Harrisburg affirms Democrats for school board, council; Republican incumbents again sweep Dauphin County

November 5, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Campaign signs dot the entryway to Harrisburg city hall, which also served as the new Ward 4 polling station.

Harrisburg voters completed the replacement of the school board on Tuesday and returned three incumbents to City Council in a general election that held few surprises for city voters.

With no Republicans running, the Democratic nominees claimed all five school board seats with only nominal opposition. Douglas Thompson Leader, Gerald Welch, James Thompson, Jayne Buchwach and Steve Williams all will serve four-year terms on the board.

Ralph Rodriguez, who mounted a write-in campaign after coming up short in May’s crowded Democratic primary, failed to take a seat in Tuesday’s general election. All write-in candidates together received just 1 percent of the vote in the school board race.

Next month, the five victors will be sworn in as new school board directors. However, their ability to make policy will be limited due to the appointment in June of Dr. Janet Samuels as the district’s receiver.

Under the receivership, the elected school board has been stripped of power except for the ability to levy taxes. Since her appointment, Samuels has run the district largely by decree.

For City Council, Democratic incumbents Westburn Majors, Dave Madsen and Danielle Bowers all will return for four-year terms after facing no Republican opposition in the general election. Majors and Madsen were re-elected, while Bowers won her first competitive seat after appointment last year to fill an opening on council.

Incumbent Treasurer Dan Miller, running unopposed, was re-elected to his position.

Races in Dauphin County were more competitive.

Voters returned all three incumbent commissioners to office, but the race was close for much of the evening. In the end, Republicans Jeff Haste (28,080 votes) and Mike Pries (26,560 votes) and Democrat George Hartwick (25,928 votes) each were re-elected to four-year terms. Democratic challenger Diane Bowman came in fourth place with 22,026 votes.

As usual, Republican incumbents won all the row offices in Dauphin County, but several races proved to be competitive.

For clerk of courts, incumbent Dale Klein defeated challenger Brad Koplinski by a tally of 27,147 to 24,326.

For register of wills, Jean Marfizo King topped Democratic challenger Bridget Whitley by a margin of 27,725 to 23,733.

In the recorder of deeds race, Republican incumbent Jim Zugay won another term, defeating Democrat Cole Goodman by a vote of 27,869 to 23,506.

For county treasurer, incumbent Janis Creason prevailed over Democratic challenger Tim Butler by a 27,947 to 23,392 margin.

Several Republican incumbents ran unopposed and will return to office. These include District Attorney Fran Chardo, Sheriff Nick Chimienti and Controller Timothy DeFoor.

Bob’s Art Blog: In Paxtang, art by the people, for the people

November 5, 2019 | by Bob MacGinnes

The Paxtang Art Association’s show is ready for visitors.

The placards announcing an extravaganza of an event line the streets leading up to the “The Big Top” (I mean firehouse). Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, step right up to the center ring for the main attraction.

As an arts columnist, I have a responsibility to get the word out on local art shows. Perhaps one of Harrisburg’s best-kept secrets is really no secret at all. On Friday, the Paxtang Art Association celebrates its 70th anniversary and, at the same time, opens its 30th annual “Art Show and Sale,” a three-day extravaganza at the Paxtang Firehouse. This is blockbuster of a show will feature over 100 artists and more than 3,000 paintings for sale. The sheer number of works requires it to be held in a building the size of a firehouse. All art is original, and the paintings include watercolors, oils, acrylics, pastels and pen and inks. With a selection like this, there is something for everyone’s taste and wallet.

Started in 1949, the Paxtang Art Association boasts an ever-growing group of members ages 8 to 80 and “draws” its artists from as far as Lewistown, Danville, Carlisle and territories beyond. The only requirement is a love to draw or paint, even if you have never touched a canvas with a brush.

The association has one instructor, Nick Feher, a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts who also studied fine art in his travels throughout Europe. Feher instructs both youth and adults in art classes that encompass drawing and painting. Many have been lifelong members, and generations often follow right in line.

The elementary-age crowd, with few expectations, is the quickest study and most willing to explore their ideas. They are truly artists with no boundaries. The older generations appreciate the recuperative and relaxation measures that painting affords them. Everyone in between shares a mutual enthusiasm for creating new works and improving their skills. The association is such a close-knit community of artists that everyone is like family. Feher subscribes to the philosophy that one needs to paint and paint often—you need to get your work out there to be seen and appreciated.

Art can be found anywhere when we take the time to look. It doesn’t have to be in a gallery or a museum. Some of the best art in the world can be seen on the streets of Paris or it can be viewed inside a firehouse. And Paxtang is a lot closer than flying to France. Just a thought…

The Paxtang Art Association’s annual Art Show and Sale opens Friday, Nov. 8, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 10, at the Paxtang Firehouse, 3423 Derry St., Paxtang. A reception will be held Friday, 6 to 8 p.m. Youth and adult art classes begin in January, with registration taking place now. For more information, visit www.paxtangart.com.

The Week that Was: News and events around Harrisburg

November 1, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Elementary Coffee Co. debuted its shop this week.

The local news was as variable as the weather this past week: calm one minute, stormy the next. We have the news portion wrapped up for you below, in case you missed a story while dodging the trick-or-treat monsoon.

Art Association of Harrisburg is featuring two new exhibits, which both touch on important social issues. Check out what our fine arts columnist had to say about the installations.

Elementary Coffee Co. debuted its standalone shop at North and Susquehanna streets in Harrisburg following a lengthy build-out. We were delighted to capture the soft opening of this long-anticipated project. Check out our online story.

Harrisburg has proposed implementing an innovative business parking permit program, but the ordinance quickly met pushback last week from City Council members. Click here to find out what the proposal is all about.

Harrisburg Mural Fest may be past, but we showcased the stunning works of art in our October issue. As a bonus, one delayed mural was just completed, and you can see that for yourself at a prominent corner–N. 3rd and Cumberland streets–in Midtown Harrisburg.

Harrisburg’s federal courthouse is rising quickly at N. 6^th and Reily streets, though without nearly enough parking to accommodate all the staff, jurors and visitors. In his monthly column, our editor weighs in with his thoughts on the coming Midtown parking clash.

Harrisburg’s music scene steps up to a new level this month as several major acts visit the capital city. Our music writer lets us know who’s coming to town over the 30 days of November.

The Marine Corps Marathon was last weekend, and a Camp Hill doctor ran it to raise money to help injured veterans. Read about this man and his commitment to this important cause in our online feature.

A medical marijuana company expects to build a dispensary in Allison Hill, but first must have its building plan approved by City Council. Council listened for two hours last week as the company explained the plan for its Allison Hill facility. Read the details here.

Sara Bozich summarizes the final batch of the season’s Halloween-related events, which take place this weekend, and has another 100 or so other things for you to do. Take a gander at her long list of activities here.

TheBurg released our November issue, chock-a-block with stories about local businesses in anticipation of the busy holiday shopping season. You’ll also find many stories about Harrisburg-area people, organizations, cultural activities, events and more. You can pick up the hard copy in 500-plus locations in central PA or click here to read the online version.

Whitaker Center is launching its “Thursday Afternoon” music series next week. So, this coming Thursday, pack a lunch and bring it to downtown Harrisburg’s arts and science complex for some great live sounds while you eat. Read the details here.

Do you receive TheBurg Daily, our digest of news and events emailed right to your inbox six days a week? If not, subscribe here!

2019 HYP 20 In Their 20’s

October 31, 2019 | by Admin

For Harrisburg Young Professionals (HYP) and TheBurg’s inaugural year of 20 IN THEIR 20’s, we had over 80 nominations, and it was extremely difficult to whittle that down to only 20. This year’s winners are an amazing bunch. From pop-up markets and entrepreneurs to engineers and neuroscience students, this group will blow your socks off with their talent. Meet these rising stars from business, cultural, and civic life.

Join HYP and TheBurg on November 13 at the Scottish Rite Cathedral as we celebrate some of Harrisburg’s most inspiring 20-somethings.

Meet the winners

Photos by Source Creative House

Adam Brackbill
There is probably only one person in Harrisburg that would think to add sauerkraut to ice cream, and his name is Adam Brackbill. Adam is a graduate of Messiah College. After that, he started on this road (or should we say rocky road) to entrepreneurship with a website design company, followed by co-founding a coworking space called Startup Harrisburg, and more recently founding an artisan ice cream shop in Midtown. Adam launched Urban Churn after locals wanted more options to find this popular treat – the idea intrigued him since his family had a tradition of making ice cream at family gatherings. All of Adam’s businesses have had a tremendous economic impact on Harrisburg.

Adam Breneman
Adam Breneman is a busy guy. This PSU and University of Massachusetts graduate balances many different roles and responsibilities, all while finding time to give back. Adam is a Director of Marketing, a Political Consultant, and a College Football Broadcaster. Fun fact, Adam’s retirement letter from football that he authored on Pennlive in 2016 was its most-read sports story of the year. His political career started after he retired from football at Penn State and then worked as the Campaign Manager for Sen. Mike Regan’s 2016 campaign for State Senate. After the win, graduate school, and then another campaign win, Adam choose to remain in Harrisburg at Red Maverick Media as a political consultant.
Adam’s volunteer and philanthropy work began when he was in high school. As a senior at Cedar Cliff High School and a highly-touted football recruit, Adam launched the “Catch the Cure,” a fundraising campaign for ALS research. The campaign raised $250,000 for ALS research. Adam received national recognition for this work, including the NAIFA Humanitarian Award and the Prudential Spirit of Community Award. Currently, Adam serves on the board of directors of Mechanicsburg-based The Payton Walker Foundation, which works to increase awareness and survival rates for Sudden Cardiac Arrest, and Project ALS.

Allison Hanna, RLA
One of Allison’s favorite things to do is to give back to the community. In particular, to those organizations that have helped her in the past. She is a volunteer with the ACE (Architecture-Construction-Engineering) Mentor Program of Central PA and Cumberland County, Cumberland Perry Area Vocational Technical Schools Horticulture & Landscaping Occupational Advisory Committee and the Harrisburg running community. By day, Allison is a Landscape Architect at Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. At the last civil engineering firm she worked at, the project she loved working on the most was the Penn State Health Hospital on Wertzville Road in Mechanicsburg.

Brandon Spangler
Brandon is a positive influence on the work environment at Rite Aid. His contributions to the Training & Talent Development Team have improved efficiency and the value of the programs produced. He took the initiative to dig deeper for process improvements and through his data analysis, discovered that Rite Aid’s Training & Talent Development Team could adjust their process for administering training courses. This discovery ended up decreasing the team workload saving numerous hours of work, and the cost associated with that. At Rite Aid, Brandon takes community involvement to heart, getting involved in any community activities available. He donated items to Adopt a Family for the Holidays. Brandon regularly gives blood when the Blood Bank of Central PA. He makes monetary donations to the Children’s Miracle Network and KidsCents, both through Rite Aid.
The key to Brandon’s success is his unwavering dedication and commitment to performing at his best and his conviction for supporting his company for success.

Bree Whitelock
Bree is the Founder of Harrisburg-based blog Cherishburg. Her key to success is a drive to change the overall mindset, and outlook residents and non-residents alike have of Harrisburg. She holds onto the importance of investing in and planting roots where you live, which sometimes means learning to love where you live. Through her blog, Bree has managed to shift the way many people opt to look at Harrisburg. Also, by living and working full-time in Harrisburg, she has found ways to give back to the city economically. Bree may be a “Happiness Manager” by day at WebFX, but she’s a “Happiness Manager” for the city of Harrisburg by night.
Bree likes to volunteer at Bethesda Mission on a bi-weekly basis. She is also the co-chair of events for the Friends of Midtown Board.

Brittany Stockdale
Though she is proud of her accomplishments in the Military, the most significant and unique to her is everything she has learned, accomplished, and changed for the better at Pennsylvania Regional Ballet. This year, Brittany has done a ton of work to improve the Pennsylvania Regional Ballet. She acquired a donation of paint to paint the entire studio. Then she created two new fundraisers, as well as a new up-to-date enrollment program. Last, she developed an entire new brand and marketing plan. The key to her success is keeping in mind how important the art of dance is to so many of their students’ lives as well as their families and audiences. Her inspiration is seeing a performance that they have trained and rehearsed so hard for come together and the smiles on students’ faces and the audiences’ during the final applause. There is nothing more fulfilling and motivating.

Dana Della Loggia
Dana Della Loggia, Assistant Controller at Harrisburg University, says attaining her CPA Certification was one of the most challenging and significant things she has ever done professionally. The key to her success is her drive to work hard, which is fueled by her faith and desire to serve and make the community she lives and works in better. Dana’s leadership has created opportunities for our younger professionals to get involved in the city and network with other like-minded individuals. Her volunteer efforts with the Hoopla directly impacted the Foundation for Enhancing Communities and other non-profits. She supports organizations like HYP, TFEC, and the United Way that offer widespread support to the entire Capital Region. At BSSF, she was a young leader early in her career. She is reliable and ambitious. While maintaining a large workload, she never turns down an opportunity to give back to her community or inspire our younger professionals. This collegiate golfer from Waynesburg University also serves on the Board of Directors at the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Harrisburg.

Elyse Irvis
Too few spaces are owned and operated by people of color. Elyse Irvis, founder and owner of La Cultura, saw a gap and is unapologetic in her efforts to connect, cultivate, and celebrate Black professionals and entrepreneurs in central PA. Because of Elyse’s contributions, local dollars are flowing in a little bit more of an equitable direction. Her efforts have impacted the economic opportunity of residents, circulating dollars directly back into local communities of color. Elyse was recently recognized as a trailblazer by the Young Professionals of Color, where she also serves as a board member. She also serves on the Board of the Friends of Midtown and African American Chamber of Commerce of Central PA.

Gregory Brown
Greg strives to alleviate the burden of cognitive impairments. Through his novel research as a student at Penn State, he makes advancements in the field of neurology. His research using neuroimaging to study brain changes related to cognitive decline in Parkinson’s disease has a direct impact on the diagnosis, progression, and treatment of cognitive impairment. Greg is the first MD/Ph.D. student at Penn State to undertake a rigorous engineering curriculum to position himself to use the latest technology to solve cognitive impairment. Greg attributes much of his professional drive to his curiosity.

Hannah Ison
Before moving to Harrisburg, Hannah lived in five states the previous eighteen months. Initially, she just thought Harrisburg was another stop along the way. As of today, she has been here for almost four years and is proud to call Harrisburg “home.” Hannah is a Political Science graduate of the University of Kentucky. Still, according to Hannah, her most significant recent professional achievement is successfully learning how to brew beer and inserting herself into a professional position in a heavily male-dominated industry without any formal brewing education or training. She’s proud to be part of the 7.5% of brewers in the industry who are females nationwide.
Hannah is the only female brewer she and her colleagues know of who have persisted in their brewer positions while starting a family. Hannah has not only managed her rigorous job while pregnant, but she’s also thrived. She views this accomplishment as a positive impact on her field because she can be a testament to women she has seen drop out of brewing once they’ve become pregnant due to old-fashioned ideas of incompatibility of motherhood and brewing.
Hannah’s contribution to Friends of Midtown has been significant – as Communications Chair, her writing, and communications marketing talents ensure that Friends of Midtown can achieve its objective of engaging with the residential and business community of Midtown.

Jane Block
Jane is a Geological Scientist at Groundwater Sciences Corporation. She has her Master of Science in Geology and Earth Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and in 2017 was recognized as a “Foundation’s Finest Honoree” for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Janes volunteer efforts impact the lives of young women in Harrisburg through her work at the Junior League, and her professional efforts affect our soil and water to help keep them clean and help businesses operate in environmentally responsible ways. When Jane is not out taking soil samples, you can find her rollerskating around Harrisburg!

Kara Luzik Canale
Since starting her career in public relations, Kara’s focus has been to lift others. Her first action at La Torre Communications was to establish an internship program. This opportunity gave her a platform to mentor and coach the next generation of public relations professionals. It was vital for her to set an example of ethical practices in a profession that can be viewed with a negative connotation. The internship program was recognized for its positive impact by the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC in 2012 with the Catalyst Award: Stay Invent the Future.
When Kara was hired by the Harrisburg Regional Chamber as its Vice President, she recognized the Chamber could do even more to empower women, and she seized opportunities to expand the impact of Chamber Business Women. The mentorship program is now an official affiliate of the nationally recognized Lean In program, and CBW programming has more than doubled the number of women it serves. Above all, Kara is a cheerleader for Central PA. She never misses an opportunity to tell others how great this area is to live and work. She works hard to connect people to great opportunities here, helping them to succeed.

Kristin Kellum
As a team of one at Duck Donuts, Kristin would probably consider her most significant professional accomplishment to be securing Good Morning America and FOX and Friends to promote Duck Donuts on National Donut Day. Duck Donuts is an emerging brand, so to be able to use her media relations skills and earn this media opportunity was well received by her company. Kristin’s inspiration is derived from her passion for public relations and her drive to continue learning and growing as a professional through networking opportunities, watching webinars, staying on top of industry trends, etc. If you asked her, she would say two specific traits she is most known for having that have aided to her success would be discipline and time management. Skills that she learned by staying active growing up, playing sports, and dancing.
At Duck Donuts, Kristin has encouraged her coworkers also to get involved locally by arranging team building events/volunteer opportunities that benefit Four Diamonds, Chemo Duck, and the Salvation Army. Each year, she also commits herself to raise $1,000 for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.
Even though PR can be 24/7, Kristin is also a part-time dance instructor at Dance Revelation in Mechanicsburg, where she has a real passion for teaching dance and serving as a role model for the next generation!

Marissa Feinman
In Harrisburg, Marissa’s impact can be seen in educating children about the STEM field and encouraging them to follow their passions. She is very passionate about sharing her experience and allowing other students to learn about the possibility of a STEM career in a secondary school as she did. She began her career as the only female engineer in her business unit and has since helped to recruit and mentor other female engineers in TE. Marissa considers her most significant professional achievement to be receiving a patent for her engineering development and design of a solution to a customer’s problem. The key to her success is her growth mentality, curiosity, and creative thinking to solve problems.
Marissa was involved in FIRST Lego League as a coach for a team of elementary and middle schoolers for three years. This was extremely rewarding for her because she was able to help the team to reach the regional competition and watch the team’s creativity and confidence grow each year. She volunteers as a career panelist in the Junior Achievement STEM summits to share her experiences as an engineer and answer any questions that the students have. She also serves as the Community Outreach Regional Pillar Lead for North America in TE Connectivity’s Women in Networking (WIN) employee resource group. In this role, she facilitates conversations between each local community leaders to promote community events, helps to schedule events, and provides a forum for improving our outreach and event participation.

Meghan Jones
Meghan believes deeply in the community of Harrisburg and has worked to create a positive environment for local artists, where they can support their passions for the last four years. You know the name of it – Meghan helped to cofound the HBG Flea. With a strong belief that supporting local art is the key to a thriving community, she has become heavily involved in many community organizations and projects. Not just with the flea, but with the mural festival, Jump Street, Gamut Theatre, and more, all while managing a full teaching schedule.
Some might not know, but Meghan is exceptionally competitive, which makes her a perfect Senators superfan. She regularly can be seen at games during the season.

Sam Evans IV
Sam is the founder of You Call We Haul Junk Removal. The business was started in May 2016 while he was in college to make extra money but now has grown from one truck to 3 by the time of graduation. Sam prides himself on being able to support himself full time by owning and operating his own business since the age of 19. The key to his success is the work ethic that my parents have instilled in him. Something inspires him is the theory of “extreme ownership.” He knows that everything that happens in life and business is his responsibility no matter what. It is incredibly freeing and motivating to know you control your destiny, and extreme ownership teaches that principle.
At You Call We Haul Junk Removal, they are incredibly active in the community. They have worked with the We Love the Hill project and helped to remove nearly 500,000 pounds of trash and debris from Allison Hill. They also donate almost 70% of the items picked up from junk removal jobs to places like Community Aid, Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, and Salvation Army.

Sarah Kostyal
Sarah is a designer at Bravo Group and was part of a team that has won multiple awards for her design work on a healthcare client. Her designs helped build an online community of more than 94,000 members. Sarah has recently started an Instagram page, Doodgirl, where she takes her artistic skills by illustrating hand-drawn posts focusing on mental health and empowerment. This is an effort that is close to Sarah’s heart. Having worked on healthcare clients for most of her career, she understands how important it is to support and bring people up. This is something she does in her free time, always allowing what’s going on in her personal life to be shared with her community. Though she is an artist at heart, she has a competitive side and has also joined a roller derby team!

Shavonnia Corbin-Johnson
Friends of Shavonnia would likely call her culturally diverse, aware, and civically active. She has traveled to 20 countries and can speak many languages. She is a great singer and can sing in different languages or play the trumpet if that is more your thing. She also tutors students in tongues, for free, and volunteers at temples and mosques in the area. Most recently, this graduate of Georgetown College and George Washington University was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman. She has helped to register numerous people to vote, coordinate the whole 67 county marijuana tour for the Lieutenant Governor, and work diligently for policy reform.

Steven Williams
Steven is one of five newly elected school board candidates who, for the first time in a long time, ran for office with the interests of young people at heart. He also is a research analyst for the PA House of Representatives and has been employed with the House since 2013. Steven is the youngest elected official in Harrisburg City. He is smart, driven, open-minded, wise beyond his years, and very kind. If there was one specific trait, though, that defines Steven, it is “motivation.” He is very motivated, and this has pushed him to do so many things because, on top of running for school board, he has written numerous books, lost over 100 pounds from his peak in college, and traveled to so many different countries. The man is a machine.

Tyler Ross
Tyler Ross, the founder of Ross Productions, the main goal of making Ross Productions stick out, is innovation. He likes to make every event exquisite in their way, so he works with leading production companies to get ideas and to collaborate so that each event is a masterpiece. Every year, Tyler and his company provide a full production setup for both Shriners Pediatric Hospital, as well as Penn State Hershey Medical Center Children’s Cancer Center free of cost. Tyler also helps with different beautification projects around the Central PA Area and volunteers at Lower Swatara Fire Company.

Presenting Sponsor
Members 1st Federal Credit Union

Community Sponsors
Bravo Group
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Source Creative House
CAP Collective

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

October 31, 2019 | by Sara Bozich

Happy Weekend!

Happy Halloween! We’re taking Bo trick-or-treating if the weather cooperates. Our local fire company visits local neighborhoods and gives out pizza, so that is high on the list. On Saturday, please join us at Greystone Brew House for a Halloween Happy Hour benefiting The MS Society! FREE; no tickets required. Food and drink specials, live music, cornhole tournament, FREE oracle readings, and more fun! Tomorrow kicks off my Extended Hunting Widow Status, so please entertain me with memes or whatever.

What are you doing this weekend?

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Be My Neighbor: Four popular Camp Hill businesses now share a roof at the new Neighbors & Smith development.

October 31, 2019 | by Susan Ryder

Four businesses once a stone’s throw away from one another now share the same, new digs—the Neighbors & Smith building on Market Street.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of this project, said Kim Over, owner of Underneath it All, a 35-year Camp Hill business. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

With the buzz of a circular saw announcing new construction through the walls, Over said that her shop solves “brablems,” by supplying and custom fitting bras, swimwear and lingerie for women of all shapes and sizes—literally. They can help women from size AAA to P.

“This business is so few and far between,” she said. “We have women that drive three hours to come here.”

After finding that perfect fit, women can head up to Little Black Dress.

In its urban industrial setting, customers can try on what Lisa Bedway DeCalvalcante described as, “casual, every day, affordable women’s clothing.”

She said that, when opening LBD she, “tried to fill a niche in the market.”

“Unique items you don’t find at the local mall, but not so high-priced that they were out of most people’s reach,” she said.

The new space has more floor space to display brands like Prana, Vineyard Vines and Lysee leggings, to name a few. In addition, Bedway DeCalvalcante plans to open a new store, LBD Kids, in March.

What about the new building’s effect on Camp Hill?

“It’s extremely positive,” she said. “It’s a well-executed, forward-thinking concept.”

She cited the LED lighting, heated sidewalks and electric car charging stations as three of the development’s progressive and modern features.

Next door sits One Good Woman, the popular purveyor of specialty coffees, tea, food and gifts.

Co-owner Michele Koch said that their whole bean and ground-to-order coffee is roasted and delivered weekly by a Maryland roaster.

“That’s the key that sets our coffee apart,” she said.

Tea drinkers can choose from 120 varieties of loose-leaf tea, including an assortment of chai, black, green, white, matcha and herbal teas.

In the One Good Woman Café, new to this space, employees will brew any of its coffee or teas, which can be enjoyed with locally sourced baked goods like the oat cakes from Short & Sweet 2.0.

Shoppers can sip their hot beverage as they head downstairs and browse through the Live in Color Boutique, a cozy nook that previously had resided a few blocks down the street. Patrons entering the store may be greeted by the golden doodle, “Charlie,” one of a number of “store dogs.”

The shop “features seriously distressed furniture,” said Kristen Aldinger, general manager, who, along with Bronya Schmoyer, a former art teacher, is responsible for transforming furniture into refreshed pieces.

Some pieces they purchase and paint, with their individual styles. Others pieces are brought in by customers.

“People will come in and say, ‘This was my grandmother’s. I don’t want to get rid of it, but it doesn’t match my décor. Can we change it so I can keep it in my family?’” Aldinger said.

Along with furniture, the store holds pottery, gift items, unique pet offerings, many of which have been created by local artists.

Schmoyer described Neighbors & Smith as a “very welcoming business environment.”

“We’re kind of newbies on the block, and they are sending people down here,” she said.

Being a part of Neighbors & Smith has helped business, she said.

“Even being two blocks apart, maybe somebody who was shopping at one [store] doesn’t want to get into their car to go to another, or doesn’t want to walk, or can’t physically walk,” Schmoyer said. “Now, it’s like we’re right here.”

Other businesses will be “right here” in phase two of the Neighbors & Smith project, which will include a hair salon and restaurants.

Whether shopping for gifts, looking for that perfect fitting bra for under your new outfit, or meeting someone for coffee, Neighbors & Smith in Camp Hill has all of those options under one roof.

“Market Street is open for business, “said Bedway DeCalvancante.

Neighbors & Smith is located at 1801 Market St., Camp Hill. For more information, visit www.smithlandusa.com/nas and the websites and Facebook pages of the businesses mentioned in this story.

What the Who? Cindy Lou breaks bad in new holiday comedy at Open Stage.

October 31, 2019 | by Rachel Landon

“Such an innocent I was. Oh, the ignorance of youth.
Then life starts to unfold and you get kicked in the tooth.
…See? My loathing stems from a deep-rooted place
In a town known as Whoville, where I can’t show my face…”

Around 1988, my mom successfully recorded most of Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on our BETA VCR.

My brother and I watched it about 70 times a year, most of those showings outside the holiday season. It’s the perfect Christmas redemption story—misanthropic green monster is annoyed by noisy neighbors and attempts to destroy their celebrations, only to have a change of heart after the Whos down in Whoville join hands, celebrate and sing. Spoiler: the Grinch’s heart grows three sizes, he learns the error of his ways, and he brings their stuff back. They all live happily ever after.

Or maybe not quite?

In the world of contemporary theater, authors have often found great success in asking the question—what happens after the “happily ever after,” and what is the fallout after “the end?” (See “Into the Woods,” “Dog Sees God” and “Clybourne Park” as perhaps the most famous examples.) “Who’s Holiday!” which opens Open Stage’s 34th season, is the story of Cindy Lou Who after her very first encounter with the Grinch on that fateful Christmas Eve.

You remember her, right? The wide-eyed 2-year-old who catches the Grinch in the act of shoving her Christmas tree up the chimney, asking the quavering question: “Why Santy Claus? Why?”

Fast-forward 40-plus years, and the pink pajama-clad toddler is a vodka-guzzling, pill-popping, Spandex-clad hermit who has been ostracized from Whoville. She now lives alone in a hand-me-down trailer at the top of Mount Crumpit. When we meet her, it is the night before Christmas, and Cindy Lou is throwing a holiday soiree. You, the audience, are among the first guests to arrive.

Cindy Lou’s life has become rather complicated after her first encounter with the Grinch, and the 90-minute story that follows is packed with a tale of drug abuse, poverty and starvation, and even murder. That said, this show is most definitely considered a comedy—albeit one packed with a whole lot of cussing, drinking and some highly inappropriate behavior. Oh, and it’s all done in Seuessian rhyme.

This one-woman show, originally featuring the phenomenal Lesli Margherita in the 2017 off-Broadway production, will make its Pennsylvania premiere at Open Stage this month, breaking in the brand-new, 60-seat Studio Theater. This show will also be the first play to open in Open Stage after the massive renovation to the space. It’s a tall order, considering Open Stage will be producing the 20th anniversary production of “A Christmas Carol” across the lobby in the Angino Family Theater at the same time. For those looking for a family-friendly tale of redemption, “A Christmas Carol” is definitely for you. For those seeking an adults-only evening of entertainment, “Who’s Holiday!” is your ticket of choice.

Stuart Landon (my aforementioned brother), who is entering his third year as producing director at Open Stage, will be directing me in this one-person outing. Landon is no stranger to the genre, having portrayed the indomitable Crumpet the Elf in “Santaland Diaries” at Open Stage from 2011-16. Cindy Lou is an exciting and terrifying character to play, and the challenge of bringing this minor Seuss character to life is a daunting one—she is crude, she is crass, and she is a highly aggressive flirt to boot. But despite her tasteless outfits, strident alcoholism and penchant for colorful four-letter-words, Cindy Lou is a complicated Who with tragic past and a heart of gold.

“Who’s Holiday!” is not for the faint of heart, but for those who enjoy irreverent humor, smutty stories, Grinch-themed shots and perhaps even bad Judy Garland impressions. Get your tickets to this twisted Christmas tale premiering at Open Stage this holiday season.

“Who’s Holiday!” runs Nov. 16 to Dec. 28 at Open Stage, 25 N. Court St., Harrisburg. Tickets can be purchased at www.opentagehbg.com or by calling the box office at 717-232-6736. Open Stage’s new walk-up box office hours are Monday through Friday, 4 to 6 p.m., and up to one hour before performances.

Upcoming Theater Events
At Open Stage
www.openstagehbg.com
717-232-6736

“TGIW: Thank God It’s Wednesday!”
Parody readings of your favorite shows from the ’80s and ’90s.
Every Wednesday at 9 p.m. in the Open Stage bar
Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27

“EFF (Erotic Fanfiction) Live!”
Embarrassingly awful readings of fanfiction by local performers.
Every Saturday at 9:45 p.m. in the Open Stage bar.
Nov. 2, 9, 23, 30

“& Anthony”
Jazz classics and standards by pianist Anthony Haubert in the new Open Stage bar.
Nov. 7, 8, 9, 15, 20 at 7:30 p.m.

“Lady Boy Sings the Blues”
Drag clown Mr. Treats takes on their greatest love: musical theater!
Nov. 20 to 29

“Who’s Holiday!”
A raunchy and hilarious one-woman show about the years following “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
Nov. 16 to Dec. 28

“A Christmas Carol”
The holiday classic returns for its 20th anniversary production.
Nov. 23 to Dec. 29

To Narnia and Back: The king of beasts comes to Harrisburg.

October 31, 2019 | by Tara Herweg-Mann

If you think you’ve seen all Gamut has to offer, Melissa Nicholson is about to shake up your conception of the professional theater group.

In recent years, Gamut’s season opener in downtown Harrisburg has tended toward adult-themed works by Shakespeare, Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams. This year, Executive Director Nicholson has something different in mind. She is at the helm as Gamut presents Joseph Robinette’s adaptation of C. S. Lewis’ perennial favorite, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”

Admittedly, this writer hasn’t read C.S. Lewis’ works, opting instead, in my youth, to read about a fantasyland called Sweet Valley. However, should anyone make a reference to Narnia, Aslan the lion, the White Witch or that tricky wardrobe, I know exactly what they mean. Such is the ubiquitous presence of Lewis’ creation in popular culture.

I sat down with Nicholson, and we spoke about the show and how her production team was planning on staging such an ambitious fantasy.

First of all, Nicholson has surrounded herself with skilled artisans to help realize her vision for the show.

Her costume designer, Stephanie Jones, outfitted Gamut’s Young Acting Co. when they ventured into otherworldly locales in “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Specialty prop designers Scott and Jen Kilander, both of whom have worked for Gamut extensively in the past (perhaps you remember the metal beam that bent so easily in “R.U.R.,” the handheld puppets that populated ancient Rome in “Julius Caesar,” or the very realistic-looking severed head brandished at the end of “Macbeth”), have designed a puppet maneuvered by not one, but three actors portraying the titular lion, Aslan. (James Mitchell, last seen in Narçisse Theatre Co.’s production of “Waiting for Godot,” gives Aslan his voice, and student actors Kaylee and Kassidy Kramer help in his physical portrayal.) Dan Burke, the fight choreographer, is again bringing his brand of “safe violence” to the Gamut stage, and I am told that there is a battle that involves every cast member, save two.

“We’re not denying the theatricality of the whole play,” Nicholson explained. “We’re not putting on a magic show.”

What that means for those in attendance is that, in the customary way of Gamut’s Young Acting Co., rather than trying to hide the machinery of a show, things like set changes will be executed by ensemble members of the cast in full view of the audience. The climactic encounter between Aslan and the White Witch (played by Amber Mann) is also steeped in the type of sorcery that is reserved for the theater—but I’m sworn to secrecy as to how they’re going to pull it off. (I’ll just say this: it sounds amazing.)

Speaking of the Young Acting Co., it should be noted that this production blends the traditions of the Young Acting Co. with those of Gamut’s Mainstage offerings. The cast is made up of adult professional actors, student actors who have worked with or studied at Gamut in the past, and brand-new faces, old and young. If you’ve never seen Melissa Nicholson working with young actors, it is a sight to behold. She draws rich performances from students at all levels of skill. Gamut’s most recent Young Acting Co. production, Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” led by an 8th-grader in the bard’s second-largest written role, could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with any Shakespearean production in the mid-Atlantic. That Nicholson is finally turning her hand to Gamut’s Mainstage should give theatergoers in our area even more incentive to see the finished product.

Nicholson hopes that, with a short running time (about two hours), families will be encouraged to come to Gamut as a unit to see “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” Though the books may be marketed toward young readers, the story itself explores themes that resonate with all ages—loyalty, family and the struggle of good versus evil. The journey to Narnia and back is sure to raise questions in young viewers and provoke discussions among audience members. That theater of any kind can be a catalyst for critical thinking and fruitful conversations is, if you ask the artists themselves, one of the chief reasons they create their art.

“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” opens on Friday, Nov. 15, at Gamut Theatre in downtown Harrisburg, and runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 8. There is no performance on Saturday, Nov. 16. Friday and Saturday performances start at 7:30 p.m., with the box office, Capital Blue Cross reception lobby and Peggy’s Pub open to the public starting at 6:30 p.m. Sunday matinées start at 2:30 p.m., with box office, lobby and bar open at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are available at www.gamuttheatre.org/tickets.

UPCOMING EVENTS
AT GAMUT THEATRE GROUP
www.gamuttheatre.org
717-238-4111

“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”
Dramatized by Joseph Robinette from the story by C.S. Lewis
Nov. 15 to Dec. 8
No show Nov. 16
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

Where He’s Supposed to Be: Following a health scare, Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline re-committed to his own well-being, as well as the city’s.

October 31, 2019 | by M. Diane McCormick

“What are you going to be doing in 2000?”

Brian Enterline’s sixth-grade yearbook asked that question. He said he would be a Harrisburg firefighter.

“I bought a house in the city, and the (firefighting) test came around in 1999, and I got hired by Chief Konkle in 2000,” Enterline said recently.

In that interview, Konkle asked where Enterline expected to be in 15 years. Enterline said, “I eventually want to sit where you’re sitting.”

“And you know, eventually I ended up here,” said Enterline, named acting chief in October 2013 and full chief one year later.

This is the story of a fire chief who sees the community as his boss. Who grew up to the sound of sirens from the neighborhood fire station. Who suffered a massive cardiac arrest and is channeling that scare into healthier lifestyles for himself and city firefighters.

Most Valuable Thing

In an office displaying a fraction of his firefighting memorabilia collection, Enterline shared a typical firefighter’s story.

He’s a Highspire boy who grew up near the fire station. He joined at age 16, segueing to Harrisburg as a volunteer, until the day he was hired as a professional. Working through the ranks, he rode “every seat in those fire trucks.”

“It gives you a look at every job position when you’re making decisions at the top,” he said. “I’m able to relate to each position because I was there.”

As chief, he managed the “ripple effects” of Harrisburg’s financial crisis and previous decades of neglect—gutted fleet, sagging facilities—even while being a “good steward of taxpayer dollars.”

“My personal philosophy has always been that government is here for the protection of the citizens,” he said. “And if I don’t have the resources—in people, equipment, stations and tools—then I’m failing what government’s main mission is.”

For Enterline, it starts with the mental and physical health of “our most valuable thing”—the city’s firefighters.

Weekly, they see trauma that most people might never experience in a lifetime. Responding to the shock when a retiree took his own life, he and the city firefighters’ union are learning to recognize warning signs and refer firefighters to any help they need.

And then there are the free yearly physicals to be offered in partnership with UPMC Pinnacle.

“Both from a health standpoint and from a family standpoint—and I know that my wife would agree, my kids would agree—you become ingrained in the fabric of the fire service, and sometimes your family unit suffers,” Enterline said. “It’s something I’ve learned since having my heart attack.”

A cardiac arrest at age 43, he said, “was not on my list of things to do.”

It was March 20, 2018. He was cutting wood and dismissing thoughts that he didn’t feel well, “because I’m the person that fixes everything.”

Fifteen minutes after driving himself to the hospital, his heart stopped, and doctors were opening a fully blocked artery.

“They had to do a little CPR to get me back,” he conceded. But recovery was “fairly miraculous.”

That was a Monday, and he walked out of the hospital—well, hopped out of the protocol-ordered wheelchair the second he cleared the doors—on Thursday. He started running more. He expects to do some 5Ks and hopes to run the Harrisburg Marathon.

Across the Landscape

Enterline likewise needs to manage Harrisburg’s often-bumpy political lines. He makes sure that he “listens to everybody, no matter what side of the aisle they’re on—or 12 sides of the aisle we have in today’s society. I work for every one of them in some way.”

He maintains a consistent message by focusing on his primary constituents—the city’s paid and volunteer firefighters—and the citizens they protect.

As an example, he developed a fruitful partnership with downtown developer Harristown when he visited a rehabbed, up-to-code rowhome and suggested that future projects have sprinkler systems.

Enterline remembered it as a “bumpy” start. Harristown President and CEO Brad Jones recalled “a nice moment in time when we got a chance to have a nice discussion and get on the same page.”

Harristown has sprinklered every project since, and the department now provides early input into all projects. Enterline is “very visible,” Jones said. “He’s a very popular, engaging advocate for the city and its safety.”

Harristown Senior Vice President Sharon Hassinger said that Enterline keeps public safety paramount but also makes the effort to recognize real-life issues—for instance, standing on the rooftop of one Harristown project to hammer out a solution for a problematic fire escape.

“He looks across the landscape of the entire city,” Hassinger said. “He sees a group of businesspeople who are trying. So, he would rather help them find a solution than have them walk away.”

On any day, Enterline might be dealing with state officials or homeless Harrisburgers. All have “the same brain and beating heart,” he said. Call him on the phone or stop him on the street, and you will get his full attention, said city resident Evelyn Hunt.

Last summer, Hunt called to complain about an unsanctioned fireworks display so splendorous it lacked only “Francis Scott Key there to write, because we had bombs bursting in air.” Enterline took his time explaining the changes in state fireworks laws that have bedeviled firefighters statewide.

Enterline is “an asset to the city of Harrisburg,” modeling a respectful, responsive tone that the entire department follows, Hunt said.

Enterline’s wife, Kellianne, teaches at Harrisburg Christian School. His 15-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter are “avid soccer players.” His 8-year-old daughter is “phenomenal at gymnastics.” He hopes to teach his children that, “people are people are people.” That, and, “You’ve got to work hard to be successful, because success doesn’t just come to you by sitting in a chair and waiting for that success to show up.”

The thank-you notes stored in Enterline’s credenza—thank you for helping my family, thank you for letting my child come to the fire station—tell him he’s where he’s supposed to be.

“When you have that community caring about you enough to send you a thank-you card, that just solidifies everything that we’re doing,” he said. “Well, not everything’s right. But the majority is. What we’re doing is absolutely the right thing because people are seeing the fruits of our labor.”

But You Can’t Park Here: The gang circles the block.

October 31, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck.

We all know the metaphor about the slow-motion train wreck—a disaster that everyone can see coming from far off but can’t seem to do anything to stop.

So, traveling northbound, I give you the new federal courthouse, quickly rising up in Midtown Harrisburg.

And, traveling southbound, I give you Harrisburg’s evergreen problem—parking.

Ka-boom.

Eventually.

I don’t consider myself much of a prognosticator. Heck, I got caught up in both the tech crash and, a few years later, the housing bubble. But even I can see this train wreck a’comin.

Back in 2010, the U.S. government, after years of searching, announced it finally had selected a site for its new federal courthouse—a slab of blighted land at the edge of Midtown.

As I recall, most people rejoiced at the news. On a chilly April morning nearly a decade ago, local pols and activists declared this to be the “right site,” one that would serve as a catalyst for redevelopment in the area and that didn’t require the wholesale destruction of a downtown neighborhood to accommodate the courthouse’s substantial security footprint.

After a shove from Harrisburg’s congressional delegation, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) finally broke ground last year, and the building is now taking shape at N. 6th and Reily streets.

All good, right?

That’s what I thought until about a year ago, when the city government began to fret about parking around the new courthouse, which is slated to open in early 2022.

It turns out that GSA typically offers on-site parking only for its most senior staff—in this case, its judges. Nearly everyone else has to depend upon, in the words of the federal government, “market-based parking solutions.”

So, here we have an almost $200 million construction project, an amount that, incidentally, could buy entire neighborhoods in Harrisburg, without enough parking for most full-time staff, for jurors, for visitors. The courthouse needs some 500 spaces, but is being built with just a few dozen on site. Whose idea was this?

Each city is different. Harrisburg is not Boston or Philly or another place with robust mass transit and countless “market-based parking solutions.” For that matter, Midtown Harrisburg isn’t even downtown Harrisburg with its numerous parking garages, thanks to former Mayor Steve Reed—the Johnny Appleseed of structured parking.

Midtown parking is already stressed, especially within two blocks of the new building, which is as distant as court officials want to be from their hundreds of privately owned spaces, according to a request for information issued last March.

Meanwhile, Harrisburg itself can’t help much. The city’s recent financial crisis prevents it from accessing the bond market. Therefore, it can’t borrow the $10 million or so needed to build an adequate parking garage.

It’s too bad, too, because Midtown desperately needs more parking. So, a municipal garage could have done double duty by offering more parking to an area that gets busier by the day. The city even knows where it would like to put one, on a blighted block just west of the site—if only it could.

Let me be clear: I fully support the new courthouse where it is located. I think that the corner of N. 6th and Reily is indeed the “right site,” and early indications are that the project—though still just a bunch of steel girders sticking into the sky—is already helping to revitalize the area.

But I find it unconscionable that a project of this size, cost and importance could be built without a solid plan of how people are going to, you know, get to it.

That responsibility falls on GSA and its tenant, the U.S. courts. Parking should be regarded as much a part of a project’s critical infrastructure as the roof, the courthouses, the offices, the halls and the bathrooms. Sure, the federal government may have the ability to dictate its own rules—and it evidently doesn’t want to offer parking. However, that doesn’t change the reality that, to do business in this new, beautiful, secure building, people will need to reach it.

Perhaps, in the end, some kind of parking Clark Kent will throw off his glasses and come to the rescue. Or maybe a solution will be cobbled together through a combination of smaller surface lots, downtown shuttle buses and, I don’t know, e-scooters.

However, there’s no escaping the fact that this massively expensive project was undertaken with the vague hope that someone, somehow, would deliver enough parking for it. And, as I’ve said numerous times before in this column, hope is not a strategy.

Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

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