Burg Blog: We Must Help

March 16, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Mangia Qui/Rubicon will be closed to patrons, but the owners are encouraging takeout and delivery orders.

This morning, at TheBurg, we had a meeting.

Over the past few days, it’s become clear that economic and social life is fast shutting down in the Harrisburg area due to the coronavirus contagion.

So, what does this mean for us? How will this impact our business? What changes should we make? And, mostly, how will we manage through this crisis?

I know that many other small businesses have had similar difficult meetings in the past day or two. For some, work will go on almost normally, though people may be forced to work from home or may need to balance their work and home lives more delicately, especially those with children.

For other people, especially owners of small, public-facing businesses, the meetings have been even more tense and the decisions harder.

Do you stay open or do you close? And, if you close, how will you survive until you can open once more to customers.

Arguably, the greatest impact is on restaurants, shops and any place that is event-oriented.

People are responding in a multitude of ways.

This morning, Sara Bozich announced the cancellation of Harrisburg Beer Week, which was slated for late April. Also, the Millworks announced that it was closing until further notice. Midtown Cinema is closed, as are most arts venues.

Some places are making major adjustments, but trying to remain in operation.

So, as of this morning, Little Amps was doing only takeout from its State Street location. Elementary Coffee Co. shut down its North Street shop, but will happily deliver coffee beans right to you. Yellow Bird Cafe is encouraging takeout orders, as well.

Mangia Qui/Rubicon made the tough decision to close down their restaurants to patrons, but will offer curbside pickup and delivery. Would you like chef Qui Qui Musarra to cook for you specially? My answer is an emphatic yes.

Revolutionary War-era philosopher and author Thomas Paine once wrote, “These are the times that try men’s souls.”

No, this isn’t war, but it is a severe health emergency, now compounded by an economic crisis.

We’ve already been told how we can help mitigate the health component: social distancing, working from home. And now it’s up to us, as a community, to ensure that our small businesses survive this unfolding economic catastrophe. After all, not only do these businesses serve us everyday—and sometimes on a shoestring—but unlike larger corporations and chain stores, the owners often live right here. They’re our neighbors, too.

When this epidemic finally passes, we’ll need these talented, motivated people and their wonderful products to still be here with us, in our community.

So, please redouble your commitment to patronizing these businesses. If you don’t feel comfortable going in person—or can’t—you still can help by:

Ordering in. Many businesses are doing delivery themselves or through a delivery service.
Picking up. In the Harrisburg area, many businesses will deliver right to your idling car.
Taking out gift cards. Spend now, buy later. You know you’ll eventually purchase Urban Churn’s incredible ice cream or the Millworks’ farm-to-table fare. So, front-load it, helping the cash flow of your favorite businesses in the process.
Some businesses will take direct contributions. These especially applies to arts groups like Gamut Theatre Co., Open Stage, Susquehanna Art Museum and Theatre Harrisburg, among others.

There are probably a hundred other ways to help. Go to your favorite businesses’ websites or social media pages or call them to find out what you can do to help ensure their survival.

Harrisburg, we are all in this together. We have to weather this crisis and come out the other end in good enough shape to rebuild. We can only accomplish this by each one of us asking, “What can I do? How can I help?”

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

The Run Goes On: Virus concerns have stopped races, but not the runners

March 16, 2020 | by Karen Hendricks

Runners cross the Walnut Street Bridge on Saturday.

Every Saturday morning for the past 30 years, Marjorie Lebo has organized Harrisburg-area runners and routes. This past Saturday was no exception.

And she suggested a route familiar to many Harrisburg-area runners: the Capital 10-Miler route, paying tribute to one of Harrisburg’s two major March races recently canceled due to coronavirus concerns.

Many area runners are processing the health epidemic and subsequent race cancellations by doing what they do best—running.

“Given the circumstances with the coronavirus, we’re to stay out of enclosed, crowded spaces—and it feels healthy to be out,” Lebo said. “Overall, runners are very positive people—we understand these changes, postponements and cancellations—and we’re keeping it all in perspective.”

About 20 runners gathered on City Island at 8 a.m. and hit the Capital Area Greenbelt, most breaking into pairs or trios, some from Lebo’s “Saturday Running Group,” others from the Harrisburg River Runners.

“Runners get spread out along a course, so we’re really following the [health] guidelines set forth, including being out in the fresh air and sunshine,” said Lebo, of New Cumberland, and a nurse practitioner at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center for more than 30 years.

She even stocked the course with two makeshift aid stations, complete with bottled water, Gatorade, cups—and given current events—hand sanitizer.

An improvised aid station along the route.

The 10th Annual Capital 10-Miler: A Run for the Arts was originally scheduled for Saturday, March 28. In a statement issued Friday evening, race administrator Open Stage of Harrisburg notified the 300 registered runners that that race was canceled—but shifting to a virtual race scenario.

Runners are invited to run the race route—or a 10-mile route of their choice—anytime between now and April 15, documenting their runs through photos and tracking apps such as Strava. Proof of mileage and times sent to Open Stage put participants in the running for age group awards; photos posted on social media put a new, creative twist on additional race prizes.

Categories range from “best selfie on the course” to “most money raised” for one of the beneficiary arts organizations. Runners are invited to include the hashtags #Capital10Miler, #c10m and #runforthearts to raise awareness.

“Being a race for the arts, founded by Mary Lou Harris, she had this vision of bringing her communities together—the community of arts supporters and the fabulous running community,” said Stuart Landon, producing artistic director at Open Stage.

Shifting the race format “is about making lemonade out of lemons, upholding the mission and purpose of the run—fundraising for arts organizations,” said Landon.

Typically, 600 runners raise $30,000 through the Capital 10-Miler. That money is divided by a handful of different arts organizations every year. This year’s race benefits the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, Market Square Concerts, Pennsylvania Regional Ballet, Susquehanna Folk Music Society and Open Stage.

Fundraising is a separate added platform beyond runners’ initial race registration—and it significantly impacts local arts organizations, said Landon.

“It’s not a huge dollar amount, but it’s huge for these organizations—a solid fundraiser,” Landon said.

He said economic implications of the coronavirus are just starting to be felt. Open Stage has an annual operating budget of $400,000.

“I would say right now over a quarter of our budget is affected [by the coronavirus],” said Landon. In addition to lower-than-anticipated revenues from the Capital 10-Miler, the theatre company had to cancel “The Diary of Anne Frank” for area school children, and rehearsals for upcoming productions are in limbo.

Runners can still register and participate in the virtual Capital 10-Miler at capital10-miler.com.

Little Scary

Harrisburg’s other major March running event, the Lucky Charm 5k/10k produced by Fleet Feet Mechanicsburg, also announced the move to a virtual race format. It was originally scheduled for next Saturday, March 21, as the kickoff to Harrisburg’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Parade sponsor, the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District (HDID), announced all events were canceled Thursday, due to “health and safety concerns.”

“Most people understand we’re in a difficult situation and we have to put safety first,” said Fred Joslyn, co-owner, Fleet Feet Mechanicsburg. “The truth is, this is something nobody ever could have predicted or prepared for. We have emergency plans built around things that are predictable—a snowstorm, the lower level [of the Capital Area Greenbelt] flooding, but this [coronavirus] is a one in a hundred, one in a thousand-type event.”

Joslyn said 1,100 runners were registered, and the race was “on pace” to sell out at 1,300 runners.

“When you put a lot of work into something, you want to see it come to life, and you want to see the joy that people are going to experience when they cross the finish line, and that’s not going to be the same this year,” Joslyn said.

Race shirts, medals and prizes have already been ordered. Runners received instructions to pick up those items directly from the shop during extended hours spread out over an eight-day period. The race timing company had already begun work for the event; Joslyn is honoring his financial commitment to them as well as race beneficiaries—the nonprofit Girls on the Run and the HDID.

Runners gather for a group picture.

Like many small business owners, Joslyn is bracing for the coronavirus’ trickle-down effect.

“It’s a little scary—it’s too early to know exactly how things are going to shake out,” said Joslyn.

March is normally the best month of the year for the specialty footwear and apparel shop, but Joslyn notes the entire running industry, including his store, “did much better than we ever have” during January and February. He’s watching the long-term economic forecasts, which range wildly.

“Some industries like ours might do really well because people are home, people need to take care of themselves, and people can still go run. And if you run, you need running shoes, so there’s some optimism there,” Joslyn said. “But there are also people saying people are going to be frugal and nervous about spending money.”

Similar to the Capital 10-Miler, the Lucky Charm 5k/10k is encouraging participants to post selfies with their race shirts and medals after completing their 5k or 10k routes and post them on social media to be eligible for prizes.

Joslyn says those photos will serve a higher purpose that goes beyond physical prizes.

“It’ll show positivity—in a time when it seems like when all the information you’re getting is negative and understandably so,” he said. “I think it’ll help people see there are ways to stay positive—you can run and rally around this, in small groups or by yourself, by getting on trails and roads…. One beauty in chaos is that people band together.”

Harrisburg’s small business owners worry, brace for hit as coronavirus anxiety mounts

March 13, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Owner Adam Brackbill stands behind his counter at Urban Churn.

Running a small business is never easy, with daily concerns over everything from staffing to inventory to finances.

However, the coronavirus outbreak has turned an already tough road to success into possibly a matter of survival.

In Harrisburg, many small business owners have just begun to assess what the epidemic means for them.

“We just can’t ride the waves in the same way as a larger business can,” said Andrea Grove, owner of Elementary Coffee Co.

The challenge is two-fold, business owners say.

In the short term, small businesses are taking measures to continue to operate in the safest way possible for both their customers and their employees. In the long-term, they’re hoping simply to make it, trimming their sails and strategizing to survive the duration of the epidemic.

To that end, Grove decided on Friday afternoon to cut back the hours at her North Street shop, which just opened a few months ago. For now, the café will close at 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, two hours earlier than usual, as business already has slowed down.

“We feel we’re cinching our belts a little tighter and a little tighter,” she said.

For Grove, it’s a one-two punch, as, just last month, a water-main break forced her to close down for several days.

Up N. 3rd Street, Adam Brackbill, like Grove, opened a brick-and-mortar shop recently after finding success in the Broad Street Market. As a craft ice cream producer, he was just beginning to feel better now that winter had passed, with warmer weather usually leading to better sales.

But, now, the coronavirus—and people’s response to it—has him nervous.

“For the first time in my life, as a business owner, I am concerned about how the panic over the virus will impact business,” he said.

In the late afternoon, his scoop shop actually looked pretty busy, with a line of customers waiting their turn to order creative flavors like honey banana, pista mint and dirty chai.

Still, worry hung in the air—you might call it anxiety of the unknown, over both the outbreak itself and when life, and commerce, will return to normal.

“I fear that we might be at the point where we might start feeling a slowdown,” he said. “It’s a matter that you just don’t know.”

Brackbill is urging the community to stand behind Harrisburg’s small businesses, so that they survive past the health and now, the resulting economic, crisis. Even if you don’t want to visit the shop in person, you can order via a food delivery service like Grubhub or Uber Eats, he said.

Likewise, Grove said that she’d be happy to deliver coffee right out to your car if you call or text ahead. Another way to support Elementary, she said, is to buy whole coffee beans, enjoying her small-batch coffees even if you’re self-isolating at home.

Brackbill suggested purchasing gift cards to use later, which will help businesses survive a short-term cash crunch.

“In Harrisburg, there are a lot of regulars,” Brackbill said. “If they know they’re going to use them eventually, buying gift cards will really help.”

Some businesses have decided to close altogether, including Gamut Theatre Group and Midtown Cinema, which just announced that it will shut down through March 27. Open Stage has announced several show cancellations and plans to scale back its annual performance of “The Diary of Anne Frank.” Late on Friday, Whitaker Center said it would close through March 20, and Harrisburg University is switching to all-online instruction through the end of the semester.

Many businesses that are remaining open are emphasizing that they’re re-doubling efforts to provide the cleanest and safest possible environments for customers.

Little Amps Coffee Roasters, for one, has stopped using mugs and has gone exclusively to single-serve cups.

“We’re being as proactive in our cleanliness and sanitation as possible,” said CEO Peter Leonard. “We want people to feel comfortable in our stores.”

Little Amps in Strawberry Square

Both Grove and Leonard lamented that the virus has another pernicious effect, keeping people away from places, like coffee shops, that play a unique social role in the community.

“We’re doing our best to continue to serve our community,” Leonard said. “So, we’ll adapt as needed.”

Another coffee hotspot, Midtown Scholar Bookstore, also announced on Friday that it would use only disposable vessels and utensils, would increase cleaning of tables and other high-touch areas, and would have hand sanitizer available.

Similarly, Zeroday Brewing Co. stated on its Facebook page that it is taking extra safety precautions. For instance, menus will be sanitized after each use, and staff will only fill new growlers.

Over at Outside the Box Escape Room, manager Sean Michael Kelly said that some room availability has been cut, as staff is taking more time to “clean and sanitize” rooms between groups. That includes the escape room’s “Outbreak” game, in which players try to prevent a deadly virus from spreading—in a bizarre case of fiction turning into reality.

“We want people to be safe and healthy and happy,” he said.

While it’s not giving refunds, Outside the Box is allowing people to reschedule without a penalty, Kelly said.

And, in another weird twist, one group had to cancel its Escape Room adventure this past week. The state Department of Health had scheduled a team-building exercise, Kelly said, but then attendees had to deal with a genuine virus outbreak.

“They suddenly had to disperse around the state,” he said. “We definitely understood.”

Click here for a related story on businesses at the Broad Street Market.

With business slowing, cautious Broad Street Market vendors wait, see, hope

March 13, 2020 | by Susan Ryder

The Broad Street Market’s brick building and courtyard. File photo.

Pikowski’s Pierogi Place in the Broad Street Market usually has all six burners running to cook its tasty pierogis. On Friday, there was only one.

Owner Carolyn Pikowski said that, after a few bumper weeks, business is noticeably down.

COVID-19, with the accompanying recommendations to avoid large groups of people, appears to be the culprit.

As people greeted one another with modified fist bumps, Albert Mauldin sat at a table with his calendar and phone. He said that he’s at the market at least twice a week, that it serves as his office away from home.

“People are afraid, thinking about not being in crowded areas,” he said.

But he’s still there, and he said that he won’t let fear control him.

Stirring her salted mackerel with bananas and dumplings, Nadine Graham from Porter’s House Jamaican Cuisine said that her business is down about 30 percent. Although, across the courtyard in the brick building, the R.G. Hummer Meats & Cheese stand was bustling with activity.

“This is the stuff you buy to stock your fridge,” said owner Ryan Hummer.

He doesn’t necessarily expect the uptick to last.

“We don’t know what the future holds,” he said. “We’re still offering quality fresh products to the city.”

The market’s executive director, Josh Heilman, echoed Hummer’s sentiments.

“We’re a distributor of good food and groceries and will remain open as long as we can,” he said.

He pointed out that, for some people in the city, this is the only place to buy groceries.

Heilman said that cleaning has increased, and now the market receives a deep cleaning, after the end of each market day.

“Vendor and market staff have come together as a team to put customer safety in mind,” he said.

Vendors are increasing vigilance by removing condiment containers, so the public doesn’t handle them; not taking reusable cups for drinks; and increasing the level of sanitization.

Heilman said that, in general, the customers’ vibe is upbeat.

This was a rather routine day for Katie Sykes with her four boys, ages 8 months to 7 years, in tow. As her 5-year-old waited for his tea at Elementary Coffee Co., Sykes said that she wasn’t really concerned about the coronavirus.

“We’re here to get healthy foods that keep us healthy so we don’t get sick, and we like to support our favorite stands,” said Sykes.

Steeping the tea, manager of Elementary Coffee, Jo Martin, answered with a “Thank you. We appreciate that.”

Martin wasn’t quite so casual about the virus fallout.

“It’s not the actual virus itself, but the economic ramifications,” she said.

She said that business was noticeably down yesterday. She’s concerned that, with decreased business comes decreased hours, and said it’s already happened to her friends in the food service industry.

Pikowski voiced the same concern.

“When you’re not making money, you don’t have the money to spend eating out,” she said.

Because of the past few lucrative weeks, she made extra product to sell today, which will likely head to the freezer.

Micha Pak, owner of Kabob House, said that today wasn’t too good, but not terrible. She added that she hopes that she and all the vendors can weather this time “without too much trouble.”

Even as the market was slower today, people still showed up. Bits of conversation about the coronavirus rose above the banter, as people purchased produce, waited to order fish at Tep’s Fresh Seafood, and greeted friends.

Many vendors had a wait and see attitude, which was best summed up by Hummer.

“We will adapt and overcome to whatever hand we’re dealt,” he said.

Click here for more on the effect of the coronavirus on Harrisburg’s small businesses.

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

March 13, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley

An aerial rendering of the revised plan for Harrisburg University’s new academic building (center)

The health crisis created by the coronavirus epidemic dominated the news this past week, and we had our first local stories on the outbreak. However, we published numerous other stories, especially before the news became all coronavirus, all the time. If you missed any of our coverage, we have our articles listed and linked below.

Coronovirus outbreak took its first big swipe at daily life in the Harrisburg area. First, the St. Patrick’s Day parade and other events were cancelled then, on Friday, Gov. Tom Wolf ordered all schools closed for the next two weeks.

Harrisburg City Council turned back a mayoral veto regarding the seemingly dull subject of street vacations for the federal courthouse project. However, there was a larger issue at stake. Get the details of this and several other council actions from our online story.

Harrisburg University unveiled its revised design for a new academic building in downtown Harrisburg. The project has been scaled back after a planned hotel was removed. Read the details in our online story.

Home sales in the Harrisburg area were strong in February, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors. Take a dive into the local data by reading our online story.

Knead Slice Shop is the newest pizza purveyor in town, setting up shop along the 3rd Street corridor. Our feature story tells how the latest venture from Knead’s owners came to be and how the pizza is different from that in the Broad Street Market.

Little Amps Coffee Roasters had planned to hold its annual latte art competition, one of its most popular annual events. Due to the coronavirus, it’s been postponed. But you still can get a flavor for the event from our online feature story.

Midtown Cinema will begin showing a new film this weekend called “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.” In her monthly column, our reviewer sums up the movie to offer a taste before you head out.

Sara Bozich has your weekend plans, as she has a habit of doing. You’re likely to find something on her lengthy list to suit your taste.

Theatre Harrisburg debuted its latest production, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” which runs through this weekend. Find out our reviewer’s thoughts after she attended the opening.

TheBurg Podcast is back, returning to the pod universe after a long hiatus. We’ve changed almost everything about it, opting for a magazine format. But one thing remains the same. Give a listen and find out what that is.

U.S. Census has begun, with some households already receiving their census forms or instructions in the mail. Our March magazine feature story explains what participating means and why it’s so important.

Do you receive TheBurg Daily, our daily digest of news and events delivered right to your email inbox? If not, subscribe here!

Gov. Wolf orders PA schools closed for 2 weeks

March 13, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

The Harrisburg school district’s Lincoln School

Pennsylvania schools will close for 10 business days in response to the coronavirus threat.

Gov. Tom Wolf made the announcement on Friday afternoon that he was ordering all K-12 schools to close for two weeks beginning on Monday.

“We understand that these are trying times and recognize the impact of the coronavirus on our students and communities,” he said, in a statement. “First and foremost, my top priority as governor—and that of our education leaders—must be to ensure the health and safety of our students and school communities. As such, I am ordering that all schools in the commonwealth close for the next two weeks.”

As a result, schools will not be penalized this year if they fail to meet the 180-day threshold, Wolf said.

Wolf added that the state received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allow eligible schools to serve meals to low-income students in a “non-congregate setting,” such as a drive-through or grab-and-go, during this closure.

Later in the afternoon, the Harrisburg school district affirmed that it would be shut for two weeks, planning now to reopen on March 30.

“Working in collaboration with the governor’s office, we will do our part to ensure the health, well-being, and safety of our students and staff, and to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 throughout the Harrisburg School District and community,” said Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer, in a statement.

The district said that it was committed to continuing free meals for qualified students, but didn’t specify how that service would continue.

“In a district such as ours, we know that closing schools will impact families who depend on the free meals that we provide to students five days a week,” Celmer stated. “To help mitigate the impact on families, the administration will continue internal and external meetings and conversations with our food service department, vendors, and community partners to address this concern.”

In its daily update, the state Department of Health today said that four more residents from Montgomery County and two from Delaware County are presumed to have the coronavirus, bringing the state’s total to 28 cases. All are in the hospital or isolated at home, according to the department.

So far, all presumptive cases have been in eastern Pennsylvania. There have been no cases reported in the immediate Harrisburg area.

This story has been updated with information regarding and comments from the Harrisburg school district.

TheBurg Podcast: March 2020, The “Welcome Back” Edition

March 12, 2020 | by Karen Hendricks

Meet some of the Harrisburg area’s most fascinating people, and hear their own authentic stories, straight from every month’s issue—with a different twist—on TheBurg Podcast. Because there’s always “more to the story.” Hosted by Karen Hendricks. TheBurg is a monthly community magazine based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Lawrance Binda, co-publisher/editor.

Susan Ryder has written a series of stories about the homeless for TheBurg. In the March 2020 magazine (“Lend A Hand—A beginner’s guide to helping the homeless”), she compiles resources to guide the good intentions of donors. On the podcast, she talks about her personal connection to this issue, the evolution of her stories on the homeless, and some of the commonly held misconceptions people often have about the homeless.

Think about your favorite hometown pizza, and chances are, it’ll cook up a nostalgic memory. Jennie O’Neill of Knead Pizza hopes her pies have all the right ingredients to create those memories for current Harrisburg residents. She talks about her “recipe for success,” how the Broad Street Market is an incubator for businesses, and she reveals the craziest things she’s ever put on a pizza. More info: Knead More Pizza

Angie and Trevor Spencer might not be household names to you, but to thousands of listeners across the globe, they’re known as the personalities behind the Marathon Training Academy podcast. And who knew? They live and create their podcast right here in Central PA, in Carlisle. They share their thoughts on podcasting (10 years into their business!), how a “running community” is formed, and—now that they’ve moved here—their impressions of Harrisburg and Central PA. More info: Run Hear

TMHT: Plus Editor Larry Binda joins us to share “the most Harrisburg thing”—a recurring feature closing out each episode. Today’s TMHT focuses on community and collaboration.

Interested in sponsoring TheBurg Podcast? Contact Lauren Mills

Website: https://theburgnews.com

Karen Hendricks is a lifelong journalist; visit her website here.

Harrisburg St. Patrick’s Day parade, other events, cancelled due to coronavirus concerns

March 12, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg’s 2nd Street, where the St. Patrick’s Day parade was due to take place.

There will be no St. Patrick’s Day parade in Harrisburg this year, due to the nationwide coronavirus health crisis.

The Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District (HDID), which sponsors the event, made the decision on Thursday afternoon to scratch the March 21 parade, saying it was canceling the annual march “due to safety and health concerns related to COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus.”

Likewise, the Lucky Charm 5K/10K, which was to precede the race, has been cancelled, though runners are encouraged to complete a “virtual race” of equivalent distance to receive their medals.

In its press release, the HDID said that the 2020 St. Patrick’s Day parade would not be rescheduled, but that fees, sponsorships and donations would automatically be applied to next year’s parade. Alternatively, people can request a refund in writing by mail to HDID at 22 N. 2^nd St., Harrisburg, 17101, or by email to [email protected].

The parade and race cancellations are arguably the most visible cancellations yet in the Harrisburg area due to coronavirus concerns. Other cancellations today included the Central PA Handbell Festival and Workshop for this weekend and VIBE, the largest annual event of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC, which was slated for March 18 at Hershey Lodge.

“We understand the uncertainty surrounding coronavirus (COVID-19) for your business, your employees and your families,” said Harrisburg Chamber/CREDC president and CEO David Black, in a statement. “The health and safety of our community is our top priority.”

On the local stage, Gamut Theatre Group announced that it would cancel all public performances for the next three weeks, starting with its Friday performance of “An Enemy of the People.”

“This is a difficult decision and was not decided lightly,” said Will Mueller, Gamut spokesperson, in a statement. “This decision will cause financial hardship for our company, of which we will feel the ripple effects for some time. But nothing is more important than keeping our community safe and healthy.”

These cancellations came soon after Gov. Tom Wolf released a statement this afternoon urging the suspension of gatherings of more than 250 people, as well as discouraging travel to recreational activities such as gyms, movie theaters and shopping malls.

As of Thursday, the commonwealth has reported 22 suspected cases of coronavirus in Pennsylvania, although none so far in the immediate Harrisburg area. Of these cases, 13 have been reported in Montgomery County.

“While people are free to travel, I ask that everyone refrain from non-essential travel,” Wolf said. “We all need to do our part to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. The time to do this is now. We cannot wait.”

For the latest information on the coronavirus in Pennsylvania, visit the Department of Health website.

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

March 12, 2020 | by Sara Bozich

Happy Weekend!

I think we could all use some downtime, no? If you’re thinking about city living, please join us this afternoon at The BenMar (124 Pine St., Harrisburg) — we’ll have refreshments, music, and free tours. Registration (FREE) required. On Saturday, we’re enjoying a special wine dinner that we purchased in a Très Bonne Année auction in October. Otherwise, the weekend is low-key, which is just fine with me. I’ve got popcorn on my mind.

What are you doing this weekend?

(more…)

Competition in a Cup: Little Amps to hold annual latte contest, fundraiser

March 11, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Which is which? Coffee cuppers makes their selections during last year’s “throw-down” at Little Amps. Photos: Aimee Nguyen

Most days, Little Amps is pretty chill—a good place to hang out, enjoy a cup, chat and work. But, for one night each year, the competition really heats up.

Little Amps Coffee Roasters is holding its annual latte art competition at its State Street location on March 20. Contestants will put their pouring skills to the test as they go head-to-head to win judges over with their coffee masterpieces. [Please note: this event has been postponed.]

“Every year, we do a throw-down,” Rik Shellhamer, marketing director for Little Amps, said. “The latte art is like a celebration. People get really excited.”

This year’s contest is called the “Spring Break Oatdown” because it is sponsored by Oatly, an oat milk company. All the milk used in the lattes will be oat milk. To match the theme, Little Amps is encouraging attendees to wear spring break attire.

Each barista or self-taught coffee connoisseur will enter a bracket of around 26 to 32 participants. The top three will win Little Amps swag and coffee-related items.

“It’s a party that anyone’s welcome to come to,” Shellhamer said.

Little Amps Barista Kaiti Pates learned the art of a beautiful latte through YouTube and competed in the showdown a couple times over the years.

“I like when other coffee houses come through,” Pates said. “I like that sort of community, and I like a competition.”

In addition to the latte art, there will be a cupping triangulation contest with people tasting three cups of coffee to determine which is different.

The event is open to the public and is free to watch and $5 to participate, Shellhamer said.

Throughout the night, there will be music, catering by Korealicious and beer from Troegs. Money from the signups and additional donations will go to Brigada Solidaria del Oeste, an earthquake disaster relief team in Puerto Rico.

While the competition may be hot, Shellhamer explained the event is all about having fun.

“It’s just to have a good time with our community,” she said. “It’s just to get out of the winter funk and get everyone together.”

Please note that, due to the coronavirus crisis, the Spring Break Oatdown, which was supposed to take place next week at Little Amps, 133 State St., Harrisburg, as been postponed. For more information, visit https://littleampscoffee.com/.

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Happy Weekend!

What are you doing this weekend?

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