Full Circle: Mangia Qui owners return to the Broad Street Market with “Streatery”

May 28, 2021 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

Elide Hower & Qui Qui Musarra. Photo by Dani Fresh.

If you’ve dined in any one of Qui Qui Musarra’s trio of restaurants—Mangia Qui, Rubicon and Suba—you’re familiar with the classy, intimate atmosphere that comes with the experience at each.

But Musarra, along with partners Staci Basore and Elide Hower, wanted to try something different—something more casual.

In late April, they opened Streatery at the Broad Street Market in Midtown Harrisburg—returning to where the restaurateurs made their debut 20 years ago as “Pasta Art.”

“It’s an honor to be back in the market,” Musarra said. “The people that know us are as excited as we are.”

That rings true for long-time customer Sharon Webb, who loves Mangia Qui and has befriended the owners. Hower, who is running the operations at the market, is like family, she said.

“I’m always excited when they try something new because it’s always fabulous,” Webb said.

According to Musarra, opening a market stand was an idea the team tossed around for a few years. They wanted to reach a larger audience and bring their food to those who have yet to try it.

“It’s a way of showcasing some of our signature items at Mangia Qui to a broader audience who may not dine with us at the restaurant,” Musarra said.

Fresh, Familiar

The owners—and their restaurants—have gained quite the positive reputation over the nearly 25 years they’ve been in Harrisburg. But even with all of the success, Musarra said that opening Streatery was a challenge.

“You can have all the experience in the world, but once you step into something new, there is the unknown,” she said. “That makes it more exciting.”

COVID took a huge bite out of the restaurants’ finances, forcing them to limit their hours, eliminating lunch completely. With the Broad Street Market’s prime time being lunch, Musarra hopes the new location will fill a gap and allow lunchtime customers to get their Mangia Qui fix.

Patrons can still expect the fresh flavor they’re used to, with a more casual feel. At Streatery, chefs offer an ever-changing menu of internationally inspired dishes. There are sandwiches and salads with flavors from places like Italy and Brazil, stuffed with meatballs, chicken, pork belly, prosciutto and pickled eggs. They have meats like those from Suba and olives from Mangia Qui, Musarra said.

On a Thursday afternoon at lunchtime, Albert Boynton waited for his “Triple Play” sandwich, which contains meatballs, mozzarella and pomodoro. He had never eaten at Mangia Qui, but was excited to try Streatery’s food. In other words, he was just the audience the owners hoped to reach.

“I’m going to have to check out their restaurant after this,” he said.

With Musarra and the team’s spur-of-the-moment style of creating dishes, you never quite know what you’re going to get at Streatery.

“It’s easy, accessible food, but it looks good and tastes good,” Hower said.

She said that they hope eventually to hold food demonstrations, as well.

Even though you may be taking your food in a to-go box instead of sitting in Mangia Qui’s dining room, you can expect the same great presentation.

“Food is our art,” Musarra said. “We present it in a way that has a flair.”

Survive to Thrive

Coming full-circle back to where they first started is meaningful to Musarra. She’s built and grown her business over the years, expanding from one small stand at the Broad Street Market into three restaurants.

Not many businesses that outgrow the market return, she said, but she loves the vibe there.

“Why should we forget where we started?” she said. “It’s an exciting time for the market.”

Musarra saw how important takeout became during the pandemic, something they didn’t even really offer before. Street dining took off, too, with many restaurants, including Mangia Qui, expanding outside service.

This was the inspiration behind the name for the market stand—Streatery.

“It became a way to survive,” she said.

As the partners move forward with their newest venture, Musarra is hopeful. Things aren’t yet back to “normal” at Mangia Qui. But, as life keeps moving, Musarra and Hower will keep cooking.

“Coming out of COVID and doing something new is really uplifting,” Musarra said.

Streatery is located in the brick building of the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg.

Support quality local journalism. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Fast, Flavorful, Fun: Hersheypark welcomes you back with a long list of new attractions

May 28, 2021 | by Gina Napoli

Candymonium

The last time Hersheypark re-designed their entrance in the early 1970s, the Super Duper Looper was the newest attraction.

I remember walking deep into the park to find the new coaster. After my only ride, my parents bought me a toddler-sized T-shirt boasting my survival.

Fast-forward… Hersheypark has transformed and expanded its entrance so that the newest coaster, Candymonium, is—splat—the first thing you see. You’ll need to get your bearings when you see the refurbished carousel and its accompanying bar moved up front instead of farther in.

“Hershey’s Chocolatetown is a completely different arrival experience from the one we’ve known since the 1970s,” said Quinn Bryner, director of public relations and strategy for Hershey Entertainment & Resorts.

The park’s expansion marks the largest in the company’s history, with 23 acres, $150 million and 15 new features.

The new architecture has a vintage, early-20th century look and feel, with definite nods to Milton Hershey’s style during his heyday as a young entrepreneur, building the town that would become his legacy. You’ll find plenty of modern twists, while still remaining signature Hershey.

Here are a few of the top new experiences:

Hypercoaster

The largest literal twist is Candymonium, a one-of-a-kind “hypercoaster” touted as Hersheypark’s tallest, fastest and longest coaster. With a lift height of 210 feet, a track length of 4,636 feet and maximum speed of 76 miles per hour, coaster enthusiasts should expect an exhilarating ride. But I’m already imagining myself with my head between my knees. I’ll be on the bench with my kettle corn, people-watching, holding my kids’ sunglasses while they ride.

Historically Symbolic Artwork

While I wait, I can admire eye-catching art. The water structure spouts into a Hershey’s Kiss shape. Milton Hershey School students donated a Kiss-shaped bell hung on a beam signed by students. On the walkway is a “Compass Rose” with 22 bronze medallions, honoring key periods of Mr. Hershey’s lasting contributions to the area. Embedded in one of the buildings are bricks from the original entrance, commemorating the old and welcoming the new.

Just next door is a new souvenir store preserving Hersheypark history. Hersheypark Supply Co. is a 10,000-square-foot flagship store with a large collection of souvenirs. The ones you can’t buy are the retired rides placed throughout the store.

“The new store pulls in the ride collection from Hersheypark and the retro pinwheel logo,” Bryner said.

You’ll be able to get up close to a chariot from the old carousel and a portion of the old mini-train.

The store shares space with the three new restaurants, drawing in old-style architecture and the arena building.

New Restaurants

The Chocolatier, one of the new on-site restaurants, has its outdoor deck situated on part of the arena, just above the old ticket counter with its three small windows. The restaurant is backdated by a century, with retro tiles, green color scheme and mirrors on the ceiling to project its showboat lighting. Inside, it has an amazing aerial view of the new store.

Downstairs is Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor. The décor is a throwback to a drugstore soda fountain, complete with stools at the counter, with hand-created sweet and savory items on the menu.

The signature dish is a chicken-and-waffles slider sandwich, a tip of the bowler hat to Milton Hershey’s favorite meal. The grilled sandwiches are encrusted with crunchy Parmesan cheese. And because it’s Hershey, there’s even a chocolate (molé) dipping sauce for chicken and fries. The 12 gourmet signature sauces are decidedly modern, like beer cheese, spicy maple mayo and rosemary aioli dipping sauce.

Rob Gordon, managing director of food and beverage for Hershey Entertainment Complex, loves collaborating with his team to create the menu.

“Working on the menu is a process of experimental discovery,” he said. “More variety to come as development continues.”

You can experiment yourself with Milton’s ice cream menu, with 24 toppings available in unlimited amounts and “ice creamologists” (holding down my dream job), creating locally sourced custom flavors.

Signature flavors include Reese’s Peanut Butter, Toasted Marshmallow, Graham Coaster Station and Malted Memories, which is a Spartan recipe developed by Milton Hershey School students at their creamery. Another must-try is Candymonium, which has chunks of peanut butter cups and chocolate chips in a Twizzler-flavor-based ice cream.

(My own personal walk of shame: waddling out of there.)

Gordon’s main collaborator is award-winning corporate pastry chef Cher Harris. You can watch her handcraft candies and desserts at the is Sweeterie Confectionery Kitchen around the corner.

“The biggest attraction is the interactive element, being able to watch handcrafted fudge being made out front,” Harris said. “It will create interest to watch the old confectionery technique.”

Harris’ open kitchen equipment includes a fudge paddle, kettle, marble tabletops and a sneeze guard.

Her signature desserts are too numerous to list. Many “under-glass” patisserie-style desserts are fashioned after Hersheypark rides, like the Comet coaster bar, Kissing Tower mousse cake and Chocolatetown cheesecake. For the kids, one dessert is shaped like a carousel horse and another like a ladybug.

If you’re anything like me, you go to places for the food, and you plan your day around it. With everything made in-house, I probably wouldn’t make it to the ticketing counter. But if I did, I would wander here…

Virtual Reality Experience

Hyperdeck is an immersive, virtual reality experience. Up to eight players enter into a dynamic virtual world, complete with a full-motion floor and multi-sensory effects (strong winds, heat and earth-rattling movements).

Players can choose from two scenarios. H.A.I.R. is a post-apocalyptic world where a 1980s guitar hero becomes a villain. Dreamsaver is a dream that turns into a nightmare that the player must overcome.

As an extra interactive element, spectators can help or hinder players via tablets.

Whatever your attraction preference, Hersheypark looks forward to greeting visitors again after last year’s pandemic-induced topsy-turvy.

“We know how excited guests are to come back after winter, especially this winter,” Bryner said.

For more information, visit www.hersheypark.com.

Support quality local journalism. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Natural Connections: Lake Tobias Wildlife Park brings people, families, animals together

May 28, 2021 | by Jeff Falk

There is a unique, natural and somewhat unexplored common bond that exists between humans and the rest of God’s creatures. Lake Tobias Wildlife Park allows families to delve into that bond, in a family-friendly atmosphere.

In this way, Lake Tobias, located in Halifax, is about families, for families and by families.

Owned and operated by the Tobias family for 57 years, the park is more than 200 acres of wooded land and fields set up to allow humans to closely interact one-on-one with 700 animals representing six continents and nearly 100 different species, only a handful of which are native to central Pennsylvania.

“People seem to have a natural attraction to the outdoors,” said Jan Tobias-Kiefer, one of 10 owners of the park and Lake Tobias’ director of public relations and marketing. “Is it a sense of freedom? The people who come here are young families, outdoors lovers and nature lovers. We advertise mainly to women between 25 to 50, because they tend to make plans for families.”

Because there’s so much to see and do at Lake Tobias, time moves quickly for visitors. A typical visit could last as long as four hours, and everything revolves around seeing animals, learning about them and moving freely in their adopted home.

The Safari Tour, which takes visitors on a guided ride through woods and pastures inhabited by a menagerie of four-legged and two-legged creatures, makes it more than just a zoo. Other attractions include a reptiles and exotics facility, a petting zoo, a zoo baby exhibit, a catch-and-release fishing pond, the J.R. Tobias Museum and Education Center and assorted concessions.

“I think just the fact that it’s family-owned and operated makes it unique,” said Tobias-Kiefer. “It’s family-owned for families. It is very much a family-oriented place. It can be a very nice family day trip, and it’s affordable. And it’s right here in central Pennsylvania.”

During the 2019 season, before the COVID-19 crisis hit, Lake Tobias Wildlife Park hosted an all-time high of more than 249,000 visitors. Of those, about 17,000 were students visiting in May on class trips. Lake Tobias is also a great place for private parties, company picnics and family reunions.

“I like that people come,” said Tobias-Kiefer, a 63-year-old resident of Halifax. “I like that we’re able to offer all of this to the people of central Pennsylvania. I like to be able to continue dad’s dream, just like everybody in the family. And I like that people can get close to the animals.”

Build His Dream

Lake Tobias Wildlife Park was formally opened to the public in 1965. The park was, and continues to be, the vision of James Raymond Tobias, a Halifax native who enlisted in the Marines after high school and then returned to the area to establish a number of excavating and grading businesses.

J.R. passed in 1996, and Lake Tobias Wildlife Park is now owned and operated by six of his remaining children and four of his grandchildren. Some 18 of Tobias’ descendants currently work at the park, which employs 190 mostly Halifax-area residents in the height of the season.

“Dad was always interested in exotic animals,” said Tobias-Kiefer. “He set up exhibits along the road, and people driving by would stop and look at them. So, he started to add exhibits, and, in 1965, he opened the park to the public. All of his businesses helped slowly build his dream.”

Over those years, Lake Tobias Wildlife Park has matured and evolved to feature more, bigger and better exhibits, all with the intent of bringing people and animals closer together.

“People who come and haven’t been here in awhile will tell us how much it’s changed,” said Tobias-Kiefer. “I think it’s become more family friendly. We’ve been able to expand exhibits, and it’s more educational. We want you to leave here with an appreciation for nature and the animals that are here.”

Lake Tobias Wildlife Park’s goal moving forward is simply to keep doing what it’s been doing. It’s more about tweaking, fine-tuning and enhancing the individual experience than repairing something that isn’t broken.

But that doesn’t mean the Tobiases don’t have ideas for adding different animals and new exhibits in the future.

“I think the goal for the future is to improve the facilities we have and improve the experience here,” said Tobias-Kiefer. “We just hope people find this hidden gem and come here and experience what dad’s dream was. We want them to enjoy wildlife as much as he did.”

At Lake Tobias Wildlife Park, it’s all about family.

Lake Tobias Wildlife Park is located at 760 Tobias Rd., Halifax. For more information, visit www.laketobias.com.

Support quality local journalism. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Wheels in Motion: School’s out, but Rohrer Bus hits high gear searching for new drivers

May 28, 2021 | by Karen Hendricks

Joy Hurley worked in an office for seven years and “hated it.” Her best friend convinced her to switch gears and give a new career a whirl—as a school bus driver.

“I tried it and love it,” said Hurley, of Carlisle. “There are so many things to love about it. I love all my kids—they make my day—and I love the freedom of being outside of an office.”

Nearly five years after getting behind the wheel, Hurley is still driving a school bus, plus she’s added two more responsibilities—training new drivers and inspecting buses as a safety supervisor.

And she’s exactly the kind of employee that Rohrer Bus hopes to attract more of, this summer.

Wheels Turning

The sunshine, on a recent Saturday morning, matched the traditional color of the bright yellow school buses lined up, waiting for drivers to take them for a spin, at three Harrisburg area school districts. They were “Test Drive a School Bus” events held by Rohrer Bus. Anybody could stop by and give it a try.

One of those people was Corey Mull, 27, of Mechanicsburg, a FedEx driver of three years.

“I’ve driven everything but a bus, so I figured why not try?” Mull said. “I enjoy driving because it’s an escape—and it keeps my mind focused on one thing.”

With Hurley seated behind him for a brief overview, Mull slid behind the wheel, tested the bus’s emergency flashing lights, crossing arm and stop sign, and then he was off for a few loops around the parking lot. After successfully backing up, parking the bus and chatting with Rohrer supervisors, he ultimately told them, “Thank you for the experience.” But Hurley and her colleagues hope they’ve planted a seed for a future employee.

That’s because Rohrer, like many school bus companies around the country, is facing a shortage of drivers. The issue, which existed prior to 2020, was exacerbated by the pandemic.

“A lot of our base is retirees and young parents, and both of those groups have been afraid of the virus,” said Katie Bowers, assistant supervisor of Rohrer’s 40 to 50 bus drivers for the Cumberland Valley School District. She describes the past school year as “challenging.”

“Because we’re already short on drivers, if you’re not feeling well, that puts us even shorter,” said Bowers. “So, it really brought teamwork to a different level, trying to figure out who can pick up the kids… especially with changing school schedules.”

It’s not a long-term solution, but one of the ways Rohrer has scrambled to fill bus routes is with the company executives themselves acting as substitute drivers.

“Last week, I probably drove at least six different routes,” said David Schrantz, Rohrer vice president, representing the fourth generation of the family-owned business. “One driver was out because they had surgery, and I saw his laminated directions with notes on every student—he took the time to leave them. Those are the little things that show me drivers care about doing a good job.”

Rohrer, based in Duncannon, is the largest employer in Perry County with about 1,000 employees and a fleet of about 1,000 Rohrer school buses. They provide transportation to about 50,000 students across 24 school districts in 14 counties including Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry and York. Only two or three school bus companies in the state are larger.

But the current driver shortage is one of the largest issues Rohrer has faced in its 100-year history, coincidentally being marked this year.

Angst, Optimism

“My grandfather farmed—that’s how a lot of school bus companies got started, in rural parts of the country,” said Howard “Skip” Rohrer III. “He started with a horse and buggy transporting students into a one-room schoolhouse. Then he bought a chassis from Governor Pinchot and had a carpenter in Harrisburg build a body with bench seats and transformed it into a motor coach.”

By 1967, Rohrer operated 15 buses, and, by 1975, they diversified and became a school bus dealership, as well.

“I can remember, from the time I was 5 years old, coming out every summer, to clean and wax school buses—that was my life,” Skip said.

He, along with brother-in-law and Rohrer co-president John Schrantz, grew the school bus contracting side of the business from 1982 to its current level.

“Now, we’re trying to do creative things to attract applicants… because it takes about six weeks to get drivers through the [training and certification] process,” John said.

One of those creative strategies includes the “Test Drive a School Bus” events, in preparation for the new school year. Another creative strategy? Shirts, bearing the slogan, “Community Hero,” worn by the events’ drivers and instructors.

Fears can also put the brakes on potential drivers.

“It might be overwhelming for some people to think about handling kids on a bus, but once they build relationships with those students, it turns around,” Skip said.

Others are afraid of driving school buses due to their size, but David points out they’re the safest vehicle, structurally, and in terms of safety records, on the road.

David, who represents the future of the company, said he’s trying to maintain an optimistic outlook about the driver shortage.

“It’s getting hard—I’ve got to be frank with you. It’s the biggest problem I’ve focused my attention on for five years, and it’s nationwide,” he said. “But I’m optimistic for our industry. People from all walks of life can make this a good fit for them—young parents, especially mothers… people in between jobs, and it’s a great job for a retiree. Being a bus driver helps them get up in the morning, and it keeps them young.”

For more information on Rohrer Bus, see rohrerbus.com. The next “Test Drive a School Bus” event is set for June 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Lower Dauphin Middle School, East Pennsboro and Cumberland Valley High Schools.

Support quality local journalism. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Happenings: Our June Calendar of Events

May 28, 2021 | by Missy Smith

Museum & 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.

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

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

“Free For All” 3rd Annual Student & Member Show, through July 8

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

“Ink/Glaze/Paper/Clay,” ceramic constructions by Beverlee Lehr and ink drawings by Jo Margolis, which are explorations of the interaction of shape and form, June 11-July 24

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

June featured artist

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 Yachiyo Beck, Linda Benton McCloskey, Elaine Elledge, Kristin Fava, and Richard Souders, through June 13

New works by Joelle and Justin Arawjo, Paul Gallo, Averil Shepps, and PD Murray, June 16-July 11

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 on Tour @ the Capitol,” showcasing PCCA member artwork in a special group exhibition at the PA State Capitol Building East Wing Rotunda, June 2-30

“Home Goods Show” of locally made artwork and handmade home goods for spring redecorating or Zoom room makeovers, through June 12

“Director’s Choice,” a selection of outstanding student artwork from Youth Art Day 2021, June 19-July 17

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 June 20

“The Wind Dies The Sun Sets,” a contemplative consideration of energy extraction and use in Pennsylvania, through June 20

“From Selfie to Community,” large-format woodcut self-portraits created by Bloomsburg University printmaking students, through July 18

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

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

“Art in the Wild” 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

June 1, 8, 15, 22: Sketching Around Carlisle, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
June 8, 15, 22, 29: Plein Air Painting at Allenberry, 9:30-12 p.m.
June 16: Starry Night Paint Night, 6-9 p.m.
June 21-25: Snap! Photography, 1-4 p.m.
June 22: Jeweler’s Saw—Tips & Tricks, 6-8 p.m.
June 22-July 27: Hand Building, Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m.

Dauphin County Library System
dcls.org

June 3: Dungeons and Dragons, 7 p.m.
June 5, 12, 29, 26: Teen Dungeons and Dragons on Zoom, 3 p.m.
June 7, 14, 21, 28: Virtual Born to Read (birth-18 months), 9:30 a.m.
June 8: Virtual Reading the Rainbow Book Club, 7 p.m.
June 8, 15, 22, 29: Discord Hangouts—Gaming, 3-5 p.m.
June 8, 15, 22, 29: Virtual Family Storytime, 6 p.m.
June 9, 16, 23, 30: Virtual Toddler Storytime, 10 a.m.
June 9, 16, 23, 30: Young Adult Book Club on Zoom, 4 p.m.
June 10, 17, 24: Discord Hangouts—Chat, 3-5 p.m.
June 11, 18, 25: Preschool Storytime on Zoom, 10 a.m.
June 15: Virtual Animal Crossing with The Library, 3:30 p.m.
June 21, 28: Art Club, 4 p.m.
June 24: Lawyers in Libraries—Civil Legal Services, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
June 24: Librarians on Twitch, 6-8 p.m.
June 30: Spanish Language Conversation Group, 12-1 p.m.
June 30: Crafternoon with The Library, 4 p.m.

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

June 1: Park Rx—Art Heals w/ Susquehanna Art Museum, 6:30-7 p.m.
June 9: Park Rx—Let EVERTYHING Go, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
June 12: Proudly PA Festival, 12-8 p.m.
June 23: Park Rx—Sound Meditation, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

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

June 1: Zoom—Curl up with the Classics on Zoom—Aesop’s Fables, 10-11 a.m.
June 2: Zoom—Moving Forward Book Group w/ Hospice of Central PA, 1-2 p.m.
June 3, 10, 17, 24: Zoom Resume Writing Workshop, 10:30-11:30 a.m., 4:30-5:30 p.m.
June 4, 11, 18, 25: Virtual Get That Job! Workshop, 10:30-11:30 a.m., 4:30-5:30 p.m.
June 7, 14, 21, 28: Virtual Career Exploration Workshop on Zoom, 10:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m.
June 7, 21: STEM Grab & Go Bag (ages 7-12), 9 a.m.
June 7, 21: Zoom—Fredricksen Writes on Zoom, 6:45 p.m.
June 11, 18, 25: Zoom STEM Storytime, 10 a.m.
June 14, 28: Teen Grab and Go Bag, 9 a.m.
June 16: Zoom—Write On, 7:30 p.m.
June 28: Virtual Fredricksen Reads, 7-8 p.m.

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

June 12: Secret Gardens of Harrisburg Garden Tour, 1-6 p.m.

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

June 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29: Penn State Hershey—Mothers & Babies Together, 10 a.m.
June 7, 14, 15, 21, 28: Lose the Quarantine 15 Library Style, 9 a.m.
June 8, 15, 22, 29: Read Stampede Walking Group, 9 a.m.
June 12: Author talk with Sherry Knowlton, 2 p.m.
June 16, 23, 30: Reading Garden—Furry Tales, 6:30 p.m.
June 17, 24: Reading Garden—The Story Garden, 10 a.m.
June 18, 25: Virtual LEGO Club, 3:45 p.m.
June 20: YouTube—Kids Carry & Craft Climbing Critter Edition, 10 a.m.
Jun 20: Carry & Craft—Air Clay Designs, 11 a.m.
June 22: Community Blood Drive, 1:30 p.m.
June 26: Family Book Group—“Mirrors, Windows & Sliding Glass Doors,” 2 p.m.

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

June 1: Teen Game Night, 6-8 p.m.
June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Tea & Stitches on Zoom, 10-11 a.m.
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Toddler Time (18 months to 3 years), 11:10 a.m.
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Story Time on Zoom (ages 3-6), 1:30-2 p.m.
June 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23: Rhyme Time (18 months and younger), 5:15-5:35 p.m.
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Toddler Time (18 months to 3 years), 6 p.m.
June 5: Beautify the Barriers artists reception, 10 a.m.
June 9: Mad About Mysteries on Zoom, 7-8 p.m.
June 11, 25: Dungeons & Dragons (grades 6-12), 6-8 p.m.
June 12: Block Party!, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
June 15, 29: Try-It Tuesday, 1 p.m., 6 p.m.
June 21: Virtual Monday Night Book Club, 7-8 p.m.
June 25: Vegan Cooking Class, 7-8 p.m.
June 26: Trivia at Home—The Golden Girls, 6-8 p.m.

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

June 4, 11, 18, 25: Online Science Fiction Book Club
June 4, 11, 18, 25: Star Trek Rewatch online group

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

June 1: An Evening with Jeff Shaara, 7-8 p.m.
June 8: Chet’la Sebree in Conversation with Diana Khoi Nguyen, 7-8 p.m.
June 10: Ly Tran in Conversation with Phuc Tran, 7-8 p.m.

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

June 5: First Saturday, 2-5 p.m.
June 5, 19: 2-Day Watercolor Painting Class
June 9, 23: Free Kids Class on the Roof, 5-7 p.m.
June 12, 13: Fluid Art Class
June 25, 26, 27: Abstract Workshop

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

June 19: NCWM Community Free Day, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

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

June 5: Fishing for Families Camp (ages 8-15)
June 15-17: Outdoor Adventure Camp (ages 9-12)
June 22, 23, 24; Let’s Make Music—Grandparent and Me Camp

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

June 3: Ruth’s Mystery Discussion Group, 10:15-12 p.m.
June 5, 19: Book Sales, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
June 7, 14, 21, 28: Weekly Take & Make Activity Kits (ages 3-7)
June 7-Aug. 2: Ready for K!
June 7-Aug. 6: Tails & Tales Summer Reading Challenge
June 7-12: Sidewalk Chalk Obstacle Course
June 11: Screen on Green—Toy Story 4, 7:30-10:30 p.m.
June 14-19: Backyard Scavenger Hunt (ages 3-10)
June 14-19: Grab & Go STEAM—Constellations (ages 7-12)
June 14-19: Kit’s Interactive Theatre Virtual Performances—Mother Nature (ages 3+)
June 15: Inspired by Nature Activity—Weather (ages 3-7), 10:30 a.m.
June 19: Couponing for Extreme Savings, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
June 21-26: Grab & Go STEA—Bristlebots (ages 8-12)
June 24: Unicorns—Break the Cage Virtual Performance, 10:30 a.m.
June 28: Dinosaur Storytime on Zoom (ages 3-6), 10:30 a.m.
June 28-July 3: Grab & Go STEAM—Hydraulic Claw (ages 8-12)
June 28-July 3: Grab & Go STEAM—Junior Paleontologist (ages 5-8)
June 29: Teachers of Nature—What’s Up With Your Tail? on Zoom (ages 3+), 10:30 a.m.
June 29: Teen Paint Party! On Zoom (ages 12-17), 4 p.m.

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

June 14: Book Club, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
June 14, 21, 28: Tails and Tales Monday Morning Virtual Program, 11-12 p.m.

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

June 4: Virtual Artists Conversations—Marta Sanchez, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
June 11: Virtual Adventures in Nature Lab—Butterflies and Moths of PA, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
June 13: Virtual Tonight’s Sky—A Live Chat with the Planetarium Director, 2-3 p.m.

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

June 5, 12, 19, 26: Saturday Morning Art Club, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
June 5, 12, 19, 26: Young Artist Camp, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
June 16: Life Drawing Class, 6-9 p.m.

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

June 6, 13, 20, 27: Virtual Old-Time Music Workshop Series—Banjo, 6:30 p.m.
June 6, 13, 20, 27: Virtual Old-Time Music Workshop Series—Fiddle, 8 p.m.
June 23: Bringing it Home—The Power of Song virtual conversation, 7:30 p.m.

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

June 3: How-To Soil Test Your Home Garden, 6-7:30 p.m.
June 5: Brownies—Bugs, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
June 8: Kayak the Swatara Creek with Cocoa Kayaks, 5:45-7:45 p.m.
June 10: Detweiler Park Photo Walk, 8-10 a.m.
June 10: Kids Discover—Herps, 1-3 p.m.
June 12: Volunteer Work Day, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
June 13: Tree Identification Walk, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
June 17: Growing Up WILD Educator Workshop, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
June 19: How-To Add the ‘Wow Factor’ to Your Home Garden, 9-10:30 a.m.
June 20: Flower Walk—Peak of Blooming, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
June 26: Kids Discover—Endangered Species, 10-11:30 a.m.
June 26: The Gift of Plants—Learning to Give and Receive What is Growing, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Live Music

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

June 19: Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives
June 25: Fleetwood Mask—Ultimate Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

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

June 12: Son Little

Chameleon Club
223 N. Water St., Lancaster
717-299-9684; chameleonclub.net

June 2: The Slackers

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

June 2, 9, 23, 30: Wednesday Jazz Series
June 4: Alyssa Hankey
June 5: Chris Purcell, Gleasons Drift
June 6, 13, 20, 27: Jazz Brunch with Central PA Friends of Jazz
June 12: Redemption Road, Soul Miners Union
June 16: The Harrisburg Jazz Collective (formerly River City Big Band)
June 18: Case 150
June 19: Hall Williams Band
June 26: Morgan Myles, Cody Tyler & Gypsy Convoy

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

June 4: Sunset Concert Series with Susquehanna Chorale, 7-8:30 p.m.
June 18: Sunset Concert Series with Harrisburg Symphony Hot Jazz Trio, 7-8:30 p.m.

Gretna Music
gretnamusic.org

June 20: Kenny Barron Jazz Trio

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

June 5: June Pops—Strings Go to Hollywood

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

June 9: Susquehanna Folk Music Society Presents Beverley Street String Band
June 26: Abe Ovadia

House of Music, Arts & Culture (H*MAC)
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

June 5: Garret Shultz with Tyler Short and Grant Bryan
June 11: Good Vs. Evil Hyperspace Tour
June 18: The Bucket List Inaugural Show
June 19: Webbie
June 26: NOTIXX
June 26: Enkay67 & Friends

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

June 12: Blue River Soul

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

June 4: Sunset Concert Series at Fort Hunter, 7-8:30 p.m.

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

June 5: Sierra Hull & Justin Moses
June 9: Beverley Street
June 24: Le Vent du Nord
June 30: Cups & Crankies

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

June 27: Richard Thompson

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

June 4; Smooth Like Clyde
June 5: Back in Black—ACDC Experience
June 10: Sunsquabi, Too Many Zooz, Humandala
June 11: Jeffry Gaines, Grace Mahar, Corinna Joy
June 12: Eternal Frequency, Coal, Volume to Nothing
June 18: Go Go Gadjet
June 19: Splintered Sunlight—Grateful Dead Tribute

The Stage Door

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

June 27: Bill Engvall

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

June 5, 6: Kinky Boots
June 13: Greater York Dance—50^th Anniversary Show
June 18: Shawn Banks featuring Jamie Utley
June 26, 27: 42 Street

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

June 3-July 31: “Beauty and the Beast”

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

June 4-19: “Hamlet,” Free Shakespeare in the Park

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

June 17-20: “Aladdin”

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

June 4, 5: Mike Paramore
June 11, 12: Jason Kanter and Sean Donnelly
June 18, 19: John Moses
June 22: World Famous Girls Night Out (The Show!)

House of Music, Arts & Culture (H*MAC)
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

June 4: Fifty Shades Male Revue
June 4: HELLZAPOPPIN Circus Sideshow Revue

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

June 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27: The Marvelous Wonderettes

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

June 4-25: “Over the Rainbow—The Songs of Judy Garland”

Support quality local journalism. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Artist in Focus: Sharnee Burnett

May 28, 2021 | by TheBurg Editor

You may know Sharnee Burnett, aka “Artzbeat,” as part of the team that painted the now-iconic “Harrisburg” mural on the side of Midtown Cinema.

That was back in 2016—and a lot has happened since.

She transferred from HACC to the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster and just graduated with a BFA in fine art.

So, it’s the perfect time for us to showcase her work on this page.

Her artwork also has been displayed in the CORE gallery at PCAD for their Black History Month and Women’s History Month exhibitions. Upon graduating, she plans to use her painting skills in courtroom art, tattoos, galleries and mural arts.

We hope you enjoy this selection of her work as much as we enjoyed sharing it with you.

For more information and to see more of her art, visit www.artzbeat.net.

Support quality local journalism. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Behind the Murals: Volunteers keep Sprocket Mural Works painting, beautifying Harrisburg

May 28, 2021 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

Volunteers paint a mural on Harrisburg’s lower river walk.

Gerry Regan is some kind of a super-volunteer.

If they gave out awards for volunteering, Gerry would probably get a lot of them. But it’s doubtful that he would accept them, plus, that would kind of defeat the whole giving-without-receiving principle of volunteering.

He listed off the Susquehanna Art Museum, the Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance, Whitaker Center, Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, and the list goes on.

Regan likes art, a lot. This shows in the many arts-centered organizations he chooses to work with.

When he saw murals popping up around Harrisburg some years ago, he knew he wanted to get involved with whoever was behind them. Regan found Sprocket Mural Works and instantly connected with their mission of beautifying the city. He dove into their work, helping wherever he could, cleaning up sticks and overgrown brush around mural walls, setting up scaffolding and priming walls.

“It’s all about helping people and making it easier on them,” Regan said.

According to Sprocket co-founder Megan Caruso, the organization relies on volunteers like Regan. While Sprocket pays artists for their work, the organization is 100% volunteer run.

It’s the larger-than-life, brightly colored paintings that you see when driving or walking through the city. Over the years, Sprocket has created over 40 of them across Harrisburg. This summer, they will add to that number as part of their 2021 Mural Festival, which will include new paintings around the city, a pocket park in Midtown and painted planter boxes in Allison Hill.

But what you don’t see when you look at the artwork is what’s underneath, the hours that Sprocket board members and over 450 volunteers worked to prepare each artist’s canvas.

“Sprocket is more work than any small group of people can accomplish,” Caruso said. “We wouldn’t exist if we didn’t have people volunteering their time.”

Prime Time

Zac Monnier has volunteered with Sprocket since their first mural festival in 2017. That year, artists painted 13 murals around the city. Monnier wasn’t involved in any of the art itself, but had his hands on a lot of the behind-the-scenes projects.

He explained the process of priming a wall, which he’s done multiple times for the organization. This isn’t your typical painting experience. It involves at least a 20-foot paint roller, which gets dipped in primer and flung up to the wall. If you’re doing it right, you may wake up with a stiff neck the next morning, like Monnier has.

But that hasn’t bothered the volunteers, many of which described priming as a fun experience. Some said it’s their favorite part.

“Our volunteers aren’t afraid to get down and dirty,” said Meghan Weaver, Sprocket’s volunteer coordinator.

Regan’s known for showing up with his pickup truck to haul sticks and garbage. He’ll climb up on scaffolding, which some people are afraid to do, he said. He will even show up on days when artists are painting, to grab them a soda or watch their supplies while they take a bathroom break.

It’s not glamorous work. Volunteers don’t get their signatures on the walls they prime, but that doesn’t matter to them.

“Even though I didn’t do the artwork, I was behind the scenes,” Regan said. “I get to meet people, and I have fun doing it.”

Community organizations have stepped up, as well, Caruso said. Recycle Bicycle hosted a mural bike tour that drew 150 people. The Harrisburg Area Road Runners Club held a similar event on feet instead of wheels. Midtown Cinema set up a Q&A with Sprocket. Recently, people have donated plants for an upcoming pocket park project that is part of the 2021 Mural Festival.

“It’s so helpful to have people volunteer their skills and knowledge and time,” Caruso said.

Paint & Pride

Sprocket’s mission is to “increase community pride and civic engagement in Harrisburg through creative action.”

That’s what Caruso has hoped for since starting the arts organization in 2014. Weaver feels the same way. She’s found a community of like-minded artists who are passionate about making the community a better place.

“I get to contribute to the city that I love,” she said. “I love the idea of public art.”

Volunteer Hannah Witwer moved to Harrisburg from Philadelphia in 2016. In Philly, there was a huge arts scene—it was one of her favorite things about the city. When she moved to Harrisburg, she was excited to see murals in her new hometown, as well.

“I love art, but I never considered myself artistic,” she said. “While I couldn’t help paint a beautiful picture, I could help prime a wall.”

Witwer spent hours flinging her giant paint roller onto the wall on the side of the Capital Joe Coffee shop on Forster Street during the 2019 Mural Festival. Eventually, her work was covered with a swirling, galactic painting of a young astronaut by artist Arthur Haywood. Still, when Witwer drives by the mural, she points it out to her friends.

“I love telling people I helped prime that wall,” she said. “Being a part of that kind of helped me feel a part of the city.”

That rang true for Regan, Monnier and Weaver, too. They all talked about how they felt like their work meant something to the community, like it was more than just murals, but creating city pride. That’s all Caruso could ask for.

“It’s humbling,” she said. “I feel like we’ve found our people, and I feel grateful for that.”

To volunteer with Sprocket Mural Works or to learn more about what they do, visit www.sprocketmuralworks.com.

Support quality local journalism. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Staging a Comeback: Gamut’s “Shakespeare in the Park” returns with the classic “Hamlet”

May 28, 2021 | by Gina Napoli

To perform or not to perform?

That was the question Gamut Theatre staff asked following a long hibernation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I don’t think Hamlet ever got a straight answer to his question, but Gamut is giving an emphatic “yes” to performing Shakespeare in the Park this summer.

For the event’s 27th year, Gamut will treat Harrisburg with free performances of Shakespeare’s royal soap-opera tragedy “Hamlet,” promising a show even more dramatic than what England’s royal family can conjure today.

“This is an opportunity to see a professional Shakespeare play in one of Harrisburg’s most beautiful outdoor venues,” said Melissa Nicholson, Gamut’s executive director.

Technical Director Ross Carmichael feels there’s something special about performing Shakespeare under the stars, among all the natural elements.

“So many of Shakespeare’s plays involve nature in some way,” he said. “Being able to reference outdoor elements, while out in nature under an open sky, creates a different feeling than you will ever get inside. I think the productions there really elevate how nice it is in Reservoir Park.”

Gamut’s interpretation of “Hamlet” won’t feature the traditional Danish prince as you may remember him. Sure, Hamlet will be characteristically broody and cursed, but, according to Gamut’s Founding Artistic Director Clark Nicholson, the backdrop will be retro-contemporary, corporate and even a little Gothic. That’s as much of a sneak-peek that he would offer without the slippery slope of spoilers.

On the tail end of this pandemic, it’s fitting that we watch something darkly funny, a little gritty, peppered with puns and dirty jokes.

“The modern rendition of this play falls in line with Gamut Theatre’s mission to tell classic stories in new and exciting ways,” Carmichael said.

Pre-COVID, “Hamlet” was Gamut’s educational engagement production for its 2020 school tour, featuring 10 actors and a full set. The show for 2021 is scaled back to six actors and uses the backdrop from the school shows, as well as many of the same actors who were ready to perform before the pandemic.

“We had to find something with a small cast for COVID safety and minimal expenses coming out of financial recovery, so [‘Hamlet’] was a good fit for the company,” Melissa Nicholson said.

With its spacious outdoor venue and gorgeous scenery at the highest point in Harrisburg, Levitt Pavilion in Reservoir Park supports Shakespeare’s assertion that all the world’s a stage.

“We’re taking back the band shell—reviving it, reinvigorating it,” Clark Nicholson said. “It’s an excellent place to gather communities together.”

Carmichael and crew will transform the look and feel of the venue’s iconic band shell with a blend of the established gravitas of an old estate castle with a more modern, present-day setting.

“The band shell itself is such a marvel because it’s been around as long as it has, and it has amazing amplification vocally,” Carmichael said. “Considering that the audience is 50 to 100 yards away, they are still able to experience the play.”

Clark Nicholson assures us that the cast and crew will have the “all-clear” on vaccinations by the time the proverbial curtain rises. Depending on the weather, 2,500 to 5,000 people attend every year, with lawn chairs, blankets and flashlights. Gamut asks its audience members to observe COVID protocols and sit at least six feet from other groups.

If you can, stick around afterwards for the post-show interactive conversations with the audience.

“It’s always so rewarding to hear how people perceived the show, whether we intended [certain things] or not,” Carmichael said. “Everyone’s life experiences—getting all those viewpoints—is what drives me.”

“Hamlet” runs June 4 to 19, Wednesdays through Saturdays, at 7:30 p.m., weather permitting, at the band shell in Reservoir Park in Harrisburg. The event is free, but donations are appreciated. Gamut Theatre also is collecting monetary donations and canned goods for Bethesda Mission. The play is sponsored by Dauphin County and the Foundation for Enhancing Communities. For more information, visit www.gamuttheatre.org/fsip or call 717-238-4111.

Support quality local journalism. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Peak Purpose: Harrisburg-area woman nears a rare achievement—mounting the “Seven Summits”

May 28, 2021 | by Susan Ryder

Julie McKelvey climbing Lobuche Peak in Nepal

Fewer than 100 women have climbed the Seven Summits, the highest peaks in each of the seven continents. Julie McKelvey, of Lemoyne, is attempting to count herself among this elite group.

McKelvey, who described herself as “not a super-athletic kid,” began climbing at the invitation of her father, a long-time extreme sports enthusiast.

“He said, ‘I think I have one more in me, I want you to do it with me,’” said McKelvey, recalling that day in 2016.

So, she and her son, Jacob, then 12 years old, traveled to Japan to climb the 12,388-foot Mount Fuji.

Even though they trained little, and had the wrong gear, and the “wrong everything,” the trip was her gateway into more climbing.

“So, we go outside, and I see the sunrise above the clouds for the first time with Jacob, and I fell apart,” McKelvey said. “I had this spiritual experience around it. I was like, ‘I’m totally disconnected from all the other crazy pieces of my life and totally present in the moment.’”

Wanting to share this mountaintop experience, she convinced some friends to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with her. They had a great experience on the Tanzanian peak, though her friends were “once and done,” said McKelvey.

Then one of her guides asked if she had thought about climbing The Seven Summits. McKelvey thought, “The what?”

She researched and connected with a company that specialized in helping adventurers climb these formidable peaks, then headed to Mount Elbrus in Russia.

“That was really the trip that changed everything,” McKelvey said.

Huge Sacrifice

Such a commitment to climbing takes time.

McKelvey trains six days a week, 25 to 30 hours total. This includes the drive time to peaks like Hawk Mountain, about an hour northeast of Harrisburg, pack prep, stretching before and after, and trekking multiple times up and down the mountain with a 60-pound pack. Closer to home, there’s strength training in Dillsburg with Kevin Keefer Personal Training.

The hardest part?

“It’s the mental pace to have to keep going at this pace with the training,” said McKelvey. “There are just days when I don’t want to do it.”

Part of the mental challenge is leaving behind her husband Bobby and sons, Jacob and Jackson.

“It’s a huge sacrifice for them,” she said. “I am away a lot, and they worry about me, as they should.”

Part of that worry comes from her experience of altitude sickness on Aconcagua in South America.

Hit with blurred vision and dizziness, McKelvey was roped to a porter, received oxygen, and a shot of Dexamethasone. After repeatedly falling, she reminded the porter that she had evacuation insurance, which covers a helicopter rescue. He informed her that helicopters can’t fly at that altitude and said to her, “Get your ass up and walk.” And she did.

The dangers and challenges of her remaining four climbs aren’t far from her mind, but she knows that proper planning and training go a long way. She said that she finds the best climbing company she can to guide her. Often, climbers get into trouble when they don’t take a guide or try to go “on the cheap,” she said.

For her June trip to Denali in Alaska, McKelvey had to be interviewed and accepted by the climbing company. Denali is considered by many to be the most difficult of The Seven Summits, mostly because it’s self-supporting. This means that climbers have to carry their own heavy pack and pull a sled with 60 pounds of food and gear. Unlike supported climbs, climbers must pitch their own tents, boil snow for water, and make their own food.

Even with all the work, summiting is never guaranteed. Climbers fail to summit Denali more than half the time. The weather can change on a dime and “25% of the time, you can’t get to the summit because of the weather. And it doesn’t matter how fit you are, just the mountain says ‘no,’” McKelvey said.

She doesn’t dismiss the idea that she might not reach her goal.

“I’ll be disappointed, right,” she said. “But it’s not going to crush me.”

Summit for Sound

This same driven attitude has propelled McKelvey as the owner and CEO of two Miracle Ear franchises with 34 offices. Though her climbing experiences, she said, have mellowed her.

“Every time I come home from one of these, I’ve changed a little bit more, and I don’t sweat the small stuff and the things that used to get to me,” she said. “It’s just not a big deal.”

Climbing has also created Summit for Sound, a foundation that provides hearing aids to adults and children who otherwise couldn’t afford them. All money raised through the climbs goes to the foundation. The Kilimanjaro climb raised $50,000.

“My whole idea is anybody that comes in [to Miracle Ear], we need to be able to help them, whether they can afford it or not,” McKelvey said.

McKelvey will be especially busy in the next six months as she plans to climb three peaks: Denali in Alaska, Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia, and Mount Vinson in Antarctica. She will wait a year and recover, as well as enjoy her eldest son’s senior year, before attempting the tallest peak in the world, Mount Everest.

Joining the historic ranks of the women who’ve conquered The Seven Summits or not, McKelvey will continue her demanding life with her business and appreciate her family. She’ll follow the motto that keeps her focused—“Be where your feet are.”

To learn more about Summit for Sound, visit www.pledge.giftofsound.org/summitforsounddenali.

Support quality local journalism. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

History of Hospitality: Jean Bonnet Tavern has greeted visitors since Colonial times

May 28, 2021 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Samuel Johnson, author and writer of “A Dictionary of the English Language,” once said, “There is nothing, which has been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern.”

Today’s taverns may still be sites of much merriment, but few can lay claim to being an incubator of insurrection and fewer still are standing to tell the tale, which is what makes the Jean Bonnet Tavern in Bedford so special. If you’re a history lover who is aching to take a road trip, you can visit the Jean Bonnet on less than a tank of gas.

Whiskey Rebels

Built in the 1760s and situated along the Lincoln Highway, the historic structure of cut fieldstone welcomes guests with a marker detailing its rich history. The earliest, official property records show a transfer of 690 acres from the William Penn family to a land speculator by the name of Hans Ireland. In 1762, Ireland transferred the property to a trader named Robert Callender. Callender, a Carlisle native, served as a scout for Gen. George Washington.

The structure was a welcome respite for settlers who made their way west in wooden wagons. Early on, it served as a French fort and trading post. In 1779, Jean Bonnet and his wife Dorothy purchased the property, which was issued a license as a public house shortly thereafter.

After the Revolutionary War, a notable uprising occurred that would cement the tavern’s place in history.

An attempt by the new federal government to impose an excise tax on whiskey was met with resistance. The tax was part of Alexander Hamilton’s plan to help pay down the large national debt caused by the Revolutionary War. The move to implement the first tax on a domestic product enraged farmers, who often distilled their surplus grain and corn into whiskey, which they then used for bartering purposes.

To show their displeasure, a disgruntled group congregated at the tavern and hoisted a “liberty pole,” which was known as a common form of protest during Colonial days. George Washington, in an effort to quell the rebellion, gathered together a group of militiamen. He set up his headquarters at the nearby David Espy House (located in modern-day downtown Bedford), and his troops camped outside of town at the Jean Bonnet on their way to Pittsburgh in 1794.

Since then, the property has changed hands many times. Although records show that it’s most often been maintained as a tavern and inn, it’s also on record as having been used as a private residence. In 1979, the structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Candles & Ghosts

Many of the features you see today, from the tavern’s 2-foot-thick stone walls to its impressive fireplaces and chestnut beams, were constructed while Callender owned the property. Brandon Callihan, a Bedford native and Culinary Institute of America graduate, worked at the Jean Bonnet before assuming ownership in June 2017.

Little has changed in recent years, and that’s by design, according to Callihan. Guests still dine by candlelight in a Colonial atmosphere where the food is served on pewter plates and homemade quilts adorn the walls. During the winter, roaring fires are lit in each dining area to keep guests warm and cozy as they dine.

Customers who prefer a more casual atmosphere can climb the steps to the spacious dining area on the second floor, which features an oversized bar, an additional fireplace and roomy wooden booths.

Craig Nye of Mechanicsburg has stopped a few times for lunch at the tavern while visiting the area and has enjoyed sandwiches, burgers, onion rings and their popular onion soup.

“The food is good, and the candles on each table are a nice touch,” he said.

Nye said that he found the history of the tavern and its role in the Whiskey Rebellion intriguing, not to mention the tales of resident ghosts.

“The place is said to be haunted,” he said. “I hear that ghosts appear in the bar overnight.”

Located just a few steps from the tavern is an authentic log cabin crafted in the 1700s, which now operates as “The Cabin Shoppe.” The structure was moved from Fayette County to its current site in 2005 and features items made by local artisans and other unique gifts.

The Jean Bonnet Tavern also features overnight accommodations. All four rooms have access to the commodious balcony porch, replete with rocking chairs to relax and take in the view of the Allegheny Mountains.

Callihan said that he enjoys seeing the smiles on the faces of guests who visit and is proud to play a part in the history of hospitality that has been a tradition throughout the ages.

The Jean Bonnet Tavern is located at 6048 Lincoln Highway, Bedford. For more information, visit www.jeanbonnettavern.com.

Support quality local journalism. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like