Slice of Tradition: Smoke & Pickles carves out a place in Mechanicsburg.

April 30, 2019 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

Burg in Focus: Smoke & Pickles Artisan Butcher Shop from GK Visual on Vimeo.

David T. Mills has worn many culinary hats over the years.

He started as a dishwasher at 16 years old and quickly worked his way up the ladder to become an executive chef at the tender age of 19.

He then worked in food service and as a culinary arts instructor, while pursuing a certificate in brewery science at Tröegs Independent Brewing in Hershey.

He’s recently hit another milestone. Earlier this year, he opened Smoke & Pickles Artisan Butcher Shop & Kitchen, adding to the flavor of historic downtown Mechanicsburg, itself in the midst of a revival.

Ancient Practice

Many of Mills’ ideas for his shop originated with trips to Italy, Spain and France, journeys that were both eye opening and inspiring, he said.

“We ventured into a small town in Chianti in the Tuscany region [of Italy] called Panzano, where we visited a butcher shop,” he said. “It was an extremely busy place, and the butcher was blasting AC/DC as he handed me a water glass full of Chianti.”

It turned out that the butcher was the renowned Dario Cecchini, who’s been featured on many food programs, including in the Netflix documentary series, “Chef’s Table.”

Cecchini is an eighth-generation butcher, committed to doing his job in the traditional way. For instance, he uses all parts of the animal—an ancient skill that has been passed on through the family. This resonated with Mills’ sense of sustainability.

“When I returned to the states, I realized how broken the food system was,” he said.

His newfound knowledge led him to try to make changes in his small corner of the world in central Pennsylvania. He now serves on the board of the LEAF (leadership, education and farming) project in Carlisle, whose mission is to cultivate youth leaders through meaningful work in the food system. He also joined the nonprofit American Culinary Federation, where he currently serves as president.

“That [affiliation] gave me the opportunity to dive into what was next,” he said.

He’s since run into his Italian butcher/mentor stateside, as Cecchini has appeared at York’s Pullo Center, hosted by Caputo Brothers Creamery.

“I got wind that the same butcher I observed in Italy was slated to break down a hog on stage, while playing AC/DC, of course,” said Mills, with a chuckle.

Locally Sourced

Mills’ first task at Smoke & Pickles was to remodel the space on Market Street to accommodate several meat cases, a work area and a separate eatery, which includes seating for 27 customers.

Products for sale include pre-marinated steaks, roasts, farm fresh eggs, sausages, stocks, burgers, beef, pork, bacon, chicken, turkey, guinea fowl and duck, to just name a few items.

Those who prefer to dine onsite can choose from a variety of handhelds served on homemade rolls. Popular choices are the “Screamin’ Eagle,” prepared with boneless fried chicken, house-made sauce and slaw, and the “The Mechanicsburger,” made with ground beef and bacon and served with Bibb lettuce, red onion, garlic aioli and a fried tomato. “The Smoker,” another much-ordered option, features pulled pork, house barbecue sauce and slaw.

Customers can usually find Mills working onsite in the food preparation area. Both he and his staff are available to answer questions about the provenance of the products that he showcases each week.

“I visited every single farm,” he said, speaking about his products. “It is important for me to see how the animals are raised. You can tell how they are cared for, and, if you can smell the farm when you get there, they are not doing things how they should be.”

It’s also important to Mills that antibiotics are kept to a minimum.

“Most of them don’t use any,” he said, adding that he knows of one farm on his list of purveyors that has administered just four shots in the past decade. “That’s a testament to how he cares for the animals.”

Candace Bordner was one of the first customers to visit Smoke & Pickles. The Mechanicsburg resident, who dined onsite, said that she was impressed with the quality of ingredients used for food preparation and the fact that all the products are sourced ethically and sustainably.

“I love that they list where everything is from,” she said.

Owen Bower, Jr., drove from Halifax to purchase a bone-in prime rib for Easter and, while there, also bought pickles and a dry-aged, grass-fed tomahawk steak.

“My girlfriend lives in Mechanicsburg, and we were waiting for it to open,” he said. “I like the fact that everything is local. It’s worth the splurge.”

For Mills, opening an artisan butcher shop is the culmination of a dream, and he’s delighted that it has been received so enthusiastically.

“I’m just happy to revive the cozy, reputable, neighborhood butcher shop that meets all the traditional standards of the past, while breathing creative new life into the locally sourced food movement,” he said.

Smoke & Pickles Artisan Butcher Shop is located at 30 S. Market St., Mechanicsburg. Learn more by visiting their Facebook page or calling 717-795-4852.

Artist in Focus: Andrew Guth

April 30, 2019 | by TheBurg Editor

Do you own a Guth?

If you’ve been around Harrisburg awhile, you just might.

Artist Andrew Sedgwick Guth has been creating art in the capital city for more than a decade, formerly as part of the North Gallery and Mantis Collective and, now, as an independent artist with a studio in the Millworks in Harrisburg.

His painting and printmaking is eclectic in media and theme. One day, he might employ mixed media to create figurative art with a deeply personal message. On another, he’ll turn to abstraction. Then he’ll create whimsical representations of taco trucks, bears or parking meters. You just never know.

One thing you will know is that Guth’s art will be of high quality. His work has been shown regionally and nationally, and he has curated more than 125 exhibits throughout his career. His art has been showcased in such prestigious places as the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, the French Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, where, in 2017, his work on paper took a first-place award in the annual, juried “Art of the State” exhibition.

On this page, we include a small sample of Guth’s work. To see more, visit www.andrewsedgwickguth.com or, even, better stop by his studio in the Millworks.

Fruit Loop: Shopping in circles at the Round Barn.

April 30, 2019 | by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

When you think of a barn, a certain type of structure almost certainly comes to mind—boxy, with a sloping roof and a huge front door.

It’s probably not round.

But near Gettysburg, there is a unique structure that draws people from miles around.

The Historic Round Barn, otherwise known as the Noah Sheely barn, was built in 1914 and later purchased by the Knouse family, who converted it to a farm market and wedding venue.

According to Charles Leik, past president of the National Barn Alliance, round barns were built with efficiency in mind.

“If you look at a cow from above, you’ll see that it’s a wedge-shaped animal, so you could array this cow around a central feeding trough,” he said. “You had your cows with the heads toward the silo and the business end in the larger circumference of the round barn.”

Additional benefits included an open floor plan where farmers could work in a continuous direction unimpeded by posts supporting the building.

According to Leik, the round barn had its share of detractors.

“Your neighbors would probably give you a hard time for building something so unusual,” he said. “And your local carpenter was probably not very excited to deal with an awful lot of geometry that he was unfamiliar with.”

Another drawback was that the round barn was really only good for dairying. So, the farmer was locked into one business once the structure was built.

The popularity of round barns waned in the 1920s with the onset of prefabricated barns and the agricultural depression after the end of World War I.

Locally Made

The Knouse family bought the barn more than three decades ago.

“They built it to house cows, horses and mules, and it stayed in the same family until we purchased it in 1984,” said Kevin Knouse of Knouse Fruitlands, a multi-generational, family-owned orchard.

After a decade of renovations, the family opened the barn to the public and now operates it as a farm stand and wedding venue.

“We spent quite a bit of time doing work on the structure, which included replacing the roof,” said Knouse, adding that the current roof needs to be replaced again, with estimates in the $400,000 range. “It didn’t last as long as we anticipated.”

Those who visit the Historic Round Barn & Farmers Market today will not only find a large selection of produce, but other products. Some of the more popular items are sauces, spreads and salad dressings.

“Vendors make items like jellies and jams with our fruits,” said Knouse. “We pull in a lot of locally made products that you can’t find anywhere else.”

History, Food

Craig Nye often travels from Mechanicsburg to shop at the Round Barn. He said that, until his first visit, he had never seen a round barn, except in pictures.

“From an architectural standpoint, I find it interesting,” he said.

Nye said that he is impressed with the selection he finds there—from the baked goods to the produce to the arts and crafts. He recommends that visitors climb the staircase to view the inside of the roof.

“It’s interesting to see the upper part of the round barn from the inside,” he said.

Nye also enjoys the petting zoo, which includes pygmy goats, horses and donkeys, and likes learning everything he can about the Lincoln Highway. He was happy to see a nod to the old route on the property.

“It’s a painted gas pump that is one of many that were installed along the Pennsylvania portion of the Lincoln Highway in 2003,” he said.

Julie Rudisill is another frequent customer.

“I love the architecture, the history and the pies, sauces and other homemade food,” said the Lancaster resident. “Their barbecue sauces are also good, and the people are very friendly.”

With the popularity of barn weddings, the Knouse family recognized the opportunity to turn the place into a wedding venue, hosting their first about 12 years ago.

“In the past eight years, we’ve done additional work to make it a marketable venue for a wedding,” said Knouse, estimating that they average about 25 a year. “We offer the facility and rental items, and the families are responsible for everything else.”

Their woodland wedding chapel is a popular addition.

“There’s a view of the valley for miles, and we provide transportation from the barn to the wedding site,” he said. “But it’s within walking distance for those who prefer to walk.”

According to Knouse, people generally learn about the business via word of mouth.

“We also draw a large crowd from the Gettysburg tourism area,” he said.

Through all the challenges, including the expensive roof that looms large, Knouse said he loves what he does.

“Agriculture is a tough job, but being able to share my family’s heritage and passion for fruit growing, while continuing the family legacy, is extremely rewarding,” he said.

The Historic Round Barn & Farm Market is located at 298 Cashtown Rd., Biglerville. The farm stand opens the last weekend of April and runs seven days a week through October and weekends in November. To learn more, visit their website at www.roundbarn.farm.

Right Time, Wrong Place? Allison Hill stakeholders don’t necessarily object to a medical marijuana dispensary; it’s the location they don’t like.

April 30, 2019 | by M. Diane McCormick

Jeannine Peterson

Jeannine Peterson learned about a medical marijuana dispensary landing in sight of Hamilton Health Center’s South Allison Hill campus “the same way the public heard about it—in the paper.”

The Hamilton Health CEO had questions.

“Why did you decide to locate here in the first place?” she said. “They never asked anyone in the city. South Allison Hill has a very active community group. We could have told you all the plans already in motion for the businesses to come here and build up this community.”

Pennsylvania’s process for siting medical marijuana dispensaries reveals a slew of regulations tempered by a bit of art.

Many find their way to distressed areas because the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act incentivizes locating in Act 47 cities, which include Harrisburg. While dispensary owners claim economic benefit, some residents—at least in the case of the Allison Hill site—question whether the benefits stay in the neighborhood.

Those same Act 47 cities are usually home to clusters of schools and licensed day cares, and dispensaries must remain 1,000 feet away, unless they get a waiver through local and state officials.

Which is where the S. 17th Street facility might have encountered a snag. Two daycares with active licenses are within the restricted zone, according to Pennsylvania’s Compass childcare finder. Apparently, neither was cited in the dispensary’s permit application, which was approved on Dec. 18.

To seek a post-permit waiver of the 1,000-foot rule, applicants must obtain statements presenting the views of the city and the affected day cares or schools, said PA Health Department Director of Communications April Hutcheson. They must also demonstrate that they performed their due diligence in seeking out possible sites.

By mid-April, the department had not received a waiver application from Local Dispensaries, LLC, but Hutcheson said the company was “asking how to go about the process.”

The city, however, has already written the department verifying the nearby daycare, said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. The dispensary owner has seemed willing to move, Papenfuse said. However, he added, “I think there’s some issues with how these permits are being awarded.”

The city supports dispensaries at other locations, Papenfuse said. The issue, as he sees it, is a lack of consultation with the community.

“Hamilton Health didn’t even know,” said Papenfuse. “Clearly, the Department of Health did not do due diligence in reviewing the application. I don’t blame the applicant. They did what they were supposed to do.”

And this concern about neighborhood support and impact isn’t confined to Allison Hill. Some Uptown residents have complained they weren’t consulted about the second approved facility in Harrisburg—the planned location of Harvest of South Central PA’s dispensary into the former Camp Curtin Bar-B-Que on N. 6th Street.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate to be awarding licenses without the Department of Health having a conversation with the city,” Papenfuse said. “They really ought to have a requirement to have the immediate neighborhood’s support before awarding the license.”

Community Impact

As of press time, at least one affected childcare near the proposed Allison Hill dispensary had not been approached.

Debra Washington has operated Tiny Tears Day Care on Derry Street for 20 years. The inner city has “enough woes” without a medical marijuana dispensary, she said, as she wondered why the facility doesn’t locate downtown.

“The least they could have done was come and see why I object to it, but they never even bothered,” Washington said. “I guess they feel as though they can jump right over me, and I don’t think that can happen.”

Hamilton Health Center is also upset because its own planned day care center, approved by the city in 2017, falls within the 1,000-foot zone. However, land remediation issues have delayed construction, and according to Hutcheson, application reviews consider only existing facilities.

Peterson has told facility owners that Hamilton Health Center is “not opposed at all” to medical marijuana.

“We understand the efficacy of medical marijuana,” she said. “We just didn’t think that was an appropriate location for a dispensary.”

Dispensary applicants aren’t deliberately seeking low-income communities but, instead, look for “density of population” and ease of access, said Harrisburg attorney Judith D. Cassel, of Cannabis Law PA, which specializes in medical marijuana regulatory law.

“Inner cities often provide better mass transit, so the patients can get to them, as opposed to being out in rural areas,” she said.

Some Pennsylvania dispensaries are in higher-income areas, Cassel said. Hutcheson noted, for instance, that the dispensary in the Enola mailing address is actually in Hampden Township.

Dispensary permits are scored for criteria including security, business capacity and community impact. However, applications from the Dec. 18 round of permits are undergoing redaction and are not yet available for public review. Applicants can request that trade secrets be redacted, and, as Cassel noted, even a business plan’s community impact efforts can be shielded from rival dispensaries.

Local Dispensaries, LLC, received a community impact score of 93 out of a possible 100.

“How do you get a high score for community impact?” said Peterson. “What are the criteria? No one has been able to tell us that. They didn’t talk to anyone in the community.”

Peter Bio, listed in state documents as CEO of Local Dispensaries, LLC, did not respond to questions and messages sent to his contact information.

In a statement aired by ABC27, Local Dispensaries said that its primary goal “is to provide relief for the thousands of citizens of Harrisburg who previously had to find it through opioids, other pharmaceuticals or nowhere at all.” According to that statement, the company has been “in active dialogue with the department, Mayor Papenfuse and Hamilton Health Center” and expects to deliver “a project that will provide local jobs and inject $1.5 million into a previously vacant and disused lot.”

Not Helping

Wendy Scott, secretary of the South Allison Hill Homeowners & Residents Association, isn’t aware of any pre-application outreach to the community by dispensary owners. And she doesn’t see a shower of economic or health benefits for neighbors, especially because insurance doesn’t cover the costs of certification for medical marijuana use, state ID cards or product purchases.

“If it’s only for the elite, for those who can afford it, it’s not helping Allison Hill at all,” she said.

Medical marijuana dispensaries are not the head shops of old, said Hutcheson. Patients must be physician-certified with one of 21 approved medical conditions. Products are tightly packaged, and the department can “track the marijuana from the seed where it’s grown to the grower to the patient.”

“Only approved products can be sold at a dispensary,” she said. “Only approved patients can walk into a dispensary. It is very, very highly controlled and highly regulated.”

Papenfuse sees room for all perspectives.

“Bottom line is, the city does not have an issue with a dispensary coming into the city,” he said. “We just want to make sure that the location is correct and successful and has the support of the immediate neighborhood.”

Dispensaries must be operational within six months after permits are awarded, although extensions are possible. Hamilton Health officials know that the clock is ticking, said Peterson. But she sees “a perception that because we’re in a low-income community, that there’s no development going on, that they come in and they’re going to be the entity that creates economic development.”

In reality, she said, Hamilton Health Center has a $3 million expansion underway, new apartments are entering the market, and the Harrisburg Housing Authority and Tri County Community Action are among those pursuing redevelopment. The community really does “invest in ourselves,” she said.

“We take a lot of pride in what we do,” she said. “It’s not that we don’t want other businesses to come in. We do. Any time I get an opportunity, I’m encouraging businesses to come see what’s going on. We want businesses, but we want the right businesses, the businesses that can help our community to grow and thrive.”

Community Corner: Notable May Events

April 30, 2019 | by Missy Smith

May Community Corner

Art & Beer Crawl
May 1: Grab your friends and head to the Millworks, 340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg, for an evening of sampling beer, food and art, 6 to 9 p.m. Sample six different beers, try some hors d’oeuvres, make art with five Millworks artists. www.millworksharrisburg.com

Mid-Day Getaway
May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Unwind over your lunch break at the McCormick Riverfront Library, 101 Walnut St., Harrisburg. Bring your lunch to the library between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for coloring, card games, board games or low-stress activities. www.dcls.org

Bike Month
May 1-31: For Bike Month, Bike Harrisburg has some great events planned, including Learn to Bike opportunities and Bike to Work Week contests. There are also family rides, tours of the Harrisburg area, the Spoke’n Gear Expo, the Seersucker and Lace Ride, social gatherings and more. www.bikeharrisburg.org

Go Red for Women
May 2: Join the American Heart Association at its 2019 Capital Region Go Red for Women Luncheon at West Shore Country Club, 100 Brentwater Rd., Camp Hill, 4 to 7 p.m. Hear educational and inspirational speakers, enjoy a heart-healthy meal, shop the silent auction and more. www.harrisburggored.heart.org

Pilates Day
May 4: Absolute Pilates invites the public to free outdoor community mat classes at its two Mechanicsburg locations to celebrate Pilates Day, an international community event to foster appreciation and awareness of the Pilates method. www.absolutepilates.com

Run for Pets 2018
May 4: Get moving for a good cause at the Humane Society of Harrisburg’s 23rd annual 5K Run/Walk for the Animals at Wildwood Park, Harrisburg, with proceeds benefitting homeless pets. Registration begins at 8 a.m.; the event is at 10 a.m. www.humanesocietyhbg.org

Cherry Blossom Fest
May 4: The 30th Annual Millersburg Cherry Blossom Festival will be held on the square in Millersburg, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy family activities, live music and entertainment. www.millersburgpa.org

Community Day
May 4: Head to New Cumberland Community Day, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Artists, food vendors and beverage trucks and area businesses will fill downtown streets with fun, food and festivities. www.NewCumberlandPA.org

Flowers for Mom
May 4: Kids can create a colorful flowering container for mom with Cumberland County Master Gardeners at the Cumberland County Penn State Extension office, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Cost is $10. www.extension.psu.edu/cumberland-county

Ready Set Explore!
May 4: Join WITF at the next “Ready, Set, Explore,” 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., Harrisburg. Enjoy educational activities and play together as a family at this free event for kids 3 to 8. RSVP at witf.org. www.shopharrisburgmall.com

Native Plant Sale
May 4: Manada Conservancy hosts its 19th annual Native Plant Sale at Boro (Schaffner) Park, Hummelstown, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with native plant vendors, art vendors, live music and refreshments. Proceeds benefit Manada Conservancy’s mission of local land preservation and education. www.manada.org

HBG Flea
May 4: Explore the HBG Flea, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. Shop for local art, handmade gifts and vintage wares from local artists and curators. www.hbgflea.com

Colonial Festival
May 4: Friends of Fort Halifax Park presents the 16th Annual Colonial Festival celebrating the establishment of Fort Halifax 263 years ago, at Fort Halifax Park, 570 N. River Rd., Halifax The festival runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.forthalifaxpark.org

Makeup Tips
May 4: Learn makeup tips from international celebrity makeup artist Bebe J at The Learn & Sip Makeup Tips master class at La Cultura, 214 Verbeke St., Harrisburg, 4 p.m. Sip complimentary champagne while learning proper application. www.facebook.com/LaCultura717

Trail Hall of Famers
May 4: The late M. Jean Van Gilder Cashin, the late Paul M. Fink, Donald T. King, and the late Robert D. Proudman will be honored at the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Banquet at the Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle. Reception begins at 6 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Cost is $50, $40 for members. www.atmuseum.org

Trail Festival
May 5: Appalachian Trail Museum, 1100 Pine Grove Rd., Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Gardners, hosts a free Hall of Fame Festival, with five new exhibits dedicated, beginning at 10 a.m. Stay for a picnic lunch, tour the exhibits, chat with speakers, enjoy live music and participate in an open mic. www.atmuseum.org

Hair Culture
May 5: ARTCAN and La Cultura collaborative present “Don’t Touch my Hair” event at 214 Verbeke St., Harrisburg, where attendees can learn and celebrate hair culture, at 1 p.m. Hear from hair experts and specialists, shop locally made products, enjoy live art and more. www.facebook.com/LaCultura717

Plant & Bake Sale
May 11: 10th Annual Great American Plant and Bake sale will be held, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 3407 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg, to benefit Castaway Critters. Visit Facebook page: The Great American Plant and Bake Sale. www.facebook.com/will1956/

Hunger Run 2018
May 11: Support the Hummelstown Food Pantry at the 5th Annual 5K Hummelstown Hunger Run, beginning with registration at 8:30 a.m. in Schaffner Park. Race kicks off at 10 a.m. www.htownhungerrun.wixsite.com

Hershey Artfest
May 11: Enjoy an artistic day with the whole family at Hershey Artfest at The Cocoa Beanery, 1215 Research Blvd., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event features a large, juried art display, flowers, entertainment, food, local beer and wine and kids’ activities. www.hersheyartfest.org

Multicultural Fest
May 11: Tri County Community Action hosts the 17th Annual South Allison Hill Multicultural Festival on Derry Street, 12 to 4 p.m. Guests can enjoy local talent, kids’ activities and food vendors and local organizations. www.cactricounty.org

Home Tour
May 11: Experience the best of historic downtown Harrisburg during Harrisburg Young Professional’s 21st Annual Home Tour, 2 to 6 p.m. A SoMa Block Party with Sara Bozich will follow, 5 to 9 p.m. Registration runs 1 to 2 p.m. at Strawberry Square, 320 Market St., Harrisburg. www.hyp.org

Mother’s Day Brunch
May 12: Harrisburg Consistory Scottish Rite hosts its annual Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet in two seatings, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., at Harrisburg Arts Alive—The Theatre at the Scottish Rite Cathedral, 2701 N. 3rd St. Adult price is $27.95 and child admission (ages 3 to 12) is $12.95. www.HarrisburgArtsAlive.com

Decisions 2019
May 13: World Affairs Council of Harrisburg will host the last session of “Great Decisions,” a program organized by the Foreign Policy Association, at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Cost is $10. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Food Preservation
May 16: Penn State Extension in Cumberland County hosts “Home Food Preservation: Freezing & Drying Foods,” 1 to 3 p.m., at Cumberland County Service Center, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle. Learn methods of freezing and drying fruits, vegetables, herbs and meats. Fee is $15. www.extension.psu.edu

Japan and East Asia
May 16: Frederick Dickinson, professor of Japanese history, will discuss Japan and East Asia at a gathering of the Foreign Policy Association of Harrisburg at West Shore Country Club, Camp Hill, 7:30 p.m. A dinner precedes the free talk. www.fpaharrisburg.org

3rd in The Burg
May 17: Enjoy the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in the Burg, the monthly arts and culture event at galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown, 6 to 9 p.m. www.thirdintheburg.org

We Rise Concerts
May 17-19: Central Pennsylvania Womyn’s Chorus and Pennsylvania Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Network offer a series of spring concerts, “We Rise Again,” presenting the voices of those finding refuge and building a better life in America. Concert dates and locations are found online. www.cpwchorus.org

Plant Fest
May 18: Join Penn State Extension Cumberland County Master Gardeners at its 15th annual Plant Fest at the Cumberland County Service Center, 310 Allen Rd., Carlisle, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Shop for native plants from area growers and plants from Master Gardeners’ gardens. www.extension.psu.edu

Library ComiCon
May 18: Joseph T. Simpson Public Library hosts its fifth annual ComiCon at the First Church of God Community Center, 201 E. Green St., Mechanicsburg, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guests can take part in a cosplay contest, geeky trivia, DD gameplay, Magic the Gathering tournament, photo booth and more. www.thesimcon.com

Run with Heart
May 19: Join the American Heart Association for the first Capital Region Run with Heart 5K/10K at Milton Hershey School, 635 Brook Dr., Hershey, 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m., run starts at 9 a.m. www.heart.org/capitalregionwalk

Apollo Awards
May 19: Hershey Theatre, 15 E. Caracas Way, recognizes local students and high schools for outstanding achievement in musical and play productions at the Hershey Theatre Apollo Awards, 7 p.m. Monetary awards given to further students’ education and encourage involvement in the performing arts. www.hersheyentertainment.com

New Member Social
May 21: Join Harrisburg Young Professionals for its new member social, 6 p.m., at Café 1500, 1500 N. 6th St., Harrisburg. This event is for new and prospective members who would like to learn more about HYP. www.hyp.org

Business Women’s Forum
May 22: Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC, Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce and West Shore Chamber of Commerce will host the Business Women’s Forum at Messiah College, Mechanicsburg, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The conference is designed to create opportunities for women to network and build leadership skills. www.wschamber.org

Annual Meeting
May 22: Neighborhood Dispute Settlement (NDS) hosts it annual meeting at Historic Harrisburg Association, 1230 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, 5:30 to 7 p.m. NDS will recognize several community partners, and guests can enjoy light hors d’oeuvres and a wine bar. www.disputesettlement.us

Plant Sale
May 25: Perry County Master Gardeners will host its 11th annual plant sale at the Perry County Extension office, 8 S. Carlisle St., New Bloomfield, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Shop for a variety of plants, including herbs, vegetables, pollinator-friendly plants and native perennials. www.extension.psu.edu

Artsfest
May 25-27: Celebrate the 52nd annual Artsfest in Riverfront Park. The free event features juried artists and crafts people in a variety of mediums, live music, Kidsfest and FilmFest. www.artsfesthbg.com

Walk of Solidarity
May 27: Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland & Perry Counties (DVSCP) asks men of all ages to join during the Camp Hill 100th Memorial Day Parade for a “Walk of Solidarity,” offering positive, proactive solutions by engaging men as allies to end violence against women, 8 to 11 a.m. www.dvscp.org

Built in the Burg
May 29: Harrisburg Young Professionals (HYP), St@rtup and TheBurg host Gary Huether Jr. of Arooga’s in “How It’s Built in the Burg,” at St@rtup, 922 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Hear about Gary’s triumphs, failures and insight in starting a company. Tickets are $15, free for HYP members. www.hyp.org

Spot On: Tea lovers take a steep dive at Seasonal Grounds.

April 30, 2019 | by Ann Beth Knaus

“You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy tea, and that’s kind of the same thing.”

So goes an anonymous, inspirational homage to the leafy drink served warm or cold.

Now, local enthusiasts have their own source of inspiration nearby as Seasonal Grounds Tea Bar opened recently in the brick building of the Broad Street Market.

Owner Thomas Brown, a former personal trainer, got into the tea-making business as a challenge about seven years ago. He originally started making his own coffee blends as a hobby. Friends and customers from his original, brick–and-mortar store in Hummelstown, where he sold his coffee blends, suggested that he start doing the same with tea. He accepted the challenge and now has a full-time business selling custom and locally blended teas at a pour-over bar in the market.

Seemingly similar, coffee and tea are actually polar opposites, Brown said.

“Coffee is more science, math, precision and knowing your bean very well and manipulating it,” he said. “Tea is a little bit of this and a little bit of that—very much like cooking.”

The teas are Brown’s own blends, without any artificial ingredients, syrups or sugars—just plain, loose-leaf tea, some of which even have fruit or nuts added into the recipes. He gets most of his teas from a company based in Germany that ships to Chicago, where Seasonal Grounds acquires product for shipment to Pennsylvania.

There are 27 different teas to choose from, each one carefully blended with unique names like “Lush It Up,” a coconut- and pineapple-based tea, and “Mad Squirrel,” a walnut, almond, brittle-based tea. Brown not only blends each recipe himself, he creates small, whimsical stories about each of the teas to both educate and entertain customers.

Seasonal Grounds has been busy since opening in late winter, warming over customers.

“This is my first time trying their teas,” said Natalie Burston of Harrisburg. “I bought the green tea, and it’s really clean. The teas are so unique. I may purchase a tea in bulk the next time I stop so I can make some at home.”

Customers can purchase a tea starting at $2.50 per cup or buy tea blends to take home to make for themselves. Understanding how to prepare it is key.

Brown makes it clear there is a right way and wrong way to steeping teas.

Seasonal Grounds uses hot water, not boiling water, and each tea is steeped for the appropriate time based on the blend. Brown also uses a filter when he steeps it, so customers aren’t left carrying around a tea bag in their cup for carryout.

“People complain tea is bitter,” Brown said. “In other countries like England and even Africa, some teas even taste like wine. Tea has been done wrong (here).”

For instance, putting boiling water on tea brings out the wrong acids, he said.

“We were brought up on the belief that you let the kettle boil and poured piping hot water over the tea bag, letting it steep too long,” he said. “This makes it bitter, and the oils and acid come out in the wrong way.”

Brown said that he has notebooks of hundreds of recipes as he continues to get a feel for what his customers like to drink. But he is excited that people don’t want to just buy a cup. They want to talk about it, too, something that gets him excited and powers his creative process.

Tea-drinker Erica Bryce definitely wanted to talk about the tea she purchased at Seasonal Grounds.

“The Bordeaux tea tastes a little sweet so you don’t have to add sweetener,” said Bryce, of Harrisburg. “I love fresh-brewed tea. I am excited they opened here.”

During the year, Brown plans to offer teas that align with particular holidays. He plans a springtime recipe that includes freeze-dried cotton candy. He is also planning to redo his website so he can list recipes for customers to try their teas with different spirits and liquors and to offer ideas for food pairings.

“I want people to come and get an education,” Brown said. “I want to change the culture of tea drinking.”

Seasonal Grounds is located in the brick building of the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.seasonalgroundsteabar.com.

HBG Small Business Articles are Proudly Sponsored By:

Musical Notes: Mature May

April 30, 2019 | by Kait Gibboney

Joan Osborne. Photograph by Jeff Fasano.

Ah, springtime in Harrisburg, and the bees aren’t the only thing buzzing around here. We’ve got a lot of events and entertainment for you this month. So, it’s time, dear readers, for you to choose your own adventure.

If you’re looking for lively and local talent, CASA is hosting its annual live show on May 23, featuring junior and senior performances and sharing a theme, “Revolutions: A Lifetime on Repeat.” If a more traditional but still free festival is your thing, Dauphin County Parks and Rec’s Garden Faire on May 5 promises outdoor fun at Fort Hunter, featuring plants and art for sale, as well as music, food, games and more.

If you’re looking to get nostalgic, XL Live is bringing the “Saved by the ‘90s” interactive dance party to the Burg on May 11 with period cover bands, a DJ and costumes. This month, we also feature an extra show below. So, whatever your plans may be, join us in celebrating yet another busy season of songs. Cheers!

GABRIEL KELLEY, 5/10, 7PM, GREYSTONE PUBLIC HOUSE, $45
Part of the Harrisburg University Concert Series, the new “Music and Vines” lineup features singer-songwriters and focuses on pairing wine with intimate sets by well-known acoustic artists. Hot on the tail of a new EP, “Self-Titled,” Gabriel Kelley is first up, gracing the Greystone Public House for what is sure to be a moving performance. If you have love for some southern roots, this may be the show for you. If you’re looking for a night on the town with some class, this may be the venue for you. If you missed Kelley when he opened for Marcus King at Club XL, this your second chance to catch a performance by this talented musician.

JOAN OSBORNE, 5/14, 8PM, WHITAKER CENTER, $30
Another musical powerhouse is coming to Whitaker Center, performing the works of one of the most iconic musicians of our time. Joan Osborne shines as a vocalist, tackling and interpreting the lyrically rich songs of Bob Dylan. As a dedicated artist, Osborne became familiar with his works in 2016 while performing two residencies titled “Joan Osborne Sings The Songs of Bob Dylan” at Cafe Carlyle in New York City. Cutting straight to the heart with Dylan’s moving songs and her rich voice, this seven-time, Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum chanteuse is sure to dazzle even the most ardent Dylan fan.

SAVOY BROWN, 5/23, 7PM, XL LIVE, $10-15
If you can never get enough blues, XL Live is bringing what you need. Savoy Brown is an early British blues band that helped to launch the blues movement in the United Kingdom. Their memorable music is credited, in part, in bringing about the ‘70s British rock revolution. Founded by guitarist Kim Simmonds, the band has been through a few lineup changes over the years, but maintains their classic sound. Fun fact: their name came from an American blues label, Savoy Records, and they added “Brown” because members thought that the plainness of the word would balance out the elegance of “Savoy,” better describing their Chicago blues-sounding music.

LEGENDARY PERFORMERS OF DOO-WOP, SOUL AND ROCK N’ ROLL, 6/2, 3PM, SCOTTISH RITE, $45-55
We’re giving you a special, early head’s up for this epic showstopper, a must-attend for fans of early rock. The “Legendary Performers of Doo-Wop, Soul and Rock N’ Roll” stops by the Scottish Rite auditorium in Uptown Harrisburg, and headlining the event is the insanely talented Bobby Brooks Wilson, son of famous soul singer Jackie Wilson. What a story! Sent out for adoption as a child, Bobby Wilson later discovered his parentage after he had an established career as a Wilson tribute singer in Las Vegas. Sample his soulful sounds as well as appearances by the Duprees, Charlie Thomas’ Drifters and the Classics. It’s a real treat to get this kind of music in Harrisburg, and now that Flagship Productions has teamed up with Scottish Rite and Zembo, expect more amazing shows in the future.

Mentionables:

The Clarks, May 3, The Abbey Bar;
Bowie Live—The Ultimate David Bowie Tribute, May 4, XL Live;
The Hollow Roots, May 4, H*MAC Stage on Herr;
Hold Fast, May 4, River City Blues Club;
Marco Benevento, May 11, The Abbey Bar;
Don Johnson Project, May 11, River City Blues Club;
Hands Like Houses, May 16, H*MAC Capitol Room;
Josh Krevsky, May 16, Greystone Public House

It’s a Stretch: A few at-home exercises can greatly improve your mobility.

April 30, 2019 | by Ivan Black

Wouldn’t it be nice to get your workout done right before you go to bed, in your own bedroom?

It would certainly be convenient. That’s what I was thinking when I put this little mobility circuit together for you.

Mobility is important, and it only becomes more so as you age. That reality became apparent to me in my early 30s, when it became more difficult to ignore my mobility restrictions. That was when I began to take mobility seriously and sought to improve it.

Along the way, I picked up some good moves. Here are five mobility moves that you can do in the comfort of your own home/bedroom. While this mobility routine is not going to cover all of your fitness needs, it’ll certainly provide you with a simple plan that can help you move better and on a regular basis.

1. Standing Hamstring Stretch
For this movement, you’ll want to make sure that your hips are square to the bed to begin. Place one leg on top of the bed and stand firm on your opposite leg. Bring your hands out in front of your hips and place them on the bed. Don’t forget to breathe. Then switch legs.

2. Assisted Squat Stretch
Stand directly in front of your bed and bend over at the waist until you can grab the base (only perform this movement if your bed is sturdy, otherwise use a door frame). Separate your feet so they are shoulder-width apart, and sink into your best squat. Continue to hold onto the base of the bed as you remain in the squat. Keep your heels flush to the ground and your chest up. And don’t forget to breathe.

3. Chest, Lats & Triceps Stretch
Stand directly in front of your bed, and place your hands on top of the bed. Keep your knees soft and your weight in your heels as you push your hips back and drive your chest toward the ground. You should immediately feel the stretch in your triceps, your upper back and your chest.

4. Elevated Pigeon
Stand directly in front of your bed, and place one leg on top of the bed in a 90-degree angle. Be sure to square your hips up with the bed and, from there, you can explore the stretch by bringing your hands onto the bed and reaching to your left and then your right. Then switch legs.

5. Half Kneeling Twist
Kneel down beside your bed with one knee on the ground as if you were about to perform a lunge. Be sure to place the leg closest to the bed in front of you (so the kneeling leg is furthest from the bed). Then rotate your body in the direction of the bed, and place your extended arms on top of the bed. Press down into the bed to engage your core, and make sure to breathe as you perform the stretch. Then turn around and get the other side.

Hold these stretches for about a minute to two minutes each. And, do use caution if you’re a beginner. Rome wasn’t built in a day!

Ivan Black is the owner and trainer at Next Step Performance, 1100 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, call 717-382-6398 or visit www.nsp.fitness.com.

6 Candidates, 1 Question: Where do Harrisburg City Council candidates see the city going over the next four years?

April 30, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Ah, May. Flowers bloom, birds sing and, if you live in Pennsylvania, candidates canvas and campaign.

Harrisburg almost always has interesting races, especially in off-year, municipal elections. Since the city is overwhelmingly Democratic, the primary is usually where the action is, and this year is no exception, as no Republicans are running for citywide office.

For City Council, six Democratic candidates are vying for their party’s nomination for three, four-year seats. The candidates include three current office-holders, Danielle Bowers, Dave Madsen and Westburn Majors, and three challengers, Christina Kostelecky, Dionna Reeves and Brianna Smith.

To get an idea of where the candidates stand, we asked all the same question, requesting that they keep their answers to 500 words. We hope that these responses offer insight into the candidates’ visions for the city and how they hope to achieve them. Responses are listed in alphabetical order and have been lightly edited to conform to our style and grammar guidelines.

The primary is May 21. Please vote to make your voice heard on the future of your city.

Danielle L. Bowers

Answer: Over the next four years, I would like to see the City of Harrisburg accomplish the following two goals:

Affordable Housing
Economic Development

Affordable housing can be achieved through inclusionary zoning and blight reduction. The city conducted a housing study in 2018 to determine housing needs over the next five years. The study determined that there is a need for affordable housing in every area of the city over the next five years.

I believe the city should take a proactive approach to meet the impending need. Inclusionary zoning can be implemented to achieve affordable housing. Inclusionary zoning requires developers to designate a percentage of their housing units for low to moderate-income residents.

Blight reduction could also assist in achieving affordable housing. By reducing blight, I believe the city will have more viable sites for affordable housing. The city has a Harrisburg Property Reinvestment Board. The board meets monthly, and its sole purpose is to address blighted property throughout the city.

The goal of economic development can be achieved through promotion of equitable development, support of local entrepreneurs, and spurring job creation for local residents. Equitable development assists in achieving the goal of economic development within the city. Equitable development ensures that minority-owned business enterprises (MBEs), women-owned business enterprises (WBEs) and disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs) are active participants in the city’s procurement and contracting opportunities. Equitable development could be achieved through participation in business workshops offered by the city, partnerships with the local chambers of commerce to identify businesses for contracting opportunities and targeted community engagement.

By supporting local entrepreneurs, the city will not only improve the local economy, but improve neighborhoods as well. Through local development, the city will provide access to goods and services available in their communities. Finally, economic development within the city will spur job creation for local residents. The city has a strong talent pool in an increasingly competitive labor market. Through increased development, the city should see more available jobs in various industries being filled by city residents who are qualified to succeed in these roles.

As a council member, I will work to ensure the city meets the two major goals of affordable housing and economic development. I believe these goals can be achieved through social innovation, effective research and collaboration between council and the administration. Should I be elected to serve a full term on City Council, I will continue to work to achieve these goals over the next four years.

Christina Kostelecky

Answer: I’m Christina Kostelecky, and I’m running for our community. My goals focus on improvements for all residents rather than just a select few.

Economic development throughout the city. It’s time to focus on neighborhood development throughout the city. Evidence shows that costs are lower and returns are greater when we focus on small projects throughout neighborhoods. So, I’ll work with community groups and the planning commission to develop projects that our neighborhoods want that will benefit all Harrisburg residents. Imagine your neighborhood with wide sidewalks, clean streets and a locally-owned business just a few doors down.

I’ve spoken with Andrea, Shaun and Julia, local entrepreneurs frustrated with the hoops they’re jumping through while trying to start or expand a business in Harrisburg. I’m committing to the time and energy required to go through current legislation, line by line, to find outdated policies, to draft new language, and to build the coalitions necessary to reform the laws. Big, out-of-state developers don’t suffer from our tedious regulations; they simply hire expensive legal teams and pass costs along to the customers. Meanwhile, small business owners can’t afford to delay an opening (and therefore revenue) by several months. Our goal must be to encourage local businesses, not discourage them with antiquated, costly regulations.

Improve our schools. Undoubtedly you’ve heard about the state of our schools. Whether you’re a parent or are planning to have children, a business looking for a qualified workforce, or a long term resident of Harrisburg, you understand the importance of great schools and care deeply about their improvement. The quality of our city depends on the quality of our schools, and it’s time for City Council to play an active role in giving our city’s youth the positive learning environment and promising future they deserve. Simple steps like attending school board meetings can go a long way in making sure we stay on track with the administration and necessary improvements.

I recently met Kim and Yamaris, both parents of two who share my view that the solutions to our school problems are complex and will take time. Kim talks about walking a bunch of kids to school to make sure they stay safe, but she worries when she’s not around to do that. Yamaris dropped out of school and doesn’t want that for her own kids. While City Council members can’t change the schools overnight, we can hold the school board accountable. To that end, I commit to attending at least four school board meetings each year. Roughly two-thirds of our taxes go to the school system—I’m willing to pay that much when there’s some return on our investment.

Other goals include private-public partnerships for our community spaces (e.g. allow businesses to sponsor parks and paths), addressing affordable housing (e.g. reduce lot size restrictions), and increasing civic engagement by encouraging participation in citywide events. I invite each of you reading this to reach out to me; let’s start that engagement today—for our community!

Dave Madsen

Answer: The goal is to improve the quality of life for our citizens. By making sure the budget reflects the health, safety and welfare of our community. We will accomplish this by continuing to invest in our police, fire and public works departments.

Westburn Majors

Question: The term for this Harrisburg City Council seat runs for four years. What one or two major goals would you like to see Harrisburg accomplish over the next four years? Why? How would you, as a council member, try to accomplish these goals?

Answer: As a lifelong resident of the City of Harrisburg, I am excited about the opportunity to continue to serve my community on City Council. Over the next four years, my focus on City Council will be:

Continuing the work of improving public infrastructure and addressing blight.

In my role on City Council as chair of the Public Works Committee, over the last four years I listened to the needs of our community to improve the conditions of our neighborhoods. We know that as a city if we are going to be able to grow, attract new business and encourage existing businesses to expand, we must continue the work to repair our infrastructure and address blight.

Blight and trash discourage people from investing in our communities and neighborhoods. Last year, we went to the community to hold a series of meetings on ways to address these matters. The result was the adoption of a sanitation ordinance that increased fines and penalties for violations (including illegal dumping) and holds property owners accountable. Over the next four years, I remain committed to supporting increased enforcement and aggressively holding the responsible parties accountable for the cost of cleanup—instead of taxpayers. By improving the condition of our neighborhoods, we can restore a sense of pride in the city and attract more people to reside in the city while making it more attractive for businesses to locate in the city, which leads to jobs and improved living conditions for everyone. Over the next four years, I will work to develop policies that will encourage redevelopment.

Continued financial recovery and economic development.

Harrisburg has come a long way over the last four years. When I was elected to council in 2015, the city was in state receivership through Act 47. Council has worked with the administration to develop balanced budgets and stabilize our finances. Now the city is emerging from Act 47 and working with the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority to develop a plan to improve our finances over the next five years. The law passed by the General Assembly gives the city five years, with our increased taxing authority under Act 47, to stabilize our finances.

My goal in the next four years is to make Harrisburg a more attractive place for investment. I will work with the business community to encourage reviving vacant commercial properties in our business corridors in Uptown, Allison Hill and throughout the city instead of looking to locate in surrounding areas outside the city. If we are able to grow our tax base through business development and growth in our neighborhoods, we will not need to increase taxes on a community that is already stretched. This includes working diligently with city departments to engage in partnerships with businesses, contractors and employers to provide greater opportunities for employment, job training and entrepreneurial experiences for the citizens of the city.

This is an exciting time for the city of Harrisburg, and I look forward to being a committed voice of the citizens, responsive to their needs and making Harrisburg an example of the benefits that can be gained when community, business and government work collectively for the good of the people.

Dionna Reeves

Answer: The city of Harrisburg has its share of challenges as I am sure other cities may have. A major goal I would like the city to accomplish over the next four years is the beautification of the city. Throughout areas of Harrisburg, there are vacant or abandoned properties. These vacant or abandoned properties are blight on the entire city, creating safety issues and a negative image.

Tackling this goal will be essential in improving the quality of life for residents. Encouraging revitalization throughout the entire city, not only in targeted areas, is a possible solution as all neighborhoods deserve attention. Community outreach will be a vital task to determine the needs in different neighborhoods around the city. Improving the overall attitude about Harrisburg can eventually create a feeling of hope and pride with city residents. Revitalization and beautification can keep residents living safely and thriving daily.

Other possible solutions to creating the beautification in our city are developing a strategic plan to include new policies and procedures for landlords. Landlord accountability needs to be reinforced, stricter enforcement of the current rules for blight remediation, and strengthening penalties for violations of city codes could all improve Harrisburg’s appearance. The revitalization of Harrisburg would be the responsibility of the city and city residents to rebuild and restore our community.

Brianna Smith

Answer: One goal that I would like to see Harrisburg accomplish over the next four years is to increase job opportunities for today’s youth. For every young person, a job offering decent work is an important step in effecting the transition to adulthood, a milestone towards independence and self-reliance. For young people living in poverty and in other disadvantaged situations, employment is often the main means for achieving a better life. Creating and fulfilling income-generating job opportunities for young people can have a direct positive outcome for poverty improvement in Harrisburg. Youth employment benefits social development. It also benefits economic development by helping the entry of young, skilled people into the productive sectors of an economy and enabling the economy to sustain or increase its productivity and competitiveness in the global marketplace. Also, I would like to create partnerships with local businesses to invest in our youth by hiring them.

School Slate
Harrisburg City Council isn’t the only competitive primary race in Harrisburg this year.

The race for school board is arguably even more contentious, with 12 Democratic candidates competing for five, four-year seats. Like in the City Council race, no Republicans chose to run.

Below are the names of the candidates, with incumbents (elected and appointed) indicated by (I) after their names.

Jayne Buchwach
Lewis Butts Jr.
Lionel Gonzalez (I)
Lola Lawson (I)
Ralph Rodriguez
Ellis R. Roy (I)
James Thompson
Doug Thompson Leader
Gerald Welch
Patricia Whitehead-Myers (I)
Cory X. Williams
Steven Williams

At press time, several community groups were planning to host candidate forums and debates for both City Council and school board. We urge you to attend one of those events to learn more about the candidates.

Heartbreaking, Relatable: “Working Woman” is a must-see in the annual HBG Jewish Film Festival.

April 30, 2019 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Writing reviews requires consistency.

People expect the type of review they’ve always seen when they flip through the pages of TheBurg. They’ve grown accustomed to the specific voice in which I write these reviews. It’s a voice that is willing to give a critique, but still remain impartial—words from a critic, not a fan.

Even when I connect with a film, I remember that my personal connection is not the same connection that everyone else might make with a film. I try to write my film reviews as an unbiased reflection on an artistic work—still relaying the emotions, themes and message that the film presents, but doing so in a trusted, professional way.

This time, though, it was very challenging.

Michal Aviad’s “Working Woman” is an Israeli film about a woman who finds herself in a difficult position because of sexual harassment. While I can’t say that I’ve faced harassment to this extent in the workplace, I can pinpoint “lesser” examples, and many more from my social life, that allowed me to connect to this story at a visceral level. And so can most women.

The film is part of the lineup for the Edward S. Finkelstein Harrisburg Jewish Film Festival, and though it portrays an Israeli perspective on the world, the film transcends its demographic. This is a film that hits home for a lot of people, no matter their walk of life. This is a fairly common trait for the films that are chosen for the JFF—they speak to everyone. This one, in particular, had a lot to say.

Orna (Liron Ben-Shlush) has accepted a position as the assistant to a successful real estate developer, Benny (Menashe Noy).

“Is this the right time to learn a new profession?” her husband (Oshri Cohen) asks, having just opened a new restaurant a few months prior.

He is nervous about their family of four making a change so soon after the uncertain financial move they have made with his budding business. But, confident and quietly resolved, Orna is excited about the opportunity.

Soon, as the restaurant takes longer than expected to find its legs, Orna becomes the breadwinner in the family, throwing herself into the position and playing a major role in selling a sea-view high rise to several French customers. But providing financially for her family seems to come at a price. Her boss seems to have more than a working relationship in mind. Though she blocks his advances, Benny seems determined, making comments and acting inappropriately. Orna brushes off the sexual harassment and tries to focus on doing her job, but things keep getting worse.

Aviad fiercely portrays every woman’s nightmare in this Israeli drama. Women (and not just women, but in this scenario, it’s applicable) know something of Orna’s story. Maybe some haven’t been targeted by sexual harassment to this extreme—maybe they’ve only heard comments or had assumptions made by them that translated to work difficulties. Maybe some have had worse. But we all know what it’s like to be the recipient of unwanted behavior.

And that’s what makes “Working Woman” cut so deep.

Orna never specifies why she lets things continue without saying anything. Perhaps she believes her husband will not let her continue the job if he finds out. Or perhaps she sees this as commonplace—a part of the working environment. An interesting note (though unfortunately not surprising) is that Orna never considers filing a report or going to the authorities. Perhaps it is because she feels like it won’t accomplish anything. Every option that Orna has seems to point to her losing a position in a career she loves.

It also unequivocally points to Orna having to come to grips with the fact that the harassment is happening. We’d all like to believe that the human race is growing and learning, that discrimination is fading into the background. We’d all like to believe that we will never have to deal with something of this nature. And that desire sometimes leads to pretending—if we pretend nothing is happening then we can believe that we really are in a better world. Maybe the problem will solve itself, without us having to voice it or confront it.

Aviad offers an in-depth case study of the concept of freezing—the moment in which, during a fight-or-flight scenario, the body instead becomes immobilized. Since Orna probably has not done research into the psychological effects of sexual harassment, her moments of freezing affect her even more severely, especially in context with the conversations she has with her husband late in the film. We see this struggle in Ben-Shlush’s performance. Her pinnacle scene comes as she sits at her computer, typing up her own recommendation letter, trying to fix her problem while still deeply entrenched in it. It is a heartbreaking yet familiar scene in which she attacks herself instead of helping herself.

There are so many moments I can point to in order to recommend this film, but suffice it to say, “Working Woman” will simultaneously compel and upset. It is a story worth reflecting upon and a film that needs to be seen.

“Working Woman” appears this month at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com and www.hbgjff.com.

MAY EVENTS
At Midtown Cinema

Down in Front! presents
“Time Chasers” (1994)
Friday, May 10, 9:30 p.m.

3rd in the Burg $3 Movie
“Dark Crystal” (1982)
Friday, May 17, 9:30 p.m.

Edward S. Finkelstein Harrisburg Jewish Film Festival
May 11 to 16
Lineup can be seen at www.hbgjff.com.

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like