Houses & Home: Twila Glenn warmly embraces the term “realtor mom.”

February 28, 2020 | by Diane White McNaughton

Twila Glenn

Twila Glenn is chatting easily on her cell phone in her expansive home in Lower Paxton Township while her 5-year-old son plays video games beside her and she puts last-minute touches on a sleepover party for her daughter—all while working to top last year’s $8 million in real estate sales.

She wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I wanted a career that allowed me to be present in the lives of my kids and to make good money doing something I loved,” she said.

Glenn is part of a group she lovingly calls “The Realtor Moms,” leading the powerhouse team under Joy Daniels Real Estate.

After graduating from Messiah College with a degree in international business 14 years ago, Glenn embarked upon a career in banking as a portfolio manager. She rapidly realized that sitting in front of a computer all day, managing trades, was not her passion.

At that time, many of her friends were buying their first houses and were asking her to come to showings with them, knowing she had always embraced architecture and interior design. It was her husband Ryan who suggested she consider getting her real estate license.

She decided to cross that threshold, working full-time at the bank by day and then attending four-hour classes at night. While most trainees find the classes to be dull, she loved them.

Taking a leap of faith, she quit her day job, opting for a commission-based lifestyle. She started working for Century 21, and after three years, moved to RE/MAX for eight years.

Throughout, she knew she wanted to assemble her own team. Two years ago, award-winning realtor Joy Daniels reached out to her.

Under a new arrangement, agents now work for Daniels’ company, not directly for her. It allowed Glenn to do all she did before, and more.

“The Realtor Moms” are governed by the philosophy, “The relationship is more important than the transaction.” That mindset is working, because referrals have been pouring in, Glenn said.

Her relationship-builder acumen also has earned her a spot on the board of Harristown Development Corp. and drawn offers to join several other boards. She is also a Sunday school teacher at the Harrisburg Brethren in Christ Church.

It’s the icing on the cake for a woman who used to play “office” as a child and is a DIY home decorator.

She mentors other realtor “moms,” who often think they have to wait until their children are in school to sell real estate. “You can do this too,” she urges them.

Recently, she earned her designation as a “senior real estate specialist.” While many of her older clients have moved into assisted-living communities and will probably never move again, she still remains in touch, and the referrals still come.

She has succeeded, in part, because she communicates with her clients constantly, and in the form her clients prefer. She knows most of her older clients don’t want emails and texts. She often visits them personally and calls them often.

“The more you stay in touch, the better the entire transaction and their entire relationship is,” she said.

“What sets our team apart is we know our strengths, and we try to bring in team members to supplement our weaknesses,” she said. “As a team, we are strong.”

Glenn estimates that 95 percent of her marketing is event-based, not calendars and magnets. She and her mom-realtors throw “client appreciation parties,” offering, for example, a free showing of “Aladdin” and free concessions, for recent and long-ago clients.

They give away pie at the holidays, do a free “Coffee on Us,” and host housewarming parties for buyers for up to a year.

They now attract four to five referrals a week. Her goal this year is to give out three times as many referrals as they receive and to hit $13 million in inventory.

Personally, she wants to travel more and take her family on a Disney cruise. Her daughter is a fan of “Moana,” and her son is into all things “Star Wars.” Although she admits to some workaholic tendencies, she will readily turn off her phone and be the “force” her kids and husband need.

“At the end of your life, it’s not about the number of transactions you did,” she said. “It’s about the people we impacted and the memories we made.”

For more information on the Twila Glenn Group, call 717-695-3177 or visit www.glenngrouprealty.com.

Community Corner: Notable March Events

February 28, 2020 | by Missy Smith

March Community Corner

Guest Sermon
March 1: Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, 1280 Clover Lane, hosts special guest preacher Rev. Lee Barker, 10:30 a.m. In 1978, he was the church’s full-time minister. A coffee hour and reception will follow. Contact [email protected] or call 717-564-4761.

Maple Sugar Festival
March 1: Enjoy the annual Maple Sugar Festival at Fort Hunter Park, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, 12 to 4 p.m. Learn the mysteries of maple syrup making and have fun with tree tapping and children’s activities. Taste syrup and shop for Pennsylvania maple products. www.forthunter.org

Soup Cook-Off
March 1: AKT Foundation will host its 11th annual Soup Cook-Off, benefiting children with cystic fibrosis. Held 12 to 4 p.m. at the Carlisle Expo Center, 100 K St., the event gathers about 40 local chefs to showcase homemade soups, with attendees voting for their favorites. www.TheSoupCookOff.com

Candidate Forums
March 1, 8: Capital Region Stands Up (formerly Capital Region Indivisible) will host candidate forums at Camp Hill Borough Hall, 2145 Walnut St., March 1, 3 to 4:30 p.m., with a candidate forum for the 10th congressional district, and March 8, 3 to 5 p.m., with a PA General Assembly candidate forum. www.crstandsup.org

Blood Pressure Screenings
March 2: Stop by the food court pavilion at Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., for free blood pressure screenings offered by UPMC Pinnacle. www.shopharrisburgmall.com

Decisions 2019
March 2, 16: World Affairs Council of Harrisburg will host “Great Decisions,” a program on world affairs organized by the Foreign Policy Association. Sessions are held every other Monday at 1 p.m. at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill. Cost is $10 per session. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

KIDZ Wednesday
March 4, 18: Toddlers and young children and their families are invited to have fun learning with educational hands-on activities at free KIDZ Wednesdays, Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., Harrisburg, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. www.shopharrisburgmall.com

Curiosity Kids
March 5: Kids ages 3 to 6 and their families are invited to “Feed the Birds” at the State Museum of PA, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 11:30 a.m., during its monthly Curiosity Kids program. Learn about birds and make your own bird feeder. www.statemuseumpa.org

HBG Flea
March 7: Shop the HBG Flea for local art, vintage treasures and curated curios, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Strawberry Square, 320 Market St., Harrisburg. www.hbgflea.com

Ice & Fire
March 7: Harrisburg hosts its third annual Ice & Fire Festival downtown near city hall on N. 2nd Street, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Enjoy ice sculptures, an ice-skating rink, fire dancers, food trucks, music, children’s activities and more. www.harrisburgpa.gov/iceandfire

Charter Day
March 8: Celebrate the commonwealth’s 339th birthday on the 20th annual Charter Day with free admission to the State Museum of PA, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 12 to 5 p.m. View the original 1681 charter that granted the land of Pennsylvania to William Penn. www.statemuseumpa.org

State Murals
March 8: State Museum of PA, 300 North St., Harrisburg, hosts Prof. Patricia Likos Ricci in a talk about Violet Oakley’s first commission for the state Capitol, 2 p.m. Ricci served as special advisor to the museum’s current Oakley exhibit. www.statemuseumpa.org

Open House
March 8: Drop in at the Circle School of Harrisburg, 727 Wilhelm Rd., 2 to 4 p.m., for an open house to learn about the school. Bring the family to learn about self-directed, democratic education. There will be a student Q&A panel at 2:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. www.CircleSchool.org

Library Auction
March 8-22: New Cumberland Public Library is hosting an online auction to raise matching funds for a new roof, gutters and flooring for the kids’ area. Bids accepted starting on March 8 until March 22. Items can be viewed in the library’s first-floor showcase and online. www.newcumberlandlibrary.org

Soup & a Bowl
March 9: The 26th annual Soup & a Bowl fundraiser will be held at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, with seatings at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Enjoy soup, bread, dessert, music, pottery throwing and a raffle. Locally crafted Central PA Food Bank bowls can be ordered in advance. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door. www.centralpafoodbank.org

Homeschool Day
March 11: Join the State Museum of PA, 300 North St., Harrisburg, for Homeschool Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with hands-on objects and crafts and presentations from curators, archivists and educators. Cost is $10 per person; members are free. Admission includes all special programs and planetarium admittance. www.statemuseumofpa.org

Spring Fishing
March 13-29: Bass Pro Shops Harrisburg, 3501 Paxton St., hosts its annual Spring Fishing Classic. Take in fishing and boating seminars, food demos and youth programs and talk to local community partners about their services. www.basspro.com

Spring Wreath
March 14: Decorate a wreath with natural materials at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Natural materials like cones, nuts and seed pods will be supplied. Participants may bring additional items. Sip tea or coffee while adding finishing touches. Workshop fee is $15 per wreath. www.wildwoodlake.org

Volunteer Work Day
March 14: Enjoy the outdoors and help with continuing park and habitat enhancement projects at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Snacks, tools and work gloves provided. Refreshments available. www.wildwoodlake.org

Kids Club Event
March 14: Head to the Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., for Kids Club on the second Saturday of each month, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., for a free, fun-filled event. Each month may feature shows, crafts, interactive activities and more. All kids and families are welcome. www.shopharrisburgmall.com

Trivia After Hours
March 14: Join Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, for trivia night—“Food TV Challenge”—7 to 9 p.m. Popcorn, corkscrews, bottle openers and prizes are provided. Ages 21 and older, BYOB. Cost is $5 per team. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Networking Meeting
March 17: Career Professional Executive Networking Group hosts a meeting every third Tuesday at Penn State Harrisburg’s Student Enrichment Center, 777 W. Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, 6 to 8 p.m. Members can hone networking skills, meet peers, share job leads and develop opportunities. www.cpengroup.org

Seed Starting
March 17: Penn State Master Gardeners of Cumberland County hosts “Gardening with Nature” seed-starting workshops at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, 7 p.m. Learn to create a beautiful garden while preserving a healthy environment. Workshops are $5 each. www.extension.psu.edu

Puppies and Pints
March 18: Join Harrisburg Young Professionals at Midstate Distillery, 1817 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., for “Puppies and Pints,” benefiting Homeward Bound Animal Rescue. Homeward Bound will bring several dogs that need a home. www.hyp.org

Nature Lab
March 19: Learn about archaeology, geology and paleontology through hands-on examples at the State Museum of PA, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 11:30 a.m. This presentation is for general audiences, 7 and older, and is included with museum admission. www.statemuseumpa.org

Benefit Gala
March 19: CONTACT Helpline of Central PA hosts its annual gala at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, 1150 Camp Hill Bypass, Camp Hill. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a silent auction and reception. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. www.facebook.com/contact211

Insect Invasion
March 19: Join Penn State Extension Perry County, 8 S. Carlisle St., New Bloomfield, for a spotted lanternfly meeting, 7 to 8:30 p.m., to learn how to recognize the invasive insect and what you can do to help stop its spread. www.extension.psu.edu

3rd in The Burg
March 20: Enjoy the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in the Burg, the monthly arts and culture event at galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown. www.thirdintheburg.org

Bike Summit
March 21: Bicycle South Central PA’s fifth annual Regional Bike Summit will be held at HACC, Lancaster campus, 1641 Old Philadelphia Pike, 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. The focus is on successful programs designed to serve the disadvantaged and those that attract young riders. www.bicyclesouthcentralpa.org

Seed Swap
March 21: Winters Heritage House Museum, 47 E. High St., Elizabethtown, hosts its fourth annual Heirloom Seed Swap, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Vegetable, herb and flower seeds collected from the museum’s 2019 garden will be on hand for this community-sharing event. Bring seeds to swap or make a donation. www.elizabethtownhistory.org

Spring Hike
March 21: Join Harrisburg Young Professionals for their first hike of 2020 at Detweiler Park, 1451 Peters Mountain Rd., Dauphin, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The 4.5-mile hike has easy terrain and minimal elevation gain. Meet at the trailhead at 10 a.m. www.hyp.org

St. Patrick’s Parade/Run
March 21: Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District hosts the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, starting at 2 p.m. and featuring bands, Irish dance groups and more. “Lucky Charm” 5K/10K precedes the parade, beginning at noon. www.harrisburgstpatricksday.com

Fundraiser for Hope
March 24: Take your family and friends to Friendly’s, 4601 High Pointe Blvd., Harrisburg, to support Hope Loves Company, a nonprofit dedicated to providing support for children and young adults who had or have a loved one battling Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. www.hopelovescompany.org

Books on Tap
March 26: Dauphin County Library System hosts “Books on Tap” book club at Zeroday Brewing Co., 250 Reily St., Harrisburg, 5 to 6 p.m. Dive into new genres and forms while getting to know other readers in a social setting. The club will discuss Michael Chabon’s “Moonglow.” www.dcls.org

Women of Excellence
March 26: YWCA Greater Harrisburg hosts the 31st annual “Tribute to Women of Excellence” awards dinner at the Hershey Lodge, 325 University Dr., Hershey, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The tribute will honor 25 outstanding women who dedicate time and talent to making a difference locally. Cost is $100 per seat. www.ywcahbg.org

National Defense
March 26: Foreign Policy Association hosts David Ochmanek, former deputy assistant secretary of defense, to discuss U.S. national defense strategy. The free talk is at 7:30 p.m. at the West Shore Country Club, 100 Brentwater Rd., Camp Hill. Dinner precedes the talk. www.fpaharrisburg.org

Art Auction
March 27: Join Harrisburg Habitat for Humanity for their 15th annual Art Auction at the Hershey Country Club, 1000 E. Derry Rd., 6 p.m. The reception includes two free drinks, heavy hors d’oeuvres, tastings, a silent auction and a dessert buffet. www.harrisburghabitat.org

Job Fair
March 28: Spend the day at Dauphin County’s free annual One Stop Shop Job and Resources Fair at the Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit a variety of vendor tables to get connected with employment opportunities, resources and programs. www.shopharrisburgmall.com

Window to the World: Tina Weyant has helped make central PA an export powerhouse.

February 28, 2020 | by Karen Hendricks

Tina Weyant

When Tina Weyant began her position as founding executive director of the World Trade Center (WTC) Harrisburg nearly 30 years ago, there was no internet.

“Exporting was foreign to everyone,” said Weyant. “We started as an offshoot of the York Chamber, a group of manufacturers around a table—it was revolutionary.”

She spent a lot of time on the phone, building a network. Manufacturing nonprofit MANTEC provided some financial support and hired Weyant. They hit upon the name South Central Pennsylvania International Network, SPIN. A few years later, the state began “beefing up its export development program,” Weyant said.

“Lots of companies had such a big domestic business that they didn’t see the value globally,” she said. “Now, the more that you can diversify, the better.”

The organization morphed into today’s WTC Harrisburg, a private, nonprofit organization with a mission to connect the companies in eight counties of southcentral PA to global opportunities.

Momentum continues to build. Exports from the region totaled $12.2 billion in 2016, ranking it as the state’s third-greatest export region, behind Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, out of the state’s 10 regions. Between 2003 and 2016, southcentral PA’s export market increased by 51 percent, supporting more than 70,000 jobs and representing 19 percent of the state’s total export market.

Exports are tracked in three areas—services, goods and agriculture. Looking specifically at the manufacturing segment, southcentral PA ranks second in the state, just $600 million less than the Philadelphia region.

One of the driving factors behind the region’s success is location.

“We have the infrastructure to import and export, with easy access to the ports of Baltimore and Philadelphia within easy driving distance,” Weyant said. “We also have the railroad infrastructure with the Enola Yard being one of the largest in the country.”

Additional factors include a skilled workforce with numerous technical schools—although “the biggest challenge right now is getting enough workers at all levels,” Weyant said.

But a creative X-factor might be southcentral PA’s greatest attribute.

“It’s traditionally a very independent area, a strong region with really good products—crazy good products made by small to medium companies,” said Weyant.

Each county tends to have one strong anchor company making a product that’s a household name—Hershey’s in Dauphin County; Armstrong World Industries in Lancaster County; York County’s Johnson Controls.

But at the WTC Harrisburg, Weyant works with lesser-known giants in their industries.

Radius, a Berks County company, produces the No. 1 eco-friendly toothbrush on Amazon. Manheim’s Clair Brothers has worked with “every large venue that wants clear audio” around the world, going back to Elvis performances, Weyant said. And who says you can’t build a better mousetrap? Woodstream Corp., Lititz, is the world’s leading manufacturer of mousetraps, along with dozens of other wildlife and pest control products.

Valuable Resource

Weyant never intended to follow in her parent’s footsteps.

She grew up in Germany, where her father was CFO for an American company involved in global trade. Meantime, her mother was an administrative assistant who performed translations for foreign companies. Weyant was 16 when the family moved to the Pittsburgh area.

Armed with a master’s degree in international relations, Weyant originally wanted to work for the World Bank. But the WTC opportunity fell into her lap—“it was fascinating and still is,” she said.

Any regional company can access WTC Harrisburg’s resources at no cost. Similar to a chamber of commerce, WTC Harrisburg has more than 500 active members representing more than 100 member companies to whom it continually offers training. It’s especially important, given constant changes in government regulations. When we met, President Trump had signed an updated NAFTA deal just the day before.

Kerry Woods has worked with Weyant as a member of WTC Harrisburg since the mid-1990s. She’s sales manager for PR Hoffman, a Carlisle manufacturer founded in 1938.

“Without the export market, we would be a shell of a business,” said Woods.

PR Hoffman began exporting processed quartz for radio communications right after World War II. Today, 45 to 70 percent, or $5 to 8 million, of the company’s sales are in exports to Europe, China, Japan and other Asian markets. The company services different industries with electronics, ceramics, glass optics and silicon carbide semiconductors, including those used for 5G networks, satellites, electronic vehicles and autonomous engineering.

Just a few weeks ago, Weyant connected Woods to a state grant that will help underwrite a trip to France for a trade show that is expected to open additional markets.

“WTC Harrisburg is a valuable resource for us as a small business,” Woods said. “Tina has been able to help us make contacts for our needs—from translations to the understanding of foreign contracts.”

One of more than 300 World Trade Centers located in 91 countries, WTC Harrisburg is the regional liaison to the state.

Pennsylvania’s export game is strong—it ranks 10th among all states in terms of exports, which topped $41 billion in 2018.

Jennifer Black, executive director of export development for the state Department of Community and Economic Development, has worked with Weyant since 2001.

“She’s made a difference for a lot of companies,” said Black. “Not only is Tina passionate about her work with companies and committed to helping them succeed, she is supportive of others in the field and has served as a mentor to many of us, in so many ways.”

Perhaps this is all the more incredible when you consider that Weyant only has one full-time staff member, along with a handful of constantly rotating interns.

Weyant points out that nearly every trade office across the state, plus those in neighboring states, is run by a woman.

“I have all sorts of ideas why that is,” she said, with a smile. “Number one, in this job, you have to multitask constantly.”

For more information on the World Trade Center Harrisburg, 1000 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg, visit wtccentralpa.org.

At a Crossroads: Last year, numerous Methodist churches closed. Here’s what happened with one congregation.

February 28, 2020 | by Yaasmeen Piper

Pastor Mack Granderson & Pastor Martin Romain

It was the Friday before Easter last year when Pastor Mack Granderson was called into the office of Bishop Jeremiah Park.

Before this meeting, Granderson had already caught wind of the Susquehanna United Methodist Conference decision to close and consolidate Harrisburg’s Methodist churches. What he didn’t know was that his Derry Street church was one of them.

After the bishop told the pastor that the Derry Street United Methodist Church (UMC) was slated to close, Granderson had a series of meetings with the church’s administrative council to mull over the future of their congregation.

They decided to write a letter and distribute it to members of their church. The letter explained that the church had no choice but to close and listed three options. The could join the new Journey church on 29th and Derry streets, join another Methodist church or stay as a congregation and co-worship at the Rock Church on 15th and Market streets.

The congregation voted overwhelmingly to stay together.

“God stepped in. He did not allow us to splinter,” Granderson said. “He gave us a place to worship in this place called the Rock Church, which opened their arms to us in the most loving fashion.”

Now, members of the former Derry Street UMC and some other Methodists who have lost places of worship call the Rock Church their home. Along with a new location, Granderson and his congregation also have a new name: Crossroads Christian Ministries.

“We have a dynamic congregation,” said Granderson. “When you walk through the door, you feel the love here.”

Days after their original meeting, the bishop handed Granderson a letter stating he was no longer licensed as a Methodist pastor. A week later, Granderson was ordained as a Baptist pastor by Pastor Martin Romain of the Crossroads Baptist Church and was able to start worship at the Rock Church.

“Glory be to God and all celebration, we have never stopped worshipping,” said Granderson. “We have never stopped doing our ministries, we have never stopped our Bible study, we have never stopped learning, we have never stopped teaching. We have continued to go forward, and we never stopped growing.”

Heartbroken

Granderson started at Derry Street UMC seven years ago, but the church has been around since the late 19th century. During Granderson’s time, they had a small congregation but many food and clothing programs for their community.

Though the majority of worshippers were Latino, there were members from many countries, including parts of Africa and Asia.

Crossroads Baptist Church was founded in 1989 in Uptown Harrisburg but spent 20 years on the side of the Derry Street property in the children’s chapel. At one point, they moved out of the city to Lemoyne, but Granderson invited Pastor Romain and his congregation back one week for a service. Then another and another.

“Something about Pastor Mack Granderson clicked between the two of us,” Romain said. “The next thing you know, we’re in shared ministry.”

Every week, the two alternated services—one week Romain would preach and then Granderson the next. With two services, the church started growing, gaining more members from different cultures and denominations. One year, they were even recognized by the United Methodist Conference as one of the most inclusive churches out of all 880 churches that were invited.

According to Granderson, the church was just gaining momentum when the conference decided to consolidate Harrisburg’s Methodist churches. Though they are still growing as a new congregation, they lost many original members after moving to the Rock Church.

“I think another thing that was really painful for the congregation was the fact that generations of families were faithful to that church regardless of how the city itself changed,” Romain said. “For many of them, that was their family church, and they were heartbroken when it was closed.”

Join Them

Granderson said the Rock Church has been nothing but welcoming, and they fell into an easy cohabitation. They even collaborated on summer programs together and for the Rock Church’s annual Christmas dinner.

Even though they love their new location and the people in it, some members are still worried about the community they left behind. Claude Phipps was a volunteer for Derry Street UMC’s Meals on Wheels and other food preparation programs. In 2018, the church fed almost 40,000 people.

“Where do they get their food at now?” Phipps asked.

Romain, Granderson and their council even put in a bid for the Derry Street church property not long after they were told they had to leave. They were denied for reasons the pastors still do not know. Recently, they put in another bid, but are also looking at other properties.

But right now, Crossroads Christian Ministries is happy where they are and encourage others who have lost their place of worship to join them.

“God made that possible, us being right here, and he’s not finished with us yet,” said Granderson. “The best truly is yet to come.”

Crossroads Christian Ministries is co-located with the Rock Church, 1501 Market St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

Women in Business: Allison Zang

February 28, 2020 | by TheBurg Editor

Allison Zang
Owner/ Instructor
Absolute Pilates
https://absolutepilates.co/
717-585-2592

Why did you want to start your own business?

I think I wanted to start a business before I knew I wanted to start a business. I went to the University of Pittsburgh and got a business degree thinking I wanted to work for a business. Then I got a master’s degree in exercise physiology thinking I wanted to do research. All along, I taught Pilates for fun! Life brought me home to Harrisburg to be with my then-sick mother, and family has kept me in the Burg. My husband and I bought a home in Walden, and I think I knew then that I would open a Pilates studio in our mixed-use neighborhood, even though I did have what I called a real job. Back in 2008, Pilates was the new kid in the Harrisburg fitness community. I wanted to bring the Pilates that I know and love to this community.

What makes your business unique?

Absolute Pilates has four locations in the Harrisburg area. We bring high-quality instruction to the area. All of our instructors are comprehensively trained, meaning they have done more than 500 hours of training. Most have gone on to get specialty training in areas that interest them, like pre- and postnatal, MS and neurological conditions, traumatic brain injures, back pain, dance fitness and breast cancer. We believe we can help people fall in love with Pilates no matter their current health situation or wellness goals. We help clients look their best on a wedding day or help you move, even though you think you can’t.

What’s the most fun or gratifying part of what you do?

For me as the studio owner, this is a two-part answer. I have been able to help clients feel better, move better and be healthy. I love working with people who think they cannot. I have clients that, due to chronic disease or injury, have not moved in up to 10 years. We get them on the Pilates machines, and it is a game changer. They can build strength and stamina. Currently, the inspiration around the studio is a woman with MS who came in and was headed for a wheelchair. We have been working together to rebuild strength in her legs, and she is strong enough to drive to her own sessions now.

Also, I have been able to give so many people careers. We host an annual teacher training in the studio. This has provided careers to military wives, recent college grads that have no idea what they want to do with their degree, recently divorced moms who need to get back to work, and retirees looking for a fun second career. Seeing the clients and the teachers light up and move in my spaces is the most gratifying part of my day.

He’s Got a Song: Local guitarist leaves L.A. music scene and embraces Harrisburg’s.

February 28, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Eight years ago, Peter Stone was in high school at Harrisburg Academy.

When they didn’t have class, he and his friends would head to their music teacher Randy Gutwein’s room. All day, they had sat in classes, working, listening, but now was their chance to make some noise.

“He let us come to his room when we didn’t have class and just play really loud electric guitar and bang on the drum sets and stuff,” Stone said.

Just over a month ago, Stone and Gutwein chatted over the phone for the first time in years.

“He was like ‘sorry, I’m a little deaf now, thanks,’” Stone said. “He was making fun of me for causing his deafness. Which is probably actually true.”

Today, listening to his soft folk songs, you could hardly guess that this same man once caused his music teacher’s hearing loss from rocking out too hard.

Likes It

Most days, Stone sits in an office on Front Street in Harrisburg overlooking the Susquehanna River. He’s a software engineer for the design company, andculture. He’s had lots of jobs here and there, but this is his first time doing this.

The New Cumberland native has been in Harrisburg for over a year now. It bears little resemblance to Boston and Los Angeles, the two cities where he spent his late teens to early 20s, but he likes it.

Over the short time he’s been here, Stone has already woven himself into the music scene in Harrisburg, one he says he was “pleasantly surprised by.”

He has already played at H*MAC, Midtown Scholar Bookstore, Cornerstone Coffeehouse, Little Amps and other venues around the city.

He’s released two songs, “Fells Reservoir” and “Sparks,” on Soundcloud, which will be part of a collection of songs about water. Some, he said, will be named after local bodies of water. Soon enough, you may be able to listen to music inspired by the Yellow Breeches Creek and the Susquehanna River.

Stone draws inspiration for his lyrics from nature as well as the social and political issues he’s passionate about.

“I’m a pretty radical person,” he said. “Very anti-war, anti-racism, pro-tolerance and acceptance. There are songs I’m working on about that, and I’ve been using my music to do stuff about that.”

He explained how, through concerts, he has raised money for Extinction Rebellion, an international movement to bring awareness to climate change issues.

No matter the message, Stone has one underlying goal for his music.

“I want to express myself and help other people express themselves,” he said. “I just want to be a positive influence.”

His songs allow him a platform to speak his mind and feel confident in his work. But that wasn’t always the case. Stone’s come a long way in realizing his long-held vision.

Move Home

It all started when Stone was studying at Tufts University in Massachusetts and saw an advertisement for a band called the Rare Occasions. They were looking for a guitarist, and well, Stone was just that. Singer Brian McLaughlin, drummer Luke Imbusch, bassist Jeremy Cohen and Stone made up the band, initially playing at colleges, bars and parties.

Along the way, they amassed followers and played on local radio stations and at music festivals. Their early song, “Dysphoric,” won them the “Song of the Year” award in the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and they began touring the country.

Most of the band’s songs were about relationships—friendships and romance. They made songs about what mattered to them, with a sound that they liked.

Life began changing as two of the band members graduated, the drummer moving to Los Angeles, leaving Stone with a decision of what to do next.

For four months, he and his girlfriend at the time traveled around the country, exploring, sleeping in tents and even staying at a llama farm, all with the goal of ending up in Los Angeles. Eventually, the singer and bassist met them there too.

The band reached a high with their album, “Into the Shallows,” in 2018, but Stone began hitting tough times when his relationship, finances and well-being took a turn for the worse.

“In order to keep doing what I was doing at that time, to make the band work, I was sacrificing my health,” Stone said. “I couldn’t sacrifice the way that I was to make it work when it wasn’t my baby.”

He decided to leave the band and move home.

An Impact

Now back in Pennsylvania, Stone is making music that’s his. He’s not getting lots of money, or really any, but he’s growing his fan base.

He gets off work, packs up his car and heads to whichever coffee shop or restaurant he’s playing that night. A one-man band, getting set up only requires a trip or two to the car.

“It’s lonely though,” he said. “It’s hard to work on recording stuff because I get lonely, and I live alone for the first time ever. So, it’s been taking me a long time to finish my record.”

However, Stone hopes to begin releasing more songs in spring.

“One of the reasons why I like being a musician is because you get a loud microphone to talk to people, and they hear what you say,” he said. “I know how much music influences people. I want to have an impact on the youth in a way that helps them the way music helped me.”

For more information and upcoming concert dates, visit Peter Stone’s website at www.peterstonemusic.com.

Screen Time: Colorectal cancer prevention–what you need to know.

February 28, 2020 | by Dr. Jadd Koury

Illustration by Brad Gebhart

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both men and women combined in the United States. However, the cure and even prevention of colorectal cancer is possible with the appropriate screening.

Unfortunately, only 60 percent of people actually get screened. Doctors, cancer organizations, and others are working to reduce the embarrassment and encourage open communication about colon and rectal health.

Can colorectal cancer be prevented?

Colorectal cancer usually develops from pre-cancerous polyps. Several screening tests detect these polyps including stool studies for blood and DNA, a flexible sigmoidoscopy and a colonoscopy.

Unlike other screenings, a colonoscopy allows your doctor to detect and remove pre-cancerous polyps at the same time.

Myth: No one in my family has colorectal cancer so I am not at risk.

While it is true that a family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps increases the risk, that is not the only risk factor. In fact, the majority of colorectal cancers discovered during a colonoscopy are found in people with no family history who are of average risk.

Myth: I have no symptoms so my colon is fine.

Screenings exist to find the disease before you develop symptoms. Small colorectal polyps and early colorectal cancer produce no symptoms. Early detection of colon polyps or early colorectal cancers is the only way to prevent or cure colorectal cancer.

Once a cancer has grown to a size where it causes symptoms such as “bowel problems” or bleeding, the chance for a cure is greatly reduced.

Who needs to be screened for colorectal cancer?

Any patient with a positive screening test for colon cancer other than colonoscopy (i.e., Cologuard, FIT, etc.) must have a colonoscopy.
Men and women who have no symptoms and no family history of colorectal cancer should start screenings between the ages of 45 to 50. African Americans have a higher incidence of colon cancer and average risk screening should occur at age 45.
Adults of any age who have symptoms of abdominal or rectal pain, rectal bleeding, or a change in bowel habits should receive a screening.

Who needs to be screened before age 50?

Patients experiencing symptoms such as abdominal or rectal pain, bleeding, change in bowel habits.
Adults who have symptoms as described above or who have a family history. A family history is a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) who has had colorectal cancer or polyps.
Patients with a family history of colon or rectal cancer or polyps. In this case, you should be screened 10 years earlier than the age of the family member when he or she was diagnosed, or at age 40—whichever is younger.

While the incidence of colorectal cancer is declining in patients 50 years or older, there is a notable increase in patients younger than 50. Consequently, the American Cancer Society recommends screening all patients of average risk at age 45, but this is not uniformly accepted by all medical societies.

Will I ever need another colonoscopy?

A repeat colonoscopy is recommended every 10 years for patients without polyps who are of average risk.
High-risk patients with normal colonoscopies should have a follow-up screening every five years.
Patients found to have pre-cancerous polyps should typically have a repeat screening within three to five years of the polyp removal.

Other than screenings, what else should I do?

Know what’s normal for your body—track your bowel movements and abdominal symptoms.
Check your stool for signs of cancer. One of the biggest signs is rectal bleeding or blood in your stool.
Lifestyle changes reduce the risk of colorectal cancer and include:
Stopping smoking
Maintaining a healthy weight with an active lifestyle
Avoiding excessive consumption of alcohol or red and processed meat
Consuming a high-fiber diet, including whole grains, fruits and vegetables

What does a colonoscopy screening entail?

A colonoscopy is the single best screening exam for colorectal cancer.

A colonoscopy examines the colon by using a long, flexible, lighted tube called the colonoscope, giving the doctor full view of the entire colon and rectum. During this same exam, the doctor can also remove pre-cancerous polyps.

The procedure itself takes about 45 minutes, and usually involves sedation. It’s rarely uncomfortable.

The prep for a colonoscopy

Patients switch to a clear-liquid diet the day before and use laxatives or a cleansing preparation to ensure the procedure is accurate. A colonoscopy is well worth any temporary discomfort to protect your health and your life.

To schedule a colonoscopy, talk to your primary care provider about when to schedule your first colonoscopy.

Jadd Koury, MD, FACS, FASCRS, is a physician with UPMC Pinnacle Colon and Rectal Surgery. For more information, visit www.UPMCPinnacle.com.

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Sew Much Talent: Stitch by stitch, Dyanna Crosson patterns her future.

February 28, 2020 | by Yaasmeen Piper

Dyanna Crosso

One night, as her hair lay wild across her pillow, Dyanna Crosson had an idea. Instead of going to the closest beauty supply store for a bonnet or headscarf, she would make her own.

This was the beginning of Dyanna’s Designs and Novelties. Over a year later, the 15-year-old SciTech High student has created and sold numerous bonnets, scrunchies and phone holders with bold patterns and colors. The patterns range widely from elephants and polka dots to bold African prints and Disney characters.

“The way I pick it is, whatever I’m feeling at the time,” Crosson said. “If I want to create something that’s really colorful and bold, I go with a bold color. If I know you and I know how you act and how you feel, then I will feel like, ‘Oh, this is you. This is the type that you like.’”

Sewing seems to be in Crosson’s blood. Her grandmother sewed, as did her mother. It was inevitable that Crosson would fall into it, too.

When Crosson was 8 or 9, her grandmother gave her one of her old sewing machines and taught her how to use it. She started fiddling with it in her free time until she finally got the groove. She started creating things like pillows, purses and clothing for her dolls.

She created her first bonnet a year ago with the help of a YouTube tutorial. She watched the video three times before she finally had a finished product. The Minions Christmas-themed bonnet turned out to be a little too large, but that didn’t stop her. She kept going until she got it right.

“After I made it a couple of times, I was like ‘Oh, yeah. I like this,’” she said. “I started making some for my family members, and they were like, ‘Ohhh, I like this.’ That really boosted me up.’”

She started giving her creations away as birthday and holiday gifts. Her first sale came from her sister, which motivated her to start her own mini-business.

“I felt kind of cool because I said, ‘I can go with this,’” she said. “I can make money from this and have fun with this.”

Of her three primary products, she most likes to create bonnets. They come in small, medium and large sizes, selling for $12 to $25. The large bonnets fit box braid and dread hairstyles, the medium sizes are good for those who like their cap close to their heads but not too tight, and the small sizes are for people with short hair or children.

“When I make [a bonnet], I want to keep it for myself, but I know I can’t,” she said. “Each one, I’m just like, ‘I would wear this. I would totally wear this.’ I just really love making them, it’s so fun.”

Crosson mostly sells her creations through word of mouth, or on Instagram. However, she did have her own table at the Kwanzaa festival last December in the Harrisburg Mall. She crafted African print bonnets that mixed cool and bright colors

Even though she was the youngest seller at the festival, she said that she was not intimidated and that everyone was welcoming.

“When customers came in, I was the first face they saw, and everyone seemed to surprised by how young I was,” she said.

Starting up a business so young can be difficult. Besides creating her products, she attends school, does homework, goes to volleyball practice and finds time to socialize with her friends.

“It’s very hard balancing everything,” she said. “It’s stressful and time-consuming.”

Crosson said that her goals and her support system keep her going. Her greatest supporters, she added, are her family. Her grandmother often helps her collect fabrics or the materials she needs to create her own patterns, her mother sells Crosson’s items at her job, and her father helps her on the business side.

“It’s lovely because everyone supports me, and no one is negative towards me,” she said. “They’re all very supportive. I love it.”

She is currently in the process of creating a website and even securing her own section in a local beauty supply store.

Over the next few years, Crosson sees herself in college, either in Arizona or Florida, while still running Dyanna’s Designs and Novelties.

“I see myself doing really well, making a whole bunch, getting my fan base together, getting my Instagram booming,” she said. “It’ll make me really happy to see that. I see myself in college. If I’m in college, and I see someone with my stuff on, I think I might melt.”

For more information on Dyanna’s Designs and Novelties, check out her Instagram @dyanna_design_novelty.

Women in Business: Latino Connection

February 28, 2020 | by TheBurg Editor

Back row L-R: Leslie Ruiz, Niurka Valle, Conchita Merino, Nitza Mercado, Michelle Connett-Bergstein, Rosa Martinez, Katherine Marulanda
Front row L-R: Eunice Espinosa, Ashleigh Aviles, Zuiry Gaytan, Jean Cubilette, Christiane Delgado, Vedsaida Lorenzo, Katherine Vargas, Rossmary Cabral

Ashleigh Aviles, Senior Project Manager
Michelle Connett-Bergstein, Senior Graphic Designer
Christiane Delgado, Project Manager of Health Events

Latino Connection
717.963.7218
Latinoconnnection.org

Photography by Claudia Maguffee, Latino Connection

Why did you decide to go into your profession?

Ashleigh: I had been searching for an opportunity to do more community-focused work that would be in line with my degree in public relations. Choosing to work at a small business, I knew I would be able to see the road to building a business up. I believe Latino Connection is truly a brand that genuinely cares about the lives we touch every day. It is not just a marketing company. This is a company dedicated to improving the quality of life for families in Pennsylvania. Knowing that we are making a difference is what motivates me to continue developing in my profession and searching for more ways to bridge the gaps.

Michelle: I was looking to be in a role that would allow me to learn more about different things and help others broadcast their messages and ideas while being able to create! I was captivated by the idea of communicating and reaching a variety of different audiences with visual impact, especially when it comes to encouraging positive change in communities, our environment and beyond.

Christiane: It was a responsibility to not only my mother and myself, but to my nieces and nephew. Bringing health equity and promoting diversity and inclusion in central Pennsylvania would guarantee that my nieces and nephew would grow up in an area where they would not only feel welcome but experience success in their lives.

What makes your approach to your job different or unique?

We’ve learned to approach our work by first considering the perspectives of our stakeholders. We have a dual approach: to help organizations reach the number-one growing demographic in the country and to connect communities to resources that will help improve their wellbeing and their families. Therefore, when we approach a project or initiative, we first need to consider the values of all those involved and how it would be mutually beneficial to both the client and the audience.

Our varying life experiences, bicultural upbringings and struggles define and inspire us to view and solve problems in ways that separate us from other firms in the area. We approach our work that aims to improve lives in underserved communities with great empathy, determination and attention to detail.

What’s the most fun or gratifying part of what you do?

The most gratifying part of the job is seeing our work positively impact communities. The look of happiness and relief on the faces of community members who have been connected to multiple resources they need or have been educated on how to live a healthier life reminds us of the importance of our work. Our projects and initiatives are aimed to address the social determinants of health that exist for many people throughout the United States..

Visiting 50-plus cities with our mobile wellness units and providing wellness activities and resources have shown us firsthand the need and the barriers that exist for disadvantaged Latino families. We are grateful to be able to have authentic interactions with people where they live, to hear their appreciation for our presence and services, and to know we are making a difference in their lives.

Our annual, statewide Latino Health Summit gathers hundreds of health care professionals who directly and indirectly affect the public health of the Latino community. The conference has grown to welcome over 1,200 decision-makers and community members from all over Pennsylvania and beyond. This event is our largest and truly allows us to be proud of our energy and work, knowing we are helping organizations understand how to effectively reach these populations and the ways and reasons why they should be doing so.

Our nontraditional work environment allows us to be inventive and think outside the box. We have fun incorporating our own experiences and using our own skills and talents to create bold, in-your-face messaging, engagements and initiatives. Working at a small business has allowed us invaluable exposure into the details of growing a business and the tremendous opportunity to build a brand.

Our team is colorful, lively, diverse and enthusiastic! We are consistently improving, expanding and learning from one another. A day at the office is never the same as the next or the one before. We are always everywhere at once, getting the job done and we wouldn’t have it any other way!

The Madness & the Magic: Julia Mallory takes inspiration from the sublime, the tragic.

February 28, 2020 | by Yaasmeen Piper

Julia Mallory. Photo by Dani Fresh.

Julia Mallory was in the blue waters of Puerto Rico with her best friend and her best friend’s niece when a piece of seaweed touched the niece’s leg. Between Mallory and her friend’s laughter and the niece’s screams, someone asked, “What if it was a mermaid?”

Years later, Black Mermaids stands as Mallory’s brand, which houses her clothing, accessories, books and more. Her T-shirts and hoodies include the words Black Mermaids in bright, vivid colors, messages of encouragement that randomly popped into her mind and names of iconic black women in literature like Toni Morrison and Audre Lorde.

Mallory also wrote six books under her Black Mermaids brand, including four poetry collections and two children’s books.

“My work seems to invoke a sense of cultural pride, and also connects with individuals that recognize its universal themes such as love, grief, displacement, dreams and purpose,” she said.

Mallory says she’s written all her life but didn’t consider herself a poet until her senior year of high school. Around this time, the Harrisburg native won a poetry contest that was sponsored by the African American Museum of Harrisburg. That was all she needed to keep going.

She then became active on the poetry scene. She and a group of friends would travel city to city and perform or listen to poetry readings at universities and other venues. As she dove deeper into the world of poetry, she saw more and more people publishing their books, so she decided it was time for her to do the same.

She started pulling all of her work together and outlining and figuring out the theme for the book. After a few bumps in the road, her first poetry collection, “Black Mermaids,” came out in 2016.

Though the idea of “Black Mermaids” originated from that moment in Puerto Rico, the idea goes much deeper than that. Mallory thought of her ancestors who were enslaved and forced on to boats and away from their homelands. What if those who jumped or were thrown overboard then became mermaids?

“So, this reimagining of life after death and linking it to modern day, and all the things that were made to destroy us and yet we still persevere,” she said. “We even turn what is absolute madness in our lives into something that is magical.”

Mallory was taken aback by all level of support she got from the book.

People would tell her how much her poetry spoke to them. Many people also came up to Mallory and told her how much her kids loved mermaids, that we need more mermaids of color and asked her if this was a children’s book. She laughed it off and said no, but it got her mind rolling.

A month later, she finished her children’s book called “Kareemah and the Black Mermaids.” The book follows a young girl named Kareemah who is rescued by a trio of mermaids.

“I let my daughter read it and she was like, ‘Wow, this is really good. Almost like a real writer wrote it,’” she said laughing.

Mallory sent the book to her friend and illustrator Taqiyya Muhammad, who also illustrated the cover of her first book. Muhammad said she would need three months to create her designs, so Mallory planned for the book to come out in May 2017, but then her life was turned upside down.

Choose to Live

On May 30, 2017, Julian, Mallory’s oldest son, was shot while trying to break up an argument between his friend and her family members. He died in the hospital four days later.

During this time, Mallory felt like time stopped but was accelerated at the same time. The last thing on her mind was anything related to Black Mermaids, her career, or anything other than her son. But she knew she needed to anchor herself and try to find some goodness to cling on to.

“My son’s tragic death made it plain for me how fleeting life is,” Mallory wrote in a blog post on her Black Mermaids website. “Julian’s earthly absence has made my choices exceptionally clear—either I renew my commitment to living daily or I offer myself as a sacrifice to grief. I am unwilling to do the latter. And so I choose to live.”

She threw herself back into Black Mermaids and created three more T-shirts. She created calendars and buttons with random phrases that popped into her mind such as, “Nah, this lifetime,” a play on Erykah Badu’s song “Next Lifetime.”

By the end of 2017, she published her children’s book, “Kareemah and the Black Mermaids,” and an anniversary edition of “Black Mermaids.” Her second children’s novel, “Breathe,” was published the following year, as well as a chapbook edition of “Black Mermaids.”

Black Mermaids was becoming much more than Mallory had imagined.

“Black Mermaids is slowly evolving and becoming its own thing,” she said. “I am continuously looking for ways to not just be in the pursuit of what’s next, but how I can deepen my relationship to the work that I already created.”

Throughout this time, she was working on another book that would later become her most recent collection, “Survivor’s Guilt,” which was published in October.

The death of her son amplified the survivor’s guilt Mallory was already grappling with from losing childhood friends and family members.

“I think my son’s death really gave me the language to be able to articulate what I had been feeling, and so the closest thing I could come up with that describes that feeling is the concept of survivor’s guilt,” she said.

In the book, she talks about not only her experience with grief but how grief affects communities, especially black communities, and how she learned to heal.

Along with poetry, the book includes the victim impact statement that she gave to the court the day the woman who killed her son was sentenced, letters to her son, uncle and grandmother and photographs.

“I think there is something about being here and being able to talk so boldly about my son’s death that will also be healing to other folks,” she said. “It was obviously healing to me too. Like, I’m not going to hide in this pain. I’m going to talk about it.”

And Mallory continued to talk about her experience with grief either through her work or actually speaking about it.

Aside from raising her kids Kareen and Jaya and working at Perry Media Group, she has a few creative projects going. She’s nailing down a courier poem she has been working on for over a decade, another children’s book and a book related to her “Do Your Work” phrase.

“Hell, that’s enough,” she said, “And that’s just what I’m planning to do. Black Mermaids feels like what I’m supposed to do, but I could literally get another assignment and go off doing something else.”

For more information on Black Mermaids, visit www.blackmermaids.com.

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