Small Bites: Mini doughnuts to help sweeten downtown Harrisburg.

March 4, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

The future home of Tiki T’s Mini Donuts and More

Maybe you’re in downtown Harrisburg as you head off to work at 8 a.m.

Or maybe you’re there on a weekend at 2 a.m., after a long night out.

Either way is fine with Will Horn. He plans to have enough hot, fresh miniature doughnuts on hand to satisfy both early morning and the late night confection cravings.

Next month, Horn will park his food business—Tiki T’s Mini Donuts and More—inside the snug, first-floor space at the newly renovated Bogg on Cranberry, at N. 2nd and Cranberry streets.

“A couple of years back, I would always go to downtown Harrisburg at night,” Horn said. “So, downtown Harrisburg has a special place in my heart.”

Horn began his business last year, selling freshly made doughnuts at the Lebanon Farmers Market and at Saturday’s Market in Middletown. Recently, he also began vending on weekends at the Vineyard and Brewery at Hershey. The 2nd Street location will be his first brick-and-mortar operation.

The space is small, only about 500 square feet. With no room for tables, all orders will be takeout. The late-night crowd won’t even need to go inside, as they’ll be able to purchase through an ordering window.

“I expect he’ll be very popular on Friday and Saturday nights, particularly,” said Brad Jones, CEO of Harristown Enterprises, which owns the Bogg on Cranberry, a fully renovated, 12-unit apartment building that opened last year.

Horn said that each doughnut starts with a vanilla base. He then adds flavors, many unique, which may include everything from maple bacon to S’mores to good, old-fashioned powdered sugar and glazed.

In case you can’t decide, free samples will be available.

“We have a plethora of new flavors,” Horn said. “Our goal is to come out with something new every month.”

The tiny doughnuts can be ordered by the bag or the bucket. Horn said that his machine churns about 1,200 doughnuts per hour, which equates to 40 buckets full.

Besides the signature doughnuts, Tiki T’s will offer its own branded coffee, bagels and waffles.

Right now, Horn is shooting for an April 15 opening. Once the doors open, you’ll have ample opportunity to stop by and sample, as Horn expects to be open some 81 hours a week, Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.

“Our goal is to help downtown as much as we can,” Horn said.

Tiki T’s Mini Donuts and More will be located at 221 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg. For more information, call 717-340-0025 or visit their website or Facebook page.

Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet remembers Marcia Dale Weary

March 4, 2019 | by Admin

Carlisle, Pa. – Marcia Dale Weary passed away at the age of 82 on March 4.

Marcia was born in Carlisle on March 31, 1936, the middle daughter of Dale and Melva Weary. She is survived by her sister Sandra Weary.

Marcia attended elementary schools in Pennsylvania and Alabama. She graduated from Carlisle High School in 1953. Marcia was passionate about two things – she loved to teach and she loved to dance.

She studied dance at local schools and spent summers in New York City attending classes at the School of Ballet Repertory. She was an instructor with the Hopper School of Dancing. While Marcia never danced professionally, perhaps her greatest accomplishments are in the world of dance.

Marcia founded the Marcia Dale School of Dance in 1955, where she taught classes daily and developed a teaching curriculum that is now trademarked and renowned in the industry for turning out exceptional dancers. Her vision was to give every child the opportunity to have access to exceptional ballet training. In 1962 Marcia Dale Weary and Richard Wynekoop of Carlisle founded the Ballet Guild of Central Pennsylvania to create a performing company that would present full-length ballet programs.

In 1974, the Marcia Dale School of Dance became Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet – a nonprofit school and performing company. Today, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet is an internationally recognized school of classical ballet. Thousands of young people have passed through its acclaimed studios. Alumni are principals, soloists and corps de ballet members in the top companies in the world, including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Boston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, and the Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance, to name a few.

Marcia was hailed as one of the greatest ballet teachers of the time. She forged the path from a local dancing school to a global institution. Her unequaled dedication to her school, students and instructors and her unique teaching style have brought Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet to the top of the dance field as a celebrated leader in dance education. In 1989, the New York Times stated that Weary is “considered one of the country’s foremost ballet teachers.” It also stated that Ms. Weary produces “dancers well known in the ballet world.” According to Dance Teacher magazine, she “produces students who have the whole package – attention to detail, early technical development, and a broad socialization into the arts. She and CPYB have been featured in leading newspapers and magazines, television news and features, books and in the award-winning documentary film presented on national public television, ‘Children with a Dream’.”

Marcia was the 1992 recipient of the Distinguished Service to the Arts Award for Central Pennsylvania; and the 2000 Carlisle Regional Arts Award, of which she was the first recipient. In June of 2005 she was recognized by the Pennsylvania Senate and House of Representatives for the 50 years of contributing to the cultural enrichment and enjoyment of countless citizens in Central Pa.

In 2007 Marcia received the Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for the Arts for Outstanding Leadership and Service to Youth; the 2009 Distinguished Citizen of the Commonwealth Award; the Central Penn Business Journal 2010 Woman of Influence Award for her leadership, integrity and accomplishments; and most recently, an Honorary Doctorate of Performing Arts from Dickinson College in recognition of her contributions to the performing arts.

Marcia, as the founder and director of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, never wavered from her vision to provide rigorous dance training for serious students and to enhance the cultural climate of the Central Pennsylvania Region through ballet performances. Marcia remained active in CPYB throughout her life, teaching more than 25 classes a week into her eighties.

Under Marcia’s leadership and guidance, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet has grown to a staff and faculty of 95, currently has 300 academic year students and an average of 600 students who come from around the world for the acclaimed summer program. In addition to producing successful dancers, Marcia has helped develop teachers, choreographers and administrators who have impacted the dance industry. Her exponential influence on the dance world is a ripple that can never fully be measured.

“Marcia built Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet from the ground up. She has passed down her practices to the faculty and staff of Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet so that her teaching and values will live on forever. Her beauty will continue to echo throughout the walls of the studios and into our hearts,” said CEO Nicholas Ade.

Marcia once said, “At every possible opportunity, I hope to instill in children a love for the arts and for classical music. Along with that, I hope to help them develop self-discipline, generosity, and the ability to focus.” There is no doubt that Marcia accomplished all of this and more in her life dedicated to teaching and dance. Her legacy lives on in all the lives she has touched and the strong organization that is Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, which is well positioned to continue to inspire, educate and impact the lives of its students, the community, and the world at large.

In lieu of flowers, donations made be made to Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet to honor Marcia’s legacy.

For more information about the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, visit www.cpyb.org.

Proposed STEAM charter school launches petition drive to reverse school board denial

March 4, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

The proposed PA STEAM Academy would move into this building, Midtown 2, in Harrisburg.

A group denied permission to open a new public charter school has begun a petition drive to overturn the decision of the Harrisburg school board.

The board of the proposed PA STEAM Academy needs to gather valid signatures from 1,000 city residents, 18 years and older, to force the matter to the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas.

“The bottom line is—what’s in the best interest of the kids?” said Susan Kegerise, a former Susquehanna Township school district superintendent and now a member of the proposed charter school’s board. “We’re going to keep going because it’s in the best interest of the kids.”

PA STEAM Academy has until mid-April—60 days following the city school board’s unanimous denial of its charter application on Feb. 19—to gather the signatures for its appeal. If the court validates the petitions and issues a decree, the matter goes to the state Department of Education’s seven-member Charter School Appeal Board, which will make a final decision to affirm or overturn the school board’s decision.

To coordinate the petition drive, PA STEAM has contracted with Maverick Strategies, a Harrisburg-based consultant and lobbying shop. Over the next six weeks, Maverick will lead the effort to gather signatures during city festivals, on 3rd in the Burg nights, in Strawberry Square and at the Broad Street Market, among other places, according to PA STEAM board members.

Canvassers will also go door-to-door to gather signatures, with the goal of substantially exceeding the 1,000-signature mark, they said.

In the meantime, PA STEAM is still moving forward with a planned opening for the fall semester, said Carolyn Dumaresq, president of the charter school board and a former state secretary of education.

To do so, board members will need to hire a principal, six teachers and support staff, in addition to accepting the first round of students.

PA STEAM plans to open with 120 students, grades K-2, in Midtown 2 at N. 3rd and Reily streets in Harrisburg. The 115,000-square-foot building is currently occupied by HACC, but the college’s lease expires in 2022, and it is slated to begin moving programs out of the building later this year.

PA STEAM plans to expand on an annual basis, adding a grade level each year until it becomes a K-8 school. It also expects to grow horizontally, so that each grade level eventually would have 80 students.

Kegerise said that the PA STEAM Academy would feature small class sizes of 20 students, with a teacher and an aide per classroom, along with a strong creative component, community involvement, alignment among curriculum areas, skills integration and an emphasis on the use of technology. STEAM itself stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

Doug Neidich, another board member, said that he believes it’s vital to offer educational options to young parents, many of whom leave the city when their children reach school age. He said that he envisions PA STEAM Academy as a possible feeder school for the city’s well-regarded SciTech High and for the arts-focused CASA charter school.

“We spent a ton of time getting this right, and we look forward to launching it,” said Neidich, CEO of GreenWorks Development, which owns the Midtown 2 building.

Dumaresq served for about 18 months as the state’s education secretary under former Gov. Tom Corbett. However, she said she doesn’t believe that her tenure necessarily will give the PA STEAM Academy an edge if the matter does go before the Charter School Appeal Board.

“It might seem like an advantage, but they’re very independent thinkers,” Dumaresq told TheBurg.

Elizabeth Hardison of the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reported today the Appeal Board remains populated with holdovers from the Corbett administration, as Gov. Tom Wolf has not made his own appointments.

For more information on the charter school appeals process, visit https://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Charter%20Schools/Pages/Charter-Appeals.aspx.

For more information on the petition drive, contact Amanda Boris at [email protected].

Passion & Policy: Gina Riordan’s personal story underscores her work at Drug Free Workplace PA.

March 1, 2019 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Illustration by Ryan Spahr

Gina Riordan never imagined heading up a high-profile, public-facing nonprofit organization, but that’s exactly what happened.

“Public speaking was never my thing,” she said. “Now I do it every day. When you’re passionate about what you do, it makes a difference.”

Since November 2017, Riordan has served as program supervisor for Drug Free Workplace PA, a grant-funded program dedicated to helping Pennsylvania businesses and families navigate the world of substance use disorder.

The nonprofit, funded by the PA Commission on Crime & Delinquency, was established to create and implement Drug Free Workplace programs for Pennsylvania businesses, as well as educate community members. It provides tools, resources and expertise through in-person and online training sessions, offered free of charge.

“No other state besides Pennsylvania is putting funding toward prevention education that targets the workplace,” Riordan said.

In 2018, the organization helped 160 companies update their drug-free workplace policies, initiate drug testing, start or update employee assistance programs and more. Online and onsite supervisor training sessions educate employers on how to address workers with a substance use disorder and how to identify signs and symptoms.

Drug Free Workplace PA also offers families guidance on how to proceed and what to expect when helping a loved one with substance misuse.

After 25 years of working in business development and management, Riordan’s passion for helping and educating others about substance abuse was ignited by an unexpected turn in her own life. One of her five children has been “in and out of recovery” as a young adult, she said.

“I thought to myself, ‘We can’t be the only family going through this,’” Riordan said.

Far from it. According to the National Safety Council, 20.8 million Americans live with substance use disorder, affecting one in four families. Riordan’s first-hand experience, though, is what makes audiences sit up and take notice during her presentations.

“Seeing Gina’s real-life story was so compelling,” said Kara Luzik Canale, vice president of chamber operations, Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC. “She’s the perfect person to stand up and say, ‘This does happen in your neighborhood and workplace.’ I can speak for her passion. She’s very passionate about her work.”

In November 2018, the Harrisburg Chamber hosted a “Lunch and Learn” workshop for area businesses to learn more about maintaining drug-free workplaces. According to Luzik Canale, Riordan developed and led the curriculum for the 90-minute “conversation starter,” which included information about free resources.

John Longstreet, CEO of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, said his organization connected with Riordan and Drug Free Workplace PA because, “It’s such an important issue for everyone to know about with the opioid crisis.”

So far, Riordan has provided training workshops for five of the association’s 12 chapters statewide. Audiences have responded “very well” to the programs, Longstreet said.

“It’s not a feel-good program,” he said. “Everyone is surprised by the statistics. When someone who’s speaking has first-hand experience like Gina, people see it can happen anywhere. Audiences are very moved by her story.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pennsylvania has the fastest growing rate of drug overdose deaths in the nation. In fact, deaths within a 12-month period ending July 2017 totaled 5,443—a 43.4 percent increase compared to the previous 12 months. Emergency rooms across that state reported an 81 percent jump in opioid overdoses during that time.

Not surprisingly, the effect of these grim statistics carries over into the workplace. According to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 77 percent of people using illegal substances are employed on a full- or part-time basis, affecting productivity, absenteeism and worker compensation costs.

In contrast, 80 percent of small- and medium-sized organizations in the United States operate without drug testing programs. Helping businesses initiate these programs is just one of the many free services offered by Drug Free Workplace PA.

In addition to her work there, Riordan serves on a national level as a Partnership for Drug-Free Kids family coach. On the state level, she has served on the Parent Panel Advisory Council and Access to Treatment task force.

“I just want to make a difference in helping to save lives,” Riordan said. “I like assisting individuals in need.”

For information about Drug Free Workplace PA, visit www.drugfreeworkplacepa.org.

The Last Lesson: Why do employees leave the Harrisburg school system? Exit interviews shed some light.

March 1, 2019 | by Lizzy Hardison

Pop quiz: What do high truancy rates and low test scores have in common in the Harrisburg school district?

According to administrators, both are caused by high rates of teacher turnover.

Resignations in Harrisburg’s school district reached a five-year high during the 2017-18 school year, when 136 classroom teachers, principals, aides, librarians and other school building employees quit their jobs, according to district data. (At a given point, the district employs about 580 union-represented teachers and aides across its 13 school campuses.)

In the past year, officials have said that this churn of teachers undermines student performance in the city’s struggling schools. And while administrators have designed programs to boost teacher retention, records obtained by TheBurg suggest they’re not informed by much data.

Records obtained under Pennsylvania’s Right to Know law reveal that, for at least five years, fewer than 2 percent of departing employees chose to submit exit interviews to the district. These voluntary surveys allow employees to explain why they resigned and what the district could have done to keep them employed.

Of more than 550 employees who resigned from the district between August 2013 and December 2018, only 11 submitted exit interviews to the district. Of those who did, only nine offered substantive, qualitative reflections and feedback to administrators.

With such a paltry response rate, the exit interviews hardly constitute a sample size from which to draw conclusions about workplace conditions in Harrisburg schools.

But the survey responses, which came from assistant principals, teachers and safety monitors, do constitute the most official data that administrators have as they try to stem the flow of employees out of the district. And that mission has high stakes.

Matter of Pay

The leaders of the Harrisburg Education Association (HEA), the union representing teachers and classroom aides, have long acknowledged that pay in Harrisburg is lower than in surrounding districts.

The average teacher salary in Pennsylvania is $67,535, according to data from the state Department of Education. But the average pay in Harrisburg is almost $10,000 lower, coming in at just $58,257 a year.

The median salary in 2018 was $56,852, according to data obtained by TheBurg.

It may come as no surprise, then, that five employees—45 percent of all respondents—who submitted exit interviews to the district between 2013 and 2018 said they were dissatisfied with their pay.

One employee, a school nurse working at SciTech High School, said she resigned to take a better paying job in a different district.

“The salary has not kept up with cost of living and with the pension program,” the employee said. “I will miss people here, but I felt I need to move on for this reason and expand my horizons.”

Another employee, who said she was overall satisfied with her workload, resources and even her salary in Harrisburg, still said that “pay/compensation” and “job security” led her to pursue a new job closer to her home.

The reason for Harrisburg’s relatively low teacher salaries dates back to the financial crisis the city experienced throughout the early 2000s, when the district was still under mayoral control. Until 2011, a board of control appointed by Harrisburg’s mayor ran the district, and its finances were intermingled with the city’s.

That arrangement allowed for a number of questionable transfers of money from the school district’s coffers, particularly under former Mayor Steve Reed, who diverted more than $8 million in district funds to Harrisburg University in the early 2000s, according to a PennLive report.

At the same time, the district was borrowing money to pay for its own expenses, a 2008 report from Pennsylvania’s Auditor General found.

The transfers and borrowing exacerbated the district’s already-tight finances. Like the city government, the school district’s revenue streams are constrained by Harrisburg’s stagnant tax base and its large swaths of tax-exempt real estate.

Between 2011 and 2013, the district furloughed teachers, closed school buildings and eliminated educational offerings to wipe out a budget deficit. HEA members took a 5 percent salary cut in 2013.

The pay cut was later rescinded and teacher salaries restored, but union members remain frozen on the salary “step” ladder that would award raises based on longevity.

As a result, pay in the district has lagged behind that of neighboring school systems.

HEA President Jody Barksdale could not comment on the salary freezes, due to ongoing bargaining negotiations between the union and the district.

However, she confirmed that low pay and stagnant wages are tough pills for teachers to swallow. That makes it all the more important, she said, that the district find other ways to support and retain its educators.

“Obviously, we want to give our teachers support. We want them to feel like they can stay and have a career here and still be able to support their family,” Barksdale said. “We would like to be able to increase pay, but under circumstances of the [recovery] plan… it’s very difficult to get teachers and to keep teachers.”

Support, Counseling

Not all survey respondents cited financial concerns as a reason they left the district. As some responses show, an employee can be perfectly satisfied with pay but remain unfulfilled in other aspects of a job.

For example, one teacher who said she was “satisfied” with her benefits, pay and compensation, said she left the district due to “unsafe medical practices.”

In her undated exit interview, she said that the district would be a better place to work if it “hired licensed LPNs [licensed practical nurses] to staff the health room.”

A 2015 report by Pennsylvania’s auditor general found that none of Harrisburg’s school nurses had valid licenses between 2010 and 2014. They were subsequently replaced with licensed professionals.

District administrators said in January that the teacher’s concern had been investigated, and that current medical practices in the district are up to standard.

Other teachers said the district lacked resources to help students and staff respond to unruly students.

Three survey respondents told district administrators that they wanted more consistent discipline practices or more resources to support students who misbehaved in class.

“Working in HSD is hard when student behaviors are not addressed,” said one respondent, who completed an exit interview upon her retirement. “It takes too long to get students placed into special ed. settings, even students who qualify for services are not moved to the correct room for sometimes months on end. Additional behavioral support facilities are needed for students with chronic behavior problems.”

Another teacher said that offering a wider array of student services would make the district a better place to work.

“Students being held accountable for negative behaviors, mental health supports for students and families, alternative education opportunities for students facing challenges with learning in a regular educational setting,” she wrote.

She added that “professional development opportunities focusing on behavior interventions” could have prevented her from leaving the district.

These critiques echo remarks made by HEA members in 2016 and 2017, when teachers asked the Harrisburg school board for more mental health support and counseling for disruptive students.

At a school board meeting in November 2017, Barksdale said that violent outbursts among students were on the rise in elementary schools and that normal training did not prepare teachers for the mental health needs of students.

“This is serious behavior, and we’re not trained in how to deal with it,” Barksdale said. “The tools we have now are not enough.”

Barksdale said that HEA members, including union building representatives appointed in each school campus, try to debrief departing teachers one-on-one to learn why they are leaving the district.

“Ninety percent of responses are that they feel unsupported with difficult student behaviors,” Barksdale said.

Barksdale and other teachers have been careful not to ascribe motives or malice to students who misbehave. In 2017, Barksdale and others told the school board that many disruptive students experienced trauma at home and acted out in school as a “cry for help.”

In a statement issued in late January, district administrators said that mental health services have long been lacking in Harrisburg and Dauphin County. The district contracts with Pennsylvania Counseling Services and Pressley Ridge to provide school-based outpatient mental health services. Additional support and resources are available through state and county agencies, they said.

Administrators also pointed out that parental involvement plays an important role in treating child mental health issues. If a student’s needs are greater than what the district can provide, a school counselor can refer him or her to the Dauphin County Case Management Unit.

But not all students who are referred ultimately get the services they need.

“Due to factors beyond the District’s control, this is a very long and time-consuming process, and as a result, many of our parents grow weary and lack the follow through with the lengthy process,” administrators said in a statement issued through a spokeswoman. “Sometimes, once services are in place, many times the agency will ‘drop’ the child from services due to parental non-compliance with appointments.”

According to Barksdale, teachers in the district do not believe that the district’s current systems are sufficient. She also pointed out that the district cut counselors in 2018 to resolve a budget deficit, despite repeated calls by teachers to increase counseling resources in schools.

The cuts have left fewer trained professionals to make referrals or assist teachers in school buildings, she said.

“This is where the lack of support and appreciation comes into play,” Barksdale said. “There’s limited tools we have as teachers to help with [student behavior], and a lot of that is, unfortunately, why people leave.”

Facility Issues

Three survey respondents told the district that they were unsatisfied with their physical working environment. Others said that better facilities in another district made a new job more attractive.

Barksdale said that cleanliness is a problem in some district buildings, due to a shoestring staff of janitors and facility staff.

“When you are understaffed, the buildings aren’t as clean as they could be,” Barksdale said. “I know the people working there are working as hard as they can, but it’s very hard to replace people who are out sick or on leave.”

Teachers have also complained to union representatives about heating and air conditioning, Barksdale said.

District administrators responded only that, “Facility improvements are continuous and ongoing.”

Retention

In a joint statement, district officials said that employee exit surveys are reviewed by “designated members” of the administration and the Human Resources Department.

But they declined to say who in the district is ultimately responsible for improving teacher retention.

Administrators said only that they have in place “administrative collaboration to support teachers.” They also touted current initiatives—such as a yearlong induction and mentoring program for all new teachers, professional development seminars, and the elective Teacher Leadership Academy—that are designed to retain educators.

They also said that administrators are “working diligently” to improve the return rate on the surveys.

“The collected exit interviews have provided the District with invaluable data and insight into the processes and procedures that are working well in the District, as well as areas for improvement,” they said.

The district is currently contracting with an interim human resources director, since former HR Director Curtis Tribue resigned in January after being put on administrative leave last summer.

Interim HR Director Barbara Richards told the school board in January that she personally contacts each teacher who tenders a resignation letter to invite them to submit an exit interview. The practice has already yielded a much higher return rate on exit interviews, she said.

Nonetheless, the rate of employee resignations in Harrisburg shows no signs of slowing. School board documents show that 80 teachers, principals, administrators and other staff members have resigned just since August.

From the Wreckage: Nonprofit news tries to build back what has been lost.

March 1, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck.

If you drove down Market Street in Harrisburg in recent months, you may have noticed something unfolding—the slow-motion demolition of the old Patriot-News building.

In itself, this may be no great loss.

The building has been empty and deteriorating since 2011, when the 160-year-old news organization, now recast as PennLive, downsized and decamped for suburban Hampden Township. And the sprawling building itself, while rich in memories for staffers and citizens, was never anything special to look at.

The destruction, though, could be considered symbolic. Where hundreds of reporters, editors, designers, salespeople and pressmen once worked around the clock to put out a formidable daily newspaper, a pillar of the Harrisburg community, there is now, well, nothing—an empty lot.

I feel a similar sense of loss when I venture up to the second floor of the state Capitol building. Walk to the top of the grand marble staircase, and you’ll see a cool old glass sign that says, “Newspaper Correspondents.”

But go through the doors, and you know what you won’t find much of anymore? Newspaper correspondents.

The warren of rooms, once manned by scores of statehouse reporters employed by newspapers from the Delaware River to the Ohio River, from the Mason-Dixon Line to the New York state line, is often eerily quiet. Newspapers across the commonwealth have slashed staff, and Capitol reporters were among the first to go, leaving so much state news uncovered and so many legislators unaccountable.

But I’m not here to pick over the bones of the newspaper industry, which is a story you may already know. I’m here to talk about what comes next.

In recent months, no fewer than three well-funded, nonprofit news organizations have taken root locally. Some analysts have said that nonprofit news is the future of the industry and, at least in Harrisburg, they may be on to something.

First out of the gate, launching last September, was PA Post, a project led by WITF, our area’s venerable public broadcaster. PA Post has assembled an impressive team of journalists and digital news specialists focused on state-centric topics, accountability journalism and multimedia storytelling.

Last month, a second nonprofit launched, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, a four-person newsroom covering state government and led by John Micek, PennLive’s former opinion editor. Micek promptly hired away TheBurg’s city reporter, Lizzy Hardison, for his new venture, but I can’t really blame the guy for wanting a talented young journalist on his team.

Finally, there’s Spotlight PA, which envisions a substantial, dozen-person newsroom. This nonprofit is a partnership between two of the state’s largest newspapers, the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, as well as the Caucus, a state government watchdog outfit owned by LNP Media Group of Lancaster. Spotlight PA also plans to partner with PA Post.

As nonprofits, these new ventures will depend upon fundraising and grants—not advertising—to back their newsgathering operations. Major donors include the Lenfest Institute for Journalism (Spotlight PA and PA Post) and the Hopewell Fund (Capital-Star), among other foundations and wealthy individuals who have opted to fund public interest journalism.

So, if you wondered who the heck was going to keep your state legislators accountable as the newspaper industry crumbles, here, at least in part, is your answer.

But why was this necessary?

In recent years, digital advertising has boomed, but not to the benefit of journalism. Three non-news companies dominate the space: Facebook, Google and, increasingly, Amazon. So, ad dollars that used to stay local, employing reporters, editors, designers, etc., now go to make Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos even richer.

The result for journalism has been devastating, with major, cascading layoffs and depleted newsrooms throughout the country. Even digital-only, “new media” outlets, places like Buzzfeed and HuffPost, which have tried to step into the reporting void, are cutting jobs, as they also can’t compete with the likes of Facebook and Google.

But, thankfully, a new way to fund journalism is emerging, one that raises money from donors who believe that aggressive reporting is critical for ensuring the public good. Sometime in 2019, you might just see these reporters walking briskly up State Street, interviewing lawmakers inside the Capitol or having a meeting in Little Amps. I’m happy to have them here.

The new nonprofits may never replace the ad-based, for-profit model, which, at its peak, employed hundreds of journalists just in Harrisburg. But it’s far better than a dystopian future void of accountability, with little more than waste-strewn lots, aging memories and ghosts of what was.

Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

One Small Change: Even minor adjustments can lead to better health.

March 1, 2019 | by Ivan Black

As a trainer, I spend most of my time thinking about movement and developing creative fitness classes that will keep people’s interest so they keep coming back, which is, of course, one of the keys to getting results. But, the truth is, there are many things you can do to be healthier that don’t require stepping foot in a gym.

#1. Drink more water. It would be easy to write an entire article on the many benefits of drinking more water. If you put on a few pounds over the holidays, drinking more water could help you lose weight. Often times, when our bodies signal hunger, we are simply dehydrated. Drinking more water, particularly before meals, can help reduce your food intake, and, therefore, help you lose weight.

#2. Get enough sleep. Sleep is highly underrated. But, once again, you could write an entire article on the benefits of getting enough sleep. Sleep has a huge impact on our health. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Spend a week going to bed earlier (or sleeping later if that’s an option) and see how you feel.

#3. Eat breakfast. It really is the most important meal of the day. It helps boost your metabolism and helps you avoid weight gain. If you don’t have a lot of time in the morning and don’t always have exotic fresh fruit lying around, get some frozen fruit and make yourself a quick smoothie before you head off to work. You will find yourself with more energy and be better prepared to face the day.

#4. Get Up And Move. Start your day with 30 squats, 10 push-ups or a 30-second plank. It won’t take more than a minute or two. That first decision of your day can help lead you to more good decisions. When you have the choice between stairs or an elevator, take the stairs. If you work at a desk or sit through a lot of meetings during the day, make a point to get up and walk around at least once every hour.

#5. Start a Journal. Track your physical activity so you know how well you are doing and can hold yourself accountable. Set goals for yourself and use your journal to make sure you are meeting them.

Think about it. You make thousands of decisions everyday. You decide when you go to bed, when and what you eat, when and what you drink, whether you will get on the elevator or take the stairs, and whether you park right next to the store or 100 yards from the front door. Each of these decisions may seem inconsequential, but together, they can have a significant impact on your health.

So, do yourself a favor and take the road (or staircase) that is often less traveled. It will make all the difference.

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.

So Many Ways to Help: Community leader Tina Nixon now takes up Harrisburg’s financial recovery.

March 1, 2019 | by Gina Napoli

Tina Nixon

It was Harrisburg, 1972.

The floodwaters of Tropical Storm Agnes rose through the city. Five-year-old Tina Nixon asked her mother why she was making an enormous pot of soup for the people sheltering at the former Edison Junior High School on Allison Hill.

“My mom said, ‘If people are in need, and you can do something to help them, whatever little you have, then that’s what you should do,” Nixon recalled.

Mom’s example stayed with her, inspiring her to focus her career on helping people in need.

Though born and raised in Harrisburg, Nixon hasn’t always lived in the city.

She attended college in East Stroudsburg and sometimes accepted work opportunities that took her away. But she always boomeranged back. She currently works as vice president, mission effectiveness, diversity and inclusion, at UPMC Pinnacle and serves on numerous community boards.

Most recently and visibly, she was appointed to the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) for Harrisburg, a state entity tasked with overseeing Harrisburg’s finances. In this role, Nixon brings expertise like identifying grant money, building budgets and cutting excess spending.

“I just hope that whatever I contribute and whatever I can do will be seen as helping and continuing to build financially stable and transparent policies for the city,” Nixon said. “It’s not about me. It’s about making life good for all who live in the city.”

Nixon’s résumé represents almost three decades of assignments with the end goal of helping people through advocacy, fundraising, communications, organizing, human services and leadership.

“Whatever job I took, I always wanted to learn more, to figure out how to help solve the problem and help people,” she said.

Her skills have come both from her education and her practical experience. In her current role at UPMC, she interacts and connects with people on a variety of levels.

“I treat everyone as an individual, and I respect the path they took to get there,” she said. “Early in life, that was fascinating to me. I wanted to learn and understand more about where people were coming from.”

Within a long CV of both paid and volunteer work, Nixon cited two opportunities that contributed significantly to her growth.

The first was an early-career summer internship with the Pennsylvania state legislature, which offered an “educational opportunity, seeing how people on different sides of the aisle can come together and compromise on a number of different issues.”

The second was her lengthy tenure with the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg, which included more than a decade as CEO.

“My tenure at YWCA allowed me to live my purpose and passion of helping women and children in need,” she said.

Nixon credits her grandmother as a mentor who foot-stomped the importance of a college education and community leadership.

“She was a wonderful role model in leadership, business, compassion and gave me great overall advice when entering into the workforce,” she said.

The Best City

Those who have worked with Nixon have seen those same leadership qualities in her.

Messiah College President Kim Phipps has known Nixon for nine years, having met when they worked together on strategic planning and community engagement on the YWCA board.

“As a leader, she often has to make difficult decisions and be courageous in moments of crisis,” Phipps said. “Her quick wit and laugh often diffuse many tension-filled moments.”

Rev. Dr. Brenda Alton, the former director of the city’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Enrichment, met Nixon in 2000 when she served as a pastor. They re-engaged when Alton joined Nixon’s staff at UPMC.

Alton described Nixon as an “advocate and life-long diversity champion” and a “giving person who adores her family and fights for those she leads.” And, like Phipps, Alton also talked about Nixon’s great laugh and her ability to be her authentic self.

When Nixon isn’t working or volunteering, she spends time with friends and family, which includes her husband, James, and their 21-year-old twins.

“His resilience keeps me going,” she said of James, who has had recent health challenges. “He is teaching me something about perseverance on another level. He amazes me.”

Nixon also enjoys window shopping for antiques and reading cookbooks, which relax her. She now looks forward to joining four colleagues on the ICA, helping to guide the next phase of Harrisburg’s financial recovery.

“I’m hoping we can continue to move forward to make Harrisburg the best city it can be,” she said.

To learn more about UPMC Pinnacle, visit www.UPMCPinnacle.com.

Pieces of the Puzzle: A century ago, Harrisburg’s Old 8th Ward was wiped off the map. A group of activists wants to remind us what was lost.

March 1, 2019 | by M. Diane McCormick

Burg in Focus: Harrisburg’s 8th Ward from GK Visual on Vimeo.

The stories lurk in half-forgotten memories. The images hide in boxes stashed in attics.

Harrisburg’s Old 8th Ward, a dense, crowded neighborhood squeezed between the Pennsylvania Capitol and the railroad tracks, is long gone. But through a diverse group of activists, genealogists, scholars, actors and techies, the voices and faces of a vibrant community are emerging to illuminate a crossroads of history.

Throughout 2019, they are mounting a multi-faceted history project with a reflection and re-examination of the Old 8th at its core.

Lose Track

“The Bloody 8th” inhabits our imaginations as home to speakeasies, brothels and tenements along narrow streets “into which little of God’s free air or sunlight can enter,” in the words of newspaper chronicler Howard J. Wert in 1912.

But the 8th was also home to a melting pot of residents—a gateway to the city for African Americans, Russians, Greeks and others. They ran tanneries and laundries, attended churches and synagogues, raised families, and harbored refugees along the Underground Railroad.

Still, by Wert’s time, City Beautiful proponents couldn’t abide the huddled masses teeming outside the back door of Pennsylvania’s new Beaux Arts Capitol. They envisioned a park. So, by the 1920s, most of the 8th Ward was gone, and its residents scattered.

Today, when arts activist Lenwood Sloan looks at the Capitol’s East Wing and Soldier’s Grove, he hears echoes of the past. The problem, he said, is finding tangible reminders. Other than the K. Leroy Irvis Building, named after the first African American speaker of the Pennsylvania House, no monuments recognize the contributions of African Americans to the city or nation.

That absence seems especially poignant now that it’s 2019, the 150th anniversary of the 15th Amendment, which granted voting rights to men regardless of race, and the centennial of the 19th Amendment, which finally gave women the vote. Local historian Calobe Jackson, Jr., learned that news of the 15th Amendment’s passage sent 8th Ward residents into the streets to celebrate.

“We lose track when we lose physical monuments or places of engagement,” Sloan said. “We lose track of ourselves and especially each other, and we lose track of how hard communities work to achieve the right to vote and then to sustain that right and protect that right.”

Through the project, a jigsaw puzzle of activities will recreate the sights and feels of a bustling community:

A monument to four key players in 8th Ward history and voting rights.
A search for descendants of 100 prominent residents—ministers, state workers, musicians, attorneys, baseball players, Underground Railroad conductors, and one involved with “aeroplane school”—in hope of mining their family stories and archives.
A Chautauqua series at the McCormick Riverfront Library and Live and Learn “informances” from the Past Players, held at Gamut Theatre. TFEC is funding both.
A theatrical presentation to be developed by Gamut Theatre Group. The 8th “was a rough place, but it was a lot of tough people coming together and learning what their strengths were,” said Artistic Director Clark Nicholson.
Posters, a website and window clings—yes, window clings—developed by Digital Harrisburg to recreate for Capitol workers and visitors the sights and stories of the 8th Ward.

One of the discovered descendants is well-known musician Jimmy Wood, whose great-grandfather, Jacob Compton, spirited Abraham Lincoln out of Harrisburg to evade assassination.

Wood didn’t know Compton, but he knew his great-uncle, Armon S. Compton, a pharmacist trained in Philadelphia who was never employed at white pharmacies but plied his trade in the 8th Ward. Wood never heard stories of Jacob’s heroism, but he remembers the spark of pride in Armon’s bearing.

“My assumption is that, besides his intellect, his pride would be based on what he knew about his image,” said Wood. “I’m hoping I can find somewhere a picture of Jacob. That would be absolutely awesome.”

Wood won’t cry over spilled milk, but the disappearance of the 8th Ward—where musicians played in clubs, a great-uncle ran a hotel and his midwife grandmother delivered babies—offers a warning.

“Bring some caution and some good sense when you decide on these kind of development projects,” he said. “It can’t always be about someone’s dollar and making a profit. People have to live somewhere. They should have some decent place.”

An aerial depiction of the Old 8th Ward.

Wild Side

Some churches and synagogues of today have their origins in the 8th Ward. They were, like residents, pushed aside “to erase this area of ‘blight,’” said Andrew Dyrli Hermeling, project manager of Digital Harrisburg, the Messiah College-Harrisburg University joint venture to digitize archival images.

Two factors drive our ongoing fascination with the 8th, said Messiah College History Department Co-chair David Pettegrew.

“It has the reputation for being the wild side of the city in the late 19th century,” he said. “The other has to do with this disturbing factor of displacement that occurs for the greater good. So, it naturally raises questions about what is the common good. It was in the name of beauty, but there’s a feeling that the state just yanked away properties. That injustice surprises people.”

Harrisburg genealogist Sharonn Williams is the great-granddaughter of Ephraim Slaughter—prominent 8th Ward leader and Civil War veteran. Williams joined the 8th Ward project because too much of the history she has researched reflects today’s political turbulence.

“You’re trying to take away my right to vote, when my right has been paid for in the blood, the sweat, and on the backs of my ancestors for hundreds of years,” she said.

Today’s “civil war over civil rights” and the devaluation of civics in education “break down understandings of the responsibilities of citizenship and the privileges of the franchise,” agreed Sloan.

“We are among the last generation where we can talk to people who were in those struggles, and also we’re in the last generation that cares enough to keep those family artifacts in the closet or under the bed,” Sloan said. “We’re saying if you’re not interested in this, don’t throw it away. Give it to the historical society. Give it to the state archives. It’s pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that help us build memory and continuity.”

For more information about Digital Harrisburg, including online history resources, visit www.digitalharrisburg.com.

Community Corner: Notable March Events

March 1, 2019 | by Missy Smith

March Community Corner

Community Bazaar
March 2: Paxton Presbyterian Church, 3500 Sharon St., Harrisburg, is hosting a community clothing and jewelry bazaar, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Women’s, men’s and children’s all-season clothing, shoes, accessories and jewelry will be available for purchase at low prices. Proceeds benefit local charities and mission work. www.paxtonchurch.org

HBG Flea
March 2: Explore the HBG Flea, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Strawberry Square, 320 Market St., Harrisburg. Shop for local art, handmade gifts and vintage wares. www.hbgflea.com

Maple Sugar Festival
March 3: Head to Fort Hunter Park, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, for the annual Maple Sugar Festival, 12 to 4 p.m. Kids and adults can have hands-on fun with tree tapping, eating real maple syrup on ice cream, and shopping for PA maple products. www.forthunter.org

Blood Pressure Screenings
March 4: Stop by the food court pavilion at Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., for free blood pressure screenings offered by UPMC Pinnacle. www.shopharrisburgmall.com

Decisions 2019
March 4, 18: The World Affairs Council of Harrisburg will host “Great Decisions,” a program on world affairs organized by the Foreign Policy Association. Sessions are held every other Monday at 1 p.m. at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, through May 13. Cost is $10 per session. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Résumé Workshop
March 6: Kline Library, 530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg, hosts the second part of its “Résumé Writing Series” at 1 p.m. Attendees can bring their newly created résumé to this session for review by library staff and to receive feedback on improvements needed. This program is designed for adults. www.dcls.org

KIDZ Wednesday
March 6, 20: Toddlers and young children who are not in school, and their families, are invited to have fun learning with educational hands-on activities at free KIDZ Wednesdays, Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., Harrisburg. www.shopharrisburgmall.com

Nature Lab
March 7: Learn about rocks at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, at 11:30 a.m. Discover different types of Pennsylvania rocks and the surprising places we find them in our daily lives. This presentation is designed for general audiences, ages 7 and up, and is included with admission to the museum. www.statemuseumpa.org

Open House
March 7: Drop in at the Circle School of Harrisburg, 727 Wilhelm Rd., between 6 and 8 p.m. for an Open House to learn about the school. Bring the whole family to see and hear about self-directed democratic education. There will be a student Q&A panel at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. www.CircleSchool.org

Volunteer Work Day
March 9: Enjoy the outdoors and help with continuing park and habitat enhancement projects at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Snacks, tools and work gloves provided. To reduce plastic usage, bring a water bottle. Refreshments will be available. www.wildwoodlake.org

Kids Club Event
March 9: Head to the Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., for Kids Club on the second Saturday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for a free, fun-filled event. Each month may feature shows, crafts, interactive activities and more. All kids and families are welcome to attend. www.shopharrisburgmall.com

Trivia After Hours
March 9: Join Fredricksen Library, 100. N. 19th St., Camp Hill, at trivia night—”Must See TV”—7 to 9 p.m. Popcorn, corkscrews, bottle openers and prizes are provided. Ages 21 and older, BYOB. Cost is $5 per team. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Soup Cook-Off
March 10: The AKT Foundation will host the 10th Annual Soup Cook-Off for children with cystic fibrosis. Held 12 to 4 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel in Camp Hill, the soup cook-off gathers about 40 local chefs, professional and amateur, to showcase homemade soups, with attendees voting for their favorites. www.TheSoupCookOff.com

Charter Day
March 10: Celebrate the commonwealth’s 338th birthday on the 19th Annual Charter Day with free admission to the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 12 to 5 p.m. View the original 1681 charter that granted the land of Pennsylvania to William Penn. www.statemuseumpa.org

Book Club
March 10: Join the Harrisburg Young Professionals book club to discuss James Baldwin’s “If Beale Street Could Talk,” 2 to 5 p.m., Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. www.hyp.org

Native Culture
March 10: New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, hosts PennDOT archaeologist Joe Baker in a talk on “Native American Culture: Lower Susquehanna Valley” in Foundation Hall, 3 to 4 p.m. Baker will discuss Susquehanna Valley Native American history up to the 1763 Conestoga Massacre. Light snacks served. www.newcumberlandlibrary.org

Homeschool Day
March 13: Join the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, for Homeschool Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with hands-on objects and crafts and presentations from curators, archivists and educators. Cost is $10 per person; members are free. www.statemuseumofpa.org

3rd in The Burg
March 15: Enjoy the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in the Burg, the monthly arts and culture event at galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown, 6 to 9 p.m. www.thirdintheburg.org

Art Auction
March 15: Join Harrisburg Habitat for Humanity for the 14th Annual Art Auction at the Hershey Country Club, 1000 E. Derry Rd., 6 p.m. Reception includes two free drinks, heavy hors d’oeuvres, Troegs beer tasting, Dead Lightning Distillery spirits tasting, silent auction and a dessert buffet. www.harrisburghabitat.org

Bike Summit
March 16: Bicycle South Central PA’s Regional Bike Summit will be held at Dickinson College, 28 N. College St., Carlisle, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The focus is on successful programs designed to serve the disadvantaged and those that attract young riders. www.bicyclesouthcentralpa.org

Job Fair
March 17: Spend the day at the annual One Stop Shop Job and Resources Fair at the Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit a variety of vendor tables to get connected with employment opportunities, resources and programs. Free admission. www.shopharrisburgmall.com

New Member Social
March 19: Join Harrisburg Young Professionals for its new member social at 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. RSVP to attend. www.hyp.org

Food Safety
March 19 and 26: Penn State Extension will hold a two-day ServSafe Food Safety Manager Course at the Penn State Extension, Perry County office, 8 S. Carlisle St., New Bloomfield, to help food establishments meet an upcoming requirement that people working in food service be certified food protection managers. www.extension.psu.edu

Curiosity Kids
March 21: Kids ages 3 to 6 and their families are invited to “Feed the Birds” at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 11:30 a.m., during its monthly Curiosity Kids program. Learn about birds and make your own bird feeder to hang in your yard. www.statemuseumpa.org

Women of Excellence
March 21: YWCA Greater Harrisburg will host the 30th annual “Tribute to Women of Excellence” awards dinner at the Hershey Lodge, 325 University Dr., Hershey, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The tribute will honor 29 outstanding women who dedicate time and talent to making a difference in central Pennsylvania. Cost is $100 per seat. www.ywcahbg.org

Networking
March 21: Harrisburg Young Professionals will host Rubina Azizdin, director of STEP UP Network at Harrisburg University, at its March professional development workshop on networking, at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, 326 Market St., 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. www.hyp.org

Chili Cook-Off
March 22: Cracked Pot Coffee Shop hosts a chili cook-off fundraiser at Daybreak Church, 321 Gettysburg Pike, Mechanicsburg, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Kids programs will be held, and there will be an update on the shop’s mission and ministry needs for youth aging out of foster care. www.thecrackedpotcoffeeshop.com

Seed Swap
March 23: Winters Heritage House Museum, 47 E. High St., Elizabethtown, hosts its third annual Heirloom Seed Swap, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Vegetable, herb and flower seeds, collected from the museum’s 2018 garden, will be on hand for this community-sharing event. Bring seeds to swap or make a donation to select seeds. www.elizabethtownhistory.org

St. Patrick’s Parade
March 23: Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District will host this year’s parade, which steps off at 2 p.m. and features pipe and drum bands, marching bands, Irish dance groups and more. The “Lucky Charm” 5K/10K precedes the parade and begins at noon. www.harrisburgstpatricksday.com

Bal Masque
March 23: The Art Association of Harrisburg will host a “Saints and Sinners” Bal Basque, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., at Hershey Country Club, 1000 East Derry Road, with proceeds supporting Art Association exhibits, education and programming. Sponsors can attend a special reception with Graham and Esmeralda Hetrick. www.artassocofhbg.com

Books on Tap
March 28: Dauphin County Library System hosts “Books on Tap” book club at J.B. Lovedrafts, 225 N. 2nd Street, 5 to 6 p.m. Dive into new genres and forms while getting to know other readers in a social setting. The club will discuss Lisa Jewell’s “Then She Was Gone.” www.dcls.org

National Defense
March 28: David Ochmanek, former U.S. Defense Department official and now a researcher with the RAND Corp., will discuss current national defense strategy at the Foreign Policy Association of Harrisburg’s monthly meeting. The free event will be held at the West Shore Country Club, Camp Hill, 7:30 p.m. A dinner precedes the talk. www.fpaharrisburg.org

Spring Fling
March 30: Stroll through over 20 shops in downtown Camp Hill offering refreshments, specials and activities, to renew and refresh everything from home to health, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit Downtown Camp Hill on Facebook for more information.

Employment Fair
March 30: Dauphin County hosts its employment, internship and resource fair at Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 60 employers, colleges, training programs, government agencies and organizations will be on hand to talk to job, internship and volunteer opportunity seekers. www.dauphincounty.org

Ducks and Geese
March 31: Ned Smith Center, 176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg, will host its annual “Ducks and Geese of the Susquehanna River,” 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn about waterfowl and seasonal migration patterns with Scott Bills, retired land management group supervisor at the PA Game Commission. www.nedsmithcenter.org

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