Runner’s High: Clare Flannery finishes strong in Boston, in life

December 29, 2021 | by Diane White McNaughton

Clare Flannery at the Boston Marathon

Through a dense mental fog, Clare Flannery remembers hearing the emergency room doctor say, “We’re losing her.”

Those words from her days as a student at Penn State are among the memories that inspire Flannery to win as a 65-year-old runner who just completed her fifth marathon—the iconic Boston Marathon—in October.

It’s a tough marathon to qualify for, with ever-escalating standards, so her participation among the 15,000 runners showed that she has hit her stride.

Flannery’s feat, set against the backdrop of Boston’s historic architecture, steep hills and cheering masses during the 26.2-mile journey’s 125th year, was even more amazing considering that she started running in her mid-50s, in what she called “almost a lark.”

That brush with death in college, the result of an allergic reaction that catapulted her into anaphylactic shock, taught her an important lesson early in life.

“I learned to appreciate every day,” said the Susquehanna Township resident.

Love at First Sight

Flannery admits that, in the 1970s, she was far from the picture of health.

Her diet consisted of mostly Tastykakes, Carnation Instant shakes and canned soup. As an aspiring actress and self-ordained “theater geek,” she had once left the athleticism to her sister, Terry, who is now one her biggest fans.

Fast-forward through the decades, when high cholesterol and a high-pressure broadcasting career prompted Flannery to re-examine her diet, lifestyle and core values. She had been a health reporter in Michigan, covering the running boom of the ‘80s, but now confesses that she could’ve used her own advice.

A chance invitation from a co-worker to run a 5K on Armed Forces Day in Harrisburg in 2012 came at the perfect time, placing her at the starting block to healthy living and self-awareness.

She heard the National Anthem before the race and saw all the runners. The camaraderie was contagious, and she caught the running bug.

“It was love at first sight,” she said.

In that first 5K on City Island, Flannery performed surprisingly well, considering she had not trained. Her sister Terry told her, “Just think of what you could do if you actually tried.”

Today, Flannery loves not only the physicality of running, but the entire experience.

As she powers around the Capitol Complex, along the picturesque riverfront, and through peaceful suburban neighborhoods, she drinks in the scenery, the people and the wildlife. Her Facebook page is populated with inspiring thoughts and photographs of the deer, dogs, ducks, groundhogs, birds, trees and other glories of nature she encounters along her treks. She is competitive, but not against other runners—only herself.

Her photogenic face and exuberance for running have attracted the eyes of numerous photographers and media. She was featured in Boston Marathon’s publicity, with her photo seen by friends as far away as Ireland and New Zealand. Her joyful finish at the Broad Street Run in the City of Brotherly Love was captured on the front page of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Now in what she calls her “encore years” after retiring from the state Senate in April, her bucket list includes a run in Ireland, where her large, tight-knit family has deep roots, and to share her love of running with young girls in the local Girls on the Run organization.

She has many lessons to share. The New York City Marathon was one of her first, and she learned from her missteps, she recalls, which included a wrong subway, a late ferry and eating only half a bagel before the race, but she was determined to finish.

Sporting a trademark Adidas royal blue and bright yellow finishing jacket from the Boston Marathon, she also wears a bracelet from her sister: “You do hard things.”

Now a dedicated vegan, her body-mass index, resting heart rate, blood pressure and cholesterol are those of a 20-year-old, and she lost 30 pounds through daily exercise and a plant-based diet.

Since her Boston Marathon run, many people have texted and asked how they can follow in her footsteps.

Believe You Can

Flannery warns newbies against the “terrible too’s”—too fast, too soon, too much. Increase your mileage only 10% a week to avoid injuries and overdoing it, she recommends.

She also advises: “Decide why you want to run, then believe that you can.”

“I couldn’t run a mile 10 years ago,” she said. “I had to stop and gasp for breath.”

For beginners, she advises running half-a-mile, walking half, then the next week, going a little farther. And make sure to invest in great shoes.

She also recommends a training plan, which can easily be found on the internet. In addition, it helps to find a cause you believe in, whether it’s rescue animals, breast cancer or another inspiration.

“It isn’t about competition,” Flannery tells her Girls on the Run group. “It’s about self-esteem, and it’s about your body and encouraging everybody to do their best.”

“For me, running is a celebration of life,” she wrote at the close of 2020 on Facebook, after logging close to 1,850 miles in a single year. “I feel the air on my skin, the breath going in and out of my lungs, my heart beating in my chest. It is when I am most aware I am alive and healthy.”

She described running as prayer, therapy, cheerleading, nature, community.

“The ‘runner’s high’ really does exist, both after a daily run and in the long term from crossing a finish line in a marathon,” she said. “When you accomplish hard things, you realize that you have more strength than you ever realized.”

“Running is meditation through movement.”

And she labels it a “metaphor for life.”

Like that ER doctor decades ago, “It saved my life.”

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

Clutter & Compassion: Professional organizer Carolina Harvey has become a star on “Hoarders,” though she’ll also help you clean out your closet

December 29, 2021 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Carolina Harvey

As sole proprietor of Cure The Clutter, Carolina Harvey feels compassion for clients who need her household organization expertise.

Harvey founded her home-based business nearly 13 years ago, offering a scope of residential organization services that range from tidying unkempt closets to clearing cluttered homes overtaken by hoarding.

“I’ve always wanted to do something to help people and to find a way to communicate with them,” said Harvey of Susquehanna Township.

In 2021, Harvey became the first Latina to host the long-running A&E television network series, “Hoarders.” She was selected for the program after answering a casting call the previous year for professional organizers to work as support personnel. Her premiere episode as a rotating “Hoarders” host aired in November 2021, with more filmed episodes slated to run in 2022.

“There is so much pain that comes along with hoarders,” she explained. “One thing they all have in common is that they have trauma. Maybe they believe that they don’t deserve a beautiful home or have a problem with decision making.”

When not hosting, Harvey works off-camera as a cleanup/organization expert on the set, part of a rotating crew of 10 to 20 workers per episode, including an onsite psychologist.

“The one thing to remember is the mental health aspect behind hoarding,” she said. “Not every story is a success story, but our goal is success.”

There for Us

Harvey is no stranger to life’s hardships.

She and her brother, Bonafide, grew up in New York City in an impoverished household headed by their single mother, Martha, a first-generation Colombian American. Her father floated “in and out” of her life, she said.

“Our family struggled,” she said. “We fought for everything we had, but my mother was an absolute rock star. She’s always been there for us no matter what.”

Harvey’s fortunes turned in 1982, when she began attending Milton Hershey School in the second grade. She remained there until graduating from high school in 1993.

“I learned so many things at Milton Hershey,” she said. “I learned what a great family looked like. It gave me a number of parental figures and lots of brothers and sisters there. I’m still close to my house parents. They’re like grandparents to my kids.”

Today, Harvey and husband Lukeman are busy raising their own family, sons Jackson, 17, Gabriel, 14, and Elias, 11. Harvey currently serves as president of Central Dauphin East Junior Lacrosse League, for which her sons play.

If that weren’t enough, Harvey also finds time to coach her sons’ robotic teams at Covenant Christian Academy in Lower Paxton Township. Currently, she’s head coach for the high school team, Technological Intelligence, and assistant coach for a fifth-grade ensemble, Falcon Logic 10.

“I had coached middle school (robotics at Covenant) but moved up with the kids to the high school team,” she said. “In total, I’ve been coaching for seven years.”

Carolina and Lukeman also serve as a spokes-family for Donate Life Pennsylvania, a collaborative initiative between Gift of Life donor program, the Center for Organ Recovery and Education and the state’s departments of Health and Transportation.

In 2017, Lukeman received a life-saving kidney transplant from a Connecticut donor after undergoing dialysis for three years. Three years earlier, he was diagnosed with kidney and heart failure and was told he needed a new kidney to survive.

Although Harvey wasn’t a transplant match for her husband, she, in turn, donated a kidney to a North Carolina woman. These procedures took place eight days apart as Harvey’s mother stayed on to help around the house.

Before his transplant, Lukeman waited “in a fog” and couldn’t play with their boys.

“He woke up (after the procedure) and said, ‘I can see!’” Harvey said. “As soon as he got home from the hospital, our middle son said, ‘Can we wrestle now?’”

Keeping It Tidy

Not all of Harvey’s business revolves around hoarding and hoarders. Many Cure the Clutter clients are just ordinary people looking to reduce their belongings and streamline their lives.

Joanne Traub, for instance, hired Harvey to help her discard items and organize cluttered areas around the family’s suburban Harrisburg home. Since then, they continue to maintain a tidy household using her strategies

“(Carolina) said she never judges anyone,” Traub said. “She asks the personal questions. She wanted to know why I was keeping things, the psychological reasons. Why was I holding on to these things? It’s past, she told me. She tried to make me realize that I could use the space for something else.”

Megan and Steve Miller of East Pennsboro Township employed Cure the Clutter’s expertise in early 2021 for reorganizing the couple’s home office. Steve used the space for tasks related to his physical therapy practice, while Megan tended to the household’s finances there. After four sessions with Harvey, the Millers reclaimed order in their office and have kept it that way, according to Megan.

“It took a lot of time and mental effort,” she said. “Together, we went through everything that was in there, which was a lot. The greatest gift was the system Carolina put in place for us to keep the room organized.”

In her profession, Harvey draws on her personal, often difficult, life experiences. She credits compassion for a large part of her success, which has resulted in both a flourishing local business and a presence on a popular reality TV show.

“This is my gift, for someone to let me into their home to help,” she said. “I will not judge them.”

For more information, contact Cure the Clutter at 717-229-6890 or www.curetheclutter.net.

Donate Life Pennsylvania is a collaborative initiative between Gift of Life Donor Program (GOL), the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE), and the Pennsylvania Departments of Health and Transportation.

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

January News Digest

December 29, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

City Budget OK’d, May be Re-opened

Harrisburg City Council ended its 2021 session last month with a lengthy agenda, including the approval of a budget and substantial development projects.

Council took a step in the city’s budgeting process, passing a 2022 budget that will serve as a placeholder until Mayor-Elect Wanda Williams takes office and likely reopens the spending plan.

The $79.2 million general fund budget, which includes no property tax increase, essentially mirrors the 2021 budget.

The administration proposed the placeholder budget in anticipation of Williams reopening it in the new year. The final budget must be adopted by Feb. 15.

Additionally, council gave the go-ahead to two large development projects in Harrisburg.

Developers Chris and Erica Bryce, along with Matt Long of Harrisburg Commercial Interiors, can begin work on their mixed-use building on the 1600-block of N. 3rd and Logan streets. It includes a community center and 12 apartment units. They also plan to construct eight townhouses nearby. The project is one phase of many planned by the developers for the Midtown area.

A plan for the historic Hudson building on N. 6th Street in Camp Curtin was also brought before council. Developer Adam Maust plans to transform the long-empty building into The Atlas, which may include office and retail space for local, specifically Black-owned businesses, he said.

However, city Solicitor Neil Grover stated that the project technically already had received automatic approval. A vote by council on each land development plan is required within 120 days of an application being submitted. According to Grover, a series of delays on the city’s part led to the project not going to council for a vote until after that deadline, rendering it legally approved.

Many council members were not happy with that result.

“How did we let something with so much public comment slip through the cracks?” council member Ausha Green asked. “It’s completely ridiculous.”

Although the project was deemed approved, council still voted on it, passing the land development plan by a vote of 6-1, with council member Shamaine Daniels voting against it.

Dauphin County Passes Budget

Dauphin County will hold the line on property taxes again this year, as the commissioners last month finalized the 2022 budget.

In a unanimous vote, the three commissioners passed a $278.5 million budget, which is 2.5% less than the 2021 budget.

The county portion of the property tax will remain unchanged for a 17th consecutive year at 6.876 mills.

“This was truly a team effort,” commission Chair Mike Pries said, in a statement. “Our residents demand accountability. We go over line by line and make tough cuts where we have to.”

Despite the good news for county taxpayers, the commissioners warned of “looming challenges” ahead.

Commissioner George Hartwick said that human services departments are struggling to recruit and retain staff because salaries are not competitive.

Commissioner Chad Saylor mentioned unfunded mandates. As an example, he cited changes to the commonwealth’s voting processes that caused the county’s budget for its Voter Registration and Elections Office this year to double.

“We cannot continue to hold the line without some funding from the state,” Saylor said.

Water/Sewer Rates Rise

The average Harrisburg water and sewer customer will pay a few dollars more a month in 2022, as Capital Region Water approved new rates for the year.

In late November, CRW passed its 2022 budget, which includes a 3% increase for drinking water and a 4% hike for wastewater service.

Under the new rate structure, drinking water rates will rise from $10.04 to $10.34 per 1,000 gallons. Wastewater rates will increase from $8.23 to $8.56 per 1,000 gallons.

According to CRW, the average Harrisburg customer who consumes 45,000 gallons of water annually will pay about $2.60 more per month.

The stormwater fee, first imposed in 2020, will remain the same at $6.15 per month for most residential customers.

CRW also stated that it is targeting two sources of new federal funding to help pay for improvements to the city’s aged, combined sewer infrastructure.

First, it expects to pursue some of the $1.4 billion that Pennsylvania will receive for water projects under the recently passed federal infrastructure bill. It also hopes to receive some of Harrisburg’s $48 million allocation under the American Rescue Plan Act, approved by Congress in March.

“With water and sewer infrastructure projects as an eligible use of funds, investments to reduce pollution just make environmental and financial sense,” said CRW board Chair Marc Kurowski, in a statement.

CRW is under a preliminary agreement with the federal government to slash pollutants that flow into area waterways, including some 800 million gallons of raw sewage mixed with stormwater that enters the Susquehanna River each year. To do so, it plans to spend about $315 million for system improvements and for green infrastructure, which captures stormwater before it enters the sewer system.

Comprehensive Plan Passed

An outdated Harrisburg planning document has finally been updated and replaced following a seven-year-long process.

In late November, Harrisburg City Council approved a new comprehensive plan, capping years of effort to bring the plan into the 21st century.

The resolution passed 6-1, with council member Danielle Bowers voting against it.

“I appreciate all the work of everyone on this council, and I’m glad we are at least able to get something on the books so that we can start moving forward,” council member Westburn Majors said.

The previous comprehensive plan was created in 1974, serving more than double its intended lifespan of 20 years.

In 2014, Harrisburg began to discuss creating a new plan, but was faced with years of delay. A dispute between the city and a former consultant hired to draft the plan prolonged the process, as did extensions to the public comment period.

The 246-page document is meant to help guide growth and development in the city. It includes topics such as land use, housing, mobility, parks, energy and cultural resources.

Over the years, the city held numerous public hearings and meetings on the plan, generating comments from community members.

Bowers explained her vote against the plan, saying that it was not accessible enough and lacked sufficient up-to-date public commentary.

“I don’t understand how a document is supposed to accurately reflect a city today when a majority of the public engagement is already dated and occurred five or six years ago,” she said. “I do not believe this document works for the city of Harrisburg.”

Other council members agreed that the plan could use improvements, but stated that it is a “living document” and could be updated on a regular basis in the years to come.

“This isn’t the best, but it is way better than a 40-plus-year-old document,” Majors said.

School Board Members Sworn In

The Harrisburg School District has a few new faces in office.

At a virtual reorganization meeting last month, the district swore in six board members, four of whom took their seats for the first time.

Dauphin County Magisterial Judge Sonya McKnight led the swearing-in of the following board members, who were elected last month:

Brian Carter, 4-year term (re-elected)
Danielle Robinson, 4-year term (re-elected)
Roslyn Copeland, 4-year term
Jaime Johnsen, 4-year term
Terricia Radcliff, 2-year term
Ellis R. Roy, 2-year term

“This is an incredible time to work together to really support the students, families and staff members of the Harrisburg School District,” Receiver Janet Samuels said. “I’d like to encourage the board members to step out there and to make a difference.”

Board members voted for Brian Carter for president of the board and Steven Williams for vice president.

2 New Shops for Strawberry Square

Two new shops arrived last month in downtown Harrisburg, as Strawberry Square filled up its 3rd Street retail spaces.

The first, AMMA JO, features boutique handbags, accessories, clothing, jewelry and other items for women, as well as a men’s section. For several years, AMMA JO was located in retail space inside Strawberry Square, but that location has been closed for some time.

“We are returning to the downtown because we just loved our experience in Strawberry Square, and we feel that the energy is coming back to the downtown experience,” said owner Amma Johnson. “We want to be a part of that!”

Johnson is neighbors with Sarinity Beauty Bar, which opened next door at 5 N. 3rd St. Sarinity offers skincare, spa service and beauty treatments.

“I am ecstatic to provide affordable spa services to the downtown and surrounding areas,” said owner Arian Romaine.

With these new shops, Strawberry Square has leased all the retail spaces in its “Shops on 3rd at Strawberry Square,” said Brad Jones, president and CEO of Harristown Enterprises, which owns the mixed-used building.

“Shops on 3rd has really become a fantastic collection of unique fashion boutiques, restaurants and health and beauty services for this outstanding downtown corridor,” Jones said.

Home Sales Flat, Prices Up

Harrisburg area home sales were generally flat in November, though prices showed continued strength over the three-county region.

For the month, 724 previously owned houses sold, just eight fewer than in November 2020, while the median sales price shot up to $231,000 compared to $215,000 in the year-ago period, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, both sales and prices were up, as 371 homes sold versus 353 last year, while the median price rose to $208,500 compared to $185,750 the prior November, GHAR said.

Cumberland County had sales of 299 housing units, a decrease from 327, but the median price increased year-over-year to $245,000 from $238,000, according to GHAR.

In Perry County, sales totaled 46 homes, an increase of 10, while the median price rose to $204,950 versus $165,000 the previous November, GHAR said.

Houses were also selling relatively quickly, as the “days on the market” dropped to 20 days compared to 26 days in November 2020, according to GHAR.

So Noted

HACC will provide scholarships for some Black students seeking public safety careers, the college announced last month. Through a $112,500 grant from PNC, HACC will offer full-ride scholarships for low- to moderate-income Black students to attend their police academy or EMT program.

Harrisburg last month received two substantial state grants. A $500,000 “Violence Intervention and Prevention” grant will help expand the city Police Bureau’s community service aide program. A separate, $150,000 grant through the state’s Greenways, Trails and Recreation Fund will go towards creating a “tot lot playground” in Reservoir Park.

Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board has several new members, approved last month by City Council. They are Matthew Pianka, Claude Phipps and Anna Bianco, with James Hobbs approved as an alternate.

Janice Mazzitti was sworn in last month as the newest member of Dauphin County Court Appointed Special Advocates. She joins a volunteer team that represents the interests of abused and neglected foster children in the court system.

Paxton Ministries last month announced David Zilka as its new executive director. He replaces Jodie Smiley in the post. Zilka had served as the nonprofit’s director of operations since July 2019.

Team Pennsylvania last month named Abby Smith as its new president and CEO. She previously served as the organization’s vice president of policy and programs. She succeeds Ryan Unger, who left the post in June to become CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2234: J. Seidler to H. Lamb, $87,000

Adrian St., 2423: C. Warble to S. & A. Aziz, $94,900

Argyle St., 56: Wise Choice Property LLC to D. Boyle, $70,000

Berryhill St., 1421: J. Vogelsong to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Berryhill St., 1425: J. Vogelsong to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Berryhill St., 2122: G. Sipe to T. McFarland, $105,000

Berryhill St., 2324: J. Morrow to L. Ventura, $110,000

Berryhill St., 2430: A. Mohassab to L. Lora, $95,000

Boas St., 126: B. Love to PDI Properties LLC, $162,500

Boas St., 259: A. Batz to A. Nebbou, $97,500

Boas St., 1840: L. & M. Hinton to S. Maurer, $50,000

Briarcliff Rd., 135: A. & J. Gant to S. Vazquez & X. Echevarria, $289,900

Brookwood St., 2316: L. & W. Latty Trust to S. Good, $91,000

Chestnut St., 1203: J. Vogelsong to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Chestnut St., 1848: Randazzo Group LLC to M. & N. Jacobs, $30,000

Conoy St., 106: J. & J. Lipman to M. & K. Neale, $175,000

Crescent St., 332: K. Stoute to Z. Alizada, $70,000

Crescent St., 332½: K. Stoute to Z. Artem, $70,500

Cumberland St., 211: B. Sholtis to L. Caruso, $165,000

Curtin St., 512: Vogelsong Investment Properties LLC to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Derry St., 1148: K. Dieppa & F. Sanchez to D. Nguyen, $30,000

Derry St., 1153: J. Vogelsong to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Derry St., 1203: J. Vogelsong to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Derry St., 2018: M. Farner to Biyaki Enterprises LLC, $85,000

Evergreen St., 103: J. Vogelsong to WiseChoice USA LLC, $45,500

Evergreen St., 109: Vogelsong Investment Properties LLC to D. Boyle, $33,500

Evergreen St., 237: MLP LLC to D. Boyle, $145,000

Fulton St., 1629: A. Drake to G. & L. Chow, $162,100

Fulton St., 1704: W. Ferguson to E. Hummel & B. Higgins, $163,000

Girard St., 759: J. Alexopoulos to P. Diaz, $81,000

Green St., 1005: D. Steiner to SPG Capital LLC, $110,000

Green St., 1322: R. Buyers to W. & M. Hammerstein, $176,000

Green St., 1938 & 1940: D. Varno to C. & J. Copus, $265,000

Green St., 2438: I. Almabruk to H. Gebhardt, $178,400

Green St., 3212: E. Griffin to J. & S. Compton, $100,000

Hamilton St., 424: SRJ Realty LLC to Morbucks Enterprise LLC, $50,000

Hamilton St., 501: E. Mwangi to S. Lawing, $197,500

Harris St., 216: D. Zimmerman to K. Sharma & R. Agarwal, $221,000

Harris St., 346: M. Baltozer to J. Cruz, $50,000

Harris St., 431: T. & B. Rossner to R. Durant Jr., $210,000

Harris Terr., 2443: M. Hayes to J. Spearman, $105,000

Herr St., 407: J. Burns to Twelfth Root LLC, $90,000

Jefferson St., 2450: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to D. Bedrosian, $139,995

Jefferson St., 2657: W. Bower c/o G. Neff to I. Djeordjic, $56,000

Kensington St., 1952: Tout USA LLC to M. Montes, $80,000

Kensington St., 2001: North American Property Investments Inc. to D. Boyle, $32,000

Kensington St., 2217: John W. Hoover Trust to Wylie & Wylie Enterprise LLC, $60,000

Kensington St., 2243: L. Vo to T. Ha, $79,000

Kensington St., 2411: M. Raup to Z. Nickens, $74,000

Kittatinny St., 1247: M. Maniari to S. Griffin, $140,000

Lewis St., 326: B. Mehring to A. Sackor, $188,900

Luce St., 2357: E. & S. Mitrovich to DTJ Associates LLC, $39,000

Luce St., 2365: M. Phan to L. Duong, $45,000

Maclay St., 235: Everence Foundation Unique Assets LLC to F. Contreras, $124,000

Moore St., 2138: A. Ali to S. Gomez & W. Monroig, $114,000

Naudain St., 1510: Jawfre Property Investments LLC to J. Camacho, $53,000

North St., 1831: P. & V. Green to D. Boyle, $35,000

North St., 1843: John W. Hoover Trust to J. Strouse, $35,000

North St., 1936: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC & Y. Smith to J. Johns, $114,900

N. 2nd St., 621: J. Golob to Downtown Harrisburg Properties LLC, $167,000

N. 2nd St., 929: R. Barbush, S. Bishop, M. Magaro & L. Vanswol to AON LLC, $341,250

N. 2nd St., 1925: Reddinger Estates LLC to T. Cullen, $170,000

N. 2nd St., 2215: T. & J. Whye to C. & R. Hall, $300,000

N. 2nd St., 2517: J. Swope to C. & S. Warfield, $234,900

N. 2nd St., 3127: Tillotson Properties LLC to R. Gillis & K. Baran, $217,500

N. 3rd St., 1722: A. Glickman to N. Owens, $169,900

N. 3rd St., 2000: G. Neff to Heinly Homes LLC, $150,000

N. 3rd St., 2225: D. & C. Howard to G. Fierro, $175,000

N. 3rd St., 2229: S. & J. Bowman to A. & N. Consoli, $149,900

N. 3rd St., 3309: D. Daub to C. Hostetter, $175,000

N. 4th St., 1320: D. Isern to Z. Paul, $113,000

N. 4th St., 1701: S. Biray to K. Randolph, $195,000

N. 4th St., 2332: A. Hartzler to D. Mann, $135,000

N. 4th St., 2400 & 2402: E&K Homes LLC to RJ IBA LLC, $135,000

N. 4th St., 2419: S. Diaz to S. Boyd, $125,000

N. 4th St., 2641: J. Santiago to S. Salleb & M. Aziz, $90,000

N. 5th St., 1719: Alkaline Properties LLC to K. Taylor, $149,900

N. 5th St., 1736: A. & K. Abraham to E. Moore, $182,500

N. 5th St., 2307: SAN PEF Inc. to C. & A. McCarthy, $170,000

N. 5th St., 2312: B. Conway to J. Rogers, $111,000

N. 4th St., 1321: T. Slothower to Historic Holdings LLC, $385,000

N. 6th St., 2557: C. Yunga to N. & M. Gauchun, $60,000

N. 6th St., 3010: D., D. & G. Deppen to H. Ritch, $130,000

N. 6th St., 3123: Rustik Touch LLC to Seven Stories LLC, $100,000

N. 13th St., 141: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to D. Bedrosian, $199,995

N. 15th St., 1413: D., V. and J. Barber to Elgamwo LLC, $56,900

N. 17th St., 1011: H. Ibrahim to J. Mosley, $55,000

N. 18th St., 26: John W. Hoover Trust to J. Strouse, $55,000

N. 18th St., 38: J. Vogelsong to D. Boyle, $40,000

N. 18th St., 69: Wise Choice Property LLC to D. Boyle, $70,000

N. 19th St., 709: WiseChoice USA LLC to Saint Liberty Group LLC, $41,000

N. 20th St., 24: John W. Hoover Trust to J. Strouse, $40,000

N. Front St., 1829: Lone Tree LLC to Harrisburg Redevelopment Group LLC, $1,200,000

N. Front St., 2837, Unit 201: H. Witte to M. Freeman, $130,500

N. Summit St., 31: T. Griese to J. Scheib, $79,900

N. Summit St., 118: J. & T. Armstead to Archie Group LLC, $35,809

Park St., 1825: M. Randazzo to A&K Investment Partnership LLC, $34,000

Park St., 1855: C. McArthur to V. Paulino, $41,000

Parkside Lane, 2910: W. & B. Hoover to J. & T. Nixon, $500,000

Penn St., 1927: A. Griffith to B. Toel, $175,000

Penn St., 2114: J. Vogelsong to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Penn St., 2229: S. & J. Easterling to V. Antos & T. Hudecek, $152,000

Penn St., 2240: D. Allen to J. McFarland, $137,000

Penn St., 2323: K. Douglas to Ramsey Rhoads Holdings LLC, $54,000

Regina St., 1721: Vogelsong Investment Properties LLC to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Reel St., 2404: Great Row LLC to S&K Properties LLC, $47,900

Reel St., 2412: J. Vogelsong to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Reel St., 2739: JOG Investments LLC to D. Boyle, $40,000

Regina St., 1849: J. Vogelsong to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Reily St., 220: Dobson Family Partnership to SJL Rentals LLC, $155,000

Rumson Dr., 311: M. Chandler Jr. to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $83,000

Rumson Dr., 2574: R. Reeves to E. Drum, $89,200

Schuylkill St., 542: Roz Diamond I Do LLC to O. Smith, $115,000

Schuylkill St., 655: RT Propertiez LLC to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $50,000

Seneca St., 502: House Cash LLC to SPG Capital LLC, $40,000

Showers St., 579: S. Staruch to C. & L. Scott, $134,900

S. 12th St., 1522: L. Sims to SPG Capital LLC, $48,500

S. 14th St., 234: J. Gritten to C. Quiroz, $40,000

S. 14th St., 236: J. Gritten to T. Versano & T. Carberry, $63,900

S. 17th St., 526: H., A. & I. Santiago to A. Santiago, $69,006

S. 17th St., 1111: V. Ceballos to M. Guzman, $137,000

S. 19th St., 405: M. Solomikin to L. Feliz, $75,000

S. 19th St., 1324: SPG Capital LLC to H. Perez & K. Soto, $54,000

S. 20th St., 24: C. & S. Warner to Rich Steele Realty LLC, $51,000

S. 25th St., 344: P. Brodwoski to L. Strickler, $86,900

S. 29th St., 560: CBSL Investment Corp. to CBR Investment Group Inc., $250,000

S. Cameron St., 1303 & 1305: E. Buikema to Panas Investments LLC, $70,000

Susquehanna St., 2008: M. Paese, A. Fetchko, T. Leo & B. Myers to PACC Homes & Development LLC, $65,000

Swatara St., 1610: Revive Our City LLC & E. Qureshi to T. Amador, $120,000

Swatara St., 2415: P. Mackie & M. Swanger to A. Lake, $195,000

Thompson St., 1436: K. & M. Estep to F. Maldonado & Z. Perez, $39,000

Valley Rd., 2305: J. Alpert to D. White & T. Speicher, $256,250

Verbeke St., 252: A. & T. Kennedy to H. Clark, $205,000

Verbeke St., 1424: E. Lester to SPG Capital LLC, $54,000

Vernon St., 1445: C. Texidor to Z. Ali, $40,000

Waldo St., 2626: W. Bower to I. Djeordjic & M. Debeljak, $52,000

Walnut St., 120 & 122 and 261, 263 & 265 Cumberland St.: A. Himalaya PA II LLC to N&R Properties LLC, $1,200,000

Wiconisco St., 618: J. & P. Vogelsong to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Zarker St., 1443: GBSM Enterprises LLC to 2020 Real Estate Ventures LLC, $30,000

Zarker St., 1841: J. Santiago to R. Emeregildo, $55,000

Zarker St., 1940: D. McNair to L. Rodriguez, $35,500

Harrisburg property sales for November 2021, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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

January Editor’s Note

December 29, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

Each January, the calendar flips, and we gaze ahead to the next 12 months.

For me, it’s a cause for optimism.

I kick aside the past year, filled with so much old clutter, and re-discover the hope of the great, unknown future.

That’s a big part of the joy of the new year—imagining what lies ahead.

Having said that, there are a few things we already know about what to expect for 2022.

First of all, Harrisburg will have a new mayor and administration, the first in eight years. So, there will be a lot of new faces and ways of doing things around city hall, including some fresh priorities.

Secondly, we’ll still be wrestling with the pandemic, as the coronavirus curse enters year number three. I’m cautiously optimistic that this situation will improve as we plod through the year—though I may have said that last year, as well.

My third expectation is my most strongly held.

I’m confident that TheBurg will be here, robustly serving the greater Harrisburg community, throughout 2022, as we enter our 14th year of publication.

Two years ago, if someone had told me that the pandemic would last this long, I would have packed up my desk and handed in my keys. But not only are we still publishing, we’re stronger than ever.

We have the greater Harrisburg community to thank for this. The long thank-you list includes our advertisers, community publishers, sponsors, supporters and, of course, our incredible Friends of TheBurg. We appreciate you all so much!

We at TheBurg wish all of our readers and supporters a healthy and happy 2022. We’re delighted to offer you our news, magazine, events, podcast—and everything else we do—for another year. Here’s hoping that 2022 will be a great year for you, for your family and for Harrisburg.

Lawrance Binda
Co-Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

Click here to read the digital edition of our January issue.

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

Dancing with the Locals: Swing, salsa your way to better health, happiness at Arthur Murray

December 29, 2021 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Lynn Reigle always dreamed of dancing, soaking up every step from her perch on the couch in front of the television at her parent’s house.

“We all loved to watch movies like ‘Dirty Dancing’ when we were younger, but my family didn’t have the income, so I didn’t pursue it back then,” said the Perry County resident.

As time passed, the dream lingered. So, when she came across an ad for a teacher at a dance studio in Lemoyne, it was like a dream come true.

“I was 19 at the time, and the ad was for Arthur Murray Dance Studios,” she said. “What was great was the fact that no prior experience was necessary.”

Reigle worked as an instructor there for five years, then as a manager before signing on as a partner at the Lemoyne location. She appreciated the opportunity to grow within the company and learn all aspects of the business before becoming the sole owner of the Lemoyne location and then assuming ownership of Arthur Murray studios in York and Lancaster.

“What’s great about Arthur Murray is that you have to go through the ranks before you can buy,” she said.

Reigle recently took another leap and expanded her Lemoyne location, moving into a high-visibility area on Market Street. She explained that she looked for a year-and-a-half before finding the perfect studio next to the Lemoyne Post Office.

“I had worked here all these years and knew that Lemoyne was central to so many students,” she said. “We now have about 100 active students at our Lemoyne location, so it’s been a good choice so far.”

Social Outlet

Those who remember all the Arthur Murray ads from the 1970s may consider the name a bit old-fashioned, but Reigle said that dancing among all ages is as popular as ever.

“It continues to change with the times,” she said. “The popularity of ‘Saturday Night Fever’ inspired people back then. Then in the ‘80s, it was line dancing. Now it’s people drawing inspiration from ‘Dancing with the Stars.’”

According to Reigle, the five most popular dances now are the foxtrot, waltz, rumba, cha-cha and swing. In addition, Latin music has witnessed a big resurgence with people wanting to learn to salsa and merengue, she said.

Students often sign up to learn to dance for weddings, on cruises and on vacation, she said. Reigle also sees quite a few empty-nesters who want to reconnect with each other.

“Going to a movie on date night is such a passive activity,” she said. “Dancing, on the other hand, is therapeutic, healthy and, most of all, fun.”

There’s also the social aspect of meeting up with others to dance.

“We have a student who took lessons with us for 30 years and, he said, ‘Sure, you’re teaching me to dance, but what keeps me coming here is the welcoming feeling and the students getting to know one another,’” she said. “It’s a social outlet for those who aren’t fond of going to bars or clubs.”

My Passion Now

Like many businesses, Reigle’s dance studios took a hit during the height of the pandemic and were closed for several months. She also lost a few instructors, but the core team returned, she said.

“We felt blessed compared to most studios because we have a great student base, and we stayed connected,” she said. “Some of our students are still taking virtual lessons, and that was a pivot for us.”

To facilitate this new way of learning, instructors made videos so that students could practice at home. In the warmer weather, they also taught lessons outside in the parking lot.

Kelson Cowart is one of Reigle’s instructors and said that he was in the same boat as Reigle—wanting to take lessons as a child, but unable to do so because of the cost. What inspired him to learn to dance was when he was ditched by a prom date, which he suspected was due to his lack of dancing skills.

“I felt this would help me learn, which it did, and now I love to share that with people,” he said. “When I see their excitement when they finally get it, it makes me happy. I enjoy helping others feel that sense of accomplishment.”

Oksana Kerod is a four-year student at Arthur Murray.

“I was a music professor in the Ukraine and was looking for something and found the studio,” said Kerod. “It’s my passion now, well, besides my family.”

With a chuckle, she said that dancing keeps her young at age 67.

“I see all kinds of people—tall, skinny, short, fat, old, young, professional, amateur,” she said. “Every time I leave my dance class, I feel kinder, better, lighter, all these beautiful things.”

This kind of testimonial warms Reigle’s heart.

“It’s a wonderful feeling when you can go to work and see people smiling and feeling good about themselves,” she said.

Arthur Murray Dance Studio of Lemoyne is located at 331 Market St., Lemoyne. For more information, visit www.arthurmurray.com/locations/lemoyne-studio or their Facebook page.

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

Help & Hope: Bridge of Hope assists single mothers facing homelessness

December 29, 2021 | by Susan Ryder

Facing imminent eviction with her children, Melissa Brandt felt alone, overwhelmed and hopelessly stuck.

One day before her eviction hearing, she turned to Bridge of Hope, Harrisburg Area, an organization she actually had volunteered with years earlier.

“I didn’t think that I qualified for their program,” Brandt said. “I didn’t realize, also, that they helped prevent homelessness.”

Bridge of Hope negotiated with her landlord to prevent the eviction.

Jenny Nace, the local group’s communication and development coordinator, explained the tough choices faced by many single mothers.

“When a single mother comes to us, she’s more often than not having to make hard decisions that are out of her control,” Nace said.

For instance, she may be able to pay her rent, but also making the car payment is not possible on her income, Nace said. If she makes the car payment, she may not be able to pay her rent or childcare.

“She’s always having to decide which crucial life need is most important,” Nace said. “But when they are all necessary, the decisions are impossible to make.”

Bridge of Hope, with 25 offices in 13 states, works with Christian organizations to assist single mothers who are unhoused or facing homelessness, using social capital and “neighboring.”

Social capital is the resources and networks that many often take for granted because they’ve always had them. Neighboring offers those resources to others, providing them with someone to call, someone to ask. Neighboring groups consist of six to 10 members willing to share resources, knowledge and time.

In Brandt’s case, members of her neighboring group helped her update her résumé and dropped off meals. For Astrid Troche, group members provided transportation, language help and driving lessons.

Troche spoke little English when she arrived in Lebanon from Puerto Rico. Then she and her husband separated. She tried to keep the family housed, but they were eventually evicted. A cousin in Harrisburg took her in, but, after a family conflict on a cold December night, Troche and her two sons, ages 2 and 8, found themselves out on the street.

“We didn’t have anywhere to go,” Troche said. “So, we found an abandoned house, and we went inside with no electric or gas or anything.”

A friend took in the younger boy, but the older, with a disability, stayed in the house with Troche—for a month.

A pastor at her Spanish-speaking church directed Troche to Bridge of Hope. After learning about the program, Troche expected help with food and housing, but she was most surprised by the love and acceptance.

“I go to see my volunteer, and I feel like family,” she said.

Clouds Part

Nonjudgmental support is pivotal for mothers who may feel ashamed of where they find themselves and their children. Over a bagel at Panera, Brandt talked about the depth of her despair before Bridge of Hope.

“Because of the shame and the fear and my issues with addiction, I had really isolated myself from other family members and really having any close connections with people in my life,” she said.

Compounding her situation was the loss of her nursing license due to substance abuse and fearfulness that prevented her from participating in a program that offered an opportunity to get it back. Bridge of Hope helped her think through her difficult situation and dig herself out of this hole.

The program also gives participants case management to work through practical issues like finances. Brandt credited this help with allowing for long-term self-sustainability.

“If I could just get through this addiction, I felt like that was the only thing holding me back,” she said. “But when you really look at things like the self-confidence and budgeting skills I had forgotten—I was making a lot of money beforehand, and I was wasting it a lot of the time.”

Bridge of Hope cultivates this accepting environment through what it calls cultural humility.

“In serving with cultural humility, we invite single mothers from all walks of life who bring different perspectives and voices to our program,” Nace said. “We invite them into a neighborhood of support that is humbly serving one another, encouraging them to feel comfortable so they are empowered to fully embrace their uniqueness and come to the table just as they are.”

Many participants have likely heaped enough condemnation on themselves already.

“I felt like I couldn’t do anything for my kids,” said Troche, wiping away tears.

In her harried desire “to do something,” she nearly quit the program, but decided to follow the guidance of the group and work on getting her driver’s license and improving her language skills. Sometimes, progress through the program is slow, but it’s tailored to each family’s needs.

The clouds have now parted for Brandt and Troche. Brandt had her nursing license reinstated after participating in a rehabilitation program for medical professionals experiencing substance abuse. Troche works as a home health aide, obtained an apartment, learned English and provides for her children in a way not possible before.

Brandt’s voice cracked as she recalled a time when she was despondent and frozen with fear for the future. She wants others to know that there is hope.

“I would say that there is help, that you have to be willing to accept it,” she said. “These people are not there to judge what your situation is. They’re there to help you find solutions and to get through it.”

For more information on Bridge of Hope Harrisburg Area, visit www.harrisburg.bridgeofhopeinc.org.

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

Miles & Smiles: Runners get fit, find purpose through Athletes Serving Athletes

December 29, 2021 | by Susan Ryder

All photos, Athletes Serving Athletes at the 2021 Harrisburg Half Marathon.

In 2014 at a Baltimore 10K race, runner Teresa Meskey witnessed “two dudes in kilts” pushing a child in a wheelchair. They wore T-shirts emblazoned with “Wingman” along the back.

Curious, she investigated and discovered Athletes Serving Athletes (ASA), an organization dedicated to giving people with limited mobility the joy of running.

“We’re hoping that we can give them the same race experiences and the joy of being part of a race,” said Meskey, now the community coordinator for ASA in Dauphin County. “Crossing the finish line is something that should be able to be experienced by everyone—regardless of physical abilities or limitations.”

In 2007, ASA grew out of admiration for Rick and Dick Hoyt, the father-son racing team. Dick Hoyt raced with his son, unable to ambulate himself due to spastic quadriplegia and cerebral palsy.

Today, the organization serves 10 communities in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

ASA allows athletes “to meet people outside their social circle, to be outdoors, and to see the trees go by,” said founder and executive director David Slomkowski.

No Limits

The running experience includes practice, as well as races.

On a December night, in the chilly darkness of City Island, four runners stretched and jumped to keep warm. They were the wingmen for ASA athletes who they would push five miles that night.

One of those athletes was Kyle Weaver. Before the run, Weaver sat in his car with his stuffed friend, Christmas Sloth, under his coat until it was time to load into the running chair. When asked if it was too cold for running, he answered, “no,” with an incredulous grin and inflection that indicated that it’s never too cold for running.

“He loves being with everyone and racing through the crowd,” said Wendy Brown, Weaver’s mother.

Twelve-year-old Leah Borian, from Reading, was just as enthusiastic about the practice. While she can’t verbalize that sentiment, her infectious smile and the twinkle in her eye told all.

“A woman of few words but lots of smiles,” said Christina Beaverson, ASA wingman.

Parents also benefit from the program, which allows them to run with their children and connect with other parents and runners. Peter Borian, Leah’s dad, runs with her.

“It’s another way to bond with her,” Borian said.

He said that his two other children participate in sports, and it’s nice to be able to have that with Leah.

“Parents are seeing that their kids don’t have any limits,” Meskey said. “Like these kids are doing things that their parents never thought possible.”

The only requirement for ASA athlete participation is limited mobility. ASA provides the specialized equipment and all racing fees for athletes.

One might think that it would be difficult for a parent to allow their child to “run off” with people. Not so, said Borian

“This is a great organization, the volunteers are passionate and genuine,” he said.

Come Alive

Volunteers say that they receive more from the ASA experience than they give, for several reasons. First, it gives their running another, more important purpose.

“It’s making it not about me,” Meskey said. “It’s about my team, and it’s about helping others.”

Slomkowski added that acting as a wingman makes running more enjoyable.

“It makes it come alive,” he said.

These devoted runners aren’t immune to the call of the warm, comfy couch. But devotion to the ASA athletes—knowing that the athletes are counting on them—pushes wingmen through the temptation and into their running shoes.

The specialness of running with ASA athletes can be emotional, too.

“I actually cried when we crossed the finish line,” Mesky said. “Really, it was a very powerful experience. And that wasn’t the first time, and that wasn’t the only time.”

Any runner, at any skill level, can act as a wingman for ASA. Teams typically consist of three wingmen, with a captain who’s in charge of the athlete’s needs and stays in contact with the parents during the race. Teammates share the pushing, and the team runs only as fast as the slowest runner.

“If you are willing to run with us, then you can do it,” said Meskey.

The experience of participating and finishing is the goal of ASA, not competition.

“We don’t care about the pace that we’re going,” Meskey said. “We just care about getting our team to the finish line safely.”

According to Weaver’s mom, participating in ASA makes him feel good, but he also likes receiving the race bling. He’s raced for 10 years, so he’s accumulated a lot of it. Recently, he was unable to participate in a race because he was hospitalized, but his main concern was getting out to race and collecting his medal. Weaver likes to give bling, too. He makes beaded, holiday-themed key rings that he distributes at every race.

Talking to a reporter was nice and all, but there was a definite sense that there was other business to be attended to—running!

Borian exuded excitement as she got strapped into her chair. Weaver was ready too, but Christmas Sloth had to come out of the jacket so they had room to buckle Weaver in.

“Ready to fly,” said one of the wingmen.

After a photo op, off they went, wind in their faces, the smell of in-between seasons in the air, and a feeling of freedom for five wonderful miles.

For more information on Athletes Serving Athletes, visit www.asa.run.

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

The Bard in The Burg: All Harrisburg’s a stage, as Gamut Theatre brings home the annual Shakespeare conference

December 29, 2021 | by Gina Napoli

Debra Ann Byrd performs “Becoming Othello: A Black Girl’s Journey”

Hark! Who goes there?

Thespians. Hundreds of them from around the globe, who will travel to Harrisburg in early January for the annual Shakespeare Theatre Association (STA) conference, courtesy of the city’s own Gamut Theatre.

STA provides a forum to support theater companies producing Shakespeare’s works and to advocate for Shakespearean productions and training. Some 120 theater companies around the world comprise STA’s membership, so hosting the January 2022 conference is a colossal—as well as a classical—honor.

One need only look as far back as 1997 to see STA’s influence on Harrisburg, when Gamut’s partnership with the group began.

Gamut Theatre’s board sent founders Clark and Melissa Nicholson to an STA conference just to see what they would learn. What sounded initially like an experiment, or maybe even a lark, turned out to be “an amazing, educational experience,” said Melissa Nicholson, Gamut’s executive director.

“Without our partnership with STA, I doubt we would have continued doing Shakespeare,” she said.

Although most of STA’s conference sessions are members-only, you can eavesdrop on “Classics Fest” events open to the public the way Rosencrantz and Guildenstern spied on Hamlet. Unlike those two, you need not be sneaky about it. Accessible pricing makes the events affordable.

Choice local artists, namely David Ramón Zayas and Paul Hood, will take the opportunity to showcase their own plays during Gamut’s Classics Fest while all the big players are in town. And internationally renowned artists Lisa Wolpe and Debra Ann Byrd add their star power to the marquee.

As with all things Gamut, the conference highlights are not purely Shakespearean and come with a number of twists, highlighting “diversity and classic works, homegrown artists writing new plays and musical collaborations,” Nicholson said.

Gamut’s intent to re-invent classic stories makes theater more accessible for the community, not just something to occupy the glitterati.

“We’re rethinking BLM, other inequities, and how we stay viable economically,” Nicholson said.

These concerns segue neatly into this year’s conference theme, “The Power of Reinvention: ‘We know what we are, but not what we may be.’” The theme conveys a deliberate action of glancing back to help us reach forward, of preparing to do better in the future.

Closed conference sessions will connect Shakespeare to many of the scorching headlines of today, such as diversity, the language of identity terminology, trauma and gender. And they will address trade topics, such as making classic theater relevant, ensemble auditions, outdoor theater and digital theater in the age of COVID. Gamut’s Founding Artistic Director Clark Nicholson will offer several sessions of teaching improvisational techniques to invigorate classical performances.

“The presenters have a nice mix of voices in the room, underrepresented groups, so we hear as many voices as possible,” Melissa Nicholson said. “Shakespeare may be an old, dead, white male, but he’s also an excellent playwright and an amazing poet… We can discover things about ourselves and each other through the vessel of his writing.”

There’s Power

Making The Bard relevant to today’s world is paramount to moving forward in this space.

STA members will open the topic to outside focus groups, hosting teachers and students digitally via Zoom to share their ideas on how to make Shakespeare resonate with them and to explore what about his works makes their hair stand on end.

Turning foul play into fair play, or “De-colonizing The Bard,” represents another hot button topic. STA members recognize their role in education and engagement, and they feel a responsibility to contextualize Shakespeare’s plays to give delight and hurt not. They will delve into critical explorations of the sometimes-detrimental legacy of Shakespeare as a cultural icon, rethinking their own programming to foster community and promote social justice.

Shakespeare’s works have helped a key, often marginalized group express themselves. A group of veterans took classes and formed their own company to help them express their own experiences about combat.

The Veterans’ Performance Ensemble at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, dubbed Olive Branch & Laurel Crown, will present “And To Be a Soldier” as part of Classics Fest.

“They found words they didn’t have before to help them process what they had been through,” Nicholson said.

Because our national borders are less of an obstacle than during Shakespeare’s time, today’s actors are not hindered the way old Bill once was. Crossing the Atlantic is routine, and we don’t even have to appear physically somewhere to give a performance.

“Being forced into a virtual conference [for 2021] gave STA a good opportunity to reinvent itself,” Nicholson said. “There’s power in working with your community, in expanding that reference group.”

As The Bard himself once penned, “It’s a brave new world.”

Shakespeare Theatre Association’s 2022 Conference will be held Jan. 3 to 8, split between Gamut Theatre, Whitaker Center and the Hilton Harrisburg. For information on the sessions accessible to the public, visit www.gamuttheatre.org/classicsfest.

To Be There

Classics Fest events are open to the public Jan. 3 through 8.

Jan. 3, 7:30 p.m.: “I Don’t Speak Spanish” by David Ramón Zayas at Gamut Theatre

Jan. 4, 8 p.m.: “Shakespeare and the Alchemy of Gender” by internationally renowned actress Lisa Wolpe at Whitaker Center

Jan. 5, 7:30 p.m.: “Market Square Concerts presents ‘Tempesta di Mare,’” a Philadelphia Baroque Orchestra, featuring Gamut actors performing short scenes and sonnets

Jan. 6, 8 p.m.: “Becoming Othello: A Black Girl’s Journey” by internationally renowned actress Debra Ann Byrd at Whitaker Center

Jan. 7, 2:15 p.m.: “TRACE Practices in the Theatre: A Critical Tool for Moving Harm Reduction to a Culture of Healing,” featuring Bridget McCarthy, executive director, Atlanta Artist Relief Fund

Jan. 7, 7:30 p.m.: “The African Company: The Mystery of the African Grove Theatre” by Paul Hood at Gamut Theatre

Jan. 8, 10:30 a.m.: “Strong Reasons Make Strong Actions: Innovative Partnerships and Collaborations” with Sharia Benn, Sankofa African American Theatre Company; Debra Ann Byrd, Harlem Shakespeare Festival; F.L. Henley, Narcisse Theatre Company; Paul Hood, playwright; Clark Nicholson, Gamut Theatre; Melissa Nicholson, Gamut Theatre

Jan. 8, 1:30 p.m.: “And To Be A Soldier” by the Olive Branch & Laurel Crown, the Veteran’s Performance Ensemble of Chesapeake Shakespeare Company at Whitaker Center

Dec. 1 to Feb. 28: The Art Association of Harrisburg presents a Shakespeare-themed art exhibit in the Capital Blue Cross lobby at Gamut Theatre. Featured artists include Kim Stone, Carrie Wissler-Thomas and Tina Reiley.

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

Oasis for the Soul: Wellness, peace abide at Amethyst Retreat Center

December 29, 2021 | by Norah Griffiths Johnson

Amethyst is believed by many to be a gemstone with properties of transformation—transmuting dark energies into lighter energies.

Nestled in the protective hills of Duncannon, Amethyst Retreat Center carries the essence of its namesake gemstone’s traits in its mission to awaken human potential.

The organization breathes life into its mission through events and programming centered around an evolving culture of wellness. Connecting people with nature, an inclusive mindset, and a focus on cultivating a diverse natural environment are paramount.

Amethyst was incorporated in 1983, but the property was purchased long before then, in 1947, explained Karen Kovacs, board president and Amethyst trustee.

“The vision was for this to be a place where people could come and learn about anything that interests them—an oasis for the soul,” she said.

Today, Amethyst operates as a nonprofit, with a volunteer board and community council. Its activities and initiatives are driven by the organization’s mission and participants’ interests.

This spirit of openness and inclusivity appealed to Zoe Miner, an Amethyst trustee.

“Through the board and the council and even the volunteers, we have such an open and collaborative working environment,” she said. “We really listen to each other and to the public about what activities and events they would like to see.”

Amethyst operates mostly on a donation basis. Some programs, like special event weekends, camps and retreats have a registration fee, but the organization strives to keep its programs and property accessible to all who are interested.

“We have had the opportunity to have some of our programs supported through grants,” Miner said. “But like all nonprofits, we do keep looking for ways to explore more sustainable funding.”

Spiritual Journey

Amethyst offers a variety of programs for all ages, such as a summer solstice celebration that includes camping, music and workshops.

“We try to offer different, fun events throughout our season,” Miner said.

In June and July, Amethyst features a “Children in Nature” series for ages 6 to 9, a program that includes forest exploration, gardening, music, art and mindfulness practices. Junior Tracker camp gives 10- to 17-year-olds the opportunity to learn wilderness survival, leadership and communications skills.

Women’s circles, another popular offering, take place each month around the new moon time. Miner explained that her involvement with Amethyst grew from her attendance at these events, eventually expanding to include grant writing and even leading the monthly women’s circles.

“The women’s circles have been a big piece of my spiritual journey and really helped me, so I wanted to offer that to others,” she said. “It has been such a rewarding experience to be able to do this. Especially the past year or so—considering all the chaos and uncertainty—these events have meant a lot for the women who keep coming.”

For those looking to get involved with Amethyst and meet like-minded people, community service days happen each Wednesday. Work ranges from painting to weeding to any number of manageable, maintenance and upkeep activities.

“We have a meal together in the late afternoon, and then sometimes there’s meditation, music or anything we might want to do as a group,” Kovacs said.

Amethyst also offers opportunities for rejuvenation and contemplation. Throughout the spring, summer and fall, rest and relaxation weekends are popular and can be enjoyed as a solo experience or as something to share with a friend or partner. Registration includes room rental, vegetarian meals and optional yoga and meditation classes. Forest walks and holistic therapies are also available.

Silent retreats and winter retreats are offered, as well, and the center can be booked for personal retreats with a few close friends or to host a larger event.

Dream Big

Erica Jo Shaffer often attends events at Amethyst, but also has hosted events and contributed to the land. Among her many gifts, she is a Reiki master and gifted horticulturist.

Shaffer spoke of the land and feel of the property as significant draws, as well as Amethyst’s culture of openness and creativity. She helped create a meditation garden, which was designed with consideration of the seasons, deer population and overall environment, and, in October, organized a Samhain (pronounced “SAH-win”) celebration for the community.

“Amethyst draws a group of people who all share ideas from whatever space of creativity we’re in,” she said. “We all get together and dream big.”

Amethyst Retreat Center has no political or spiritual affiliations, Kovacs explained. Community events are alcohol- and drug-free in order to support wellness and ensure that everyone feels welcome.

“We’re interested in creating the conditions for people to come together to find themselves, exchange ideas, to learn, to grow, and to create a life and world that has meaning to them,” she said.

Amethyst Retreat Center is located at 44 Buffalo Creek Road, Duncannon. For more information, visit www.amethystretreatcenter.org or their Facebook and Instagram pages.

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

The Heat Is On: Harrisburg Heat return to the soccer pitch—though it’s like they never left

December 29, 2021 | by Deb Lynch

Photo by Deb Lynch.

This is not a story about Christian Pulisic, the Hershey native who became the first American-born man to play in and win a Champions League final game, which his team Chelsea won, 1-0, over Manchester City last May.

It is a story, though, about blazing the trail that gives central Pennsylvania claim to Pulisic, who is arguably the best player from the United States.

The 23-year-old American soccer phenom’s dad, Mark Pulisic, was a player for the Harrisburg Heat in the 1990s. Rather than pack it up and move on when his playing career ended, Mark stuck around with his family, coaching at Lebanon Valley College and club programs in the area.

Many of the standout players who moved to Harrisburg to play professional indoor soccer stayed. In so doing, they created interest in the sport and, through their coaching, changed the soccer landscape in our area.

This season, the team celebrates 30 years. The anniversary game on Feb. 26 will feature special uniforms and an alumni match. Before that, on Jan. 22, the Heat will add players to the Hall of Fame, along with team founder Dr. Rex Herbert and the late ABC27 sports reporter Gregg Mace, who covered the team.

The new season opened last month in Utica. Home games have moved from the older, cavernous Large Arena at the Farm Show Complex to the newer, more intimate Equine Arena.

The Heat played at the Farm Show in the ’90s, too. Joining Mark Pulisic on the early Heat teams were Richard Chinapoo, Bill Becher, Gino DiFlorio, John Abe, Bob Lilley—all guys who stuck around and continued to coach locally. Central Pennsylvania is now rich with soccer clubs thanks to the professional ranks that have passed through, starting with the Hershey Impact (1988-1991, indoor), the Harrisburg Heat (1991-2003, indoor), the Hershey Wildcats (1997-2001, outdoor), later the Harrisburg City Islanders (2004-2017, outdoor), and again today, the Heat.

Current Heat team captain, Danny DiPrima, grew up in Dillsburg watching these legends before he went on to play college soccer at North Carolina State.

“Indoor was like the thing,” DiPrima said. “Back in the ’90s when I was growing up, my dream was always to be a professional soccer player and luckily, I’m able to live that out. It all started with the Heat. Seeing them play, but also having them in the community, was really cool.”

Heat President Kevin Healey said that having some of the sports stars living in the community helps in both the short- and long-term.

“Our strategy is to bring in good soccer players and to win a championship,” he said. “They are good people. They go out and spread the word in the community by marketing it by showing them the attributes they have.”

Toughest Job

The Heat were three games short of a possible playoff berth with a 13-8 record after their last game pre-COVID on March 11, 2020, beating Utica, 5-3. In the 22 months since, some players on the roster returned home, but most stayed local, including a wealth of international talent from England, France, Brazil and Mexico.

They coach teams including CASA, HMMS, Keystone FC in Mechanicsburg, Dillsburg and Camp Hill. They are part of area middle school, high school and college coaching staffs. DiPrima, for example, helps with Keystone FC in Mechanicsburg and coaches at York College.

“To be able to play and coach and make my living through soccer—it’s a grind, but I wouldn’t give it up,” DiPrima said.

Players live in Hanover, York, Carlisle, Harrisburg and other local communities.

“You can have a good player on the field, but you have to have a foundation of guys who are here year-round to ultimately make it work,” said third-year coach and general manager Pat Healey, who played professionally for the Baltimore Blast.

Maryland soccer enthusiast Carl Delmont, founder and CEO of Freedmont Mortgage and owner/coach of the Baltimore Celtic youth soccer club, bought the Heat in 2016. It had struggled since its resurrection in 2012, operating on a shoestring budget with players who were mostly local, practicing just once a week, late at night.

Today, the team practices almost daily during the season. They hope to return to pre-COVID days soon, going to area schools to teach skills, speak out against bullying and drugs, stress the importance of healthy diets and exercise, and tell their stories. The players host clinics year-round for area youth. The team recently formed a partnership with Central Penn College.

“It is the toughest job I have held, but seeing young kids and families interact with our players and cheer loudly at our games is very rewarding,” Delmont said. “Watching local players like Danny [DiPrima] and Brad [Kerstetter]—both had season tickets as kids—play in front of their families and inspire the next generation to follow their passion, is simply amazing.”

The team is gearing up for the season premiere with some new faces on the roster. Others, including Will Eskay, Marcel Berry and Pat Thompson, were lost to free agency. Tavoy Morgan was traded. Dylan Hundelt retired.

Two former Heat players are re-signed: Stephen Basso (defender of the year in 2016-17) and Brad Kerstetter, another defender. The team also picked up a Rochester veteran, Michael Cunningham, a forward from England. New, young faces include James Vaughn, a defender/midfielder from England, Yuri Farkas, a forward from Brazil, and Richard John from Trinidad and Tobago.

“We hope to compete for a championship this year, but we know we will continue to build young talent and do well in the league,” Kevin Healey said.

The MASL is not the Champions League, but it is an incubator. Only time will tell what the next iteration will bring.

The Harrisburg Heat play 12 home games and 12 away games this season, which runs through April 3. For more information on the team and schedule, visit the website at www.harrisburgheat.com.

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

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like