Fit to be Tried: Bigger space, more amenities greet you at Next Step Performance’s new location.

August 30, 2019 | by Yaasmeen Piper

If you’re a beginner gym-goer like me (and even “beginner” is a little far-fetched), it’s easy to be intimidated by Next Step Performance’s new space.

Besides the sight of owner Ivan Black, who seems to be in perfect shape, the new training studio, located in the 1500 Condominiums in Harrisburg, is filled with foreign equipment and weights that look like they could snap my arm in half.

But Black expects exactly that reaction when people first walk in.

It’s then his job to make them feel comfortable regardless of their fitness level—and in spite of the iron, machines and other equipment staring you down as you enter the location on N. 6th Street, directly across the street from where other heavy equipment (cranes, bulldozers, etc.) are erecting the new federal courthouse.

Black makes you feel at ease through his easy manner and infectious smile, as well as the group and individual workout sessions he’s developed that fit a wide range of fitness levels. With the new location, Black expects to help even more people get into shape.

“Inside of one movement, a top-notch athlete and a beginner can both perform them with relative safety, at their own pace, and it can be progressive for both of them,” he said.

Black opened Next Step Performance four years ago because of his love of exercise, movement and health.

“I love fitness for everything that it provides—aesthetic, health under the hood—but also for confidence, self-esteem and psychological maintenance,” he said.

As much as he liked his original location at the corner of N. 3rd and Herr streets, he admits that there were times when he felt claustrophobic because of the snug size. Not only is the new location more spacious for members (especially in a group setting,) but, according to Black, it also helps motivate them.

“It’s not just the added size, but that everything has a place—everything is clean, everything is put together,” he said. “So, there’s inspiration that comes from a space that’s designed with heart. You get here, and you’re like, ‘Woah, OK. It’s time to work out.’”

The new space was originally brought to his attention in March by one of his members. His lease on the 3rd Street building was coming to an end, so he thought, “Why not see if I can move?”

He scoured the city looking for a new place, but didn’t find anything that seemed like a good fit (no parking, too expensive, etc.). He was settling into the idea of staying in his old storefront until a member approached him about the 1500 Condominiums space. He fell in love with it, and, in early August, officially moved in.

Along with a bigger workout room, the new space comes equipped with a shower and two bathrooms. He also has a built-in customer base, literally—building residents living just above him who are eager to train. With more people looking to work out and a space to inspire them, Black is creating a motivational environment for his Next Step community.

Black provides at least two group workout sessions, six days a week. He said that he focuses on group sessions because of their ability to help people motivate and push themselves.

“Working out consistently is a challenge,” he said. “When you’re working out by yourself, for some, that can be pure misery. So, we try to get you into a space where you’re a little more comfortable.”

For those who feel better outside of a group setting and are tired of traditional gyms, Black offers individual and small group training. He also has a seven-day, free trial for people who want to try out the gym without immediate commitment. After that, members pay a monthly subscription that they can cancel at any time.

Right now, Black has nearly 80 members, but he’s always looking for more.

“To be able to have all these tools available and to come up with a unique recipe for the individual to be better out there, for a little guy from Elmont (N.Y.), you feel good about the effect you have on the world, even if it’s a small part,” he said.

Next Step Performance is located at 1500 N. 6th St., Harrisburg. For more information visit nsp.fitness.

Smooth as Silks: Taking flight at Artz N’ Motion.

August 30, 2019 | by Hanna Martin

Jane Bryan teaches people how to fly.

Well, not literally.

Bryan opened her Linglestown arts studio Artz N’ Motion in 2009 to share her passion of the aerial arts with the community.

“I love movement,” she said. “I fell in love with the circus and the high-flying trapeze when I was little, and then when I got the opportunity to do it, I was like, ‘I have to share this with everybody. I want everybody to learn this because it’s so much fun!’”

Bryan even wanted to join the circus at age 19 after doing gymnastics. However, she was young and afraid of leaving behind everything familiar. Then, in 2004, she discovered Cirque du Soleil, the Canadian-based circus arts troupe. After finding a studio in Philadelphia where she could learn, she was on her way to becoming an aerialist.

“I was not necessarily able to join the circus, but I was able to let my dream come true,” she said.

I Did That

Bryan has a long background in movement-based sports. She did gymnastics for seven years, dance, color guard and cheerleading before falling in love with aerial arts.

Aerial arts, which originated in France, is when a performer uses silks or nylon fabric to perform aerial acrobatics. It includes components of cardio, endurance, flexibility and strength training. Often a difficult workout, Bryan tailors the classes, which include beginner and aerial one and two classes, to the level of the student.

“A lot of people are like, ‘I don’t really have a lot of upper-body strength so I can’t do this.’ But you really can, because I’ll teach you how to use your legs,” Bryan said. “And we do conditioning. It’s a full body workout, and it is endurance.”

Tamara Palmer, who has been attending classes at Artz N’ Motion for the past two years, said that she was sore when she first started classes.

“I felt good, but I felt sore in places I didn’t know I could be sore in,” Palmer said. “It took a couple of weeks to start to build up strength. Jane’s programs are very good about not pushing you beyond your limit while getting your body conditioned.”

Classes are for all ages as Bryan currently serves people ranging from 5 to 74 years old. Students start slowly, with beginner classes, before moving on to more challenging techniques.

“It just boosts your confidence so much, especially if you’re afraid of heights,” Bryan said. “You get to experience that, ‘Wow, I did that, and I got over that fear.’ That just brings so much joy to me. I love it.”

Try It

Palmer described classes as therapeutic, saying that the sport has helped her with back pain.

“I feel healthy,” she said. “I have a degenerative disc in my back. It has alleviated so much of my back pain, so much so that I’m actually able to run again, which is something that I haven’t been able to do for several years.”

Beyond helping students build muscle, Bryan also tries to build community in her studio. She often starts with a warmup before gathering the students in a circle to stretch and introduce themselves, helping new students feel more comfortable.

“There’s a lot of encouraging the other students, clapping each other on,” Bryan said. “I want to build a community of people who want to encourage each other and learn this awesome sport.”

Although swinging and flipping on a nylon fabric 25 feet in the air might seem daunting, Palmer encourages everyone to overcome their fears.

“It’s really for anybody and everybody,” she said. “Even if you think you can’t, you will, and Jane knows what to do to get you there. So, I do encourage people, if you’re curious, come try it. You’ve got nothing to lose!”

Artz N’ Motion is located at 493 G Blue Eagle Ave, Harrisburg (Linglestown), in the CrossFit gym. For more information, including class schedules, visit www.artznmotion.com.

Electrifying Art: Color Carlisle is painting the town red–and every other color.

August 30, 2019 | by Karen Hendricks

Holly Cohick

Amie Bantz is constantly doodling.

“I never thought it would take off, but it’s evolved into my style,” said the 25-year old Carlisle High School art teacher.

Her latest doodles combine iconic images of Carlisle into a playful landscape across an unlikely canvas—one of the town’s electrical boxes.

“Amie’s artwork is vibrant and captures the story of Carlisle in a unique way,” said Greg Guenther, 33, founder and president of the nonprofit Color Carlisle. “It condenses all the features of Carlisle, all the things people love about Carlisle.”

Look closely, and you can pick out the classic architecture of Dickinson College, the old courthouse, Carlisle Theatre, Massey’s Frozen Custard and more landmarks from Cumberland County’s seat—all ideas that stemmed from brainstorming sessions Bantz held with her teenaged students.

Bantz and five additional artists, chosen from 15 applicants, worked street-side recently during Carlisle’s week-long Summerfair.

“There were three older gentlemen who lived in the neighborhood, who were a little skeptical of my work at first,” Bantz said. “But during their daily walks, they got to see the entire [artistic] process, and we started to form relationships. They would even check up on me and bring me water.”

The streetscape art initiative was given the name “Art While You Wait” because Color Carlisle chose six street corner electrical boxes along highly trafficked pedestrian crosswalks. A bonus seventh box was decorated on August’s First Friday.

The grassroots arts organization formed in late 2016. You could say that their mission, creating public art to unify residents, is electrifying the community. Operating under the umbrella of the Downtown Carlisle Association, Color Carlisle raised $10,000 in its first three months of existence and established numerous partnerships.

Their first project, a mural, involved 25 Carlisle High School art students, under the direction of artist-in-residence Ophelia Chambliss and Ashley Gogoj, a Carlisle High art teacher and Color Carlisle’s vice president. It was installed on the bricks of St. Paul Lutheran Church’s back wall in the spring of 2018.

Guenther said that the group is targeting one major public art initiative a year—with an intentional focus on involving young artists. Color Carlisle’s volunteer advisory board members all work with youth in some capacity, including teachers of a variety of subjects from grade school to college levels.

“We’re very passionate about Carlisle’s youth because we see the impact that we can have on them, giving them a voice and opportunity,” Guenther said.

The youngest artist to design an electrical box was 14-year-old Dinela Dedic.

Art While You Wait’s primary sponsor, PNC Bank, underwrote most of the project’s price tag of $2,750. In addition to supplies, each artist received a stipend for their work.

“I was super psyched to create my first work of public art,” said Holly Cohick, 24, a lifelong Mount Holly Springs resident.

Trained in art and design at CASA and HACC, she’s a graphic designer for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.

Searching for artistic inspiration, Cohick considered the question, “Why do I love Carlisle?” And she hit upon a tasteful approach.

“I can relate to Carlisle through food, all the places I’ve eaten at growing up such as the Hamilton,” Cohick said. “I wrote down all the different restaurants and coffee shops, and I thought about what they are most known for.”

Much like Bantz, Cohick created a montage of artwork for her box design, titled “Smorgasbord.” There’s a sub to represent Al’s Subs, a hotchee dog from the Hamilton (conveniently located across the street from the box), and Cohick’s favorite dessert—French macaroons from Helena’s Creperie.

“I made a conscious decision to make my box very bright and vibrant with a graffiti feel,” Cohick said. “Using utility boxes which are kinda blah, it warms up the community.”

“Smorgasboard” was completed after 12 days and 57 hours. Additional utility box themes include nature and waterways, among others.

With a few projects now under the organization’s belt, Guenther says there is a “bubbling” or “ripple effect” creating excitement for future projects.

A future mural, in collaboration with the United Way of Carlisle and Cumberland County, is planned for the brick wall of North Hanover Antique Gallery—a GoFundMe campaign is underway. Artist Aron Rook of Carlisle is designing the mural. Her colorful work can also be found in Harrisburg and York.

“Creating opportunities to intersect people at all different levels of Carlisle in the form of public art, we’re focusing on big picture ideas, inspirational things for the community,” Guenther said.

Carlisle’s public art is also sparking community conversations.

“Art for a long time was geared to the elite,” said Bantz, who teaches art history. “I think the idea of public art being this free, beautiful piece of artwork—it’s very powerful. People are starting to recognize there’s something beautiful about people leaving their mark and changing their neighborhood.”

As for Bantz’s Carlisle-themed doodle, titled “LoveCarlisle,” it’s available as a print at the Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC) with proceeds benefitting Color Carlisle.

“Art should be accessible to all people,” Bantz said, “So, this brings me a lot of joy.”

For more information on Color Carlisle, visit colorcarlisle.com. “LoveCarlisle” is located at Hanover & High streets. “Smorgasbord” is at High & Pitt streets. St. Paul Lutheran Church’s mural is located at 201 W. Louther St. (rear).

The Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC) is located at 38 W. Pomfret St. For more information, visit carlislearts.org.

Book Bash: Bestselling authors are Harrisburg-bound for 2019 Book Festival.

August 30, 2019 | by Yaasmeen Piper

Photo by Justin Ward.

Last year, Alex Brubaker, manager at Midtown Scholar, promised that the Harrisburg Book Festival would be back in 2019, bigger and better than ever.

With last year’s Grammy-nominated artist, an Oprah book club pick and countless other bestselling authors, I didn’t think that was possible. But then it happened.

The book festival returns in early October, featuring more than 20 authors ranging from emerging to award-winning. Over four days, authors will hold readings, panels, interviews and more, all free and open to the public.

“We’re really excited for this year’s festival,” Brubaker said. “It was really important for us this year to make everything free and open to the public. As the festival evolves, we’re able to clarify our mission and realize what’s important to us and to make the festival as inclusive as possible.”

This year’s lineup includes Wayétu Moore, author of “She Would Be King,” Eric Foner of “The Second Founding,” Andrew Shaffer of “Hope Never Dies: An Obama Biden Mystery,” and critically acclaimed author Stephen Chbosky of “Perks of Being a Wall Flower.”

Chbosky will read from his first novel in 20 years called “Imaginary Friend.” The book follows Kate Reese and her son Christopher. After fleeing an abusive relationship, the two settle into Mill Grove, Pa. All is well until Christopher vanishes. He returns six days later with no physical injuries but something inside him has changed.

Along with a reading from his new book, Chbosky will read a new letter from Charlie from the 20th-anniversary edition of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.”

Even though Chbosky is a Pennsylvania native, this will be his first time visiting the state capital.

“I can’t wait to meet fellow authors and fans of literature,” he said. “After 20 years away from publishing, it feels like I’m coming home.”

This year’s keynote speaker is Isha Sesay, international journalist and author of “Beneath the Tamarind Tree: A Story of Courage, Family and the Lost School Girls of Boko Haram.” In her book, Sesay writes about the 276 girls from Chibok, Nigeria, who were abducted from their dorms by the militant group Boko Haram. The kidnapping sparked national outrage and the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls. For a decade, Sesay reported on the kidnapping for CNN and even made contact with three girls who made it home.

“When you think about a dream keynote speaker, she was really at the top of our list,” Brubaker said. “She’s got a really impactful story to share. As haunting as it is, it has a strong message of hope behind it.”

There will also be a collection of familiar faces at this year’s festival. The festival’s 2017 keynote speaker, Ibram X. Kendi, author of “Stamped from the Beginning” and “How to Be an Antiracist,” is closing out the festival. R.O Kwon, Liz Moore and Madeline Miller are also returning.

“It’s always a pleasure [coming back to Midtown Scholar]—a beautiful setting, filled with passionate readers and exciting, well-chosen books,” said Miller, author of “Songs of Achilles” and “Circe.” “What could be better?”

The Midtown Scholar annual tent sale will also be a part of this year’s festival. On the corner of 3rd and Verbeke streets will be a tent full of thousands of discounted books.

“If the 200,000 books in store are not enough for you, I’m sure you’ll find something outside at the tent sale,” Brubaker said.

According to Brubaker, the Scholar worked hard to make sure the festival included a wide range of authors for every literature lover.

“There’s something for everyone,” he said. “These are celebrated authors coming from around the world. It’s a really diverse, good group of authors. If you want to meet an all-star lineup of authors at no cost, come to the festival.”

The 2019 Harrisburg Book Festival takes place Oct. 3 to Oct. 6 at Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit hbgbookfest.com.

Author Sightings

The 2019 Harrisburg Book Festival features numerous book- and literary-themed events, including appearances by the following writers, authors and illustrators:

Isha Sesay, international journalist (keynote speaker)
Stephen Chbosky, author, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”
Eric Foner, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian
Vashti Harrison, bestselling children’s author/illustrator
Ibram X. Kendi, National Book Award-winning historian
Madeline Miller, bestselling author, “Circe”
Tea Obreht, bestselling author, “The Tiger’s Wife”
Joanne Ramos, award-winning debut novelist
Liz Moore, award-winning novelist
Nisha Vora, vegan cookbook author
Andrew Shaffer, bestselling humorist
O. Kwon, award-winning debut novelist
Wayetu Moore, award-winning debut novelist
Jonathan Stutzman, local children’s author
Heather Fox, local children’s illustrator
Imani Perry, award-winning professor

Simple Is Best: A recipe that’s small on time, big on taste.

August 30, 2019 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

As readers of this column know, I love to cook and I love to cook for friends. But as time has passed in my culinary life, I am taking advice from one of my favorite cookbook authors and TV chef, Ina Garten.

While Ina makes beautiful food, she is a strong proponent of making entertaining easy—fun to do and not drudgery. She suggests easy nibbles before dinner like nuts and olives and simple desserts like a fruit-and-cheese tray or chocolate-dipped strawberries. She insists that, if a weekday dinner takes more than 30 minutes to prepare or a dinner party more than two hours, she is just not doing it.

I like that. Gone are my days of roasting veal bones for a demi-glace, making a lemon soufflé with candied violets on top or a molded tomato aspic. (Does anyone actually know what these things are anymore?)

So, I gathered together a few recipes from here and there: the salmon from a “Taste of Home” cooking magazine (it has quickly become a favorite), roasted cherry tomatoes (no idea where I got this one), and wasabi mashed potatoes (inspired by Café Fresco in downtown Harrisburg.) These three, combined with a green vegetable, have “rescued” me for quite a few company dinners. All are easy to prepare (even for a weeknight) and make a lovely presentation on the dinner table.

FIRECRACKER SALMON, ROASTED CHERRY TOMATOES AND WASABI MASHED POTATOES

Ingredients (salmon)

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 green onion, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon maple syrup
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon ground ginger (sometimes I use the ginger paste I find in the grocery store)
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon sesame oil
¼ teaspoon salt
4 salmon filets (6-8 ounces each)

Ingredients (mashed potatoes)

4 very large yellow gold potatoes
3-4 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 ounces half and half or 1 12-ounce can whole evaporated milk
Wasabi powder (I start with about 1 tablespoon and then add more to taste. It can get hot.)
Salt to taste

Ingredients (tomatoes)

2 pint boxes cherry tomatoes (I look for “fat” ones and choose the mixed variety of red, yellow, and orange if I can find them.) Remove stems.
Olive oil
Coarse sea salt
Handful of chopped fresh basil

Directions

In a small bowl, combine the first 10 ingredients for the marinade.
Pour ¼ cup marinade in a large Ziploc plastic bag. Add the salmon, seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes along with the remaining marinade.
Drain the salmon and discard the marinade in the bag.
Place salmon, skin side down, on a greased sheet pan with sides.
In a bowl, toss the cherry tomatoes with olive oil to coat. Sprinkle a little coarse sea salt and the chopped basil over them.
Arrange the cherry tomatoes on both sides of the salmon on the baking sheet.
Place the salmon and tomatoes in a 375-degree pre-heated oven and roast for about 30 minutes. But watch carefully. Remove when the salmon is nicely browned and tomatoes softened and slightly collapsed.

While the salmon is roasting, cook the yellow gold potatoes in boiling salted water until soft. Drain, mash and beat in the butter, cream or milk, and wasabi powder to taste. Taste and add more salt if needed.

Arrange the roasted salmon in a long row on a platter and place the roasted tomatoes on both sides. A few fresh basil leaves tucked here and there looked pretty. Sprinkle the sliced green onion over all.

Serve the salmon and tomatoes with the wasabi mashed potatoes and a green vegetable. Broccoli, green beans or asparagus work well.

So now, as the weather begins to cool this month, you have a lovely, easy to prepare meal for company. No need to roast veal bones. Invite everyone!

The Painted Word: As you gear up for Gallery Walk, come meet the Art Association’s Carrie Wissler-Thomas.

August 30, 2019 | by Bob MacGinnes

Many people begin their journey with ideals to change the world, and, for the rare few, that happens. Central Pennsylvania has one of these people in its midst—Carrie Wissler-Thomas, who is starting her 40th year at the helm of the Art Association of Harrisburg (AAH).

Wissler-Thomas knew her life was destined for the world of art as a student at Ephrata High. When she married her high school sweetheart, Scott Thomas, and moved to Harrisburg, the dream began—a life of art unfolded as a publicist and copywriter at AAH. That stint grew into her becoming the main catalyst at the association, and, in 1980, she was elected president.

Later, Wissler-Thomas became the CEO and steered the vaunted institution from its 1926 humble beginnings to achieve its gold standard reputation today. When one enters the halls of the Art Association, it is like being ushered into a private club, without the pretense of pressure to fit into a certain niche. This state of mind is achieved through Wissler-Thomas, who is an expert in all facets of art through the ages.

Over a storied, four-decade career, Wissler-Thomas breathed fresh life into an association that relies on strong leadership across many settings. From art administrator to fundraiser to grant-writer, she does so many things well.

Her duties encompass full responsibility for the 500 students enrolled in the year-round art classes and in maintaining an art membership that now boasts 600 members. In addition, she supervises a part-time gallery staff of five and relies on 20 faculty educators. In fact, she is the first to recognize that the association is only as strong as every cog in the wheel and is quick to praise not only staff, but students and association members alike.

Gracious, genteel and gifted are but a few of the words that come to mind immediately upon meeting Wissler-Thomas. She welcomes you like an old friend of the family. And being in her presence is like taking a history lesson in the world of art.

In many ways, Wissler-Thomas was the progenitor of multi-tasking long before it came into vogue. She is an educator, painter, gallerist, author, mentor and the coordinator for the citywide Harrisburg Gallery Walk, which takes place on Sept. 8 for its 31st year. She also oversees 17 sites of rotating art installations found in select businesses, assisted in her mission by gallery Curator Rachel O’Connor.

Today, Wissler-Thomas whiles away any free time painting on the banks of the Susquehanna across from the association’s lovely building and on the wee shores of her beloved Scotland.

Wissler-Thomas is responsible in part for the Art Association’s new mission statement, “The AAH promotes the visual arts through education and exhibitions and enhances the wellness of area residents.”

Possibly the most fascinating chapter of the Wissler-Thomas/AAH relationship is the history captured in print by the CEO herself. Her book, “As the Paint Dries, the History of the Art Association of Harrisburg,” is more than a personal reflection on her life. It reads like a who’s who of both the association and the city that has supported the arts over the years. Rich in historical perspective, her lens lovingly recreates snapshots frozen in time from years predating her involvement with AAH and all the years since.

If longevity is a criteria for greatness, that box would be checked. If it’s the imprint one makes on a culture, then put an “x” in that box, as well. True greatness encompasses both and so much more. Greatness is measured on the tenets of enriching others’ lives and making the world a better place for all.

So, it is with a grateful heart that Harrisburg gets to acknowledge a veritable icon in the art world of central PA—Carrie Wissler-Thomas. Her orbit is as far-reaching as the number of lives she has touched throughout her career, equivalent to trying to count the stars in the sky.

2019 Gallery Walk is slated for Sunday, Sept. 8, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Art Association of Harrisburg is located at 21 N. Front St., Harrisburg. For more information on both, visit www.artassocofhbg.com.

“The Painted Word” is an occasional column on the fine arts scene around Harrisburg.

Generation Now: For Julissa Morales, young people are the present and the future.

August 30, 2019 | by Maddie Conley

At the age of 11, Julissa Morales, the daughter of Mexican immigrants, stood on the state Capitol steps reciting her speech about her parents’ inability to get a driver’s license and the effect it had on her.

Her parents, Luis and Lorena Morales, had joined the Movement of Immigrant Leaders in PA (MILPA), doing advocacy work in the Harrisburg area, and Julissa quickly followed in their footsteps.

“As a kid, I didn’t even always know what I was talking about, but I wanted to help,” she said.

It’s been five years since her speech, and Julissa is now a 16-year-old senior at Harrisburg High School SciTech Campus. Most recently, she was named one of the two Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition’s (PICC) 2019 Youth Leaders.

Julissa hadn’t even known she was nominated. It was a shock that, out of all the youth across the state, she was chosen. MILPA’s Harrisburg coordinator, Maria Alejandra Hernandez, had nominated her.

But what came as a shock to Julissa was obvious to those from MILPA and PICC who knew her, as she has become so embedded and involved in the community on behalf of immigrants.

“She’s one of those people we need to look at,” said Maria Sotomayor, PICC’s deputy director. “I think she’s going to do big things.”

This year, Julissa joined the Harrisburg City Youth Council and networks with leaders in the community such as City Council members. She also has worked at the Latino Hispanic American Community Center, completing their LISTO program to enhance her leadership skills. She also was involved in the “Familias Separadas” mural.

Last year, Julissa attended the PICC Youth Convening, a weekend-long trip where 30 14- to 24-year-olds across the state meet to develop leadership skills, share their stories and connect with others like them. This is where she met Sotomayor.

“It is important to not just have young people in the front lines, but also making decisions and participating,” Sotomayor said. “Young people hold a lot for their families. Sometimes, we don’t talk about that.”

Julissa displayed the weight she carries as she has often thought, “This could be the last time my dad is coming home.”

Her parents never expected that she would become such a leader. She was always a shy child, but both explained how much they’ve seen her grow.

“Little by little, she started doing little things,” said Lorena, with Julissa translating her mother’s Spanish to English. “It’s really nice to see the young people standing up for things they believe in.”

Although her Capitol speech was five years ago, Julissa is still advocating for all immigrants to have access to driver’s licenses.

According to the National Conference of State Legislators, 13 states and Washington, D.C., currently allow “unauthorized immigrants to obtain a driver’s license.” In Pennsylvania, to get a license you must have certain identifiers such as a Social Security card or passport—documents some immigrants do not have.

Julissa sees this as especially challenging in central Pennsylvania, where mobility is a necessity.

However, when Julissa protests or participates in an advocacy event, she has a higher goal in mind than just persuasion.

“I don’t want to change your opinion,” she said. “I just want to get you to respect us and our community.”

Julissa attended the PICC Youth Convening again this year and hopes to continue to show people that the youth are not just the future, but the present.

“This is something that has to be done,” she said. “If I don’t, who else will?”

For more information on PICC visit, www.paimmigrant.org. To learn more about MILPA, visit www.milpaen-milpa.nationbuilder.com.

Pushing Each Other: At HARD, roller derby is used to empower, motivate.

August 30, 2019 | by Yaasmeen Piper

Photo by Ross Sieber | NRS Media Services.

I have to be honest—before going to the bout, my only knowledge of roller derby came from the 2009 film “Whip It.”

I remember watching the film and seeing elbow punches to the face and nose bleeds. So, when I walked into the Olympic Skating Center in Enola in July, part of me expected to see some bloodshed.

Well, that’s not roller derby at all. At least, not anymore.

Yes, of course, there was some shoving, but each move is practiced, like tackling in football. There are strict rules in roller derby, from what parts of the body are able to be hit or “checked,” down to how to fall properly.

I went into the bout knowing almost nothing about the sport, but by intermission, thanks to Danielle “De’Molish’Her” Moore, vice president of the Harrisburg Area Roller Derby or HARD team, I was less of a novice.

The game, or the “bout,” is broken down into two 30-minute periods. During each of these periods, there are smaller episodes called “jams.” During the jams, there is an average of five players from each team on the oval track. Only one person from each team has the ability to score—the “jammer,” who wears a big star on her helmet.

The other four players on the team are the blockers. The objective of the blockers is to make sure the other team’s jammer doesn’t pass them. If the jammer does pass the blockers, they score one point for each opposing player they pass.

On the rink, it was all focus and grave faces. But, during a time-out or intermission, you’d see players dancing or laughing with one another. There was even one player, “Razor De Rockefeller,” who pulled out her guitar and started playing a Misfits song.

“I don’t think it’s an angry sport at all,” said Khara Williams or “Rocky Galboa,” president of HARD. “I think that that’s a pretty common misconception about it. You see women playing a full-contact sport against one another and you assume that they’re trying to hurt one another, but it’s not like that at all.”

Sisterhood

Williams first heard about roller derby back in the 1980s. She had no clue the sport was still around until she found out her friend was part of a team in Japan. Before, she thought roller derby was just “wrestling on skates,” so when a Facebook ad for HARD popped up on her feed, she was hesitant.

“It took me three months to finally sign up,” she said. “I thought I was signing up for wrestling on skates. It’s very different now.”

Even though this modern version of roller derby has been around since the early 2000s, the women of HARD and other derby players still face stereotypes about who does and doesn’t play derby.

“A lot of people assume it’s a lot of angry lesbians,” Moore said with a laugh. “And I fit into that stereotype kind of. I mean, I’m not angry, but you know what I mean. We really do support the LGBTQ community, but I don’t want people to not come because they think we’re all a bunch of angry lesbians.”

People often questioned Williams’ decision to start playing derby. She is known as being a “gentle soul,” and playing derby to them seemed like the opposite of what a gentle soul should be doing.

“I don’t wanna hurt anybody, but I do enjoy the sport,” she said. “I enjoy the athleticism, I enjoy the challenge because it is a challenge. I also enjoy the sisterhood that goes along with it.”

Closer

In a little over a year, “fresh meat” Sorina Ly said HARD has become her family. Before going to her first recruitment night in August 2018, Ly hadn’t been on skates since she was 7 years old. It was the encouragement of her teammates that kept her getting back up every time she fell.

“It was so obvious that I was a disaster, but they were so kind and nice,” she said. “I think that it’s such a small community, and we’re all in it for each other. It’s so wonderful to see everyone empowering each other and looking out for one another.”

It’s undeniable how close this team is. Aside from spending two to three nights a week together practicing, they often go out for drinks as a team, volunteer or go to the gym together. They have become so close that, in the rink, some players can identify their teammates by the height of their shoulders, the way they move around the track, or by their skates.

Everyone I talked to said HARD has become a part of their family. Many players have developed new friendships, but two players have improved a relationship that was already in place.

Since joining HARD, spouses Arissa “Mad Thigh Moody” Brown and Stephanie “Grace HopHer” Leitch said that roller derby has brought some friendly and healthy competition to their marriage.

“We push each other in ways that we hadn’t necessarily pushed each other before,” Brown said.

Even though they challenge and push each other on the track, according to Leitch, the game has also brought them closer.

“I think having my spouse out on the track has been a really close bonding activity,” she said. “I mean, you’re literally out there fighting for each other.”

For HARD, being on the team is about more than just winning. A percentage of the proceeds from each bout goes to a local charity of their choosing. Some of the previous charities include Hounds of Prison Education, animal shelters and more. The team also volunteers at local food banks and animals rescues and participates in a quarterly clean up.

“You want to empower your community, you want to make your community better,” Williams said.“It is about awareness, but I think most of us just enjoy working in the places that we live and making it better.”

Along with empowering their community, HARD works to empower women.

“When most people think of women they think of us as the weaker sex,” Williams said. “I think that if these people jumped on the track with some roller derby players they’d… reassess.”

For more information on the Harrisburg Area Roller Derby and their upcoming bouts visit www.harrisburgarearollerderby.com.

Year of Living Symphonically: HSO opens its 90th season with a little madness, a lot of family.

August 30, 2019 | by Robert Naeye

Until I moved to the Harrisburg metro area in 2016, I had only attended concerts by globally celebrated symphony orchestras from big cities: Boston and Chicago.

So, when I attended my first Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra concert in 2017, I had modest expectations.

Like many first-time HSO concertgoers, my bar was set far too low. From my perspective as a classical aficionado, music Director Stuart Malina has performed miracles, transforming a regional orchestra into a first-class institution that also happens to play in a spectacular venue (the Forum).

“The Boston Symphony is the Boston Symphony, but we’re not that far below in terms of what we put out there,” said Malina, who jokingly calls the HSO “one of Harrisburg’s best-known secrets.” “I wish more people had a sense of how special it is to have this orchestra here.”

This coming season will mark Malina’s 20th year at the helm and the orchestra’s 90th anniversary. And it’s clear this season will be like none before.

“It’s an extra special year, and I really do feel like I have put together an extra special season,” he said. “Every concert really is a big event, and there are a lot of special things we don’t normally do.”

The Masterworks series kicks off with a bang on Oct. 5 and 6, with what the maestro calls “Malina Madness.” He will perform Mozart’s celebrated 26th Piano Concerto at the keyboard while simultaneously conducting the orchestra. He’ll close the show with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade,” one of the most beloved pieces in the symphonic repertoire.

But what sets this concert apart is the fact that Malina will have the rare experience of conducting a 16-minute “Suite for Orchestra” written by his son, Zev. Besides being an accomplished pianist, this Central Dauphin High School senior has twice won the National Young Composers Challenge.

“For me, that will probably be the highlight of the season,” said the proud father. “The idea that I get to conduct my son’s music is—I can’t even say it’s a dream come true because it’s something I never even dreamed. It’s overwhelming.”

Zev composed the three-movement piece between the ages of 15 and 17. He submitted the second and third movements for the Young Composers Challenge, and both won the award for that year. He wrote the first movement specifically to complete the suite for the HSO.

“In all honesty, I got the ideas for all three movements actually just by sitting at a piano and messing around until something stuck,” said Zev.

The heroic first movement, “Maiden Voyage,” will be followed by a slower, impressionistic second movement, “Dreamscape.” Zev said that the fast third movement, “Ballet for Fighter Jets,” was influenced by Shostakovich and other Russian composers.

Stuart describes the work as “a wonderful piece of music that is thoroughly accessible.”

Malina said it’s “the peak of insanity” to follow the heightened emotional experience of conducting his son’s piece by playing and conducting the Mozart concerto. He wonders if he’ll fall apart during the applause and not be able to come out for the concerto.

Concerts in November and January present long-time favorites such as Maurice Ravel’s “Bolero,” Claude Debussy’s “La Mer” and Gustav Holst’s “The Planets.” A film will accompany the latter work, with imagery from the Hubble Space Telescope and NASA interplanetary probes.

Malina particularly looks forward to the Feb. 8 and 9 performances of the great American folk opera “Porgy and Bess,” written by George and Ira Gershwin, along with DuBose Heyward.

“This is something that we’ve talked about doing for a while, but it’s a very big project, a very expensive project,” said Malina, who added that the HSO can afford to perform this massive production because of money raised through its “Let the Music Grow” campaign a few years ago.

The three-hour performance will include an all-star cast and chorus. Malina said that the highlighted vocalists, Laquita Mitchell and Gordon Hawkins, “have performed ‘Porgy and Bess’ all over the world at the greatest opera houses.”

A March 14 and 15 concert will include works by Béla Bartók, the modern composer Kevin Puts and Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky, followed, the next month, by a special Beethoven birthday bash. These concerts, on April 18 and 19, will feature the great master’s Violin Concerto and his 6th Symphony, known as the “Pastoral” due to its inspiration from nature.

HSO concertmaster Peter Sirotin will perform the concerto’s solo violin parts.

“It’s incredibly difficult in ways that are not obvious to a listener because it doesn’t include technical elements found in Paganini or Sibelius,” said Sirotin, who also directs Market Square Concerts with his wife, Ya-Ting Chang. “But it requires a very disciplined approach to execution and interpretation.”

Sirotin added that he can’t specify the number of hours he’ll practice before his performances, but it’s a piece for which he has prepared his entire life.

“What I love about the piece on a personal level is its spirit of optimism, celebration of life and humanity,” he said.

The Masterworks series closes on May 16 and 17 with performances of Johannes Brahms, the contemporary Maryland composer Jonathan Leshnoff and Sergei Rachmaninoff.

Malina is equally excited by the Pops Concert series, which adds an additional pair of concerts this season for a total of five. The opening and closing shows will serve as tributes to the great American artists Aretha Franklin and John Williams. Two others spotlight the critically acclaimed vocalists Michael Cavanaugh and Lisa Vroman.

Malina is particularly eager for the Jan. 25 and 26 performances of “South Pacific,” the great Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Broadway extravaganza. Like the HSO, this musical is experiencing its 90th anniversary. And Malina said that, like “Porgy and Bess,” it’s a huge production that can only be staged after sufficient funds have been raised.

“We will do the entire show, with an entire New York cast, and with casting from Broadway veterans,” Malina said. “It will be a great show.”

He hopes that these performances will draw big audiences.

“Each person exponentially increases the energy of the concert,” he said.

For more information about the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra’s 2019-20 season, visit www.harrisburgsymphony.org.

Travels with “Charlie”: Harrisburg native Kara Grace Miller has a show, will travel.

August 30, 2019 | by Maddie Conley

Currently, Kara Grace Miller is travelling in and out of the country screening her new mini-series, “Cheer Up, Charlie.” However, it was only a handful of years ago that she was working her first job at Midtown Cinema.

“I can still say it was the best job I ever had,” she said.

As a high school senior at Capital Area School for the Arts (CASA), 17-year-old Miller would get out of school and walk the city streets leading to the cinema. She would typically work a half shift scooping ice cream or selling movie tickets and then close up for the night. The best part, though, came when she got to watch the films for herself. Here, she saw her first foreign film and documentary and was exposed to the indie film scene.

“It was an opportunity for me to explore something I didn’t know about before,” Miller said. “It’s funny because now I’m doing it.”

Hilarious

Growing up in Susquehanna Township, Miller remembers her freshman year of high school performing “Hairspray.” That was when she became serious about acting.

“I remember watching her going through the process of realizing how much she loved performing,” said Stuart Landon, producing artistic director of Open Stage.

Miller went on to performing and working with Landon at the Harrisburg-based theater company. She also made the switch from public to charter school at CASA to further her education in the arts.

Although she loved Harrisburg and often misses it, Miller wanted to go to acting school. After graduating, she packed up and headed to New York City to attend the Atlantic Acting School.

About two years out of school, Miller has already completed most of her first big project.

“We were waiting for people to hand us opportunities,” Miller said. “But we decided, ‘Let’s make our own opportunities.’”

“Cheer up, Charlie” is a series of six 10-minute shows produced and co-written by Miller. Oh yeah, she’s also the lead actor.

“For a long time, I had this idea of this little adorable, Taylor Swift-like, white girl and then…she sells weed,” Miller said. “I thought that was hilarious.”

The series is about a 20-year-old aspiring music artist (played by Miller) who decides to sell drugs to pay for her mother’s medical bills for cancer treatments.

Although Miller doesn’t think she is too similar to her character Charlie, much of the emotion is familiar. When Miller was 14, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“What you see them going through is the true part of the show,” she said.

“Cheer up Charlie” was co-written by Anthony Holiday, one of Miller’s peers from Atlantic. There were five producers and 14 actors in the cast. Behind the camera, Miller had a very specific goal in mind—to have the crew reflect those the show is about.

Eleven out of the 12 days they were on set, Miller had an all-female crew. She also purposefully sought out a woman of color to direct the show.

“This story is about underrepresented groups, so that should be who’s telling it,” she said.

Back to the Burg

This past May, Miller returned to Midtown Cinema, not to scoop ice cream or pass out popcorn, but to host the premier of the pilot episode of her own show in the same room where her love for indie films began. It was an experience she wouldn’t forget.

“When a whole group of people laughs, I know we’ve done our job,” she said.

Getting to this point wasn’t necessarily easy for Miller. Landon explained how being an artist isn’t for just anyone.

“Being in the entertainment industry and being in the arts is very hard,” he said. “There are very few people who I’ve said, ‘You really have this, and you have a great idea.’ Kara was one of those people.”

In addition to Harrisburg, “Cheer up, Charlie” has premiered in New York, Toronto, London and Miami at various film festivals and screenings.

Miller plans to continue showing the world “Cheer up Charlie” while meeting with companies to discuss distribution of the show, allowing for the greater public to see it.

“It was a very big thing to take on,” she explained. “It has grown even bigger than what I thought I was getting myself into.”

To keep up with Kara Grace Miller and her work, you can follow her on her Facebook at www.facebook.com/kara.miller.184 or Instagram at www.instagram.com/karagracenyc.

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