Ounce of Prevention: Flu shots remain key to keeping Harrisburg healthy.

October 30, 2020 | by Capital BlueCross Staff

This year’s flu season coincides with the lingering COVID-19 pandemic.

Both infections can be, at the least, uncomfortable and, at the worst, deadly. And the combination of the two has some public health experts calling this fall a possible perfect storm of infectious illnesses.

“We’re really headed into uncharted territory with a global pandemic converging with the annual flu season,” said Dr. Jennifer Chambers, chief medical officer at Harrisburg-based Capital BlueCross. “Fortunately, some of the same preventive practices for COVID-19, such as hand washing, mask wearing and social distancing, could help keep our flu rates down.”

While there is still no vaccine for COVID-19, there is a flu vaccine, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people over the age of six months receive it.

“Getting a flu shot can prevent the flu or at least reduce the severity of its symptoms,” Dr. Chambers explained. “And this year, it also could help ease the strain on a healthcare system still coping with a lingering pandemic.”

While family physicians and pharmacies play a major role in encouraging people to get flu shots, insurers like Capital BlueCross are doing their part to help with flu vaccine education and outreach in the Harrisburg region and beyond.

For example, Capital BlueCross is making it easier for local employers to promote flu shots with their employees, even as many of those employees continue to work remotely. Instead of traditional onsite visits to mid-state businesses, Capital BlueCross’ health education consultants offer virtual education sessions for employees about flu prevention. The consultants explain the differences between the cold and the flu, when to seek medical attention, and key prevention techniques.

The company also is providing a toolkit to Harrisburg-area businesses to raise awareness about the need for flu vaccines among their employees, with timely messages that can be used starting in the fall and continuing through January as the flu season progresses.

In September, the message is awareness: flu season is here, and it’s time to plan. In October, the focus is on encouraging people to get vaccinated and offering guidance on where flu shots are available.

In December, Capital BlueCross is reminding people to maintain healthy behaviors even after they’ve received the flu vaccine, including tips on how to access care, such as the use of telehealth resources like Capital BlueCross’ own Virtual Care platform. And in January, the prevention message continues, but with an emphasis on encouraging others—friends, family members, coworkers—to get a flu vaccine as well.

“The flu season always brings an element of uncertainty, in that we never really know how fast or far it will spread,” Dr. Chambers said. “But having a flu season plan—and following it—can help each of us feel safer, and that in turn helps keep our family and friends safer.”

For more information, visit www.capbluecross.com.

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Hometown Soul: Rubber Soul Brewing Co. is reborn in Hummelstown.

October 30, 2020 | by Karen Hendricks

Hometown pride is something that touches your soul.

That’s what Donovan (“Dono”) Krebs felt when he met longtime Hummelstown resident Mike VanGavree. And that’s why he accepted VanGavree’s offer to become head brewer at Rubber Soul Brewing Co.

Most of all, he loved VanGavree’s idea to do something big in a small town.

“This opportunity came up out of nowhere,” Krebs said. “He [VanGavree] wanted to bring something back to a small town, and that’s what I wanted to do—I’m from Shamokin, also a small town. So I said, ‘Yes, let’s revamp a small town, make good beer and serve the community.’”

And what better location, to capture hometown vibes, than a former borough building?

“We knew the structure and integrity, and we knew we could take the building back 100 years to its original layout,” said VanGavree.

Renovations included the removal of five layers of paint from the brick exterior of the South Hanover Street landmark.

Inside, fresh new paint sets a playful, retro tone. A mural lets visitors relive their childhood memories of swinging on a tire swing, via a seat built into the “tire”—the “O” in Rubber Soul’s invitation to “refuel your sOul.” It was created by local students, led by a Lower Dauphin High School art teacher

Soul, on Tap

VanGavree is one of Rubber Soul’s three owners, who comprise Ghost Brewing LLC. They saw the potential for Rubber Soul to bounce back from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, from its original ownership in Salisbury, Md.

It was founder and head brewer Jesse Prall of Harrisburg who named Rubber Soul for his love of biking. The connection to the 1965 Beatles album, “Rubber Soul,” didn’t hurt either. Prall recently returned to the mid-state to begin brewing for The Englewood, which recently opened just outside Hummelstown.

Rubber Soul’s beer menu will integrate new brews by Krebs with those you could call “old souls.”

“The whole key to brewing and distilling is the water source,” VanGavree said.

So, although Rubber Soul’s new owners retain the rights to the brewery’s original beers, he said, “they’ll taste different than the originals because we’re using Hummelstown water.”

Two of the eight taps on early October’s opening night featured original Rubber Soul brews, updated—Garage Racer 2020 and Dropout 2020.

Krebs’ contributions include Awake My Soul—a coffee porter conditioned on Harrisburg’s Elementary Coffee Co.’s cold brewed coffee—and Soul Searching, an IPA infused with blood orange puree.

“I really want to focus on IPA’s because it’s where the [craft beer] trend is going,” Krebs said. “But really, I want to know what Hummelstown likes and then cater to that—to make Hummelstown proud.”

Krebs’ resume includes plenty of noteworthy Philadelphia-area breweries—Manayunk, Neshaminy Creek and Nodding Head breweries.

But beer isn’t the only beverage flowing at Rubber Soul. There’s a creative cocktail menu, including the “Dono Dew Ya Good,” concocted with Tullamore DEW Irish Whiskey, house-made lemonade and Rubber Soul’s pale ale, Fresh Dew.

Creativity in the kitchen is led by Diana Aragon, who previously worked at Harrisburg’s Mangia Qui, Suba and Char’s.

Brick oven pizzas include a pie piled with figs, prosciutto, gorgonzola, onion, arugula and a balsamic drizzle. Crispy Brussels with chili lime sauce, and “Devils on Horseback” (bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with pecans) are just two of the “sharables.”

Teresa Fortney of Hummelstown said that she’s happy to be on staff as a “refueler,” Rubber Soul lingo for servers. A bartender for 26 years, she was laid off from her previous job on March 17.

What did her October start date feel like at Rubber Soul?

“I feel like I want to cry, because people don’t realize what it does to your mental health [being without a job],” Fortney said. “I’m a people person—I’ve been in the restaurant industry since I was 13. It’s in my blood. It’s something that’s good for my soul.”

Morning Souls

Long before the dinner hour, Rubber Soul’s giant, nine-foot doors open at 6:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday (11 a.m. on Sundays), to welcome those who love beverages of another kind—the coffee crowd.

“Beer is a niche industry, but for some reason, it got bogged down with hipsters, with males, with homebrewing, and it’s really so much more than that—that’s why we brought in a coffee element with Elementary Coffee,” said Jamie Mowery Lewis, Rubber Soul’s “soul marketing officer.”

Beer and coffee, she said, have a lot in common.

“Elementary—they’re local and very similar to us in vibe. Even if you don’t drink beer, you can still come in, in the mornings for coffee, with plenty of workspace. So, we really offer something for everybody,” said Lewis, who is VanGavree’s niece.

In addition to Rubber Soul’s relationship with Elementary, they did a collab available at Middletown’s Tattered Flag, and they’ve joined Visit Hershey and Harrisburg’s Brew Barons Beer Trail.

“That’s what’s awesome about this industry,” Lewis said. “The competition is not the competition you’re used to in a business atmosphere—people want you to do well. Everyone wants you to win.”

To which VanGavree replied, “It’s beautiful—there’s no politics.”

“Just good beer,” Lewis added.

Rubber Soul Brewing is located at 136 S. Hanover St., Hummelstown. For more information, see www.rubbersoulbrewing.com.

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November’s News Digest

October 30, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley

Forster Street in Harrisburg

Advisory Committee Amendments Pass

A proposed Harrisburg police advisory committee inched closer to a final vote last month, after several amendments to the bill were passed by City Council.

Most significantly, council approved a change giving administrative subpoena power to the committee, something that many community members asked for repeatedly at town hall and council meetings.

In addition, the statement of general intent of the bill was amended to better communicate the board’s role in exercising accountability over the Harrisburg Police Bureau rather than serving as a liaison between the police and community.

Council member Ausha Green also proposed removing the police commissioner and the chair of council’s public safety committee as non-voting members of the board. They would be replaced with two voting members from the city at large. The nine committee members would serve three-year terms, she added. Both of these amendments passed.

Council voted in favor of requiring that all board members undergo orientation by the city’s law bureau within six months of their appointment. The bill previously required members to be trained at the city’s police academy and complete a police ride-along.

Among other amendments was one to encourage police compliance with requests from the advisory committee for information. If the police bureau doesn’t provide the information within 14 days of a request for information—or if the response is deemed unsatisfactory—the board can recommend that City Council suspend funding for hiring new officers.

Council ended up taking no action on another proposal, changing the name of the body from an “advisory committee” to a “review board.” City Solicitor Neil Grover said that Harrisburg doesn’t have the authority to create a review board under state legislation.

Improvements for Forster Street

Pedestrian-friendly changes are afoot for Forster Street, as the city announced that it will receive a federal grant to remake a stretch of the dangerous road.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse said the city will receive $832,437 to reduce the width of Forster Street between the Harvey Taylor Bridge and N. 2nd Street, among other changes.

He said that the Harrisburg Area Transportation Study (HATS), a regional transportation planning body, voted to fund the project construction, which will take place next year.

The actual cost of the project is nearly $1.1 million. In its 2021 budget, the city will provide its 20-percent match of $245,818 by taking on the pre-construction design and inspection process, Papenfuse said.

“There will be a reduction in the amount of distance in which pedestrians have to go in crossing the street,” he said.

Besides narrowing the road, the project will create new pedestrian crossings, replace curbs, build bump-outs and install landscaping.

The city applied in June for the money, which originates with federal Department of Transportation funds. At the time, city Engineer Wayne Martin said he was optimistic about receiving the grant because prior HATS studies already had identified the area as currently unsafe for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. It also is a regional connector between the city and suburbs, as well as a major commuter route.

According to city data, the Front and Forster area is the most dangerous roadway in Harrisburg, with 47 vehicle crashes recorded between 2015 and 2018 within 250 feet of the intersection.

Earlier this year, the city received word that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation had agreed to substantial improvements to another dangerous commuter route—State Street on Allison Hill.

“Both of those projects are now going to be able to move to construction,” Papenfuse said. “Indeed, we’ll have construction completed in 2021.”

These projects both align with the city’s “Vision Zero” program to eliminate pedestrian fatalities.

In addition, the city plans to begin work in the spring on returning N. 2nd Street to two-way traffic between Forster and Division streets, as well as work to improve N. 7th Street. Both of those projects should extend into 2022.

“There’s going to be a lot of Harrisburg under construction for sure next year in 2021,” Papenfuse said.

Greenhouse Plans Advance

The Reservoir Park Greenhouse Project continues to blossom in Harrisburg, as the working group steering the restoration seeks community input and participation.

Last month, members of the project held a town hall to discuss plans for the greenhouse and to update the public.

“We want to make sure we are doing things that people in the city agree with,” said Christopher Nafe, the city’s sustainability manager.

The project includes the restoration of a 1,500-square-foot greenhouse built in 1929 and about a half-acre of garden space surrounding it. This area on the south side of Reservoir Park sits just off Whitehall Street.

The Reservoir Park Greenhouse Project is an initiative of the Harrisburg Parks Foundation, a project of the Foundation for Enhancing Communities. They are working to make it function again, after it sat idle for 20 years.

“A lot of people are excited to see something being done,” said Rafiyqa Muhammad, a member of the City’s Environmental Advisory Council and the owner of Sustainable Human Environment, who has been a member of the greenhouse renovation working group since its inception. “It’s an educational site, and we will always learn something when we come up there.”

Muhammad said the gardens and greenhouse will provide access to healthy fruits and vegetables for residents in the surrounding Allison Hill community, as well as teach them how to grow their own food.

“The Black community really deserves a state-of-the-art greenhouse,” she said.

The project will focus on landscaping, preparing garden beds and planting seeds first, with work on the greenhouse to follow, Muhammad explained. Eventually, the group hopes to renovate the Brownstone Building near the greenhouse for use as a food demonstration kitchen, Nafe said.

Homegrown Harrisburg Community Gardens Network, Tri-County Community Action, Messiah University Center for Sustainability, Harrisburg Young Professionals of Color, Sustainable Human Environment, LLC, and Harrisburg Urban Growers are some of the organizations in the Greenhouse Working Group.

Funds for the project are already coming in through private donors like the Whitt Family Foundation, which has given $50,000, and the Rotary Club of Harrisburg, which donated $5,000.

Nafe said they are looking into applying for grants, as well. They have already received a $25,000 “Better Food, Better Access, Better Together” grant from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.

While planting won’t begin until spring, Muhammad and Nafe said that they will be hosting community workshops on topics like composting.

Urban Meadow Expansion Eyed

A strip of green space in Midtown Harrisburg would be lengthened under a plan to extend the “Urban Meadow” to the new federal courthouse area.

City Council recently approved a resolution allowing the submission of a grant application for up to $3 million to the state Department of Community and Economic Development’s Multimodal Transportation Fund Program.

If the grant is received, half of the funds would go to the Urban Meadow extension construction and the other half to area streetscape improvements. The project also includes adding about 50 angled parking spaces on Reily Street between Logan and Fulton streets.

A Dauphin County gaming grant already has fully paid for about $75,000 worth of design fees for the project.

The current Urban Meadow runs along Boyd Street from N. 3rdto Fulton Street. The new project would extend pavers from Fulton to N. 6thStreet, said city Engineer Wayne Martin.

“As the name indicates, it is kind of an oasis in the city,” said Harrisburg project manager Ambrose Buck.

The path extension would be a dedicated pedestrian and bicycle route, including lighting and landscaping. It would connect the federal courthouse currently under construction on N. 6th Street to the Midtown area, Martin said.

He said that, with the forthcoming courthouse requiring about 400 to 800 parking spaces, the city is looking to increase transportation options.

“The goal is economic development through multimodal transportation,” he said.

If the grant is received, construction on the Urban Meadow is expected for early 2021, Martin said.

Harrisburg also plans to add sidewalks and new bus stops on N. 6th Street by the courthouse.

New Hires for Fire Bureau

The Harrisburg Fire Bureau last month swore in new firefighters, setting a record high for the number of personnel in over a decade, Chief Brian Enterline said.

At the bureau’s virtual 2020 Awards Ceremony, 10 new hires joined the ranks, bringing the total number of officers in the bureau to 88.

“That represents the real, true growth for the Harrisburg Fire Bureau,” Mayor Eric Papenfuse said. “We have brought this bureau back, and now we are growing again.”

The new firefighters include Timothy Wolcott, Nicholas Hurst, Austin Howard, Nathaniel Barbolish, Brayden Byers, Jared Day, Justin Barnes, Cody Durham, Joseph Kuhn and Conner Davis.

Hurst, Kuhn and Wolcott previously served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The 10 new firefighters underwent much of their training through online classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Enterline said.

“They remained committed and flexible even though that may not have been a popular choice on any given day,” he said.

“Reverse” Holiday Parade Planned

Harrisburg last month announced big changes to its annual Holiday Parade. The show will still go on, just in reverse.

In this year’s format, participants in the parade will remain stationary, while spectators will drive by in their vehicles to watch. It also will take place on City Island, as opposed to the streets of downtown.

“We wanted to do something where we could still keep the holiday spirit alive for the community, but in a safe way,” said Megan Roby, marketing and events manager for Harrisburg.

Although it’s a different format, Roby said there will still be decorated floats, candy and, of course, Santa. The parade takes place Nov. 21, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. People must arrive before noon to participate in the drive-through.

In place of the typical candy tossed for children, the first 150 cars will receive free goodie bags at the end of the parade route.

Roby expects around 40 to 50 entrants in the parade. There will be something fun around each turn on the route, she said.

The event is free to the public, and spectators are also encouraged to join the fun by decorating their cars.

The theme of the parade is “Hometown Holiday,” inspired by the months of quarantining and staying at home, Roby said.

Entrants will receive scores from a panel of local celebrity judges, with the highest score winning a $100 Amazon gift card.

The Reverse Holiday Parade is sponsored by Visit Hershey & Harrisburg, Explore HBG and the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District.

Home Sales, Prices Rise

Home sales and prices rose strongly in the Harrisburg area in September, continuing a months-long trend.

For the three-county capital region, residential sales shot up to 799 units compared to 672 units in September 2019, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR). The median sales price also increased substantially—to $200,000 from $180,000 last year, GHAR said.

In Dauphin County, sales totaled 373 units in September versus 333 in the year-ago period, while the median price rose to $178,000 from $166,000, according to GHAR.

Cumberland County saw sales of 376 homes compared to 309 last year, as the median price increased to $226,250 from $209,950. In Perry County, 50 houses sold last month versus 30 in September 2019, as the median price jumped to $180,000 from $149,900, GHAR said.

Meanwhile, houses took an average of 33 days to sell, compared to 44 for the prior September, according to GHAR.

In the Harrisburg area, home sales data has been strong nearly every month since pandemic-related restrictions were lifted on the industry in late spring.

So Noted

Civic Club of Harrisburg last month received the 2020 Stewardship Award from Preservation Pennsylvania for its century-long history of community work and its efforts to preserve “Overlook,” the Civic Club’s stately home on the Susquehanna River.

Dyan McAlister has been named chief financial officer of Dillsburg-based Presbyterian Senior Living. McAlister has been with the not-for-profit since 1998, most recently serving as vice president of finance. She replaces Jeff Davis, who retired last month.

Good Brotha’s Book Café expects to open this month along the 1400-block of N. 3rd Street in Midtown Harrisburg. The café will be the second recent business venture for owner Stefan Hawkins, along with his fiancé Laquana Barber, the first being the House of Vegans restaurant directly across the street.

Harrisburg last month announced it had received a $70,000 grant from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help the health office enhance its operations. The funds will be used to increase the number and types of food establishment inspections and help provide safe, healthy and affordable food in the community, according to the city.

M&T Bank last month named Nora Habig as president of its central and western Pennsylvania region, which includes 10 counties from Dauphin through Allegheny. Habig, a Carlisle resident, has been with the bank since 1990. She replaces Stephen A. Foreman, who retired earlier in the month.

R.G. Hummer Quality Meats opened last month in the West Shore Farmers Market in Lemoyne. It’s the second location for fifth-generation butcher Ryan Hummer, who will retain his longstanding stand inside the brick building of the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg.

UPMC Pinnacle, along with the Peyton Walker Foundation, last month donated 18 automated external defibrillators to the Harrisburg Police Bureau. The units, valued at about $40,500, are designed to help save the lives of people suffering sudden cardiac arrest.

UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg is slated to open its comprehensive inpatient pediatric unit this month. The unit is a 26-bed unit, including 11 new, private rooms, with each new room designed for universal use, meaning children stay in one room throughout their hospital stay.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2418: R. Ivey to H. Brown, $30,000

Allison St., 1505: M. Turner to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $40,000

Bellevue Rd., 1907: D. Boyle to C. & M. Diaz, $30,000

Bellevue Rd., 2306 & 2318: M. Kerrigan to J. Winand & T. Walton, $295,000

Benton St., 543: L. Shoffner & T. Samsel to V. Towindo, $84,900

Berryhill St., 1212: S. Little to Parcview 135 Corp., $35,000

Berryhill St., 2140: PA Deals LLC to A. Matthews, $76,900

Berryhill St., 2144: H. Alcantara & M. Wilson to M. de Munoz, $71,500

Berryhill St., 2330: C. Zheng to J. Solis Corps, $75,000

Boas St., 215: J. Barnaby to L. Davis, $90,000

Boas St., 426: N. Spence to Z. & M. Zook, $190,000

Brookwood St., 2433: M. Osevala to A. Hanson, $65,000

Camp St., 525: J. & D. Carroll to A. Rashid, $45,000

Camp St., 535: E. Prunty to Easymyth Real Estate Developments LLC, $40,000

Chestnut St., 1846: R. Wagner & T. Christopher to Dreams2Reality Services LLC, $30,000

Conoy St., 108: D. Noll to D. Wendling Jr., $156,000

Cumberland St., 256: A. & L. Kanagy to S. & J. Toole, $105,000

Derry St., 1248: M. Murphy to Jackson Investment Properties LLC, $37,200

Derry St., 2143: 4880 East Prospect LLC to J. & D. Holland, $55,000

Emerald Ct., 2456: PA Deals LLC to J. Seelbinder, $114,900

Emerald St., 214: K. Petroski to J. Maneri, $90,172

Emerald St., 216: R. Jones & A. Hohnson to J. Knesis, $106,000

Emerald St., 245: D. & C. Aquino to SPG Capital LLC, $42,000

Fulton St., 1621: J. & C. Mondschean to R. & F. Hamid, $132,000

Girard St., 739: H. Hughes to M. & T. Fickett, $80,000

Green St., 1108 & 228 Herr St.: C. Peguese & D. Hoffman to L. Mills Jr., $312,000

Green St., 1309: L. Oberly to E. Hower & R. Musarra, $129,300

Green St., 1509: A. & K. Tyson to W. Hughes & I. Wright, $172,500

Green St., 1518: J. Bowser to M. Pfautz, $130,000

Green St., 1709: Mussani & Co. LP to Fratelli Property Investments LLC, $115,000

Green St., 1828: W. Peffley Jr. to M. Vaccarella, $80,000

Harris St., 342: D. Shelley to N. Dreikorn, $139,900

Hoffman St., 3130: R. Louer to Equity Trust Co., $36,000

Holly St., 2017: Y. Patterson to V. Belliard & L. Quintanilla, $40,000

Hummel St., 357: J. Vogelsong to C&P Property Management Inc., $37,000

James St., 1329: J. & M. Walker to V. Paredes, $30,000

Jefferson St., 2720: RJ IBA LLC to S. & T. Jefferson, $62,500

Kelker St., 622: C. Moon to A. Bakare & A. Allen, $65,000

Kensington St., 2238: J. & A. Sullivan to N. Matthews, $45,500

Kensington St., 2248: J. & A. Sullivan to N. Matthews, $45,500

Lexington St., 2754: L. Hammer to A. Kohl, $80,000

Lewis St., 235: G. & C. Williams to D. Borowsky, $195,500

Logan St., 1619: C. Grim to W. McKelvey, $125,000

Logan St., 1713: C. Enright to J. George, $139,000

Logan St., 2226: CR Property Group LLC to PA Property Rental LLC, $105,000

Market St., 1021: S. Pearlman to Great Scott Productions LLC, $425,000

Market St., 1907: KBH Properties LLC to J. Alvarado, $60,000

Moore St., 2113: Blue Door Management LLC to J. Mercedes, $70,000

Muench St., 271: C. Halpert to C. & S. Roe, $120,100

Mulberry St., 1807: G. & A. Rucker to R. Bobb, $90,000

N. 2nd St., 1301: H. Rothrock to E. Rothrock, $131,000

N. 2nd St., 2615: E. Smith & H. Williams to B. Clark, $213,900

N. 2nd St., 2727: W. Stabler to J. Jayamohan, $256,000

N. 2nd St., 3108: B. Lock to N. & D. Leppo, $219,500

N. 3rd St., 1014: O’Sullivan Realty to Kaysay Management LLC, $675,000

N. 3rd St., 1111: M. Bernas to S. Goodyear, $148,000

N. 3rd St., 1126: BCG Holdings LLC to WCI Partners LP, $582,450

N. 3rd St., 1200: Keuka LLC to WCI Partners LP, $1,182,550

N. 3rd St., 1617: T. & J. Hoy to PDI Properties LLC, $150,000

N. 3rd St., 2011: M. Goldberg to S. & K. Weinstock, $300,000

N. 4th St., 1410: Next Level Opportunity to A. Grant, $105,200

N. 4th St., 2430: T. Brown & M. Cvetko to E. Rodriguez, $67,000

N. 6th St., 2712: Goldstein Couriers LLC to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $52,500

N. 6th St., 3205 & 3209: SBN LLC to SMNHAS 1 LLC, $375,000

N. 14th St., 1305 & 1309 and 1311 Augusta St.: A. & A. McBarnett to J. & J. Stalker, $90,000

N. 15th St., 238: D. Whittaker to Dima Properties LLC, $47,000

N. 15th St., 1120: D. & D. Costanza to Top Notch Rentals LLC, $50,000

N. 15th St., 1609: T. & D. Yuncker to Top Notch Rentals LLC, $51,000

N. 16th St., 911: S. Sprinkle to Y. Alvarez, $102,000

N. 16th St., 1219: J. Cruz to C. Harvey, $109,900

N. 16th St., 1221: J. Alvarado to A. & M. Sattar, $105,000

N. 18th St., 64: A. Greenwood to HBK Properties 1 LLC, $53,000

N. Front St., 17: Harrisburg Building & Grounds Co. to State Street Holdings LLC, $895,000

N. Front St., 1525, unit 609: C. Yastishock to D. Lucas & S. Stinson, $185,000

Parkway Blvd., 2437: K. Davis & K. Prowell to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $60,000

Peffer St., 415: L. Blanton to S. & H. Westhafer, $84,000

Penn St., 1818: C. Schroll to A. Mione, $115,000

Penn St., 2113: Green Mosca Associates LLC to Gold Key Properties LLC, $48,000

Penn St., 2149: Three Dog Properties LLC to M. Spicher, $60,000

Race St., 604: A. Heinzel to K. Konkle, $170,000

Reel St., 2447: G. Henein & A. Habeeb to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $55,000

Rolleston St., 1244: P. Phillips to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $52,000

Rumson Dr., 290: M. & C. Parker and M. Richardson to T. & W. Baka, $63,000

Rumson Dr., 331: L. Taleb to J. Crespo, $99,501

Schuykill St., 331: Scarn LLC to Pork Chop Properties LLC, $139,500

S. 2nd St., 300: M. Trucco to B. Bose, $149,900

S. 13th St., 14: B. Crews to A. Hallagher & C. Barr, $71,000

S. 13th St., 441: C. Keyes to Shutter Real Estate LLC, $40,000

S. 13th St., 1462: L. Jack to C. & C. Abukari, $41,000

S. 15th St., 441: E. Prunty to RRMMM Real Estate LLC, $41,000

S. 17th St., 137: WH RE LLC to 137 South 17th Street LLC, $230,000

S. 19th St., H. & C. Thompson to J. Serrano, $90,000

S. 19th St., 1200: C. & J. Scott to M. Martinez, $105,000

S. 21st St., 738: D&L Development Group Inc. to J. & F. Cervantes, $61,000

S. 25th St., 614: L. Phuong to Landmark Holdings Group LLC, $43,000

S. 25th St., 640: D. Hoffman & J. Regalado to L. Stewart, $64,400

S. Front St., 623: G. Schwab to A. Yockin, $148,000

S. Front St., 703: H. Jones & T. Imslwiler to J. Barnaby, $165,000

State St., 217: D. & J. Ragland to 217 State Street LLC, $195,000

State St., 1925: T. Keefer to J. & A. Camacho, $80,500

Susquehanna St., 1212: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to J. Tanzer, $82,000

Verbeke St., 217: A. Ackley to E. Heath, $154,900

Verbeke St., 219: T. Park to H. & L. Stuckey, $219,000

Walnut St., 1814: CR Property Group LLC to J. Meredith, $104,995

Walnut St., 1822: S. Jackson to E. Morales & A. Ayala, $48,000

Washington St., 105: PinnacleHealth System to BD Property Management LLC, $116,000

Yale St., 220: G. Domon to A. Gutierrez, $49,000

Harrisburg property sales for September 2020, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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Monumental Issues: Gettysburg’s Confederate monuments tie into today’s racial reckoning.

October 30, 2020 | by Karen Hendricks

Thirty armed militia members started walking down a hill, across the Gettysburg Battlefield, toward him.

It was the 4th of July, and it was the first time all day that Scott Hancock felt his heart beating out of his chest.

“That feeling of possible harm kept escalating,” said Hancock, 58, of Gettysburg.

As it turns out, they marched past him, without incident, but Hancock believed it was an intimidation tactic. What prompted it? What was Hancock, a history professor, and a ragtag group of friends doing to provoke them?

It Was a Sign

They were standing with posterboard signs, along Confederate Avenue, where southern soldiers fought in the 1863 battle considered the turning point of the Civil War that eventually led to Union victory. It’s lined with 11 Confederate monuments, arguably the most controversial of Gettysburg’s 1,300 monuments.

Perhaps those militia members were protecting the Confederate monuments—and therefore, their version of history.

Hancock believes there are facts missing from the words chiseled into the Confederate monuments, from the stories printed on the National Park Service’s interpretive signs, from our conversations about American history and the very roots of America’s racial issues.

So, for five years, he’s been arming himself with signs bearing those missing facts, neatly printed by his wife Patty. He’s usually joined by a few friends or family members. Some are white. Others, like Hancock, are Black. The signs usually stimulate conversations, but on the 4th of July, they sparked confrontations—some of which were captured by documentary filmmaker globalstory2 on a YouTube video viewed more than 17,000 times.

“One of the signs we held by the North Carolina monument was about [sculptor] Gutzon Borglum who also did Mount Rushmore, and things he said about the KKK, because he was a big supporter of the KKK,” said Hancock.

He thinks visitors should know about Borglum’s background. Hancock also thinks visitors should know how Confederate General Robert E. Lee, perched atop the Virginia monument, treated slaves. And he takes issue with the language on Mississippi’s monument, which refers to soldiers who “fought for their righteous cause.”

That cause, Hancock said, was slavery, and by extension, white supremacy and racism.

Those facts are missing from the current landscape across the 6,000-acre Gettysburg National Military Park (GNMP)—and arguably, from our collective understanding of American history. But that’s changing.

Signs of the Times

“History is evolving,” said Jason Martz, acting Gettysburg National Military Park spokesman.

“The men who died… some of their lasting legacy is in these monuments, and what was going on at the time in our country [when the monuments were installed] harkens back to the Civil Rights and Jim Crow era,” Martz said.

That’s why the National Park Service is installing new interpretive signs adjacent to each one of the Confederate monuments this fall.

“These [new] panels will provide more context,” said Martz. Park historians, in consultation with Hancock and others, are developing the text.

While the timing of the signs might appear to be a direct response to our nation’s racial reckoning following the death of George Floyd, Martz said that the signage has actually been in development for a number of years, as part of a larger project overhauling nearly 100 interpretive signs across the battlefield through the spring of 2021.

Hancock believes the additional signage is a step in the right direction.

“The reality is—removing all the Confederate monuments—it’s not going to happen, so I think we need to face the reality they’re going to be here for a long time, maybe for centuries. So what do we do with them? I would say we educate the public about why they’re here,” Hancock said.

Monumental Debates

Are all Confederate monuments symbols of racism? There are gray areas.

There are those who want to remove all Confederate monuments across the United States and those defending the stone sentinels. Location is a factor. Generally, Confederate monuments in U.S. town centers are being toppled, removed or reevaluated due to their glorification of Confederate “heroes,” while Confederate monuments on federal lands such as Gettysburg serve as site-specific markers.

In August, The Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides at Gettysburg discovered language, buried in legislation that passed the U.S. House, HR-7608, that calls for all Confederate monuments to be removed from federally owned lands. That would include Gettysburg, Civil War battlefields and historic sites.

“This would severely hamper our ability to interpret the battlefield,” said Les Fowler, president of the association, which represents about 125 active guides. “We use the monuments as springboards for conversation.”

Fowler, originally from Texas, believes Confederate monuments at Gettysburg and other historic sites should stay. Even though the legislation is not likely to pass through the Republican-controlled Senate, the guides are lobbying U.S. senators to remove this provision.

Monumental Momentum

Meantime, Hancock’s enterprising efforts are gaining momentum, and historians are rallying.

“We recognized the value of what Scott was doing… as an innovator—and evidence-based, engaging rather than confrontational,” said Gregory P. Downs, a professor of history at University of California-Davis, and co-editor of “The Journal of the Civil War Era.”

Downs, Hancock and two fellow history professors organized a “history action day” in September that mobilized hundreds of history lovers at 15 historic U.S. sites containing Confederate markers, from New York City to Richmond, Chicago to Gettysburg.

Their goal? “To emancipate our battlefields and other public spaces from a biased history that has sanitized and glorified the Confederacy’s fight to keep four million African Americans enslaved,” as written on the journal’s website.

Downs joined Hancock and 60 supporters in Gettysburg.

“There was a clear sense of purpose,” said Downs. “We want people to understand as they approach the Civil War, they should approach it with a fuller understanding. Many Confederate memorials… covered up the centrality of slavery to U.S. history, and in the process there are a lot of pieces conveyed to people that misshape people’s understanding of our country and our past.”

Their rallying cry can be summarized in two words: more history.

“I get accused of trying to erase history,” Hancock said. “But I say I don’t want to erase history—I want more history.”

For more information, visit the GNMP website at nps.gov/gett/index.htm, the Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides at gettysburgtourguides.org, The Journal of the Civil War Era at journalofthecivilwarera.org, and see the YouTube video of Scott Hancock on July 4, 2020 uploaded by globalstory2 by searching its title, “Scott Hancock—Gettysburg Monuments.”

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November Editor’s Note

October 30, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

In our 12-year history, many things have changed at TheBurg.

Our design, our content, our online presence are all vastly different than when we launched in January 2009.

However, one thing remains the same—we don’t endorse candidates for office.

My co-founder and I made that decision early on. As veteran journalists, we saw the negative effect that endorsements could have on the reporting process and, perhaps even more importantly, felt that we had no business telling readers how they should vote.

Over the years, though, I haven’t shied away from encouraging people to participate in the voting process itself.

I believe that voting is essential to building and sustaining community. Of course, this is the way we select people to make important decisions on our behalf. But it also offers a rare chance for citizens to come together for a common purpose—even if they may disagree over their preferred outcome.

This political season has been fraught and, in many ways, unconventional, if not downright bizarre.

Given how the campaign has unfolded, many people say they’re highly motivated to cast their ballots. However, others may have found the spectacle so off-putting that they’re considering staying home on Election Day.

I urge these people to reconsider. As we saw in 2016, a relatively small number of votes can have a big impact, especially in a swing state such as ours. We need as much participation as possible to assure that the results truly reflect the will of the people. And, if you’re still on the fence, remember—your vote may decide not only the outcome in this state, but in the country itself.

Before you turn the page, I want mention that, as is our custom each November, this issue has a special focus on local shopping. This year, many retailers have been devastated by the pandemic. By patronizing local stores, you can show them how much you appreciate their products, their hard work and their presence in the community—and make sure they’re still around come November 2021.

On a personal note, I especially urge you to patronize our advertisers and supporters. They’re the reason we’re able to bring you TheBurg magazine, our daily reporting, TheBurg Podcast and our other products and services—all for free. Happy shopping!

Lawrance Binda
Co-Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

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Inject to Protect: The importance of pediatric immunizations.

October 30, 2020 | by Dr. Melencio Chan Ventura

While we wait for a COVID-19 vaccine, we shouldn’t forget about the other life-saving immunizations kids need to protect them from serious disease and illness, as well as eliminating the spread to others.

The debate about immunizations remains, despite the research that has proven that there are no adverse or dangerous side effects in vaccinating children. In fact, the opposite is true. Vaccines contain important ingredients that cause the body to develop an immunity (or resistance) against preventable disease.

Diseases once believed to have been eliminated, such as measles, mumps and whooping cough, are on the rise, and pediatricians and organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), strongly support protecting children, family members and friends by following the vaccination guidelines.

Refusing or delaying vaccines makes everyone vulnerable because the bacteria and viruses that cause disease can spread. When you consider that situations such as travelling and gathering in large groups can serve as vehicles in transmission, it begs the question, why anyone would not want protection from and prevention of disease?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) assures that vaccines given in combinations—starting at birth—are as effective as spreading them out over time, and neither compromise the child’s immune system. Most children never experience side effects from receiving vaccines and, if they do, they are mild and not dangerous.

Common symptoms felt from vaccines may include mild tenderness, redness or swelling at the site of the injections, but more serious reactions are rare. The benefit of protecting children against a preventable disease outweighs any possible minor reaction to immunizations. Parents and caregivers should take comfort in knowing that vaccines save lives and have been studied for decades by medical experts and the federal government to ensure their safety.

Below are common vaccines that should be a part of your child’s wellness schedule.

DTaP combines protection against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. Tetanus happens when bacteria enter the body through a cut or sore and can cause lockjaw, spasms, paralysis, labored breathing and even death. Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a lung infection that makes it difficult to breath as a result of severe coughing. It’s life-threatening in babies under the age of 1. It also leads to pneumonia, seizures and labored breathing.
MMR combines protection against measles, mumps and rubella. Measles and mumps are highly contagious viruses involving the respiratory system. Measles can cause pneumonia, brain swelling and death. Those afflicted with mumps suffer swollen salivary glands, a fever, headache and muscle aches. Eventually, it can lead to loss of hearing or sterility in males.
Hib protects against haemophilus influenzae type B. There are no symptoms unless bacteria enter the blood and complications such as meningitis, epiglottis or pneumonia occur.
Influenza vaccine protects against the flu, which can lead to pneumonia and even death. Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection and spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The flu kills more than 49,000 Americans each year. Those with asthma or diabetes, the elderly and pregnant women are at higher risk.
Varicella vaccine protects against the chickenpox, which can range from mild to life-threatening.
Hep A and B vaccine protects against exposure to either virus, which can lead to organ infection or failure, blood disorders and even cancers. Hepatitis affects the liver and can lead to long-term problems. Pregnant women can pass the disease to their babies during delivery. This is 100 times more infectious than HIV.
IPV protects against polio and is a viral disease living in the intestines. It causes muscle atrophy and weakness, as well as paralysis or death.
PCV, known as the pneumococcal vaccine, protects against pneumococcus and meningococcal disease. Pneumococcal disease is a bacterial disease that can cause pneumonia, which is deadly in persons over age 65, ear and blood infections. Meningitis affects nearly 1,200 people in the United States each year, and as many as 15 percent die, even with antibiotics.
HPV protects against human papillomavirus, which is common in people in their teens and early 20s. HPV infection can cause cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancers in women and penile cancer in men.

National guidelines for children from birth through late teens are available on the CDC website.

Melencio Chan Ventura, MD, practices from UPMC Children’s Community Pediatrics, York Memorial.

For more information, visit www.upmcpinnacle.com.

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Sweet Success: Artisan chocolate shop debuts on the West Shore.

October 30, 2020 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

“We tell stories with chocolate.”

That’s the message you’ll see embellished on the wall at Diane Krulac’s new boutique chocolate shop in Camp Hill. This is the second retail store for the businesswoman, entrepreneur and chocolatier.

Krulac’s first foray into the chocolate world began in 2003, when she began selling her gourmet brittle wholesale. The “Brittle Bark” sold well, but its popularity really went through the roof when now-manager Vonny Getz won a sweepstakes prize to appear on the “Rachael Ray Show.” Getz took some of Krulac’s brittle to the show as a gift, and Ray liked it so much that she named it “Snack of the Day.” This led to the opening of the first retail Brittle Bark store in Mechanicsburg in 2008.

By 2018, Krulac was ready to introduce yet another brand to the world. She called her line of fine, small-batch chocolates “Cocoa Creek Chocolates” and began selling them at the Mechanicsburg store before branching out into Camp Hill.

Dark Side

Krulac wasn’t always in the chocolate business. She spent time working as a dental hygienist before returning to school.

“I started my second career at age 30, got a master’s degree in computer science and worked in commercial product development,” she said.

Krulac’s Camp Hill store is small, but airy and elegantly laid out. The lineup includes a selection of seasonal baskets, caramels, creams, jumbo peanut butter cups, unique treats like pumpkin pie almonds, and trek bars named for her Jack Russell terrier, Luther.

A best-selling bar, “Lemon Blue,” is crafted with 73 percent Haitian chocolate, dried lemons and blueberries. Another popular bar is ginger apricot, made with 70 percent bittersweet chocolate, produced with beans from the Caribbean. Both bars are plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

It was important to Krulac to cultivate a relationship with bean-to-bar companies to ensure consistency and quality.

“Everyone goes through the same steps, but how they do it and how long they do it impacts the flavor and creaminess,” she said. “Flavors are different in each area. For instance, in South America, you get floral and fruity flavor notes, while flavor notes from Africa are earthy. It’s a lot like ‘terroir’ in the wine world.”

If you’re stumped when it comes to hostess gifts, or need to purchase a present for someone who seems to have everything, a collection of international chocolates can double as a conversation piece.

Krulac’s curated truffle collections are both entertaining and educational. An ultra-dark “Black Beauty Collection” reads, “Come to the dark side,” and offers information on the cocoa content and from what region the collection hails (in this case, France, Italy, Belgium and the United States).

“This allows customers to compare their complex variations side by side,” she said.

Inside each box is a card detailing the inspiration behind each truffle. For example, the Italian truffle in the “Black Beauty Collection” is explained in depth, from the history of chocolate in Italy to the region where it is grown (Umbria) to the cocoa content. It even includes a historical, humorous tidbit, stating that Cardinal Francesco Maria Brancaccio was said to have dispensed a hot chocolate drink at Mass and, after imbibing, required that congregants go to confession.

Krulac said that customers can look forward to seasonal curated truffle collections, as well. An upcoming, six-piece Christmas collection, called “Comfort and Joy,” will include flavors like sugarplum, cranberry pistachio, gingerbread and a new Belgium chocolate called ruby chocolate.

Joy of Opening

Deb Pekala of Mechanicsburg said that she’s been a customer for years and has watched Krulac evolve into the chocolatier that she is now.

“She has a special talent for creating unique flavors with her chocolates like strawberry balsamic pepper, for instance,” Pekala said. “It’s unexpected, but unique and wonderful.”

Suzanne Drda visited the shop on opening day during Camp Hill’s Harvest Hop in September.

“Diane puts her heart into everything and really thinks things out to tie flavors to the various seasons,” she said.

The Camp Hill resident said that she recently tried a lemon basil truffle.

“It was excellent,” she said. “She decorates beautifully, and they package them nicely with a bow.”

Drda said that she loves another Camp Hill business, Cornerstone Coffeehouse, as well as the truffle that owner Sue Pera teamed up with Krulac to make. Pera said that the special truffle is called a “Latte Lovers Caramel.”

“Our customers love her unique, handmade candy,” Pera said. “The fact that she has moved in right down the street means that we have one more woman-owned business that we can proudly add to our list.”

Krulac echoed that sentiment, pleased that she has joined a group of supportive and successful female entrepreneurs who have also chosen to do business in the revitalized, walkable area.

“I feel like the past 17 years have led me to this moment when I have the joy of opening a truly unique, fine chocolate shop in my hometown and to offer chocolate lovers in the region a place where they’ll always find something new and incredibly delicious,” she said.

Cocoa Creek Chocolates is located at 18 S. 18th St., Camp Hill. Visit their webpage at www.cocoacreekchocolates.com or the Facebook page.

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A Season Like No Other: Loyal customers, creative thinking have area retailers surprisingly bullish this holiday season.

October 30, 2020 | by M. Diane McCormick

Stash & The Midtown Dandy

It’s an election year. Have you voted?

For your favorite small business, we mean. With your dollars.

“We’re seeing a lot of our loyal customers coming out as a show of support,” said Carla Irvin, co-owner of Plum Bottom, the Susquehanna Township shoe boutique. “It’s almost like that vote of confidence.”

Don’t sound taps for small businesses yet. Yes, COVID-19 forced them to shut their doors last spring, but many have bounced back and now anticipate healthy holiday seasons. The secret weapon, all agree, is loyal customers anxious for the uplift that new clothes or a comfy sofa can deliver.

“In the self-care category, you’re just going to feel better when you’re thinking, ‘If I just get a new sweater, if I just get a new pair of jeans and they fit nicely and they feel comfortable,’” said Lisa DeCavalcante, owner of Little Black Dress. “If I feel like I look good in them, I feel like I can conquer the world.”

Lessons Learned

When Little Black Dress reopened, DeCavalcante stocked her Camp Hill boutique with “the things people needed—sweatshirts, pajamas, lounge pants.” The global supply chain “was and is a hot mess,” but with a new children’s boutique poised to open, the store took “huge deliveries” of spring and summer children’s clothes around March 15.

“You know, all the Easter dresses that nobody needed,” DeCavalcante said.

Thinking fast, she bought Facebook and Google ads that found Sunbelt customers who needed children’s bathing suits and shorts.

When the pandemic hit, Plum Bottom deployed its recently revamped online presence—complete with fashion tips and appealing videos—to keep the store’s brand and family atmosphere top of mind.

“It didn’t nearly make up for being closed, but at least it didn’t feel like being dead in the water,” said Irvin. “We had a goal, and we had a message for our customers.”

Plum Bottom even delivered directly to local customers, with contactless drop-offs.

“People appreciated that personal touch,” Irvin said.

In Harrisburg’s SoMa district, the twin vintage shops Stash and The Midtown Dandy reopened cautiously and now divide the week between appointment shopping and walk-in hours—all with the standard precautions, including strict face mask rules. The two stores have seen upticks through online presentations across multiple platforms.

“Luckily, Instagram and Etsy filled in for me when the shop closed,” said Stash owner Anela Bence-Selkowitz.

Added The Midtown Dandy owner Andy Kintzi, “I’ve had great support from customers internationally.”

Record-breaking

In the silver-linings category, Red Door Consignment Gallery experienced “three record-breaking months” after their doors reopened in June.

“People have been living in their homes a lot more, so they’re making more out of it,” said owner Sam Levine. “They’re saying, ‘This sofa no longer does it for me.’” And as for outdoor furniture, “It was flying out the door.”

Businesses forced to shut down got help with initial losses from the Paycheck Protection Program, but the bills keep coming, while PPP money does not. Customers, too, have been eyeing their bank accounts but are also rethinking how they spend the savings accumulating from all those nights at home.

“People are choosing to spend their dollars more wisely,” said Irvin. “They’re choosing quality over quantity.”

DeCavalcante’s longtime business philosophy of selling unique but useful items, suitable and comfortable for office and home, has provided an anchor for rough economic seas.

“We always try to fill that niche of ‘don’t buy it to wear it once,’” she said. “Buy it to wear multiple times.”

Homeowners gasping in horror at their shabby, no-longer chic décor still had a tanking economy to consider. Quality consignments fit nicely for “the individual who says, ‘This sofa no longer does it, but I don’t want to spend or don’t have the ability to spend $2,000 for a new sectional sofa,’” said Levine.

Seizing Opportunities

The pandemic presented minor but manageable speed bumps for businesses that had new plans on the drawing board. Little Black Dress changed its new children’s boutique from a planned bump-out into a space carved from the store’s existing footprint.

“Everything shifted to ‘let’s just keep it simple, to what we can manage,’” said DeCavalcante. “It has survived and thrived. Kids still want to dress up, girls especially.”

Plum Bottom is going full-steam ahead with a second location at Neighbors & Smith in Camp Hill, next door to Little Black Dress, for a swoon-worthy, head-to-toe shopping experience. The Plum Bottom owners felt so bullish about Camp Hill that, when additional space became available in the midst of the pandemic, they paused construction and “kicked it back to the architectural drawing stage.”

The second Plum Bottom store should open by the new year, while the website elevates Plum Bottom toward its goal of creating a national brand.

“Any smart business owner is looking for the opportunities in this,” said Irvin.

Little Black Dress is stocking up on giftables for the holiday season, anticipating some demand for nice tops for small gatherings but few calls for that knock-‘em-dead party outfit. DeCavalcante anticipates that local shoppers will forego destination-style Christmas shopping in favor of neighborhood explorations.

“Hopefully, it will translate to a long-term thing,” she said.

At Red Door Consignment Gallery, demand usually surges in the pre-Thanksgiving weeks for dining room tables—the bigger, the better—but are family gatherings still on the menu?

“That’s a good question,” said Levine. “We don’t know what to expect this year.”

Bence-Selkowitz and Kintzi remain confident about the holiday shopping season.

“Our people, our regulars come back around,” Bence-Selkowitz said. “They’re always really excited around the holidays to see what new stuff we have and gifts.”

Regulars

Even with nowhere to go for showing off new outfits, Little Black Dress regular Dorothy Ward recently bought two “long, black, kind-of sweater jackets.”

“I love to support local,” said the Lower Paxton Township resident.

Most of her favorite shops, also including Plum Bottom and Maggie Adams, are owned and run by women.

“They’ve done a magnificent job with social media,” she said. “They’ve made it easy for us—those of us who do like to shop. These women were doing it before COVID, but it became even more important during COVID.”

DeCavalcante’s regular customers have “for sure” been a bulwark through lean times, she said.

“But even people that were not typically customers recognized that if they don’t support these small stores and local restaurants, they’re not going to be here,” she added.

Levine’s customers bought gift certificates and called to check on his store during the shutdown.

“People want local vendors to survive,” he said.

As winter approaches, some small business owners fear a return to pandemic shutdowns and slowdowns.

“Hopefully, that doesn’t happen,” Levine said. “You know, you just don’t know.”

The customer base at Stash and The Midtown Dandy “has been extremely supportive,” said Kintzi.

“People just want to get out and about and be around other people and see the world again,” he said.

DeCavalcante firmly believes in the small business-sustaining power of shoppers craving “little luxuries.”

“Of course, whether or not you have an exciting place to wear them to, I don’t know,” she said with a laugh. “Sometimes, picking up pizza is an exciting thing.”

For more information, visit these retailers’ websites, Facebook pages and Instagram accounts. Most importantly, please support your favorite Harrisburg-area shops this season.

What’s Hot?
So, what’s hot this holiday season? Ask your local small-business owner.

Plum Bottom: The homebound worker will appreciate elegant slippers to replace those scruffy moccasins. Or gift yourself with that leather jacket you’ve always wanted.

Little Black Dress: A nicely priced scarf or piece of jewelry always perks up an old outfit.

Red Door Consignment Gallery: Home fashionistas love gift certificates. Work-from-homers’ aching backs are crying out for quality office chairs.

The Midtown Dandy and Stash: Digital gift cards allow for safe online shopping. Black sweaters are always in vogue. Vintage sew-on patches add panache to your guy’s outfit.

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Artist in Focus: Mona Frey

October 30, 2020 | by Admin

For Mona Frey, being an artist is about creating but also about giving.

So, yes, people acquire her watercolors because they like them. But it’s great to know that part of the sale will go to help the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.

Mona’s been involved with giving programs since 2014, when she helped raise funds through a nonprofit called Chess Without Borders. She later realized that her artistic pursuit could have a similar charitable focus.

A native of India and a former resident of London, she now resides in the Harrisburg area, where she is exploring both her love of painting and her desire to help others.

For more information about Mona Frey, visit her Facebook page: Mona Frey Art.

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Dine & Wine: There’s a match for everything on your Thanksgiving table.

October 30, 2020 | by Steve Juliana

Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks and reflecting on the blessings in our lives. It’s also the time for the traditional American feast, with turkey as the main attraction and side dishes galore.

For wine-lovers, this is perhaps the greatest of all holiday meals, given the various tastes and textures filling each plate. Turkey is unique in the fact that it can be quite good with either red or white wine. I try to have a bottle of each on the table at this family gathering.

The premier red wine for the occasion is Pinot Noir. Whether from French Burgundy or our own West Coast, the low tannins, good acidity and inherent softness of this quaff makes it an ideal match for the noble bird.

Another red wine that matches well is Syrah. In southern France, it is blended with Grenache, where it gives us Côtes du Rhône, a wonderful, food-friendly beverage that goes with all the different dishes on the table. In the northern Rhône, Syrah is unblended and reaches its zenith, but you have to do your research as the best wines are named by location.

For white wine fans, the choices have never been better. Riesling is the noble grape of Germany and goes together well with American turkey. Low in alcohol but with good acidity and fruitiness, it matches side dishes, as well as the main event. This versatile quaff is grown everywhere the climate is cold and the soil rocky. While Germany is its home, good bottles can be found locally in Pennsylvania, as well as upstate New York and Washington.

Rieslings’ cousin is Gewürztraminer, which translates into “spicy traminer.” It’s a delicious white wine that has sprung up on the West Coast, as well as New York and our own Keystone State. The best are still from Germany, but the bottles from Alsace are unique and tasty.

Most people are familiar with Pinot Grigio from Italy, but, to match our feast, we turn to Pinot Gris, which is the same grape with a French background. These wines are richer and have more fruit, while retaining palate-cleansing acidity. The finest are from Alsace, with the vintages from Oregon also showing well.

Grüner Veltliner is quite a mouthful to pronounce but shows itself as the major white grape from Austria. Considered a dry wine, the flavor profile is citrus with a hint of white pepper and palette-popping acidity. One unique feature is its ability to match asparagus. Worth a try.

The Loire Valley in France is home to the best Chenin Blanc from the Touraine region, where it is known as Vouvray. A white wine that is floral-scented with hints of honey, it is one of the best food matches for our banquet. It comes in many styles, but the one I like best is demi-sec. Delicious on your table.

Keep sipping,
Steve

81092 Chevalier d’Anthelme Cotes du Rhone Rouge 2018 $11.99

Garnet red wine. On the nose, this wine reveals notes of jammy black fruit, cherry, liquorice and spices. Round palate with a finish dominated by candied, spicy and above all peppery notes. Well-melted tannins. Serve around 16-18 ° C.

—Winemaker’s Notes

83047 Solena Estate Grande Cuvee Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Estate 2018 21.99 (quoted at $30.00)

Spicy oak is cast across ripe red berries and cherries and delivers a modern impression. There’s a fresh-earth edge here, too, with attractive, spicy notes and a very vibrant feel to the tannins, which carry a grainy cut that holds freshness into the finish. Drink or hold.

— 92 Points James Suckling

79261 Empire Estate Dry Riesling Finger Lakes 2017 11.99- Chairman’s Selection

Yellow-gold with gray tints. On the nose, fresh apricot, jasmine and orange zest. In the mouth, there’s lots of underripe nectarine, some lime zest and a gentle, smooth stoniness that leads to a lean, clean and austere finish. A bright and joyous Riesling.

— 92 Points Vinous Media, Dec 2019

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