Embracing Inclusion: Monica Gould sees diversity as good for business, for people

November 30, 2021 | by Susan Ryder

Monica Gould

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace means diversity of thought. And diversity of thought is good for business.

Monica Gould has built her career around this core belief. She has worked in DEI for 27 years, long before it was a “thing,” as founder and president of Strategic Consulting Partners in Mechanicsburg.

“It’s a thought process,” she said. “It’s really embracing the concept that we’re all different.”

Components of DEI include the more obvious race, religion and gender and the less obvious education level, geographic area, generation and class.

“The biggest misconception about DEI is that it’s all about race,” Gould said. “In my practice, challenges between generations are probably greater in some cases than other challenges we have experienced.”

Another DEI stereotype involves drive-by diversity training as an organizational cure-all, allowing a company to check it off its to-do list. That approach does not change culture, a requirement for real transformation.

And while Strategic Consulting Partners does provide training, it also offers work culture assessment, develops strategies and measures results.

“Everybody feels it’s all about training,” Gould said. “It has to be more than training. You can’t change people with one-off events.”

The Journey

At Carlisle Construction Materials (CCM), executives, managers and plant employees have been working with Strategic Consulting Partners for about a year. Thus far, employees have given enthusiastic feedback, according to the company.

“They were so excited about the interaction that they had, questions they could ask the experts,” said Jodi Wadel, manager of talent development.

The questions included the difference between race and ethnicity, she said. She added that providing a safe environment where employees can feel comfortable asking questions is a key to success.

Gould said that people are much more interested in having mature and robust conversations around gender, race and generational understandings today, versus 20 years ago.

“They tiptoed around the issues, but now people are wanting to hear it, and then wanting to embrace it and want to… learn,” Gould said. “And that’s really why we’re here, to help people, to take them on that journey.”

Part of that journey includes understanding biases, that we all have them, even in the most mundane areas of our lives.

Gould gave the example of someone avoiding traveling on a particular street because their experience has always been that it’s heavily traveled. That same person may unexpectedly find themselves on that street and realize the traffic isn’t that bad anymore.

“It becomes unconscious, it becomes part of our psyche—part of our modus operandi, and we don’t even realize it’s wrong,” Gould said. “We didn’t realize that we were floating in our thinking because we had nothing else to change that viewpoint.”

CCM is having a similar experience around the concept of bias.

“A lot of people are saying, ‘I have biases, and I have to be aware of those biases, and I’m gonna start working on those. I recognize them,’” Wadel said.

About Respect

Gould experienced overt bias and inequity in her working life before Strategic Consulting Partners, and this, she said, is part of the reason she created her own company.

“I had to go through 10 extra hoops of any of my counterparts,” she said. “I was paid less, and I knew it, and they acknowledged it. They would say to me, ‘OK, you’re not the primary breadwinner. You’re not the man of the house.’”

Lack of DEI causes companies to lose good people, Gould said. By looking at retention of employees by demographics, employers can determine if they have a problem. Why is this important? Because turnover is expensive.

“It takes six months to a year for an employee to be fully productive in their role,” Gould said. “So, if you think about it, you’re turning these people over, you’re retraining them. You’re taking steps back as an organization if it drives down your overall team productivity.”

DEI information and training also help an organization become more efficient and innovative, she said. DEI allows for different perspectives not only to be included but seriously examined. Even a group that may seem homogeneous has many differences.

“We all see the same thing, but all of you have different experiences from growing up,” said Susan Wallace, vice president of human resources at CCM. “You come from different parts of the world. You have different educational backgrounds, you have different work experiences and different family experiences.”

Those perspectives help the organization see the world through a variety of lenses.

“And they’re important because those different perspectives are mirroring those perspective of our customers,” Wallace said.

DEI work directs employees to see that those differing perspectives are valuable.

“Diversity of thought brings innovation, brings new ideas, new concepts,” Gould said. “If people have different perspectives, different upbringing, different education, you bring all those parties together and guess what? You’ve got some great new innovation and great ideas.”

Organizations will not only lose out on innovation and ideas if biases prevent them from being heard, but they also will not attract the best talent.

Gould pointed out that organizations with a reputation for a hostile culture and lack of DEI could be relegated to accepting those who are willing to apply, rather than the cream of the crop.

DEI focuses on what diverse people, in gender, race, age, physical abilities and the like have to contribute and their unique competencies.

“Basically, it’s about getting to know people, and it’s respect,” Gould said.

For more information on Strategic Consulting Partners, visit www.yourstrategicconsultant.com

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Christkindl, Rekindled: Mifflinburg’s annual German Christmas celebration is back, with schnitzel, strudel and song

November 30, 2021 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Mifflinburg Christkindl Market

You could say that Joannah McGregor is a Teutonophile.

The Mifflinburg resident met her husband on an airplane in India. He was Austrian, working as the export manager of a German company. This twist of fate took her to Germany, where she spent 20 happy years immersed in the culture before returning to her hometown.

“I learned that Mifflinburg was looking for ideas to emphasize the town’s German heritage,” McGregor said. “A tour bus was going to be in the area, and they needed one more event to keep the bus in the area for an entire day.”

McGregor offered up the idea of a market that would replicate outdoor Christmas markets in Germany. The suggestion, she said, was met with skepticism. Town officials asked, “What vendors are going to stand there for three days and freeze?”

Determined, McGregor spent time explaining the popularity of the Christkindl Market in Germany. Eventually, she convinced the powers-that-be to give it a shot.

“It was like pulling teeth,” she said.

Ultimately, she was given permission to close one block.

“Now we’re in our 32nd year and still going strong,” she said. “Officials from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania showed up one year to get a few tips from us.”

Each year, organizers choose a theme based upon a German or Austrian town. This year’s theme is Cologne and the three kings, since the Cathedral of Cologne is said to house the bones of the three kings, she said.

McGregor will be onsite to give a talk about the theme and the traditions and history of Christkindl Market on each day of the three-day event, which is held this month.

“In the beginning, the townspeople would bake items or work on and sell a craft, and they discovered that, if they stood around a church, the people would buy something from them,” said McGregor.

Today, the event spans two-and-a-half blocks and attracts 8,000 to 10,000 people each year.

Food & Song

This year, the event will be comprised of 125 vendors. According to Matthew Wagner, Christkindl Market president, organizers begin planning the previous January.

“Half of our vendors will be artists, crafters and gift vendors, and the rest will sell food like strudel and schnitzel,” he said.

He added that one church will serve a sauerkraut dinner with pork, mashed potatoes and bratwurst. Local firefighters will offer a new food item this year—German crepes.

Wagner, who is a retired band director, coordinates all the musical performances.

To kick off the event, children will participate in an opening parade on Thursday, Dec. 9, at 5 p.m., which will feature St. Nicholas, a high school band and other participants. On Friday evening, second-graders will participate in a lantern parade.

Wagner said that the children will sing a traditional German lantern song derived from St. Martin’s Day. St. Martin’s Day is a religious observance in Germany that is popular with children and is dedicated to St. Martin of Tours to celebrate modesty and altruism. At the end of the parade, children will march onto a stage and sing Christmas carols.

Those who can’t make it for the first two days needn’t worry about missing a parade since a closing parade, featuring jolly old St. Nick, will take place as the event wraps up.

Wagner said that last year’s cancellation led to great disappointment, from the children who looked forward to the annual event to the businesses in town.

“I am friends with a statistician who moved back to town, and he gathered the information from the businesses,” he said. “He discovered that some make more in these three days than they do in a couple of months.”

While There

Attendees may want to explore additional attractions while in the area.

The Buggy Museum, located on 598 Green St., is known as the only intact 19th-century buggy factory. Guests can also tour the buggy-maker’s family home, along with a carriage house and showroom filled with buggies and sleighs. Reindeer also will be on hand for children to enjoy.

The Frederick Gutelius House Museum, located on 432 Green St., also will be open during the event. The log house dates back to 1803 and was owned by the first justice of the peace of Union County.

Finally, there’s the Rusty Rail Brewing Co., where customers can enjoy food like pasta Alfredo, crab cakes, salads, fish and chips, burgers and more. Rusty Rail’s 15-barrel brewhouse turns out some 8,000 barrels of beer per year, in many different styles.

Wagner said that he looks forward to rekindling the spirit of Christkindl Market.

“The Christkindl Market board and community volunteers are excited to again bring the Mifflinburg Christkindl Market to life as an important part of our community’s Christmas celebration,” he said.

Mifflinburg’s Christkindl Market celebration takes place Dec. 9 to 11. To learn more, visit www.oldchristkindl.com.

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Who Wants to See a Holiday Show? Five reasons to see “A Christmas Carol” at Open Stage

November 30, 2021 | by Cindy Lou-Who

Photo by Haley Harned

Oh hi! Hello! And “how do you do?”

It’s your favorite dame here—Miss Cindy Lou-Who!

I’m back on stage down on old North Court Street

In a holiday play that sure is a treat!

You can check me out soon in an adults-only show

But for family fun, there’s another show you should go….to.

Okay, there are a lot of reasons for me to hate Christmas (let’s just say one of the top reasons is green, hairy and rhymes with “The Finch”), and I can tell you all about it in my one-Who tour-de-force “Who’s Holiday!,” starting Nov. 26.

But bein’ around the cast and creative team behind “A Christmas Carol” has reminded me why this play and the people who put it on are so special. So, buckle up, buttercups—here’s Cindy Lou Who’s list of “The Top Five Reasons You Should See ‘A Christmas Carol’ This Year.” (For other listicles, including “Five Ways to Use Leftover Roast Beast,” “Fahoo Fores, Dahoo Dores and Seven Other Non-Secular Christmas Favorites” and “Thirteen Home Hacks With Your Zizzer-zazzer-zuzz,” you can check out my YouTube channel.)

It’s a ghost story

There’s a long tradition of telling ghost stories around Christmas that go way, way back before “Christmas” as we know it, and, of course, Chuck Dickens wrote the world’s most famous ghost story of Christmas in his 1860 bestseller “A Christmas Carol.” Boy howdy, this show is chock-full of spirits, apparitions and your run-of-the-mill scares. David Richwine returns for his fifth year playing Jacob Marley, and, seeing the looks on folks’ faces when Marley appears on stage for the first time—it takes my breath away. It’s terrifying, exhilarating and just plain fun! Everything a good ghost story should be.

There’s magic! Literal magic!

I’m not going to spoil too much, but there are some jaw-dropping special effects in this show. Every year, the staff members get asked, “How did they do that?” I would tell you, but honestly I have no idea…magnets?

Nicholas Hughes as Ebenezer Scrooge

Nick has been playing Scrooge since the early aughts, and the thoughtfulness and passion that he brings to this character is inspiring. “A Christmas Carol” proves that even the most miserable can find light in the world and help spread that light and love to his fellow humans (we in “The Biz” call it, a “redemption arc”). Mr. Hughes plays the part with grace, and performs to each audience as if it were the first time.

Okay, but like, the WHOLE CAST

Most of the folks who are joining us this year are returning to the show after a two-year hiatus (did you hear about theaters being shut down? It was a whole thing). To see people like Karen Ruch return as The Ghost of Christmas Past (all swishing skirts and gold glitter) or Patrick Hughes as Scrooge’s nephew Fred (a wealth of heartfelt speeches and the epitome of Christmas cheer) or Jonathan Hoover (who started six years ago as our Tiny Tim and is now taller than most of us)—to see them share the stage with some of our newcomers, who get to experience this magic for the first time—well, it warms my Who-heart.

We need a little Christmas

There is so much that I can’t fit into this list—the atmospheric lighting and sound effects, the beautifully painted stage, the lush costumes, the intimidating amount of fog, but when it comes right down to it, this is a show that will make you feel good. Let’s face it—it’s been a rough couple of years. We deserve all the joy, laughter, awe and wonder that this piece of theater brings every night.

I’m looking forward to welcoming you all back to Cindy Lou’s trailer this year (well, all of you adult yous) or seeing you in the audience at “A Christmas Carol.”

“Who’s Holiday!” runs Nov. 26 to Dec. 22. “A Christmas Carol” runs Dec. 4 to 23. Tickets and information can be found at www.openstagehbg.com.

UPCOMING THEATER EVENTS AT HARRISBURG’S PROFESSIONAL DOWNTOWN THEATERS

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

Popcorn Hat Players present
“Countdown to Noon!”

Held at Whitaker Center’s Sunoco Theater

Dec. 31 at 11 a.m.

Doors open at 10:30 a.m.

Tickets are $15 each.

TMI Improv presents
“Last Laughs of 2021”

Held at Gamut Theatre

Dec. 31, shows on the hour at 9, 10 and 11 p.m.

Doors and bar open at 8:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10 each or $30 for an all-night pass

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

“A Christmas Carol”

Dec. 4 to 23 at 7:30 p.m.

“Who’s Holiday!”

Nov. 26 to Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m.

“Drag the Halls” Presented by The Obstructed View

Dec. 5 at noon

Harrisburg Black NewsBeat with Dr. Kimeka Campbell

Dec. 9 & 21 at 8:30 p.m.

Figgy Pudding

Dec. 8, 22 & 23 at 9:30 p.m.

Court Street Cabaret

Dec. 3, 16, 17 & 18 at 9:30 p.m.

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December Editor’s Note

November 30, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

I learned something recently that I found interesting.

Around Harrisburg, the earliest sunset of the year is not the winter solstice, as I had long believed, but two weeks earlier, on Dec. 7.

This news made me feel a little bit better about this time of year.

As long-time readers of TheBurg may know, winter is not exactly my favorite season. Yes, the cold and wind get me down sometimes, but the lack of light has an even greater impact on my wellbeing.

A pre-5 p.m. sunset—a long day of work ended in darkness. Yuck.

But, by Dec. 9, the descent has stopped and reversed, and we’re treated to a whole three seconds more light at the end of the day. I think that’s something worth celebrating!

I hope you’ll find our December issue equally worth celebrating. As we normally do, we put try to put some seasonal cheer into your lives with an additional focus on holiday features and events.

In addition, I’d like to reiterate my call from last month to please support our local makers and merchants as much as possible this year. My hope is that there’s an upside from the global supply disruption—that people will seek out gift items made and sold close to home.

After all, why buy stuff shipped from halfway around the world when you can purchase things made right here, in and around central PA? You may need to get more creative, but, to me, that’s the fun part of the holiday shopping experience.

Now, here’s another thing I learned recently. While later sunsets begin two weeks before the solstice, mornings still get darker. Sunrises continue to be later for another two weeks after the solstice, before finally switching gears for good in early January.

Mother Nature, it seems, needs to balance herself out, much like we all do during this glorious, if stressful, time of the year. Happy holidays, everyone!

Lawrance Binda
Co-Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

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Still Cookin’: The Progress Grill’s recipe for longevity? Great food, loyal patrons

November 30, 2021 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

You could say that the Progress Grill has embraced the retro trend inadvertently—simply by staying the same as time passed by.

Upon entering, customers encounter carpeting, mirrored dining rooms, colonial light fixtures and a décor heavy on mauve. And I’d be remiss not to mention the sign. For people like me who enjoy following organizations like the Society for Commercial Archeology, the exterior signage is right out of the Atomic Age and a cool reminder of a bygone era.

But it’s really not the décor that attracts a loyal following of regular patrons. Rather, it’s the consistent quality of food, which customers have relied on for decades.

Hit Their Stride

The Progress Grill dates back to 1946. The men behind the restaurant today, Nick and John Karagiannis, purchased the place in 1981.

The brothers didn’t set out to become restaurateurs. John said that he came to the United States to pursue chemical engineering. Working in restaurants caused him to rethink his plan and strike out on his own.

“I bought this place when I was 24½ years old, and I told my brother, Nick, who was studying in Italy to become a doctor,” he said. “So, he quit college to come over here.”

When the brothers purchased the Progress Grill, they kept the name, but changed the menu.

“It included items like pizza, sandwiches and a few dinners,” John said.

The two had experience working in restaurants in Maryland and downtown Harrisburg. So, they were familiar with the industry, but perhaps not the pace.

“Downtown restaurants didn’t get much business at nighttime,” John said of those bygone days.

It didn’t take long, however, for the two to hit their stride, and soon they began expanding the menu. The changes were well received. This buoyed their confidence, and they began tackling the task of expanding the physical space.

“After two years, we bought the property next door and put in a new dining room and a new kitchen,” John said.

By 1994, the brothers were ready to add yet another dining room and double the kitchen size.

John credits his Maryland restaurant experience for making crab cakes that fly out the door.

“We brought that recipe here and changed it a bit,” he said, adding that they use top-quality crabmeat and very little filler. For their slow-roasted prime rib, their first priority is to seek the best quality.

“Then I check the price,” John said.

Recipe for Success

The brothers credit their loyal clientele and their focus on consistency for where they are today.

“Our customers love seafood and steaks, and it’s hard to find a good seafood and steakhouse these days,” John said.

If there’s anything that has changed over the years, it’s the cocktails. John said that the menu used to be heavy on old-school drinks like vodka martinis and Manhattans, but now people want more creative options.

“Fancy martinis are taking over,” he said, with a chuckle.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the greatest challenges over the long history of the Progress Grill. It forced the brothers to close for several months. After the restaurant reopened, the customers returned, but the employees didn’t, a common refrain in the industry.

Therefore, the brothers today spend quite a bit of time in the kitchen. And, no surprise—the supply chain has posed another big challenge.

“Our food distributor can’t find truck drivers or warehouse workers, so that’s a problem too,” John said.

The consistently bright spot? The Progress Grill’s loyal customers.

Ed and Malane Digon live a few miles from the establishment and have been patronizing it for years.

“We like sharing the mixed seafood platter, and we’re also fond of their filet and lobster tail, their shrimp cocktail, their cream soups and their desserts,” said Malane, adding that the couple celebrated their 60th anniversary there. “We’re always treated well.”

Dale Kaplan is another regular. He and his wife Ellen patronize the Progress Grill every week, on the same day.

“I call it Thursdays with Nick,” he said.

The Susquehanna Township resident said that the food is always consistent, the fish is always fresh, and the lamb chops are amazing. He also complimented the “excellent” customer service.

John said that the secret to running a beloved establishment for so long is to first love what you do, then take care of the customer.

“We offer quality food at a reasonable price, with good customer service,” he said. “If you have a recipe for success, you don’t change it.”

The Progress Grill is located at 3526 Walnut St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.progressgrill.com.

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A Chorus, For Us: For the pandemic-weary, Cantate Carlisle has a song and a celebration

November 30, 2021 | by Barbara Trainin Blank

When the long-term tenure of an artistic director comes to an end, the organization may be concerned about what follows.

Not so for Cantate Carlisle, the choral group established and headed by Cheryl Parsons for 30-plus years.

When Parsons retired in 2020, the choral group turned to a person who many of the singers knew and had confidence in. Michelle DiBona Trefren, who accepted the baton, is a long-time area conductor, pianist, organist, vocalist and music educator.

“I couldn’t be more honored to be in this position and fill the shoes of quite a legacy of great choral music-making in Carlisle,” Trefren said. “When I learned about the opening, I was ecstatic and knew this would fit right into my passions—leading and inspiring musicians to make great choral music at a high level that can bless a community.”

Simultaneously, Trefren is the resident music director at the Carlisle Regional Performing Arts Center.

“Cheryl provided wonderful leadership due to her musicianship, attention to detail and concern for the needs of the singers,” said Taylor Andrews, a choir member who is also president of the board. “We are fortunate that Michelle follows her lead with skill and empathy. Both have brought expertise, energy and fun to rehearsals, resulting in outstanding performances.”

Andrews joined Cantate Carlisle in 1996. An attorney and chief public defender, he previously sang in a church choir.

“With my large caseload, Cantate Carlisle rehearsals were a form of therapy and joy,” he said.

One of the strengths of Cantate Carlisle lies in the devotion of the singers. The longest serving member is Beverly Mancke, who joined the choir at its very beginning. A first soprano, she began singing solos when she was 8 years old but now prefers being part of a group.

“My husband John saw the audition announcement and suggested I try,” Mancke said. “I continued to audition each year.”

But the opportunity to sing good music was only one reason to stay on.

“I’ve met and become friends with many wonderful people,” Mancke said. “Tuesday evenings have become my chance to put everything else on hold and enjoy learning and singing all kinds of music. Since 1990, we’ve sung many different pieces of music and performed a wide variety of concert themes from Bach to Broadway.”

In addition to the adult group, the choral organization features Cantate Young Voices for singers in grades four through eight in the area.

Beth Kammerer is in her fifth year as director of Cantate Young Voices. She’s a retired music teacher who taught choir for 20 years at schools in Hawaii.

“Singing is a passion of mine, and I’m very excited to share my love of music with the young singers,” she said.

Cantate Carlisle’s diverse membership ranges in age from 23 to 80, averaging about 40. As in the past under the baton of Parsons, the repertoire is varied, said Trefren.

Some highlights have been works by Brahms, all sung in German, Leonard Bernstein’s “Chichester Songs” in Hebrew, and “Ceremony of Carols,” composed by Benjamin Britten and written in Old English.

Occasional trips out of the country are among the joys of singing with Cantate Carlisle. So far, the group has traveled to England, Scotland, Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic and Canada. Occasionally, these trips offer opportunities to sing with local choral groups.

Next up for Cantate Carlisle is their winter concert, which takes place in early December. The postponed 30th Anniversary Gala is slated for May 7.

“With only one rehearsal as a group this past year, the choir dove into recording songs as an ensemble, masked and distanced in a large and well-ventilated space,” Trefren explained. “Hearing the ensemble all together, for the first time since I took on the artistic director position, was certainly thrilling.”

“Convergence,” the Cantate Carlisle winter concert, takes place Dec. 4 and Dec. 5 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 21 S. Bedford St., Carlisle. For more information, visit www.cantatecarlisle.org.

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Toys, for Girls and Boys: Thousands of Harrisburg children will receive holiday gifts, thanks to Harrisburg’s Marine Reserves

November 30, 2021 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Marine Reserve Staff Sgt. Edel Castillo jump-started this year’s annual Toys For Tots drive at a time when many were focused more on that last dip in the pool than holiday giving.

The Harrisburg Marine Reserve Unit’s campaign officially kicked off on Oct. 1. However, weeks before the start, Castillo already was fully engaged with this year’s volunteer recruitment, with orientation planning and with community fundraisers.

“The program needed a lot of love when I took over,” said Castillo, a first-time campaign commander.

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program is based in Uptown Harrisburg at the Echo Co., 2nd Battalion Marine Reserve unit headquarters on N. 2nd Street. The Echo Co. program serves underprivileged children in many areas within Dauphin County, as well as Camp Hill and Mechanicsburg in Cumberland County.

The unit’s Toys For Tots has been in place for more than two decades, Castillo said. Despite ongoing pandemic restrictions, the 2020 campaign safely distributed a total of 22,377 toys to 14,806 area children. The program’s goal each year “is to make sure every kid around Harrisburg has a toy for Christmas,” Castillo said.

“It’s so simple, so basic,” he said. “When they told me to go buy toys, I was all about it.”

U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks and his wife Diane founded Toys for Tots in 1947 in Los Angeles, according to the national organization.

When Bill told Diane that he couldn’t find an organization to accept donations of her handmade dolls to children in need, she promptly told him to start one. That first year, Bill and Marines from his Reserve unit collected and distributed some 5,000 children’s toys.

In the wake of the L.A. program’s success, the U.S. Marine commandant ordered Toys For Tots campaigns implemented at all Reserve sites for 1948, establishing it as a national community action program. Today, Toys for Tots distributes about 18 million toys nationally to 7 million underprivileged children each year, totaling nearly 800 campaign sites overall.

In 1991, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation was established to help run and support the Toys for Tots program. The foundation is designated to raise funds, purchase toys, provide promotional and support materials, solicit corporate support, educate the public, and manage all funds raised and donated, in addition to overseeing day-to-day operations.

Across central PA, Toys For Tots campaigns also are run annually for children in northern Dauphin County, Cumberland/Perry and Lancaster counties, and in northern and southern York County.

This year, more than 25 area businesses and organizations hosted drop-off boxes at their physical locations for the Harrisburg Marines, accepting unwrapped toy donations valued at $10 or more for children up to age 12. Monetary donations also are accepted through the organization’s local or national websites or through the mail.

Toys are distributed to area children throughout December through a network of area volunteers via local organizations, churches or Marine door-to-door deliveries.

Harrisburg’s Toys For Tots hosts several community fundraisers each year, including the 24th annual Kick-Off Classic that took place Aug. 14 at the Carlisle Barracks Golf Course. This year’s successful event was sold out.

On Oct. 23, the Echo Co. hosted its first Cars & Coffee fundraiser at its Harrisburg headquarters, sponsored by Duck Donuts in Hampden Township. The event featured a vehicle lineup varying from monster trucks to classic sports cars, all while accepting toy and monetary donations from the public.

In turn, Duck Donuts donated 10 dozen “fall favorite” donuts for Cars & Coffee, according to Morgan Banaszek, catering and events manager at the Hampden Township location.

“When I heard about Toys For Tots down here, I wanted to donate,” said Banaszek, who frequently donated to the cause while growing up in the Wilkes Barre-Scranton area.

On Oct. 28, Echo Co. Marines hosted a Trunk or Treat fundraiser at its Harrisburg unit in conjunction with the city’s bureaus of police and fire. Young guests explored an educational police van and fire truck onsite and a spooky, smoked “graveyard,” and of course, received candy. Toys and monetary donations were accepted there, as well.

“We have a longstanding history of supporting Toys For Tots,” said Ana White, director of Community Services and Engagement for the Harrisburg Bureau of Police. “They usually want us to participate with them. It’s a way for us to show a partnership we have with the community.”

Harrisburg’s Echo Co. Marine Unit is headquartered at 2991 N. 2nd St. For more information, contact the Echo Co. Harrisburg program at [email protected], 814-826-4758 or on Facebook.

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Christmas Quack: Roast duck will give your holiday table a special flavor

November 30, 2021 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

Back in my early marriage days, my husband and I spent a few days in New York City in springtime—pre-children and pre-mortgage.

We splurged on a dinner I have always remembered. It was at the original Four Seasons restaurant on E. 52nd Street. The prices were hefty, so we decided we each only could order two things.

I started with clams casino and, for dinner, a fabulous roast duck. It was dark and crispy and covered with a luscious brown sugar glaze. From then on, I was hooked on duck!

I’ve roasted ducks several times over the years, mostly prepared with an orange sauce as the French like to do. Restaurants these days seem to offer duck breasts that are usually served rare, rather than a perfectly roasted bird with a sweet fruit glaze. If I order it, I usually ask the server if the chef could “cook it.”

After seeing some lovely plump Muscovy ducks at the West Shore Farmer’s Market, I decided to return to one of my longtime favorite recipes: duckling with orange sauce. While one duck won’t serve a huge family gathering, it is perfect (and festive) for a holiday dinner for four. It is no more difficult to make than a roast chicken and, if well cooked, duck is not at all “gamey.” Just make sure the duck you buy is at least 5 pounds or it will be like dinner at Bob Cratchit’s house in Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”

Duckling with Orange Sauce

Ingredients

1 ready-to-cook duckling, about 5 pounds (fresh is best)
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
¼ teaspoon dried tarragon leaves (or 1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons shredded orange peel
½ cup orange juice (preferably fresh)
A pinch of salt
¼ teaspoon dry mustard
¼ cup currant jelly
2 tablespoons sweet red wine (choose port, marsala, madeira or apple brandy)
1 orange, pared and sectioned
1½ teaspoons cornstarch

Directions

Place duckling breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan. Tie wing tips to the duck body with kitchen twine.
In a small saucepan, cook the onion and tarragon in the butter until tender. Add the orange peel and juice, salt, mustard and jelly, stirring constantly. When the jelly is melted, stir in the wine and orange sections.
Measure the sauce. Save half for glazing at the end and half for basting during cooking.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Pierce the duck skin with a fork and brush with the basting sauce.
Roast the duckling about 22 minutes per pound (about 2 hours). If the duck appears to be browning too quickly, tent with aluminum foil. The duck is done when the drumstick feels very soft. Remember to baste frequently.
Duck is usually fairly fatty. I suggest placing the bird on a thick bed of paper towels before placing it on a platter.
Place the cornstarch in a small saucepan and add the sauce saved for glazing. Stir constantly until the sauce thickens and boils. Boil and stir for an additional minute and pour over the duck right before serving.

Some notes about preparing your holiday duckling:

Some chefs believe that it is best to cut the duck into four sections (quadrants) with sharp kitchen shears. I have always used a sharp carving knife and cut it as I would a roast chicken.
Duck is fun to decorate! Use red and green grapes, orange slices or kumquats or little lady apples, if you can find them. I like to accompany the duck with a mixture of brown and wild rice and a green vegetable.
You can experiment with different spirits when making the sauce, like Grand Marnier or cognac. Orange marmalade works too if you can’t find currant jelly. Because duck is pretty rich, a red wine works as well as white (champagne or Prosecco are also lovely).

I hope you give cooking duck a try for something special this month.

Happy holidays to all readers of TheBurg!

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Dust Off Your Dice: New gaming hub opens on the west shore

November 30, 2021 | by Rachel Lindsley

The gaming landscape has evolved in the wake of the pandemic.

For instance, during quarantine, long-time gamers found time to teach beginners the mechanics to get started, expanding the footprint of the community.

According to Forbes, “Magic: The Gathering (MTG) had its best financial year of all time in 2020, growing by 27% compared to 2019,” and it continues to rise in 2021.

Also, tabletop role-playing games and competitive card games used to be saved for at-home play. Today, game store owners are bringing players back to the table with a safe, comfortable space to compete and quest.

“Tabletop games have been a popular form of leisure for thousands of years and continue to evolve,” said Tyler Myers, owner of Blue Moon Games. “Then, COVID-19 happened. People were finding themselves stuck inside with nowhere to go and nothing to do. There was a notable surge in games sales, spurring renewed interest in the market.”

Myers, a hobbyist himself, saw this gaming renaissance as an opportunity to open a local game store in Lemoyne. Growing up as a competitive MTG player, Myers spent his young adulthood in game stores—working through college, exploring new game packs and dreaming of one day opening his own place.

“That’s where my passion for Blue Moon Games stems from,” Myers said. “We saw a promising opportunity to fulfill a desire in the gamer community—so we did. We have quickly become a second home to many of our customers.”

Blue Moon Games provides a welcoming environment for all fandoms to peruse and purchase dice, blitz decks, booster packs and miniatures, as well as board games and catalogues of singles. One of their most popular items is the wide selection of trading cards available for purchase or trade.

Myers prides himself on offering a variety of games to choose from, but newcomers are not required to pay to play some of their new and unique titles. There are several demo copies available to take for a spin—no purchase necessary.

“We offer everything you’ll need for MTG, Dungeons & Dragons, Flesh and Blood and Pokémon, as well as classics such as Catan, Ticket to Ride, Descent and more,” Myers said. “We are acquainted with all of our offerings and love to make recommendations at the front desk.”

Ready to play? Inside, you will find spacious game rooms with several tables fitting four to 10 people each. This 3,000-square-foot gaming utopia fits 48 customers comfortably with hopes to expand into a Wizards Play Network Premium location next year.

One of Myers’ main objectives for opening a local game store was to provide an open environment, free from gatekeeping and the all-too-prevalent cliques associated with the gaming community.

“Gaming can be an exclusive environment for many individuals who are just trying to get started and learn the ins and outs,” Myers said. “We have a code of conduct that our players must abide by to participate so everyone enjoys their time together.”

York resident Jackson Shatzer enjoys starting his weekend at Friday Night Magic—an evening of MTG strategy with new and old friends alike, held every Friday at the store.

“I enjoy seeing people I know and meeting new friends around the tables at Blue Moon Games,” Shatzer said. “I am thankful for their friendly atmosphere where competitors and casual players can learn, grow and share in games together.”

Weekly tournaments have quickly grown to include Commander Tuesdays, Pokémon Wednesdays and Flesh and Blood Sundays. Visit their Facebook page to view their weekly schedules and learn about special events like their popular pre-release dates.

Along with their merchandise for sale, Myers has expanded his offerings with three arcade classics—Tekken, Street Fighter II and Galaxian. He hopes to become an arcade hotspot on the west shore.

Guests also are welcome to “bring your own snack” by enjoying local eateries nearby such as Neato Burrito, The Pizza Grille and West Shore Diner. Some establishments even deliver directly to Blue Moon Games.

Invite your dice-rolling enthusiasts or participate in gaming tournaments with community members—the arena is open and ready for all to play.

Blue Moon Games is located at 875 Market St., Suite 101, Lemoyne. For more information, including about gaming leagues, visit www.bluemoongamer.com or their Facebook page.

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That’s All, Folk! After a 20-year run, Jess Hayden passes the Susquehanna Folk Music Society baton to a new generation

November 30, 2021 | by Jeff Falk

Jess Hayden, photo by Art Wachter

“Folk”—now there’s an interesting word.

“Folk” can refer to a genre of music. “Folk” can refer to a style of dance. “Folk” can refer to a way of life.

“Folk” means people, but it can also refer to a specific type of people, like “that Jess Hayden sure is some good folk.”

For Hayden, “folk” is a mindset.

On the final day of 2021, Hayden will retire as the executive director of the Susquehanna Folk Music Society. She leaves behind a 20-year legacy of fundraising, event proliferation and, generally, enhancing the folk culture in and around the Harrisburg area.

A self-proclaimed introvert, Hayden’s a people-person who has stepped outside of her comfort zone, all in the name of “folk.”

“The concept of ‘folk music’ is really up for debate,” Hayden said. “It’s the people. What we prize is translated folk music that’s been handed down from person to person. It’s music of the people, but it can be modernized. Folk music tells stories so we can learn about different people in different times.”

Hayden’s successor will have a tough act to follow.

Recently, following an extensive search and hiring process, musician and writer Peter Lee was selected to succeed Hayden. Lee will be charged with taking SFMS to the next level, much in the same way that Hayden did at the turn of the 21st century.

“Part of the reason I chose this time to retire is that the Susquehanna Folk Music Society is headed in a great direction,” said Hayden, a 65-year-old resident of New Cumberland. “It’s super exciting. We have this influx of new, young people, and it’s very intentional. There’s a ton of interest in folk music by younger people. They are very respectful of the folk music tradition.”

Through Hayden’s guidance, the society has grown its membership to an all-time high of 600 members. SFMS sponsors over 40 programs and events a year, everything from musical and dance performances to jams and coffeehouse concerts to virtual series and educational programs, and, of course, the Susquehanna Folk Festival—all performed by nationally and internationally recognized, as well as local and regional, artists.

Headquartered in New Cumberland, the society does not operate its own venue. Instead, concerts and shows are performed at venues across central Pennsylvania, including locally at Fort Hunter in Harrisburg.

“What makes it unique to me is that the performances are generally very intimate types of experiences,” Hayden said. “There are a lot of conversations from the stage to the audience. It feels like folk artists like that community aspect. The performances are so relaxed, and I really like to see the interaction between the artists. I love the history and that it’s so connected to the past.”

Like all genres, folk music is unique. However, it differentiates itself with the wide range of instruments used to perform it, as well as its links to traditions and heritages from around the world. Included in the genre are disciplines like the blues, Celtic music, Balkan music, Appalachian music, traditional African music and Hayden’s personal favorite, Jewish klezmer music.

But the true power of folk music may emanate from its ability to connect cultures.

“I think about that all the time,” said Hayden, of music’s role in our society. “I think music just reverberates very profoundly in all of us. We’ve all had the experience of hearing music. It just touches our core like very little else does. It moves us. It activates so many feelings. It transports you.”

Folk Community

A group of like-minded volunteers founded the nonprofit Susquehanna Folk Music Society in 1985. Initially, Hayden became involved as a volunteer and a board member before becoming the sole employee in 2001.

“Folk music is an unusual genre in that you don’t get to hear it every day,” Hayden said. “Our volunteers are people who are just glad to find it. We feel everyone has a strong commitment to folk music. Through everyone’s support, this works.”

First and foremost, Hayden is a musician—a well-rounded and experienced musician. Her instrument of choice is the clarinet, which she has played as part of the Old World Folk Band and the West Shore Symphony Orchestra.

“Growing up, the question wasn’t whether or not you wanted to play an instrument, but which one,” Hayden said. “My father was a music teacher who could play just about anything, and he was a lover of folk and traditional music.

One day, he decided to put together a family folk band called the Dalton Family Singers.

“That was my introduction to music,” Hayden said. “I learned a lot and always had an interest in folk music.”

Certainly, Hayden’s pending retirement will alter her lifestyle. While it will allow her to entertain other interests and pursuits, she cannot imagine an existence that does not include folk music.

“The first thing I want to do is go on a little trip because I think a period of separation would be helpful,” Hayden said. “I want to do some volunteer work and continue my relationship with Susquehanna Folk Music Society.”

After all, SFMS has not only been her work life, but her social life, too.

“We call it ‘the folk community,’” she said. “That sense of finding each other is a very strong motivation. It’s something I’m really passionate about.”

For more information on the Susquehanna Folk Music Society, visit www.sfmsfolk.org.

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