Hunger Pains: Innovative solutions, charitable donations meet unprecedented need for food–for now.

May 29, 2020 | by Karen Hendricks

Cereal, peanut butter, pasta, sauce and other essential household staples are inside the brown cardboard emergency food boxes.

But it’s innovative “outside-the-box” thinking and “extremely generous” acts of charity that are powering and placing the ingredients inside.

“The innovation that is happening—we are leveraging all opportunities, and it takes a lot of infrastructure to meet an immense challenge,” said Joe Arthur, executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. “But we want folks to feel confident that, if they need help, the food is going to be there for them.”

The “immense challenge” Arthur’s talking about is the sudden, unprecedented spike in families who need help putting food on their tables amid the COVID-19 pandemic’s simultaneous economic crisis.

Every day, the food bank is packing and shipping 5,000 boxes of food throughout central Pennsylvania—enough to fill four tractor-trailers. In March and April, the food bank distributed 4 million additional pounds of household staples, compared to the same two months in 2019—that’s 45 percent more food.

Serving a 27-county area, the food bank supplies a network of soup kitchens and food pantries with boxes of shelf-stable boxed and canned goods that normally find their way into the hands of 135,000 central Pennsylvanians. But, under our “new normal,” the need has escalated to 175,000 residents.

Supply chain issues and higher prices for shelf-stable foods are compounding the situation. However, Arthur said fresh foods are actually readily available and being distributed to those in need—albeit due to the drop off in demand from restaurants and schools.

“Right now, because of our produce contacts, we’re positioned to acquire an immense amount of produce from the surplus coming into the port of Philadelphia, as part of a produce co-op that we and 24 other food banks across the mid-Atlantic pulled together,” Arthur said. “It’s become a significant operation over the last two years.”

Thanks to the infrastructure in place, this co-op—the Mid-Atlantic Regional Co-op (MARC)—is creating tens of thousands of family-sized boxes containing produce that doesn’t require heavy refrigeration, such as potatoes, carrots, cabbage and onions.

The MARC is managed by Feeding Pennsylvania, the state association overseeing nine food banks, including central Pennsylvania’s.

In the first month of ramped-up COVID-19 operations, the MARC supplied nearly 100 truckloads of produce boxes to 18 regional food banks, including in this region, according to Corinne Foster of Feeding Pennsylvania.

The brand new U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program will begin distributing boxes of fresh produce, dairy products and cooked meats in late May and early June. Program contracts are being established with farmers. One of the first local growers to sign up is Lancaster Farm Fresh, a co-op of Lancaster County growers.

“Looking forward, we’re expecting this to be a long period of high food insecurity, and, as the federal household stimulus and relief dollars are depleted, we’re expecting an increase in the number of people we serve,” Arthur said, calling April’s unemployment figures “devastating.”

The food bank’s typical annual operating budget is $16 million, underwriting the distribution of 50 to 60 million pounds of food.

“We’re adding probably 10 million pounds of food on top of that… and that’s just to get through June,” said Arthur. “We are about $2 million above normal expenditures due to the crisis response… and we are using some of our own reserves saved over the years. This crisis is that big.”

Arthur is thankful for “extremely generous donors” such as Giant Foods, PNC Foundation, Highmark Health and Capital BlueCross.

Sizeable corporate donations coming into the overarching Feeding Pennsylvania include those from Pennsylvania Skill and PSECU. Additionally, PA Pork donated 90,000 pounds of pork products.

Record Number

Statewide, the number of Pennsylvanians served by food banks has increased by about 65 percent. Foster wasn’t able to provide exact figures or answers about how the organization will continue to keep pace with the demand for food.

“We are getting several donations from partners, plus grants, and we’re working with government agencies to get relief funds,” Foster said. “However, this won’t be enough to cover additional costs. We need to urgently remind supporters this is an ongoing pandemic, and we need their help with financial donations. Our food banks need help now more than ever.”

Two of the region’s largest nonprofit funders—the Foundation for Enhancing Communities and United Way of the Capital Region—partnered to establish a COVID-19 Community Response Fund to help curb hunger, with donations culled from the Hershey Company, Highmark Health and private donors.

One of the Harrisburg-area distribution points for those life-sustaining, 25-pound brown boxes is the Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region. Social-distancing, drive-through procedures are in place.

“We are seeing a record number of new folks, who have never used our services before—more and more folks who have lost employment, as well as small business owners, from all walks of life,” said Kathy Anderson-Martin of the Salvation Army.

In the first four weeks of crisis operations, the Salvation Army distributed food equivalent to 130,835 meals. To put it in perspective, that’s the amount of food they distributed under typical circumstances over six months, last year.

The numbers demonstrate the growing need. Food distributed over the first seven weeks amounted to 188,000 meals—equivalent to 10 months’ worth of food, last year.

Between 60 and 65 percent of the 1,700 households being served have never needed the faith-based charity’s food box program before.

There are positive signs of hope and charity. “Rescue food” gleaned from restaurants, grocery stores and other sources have nearly doubled from the amount normally collected, said Anderson-Martin. Over the course of a typical year, the organization rescues more than 100,000 pounds of food.

Recipients are “very appreciative, very grateful,” she said. “The thing that bothers me greatly is seeing people who want to work but can’t—that’s tough.”

Aside from nourishing food, another item being distributed nourishes the soul.

“Our mission addresses body, mind and spirit,” said Anderson-Martin. “We offer everyone a Bible, and these days, nine out of 10 people are saying ‘yes.’ We’ve distributed over 2,000 Bibles—English, Spanish and children’s Bibles. Some people call back and thank us for that, more so than the food.”

To contact The Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region to see if you’re eligible for food distribution, call 717-233-6755. For more information, or to make a donation, visit pa.salvationarmy.org/harrisburg-pa.

Anyone within the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s 27-county coverage area can locate feeding programs by calling the nonprofit’s helpline at 877-999-5964. To donate or volunteer, visit centralpafoodbank.org.

To learn more about the COVID-19 Community Response Fund or to make a donation, visit tfec.org/covid19.

A “New Normal”: Health care providers are adapting to safely deliver services during the coronavirus pandemic.

May 29, 2020 | by Dr. John Goldman

As much as we’d like to get life back to normal, our idea of what is “normal” will need to change if we are to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and ensure the safety of our communities.

Until a vaccine is developed, we will be living what some have called a “new normal.”

That includes health care itself. Doctors and hospitals are changing the way they provide care in order to ensure a safe environment during this pandemic.

At the start of the pandemic, doctors and health systems across the state focused their energy and resources on preparing for a surge of coronavirus patients. Per state guidelines, many surgeries and treatments were put on hold.

During this time, telemedicine use has skyrocketed. At UPMC Pinnacle, for example, it has risen from single-digit daily use in February to more than 1,100 video visits a day in early May.

Telemedicine uses state-of-the-art videoconferencing technology to provide real-time consultations and examinations. It provides a safe option for the patient and the provider, particularly if there is a concern about the patient having the coronavirus. Even after the virus is gone, telemedicine will remain an important part of our care.

However, not all care can be provided via telemedicine. For some things, like cancer care and surgeries, patients need to come to the office or hospital.

During the pandemic, many people have put off important medical care due to the state of emergency. With a leveling off of the virus in our area, the state is allowing many of these services to resume. But people may wonder if it is safe to get care.

Everything has risks, but health care providers across the region are taking steps to ensure the safety of patients and staff while providing the essential care that people need.

One of the first things you may notice is that many doctors’ offices are conducting prescreening. When you make an appointment to go to a provider office, you will likely be asked several questions to determine if you have any COVID-19 symptoms. This is to prevent exposure of the staff and other patients at the office.

If you go to your local hospital, it is likely that you—and all visitors and all staff—will be screened before you can enter. This screening can include questions to see if you have any COVID symptoms as well as a temperature check to identify a fever. Staff and visitors with symptoms or a fever are not allowed in and are instead directed to health care services.

Hospitals, long-term care facilities and cancer centers are also restricting visitation in order to avoid any potential spread of the virus. While health care facilities understand the concerns that patients and family members may have about this policy, this is a vital step to ensure the safety of all patients in the facility.

If you walk into a hospital today, you will immediately see a difference—all patient-facing staff members are wearing a mask and so are the patients. At UPMC Pinnacle, for example, we supply a mask to every patient-facing employee in our hospitals and cancer centers for them to use the entire day. Wearing a mask is required for staff. And if a patient comes in without a mask, we will provide one.

You will likely see the same thing at your doctor’s office. Staff and providers will be wearing a mask. You’ll also see a change in the waiting room. Patients and visitors may be asked to wait in their car until their appointment. And where a waiting room is necessary, seating is reduced to comply with social distancing.

High-touch surfaces at facilities are also getting frequent cleanings, including elevator push buttons, door handles, telephones, handrails, light switches, chairs, etc. Exam rooms, patient rooms and imaging equipment are also thoroughly cleaned after each use with a disinfectant approved by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

You’ll even see changes in the cafeterias at hospitals. They have probably removed all self-service foods, and they are sanitizing all high-touch surfaces and changing serving utensils every half hour during meal service times. You’ll also see less seating to support social distancing.

The coronavirus is a part of our lives. However, we continue to need health care services. The health care system is changing to address this issue while continuing to find ways to safely provide the essential services that area residents need.

John Goldman, MD, specializes in infectious disease at UPMC Pinnacle. For more information, visit UPMCPinnacle.com.

Tough Lessons: Parents, kids were forced to suddenly adapt, struggle after the coronavirus hit.

May 29, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Amber Luster and her son, Amauri.

Two weeks off? Vacation!

The rest of the year off? Oh no.

This seemed to be the timeline of thoughts leading up to the predicament that students and parents found themselves in.

Originally, parents questioned what education at home would look like. Now, many are questioning their sanity.

Adults scrambled to figure out how to work online learning platforms and develop schedules for their children. Homeschool, cyber school and stay-at-home parents loomed over their shoulders taunting, “See, it’s not so easy, huh?”

The new normal has many students begging to go back to a place they formerly couldn’t wait to escape and has parents mentally mapping routes of escape from home.

It’s a battle between enjoying the quality time and enduring the quantity of time.

Overwhelmed

Shakira Clark is a supervisor at the U.S. Army depot in New Cumberland. She’s supposed to oversee employees, but it’s been hard to focus with five children calling her all day.

Clark took off two weeks in April to stay home and help her kids with school. She suffered a pay cut, but knew she wouldn’t be effective at work when her head was at home.

“It was either I let my children fail or I make money,” she said. “I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place.”

Being a single mom is hard as it is, but, with having to balance work and homeschooling, it became hardly manageable. Then there’s the fact that her two oldest high school children have learning disabilities.

“Tenth grade is a pivotal moment,” she said. “I’m worried they’re going to be too far behind. I’m not equipped to even try to begin to teach them.”

Both of her high school students usually receive assistance in their classes, but the responsibility fell heavily on Clark. One of the students is enrolled in the Harrisburg school district and the other in Susquehanna. Clark said the Susquehanna case manager reaches out to help her child often, but the Harrisburg case manager does not.

The other kids are in seventh, fourth and first grades. Clark makes sure they are all up by 9 a.m. and work until the afternoon, but they all have varying, chaotic schedules.

“Trying to juggle the five of them is very overwhelming,” she said. “The different grade levels require my undivided attention.”

Level the Field

Stories like Clark’s are familiar to Ellen Hartman, head of school at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Harrisburg.

“St. Stephen’s is so diverse,” she said. “We had to think—how do we make sure we take care of families on each end of this spectrum?”

Hartman explained how some St. Stephen’s students are living in two-parent households and their needs are being met, while others live in single-parent households and rely on school lunches for food.

That was the first step for the school, making sure everyone was equipped to learn during the pandemic, whether that was through handing out devices or food.

“You have to figure out how to level the playing field,” Hartman said.

From there, the school built an online presence for students containing daily work and online class meetings and videos.

Still, Hartman realizes students have unique life situations that require a lot of catch-up work after schools (hopefully!) reopen in the fall.

“Teachers are giving quality education, but the context is so different,” she said. “Quality is dependent on that child’s context.”

Teachers regularly reach out to students virtually to maintain relationships. Guidance counselors and administrators have been available to students, as well.

With Hartman having a young child of her own who attends the school, she has been impressed with the teachers’ effort and intentionality.

“The silver lining is relationships,” she said. “I’ve seen how much the teachers mean to the kids and how much the kids mean to the teachers.”

Counting Down

Amber Luster is appreciative of her son Amauri’s teacher at Rutherford Elementary School. The teacher regularly Zoom calls with her third-graders.

Even with the teacher’s help, Luster is exhausted.

For weeks, Luster had to handle not only helping her son with his schoolwork but doing her own. Before summer break hit in May, she was finishing up a semester in college. She’s a senior at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg.

“I’m not working,” she said. “I had school, and I still have to cook and clean while helping Amauri. It’s hard.”

Rutherford was giving out devices to students in need of them, but, because Luster had a laptop, they didn’t qualify. The two had to figure out how to take turns using their one computer for homework.

Besides the challenges, Luster was glad her college moved work online for the rest of the school year because it gave her more time at home with her son.

“That’s the biggest plus, that I can spend more time with Amauri,” she said. “But I’m counting down the days until they’re done with school.”

Most parents and students agree. They’re ready for the year to end and hoping for a normal start in the fall. If anything, they won’t be taking it for granted for a while.

“You didn’t realize how much that community meant to you,” Hartman said.

For both parents and students, that may end up as the most widely shared lesson to come out of this strange semester spent at home.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal School is located at 215 N. Front St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.sseschool.org.

May News Digest

May 29, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley

Businesses Receive Stabilization Grants

More than 300 Harrisburg-licensed businesses last month received $5,000 grants to help them survive the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

The city and Impact Harrisburg announced the awards from a pool of money funded by both entities.

“We wanted to fund as many businesses as we possibly could across the broad spectrum,” said Sheila Dow-Ford, executive director of Impact Harrisburg, a nonprofit set up following the city’s financial crisis to help spur economic development. “So we are hoping we hit the mark in that regard.”

The program allowed businesses to request up to $10,000, but, given the large number of applicants, Impact Harrisburg decided to give $5,000 grants to all qualified applicants.

Initially, both the city and Impact Harrisburg were to contribute $500,000 to a $1 million fund, with the city’s portion originating from its dormant “revolving loan fund.”

However, qualified applications exceeded the initial funding, so Impact Harrisburg kicked in another $750,000. The city now is considering adding money for a second round of funding.

“Our goal is to keep these businesses afloat so, when it is time to reopen, they have a fighting chance of surviving and bouncing back, hopefully stronger than ever,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

Recipient Angel Fox of Fox’s Wash and Go said that the grant will allow her to repair washing machines in her Allison Hill laundromat, as customers have been “over-stuffing” the machines to try to stretch their own limited financial resources.

Elementary Coffee Co.’s Andrea Grove said that, beyond the money, she appreciated that care was taken to distribute the grants to all deserving, qualified applicants.

“We desperately need this money, but so many other people need it as well,” she said. “That is a beautiful testament to the care that this community has for each individual business and the position that they are in.”

For recipient Lori Reese, the money will help her sustain her personal organizing business, Consider It Done LLC, and it will help offset additional costs brought on by the crisis. Like many companies, she’s been forced to do more business online, which has meant extra, unanticipated costs to expand her virtual presence, capabilities and security.

Reese also mentioned a non-financial benefit of the program. Much like Grove, she said that she appreciates the effort, caring and the creativity that her city and Impact Harrisburg showed for the small business community here.

“I feel valued as a city business and a city resident,” she said. “Because it’s local, it means more to me.”

Harrisburg Area Enters Yellow Phase

Most of the Harrisburg area last month entered the less-restrictive “yellow” phase of the state’s phased reopening plan.

In south-central PA, Cumberland, York, Perry and Adams counties were the first to transition from the red phase to the yellow phase in late May. A week later, Dauphin and Lebanon counties joined them.

On June 5, Lancaster County, along with the remainder of “red” counties in the commonwealth, will transition to yellow, Gov. Tom Wolf announced.

Wolf credited the policies of the state government for helping to cut the number of new cases of COVID-19 in the commonwealth. Cases peaked in early April at almost 2,000 new cases a day and gradually fell to fewer than 1,000 new cases a day.

“We know not only that we succeeded in slowing case growth, but that our actions, our collective decisions to stay at home and avoid social contact—we know that saved lives,” Wolf said. “My stay-at-home order did exactly what it was intended to do. It saved lives, and it bought us valuable time.”

The state government uses a tri-color red/yellow/green system to guide re-openings in the commonwealth.

Under the red phase, people are supposed to observe strict “stay-at-home” orders, and “non life-sustaining” businesses cannot operate from their physical locations. Under yellow, these restrictions are eased, but limits remain in place. For instance, schools must remain closed, bars and restaurants are stilled banned from offering sit-down dining, and gatherings of more than 25 people are prohibited.

Under the green phase, most restrictions are lifted, though large crowds remain prohibited. Late last month, 17 mostly rural counties in the northwest and north-central parts of the state entered the green phase.

Allison Hill Project Gets Go-Ahead

One of the largest housing developments on Allison Hill in recent years is slated to move forward, as Harrisburg City Council last month approved a plan for a multi-building project just off of Market Street.

Council unanimously approved the land use plan by TLC Cornerstone Renewal to construct 26 townhouses, a 24-unit apartment building and a community center in a five-block area bounded by N. 15th Street, Walnut Street and Crabapple Street.

“This is such a blighted area,” council President Wanda Williams said during a council work session. “It certainly will enhance this area.”

At that work session, developer Tarik Casteel, president of TLC, told council members that he hopes to break ground in the early fall on the $14.7 million affordable housing project on the 2.1-acre site.

“This project will be big in this community,” he said. “It’s definitely needed, not just in this community but in several areas of the city of Harrisburg.”

Nearly two years ago, TLC cut the ribbon on its first big project, the 20-unit Harrisburg Uptown Building (HUB) and the HUB Veteran Housing Campus.

Casteel told council that the new Allison Hill project would be just the first phase of a three-phase project for the area. He expects a 16-month construction period for the first phase.

“In Allison Hill, there is definitely a need,” he said. “This was one of the worst areas of the city. That’s why we wanted to come into this area, because it is the worst.”

Council Approves CDBG Disbursement

Harrisburg City Council last month approved the disbursement of annual federal housing funds.

The city set aside money from its share of Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for use by nonprofit “sub-recipients.” These included:

A Miracle for Sure: $13,810
Center for Employment Opportunities: $13,810
Communities in Schools: $13,810
Heinz Menaker Senior Center: $14,000
Latino Hispanic American Community Center (LHACC): $13,810
Neighborhood Dispute Settlement: $13,810
Pennsylvania Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Network: $13,810
The Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region: $25,000

The city also distributed federal Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding to the following organizations:

Capital Area Coalition on Homelessness: $24,000
Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area: $63,000
Shalom House: $43,100
YWCA Greater Harrisburg: $50,000

These funds originate from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, and, every year, the city sets aside some of the money for use by community nonprofits.

Harrisburg Plans Cyber School

Come fall, Harrisburg school district students will have another way to learn, as district officials have announced a new, full-time cyber school.

Last month, officials unveiled the Harrisburg Virtual Learning Academy, which is meant to broaden educational options and offer an alternative to cyber charter schools.

“Early on, we asked our teachers to make calls to get feedback from our families. This was way back in March,” said Susan Sneath, chief academic officer for the district. “They were already telling us there was no way they were going to send their children back to [the brick-and-mortar] school.”

Sneath knew the district needed to have another option for students. Thus, the Harrisburg Virtual Learning Academy (HVLA) was established.

According to the district, the HVLA will be full-time and free to Harrisburg students. The program offers K-to-12th grade enrollment, in which each student is provided a Chromebook.

This differs from the district’s existing Cougar Academy, which is a “blended” cyber program that requires that students also spend time inside the classroom. In contrast, HVLA is fully remote.

Students will receive recorded instruction from teachers with additional meetings as needed. While the school is primarily online, there are face-to-face tutoring options, including English language arts and math. Special education teachers, English as a second language teachers and reading specialists will be available to provide support.

Sneath explained that students will continue to receive academic advising through an assigned counselor and can expect outreach from a social worker to aid with social and emotional needs. Technology support will be readily available, as well, during school hours.

The school district plans to use trained educators from the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, an entity that supports local school districts. Additional faculty, such as counselors and academic advisors, will come from Harrisburg staff.

Students in HVLA can participate in academic advancement such as Advanced Placement courses and “gifted” programs. They will also be tied to their neighborhood’s school, which will allow access to all special events and extracurricular activities such as picture day, athletics and prom.

All HVLA students are considered Harrisburg Cougars, and they will receive a diploma from the Harrisburg school district.

In the past, students in the district seeking online education have often looked to cyber charter schools, but Sneath hopes that this option curbs that.

“We want to keep our kids, and we want to provide the very best for our kids,” she said. “We developed HVLA with that in mind.”

HVLA will not take the place of the district’s remote learning plan for students in the case that students can’t return to school buildings in the fall. The cyber-school is only for those who enroll.

“The intent for the people who enroll in HVLA is that they are going to stay in HVLA,” Sneath said.

Development Projects Approved

Two significant development projects in Harrisburg should soon break ground after receiving final approval by the city.

City Council last month unanimously approved a land development plan by the Hudson Companies to build a 130,000-square-foot office building on the 2500-block of N. 7th Street, the site of the former headquarters of D&H Distributing.

The Hermitage, Pa.-based company plans to demolish D&H’s low-slung building and construct a new, three-story, brick-and-glass building on the site. Hudson then will enter into a long-term lease with the commonwealth, which plans to locate about 850 Department of Human Services and Office of Administration workers there. Most will move from the former Harrisburg State Hospital grounds, which the state is trying to sell.

Hudson hopes to break ground on the project in several months, with completion in late 2021.

City Council also approved a land development plan for the construction of four new townhouses on the 600-block of Woodbine Street. The nearby Camp Curtin YMCA plans to undertake the $1 million affordable housing project on vacant land currently owned by the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority.

Jamien Harvey, the Camp Curtin YMCA executive director, said he hoped that this project would just be the first phase of building more affordable housing in the area.

Harvey said that the houses, which will cost about $175,000 apiece to build, will sell for $70,000 to $80,000.

“We are looking to change the look of our neighborhood,” he said. “We’re looking to eliminate blight. We’re looking to cut down on the drugs and the violence in our neighborhood, and we’re looking to building a community with pride. This is one of many projects to come.”

Preliminary School Budget Approved

The Harrisburg school district last month approved a preliminary budget for next school year, using federal aid to close a substantial budget gap.

District Receiver Janet Samuels accepted the $157.6 million spending plan, which does not raise school taxes for the 2020-21 year.

The district took a $4.2 million hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic crisis. Unexpectedly, the district had to lower anticipated revenue from earned income taxes, PILOT tax payments, real estate taxes and increases in the state’s basic and special education subsidies.

To help close the deficit, the district was awarded a $4.7 million grant from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. However, those funds expire Sept. 30, according to Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer.

“It’s going to take time to work through logistics of how we are able to spend that,” he said.

Celmer said that, if additional state funding doesn’t eliminate the deficit, a staff realignment may help, along with the CARES Act funding.

The 2020-21 budget is $8.6 million higher than the current, 2019-20 school year’s projected final budget. Employee salaries and benefits, along with other higher expenses, are causing the increased spending, according to the district.

Another virtual budget workshop is scheduled for June 15. A final decision on a 2020-21 spending plan is expected on June 22.

The proposed completed budget will be available to the public on the district’s website for 30 days before the last meeting in June.

School Board Appointment

The Harrisburg school district has named Nora Carreras to its board of directors, filling an open seat following the death of Gerald Welch.

District Receiver Janet Samuels last month appointed Carreras, who works for the PA Department of Human Services, due to her “long history as a public servant along with her wealth of knowledge of resources that support children, families and the broader Harrisburg community.”

Under state code, Samuels had 30 days to fill the seat, which was left open after Welch died of COVID-19 complications on April 15. Welch was elected last year to the nine-member board and was in the first year of a four-year term. Carreras’ appointment runs through next year.

“It is a pleasure to welcome Ms. Nora Carreras to the Harrisburg school board of directors,” said Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer. “Ms. Carreras has a proven track record of providing advocacy and support for at-risk families through the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

Carreras expressed excitement for the opportunity.

“I am honored to join and support the district’s effort to bring increased educational quality and fiscal accountability,” she said. “Every student in the city of Harrisburg deserves the opportunity to thrive, to learn in a supportive environment and reach their full potential.”

Home Sales Down, Prices Up

Sales dropped but prices rose in the Harrisburg area, as the realtor’s association released its first report during a full month of COVID-19 restrictions.

In April, 455 homes sold in the three-county area, compared to 619 in April 2019, but the median price increased to $200,000 compared to $180,000 a year ago, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 212 houses sold at a median price of $173,000, versus 294 houses at a median price of $167,000 in the year-ago period, GHAR said.

Cumberland County saw 222 houses change hands compared to 296 a year ago, while the median price rose to $235,000 from $202,500. Perry County bucked the trend, with 21 houses selling for a median price of $173,000 compared to 29 houses for $200,000 a year ago.

For the three-county region, days on the market dropped to an average of 50 days versus 53 days the previous April, according to GHAR.

So Noted

TheBurg received 16 individual and group 2020 Keystone Media Awards in the annual peer-reviewed contest sponsored by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation. These awards cover a wide range of categories, including for reporting, editorial writing, column writing, illustration, photography and design. TheBurg also won the coveted “Sweepstakes” award for best performance in its category statewide.

Changing Hands

Benton St., 607: D. Thomas to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $60,000

Brookwood St., 2462: K. Boyer to CR Property Group LLC, $47,000

Calder St., 321: R. & F. Armetta to 1037 Maclay St. LLC, $70,000

Chestnut St., 1810: CR Property Group LLC to C. Blodgett, $91,500

Derry St., 2531: J. Hocker to J. Einzig, $72,500

Edgewood Rd., 2315: I. & A. MacFarlane to E. Shaner, $214,000

Edward St., 260: J. Dudick to Realm Properties LLC, $97,000

Fulton St., 1707: K. Herbe to A. Murray, $124,900

Fulton St., 1714: N. Smith to N. Pachella & M. Pickup, $127,500

Grand St., 920: M. & A. Bukowski to E. Fisher, $115,000

Green St., 1710: M. Della Porta to B. & B. Hinnenkamp, $210,000

Green St., 1931: N. Condon to S. Agbaw, $204,900

Green St., 2003: S. Biray to B. Maurer & M. Zia, $194,500

Green St., 2043: R. Shokes Jr. to D. & T. Schutt, $214,900

Green St., 2328: J. & L. Leahy to Moxie Properties LLC, $41,000

Holly St., 1815: CR Property Group LLC to B. Nevid, $105,000

Kelker St., 317: Wilmington Trust NA to BDS Property Group LLC, $62,000

Lexington St., 2619: CR Property Group LLC to A. Bertschmann, $105,000

Logan St., 2247: CR Property Group LLC to J. & A. Oates, $101,000

Logan St., 2305: B. & K. Saltzgiver to C. & R. Herr, $42,000

North St., 242: J. & S. Wesley to J. Lucia, $105,000

N. 2nd St., 2525: P. & A. Ramos to A. Arturet, $205,000

N. 3rd St., 1604: C. Overbaugh to A., P. & T. Bair, $124,000

N. 3rd St., 2435: D. & G. Laninga to D. & M. Lambert, $149,900

N. 4th St., 1336: R. & F. Armetta to 1037 Maclay St. LLC, $80,900

N. 4th St., 2442: M. & N. Godfrey to Graevel Holdings LLC, $50,000

N. 4th St., 3111: B. Redman to D. Miller & M. Strouse, $138,000

N. 6th St., 2446: J. Urena to R. Contreras & Y. Vargas, $230,000

N. 14th St., 226: W. Cruz to J. Bowen, $66,000

N. 15th St., 1336: M. Smith to J. Valverde, $50,000

N. 16th St., 814: D. Boyle to E. Reyes, $30,000

N. 16th St., 1105: K. Drayton to N. Gutierrez, $50,000

N. 16th St., 1219: L. Wolf to J. Cruz, $42,000

N. Front St., 2509: Pennsylvania Builders Association to Morning Star Pregnancy Services, $475,000

Parkway Blvd., 2509: A. & L. Smith to J. & M. Torres, $135,000

Penn St., 1208: R. Christ & D. Cole to Wheatland Restore LLC, $88,501

Pennwood St., 3202: CR Property Group LLC to A. Bertschmann, $110,000

Revere St., 1720: Atlantic NorthStar Properties LLC to N. de los Santos, $49,000

Race St., 542: N. Fenstermacher to A. Dullebawn & A. Ditzler, $140,000

Reily St., 206: D. Burnham to Fratelli Property Investments, $135,439

Rudy Rd., 2339: W. MacMichael to L. Kurutz, $169,900

Seneca St., 623: Atlantic NorthStar Properties LLC to J. Thieu, $44,000

S. 18th St., 1033: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development to F. Ramos, $30,100

S. 25th St., 448: K. & M. Stone to G. Bedasa, $115,000

S. 25th St., 616: P. & L. Brown to R. Reyes & F. Nunez, $65,000

S. Front St., 601: R. & L. Firestone to J. Shen, $184,900

Swatara St., 1913: G. Amador & C. Vargas to J. Tejada, $62,000

Sycamore St., 1726: Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $30,000

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

Strange Food Fellows: It’s all rosy when matching salmon with rhubarb.

May 29, 2020 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

As I write this column for the June edition of TheBurg, spring has been slow to arrive. One gray, windy day after another passes and maybe, like you, I dream of warm, sunny days spent with family and friends again.

I read everywhere that I am “old,” but I don’t feel that way (yet). So, face covered with mask and sunglasses, I have ventured out to the farmers market on Friday afternoons, a less busy time than my use-to-be Saturday mornings. My husband, who has never made this weekly trip with me, has become my helper. I pick up pre-ordered things such as fish and chicken and grab produce quickly from my favorite stands. He shuttles the bags out to the car to “move things along” and spend as little time as possible shopping. (Not the way I like my market trips to go.) There are fewer friendly chats with vendors or browsing from one end of the building to the other. Many stands are sadly vacant.

But I am very grateful to be able to buy food, and there are still signs of spring showing up everywhere. So, I was so happy to see beautiful ruby stalks of rhubarb appear for their short time upon the “food stage.” Rhubarb is a perennial vegetable that looks like a red-hued cousin of celery. It has traditionally been used for desserts like strawberry rhubarb pie or rhubarb sauce, a sweet, silky treat usually cooked with fresh orange slices. But I am starting to see more recipes for savory dishes that use rhubarb, as well.

On one of those aforementioned gray days, I was leafing through my cookbooks (again) and a recipe caught my eye. It’s from “My Kitchen Year” by Ruth Reichl, former editor-in-chief of the now-defunct Gourmet magazine. When the magazine folded in the fall of 2009, a very sad Ms. Reichl spent the next year mostly cooking and, as she says, “finding joy in ordinary things again.” The recipe that follows is from the spring chapter in her book. It is easy and good. Rhubarb and salmon—an interesting marriage.

Salmon with Rhubarb Glaze

Ingredients

1 pound fresh rhubarb
1/3 cup sugar
4 salmon filets (6 to 8 ounces each)
¾ teaspoons each salt, pepper and sugar
Olive oil for the skillet

Directions

Cut the rhubarb into ½ inch pieces.
Place the cut rhubarb in a saucepan with a few tablespoons water and 1/3 cup sugar.
Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the rhubarb starts to fall apart. Watch carefully and add a little more water if needed to prevent sticking. Then set it aside while you cook the salmon. (The recipe suggests straining the rhubarb sauce, but that’s not really necessary.)
Dry both sides of the salmon filets with paper towels (don’t skip this step if you want a nice crust).
Mix ¾ teaspoons each salt, pepper and sugar and dust both sides of the salmon filets with the mixture.
Oil a large, cast iron pan or non-stick skillet with a nice coating of olive oil and heat it until hot.
Put the salmon skin side up and cook for about 4 minutes or until a crust forms. Then turn the filets over and cook for about 3 minutes more. (Use your judgment here. I like my fish fairly cooked through, but many chefs prepare it on the rare side.)
Place the salmon filets in a platter and brush with the rhubarb glaze.

The salmon is lovely served with bright green petite peas and rice, jasmine or brown. This recipe will join my favorite “firecracker salmon” as easy-to-prepare dishes, both with a hint of sweetness and both capable of brightening a gray day.

Maybe you too are having a “kitchen year” during this strange time. I spend a lot more time in my kitchen, daring to wonder about that “new normal” so often mentioned. I hope all TheBurg readers are staying well.

Please note: Trim all of the leaves from rhubarb stalks as they are not edible.

Rockin’ on the River: Friends have become pioneers in bouldering the Susquehanna.

May 29, 2020 | by Susan Ryder

Photo by Chetroy Productions

Fishing, kayaking, boating—there’s plenty of summertime fun to be had on the Susquehanna River.

But climbing boulders smack dab in the center of the waterway? Enter a group of “bouldering” enthusiasts. To them, the river affords a new way to find the perfect rock.

“If the river lets us, we’ll go,” said Brian McCall.

He’s talking about boating out to rocks on the river, inflating a pad, and climbing atop said rocks.

Bouldering, rock climbing without any equipment, in water is not a new sport. But the Susquehanna presents a unique challenge, in that the water is typically shallow, presenting a hazard for the inevitable falls.

For Chet Gross, bouldering began almost accidently.

“I started to go out there, swimming around and looking for stuff,” he said.

He and friend Sean Heisey then used Heisey’s boat to explore other options.

“We saw all this awesome rock, but the water was only a couple of feet deep—and we were like, ‘How can we do this?’” Gross said.

Their first attempt used a plastic floating dock, which they floated under the climber as their crash pad. It proved less than ideal. They also considered building a net on the back of the boat, but that idea was quickly abandoned. Finally, they contacted the water sports company Aquaglide, which provided them with an inflatable pad.

The 12-by-12-foot pad looks kind of like a small barge as it’s towed down the Susquehanna. It’s maneuvered with poles provided by a bamboo stand along the river. A favorite spot sits on the Lower Susquehanna between Peach Bottom and the Holtwood Dam.

Lined with fantastic river cliffs on both sides, and smooth potholes, rounded by the swirling of river water, this picturesque area is a climber’s nirvana.

McCall described the group as “river pirates” and explorers. But their treasure is rock.

“It’s a whole other subsection of the sport, searching and exploring,” he said. “You know, I spend just as much time exploring for rock as I do climbing a lot of the times.”

Potential climbs along the river are more easily seen through GPS than those hidden by rhododendron, trees and mountain laurel in the forested areas.

“They’re big-time trendsetters,” said fellow climber Kyle Stapp. “What they’ve done is they’ve opened up access to many boulders that were otherwise inaccessible.”

Big Problems

When they arrive on the river, they first ponder the “problem,” a term indicating a move or sequence of moves to reach an objective. They may climb existing bouldering “problems,” ones with names like “Twisted Sister” or “Kiss Project,” or they may create a new problem.

Climbing etiquette says, “You find it, you name it.” McCall said they have named about 200 problems along the river.

The team first makes sure to scope out a way back down. They then clean the rock of loose material and lichen with plastic or metal brushes.

Climbers summit each boulder using rock holds like pinches (pieces of rock you can pinch between your fingers), pockets (holes where fingers or toes can sit) or a sloper (bulges with no positive angle). It takes strength and focus.

“The brain is the most important muscle for climbing, ” said Gross, quoting famous German climber Wolfgang Güllich.

Bouldering also requires a climbable area. McCall said that the Susquehanna is unique in that it’s wide enough to climb the boulders. There are boulders in other rivers, but river levels would have to be very low.

And then there’s the inflatable pad, which really makes this type of bouldering possible.

“It’s pretty amazing having this really powerful, rushing river under you,” Stapp said. “It’s wild. You can feel the sensation of the water and stuff, but you’re just sitting on this pad like totally still. It’s really one of the coolest experiences.”

Climbers are a hardy bunch, so bouldering happens year-round—that is, as long as the river isn’t high or icy. Height, cold, ice—so is it dangerous?

“They say rock climbing is inherently dangerous,” Heisey said.

Stapp had another take.

“It’s actually more dangerous to drive to the rock climbing area than it ever would be [to climb the rock],” he said.

Dangerous or not, climbing on the Susquehanna River just about every weekend (though the COVID-19 pandemic has put the kibosh on that for the time being), has also allowed these climbers to become a part of a community of anglers, “old timers looking for arrow heads,” and others who frequent the spot, said McCall.

Fresh rock and discovering new climbing problems to find and name will continue to draw these trailblazers back to the river, with a boat and an innovative, unique floating pad technique.

“It’s opened up a whole new realm of climbing,” McCall said.

Learn more about local bouldering by watching “The Next Frontier: Pennsylvania Bouldering” on YouTube.

Artist in Focus: Jesse Falcone

May 29, 2020 | by TheBurg Editor

Jesse Falcone is all about Harrisburg.

The central PA native, who holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Kutztown University, likes nothing more than rendering the city’s iconic landmarks—the Broad Street Market, the Walnut Street Bridge and many others.

He also is a veteran caricaturist and, in fact, discovered his love for that unique art form while working for Kaman’s Art Shoppes at Hershey Park. Over 10 years there, he practiced his craft and learned and mastered new techniques.

Eventually, he even decided to start his own caricature business, “Caricatures by Jesse” which began in 2016.

Naturally, we were most interested in his local illustrations and paintings. But, if you need an expert caricaturist, we encourage you to contact Jesse through his Facebook page, “Caricatures by Jesse.”

Sweetly Italian: La Bella Sicilia bakes the world a better place.

May 29, 2020 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

They say that “stressed” is “desserts” spelled backwards. This familiar quote can be spotted in gift shops across America.

I take the phrase to mean that a good way to practice self-care is to consume plenty of desserts. At least, that’s my interpretation, and I’m sticking to it.

Indeed, I find that a dose of sugarcoated sunshine sometimes can be good for what ails us. Giampiero Faraone concurs. For months, he studied our region and came to the conclusion that the area was lacking an authentic Italian bakery.

Faraone is no stranger to the food business, having operated pizza shops for 30 years. The Sicilian-born businessman speaks with an air of authority, sometimes shouting when he’s trying to make a point. He explains later that it’s just enthusiasm and passion bubbling to the surface.

Faraone chose to open his bakery in a newly erected small strip mall in Hampden Township.

“I wanted to find just the right spot to open,” said Faraone, adding that the heavy traffic on the Carlisle Pike helped seal the deal.

His partner, Sheri Tolomeo, explained that the new business has been a year and a half in the making.

“Everything has been implemented to resemble a café in Sicily,” she said.

Faraone’s mother and sister live in the Sicilian capital of Palermo, and everything is imported from Italy—the ovens, the display cases, the lava tables and the coffee machine.

“All our ingredients come from Italy, too—from the coffee and our extracts to the imported, organic ricotta cheese that comes from grass-fed sheep,” Tolomeo. “It’s more natural and creamier.”

So Delicate

Faraone said that everything is made in-house daily. About 200 rotating sweets include items like sponge cakes soaked in rum called babas, cannelloni, fruit and cheese-filled pastries, seven-layer mousse cakes and the impressive-looking sfogliatella, often referred to in English as “lobster tail.” The shell-shaped, filled Italian pastry has been a hit with the customers, according to Tolomeo.

Imported gelato is another sweet item that is attracting customers now that the weather is warming.

“The gelato from Italy is way better,” said Faraone, recommending the pistachio.

Customers who expect a cloyingly sweet, green-colored product like ice cream sold in the supermarket are pleasantly surprised when presented instead with a creamy frozen dessert tasting like a concentrated flavor of the pistachio nut.

In addition to sweet treats, La Bella Sicilia offers savory items like Sicilian-style pizza known as sfincione, arancini stuffed with ingredients like ricotta and spinach, and focaccia with items like prosciutto and mozzarella.

Those who want to skip the hassle of making dinner can choose from dishes made fresh daily, like lasagna with meat sauce, Parmesan and bechamel, pasta with garlic and Parmesan, and agnolotti with bread crumbs, mozzarella and meat sauce.

May Rodriquez said that she could tell right away that La Bella Sicilia was special.

“It’s a little different than regular bakeries around here,” said the Mechanicsburg resident. “Everything looked so good, and the staff explained everything so well. I ended up with about 15 different things and ate it all in two days.”

Lemoyne resident Susan Gluck said that everything was fresh and authentically Italian.

“They use the best ingredients,” said Gluck, who ended up with a pistachio cake with a chocolate dome. “There was custard on the inside, and on the bottom was pistachio cream and a pistachio crust. Everything was so delicate.”

To ensure that his chefs hew to authenticity, Faraone is planning to arrange for them to return to Italy about every six months.

“That’s what we are going to do to make sure everything is up to date with the standards in Italy,” he said.

To not mention COVID-19 would be to ignore the elephant in the room. Tolomeo said that the timing couldn’t have been worse for rolling out a business.

“Four days after we opened, they started shutting people down,” she said.

The silver lining was that their bakery was deemed essential since they serve food to the public.

Customers have been wearing masks and observing distancing rules. The bigger challenge for Faraone and Tolomeo is the long, 12-to-14-hour days due to a lack of help.

“Few people want to work at the moment,” she said.

So, the two continue to soldier on, knowing that, one day, life will return to normal. Suffice it to say, “normal” can’t come soon enough.

La Bella Sicilia Bakery & Gelateria is located at 5510 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg (Hampden Township). For more information, visit their Facebook page.

June Editor’s Note: Letter from the Pandemic

May 29, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg’s Broad Street Market. Photo: Dani Fresh

Pandemic: month four.

As I write my monthly introductory note, still stuck in my house, I wish I could say that things were on a big upswing in the greater Harrisburg area.

I wish I could say that we were meeting in bars, enjoying our favorite restaurants, taking in a Senators game.

Unfortunately, I can’t say this, but I do see small signs of hope.

On nice days, people still flock to the waterfront, the Broad Street Market remains busy and, at least so far, my neighborhood eateries are all in business.

When I run up and down the Susquehanna, life seems so normal. People are out walking, biking, playing with their dogs and just having a good time. At times like these, I can almost imagine the ordinary life that we never thought much about before, the one that we took for granted. I know I did.

But now imagine when we’re free to gather again, when we can visit with a friend, meet up for a cocktail, go shopping—all in person, not through freakin’ Zoom or whatever. Imagine that tingle you’ll feel on the first day, when you look around the room, awash in your surroundings. It may just happen one time, the first time, but that time will be glorious. That’s partly what’s sustaining me.

In the meantime, my greatest hope recently has been the outpouring of support for TheBurg. In April, we launched our “Friends of TheBurg” membership program, and I’ve been bowled over by the community’s response. We’re humbled by all the love we’ve been shown.

In case you’re wondering what I’m talking about, just go to our website for all the details and the great membership benefits. You’ll join a family of more than 160 people who became members just in the first month.

Will June represent a turning point as we fight this pandemic and get life back on track? Here’s to the hope that comes along with summertime.

Lawrance Binda
Co-Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

Chapter Two: After a job loss, Karla Trout booked a new career.

May 29, 2020 | by Don Helin

Are libraries still relevant in the computer age?

To Karla Trout, the answer is an emphatic yes.

People continue to embrace libraries, said Trout, who, as executive director of the Library System of Lancaster County, should know. Even digital natives like millennials are welcoming what the library has to offer, she said.

“In this era of fake news, people need somewhere they can turn to obtain factual data,” she said. “Surveys reveal that the librarian is the most trusted profession, second only to firemen, because we present information that is honest and balanced.”

The fact that Trout finds herself in a library career may seem unlikely. She grew up in western Pennsylvania in a house “with virtually no books,” she said.

“My family was not a group of readers,” she said. “I entered school with a high aptitude, but as a remedial reader.”

Trout’s trek into libraries was somewhat accidental. She had been downsized out of health care management just when the Palmyra Public Library was searching for a director. She won the job, discovered a love for reading and libraries, completed her master’s degree in library science and hasn’t looked back since.

“I didn’t find a real love for reading until I was in grad school, working on my degree in library science,” she said.

Trout served as executive director of the Palmyra Library for 14 years and the Adams County Library System for 2½ years before becoming executive director of the Lancaster County system in early 2019.

In her latest role, Trout and her staff support 17 library locations, including training and development for new employees, a countywide staff development program, and a coordinated summer learning program, the Summer Fitness Quest.

“We provide the computer support for the entire system, which includes over 200 public computers and related electronic materials.” Trout said. “We also have a centralized purchasing program for the system which catalogues and processes new books and materials. So, when the book reaches the individual library, it is ready to go on the shelf.”

Her office also coordinates the purchase of electronic resources such as tools like Brainfuse JobNow, which can help library customers learn how to develop their resumes and enhance interview skills.

“We’re very proud of our bookmobile, which provides service to the entire county, as well as our Be-READy-Rover,” Trout said.

Through a partnership with Luthercare for Kids and funding from a United Way Community Impact Grant, the rover circulates to more than 40 unlicensed, home-based childcare centers each month to help center operators move toward licensing, to teach techniques to assist children with learning, and to provide direct educational programs and book lending to the children served in the centers.

This year, Trout is serving on the Lancaster County Complete Count Committee to help ensure that residents throughout the county are accounted for in the 2020 census, especially those considered hard to count. This is the first time in history that the census can be completed online, and libraries will play a significant role in providing both a place and support for the 2020 census, she said.

“One of the challenges we face is there are 90 languages spoken in the county, while the 2020 census will only be translated into 13 languages,” Trout said. “I’m working with the committee through a grant to add translation software to library websites and public computers to assist residents in completing the census.”

She is also working with Church World Series and their “Language Without Borders” program to provide live and telephone translation services to residents who do not speak English and need assistance completing the census.

“The libraries we support in Lancaster County face a number of challenges, including insufficient funding,” Trout said. “But I’m convinced that these and all libraries play a vital role in connecting people to the resources and opportunities to enhance their lives and are excellent stewards of people’s trust.”

The Library System of Lancaster County is located at 1866 Colonial Village Lane, Suite 107, Lancaster. Services may have changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, call 717-207-0500 or visit www.lancasterlibraries.org.

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