Medical Institution: Dr. Brian Dechowitz retires, marking a new era for Pine Street Podiatry.

October 31, 2019 | by Barbara Trainin Blank

Dr. Avia Reuveni and Dr. Dechowitz

He’s been called an “institution” in downtown Harrisburg—a podiatrist who served the community faithfully for more than three decades on Pine Street.

Now, Dr. Brian Dechowitz is calling it quits, giving up his practice and primarily moving out of state, while a fellow physician with Harrisburg roots takes his place at Pine Street Podiatry.

It isn’t retirement in the typical sense. Dechowitz, who has been a caregiver to his wife, Glenda, for many years, needs to up the time and effort he devotes to her.

“Nov. 15 will mark the absolute last day of my practice,” he said.

Dechowitz founded his practice with an assist from a previous generation of podiatrists. Through friends and colleagues, he met Jack Pincus, a semi-retired podiatrist. He allowed Pincus and Julius Ogden, another a semi-retired podiatrist, to work in his new office for free.

“Even though Jack had been working only two afternoons a week and Julius, only three mornings a week, they still had very good reputations in downtown Harrisburg. So, I had access to their long list of previous patients,” Dechowitz said. “We truly were family. Jack would always be known from that point forward as my second father, my mentor and my friend.”

In fact, it was Pincus who advised Dechowitz to open an office downtown.

“Jack and Julius may have been the only podiatrists still practicing in the area at the time,” he said.

On the very first day in practice—July 1, 1986—Dechowitz treated 11 patients. On Aug. 23, 2019, he treated a new patient, number 11,897.

Another milestone was receiving an award from the Historic Harrisburg Association for his building “coming back from the dead”—his office having been essentially uninhabited from 1964 to 1986.

Bill Nichols, the owner of the Colonnade Restaurant across the street, had bought the buildings at 125 and 127 Pine St. and renovated them using historic tax credits.

“I saw the ‘for rent’ sign in the window, rented the buildings for six years and then bought them in 1992,” Dechowitz said.

While he stayed happily downtown, other podiatrists who had practiced in the area relocated to the suburbs, mostly for the parking.

“But this location was good to us,” with its wealth of government workers and senior citizen buildings, Dechowitz pointed out.

Besides, he purchased a lot next to the other two and converted it into space for parking.

His medical philosophy has been simple: “I try to treat patients the way I want to be treated. Most of my patients come via word of mouth.”

Another principle Dechowitz holds by is that one ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

“I am also proud to say that my record for preventing lower-extremity amputations, for (reducing) the number of visits that my patients make to the emergency room, for the number of days that my patients stay in the hospital for foot-related problems, and for the ordering of very expensive tests, such as MRIs, CAT scans, etc., is second to none,” he said.

Medicine isn’t the podiatrist’s only strength. Dechowitz took after his father, Fred, long the athletic director at the old Jewish Community Center on N. 3rd Street. The son excelled in sports, especially in tennis and golf, and has been inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame of central Pennsylvania.

Much as his medical practice has benefitted thousands and rewarded him professionally, his wife’s needs are most critical now.

“I am at a crossroads in my life,” Dechowitz said.

Aside from wanting to spend more time with his wife, Dechowitz said he’s “ready to start a new adventure.”

For now, though, patients are still coming. With just a little time left, he hoped to reach 12,000 before his mid-month retirement after 33 years.

Dr. Avia Reuveni, Dr. Dechowitz’s successor, will begin practicing at Pine Street Podiatry on Nov. 18. There will be an open house block party on Pine Street on Sunday, Nov. 10, from noon to 6 p.m., to say farewell to Dr. Dechowitz and welcome Dr. Reuveni.

Character Counts: You never know what you’ll find at this quirky Lancaster co-op.

October 31, 2019 | by Cathy Jordan

A brick archway leads to three rear 1900s-era warehouses full of memories and treasures.

The name on a green sign outside fits perfectly: Building Character. Its interior is a cool, open refuge, oozing character and interest. Visualize cement floors, exposed beam ceilings, steel piping and brick walls. Breathe in cinnamon and spice and a scent I fondly refer to as “grandma’s attic.”

Building Character opened on Oct. 5, 2007.

Once garages designed by Cassius Emlen Urban—a prolific architect who designed many beautiful old buildings in downtown Lancaster—the building remains in most of its original state.

Though it’s believed Urban produced over 273 drafts and 25 architectural styles, he devised a simple, red-brick row of one-story garages in the 300-block of N. Queen Street. Some residents might remember it as a historic warehouse, the former Lancaster Storage Co.

The current business owner, Marty Hulse, explained that when Lancaster Storage left, the then-owner wanted to raze it and put in parking. Fortunately for all you antique lovers, art admirers and Etsy shoppers, Lancaster City Historical Commission stepped in and voted to keep the structure. Eklund Development took over, transforming the building into its current retail space while keeping much of the original integrity.

Hulse intended Building Character as an architectural salvage shop. He rescued moldings and windows and cabinets from old homes and buildings then refurbished them for sale.

“A lot of things were coming down in Lancaster,” said Hulse. “To me, it was a social mission to keep those things out of landfills.”

Got Bored

Hulse is a collector of things he remembers and loves and is a self-dubbed “word nerd.” As a kid, he started a neighborhood newspaper named the Lafayette Gazette, “because I lived on Lafayette Street.” Headlines were set on his Fisher-Price Press, which he still owns.

“I collected magazine ads from Swatch,” he said. “I have a Swatch watch collection and still wear one every day.”

After graduating from Temple University, Hulse got a job reporting for the Delaware State News. Returning to PA, he became features copy editor for the York Daily Record. He eventually moved up to features senior editor for Lancaster Newspapers. In 2009, he shifted full-time to Building Character.

An artist browsed the salvage store one day and approached Hulse, asking if he’d be willing to rent out space.

“The architectural pieces weren’t selling, and demand grew for consignment,” he said.

Currently, 70-plus vendors rent three warehouses throughout 10,000 square feet.

“It’s a co-op, but it’s not all antiques,” Hulse said. “That comes from my lack of attention browsing other antique shops—I got bored.”

Building Character is a contemporary marketplace that sells recycled, re-purposed and handmade items. Inventory changes often. Have your coffee in one hand and keep your other hand free. Pick through vintage dishes (I bought dessert plates, then proudly displayed them heaped with iced birthday cake on my Facebook page), search through name-brand clothing, admire local art, upcycled jewelry, handmade gifts and cards, repurposed building pieces and memorabilia.

“I see this place as a creative outlet for office workers, teachers and those with an entrepreneurial spirit,” Hulse said.

Local Hammond’s pretzels are sold in front of Building Character’s checkout counter, along with Emma’s Amish Popcorn and locally made pet treats.

“We are more community-oriented, and that’s what sets us apart from other antique co-ops,” he said.

Hulse donates space to a working 1920s print shop, the Heritage Press Museum. The press gives live demonstrations and allows patrons to experience a printer’s job. I took home a couple of printed riddles for my kids to solve. Kept them busy while I wrote this article.

He also donates a stall to JP McCaskey’s art club, his high school alma mater.

“They sell their products, and the money goes back into art supplies,” he said.

Lot of Laughs

Original shopping bags from Hager’s millinery department are mounted on the staircase wall leading to a second-floor corner office. A picture of the façade of M. T. Garvin and Co. also graces the wall, as do photos of past retail industry giants.

“Lancaster has a strong retail past,” Hulse said. “And that continues to this day.”

A second-floor clothing stall leads right into the Lucky Marketing Co. workshop, Hulse’s production arm. There, he creates greeting cards, calendars, reproductive postcards, stickers, T-shirts, buttons, high school pendants, and old maps. On the day of my visit, an aproned elf busied herself pouring Christmas scents into candle molds.

While another elf diligently adhered prints onto tiles, Hulse pointed out the garment printer, mug printer, screen printer and foil pencil press.

Hulse handed me a “Golden Girls” printed bookmark. I couldn’t help but smile and gasp, much like “Golden Girl” Rose. General manager and friend, Joel Henry, had created a birthday gift of custom tiles pasted with “The Golden Girls” faces. That’s right—Blanche, Sophia, Dorothy and Rose.

“I love ‘The Golden Girls,’” said Hulse.

After Henry sold quite a few more sets on Etsy, Hulse decided to create a “Golden Girls” product line. The line is sold a few doors down Queen Street at his second shop, Madcap and Co.

“It’s a funky gift shop—a contemporary, upscale Spencer’s selling local, American-made, and fair trade products,” he said. “I love Lancaster. I grew up here, so we have a whole line of Lancaster products.”

The Lucky Marketing Co. also prints tiles and coasters with Lancaster landmarks, area codes and neighborhoods.

Hulse said that he tries to stay away from anything imported.

“My businesses are the epitome of shop local,” he said.

He also designs a line of crass greeting cards appropriately named, “Totally Inappropriate Cards.” His logo—“When you care enough to send the very worst.” I giggled my way through the line and bought quite a few.

“We like to have fun and get a lot of laughs,” Hulse said.

What started with a simple vision has grown to 70 vendors, three businesses and nine employees.

“Our employees are willing to be adaptable, try new things, and give customers what they want,” Hulse said.

Building Character is located at 342 N. Queen St., Lancaster. For more information, call 717-394-7201 or visit www.buildingcharacter.biz.

Community Corner: Notable November Events

October 31, 2019 | by Missy Smith

November Community Corner

Autos & Ales
Nov. 1: Join the AACA Museum, 161 Museum Dr., Hershey, for the 10th Anniversary of Autos & Ales, with regional breweries, dozens of craft brew beers for sampling, live music, a wing competition, and this year’s featured brewer, Mad Chef, 6 to 10 p.m. Expanded food offerings included with admission. www.aacamuseum.org

Organ Concert
Nov. 1: Market Square Church, 20 S. 2nd St., Harrisburg, presents “Organ Spooktacular,” with three of the area’s finest organists performing eerie music, beginning at 7:30 p.m. www.marketsquarechurch.org

Community Arts
Nov. 2: Christ Church, United Church of Christ, 200 S. White Oak St., Annville, hosts Community Arts Day, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This free event is a celebration of the arts in the community with live performances, art exhibits, free kids’ art activities and free refreshments. www.ccucc.org

HBG Flea
Nov. 2: Shop the HBG Flea for local art, vintage treasures and curated curios, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Strawberry Square, Harrisburg. www.hbgflea.com

Election Lunch
Nov. 5: New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland, will offer an Election Day lunch in Foundation Hall, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stop in before or after you vote for homemade baked goods and lunch. www.newcumberlandlibrary.org

Fashion Event
Nov. 5: The 22nd annual Chic PHantastique fashion event will be held at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel, 4650 Lindle Rd., Harrisburg, at 10:30 a.m., with proceeds benefitting the UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg Women and Babies Center. Guests can enjoy a boutique, basket raffles, silent auction and lunch with a runway fashion show with designer Arti Shah. www.pinnaclehealth.org

Mid-Day Getaway
Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27: Unwind over lunch break at the McCormick Riverfront Library, 101 Walnut St., Harrisburg. Bring your lunch to the library, 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., for coloring, card games, board games or low-stress activities. www.dcls.org

Curiosity Kids
Nov. 7: Young visitors, ages 3 to 6, and families can enjoy “Curiosity Kids—Build It!” at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 11:30 a.m. Explore building using everyday items and see if you can solve the building challenges. www.statemuseumpa.org

Dinner for a Cause
Nov. 7: Vision Resources of Central PA will host the 8th annual “Evening in the Shadows” at The 903, 903 Spring Garden Dr., Middletown, for a multi-course dinner and blindness awareness event, beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are $80. www.vrocp.org

Campout Fundraiser
Nov. 8-9: Central Penn College’s Armed Forces Association club will host an all-night campout to highlight the issue of homelessness among military veterans from Friday, Nov. 8 at 4 p.m. to Saturday, Nov. 9 at 9 a.m. The organization will sell T-shirts and will collect donations. All proceeds benefit JFT Recovery & Veterans Support Services in Lemoyne. www.centralpenn.edu

Craft Show
Nov. 8-9: Winters Heritage House Museum, 47 E. High St., Elizabethtown, hosts the 29th annual Elizabethtown Heritage Craft Show, Nov. 8, 4 to 8 p.m., and Nov. 9, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch and baked goods will be available. A $2 admission fee or food bank donation is requested. Admission is free after noon on Nov. 9. Museum members and students are free. www.elizabethtownhistory.org

Foreign Film
Nov. 8, 22: Join Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, for “The Pool,” a film from India, on Nov. 8, and “The Last Resort,” from the United States, on Nov. 22. Showings are at 2 and 7 p.m. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Volunteer Work Day
Nov. 9: Head to Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, to help with continuing park and habitat enhancement projects, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Snacks, tools and work gloves will be provided. Bring a water bottle. Refreshments will be available. www.wildwoodlake.org

Gluten Free Expo
Nov. 9: The 7th annual Central PA Gluten Free Expo will be held at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, 1150 Camp Hill Bypass, Camp Hill, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with more than 50 local and national vendor booths, educational presentations and demonstrations, door prizes, gluten-free samples and keynote speaker Jules Shepard. www.glutenfreeexpopa.com

Night Walk
Nov. 9: Soak up the spirit of the night with a guided walk at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 6 to 8 p.m. Begin at the Olewine Pavilion by the nature center with a short program to discover night-time experiments and games. All ages are welcome to attend this flat, easy, one-mile walk. Cost is $5 per child; chaperones are free. www.wildwoodlake.org

Guitars & Gratitude
Nov. 10: Help Homeland Hospice mark its 10th anniversary with “Guitars, Gifts and Gratitude” featuring musical artist Ben Gallaher at Scottish Rite Theatre, 2701 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Performances start at 2 p.m. www.homelandathome.org.

20 in Their 20s
Nov. 14: Join Harrisburg Young Professionals in honoring “20 in Their 20s,” a group of young people who are already doing amazing things. The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. at Scottish Rite Cathedral, 2701 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. Tickets cover cocktail hour, a buffet meal and the awards ceremony. www.hyp.org

Land Preservation
Nov. 14: Join Manada Conservancy at East Hanover Township Building, 8848 Jonestown Rd., Grantville, at 7 p.m. to celebrate a successful land preservation year. The program is free and open to the public. www.manada.org

3rd in The Burg
Nov. 15: 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, 6 to 9 p.m. www.thirdintheburg.org

Wildlife Ornaments
Nov. 16: Penn State Master Gardeners in Cumberland County hosts a Wildlife Tree Ornaments Workshop for youth ages 4 to 12, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Cumberland County Extension Office, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle. Make and take home feeders and natural ornaments to decorate outdoor trees and feed wildlife. Cost is $10 per child, which covers the cost of all supplies. www.extension.psu.edu

New Member Social
Nov. 19: Join Harrisburg Young Professionals for its new member social at Café 1500, 1500 N. 6th St., Harrisburg, 6 to 8 p.m. This event is for new and prospective members who would like to learn more about HYP. Please RSVP to attend. A cash bar and full menu will be available. www.hyp.org

Luncheon
Nov. 20: West Shore Chamber of Commerce, 4211 Trindle Rd., Camp Hill, will host a member benefits luncheon, 12 to 1:30 p.m. Chamber members and non-members are invited for a complimentary lunch to learn more about the chamber and to network. Reservations are required. www.wschamber.org

Climate Call
Nov. 20: PennFuture hosts “A Call for Climate Action,” 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Dixon University Center, 2986 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg. Learn about environmental organizations and how to make a difference in your community. www.pennfuture.org

Networking Breakfast
Nov. 21: Messiah College networking breakfast with Rob Parker is slated for 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. The event takes place in Martin Commons, One College Ave., Mechanicsburg. Contact 717-796-5252 or https://events.attend.com/f/1383790352#/reg/0/.

Books on Tap
Nov. 21: Dauphin County Library System hosts Books on Tap at the Sturges Speakeasy, 400 Forster St., Harrisburg, 5 to 6 p.m. The book club meets to dive into new genres and forms while getting to know other readers in a social setting, This month’s book is Beatriz Williams’ “The Golden Hour.” www.dcls.org

Business After Hours
Nov. 21: Mingle with business professionals from 5 to 7 p.m. at AACA Museum, 161 Museum Dr., Hershey, for the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC’s free networking event, hosted by Classic Drycleaners and Laundromats. www.harrisburgregionalchamber.org

Middle East Strategy
Nov. 21: The Foreign Policy Association of Harrisburg hosts Michael S. Bell, a retired Army colonel now with the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., in a talk on U.S. strategy for the Middle East at the West Shore Country Club in Camp Hill, 7:30 p.m. The free talk is open to the public. A dinner precedes the talk. www.fpaharrisburg.org

Holiday Marketplace
Nov. 21-22: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission hosts the Holiday Marketplace in Village Square of the State Museum, 300 North St., Harrisburg, Nov. 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Nov. 22, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Shop for unique gifts from a variety of PHMC’s historic sites and museums from throughout PA. www.statemuseumpa.org

Holiday Parade
Nov. 23: Head downtown for Harrisburg’s annual holiday parade with marching bands, giant parade balloons, floats, dance and step team performances and more, at 12 p.m. There will be food trucks and carnival games, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. An awards ceremony, visits with Santa and complimentary cookies and hot chocolate will be held at Strawberry Square, 3 p.m. www.harrisburgpa.gov

Holiday Bazaar
Nov. 24: Kick-start your seasonal shopping at The Circle School, 727 Wilhelm Rd., Harrisburg, for their annual Holiday Bazaar, 1 to 5 p.m. Members of the school community offer handcrafted and gift-quality items for sale, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the school. Soup, bread and hot beverages will be provided. www.circleschool.org

Polar Bear Express
Nov. 29-Dec. 14: Ride trolleys and enjoy decorations and lights along the track at Rockhill Trolley Museum, 430 Meadow St., Rockhill Furnace, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Get warm by a campfire and sing carols. Hot chocolate and cookies are included in the fare. Cost is $6 for kids and $8 for adults. www.rockhilltrolley.org

Odd Ones Bizarre
Nov. 30: The Millworks, 340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg, hosts The Odd Ones Holiday Bizarre, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Shop for unique, handcrafted items for the holiday season at this annual alternative arts and crafts event. www.millworksharrisburg.com

Festival of Trees
Nov. 30-Dec. 22: View Christmas trees decorated with handmade ornaments and trimmed by local garden clubs at the Fort Hunter Tavern House, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, Saturdays and Sundays, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Trees are available for raffle, and a selection of ornaments are for sale. www.forthunter.org

Toy Train Exhibit
Nov. 30-Dec. 22: Keystone Model Railroad Historical Society returns to Fort Hunter Centennial Barn, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, with a display of HO gauge trains that travel over a large layout representing communities in central PA, Saturdays and Sundays, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. www.forthunter.org

Forging a Path: PAATH 15 aids survivors of human trafficking, serves as nationwide model.

October 31, 2019 | by Karen Hendricks

Anastasia Joy* calls it the skeleton in her closet.

“I didn’t tell anyone about that part of my life until the FBI got involved,” said the 25-year-old Harrisburg-area resident.

She’s referring to two years of her life, from age 17 to 19, when she ran away. The straight-A student was months from graduation, despite years of an unstable home life.

“I found out I was being moved once again, and I snapped—walked out of school, and ran away,” she said.

Born in Russia, Anastasia came to the United States to be adopted at the age of 8. Instead, she spent most of her childhood in the foster care system throughout central Pennsylvania.

So, eight years ago, homeless and on the run, she quickly realized that, “I was very naïve. And when you have nothing, you do things you never thought you would do.”

She met him at a gas station.

“He asked if I needed a ride,” she said. “It was cold, and I didn’t care at that point.”

She ended up in the Poconos, and he became her trafficker.

“It started quickly, and he painted this glorified version of what my life could be. He was charming, nice and kind,” she said. “That’s how so many [traffickers] trick women into [sex trafficking]. I didn’t understand what was happening until it was happening. I needed a roof over my head, and I did what he told me.”

He set her up in a hotel where she saw clients. He gave her drugs, alcohol and “had me working like a slave,” she said. When she questioned him or refused specific sexual activities, he threatened her.

“I wasn’t a citizen of the country—he knew my name, he had my papers, and he threatened to call immigration,” she said. “I tried to leave several times. He threatened to hurt my [adoptive] family. I was trapped.”

One day, he beat her until she was unconscious. When she woke up, she climbed out of a hotel window and started running. She was found, passed out, aside a highway and taken to a hospital where she recovered from a concussion.

She didn’t fully realize she was a victim of human trafficking—something experts say is “normal” in trafficking cases.

“I moved on with my life, earned my citizenship, got a job, but it’s not like life got better. I was used to men hurting me, so I went through two abusive relationships and had a child,” she said.

She found her way back to the Harrisburg area, where she “put everything in the back of my head.”

“I’ve been clean for two years, have partial custody of my son, and my life is normal—I’m in school, I have a job,” she said. “But about a year ago, the FBI showed up, put his mug shot in my face and said, ‘We need your help.’”

In March, she testified against her trafficker during eight hours on the witness stand. A federal grand jury found 37-year old Fredrick Brown of Monroe County guilty of sex and drug trafficking charges. He was sentenced to 33 years in prison.

A Model

Rhonda Hendrickson, vice president of programs at PAATH 15—the Pennsylvania Alliance Against Trafficking in Humans, Route 15— can’t comment on Anastasia’s case specifically, except to say the outcome is “definitely outside the norm.”

“It’s not uncommon that traffickers use drug control on victims of commercial sex exploitation, forcing women to sell their bodies, with a lot of violence and intimidation tactics,” she said. “It’s common for victims to not show up to testify.”

Hendrickson’s work in anti-human trafficking began in 2009. By 2010, the South Central Pennsylvania Human Trafficking Response Team was one of the first in the state. The collaborative PAATH 15 was launched in 2014, under the umbrella of the YWCA Greater Harrisburg, connecting five rape crisis centers, four human trafficking response teams and additional resources along the 12-county, 8,400-square mile Route 15 corridor from the New York to Maryland state lines.

Also in 2014, Pennsylvania enacted Act 105, an anti-human trafficking law. It defines two types of human trafficking—sex and labor trafficking—occurring under force, fraud or coercion. Human trafficking is the second-largest criminal industry in the world, behind drug trafficking.

PAATH 15—primarily funded by federal grants—provides services to survivors and educates and trains the public, police departments and employees in specific industries to identify potential victims.

“We were originally one of two programs funded nationally,” Hendrickson said. “The PAATH 15 program presents a model of services, using a shelter recovery program, and now we’re a model for other programs around the country.”

She has traveled across the country to advise other federally funded programs, including California’s.

Due to “increased awareness,” Hendrickson said, there’s been a 200-percent jump in the identification of human trafficking victims within the 12-county region, resulting in more than 300 victims receiving services since 2014.

“The trauma of a trafficking victim is severe and complex,” she said. “It takes a long time to work through services.”

Define Your Future

Gina Abromitis spent 21 years as a Dauphin County parole officer. Now, she provides PAATH 15 outreach and training.

She’s personally trained six area police departments to identify human trafficking victims—during routine traffic stops, for example—and use Act 105.

“Most victims are in the vulnerable population,” she said. “Runaways have a one-in-three chance within the first 48 hours of being picked up by traffickers.”

As for Anastasia, she wants her story to “open up awareness.” Her relationship with her adoptive family is mended, and they are proud of her for testifying. She is left with a physical scar, and she continues to work on the emotional scars.

“I knew if I didn’t help the FBI, [Brown] was going to do exactly what he did to me, to another vulnerable 17-year-old girl, and he had to be stopped,” she said. “I knew it would awaken a lot of dark memories for me, but I told them everything.”

During the sentencing phase, she even told Brown that she forgave him.

Her long-term career goal is to work with fellow human-trafficking survivors.

“I’ve been there,” she said. “You can’t define your past, but you can define your future.”

For more information on the Pennsylvania Alliance Against Trafficking in Humans, visit www.educateandadvocate-paath.com. For information about human trafficking awareness training, call the YWCA at 717-234-7931. The National Human Trafficking Hotline is 1-888-373-7888.

*Last name withheld

October News Digest

October 31, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Stormwater Fee Debated

Capital Region Water took its case for a stormwater fee to Harrisburg City Council last month, explaining how and why the utility expects to implement the new fee starting Jan. 1.

At the beginning of a 2½-hour meeting, Charlotte Katzenmoyer, CEO of Capital Region Water (CRW), explained the proposed fee to council members, which she said was necessary to pay some of the cost of improving the city’s obsolete sewer infrastructure.

“We have to upgrade our system and reduce stormwater flows,” she said. “There is a lot of deferred maintenance, so we have a lot of catching up to do.”

In June, the CRW board launched a process that may culminate with a separate stormwater fee at the beginning of 2020. Under the plan, most residential customers would pay $74 a year, or $6.15 with each monthly bill, though larger residential and commercial property owners would pay more, depending on the amount of impervious surface on their land.

Currently, stormwater costs are included in the wastewater portion of a customer’s monthly bill. CRW officials have said that, with a separate stormwater fee, wastewater rates should rise more slowly than they have in recent years.

CRW is under a partial consent agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce the flow of pollution into area waterways. Much of the problem is due to the city’s obsolete combined sewer system, which discharges untreated wastewater into streams and the Susquehanna River during moderate and heavy rainfalls.

To help address the issue, CRW plans to spend $315 million to upgrade the sewer system and implement green infrastructure over the next 20 years.

CRW officials told council members that the stormwater fee, which will raise $5.2 million a year under the proposed rate structure, was a more equitable way to pay for system upgrades than through the wastewater portion of the bill, as owners with more impervious surfaces on their properties would pay a greater amount.

Following CRW’s presentation, Mayor Eric Papenfuse criticized CRW for proposing a stormwater fee absent a final agreement with the EPA. He said that the proposed fee might not cover the improvements mandated by the federal environmental agency.

“We’re spending $315 million on a plan because that’s what we can afford, but it doesn’t solve the problem,” Papenfuse said. “If we want to get to 95-percent compliance, or whatever the EPA mandates, we don’t have a plan that works for us, by your own admission.”

Katzenmoyer said that the $315 million investment would reduce wastewater flows into the Susquehanna River by 82 percent. She projected a total cost of $600 million to be in full compliance, with a timeframe of 65 years to achieve that.

CRW board Chairman Marc Kurowski said that discussions with the EPA indicate that the federal agency is aware that Harrisburg is a relatively poor city and needs a lengthy time period to achieve a 95-percent compliance rate. He also said that CRW didn’t want to wait for a final agreement with the EPA due to years of deferred maintenance to the system.

“To wait to implement the fee until the consent decree says this is what you need to do, it’s too late,” he said.

Papenfuse further said that he believes that too much of the burden will fall on Harrisburg’s lower-income residents, especially renters, since landlords presumably would pass on the fee to their tenants.

Katzenmoyer said that CRW plans to offer larger property owners, such as apartment building owners, credits for reducing the amount of impervious surfaces on their land, which could lower their overall burden.

Hanging over the meeting was a notice that the city issued in late July asking private water companies to respond to a request for information, which led to interviews with four respondents. Papenfuse has repeatedly stated that the meetings are “preliminary” and don’t mean that the city intends to sell the water/sewer system.

Polling Places Change

Many Harrisburg voters will need to cast their ballots in a new polling place this month, as Dauphin County had made numerous location changes to comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

For the Nov. 5 general election, voters in seven Harrisburg polling stations will have new locations, said Gerald Feaser, director of the county’s Bureau of Elections and Voter Registration.

In 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice surveyed a portion of the county’s polling stations, finding “many” to be difficult to access for people with disabilities. Then, last year, the county and the department reached an agreement meant to increase accessibility. As a result, the following polling stations are changing:

Harrisburg 1-1
Old: Comfort Inn/Passage to India, 525 S. Front St.
New: UPMC Pinnacle/Life Team Facility, 1000 Paxton St.

Harrisburg 4
Old: St. Michael Evangelical Lutheran Church, 118 State St.
New: MLK Jr. City Government Building, 10 N. 2nd St.

Harrisburg 7-2
Old: Capital Presbyterian Church, 1401 Cumberland St.
New: Downey Elementary School, 1313 Monroe St.

Harrisburg 9-4
Old: Bellevue Community Center, Briarcliff & Oakwood Rds.
New: John Harris High School Field House, 2451 Market St.

Harrisburg 10-1
Old: Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, 2121 N. 3rd St.
New: Goodwin Memorial Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 2430 N. 3rd St.

Harrisburg 10-3
Old: Hadee Mosque, 245 Division St.
New: Scottish Rite Cathedral, 2701 N. 3rd St.

Harrisburg 10-4
Old: Teamsters Local #776, 2552 Jefferson St.
New: Scottish Rite Cathedral, 2701 N. 3rd St.

In addition, for Harrisburg 6 (Susquehanna Art Museum) and Harrisburg 9-3 (Edison Village), the building will remain the same, but the polling location in the building will change.

Council Rejects Housing Director Choice

Harrisburg City Council last month rejected a top administration appointment, with the mayor stating that the decision imperils key city housing programs.

By a 4-2 vote, council turned down the appointment of Franchon Dickinson as the city’s new director of building and housing, the second time this year council members had refused to confirm her appointment.

Following the vote, Dickinson, who was serving as interim department director, resigned her job with the city.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse railed against the vote, saying that Dickinson’s departure endangers two critical housing programs—the annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and the city’s Lead Hazard Reduction Program.

“There is no way this can be understood as anything other than pure dysfunction on the part of City Council,” he said, following the meeting.

Council members Ben Allatt, Ausha Green, Danielle Bowers and Dave Madsen voted against the appointment, while council President Wanda Williams and Councilman Westburn Majors voted in favor. Councilwoman Shamaine Daniels was absent from the meeting.

In June, council voted 4-3 against the appointment.

Just hours earlier, Dickinson had hosted a city hall ceremony, in which she accepted a check for $5.6 million from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to continue the city’s lead abatement program for five years.

Papenfuse said that Dickinson was fundamental in securing both CDBG funds and the federal lead abatement grant and that, without her leadership, both programs were at risk.

“This puts our HUD funding in jeopardy,” he said.

PennDOT May Consider I-83 Changes

The PA Department of Transportation might consider making changes to its design for the widening of I-83 that would reduce the project’s impact on the community, Harrisburg’s mayor said last month.

At a City Council legislative session, Mayor Eric Papenfuse said that PennDOT officials seemed receptive to the preliminary findings of the city’s transportation consultants, Kittelson & Associates, during a Sept. 16 meeting.

“It was a robust discussion of Kittelson’s findings,” Papenfuse told council members.

In June, the city hired the company for $72,500 to conduct a traffic and community impact study of the commonwealth’s proposal to double the number of lanes running through the city.

The study analyzes PennDOT’s widening plan, which envisions as many as 12 lanes and new interchanges, and is determining whether alternatives exist to reduce the project’s footprint and the impact on the community.

Kittelson is expected to release its final report in December, but shared its preliminary findings during the September meeting with PennDOT, Papenfuse said.

Kittelson believes that the footprint of the project can be reduced to lessen the impact on numerous homes and businesses in south Harrisburg threatened by the expansion, and PennDOT seemed receptive to the firm’s ideas, the mayor said.

City Engineer Wayne Martin later explained that Kittelson is recommending reducing the size of the project from 12 to 10 lanes by eliminating two collector/distributor lanes, which are lanes that parallel and connect to the main travel lanes.

Other recommendations include redesigning the proposed 19th Street and Paxton Street ramps to further reduce the impact on the neighborhood.

“PennDOT is committed to doing what it can to minimize the footprint,” Papenfuse said. “It seems encouraging at this point.”

More Downtown Apartments

A plan for a downtown Harrisburg office building has evolved and now will consist of two separate projects—one residential and one office.

Harristown Enterprises has decided to split a Market Square project into two pieces, said CEO Brad Jones.

The first building, an existing, century-old office building at 17 S. 2nd St., now will become a 30-unit, market-rate apartment building with a mix of one- and two-bedroom units, with retail or restaurant space on the first floor, Jones said. That six-story project will go before the city’s Planning Commission this month.

The neighboring building, new construction at 21 S. 2nd St., still will become an office building, Jones said.

Originally, Harrisburg-based Harristown had planned one large, interconnected office building spanning both sites, but hasn’t been able to secure an anchor tenant for it.

“We had a number of prospects, but didn’t find the right deal on that,” Jones said.

In 2017, Harristown acquired 21 S. 2nd St. and later knocked down the small, dilapidated building on that site, which now is an empty lot. Last year, it bought the building next door, 17 S. 2nd St., most recently the home of the Skarlatos & Zonarich law firm, which has relocated to Strawberry Square.

Jones said that he didn’t want 17 S. 2nd St. to sit empty, possibly for years, while his company searched for a large anchor tenant for the office complex, nor could Harristown build it on spec. So, they decided to convert that existing building into apartments, as demand has been strong for other downtown residential projects.

Over the past few years, Harristown has built—or is building—about 150 apartment units in downtown Harrisburg, mostly conversions from aging office buildings. Its largest project, two attached, mid-century buildings on the 100-block of Pine Street, will deliver 74 units early next year.

Meanwhile, Harristown continues to search for an anchor office tenant for 21 S. 2nd St. Jones said that he envisions that new building to be four to six stories tall, with 10,000 to 15,000 square feet of new office space. Harristown would like to break ground on it in 2021, but timing depends on interest, he said.

2nd Street Design Chosen

Median strips have triumphed over a dedicated bike lane, as Harrisburg last month announced the winning design for its two-way 2nd Street conversion.

The city administration stated that residents overwhelmingly preferred “concept 1,” which features a center left-turn lane, along with partial median strips, along the two-mile stretch from Forster to Division streets.

“The public feedback greatly favored Concept 1, and so the city is ready to move forward with next steps towards its implementation,” according to a press release.

The competing design, “concept 2,” included a protected bike lane, but no center lane.

“That’s the main difference,” Mayor Eric Papenfuse told TheBurg previously. “Do you want a center lane with medians, or do you want a bike lane? We can’t accommodate both.”

The winning design also would sacrifice fewer parking spaces. The design would mean the loss of 70 spaces, as opposed to 83 under concept 2, yielding a total of 550 street parking spaces on N. 2nd from Forster to Division streets.

The design itself is not primarily responsible for the parking loss. Under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, the city must make intersections ADA-compliant whenever it undertakes significant roadwork, which then reduces parking capacity.

The city said that 65 percent of respondents, who voted both in person and online, preferred concept 1 and that 87 percent of respondents wanted the street returned to two-way traffic through Midtown and Uptown Harrisburg.

In the 1950s, 2nd Street was made into a three-lane mini-highway to accommodate commuters and has remained that way since. Papenfuse has said that he expects the $5.7 million project to begin next year and be completed in 2021.

Harrisburg Finances Stable

The first six months of Harrisburg’s financials are in the books, and what’s the verdict?

Steady as she goes, according to the city’s finance and budget officials, who gave an update last month to City Council.

City Budget Manager Erika Regalado said that, for the first two quarters of 2019, revenues came in about on budget. Property tax revenue was flat, but local income taxes came in stronger than expected, indicating a robust local employment picture.

“The economy is steady, and it’s growing, and unemployment is low,” she said.

Her presentation echoed the one that Bruce Weber, director of the city’s Bureau of Financial Management, offered a week earlier to the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, a state-appointed body tasked with approving a five-year financial plan for the city.

Weber said that he expected current trends to continue through the rest of the year.

The city’s 2019 budget totals nearly $110 million, which includes a $70.8 million general fund, a $20.6 million neighborhood services fund and a $9.8 million debt service fund.

CRW Receives State Loan

Capital Region Water is in line to receive a multi-million-dollar state loan that should provide a boost to its ongoing battle against stormwater runoff.

Gov. Tom Wolf’s office announced last month that CRW would receive a $13-million, low-interest loan for green infrastructure projects in several Harrisburg neighborhoods, including South Allison Hill and Uptown.

CRW’s loan from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) constituted a fair chunk of the $98 million in water infrastructure funding announced by Wolf’s office. In all, 11 counties received funding for a variety of drinking water and wastewater projects.

In Harrisburg, the loan, which carries an interest rate of 1 percent, will allow CRW to initiate two major projects next year, said Tanya Dierolf, CRW sustainability and strategic projects manager.

The first project will take place in the heart of Allison Hill around the intersections of Derry, 14th and 15th streets. CRW will install a variety of green infrastructure, including tree trenches, planter boxes and catch basins, along with new, ADA-compliant ramps, Dierolf said.

The second project planned for 2020 will take place Uptown near the Camp Curtin YMCA. That project will include planters, bumpouts, inlets and catch basins, as well as new ADA-compliant ramps, Dierolf said.

From 2021-24, the loan will fund additional stormwater projects in Uptown Harrisburg and near Paxton Creek, she said.

CRW is under a partial consent decree with the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection to slash pollutant levels flowing into area waterways. Much of the problem lies with Harrisburg’s obsolete combined sewer system, which allows untreated stormwater and wastewater to flow into the Susquehanna River during moderate and heavy rainfalls.

CRW plans to invest $315 million over the next 20 years to upgrade its sewer system and install green infrastructure, which is a major part of its plan to reduce stormwater flows through its system.

Rezoning Gets Approval

A Harrisburg builder is a step closer to developing in a Midtown neighborhood, as the city Planning Commission has approved a zoning change that would allow a denser, more mixed-use neighborhood.

Seven Bridges Development received approval last month to rezone about 14 city blocks just north of the Broad Street Market. The zoning change from “residential medium neighborhood” to “commercial neighborhood” would permit greater height, density and mix of uses in the Marketplace townhouse neighborhood.

“The idea is take vacant parcels and give Midtown more opportunities for residential and commercial,” said Seven Bridges attorney Christopher Rice of the Carlisle-based Martson Law Offices.

In late 2005, the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority sold 71 individual lots to State College-based S&A Homes for $1 apiece. S&A built a handful of houses then stopped, causing the authority recently to buy back the undeveloped parcels. In late April, the authority designated Seven Bridges as the potential developer of the remaining 60 lots in the Marketplace neighborhood,

City Planning Director Geoffrey Knight said that Seven Bridges would need to return to the planning commission to get its land use plans approved for individual projects, regardless of whether the zoning change is made.

“It will allow more development to occur by right, but it won’t exempt any new project from going through the land development process,” he said.

In the end, the planning commission voted 4-2 in favor of the change, with commissioners Anne Marek and Ausha Green dissenting.

Harrisburg City Council now must approve the proposed zoning amendment.

Downtown Office Building Planned

Harristown Development and Select Capital Commercial Properties are teaming to build a new, mixed-use building in the center of the 300-block of Market Street, directly across from Strawberry Square.

“This is the last area on Market Street in the core of downtown that needs redevelopment,” said Harristown CEO Brad Jones. “This is the final piece.”

The developers envision a 10- to 12-story, 100,000-plus-square-foot office and retail building at 307 to 313 Market St. The building, called 311 Market Street, also would have several floors of parking and might include residential space.

For the past few years, Harristown has been purchasing properties to assemble the site. Recently, the company closed on the final, and largest, piece, buying the former Rite Aid drug store from the Camp Hill-based company for just over $1 million.

Jones said that plans are to demolish the existing structures, probably next year. In the meantime, the developers hope to recruit an anchor tenant.

If construction is delayed following demolition, the developers would turn the site into a “pocket park” in the interim, a space that could be used for events, Jones said.

“We would have a nice transitional use,” he said.

Harristown this year applied for a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant in the amount of $5 million for the project, which is estimated to cost $25 to $40 million in all. It didn’t receive the funds, but will apply again next year, Jones said.

Home Sales, Prices Up

Harrisburg area home sales jumped in September and prices also rose thanks to a drop in mortgage rates, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In the three-county region, home sales increased to 607 units, a jump of 18.1 percent over September 2018, while the median home sales price rose 5.1 percent to $181,000, GHAR said last month.

In Dauphin County, 292 housing units sold versus 254 in the year-ago period, and the median sales price increased to $167,500 compared to $164,900. Cumberland County saw home sales increase to 286 units from 233, while the median price rose to $209,950 from $189,000 in September 2018.

In Perry County, home sales increased by two units, to 29, while the median price was unchanged at $149,900, compared to the year-ago period, according to GHAR.

Overall, sales inventory was down by about 10 percent compared to September 2018, GHAR said.

“The sharp drop in mortgage rates over the past year has created additional demand,” said GHAR, in a press release.

So Noted

Amma Johnson has been named Harrisburg’s new director of the Department of Community and Economic Development. Johnson also owns her own boutique, AMMA JO, in Strawberry Square. The city administration last month also appointed Jamal Jones as the new director of business development and LERTA administrator.

Anna Pantalone has joined Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania as a new staff member. Pantalone is a licensed occupational therapist specializing in assisting people who are blind or visually impaired.

David Schankweiler has resigned from the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, the state-appointed board formed to approve and oversee Harrisburg’s five-year financial plan. Shankweiler was replaced by vice-chair Audry Carter.

Doggie Delights debuted last month in the Broad Street Market, offering a line of home-baked dog treats, as well as packaged dog snacks. It’s the second location for owners Donnie and Kelly Farner, who also have a stand in the West Shore Farmers Market.

Eric Darr, president of Harrisburg University, will receive the 2019 Catalyst Award from the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC. Other Catalyst winners include Claudia Williams of the Human Zone, Todd Snovel of the PA Commission on LGBTQ+ Affairs, Blake Lynch of the Harrisburg Police Bureau, state Rep. Sheryl Delozier, the creative services company Triscari, Sylvia Hepler of Launching Lives and UGI Utilities.

Elementary Coffee Co. opened its first standalone shop last month at 256 North St. in Harrisburg, with a grand opening planned for this month’s 3rd in the Burg on Nov. 15. Owner Andrea Grove started her coffee business with a stand in the Broad Street Market, which she will retain. The shop is located in a once-derelict and abandoned building that has been nearly completely rebuilt, featuring the first-floor retail shop and roaster, with two apartment units upstairs.

Jeremy Stahl has joined Harrisburg-based FMA Advisory. Stahl brings more than 20 years of industry experience that includes public finance, tailored investment portfolio construction and equity valuation.

Manal El Harrak has been appointed chief executive officer by the board of directors of Carlisle-based Sadler Health Center. El Harrak, who joined Sadler in March 2015, served as the interim CEO after spending several years as chief operating officer.

Penn State Health and Geisinger announced last month the signing of a letter of intent to transfer ownership of Holy Spirit Health System to Penn State Health. Target date for completion of the transaction is by June 30. The intent is for the two organizations to enter into a member substitution agreement for Penn State Health to replace Geisinger as the sole corporate member of Holy Spirit Health System.

Recycle Bicycle has found a new home at 1722 Chestnut St. on Allison Hill, said founder Ross Willard. Volunteers have been clearing out the 9,000-square-foot, circa-1940 building, which will be used to store bikes until it can be fully occupied, probably in early spring, Willard said.

Steelton has sold its water system for $21.75 million to Hershey-based Pennsylvania American Water, one of the largest private water companies in the state. PA American Water is also one of four companies interviewed by Harrisburg recently as it ponders whether to privatize its water/sewer system.

In Memoriam

Rev. Rick Hawtrey, Jr., the owner of Capital Joe Coffee, died last month after a brief illness. A native of Milwaukee, Hawtrey, 43, lived in Mechanicsburg and operated Harrisburg-based Hawtrey Inc., an IT training company. Several years ago, he opened his first coffee shop on Forster Street in Harrisburg then opened a second shop in downtown Mechanicsburg. He was a licensed minister in the United Pentecostal Church and a member and minister of the Apostolic Faith Church in Mechanicsburg. He also helped start the first PA campus of Purpose Institute. Rick was a friend of TheBurg, and our staff would like to express our condolences to his loved ones.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2446: P. & L. Norton to C. Grant & M. Rinaldi, $64,000

Barkley Lane, 2510: Nish Properties to D. Lugaro Jr., $62,000

Berryhill St., 2217: Nationstar HECM Acquisition Trust 2018 1 to R. Castro, $61,000

Berryhill St., 2244: T. Valinoto, M. Ciccone & G. Valino to Ranck Investments LLC, $69,000

Berryhill St., 2307: W. Birtle to D. Everett & R. White, $170,000

Boas St., 229: D. Carmelite to JVC Investments LLC, $115,000

Calder St., 205: Equity Trust Co. Custodian Paul J. Kirsch Jr. to Capozzi & Ehring Realty LLC, $105,000

Calder St., 206: Sage Policy Group Inc. to J. Knapp, $108,450

Crescent St., 352: D. & S. Zimmerman to T. Doughty, $48,000

Curtin St., 523: Urban Living Properties LLC to SR Homes LLC, $33,000

Duke St., 2622: J. Conjar to A. Cowan, $146,250

Emerald St., 221: Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to M. Horgan, $40,000

Fillmore St., 606: D. Halstead to C. Austin, $59,000

Forster St., 224: H. Bossert to S. De Freitas, $100,000

Green St., 1211 & 1213: J. & S. Bircher to D. Lehman, $210,000

Green St., 1310: Panda Real Estate LLC to A. Johnson, $156,000

Green St., 1708: M. Stevens to S. Jusufovic, $118,000

Green St., 1820: Jhonleo Home Renovations LLC to K. Hawkesworth, $217,000

Green St., 1925: B. & A. Christensen to M. Carson & R. Finkel, $206,000

Green St., 2013: M. Didone to C. Palmer, $232,500

Green St., 2218: F. Wilson to A. DeLeon, $41,750

Green St., 3117: B. Joyner to E. Bailey, $188,000

Green St., 3214: D. Bartels to J. Graf, $130,000

Hale Ave., 202: D. & P. Schulder to R. Kreitzer Jr., $110,000

Herr St., 121: Anderson & Spencer Rentals to M. & C. Freeman, $71,500

Herr St., 269: M. Berlin to B. Gordon & P. Keville, $154,900

Herr St., 403: C. Kotlarski to S. Nieves, $123,000

Kensington St., 2416: D. Truong to MRG Homes LLC, $55,000

Maclay St., 243: A. Apa Sr. to Trip Aces 243 LLC, $94,000

Manada St., 2016: D. Reinhart to A. Harrison, $105,000

Market St., 309 & 311: Rite Aid of Pennsylvania to Market Street Quad LLC, $1,045,000

Muench St., 429: Y. & K. Han to R. Wijaya, $63,000

Muench St., 639: P. Dobson to G. & E. Elledge, $44,900

Mulberry St., 1001: Mumma Realty Associates Property Management to D&F. Mulberry LP, $425,000

Mulberry St., 1815: Crystal Palms LLC to K. Kabeer, $55,000

North St., 1506, 1508 & 1512 & 1509 Primrose St.: F. Metzler to J. Ringley, $97,000

N. 2nd St., 2101: SMKP Properties to KALM Holdings LLC, $275,000

N. 2nd St., 2313: D. Lehman to B. VanFleet, $119,900

N. 2nd St., 2619: D. Skerpon & C. Baldridge to R. & J. Shovlin, $219,000

N. 2nd St., 2838: Diamond Real Estate Solutions Inc. to S. Gallagher, $245,000

N. 3rd St., 906 & 912: Nish Properties LLC to KALM Holdings LLC, $285,000

N. 3rd St., 1205: A. & J. Carper to S. & D. Rooney, $119,900

N. 4th St., 1727: B. & E. Holler to R. Moss & J. Stark, $153,500

N. 4th St., 1918: Rose of Sharon Baptist Church to Xtreme Management LLC, $135,600

N. 4th St., 2338: Penn Home LLC to M. Aramburu, $47,900

N. 5th St., 1945 & 521 Peffer St.: Church of the MC Lamb Memorial to Home for the Friendless Homeland Center, $390,000

N. 5th St., 2548: M. Roberts to B. Horn, $59,900

N. 6th St., 2245: J. Ward to N. Dessalegn, $44,000

N. 6th St., 2257: C. Yunga to I. Landi, $40,000

N. 15th St., 1503: KMABC Properties to A. Laboy, $46,000

N. 15th St., 1523: Tassia Corp. to K. Braddock, $35,000

N. 17th St., 1014: Truemac Homes 401K Trust to N. & R. Jeffries, $99,500

N. 21st St., 902: B. Garra to R. Womack, $63,000

N. Front St., 2843: M. & A. Saracino to Accession Holdings LLC, $328,200

Peffer St., 317: D. Berhe to CWJK Holdings LLC, $91,000

Penn St., 1619: H. Brown to T. Gross, $45,000

Penn St., 2419: M. & J. Miller to A. Demmel, $40,000

River St., 304: M. Della Porta & I. Smith to V. Murzin, $150,000

Seneca St., 245: CPenn Properties Old Uptown LLC to J. Ehring, $75,000

Seneca St., 250: PA Deals LLC to A. Nix, $69,900

South St., 122: FA Realty to J. Charles Realty LLC, $134,000

S. 16th St., 8: M. Hicks to D. & J. Portilla, $30,000

S. 19th St., 229: Water People Entertainment LLC to M. Reyes, $35,000

S. 25th St., 626: X. Shi to H. McCleave, $70,500

State St., 213: Legion Premier Properties LLC to H. Fang & K. Zhu, $319,000

State St., 231, Unit 506: LUX 1 LP to T. Huong, $124,900

State St., 231, Unit 802: LUX 1 LP to T. Huong, $169,900

Swatara St., 2405: L. & S. Snowden to K. Thai & K. Pham, $159,900

Valley Rd., 202: D. Benny to K. Caesar, $219,900

Vernon St., 1417 & 1419: Tang & Perkins Property Management LLC to Greenbrook Enterprises LLC, $180,000

Harrisburg property sales for September 2019, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

The Write Place: Veterans helping veterans in Lancaster County.

October 31, 2019 | by Don Helin

The numbers vary, but the problem is huge.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, about 12 percent of Gulf War veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome in a given year. That number rises to 15 percent for Vietnam War vets—with about 30 percent having PTSD at some point in their lifetime, says the VA.

Annie Ginder sees the written word as a powerful tool in battling the condition. She’s co-founder of Writeface, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping veterans who are experiencing readjustment issues.

“We believe we can provide safe space for veterans within the comradery of other veterans as they explore their own inner landscape by facilitating journaling and expressive writing workshops.”

During a recent five-week period of workshops, Writeface had the participants—all veterans—address the subject of “creating space.” The session began with a short meditation. Then vets each wrote on what space meant to each of them—too tight, too many people and so forth—with a discussion to follow to bring out their feelings.

In addition to writing workshops, Writeface provides assistance as requested to veterans who are enrolled in the Veterans Treatment Court System as well as those who are in hospice. I attended a session of the Veterans Court with Ginder and her co-founder, Scott Hower.

“Lancaster County’s Veterans Treatment Court provides treatment while the veteran is dealing with legal problems,” Hower explained. “Writeface can provide tools to help them.”

When an individual is arrested, if he or she can show veteran status with an honorable discharge, the district attorney may recommend them to the Veterans Treatment Court. To enter the program, the veteran must plead guilty to all charges, but if he or she successfully completes the program, the charges are normally reduced or eliminated.

“Veterans enter a four-phase program,” says mentor administrator Stephen Shaw. “Each phase is 90 days. For the first two 90-day phases, the veteran must report to the judge once each week, the third 90-day phase, twice each month, then the fourth phase once each month.”

The program is based on direct court supervision in the early phases, then individual accountability later in the program. Veterans are assigned a mentor to help them through the court program and treatment. Mentors can help the veteran with housing, benefits, social and recreational needs.

“During each of the four phases, the veteran must undergo drug testing on a regular basis,” Shaw said. “Should they flunk the test, the veteran returns to the beginning of that phase.”

At the end of the four phases, the veteran must develop an 80-hour community service plan. The mentor can assist the veteran in developing and completing the program.

“There is an alumni group of veterans,” Shaw said. “The veteran meets with the group once each week and the results are confidential. This group is helpful as these veterans have successfully completed the program—a peer program, one veteran helping another.”

The court may require anger management classes or other emotion-based programs for a participant. Many of the veterans have emotional problems that Writeface can help by conducting writing workshops.

“We believe our program is a hand up, not a handout,” Hower said. “Addiction covers up potential, and once that is removed, we see the veterans getting their lives in order—going to school, working at jobs and becoming a useful member of the community.”

Writeface partners with the Caring Hospice of Lancaster by helping the veteran create a legacy poem to give to loved ones. Ginder told me she believes it’s an honor to be at the bedside at this stage of a life and able to hear their words and see their smiles.

“As a community, it is important to bear witness to these stories and to heal the individuals and families who live with the aftereffects of war on a daily basis,” Ginder said.

Writeface, in conjunction with South Central PARTners, will present “Veterans, Values and Voices: Words in Search of Our Missing Peace II,” on Sunday, Nov. 10, at the Ware Center, 42 N. Prince St., Lancaster, 2 to 4 p.m. Poets, storytellers, musicians and artists will gather to honor the memory and experience of veterans in a unique live performance. For more information, visit www.writeface.org.

Environmental “Aha”: Event will offer ways to take action on the climate crisis.

October 31, 2019 | by Maddie Conley

You may know Char Magaro as the owner of Char’s Tracy Mansion on Front Street.

If you’ve dined at the restaurant, Magaro may have greeted you herself. She typically floats from table to table, making sure each guest is satisfied. But you may not have known what is frequently on her mind in those moments.

“I am only two sentences away between, ‘how is everything,’ or ‘are you enjoying everything’ and climate change,” Magaro said. “I can do it very gracefully.”

However, this wasn’t always the case.

Magaro had what she calls, her “aha moment” in the late 1980s as she read an article about the rainforest in a kid’s magazine that her daughter was reading. It was just a short excerpt discussing the rainforest as the “lungs of the world,” but it hooked her.

“From there, I wanted to know who in Pennsylvania was saving rainforests,” Magaro said.

She called around and began to realize that there weren’t any organizations in the state doing this. That’s when she started the Pennsylvania Rainforest Action Committee (PRAC) and, soon after, the Central PA Earth Day Coalition, both of which lasted a few years. She did this while also owning a catering business.

In the early 2000s, while running a small restaurant in the Shipoke neighborhood of Harrisburg, Magaro was approached by PennFuture, a statewide environmental organization. She was asked to serve on the board.

“I liked PennFuture because they understand that there has to be an economic success to any environmental victory,” she said.

Magaro accepted the offer and sat on the board for about 15 years before becoming the chair four years ago.

Citizen Action

PennFuture works in the community and the courtroom providing legal, legislative and outreach work, all with the mission of protecting the environment. The organization seeks to transition Pennsylvania to a clean-energy economy and educate the community on sustainable practices.

One of the ways they’re doing this is through a community event this month called “A Call for Climate Action.” The event will be put on through a partnership with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore’s nonprofit, The Climate Reality Project, at the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg. The goal isn’t so much to raise awareness about climate change as it is to give people suggestions on how to take action for themselves.

“There so many people that really are concerned about the climate crisis, but they don’t know what to do,” Magaro said. “That’s the whole reason for this event. It’s a call for citizen action.”

The Call for Climate Action will feature a number of organizations to plug into, including PennFuture, FracTracker Alliance, Conservation Voters of PA, Interfaith Power and Light and Penn State College of Medicine. There will also be a presentation on the history of the climate crisis and the science behind it, along with solutions.

“Everybody is aware of the issue, very few people understand the magnitude of the issue,” said Rob Altenburg, director of PennFuture Energy Center.

Altenburg sees the value in community involvement with energy efficiency and is working to make involvement more accessible in cities like Harrisburg. There is state legislation in process that, if passed, will allow solar development companies to lease or buy plots of land that people can then subscribe to. He explained that those who care about clean energy—but don’t have the ability to install solar panels on their own property—could purchase energy from a central solar location.

For Altenburg, change on the individual and communal levels is crucial in the climate change fight.

Magaro emphasized the same sentiment.

“There are a lot of people that know it’s a big issue, and they think they can’t do anything about it, that it’s too big,” she said. “That’s why you have to bring it down to a local level. Face it—most of the problems in the world are because we lack community. We have more leverage on a local level.”

Magaro had her “aha moment,” and it changed how she operated, even causing her to make sustainable decisions at her Char’s Tracy Mansion. It’s even a main reason why she’s selling the restaurant, so she can be more involved with bringing clean energy to Pennsylvania. Through this event, she hopes that others will have their “aha moment.”

“If you care, you can become part of this solution,” she said.

The Call for Climate Action takes place Nov. 20, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Dixon University Center, 2986 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit PennFuture’s Facebook “events” page. To learn more about PennFuture’s work, visit www.pennfuture.org.

Stories on environmental topics are proudly sponsored by LCSWMA.

Happenings: Our November Calendar of Events

October 31, 2019 | by Missy Smith

Museums & Art Spaces

AACA Museum
161 Museum Dr., Hershey
717-566-7100; aacamuseum.org

“Cars & Christmas,” the museum’s annual holiday celebration with themed decorated Christmas trees, awesome automobiles, model train displays, and more, mid-November-Jan. 6

“Age of Aquarius,” featuring unique vehicles that were manufactured and marketed in America from about 1967 through the early mid-1970s, Nov. 23-April 26

Art Association of Harrisburg
21 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-236-1432; artassocofhbg.com

“Hope, Memory & Pride: Artists View Equality,” a compilation of various artists celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, through Nov. 21

Carlisle Arts Learning Center
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

“People and Places,” new works featuring candid observations of everyday scenes in plein air-inspired style by Kim Stone and Pat Walach Keough, through Nov. 2

“Art for the Holidays,” Nov. 15-Dec. 31; early bird opening: Nov. 15, 10 a.m.

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

Artist of the Month: Cornerstone staff

Dickinson College
The Goodyear Gallery
595 W. Louther St., Carlisle
717-254-8044; dickinson.edu

“Will Preman—Sylvia Smith Artist-In-Residence Exhibition,” works focused on details that make objects or events special, strange or humorous, Nov. 5-23; reception: Nov. 6, 5:30-7 p.m.

Dickinson College
The Trout Gallery
240 W. High St., Carlisle
717-254-8159; troutgallery.org

“Abstract Impressions: Postwar Japanese Prints from the DePauw University Permanent Art Collection,” Nov. 1-Feb. 15; reception: Nov. 1, 5-7 p.m.

“Manifestation and Adaptation: Variations in Buddhist Sculpture Across Asia,” an exhibition curated by Dickinson student Bizz Fretty working with faculty members in East Asian studies and religion, through Feb. 1

Fort Hunter
5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-599-5751; forthunter.org

“Leisure Time Exhibit,” highlighting what the Reily family did in their spare time as previous owners and residents of Fort Hunter, through December

Gallery on the Square
Millersburg Area Art Association
226 Union St., Millersburg
Facebook: Gallery on the Square

“The Art of PA Game News,” by Dana Bellis, through Nov. 16

“The Annual Holiday Show,” with unique, locally made items for the holidays, Nov. 20-Dec. 21

Hershey Area Art Association (HAAA)
hersheyareaartassociation.com

Annville-Cleona Community Art Show, Nov. 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Messiah College School of Arts
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

“Otta Dix: Matthäus Evangelium,” through Nov. 26

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

Works by Andrew Guth, Elaine Brady Smith, Christine Goldbeck, Yachiyo Beck and Judy Kelly, through Nov. 10

Cash and carry group holiday show, Nov. 12-Dec. 8

National Civil War Museum
One Lincoln Circle, Harrisburg
717-260-1861; nationalcivilwarmuseum.org

“Boots and Saddles: Horses in the Civil War,” through June 7

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

“The Best of Jim Bashline Outside and In,” through January

Pennsylvania National Fire Museum
1820 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-232-8915; pnfm.org

Exhibits dedicated to Pennsylvania firefighting history

The Penny Gallery at The Pond
32 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-245-0382; thepomfretgroup.com

“Fran Piper, Original Illustrations,” Nov. 15-30; reception: Nov. 15, 5-7 p.m. and Nov. 16, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Perry County Council of the Arts
Landis House, 67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

“Annual Juried Exhibition,” showcasing top artistic talent in the region selected by juror Oren Helbok of the Exchange Gallery, Nov. 15-Jan. 17; reception: Nov. 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Perry County Council of the Arts
PCCA Gallery, 1 S. Second St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

“Artisan Marketplace,” holiday shopping exhibition, filled with unique, locally made fine art and handcrafted items for gift giving, through Jan. 11

Rose Lehrman Art Gallery
One HACC Dr., Harrisburg
717-231-ROSE; hacc.edu/RLAC

Relief prints by Brenton Good, through Nov. 7

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral and School
221 N. Front St., Harrisburg
717-236-4059

“Icons in Transformation,” Ludmila Pawlowska’s artistic interpretation of her experience of prayer and connection with eternity, through paintings and sculptures, through Nov. 3

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

“Picturing a More Perfect Union—Violet Oakley’s Mural Studies for the Pennsylvania Senate Chamber, 1911-1919,” Nov. 22-April 26; Nov. 22, 3-7 p.m.

“Pennsylvania at War: World War I Posters from the Pennsylvania State Archives,” through Dec. 29

“Pennsylvania at War: The Saga of the USS Pennsylvania,” through Dec. 29

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; sqart.org

“Dreams—Selections from Eastern Nights,” by photographer Peter Ydeen, Nov. 15-Dec. 20

“Hidden City,” the plein-air landscape paintings of Valeri Larko, through Nov. 17

“War is Only Half the Story,” moving stories of the people left behind after the cameras have moved on from a war zone, through Jan.19

“Other Worlds—Inka Essenhigh,” richly colored distorted fables with archetypes, sprites and anthropomorphized nature; through Jan. 19

Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery
Lebanon Valley College
101 College Ave., Annville
717-233-8668; lvc.edu/gallery

“Insider/Outsider,” spanning the ongoing development of social realism, Nov. 1-Dec. 15; reception: Nov. 1, 5-7 p.m.

Yellow Bird Café
1320 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg
717-635-8991; yellowbird-cafe.com

Works by Amanda Rife

Zeroday Brewing Co.
250 Reily St., Harrisburg
717-745-6218; zerodaybrewing.com

Art gallery by Rapture Tattoo Emporium, through Nov. 14

Art gallery by Al McLaughlin, Nov. 15-Dec. 19

Read, Make, Learn

BrainVessel Gallery
4707 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg
717-350-2306; bvcargo.com

Nov. 9: An Introduction to Handwriting and Statement Analysis, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Nov. 9: Inks & Drinks, 1-3 p.m.
Nov. 20: Christmas Ball Mania Glassblowing, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Nov. 23: Swirly Girl Bracelet, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Nov. 23: Autumn Art Journal, 1-4 p.m.
Nov. 23: Fire It Up—Raku, 4-7 p.m.

Carlisle Arts Learning Center
38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle
717-249-6973; carlislearts.org

Nov. 5-Dec. 3: Improv Basics, Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Nov. 5-Dec. 10: Knifty Knitters—Fall Edition (ages 8-14), Tuesdays, 4-5:30 p.m.
Nov. 6: Intro to Metal Jewelry—Learn to Love Your Jeweler’s Saw (teen-adult), 6-8 p.m.
Nov. 6: SEE Art Salon Lecture, 7 p.m.
Nov. 6-20: Knitting II—Working in the Round + Cables (ages 16+), 6-8 p.m.
Nov. 6-Dec. 18: Fundamentals of Photography, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 7-Dec. 12: Intro to Painting & Drawing (ages 8-12), Thursdays, 4-5:30 p.m.
Nov. 9, 23: All Things Autumn Workshop (ages 6-12), 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 15: Craft Beer & Clay, 7 p.m.

Central Penn College
600 Valley Rd., Summerdale
717-732-0702; centralpenn.edu

Nov. 5: Vaccinations—Facts, Myths & Misinformation, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Nov. 9: Fall Open House, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 9: Family Flicks—“The Secret Life of Pets 2,” 2 p.m.

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

Nov. 6: Wild Game, 6-9 p.m.
Nov. 14: Thanksgiving Essentials, 6-9 p.m.
Nov. 20: Hearty Hors d’oeuvres, 6-9 p.m.

Dickinson College
The Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues
360 W. Louther St., Carlisle
717-245-1875; clarke.dickinson.edu

Nov. 11: Talk with Marathon runner Gene Dykes, 7 p.m.
Nov. 12: Talk with Krishnendu Ray, 7 p.m.
Nov. 20: Deepfake panel discussion, 7 p.m.

East Shore Area Library
4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg
717-652-9380; dcls.org

Nov. 5, 19: Job Seeker Resources, 1-2:30 p.m.
Nov. 7: Lorraine Hansberry—Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart Documentary, 6-8 p.m.
Nov. 10: Children’s Book Week—Meet Jonathan Bean, 2-3 p.m.
Nov. 13: Mary Sachs Series—Pennsylvania’s Justice Bell and Women’s Fight for the Right to Vote, 6:30-8 p.m.
Nov. 21: Device Club, 1-2:30 p.m.
Nov. 21: Literary Art for the Holidays, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Nov. 26: Friends of East Shore Area Library Meeting, 9:30-11:15 a.m.
Nov. 30: Gingerbread Friends, 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Elizabethtown Public Library
10 S. Market St., Elizabethtown
717-367-7467; etownpubliclibrary.org

Nov. 2, 16: Cards & Coffee, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26: Cards & Coffee, 9:15-10:30 a.m., 6:30-8 p.m.
Nov. 6: Anime Club, 6 p.m.
Nov. 9: Lace Cottage Workshop, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Nov. 16: Book Discussion Group, 9:15 a.m.
Nov. 16: Community Knitters, 11 a.m.

Fredricksen Library
100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill
717-761-3900; fredricksenlibrary.org

Nov. 1-14: Friends of Fredricksen Online Auction
Nov. 1: Youth Chess Night, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 5: Teen Homeschool Hangout, 10 a.m.
Nov. 5: Curl up with the Classics—“A Tale of Two Cities,” 10 a.m.
Nov. 6: Moving Forward Book Group w/Hospice of Central PA, 1 p.m.
Nov. 7, 21: Blood Pressure Screening w/UPMC Pinnacle, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Nov. 7, 21: The Plot Twisters (ages 15-18), 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 8: Foreign Film Friday—The Pool, 2 and 7 p.m.
Nov. 8: Blood Drive w/Central PA Blood Bank, 4-7:30 p.m.
Nov. 9: BYOB After Hours Trivia—The Golden Girls, 7 p.m.
Nov. 11: Twisted Stitchers Knitting Group, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 15: Family Movie Night, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 19: Introduction to Reiki, 7 p.m.
Nov. 21: READ to Dogs, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 22: Indie Film Friday—The Last Resort, 2 and 7 p.m.
Nov. 25: Fredricksen Reads—“The Great Alone,” 7 p.m.
Nov. 26: Album Cover Bingo (ages 12-18), 6 p.m.

Gallery on the Square
Millersburg Area Art Association
226 Union St., Millersburg
Facebook: Gallery on the Square

Nov. 2: Introduction to Art Therapy, 12:30-4:30 p.m.
Nov. 9, 10: Paint a Gift of Yesteryear, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Nov. 16: Elke’s Angels—Lessons in Felting, 1-4 p.m.

Harrisburg Bible Chapel
5503 Union Deposit Rd., Harrisburg
facebook.com/groups/151348000335

Nov. 3-Dec. 15: English as a Second Language Classes, Sundays, 1:30 p.m.

Hershey Public Library
701 Cocoa Ave., Hershey
717-533-6555; hersheylibrary.org

Nov. 1: 1 & 2 Play Day for Families, 10 a.m.
Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Dungeons and Dragons, 3 p.m.
Nov. 2: Chess Tournament, 9 a.m.
Nov. 3: Ceramic Ornament Painting Class, 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28 : Penn State Hershey—Mothers & Babies Together, 10 a.m.
Nov. 6: LEGO Club, 4 p.m.
Nov. 6: LEGO League, 6 p.m.
Nov. 6, 12, 13, 19, 20: 1, 2, Whee!, 10 a.m.
Nov. 6, 13, 20: Sensory 1, 2, Whee!, 11 a.m.
Nov. 6, 13, 20: ESL Class, 7 p.m.
Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28: Teen Lounge, 3 p.m.
Nov. 7, 21: Card Making Class, 6 p.m.
Nov. 9, 16, 23, 30: Chess Club, 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 10: Friends’ Children’s Program—Animal Signs, 2 p.m.
Nov. 11, 18: Storytime for 4s & 5s, 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 11, 18, 25: Storytime for 3s & 4s, 10 a.m.
Nov. 12: Staying Safe on our Roads Today, 5 p.m.
Nov. 12: Hosted Writer’s Group, 6 p.m.
Nov. 12, 19, 26: Girls Who Code, 6 p.m.
Nov. 13, 20: Tween Lounge, 3 p.m.
Nov. 14: Morning Contemporary Book Group, 9:30 a.m.
Nov. 14: Hershey Area Neighbors and Newcomers, 9:45 a.m.
Nov. 14: Evening Contemporary Book Group, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 15, 29: Play Day for Families, 10 a.m.
Nov. 16: Cocoa Fiber Enthusiasts, 10 a.m.
Nov. 17: Friend’s Program—Native American Folk Music w/Spirit Wing, 2 p.m.
Nov. 21: Quilter’s Guild, 12:30 p.m.
Nov. 21: Lifelong Readers Book Group, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 23, 30: Fused Glass Class, 1 p.m.
Nov. 25: Central PA Blood Drive, 3 p.m.

The Hershey Story Museum
63 W. Chocolate Ave., Hershey
717-534-8939; hersheystory.org

Nov. 1-30: Chocolate Lab Classes, 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Joseph T. Simpson Public Library
16 N. Walnut St, Mechanicsburg
717-766-0171; simpsonlibrary.org

Nov. 4, 18: Monday Morning Board Games, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 5: Tabletop Games, 6-8 p.m.
Nov. 5, 12, 19: Tea & Stitches, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 6: Growing your Small Business, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Nov. 7: Learn to Knit/Crochet, 7-8 p.m.
Nov. 7, 14, & 21: Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Nov. 11: iPad/iPhone Beginners, 1-3 p.m.
Nov. 11, 25: English Conversation Group, 6:30-8 p.m.
Nov. 13: Mad About Mysteries, 7-8 p.m.
Nov. 16: BYOB Trivia: Are you Smarter than a Grade Schooler? 6-8 p.m.
Nov. 18: Monday Night Book Club, 7-8 p.m.
Nov. 20: Sci Fi Book Club, 7-9 p.m.
Nov. 20: Apple Users Group, 1-3 p.m.
Nov. 20: Yoga for Beginners, 7-8 p.m.
Nov. 21: Thursday Morning Book Club, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Nov. 26: Tea & Stitches, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Kline Library
530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg
717-234-3934; dcls.org

Nov. 9: Children’s Book Week—Meet Jonathan Bean, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Nov. 14: Literary Art for the Holidays, 1-2 p.m.
Nov. 20: Knit 1, Crochet Too!, 6-8 p.m.
Nov. 21: Friends of Kline Library Meeting, 6:30-8 p.m.

The LGBT Center of Central PA
1306 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-920-9534; centralpalgbtcenter.org

Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Passageways—Trans and Non-Binary Group, 2-4 p.m.
Nov. 3, 10, 17, 24: Common Roads Young Adult, 4-6 p.m.
Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27: Common Roads Youth, 6-8 p.m.
Nov. 9: Queer & Trans People of Color Advisory, 6-8 p.m.

Madeline L. Olewine Memorial Library
2410 North 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-232-7286; dcls.org

Nov. 4, 11, 18, 25: Video Game Club, 4-5 p.m.
Nov. 18: Cookbook Book Club—Stuffed Foods, 6-7 p.m.
Nov. 19: Literary Art for the Holidays, 6-7 p.m.

McCormick Riverfront Library
101 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-234-4976; dcls.org

Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27: Mid-day Getaway, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Nov. 12, 14: Job Seeker Resources, 2-3:30 p.m.
Nov. 15: Literary Art for the Holidays, 6-7 p.m.
Nov. 26: Device Club, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Middletown Public Library
20 N. Catherine St., Middletown
717-944-6412; middletownpubliclib.org

Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Science Fiction Book Club (meets online)
Nov. 4, 11, 18, 25: STEM Club, 5:30-7 p.m.
Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26: Storytime and Craft, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26: Tales with T.A.I.L.S., 6-7 p.m.
Nov. 5, 19, 26: Family Yoga, 6-7 p.m.
Nov. 7: Book Club, 6-7 p.m.
Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28: LEGO Junior Maker Club, 6-7 p.m.
Nov. 20: Daytime Book Club, 1-2:30 p.m.

Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Café
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-236-1680; midtownscholar.com

Nov. 1, 8, 22, 29: Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café, 7 p.m.
Nov. 6: An Evening with Stephen Fried, 7-9 p.m.
Nov. 9: An Evening with Henry Hemming, 5-7 p.m.
Nov. 10: Harrisburg Young Professionals Book Club, 2-3 p.m.
Nov. 14, 28: Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel, 7 p.m.
Nov. 17: Midtown Writers Group, 1 p.m.
Nov. 23: An Evening with Christopher McDougall and Alexandra Horowitz, 5-7 p.m.

The Millworks
340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
717-695-4888; millworksharrisburg.com

Nov. 3: Journaling Workshop, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Nov. 8-10: Cold Wax Workshop, 6-8:30 p.m.
Nov. 16: Advanced Fluid Art Class, 12-2:30 p.m.

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg
717-692-3699; nedsmithcenter.org

Nov. 8: An Evening with Owls, 7-9 p.m.

New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
717-774-7820; newcumberlandlibrary.org

Nov. 1, 8, 15: Sensory Storytime 5-Week Series (ages 2-4), 10:30 a.m.
Nov. 2: Saturday LEGO Madness (ages 3+), 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Nov. 4, 11, 18: Storytime & More (ages 2-5), 10:30 a.m.
Nov. 4, 11, 18: 123 Library! Family Storytime, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 4, 18: Monday Great Books Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Nov. 5: Tales for T.A.I.L.S., 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Nov. 5, 12, 19: Book Babies Storytime (6-24 months), 11:15 a.m.
Nov. 7: Ruth’s Mystery Discussion Group, 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 7: Crochet Night, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 9: Write-On Writer’s Workshop, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Nov. 9: Adult Fall Craft—Christmas Cards, 1-4 p.m.
Nov. 9: Family Game Day (ages 3+), 1-5 p.m.
Nov. 12: Book Review Program—“William Penn: A Life,” 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Nov. 13: Wednesday Great Books Discussion group, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Nov. 16: Couponing for Extreme Savings, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 16: Children’s Book Writers Critique Group, 2-4 p.m.
Nov. 20: PennWriters Writing Group, 6-9 p.m.
Nov. 25: Tape Town (ages 2+), 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Nov. 26: Maker Lab (ages 7+), 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Perry County Council of the Arts
Landis House, 67 N. 4th St., Newport
717-567-7023; perrycountyarts.org

Nov. 10: DIY Guru—Etched Glass & Candle, 1 p.m.

The State Library of Pennsylvania
400 North St., Harrisburg
717-783-5950, statelibrary.pa.gov

Nov. 7: Book Club—“Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption”, 12-1 p.m.
Nov. 9: Zine Ungathering, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North St., Harrisburg
717-787-4980; statemuseumpa.org

Nov. 1: StoryTime—“Rainbow Crow,” 10:30 a.m.
Nov. 7: Curiosity Kids—Build it!, 11:30 a.m.
Nov. 8: Learn at Lunchtime—Story of Major Robert Gaynor, 12:15 p.m.
Nov. 9: Workshops in Archaeology, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Nov. 21: Nature Lab—Wild Canines, 11:30 a.m.

Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-233-8668; sqart.org

Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23: Yoga + Accompaniment in the Galleries, 10-11 a.m.
Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23: Saturday Morning Art Club, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Nov. 20: Life Drawing Class, 6-9 p.m.

Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery
Lebanon Valley College
101 College Ave., Annville
717-233-8668; lvc.edu/gallery

Nov. 18: “Edward Hopper’s Hotel Consciousness” Lecture and Musical Presentation

Temple Ohev Sholom
2345 N. Front St., Harrisburg
ohevsholom.org

Nov. 7: Book Review—“Promised Land” By Martin Fletcher

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg
717-221-0292; wildwoodlake.org

Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27: Dr. Seuss Science Series, 10-11 a.m.
Nov. 9: Volunteer Work Day, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Nov. 9: Kids Discover—Night Time Wonders, 6-8 p.m.
Nov. 14: Waterfowl Walk, 8-10 a.m.
Nov. 16: Juniors—Animal Habitats, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Nov. 30: Wreath Workshop, 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m.

William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library
200 W. Second St., Hummelstown
717-566-0949; dcls.org

Nov. 7: Teen Night—National Novel Writing Month, 6-7 p.m.
Nov. 9: Children’s Book Week—Meet Jonathan Bean, 10-11 a.m.
Nov. 11: Literary Art of the Holidays, 6-7 p.m.
Nov. 12: Novel Thoughts Book Club, 6:30-8 p.m.
Nov. 13: 2nd Wednesday Cinema, 6-8 p.m.
Nov. 19: Novel Thoughts Too Book Club, 1-3 p.m.

Winters Heritage House Museum
41-47 E. High St., Elizabethtown
717-367-4672; elizabethtownhistory.org

Nov. 15: Hearth Cooking Class and Tavern Dinner

Yoga at Simply Well
28 S. Pitt St., Carlisle
717-968-0167; yogaatsimplywell.com

Nov. 1: Amrit Yoga Nidra, 7-8:30 p.m.
Nov. 2: Intro to Forest Bathing Free Talk, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Nov. 9: Yoga Nidra Guided Relaxation, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Nov. 16: Yoga and Tibetan Singing Bowls, 12-1:15 p.m.

Live Music

American Music Theatre
2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
717-397-7700; amtshows.com

Nov. 1-Dec. 30: The 2019 Christmas Show—Joy to the World

Appalachian Brewing Co./Abbey Bar
50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-221-1083; abcbrew.com

Nov 1: The Dirty Sweet Halloween-er
Nov. 8: LITZ
Nov. 16: Santana and Janis Joplin Tributes by Mystery Fyre and Chestnut Grove
Nov. 23: Box of Rain—Grateful Dead Tribute
Nov. 27: Medusa’s Disco
Nov. 30: Mighty River Band

Appell Center for the Performing Arts
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; appellcenter.org

Nov. 1: Jazz in the City
Nov. 2: Black Violin
Nov. 9: York Symphony Orchestra
Nov. 20: Classic Albums Live—The Doors, “LA Woman”
Nov. 24: Yonder Mountain String Band
Nov. 30: York Symphony Orchestra—Holiday Pops Spectacular

Boneshire Brew Works
7462 Derry St., Harrisburg
717-469-5007; boneshire.com

Nov. 5, 19: Open Mic Night
Nov. 14: Shrimp Ryan’s Jig Band

Carley’s Ristorante and Piano Bar
204 Locust St., Harrisburg
717-909-9191; carleysristorante.com

Nov. 1, 8, 12, 15, 20, 22, 29: Noel Gevers
Nov. 2, 16: Ted Ansel
Nov. 5: Zach Nyce
Nov. 6, 27: Andrea Britton
Nov. 7, 21, 24: Anthony Haubert
Nov. 9, 23: Roy Lefevre
Nov. 13: Chris Purcell
Nov. 14, 19: Natalie Ness
Nov. 26: Michael Dempsey
Nov. 30: Andrea Britton, Noel Gevers

Carlisle Theatre
44 West High St., Carlisle
717-258-0666; carlisletheatre.org

Nov. 2: Eaglemania

Central Pennsylvania Womyn’s Chorus
cpwchorus.org

Nov. 23: Fall concert at Market Square Presbyterian Church
Nov. 24: Fall concert at Camp Hill Presbyterian Church

Chameleon Club
223 N. Water St., Lancaster
717-299-9684; chameleonclub.net

Nov. 1: Badflower
Nov. 2: Drew & The Blue
Nov. 3: Girlpool
Nov. 6: Brother Moses
Nov. 7: Future Teens
Nov. 8: Spirit Animal, Breaking Falls, Generation Underground, Murderous Intent, Nothing Planned
Nov. 9: Neil Hilborn, Big Fat Meanies
Nov. 10: Asian Doll
Nov. 11: Norma Jean
Nov. 12: Jimmy Eat World
Nov. 13: Royal Bliss
Nov. 15: Gatecreeper and Exhumed
Nov. 16: Andres
Nov. 16: Fade to Black Metallica Tribute
Nov. 17: Integrity, Bigwig
Nov. 19: Leftover Crack
Nov. 20: New Found Glory
Nov. 21: The Home Team
Nov. 22: McCafferty w/Guardin & Carousel Kings
Nov. 23: Sanction, John 5, Son Little
Nov. 24: Sharptooth
Nov. 27: Diamante
Nov. 29: Jon Langston

Club XL
801 S. 10th St., Harrisburg
717-409-8975; xlhbg.com

Nov. 2: Brandon “Taz” Niederauer & Ben Brandt Trio
Nov. 7: Sunsquabi with Goose
Nov. 8: Vixen w/ Eternal Frequency
Nov. 9: Aaron Watson
Nov. 15: Big Something, Yam Yam
Nov. 16: Hogslop String Band, Madisen Ward, Mama Bear
Nov. 22: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Big AL 360
Nov. 23: Save By The 90’s
Nov. 27: Cabaret Thanksgiving Eve Show
Nov. 29: KIX
Nov. 30: Sharks Reunion

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse
2133 Market St., Camp Hill
717-737-5026; thecornerstonecoffeehouse.com

Nov. 1: Antonio Andrade
Nov. 2: Dominick Cicco
Nov. 3: Kevin Appleby & Eric Bohn
Nov. 8: Janie Womack & Jody Echterling
Nov. 9: Joe Cooney
Nov. 10: Betsy Barnicle
Nov. 13: Open Mic Night w/Jonathan Frazier
Nov. 15: Michael Arthur
Nov. 16: Doug Morris
Nov. 17: John McDonald
Nov. 22: Paul Zavinsky
Nov. 23: Hard Travelin’
Nov. 24: Diane Baltaeff
Nov. 29: Jeanine & Friends
Nov. 30: Kevin Kline

Dickinson College
Rubendall Recital Hallf
240 W. High St., Carlisle
717-245-1568; dickinson.edu

Nov. 1: Piano trio
Nov. 22: Dickinson College Orchestra

Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus
harrisburggaymenschorus.org

Nov. 24: Concert at Unitarian Church of Harrisburg

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra
The Forum at 5th and Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-545-5527; harrisburgsymphony.org

Nov. 2-3: “Aretha! A Tribute”

Hershey Theatre
15 E. Caracas Ave., Hershey
717-534-3405; hersheytheatre.com

Nov. 22: Goo Goo Dolls
Nov. 24: Straight No Chaser

House of Music, Arts & Culture (H*MAC)
1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-441-7506; harrisburgarts.com

Nov. 2: Texas Hippie Coalition
Nov. 2: Big Gorgeous, Knitebitch, Ma’am
Nov. 9: Rings of Saturn
Nov. 12: Jimmy Eat World
Nov. 22: Motherfolk, Allow

Luhrs Performing Arts Center
1871 Old Main Dr., Shippensburg
717-477-7469; luhrscenter.com

Nov. 2: Blues Traveler w/Magnolia Boulevard
Nov. 9: Pablo Cruise
Nov. 24: Shippensburg University Community Orchestra

Majestic Theater
25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg
717-337-8200; gettysburgmajestic.org

Nov. 1: Voctave
Nov. 8: Jazz Ensemble
Nov. 10: Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox
Nov. 15: Symphony Orchestra
Nov. 23: Wind Symphony

Market Cross Pub & Brewery
113 N. Hanover St., Carlisle
717-258-1234; marketcrosspub.com

Nov. 2: Dale Stipe
Nov. 9: Ryan Mayersky
Nov. 16: The Visitors Duo
Nov. 23: John Rossey
Nov. 24: Shrimp Ryan’s Jig Band
Nov. 30: The Willies

Messiah College School of Arts
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

Nov. 8: Messiah College Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Winds
Nov. 11: Messiah College Chamber Ensemble
Nov. 13: Jazz Combo Concert
Nov. 14: Messiah College Chamber Ensemble
Nov. 15: Messiah College Symphony Orchestra
Nov. 19: Messiah College Brass Choir

Metropolis Collective
17 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg
717-458-8245; metropoliscollective.com

Nov. 29: The Jellybricks w/No Show Ponies

The Mill in Hershey
810 Old West Chocolate Ave., Hershey
717-256-9965; themillinhershey.com

Nov. 2: Roy Lefever
Nov. 9: Radio Neon Duo
Nov. 16: Sought Out City Duo
Nov. 23: Dave Kelly from Laredo
Nov. 30: Steve Dincau

River City Blues Club & Dart Room
819 S. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-525-8926; rivercityhbg.com

Nov. 9: Joe Olnick
Nov. 18: River City Big Band

Rusty Rail Brewing Company
5 N. 8th North St., Mifflinburg
570-966-7878; rustyrailbrewing.com

Nov. 3: Jeremy Pinnell, Chris Rattie & The New Rebels
Nov. 10: Sugar Mountain
Nov. 17: Kat Wright

Susquehanna Chorale
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-533-7859; susquehannachorale.org

Nov. 17: Youth Choral Festival at Messiah College

The Susquehanna Folk Music Society
717-745-6577; sfmsfolk.org

Nov. 9: Fall Coffee House
Nov. 10: November Jam Session
Nov. 17: Hubby Jenkins
Nov. 23: Peter Mulvey

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

Nov. 1: Jazz at the ‘Ville
Nov. 8: Shana Tucker Quartet
Nov. 9: Penn Square Music Festival
Nov. 11: Allegro’s Music in the Round—Brass Night
Nov. 16: King Street Big Band—Basie & Sinatra at The Sands
Nov 23: Xun Pan
Nov. 24: Mutts Gone Nuts! A Canine Cabaret

Whitaker Center
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org

Nov. 7: The Paul Jost Quartet
Nov. 14: Emmanuel Nsingani

Zeroday Brewing Co.
250 Reily St., Harrisburg
717-745-6218; zerodaybrewing.com

Nov. 3: Josh Dominick

Nov. 8: Shrimp Ryan’s Jig Band

Nov.15: Chris Pearson

The Stage Door

American Music Theatre
2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
717-397-7700; amtshows.com

Nov. 1-Dec. 30: “The 2019 Christmas Show—Joy to the World”

Appell Center for the Performing Arts
50 N. George St., York
717-846-1111; appellcenter.org

Nov. 8: Trenton Davis
Nov. 15: “The Very Caterpillar Show”

The Belmont Theatre
27 S. Belmont St., York
717-854-3894; thebelmont.org

Nov. 15-24: “Matilda The Musical”

Dickinson College
Mathers Theatre, Holland Union Building
28 N. College St., Carlisle
717-245-1875; clarke.dickinson.edu

Nov. 1-4: “We Are Pussy Riot or Everything is P.R.”
Nov. 22-24: “DTG Fall Performance—Art Works”

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster
717-898-1900; DutchApple.com

Nov. 1-9: “The Will Rogers Follies”
Nov. 14-Jan. 4: Irving Berlin’s “Holiday Inn”

Gamut Theatre Group
15 N. 4th St., Harrisburg
717-238-4111; gamuttheatre.org

Nov. 15-Dec. 8: “The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe”

Harrisburg Christian Performing Arts Center
1000 S. Eisenhower Blvd, Middletown
717-939-9333; hbg-cpac.org

Nov. 15-17: “Cinderella’s Glass Slipper”

Harrisburg Comedy Zone
110 Limekiln Rd., New Cumberland
717-920-5653; harrisburgcomedyzone.com

Nov. 1, 2: Raymond the Amish Comic
Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28: Open Mic
Nov. 8, 9: Paul Hooper and Sam Rubinoff
Nov. 10: Oxymorons Improv Comedy Show
Nov. 15, 16: Grandma Lee and Bob Lauver
Nov. 22, 23: Valarie Storm and Johnny Lee Dam
Nov. 29, 30: Mike Albanese and Clint Nohr

Harrisburg Improv Theatre
1633 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
717-798-6973; hbgimprov.com

Nov. 1: Intro to Improv Class Show, Scoreface/The Director, JODY/Drive Thru Pals, Ferd Majelly/Acoustic Tour
Nov. 2: Character Level 1 Class Show, Bad Berries/The Bat, Rockstar Goes Supernova, Introduce A Self
Nov. 3: Character Level 1 Class Show, Intro to Improv Class Show
Nov. 8: Free Jam, Leg of Lamp/Art Patrol, ElderProv/Closed Casket, Sangy & Dock/Unbelievably Tasty
Nov. 9: Free Mixer, Side Hustle/Ball N’ Chain, Critical HIT/Two Princesses, Dang/Without a Tres
Nov. 15: Free Jam, Scoreface/Bandito, BEEF, Bemafo
Nov. 16: Free Mixer, Bad Berries/Sketch Pad, Barbra, Tiny Town
Nov. 22: Free Jam, Leg of Lamp/This Show Will Self Destruct, Mary Todd Lincoln/Love Triangle, HIT BITS
Nov. 23: Free Mixer, Side Hustle/Bandjob, Solo Sleepover/Dropkick Morpheus, The Real FAST Coast Wives

Hershey Theatre
15 E. Caracas Ave., Hershey
717-534-3405; hersheytheatre.com

Nov. 1-3: “A Bronx Tale”
Nov. 8-9: “Menopause The Musical”
Nov. 10: Bill Maher
Nov. 17: Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood

Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg
915 S. York St., Mechanicsburg
717-766-0535; ltmpa.com

Nov. 1-3: “Assassins”

Luhrs Performing Arts Center
1871 Old Main Dr., Shippensburg
717-477-7469; luhrscenter.com

Nov. 7: “Beautiful—The Carol King Musical”
Nov. 8: Jeanne Robertson
Nov. 20: “RENT”
Nov. 29: “A Magical Cirque Christmas”
Nov. 30: “Swan Lake” w/National Ballet Theatre of Odessa, Ukraine

Majestic Theater
25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg
717-337-8200; gettysburgmajestic.org

Nov. 24: “The Midtown Men”

Messiah College School of Arts
One College Ave., Mechanicsburg
717-766-2511; messiah.edu

Nov. 2: Messiah College Dance Ensemble
Nov. 14-24: “She Stoops to Conquer”
Nov. 21: “Blue Christmas”

Open Stage of Harrisburg
223 Walnut St., Harrisburg
717-232-OPEN; openstagehbg.com

Nov. 16-Dec. 28: “Who’s Holiday”
Nov. 23-Dec. 29: “A Christmas Carol”

Oyster Mill Playhouse
1001 Oyster Mill Rd., Camp Hill
717-737-6768; oystermill.com

Nov. 8-24: “Oliver”

River City Blues Club & Dart Room
819 S. Cameron St., Harrisburg
717-525-8926; rivercityhbg.com

Nov. 24: “Risque Business”

Theatre Harrisburg
513 Hurlock St., Harrisburg
717-232-5501; theatreharrisburg.com

Nov. 8-24: “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (at Whitaker Center)

The Ware Center
42 N. Prince St., Lancaster
717-871-2308; artsmu.com

Nov. 1: We the People—Dream Warriors & The Sampson Brothers
Nov. 1-10: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

Whitaker Center
222 Market St., Harrisburg
717-214-ARTS; whitakercenter.org

Nov. 8-24: “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (Theatre of Harrisburg)
Nov. 29: Ron Bennington, Jim Florentine, Robert Kelly, Rich Vos

Farm Fresh Decade: Green Ridge Acres celebrates 10 years serving Harrisburg.

October 31, 2019 | by Maddie Conley

For 10 years, Green Ridge Acres has been providing Broad Street Market-goers with an alternative to the grocery store through its farm stand and bulk foods.

They sell all-natural, organic produce as well as free-range and grass-fed meat, much of which comes straight from their 52-acre farm in Gordonville.

“If we have healthy soil, we’ll have healthy animals and healthy people,” said Ruthie Lapp, who owns the business with her husband David.

The Lapp family started out by opening a small stand at the market. However, it quickly evolved into the large farm stand it is now, offering all-natural products—a trend that has been gaining popularity, but at that time, was one-of-a-kind.

“This was a new thing for this market and for this area,” Ruthie explained. “There was nobody else in this market like this.”

After experiencing some health concerns, the Lapps did research and realized their diet was way off.

David came to learn that treating their symptoms was not enough; they needed to address the underlying issue.

“Good quality nutrient food for our bodies does about the same thing as good gas in our car,” he said.

With customer requests coming in regularly, Green Ridge Acres kept adding more products to keep shoppers returning.

On the Lapp farm, there are 27 cows and almost as many calves, which are kept on pasture in the spring, summer and fall seasons. They also have pigs and free-range chickens and turkeys, which are moved about two times each day so they always have fresh grass. Ruthie added that their soil contains no harmful fertilizers.

“That’s the easiest and best way to produce those eggs with a bright orange yolk that people love,” David said.

Not only are the chicken, beef, lamb, pork and turkey organic and grass-fed, but they’re also brought in fresh each week. The beef comes from Centre County, Pa., and is butchered locally. According to Ruthie, grass-fed cows produce beef rich in Omega 3’s. The Lapps bring their own milk-fed pork in addition to bacon and ham. Along with that, customers can purchase bone broth and meat stock. From its grass-fed cows, Green Ridge provides fresh milk and raw cow cheeses.

In addition to their meats and produce, the bulk food stand carries everything from baking products to dried fruits and nuts—all of which Ruthie hand packages. They’ve also kept on trend by adding kombucha and growing hemp, which will be harvested and used for CBD products.

“I like that it’s all-natural and made from scratch here,” said Harrisburg resident Steven Fugett, who often visits the stand with co-workers.

Ruthie Lapp said that she enjoys interacting with customers on market days and that many have been coming back regularly since opening day. She especially loves when people visit around the holidays to tell them how good their Thanksgiving turkey was.

Green Ridge Acres also supplies chicken to their neighbor, the Millworks restaurant.

“We want to share real food, not imitation,” Ruthie said. “People want organic. They want the fresh and the real.”

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this is true. USDA reported in August that consumer demand for organic goods is rising by double-digits. Organic products are also becoming widely available at grocery stores and other retailers.

With the continued uptick in organic-seeking customers, Green Ridge Acres hopes to cater to the needs of its customers for years to come.

It’s been 10 years already, but David sees the farm stand sticking around for the long haul.

“That I hope can go on for another 10 years,” he said.

Green Ridge Acres in located in the brick building of the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.greenridgeacres.com .

Powerful Visions: “Harriet” brings a twist to the biopic.

October 31, 2019 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

The first thing you learn about our protagonist is that she has visions. The second thing you learn is that her name is Minty.

Or Araminta Ross, that is. This is what Harriet Tubman was named at birth, and it’s how we meet her in this biopic. The introduction of Director Kasi Lemmons’ film, “Harriet,” was a great reminder that though I (and I’m sure many people) know the basic story of Harriet Tubman, there is a lot that went unsaid in history class.

Lemmons has you covered. She knows the extent of most people’s knowledge concerning one of the great pioneers of the Underground Railroad. And, so, we learn a little about Minty (played by Cynthia Erivo). She’s married to a free man, but all of her family is enslaved on a plantation. While her father’s contract freed him at the age of 45, the plantation owners denied his family the same rights, keeping them as his own property. When Minty was younger, that same plantation owner struck her and cracked her head open. Since then, Harriet has had episodes, which she believes are visions—God speaks to her.

These visions are what allow this film to breathe. Most of the time, people brush these visions to the side in lieu of other important details, but “Harriet” weaves in what most would consider a physical ailment and uses it as a guiding force that, once Minty escapes to Philadelphia and begins calling herself Harriet, supports her work in the Underground Railroad. The visions are the reasoning behind her success, and they bring a sense of hope as Harriet continues to push forward, unable to stand by while there are still people in need.

We see a fantastic performance from Erivo, probably the film’s greatest strength, and much praise can be given to the supporting roles by Leslie Odom, Jr. as abolitionist William Still and Janelle Monae as Marie Buchanon, a proprietor in Philadelphia who befriends Harriet. All in all, the cast is strong, and the message that the film relays is powerful.

“Harriet” is by no means a perfect film. It plays it safe in many ways, remaining formulaic in structure and character development. Though we learn so much about Harriet Tubman, it is centered around her mission—a fair focus, to be sure, though sometimes it feels like the more personal moments are snipped out of the story (for example, she finds out her husband has moved on in her absence, and instead of getting a glimpse of her struggle and angst for the situation, we see a Hallmark picture of her talking to God). The visions that she has—and the fact that we are able to experience them with her—are what offer a flair of personality to the film, though even that stylistic decision could have been better utilized to make the story pop more.

There is something spectacular to be said about the objective of the film, however. Most stories of the Underground Railroad and slavery tip the scales in favor of brutal realism—the vivid pain of slavery, the desperate victory of escape—which “Harriet” does, to some extent. However, one would hardly compare the violence to some of the film’s predecessors on the subject. Though it contains these similarities, “Harriet” is not about the horrors of slavery, nor is it about the blessings of freedom. It explores the journey between the two. Lemmons tunes us into the true beauty of Harriet Tubman’s story—that she took her hardships and used them as a stepping stool to freedom.

The story of Harriet Tubman is already a powerful story in history books. But now, we get to feel that power, as Harriet comes to life on screen.

“Harriet” starts on Nov. 1 at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com.

NOVEMBER EVENTS

National Theatre Live
“Fleabag”
Sunday, Nov. 3, 7 p.m.
“A Midsummer’s Night Dream”
Sunday, Nov. 10, 2 p.m.
“Hansard”
Monday, Nov. 25, 7 p.m.

Down in Front! Presents
“The Slime People”
Friday, Nov. 8, 9:30 p.m.

3rd in the Burg $3 Movie
“Donnie Darko”
Friday, Nov. 15, 9:30 p.m.

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