Growth Stage: As Penn State Harrisburg has evolved and expanded, so has its theater space.

August 30, 2019 | by Yaasmeen Piper

Just over four years ago, Penn State Harrisburg’s student theater volunteers were struggling for room on stage.

At times, they had to seek theaters off campus because there just wasn’t enough space.

“Prior to this building, the theatrical offerings were very much based on—we have a small space and we only have this much room. We’re going to do a show specifically based on that,” said Adam Gustafson, musical director of the Kulkarni Theatre. “Now, I feel like it is the other way around.”

Penn State Harrisburg opened the doors to its Kulkarni Theatre in August 2016. Named after retired Chancellor Mukund S. Kulkarni, the theater features 355 seats (more than their previous two theaters combined,) a new lighting and sound system, upgraded backstage areas for the actors, and, yes, a bigger stage.

“There have also been massive changes on campus. On top of that, the programing is changing as well,” Gustafson said. “Our arts programs, in large part due to this space, have taken major leaps forward in what we’ve been able to offer both on the theater and music side.”

With the renovations came the theater’s most advanced lighting and sound system yet. The new LED lighting system allows whoever is in control to change the stage’s lighting scheme directly from an iPad. According to Matt Mitra, the theater’s technical director, the new advanced lighting and sound system is on par with Broadway and other high-end theaters.

Not only does this increase the theater’s production quality, but it gives students a chance to work and learn with an advanced system. Before, all the lighting, sound controls and costumes came from outside the theater. Now, the college offers a full experience for students, including lighting and sound control, set building, costume designing and more.

“We really are operating with state-of-the-art technology,” Mitra said. “Just to be able to learn on the equipment, and to use it, it’s an incredible opportunity for Penn State and also for the students.”

The first student production in the updated space was “Avenue Q,” which Maria Enriquez, Penn State’s theater professor, called a “rated R version of ‘Sesame Street.’” The show follows a puppet named Princeton who tries to find his purpose in life. Along the way, he meets a number of other puppet and human characters, gaining life experience from them.

According to Mitra, “Avenue Q” had one of their highest attendances. “It was quite the experience. We really hit a grand slam with it.”

Along with their student productions, the theater hosts lectures, orientations and the “Mukund S. Kulkarni Cultural Series,” a series of performances from national and international artists.

According to Teri Guerrisi, arts manager of the Kulkarni Theatre, the goal of the cultural series is to educate and entertain Penn State students through a blend of modern and traditional performances. Some of their past performances include Namaste India, a folk and classical dance group, Nobuntu, a female a capella group from Zimbabwe, and the Fitzgeralds, a Celtic fiddling and step-dancing family from Canada.

“I’m not trying to brag, but this has become the premier venue on campus,” Guerrisi said.

This year’s fall student production will be Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest.” The production will be guest-directed by Robert Campbell, theater teacher at Capital Area School for the Arts. For the spring musical, the team is stepping outside its usual zone for Joe Masteroff’s “Cabaret.”

Even though the space is mostly used for Penn State students, Guerrisi wants community members to know that the theater is available to them, as well.

“I think we were a bit isolated at times,” she said. “We hope this brings community people here on campus—that they feel welcomed, not only to our venue but all parts of the campus.”

Enriquez is excited to continue high-quality productions on the Kulkarni stage.

“The work that we do at Penn State Harrisburg is comparable to the work that other universities are doing,” she said. “We’re no longer just a commuter campus. We’re able to offer high-quality productions and high-quality events to our students because they want that and they deserve that.”

For more information on the Kulkarni Theatre and upcoming shows, visit harrisburg.psu.edu/kulkarni-theatre.

Assessing the Past, Insuring the Future: Over a century, Penn National’s commitment to Harrisburg runs deep.

August 30, 2019 | by M. Diane McCormick

Call it an executive suite ah-ha moment.

Penn National Insurance officials brainstorming the words to describe their company produced “vibrant.” Also “innovative,” “personable” and “resilient.” Especially “resilient,” infused into a company always trying something new, “no matter how difficult the situation.”

That’s Penn National Insurance President and CEO Christine Sears talking. Around that same time, Sears and her team were preparing for Penn National Insurance’s 2019 centennial, excavating historical nuggets spanning the company’s agrarian origins to its position today providing property and casualty insurance in 11 states.

“We saw how it all came together, and we said that’s exactly right,” Sears said. “This is something that has been in our company for 100 years. We build trust, and we’re caring, and we build strong relationships. We’ve been rewarded by customers who have been loyal to us and continue to do business with us.”

Penn National Insurance is many things, all mirroring the milestones of Harrisburg and national history. It’s that building anchoring Market Square, a landmark in downtown Harrisburg’s turnaround that also leveraged historic preservation. It is a major supporter of education and civic needs. It stands among the top 10 percent of property-casualty insurers in the country.

The company dates to 1913, when enraged farmers created the Pennsylvania Threshermen’s and Farmers’ Protective Association to protest a state law limiting weights on the hulking shared equipment they drove from farm to farm.

After they won repeal in 1915, they turned their attention to workers’ compensation insurance—high on the nation’s agenda since the tragic 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire in New York. The feisty Threshermen’s Association balked at paying the exorbitant premiums charged by government and private companies. So, on Jan. 6, 1919, the Pennsylvania Threshermen’s and Farmers’ Mutual Casualty Insurance Company filed for a charter.

As the eventful decades of the 20th century unfolded, the company kept pace, branching into industrial coverage. By the 1940s, auto insurance was big. Home and fire insurance joined the lineup in the post-war building (and baby) boom. In 1967, the name changed to Penn National Insurance.

There were down times and crises, missteps and reorganizations. CEO Sears recalled that recovering from a ratings slide in the 1980s required raising additional capital while being transparent in a bid to retain the business of loyal agents.

“You constantly learn and constantly research,” she said. “You understand what’s going on and try your best to put the puzzle together.”

At Linglestown-based Enders Insurance Associates, Penn National Insurance has been “one of our team’s best partners for close to 70 years,” since the company took a chance on rookie agent Donald Enders, Sr., said grandson and Vice President Andrew Enders.

“If they make a promise, they keep it,” he said. “They communicate openly and honestly with us and their clients. They’re good community partners, and they don’t flaunt it.”

All for Harrisburg

Penn National Insurance has never strayed far from its first office in downtown Harrisburg.

By the 1990s, the company had outgrown its landlocked, three-building campus at 18th and Market streets (landlocked because the owner of Sorrento Pizza refused to sell his building, to the eternal gratitude of staff in what’s now Harrisburg school district’s Rowland Academy). The suburbs—parking, no flood plain, bigger footprint—beckoned.

Mayor Steve Reed had other ideas. His legendary persuasion, plus a $2.7 million sweetener from the state and the company’s hard-nosed negotiations for air rights and parking, convinced then-CEO Jim Taylor to build in Market Square.

Except that historic but largely gutted office buildings occupied the site. Perhaps the Senate Hotel’s brownstone façade could be incorporated into the new design. Then again, “that can be tricky, and sometimes you never know what you’re getting into,” said Historic Harrisburg Association Executive Director David Morrison, involved in the negotiations then in his first stint as HHA director.

“Lo and behold, it turned out it was a top-heavy building and didn’t have a lot of structural reinforcement,” he said.

A Penn National Insurance official said that saving the façade would cost $130,000, with no guarantee of success. Morrison counter-proposed. Why not commit $130,000 to historic preservation in the community and HHA would withdraw objection to demolition, “which may or may not be inevitable, anyway?”

The Senate façade came down. Revenue from salvage rights bolstered HHA operations. The $130,000 seeded creation of the Community Historic Preservation Fund, which now stands at more than $239,000. Trustees have disbursed $100,000 in grants and loans for historic preservation and advocacy.

“There’s not much historic preservation money out there anymore, and this is all for Harrisburg,” Morrison said.

That original deal also launched a fruitful relationship, with Penn National Insurance sponsoring HHA events, and employees serving on the HHA board and committees.

The 15-story Penn National Insurance Plaza opened in 1996.

“Local historians view our coming downtown in the late ‘90s as the turning of the tide that reversed the trend of businesses moving out of Harrisburg,” said company spokesman Christopher Markley. “Bringing 500-plus employees downtown saw revitalization of restaurants and other businesses.”

Fabric of Community

Since the days when Penn National Insurance employees volunteered at Melrose Elementary School next door to their 18th Street campus, the company has committed extensive financial and volunteer support to the Harrisburg Public Schools Foundation, the Joshua Group and Dauphin County Library System.

“They are focused on education, and not just traditional education, but all of those supplemental pieces that really make up the fabric of a community,” said Enders.

Penn National Insurance annually donates the maximum $333,333.33 allowed in earned income tax credits to the Harrisburg Public Schools Foundation, said Executive Director Chris Baldrige. Total contributions of $6.5 million have brought health education to students and families, boosted early learning, sent students to Messiah College summer camps, helped high school students earn college credits and backed STEAM learning.

“Penn National Insurance is definitely a leader in supporting Harrisburg and the foundation and supporting the students and the entire community,” said Baldrige. “They are a great example of doing good within your own neighborhood and your community.”

United Way of the Capital Region has benefitted from Penn National Insurance’s “time, talent and treasure” for decades, said Executive Director Tim Fatzinger. Dollar-for-dollar matches have generated $10.5 million in combined employee-employer donations in the last 10 years. Volunteers swing hammers and sling paintbrushes for United Way Day of Caring. Company officials serve on United Way committees, such as the IT security expert who “saves us a ton of money” by sharing his knowledge.

Charitable organizations have “fewer and fewer” local companies to call on for support, Fatzinger said.

“By choosing to stay local and to support local entities and be involved in the community, it improves quality of life for all of us,” he said.

Community involvement is “a part of our fabric,” said Sears. “If you’re at the theater or an arts event or a soup kitchen, you will likely find one of our employees volunteering. It is a good basis for what makes Harrisburg strong.”

Sears is a Steelton-raised, Bishop McDevitt-HACC-Penn State Harrisburg product who said that she has “never strayed far because I enjoy the Harrisburg hbg area.” She joined Penn National Insurance as a financial analyst in accounting in 1980 and, like many employees, grew her career from the inside up.

Today’s diverse workforce generates “different perspectives, (helping) us be able to be more agile, to have different thought processes,” Sears said.

She believes that Penn National Insurance has been a good, stable corporate citizen and employer, “and through that, we have contributed to the community both from an intellectual capacity, but as importantly, from a community and philanthropic opportunity.”

Her hope for the next 100 years?

“Absolutely more of the same,” she said. “That we just continue to be able to thrive and change and be resilient and continue to make a contribution.”

Penn National Insurance is located at 2 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their website.

TheBurg thanks Russ Banham, author of “Penn National Insurance: 100 Years of Helping People Feel Secure and Making Life Better When Bad Things Happen,” for historical background.

History Is for the Young: Not yet out of college, Cooper Wingert has published a dozen books.

August 30, 2019 | by Robert Naeye

Harrisburg residents may not realize that, during the Civil War, Confederate forces nearly captured their city.

On June 29, 1863, advanced elements of Robert E. Lee’s army reached modern-day 28th Street in Camp Hill. Then they received orders to march south to Gettysburg, a stroke of luck that probably spared the state capital and its inexperienced militia defenders.

“Harrisburg came within a day or two of a major Confederate assault,” said local historian Cooper Wingert.

Its loss, he added, “would have been terrible P.R. for Lincoln and the Union war effort.”

Wingert is in a position to know. He has published a dozen books on the Civil War-era history of south-central Pennsylvania. He has lectured widely, won numerous awards for historical research and recently signed books at Midtown Scholar and the Gettysburg Visitor Center.

This is despite the fact he’s only 21 years old.

This history wunderkind is starting his senior year at Dickinson College in Carlisle. But he had the rare experience of seeing his own works in the campus bookstore before attending a single class.

Go Write It

Wingert grew up in Enola. While attending fifth grade at East Pennsboro Elementary School, a field trip to Gettysburg triggered his fascination with Civil War history.

“It was a pretty amazing experience to learn about where a regiment was and then be able to stand in that same spot and then envision how the whole battle unfolded,” he recalled.

Inspired to do his own research, Wingert self-published his first book at the tender age of 12, titled “Virginian in the Vanguard.” He edited and annotated this diary of Confederate Lt. Hermann Schuricht, part of the force that approached Harrisburg in 1863.

Around the same time, the precocious author self-published a diary of a Union artilleryman who was defending Harrisburg.

Shortly thereafter, Wingert wrote the definitive account of a little-known skirmish called the Battle of Sporting Hill. This Union victory, the northernmost engagement of the Gettysburg campaign, flared up on June 30, 1863. The stone foundation of the barn that was center of the action can be seen from the overpass where route 581 crosses the Carlisle Pike.

Realizing that there was no recent book that summarized Confederate movements near Harrisburg, Wingert heeded the advice of acclaimed author Toni Morrison: “If there’s a book you want to read that doesn’t exist, then you can go write it.”

So, in 2012, at age 14, he published “The Confederate Approach on Harrisburg.” He estimates that sales exceeded 5,000 copies, his best-selling book to date.

Seen It Before

When researching a book, Wingert consults original sources such as diaries, newspapers and government documents. Living near the state archives in Harrisburg has been a big plus, as has his close proximity to Carlisle’s Army Heritage Center.

But Wingert also credits the internet as “an amazing way to find sources.” It makes the jobs of historians easier because of searchable digitized databases with tens of thousands of newspapers and other archival materials.

Besides military history, Wingert has written books about abolitionists and the Underground Railroad in south-central Pennsylvania. In them, he emphasized that most slaves escaped on their own and that the Underground Railroad basically served as “a reception committee for runaway slaves.”

His latest research has focused on Richard McAllister, the federal government’s notorious fugitive slave commissioner in Harrisburg. McAllister’s job was to arrest runaway slaves from the South so they could be returned to their masters. McAllister ruthlessly enforced the law with indifference to human suffering.

“He was taking advantage of his job for his own self-aggrandizement,” Wingert said. “That’s when Harrisburg’s white community turned against him.”

McAllister’s actions eventually triggered so much outrage that he was driven out of town in disgrace.

In late May, the California military publisher Savas Beatie released Wingert’s most recent book, “Targeted Tracks: The Cumberland Valley Railroad in the Civil War, 1861-1865.” He co-authored this volume with York County historian Scott Mingus.

This railroad ran from Harrisburg to Hagerstown, Md. The Union used it to transport troops and vital supplies.

“It was a pretty crucial stretch,” Wingert stressed. “It was the target of three Confederate invasions.”

The southerners managed to tear up tracks all the way to Mechanicsburg during the Gettysburg campaign. But Union workers repaired the railroad within days of the Confederate retreat.

Wingert also has a fascination with Australian history. Last year, he spent six months at the University of Queensland in Brisbane and recently won an award for writing the best undergraduate essay.

Besides his passion for history, Wingert is a fan of the Baltimore Ravens and golfer Rory McIlroy. He said that golf is his biggest interest outside history and that he can occasionally break 80 on one of several local courses.

Wingert is currently applying to graduate schools and plans to earn a Ph.D. After that, he hopes to become an academic historian while continuing to write accessible books for the general public.

Like many historians, Wingert draws parallels between the past and present. Political commentators frequently cite the deep divide in modern America. But as a historian of the 19th century and slavery, Wingert can provide an informed perspective.

“It’s not something that completely astonishes me because I’ve seen it before in studying the 1850s,” he said. “Not that people shouldn’t be worried, but history shows that this is not entirely unprecedented.”

Bears on Film: A local naturalist shows us what’s walking around the woods.

August 30, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

“Possum.”

“Deer.”

“Chipmunk.”

John Kelly quickly flipped through the files on his phone to separate the keepers from the discards.

The central PA woods, I found out one day last month, can be divided into two broad categories: interesting wildlife and not-so-interesting wildlife.

The less interesting includes anything run-of-the-mill—your squirrels, your groundhogs, most birds. The interesting: major ground fauna like bears and bobcats. Deer fall somewhere in the middle, depending on what they’re doing and, especially, whether they have cute little fawns with them.

The red-bearded Kelly let me tag along with him on a warm August day as he waded through brush, bounded over logs and darted through groves of trees to check on his six trail cameras—and install a seventh—in the woods around Peter’s and Broad mountains in northern Dauphin County.

For the past few years, he’s set up increasingly sophisticated cameras, usually strapped tightly to trees, on land where he has permission to roam. Once a week or so, he traipses through the woods, visits his cameras and eagerly downloads whatever they’ve captured since his last visit.

He pops the memory card into his phone and quickly reviews the dozens of images starring whatever unsuspecting creature may have triggered the shutter. Bears, bobcats and, even rarer, eagles almost always make the cut. For the opossums, insects and squirrels—sorry guys, but it’s usually delete, delete, delete.

He then posts the stills and videos to his Instagram and Facebook pages.

That’s how I ended up in the middle of the woods on a spectacularly beautiful mid-summer day. Years ago, I had digitally befriended Kelly, who’s otherwise known to me as the fishmonger at the Broad Street Market, the guy behind JB Kelly Seafood Connection. Then, one day, he began posting images of stalking bobcat, majestic bucks and endlessly curious black bears. I was immediately hooked.

Now, the forest isn’t my usual haunt, as regular readers of this column may know. I typically comment on life along the asphalt streets and concrete sidewalks of Harrisburg. City hall, not an old Indian trail, is where you’ll find me.

But I wanted to venture out with Kelly to find out what he does and why he does it. This is a dimension of life in central PA that I rarely experience, even though it’s so close by.

Put simply, Kelly is a modern-day naturalist. Like a lot of young men, he once blasted through nature on motorbikes and ATVs and blasted at nature from a stand high in a tree. But, now in middle age, he doesn’t hunt anymore.

“My son hunts,” he said. “I think it’s fine, but it doesn’t interest me.”

Today, Kelly’s shooting is confined to pictures and video. He still steps into the woods with a purpose and takes something out with him when he leaves. It’s just that his harvest now is not measured in bag limits, but in image files, which he uploads and shares with his friends, with other nature cam enthusiasts and with lurkers like me.

He also forages, especially for mushrooms. During our trip, he discovered a sprawling “chicken of the woods,” an orange-hued, edible mushroom so large that he gave chunks of it to his parents, some to a friend and still had enough to sauté for our lunch, which he mixed in with a few choice scallops he had brought from his seafood stand.

“This just shot up overnight,” he said, before taking out a small knife, harvesting it and stuffing it into his bag. “No bugs, no tears. It’s perfect.”

He’s still learning about mushrooms, he said, and, in fact, had just returned from the three-day MycoSymbiotics Mushroom & Arts Festival at Camp Reily. He’s also learning how best to film nature: which cameras work well, how to get good shots, how to bear-proof equipment after several cameras fell victim to teeth and claws.

He’s not opposed to making small adjustments to the environment. A few months back, he found a deer skull and set it on a pole to see if it would attract interest, which it did. Recently, he created a drinking area by loosely damming up a small stream with a few logs.

On the day I visited, the watering hole was a huge success. Numerous grateful animals had rewarded his efforts by stopping by in the mid-summer heat, getting caught on camera in the process.

“Well, this worked out,” he said, as we watched a thirsty bear cub and then its mama bend over for a drink, filmed two nights before.

I left the woods that day feeling refreshed, as only a long day in nature can do. But it also showed me something I rarely experience—a constructive use of social media.

As a news guy, my exposure to sites like Twitter and Facebook is generally not positive at all. My feeds are lousy with partisan food fights, calculated attacks and accusations posing as facts.

But wait a second. There’s a 15-second clip of a spotted fawn reaching up to nuzzle her mother or a lumbering bear making its way through a grassy meadow. For a brief moment, there’s peaceful distraction, and my day seems a little better for the break.

To see John Kelly’s wildlife images, visit his Instagram page at @jkelly2272.

Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

Bull’s-Eye in a Bottle: Winery at Long Shot Farm is Cumberland County’s first vineyard winery.

August 30, 2019 | by Karen Hendricks

Tina Weyant has a distinct childhood memory—helping her grandfather, a distiller in Germany, put labels on bottles.

Her grandparents lived on a property encompassing an old monastery with a cellar under the church. It was surrounded by vineyards.

Today, Weyant, 57, has come full circle. For the first time since childhood, she again is surrounded by vineyards. She and husband Jeff own Cumberland County’s first vineyard winery, the Winery at Long Shot Farm.

“We’ve been fermenting fruit, making wine as a hobby for a long time,” said Weyant. “With all of our kids out of the house, we decided to buy a little farm and start a vineyard on the side.”

She described their Lower Frankford Township property as “a vineyard winery” because, although it’s the county’s first winery, technically there are two other businesses operating under winery licenses—a Mechanicsburg meadery and a Carlisle cidery. Wine, mead and cider are all fermented, not brewed.

“As agriculturally rich as our county is, and the fastest-growing county in the state, it’s surprising there wasn’t a winery with a vineyard [until now],” said Aaron Jumper of the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau.

But the Weyants took a shot. A long shot, you might say. Armed with a vision, they purchased the 13-acre property 10 years ago and began planting—first blackberries, then grapes.

A white hybrid grape named chardonel was one of the first varieties they planted.

“We’re trying to get good flavors from European grapes, with the humidity resistance of American grapes,” Weyant said, explaining the purpose of hybrid grape crosses.

One son owns a 30-acre farm up the road. A daughter owns 20 acres behind the winery. Collectively, the family tends more than 10 acres of grapes to support winemaking operations.

It’s a family affair—all five children (ranging in age from 21 to 36), own part of the business. All, including spouses and eight grandchildren, are involved “in one way or another,” said Weyant.

“Everyone helps with the harvest and winemaking—it gets intense,” she said. “When the grapes are ripe, you want to capture that and work quickly.”

That’s only natural for a family whose roots are in agriculture.

“I met my husband in agronomy class at Penn State,” she said.

The couple, 30-year residents of the Carlisle area, previously operated a dairy farm, and they’re lifelong gardeners.

Although Tina earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, she went on to obtain her master’s in international studies/political science, which she applies in her “day job” as executive director of the World Trade Center in Harrisburg—a position she’s held for 27 years. But her hobby turned serious a few years ago when she earned an associate’s degree in winemaking at HACC.

Meantime, Jeff focused on preparing the property.

He re-pointed all the stonework on their large, 1800s-era barn. A $74,550 grant from the visitor’s bureau provided the shot-in-the-arm needed to convert the barn into a tasting room complete with a deck overlooking the vineyards. To the left, you can see South Mountain in the distance. Dominating the vista to the right is North Mountain, or Blue Mountain. Straight ahead, through the vineyard and to the west, are exquisite sunsets during the winery’s Saturday evening hours.

“To see the winery come to fruition and be part of it, is very exciting,” said Jumper. “We started awarding grants in 2010 basically as a way to help tourism development in Cumberland County. The requirements are that projects either need to increase visitation or enhance the visitor experience.”

To date, the bureau has awarded nearly $2 million in grant money. The program is funded by occupancy (hotel) taxes.

The Winery at the Long Shot Farm is the 29th location on the visitors bureau’s growing Cumberland Valley Beer Trail. It’s the only winery among a cluster of craft breweries.

Pennsylvania ranks seventh nationwide with 270 wineries, which together produce more than 1 million gallons of wine annually. It’s also the fifth-largest grower of grapes in the nation and includes five prestigious American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) noted for specific grape-growing climates or features. The Winery at Long Shot Farm is the only Pennsylvania winery within the Cumberland Valley AVA along South Mountain, stretching from Washington County, Md., into Franklin and Cumberland counties.

Ten wines are currently available, ranging from whites and reds to rosé and fruit wines, including a sweet blackberry wine. Weyant said that the three most popular wines are the white chardonel, the off-dry rosé blend of chambourcin and vidal blanc grapes called Valley Blush, and a red wine called Fletched. In keeping with the “long shot” theme, Fletched mixes three flavors—blackberries, vidal and chambourcin grapes. In archery, an aerodynamic fletched arrow is comprised of three feathers.

Daughter Sam, an artist who also leads the winery’s paint and wine events, designed the winery’s bow-and-arrow logo.

The family’s future plans include events with food trucks, construction of a pavilion and, naturally, more wines. Tina Weyant said that she’s “playing” with Niagara grapes coming into production, as well as Austrian white and purple Concord grapes.

“There’s some science involved, but there’s so much else,” she said, “There’s so much that can happen in nature, so many variables, so much magic that can happen in a bottle.”

The Winery at the Long Shot Farm is located at 1925 McClures Gap Rd., Carlisle, with hours Friday to Sunday. For more information see the winery’s Facebook page.

A Place to Belong: McCormick Library pilots a new approach to homeless, troubled patrons.

August 30, 2019 | by M. Diane McCormick

A schizophrenic woman, barred from returning to a homeless shelter. A man talking to “someone that wasn’t visible.”

When librarians get to know their patrons, they recognize signs of distress. Now, a unique intramural partnership bridges the Dauphin County Library System and county Human Services to create new avenues in crisis response.

Under the initiative, staff members at McCormick Riverfront Library in downtown Harrisburg have been trained in available county services, including drug and alcohol, crisis intervention, children and youth and mental health. When a patron–or a “member” in library lingo–appears to be in need, staffers call Human Services, which sends a caseworker equipped to help.

The partnership parallels a new effort to offer services focused on the customer—the library visitor. Enforcement of rules remains in place, but with an empathetic nod to the varied perspectives of patrons, including the homeless.

In June, staff systemwide were trained by Chicago homeless shelter director Ryan Dowd in the empathy-based approach he developed to help libraries deal with homeless patrons. When librarians understand that homeless people see things differently, they learn to use terms, tone and body language that prevent situations from escalating into conflict.

Most people see the “obvious things” attracting the homeless to libraries—“warm in the winter and cool in the summer,” Dowd told TheBurg. However, libraries are “about everything that homelessness is not,” offering quiet, activities and “a reprieve from homelessness.”

With the partnership, library officials hope that patrons see Human Services as “a less scary entity, with people that are approachable,” said library Public Services Director Lori Milach. “They shouldn’t be concerned that the government is after them should they have requests for services.”

There’s no need to read the minds of library patrons or profile them by appearance. Patrons are “very open with us,” said McCormick Riverfront Library Manager Lisa Howald.

“Lots of folks will just talk to us about what’s going on with them,” she said. “Part of what I love about working here is the relationships we have with our patrons.”

Relationships drive the initiative.

In the case of the patron conversing with an invisible partner, library staff recognized that he wasn’t his normally chipper self, said McCormick Riverfront Library Supervisor Chris Black. He consulted with Human Services and determined that the situation “could be considered a crisis because the behavior isn’t what we were used to seeing from that individual.”

A Human Services staffer arrived for a chat, but “this person decided they were fine and weren’t really actively seeking help,” Black said. “A lot of times, that’s what we’ll find.”

Egalitarian

The initiative bolsters a Human Services office open to “all the help we can get,” said Director Randie Yeager.

“I don’t care what route we take to get folks connected, as long as they know what resources are available, how to access them, and talk to whoever they’re comfortable talking to,” she said. “There are many, many paths.”

The effort started as a pilot in spring 2019, with plans to expand into Dauphin County Library System’s eight sites.

Librarians say that their new roles converge neatly with their career choices. Libraries “provide the resources that people want to use, whether it’s books or multimedia or computer access or programs,” said Howald. “We’re a completely public and democratic institution. Anyone can walk in here and use our services, and anyone does.”

The importance of human interaction is embedded in library science studies, said Milach.

“With everything we do, they’re all about making that human connection, and the importance of that is because libraries are one of the last places to have that human connection,” she said.

Dauphin County libraries are among those nationwide re-envisioning their spaces as community centers, program-packed destinations and the “third space” that people crave in the internet age, Dowd said. Dauphin County Library System recently announced acquisition of the historic mansion next door to that McCormick Riverfront Library, freeing space that dovetails with a strategic vision for increased STEM and arts programming, as well as the growing Human Service partnership.

Librarians are “really egalitarian” and not just with lip service, said Dowd.

“The libraries I go into are way more crowded than 10 years ago,” he said.

Public investments in libraries are crucial, especially during economic downturns, “because people seek out resources, opportunities, jobs and the ability to connect in a way they probably couldn’t afford to connect,” said Dauphin County Commissioner George Hartwick. The county must “understand who the people are that we serve,” and the library initiative—which has not generated additional costs, participants say—serves that goal.

“We don’t want more burden on taxpayers, and we also want to figure out a way to coordinate and develop services that are not going to be in siloes,” Hartwick said.

Library personnel have developed trust with homeless patrons and others in need, and “wherever that trust exists, it’s a great place to make sure that the information and resources are available,” he said.

Because libraries touch every segment of the community, said Yeager, they “help break down the stigma of needing some type of assistance in any realm.”

Black realizes that he is making a difference, guiding community members toward better quality of life amid their day-to-day struggles to survive. The library, he believes, is “one of the last bastions of freedom, where everyone is welcome to partake in the information that we have.”

“All human beings are looking for a connection with fellow human beings,” he said. “They don’t want to feel like outsiders. They want a place where they feel like they belong.”

The McCormick Riverfront Library is located at 101 Walnut St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.dcls.org/mrl.

What’s the Problem? Getting a closer look at injuries with musculoskeletal ultrasounds.

August 30, 2019 | by Dr. Kush Patel and Dr. Steven Collina

The key to fast and effective treatment is an accurate and timely diagnosis. When a patient comes to our Sports Medicine office with pain, before we can do anything, we need to know: Is it a strain? Is something torn? Is this pain a part of a larger problem?

Fortunately, we are armed with a wide range of leading-edge tools to help us make an accurate diagnosis so we can start effective treatment as soon as possible.

One of the most effective—and easiest to use—tools is a musculoskeletal (or MSK) ultrasound. An MSK ultrasound uses existing ultrasound technology, but it is a specialized exam that looks specifically at soft tissue acute and chronic conditions. MSK ultrasound technologists have special training in looking at muscles, some ligaments, nerves and tendons.

Ultrasound is a test that uses reflected sound waves to produce an image of muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and joints throughout the body. It does not use X-rays or other types of possibly harmful radiation.

In addition to being safe, it’s easy and painless. This procedure requires little to no special preparation for patients. Just wear loose clothing and remove any jewelry. In some cases, you may be asked to wear a gown.

Otherwise, ultrasound imaging is faster than magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), usually completed within 15 to 30 minutes. And it does not require the patient to remain completely still, nor is it claustrophobic for patients.

Ultrasound images are typically used to help diagnose:

Tendon tears or tendinitis
Muscle tears, masses or fluid collections
Ligament sprains or tears
Inflammation or fluid in the joints
Early stages of rheumatoid arthritis
Carpal tunnel syndrome

Ultrasound is also used to allow sports medicine physicians to do injections safely and more accurately. Injections are used to deliver anesthetics, anti-inflammatories, regenerative medicine treatments and other medications precisely to affected areas.

How It’s Performed

For ultrasound testing, a gel or oil is applied to the skin to help transmit the sound waves. A small, handheld instrument called a transducer is passed back and forth over the area of the body that is being examined. The transducer sends out high-pitched sound waves (above the range of human hearing) that are reflected back to the transducer.

A computer analyzes the reflected sound waves and converts them into a picture that is called a sonogram, echogram or ultrasound.

Depending on the body part examined, you may be seated on an examination table or a swivel chair. For some exams, you may need to lie face-up or face-down on an examination table.

There is usually no discomfort. However, if scanning is performed over an area of tenderness, you may feel pressure or minor pain.

Once the imaging is complete, the clear gel will be wiped off your skin. Then you’re done.

A radiologist, a doctor trained to supervise and interpret radiology exams, will analyze the images. The radiologist will send a signed report to the doctor who requested the exam. Your doctor will then share the results with you. In some cases, the radiologist may discuss results with you after the exam.

MSK ultrasound is becoming a widely used tool for most sports medicine doctors. Athletes often need to obtain a quick and accurate diagnosis. This type of imaging can be used for very common injuries found in sports such as muscle strains, tendon issues, joint pain, bursitis and some bone injuries.

Research shows that MSK ultrasound is very effective to monitor the severity and progress of an injury. As a result, it’s become an important tool to determine if an athlete can return to play.

Important Tools

X-ray and MRIs will continue to be important tools used by orthopaedic specialists and sports medicine professionals. MRIs are excellent for visualizing internal structure of bones or certain joints. X-rays will continue to be used to examine dense tissues in the body, such as bones.

However, MSK ultrasound testing remains a very effective diagnostic tool that is widely available, easy-to-use and less expensive than most other imaging methods. It is safe and does not use radiation, but gives doctors a clear picture of soft tissues.

If you are suffering a sports-related orthopaedic condition and injury, our specialists—using hands-on examination and latest diagnostic tools—will diagnose your condition and develop the best care plan to get you back on your feet.

Kush Patel, MD, and Steven Collina, MD, are sports medicine physicians with the UPMC Pinnacle Bone and Joint Center. For more information, visit www.UPMCPinnacle.com/MSK.

Making Change: Nearly six decades old, the Harrisburg Coin Club is banking on youth, a new venue.

August 30, 2019 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Kevin Tyler calls coin collecting “the world’s oldest hobby.”

He may be right.

After all, the earliest known currency was struck around 211 B.C.

“They were very crude looking and pounded on a rock,” Tyler said.

The Harrisburg Coin Club isn’t quite that old. It was founded in March 1950 and incorporated in November 1966.

Currently, the club comprises 30 members and meets monthly for numismatic trivia quizzes, member presentations and auctions, show and tell, and hands-on numismatic activities. It also holds yearly picnics in June, holiday gatherings in December and, perhaps most importantly, the annual September coin show.

And, this year, for the first time in its 59-year history, the Harrisburg Coin Show has been expanded into a two-day event instead of just one, and it takes place in a new venue. This year’s event is scheduled for Sept. 28 and 29 at the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple in Harrisburg, a change from its previous location of Linglestown Fire Company #1.

“The nice thing is that we moved the show closer to Harrisburg. We are the capital city’s coin show,” Harrisburg Coin Club President Dan Nettling said. “We wanted to change it to a two-day show because our dealers wanted it. We have one dealer who comes all the way from Watertown, N.Y. Others come from Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and from all over Pennsylvania.”

In total, the show will feature more than 70 display tables, three coin grading companies, a live online auction, and a new Harrisburg Kidz Korner with free T-shirts, games and a “table with a big pile of pennies” for children to peruse, said club Vice President Kevin Tyler, who also handles the club’s public relations and marketing.

The club is focusing on attracting more young people to the annual show because “coin collecting has always been more of a mature hobby due to costs,” Tyler noted.

“That’s the misrepresentation, that has to be an expensive hobby,” he said. “Youths can collect coins that are in circulation. We want to get the youths involved. We’re an educational, nonprofit organization. We believe in teaching the history of numismatics.”

Like many collectors, Tyler’s interest was sparked at an early age.

“I was born and raised in Gettysburg,” he said. “My first coins were Eisenhower dollars that a personal friend of my family gave to me when I was 2 years old. I’m very passionate about the Lincoln cents because Lincoln has always been associated with Gettysburg.”

Nettling said he’s also attracted to “the historical aspects” of coin collecting.

“I’m a historian,” he said. “I collect both coins and medals that commemorate something historic.”

Nettling has been a member of the Harrisburg Coin Club since 1963, or as he put it, “for most of my life.”

The Oberlin native started collecting coins as a student at Swatara Junior High and continued the hobby into adulthood. When he left the area for 25 years for college and the military, his parents made sure to acquire local medals for him that were stuck during that period.

The Harrisburg Coin Club strikes its own limited-edition medals that commemorate various years of its coin show runs. For its first show in 1963, the club minted a silver medal depicting the state Capitol building on one side and the Rockville Bridge on the flip side. In 2006, the club designed a coin that celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Capitol building. The 100th anniversary of St. Patrick’s Cathedral was commemorated in 2007.

For 2019, the club is minting coins featuring a 57th-year design on one side and a depiction of the Scottish Rite Cathedral on the opposite side. The edition is limited to a run of 300 with sequential numbering struck on the side of each coin.

“There’s so much to learn with coins and coin collecting,” Nettling concluded. “It’s the world’s oldest hobby.”

The Harrisburg Coin Show is scheduled for Sept. 28 to 29 at Scottish Rite Masonic Temple, 2701 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 28 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 29. Early bird passes also are available. For information, visit www.harrisburgcoinclub.com.

The Harrisburg Coin Club meets the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Steelton-Swatara Masonic Lodge, 350 N. Harrisburg St. (state Route 441), Oberlin.

The Write Stuff: Putting pen to paper in central PA.

August 30, 2019 | by Gina Napoli

As a writer, I’m often asked the question: “How can I get my work published?”

I actually believe that there are other, more important questions for would-be writers to explore.

How do I continuously improve my writing skills? Where are the best venues to network? How do I professionally position myself with editors and publishers? Consider these activities critical to building your professional brand and getting published.

Improve Your Skills

Like in any professional field, writers need to keep themselves informed about industry trends while honing their own skills. As local thriller author and travel writer Don Helin said, “Writing is an art, but publishing is a business.”

Check out local college-level writing classes through HACC or four-year universities. Karen Hendricks, owner of Hendricks Communications, recommended pursuing a degree in communications or journalism.

“Communications is an important and underrated skill,” she said. “It’s an excellent investment, no matter your field.”

Explore the resources at your local library. Locally, Camp Hill’s Fredericksen Library is a programming powerhouse for writing courses. Local publisher/author Bill Peschel, who broke into writing through newspapers, found free Gale courses at the Hershey Public Library. He cited a particularly eye-opening class by author Steve Alcorn on how the three-act structure works with the scene-and-sequel method.

Horror writer and Sunbury Press editor Cathy Jordan has facilitated classes at both libraries. She also recommended “A Novel Idea,” a monthly series of workshops through Perry County Council of the Arts. Published authors and other industry professionals facilitate the sessions.

You’ll also find concentrated workshops and lectures on writing, publishing and pitching your work at writers’ conferences. Ayleen Gontz helps organize the annual, statewide Pennwriters conference, which covers all genres and skill levels.

“The conference features New York City agents and editors, so it’s worth investing your weekend,” she said. “If you volunteer to help, you can spend extra time networking with them.”

Networking

Through networking at literary events, you will make valuable connections that can help further your goals. Hendricks, who writes for several area publications, stays in touch by attending publications’ staff meetings and social events.

“You have to be intentional about networking with other writers,” she said. “The energy from other writers connects you with opportunities and nurtures your career.”

Jordan recommended joining the writing association focused on your genre and attending their conventions.

“A writers’ convention is the perfect venue to learn something new,” she said. “They have great classes, and the new friends and contacts you make can point you in the right direction for your genre.”

Critique groups meet regularly to review each other’s works in progress and offer feedback and mentoring.

Novelist Dennis Royer has been active in critique groups for almost two decades. He cited three considerations for getting the most out of the experience. Find a group that has a variety of experience levels and genres, that has members who give genuine and honest feedback, and that runs like a business meeting.

“You’re attending to learn how to write better, so you want honest feedback from attendees who are there to learn,” he said. “It shouldn’t just be a social gathering where you’re looking for pats on the back.”

If no local network resonates with your style and schedule, find one online.

“You don’t have to be an extravert, but you do have to find your network,” Jordan said.

Getting Started

Although there is no one path for writing careers, writers tend to be more collaborative and supportive rather than competitive.

“It’s not only about selling books, but building a community,” Helin said.

Popular ways to establish yourself are through your career, professional associations and volunteer work.

“My advice is to just write,” Royer said. “Don’t worry about how bad your writing might be. Everyone starts somewhere. Join a critique group, and attend conferences and workshops.”

The more you absorb feedback while you network, the better your writing—and the better you’ll be able to tell your story in a way that only you can tell it.

“There isn’t one perfect way of telling a story,” Peschel said. “How you best tell it is your own voice. There’s nothing magical about it.”

Finding a mentor is another part of a good start, and that relationship will help you grow your writing. Through the local PA Horror Writers Association chapter, Jordan found her mentor—a Bram Stoker Award winner!

Susan Ryder, a feature writer and communications professional for two local churches, advised beginning writers to “talk to people, ask questions, and introduce yourself to people.”

At first, you may not have your own ideas about writing topics, but that’s OK.

“Be willing to write what an editor needs, even if it may not interest you,” Ryder said. “It will give you practice and offer opportunities to pitch stories.”

Once you feel confident, try pitching to local venues. Make sure you’re aligning with the “flavor” of the publication. Ryder suggested studying a few back issues to help tailor your pitch.

Try entering contests. It’s an excellent way to garner a title.

Janet Cincotta maintains a weekly blog to keep her memoir-writing on track. In 2015, she won the Central PA Magazine short story contest. Conferences also hold writing contests.

Listening to critiques and working with editors requires a thick skin.

“Expect feedback and story edits, and listen to your editor,” Ryder said.

And, if your work is turned down, don’t take it too hard, Jordan advised.

“Although rejection sucks, don’t take it personally,” she said. “Sometimes, those letters have good advice.”

And don’t let all this intimidate you.

“If you have a story to tell, don’t let it go untold,” Royer said.

Writer Resources

Critique Groups

Pennwriters Area 5 Critique Group
4th Wednesday, 6 p.m.
Foundation Hall
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
Contact: Carrie Jacobs at [email protected]

Gettysburg Writing Brigade
Every Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
O’Rourke’s Eatery
44 Steinwehr Ave., Gettysburg
Contact Jim Rada at [email protected]

Children’s Book Writers Critique Group
3rd Wednesday, 2 p.m.
New Cumberland Area Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland

Write On
2nd Saturday of every month, 10:30 a.m.
New Cumberland Area Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
Contact Sue Kerr at 717-802-2594

Midtown Writers Group
3rd Sunday of every month, 1 p.m.
Midtown Scholar Bookstore
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
www.Midtownscholar.com

Mechanicsburg Creative Writing
3rd Saturday, 7 p.m.
212 E. Locust St., Mechanicsburg

Non-Fiction Authors Association Central PA Chapter
2nd Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Spire AVL Studios
99 Garden Parkway, Carlisle
www.nonfictionauthorsassociation.com

The Genuine Writer
2nd and 4th Thursday, 6 p.m.
Whole Foods Market
1563 Fruitville Pike, Lancaster

Central PA Writers Workshop TM
2nd and 3rd Sunday
Check meetup app for roving location

Lancaster Christian Writers
3rd Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.
Lancaster Alliance Church
210 Pitney Rd., Lancaster
www.Lancasterchristianwriterstoday.blogspot.com

Literary Meetings

Nathaniel Gadsden’s Spoken Word Café
Most Fridays, 7 p.m.
Midtown Scholar Bookstore
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
www.Midtownscholar.com

Almost Uptown Poetry Cartel
Thursdays, 7 p.m.
Midtown Scholar Bookstore
1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
www.Midtownscholar.com

Central PA Romance Writers
1st Saturday, 10:30 a.m.
Simpson Public Library, Mechanicsburg
www.Cprw.rwa.org

Conferences

Pennwriters Conference (all genres)
Annual conference in May
www.pennwriters.org/conferences

Hippocamp Conference (creative non-fiction)
Annual conference in August
www.hippocamp.hippocampusmag

Lancaster Christian Writers
Annual conference 1st Saturday in April
www.Lancasterchristianwriterstoday.blogspot.com

Catholic Writers Guild Conference
Annual conference in summer
www.Catholicwritersguild.org

The Write Stuff
Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group
Annual conference in March
www.greaterlehighvalleywritersgroup.wildapricot.org

Adult Ed Classes (non-university)

Perry County Council of the Arts
A Novel Idea
1st Saturday starting in March
Landis House
67 N. 4th St., Newport
www.perrycountyarts.org/a-novel-idea

Gale writing courses at the Hershey Public Library
www.Hersheylibrary.org

Writing classes at the Fredericksen Library
www.cumberlandcountylibraries.org/FRE

August News Digest

August 30, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg Changes Funds Process

Harrisburg agreed last month to switch up the process of how it distributes its annual allocation of federal housing funds.

City Council unanimously passed ordinances that will substantially change how nonprofit organizations apply for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.

Previously, community groups—called “sub-recipients”—applied for grants that were individually approved by council.

Now, the sub-recipients will have to respond to a “request for proposals” that is being issued by the city. All interested applicants then will have to attend a mandatory workshop on Sept. 10 at the city Public Works building and submit their final applications by Sept. 20.

Moreover, organizations will have to apply from two separate funding buckets.

Of the $1.94 million in total CDBG funding, the city is setting aside $100,000 for “public service activities,” which includes most programming activities. It then has allocated another $407,261 for “public improvement/public facilities,” which includes most facility and building projects.

In the past, funds for these activities had been combined into a single application process and source of funds. However, HUD recently instructed the city to separate operational projects from infrastructure projects.

“The primary reason for this change is so we can get those dollars separated properly,” said Franchon Dickinson, director of the city’s Building and Housing Department. “Nonprofits can apply for both public services and public facilities dollars, but have to apply separately.”

The city will favor applications that show that a service is new or has demonstrated a quantifiable increase in a level of service over the last 12 months, said Dickinson. In addition, she said that HUD prefers to fund senior enrichment programs or programs geared towards special needs populations.

Dickinson said that a scoring matrix will be used to judge applications and determine who will receive funding. City Council then will approve the contracts with the sub-recipients, said city Business Administrator Marc Woolley.

Other CDBG allotments included:

$593,423 for debt service, as the city continues to pay down a federal loan it guaranteed under former Mayor Steve Reed for the disastrous Capitol View Commerce Center project
$387,670 for grant administration
$250,000 for homeowner rehabilitation
$200,000 for emergency demolition

Dickinson said that the city is now conducting a reconciliation of disbursals in recent years, matching allocations with expenditures. It’s possible, she said, that additional funds could be available following the results of that reconciliation.

Residents Criticize Proposed Water System Sale

Harrisburg City Council is considering holding one or more meetings on the proposed privatization of the city’s water and sewer system.

Last month, council President Wanda Williams told a crowd attending a legislative session that she planned to schedule public meetings on the city’s proposal to sell the system to a private operator.

“We probably won’t just have one meeting,” she said. “We’ll probably have two or three.”

Her statement came following numerous public comments criticizing the proposed sale.

Harrisburg is currently asking qualified, private entities to respond to a “request for information” (RFI) to gauge interest in acquiring the system. Companies have until Sept. 16 to submit responses, with interviews slated for the following week.

At the council meeting, about a half-dozen residents spoke, uniformly saying that they opposed privatizing the water/sewer system, which would eliminate the current operator, the municipal authority Capital Region Water (CRW).

“I just wanted to speak out early and often against the idea of privatizing the city water authority, with the understanding that this is the first step to that potential process,” said one Green Street resident. “I’m categorically against the idea of privatizing the water authority.”

Both city Engineer Wayne Martin and Business Administrator Marc Woolley told council members that the request for information was a preliminary step and did not mean that city has decided to privatize the system.

“The information that we’re gathering is just that—gathering information—about the water system and any potential disposition of assets,” Woolley said. “But we have not decided what we’re going to do.”

Stop Sign Removals Cause Concern

Should Harrisburg proceed with a plan to remove stop signs at two intersections on N. 3rd Street?

At two City Council meetings last month, numerous residents spoke out against the planned removal of signs at the corners of Boyd, Harris, Kelker and Emerald streets.

“There are multiple playgrounds there,” said 3rd Street resident Laura Harding. “I see kids running across the street every day, multiple times a day without checking both ways.”

Currently, the intersections stop traffic in all directions. The planned removals are only for 3rd Street. The stop signs halting traffic traveling on the side streets would remain.

Residents’ remarks echoed similar concerns voiced on local social media pages, and council members said residents also had contacted them.

In early August, residents began to notice a second sign attached to several stop sign poles, notifying people that the signs would be eliminated, prompting concerns about safety at those intersections.

Some social media posts also posited a theory that the sign removals were part of the planned conversion of much of N. 2nd Street to two-way traffic, presumably because traffic displaced from 2nd Street would flow faster along the 3rd Street corridor.

However, according to city Business Administrator Marc Woolley, that is not the case. He said that the decision to remove those stop signs was made back in 2016 when the final design for the 3rd Street multimodal project was approved and that it had nothing to do with 2nd Street.

The city, he said, decided that those stop signs would no longer be necessary because the 3rd Street redesign, which includes numerous bump-outs at intersections, would have enough of a calming effect on through-traffic. And that, he said, has happened.

“It was determined that these were overused stop signs,” he said. “The bump-outs did
work.”

At the second council meeting concerning the issue, council members said they were exploring ways to retain the stop signs.

HMAC Plans Improvements

The Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center (H*MAC) has offered details of its newest phase of construction, which will include a basement dance club and a new restaurant concept.

Co-owner Chris Werner said that some construction has already begun to improve the 34,000-square-foot venue’s façade and roof, but that most work on the project will take place over the coming months.

“We’re really excited to finally complete this unique project, which has been in the works for decades, and serve it up the community for its enjoyment,” he said.

In May, Werner, along with co-owners Chuck London and Javier Diaz, bought the mixed-used entertainment and restaurant space and the business from owners Bartlett, Traynor & London LLC for $6 million. Last year, the prior owners declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which former co-owner John Traynor blamed partly on a social media firestorm aimed at the venue.

Werner said that the first major change will be renovations and rebranding at The Kitchen & Gallery Bar, which has been renamed The Green Room. He said that a Philadelphia-based restaurant consultant, JT Hearn, will lead a culinary team that will roll out a new food and drink menu that will focus on “innovative” and locally sourced items. In addition, the restaurant and bar space will include new furniture and décor.

The two existing entertainment spaces will also see significant changes, Werner said.

Stage on Herr, which was H*MAC’s original venue when it opened in 2009, will be redesigned and rebranded as Stage Right. The 350-person nightclub and gallery will feature a wider stage, stadium seating and sound system upgrades.

Upstairs, the Capitol Room will include a new balcony, two new bars and new bathrooms, as well as new green rooms and other amenities for performers, Werner said. Above that, H*MAC plans to finish the rooftop, building out a beer garden.

The most significant change will be in the basement, which was built as an indoor pool when H*MAC served as the Harrisburg Jewish Community Center then, later, as the Harrisburg Police Athletic League.

According to Werner, the pool room will be converted to a “psychedelic” dance club dubbed “The Deep End.” Artists will be able to create installations inside the pool area, viewable from holes above it.

“It will be a throwback to the days of dance clubs, while bringing the best of EDM and dance music to Harrisburg,” Werner said.

In late 2017, H*MAC received a $1 million state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant, which will finance much of the work, Werner said.

Broad Street Market Seeks “Friends”

Do you consider yourself a “friend” of the Broad Street Market?

If so, Josh Heilman wants to hear from you.

Heilman is the market’s new executive director, and, as one of his first major initiatives, he has launched a long-planned “Friends of the Market” program.

The new initiative allows residents to help the market through a yearly donation or by volunteering for certain events and activities. The goal of the program is to bring additional revenue to the Broad Street Market for renovations, events, merchandise and more.

“We’re looking to get monetary donations and volunteer time,” Heilman said. “The market kind of needs some work. So, we’re looking for some extra sources of revenue.”

The immediate donations are going toward two different projects: installation of banners that will surround the market and replacing the string roof lights on each building, which have been out for some 20 years.

Volunteers, also called “market ambassadors,” will be asked to help with landscaping, painting and any special events. According to Heilman, the market is planning to roll out a merchandise table by Christmas, which the volunteers will also help run. They’ll sell tote bags and eventually T-shirts and answer any questions people have about the market.

Members get an exclusive Broad Street Market tote bag, which serves as a member ID, access to special market events such as their upcoming barbeque in September, and discounts to certain stands in the market. Right now, Sweet 717 and R.G Hummer Meats & Cheese are offering 10 percent off to all members.

For more information on how you can become a “Friend of the Market,” visit broadstreetmarket.org/friends.

Sales Data Mixed

Home prices edged up, while the number of units sold dipped, according to July data from the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

GHAR reported that, for July, 694 housing units sold in Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties compared to 743 units in July 2018, while the median sales price rose slightly to $190,000 from $187,500.

In Dauphin County, the number of units sold was nearly flat at 335, as was the median sales price at almost $175,000. In Cumberland County, 330 units sold compared to 362 in the year-ago period, while the median price rose to $213,450 from $205,690 last year.

Perry County sales fell to 29 units versus 44 in July 2018. However, the median price rose to $164,000 compared to $156,450 a year earlier.

So Noted

Broad Street Market in Harrisburg has been named a “Great Public Space” by the PA Chapter of the American Planning Association. The association’s “Great Places” program also singled out Ligonier Diamond Park in Westmoreland County and Main Street Bethlehem for recognition.

Harrisburg School District started the 2019-20 academic year last month, the first under newly appointed district Receiver Dr. Janet Samuels and her recovery team. In an address to faculty and staff, Samuels pledged competence, kindness and a renewed focus on student academic achievement.

Harrisburg School District last month approved a resolution to re-start the nonrenewal process for Premier Arts and Science Charter School. In 2018, the previous administration started the process to deny the school a new charter, but never completed it. The current administration plans to begin public hearings “as soon as possible,” as a step to deny Premier another five-year charter.

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra has initiated a national search for a new executive director after Jeff Woodruff announced his retirement. Woodruff plans to retire at the end of the 2019-20 season following 17 years at the helm of Harrisburg’s professional orchestra.

UPMC Pinnacle last month opened the doors of its new UPMC Memorial hospital at 1701 Innovation Dr. in west York. In so doing, it closed its former facility 325 S. Belmont St., York. The new hospital is a five-level, 102-bed facility. The 220,000-square-foot hospital provides acute and emergency medical care, maternity services, cardiology and vascular services, chronic disease management and surgical services.

Vintage Vault Gallery has opened at 300 Bridge St., New Cumberland, offering furniture, apparel and other items, with an emphasis on mid-century design. It’s the second location for owner David Morrison, who also runs the Vintage Vault Gallery in Middletown.

Wakeen Enterprise, a Harrisburg-based business consultancy and marketing company, last month announced the acquisition of Lancaster-based The Premise Studio. The acquisition will help Wakeen expand its creative and branding capabilities, according to the company.

Changing Hands

Bellevue Rd., 1932: Demara Properties LLC to C. Nsiah, $35,000

Berryhill St., 2242: G. & M. Toro to M. Giambanco & A. Lebron, $64,000

Boas St., 404: M. Riley to R. Stanley, $70,000

Briggs St., 1617: M. Lewis to Amos Financial LLC, $31,000

Crescent St., 302: Penn Home LLC to SG Homes of PA LLC, $30,000

Derry St., 1312: Keystone Community Development Corp. to E. Roberts LLC & I Am That I Am, $120,000

Derry St., 1531: Z. Mohammad to E. Cortes, $30,000

Derry St., 2428A: General Electrical SVC CO Inc. to 101 S. 17th Street LLC, $62,000

Derry St., 2811: Crist Holdings LLC to A. Banton, $75,000

Division St., 240: Stephen Weinberger Trustee & Bette Weinberger Trustee to J. & A. Jones, $200,000

Emerald St., 236: HHTP1 LLC to R. Picado, $64,900

Emerald St., 237: M. Fannie to M. Freeman, $35,000

Fulton St., 1939: Wells Fargo Bank NA to P. Sisemore & K. Hugo, $43,000

Green St., 1121: T. McLaughlin to S. Urban & R. Capellaro Jr., $128,500

Green St., 1415: D. Shreve to V. Schmidt, $132,000

Green St., 1607; C. Frater to Fratelli Property Investments LLC, $110,000

Green St., 1712: S. Jusufovic to M. Silver & H. Glaser, $220,000

Green St., 1900: J. Bovender & J. Van Horn to A. & S. Lowry, $203,000

Green St., 2012: T. & B. Alton to E. Lane, $159,000

Green St., 3116: S. Quigley to J. Laumer, $106,000

Greenwood St., 2516: KMM Development LLC to M. Smith, $105,000

Hamilton St., 334: Harrisburg Homes Investment LLC to PA Deals LLC, $67,500

Harris St., 234: Big Leaf Properties LLC to K. Rhett, $219,000

Hoffman St., 3225: L. Cappellano to S. Feltman & J. Beck, $129,900

Hummel St., 245: Tri County HDC LTD to J. Soberanis, $79,900

Jefferson St., 2662: Dobson Family Partnership to H. Rhodes, $69,900

Kelker St., 218: C. Proctor & J. Mesa Cruz to A. Czopek, $175,500

Kensington St., 2035: J. Stoltzfus to C. Rameau, $35,900

Kensington St., 2216: S. Roland to R. & C. Murphy, $60,250

Kensington St., 2318: RDR Property Management LLC to G. Yolov, $60,000

Maclay St., 1017: J. Pagliaro Estate & S. Pagliaro to PEG Commercial LLC, $850,000

Market St., 1000: Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to 812 Market Inc. PMI, $200,000

Muench St., 220: Q. Vandermeersch to M. Marzzacco & A. Godfrey, $199,900

Mulberry St., 1954: S. & E. Schwartz to E. Guider, $91,500

Naudain St., 1642: Wells Fargo NA to Moxie Properties LLC, $30,000

North St., 1613: JustGeoff Partners LLC to Y. Refae, $35,000

N. 2nd St., 29: C. Yi to L & C Holdings LLC, $297,000

N. 2nd St., 1825: CPenn Properties Old Uptwon LLC to E. Chattah, $67,000

N. 2nd St., 1913: C. Hanshaw to Lansanah Home Services Group, $78,000

N. 2nd St., 3005: H. Sharifi to F. Ramirez, $35,000

N. 2nd St., 3011: R. Finkel to Central Pennsylvania Home Buyers LLC, $105,000

N. 3rd St., 904: J. & S. Tang to Ramsden & Ramsden LLC, $215,000

N. 3rd St., 1904: Green Street Properties LP to A. & A. Hughes, $178,000

N. 4th St., 1320: Harrisburg Homes Investment LLC to PA Deals LLC, $65,000

N. 4th St., 2703: K. Shenk to S. Gonzalez, $99,000

N. 4th St., 3116: G. & J. Desgres to T. Keller, $102,000

N. 4th St., 3215: W. Prough to G. & S. Erdman, $50,000

N. 5th St., 1734: R. Rohlif to 4JL LLC, $112,500

N. 5th St., 2510: M. & D. Blount to R. Diaz, $45,000

N. 5th St., 2623: SL Realty to E. Mendoza, $46,000

N. 5th St., 3014 & 3016: L. Powell to L. Busko, $100,000

N. 6th St., 3153: PA Deals LLC to D. Borelli, $69,900

N. 7th St., 2612: V. Galasso to R. Martinez & R. Rasmussen, $58,000

N. 16th St., 814: Bretland Enterprises LLC to D. Boyle, $30,000

N. Cameron St., 100: D. Deitchman, L. Hatter & Brickbox Enterprises LTD to Hatzlucha LLC, $4,650,000

N. Front St., 27: W. & R. Balaban to Dauphin County Library System & McCormick Riverfront Library, $295,000

N. Front St., 305: P1-30, P32-50, P52-59, P65-68, P97-101, P110-119, P260-270, P280-300, P302, P16A, P33A, P294A, P298A, UT400, UT500 & UT600: Harrisburg Riverfront Development & Cumberland Property to 305 Front Street Investors LLC, $7,800,000

Penn St., 1107: J. Musselman to B. Mathers, $155,000

Penn St., 1308: Adonis Real Estate LLC to Invigaron LLC, $280,000

Penn St., 1506: R. Miller to J. Owens, $130,000

Penn St., 1914: L. Maurer to S. Desai Sturgis & J. Sturgis Jr., $168,500

Penn St., 2935: R. Solano to M. Kanpol, $134,900

Penn St., 2441: M. Frater to S. & T. Johnson, $46,000

Race St., 558: Cash Now LLC to M. Kramer, $114,900

Reily St., 223: J. Chadwick to W. & A. Adams, $166,500

Reily St., 265: A. Kost & E. Morrison to R. Wodele, $132,000

Seneca St., 230: Members 1^st Federal Credit Union to M. Temba, $50,000

Showers St., 611: NP Ventures LLC to K. & P. Steele, $150,200

S. 13th St., 445: H. Yap to R. Smolsky, $75,000

S. 13th St., 1541: L. Clemente to Y. Refae & H. Esmaeil, $35,000

S. 14th St., 229: P. Watson to Citibank NA Trustee, $94,500

S. 18th St., 1125: Midfirst Bank to HT Properties LLC, $39,500

S. 19th St., 411: Midatlantic IRA & Niall Harry IRA to Q. & T. Forbes, $59,900

S. 27th St., 724: Freedom Mortgage Corporation to W. Zhang, $45,140

State St., 1626: Harrisburg Homes Investment LLC to America’s Choice Remodeling of HBG LLC, $60,000

State St., 1817: A. Marshall to F. Mora, $64,000

Susquehanna St., 1701: R. Covington & T. Pean to I. Preston, $156,000

Susquehanna St., 1912: N. Carter to C. Mincemoyer, $156,000

Swatara St., 2047: Building LLC to Sr Homes LLC, $44,000

Swatara St., 2230: R. & J. Woll to H. Marca & M. Alvarez, $78,000

Valley Rd., 2308: Bean Charlotte Spence GST Trust II to A. & E. Hendrickson, $220,000

Vineyard Rd., 216: J. & W. Legaspi to R. & M. Loucas, $169,500

Watson St., 2817: E. Hurlock to LJ Realty Trust, $37,500

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

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