A Quiet Gem: “Those Who Remained” is a can’t-miss movie in this year’s virtual Jewish Film Festival

June 30, 2020 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

For those looking for a quietly beautiful, thoughtful film to sink their teeth into, you should pay attention to director Barnabás Tóth’s newest feature, “Those Who Remained.”

Set in the late 1940s/early ‘50s in a post-WWII Hungary, the film introduces our protagonists: 42-year old Aldo (Károly Hajduk), a quiet, sensitive man who works as a gynecologist, and 16-year old Klára (Abigél Szõke), a sweet, studious, talkative young woman who begrudgingly lives with her great-aunt Olgi (Mari Nagy).

Both Aldo and Klára have lost their families to the Holocaust (though Klára naively refuses to believe that her parents are not coming back at some point). After a doctor’s appointment with Aldo, the unlikely friendship forms between the childless father and parentless daughter, prompting Olgi to work out a foster-care situation to ensure her niece’s happiness.

With the ever-looming fear of a Communist regime over their heads and the disapproving looks of neighbors who don’t understand the dynamics of their relationship, the two manage to carve out some happiness in recreating their family. The story is logistically a slice of life, piecing together fragments of their lives as Klára grows up, but the heart of the film offers so much more.

The Holocaust is never directly spoken of, yet still harshly present, having an effect on everyone’s lives. Even the way that the characters react to its consequences is fascinating. When Aldo decides to tell Klára about his deceased family, he does it by prompting her in a letter to look through a photo album, but tells her to put the album away before he returns to the apartment, as he is unable to even look at the album himself. In a fairly quiet film, where no one speaks their pain out loud, that pain is deafening.

Hajduk and Szõke are brilliantly endearing together, and even without Tóth’s articulate weaving of the world around them, are worth the watch by themselves. This is a true gem of a film.

“Those Who Remained” is part of the lineup for this year’s Edward S. Finkelstein Harrisburg Jewish Film Festival, which will virtually premiere a new film twice a week throughout the month of July. Check out the website (www.hbgjff.com) for more information and to register for your all-access festival pass.

Blooming in Midtown: Hershey’s go-to florist opens shop in Harrisburg

June 30, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Shawn Durborow-Bowersox sat at a Starbucks table across from his boss, Cherylann Wagner, over a pair of coffees in 2014.

Wagner had called for a meeting—one that would hold an agenda her employee wasn’t anticipating.

“It was a two-part meeting,” he said. “One to tell me that I needed to be at work on time because I was always late—she was fun like that—and two she wanted me to buy her business.”

She owned a flower design business in Hershey, with clients as big as the Hershey Lodge and Hershey’s Chocolate World. Each week, Durborow-Bowersox helped his boss cut, water and arrange floral masterpieces for the Hershey enterprises. He enjoyed what he did, but there was one problem: Durborow-Bowersox had never run a business.

“She said, ‘I’ll teach you; we will talk about it later,’” Durborow-Bowersox said.

However, a few months after their meeting, Wagner passed away.

“Later never came,” he said.

Durborow-Bowersox assumed the responsibility of making sure everything floral in Hershey was taken care of for the Christmas season. It was difficult to fill the shoes of his former boss, but he had no choice.

“I basically learned on my own,” he said. “It seemed like everyone supported me. I really had to scratch my head over that because I didn’t realize what I had.”

When Frank Gilbert, Hershey Lodge’s general manager, asked Durborow-Bowersox where he would work next, he didn’t know. He would have to get a job somewhere else now.

“He said, ‘no, you’re going to start your own business,’” Durborow-Bowersox said. “Frank believed in me. I didn’t necessarily believe in myself, but he believed in me.”

Made It Work

In February 2015, with a name inspired by his favorite Nat King Cole song, Paper Moon Flowers and Events was born.

Each week, Durborow-Bowersox left his house in Harrisburg, drove his PT Cruiser to the wholesaler, stuffed it full with flowers and headed to Hershey. A day of changing out floral arrangements can take up to eight hours, and, every other day, he returned to water and maintain everything.

“I was like a little flower peddler,” he said. “I just made it work. All the things Cherylann taught me that I didn’t know she was teaching me came out.”

Not only did Durborow-Bowersox work to create arrangements as beautiful as Wagner’s, but he intentionally sought out relationships and conversations with everyone he came in contact with.

“I believed in talking to everyone, and I still do,” he said. “From the housekeeper to the highest. Everyone’s important, and you have to treat them the same.”

Durborow-Bowersox is the lead florist for the Hershey Lodge and boasts a client list including the Hershey Conservatory, the Hershey Story Museum, the Hershey Country Club and Hershey’s Chocolate World.

With only one employee, he grew his flower business almost singlehandedly.

Now, it was time to open a storefront.

Custom Touch

One rainy afternoon, Durborow-Bowersox was driving home when he passed the same property he always did before turning down the street to his home. This time, there was a lease sign in the window.

In October, the building was his, but it wasn’t until January that Durborow-Bowersox began turning the property—long boarded-up but most recently renovated for an office—into a store. He painted, wallpapered, ordered coolers for the flowers and purchased décor items to sell, some of which he sources from local small businesses.

“I give you a custom touch,” he said. “I give you real foil on your flowers or brown paper around your bouquet.”

Last month, Paper Moon Flowers opened on N. 3rd Street, offering custom flower arrangements, candles, gifts and decorations to the Harrisburg community.

Durborow-Bowersox recognizes the lack of flower shops in Harrisburg and is excited to have a presence in the community.

“I’ve lived here for 20 years, and I can’t buy a birthday card anywhere,” he said. “It drives me crazy. I want people in the community to be able to buy a birthday card or get a little flower arrangement or get a small gift for someone.”

Overall, Durborow-Bowersox wants to bring joy to the neighborhood.

“Flowers make people happy, and they smell good,” he said.

Paper Moon Flowers is located at 916 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

Voices of Our Community: Yaasmeen Piper

June 30, 2020 | by Yaasmeen Piper

Yaasmeen Piper

Following the death of George Floyd and the nationwide and local Black Lives Matter protests, we asked several members of our Harrisburg community if they would like to share their personal stories.

I’m tired.

I was confused when they let George Zimmerman walk free in 2014.

I was broken when they killed Tamir Rice, who would have been class of 2020, just like me.

I was fuming when they shot and killed Antwon Rose II, who lived just a few hours from Harrisburg.

I was angry when they told us Sandra Bland killed herself.

Now, I’m tired.

Going to the protest on the Capitol steps and down the riverfront showed just how much our community is hurting. There were people shouting from the top of their lungs, declaring that their lives matter. There were kids, the same age as my siblings, holding signs saying, “I Can’t Breathe.” We are grieving the lives of all the Black and Brown people who were killed in the hands of the police, some right in our city.

But it doesn’t just stop there. The Black community is too often forgotten in Harrisburg. We make up over half of the city’s population, yet, far too many of our officials don’t look like us. Far too many of the city’s workers don’t look like us. Some workers even refuse to live in the city out of fear.

We’ve been pushed out of our homes by climbing rent prices. Our barbershops and stores have been replaced by overpriced restaurants and apartments.

Even our news outlets portray us as violent, struggling and broken.

But Harrisburg has an incredibly vibrant community. There are so many Black-owned businesses such as La Cultura and Urban Snob that have given back to their community. Black-owned restaurants like Soul Burrito, Crawdaddy’s and Queen’s BBQ and Southern Cuisine. Even Harris Family Brewery for those who love craft beer.

We are organizing and supporting one another, especially in times like this. Now it’s time for the people in power to do their part. If your hands look like that of the officers that took George Floyd’s life, or 48 of the 49 presidents, its time for you to speak up and help save Black lives. I’m not talking changing street names, marching with protestors for a few minutes for photo-ops, or kneeling in kente cloths. Actually do something that will invoke change. Call your lawmakers, donate to Black organizations, and support Black businesses. Lawmakers, draft and push for bills that will actually help us. If you have power in this country and want change, ask yourself: What am I actually doing for Black lives?

Yaasmeen Piper is a 2020 graduate of East Stroudsburg University, is a contributor and former intern for TheBurg and is currently serving a fellowship with Spotlight PA.

Goodwill to All: New CEO Rick Hill leads Goodwill Keystone Area through pandemic—and beyond

June 30, 2020 | by Karen Hendricks

Rick Hill thought he’d be playing golf every day, enjoying retirement.

“I was incredibly bored, and my wife said, ‘You might as well get another job,’” said Hill. “The stars aligned… I was introduced to Goodwill and its mission, and at that point I knew I didn’t want to do anything else but work for Goodwill the rest of my life.”

Today, at 58, Hill is at the helm of Goodwill Keystone Area, serving the 22-county region of central and southeastern Pennsylvania, including the Harrisburg area. It’s his third position with the Goodwill organization—that first position was in Frederick, Md. And that’s where he met a young man named Dillon.

“It was my first experience working with someone with a disability,” Hill said. “He would come to work every day smiling, so proud to come to work. Watching him progress with his skillset was like watching him blossom.”

A lot of people are familiar with Goodwill as the nonprofit organization that accepts donated items to stock their thrift stores—but that’s only part of their story.

The proceeds from Goodwill stores fund job-training and employment programs for people with disabilities, like Dillon, and for anyone affected by barriers to employment. Those barriers include anything holding someone back from getting a job—a recent incarceration, homelessness, drug or alcohol rehabilitation.

The 60-day employment program, described by Hill as a “metamorphosis,” is designed to help people acquire job skills matched with an employer.

“It’s the power of changing people’s lives through the dignity of work,” Hill said. “The idea of self-worth is one that resonates with me. We’re not giving a handout—we’re giving a hand up.”

Hill knows something about hard work from the ground up. Hill spent the bulk of his career working for two family businesses—Metropolitan Steel Inc. in Frederick, where he worked his way up to president and CEO—and then Metropolitan Choppers, LLC, a custom chopper motorcycle businesses that he founded.

“I had run these multi-million dollar corporations, so I thought for sure I could manage Frederick’s Goodwill warehouse,” Hill said of his first position with the organization. “What happened was I met the most engaging, hard-working folks I’d ever been around, and I fell in love with the mission.”

When he took over as CEO of Goodwill Keystone Area in December, Hill had big shoes to fill. He replaced John McHenry, who retired after a 47-year career with Goodwill.

Based in Harrisburg, Hill oversees a footprint of 44 retail stores and donation centers staffed by 1,500 employees that serve more than 3 million shoppers and 1 million donors annually. More than 74,000 items are sold online, and the organization recycles 17 million pounds of donated items every year, as well. Last year, the organization helped 4,200 people through their employment services.

But the number that makes Hill the proudest?

“I’ve worked in for-profit businesses my entire life, and we need to run this organization as a business even though it’s a nonprofit,” Hill said. “But the beauty of it is, 92 cents of every dollar we generate goes right back into the mission of creating employment and sustainable job skills. There’s no other job where anybody can say that.”

Hill was three months into his new position when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, shutting down Goodwill stores and donation centers for several months. For an organization that earns more than 80 percent of its revenues from its retail operations, it was a huge hit. Those annual revenues typically total $64 million.

One area of Goodwill’s operations continued through the pandemic, however—contracts to provide custodial services, even more essential during the pandemic, to a number of businesses and government facilities.

“For months, they were our sole source of income for the organization,” Hill said. “And they were dealing with a lot more cleaning requirements, so we’re very proud of our business services side.”

Some of those contracts include Harrisburg’s Federal Building, the Mechanicsburg Navy Yard and Franklin County’s Letterkenny Army Depot.

Meantime, Hill went to bat for Goodwill, with the governor.

“People were out of work and didn’t have an organization like Goodwill where they could buy clothes or household items—they were limited to shopping at big box stores,” Hill said. “So, we petitioned the governor and got permission to reopen donation centers in April. We were very grateful for that.”

All Goodwill stores were expected to reopen by the end of June. Hill predicts they’ll fulfill a great need amid troubled economic times—the need for central Pennsylvanians to be thrifty.

He also predicts that Goodwill will play a critical role in helping the unemployed.

“We’ll meet the challenges ahead of us with massive unemployment, and we’ll will adapt our programs to give people the skillsets they need,” Hill said.

For example, a new job-training program is being developed to help people acquire the skills needed to work in one of central Pennsylvania’s most prevalent industries—the warehousing and transportation sector. The program specifically teaches people how to use warehousing software programs and operate forklifts.

Another new program takes job training on the road via a mobile computer lab, since lack of transportation can be a barrier to attendance at traditional job training sessions.

Hill said that it’s important for Goodwill to “creatively innovate” to meet challenges such as shifting job skills, COVID-19 or anything the future brings.

“Goodwill as an organization started in 1902 and has seen its share of crisis, from the Spanish flu of 1918 to world wars, and every modern-era catastrophe that there is,” Hill said. “Goodwill adapts and changes, and this will be no different.”

For more information, see yourgoodwill.org.

Summertime Shrimp: Once again, it’s Rosemary vs. her grill

June 30, 2020 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

As I write this, the pandemic continues, but it appears that summer has finally arrived.

Except for our Friday night dinner “pick-ups” from our favorite downtown Harrisburg restaurants, I have cooked most evenings for my husband and me. And now that warmer weather is here, I have come face to face again with my gas grill.

Now, this was the summer I was going to consider buying a new gas grill, since I blame the one we have for over-cooking everything. But not wanting to spend any significant time browsing in my favorite hardware store, our current grill has gotten a reprieve. And I found that it did a pretty good job of cooking a favorite shrimp recipe that I have been making in the oven all winter long.

It is called “Spicy Calabrian Shrimp,” which is offered as an appetizer in “Giada’s Italy,” the most recent cookbook from Giada De Laurentiis. This collection of recipes is a chronicle of the past two years she spent in Positano and Florence, Italy, filming her Food Network television show. I have adopted the recipe for an easy dinner and pair it with rice and a green vegetable or salad. I usually make extra to share with son No. 1, as it has become a favorite meal for him, too.

Grilling is a good method of preparing seafood. It avoids the “were you cooking fish in here?” comment I often get from family when they walk in my kitchen after I make seafood. In this recipe, the smokiness imparted by the grill enhances the spicy heat of the Calabrian chili paste. I used a “grill pan” over the grates, which keeps the shrimp or other small items from falling through into the fire. But you can also use aluminum foil, especially the kind made just for grilling. Try to find Calabrian chili paste if you can, but garlic chili sauce found in the Asian section of the supermarket would work, too. I just love this dish!

Spicy Calabrian Shrimp

Ingredients

½ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons Calabrian chili paste
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon kosher salt (optional)
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and de-veined, tails intact
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

Recipe

Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees or pre-heat your outside grill.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the Parmigiano cheese, olive oil, chili paste, lemon zest, oregano and salt, if using.
Add the shrimp and toss to coat. Allow the shrimp to marinate at room temperature for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Spread the shrimp on a baking sheet if using the oven or a grill pan or foil if using your outside grill.
Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes, but cooking time on the grill should be very brief (only about 2 minutes per side). I sprayed PAM on my grill pan because I’m an expert at having foods stick.
Sprinkle the lemon juice and the chopped fresh basil over the cooked shrimp and serve. (Don’t skip these last 2 ingredients. They really add a great “kick” to the finished dish.)

As noted above, I make this shrimp dish for dinner, but it does work well as an appetizer, too. Served with a spicy cocktail sauce, it beats the cold, often soggy, version.

I hope you’ve also had some interesting cooking adventures as we’ve traveled through this unusual time. My grill has lived to cook another day. Can good times be far behind?

Would You Like to Fly?: Cast your worries aside on a hot air balloon ride

June 30, 2020 | by Gina Napoli

If you’ve lived around Harrisburg long enough, you’ve likely driven winding country roads around Hershey, Lancaster, Gettysburg and points in between.

But if you’ve never gazed at the horizon over the basket of a hot air balloon, get thee to your bucket list.

The U.S. Hot Air Balloon Team flies regularly over parts of Pennsylvania, launching from the aforementioned cities, plus other points nationwide.

Hershey launches from the AACA Museum. The Lancaster launch is on Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand. In Gettysburg, the launch is at the Lodges. If you’d like a local road trip, you could float over Chester and Bucks counties.

While every location is unique, south-central Pennsylvania’s landscapes are especially breathtaking.

“Not everywhere is pretty to fly over, but Pennsylvania is,” said Ian Laxton, U.S. Hot Air Balloon Team ground crew member. “You can see farm property lines perfectly marked, with scenic, open fields.”

Jake Frame, general manager and pilot, said that people are also intrigued by the balloon itself.

“It’s exciting to watch, how it flies with hot air expanding,” he said. “Everyone has the same fascination interacting with it.”

A Whoosh

If you take your own hot air balloon flight, you will use all of your senses during the two- to three-hour experience.

One thing you hopefully won’t experience is fear. If the thought of flying in a hot air balloon makes you squeamish, don’t worry. It’s not like regular flying. The balloon moves at wind-speed, so you don’t feel motion inside the basket.

Sam Kopp of Harrisburg took her first flight six years ago at age 8.

“Right before launching, the pilot threw a chip into the air to check wind speed and direction,” she said.

Working on the ground crew literally requires feats of strength—heavy lifting and pulling—plus careful planning to make the flight safe. Pre-flight, the team checks the forecast. This not only includes precipitation, but up-to-the-minute wind speed and direction, pressure and even radar.

Flights only occur during ideal weather conditions. Flights are postponed due to high winds, rain and thunderstorms, Frame said.

“Gentle snow is also a no,” he said.

The three- to four-person crew inspects the equipment for every flight. They test the burners in sequence, the propane tanks and industrial fans. They untangle and hook up the cables, venting lines and fabric. The crew positions the balloon to catch the wind.

“You don’t want the fabric to fight you,” Laxton said.

Initially, the basket lays on its side. The crew boards people into the sections according to their weight. (If you lie about this stat by a pound or 20, the crew is forgiving. Not that I learned this firsthand.) Everyone files in like rows of bunk beds on a submarine on sturdy rattan, reinforced with steel.

When the crew pumps air into the fabric, you will hear an alternating whoosh of gases being lit above your head, followed by quiet. It will feel alternately too cool and then too warm. Along with the cool air, the pilot will be lighting propane directly above your hair, so either go easy on that hair product or forego it altogether. Better yet, wear a hat.

The gases “displace the cooler air with warmer air in the balloon, making it less dense than the air around it, creating 100 to 200 pounds of resistance,” Laxton said. “That’s what creates the lift.” The balloon will rise, with the basket becoming upright.

Heather O’Donnell of Enola rode in a hot air balloon a few years ago, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

“It was amazing,” she said. “It was calming and exciting all at the same time.”

The experience made O’Donnell feel close to her deceased mother, especially when her father serendipitously called his daughter en route.

“It felt like the three of us were together again,” she said.

Daring passengers use the balloon as a proposal spot.

“On one flight, the passenger got down on one knee and dropped the ring over the side,” Laxton said. “His girlfriend yelled at him. Then he pulled out the real ring.”

In the Clouds

Throughout the flight, the ground crew follows the balloon by van. Traditionally, ground crews used eyes, sense of wind direction and walkie-talkies, according to Laxton. There’s now an app for that called Glimpse to help modern crews navigate terrain.

After an hour of flight time, about six to 12 miles, the pilot releases hot air through the vent at the balloon’s apex to start the landing process. When close to touching ground, the passengers crouch in the basket. The pilot maintains just enough heat to allow the basket to hover over a good landing spot while the crew holds it steady to soften the landing. When the fabric deflates, “it looks like a snake,” Laxton said.

“We were up in the clouds, waving at a bunch of Amish kids,” Kopp said. “They chased the balloon, and then they greeted us barefoot when we landed on their farm at sunset.”

Laxton said that this often occurs.

“People in this area greet us when we land,” he said. “Some bring out coffee. Our relationship with the community makes it fun for us.”

Throughout history, not all onlookers were fascinated with the manned floating orbs. During the first flight in France in 1783, local landowners felt afraid because no one had ever flown before. This began the tradition of carrying champagne to appease local landowners and to quell superstitious talk. The U.S. Hot Air Balloon Team brings champagne, light snacks and soda post-flight.

If you prefer to stay on the ground, you can admire the array of colorful balloons during the annual Lancaster Balloon Festival. This year, it is scheduled from July 31 to Aug. 2 in Bird-in-Hand. Fall kicks off the U.S. Hot Air Balloon Team’s busiest season.

“People travel to Pennsylvania just to fly over the fall foliage,” Laxton said.

The United States Hot Air Balloon Team flies regularly from several locations in central Pennsylvania. For more information, call 717-276-9324 or visit www.ushotairballoon.com.

Voices of Our Community: Lenwood Sloan

June 30, 2020 | by Lenwood Sloan

Lenwood Sloan

I’ve been so many places in my life and times!

My journey includes three U.S. coasts and four continents. Since 2005, I have referred to myself as Harrisburg’s “foster child.” A refugee of Katrina, I fled New Orleans and was lucky enough to land here in the Rendell administration as director of cultural and heritage tourism.

Refugees are different than immigrants. We fled from one place instead of choosing another. Foster children are in a perpetual state of waiting for “a forever family.” While I work hard to belong, I’m constantly confronted with the salutation, “You’re not from here, are you?”

Fifteen years doesn’t count! I know people who have been here five decades and still get the same question. You see, unless you were born here, you are never from here. You’re instantly measured and identified by your church, the neighborhood you grew up in, or the year you graduated from John Harris or William Penn High School. You’re constantly asked, “Who’s your Momma? What lodge did your grandfather belong to?”

Foster children always have that lost look in their eyes. We are always searching for a sense of permanency. We’re always looking for “our people!”

When I arrive in a new place, I always head directly for the town’s MLK Boulevard. Every town usually has a roadway named for the great civil rights leader, right? Not Harrisburg. In fact, it’s the only city I’ve come across that named a boulevard after the Exemplar of Peace and then reversed the action! The only evidence I could ever find of its existence is a disturbing archival record and a pile of signs in the back of a public works building.

As a Black historian, I’m always looking for the presence of the past. Where are the markers of the legacy of my people? Where are the symbols of our achievement against the odds? If you were born here, you might identify the few and vanishing markers of our heritage. If not, you’re lost.

While working on a cultural project along the four-mile Riverfront Park, I could not find a single monument, plaque, bench or emblem of achievement exemplifying the contributions of African Americans. Walk the entire Capitol Complex, and you’ll find precious few markers promulgating our presence there either!

But let’s stay in the present! Where do you take African American tourists to discover Harrisburg’s Black amenities? You’ll find no thriving Black business district, no African American bookstore, art gallery, Black-owned theater, Afro dance center, literary society, public choir. There’s no local Black baseball game to attend or marching band to fall behind. Indeed, when asked, the answer often is, “There used to be!”

“Used to be” is simply not good enough! Cultural identity is built on a foundation of brick-and-mortar institutions, physical signs and symbols which ground and substantiate it. Black-owned enterprises become the loom on which we weave the cultural and multicultural warp and woof of a people. They’re the safe houses of our images, icons, artifacts and memorabilia.

I continue to wonder as I wander, where do Black people exist on the landscape of Harrisburg’s memory? Where are the safehouses of our cultural experiences? Who’s recording what it is to be Black in Harrisburg for present children and future generations? Who’s building monuments to our achievements?

Martin Delaney, the great Pennsylvania abolitionist who fought for freedom with the U.S. Colored Troops in the Civil War, wrote, “Every people should be originators of their own destiny.” Today and every day, we should work hard to pay it forward so that we have something to look forward to with hope and something to look backwards on with pride.

Lenwood Sloan is the executive director of the Commonwealth Monument Project. He serves as the governor’s appointee to the Capitol Preservation Committee and board member of the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.

Voices of Our Community: Danielle L. Bowers

June 30, 2020 | by Danielle L. Bowers

Danielle L. Bowers

At any given moment, while sleeping in the privacy of my own home, like Breonna Taylor, while failing to signal a lane change while driving, like Sandra Bland, or while walking down a Chicago street, like Frankie Ann Perkins, I could become the next hashtag #SayHerName.

Black lives matter ALL WAYS and ALWAYS. Everyone has a critical role to play. We must put our energy behind efforts that will make an immediate impact within the City of Harrisburg. Here are a few ways that will yield immediate results.

Vote. Elect candidates whose values align with your own. Politics are the heart of the local community. Every day, you are impacted by political decisions, decisions related to access to quality healthcare, education, childcare, housing and jobs. Be a part of the solutions to ensure your basic needs are fulfilled. Vote like your life depends on it, because it does.

Complete the Census. Census participation will provide federal funding for public transit, early childhood education, school lunches, senior housing and public safety programs. By completing the census, the City of Harrisburg can receive federal funding for programs supporting our must vulnerable residents—our senior citizens and children over the next decade.

Actively engage in City Council meetings. City Council meetings are held every Tuesday. You have an opportunity to participate in the meeting by offering public comment on a bill or resolution on the meeting agenda. You may also offer public comment on any other matter of interest within the city. Public comments become a part of the formal meeting record. Hold us, your local elected officials accountable.

Progress requires effort. The Black Lives Matter protests are a step toward achieving progress. The protests successfully engaged the youth, the old, Black, Brown and white people to march for a cause greater than themselves. While some are marching in the streets, others are raising their voices to achieve progress by engaging their elected officials through phone calls and e-mails. Know that all efforts are seen and heard.

Many of our non-Black colleagues are interested in continuing to make a difference beyond the protests. Our colleagues have been strong allies, showing up and supporting Black and Brown people. We need accomplices. Accomplices will assist in dismantling the oppressive structures impeding the progress of the Black and Brown marginalized communities without fear of consequences. No progress will be made until those with perceived power will recognize our value in all spaces we occupy. We bring a perspective that must be at every table to truly effectuate change. Be brave, become an accomplice. Break down barriers. Change the board rooms, workplaces; include us wherever decisions are made. Equality should be everyone’s fight.

Black lives matter ALL WAYS and ALWAYS. Every day, Black men and women have an influence on our lives. The traffic light, mailbox, dustpan, clock, almanac and ironing board are just a few inventions that were developed by brilliant Black men and women. Let’s not forget the Black urban planner who surveyed the land off of the Potomac River that would become our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

Viola Davis recently shared a post that resonated with me. Viola stated, “A revolution has many lanes—be kind to yourself and to others who are traveling in the same direction.” Our tactics may have us in different lanes, but know we are traveling in the same direction. Let’s improve our city together for future generations to thrive and prosper. Say Her Name, Say Their Names, Black Lives Matter ALL WAYS and ALWAYS.

Danielle Bowers is a member of Harrisburg City Council.

Expecting Better: New report focuses attention on improving maternal health

June 30, 2020 | by Capital BlueCross Staff

The pregnancy rate is down, but the rate of pregnancy and childbirth complications is on the rise, according to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s latest Health of America report.

That report, which examined claims data from 1.8 million pregnancies among women aged 18 to 44 from 2014 to 2018, underscored the importance of focusing on maternal health in America.

The pregnancy rate declined 2%, with millennials accounting for 85% of births. And while 80% of women had uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries, the report also found that from 2014 to 2018:

Pregnancy complications (gestational diabetes, preeclampsia) increased 16.4%.
Childbirth complications (eclampsia, cardiomyopathy, embolism, sepsis, respiratory distress) increased 14.2%.
The rate of women experiencing both pregnancy and childbirth complications increased 31%.
The number of women diagnosed with postpartum depression increased 30%.
Nearly one in 10 new mothers, including three of every 10 in the 18 to 24 bracket, was diagnosed with postpartum depression.
4% of women received no postnatal care at all.
Chronic physical and behavioral conditions that can complicate pregnancy and childbirth grew significantly. Obesity increased 100% from 9.1% to 18.2%; major depression grew 35% from 4.1% to 5.5%.

Pregnancy and childbirth problems can harm mothers and babies and heap enormous costs on the system.

Pregnancy complications increase the average cost of a vaginal delivery by 16% and a C-section delivery by 18%, the report stated.

Childbirth complications increase the average cost of these deliveries by 63% and 52%, respectively.

Routine prenatal and postnatal care improves pregnancy and childbirth outcomes, but the report found that 14% of women did not get prenatal care within the first trimester of pregnancy and a third received less than the recommended 10 prenatal care visits.

Social barriers such as limited availability of appointments, lack of transportation and too few providers contributed to the dismal numbers, the report said.

“It’s a disturbing trend,” said Capital BlueCross Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Chambers.

“Quality care is critical to helping women lead healthier lives that reduce the likelihood of tragic and costly pregnancy and childbirth complications,” she said “A greater focus on maternal health will improve lives now and will pay dividends for years to come as that healthier child ages.”

Blues plans across the nation are already working to focus more on maternal health care through the Blue Distinction Center and Blue Distinction Center+ program.

Blue Distinction Centers are healthcare facilities and providers that have met strict care guidelines and demonstrated expertise in any of 11 specialty care areas, including maternity care. Pennsylvania has 18 such hospitals, with several in Harrisburg, Camp Hill and Hershey.

Those with the “plus” designation have also demonstrated a high degree of efficiency in delivering that healthcare. There are 33 such hospitals in Pennsylvania.

In 2018, Pennsylvania ranked third behind Texas and Florida for the highest number of pregnancies, with 25,550. It ranked eighth in the nation with 214.8 pregnancy complications per 1,000, and 14th for most cases per 1,000 of postpartum depression.

Capital BlueCross has been collaborating with WellSpan Health in an effort to improve access to care and improved outcomes for moms and babies. Their joint effort will launch this summer.

The insurer promotes preconception care in which women can learn how to take care of their bodies prior to pregnancy by monitoring high blood pressure, checking folic acid levels and making sure vaccines are up to date.

Additionally, Capital BlueCross supports expecting and new mothers with resources and advice for a healthy pregnancy and can link case managers with moms and babies with special needs.

For more information, visit www.capbluecross.com.

Summertime, with a Twist: Harrisburg seasonal favorite activities change, take new form

June 30, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Artwork along Sprocket Mural Works’ Mural Trail

Summer is always busy for Ross Willard. Dozens of kids flock to his shop in Allison Hill in the course of a day to get a hand with a bike repair or pick up a new set of wheels.

Recycle Bicycle is especially busy this summer. With the COVID-19 pandemic restricting many indoor activities, families are looking for ways to get outside and entertain themselves.

“People say, ‘Ross slow down,’ but I can’t, there are people in need,” he said.

With the core of Recycle Bicycle’s volunteers in their 70s, the shop had to close for safety reasons, but that didn’t stop Willard’s phone from ringing off the hook. It wasn’t long until the team was back fixing bikes by appointment.

“One day, I went in two hours early, stayed one hour late, wore a mask the whole time and didn’t take a bathroom break,” Willard said.

Just another summer Saturday in Harrisburg.

Out and About

At the start of summer, people were just creeping out of their houses, testing the waters of returning to public life. But with Harrisburg now in the “green” phase of reopening, sidewalks are filling back up and stores are re-opening their doors.

Still, summer will look different this year.

One of the most notable changes was the city’s decision to close its pools. Not unique from many other cities, Harrisburg acted out of caution.

“I know this is going to be a disappointment for many, but there are a couple things that could be seen as positives that come out of this,” Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse said in a Facebook Live broadcast.

He mentioned the possibility of maintenance work on the pools and applying for grants to build a spray park in the coming years.

Along with closing the pools, the Department of Parks and Recreation is holding limited events this summer.

Department Director Kevin Sanders said that the city will host a series of movie nights beginning in July.

Although there’s no access to the pools this summer, outdoor activities are not hard to find.

After closing for a few weeks, Water Golf’s mini-golf course on City Island opened in early May.

“The city gave us approval to open whenever we wanted to,” Owner Jeff Palkovic said. “If I couldn’t keep my employees and customers safe, I wouldn’t have opened up.”

Water Golf employees are taking precautions to ensure the safety of their customers. They sanitize clubs and balls after each use, installed a sneeze guard at the front counter and encourage customers to wear masks as well as social distance.

Palkovic said their concession stand has been picking up even more than the golf, acknowledging the desire people have to get out of their homes.

The response from golfers has encouraged Palkovic, as many have been extra supportive.

“Normally we get 999 really nice people out of 1,000,” he said. “This year, it’s even better than that. Everyone is so excited.”

In Session

Even with school out for the summer, students around the city participate in educational experiences—aka, summer camp!

Most are still on for the summer, although their format may look different.

Open Stage, for one, is holding a 10-week virtual theater arts class.

“Things are different this summer, but I think that has given us license to change things up,” Producing Artistic Director Stuart Landon said. “We’ve put together a really cool curriculum.”

While Open Stage summer courses are typically focused on a specific topic, this class will be more general, Landon said. Topics included are musical theater, acting, theater history, design and tech. There will be a group for 8 to 12 year olds and one for 13 and older.

“This situation is not going to keep us down,” Landon said.

Bethesda Mission’s Community Center in Allison Hill is also holding camp, but chose to take an in-person approach.

Starting in June, groups of about 25 kids each have been participating in outdoor and indoor activities. Executive Director Scott Dunwoody explained that the teen group is especially important because it provides internships and job training.

Art & Nature

For those looking to get out and enjoy the sunshine, there’s plenty to do outdoors in the city.

Throughout the pandemic, Harrisburg parks have remained open.

“We are a community in Harrisburg that is fortunate that we made the decision to keep our parks and playgrounds open,” Papenfuse said. “We felt from the beginning that it was important for people to be able to go out to exercise and take walks.”

The Capital Area Greenbelt, Wildwood Park and Riverfront Park are of few of the most popular nature spots in the city. Wildwood is currently holding “Art in the Wild,” the park’s annual environmental art exhibition.

Sizeable trees populate each of these parks, offering shady resting places.

In addition, Sprocket Mural Works is encouraging people to stroll through the city for a self-guided mural tour. There are 40 murals to observe, 14 of which are new this year.

Whether you’re staying indoors and out of the heat or enjoying the summer sunshine, good news—summer is still on in Harrisburg.

Recycle Bicycle is located at 1722 Chestnut St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.recyclebicycleharrisburg.org.

Water Golf is located at 600 Riverside Dr., Harrisburg (City Island). Visit www.h2ogolf.com for more information.

To learn more about Open Stage’s Alsedek Theatre School, visit www.thealsedektheatreschool.com.
Bethesda Mission’s Community Center is at 1438 Herr St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.bethesdamission.org/our-ministries/community-center.

To download a map of Sprocket Mural Works’ Mural Trail, visit www.sprocketmuralworks.com.

Wildwood Park is located at 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg. Visit www.wildwoodlake.org.

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