Where the Trees Are Tops: State forests (somehow) keep a low profile

July 30, 2021 | by Karen Hendricks

Many Pennsylvanians don’t realize that state forests exist.

“It’s something that’s maddening,” said Tim Ladner, district forester for the six-county Weiser Forest District, which includes Dauphin County. “We have an identity crisis—people don’t always think about going to the state forest for recreation.”

It’s kind of ironic, considering that the very name of our state, “Pennsylvania,” is derived from German, meaning “Penn’s woods.”

It’s also ironic, given that outdoor recreation has never been hotter. Visits to Pennsylvania’s state parks increased more than 26% between 2019 and 2020, primarily because nature provided a pandemic escape and refuge. Exact state forest figures are harder to determine. Officials like Ladner agree that forest visitation increased by the thousands, but didn’t reach dramatic peaks like the parks.

Natural Resources

While many Pennsylvanians are familiar with state parks such as Gifford Pinchot, Codorus or Little Buffalo, our state forests of soaring treetops somehow keep a lower profile. Both operate under the umbrella of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), but their missions are distinctly different.

“It’s real simple—state forests manage the natural resources sustainably and we do dispersed, low-density recreation,” Ladner said. “State forests offer more of a solitude experience. You’re not going to see or hear as many people, you bring your own water, find your own firewood. You’re more on your own, but you’re hopefully going to see more nature.”

While state parks can attract crowds to their lakes, pools and campgrounds—where there are hot showers, access to electricity, and concessionaires offering everything from boat rentals to ice cream cones—you’ll find none of the above at state forests. What you will find are trails, simple wooden signs, a handful of campsites over thousands of acres, and trees as far as the eyes can see. Admission to both state parks and forests is free, but visitors pay for the privileges the parks offer, such as campsites. Everything the state forests offer is free—even camping, although a free permit is required.

State forests are kind of a paradox: no-frills, natural beauty. Peace and quiet, amid nature. It’s that simple.

“I think most people who visit state forests are just looking to get away,” said Ladner.

Off the Grid

Camping in a state forest is often called wild camping or dry camping because there are no services such as running water. There’s a “carry in, carry out” policy because another thing you won’t find in state forests are trashcans. Tent camping is widely available, and some state forests also offer larger campsites—really, clearings in the woods—for vans or RVs. When RVers park—or dock—without hooking up to water, sewer or electric, it’s called boondocking. Many RVs and vans are designed to go off the grid and create their own power through solar panels.

And that’s exactly what I did a few weeks ago. My husband, college-aged daughter and I—along with our dog—boondocked our small RV in northern Dauphin County, in the Haldeman Tract of the Weiser State Forest. It’s 5,300 wooded acres on Broad Mountain near Halifax. Driving there, we saw more deer and wild turkeys than humans.

In a tiny clearing, perched partway down the mountain, we occupied one of only five campsites across the entire acreage. A mixed forest of pines and oaks, mosses and ferns—all various shades of green—surrounded us.

Access was off a former logging road of packed gravel that twisted and turned down the mountain. The night we arrived, a sudden thunderstorm turned its gullies into rushing waterways. As the storm subsided, we were left with the sound of water, trickling and echoing down the hill, as night fell.

Not only were we off the electric grid, but we had no internet or cell service. That was fine with me—state forests are great places to disconnect from devices and connect with nature.

We hiked and ran on trails where the only sounds were our footfalls on the path below, songbirds and rustling leaves in the wind above. I couldn’t remember the last time I had really listened to the sound of rushing wind through the treetops.

It was the long 4th of July weekend, and while we didn’t see the holiday’s traditional fireworks, we likely saw one of the darkest skies in Dauphin County, scattered with bright, twinkling stars. The Haldeman Tract includes a prime “dark sky viewing area” and hang-gliding site with a beautiful vista—all at an elevation of 1,700 feet. Tiny, sparkling and rock-strewn streams crisscrossed the entire mountain.

Finding Balance

Speaking of water, Weiser State Forest includes hundreds of islands in the Susquehanna River.

“There are over 500 islands we’re responsible for, between Harrisburg up to Berwick,” said Ladner. “We have 20 designated campsites on the islands that get a fair amount of use, from kayakers to church groups, on a first-come, first-served basis—no reservations needed.”

Across the state, there are 2.2 million acres of state forestlands divided into 20 districts; Weiser is one of those districts.

“Wildlife, recreation, solitude, wood products, water—forests do a lot for us. One of the reasons we manage forests is because of human demands,” said Ladner, who puts the importance of tall trees into perspective—without forests, we wouldn’t have clean air or water. It’s all a balancing act of land management, with development of our towns and cities offset by forests.

Just as a journey deep into the woods can help us strike balance in our own lives.

It was pioneering naturalist John Muir, credited with convincing the government to create and preserve national parks, who perhaps said it best: “Into the woods I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.”

For more information on Pennsylvania’s state forests, see www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateForests.

Stories on environmental topics are proudly sponsored by LCSWMA.

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Head Start: Lindsay Bowman readies for her first year leading Harrisburg Academy’s Middle and Upper Schools

July 30, 2021 | by Rachel Curry

Lindsay Bowman

Weeks before she officially started her new role in July, Lindsay Bowman sat in a classroom on a hot summer’s day, taking meetings and preparing for the months to come.

She had just finished her eighth school year as a history teacher at Harrisburg Academy and was transitioning to her new position as the institution’s Head of Middle and Upper Schools.

“I’m so eager to learn whatever it is that I need to learn to be helpful and successful and useful,” said Bowman, amid her preparations for her first school year in the role.

To the casual observer, Bowman’s eagerness is obvious, but it extends much further than a single summer’s day sitting in the classroom. Bowman and her identical twin sister were raised in Mountain Top, Pa., by enthusiastic parents.

“My parents were always doing their best to encourage us to be curious about the world around us,” she said. “My dad would quiz us on state and country capitals at the dinner table.”

Ultimately, both twins grew up to be teachers.

Bowman completed her undergraduate degree at Dickinson College, during which she spent a summer working at an all-boys boarding school in New Hampshire called Cardigan Mountain School.

“I was just really drawn to the ways in which teachers in environments like that can be involved in their students’ lives in different ways,” Bowman said, referring to their ability to teach, coach and have lunch with students, all in one day.

Bowman carried that inspiration to Linden Hall School for Girls in Lititz, then to Tampa, Fla., while she worked in development. But she eventually found her home at the 237-year-old Harrisburg Academy, where she was able to teach middle school history, coach girls’ sports, oversee the senior internship program and travel abroad with students. While Harrisburg Academy is a day school, Bowman said that it holds that same camaraderie of a boarding school.

Bowman eventually completed the Klingenstein Center’s two-summer master’s program in educational leadership at Teachers College at Columbia University. When a leadership role opened up at Harrisburg Academy, she knew she had to apply.

“All the stars aligned,” she said.

Unheard Of

As job seekers know, no position is a given—even for a qualified internal candidate. But Bowman entered the process in a strong position.

Mary Kate Henry is a member of the academy’s board of trustees and a parent to three girls who have had Bowman as a history teacher over the years. She participated in the hiring process for the new Head of Middle and Upper Schools.

“I think there was just incredible consensus that Lindsay was the person to kind of guide the academy to the next level in providing an international-based education to students,” Henry said.

The interview process involved faculty, staff, parents and even students themselves. Henry said that it’s important to get a student’s viewpoint, especially in a role as broad as Bowman’s.

“They have to be able to connect with an 11-year-old,” she said. “They have to be able to connect with a 17-year-old.”

Even friends of Henry’s daughters, who didn’t take Bowman’s class, found themselves drawn to her.

“Lindsay took them under her wing and got to know them,” Henry said. “They would be running down the hall to tell her about their college acceptances or about their latest trip.”

Henry is in academia herself and said that a community-wide consensus is practically unheard of, but Bowman’s application was always at the top of the stack.

In her new role, Bowman plans to help the community recalibrate following shutdowns from the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, middle school students worked in pods and some students remained virtual. Her key areas of focus will be “building those relationships, really focusing on the student experience and making space for all voices to be heard.”

Academically, Bowman looks forward to expanding the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at the school. The academy is on the path to be a fully authorized IB continuum school. It’s been practicing the IB diploma program for upper school students for a decade, and the primary years program went into place a few years back.

Now, as the younger students matriculate to the middle school, Harrisburg Academy will begin to implement IB there, too. Eventually, all students will learn under the IB umbrella, which, according to Bowman, “doesn’t really change what you learn, but it changes how you learn, really focusing on critical thinking, problem solving, having a global mindset and encouraging students to be curious.”

As Bowman prepares for her first school year in her new post, she’s taking an inclusive leadership approach, with communication holding a pivotal place in the process. Once a classroom teacher with a focus on making history come alive, she’s shifting to a place where she can expand her platform.

“She is a lifelong learner who really instills in her students that same love of learning,” Henry said.

For Bowman, it boils down to serving and “allowing the students to have opportunities that I certainly never had as a student.”

Harrisburg Academy is located at 10 Erford Rd., Lemoyne. For more information, visit www.harrisburgacademy.org.

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Happenings: Our August Calendar of Events

July 30, 2021 | by Missy Smith

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

93rd International Annual Juried Show, through Sept. 2

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

“Left Behind,” photography by Michael Hower and sculptural work by Steve Dolbin, Aug. 6-Sept. 18

“Lunchbox Moments,” an exhibition by Korean-American artist, Amie Bantz, memorializing a collection of stories from the AAPI community by painting their narratives on a series of lunchboxes, Aug. 6-Sept. 18

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

August artist of the month

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

“Remnant: Studio Majors Thesis Exhibition,” featuring projects by senior studio art majors under the direction of Rachel Eng with Todd Arsenault, Anthony Cervino and Andy Bale, through Sept. 11

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

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

HAAA Member Art display at Hershey Public Library, through Oct. 10

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

New works by Ann Benton Yeager, Paul Vasiliades, Rebecca Adey, Mary Gelenser, John Davis and Amie Bantz, through Aug. 15

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

“Art of a Pandemic,” group art exhibition examining the challenges and isolation, reality adjustments and new experiences lived during the COVID-19 pandemic, through Sept. 18

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

“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

“Persephone/Persephone,” a multi-panel collaborative installation by Elody Gyekis and Joanne Landis, through Aug. 8

“Mobility to Movement,” etchings by Isabel Bishop, Aug. 13-Oct. 17

Artistic Expressions Summer Academy exhibition inspired by SAM’s “Circle of Truth,” through Aug. 22

“Project Pattern” multimedia display of photography, painting, sculpture and installation by artists Nate Ethier, Nicole Herbert and Luke Murphy, through August

“Circle of Truth: 49 Paintings Ending with Ed Ruscha,” like a childhood game in which a message is whispered in the ear of a first person, then relayed to a second, a third and so on, through Sept. 19

“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

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

“Art in the Wild,” an exhibit of naturally inspired trailside installations created by artists using mostly natural materials and inspired by the theme “reimagining,” through Sept. 30

Read, Make, Learn

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

Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, Sept. 4: Obvara (Baltic Raku) Alternative Firing Techniques
Aug. 11: Collage & Paint, 6-9 p.m.
Aug. 14: Vintage Tin Earrings, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Dauphin County Library System
dcls.org

Aug. 2, 9: Art Club, 4 p.m.
Aug. 2, 9: Born to Read on Zoom, 9:30 a.m.
Aug. 3, 10: Discord Hangouts—Gaming, 3-5 p.m.
Aug. 3, 10: Family Storytime, 6 p.m.
Aug. 4, 11: Virtual Toddler Storytime, 10 a.m.
Aug. 4, 11: Young Adult Book Club on Zoom, 4 p.m.
Aug. 5: What Makes Us Blue?, 7 p.m.
Aug. 5, 12: Discord Hangouts—Chat, 3-5 p.m.
Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27: Preschool Storytime on Zoom, 10 a.m.
Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27: Discover Tabletop Role Playing Games online, 4 p.m.
Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27: Tween Dungeons and Dragons on Zoom, 4 p.m.
Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28: Teen Dungeons and Dragons, 3 p.m.
Aug. 10, 12: The Next Chapter Book Club, 4 p.m.
Aug. 10: Virtual Reading the Rainbow Book Club, 7 p.m.
Aug. 11: Supporting Your Garden’s Pollinators, 7-8 p.m.
Aug. 12: Virtual Dungeons and Dragons, 7 p.m.
Aug. 12, 26: Librarians on Twitch, 6-8 p.m.
Aug. 17: Novel Thoughts Too!, 1-2 p.m.
Aug. 18: Role Playing Games Sampler Series, 6:30-8 p.m.
Aug. 19: Make a Book, 6 p.m.

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

Aug. 2, 9: Baby Time, 10:30 a.m.
Aug. 2: Make It! Mondays, 12:30 p.m.
Aug. 3: Teen SummerZine 2021, 4 p.m.
Aug. 4, 11: Toddler Time, 10:30 a.m.
Aug. 5, 12: Family Storytime, 10:30 a.m.
Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26: Fiber Artists, 3 p.m.
Aug. 10, 12: STEM Stations, 2 p.m.
Aug. 12, 26: Knitter’s Group, 5 p.m.
Aug. 14: Fiber Artists, 10 a.m.
Aug. 14: Make It, Break It, 11 a.m.
Aug. 17: Teen SummerZine 2021, 4 p.m.
Aug. 21: Knitter’s Group, 10 a.m.

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

Aug. 2, 16: STEM Grab & Go, 9 a.m.
Aug. 2, 16: Zoom—Frederickson Writes on Zoom, 6:45 p.m.
Aug. 3: Zoom—Curl up with the Classics on Zoom—” All Creatures Great And Small,” 10-11 a.m.
Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Virtual Get That Job! Workshop, 10:30-11:30 a.m., 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Aug. 3, 17: Master Gardener Plant Clinic, 6 p.m.
Aug. 4: Zoom—Moving Forward Book Group w/ Hospice of Central PA, 1-2 p.m.
Aug. 4: Amazing Aquarium and Fish Facts on Zoom, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Aug. 6, 13: Zoom STEM Storytime, 10 a.m.
Aug. 9, 23: Teen Grab and Go Bag (ages 7-12), 9 a.m.
Aug. 12, 26: Virtual Resume Writing Workshop, 10:30-11:30 a.m., 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Aug. 23: Virtual Fredricksen Reads, 7-8 p.m.

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

Aug. 13: On the Porch with Don Lebo, 10 a.m.
Aug. 14: On the Porch with MJ Lauder Stained Glass, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Aug. 21: Basket weaving, 9 a.m.

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

Aug. 3-13: Popcorn Hat Players’ Camp (ages 6-12), 1-4 p.m.

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

Aug. 5-Sept. 23: Sketch Writing, 6-8 p.m.
Aug. 16-Oct. 11: Level 2—Game of the Scene, 7-10 p.m.

Harrisburg Young Professionals
hyp.org

Aug. 5, 12: HYP Kickball, 6-9:45 p.m.
Aug. 9: Heart of the Community Garden Clean Up, 5-7 p.m.

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyart.org

Aug. 6-8: Watercolor Workshop
Aug. 19: Photographing Your Artwork, 6-7:30 p.m.
Aug. 28: Basic Fluid Art, 1-4 p.m.

Hershey Gardens
170 Hotel Rd., Hershey
717-534-3492; hersheygardens.org

Aug. 7: Anthony Haubert Trio

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

Aug. 1, 15: YouTube—Kids Carry & Craft, 10 a.m.
Aug. 1, 15: Carry & Craft Teen/Adult, 11 a.m.
Aug. 3: Read Stampede Walking Group, 9 a.m.
Aug. 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26: Penn State Hershey—Mothers & Babies Together, 10 a.m.
Aug. 5, 19: Hershey Quilters, 12:30 p.m.
Aug. 16: bAd aRt Night, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 17: Crafts in the Reading Garden (teens & tweens), 6:30-8 p.m.
Aug. 21: Cocoa Area Fiber Enthusiasts, 10 a.m.
Aug. 24: Blood Drive, 1:30 p.m.
Aug. 26: Fear of Commitment Book Group—Short Fiction Only at Cassel Vineyards, 6 p.m.
Aug. 28: Mirrors, Windows and Sliding Glass Doors Family Book Group—Crown & Don’t Touch My Hair, 2 p.m.

Historic Harrisburg Resource Center
1230 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
historicharrisburg.com

Aug. 7: Landmark Bus Tour Historic Shipoke, Steelton and Midland Cemetery, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

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

Aug. 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30: Rhyme Time in the Park, 9 a.m.
Aug. 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30: Toddler Time in the Park, 9:40 a.m.
Aug. 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30: Story Time in the Park, 10:20 a.m.
Aug. 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30: Rhyme Time, 5:15 p.m.
Aug. 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30: Toddler Time, 6 p.m.
Aug. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Storybook STEAM, 6:45 p.m.
Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Tea and Stitches, 10 a.m.
Aug. 4, 11: Kindergarten Readiness, 6:45 p.m.
Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26: Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26: Toddler Time, 10 a.m.
Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26: Story Time, 10:15 a.m.
Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26: Rhyme Time, 12 p.m.
Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26: Tales for T.A.I.L.S., 6 p.m.
Aug. 9, 23: English Conversation Club, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Aug. 11: Mad About Mysteries on Zoom, 7-8 p.m.
Aug. 13, 27: Dungeons & Dragons (grades 6-12), 6-8 p.m.
Aug. 14, 28: Block Party!, 10:30 a.m.
Aug. 16: Monday Night Book Club, 7-8 p.m.
Aug. 18: Watch the Skies Book Club, 7 p.m.
Aug. 19: Thursday Morning Book Club, 10 a.m.
Aug. 19: Teen Third Thursday, 6 p.m.
Aug. 21-22: August Book Sale
Aug. 24: Tabletop Game Night, 6-8 p.m.
Aug. 25: Apple Users Group, 1 p.m.
Aug. 18: Trivia at Home—Gilmore Girls, 6-8 p.m.

Kalpa Bhadra Kadampa Buddhist Center
251 Wiconisco St., Harrisburg
717-232-2700; meditationpa.org

Aug. 1-Sept. 4: 21 Meditations—On-Demand Series

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

Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Young Adult Group, 4 p.m.
Aug. 4, 11, 18, 25: Common Roads (ages 12-17), 6 p.m.
Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28: Passageways, 2 p.m.
Aug. 10, 24: Queers and Quests game night, 6 p.m.
Aug. 12: Aging with Pride Luncheon, 12 p.m.
Aug. 13: Open Mic and Coffee Café, 6 p.m.

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

Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Tales with T.A.I.L.S., 6-7 p.m.
Aug. 4, 11: Wagging Tails Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27: Online Science Fiction Book Club
Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27: Star Trek Rewatch online group

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

Aug. 4: Courtney E. Martin in Conversation with Jamia Wilson, 7-8 p.m.
Aug. 25: An Evening with Meghan O’Gieblyn—God, Human, Animal, Machine, 7-8 p.m.

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

Aug. 6-8: Hazy Glaze of Summer acrylic painting
Aug. 7: First Saturday, 2-5 p.m.
Aug. 11, 25: Kids Class on the Roof, 5-7 p.m.
Aug. 21, 22: Fluid Art, 12-3 p.m.

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

Aug. 7: U.S Grant, the Meaning of the Civil War, and the Election of 1868,” 1-2 p.m.
Aug. 14: From Gettysburg to Little Big Horn—The George Armstrong Custer, Civil War and Indian Wars 2021 Symposium, 8:45 a.m.-5 p.m.

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

Aug. 10: Gooey Art Grandparent & Me Camp, 9:30 a.m.

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

Aug. 9: Book Club, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

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

Aug. 4, 6, 8, 20, 21, 22, 25: Animal Adaptations Tour, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Aug. 4, 11, 18, 25: Explore! (grades 3-5), 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26: Curiosity Kids (grades K-2), 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Aug. 6: Virtual Artists Conversations—Lauren Litwa, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
Aug. 6, 21: StoryTime, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Aug. 8: Virtual Tonight’s Sky—A Live Chat with the Planetarium Director, 2-3 p.m.
Aug. 12: Virtual “Bring Your Dead Online” Webinar, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Aug. 13: Adventures in Nature Lab (in-person and virtual)—PA Turtles, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
Aug. 20: Learn at Lunchtime—Curator’s Choice, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
Aug. 27: Learn at Lunchtime—Curator’s Choice, 12:15-12:45 p.m.

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

Aug. 9-13: A Cool Week in August (Kids Camp), 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Aug. 18: Life Drawing Class, 6-9 p.m.

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

Aug. 13: Spoonful of Jazz solo jazz dance class, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

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

Aug. 3-5: The What @ the Ware free art workshops for kids, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

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

Aug. 4, 12: Kayak the Swatara with Cocoa Kayaks, 5:45-7:45 p.m.
Aug. 5: Greenbelt Connector Walk, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Aug. 10: Wild Edibles Program, 6-8 p.m.
Aug. 11: Preschool Storytime—Summer at Wildwood, 10-10:45 a.m.
Aug. 14: Volunteer Work Day, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Aug. 14: Natural Tie-Dye, 12-3 p.m.
Aug. 15: Flower Walk—Heat Tolerant Plants, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Aug. 21: Kids Discover—The 10 Essentials (ages 5-10), 9-11 a.m.
Aug. 21: Art Heals, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Aug. 24: Kids Discover—Monarchs (ages 5-10), 9-11 a.m.
Aug. 28: Run Wild for Wildwood 5K/10K, 9-11 a.m.

Live Music

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

Aug. 1: The Glenn Miller Orchestra
Aug. 4: One Night of Queen—Gary Mullen and the Works
Aug. 5: Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons
Aug. 7: The Golden Boys starring Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Bobby Rydell
Aug. 12: Chris Janson
Aug. 13: The Man in Black—A Tribute to Johnny Cash
Aug. 19: Gene Watson, The Bellamy Brothers
Aug. 20: Stayin’ Alive—One Night of the Bee Gees
Aug. 22: Herman’s Hermits, Peter Noone, The Buckinghams
Aug. 29: Air Supply

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

Aug. 7: The Lone Bellow
Aug. 12: Gordon Lightfoot
Aug. 27: Ben Folds
Aug. 28: York Symphony’s Open Air

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

Aug. 5: John Rossey

Central PA Friends of Jazz
friendsofjazz.org

Aug. 13: Gretna Grooves—Tuba Skinny

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

Aug. 1, 10, 22, 29: Jazz Brunch with Central PA Friends of Jazz
Aug. 4, 11, 18, 25: Wednesday Jazz Series
Aug. 7: The Stable Shaker
Aug. 15: Cracker
Aug. 21: The Sorters
Aug. 27: The Wild Hymns
Aug. 28: Hall Williams Band (Pre-Dead & Company show)

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

Aug. 27: Sunset Series, Susquehanna Folk Music Society presents Colebrook Road

Gretna Music
gretnamusic.org

Aug. 1: Hermitage Piano Trio
Aug. 13: Tuba Skinny
Aug. 14: Nora Brown
Aug. 15: All-Mozart String Trio
Aug. 29: Miranda Cuckson

Harrisburg University Presents
www.concertseries.harrisburgu.edu

Aug. 14: Pvris, Royal & The Serpent (XL Live)
Aug. 24-25: Brit Floyd (Hershey Theatre)
Aug. 25: All Time Low (XL Live)
Aug. 27: Young the Giant (Riverfront Park)
Aug. 28: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Riverfront Park)

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

Aug. 13: Open Mic

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

Aug. 6: Squeeze—The Nomadband Tour
Aug. 24-25: Brit Floyd

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

Aug. 5: Freeway
Aug. 6: Alesana
Aug. 7: Hinder
Aug. 8: Scott H. Biram
Aug. 10: Phish 2-Day Afterparty Extravaganza
Aug. 12: Completely Unchained
Aug. 14: Big Gorgeous
Aug. 14: G-REX & SWARM
Aug. 18: Brendan Kelly
Aug. 19: Steve Hofstetter
Aug. 21: Sam Grow
Aug. 21: Ozzfest Tribute Festival
Aug. 22: King 810
Aug. 27: Liliac
Aug. 27: Thick
Aug. 28: Dieselbag the Destroyer
Aug. 28: Garrett Shultz, Bobby Law, Benjamin Beiler, Tyler Short
Aug. 29: Red Not Chili Peppers

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

Aug. 7: Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root with Dirk Miller
Aug. 21: Shotgunn

St. Thomas Roasters
5951 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg
717-526-4171; stthomasroasters.com

Aug. 7: Rhodes & Putt
Aug. 14: Grit
Aug. 21: Craig Bonner
Aug. 28: Just Dave

Susquehanna Chorale
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-533-7859; susquehannachorale.org

Aug. 22: Music for a Summer’s Evening at Mt. Gretna’s open-air Tabernacle

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

Aug. 11: Bringing it Home—Beautiful Gestures
Aug. 13: Tuba Skinny

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

Aug. 31: Drive-By Truckers

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

Aug. 6: Colt Wilbur
Aug. 7: Nate Myers, Bobby Gentilo, Ben Brandt
Aug. 13: Shwayze
Aug. 14: Pvris, Royal & The Serpent
Aug. 25: All Time Low

Zeroday Brewing Co.
250 Reily St., Harrisburg
717-745-6218; zerodaybrewing.com

Aug. 4: Shrimp Ryan Jig Band
Aug. 11: Side of Yams
Aug. 25: Mark Santanna

The Stage Door

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

Aug. 21: “Stomp”

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

Aug. 13: Kelly Collette and Buddy Harris

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

Aug. 5-Sept. 4: “Grumpy Old Men”

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

Aug. 13: Sunset Series—Open Stage of Harrisburg Broadway Cabaret

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

Aug. 7, 14: Popcorn Hat Players present “Thumbelina”

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

Aug. 6: Divas Down Under “Sizzling Summer” Drag Show

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

Aug. 1: “Rock of Ages”

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

Aug. 5: Zoom—”Aesop’s Fables” with Bright Star Theatre
Aug. 19: Zoom—”Mother Nature” with Kit’s Interactive Theatre

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

Aug. 1: Queens Who Brunch

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

Aug. 1: “Grease”

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

Aug. 6: We The People First Friday—Asian Culture Celebration

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

Aug. 20: Anthony Rodia

Zeroday Brewing Co.
250 Reily St., Harrisburg
717-745-6218; zerodaybrewing.com

Aug. 19: Boozie Bingo with Felicia O’Toole

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At Its Core: Based in PA, the Certified B Corp movement is growing around the world

July 30, 2021 | by Karen Hendricks

Alison Zang

Pilates, as an exercise, is all about strengthening your core muscles.

But Allison Zang, owner and founder of Absolute Pilates, is also focused on core strength in a business sense.

“I have a strong desire to help the environment and to give back to the community,” said Zang, whose fitness studios are located in Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill and Harrisburg.

She’s also president-elect of the Junior League of Harrisburg, an organization whose work focuses on bettering the community.

That’s why becoming a Certified B Corporation, with the “B” standing for “beneficial,” resonated with her.

“All of those things tie together,” said Zang, “And becoming a B Corp distinguishes the studio [Absolute Pilates] from other options within the boutique fitness system.”

Beneficial Benchmarks

Certified B Corporations, referred to as “B Corps,” zero in on a company’s core values. Are the company’s practices beneficial? Certification is a rigorous process that examines companies’ environmentally sustainable practices and overall positive impacts on society.

“I had all the correct ideals set, in who I was as a person and how I had grown the business, but I was missing some of the documentation, rules and procedures,” said Zang, who attained B Corp status in 2019, after a two-year process.

Zang had to evaluate her sources for fitness equipment and cleaning supplies, her electricity provider and even where Absolute Pilates did its banking. One big B Corp benchmark is whether a company has secured partners and suppliers within a 200-mile radius.

“All of those things slowly add up in a local business supporting other local business,” said Zang. “I think it certifies that your business is doing the best job it can to support the community and environment—and continually works to improve that.”

And Pennsylvania is where it all began. The B Corp movement springs from the nonprofit B Lab, founded in 2006 and located outside Philadelphia. The Keystone State is home to more than 60 certified B Corps, including Philadelphia-based coffee chain Saxbys and Pittsburgh-based Thread, which recycles plastic into fabric.

The Lancaster area is a hub of about 20 B Corps, including Stroopies. Maker of cinnamon cookies that resemble waffles— known as Stroopies—the company’s raison d’être aligns with B Corp philosophies.

“Stroopies was founded to provide meaningful employment to resettled refugee women who are starting new lives in Lancaster,” said Jennie Groff, managing owner. “With this foundation, being B Corp-certified gives accountability in our commitment to care for our workers, the planet and our profit. It has also been extremely rewarding to be linked to other like-minded B Corps that are making the world a kinder place.”

Purpose, Profit

Another Lancaster-based B Corp is the consulting firm Work Wisdom, which specializes in leadership development.

“When I founded Work Wisdom, I was already a believer in socially responsible business,” said Kedren Crosby.

She entered the for-profit sector with a foundation grounded in studies at the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society, followed by experience in the nonprofit sector.

“Even before B Corps existed, I felt as though, ‘If we are to be capitalists, we should be the right kind of capitalists and care about the environment and society,’” Crosby said.

She was recently given the opportunity to expand upon these thoughts, on a national stage, before Congress.

In June, Reps. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.)—whose district, just east of Lancaster, includes B Lab’s Chester County headquarters—launched the Congressional Stakeholder Capitalism Caucus. It’s described as a way to “reimagine the role of American corporations to foster inclusion, generate longer-lasting growth, and benefit stakeholders more widely and equitably… as our nation recovers from the historic COVID-19 crisis,” according to a press release.

While the caucus doesn’t specifically mention the B Corp movement, there are parallels, and Houlahan invited Crosby to speak for the launch.

“We believe that the purpose of a company is to benefit all stakeholders—not just shareholders,” Crosby said in her remarks. “We want to be of benefit to our customers, our employees, our suppliers, our communities and even the environment.”

She went on to describe Work Wisdom’s practices such as clear pay equity, supply chain decisions, family leave, green building practices, and her company’s pro bono work for one community partner annually.

“Obviously, there is the strong business case for trust, which builds brand loyalty, repeat business and increased profit. However, I want to underscore that stakeholder capitalism is good for more than just increasing profits,” Crosby said in her closing remarks. “Businesses for good create healthy, flourishing individuals and cultures where creativity, engagement and collaboration enhance both profitability and joy.”

Little Logo, Big Picture

Currently, there are 3,500 businesses worldwide with the “B Corp” logo on their products and/or website.

While they range from sole proprietors to publicly traded companies across 70 countries, the majority are small businesses. Those logos might even be on products you regularly use or consume, from Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream to brews at Philadelphia’s woman-owned Triple Bottom Brewing.

The B Corp certification “scours every single aspect of our business operations, verifying that we are walking the walk—not just talking the talk,” said Tess Hart, co-founder and CEO at Triple Bottom.

She likens the process to becoming a force for good in the world.

“We have become a better business as a result of this process, and hope that the certification makes it easier for people to vote with their wallets and support businesses that align with their values,” she said.

To learn more about the B Corp movement, see bcorporation.net. For more information on Absolute Pilates, Stroopies, Work Wisdom and Triple Bottom Brewing, respectively, see: absolutepilates.co, stroopies.com, workwisdomllc.com and triplebottombrewing.com.

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Curry On In: Tuskers Indian Fusion offers traditional Indian street food—and cuisine with a twist

July 30, 2021 | by Rachel Lindsley

Photos by Rachel Lindsley.

Last March, while many people were putting their dreams on hold, Lycka and Sunil D’Souza were making their restaurant dream come true.

Two weeks after the pandemic-mandated shutdown, the D’Souzas signed a lease to open Tuskers Indian Fusion on N. 6th Street off of the Capital Beltway. Three months later, Tuskers officially opened its doors, offering a combination of physically distanced dining, and takeout, delivery and catering options for customers on-the-go.

“We are so thankful to everyone who stood by us and helped us through our first year of business,” Lycka said. “Tuskers truly has a family vibe to it, and we never tire of hearing people tell us how our food tastes like home—some even traveling miles to experience our authentic cuisine.”

As local foodies themselves, Lycka and Sunil became known for sharing their favorite Indian recipes at their grocery store, Quality Food Market. After years of recommending dishes, the D’Souzas took the plunge as restaurateurs and created an accessible Indian food haven—only two blocks from their store.

“I grew up in Mumbai [India] where we had access to a variety of amazing foods and cultures,” Lycka said. “Then, moving here, we were not able to find basic Indian comfort food—that’s where our inspiration for Tuskers began.”

With an appetite for complex flavors, customers can indulge in distinctive dishes from India and southeast Asian cultures. Lycka described their menu as “the best of all worlds.”

“Because Indian cuisine is so diverse, we chose a few dishes from various parts of the country that best showcase that region,” Lycka said. “We have something for everyone—of all ages—as a fusion-style restaurant.”

Through fragrant flavors and large portion sizes, Tuskers seeks to offer newbies a great first impression of Indian cuisine.

“I was not interested in Indian food before Tuskers,” said Shanda Neal, Steelton resident. “But the owners are so knowledgeable and offer easy suggestions for first-timers. They are also willing to adjust their spice levels to fit every customer’s needs and wants.”

Shanda and her friends frequent Tuskers at least once a month for the comfortable atmosphere, BYOB options and their favorite dish, Gobi Manchurian—deep-fried cauliflower tossed in a sweet and tangy sauce.

Tuskers encourages customers to sample a variety of dishes and find menu items that fit their diet and lifestyle.

“I have seen hardcore meat-eaters now profess their love for our vegetarian menu items,” Lycka said. “People who always had the impression that Indian food was just hot and spicy are now our regulars and look to us for new suggestions.”

Patrons also savor homemade breads such as naan, kulcha, tandoori roti and parotta—served in a variety of flavors and consistencies. And, of course, Indian curries are offered in vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Their most sought-after and comforting curry is chicken tikka masala—cubed chicken cooked on skewers in a clay oven and sautéed in a rich and creamy tomato gravy, served with white rice.

The owners recommend newcomers look over their Indian street food menu made with simple ingredients and inspired by their favorite food vendors from the streets of Mumbai. Their signature crowd-pleasing dish is pani puri—crispy-fried puffed dough balls filled with potato, chickpeas, spices and tamarind or mint-flavored water.

Harrisburg residents Gary and Kali Tennis have tried Indian cuisine throughout the world and are thankful that Tuskers opened in their backyard last June.

“I have tasted Indian cuisine from the best restaurants in Bangladesh, Europe and throughout the United States, but the best Indian food is at Tuskers,” Gary said. “And the owners are kind, generous and lovely. The dining experience here is pure magic.”

Tuskers Indian Fusion is located at 3716 N. 6th St., Harrisburg. For more information call 717-210-3931 or visit their Facebook page.

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Class Time: Back-to-school tips for post-pandemic learning

July 30, 2021 | by Rachel Lindsley

Back-to-school checklists are back, though they may look a bit different this year as children readjust to in-person instruction.

As students across central Pennsylvania reflect on their virtual/hybrid learning experiences, many will be entering school facilities for the first time in over a year.

This May, the Pennsylvania State Education Association’s (PSEA) President Rich Askey made a statement encouraging school districts to “prioritize in-person instruction for the 2021-22 school year in accordance with the health and safety recommendations of state and national health experts.”

PSEA spokesperson David Broderick shared that “PSEA believes the vast majority of its members (teachers, educational support professionals, higher education staff, nurses, etc.) are either vaccinated or will be vaccinated before the start of this school year.”

As schools reopen their doors, how can parents and guardians best equip their children for what to expect and how to cope with the effects of learning losses?

“Understanding that while this year may be more of a ‘normal’ year, the effects of the last school year still have far-reaching impacts on all of us,” said John Dennis, chief clinical officer and co-owner of Parenting & Family Solutions, a central PA-based family counseling center. “It’s important to talk about the impact the pandemic had on our kids and understand there may be things that re-trigger emotions such as anxiety.”

Prepare yourself and your child for a successful transition by following these back-to-school tips from local behavioral health professionals.

Social Connections

After spending a majority of the past year at home, students may experience social anxiety coming out of isolation from their peers. Encourage your child to engage with friends at school and to get involved with extracurricular activities during and after school hours, say some experts in the field.

“It is important to talk about your child’s self-esteem, social anxiety and fears when returning to friends that they haven’t seen in a while,” said Tracie A. Maille, a licensed professional counselor. “If they know that they have a safe space to share and engage—that makes all of the difference.”

Local sports teams, clubs and church groups provide opportunities for children to socialize in a positive setting and help them develop a sense of purpose with goals and schedules outside of academic hours.

Check your local YMCA for school-aged child care programs before and after school including activities that engross children physically, mentally and spiritually. Visit www.ymcaharrisburg.org to find out what services are provided at your local branch.

Reestablish Routines

As summer’s end grows near, families can start to share their excitement for the new school year by reestablishing a routine including appropriate sleeping schedules and evaluating learning styles. A few weeks before school starts, consider implementing screen time rules, homework zones, bedtimes and morning wake-up calls.

“Have a plan and communicate your expectations for your kids,” Dennis said. “Around the middle of August, begin slowly dialing back bedtimes by 10 to 15 minutes until you get to the desired sleeping habits. You essentially want them to have plenty of runway to adjust as opposed to just flipping the switch from summer routine to school routine.”

Write down the new schedule in a visible location for the whole family to see on a daily basis. Tasks, chores and grocery lists can also be shared in this same location to keep everyone on track as families’ lives start to pick up speed.

Stay Connected

“Communication is key. Talk to your child about what changed about their academic career last year and what they can expect this year,” Maille said. “Just as the adult world was taken by storm with the pandemic, so was the educational life of your child (think socialization, communication and technology impacts).”

Staying connected—starting on their first day of school—is very important to a child’s mental health. Children do best when they feel loved by their caregivers and supported during challenging times.

“For children who struggle with anxiety, help them process their emotions by hearing them out, validating and supporting them without shutting it down, and not minimizing or problem-solving it for them,” Dennis said. “Where needed, communicate with school counselors and administration about any concerns or issues. Seek out professional help where needed with counseling, psychiatry or psychological evaluations.”

Resources for Success

The Pennsylvania School Boards Association lists school reopening plans for school districts across the state. Visit their website to learn about your district’s plan and other resources related to education and state legislation updates.

Worried that your child is falling behind? The Dauphin County Library System offers several reading programs for children from birth to age 12. Visit their website to learn more and enroll.

The American School Counselor Association offers crisis and trauma resources for parents and counselors navigating these emotions with their student. Visit their website at www.schoolcounselor.org to view their free resource library.

“Much like being catapulted into the world of COVID-19, we are now being catapulted into a post-pandemic world in which a new norm has to be established,” Maille said. “Parents need to remember that flexibility does not mean failure and to be kind to themselves as they navigate these new waters alongside their child.”

For more information on Parenting & Family Solutions, contact their counselors or view resources at www.parentfamilysolutions.com.

To contact Tracie A. Maille, email her at [email protected] or by phone at 484-509-1079.

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Community Corner: Notable August Events

July 30, 2021 | by TheBurg Staff

Book Sale
Aug. 1-4: Hershey Public Library will hold its Friends Annual Summer Book Sale at 701 Cocoa Ave., Hershey. www.hersheylibrary.org

Garden Camp
Aug. 3: Penn State Master Gardeners hosts a Summer Garden Camp for kids ages 7 to 12 at the Penn State Extension office, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Campers will explore the world of bats and will work on various garden tasks. They will take home produce they have grown, and some produce will also be donated to Project SHARE in Carlisle. www.extension.psu.edu

National Night Out
Aug. 3: Neighbors meet neighbors at National Night Out, with events throughout the greater Harrisburg area. In Harrisburg, the fun includes a city-sponsored event, 5 to 9 p.m., at Camp Curtin Academy, 2900 N. 6th St., with members of the Harrisburg Police Bureau. Enjoy food, music, games, prizes and more. www.harrisburgpa.gov

Farmers Market
Aug. 4, 11, 18, 25: Tri County Community Action hosts the Allison Hill Farmers Market, 1421 Derry St., Harrisburg, every Wednesday in August from 3 to 7 p.m. Enjoy locally grown, affordable, and nutritious produce. SNAP (EBT) cards are accepted and matched up to $10. www.cactricounty.org/ahfm

Friday Social
Aug. 6: Harrisburg Young Professionals will host its First Friday at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Not an HYP member? Come out for the opportunity to meet members and build new relationships with those who live, work and play in Harrisburg. www.hyp.org

We the People
Aug. 6: The Arts at Millersville hosts an Asian Culture Celebration at The Ware Center, 42 N. Prince St., Lancaster, 6 to 8 p.m. View calligraphy and watercolor paintings by Diana Meng and puppetry art on loan from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, on display from Aug. 6 to 27. Enjoy craft tables to make your own paper lantern, as well as traditional Chinese music, drumming and dancing. www.artsmu.com

Summer Flea
Aug. 7: Browse the HBG Flea summer market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. Shop for local art, handmade gifts and vintage wares from local artists and curators. www.hbgflea.com

Block Party
Aug. 7: Central Penn College, 600 Valley Rd., Summerdale, will host a Summer Block Party, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Grab lunch from food trucks and enjoy games, music and spending time with baby goats. Stop by early and check out the college’s open house at 9:30 a.m. in the ATEC building. Admission is free; food and drinks require purchase. www.centralpenn.edu

Family Fun
Aug. 7: Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC will host a Family Fun Day at the Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey, 598 Schoolhouse Rd., Middletown, 12 to 5 p.m., with vendors, food trucks, family-friendly activities and a silent auction. Two alcohol-pairing events will be held later in the evening for adults 21years and older. www.web.harrisburgregionalchamber.org

Art Soiree
Aug. 7: Art Association of Harrisburg hosts an Uptown Soiree at the home of Kevin Hancock, 2701 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg, 5 to 8 p.m., with featured artists Joanne Landis, Brian Eppley, and William Kocher. Cost is $45 in advance, $50 at the door. www.artassocofhbg.org

Butterfly Service
Aug. 8: Salem United Church of Christ, 231 Chestnut St., Harrisburg will host its annual Butterfly Service in the garden to the west of the sanctuary at 10:30 a.m. All are welcome. www.salemuccharrisburg.org

Rose Day
Aug. 8: Learn about rose care and flower arranging at Hershey Gardens’ Historic Rose Garden, 170 Hotel Rd., Hershey. Children’s activities include a rosebud tour, kid’s activities and a scavenger hunt. Sarah’s Creamery truck will be on site from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. All activities are included in admission. www.hersheygardens.org

Piano Concert
Aug. 8: Concerts on Colonial presents international prize-winning pianist Ilya Itin, playing the music of Bach and Rachmaninoff, 3 to 4:30 p.m., at Faith Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 1801 Colonial Rd., Harrisburg. This event is free and open to the public. www.faithimmanuelpc.org

Concert Series
Aug. 8: Harrisburg Young Professionals hosts a free Italian Lake concert at Italian Lake, N. 3rd and Division streets, Harrisburg, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Bring a lawn chair, picnic blankets and snacks. www.hyp.org

Garden Cleanup
Aug. 9: Harrisburg Young Professionals will host a cleanup at Heart of the Community Garden, 1421 Derry St., Harrisburg, 5 to 7 p.m. Volunteers are needed to help maintain and beautify the garden prior to the weekly farmers market. Bring a water bottle and gardening/work gloves (if you have them). RSVP by emailing [email protected]. www.hyp.org

Mixer
Aug. 11: Build new relationships with local business professionals at the West Shore Chamber of Commerce’s August evening networking mixer, 5 to 7 p.m., at NexTier Bank, 4231 Trindle Rd., Camp Hill. The event is free and open to chamber members. www.wschamber.org

Festival Fun
Aug. 11-14: Lisburn Community Fire Co., 1800 Main St., hosts its Annual Olde Time Festival. Enjoy rides and games, live entertainment, pony rides, a tractor parade, festival foods and more. www.lisburnfire.com

Homecoming
Aug. 12-15: The Rockhill Trolley Museum will host Homecoming 2021, along with the adjoining East Broad Top Railroad. Event takes place at the museum, 430 Meadow St., Rockhill Furnace, Pa. www.rockhilltrolley.org

Golf Open
Aug. 13: The Education Foundation of Central Penn College hosts the 50th annual Golf Open, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Rich Valley Golf, 227 Rich Valley Rd., Mechanicsburg. All proceeds benefit student scholarship funds. www.centralpenn.edu

Cutest Tiny Dog
Aug. 14: Join other dog owners in electing the cutest tiny dog in Harrisburg. The election will use “ranked choice voting,” explaining the benefits of this format while having fun and sharing space. Prizes will be awarded for the top five choices. The event takes place, 1 to 3 p.m., at Italian Lake Pavilion, Harrisburg. For more information, visit their website.

Volunteer Work Day
Aug. 14: Head to Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, to help with continuing park and habitat enhancement projects, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Snacks, tools and work gloves will be provided. Bring along a water bottle. Refreshments available. www.wildwoodlake.org

Art Soiree
Aug. 14: Art Association of Harrisburg hosts the “Riverview Soiree” at Dr. Robert Ettlinger’s home, 510 Halyard Way, Enola, 5 to 8 p.m., with featured artists Michelle DiNicola, Jonathan Frazier, Susan Benigni-Landis and Steve Wetzel. Cost is $45 in advance, $50 at the door. www.artassocofhbg.org

Flower Walk
Aug. 15: Take in the sights of summer at Wildwood Park, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., with a free nature walk to see some wetland plants along the North Boardwalk, like American lotus and the rose mallows. Common ragweed, responsible for a great deal of allergic response, will be identified along the trail, as well. www.wildwoodlake.org

Farm to River
Aug. 15: Friends of Fort Hunter will host its farm-to-river fundraiser at the mansion, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, 6 to 8 p.m., with locally sourced, homemade dinner offerings, local brews and wines and live acoustic music and more. Attendees can enjoy hors d’oeuvres and signature drinks beginning at 4:30 p.m. www.fort-hunter.org

Finding Freedom
Aug. 17: Take in a day of music at the Finding Freedom Festival, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., on City Island. Numerous bands will play, with proceeds benefitting Just for Today Recovery & Veteran’s Services. www.milb.com/harrisburg/fans/festival

Diversity Book Fare
Aug. 20: Pennsylvania Kiwanis will host a Multicultural Diversity Book Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., as part of their 104th District Convention at the Hilton Harrisburg, 2 N. 2nd St. It will highlight diverse children’s books with themes that may not be well represented in school districts. www.pakiwanis.org

3rd in The Burg
Aug. 20: Enjoy the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in the Burg, the monthly arts and culture event at galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown, 6 to 9 p.m. www.thirdintheburg.org

Observing Nature
Aug. 22: Kids in kindergarten through second grade are invited to practice observing nature in Mammal Hall with handmade binoculars at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. This Curiosity Kids event is included with general admission, but space is limited. www.statemuseumpa.org

Art Soiree
Aug. 22: Art Association of Harrisburg hosts the last Summer Soiree of the summer at Marc Kurowski’s King Mansion, 2201 N. Front St., Harrisburg, 5 to 8 p.m., with featured artists Peg Belcastro, James Rowland, Mary Hochendoner and Matthew Seagrist. Cost is $45 in advance, $50 at the door. www.artassocofhbg.org

Golf Tournament
Aug. 23: Bethesda Mission will host its 31st Annual Mission Open Golf Tournament at Colonial Golf and Tennis Club, 4901 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg, to raise funds for its long-term recovery program. Light refreshments will be available at 7 a.m., and the four-ball scramble starts at 8 a.m. A luncheon and awards ceremony will conclude the day. www.bethesdamission.org

Golf Scramble
Aug. 27: The 10th Annual Harrisburg Young Professionals Golf Scramble will be held at Dauphin Highlands Golf Course, 650 S. Harrisburg St., 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Teams of four golfers are invited to register online. Shotgun start begins at 1 p.m. Scramble includes a round of golf, a golf cart, lunch, dinner and an opportunity to win prizes. www.hyp.org

Music Festival
Aug. 28-29: New Cumberland’s Borough Park hosts the free Iron Bridge Music Festival, with regional and national ands. On Saturday, Aug. 28, the Harrisburg Jazz Collective takes the stage at 7 p.m., along with soloist Jonathan Ragonese and the Central PA High School All-Star Jazz Band. On Sunday, Aug. 29, the all-day music starts at noon, featuring Hot Jam Factory, Bob Randall, New Cumberland Town Band, The Jellybricks, Skyla Burrell Blues Band, Harper & the Midwest Kind and Paul Nelson Band. www.IronBridgeMusicFest.org

Opera in the Park
Aug. 28: View Harrisburg Opera Association’s “Opera in the Park—Birding for a Better World” on HOA’s YouTube channel at 7:30 p.m. Inspired by the inclusivity and environmental awareness that birding has demonstrated during the pandemic, this year’s virtual presentation tells a story about an ornithologist who believes birding can save the world. www.harrisburg-opera.org

Outdoor Movie
Aug. 28: Friends of Midtown and Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg, present a free showing of “The Lego Movie” at 8:30 p.m. The film begins at dusk and, in the case of rain, will be moved to Sunday. www.friendsofmidtown.org

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Sing a Song: During the pandemic, a music teacher found a creative way for his students to harmonize

July 30, 2021 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Andrew Williams

For most, starting a new job is seldom an easy process, but when Andrew “Andy” Williams began a teaching position last year, just weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic, he faced a set of unchartered challenges.

Williams, of Upper Allen Township, took on a position as K-12 music teacher at Reach Cyber Charter School in April 2020, just as Pennsylvania’s brick-and-mortar public schools shut down for the pandemic.

While Reach Cyber, based in Swatara Township, typically operates in a virtual environment, the pandemic mandate ruled out Williams being able to lead students in live musical performances, which he relished doing.

Under “normal” circumstances, he would have planned bi-monthly musical performances with student choir members at central locations throughout the state. However, COVID made such meetings impossible, not only for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year, but for the entire 2020-21 school term.

Soon after arriving at Reach Cyber, which teaches some 9,000 students around Pennsylvania and bordering areas, Williams began looking for an alternative.

Last November, he began working virtually with Reach student choir members, putting together what would be the school’s first musical performance videos, with little prior experience with video technology.

“I learned through a lot of trial and error,” Williams recounted. “I read up on it a lot before I got started.”

The hardest part, he said, was having a song’s audio track match the movement in a video.

“I have to make sure it’s all in tune and on time,” he said.

So Beautiful

To participate, choir members submitted a video of themselves singing Williams’ selected musical piece solo and a cappella. He then blended students’ individual submissions into one performance with pre-recorded instrumental accompaniment and visual effects. The overall process took him up to 13 hours to complete, he said.

“Sometimes, I have a vision, and it takes a while to get there,” he said. “It’s up to the students whenever they want to submit (a recorded) song to me for a video.”

One of Williams’ first productions, “A Song of Peace,” featuring Reach K-5 vocalists, was posted on the school’s website last December to an overwhelming response. Videos also were distributed to Reach families and staff.

“This is so beautiful! I am so proud of my baby. Everyone did a great job. Mr. Williams did a great job putting this together,” parent Lynn Ortwein commented.

“So beautiful! I have tears running down my face! Thank you, Mr. Williams. Merry Christmas,” Jeannie Corby posted.

“Reaction to our videos has been big,” Williams said. “The national TikTok account even posted one of them online.”

Incoming Reach fifth-grader Abigail Watson is a member of the school’s elementary chorus who participated in the “Song of Peace” video. She joined the chorus last December, during her first year at Reach, because “I like to sing in Sunday school.”

Abigail’s mother, Suzanne Watson, a Reach pre-calculus/statistics instructor, said watching her daughter perform in that initial video last year brought her to tears.

“I was so proud to see her singing so beautifully,” she said.

According to Watson, Abigail practices singing her parts diligently before submitting them to Williams for compilation.

“She’ll work on the songs a lot because she just loves to sing,” Watson said. “Even when she’s just going into her room to get something, she’ll turn on the (musical accompaniment recording) and start singing.”

Williams said that he produces “one or two” performance videos of each chorus every two months. Performances are preceded by four rehearsals per song. So far, Abigail has participated in “four or five” of the videos and plans to continue during the upcoming school year.

“Mr. Williams puts a lot of love and energy into his videos,” Watson said.

For information about Reach Cyber Charter School, visit connectionsacademy.com or call 866-492-2435. Main offices are located at 750 E. Park Dr., Harrisburg.

You can watch “A Song of Peace” and other videos on the Reach Cyber Charter School Facebook page.

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“I Believe in Me”: Harrisburg educator Markisha Peace teaches students a lesson she also had to learn—self-love

July 30, 2021 | by Maddie Gittens

Markisha Peace

When Markisha Peace found out she had won an award recognizing her as one of 14 impactful educators in central Pennsylvania, she cried. But they weren’t tears of joy.

“It was tears of ‘why me?’” she said. “What do they see in me? What makes me so special?”

This past year was Peace’s second year of teaching fourth-grade students at Foose Elementary School in the Harrisburg School District. After graduating from Millersville University, Peace found herself with a job offer from Harrisburg, the district she grew up in. It wasn’t where she had seen herself teaching—in fact, she wasn’t looking to return to Harrisburg at all. But, Peace said, she now knows it’s exactly where she’s supposed to be.

When Peace received word that she was selected by WITF and the Rotary District 7390 as a winner of their 2021 Teacher Impact Awards, she doubted herself. She held only two years of experience, a small fraction compared to her seasoned colleagues, some who were teachers when she was still a student.

But then she thought about her students. She thought about everything she teaches them about confidence and self-love.

“I had to speak positivity to myself,” Peace said. “I’m working on helping my kids have those positive self-affirmations because, when I was a child, I feel as though if I practiced them more, I wouldn’t be struggling so much as an adult.”

In Ms. Peace’s classroom, it’s one where negative self-talk isn’t tolerated and positive affirmations are taught instead. It’s one where everyone feels included and welcomed—that’s her goal. Being in Peace’s class “just feels good,” said Foose Assistant Principal Michelle Archie, who nominated Peace for the Impact Award, something she’s never done for any teacher before.

“I love going to her class,” Archie said. “I always wanted to stay. You leave feeling like a better person.”

Safe Haven

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced Foose Elementary to shut its doors early in 2020, as it did all schools in the Harrisburg district, Peace hadn’t even finished her first year as a teacher.

It was hard for her, she said—there wasn’t closure. But she knew it would be even harder for many of the kids.

“For a lot of them, coming to school is their safe haven,” she said. “I’ve definitely learned to maintain my resilience through this and to be strong, not just for myself but for my students.”

Peace sent cards to all of her students, and to this day, still keeps in touch with her first class. Once a month, she hosts movie nights for them. It’s important that all of her students feel valued, the way her teachers made her feel when she was a student.

“She says that she loves us like her own kids,” said Alexanderia, one of her past students in a video recording.

As a kid, Peace grew up in Uptown Harrisburg in a single-mother household. From a young age, she loved school. She loved learning in her classes and staying after school for extracurriculars. When she wasn’t in school, she was playing pretend school with her cousins or complaining about being home during the summer.

But Peace also experienced bullying during her time as a student, which caused her to doubt herself. At the same time, she struggled with having an absent father.

“I sought out a lot of my teachers for guidance, for support, for love, and they fell nothing short of providing that,” she said.

Just like Peace with her students, her own teachers are still involved in her life. In 2019, many of them threw Peace a first-year-of-teaching party to celebrate her accomplishments and journey ahead.

“It took my first year of teaching for me to realize that this is exactly where I need to be,” she said. “I’ve had moments where I reflect, and I actually get tears of joy knowing that it worked out, not how I wanted, but how it was supposed to.”

I Believe

On the wall of Ms. Peace’s classroom hangs a body-length mirror with positive affirmations written around it.

When she sees students getting discouraged or doubting themselves, Peace will point them to the mirror to refocus.

“I’ll say, ‘go look at yourself in that mirror, talk to yourself the way you would talk to a friend,’” she said. “You wouldn’t say to a friend, ‘you can’t do this, you’re stupid.’ So, why would you say it to yourself?”

Her lessons on positivity have paid off, she said. She’s seen the way students have not only learned to be kind to themselves, but it’s impacted how they treat their peers.

During a virtual Zoom lesson one day, Peace called on a girl to read something aloud. The girl agreed, with a disclaimer that she had speech problems and didn’t like the way she sounded. Another student messaged the girl in the group chat saying, “your voice is beautiful; we love when you speak,” Peace said.

“They’ve completely taken the baton and ran with everything they’ve learned,” she said.

It’s all Peace could ask for—her students making strides toward loving themselves and each other. It’s something Foose Principal Will Hicks is happy to see, as well.

“She fits in extremely well with the culture of this school district,” Hicks said. “We are trying to build relationships with our kids. Everybody does that in our building, but Ms. Peace is phenomenal.”

Believing in herself the way that others do is still hard for Peace, but she’s come a long way since her days as a student. With each lesson she teaches her kids, she reminds herself, too.

“It’s an honor to know that people see in me what I sometimes struggle to see in myself,” she said. “I can help my kids heal and it’s kind of, in a way, healing for me, as well, because I go back to heal my younger self.”

This past year, Peace selected a class song for her students, an anthem for them. It was “I Believe” by DJ Khaled and Demi Lovato. When I later listened to it, I was struck by how perfect it fit with the atmosphere of her classroom. The pop artists may have sung it in a way that was catchy and hip, but it’s what Peace has been instilling in her kids all along.

“Today, I saw a rainbow in the rain/ It told me I can do anything/ If I believe, I believe, I believe in me/ I believe, I believe, I believe in me.”

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Just Down the Street: Joe Mama’s may be the ultimate in neighborhood eats

July 30, 2021 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Jennifer Stretch & Jane Smith

If you happened to patronize The Loft Restaurant in New Cumberland, you may have wondered what happened to the mother-daughter duo who ran the place that was known for made-from-scratch fare.

Today, you’ll find them at a simple, unpretentious eatery on Derry Street called Joe Mama’s, where the food is the focal point.

“My dad died four days after we opened The Loft in 2015, and my brother Joe died a year after that,” said owner Jennifer Stretch, explaining that the two needed to take time to grieve and heal before they were able to confront the ever-present challenges of the restaurant business.

One of the first things customers will see upon entering the dining area is a large, smiling portrait of Joseph Stretch III, along with his birth and death year and a touching poem reminding mom and sis to reflect back on his life with a smile and enjoy the sunny days ahead.

“He was only 39,” Stretch said.

These days, it appears the two are taking that advice and living in the moment as they smile and chat with customers, while preparing breakfast and lunch.

What Works

Stretch said that the restaurant business is in her blood.

“My grandma Donna Bechtel owned the Dutch Diner in Palmyra and raised us waitressing around the clock,” she said. “From that, I learned the hard work ethic, the fast-paced hustle and people skills.”

She transferred those skills to a food truck business about 12 years ago.

“We made breakfast to order and roasted turkey, which we hand-carved,” she said.

Unfortunately, it failed to take off.

“In this business, you learn what works and what doesn’t, sometimes too late,” she said. “Instead of staying in one place, we kept driving the truck around looking for clientele, and it didn’t help that the truck was old and kept breaking down on us.”

Stretch feels more confident this time that she and her mother are in it for the long haul, COVID be damned.

“Before the pandemic, we had 13 tables inside,” she said. “Now, we have three outside and three inside.”

They celebrated their third year in business on July 1, and the increase in takeout and catering has kept everything humming along.

“We worked the whole way through the pandemic,” Stretch said. “For us, it was a blessing and a curse. Yes, we have to work harder, and it’s difficult to find help. That’s a negative, but, at the same time, we’re thriving.”

Stretch also credits her indefatigable mother, Jane Smith, for standing by her side, working along with her over the years.

“Jen said, ‘Mom, you can decorate,’ and I ended up cooking,” said Smith. “I want to help Jen be successful so that, when I go, I can be assured that she’s fine. That’s what will make me happy.”

So Blessed

According to Stretch, the late risers enjoy the fact that she offers all-day breakfast.

“Our cheesesteak omelets are popular, along with our huge breakfast sandwiches,” she said.

Also popular is homemade pork sausage that is made on site, along with roast ham and turkey. Sandwiches are served on their signature sourdough, and shrimp and grits fly out the door, along with chicken and waffles. Another draw is the $5 fish and fries offered every Wednesday and Friday.

“We’ve had to raise our prices, but we’ll never get rid of that special,” said Stretch.

Painter Chuck Edwards is a regular customer and a fan of the fish and fries.

“The fish sandwich is big!” he said, adding that the eatery is right down the street from his house and very convenient. “I enjoy everything they serve there and usually order the turkey sausage, egg and cheese wrap.”

Michelle Parson, who works at nearby Edwin L. Heim Co., is another fan of the establishment.

“We use them for catering, and what we like is that they make the food fresh, onsite,” Parson said. “Our associates enjoy the pulled pork, the macaroni salad and their other salads.”

Stretch recently decided to usher in the warmer months with an addition to the business.

“I fixed up the shed and rented it out so that customers can now treat themselves to Ed’s Water Ice,” she said.

For now, Stretch is exactly where she wants to be.

“I love the fast pace, and I love to feed people,” she said. “I feel like it’s very intimate, and it’s how I connect to them on a personal level.”

The mother-daughter duo said that they’ve been so buoyed by their success that they may consider moving to a larger place in the future.

“We are so blessed,” said Smith.

Joe Mama’s Kitchen and Catering is located at 2233 Derry St., Harrisburg. For more information, call 717-307-9593 or visit their Facebook page.

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