Now You See Them: The making of central PA’s own ninja warriors.

July 31, 2019 | by Maddie Conley

Aaron Lucas

Aaron Lucas thought back to when the floor in his childhood house in Etters was covered in lava.

At least that’s what he and his siblings pretended it was. They would jump around from bed to couch to chair, making sure not even the smallest pinky toe touched the ground—it could be fatal!

He wasn’t necessarily known as a sporty kid, at least not in the mainstream football or baseball way. But that didn’t matter to Lucas, who was dodging lava left and right. How many other kids could move with the same precision and strength that he did?

But Lucas was just 4-foot-8 and 68 pounds when he started high school. He was discouraged from many traditional sports because he was always known as “the small kid.”

“People didn’t give me the time of day,” he said. “I had coaches that would sit me on the sidelines and basically tell me I would never be good. It was a reoccurring theme—people just doubting me.”

Instead, he took up sports like pole vaulting, ultimate Frisbee, diving and golf.

“People telling me I was too small my entire life was just motivation for me to succeed,” he said.

Never being the traditional athlete, as Lucas got older, it just made sense for him to try out the sport of his TV idols. It was time to become a ninja.

Fit for a Ninja

Soon after the NBC TV show “American Ninja Warrior” first aired in 2009, it became a hit.

If you haven’t seen it, people from all over the country swing, jump and climb their way through a course that only those in tip-top shape can tackle. They compete to make it to the red buzzer at the end and continue on to the finals in Las Vegas for a chance of winning up to $1 million.

But the show has done more than just provide millions with entertainment and award prizes to reigning ninja warrior winners—it has created a sport of its own. Small ninja gyms have popped up all over the country, and regular fitness gyms are installing ninja obstacles. A National Ninja League (NNL) was even created to give a place for worldwide competition.

Tim Dexter watched “American Ninja Warrior” when it was still the Japanese TV show “Sasuke.” He began building his own obstacles in his backyard—replicas of ones from the show. He caught the bug and, in August 2018, competed on season 10 of “Ninja Warrior.” But he had a bigger goal in mind—to open his own ninja gym.

“It’s been a dream of mine since I was in high school,” Dexter said.

With a little alliteration and the perfect-sized space in Camp Hill, Dexterity Depot became the first gym in central Pennsylvania dedicated solely to ninja and parkour training. Dexter paired up with co-owner Tara Brown and, on March 22, Dexterity Depot held its first open gym, and ninja classes followed in the beginning of April.

The gym features endless numbers of obstacles, as many of them can be moved around or reconfigured to create a new challenge. The salmon ladder, unstable bridge and floating doors are just a few. There’s also a foam pit with a trampoline at one end and a hanging rope at the other—a challenge for any Tarzan willing to try.

Lucas started volunteering with Dexter by helping build obstacles and painting.

“I was like, ‘I would love a place to be able to train. I would love to be able to help get this up and running,’” Lucas said. “In return, I got to train for free and, eventually, he ended up hiring me as the assistant instructor.”

Dark Horse

While working on the gym, Lucas kept training and eventually started competing in NNL competitions. However, he had bigger plans.

“I started watching the show when I was young, and I had always wanted to be on it, but you had to be 21,” Lucas explained. “In the back of my mind I was like, ‘I’d love to do it—but is the show even going to be around when I’m 21?’”

His dream got closer when “American Ninja Warrior” lowered its qualifying age to 19 this past year. Now, he could apply. But with 70,000 applicants and only 600 callbacks, Lucas still faced slim chances.

It took almost four months from his Jan. 1 application date until he heard back from the show in April that he would be competing on season 11 in Tacoma, Wash.

Lucas flew out on May 9 and competed the next day.

“It was pretty surreal, to be honest,” Lucas said. “The fact that, the year before, I was sitting on the couch watching the show thinking, ‘That would be cool.’”

The episode was packed full of ninja superstars who were not at all new to the show. Lucas was ready—this was what he had been training for. But he couldn’t escape his nerves.

“To be idolizing certain ninjas and then to be competing next to then, and not just competing, but contending with them, was just so crazy to me,” he said.

Lucas made it to the fifth obstacle before losing his grip and falling into the pool below.

He knew that only the top 30 ninjas out of 100 would move on to the finals in Las Vegas. In the end, Lucas came out 31st. He was just two seconds short of qualifying.

Even as he watched his name crossed off the list of qualifiers, he was still proud of what he had accomplished.

He called himself the dark horse.

“No one thought I could do well, but I surprised them,” he said.

Lucas plans on reapplying this January. Until he gets that shot at his second chance, he will be training even harder than before.

Obstacles

Ninja training isn’t just about the sport for Lucas. It has helped him emotionally by building his confidence—a similar story to Dexter’s.

“Parkour and ninja saved me from depression and anxiety,” Dexter said. “I want to inspire others to overcome obstacles in their lives, too.”

Both Lucas and Dexter love coaching young ninjas—being by their side when they take that first leap, hop or swing out of their comfort zone.

Dexterity Depot holds classes for anyone ages 6 and up, as well as open gyms, private events and summer camps. They also host competitions in their gym.

According to both Lucas and Dexter, having an open mind is the number-one thing it takes to be a ninja.

“Anyone can do it,” Lucas said. “It just takes that first step and being willing to fail.”

Dexterity Depot is located at 75 Utley Dr., Suite 102, Camp Hill. For more information, visit www.dexteritydepot.com.

Artist in Focus: Sprocket Mural Works

July 31, 2019 | by Admin

Two summers ago, Sprocket Mural Works painted 18 murals over the course of 10 days.

Those murals are now part of our landscape, as much a part of Harrisburg as some of the city’s most famous buildings and monuments.

Late this month, Sprocket will be at it again, giving us the second Harrisburg Mural Festival, with plans to mount more than a dozen works of art. In anticipation, we thought we’d share some works from the previous mural festival.

According to co-organizer Megan Caruso, the ultimate goal is to create a mural walking trail that begins at the train station and extends up the 3rd Street corridor. So, visitors can hop off the train and make a day of it.

Sprocket, though, isn’t limiting itself to downtown and Midtown. Murals also are planned for Allison Hill and even along the Capital Area Greenbelt.

So, over 10 days, check out the gifted painters creating amazing art, then join Sprocket for one of their numerous community events and parties. After all, it’s not just about art. It’s also a celebration of Harrisburg.

The Harrisburg Mural Festival runs Aug. 30 through Sept. 8 in many locations around Harrisburg, wrapping up with a block party on State Street near the Capitol building. For more information, visit www.sprocketmuralworks.com.

Art, Under the Trees: Over 45 years, Mount Gretna Art Show has grown in stature, attendance.

July 31, 2019 | by Hanna Martin

In 1974, three artists were searching for a place to exhibit their latest creations.

After some thought, they decided to display their work in their local, fairytale-like Mount Gretna forest. They shared the news about the exhibit with friends and family members, so, when the show date finally came, they only expected a few familiar faces. The artists were shocked to see hundreds of people show up to the serene borough in Lebanon County.

“It sounds just like Woodstock—they had no idea that so many people would show up,” said Linda Bell, the previous director of the show. “Then the Pennsylvania Chautauqua, which is a cultural organization, took over the art show, and it has grown.”

Today, the 45th annual Mount Gretna Outdoor Art Show, held each August, has grown to host 260 artists from around the state and the country. The show also now includes live entertainment, gourmet food vendors and a kids’ art show.

“It is a national show tucked into our little mountain community,” said current director Kerry Royer.

Artists will display and sell handmade artwork in 16 categories, including two- and three-dimensional forms such as pottery, printmaking, wood and painting. As part of the juried show, judges will rank the art within the various categories. However, it’s not easy to snag a spot, as the judges select only a handful of applicants to participate.

Potter Pam Cummings, who will participate for her 21st straight year, said that Mount Gretna is one of her favorite shows and that she’s grateful and surprised that she’s gotten a spot for the past two decades.

“It’s put on by a group of volunteers who really appreciate and support the arts,” Cummings said. “They’re really friendly to us during the show, but they also promote the arts throughout the year and in doing that, they really reach a wide audience of craft and art appreciators.”

One of the original artists, Frederick Swarr, has participated consecutively for the past 14 years. He does acrylic mixed media pieces, painting famous musicians over their sheet music. Swarr, a retired art teacher and designer, said that the show has grown significantly since its 1974 debut.

“The first year, they had a couple pieces of snow fence that they put in the ground, and you pulled up with your stuff in your car and hung your artwork on the snow fence,” he said. “It’s really evolved nicely over the years.”

This year’s food lineup includes six gourmet food vendors and local restaurants, including the Hershey Pantry, Porch and Pantry and the Jigger Shop. New this year in the Hall of Philosophy is Mount Gretna Craft Brewery, which will provide a glimpse into the artistry of food with demonstrations on the making of craft beer, and Red Canoe General Store coffee.

Seven bands and artists will hold stage performances. New this year is the Mountain Road Band, which will perform in the Mount Gretna Playhouse. Other performers include Don Johnson, the Carmitchell Sisters and the Jayplayers.

Additionally, two street performers will be at the show, including Trist’N Shout Balloons, a mother-daughter balloon-artist duo that has performed at the White House three times.

The Kids’ Art Show will be held both days of the show on the Chautauqua playground. It will include face painters, a magician, caricature artists and a craft stand. Joyful Vibrations of York will lead drum circles for the kids.

“We’re really proud of the Kids’ Art Show,” Royer said. “The purpose of the Chautauqua is to promote the arts, and so this is an opportunity for children to get involved. They can create their art and sell it at their own vendor stand.”

The show also features an emerging artists section, in which the judges select 10 applicants to receive a space in the show free of charge.

“These artists range from somebody just out of art school who’s thinking about being an exhibiting artist to a senior citizen who’s now retired, and they would like to get into art,” Bell said.

Proceeds from admissions will be used to fund other Mount Gretna community programs and cultural events, many of which are free of charge.

In addition to the art and entertainment, attendees also come to the show to enjoy the scenery.

“It’s a beautiful setting,” Cummings said. “A lot of it is under trees, and it’s really a magical little gem of a place. So, people get inspired.”

Bell, who was the director of the show for 20 years before Royer took over, said that she is excited to see the show grow each year.

“It’s a way for us to promote the arts,” she said. “We’ve changed by getting food that’s actually worth coming here for, more entertainment, more things for children. We’ve just expanded everything.”

The 45th annual Mount Gretna Outdoor Art Show runs Saturday, Aug. 17, and Sunday, Aug. 18, at the Chautauqua section of Mount Gretna. Admission is $12 for adults and free of charge for children under 12. There’s a $2 discount with an Art Show postcard. For more information, visit www.mtgretnaarts.com.

Cheer Up! Dynasty Harrisburg gives city youth a place to dance, learn, grow.

July 31, 2019 | by Maddie Conley

“How are you wearing your crown today?”

Qwan McIntyre asks his kids this each day.

This is the Dynasty family. More than 40 girls and boys ages 4 to 18 come each week to the warehouse tucked in between a bingo hall and boxing gym. They come to cheer, dance and learn valuable skills for life.

McIntyre is the owner and head coach of Dynasty Harrisburg Cheer and Dance on N. 10th Street in Harrisburg. Beginning in rented spaces in Hershey and Middletown and even holding classes outside, McIntyre started his cheerleading and dance company in 2015 under the name PA Dynasty.

He has been cheering since he was 4 years old, when he would use school recesses to persuade his friends to join him in cheer jumps and tumbles on the playground. But McIntyre was a boy in a girl’s world, and it wasn’t always easy.

“It was hard to protect myself from the stereotype, but, with the help of my family, coaches, friends and teammates, I was able to build tough skin while growing into the coach I am today,” he said. “I would say the older I got, the more I used the stereotype to my advantage.”

Since those days in elementary school, McIntyre worked his way up to a bigger audience than his playground peers. He is now in his second season cheering for the Baltimore Ravens.

Nonetheless, his real passion is found in a hot and sweaty gym surrounded by kids up on the big blue tumbling mat.

“I give this my all, I give it 2,000 percent,” McIntyre said smiling. “This is my baby. They’re my babies.”

Dynasty Harrisburg offers “tiny classes” for cheerleaders around 3 years old as well as hip-hop classes, open gyms and cheer teams. McIntyre stressed that there is no experience necessary, and there’s a team for everyone.

New Additions

McIntyre kept in touch with childhood cheer friend, Daquan Johnson-Thompson regularly. They had a lot to talk about—Thompson owned a cheer gym in Philadelphia and McIntyre had his in Harrisburg. Realizing how similar their gyms were, they came to a conclusion—it was time for a partnership.

On May 1, PA Dynasty became Dynasty Harrisburg, joining the Dynasty Spirit Elite All-Stars franchise, which is 11 years old and based in Philadelphia. In July, a Maryland location was added to the franchise.

“I can’t wait to see the growth,” said Thompson.

Twice a week, Thompson travels more than two hours from his home gym in Philly to coach in Harrisburg, alongside their staff. That requires more than a passion for cheer, but for the athletes themselves.

“We [Thompson and McIntyre] are like the dads, and the coaches are the uncles and aunts,” he said.

Coming under the Dynasty franchise is a huge deal for Harrisburg’s gym, given the Philly gym’s success. Dynasty All Star Spirit Elite won the Varsity All Star Triple Crown Championship in 2018, making them the first champs to win two years in a row.

Under the new franchise, Dynasty Harrisburg will now offer new programs such as Dynasty Motivated—a community outreach program. Coaches and staff will take the kids into the community to participate in activities such as cleanups, breast cancer awareness walks and food drives.

There will also be life skills classes offered for the athletes themselves. McIntyre listed off cooking and art classes as potential offerings.

“I want to help children learn those life skills,” McIntyre said. “At school, you do learn your biologys and your maths and your world history and all that, but I feel like they miss out on teaching how to do checkbooks and budget for our bills.”

The gym will also follow Dynasty Philadelphia’s cyber school program, where they open up their space for athletes enrolled online to work and study in. McIntyre hopes to have teachers onsite that can help them where needed. He expects all of this to begin in the next year or two.

“You don’t see lots of cheerleading programs doing things like this, so that is a big barrier breaker for us,” McIntyre said.

Like a Family

Not only is Dynasty breaking barriers with its upcoming programs, but also with the atmosphere they work to create.

Sixteen-year-old Annessa Augustine loves to cheer for the adrenaline rush.

“I didn’t really think I could do it, but I always push myself to learn new skills,” she said.

Struggling with being more reserved, Augustine found growth at the gym. She explained how everyone at Dynasty is like a family, which was comforting and created a space for her to come out of her shell.

“It helps me communicate,” she said. “I’m antisocial, so this changed that for me.”

McIntyre exaggerated how the coaches and staff work to foster that familial atmosphere, one where they teach kindness through leading by example.

That’s what stood out to An’jaleeha “Leelee” Goodman when she switched from her previous gym to Dynasty Harrisburg. The atmosphere was completely different, which helped boost her confidence.

“This gym is about making sure you feel comfortable,” Goodman said. “It’s helped me with anxiety. It helps me all the way around.”

McIntyre also stressed that Dynasty is built on the idea of celebrating diversity in competitive cheerleading. Dynasty’s social media posts often include #blackgirlscheer or #blackfranchise.

“We are trying to show everyone that, no matter who you are and what background you come from, that you can do this and you have what it takes and not to second guess who you are or the way you look,” McIntyre said.

Dynasty Harrisburg is a small gym. It’s easy to miss driving by, and it’s quiet during the daytime. But around 6 p.m., it comes alive and fills up fast. Dancers and cheerleaders take their places on the mat, and McIntyre reminds them to think about “what can you do to uplift yourself and the person next to you.”

Kids come for the sport, but receive more than just athletic training—they gain a family, a support system.

“We are building dream chasers,” McIntyre said. “We are building young men and women who will conquer everything that they put out to do in the world and not just in cheerleading.”

Dynasty Harrisburg is located at 125 N. 10th St. Harrisburg, PA. For more information visit their Facebook page: Dynasty Harrisburg Cheer and Dance.

As in Life, As in School: A new book details the promise, the practice of democratic education.

July 31, 2019 | by Norah Griffiths Johnson

“Let’s make schools look like the world.”

So stated Jim Rietmulder as we sat down to talk about his new book, “When Kids Rule the School: The Power and Promise of Democratic Education.”

In it, he succinctly explains exactly what he means by this, as well as the many whys and hows behind democratic education.

“We want to give kids the freedom, responsibility and authority to come to school and practice life, to figure out and develop ways that are effective for them to participate in community and society,” he said. “We want them to have the space to develop introspective skills and patterns that lead to a fulfilling life for them.”

As one of the founders of the 35-year-old Circle School—itself a democratic school located in Susquehanna Township—Rietmulder is well qualified to tell this story. The Circle School is actually the second oldest democratic school in the country, fully accredited by the state Department of Education.

Unlike conventional schools that operate within a top-down hierarchy, Rietmulder’s approach, as explained in the book, enlists involvement by all students and staff to help students develop attributes and skills such as empathy, independence, self-determination, introspection, time management and critical thinking.

“Conventional education is undermined by its coercive curriculum and one-size-fits-all methods,” Rietmulder notes in his book. “Democratic schooling overcomes both limitations by aligning school with society. Students are citizens in a scaled-down version of the world beyond school, practicing agency in community.”

Real World

To better understand the foundations of democratic schooling, it’s helpful to contrast it to mass education (conventional K-12 schooling), which grew out of societal needs of the, first, agrarian, and, second, industrial eras.

Conventional education still trains students to listen to adults and, for the most part, fall in line rather than make decisions for themselves or consider their own interests and curiosities. Rietmulder contends that, because this happens all the way up through 12th grade, it’s no wonder that many young adults experience challenges navigating the transition to college and the working world.

In contrast, a signature of the democratic model is a lack of formal curriculum, grading or class years. Instead, students are empowered to learn about the world at a pace and in a way that naturally suits each person. Staff is there to support and assist students as needed, and students tend to interact with each other based on interests and developmental ability.

Importantly, students and staff work together to run the school, upholding the school’s laws, setting budget and programmatic priorities, and taking on responsibilities ranging from daily chores to the establishment of special corporations to provide for a broad variety of initiatives and interests. All students—as young as 4 to as old as 19—are integrally involved in this process.

Numerous questions arise when people first learn about democratic education. Chief of among these is whether democratic education prepares children for college.

“The conventional system really drives home this myth that you can only get into college if you’ve gone through a traditional, academic curriculum,” Rietmulder explained. “But this is just not true.”

As means of example, the Circle School has an 84-percent college attendance rate for students who spend their last four years at the school. This number increases to 91 percent for those who attend for eight or more years.

Rietmulder, however, is reticent to focus too much on these numbers, as he firmly believes college isn’t for everyone.

“First and foremost, democratic education aims to prepare all students for life rather than for just this one particular track,” he said.

On You

To get a taste of the student perspective, I spoke with Johanna Bodnyk, a Circle School graduate who attended for the majority of her K-12 schooling. Bodnyk went on to attend Bard College in upstate New York, graduating with a literature degree.

As we spoke, she disputed the common assumption that students at democratic schools mostly hang out all day.

“Actually, everything is on you at a democratic school,” she said. “So, it’s more work than in a traditional school, in a way.”

Bodnyk’s comparative lens came after she attended public school for eighth, ninth and half of 10th grade then returned to the Circle School.

As an illustration of the self-direction and self-initiation that democratic schooling strives to instill, in recent years, Bodnyk decided to navigate a significant career pivot after finding herself dissatisfied with her existing track. Rather than simply resign herself to dissatisfaction, she began taking classes at Harvard’s Extension School and now works as a software engineer in Boston.

“Coming back to work at the Circle School briefly after college really cemented by belief in the approach,” she said. “It wasn’t just something I had experienced, but I was able to see it through other students’ eyes and see their joy and excitement.”

“When Kids Rule the School: The Power and Promise of Democratic Education,” by Jim Rietmulder, is available in local bookstores and online. For more information about the Circle School, visit www.circleschool.org.

Youth in Gear: New cycling league gains momentum across PA.

July 31, 2019 | by Karen Hendricks

The number of American kids riding bicycles dropped precipitously between 2000 and 2010.

Alarms sounded within many circles, resulting in the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), which was founded in 2009. Nearly 10 years later, there are cycling leagues in 25 states, and Pennsylvania is one of the states leading the pack.

“We were the second-largest state in terms of student athlete sign-ups in year one [2016],” said Mike Kuhn, executive director of the nonprofit Pennsylvania Interscholastic Cycling League (PICL). “We had the best-ever growth rate of a program from year one to year two, and we were the first league to fully integrate trail stewardship [students volunteering to maintain trails].”

NICA’s goal, #morekidsonbikes, has created a network of state leagues that rely on volunteer coaches heading up teams based upon school districts. Most teams begin as composites, combining student athletes across neighboring school districts. As composite teams grow, school districts spin off into standalone teams.

Kuhn knows firsthand how cycling can transform a teen’s life. A former road racer and semi-pro mountain bike racer, he “fell in love with the sport” during his teen years at Susquenita High School. Today, he oversees the state league from his hometown of Marysville in Perry County.

“The competitive experience was formative for me, but it doesn’t matter if students pursue that,” Kuhn said. “We just want them to experience the power of bikes to have a positive impact on their lives. That bike is not just about sport. It’s freedom, exploration, adventure.”

Heading into Pennsylvania’s fourth season this fall, Kuhn said that about 1,000 teens are pedaling for 50 teams across the state. He predicts continued momentum with at least one team in every county by 2025.

Part of the appeal is that kids of all abilities are welcome, from middle- to high-school age. And kids can decide if they want to compete during race weekends or simply ride for fun.

Harrisburg area teams include Adams County Composite, Carlisle Area Composite, Chambersburg, Elizabethtown, West Shore Composite and York Area Composite. Kuhn says three new teams are launching this fall—Ephrata, Hershey and Lancaster Mennonite.

Breakout Year

Lee Gonder, owner of Camp Hill’s World Cup Ski & Cycle, coaches West Shore Composite, comprised of 25 students from Camp Hill, Cumberland Valley, Mechanicsburg, Northern and West Shore School districts, plus those home-schooled and enrolled in private and parochial schools.

He formed the team during PICA’s first year with three athletes—two were his own sons and the third participant was his fellow coach’s son. He said the team has “grown organically,” but last year was “a breakout year.”

“The Mechanicsburg School District created a mountain bike course on campus, a .6-mile loop, and phys. ed. teacher Jason Minnich started a mountain bike unit as part of phys. ed. classes,” Gonder said.

The team also hits area trails—Lebanon County’s Swatara State Park, York’s Rocky Ridge County Park and Harrisburg’s Capital Area Greenbelt.

“The idea behind #morekidsonbikes is, ‘How do we get kids away from screen time, lift their heads up and look around?’” Gonder said. “We took the team to the Allegrippis Trails at Raystown Lake over the summer. There were wildflowers, and it was beautiful.”

The sport comes with a price tag. Beyond the cost of a mountain bike and helmet, the annual state league fee is $300, which covers all bike races. West Shore’s team fee is $125, which includes a jersey and tech tee.

“Versus soccer or ski racing, it’s cheap, but it’s still $400,” Gonder said. “If kids want to be involved, between coaches, businesses and contacts, we can help kids who want to try it out. We don’t want the cost of a bike to be a barrier.”

Into Their DNA

Fundraising and corporate sponsorships have helped Adams County Composite Mountain Bike Team defray costs.

The team formed in the fall of 2017 with students from Adams County’s districts. Coach Michael Connelly said that biking has always been part of his life whether he was competing in Texas cycling leagues or commuting via bike in Washington, D.C.

Now, he transfers that love of biking into coaching.

Practice sessions, on the slopes of Liberty Mountain Ski Resort, teach kids core mountain biking skills— the mechanics of biking uphill versus downhill, braking and how to get off the bike. The team also visits Michaux State Forest trails. The fall 2019 season includes five races, three to five miles each.

“After the first couple of practices, kids are dead so to speak—they’re not used to exercising that hard. But biking gets into their DNA, and they start looking forward to riding as a team,” Connelly said. “They also realize that everyone can be an athlete even if they don’t have the traditional look of an athlete.”

Kerry Urcuyo of Gettysburg has two children on Adams County’s team for the second year, a 13-year-old daughter and a 16-year-old son.

“My goal is to make bike-riding more of a lifestyle for them,” she said. “As adults, they’ll be more comfortable riding bikes on errands for example.”

Her son Breslin is one of the oldest team members.

“I like that it’s not that competitive—you’re really racing the clock and not other people,” said Breslin. “I’m a tech person, and I’ve come to realize it’s healthier to get outside.”

Connelly said one of the most rewarding aspects of NICA and PICL is being able to reach kids who likely wouldn’t compete in traditional high school sports.

“Biking is reaching and resonating with kids who don’t identify with being jocks,” he said. “It’s giving them an outlet, an identity and an activity to call their own.”

For more information, see the NICA website at www.nationalmtb.org and the PICL website at www.pamtb.org.

Quarter Century of Care: Community Check-Up Center has offered South Harrisburg medical care for 25 years.

July 31, 2019 | by Amy Black

Twenty-five years ago, four mothers with kids in Head Start realized how difficult it was get quality, accessible healthcare for their own children.

How difficult it must be, then, for parents in under-served communities, with access to far fewer resources.

Thanks to their initial efforts, the Children’s Check-Up Center opened its doors in Hall Manor in 1994. In addition to its convenient location, the facility aimed to provide quality care to many uninsured families in need.

Now named the Community Check-Up Center of South Harrisburg (CCUC), the facility remains in that same single unit of Hall Manor, offering free, complete women’s and children’s health care and family planning under one roof.

With a staff of about a dozen full- and part-time medical and support personnel, CCUC provides 4,000 pediatric, women’s healthcare and family planning visits per year.

The community-based nonprofit will celebrate its 25th anniversary in September with a celebration and fundraiser, seeking greater visibility for their important mission and asking the larger Harrisburg community for its support.

Holly Leggett, vice president of CCUC’s board of directors, is helping to lead that charge.

“We never have time to promote what we do,” she said. “We just have time to do what we do. When you go up to Hall Manor, there aren’t too many bright spots. But at least there’s this little place that’s there to serve the community.”

Same Respect

Attorney Peter Zurflieh, now with the Community Justice Project, handled the center’s incorporation and legal start-up. He then remained involved and served as board chair for 10 years.

“We had a great relationship with the neighborhood from day one and knew [CCUC] was meeting a need that wasn’t getting met elsewhere,” he said.

Zurflieh said the Head Start moms were seeking a facility where children would be “treated with the same respect and dignity as a patient in a private doctor’s office.”

Linda Hengst serves as CCUC practice manager. She has watched the local need for medical services for the uninsured increase over the 11 years she’s been with the center. According to Hengst, at least 75 percent of the women they treat fall into the free service category.

Their primary funding source, about 59 percent, comes from fees for service, from patient payments, insurance compensation or Title X federal grant funding, according to Hengst.

“Our philosophy at the center remains the same, that everyone deserves the same care that someone with insurance would receive,” Hengst said.

She said that their small size allows for personalized care, and the fact that most of the medical providers have been on staff for 20 years or more enables continuity of care. She noted that the medical staff is bilingual, helping to strengthen patient-provider communication and trust.

Growing Needs

One long-time supporter serves as medical director of obstetrics and gynecology and family planning.

Dr. Gwen Gentile first recognized the need for adding women’s care to the center’s services in 1997 and has been a staff or volunteer provider ever since. The 83-year-old doctor has made it her life’s mission to educate women on family planning and ensure those looking to utilize preventative methods have them available.

Ann Froehlich is another long-serving volunteer. For the last 15 years, she has spent an afternoon each week reading to children in the compact waiting room. Froehlich, who got involved through the Dauphin County Medical Society Alliance, said that they continue to support the CCUC through grants, donations from Walk for a Healthy Community and book donations. Froehlich likes that her time now includes letting children pick a book to take home.

“They especially like the phonics and math workbooks,” she said. “I think this helps to allay their apprehension of going to the doctor.”

Hengst said that she sees the center impact lives in two cyclical ways.

“We have parents bring their kids here who were once pediatric patients themselves growing up,” she said. “We also have a lot of former pediatric patients who have reached puberty and now come for women’s education and family planning.”

The center offers additional services through community partnerships.

A domestic violence counselor is on hand weekly through a partnership with the YWCA, and the CCUC participates in a pilot program through United Way called Contact Care, to help eligible uninsured obtain insurance. Through the Healthy Woman program with the Family Health Council of Pennsylvania, breast and cervical cancer testing and follow-up care are offered free of charge.

The CCUC recently celebrated its 25-year partnership with the Harrisburg Housing Authority, which provides rent-free space.

“They are living with us,” said Emily Leader, chair of the HHA board of commissioners.

According to Leader, Hall Manor and the adjacent Hoverter Homes represent the largest population of city public housing community in terms of numbers and density. CCUC continues to work with the Housing Authority as they seek to relocate to a larger space in South Harrisburg to meet growing patient needs.

The Community Check-Up Center 25th Anniversary Celebration, “Stand Up for the Check-Up Center,” takes place Sept. 20 at the Country Club of Harrisburg. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.communitycheckupcenter.org.

STEAM Ahead: Through a camp this summer, Harrisburg students eye their futures.

July 31, 2019 | by Maddie Conley

2018 STEAM students.

Johntrae Williams remembers the feeling he got watching Beyoncé’s “Homecoming” Coachella performance on Netflix.

The loud marching bands, the dancers, the black national anthem. It wasn’t just inspiring—he related to it personally.

“Beyoncé’s story about how she never went to an HBCU but would have liked to, I connected with that,” he said. “I went to a performing arts school. HBCUs weren’t really introduced to me.”

By association, it ended up inspiring the theme for Marshall Math Science Academy’s 2019 STEAM summer camp.

The Harrisburg School District resource coach for the college and career program, Williams is the director of the arts and communication at STEAM camp. He was struck by the references Beyoncé made during her performance to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Because of his experience, Williams desired to expose Marshall Academy students to HBCUs—making sure they’re fully informed when they begin thinking about higher education.

This was done by exploring 10 HBCUs in the context of the five avenues of STEAM: science, technology, engineering, arts and math. Williams explained how the camp’s central focus was on project-based learning.

Camp began in June and ran through mid-July. The 200 fifth- through seventh-graders worked with Marshall Academy teachers, community artists and professionals. On their last day of camp, the students showcased their projects to the community.

Projects this year included an HBCU-themed mural, dances and other performances. Each team of students was named after an HBCU.

“I hope the sense of pride, climate and culture of HBCUs is really exemplified throughout the course of the camp,” Williams said during the preparation phase before camp. “When you don’t know [where you’re from], there has to be something you connect to. Self-reflection and self-image are a big deal.”

He explained the important sense of belonging that HBCUs can provide to African Americans, who often find it hard to trace the roots that slavery ripped away from them many years ago.

Seventh-grader Daesha Adams didn’t know much about HBCUs before STEAM camp this year. Her team was named after Spelman College, a women’s college in Atlanta. Through hands-on activities, Adams gained an appreciation for the school.

“People were desperate to go to college,” Adams said. “HBCUs changed a lot of people’s lives.”

Although her favorite part of camp was acting, her dream is to become a veterinarian. Because of STEAM camp, Adams hopes to go to Spelman.

Williams also wanted to inform his students about the benefits HBCUs offer to African Americans.

“There are organizations established to support them,” she said. “They can get into school with full scholarships with some of the talents they already have.”

Tayvon Williams, a sixth-grader, decided to come to camp again after attending last year.

“You get to learn things other people don’t get to learn,” he said. “You have to invest your time and work hard instead of staying home playing video games.”

Camp this year helped him visualize going to one of the HBCUs he learned about.

Tayvon was also part of the Beta Theta Mu Fra-rority (a mix between fraternity and sorority) that about 15 campers were involved in.

Williams had each group nominate certain students to be part of this leadership experience. In the fra-rority, which meets during camp recess, students learn about the “Divine Nine,” a number of historically black fraternities and sororities. They worked on memorizing a mission statement including, “We are committed to leading the way even when we have to pave the road ahead.”

The school has a majority black student body, but Williams saw the theme as also beneficial for campers who aren’t black.

“HBCUs are not only for African Americans,” he said. “This is about shining a light on something people didn’t know existed.”

This is exactly what Raheem Martin, founder of the program Harrisburg to HBCU’s, has been trying to do.

Like Williams, Martin was not introduced to HBCUs in school.

“Growing up, I toured so many college campuses—teachers never tell you about HBCUs,” he said. “The fact that I was never told about them made me want to educate students.”

For about two years, Martin has been taking prospective students to Howard University, among others, to spend a few days learning about college life at an HBCU.

Martin finds HBCUs crucial in communicating and maintaining African American history.

“Going to HBCUs tells you the real story of what our people went through,” Martin said. “You get to understand who you are as a person.”

Williams explained how Marshall’s STEAM camp was a great place to explore this sense of belonging tied to HBCUs, since these schools were and still are often STEAM-focused.

School may be out for the summer, but students at Marshall weren’t ready for a break. They had plenty to build and create, all while discovering a rich history with strong implications for their future.

To learn more about Harrisburg to HBCU’s, visit www.harrisburgtohbcus.com.

That ’70s Dish: Bring back the quiche (but hold the lava lamp).

July 31, 2019 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

Sometimes, when I reminisce about the ‘70s, I do so with horror.

Did I really have a pair of purple velvet pants with a fringed leather belt? (I did.) How could I have put a Kelly green shag carpet in my living room and plastic flowers on my coffee table? (Forever unanswerable.)

But some of my favorite recipes of the decade were good ones: steak Diane, coquilles St. Jacques, creamed eggs over toast (really) and Hawaiian lamb chops. It was a time that I learned how to make shish kabob and use a little charcoal hibachi grill on our apartment patio. I wanted to try every recipe I found and once spent an entire afternoon making a Black Forest cake for my husband’s birthday.

I was thinking recently about all the quiches I used to make and why I don’t make them anymore. They are perfect for summer and a great way to take advantage of summer’s vegetable bounty. Quiches can be served as appetizers, as lunch for company (try pairing it with chilled gazpacho soup), or as a light dinner.

The recipe that follows is for the French classic, quiche Lorraine. I made this a lot once upon a time but also enjoy the many variations that are possible.

Quiche Lorraine

Ingredients

Pastry for a 9-inch, one-crust pie (I usually make my own but a store-bought pie shell is perfectly fine.)
½ pound bacon (regular or turkey bacon), fried and crumbled
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1/3 cup minced onion
4 eggs
2 cups heavy cream or light cream
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions

Heat oven to 425.
Sprinkle bacon, cheese and onion in the pastry-lined pan.
Beat the eggs with a wire whisk while adding the remaining ingredients.
Pour egg mixture into the pie pan and bake for 15 minutes.
Reduce the oven temperature to 300 and bake 30 minutes longer until a knife or skewer inserted 1 inch from the edge comes out clean.
Let stand 10 minutes before cutting if using right away. Or chill until time to serve. Bring the quiche to room temperature an hour before serving.

You can experiment using chopped vegetables or seafood for the filling:

Chopped asparagus and sliced mushrooms are fantastic (sauté in a little butter or oil first to soften).
Chopped and peeled eggplant cut into cubes along with chopped fresh tomato and basil will bring you a taste of Tuscany.
Broccoli and cauliflower florets, briefly blanched (this goes great with sharp cheddar).
Sautéed, sliced bell peppers with minced garlic (use green, red and yellow for color).
Chopped smoked salmon and fresh dill.
Lump crabmeat, chopped onion and a little Worcestershire sauce results in a very elegant quiche.

And so many cheeses work well. Try grated cheddar, gruyere, havarti, gouda or pepper cheese. Just put the cheese along with any sautéed vegetables you choose instead of bacon and onion into the pie shell. The custard mixture stays the same. About two cups of filling usually will work.

Give your grill a rest this August and enjoy this walk down culinary memory lane. But let’s leave the fondue pot in storage for a while.

Technically Speaking: Vocational education makes students job-ready, often debt-free.

July 31, 2019 | by Susan Ryder

“The world needs people who can do things.”

So said David Wright, principal of Dauphin County Technical School.

Wright bristles when he hears people use the term, “Vo Tech,” which he believes implies that vocational school is for students who can’t cut it academically.

“The old idea of Vo Tech is it’s a lesser institution,” he said. “We fight against that.”

The actual goal, Wright said, is to give students a quality education and greater career choices, setting “students up to choose what they want, not what’s left for them—not what somebody else says they should do.”

Assistant Director Frank Flamini referenced author and career advocate Kevin Fleming’s video, “Success in the New Economy,” and the “1-2-7 philosophy” when talking about technical education.

That ratio describes the job needs in the American economy. For every job requiring a master’s degree or higher, employers will need two jobs with a bachelor’s degree and seven jobs with an associate degree or certificate.

“The career and tech center really mirrors, very well, the realities of today’s workforce, and we’re proud of that,” Flamini said.

Enrollment capacity at DCTS is 1,050 students, and it receives 600 applications per year, with about 310 slots available yearly. Students leave the school with more than 1,320 hours in their technical field and some type of certificate or licensure, often in industries with high demand for their new skills, such as building construction, electronics, dental assistant and veterinary assistant

Bruce Seilhammer, electrical construction group manager at SECCO, Inc., and past national president of Independent Electrical Contractors, said that the average age of a worker in the construction industry is 54.

“Finding experienced, skilled help is an issue,” he said. “This is the case all over the country. [Technical education] is a fantastic head start.”

That head start begins with places like DCTS’s automotive classroom.

Recently, senior Martin Crowl stood near cars on lifts in various stages of repair.

“Instead of going to a traditional high school, here I can get a skill,” he said.

Crowl’s father attended DCTS and encouraged him to do the same.

Walking through DCTS hallways, one can spot students enrolled in medical arts wearing scrubs and automotive students donning navy tees and pants. In the graphic arts room, I met senior Aislyn Spicer.

“Just being in a tech school is getting their foot in the door,” she said. “In many cases, they don’t need additional education.”

When I spoke with Spicer, she was unsure of her plans after graduation, but felt confident in the skills she was acquiring.

“I have some sort of direction, some general idea of what I want to do, instead of floundering,” she said.

Commercial arts instructor Kevin Cagno pointed out a fiscal reason to consider technical education.

“Some kids find out they like this, but they don’t want to spend the rest of their life doing it,” he said. “They don’t spend $80,000 to figure that out.”

Cagno said that students gain a knowledge foundation and are able to earn four different Adobe certifications in the program

DCTS is equipped to meet the needs of college-bound students, as well, Wright said.

“Students leave fully prepared to go to college,” he said. “There are people who think our school is less academically inclined than it is, that kids who come here aren’t as capable of academic success as kids who go to a traditional school. That’s so far away from the reality of the situation.”

People are surprised to find out that DCTS has advanced placement classes—in some instances, more than its feeder schools.

Flamini quoted author Stephen Covey in describing how DCTS prepares students for success.

“Begin with the end in mind,” he said. “What are you interested in, what are your abilities, what path is best suited to get you where you want to go?”

Some students even end up as teachers at DCTS.

Ryan Liddick, instructor for electrical construction and maintenance, stood outside his workshop recently exchanging friendly banter with fellow educators.

“If it wouldn’t have been for this school, I wouldn’t have graduated from high school,” he said.

He explained that the electrical skills taught apply to many other areas, such as automotive, HVAC, construction and carpentry. Students leave the program with the experience of a two-year apprenticeship.

Changing educational landscapes, a desire for less debt, and increasing demands for technical skills are expanding what students are considering for educational options.

Who should consider a technical education?

According to Wright, the correct question is, “Who shouldn’t?”

Learn more about Dauphin County Technical School at www.dcts.org.

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