Seventh Heaven: Seven Mountain Wine Cellars is a swill destination.

September 30, 2021 | by Karen Hendricks

Nathan Bubb of Seven Mountains Wine Cellars admits he has a hard time remembering the names of all seven mountains.

“There’s Broad Mountain, Long Mountain… I can’t name them all off the top of my head, although I probably should,” he said with a laugh, as he points to the seven peaks outlined on his wineglass, part of the winery’s logo.

If you’ve ever driven U.S. Route 322 from Harrisburg toward State College, you’ve traveled up and over the area known as “seven mountains.” The steep, twisting stretch of highway—also seven miles—transports you from Mifflin into Centre County.

But after summiting the seventh mountain, rather than continuing on to State College and Happy Valley—especially if you’re a wine lover—you just might be, appropriately enough, in seventh heaven.

Seven Mountains Wine Cellars—right off the highway, but in the woods near Bald Eagle State Forest—is a destination in itself. That’s because, with 40 varieties on the wine list at any one time—many of them award-winners—there’s a reason for everyone to raise a glass to the father-son winemakers.

Wine Wins

“Most wineries have half the selection of what we have,” Bubb said. “The good side of that is that we have a little bit of everything for customers to try. There’s something for everyone, from big, bold, dry reds to softer reds, and dry acidic whites to semi-sweet whites, to really sweet Niagaras, Concords and some interesting port wines and sherry wines, as well.”

What could possibly be the downside?

“It can be a nightmare downstairs, juggling things from tank to tank,” Bubb said.

He points “downstairs,” under the large, shaded patio to the heart of the winery’s operations—the cool, cave-like wine cellars below—literally inside the mountain.

Not only has Seven Mountains racked up dozens of awards in state competition at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, but their white German-style wine, Traminette, took a double gold medal in national competition at the American Wine Society’s 2019 competition in Palm Beach.

The awards are the rewards for the family-owned and operated winery founded by Bubb’s father Scott about 15 years ago. At the time, Scott was ranked one of the top-10 amateur winemakers in the country. When Scott learned he’d be losing his full-time manufacturing job, it was the motivation he needed to pour his energies into full-time winemaking.

“He started with a small amount of wine—4,000 gallons—and things went crazy. In six or seven years, he was in the 20,000-gallon range, which is hard for one person to do,” said Bubb.

That’s when Nathan came on board, and Seven Mountains’ operations elevated from a solo winemaker to a father-son team.

But you won’t find vineyards on the property—there are too many deer that would eat the grapes, Bubb said, speaking from experience and failed attempts.

“We’re not farmers—we would rather focus 110% of our time on making great wine,” said Bubb. “But 80% of the grapes we purchase are from PA, and we process everything here on site.”

Moving Mountains

The pandemic threw them, like many small businesses, off a cliff and into new territory.

“My job was primarily in the basement [wine cellars] before COVID, but now I’ve picked up doing all the deliveries,” Bubb said. “We supply 40-some grocery stores across the state, and when everything was shut down, our grocery store sales went through the roof. It was just insane, but it introduced a lot of people to our wines.”

You can find Seven Mountains wine at the Mechanicsburg and Lancaster Wegmans, numerous Giant Supermarkets, Carlisle’s Castlerigg Wine Shop, even new Pennsylvania Libations locations—in Pittsburgh’s Strip District and Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market.

The Bubb family also owns and operates Reedsville’s Stone Fly Café, where suggested wines are paired with Italian/American menu items. Their Pinot Noir, for example, complements the Balsamic Roasted Salmon Panini. And who wouldn’t enjoy a little Blackberry Merlot paired with the ultimate comfort food—a dreamy Nutella or Peanut Butter & Jelly Panini?

Seven Mountains Wine Cellars is one of about a dozen stops on the Central Pennsylvania Tasting Trail, organized by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. And it’s one of 54 destinations cultivated into Happy Valley Agventures, an agritourism initiative that promotes authentic foodie experiences showcasing Centre County’s farmers markets, small farms and ag-related small businesses, organized by the area’s tourism bureau and chamber of commerce.

“Our roots run deep here in Happy Valley with agricultural heritage,” said Ed Stoddard with the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. “We really honor the land where we live and where our food comes from.”

It all ties into the enduring legacy of agriculture, on land that sits in the shadow of Penn State University—originally founded by farmers.

“It’s so beautiful back here in the woods. We are literally smack-dab in the mountains, surrounded by nature,” Bubb said, gesturing across the sun-dappled patio encircled by trees.

“We have lots of people who come and bring their laptops during the day, using our guest WiFi to work during the day—people who normally work from home—but I don’t want to get anybody in trouble.”

Seven Mountains Wine Cellars is located at 324 Decker Valley Rd., Spring Mills. For more information on locations in this story, visit sevenmountainswinecellars.com, centralpatastingtrail.com and happyvalleyagventures.com.

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Big Picture: Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Capital Region poised to meet rising needs of pandemic-era youth.

September 30, 2021 | by Karen Hendricks

Amy Rote, Mary Murphy, Krystina Shultz, Roe Braddy & Rich Carroll of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region

Amy Rote calls it “the real issue” facing area kids right now: mental health.

“School districts will address the educational gap, but the real issue is the mental health needs of our kids from the pandemic—that’s where our primary focus is,” said Rote, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region (BBBSCR).

She’s speaking from experience. The career path that led Rote to BBBSCR began in the mental health field.

“What led me to Big Brothers Big Sisters is its mission—creating supportive friendships that help kids build resiliency and skills,” she said. “It felt like the perfect fit.”

The nonprofit’s mission is to “create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth” over a five-county area.

Rote served as the organization’s vice president of programs beginning in 2013, when she went into “creation mode,” expanding the organization’s programs to meet escalating challenges facing youth.

“When I came on board, the previous CEO [Maddie Young, who now serves as the Carlisle YWCA’s executive director] was an incredible mentor,” Rote said. “Together, we recognized that our organization had the opportunity to do much greater things by responding to what our kids were dealing with then—the opioid epidemic, incarceration, trauma in relation to social changes in technology, cyber-bullying, a lack of physical exercise—all of these things were happening.”

Little did she know, socioeconomic issues would be compounded by a worldwide pandemic.

In 2020, when Young departed, Rote was named president and CEO. And while many nonprofits were and are struggling—and downsizing programs under pandemic-related stress—Rote and the BBBSCR board knew they had to do the opposite in the face of the pandemic: They needed to go big.

“We want to serve more youth and increase the families we’re impacting. Growth is a priority because kids need mentors now more than ever,” Rote said. “I needed to invest in our leadership team first, and I was picky because these programs and the people in them mean everything to me.”

As the organization maintained and supported about 400 matched community mentors (“bigs”) and area youth (“littles”) through 2021, Rote built her team by hiring Mary Murphy as director of development and Rovenia “Roe” Braddy as vice president of programs.

“What I love about these two ladies is their positivity,” Rote said. “We talk to our kids, our ‘littles,’ about surrounding themselves with positives—this organization needs positivity.”

Murphy, with an extensive background in marketing, was seeking a position that would “fulfill a sense of purpose and meaning” and “make a difference in the community.”

“And the more I did my research on Big Brother Big Sisters, the more I fell in love with it because it connected all the dots for me,” said Murphy, of Lewisberry.

“Mary stood out to me,” said Rote, “Because our organization is about connections and relationships, and when it comes to the development position, she can articulate what this mission is about. When you see how [BBBSCR] relationships are affecting kids and families, then we know the funding will come. And in Mary, we found someone to share our story with her heart.”

Over the Edge

Meantime, Braddy, of Harrisburg, taught for 28 years in the Harrisburg and Central Dauphin school districts, but calls her hiring by BBBSCR “totally accidental.”

She was dreaming of starting up a program to help area youth, and she fatefully shared her ideas with a friend who had recently become a “big” for BBBSCR. That friend suggested Braddy reach out to Rote.

“For me, what really sold me on this program was the opportunity to use my background in curriculum development,” said Braddy. “And I had a different viewpoint—being a woman of color gives you the opportunity to look at the kids you’re serving and connect with them, because you look like they do.”

In her prior teaching roles, Braddy had felt the frustration of trying to teach students things like the finer points of MLA Style for research papers, juxtaposed against their struggles with life skills. Things, it turns out, an organization focused on mentorship might impart.

“She not only had the educational background, but that commitment and dedication to kids—she has a passion for connections with children,” Rote said of Braddy.

With the leadership team in place, and engaged board members devising fundraising events to make up for the longstanding but pandemic-canceled Bowl for Kids’ Sake, Rote hired one more key person—Rich Carroll as events and engagement manager.

Carroll, with a background in nonprofits and events, was given a tall task as his first assignment—planning Over the Edge, a fundraising adventure challenge in which participants rappel 21 stories down the Fulton Bank building.

“I’ve never done anything like it,” said Carroll, of Etters. “I’ve gone through National Guard training and obstacle courses, but certainly not rappelling 21 stories. But it’s important to participate in events I’m working, so I’m going to do it.”

As 76 brave individuals go Over the Edge (spaces are still available) on Oct. 29, Carroll is aiming high with a $100,000 fundraising goal. BBBSCR’s annual operating budget is $1 million.

Perhaps the height of the building illustrates the growth Rote sees on the nonprofit’s horizon.

A new BBBSCR program, “Harrisburg Youth Rise: Stand Together,” begins meeting at Whitaker Center in October to bridge gaps in technology and match middle school “littles” with BIPOC community leader “bigs.”

At a time when Rote feels all the pieces of the puzzle falling into place for BBBSCR, the organization is also gearing up for its 40th anniversary celebration on Dec. 7.

“I want to celebrate 40 years of people who have been part of our family—we are a network. As soon as you say Big Brothers Big Sisters, people understand,” said Rote. “Many of our kids who were ‘littles’ went toward their dreams and came back to the organization as ‘bigs.’ We have mentors who ended up hiring their ‘littles’ into their companies. We have so many stories to celebrate.”

For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region, including Over the Edge, see capbigs.org.

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Safe & Sounds: Harrisburg Symphony opens its live music season, in a new space, with safety in mind.

September 30, 2021 | by Barbara Trainin Blank

The symphonic hall is again alive.

This month, the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra opens its 2021-22 season, having shared with many arts organizations the need to go virtual last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But, as it geared up for its first live concerts since February 2020, HSO faced an additional challenge. Renovations to the 90-year-old Forum in the Capitol Complex, its long-time home, forced it to seek another, temporary performance space for the season.

Right from the beginning, HSO has endured substantial challenges. When a group of music lovers decided to establish a symphony in Harrisburg, the country was in the throes of the Great Depression. Nevertheless, the founders moved ahead, with the first concert at Harrisburg’s William Penn High School on March 19, 1931, with a move to the Forum soon after.

Luckily, the search for a new, temporary home to resume live concerts was not as daunting as some expected.

“Even as it became possible to perform live again, HSO had to find a performance space large enough and attractive enough to substitute for the awe-inspiring Forum space,” said Matthew Herren, the symphony’s executive director. “Fortunately, we found a replacement in the Scottish Rite Theatre, which is a hidden gem near Italian Lake in Uptown Harrisburg.”

Built in 1954, the Scottish Rite Cathedral, at 2701 N. 3rd St., offers an entertainment venue that seats nearly 1,200 people, with 800 convenient parking spaces.

“It has a welcoming atmosphere, a large stage for our orchestra, and plenty of comfortable seating for our patrons,” Herren said.

The Pennsylvania Department of General Services, which operates the Forum, is “looking forward to the return of the HSO and its patrons to its historic auditorium after renovations are completed,” said Curt Topper, secretary of the department. “For nearly a century, the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra has called the Forum auditorium home.’

Of course, the heart of the symphony’s new season is the live music, noted Stuart Malina, music director and maestro.

“I’m very excited to be returning to live performances for a live audience,” he said.

For the season, HSO will present two series—Masterworks and the Capital Blue Pops.

Masterworks begins the weekend of Oct. 2-3 with the theme of “Picture Perfect.” The pieces to be performed include “Three Latin-American Dances” by Gabriela Lena Frank, a lush new piano concerto by HSO composer-in- residence Jonathan Leshnoff, and Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.”

The opening Pops concert, the weekend of Oct. 23-24, is a tribute to John Williams, one of the leading film composers.

The Masterworks series continues Nov. 13-14 with a theme of “Sweeping Landscapes.” Pieces to be performed include “Sinfonietta No. 1” by Mieczyslaw Weinberg, David Ludwig’s “Pictures from the Floating World,” with bassoonist Joseph Grimmer, and Jean Sibelius’s “Symphony No. 1.”

For the season, HSO tried hard—and succeeded—to maintain much of the programming that had been planned for 2020-21.

“Some changes had to be made, mostly due to ongoing COVID concerns,” Malina said. “For example, we are delaying any choral work and scheduling. But we kept the bulk of the existing programming.”

As of now, HSO is planning to keep to the announced program, “barring any major downturn,” he added.

Another point of excitement is that several composers represented in the symphony’s Masterworks series are not heard often in the concert hall, Herren said. These include Valerie Coleman, Carlos Simon and Gabriela Lena Frank.

Along with the renewed live concerts, HSO is emphasizing the development of its youth orchestra programs and its increased efforts toward diversity, inclusivity and equality, according to Pat Ferris, the new chair of the board.

In addition, the HSO Symphony Society, the fundraising arm, will sponsor a gala at Ashcombe Mansion in Mechanicsburg in April.

Of course, there is likely one more thing on concert attendees’ minds, aside from enthusiasm over the return of live music.

On its website, HSO states that it “strongly recommends” vaccinations for audience members and “masks for those at risk.” It also states that they will “continue to monitor CDC and state/local government guidelines.”

“We’re trying to ensure a safe environment for everyone,” Herren said. “Some people may have reservations about being in a large environment, and we understand. This is a deeply personal choice.”

For more information on the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, including tickets, visit www.harrisburgsymphony.org or call the box office at 717-545-5598.

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Leveling Down: High cholesterol remains a quieter community health crisis.

September 30, 2021 | by Capital Blue Cross Staff

COVID-19 is the ever-evolving public crisis we talk about daily. But there is another widespread, enduring and far-quieter potential killer still gripping our country and communities.

High cholesterol comes without symptoms until—if left untreated—it’s too late.

That’s part of the reason it continues to afflict nearly 40%, or roughly 93 million, of American adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

So, despite a dramatic drop since 2000 in the number of Americans with high cholesterol—the CDC says about a third fewer Americans have high cholesterol now than in 2000—it’s clearly still a crisis impacting our communities. It’s not just an adult crisis, either. Though most common among men 45 and over and women over 55, 7% of U.S. children age 6 to 19 also have perilous levels of the plaque-like substance that can clog arteries and restrict blood flow.

Consequences can be dire. According to a 2020 America’s Health Rankings’ (AHR) report, elevated LDL—or “bad”—cholesterol doubles the risk of heart disease, the country’s leading cause of death. It’s also a major risk factor for stroke, the fifth-leading killer.

That’s because too much LDL can build up to eventually block a coronary artery and cause a heart attack or limit blood flow to the brain and trigger a stroke.

The CDC reports that heart disease and strokes combine to claim more than 868,000 American lives each year, deaths made all the more tragic by how preventable they are.

“We know with confidence that there are many steps we can take to help modify our cholesterol levels,” said Dr. Jennifer Chambers, chief medical officer at Capital Blue Cross. “Regular screenings, a healthier diet, weight loss, more exercise, and prescribed medications can all dramatically lower our cholesterol levels and our risk.”

Testing, Treatment

Because high cholesterol comes without symptoms until it’s sometimes too late, it too often goes untreated. An illustration: the CDC says that only 55% of adults who could benefit from proven cholesterol-lowering medications, the most passive approach to controlling the problem, actually take them.

That’s part of why the American Heart Association urges adults 20 and older to get bloodwork every four to six years to check cholesterol levels. Should screenings reveal dangerous ranges, experts across the board share certain recommendations to lower cholesterol:

Cholesterol-lowering medications when prescribed. These include those in the widely used statin family.
Diets low in saturated fats. Saturated, or “bad,” fats are the main culprits leading to high LDL.
Effective weight management programs. Excess body fat makes it harder for the body to eliminate bad cholesterol from the blood. So discuss with your doctor a food and fitness plan that gets you to, or keeps you at, your ideal weight.
Quitting smoking. Smoking makes LDL “stickier,” meaning it is more prone to cling and clog arteries. It also lowers HDL, or “good,” cholesterol, which tends to carry cholesterol away from artery walls. So, quitting helps on two levels.

Largely due to a marked increase in Americans who take cholesterol-lowering medication, watch their diets, and no longer smoke, the percentage of U.S. adults with high LDL more than halved from 1976 to 2010, reports the CDC, with those age 65 to 74 making the most progress. Just 30% of them had high LDL by 2010, down from 72% in the late ’70s.

Here to Help

Despite the dramatic progress over the past several decades, there’s still plenty of ground to cover in the fight against high cholesterol. Having health insurance that covers cholesterol screening, counseling and treatment can really help.

Capital Blue Cross, for instance, offers a variety of preventive services with no cost share to members who have standard benefit coverage. Services related to healthy cholesterol levels may include:

An annual preventive visit to review health, as well as family and personal risk factors.
Preventive medications such as statins. See a full covered medication list at capbluecross.com.
A lab test, called a lipid panel, to check cholesterol levels.
Blood pressure screenings.
Behavioral counseling for cardiovascular disease prevention.

“High cholesterol doesn’t have to remain the potentially deadly risk it is for so many,” Dr. Chambers said. “There’s a lot we can do to decrease dangerous levels relatively quickly if we recognize the danger in letting it go unchecked and make a commitment to managing it.”

For more information about Capital Blue Cross, visit www.capbluecross.com.

This column is sponsored by Capital Blue Cross.

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A Better Check-Up: Fundraiser to assist Hall Manor health clinic.

September 30, 2021 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Like many organizations, the Community Check-Up Center has been through a lot since COVID hit. As a healthcare-based nonprofit, it may have endured even more than most.

Now, with a big fundraiser on tap, it’s looking to rebound for its beneficiaries—the underserved health community in Harrisburg.

For nearly 30 years, the Community Check-Up Center has offered quality medical care in the Hall Manor community for children and adults who may not be accepted elsewhere due to a lack of insurance or available funds. The nonprofit’s stated mission is to welcome, respect and treat all who come for care, regardless of their ability to pay.

Currently, the center serves a growing roster of around 2,000 pediatric and women care patients, said Holly Leggett, who serves as co-president of the nonprofit’s board of directors, along with Diane Voda.

“I’m an advocate for available quality care for everyone,” said Leggett, who first became involved with the center around 10 years ago. “We see patients whether they can pay or not. The health of one citizen in the area can affect all the rest of the community.”

The clinic was started in 1994 by four frustrated Head Start moms, long tired of hitting brick walls while seeking medical care for their children within their means. Initially, the facility offered only pediatric care but later expanded to include gynecological and family planning services, based on community need.

Today, the center’s busy staff includes two doctors, two licensed nurse practitioners, three administrators and four medical assistants. More staff is needed, however, as patient numbers continue to increase, Leggett said. Volunteers are restricted from assisting with patient care due to federal health rules, so instead tend to outside grounds or housekeeping, read to visiting children and other tasks.

Local author, teacher and photographer Deanne Burch began serving on the center’s board of directors and development committee around two years ago.

“I knew people on the board and was really interested in it,” she recalled.

Burch helps to organize fundraiser events benefiting the Check-Up Center, which includes an upcoming event on Nov. 13. An invitation-only fundraiser dinner kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at Vrai restaurant and bar in Lemoyne.

Vrai owner Shelly Page, who is Burch’s neighbor, serves on the Check-Up Center’s leadership council and is donating the restaurant’s food, beverages and service for the event, which she hopes will raise $100,000 and gain new sponsors for the facility. Joining the effort is Shelly’s husband, Mike Page, who retired in July as a general surgeon with UPMC.

Leggett said that the center “operates on a prayer that we continue every day,” garnering 60% of its funding through community support such as foundations, local businesses and individuals. Its remaining portion is funded through state Medicaid reimbursements and the Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania, a private, nonprofit “dedicated to improving health, preventing disease and promoting wellness,” according to its Facebook page.

Shelly Page initiated the upcoming Vrai fundraiser with a focus on Burch’s “inspiring” book, “Journey Through Fire and Ice: Shattered Dreams Above The Arctic Circle,” which was published earlier this year.

“I had read Deanne’s book and thought it would be a great thing for people to come and talk about it,” she said. “The story just has so many elements.”

In her book, Burch writes about a life-changing ordeal she endured as a young woman more than 50 years ago when accompanying her husband Tiger to a remote Alaska village near the Arctic Circle. The couple remained there for months while Tiger conducted a study of the area, making do without basic plumbing and electricity.

Within a span of days there, the Burches narrowly escaped death while camping, followed by Tiger suffering severe burns when their house caught fire. Despite a three-month hospital stay, Tiger’s seared lungs never recovered, Burch writes.

“I thought I had a good story because I’ve been through a lot,” Burch reflected. “It’s a story about overcoming tragedy.”

Burch will be on hand selling copies of her book at the upcoming Vrai fundraiser, with all proceeds benefiting Community Check-Up Center.

“When you get involved like this, you’re helping the people in Hall Manor,” Burch noted. “An ex-director told me our greatest need (at the center) is staffing, but in general, I believe our greatest need is getting all people vaccinated.”

The Community Check-Up Center also serves as a conduit that refers individuals to outside agencies for other needs. Leggett cited clients’ “greatest needs” as “an assurance that they have a roof over their head, food on the table, medical care and a chance for life.”

The Community Check-Up Center is open weekdays at 38 Hall Manor Pl., Harrisburg. For information, visit www.communitycheckupcenter.org or call 717-233-1700.

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A Season of Their Own: For the 2021-22 mainstage, Gamut Theatre exclusively features women directors.

September 30, 2021 | by Carolina Nicholson

Rachita Menon, Melissa Nicholson, Sharia Benn, Francesca Amendolia

For the first time in its nearly 30-year history, Gamut Theatre will have all female directors for its mainstage season.

The directors of Gamut’s 29th season are a powerful and unique group of women. Each will bring her own vision to the Select Medical Mainstage over the course of the year.

Season 29 will open with back-to-back direction from Gamut’s Executive Director Melissa Nicholson. First up is a public showing of the 2021-22 educational engagement production “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which has been adapted by Melissa and Clark Nicholson.

Though it is her fifth time directing the play, Melissa Nicholson is still finding new and exciting ways to introduce the next generation to Shakespeare.

“I don’t even mind going through the play again,” she said. “I’m always finding something in the source material that I didn’t find last time.”

“Midsummer,” running Oct. 8 to 17, is a pinnacle example of a magical story, which really sets the tone for the rest of the season. In fact, “a little bit of magic” seems to be the theme at Gamut this year.

Next comes “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass,” an adaptation of the absurd and delightful books by Lewis Carroll. While “Alice’s Adventures” will be very different from other classic children’s stories (because there is no specific lesson at the end), Nicholson feels there is a greater meaning available—when you take the time to notice it.

“I feel that Alice is universally relatable for most of us who grew up with her story,” she said. “As a woman who broke the mold a few times in my life, it is especially meaningful to watch this young girl who can’t seem to fit in anywhere or get herself out of trouble.”

Sometimes, that spark of creativity and being different leads people to their “ultimate station in life,” she added.

“But some of this story is purely just good fun,” Nicholson said, laughing.

You’ll have a chance to see the giant Cheshire Cat puppet and the full cast of playful characters, Nov. 6 to 28.

In 2022, the magical shows get more intentional and earnest. Gamut will celebrate Black history by partnering with Sankofa African-American Theatre Company.

“Echoes of Voices of the Eighth,” an expansion of the show from 2019, will debut Feb. 11 to 20. Written and directed by Sankofa’s Executive Artistic Director Sharia Benn, this play uses the stage to connect a present teenager with generations past. Benn brings to life the people who once lived in the Old Eighth Ward, where part of Harrisburg’s Capitol Complex now sits.

“When you know your past—for yourself—you have strength and truth for the journey ahead of you,” Benn said.

The show encourages celebration of the self and one’s history, especially in Harrisburg, where many are unfamiliar with the roots directly under their feet. Benn brings this history alive for current and future generations with her new script.

In March, Gamut will present “Orlando,” directed by Francesca Amendolia. It’s a story that transforms itself and its characters and brings audiences along on a journey through centuries.

Orlando, a young nobleman in the court of Queen Elizabeth I, yearns for love and adventure and to find his place in the world. So strong is his longing that he becomes untethered in time. Two hundred years of adventures and love later, Orlando, who is now only 30, awakes from a weeklong sleep to discover he has become a woman. Transformed and yet essentially the same person, Orlando still hungers for adventure and love and understanding.

Adapted from the novel Virginia Woolf wrote for her lover, Vita Sackville-West, Sarah Ruhl’s “Orlando” is a hilarious, tender and joyful celebration of queer love, gender and the complicated and beautiful journey we all must take to discover our true selves.

“‘Orlando’ tells us that people do not need to be defined or confined by gender, fashion, society, or even time itself,” Amendolia said. “Orlando does not age or die because they are so determined to figure out who they are, to find their voice, and that means they must discard their assigned gender to explore more of what it means to be fully Orlando.”

Rachita Menon will co-direct the Young Acting Company’s “Panchatantra Tales” with Melissa Nicholson this spring. The show, portrayed by students ages 8 to 18, will detail a compilation of lessons-turned-stories from India.

“My entire childhood flashes in front of me when I think about these stories and what they meant to me growing up,” Menon said.

It will come to the Gamut stage April 8 to 10 for four performances only, complete with animals, dances, adorable faces and a little bit of magic.

The directors of this season will bring a combination of warmth, excellence, synergy and fearlessness to the mainstage, which in turn will create one of Gamut’s most diverse seasons yet.

Gamut Theatre is located at 15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg. For more information and tickets, call 717-238-4111 or visit www.gamuttheatre.org.

Special Events
at Gamut Theatre

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
By William Shakespeare
Oct. 8 to 17
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
Doors and bar open one hour prior to the performance.
Tickets are “pick your price.” You can choose the recommended $38 ticket or a discounted ticket price of $26 or $14.

TMI Improv
Friday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Doors and bar open 45 minutes prior to the performance.
Tickets are $10.

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Slow, Striking: “Bergman Island” can be plodding, but it looks lovely.

September 30, 2021 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Fans of Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman shouldn’t get too excited about Mia Hansen-Løve’s newest film, “Bergman Island.” While the film spends a lot of time dictating his history, it ends up being more of a backdrop to the story than anything else, and instead, the film focuses on a woman named Chris.

Chris (Vicky Krieps) is visiting Bergman Island with her partner, Tony (Tim Roth). They are both filmmakers. Tony has been called there for a screening of a film he made and invited to stay at the Bergman Suite to take in the history of the island, and Chris is hoping for a little inspiration herself for the script she’s trying to write. It is clear that their relationship is not quite what it used to be. The two experience the island at the same time, but separately, and this causes miscommunication and confusion at times. Chris and Tony seem to be together out of a force of habit and comfort rather than actual enjoyment of each other’s company.

While I previously said that Bergman is more a backdrop, there is one nugget of information that comes heavily into play in the film. Early on, a debate is sparked about how Bergman had nine children with five different women, and Chris asks what everyone thinks about a woman having children by different men. Everyone thinks this is ridiculous. This causes Chris to dive into her past, ultimately influencing the script she writes in her time there. She begins to write about her first love, who she departed from but reunited with years later, after she had found someone else and had a kid with them.

She focuses her screenplay on this memory, exploring the idea of “Amy” (the stand-in for herself, played by Mia Wasikowski) and Joseph (Anders Danielson Lie) being reunited. Chris allows the story to act as a form of therapy for her, helping her come to terms with the way her life has ended up.

It’s clear that Hansen-Love has poured a good bit of herself into Chris—she is French and has a child by a man who she no longer connects with. The concept is clear, and the message that Hansen-Love wants to drive home is done so eloquently, but the film itself is kind of plodding and stale (if not rich in gorgeous seaside imagery). Though a meta approach is usually a plus in a film like this (Hansen-Love has written a character based on herself, who writes a character based on herself), the concept may have been better suited in the format of a short film. While this reviewer usually revels in slow pacing, there is a difference between that and stretching a story to fit a skeleton of feature length.

But overall, the film is striking as a mood piece, and once you’ve gotten the message, you can sit back and enjoy the quiet, breezy shores of the Swedish backdrop. And the cast does a wonderful job—Krieps and Wasikowski draw out their quiet, hopeful misery in a compelling way. “Bergman Island” will play at Midtown Cinema in October.

Midtown Cinema is located at 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com.

OCTOBER EVENTS
at Midtown Cinema

Down in Front! Presents
“The Corpse Vanishes” (1942)
Friday, Oct. 8, 9:30 p.m.

“Halloween” (1978)
Sunday, Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m.

3rd in the Burg Movie Night
“Hocus Pocus” (1993)
Friday, Oct. 15, 9:30 p.m.

National Theatre Live presents
“Frankenstein”
Sunday, Oct. 17, 4 p.m.

“The Shining” (1980)
Sunday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m.

“Creepshow” (1982)
Friday, Oct. 22, 9:30 p.m.

“Night of the Living Dead” (1968)
Friday, Oct. 22, 9:45 p.m.

“It” Double Feature
Sunday, Oct. 24, 5 p.m.

“Carrie” (1976)
Friday, Oct. 29, 9:30 p.m.

“Freaks” (1932)
Friday, Oct. 29, 9:45 p.m.

“Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975)
Saturday, Oct. 30, 8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.

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

Making a Name: Through a series of Saturday pop-up shops, entrepreneurs find a launch pad for their businesses.

September 30, 2021 | by Maddie Gittens

Chevaun Smith knows exactly how to describe her business.

“I specialize in bling—that’s my thing,” she said.

Anything she can bedazzle, Smith’s got it. She sells sparkly shirts, hoodies, hats, jewelry and face masks, among other blinged-out items.

Smith started Che’ Boutique about a year ago. She had worked in childcare for years, but during the pandemic, the business she worked for closed and Smith was out of a job.

Since stepping out as a full-time entrepreneur, Smith said that business is great.

“You would think during the pandemic I wouldn’t do well, but by the grace of God I have,” she said.

In addition to God, Smith credits a Harrisburg event for much of her business growth over the year—Small Business Saturday.

Almost every month since August 2020, Harrisburg-native Ashley Smith has brought together small business owners from the community at pop-up shops around the city.

Most often, businesses set up shop around Italian Lake Park, but pop-ups have also taken place at Reservoir Park, the Harrisburg Mall and Soldier’s Grove Park.

Ashley saw how businesses were impacted during the pandemic and decided to invite some local vendors to a pop-up shop. That first event sparked more interest, she explained.

“It’s grown in the past year to be a platform for new and startup businesses,” Ashley said.

What started as a gathering of about 20 businesses has grown to over 80 businesses, sometimes surrounding the entire Italian Lake Park loop. Vendors sell a wide range of items, including clothing, candles, skincare items, jewelry, shoes and baked goods, among other things.

Ashley’s goal is to remove some of the barriers that young businesses often face, such as financial burdens and lack of exposure. Businesses pay only $30 to reserve a spot at the event, where they can set up shop from 12 to 5 p.m.

While the event is open to any business, Ashley said many of the participants are minority- and youth-owned businesses—a group she had hoped to spotlight.

For Lanita Wade, owner of N’VE Naturals, networking has been one of the most important aspects of the pop-ups.

“Even if I don’t sell much one day, as long as I get my card out and network, it’s a success,” she said.

Wade also started her business during the pandemic, handcrafting and selling natural skin, hair and feminine products. All of her products are vegan, and none contain chemicals, she said.

Her own experience of struggling to find products that worked for her hair without causing damage fueled her to create her own products.

Now Wade sells shea butter, hair growth oil, edge repair cream and rose water, among other items.

Wade said that her business relies on pop-up shops like Small Business Saturday to get the word out about her homemade products. Through the event, she’s gained new customers, she said.

“Anyone who wants to be an entrepreneur, Small Business Saturday is a really good opportunity for them,” Wade said. “Starting a small business isn’t always easy, but I encourage them to do it.”

Smith knows the challenge of starting a small business and having to step out of her comfort zone to get the word out.

“I have to depend on getting out and doing events to bring in income for my family,” she said.

The way the local community has shown up each month to support the businesses has meant a lot to her.

“Even if my supporters can’t buy from me, word of mouth goes a long way,” she said.

Ashley said that she knows the community looks forward to the event every month. She remembers one month when she had to cancel due to inclement weather and received many messages from people who were upset that the event wouldn’t happen.

“The community has come out and shown so much support for this,” she said.

Ashley’s motto for Small Business Saturday is, “spend your money where your heart is,” emphasizing the importance of shopping local. Recycling dollars within a community is crucial to growth, she believes.

Seeing the wide array of vendors at the pop-ups, Ashley said that she sees no excuse for not shopping local.

The next Small Business Saturday will be held on Oct. 16 from 12 to 5 p.m. at Italian Lake in Harrisburg. Ashley expects to have another in November before taking a break for the winter. However, she doesn’t see the events ending any time soon.

“Seeing the businesses come together every month and their resilience makes me want to continue to help them build a platform,” she said.

For more information about Small Business Saturday HBG, visit their Facebook page.

Che’ Boutique Bling Tee’s can be found on Facebook.

To shop from N’VE Naturals, visit her Etsy page.

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Thriving, Striving: A new program brings together diverse congregations to dive deep into race, justice.

September 30, 2021 | by Susan Ryder

Brian Smith & Drew Hart

There’s an old saying that states, “The most segregated places in the world is church on Sunday morning.”

So says Rev. Dr. David T. Miller, quoting Martin Luther King, Jr. Miller pastors Wesley Union AME Zion Church in Harrisburg, the oldest African American congregation in the city.

Recently, Miller and congregation representatives, along with 11 other churches, have begun participating in Messiah University’s “Thriving Together” program.

The two-year program, funded by the Lilly Endowment, is bringing together diverse area congregations across geography, race and politics to participate in anti-racism training, learn about geographic racial boundaries, study theologies of justice and reconciliation, and examine their own tradition’s mission and values.

Eventually, they will take a bus tour to areas of civil rights history in the South.

“At the end of our time, our participating congregations would have a deeper understanding of the ways that their own church participates in the racial ecosystem of our region, number one,” said Drew Hart, Messiah professor and program co-director. “They would have a better understanding of their church, in their traditions’ racial history. And they would have refreshed and reimagined their ministries to engage the challenges that we face in our current society today.”

Each group has a particular hope for their congregation.

“My hope and my expectation is that we’ll be able to deepen our roots in the community, but also work together with other congregations, around racial injustice, to become better advocates for the city and racial justice,” said the Rev. Canon Kate Harrigan, rector at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Racial justice conversations, in the context of church, would also include discussing the hard truth that, throughout history, the church has played a significant role in promoting racial injustice.

“The Bible itself was used as a tool and weapon to enslave people, to define discrimination, to enforce laws, and to tell individuals that what we’re doing, we’re doing because this is what God would have us do,” Miller said.

Reconciliation, Action

The journey through this program will not be an easy one.

Congregations will talk openly about race, in a way that they may not have before and learn facts that they didn’t know. These facts include:

On the west shore, many neighborhoods had racially restricted deeds that limited the people who could buy a home based on race, religion or ethnicity.
The KKK and other white supremacist groups have had a long history in Pennsylvania.
At Wesley Union AME Zion, church property was simply taken from them, on two separate occasions, without any recourse or compensation.

“That part of this program is kind of reckoning with history,” said Josiah Ludwick, associate pastor of Harrisburg First Church of the Brethren on Hummel Street. “Having experts and people who’ve done the scholarship in those areas to help guide us through that process is really exciting.”

Talking and learning is just one aspect of the program. The second involves reconciliation and action.

“We need to be about the work of reconciling broken relationships in our world,” said Brian Smith, program co-director. “And part of that is, of course, dealing with the history and legacy of racial inequalities in this country.”

Each participating congregation will receive a small grant at the end of the two years to develop or revitalize racial justice initiatives, Smith said.

Thirty churches applied for the program, more than double what the program could manage and many others expressed interest.

Hart and Smith both believe that the murder of George Floyd last year demonstrated to congregations a problem they could no longer ignore, heightening interest in the program.

“That just affirmed for us two things: the validity of our program and the good work that people are already doing,” Smith said. “It demonstrated that this is a thing that churches already have in their frame.”

Calling Us

Racism can be viewed as a political topic, and some churches shy away from tackling the issue.

“If churches, in particular, are going to say that they’re committed to the God revealed in scripture, then that’s the same God that says to let justice roll down like waters and righteous, like an ever flowing stream, right?” Hart said. “And so still, that’s the kind of work we should be about as Christians.”

Other churches dive right into what they consider their work, Harrigan said.

“There’s a very tenuous line between political and mission,” she said. “And I think we, you know, the world, walked on that line last year. And, for some, anything that had to do with Black Lives Matters or George Floyd was too political for church. St. Paul’s, we think of that as church. That’s what God is calling us to respond to.”

According to Miller, rather than churches staying away from controversy, they are uniquely situated to create the kind of reconciliation that is promoted through the “Thriving Together” program. He said that he’s looking forward to another, better time.

“When both parties, whether you’re black or white, say, ‘I’m sorry. I was really ignorant to that. I never looked at it that way,’” he said. “And have an understanding of other pieces, learning one another’s culture.”

Rather than segregated from one another, churches connecting in “Thriving Together” will discuss hard issues and will likely feel uncomfortable and challenged.

“I think the church in general is on a precipice, and we can go either way in that precipice,” Harrigan said. “We can either kind of tumble back and fall into being a very ineffective institution. Or we can strive forward. We can become one of the most effective institutions, not imposing our theology or belief system so much as encouraging justice, equity, love and hope.”

For more information on “Thriving Together,” visit www.messiah.edu/info/23582/thriving_together.

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

Happenings: Our October Calendar of Events

September 30, 2021 | by Missy Smith

Happenings

Museums & Art Spaces

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

“Minibike Mania,” a display of more than two dozen miniature motorbikes, through Oct. 16

“Keep on Truckin’: Light Duty Trucks,” an exhibit focused on the history of pickup trucks, through Oct. 22

“Iconic Chevrolets,” an exhibit presented by the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America, through Oct. 22

“Hershey’s History: Before & After Chocolate,” through Oct. 22

Art Association of Harrisburg
21 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-236-1432; artassocofhbg.com

“Duality,” fall membership show that celebrates duality, which is the quality or state of having two different or opposite parts or elements, through Oct. 14

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

“Suspended Energy,” sculptures by Gregg Silvis and oil paintings by Hannah Steele, through Oct. 30

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

October Artist: Jessica Jacobs

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

“In Light of the Past,” an exhibition considering how we experience photographs, through Oct. 9

“Horace Pippin: Racism and War,” centering on Pippin’s “Mr. Prejudice,” representing the artist’s response to the discrimination of African American soldiers fighting in World War II, through Feb. 19

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

HAAA member art display at Hershey Public Library, through Oct. 16

HAAA member art display at Campbelltown Academy, through Nov. 20

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

“Reflecting the Glory—Sandra Bowden,” through Oct. 17

“Proverbs, Poems and Promises,” a collective show of work by 16 illustrators whose work is linked by their shared Christian faith, Oct. 29-Nov. 21

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

New works by Pamela Black, Kelly Curran, Richard Souders, Reina 76 Artist, Tina Berrier, and Lauren Castillo, through Oct. 10

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

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history

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

“Artisan Marketplace” holiday exhibition, filled with unique handmade items and art for local gift giving, Oct. 2-Jan. 15

“Art Uplifts” outdoor exhibition of encouraging and inspirational local artwork at Millerstown Community Park, through Oct. 24

“Art Uplifts” outdoor exhibition of encouraging and inspirational local artwork at Little Buffalo State Park, through Oct. 25-Nov. 21

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

The art faculty at HACC, Oct. 11-Nov. 5; zoom lectures by select faculty, Oct. 21, 6 p.m.

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

“Art of the State,” an annual statewide juried competition, through Jan. 2

“Witness to History: Colonel Paul Evanko’s 9/11 Field Notes,” featuring the head of the PA State Police’s handwritten field notes from the morning of 9/11, through Jan. 2

“Why Not in Pennsylvania? Campaigning for Women’s Suffrage in the Keystone State,” through Jan. 2

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

“Four Seasons and Seven Vices—Old Master Prints in Series,” examining stories of seasons, elements, planets, virtues and vices in Renaissance and Baroque-era printmaking, Oct. 9-Jan. 23

“Tradition Interrupted,” exploring how artists weave contemporary ideas with traditional art and craft to create thought-provoking hybrid images and objects, Oct. 9-Jan. 23

“Meanderings,” a collection of variable collagraphic prints by artist Valerie R. Dillon, who illustrates her journey of shifting between known and unknown spaces, through Oct. 17

“Mobility to Movement,” etchings by Isabel Bishop, through Oct. 17

“Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You,” artwork by Irvin Rodriguez, Oct. 22-Feb. 20

“Unpredictable Nature,” works by Sandi Neiman Lovitz and Autumn C. Wright, who use gesture, shape, pattern and spontaneity to create abstract compositions, through Oct. 31

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

“A Contemplation of Scenery—The Vesell Family Collection,” through Oct. 24

Winters Heritage House Museum
41-47 E. High St., Elizabethtown
717-367-4672; elizabethtownhistory.org

“Evolving Images,” exploring the history of recorded images from the very first photographs to current Snapchat photographs, through Oct.

Read, Make, Learn

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

Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27: Abstract Painting, 12-2 p.m.
Oct. 8: Craft Beer & Clay, 7-9 p.m.
Oct. 9: Vintage Tin Earrings, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Oct. 9: Pen/Ink Watercolor Flower, 12-3 p.m.
Oct. 11-Nov. 15: Wheel 102, Mondays, 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 12: Beginner Level 1 Jewelry Making—Riveting & Texture, 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 12-Nov. 2: Plein Air Painting at Allenberry, 1-3:30 p.m.
Oct. 12-Nov. 16: Collaborative Art Class w/CPARC, Tuesdays, 10-11 a.m. or 1-2 p.m.
Oct. 16: Happy Halloween art projects (ages 6-12), 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Oct. 16: Easy, Playful Acrylic, 12-3 p.m.
Oct. 16-Nov. 6: Figure Drawing (adult 17+), 2:30-5:30 p.m.
Oct. 20-Dec. 1: Wheel 101, Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 23: Carlisle Seed Share T-shirt, 12:30-2 p.m.
Oct. 26-Nov. 30: Mold Making for Ceramics, Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 27: Indigo Dye Lab, 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 30: Awakening Your Creativity Through Movement, Music & Meditation, 9 a.m-1 p.m.

Dauphin County Library System
dcls.org

Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Preschool Storytime, 10 a.m.
Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Teen Dungeons and Dragons online, 4 p.m.
Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Teen Dungeons and Dragons online, 3 p.m.
Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25: Born to Read, 9:30 a.m.
Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25: Writing Workshop, 4 p.m.
Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26: Family Storytime, 6 p.m.
Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27: Toddler Storytime, 10 a.m.
Oct. 6, 20: Discord Hangouts, 3 p.m.
Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28: Anime Club, 4 p.m.
Oct. 13, 27: Young Adult Book Club, 4 p.m.
Oct. 15: Haunted Library Tour, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Oct. 19: Novel Thoughts Book Club Too, 1 p.m.
Oct. 21: Seasonal Science, 6 p.m.
Oct. 27: Spanish Language Conversation Group, 12 p.m.
Oct. 27: Tween Book Club, 4 p.m.

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

Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28: Fiber Artists, 3 p.m.
Oct. 9: Fiber Artists, 10 a.m.
Oct. 11: Baby Time, 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 13: Toddler Time, 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 14: Family Storytime Fall Term, 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 14, 28: Knitter’s Group, 5 p.m.
Oct. 16: Knitter’s Group, 10 a.m.

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

Oct. 6: Virtual Illustrated Talk—Harrisburg Homefront in WWII, 7-8 p.m.

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

Oct. 4, 18: STEM Grab & Go, 9 a.m.
Oct. 5: Curl up with the Classics—“The Yellow Wall Paper,” 10-11 a.m.
Oct. 5: Zoom—Frederickson Writes on Zoom, 6:45 p.m.
Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26: Career Exploration Workshop, 10:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 6: Moving Forward Book Group w/ Hospice of Central PA, 1-2 p.m.
Oct. 6: Hear Me Out—A Discussion Series, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28: Language at the Library—Spanish, 10-11 a.m.
Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28: Resume Writing Workshop, 10:30-11:30 a.m., 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Oct. 8, 22: Film Fridays, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9: Library for Lunch (ages 3-6), 1 p.m.
Oct. 11: Philosophers’ Roundtable, 2-3:30 p.m.
Oct. 11: Twisted Stitchers, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 15: Family Movie Night, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 15, 22: Peaceful Poses Children’s Yoga Story Time, 10-11 a.m.
Oct. 16, 23, 30: Teen Grab and Go Bag (ages 7-12), 1 p.m.
Oct. 25: Virtual Fredricksen Reads—“The Vanishing Half,” 7-8 p.m.
Oct. 26: READ to Dogs, 6:30-8 p.m.

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

Oct. 10-Nov. 28: American Sign Language Level 1, Sundays, 2-3:30 p.m.
Oct. 10-Nov. 28: American Sign Language Level 2, Sundays, 4-5:30 p.m.
Oct. 15: Charcoal Drawing for Adults & Teens, 6-8 p.m.

Harrisburg Young Professionals
hyp.org

Oct. 2: Peffer Street Gardening Event, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24: HYP Flag Football, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Oct. 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28: HYP Sand Volleyball, 6-10 p.m.

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

Oct. 2, 16: Chess Club, 1 p.m.
Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26: Girls Who Code, 6 p.m.
Oct. 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28: Penn State Hershey—Mothers & Babies Together, 10 a.m.
Oct. 6: Card Making Class, 6 p.m.
Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27: Laura English Writing Class, 6 p.m.
Oct. 7, 21: Hershey Quilters, 12:30 p.m.
Oct. 14: Hershey Area Neighbors and Newcomers, 10 a.m.
Oct. 16: Cocoa Area Fiber Enthusiasts, 10 a.m.
Oct. 20: Blood Drive, 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 11, 21: Storytime for Everyone, 10:15 a.m.
Oct. 18, 25: Book and Babies, 10:15 a.m.

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

Oct. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29: Story Time, 10:15 a.m.
Oct. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29: Toddler Time (18 months-3 years), 11:30 a.m.
Oct. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29: Rhyme Time, 12 p.m.
Oct. 4: Storybook STEAM, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27: Rhyme Time (18 months and younger), 10:15 a.m.
Oct. 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27: Story Time (ages 4-6), 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26: Tea and Stitches, 10 a.m.
Oct. 6: How Did My Computer Get Kidnapped?, 1-3 p.m.
Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28: Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Oct. 9, 23: Block Party!, 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 11, 25: English Conversation Club, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Oct. 13: Mad About Mysteries on Zoom, 7-8 p.m.
Oct. 18: Monday Night Book Club, 7-8 p.m.
Oct. 20: Apple Users Group, 1 p.m.
Oct. 21: Thursday Morning Book Club, 10 a.m.
Oct. 23: Trivia at Home—Star Trek, 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 26: Tabletop Game Night, 6-8 p.m.

The LGBT Center of Central PA
1306 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-920-9534; centralpalgbtcenter.org

Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Passageways, 2 p.m.
Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Young Adult Group, 4 p.m.
Oct. 6, 13, 20 27: Common Roads (ages 12-17), 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 12, 26: Queers and Quests game night, 6 p.m.
Oct. 14: Aging with Pride Luncheon, 12 p.m.

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

Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Online Science Fiction Book Club
Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Star Trek Rewatch online group
Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26: Tales with T.A.I.L.S., 6-7 p.m.
Oct. 7: Book Club, 6-7 p.m.

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

Oct. 1: Allen Guelzo w/Scott LaMar, 7 p.m.
Oct. 5: Kate Johnson w/Sharon Salzberg, 7 p.m.
Oct. 6: TJ Klune w/Kathryn Budig, 7 p.m.
Oct. 8: Keisha N. Blain w/Damon Young, 7 p.m.
Oct. 19: Amor Towles w/Ken Burns, 7 p.m.
Oct. 20: Eric J. Johnson w/Philip E. Tetlock, 7 p.m.
Oct. 27: Donald Antrim w/Akhil Sharma, 7 p.m.

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

Oct. 23: Fluid Art, 12-3 p.m.

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

Oct. 9: The Supreme Court and the Civil War, 1-2 p.m.

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

Oct. 1: Take & Make (ages 2-5), 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Oct. 4: Book Babies Storytime, 11:15 a.m.
Oct. 5: Storytime & More, 10:30 a.m.

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

Oct. 4, 6, 7, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 25, 27, 28: Little Explorers Fall Early Learning Classes, 10:30-11 a.m.
Oct. 6, 13: Smart Start Storytime, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28: Little Explorers Fall Early Learning Classes, 1:30-2 p.m.

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

Oct. 9: Small Market Basket workshop, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Oct. 14-Nov. 18: “Arts for All” inclusive art classes w/ CPARC, Thursdays, 10-11 a.m. or 1-2 p.m.

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

Oct. 1: Virtual Artists Conversations, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
Oct. 1, 16: StoryTime, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Oct. 3: 2021 Annual Workshops in Archaeology, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27: Explore! (grades 3-5), 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28: Curiosity Kids (grades K-2), 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Oct. 8: Adventures in Nature Lab (in-person and virtual)—PA Deer Habitat, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
Oct. 13, 14, 15, 16: Life through Time Tour, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Oct. 22: Virtual State Museum Perspectives, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
Oct. 29: Treasures from the Vault, 12:15-12:45 p.m.

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

Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Saturday Morning Art Club, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Young Artist Camp, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Oct. 20: Life Drawing Class, 6-9 p.m.

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

Oct. 2: Cadette Girl Scouts—Trees, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Oct. 2: Kids Discover—Leave No Trace (ages 10-14), 1-2:30 p.m.
Oct. 6: Preschool Storytime—Fall at Wildwood, 10-10:45 a.m.
Oct. 6: Family/Senior Bike Ride, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Oct. 8: Bird Walk—Fall Migration at Wildwood, 7:30-9:30 a.m.
Oct. 9: Volunteer Work Day, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Oct. 9: Nature Journaling for Adults, 1-3 p.m.
Oct. 9: Birdhouse Workshop, 1-3 p.m.
Oct. 10: Tree Identification, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Oct. 11: Greenbelt Bike Ride, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Oct. 12: Pawpaw Walk at Fort Hunter, 9 am.-12 p.m.
Oct. 15: New Moon Walk, 8-10 p.m.
Oct. 16: Kids Discover—Trees (ages 4-6), 10-11:30 a.m.
Oct. 16: Kids Discover—Trees (ages 7-10), 1-2:30 p.m.
Oct. 19: Fall Tree Walk, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Oct. 20: Boscov’s Friends Helping Friends Sale, 8 a.m.-11 p.m.
Oct. 21: Kids Discover—Fall (ages 2-4), 10-10:45 a.m.
Oct. 23: Night at the Nature Center, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Oct. 27: Dr. Suess Science Series, 10-10:45 a.m.
Oct. 30: How To Prepare Your Garden for Winter, 9-10:30 a.m.
Oct. 30: Kids Discover—Trees (ages 4-6), 10-11:30 a.m.
Oct. 30: Kids Discover—Trees (ages 7-10), 1-2:30 p.m.

Live Music

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

Oct. 2: 38 Special
Oct. 8: Martina McBride
Oct. 10: Engelbert Humperdinck
Oct. 14: David Foster
Oct. 15: The Texas Tenors
Oct. 17: Diamond Rio and Blackhawk
Oct. 19: Abba the Concert
Oct. 20: RAIN—A Tribute to the Beatles
Oct. 22: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
Oct. 24: Anka Sings Sinatra

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

Oct. 2, 30: York Symphony
Oct. 8: Pedro Gonzalez
Oct. 10: The Ghost of the Paul Revere
Oct. 15: Postmodern Jukebox
Oct. 16: Jimmy Webb and Robin Spielberg
Oct. 17: Nathan Avakian
Oct. 23: High Noon—A Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd and Southern Rock

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

Oct. 14: Shawan Rice

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

Oct. 16: Foreigners Journey
Oct. 30: Mavis Staples

The Englewood
1219 Research Blvd. Hummelstown
717-256-9480; [email protected]

Oct. 6: Laughs and Drafts w/Zane Lamprey
Oct. 9: The Clarks
Oct. 13, 27: Wednesday Jazz Series w/Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz
Oct. 15: The Backseat Lovers
Oct. 16: Michigander
Oct. 19: The Minks w/Nordista Freeze
Oct. 20: Big Band Jazz w/Harrisburg Jazz Collective
Oct. 22: Colebrook Road
Oct. 23: Big Sky Quartet
Oct. 28: Blitz Dynette
Oct. 29: Pete Henry
Oct. 30: Crippled But Free

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

Oct. 1: The Seldom Scene, Seldom Said No, ill.GATES
Oct. 2: Hawk, Jake Miller
Oct. 3: Cold
Oct. 8: Dustin Sims
Oct. 9: Twiztid, Bastard Bearded Irishmen
Oct. 10: Cradle of Filth, Chatham County Line
Oct. 15: Kyle Gass
Oct. 16: Blacktop Mojo, Time’s Infinity, Moon Hooch, Consider the Source
Oct. 19: Teenage Bottlerocket, Ford the River, The Chumps
Oct. 22: Marauda, Calcium
Oct. 23: GA-20, From Ashes to New
Oct. 24: Chris Webby
Oct. 26: Tee Grizzley
Oct. 27: Spafford
Oct. 30: D.R.U.G.S.

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

Oct. 2-3: Picture Perfect Master Works
Oct. 23-24: John Williams Tribute

Harrisburg University Presents
concertseries.harrisburgu.edu

Oct. 8: Rodrigo y Gabriela (Hershey Theatre)
Oct. 9: Frank Turner (XL Live)
Oct. 12: Black Pumas (XL Live)
Oct. 15: Backseat Lovers (The Englewood)
Oct. 16: Michigander (The Englewood)
Oct. 22: Saint Motel (XL Live)
Oct. 23: Bishop Briggs (XL Live)
Oct. 29: The Record Company (XL Live)
Oct. 30: Cold War Kids (XL Live)

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

Oct. 8: Rodrigo y Gabriela

Hollywood Casino
777 Hollywood Blvd., Grantville
717-469-2211; www.hollywoodpnrc.com

Oct. 1: Hott Toddys
Oct. 2: Funktion
Oct. 8: Stonewood
Oct. 9: Toolshed Jack
Oct. 15: Screamin Daisys
Oct. 16: Sapphire
Oct. 22: Uptown Band
Oct. 23: Smooth Like Clyde
Oct. 29: Jumper
Oct. 30: Emily’s Toybox

Keystone Concert Band
145 E. Main St., First Floor, Mechanicsburg
717-421-1512; keystoneconcertband.com

Oct. 9: Concert at Linglestown Life United Methodist Church

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

Oct. 9: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

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

Oct. 5: Tommy Emmanuel, Andy McKee
Oct. 7: Symphony Orchestra and Wind Symphony
Oct. 11: Gordon Lightfoot
Oct. 23: Jazz Ensemble Concert

Market Square Concerts
www.marketsquareconcerts.org

Oct. 6: Arianna String Quartet

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

Oct. 2: Voctave
Oct. 9: Messiah University Jazz Ensembles
Oct. 9: Messiah University Symphony Orchestra Family Concert
Oct. 9: Messiah University Concert Choir, Chamber Singers and Alumni and Parent Choir
Oct. 31: Mendelssohn Piano Trio

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

Oct. 15: Seipp/Sheets Trumpet and Organ Duo Happy Hour Concert

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

Oct. 8: Bruce Molsky & Tony Trischka

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

Oct. 9: Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox

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

Oct. 8: 1964 The Tribute

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

Oct. 2: The Crystal Method, MasterGlass, Humandala
Oct. 8: Ben Gallaher
Oct. 9: HU presents Frank Turner
Oct. 12: HU presents Black Pumas
Oct. 15: DEAD: My Chemical Romance
Oct. 16: Lotus
Oct. 22: HU presents Saint Motel
Oct. 23: HU presents Bishop Briggs w/Shaed
Oct. 29: HU presents The Record Company
Oct. 30: HU presents Cold War Kids
Oct. 31: Magic Beans Halloween Party

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

Oct. 6: Shrimp Ryan’s Jig Band
Oct. 15: Bend the Rails
Oct. 21: Boozy Bingo
Oct. 28: Johnny Stanec

The Stage Door

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

Oct. 16: Masterchef Live!
Oct. 21: Beyond the Eats—Alton Brown Live
Oct. 23: Justin Willman

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

Oct. 1: David Sedaris

Arts on the Square
Market Square Church, 20 S. Second St., Harrisburg
717-257-1270, ext. 18; marketsquarechurch.org

Oct. 29: Organ Spooktacular w/Tyler Canonico and friends

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

Oct. 22-31: “Blithe Spirit”

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

Oct. 1-31: “Mamma Mia”

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

Oct. 2: “Aesop’s Fables”
Oct. 8-17: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Oct. 29: TMI Improv

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

Oct. 10: Queens Who Brunch
Oct. 20: Ginger Billy

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

Oct. 1-3: “Snow White”
Oct. 29-31: “The Mad Adventures of Mr. Toad”

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

Oct. 1: Divas Down Under “Spooky Spectacular” Drag Show
Oct. 1, 2: Basile
Oct. 8, 9: Rob Ward, Brian Tidwell

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

Oct. 22-24: “The Lion King”

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

Oct. 5-6: “Escape to Margaritaville”
Oct. 9: John Cleese
Oct. 15: Brian Regan

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

Oct. 15-24: “Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville—A Sherlock Holmes Mystery”

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

Oct. 15-30: “Frankenstein”

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

Oct. 15: Rich Little

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

Oct. 1-3: “The Glass Menagerie”

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

Oct. 1-24: “White Rabbit Red Rabbit”

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

Oct. 22-Nov. 7: “The SpongeBob Musical” (at Whitaker Center)

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

Oct. 22-Nov. 7: “The SpongeBob Musical”

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