training takes place in local high school swimming pools, some on waterways.

Landlubbers may be concerned about being safe on the water.

“I don’t find kayaking any more dangerous than any other activity I’ve ever done in my life,” Jones said.

Her advice—be honest about your experience when purchasing a kayak or starting out. Kayak styles vary according to skill level and type of paddling. She added that people should wear a lifejacket and carry a whistle. She also lugs a roll of handy-dandy duct tape with her for any eventuality.

Been There

The Harrisburg area provides plenty of great waterways to enjoy.

Mickievicz likes Sherman Creek, a Susquehanna River tributary in Perry County.

“It’s gorgeous,” she said. “It’s one of those really close valleys where you’re just paddling through the bottom, and the hills are reaching up.”

She acknowledged that it’s not always running, depending on the water level. So, would-be paddlers should be aware of that.

More consistent is the Yellow Breeches Creek.

Jones has paddled “the Breeches” often. It runs from Boiling Springs to New Cumberland Borough Park. But due to portages—removing a boat from the water to avoid an obstacle—the next-best put-in point is at Messiah University. Jones also recommends Middle Creek for its wildflowers, Lock 13 on the Susquehanna for its rock formations and Pinchot Lake.

Club members have paddled all of these and many others.

“The Canoe Club, they’ve been everywhere,” Jones said. “I don’t think there’s a spot that I’ve mentioned…that the group’s not like ‘Oh yeah, we been there, we done that.”

Whitewater or flatwater, desiring connection or quiet time, paddlers can find it on Pennsylvania waterways. CCGH will help get you there and help you discover the experience.

“The club is definitely a sense of community in the water world in Pennsylvania,” Jones said.

For more information on the Canoe Club of Greater Harrisburg, visit www.ccghpa.com.

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Cabinetry, across Generations: At Mother Hubbard’s, the cupboard is full—and custom-made

March 31, 2022 | by Rachel Lindsley

Les Petrie, John Petrie and Rebecca Cusma

The heart of any home is the kitchen. It’s where celebrations take place, meals are prepared, and memories are made.

Fifty years ago, the kitchen inspired the opening of a local company that set out to help homeowners find their perfect cupboard. It was a business named for history’s most famous, if forlorn, cupboard owner, Old Mother Hubbard.

In the early 1970s, that nursery rhyme was the basis for the mascot of a kitchen cabinetry franchise named Mother Hubbard’s Cupboards. Guy Shirk, a local franchisee, opened a Mechanicsburg location and grew his local clientele, later separating as an independent business.

Les Petrie, a salesman and entrepreneur, bought the company from his uncle and made a name for himself using only a T-square and a sketchbook. He expanded the business with his family’s contemporary style and renamed it Mother Hubbard’s Custom Cabinetry to better encompass their inclusive services of kitchens, baths, living areas and more.

“We originally sold kitchens and kitchen accessories as Mother Hubbard’s Kitchen Center,” he said. “Later, we realized we needed to help our customers understand that we don’t only focus on kitchens. We design custom cabinetry for every corner of your life.”

Les’ son, John Petrie, and his wife, Carol, now own the business, bringing with them years of architecture and management experience. Their daughter, Rebecca Cusma, joined the team more recently, learning the ropes firsthand from her parents.

Located on Trindle Road in Mechanicsburg, Mother Hubbard’s showroom today offers kitchen and bathroom displays that stage a variety of styles and cabinet designs.

“Our showroom feels like home,” John Petrie said. “Clients can look around to see what design styles appeal to them and work with our team to customize everything to their liking.”

A Celebration

Many clients start their projects with a visit to Mother Hubbard’s website. There, they can see a variety of resources, such as a cost vs. value report, information on return on investment and other items to factor in before beginning.

A visit to the Trindle Road showroom often follows. There, they’ll receive guidance on preferences, wants vs. needs and establishing a budget. The planning then begins with design, including drawings of the floor plan, elevation and perspective and customer preferences such as cabinetry, finishes, appliances and more. Finally, preparation and installation take place at the home.

Mechanicsburg resident Lesley Trump completed two home renovation projects with Petrie’s team. Three years ago, the Trumps remodeled their kitchen and, this year, they remodeled their primary bathroom.

“We chose Mother Hubbard’s because of their attention to detail,” Trump said. “They make the entire process enjoyable for the customer—from design to product selection to construction and more.”

The entire team at Mother Hubbard’s focuses on making each renovation work for their clients’ needs, Cusma said.

“I think the Mother Hubbard’s difference really helps us take the stress away from our clients,” she said. “We are with them every step of the way, so the project comes together seamlessly.”

As a three [soon-to-be four] generation family-owned business, Mother Hubbard’s Custom Cabinetry soon will celebrate their 50th anniversary, having served nearly 3,000 customers over the past five decades.

“It is really a privilege and an honor to be asked to come into each of our clients’ homes to help them improve their living spaces,” John Petrie said. “We want to give back to our customers who have worked with us throughout the years and celebrate our team of certified designers, local subcontractors and suppliers.”

To commemorate the anniversary, the Petrie family will host several events at their showroom, including remote broadcasts, food trucks and a grand countertop giveaway. For more information on the special events, watch their Facebook page or visit their website.

“I would like for Mother Hubbard’s to continue for another 50 years,” John Petrie said. “During that time, we will continue to evolve with technology, high fashion, and the trends that appeal to our clients. My hope is that someday Rebecca will take over and continue my father’s legacy—as I did.”

Les Petrie smiled and agreed.

Mother Hubbard’s Custom Cabinetry showroom is located at 5309 Trindle Rd., Mechanicsburg. For more information, call 717-697-0949 or visit www.mhcustom.com. You also can follow Mother Hubbard’s on Facebook @MHCustom530 where they share recent renovation projects, tips for remodeling and NKBA news.

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“It’s Good to be Back”: Open Stage’s OSHKids returns with “Jack and the Giant”

March 31, 2022 | by Rachel Landon

Photo by Brianna Dow

In the late 1980s, my parents entered me into an after school theater program at the community center in our small town. Perhaps they thought I would expend my seemingly endless amount of 6-year-old energy in that 60-minute class.

I don’t remember much about the play, an original piece wherein I portrayed an overzealous alien in a rubber mask who got to shout three lines (which I meticulously highlighted and practiced over and over again). A few years later and a thousand miles away, the students of The Alsedek Theatre School at Open Stage are preparing to open the first in-person OSHKids production in two years.

The school started as a Meisner-based program in the late 1980s for adults in the Harrisburg area (around the same time a 6-year-old in Oklahoma was bellowing some lines in a cafetorium), and developed several classes for school-aged students by the early 2000s, one of which being the OSHKids Performance Company (“OSH” being Open Stage of Harrisburg). For almost 20 years, the program thrived with classes involving performance-based learning and creative dramatics, with lessons packed with gameplay, improvisation, movement, voice and character building. At the end of the eight-month-long class, the students performed a play.

Like everything else in the world, that halted in March of 2020.

Two years after the beginning of what the staff sardonically calls, “The Great Intermission,” the kids of The Alsedek Theatre School are preparing to open “Jack and the Giant,” a musical based on the English fairy tale more commonly named “Jack and the Beanstalk.”

The story is over 500 years old but goes something like this: there’s an optimistic (albeit naive) lad—always named “Jack”—who trades his last item of value, his cow, for a handful of beans. The beans, he is promised (by either a soothsayer, mysterious traveler, or even an actual con artist, depending on which version of the folktale you hear) are magic and will bring him great fame and fortune.

“Jack and the Giant” is a fast-paced, charming and colorful version of the story and throws in a singing troll, a dancing cow and something called “Wiggle Waggle.” Some of the students, who range in age from 6 to 13, will be performing in their very first play, while others are returning to the OSHKids program and are eager to get back on stage.

One of the returning students is Sawyer Bowie, who plays the titular Jack, the renowned slayer of giants. Sawyer began with the OSHKids program in 2019, and made his stage debut in the 20th anniversary production of “A Christmas Carol” the same year. Sawyer, who is 11 years old, is excited to bring Jack’s adventure to life. When asked what he loved most about his experiences on stage, he answered thoughtfully: “Expressing myself onstage and letting my personality shine through different characters.”

Sawyer’s mother, Heidi, appreciates the life lessons that the classes give him.

“It gives him a sense of community, especially coming out of COVID,” she said. “He loves it so much, and I feel like him having the ability to play different characters is helping him in life. Helping him to learn to adapt, helping him to learn to be the person that he wants to really be, because he’s able to put himself in someone else’s shoes. So, for me, that means everything. And it’s what lights him up.”

The return of the OSHKids Performance Company marks a huge moment emerging from “The Great Intermission,” and the theater is readying an entire year of youth programming, such as summer classes that include “Frozen KIDS” and Musical Theatre Workshop, as well as a return to OSHKids in the fall with a literary-focused class culminating in a production of “Charlotte’s Web.”

There’s a palpable excitement from the cast of this year’s Performance Company as they work on dance numbers, learn the music, talk about safety when doing fight choreography, and go through the myriad of details that bring a massively challenging show like “Jack and the Giant” together. It’s challenging, of course, but like any theater kid will tell you, they do it because it’s fun.

Sawyer says it best: “It’s good to be back.”

“Jack and the Giant” runs April 7 to 10 at Open Stage, 25 N. Court St., Harrisburg. For more information, and tickets, visit www.openstagehbg.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS AT HARRISBURG’S PROFESSIONAL DOWNTOWN THEATERS

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

TMI Improv
Friday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Doors and bar open 45 minutes prior to the performance.
Tickets are $10

“The Emperor’s New Clothes”
April 13 to 30
Saturdays at 1 p.m.
Group performances available on weekdays.
Tickets are $10.

Gamut’s Young Acting Company presents
“Panchatantra Tales”
By Sean Adams, based on the folks tales from ancient India
In partnership with Rasika School of Dance
April 8 to 10
Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 2:30 p.m.
Doors and bar open one hour prior to performance.
Tickets are “pick your price,” a recommended $38 ticket or discounted ticket prices of $26 or $14

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

12th Annual Capital 10-Miler
April 2

9:30 a.m. on City Island

The OSHKids present

April 7 to 9

“Jack and the Giant,” a musical

Black NewsBeat

With Dr. Kimeka Campbell

April 13 and 27 at 8:30 p.m.

The Obstructed View

April 16 at 8 p.m.

NYC Showtune Queen Paige Turner’s

What a Drag!

Saturday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m.

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Easter, Italian Style: Here’s how Rosemary prepares her roast lamb

March 31, 2022 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

For most Italians, Easter, perhaps more than Christmas, reflects an emotional connection to their family, cultural heritage and religious faith.

I have so many childhood memories of Easter and the days of Holy Week before it—going to church services several days in a row, shopping for candy at Harrisburg’s long- time candy store, Matango’s, and the scent of lilies and hyacinths permeating our house.

Easter food was special, too—my aunt’s chicken and asparagus soup, my cousin’s cannoli and homemade peanut butter eggs, and my mother’s wonderful roast lamb with mint jelly.

At Eastertime, the rites of spring join religious symbols at the holiday table. For Christians, lamb signifies the Good Friday sacrifice of Jesus. And for those of the Jewish faith, lamb is an important part of the Passover Seder meal. Eggs signify fertility, while peas and asparagus reflect the fruits of a new growing season.

I follow my mother’s custom of ordering a whole leg of lamb from a favorite butcher at the farmers market. Lamb purchased there is fresh and often local, which I find tastes so much better than the shrink-wrapped legs of lamb from New Zealand found in the average grocery store.

I favor a whole, bone-in leg of lamb. While a boneless cut allows for very easy carving, the bone seems to give the meat so much more flavor. Young lamb roasts weigh about 5 to 7 pounds for a whole leg. Allowing about a half-pound per person works, but I usually order a larger one than I need. I am a cook who is always worried that there won’t be enough food.

Roasting lamb is no harder than making a ham, and it’s fun to experiment with different rubs, herbs and spices. I like to cook mine slowly at a medium heat so that it’s fairly cooked all the way through (but not dry). It must be roasted with no more liquid than a splash of wine to coat the bottom of the roasting pan. Roasting, not braising, is the key. I don’t really follow a formal recipe, but this is how I make my Easter lamb.

Agnello Arrosto

Ingredients

A 5-7 pound bone-in leg of lamb
Extra virgin olive oil
Coarse sea salt and black pepper
Several cloves fresh garlic, cut into slivers
Fresh herbs of your choice, chopped finely (rosemary, thyme, oregano and parsley work well)

Directions

Remove the lamb roast from the refrigerator 30 to 60 minutes before putting in the oven.
Spray a roasting pan with non-stick cooking spray to make cleanup easier. Many recipes advise using a rack in the pan, but this is not necessary.
Using a small paring knife, make numerous cuts into the roast (about ½-inch deep). Insert a garlic sliver into each cut.
Brush (or rub with your hands) olive oil all over the roast.
Sprinkle sea salt and pepper all over the roast as well as the chopped herbs of your choice.
Place the roast into a pre-heated, 325-degree oven. Do not cover the roast.
Cooking times vary depending on which cooking source you are checking and the degree of “doneness” you prefer. I roast about 25 to 30 minutes per pound, and cook until an internal temperature of about 160 degrees is reached. I like lamb fairly well done. If the roast starts to “over-brown” toward the end of cooking, it is OK to place a sheet of aluminum loosely over the top. Sometimes, I will splash a little bit of white wine in the bottom of the roasting pan to loosen the drippings.
Before carving, let the roast rest (covered) for at least 15 minutes.
Carve the roast and place on a large, oval platter, drizzling some of the pan juices over the meat. I garnish the platter with lots of fresh mint and, although it’s likely not considered “gourmet,” serve the lamb with lots of mint jelly.

I serve my roast lamb with either roasted russet potatoes, quartered and tossed in olive oil, or scalloped potatoes. We often have lemon-butter asparagus and peas with scallions and chopped mint. And eggs—either pickled or deviled. If I have time, I might make a fruit and nut bread per Italian tradition. Dessert will be an almond cake or a fresh ricotta cheesecake. It is a beautiful meal.

For those at my table who might not like lamb, I serve a small, boneless ham with a brown sugar glaze. My grandbabies appreciate this, but I hope to convert them one day.

I wish all TheBurg readers a happy, peaceful and hopeful Easter. Buona Pasqua!

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Four Decades of Song: Susquehanna Chorale celebrates its 40th year in fine voice

March 31, 2022 | by Barbara Trainin Blank

Linda Tedford, center, and the Susquehanna Chorale

When Linda Tedford arrived in central Pennsylvania some four decades ago, she wanted to serve both her own needs and those of the area.

“I had a degree in choral conducting but no choir,” she said. “There weren’t any in the area, except the Harrisburg Choral Society.”

So, Tedford decided to start her own chorus. She became founder, artistic director and conductor of a new group called the Susquehanna Chorale. One of the original members was her husband.

When the chorus performed for the first time in the historic St. Peter’s Kierch in Middletown in September 1981, Tedford may have wondered if it would flourish over the years. She needn’t have worried.

The Susquehanna Chorale has indeed thrived and grown. It began with 11 singers, and, today, that number has risen to 37.

“At 37, we’re still a chamber choir,” Tedford said.

Through the years, the chorale has been privileged to sing “wonderful pieces of music, many of them commissioned,” she said. They’ve also received numerous accolades, including being the first volunteer choir to win the prestigious Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence.

For Tedford, a recurring source of satisfaction has been those who sang with the chorale as kids and later returned to perform as adults.

Indeed, there are so many graduates, as the Susquehanna Chorale includes separate children’s, youth and young women’s chorales, with an annual Youth Choral Festival. The chorale also has developed educational programs for children and young people.

In the past, the Susquehanna Chorale has performed frequently with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, which Tedford calls “more than gratifying.” She looks forward to the day when this collaboration will resume. The HSO is now performing at the Scottish Rite Cathedral rather than in its usual venue, the Forum, which is undergoing renovation. Unfortunately, Scottish Rite doesn’t have enough space to fit both groups.

To honor its 40th anniversary, the Susquehanna Chorale is releasing a “Celebrating 40” book, with history, memories and pictures. Also, in a few months, it will be among the featured performers at the American Choral Directors Association of Pennsylvania’s summer conference, which takes place at Messiah University.

“It’s an honor to be chosen,” Tedford said.

The past few years have been tough ones, as they have for many arts organizations.

In March 2020, group members left a rehearsal with the usual words, “See you next week.” With the onset of the pandemic, that didn’t happen. Instead, like the rest of us, members resorted to meeting on Zoom. They later resumed rehearsals in a church that seated 800, which allowed for plenty of social distancing.

The chorale soon regrouped to perform outdoors at Italian Lake, restarting indoor concerts only recently. Now, it is gearing up for two spring concerts, one in Hershey and the other at Messiah University.

The spring program will include songs that “have delighted listeners for four decades,” Tedford said.

“There will be a fine balance between sacred and secular music,” she said.

Selections will include chorale favorites, such as Schubert’s “Holy, Holy Holy,” the early American folk classic, “Down to the River to Pray,” and a special performance of “Shenandoah” with chorale alumni.

Still ahead, if conditions allow, are touring performances this summer in Poland and Austria. As of this writing, chorale members were unsure if these would actually happen, given the political situation in Eastern Europe.

“We’re hoping for a miracle,” Tedford said.

Right now, the world could use a few miracles—and a whole lot of song.

The Susquehanna Chorale will perform two spring concerts: Friday, May 13, at 8 p.m., at the Derry Presbyterian Church in Hershey, and Sunday, May 15, at 4 p.m., in the High Center-Parmer Hall, Messiah University.

For more information on the Susquehanna Chorale, call 717-533-7859, visit www.susquehannachorale.org and see past performances on YouTube. For tickets for all concerts, regardless of location, contact the Messiah University box office at 717-691-6036 or [email protected].

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