Vacation, Staycation: Pandemic travel trends include outdoor recreation close to home

July 31, 2020 | by Karen Hendricks

Norris Flowers was 12 years old when he launched his life-long career in the tourism industry.

Fifty-five years later, he’s seen a lot—but never anything like the pandemic crisis of 2020.

“We couldn’t have picked a worse time for this to happen, coming out of winder doldrums when businesses are down and looking forward to the busy summertime,” said Flowers, president and CEO of Destination Gettysburg. “For this to hit in March when we’re starting to crank up, and it’s instantly all shut off? I’m running out of adjectives, but it’s devastating.”

The pandemic was indeed a rude awakening, after a surprisingly promising start to 2020.

“January and February are traditionally slow months, but this year we set records in hotel demand in Adams County—a combined 15% increase over 2019,” Flowers said. “So, the projections for 2020 were supposed to set all kinds of records, moving the bar up in revenues.”

Instead, revenues fell faster than a lead balloon.

In April, hotel revenues totaled $960,000, dropping 78% from last year’s nearly $4.4 million. Destination Gettysburg, like most area tourism bureaus, derives nearly all of its funding from a percentage of hotel taxes.

“We’ve seen a 90% drop in revenue based on hotel taxes,” Flowers said. “On March 16, we had 15 full-time positions. We’ve been hit so hard financially… we’re a full-time staff of seven, period.”

Tourism is tied to the Adams County economy—it has an economic impact of $735 million.

Despite the bleak situation, Flowers points to several encouraging signs. Camping and other outdoorsy activities are all on the rise.

But the biggest travel trend for 2020? Traditional summer vacation plans are morphing into staycations and daytrips.

“The national research is saying that,” Flowers said. “And we saw that early on—even in the red phase, people were out walking the battlefield, and 90% were from the region.”

Researchers say those able to afford vacations will likely be driving, not flying, staying closer to home, and probably returning to a destination that’s familiar rather than exploring a new location. That’s great news for a destination like Gettysburg, where more than half of all visitors in a typical year are returnees.

“The travel industry as a whole will recover faster than other industries, and Adams County will bounce back faster than others,” Flowers said.

That’s due in great part to the draw of the Gettysburg National Military Park. The National Park Service reopened its visitor center in late June.

“Outdoor assets are an advantage, because they make social distancing very easy,” said Aaron Jumper of the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau.

Cumberland County has always hung its hat on outdoor recreation—fly fishing, hiking—including a portion of the Appalachian Trail, plus three state parks.

“Staycations are what we’re pushing for this summer,” Jumper said. “They’re opportunities for people who haven’t explored their backyards.”

His organization is launching “My Cumberland Valley Summer,” a marketing pivot that features bucket list experiences in Cumberland County’s smaller towns.

While hotel occupancy is down more than 50% from last year, Cumberland County Visitors Bureau hasn’t lost any of its 13-member staff. That’s largely because it’s combined with the county’s economic development agency.

“One of the benefits we have, with our economic development arm—we can see some of the business needs and then act on those needs through grant funding and other programs being announced in the coming weeks,” Jumper said.

Forecasts predict it’ll take 18 to 24 months for the tourism industry to return to its pre-COVID-19 levels.

“This pandemic is nine times worse than the impact our industry felt from 9/11. It’s going to take us to 2022 to get back to 2019 numbers,” said Mary Smith, president and CEO of Visit Hershey & Harrisburg (VHH).

In Dauphin County, the $2.5 billion tourism industry accounts for 20,000 jobs. Hersheypark is a primary driver.

“There’s no question, Hersheypark not being open for the first part of the year impacted hotel numbers, our restaurants and other attractions,” Smith said.

About 30% of Dauphin County’s 8,900 hotel rooms at 88 properties were occupied in May. Similar to Destination Gettysburg, VHH’s annual operating budget of nearly $4 million is primarily funded through hotel taxes; half the staff is furloughed.

VHH recently launched an initiative called the Safe Together Pledge.

“It’s a tool for businesses to be able to communicate to the public [via posters] that they’re following the recommended health guidelines set forth by the state and CDC,” Smith said. “Research shows more than 75% of people will research a destination to see what guidelines and protocols are in place.”

Smith has been in constant contact with Dauphin County’s specific industry sectors throughout the pandemic.

“One of our hardest hit industries in addition to hotels, are restaurants,” Smith said. “Many have gotten creative by expanding outdoor dining, and I applaud the city of Harrisburg and the Downtown Improvement District who partnered to make outdoor dining a success.”

VHH typically attracts visitors from New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., but, this year, they’re marketing primarily to Pennsylvanians.

“Based on the national research, people are still hopeful they’ll be doing at least one to two road trips before the end of the year,” Smith said. “One of the things that’s a positive for not only Dauphin County but the entire state of Pennsylvania, is that we’re a driving destination with many outdoor activities and attractions—that’s a good thing for us.”

For more information, see destinationgettysburg.com, visitcumberlandvalley.com and visithersheyharrisburg.org.

All Together Now: Music teacher Rich Askey has offered a steady hand leading educators in Harrisburg, in Pennsylvania

July 31, 2020 | by M. Diane McCormick

Rich Askey

Rich Askey is “very talented at lifting up other voices,” said one colleague.

Fitting for someone who segued a lifetime in music—teaching in the Harrisburg school district and performing for Theatre Harrisburg—into a second career as president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and a seat on the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs.

In a sense, Askey is still directing choirs, conducting disparate voices to sing for a quality education and a safer space for every student in every Pennsylvania public school.

Handled It

Born in Harrisburg and raised in Camp Hill, Askey chose Camp Hill High School over Catholic school on the strength of its music program. It was his first sign that “public education was a really good thing.”

Growing up gay, Askey was teased and physically assaulted. There were days he didn’t want to go to school. In high school, he found his safe space in the classroom of Mrs. Thurston, where bullying was unacceptable, and he felt free to cultivate his talents.

“Everybody has that one teacher, and Mrs. Thurston was that one teacher for me,” he said. “She saw I had talent. She saw the good in me.”

Later on, in his second college teaching practicum, Askey was “the Camp Hill kid all of a sudden at Trenton Junior High #4.” A veteran teacher calmed his nerves by advising, “Just be who you are, and let them know that you like them, and everything will be fine.”

“And it was,” he said. “It was. That sealed the deal for me.”

Askey launched his Harrisburg teaching career in the school district’s notorious former intermediate school on Wayne Avenue, originally built in a failed experiment in open classrooms.

“If you could survive there, you could survive anywhere,” said Deb Wire, a mentor of Askey’s who, in retirement, organizes the governor’s STEM Competition.

As a Harrisburg music teacher, Askey worked with arts groups and funders to bring in high-level, diverse performing artists for concerts and workshops.

“I always felt like the kids didn’t get to get out of the neighborhood,” Askey said. “They hardly got down to see the river. Let’s teach them there are things possible to achieve, and someone who looks like me is doing this.”

So, Askey survived—and thrived. He also stepped up to be building representative for the Harrisburg Education Association, the union local.

“You can’t fool a kid,” said Wire. “They saw how Rich moved about his school. Teachers would come to the door crying. They saw Rich for who he was—working his classroom, dealing with teachers, dealing with the principal. It was a lot for him, and he handled it beautifully.”

Askey served as HEA president when former Mayor Steve Reed controlled the schools through the Empowerment Act. Wire saw someone who listened to all sides and rejected the “us against them” mentality of teachers versus administration.

“Rich came to realize that wasn’t going to solve any problems,” said Wire.

Grew Me

After serving on the National Education Association board and as treasurer of PSEA’s southern region, Askey ran for statewide treasurer and won, “and that’s where life turned a little topsy-turvy for me,” he said.

Near the end of his second year as treasurer, the PSEA president left to fill a state cabinet post. That bumped Askey to vice president. Soon after, in November 2018, beloved PSEA President Dolores McCracken died after a short battle with cancer. Mourning the loss of his friend, Askey became president “before I should have even finished being treasurer.”

He was bolstered by the appointed vice president, Korri Brown. Every morning, she would ask, “What can I do for you today, Mr. President?” Their elevations gave PSEA its most diverse leadership ever—a gay man and a woman of color in top leadership.

The morning in May 2019 when Brown faced official election to her post, she suffered a brain aneurysm and died. While he grieved personally, Askey had to unify an organization plunged into mourning again.

“It truly grew me as a leader, because I knew then I had to step back and put the needs of other people frontline, 24/7,” he said.

The measure of a person is found in “the way they stand up to lead a challenge and make difficult decisions in the midst of those challenges,” said PSEA Executive Director Jim Vaughan.

“He has risen to an untold number of challenges,” he said. “I feel privileged to work with him and know that he has the ability to deal with any number of crises in a calm manner.”

Bright Energy

In March, on Friday the 13th, when Gov. Tom Wolf closed schools—ostensibly for two weeks—Askey and Vaughan were in PSEA headquarters on 3rd Street. In a few chaotic hours, they helped draft the emergency legislation ensuring that all school employees, including support staff, would be paid and giving school districts the flexibility to continue functioning.

Askey’s meticulous preparation positioned him for such moments, Vaughan said.

“Very few people can walk in a room and make things look effortless,” he said. “It’s the work that goes into it that people don’t see that makes him look like he can speak off the cuff.”

Both Vaughan and Wire noted Askey’s reliance on procedures and documentation to assure fairness amid contention.

“Union leaders can be Jimmy Hoffa or they can be someone like Rich,” said Wire, recalling Askey’s Harrisburg days. “The bottom line was, people trusted him. Even when people weren’t happy with some of his responses, he was truthful.”

That preparation soon showed again.

Even before the racial justice protests of 2020, Askey had created the PSEA Educational Justice Committee, and PSEA trained members in implementing racial and social justice. Priorities in the union’s 2020 legislative agenda include attracting more teachers of color.

“All the research shows the ability to connect with a teacher and see some of themselves in that person make a huge difference in the education of a child,” Askey said.

Equality, Askey noted, isn’t the same as equity. He cited a favorite poster of kids looking over a fence at a baseball game. With equality, all are standing on the same platform, but the short ones can’t see. With equity, the stools account for their different heights, and everyone has a view.

“There is more bipartisan buy-in to these conversations than I’ve ever seen,” he said. “I have hope because at least there are more conversations about it. There’s more on the table than there’s ever been before.”

Safe Spaces

Askey and Ed Dishong had been partners for about 20 years when the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in 2015.

“We were watching the news,” Askey recalled. “So romantic. I looked over and said, ‘So, are we going to get married?’ Six weeks later, we went down to Rehoboth and got married.”

With an invitation to join the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs, Askey expanded his circle of advocacy to include “my community.”

“That’s one of the reasons I feel like I have one of the best jobs in the world, because it led me to this opportunity,” he said.

Serving on the commission’s education committee, Askey helps craft model inclusion and gender equity language for school boards. He is also bridging back to PSEA, with a well-received workshop on gender identity and creating safe classroom spaces.

Amid the committee’s weighty discussions, Askey stressed the importance of training and resources that empower school staff to implement policy on the ground, said committee Co-chair Jere Mahaffey.

It was Mahaffey who cited Askey’s talent at “lifting up other voices” to ensure diversity in all conversations. And, he adds, Askey is fun to work with.

“Rich understands just how important and nuanced and complex these things are, but he always brings a sense of optimism. He always brings a sense of bright energy, and that’s really important to sustaining the work that we’re doing.”

Can Pennsylvania achieve equity? Here’s that Askey optimism, buoyed by this year’s surge of activism.

“I believe that society is going to lead the way, and we’re going to make the changes in public education that have to be made,” he said. “It’s hard work. It’s going to be a lot of work and a lot of self-examination and admitting what’s not right, but we have an opportunity that we’ve never had before.”

Past Perfect: Almost lost, two historic properties are back in use, receive preservation honors

July 31, 2020 | by Diane White McNaughton

Elementary Coffee Co.

Andrea Grove, owner of Elementary Coffee Co., said her favorite part of her shop’s newly refurbished home is the angled door.

Set 500 feet from the state Capitol, it makes a statement, she said, offering an opening to the dark-suited professionals of state government, the art-lovers of Midtown, the dog-walkers and joggers of the riverfront, and everyone else who passes by.

Her leased space dominates the combined building at 254 to 256 North St. that is one of two winners of the 2020 Preservation Award from the Historic Harrisburg Association.

The strategic location clearly unites not only an eclectic collection of people, but eras. Freshly roasted coffee is served in a Civil War-era rowhome, now transformed into a sleek, chic new venue.

“This is part of the re-urbanization of America,” said Matt Krupp, a North Street neighbor whose company acquired and redeveloped the property, which includes two upstairs apartments. “Residents like the walkability of the downtown, which is a wave we were happy to ride.”

This year’s other Preservation Award recipient is the “Fox on Washington,” at the corner of S. 2nd and Washington streets. Built in 1906, this gem of brick and sandstone lies between UPMC Pinnacle, which once owned the property, and the now-shuttered Paxton Fire Station.

Originally home to the Fox Hotel and, starting in the 1930s, Santanna’s Seafood House, the three-floor structure was meticulously restored and redeveloped by Harristown Enterprises. It now houses two stylish two-bedroom apartments, and six one-bedroom units.

The handiwork of Trinity Construction Group of Steelton and Camp Hill-based architect By Design Consultants, all residences have granite countertops, wood vinyl plank living room floors, metal console washstands, tiled showers with glass enclosures, stainless steel appliances and full-sized washers and dryers.

The exterior has both original and harvested sandstone, said Brad Jones, Harristown’s president and CEO. Renovators replaced masonry, restored a sagging turret and installed architectural-series windows.

Jones said that his favorite part of the 114-year-old boutique building is the façade, offering an attractive entry both to Shipoke and downtown Harrisburg.

“They don’t build buildings like this anymore,” he said. “We’re really proud of it.”

Fox on Washington

Complete Block

Like the Fox on Washington, Elementary Coffee’s new location was once home to a restaurant, the popular Coventry eatery. Built in the late 1860s, the structure was one of the oldest remaining homes in the Capitol area neighborhood.

Krupp, working with Alli Lin, LLC, acquired the property in late 2017 from the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority and began renovation in early 2018. Work ended in the fall of 2019.

Krupp said the south- and east-facing façade is original brick. They removed the rear of the building and installed permeable pavers to allow environmentally conscious natural drainage, providing seven parking spaces and egress.

They also removed the third-floor dormer attic, which was unusable space, and transformed it into dramatic, 19-foot-high cathedral ceiling space. The second floor holds two 800-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments.

New sidewalks and trees were added in the front, along with custom-made curved windows on the front and side.

Krupp said the once-dilapidated building is a key piece of the puzzle in the “complete block” concept. Already, North Street boasts a coffee shop, upscale restaurants, a diner, eye doctor, hair salon, mechanic and gym.

“There’s been so much investment in this block in the past two years,” Krupp said.

The Impact

According to HHA’s David Morrison, the HHA Preservation Committee selected the award winners, with final approval from the board of directors. The committee examined the quality and extent of restoration, the impact on the surrounding neighborhood, and the degree to which demolition or loss was prevented or history was preserved.

The old Coventry building “adds greatly to the vibrancy of a property so close to the Capitol Complex,” Morrison said. “They literally saved a building that would have not survived without this restoration.”

Morrison lauded the old Coventry’s “historic exterior and dramatic interior.” He ticks off the many other buildings along that leafy stretch of North Street from memory, including the state headquarters of Preservation Pennsylvania, and at Green and North streets, a building with a “very rare” cast-iron façade, typical of the 1870s and 1880s.

“That’s what makes that neighborhood very special,” he said.

Coventry was a holdback in a row of rejuvenation, he said, but is now another gem.

He added that the Fox on Washington “is the gateway to center city Harrisburg.”

“That’s one of the first things you see,” he said. “If that were to be demolished, it could have led to the entire block being demolished. The whole character of the experience of arriving in Harrisburg would have changed dramatically.”

And that’s just the exterior.

“They did a magnificent job of taking a building that was under-utilized for a number of years and finding a way to make every square foot functional and usable,” Morrison said.

Renters will enjoy living at the edge of Shipoke, he predicted, just a block away from the stately John Harris Mansion.

“It’s a very desirable neighborhood,” Morrison said. “And the historic setting is kept intact.”

Washington Street is populated with beautiful historic rowhomes, with brick sidewalks and mature trees.

“It would have been a shame to be replaced with a modern building or parking garage,” he said. “It’s the impact that we are looking for.”

Historic Harrisburg Association’s annual Preservation Celebration and Toast will be held on Sept. 20. For more information, visit www.historicharrisburg.org, contact HHA at [email protected] or 717-233-4646.

Flay It Again, Sam: Rosemary finds inspiration for a fresh, summery meal

July 31, 2020 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

Those of you who read this monthly column know that I love cookbooks.

From the first Betty Crocker cookbook given to me by my mother many years ago to the treasured “Patsy’s Italian Family Cookbook” purchased at the actual Patsy’s restaurant in New York, I often read them as if they were novels. I want to learn more and more about different foods and how to prepare them.

I like watching the Food Channel too, and an old favorite of mine is Bobby Flay’s “Boy Meets Grill.” Bobby has a list of cooking credentials a mile long and is the owner of such acclaimed restaurants as the Mesa Grill in Las Vegas, Bar American at Mohegan Sun, Gato in New York City and multiple locations of Bobby’s Burger Palace. His cooking usually leans toward southwestern but, in his newest cookbook, “Bobby at Home,” he describes his love for Italian cooking, too. He says that his childhood in Manhattan, shared with many Italian friends, has resulted in an ability to make an unrivaled marinara sauce.

I have enjoyed reading “Bobby at Home” not just for the recipes, but for his anecdotes about his summer cooking adventures with family and friends. As a lowly cook in central Pennsylvania, I too have always believed that cooking means sharing and making memories with those you love. (Just minus the house in the Hamptons.)

With August, the end of summer is approaching. For me, the seasonal fresh produce has always been an Italian cook’s dream: the best tomatoes, thick-skinned red bell peppers that are perfect for roasting, and, perhaps my favorite of all, eggplants. Bobby offers a wonderful eggplant recipe that can serve as a vegetarian entrée or as an addition to a larger antipasto table. His suggestion to use baby eggplants is a good one, as they are much sweeter and tenderer than their larger counterparts. With the addition of creamy, fresh ricotta cheese, ripe red tomatoes and fresh basil, it is Sicily on a plate.

Grilled Baby Eggplants with Fresh Ricotta and Farm Stand Tomatoes

Ingredients

3 large, ripe beefsteak tomatoes, halved, seeded and diced
1 garlic clove, smashed
12 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
¼ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 cup fresh whole milk ricotta cheese
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
4 baby eggplants, halved
¼ cup canola or olive oil

Recipe

Combine the tomatoes, garlic, basil and parsley in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Let the mixture sit at room temperature while you prepare the eggplant for up to 2 hours. (I like to drain off any excess liquid that accumulates.)
Combine the ricotta and lemon zest in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate while you prepare the eggplant.
Heat your grill to high, or you can use an indoor grill pan, if you prefer.
Brush the eggplant halves on both sides with the oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the eggplant, cut the sides down, until golden brown (about 4 minutes). (I usually turn my grill down to medium for most things to avoid burning.) Flip the eggplant halves and grill the bottoms until they are golden brown too (about 3 minutes more). Test gently with a small fork to make sure the eggplant is tender.
Transfer the eggplant to a platter, cut side up, and top each half with a “dollop” of ricotta. Spoon some of the tomato mixture over each mound of ricotta. (The plate looks lovely with some extra basil leaves scattered around for garnish.)

Try the eggplant with some nice, crusty Italian bread and a crisp cool white wine (maybe a Verdiccio or a soave). Along with a little fresh fruit, this is a simple, but perfect dinner on a warm summer evening.

I’m going to stick with Bobby for a while, I think. Next on my cooking list is his “End of Summer Tomato Soup,” “Swordfish with Plum Sauce” and “Green Chili Cheeseburgers.” And I am definitely thinking about leaving my favorite gin and tonics temporarily behind for Bobby’s “Mesa Margaritas.” On the rocks and no salt!

Enjoy the last full month of summer, everyone.

Agriculture Restructure: Farmers shift gears amid the pandemic

July 31, 2020 | by Karen Hendricks

Lucas Brownback is sitting on a cash crop.

“We’ve been preparing and hoping for a year like this—we just wish it wasn’t under these circumstances,” said Brownback, a second-generation farmer who co-owns and operates Perry County’s 300-acre Spiral Path Farm with his brother, Will.

For the past 10 years, shares of Spiral Path’s certified organic CSA program have remained steady at around 1,200 members. But in 2020, more than 400 new members joined.

“The pandemic happened at the midway point of our seeding,” Brownback said. “So, once we started to see the huge surge, we upped our plans and fields.”

Over the course of the season, the farm grows about 50 types of vegetables, plus a few varieties of fruit. Produce is harvested and distributed weekly at 35 different locations throughout five counties—Cumberland, Dauphin, Lebanon, Perry and York.

“Customers were first and foremost excited to lock in their produce share because of the food shortage they were seeing at grocery stores,” Brownback said. “And people are very grateful for our contactless pickup.”

The honor system is in place at Spiral Path’s pickup sites. The day we talked, CSA boxes were being packed with zucchini, lettuce, beets, parsley, kale, cucumbers and garlic scapes.

But that’s only half the story. While half of the farm’s produce supplies CSA members, the other half stocks Wegmans grocery stores along the east coast. That market is reliable and steady.

Brownback said most local farmers are seeing a huge demand for the fruits of their labor. Many consumers prefer buying fruits and veggies directly from growers amid the pandemic.

Spiral Path, unlike some CSAs, accepts new members throughout the growing season, so consumers can sign up at any time. Boxes of produce are distributed weekly through Christmas.

Cash Cow, Canceled

Alec Dewey, like many of us, saw his world change in the blink of an eye when the pandemic hit.

“It feels like forever ago,” said Dewey, president of Harrisburg Dairies. “In early March, our volume was at an all-time high. We had put in a new production line, taken on new business, and we were on a growth path to have a record year.”

More than half of Harrisburg Dairies’ business is tied to the food service and distribution industry, including schools, colleges and restaurants, nearly all of which were closing due to COVID-19.

“Our volume dropped off by 40% in March and sent things in a troubling direction,” Dewey said. “But cows don’t know anything about a virus, so, at the same time, the milk was still coming in.”

With some of his markets drying up, Dewey found himself “in a big-time surplus.”

Typically, 200,000 gallons of milk flow into the Herr Street facility from 30 farms across five counties weekly. Harrisburg Dairies processes, packages and distributes the calcium-laden beverage across nine states—some of which is further distributed by partners to additional east coast states.

“We were one of the processors that had to dump [thousands of gallons of] milk—once in April and once more in June,” Dewey said. “It was heartbreaking because we have close relationships with every farm going back generations. Their fathers worked with my father, or their grandfathers worked with my grandfather.”

Dewey’s great grandfather founded Harrisburg Dairies in 1931. The business will celebrate its 90th anniversary in March 2021.

“The natural reaction from people, when they hear about dumping milk is, ‘Why don’t you just give it away?’ But it’s not as easy as it sounds,” Dewey said. “The milk has to be picked up, processed, bottled, then to give it away—there are pricing laws… It’s not legal to give away milk. It’s an unfair competitive situation for grocery stores and other dairies.”

So, when people started reaching out to him, offering to buy milk, and asking if he would facilitate the delivery, he said yes. Under the federal CARES Act, charitable groups can organize milk giveaways and be reimbursed.

To date, Harrisburg Dairies has supplied milk to several dozen community giveaways, at least two per week, through churches and other organizations.

“Sometimes, a truck full of milk is gone within the hour, with people lined up down the street,” Dewey said.

Several state and federal programs are designed to give farmers a helping hand.

Part of Pennsylvania’s share of the federal CARES Act funding, $15 million worth, is supporting direct relief payments to dairy farmers. An additional $5 million is reimbursing dairy farmers who donate excess products to the state’s charitable food system, officially called the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS). Dairy farms that discard milk will each receive at least $1,500 in what’s being called the “Dairy Indemnity Program.”

“We anticipate—of 5,700 dairy farms—4,500 applications,” said Shannon Powers, press secretary for the state Department of Agriculture. “We’ve received more than 200 so far, mostly by mail. Because our offices are closed, someone has to physically go to the building to pick up the mail to process the applications.”

Over the past three years, Pennsylvania’s milk production has steadily increased to 10.2 million pounds annually. Nationally, only one state has more dairy farms—Wisconsin.

Powers said that dairy farmers have a deep-rooted work ethic and empathy for others, which makes milk dumping all the more painful.

“Aside from the financial pain, it’s hard to see what you’ve produced go to waste,” said Powers. “And, as part of Pennsylvania’s farming culture, there’s a tremendous desire to help neighbors when you can.”

For more information, visit spiralpathfarm.com. Visit Harrisburg Dairies’ Facebook page for information on milk giveaways.

Best in Glass: Brooks Hemauer has made the leap from award-winning amateur to professional brewer

July 31, 2020 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

In an article titled, “The Winner Effect,” author Eugene Sheely explained that, when people compete and win a contest, large amounts of dopamine and testosterone are released into the brain.

“Over time, changes to their brain structure and chemical makeup occur, making them more confident, smarter and able to take on larger challenges over time,” he wrote.

Brooks Hemauer may not have realized this when he won first place two years in a row at the Iron Brewer contest in Lancaster, but one thing he can attest to is that the recognition buoyed his spirits and inspired him to “up his beer game.”

Hemauer’s foray into the brewing business began with an IPA kit and an end product that he enjoyed.

“I continued to brew, and soon it became a passion of mine,” said the Dillsburg resident, whose next step was to join the Sons of Alchemy, a local home brewing club that has spawned many beer careers. Homebrew festivals followed, as did the compliments. According to Hemauer, the question asked most often was, “Where can I buy your beer?”

This prompted him to consider the prospect of selling his suds and pursuing his passion. Soon, he was bidding goodbye to his job in the automotive business and embracing the position of brewer.

“The game plan was to have our production facility at our detached garage in Dillsburg,” said Hemauer, who soon hit roadblocks at the local government level. “We needed a special exemption to brew beer as a rural occupation in the rural agricultural zone where we live.”

Determined, he returned to the drawing board, and the second time ended up being the charm. This time, he brought in studies to bolster his argument.

“We had to verify that we weren’t depleting the aquifer for other homes in the area,” he said.

By September 2019, Hemauer was licensed and began selling beer to bars and restaurants. It wasn’t long before his thoughts turned to the benefits of brick and mortar. This led him to open a taproom at the Wesley Drive Plaza in Mechanicsburg near the Peppermill restaurant.

New Digs

The new Hemauer Brewing Co. taproom spans about 1,400 square feet and seats about 49 people.

Brooks’ wife Shannon has joined him in serving the public and running the business. The couple would like to report smooth sailing since the inception, but COVID-19 has put a crimp in the best-laid plans.

“We were three days away from receiving our liquor license when they halted field inspections,” said Hemauer, who then contacted the beer trade group, the Brewers of Pennsylvania. “They have an attorney on retainer, and we were put in touch with him, and he was able to expedite things.”

The couple opened to the public on May 1, offering a wide variety on tap.

“We have sours and barrel-aged beers, with a rotating selection that varies weekly,” said Hemauer.

Available on most days is their flagship Helles lager. Out of all the selections, the Lucky Lobsta is the most popular.

“It’s a New England-style IPA,” said Hemauer, adding that its popularity can be attributed to the “haze craze.”

Untappd, a beer-focused social media app, describes the Lucky Lobsta as “a beer with a soft, silky mouthfeel that is purposely hazy from the use of oats.”

Another popular selection, according to Hemauer, is “Wild Ways,” a wild yeast fermented saison created with a yeast that was captured at the garage where he brews in Dillsburg.

“I am the keeper of that yeast, and no one has it,” Hemauer said.

The Hemauers also offer seltzer with a rotating selection of pineapple, black cherry, passion fruit and mango.

As for food, they keep it simple, with items like pretzel braids, chips and salsa, a three-cheese grilled cheese and a spicy Italian panini, to name a few.

“People expect to be able to order food when they visit a taproom,” Hemauer said.

Kelly Coons of Dillsburg said that she began to frequent the establishment after becoming acquainted with the Hemauer brand at the PA Flavor festival during Harrisburg Beer Week.

“We sampled an amazing beer and began asking them where we could find more of their brews,” Coons said. “After learning that they were in Dillsburg, we kept a close eye on them.”

Coons said that she visited the day after they opened the taproom to grab some of their 32-ounce crowlers.

“I love their brews, their creative names, and their knowledge and recommend stopping in for a flight,” she said.

Carlisle resident Marsha Cleff said that she enjoys visiting with the couple now that the taproom is open for dine-in.

“With so many new breweries on the scene, a brewery needs a niche, and theirs is easy to see,” she said. “The logo is an ‘H,’ which I am convinced stands for home!”

Hemauer said that there’s a reason there are no televisions in their taproom.

“We want neighbors to meet neighbors, and we enjoy all the conversations,” he said.

As for COVID-19, the Hemauers are determined to ride the storm out.

“We [breweries] are not all going to make it, but my wife and I are trying to position ourselves for it, and it’s gratifying to be your own boss,” he said. “That way, the fires I put out are all my own.”

Hemauer Brewing Co. taproom is located at 1010 Wesley Dr., Mechanicsburg. For more information, visit their website at www.hemauerbrewingco.com.

Educated Guess: As back-to-school plans take shape, educators try to plot their way through the pandemic

July 31, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

When Gov. Tom Wolf ordered schools closed in March, nobody was ready. No educator had planned for something like this. Most didn’t have the online resources readily available to teach remotely.

However, some schools switched gears faster than others.

“We gave the students a three-day vacation and, by Thursday, we were up and running,” said Phil Puleo, superintendent of the Christian School Association of Greater Harrisburg. “It was a Herculean effort by the teachers and parents.”

After weeks of online schooling, students, parents and educators could finally let out a collective deep breath. They had made it to summer.

It’s August now, but things remain unsettled. The pandemic is still with us, so people are back to holding their breath, wondering what the year is going to look like.

Some schools are returning to in-person classrooms, while others are sticking to online or testing a hybrid of the two. Many have pushed the fall start date back, and most have back-up plan upon back-up plan ready. All are trying to put their best foot forward in a future full of unknowns.

“We are really concerned about our kids’ health,” Puleo said. “But we also are really concerned about their education.”

Class In-Session

The Christian School Association of Greater Harrisburg (CSAGH), which includes Harrisburg Christian School and West Shore Christian Academy, plans to bring its students back to its brick-and-mortar buildings in the fall.

“We think we can do this in a reasonable and responsible way,” Puleo said.

The two schools will open on time, on Aug. 18, with daily temperature checks, spaced-out desks, scheduled hand-washing times and regular cleaning.

Puleo explained that the learning environment will be flexible. “Window into the Classroom” is what CSAGH is calling its online instruction program. Students not ready to come back to school for health reasons, among others, can live-stream classes online.

“We are really trying to make sure everyone is comfortable going forward and that the education and community they are used to continues uninterrupted, whether they need to be on or off campus,” Puleo said.

Harrisburg Academy, a private school in Wormleysburg, is taking a similar approach with in-person education and a virtual option. They too will require daily temperature checks, regular sanitation and social distancing. In addition, mask wearing by students will be mandatory.

“We adopted the stiffest rules we could, and I believe we have a safe environment,” Head of School Adrian Allan said.

To Allan, school is more than academics. It includes social and physical elements, among others. That’s why it was so important for him to bring students back.

“I look at this in terms of what’s best for the whole child,” he said. “If you’re going to be a flagship premier school, you’re going to have to go further than other schools.”

But some schools are increasingly finding that not all families are comfortable going back.

While most schools are caught in the changing winds of the pandemic, cyber schools have remained firmly planted, already with a leg up on the situation. They may even be benefitting from the crisis.

“As school districts unveil plans for fall, we expect to see an uptick in enrollment,” said Tim Eller, senior vice president of outreach and government relations at Commonwealth Charter Academy.

Already fully online, the public cyber charter school was largely unscathed by the coronavirus crisis, aside from moving their graduation ceremonies online. Everything else continued without a hitch, Eller said.

For this reason, he believes that cyber-school is the most stable option for students during the pandemic.

“Since everything is done virtually, there will be no disruption to CCA students,” Eller said.

At the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, virtual education continued just like at CCA’s, but, for CEO Brian Hayden, things were hardly normal.

“While our students didn’t change the place they went to school, their family life changed significantly,” Hayden said.

He acknowledged that, for many students, internet access created an issue with multiple family members at home needing access at the same time. In addition, much of the PA Cyber staff consists of parents with young children whose daycares were closed. It was a challenge just to make sure they were able to teach, Hayden said.

“From the teaching perspective, we learned what worked and didn’t work,” he said.

Moving forward, PA Cyber is already seeing higher enrollment inquiries than last year. Whereas these inquires don’t typically come in until late July, the school was witnessing an uptick as early as June.

“I think cyber-school is a great option for those who choose it,” Hayden said.

Getting Creative

Capital Area School for the Arts (CASA) has been working on their classroom expansion project to add more room for STEAM and other courses on the third floor of Strawberry Square.

The plan is for the project to be completed by the start of the new school year. This is perfect timing, as it will give students more space to spread out when they return, said Tim Wendling, CEO and principal of CASA.

“Even though there’s so much going on, we are really excited to have our brand new space,” he said.

The public charter school plans to conduct a hybrid model of learning that incorporates rotating days of in-person and virtual classes starting Aug. 31. They have alternate plans prepared in case they decide to move to all in-person or go fully online.

“As we plan, we are being realistic,” Wendling said. “Our main goals are to provide the best instruction and make sure all are safe. With this, everything is unknown, so we are trying not to worry.”

The Harrisburg School District has been trying to do the same. But many of its families are hesitant about sending their students back.

Chief Academic Officer Susan Sneath said that many parents reached out to the district, saying they didn’t want to send their kids back to a brick-and-mortar school.

In response to that, the district created their Harrisburg Virtual Learning Academy (HVLA), which will provide district students with a free cyber option for learning.

“I wouldn’t be in public education if I didn’t think brick-and-mortar was the very best way to educate kids,” Sneath said. “However, my hope and dream for HVLA is that parents in Harrisburg feel that their school district is supporting what they want.”

HVLA is for district students K-12. They will be able to participate in district sports, clubs and events and will graduate as a Harrisburg Cougar.

As far as the district’s plans go for its traditional students, they weren’t finalized as of this writing. An update made in July by Superintendent Chris Celmer suggests there may be a mixture of online and in-person learning. Desks will be spaced six feet apart and, in compliance with the order made by PA Secretary of Health Rachel Levine, masks will be worn inside the buildings. The school is also considering a new bell schedule to reduce the flow of traffic, according to a statement made by Celmer.

The district’s start date has been pushed back to Aug. 31.

Plans for the upcoming school year are fluid and changing, along with the times. Every school, every district and every family is doing its best to balance education and safety. It really is a learning curve.

“It’s going to take a lot for us to get used to,” Puleo said. “It’s scary, it’s unknown, but as a caring community, we are providing for the academic, social and health safety of our students.”

The Christian School Association of Greater Harrisburg is located at 2000 Blue Mountain Parkway, Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.csagh.org.

The Harrisburg Academy is located at 10 Erford Rd., Wormleysburg. For more information, visit https://www.harrisburgacademy.org/.

The Commonwealth Charter Academy Harrisburg Campus is located at 1 Innovation Way, Harrisburg. To learn more, visit www.ccaeducate.me.

The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter school office is located at 652 Midland Avenue, Midland. For more information, visit www.pacyber.org.

The Capital Area School for the Arts Charter School is located at 150 Strawberry Square, Harrisburg. To learn more, visit www.casa-arts.org.

The Harrisburg School District office is located at 1601 State St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.hbgsd.k12.pa.us.

A Shimmering Peace: “Candles on The Water” offers hope on 75th anniversary of nuclear bombings

July 31, 2020 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

In these tumultuous times, an event meant to promote understanding among people may be just what your soul needs.

Enter “Candles on the Water,” an annual program that advocates for peace and harmony by commemorating the bombings of the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

This year marks 75 years since the bombings, and a local group plans a program of music, prayer and public proclamations, concluding with a launch of lantern boats into the Susquehanna River at sunset.

On August 6, 1945, a uranium atomic bomb called “Little Boy” was dropped on Hiroshima. About 140,000 people were killed and thousands of others died within months from burns and radiation sickness. Just three days later, a plutonium bomb called “Fat Man” was dropped on Nagasaki, where 70,000 were killed.

As a member of Pax Christi, a Catholic organization that “rejects war, preparation for war and every form of violence and domination,” Ann Marie Judson has been involved with “Candles on the Water” for about 20 years.

Judson explained that the idea began taking shape in 1982 at a session on nuclear disarmament held at the United Nations. At the time, Mayor Araki of Hiroshima proposed a new program to promote the solidarity of cities toward the abolition of nuclear weapons. Harrisburg was one of the first to sign on. Today, the Mayors for Peace movement totals 7,905 cities in 163 countries and regions.

Judson said that Harrisburg peace activists Deborah Davenport and Milton Lowenthal
held the first event in the 1980s.

“Lowenthal was instrumental in Harrisburg becoming a member city of ‘Mayors for Peace,’” she said.

Judson described the event as an ecumenical effort to help unify people and bring attention to the cause.

“It represents solidarity with Hiroshima and Nagasaki and our common desire for the abolition of nuclear weapons,” she said.

Judson said that Bill Dallam of Mechanicsburg will address the crowd during the event. Dallam was on site just three weeks after the bombings, she said. As a member of the military, it was his job to measure radiation.

“He was told it was a classified, secret mission,” she said. “They didn’t want anybody to know all the damage we caused.”

Judson explained that Dallam encouraged his wife, Mary Lou, to paint a depiction of the devastation. The painting reads, “Never Again,” and has been used on the front “Candles on the Water” program schedule.

Peace Garden

The Peace Garden is another permanent reminder of the bombings and is located above the eastern bank of the Susquehanna River between Maclay and Emerald streets.

“We brought the idea back from Hiroshima after the international conference,” said retired Harrisburg pediatrician Dr. Jim Jones.

The two-block area includes three large sculptures inspired by the destruction in Hiroshima and the hope that followed. The sculptures are the work of Dr. Frederick Franck, a writer, artist and oral surgeon who once worked with Dr. Albert Schweitzer in Africa.

Among the sculptures are flowers, trees and plaques containing sayings that promote peace, hope and renewal. A pole among the brightly blooming flowers bears messages of peace written in four languages.

Jones and Judson are thankful that the city provides the water for the Peace Garden and for the hard work of volunteers who are responsible for the upkeep, along with the dedication of organizations like the Physicians for Social Responsibility, which plant 1,200 annuals every spring.

Judson stressed the importance of keeping history in mind as we move forward.

“I’ve been dedicated to the cause of peace and ‘Candles on the Water’ for many years because it reminds us that nuclear weapons should never again be used,” she said. “We are all brothers and sisters on this planet, and the abolition of nuclear weapons is a critical necessity. Never again!”

“Candles on the Water” will take place on Sunday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m., with attendees meeting in Riverfront Park in Harrisburg across from the John Harris Mansion. Please bring lawn chairs or blankets. For more information, email [email protected].

August News Digest

July 31, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley

Public Hearings Planned

Harrisburg City Council last month held its final regular session of the summer, but council plans to interrupt its hiatus to hold public hearings on two police-related issues.

Council member Ausha Green, who is chair of the public safety committee, said that she planned to hold at least two hearings over the summer on the issues—a revision of the city police use-of-force policy and a proposed Citizen’s Law Enforcement Advisory Committee.

“We will continue the discussion for both Bill 8 and Resolution 51 throughout our summer hiatus in a series of public meetings,” she said.

Her comments followed a lengthy reading of messages received by City Council regarding these issues during the last virtual legislative session. Green said that council has received more than 40 public comments in all regarding the legislation.

Many comments, Green said, asked for subpoena power for the committee, currently proposed as a seven-member advisory board that would lack that power.

For example, a group of 31 city residents jointly submitted a letter to council asking that the advisory committee become a community review board with subpoena power to access internal police bureau documents and information.

“The right-to-know request serves as a good tool for seeking information as community members,” the statement said. “However, it doesn’t provide the full scope of documentation necessary to assess any wrongdoing within the police bureau. Administrative subpoena power is needed within the community review board, similar to the administrative subpoena power allowed through the tax board and zoning hearing board both of whom, as stated by [city solicitor] Mr. [Neil] Grover, hold administrative subpoena power to ensure that ethical procedures are followed.”

The city’s Environmental Advisory Council also contributed a group statement, stating that Harrisburg should demonstrate leadership on creating more equality and fairness not only on police issues, but also for food, transportation and education, especially in communities of color.

“This is time to reflect on not only the silence and inaction that has plagued this country for decades and the devastating loss of life from this inaction, but also time to reimagine our communities and call for systemic change,” said the statement.

Other statements said that the police should routinely release more information, and one asked for paths for additional police accountability if subpoena powers—if granted—ultimately were judged not to be enforceable.

“I would also like to thank community organizations that have been holding public discussion to really continue the conversation in our community, such as the Young Professionals of Color,” Green said. “And I look forward to gaining more insight from residents as we continue this discussion.”

Composting Deal Set

Harrisburg’s leaves, grass and branches are headed to Swatara Township, as the city continues a longstanding quest to find a permanent place for its compostable waste.

City Council last month voted unanimously to enter into a two-year intergovernmental cooperation agreement to use the Swatara Township Yard Waste Composting Facility.

“The city is no longer taking any of its woody waste to the incinerator, so we’re looking to make sure we’re disposing of this properly,” said council member Westburn Majors.

Since 2017, the city has tried to get approval to build its own composting facility on land owned by the Harrisburg school district, just over the city line in the Edgemont section of Susquehanna Township. However, township officials have rejected that proposal, a decision the city has appealed to the courts.

“As we are in continued litigation regarding the potential set up of our own composting facility, this hopefully will be a short-term solution as we continue to work through those issues so that the city can finally have a place to dispose of its leafy and woody waste,” Majors said.

City Solicitor Neil Grover said that the appeal could easily take more than two years to wind its way through the courts and come to a conclusion.

In the meantime, the city already has been sending its compostable waste—vegetative material like leaf waste, grass clippings and garden residue—to the facility in the Oberlin section of Swatara Township. The resolution approved last month formalizes that arrangement, Grover said.

Harrisburg will pay the township $2,945.10 per year, starting on Jan. 1. Christopher Nafe, the city’s sustainability officer, said that amount was proposed by Swatara Township, a figure, he added, that the city deemed reasonable.

Also last month, council unanimously passed a resolution entering into a reimbursement agreement with Capital Region Water to fund the installation and construction of ADA-compliant curb ramps, curb extensions and other streetscape improvements as part of CRW’s South Allison Hill Green Stormwater Infrastructure Project. Under the arrangement, the city will provide $150,000 to reimburse CRW for certain improvements it is making as part of its extensive stormwater project in South Allison Hill.

Grant for Greenhouse

Harrisburg’s Reservoir Park greenhouse is a step closer to restoration after receiving a $25,000 “Better Food, Better Access, Better Together” grant from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.

“We have been working with a large coalition to restore the Reservoir Park greenhouse for several years now and are encouraged by the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s gift,” said Harrisburg Parks Foundation Secretary Zac Monnier.

The 1,500-square-foot greenhouse was built in 1929 and is part of a garden located off of Whitehall Street on the southwest side of Reservoir Park. Unused for 20 years, the greenhouse has been experiencing revitalization from the Parks Foundation and the Foundation for Enhancing Communities.

According to the city’s Sustainability Manager Christopher Nafe, the goal of the greenhouse is to provide an educational experience for visitors to learn about urban farming, gardening at home and healthy and affordable cooking and eating.

Nafe also recognizes that parts of Harrisburg are classified as food deserts and believes that the greenhouse can help provide options for residents, especially in Allison Hill.

“We are hoping to try to fill that void and act as a community resource,” he said.

The food bank hopes, with the help of this grant, that the greenhouse will inspire youth to grow their own healthy food and even encourage them to consider agricultural careers.

“This is us working with our community to end hunger in Harrisburg,” Executive Director Joe Arthur said.

This isn’t the first time funds have been donated to the greenhouse. The Whitt Family Foundation awarded the greenhouse a $25,000 grant, and the Rotary Club of Harrisburg has donated $5,000.

The group working to restore the greenhouse includes the 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.

The team also hopes to restore the grounds surrounding the greenhouse and possibly renovate the Brownstone Building, which the greenhouse sits behind, for use as a food demonstration kitchen, according to Nafe. The total project is projected to cost around $245,000.

The working group was formed in 2018 and hopes to have the greenhouse functioning by next spring or summer. They are currently in the planning phase.

“Choose Harrisburg” Launched

Harrisburg last month announced a new program designed to promote shopping in the city.

Jamal Jones, Harrisburg’s director of business development, debuted “Choose Harrisburg,” a campaign meant to encourage people to shop small city businesses for the month of August.

“It’s a way to provide businesses with much needed support,” he said.

Participating businesses will be added to a list for the public to see, giving people options for buying local.

“Not only does it give a boost to those local businesses, but, long term, we hope it gives a boost to our local economy,” Jones said.

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse explained that taxes from businesses in the city help fund city operations. With those revenues being lower than usual due to the COVID-19 crisis, he believes residents will feel the effects next year. Millions of dollars will be lacking for city services such as the police and fire bureaus.

“When you’re shopping local, you’re not only helping the business itself, you’re ensuring that the basic services which everybody wants and needs in the city are being able to continue well,” he said.

The city will partner with the Downtown Improvement District and the African American Chamber of Commerce.

“For those of us that get take out once a week or so, let’s resolve for the month of August to only get takeout from businesses that are based here in Harrisburg,” Papenfuse said.

People can show their participation in August by using the hashtag #choosehbg on social media.

Stormwater Fee Delayed

Capital Region Water will delay its new stormwater fee for three months, citing the coronavirus pandemic as the reason.

The CRW board voted to begin to impose the fee on Oct. 1, instead of July 1, due to the “economic hardship” resulting from the virus.

“While the delay is intended to provide temporary relief to our customers, it does not diminish Capital Region Water’s commitment to improving local water quality, the associated regulatory responsibility, or the financial cost of system stewardship,” said CRW board Chair Marc Kurowski.

CRW voted last year to begin charging its Harrisburg customers a separate stormwater fee on Jan. 1, a date later moved up to July 1 and now delayed until October.

Under the plan, most residential customers will be charged an additional $6.15 per month or $74 per year. The non-residential rate will fluctuate based on the amount of impervious surface on commercial properties.

Currently, the cost of stormwater service is included in the wastewater fee. CRW has said that customers should see a slower rise in the wastewater portion of their bill once stormwater service is separated out.

CRW plans to spend some $315 million over the next 20 years to slash the amount of wastewater that flows into Paxton Creek and the Susquehanna River during heavy rains. That plan relies heavily on building out green infrastructure to prevent stormwater from overwhelming the city’s combined stormwater/wastewater system.

“Millions of dollars of system repair and maintenance are necessary to address decades of deferred investment in both the combined and separate stormwater systems,” Kurowski said.

Home Sales Down, Prices Up

For a second straight month, residential housing sales fell but prices increased in the greater Harrisburg area.

In June, 505 homes changed hands compared to 849 in the year-ago period, though the median sales price rose to $199,900 from $190,075, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 244 residential units sold versus 423 in June 2019, while the median price increased by $5,000 to $181,000, GHAR said, in its latest housing report.

Cumberland County had 236 home sales in June, a decrease from 384 in the year-ago period as the median price rose to $225,600 from $212,900, GHAR said. In Perry County, 25 houses sold, 17 fewer than in June 2019, but the median price increased to $174,900 from $169,500.

The average “days on market” for June rose slightly to 46 from 41 a year ago, GHAR said.

June’s housing data is similar to the data from May, when residential sales also fell but prices increased.

So Noted

Boneshire Brew Works plans to expand into downtown Harrisburg, with a tasting room planned for the city’s SoMa neighborhood. Boneshire expects to open in the spring at 13 S. 3rd St., space that has housed the temporary Sip@SoMa tasting room since early 2019.

The Englewood, a new music, event and dining concept in Hershey, opened last month after an extensive build-out and renovation to a landmark barn at 1219 Research Blvd. The venue also will feature an on-site brewery and has extensive outdoor seating. For more information, visit www.englewoodhershey.com.

The Foundation for Enhancing Communities and United Way of the Capital Region last month announced that they had distributed another $23,750 to 10 more nonprofit organizations as part of the COVID-19 Community Response Fund. So far, the fund, designed to help support nonprofits during the pandemic crisis, has distributed $169,278 to 74 area groups.

Glitz Soap Co. will move this fall to 1 E. Main St. in Mechanicsburg to expand production and retail space, according to the Cumberland County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities. Glitz Soap opened its shop at 58 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg, in February.

Guy McIntosh last month was named executive director of the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra. Prior to his appointment, he served as the orchestra’s general manager and as director of marketing and personnel manager for several performing arts organizations throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

Pedego Harrisburg is set to cruise into Strawberry Square in September, the area’s first dealership for the nation’s largest electric bicycle company. Harrisburg resident Andrew Soisson, along with his parents, will open in 3rd Street retail space last occupied by the grocery store, Provisions.

Radish & Rye has closed its long-time stand in the Broad Street Market, moving to its new storefront at 1308 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. Currently, the produce and grocery vendor is accepting only online orders, with curbside pickup Tuesday through Sunday. For more information, visit www.radishandryehbg.com.

Saturday Nights in the City has been extended through the end of August. Originally slated to end in early July, Harrisburg and the Downtown Improvement District extended and expanded the outdoors dining event due to its popularity among restaurateurs and patrons.

Stuart Malina will conduct the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra for at least three more years, as last month he signed a contract extension through the 2022-23 performance season. This year, Malina celebrates 20 years with the orchestra and, besides his role as conductor, often performs as a featured soloist.

Visit Hershey & Harrisburg last month launched the Brew Barons Beer Trail, which links some 20 craft breweries in the Harrisburg area via a mobile app. By downloading the app, beer fans receive information on the participating breweries, details on promotions and events and a chance to win prizes. Visit www.brewbarons.com.

Changing Hands

Bellevue Rd., 2021: J. & J. Trach to G. Amador, $88,000

Benton St., 600: T. Griffin to W. Quezada & M. Cedeno, $78,000

Benton St., 708: Whitland Enterprises to M. Ide, $46,000

Berryhill St., 1948: M. Frater to R. Perrin & D. Rallo, $47,000

Berryhill St., 1954: M. Frater to R. Perrin & D. Rallo, $73,000

Berryhill St., 2154: E. Butler to J. Ranck, $44,300

Boas St., 1930: S. Tippitt to CR Property Group LLC, $49,600

Brookwood St., 2449: D. Tu to K. Tran & T. Doan, $60,000

Cameron St., 117 and 116 & 118 Hancock St.: Pascual Navarro Inc. to RS3 Ventures LLC, $207,000

Chestnut St. 2120: TIAA FSB to JBAB LLC, $155,500

Derry St., 2444: Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to K. Mooney, $45,000

Derry St., 2516: Wells Fargo Bank NA PHH Mortgage Corp. to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $36,500

Duke St., 2447: PA Deals LLC & Rich Steele Realty LLC to A. Graham, $76,900

Grand St., 931: K. Line to J. Greene, $55,000

Green St., 1002: A. Toth to PA Deals LLC, $72,000

Green St., 1702: M. Tramontin to J. & S. Lebron, $219,900

Green St., 1719: H. Neuhaus to The Berlin Group LLC, $100,000

Green St., 2023: J. & S. Douglas to Z. & S. Smith, $210,000

Green St., 2035: Heinly Homes LLC & W. Hoover to N. Jensen, $232,000

Hale Ave., 393: S. Garrett to F. Ramirez & J. Polanoc, $70,000

Herr St., 1020: S. Borne to D. Patel, $154,000

Holly St., 1853: R. Dunbar to C. Dunbar, $42,500

Holly St., 1911: Vision Venture Investments LLC to M. Diallo & S. Camara, $65,000

Jefferson St., 2642: D. Lopez to P. Solis Lorenzo, $30,000

Kensington St., 2233: H. Alcantara & T. Holden to J. & M. Macias, $66,500

Lenox St., 2005: T. & C. Murray to R. Bender, $87,000

Linden St., 125: S. & M. Toomey to CR Property Group LLC, $45,000

Maclay St., 645: Buonarroti Trust to AutoZone Development LLC, $500,000

Manada St., 1916: R&K Realty Group LP to J. Heikes, $75,000

Market St., 1813: W. Cameron to NA Capital Group LLC, $30,716

Mulberry St., 1915: K. & S. Ribble to JOG Investments LLC, $40,000

North St., 1851: Harrisburg Rentals LLC to J. Weber, $119,900

N. 2nd St., 906: E. Neilson to F. Burdell & W. McGee, $215,000

N. 2nd St., 933: J. Matsumoto Holdings Inc. to C. Wise, $84,200

N. 2nd St., 1839: Kirsch & Burns LLC to Trip Acres 1839 LLC, $147,500

N. 4th St., 2104: PA Community Investors LLC to Gold Key Properties LLC, $36,000

N. 5th St., 2610: S. McGowan to E. Chattah & Y. Guhl, $38,000

N. 5th St., 2723: Cama Sidra LLC Thomas Whymark IRA to B. Adzomo & J. Ekani, $68,000

N. 6th St., 2630: KBT Enterprises to L. Paulino & E. Ortega, $46,000

N. 17th St., 1000: D. Robinson to A. Augustine, $75,000

N. 19th St., 47: S&R Estates LLC to M. Trujillo, $35,000

Paxton St., 1612: D. Boyle to G. Olivo, $50,000

Radnor St., 631: J. Fernandez to CR Property Group LLC, $52,000

Radnor St., 680: E. & A. Vazquez to K&F Property Investments LLC, $35,000

Radnor St., 682: E. & A. Vazquez to K&F Property Investments LLC, $35,000

Rudy Rd., 2488: M. Rivera to N. Rivera, $60,000

Rumson Dr., 325: B. Paige to B. Matthews & T. James, $105,000

S. 22nd St., 737: D. Smith to Lindawn Partners, $51,600

S. 22nd St., 748: M. Smith to Lindawn Partners, $378,400

S. 25th St., 615: S. & B. Taylor to I. Yolov, $118,000

S. 25th St., 619: G. Olives to I. Yolov, $107,000

S. 25th St., 702: K. & N. Williams to J. Stump Jr., $124,900

S. River St., 321: J&S Home Solutions to T. Nazario, $122,000

S. Front St., 545: J. Small Jr. to G. Stansfield, $97,500

State St., 223: Harrisburg Fireman’s Relief Assoc. to 223 State St. LLC, $325,000

State St., 231, Unit 704: LUX 1 LP to LUX Rentals LLC, $130,000

Swatara St., 1915: A. De Leon to R. De Maria, $72,000

Sycamore St., 1617: CR Property Group LLC to L. Dalupang, $140,000

Walnut St., 1814: S&T Home Renovations to CR Property Group LLC, $45,000

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

A Mask & a Muddle: How I learned to stop worrying and love the mask (I still hate the mask)

July 31, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck

I have what you might call a mask problem.

It began with the start of the coronavirus pandemic itself, back in late February. Even before the full fury of COVID-19 hit, some people were already strolling by my office, all masked up.

“Why are they doing that?” I wondered, thinking it was more performance than practical.

At the time, health experts were minimizing the role of masks in preventing the spread of the disease. Some even claimed it was counterproductive.

Since then, the thinking has evolved, with the importance of mask usage rising as we learned more about the virus and how it spreads.

Still, I resisted, and, maybe sometime in May, I began to wonder why. After all, I regard myself as fairly non-ideological. When people ask me if I have a philosophy or ideology, I usually respond, “pragmatist.” In my book, the more facts, the better.

But there I was, not heeding the mounting evidence right before me, trying instead to justify being anti-mask.

Yes, masks are uncomfortable, but in the end, I realized that my greatest issue was this—I found masks to be dehumanizing. Interacting with someone wearing a mask seems incomplete, like a huge piece of his or her face is missing. The person doesn’t appear quite the same, made up of some kind of human/cloth hybrid.

I’ll probably never get over this. When I speak to a person wearing a mask, I find that I want to cut the conversation short, because it just feels off. Until now, I didn’t realize how much I valued the expressive, non-verbal part of human interaction.

However, I’ve also come to realize that I’m just going to have to get over it. Evidently, masks are the price we have to pay if we want life to return to some sense of normalcy until a vaccine (we hope) eliminates the threat.

If faced with a choice between hunkering down again in isolation and a mask, I’ll take the mask.

If faced with a choice between skyrocketing infection rates and a mask, I’ll take the mask.

If faced with a choice between widespread business closures and a mask, I’ll take the mask.

As usual, in the end, pragmatism won out.

But, of course, I’m just one person. In this country, mask wearing has become a political statement, unfortunately. It seems that not wearing a mask has become as performative as wearing one might have been in the pandemic’s early days.

As I gaze ahead into our unknown future, I have several hopes as we eventually emerge from the wreckage of the coronavirus.

First of all, I hope that we’re able to limit the spread of the disease as much as possible.

As I write this column, we seem to be profoundly failing at this goal in much of the country. Lacking a national policy, we have 50 different state responses, which is less of a plan than a wildly out-of-control experiment.

Secondly, I hope for the least possible damage to the economy, especially to our local businesses. So far, in Harrisburg, our small businesses have shown remarkable resilience, particularly our large number of bars, restaurants and cafés. But how long can that last, especially if there’s a second wave?

Thirdly, I’m focused like a laser on ensuring that TheBurg remains viable until we bust out the other side of this. As you may know, the news industry was in dire straits before the pandemic hit, and I fear the virus may be the proverbial final nail for many papers. Already, we recently lost the venerable Press & Journal, a 166-year-old newspaper out of Middletown, underscoring the fragility of this vitally important industry.

These are the reasons that I finally came to embrace the mask. Well, honestly, I still hate it. I still find it profoundly dehumanizing. But I’ve reached the unfortunate conclusion that we’re going to have to mask up to muddle through.

Lawrance Binda is co-publisher/editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

If you’d like to help TheBurg survive the pandemic, please join Friends of TheBurg, our new membership program.

Illustration by Rich Hauck.

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